Archives for March 2012

And We’re Still Gluten-free

March 29, 2012 by Amy 5 Comments

I’m in the car somewhere in Northern Georgia. We had our follow-up doctor’s visit today. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, let me refer you to this post. So here’s the results:

Emma’s liver is now testing clear and she does not need to take her liver pills anymore.
Emma’s emotional test was clear so she does not need to take her drops.
As for her milk, he still wants her to stay away from milk on its own. Cheese, baked goods with milk, etc are fine but if she’s going to have a glass of milk or a bowl of cereal, she should either have a dairy-free alternative OR he said he felt comfortable with her having drinking raw milk which I thought was interesting.
As for her gluten, it is better but she should continue gluten-free. I asked about a NAET treatment and he said it was not an allergy, but a sensitivity which is totally different. I had suspected as much after doing more reading these past weeks. He thought she may outgrow it though and could be tested in a few years.

Scott’s sinus is clear of the fungus but we haven’t seen much improvement. It turns out his other sinus cavity has a different fungus so he gave him a different anti-fungal medicine for that. He had indicated last time that might be the case so no surprise there.
As for his stomach, he doesn’t need the Amalyse anymore to help digest carbs but kept him on the Digestin. He ran out of that last week and his acid reflux returned immediately. He said his body is just not producing enough acid to break down his food.
As for his seratonin, he is also continuing that as we believe it could replace his OCD meds.

Overall, he said he could see improvement in both of them. I’m a little bummed we are sticking with gluten-free but it’s great to have the milk back. It opens up so many more Italian dishes and snacks she can have. We have found so many good gluten-free products. Oh, he also gave us a pill to take in case we did have gluten and it would help break it down. He didn’t see any need to see us again. He’d just check on Scott by phone.

Even though gluten-free is hard I’m so glad Emma is not suffering. While its no fun to miss out on some foods I think it’s better than hurting every time she eats and have no idea why. And even though Scott could be on that Digestin for years I feel better knowing it’s a homeopathic solution.

So that’s that. What questions do you have about gluten-free living? I’m just a baby gluten-freer but would be happy to help if I could.

American Idol Top 9

March 28, 2012 by Amy Leave a Comment

Colton – I really wanted to like that as it was his favorite worship song but I found it sleepy in the beginning and a bit sloppy. I couldn’t understand a word. I did see that he believed it I just couldn’t enjoy it. Gosh, I hate that. The judges don’t agree. Am I missing it??

Skylar – Besides being on the manic side a little, I enjoyed this. Felt like it was right up her alley and she sounded like a pro.

Colton, Elise, Phillip – Loved Colton with the first song. Not sure they nailed the group. The second with Elise was better. The third with Phillip was my favorite for the group.

Heejun – Ok that’s the Heejun we all fell in love with. Beautiful. I want to play that on repeat. Yes!!!

Hollie – That was no Carrie but it wasn’t horrible. “I’m not going to mess with Jesus or Carrie.” lol Smart, Steven.

Deandre – Wow, that really should have gone well but it only hurt my ears. Clearly the judges disagree again.

Jessica – I don’t know if that was my favorite song ever but gorgeous vocals. She’s amazing.

Deandre, Joshua and Heejun – Heejun was amazing on that first part. The rest was eh.

Phillip – I have no idea what that song was but I’m still on the Phillip train.

Joshua – Wow, Joshua. That is some sanging. So amazing.

Hollie, Skylar, Jessica – Yikes. Madonna on those girls is pretty sketchy.

Elise – Well, clearly, rock is where Elise is supposed to be.

Favorites – How do you pick?? I think for me, tonight goes to Phillip, Joshua and Heejun

In trouble – Deandre

All This Time

March 27, 2012 by Amy 6 Comments

A few years ago when I was writing my novel—I say that in all humbleness as it is locked away for no one to see—I was trying to fix my main character. I had thought to make it a main stream novel but I remember telling someone, “I can’t fix her without God.”

I’ve been counseling a friend the past few days and I feel the same with her. The only hope I have to give is from God. Only through Him do I know how to make the wrong ok, have reason to forgive and look forward to the future.

I was just listening to Britt Nicole’s new song All This Time just now and I love the chorus:

All this time
From the first tear cry
To today’s sunrise
And every single moment between
You were there
You were always there
It was You and I
You’ve been walking with me all this time

And it’s true. He’s been with me since I was a little girl. If there is anything good or praiseworthy in my life it’s not because I’m smart or have the right answers. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. It’s only because I did what was right even when I didn’t want to because He said it. It’s because I learned that His small voice was right every time I tried to tell him he was wrong. It’s because I learned His ways are the right ways. It pays off every. single. time. Patience, kindness, generosity always are the right responses and the amazing thing is I didn’t muster up any of those qualities. He gives them through His spirit. When you seek his voice and obey, those are the qualities on display.

