A Gluten Free Year in Review

This time last year I was in the beginning of a life change.  I was made to go on a strict gluten free diet for life.  You can read about that here.  It took about 3 months or so before I started noticing a significant difference in my health.  I actually got worse before I got better. 

So, what's different?

This blog is a huge reminder to me that I do need to keep going because I am so much better off!  These are not in any particular order.

1.  No more abdominal pain.  I suffered with severe abdominal pain, a searing pain that felt like I had been run through with a hot poker.  There was no getting away from it and I was taking 3 different antacid medications daily just to keep it under control.  While it helped for the most part, I would still have attacks once a month or so.  I have been off the meds for a year and actually had to throw away the liquid script because it expired!  Praise God!

2.  Fingernails!  I have never been able to grow my nails out.  They would fold or peal.  I now have beautiful nails that are strong and healthy.  I would guess that is Jared's favorite change. 

3.  I used to get so sick.  And stay sick.  For days. The kids would have something and I would catch everything and it would take so much longer to recover.  I have been so much healthier (funny typing this right now because I've been sick, but overall this is very true:))

4.  My depression and anxiety are better.  I have been on anti-depressants off and on for years.  I recently went off my meds after 2.5 years.  I feel healthier and more balanced than I have in a long time. 

5.  No more bloat.  I used to call it "evening bloat" and I would drink teas, try and eat differently, drink lots of water, etc.  Anything to get rid of the rounded belly that I would get every evening.  Super uncomfortable and super unattractive.  Misery.  It's completely gone.  The only time I deal with it is if I accidentally consume gluten. 

6.  I have spent years taking Peri-Colace.  I took three a day for years in order to help my tummy trouble.  Even that didn't fix it.  I have been laxative free for a year.  My life long issue...gone...poof... no more.  PARTY!

7.  Hair!  I cut off 12" off my hair because it was getting so thin and brittle.  I was loosing tons of hair and would blame it on my thyroid only to have my docs say my thyroid results were within normal range.  So why was I losing 1/2 my hair?!!! It's grown back in and is thick as ever.

8.  Tonsil stones.  Gross, don't look it up unless you have a strong stomach.  I used to get these little pockets of infection on my tonsils and I haven't had a single one since going gluten free.

9.  All the others were physical but this one is emotional.  I've had issues with food my whole life.  At my heaviest (9 mos pregnant) I weighed 272lbs.  I have always had a very strong emotional attachment to food and losing so much of what I used to eat was a very trying.  I was very angry and weepy about it for the first few months.  However, in the end, my emotional attachment to food has been severed and I'm so thankful.  I eat what I can, what's available, or I go without.  That's it.  No tears, no emotion.  It is what it is.  That has been so freeing.

I had really hoped that going gluten free would help me with my weight but I figured out gluten free baking pretty quickly :)  It's been a huge change and costly one, but I can't deny the health benefits.  I was so angry when I first was diagnosed, but now I see the undeniable benefits and I'm so thankful for my gluten free life. 

Kelby James

Kelby is front and center :)

Due to the family not being able to get together for Christmas until today, the Altic's planned a big gathering full of food, fun, and presents up in Platte City this morning.

Unfortunately my children started vomiting last night.  In order to spare you the details, just know not a lot of sleep happened last night.  Just cleaning and shampooing carpets.

I decided to to run up to the in-laws and exchange our gifts so the kids could still have their Christmas. 

Within moments of arriving, Kelby quietly walked up and stood next to me waiting for me to stop chatting.  Patient kid :)

As soon as I took a breath he handed me a small thoroughly wrapped box.  With bright eyes he said, I bought you a Christmas present with my own money.  With a little prompting from Alanna, he explained that he needed to decide to give me the gift for Christmas vs my birthday in March.

I opened the box to reveal a silver cross necklace. 

Kelby explained that he wanted to give it to me now because he knows I've been so sad since we lost our kitty. 

What a sweet, considerate little boy.  I love you Kelby James. 

Too Much

I haven't been on here in so long and I'm not real sure why I'm on now other than I'm struggling and this has always been very cathartic. 

Yesterday was one of the more traumatic experiences of my life. 

The day before Thanksgiving we put our beagle down.  It was sudden and very hard on our kids.  We had her for 6 years plus and they don't really remember life before her.  Watching my children grieve is so very difficult. 

My reaction to loss is life, to add on.  When my dad died we had Anneliese.  Something about looking forward to life brings hope and clears away the darkness of grief.

Three days after Sophie died I found a kitten.  A beautiful little fur ball that brought so much happiness and snuggles.  We named her Ping, short for Penguin due to her black and white coloring and Liesey's obsession with all things Penguin.

She is half ragdoll half Norwegian Forest.  She is so tiny and such a lover.  It was obvious very quickly that we had hit the kitty lotto.  Quickly trained, super playful, not aloof at all, snuggled her way into our hearts.  She immediately lifted the spirits of our house.

Yesterday morning I was working on laundry.  I pulled baby Ping out of the empty dryer three times over the course of several loads of laundry.  Each time I took her to Anneliese's bedroom trying to redirect her.  I hadn't ever heard of kittens getting into front loading washers (which is apparently very common with front loaders) and honestly, I wouldn't have ever thought it a possibility since it is wet. 

I loaded some laundry and then went to our bathroom to get a couple more items.  While I was away she apparently hopped into the basin and we were completely unaware.  I put a few more items in, never saw her, she didn't meow or anything.  I started the load.

Fast forward a hour later when the buzzer went off and I went to change out the load.  To my horror, our baby kitty had been trapped inside.  I scooped her up and screamed for Jared.  I can't even describe the absolute panic and terror I felt/feel.

