Week 4.5!

First, I would like to say, death comes in 3's.  I am not superstitious, but even I think this is weird....   Nathan found out his grandma died of a stomach aneurism on Sunday, my grandma died Sunday evening and one of our chickens died too.  All on the same day.  2 funerals in one week.  Sorry we did not have one for the chicken.  She is lying very nicely in a sack in the garbage can.      

I realize I have been doing a lot of complaining.  Yikes!  I know I am no poster child for the GAPS diet.  That is for sure!  I do feel very blessed that I am able to do this.  I still would like to keep it real, because nobody wants to read something and feel deceived if or whenever they try something.  I am an open book.  Attitude is everything.  So maybe if I try to be a little more positive, I may end up loving this change.  Who knows anything is possible.  

I still think Sebastian has made the biggest changes.  This I love! He still is a pest to his siblings, but what brother isn't?  He smiles and is tender towards his sisters.  He told Cozi he would do her kitchen chore for her the rest of the week for her birthday.  He doesn't get upset for as long either.  The household seems to have calmed down.  I was talking to Nathan in the car this weekend and asked if he noticed any changes.  He said, "Yeah the kids seem to be better and I seem to be worse."  I think this is true.  The two cheats we have agreed on is white rice and regular beans (pinto, kidney-they aren't as easy to digest)  We have been drinking broth before lunch for 2 weeks.  Drinking broth causes die off, it is very healing to the gut.  My symptoms are muscle fatigue.  Just walking up the stairs is a major feat.  I would have thought I finished the Boston marathon if I lug up laundry 2 flights of stairs.

Cozi requested taco salad for ner birthday dinner last night.  Yummy!

 I made peanut butter brownies- GAP style, kids loved them. 

Venison Jerky!

 Nathan made 2 pounds of jerky for snacks.  Oh my, they are a great snack for the kids.

Pizza.  I remembered to take a picture after we ate half of it.  My last meal I had, I will be going shopping very soon.  I pray I can keep the bill within our budget.  (Gaps crust-eggs, coconut flour, almond flour, salt, oregano and applesauce)

 

My Cozi is turning 10 no way!!!

It is definitely hard to have such a life style change with food and do it with birthdays.  7 in our family, our birthdays' begin January 29th and end July 28th.  We didn't do a big party, Cozi was allowed to invite 1 friend, she chose her best friend from public school, Renzie.  We did break down and buy Papa Murphy's Pizza.  It was really good.  It was hard eating pizza without pop, but we are definitely staying away from sugar.  No weird side effects. 

Nail polish from Aunt Beki

...and more polish!  Aunt Beki comes up with the best ideas!

 Renzie's present to Cozi

 Hello kitty shirt

 glitter tattoos

 CUTE!

GAPS version of Apple Crisp

apples, cinnamon and butter on the bottom, the crisp is almond flour, butter and honey

 blowing out candles

Cozi gets a FROG!

 

 crickets for food...  I need to go to the pet store every 3 days to get the frog food.  Wonderful, just one more thing for me to do.

 Frederick the Frog

 We have been eating a cup of chicken broth for 3 days with our lunch.  I added some vegetables to it. 

 This is Bjorn's second cup....  He  loves it!  He would have had thirds but daddy finished it up.  We had BLT for lunch.  Renzie had it too, but I had some regular bread for her in the freezer.

 Cozi wanted to go ice skating so we went as a family.

 clinging to the wall....

 having fun

Dinner:  Garlic Pork Roast and carrots, zuchini, cabbage, and onions

Nathan really liked this meal.

 These are our favorite bars ever!   They are protein bars: coconut, peanut butter, coconut oil, almonds, raisins and honey.  On top I melt a few bars of bakers chocolate.  It is so good!  We love it.  Unfortunately, we finish these off in 2 days. 

