Well the sun was out in full force today and I LOVED it!! I just hope that it doesn't go and hide again for about a week and pop out for just a day like it has in the past. I went to Whole Foods today and I think I will go back but only every once in a while. The prices are high but the selection and service were out of this world. I didn't think that customer service like that was ever practised and used like that. They were all so friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the products and the issue of having to have a gluten free diet. They even have a program of a personally shopper . . . loved this idea. You call in ahead of time and scheduale a time for the event to happen. Once there you and the personal shopper goes around the store and helps you with the differant food choices and what they have to offer. Plus if you want to try something before you buy it you can take it up to the costomer service desk and they can open it for you to try it and you don't even have to buy it if you don't like it. This place rocked for folks like me that are starting off in the world of a certain diet like this.

We have 5 cacoons and 2 more getting ready get into theirs. The last 3 I think are just late bloomers, but thats ok they will still be beautiful.

Aj's test came back negative. It is either a true negative or its a faulse one due to the fact that he is on a gluten free diet already which can alter the results. I have a concultation with the dr. in about 2 weeks to talk about this and see what to do now or just leave it. I put in a call to the dermatologist for Evey in asking him what he thought of the homeopathic drug for the skin rash for her. I am starting to think that she may need this help and with it being all natural with no side effects other than helping her rash for the gluten . . . why not. So we shall wait and see. I think with wheat and gluten being in so many things and we don't know it cause manufacturers don't have to label it, the help might not be a back thing for her. The ham that I made may have it in the glaze that was provided. And since they didn't have to tell me that it had wheat/gluten in it I fed it to her and she had a break out on her skin. I gave my blood sample to get tested yesterday (Tues.) so it will be interesting what that comes out to be.

Well I got some strawberrys in the fridge and they are calling my name for some strawberries and ice cream. Laters!

good times

Well, all in all today was a good day. I got some laundry done, not quite put away though. Got my blood work done to see if I have celiac disease too. I got Aj's done on Tues and no word yet for him. Jim called his doctor today to see about getting it done for him too. The bad thing about that is that his doctor is on vacation till Monday so we have to wait on that one. Did some food shopping and found some new things to try. I found some bagels, cinnamon muffins, maple glaze donuts and of course some new snacky stuff. So can not wait to try them. I made some gluten free fish sticks tonight for dinner and they were really good, you couldn't tell that the breading part was make from corn flakes . . . and both kids agree so that will be going back on the grocery list.

At Evey's school they had a family clay fun night. It was a blast to see the creations as the kids put it that they made. I also helped a fellow mom make something too.

I am getting excited for the first field trip that I am going to help with this year. We will be going to the Black Berry Farm . . . I so love that place!!! Anyway I am feeling better and I am getting things done around the house too. Oh by the way we have some caterpillers in their cacoons getting ready to spread their wings. We have 2 changing and 4 or 5 more hanging upside down getting ready. This is so excitting. We got 10 caterpillers. Can't wait to see them hatch and spread their wings for the first time. The place that I ordered them from you can get other bugs too, like ants (like we don't have enough of them already), lady bugs, some kind of spider and a praying mantis . . . I so want to get one or two of them. But maybe next spring.

Anyway I am tired and got to finish some laundry and go to bed. Good night!

Yes I am here

Hello, just to let you know that yes I am still here. This past weekend all 4 of us were sick for Easter Sunday, so we had our own ham dinner just us this year. It was nice but it took all of the energy that I had to cook and clean up. And of course I paid for it the next day . . only got off of the sofa for things I had to do yesterday. Like feed my kids or take a potty break. Today was a better day. I did do some house work but I have tons more to do. Had an appointment with the dietitian this after noon and turns out that I know a ton about this new diet. She, the Dr. was surprised and happy at the fact that I know so much, I even knew some tid bits that she didn't know . . . go me!!

All in all things are going well. I still have a lot of food from my stock piles to get rid of but that will happen in time, maybe next week or so. I hope. Any way I got to get the kids into bed and start clipping coupons from Sundays papers. Love you all!

general update

Hello friends, Well doctor appointment number 2 done and under our belts. We've decided to hold off on any drugs for lil Miss Evey for right now, we shall see what the summer holds. Turns out you can have the rash that she has and not have the gluten sensitivity. One of the triggers for this rash is heat, very much like heat rash. And if we do decide to give her meds for this its going to be a short term basis only! Her poor lil body has been through so much to put her on a med just breaks my heart but if its a must I will.

