Wednesday, January 30, 2013

2 Years 2 Days

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We moved here January 28, 2011.  We had a dog and a one year old.  Now we have a three year old and a seven month old and we lost our beloved Maggie.  Wish we had a better two year anniversary in Maryland but our most recent days have been filled with grumpy baby, stressed mommy and bouncing off the walls Henry.  Here’s hoping 2 years and 3 days is filled with a healthy, happy, pain free baby, a spirit-filled mommy and a toddler who can enjoy bouncing off something other than our furniture and my nerves.  Smile

I am VERY thankful that we are all on the mend.  VERY.  I am ready to get in the car and go to the park.  Or get some food.  Or something. 

I am ending my month with Melaleuca and that is always busy. 

Baby was fever free for the most part today.  Just very, very, very grumpy.  Could be the teeth.

Enjoyed this Post

from:  http://paleoparents.com/featured/guest-post-spunky-coconut-making-cashew-milk/

I read the Spunky Coconut when I can because I really enjoy her recipes:

If you haven’t yet heard, Wednesdays are our Guest Blogger Series day! It’s a day where Stacy and I get a bit of a mid-week break while getting to share with you some of our favorite online bloggers.  And for their hard work, they get the benefit of your readership – we encourage you to please show all of them your support by visiting their blog and social media links!

This week we are happy to hear from our friend Kelly of The Spunky Coconut, author of The Spunky Coconut Cookbook, The Spunky Coconut Grain-Free Baked Goods and Desserts, The Spunky Coconut Dairy-Free Ice Cream Cookbook (which we love and reviewed here) and the upcoming The Paleo Chocolate Lovers Cookbook! Kelly was one of the very first bloggers Stacy followed when we went Paleo (back then, there weren’t very many family-friendly real food bloggers and now we’re thrilled there’s so many!). Even though not all of her recipes are Paleo, most are easily adaptable (see our example of her Bagels). Bonus for those with allergies, many of her recipes are egg-free! It’s surreal to now have podcasted together, reviewed oneanothers’ books and be “buddies”.

Since this is Blendtec week, even our guest post will be a recipe ideal for use with our wonderful new kitchen appliance! Don’t have a high speed blender and want one? Enter to win your own Blendtec Designer Series with Twister Jar on Monday’s post. Even if you don’t acquire one, we hope this post is still helpful for you! Today Kelly’s going to teach you how to make cashew milk and a recipe for her Yummy Yogurt Drink

♥♥♥

I talk a lot about my kids on The Spunky Coconut, especially my daughter, Ashley. I owe everything to the kids, because my husband and I would not be who we are today if it wasn’t for them. Our children led us to discover how food was making us sick.

But today I’m not going to talk about our girls. I’m going to tell you a little bit about my own health issues, and how I overcame them.

From the time I was a little girl I struggled with my weight, with constipation and bloating, and with depression. When I hit puberty I developed endometriosis, a long-standing tradition among the women in my family. In fact, I am the only woman in my family with a uterus and ovaries. On top of the endometriosis I was also covered in pimples throughout high school and into college.

Battling weight, bloating, depression, endometriosis and pimples makes for one miserable teenaged experience. Unfortunately, it didn’t end there. It carried on into college and well into my twenties. Oy vey.

But like I said, it wasn’t until my children were born that I discovered the power to change my life. I was seeing a family friend named Cheryl (who is a nutritionist and naturopath) for help with the girls. She asked about my own health, and I told her. After finally being tested and finding out I was Celiac I began to recover. However, the gluten-free diet wasn’t enough. All of my problems were better, but they were far from over.

Then one day Cheryl said something that really got through to me. “Organic milk [products] still contain natural hormones, Kelly. All milk contains hormones.” And that’s when it hit me. Human milk, cow milk, all milk—of course it does—it all contains natural hormones. Adults aren’t meant to have milk. No species nurses for life, and no species other than human beings drinks the milk of another kind of species.

So I went dairy-free. I really didn’t want to at first. I was so bummed. But cutting out the dairy got rid of my endometriosis, depression, and pimples. It was so worth it. I still struggled with my weight and bloating, until a few years ago when I cut out gluten-free grains. And now my weight is no longer an issue either.

Over time I’ve even managed to recreate my favorite dairy foods without dairy. One of the best ways to do this is by making cashew milk. Cashew milk tastes amazingly similar to cream when you use it in sauces. You can make it as thick or as thin as you like depending on how you plan to use it. For cashew cream use less water, and for thinner milk use more water.

Whenever we have extended family or company over and I make something with cashew cream/milk no one can tell the difference. I use it in soup, sauces, and salad dressings, just to name a few. You can see my video for how easy it is to make cashew milk below.

One of our favorite ways to use cashew milk is to make yogurt. I like to combine it with coconut milk for extra richness (I was never a fan of low-fat food). You can find recipes for dairy-free frozen yogurt in The Spunky Coconut Dairy-Free Ice Cream Book, or you can use our Yummy Yogurt Drink by itself and in smoothies.

