Tax Time (Day 13-Jan. 27th)

Hmmmm, how to describe the last day and a half.  One word: taxes.  Yep it is that time of year again and being married to the marvelous man that I am we are never, never even close to filing late.  In fact if the calendar flips over to February, we are late.  This is a good thing and something I admire and am more than willing to ride along.  However let me add two more words to that first one: glitchy technology.  OOOOOHHHH the wonders of our modern age.  Everything is peaches and cream until it happens.  TWORK!  A glitch!  We must have had to restart our computer 5 times yesterday, run 3 scans, correct, disinfect, and clean.  I am so over having to think about doing anything harder on the computer than typing this blog post and checking my facebook page.

Then today, taxes finally filed, we start on the girls' passports.  My muddlers and I are heading up to Canada this summer to visit with my family.  Since the baby has never had a passport this is a great time to get her one.  I decide to double check the other passports.  Son, check. Still good (we missed our last trip up to Canada because his passport was expired!). Daughter #1, shoot. Expired.  Daughter #2, shoot. Expired.  Mine, ooooo cutting it close.  Expires the month after we get back from our trip!  Well whoop dee doo now we get to go and spend $315 on passports PLUS $33 for their passport photos.  Super fun. 

So we trek into the city (20-25 min from home).  Arrive at the courthouse.  And realize that I have forgotten ALL of the paperwork at home.  Birth certificates, expired passports, the whole thing.  Which means that we get to do it all over again next Monday, as that is the only weekday my hardworking man has off.  Garumph.

So I am off to enjoy a banana, avocado, coconut smoothie and then I am going to bed.

Menu Day 13

Breakfast:  Chocolate banola with coconut milk

Lunch: Homemade spaghetti sauce over zoodles (zucchini noodles-surprisingly delicious)

Supper: Greek veggie and bacon 'pizza'

Snack: banana, avocado, coconut smoothie

Think Excellent (Day 9 --Thurs, Jan. 23)

This has been a hard day for me.  I am exhausted from cooking and cleaning and homeschooling and extracurricular activities.  I'm tired of not eating rice, and pasta, and bread (all gluten free, egg free, and dairy free of course).  I want to be able to easy snack.  Garumph!  All I want to do is grab a plate full of tortilla chips and dip them in salsa and guacamole.  I want easy food!!!  And to top it all off I am pretty sure I am getting a cold.  It has been a very, very, very, very long time since I was sick.  I don't want to be sick.

Alright I'm done.  Truth be told I feel good.  (other than the whole getting sick thing :-) ). I feel...clean.  Food is starting to taste sweeter (though I don't think that super bitter hot cocoa will ever taste sweeter).  I feel good.  I can tell that my body is already functioning better.  Most of my candida symptoms have cleared up which is marvelous.  I have also been exercising more often this week and I can tell my body is responding positively there as well.

Wow that is amazing.  I sat down at my computer desk full of grouch and growl.  But as I wrote that second paragraph my mood began shifting.  Focusing on the positive things, despite feeling down, really does shift your emotions as well.  Hmmmm now to remember that the next time my children spend the day pushing each others (and my) buttons.  To look at each of them and remind myself of all the positive things about them.  My mom used to say that for every negative character trait there is a corresponding positive one.  Point in case my five year old is stubborn and independent.  If she thinks you are wrong it is nearly impossible to convince her otherwise...even with proof right in front of her.  BUT that stubborness if fostered correctly will become tenacity, which is not a bad thing at all.  That independence, which at five drives me bananas, will serve her well as a young woman and adult.  And that need to be right, if taught how to find the facts and adjust her opinions accordingly, could lead to a person who digs deep for the truth and doesn't take everything at face value. 
Yup, an amazing lesson just writing those first two paragraphs demonstrated:  focus on the positive.  It is even biblical!

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philipians 4:8

Menu Day 9

Breakfast:  Choco Monkey Smoothie

Lunch:  Leftover shepherds pie

Dinner: Ratatouille

Snacks: Chocolate banola, butternut squash soup, zucchini/onion/ham saute

Learning Lessons (Day 7 Sugar Detox)

So in I came from doing the milking this morning only to hear my children before I even got to the house.  Yes, my wonderful, sinful, young muddlers were in the midst of a finger pointing sibling yell fest.  Joy (insert sarcasm).  I started to join them.
"I don't care, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, it doesn't matter!  Whatever it is canNOT be worth the fighting and the tears. It doesn't matter!  I don't care!"

And then it hit me.  I was adding to the problem.  I was making it worse.  I was informing my children that their concerns (no matter how trivial) didn't matter!
Normally at this juncture in the process I would internalize my shame and keep on with the lecturing.  Today I did something different because of two different things that had pierced my parenting bubble yesterday.  The first was this article written by Dr. Vanessa Lapointe of The Wishing Star.  And the second was a long facebook 'note' another girl posted saying basically the same thing only adding the gospel truth to it. 
 

Sooooooo, I paused.

