August 2010 - Traditional Destruction

The Amador County Destruction Derby always makes for a good time. We've gone every year since I can remember.

You can feel the boom of the cars crashing in your chest. The fires blazing and mud flying are a sight to see.

As the evening goes on, the intensity grows until the smoke bellows out of the beasts and the surrender flags go up.

 I love sharing the experience with my boys. They love it just as much, if not more, than I do.

On Microwaves

I have never liked microwaves. I have always felt strange about reheating foods in them. Derek has always told me, unless I could prove them unhealthy, that we were not getting rid of ours. I have never 'cooked' in a microwave, but I have reheated foods for "smorgasbord nights", as my family calls leftover nights. About 2 months ago I heard about the study done on microwaved water's effect on plants, the plants which received microwaved, then cooled water, died. It was enough to back up my thoughts about microwaves. Without telling Derek, I just began heating everything in the toaster oven or on the stove. I pretended as if the microwave didn't exist. I used a lot more pans, leading to a lot more dirty dishes. I also was reluctant to have smorgasbord nights, but I did, 12 pans later, we feasted, it tasted better and foods stayed hotter longer.

After 2 months of being microwave free, I unplugged the radiation supplier and moved it to the top of the fridge.

I gained a huge amount of counter space and my kitchen just feels better. I urge you to take the step. 

If you know me, you know how busy I am, if I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT! 

Click here for some motivation.

July 2010 - Sand In My Toes

I remember the first time, since we moved back from Arizona, that I drove through the middle of the green hillsides on my way through the tunnel, on our trip into the city. I remember the way that I felt. I whispered a prayer of gratitude as we came out of the tunnel and the air became crisp. I remember thinking, "How can anyone get anything done here? I can't help but want to enjoy my surroundings, every free moment that I get. How can people be driving without noticing these rolling green hills? How can people focus with the oceanside at their fingertips?"

I seriously felt like I had dried out and just HAD to get my toes in the sand and feel the sea air on my face.

Now I find myself still asking the same questions.

And the answer is, I can't!

I have to sit in the Berkeley Rose Garden, dine in North Beach, walk in the rolling green hills and most importantly, lay in the sand, wiggle my toes, run in the waves, explore the tide-pools, and sometimes simply drive up the coast, to see how far we can get in a day. I feel so blessed and love to share my joy with my children.

July 2010 - The Best of Friends

I don't really like the term soul-mates, I prefer soul-friends. Dominick has a beautiful soul-friend, Millie. They have always clicked.

It's as if they have known each other for an eternity. Camille and Dominick have this kind of 'thing' whenever they get together, even though it's not as often as we would like. I have the same thing with her mother, Meredith. We don't even need to talk, it's like she gets me and I get her.

I treasure relationships like these. They are the ripe, red strawberry, covered by leaves on the garden floor. Mmmm.

And then there are these 2...

July 2010 - Contra Loma Death Camp

...ahem... Regional Park & Swim Lagoon.

I am totally freaked out by this place.

Out in the middle of nowhere, there is this manmade swim area.

It is made to look like a beach or lake or some natural body of water, sand and all.

But it is totally manmade. Filled with cement, a concession stand, lifeguards, time outs, rules and regulations, smoking, and cut-offs.

I swear we were about to be eliminated. I was waiting for the sirens.

Something about manmade bodies of water, really freaks me out!

There were so many rules, I felt extremely restricted, but I had paid to get in, so I figured I would stick it out... for the boys.

They had a blast. They played in the "sand", they swam in the "lake" and had lunch on the grass, blind to the fact that we were about to be exterminated.

I heard one of the lifeguards begin the closing countdown, I instantly gathered up my boys, ran across the asphalt, loaded up the car and hit the road.

In my rear-view mirror I could scarcely see the explosion.

It may have been the sun's reflection, I am still unsure, but I am not going back to find out. As far as I know, Contra Loma no longer exists.

July 2010 - Wishing for Eggs

Our fingers were crossed.

The date was scheduled.

The blood work completed.

Jack was in good health.

The pre-op appointment was actually fun.

Jack touched the medical equipment. We asked questions. The nurse told stories and made the procedure sound silly and exciting.

