Gluten Gluten Go Away

I have searched tirelessly on the Internet for gluten free food trying to read and reread labels, it really can be overwhelming..I mean you are talking to the homemade bread queen here. So a few days ago I called a friend that goes to church with us and she has been on a gluten free diet for awhile now she gave me hope that I could do this and not have a nervous break down in the process. Her Husband is a chef and he can help with converting recipes so they are gluten free, she even gave me her cell number which I have on speed dial so when I am grocery shopping and have a question I can call and ask her. She did inform me that Captain Crunch cereal was something we could eat because it was made from corn (Praise The Lord, something sweet!)It seems bread isn't out of the question except I have to use rice flour and alter a few other ingredients so i guess I'm gonna have to learn how to make that..and the gravy...well It's not completely out I just have to use cornstarch instead of flour..now if I can just figure out how to make biscuits without flour (grin)
The bottom line is I want my Husband to get well, and If Dr. K thinks this will help I'm willing to rid my cabinets of flour, wheat gluten packing products and replacing them with Rice Flour, Almond Meal,Arrowroot Starch, and Xanthan Gum which I have no idea what they are or how to use them but I'm willing to give it a try...

Need I remind you that Thanksgiving and Christmas is coming up..Which would be my favorite time to bake so I'm already trying to figure out how to make Gluten free stuffing and convert my Grandmas recipe for Jam Cake.Blessings.

M

Adding and taking away

So over the weekend we have added a new addition to our "farm" her name is Callie Lou, actually it was two for the price of one day because Callie Lou is soon to have a colt we are thinking January or February...This is Husbands new past time cause Callie Lou belongs to him...Ask me if he knows anything about horses? Uh no...not really but he loves this horse and she seems to love the farm so I guess that means she's a keeper here's a few pictures





And now for the taking away part....

Dr. K spoke with Husband today after church and ask him to try a new diet to see if it will help with his crohn's disease, he ask him to try it for two weeks sounds simple enough hu?

Well it's a Gluten Free Diet...far from simple in my house.

When I started looking this up on the internet I found out that gluten is in viturally everything...Like:

-Bread
-Muffins
-pastry
-pasta
-pizza
-lunchmeat
-gravy (give me a break..we live in Kentucky gravy goes on everything)
-anything wheat or rye

And
-toothpaste
-lip balm

And the big kicker...playdough...Husband was really upset when he found out he could no longer eat Playdough (grin) just kidding..But who knew? Gluten in Playdough!

So tomorrow I will attempt to plan out a menu for the next few weeks that is gluten free, wish me luck! Blessings!

M

Kids..you gotta love them

I have heard the sound of motorcycles nonstop all weekend, quick flashes of boys flying by the window at one time there were 6 boys...six motorcycles all zipping through our yard, lots of noise...
So I sent them across the road to the farm...behind our grumpy sweet kind neighbors house (grin) to ride til there little heart's were content. Today after the kids got home from school this is what I saw when I looked out of the kitchen window
That would be my 9yr old Cassie Marie riding her brother's bike...she has never rode before and the boy's thought it was time to teach her...at lest they remembered to put a helmet on her. And then I couldn't resist I had to video my oldest on the same bike being silly (he almost died when he saw I was video taping it...he's way to big for this bike, he is so silly!



And he will so kill me if he knows I posted this video..(GRIN)Blessings!

M

I apologize to those of you who visit my blog and have seen no new post this week, I have had "blogger block" all kinds of things stuck in my head that I just couldn't seem to put words with...Let me start with Husband is doing good he has been home this week and will go back to work Monday, my blood pressure is still up and down but better, in the midst of all the other things going on around here Tony's Son Kane is now living with us that makes TWO 15yr olds in the house now (I may need a little prayer) with all that has went on around here in the past month and believe me it has been a month packed full of twist, turns, drama, and LOTS of prayer I feel like God is trying to get my attention (grin)
I have come to the realization that there are some things in life that I have to step away from and learn to live with, there are others that I have to change my attitude about and ask God to help me with and above all trust God and know that he has a plan. I realize more than ever that way to often I let the days go by without realizing how blessed I am...I have a business that in the midst of a crumbling economy is thriving, I have a roof over my head, a Husband whom loves me and tells me that at least 20 times a day, kids who are healthy and family whom I love and adore...My blessings way out number any problems. WHEW...I feel much better now.

M

HUSBAND"S HOME!!

I am happy to report that Husband is now home...The Doctor released him from the hospital around ten this morning. Did I mention how very happy I am that he is home?
They sent us out the door with SEVEN prescriptions (it looked like I was taking a small booklet into the pharmacy) some meds he only has to take a few more days and others he will be on for awhile. I am so thankful for Dr. K he has been really great, he has spoken with Tony and I in great length about crohns disease and explained so much.. it's been alot to take in but I know God's in control. Thank you to all who have prayed, called, and simply listened (Mom, Sister,Carri, Lorie) Please continue to pray that God heals Tony. Blessings.

Wednesday's and I have a "love/hate" relationship I love going to church on Wednesday nights I just hate the rushiness...(I don't think rushiness is a word, if not it is now) Here in the Jeffrie's House we have a schedule and at 9pm ALL children are in the bed, but on Wednesday nights with many children getting baths and grabbing a snack it turns into well...RUSHINESS...

ALL the kids went to see Tony tonight in the Hospital...many kids in a small room with MANY blinking buttons, rubber gloves, oxygen valves, and a husband on pain medication makes for a "Calgon take me away moment" but I could tell he was glad to see them all and they were glad to see him.

The Doctor said this morning he didn't see a big change since last night, he is still a little unsure of any solid food so he told Tony maybe tomorrow...maybe.
Husband was a little down tonight, he isn't recovering as quick as he thought he would and I could tell he was down when I came in to check on him after church..I felt really bad leaving him tonight, but I was most certain the Hospital would not allow all 4 button pushing, rubber glove blowing uping, T.V. channel changing children (and one delirious Mom) to stay all night so out the door we went.

Once again thank you for the prayers and comments left here on the blog, they get me through the day. Blessings.
M

Not One More Thing..

Not One More Thing..

This is a statement I have learned to NOT say because just as sure as I do...That one more thing is piled on.

It flops right on top of the load of laundry that still is in the basket unfolded
It jumps right on running back and forth trips to the hospital..It screams "HERE I AM" while trying to adjust to an extra kid in the house....

It is overwhelming me just a tad...

But today I read a comment from one of my blogger friends and she included this

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Col. 1:17

It was what told me I COULD handle, withstand, endure, survive that one more thing...I don't hold it all together, no matter how much I would like to think all my shedule ,planning , thinking ahead has to do with the day the bottom line is "He is before all and in HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER"

***Thank you for your comment today Lorie, it truly snapped me back to my knees to seek the answers from God the only one who really knows what's going on around here***

Update on Husband: We have now determined he has chron's disease...not what we had hoped for but it is what it is...he hasn't had solid food since Saturday and the Dr. say none til Thursday. There is so much inflammation he thinks it's best to wait until Thursday to give his body time to recover. If all goes well he will get out of the hospital by Friday or Saturday. He said to thank all the strangers that were praying for him (he had just gotten a pain shot about 10 min before)

My blood pressure is weird it was 180/101 this morning when I got out of bed but tonight it was 168/92...but I am glad it is lower tonight. I'll be glad when it levels out.

Thanks again to all the friends out there who have taken time out of their day to pray for us and who have left comments. Blessings.

M