Eczema and Gluten Free

Mid December my little man broke out in a rash. I had put an outfit that I had not washed on him, and I thought maybe he just has sensitive skin, but he never cleared up. He began to scratch at his head he had scratches and scabs all over his poor little head. Then I had asked a friend of our, who is a  PA, about it. She told me it was eczema. To my thinking it was just a skin condition, there was nothing that could really be  done about it. But I hit the Internet hard with research about it. I knew there had to be something to ease the itch for my baby. In the picture below you can see some of the rash, but it was worse than it appears in the picture. All these pictures were taken as I was dressing him for bed.

But I found the following article:
http://drrodneyford.com/extra/documents/172-curing-eczema.html

"My research has been in milk, egg and gluten reactions. These food allergies cause a wide number of different symptoms (where you get attacked depends upon how your immune system is dealing with these food allergens). I have subsequently discovered that gluten (a protein in wheat, rye and barley) is now one of the commonest causes of adverse food reactions"

"Eczema is an inflammation of the skin. In children it is usually due to some sort of allergic manifestation. In children it is also has the name atopic dermatitis . About one in five children are troubled with eczema. Some get it really badly. In my experience about 80% of eczema is due to food allergy – so it can be cured.

Most infant eczema is related to food allergy"

The above paragraphs stood out to me. Could this be my baby's problem? Surly, not! It's not like he was eating bread, or pastas! He hadn't ate anything with gluten in it! Other than just starting to introduce applesauce, and sweet potatoes he was exclusively breastfed. I have heard of babies being sensitive to dairy products in their mama's milk, but could gluten find it's way into my milk supply? I contacted a lactation consultant, she told me she had never read or heard of anything. 

I began to pray for wisdom, was it the gluten? Or dairy? I just knew in my mama's heart that it was gluten. I quit eating anything with gluten. I was prepared to stick with it for a month, and if I still saw no improvements, I would switch to dairy.

But after just one day I saw small improvements! 

After only 2 full days, my baby looked so much better! He would soon be clear, and stop scratching at his poor little head!

After three weeks he was totally clear! (I didn't take the picture until 4 weeks though) The red spot on the back of his neck is a birthmark, I have the exact same one. 

I am still gluten free, and loving it, most of the time... every once and awhile I slip something small in, and he doesn't break out. My thinking is that it's just not enough to sneak it's way into my milk supply! 

I often thank God for his guidance in this area! I am so thankful I found that article! 

Blessings!

Ashley

Psalm 34:19  The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;

I'm Back!

As the title of this post states, I am back! It's been almost a year since my last post. A lot has happened this past year. I would like to bring y'all up to date.

In June (I think it was June), we decided to put Jon back in school. We chose Linn State Technical Collage (LSTC) as the school and then looked at the programs they offered. He chose aviation mechanics. It's a two year program. About a month before school started we moved into mom and dad K's basement.

On August 16th our baby was born. A beautiful 8lbs 2oz, 20.5" long. We were shocked! We had been expecting a girl. I had painted our changing table purple, the clothes I had brought to the birth clinic were pink, my car seat was pink and brown, all the clothe from NB to 24 months were pink, purple, and flowery! Though we were shocked, we were ecstatic! We had a son! We laughed and laughed and laughed! We brought a beautiful life into this world!

This photo was when we realized we had a boy.

My lovely midwife had a boys outfit that was 3-6 month she gave us so he didn't have to wear pink home!

Look at those chunker cheeks!

He is now 7 and a half months old, has two teeth, is crawling all over the place, pulling up on everything, walking along furniture, and trying to stand on his own. He is a very happy baby! 

This is my Arrow Sage Kling! I love this child so much! 

About two weeks ago we were able to move out of mom and dad K's basement. We were blessed to find a house closer to Jon's school and work for a great price! The house is old, and need a lot of love! But we are prepared to give it all the love it needs! 

I am excited to be blogging again!

Blessings!

Ashley

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal

Dear Readers,

(that is if I have any left!) No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth! I seem to have a motivation problem about getting to the library (or to my MIL's) to blog. Which I have to do since I only have internet on my phone at home. I know, that's no excuse! Butt it's the only one I have! Ok... moving on now!

Don't y'all just love pinterest?! I know I sure do! Especially when it comes to making my weekly menu! Speaking of weekly menu, I'm going to blog those, along with the recipes! (I was secretly wondering what this post was going to be about!) 

I usually plan a weeks worth of meals on Thursday, build my shopping list of what I will need to make those things, then go shopping! Making a menu and building a list of the items you need to make those meals saves time and money. You aren't wasting time running to the store to buy this item or that item that you didn't get, and your not throwing away unused groceries... have I convinced you yet? 

I usually don't put sides on my menu, just kinda whatever veggie sounds good to me, I buy, and then put with whatever meal whatever night! Desserts, however I do put in my menu, about one every other week, except this week I have two! Hey, it's Mother's day this Sunday! 

Menu for May 10th - May 16th

Thursday: sub sandwich

 - Jon (my hubby) really likes this because then he takes the leftovers to work for his lunch...will post a 'recipe' for this next week!

Friday: egg sandwich (LOTS of protein!) 

Super easy, just fry two eggs, throw a piece of cheese between them and put it on toast or bagel!

Saturday: leftover taco pasta (last Wednesday's leftovers!)

http://www.plainchicken.com/2010/09/taco-pasta.html

Sunday: dinner with mom and dad K.

Monday: grilled chicken on salad, strawberry cream cheese crescents

http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/breakfast/other-breakfast/strawberry-cream-cheese-crescent-rolls.html#.T2uFIYLOB50.pinterest

Tuesday: breakfast burito

Wednesday: mac and cheese with bacon and some veggies

WELP! that about wraps it up! I can't promise when I'll be back but I will try for next Friday!