Evey is now eatting lunch at a table sort of by her self. The school has a table set aside for those kids with peanut allergies. Well turns out that there are only 3 kids with this and to have a table, which is two 6 ft banquet tables at one for just 3 kids we are splitting it for Evey and the peanut gang . . . no pun intended. Anyway, I hate to do this to her but till we find out how allergic she is to this its really the only way. Better to be safe than sorry right now. The only way to see how sensitive she is, is to wait and she how she reacts to it once she has been living in a 100% gluten free zone for some time and her body is happy again. I am hopen that it will be when school starts up again, but only time will tell. We finally found a breakfast cereal that she like with a bowl of milk, praise God!! I bought today chocolate gluten free doughnuts, chicken nuggets and fish sticks so we shall see how those go. I also got gluten free salad dressings/dippin sauces. Slowly but surely things are coming together. I do have to get new kitchen supplies that are of a porous serface nature. Means all my wooden utincles, cutting boards and anything else of these natures. Does this mean I can get a kitchen shower to help with the cost? I am hopin that with the finding that all of the foods that I get are a tax write off due to it being a medical expence, if that goes toward the kitchen stuff to as I replace it/them? That is another phone call I have to make. The list is getting long and longer. Well ta ta for now and God bless you all! Thank you all for your prayers for I fell them every time I get over whelmed with all of this. Thank you!

Wedding bells

Well, 9 yrs ago today I married the man of my dreams. God blessed me with this wonderful man and I love him so very much. Sorry I'm going mushy on you guys today. I never knew love like this. It is wondeful. He has been such a great support in my hard times and we've been having them alot lately. He is the calm to my hyperness and my crutch when I can not stand. He is truely my knight in shining armor. I just hope that for those of you that read this that you have found your knight in shining armor and for those of you that have not yet found him. Hang on and he is out there.

Questions

Well, the first of 3 doctors appointments done and under our belts. The dermatologist wanted to put Evey on a med for the skin rash that she has. This drug has alot of side effects and she would have to take it for the rest of her life. I'm not fond of that one. If she has to take a med for the rest of her life let it be when she is older. The side effects I thought were a bit scary for a 7 yr old person to have to go through. I know that not everyone gets every side effect but I just don't want to take that risk. Then in doing some on line research on this drug I found another med that is all natural herbs and according to this web site it has no side effects . . . first thought is really? Then I thought if this is true and this drug really does excist and it does work where do I sign her up. I did ask the derm. about the fact if she does start this med and 20+ yrs from now is married and she wants to start a family how would that play into affect with that. As far as the pregnancy its self should be alright but the troubles could come in is if she wants to nurse.

I am just so torn so we are going to talk to her ped. tomorrow and get her take on all of this. What do you all think? Do I get her on the med the derm. wants? Do I investigate this new herbal med.? Whats your guys' take on this one?

new book

I got a new book called, "The Gluten-free Bible" and so far it is helping me out. I read that all the special foods that I/we buy for us to eat can be claimed on our taxes since its considered a medical expense. How cool is that, guess we will be holding on to all of our receipts from now on. I am so glad that I got the book can not wait till I really read into it. I am finding out that wheat/gluten is used in a ton of stuff, did you know that med. manufacturers use it in the children's liquid med. Did you also know that they don't have to put notification on the label if they do use wheat/gluten in making the med. So I guess that I will be spending a lot of time on the phone until that changes. I was told that it should be changing sometime this year, I so hope so cause if the label doesn't list it then I will guess that its not in there unless its labeled gluten free somewhere on it. Well we have the first of 3 doctors appointments tomorrow. Well I am so very tired it was a long night last night. Evey's cold kept her up most to just about all night with coughs and I think we are both so tired that we will sleep all night with not a care in the world about whats going on outside. I just hope that tomorrow will be better. So here is where I will bid you all good night and take care.

Thank goodness for Moms

Well, today I just wanted to hide in a corner and cry at the thought of all the foods that were in my pantry that was no long good for us with this new gluten free diet. ALL of it was to be gotten rid of. So then I told Jim I was going shopping. Well, 3 stores later my pantry is getting there. I found a lot and I only got one of the new items for just in case we do not like it. So cross them fingers that the foods that I got today are a hit. I am going to be making chicken meat balls with veggie noodles and then a breakfast casserole for breakfast in the morning. Instead of using regular bread I will be using the new gluten free bread . . . fingers crossed that this one is good.

bread

Well, last night for dinner I made chicken parmesan and garlic bread and mix veggies. I used the gluten & wheat free bread to make the garlic bread and it was a hit. For the first time Evey actually ate the bread. So know I know what to use when I want to make garlic bread for dinner. I was so happy and it really did actually tasted good! This might not be all that bad after all.

