Offensive!

On Tuesday night, Victoria's Secret broadcast a fashion show featuring models in Victoria's Secret under wear.  Stations around the country censored the broadcast because it was offensive. They are right, but their reasoning is wrong. I fully agree that it is offensive, but not because models are walking the cat walk in bras and panties. 

The Victoria's Secret show is offensive because of the models.  It is offensive that we allow women all over to believe that those models represent an ideal feminine body.  Hell, it's offensive that we allow them to represent a female's body at all!  Young girls, already struggling with their body image, now feel fat and ugly.  Wives, mothers, and single women doubt their attractiveness.  Even men wonder why they can't find a woman like that.

Women like we see on that stage don't exist.  Those models might as well be Stepford Wives robots.  Just read about the diets the women undertake prior to the show.  They are anorexic.  If you have ever looked into the real world of modeling, many of those women are chain smokers or drug users.  Both help them keep that unrealistic, skeleton like physique.  Their real hair is supplemented with weaves and extensions.  Their make up is caked on to remove all blemishes.  Their bodies are tanned and also made up to cover anything that may make them appear human.

I haven't bought Victoria's Secret products in years, and I am not about to start.  Shame on them, and so many others for continuing to spread this propaganda of unhealthy body image.  Yes, this post is written by someone that is 5 feet 5 inches and weighing in at 130 pounds.  But, I promise you, I can grab a handful of belly.  That belly has stretch marks.  My butt jiggles when I walk, and so do my thighs.  My boobs are small, my face has wrinkles, and while I naturally have a lot of hair, it will never look like what Victoria's Secret portrayed last night. 

I'm a real woman.  I've given birth to 4 kids.  I eat food, and enjoy it.  I don't smoke, or use drugs to stay thin.  The only tan I get is come by honestly as I work in my garden in the summer.  My kids love me, my husband loves me, my friends love me, and we are all real.  All of us ladies need to start loving ourselves.  We need to love each other.  We need to be real!  Stop letting corporations sell us robots as women, fight back!  Teach young women and men everywhere what real women are.  We can do it!

I Have a Plan

This plan came to me at about 3 a.m. the other morning.  No matter how hard I try, I can't shake the idea.  Maybe I should up the dose on my happy pills, or take a nap, but here is the plan:

I will strip off all my clothes and light my hair on fire.  Then I will run around my neighborhood.  Hopefully this will be insane enough to secure a bed on the psych ward of the local hospital.  While there, I can sleep without hourly interruptions, my meals will be cooked for me, and I may even score some good drugs.

It sounds like a perfect plan, but I hear from a nurse that psych is full.  It usually is, and I wonder how  many are sleep deprived moms?

How to tell if you are having a bad day

You may be having a bad day, if on the way out the door, your 2 year old let's the expensive indoor cat out.  And as you run down the stairs in your high heels you yell "dammit" loud enough for the neighbors to hear.

You may be having a bad day, if once outside, you have to chase said 2 year old down the driveway and snatch him out of the road while yelling to your daughter, "we need to catch the grey piece of #@$%"

You may be having a bad day, if you get to the supermarket and realize that you forgot to pack your daughter's lunch, so the $1.50 in cash you scrounged up won't be sufficient to purchase the hard candy (cough drops not being allowed at school) and a lunchable.

You may be having a bad day, if while walking through the supermarket, you look at the woman who is approximately your age, maybe a bit older, calmly shopping in her name brand workout gear (the gym is just next door) and want to strangle the life out of her for her child free, healthy, and peaceful morning.

I'm not an expert, but if those things happen, you may be having a bad day!

My Christmas List

I know, I know.  It's not even October, and here I am discussing Christmas.  But right now is when I'm doing Christmas shopping.  I keep an eye out for clearance items, so I can buy gifts that are out of our price range, but become in our price range when it's 75-90% off.  I already have my nieces' gifts, one nephew's gift, and two of Kaia's gifts.

