Tired

I am so so tired. I normally don't have any trouble getting up in the mornings (even my 4.30am get ups) but this morning, I was really surprised to hear my alarm. I swear I had just gone to bed. Granted I probably have gone before 11pm with a 4.30am start but never mind. Can't be perfect all the time!!

My son has also been sick so I guess that has taken its toll a little bit. I haven't trained this weekend because I didn't want to leave him so I think my system needs a good shake up. Back into it in the morning. CJ is getting better now, his temperature is coming down. Hopefully he will need only one more day at home.

My shoulder has been playing up a little yesterday and today, I am hoping it is just cross because I upped the rehab last week. I'm sure it will be all good and behaving properly in the morning when I really need it to.

Walkers

I really wish people walking on the roads in the dark would wear more noticeable clothing. What is the point of being healthy if you get hit by my car?

Dairy free diet

Today is my first true dairy free day. It has taken me this long to find substitute products that don't make me want to throw up. Rice milk is disgusting.

I discussed the gluten free diet with many people including my GP. The general consensus was that unless you have been diagnosed via blood test with coeliac disease, then a gluten free diet was too hard, too restrictive and unnecessary.

With dairy free, it appears there are some reports that show improvement in asthma and sinus conditions and some that don't. Dairy free is much easier to achieve and therefore I am going to give it a go. My GP thinks that any positive result should be seen in 2-3 weeks.

In the meantime I am having some RAST tests for allergies and have an appointment booked with a specialist in February 2010! Never mind - 30 odd years a few more months won't hurt.

Responsibility

When I was at Pink last week, I had a little boy of about 5 or 6 sat next to me. Now whether he should have been at a Pink concert or not is another debate, but between the support act and the start of Pink, the carers (be it, parents, aunt or sister of this boy) said to me we are just going to leave him here. She said he is ok with this, he'll be ok.

I was shocked than anyone could leave a young child alone at a concert or anywhere really. I guess they did give him a phone so maybe they thought that was ok.

I commented to Jon that I was surprised they had left him. I felt that although they didn't ask me to watch him, it became my responsibility to look out for him. What if there had been an evacuation, or what if I had wanted to go out for a smoke or to the bar for a drink. There is no way I could have left him, how could his "carers?!"?

I couldn't even have left my nearly 10 year old in a situation like that. Now maybe I am being overly paranoid but I don't think so, or maybe he was just a very small 16 year old!

Another win!

Ah..ha - I just knew that as soon as I put my washing out, it would rain. So today, I put most of it in my non-economical and non-environmentally friendly but ever so handy, tumble dryer and the stuff that couldn't go in the dryer on a rack under the pergola.

Voila...it's raining, but no panic all is good. I planned for this, now I just need to do the same for dinner. Plan that is not put in the dryer!

Confused

I am so confused. Since mentioning I visited a Naturopath who recommended a dairy and gluten free diet, I have had so many people both here in "blogland" and in "real life" including professionals and those that just think they are and those that are just providing their experiences, pretty much disagreeing with the Naturopath.

There is no doubt that I have sinus problems and have had for so many years, and there is no doubt that food intolerance's may contribute to these problems. However, what to do about it is in doubt.

...........and I got up too early this morning to be thinking about this now, so I will stop trying to figure it out for another day. I am still popping the pills and drinking (bleugh) the potions (tonic) though!

Growing up

My little girl is growing up fast, to the point that when I catch her out of the corner of my eye, I mistake her for my older girl.

I don't know when she lost those pudgy toddler legs and grew longer leaner legs. I'm not sure exactly which day her hair got long. We have been waiting for it to grow for 4 years and all of a sudden there it is.

It really did take a moment for me to recognise her when I picked her up from pre-school the other day and then I felt like an awful mum - what mum doesn't instantly recognise her own daughter? It's just that she looked tall and her hair was blowing in the wind and of course she was and is beautiful.

She is growing up - she even complained of growing pains in her legs yesterday - at least I hope that's all it was!

Tonic

For the record, the tonic is foul!

Naturopath - the details

For many years now (25+) I have suffered with sinus problems. I have had several surgeries to remove nasal polyps and wash and drain the sinus but none have given any results beyond 6 weeks.

For just as long I have been taking anti-histamine daily, I have had various nasal sprays both prescription and non prescription in all the 3 countries that I have lived.

I haven't really had many allergy tests and those I had only raised house dust mite as an issue, however I know that I am allergic to so much more. Certain animals, red wine, dry ice are some of the things that have triggered a reaction in the last 4 weeks.

Further when I was about 18 I developed asthma and again, this has stayed with me though the UK, NZ and Australia.

My nose runs and is blocked almost constantly and lately as I am interacting with more and more clients and professionals I am finding it an embarrassment.

I went to the GP to discuss this again a couple of months ago and all they could suggest was further surgery, of the same I might add.

So I decided to try Iridology.

From our discussion and the iridoligy it appears that I have a sinus issue (well hello!) and a digestive issue. Apparently the two are often linked. She also mentioned a lung issue, but didn't go further into that at this stage, she said just to work on the sinus and the digestive issues first.

She has recommended Fish Oil, (that I already take) Horseradish and Garlic Complex, a tonic and Digestive Enzymes also to eliminate dairy and gluten, ham and pork from my diet.

Liz, it may sound harsh but people that make statements like that usually have good reason and I respect your opinion so am more than happy to hear it. This really is just another avenue for me to try. I did buy the supplements from her, not sure if I had to - just did (on this occasion).

Deb, as you say it is worth a try, I am hoping my health fund will cover most of the cost which is why I am trying it, as for the diet, I can only give it a go. I will go back and see her in just over 6 weeks, I will reserve my full judgement until after that session.

Again - comments are most welcome, I would love to hear your experiences and opinions.

The gum - I have not had any, sometimes I really want it, just to freshen up my mouth after eating usually. I have also noted that I am more thirsty, I think I was using it instead of drinking water.

Naturopath

I have just come from a visit to a Naturopath - the outcome, she has recommended a Dairy and Gluten free diet, along with many pills and potions.

I think I have a lot of research ahead of me. If anyone has any advice I would be very grateful.

Google will become a very close friend for the next few days.

Long weekends

I just had a lovely weekend, it started on Friday night, when my son danced with his school dance group in the Sydney West Dance Festival. The girls went off to a friends for the evening and Jon and I were very proud to watch our son dance on stage for the very first time. (We are also very aware that it may also be his last time.)  He was great and I know that I am biased but I thought that their dance was the best.

We were so proud that he didn't let peer pressure stop him, he ignored the negative comments and ticked another goal off his list. I should point out that he was the only boy in the group of 30. He has now sang on stage, danced on stage and played in a band on stage and he is still only 9. 

Saturday we set off to Nelson Bay to see friends. I am ashamed to say that it has been 18 months since we last visited them but the time gap didn't make any difference.

We ate in and we ate out, we went 10 pin bowling and we walked up Tomaree Heads and watched the whales through binoculars. We played with their dogs and our children on the beach. Some of us drank lots of alcohol and and some of us were more restrained but all of us managed to talk complete nonsense for most of the weekend.

We drove back yesterday (Tuesday) and were in desperate need of any early night. But.... not such luck, Jon and I headed off to the city to see Pink in concert.

She was fantastic. The show was the best, how she manages to still sing when upside down on a trapeze escapes me but I loved every minute of it and would definitely see her again if she comes back in a couple of years.

 

Day 4

I have managed 4 days without chewing gum. Day 3 was much easier and today, day 4 has been easier again. Today it was just the habit that caught me out. I didn't get stressed about not having any.

I now just need to remember not to cave in and have just one.