Another Challenge is Placed Before Me!

Just when I think my life is getting easier and that I have conquered gluten free cooking another challenge is placed before me!

Honey has been feeling bad for a couple of weeks now, I have begged him to call his doctor but he felt that he knew what was going on and he would be fine until his regular appointment. His appointment was last Friday and his sugar was sky high, they talked about admitting him to the local hospital to get it regulated but decided that he could come home if he would rest and monitor it closely. What they did not know is that Honey had been eating whatever he wanted because he felt that the medicine he was taking would take care of it. Because of my diet I've told him many times that one day he might regret not watching his sugar closer but he disagreed. Now he has no choice, I think this has scared him enough to take action. Praise the Lord everything is better now, maybe we are getting it under control we just need to learn how to keep it there.

Honey has lost around 40 pounds and that in itself has scared me but he has been cutting back, now we think this too has taken a tole on his sugar. 

Yesterday we grocery shopped sugar free style and gluten free style. MAN we are going to be doing without a lot more and we were already limited. I mean I can cook a meal for each and I love to cook but people one meal at a time please!

So now we need education for diabetics, what to eat and not to eat, how much to eat, when to eat, the list goes on and on!

If you know where to get much needed information on living as a diabetic please comment and let me know. 

I will be trying a gluten free, sugar free healthy cookie recipe this afternoon I'll let you know how it turns out. We are planning a little trip soon and I want to be able to take some with us.

Thanks for stopping by y'all and please come again soon!

Dig A Little Deeper

Health Update:

I haven't written in a while to let you guys know what's going on with me so here we go.

Months ago I was having like three migraines a week and my daughter called and asked me a question. I'm the mother so I should be asking her questions but at this time God used her to ask me and I'm so glad He did. The question was, "Mom are you sure your skin care products, hair care products etc are gluten free"? This made me start thinking I felt desperate to try some new things and try to get over having so many headaches. So I started investigating everything I was using. I found that my shampoo, conditioner, and eye cream had wheat in them. I changed these plus went to a toothpaste that I was sure was gluten free. I have changed many of my skin and hair care products.

One thing I have eliminated totally are all Bath and Body Works products not because I found them to be bad but when asking Bath and Body Works for a list of their gluten free products they were not able to provide one. I don't know if this means that everything has gluten in it or if they are just unwilling to take the time to inform us but whatever it means I'm not willing to go there.

Another change I am making is trying not to clean with chemicals. I still have some of these products in my house and will continue to use them until they are gone but then I am going to natural cleaning products.

In taking these small steps I am feeling sooo much better. I still have allergy related headaches but I have not had a migraine since August 17, I keep a migraine journal so I know.

So if you are suppose to be gluten free for a health issue and you are still having problems just dig a little deeper! It will be worth it!

Thanks for stopping by y'all and please come again soon!

Health Update

I haven't posted anything in a while but to be honest Honey is away at the farms and I hate cooking for one person. Maybe when he's home for a while I'll get around to a new recipe for you but in the meantime review the things I have out there they are sooo good. You can find them here on my blog or on Pinterest.

So I was thinking many of you may have never read how I came to be gluten free.

An update: before you read my story. I am having less and less environmental allergy problems it is not that I have no problems but through the years I am learning to control them better. Being married to a farmer I have found that if he'll take his dirty clothes off as soon as he gets home and put them in the washer right away I have less headaches. Also I try to watch and keep papers, magazines etc put away and all garbage cans that contain papers emptied. If I see a sign of dust on floors or furniture I take care of it right away too. This is just a few of the little things I have found through the years.

So if you have never read my story and would like to do so click HERE!

I hope you are having a great summer, we have begun to harvest so our playing is totally over!

Thanks for stopping by y'all and please come again soon!

Maybe this is for you!

I was recently invited to join a health and wellness panel in an upcoming discussion but I declined due to a busy schedule.  I wanted to give you a chance to participate as all those who do will be given a $25 Amazon.com gift card.

Here is more information. WEGO Health will be hosting a sponsored virtual Insight Panel for active members of the online health community focused around family health, nutrition, and wellness.  This panel will focus on the needs of the online health community and resources and tools that would be beneficial to that community. 

To participate you need to go HERE and fill out a brief survey to see if you qualify.

Thanks for stopping by y'all and please come again soon!

Health update and basketball game.

