Day3-4 of Elimination diet and fighting the Fibro

Day 3 of elimination diet
Today was a tough day overall. I can barely move. I think this has been a long time coming since the beginning of May I have mostly been in my bed with abdominal pain. So I forced myself to move every hour. I set the timer for 2 minutes and walked around my house slowly and up and down my stairs. In would go outside but it is raining.:(

I  also had to drag out the Epsom salts in a bath. I did a forward stretch and some bridges. I am the equivalent to the slow tortoise with achy muscles. Haha

Breakfast-
chicken
green beans
quinoa
strawberries
sunflower seeds
snack-
I drink this shale with coconut milk sometimes for my digestive health. I had that with strawberries and blueberries
Lunch-
Had another shake
Dinner-
Finished leftover soup
apple

Pain level still a whopping 5.

Day 4-
I am still trying to move despite the agony I feel everywhere. I vacuumed my room and cleared a surface off. Each day is progress as long as I keep moving. I also tried some new recipes!
Breakfast-
quinoa with coconut milk
strawberries
sunflower seeds
I also started my whole chicken in crock pot so I can have stock and dinner. See recipe below.This was okay but pretty bland so I will keep experimenting.
snack
shake with strawberries
lunch-
chicken
green beans
quinoa
snack-
another shake
dinner-
immune boosting chicken soup
kale chips, yummy and crunchy!

Day 15 for 31 days of May-keovers- We are halfway there!

"I learned that if we embrace what's happening, we are also embracing what is possible - and a road opens up for God to meet us halfway."

Suzan-Lori Parks

 

We are halfway through May already! It has definitely been a busy month. I feel like this month has been all about trying to embrace what is happening. I am definitely one of those people on a road trip, that keeps track of when we get halfway. I celebrate it. I feel like I am almost there! Whether it is halfway through your day, week, year, and school.  Celebrate the milestones. Realize how you have changed from the starting point.You can look back at what you have done to get to this point. It evokes several emotions. You may feel sad that the end is near or really happy. Every time I was pregnant I would count the months, halfway point and then the weeks up to the birth. It gave me something to look forward to.

We don't know how long we will be here on this earth. We can sit and count the days until our time is up or we can make the best of it. If we do all that we can do then God makes up the difference. The trouble is we don't know when we are halfway there. Everyday I fight whether I give in to my pain and thoughts or whether I push through. At 12 p.m. I try to look at my day and see if I am happy with what I have done. I meditate and try to relax because I am halfway through my day. Some of us manage our time and energy well, while others of us struggle to get through everyday. I feel so guilty laying in bed some days with really nothing to show for my efforts. A chronic illness can be controlled but not cured sadly. We can get in the car, turn the key, steer the wheel, push the gas peddle or brakes. We start the journey but we cannot see the bumps in the road. I can choose if I get up(get in car), commit to my energy to things(turn the key ), choose my to do list(steer the wheel). But just like a car I can only go so long before I am on empty. I need to know when I am on half a tank. I should refuel and rest, not wait until I am empty. The road ahead is my possibilities. I can only hope when I get in to drive that I am halfway to God's helping hands.

Today's assignment:
Choose something to celebrate today. It could be as simple as making it through the day. Maybe you are on a diet? Cancer treatment? Celebrate and embrace what is possible. I am handing you the keys to explore your road of possibilities!

Letter A-F Review and Obedience

Devotional: Obedience
1 Nephi 3:7
I will go and do the things the Lord commands. I am having him memorize this verse too!
Watch Nephi and the brass plates:

How can you be obedient in your life? Discuss the ways.
Letter Review: A-F
Numbers: Can count to 13

I have ABC flash cards that we use weekly. He matched uppercase with lower case and put the cards in ABC order.


We also played memory with pictures of fish that my Pre-K cut out. His little brother pretended with Barbie play scissors. We counted the cards to 20. We will need to work our way up to counting that without mixing the teens up.
At the end he dictated a story to me. I am really trying to get him comfortable with his writing. He is getting really good with his name.

Day 14 for 31 days of May-keovers-To eat it or not to eat it. That is the question!

I have been talking so much about the pain in my stomach lately. I am sorry about that. However, it has led me to the conclusion to try the elimination diet since my body has already been cleansed. Not fun by the way! Often it is not our diet but moving more or exercising that can help. So much of our day is spent sitting at a desk and/or our cars. I cannot control much about the pain I am feeling, but I can try to move more. I have been thinking I really need a workout buddy too. I need someone to push me because it hurts so bad to try to move most days.But for now I can see if food is the problem. I will share what I eat and rate my pain for that day. I am not sure how many posts I will devote to this, but this is something affecting my daily life. It is hard not to think about it. I chose this picture because I feel like I am looking at food very closely these days.I can't just wait until I receive a diagnosis so here I go on another food adventure!