Excuses GALORE!!!

Ok, so this is where I make all my excuses about why I have neglected my blog!

So, after my last post Christmas happened, then Hubby and I decided to go to Texas with my mom to visit my sisters! We were there for about four days, then we went back to IL for New years, while there, New Years eve to be exact, I got sick. I was throwing up every morning, so I decided to take a pregnancy test...

Yep! We are pregnant! Old news now, but still really exciting! I was already six weeks along! (And to think I missed it for that long!)

Right about that time things started to get crazy busy, were were getting things ready for while we were in Haiti. We were there for a month, we returned to the states on February 22nd.

I don't understand the words they are singing, but they are praising our Lord! Hearing them sing is one of my favorite things! 

It was rough being there and being sick, but I would not trade what we got to do and see for anything! It was worth it!

While we were there, we got to hear the baby's heart beat! Sheryl Brumley, a nurse there, had a dopler! (read Sheryl's blog: http://brumleyblog.blogspot.com/ ) 

We are at 17 weeks, now! 

Just starting to feel baby move around!

And we got to have an ultrasound and see baby for the first time, last Saturday!

That's OUR baby! Still just a little too early to see if baby is a little boy or girl! 

I will do my best to get back to blogging!

Blessings! 

Ashley and little baby!

Gift Wrappings!

Well it's that time! All the last minute shopping, gift wrapping, and bustling about of the holidays! 

I just adore this time of year! And as a Christian it's extra special to me, because I get to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! (not that we can't any other time of year) 

I love that almost everyone greets each other, all the smells of yummy food, Christmas cookies, lights! All of it!

Well today I just have a cute way to wrap your small packages if maybe you have run out of ribbons, or you just want something a little different than ribbons!

First wrap your box, I uses the "funnies" from an old news paper, and a piece of a brown paper bag. But you can use whatever you want! A word find, a cross word, wrapping paper, plain brown craft paper, whatever you can find!

Second, the paper (or ribbon) for the weave, I used construction paper, you could use scrapbook paper ribbons, a picture, again, WHATEVER you want! cut 4 or more strips, I used 6 on both of mine, they can be alternating colors or all the same! 

You want them to be long enough to fit around your box, and as far as the width, it doesn't matter, thin strips or wide, whatever floats your boat!

Then you start to weave! It's really simple! Just lay one strip vertical, then one horizontal, and two vertical on top of the horizontal piece. For the second horizontal strip, just slide it under the middle vertical strip and on top of the outer two vertical strips. and for the third horizontal lay it the same as the fist horizontal strip!

See! Easy!

Lay your box on top of the woven strips, and pull the ends around and tape them to your package!

After all the ends have been taped into place you can put a gift tag on it and put it under the tree!

Happy giving!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Ash

Indonesian Pasta

I found this recipe in a book a friend gave me for a wedding gift and it sounded good. I made it one night and Jon and I fell in love with it! We have it every other week if not every week! 

It's simple, it takes about 30 minutes to make and tastes SO yummy!!! 

If you try it I promise you will LOVE it too!

What you will need:

1/2 c. chicken broth

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped

2 T. soy sauce

2 T. peanut butter

1 T. minced dried onions (I used fresh, works just as well!)

1 T. lemon juice

1/4 t. brown sugat

6 oz. uncooked angel hair pasta (I just use half a box... there is only two of us!)

18 fresh asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces

1/2 sweet red pepper

2 t. olive oil

1/2 c. sliced green onions (optional)

I break my angel hair in half before cooking it. It makes it easier to eat, without all the slurping!

In a small saucepan, combine the first seven ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat; keep warm.

Cook Pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute  asparagus and red pepper in oil for 6-8 minutes. Optional: add green onions, saute for 2-3 minutes longer.

Drain pasta; toss with vegetable mixture and reserved sauce. Serves 4.

Even though there is only two of us, I really don't change the the recipe much. I use half the box of pasta, and a little less than two whole jalapenos, but other than that no change!  We love this meal!!! I cannot tell you how delicious it really is! You just have to try it!!!

-Ashley

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

This past week we went tree hunting! I have never been before, or at least not that I can remember... I remember having a real tree only once growing up. So this is among many of my new firsts since I married my wonderful husband on July 2. 

As an aspiring photographer I am continuously gleaning tips, from other blogs, magazine articles, and personal experience. This week I found one by my own mistakes! Oops! but there is almost always a way to fix whatever blooper you have in post processing.

This week, I found that before you actually take any pictures change the settings to capture the correct exposure. 

 What I should have done as soon as I stepped out of the truck with my camera is looked at my settings, and taken a test shot to make sure I had everything set right... but no, I didn't! And because what I was taking a shot of was happening so fast I didn't have time to change my settings and re-take the shot.

I ended up with this:

Ugg! The withe balance is off  and it's just so unaetheticly pleasing! So, I thought I would share with you all my new found wisdom; CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS BEFORE YOU TAKE THE SHOT!

BUT, there is hope! As I said, there is almost always a way to fix it in post processing!

I started with just darkening and deepening it... and got this, it's not as bad but it's not quite there:

So, when in doubt: Go B&W!:

Ahhh! Much better! That I can live with! 

Also, I thought I would introduce you to my husband's actual face now that you have seen his back! (He's really cute!)

I like him!

I also snapped a picture of my sister-in-law (SIL) J4 as she is referred to (all their names begin with J's so they have J1, J2, {J2, is my man}, J3 and J4).

She's a little doll!

Have a Happy Holiday season! and don't forget to spend some time with your loved ones during this special time of year!

-Ashley