Goodbye Gluten

So I know it seems as though we are always trying new things with diet, keto (fail) low carb (fail) but this time the diet change has nothing to do with weight. It's known that I have an autoimmune disease that has yet to make itself clear. I don't have all the markers for Lupus, and I don't quite fit the fibro mold either. So what to do? I have been having horrible flare ups and my body aches and aches, I am beyond tired and just want to feel better. So on with the google search. I did not want to even think about giving up gluten. I LOVE MY BREAD and cookies and pasta and did I mention cookies. While researching I found out that I pretty much match up to gluten intolerance or celiac pretty darn close. I have NOT been diagnose or tested at this point with celiacs. I also found out that a family member has been dealing with the same issues as me and 6 months ago made the decision to cut gluten. She has noticed a marked improvement in symptoms and that was just the push I needed to give it a go. 

Tom is on board and so goes the kids. I would rather catch it early with them now anyhow. So we have gone on our first shopping excursion and although the price was high, we think we will manage. We are used to paying a bit more for organic options so this was just adding more on the things like pretzels and flour. ( I don't bake much so I think it will go far). We went through the pantry and are slowly phasing out all the gluten. We are trying to finish up the cereal and soups we have now as we just cant afford to be wasteful. I imagine my the next few weeks we will be 100% gluten free. 

I know its a challenge and it wont be easy. Sams hot lunch system at school does not offer GF meals (although they do offer vegan) and thus the grocery bill will increase with me packing his lunch every day. Thank goodness I have a fruit and veggie eater ;) 

So lets see where this takes us and if my gut (no pun intended....maybe) is right then I should start to feel better. If you are one of the 3 people who actually read this blog, let me know if you have any tips from either yourself or your friends and family. 

Until next time.

Seattle.....

Well, I suppose its time I share whats been going on here. I wanted to wait until I told my work to announce it. So here it is....

We had taken a trip to Seattle in January and it was a fun family trip with the intention of introducing the city to Tom as he had never been. We thought one day we may move up there. He fell in love with the city, as did I. I lived in Bremerton from the ages of 17-20 and always wanted to move to the city.

We came home and found out we were pregnant and though that it was a sign that we were staying in Reno. Well, as you can see, circumstances changed and we began putting more thought into a move. Tom soon got word that St.Marys (his employer) had got bought out and it is uncertain if he will keep his pay grade, let alone his job. This made our decision a bit easier.  We sat down and talked about some more and spent many hours in thought and we have decided that with me graduating in December and how unstable his job is and the job market in Reno, that now was a good as time as any to go. Sam will be in first grade so its really the start of his schooling and we wont be ripping him from his friends in the middle of school as it would be if we waited a few years. The job market for someone with my degree is plentiful and really, Seattle is our happy place. We really felt like it was home. Everything about that city is us and our family. Our kids could not be more excited. Sam loves it there and if it were up to him we would have never left!

We know its going to be hard to leave our friends and family, but we know great things await us there. It is an easy 12 hour trip by car or a quick flight back to Reno. We have gotten a ton of support from our family already and will continue to need it as we begin this adventure.

The move is not planned til January of 2013 as that is when our lease is up and we can make a clean move. Tom and I are planning a trip in October to pick out a place to live and start applying for jobs. I plan on keeping everyone updated on our move through the blog, so please stay tuned so you don't miss a thing!
For now we will enjoy our last summer in Reno and spending time with everyone before we go.

Here is a little montage of our trip this year... and some of the amazing things that will become our home!

Family Dinner

So I was watching Jamie Olivers food revolution and not only do I love the show but certain things hit hard. I know that the change we made at the beginning of this year was the right thing for our family and recently we've been so busy that we let that slack. NO MORE! On tonight's episode he talked about having family meals. We just don't do that often. I'm usually eating in front of the computer, kids at the table and tom with them.. mostly then Its my fault. I feel like I'm too busy and need to multitask, eat and work, my kids are too young to get the family table so why bother... etc.. you know EXCUSES! So tonight as I write this I made the decision (with my husband) that we for now will start with one night a week having a family dinner at the table. The way it should be. I can work from there, but it has got to start somewhere right?

and on that note, we need to get back to the way we used to feel about food when this journey started, We were so concerned about hurting peoples feelings that we got lazy, and so we started adding the GMO foods back in, then it was the excuse of well we already did that so a little drive thru treat wont be bad.. but then it just piles up and before you know it, the whole week has gone to crap.Our health has gone to crap, our energy has gone to crap and we just plain ol feel ucky!

NO MORE.

It starts now, I fully believe in my heart of hearts that Gods desire is for my family to eat the food he gave us, not the GMO stuff that isn't healthy and in fact the effects are so unknown and recently shown to cause birth defects. How severe is yet to be determined. I will NOT let my children learn about food the way we did, I didn't know where my food came from, I didn't know what the ingredients on the box were? I want better for my kids and I'm going to do just that. This is my blog to remind me to STAY THE PATH.

Keep reading, and PLEASE keep encouraging me on this journey. I know its not an easy one but If God could bring be through drug addiction, abuse, and infertility he can get me through this! YES HE CAN. ( he he get it )