breakthrough

Isn't this little plant the poster child for breakthroughs?  I had a couple myself over the past couple of days.  That's right.   Breakthroughs, not breakdowns! yay!   Well, I did almost have a breakdown over my allergy detective work.  I managed for 5 1/2 whole days on the fruit, veggie, and a little meat diet.  In the mean time my eczema completely cleared up.  And I was completely miserable.  I got several, "Are you OK?"s.  I pretended like I was but I wasn't fooling anyone.   On the fifth day I decided I would rather have food in all it's glory than be eczema  free, but at the same time I was still wanting to pinpoint the culprit.  To make a long, very boring story short. I didn't make it through the sixth day.  I was feeling light headed by the end of the day.  I guess I'm just too active to eat like that.  Logically, it doesn't make that much sense to me because I had quadrupled the normal quantity of foods that I eat.  I wasn't satisfied, but I didn't expect to become dizzy.  I did dance for an hour and a half with Chris and I had my first night of a jazz class that night.  Anyway, at least I know it is a food allergy.  There is always acupuncture.
That brings me to my second breakthrough.  Chris told me that I had one in my dancing!  And he also said that he is getting really excited about my progress.  That is such a huge deal to me.  Maybe it shouldn't be, but he tells it like it is when it comes to dance, and he has very high standards.  So for him to say that is---well, it's a first.  Just as a back ground Chris and I had the best summer ever swing dancing together, we started dating that summer.  It was magical.  Dancing, falling love.  Perfect.  Chris went on to become a well trained ballroom dancer, and I finished up my art degree and had our babies.  I miss the time when we were equally yoked in the dancing department.  Playing catch up has been no fun at times.  Painful at times, wishing for the fun days of the past.  I've had to really suck up my pride and deal with it.  I'm so glad it's finally starting to feel worth it. Yay!   Slowly, but surely, kind of like the progress on my chairs.  When you look at what I started with, it's so difficult to see the possibility of beauty in pile of trash.  Now that some of the sanding is done, it's starting to seem more realistic.

 I'm not giving up...  just like that little plant.  Starting to see the sun!

I'm grateful for slowly but surely.  Progress. Breakthroughs. Hope!

farewell processed foods! till we meet again...

We made our own apple juice today.
Ooh, I never quite realized what a beast our microwave is...at least we have a rockin' juicer.
Yum.  Doesn't that look pretty.
And last night, instead of my normal bowl of ice cream, I had steak for a snack.  WHY?  Well, I was really hungry after a day of only fruits and veggies.  WHY?  I'm hoping you all are sympathetic because this is the saddest story ever.   I have this horrible, no good, wakes me up at night painful, eczema on my hands.  True story.  And I only aquired it after giving birth.  At first it was restricted to the area under my wedding ring.  Now it's pretty much everywhere on my palms.  It's not completely repulsive, I don't think anyone really notices unless I point it out. And it does come and go. And more than see it I can feel it. BUT.  I am now trying trying to figure out if its some kind of food allergy, because the creams don't do jack.  So sad, I have to eat only fruits, veggies, and meat for the next little bit, and then introduce other foods one by one.  I kind of think it's yeast.  Which is sad.  But we'll see. Some places I've read say not to eat meat either.  Not that I usually eat much meat, but what is going to make me full?  Am I just supposed to chew until my mouth starts hurting?  And what about energy for running and dancing?  I'll have to check and see if I can eat some nuts.  That would be helpful.  Wish me luck with my investigating!

But seriously, I'm so thankful for all the beautiful, delicious fruits and veggies out there! YUM!  And for food in general (so yummy), and for our bodies being so smart to alert us of dangerous allergies by whatever means necessary!