Yard Fun (not work)!

We've been trying to get outside, when isn't not a slogging downpour. Here is what we've been up to:

Trying to grow some herbs, we'll see if the deer find them first!

We also have been literally WRESTLING with Ivy!

Name that Baby:

In no particular order. Remember my nieces and nephews (biological and extended):

Gluten Freed

Well, I figured I'd start processing a little about my new found food plan. I think I should back up just a bit though. I've had colon and GI issues for several years now. It seems to get worse with stress, and I seemed to brush it off that, stress, must be the cause (which I'm still not denying that it contributes). In the last 5 years, I've had one sigmoidoscopy and 3 colonoscopies. For those of you that don't know, the general preventative recommendation for the public is to get 1 colonoscopy every 10 years, after the age of 50 (unless you have other indications or risk factors). SO, I feel I've had my fair share of the Go-HEAVY JUG-O-FUN (those of you who have prepped for that 24hrs of fun, know what I'm talking about). I've always wondered how the little old lady that's 70, survives that prep and doesn't break a hip, literally RUNNING to the commode! When I recommend a colonoscopy to patients, I have to hold back my own grimace, knowing what they will go through. But obviously, it's do-able. I've survived 3 and 1/2 (the prep for a sigmoid is simple). ANYWAYS, through all that testing, it was basically determined that I have an inflamed colon, but no definitive diagnosis was made (the way things usually go). Biopsies were inconclusive, but the best diagnosis was that I may have Ulcerative Colitis (which if you google that isn't something fun to have). At one point, I was tested for celiac, and was told the testing was negative.

Now fast forward to 2011. I still have "bowel issues," and I know it's not quite normal, but, what am I going to do about it? Well, I've feel I've been learning more and more about how the systems in our body really are connected. In school, we are taught about the different body systems. It's the best way we've figured to categorize and learn about this complex body God has created: We learn about the Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, Neurological, etc, etc, systems. What we seem to forget is how intricately all those systems are connected! Anyways, I have been learning more and more about Celiac Disease, how prominent it is becoming in the population, and how poor the testing is that we have. Basically the blood test can have a lot of false negatives. So, call it a hunch, but I looked back at the lab work from 2008. Looking a bit more carefully, there was one marker (of about 6) that was weakly positive. Now, the doctor I saw, made the correct call on saying that likely I didn't have celiac. Because that's what the test showed. But from the reading I've been doing, is that one can "convert" and later test positive for celiac. So I decided, why not test again? I really didn't think it would be any different, but I just wanted to confirm so. So one day the lab order, next am the lab draw, and just a few days later: A MAJOR LIFE CHANGE.

As you guessed, my blood test came back so positive about celiac, there really is no question. My immune system literally ATTACKS gluten, like it's a virus or bacterial infection. And the immune system is so good it NEVER forgets. And thus, why, I must forever be gluten free (as much as that is possible).

Thus: New Gluten Free Me

It's been just over one week, and I've already worked on trying new things. Trying to compile recipes etc. I still CAN eat a lot of things: veggies, fruit, dairy, meat, beans, corn, nuts, etc, etc. So I'm focusing on that! And there is so much support, information, recipes, etc., it's almost overwhelming. But what I did, was just start. Start with one meal, and then work for the next. Really, it hasn't been that big of a deal at all. And it helps me be more self-controlled when there are muffins, donuts, cake, etc, in the break room. Now I CAN'T eat it. Somehow, it's easier for my mind to deal with that than before, when I knew I shouldn't....but just a little would be good. Funny, how our minds and self-control do or don't work.

I thought I'd post a few gluten free creations I've made. By the way, I'm NOT starving. So don't you worry! In just review, I've eaten:

1. Rice, Taco Meat, Zucchini Lunch

2. Gluten Free Pizza

3. Bisquits and Gravy

Gluten Free Bisquits, they tasted really good!

4. Egg scramble

5. Homemade granola

6. Yummy Green Smoothies

7. Enchiladas (corn tortillas of course)

8. Tomato Soup and Gluten free bread

The Gluten free bread I made. Pretty good.

Looks kind of like chocolate, but is nice and hearty!

9. Fish, Rice, and Salad

10. Cobb Salad and Stuffed Mushrooms

11. Egg, Sausage English Muffin (should have taken a photo of that creation my hubby made, it was one BIG PLATE-O-PROTEIN)!

As you can see, there are lots of options, and I know I'll do fine. I think it will be harder during the Holidays, or on vacation, staying at friends' house, etc. I'll make it though.

What I really wanted to share, was what my kitchen looked like last Sunday, when I baked a few of these things:

Why doesn't any blog share this part???

