Paleo Cliff

Wayne Carlson, preached a New Year's day sermon, two years ago about picking a word for the year.  I felt like God was saying the word "discipline" to me.  I picked discipline and prayed for wisdom.  Later that month, a good friend of mine, introduced me to the Game On Diet.  This started me on a journey of balance with food, exercise, and life.  The big thing with Game On Diet for me was that the carbohydrates eaten could be fruits, vegetables, and anything with the first ingredient of whole wheat.  This cut out most crackers, cookies, candy, you know, the good stuff.  The first two months, I hardly had any fruit because I wanted to have my whole wheat crackers and breads.  Fast forward, a year and half, and I am hardly having any crackers and bread, because I am craving fruit more than those things.

I thought that people that eat "crazy healthy" had to have a lot of discipline to eat that way.  I don't have that much discipline.  I actually felt better on the Game on Diet, no more carb comas.  Little Ceasar's crazy bread and cheese pizza stops me in my tracks and I have to have a little post dinner nap and struggle through the evening with ridiculously low energy.  I realized people actually feel better, when they eat healthy and that is why they continue to eat that way.  I found I feel a lot better, when I cut out the grains and dairy too. 

My coach for the Fleet feet 5k and 10k, introduced me to a Paleo diet.  Rob and I found that we had a lot of time to kill, driving to and from Palm Springs last week.  I read Robb Wolf's book, The Paleo Solution out loud to Rob.  If it is true, it is very scary on what I am doing to my body and my kid's bodies by eating an excessive amount of refined carbs.

Rob and I talked about it and decided we are going to jump off our "normal" eating  ways into this Paleo diet using Robb Wolf's thirty day diet plan.  Robb Wolf, in the book, says, (paraphrasing) worst case: you go without the foods you like for thirty day, and best case: you feel better, look better, and are healthier.

I have been praying for wisdom about this and I have been looking at Paleo critiques on various websites.  I want to make sure, that this is safe, before I drag my children into this crazy ride of ours.  I can't find anything that really holds up in regards to health.  I am a little worried about Vit D with the lack of dairy.

Rob and I both got our blood work done recently.  His blood work is consistently not so good (low good cholesterol and high bad cholesterol).  According to the book, this diet helps with this.  I am curious to see what Rob's blood work results after this 30 day diet.

Paleo is pretty much (from what I understand), meats, nuts, fruits and veggies.  No dairy, no bread, etc.  We are going to take the thirty day challenge and go from there.  Our goal is for our family to be healthy, not to follow a certain diet for the rest of our days.  The only person in our family that will not be following it completely will be Matthew.   He gets breakfast, lunch, and snacks at daycare.  I could regulate that and bring his own (which thankfully, they are completely open to that if at a later time we wanted to do that) food.  I am not going to stress about that or what they eat with their grandparents.

With regards to exercise, I will be training for my first half marathon training.  The word I picked this year, is technically a phrase, but the sentiment is the same.  "Wholehearted devotion to God".  This comes from 1 Kings 8:23b.  You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion.  That is what I want to have when I look back at this year.  The ability to be able to exercise and run is an amazing gift from God.  (One, I sometimes have to remind myself of when I am running on a treadmill).  I feel like that last six months, when training for my first 5k and first 10k, these blessings have turned into idols in my life.  I want my obsession to be Christ, not healthy eating or training for a half marathon.  I want my god to be the one, true God.


I feel like God has answered my prayers ten-fold for discipline in my life.  Now, I am praying for the consistent desire to be wholeheartedly devoted to Christ.  I am praying for wisdom to know what that looks like in my life, in regards to time spent with God, time spent with family and friends, time spent on exercise and time learning how to make Paleo work for our family, etc.

1 Kings 19: 11 - 13
¹¹ The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Friday

Friday, the day I have been waiting for since Sophia was 2 1/2 years old.    It was the last time we saw her specialist who had seen her and helped since she was born.  He said that she has caught up with regular two year olds.  However, since she had fluid on her brain (in utero and when she was born), she could have learning disabilities later on.  It was something that I largely put out of my mind.  I was just grateful to have an amazing little toddler.

Sophia is now in kindergarten and seems to be doing well.  Friday, is the parent - teacher conference.  Tears.   The last conversation with the specialist has been weighing heavy on my mind since August waiting for this parent - teacher conference, waiting for this other shoe to drop, waiting to see if we have any hills to climb in her schooling, waiting to be grateful (again) to God who loves her and will see her through all her obstacles in life.

I think she is doing ok and I am so thankful.  So for now, I have lots of thankful tears for my miracle.  Praise be to God and thank you for everyone around world (literally) praying for her.

