Friday, June 20, 2014

Step one of the Wahls Diet

We started the first step of the Wahls Diet at the beginning of the week but my computer was acting silly so I was not able to use it and blog.  So, here are some pictures of this week. 

I washed all the fruits and vegetables I needed for the week.

Beef with Spicy Red Pepper Saute - Yummy!

Curried Chicken and Grilled Coleslaw - Also yummy!

 
We have obviously eaten other meals BUT I forgot to take pictures of them.  : (  So far this has been easy to adapt and tolerated by the kiddos!  : )

Friday, June 13, 2014

Pressing On

Fears and failures.  Those two things can really trip me up.  I let my past failures dictate my today.  I let the fear of future failures dictate my tomorrow.  But this should not be so.  I have the power of the Holy Spirit in me.  That is some pretty powerful stuff!  : )  In my quiet time this morning God just showed me how he wants me to overcome my fears and failures and press on.  Not in my own strength, but by using His Spirit and His Word and to speak His truths over me and my family. 

One fear is with my children.  I fear that because of my past failures I have wrecked their future.  First of all, I really don't have that type of power! : )  Also, what does God's word really say?  "The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and that you may live!"  (Deut. 30:6)  He also tells us he has plans for us to give us hope and a future, and that he can rebuild what has been destroyed.  My children are in the Lord's hands and nothing and no one can snatch them away!  I was talking to my oldest daughter and apologizing that I had made some mistakes that I thought effected her and her siblings and she stops me and says, "Mom, I think you are amazing, if you didn't make those mistakes then one of us kids probably would.  We get to see what not to do.  It's either you or us mom."  Well if that's the case then I am glad it was me!!  : )

I also fear about my health.  What if I can't make the changes necessary?  Am I then setting my family up for future disease?  Why didn't I take better care of myself?  How much more pain is in my future?  Then I remember the complete and total blessing MS has been to my life.  I would want it again.  Because of MS I am able to learn about nutrition and our bodies and give my children knowledge they would have never had before.  If/when pain comes on stronger I know God will be all the strength I need.  "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you.  He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you."  (Deut 31:8)

I think Paul sums it up in Phil 3:12-14, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been make perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Phase 1

We are going to start making some changes in our family.  I know some of these will be met with resistance and might be harder for my children since they are older...BUT I know that this is important and worth the effort.  What I am learning and applying with not only help my children but my grandchildren as well.  It is about making changes that positively effect future generations.  I will effect them in some way...either good or bad...ever decision I make does, so I want to make good choices to help them not hurt them. 

I listened to this great podcast with "Katie the Wellness Mama" and decided to use some of her ideas in my family.  Right now, in this post, the changes I am talking about is "how" we eat our food.  We are going to start implement Phase 1.  Here is what our phase 1 is going to look like:

1.  We will eat at least breakfast and dinner together.  (Since it is summer most of us with have lunch together as well.)

2.  We will have ONE meal and that meal will be served family style.  (Food in center of table.)  That is all the food that will be offered.

3.  Our motto is try, try again.  They only have to try one bite of all that is offered and then can eat what they prefer BUT each time a food is offered, even if they didn't like it last time, they will try it again.

4.  No negative comments about any food served. 

5.  Food is fuel.  It is not comfort, a reward, or used as discipline.  Our kids are going to learn what foods help or hurt their body so that they can make wise choices when we are not around.

I know this all seems like a no brainer, but this is where we are starting.  I want to reach their heart and minds as we are nurturing their bodies with all the great food God has given us. 

Monday, June 9, 2014

Getting focused

I am reading a book right now called "The Wahls Protocol."  I have mentioned Dr. Wahls many times and if you haven't heard of her I highly recommend you do.  She is very knowledgeable and encouraging.  In this book she asks that you journal your recovery (from MS or any disease) and use it as a reminder of where you are right now (symptoms, pain, etc) so that you can see how far you have come.  I thought my blog is the perfect place for that!  I want to use this to remind myself of God's goodness and His healing in my life.  So I do hope as I learn and as I heal it will be an encouragement and a challenge to everyone else.  : )

To get started I need to list my current symptoms and just where I am right now:

We moved to Texas at the end of April and I think that stress had a major impact on my health.  I am currently on two medications for pain but will be off one of them completely in two weeks.  My pain in my feet has increased (only slightly) since and that is encouraging to me.  I have switched from Tysabri to Techfidera.  I have had side effects from Techfidera that include nausea and flushing.  The flushing feels like someone has rubbed insulation all over my body, so it burns and stings.  This is happening mostly in my face and sometimes in my arms and legs.  This happens on and off throughout the day and lasts about an hour.  Because of the stress of the move etc, my lesion on my spinal cord that effected my hands flared up again.  My hands are in pain most of the day, making it hard to type or do my daughters' hair or even wring out a rag.  They burn and feel weak and sometimes go numb.  Because of this flare up I was given an oral steroid instead of the steroid infusions to see if it would work better.  The pills come in 4mg tablets but I had to take 80mg twice a day for three days...so that was 20 pills each time!  The side effects were nasty.  It felt like someone was punching me in the back right where my kidneys were for those three days.  I couldn't sleep and I spent one night with more nausea than I had ever felt before in my life.  Sorry for how gross this is going to sound...BUT it also caused me to have some vaginal bleeding (mostly blood clots) for those three days.  I am also weak and shaky but not sure what is causing that.  This has all been happening over the past week.  I am praising God that I was able to sleep the past two nights!  I also feel bruised around my neck and shoulders.  Ok, there it is!!!  Believe me when I say this is NOT complaining or whining....I need to list my symptoms as I get started so that I can remember how well I am going to be doing in the future!  : )

I KNOW without a doubt God is using this for good in my life.  He can and will heal me in His timing and use this time in amazing ways for my children.  I trust in His goodness and His wisdom.  If he has allowed this in my life then I will praise Him for it and look with great expectations on what is to come.  I pray for all those that are hurting and read this blog that you too will know God's love and provision and protection.  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give your rest."  Matthew 11:28