More Tests and an Update…

I’m back!  Life continues to throw a plethora of set-backs my way and blogging continues to take a back seat in the line-up of things!  Unfortunately, the doctor visits and a number of tests are taking the front line in my life right now.  I wish I could share something more exciting with you, like the number of delicious recipes that I’ve been cooking up or all the family fun we’ve been having over the last few months, but not today!  God has different plans for me right now, plans to focus on healing my body and guiding me in the right direction to be the best mom and wife I can be through these trials. 

Although it seems SO VERY long ago, we did have a quiet but wonderful family Thanksgiving dinner!  This was the first year that we decided to stay home and attempt our first Thanksgiving meal together as a family.  We did so in part because of the many food restrictions I have right now and I just didn’t want to ask a million questions as to how the food was prepared or end up sitting without anything on my plate.  This seemed to be the best option for us this year and now I can say I cooked my first turkey!

		Thanksgiving 2013 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Christmas was a bit the same, we celebrated Jesus’ birthday in the morning with homemade cinnamon rolls (managed to pull together a grain free, dairy free and egg free version) and finished out the evening with a fiesta…carnitas tacos, cilantro lime sweet potatoes and homemade guacamole!  I made a veggie taco for myself and prepared the rest of the meal to my specifications so I could enjoy with the rest of the family.  Although we didn’t see a lot of extended family this year, it was just what our little family needed!

Christmas 2013 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

While we’re talking about food, being on such a restrictive diet we haven’t ventured out too much as it is so difficult for me to find anything to eat and enjoy.  But since the hubs and I haven’t spent much “alone” time together lately, for Christmas I put together a little date for the two of us.  It was nothing big, but just what we needed…a trip to the Headquarters at Seaport Village for lunch at Seasons 52 and then to a matinee showing of The Hobbit:The Desolation of Smaug.  The Headquarters is fairly new, with several dining options and some higher end shopping venues.  I was very impressed by the service at Seasons 52 as they were so kind to accommodate all my “restrictions”!  . 

The hubs enjoyed some “Red Mole” tacos with a side of “Tamale Tots” and a fresh mint lemonade.

For me, it was a juicy grilled chicken breast (seasoned with only olive oil and salt and pepper) served over baby roasted carrots and potatoes.  Although there wasn’t much seasoning (how I needed it to be prepared), it was still very delicious and I simply enjoyed the fact that I could eat out with no worries!

We had a couple of hours to kill before the movie and decided to walk around Seaport Village a bit since it was such a beautiful day!

I realized I so need more days like this!  Spending time away from home really helped take my mind off any pain or emotional struggles that most days bring.  And any quality time I get with my hubs brings refreshment and a new perspective to my day.  As I continue to go through tests and diet changes, having a positive perspective and a good prayer life has been essential!  It’s been a struggle to even be in the kitchen these days!  While I love to continue to cook healthy meals for my family, I have become quite discouraged when it comes to cooking for myself.  I think I have eaten the same thing for the last month and a half or so (usually some combination of carrots, artichoke, zucchini, asparagus, mushrooms and sometimes some sweet potatoes or butternut squash) and I am so done!!  Give me some variety!!!

Since I am so over food right now, here is a quick update on all my lovely tests happening this month…continued blood tests (amino acids, white blood cell count and platelet levels continue to be low), a colonoscopy and an endoscopy.  Woo! Hoo!  Sounds fun!  My prayer is that when these tests are finished I can start adding some foods back into my diet and begin to get back to some sort of “normalcy!” 

And of course I continue to crave the foods I cannot have…isn’t that how it always works?  Unfortunately I don’t have the energy to spend a lot of time experimenting in the kitchen, but every now and then I get the urge.  This week I came up with this delicious breakfast treat….

Grain Free Blackberry Baked Pancake (dairy free and vegan)

Ingredients:

3 cups almond flour

3/4 cup arrowroot powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. sea salt

3/4 cup non-dairy milk ( I used unsweetened almond milk)

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups fresh blackberries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients.  Add in wet ingredients and mix well.  Fold in blackberries.

4. Spread batter into prepared baking dish.

5. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on top.

