I feel a huge relief having put the Swedish grad school situation behind us. I don't think either of us was eager to return to school at the moment.
Last night, I had a dream, a dream that I just couldn't get out of. In it, I showed up to a meeting at the wrong time, underprepared. While at the meeting, our space was overtaken by another group. Then, when I pushed through the throngs of people and got outside, I was stopped short by impenetrable fog. Also, I'd realized I couldn't find Aevryn. I normally don't have such clear dreams, but I will say: message received.
I do feel completely unsettled right now. Between the complete uncertainty of the Food Situation™ and the lack of a Plan™ - beyond selling our house - I admit to feeling anxious. I'm starting to have nomadic fantasies. Sometimes, I really want to buy an RV and drive around the US for a year. Other times, I'm 100% on board with trying to arrange a year of WWOOFing in Europe. I have visions of just packing the car and driving, figuring it out on the way.
I figure, we must have *some* mobile skills we can exploit into a semi-steady paycheck. Obviously, Dave can do "computer stuff", but that's sort of vague. I could do something with etsy, I'm sure, but would it be enough to feed us?
Pondering.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Sunday Afternoon Delight
Today we all packed up and went hiking at Sand Lakes Quiet Area. As we were hiking to our picnic spot, we were scoping out a camp site to use in the (hopefully) very near future. We found a nice little site on the other side of the lake, off the main path. I'm excited to get the whole family out camping this year. We had it on the to-do list last year, but with the whole Bo saga, it got deferred. All I have to do now, is figure out a menu. The lake is stocked with trout, so maybe we'll catch our dinner and roast it over the open campfire. Yum!
We spent the rest of the afternoon mowing the yard (Dave) or sitting on a blanket in the sun reading (Lily, Aevryn & I). I am thankful for spring weather finally.
The hives on my face are still here. They got worse, but are now calming, thankfully. I am certain, for me, that it was the shea butter. I used it on my face as a moisturizer on Thursday and makeup remover on Friday. (Dave and I got to go on a date - our second one this month - so I put a little make up on and dressed up a bit. We saw the hilarious Noises Off at the local playhouse.) As I'm dealing with hives for the first time since I was a few months pregnant with Aevryn (cashew-exposure), I am recalling the terribleness of being chronically itchy. I am also examining up close and personal what hives flaring up and slowly fading look like. I'm starting to think that Lily may have eczema on her neck and right in the folds of her elbows, but the "rash" up and down her arms that comes and goes, seemingly willy nilly is in fact chronic hives, in various states of flaring and healing.
I think, I really need to find a doctor to patch test her.
We spent the rest of the afternoon mowing the yard (Dave) or sitting on a blanket in the sun reading (Lily, Aevryn & I). I am thankful for spring weather finally.
The hives on my face are still here. They got worse, but are now calming, thankfully. I am certain, for me, that it was the shea butter. I used it on my face as a moisturizer on Thursday and makeup remover on Friday. (Dave and I got to go on a date - our second one this month - so I put a little make up on and dressed up a bit. We saw the hilarious Noises Off at the local playhouse.) As I'm dealing with hives for the first time since I was a few months pregnant with Aevryn (cashew-exposure), I am recalling the terribleness of being chronically itchy. I am also examining up close and personal what hives flaring up and slowly fading look like. I'm starting to think that Lily may have eczema on her neck and right in the folds of her elbows, but the "rash" up and down her arms that comes and goes, seemingly willy nilly is in fact chronic hives, in various states of flaring and healing.
I think, I really need to find a doctor to patch test her.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Testing, testing...
As we slog through the elimination/trial process, I once again find myself considering allergy testing. We've had mixed results with allergy testing in the past.
At the age of nearly 2, Lily had a RAST (IgE) blood test performed. It showed sensitivity to cats and mold.
At the age of 2.25, Lily had an ELISA (IgE/IgG combined) blood test performed. It showed sensitivity to dairy, garlic, turmeric, poppy seeds, pinto beans, navy beans.
