Summer's Ending - And We're Crying

This summer has been so boring for the poor kids - or probably mostly for poor Clay.  In years past we've gone on a hike a week, played at playgrounds and other stuff multiple times a week, and just spent a lot of time outdoors.  

This year the kids have decided they are DONE with the hikes, ha ha.  Works out for me since I can't do it anyway, but Clay's about losing his mind with envy when he hears about his friends' outdoor adventures.  

And yet, I'm still completely and utterly depressed that school is starting again.  Why?  Because I have to go back to work, of course!  I used to look forward to school time, but that was before I worked at a school.  I suppose it serves me right, that one year of me being unsympathetic to the kids as they began their time of learning.  

We did have a FEW outdoor adventures, though:

 Zion National Park, 

 Soccer clinics and birthday parties.

Buddy Boy went horseback riding this year, Munchkin started gymnastics (not pictured cause we can't take pictures while they're practicing - bummer), we caught a bunny in our backyard (as did our neighbor!), the kids enjoyed sampling chocolate during the chocolate factory tour, and we had fun trying out new pinterest ideas (the noodles on the trampoline springs fall off a lot.  Put these on when you're first setting up the trampoline so you don't have to slice it down the middle).

 We also went to the Enchanted Fairy Forest for the first time.  We'll definitely be making a trip back there again next summer!  The kids loved it. 

I guess it's also good for us to get back into a routine, eh?  It'll be good to be organized again!

More Test Results, Phase 1 Has Begun

So, I have been on my new treatment plan for 3 weeks.  I've been following the anti-inflammatory diet, as well as taking a boatload of supplements and drinking more water than I ever have.


The pain that made it hard to use my left thumb has improved some.  I was able to clip my fingernails with my left hand in 5 minutes!  It used to take an hour because it hurt so bad, I'd have to take a break and ice it.  It's a big deal. :)

I'm not needing to take a nap every day anymore.  I still tire easily, and have been told not to try exercising just yet. That didn't stop me from attempting to hike to Twin Lakes at Silver Lake.  Didn't happen.  About 100 feet in of elevation gain and I thought I was gonna pass out.  The kids were glad, because they didn't want to to the hike. 

Anyway, my Food Panel tests have come back, and I have a few food sensitivities:

• Kidney Beans
• Pinto Beans
• Cantaloupe
• Cheese
• Milk, Cow's
• Cranberry
• Egg
• Milk, Goat's
• Oat
• Pineapple
• Pumpkin
• Sesame
• Tomato
• Wheat

I was surprised by the goat's milk, since I don't think I've ever had it. Who knows?

Most of these sensitivities should not cause much problem. I will eventually be able to add most, if not all (except wheat) back into my diet, as long as I am cautious about not combining a lot of the foods or eating too much at one time. 

Today I was able to add brown rice back into the diet.  Oh my gosh, it was heaven.  I only get 1/3 cup a day while I'm testing it out, and it was SO hard to not eat the whole dang pot full!  

In a few days I'll try out eggs and then after that, lean beef.  I'm so excited!

Test Results and Treatment Plans

I finally had my follow up doctor appointment to get the results of the blood tests.  And it wasn’t pretty.

• Severe anemia pattern, so low that unless we get it up quickly I’ll need IV therapy.
• Possible Hyperparathyroidism (not the same as thyroid issues), will need surgery…one more blood test was done on Thursday to confirm.
• Not enough oxygen in the blood cells.
• Red blood cells not regenerating fast enough, causing inflammation and blocking my body’s ability to absorb the nutrients I need (like iron).
• Multiple food intolerances.
• Pre-diabetes
• Red blood cells shrinking, causing a wide variety of sizes (apparently they are all supposed to be pretty similar in size to keep your body working properly).
• Liver not doing it's job properly, probably because of the inflammation.
• And more.

Luckily, the doctor I’m working with is an endocrine specialist, and he feels confident that I can get on a holistic treatment plan and improve.  We are looking at 6 months of treatment, and an out-of-pocket cost of more than $5,000, and the goal is simply for me to have more good days than bad….but you know what, I’ll take it.

Part of the treatment plan is nutritional.  I've got a very specific meal plan, along with half a dozen supplements.  Here's the gist of it:

• Food to avoid:  dairy, eggs, gluten, tomatoes, dehydrated fruit, rice, corn, potatoes, soda, fruit juices, iodized salt, sweeteners of any kind, soy, peanuts, beef, pork, shellfish, cold cuts, bacon, hot dogs, canned meat, sausage.
• Food I CAN eat:  herbal teas (with no sweetener), quinoa, buckwheat, fresh fruits, fresh veggies, sea salt, individual spices, peas, beans, fish (except shellfish), unsweetened coconut and almond milk, raw nuts (except peanuts), flax seeds, moderate amounts of chicken and turkey, moderate amounts of sweet potato.
• Drink a MINIMUM of 75 oz/day.  This is gonna be tough for me.  I suck at drinking water, but it's critical, due to the types of supplements I'm taking.
• Breakfast with one ClearVite drink and 5 supplements, snack, lunch with 4 supplements and ClearVite, snack, dinner with 5 supplements and ClearVite, and bedtime snack.  Each at specific times.
• 2 doctor appts/week for the first phase, then 1/week for phase 2 (about a month into the program), and then eventually once every other week.  
• Allowed foods may change upon getting the food panel tests back.  We'll see!

