Snow Pictures

All children over the age of 5 must work for food!










Snow Ambush!












"My turn!"











Nik and Jacob stop for a photo-op









"Holy cats! The snow is up to my butt!"











"Too fast, Dad!"










"Oh the possibilities! Snow cones, snow burgers, snowsicles..."

Snowed In

After nearly three feet of snow this weekend, it is somehow possible that we are looking at another 7-10 inches before the end of today! As I sit typing, looking out my living room windows, I see huge chunks of snow, swirling around the blowing branches of the pine tree in our yard. The furniture on the back porch looks like it's been topped with some kind of marshmallow filling, and I feel like I've been transported to somewhere much farther north than central Pennsylvania. Just last week I thought, "it's been a pretty good winter so far." I should know better than to think such thoughts! February has just begun, and now I wonder how our area will handle this much snow, let alone any storms that might follow.

As of Tuesday, the roads in the borough I live in were still not cleared. It felt as if I were driving over a washboard. The corners and intersections? An absolute mess, with rivets of snow nearly preventing my tiny civic from rounding the turns. On the way to work yesterday, I said to Andrew, "These roads are a mess!" He agreed, matter of factly stating, "Mess. Vacuum." If only it were that simple!

Jacob, on the other hand, is thrilled with the weather. He was dismissed from school early yesterday and took that opportunity to play outside with his friends. This morning when I informed him of the school closing, he literally danced a jig in joyful celebration! To be a kid again...can't you all remember the eager anticipation of waiting for the final word on school during snow storms? I admit that I am partially glad to have the day off of work (I follow the school district schedule too), but for me, it doesn't mean relaxation and play. It's a chance to catch up on all the things I have let fall behind. In a way, it's more work!

For now, we will have to endure the cabin fever. The fact that spring is only 6 weeks away is our saving grace. The end will arrive. We just have to keep trudging through the knee deep, freezing cold piles of snow in the meantime.

Holy Snow, Batman!

The total for our area was 20.5 inches! Greg shoveled ALL day, and Andrew and I looked outside in amazement at the piles upon piles of snow. Jacob reveled in it, playing outside most of the day.




"Mmm! Snow!" He tried to eat every drop brought in on anyone's shoes.









The back porch, before the end of the storm...

Even Jake's bike need shoveling out!

Purification Complete

Yesterday was the last official day of the purification program. It feels fantastic to have completed it! I'll admit, I did steal a few mini-marshmallows from Andrew along the way, but other than that I was able to make it three whole weeks eating only the specified foods. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. I am now completely off of medication and my headaches have improved drastically. I went 10 days with no headache at all - the longest time in two years! While my sleep is still rather disturbed, I have a marked increase in energy throughout the day too. I'm hoping that as the topamax works out of my system, I will see an improvement in my sleep. If not, I can try to remedy the insomnia with supplements. It feels so liberating to know that I am no longer attached to a medication, especially one that had so many detrimental side effects.

In thinking about the root of my symptoms, I have come to believe that, while some of it is linked to the foods I had been eating, most of the damage I did was a result of over-use of medications. I have alluded to the fact that I had some eating and body image issues in the past. When I was 12 years old, I bought my first pack of diet pills at a local drug store. I continued use of diet aids off and on for 15 years. On top of that, in high school and college, I sometimes used cold medication to give me an added energy boots. I never thought twice about popping 4 Motrin at one time for a headache, taking NoDoz to help me stay up to study or taking Benadryl regularly to help me sleep. I was on countless prescribed medications over the years too, some, like the Topamax, with serious consequences for the human body. That monumental pill popping, along with the normal exposures we get from foods, alcohol, and the fact that I smoked half a pack of cigarettes a day for ten years, led to a complete overload. It makes sense. Needless to say, I will be thinking twice about what pills I take from this point on.


I believe that God places us in certain circumstances because that is where we need to be. There are vital lessons to be learned, benefits to be reaped from every situation if examined closely enough. Unlike much of life's schooling, the lessons I have learned recently are straightforward. There are many things that I dislike about my job, but it was my job that actually saved me in this instance. It was a coworker who recommended the doctor I am seeing, who in turn has done more for me in the last 4 months than any other medical professional, without the use of anything artificial. The woman who referred me is a very considerate and friendly woman, but she isn't someone who I interact with outside of work. If I hadn't been at my job, interacting with Jami, I would not know about Dr. Luke. I would still be struggling with the headaches, still miserable. I am extremely grateful for having had that conversation with Jami, for her referral, and ultimately, for being employed by Head Start. It's a gratitude that I have passed on by referrals of my own, and something I intend to continue.

