Gaining Back My Health

I really need to get back into blogging. I was thinking of going private, but for now will stay public.

I am going to use this to help me keep track of what I learn as I use natural ways of treating health issues, as well, hopefully, to keep track of our family experiences.

In 2009, I was spending over $700 from our family budget after the insurance paid their portion to buy the prescriptions that I needed for my rheumatoid arthritis. I was a drug called Enbrel, a drug to keep my immune system from developing antibodies to the Enbrel, and a couple of others that weren't very expensive. I was unable to work more than part time and there were days that is was hard to even keep up with that.

In May of that year I did the HCG diet. I was good and stuck to it. My husband noticed that I was not having him give me the shot of Enbrel as often and when I went 3 weeks without it he asked me about it. He did give me one last injection and it made feel worse. I realized that through diet and other methods I could take my health back and that the prescription companies and FDA allowances have taken from me.

Now I am not a stringent dieter. But I do use many alternative methods to have a better life. I don't eat rice, I eat minimal pasta, and I keep my refined sugar intake to a minimum (most days). I need to give up bread more, but when I make bread it is really, really good and I kinda of love it.

March of 2012 I was introduced to doTerra oils. If you haven't heard of them and you want to feel better in your life, check them out. I have learned that the prescriptions that the medical field gives us put a bandaid on the problem to cover up a symptom. It doesn't heal the body.

In Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants it talks to us about how to keep out bodies healthy. It specifically mentions the use of herbs to help us with our health. As I have used the herbs and other natural methods I have found better health and have lessened my health issues.

I am not totally cured, but I have a heck of a lot more life today that I did before 2009 and the doTerra products have made it even better. My bad days are more like a few bad hours.I have been using them to help others, too. I have been giving out a lot of samples and people call me back to ask more questions. I am hoping that someday they will be their own distributor. I kind of suck at customer service with getting products delivered. It's easier of they learn how to heal their own bodies and then order what they need. What I am impressed with is the amount of free stuff you get back when you order, renew your distributor status, etc.

So enough about the sales pitch. I just really love this stuff and wanted to get this out there for my record of WHY I chose natural health care and WHY I choose to be in charge of  my health and medical care.

Bed Rest

**Warning**
Contains terms related to pregnancy. If you can't handle it and you continue on remember you were warned :)

Little Lady Bug is a bit anxious to arrive. She has forced her mommy to go on bed rest. Apparently she is a lot like her daddy and can be impulsive and demanding when she really wants something. Good to know grandbaby, but I've got your number and we are gonna have fun, cause I know how to roll with ya!

In the last week Mrs Monkey Wrench has found out that she is 65% effaced and Saturday she had fully dilated to a 1 from Tuesday the 15th to Saturday the 19th. No Bueno!

Saturday we cleaned their house and the other grandma, Sassy, and Tree Monkey and I started the nursery. It is going to be awesome. I forgot to take pictures, but I should have because that room was covered in wall paper. And by covered I mean ceiling, too! It now has white walls and is ready for the first coat of paint. For the record, Mrs Monkey Wrench's mom knows how to tackle wall paper. She is a pro.

So here's a 3-D shot of Little Lady Bug. She is using her placenta for a pillow.

And here is the momma on bed rest. It's officially boring to her now. 

Isn't she is beautiful? (The answer to that question is yes!)

Sisters

 

Not that the song depicts who we are, but it does show sisterly love.


On March 5th my baby bro drove my sister and I up to the TLC laser eye center.

During our eye exams my sister went first. She was sitting in "the chair" and I was watching. As she looked in the mirror and read the letters I read them on the wall behind her. When my turn came I read the letters right to left - they were left to right when I was sitting and waiting :P - Dr Barnes asked me if I was Jewish.  It didn't even register that I had read them backwards until he said that.

Bahahahahaha!

Then as I was looking through the spectacles that they check your vision with. The one where you say if 1 is better than 2 or 3 is better than 4. I changed my mind on one and Dr Barnes told me to make up my damn mind. He totally wasn't being rude. It was hilarious.

