Celiacs Disease and Osteopenia

A long time ago (senior year in high school) in a faraway place (also known as Colorado) I was diagnosed with Celiac's Disease. For those not familiar with it, basically it means I can't eat products with gluten in them - wheat, barley, whey ...etc. Which, doesn't sound like much until you realize everything they are in!

To make a long story short, every doctor I ever met said that if I wasn't symptomatic then I didn't need to worry about it and I should just keep living my life like normal. I liked that answer so I went with it. Fast forward to 6 months or so ago. I was clearly becoming symptomatic. I was a bit in denial so I went the doctor and we still ran a LOT of tests to see if it could be anything else. No such luck. BUT we did discover that my gluten test came back so high it was un-quantifiable. Super exciting :)!

In other words, Celiacs caught up with me. My GI doctor was upset that no other doctor thought to tell me the damage it was doing to my system ... and recommended a bone scan (and a lot of continual blood work ... good thing I don't mind needles!). It turns out when your body doesn't absorb nutrients you can end up with Osteopenia. Which, basically means my bones are less dense than they should be. Thankfully it isn't Osteoperosis (yet) but something I need to work on to keep away from that. Lots of vitamins and exercise (especially lifting weights!) in my future!

I don't say all this to be negative, at all, actually the process has been a really good one, and I'm grateful to know where we need to go from here!

Jeff, as always, has been incredibly supportive and jumped on board to help our family transition certain things to being gluten free for all of us (pasta, pancake mix), get my vitamins filled (lots of those!), and champion my eating changes. The kids have already started asking what is gluten free and are becoming more and more aware of what mommy can and can't eat. And I have so many family members and friends here to offer advice, buy me gluten free treats, one went GF with me for the first month, and in general be incredibly accommodating with restaurants we go out to with them, what they serve when we come over, etc.

The change actually hasn't been as hard as I anticipated (in part because of the wonderful people in my life), and overall I feel so much better it's worth the extra expense and effort. Truthfully, there can be so many worse things that could be happening I'm really grateful. There can be more difficult "side effects" of Celiacs, but so far, I'm not dealing with those.

And in general, life can be so, so much harder than just not eating gluten, taking vitamins and working out, so I have spent quite a bit of time reflecting on how much I have to be thankful for. Sometimes it takes looking at these things and realizing that blessings are all around us and this is no more than a blip on the radar of life!

THREE!!

Liam is officially three! It's funny - I want him to stay little, but even I have been referring to him as being three for a little while and had to correct myself! He's always been eager to be big, and this past year he grew up SO MUCH! 

He decided to potty train himself back in May, speaks to you like a tiny adult, jokes and teases like the class clown I think he's destined to be and is convinced he's Spider-Man. If you asked him a few days ago how old he was turning he promptly responded five. Because when you have a five year old brother you play with all the time, what else would you be doing other than turning the same age? They fight like brothers do, but this year have learned how much they love to play together and spend hours doing things just the two of them. 

Liam is the funniest kid - he'll joke around with Jeff about the sports teams we like and tease that he likes a team we don't just to get a laugh (like the "stinky U's"), and he loves to play - everything is a game. He's strong willed and very independent, but the sweetest snuggler who loves everyone (his mamma especially!). He's social and a good little friend and always tries to include people. 

This year he has done gymnastics, soccer and swimming. He's loved all of them. Currently he's taking swim lessons but he can't wait until soccer starts this spring, and he's finally old enough to be on a team instead of the little class he took. He's also very excited to be starting pre-school in the fall - he's more than ready! 

We always said the kids can start having friend parties when they are four, when party guests are a little older (and potty trained), but when Liam looked at us and said that he was having a Spider-Man party and rattled off his guest list, we couldn't say anything but okay. 

The kids played "pin the spider on Spider-Man," used balloons (the kind with the big rubber bands) to "beat up the bad guys" and had a silly-string "web war." Then of course there was cake and ice cream (check out what aunt Ale made!) and presents. Then the kids watched Liam's new PAW Patrol movie while they waited to get picked up. 

