Why I try my darndest...

So I know it's hard to see, but my arms have a horrible dermatitis rash between my fingers all the way down to my elbow on my forearms. The worst being on my left. Referred to as "chicken skin" it is common in those who've just changed their diet from normal to gluten free. Because your body can't digest the wheat  and the gut is being destroyed. It isn't contagious, but looks horrible.
  The bumpy pimple like rash has left this gal feeling quite self conscious of what I wear out in public. It slowly is clearing but any time I'm accidentally exposed to gluten I find the rash becoming more noticeable. My last big whoops was accidentally using some Aveeno shampoo that contained wheat grass. I've learned to read every thing. Amongst my frustrations I've found some success.

I finally perfected gluten free mac and cheese.(not one of those specialty four dollar boxes either!) I'm hoping to try a few other new recipes soon.

Experimenting...

So I must admit that the transition from normal diet to gluten free has been a bit rough. What can I say, I enjoy wheat bread. The first few things Heidi attempted and they tasted alright. But I must say after my mishap with homemade gluten free mac and cheese I just wanted to sit on the kitchen floor and cry.
So we did some research and invested in some gluten free flour at Costco and I began getting in touch with my Susie homemaker side. Breakfast has been hard because I use to just eat with the kids at the daycare. Now I had to find something that stuck to my bones but didn't make me sick. You can eat so much oatmeal and gluten free pbj's.
My flour had a recipe for banana muffins and after some practice and a bit of a tweak (I make it more like a coffee cake) I've found a great breakfast bar. I added raspberries to this batch. They really are quite delightful and I cannot wait to try new things out!

Big Boy Bug!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now my nephew Bug's hair had always been a sensitive subject. First of all shortly before his first birthday he had a shunt placed in his head to help drain the extra fluid. This made his head very sensitive. Second Bug's father had long hair and what little boy doesn't want to be like their father?
  His mother and I tried to talk him into a haircut numerous times after Dad was out of the picture only to have him tell us, "no thanks" or "maybe next week momma." Then on the fourteenth I received this picture from Sissy.

My first reaction was, "Oh my, my Bug isn't a baby anymore!" Followed by, "Oh my, I love it!" So Buggy Auntie just wants to say you look so handsome big boy!

Welcome Back!

One of the many perks of working for a school district is the days off. We got two weeks off. Now that doesn't mean I got to sleep in and do absolutely nothing. Ah the joys of also helping at Heidi's school. It was great to get up and open the school in my comfy clothes. No lesson planning, just good old fashion playing and taking care of the twos-threes class.
  Getting up on the seventh and knowing I had to dress nicer for work and spend the week doing the dreaded dibels testing made me want to climb back in bed! By Wednesday afternoon we'd tested all the elementary schools in the district. After hearing the same story over a hundred times I felt like we could've recited it in my sleep. By the end of the week I just wanted to stare at the wall and sit in complete silence.
 My groups resume next week and I cannot believe how little change some have made in their reading. Some even regressed. So as a group of paraprofessionals we've made the decision to push more reading to help build their frequency and move their levels up. I've also made some personal goals to help with my lessons and making the groups fun as well as educational. Here's to hoping the second half of the school year is far more successful!

New Year, New Discoveries

I never knew so much could happen in a matter of four days. I rang in the new year with a sinus and ear infection as Heidi and I watched season three of Downton Abbey via amazon prime. It may sound crazy but I rather enjoyed the quietness of being home on New Year's Eve. (and yes by home I mean Heber City where I now live)
  My biggest change for the new year will be going gluten free. Since mid September I've had what I believed to be a peptic ulcer. They put me on a strong dose of omeprazole and it seemed to calm it temporarily. I tried cutting fried foods as well, but my belly still seemed to cringe no matter what I ate. By late November I noticed it didn't matter what I ate about a half a hour to a hour later I would be folded over in pain.
 I also began to notice other strange things. I had scaly rashes on my forearms and sores everywhere in my mouth. I knew when my brother was diagnosed with celiac disease two years ago that there was a chance that my siblings or I could have it as well or be gluten intolerant. I also knew that I had many of the symptoms. So I did what most people do who presume they may have an allergy. I removed the allergen.
Within days I noticed a difference. My gut didn't ache after I'd eaten. My rash on my arms stopped spreading and slowly started to disappear. More than anything I myself felt better. So I still wonder why I never took the time to get the blood work done to test for gluten intolerance while I lived in Ogden. I had a roommate whom was sensitive to wheat and one whom couldn't have it at all. Maybe it was just God's way of preparing me to do the switch on my own. All I know is that transition has been a bit rocky but my body feels so much better!

