I Need a Hobby!

For the past month or so, I have been feeling about 10 years older than I actually am. My entire day is taken up with errands, cleaning, and trying to keep my kids alive. I am really, really busy all the time, but it isn't the kind of busy that makes me feel young and alive. I am feeling like I am losing my identity. Perhaps I am not losing it so much as it is just shifting? I don't know. Either way, I need something in my life that drives me a little more than how to get barf stains out of the carpet.

Here is a list of ideas that I came up with and, subsequently, reasons why I have talked myself out of them.

1. Sewing-I don't have a sewing machine. I don't have money for a sewing machine. I can't draw and/or cut a straight line. This would be disastrous.

2. Scrapbooking- Love the idea, but I would rather have someone knock me out with a hammer than scrapbook. Refer to above comment about cutting in straight lines.

3. Training for a marathon or another fitness related thing-Possibility. But there are two small midgets that live in my house that wont let me workout like I need to, let alone run. It would be a very inconsistent plight to take on. Dog ear this one, because maybe joining a gym that watches kids while you workout is just what I need.

4.Writing a book- I would love to write a book or story of sorts, but I get so overwhelmed with all of the ideas and possibilities...that I just do nothing. Now THAT'S motivation.

5. Cooking-Oh yeah, I don't really like to cook...mostly because I have to...all the time.

6. Bird watching? Never.


This is the first time, since I was 15, that I haven't worked. It is a culture shock to my system. I love being home with my kids and getting to take care of the family, but I need some sort of driving...thing! My days are passing by too quickly full of bleach, crying kids and meal planning. These things are important, but day after day of it is making me feel old, unattractive and useless. (Yes, I know these things are not useless...stay with me here...) I need adult interaction more than 2 times a month. (I never understood why stay at home mom's always said that they valued getting to talk to adults...but I do now). I am pretty sure I am going to be that crazy, filthy, toothless lady down on the corner, trying to talk to anyone on the corner who will listen.
Anyway, musing for your Friday.

New and Improved!

Isn't my new layout the cat's meow? I know! I love it. My dear friend Staci Strait took what was once an empty shell of a layout, and transformed it into something we all can be proud of. Thank you Staci!!

So, I am having trouble coming up with a catchy, followable blog title. I decided to move away from Gluten Free Honey because, maybe, just maybe, I want to write about more. Perhaps there is more to my thinking than how to create honey muffins with only honey, coconut flour, coconut milk and coconut oil. You're right, they were delicious. If anyone has suggestions on what I should title my blog, that would be fabulous. Otherwise, it will remain as is: Stunted.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

I have a few friends and aquaintences who are desperately trying to concieve with no avail. It breaks my heart that they aren't getting what they so desperately want: a child. I hate that I can't give them what they want or heal their breaking hearts. I hate it! But, I do know a little about polycystic ovary syndrome and none of them seem to want to listen to me. I so strongly believe that diet has a lot, if not everything, to do with this issue. I am frustrated that, although I have offered resources and information to people, they will not even attempt eating paleo for 30 days. 30 days!!!! 3-0. Are you telling me, that you are so incredibly desperate for children, but you cannot possibly live without grains for 30 days? What if, just WHAT IF, eating paleo was the answer?



The only thing I can figure is that because I am not a licsenced nutritionist or OBGYN, then wasting time on something I suggest must be absolutely ridiculous to them. I mean, what the Paleo diet recommends is staying away from all grains (wheat, whey, rice, corn etc, etc) so not only is it hard at first, but it goes against all conventional medicine. I suppose when you are trying to conceive a baby with no luck, that you are quite focused and set on doing exactly what a DOCTOR says to you. Not only that, but I bet there are tons of people giving their own 2 cents about how and why and what to do. I get it. It must be frustrating. But, seriously, don't take my word for it if you don't want...there is a mound of Paleo diet research related to PCOS.



