It looks like Narnia!

Eight inches and a possible five more to go!!!! I'm hoping for a good snowball fight before this is over : ) Even thought the snow is beautiful, EDS never ceases to make its presence known in this cold weather!  I was feeling it even before it started snowing last night........great weather announcer I'd be : )   

Finding Joy In the Simplest of Things:)

Earlier this morning:

Had fun taking these pics!

I was able to snap some shots this year as opposed to last year. :D

Right now:

POTS is making me feeling plum tuckered out
I feel like giving in
I feel unproductive with my day
I'm fustrated

I'm feeling lazy

But:

All I need to do is focus on the things I CAN do and take joy in the simplest of things that I'm blessed with each moment:)

Two things that make me smile:

One of the best two cats in da world!!!
Earline playing with my camera 2010:)

 

The other best kitty in da whole world:) 
Her royalty in all her glory:D

Gluten-free Granola Fruit Bars

I created this gluten free recipe but it wasn't without the help of a recipe on the back of a granola bag.  Both the recipe and the granola included gluten.  I used the basic concepts, used the same measurements and added different ingredients. Note.  These recipes do include oats which I can tolerate but are not officially gluten free unless you use gluten free oats.

Gluten-Free Granola Fruit Bars:preheat oven to 350*

In a bowl mix:

3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup white sugar
*1/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup Pamela's gluten-free Pancake and Baking Flour

1tsp salt

1 1/2 cups gluten-free oats (I use the regular Quaker Oats)
1 1/2 cups gluten-free granola **

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1/4 to 1/3 chocolate chips

*Last time I tried using a little less than 1/4 cup of honey instead of brown sugar and it was a little bit crumbly.

**You can use store-bought gluten-free granola or this is the homemade recipe I use with regular oats.

Homemade Granola: 

preheat oven to 350*

5 cups gluten-free oats or regular oats
1 cup shredded coconut

1 cup nuts

1 cup honey

1/2 cup canola oil

Mix the above ingredients in a bowl and spread onto a baking sheet.  Cook for ten minutes.  When it turns light brown flip the granola and sprinkle 1 cup plus of raisins, cranberries ect. and put back in oven for a few minutes until brown. 

Once the granola is taken out of the oven, it will need a lot of stirring until its cool. Otherwise, it will stick to the pan.

Blueberry, Banana, Peanut Butter Smoothie

Since I've been on a Gluten-free diet,  I always like concocting new smoothies. The other day I read about someone liking a smoothie that she called a Blueberry, Banana, Peanut Butter Smoothie.  At first I thought it would be pretty disgusting. But after thinking on it, I decided to be brave and try it (Something I'm really bad at when it comes to food. I had no recipe to follow so I just threw together the following ingredients.  IT IS SO DELICIOUS!!! Also note that I do not measure out my ingredients  so the following amounts are close to what I use.

In a blender mix:

1 banana
1 cup of Blueberries
1-2 TBSP Peanut Butter (almond butter, ect)
1/2 plus tsp of vanilla
1-2 TBSP of shredded coconut
2 cups plus of milk (almond milk, coconut milk, ect)

1 tsp of sugar (optional.  I have found with smoothies, sugar isn't always necessary)

1/2 to 1 cup blueberry Keifer (optional.  If using keifer...reduce milk some. Also Keifer is 99% lactose free!)

After blended add 1/3 cup granola

ENJOY!!

2012 Recap and New Year

Year 2012:
A year ago, things were a lot different for me.  I was in chronic pain and my joints would shift, dislocate and sublux a lot.  The previous summer I was diagnosed with POTS and EDS. It seemed like I went to Chemistry class every week with a different brace on.  A sling one week and knee brace the other.
Last February, I started six months of Physical Therapy.  At first I wasn't convinced it was going to help one bit.  But by the time I was discharged in June, I was 85-90% pain free.  My knees, hips, shoulders, and wrists didn't pop out and or shift.
To honestly say, I wasn't sure how to take it.  It was strange to be given a small taste of what 'normal actually felt like. Then the summer heat hit and POTS came with a thud.  It was so bad at one point that I could not get UP from the floor after an exercise because I was too weak and exhausted.  I couldn't sit down at the table and write a simple email for more than a minute (sometimes not even that) before I was hit with REALLY bad nausea and fatigue. Forming a sentence was exhausting. I had to draw laying on the floor sometimes.
At this point I had let go of a lot of things.  I had content with simple little things.  Being able to go surfing was amazing. Something I never thought I get to do.


