Spring AKA The ants go marching

Spring has sprung at our house. The sunshine called our names. We all ran outside in 3 fewer layers than we have worn all year. Lovely spring. Wonderful mud. Freedom in flip-flops. Bonfires. Garden plans. Yard work. and Bugs! Yep it is that season again.

There is nothing like an ant marching through your living room at 10:00 at night to inspire you to a spring clean! Last night battling all odds, with the little ones tucked in bed, we cleaned the entire main floor of the house, hopefully staving off those foragers until the bug man can get over here and spray.

We have another motivation for spring cleaning around here. Every time it rains the basement floods. And, the other day we got our first spring rain. So, we mopped the basement. I am starting to wonder if spring cleaning didn't first come about because of these seasonal changes.

So, the house is all clean for spring, and in order to keep it that way, I intend to spend as much time as possible out side.

We have big plans for our yard this year. Several raised garden boxes are in the works. A solar powered water feature is on the dream board. The boys have even cooked up something major, our very own neighborhood park with a mansion in the tree.

Yes spring is here, so bring on the farmer tan, because vitamin D here I come!

I Love Me!

I am a...

running

homeschooling

vegan

blogging

hiking

joint teaching

picture taking

cross country with my family driving

reading

creating

learning

gardening

walking

remodeling

plumbing

painting

creating

dish washing

meal cooking

metamorphing

pioneering

natural birthing

elimination communication'in

nursing

skirt, flip-flop, long sleeve t-shirt wearing

grain eatin'

blog reading

documentary watching

baby having

temple going

tire changing

workshop attending

hair cutting

fingernail painting

guitar playing

singing

babysitting

music listening

phone talking

regrouping

girls night goin'

cookie making

online shopping

library card holding

whole food eating

scripture reading

painting

drawing

piano playing

Minnesota Public Radio listening

voting

church going

tithe paying

bill paying

envelope spending

Loved

Me.

http://mormon.org/me/2Y7X/Erika/#

Click the link to see my "I am a mormon" profile

A wise friend

So,

I have this friend. She is a wonderful wise friend. If I ever have a problem I can't sort out, I call her. I spend 95% of the time talking. Then my sweet friend will say something profound and wise. I will listen, and think of that thing she said for weeks. Every time I end up pondering and then applying her treasures of wisdom.

Recently I started home-schooling my kids again. I called my friend and said, "What am I thinking?" "Why am I doing this?" "Am I crazy?"

My friend quietly let me talk through my fears, and when I was done, the last thing I said was, "I am crazy, I can't do this."

Then my friend asked in her quiet, wise voice, "Can you do it today?"

Well dang! I had never thought about life like that! Shoot! I CAN do it today. If all I have to do is be happy for 8 more hours- I can do it. If all I have to do is cook 3 meals, I can do it. If all I have to do is be patient for 20 more math problems, I can do it.

For the last 2 weeks I have been living day by day. This makes me so happy. I am not sure how this will effect my life long term, but it works for TODAY.

(This is a picture of her! She built up stamina for this crazy hiking trip, by hiking up and down her stairs in her 2 floor apartment.) (I love her!)

Silly, Spaceship, Scarves, Santa, Sister, Snickers, Soft, Simple

Dad and #5 enjoying Christmas Brunch

#5 opening a gift From Great Grandma and Great Grandpa

Giving is better than receiving for #2

#2 excited to open his gift

#4 gave Dad bakugans for Christmas!

#3 gave #4 some new skates

#5 helping mom with the Laundry- This is what happens when you go down to get the laundry with a baby in your arms, and realize you cant carry the baby and the laundry back up.

A sister in our ward brought this yummy candy train to us for Christmas! Such fun!

Isn't it cute!

There is something so sweet about Daddy and his little girl.

Don't you think?

This is her new Christmas Dress. She loves to suck on it!

Everyone thinks she looks fancy.

#5 so interested in this big man with the white beard and the red hat.

#4 is trying to think of something really good, to ask Santa for.

#3 is telling Santa he tried to be good.

#2 is asking Santa if he is really real.

#4 is finally brave enough to hold this little time bomb full of spit up :)

He even invited her to fly in his space ship- to go find Yoda.

and here I am being silly- ribbit.

All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas full of giving and love. We read all of our favorite Christmas books. We cried and laughed. We loved. We celebrated Christs birth in our own way. Now, my goal is to continue to celebrate his birth, life, and Resurrection this year. I hope you each had a wonderful year.

Finally here is a little video of the final Christmas present- Santa's cookies.

With Love

Living the Word of Wisdom

I am a Mormon. Actually officially I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was born to parents who were/are both mormon. I grew up going to a mormon church and learning from the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and other modern day teachings from prophets. One of the things that I learned about was something we call the Word of Wisdom. http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/89?lang=eng I had the donts of the Word of Wisdom down pat. Don't drink tea, coffee, or alcohol. Don't Smoke. Don't do drugs. Then we come to the do's. Do eat fruits and vegetables in their season. Do eat grains-they are the staff of life, wheat especially for man. Eat very little meat-with Thanksgiving, in cold and times of famine.

So, I did well with the don'ts, but upon closer examination of our diet- I wasn't doing so good with the do's.

