Epilepsy

Posted on July 5, 2022 by samantha

One year ago this month we celebrated our sweet Olivia’s birthday. The very next night we were startled by a frantic banging on our bedroom door. I heard fearful yells from upstairs. I sprinted upstairs to see my second daughter, Lillian, putting Olivia in the recovery position as she was in the middle of a tonic clonic seizure. David had woken up to the feeling of her kicking him on the trundle bed he sleeps on right under her bed. He has a pretty broad knowledge of health related facts for a kid. He recognized she was having a seizure and needed help.
She had a couple more little seizures between the first big one and us getting her to the hospital. They started her on anti-seizure medication and sent us home.

When she was a little kid she had a different kind of seizure called Panayiotopoulos syndrome (occipital seizures), but was not on medication. She also had ”spells” during her period which we now believe were catamenial seizures.

Fortunately, she has done very well on the medication and being mindful of her lifestyle.
We are also very blessed with a close friend who runs a nonprofit for women and girls with epilepsy called My Epilepsy Story.
She is full of knowledge and a great help when looking for resources.

Epilepsy has changed our lives in some ways, but overall things are mostly the same. We are fortunate to have a great neurologist and support system. Not everyone is as fortunate. If you or anyone you know is affected by epilepsy I’d love to hear from you on what has been a blessing on your journey. Please check out my friend’s site for more information on women and girls with epilepsy.

“The Choice” {good read}

Posted on July 13, 2021 by samantha

The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eva Eger is a phenomenal book. The story of Auschwitz survivor, Edith Eva Eger, is a moving, compelling, and important story. As we move further in years from the Holocaust, I believe it is more important than ever to remember and study the stories of that time. Yes, there are parts that are deeply painful to hear. I believe we honor those who lived and died by memorializing their stories. For those who have lived through trauma this story offers hope and power.

“Though I could have remained a permanent victim –scarred by what was beyond my control– I made the choice to heal. Early on, I realized that true freedom can only be found by forgiving, letting go, and moving on. So I turned my life around and vigorously pursued a career in psychology. Combining my formal education and my own life challenges, I have helped countless others lead full lives by moving beyond their problems –no matter how insurmountable they believed them to be. This is my life’s mission and I will forever strive to help people make the choice to heal and thrive. That’s a promise!” ~Dr. Edith Eva Eger~

Perhaps one of the greatest lessons she teaches is :

Home

It’s been a minute ;)

Posted on July 8, 2021 by samantha

I can hardly believe it’s been so long since I’ve posted. Since the last post, one daughter graduated college, and one graduated high school and started college. We’ve all been home (for the most part) since March 2020.

Just like most people, some things have really changed since the shutdown. Right after my daughter got back from Oregon, I started getting terrible hives and rashes that seemed to come out of nowhere. I felt awful 99% of the time. I had gained a ton of weight and nothing I did seemed to make a difference. I went to my endocrinologist in January 2020. My TSH was 13, but he told me to lose weight and he’d see me again in 3 months. I told him about the rashes. He insisted it was my detergent. Well, that was so ridiculous that I did a telehealth appointment in March 2020. She agreed to up my dose of levothyroxine. I did a food intolerance test in December 2020, and found that I had an intolerance to eggs and milk. Once I eliminated those from my diet, I never had the rash or hives again. My digestive system also felt so much better. I still felt pretty unmotivated. I went to my regular doctor and told her everything that had gone on. She tested my levels. She called back within a day and said my TSH level was 197. She had never seen levels this high and upped my dosage drastically.
It has taken a lot of time and work, but I’m finally feeling better. I’ve completely changed my diet. Keto is really hard to stick to without eggs or milk. I’ve given up eggs, milk, wheat, and sugar. I started getting food from Daily Harvest. It has been a game changer for me! I’ve lost over 20 pounds in two months, and I’ve eaten more food than ever before. I have a code to get $35 off of Daily Harvest if you’re interested. I’ll tell you, I’m not a huge smoothie lover in general. The harvest and forager bowls are among my favorites. Here’s the code to save $35:

The Oregon Extension

Posted on September 13, 2019 by samantha

Have any of you ever wished for an opportunity to just put away your phone, unplug the computer, and live a different kind of life just for a little while? My oldest daughter, VG, is doing exactly that this semester and I couldn’t be prouder! She’s always been a deep thinker, but she’s also highly sensitive. She realized a couple of years ago that social media wasn’t something that was good for her mentally, so she got rid of it. During her spring semester, she came across this program that her university is a part. The opportunity came at the most perfect time. The Oregon Extension

“Every autumn since 1975, several dozen college students from across the country have taken a step “out of the current” for an unusual semester of vigorous intellectual exploration. Students earn 17 credits, but focus on one topic of study at a time. Daily reading, small group discussion, and one-on-one conversations with faculty members comprise the heart of the OE program.” (theoregonextension.org)

Although, I can only talk to my daughter on the weekends (because their phones are put away Monday through Friday) I know that she is doing some amazing things. She’s camped out at the Lava Beds National Monument. She climbed Mt. McLoughlin the first week she was there. She’s made goat cheese. She’s milked goats. She has cooked more meals so far than she’s ever cooked before. She was part of de-feathering a turkey that was supposed to be a Thanksgiving Turkey, but was badly injured, so it was necessary to end its suffering. I’m sure there are many more things she has done, and I’m sure there are lots more amazing adventures on the horizon for the next three months. My prayer is that she’ll gain an amazing amount of confidence in herself and an awareness and appreciation for this wonderful world we’ve been blessed to be a small part. She shared a screenshot of a poem one of the professors read. It is perfection.

