Updates!

So after I wrote my last post I realized that I haven't updated anyone with how the Gluten Free diet is going or how we are getting along with the crib tent. I won't fool myself into thinking that you are all at the edge of your seats just waiting to hear...but a few people have asked so here are some updates:)

I guess I should also mention that we actually have Porter on a Gluten Free Casien Free Diet  ( casien is found in milk and milk products) We went casien free a few months before we went gluten free ( and before I started this blog) because it was also recommended and it was so easy to do. Porter has never been a huge fan of milk , we were having to put it in a smoothie to get him to drink it, so we simply switched to Almond milk and I must say, it's delicious! So basically he had to give up yogurt and cheese. Not a HUGE deal. We didn't really notice any changes after getting rid of casien, except maybe a few less bumps on his skin. Porter has beautiful skin and you wouldn't know it from looking, but when you touch his arms and legs he has little bumpies that have been there since he was around one year old which just so happens to be right around the time when I started to get really worried about his language development..but that's a whole other post!

 I think I mentioned before that we hadn't really noticed any real improvement since the new GF diet
( other than even more improved skin and some better poops ) but he was also not napping properly , so it was hard to say for sure. But then our heavenly crib tent arrived and naps returned and our boy seemed more himself.  It has been just about a month since then and still no significant improvement in language, behavior or sleep which is what the diet is supposed to help with. Sooooo, we were getting ready to call it quits.  I wasn't expecting miracles or anything...but I had hoped it would help us more than it has. BUT then last week as we were talking about giving it up completely Porter got into the pantry and pulled out Mark's fruit loops . Since we were talking about giving it up soon I said, oh, just give him some darn fruit loops ! Well, he was pumped and gobbled down a couple of handfuls of the good stuff! Now, what's interesting is that night he woke up at 2am and stayed awake til 5am. Coincidence, perhaps? He's not a great sleeper in general, but we had been getting til 5am for quite a few days in a row. My friend Laurie said it could be the sugar too which certainly is possible, but the whole thing did make us go hmmmmm....so, my point is that we are not quite ready to give up on it yet. Plus, I'm not convinced that I haven't been giving him gluten by mistake. After talking to my friend April, I have a list of ingredients to look for so I feel better prepared for my next trip to the Superstore. I'm thinking we will give it at least a few more weeks and then put gluten back in and see what happens! Then the plan is to wait at least a month or so and try putting dairy back in too. I guess then we'll know for sure if eliminating either was helpful or not?

Now let's get to the crib tent! Ahhhh, crib tent, glorious crib tent! You have changed my life! Naps are back! Like I said before, I know naps won't last forever, but our boy NEEDS them! He is so much happier and my arms are too! It was so tiring having to put him back in his crib 100 times a day, so now zippity do da and there you go! And Mark and I actually have a little time to ourselves after the kids go to bed! Before the crib tent , we would spend the evenings putting him back to bed and that could take up to two hours or more, so you can just imagine how cheery and pleasant we were to each other at this point. So really, let's be honest. That crib tent might have just saved our marriage. Ok, that might be a bit of a stretch, but it certainly has helped! And what does he think of it? Well, at first we tried really hard to play it up like it was soooo fun to have a tent on his crib and it worked, for about 2 minutes. Then he realized he couldn't get out and he wasn't impressed, even now he will still get a little upset when we first put him in it. But it only lasts a few minutes, if at all. I would say that is probably like most typical children! I know he can't stay in that crib forever, but for now, it's working. We'll worry about that later! So shout out to my friend Trudy, thank you, thank you , thank you!

And lastly, for those of you who don't know, we are heading to Cape Breton this coming weekend to have Porter assessed privately. We have decided to let Ruby stay with her Nana and Pepe and Auntie Robyn for the weekend. It was really hard convincing them....hahaha, KIDDING!!  Ruby is doing sooo much better taking a bottle and I have started her with formula part time , which she loves! Plus, we haven't taken Ruby any further than Rustico so we aren't sure how well she travels. She is iffy in the car and we thought 6 1/2 hours of screaming might push us all right over the edge. And it certainly wouldn't be fair to Porter, this trip is about him and that is where 100% of our focus should be! We will certainly miss our little Rub Dubs, but we know she couldn't be in better hands!

