Day 42 & 43 (GAPS Intro Stages 3 & 6)

So day 42, Venita woke up feeling much better, though she ended up in our bed for the first time in a loooong time. She just couldn't get comfortable, and I could tell she just needed some comforting. We are all getting on probiotics, aside from the ferments we are already on. I took one the other day and started having some major die-off. It took me awhile to realize what it was.

Day 41 (GAPS Intro Stages 3 & 6)

Well, day number 41.. I haven't written much lately because I just haven't been feeling well lately and I just don't have the brain to think right now.. But I thought this was at least really important to write about..

Venita 18mo, still on stage 3.. Had steamed asparagus for dinner tonight. She has had the most horrible stomach ache tonight. She has been sick for a few days and I thought at first it was just that. But it began to become quite obvious that it was her tummy. So finally I broke down and gave her a little enema. My husband thought it was the most horrible thing in the world, but she handled it just fine. And poop just a tiny bit. But guess what was in that poop... Undigested Asparagus... So shortly after she started finding some relief and is crashed in our bed. Thinking maybe her being sick may have made her even more sensitive.

Some might find this as a negative thing. But I view it as a good sign. A sign that healing is taking place. Of course I know healing is taking place, I don't know why I need events like these to remind me. But as a parent putting your child on this diet, you constantly fear whether or not you are doing it right. If what you are doing is healing. Venita could eat Asparagus fine before this diet, BUT she couldn't digest it. This experience is just a sign that her tummy is full of brand new healthy and very sensitive flesh and that all the wear and tear from her being unable to digest her food is going away. So I feel good, needless to say! :)

Hope you can find peace in moments like these, rather than fear...

Days 33-35 (Intro Stages 3 & 5)

Venita and her cute little scrunchy face!

Well it's 11pm and I'm not tired. I have chicken and carrots boiling on the stove. I realized tonight that I am not prepared for tomorrow which is our GAPS Group day and shopping day all rolled into one. Today was a rough day. I woke up doing, mmmmmm, okay I guess. But quickly after my Phat Cup of Joe I went kinda downhill.

Day 30-32 (GAPS Intro Stages 3 & 5)

Everything's a blur... Days are running into days. My meals are less and less ambitious. Why?? Because all my kids do is eat!! All I do is feed them, all my meals blur together really. It's really hard to be ambitious when eating is all your kids ever do and so long as it's what they are nutritionally needing, they are happy! It doesn't matter how much salt is has on it.

Nothing real exciting today.  A couple days ago RJ started wigging out after eating a whole bunch of Coconut Oil. I love lots of oil on my brussel sprouts!  I don't think his Candida like it very much! He just had no ability to rationalize, he was throwing a massive panic tantrum over the dumbest thing. Why I didn't think of a bath right then, I don't know.. Venita's Yeast is clinging on for dear life... I'm starting to think Bio-Kult is about in order for her. I'm thinking me too. Just so I can get a good amount of good bacteria in my body before baby comes. And of course, RJ would benefit significantly too. He has had one little rash on his privates since intro. With Venita it is a constant battle. I have also noticed her immune system has declined since we stopped nursing. In one month she has been sick twice and both times have lasted a long time. So I know the probiotics would benefit her a lot..

Yesterday we decided to go try out a new restaurant in Billings called "The Field House." It's kinda tradition when someone is flying in or out of town we usually do a meal as a family. It seems that our diet will complicate many traditions. But we received a tip from my cousin about a restaurant that is pretty clean feeding. No processed foods and they source as much local food as possible. I knew Venita would be easy. I could just bring her food, and I hoped that RJ and I could find something. I had read a bunch of reviews about some of their food and I was really hoping they had sourdough bread so I could have one of their burgers.. Sourdough is only suggested for pregnant or nursing woman with good enough digestive health. I would say my digestive health is quite good compared to most. So I lucked out and they had sourdough bread. The burger was delish! Of course yes everything was quite expensive. But no more than a high end restaurant. RJ had a salad and I ordered a chicken breast but it had a sauce with it. I tried to clean off the sauce because it looked like there was dairy in it. Turns out, cleaning it off wasn't enough. He ended up getting a stomach ache and diarrhea.. But I handled the burger really well, no stomach ache or anything. Though it felt incredibly heavy in my stomach like I had eaten a brick or something. But later than night I was dealing with pretty bad Heart Burn. But I ate a grapefruit and took some HCL and it went away right away and I slept like a baby. So overall, the restaurant wasn't something to completely rave about. The food was good, but didn't have much selection sadly. But I loved the atmosphere!

