Soy Free Chocolate

We found some Soy Free Chocolate and it was really good.  Most chocolate contains soy, but Boom Choco Boom does not!  YEAH!

Our Memorial Day Weekend

Well the weather was not perfect this weekend, but we still had a good time.  We had friends over for a BBQ and the kids roasted marshamallows.

Tie Dye Kennedy's Crusader T-shirts

Patty, Christopher, Abby and Izzy came over tonight and we tried to Tye dye for the first time.  We thought that it would be fun to have T-shirts for the walk next weekend.  We had a lot of fun and didn't even make that big of a mess.

Corn Free Tacos

We are trying to limit the corn with Kennedy due to the allergy test results.  It is hard to eat tacos without a shell or tortilla chips!  Tonight I baked potatoes and sliced them.  I added the taco meat, cheese, salsa and sour cream.  Not exactly a taco, but it was good.

Keeping Kennedy Still

It is not hard to keep a 6 year old down.  She has been running around all day.  I keep having to remind her that her arm is broken and she needs to be careful.  I am sure that I sound like a broken record.  London can tell that she is not feeling 100% and likes to cuddle.  Karleigh had a soccer tournament today and the weather was awful.  It was pouring rain and 40 degrees.  She had two games today and we have one tomorrow.  I am hoping that tomorrow there will be no rain.

Kennedy's 6th Birthday

Not the way that we wanted to celebrate Kennedy's 6th birthday.  She did make it a half day at school.  She really wanted to go so that she could give all of her friends a goodie bag that we had made.  I had to cancel her birthday party tomorrow with all of her friends.  We had planned a party with all of her friends at a farm.  The kids were going to ride ponies and play games.  Instead I made Kennedy a pizza and cake.  Papa Neil was here and we played BINGO.  Everyone at dinner and cake with their left hands so that we could be like Kennedy.  I think that she had a great birthday.

Day of Doctor Appointments

So today we had two doctor appointments for Kennedy.  First we had to meet with Dr. Angela House to discuss her blood results.  We found out that Kennedy is really allergic to soy!  This is great because for the last two weeks we have discontinued dairy and switched to soy!    She also has a significant reaction to flax seed and cantaloupe.  She also had a small reaction to corn and buckwheat.  The foods that she has a very low (VL) reaction to she should only have every 4 days.  This is all so much.  Now I am going to have to re introduce dairy and stop all soy.  Soy is in everything!  WHY!!!!!!

Her vitamin D tested also a little on the low side so we have added some extra to her daily dose of pills.

Our next appointment was with Dr. Jason Robison at Intermountain Orthopaedic.  He was amazed at how well Kennedy had broken her arm.  It is 20% displaced and he is unable to cast it because of the location.  We will continue to wear the sling for 4 weeks.  At that time we will go back for new x-rays to see how she is healing.  If that is looking good then it will be 2 more weeks in the sling.  If not he will have to pin the bone.  His concern is that Kennedy has a high pain tolerance and is not really affected  by this break.  We are going to try to bandage the arm down in the sling to keep her from using it.  It may be a long month.

Kennedy's First Broken Bone

Well what can I say!  Today started out as any other day.  Went to work and headed to Karleigh's soccer practice.  We had a BBQ at the park before practice and the girls played on the park equipment.  20 minutes before practice Karleigh and Kennedy were playing soccer when they collided and Karleigh landed on Kennedy.  I knew that something was not right when Kennedy didn't get right up to steal the ball.  She also had a different cry so I ran over and picked her up.  She complained that her right arm was hurting and she didn't want to play with all of the other kids.  I decided to take her to the ER and Kevin stayed at practice with Karleigh.  Two x-rays later it showed that Kennedy had broken her right humerus bone right under the shoulder.  The doctor couldn't believe that her arm was broken because she was in such a good mood during the hospital visit.  They put her in a sling and told us to call the orthopedic doctor in the morning.

Karleigh at Soccer Try Outs

Tonight was day two of try outs for FC Nova Soccer Club.  Karleigh looked awesome and we should know in a couple of days the results.

Peanut Butter and Honey Pizza

It is pretty hard to eat dairy free and have pizza.  Tonight I made Kennedy a pizza with peanut butter and honey.  It was a hit.

Hiding Aloe Vera Juice Smoothie

I am having a hard time getting Kennedy to drink the aloe vera juice.  Tonight I made her a soy yogurt smoothie and she actually drank most of it.

Day at Wahooz

Today we spent the day with Uncle James and some friends at Wahooz Family Fun Center.  Karleigh had a lot of fun on the bumper boats and go karts.  Kennedy is a natural at golf.  She beat everyone.

Last Dragon Soccer Game

Today was Kennedy's last soccer game. It is bitter sweet because I am ready for a break, but I will miss all of the games.