Now for crazyness

Well today was chop full of making phone calls and getting doctors appointments lined up. I've been doing some on line research on this and now I have lots of questions for the various doctors that we will be seeing. We have 2 appointments next week and so far one the following. I found on line that there is a gluten - allergen free foods expo at the end of the month. We are planning on going and maybe we can get some new creative ideas on foods and maybe some good deals and coupons from the various vendors that will be there. Pray that all will go well.

We tryed tacos last night for dinner and that didn't turn out so hot. I got 2 differant kinds of shell for them. One pack was gluten and wheat free and the other was corn, both where soft. And no body liked either one . . so for tacos its back to the drawing board. Bread is still on our list of things we don't like. I'm going to see if we can turn it into garlic bread for dinner tomorrow night.

I also think that I am doing way to much research on this since my dream last night was about reading labels in the stores on things to see if it had gluten in it. Funny how things like that work, your reality seeps into your dreams. I just hope that this is not the start of a new trend for me.

Anyway, the kids have now been bathed and in bed, the dish washer is set and running, dinner is done and cleaned up and now its on to laundry so my kids have clean clothes for tomorrow. Hope it doesn't rain to much tomorrow and I am seriously missing the warm windows open weather from yesterday and the day before that.

Good night world and bright hopes for tomorrow!

The wait is over!!

Well, I got that phone call from the Dr. this afternoon and it came back positive. Now she is no longer to eat anything with gluten in it. If you could pray that the possible long term effects if this won't come to pass. Please pray that she will not have to run into other issues with this than all that she has so far. Thank you for your prayers during this waiting game and thank you for all the prayers that you may send our way in the future. She is a trooper and pray that she remains that way. Now the fun begins with the changing of the diet and lots of other doctors appointments. Please pray that Jim's job continues to remain stable to pay for all of these upcoming doctors appointments. I would love any advice you can give . . . for those of you that actually read this.

One more we are officially done with the Rosedale house, it is officially the banks now and its up to them to maintain it . . . it is done!!!

good news not so bad news

Well I'll start with the not so bad news. I called the Dr.s office this afternoon to see if anything has come in yet for the blood work on Evey, nothing yet. When I took her in to get the blood taken they took 3 vials of blood, and 2 of 3 came in and once that last one comes in then the Dr. will call me with the results. Again I don't like waiting cause I want to know. So I guess I have to and only time will tell. The more that time passes I am thinking that she does have this, but then again I won't know for sure till that last test comes in and the Dr. tells me yea or nea.

So now for the good news, this is not just good news this is news that makes mom and dad proud!! I got a letter in the mail today addressed to 'to the parents of Evelyn Doyens'. I got nervous, but then I saw it was from a place called National Schools Project, then I got a little more nervous. Opened the letter and read the word 'congratulations' and got instantly happy and excited. Evey's teacher submitted her class' poems to this and Evey's poem is one of many chosen to be part of the 'Young American Poetry Digest'. I ask how cool is that!! Jim and I are so very proud of her for this and so can not wait to read her poem!! We are going to be ordering copy's of the book for us, but if any of you that read this wants one let me know and we an arrange something. Each book is $15.00 so we would pass that cost on to you just let us know within the next week or so. With all that this lil lady has been through she is so awesome!! Such a trooper! We/I could not ask for a better daughter! This is great/super/awesome!!

Well, I'm tired and my bed is calling since I am now the only one up and awake. Good night world and hope you all sleep well.

still nothing

Well today started off rather bad. Computer was giving me attitude, worse than the kids can dish out, then I ran out of Evey's anti-itch ointment stuff. Then someone of you must have said a prayer cause things turned around. Computer got the attitude adjustment, the meds. for Evey came in and was refilled via the dr. nurse. Thank you Lord!! I did some food shopping for gluten free stuff so we shall see what the gluten free pasta is like. We may just have to stick with the egg noodles if this dish is a flop. I got a recipe for a sausage, veggie and au grauten potatoes . . . the boxes of the potatoes contain gluten/wheat so that we can not do. So I'm tweaking it a bit. I'm going to use the gluten free noodles instead of the potatoes and since it has not getting cheese, I'm going to use a brick of the Velveeta cheese. I'll let you know how that turns out. This gluten free thing may not be such a bad thing after all, maybe?!?