So I got to thinking about what I would really like, and then laughed at how simple it all is.  What I really would like for Christmas:

1. A House Keeper.  Seriously!  I've realized that I cannot keep up.  My schedule keeps getting crazier, and the kids seem to get messier.  I went on Care.Com and found that there are several in my area that work for $10-15 an  hour.  And I really would just need someone for 2 hours a week. Even if someone just paid for a few months, it would be so nice to have some help!
2. A steam cleaner.  This was a Christmas gift a few years ago from my parents.  I loved it.  It made cleaning our textured vinyl floors simple and they came so clean!  Then it died.  It died after I told Kaia to quit messing around with it or she would break it.  Not sure if the two things are related, but my floors haven't been clean since.  I've cleaned them, but it's not the same.
3. Food.  Yes, it sounds so crazy.  But I love when we get a Thanksgiving or Christmas box from the church.  Being able to fill up the pantry, and not have to worry about groceries is a luxury.  Last year we received a gift certificate for meat from a local butcher, and that was so nice.  And the added bonus is, when we don't have to buy a bunch of groceries each week, it frees up some money to buy things that we like to eat, but are more expensive.  
4. Electrolosis.  I will fill you in on something.  I'm hairy.  Really hairy.  Worse though, is my hair grows insanely fast.  It's a blessing for the top of my head, but a curse everywhere else.  I'd love to have electrolosis on my underarms.  Not only would it save me the daily shaving and ingrown hairs, but it helps cut down on sweating.  And that would be fantastic!

So there is my list.  Practical as always.   Have you started any holiday preparations?

Frivolous Spending or Investment in the Future?

I admit that I've always felt magazines were a frivolous expenditure.  Spending $3-6 to read a bunch of ads seemed like a waste of money, and besides I have several magazines I receive for free through different survey websites.  However, recently I've altered my view.

It was about 3 years ago that I went through the Lou Tice Investment in Excellence course.  What I learned there, is in order to change, we must see what we want as the norm for our life.  Therefore, if you are always running late, you cannot continue to say, "hey, that's me, I'm just a late arriver."  Instead  you must tell yourself, I'm an on time person.  I plan ahead so that I can arrive on time to my committments.  You can't just say it, you also have to visualize it.  The more you do so, the more you will strive subconciously to be that person.

That is why I have begun to purchase Real Simple magazine.  I love the organization tips, and the easy recipes.  I looked at it once and thought, "I wish that was me! I want to be the organized person with a clean house, and great meals."  It finally donned on me, that by reading that magazine, and envisioning myself being that person, I could become that person.  I also receive Shape and Martha Stewart Living (for free) and plan to read those with a whole new outlook.  I'm not an observer of those lifestyles, that is my lifestyle.

I look forward to becoming the person I want to be!  And if I can't find Real Simple for free, the $5 a month investment is well worth it!

Back In Time

I've always reluctantly kept up with technology.  Pagers were becoming a thing of the past when I finally purchased one at the age of 17.  I held out on getting a cell phone until 2003, and I only was convinced then because Dana had a job that kept him traveling all over Washington, and I was due in a few months with Kaia.  I didn't give in to the Smart Phone age until a few months ago.  And now, for the first time since 2003, I do not have a cell phone. 

It's not that I willingly gave up my cell phone.  No, I wouldn't do that.  My phone is my watch, my weather forecaster, my link to friends and family, and is currently sitting in a plastic bag full of rice.  Bryce made off with my cell phone, and when I realized he was in the bathroom, I went running.  My phone was on the floor, and I was thrilled.  Phew... Dodged a bullet that time.  Except when I picked it up, I realized, I hadn't.  He dipped my phone into water.  Either the cat's bowl or the foot bath.  Which one doesn't matter, the result is the same, a dead phone that needs the moisture extracting rice to revive it. 

So until it's resurrection 48-72 hours later, I'm unreachable.  And while right now I feel naked, and out of sorts, I may just survive this!

Illogical

I'm a big geek.  Some of you may not know this, but I love to create puns and to find illogical arguments, and even create my own.  So last night this illogical tidbit came to me:

There are 6 people in our family.  4 have blue eyes and 2 have green eyes.
The 4 blue eyed people in our family can take amoxicillin, the 2 green eyed people are allergic to it.   So green eyed people are allergic to amoxicillin.

It may seem ridiculous, but next time you hear or read an argument or hypothesis on the news, you may find something just as ridiculous being said.  Just listen to politics, talk radio, or read some recent archaeology findings.

PS if you also love puns, it makes you very good at answering the jokes on Popsicle sticks.

Parenting with an Open Mind

So quick question, answer it as quickly as possible (in your head is fine):

Is it ok to send your child to school with pink or blue spray streaks in their hair?

Got your initial answer?  Now think about it.  Was your initial answer based on what others have told you was ok?  Or was your answer something that you feel strongly about?