Apple Hill 3.5 mile run

 

Stats:
35.02
10.01 / mile
26th in age group 30-39, overall 242

First name calling incident

Sophia: Mommy, Matthew called me a boogerhead.
Me: Tell Matthew that you don't like that.
Sophia: Matthew, I don't like that.
Matthew: Boogerhead, giggle, giggle

1st annual Pumpkin Carving

 

 

 

Halloween Activities - Sophia's Harvest Carnival

Starbucks time with Matthew

Many faces of Matthew

                                                                                 Happy

                                                                            Scared

                                                                              Happy

                                                                            Surprised

                                                                             Mad

NICU Reunion

Matthew's NICU reunion tomorrow

 I feel like I have a sliver of the amount pain people have gone and are going through. Matthew's NICU reunion (Sophia had hydrops, Matthew, my youngest was just in there for 3 days) is tomorrow and I have been on edge for 3 weeks about it. So many emotions, sad and happy mixed together. My tears have been under my eyes ever since I got the invite, why am I feeling this way?  I have two amazing babies.
I don't think we will make the paper like last time (http://www.thepresstribune.com/article/preemies-return-place-where-they-got-healthy-start-life), which is just fine with me. :-)

Helping Matthew sit on the big potty. Matthew: "Mommy, say ready, aim, fire!"

Sophia's Kindergarten trip to the pumpkin patch

Thank you to Coree of http://www.candidsbycoree.com/ for taking these pics!!

Urban Cow - my first 5K

DANIELLE CRANDELL

5K» Roseville, CA

finished

00:29:42

• Overall
  217th
  of 892
• Female
  90th
  of 631
• F35-39
  9th
  of 77

 

Interval	Time of Day	Chip Time	Chip Pace	Gun Time	Gun Pace
Start	7:54:02AM
Finish	8:23:44AM	00:29:42	09:34 min/mi	00:29:49	00:09:36 min/mi

Sophia asked Rickie, a fifth grader, to marry her today. I am so thankful he turned her down. :-)

A marriage update for Sophia: 
At dinner. "I am not going to marry Nickie, he is just going to be my friend.  I am going to marry Bryson (in her class)."
Me: "Do you play with him at school?" 
Sophia: "No, I always forget to play with him."

 If that is not true love, I don't know what is.

NICU Staff Visit

December 16, 2011

To all the NICU staff, nurses, and doctors,

Thank you for all that you do on a continued basis for your little patients.  Our two children were well taken care of and we are eternally grateful for the work you have done for us and that you do every day.

Sophia Rose (our oldest) was born on April 25^th 2007, six weeks early with hydrops fetalis.  She did not have much a chance to live.  At her birth, she had four doctors working on her. She had chest tubes to drain the fluid that she her body was making. They put a PICC line in and she was intubated.  People in many countries were praying for her. 

Sophia is now a healthy, thriving four year old that has caught up to her peers and is doing well in preschool.  She is fiercely devoted to her own sense of fashion, all things pink, loves books and to be read to. 

Sophia was in the NICU for three weeks.  We cannot thank you for taking such good care of her, and for the constant support that we had every time we went to spend time with Sophia. 

Matthew David was born on September 3, 2009.  He did not want to be outdone by his older sister, so he also spent some time in the NICU.  He was only in the NICU for three days because his lungs were still wet and there was concern of infection.  Our experience during Matthew’s stint in the NICU only furthers our immense gratitude that we have for people like you who work on these children.

 

Matthew is now a two year who likes be himself no matter who the audience is.  He is “all boy” and loves construction vehicles, sports, jumping on our couch, also loves books, and has no fear.  We often find him “reading” in his room early in the morning, and even sometimes after he has been put to bed.

Thank you so much for taking such good care of our children and of us.  We are so grateful for helping us through the most difficult time in our lives, when Sophia was born, and helping us maneuver through the days when we did not know whether she was going to stay with us or go to heaven. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! 

Rob, Danielle, Sophia, and Matthew Crandell

Winter fashion trends (according to Sophia)

The weather is changing and it is time to get out the winter clothes.  Since Sophia has a deep (entrenched) sense of style, I thought I would share the upcoming winter fashion trends with you, according to her.

The hot colors and let’s face it the only colors to wear are pink and purple.  You can also mix this up with the only acceptable pattern out there: bright colored stripes.  Every other color is not in fashion this season or any season.  I think these colors are going to hot for quite a while.  You should just throw out everything that does not contain pink or purple. 

As far as pants are concerned:  Jeans and “tight” pants are completely out for the season.  Cozy pants and soft corduroy pants are in (only in the above mentioned colors, of course).  Pants should fit below the belly button and should be long enough to reach the edge of the shoe when standing.  If the pants are any shorter than this within a millimeter of the edge, these pants are unacceptable and should be given away immediately.

Shirts appropriate for the cooler weather are harder to find than you think.  Be careful when you shop.  After trying on several styles of t-shirts on her first clothing shopping trip, Sophia recommends the following tests when looking for a winter t-shirt.

ü  The shirt should not be tight anywhere.  Sophia recommends buying a larger size to prevent this problem. 

ü  The sleeve length should not be any shorter that wrist bone, even when you raise your arms. (Three-quarter sleeves are not an option!!)

ü  When you fully raise your arms, the shirt must be long enough to not go higher than the belly button.  Warning: many shirts do not pass this test!!

ü  Also, layered t-shirts are out.

Winter Dresses.  Although there are many stylish options for this type winter wear, they are out for the season.  Let’s face it; you must wear tights in order to stay warm enough. Sophia cannot recommend any tights because they do not perfectly fit around the toes.  Until Sophia finds a pair tights that are “form-fitting” around the toes, dresses are out for the winter.

Pajamas:  Do not put your summer jammies away just yet.  You can simply wear a cozy (pink or purple) sweatshirt over your summer jammies to maintain the proper warmth when sleeping.

Highlights from the previous seasons: