Showing posts with label Tuesday Talk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tuesday Talk. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Orange Creamsicle Jello Recipe - Delicious, easy & quick to make! {Tuesday Talk}
Thanksgiving is less than a week away, and I'm currently thinking about all the delicious food I'm going to eat! I mean, of course I'm going to whip up some recipes, too, but thinking about eating is much more fun. Our upcoming Thanksgiving meal inspired me to share an Orange Jello family recipe that has been a part of every holiday meal for literally as long as I can remember!
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
10 Things I've Already Learned About a Gluten-free Diet
On Friday night, we received news that completely changed our lifestyle. I think I already knew before we received the phone call, but hearing it still felt like a punch in the stomach. After some testing, we found out that Liam has Celiac Disease.
We have been incredibly blessed, because prior to this, Liam didn't have any health issues associated with Down syndrome. Up until now, his most serious medical issue was a nose injury from a fall that landed him in the hospital with cellulitis. I know we are incredibly lucky, but hearing that his diet would have to change forever was very overwhelming.
Liam does have a close relative who can't eat gluten, and Celiac Disease is hereditary. Digestive issues seem to be more common in people who have Down syndrome, although this is the first time anything has been wrong. It definitely seems like more people have diet restrictions than not, so it isn't like this is something unusual, but it still doesn't make it any easier to process.
What IS Celiac Disease?
Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects approximately 1 out of every 100 people. Eating gluten causes damage to the small intestine. The symptoms vary in each person, but continuing to eat gluten will put that person at risk for long-term, and often serious health problems. The only way to treat it is with a gluten-free diet. It's estimated that 2.5 MILLION Americans are undiagnosed!
What were Liam's symptoms?
In August, we had to stop potty training, even though Liam was almost completely day trained, because he was having severe diarrhea. We thought he had a virus, but that virus never went away. At his 4 year well check, the pediatrician prescribed a probiotic for one month to see if it would get his digestive system back on track.
When Liam woke up last week, covered head to toe in a blow out, I knew it was something more. That same day, he underwent a lot of testing, and I just had a feeling that gluten would be the problem.
Prior to the start of diarrhea, Liam never had a single symptom. There wasn't any indication that anything was wrong!
What happens next?
Based on Liam's test results, we were told to stop feeding him anything with gluten immediately, and that he would have to eat a gluten-free diet for the rest of his life. This isn't something that will go away, or that he will grow out of.
Because we just received the results, his appointments with gastroenterology and the dietitian are still a few weeks away. It will take a few months of avoiding gluten before his body begins to heal and his digestive system gets back on track. In about 3 months, he will have blood drawn again, and they will check to see if his levels have improved. He will have annual appointments with gastroenterology, and a celiac panel will be added to his already annual lab work.
I just feel bad, because he won't understand why he can't eat cake at a friend's birthday party or have what everybody else is eating or snacking on at dinners, playdates and parties. We are going to have to take his own snacks everywhere we go, and bring a gluten-free treat to every party. And going out to dinner just got a lot more complicated!
We know a surprising amount of people who are on gluten-free diets, so they have been a great resource for us. We spent the weekend talking to friends, asking questions, researching online, and shopping for new food. And although it's still overwhelming, and WILL be a complete lifestyle change for Liam, I have a better grip on the situation!
10 Things I've Already Learned About Switching To A Gluten-Free Diet
Eating a Gluten-free diet is expensive!
After a trip to the grocery story, I suffered from serious sticker shock. As everybody knows, it's more expensive to eat healthy whole foods, which are the main components of Liam's diet. But all of the gluten-free alternatives are incredibly expensive, too.
I went grocery shopping for just Liam on Saturday night. I spent $84 for one week's worth of food for him. That's a whole lot of money for groceries for a tiny, 30 pound, 4 year old!
Liam loves cereal bars and chicken noodle soup, and he can no longer eat those foods. It was $6.99 for a box of 5 tiny gluten-free cereal bars and $3 for a small can of soup. I know I'm going to have to search to find a cheaper brand of cereal bars that he will like, and learn how to make my own chicken noodle soup for Liam.
Aldi will apparently be my new best friend.
I have a confession. I have NEVER shopped at Aldi before. And apparently, that was my first mistake. According to all the gluten-free gurus on Facebook, Aldi is the best place to shop for gluten-free food. I will be heading there next weekend, in the hopes of finding cheaper gluten-free alternatives!
You have to read EVERY single label.
Although most major brands do a great job of putting gluten-free clearly on the label, there are just as many who hide it in small print below the ingredients, or don't include it at all. I had to research exactly what to avoid, then read every single label at the grocery store. My grocery shopping over the weekend took a lot longer than usual! I'm sure this will become second nature to me, but for now, google is my shopping sidekick!
Gluten is hidden in foods you wouldn't even think about.
Breads, cereal, crackers and pasta are the obvious culprits, but gluten is used as a filler in so many foods! I was very surprised to see it in some of our favorite brands, and had to make the switch to other brands. I can't wait to receive the brand-specific list that I was promised by the dietitian!
Gluten can also be found in vitamins, dental products, and medications.
There are plenty of gluten-free alternatives.
Even though it seems daunting, eating gluten-free isn't terribly difficult. Liam's diet already consisted mostly of whole foods, and he didn't like many processed foods like bread, crackers, cookies and cereal. He did have a few favorite foods that were full of gluten, so we had to look for alternatives.
As of right now, we are sticking mostly to his whole foods diet and gradually introducing gluten-free alternatives. Gluten-free pasta is a bit more expensive than regular pasta, but Liam didn't even notice the change, and gobbled up his favorite meal. We all tried his pasta and thought it tasted a lot like our regular brand!
There are also plenty of whole grains that are naturally gluten free. We will be adding a lot of quinoa and rice to our meals! Plus corn, beans, and potatoes are all great alternatives!
Baked goods are a bit more difficult. There are gluten-free cake and cookie mixes available, as well as gluten-free flour, but they don't tend to taste as good, and have to be loaded up with sugar to make them resemble regular baked goods. That isn't exactly healthy, so we were told to avoid baked goods unless it's for a special occasion.
We will not be making the switch to a gluten-free family.
Many people I spoke with told me their entire family went gluten-free, and feel much better because of it. I, however, do not feel like it's fair to expect Dylan, Lexie, Lily, Grant (or myself) to unnecessarily change our diets. It would also be way too expensive for a family of 6!
We will be adding more foods that Liam can eat to our meals, such as rice, beans and potatoes, and be eating more of a whole foods diet, specifically when it comes to snacks. If we keep a lot of processed snacks out of our home, Liam will never realize he is missing anything! But for the most part, I will continue to cook our meals as I usually do, but make Liam his own gluten-free side, if the recipe doesn't include naturally gluten-free foods.
Meal prep is necessary.
Liam loves pasta, soup, and macaroni and cheese. Rather than cooking his own separate lunch each day, I decided to do some meal prep over the weekend. I cooked a box of gluten-free pasta, and put it in individual serving containers, and prepared gluten-free spaghetti sauce, cheese sauce, and chicken broth to freeze until needed. That way, I can whip up a lunch or a side for dinner quickly each day.
I also set up a drawer just for Liam, filled with gluten-free snacks. Anything that came in a large bag was separated into small resealable bags for easy portability. He can choose whatever he wants out of that drawer at snack time, and I can easily grab a few gluten-free snacks on my way out the door.
We have to worry about cross contamination.
This is something I didn't even think about! If we are eating any food that contains gluten, Liam's food will have to be prepared separately, using separate cooking utensils. I can't use wooden cutting boards or spoons to prepare his food, and if the time comes when he actually likes bread, he will need his own toaster. I'm certain that list is more expansive, but those are the basics that I have learned so far!
There's an app for that.
There really is! I was told (by several people) about an app called Find Me Gluten Free, and while I was searching for it, I found a lot more! There are also apps for gluten-free recipes, gluten-free food finders, gluten-free diet guides, and gluten-free scanners.
A gluten-free diet is very healthy.
A gluten-free diet consists mainly of whole foods and naturally gluten-free grains. Because many processed foods and baked goods contain gluten, they have to be avoided. Liam's new diet is mostly fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein, and nuts and seeds.
Liam is very high energy and has always eaten mostly whole, healthy foods, so he doesn't gain weight very easily. He just reached 30 pounds shortly after turning 4 year old, and I am a bit concerned that gaining weight is going to be more difficult. This is a necessary change, so we will make it work. Hopefully the dietitian will have some good ideas for us!
I had something completely different planned for today's post, but sometimes life gets in the way! Instead, I opted to share about our new journey. I'm sure I'm going to learn a lot about Celiac Disease and a gluten-free diet along the way, and eventually be able to help others who are just starting out on this journey, too! All I know is that I love my sweet boy with all of my might, and I will do anything I possibly can to keep him healthy and happy!
TUESDAY TALK
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Tuesday, September 12, 2017
A Few Of My Favorite Things: End Of Summer Edition
DISCLOSURE: I received several of the items below free for review, but loved them so much that they made it into my favorites list!
Happy Monday, my friends! I spent the past week fighting off a nasty migraine each day, so that's why I've been MIA. Thankfully, the pain has decreased to a dull ache, which means I can actually function. I figured I would ease my way back into a full blogging schedule by sharing a few of my favorite things!
I don't know about you, but I can't believe Summer is coming to an end. I'm feeling very sad about it! Technically we still have over a week left of Summer, but the kids have been back in school since August 24th, and it's starting to FEEL like Fall. Although the afternoons warm up, and we typically have temperatures in the seventies, mornings and evenings are cool. Yesterday morning we actually had to turn on the electric fireplace in our living room!
So without further ado, here are a few of my favorite things that I'm loving right now!
Mom Love Fellowship
Just before Summer began, I signed up with Little Dove Blog to participate in the Summer Mom Love Fellowship. My partner for the Summer was Courtney! Last week, Courtney sent me a sweet care package. I have plans to wear those earrings this week for Moms Night Out, and I'm excited to try the Rodan + Fields samples that she included!
Flats
After a Summer of sandals and flip-flops, I'm starting to wear flats again. I rarely shop at Walmart, but I scored these on clearance for $3! I spotted them as I was walking through the store, and these ones (and a pink pair) ended up in my cart. They match everything, and I seriously couldn't pass them up for that price!
TotLogic Products
I am always on the lookout for great, natural products for my kids. Logic Products sent over two products from their TotLogic line for us to try! TotLogic products are gentle and non-toxic. The products are free of sulfates, phthalates, and parabens (to name a few).
I love the 2-in-1 Wash & Shampoo for Liam. It is gentle on his sensitive skin and has a very light scent.
While we were at the beach, we also used TotLogic sunscreen on Lily and Liam. The natural zinc oxide formula is SPF 30 and water resistant for up to 80 minutes. Not only did it protect their skin from the harmful rays, but it also kept their skin moisturized!
Currently Reading
I branched off from the type of books that I usually read to try The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey. I like it more than I expected, and I'm almost finished! If you are a fan of The Walking Dead or Fear The Walking Dead, this is a must read. But even if you're not, it's still really interesting!
And while you're at it, buy a Bubba cup! It keeps my drink cold for HOURS.
Halloween Attire
Trendy Bubs has some adorable Halloween attire this year!!! Too soon? I think not! As always, use the code liamff to save 20% at checkout.
{Leggings & Hat - Trendy Bubs / Shirt - Target / Shoes - H&M}
Bunny Love
Last week, I shared my new baby bunny, Arya. She has been with us a little over a week and is settling in nicely. Arctic, who is completely separated from all of her babies, happily took over mothering this little one! (They are big fans of Liam's new train set. I'm not even kidding. Arya climbs the tracks and Arctic pushes the balls around!)
Lovebug Probiotics
I am a fairly new probiotics user, but I am loving the line from lovebug probiotics. With lovebug probiotics, you are able to choose your plan, so everything you want is delivered to your door each month.
Now that my kids are back in school and cold season is approaching, I am a big fan of Colds Suck. Three of my kids already fell victim to the back to school cold, so I am taking Colds Suck each day! Lovebug Probiotics also offer products for kids. I can't wait to try them for Liam, who has a delicate digestive system!
Clutch Love
A dear friend of mine bought me the sweetest gift! I think he felt bad for me after watching me haul my 20 pound purse around. I keep this beautiful baby in my purse, filled with all the necessities, and take it out when I go somewhere alone (or into a store alone). It isn't often, but when I'm without kids, it's nice to leave my gigantic purse behind!
Perfectly Posh
The My Hands Are Thaied hand creme leaves my hands feeling so soft, and I absolutely love the scent! This hand creme is richer than many others I have tried, but absorbs into the skin quickly, and leaves my hands feeling hydrated.
