I'm still here!

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year.  Apologies for the huge gap since my last blog post. 

I think I wrote last time about having been diagnosed with a UTI and feeling very poorly.  Well after 2 courses of anti-biotics I still had awful abdominal pains so I went back to see the Dr again.  He sent an armful of blood to test me for everything under the sun, but they all came back normal.  So he sent me for a CT scan.  That came back normal too.  So 8 weeks of horrible pain, and we still couldn't find the cause. 

Christmas and New Year came and went.  We spent them quietly, at home, which made it easier for me, as even dinner at my mother-in-law's house for a couple of hours wiped me out.  So I've been given anti-spasmodics (the wonderful Buscopan that so many of my friends swear by) to try for a week.  Keeping everything crossed they work, as the next step is a colonoscopy, and I'd really rather avoid that if possible!

As well as neglecting the blog, I've also been neglecting the camera, and only doing the bare minimum cooking-wise, but I'm feeling a bit brighter this week, so hoping to get back into the swing of things.  I'm not one for New Year's resolutions, but I do have a good feeling about this year :)

A Year in Review

 This year has been tough in so many ways.  Getting through it has been somewhat of a triumph.  I'm hoping and praying for an easier year ahead.  I took this photo yesterday to symbolise the hope I have.  Something about a rose bud opening its petals in an almost freezing garden in December spoke to me.

Yesterday it was a year since my Grandma died.  She had been very ill for a long time, and although it was a relief that she was no longer suffering, it was heartbreaking for all of us.  For Ruth and Alex, it was the first time they had lost someone close to them.

This photo of my Grandma and I was taken by my dear friend and wedding photographer Kirsty Wiseman at my wedding in May 2008.  It is one of the most precious to me of all the amazing photos she took that day. 

Then in February this year Alex got sick.  In agonising pain for months, he was convinced he was dying - had me worried I can tell you!  In May I was told I had degenerative arthritis in my wrist which would continue to get worse and was already causing a lot of pain and difficulty in doing things.  However this was eclipsed the following week when we were told that Alex's blood test had been positive for Coeliac Disease. Ruth was screened as a result, and in July we were told her blood test was positive too. A biopsy and endoscopy in August followed for Alex who was immediately told to start a gluten free diet as the damage to his small intestine was so extensive.  In October Ruth had her biopsy and endoscopy and was instructed to start a gluten free diet once the results came back.  Fortunately it was caught much earlier in Ruth, and the damage wasn't anywhere near as bad as with Alex, and she had few symptoms.

It has taken a long time to come to terms with everything, and to get used to the new diet.  But finally I think we're getting there.  I'm feeling positive for the first time in a long time.  Seeing the children doing so well is inspiring.

Just need to get to the bottom of these abdominal pains I'm having, but hoping CT scan on 21st will shed some light on the situation.  Hoping for positive news there too :)

Victorian Christmas Market

Yesterday I had a day out with my lovely friend Laura at the Worcester Victorian Christmas Market.  There were lots of lovely things to see and photograph.  Of course my favourites were the owls (no surprise there!) and carousel.  It was great to catch up with one of my best friends, and have a bit of time away from the sofa where I've spent most of the past 3 weeks.  

When my body lets me, photography is my main hobby.  If you'd like to see more of my photos, please have a look at my Flickr photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/sakurablythe/  A lot of my photos involve dolls just to warn you though!

Check Ups

Today Ruth and Alex had their check ups with their paediatric consultant at the local hospital. Apart from the consultant running 50 minutes late it went rather well. Alex is growing and gaining weight inline with the percentile he's been on the past few months. Its possible that he may start a steeper increase as his body recovers, but the consultant is happy that he is going in the right direction now, after losing weight in the months leading to diagnosis. Everything is going so well with Alex that he doesn't need to go back for a year. He had to have a blood test, but its just to see if his iron levels are back to where they should be so he can stop his iron supplements. Ruth's weight has stayed the same, and she's grown 1/2 cm since October so he's happy with her progress too. Ruth will see him again in 4 months to see how she's doing, and to check her iron levels and blood count, and then 8 months from then so their appointments can be co-ordinated. So all in all a pretty positive consultation. Its good to know they're both recovering so well.

Quinoa Supergreen Salad

   In my quest to find new gluten free things to feed the family, I came across several discussions of quinoa (keen-wa).  I didn't even know how to pronounce it at first, never mind what to do with it!  I Googled recipes, and came across this one on the BBC Good Food site Quinoa Supergreen Salad.  A bit of tinkering, and I made it suit us.  The children tried it, but weren't keen on the avacado.  Ruth loved the soya beans though, and eats them as a side dish to other meals now.  John and I really enjoyed it though, and this dish full (above), was my dinner that day - and I managed almost the whole lot, which is pretty good for me at the moment.

Ingredients
50g Quinoa
4 spring onions, finely chopped
1 small avocade, diced
1 lemon, juiced
100g frozen soya beans (edamame)
100g frozen peas
1/2 small bunch parsley, chopped
1/4 cucumber, diced
Olive oil
Salt to season

Method
1. Cook the quinoa following the pack instructions, drain, rinse under cold water then drain completely.
2. Add the spring onions, avacado and lemon juice to a bowl and season with salt.
3. Blanch the soya beans and peas for 2 mins, drain and rinse, then add to the bowl.
4. Add the quinoa, cucumber and parsley to the bowl, pour over a few tablespoons of olive oil, and toss everything together.

Can be served as a side salad, or even a light meal.  Tasty, and packed with nutrients in all those wonderful superfoods.