Dairy Free Milk

We are trying all different kinds of dairy free milk.  Hemp milk would be good to make gravy with.  Coconut milk, rice milk and Almond milk are good on cereal.

Swan Falls Dam

Kevin took the girls for a picnic at Swan Falls today.  The weather was finally nice.

The Dragon's Soccer Game

Kennedy had another soccer game this morning.  It was cold, but they played good.  She had 3 goals.

Calvary Christian School Track Meet

Today Karleigh's school participated in a track meet at Nampa Christian.  The wind was blowing and it was cold.  Luckily they sold hot chocolate to help warm up.  She was in the long jump, triple jump, 400 meter relay and the 100 meter run.

So after today's visit to Dr. House I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.  I feel like Dr. House is looking at the big picture with Kennedy.  She has recommended a dairy free diet for three weeks.  It will be hard to not have cheese.  Kennedy likes soy milk and almond milk so that won't be hard to switch.  We had some blood work done after the visit that is being sent off to Illinois for an in depth food allergy test.  Should have those results back in 2-3 weeks.  We also need to do a different stool sample test that will be sent back east for a better look at how Kennedy is processing food and bacteria count.  We also are going to check her Vitamin D levels and iron deficiency.  Those labs are done locally and should know next week.  We are also going to try Omega 3 Capsules, I-Glutamine, Proboulardi and aloe vera juice.  I have a good feeling about this working.  Our next visit with Dr. House in May 26th and I hope that we have noticed a difference by then.

Peine Osteopathic Medicine

Tomorrow we are taking Kennedy to see Dr. Angela House.  I need to get a second opinion and maybe have some additional resources for diet.  I hope that Dr. House has some answers that we are so desperately looking for.  I just think that we are missing something and I want to make sure that we do everything possible for Kennedy's sake.  I have never resourced an osteopathic doctor, but I am now willing to try anything I can.

Peine Osteopathic Medicine

Dr. Angela House’s goal is to help her patients live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives through improved nutrition, lifestyle modification, and stress management. She uses these methods to help patients with weight problems, as well as diabetes, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, gastric reflux, food allergies (i.e. celiac disease/gluten sensitivity), and many other chronic illnesses. She also specializes in treating thyroid, adrenal, and other hormonal problems using a holistic approach known as Functional Medicine.
During her years of practicing family medicine, she recognized the difficulties and frustrations patients with chronic medical issues face if they wish to treat the underlying causes of their conditions rather than suppressing the symptoms. She works jointly with her patients to improve nutritional status, identify underlying causes of symptoms, and treating those symptoms with a whole body approach.

Her unique whole body approach begins with a comprehensive history and physical, taking into account all of her patients’ current and past medical conditions as well as the genetic, nutritional, and stress-related origins of these illnesses. She also performs a sophisticated body composition study (BIA) and any other necessary diagnostic tests. She then provides detailed dietary recommendations tailored to the specific needs of each individual, and may recommend nutritional supplementation if necessary. Patients are closely monitored and re-assessed throughout the process to facilitate and document the improvements in their blood pressure, blood sugar, and other measurements of health status.

Tater Tot Tacos

Ingredients


• 4 cups frozen tater tots
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded lettuce
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• guacamole
• ½ cup salsa
• 2 tsp. cumin

Directions
Bake Tater Tots according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in salsa and cumin and allow simmering. Divide Tater Tots between four serving plates or bowls. Top with taco mixture, cheese, lettuce, guacamole and sour cream.

Weekend Filled With Soccer

Kennedy's soccer game this morning in Boise at 10:00 a.m.

Karleigh played in the Performance Cup Tournament this weekend.  The weather on Saturday was awful.  We had rain, wind and cold temperatures.  Sunday the sun was out, but there was a lot more wind.

Fresh Pineapple

I ordered this pineapple slicer from QVC because we love fresh pineapple.  It has always been a mess cutting one and when I saw this I had to try it out.  It is awesome and is worth every penny.  Now I won't hesitate buying more pineapple.

Some good news and a trip to Zoo Boise

Kennedy's doctor called today and all of her blood work looked good.  No food allergies!  YEAH!

Kennedy's kindergarten class at Calvary Christian School visited the Boise Zoo today.  Kevin was able to go with the class and got to see her interact with all of her friends from school.  As you can Mia and her are inseparable.  Kennedy loves her pretty skin.

More Blood Work for Kennedy

I took Kennedy to Interpath Lab for her blood work. She is so strong and I am proud of her. Every time we check in the phlebotomist always freaks out because she is only 5 and they call for back up. Kennedy sits down in the chair and puts her arm up on the chair and it is no problem to draw her blood. By the time she is done the phlebotomist compliments her on how well behaved she is and how they wish all of the patients’ were as good as she is. Today’s blood tests will be a complete blood count, food allergy testing and IgA deficiency test. We should know results by the end of the week. We may have to eliminate dairy and eggs from her diet. I am hoping this is NOT the case because it is already so hard with the gluten free diet and adding more foods to the list is going to even complicate life more.