First of all, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome basically is when a woman produces an abundance of follicles every month, but does not release an egg. Darn it if we don't need those little eggs to produce a baby! It is increasing in frequency over the years. The number of cases has done nothing but rise. (*cough* More and more grains and insulin inducing foods*cough*cough*) Even most doctors and nutritionists will admit that a large part of PCOS is based on insulin resistence. Say whhhaaaattt?



Stop. Let me remind you of what in our every day diets cause spikes in insulin. *ahem*

1. Grains (including wheat, corn, rice and every by product from these)

2. Dairy (yes, for some, dairy is the devil)

3. Legumes and Tubers (Look it up)



Gasp! So it is actually the buns on your burger that is causing acne, headaches, infertility, tiredness, and other such issues. Although I never had issues getting pregnant (as I did not ever have to deal with PCOS), my face is clearer and I don't have headaches anymore. Just sayin.



Continuing on the PCOS train. Many doctors and nutristionists will perscribe a diet that, using the Glycemic Index, will cut down on high glycemic foods such as cereals, heavy breads, and pretzels. That is all well and good, but they are missing the point when they allow their patients to partake in barely, rice and soy products. All of these things still produce insulin and, for a person struggling with trying to keep insulin down, shouldn't these things be eliminated? Seriously, just have them eat Paleo. Stop being so stubborn!!

http://paleohacks.com/questions/5697/pcos-and-paleo-and-weight-loss#axzz1DORqKx6a

This is a little Q&A forum that I found. A woman is asking other Paleo eaters their opinion of the Paleo Diet while having PCOS.

Seriously, there is a myriad of information out there. I would suggest researching up and down the wahzoo especially in the Paleo department. My opinion obviously doesn't matter because, although I try and help with good intentions because the Paleo diet has made such a difference in my life, people do not even want to try.

If you have tried "everything" but not the Paleo Diet, then you really haven't tried everything, have you?

If you know me, I will be more than willing to let you borrow a few of the books we own on the Paleo Diet (highly recommend The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf). Heck, I will give you the freaking book. Just don't give up when there may be other things out there that you haven't even tried.

Baby Brain

Greeting. It has been a while, I know, and I apologize. Get over it.

My mind has recently been reeling about babies. Everywhere I look I see babies. I see pregnant mommies pregnant with (what one can only assume) babies, I see my friends trying to have babies, I see my friends with babies, I see my babies, and I see ugly babies. The big question on my mind is: How much is too much in the baby department?

I knew I would feel it; I knew it would happen. I actually felt guilty for only wanting 2 children. I did...for about 5 minutes and then got over it. I had two realizations in the same hour at a recent MOPS meeting. The speaker quoted the Bible to show the unsuspecting moms in attendance that God wants us to go forth and multiply, as well as the verse that says something about children being gifts.

Question 1: Is going forth and multiplying implying that I need to go out and multiply until I can't multiply any more?

Question 2: Is the verse simply taken out of context this day and age so that it fits our baby agendas? Was God simply telling Adam and Eve to just "Go! Have as many babies as humanly possible!" or was it a more laid back approach like, "Yeah, take your time, have some kids...you know, the world will be populated at some point or another."

So, if I only want to have 2 children does that mean that I trust God less? Because my husband and I are taking measures to guard against more of these amazing blessings does that mean we don't value and appreciate what God gives us?

Then a friend of mine made a pretty interesting comment that is still sticking with me. She said, "Anything less than pure joy for a person having a baby is wrong. Life should be celebrated."

I agree. I do. Life in America is so poorly cared for. It is actually looked down upon. There is no sanctity of life around these here parts. So I would agree. But then I felt bad as I remembered channel surfing and landing on that realty show called 19 and Counting. I watched 5 minutes and had to switch the channel because it annoyed me. I think it annoyed me because typically in a family this large, the older children become the 'parents' to the younger children. Obviously, right? How else would it work?! I actually felt like families this big had selfishness brimming to the top. I could not understand why having that many kids was good for any person involved.

Okay, and then I clicked back after I was done feeling smug. I actually enjoyed watching their sense of family and devotion to one and other. They didn't have much of a need for outside friends, because they had true, live in playmates. Kinda cool. Who am I to judge?