Wish us luck and we'll keep you all posted about the results!
:)
Rae

Gluten Free Banana Bread

I promised myself when I started this blog to post at least twice a week so I thought I'd post a great Gluten Free recipe from my bestie Laurie. We met back in 1994 when we were dating boys that were friends, you know how they say everyone comes into your life for a reason? I say those boys were in our lives so that we could meet. If I think back to some of the very best times in my life, she was there. If I think back to the very worst times of my life, she's there too. That's when you know a friendship is real. Peas and carrots we are:)

She has many talents, but I must say, she's a genius in the kitchen! She has made us a few GF treats, but Porter's favorite has got to be Laurie's GF Banana Bread...deeelicious! Here's the recipe for anyone wanting to try it!

What you will need:

In one bowl mix....


2 cups of GF flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon of Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg

In another bowl mix...

2 eggs
1/2 cup mashed bananas ( 3)
1 cup of sugar
1 tablespoon of vanilla
1/2 cup of oil ( canola )

Then mix both bowls together and add carob chips ( not sure if that is spelled right ) or chocolate chips if you are not worried about it being dairy free. FYI, you can get all of this stuff at the Bulk Barn.

Pour into easy mix spray tins ( also found at the Bulk Barn I believe ) and bake at 350 for about 50-60 minutes. Porter LOVES it!

Thanks La, we love you!
xo

Times Like These

This week, a friend of mine lost his brother. He was only 38. He had a wife, two children and another child on the way. I haven't been able to stop thinking about all of them. I think about his wife and how her life changed instantly. I wonder how many times she will replay her last words to him. I think about his children, and how their father will live on in them....and how that will bring comfort and break the hearts of his family at the same time.

It is when tragedies like this happen, that I start to question myself. Am I living my best life?

I read something recently that really made me think. "You are who you are when no one is looking".  Kind of punches you in the face doesn't it? I like to think I am, most of the time. But there are those other times...those times when I can't even stand myself. And who gets to see this bitter, bitchy old nag who grumbles to herself and walks around in jammies til lunch, oh who am I kidding, til bedtime? My husband and my children. The most important people in my life.

I know we can't all be perfect and boy am I far from it, but this week I find myself wondering why the checkout girl at the Superstore got the best of me last Thursday. I was super cheery to her but I came home and did the old" huhhhhh" loud sigh as I opened the fridge and bitched about how there was no room in the fridge for all my food?? Really? I am complaining that I have too much food when there are people in the world that are starving to death! Or what about the countless times I give Mark the 3rd degree because I have to remind him..yet again...to pick up his darn clothes because they are driving me crazy , just sooooo crazy that there is NO way on God's green earth that I can go about my day if I have to look at those clothes on the bedroom floor. Really? And I can't count the number of times I look at my closet and say, ok, which shirt is going to make me look less fat? Oh wait ..there isn't one, so I'll just leave my jammies on and no one will ever know that I am overweight. Really? Is this the best of me? And why can't I leave the couch cushions on the floor just a little longer ? Porter loves to play in them, under them, on them..but I come in and ruin all the fun because the living room just looks sooooo messy when they are all over the place? Really!!!!??? And why am I saving all of Ruby's cute outfits for a special occasion. Today IS a special occasion. We're alive and healthy and we get one more day on this beautiful earth!

 Or what about those dark times, the ones I don't talk about very much. When I talk to God and ask him why He gave me a son with autism. Why did He choose me? Doesn't He know that it breaks my heart in a way I never knew existed before when I watch my son scream and grunt and I have no idea what he wants. Doesn't He know that I cry in the shower at least once a week wondering if my son will ever have a best friend? All the beautiful people in my life keep telling me how lucky he is that he has Mark and I for parents, but honestly, sometimes I don't believe them. At least once a week I feel like I am failing miserably at motherhood, the most important job I will ever have.

But then, at times like these, I check myself. I realize that I am beyond lucky for everyone and everything I have in my life. I have a husband who makes me laugh at least once a day and even though he lets the garbage overflow, I would simply be lost without him. I have the most amazing boy in the whole world. He can't tell me everything he wants to....yet...but his eyes tell me he has the most beautiful soul I have ever seen. And I just love how he gets to see the world in a way that most of us will never fully understand.  And I may not know everything there is to know about how to help him communicate, but I'm learning . And I have the sweetest, most precious little girl who smiles at me at 3 am and makes me forget that I am so bloody tired I can hardly open my eyes. She can yawn and the sound of her innocence can make absolutely everything else in the world disappear. 

