A Good day

I've got to be honest, if you didn't get this from my previous post, sometimes (a lot of the time) its difficult for me to really live in the moment and appreciate this time of my life.  I get almost angry when people tell me to "enjoy this season of life because the kids just grow up so fast.  This is the best time of your life!" Hmm.  The best time?? I hope not!

That's my attitude on most days.

But I am very grateful for days like today when my eyes are opened to how special my children are and how lucky I am.

FYI-Jade taught herself how to play this, as she has done with several other songs, as well as making up her own songs.  She definitely belongs in this family.

Just now I was putting her to bed and this was our conversation:
J:Mommy when you were gone today I missed you.
Me:I missed you too Jade (I was teaching zumba)
J:When you were gone I told daddy that you do lots of great things.  You make yummy food.

Somehow it is exactly 8pm and all 4 of my kids are in their beds.

A couple of funny Calder moments...

Today as I was talking to my dad on the phone, Calder wanted to talk too.  He started babbling a bunch of words we couldn't understand.  I said, "I don't know what you're saying" and my dad said "I have no clue".  So Calder says "A clue?" and runs to his usual spot at the window, that still hasn't been cleaned, to point out "the clue".

And a few days ago I pointed to a stuffed animal bug on the floor and said "Go get the bug" so he ran away and came back with an actual fly that he had been eying for quite some time I'm sure.  He was so happy I gave him the go ahead to "get the bug"!

He also kept running to me today and saying "Hug!" and hugging my legs.

And at one point today I said "lets change your diapers" and I laid a blanket down on the floor and both E and C ran to me and laid down on the blanket next to each other! 

My kids really are great.

Happy Snapshots

Remember the quote about life getting you from one happy snapshot to the next? 

These are pretty happy snapshots.  If only I could live this season of my life only through pictures :)

Thanks everyone for the advice and support!  It's been a surprisingly easy week considering its such a huge change.  We watched the video that Erin Jensen and others have suggested and I wanted to share it.  Its relatively short so if you don't have time for Food Matters, this will do the trick for now.



The only time I ate gluten in the last week was on accident on Sunday during the sacrament.  Church right before a holiday isn't fun because I think every person in the building was carrying around a cupcake or candy, and the primary kids had an ice cream party.  I didn't have dairy once.

I have to say, medicine has its place and I'm grateful for it, but right now I feel more powerful and hopeful than ever.  I sort of don't ever want to go to a doctor again (sorry to my bro in laws and friends who make a living that way...)

And in case you were wondering, Aaron is doing this diet with me, pizza-less lifestyle and all.

My own best doctor

I'll follow up this post with a bunch of great pics, but first...

I made a life changing (hopefully for the better) decision this week that's going to sound crazy.

Rewind to a few weeks ago.  I had an MRI followed by an appt. with my neurologist where he told me that my lesions were "innumerable" and that's not what we like to see.  He "suggested" that I start a drug treatment called Tysabri but said that there really was no other option.  I moved forward with the paperwork to get started within the month, but after reading this terrifying article decided I'd rather be alive than not, whatever that meant for my quality of life. 

In the process of wallowing in my new discovery I somehow came across this documentary which I believe was sent to me from God.  It's incredible, you have to watch it.

So here is my decision.  A new diet, based on the idea that the autoimmune process is initiated in the digestive system and certain foods will trigger MS attacks.  Basically my body may have allergies to a handful of major food groups.  I will be cutting out the following:
•Gluten
•Dairy
•Soy
•Refined sugar
As well as limiting my intake of eggs, yeast, and red meat (or anything with high saturated fat content).

We'll see how this goes.  I would LOVE any advice you all have about vitamins and supplements to take the place of what I'm cutting out, recipes, good brands for gluten/dairy free stuff, etc.  I'm also shopping for a nutritionist with a medical background who can help me know the healthiest way to do this.

I will keep you updated on my progress with this new chapter of my life.  My hope is that at my next MRI I will have significant myelin repair, be symptom free.  I've been so bothered that there is no place for nutrition in medicine.  I've been to 3 neurologists and they have never suggested that I try changing what I eat.  It feels good to take control.

Ok, now for the fun stuff.

I have a new niece!! Congratulations to my sister Daryn and her husband Jon on their new addition.

Shaylee Grace Norris

Last weekend I went to a Zumba instructor training course in Idaho Falls.  It was SO MUCH FUN!  I'm so happy to be back to dancing and exercising.  I even have my own website :)

And now a bunch of pictures of my cute baby

 Aunt Sharon made these matching booties/hat.  Aren't they cute?  She's so talented.

If I ever get discouraged about this new life I'll be leading, I just need to look at pictures of my kids.  Any sacrifice is worth it.  Even giving up Oreos...

Sick family

We've had some drama around here lately.

 This cute little guy has RSV/pneumonia and we spent Tuesday through Friday in the hospital together.

 Being home from the hospital with oxygen and breathing treatments is tricky because, as you can see, his brothers can't keep their hands off him.

These pictures are obviously not chronological.  This was Loch pre-illness.

 Also before ALL the kids were sick (like they are now, including Aaron) they were actually snacking on mini bell peppers. 

 And then this happened...

 And now that we're home, everyone pretty much looks like this...

Before all the drama happened, I did get my hair colored.  So that's good...

 

I did that the same day I got the MRI that determined that my MS is going downhill.

 

And I don't know if this is good news or not, but we just got this in the mail yesterday.

Don't ask me how we'll have time to fit in a work out 7 days a week for 60 days.  I hope everyone else has a healthier home than we do these days.