Later he stared to walk into the room we were in and Shirene redirected him to the next room. I told him to make up his damn mind and we had more laughter.


The staff there is a lot of fun.

On March 12, the day of surgery, we got all checked in and my sister paid. They brought us the paid in full bill and it says "Both Eyes collected on behalf of Dr ____"

When the lady who checked us in and took my sisters money walked by I said, "I have a concern. You didn't tell us you were collecting our eyes and we would really like to keep them."

Sister

Me

Big belly laughs ensued. Jokes about eyes stored in jars and more teasing took place over the next half hour.  Like when we went back to get prepped and have our eyes wiped with iodine, they said they were taking us back to collect our eyes.

I have had many surgeries and at none of the previous ones have I laughed so hard, so much.

I watched my sisters right eye get done and then I was prepped and taken to the surgical suite. It's cool beans ya'll. They talk you through the whole thing and then you walk about about 15-20 minutes later and you CAN SEE!!!!

Afterward we put on our snazzy new sun glasses and our baby bro (who is really 6'3", buff and available) drives us home.

 The driver- baby bro

He did this 2 years ago with TLC and I love them, highly recommend them, and would drive someone up just so I could hang out with their staff.

On Saturday we had to go up for our one day check. I asked Dr Barnes if he preferred me to read the letters left to right. He laughed and said, "You Mormon Jews, what am I gonna do with you." I laughed. 

While you may not really be able to see a difference between these eyes, but I can SEE a difference.

 Forget that I have glasses on in the first one. :P








Thanks sister. It's been a fun journey and I have you to thank. Love ya!

Noted

Last night I was snuggled with my girls on the couch. We were watching Discovery Health about a family that had identical quads. Sassy informed me she would never be a doctor, "cause that stuff grosses me out." A few minutes later she says, "I want to marry a man just like dad." Trying to decipher which of hubby's amazing qualities she was referring to, I asked, "what is it about dad that you want in your husband?" She said, "I want a husband that puts me first."

This thought crosses my mind several times a day. I have an amazing husband. He works hard for us. He has worked at a job that is stressful just so that I have insurance. When my health problems kick my trash and I don't feel good, he jumps in and picks up the slack. He provides many comforts for me. He feels guilty for providing them for himself. It's only at my insistence that he even got his new pickup 3 years ago. He needed it. He certainly deserved it and we could afford it.

The fact that my daughter notices the selfless acts of her daddy makes my heart swell. I love the example he is for our children.

His birthday is on Monday, March 15. When our taxes get back, he gets to buy new tires. He will like doing this. Especially if we can find the wheels he want, too.

I would love to get him a vacation. He wouldn't take it without me, but I'd just love to do something BIG to say thanks for all the little ways he makes my life wonderful.

Didn't see that one coming.............

Normally I have some indication when I go to bed that the next day will be a hard one.

Not this morning. I semi woke to my whole body feeling like lead. So heavy I couldn't move. Hubs got up with the kids. Fed them breakfast. Took Monkey Wrench to work and Tree Monkey & Sassy to church. He kept Wiggly Worm quiet by watching Disney videos that are playing on the ABC Family channel. I finally was able to get up just after noon thirty. By 2 PM he was down for a nap.

Well, they say Sunday is a day of rest. Only thing is I really like to go to church. I love my ward. I miss the sisters when I crash. I like leading the music in Relief Society and singing the hymns. I know that there were times in my life when I didn't feel that way. I was an idiot during those times. I find so much joy and peace when singing the hymns now. I love to hear them. I love to visit with my sisters in the ward.

They are all so amazing. The lessons are prepared by the best teachers.

I just realized that I am rambling. Oh well, it's good rambling.

I was just caught off guard that my crash was so big and without warning. I haven't had a tough week. I was able to sleep in a bit on Friday and Saturday was a rainy day so we just relaxed and vegged out.

I hope this isn't the beginning of another health crash that lasts months. I sure don't want that again. It robbed me of fall last year and made Christmas difficult.

Here's hoping and praying that it's just a fluke.