I don’t know where I’m going with this except just to take time and say God is good all the time. If you need hope, it’s through him. Only through him. I’m so thankful for all his blessings all this time. He’s so good. So faithful. He loves me so well and I just want that so badly for everyone else. The Christian life doesn’t mean it’s easy but it does mean it’s full of hope. Even in the darkest hour there is hope in his purpose and goodness.

If you’re struggling, please hold on to him. I don’t have the answers. I don’t. But I can point you to the one who does. God can fix it. Whatever your “it” is, he either has a way out or he’ll hold you straight through. Find that still, small voice and hang on to it with all you’ve got.

Photography Lessons with Shoot Fly Shoot

March 27, 2012 by Amy 2 Comments

I have had our Canon Rebel XT DSLR for years and all I’ve ever used is either Automatic or No Flash mode. Every once in a while I’d catch a blog post of someone trying to teach ISO and aperture and all those manual mode words and I’d get courageous and turn the dial over to Manual to see what would happen. Nothing but fail. I just couldn’t get it together.

I’ve been a fan of Layla and Kevin at the Lettered Cottage for a while and when Kevin announced he had started a new online photography business with his friend Josh called Shoot FLY Shoot, well, I knew it was for me.

And boy, was I right. I SO enjoyed taking the classes. Photography 101 is simply a set of 12 videos on a web page to watch at your leisure. Kevin and Josh are super awesome. They don’t assume you know anything and don’t make you feel stupid if you don’t. They explain it in a straightforward manner but it’s not boring either. In fact, the two of them are pretty charming if you don’t mind me saying. The videos are sharp and professional and really just pretty, for a lack of a better word. As a visual learner, I just couldn’t have asked for anything more.

The best thing is, I GOT IT. I really, really finally GET ISO, aperture and shutter speed. I get what that meter is for on the back that keeps moving back and forth. Before, I knew that a high ISO would make the room brighter and low would make it darker but I didn’t realize I was sacrificing detail and really that’s not the thing I need to be messing with much. I knew about bokeh but I was trying to change my aperture all on its own. I’d heard about shutter speed but didn’t have a clue about how to change it and when. It’s like I had some of the pieces but they finally put it together for me. I’m not an excellent photographer yet but I know the basics of what I need to do on Manual mode. From here, it’s practice, practice, practice.

I have no other incentive to say this other than I mean it and you should know: help is out there and it’s 100% worth the cost. If you’re scared of the “M”, go. Go, go, go!

Weekend Recap

March 26, 2012 by Amy 7 Comments

No blow-by-blow today from the weekend. We spent a lot of time at home, some at the hospital to visit Scott’s dad and went out for little excursions like a milkshake treat at Cook Out while Emma was on a play date and we went bike-riding at the Riverwalk Sunday. I had to work some on Saturday. And of course, I managed to get out late last night to catch The Hunger Games.

I also spent a lot of time Saturday taking online photography lessons from ShootFlyShoot. I want to dedicate a whole post to it when I’m done but thought I’d share some pictures I took over the weekend while trying to practice on Manual mode. Yep, the big scary M!

I love baby leaves on our tree.

Lexi giving the “I’m watching you” signal.

Scott treated the girls to a soccer and volleyball this weekend

Emma is obsessed with inch worms right now.

We had nasty storms in Charlotte this weekend and I just had to capture this sky with the sun behind me. It’s not the most aesthetically pleasing picture every but isn’t that blue-gray sky crazy against the sunlit green trees?

My flowers are coming back around my mailbox. Love that I don’t have to buy new flowers this year!

Movie Review: The Hunger Games

March 26, 2012 by Amy 12 Comments

I loved the Hunger Games books. I devoured them in days if I remember correctly. The writing was great, Katniss was strong and smart and I really enjoyed the strategy and action of the games. Last night I saw the movie and am sad to say I walked out telling my friend I’d be glad to never see that again. Not all was lost though, there were some redeeming qualities. Let me preface this by saying I read this book one time back in 2010. My memory is a little sketchy on the details.

Katniss was spot on. I think she was cast well and really embodied her.
Haymitch was excellent as well. Maybe a little too cleaned up at parts. I imagined him a little nastier but overall attitude was captured.
Gale was completely off for me. I didn’t imagine him so pretty or so tall or, I don’t know. Just off for me.
Costumes were out of control amazing.
Proud of the Carolina mountains! Loved seeing our familiar forests. I mean, not that I go into the forest a lot but you know. if I ever see them, they look like that. And I think I really appreciated it because that’s what I imagined when I read the book.
I appreciated that they included all the important scenes…Katniss on fire, Katniss hitting the apple, the tracker jacker nest, Peeta and Katniss in the cave, Katniss ruining the group’s supplies, cornucopia scene, etc.

