Now it's more personal!

Okay you gluten allergy! I know you are not one single ingredient - but a protein of wheat, barley and rye - but you are in everything! Why are you in licorice? I love Twizzlers!







Why are you in the little taco seasoning packets? Why are you in canned soups? Don't you know how busy I am already without having to spend time in the grocery stores reading labels? No more quick dinners but now I have to actually plan meals. Not so many casseroles and already prepared stuff but back to the basics of meat, fresh vegetables, potatoes (thank goodness:)

I guess it's not your fault that my immune system is tricked into thinking food is a poison. I can handle this. What I am having a problem with is that now you're messing with my son!

How do I tell him not to eat bread, pasta, pizza, cookies, hot pretzels, sandwiches, pop tarts, bagels, granola, sauces, Hot Pockets, stuffing, pancakes, smores, or birthday cake? And don't drink beer when you go to college. Oh, and no more hot lunches at school. Now that makes my 6:30 am morning more fun!










I know, it could be much worse. I am venting. And it feels good. I need this blog more than I think:)

This gluten thing is hereditary. Matt has mentioned that his food gets stuck when he eats a burger (on a bun) so I was not at all surprised when I called the doctor's office for his results on Saturday. His food allergies are a carbon copy of mine; in fact, his gluten intolerance was a bit higher than mine. I don't know if I like this "feeling responsible" thing that comes with having biological children.

This is when I really wish I had my medical history though. Maybe I wouldn't have had to "not feel good" for so long. Food intolerance worsens over time so that's why my body "handled" things up to this point - at my expense of not feeling up to par. I wonder if my birth mom or birth dad suffer from the same thing. I bet one of them does.

So on one hand, I'm glad that we found this out for Matt while he is only 13 so that he can feel his best everyday. It's hard enough being a teenager without feeling so crummy all the time. I don't know if he's felt the brain fog like I did, but he definitely has this chronic congestion which I am betting goes away within a week or so on this new diet plan.

Tonight he asked what I'm going to pack him for lunch tomorrow.









Yikes! Good thing I have some gluten free crackers and some gluten free pepperoni (can you say our own little "lunchable") and a gluten free peanut butter rice bar and an apple.

Good thing he is not my picky eater like Brendan! (who isn't allergic to any foods)

Good thing summer is right around the corner!

Good thing I'll have a few months to get this new routine in place.

Good thing that now I am more determined to meet with a dietitian. (when it was just me, it got put on the back burner.) But he is a growing boy.

Now it's more personal!

I've found the needle in the haystack

Really. It's taken a very long time, but I do feel a bit victorious and actually feel like rejoicing because it all makes sense now. It's been at least a 7 year mystery. It all began when I noticed my food "getting stuck" while eating. It is not a pleasant feeling. In fact, it is very, very painful and not even drinking water helps. That makes it even worse. When this would happen while dining out, I'd excuse myself and make a bee line for the bathroom so I could suffer alone until the feeling passed. Not to be gross, but not even expelling the food would help. I would still feel this tightness.

Went to several doctors and after given meds for reflux or some anti-yeast antibiotic for having too much yeast in my system (WHAT?, I knew that wasn't the answer. Had my esophagus dilated a couple of times and that helped temporarily. It wasn't until we were living in Indiana when our allergist suggested doing a biopsy of my esophagus for suspected EE - Esinophilic Esophagitis. Which is basically like having asthma in your esophagus. Yep, he was right. White blood cells aren't supposed to be in your esophagus. Probably an allergy. Did allergy testing at the time but looking back it was mostly environmental stuff they tested and not many foods. I was given an oral steroid inhaler to use every day just like an asthmatic would. (Matt was diagnosed with asthma at age 2, so again, it makes sense. I learn in reverse about medical stuff; more from my biological kids)

Since moving back here, I noticed my food getting stuck again more often. Lately, I've had thyroid problems too. So I'd blame my tiredness, brain fog - which makes your head feel like it's lugging a ton of bricks around, irritability, weight gain, bloating on that. But lately my thyroid numbers are okay. So stumped again.

But the feeling of having my throat swell is a new symptom - more pronounced then when my food would get stuck. It would swell without any food being there. And that's very scary! It started happening frequently and almost immediately after eating. I felt like I should have an Epi pen so I went back to the doctor and asked for more food allergy testing.

Boy am I glad I did! It's actually a relief to know that this is something I can control without medication. For the past several weeks that I've been trying this new diet, I've noticed a definite improvement in how I feel. When I "cheat" I can feel the effects. It's so not really worth it. That is how I will stay on track. Feeling good is the best incentive to eating right.

