A Year on GAPS

March 2nd was our one year anniversary since starting the GAPS diet. Man. One whole year. When I think of all the things we've been through, all the changes, and things we've learned, my little head spins. I think it's time for a recap and a chance to share all our updates with you. 

CHARLOTTE:

Looking back to when we started this journey, Charlotte had less than 10 "safe" foods and the list was dwindling every week. She was miserable. I was exhausted and scared. The sleepless nights, the rashes, the eczema, the diarrhea, the lack of answers and the weariness of it all, was taking its toll. The doctors suggested doing invasive tests, suspecting she had EGID (Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorder) or FPIES (Food Protein Induced Entercolitis Syndrome). Through the research we did, we learned that if Charlotte had these issues, they likely weren't going to just go away. We would be looking at elemental formulas, repeated scopes and biopsies, or drugs with side effects we were very uncomfortable with. In essence, there might be the chance of "managing" what was going on, but not healing. I wanted her future to be brighter than that.

Our research led us to starting the GAPS diet. Charlotte has been on the Introductory diet, I have been on the Full diet, and Parker's done both. (CJ eats whatever I feed him, the trooper!) Specifically with Charlotte, she spent the majority of this year with an EXTREMELY limited diet. Up until a couple of months ago she was surviving on some meats (grass-fed, organic beef, organic turkey, venison, organic pork and organic lamb when we could get it) and the meat stock made from simmering the bones. She went through stages of tolerating some vegetables (rutabagas, leeks, etc) but after awhile these all proved to be problematic. We finally veered off the strict GAPS path and introduced sweet potato. That has been a staple food for her for many months. Although it's technically not allowed on the GAPS diet because it's starchy, we needed SOMEthing that would satiate her and give her additional nutrients. We may be prolonging healing by giving her certain foods, but right now we're doing the best we can.

In the past month or two I've gotten more and more bold at allowing her new foods. With the craziness of life, the expense of the diet, and the fact she's getting older and it's getting harder to limit everything, we're currently muddling through, giving her foods which we have and will cause the least consequence. This means she's now eating some zucchini, onion, garlic, green beans, carrots, beets, apple, banana, blueberries and pear.

This is not to say she's eating all these and everything is going perfectly, but it means she's not 100% miserable 100% of the time. She still sleeps very poorly most nights (generally up at least 3 times on a good night, 6 times on a bad night), has her "hurt belly" days where she's clingy and an emotional train wreck. Her stools remain unformed and foul, often with undigested foods. But we have noticed an improvement with less skin rashes and less diarrhea. We're making progress; that's the important thing. And let's face it, she's chubby, she's smart, she's exceeding all the developmental milestones. Somehow, she's getting what she needs, and her body and mind are growing well. Everyone's immune systems seem to be stronger. We've had no infections besides minor colds this past year. Charlotte no longer seems to catch everything going around, for which I'm so thankful. Whenever she was sick it always set her back so much and took so much out of her.

PARKER:

We started Parker on the diet later in the year, first with Full GAPS, then spending a short time on Intro, then back to the Full diet again. Without going into full details, I will say that whenever we've tried to veer off the diet, we see a drastic change for the worse. Overall Parker's moods, attitudes and behaviors have been more even-keel. We still struggle though many of our days, but I think we're on the right track. I hope in time we will be able to focus more efforts and money into his health through specific supplements and treatments to help rid his body of toxins and imbalances and help him to shine as the great boy we know he is. He's grown since starting the diet, adding about 5 pounds and 2 inches in just a few months (maybe next time he'll actually be on the growth charts!). He has finally had more of an open mind to expand his diet to include more foods which for us is a huge victory.