I was at ease, we have been here before.

Jack has spent the majority of his life this far in and out of the hospital. Going through procedures, x-rays, tests, etc...

The day before the procedure, I became nervous. For the first time ever, Jack was nervous. He was now 4 and fully aware of the fears involved with the upcoming procedure.

He fasted.

We woke early.

Jack stayed in his cozy jammies.

We buckled up.

We sped, wanting to slow down. We didn't want to arrive. What if I just kept driving?

Well, then we would never know.

Jack would never be able to know.

So we slowed and we parked.

We went down the elevator, across the street, in through the large open doorway, up the elevator, to the right, signed the paper, sat down.

"Jack Smith", they instantly called.

Jack looked worried.

I assured him. "I am not going anywhere, I will be with you."

He gave me an unsure smile, which turned to a frown.

He was getting an endoscope with biopsies. He wasn't having heart surgery, no brain surgery, no surgery at all.

He was afraid of the procedure.

I wasn't. I was afraid of all that hung in the results.

The GI had explained that if his intestinal health had improved, he would be eligible for food challenges.

I knew too well that his little body hadn't changed. He had reacted 2 months earlier.

He was so hopeful though. He just new that he would be going to Fenton's for an ice cream sunday, on our way home.

He went in with restrictions including:

No Soy

No Dairy

No Gluten

No Egg

No Beef

He tried to be positive, but it was painful.

The drugs made it a bit easier, even for me. He had me cracking up!

He was silly.

They wheeled him off.

I nervously waited in the lounge.

I watched the screen.

It said Jack Smith.

I hurried to him.

He was asleep. We waited for him to awake.

They told me that the endoscope went well.

The doctor explained that his intestines looked well.

They said that everything looked healthy and normal.

Which meant that we were doing everything correctly.

His nurse gave him a turtle.

He was happy to see me and the turtle.

I was happy to hear that we have been feeding him correctly.

I want to be sure that he is as healthy as possible.

I was nervous, but excited to begin the challenges.

The GI scheduled the challenges for September, 2 months away!

I could not imagine waiting 2 months.

We bundled up, headed home.

He grasped his turtle tightly and asked, "Mom, am I better?"

"You are so healthy, we can try new foods now."

"Ice cream?"

"Not yet, but maybe soon."

Jack has severely reacted to soy, dairy and gluten.

The egg and beef were speculated causes. The GI had added them to his avoid list based on similar proteins and possible episodes.

Upon returning home, I was restless.

I just had to know.

I made scrambled eggs.

I put them on Jack's plate.

I told him that they were his "new" food.

He ate them. He was fine. He didn't puke or scream, no diarrhea, he didn't turn green, he seemed perfectly fine.

So we fed him them 4 more times throughout the week.

Continuing to follow my intuition, we went to In N Out as a family.

Jack got a burger patty. I called ahead to be sure it was 100% beef.

We brought Tapioca buns and we ate out, as a family.

It was really exciting to see his pleasure. (even if it would be followed by him becoming severely ill, it was worth it)

We made our way home, put him to bed, he was fine.

I couldn't sleep. I waited for the screaming to begin. I imagined hearing the scream, running into his room and seeing his bed, splattered with vomit and feces.

It didn't happen.

We were all so ecstatic.

We knew that the other 3 food proteins would not be tolerated. He had recently reacted to them. His GI said that he would most likely never outgrow these other proteins. The egg and beef were most likely misdiagnosed and just precautionary measures.

I wish I would have tried sooner.

He has been loving so many new products!

His favorite is...

Yes, maple donuts!

July 2010 - Being an American

I am so unpatriotic.

I try, not very hard, but at times I do try to get into it, for the boys sake.

My brother is in the Army. I know that he is sacrificing his life for our freedom and I am thankful. I am not thankful for the war and I am not thankful for all of the shady politics.

I am not thankful for hotdogs, fanny packs, red/white/blue sweatshirts, Walmart, or Pepsi.

I am thankful for my safety and for the freedoms that I get to enjoy.

I am thankful that I am able to raise my boys in America.

I am glad that they have never experienced warfare first hand.

I am thankful for the fact that they can be anything that they want to be.

We are truly blessed.