Going through this program has also truly opened my eyes as to the effects of the things we ingest. It has given new meaning to the "body as a temple" view. I have even thought of how God, as our father would want us to treat ourselves. (Bear with me here, this isn't going to be some majorly religious jaunt) Think of your own children and how concerned you are with what they are eating: are they getting enough nutrition, eating their vegetables. We talk to our kids about the dangers of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes because we love them, and we want them to lead long, healthy lives. Now think how frustrated you feel when you provide them a plate at dinner only to have them bemoan the healthy foods and then try to cajole you into a heaping dessert. If they could only understand the value of what you have placed before them and the detriment of the sugar fix!

God has placed before us a wealth of nutritional possibilities, and the knowledge to clearly see the benefits and detriments of the choices we make. He has given us everything we could possibly ask for in order to lead healthy lives. But what do we do with it? Do we choose the healthy food? Not usually. On top of that, we desecrate the foods that he has given us by adding preservatives, dyes, all kinds of artificial ingredients and then processing them into something that isn't even recognizable as its original form. How sad would it make you, as a parent, to see you children doing that, over and over and over, destroying the foods you provided and thereby also bodies that you gave them? You know the dangers and the health consequences they are going to endure later, but they don't, and they don't listen to what you are telling them. This is what we, as God's children, are doing.

I'm not riding a naturalistic high horse. I'm not saying I'm going to boycott chocolate or chips for the rest of my life. I think all of that is OK with moderation. I just think that in trying to improve our lives, we humans have actually caused ourselves a lot of problems. God doesn't need to be improved upon. That's the attitude I plan to take on my eating from now on, eating foods in their most natural state, the less processing and the less additives, the better. I've started with myself, and Greg is following suit. Now the tricky part - changing the kids. It'll be a slow process, but much like anything worth pursuing, well worth the effort.

More Recipes

Sweet Potato Fries:

1-2 Sweet Potatoes
1-2 T olive oil
Cinnamon to taste

Peel sweet potato, slice into strips (I like mine pretty thin, so they get crispy). Sprinkle with cinnamon and saute in the pan of olive oil until cooked. Hint - work in batches and put only enough to cover the bottom of the pan, if you like crispy fries.

Vegetable Soup:

2-6 garlic cloves (I used 4)
Medium yellow onion, chopped
2-3 carrots, chopped
2-3 turnips, chopped
½ head of cabbage, chopped
1-2 medium zucchini, chopped
6-8 cups organic chicken or vegetable broth
1 large can of organic diced tomatoes
1-2 tablespoons fresh thyme, minced (I used 2)
Crushed cayenne pepper, to taste
1 tsp minced oregano

Saute garlic and onions until soft. Add broth and ½ to whole can of tomatoes with the juice. Add cayenne pepper and bring to a boil. Add carrots and simmer for 15 minutes. Then add rest of herbs and cabbage. Simmer an additional 15 minutes. Add the rest of the vegetables, simmering for a final 15 minutes. Add broth or more water as needed for the consistency you like. Salt and pepper to taste.

Chicken Chili:

2 pounds boneless chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
1 ¾ cups chicken stock
1 bunch small scallions, chopped
4 ribs of celery, diced fine
¼ cup red bell pepper diced
1 clove of garlic, chopped ( I used 2)
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup butter
1 tsp cumin
1 T chili powder
1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes
1 cup water

Turn your slow cooker on and let it warm while you prep. Saute the scallions, celery and bell pepper in the butter. Add the chicken and cook just until the color begins to turn. Combine the chick stock, canned tomatoes, water, garlic, cumin, and chili powder in the slow cooker. Add the chicken and veggies. Stir once to blend. Cover and cook on high for one hour and then turn to low for an additional 4-5 hours.
The recipe doesn’t call for it, but I also added about ½ cup brown rice to mine, just to thicken it a little.

Chicken Wraps with Sweet Potato and Garlic Spread:

2-3 chicken breasts
Oregano, garlic powder, and whatever other spices you like to season chicken with. I used paprika and salt.
1 medium sweet potato
4 T butter
Garlic (I used 3 cloves)
Sea salt
1 head of romaine lettuce leaves
1 purple onion, julienned

Preheat oven to 375. Cut chicken into strips and apply seasoning. Bake chicken for 23-35 minutes, turning half way. While chicken is cooking, prepare the sweet potato spread.

This is not how he said to do it, but this is how I did it:

Peel and dice the sweet potato. Boil it until tender. Add garlic and butter and mash it all together.

Cut the end off the romaine lettuce leaves. Spread the sweet potato spread on the leaves, add onion, chicken, salt and pepper, wrap and enjoy! These are yummy!

Spinach Rolls:

This recipe is time consuming, but it’s really worth it! I had left over turkey mixture that I formed into a mini loaf and froze, too! Really good!