ELLIE:

I started Full GAPS since I was nursing Charlotte and she was reacting to so many things through my milk. Her diet was so limited I felt it was necessary to nurse her longer. I finally weaned her when she was almost 2. I remember meeting with our first GAPS practitioner at the start of all this. He looked over my food log and told me I needed to say goodbye to brownies, or whatever treat I'd listed on there. He told me I could substitute fruit with walnuts and honey. CJ and I looked at each other, and I had a good mind to punch him in the nose. I can say I never would have given up my homemade bread, cookies, and other goodies if I hadn't been nursing. But I can honestly say that I really don't mind now, except for the rare craving. I enjoy eating healthy, my body likes it, and when I stray I don't feel well. It's been a good change. It's certainly opened my eyes as to how to care for my family by cooking and preparing healthy meals. I miss the ease and convenience (and cheapness!) of buying a $0.99 box of pasta, having a bowl of cereal, or enjoying a big slice of cake, but I'm still alive (trust me, I had my serious doubts at first!!)

Since we're expecting baby Henry, I've continued on the diet to do everything within my control to ensure good health for him. I am now 32 weeks pregnant and looking forward to meeting our newest blessing. Of course, we're praying for him to be as healthy as a little horse. But that lies in God's hands, and not mine. I've had to let go of those fears and trust that God knows what is best, and He's proven He'll be with us no matter what. We are all anticipating his arrival and hope that the transition will be as smooth and joyful as possible.

OUR FAMILY:

 CJ graduated with his degree in school counseling in May and did very well in his program. He spent the summer feverishly submitting application after application. God did not provide for us until the very last minute- but He seemed to put CJ in just the right place. He's doing well at his job (everyone loves him) and as he will tell everyone who asks, he's "not bored." He jumped through some hoops and was able to transfer to a new Reserve unit with the Marines. He now travels to Chicago once a month (instead of western MA). His new unit is civil affairs, so he hopes this will allow him to do more real-world humanitarian jobs.

In the past year, we've moved from campus to CJ's parents' house, to an apartment, and now to our very own home. After a very stressful buying process, we closed on our house in the middle of February. Moving when it's sub-zero and pregnant wouldn't rate high on my bucket list- but God's timing is always better than our own. Thankfully we had lots of great helpers with the move process! It's been a whirlwind of packing, unpacking, organizing, cleaning, and trying to find our new normal. I have a to-do list a mile long, but I'm not sure how realistic it is that I'll complete it before Henry is born (and certainly not after!!). We feel like we're in a mansion after being in a 400 square foot apartment for 2.5 years. Our house is more than we ever dreamed; it's a blessing God's lavished on us. This house actually was owned by CJ's grandparents until 2005. His mom grew up here. So it is very special in many ways. It's clean, bright, roomy, and has a charm all its own. And it's OURS. It is a beautiful 1920's 5-bedroom house that has been well taken care of. We look forward to discovering what lies under all the snow this spring in the backyard! (When WILL all that snow melt?! This has been the endless winter, with frigid temps and snow. We have been cooped up inside most of the time, so we're ready for spring to arrive!)

I wish I could say just how much we've spent on this journey in the past year. Thousands and thousands of dollars. How we've done this while CJ was in grad school full time and now working as a public school employee, I don't know. God's provided, is all I can say, despite bonuses falling through, unexpected things coming up, and two vehicles which checked into hospice care. We finally have a reliable vehicle now, which is a huge burden lifted. It still makes me smile to think about the wonderful yard sale and bake sale we had which helped us obtain a lot of Charlotte's meats.

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED:

Healing is a process. I wish that it was something that could take place overnight. It's been a one step forward, three steps back kind of progress, which at times has been discouraging, overwhelming, and downright cruel. Our year has been filled with struggles, detox, symptoms, and far too little sleep. I haven't always been so confident about what we're doing. It's hard to learn everything and put it into practice. It's been confusing and challenging to make all these decisions (especially with children too small to effectively communicate their symptoms). But it has also been a beautiful reminder that God has been with us through it all.