But here’s what I didn’t like

For some reason reading the book I think I blocked out a little it was kids killing kids. I didn’t even think much about it until people started making a big deal about it. My first thoughts were what?? That’s not the whole point of the book. The book for me truly focused on Katniss’ survival and her strategy. Yes, there were kids involved but I’m not sure I can explain it but it just didn’t seem so brutal in the book. The movie was not at all graphic or violent but between their focus on the kids being shuffled to check-in and specifically Rue’s death I think it brought attention to something that didn’t have as much attention in the book. All in all, I suppose seeing these kids with faces made it harder for me. And yes, it could be because I have 7 and 9 year old girls and Primrose and Rue were such focal points. But no, it’s not like I was imagining Emma and Lexi going into the games and getting upset. Not like that at all.
Seeing the difference between the Capitol and District 12 was hard, particularly through Katniss’ eyes. If you step back and think about how the book can be an allegory of how our society treats other third world countries, it was really hard to stomach. And yes, I think Suzanne Collins probably wanted that a little. But nevertheless, it made me feel really crappy when she walked in the royal blue train car because I’m a lot more like the one with a chandelier in my bedroom than the one who had a house with dirt floors. So yes, it was hard seeing America cast as The Capitol.
I didn’t remember the kids from District 1 and 2 being so ruthless. Sure, they were trained but were they really that excited about killing Katniss? I don’t know. It’s been awhile since I read the book but I was disturbed. I think I would have been better had they been unemotional killing machines.
I was not expecting the documentary style filming. I really was expecting an action-packed thriller and not what seemed like an emotional roller coaster. I think I just needed less emotion and the style did not help. Plus, I think it made me a little physically ill. I was tired and it was late and I was like, please just be still, camera! I love that style on Friday Night Lights though but FNL is a drama not a thriller.
The ending was not nearly the payoff it needed to be. It was just like oh, let’s eat some berries, Oh no stop you’re the winners. Haha, just kidding! And then just to have them sit on stage and talk about it and the only resolution we saw with Primrose was a wave from the stage? NOT ENOUGH HAPPY. I realize there is more to the story and more coming but not enough good to counter balance all the bad. I think if they’d given a stronger ending, it would have resolved better for me.

All in all, there’s not much about it that I want to see again. I’ve read the book, I’ve seen it play out and it didn’t make me feel good so I just don’t care to see it again.

I realize I’m in the minority. I really do. I had one other person to see it Saturday and she hated it and I was like WHAT? Now that more have seen it, there are still only a handful of us that I’ve heard that didn’t like it. I really, really wanted to like it. I really did. I still love the book and will still recommend it. Just not the movie.

If you saw it, what’d you think? It’s ok to say you loved it, perhaps I’m coming at it from the wrong angle.

PermissiontoPeruse.com on Facebook

March 24, 2012 by Amy Leave a Comment

Well, I’ve held out for a long time. I knew getting a Facebook page was the “right” thing to do but I just wasn’t sure I wanted one more thing to manage. But, I think it’s finally time. The bottom line is everyone’s on Facebook. And now so is this blog. I’ll be posting the links to new posts there instead of my personal Facebook stream. I’m hoping to share some of the great blog posts I read and who knows what else. So please go Like it. If you end up not liking what I share, I won’t get mad if you hide me 🙂

Head over there now –> Facebook page.

Puppies, Bikes and Cupcakes

March 23, 2012 by Amy 9 Comments

How about a few random things?

1 – Our puppy Tucker has made it to 1 year and 1 day. Possibilities were sketchy at times. Sadly, many, many, many things were destroyed in the process. A blue tooth, Nine West shoes, more markers, pencils and pens than I can count, a pool skimmer, grill brush, pool lights…oh I could go on. Scott tells me it’s worth it. Possibilities are sketchy.

2 – Both Emma and Lexi are now riding their bikes. We did not totally fail as parents. We actually went on a family bike ride the other night and it was a pretty darn good feeling.

3 –This has no story except to say Emma was the one taking the picture. I found this in my camera and this is why I’m scared of her being a teenager and thought you should be warned of my impending meltdown. Those eyes cut through any fuzziness of the picture. They are LOUD and CLEAR.

4 – I also need to confess I made cupcakes although I know how bad all the sugar is. They’re from the King Arthur Gluten-free cake mix with my mom’s icing recipe. They were divine. If you couldn’t tell by Lexi’s face.

5 – On a serious random note, please pray for my family. My grandfather is very sick in ICU with pancreatitis. My father-in-law has diverticulitis and is having surgery today and will be in the hospital for the next week. Praying for peace for the family, healing for them and wisdom for the doctors. Thank you.

And if you’re feeling chatty, tell me the worst thing a puppy ever destroyed at your house.