1 bunch fresh spinach
1 pound ground turkey
1 cup uncooked brown rice (not instant)
2 cans organic chicken broth
1 large onion
2 cloves garlic
1 egg
Pinch salt

Wash spinach, drain and set aside. Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, mix together the ground turkey, onion - chopped, garlic - chopped, uncooked rice, salt and egg. Use a spoon to dip out and place a rounded tsp on each leaf and roll. Place in a deep baking dish. Keep rolling the spinach leaves and layering them. Pour 1/12 cans of broth to cover the rolls. Bake covered for about 45 minutes, check the juices and add the rest of the broth, if needed. Uncover the last 10 minutes.


Red Wine Vinaigrette:

This is recipe of a friend. It’s an old favorite I thought I would post.

¼ c red wine vinegar
1 tsp each salt and pepper
1 tsp dry mustard
1 clove garlic
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
¼ c extra virgin olive oil
½ c safflower oil

Night-Night

Obsessed with putting his toys to sleep, particularly his bee, tiger and baby, Andrew insisted on taking the baby to bed last night. Usually he puts it to sleep on the floor beside the crib, but he wanted it with him, beside him when I laid him down. He fell asleep with his arms around it, but when I went back to check on him with my camera, he had rolled over. How sweet - a boy and his baby.

Ice Fishing

Yesterday Greg, his dad, and Greg's friend Thad took Jacob and
Hannah, Thad's daughter ice fishing on a local lake. It was FREEZING outside. I thought for sure the kids would give up and throw in the towel within an hour, but they actually lasted all day long! They didn't catch any fish worth keeping, but according to Greg, they had a blast, and he brought back photos to prove it! On the way home, Jacob was already planning their next adventure!





Trying for a fish.










"So exactly how thick is this ice?"







Thad and "Super Ed"








"Hannah, to catch a fish, you gotta think like a fish."













"You flop around like this, see..."











"Hey, it's hard to eat chips with gloves and a face mask!"

























The crew preparing to embark on an adventure.

Purification Week 2

Whatever remaining doubts I had about the efficacy of the program this time last weekend were eradicated throughout the course of this week. At this point, I can honestly say that I do not remember when I last felt this good. It has been 6 days now since I have had a headache. 6 days!!! Two years, four doctors and countless medicines had me convinced that I was destined to a life of chronic head pain. Now, I am thinking that is untrue. It's the greatest feeling in the world!

On top of that, I have more energy now that I can ever remember having. While my sleep has only mildly improved, (I sleep for 2-3 hours in the beginning of the night and then toss and turn, just like before) I do not feel that drunken drowsiness like before. Don't get me wrong, I'm ready for bed by 10 p.m, but I'm not so wiped out all day long that I feel like it's a struggle to even function at times. That aspect alone is absolutely amazing. Before I ever started having headaches, I struggled with fatigue. I had my thyroid tested two or three times, because I was convinced that no one could be as tired as I was without a biological problem. The tests always came back normal. It was all about the foods I was eating. A diet rich in carbohydrates spikes blood sugar and causes peaks and crashes. I've actually always known that fact. What I didn't know was just how bad carbs really are. I have eaten no carbohydrates except for brown rice for 16 days. Not once have I felt shaky or irritable (aside from the norm, haha!) The whole grain breads and whole wheat pasta that I thought were healthy choices were really not healthy at all. They were the lesser of two evils. I have learned that a diet should be primarily consistent of vegetables and lean protein. This is also a fact that I've always known but never truly implemented until now. When they say "primarily," they really mean it! Now, the doctor also has me on an iodine supplement, to boost thyroid function, because he said that thyroid function can be low, but within normal medical guidelines, and still cause a person to feel sluggish. I have been on that since October, so the supplement alone didn't do that trick. It needed to be combined with the diet. With the right food and a few natural supplements, I feel like a healthy young person again!

Oh, and I am now taking only one third of the dose of topamax. I will be completely off of it by the end of the week! Yahoo! Medication free to boot! I'm thrilled. I just need to work on the sleeping aspect and I will be complete!

That's a quick update for now. I also have some more recipes to post sometime during the week. Thanks for all the support and well wishes. I really appreciate it!

Kid Stuff

Greg has been trying his hardest to teach Andrew to say "shit" when he poops, but it just didn't seem to stick. A few days ago, I could have sworn that I heard Andrew in his play house saying "shit, shit" over and over, but his speech is still pretty sloppy, so I just wasn't certain. Well, I'm certain now. In the last two days, he has come up to me many times, with his hand on his behind, after having a bowel movement, and said, "shit." Greg, of course, thinks this is hysterical. OK. It's a little funny right now when he's still not completely understandable, but it won't be funny for long when it becomes apparent that my toddler is blatantly swearing! From now on, I think we need to stick to getting our kicks by dressing him up in goofy outfits and taking pictures!

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I recently read an idea from another family in the Catholic newsletter our church sends out. Before dinner, after saying Grace, each family member picks a person or group of people for whom they would like to send a specific prayer to God. Thinking this was a nice gesture, and a good way to get the boys (namely Jacob) thinking about others, I decided to start this tradition with our family. The last few days have been interesting. The first day he prayed for the people enduring the California mudslides. The next night, he decided to pray for a little girl at school who had a cold. Last night he attempted to pray that Andrew would stop getting into his things. I told him no, he wasn't allowed to pray for himself. The point is to pray for other people. He then prayed that Andrew would be able to continue watching Elmo after dinner. I can't wait to see what tonight will bring!

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My mother took Jacob out for a treat at Friendly's last night. In the car on the way home John Tesh was on the radio. He was talking about what attracts people to specific pets, namely cats and dogs. Jacob said to my mom, "Mimi, you know what I like?"

"What?" She asked.

"I like beavers."

"Really? That's interesting."

"Yep. I bet a lot of people don't like beavers, but I do."

Then she told him, "Well, I bet you'd be surprised how many guys like beavers." Luckily, her last comment went completely over his head!

Beavers. Oh my. Where does he get this stuff????

Recipes

Here are some recipes that I have particularly liked from the purification program. I had several people ask me to share, so I thought I would just post them. I'll post more as I try more.


Cilantro Lime Dressing: (pretty strong, you have to really like cilantro and lime to like this dressing - Greg didn't care for it. I loved it. I just made the second batch of it tonight!)

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 T chopped cilantro (fresh)
1 T chopped onion
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
salt and pepper to taste

mix together. Store in the fridge for longer shelf life. Set out for about 30 minutes prior to serving to soften the oil.

Pineapple Salsa - for baked fish or chicken - also has a strong cilantro flavor

1/2 or more of a ripe pineapple, cut into small chunks
2-3 Tbsp cilantro
1 small purple onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1-2 jalapenos, chopped
1 Tbsp freshly grated ginger
1/2 freshly squeezed lime juice
Agave nectar (or Stevia) to taste (I use agave, about 1/2 Tbsp)
Sea salt and pepper to taste

combine all ingredients together - serve over fish or chicken.

Hamburger Casserole: tastes kind of like a steak sandwich without the bread

1 lb hamburger
2 large onions, chopped
2 cups tomatoes, diced
2 green peppers (or red)
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1 teaspoon chili powder
1.5 teaspoons sea salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

saute peppers and onions. Add hamburger and cook until brown. Add tomatoes, rice and seasoning. Place in a casserole dish and bake at 375 for 50 minutes.

Oven Baked Carrot Fries:

1 1/2 lbs carrots
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp sea salt
pepper to taste (I used white pepper - it was really good)
fresh rosemary

Preheat oven to 425. Line shallow pan (or baking sheet) with foil. Peel carrots. Using a sharp knife, slice away tip and end of each carrot. Cut carrots in half cross-wise. Cut carrots in half length-wise once, and then length-wise again. In a mixing bowl combine the carrots, oil and seasoning until evenly coated. Spread in pan as evenly as possible. Bake for 20 minutes or until tender (or less if you like them crunchy).

Purification Week 1

Seven days into the purification program and I can honestly say that I have serious mixed emotions. Is it working? Well, in many ways, yes. It is working. For one, I have had this strange issue in the back of my throat for about 10 years. I tried to doctor it with several rounds of antibiotics it when it first appeared long ago, but it never went away. It just stays there and flares up from time to time, but it doesn’t really bother me, so I just let it go. (I know. It’s gross). I looked in the mirror yesterday and it is nearly gone! Whatever the purification system is doing, it has allowed my body to heal itself, at least in my throat. I think that’s pretty amazing.


As for the headaches, well…the first 5 days I had terrible headaches, but that could have been caused by caffeine withdrawal, for one, and sleep deprivation as well. I’m not sure, but I am wondering if by cleansing my system of all the residual toxins, I thereby make myself more sensitive to the side effects of the Topamax, one of which is insomnia. I have barely slept at all since starting the regimen, much worse than even two weeks ago. Of course, two weeks ago, I was also taking some kind of sleeping aid regularly, whether it was benadryl or a prescription. I have not taken anything other than the Topamax, not even Tylenol, since starting the purification. So, I suppose the worsened insomia could also be withdrawal of another sort. The last two days, the headaches have been better. Yesterday I didn’t have any headache until later in the evening, despite being very tired, and so far today I have had none. If I continue without headaches, my goal is to get off of the prescription completely. What a dream that would be! I remain positive in my thinking that this could work.


Still, it has been a much more emotionally charged week than I anticipated. I never considered myself to be an emotional eater. In fact, when I am particularly stressed or depressed, I tend to stop eating. Therefore, I didn’t think that giving up my favorite foods would be so difficult. I was wrong. It’s not the cravings that are hard. It’s the thought that, what if it turns out that I do indeed have a sensitivity to something as common as dairy or wheat that is troubling. In some regard that would be fantastic news. It would mean no more medication, no more ill side effects, and a natural way to control my headaches. On the flip side, it would be a dietary nightmare for the rest of my life, if I end up having a sensitivity to a food base that is extremely common. Just in the last week, watching others around me eat, sitting at tables with people who are indulging in foods which before didn’t even necessarily look appealing, I have come to realize that eating isn’t always about nourishment. It’s largely social. There’s a lot to be said for getting together with friends for dinner, coffee or drinks. Not being able to order from a menu may seem small in the grand scheme of life, but it's something to contemplate. Yes, mourning the potential end of that is definitely premature, but the thought has crossed my mind more than once.


Plus, meal planning, and preparing is a lot of work. I feel like I spend much of my time either in the kitchen or thinking about what I will be doing in the kitchen. Those of you who have known me for a long time know that I while I may be able to throw a meal together now, I am hardly a culinary expert. The recipe book that the doctor’s office gave me is full of great ideas, yet it has ambiguous measurements. This is not good for someone like me. I have made several dishes that were not quite right, one of which had to be thrown away completely. When I had to toss that chicken, I felt like crying - not just because it was a waste of hormone free, antibiotic free, grass fed, free range high priced chicken, but also because the panic stricken thought of, “now what am I going to eat! I have to start all over again and figure out another meal!” immediately ran through my head. I was starving and had no dinner! Any other time I would have just boiled some noodles and thrown on some sauce, or even eaten a bowl of cereal, but hey - those are both forbidden! There’s no easy out anymore, and with so little sleep and so much energy already put into my week’s food, it was crushing. A few days later, with a little perspective, I understand that messing up a coating for chicken fingers should not cause such a reaction.


That’s where I stand right now. Plugging along, coming to terms, still hopeful, yet slightly discouraged at times, and experiencing some to-be-expected growing pains. I’m grateful for the support of my family, especially Greg who has been doing all kinds of research on his own about how to find local meats and produce, how to grow, can and freeze our own veggies next summer, what kinds of water is best, what kind of cookware is best, etc. And for putting up with my adjustments and “what if” rantings. He’s a good man all around. We’re lucky to have him…and if this works for me, I’m making him go through the program too, to get all of those power plant chemicals out of his Homer Simpson behind!

What Andrew Thinks About Going Organic

"Mmmm! I love yogurt!"








"Hey! Wait a minute! This isn't Trix! Where's the bunny? Where's the sugar? Where's the dye and pretty colors?"







"Haha, Mom! You're funny! Give me back the old stuff!"









"She's serious! I guess I'll choke down another bite! GULP!"









"This is absurd. Just look at this stuff. It isn't right."







"I mean, even the container looks weird."








"Better get used to it. I don't think she's bending on this one, and hey, I'm hungry."

Hanging Out

'Let's see if there's anything good on TV"








"Being the youngest, I NEVER get the remote. This is GREAT!"









"Wanna see what I have inside?"










"Are you really ready?"








"Tada! A bunch of babies!"







Jacob went to Pittsburgh this weekend with my mom to visit my cousins and see the Carnegie Science Center. He had a blast! He talked and talked on the phone last night, which is a sure sign that he had fun. Usually, he is dead silent on the phone. It's bordering on torture to talk to him sometimes. Last night, he went on an on about the robot exhibit, the volcano Imax movie, the tornado in a tube at Weather World, etc. He will be home sometime today.


Greg worked all weekend, and Andrew and I spent the last three days together. That's lot of time for just doing, well, a lot of nothing actually. I did some cleaning and organizing (surprise, surprise) and Andrew did some organizing of his own. Today is the last day of the long weekend, and we plan to do more of the same - lazing around. I don't think I can handle the stress! Haha!

Life here has been pretty uneventful - just the way I like it! The holiday season is over, our weekends are free, and it has been calm and quiet...well, as calm and quiet as a house with two boys can get, that is. There just hasn't been a whole lot to report. Earlier in the week, Jacob lost his other front tooth. He was thrilled, of course. Along with the tooth, he placed a note on his night stand, asking the tooth fairy to again leave his money in change so that he could put it in his bank. She cheerfully obliged. He has gotten quite the collection of coins at this point!

