Falling Behind

Long Weekend

Eating restrictions and braces adjustment don't mix. And I got to visit my family this weekend, so I didn't cook much. I did cook a roast, mashed potatoes, carrots, turnips and mustards for my mom. Thankfully, it was all soft.

Came home to Bardan in the pepper plant

I spent the weekend eating soup, soft breads, and cooked veggies (mashed potatoes..my favorite).  Even today, I ate soup since my mouth is still a bit tender.  Oh, well....tomorrow is another day.

Super thankful for my husband, though.  He stayed home to help with an Eagle Scout Project and went to a new members class at church.....Love you, Babe

He's mine...back off!

Day 2

Awesome things happen with leftover homemade bread, olive oil, and spices....See my croutons!!!

                                                          SO PROUD!!
We didn't eat them though. We ate.......

                                                             TA-DA!
This is chicken tacos on whole wheat tortillas, cheese, and white sauce (sour cream, cream cheese, home grown cayenne peppers, and stock from the chicken).

And.....

These were dry beans, not canned :)

In the beans, I put dry beans, water, bell pepper, onion, and molasses in the crockpot.  Please don't ask for measurements...I'd have to say enough.

But seriously.....I want ice cream.....This isn't hard. It's that I want what I'm not allowing myself to have.  I'm glad Mac asked for an ice-cream machine for Christmas. If "Real Food" sticks, an ice-cream machine will be useful.

Real Food Challenge

So my husband decided that at some point in the near future he'd like to lose weight. 

Fantastic! 

He wants to cut out processed foods.

That's good for you, but I can see extra work in my future....

It's a good idea to cut out any ingredient the kids can't read.

Ahhhh! I knew it! Extra work for me! Challenge accepted (He knows he's loved)

So I decided to give it a go first, see how it works. When pay day comes around, I'll start making shopping choices to switch the whole family over, but I'm the Lone Eater for now. Note: they will eat what I make. If "real food" is what is cooked, they have no choice but to eat it.

So step 1:Research

www.100daysofrealfood.com

Step 2: It's not pay day, so how can I do this without going shopping. To the pantry, Bat-Man!

I need to make changes to the rules on the web link above to fit my budget.

1. Meats, veggies, fruits, milk, cheeses are all acceptable.
2. If it was a staple 100 years ago, it's a staple now. (This is how I'm justifying my flour, grits, and sugar. Anyone who says grits isn't real food is insane.)
3. If the kids can read the ingredients list, it's acceptable.

Step 3: Cooking

Rolls made for lunches. The kids are use to this, so it can be incorporated immediately. (Thank you bread machine!!!)

 Looks like Kraft, but it's not.  Elbow macaroni, heavy cream, butter, and cheese. They had no idea it didn't come from Kraft. 

Here we go.....

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Sharing My Experiences

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Sharing My Experiences:      Parents and grandparents of children on the Autism Spectrum are use to the sight in the picture above. Not the cast, but the Legos. ...

Sharing My Experiences

     Parents and grandparents of children on the Autism Spectrum are use to the sight in the picture above. Not the cast, but the Legos.

     Today, I met a grandmother of a possible Autistic child while taking my boys for speech.   He was diagnosed as Autistic by a pediatrian, not a doctor who specializes in the Autism Spectrum.  After a while, she decided to change doctors, and the new doctor suggest take the child for brain seizures. She is hoping that her grandson has brain seizures, not the Autism, so that they can medicate and have a "normal" kid.

     She asked my opinion on the matter because she was so lost. I shared my experiences with doctors, specialists, labeling, and such.  I told her about how she needs allow herself to grieve over the loss of the grandchild she dreamed of, and the for life that she dreamed for him.  That would allow her to cope with what was in the future.  Many parents and grandparents don't realize that grieving over their ideas give such release.  We miss something very real to us, but we gain so much more after we let go of our "dream".

