Hockey Game Stars vs. Kings

John has been a fan of hockey since he was little and used to watch games with his older brother Kevin. And they are loyal Los Angeles Kings fans :) So when he heard they were playing the Dallas Stars, he decided we would go. He got pretty good seats for me, Susan, himself and his coworker Justin. My mom generously babysat the 3 kids---and I was a little worried that Frankie, who has been a level 5 clinger lately, would make it hell for her...

    I was also worried that the 3 hour long game would be cold and hard for me to act like I wasn't bored. I really didn't want to ruin it for John who was really excited. But I have never been too into sports and despise football, so I didn't think I'd get into hockey. However, I think especially because I have been watching Lucas and Olivia learn soccer and get competitive, I have been really enthusiastically cheering for their teams and acquired a taste for sport! I've always been competitive, so I guess it was bound to happen :)

First there was a speech and little ceremony commemorating Modano, former Dallas Stars player being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

    The game was really fun to watch, especially since we were part of the few Kings fans cheering for the underdogs! The Dallas fans were very loud and we had some tough looking 9 yr old boys mocking us in the row behind us. It was funny to hear them loudly saying "Texas hockey fans are the best!" and shouting "We don't care!" when the announcer read statistics about Kings players :P

 It was invigorating and exciting, and since hockey is a sport whose fanbase is predominantly white (predominantly-er Canadian), the music was all hard rock metal guitar stuff. It was funny. Metallica, Rush, Nirvana, Muse. I predicted they would play something real dorky like The Offspring, but I was wrong :P

 I started out not wanting anyone to get violent, but a few plays into the game, and I was hoping to see some fights---there was a little drama with Kings player number 77, who John told me lost all his front teeth in hockey. I wanted to hit someone after watching them battle with those sticks for a tiny puck in a corner!

 I was leaning on John, because we both barely fit in the seats--so it was a production to get up and cheer when the Kings scored haha. We should pay more for bigger seats for our big butts.

We were feet away from the cheerleaders, so we had lots to look at if there was ever a dull moment (which there weren't really...the game went by fast and there was no horn or anything to let you know they started playing again--and it's odd to me that players get off and on the rink without stopping the clock or anything. The rink btw looks so much smaller in person, especially with these huge men on the ice.

    Susan and I were surprisingly very into the game, which was ended with an unusual score of 5-4, Dallas winning. We both were hoping Kings would score in the last seconds to go into overtime, but it was fun to at least have a shred of hope the whole game, especially since the Stars scored 3 goals fairly quickly.

   So we are looking forward to next time--and we will bring Lucas because I know he'd really enjoy it!

    At home, mom had a fun with the kids. Watching movies, making them gluten-free meals, and playing "Don't Wake Daddy" our new board game. Frankie stopped crying when I left (out of sight out of mind..) and ate a lot of food! It was apparent in his diaper in the morning lol. We are very appreciative to get to have a little date night and it was fun to do something John really enjoyed.

Breedo

Another Health Update

I tell you, I should've gone to school to be a doctor.

I mean, it does interest me to research health conditions, but it's also frustrating when you know something is wrong with you (example: enduring 3 yrs and 2 pregnancies with a 7mm kidney stone doctors wouldn't believe I had) or your kid, and doctors assume you are overbearing and exaggerating. Thankfully, we found a pediatrician that considers holistic/integrative health as well as traditional.

    I was right about Olivia's skin condition being Vitiligo. By and large, the information on vitiligo states that there is no known cause, no underlying reason, and that the damage is only psychological. Since I have been learning about food sensitivities, and have suspected a gluten allergy or celiacs, I was able to delve deeper and found recent corresponding studies having to do with autoimmune genetics and skin conditions. I know if I had a regular pediatrician (i.e. one that requires full vaccinations, which we do not do), they would have parroted that vitiligo has no underlying cause. Since we have a good doctor, she decided to run some tests on Olivia's blood and urine to check for antibodies for allergens and deficiencies.

    Olivia's full lab review appt isn't til next month, which is why I knew it was a big deal when they called to go over some of the flagged results today.

 She has a severe allergy to wheat, and gluten, and then just for fun, grapefruit lol. I suspected the gluten allergy just judging from her stomach issues. But what I didn't know was that with celiacs, the intestine villi become damaged, and then they are unable to absorb the vitamins  and nutrients in all your food. Which means, the symptoms/effects can be exhibited through any number of illness regarding your skin, bones, stomach, joints, and organs.