I didn't start my purification program on Tuesday as I originally wanted. When I went to the doctor on Monday, he informed me that I needed to cut out all caffeine. No coffee. I don't drink. I don't smoke. BUT I drink anywhere from 2-10 cups of coffee on any given day. Feeling that it would not be wise to completely cut out coffee cold turkey, I chose to spend the week weaning myself off of caffeine. I slowly decreased my coffee intake and started the program yesterday. Yes, I still had caffeine withdrawal headaches, but not nearly as bad as they would have been had I stopped abruptly.

Yesterday was the first official day on the program. Honestly I don't have much to say about it yet. It's just too soon. Even though I had moments when I wished I could have had a handful of Hershey Kisses after lunch or dinner, I wasn't truly hungry at all, which is good. The shakes were not the greatest, but there are tons are ways that they can be mixed. I just need to experiment to find one that suits me. When I added the agave nectar, I found it was much better than without.

Greg has really gotten into ways he can help me too. He has been looking into buying a deep freezer, purchasing local meats, how to can foods at home, etc. Actually, these are things we have talked about before I started this process, but things that have become more pressing now that I am on the program. It will be a process for us - what works, what doesn't. Even if the program doesn't alleviate my headaches, it can only benefit our family's overall health.

That's it in a nutshell. We've been obsessed with food and teeth! Not very exciting, but hey, like I said, boring is good sometimes!

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

Andrew has been speaking more and more, but with his words are mostly a lot of jumbled sounds. Over time, we have come to recognize a lot of the common ones. For example, for the pacifier, he says, “deedee” He calls Jacob “Ba.” He calls hair “har.” There's a long list, as there often is with babies.

Shortly before Christmas, I took Jacob to get his hair cut. I held Andrew, while the woman worked on Jake. As soon as she started, and Jacob's hair fell to the floor, Andrew lunged forward, pointed frantically, and yelled, “Uh-oh! Ba! Har! Uh-oh! Ba! Har!” He was seriously disturbed by the fact that someone was cutting Jake’s hair off! I actually had to walk away and distract Andrew for the remainder of the hair cut, which was fine, until Andrew tried to break into the cash register. But that's another blog entry altogether...
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Some other words that Andrew says cutely, “Toysh” and “asses” instead of glasses
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Now onto Jacob….

We have missed a lot of church in the last 8 months due to the fact that I am unable to chorale Andrew for the whole mass. At Christmas, we normally take a camel from the tree and purchase an item for a needy child. This year, we did not take a camel, because we didn’t attend the services when the camels were hung. When Jacob and I went to mass early in January, the trees were still up. He looked at me and said, “Mom, we forgot to get a moose this year!”
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Jacob had decided one day that he was going to build something. He said, “First I’m going to start with the blue prints, although I don’t have any blue paper.”
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We have been playing our own modified version of charades in the evenings at home. One night, when it was Greg’s turn, Jake looked at him and said, “Go ahead Greg, take your head off!” I think he meant to say “knock yourself out.”
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It’s a fishing “lar” not a lure.

He also spotted a “birthmarker” on Andrew’s foot. Actually, it was a scratch, but he was trying!

Raccoon!

For several months, we have been finding our garbage strewn about our back porch several mornings a week. We live in town, so our thoughts did not immediately fall to a raccoon, but rather to one of the stray neighborhood cats we see frequently running through our yard. Until one night about a month ago, that is.

Greg had left the house. It wasn't late, probably around 7, and I was home with the boys. I heard something on the back porch, and it was making such noise, that I actually thought it was a person stumbling around outside. I flipped on the porch light and opened the door. (Later, when I told someone else this story, they were shocked that I tried to apprehend a person outside my home. What was I supposed to do? Better to get them outside than let them break in! Anyway, I digress...) When I opened the door, there in the midst of all my shredded garbage, was Rocky Raccoon. The darn thing didn't run in fear. It actually, took several steps toward me! I think he expected me to give him a few extra pieces of dinner, perhaps something fresher! How presumptuous! I stomped and shooed it, and he got the picture. I wasn't inviting him in for dessert. He left. The war was on.

I called Greg. The next day, we made it a family outing to buy some traps and get the little bugger. We set trap after trap after trap. Raccoons are clever. The first day, he reached in the side of the trap and pulled the food out, without going in and setting it off. Greg tied the food down inside a nylon, so that he would then have to walk inside to get it. The second day, he walked inside the trap, but the trigger wasn't sensitive enough to release the door. Greg reset the sensor. The third day, we knew we had him! The trigger was sensitive, the food was tied down. There was no way he was escaping. Well, Greg sat the trap too close to the grill and the door caught on the wheel of the grill, so that although the trigger released, and the raccoon should have been captured, he walked away Scott free. We gave up for a while.

