Shine - Homeschool Blogger

Moving

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 00:36:00 -0600

For various reasons, I have decided to move my blog. I'll be checking in from time to time to visit your blogs, and I hope you feel free to visit me at:

http://3knightsandaprincess.blogspot.com

Me

Fri, 9 Feb 2007 13:13:00 -0600

I know that it's not popular to admit, depending on which circles you're travelling with...but I have been feeling a real need to get back in touch with me. As a mom it's so easy to keep pushing "you" aside until it's forgotten somewhere. Yes, I am called to be a mom, and it's a wonderful, high, God-given calling. But I am more than a diaper changer and a boogey wiper! I'm a mom...but that is one aspect of my life. I'm also a wife...and a woman. I know I have gifts and talents that God gave to me to use for his purpose...I just can't remember what they are right now. LOL

I'm sure part of this goes hand in hand with this time of my life. All my littles are still pretty little. But I hate feeling like "me"...the kinda crazy, art-loving, music-making, dreaming of scuba-diving and mountain-climbing me...is getting lost in the laundry pile.

body, soul and spirit

Fri, 9 Feb 2007 09:48:00 -0600

We bought an elliptical trainer last week. I finally got it set up and used it yesterday and today. I haven’t really worked out much since I had Gabriel. It feels so good! Isn’t it amazing what working out can do for your mental health? I put on some praise music and I feel ready to tackle the world! Now I need to get back to my yoga workouts and things will be even better.

Got Milk? Not anymore!

Thu, 8 Feb 2007 15:40:00 -0600

I just wrote a big update on Levi's skin issues and the naturopathic doctor we will be seeing. And it all got lost in cyberspace. Grrr!!

Anyways, we have found that the testing that the mainstream medical community in Canada here uses (skin pricking) is the least accurate form of testing. The naturopath we will be seeing said that there are other forms of testing available that are a lot less invasive and much more accurate. She's going to review his files to determine whether or not he should be tested. I think he should be, we'll see what she says. We're also taking Gabriel. He has broken out in skin rashes since starting cow's milk a few weeks ago. There's a history of cow's milk sensitivity in my family (including me), so I'm wondering if he's sensitive.

I've always been willing to live dairy-free, but the other members of my family have objected. However, Jer and I have decided that we're taking the plunge. We're in the process of going dairy-free. It's an enormous undertaking. You'd be really surprised at all the stuff that has dairy in it. At this point it is a trial, depending on how things go and what the testing reveals.

So right now we're using rice and almond milk and rice protein. I'm trying to add more fat (flax, almond, and olive oil) into the kids diet. If anybody has any tricks/tips on adding fat and calcium without milk, please let me know.

Granola Bar Recipe

Thu, 8 Feb 2007 15:24:00 -0600

These were great and my littles loved them so I thought I'd share.

1 1/2 c. rolled oats

1/4 c. quinoa flakes

1/4 c. whole wheat flour

1/4 c. finely chopped almonds (I threw raw almonds in the food processor)

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 tbsp plus 1 tsp. olive oil

1/3 c. honey

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. almond extract

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix until moistened, adding up to a teaspoon of water if needed. Place on a lightly oiled sheet and press into a rectangle. Wet hands lightly while working. Bake 12 minutes then remove and cut into 16 bars, separating bars slightly. Return to oven for 5 - 10 more minutes until set. Remove and cool on wire rack.

You can add seeds, nuts or whatever if you want. I added carob chips which was really yummy.

My Favourite Things

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 08:48:00 -0600

I was reading this over at CountryMomof4's blog and thought I'd post it over here. These are some of the must-have products in my life.

1. Big shampoo from LUSH

2. Karma soap from LUSH

3. Think Pink bath bomb from LUSH (do i see a pattern here?)

4. Yankee candles

5. Aldo shoes and boots

6. Gap jeans and hoodies

7. Frizz Eliminator by silky sexy hair - otherwise I look like a poodle

8. Starbucks Italian Roast at home or cappuccinos in store

9. My KJV/Amp parallel Bible

10. Hillsongs DVD's

11. Chocolate Whip Stick lip balm from LUSH - my children also go crazy over this stuff. It smells and tastes like a Terry's chocolate orange.

highlights from the morning

Tue, 6 Feb 2007 12:23:00 -0600

*When asked what he wanted for lunch, Levi responded "I like maggot-roni".

*We decided on a Campbell's homestyle chicken soup from a can. How can soup be homestyle if it comes from a can? Whatever. So I go to get the can opener and it's not there. I begin to scour the kitchen. No can opener. I found myself digging through toy boxes in search of my can opener and I finally found it...between the cushions of our couch. Not sure why.

waaah

Tue, 6 Feb 2007 10:52:00 -0600

My parents emailed us some pictures from Hawaii where they've been vacationing for the past week and a half. The helicopter tour of the volcano crater looked really neat. But the palm trees, beaches, luaus and my mom's amazing tan are inspiring some twinges of envy. Why am I living in this frozen land again? Oh right...family, friends, a great church...I'll just keep reminding myself of that while I drool over the pictures.

Wobbly

Mon, 5 Feb 2007 08:26:00 -0600

After all the difficulties of Friday, it was so nice to have some fun this weekend. We finished the first season of 24. Great show, but I can't believe the "ending" and now I'm just dying to see season 2. Those writers sure now how to hook you!

Sunday we had church. Pastor Leon preached on awesome message on learning to hear God's voice that was very pertinent to me right now. I think God prepares the hearts of his people to hear the Word and that was really evident to me yesterday. I love it when that happens.

After church we went skating with my sil mrsdiamond and co. We had a lot of fun. Jeremy and I switched off with baby care, so I was actually able to skate! I've been on skates three times this year, and prior to that it had been about six years. My sweet husband assured me that I looked much more at ease than I felt. That's good, because I felt like a wobbly klutz. LOL

update

Sat, 3 Feb 2007 09:02:00 -0600

So we had the appointment yesterday. It was extremely difficult, but Levi did very well, and I'm glad. It took me and two other nurses to hold him on the table, while the doctor poked him 22 times with various allergens, looking for reactions. He didn't cry, but he looked absolutely terrified and fought the entire time. I can't believe how strong he is. They wrapped his arm in gauze and he had to leave it for 30 minutes before they could gauge his reactions. When the doctor came back to remove the gauze, he absolutely refused to give her his arm back. Not that I can blame him. He just stood by my side and wouldn't look at her. Finally, after much coaxing, he looked up at her and said, "I'm scared." He just broke my heart. I finally had to take the gauze off and that's when he cried, though it didn't hurt. It was fear, I guess.

All that to find nothing. He has no allergies that they could find. I am a strange mixture of relief and frustration. I would hate for him to have to struggle with a whole bunch of allergies for the rest of his life, especially since they thought it was something like trees or grass, or something else really common. How do you avoid trees? So I'm glad that it's not that. But I'm frustrated because this leaves us back at square one. We don't know the root cause of his eczema and can only slap more prescriptions on it when it flares up and give him different antihistamines for the itching. My nephew just broke out in eczema for the first time. They are seeking out alternative therapies using natural health remedies and have been told that eczema is often related to digestion problems. Interestingly enough, their little guy has very similar eating patterns and problems to Levi, and it all started at the same age. So...we are planning to take Levi to a naturopath. I'm sick of getting no answers, just more prescriptions for drugs that can have terrible side effects. I'm tired of reading about the side effects of long term use and worrying about how often he needs the meds. I don't fault the doctors for not knowing the answers to his problem. But we've exhausted their resources and I'm not ready to give up yet. Summer is agonizingly painful and exhausting for Levi. I don't want him to have to go through that again that again.