Yippee!!!! We're Gluten Free!!!! (again!)

Yippee!!!! We're gluten free...again! I've spent the entire day cleaning out my kitchen, rearranging my cabinets, getting all of my gluten free grain and pasta organized...while taking a break perusing past issues of 'Living Without' magazine for inspiration and encouragment...and recipes! Yesterday, we got millet and brown sticky rice ground into flour, so I have a fresh supply...I'm ready.

For those of you who don't know...a little backround...I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue in the year 2000. I've also been anemic since I was around 20 years old. When I was finally diagnosed, I did hours and hours of research...what WAS it, what could I do about it, what was in my power to control...and became passionate about nutrition. I researched and bought an electric grain mill ( the only one made in the USA), ground whole wheat and made all of our food from scratch. Well...I felt no better, but assumed that it took time. Then, I had a little boy January 2002...he was nursed exclusively until around 10 months when he started food...but even before he started food, his stools were never normal and he was much gassier and crankier than my first 2 babies were.

We found out when he was around 18 months old, that I was 'sensitive' to wheat, soy and peaches. ( of all things!)...well, when I started googling the symptoms of food sensitivities, all of Ronnie's symptoms became clear and after speaking with the pediatrician, I took him ( and everyone else) off of all gluten and soy. We saw a difference in Ronnie right away...I didn't notice much difference in my pain or fatigue. Then, we switched to natural sweeteners and I noticed a difference. Well...over the years, after having all the children tested, we've discovered multiple sensitivities...Meghan reacts to peanuts, Sara used to get bellyaches from wheat...Ronnie and Anna both do better without wheat...and the last time I was checked, I was reacting strongly to wheat, soy, peaches, potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and corn. Well...I've been able to cut out almost all of those...but I need more discipline to get rid of them all! LOL

Knowing that Ronnie's surgery was December 3rd, I made the decision not to worry about a special diet for the holidays, starting with Thanksgiving. Well...I started a fibro flare shortly after Ronnie's surgery, then the past 2 weeks...I've been feeling much worse, and sick to my stomach as well. Thought maybe expecting....nope. Thought maybe the stomach virus...nope. I quit gluten 2 days ago, and no stomach upset at all...and a little more energy besides! It was pretty clear to me that I needed to live this way. So, I've been looking back thru past menus, different recipes, and planning my menu for the next 2 weeks...and feel such a peace about it! I know God couldn't possibly make it clearer to me that I need to live this way...along with simply eating fruits and vegetables raw..the way God made them. Will be dusting off my copy of 'Nourishing Traditions' again...making kefir smoothies daily, juicing carrots, and making 'green lemonade' (romaine lettuce, spinach, apples and lemons with filtered water in the blender...it's delicious!)....knowing that I'll feel better, be healthier and so will my family. So to celebrate...we had our gluten free New Years Eve!

We made a wonderful GF pizza crust, baked it, then brushed it with olive oil, added a sprinkle of garlic powder, then put sauteed chipped steak, mushrooms and onions on and put mozzerella cheese on top. It was sooooo good! With a salad, with garlic vinigrette, and some cold shrimp. Now we're watching a good movie with a roaring fire in the fireplace( while the wind blows and it snows outside)...then some special rootbear floats for dessert. What a great way to ring in the new year...we're all together as a family, remembering what we are thankful for over the past year, having some special food...mostly healthy ( minus the floats!)...and gluten free! I'm actually looking forward to getting back to simple, healthy eating! Here is to a healthy new year! ~Sue~

Homeschool Humor: Part 1

Alrighty, so I'm writing a short humorous book all about the adventures of homeschooling. I am going to try to post excerpts of it once a week. There is nothing bad in it, and it is really funy (If I do say so myself). This week, the excerpt will be from chapter 1. If you don't think it is funny, sorry! I thought it all up originally, so some things might not be funny. Then again, if it came from me, it just might be... So sit back, relax, and get ready for: EVIL PENCIL ATTACK!

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“Mom! Where’d my pencil go? It was right here a minute ago!” A scream peals out over the phone call, educational computer game, and Leapster noises. “Honey, I’m a little busy! Look in the junk drawer!” Mom answers, frantically trying to find her own pen to write down a date for a conference. “Mommy, my crayon disappeared!” Anna tries to get her mother’s attention, but failing. This is what happens at least ten times a day in our house: no writing supplies! Now, like any good mom, my mom goes out at least twice a year and buys out the pencil section of Office Max. She distributes the color coded pencils, normally twenty to each child. Off they go, proudly vowing to keep them all in one place and use one per two weeks. One week later: “Mom, I can’t find my pencil!” Sound familiar? It happens to all, except maybe to the people who attract organization like flies (Ooh, I have always despised that saying!) But why is it that they go and leave us broken hearted? Maybe because they are EVIL!

Evil pencils, you say? You’re probably thinking, “Okay, Sara, time to check you into the asylum!” Don’t worry; I’m not offended; a lot of people have said that to me! Now think back: *THE PASSAGE OF TIME IS WHIRLING* When were you ever mean to pencils? I mean, really diabolically nasty to pencils? Maybe you’ve bitten them out of habit, or even broke off their precious tip while writing furiously. Okay, so those accident s aren’t our fault… but why do pencils hold such a grudge? Because secretly they are evil, human-hating supplies that prey on homeschoolers. What can we do about them? Buy them in bulk, but only distribute one per week per child/adult. That way, when they come around next week complaining about a lost pencil, you can calmly hand them their new weekly pencil, feeling like super mom for finally besting the beast of pencils. Oh, and by the way, have you seen my pencil?