At the age of 3, Lily had a repeat ELISA. It showed sensitivity to nothing. With actual ZEROS showing up. I now doubt the validity of that particular test. (I also had an ELISA done at the same time. It showed that I am mildly allergic to sesame, though we know that I have a very quick hive reaction to cashews & pistachios, that I would be surprised if it wasn't IgE mediated.)
At the age of 3, Lily had a scratch test (IgE) performed at the allergist's office. It showed sensitivity to dairy, soy, cats & mold. However, again, these are immediate response tests. She was scratched, they let it sit for 30 or so minutes, then came back and read the results. I declined steroid cream for her after the testing, and just opted for washing with soap and water. Even so, I noticed hours later that certain welts were bigger than they were at the allergist's. Delayed reaction?
At the age of 4.75, she had a stool sample tested. It showed elevated IgA anti-bodies to gluten, despite the fact that she's been gluten-free for 2.5years.
Recently, at the age of newly 5, I performed my own little delayed reaction "patch" test on her. I took local, unpasturized egg whites and painted a patch on her thigh - i.e. not a place where she typically gets reactions. That whole day she was fine. She said it didn't itch. The next day she had a splotchy red rash where the egg had been. Roughly 24hrs after exposure. It peaked around 36hrs after and then healed up quickly. Now, I know that uncooked egg whites are a "histamine releasing" food, so I wonder if it did just that? However, I also did a test on Aevryn and myself and we were completely fine - no itchy or splotchy rashes, even delayed.
This got me thinking about testing for delayed reactions. I know there is something called a patch test, and it is a test that is recognized by allopathic medicine. I think I'm going to call Lily's allergist and see if he would be able to perform that test for us. Otherwise, I might start looking for doctors or clinics downstate. Hey, we could get her checked by a peds GI at the same time. Fun!
While researching patch testing, I kept finding information on Eosinophilic Esophagitis and/or Eosinophilic Gastritis. Not that I want her to have EE or EG, but it really would explain quite a bit. Not only for her, but for me as well.
First step is patch testing if we can get it... Then we'll go from there...
At the age of nearly 2, Lily had a RAST (IgE) blood test performed. It showed sensitivity to cats and mold.
At the age of 2.25, Lily had an ELISA (IgE/IgG combined) blood test performed. It showed sensitivity to dairy, garlic, turmeric, poppy seeds, pinto beans, navy beans.
At the age of 3, Lily had a repeat ELISA. It showed sensitivity to nothing. With actual ZEROS showing up. I now doubt the validity of that particular test. (I also had an ELISA done at the same time. It showed that I am mildly allergic to sesame, though we know that I have a very quick hive reaction to cashews & pistachios, that I would be surprised if it wasn't IgE mediated.)
At the age of 3, Lily had a scratch test (IgE) performed at the allergist's office. It showed sensitivity to dairy, soy, cats & mold. However, again, these are immediate response tests. She was scratched, they let it sit for 30 or so minutes, then came back and read the results. I declined steroid cream for her after the testing, and just opted for washing with soap and water. Even so, I noticed hours later that certain welts were bigger than they were at the allergist's. Delayed reaction?
At the age of 4.75, she had a stool sample tested. It showed elevated IgA anti-bodies to gluten, despite the fact that she's been gluten-free for 2.5years.
Recently, at the age of newly 5, I performed my own little delayed reaction "patch" test on her. I took local, unpasturized egg whites and painted a patch on her thigh - i.e. not a place where she typically gets reactions. That whole day she was fine. She said it didn't itch. The next day she had a splotchy red rash where the egg had been. Roughly 24hrs after exposure. It peaked around 36hrs after and then healed up quickly. Now, I know that uncooked egg whites are a "histamine releasing" food, so I wonder if it did just that? However, I also did a test on Aevryn and myself and we were completely fine - no itchy or splotchy rashes, even delayed.