I came home for doing an Avon delivery and Jim told me what the good ol government is thinking of doing with the money that is saved during the shut down. Half to the military benefits and the other half to the planned parenthood facilities. To think that my tax dollars is going to help somebody get an abortion and kill a lil man or lil lady just makes me sick. I wish someone would go around and ask me where I want my portion of the tax money that was saved during this shut down to go to military not to cover the cost of killing a child. Oh that makes me so mad and upset that I have no voice in this matter I just have to sit back and let it happen so here is my vent on that.

Anyway I need to get dinner going. No test results today . . . maybe Monday.

Aj and his first test

Well today I signed up my lil man for kindergarten this afternoon. My baby . . sniff sniff. He will be attending school all day, that makes him happy cause he will be there all day just like his big sister Evey. While we were waiting for him to be tested to see where he stands, I was observing him and Evey play in the gym and thought to myself that I have some really good kids and they really do play nice with each other and love each other. Made me feel rather proud as a parent. Then Evey and I went to see her teacher and when Aj discovered that we were gone he got upset with the fact that Evey left. Jim told me that he was ready to bust into tears just because she was gone. Makes me wonder how will he handle the first day of school when they have to separated?!? So then it was Aj's turn to get tested and fear came over me wondering how he was going to do and if he was going to share some 'stories'. The teacher that tested him came out and said he did really really well. He scored 81 out of 100 . . . sweet my lil man is smart, so he must like to hide it from Mommy and Daddy. People have told me that you know that you are doing a good job raising kids when they are good for folks when you are not around . ..  that's when they show off their true colors. I am so very proud of my Aj and I love him so very much!

Anyway as of the test results for Evey, nothing yet. Which doesn't surprise me just for the fact of what time of the day we were able to get in and do the taking of the blood. Maybe tomorrow and no later than Monday so till them I just say lots of prayers for a result that is 100% true and that we don't have to do any more testings just to try and find out what is wrong and making my sweet lil lady itch like mad. She is a lot stronger than I would think I could be.

Well I am blest with 2 wonderful, smart and strong kids and a wonderful supportive husband. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!!

Hope we are getting closer to the end of the tunnel

Well I am starting to think that Dr. #4 that says that Evey has a gluten sensitivity is right. I will be taking her into the doctors office later today for some blood work to test her for coeliac disease after soon, among some other test the allergist wants to do. Finally someone willing to run tests to find out the reason for all these skin issues for the past 6 months. She had blood work done last week and she still has the bruise to show for it so pray that we can do these today and that the nurse will be able to get enough blood to make a successful test. Other than that, we all have or getting over colds and I have a headache to boot . . . well life will never be all better and normal like before. Well I got to run and get more drugs for my headache.

updates from the drs.

Well it seems to be, for Evey's skin issues is an allergic reaction to gluten. But with all that we/she has been through and all of the other things we thought it was I am a bit skeptical about it. The dermatologist requested her regular doctor to do another test. This one is a gluten specific test. Once we/I get the results for this one then I will be sure to change the families diet to one that is gluten free 100% for all. From what I have heard that those who are gluten free, they seem to be more on the healthier end of the scale. Well dinner is calling and I got to go. I just hope that this test will be the last for a while and that this really truly is what is buggin my sweet lil Evey. Oh her blood work stuff all came back all good and normal. Praise God!!

confession

I must confess that I am a bit sad today. Found out that a relative of a friend past away last night and then I found out that a good friend from church is moving out of state. Well that is all for today, other than I so can not wait till Tues. for some test results.

I hate waiting!!

Well, the good Lord must be testing my patients this week and I am not doing so well. Evey's skin Biopsy came in and it shows that she has potentially a sensitivity to gluten. She had some blood work done today to find out more and we have to wait till Tues. for those. The results are in but they have to be seen by a Dr. first . . . waiting is not good.

We took a train ride into Chicago and went to the top of the Sears Tower . . . yes I did say it the 'Sears Tower'. The kids LOVED it. Then we came back home due to the weather being so cold and wet. We have pics of that as our keep sakes. Good times with the family. Now we are going to sit down and curl up by a fire, with pizza and watching a movie. I LOVE family times like this, God is good!!!