I'm not gonna lie, I'm freaked out.  BUT, I'm ready to do what I have to do to get better, once and for all!  And hey, at least I'll be allowed to eat bananas when this diet gets me depressed. ;) Wish me luck.  Today is my last day eating the way I normally eat - and I plan on living it up! lol

May Day Happiness Continues

Day 3 of the new month and we're all still smiling over here.  Yay! The only negative thing happening right now is the ridiculous back pain and stomach attacks I've been having - but really, as long as the kids are happy, I can deal with this. :)

Some fun from our family walk on the Jordan River Trail in Murray today:

Oh Happy May

I'm singing Oh Happy Day over here, and hoping and praying that it'll be an Oh Happy May.  What a great start to the month!

The day actually started off on a rough note.  Yesterday, April 30, was a no good, bad, rotten day for me.  Painful and frustrating, and ugh, I was glad to see it end.  I woke up early this morning after having a dream that Buddy Boy had gone missing from his school and was found in a field.  To then find an email from my mom sharing the very real news that a local young man with a mild form of autism had gone missing was shocking and sad.   

When these kinds of things happen, I want SO badly to do something.  To help somehow.  However, I have a job, and I have kids and well, responsibilities, and I'm never able to go and volunteer.  I made the choice to put this situation in the priority seat however, and went up to help search.  I'm SO glad I did.

Shortly after 10 am, he was found!  What a great thing to hear! 

The day continued on, warm and sunny.  People, I WASN'T COLD for more than an hour the ENTIRE DAY!  It's been over 6 months ago since I could claim that.  It is a big deal.  (of course, I'm cold now, but hey, it's bedtime, it doesn't count.)

While Munchkin was at gymnastics (which we were ON TIME to for the first time in forever - name the song), Buddy Boy and I decided to explore a section of the Jordan River walkway that we hadn't before.  It was a blast!  He was so agreeable and sweet and cute.  He found a tree and asked me to take a picture of him swinging in it:

After getting back, we had a simple meal of leftovers and guess what?  Not one complaint.  NOT ONE!  Kids both ate their dinners and Munchkin went in her room to do her homework.  I didn't even have to remind her.  I know, twilight zone, right?  In a very, very good way.

In the midst of all this, I was receiving news of very dear friends on my ItWorks team receiving promotions, some for the first time!  I received my first promotion last month, and it is a big deal!  I can't express how excited I am for everyone, including myself.  We're changing lives, people!  New sales, new customers - check.  Great business start to the month.  

To top off the day, my kiddos worked out with me and helped me as they showed me their moves for workouts.  Then we went outside and cut some lilacs off the bushes and they are now sitting on my dresser and my room smells a little like Heaven. 

Another fun photo...Buddy was drawing a hot dog on his ipad, and then decided to draw someone holding it, but alas, the hot dog was already so big and front and center...so he improvised:

Sigh...this was a good day. :)

Spring Break and U-Fit

So...we've got spring fever.

Which is why we were incredibly excited for spring break.  I personally had so many awesome plans:  clean out the garage, rip out the old garden boxes, build in some new, hand-til the garden (since we don't actually own a tiller), clean and vacuum out the car, go on a few walks, have a few picnics, enjoy a few playgrounds, etc.

And then the cold front came in. 

It snowed the first day of our spring break.  Bummer, but you know, it's cool.  Spring in Utah.  It's what happens.  But then it stayed cold.  It stayed rainy/snowy.  It stayed windy and cloudy.  Wait a minute, if there's one thing that's constant about Utah spring, it's that it's always changing.  But oh no, not spring break week.  We had consistent, steady cold.  It was so sad.  :( 

Sad, sad, sad. 

Ah, well.  We still managed to do some stuff.  We watched a lot of movies too.

The weekend just before spring break, we took a walk.  It was so cold and windy, but hey, it was sunny! 

The kids love Red Robin!

We used our two free kids' passes and went to the Utah Natural History Museum.  (And no, the kids aren't standing in a meadow of flowers.  They're standing next to a painted wall of flowers.  I had someone ask about that.)

On the 2nd, Autism Awareness Day, Munchkin and I went to a play up at Weber State, Mockingbird.  It was great!  Buddy Boy and Dad went out to eat for their "playdate".



The kiddos have been doing U-Fit again this semester, and loving it as usual.  The other night was the end of the program for the semester, but we're definitely planning to do it again in the fall.  Thank goodness for generous college volunteers!

Many of you know this, but one of the struggles with autism (at least in Buddy Boy) is a struggle with coordination.  He gets so frustrated when he can't do the physical things that so many other kids can do, but he tries so hard!  He'd never been able to successfully jump rope, for example, and whenever he tried, the moment would eventually end in tears.  So to see this on the last night of U-Fit made my heart SING:

The last 2 weeks...

 

The latest happenings in the Cox family...

That's What He Said

Saturday I was hanging with Buddy Boy, and we were chatting.  He was asking me if I had liked one of his iPad games as a child.  I told him the cold, hard truth:  I didn't have an iPad as a kid.  I didn't have a computer growing up, or a cell phone.  With eyes as wide as saucers he replied, "Did you even have clothes???" 

Because, you know, iPads are as essential to our survival as are clothes. 

Not even 5 minutes later, we had this conversation:

Buddy Boy:  Mom, I'm feeling sad.
Me:  Why are you feeling sad, Buddy?
Buddy Boy:  I'm just so sorry that you don't have a penis.

We're not done yet!

I did my best to keep my face impassive, and I said:
"Buddy, you make me happy and you make me laugh."

He replied:
"Oh mama...and you make me cry."

Wordless Wednesday - Florida Pictures

Buddy Boy loved seeing the pictures I took while I was in Florida, and took it upon himself to edit them:

I think he did a pretty good job on some of them! :)