Thank goodness for friends - I am thankful every day for my friends. Just in the last week, I've been starting to get anxiety thinking about all the upcoming changes and events, and fearing the possibility of what can go wrong (so my counselor says)...even though I categorize it as just thinking of all the tasks that lie ahead.
I had fear in mulling over the logistics of a new all day kindergarten schedule, twins in daycare, 3 days of therapy sessions, and fitting in a full time job. Just thinking about how I'd feed the eldest breakfast in the morning was giving me a fast heart beat.
Hanging with my friends brings me peace, it helps me realize that I'm not the only one going through this stuff and that makes everything in life easier to handle. One thing we were discussing is how a situation, no matter how hard it may seem, could always be worse. We had a wonderful conversation about books, international films, dealing with life: how we want it to be compared to how it is turning out, and just laughing about everything else.
Since our night out, I've been thinking that my situation is not so terrible. Every morning I'm finding myself thankful that there are no surprises in my mixing bowl - it's empty (thank goodness). My life is good & I'll get through this change. Let's face it, no one likes change. Change is scary and uncomfortable. Change is unknown. But the change will come and go and I'll survive, then I'll laugh about it with my friends.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Diet
Diet fuels our body. Diet affects us. How much is it affecting us? Its a trend, yes, but when it is a real thing it's frustrating.
I had a great conversation with my lovely and smart, 14 year old cousin this weekend who has celiac. She was educating me all about it and how she feels better after changing her diet last year when she started researching it. Now, at 14, she understands it, reads food labels and watches her diet. Unintentionally, this is the second conversation with celiac experts I have had in a week, and those experts are not medical professionals.
I first heard about this gluten allergy 13 years ago, with wonderful husband's first cousin who has dealt with this allergy her whole life. This was before gluten free was trendy. Wonderful husband's aunt had only 2 or 3 speciality food stores in the entire south side that she had at her disposal for buying raw ingredients and staples, she couldn't go to the main grocery store and buy things like you can now. At family parties, this cousin would have her own personal pizza and other things that only she could eat.
Lovely and smart cousin loves us so much that she pointed out maybe my eldest has celiac. I couldn't believe it. This was the second person in a week who mentioned it. What I love about this 14 year old is that she's looking out for our best interset, she's not worried about making me angry or setting me off, which I wouldn't. If you love us, it's like what the new psa says 'if you see something, say something.'
She pointed out that eldest is super skinny (which I've noticed only recently) and we now know he has officially been diagnosed with ADHD. Deeper into our conversation, we were off topic talking about genetics and how her sister and I are both adopted and it's frustrating to not know about some genetic links. When I told lovely and smart cousin that I had psoriasis, she leapt out of her seat and said 'THAT IS A SYMPTOM OF CELIAC!'.
Could it be? I think maybe. The other person who mentioned celiac to me was eldest's Occupational Therapsit, another one who will say something if she sees something, and rightfully so. Occupational Therapist was shocked when I told her how much my eldest eats. I guess these are things you forget to tell the arsenal of therapist and medical professionals.
This week I have a meeting with the neurologist. I will mention I want eldest tested for celiac. If he's not the right person, I will go to the pediatrian. If she's not the right person, I will go to the geneticist. If she's not the right person, I will add a new person to the arsenal and call my allergist.
The crazy thing is that I just found out this week that wonderful husband's 23 year old cousin who has had celiac for all these years, also has been on medication for ADHD since childhood. Could eldest be just like her? I think I have a now 20 year vertan in an aunt to add to the arsenal. (it's a good thing this is the one who likes me)
I never realized that along with all the things I am: daughter, sister, cousin, friend, wife, working stiff, mom...I'm also a detective, finding and listening all the time for little clues to help us all along.
I had a great conversation with my lovely and smart, 14 year old cousin this weekend who has celiac. She was educating me all about it and how she feels better after changing her diet last year when she started researching it. Now, at 14, she understands it, reads food labels and watches her diet. Unintentionally, this is the second conversation with celiac experts I have had in a week, and those experts are not medical professionals.
I first heard about this gluten allergy 13 years ago, with wonderful husband's first cousin who has dealt with this allergy her whole life. This was before gluten free was trendy. Wonderful husband's aunt had only 2 or 3 speciality food stores in the entire south side that she had at her disposal for buying raw ingredients and staples, she couldn't go to the main grocery store and buy things like you can now. At family parties, this cousin would have her own personal pizza and other things that only she could eat.
Lovely and smart cousin loves us so much that she pointed out maybe my eldest has celiac. I couldn't believe it. This was the second person in a week who mentioned it. What I love about this 14 year old is that she's looking out for our best interset, she's not worried about making me angry or setting me off, which I wouldn't. If you love us, it's like what the new psa says 'if you see something, say something.'
She pointed out that eldest is super skinny (which I've noticed only recently) and we now know he has officially been diagnosed with ADHD. Deeper into our conversation, we were off topic talking about genetics and how her sister and I are both adopted and it's frustrating to not know about some genetic links. When I told lovely and smart cousin that I had psoriasis, she leapt out of her seat and said 'THAT IS A SYMPTOM OF CELIAC!'.
Could it be? I think maybe. The other person who mentioned celiac to me was eldest's Occupational Therapsit, another one who will say something if she sees something, and rightfully so. Occupational Therapist was shocked when I told her how much my eldest eats. I guess these are things you forget to tell the arsenal of therapist and medical professionals.
This week I have a meeting with the neurologist. I will mention I want eldest tested for celiac. If he's not the right person, I will go to the pediatrian. If she's not the right person, I will go to the geneticist. If she's not the right person, I will add a new person to the arsenal and call my allergist.