    God has something very big planned.  He allows us to participate in His glory.  I have no idea what is planned for my babies or me.  I have 4 kids, and 3 are classified as special needs.  2 of them are on the Spectrum and 1 is hard of hearing.  I often ask God how He could possibly trust me so much.  I know He doesn't make mistakes.  And my babies are absolutely perfect the way they are made, and I wouldn't change them.......so that means He must have more faith in me than I have in myself.

     It's hard.  I've been driving to therapy for 9 years!!!!  A majority of the time, I drive that twice a week.  Not to mention, it's expensive and exhausting.  Parenting is hard enough without trying to interact with children who communicate so differently.

    Still, I wouldn't trade, fix, or do without any of them.  As Psalms 139:14 states, they are "perfectly and wonderfully made" by a Creator that has big plans for us all to bring Him glory.  He has selflessly allowed us to play a special part in His creation. He gently guides us in becoming beautiful souls that make Him smile as we plod this path that He specially designed.  I trust that in His infinite wisdom; He prepares us for the time that we are caught up with Him.  Until then, I hide myself in His arms, holding on, and refusing to let go.  I can only begin to understand Psalm 17:8, "Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings."

  As, I typed this, Daniel and Hannah brought me an early Mother's Day gift.  They made a flower out of paper and a pipe cleaner.  Daniel wrote "love is superior" and he rubbed deodorant on the paper.  He said the smell pleases him.  I know why instinctively.  It is soft and noninvasive.  Such sweet spirits.



      

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Thinking Back

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Thinking Back: DISNEY We love to go to Disney.....and to go often. Why? Why in the world would we go to the same place all the time? See the same shows? R...

Thinking Back

DISNEY
We love to go to Disney.....and to go often. Why? Why in the world would we go to the same place all the time? See the same shows? Ride the same rides?

Planning is easy. And (if you know how to do it right) once you get there, you can park your car and not drive until you are leaving.  Also, the kids know exactly what to expect.  Everyone can relax.  It's AWESOME!!!!

Gabriel is drawing with chalk at Downtown Disney.  They had artist everywhere.  The main focus was on chalk art, similar to in Mary Poppins.

 The kids and their grandpa.  The in-laws LOVE Disney as much as the kids do.  This is at the campgrounds.

 Wayne and I don't have many pictures together.  So I took one while we were giving the kids a snack in the Land.

Shhhhh! He doesn't know that I'm posting this one.  Epcot is by far Wayne's favorite.  He likes to take me into Norway.  Wayne's parents use to "shop" for him a girl in Norway.  They figured girls are tall, fair skinned, and blond.  What more could he want???  Well, I'm tall, fair skinned, and blond, but no Nordic heritage.  I guess he likes to show them that Americans can grow anything they can (and taller).  He keeps me laughing.

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: HE MADE IT!!!!!

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: HE MADE IT!!!!!: Today was AWESOME!!!!!! But I'm going to tell some back story first. At 18 months, Daniel went from a vocabulary of 75 words to not talkin...

HE MADE IT!!!!!

Today was AWESOME!!!!!! But I'm going to tell some back story first.

At 18 months, Daniel went from a vocabulary of 75 words to not talking at all.  (Give me a break, I was a first time mom.  I wrote down every word he said.)  At three, he still wasn't speaking much, uncomfortable/unconcerned with people, had night terrors, anxiety, but could read.  He was the weirdest but most beautiful boy ever.  He started language therapy with the school district with the ruling of "language delay".  At 5, we were told by a psychologist that he was mentally handicapped while Daniel sat in the room reading "The Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling (and not the Disney version). We wrote that guy off as a kook, and had him retested.  He was given the diagnoses of "Asperger's Syndrome/High Functioning Autism" at 6.  Since then, we have homeschooled, had language therapy, gone to conferences, and read books trying to find ways to helping him.