Random

It's been two weeks of P90x, and lets just say my little (and when I say little, I mean puny) muscles sure feel it, every day! Sometimes, it's hard to hold my toothbrush up...now that's sad. But it has been good and I'm enjoying being able to get my blood flowing, and feel more energetic throughout the day because I'm exercising more regularly. I have seem to be able to keep it up more consistently. I guess I've been a little bit of a weakling with the weather. I was finding I was making all sorts of excuses not to go running. Well, with this there really isn't much of an excuse. And I've been able to find the time...so obviously, I'd been more "idle" or wasting time before.

On another note, my mom is here visiting for the weekend. Has been a good weekend to rest and get some random errands ran, etc. We also went to an Estate Sale...My mom and I are always game for a good deal! So I knew she'd enjoy going and seeing what treasures we might find. You never know what you're gonna get. For example, I found: 1) A blue pot (for all those plants I can't seem to keep alive). 2) A random collection of thread so I actually have some when I sew. 3) A Piccaso Replica Drawing, so I actually have some art on the walls. 4) The best find a hand-made wooden zoo train with removable wooden cages and wooden animals. I picked it up and this guy behind me says, "Ah, are you going to get that? That's definitely the coolest thing I've seen in here yet." So I had to get it, and it will be the perfect gift for my 2 yr old nephew Porter's Birthday! Anyways, fun things to be found. I try to be selective. Going to Estate Sales can be good therapy to avoid collecting too much stuff! My mom said, "I have no idea how they fit all that stuff in the house. My Dad (meaning my Grandpa) never had THAT much stuff (p.s. and he likes to "SAVE" stuff, if you know what I mean)!"

The last, but not least, random thing is: I still can't cook. This is a realization that I continually seem to come upon. And then I try not to let it get me down, decide to try a new recipe, and then some disaster hits again. If you had come by my house Saturday evening, you might have called 911 to get the fire department here. No joke! I had tried to roast a chicken in the oven. All the grease decided to spatter and spurt EVERYWHERE in the oven, thus creating billowing smoke everywhere! Then the chicken looked done, I even cut it open and the meat looked ok. So Mr Carver (my husband) came over and started cutting into it, and the meat wasn't done! So in Smokey Chicken back to the cooker. More and more smoke! We ate the rest of our dinner while the chicken finished cooking. I bemoaned that I should NEVER COOK AGAIN, because of how horrid I am! But we managed to laugh a bit about it (I think I'm doing more of that now than I was then), and enjoyed the chicken once it was finally done. Now you've learned a lesson...don't come over to my house when Christy is cooking. I'll keep trying though!

Committing to eliminate idleness...

For the past few days, I found out Lent was coming up. Now I'm not Catholic, and don't believe that as a born again Christian you have to eliminate anything prior to celebrating Christ's death and resurrection. However, the idea of periodically giving something up to remind you of Christ's sacrifice, I think is a good practice. I really didn't come up with anything good, but I did venture a new goal, which in essence is giving up idleness. I don't particularly consider myself "idle." But in the last month, I really haven't been caring for myself as well as I should and I feel I have be idle (i.e. eating poorly, not exercising, not "feeding" myself through the Word, spending too much time on FB, etc). I could make excuses (Tobin was gone, I was tired, I've been worried about my niece, etc. etc.), but I've decided to take action. I'm writing this on here only to get some thoughts out and try to be accountable. Basically, I am committed to a new workout program, that I've started before, but never fully finished, nor done it consistently. You may or may not have heard about it, but it's called P90X. Don't know what the P stands for, but I like to say "Pain for 90 days to the Xtreme." That's basically what I've started. Currently I am on Day 3, and I feel the pain. I barely can make it up and down the stairs in our house. And I'm waiting for a patient to ask me why I'm wincing when I sit down to talk with them. So I'm Day 3 of 90. I want to be consistent, may not be able to be perfect, but want to see it through to the end. It just so happens I'm during this through Lent. So I thought, well, then I'm doing it for a better goal as well to improve the health of this weary vessel. I pray through these efforts, I'll have more energy and strength to do what God wants me to do. So please keep me accountable, oh great Blogger internet abyss and faithful blogger readers, I should be done June 4th. Here we go! Bring it!

Snow Fun

A couple snippets of our winter fun!

Took one of the other residents snowmobiling for the first time!

Snowboarding at Timberline. We got fresh powder and a view of the top!

View near Bend, OR, cross country skiing.

And this is what I hope to see soon!

Writer Block

Sorry for the absence. I think after I spilled my heart out, it took me a while to collect it again, and drum up the energy to write again. For those of you that don't know, my niece Magnolia is doing amazing! She is a great, normal, little newborn. Growing, eating, sleeping! Praise the Lord.

I also have been encouraged in the last few days as the sun has peep out from the grey, dreary layer of clouds that covered the valley since November. I'm also excited that when I get home from work, there is still a bit of daylight yet! Bring on spring! We have had some fun snow days though, and for some reason, blogger is giving me fits to up load photos. So it might be another couple months. Anyways, spring is coming, and I'm excited!