And what about the rest of my family and friends? Can't beat em. They are the best of the best. They continue to amaze me at how selfless they are and they can't begin to know how much they mean to me. And although I'll be sad to go back to work in September, I'm going back to a job that I love, to work with people I love and children who inspire me on a daily basis. Yeah, I'm still more than 25 pounds away from my goal weight, but I'll get there...I should be so lucky just to have the opportunity to get there!

So today, in honor of my friend's brother,  I will do my best to let the cushions stay on the floor just a little longer. I will dress Ruby in something other than sleepers and maybe even get out of my jammies myself! I will try harder just to walk around Mark's pile of laundry, (or gasp, maybe even pick it up for him!) and mostly, I will do my best to give the ones I love ...the best of me. Because you just never know.

In the Spirit of Valentine's Day

I know, I know I'm a day late, but that's life these days. I remember when I first started this blog I thought " how will I ever think of stuff to write about?" Well, I tell you, it hasn't been a problem...at all. In fact, I have so many things to say that I end up having to pick just one thing! But today, in the spirit of Valentine's Day, I will write a little bit about love.

In the past week I have been overwhelmed by the love of family and friends. You all know who you are! You have amazed me with your giving spirit. Please know, it doesn't go unnoticed, in fact, it fills me up in a way that is hard to describe. I am blessed...SO blessed, to have you all in my life. I really couldn't go through this life without you. So thank you, yes YOU, for being you.

And a special thank you to you Mark. For being the man I married day after day. Through all of this. We are the 20% that will make it. Hands down, do doubt about it.

I heard this song on Parenthood last night, if you are not watching it, start, seriously, the best show out there. It's a beautiful song and reminds me that "we've got all the strength we need in the shape of us".


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q49eyWkrac8

Love, Rae
xo

Short and Sweet

Sorry I haven't posted anything for awhile, but we have been busy, busy, busy....and then Tuesday my right shoulder decided it needed a break and has been giving me grief ever since so I am forced to type with my left hand which takes me forever....so today I'll share a short, but special moment with you.

Yesterday Mark picked Porter and Ruby up from Nana and Pepe's house. Thank God for these people, Auntie Robyn too...because my arm is seriously out of commission and they have been absolutely amazing. Anyway, when Mark put Porter into his seat there were recyclable grocery bags between him and his sister, Ruby. Usually Porter doesn't pay any attention to Ruby, but this day he decided he wanted to see her and knocked the bags out of the way to look at her. I wasn't there but when Mark told me yesterday, it touched my heart in the most beautiful way. I just know they will be best friends someday.

:) Rae

Ruby's Shower!

Last week my Greenfield family hosted a party for our little Ruby. It's hard to put into words how I feel about these people. These people are "top shelf people". If they were in my home I would have them on display because I am so proud they are part of my life. They have laughed and cried with me through the twists and turns of my life and I am honored to say I teach with such fine human beings.  I don't get to see them as often as I would like, so it was wonderful to have a great reason to get in for a visit!

Of course, there was food. Not that we like food much, but you know, it was a party so the stuffing of the face was expected. And the decor, well I must say, I was impressed! I'm not sure who to give the credit to, but the staff room looked lovely with a splash of pink and my girl's name even made the bulletin board!

                               Ruby loved seeing her name and the pretty pink flowers...so fancy!

                                                Ruby and I with some fabulous ladies!

                        And of course, our Greenfield friends went above and beyond with presents! Ruby sat so patiently as Crystal, absolute top shelf gal, read cards and Trudy, my crib tent angel, handed presents. It felt like Christmas! So many wonderful gifts.....
 

I'm telling you, Miss Ruby will be the most stylish baby girl in town! I thought about putting a fashion show together and having the Supermodel song by Rupaul playing...but I simply do not have the time ! Seriously though, this girl will need nothing until she's 2 years old! She has been blessed by so many gifts from family and friends since her birth and we thank each and every one of you! We truly our blessed to have such wonderful family and friends in our lives:) xo


Thanks again!