You know, this morning I woke up and for the first time in my entire life I had the thought, "Ugh another day." Like I just begin the day as I always do, looking at the clock.. Se how much I got to sleep in, or how early I have to get up, always random. And I go cook Venita and RJ breakfast. Luckily I'm not as sick in the mornings now, and I'm not ready to pass out the whole time I'm trying to cook. I'm just so ready to be done with intro... But really will that ever make life better!! lol Because I've always felt this way, just not so bad. Will I ever get it together, will I ever get all my laundry done, will I ever declutter like I want to? Will I ever feel weightless??? Some days I would pay someone to burn my house down. Just so I don't have to deal with all this stuff. I will get there, I just gotta start throwing crap away. But I have so many things out of sentimental value that stress me out just having.. Like plants... WHY!!! They mean so much to me especially if it's a plant thats been in the family for generations. What the heck, and if you kill it, it's like killing a memory and I hate that idea. And I don't have a green thumb at all... Ugh I just want this weight off of me. A constant reminder of my failure as a wife or mother. I know people say I'm hard on myself, but really you should see my pile of laundry.... Really.....

Tomorrow I'm throwing 100 things away, not joking.. 100 things are exiting my house..... Ugh...

Update: Me and RJ always seemed to have a reaction to food about the same time, and I never realized it. After some bouts of trial and error long enough you will start noticing a pattern. Well I did with eggs, but nothing else.. It turns out we are quite sulfur and histamine sensitive. Hense the reason he kept reacting to the brussel sprouts! Venita was also getting face and butt rashes from the sauerkraut, so it makes a lot of sense now! We are going on intro again to do low sulfur and histamine which are very similar, and see the difference as well as continue to heal!

Day 13 & 14 (GAPS Intro Stages 3 & 5)

Well, I've missed two days now.. :( Sorry, but you know how it gets on Intro!! :) I wish I had a better excuse other than, not in the mood. Yes, been quite gloomy, and not feeling too hot. And it is taking more and more strength every day to continue doing GAPS "well."

Days 11 & 12 (GAPS Intro Stage 2 & 4)

Well, day 12 and I think the excitement has dwindled. But progress is being made even with a little hiccup.

Day 10 (GAPS Intro Stage 3)

Well, I was lazy and didn't move RJ onto Stage 4, BUT he pooped!! Yay!!! And tomorrow morning RJ will have his first taste of fresh carrot juice since starting intro. But on a more than exciting note!! I finally got my Perfect Pickler Mason Jar Kit!!!

Day 9 (GAPS Intro Stage 3)

Hanging out at Grandpa and Grandma's in our PJ's

Where to begin!! Wanting to keep this short and sweet because I need sleep.. But I have so much to talk about! So I'm gonna keep it simple..

Day 8 (GAPS Intro Stage 3)

Last Summer, I can't wait!!

To still be saying stage 3 is kinda strange to me. I don't know I guess I figured we would move faster, but now that we are hear I see no rush in getting through Intro. The kids are just so happy about the new stuff we have introduced

Day 7 (GAPS Intro Stage 3)

Craving Spring! Craving Garden! Craving Sunshine!
A picture of RJ last spring watering one of my hubbies experimental garden beds, which worked quite well! It's amazing how much he has grown in only a year! :(

Day 6 (Gaps Intro Stage 3)

Shredded Beef and Avocado

Day 6 and what can I say. We are still alive!!

Days 4 & 5 (GAPS Intro Stage 2 & 3)

RJ making a mommy impression!

Oh goodness, where to begin! I am experiencing a lot of die-off, so my brain is shot. And yesterday was the longest day ever, and thus far the toughest day of intro. But we have progress! Today is much better!

Day 3 (GAPS Intro Stage 2)

RJ and Venita last Halloween

This diet can bring out the best in people, and of course it brings out the worst in people! It brings all those problems to the surface and purges it right out of you. Not to get too philosophical, but it really reminds me of the process of spiritual purification, the process of spiritual refinement. When good is introduced, bad is purged out. Our weaknesses are brought to the surface. Both are quite painful processes!

Day 2 (GAPS Intro Stage 1)

Venita getting her last meal before bed, (no she isn't sleeping)

Well, lets just say that I wasn't anticipating me having so many issues today!! I'm just on Full GAPS. But I guess the broth is just that powerful!! But my patience has been pushed a lot today to say the least. I wasn't handling the crying and whining very well. I wanted to break down and cry and whine at times. But its a good sign!

Day 1 (GAPS Intro Stage 1)

Venita's Yeast Rash, it's much worse around her nose.

Well, lets just say the morning didn't start out with Intro, instead it started out with a migraine and scrambled eggs. But I'm not letting that stop me from continuing forward as if it never happened!