I washed the milk bucket.

I began rinsing the milk filter.

Behind me my son began crying.  Big tears of absolute sadness.  Normally I may have chosen to ignore this.  Or more likely I may have given him a hug, but without saying anything or perhaps lecturing some more.  Today I hugged him and then asked what was going on.  Gulps, more tears, and it slowly came out, "I hate being yelled at and getting in trouble. But sometimes I get so angry I just can't keep it in.  I just go all AAAAAARGH."  Bingo.  There it is. The truth.
Today I helped this all play out different.  Today I HEARD him.  And the truth is sometimes I just can't keep it in and I go all AAAAAAARGH! And the truth is, that is just being human.  Soooo we chatted about that.  How everyone has trouble and does things that are unkind, or hurtful, or mean.  How at some point everyone has lost it.  BUT I informed him that I love him, no matter what, and that we have a great, big God who loves him no matter what.  And that same great, big God will live in us and help us act right with His strength.  Now I was much wittier and gave real life examples of my own struggles controlling my temper, both helping to ease the tension (giggling ensued) and pointing out that indeed "there is no one righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10) Not even moms.  BUT "sin shall not be your master because you are not under law, but under grace." (Romans 6:14) and "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20). 
 
Let me put it more simply.  This is what my son was told this morning, he was told he was HUMAN, and LOVED with a love that had no conditions upon it. We are sinners, through and through.  We are going to mess up, time and time again, but we can learn from our moments of frustration and anger, we can call upon God to help us and forgive us...and we an realize that we are going to have to do this again and again.  He can KNOW that I love him and he can talk to me no matter what!

The outcome was he returned to doing dishes with a smile on his face AND patience with his little sisters.  It is several hours later and still he is showing patience and love and kindness to his sisters.
ALSO...I am responding to each of my children with more love and compassion.  With a voice inflected with interest showing them that what they are saying IS important and DOES matter.

I know this is a lesson that will have to be repeated, both with my children and with myself, over and over again.  But it is a lesson worth repeating.  I desire my children to feel loved, to change their behavior, not because I have threatened them or yelled at them, but because they desire to show love and patience (with God's help).  I want to see hearts changed first so the behavior changes will stick.  So the behavior flows from the inside out instead of from the outside in.


Menu: Day 7

Breakfast: Cranana hemp protein smoothie (This is pretty yum!)

Lunch: Shepherds Pie with cauliflower/sweet potato mash

Dinner: Leftover Shepherds pie

Snacks: coconut meltaways, chocolate banola, herbal teas

Babies!

Baby, baby, baby.  Probably my most favorite thing about owning dairy goats are the babies.  Every spring little bouncing baby goats make their debut and they are soooo adorable it is ridiculous.  Except this year of course.  Oh, they are adorable, no mistake.  BUT they arrived at the beginning of December instead of the spring!  On the coldest day of the year to date!  With snow falling! (Now I grew up on the prairies of Canada, so this shouldn't be a huge deal, but here in Southern Oregon snow is a bit of a novelty).  Brrrr, goat chores in winter can be c-c-cold.

Two muddlers and 3 babies (Sled, Frosty, and Ginger Snap)

Day 5:

Breakfast: Choco monkey smoothie (I really like this smoothie!)

Lunch: Left over parsnip and bacon stuffed chicken, leftoever butternut squash soup, green salad with italian dressing (homemade)

Dinner: Baked pork chops, cauliflower, sauted zucchini and green onions.

Snacks: coconut lemon meltaway, bitter coconut hot cocoa (oy, so I cheated on this one by adding coffee hazelnut flavoring--it was sooo bitter I would have had to toss it and just couldn't bring myself to do it.  Still bitter, but it took the edge off). Fresh ginger and lime juice 'tea'.

Thief (Day 4-21DSD)

There are times I look around my house in wonder.  I marvel at the cascade of both clean and dirty laundry in my laundry room.  I wonder where those dirty dishes came from (didn't I just do those?).  I wonder if the floors really need to be swept and vacuumed.  I wonder, how did this become my life!

But I also look around and, as frustrated as I get with the perpetual mess, think how lonely and sad I would be if my children simply weren't.  It helps take the edge off all the clutter the little muddlers produce (okay and the 2 big muddlers too).

Littlest muddler stealing my smoothie!

(She did NOT want to let go)

Mmmm, Lunch

Day 4:

Breakfast: Choco monkey smoothie

Lunch: Green salad with almonds, bacon bits, and homemade italian dressing, and grilled chicken breast

Dinner: Bacon and Parsnip stuffed Chicken, Asparagus, salad

Snacks: Coconut Lemon Meltaways

Grrrrr (Day 2 DSD)

Yikes!  I was a bit, um, grumpy today.  My poor children.  I really did try to keep scary mommy in check, and I think I did alright mostly, but my goodness, the sound of roller blades zipping around my kitchen just about did me in!!  Thankfully the sun was shining and at some point the older kids landed outside on the trampoline and I was able to find a little bit of my patience (though it was ragged)
The day ended on a high note with my 1 year old belly laughing so hard she could hardly breath as she rolled a little car down my stomach.  She had me laughing right along with her, pumping endorphins into my brain.