And then today, we went to our private therapist to have testing done so we could restart private therapy.  AND HE TESTED NORMAL!!!! He has never been in a normal range in the pragmatic, listening, and social language.  But now at 10, he made it!!! He has had a lot of set backs this year.  Anxiety has gotten awful, so we started on medication.  Meds have help tremendously.  This was after we tried everything else first; gluten free, sugar free, carbohydrate specific diet, exercise, and counseling.  I was torn apart by the decision to medicate, but we tried everything else. 

Anyway, he has made such improvements.  We are ecstatic with how well he is doing.  He is in a 7th grade science book, 6th grade math, vocabulary, and social studies book.  Not bad for a "mentally handicapped" kid.  (That Psychologist puts the "o" in "psycho") 

We are encouraged that since we made it to this point with Daniel; we will make it with Gabriel, who was diagnosed last month with Asperger's.  Thanks for the prayers and please continue.

    

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: A Great Friend

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: A Great Friend: This lizard captured Daniel's attention more than any animal in the zoo.
Sometimes it just hits me, Daniel is SO different! But he ...

A Great Friend

This lizard captured Daniel's attention more than any animal in the zoo.

Sometimes it just hits me, Daniel is SO different!  But he tries so hard to fit in.  The problem is that other people and various types of work just not interesting. And when he isn't interested he "self-stimulates", or my preferred word "Soothes."

Stress or Boredom causes some really unusual behaviors. It started with spinning, then flapping.  He flapped for a long time.  Then he started clearing his throat.  We got more negative attention for that, as parents.  Everyone always thought he was sick.  Nope, it made him feel better.  Now, the new thing is a facial twitch. Kind of like he is winking.  It is less obvious than flapping and spinning, but still....I fear that he will be slapped for winking while some pretty girl is near.  He wouldn't be winking at her, just as she happens to walk by.

So we are working on a list. He and I are working on a list of the qualities that other people want in a friend so that interacting with people is less stressful.  The less stress, the less "soothing".  I am putting the list here.  Feel free to contribute ideas.  Some of this may sound ridiculous, but we have to be very upfront, honest, and thorough.

Qualities a Friend Wants
1. Smart, but not a show off
2. Well and appropriately dressed for specific occasions (don't wear a suit to play outside)
3. Smell and look clean
4. Care for others thoughts and feelings
5. Kind
6.  Lets other people talk
7. Listens
8. Stays on subject
9. Doesn't interrupt (even if what I have to say is more interesting)
10. Good manners

Any more advice????  Remember if it doesn't make it on the list, then it isn't a "friend quality".  We don't assume that it will just come with practice.  A mental (some times actual) note has to be made.

Isn't he WONDERFUL!  He wants to be a good friend.  And he has the kind and good manners down.  He is very proud of his manners.  Sometimes when he is holding a door, I have to make him stop.  He will stand there forever, because "people keep coming and I need to be polite."

I LOVE MY ASPY!

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Homemade taco shell

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Homemade taco shell: Yesterday was rough! I went to the store with the kids, and they were wilder than normal. Mac tripped over a woman and apologized for her ...

Homemade taco shell

Yesterday was rough!  I went to the store with the kids, and they were wilder than normal.  Mac tripped over a woman and apologized for her "big feet".  Gabriel was clingy and wanted to be held. Then I pulled a muscle (or stressed it or something) carrying him around.  Thankfully, Wayne came home early and let me lay down after taking some meds.  All that to say, I didn't get around to making my tortillas yesterday, but I did this morning!!!!

2 1/2 cups of flour (you can use whole wheat)

1/2 cup of oil

1 tsp of salt

1 cup of water (warmed in the microwave for 1 minute)

Mix in a mixer with the dough hook for about 3 minutes

Turn out on a floured surface and roll into a log.

Slice with a pizza cutter

Roll with a rolling pin

Cook for about one minute on both sides in a
pan sprayed with nonstick.

Viola!! Pretty good.

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Canning Tomato sauce

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Canning Tomato sauce: So some little people around here think that tomatoes are "yuck", "eww", "that's just nasty", and so forth. And that was just today. But ...