This exact question was a daunting one for me, and for Dana as well.  I admit that my first answer to my question, is not the same as it is now.  A few months ago my mom gave Kaia a can of pink hairspray.  I admit right now, my first reaction was, "Oh no, she didn't..."  The "mom" in me was cringing.  It wasn't ok to put pink spray in my 7 year old's hair. 

A few days later, the "me" in me grabbed the mom in a choke hold and called her a big hypocrite that had somehow lost touch with her own ideas.  Somehow the "mom" in me was listening to what society might think, or what other parents might think, rather than what I might think.  And it's true.  Prior to Kaia starting school I looked at all the local options.  First off, I'm a huge proponent of public schools.  I strongly believe that while they may be underfunded, the teachers are there not for the great pay and benefits (which they don't have) but because they have a passion for the next generation.  So I was ready to put Kaia into our local public school, but was concerned about child care before and after, and felt it would be best to look at all of our options.  The problem was, every single private school whether Catholic, Christian or Seventh Day Adventist all had a student handbook. And every student handbook had some rule about the length of hair for boys, and color of hair for boys and girls.  There were also rules on nail polish use, the banning of use by boys.  Most also had policy on clothing and it wasn't just about modest clothing.  With each rule I became upset. 

Dana and I are the parents of our kids.  If Dana and I are ok with our boys having long hair or painting their nails, I don't want a school telling us it's inappropriate.  If Dana and I allow Kaia to dye her hair purple and spike it, then it is our decision, And if our kids want to wear jeans with holes in the knees, and sneakers that are falling apart as part of their self-expression, then so be it.  We draw the line when clothing is immodest, or when the alteration is permanent like a tattoo or piercing, or last if the self-expression is actually rebellion that comes with attitude.  But most of all we don't need a school telling us what is acceptable for our children. 

I have heard the arguments that rules in school prep our kids for rules at work, and I'm fine if you feel that way.  I strongly feel that childhood and adolescent years are for figuring out who you are, and if you are too busy trying to fit into someone else's box of what is acceptable, how can  you do that?

Sure my initial reaction was very anti-pink hair, but this morning I sprayed 2 pink stripes into Kaia's hair, just like I did a few days ago.  Pink hair doesn't hurt anyone.

I'm definitely going to start doing a check on myself when I have gut reactions to things.  Too often, my initial reaction is not my own.  Have you spotted any areas in  your life where you are listening to others rather than listening to yourself?

10 Days on a Daniel Fast

If my Vision Board post prompted you to look into the Daniel Fast, you may have wondered, "Just what do you eat?"  Honestly there are quite a few things that can be eaten.  Sadly though, they are things we have become unaccustomed to eating as our main diet here in North America.  I thought I would share the menu from my first 10 days on the Daniel Fast. 

First, let me say that I was a vegetarian for over 6 years, but never a vegan.  I could always eat cheese and eggs, and only during my yeast free diet have I had to give up bread and sugar.  This has been a struggle, but that is the nature of it.  A fast isn't supposed to be fun or easy, it's about persistence, devotion, and setting aside oneself for a time.  Do I plan to fast again?  Sure, but I'm not sure I will do a 21 day Daniel Fast again.  This study has helped me to learn what the Bible teaches regarding fasting, and it has helped strengthen my faith and my prayer life.  It's definitely a great way to start off a new year.

Menu
Sunday-
Oatmeal and half an apple
Salad without dressing and a yam
Whole wheat spaghetti with a tomato mushroom sauce and spinach

Monday-
Oatmeal with banana
Split pea soup, Ry Krisp with hummus and fresh veggies
Leftover spaghetti and spinach

Tuesday-
Natural peanut butter on celery
Split pea soup, Ry Krisp with hummus
Pan fried potatoes, peas and a yam

Wednesday-
Pear and half a banana
Split pea soup
Stir fried veggies over brown rice with soy sauce

Thursday-
Banana and an apple
Mixed nuts, raisins and a pear
Black bean soup cup

Friday-
No breakfast
2 pears and a few bites of split pea soup
Vegan nachos (fried corn tortilla with fat free refried beans, olives, onion, lettuce and salsa)

Saturday-
Banana
Leftover nachos
Salad with kidney beans

Sunday-
Banana
Vegetarian chili and salad
Veggie soup

Monday-
Banana
Leftover chili
Stir fried veggies over brown rice

Tuesday-
Oatmeal with 1/2 jar of banana baby food
Leftover chili and soup
Pistachios
Boca burger with mustard, pickle and onion and tater tots

Snacks have been fresh veggies and fruit, but I didn't record each snack.  Some days I felt horrible, and therefore ate very little.  The detoxing my system wasn't pleasant, but I think it was a good thing. Follow this link for some more info on the fast.

