Good News

As I have been researching what Noah can eat and what he needs to stay away from, I found some good news. McDonald's is off limits. Even their french fries have wheat and soy. Lucky me, I can now honestly tell the kids that we can't eat at McDonald's.

As for other fast food places, most of them have a convenient chart that lets you know which of the "big 8" allergens are in their foods. So at a quick glance we are able to tell what Noah can have. It is limited, but at least there are options.

On another fun note, my friend, and old mission companion, is on her way down to my house with her 4 kids. I have so much fun with her. We used to stay up until all hours talking while on our mission.

Just in Case....

you wanted to follow our dietary journey into a wheat free and soy free world, I will be posting what we eat and recipes on the What's for Dinner site. So click on when you feel like and explore with us.

More on Noah

Because I am so overwhelmed by this, I am feeling the need to share. As I was researching soy allergies, this is what I found. I did read that soy oil and soy lecithin do not tend to cause allergic reactions because the soy protein has been removed.

Common Sources / Foods Containing Soy

Baby food
Canned fish
Chocolates (creamed centres)
Cooking oils
High protein bars / foods
Ice cream/frozen desserts
Dessert mixes
Margarine
Mayonnaise
Meat products
Powdered meal replacers
Sauces (asian, gravy, soy, Worcestershire)
Shortenings
Soy/tofu cheese
Soy yogurt
Baked goods
Breakfast cereals (mixed grain/multi grain)
Infant cereals
High protein flour and bread
Stuffings
Mixed sprouts
Salad sprouts
Salad dressings
Canned soup/dried soup mixes
Vegetarian meat replacers
Frozen dinners
Mixed bean preparation
Prepared sauces eg. Barbecue, oriental etc.
Chocolate

Between the two lists, I am thinking a list of foods that he can eat would be a whole lot easier to deal with. My pantry and food storage are filled with these things.

Noah's News

Last week Noah had a blood test to see what he is allergic to, in hopes of getting his eczema and asthma under control. The results came in today:
High--Grasses and Mold--(Eugene has some of the highest, if not the highest, in the country for both these)
Moderate and need to be avoided--Wheat and Soy
Mild--Corn

What this means is, Noah will be on 2 allergy medications, a nasal spray and have his inhaler at the ready at all times. He will continue to have to use steroid ointments and AquaPhor twice a day and try to keep all wheat and soy products out of his body. Here's what I have found so far:

Common Names of Wheat and gluten containing products / Always contains it

Gluten /Vital Gluten
Durum wheat
Triticale (wheat and rye blend)
White flour
All-purpose flour
Wholewheat flour
Semolina (refined durum flour)
Couscous (cracked wheat)
Kamut
Spelt
Graham flour
Bulgar (partially cooked and toasted cracked wheat)
Wholemeal flour
Plain and self-raising flour
Barley (extract, flavour, flour, malt)
Farro
Farina
polenta

Common Sources / Foods Containing Wheat

Bread – pitta, Chapatiis and naan bread
Most kinds of rye bread (unless states 100% rye)
BAKED GOODS - Cookies, Pastries, Buns, scones, cakes, muffins
Pizza
Battered or breaded products
Pastas
Baking powder
Packet sauce mixes
Seasonings
Dressings and sauces
Condiments
Vinegar (if derived from wheat grains)
Tinned soups
Most breakfast cereals
Some rye crispbreads
Crumpets, pancakes (buckwheat pancakes unless states 100% buckwheat)
Pies
Sausages
Ice cream
Taramasalata (contains breadcrumbs)
Mustards and mayonnaise (check labels)
Stock cubes
Beer, vodka, gin
Soy sauce
Ready-made foods, sauces
Most muesli’s
Candy

I am going to the bookstore tomorrow to check out cookbooks and get a feel for my options. If anyone has any good recipes, suggestions or info, I would be grateful!!!

Friends

I'm sure you all have someone in your life that even if it's been a couple of years since you have seen them, when you finally get together, it's as though it was just yesterday that you were together. Our friends Peter & Lonnie are like that. We were in the same ward in Spokane way back when Peter & Lonnie had just gotten married and we just had Anna & Noah. They are now living on the other side of the mountains from us in Sisters, OR. (it's only 2 hours away and we saw more of them they were in Utah and we were in Spokane) They came for dinner yesterday. Here is their daughter Charlie--she is so sweet. Even though it was the first time seeing me, she was ready and willing to let me hold her and hug her. Abby LOVED having Makenna here.

I was trying to remember the first time I met them and can't really remember. I just look back on our time in Spokane (before they ditched us for Utah) and it seems like they were always there. Celebrating birthdays, New Year's, getting 2 months of home teaching for the price of one by coming at 11 and leaving at 2, and lots more.

It would be nice if they would start looking older--make us old people feel a little better!!! But no, they're just as darling as ever.

From just our two kids when we first met, to this brood. They all played so well together--the only squabbling was between Abby and Isaac.

