September 2010-Hair & Care Edition

HAIR: Eliza B. was born with urinary reflux-fairly common for girls, but she still hasn't out grown it and it makes her more susceptible to UTI's and worse kidney infections.  Poor thing got sick the last couple of days my mom and sister were in town in August.  She battled a high fever for days as we tried to get her on the right antibiotics.  About a month after, she lost a ton of hair, I finally discovered that the high prolonged fever caused it.  The morning I took this picture she was sportin' such a "fab do" I couldn't resist.  No hair up front makes it impossible to put clips in, but she doesn't seem to mind!

Unfortunately since that first outbreak (getting a UTI despite being on daily meds)-she's had 2 more.  So she has to get the horrible re-evaluation later this month in January.  Keep little B in your prayers this month...and me too-I think last year's evaluation scarred me for life.

& CARE: About the time Eliza's hair all started falling out, things started falling into to place for me.  A visit from a new Visiting Teacher opened up the door to a new journey for me.  Long story short, in 2009 I was running 1/2 marathons and doing sprint triathlons, in 2010 my body just kind of fell apart. I'd had really poor health for months and kept hitting dead ends with the doctor's and tests I'd seen or had done.  I'd been praying for a long time for relief from headaches and guidance for how to "get my health back".  In September, when Laura (one of my VT's) told me about some things she'd been doing in her life that helped her, I felt hope for the first time in months.

In the last seven years I've been called a hippy for a myriad of different reasons; being a "moderate tree hugger" for recycling etc, seeing a chiropractor, trying to eat healthy, loving hiking, biking, camping or just loving being outdoors in general, doing yoga...I am sure there is more...(I don't know, perhaps in the Midwest and South those things aren't as common as where I grew up).  I mention all of this because now that I have taken a few more steps into to the realm of alternative medicine, I think I can accept the title more.  I like to tell people I'm "hippyish" embracing the positive conotations of that word and none of the negative!

I've been trying to listen to my body more, putting what is right for me in and avoiding what's not.  As part of that I've been really trying to increase the fruits and vegtables (not rocket science, I know).  Also, I cut wheat and gluten out of my diet.  At home I am 100% gluten free.  Going out to eat, parties, and holidays-well I am not there yet, but since I don't have celiac, I know it's not going to kill me either.  It's amazing how many products now list that they are gluten-free.  Andy likes to tease me saying, "It's because gluten-free is the next fad phase."  I'm OK with that if it makes me feel better!

In addition to nutrional supplements and diet changes, I started seeing an acupunctorist. Yes, I willingly lay there while a plethora of needles are inserted from head to toe.  And what's more I like it and have seen a lot of benefits from it!  You may call me crazy, but it really has been an answer to prayers for me.  

I am no where near my "2009 self" yet, which is frustrating for me.  But I remind the impatient side of me, that positive life changes take time and I am trying to be realistic in what I can and can't do right now and accept what life brings me.  I knew before that I needed God's help each day in my life, but this year I have come to understand that even more literally.  Will I run half marathons and do triathlons again someday soon?  I guess time will only tell.   

Before I sign off, I need to give a shout out to the Weiss's.  Thanks for your help, support and your enthusiasm for healthy living.  You give us ionized water, we give you homemade almondbutter and glutenfree cookies-hope it all evens out!