Hayden put together this routine off the top of his head, I was rather impressed : )
- - - - - Gabe - - - - - - - - Anna - - - - - - - - Brianna - - - - - - - Hayden - - - - - - - Tucker - - - - - - - - Mason - - - - - - - - Gage - - - -
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
So Attractive!
 |
| July 2011 |
These are a few pictures of the kids playing our summer version of the "Candy Bar Game". This is a game I played growing up with my family and I hope the tradition carries on for generations to come : ) Here is a link to a previous post that has instructions for playing the candy bar game
Monday, September 19, 2011
FODMAP's 101
Some of you may know that over the past few years I have been dealing with a lot of stomach problems. I've had many visits to the doctor, the instant care and the ER, and I have had many tests and procedures, most of them unpleasant. I was hoping that after all that time and trouble I would have a diagnosis and a cure... that has not been the case. I have been told all of the things I don't have, which is nice to know, but is not helpful to my current state of health. My doctor's told me, "It's probably IBS because we can't find anything else". "Probably?". Thank you doctors for your expert opinions! (Yes, that is sarcasm, but I figure I've earned it). I actually do like most of the doctors I have seen and my family doctor and G.I. specialist have been very kind and helpful, but all those positives haven't yielded a solution.
This past month I have spent a lot of my time on the living room floor, trying to find a position to lay in, that would give me relief from my gastric pain. Sadly I have gotten used to it and it has almost become a way of life. But it isn't fair to me or my family, especially when Gabe has to come home from work, sometimes early, so he can help with the kids, make dinner and clean up so he can then help the kids with homework, all because I'm curled up in a ball on the floor, wishing I didn't have to eat ever again.
A week ago Gabe and I started searching on the internet (again), to see if we could find anything on IBS that fit my symptoms. It has been difficult to pinpoint a cause for my problems since I am not allergic to wheat or dairy, which many IBS symptoms can be contributed to. This time we found some new research about FODMAP's that has yielded a lot of helpful information and many answers that I have been searching for.
The-Fodmap-Theory-For-IBS - FODMAP researchers have identified that short-chain carbohydrates, which are components of many foods, may be poorly absorbed by the small intestine and thus rapidly set upon and fermented by bacteria within the digestive system, specifically the small intestine and the upper parts of the large intestine (proximal colon). These carbohydrates were given the acronym FODMAPs and refer to:
Fermentable
Oligosaccharides (eg. Fructans and Galactans)
Disaccharides (eg. Lactose) Monosaccharides (eg. excess Fructose)
and
Polyols (eg. Sorbitol, Mannitol, Maltitol, Xylitol and Isomalt) Foods high and low in FODMAP's
So in Lamen's terms I have food fermenting in my intestines that my body isn't able to absorb, which causes bloating, gas and usually intense pain. I immediately began eliminating foods from my diet that are "high" in fodmap's, excluding some wheat and dairy since I am able to digest these foods properly when they aren't accompanied with certain sugars, mainly fructose, honey and artificial sweeteners ending in "ols".
It has been a bit overwhelming trying to figure it all out, but I found a chart on-line that I now have on my fridge, which makes it easier to see which foods I should or should not eat. FODMAP diet chart - In order to view it you need to be a member of ibsgroup.org but it's free to sign up.
After following the "low fodmap diet" last week, I have only had one episode, which I later realized was most likely caused by a health bar I had eaten which contained inulin. I am not 100% sure that was the cause because stress is also a major factor in many IBS symptoms, and I have an abundance of "potential" stress causing factors in my life...
All in all, I feel I am on the right path for managing, if not curing my IBS symptoms. In addition to altering my diet, I have started drinking Kefir and taking olive leaf extract and boswellia, both of which have been shown to help with IBS and many other ailments. I have learned a lot through this whole process and have found that the most important thing I can do for myself is to be a strong self-advocate.
This past month I have spent a lot of my time on the living room floor, trying to find a position to lay in, that would give me relief from my gastric pain. Sadly I have gotten used to it and it has almost become a way of life. But it isn't fair to me or my family, especially when Gabe has to come home from work, sometimes early, so he can help with the kids, make dinner and clean up so he can then help the kids with homework, all because I'm curled up in a ball on the floor, wishing I didn't have to eat ever again.
A week ago Gabe and I started searching on the internet (again), to see if we could find anything on IBS that fit my symptoms. It has been difficult to pinpoint a cause for my problems since I am not allergic to wheat or dairy, which many IBS symptoms can be contributed to. This time we found some new research about FODMAP's that has yielded a lot of helpful information and many answers that I have been searching for.
The-Fodmap-Theory-For-IBS - FODMAP researchers have identified that short-chain carbohydrates, which are components of many foods, may be poorly absorbed by the small intestine and thus rapidly set upon and fermented by bacteria within the digestive system, specifically the small intestine and the upper parts of the large intestine (proximal colon). These carbohydrates were given the acronym FODMAPs and refer to:
Fermentable
Oligosaccharides (eg. Fructans and Galactans)
Disaccharides (eg. Lactose) Monosaccharides (eg. excess Fructose)
and
Polyols (eg. Sorbitol, Mannitol, Maltitol, Xylitol and Isomalt) Foods high and low in FODMAP's
So in Lamen's terms I have food fermenting in my intestines that my body isn't able to absorb, which causes bloating, gas and usually intense pain. I immediately began eliminating foods from my diet that are "high" in fodmap's, excluding some wheat and dairy since I am able to digest these foods properly when they aren't accompanied with certain sugars, mainly fructose, honey and artificial sweeteners ending in "ols".
It has been a bit overwhelming trying to figure it all out, but I found a chart on-line that I now have on my fridge, which makes it easier to see which foods I should or should not eat. FODMAP diet chart - In order to view it you need to be a member of ibsgroup.org but it's free to sign up.
After following the "low fodmap diet" last week, I have only had one episode, which I later realized was most likely caused by a health bar I had eaten which contained inulin. I am not 100% sure that was the cause because stress is also a major factor in many IBS symptoms, and I have an abundance of "potential" stress causing factors in my life...
All in all, I feel I am on the right path for managing, if not curing my IBS symptoms. In addition to altering my diet, I have started drinking Kefir and taking olive leaf extract and boswellia, both of which have been shown to help with IBS and many other ailments. I have learned a lot through this whole process and have found that the most important thing I can do for myself is to be a strong self-advocate.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
1st Day of Preschool
Mason has been looking forward to this day for weeks. He has been eager to go to the "big kids school", and now that day is here. It's hard to believe that I have 4 kids attending the same school!
Before I sent him off, I wrote his name in permanent marker on the outside of his back pack and Mason insisted that I include his age next to his name. He takes a lot of pride in being four years old.
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