My Journey Part 2

I've finished Part 2 in  My Journey (click here to read Part 1 &2)..... Enjoy the next installment!

Part 2: 

Jimmy carrying E. to the car in his helmet

Jimmy returned from his year long deployment in April 2004. E. and I were SO happy to have him home. 

We tried to returned to a ‘normal’ routine, although this time it included a Daddy. It was rocky at first. I am a I-can-do-it-myself kinda girl and I had just done life alone for a whole year. I wasn't sure how to let him in to the everyday again. We tried to discuss expectations and needs but really we just went on. I kept doing a lot more than I should have been doing and Jimmy let me. I was running things, and I liked it like that.

 A little more than a year later his unit deployed again and we were transitioning out of the Army under a medical discharge. We moved back to Texas, near family, and thought that our new road would now just be in our home state with a bigger house, in a bigger city. What we weren't doing was budgeting or living within our means. We were just living everyday independently, without forethought to tomorrow.  We were trying to prove ourselves to everyone but the One who really counts.

Within that next year we lost my great Grama, my Dad was in a major motor vehicle accident and my grandparents’ health was beginning to fail. We began to realize that life was fleeting and we needed to live it to the fullest. We needed to plan a little better.

We decided that we were then ready for another (read: last) child to come into our family. We were pregnant by August 2006. May 28, 2007 my grandfather passed. The next day, while I was helping to plan the funeral I went into labor and delivered our sweet baby A. She was beautiful and we knew we were complete. It was an odd feeling knowing that within 24 hours we had completed our family, and I would never hug my grandfather’s neck again. It was so surreal. 

So much had happened in such a short time. Marriage, deployment, birth, death. I didn't know how to collate all the life experiences. I was just beginning to hear the Lord whisper, pointing me to seek the Truth. To seek how He views life and death; to really examine my priorities in light of Scripture. But, I pushed Him away still not understanding how to make Him fit into my life.

Shortly after birth we started seeing so many differences between A. and E. as a baby. Really there were too many to name here (I will expound on her story later). But, what I can tell you is something wasn't right. She was constantly fussy, and not in a I’m-a-fussy-baby kind of way. We began searching for a Pediatrician that would take my concerns seriously. That search led us to doctor after doctor who wouldn't get past what they saw when they walked in the door- a content baby.

 By the time A. was a year old we knew we needed serious help. Not help that a Pediatrician could give but help from a Specialist. She wasn't sleeping, let alone through the night. She constantly had a rash of some form. She was itching ALL. THE. TIME. (to the point of bleeding and screaming and then itching more). We had been told she had allergies and had been diligent to avoid them, all to no avail. We were all miserable. We just didn't know which direction to go in first.  

Our church was too large to really be very hands on supportive. They all knew her and would smile and ask how she was, thinking that we would finally give them the answer so they could cross her off their prayer list (Man, did we pray for that ourselves!). But, the answers never came and her illness seemed to be around for the long haul. I started seeking out alternative treatments. We were desperate, alone in our journey with her and without any answers- only more questions. 


{to be continued.....}
    

Doctors, Food and My Sanity....

         So, I've been away. Well, away from the computer because we have been at the doctor's office...again. Do you remember me telling you that my second daughter, A., has been sick from birth? Well this part of that. I know I need to write a whole post (or a hundred *shaking head*) explaining it all (or what we know thus far), but honestly I'm tired of re-telling the story. And, it's a long one! So, I promise as soon as I get the energy to sit down and write quite possibly the longest post yet, I will give you all the details so this post makes (more) sense. *smile*

      We went to A.'s doctor last week. He tested her and said her bile duct and liver are processing properly and now we just have to be diligent about her probiotics and diet (again, this will make more sense once I finish the post on her- soon I promise!). He tested more foods and added corn and corn products to our list of "no-no's." Now we must be avoid gluten, dairy, corn, artificial colors, additives, preservatives, and minimal sugar. It's interesting around here for sure. *sigh* I have been praying more and more for guidance and patience.
 
   I guess my annoyance about the whole deal is that I was just getting good at the list above minus the corn, in meal planning/cooking. And, now I must find replacements for corn chips, corn tortillas, corn starch (which is in ALL baked goods, especially GF recipes) and popcorn. *double sigh* I am, however, thrilled that this could be the last diet change we make that will yield fabulous results. I am prayerful that this is it.

    So, the last two weeks have been interesting in the I-don't-wanna-change-how-I-cook-every-meal kinda way. But, they have shown progress so far with A. Her feet aren't as red and inflamed (her normal is red, inflamed  and broken open from scratching so much. Think what your feet would look like if you stood in a fire ant bed for an hour and then scratched them the rest of the day. *frown*), and nights aren't so bad lately. Can I ask you for prayers for her while we have to tell her 'no' to more food (especially hard when we are away from home!), and prayers for me while I try and find better substitutes and meals that are yummy and good for her body?

   Next week I'm gonna be a part of The Simplicity Parenting Carnival again and I'll be sharing how I keep things simple with food and the holidays in spite of all our food restrictions (including the latest ones!). It should be fun. I can't wait to share all my tips thus far in this food journey dictated by health needs. Won't you join me?

  How has your health influenced your food choices lately? What are you trying to avoid?