Who wouldn't smile at this sweet face?!

Menu: Day 2

Breakfast: Bacon and root veggie hash (surprisingly sweet)

Lunch:  Mini Mexi-Meatloaves

Dinner:  Curried butternut squash soup (this is one of my all time favorite soups!)

Snacks:  Choco-monkey smoothie, cinnizilla nut mix

Was hungry today, but that was my own fault.  I just didn't stop long enough to really eat a good meal.  Should have added salad to lunch, I think that would have helped.

Triggers (21DSD-Day 1)

Exercise: Ice skating with my kids. Super fun!

Triggers.

I had one today.  A memory trigger.  A moment when that one small sound or sight sends you whirling backwards into days of yore.  I don't even know how to adequately describe my trigger.

The smell of cold ice, and bleachers,

and skate polish, and the musty scent of damp, arena floors. 

The smell of an ice skating rink.

 

I love that smell.  I practically grew up wearing ice skates. It has been probably 11 years since I have even stepped foot in an ice rink.  One deep breath though and the memories flooded in.

 

 

 

Alrighty then.  Day one is unofficially over.  I have survived.  I have felt the beginnings of sugar withdrawal.  It is not horrible just yet, but me thinks it will get worse before it gets better.

On the plus side, I did not feel out of control hungry, and even though I am craving sugary treats I do not feel overwhelmed by the cravings. 

Menu: Day One

Breakfast: Chocolate-Monkey Smoothie--DEELICIOUS!

Lunch: Green Salad with Asian style meatballs and spicy sesame ginger dressing--Meatballs were good, but the dressing needs tweaking.

Dinner: Tuna salad and green salad

Snack: Very small green apple with coconut butter

Even though this is NOT a weight loss program I thought it would be interesting to see what happens in that area.  So I will give you some of my stats today and then again on day 21.  Even if there is no change from now and then, I know I will be on my way to ridding myself of the Candidiasis infection and feeling a whole lot healthier.

Weight: 159.5 lbs

Waist: 38"

Hips: 41"

Bust: 41"

Thigh: 24"

 



New Food Adventure

Let the Food Adventure Continue! 

 

Now that I have conquered The Big Three , I am getting set to climb the next culinary peak.  One that appears almost insurmountable.  What is this vast mountain?  S-U-G-A-R!  And I am not talking about just the obvious forms of sugar (cane, beet, succanat, honey, coconut/palm, etc), but ALL sugar including all things fruity (with a few very, very tart exceptions) and all things fake (which I don't use anyway).  Yikes!  Good-bye all things yummy and delicious.


Now I knew when I found out about my food sensitivities that I also needed to ditch all things sugar for a minimum of 3 months.  Why on earth would I ever try to torture myself this way?   Well I seem to have a mild Candidiasis overgrowth in my digestive tract.  Lovely.
I have unsuccessfully tried since finding out to break up with all things sweet.  I have yet to last even 2 weeks.  This has to be the hardest thing...food wise...that I have ever in my entire life tried to do.  However, now that Christmas and New Years Eve are slowly fading in the rear view mirror, I believe I can now take on this last hurdle (fingers crossed) to the new healthier me.  That said, I am going to be utilizing a new tool to jump start my journey. 


I was doing the bi-monthly grocery shopping (all by myself, no little muddlers) and I ran across this book, The 21 Day Sugar Detox.  It intrigued me.  It appealed to me.  It begged me to buy it.  I picked it up and perused, drooled over recipes, and then placed it in my cart.  21 days, menu's already planned, pre-made and printable shopping lists!  Um, Yes. The prep work has (mostly) been done for me.  A lot of the food my family will simply eat along with me which is even better! 

**Some of the recipes use eggs so I will have to replace those, and some call for seafood in various forms which I dislike and my DH has a shell fish allergy so I will avoid those (except the ones with tuna...I like tuna)**

Now 3 days post shopping trip I am sitting down and finding the replacement recipes for those that I cannot (or will not--in the spirit of truthfulness here) eat.  Also, I am trying to eat up those things in my house that I know I will not be able to resist if they are sitting in my house. 

Like these super delicious chocolate coconut butter cups I whipped up last Friday.  They are mouth meltingly good!  These are my last four.  They will be gone by tomorrow at the very latest.

 

Inspired by my own mother (her blog: A Journey to Health--One Step at a Time ) and encouraged by her to blog my 21 Day Sugar Detox challenge, I will try to blog each day (four kids and homeschooling family that we are, we may have a few misses here and there). I am taking the first step toward the summit. 

Today is Day 0.  The day before I officially begin.

 

Let the Detox begin!!

 

P.S.  Those delicious chocolate treats pictured above?  Yep, gone already.  Sigh, this is going to be difficult.