Why I haven't blogged lately

Because I'm going NUTS and going BANANAS! (about all I can eat)

Because I have so much on my PLATE. (not food either)

Because I've had a lot to DIGEST. (my stomach can't do that)

Because I've come to a FORK in the road. (it's really a dinglehopper anyway right?)

Because my emotions sometimes lately BOIL OVER instead of SIMMER.
(wouldn't yours if you couldn't eat a hot buttered roll out of the oven, or your favorite cookie/cake?)

Because I am trying to use my NOODLE, Rice Noodle that is . . .

Because I have a lot to learn now.

I have an allergy to GLUTEN, WHEAT, MILK, CORN & WALNUTS!

What is left to eat!??

Because I have FOOD on the brain and am trying to learn a whole new way of eating and cooking and eating out:)

More details soon . . .

Brendan's Band Concert

Brendan played the saxophone this year in 5th grade band. There was supposed to be a concert around Christmas time but due to the weather it got canceled. So unfortunately for us, we had to wait until the end of April to hear him play. No, really, APRIL because we never ever hear him play (practice) at home!

The band as a whole sounded great! Then they played "We will, we will Rock you" and each person in band got a turn to stand up and play that part SOLO. Brendan kept standing . . . which signaled he was going to give it a try. Not everyone did the solo. I was so nervous for him. Kevin and I kept looking at each other with questioning eyes.

But Brendan totally ROCKED!!! He sounded so awesome! We were so proud of him!

Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt B are our witnesses. We are not just prejudice because he is our son. He has chosen to not continue with band next year in Jr. High. We wish he would but we know we can't force him to. If only I can convince him to play that solo one more time for my video camera.

Kamryn's new prayer

When praying together often, I will say "thank you God for bringing Kamryn into our lives." She heard me say that this morning and here is her response:

"Dear Jesus, bring me a sister and a dog . . . NOW!"

She only knows this because

she climbs into bed with us almost every night!

My mom was babysitting her one night, and I don't remember how this came up, but Kamryn told my mom the following:

Easter Blessings

My family celebrating at church in the morning. Praying the kids really understand what "He is Risen" means for all of us. The Easter egg hunt with the kids and their cousins in the afternoon. Spending time with my mom, dad, sister and her family and Aunt B. Bravely trying a new recipe that was luckily very yummy:) A big blessing indeed:)

Brendan's Civil War Days

The whole fifth grade class did a unit on the Civil War. It concluded with a music program at school and then a classroom tour of each student's "masterpieces."











Brendan actually chiseled this bar of soap! Looks pretty cool! His cereal box was one of the best I think too (if I don't say so myself). It was all his idea although his dad did help him a bit on the cereal box project.

Brendan had his own fan club there that night. Grandma and Aunt Bernice came with us. We all enjoyed the American music and seeing all of Brendan's work. We are so proud of him!

This picture is the keeper

I took this picture right before Kamryn went to school on picture day. Good thing too because this one turned out much better than her school picture. Needless to say, I didn't keep any of the school pictures - I guess by the third child you learn that you don't need to keep all of them if they aren't great! The boys never had "preschool" formal pictures anyway. Thanks Tina for the cute outfit in the bag of hand-me-downs!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Well we didn't celebrate with corned beef and cabbage but the kids did wear green to school! Brendan was so concerned that the Leprechaun was going to forget to bring them a little treat. Why oh why did I start that a few years ago?! They never forget anything! A bag of chocolate coins was their pot of gold and they felt oh so lucky!


Hmm - I misspelled leprechaun on the chalkboard but neither of my straight A students caught it!

Firefighter Kamryn

I will have to say I've been very impressed with Kamryn's new school. We just recently had conferences and both her teacher and speech teacher say she is doing well. Her teacher called her "my little social butterfly" in class. Ugh-0, I hope she won't be too vocal in class in the future and get in much trouble! Her speech teacher said that Kamryn is a good helper to her friends and teachers. Her speech teacher Miss Laura just looked at me and with all sincerity said, "you are so lucky to have her." That comment brought tears to my eyes (because she gets it!) and I absolutely agreed with her.

The school has this online curriculum network and this is what I found there today which was input by her teacher. Pretty neat!

Learning about Fire Fighters
We learned many things about Fire Fighters throughout the week and then were able to pretend we were Fire Fighters. Kamryn pretended to be a Fire Fighter that makes food for everyone!!

This journal entry is related to these objective(s):

26. Applies knowledge or experience to a new context
35. Takes on pretend roles and situations
36. Makes believe with objects
37. Makes and interprets representations
39. Expresses self using words and expanded sentences (SO GLAD TO SEE THIS!)

