My family suffers from Celiac Disease. Living life on the road and maintaining a diligent and healthy meal plan was a concern when we started this venture. The first thing that comes to mind when one says "travel" is eating out. With CD, there aren't many eating out options. However, one thing that sits in the back of my head is knowing we are headed for some extremely culterally rich places and I won't be able to truly experience it because I cannot have the cuisine that they pride themselves on.
With CD there is no pharmacuetical prescription to control the disorder. It is an auto-immune disorder that responds only to a strict gluten free diet. It also hasn't been hugely embraced by the Western/American medical community. We have been shot-down by multiple providers when we bring our medical history to their attention while trying to address other medical concerns. I can only imagine the the first thing documented as our diagnosis in our charts "cranky disposition otherwise healthy". What are we suppose to do with that! When moving onto another doctor hoping to gain some ground the only thing we really can say is "my last medical test showed I was crabby". Noboby was even interested in entertaining the possibility and when we asked for testing we were told "you don't have CD unless you have chronic diarhea". There are over 300 symptoms many of which do not manifest on the outside. Each person is different and affected by CD differently. Four out of five of us Jennings have CD. We are a large enough group to start our own control study. All of us have different symptoms. The one confirming symptom is DH. Dermatitis Herpetiformis. All three of my kids have it, but it is located in a different spot on their bodies and their rashes all vary in appearence. It has been misdiagnosed as excema. For myself, I didn't know how crappy I felt until I felt good.
Two weeks ago I knowingly exposed myself. All I can say is I am still learning. I stopped and got lunch for Jeramie at Taco Bell. I couldn't help it. I had to have one. A bean burrito. I have always loved them. It pairs especially nice with an ice cold Dr. Pepper. Now that is culteral cuisine! It started with burning in my intestines. Not cramping of my stomach, BURNING. Like someone had scratched my insides with the end of a paperclip and then poured acid on it. Everytime I thought of food, smelled food or talked about food, it would burn. I didn't really eat for three days after. Then it progressed into joint aches. Especially in my right hand. Like arthritis, it just ached. I caught myself rubbing my knuckles like an elderly person who really does have arthritis. I had generalized joint stiffness but didn't give it much thought because I really felt the ache in my hand. I noticed that I have been clinching my teeth again, probably grinding them at night also. I haven't done that in MONTHS. My energy is decreased. I once again am having a hard time getting out of bed in the a.m. I am sure that is because I am not sleeping. The final symptom that showed up this time was my periodontal disease. It is totally localized, and changes areas each time. Mostly inflammation with bleeding. I use to think this was related to hormonal fluctuations but now know it is due to gluten exposure. Seriously, I work in the dental field. Periodontal disease is not something I take lightly. I would be curious to see what the result would be if every perio patient were to be tested for CD. I wonder how many of them have undiagnosed Celiac Disease. So was the burrito worth it? That would be a BIG no. I have to worry about more than calories or immediate indigestion. I get to suffer for two weeks for every minor "treat".
I have seen SOO many improvements in the kids. They, however, cannot have dairy as well as gluten. I am still hopeful that they will be able to have it added back in after they get cleaned out and healed but I have tried to re-introduce it to them three times and each time the response is more negative than the last so now I am coming to terms that it is probably gone forever. The most recent attempt was with a vanilla shake from Mickey D's. Within 24 hours we were paying the consequences. Andon broke out with DH. Lexi had a "belly ache" and her "brain hurt". Addi has been incorrigible. To the point that someone thinks she is mean. It is hard to describe to someone else because it sounds like you are making excuses for your unruly kids. You have to actually live with it day in and day out to get it. She isn't mean, she feels like crap. She reminds me of Seabiscuit, most people who came in contact with him saw an unmanageable beast. The ones who understood him saw he was all heart. Thats our Addi. She is BUSY, but I am not so sure she is mean. I see Andon's DH sores and cringe knowing that is what the inside of his small intestine probably looks like to. Why do I do this to them? I hate it that I give in.
I have a renewed confidence in western medicine though. UCLA has recently opened up a Celiac Disease clinic. It is starting to get some attention. I wonder how many people will say they want tested because their "last medical test showed I was crabby".
I have found that I am extremely suited for the traveling lifestyle. I am always prepared for whatever. We have our gluten free home on wheels at all times. I am not about to be a victim of faulty genetics. I choose to be pro-active and maybe even an advocate. The last thing I want is for people to think "RUN! the celiacs are coming".
Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
All Creatures Great and Small, The Lord God made them all
We finished up our visit with Grandma and headed to Winston, OR. The main goal being to see Wildlife Safari. The park has a campground 1/4 mile from the park entrance. It doesn't get more convenient then that.