  

 Later that day we took Liam to lunch and to the Train Show at Thanksgiving Point (it's tradition). After a much needed nap, we went to the Fairbank's house to cheer on the Cardinals. Such a fun day! 

Since today (his actual birthday) is a Sunday we're just playing with his toys as a family, which is a nice low-key way to end the weekend. And mom insisted we take some pictures - I love having a record of what he looked like (and what our whole family looked like!) each year. 

We love you little-bitty!! You are our favorite Spider-Man! Happy Birthday!

Christmas 2015

I can't even describe how much I love Christmas - it really is the best time of year. Especially with kids - it's just so magical. This year was no exception. From sitting on Santa's lap, to making cookies and opening presents it's wonderful to share that as a family.

We started the season off with a visit to the Big Guy.
Both of them asked for a car they could drive
and PAW Patrol toys.

The magic of the Christmas Tree - one of my favorite things!

Our annual trip to see the lights together just
the two of us - one of my favorite traditions!

For the record - this is our 11th time going!

Making cookies!

Landon's Christmas program and class party were so much fun!
 Kindergarten is the best!

Mom and dad took a break and went to the Las Vegas
Bowl ... where sadly the Cougars lost, but it was fun!

Love it when we have a white Christmas!

And they never tire of playing in the snow!!

Last year we started a new tradition of doing a service project on Christmas Eve. This year we did "Blessing Bags" for the homeless. The boys got really into it and helped pick everything and put them together. We hope they learn that Christmas isn't just about the toys. 

Christmas Eve tradition: Service Project
This year we did "Blessing Bags" for the homeless.

I love that they took it seriously. They helped pick
everything, and assemble them.

Cookies for Santa!

Letters to Santa!

All of us in front of the tree!

Christmas Eve jammies at Grandma's house.

Everyone was thrilled with their presents - the boys have had fun with PAW Patrol toys, Magformers, the Millennium Falcon, some new games and books, BB8 (from Star Wars) and their new Dune Buggy!

They got their car! (And the PAW Patrol toys.
I love it when Santa gets it just right!)

We finally made it to Temple Square as a family a few
days after Christmas. Love this silly clan of mine!

It's over for another year, which makes me sad, but I'm grateful for the wonderful memories, for the Savior's birth, and for the family I got to spend the holiday with. On to a fabulous 2016!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was so fun this year! We were in St. George with the Terry side. Basically we didn't see the boys at all that day - they were so busy having fun with their cousins! We have so much to be grateful for - I love having a day to celebrate that!

Big Kid Room

The milestones just keep rolling in around here! Liam is officially in his big kid bed. We might have drug our feet a little on this one since he has been asking since mid-summer when he can sleep in his "big kid bed." 

My dad helped us hang wainscoting and the grey and orange decor we went with is perfect for Liam's personality. He's done a great job with the transition. He wandered just a bit at first - one night I found him climbing in to bed with Landon. I worried we might have a sleep walker on our hands, but when I asked him about it the next morning he said "yeah, you stopped me and carried me back to my bed!" Apparently he just wanted a snuggle! 

Last night in his baby bed!

So big!

I love how it turned out, but again, just want to shout - STAY LITTLE!

Lost Teeth

Landon has officially lost his first two teeth! They came out within a couple of days of each other, and his "new" smile is just too cute! 

The Tooth Fairy brought him a new toothbrush for the first one and a few little cars for the second. He was SO excited to lose them he didn't even mind that it hurt a little. 

We love that he gets so excited for new "milestones" even though we'd keep him little forever!! But, since we can't - permanent teeth - here we come!

Halloween!

Halloween brought all of the fun fall traditions we love - the pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving and of course trick or treating! This year we had a storm trooper (Landon) and Spiderman (Liam). Such cute trick or treaters!!