Two nights ago, we were playing charades with the boys in the living room. I had just put garbage out on the porch a few hours before and I heard some light rustling on the porch. I asked Greg if he had taken it to the garbage containers or if it was still on the porch. It was still on the porch. He excused himself from the game and got his gun. This was the end game for Rocky. I distracted the boys. They had no clue what was going on. There was a LOT of rustling on the porch. I was sure Greg killed that raccoon. He didn't. After scuffling for 15 minutes, the stupid thing jumped off of the deck, 15 feet to the ground. Raccoon wins again. Greg set the trap again. In the morning, the trap was AGAIN empty. We felt very, very defeated.

Greg and I went out to dinner and a movie last night, a rare treat for us. A date! When we returned, Greg decided to check the trap, just for the heck of it. Inside was Rocky! Maybe he was too scared to come back the night before, but the smell of sardines was too tempting to keep him away for long! At long last, victory was ours!

Greg brought him inside so the boys could have a look at him. Andrew was thrilled! We had a hard time keeping him away from the cage. The poor thing even stuck his hand out of the cage towards Greg, as if to say, "Hey, Brother, spare me, OK. I was just looking for a bite to eat!" I took some photos. We gave Rocky some marshmallows, for good measure, and Greg drove him off to humanely release him in the woods where he can find his food in nature - or at least in some other fool's garbage! They are beautiful creatures, but I must admit, I will not be sorry to see him go. Good-bye, Mr.Raccoon, and good riddance!

Chuck E Cheese & Andrew's Nurturing Session

It has been so freezing cold lately, that we can't even take the boys outside to play. What to do? Normally, I'm not a Chuck E Cheese type of gal - too crowded, too germy, etc. But, instead of sitting at home and watching TV, we decided to brave the general population and give it whirl yesterday. Jacob had a blast. Andrew wanted to play with the bigger kid stuff, which ended up being a little more frustrating than fun for him. We tried to persuade Jacob to play in the smaller kid's area with Andrew for a little while, which you can see was less than thrilling for Jake. As my sister sarcastically said, "he's always such a good sport about things." Oh well, it was two hours of an outing, and at least a little fun for the kids. I think they had more fun playing charades at home later, though!

In the evening, while Greg unsuccessfully tried to chorale a rouge raccoon that has been rummaging through our garbage, Andrew decided to put a few of his stuffed animals and one of his baby dolls to bed on the living room floor. He laid them all face down, covered them all with blankets, patted them each on the back, and said "nite nite." He checked them over and over, making sure they had the right blanket and were comfortable. He's getting very funny with pretend play, which I think is adorable. He gives all kinds of things his binkie, a blanket, something to eat or drink. It's sweet.

There are pictures below. Pardon the quality of the Chuck E Cheese ones - they are cell phone photos.







"Oh come on, already! ABC's!" (this one is my favorite - hahaha!)







"Hey, I think I see a stray token over there!"











Some fierce competition!








Dad gets in on the action.










Giving the tiger a good night kiss before bed.










Covering him up.












"Now, you all sleep through the night. I want a good night's sleep!"








One final check before turning in himself.

The Road To Purification

On Tuesday, I officially begin a purification program through my chiropractor. Sounds strange, doesn't it? The chiropractic practice I go to also does a number of whole health practices, including nutritional eduction and supplementation. The nutrition factor is actually one of the reasons why I chose to begin my care there. I know that certain foods are triggering these doggone headaches, but I'm not certain which foods are the culprits. I'm hoping that the doctor can assist me in pinpointing the offenders.



The idea behind the purification program is pretty simple. Over the years, we are all exposed to many toxins through the foods we eat, medications we take, cleaners we use, even just in the air we breathe. Pollutants are everywhere. We all know this. We can't avoid them. It's just not possible. The good thing is that our bodies, specifically our livers are profoundly efficient at eliminating chemicals from our systems so that they don't harm us. Most of us go by without issues. Well, pretty much.



Everyone can benefit from a purification process to some extent. Even the healthiest among us have taxed our livers at some point, but America as a whole is a very unhealthy country. Obesity, hypertension, diabetes, insomnia, depression, headaches, anxieties, gall bladder issues, gastro-intestinal dysfunction, etc. are abundant here. They are caused by our unhealthy lifestyles. We eat too much of the wrong things. We drink too much. We don't exercise enough, and we expect medication to fix us instead of changing our lifestyles. All of these ailments can all be caused by a build up of excess toxins in our bodies, due to the way we are treating ourselves. The liver becomes overloaded with pollutants, becomes less and less efficient at eliminating them, and as they then are stored within us instead of released, they cause us problems for us. (This is not to say that all of the above aren't also caused and treated traditionally as well. But hey, if you can take care of them naturally, without meds, why not try?)



Back to me. The purification process is pretty strict, at least initially. It's 21 days long, with very specific food guidelines. Virtually no starch, no sugar, no diary. Basically I can eat lean meat, grown without hormones, organically grown vegetables, fruit in moderation (due to sugar content), eggs and certain nuts. I am given supplements and a shake that is nutrient dense to assist my liver in both healing from years of over use, and eliminating the excessive toxins it has been storing. On day 22, I can start slowly adding food groups back into my diet, like I did with my children - one at a time, for several days in a row, monitoring its effect on my body; does it give me a headache, etc.



I am concurrently very excited and very nervous about this process. It's very restrictive. I make no bones about being a sugar junkie. I don't feel like I will have a problem eating the items listed on the menu, but I know I will go through withdrawal eliminating some of the ones that are forbidden. On the flip side, I know that this is something that is necessary for me to do. If for no other reason than to get a hold of what foods are bothering my head. Perhaps in the process, I will reap some additional benefits, such as sleeping better. I guess what worries me the most is the length of the process. It's not just the 21 days of the initial cleansing, but the fact that each additional food item must be reintroduced individually, 3 days in a row. That means, for example, I can't just eat a piece of pizza, because it has cheese, grains and sauce. I would have to start with mozzarella cheese first for 3 days. Then try sauce for 3 days. Then try bread for 3 days. That's not even thinking about processed meats, which are technically a no-no for a healthy lifestyle anyway....You get the picture.



Any lifestyle change requires not only commitment and willpower, but also a change in thinking. I am ready to make that change, and I am hoping that the pace of the program is actually what I need to help make the changes permanent. Fast is not the way to make something stick long term. Slow and steady was in fact the lesson we all learned in grade school. So, starting Tuesday, I will begin my process of a slow and steady change, hopefully one that will stick with me for a while, and hopefully one that will also spill over to my family. I believe that eating healthy is a change that we call can benefit from, headaches or not. Wish me luck. I don't want to be purification drop out!

Photos From New Year's Day

Nice make-up!








Greg really went to beauty school, but he doesn't tell many people.









Pap shakes his booty to "Thriller"... or some Michael Jackson song! Go Pap! Old people have to get down on their hands and knees to really "get down!"








"My, my, what a soft face you have!"

"Mwahahahaha....Greg is too funny!"








"Shouldn't you guys be watching the game? There's football on TV, you know...Good clean fun."







Despite her face, Brooke really did like the snacks!











"Here you go, Pap"









"... and all the My Little Ponies played happily together..."









The family game table

Jacobisms

January 1, 2010. What better way to start off the new year than with some Jacobisms? Here you go:

"Pepperoni is made from pig and lots of pepper." Mmmm....
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When surveying the gifts under the tree Christmas morning, Jacob spotted one he was sure he recognized. He gleefully said to me, "Mom, I think know what that one is!"

"What is it?" I asked.

"It's a canoe! I just know it! It's gotta be a canoe!"

"Really? A canoe? We'll see about that when everyone else wakes up."

It turns out it was a hockey stick from my mom. He was just at thrilled with the hockey stick, and I was still amazed with the fact that he thought a canoe could be so neatly wrapped and placed under the tree!

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He calls the latest Harry Potter movie "Harry Potter And The Half Black Prince" Um....not exactly right....

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"Mom, why do they call it 'lemon' bologna?

"Probably because of where it is made - Lebanon, PA, I think. I'm not sure."

"Oh yeah. You're right. It's made in in a lemon factory where lemons are squeezed for juice."

He still refuses to believe that it's Lebanon bologna. Whatever.

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Last night he was running around the living room signing a familiar tune. Greg asked him to stop and sing it for us. It was KISS, Rock And Roll All Night. This is what we got:

"I wanna rock and roll, HOT DOG! And party every day!"

I really don't think KISS would throw the phrase "hot dog!" into any of their songs, do you?

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I had planned to go to the grocery store yesterday morning. Well, we had an unexpected snow storm over night and into mid-morning. Any of you who know me, know that for me to change my plans, it has to be something significant. We only had about 3 inches of snow, so I packed the kids in the car and off we went. When we got to the store, it was great. No one was there! I said to Jake, "one of the best times to go grocery shopping is during a snow storm. People panic and go before a storm, so it's crowded. People have to go after a storm and restock their supplies, so it gets crowded then too, but no one in their right mind goes in the middle of a storm. There's barely anyone here! This is great!"

He looked around and said, "Uh, Mom, you said no one in their right mind would come to a grocery store in the middle of a snow storm. I think you mean no one with any mind at all. This is nuts!"

Apparently, I have no mind at all! As much as I hate to admit it, he may be on to something there...

Happy New Year everyone. I hope you have started the new decade with a smile!