Very blessed

I am very blessed

I try to make the GAPS meeting every other week as much as possible.   Teresa holds it at her house for anyone who wants to come.  She emailed other women and asked if anyone would make me some broth.  It was the sweetest thing ever.  Broth is very healing. I am not sure I can eat it straight, but I will be making basic soups with them so we can eat a cup or so a day.  Thank you for blessing me and my family....

Monday night dinner:  Hobo packets.  Yumm......  Hamburger, veg. and seasonings

Tuesdays dinner:  Chicken with carrots/onions/turnips/and cabbage.  I am so bummed, this was my first whole chicken I cooked and it was beautiful.  I forgot to take a picture until we ate almost the whole thing.  I had to laugh, as I kept cutting into it, I was thinking, "This must be a skinny bird, it hardly has any breast meat on him..."  I cooked it upside down.  Hee, hee!  It was delicious.

 fruit smoothie with avacado:  very creamy

Last nights meal:  Meatloaf...

 Spanish "rice"- cauliflower

 salad

As promised, here are the pictures of the kids' rooms.  Sebastian's room is downstairs.  I will be decorating it with maps.

Hannelora's room is also downstairs.  She has a horse theme going on.

 Analise's room-bugs

 Cozi's room- ballet

 Bjorn's room- construction

 I have to let everyone know I think I have been seeing a slight improvement in energy this week.  Today is the third day in a row I haven't taken a nap.  (not because I didn't want to, just had to finish up with chores or school work)  Normally, I would be dragging but I am doing well.  I know I need to be drinking more water because I wake up with puffy hands.  I must be retaining water.  I am not sure, but I think Sebastian is doing better as well.  He may still have a temper and get angry but he has been bouncing back quicker and he also is very kind and sweet.  Last night he did everyone's kitchen duties by himself, opening the front door to the car for his sisters and saying yes mom.  Very nice. 

Busy, busy, busy

Wow, what a crazy week and weekend.  School, new carpet and a tons to move as we get the kids' rooms ready.  I will have to show pictures of everyone's bedrooms next time.  I even managed to cook.  Phew!  Everyone's appetites are still huge!  So far we have eaten 13 dozen eggs and I have 4 dozen more until next payday.  Is it possible? The amount of veggies we eat is amazing as well.  Slim pickens too.  We have been on GAPS 3 weeks on Tuesday.  Cozi had a slight cold again this week but seems to be doing much better.  Cozi and Hannelora say they have a lot more energy.  So I guess that is an improvement.  Nathan is still complaining about enjoying his food. Fights and whining haven't eased up. I am still hoping as we still give our many talks of getting a long and learning to deal with each other.   Cozi and Sebastian are lamenting about eating out and sugar.  Bjorn and Hannelora are the only ones who love it.  My two bookends.  I wish the middle children would like it too.  I guess I can't complain because I still miss so much of the foods and ease still.  Oh well...

Chicken enchiladas:  I made my own sauce and we used GAPS tortillas (they are much like thin egg pancakes)  They were really good.  I have another in the freezer:)

steamed cauliflower

Sat. morning, I knew we needed as little clean up as possible because of all the furniture moving.  So I made Chile Relleno bake.  It is basically eggs, sausage(homemade) and cheese.

 with oranges and bananas

 Chili, almost wasn't enough!

 salad

 Sunday's breakfast: eggs, oranges and banana bread

lunch: toasted cheese sandwiches on GAPS tortillas/ cheese slices/ carrots

Dinner:  broiled veggies

A no-no, rice- not GAPS friendly.   Nathan is sick of veggies as sides, so I at least made it healthy with chicken broth and my own spices.

 Basil/Garlic steak shish kabobs- I don't think we are suppose to grill, something about carcinogens.  Wanted to have Nathan enjoy is meat tonight!

 

 

 Cozi's plate

I just had to add this:  We were throwing away Cozi's bashed up dresser. These are the labels she had in her drawers.  Left to right:  weekend jeans, weekend tops...

 school jeans, school tops...

 under tops, jam-jams!

I can't wait to see what she writes next....