And that I am at church next week with my sisters and family :)

Just griping and other crap- like losing mother of the year award due to feeling annoyed by children at the moment

So I love being a mom. I love most all kids. Really I do.

But right now I wish it was bed time.

I have this foster son who is feeling inferior for something. I don't know what exactly. I'll figure it out later.

He is trying to convince me that he was trained for special forces as a sharp shooter at age 11.

Uhm, okay. I didn't join the military but I haven't heard of 11 year olds being trained in THIS country for military special forces.

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Miss Sassy Pants (formerly known as Mini Me) gave us so much attitude that I took her phone away. We told her to do her chores. She looked at the chore list and saw that it was clean and vacuum the living room. She wanted to know WHY she had to clean it and why she couldn't just vacuum around the stuff. WHY does she have to clean it up for everyone else?

I told her that question didn't warrant a response from me.

The taking of her phone resulted in an immediate change of attitude and upon returning from picking Tree Monkey up from dance she was a polishing away at cleaning the house. Guess we know what her motivation is.

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Oldest is mad at me. He wants a dog. He doesn't help around the house. He doesn't do his chores. When asked to do something he does a poor job and doesn't finish. I told him to change his behaviors and then the next time the opportunity poses itself he will be in a good position to bargain.

He asked me if he did good for a week then would I let him have the dog?

Bahahahahahahahaha!

*clears throat*

Yeah. That hasn't worked since he was 9. Good effort though. It's gonna take a lot longer than a week. I've got enough on my plate so there's no need to add any more, thanks though.

He has been looking for an apartment that will let him have the dog. He has poor money management skills and doesn't seem to understand that he can't support himself and a dog, too. If he is even lucky enough to find an apartment that will let him have the dog.

Sure wish I could reach him on that one.

*******************************************************

Getting used to the dietary changes. Beginning to learn more and more ways to prepare food and liking most of it. Not feeling increased energy like I'd hoped. There are some other things the doctor can look at - if I ask him to.

There are enough benefits that it's worth continuing for me.

Like . . . oh . . . say something like



well . . .



perhaps . . .




something like . . .




getting back into my pair of skinny jeans- even if they are only one size smaller. :D



Well it's time to go listen to more stories and finish watching October Sky (edited on TV thank Heaven) and then put my girls to bed listen to prayers and kiss my girls good night.

The Results Are In or My Healthy Report 101

I only have a couple of numbers from the December 3rd tests, but I got them all today!!!

Uh, Klin, what are you talking about?

Well, I am talking about my cholesterol.
In December my Total cholesterol was 249. They like in from 100-199.
My LDL (bad cholesterol) was 168. They like it below 100.

On Friday the 23rd we did a redraw. Remember I had been doing the Vegan diet for 2 weeks and mostly raw.

The results are

Total cholesterol is 162; down 87 points from 249 and within the normal range.
My LDL is 103; down 65 points to just over the normal range.
My HDL (good cholesterol) is 38. I need to bring that up as they like it above 39.

In past years my triglycerides have been high. They are at 107 (less than 149 is preferred)

So lower cholesterol, feeling better on a bad day than I have on some past good days, and saving money. I'm seeing some benefits.

I have a Vegan coach. She has let me know that I don't have to abstain from all animal products all the time, but to keep it below 5 % of my dietary intake. She was also raised Vegan so she has many recipes and her mom as a resourse. It's very handy and a great support.

This change was a long time in the making in my head. I didn't just decide to change my diet a few weeks or months ago. I have been considering it for years. I didn't want to fight my family and they have been resistant for the most part. Eating as they eat just wasn't working for me. It came down to mom having health or mom being sickly. A healthy mom is a lot more fun to them. They resist, but not like in the past. Tree Monkey has embraced it and loves eating what I do.

Mini Me is just picky and the men in our home think they are carnivores. I like a good steak, too, but not every night. Still, they are making an effort to try somethings and are cooking for themselves as I figure out how to cook for me and then later to incorporate my cooking into the family diet.

I have for sometime been concerned about the injections they give the animals in our food supply. I see more and more girls maturing earlier and earlier. This has been attributed to the hormones in our dairy supply. My youngest is not much of a dairy consumer and she is not developing as quickly as my older children. We have introduced soy to her and she is liking it.

I tried the Soy Joy snacks. Before I give you the review let me tell you about my gag reflex. It's powerful. Protein bars and me have never gotten along well. So I was expecting to not like the Soy Joy. Tree monkey and I LOVE THEM!!!

I am also learning about other sweeteners that aren't as hard on our body system. So far they are not gross either. I don't do weird so I am pleased that what I am trying is tasting good.

Wow, that is a long ramblish post. Sorry about that. I really wanted to share my test results with someone. Hubs is unavailable at work and mom mom didn't answer her phone, so I shared with all of you, my bloggy friends and family and the lurkers who read but don't comment, too.

Week 2 Update

This week I did add some cooked food. I kept it Vegan except for 2 occasions. Where I broke down and ate what my family was eating and what my boss bought for lunch. Stayed vegetarian though.

I had the good energy up until Thursday and used up every ounce of it. Friday and Saturday I continued to push and get things done that needed doing. Today I am paying for it.

My legs are hurting badly and my shoulders, right hip and right knee are in pain as well. The pain kept me up last night. I was so tired that it was intermittent and I didn't wake up enough to take any pain medication.

This is not bad news for the dietary changes. I have talked with people who have lived Vegan for their whole lives. I got some good ideas and was able to add a few more cooking things to our pantry that will help us all change how we prepare food.

Even given the pain I have been able to get more done than in the past. Hubs gave me wise counsel and told me to remind myself that I am not cured of anything yet. I can't take the inch given me and use it go a yard.

So I'll be slowing down just a little and try to take care of me while I am healing my body.

When I add a few more things I will be posting recipes that I try and like on this site. This will include breads and other meals.

For our dinner tonight I substituted frozen stir fry veggies for the meat on my spaghetti. It was delicious and more filling than the meat.

I have changed the salt we use as well. We now use RealSalt which is pink. Better for you with a great taste.

I'm liking this more each day. Our fruit and veggie bill has increased three fold. It is still cheaper than buying all the meat I was buying.

If you have questions I will answer them. I am no expert. I just know what I am doing. You can ask in the comments or email me with the link on the side bar.

Week 1 Update **UPDATED**

**I made it through church with enough energy to focus and contribute as well as to come home and start dinner. This is HUGE. Hubs -aka mr I gotta have meat with every meal- is considering taking on my new eating habits. I refuse to call it diet. I'm doing it for life. **

So Saturday I was good to stay raw and veggies and fruit. Until Thursday there were no cravings of foods. I ate fruits (bananas, strawberries, kiwi, mangoes, apples, etc.) for breakfast and veggies (salads, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, etc) for lunch, and more veggies (avocados, tomatoes, etc) with some raw pecans and almonds.

The only break from the raw diet was to have a slice of rye bread with sliced bananas and another with avocado, tomato, broccoli sprouts, and romain lettuce and then I did eat some soup I made. Totally vegetable. I didn't taste it when I made if for my family. I smelled it as I put in the spices. Everyone loved it. I finally tasted it today for lunch today. It was yummy.

Still vegan, but just a bit of variety. It was really hard to make and eat a sandwich wrapped in lettuce. Very messy, too.

So far the FMS pain is down. Still struggling with RA, but it's been pretty bad, so we'll see.

n the 23rd I get my blood drawn for cholesterol and I am hoping to see a sharp decline. I didn't get the good genes for that either. I am trying to avoid medication. I've got enough of those.

I am a bit tired, but that is likely due to not eating quite enough or that my body is working to rid itself of the toxins as I am not putting toxins in. I hope so anyway.

The little bonus is that I have lost 6 lbs. I am not doing this for weight loss, but it is a nice little perk.

Here's a little TMI for you. Usually when we eat broccoli or cauliflower we get gassy around here. Not since going raw. Don't know why, but it's nice to not worry about that, too.

Most of the family is eating more veggies. I am the only one doing the raw (mostly).

So the 3 times I didn't do raw were still vegan/vegetarian.