She also started a blog of her own. https://the20nothing.blogspot.com/?m=1 She’s actually had several blogs throughout her life, but this one is about the new phase of her life. I am proud that she is so brave to step away from the things she knows and feels comfortable with, and jump into a life that is so very different and extremely challenging, even if it’s only for a few months.

Cleaning Up

Posted on June 14, 2019 by samantha

I’ve written a few times about cleaning products and about trying to live greener. Today, I want to share some things I’m using and doing. I know I still have work to do, but I’m doing more and more everyday.

While reading, “The Art of Southern Charm” by Patricia Altschul, I was introduced to the brand called The Laundress. I purchased several things from the company and have been impressed with them. According to the company it contains: “All of the good, none of the bad. Nontoxic, biodegradable, and allergen-free. Free of petroleum, phosphate, phthalates, artificial color, and animal by-products.” Considering that I do at least two loads of laundry a day I need a good product that goes a long way and does a good job. The Laundress fits the bill! I also love the All-Purpose Cleaner from The Laundress. It does an amazing job cleaning everything! I especially love mopping the floors with it.

I pack lots of snacks with so many children to feed. Ziploc bags were always in my pantry, but I swapped them for silicone ones after seeing more than a dozen plastic bags littering the beach. I got the Pepe Nero ones from Amazon and I also got some gallon ones with a zipper from a company called Planet Wise. Their website is planetwiseinc.com.

On a weekend trip to The Home Depot I came across Mighty Bamboo paper towel rolls. They can be washed. They are re-usable and anti-microbial. I will admit that I’m not totally giving up my Viva paper towels just yet (I use those for dog messes and things that just really gross me out), but I am definitely using far less of them now.

I’m also using biodegradable bags for food scraps and most bathroom trash. The brand I like is Unni.

I’ve mentioned Puracy products before. I’m a big fan of the made in the USA company. Their products are non-toxic and safe for the environment. I try to buy the big refills to help cut down on our plastic waste.

I’ve always used Mason jars for leftovers. This is such a simple and easy way to store food.

These are a few ways I’m trying to become a greener person. I want my children and their children to have the healthiest planet possible.

Keto Fast Foods From McDonald’s

Posted on May 12, 2019 by samantha

There are times when you just have no choice but to get fast food (although my teenagers would eat fast food for every meal if I let them).

Now that McDonald’s serves all day breakfast, it makes it so much easier to eat a Keto meal on the road. If I have to eat fast food, I will order a sausage egg cheese McMuffin without the muffin. My husband also loves these. He eats beef so his options are vaster, but since I don’t these are perfect for me.

As long as you order things without the bun and sugary sauces, you can eat several things and stay Keto. When eating fast food, stay away from anything breaded. Also, keep in mind that most sauces, other than mustard and mayo, are usually loaded with sugar. Keto on a road trip or just on busy nights isn’t so hard after all.

From McDonald’s.com

April Fools Day Dinner

Posted on April 1, 2019 by samantha

Tomorrow is one of my children’s favorite days of the year. April Fools Day provides so many funny moments and fun activities if you just look for it. Every year, I make a special dinner or dessert. My kids look forward to it, so I can’t let them down. I’m including last year’s menu and the year before if you want to start a tradition like this. The way this works is that they are given a card for each of the three courses. They must pick 3 or 4 items at the beginning of the dinner for each course with no duplicates. They could end up with a fork, a cake pop, and a glass for one course. You just have to make your best guess. I try to save plates and napkins from other holidays and use them on this day. There are so many silly things you can do! I hope you have a fun day tomorrow no matter how you choose to celebrate it!

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Keto Cheesy Biscuits {recipe}

Posted on February 28, 2019 by samantha

It seems like there are more and more Keto snacks out there now than ever before. The problem is that most are sweet, but sometimes I just want something savory. I was wanting to try out a new recipe that wasn’t a dessert, and this is what I created.

I love that this recipe is fast and easy to throw together. It also requires ingredients that I almost always have on hand.

Keto Cheesy Biscuits

2 cups of almond flour

2 cups of shredded cheese (I used spicy, but any kind should work)

2 eggs

1/3 cup melted ghee

2 tsp. Baking soda

1.5 tsp. Salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until a stiff dough forms. Put tablespoon-size balls of biscuit dough on the cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes. Enjoy!!

