My daughter Melaina is 9 years old. She's the main reason I started this journey. At 5 she started showing signs of puberty. The problem with that is if she completes it her bones finish off and stop growing. We took her to the doctor... Doctor sent us up to Portland to a specialist called an Endocrinologist.
Doctor: Yup, she's started puberty. Me: So, what do we do about it? Doctor: We'll just monitor her once a year and hope she doesn't start her period. Me: That's it. What causes it? Doctor: We're not sure. Could be an overproduction of insulin her body. Me: Why would that be happening? Doctor: Usually happens when a child is overweight. Me: Is my daughter overweight? Doctor: No, she's just chubby. The charts say she's on the high end of average. Me: Could it be the excessive amount of hormones in our food? Doctor: No, it's definitely not that.
So, I left feeling very frustrated and helpless as to what to do for her. As we were driving home we stopped to pick up some lunch to go have with Daddy and tell him about the appointment. My five year old ordered a salad. On the way home from our visit with Daddy she turned to me and said, "Mom, am I chubby? Do I need to eat less?". I wanted to cry. The only thing our trip to Portland accomplished was an insecurity in my beautiful five year old regarding the way she looked. If you know my daughter, she is and always has been beautiful. Beautiful in God's eyes I mean. She's kind, patient, loving, respectful, and a sheer joy to be around. I was angry at this doctor. (For the record, I called the doctor and spoke to her about it and she was very sorry. She apologized to my daughter and said she would choose her words more wisely with patients in the future. Another well meaning doctor, but she didn't have a way to help.)
So, I was on my own. I started doing some research. I cut out meat and dairy with hormones and started her on cod liver oil supplements. We definitely slowed the process. She is 9 years old and has yet to start her period.
However, less than a year ago she started having chronic stomach aches after meals. We could see that it was directly related to certain types of food so we began an elimination diet. After some time we narrowed it down to gluten, dairy, and eggs. Again, we went to the doctor. She suggested we go to a Gastrointestinal Specialist. I was really hoping for a referral to an allergist to find out how bad these allergies were and if there were any others we hadn't discovered. The doctor agreed and I waited for the call to never come. I called about a week later and they said your insurance denied the claim for the allergist because the doctor's notes state it's not necessary. Are you kidding? Why not necessary. It's more necessary to put her to sleep, stick things down her throat, cut things out and test them, only to find out nothing, is absolutely necessary first. Again, I was frustrated. Feeling helpless. I began to pray. I should have sought my Heavenly Father from the beginning. I might have saved myself and her some anxiety.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Fast forward to now. We've spent the last year trying to figure out how to make food without gluten, dairy, or eggs. You can't buy it in the packaged foods. That leaves the meat and produce section which isn't all the great either (For another post). The alternative food from the health food store is extremely expensive and doesn't even taste good. So here I am. On a venture to better health, especially for her, and learning so much. We've recently discovered she can eat eggs as long as they are farm fresh without the help of hormones, antibiotics and who knows what else. She can have wheat, it just has to be sprouted first (Also another post in the making). And she can have goat's milk keifer. The most exciting one of all! The good bacteria in the keifer eliminates the milk sugars and her body doesn't react and make her vomit! I have seen tears in her eyes 3 times now as we make these discoveries. And anyone who is a mother can probably imagine what goes on in my heart when I see that. She is learning so much about God's perfect diet and I know He has great plans for her someday.
And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
9 comments:
Great post Season! Do you get fresh goats milk from somewhere?
No one here has allergies, although I am convinced that refined sugar makes all of us feel gross and act grumpy -- a blood sugar thing. My 5 year old told her AWANA teacher that "sugar goes straight to her naughtiness."
I SO SO SO wish that the medical community got along better with the naturalpathic community. Yes, we need to pray for wisdom as parents!
Great Blog page Season, look forward to hearing more, are you following nourishing Traditions, I have been concerned about my own children and self being allergic to certain, I know I am allergic to milk, how does your daughter do with the goat Keifer, I was thinking of making goat yogurt and seeing if I would be ok on that, My ears get plugged up on regular yogurt after a couple of days on it. I also want to know about the sprouted wheat bread, I already use farm fresh eggs, Preston my 10 year old has thrown up after 3 days in a row of eggs so I do eggs one morning and something else another morining and I always drink Barley Greens in the morning and so do the kids and hubbie, I also make some kind of smoothie almost every morning. Davina
Davina: Goat's milk keifer is so much easier to make and it's hard to start the yogurt without a milk based yougurt starter. The good bacteria in the keifer kills the milk sugar in the goat's milk so her body doesn't react to it even though she can't have plain goat's milk. If your family is having allergies I would definitely read "The Makers Diet" and "Nourishing Traditions". My daughter does ok with the farm fresh eggs but I'm not sure why yet. You could put the keifer right in the smoothies you're making and you can't even taste it.
Alysun: I'm learning lots about hypoglycemia too. I'm pretty sure my little Hannah has it too. It's the same kind of thing as allergies. It's our bodies reacting to not having enough good bacteria in our guts. I'm hoping to get rid of it completely. I'm sure tired of feeling sick. Your daughter is hilarious! That's the cutest thing I've ever heard. It goes straight to my naughtiness too! Do you think that exuse will work with my husband?
I'm happy for you.
How do you make Keifer, do you have a recipe? maybe Holy could teach that at her next class. When is her next class? Davina
Davina: Holly's definitely the expert on this stuff. Her class is usually the first friday of every month. So April 2, I think. Keifer is just Keifer grains in the jar with raw milk. Put a lid on and put it in a cool dark place until it's thickened.
Where do you get keifer grains from , Davina
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