This got me thinking about testing for delayed reactions. I know there is something called a patch test, and it is a test that is recognized by allopathic medicine. I think I'm going to call Lily's allergist and see if he would be able to perform that test for us. Otherwise, I might start looking for doctors or clinics downstate. Hey, we could get her checked by a peds GI at the same time. Fun!
While researching patch testing, I kept finding information on Eosinophilic Esophagitis and/or Eosinophilic Gastritis. Not that I want her to have EE or EG, but it really would explain quite a bit. Not only for her, but for me as well.
First step is patch testing if we can get it... Then we'll go from there...
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Jinxed
I need to learn that I can never announce positive progress in a public sphere.
We've tripped 3 of our 4 criteria. Skin is back to an itchy, scabby rash up and down her arms. She has a smattering of white pimply bumps on her arms, cheeks and chin now. It's still "mild" compared to what it can turn into, so hopefully it will clear soon. Sleep is messed up. It took her until nearly 9:30 last night to fall asleep, despite being tired. Behavior yesterday and this morning included lots of irrational threats. The only that seems to be okay is digestion, but she's kind of irregular at the moment, so it's hard to tell.
I admit that we started Shea Butter as a topical cream starting Tuesday morning. I noticed her rash about 24-36hrs after her first exposure. The ironic part is that the Shea Butter is doing wonders for the eczema, which is a separate skin issue as the rash, believe it or not. Her skin itself is smooth and soft, no cracks or irritation in the skin folds. There just now happens to be scabs and pimply bumps all over her arms. *sigh*
I also made buffalo jerky overnight on Tuesday. We ate it for lunch and snack on Wednesday. That seems a little fast for a reaction, especially since her pattern is normally 24-36hrs delayed. Also, she can tolerate pastured beef, so I would think that pastured buffalo would be even more well tolerated.
We are stopping Shea Butter (didn't put it on this morning). I won't make buffalo jerky again for awhile. We are having buffalo burgers for dinner again tonight, but they won't have been slow cooked overnight (increases amine content).
I have enough food to get us through Friday, so we'll just eat what we already have here (i.e. what we've been eating). Hopefully by Saturday we'll be ready for more food trials (I've got my eyes on some zucchini, finally). I want to power forward and get as many foods as possible into our "safe" corner as fast as we can. I am focusing on meats, fats, & veggies. After that we can leisurely investigate fruits and spices.
ETA: Update. Around 4:30 she started itching like mad in her elbows. Actual hives again. Nothing has changed - there was nothing to trigger it. We went back to bare bones food today (all I had in the house anyway). We stayed inside because it was raining. We didn't use any topical products... So, I started reading some more on the whole oxalate/K debate. There is some evidence to suggest that if you are *too* low in oxalates, your body will start producing it's own. Lily has been extremely low oxalate for a few weeks now... It's hard to say what's going on. I gave her extra Vit C at bedtime (a no-no on the LOD b/c Vit C can metabolize into oxalates...) so we'll see if that helps as an anti-histamine. We're hemming and hawing and back to thinking that we just need to trial foods of any stripe and see if we can't get some back, regardless of their food chemical affiliation... This is beyond frustrating. (It doesn't help that I have hives on my eyelids and my neck and face is crazy itchy today, too.)
We've tripped 3 of our 4 criteria. Skin is back to an itchy, scabby rash up and down her arms. She has a smattering of white pimply bumps on her arms, cheeks and chin now. It's still "mild" compared to what it can turn into, so hopefully it will clear soon. Sleep is messed up. It took her until nearly 9:30 last night to fall asleep, despite being tired. Behavior yesterday and this morning included lots of irrational threats. The only that seems to be okay is digestion, but she's kind of irregular at the moment, so it's hard to tell.