These would probably be excellent Keto cheddar bay biscuit copycats if you added a butter garlic wash to the tops.

“Girl, Wash Your Face”{book/ Audible review}

Posted on February 21, 2019 by samantha

***************UPDATE*******************

In April of 2021, Rachel Hollis lost me as a follower and a reader of any book she may put out in the future. I’ll let you decide for yourself, but she got too far up her own behind for my liking. There are better books out there. There are better people out there with more education and knowledge to guide those looking for more from their lives. Google “Rachel Hollis April 2021 TikTok” to find out why I no longer listen to her. **********************

Let me start by saying that I am an extremely hard critic for books that tell me what to do. I guess I don’t like being bossed around by anyone.

One of my closest friends took me to see “Made For More.” This is a movie about Rachel Hollis and her conference, Rise.

I have to say that Rachel is likeable right away. She’s relatable and funny (that’s why she has a tribe of over a million followers). I wasn’t over the top excited to leave and run and get the book though. I felt like it was great for certain women, but not really for me.

Fast-forward a few days later and I was looking for something to inspire me to do more than just get through my days (which is the way I’ve felt lately). I looked at all kinds of books. I then listened to an excerpt from this book and bought it with an Audible credit.

I listened while I worked out. I listened while I waited for someone to get done with an appointment. I actually was inspired. I didn’t expect to enjoy it half as much as I did. I didn’t really expect to feel inspired or excited from it, but I was!

It’s hard to put my finger on why. I don’t know exactly why. I know that listening to Rachel talk about her struggles, her fears, her dreams, and her successes has made me feel like I can do so much more than what I’ve been telling myself, and what I’ve been letting others make me feel like I can do. Somewhere along the way, I lost a sense of hopefulness about the future. I needed to hear someone tell me that women tell themselves lies and let themselves believe lies, and that we have to stop it! None of this was new news, by the way. I’ve heard this all before. Head to Pinterest and you’ll see a thousand quotes all about it. I’ve just never heard it from another person exactly when I needed to hear it.

Even though I don’t have the same dreams as Rachel (I don’t want to be a mogul or friends of the rich and famous) she still spoke words into my heart that urge me to move past the limitations that I allow myself to believe and reach for so much more. I just want to live a life that abundantly serves others, but in a way where I feel blessed to do so, and not in a way that leaves me depleted and overwhelmed.

I’m looking at my life with greater expectations.

I would recommend this book to any woman out there who feels stuck in a rut, any woman who needs someone to tell her that she’s made for more than what she’s settled for in the past, and any woman who is looking for a cheerleader and a coach to tell her what she needs to do to get out of her own way in order to live a beautiful and full life.

Interested in Keto?

Posted on January 23, 2019 by samantha

As soon as it was evident that I’d lost weight, people began asking how I did it. Truthfully, my weight fluctuates as much to ten pounds up and down so it took a while for people to start questioning how I’d done it, but I was glad to tell them once they asked. Most people had heard of keto but didn’t know anything about it. Some people thought I was asking for a heart attack with all that fat. Some questioned how my cholesterol levels must look (assuming they must be awful). After a few weeks and months, more and more people started asking me more about the diet. They wanted to know what I ate in a day. Did I count calories, carbohydrates, fiber, etc? I was happy to tell them, but I also wanted to arm them with knowledge. I wanted them to decide for themselves based on research if this diet was one that they could believe in and actually stick to. I realize that on any particular subject there will be multiple sides with varying opinions, but I want to always make sure I don’t make decisions based on trends or fads.

I am going to link several studies. If you are interested in learning more about a ketogenic diet, these studies will help you learn more and see what research shows. I hope they will be helpful and that you will be inspired to do more research on your own. Also, Mark Sisson has a great website and podcast about primal eating and the ketogenic diet.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2716748/

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-08-keto-diet-gains-popularity-scientists.html

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/diagnosis-diet/201809/latest-low-carb-study-all-politics-no-science

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/13/493739074/50-years-ago-sugar-industry-quietly-paid-scientists-to-point-blame-at-fat

Whenever I read articles or “studies” which claim that the keto diet is all meat and no vegetables, I get irritated. Mostly, because I don’t know anyone who eats like that. I am extremely sensitive to protein so I eat meat (fish, chicken, turkey, or uncured pork) once or twice a week at most. Most days my diet mostly consists of several salads, cheese, eggs, and avocados. I also eat broccoli, green beans, and berries. If the fiber grams are subtracted from the total carbohydrate counts, my carb count still comes in below 50 grams daily.

I always recommend that if you are planning on starting a new diet or exercise program that you talk to your medical doctor first. I am closely followed by my own doctor. My bloodwork is also done every six months. I am very happy to report that my numbers are excellent.

One last thing, I went off the diet for a week while in Disney World (we had the dining plan). I felt horrible! I went to bed with a massive stomachache for the first two nights. I could hardly wait to get back home and back on the diet. The experience solidified the fact that this diet is the one that works well for me and that leaves me feeling the best overall.

I would love to hear your comments or questions.

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