Stomach Bug

We've been hit by the stomach bug.

Oh, and my washer AND dryer died last week right before it hit.

The new ones aren't supposed to arrive until the end of the month.

No fun and Not Fair.

Just had to whine a minute.

Allergies and God's Plan

This morning when I logged in and saw my ticker showing less than 1 month before Witt's allergy testing, my heart just about jumped out of my chest!

No matter how hard I try not to get worked up over this testing, I always do. I'm hopeful and prayerful, but yet realize at the same time that although God could take away these allergies, He may not... ever.

I realize that we've made it through another year without any major issues regarding these allergies and I'm so very thankful for that, but I also realize that we may have to struggle with dietary issues for another year... possibly longer. But I really don't want to.

It's hard having this testing at the end of the year when my thoughts are lead to remembering what 2009 held for us and what direction I want 2010 to go in. I know where I want to go, but I need to follow God's lead. Thankfully, this is an all or nothing situation and I will clearly know God's plan regarding our diet for 2010 once these test results are in.

The past three annual testing times have consisted of going for the skin test and the blood test on the same day. The skin test results are in within 15 minutes, but it takes another 2 - 3 weeks for the blood test results. Then it's just a follow-up call from a nurse telling me what was positive and what wasn't. I really haven't been satisfied with that.

This year I'm doing things differently. Yesterday, I called and requested the doctor's orders for the blood test so we can go ahead and get that done before the skin test. This year I'm going to get his IgE numbers in person from the doctor instead of over the phone from someone that doesn't really have all the answers I want.

I requested testing for

• cow's milk
• goat's milk
• egg white
• egg yolk
• peanuts

We have never tested Witt for goat's milk. I understand that the proteins are fairly similar between the two milks, but that some people that are allergic to one are not to the other. Might as well give it a shot. We could at least improve our cheese situation if we could include goat's milk! :)

I can't help but wonder if the trials of this allergy were partly to lead me to stop feeding my family the SAD (Standard American Diet). Our diet certainly has improved over the last few years. I know the direction I would like to go in, but again... I just have to wait for God's answer on that one.

*** We interrupt this post with a call from the allergist's office!

Apparently, since Witt's blood test came back negative last year (although he's not at exactly 0.0 with his IgE numbers) they are not going to do the blood test this year. Hmmm.... I'm not really sure what I think about that.

I almost got in an argument over the phone with whomever I was talking to. I almost cried. I've heard of tests results spiking back up after they've gone down. I think I'd really like a second year of "negative" just to be on the safe side. But she wasn't budging on "The doctor's orders were to stop the blood testing once they came back negative."

Looks like I'll be talking with the doctor about all this at the appointment and possibly doing the blood test that day as well... if I can talk her into it... and assuming there are positives with the skin test.

AGH! I hate this! (And I rarely use the word "hate".)

I hate the not knowing.

This is where I have a hard time just submitting to God's will. I have to believe that part of this is not only so that I feed my family better, but that I learn to submit better as well. It's just so hard and emotional for me.

I gotta go before I start rambling... my thoughts are going in a million different directions now with this new information.

Please just pray for Witt. Pray that these allergies will be taken from his body and that he will be 100% allergy free. To enjoy an egg, a glass of milk with a chocolate chip cookie, to sprinkle cheese on whatever he pleases!

Pray for me that I'll submit to God. That I'll be accepting of his answer and thankful for all the many blessings that I have been surrounded with. That I will focus on the positive and be strong for my children.

Just please pray. That's what I'm going to do.

Thanks for listening.

Homeschooling Freak Out

You veteran HS moms knew this was coming... didn't you? :)

Ok... I'm starting to freak out (a bit, not too much yet... but still).

(Note to Jeff (who is away at the moment)... I'm ok. Just needed to vent for a minute... get my thoughts out of my head. I'm not in total freak out mode. Promise.)

School starts in less than a month. We have been so busy with packing and planning to move and my husband's crazy job schedule that I never got started on "getting into the groove" of reading more! I had high hopes for this summer with books, books, and more books. We've honestly read maybe 10 books in the last 6 weeks. Awful, I know.

Will (age 7 in Sept.), has very little interest in reading, although he can (on level). I suggested we get a book to start reading today and he balked. He'd much rather do something else... play trains, watch tv, watch youtube videos of trains, play in the sandbox, etc. How am I going to get this child to love reading?

He reads signs and random words around town. He'll ask how to spell things or, "What do these letters spell? D-R-I-V-E." I don't think he's behind in reading, I have just never seen him show an interest in reading a book on his own.

Secondly, I've started making a schedule of what I plan to accomplish each day for the first 9 weeks of the year. I have no idea what I'm doing. No idea how many days a week I need to teach math or writing or bible, etc. What to count as "school"? (ie Do Unplugged Projects count as art or is that just a "crafty" thing? Does it still count as "school"?)

I really want to take it slow and of course I really won't have a feel for it until I jump in so I'm just looking for some advice from someone that's been there.

How will I find that balance of knowing he's learning enough each day, but not overloading him (or myself) each day?

I recently spoke with a contact from our cover school and she was asking about which curriculum I've chosen for reading, math, science, social studies, etc. I kinda flipped out... I don't have anything specifically for Science, SS, History. I have a comprehensive curriculum that incorporates those, but nothing specific. Everything I've read says to focus on Reading, Writing, and Math in 1st grade. The other stuff will fall in later. When I asked my contact about that, she agreed; so, maybe I've got it together? I don't know.

I'm not expecting perfection, but I am expecting to ease into this (while jumping in at the same time). I am not holding unattainable goals of myself or the boys. I am really trying to make this an easy adjustment, but with moving and my husband's crazy schedule... well, I just needed to vent and ask some advice.

Thanks!