Celiac Disease

 Our precious Hannah Rose has had tummy troubles for quite some time.  She was in pain a lot, threw up a lot, and was always bloated.  Her mom took her to the doctor.  They tried several diet changes and they seemed to help.  He ordered a blood test for celiac disease, and, after a week, it came back positive.  We are so sad she has this disease, but happy to know what is wrong.

This will be a huge change and challenge for their family.  But, honestly, they have been prepared for it.  Blake is a doctor and his undergraduate degree is in nutritional science.  Shonna is a baker and cook extraordinaire.  She has been experimenting with grains and other foods for years.  She bakes all of their bread  and is a fabulous cook.  

As soon as they got the diagnosis, they started studying.  Blake immediately went out and bought a new mill/grinder, so that there is not cross contamination, and a lot of acceptable grains.  He came home and ground and made delicious gluten-free bread.  

Again, we are so sad Hannah has this disease, but so glad to get her feeling better!

I looked up on the Internet what Celiac disease is:

A chronic immune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion. It results in damage of intestinal lining and causes diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating and anemia.

Common (More than 200,000 cases per year in US)

Treatments can help manage condition, no known cure

Often requires lab test or imaging

Family history may increase likelihood

Urgent medical attention recommended in severe cases

The Sugar Queen

 

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was the perfect break I needed from the heavy wartime novels I have been reading. It was a cute modern fiction novel with just a tiny touch of fantasy. The surprise ending was, well, a surprise, and everyone ends up happy. Call me childish, but I like those kinds of stories. I really liked the author’s style.

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The Paris Library

 

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story is based on the true story of the struggle to keep the American library open in Paris during the German occupation in WWII. Based on much research and truth, it taught me a lot about that period in France and the dedication and service of those who sacrificed much to keep books available to all, including Jews. As all WWII novels are, it was sad, but it had happiness in it as well. My husband and I listened to the audio version.

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Ice Castles (1978)

 We watched this 1978 version of this movie on BYUtv.  Though I think we had seen it years ago, it was fun to watch it again.  I see that there is a 2010 version that I would love to see.  It is a great, inspiring story and the theme song is absolutely gorgeous. 

Family Comes to Visit

 Shonna and Michelle brought their kids and came down to St. George for a short visit July 26-29.  Neither had been home since pre-COVID.  It was so fun to have them come.  It was another mini-reunion, though we missed Kristen.  It rained on Monday- the day they came, cooling things down.  So, after a pasta bar dinner, we all walked down to the park.

The city put new playground equipment in the park and leveled the pathways. They worked on it for months.  It is so nice.

The kids loved the new equipment.

I love the sibling swing.

Sit down in the relaxing chair, mom.  Then she got a ride.

I even took a ride in the relaxing chair, but luckily, no one took a picture.

Rarely, are all of the cities I keep track of on my weather app so close in temperature.

On Tuesday morning, we went to the St. George Children's Museum.  

Here we are, waiting in line

The museum is a great place for kids.  Following are some pictures of the fun.

Kenny and William milking the cow.  After we got home, William said this was his favorite thing at the museum.

Kenny worked at this maze for a long time.  He has an engineer's mind. Long after I would be bored, he works and works and works.

Ken and I spent some special two on one time with Kenny. We watched him conquer the climbing wall.  He tried and conquered the low, medium and high height.  We were so proud of him.  He had to climb and then hit the buzzer at the top.  He just kept trying until he got all four of them.  One of them was on the ceiling!

Gabe loved this puzzle  screen game in the dinosaur room.  We pretty much had to peel him off of it. He is a very good puzzle-doer.

When we got home, we made dinner.

Barbecued hamburgers, baked beans, pineapple, chips

Older, but smaller sister

ice cream treats for all

Lots of games were played

And our Barbie bin was a hit.

On Wednesday afternoon, we went to the Sand Hollow Aquatics Center.

Kenny

Jaron

I was able to catch Gabbi doing a great trick off the diving board.  I am proud of this shot!

Lily

Michelle

It was such a fun afternoon.  Grandpa and I left a little early and went home and showered.  Then he picked up pizzas for dinner.  I made salad and cut up cantaloupe.

We made our Hinton traditional homemade vanilla ice cream in the old-fashioned ice and salt churn.  So yummy!

Watching the Olympics

I came out the next morning and found Grandpa feeding the kids leftover pizza for breakfast!  They loved it.

William preferred traditional cereal

Kenny declared that he has a crush on his cousin, Hannah.  Who doesn't?

These two did lots of building.

Time to go.  Sad Grandpa and Grandma.

Jaron wanted to help Grandpa mow the lawn.  I think they are gearing up to come and help when Grandpa has his knee surgery.  He wanted to know how to start and run the machine.  What a great kid!  How we love our Jaron.

It was such a fun visit.  Thank you so much Michelle and Shonna and families.  We love you so!!!