We've learned that God keeps His promises. He always comes through. He's always trustworthy. He's always faithful. When the storms keep pounding, He's the anchor ensuring our little boat isn't swept under. God has provided for us in the wildest of ways. He hasn't given us ample, but He's given us just exactly what we need just in the nick of time. He's there even when my mind is full, my tasks are many, my responsibilities are great, and my talk and walk with Him is not all I'd like it to be. He gives me gentleness and understanding in this season.

We've seen the marvelous ways in which God has used other people to extend a hand to us during this time. In big ways and small ways, we've been supported, loved, and cared for. We are SO thankful for all the prayers and help. How could we have made it through without you??

We've learned crazy things like how to cook chicken feet, and how to suck the marrow out of bones. I literally have 16 livers in my freezer. I probably could have filled a swimming pool with the amount of broth I've made. If ever a robber comes in, I have a vast array of cast iron pans to knock him out cold. I traipsed through the woods as stealthily as a pregnant mama can through snow and ice in search of Bambi day after day, looking like a sorry version of Elmer Fudd. There have been butchered deer legs in my kitchen sink. I've personally cut and wrapped the venison in our freezer. It's not weird anymore to smear raw honey all over your face (to moisturize) or swish coconut oil around in your mouth for 20 minutes (oil-pulling). Your husband still thinks you're beautiful even when you smile at him while brushing your teeth with activated charcoal (think black!) Library books have a tendency to get wet, since they get splashed so often tub-side while the kids soak in their detox baths. The kids beg me to buy more of their "bath salts" (Epsom salts) at the store, providing lots of funny looks. They cry when they have to put their coveted grocery items on the belt to pay- frozen peas and bags of blueberries (no M&M meltdowns in this family). Sometimes Charlotte gets confused because she doesn't know if she has "mawwow" (marrow) on her face, or a smeared booger. The jars of homemade "weird" stuff like fermenting vegetables, broth, sour 24-hour yogurt, and kefir are threatening to take over my refrigerator. I can stomach the taste of fermented cod liver oil (just barely). Weekly cooking marathons till 1am are commonplace. I should probably get some kind of honorary degree for the hours of research I've done this year. I have acquired eagle eyes, watching to ensure Charlotte does not lick the soap solution off her hands after popping bubbles, or snack on a tempting Play-doh morsel- this makes me kind of a freak, but live and learn. I can hide practically any vegetable known to man by pureeing the daylights out of it. I have come face to face with broccoli bugs and ingested far too many for my comfort level. I am a boo-boo kissing, distraction-tactic expert who knows just which songs to sing or way to rock the kids so that they feel better. My favorite new thing about our new house is my "Dream Machine" (dishwasher)- this baby saves me an hour of washing dishes every day! We now load up on natural good fats instead of fearing them. My whole mindset towards health has changed from all the things I learned growing up. I am considering my next career to be a detective; trying to decipher symptoms is equitable with some serious code-cracking. We gave special broth cups in the kids Christmas stockings. I know lots of local farmers by name. I can pack enough food to get us to the moon each and every time we set foot out our door (though it's never quite enough to satisfy the kids until we return home). I get extremely grumpy and covetous about sleep. I have a medicine cabinet full of "hippie witchcraft bullcrap" (according to CJ) and know how to use homeopathy and essential oils to cure much of what ails us. Charlotte will let you in on her beauty secret- greasy broth is a great hair-styling tool. Parker can rock a mean carrot juice mustache. And somehow CJ's survived, even though there have been many nights when he's come home, opened the fridge door, and surveyed the scene... "There's nothing in here to eat but broth!"Surely all these life skills give us some superpower rank? At the very least they bump us into the "hippie health freak weirdo" territory. Ah well.

You can see we've also learned that in order to stay sane, we've got to keep our sense of humor! We've got to keep things in perspective. We can only do so much; we're not the ultimate Healer. Only God is. Following a diet perfectly, living as clean as a whistle- these things will only take us on a road filled with fear, worry and doubt. Doing our best and trusting God with the rest is the road we're traveling. I hope as we keep on plodding along we'll get to spread this crazy testimony of ours.

God bless you for reading, caring and loving us!