As the summer months came and went, POTS never really let lose.  Then, in November, we switched doctors and now I have a WONDERFUL team working with me.  By the end of November I was put on a trial of hydration therapy (saline IV infusions).  It seems like such a small thing, but the difference it made wasn't.  I went from limited daily activity, juggling simple daily tasks, matching my physical abilities and taking all day to workout, to having more stamina and endurance.  School is less of a problems than what it was, and I can sit at the table and do projects and work.  My daily tasks have increased as well and my ability to keep up with 'life' a bit more has improved.

Current 2013:
Right, now I'm in PT again. This time for cervical instability.   I'm about a week and a half behind what my Therapist was expecting me to be. The therapy is mainly focusing on strengthening parts of the neck that 'normal' people would never have to strengthen.  My headaches have decreased but I still have a ways to go with my strength and endurance in my neck.

Although huge strides of improvement have been taken, I still have struggles and issues.  They haven't all gone away. And I'm fine with that.  A year ago I never expected to be were I am right now.  For me, learning to embrace trials and struggles has been a learning process.  God NEVER allows things for no good reason.  And I am thankful and blessed for all that He has given me and walked me through.....the good and so called bad. I'm better for it.  No matter how yucky and downright tough it gets, there truly is a purpose to it all. GOOD will come out of it.  Whether it was what we expect or not!

A few of my 2013 goals and projects!
-increase strength and get in better shape ( A life long goal)
-Go surfing!!!!! (I've been dying to get out there again and master the delicate art of balancing on a surf board!! Ugh......I'm still frustrated :P
-Make the most of every moment
-Get my drivers license....ahhh...scary:-)
-It's not exactly a goal (maybe a in the next two years goal), but I do want to get my hip surgery DONE......FINISH!!! Whether this year or next.
-Finish writing a story I started six years ago (we will see.....cough....how this one goes ;-)
-Scrapbook two albums
-Finish school
-Continue working on my reading list.
-Take a few western riding classes

Just got my 'sketch a day' sketchbook the other day!

 

Please pray for a dear friend of mine.  

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/allisonworkman

(you will also find her link on my blog list)

Verse of the week

" Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.....................Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."    Hosea 6:1,3

Verse of the week

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.  Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.  The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground."   Psalms 147:3-6

Finally Getting Hydrated

I'm so happy with the outcome of the hydration therapy.  Can't believe how good I'm actually feeling!

SOME OF THE PROS:
-more energy
-can do school with less trouble
-tons more strength and energy with working out
-less nausea, lightheaded ect.

After going without an IV saline for four days, it took the nurse ten minutes and two pokes to find a vein.  I was so dehydrated that my veins had retracted significantly! 

I still have moments of feeling really bad but they are less frequent and I can usually take care of it with fluid, salt ect. 

Biking-good or bad for hip chicks.

Hm. Well, to answer that question........it's NO.  I tried several times but it just doesn't go over very well with my shallow hip sockets.  As my physical therapist said, walking is good for my hips but bad for my back and knees.  Biking on the other hand is bad for my hips and good for my knees and back.  So for now, until my hips are fixed I guess its time to put the bike away.  There's always another time.

While I'm at it, I might as well throw in the latest on my dear old friend....POTS!  This past week I have done two days of hydration therapy.  1.5L of fluid by IV, here at home.  If it continues to improve and really help me, there will be a discussion with my doc about putting in a port. One more week of treatment and then we will see him about what to do next.

Introducing........

Clarabelle's great grandniece's 3rd cousin twice removed 
acrylic on canvas

Verse of the week

"For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."  Philippians 4:11