Check-In December 2007

[aklap]

Hey y'all know that it's December already? Holy Crap!

I spent a chunk of Saturday trying to get my 35 year old snowblower ready for the storm. We got a pretty good storm. About 5-7 inches, sleet & rain. Fun fun fun! There's more on the way tomorrow.

I spent the rest of Saturday fixing up one of kitchen cabinets and touching up the paint on them. <GACK>

Sunday we had a congregational meeting so, we were at church till 2:30 - good grief!!

Peg is decorating the house for Christmas. She's putting up her Precious Moments Nativity set. There's like 8,000 pieces to it. She gets such a kick out of that - just like a little girl

Hey - we made it a year with Check-In's. If you wanna see what you were doing last year, check this out.

For those of you just tuning in, Check-In is chance to introduce yourself, let everyone know how you're doing, what you're up to, to touch base...something, anything, just let us know you're still around

The Check-In Time Tunnel
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[ostrich]

Tell Peg I'll come over and help.

Man, November really gave DH and I a pounding. I'm sure December and January won't be much different. Waaaay too much stress going on right now at home. I won't get into everything here. Let's just say work is slowly becoming my getaway.

On the plus side, we'll be going on vacation to FL after Christmas. Considering how crappy the weather has been lately, I think we're dodging a bullet. Hopefully a little sun and sand will help me relax.
_________________
Ostrich :>--O==={

Time falls away, but these small hours
These little wonders still remain

[NorthernElf]

Yeah, December is in full swing alright. We've had wind chill & snow fall warnings the in effect the last two days. Shovelling is my winter work out, I guess ! Seriously, temps of -33 with the windchill are no fun.

Running, running, running - kids to hockey, choir (lots of Xmas concerts), school concerts & stuff, our anniversary (got mildly glutened at Mr. Mike's but I'll survive ), and, of course, Christmas itself. Whew.

Last Sunday I spent a couple of hours on the internet and completed most of my shopping, for the kids anyway. Relief !

We will be in Edmonton for the holidays...if I can get rid of one work shift on the 27th...and I am heading to the Kinnikinnick bakery to stock up. Yep, all that shopping & I get excited about food. Ok, we will do some other shopping too.

BTW, I am reading Gluten Free Girl - interesting book. Her history (except for the gourmet cooking) is so similar to mine it is scary ! Years of stomach issues, bad diet (my folks also bought into the Fruit Loops and Pop tart diet), and no answers. Worth reading.

[krisiw]

I've got a cold right now which stinks, but I've been doing really well with my diet lately. I have many more good days than bad. In fact, except for being sick, I think every day last week was a good day. (I'm pretty sure I got the cold because I went on a parasite cleanse)

The weather here is super mild which I like, in a way, but we really need the moisture of snow and a few good freezes are good for limiting the bug populations. I guess I should just enjoy the fact that I rarely have to worry about not having a good coat.

My in-laws want me to come visit for the holidays but there's no way right now. All my dietary restrictions are too new for me to risk it. Besides, they are a huge, dairy, meat, and sugar eating family. I'm not.

December should be good and the end of it will take me that much closer to seeing my hubby.

[nancw]

I am adjusting well to my newest dietary restrictions. Never a squash eater, I am using it in so many ways and it adds a whole new dimension to eating. This week's challenge: amaranth pasta. I unthinkingly added Tinky pasta to my post-Thanksgiving turkey soup and now, of course, cannot eat it!

We had to put down our 20 1/2 year old kitty, Buster, the day after Thanksgiving. Very sad, but our sadness has lifted with the adoption of Wilma, a six month old ball of energy that my friend was unable to keep. My first young cat in the house in 20 years - I even laughed when she dumped my baby african violets off the windowsill into the sink last night! DS is thrilled, as is our dog, Stella.

We've dodged the latest big storms (it's around 65 right now - sorry guys ) but I'm still pushing for a snowblower (or a Kitchen Aid stand mixer) for Xmas. Al - let me know if you truly are looking for new model, I'm doing a lot of research on them right now. I love my Consumer Reports subscription!

Hang in there everyone - 3 weeks and it'll all be over.
Happy Hanukah/Christmas/Kwaanza/Festivus to all and enjoy your safe treats!
_________________
Nance

gluten, dairy, soy, rice, yeast and 99% grain-free

[Fidissimus]

Another great Thanksgiving come and gone... ah sooo good and over so quick!

This is a crazy month. I don't know how I'm going to get it all done! Work is a total bear these days and I've got a ton of it to finish up (there is no NOT completing it *) before I leave for the holiday vacation we've got planned. I'm hoping for little miracles. Or lots of caffine, which ever comes first.