I admit that we started Shea Butter as a topical cream starting Tuesday morning. I noticed her rash about 24-36hrs after her first exposure. The ironic part is that the Shea Butter is doing wonders for the eczema, which is a separate skin issue as the rash, believe it or not. Her skin itself is smooth and soft, no cracks or irritation in the skin folds. There just now happens to be scabs and pimply bumps all over her arms. *sigh*
I also made buffalo jerky overnight on Tuesday. We ate it for lunch and snack on Wednesday. That seems a little fast for a reaction, especially since her pattern is normally 24-36hrs delayed. Also, she can tolerate pastured beef, so I would think that pastured buffalo would be even more well tolerated.
We are stopping Shea Butter (didn't put it on this morning). I won't make buffalo jerky again for awhile. We are having buffalo burgers for dinner again tonight, but they won't have been slow cooked overnight (increases amine content).
I have enough food to get us through Friday, so we'll just eat what we already have here (i.e. what we've been eating). Hopefully by Saturday we'll be ready for more food trials (I've got my eyes on some zucchini, finally). I want to power forward and get as many foods as possible into our "safe" corner as fast as we can. I am focusing on meats, fats, & veggies. After that we can leisurely investigate fruits and spices.
ETA: Update. Around 4:30 she started itching like mad in her elbows. Actual hives again. Nothing has changed - there was nothing to trigger it. We went back to bare bones food today (all I had in the house anyway). We stayed inside because it was raining. We didn't use any topical products... So, I started reading some more on the whole oxalate/K debate. There is some evidence to suggest that if you are *too* low in oxalates, your body will start producing it's own. Lily has been extremely low oxalate for a few weeks now... It's hard to say what's going on. I gave her extra Vit C at bedtime (a no-no on the LOD b/c Vit C can metabolize into oxalates...) so we'll see if that helps as an anti-histamine. We're hemming and hawing and back to thinking that we just need to trial foods of any stripe and see if we can't get some back, regardless of their food chemical affiliation... This is beyond frustrating. (It doesn't help that I have hives on my eyelids and my neck and face is crazy itchy today, too.)
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Cabbage!
Pardon me, I'm having a Delicious Dish moment here. (Yummy! Good times!)
On the whole, the elimination diet experience has been illuminating. She has resumed falling asleep easily by herself. She is mostly in control of herself emotionally during they day - to an age appropriate degree, I mean. No more threats of suicide or random violence. Lily's skin never quite reached baseline, but we know for sure that she has an emotional trigger for itching. When she gets tired, or angry, or irritated, or frustrated, or overwhelmed, she starts absent-mindedly itching. So, when she got to the point of no open scabs, no oozes, no pimply rash, we decided to start trials.
We have four criteria for whether to keep a food in or set it aside again.
One, skin: if it cracks, hives, rashes, bumps, bleeds or oozes, it's a fail. If it's just red, dry and generally itchy, that's just life as we know it, sadly.
Two, sleep: if she stops being able to fall asleep in a reasonable amount of time, or starts waking incoherent again, we'll know that something is amiss.
Three, behavior: if she starts issuing ultimatums or starts threatening to kill herself, fail. If she starts picking things up and chucking them across the room at the slightest provocation, fail.
Four, digestion: if she starts having - otherwise unexplained - pain upon urination or elimination, fail. If she starts having mucous or blood in her stool, fail.
Per these criteria, we've introduced safflower oil and cabbage to non-immediately disastrous results. This brings our current "safe" list up to: pastured turkey, peeled golden or red delicious apples, acorn squash, maple syrup, safflower oil, palm shortening, pastured beef, sea salt, saffron, chives, cabbage, napa cabbage. Next up include: brussels sprouts and green onions!
Stay tuned for my musings on further allergy testing for she and/or I... Writing this here to remind myself. Also, I know I never came back and posted about the Vit K debate, but honestly, I'm still not sure exactly what's going on with that, scientifically. All I know is we are doing K2 supplementation combined with LOD and things seem to be going well.
