"Come what may, and love it!......Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result." ~ Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

September 29, 2010

chewy gluten free chocolate chip cookies. Yummy!



If you're thinking of going gluten free or need to go gluten free or don't want to be gluten free these cookies are seriously good. You can find the recipe here.
I used extra virgin coconut oil instead of the palm oil. I also used sucanat in place of the white sugar.
One of the best chocolate cookies I've ever had. I recommend doubling the recipe if you have kids and/or a husband/wife.

Don't worry Heath I saved you some.

September 27, 2010

Ready for Halloween and gluten free.

this is my 202nd post. crazy!
Ever think that if you leave a mess long enough that it might just clean itself?
Don't ever think that. It won't.


We got Noah's Halloween costume. He's been wearing it around and excited about it. I hope trick or treating this year will go a little better than last year.
He watched a few Iron Man cartoons and now he says that the costume is Iron Man. So we go with it. He does quiz me when he puts the suit on. He says, "what's my name?" 


Asher's going to be a monkey for Halloween. No, his costume isn't on in this picture but he sure is cute eating his banana. 



Grandpa Gary (that's what Noah calls him) came with his digger thing and Noah kept wanting to sit on it. So, he let him and he let him work the controls too. He loved it. 


My first ever loaf of gluten free bread. It didn't turn out the greatest but it was pretty good. Heath liked it enough and first thing he did was make grilled cheese sandwiches. That made him happy. He's been feeling like he's starving lately with almost everything having gluten in it. We're getting there. Plus, he LOVES sandwiches.




September 24, 2010

On the front of my fridge.

On the front of my fridge and behind my magnet lies a test.
A test that has Heath's name on it.
A test with a score of 108.
Yes, you read that right one hundred and eight.
I feel like a proud mom only I'm the wife.
Good job my little smarty pants!

Love,
Edwina  (a nickname from my mom)


September 22, 2010

It could be celiacs and I wanna be a loser.




So, some things might be changing around here.
Heath just got blood taken yesterday to see if he has celiacs disease (gluten intolerance).
Basically we're pretty sure he has it.
He has a lot of the same symptoms his Dad and sister had before they stopped eating gluten.
A little while ago I made cheese enchiladas with whole wheat tortillas and I added wheat germ (which was optional in the recipe). So basically gluten on gluten mixed with gluten.
Heath was up for two hours during the night sick. Sick as a dog. He describes it as battery acid.
I'll let you figure it out from there.
I did some research today.
It started with what kind of food storage can you have for someone with celiacs.
I know, I'm a geek.

Also, I'm in a biggest loser competition.
Last week I lost 5 pounds which made me the biggest loser for the week.
I have immunity for next week as long as I don't gain.
I really really really couldn't believe it because the week before I only lost 2 lbs. and there were people losing like 10 lbs.
Anyway, I'd like to lose about 20 more pounds.
Aaaaaaaaaaanyway

I went running Tuesday but was stopped and told I should turn around because there was a bear.
A bear?...yep, definitely turning around.

Asher has occupation therapy 3 times a week.
His arm and shoulder seem to be getting stronger all the time and I'm just amazed.
He really likes to have his splint on. He's pretty nervous without it.

It's true that Asher dances like his grandpa Papa.

Anyone else gluten free?

September 17, 2010

Putting Noah to bed.

Noah: Mommy, I like you.
me: I like you too, baby.
Noah: I make you happy?
me: You make me happy.
Noah: ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, you're so cute.
Me: You're so cute.
Noah: I glad to see you. I happy you.
Me: Good night, sugar.
Noah: Good night, Mommy.




I love!

September 16, 2010

A good day for a nap.

Today is a good day for a nap.
It's cold and rainy here in PA.
Fall is here.
Leaves are changing.
The sweat shirts are out.


Look at those two smiling. Two peas in a pod I tell ya. 

Asher saying "What's up"


I think Heath was in the middle of saying something when I took this. He loves when I put pictures like this on my blog for your entertainment. 


Fall pics from the garden.