Join Us!

My friend Liz and I were texting the other day, and she came upon a great idea.  Why not make a website about the crazy messes our kids create?  I thought it was an excellent plan, and in no time she had the site created.  Our friend Danielle is doing the art.   I, along with several other friends, am a contributor on a new blog titled Mess Is My Life.  I invite you to stop on by and enjoy our crazy lives!

My Vision

I've thought about making a vision board for a long time, but never knew what to put on it.  This year, I finally have some ideas.  Some are this year visions, others long term.  But I want them all.  Here are a few things going on my board.

In the center of my board is a cross.  I am trying to be more dedicated to my faith this year, and will soon be taking part in a 21 day Daniel Fast (recipes to come).  I expect during that time to really find some direction, so I no longer feel like I'm just going through the motions of life.  I want to live life.

Boobs.  Yes, you read that correctly, I want boobs.  Once upon a time, I had boobs.  That was 7 years ago.  I've only seen them again during pregnancy and nursing.  The rest of the time, they are just loose skin.  But, I'm picky.  I don't just want a boob job.  I don't like the idea of putting some foreign objects there and hoping they look natural for years to come.  I also want them to feel natural.  So I want fat transplants.  I don't know when it will happen, but it is a goal of mine.  One that I would love to scratch off my list this year.

Fitness.  This is something I've been working on more recently.  I've been hitting the treadmill in the mornings and reading a book while I put in 15 minutes or more at 3.5 miles per hour.  I feel great for doing it, and have more energy to make it through the day.

Sex.  Who doesn't want sex?  Unfortunately with four kids, it's not always easy to find a moment to escape with Dana.  I am really enjoying the ideas and thoughts found on this christian blog though.

Beach House.  This is one that has been a long term goal for me, for a long time.  It's also one I know Dana would love as well.  I've decided that while I do not want to move to the Oregon Coast any time soon, I want to own a home there.  A home that we could rent out when we aren't using, and a home that we could pack up and head to for long weekends and vacations.  I even found this one, just a few houses away from where we stayed in 2008.

Clean Home.  Yes, I always hope for order.  I dream of being able to keep up on housework while still spending time with my family.  I'm getting there, little by little, day by day.

Healthy Diet.  I'd like for us as a family to eat more fruits and vegetables, fresh meat and unprocessed foods.  While I can't force that, I can at least make sure I serve healthier meals.

I hope to have a jpeg version of my vision board soon, and I will share it with you.  What are your visions for your future?

Identity Crisis

Please bear with me, but I can take it no longer, and must let all this spill out here.  I am a christian, because I believe that Jesus died for our sins, and I have repented, been baptized and follow Him.  Lately though, the word "christian" has taken on such an ugly meaning, even in my mind.  The behavior of several proclaimed christians has been so unlike the behavior of Christ that I hear a lot of people trash-talking christians as a whole, and I can't blame them.  I know exactly why they feel that way, because I feel that way toward those people as well.

I'll start from the beginning, so that you may understand why my heart is so heavy.  What once was anger has turned to despair.  How can followers of Christ behave this way?  Well over a year ago, Norm Johnson ran for a legislative office at the State level.  In his campaign he was clear, he believed marriage was between a man and a woman, but felt that same-sex couples should be afforded the same legal rights as heterosexual couples.  Legal rights that I believe most heterosexual couples take for granted.  He was elected, and voted for a bill that would allow same-sex couples, and heterosexual couples over the age of 65 that were unmarried legal rights. Last year, the issue ended up in the hands of voters.  The majority of the State chose to uphold those rights, but the majority (around 60%) in our area voted to withdraw them.   Enter Michele Strobel.  The wife of a Selah pastor.  She vowed to run against Johnson and bring morals back to our State.