Our food is our fuel. There are so many diets out there. Paleo, Vegan and gluten diets cost more to me in the long run. I have kind of dabbled in a little of each of the diet worlds.  It is also a social nightmare. I always have to say I can't eat that or there is nothing on the menu so I end up with an expensive salad or rice plate. There is no such thing as fast food for those with food allergies. It is all about planning ahead and it takes a lot of work.

5/13/15
Post scope-2 pieces of Udis gf bread
Dinner: Made a batch of soup with cut up carrots, mushrooms, celery, and onions. I also added 3-4 cloves of garlic from our garden, I might add, and onions. I had a bowl of that with quinoa and more toast. I also ate a little bit of chicken.
I then had another bowl before bed because I am starving!
pain on scale of 1-5. 1 being the least amount of pain. I am on a 5.

5/14/15
breakfast-leftover soup
sun flower seeds
coconut milk
strawberries
snack-apple

sunflower seeds
bowl of soup

Lunch-Chicken, sun flower seeds
green beans with quinoa

Dinner-Leftover soup, apple and sunflower seeds
Pain level is still a 5.

I also went to the doctor today and they did blood work and I am scheduled for a CT scan.

Today's assignment:
Choose to change or give up something in your diet. You could give up sugar for a week or try to eat less processed foods. Maybe you need to eat more fruits and vegetables? Another option is to cut back on portion sizes. Unless directed by your doctor, don't go on any fad diets. I just want you to make a little change so that you can be healthier. Besides the diet change, I am trying to eat slower and be mindful while I am eating. I am hoping this will lead to better conversation and digestion. We should not be human vacuums consuming all in our path! LOL

P.s. I have heard about fitness pal. It helps you count your calories https://www.myfitnesspal.com/

Day 13 for 31 day of May-keovers-When it feels like all is lost reach for a lifesaver

When I started doing my May-keovers this month I was not expecting it be so in depth. Ideas keep flowing to me like a river flows to the ocean. I guess when you hit a road block and you feel like everything is out of control, you ask for a life preserver to stay afloat. That is what I feel like lately. I am treading water and barely staying afloat. This feeling of limbo has me feeling all kinds of emotions. We don't always know why we feel the way we do. Our feelings can be like a fog rolling in. What we see or used to see is blurred or not even visible.

  "You are making me stressed." I said. After I said that I retracted my comment like I was in the court of law. No one can make me stressed or mad. They can provoke it but ultimately it is my attitude and response to the situation that makes me feel things. Individuals handle things and see things differently. For example, what if you fell into the ocean. Some people would panic and scream for help. Others may not even surface, but drown. I even bet a few people would actually be strong enough to tread water until they are rescued. We don't always know how we will react in a given situation until we are in it. Maybe you were pushed in. MAN OVER BOARD!

Let me throw you a lifesaver! If you are lucky someone will notice that you need help. If you went overboard the waves and the boat moving away from you make it hard to keep a good visual. According to protocol those on the boat should throw anything that floats to make a trail. A friend or a family member may not know how to get the lifesaver too you.  Here are four things that will float to make a trail to find you.

1. Know what is happening. Look up your symptoms, go to the doctor or talk to people who are going through something similar. That way when you do hit rough waters you have someone who is watching and keeping an eye on you!
2. What works for one person doesn't always work for you. Once you have gathered your information and done everything to figure out why you or your body feels this way; take it slow and try to not worry about the big picture. The focus should be about you and techniques to keep you afloat.
3. It will get better it just takes time. This is a hard one to hear but over time you will adjust to whatever your circumstances may be. This is your life line and if you follow it you will be pulled back to where you feel safe.
4. Stay in control of you. Don't flail around or you will waste your energy. Your attitude is the one thing that you and only you have control of.

 If you went over board in real life the water would be freezing cold so your job would be to survive! As I read more about what to do when you fall overboard I realized that I really didn't know so this has been enlightening! At some point you might want to educate yourself on what to do if you see someone fall in or if you fall in. see more details here

Today's assignment:
Do you feel like you are just trying to survive? I know we all do sometimes. Take a step towards making things better. It could be accepting something you have been hoping will go away. You may need to ask for extra help. It could be just doing something a little differently. You can make little changes in habits, diets, routines, relationships, health and our attitudes. You are not alone and there is no reason why you should keep being a victim. All you need to do is grab that lifesaver and you are almost there!

Day 12 for 31 days of May-keovers-Elimination becomes illumination

Three years ago I was so sick I never thought that I would ever feel better. I had so much fatigue, pain and depression. I went to a GI who did an endoscopy. It cleared me out financially along with the blood work I had to do too. I called and they told me I had Mono but said nothing else. My friend, who happens to be my best friend now, kept telling me I should see her doctor. Finally, after she practically made the appointment and dragged me there, I had this general Physician look at my blood work. What happened next I will never forget! It took 1 or 2 minutes to look at my labs, and he asked how long I had had Celiac?