6. Serve warm as is, or with a drizzle of maple syrup!

Definitely not your traditional pancake, but the flavor is certainly there.  It’s a dense breakfast treat, so a little piece goes a long way which is why I decided to cut it into small squares.

The blackberries add a wonderful surprise to each bite.  I missed a picture, but ended up topping each piece off with some warm blackberry syrup.  The fam thought it was Saturday morning or something, but it was actually a quick meal to pull together.  I love that it freezes well and can be used as a quick breakfast on a busy morning.

One last hoorah before Christmas break was over…finally put our fire pit to use and roasted some marshmallows while telling funny/scary stories!

Inhaling her smores!

While this one savors each bite!

MY LOVES!!

Now we are back into the swing of school and regular schedules which makes this mama happy!  However, I am working on being a bit more flexible and open to what God brings my way each day…heaven knows that God’s plans for my day (and life) and far better than mine!  In fact, oftentimes God will use our experiences in life as stepping stones to prepare us for what He has in store next.  Scripture tells us that He will even take the things the enemy tries to bring against us and turn them around and use them for our good!

Blessings,

J’lene

Trying to Make a Comeback….

Hello long lost friends!!!  I am wondering if it is at all possible to make a “graceful” comeback into the world of blogging…it’s only been, ya know, three months!  For what it is worth, here goes nothing…

I think I left you all wondering whatever happened with all those doctor visits and lengthy tests.  Well, that has been a large part of my absence to blogging, but I finally have some answers to share. 

I will try and spare you all the details (I am still trying to figure out what it all means myself!) and give you the shorthand version…

#1:  I have a leaky gut….This was no surprise to me, although the surprise came with the results as to what is causing the leaky gut.  I had hoped to some extent that the Paleo lifestyle that our family had adopted for the last 9 months or so would have helped tremendously with several of my gut issues.  Was I ever wrong!  I discovered that the foods I thought were a “healthy” part of my diet were indeed the culprit to most of my digestive problems…celery, grapes, lettuce (all kinds…you know how much I LOVE salads!), chocolate, pecans, walnuts, peaches, broccoli, bananas, parsley, oregano, dill, etc…  YIKES, that’s a whole lot of food that I can’t eat!

#2: I have Celiac…Although I have taken on a gluten free diet for some years now, I never considered “cross-contamination” issues.  I am still learning more about the disease and trying to equip myself and the kitchen with the necessary tools to make life somewhat easy.  In addition to the Celiac my body has decided that it also wants to reject any sort of grain (though it may be gluten free) and cause me to go into a stomach upset like none other!  My doctor said that this is large in part because the little “villa” and “micro-villa” that line the intestines are so damaged that they can’t do their job and “chop” up the food in order to be easily digestible.  I am currently taking a digestive enzyme and lots of probiotics to try and mend this problem.  You can read more about Celiac here.

#3: My body is not making enough Serotonin….Serotonin is a neurotransmitter produced in the brain which influences the functioning of the cardiovascular system, immune and gastrointestinal systems.  I didn’t realize what a large part Seratonin plays in digestion.  If you want to read more on this you can check out this article.

#4: I have a sulfur/sulfite intollerance….Sulfur is actually very necessary for your body’s metabolic functions, but excess sulfur can cause lots of problems.  What this means for me is the need for a low sulfur diet.  I have already been on this diet for 7 weeks and I am currently having to go another 8 weeks!  Let me tell you, this is one of the hardest things I have had to do!  On the low sulfur diet one CANNOT have onions, garlic, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, collards, turnips, radishes, arugula, pickles, raspberries, cranberries, dried fruit, animal products, eggs, soy, dairy, etc…  There is not a whole lot of options left my friends!!

#5: My body is not breaking down and utilizing proteins and fats…This is kind of a problem when I can’t have “meat protein” because of the sulfur issue.  My doctor okayed me to have a protein shake (or two) everyday and I am allowed a small amount of meat once a week…oh yeah!!  I am also upping my omega 3 intake…having flax, chia seeds and/or hemp seeds everyday along with my fish oil supplement. 

There you go, in a nutshell!!  Sounds crazy, huh?  IT IS!!