Canning Tomato sauce

So some little people around here think that tomatoes are "yuck", "eww", "that's just nasty", and so forth.  And that was just today.  But when I make spaghetti, chili, lasagna, or any number of other things, they are willing to "suffer" it down.  And they at least make me think that they like it.

So today's project "Canning tomato sauce" sounds ridiculous, because I am actually putting it in jars.  But I don't get to decide what things are called, so here it goes.....

A whole bunch of tomatoes diced (some people remove skin and seeds, I don't)

Enough Olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of a stock pot

some seasoning (yes, it's technical....I used salt and oregano..and a tsp of sugar to reduced acidity)

Boil until it is reduced to a liquid.  And while it is still hot put in in the jar.

If you put it in while still hot, it will seal itself.

This is 1/2 of the little ones that have decided that tomatoes are yuck.

     

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Real Food-Crepes

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Real Food-Crepes: Crepes 1 cup ap flour 1/4 tsp salt Mix Add 2 eggs 1/2 cup of milk 1/2 cup of water mix Cook in a hot, lightly greased (or nonstick)...

Real Food-Crepes

Crepes
1 cup ap flour
1/4 tsp salt
Mix
Add 2 eggs
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 cup of water
mix

Cook in a hot, lightly greased (or nonstick) frying pan about 2 minutes each side

Batter:Pour a little less than 1/2 cup into the pan

Crepe

Filling

Mac and Daniel had eggs.  Hannah and Gabe had Blueberry filling

Filling

2/3 cup of sugar

4 tbsp of cornstarch

1/4 cup of water

dash of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg

bring to a light boil

Add about 1 1/2 cup of frozen or fresh blueberries

Cook until it has thickened

Blueberry filling

Sorry.  My picture didn't turn out and the kids ate it before I realized.

And I am very excited to say that my children have been eating wonderfully since I have started to remove processed food.  No vegetable or fruit arguments.  For snacks there is yogurt and fresh fruits.  This weekend I made sloppy joes with a homemade tomato sauce.  Which is (surprising to me) just a diced tomato cooked down with a little olive oil and seasoning.  And it was awesome!  After the kids ate it, I told them that I cooked a tomato in it...They just said, "oh, well."  ;)

 

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Real Food-Beef Wellington

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Real Food-Beef Wellington: What a day!!! I decided yesterday that I wanted to make Beef Wellington. But guess what....When making a puff pastry from scratch it reall...

Real Food-Beef Wellington

What a day!!!  I decided yesterday that I wanted to make Beef Wellington.  But guess what....When making a puff pastry from scratch it really needs to be done the day before, so the Wellington got pushed off a day.  It was SO worth it!!

Puff Pastry Recipe  (this is the quick recipe, but it still takes hours.  Or you can buy one at the grocery store)
Roast cut into about 2x2 strips (estimate)
Fresh Mushrooms diced fine
Mustard (yep, the yellow kind)
Prosciutto
Egg wash (eggs beat so you can use it like a paint)

                                                 Puff Pastry (even though I used only 3/4 of the butter it called for)
Next day, brown roast, paint with mustard, wrap with prosciutto, and let rest in the fridge.
Meanwhile, heat diced mushrooms in the pan to allow all the water from the mushrooms to come out.
Then, roll out dough, add mushrooms, then beef.

Brush the egg wash around the side and wrap.

                                               Note the size of the beef and the egg wash

                                             Here it is rolled

                                         Then brush with egg wash and make small cuts

Cook on 425 for about 40 minutes

Super yummy!!!  Even the kids ate it without complaining.

I added spinach salad and strawberries to make the meal complete.  And if you ask my mom or sisters, a meal isn't complete unless the plate is colorful.

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: My new thing...

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: My new thing...: "So I may be slightly ADD. (There is no H for ADHD in my body.) I am always doing, reading, learning, or trying different things. This we..."