This is how we found Abby a few minutes after Peter & Lonnie left. After the week the kids and I had, I don't blame her.

It was a great ending to a wonderful, but hectic week. I can't even begin to explain how happy I was to see them again. It was kind of like coming home. You only get that with a few people in your life. And these are truly 2 of my very favorite people in my life. Thanks for coming!!! See you next weekend!

Visitors!!!!

My sister's girls, Maggie (10) and Olivia (14) hopped on a plane and came and spent the week with us. (Have patience-- I have updated and posted a lot of pictures--just keep scrolling!!!!) Abby was in heaven with her cousins here.

We went swimming at Amazon twice--once with Hilary, Mark & Ellie. Anna & Maggie went with Anna's coach. Since we were in the high 90's, it felt good. The kids especially liked this slide. But they shot through so fast I kept getting just splashes.

I was thrilled that Isaac and Abby could go down the slide by themselves.

Maggie and Noah were brave enough to go off the platform. Noah even cannonballed--but then his rear was sore. He went off the platform 17 times.

Anna, Olivia & Maggie

We also managed to squeeze in a movie, shopping and lots of laughter. It was hard to let them get on the plane this morning (but even harder to get up before 6 to get them there!!!). I was good though, and waited until they were out of sight before the tears fell. I love these girls and am so glad they were able to come stay with us. I don't see near enough of them.

Going to the Beach

On Thursday we climbed into the car and headed for the coast after soccer camp. It's only about an hour away. Our first stop was the Heceta Head Lighthouse. It's a half mile hike up to the lighthouse. A very pretty view from the top. This lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses on the Oregon Coast. I'm sure it's much more fantastic when you can see the water and scenery.

All the grandkids (except Makiah, who is too young, 18 months, to fly down to Oregon to visit).

After the lighthouse, we stopped for ice cream and salt water taffy. It is a tradition. Our family's favorite place to visit on the coast is the Oregon Dunes Overlook Day park.

This is the view as you come out of the little forest that leads the way to the ocean. They may look like small hills, but they are huge. Our legs felt like Jell-o afterwards.

This is the view just as you start on the trail back to the car. We had to get to the top of that big hill.

Once at the coast it was beautiful. we gathered sand dollars and seashells.

Drew pictures.

Had the beach all to ourselves for as far as we could see--both ways.

Played a bit in the water--just our toes. It was freezing!

And wrote names in the sand.

On the way home, the kids found things to do to entertain themselves. Such as rolling salt water taffy into a ball,

or balancing sand dollars on noses.

All in all, it was a fun day. The car is filled with sand and I am sure there are some nooks and crannies where you would still find sand on the kids. My only complaint is that it went by too fast.

Soccer Camp

Anna and her cousin, Maggie went to soccer camp at the University of Oregon this past week. A few of Anna's team mates also went. They had a blast.

They practiced inside on the football field. Last time it was too hot to be outside. And I think they were trying to be prepared.

Here are the girls the last morning.

A group shot during the morning meeting. They really separated the ages this year and so the groups were small. Anna and Maggie only had 7-8 girls in their group. It was recommended by the head of the soccer department that the girls do the residential camp next year with the older kids. I'll have to think about that one.

The last day they have a contest to see who can get the most "ducked out".

Their coach was also a good sport. Not only did he spend his vacation taking girls to and from soccer camp, he took them swimming and on a hike. It is a brave man who is willing to be in a van full of girls and do all that. We are so lucky to have him!!!

More Birthday Pictures

At the coast.

We waited for Kevin to get home to have cake and presents. Here's Anna and her presents. All clothes and a book ( I keep forcing them on her!). Scary thing is, Olivia and I did most of the shopping at Forever 21 and other teenager type stores. All gathered round the food! We had burgers and baked beans.

What party would be complete without leg wrestling??? With Olivia, leg wrestling isn't too far behind. She is quite good. Although I want to point out that I can beat her in arm wrestling. Here is a play by play of her losing to Kevin.

This one is so for you Olivia!!! I love you!

Soundly beaten.

The other kids had their try. Here's Maggie and Isaac.

Maggie was kind enough to let Abby win.

Blowing out the candles and being the birthday princess.

Happy Birthday Anna!!!

Some may have noticed I took a week off from blogging. We had special guests at our house (my nieces, Olivia & Maggie) and we have been very busy!!! Anna celebrated her 11th birthday on Thursday and even though I was a loser and didn't get the blog updated in time, we did spend a wonderful day at the coast. And, as with the other kids, the only pictures we have stored in the computer are from the end of 2003. Here she is the night before Abby was born. Her first time holding Abby--she is so happy to have a sister!!

We have lots of these shots!!!

Abby's blessing day.

Halloween--isn't she cute!!!

Lovin' the boots!!!!

I just liked this one.

She is going to hate this one!!!

Having fun at Grandma's house.

Anna and a couple of friends from soccer.

Red Robin after a day at the beach, on her birthday.