It is 3am and I am up with a terrible sinus headache. If you read one of my earlier post I am having a few health issues. Yesterday morning I had a doctor's appointment to discuss my results on the test ran to see why my blood pressure is staying so high. The test results came back ok, praise the Lord. The whole time I was in the doctor's office I was sniffing with runny eyes, a normal with me. He decided to give me something to dry it up and dry it up it did. Now I think that I may be overly dry because I have a headache, but who knows right?

On another note we are at the farm taking care of Punkin and we had a fun time together last night. We took Punkin to a MSU men's basketball game. Honey and I began this adventure really tired and Punkin was wound up. She had a blast eating her hot dog and flirting I might add with boys in the student section. We moved from our normal seats to sit behind the rail so that she could walk without us being afraid she'd fall. I think she enjoyed this little bit of freedom although either I or Honey had a hand on her at all times and she tried several times to ditch us. We made it until after the first half when bless her heart she got tired took her blankie and tried laying down in the seat. We tried everything to get her to relax in our arms but she would not cooperate. Finally we decided that it was time to head home so I dressed her in her pj's and off we went. She feel asleep in the car and after we got her home I changed her diaper quickly as she whined and reaching for her bed. I know babies are ok when they get tired like this but it always makes me feel bad. I feel that due to my selfishness of having to see a basketball game I have worn her out, well she wore me out too so I guess we're even. I tell you what Dad and Mom have their hands full with this little lady, she knows how to get the boys attention and she's only 14 months ya'll.

Photos of our night out:

Finally ready for the game, I'm not as good as I use to be with the hair thing!

 Ok, so that's enough of one pose?

Eating her hot dog while watching the real Dawgs!!

Oh, man this is good!!!

We had several ceremonies and raising of new banners.

Always time for a little reading.

By the way I had to just eat my bar at the game, the result of being a Celiac with high blood pressure but hey we won the game so that made it worth it.

Now, tonight we will watch the Dawgs in action in football; man a win would be the icing on the cake for these Bulldog fans.

Mixes from the Heartland Italian Bean Soup review

 

As I've written lately I'm having a few health issues. EARLY Monday morning Honey and I drove from the farm to the flat land (2-hours) for me to have a couple of test done at the local hospital. I thought that I could nap during the test since it would take a total of two hours but I was wrong. It seemed that the minute I laid down and got comfortable I was wide awake. So needless to say when it was time for me to cook supper I was worn out plus my blood pressure was still falling from the test. It is finally cool here so I decided to make a pot of soup. I was soooo thankful when I remembered that I still had a few mixes to try from Mixes of the Heartland.

I chose to make the Italian Bean Soup and it was wonderful. I changed up the recipe by adding only 10 oz. of crushed tomatoes and deer sausage instead of Italian sausage.  SOOO easy just what I needed on this busy, tiring, stressful day.

Don't be afraid to change up any of these mixes, they work great no matter what you make! I promise!!!

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Product Description

Italian Bean Soup is cholesterol free, vegan friendly, and easy to make. Place in crock pot on medium 5-6 hours if desired.
View Nutrition Fact Sheet

Ingredients

Freeze dried black, kidney, and navy beans, mixed dried veggies (dehydrated celery, carrots, red and green bell peppers, onions, parsley, tomatoes), garlic powder, crushed red peppers, rosemary, bay leaves, celery powder.

Directions

In 8 quart pan, add 8 cups water, 2 cups crushed tomatoes and package mix. Bring to a boil for 10 minutes, reduce heat and cook for 25-30 minutes until beans are tender. Last 10 minutes, add 1 lb. cooked ham or Italian sausage.

I realized that I had a problem.

Yes, this is me and I haven't been blogging because I feel terrible.

After numerous headaches, feeling bad checking my blood pressure I realized that I had a problem. I called a local doctor but it took a week before he could see me. While waiting I tried to be a good girl, rest and keep a check on my pressure but it has gotten out of hand. When the doctor took it, it was 181 over something. The nurse never told me the bottom number she just took it several times and then had the doctor check it also.

They did a blood work up at the clinic and next Monday I am to go to the hospital for a Captopril Renal Scan, whatever that is. Due to my size and age the doctor is trying to get to the bottom of what is causing this.  For the time being he has given me a medicine that I will take temporarily until we know more.

Honey has some work to do on the farm so I will go with him over the weekend to take care of Punkin while her Dad and Mom are busy.

This does not mean that I will quit blogging I just have to get in the kitchen so I have something to blog. For sure I should have some photos of Punkin soon you don't want to miss that!

Stick with me friends I'm not forsaking you!