As I struggle to figure out what I can and can’t have to eat, meal planning continues to be quite a challenge.  While I have no problem coming up with great meals for the rest of the family, there seems to be far too many modifications that have to be made for myself.  Needless, to say I am trying to not let it get me down and realizing that this is just not my time to be creative.  It is more important that I strive to heal my body, rather than giving myself anxiety over creating a fabulous meal!  

Such a good reminder for me to have on the refrigerator door!! 

One “tool” that has made life a bit easier in the kitchen is this fun little gadget that my hubs got me for my birthday…a spiralizer!  I am making zucchini, yellow squash and butternut squash noodles like there is no tomorrow!  It’s quick and easy…just a little coconut oil in the pan, add your noodles, add some seasonings and saute for a couple of minutes!  I like to mix in a few other veggies for myself and for the fam I make homemade meatballs and spaghetti sauce.  Check it out,  Amazon has it on sale right now!

I can’t wait to try potatoes and apples next!!

This dinner has become one of my favorites…and well-liked by the rest of the family too.

Harvest Vegetable Tacos

Ingredients:

2 small eggplant

1 zucchini, chopped

2 Tbsp. coconut oil + more for roasting eggplant

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 red pepper, diced

2 tomatoes, skinned and diced

1/2 Tbsp. smoked paprika

1 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp basil

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:

1.  Heat oven to broil.

2. Rub some oil on the outside of each eggplant and place under hot broiler.  Cook until skin is blistering off, about 15-20 minutes (turn as needed).  Remove skin and cube eggplant.

3.  Heat 2 Tbsp coconut oil in a large skillet.  Add cumin seeds and toast for a few seconds.  Add red pepper and zucchini.  Cook until tender.  Add in tomato and remaining seasonings.  Cook and stir for a few minutes.

4.  Add in eggplant and cook over medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes. 

I discovered these Grain-Free Flax Tortillas from Real Sustenance that are not only easy to make, but super tasty as well!

They are pliable and don’t fall apart after you’ve filled them with yummy goodness!  And make for a good alternative to my usual lettuce wraps…missing lettuce!

This was dinner last night…and probably for a few nights to come (when I find something that tastes good, I usually make enough for a couple of days!).  It’s a combination of spaghetti squash, which I was already using as a base for the hubs’ and princesses’ shredded beef dinner, roasted mixed vegetables (mushrooms, tomatoes, and asparagus), and a little of last night’s Harvest Vegetable mix.  I tossed it all in a skillet with a little coconut oil, sea salt, pepper and some rosemary.

 Super easy, super quick, and super delicious!

Ahhh, it feels good to be back!   Through my victories and my struggles I am reminded to be thankful that I have a “rich” life in Christ and He continues to love me right where I am at!  The trials I face today are only temporary and for that I feel blessed!

Blessings,

J’lene

Pinterest Projects and Summer Kick-Off!

It’s hard to believe Summer is already here!  And I’m so glad that it is!  While we had a great school year, I was definitely wearing down those last few weeks.  It was hard for me to keep the princesses motivated when I myself wasn’t feeling 100% and motivated!  In any case, we did it and we celebrated with an end of the year trip to the San Diego Zoo to see some of the animals we learned about in science and then treated ourselves to lunch at Stacked.  While it would not be my first restaurant choice (although their sweet potato fries are pretty good), it’s what the princesses chose to kick off their Summer vacation. 

As for me, I got started on some Pinterest projects I’ve had my eye on for a while now.  I had just finished painting my little Cailyn’s room and was looking for some ideas to get some of her “stuff” off of the floor as her room is a bit on the small side.  For the stuffed animals she just couldn’t bring herself to part with, I found these yellow wire baskets at Home Goods.

Hung with “Command Strips”, these can be moved without damaging the walls.  The intention was to create a little reading/play nook and I think it serves it’s purpose!  We’ve recently added a bean bag, which she loves to sit and read in!

Dollar store frames, some leftover spray paint, scrapbook paper and a little computer work = super cute (and cheap) framed art!

Another dollar store frame with a little spray paint and corkboard from Wal-Mart.  I happened to have some flowers in our craft box that I hot glued on to up the “cute” factor just a bit! 

I’m getting ready to tackle my Makenna’s room next…we’re amping up the western theme for her!

And speaking of projects, I’m super excited that our “family” garden is now producing loads of beautiful squash, zucchini, green onions, green beans, and hopefully some tomatoes real soon!  Unfortunately I can’t take credit for this garden, but it has definitely become a family affair.  The garden is at my parents’ place, but we all had a small part in getting it started and thanks to my dad’s awesome “compost pile” it is flourishing! 

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So far we’ve had roasted and sauteed lots of squash and I even put some in the freezer for soups and muffins…yes, there is a lot!

In the mix…yellow squash, green beans, green onion, some fresh cracked pepper, smoked paprika and a little coconut oil.

Our first grilled dinner of the Summer…Grilled Chicken with a Cucumber-Lemon Salsa and Honey-Yogurt Sauce (dairy-free)

Cucumber-Lemon Salsa

Ingredients:

1 seedless cucumber, chopped

I large tomato, chopped

1/4 cup red onion, chopped

2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

Zest of 1 lemon

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a small bowl and carefully mix.  Can use immediately or place in the fridge for an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld!

Honey-Yogurt Sauce

Ingredients:

1/3 cup plain coconut milk yogurt

2 Tbsp coconut milk

1 Tbsp raw honey

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.  Serve atop grilled meat or as a dip for fresh fruit.There’s something about farm fresh produce that gets me all giddy, which is why I so look forward to frequenting local farms and Farmer’s Markets during the Summer.  I’ve found a local “gem” just down the road from us which I find myself at more than once during the week!  Grebar Farms has had the best strawberries we’ve had, not to mention sweet blueberries, olallieberries (cross between a blackberry and raspberry), apriums (cross between an apricot and plum), and a load full of different greens (kale, collards, swiss chard, pea shoots and lots of fresh herbs)

Fresh Summer Strawberry and Arugula Salad with a drizzle of olive oil, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of pepper.  A perfect side dish to any Summer grilled meal!!

 Kale Chips…one of our favorite snacks!

 Swiss Chard, Chicken and Onion Tacos all tucked into a homemade Paleo Tortilla…

Paleo Tortillas (great for tacos and wraps!)

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cup blanched almond flour

5 Tbsp psyllium husk powder

1 tsp sea salt

1 cup water

2 eggs

Coconut oil (for cooking)

Directions:

Combine dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.  Add eggs and mix well.  Add water and mix well.

Let dough sit for 2 minutes until it sets up a bit.

Separate dough into 10 balls.  Place onto oiled parchment paper (I used coconut oil).  Top with another piece of oiled parchment paper.  Roll out dough into an even circle shape…about 1/4 inch thick.

Heat a large pan to medium-high heat with a bit of coconut oil.  Place unbaked tortilla into pan and cook until light brown.  Flip and cook through on opposite side.  Serve up with your favorite fixings!!

Topped with homemade salsa!

There’s many more fun Summer days ahead of us, which means more “good eats” and lots more projects to accomplish!  Now it’s time to go soak up some sun…it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

Blessings,

J’lene

Just Not My Time…

I cringe at the date that I last had something interesting to blog about…YIKES!  I’ve set myself goals and have had lofty ambitions as to what direction I should take with this blog, but God has made it very clear that this is JUST NOT MY TIME to write.  I think it’s safe to say we all go through different “seasons” of life, if you will, and some of these “seasons” take us down very different roads.  Some of these roads are smooth and easy to walk along, while others tend to be a bit rocky and steep making it a harder trek.  Well, I (and my family) seem to be in a “season” of life that has taken me on a VERY LONG, STEEP and RIVETED road that has been very difficult to travel. 

In short, the last few months have taken a toll on me both physically and emotionally as I still battle with some ongoing health issues.  I am very blessed to have found a doctor that has taken the time to not only listen, but pray with me as we try to go about healing my body.  I have come to find out that after years of damage to my digestive system it is not going to be a quick fix, but a process that is going to essentially be a journey in itself.  It’s going to take patience and diligence on my part, both of which I am quickly discovering I don’t have much of!! 

While I’m not ready to quit blogging and sharing tidbits of life and some good eats with you all, I believe God is asking me to change my focus and pour the time He’s given me into other things…first and foremost is my time spent with Him and second, is my family!  As I trudge along this path that God has put me on right now, He keeps these 10 reminders fresh in my mind and close to my heart:

• I will give you rest
• I will strengthen you
• I will answer you
• I believe in you
• I will bless you
• I will not fail you
• I will provide for you
• I will be with you
• I am for you
• I Love You!

Amidst all of the ups and downs I’ve been blessed with a fabulous hubs whose also been sensitive with his time, which has allowed us to spend more time together and with our princesses. 

As of late, we’ve enjoyed Disneyland…

2 days at the “Happiest Place on Earth” with awesome friends!

  That face just says it all!

  Simply Silly!

She overcame her fear of “3D” shows on this trip!

Downtown San Diego…

Family day at Sea Port Village! Frozen yogurt treats…one chocolate lover

and one strawberry lover!

Never too old to ride the carousel!

And get balloon animals!

And we’ve had some wonderful homeschooling experiences…

Owl Pellet dissection!

Over an hour of searching for tiny little bones…

The Julian Mining Company to learn about the Civil War… I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves!

          Awesome hands-on history experience!

There’s been softball…

GO SLAMROCKS!      Big sister’s little cheerleader!!  

And gymnastics…

  Getting flexible…

And building confidence!

 

And somewhere along the way, the hubs and I squeezed in a morning “brunch” date in Del Mar…  Found this deal on Living Socials a few months ago and we finally found some time to go check it out.

Hot chamomile tea on a cool morning hit the spot for me!

Veggie frittata with zucchini, sun dried tomatoes and fresh basil…YUM!

Breakfast burrito for the hubs…this was his “cheat” meal for the week!

The hubs and I have been trying to stay strong on the “Paleo Bandwagon!” There are rare occasions when we do go out to eat (like the hub’s breakfast burrito above!) and “splurge,” if you will.  It’s usually on Mexican food because I just have to have a corn tortilla for my fish taco you know!!  Fortunately my love for cooking and baking is still going strong and I’m constantly trying and experimenting with new ingredients and recipes that my family have come to love, so there really isn’t a need to go out to dinner much at all anymore!!

Check out these dishes we tried just this week…

Grain Free Blueberry-Strawberry Cobbler by Tasty Yummies

 The princesses helped me out making this one and had more fun “dropping” the dough on top of the berries!  Although it didn’t look as pretty, it sure made up for it in taste!  There’s just something wonderful about fresh, warm, sweet berries!

And Paleo Pizza!

You can check out the recipe here.  The hubs said the flavor from all the veggies (I used red peppers, zucchini and swiss chard) and the “crust” (made from a mixture of cauliflower and almond flower) made up for the lack of cheese…YEAH for success! 

 The princesses agreed that it was not lacking in flavor and tasted “better than restaurant pizza!”  Of course, their pizza was bubbling with some lovely organic mozzarella cheese!

The whole family is still loving Crossfit and love that we are getting fit and staying strong together.  I’ve seen quite a few PR’s over the last few months, which has been exciting for me…I love to see proof that I am getting stronger!  Crossfit has also helped increase my endurance and I’ve seen better results in my running lately, which excites me since I’ve got a run coming up this weekend.  My sister, the princesses and I are running in the San Diego Girls on the Go Run to celebrate Mother’s Day!  My sister and I will run the 5K (this will be her first one!) as “Team Wonder Woman” and the princesses will be running a 400 meter dash.  I hope to get some great pics of all us girls decked out in our “Wonder Woman” attire and the hubs sporting his “Superman” shirt as he cheers us on from the sidelines!

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Sorry for the LENGTHY post, but there was lot’s to catch up on!  And while the posts from here on out may be few and far between, I thank you for allowing me to share my journey thus far. 

I know that God is walking right beside me along this rough road and there is a reason for the things I am struggling through right now.  I will keep faith that God has something far better planned for me and these struggles and the pain I am enduring at the moment are only strengthening me to become a better person and, ultimately, more like Him!!

Blessings to you,

J’lene