    Unless you are close to someone with a gluten allergy or intolerance (which is less severe), then you don't realize how pervasive wheat flour and gluten are in everything we eat. You think they are eating a fairly balanced meal with waffles or wheat toast in the morning, with a healthy cereal that doesn't have dyes or lots of sugar, with a taco or quesadilla with flour tortillas, pita bread or crackers, or even breaded chicken or pasta.....pasta...is Olivia's staple food. Spaghetti and macaroni. Even soy sauce and dressings have gluten. Even beer (because of the barley or rye). Thankfully Olivia is like me and doesn't like the taste of beer :P All things wheat or with flour (excluding rice flour and corn). So then all the 'whole grains' labeled health foods become the devil, and you spend all your time and energy reading labels...first we cut out dyes and most preservatives, then artificial sugars and hormone-filled dairy/eggs. We also try to find lower sodium everything. Then we buy organic. Then we buy probiotics. And now we have to cut out something that we had with every meal for most of our lives.

  I realize that it is becoming more common and hopefully that will drive prices down and increase our options, but spending $5 for a tiny loaf of 2"x 2" gluten free rubbery bread for our sandwiches, ain't gonna suffice. I love deli meats and we get the stuff without nitrates...but what can we eat it on!? I will be researching and talking to other moms with gluten-free kids, but this won't just be a change for Olivia.

   Dr. Bain says with our history of autoimmune and allergies, we should all be gluten free anyway---plus with Frankie's eczema (which he still battles esp with dry weather coming) he is most likely allergic to some of the new foods he is trying. He had an appt today for his 1 yr checkup. We drew blood to check for his food allergies since he is getting new eczema patches on his hands. Feeding him won't be so bad because he is eating most things and liking them--not picky yet. I found some gluten free chicken nuggets to replace the spinach/turkey ravioli he liked. I bought some freeze dried fruit and veggies to replace the 'puffs' and cereals he likes. We bought rice crackers (which really only taste good with cheese! Gouda preferrably).

Lucas will be tested next.

   SO, it feels somewhat good to know my suspicions were right and that we can help all our kids be healthy now so they can grow strong and not have lifelong allergies or sicknesses. BUT it's overwhelming to change so much for all of us, when many of the things we were eating were by most accounts, healthy, but we are allergic to. I was giving Frankie almond milk for the 2 bottles he still has a day, but I think he's allergic. Almond milk has more calcium and vit D than cow's milk, plus protein, but it had a lot of sugar and not enough fat for Frankie. Until we know he is not also intolerant of dairy, the dr says to find foods to give him the calcium, vitamin D and protein that the milk would be. So he likes turkey, chicken, beef, rice, avocado, edamame, and all fruit. I will be getting him a nondairy probiotic supplement, and boosting his immune system with vitamin D drops (with omega), thieves oil, and briar rose.

      As far as my testing, the gastro doc said I have elevated C-reactive proteins, and high sedamentation rate, both of which mean lots of inflammation that can be many things (gluten intolerance, crohns, ulcerative colitis, cancer, autoimmune diseases like lupus etc)---the only way to be sure what is wrong is to do an endoscopy (camera down my throat to my intestine) which they won't do until after I've delivered. That may be happening in February if I am still feeling sick.

   I also had my 34 week appt today and baby is measuring at 38 weeks...which is what I feel like. His head is down so I feel and see his feet in my ribs and kicking my herniated belly button 24/7. I have no abdominal strength to get out of bed normally anymore...I sorta roll off, or John helps :) The doctor wants to induce 12/20, since the baby is large, and it's right around Xmas. We'll see if he stays in there that long--he's running out of room, and seems to be expressing that a lot!

   I made John try the barilla gluten-free pasta tonight and he said it wasn't too bad, but of course it was covered in his dennison's chili! The kid's ate it too, with some gluten-free corn bread Susan made. We will be learning all we can in the coming weeks and hopefully Eustace will start out much healthier than all of us!

   I will do my best and keep motivated with the thought of how many problems the kids might face as adults if they continued to consume wheat. I love bran...bran flakes and bran muffins...
but I'm grateful to know now, and to have confidence in their doctor taking interest and not poo-pooing my concerns.

 

Happy Birthday to big boy Frankie!

