Doing a Body Good

Total food make-over.

It was gradual. It is necessary. It isn't difficult.


Several years ago, we started with the whole wheat, no white, enriched flour. Then, what started as a healthy supplement for Isabela when she lost her feeding tube, I started grinding our flax seed. Soon after, fish oil supplements and fish for all (sometimes sushi!)


Then came the avoidance of trans-fat. Absolutely no packaged food that is made with the intention of letting them sit on shelves for a long period of time. Poor Isabela, she had to give up a favorite - Oreos, until we found just the right organic ones. I guess I have put the fear in her. She will not eat something she knows has trans-fat - unless we are in a place where there is no other option and we will not be rude to anyone about it. We are not aiming for 100%, but pretty close. Quite easy. Even get to avoid many grocery store aisles containing the "un-natural" foods ( there are a lot of them).



Now, the kicker. High fructose syrup, or as Isabela calls it, "fake sugar". Have you realized just how many food items contain it?! Even most "lite" yogurts host the culprit. Wow.

No real short-term goal, it's all about longevity. I have lived the past (almost) six years in and out of hospitals. I see what heart disease does. How dumb would I be if I didn't do everything I could to nourish our bodies. When Isabela is asked for her list of medications at any and every doctor's visit, she easily intermingles her flax seed, multiple-vitamin and cod liver oil to the list of 6 drugs. When she sees the nurse almost giggle at it, because they almost always do, it's funny to see her reaction, wondering what the heck had just happened in their conversation.

Don't get me wrong, there will be times that I won't want to avoid it. But, I just absolutely can not knowingly store it in my pantry, knowing Isabela will be exploring in there, as usual.



Just please don't ask me about beef. I think we are sticking with it. Just maybe less? Like I said, not 100%, but pretty darn close.

Oooh, then there's the Classic Coca-Cola...


-- Posted from my iPhone

Waiting for the Tide

With full force, last week, Isabela and I went through routine doctor appointments to make sure our bodies are being cared for appropriately and to have the docs give us a clean bill of health. Five of those appointments were actually for me. Yes, I can be anal about it, thinking I have to make sure I live a really long time for my kids' sake, God willing.

Nice thing was that all of our results came back the same day. Not-so-nice thing is that things were found.

For about ten days now, I have been "waiting". I am waiting for next Tuesday when I have eye surgery to have a small tumor removed and additional glaucoma tests run. A few days later, I have a breast MRI scheduled, to explore what the mammogram and ultrasound deemed as necessary. The radiologist and the opthamologist both said " I am not worried yet", but hmmm..making me have surgery and an MRI right away, isn't that an oxymoron??

I have never been one to patiently wait, especially on this tide.

Yes, I am angry. I am sad. I am annoyed. I am only 33 yrs. old. I lead a healthy lifestyle. Couldn't this have waited?

Words I NEED to Live By...for SURVIVAL

Someone sent this to me a few years ago upon my long-awaited arrival home from a long hospital stay. You see, once Isabela was born, as most parents do, my lifestyle changed drastically, but a tiny bit differently. It took no thinking or planning on my part, just gut instincts. As I have been off for most of the summer and highly busy with my many family projects, I have lost sight of one important parental duty..until today. Out of coincidence, out of mere desire and because I know I have been an awful friend, I asked one of my best friends to have lunch with me....just girls...long lunch...with good food and wine....just because. As lovely as the plan sounded, the guilt settled in my bottomless stomach as I drove there because Isabela was at day camp...until I remembered these words that someone sent me three years ago. I was chosen to be Isabela's mother and with that comes particular attributes...so here's to the next girly lunch!

The Special Mother

by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice,a few by social pressure and a couple by habit.This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children.Did you ever wonder how these mothers are chosen?Somehow I visualize God hovering over Earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation.As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger. "Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint, Matthew.""Forrest, Marjorie, daughter. Patron Saint, Celia.""Rutledge, Carrie, twins. Patron Saint...give her Gerard.He's used to profanity."Finally he passes a name to an angel and smiles."Give her a handicapped child."The angel is curious. "Why this one, God? She's so happy.""Exactly," smiles God. "Could I give a handicapped child a mother who knows no laughter? That would be cruel.""But does she have the patience?" asks the angel."I don't want her to have too much patience,or she'll drown in a sea of self-pity and despair.Once the shock and resentment wear off she'll handle it.""I watched her today. She has that sense of self and independence so rare and so necessary in a mother.You see, the child I'm going to give her has a world of it's own.She has to make it live in her world, and that's not going to be easy.""But Lord, I don't think she even believes in you."God smiles. "No matter, I can fix that.This one is perfect. She has just enough selfishness."The angel gasps, "Selfishness? Is that a virtue?"God nods. "If she can't separate herself from the child occasionally,she will never survive.Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect.She doesn't know it yet, but she is to be envied.She will never take for granted a spoken word.She will never consider a step ordinary.When her child says momma for the first time, she will be witness to a miracle and know it.I will permit her to see clearly the things I see--ignorance, cruelty,prejudice--and allow her to rise above them.She will never be alone.I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life because she is doing my work as surely as she is here by my side.""And what about her Patron Saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised in the air.God smiles. "A mirror will suffice."

AND YES, I, undoubtedly, BELIEVE in GOD ANd I am NOT ALONE. God has also given me those very special friends to help me along the way...without them, this life would not be as splendid as it is!