Why Does My Stomach Always Hurt...

The title of this post says it all!!!  Seriously... WHY DOES MY STOMACH ALWAYS HURT???
My Story:
I have pretty much had a stomach ache for the past 10 years or so, the degree of pain varies- some days I feel pretty good, while other days I am in constant pain.  I can't really remember the last time I woke up without a stomach ache.  About 6-7 years ago my symptoms got pretty bad.  So I started seeing some doctors and ultimately it was found that I have endometriosis and had surgery to remove what had grown.  After that, doctors and myself alike hoped that most symptoms would begin to stop.  Unfortunately that has not been the case!  During pregnancy and while I was nursing I felt pretty good- this could be because you are not ovulating during this time so endometriosis can not grow.  Lately it has gotten pretty bad again... sooo I made it my New Year's Resolution.

Resolution:
1. Set up doctor appointments
2. Keep a food journal
3. Don't let one good day keep me from taking action

Listen I have tried this before remember this post A Journey To Healthy Living and then I posted this one Plan B.  These posts tell how I tried an Advocare cleanse and had a bad allergic reaction.  Anyways, I stuck with my resolution and visited my family doc, lady doc, and a gastroenterologist specialist.  Here is what I found...

YES- my endometriosis is growing and causing pain.  Lady doc is taking care of that.  However, I have also been found to have fructose malabsorption.  What the heck is that???  It is when your body does not absorb different types of fructose found in a ton of foods.  Here you think you are eating healthy but some of those healthy foods are exactly what is causing all that pain.  For short this is called a FODMAP diet.  When the doctor gave me a list of foods that I needed to eliminate for the next 6-8 weeks I literally wanted to cry!  Never mind! I was thinking in my head- I don't want to know what's going on with me.  I will just eat my food and have a stomach ache! ha- nope now I am educated and there is no going back!

So what's the next step- I have to follow a very strict elimination diet for the next 6-8 weeks to eliminate my body from all types of fructose.  Then I can slowly start to introduce small amounts of food from one category at a time to see what my tolerance is.  That is some serious work!!!  But my doctor promised that if I do this, I can live a life without pain.  OK- SIGN ME UP!

First thing I had to do was a TON of research.  With 5 categories of FODMAPS there is a LOT that I needed to cut out...tear drop.  This will be tough!  There are lots of great websites out there that have helped guide me through the grocery store.

Here's the original one my doctor gave me:

Meal planning has taken on a whole new challenge- I can barely get regular meals on the table every night and now they need to be gluten free, lactose free, garlic free, onion free, etc, etc.  Thank the good Lord for PINTEREST!!!

This post feels very wordy and not the kind I am use to posting- but honestly, I have been doing this diet for a week now and I feel incredible!! No bloating, cramping, constant stomach pains!! HipHipHooray!!!  On top of feeling great, I have created meals that even the hubby will happily eat!  Granted as I write this post he is next to me in bed eating sour patch kids and a box of chocolate raisins, but he ate healthy all week with me!
So if you have a stomach issues, IBS symptoms, or just want to learn more about food and healthy meals- stick with me because I will be sharing the meals that I have made that are yummy and insanely healthy and all of the other rather shocking information I have learned about some of our favorite foods!!  Excited to share some yummy recipes soon!

Best Friends Forever

There is nothing better than being preggers at the same time as one of your best friends!! Well this happened to me and my great friend Julie!  Julie and I have been friends since college, lived together after college, got married the same summer, have hubbies who are friends, and we both were expecting our first little one only 3 months apart!!!  We both had girls (Ellie and Eme)!  They are currently in the same little TOTS daycare and have become best of friends!  And there is nothing sweeter.  These two girls are pretty opposite, which makes it even better.  Ellie is outgoing, LOVES to dance, run around, explore...  Eme on the other hand is cautious, LOVES to sing, plays quietly with dolls and books.  Example- Julie and I had the girls at the park this past fall and Ellie was running up to all the other kids and diving into the grass.  While Emersyn yelled for her to come back and wouldn't cross over from the mulch to grass without my hand.  Oh these two girls are meant for each other!!!

Here's to a lifetime of friendship- one that grows as they do.

 Hope you all have a friend that you just want to HUG!! :)

Fun in the Sun

Old Man Winter really takes a toll on us here in Indiana.  That is exactly why we thought we would escape for a week of sunshine just before the holidays.  Emersyn isn't 2 yet so she was still free for flying, and we used Southwest, who has open seating, so she ended up with her own seat anyway!  She slept pretty much the whole way there!  We planned that with a 6:30am flight!

Once we landed in Ft. Lauderdale, we drove to Sunny Isles- and small section of Florida just north of Miami.  We stayed at the Trump Towers and absolutely LOVED everything about the hotel, service, location, and weather!!

The hotel room did come with a crib- it is up in the left hand corner.  However, Emersyn preferred the comfy bed with me!  First time she has ever slept in a bed with me, her face in the morning when she realized I was still with her was priceless!

The room had a nice little kitchenette so we could keep milk, snacks, and supplies to make lunch everyday.

Our view from the room!  We literally spent every day jumping back and forth between the pool and beach.  Everything was so close and the staff organized your umbrellas and chairs for you!! 

Emersyn insisted that everyone got their own castle!

Yes even she needed a castle!

hated the ocean

Napped on me everyday in the shade for 3 hours!

Loved the park across the street.  Everything was a perfect size for her- we visited just about daily!

Most nights ended with a snuggle and Mickey.

This was the BEST little vacation EVER!  Emersyn was amazing and had so much fun!  This was  the first vacation that I was nervous about but even with a tiny toddler it was so relaxing.  We are beyond blessed to have this little lady keep us smiling everyday.  These were truly moments I will never forget!