We've totally noticed an improvement in her speech lately. She is using more new words and is talking in longer sentences. Yea Kamryn!

Baby Greta is here!

Baby Greta is our new niece/cousin. Kevin's sister and her husband were blessed with a baby girl last night weighing a healthy 7 lbs, 13 oz three weeks early! We are so excited for the new first time parents! Isn't she just beautiful?
















I was lucky enough to go down to Florida in January for a weekend to surprise Kathleen & Peter during their baby shower. It was a fun time especially because I really did surprise them! Kathleen is a hard person to surprise too.

I was happy to hang out with her, Peter, Dad A. & Dianne (& their fun friends) in the Florida SUN in the middle of the yuckiest winter in a long time! Greta's room is darling and was ready then for her arrival. Good thing too! Kath was diagnosed with preeclampsia so they were monitoring her blood pressure weekly. This past week it had spiked and she had not been feeling well so on Tuesday at her weekly appointment the doctor said, "Go to the hospital. We're doing a c-section today." I guess both Greta and I have surprised her with our arrivals!

My baby boy is 11!

Brendan hates when I call him that, my baby boy. But the way I see it, I don't have a middle child. I have my oldest boy, my baby boy and my baby girl. I have two babies:)

Brendan's birthday fell on a Friday this year (Jan.30), so it was a weekend of celebrations. Friday night we went to Aunt Melanie's for our birthday celebrations. The next Saturday, Kevin took Brendan and a few friends to Dave and Busters for lunch and some games.

















So do you think you can trust 5th graders with getting information home to their parents? If you thought no, you are right. Brendan passed out a few invitations to some boys in his class the week before the party. Three days before the party, I had only heard from one of the moms saying that her son was able to go. So out comes the school directory and I start making phone calls. Good thing or I would have had one very sad and disappointed birthday boy on my hands.

One of the boys "lost" his invitation and therefore kept forgetting to tell his mom about it. The other boy had his invitation still shoved in the bottom of his backpack and his mom had never seen it. I couldn't believe it. I don't mean to generalize, but I guess some boys are all just the same. I am constantly asking Brendan for stuff out of his backpack for this very reason. There was this other boy who's number wasn't listed in the school directory, so I resorted to whitep*ges.com and found someone listed with the same last name. Yes, I left a message on a females voice mail hoping I got the right boys' mom. (I got the right person but found out after the party so that boy did not come) I really wish everyone would join the PTO's so that I could find everybody in the directory; my life would be so much easier when the boys want a new friend to come over.
















I was really glad to hear one of the boys say later that this was such a great party! And with minimal work on my part except for the phone calls!

My Cup of Tea

Those of you who know me know that I do not drink coffee or tea. So what exactly is my cup of tea? Planning a little tea party for Kamryn and her playgroup friends!





























We get together most Fridays with our Chinese playgroup. I decided to host right after Kamryn's birthday and have a tea party in her honor.

It was so much fun! I think I had just as much fun the whole week prior just planning it out. It sure warmed my heart more than the weather was warm that week! At first I was just going to have a cake and ask our playgroup friends to sing to her; after all Kamryn is young enough to not really know the difference between a playgroup and a party right? But then in conversation with my sister, she mentioned, "you've been waiting a long time to plan a little girl's party." She had a point. Plus, soon enough Kamryn will probably want to go some place to have her party.

So I started making stuff for games like Pin the handle on the teapot and sheets for musical teapots. Planned on singing I'm a Little Teapot which we did at the end of the party with a few of our friends. The girls played a quick game of pass the hot teacup.



























The boas were out, the mini heart turkey sandwiches, scones and fruit were out and tea (pink lemonade) was served.










































The girls made a lacey paper fan and then kept busy by playing with legos! We passed out flower pens (which I made) and a homemade coloring book with tea party pictures inside. It was a very fun morning and lucky for us, we replayed the whole party when a friend stopped over in the afternoon.



























I can't believe she's four!

Kamryn's actual Birthday Day

Kamryn's birthday was Jan. 14th, a Wednesday, and she was supposed to go to school. Lucky for us both, they canceled afternoon school due to the weather which was good because I had already decided that I wasn't going to take her;) We stayed in and made - yes - cupcakes together! (Look at her holding the scoop we use to put the batter in the pan. She's pretending it's a guitar!)