Okay, so, all life should be celebrated. Okay, I can get on board. But then I started to think about different couples, men and women who have multiple children in the foster care system and just seem to continue to have babies into less than ideal situations. So, celebrate the life, but not the life in which the life is coming into?

Anyway, so I was feeling guilty because 2 children, I feel, has made my family complete. I am able to find sitters relatively easy. I can afford both of them and have extra to give them nice things. We can eat out here and there. Family vacations are easy and enjoyable. They do not outnumber the number of adults. Each child gets a room. When they go to bed, there are only 2 to deal with, so I have some time to myself each evening. These are examples specific to ME on why I like having 2. But some are selfish. I get it. I like having 2 because I can be fully and completely involved in AJ and Alayna's lives on close, individual bases. My attention is not split between multiple, multiple...multiples. But that is just me.

Back to feeling bad. I was unnecessarily feeling guilty because of the reasons that I wanted only 2 and the fact that 2 was all that I wanted. I must not trust God, I must not believe in His gifts, I must not believe in his provision, I must be selfish because I like the lifestyle of having 2.

There are so many wonderful things about having a huge, rambunctious family with siblings and crusty sandwiches falling from the walls. It is an attractive, romantic idea to have your big family sitting around the table, sharing stories and laughing together. But lets face it, parenting and raising kids is hard. Rewarding and wonderful, but hard.


So, in short, can I please just be okay with having 2? Will people stop pressuring me to have more please? I'm good. Really, the world has already experienced baby perfection in Alayna and AJ, it would be a shame to continue to put other babies to shame.

Just in Case You Missed It

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/2-more-success-stories-from-marks-daily-apple-readers/#more-18141

A Lesson In Judging Other Moms

This will come to no surprise, but I needed a break from my dear sweet Layna who had been following me around the house relentlessly whining and getting into trouble. So, I went to McDonalds so that she could play with strangers’ kids in a semi-clean, enclosed area. (What? I saw them squirt the outside with bleach solution….one time)

So I am about to eat my bunless burger when the two ladies at a table nearby are talking, just as loud as can be.

“Dustin doesn’t feel pain. He is fearless.”

“Ella potty trained herself!”

“My child is oh so very well behaved and is polite to EVERYONE!”

“He always opens the door for me and every other person on the planet!”

“I decorated the entire house with decorations I made myself.”

“I did my Christmas shopping in July, wrapped everything in August, and made my Christmas cookies in September and just froze them so that I could free up December for putting up our extensive Christmas light display.”

“Organic!!!”

“No spanking!”

My brain! I was so annoyed. I was annoyed by their perceived “got-it-togetherness”. I was annoyed by the gloating. I was annoyed at their volume. I was annoyed that I felt the weird need to compare my parenting and mommness to these two! I quickly pushed it down, down, down where it belongs. It helped when I saw one of their children persistently trying to climb UP the slide, tumbling back down, crying, and then trying it again. These organic-eating, frozen cookie defrosting, potty-training super children were, as I discovered, quite similar to my own kid.

I was about to put my head down in annoyance when one of the moms came up to me and began talking to me about AJ. We talked about his delightfully solid-babyness, pediatricians, and baby teeth. The other mom joined and, as it turns out, we all live in Vail and have connections with the school district.

They gave me some wonderful inside info on starting Alayna at one of the preschools at some of the elementary schools in the district. They complimented Alayna’s haircut and cute pronunciation of “f’s” and I complimented their children's politeness. Yes, they really were very cordial, I had to admit.

This age old lesson of not judging books by their covers rang true once again. Next time, when we meet for our scheduled play date next week because we all got along so well….I will remember this. :)

A New Format!

I have decided to put a little bit of organization into my blog...and therefore, the following will commence:
Monday-Mom Topics
Tuesday-Paleo/Food
Wednesday-Bacon Topics
Thursday-Gripe Day
Friday-Some type of Tip...day
Saturday/Sunday-undecided...

And thus, it begins:

I don't know what to write about.