As a christian, she had every opportunity, and I expected her to, run a clean campaign.  A campaign that would show everyone how believers in Christ behave.  She and her team have failed.  Her supporters include the owner of the local christian broadcasting, and many leaders of churches throughout our town.  At first her platform was all about that one issue of granting rights to same-sex couples.  Soon she added being a small business advocate.  Soon her campaign became all about how Johnson is wrong, that he's owned by gay lobbyists.  Emails went out from her supporters calling prominent people on Johnson's campaign team homosexuals.  Except they weren't using nice words.  No, they chose to use the derogatory terms "fag" and "dyke."  Many of you may see a lawsuit in the making, but they were careful only to name another elected official (who cannot sue) and generalize that it was everyone else. 

Then came the advertisement in the paper.  A sketch of Johnson, as a king, with little gnomes at his feet wearing the label gay lobbyist.  In the sea near him were 2 gay men being married by a Catholic priest.  The sun and the birds were all visibly upset at this "unnatural" union.  The story below told of King Canute and his attempt to go against nature, and compared Johnson to him.  Attacks have continued, against Johnson's family (he has 2 sons that are gay) and claims that he is in office with his homosexual agenda.  A term which I fail to understand. 

I've attempted to fight back through a Facebook page, dedicated to letting people know that Strobel will not represent all of her constituents, only those that are heterosexual.  I firmly believe that Jesus taught us to treat everyone well, to love everyone.  He didn't come to this earth and walk among the saints.  He came to this earth and dined with prostitutes and tax collectors.  He came to help all of us, and we are all sinners.  I'm not attempting to argue whether or not homosexuality is a sin or not, because I honestly am undecided on that fact.  There are many things in the Bible that are prohibited that we do not apply today, and many that we do.  So I leave that between you and God to decide for yourself. So my argument is based on what Strobel and her supporters believe.

If Strobel's group believes that homosexuals don't deserve the same rights as the rest of us because homosexuality is a sin, then should we also withdraw rights from adulterers because adultery is a sin?  Should alcoholics be treated differently because they struggle with sin?  Maybe anyone that has ever cursed, lied or gossiped should have some right withheld from them as punishment for that sin?  Where does it end?  The Bible doesn't have a rating scale of sin.  Sin is sin.  And every last one of us walking on this earth today has sinned.

I am ready for this campaign to be over.  But that will not end the way I feel.  I've been asked, "Why don't more christians behave like you?"  For that my only answer is, "They are forgetting to act like Christ."

Looking Good for Less

Friday night was our annual Pillars Party for United Way. I didn't attend last year, due to the fact that I was nearly due with the boys.  This year, I was happy to go and work as a greeter, but was getting frustrated that my nice dresses (that are appropriate for an October event) were not fitting well with the twin pouch I still carry.

I was pretty discouraged Friday morning, and grabbed two dresses that are ill fitting.  I left for work in a horrible mood, and only smiled when Mo said to me, "Kaia is going to turn 8, the babies are going to turn 1, I'm going to turn 5 and you'll be 18."  I of course agreed with him.

My friend and co-worker Kate brought me a surprise back from lunch.  A black tube dress that has lots of drapey fabric.  She has the same dress in pink, and loves it because when her Crohn's is acting up it helps cover up her tummy.  She gave me the black dress as she had never worn it.  Then on my lunch break, I made a quick run to Target.  I added a blue scarf ($3.24), a bracelet set ($4.39), and a nice set of earrings ($3.48).  I already had a pair of hand me down black heels and some Spanx to help with the twin pouch (both from Kate as well).

I think it was a fabulous look for under $12.  I felt amazing, and that's what really counts.

Please Read

This post really hits home. I think it should for all of us. We should stop pretending, and start being ourselves.

A Day in My Life

Last week I was supposed to see a new doctor to follow up on my appointment in August.  Somehow though, I was rescheduled to see the Physician's Assistant that our whole family sees.  There is something to be said for having someone that knows all about you.  As I explained to him that the last doctor told me to exercise 30 minutes a day, he smirked and asked "When?"  That was my thought.  I would love to exercise 30 minutes a day, but am having trouble figuring out the when.  And this is why:

5 am Wake up.  Most often one of the boys or both will also wake up right at 5.  Then I make breakfast for Dana, make coffee, and pack Dana's and Kaia's lunches.  Also during this time I'm usually changing diapers and giving the boys milk and crackers.  Kaia gets up right around the time Dana is leaving, and I try to get Morgan up then as well.  I get showered, dressed, and ready for work.  Hopefully by 7:30 am we are all piling into the Suburban.