Here is the recipe for my Yummy Yogurt Drink, which is taken directly from my book:

YummyYogurtPage

Note from Matt & Stacy, these are the brands we recommend:

Full Fat Canned Coconut Milk
Blonde Coconut Palm Sugar
Vanilla Liquid Stevia
Dairy-Free Probiotic Capsules, although refrigerated from your local health food store would be ideal

Thanks so much to Stacy and Matt for having me here!

♥, Kelly

Kelly V. Brozyna, began to study nutrition in 2004 when her girls were very young. Her daughter, Ashley, was a baby and Zoe was a toddler at that time. Both girls were not well. Her naturopathic doctor worked with them to radically change their diet by removing gluten, casein, and sugar. Kelly and her husband soon realized that their own health problems could be resolved as well. It was very eye-opening to see how many kinds of issues could be treated with the diet. So, after years of research and experimentation, Kelly now creates food so similar to conventional wheat/dairy/sugar recipes so that no one feels deprived. Together, through diet and biomedical treatments, their family is overcoming Celiac disease, gluten-intolerance, ADD, and autism with great success. Kelly lives in Boulder County, Colorado with her husband and three daughters. Follow her on Twitter or like her page on Facebook!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Please Pray for Hudson

Hudson is still running a fever.  It’s been about a week.  Please pray he is healed from the flu.

Monday, January 28, 2013

flu

Took Hudson to Patient First last night because I couldn’t imagine another night of fevers after a day of fevers and being worried without knowing for sure what was going on.  It stinks that kids get the sickest when the doctor’s office isn’t open. 

Hudson was tested for strep and the flu and checked for his oxygen level.  He tested positive for the flu.  The doctor said he is doing well for being a baby and many kids (and grownups) have breathing problems with this years flu.  I guess that explains Henry’s episode the other night.  He is still sick.  I am still sick but have no time to rest just because I am the mommy. 

Dave is at the clinic now. 

The doctor said it’s a week or two of sickness and a solid month to recover. 

I am thankful we know what we are dealing with.  I was thinking maybe Hudson had an ear infection or strep or pneumonia or none.  I wasn’t really sure, I just didn’t want to go on not treating him if he needed treatment.

On a funnier note:

Our neighbor is selling his house.  We are hoping for some nice neighbors (he’s really nice) who take care of their property.  While taking care of a sick baby and watching a sick toddler bounce around, I noticed a nice family walking up to our neighbor’s house with a realtor.  I told Dave it is too bad we all look like hell or else I would go outside to say hi.  Then I said we should send Henry out.  Henry turned to me and said, “Please don’t give me away.”  I laughed my head off.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Prayers Please

Hudson continues to be sick.  He had fever spikes through the night.  Henry did as well and Dave is very, very sick.  Hudson still has a fever this morning.  Was hoping to keep him out of a crowded doctor’s office with many sick people but it looks like we are heading there tomorrow if not sooner.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

For Grammie Sue

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Henry’s sleeping with Kermit the Frog tonight.  So cute….

sickness

henry woke up late last night with a croupy cough and trouble breathing.  baby boy came out of what i had and now is teething so hard with a cold or maybe it’s just from teething.  davey pavey is claiming near death illness.  he is getting a little slack Winking smile. i feel much better but still am dragging some – maybe due to taking care of kids when i usually sleep. 

 

thankful we all have beds and heat and tea and tissues and hot baths. 

 

one of my Bible college teacher’s wife passed away today at 53 after a battle with cancer.  my heart goes out to him.  he lost his son a few years back to a brain tumor.  people suffer so much.  praise God there is hope for those who believe.  what a beautiful, tender Savior we have.

Is ALS Lymes?

http://www.als-cure.com/

I stumbled about this site and found it very interesting. 

Friday, January 25, 2013

Jana’s Wedding

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Playing at Bobbie’s house.

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Rehearsal and camera battery began to die…. such a bummer.

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Only Hudson and I made it to the wedding.  Thank God my mom watching Henry.  He was vomiting all morning before the wedding.

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The beautiful bride was given away.

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Bobbie took the wedding photos for me before my battery died.  Unfortunately!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Photos While in Maine for Jana’s Wedding

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Unfortunately my camera battery was not charged before I left!!!

Hudson Crawling

We are sick today.  Baby Hudson just got some fever reducer so is feeling a little better.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

7 Months Saturday

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Our Littlest Nugget turned 7 months on Saturday.  Just got back from a busy trip in Maine and got the flu upon return Sad smile.  At the wedding with my cousin Sophie’s fiancé Mike.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

My Messy Hudzy

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Getting ready for a dinner tonight and a big trip to Maine tomorrow.  Winking smile

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Creamy, Chocolate, Coconut Milk Ice Cream

creamy.  delicious.

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so good.

best. ice cream. yet.

 

1 can of full fat coconut milk

hershey’s dark chocolate cocoa powder

1 tablespoon of raw honey

stevia

vanilla extract

2 egg yolks

 

heated ingredients to almost boil. cooled.  added to ice cream machine.

Afternoon in the Park

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Friday, January 11, 2013

Henry’s Puzzle

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Henry did this puzzle by himself yesterday afternoon.  Dee Dee taught him how to do puzzles Smile.