We strolled in on Sunday afternoon to beautiful 80 degree sunshine. We were gonna load up to see the animals Monday mid-day after Jeramie was done working. We hung out and relaxed in the much cooler weather then what we had left in Medford. Monday rolled around and it was overcast with grey skies. No sun to be found. I remembered coming here as a kid on a class field trip and not seeing much of the animals. This attraction was as much for me as it was for the kids. I wasn't about to risk going on a day when all of the animals didn't want to be seen. And since we planned on being here for three days, we had the luxery of waiting out the disappointing weather.
So we decided to swing into the metropolis of Winston, Oregon instead and let the kids spend the money that Grandma gave them at the Dollar store. I knew their new treasures would keep them busy for the day and we could try the park the next day instead. It had been awhile since we had seen a movie and Winston did in fact have a redbox so it was on the list of stops as well as finding "free" air to add to the tires of the Jeep.
The dollar store didn't take long. Our most methodical shopper is Andon and he and Jeramie searched each aisle for the perfect items. The girls had their money spent before we really even entered the doors. So instead of torchering myself with the girls need to constantly trade out items they have decided they like better then the last thing they just chose we headed back out to the car to wait "patiently". While reloading up we got a smile and a nod from a a kid walking by, baggy pants and hoody up. I love visiting small towns, even the local hoodlums are friendly.
We headed for "free"air next. It irritates Jeramie to no end that people charge for air. I keep reminding him that he is paying for the use of the tool that gets the air from out here to in there. Doesn't matter, it needs to be free. First stop in our search was a Town Pump. It was busy with about six cars and two attendants so we could barely see an air station but they did have one. Our vision was set on the station looking for a fee sign because if we saw one this was only going to be a drive-by when we came around the corner and right there in front of us, on the sidewalk, in front of the main building, totally unhidden, was an elderly man laying on the ground on his side, with his back toward us in a semi-fetal position obviously inacapable of getting himself up off of the ground. Jeramie slammed on the brakes and flew out of the car. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! We had to drive between the main building with the old man on the left and the pump stations with the six cars and two attendants on the right with all of the cars facing the main building. I looked out the window. Not a single person gave any sort of expression that they noticed or cared that a man was laying on the side walk. Are you telling me that every single one of these people are either so selfish or self absorbed that not a single one of them would aknowledge when someone is in need of help? This old man might have been known through out town as the local crazy, when he got up it took him a minute to catch his equillibrium and he did seem like he suffered from dimentia or something but come on people, crazy or not he needed help. Crazy or not, this man is a person. Crazy or not, this man might be someones grandpa. Crazy or not, this man also has a story.
We rented "The book of Eli" with Denzel Washginton. We had heard from credible sources that it was really good. I have an aversion to nasty words so I have a 4 word rule. This one almost didn't make it past the word rule but I hung in there. I'm glad I did. It was a story of post-tribulation discipleship with a "Mad Max" spin. It will get the wheels turning.
The next day started off grey but right around the time the park opened the sun broke. Jeramie didn't get up to work. That never happens. I knew he didn't feel well but when he started throwing up the kids and I couldn't get out of the motorhome fast enough. 300 sq. ft is too small when someone is sick, smellwise and noisewise. We left our sickly daddy to die on the couch with a bowl beside his head and all of the fans on and windows open. Off we RAN to enjoy our day. I feel a little guilty that we got to do this and he feels sooo terrible. He missed out and that bums me out. But atleast we had somewhere to go so that he could be sick in peace and quiet.
Almost all of the animals were out. I was a little worried when they said "stay atleast three car lengths away from the rhino's and honk your horn if you need help". How do you explain that to your car insurance company? "I had a rhino sit on my car". I wonder if they would hold things up with an investigation to confirm who was at fault with that excuse. However, after all of that wasted mental space, we never saw the rhino's. We did see all of the other creatures great and small. Andon's favorite, the lion (no surprise there), Lexi's favorite, the Llama (didn't see that one coming except that one of the staff told her to look out cause they spit so she might have fallen in love with their attitude), I couldn't get enough of the Giraffes. I cannot help but look at all of these animals and think about how imaginative and creative our God is (and with some can't help but wonder what he was thinking).
Wildlife Safari has one of the most successful Cheetah breeding programs in the world. There was a story of a cheetah and a herding dog who were raised together and they both live on the park still together. Even the animals have stories.
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
By Cecil Frances Alexander
We strolled in on Sunday afternoon to beautiful 80 degree sunshine. We were gonna load up to see the animals Monday mid-day after Jeramie was done working. We hung out and relaxed in the much cooler weather then what we had left in Medford. Monday rolled around and it was overcast with grey skies. No sun to be found. I remembered coming here as a kid on a class field trip and not seeing much of the animals. This attraction was as much for me as it was for the kids. I wasn't about to risk going on a day when all of the animals didn't want to be seen. And since we planned on being here for three days, we had the luxery of waiting out the disappointing weather.
So we decided to swing into the metropolis of Winston, Oregon instead and let the kids spend the money that Grandma gave them at the Dollar store. I knew their new treasures would keep them busy for the day and we could try the park the next day instead. It had been awhile since we had seen a movie and Winston did in fact have a redbox so it was on the list of stops as well as finding "free" air to add to the tires of the Jeep.
The dollar store didn't take long. Our most methodical shopper is Andon and he and Jeramie searched each aisle for the perfect items. The girls had their money spent before we really even entered the doors. So instead of torchering myself with the girls need to constantly trade out items they have decided they like better then the last thing they just chose we headed back out to the car to wait "patiently". While reloading up we got a smile and a nod from a a kid walking by, baggy pants and hoody up. I love visiting small towns, even the local hoodlums are friendly.
We headed for "free"air next. It irritates Jeramie to no end that people charge for air. I keep reminding him that he is paying for the use of the tool that gets the air from out here to in there. Doesn't matter, it needs to be free. First stop in our search was a Town Pump. It was busy with about six cars and two attendants so we could barely see an air station but they did have one. Our vision was set on the station looking for a fee sign because if we saw one this was only going to be a drive-by when we came around the corner and right there in front of us, on the sidewalk, in front of the main building, totally unhidden, was an elderly man laying on the ground on his side, with his back toward us in a semi-fetal position obviously inacapable of getting himself up off of the ground. Jeramie slammed on the brakes and flew out of the car. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! We had to drive between the main building with the old man on the left and the pump stations with the six cars and two attendants on the right with all of the cars facing the main building. I looked out the window. Not a single person gave any sort of expression that they noticed or cared that a man was laying on the side walk. Are you telling me that every single one of these people are either so selfish or self absorbed that not a single one of them would aknowledge when someone is in need of help? This old man might have been known through out town as the local crazy, when he got up it took him a minute to catch his equillibrium and he did seem like he suffered from dimentia or something but come on people, crazy or not he needed help. Crazy or not, this man is a person. Crazy or not, this man might be someones grandpa. Crazy or not, this man also has a story.
We rented "The book of Eli" with Denzel Washginton. We had heard from credible sources that it was really good. I have an aversion to nasty words so I have a 4 word rule. This one almost didn't make it past the word rule but I hung in there. I'm glad I did. It was a story of post-tribulation discipleship with a "Mad Max" spin. It will get the wheels turning.
The next day started off grey but right around the time the park opened the sun broke. Jeramie didn't get up to work. That never happens. I knew he didn't feel well but when he started throwing up the kids and I couldn't get out of the motorhome fast enough. 300 sq. ft is too small when someone is sick, smellwise and noisewise. We left our sickly daddy to die on the couch with a bowl beside his head and all of the fans on and windows open. Off we RAN to enjoy our day. I feel a little guilty that we got to do this and he feels sooo terrible. He missed out and that bums me out. But atleast we had somewhere to go so that he could be sick in peace and quiet.
Almost all of the animals were out. I was a little worried when they said "stay atleast three car lengths away from the rhino's and honk your horn if you need help". How do you explain that to your car insurance company? "I had a rhino sit on my car". I wonder if they would hold things up with an investigation to confirm who was at fault with that excuse. However, after all of that wasted mental space, we never saw the rhino's. We did see all of the other creatures great and small. Andon's favorite, the lion (no surprise there), Lexi's favorite, the Llama (didn't see that one coming except that one of the staff told her to look out cause they spit so she might have fallen in love with their attitude), I couldn't get enough of the Giraffes. I cannot help but look at all of these animals and think about how imaginative and creative our God is (and with some can't help but wonder what he was thinking).
Wildlife Safari has one of the most successful Cheetah breeding programs in the world. There was a story of a cheetah and a herding dog who were raised together and they both live on the park still together. Even the animals have stories.
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
By Cecil Frances Alexander
Saturday, July 17, 2010
We're in Mexico now
My mind is racing. Amazing the things God will do if you just let him. I woke up this morning at 3 a.m. with words flying around my brain to the point that I don’t know where to start.
