I have MS

I couldn't think of a better way to start this blog posting than to just come out and say it. I have Multiple Sclerosis. I'm not posting on the fact that I have this disease, but what I am doing about it. Shortly after I was diagnosed, I was put on this medication that is supposed to help decrease the symptoms and slow the progress over time. You would think I have cancer by the way it makes me feel. The way the drug works is to suppress your immune system so the disease will stop attacking your own body. What a great thing to do. After a couple of weeks of treatment, I knew I was done with it, however, too afraid to stop with the promise of "slowing the disease process" looming over my head. I was searching the net one day about different treatments and such and came across this book: "The MS Recovery Diet". My first though was, "recover?" and them my second though was "recover!". You don't just recover from MS. Studies show that it is a chronic progressive disease. So I was immediately intrigued. I went right out and bought the book. The first words I read were on the back cover: "The MS Recovery Diet targets five common food triggers that can set off the symptoms of MS: dairy, grains containing glutens, leguems, eggs, yeas." I almost threw the book across the room. Then I realized that I should do that with my shots instead. I was defeated. I couldn't help having MS, but I COULD help what I put in my mouth. So I began reading. I have been on this diet for about a week (and veggitarian now for about a month), and I feel pretty good. I decided to post this to give myself more motivation to stick to this. It is a life long change for my health. 

There are certain things that I miss; pancakes in the morning, a juicy hamburger, cake with lots of frosting, and all of my soy products. Other things I can live without like deep fried foods, and most other meats. I have restricted myself to fish, veggies, fruit, nuts, rice, and corn. When you really get inventive, there is a lot you can do with that. Tonight I had acorn squash (cut in half) baked with cut up apples, walnuts, and cinnamon-it was quite tasty. I found out they make rice protein powder, which I pretty much live off of. I have fish every other day, and a mixture of nuts every day. Oils are very important for the repairing of the myelin sheath (you will know what I'm talking about once you look up the disease process). Kick out all of the saturated fats (bad fats) and add more of the unsaturated fats to your diet. I cook with olive, veggetable, and sunflower seed oils. I could babble on but I won't bore you.

My whole point in posting this is for me to feel brave enough to take the plunge. Let my medication go and rely on natural foods. The way it was meant to be. It is scary, but now that I have read the book it makes total sense. There are so many diseases out there, especially autoimmune, that we can change the course of with just our diets. We need to listen to our bodies, and our hearts, and just trust. I pray a lot. A lot more than I used to. Not to get better, or to give me strength, but for thanks. I thank god every day for the life I have and for my health. The realization that I have the power to change this is more than I could have ever asked for. 

Tuckered Out

Okay, this doesn't happen often. Our little one is not fond of naps or bedtime. He fights them tooth and nail. Today a repair man came and I had to go outside with him. I left Cohen in his room with his keyboard playing "If Your Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands". He loves that song. It was pretty loud too. After a few minutes, the repair man left and I was wondering why Cohen was being so good! He is usually into something else by now and making a lot more noise. So I go peek in on him and there he was sitting in his rocking chair, music still blaring, ASLEEP! Wow. That was easy...

California Trip

Our little family took a week long trip to California last week. We originally were going to go for just a weekend for Tatum's 1st birthday, but we decided to go up early and make it a vacation. Thanks to Noah's uncle Johnny, we were able to stay in his condo on the cliffs of Encinitas for half of the week. It was absolutely breathtaking. I could live there! We went for a walk every day. Even Cohen liked it. He was such a good boy the whole time we were there. Then we made the trip up to Temecula, where the party was. We stayed at the Embassy Suites. It was really nice. Each room has it's own living room/kitchenett and a separate bedroom. It's like a little house. We met the rest of the family at the hotel. We had so much fun! We had little parties in the rooms and ate so much junk food! They had a free breakfast every morning with everything you could imagine. Waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage, cereal, fruit, different pastries, toast, bagels, and even omletts made to order. It was heaven. The trip got kinda scary the night we had a pizza party in Grandma Carols room. Cohen was walking around stealing food from people as usual and he must have grabbed a whole pepperoni off someone's plate. He came back and sat on Grandma Carols lap and tried to swallow. The pepperoni was just too big and he started choking. Lucky for me they make you take child/adult life rescue and CPR when you are in nursing school. I grabbed that kid so fast and flung him upsidown on my lap and started my "back thrust" maneuver. Well it only took two times and the pepperoni came flying out. Cohen wasn't really phased by the whole thing and went on playing and eating. The rest of us were pretty freaked out. I think my heart stopped beating all together when it happened. Anyway, to get back on track, Tatums 1st birthday party was a blast! Even Britty dressed up like Minni Mouse (it was a minni mouse party). The party was so cute. Cohen has a lot of fun stealing presents and cake. All in all we had so much fun and we didn't want to leave. Oh well...back to reality.

Christmas at Grandpa and Grandma Field's

I'm a little behind on posting this, these were the day after Christmas as Grandpa Stan and Grandma Becky's. Becky made a yummy meal (even a bean and cheese burrito for Cohen) and we opened gifts and went for a walk to see the lights. 

Grandma Becky in the kitchen

Grandpa Stan handing out gifts

The boys opening their presents