I used to have a handle on life, but it broke!

It is difficult to keep up with everything. Right now I am trying to keep up with Andy's schedule and health, Lena's sports, and my schooling. So what falls to the wayside? My blog!!
Andy's update:
His new medication is working. He is having less episodes of spitting up (mainly happens when he can't find anything else to do). A full schedule helps to keep it down. He is digesting food again, and he is growing again, finally. Now we have to tackle the toe walking, because it is causing problems with the growth of his feet. It is also causing problems with his posture. He needs lots of dental work now because of the spitting up. If it's not one thing it's another.
Lena's update:
She keeps busy with all her sports. She just started soccer practices, and fast pitch softball (winter ball) for a 3rd season. She is excited to start 4th grade.
My update:
School has been going great. I have one more semester of prerequisites to complete, then I will apply to nursing programs in the spring. I hope that I will get accepted for the Fall of 2011.
Todd's update:
He works super hard running and growing Servicesidekick.com. He loves what he does.

We are all excited for another school year and sporting season.

It's been too long!!

I can't believe that my last post was in February. Time seems to slip away from me.

A lot has happened in the past months. We moved, I started back to school to become an RN, Andy turned 6, and we took a trip to Disneyland.

There's never a dull moment around here. We have been working hard since April to get Andy to stop spitting up (the nicest way of putting it). Throughout the day he can bring food backup effortlessly. He plays with it, painting the walls and windows of his bedroom. He can do this up to 20 times a day. At times I think I am going to pull all my hair out. I am so tired of cleaning it up, I clean windows, clothes, and bedding daily. We are working with Andy's GI doctor to get a handle on this problem.

Disneyland was amazing, our first family vacation since the diagnosis. They really try hard to accommodate people with special needs. We got a special pass for Andy that allowed us to bypass the long lines. There is no way that Andy could wait. We took him on every ride but 3. He wasn't tall enough for Indiana Jones and California screamer, and we were worried that Space Mountain might bring on a seizure. He loved every ride especially Pirates of the Caribbean. The thing enjoyed the most was meeting his favorite characters Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger and Mr. Incredible. His face lite up like nothing I've ever seen before. He smiled from ear to ear. I couldn't hold back the tears of joy. The other great thing about Disney is that they have added GF/CF items to their restaurant menus. It made it so much easier for us, we only had to take a lunch and snacks for Andy. I'm looking forward to our next trip. I'm working on a slide show of all the pictures that I can upload to the blog.

Andy's Clam Chowder

Andy’s Clam Chowder (GF/CF)

Ingredients:
4-5 medium Potatoes
1 can chopped clams
1 can minced clams
1 bottle clam juice
1 tsp black pepper
½ onion finely chopped
½ container Tofutti soy sour cream
½ lbs GF/CF Bacon chopped

Peel potatoes and cut into 1” cubes. In a large pot boil potatoes with clam juice (including juice from cans), and black pepper. If clam juice doesn’t cover the potatoes add water. Cook chopped bacon and onion together (do not drain). When potatoes are done add bacon and onion, clams, and sour cream. Stir all together and keep on low heat until ready to serve.

If you want to make a larger pot just double the ingredients. It's great durning the cold winter months.

Yummy Spice Cake

Mjuk Peppar kaka (Mormor’s Spice Cake) GF/CF

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 ½ cup sugar
1 ½ cup Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour (Bob’s Red Mill is what I use)
1 tsp Xanthan Gum
1 tsp Cardamom
2 tsp Cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder (recommend Aluminum Free)
¾ cup Milk substitute (Rice, Almond, Hemp or Soy milk)
1 cube Margarine (can be substituted with ½ cup applesauce or other pureed fruit)

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and coat with GF/CF flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Or for smaller loaves use three 5x3 inch loaf pans. In a large mixing bowl combine eggs and sugar. In a smaller mixing bowl combine all dry ingredients. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the eggs and sugar. Then mix in the milk substitute and margarine. Place the mixture into the loaf pan(s). Bake larger loaf pan for 1 hour and smaller loaf pans for 45 minutes.

This recipe was one of Andy's Swedish Great Grandmothers. I converted it to GF/CF, and the house always smells wonderful after I make it. A warning about this recipe, it doesn't last long because it's so yummy everyone eats it up.

A few Updates

So much so little time. A lot has happened in the past couple of weeks. Andy started kindergarten on January 7th. I really like his new teacher and Andy seems to be doing really well. The only regression we have seen is his vomiting come back. I stopped it with an acid reducer. I think he has anxiety when things change which causes acid reflux. The other issue we have been dealing with is his sleep patterns. He has been waking around 1:30 am and sometimes staying up until 8:00pm the following night. Todd and I have been taking turns waking up with him, but it is taking a toll. One of our therapists suggested Valerian Root. It's a supplement that helps with restful sleep. Andy has been taking it for almost a week and we are seeing good results. He will now sleep until 5:30 or 6:00am, and there have been a few 1:30am wake ups but he has been able to fall back a sleep. Everyone I talk to says the key to feeling better is a good night sleep. I have no idea when I will start feeling better. My hope is that someday soon Andy will sleep until 7 or 8am so that I can start getting some good sleep.

Cooking for the Week!

When I am in the mood I love to cook. So tonight I got to it and made some yummy foods. Turkey meatloaf and Apple-Fennel Meatballs with Liver. Yes I cooked liver, and it turned out great. I thought the Fennel bulb was so cool I took a picture of it. And what kid wouldn't want to eat a meatloaf cupcake.

Other Best Christmas Gift

Andy loves his trampoline that Grandma Ingrid and Grandpa Chet got him for Christmas. He learned to jump just 2 months ago and we can't get him to stop (we really don't want him to stop).