We were supposed to go to Brendan's first band performance that night but it was canceled too. We were also supposed to have my family over for a celebration dinner since it's also Lauren's birthday on this same day but my sister's family can not shake the sick bug:( So instead it was a quiet evening of dinner with just the five of us and opening some presents.














Grandma Dianne and Grandpa gave her a cheerleading outfit for Bitty Baby which she just loves! See - now her "Summer" bear and Bitty Baby both have cheerleading outfits like she does - remember her halloween costume?

She got some new outfits from us for Summer bear. Pj's so she can dress both bitty baby and bear like her at bedtime and a pretty dress and sparkly shoes just like Kamryn's.

A New Year, A New Routine

Change . . . it's defined as many things. But as a noun, one way to describe it is a variation or deviation: a change in the daily routine.

I generally dislike change. Not to say that I don't like to be spontaneous, but I do get comfortable in my daily routine. This new year brings a new routine for Kamryn and I.

Back in late November, our speech therapist mentioned that Kamryn just might qualify for the at-risk program offered through the school district. It's a "preschool for all" program that is funded by a grant through the Illinois State Board of Education. It focuses on providing high-quality educational programs for children who are determined to be at risk of academic failure.

Of course my initial reaction was "No thanks, I'm happy with her preschool. Plus, her speech isn't that bad, she probably won't qualify. My child is smart." I told them no to the free screening. After talking with some friends (who are also moms to girls from China), I decided that I may have made a mistake. I happened to call back the school days before a new screening was about to take place due to new grant they received. (which means they could add a new class)

Later the next week our speech therapist called to say that Kamryn had qualified. Both she and the woman who run this program were a bit surprised because during the screening, Kamryn's speech was actually pretty good. It was her "at risk" factors though that gave her enough points combined with her speech that made her qualify. (being adopted, having had ear tubes, possibly being a premie)








So instead of preschool Tuesday mornings and Thursday from 9-3pm (art class in the pm, bye bye to my long day!), she is now going to preschool 4 days a week and some weeks 5 days for 2.75 hours a day in the afternoon. I really am not ready for her to be gone every day:( But how can I deny her the (free) help if she really needs it? I know, it's not about me. But she was really liking her art class and preschool too . . . see it's a whole new change for us both.

She's adjusting okay. Last week she missed two days because of the weather and even on day two though she asked one morning after running errands if we were going home. I had to say, "No honey, you have school." She let out a big sigh. So how long does it take for something to become a habit? Five weeks? The first few days she cried when I left her, which was hard for me, but she did better as the week went on.

Hopefully this change will prove to be good. I do look forward to her speech exploding like the speech therapist predicts it will do after being in this program.

Cupcake?

Before Christmas, Kamryn kept saying she wanted a cupcake for Christmas. I thought how easy is this? Well a few days before Christmas while we were watching "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" on TV, a commercial came on for some cupcake decorator thing. Kamryn got so excited and said that's what she wanted. A cupcake MAKER, not just a plain old cupcake. Aw shucks, I need to go back shopping!

At times like this, I notice her speech "delay" . . . she gets lazy and will try to just minimize what she has to say to get her point across. Ugh! At a time like this, it doesn't work to her advantage. Good thing I saw this commercial with her!

So I'm at Wal*art because it was a Wal*art commercial. I find the cupcake maker and decide it's way overpriced ($25) for some plastic thing that pushes frosting out onto cupcakes. I'm not getting it. I have a frosting decorating thing (see I don't even know kitchen tool lingo) that I've never even opened or used already at home. So I scour the aisles for something else. Low and behold, the perfect alternative and only $10.














It's a cupcake holding plastic cupcake tins, cupcakes, play boxes of frosting, a stick of butter. Close enough. Now will she be happy?


















Yes! Thank goodness!

Fun Pictures from our holiday gatherings

Sitting on Santa's lap at the Christmas party with our Fox Valley adoption group.







































Singing at the Western Suburbs Adoption Playgroup party. (above picture. Look how tall Kamryn looks!)

Our Friday morning playgroup at Emily's house. Her mom was brave enough to let the girls decorate cookies. It was so much fun. She had lots of candies and sprinkles for the girls to decorate with. Look how serious the girls were!









































We met Aunt Cathy and Uncle Marc and the cousins up at Dave & Busters one day for some food and games. It was an awfully cold day but we had fun inside!



















New Year's Eve at my friend Heather's house. The little ones definitely stayed up until midnight and had lots of fun ringing in the New Year together!

I promise

I will not be quiet for much longer! I have so much to share. Finally . . . a new background! Looks good huh?

My "baby" is four!

Where does the time go?! Kamryn turned 4 today. More coming about her birthday soon!