The crazy thing is that I just found out this week that wonderful husband's 23 year old cousin who has had celiac for all these years, also has been on medication for ADHD since childhood. Could eldest be just like her? I think I have a now 20 year vertan in an aunt to add to the arsenal. (it's a good thing this is the one who likes me)
I never realized that along with all the things I am: daughter, sister, cousin, friend, wife, working stiff, mom...I'm also a detective, finding and listening all the time for little clues to help us all along.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Unlucky, Lucky Day
So I started out today kind of unlucky - went to get on my bike & the chain came off, so I had to take the car. I didn't let it upset me, just brushed it off. Sweet baby boy was upset, because he wanted to take me to the train so he could get munchkins, but his sibs were all still asleep. I missed the first train on purpose so I could relax, get some coffee & meet up with my train friends. It wasn't that bad of a morning, even with the glitch.
When I arrived in my office, I got a voicemail that I won a lunch for 10 people from Chipotle! Wow! Really? Last week I dropped my card in the fishbowl & I actually won. Oh lucky day today is. This prize is good for this week only, and today is my one day downtown this week- so it had to be today. I was meeting up for lunch with a friend in honor of his birthday, so wrote him to put away his cash, lunch was 'on me' today!
The other 8 people I had to round up. Wonderful husband is on the beat today, but wouldn't be around the loop...he was ruled out. 2 people were here in the office were taking part. 1 of the 2 train friends was free also & would meet me there to pick up her loot. My sister wasn't answering her phone (I think she was in court) and her pregnant bff who works right by me, got my message too late.
So there were 5 other openings...I decided to let the old gals from my team join in the fun. They were all downtown today too. The first told me she was really busy today & asked me if I could do it tomorrow instead. The second responded with 'absolutely - I love free stuff'. The third thanked me & then thanked me again after she ate it. People who I've told them about could probably match the three with their respective responses. I'm still happy to share in the fun, more so because if they ever got wind that I had this free lunch & didn't include them, they'd probably hate me for life (and I'm not joking there).
I sat outside with my friend and we enjoyed our lunch. I bought candy & 2 lotto cards on the way back to my desk...I won $2 (played $7)...but still won again. Oh lucky day. I wonder what the rest of the day has in store.
When I arrived in my office, I got a voicemail that I won a lunch for 10 people from Chipotle! Wow! Really? Last week I dropped my card in the fishbowl & I actually won. Oh lucky day today is. This prize is good for this week only, and today is my one day downtown this week- so it had to be today. I was meeting up for lunch with a friend in honor of his birthday, so wrote him to put away his cash, lunch was 'on me' today!
The other 8 people I had to round up. Wonderful husband is on the beat today, but wouldn't be around the loop...he was ruled out. 2 people were here in the office were taking part. 1 of the 2 train friends was free also & would meet me there to pick up her loot. My sister wasn't answering her phone (I think she was in court) and her pregnant bff who works right by me, got my message too late.
So there were 5 other openings...I decided to let the old gals from my team join in the fun. They were all downtown today too. The first told me she was really busy today & asked me if I could do it tomorrow instead. The second responded with 'absolutely - I love free stuff'. The third thanked me & then thanked me again after she ate it. People who I've told them about could probably match the three with their respective responses. I'm still happy to share in the fun, more so because if they ever got wind that I had this free lunch & didn't include them, they'd probably hate me for life (and I'm not joking there).
I sat outside with my friend and we enjoyed our lunch. I bought candy & 2 lotto cards on the way back to my desk...I won $2 (played $7)...but still won again. Oh lucky day. I wonder what the rest of the day has in store.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Dust
So, on this tightrope of things to do, trying to limit the amount of dust around the house perplexes me. One may ask: "The amount of dust? How is that possibly in your control?"
Well, my basement is an open layout and I find that dryer lint is a major cause of dust in the basement. I think it even flies through the ventilation of our house via the furnace. But how does one lessen the chore of dusting by minimizing the cause: that inevitable plumb of dust when you wipe clean the dryer lint screen.
With a house of 5 we go through a lot of laundry on a regular basis. Its been a while I've been pondering over a potential solution. One option was to keep up on dusting and vacuuming the basement, but that was only adding one more thing to my long list of duties. This next option, I recently tried, must to my amazement, seems to be working:
Wipe the lint screen INSIDE the dryer barrel
It may be my positive attitude lately, but I honestly think that it may be working. How simple! I vacuumed the basement yesterday, and typically the vacuum canister would be filled with denim blue lint puffs, but this time it was nearly empty. I've also noticed that there is no longer that fine layer of dryer lint on the actual washing and dryer machines.
I think I found a solution! Hooray! Little things like this is what makes walking across the daily tightrope faster and therefore, easier.
Well, my basement is an open layout and I find that dryer lint is a major cause of dust in the basement. I think it even flies through the ventilation of our house via the furnace. But how does one lessen the chore of dusting by minimizing the cause: that inevitable plumb of dust when you wipe clean the dryer lint screen.
With a house of 5 we go through a lot of laundry on a regular basis. Its been a while I've been pondering over a potential solution. One option was to keep up on dusting and vacuuming the basement, but that was only adding one more thing to my long list of duties. This next option, I recently tried, must to my amazement, seems to be working:
Wipe the lint screen INSIDE the dryer barrel
It may be my positive attitude lately, but I honestly think that it may be working. How simple! I vacuumed the basement yesterday, and typically the vacuum canister would be filled with denim blue lint puffs, but this time it was nearly empty. I've also noticed that there is no longer that fine layer of dryer lint on the actual washing and dryer machines.
I think I found a solution! Hooray! Little things like this is what makes walking across the daily tightrope faster and therefore, easier.
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