I said "What?" in disbelief. Tears ran down my shocked face as I received confirmation from several other doctors he showed it to. Celiac. Well, it made sense but I knew little about it, except that I would have to eliminate Gluten. Little did I know how difficult it would be. Gluten is in EVERYTHING! Yet, three years later I have been Gluten Free and a label reading expert. When I eliminated the problem I found relief. I had to give up a lot of things I loved. Oh bread how I miss you! I eat the GF bread but it is like cardboard in comparison. It is  good though for what ingredients are available to work with..

Several months ago my back started hurting. Not just like I had a bad knot in it or something but really hurting. I was diagnosed with FIBROMYALGIA. My stomach had been hurting and I figured out it was soy. I suspected dairy might be hurting my stomach also. Eliminated. I started to feel better and then almond milk and nuts hurt.  On May 1rst I was in so much pain maybe my body went into shock. I was so sick! Day after day since then ALL foods seem to hurt my stomach. Tomorrow I get a scope done to see what is up. I can only eat clear liquids right now and even the broth and fruit juice hurts! I could use some illumination right about now!

Who likes being kept in the dark? Not me! I hate the unknown.Illumination to me is not just light but a bright light of insight or being brought to an awareness. It is improvement and edification. What in your life is hindering you in some way? Are you too busy to enjoy anything? Do you have people in your life that bring you down? Clutter in your house or mind? Do you have debt weighing you down? When you ELIMINATE what is holding you back you should over time start to feel this illumination. It will radiate and spread through your life. It should feel like a heavy weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

Eliminating gluten from my diet made me feel stronger and happier. I stopped getting colds that would last and turn into Bronchitis. At one point I was on 3 different antibiotic/steroids pre-diagnosis. I miss food I can't eat but I would never go back! The pain is not worth it!

Today's assignment:
Choose something in your life to eliminate or change. Pay attention to how you feel. You could journal about it too. You know that is what I would do! :) For me I am going to try the elimination diet. I will be eliminating most common foods that cause allergies over a period of time and adding them back in slowly. I am hoping for some ILLUMINATION here soon.

P.S.-Thank you to all who have helped me or showed they care. I am thankful for your thoughts and prayers.

Day 10-11 for 31 days of May-keovers- 3 ways to focus on progress not perfection

I have to confess that I am a big movie and T.V. show watcher! This has especially been the case since for the last month I have not been able to eat anything without extreme pain in my stomach. Yesterday I was watching Switched at Birth. I don't want to get into to big  synopsis of the show . Just to explain so it isn't so random, this show is about how 2 families lives change when they find out that someone else raised their child and they raised theirs. The Kennishe's discover their baby was raised by Regina Vasquez, and that she is deaf. Mr. Kennish was talking to one of his deaf pitchers who was struggling in English. He had someone else write his paper for him. Coach Kennish told him to focus on progress and not perfection. I have been thinking about that since yesterday.

FOCUS is like a game of darts......

1.Focus is defined as the center of interest or activity. I want you to think of a target. In the middle of this target is a big red circle. This can be anything that we are looking to achieve. The odds of us throwing a dart and hitting that bulls eye are pretty slim. It takes many throws and missing that target to achieve that bulls eye and the feeling of success that comes with it. You could just hold the dart and run up and put it in the middle, but you would be cheating yourself out of the process. It may be frustrating especially if you don't have very good aim. Hopefully with time you will get better at it and enjoy the game as well! Aim high!

like a CAT.........

2.Don't just wait, go after it! You have to POUNCE! To a cat something will catch its eye and they will crouch down and focus on it and only that. When the moment is right then they pounce. They are quite the hunters. Go on a hunt. Figure out what you want and list your targets.

Like a CAMERA....

3.Just because something is blurry or unclear doesn't mean you move on. You need to stop, look, and reposition like you would do on a cameras lens. FOCUS on what you can change. Some subjects move too fast and you miss it! That is okay, then you can either wait or find a new subject. Other subjects are still and you have time to catch them in just the right light. Sometimes we miss opportunities or they don't go like we planned. other times our opportunities are right in front of us but we walk right by.


These 3 ways of focusing all have something in common. They all require aim. We all want to aim for perfection but get discouraged when we miss the target or it is too blurry to see. When we focus on what we want we start the progression. You can't skip the progression of knowledge you gain from going through K-6. Each year you add upon what you learn and you practice and refine your skills. Each year it gets harder. The progress is what shapes us, our character. It is like if we look at the darts we threw that missed, and pull them from their landing spot, we are left with holes. You can see where you have been and still see the bulls eye. We focus on our wonderful journey and watch ourselves learn and grow. When we focus on perfection we miss all the steps we took to get there. I feel like perfection is an optical illusion. It can blur our progress and our goals.

Today's assignment:
What is success to you? Where do your heart and dreams lie? What have you been putting on the back burner of procrastination, because you thought you would fail? Just start to write and find your targets and where you want your focus to be. I always wanted to paint but I didn't think I could. Well, I just finished my very first painting and I can't wait to do another one! Just make one small change and take a step forward towards your ideal life and goals. That is it! One step....or two. The point is not to miss the process and joy of reaching your ultimate goal. Aim high and life meets you somewhere in the middle.