Shan's 2013 Review!

So this year has had so many changes. January started with my final semester at WSU. The last leg of the journey to my bachelor's of art in Creative Writing. I learned in those last four months in Ogden that I can do anything that I put my mind too. My roomies taught me that I could trust others and that  I'm strong.
  Walking across the stage in the end of April made me realize that I had earned my bachelor's with all those late night editing of papers and photos. That sometimes the strictest professors are sometimes the reasons you don't give in to late night freak outs.
Graduation breezed by and soon I was back under my parents roof and job searching at the ripe age of twenty-eight. In my spare time in May through July I helped frequently around the house as well as watched my nieces and nephew for my Sissy.  Dad had been diagnosed with a rare form of arthritis that left him unable to do the simplest of things. They wouldn't put him on a medication until August.
  I found the job market in Salt Lake very frustrating. I had half a dozen interviews only to be told that my resume being very impressive it lacked experience. I didn't mind helping my father but I knew that I needed to start applying in other Counties.
 So I called Heidi and asked her if I could put her address as my place of residency when I applied to the school district. In a matter of a month I was hired and my emotions were high. I never thought I'd move to a place like Heber City. I was worried about dad and Sissy and the kiddos. The hardest thing ever was knowing that I'd now be sixty miles away from my bff and her kiddos. My job has been a huge blessing in my life.
  When I started my search for a job I wanted a set schedule and weekends off. I never expected to find my answer in Heber City. Heidi and I have been exactly what each other needed. As 2013 comes to an end I look forward to seeing what 2014 has in store!

Christmas comes but once a year...

So I don't know if I'm just a scrooge this year or if its from all the stress of this year, but this season just didn't feel like Christmas to me. The month zipped by and before we knew it I was on my holiday break from the elementary school. When I'm on break I help Heidi at Sunny Day Preschool and Daycare.
The weekend before Christmas all our gifts were wrapped and we started our Christmas celebrations with the Baker family. We played games and ate a wonderful meal. It was nice to relax and visit with friends. This month has been busy for Heidi and her business. We had the fire marshal check all the safety needs and got a clear bill. Tuesday was Christmas eve so we did pajama day and Polar Express with the kids. We had plans to head to Salt Lake at two, but got stuck at the school until twenty after two. My family has a Christmas eve tradition of going bowling with my dad's sister Angela and her family. We found a hidden alley in south Salt Lake and have been going there for years.
  So Heidi and I got off the freeway and stopped by Sissy's house to drop off some important gifts. I miss my little buddies. Poor kiddos had been sick. We gave our love and hopped in the car so Hoho could drop me off at the bowling alley and head to her auntie Wendy's house. I was so tired by then that I felt like a zombie. After bowling Kevin and I headed to pick up Grandma from the care center for dinner at Angela's house. My stomach is still angry from the change of dosing in omeprazole. So I didn't eat much and headed home with Kevin shortly after 7.
  We were all home for Christmas so Davey and Becca slept in the spare room and Heidi and I in mine. We girls stayed up and chatted until almost midnight. As we lay in bed I couldn't believe that it was Christmas eve. In fine fashion Heidi and I got up around seven. When you get up at 5:30 I guess that is sleeping in. We had our usual breakfast of sausage and stuffed French toast. After we headed to the front room and began opening gifts. It was a very simple yet beautiful Christmas. We watched Despicable Me 2 and relaxed as the ham cooked.
  We were in the city a little over 24 hours but it all seem to me like a dream. I love the time with my family and wish that I could of spent more time with sissy and the kiddos. But I am grateful that it is over. Now I can have a relaxing weekend at home before Heidi and I attempt to clean out my soon to be room.