It's true that my love handles are getting smaller and that I'm going to a jewelry making class tonight. The lady makes her own glass beads. Aaaaaaaaaaawesome! True, too, that I want to make a rug out of random pieces of fabric and old clothing. Don't know if I'll actually do it but I have the desire.  What will I do next? I know it's always something. I have a wild eatables class this Saturday. I never got to go to the soap making class but it is rescheduled for October.  Here's hopin'

September 7, 2010

Heath's new toy and some mud pies.






Heath got a new toy. Yes, a weed eater. We needed one bad. Our friend Deric called and told us about a sweet deal at home depot. A $140 weed eater for $40. Plus, we have a gift card to home depot from one of the jobs Heath did this summer. Noah likes to "pix" (fix) things with his daddy. 
You should have seen Heath walk around with that thing. It was like he was THE MAN. ;)


Noah pixing the weed eater. 


Then there was some throwing of the dirt, digging of the dirt, and making of the mud pie. 





Asher wasn't happy with his mud pie. I had the boys strip down (well Noah) before he went inside. They went directly to the bathroom (did not pass go, did not collect $100) right to the bathtub. I had to spray Noah off before I got bath water going. I had to wash Asher's splint, wash the straps and put them in the dryer. I had to hold him until they were dry to hold his arm up. I should have asked for another set of them.
Anyway, both boys are clean.

It's true that you should check out www.greensmoothiegirl.com

September 3, 2010

The naked lucky fin.


His first real bath in 6 weeks. I was a little nervous getting him in and out. He was on his back the entire time. He's not allowed to move that arm down yet. 


scars in the armpit.


a comparison. 

OK THIS NEXT ONE LOOKS A LITTLE SCARY.



The bone sticking up is actually part of his shoulder blade that is upwardly rotated. That will get better with time. 

I love this baby boy and he's going to be fine.

Determined and a personal watermelon.


De


ter
mined!

This is our little shed/barn thing in the back. 
Asher wanted in, squeezed through, got stuck for a sec., made it in by himself.

He knew what he wanted.


daddy's bike.


Asher likes to pick things from the garden. Things like unripened tomatoes, small watermelons (pictured here with Noah), and I stopped him just before he picked a pepper. We only had two. 
I like to call these our personal watermelons. They're small but ripe. When you open them up there red and sweet. Asher loves "melons". 
Noah starts school soon and seems to be excited.
He wants to be Boots off of Dora for Halloween at the moment.



Asher likes to dig. Just wanted to show you that he still uses that hand. He has to wear that splint at night for 6 months. 




My boys are silly.

September 2, 2010

The splint.



The cast is off. The splint is on. He has to wear the splint for 2 weeks. 
After the two weeks he'll only have to wear it at night.
All the doctor wants us to do for two weeks is have him reaching above his head to retrain the lat muscle.
Then we can start other range of motion exercises.
At a month we can start strengthening. 
The doctor suggested we go to a pediatric occupational therapist but that would mean
I would have to go to an out patient clinic. 
We only have one car so that probably won't work out.
I think I'll just stick with the one we have that comes to our house. 
He knows her and I'm sure will do better for her anyway.


I tried to do a few exercises with him today.
He seems really nervous with his splint off.
Also, he seems to be in a lot of pain when his arm is moved in certain directions.
When I take the splint off  he says "on, on".
His arm is skinny but I think it's going to turn out great. 
It might be a long road.
When they started up the machine to take the cast off Noah got out his Star Wars hands (both hands extended forward, fingers curled and a sound effect like lightening was coming out of his palms) and tried to take the guy over while saying "You don't touch Asher.". After he discovered it wasn't working he hid behind the stroller and tried to crawl in the bottom basket.

It's true that Noah and Asher went to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese yesterday. Also true that when you go they stamp your arm and your kids' arms with a number that can only be seen with a black light. They check everyone that leaves and if your #'s don't match you can't leave. Great idea! And true that Noah was scared of Chuck E. and his friends on stage and ate his pizza and cake under the table. They had a great time.