I was so in love with her tiny self.  We all were.  To see my children's faces, to see them break down and suffer through a loss again and knowing it was my mistake, I am absolutely beside myself.  Not only did we all just love her but the way in which she died.  Finding her.  I am so heartbroken.

If you have a moment I would greatly appreciate prayer.  Prayer for healing, prayer for forgiveness,  prayer that the image of finding her would fade. 

Weekend Project

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, I have been tossing around the idea of switching out my "china cabinet", "buffet", or whatever you wanna call it.  It's almost 6ft long and while I have always LOVED it, it just served as a catch all.  I can't fathom it's been cleared off for more than 24 hours since we moved in 2 years ago.

While browsing Facebook swap and shops, I saw this cute cabinet but we just didn't have the extra money so I dismissed it.  I kept thinking about it and even mentioned it to my friend Michelle.  I felt it would open up the kitchen while providing storage for school.  She immediately asked if I would sell her my current cabinet.  I checked to see if the Facebook cabinet was still available and it was!

Here it is!  I don't know if you can see but near the top there are two brass hook and eye closures screwed into the doors.  Ugh, Frustrating because this is an antique with dove tail joints.  I removed those, filled the holes, and installed magnet catches.  It's only 3 feet wide and the difference in space amazing.  It needed a little TLC so first thing was to replace the shelving supports.  They were tiny and split, not to mention stapled in.  I don't know how it held all the books the previous owner had in it!

I love Home Depot's cutting area.  I bought the 1x2 (for $1.25) and they cut it into 6 12" sections for me.  These are literally twice the size of the previous supports.  I glued and screwed them in.  Perfect!  Now it's time for paint.  The interior was multiple colors and now with my new parts it needed a fresh coat of paint.  Red paint of course.

After all those are chicken wired doors and a pop of red is my favorite decorating tip.  After painting the shelving, I couldn't wait to get them on their new supports.

While at Home Depot I picked up a 6ft board to make the Bakery sign I have been wanting for 2 years.  While I waited for the red to dry I attacked my new board, quite literally.  I hammered, sanded, hit, poked, and whacked it.  Once it was sufficiently distressed I painted it.  I was really wanting a hand painted sign that looked like a poor old baker threw it together and had it out front of his bakery. 

So here's the finished product!  Our new dining room and all it cost was a whopping $10 for the wood.  We had the paint and I sold the old cabinet for what the new cost.  The kitchen and dining room seem to have doubled in size.  Not so bad!!!

Random Thoughts

-Brennan comes home today after another week at camp.  This marks the end of church camp for our crew but they have VBS all next week at a neighboring church.  I'm excited because they offer dinner for the kids.  A whole week with no dinner prep for 5 kiddos?  Genius! 

-I am going to give up artificial sweeteners for at least the next month.  This is really huge for me.  Ever since I joined Weight Watchers 10 years ago I have consumed buckets of the stuff.  This decision will pretty much remove soda from my diet and that will be hard, but normally when I remove soda I drink tea laced with Splenda.  So...I guess I'll have to try this stuff called water (and an occasional Pepsi, my regular pop of choice).  I read an article posted by Ms. Jane that it can wreak havoc on gluten intolerant peeps (I don't know if you read Brit F. but that "peeps" was for you).  Slowly but surely, I'm willing to give up just about anything for a trouble free tum.  It some ways I really do feel blessed by this diagnoses.  My addiction to food is being tossed out with 70% of the food pyramid. 

-Jared and I are undergoing serious dental visits.  It's always been important to me to make sure the kids are cared for and with 5, even at UMKC Dental school, it's kept us on our financial toes.  I'm afraid we've neglected ourselves and now we're paying for it quite literally.  It seems as if we are making weekly visits to their campus between the two of us.  Brush, Floss, Rinse, everyday all day!  Otherwise you'll have no teeth and ain't nobody got time for that!

-It's mid July and I refuse to even think about school.  I love love love my summer days.  They go by wayyy too fast.  We don't typically start school until the first of September but I need to figure out what we need book wise and at least think about paying for it.  Anyway, anyone want to go swim???  :)

-God is so good.  I've had Liesey K Cakes public for a couple months and I have had a nice steady stream of business.  It has saved our bacon over the last couple months and is such a blessing.  I actually have two openings this weekend if you need some cookies/cupcakes/or a cake!

YUMBO Quick GF Low Carb Pizza

I just made such a yummy dinner I just had to share. 

First of all you need a round dish with about 1" high sides.  I used my smallest cake pan which is a 5" round.

Line it with parchment paper.

In a separate bowl mix 1 egg, 1tsp baking powder, 1/4 cup almond meal, 2TBS flax meal, 1TBS olive oil, garlic salt, onion powder, oregano to taste.

Spread egg mixture into the bottom of the pan.  Smear some (about 2 TBS) pizza sauce (I use Ragu Spaghetti sauce because it's GF and a family fav).

Then top with fav pizza toppings.  I used pepperoni and jalapeno. 

Finish with cheese and throw in the oven at 415 degrees for 12 mins (or until cheese starts to brown around edges). 

You now have a personal pan pizza that is gluten free and low carb, full of protein, fiber, and healthy fat!  It was so good and I was so excited to have a new option for a quick delicious meal.  I ate every bite all by myself.

Summer Fun!

We love the zoo

The zoo were there aren't many animals but lots to ride :)

Trying to get a better look

While the older boys and Dad were at camp we took the Young's to the zoo and had a beautiful day to linger about. After several hours (4.5 to be exact) we headed home and took a dip in the neighborhood pool. What a fun day with great friends!