Yard Work

It is time to get some yard work done.  This weekend the weather is perfect.  Our yard hasn't really looked good and I decided to tear up the old grass and put down some new sod.  The girls and dogs were a lot of help.

Check up for Kennedy today

We took Kennedy in for her one month check up today.  Things are looking good.  We are going to run another CBC blood test along with food allergies.   We may look towards taking eggs and dairy out of her diet and see if that helps the colitis.  I am excited to get Kennedy in with the Osteopathic MD next month to get further help with dietary changes.   Another thing we need to do is get her in for an eye exam.  I guess there can be a lot of eye problems associated or caused by colitis and getting in with a good Opthamologist before we have problems is recommended. 

Eye Problems Caused by Colitis
By Suzie Faloon, eHow Contributing Writer

Colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease with many symptoms that can affect the digestive tract and other areas of the body, including the eyes. The inflammation can infiltrate the iris, whites and interiors of one or both eyes. The patient will notice a variety of symptoms involving the eyes, including pain during a colitis flare-up, and should pay strict attention to signs of problems with his eyes. Mild to severe eye problems are caused by colitis.

Uveitis

The interior of the eyes can become inflamed during a colitis flare-up and this inflammation may persist when the flare-up becomes less intense. Inflammation within the uvea, or middle layer of the wall of the eye, can cause sensitivity to light, blurred vision and headaches. The colitis patient may feel a flash of pain when she steps out into the sunlight. Damage can be done to the optic nerve and the patient should be seen by an optometrist to monitor symptoms and changes in the eye to prevent blindness.

Episcleritis

Inflammation of the white of the eye is episcleritis. The swelling takes place in the episclera, the tissue between the sclera and the conjunctiva of the eye. It can be mistaken for conjunctivitis. Redness will show in the whites of the eyes. The ulcerative colitis patient will experience mild discomfort or a burning sensation in one or both eyes.

Iritis

The iris of the eye can be affected by inflammation related to colitis. The patient will experience headaches along with pain within the eye or surrounding the entire eye and blurred vision. One or both eyes may have a ring of redness around the iris area. The pupils can become misshapen and one may appear to be smaller than the other. An optometrist will note that there are white blood cells and protein in the anterior chamber of the eye.

Significance

A patient who is undergoing treatment to alleviate the symptoms of colitis must visit an eye doctor every two to three years. An optometrist will follow the condition of the eyes and watch for possible damage. It is important that the patient describe any discomfort or vision problems he has experienced. The optometrist may suggest yearly checkups for detailed eyesight monitoring.

Treatment

Eye conditions that are related to colitis are treated with mesalamine, sulfasalazine and, in severe flare-ups, prednisone, as part of the inflammatory bowel disease treatment. An optometrist or ophthalmologist will determine if an additional treatment is needed for the eyes. Steroid eye drops, oral steroids or other medications may be prescribed. It is important to keep your gastroenterologist and eye doctor informed of any medications that you are prescribed.

Yes To Carrots is gluren free

Finally I have found a good gluten free beauty product.  Yes To Carrots has gluten free lip butter, shampoo, conditioner, lotions and even sunscreen.  You can find it at Target and Walgreens. 

Soccer Game

Karleigh had a good soccer game tonight.  We lost by one, but played like winners.

Last day of Prednisone

Today Kennedy took her last dose of Prednisone.  I pray that she will be able to continue progressing without it.  Prednisone has a lot of side effects and I am glad that we are finished with taking it.

The Bills Keep Coming

I know that healthcare is way overpriced, but that doesn't change anything now.  Every day a new bill comes in the mail and I am blown away at the prices of everything.  I will keep paying on these bills and working on getting my family healthy.  The first wealth is health.

Our dinner at the park

Our schedule is so difficult to manage with a gluten free diet.  We leave the house at 7:00 a.m. and drive 20 miles into Boise where I drop the girls off for school.  Kevin picks them up from school at 3:15 p.m. and comes over to my office where the girls work on homework.  Then at 4:15 p.m. we go to a local park and BBQ dinner.  Sometimes we warm food up at my office and eat dinner before heading off to soccer practice.  Monday, Tuesday and Thursday Karleigh practices soccer in Boise.  Kennedy's practice is on Wednesday nights.  We usually get back home at 7:30 p.m. and it is a mad dash for a snack and showers.

Hiding the Medication

Each night it is a struggle to get Kennedy to take her final medication of the day. Tonight I went to get her Canasa (suppositories) and they were not in the medicine cabinet. When I had asked her where they were she replied, "I don't know", with a smile on her face. I knew at that moment that she had taken and hid them. It is so hard to have to pin her down and give this to her each night. It breaks my heart to have to put her through this.

Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 3 teaspoons brown sugar
• salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, onion, and green pepper; drain off liquids.

2. Stir in the garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar; mix thoroughly. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Breakfast Pizza

• Gluten free pizza crust(I used Bob’s Red Mill)
• 1 pound bulk pork sausage
• 1 lb. gluten free tater tots or hash browns
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 6 eggs

Directions

1. Make pizza crust and spread out on a 14 inch pizza pan.
2. Cook tater tots at 425 for 20 minutes. I did this while the pizza dough rose.
3. Cook sausage.
4. Spread the cooked tater tots evenly over pizza dough. Then layer with cooked sausage and cheese.
5. Pour the beaten eggs over the pizza.
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 28-30 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

Gluten Free Hot Brown

A couple of weeks ago I was watching the Food Network and they had a special on the Kentucky Hot Brown.  I had never heard of it, but they looked so good.  Tonight I found a recipe and made it gluten free.  This is an awesome comfort food.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup Gluten Free all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 pounds sliced roasted turkey
• 1 tomato, thinly sliced (I grilled)
• 8 slices gluten free bread, toasted
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 8 slices crispy bacon

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour with a whisk or fork, and continue to cook and stir until it begins to brown slightly. Gradually whisk in the milk so that no lumps form, then bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Mix in 6 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and then stir in the beaten egg to thicken. Do not allow the sauce to boil once the egg has been mixed in. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream.

2. Preheat the oven's broiler. For each hot brown, place two slices of toast into the bottom of an individual sized casserole dish. Cover with a liberal amount of roasted turkey and tomato slices. Spoon sauce over the top of each one and sprinkle with some of the remaining Parmesan cheese.

3. Place the dishes under the broiler and cook until the top is speckled brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from the broiler and arrange two slices of bacon in a cross shape on top of each sandwich. Serve immediately

IBD Serology is Negative

Today I got Kennedy's IBD Serology 7 test results and everything was negative!! None of the antibodies are positive. What does this mean? How can this be?  I have way more questions than answers!  We are going to continue to taper the Prednisone as long as she continues to do well.

Easter Dinner at P.F. Chang's in Boise

P.F. Chang's has a great gluten free menu.  They even had a flourless chocolate cake that was awesome.  Karleigh loved the lettuce wraps.  What a treat for me not to have to cook Easter dinner.

Easter Fun 2010

Easter Morning the girls woke up to their basket filled with goodies. They got a lot of things to decorate their rooms with. They also hunted eggs that were hidden throughout the house.

Jump rope in the garage with Uncle James.  He spent the night.

We went over to the Nielsen's house for another Easter Egg hunt.  Karleigh found the prize egg worth $5.00.

GF Breakfast Quiche

Ingredients

• 1 recipe pastry (I used my recipe-Donna Jo's GF pie crust recipe) for a 9 inch single crust pie
• 6 slices bacon
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
• 1 tablespoon gluten free all-purpose flour

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
2. Line pastry with a double layer of aluminum foil. Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 4 to 5 minutes more, or until crust is set. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
3. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Remove bacon from pan, crumble and set aside. Reserve 2 tablespoons bacon grease in skillet. Cook onion in reserved drippings until tender; drain and set aside.

4. In a large bowl, mix together eggs, milk and salt. Stir in bacon and onion. In a separate bowl, toss cheese and flour together. Add cheese to egg mixture; stir well. Pour mixture into hot pastry shell.

5. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until knife inserted into center comes out clean. If necessary, cover edges of crust with foil to prevent burning. Let quiche cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Resurrection Celebration

Tonight we met my brother for Easter service at our Church.  It was so nice to have him come with us to Church and hear the Word of God.  Kennedy even had time to play with London in her dress before we left.

Waldorf Salad

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 apples -- peeled, cored, and chopped
• 2 cups thinly sliced celery
• 1-1/3 cups and 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
• 1 cup raisins (optional)

Directions
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice, and salt.
2. Stir in the apples, celery, walnuts, and raisins. Chill until ready to serve.

Easter Fun

So this morning it was cold and the wind was blowing.  Both girls had a soccer game at noon but we were able to go to an Easter egg hunt in Kuna before the games.  Both girls got to participate and came out with a lot of candy.

We also died our Easter eggs today.  They turned out really pretty and we didn't even make a mess.

Tater Tot Breakfast

1 lb. Gluten free tater tots
12 eggs
1 lb. sausage
Shredded cheddar cheese

I used two large muffin pans. 
Brown sausage in fry pan.  Spray muffin pans with a non stick cooking spray.  Whip 1 dozen eggs.  Place 4-5 tater tots in muffin pan.  Evenly spread the sausage into each muffin.  Top with cheddar cheese.  Then evenly pour eggs over the cheddar cheese.  It was about 1/3 cup egg into each muffin.  Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.