I finished the GIG newsletter but haven't been able to get it printed - that's really bothering me... MUST get it done! I DID however manage to get all our decorations up, except the Christmas Tree which I think we're going to skip this year since we won't be around. I personally think this is wrong! but practical. Sigh. Christmas without a tree is like Thanksgiving without Turkey.

So we'll be headed out to NC to visit with DH's family. It's good as we haven't been out in about five years. DD has never been (or been on a plane for that matter - But I'm thinkin' being trapped in a tin box 35,000 ft in the air for five hours with a rambuncous toddler... ...not going to be so fun.) I'm also really freaked out about flying. I don't know why. I've been all over the globe and been on hundreds of flights... still I hit a certain age and then never wanted to get on a plane again. I don't want to crash. Whaaa. Dumb, I know.

*See how bad the stress is? I've resorted to using double negatives! yikes.
_________________
Cheers!
Jenn

GF BD: Feb. 2001
Free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, dairy, eggs, almonds, pineapple and brewers yeast.
http://graindamaged.blogspot.com/

[cruelshoes]

Ho ho ho! December is off and running. The kids have outlined their holiday list of demands, and the tree is up. I finally bit the bullet and bought an artificial tree this year. Now I don't have to worry about setting the house on fire in a few weeks with a bone-dry tree. I am not really sure how we will be spending the holidays because of family stuff going on, so we may end up saying "screw it" and stay home.

We got our Christmas bonus at work, and it was only about 1/2 as much as I expected, so we get to do some creative maneuvering to make sure everyone has enough junk under the tree.

Our alpha hen went broody last month. Nothing we have done has been able to break it, so we got some fertilized eggs from some friends. She is sitting on 6 eggs, and from candling them, it looks like about half of them are viable. Right aroung the 10th, I may have some new baby chick pictures to share.

I tried to participate in the AT 1001 trial, but got rejected due to an unrelated liver disease. It's probably just as well, since I have very little energy to go around these days. I am sad that I don't get to help make the pill a reality, but the doctor running the trial said they have been overwhelmed with interest in participating.

Here is a recent picture of the whole Cruelshoes fam. Sarah looks like she is being squeezed since I was trying to hold her down while she was trying to squirm away. Hope you are all happy and healthy this year.



_________________
-Colleen

Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handcart?

[Linda]

Very busy here. Hockey, volunteering at school, packaging up Christmas presents to mail, work, etc.

So far we're all healthy (except my tickley throat), and reasonably happy, I guess that's all we can ask for.
_________________
Mom of Ty (he's nine) who was diagnosed by bloodwork June 2005, biopsy August 11, 2005, notified on & started GF August 18, 2005

[Ghost_Hunter]

Hi Everyone!

I'm new here! My name is Jennifer and I'm a 28 (soon to be 29) year old SAHM of 2. I also founded and manage the Northern Utah Paranormal Society.

I was diagnosed by blood work and positive dietary change in May of 2004. I was misdiagnosed for over 11 years, and I think due to that I have collected a couple of other autoimmune conditions.

Anyway, I have not been good with the diet lately, and I have to say I'm ashamed to admit that. I'm recommitted to the diet, and I'm hoping that being active in a group can help me stay on track.

Hope everyone has an awesome Christmas!

Jennifer

[aklap]

Hi Jennifer!

Welcome to the board!!

I'm glad you joined. Maybe we can help keep you on the straight and narrow Have you considered joining a local support group? If you need help find one, let us know.

As good as these online groups are, there's nothing like good ol' fashioned face to face, human contact for support.

It really is imperative that you stay on your diet. It can lead to intestinal cancer and cascade to a host other diseases [as you've suspected you've collected other auto-immune diseases along the way]. Beside, you want be as healthy as you can for those Ghost Hunter Jr's you have. Have they been tested? CD is a genetic disease, so your immediate family members [aka your kids, your parents, your siblings], need to be tested too. There's a 1 in 22 chance of getting CD if a 1st degree relative has it.

Cool, a ghost hunter. Bet you've got lots of interesting stories...

Hope you hang out with us awhile. Don't be afraid to ask questions!! [I guess if you're not afraid of ghosts, you're probably not afraid of much. ]
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[aklap]

Hey Colleen - great picture! You've got a wonderful family. Gosh...the little munchkin is really getting big!

I still remember when you told us about her...
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[Ghost_Hunter]

[cruelshoes]

[cruelshoes]

[Ghost_Hunter]