40th Birthday!

When I was 10 I searched for significance. 

For the next 10 years, I struggled to determine exactly to whom  I was valuable. 

At the age of 20 that search was over.  My savior rather emphatically revealed to me, that it was only his attention and affection that mattered. 
For the next 10 years (or so) I sought after Him.  He showed me what joy there was to be found in him, and him alone.  Not easy but extraordinarily worth it!   




When I turned 30 the real "woman's work" (in my eyes) began.  I cried (and I cry) so many times as I press through.  Ever thankful that He is always there --- spiritual spinach to
supernaturally strengthen my spirit!! 

Over the next 10 years, it was the only thing that kept me going....that kept me sane.

Here I am at 40, now what? 

My value comes from Him alone - still.

His affection and His unspeakable joy is what makes me smile - still.   

Gotta put the hard work in - still. 

And even moreso, boy do I need that spiritual spinach!!! 

For the next 10 plus ten plus ten (and so on) years, I vow to remain thankful for this life He's given me to live.

I take nothing for granted, but remain connected to Him.  For without him, I am nothing.  We are nothing.

Thank you Lord for FORTY YEARS!!

"Such confidence we have through Christ before God.  Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.  He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant —not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.".
II Corinthians 3:4-6

This photo slideshow made with Smilebox

EOE Update 2 - New Treatment Plan

We visited Healthy Kids Pediatrics today and talked to Dr. Nadoo (who also consulted Dr. Osborne, the naturopath).  Over the past few years, we've visited Healthy Kids Pediatrics for other reasons but hadn't been there since our son's condition developed.

We were so thankful for Dr. Nadoo's care and recommendations. 

Here's the plan of care we received (5 items listed below), to help heal our son's gut and hopefully get rid of the EOE!

That is our prayer!!

1.   Pro Omega Fish Oil    1 – 1 ½ tsp once a day

Benefits: "Provides exceptionally high levels of the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA."  Dr. Nadoo suggested Fish oil vs. Flax Oil. 

Each 5ml contains 3202mg of Essential Fatty acids.  1 standard fish oil capsule contains 300mg of EFA’s. This means that 1 tsp on Nordic Naturals ProOmega is equivalent to 11 standard capsules.

2.   Vita-Zymes Chewable     2 tablets before each meal

Benefits: Helps settle the gut and prevent reflux.  This was recommended vs. Prevacid which was prescribed by the GI doctor.

3.   GI Revive  (powder)    1 tsp    2 x / day

Benefits: "Slippery elm, chamomile and okra will sooth and coat inflamed bowels.
Cat’s claw supplement will decrease inflammation. Amino acids will support that smooth intestinal muscle.  Cat’s claw, quercitin, and mucin for comprehensive support of optimal gastrointestinal health. Prunus and citrus pectin are included to aid regularity.   If you have food sensitivities, this product will support your gut."

4.   Intrakid         1 oz      2 x / day for 2 weeks, then ½ oz     2 x / day, break on Sunday (ongoing)

Benefits: "100% organic liquid multi-vitamin and nutritional supplement specifically designed for children aged 4-12. Containing over 215 vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, IntraKID™ is formulated to support the healthy development of our children, as well as provide a defense against disease and illness.  The finest and most comprehensive nutritional supplement available for children.  Low Glycemic.  No Synthetics.  No Preservatives.  No Additives.  Hypoallergenic.  Vegetarian. Fresh Raspberry Taste."

Contains: 71+ trace minerals, 115 antioxidants, 10 essential fatty acids, 39 amino acids, 10 digestive enzymes, 35 green foods, 8 essential sugars, 62 vitamins and nutrients, 34 herbs, 16 macro minerals, 14 vegetables, 65 electrolytes, 7 optimum seeds and sprouts, aloe vera, 25 fruits, 10 probiotics, silver, noni, 12 carotenoids, 22 fibers, 86 bioflavanoids

Does not contain any: Preservatives, colloids, fat, cholesterol, wheat, gluten, caffeine, corn, yeast, rice flour, peanuts, nuts, soy, dairy, fish or fish oil, animal products, artificial additives, artificial colors, artificial flavors, fillers, pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics (drugs), chemicals, starch, binders, coatings, excipients, or flow agents.

5.   Black Walnut Herbal Supplement 9 drops in water    3 x / day

Benefits:
Gastrointestinal: The juglone in black walnuts may be behind the plant's ability to normalize intestinal tissue and may explain why black walnut drops are often used for nausea, constipation, diarrhea and the treatment of colic. Chinese researchers also studied juglone's effects on three key enzymes from Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria that causes ulcers, and found that it was effective at inhibiting growth of the bacteria.

Parasitic:
Black walnut drops have been used to treat worms and other parasites and even poison oak rashes. It's the juglone in black walnut drops that targets tapeworms, while the tannins work as an astringent and help to reduce secretions and irritation and shrink and disinfect the top layer of skin to help relieve symptoms of ringworm.

EOE Update 1

I haven't written an update here, on my blog in months!!!!  Since the experience we've been having with my 8 year old has been so significant, I thought I would document as much of it as possible until we get through it.

The name of the allergic condition he has, is eosinophilic esophagitis (EOE).

He started out, in October, at about 67 pounds (his normal weight), having trouble swallowing solid foods.

This progressed over the next couple of months and one of the biggest alerts we received was at Granny's birthday dinner, at the end of December, when he had a very hard time. We thought it was routine allergy problems. Over the next few weeks the problem got progressively worse.

In February he was down to only eating things like tomato soup, yogurt, ice cream, pudding. He couldn't even eat mashed potatoes.

I found out about EOE when I posted a question on a Facebook group (Essentially Healthy) asking if anyone had a child with difficulty swallowing. Our next step was to visit an ENT and have them perform a scope and see if they could find anything. They could not.

He sent us to the GI doctor, whom we visited later that week. After the office visit, he scheduled an in-patient surgery to look further. It was through that test (upper GI endoscopy or esophagogastro duodenoscopy), we were able to diagnose the EOE.

After that point we were told to try swallowed (vs. inhaled) steroid medicine - flonase, along with Prevacid and Nasonex.  After several weeks, there was no change.

We decided to further research and try to figure out if there was a natural way to treat the condition.

Several sources suggested that we could try either a) an elemental diet or b) an elimination diet.

We tried the elemental diet first (with Neocate formula and fruit drinks only) and he was just not getting enough calories.

With both elemental and elimination, he was sad that he could no longer have the yogurt, pudding, and chocolate that he had been enjoying before.  We had to remove those due to the milk content.  We also had to remove the yummy tomato soup he had been eating, due to the acidic content in the tomatoes.

So now we're trying the elimination diet, removing all of the high-allergenic foods such as soy, milk, fish, nuts, wheat, citrus, etc.  He can have soups and juices (still looking for a smoothie recipe that he will LOVE) and we also supplement with the Neocate fruit drinks.  Each little "juice box" contains 210 calories of great nutrients!

Last night we were happy that he liked the black bean soup Jeoff made for him.  He'll get over 200 calories in one cup and there's lots of healthy veggies in the recipe.  Other than that, he's eating brocolli an organic brocolli soup we've been buying.  We tried sneak chicken into it but it must not have been the right proportion.  He didn't like it.

He had been eating chick and potato soup made with rice milk, but he started having what may be an allergic reaction to the rice milk so that's off the menu until we come up with another milk to use instead.  He can't do cow's milk, goat's milk, almond milk, or soy milk.  He didn't like flax milk or hemp milk.  I think next time we'll try coconut milk again.

Yesterday he weighed 64.8 pounds.  That's up 1.4 pounds from two days ago.   Praise the Lord.