On the whole, the elimination diet experience has been illuminating. She has resumed falling asleep easily by herself. She is mostly in control of herself emotionally during they day - to an age appropriate degree, I mean. No more threats of suicide or random violence. Lily's skin never quite reached baseline, but we know for sure that she has an emotional trigger for itching. When she gets tired, or angry, or irritated, or frustrated, or overwhelmed, she starts absent-mindedly itching. So, when she got to the point of no open scabs, no oozes, no pimply rash, we decided to start trials.
We have four criteria for whether to keep a food in or set it aside again.
Per these criteria, we've introduced safflower oil and cabbage to non-immediately disastrous results. This brings our current "safe" list up to: pastured turkey, peeled golden or red delicious apples, acorn squash, maple syrup, safflower oil, palm shortening, pastured beef, sea salt, saffron, chives, cabbage, napa cabbage. Next up include: brussels sprouts and green onions!
Stay tuned for my musings on further allergy testing for she and/or I... Writing this here to remind myself. Also, I know I never came back and posted about the Vit K debate, but honestly, I'm still not sure exactly what's going on with that, scientifically. All I know is we are doing K2 supplementation combined with LOD and things seem to be going well.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
In Honor of Mother's Day
We've all probably seen the email going around with 2nd grade answers to cute questions about their moms. I decided to ask Lily, newly 5, what she thought about those questions. I think her answers steadfastly represent her personality. My little pragmatist.
Why are there mothers?
So other people could be born.
How are mothers made?
They are born.
What ingredients are mothers made of?
Stuff that's in people's bodies.
Why do you have your mom and not some other mom?
Because I was born from you.
What kind of little girl was your mom?
Like me [Lily].
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
His name. (Me: Anything else? Her: No.)
Why did your mom marry your dad?
Because she wanted to.
Who's the boss at your house?
My mom and my dad.
What's the difference between moms & dads?
They have different privates.
What does your mom do in her spare time?
I don't know.... Play with me [Lily].
What would it take to make your mom perfect?
For me [Lily] to act really good.
If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
That she could always play with me - that she didn't have any chores.
Why are there mothers?
So other people could be born.
How are mothers made?
They are born.
What ingredients are mothers made of?
Stuff that's in people's bodies.
Why do you have your mom and not some other mom?
Because I was born from you.
What kind of little girl was your mom?
Like me [Lily].
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
His name. (Me: Anything else? Her: No.)
Why did your mom marry your dad?
Because she wanted to.
Who's the boss at your house?
My mom and my dad.
What's the difference between moms & dads?
They have different privates.
What does your mom do in her spare time?
I don't know.... Play with me [Lily].
What would it take to make your mom perfect?
For me [Lily] to act really good.
If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
That she could always play with me - that she didn't have any chores.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
FMI - For my information
Our Thorne vitamins came yesterday afternoon. I have divided up the doses and thought it would be nice to have everything written out somewhere - somewhere not in a pile of papers on my counter.
Lily's Regimen:
1/3 dose Thorne's Basic Nutrients III: multi w/o iron & copper
1/2 dose Thorne's Mo
1/2 dose Thorne's Zinc
1/4 dose Thorne's B-complex #6
1 drop Thorne's K2
1 drop Carlson's D3
1/2 tsp Natural Calm 2x/daily (initial dose of Mag in the multi)
This translates to:
Vit K: 1mg
Vit A: 5,000 IU
Vit C: 283 mg
Vit D3: 1000 + 333 = 1333 mg
Vit E: 133 mg
Thiamine: 13.3 + 10 ~ 23 mg
Riboflavin: 3.67 + 7.15 ~ 11 mg
Niacin: 53 + 20 = 73 mg
Vit B6: 3.3 + 51.7 = 55 mg
Folate: 333 + 50 = 383 mcg
Vit B12: 150 + 25 = 175 mcg
Biotin: 133 + 20 = 153 mcg
Pantothenic Acid: 138 + 11 = 149 mg
Calcium: 100 mg
Iodine: 75 mg
Magnesium: 95 + 87.5x2 = 270 mg
Zinc: 5 + 15 = 20 mg
Selenium: 67 mcg
Manganese: 2 mg
Chromium: 67 mg
Molybdenum: 33 + 500 = 533 mcg
Potassium: 30 mg
Boron: 1 mg
Choline Citrate: 33 + 10 = 43 mg
Vanadium: 33 mcg
I am considering adding Betaine & Pepsin as well: 324mg Betaine & 75mg Pepsin. Holding off on that for now.
