The Nourishing Homemaker: Progress Report 11/14/10 and The Destruction of Our Property

We've had some set backs that have been really frustrating. The babies have had ear infections since the end of October and have been prescribed several different antibiotics. Not only have I had to deal with crying, cranky babies, I feel like we are taking steps back in our efforts to heal their little tummies by balancing their gut flora. Antibiotics kill off all the bacteria in your body, bad and good. It's that good bacteria we need to have strong immune systems and healthy guts. We have switched to a high powered probiotic to try and help replenish the good bacteria, but I think it can only do so much with such prolonged use of antibiotics. Griffin's eczema has flared up just as we were seeing an improvement. One side effect that I think we have dodged with the use of probiotics is diarrhea. I know, TMI! It's true though. They've had absolutely no upset stomachs! Yeah!

As far as my picky eaters, we have had lots of sucesses with new recipes I've tried. Pancake Bread, "Lara" Bars, Spinach Meatballs, Cinammon Cookies***, Coconut Cookies***, Carrot Mousse Pie***, Chicken Noodle Soup Without Noodles***, Peanut Butter Fudge***, ShiitakeMushroom Pizza***, and "Halloween" (pumpkin) Smoothies have been hits with just about everyone. I can't reiterate enough that we can't please everyone and in a house of 7, the odds are that someone is not going to like what I make.

Some of the recipes that failed (and even I didn't like them) were Almond Flour Bread, Coconut Flour Bread, and Coconut Crusted Chicken Nuggets. Pancake Bread is the way to go for our family if I am baking flourless bread. The rest of the bread recipes have been absolutely "yucky!"

Because being healthy involves more than just nutrition, my next goal is to eliminate some of the electronic goings on in the house, meaning tv, computer, and Wii. I think a little bit each day is fine, but sometimes we let those devices become "the blackbox babysitter." It's so easy to just let them go at it rather than having them play. The weather is so nice right now there is no excuse not to get out and run around. Excercise, fresh air, and sunshine are so important to our health and my goals are all about healthy living, after all.

I'm excited about my progress in my workouts. When I lift weights I am adding a little bit more weight each time which is so encouraging! My biceps are looking phenomenal, if I do say so myself. I confess I pose like a body builder in our full length mirror.

I've gained a little weight which I hope is mostly muscle, but I know is a little fat. Testing all my baking and cooking has been a downfall. I now have what I call my "yuck bucket," which is my sink. I take a bite, chew it up so I know what it taste like and spit it out. I get a general idea of what my family is eating without the additional calories. Am I insane? Most definitely! :D By the way, I got the term "yuck bucket" from my dear friend, Kara. She is in the movie industry and told me that when actors film commericials where they have to act like they are eating, they will take a bite and chew it up. When the director yells, "Cut!", they spit it in a bucket. Could you imagine if they didn't?

So, there you have it, a couple of weeks in review. Chugging along in our journey!

***Recipes coming soon.

Just an aside. I'd like to present you with pictures of the destruction that insues in our house. It seems like we break something every day, whether it be a window, a plate, my good china tea cups, a glass lid....(Yes, this all transpired in the last two weeks!) The list goes on and on. Our latest was a contribution from the twins. Yes, my 16 month olds conspired and destroyed a kitchen cabinet. No, they didn't color on it or pull it off it's hinges a little. They broke the cabinet door! Here is the result. Go ahead and laugh at my expense.