I take Kaia to the child care at her school.  All 5 of us walk in, drop off Kaia, and the 3 boys and I head back out.  Then we do the 20 minute drive to Grammy and Papa's where I drop the boys off and I hopefully am at work by 8:30.

Once at work, I sink into my chair in my calming green office, and dig into work.  My work varies day to day.  Right now, it is campaign heavy, in the spring it will be community investment heavy.  Today, I'll be in Ellensburg for a Statewide Combined Federal Campaign meeting.  Before I leave I need to send off my charity listing info to the printer, and run reports for the audit.

Work is over at 5, and I usually head by the grocery store, or stop to buy fuel on my way out to get the boys.  We arrive home somewhere between 6 and 6:45.  I give the boys bottles while I make dinner, look through the mail, and listen to Kaia's day at school (or break up the fights between her and Morgan).  After we eat dinner, the twins go to bed, and it's time for the older 2 to get ready for bed.

Dana and the older 2 usually go to bed about the same time, and I follow around 9:30 or 10.  Occasionally I feel adventurous and I try to watch a show that comes on at 10 like the Mentalist.  It works for a few minutes, but I'm usually asleep on the couch by the first or second commercial.  If I'm lucky, I'll get to sleep all night long, if not I'll be up at least once or twice before 5 am.

Maybe you see an opening for exercise?  I think my best bet is to use my lunch break.  For now, I can go on walks outside, but come winter, that isn't an option.  That's when some sort of gym membership or class is going to be helpful, but anything close by is expensive! 

A Day in the Life

I love looking at the lives of others.  Especially when their world is so different from my own.  My grandma's life in Mexico is definitely different from my day to day.  I asked her if I could share this with you.  I think this could be an interesting little series.  If you would, please send me your typical day and I will post it, linking back to you, in the coming weeks.  I promise to share my own typical day as well.

Today is a guest post from my Grandma Florence also known as Flossie of "Flossies Fast Food Fly Through" A feeding station for hummingbirds.

I'll try to tell you a few things I do daily.
 

Before dressing I shake my clothes & shake out my shoes. I have never found a scorpion but others have, Scorpions are not every day things but they are around. I have never been stung.

We do not flush toilet paper. The pipes may be cement tile that is rough & snags the paper to clog the pipes. I have a sign that says No paper to be flushed. The bank & Library have signs too. I keep small plastic bags to put the paper in & the garbage man comes by every day except Sun. I have to have the garbage out before 7 am! 

We have a dry season & a rainy season. Of course it can rain a bit in the dry season too. The ad for our area calls it "The Land of Eternal Spring". It never freezes but I saw 43* once & 45-50*some nights in Dec & Jan. Rainy season can begin in May but usually about June 13th & lasts until Oct. Dry season the mountains are brown & rainy season beautiful green. 

Most Mexicans shop daily. They eat lots of corn flakes for breakfast & sweet rolls & milk or hot chocolate. The little stores make sandwiches of this ham like loaf & cheese & hot pepper & wrap them & sell them. The Mexican people eat anytime. If you go any place by bus or car you will see small stands & people eating. There is no water to wash hands or dishes so they put a plastic bag over the plastic plate & a new bag for each person. Saves water anyway. 

I walk to the store most mornings. Not for the warm buns that all stores sell, but looking for damaged or over ripe bananas. I love bananas & so does my dog. I buy a Papaya there each week. I buy eggs there too. They are sold by the Kilo = 2.2 lbs & are put in a plastic bag to carefully carry home. I have 2 cartons to put them in. There can be 14-16 eggs depending how big they are. Eggs are on the counter NOT in the fridge. On Fri morning I walk 4 blocks round trip to the plaza where they sell fruit only on Fri. I usually buy a few things & carry them home. Then Sun at 10:30 am my pastor picks me up for church. Near the church is a grocery store & then a tortilla place & then a fruit market so he stops & I buy more fruit & veges & corn toastadas at the store.  That is where I get heavy stuff as I get a ride to my door. I get my Jiciama there. It is a root vegetable that you peel & slice or cube to eat raw. Some people put lemon juice & salt on them but I don't. I seldom eat meat but eat beans,brown rice & barley & cheese & eggs. My eggs have been less than $1.00 a Kilo & here eggs are $1.50 on sale & MORE a dozen. I give away parsley,basil & lemon grass.   All fruit & veggies that can't be peeled we soak in drops of a disinfectent to kill parasites.  I have a friend who soaks melons,Papayas,bananas & eggs. I don't! Parasites can make you sick. I take a pill about once a year to kill off any I may have. Some people take a pill every 6 months. I do peel & cut up my Papaya & Cants  & put in quart Yogurt tubs that people give to me. Then they are ready to use.

I used to walk to the post office, but now as it is up a slight hill my gardener brings me my mail. I found out he went after mail for another lady so asked him to bring mine. 

Progress

Things are moving along at the Kihn house!

The boys turned 11 months old yesterday, and have started taking several steps at a time.  In no time, we will have 2 walkers to keep up with.  Their 1st Birthday is just around the corner, and I already have their Halloween costumes planned.

Morgan, who no longer likes to be called Mo, has slept 2 of the past 3 nights in a bed other than Dana's and mine.  Both he and Kaia have been going to bed at 8:30 pm without much fuss as well.  Another huge milestone, he has started going into the bathroom when he needs to poop.  He's not using the toilet yet, but it is the first step to being potty trained according to the method I'm following.  I owe a huge thank you to Mrs. Mordecai for sending me the article on this way of training.

Kaia is cruising through 2nd grade.  She is reading 3rd grade level books, doing really well on her math homework when she applies herself, and has already been to one birthday party this school year. 

Dana and I are enjoying having our bed to ourselves, and having a quiet house after all the kids are in bed.

The cats still do not like Nemesis, and Nemesis loves to terrorize the cats.  This is just one of the photos I snapped during the 5 minutes Cinnamon and Nemesis got along.

My second 24 hours wasn't nearly as easy as the first.  I didn't want to eat my foods, and everything I thought to make for dinner had something that wasn't allowed. I made fried rice, bbq pork and egg rolls for Dana and the kids to eat.  I did cheat and had a few scrap pieces of bbq pork, but only because I wanted the super hot mustard.  I love that stuff.    I had roasted chicken thighs and broccoli.  This morning I had leftover cold chicken and Ry Krisps with cream cheese for breakfast.  For lunch, I met my brother at Pizza Hut for their buffet.  I couldn't eat the pizza or pasta, but I enjoyed 2 plates of salad.  Tonight I think we'll have meatloaf for dinner.  Some of the grumpiness I can tell is hormones, and some is sugar withdrawl.  I also remembered that I only did the 2 week diet last time, because I figured out quite quickly my trigger foods.    So I will likely do the same as last time.  I will add back in the foods I know I can eat, and stay away from the sugary stuff and the sweet baked goods which are usually what get me the worst.

Back To Health 4 weeks of Yeast Control

I've finally had it.  I'm tired of being tired, achy, and fatigued.  I'm tired of not being able to type because my hands are tingly and weak.  I'm tired of falling asleep on the couch because I'm so worn out at the end of the day.  I'm tired of wearing one size of clothing one week, and being at least a size bigger the next due to intestinal bloating.  I'm tired of my allergies going non-stop, in spite of the loratadine I take daily.

There are many foods that can trigger pain and fatigue.  Most programs and books recommend I talk to my doctor about an elimination diet.  Then I would cut almost all foods out, then slowly add back in to figure out my triggers.  The thing is, yeast or candida sensitivity is always on the list of triggers. It's been shown women with endometriosis struggle with candida sensitivity.  People with fibromyalgia often struggle with it.  And my allergist diagnosed me with a candida sensitivity.  So it makes sense for me to use my already prescribed yeast control program first.  If it brings relief, as it has in the past, then I know that there aren't any other trigger foods.  If it doesn't bring relief, then I can begin eliminating other trigger foods.

You may wonder why I ever stopped following the program, if it worked well the first time.  Honestly the program is designed so you can add back in foods, and just make some changes to your normal diet once the yeast is under control.  The problem is, it felt so restrictive the first time, although looking at it again, it's not.  Also the long term program allows you to add back in most foods.  Just not in a large quantity, and not all of them.  It's too easy to just start adding in everything, and the icky feeling from it comes on so slowly you don't realize how sick you are getting.

So join me over the next 4 weeks as I follow the program, outlined in Back To Health by Dennis W Remington, MD and Barbara Higa Swasey, RD.
The four main concepts are:
1. Most food from plant sources has natural fungal inhibitors.
2. Carbohydrates should be eaten as long as they are complex carbohydrates.
3. Avoid foods that contain yeast and fungi.
4. Eat enough food.
So for the first phase, I can eat the following:
All meats, fish, poultry and eggs.
All vegetables, including scrubbed potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and avocados.
All legumes.
All whole grains, including barley, corn, millet, oats, brown rice and wheat.
Whole grain muffins, biscuits, pancakes, waffles, rice cakes, whole wheat tortillas, and corn tortillas.
Hot or cold whole grain cereals.
Butter and cold pressed oils.
Milk, plain yogurt (I don't like flavored anyway), buttermilk, cream cheese, ricotta cheese, and cottage cheese.
Catsup, mustard, mayo, miso and soy sauce may be used sparingly.

Foods to eliminate:
All sugars and sugar containg foods.
White flour, refined grains.
Yeast- yeast breads, pastries, crackers...
All cheese, except for those listed above
All fruit and fruit juices
All coffee, tea, herbal teas (I will not be following this part, as I found relief the first time while drinking coffee.  I will limit my coffee intake, but not eliminate.)
Leftovers that have been in the fridge more than 2-3 days.
Obvious fungi- mushrooms
Peanuts and peanut products
Processed meats- lunch meat, bacon, ham, corned beef
Vinegar soaked products- pickles, relish, sauerkraut
All artificially sweetened drinks and foods

After 2 weeks on this diet, I can begin to add unsweetened cooked fruits.

So now you have my plan.  Does it suck? Yeah, kind of.  I like fresh fruit, and enjoy cheese.  But we live in a valley full of produce, and I can eat all the veggies I want. 

Stay tuned for my menus.  Already I have oat groats cooking on the stove for breakfasts and lunches.  Tonight I think I'll cook up some brown rice.

Sewing

I used to sew a lot.  I made myself skirts and dresses, then I had kids, and pretty much stopped sewing.  Now I have a few items that need re-worked, and I found this blog: newdressaday.wordpress.com.  It's been all over the news, and it is such a fun blog.  I spent well over an hour looking at her creations. 

First I have a cute dress my mom got for free in the locker room at work.  It had been abandoned, and it was my size.  So after a year my mom brought it home. I quickly found out why it was abandoned.  It is poorly constructed.  I'm thinking I will just cut it below the armholes, add a band of elastic, and have a sleeveless tube dress.

The more difficult piece of clothing is a work shirt.  All staff and upper volunteers were given these very nice shirts.  Only problem is, I don't like the way shirts like this fit me.  They are too manly.  Any ideas on some tailoring that could make it softer more feminine?

Fibromyalgia

And this is why my family loves me.  Rather than calling around to tell people I went to the doctor and will start seeing an internist because I have fibromyalgia, that I'm being screened for arthritis and some other stuff, I now have a prescribed exercise regimen, and that I got a depo medrol shot that is already allowing me to move better, I blog.  Normal people call their family and tell them, me,  I write it out for everyone.

The news was really no surprise.  For 16 years I've had spells where my skin felt like it was on fire, my muscles hurt, my bones ached and I had no energy.  I've always learned to live with it, and sometimes it would go away for a really long time.  But, now we have 4 kids at home, and my family needs me.  I have spent the last 2 weeks being completely worthless at home.  The simplest tasks were left undone because I was too fatigued to do them.

It started this time with a nasty allergy attack due to nearby fires.  I had been feeling great with all the working out I was doing, but the allergy attack took me out.  I couldn't do it.  Even once I started taking Claritin, there was just a slight improvement.  This past Saturday the pain started in my left arm.  Every day since, I've lost all energy and the pain returned by afternoon.  I'd make it home, fix dinner, put kids to bed, and promptly pass out on the couch.  Every morning I was still exhausted.  Today though, I could barely move.  I struggled to make coffee.  It hurt to squeeze toothpaste on my toothbrush.  And as much as I didn't want to see a doctor, I knew I needed to.

I'm thankful the shot is already helping move better, and I even hope to start on the new exercise regimen tonight.  I have to do a minimum of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, 3 times a week, and add yoga or pilates as well.  This doctor doesn't want me to try any of the medicines on the market for fibromyalgia, and I agree.  The long term immune effect isn't known, and I'm still young.  I will receive the shot as needed, exercise, and continue using antihistamines to control my symptoms.  If the blood work shows anything, we'll deal with those as needed.  For now, I'm looking forward to being a mom and wife again, instead of a cranky lump.