As for me... I am taking:
Vit K: 5 2x/daily = 10 mg
Vit A: 15000 IU
Vit D: 1000 + 2000 = 3000 IU
Vit C: 850 mg
Vit E: 400 IU
Thiamine: 40 + 20 = 60 mg
Riboflavin: 11 + 14.3 ~ 25mg
Niacin: 160 + 40 = 200 mg
Vit B6: 10 + 103.4 ~113mg
Folate: 1000 + 100 = 1100 mcg
Vit B12: 450 + 50 = 500 mcg
Biotin: 400 + 40 = 440 mcg
Pantothenic Acid: 413 + 22.5 ~ 435mg
Calcium: 300mg
Iodine: 225 mcg
Magnesium: 285 + 200 to 400 = 485 to 685 mg
Zinc: 15 + 30 = 45 mg
Selenium: 200 mcg
Manganese: 6 mg
Chromium: 200 mcg
Molybdenum: 100 + 1000 = 1100 mcg
Potassium: 90 mg
Boron: 3 mg
Choline Citrate: 100 + 40 = 140 mg
Vanadium: 100 mcg
Betaine: 648 mg
Pepsin: 150 mg
Lily's Regimen:
This translates to:
Vit K: 1mg
Vit A: 5,000 IU
Vit C: 283 mg
Vit D3: 1000 + 333 = 1333 mg
Vit E: 133 mg
Thiamine: 13.3 + 10 ~ 23 mg
Riboflavin: 3.67 + 7.15 ~ 11 mg
Niacin: 53 + 20 = 73 mg
Vit B6: 3.3 + 51.7 = 55 mg
Folate: 333 + 50 = 383 mcg
Vit B12: 150 + 25 = 175 mcg
Biotin: 133 + 20 = 153 mcg
Pantothenic Acid: 138 + 11 = 149 mg
Calcium: 100 mg
Iodine: 75 mg
Magnesium: 95 + 87.5x2 = 270 mg
Zinc: 5 + 15 = 20 mg
Selenium: 67 mcg
Manganese: 2 mg
Chromium: 67 mg
Molybdenum: 33 + 500 = 533 mcg
Potassium: 30 mg
Boron: 1 mg
Choline Citrate: 33 + 10 = 43 mg
Vanadium: 33 mcg
I am considering adding Betaine & Pepsin as well: 324mg Betaine & 75mg Pepsin. Holding off on that for now.
As for me... I am taking:
Vit K: 5 2x/daily = 10 mg
Vit A: 15000 IU
Vit D: 1000 + 2000 = 3000 IU
Vit C: 850 mg
Vit E: 400 IU
Thiamine: 40 + 20 = 60 mg
Riboflavin: 11 + 14.3 ~ 25mg
Niacin: 160 + 40 = 200 mg
Vit B6: 10 + 103.4 ~113mg
Folate: 1000 + 100 = 1100 mcg
Vit B12: 450 + 50 = 500 mcg
Biotin: 400 + 40 = 440 mcg
Pantothenic Acid: 413 + 22.5 ~ 435mg
Calcium: 300mg
Iodine: 225 mcg
Magnesium: 285 + 200 to 400 = 485 to 685 mg
Zinc: 15 + 30 = 45 mg
Selenium: 200 mcg
Manganese: 6 mg
Chromium: 200 mcg
Molybdenum: 100 + 1000 = 1100 mcg
Potassium: 90 mg
Boron: 3 mg
Choline Citrate: 100 + 40 = 140 mg
Vanadium: 100 mcg
Betaine: 648 mg
Pepsin: 150 mg
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