When I put on the Hot and Gold face mask, my girls couldn't stop looking at my face. They loved the gold shimmer! I loved the fact that the mask didn't make my skin feel tight, cold or uncomfortable while I was wearing it, which is why I tend to avoid masks. It just felt nice, and it left my skin with a soft glow after I washed it off!
To browse these products in Jordan's shop, click HERE! You can also join her VIP Facebook Group!
Soccer Mom
I am officially a soccer mom! Haha! My sweet Lexie decided she wanted to play soccer, and that landed her on a travel team with girls who have been playing for 4-5 years. We were worried about how she would do, but she loves it!
Lexie's first game was on Sunday. Her coach originally said she would sit on the bench for the entire game to observe, but she ended up on the field for half of the game and even had control of the ball several times.
Lexie is fast and has the endurance. Once she understands the rules of the game, I have a feeling she's going to be fierce on that field!
Mug Love
I recently added another mug to my collection! (Can't stop, won't stop!) It was on clearance at Cracker Barrel and I couldn't pass it up!
Nuby Sure Grip Miracle Mat Section Plate
Even though Liam is 4, he still likes to toss his plate if you don't take it from him fast enough when he's done. Suction tableware is officially my best friend! From plates to bowls, we have it all. A recent addition to Liam's meals is the Nuby Sure Grip Miracle Mat Bear Character Section Plate.
This 100% silicone section plate sticks to flat, smooth surfaces. It's perfect for kids 6 months and up, and is safe because it is BPA, PVC and Phthalate Free. It wipes clean easily, and is also dishwasher AND microwave safe!
The section plate is perfect for picky kids who don't like their food to touch! Liam is a big fan of the bear shape. Using the Nuby Sure Grip Miracle Mat Section Plate eliminated messes for me to clean up, and makes mealtime more fun!
(Available at Babies R Us)
Connect with Nuby:
FACEBOOK // TWITTER // INSTAGRAM // PINTEREST
17 Years
If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw that Grant and I celebrated 17 years of marriage on Saturday! We were teenagers when we started dating, and we were married young, so it truly feels like we've been together forever!
For our anniversary, we escaped from the kids for a few hours to go out to dinner, then we all went to watch our township's community day fireworks (which were AMAZING) together as a family!
A sweet family member gifted us with a thoughtful present for our anniversary. It just serves as a reminder of just how much we have accomplished in 17 years. We are incredibly blessed!
On that note, I should probably crawl out from under my warm blanket, and get on with my day! If you try (or have already tried) a few of my favorite things, let me know what you think!
On another note, you can find an interview with me on The Sirois Family today! If you don't already read Johanna's blog, head over now to meet this sweet mom blogger!
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A Few Of My Favorite Things: July Roundup
TUESDAY TALK
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Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Mug Love Exchange Announcement + My Favorite Mugs
It's no secret that I have an obsession with collecting mugs! With 4 kids who keep me busy from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to bed, I live on caffeine. Caffeine is good in any form, but there's just something about drinking out of a cute mug that makes it so much better. That's why I'm so excited to announce that I will be hosting a Mug Love Exchange & Giveaway along with several other of my favorite bloggers!
I participated in the Mug Love Exchange for the first time last year, and had so much fun! I loved picking out a special mug for my partner and receiving one in the mail for myself. It quickly became one of my favorite mugs in my collection!
If you have a mug collection that envies mine or if you live on caffeine like me, this blogger exchange is for you!
Here's what you need to know:
- Sign ups are open now and will close on September 12th.
- Partners will be chosen and notified by September 15th.
- You will choose a special mug for your partner and mail it to them before the link up goes live on September 28th.
- You will share about the mug you received on September 28th and link up your post with one of the hosts!
- When you share on social media, use the hashtag #MugLoveExchange.
- As a treat to our readers, the Mug Love Exchange hosts will be hosting a $50 Starbucks Giveaway, too! The giveaway will go live the same day as the link up!
My mug collection may be out of control, but I will be participating in the Mug Love Exchange, too! Although I have a few favorites, there is always room for more! (My husband would probably disagree!)
The last picture of the mug was taken over the weekend! In case you missed my Instagram post, that's my new baby bunny, Arya! Isn't she the sweetest?!?
If you love mugs as much as we do, we hope you will join us! Sign up now!
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