End of Month Recap - August 2012

Summer is just about over.  It's hard to believe.  August went by so quickly!  We definitely kept busy.  Overall it was a good month.  I spent more than enough time in the kitchen...which is why I did not start any new sewing projects.  We did lots of fun activities.  We're trying to enjoy the nice weather and spend time in the sandbox (Abram's new favorite thing).  And I made some good progress on my health.  Here are the details.

FOOD

1. Balance/Commitment - Overall I've been doing well with getting broth in my diet daily and eating soft, easy to digest foods that work for me.  But I do have days where I slip up (am  human:) as well.  My body lets me know when that happens.  I still can't handle fiber :(

2. Rebecca's Recipes - Rebecca has been coming up with some good ideas and some crazy ideas.  But we're having fun with it.  Thanks to her we have homemade Oreos!  And she thoroughly enjoyed her "spaghetti bun" last night (hot dog bun with spaghetti inside...yes noodles and sauce).

3. Sourdough - I tried a few new sourdough recipes.  They were good.  I'm still not sure I handle rye based sourdough very well.  Sometime I might try making a starter with whole wheat.

4. Food preservation - I froze blueberries, corn, beans, zucchini, winter squash, broccoli and raspberries.  My freezer is jammed full now!  I also canned my first batch of spaghetti sauce.

5. Hydration - I finally tried coconut water!  I'm not crazy about the taste by itself, but I love it mixed with a little juice.  Coconut water with orange juice is an amazingly refreshing drink.  Best of all it's packed with potassium and magnesium.  Coconut water is a great addition to smoothies as well.  Unfortunately I ended up with some past date coconut water this week and had quite a stomach ache for a couple days until I figured it out.  I will always be checking the labels from now on.

HEALTH

1. Supplements - I did some nutritional testing this month and have experimented with some supplements.  I'm currently taking a multi-vitamin, cod liver oil, petuitrophin (for my pituitary gland), min-tran (multi-mineral and good for anxiety) and cholonest (a homeopathic drop to help my gall bladder)...and of course the dreaded miralax.  I'm still trying often to push my limits and cut down as much as my body will tolerate.  I only have a couple bottles left and would love not to have to get a new prescription...ever!

2. Psychologist - I have been working with my psychologist on dealing with Rebecca and how best to parent her.  It's definitely a work in progress, but I feel like we are on the right track.

FAMILY/PERSONAL

Rebecca

a. Continue her encouragement chart to help focus on the positive/good things she does. - We are realizing just how critical a lot of encouragement is for Rebecca.  She's really been down about herself lately.  Yesterday we made a poster with her picture and listed lots of great qualities she possesses.  She LOVED it.  We are trying to keep this up and encourage her a lot about all the stuff she does.
b. Eating - teach Rebecca to eat until she's full and not have to clear her plate. - Eating is still a struggle in terms of focus.  But Rebecca is also learning to let us know when she is ready to be done.
c. Mommy-daughter date - hair cut/school shopping/dinner - this was so much fun!
d. camp - Rebecca did arts and crafts camp and gymnastics camp.  She loved both of them.
e. Teach Rebecca the difference between truly naughty behavior and things she does that are out of her control. - We're making good progress on this and she's really starting to open up and talk about behavior and feelings with us.

Abram

a. Work on development/milestones - talking. - He is really taking off with his talking and has quite a few words now.  It's nice that he can kind of tell us what he wants now.  It makes feeding him easier when I can ask him about certain foods.  If he doesn't want it he will certainly let you know.  Saves me the trouble of getting 20 things out at meal times :)
b. Organize closet. - hoping to do it this weekend.
c. 15m check up. - great!

Me
a. Writing - Continue writing for GRNL and RFAH magazine.  The next issue of RFAH comes out tomorrow!!  Can't wait to read it.  I'm working on my articles for the Nov/Dec issue.  They are due soon :)

b. Pray about/seek purpose and ways to use my passions and talents - still working on this.  Waiting on God's perfect plan and timing.

b. Sewing/hobbies - I didn't have time for this with all of the food preservation I had to do.