Frankie is one year old today--and he took 3 big boy steps ! He's been trying to here and there, but suddenly felt confident today after taking his special seat at the bottom of the stairs. Daddy has been out of town on business this week til tonight, so he will have a special treat to see his little boy walking :)

Here are my 3 babies when we watched Maleficent last night after bathtime:

A Wedding Reception

I was busy all last month planning our halloween party, but I also had to fit in time to rehearse for NOv 1st---I had second-thoughts but I am glad I did it. This couple remembered my music when I played at Sip n Savor on Valentine's day 2013. I was so flattered to be asked to play for their wedding reception, that I said yes--but I did forget a lot of lyrics and chords so I had to really practice and put together a playlist that worked.

   Sip n Savor is an adorable victorian style house built in the 1850's and it has been turned into a restaurant. The solid wood floors and shape of the house make it really fun to play live music. Each room is made into a nice private dining room, and for the reception the house was pretty full! Lots of wine and good food for all, which allowed me to really feel comfortable playing since no one was really watching. It was nice to hear many nice comments and to be asked back by the owners, but I think it's just too mentally taxing right now with all my responsibilities at home. Someday I might do it again regularly, but with homeschooling and babies it's too selfish to ignore them so I can rehearse.


   John was happy to get a little extra income this month, and they graciously paid me more than I even asked. I hope they enjoyed it and wish them the best in their marriage!

    Thank you to Susan for coming along and helping haul the equipment, and especially for getting some video on her phone and camera, and putting these together--it will be nice to remember:

A few Halloween pictures

We did most of our celebrating at the party, but we did enjoy some trick or treating on Halloween, although it was pretty cold. It was so hard to get clear pictures at night:

 And the scariest house--with clowns and animatronic stuff:

 Olivia found another Dorothy:

 My mom came over while we trick or treated and cooked these good short ribs---very tender :)

 The kids counted their candy---of course Lucas lined his up like he did with the Easter eggs lol

 Then we divided up the red dye candy to give back out or throw away:

Lucas shows how he earned his candy:

A Health Update

I am 32 weeks pregnant and have been having stomach issues for over 2 months. My OBGYN wasn't concerned so I decided to go to a gastrointerologist. She said my symptoms weren't normal and is currently running tests for celiac's, crohns and ulcerative colitis. I started researching celiacs when I noticed how sick I got daily, and I am thinking I may have to get rid of gluten. My family genes have autoimmune disorders and everyone's seen my record-breaking results from my skin prick allergen test. So it would make sense. Celiacs can also be triggered by pregnancy, if you have the gene marker predisposition for it.

    Ironically, about a week ago I noticed Olivia had this white patch of skin on her forehead:

This summer I remember seeing white patches on her legs, but I honestly disregarded them as being from the spray sunscreen we used, not being rubbed in enough. I noticed a few here and there all over her body. I looked it up and saw that it looked to be vitiligo, the skin disorder Michael Jackson had. It's way more apparent in darker skin, since they are patches without any pigment.

  Most of what I read said the only harm with this condition is psychological from looking different. But I did find some more recent studies that correlate autoimmune disorders with it, and many times celiacs, especially if it's already in your family. So yesterday her doctor ran a battery of blood tests to check for allergy antibodies and her urine for nutritional deficiencies. We won't know results for a month or so--but we also weren't able to fill all the many vials they needed, because her veins just dried up (probably didn't drink enough water)--plus she was screaming when they pricked her 4 times...I couldn't calm her down to just breathe normal. Lucas will probably need these tests as well--I know he has my bad allergies.

   So we are presently waiting for both our test results.

Today I had a second ultrasound to check on baby Eustace because there was extra amniotic fluid a few weeks ago, and I am measuring larger than average. Eustace feels big to me---like a wood plank caught diagonally in my gut---I can't sit comfortably with his feet in my right rib cage, and head on my lower left. He is very active like Olivia was. :( Guess that means I won't get the wonderful sleep Lucas allowed me lol.

    Anyway, with all the measurements they took, it looks like the amniotic fluid is normal and baby is healthy. In fact, he's about 5 lbs already! The doctor says if I make it to 39 weeks (which will be around Xmas) Eustace will probably be around 8 lbs! All my babies have been average weight: 7lbs 12oz, 7lbs 4oz, and 7lbs 6oz...so he will be the biggest. It's slightly comforting to know that it's not just me gaining the weight lol.