Grains were not the "staff" of our life. Possibly sugar possibly meat, eggs, cheese, milk, but not grains. So last week we switched it up a bit. I got rid of all of our processed food, white flour, white sugar. I restocked my shelves with multiple kinds of nuts, grains, beans, lentils. I filled the fridge with fruits and vegetables. You can not find a snack food in the house, unless you count fruits and vegetables-which my kids do(and I don't mind).

I figure during the winter we will probably have meat on Sundays. I am willing to be flexible here. I think I will follow the spirit, and let it be my guide. Just until my family gets used to this new way of eating, I don't want to have quick calories in the house. So, no cheese, eggs, dairy, for a while.

I checked into the calcium issue here- apparently 7 of the top 10 calcium dense foods are plant based. I checked into iron, and the amino acids found in meats. They can also be found in balanced plant, grain, and nut based diets.

The other issue I wanted to address was #2 and I's gluten free diet. We have been eating whole grain oats, wheat, and barley with no effect on my stomach or his mental clarity. I don't know if this is because it needed to be in flour form or what, but so far so good.

Before I jumped in to this, I read a book, watched my friends who already eat like this, prayed, reread the Word of Wisdom several times http://lds.org/study/topics/word-of-wisdom?lang=eng and finally decided to take the Lord at his word, with this "Principle with a promise".

I will let you know how it goes. But, I am hoping that we will have more energy and more clarity of thought.

And here is a little break down of wheat

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy	1,506 kJ (360 kcal)
Carbohydrates	51.8 g
- Dietary fiber	13.2 g
Fat	9.72 g
Protein	23.15 g
Thiamine (vit. B1)	1.882 mg (164%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2)	0.499 mg (42%)
Niacin (vit. B3)	6.813 mg (45%)
Pantothenic acid (B5)	0.05 mg (1%)
Vitamin B6	1.3 mg (100%)
Folate (vit. B9)	281 μg (70%)
Calcium	39 mg (4%)
Iron	6.26 mg (48%)
Magnesium	239 mg (67%)
Phosphorus	842 mg (120%)
Potassium	892 mg (19%)
Zinc	12.29 mg (129%)
Manganese 13.301 mg

Gluten Free little dude

Not the best picture-but the most current- Look at those lovely eyes!

#2 is my little man with a sensory processing disorder. When #2 was 5 years old, and started kindergarten, he could read, but he could not write. When he had to do things that required fine motor skills, he had a melt down. Melt downs include screaming, hitting, stomping, laying on the floor, crying, and a general sense of being completely out of control of his own body. I know that #2 has a brilliant mind. He thinks so deeply. He understands things that lots of children his age don't. He is a typically sweet, kind, loving, tenderhearted child. This is why the meltdowns were so confusing to me.

I worked for about 6 months, trying to figure out how to help my boy. I wanted to be able to understand why he did what he did. I wanted to help him to become strong enough to handle hard things. I wanted him to be able to function in society.

I finally ended up at an occupational therapy center. They asked me questions that helped me describe #2's challenges perfectly. They asked about fine motor skills, large motor skills, eating, dressing, transitions, social interactions, smells, sounds, lighting etc. After filling out the survey, I was sure I was in the right place.

With in a month of intensive therapy, #2 was able to write. By the second month, he was able to wear more than sweats and t-shirts to school. Month 3 and 4 were devoted to sleeping, eating, large motor skills and transitions. During month 5 and 6 we worked on social interactions. During months 5 and 6 we were still having problems with screaming and meltdowns. Because it wasn't happening at therapy, the therapist couldn't really understand what I was talking about.

A friend of mine's oldest son was flagged as autistic around that time. As we started talking about different ways that it presented, I was reminded of my little guy. I told her all about therapy and how much it had helped us. She said she wanted to try a gluten/casein free diet first. After a few weeks, she couldn't believe the difference. About the same time- I went to a dietician, who recommended I go on a gluten free diet- to try and relieve some of the stomach problems I had been having for years. After a few weeks of me being gluten free, I decided to have #2 go gluten free as well.

Within 2 weeks the number of meltdowns #2 had went from 20 or 30 a day to 1 or 2. Homework time went from 1 page in 2 hours with constant re-direction, to him independently doing a weeks worth of homework in 5 minutes. That month the therapist came to me and said, "Well it looks to me like we have met all of our goals. #2 seems to be functioning perfectly. Do you have any more concerns?" I didn't. We ended therapy. He was happier. We were all happier.

He stayed away from gluten for most of the summer. In August he started to eat more gluten. But, we didn't see a noticeable difference, except for a stomach ache the first couple day- and some explosive bowel movements. He had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich daily and weekly chocolate chip cookies.

In October we started to notice an increase in meltdowns. We also noticed a decreased ability to follow instructions. Finished homework was coming home- because it hadn't been turned in. He lost his coat several times and he even lost his shoes once (at school). The last part of November was like living with a Zombie. We would say, "Please get your shoes on." He would just look at us. Then we would physically put his shoes one, his coat on, and take him by the hand to the car. Over the last couple days, the only time we have seen #2 respond has been to scream and have meltdowns. Needless to say, we are putting him back on a gluten free diet.

I am constantly amazed how much his disorder is affected by his diet. I haven't read enough to understand exactly why a gluten free diet works. I just know it does. In fact, this morning #2 had a bowl of gluten free cereal for breakfast. After breakfast, I saw his eyes look at me for the first time in 2 weeks. He came over, sat on my lap and put his arms around my neck. He kissed my cheek and said "I love this house".

Here goes our first Gluten free Christmas, wish me luck!