First of all, my mother bear instincts are on alert. Big city that I am unfamiliar with and so far the general attitude of the local residents is RUDE. I had to drive our car seperatley with the girls and Andon and Jeramie drove the motorhome because our car cannot be towed. Thanks to German engineering. As soon as we got there the kids piled out, Andon met us across the yard and followed us back to the motorhome. Lexi tried to run out into the road, which is busy with self-absorbed drivers flying down the street obviously ignoring the speed laws. “Look out Lex, your gonna get ran over, DO NOT run into the road and DO NOT come out here with out mom or dad” I yelled in a panic. “Yeah Lex, otherwise you will get ran over ‘cause we’re in Mexico now” Andon warned her. Well, maybe not exactly the real Mexico, but close enough.
This week in Medford has been totally of God. We have spent tons of time with Jeramie’s extended family. The dialogue in conversation has been challenging, exactly what we love. We have had the chance to really get into the meat of beginner belief and it was an exercise in preparation. We know the answers to so many of these questions but have a hard time articulating them verbally. We have confirmed that we are equipped with knowledge but need practice in readiness. The way God set up this lesson for us has been merciful, the opportunity to do this in the safety of our family is blessing.
It started with dinner at Jeramie’s Uncles with his wife, Jeramie’s cousin and his wife, their adorable kids and Grandma. All of a sudden the questions started firing and I mean from all sides of the room. Your initial reaction is to take cover under the table but we were quickly reminded to stand tall and take one for team Christian. The questions seem basic but all entwine together so we spent more time trying to unravel the answer to extract the appropriate information for the specific topics. We got “if Adam and Eve are the first people and Cain killed Abel then where did the cave man come from?”, “how do you explain dinosaurs?”, “why can’t evolution and creation work together?” and the conversation developed into “what does it mean to be a Christian?” and “what does it really take to be saved?”. IT WAS AWESOME and I do mean AWESOME!
Jeramie has gotten to spend some one on one time with his cousin who he loves sooo dearly. This time the visit is bittersweet. The visits are too few between and now will extend even further. Jeramie talks often of Jake wishing we could see him more. This time he has gotten to watch Jake be a dad which we haven’t had the chance to do yet. He is an awesome dad. Oh, and did I mention his kids are adorable?
We were able to trade our all wheel drive, not towable family car for something that we all still fit in and can actually attach to the back of the motorhome. What? So it is our seventh car in the last twelve months. WHATEVER!! The best part for any of you who have known us… we officially own a Jeep Grand Cherokee…AGAIN. Stop laughing at me. We made the trade while the kids were napping. When they got up I excitedly (o.k. the excitement might have been a little forced) asked “look outside, see anything new?”. “A new car!!!” says Lex, “mom isn’t that just like the car we had that drove like a tank?” says Andon. Yes, I have once again been asked to learn another lesson on contentment. This last fall we had a Jeep Grand Cherokee that I thought I would like and decided I did not. It drove like a tank. It felt like a tank. I haven’t actually ever driven a tank but if I do I am sure the Jeep will have all of the same characteristics. Funny thing, this one is a bit different. Smaller engine, not all wheel drive, etcetera but I don’t mind driving it this time around. I still haven’t decided if it is the rig that is different or me that is different.
I have gotten to spend a lot of time with Grandma. We have talked about everything from things she use to do to things she thinks I should do. She says it all out of love and has always spoken her mind so I am not shocked by anything. We have had a moment of frustration that has been lovingly diffused. The kids and I are on our own little schedule and I kinda-sorta like things my way. Grandma is on her own little schedule and she kinda-sorta likes things her own way. Somehow we have learned the hard way that my schedule and my way are not her schedule and her way. Or is it her schedule and her way are not my schedule and my way? When on a normal visit our schedule would be put on hold and we would gladly maintain Grandma’s schedule. This trip is longer than normal. We can’t stop life and disrupt our patterns for an entire week. My kids are already somewhat energized by the change in scenery in the first place and I am pretty sure they were sucking all of grandma’s energy resources dry. But we are here to see Grandma, spend time with Grandma and love on Grandma so Grandma’s way it is.
I was trying to get my hellions out of the house to burn off some energy so I loaded them up and we made our way to Jacksonville, which is right outside of Medford. What a sweet little town. History is big to them. The main street buildings are all restored to their original historical structures. Aunt Cella told us about the Children’s Museum over there so off we went. It was closed until further notice. Bummer. It turned out to be o.k. I was probably more interested in seeing it then the kids were as it was. However, you can’t go to the trouble of loading up three kids, snacks and all, tell them we are going somewhere and then just go home. We drove around the block to turn around to go to the park in Medford. While doing so, we passed a park. O.K. guys, we can go back to the park we went to yesterday or we can go to this park right here, right now. One vote for here, one vote for yesterday. The court has over-ruled, we are going here. This was another God thing, the court was actually ready to drive back to Medford. Medford’s park was bigger with more stuff to play on. This one, though very clean, was smaller and crawling with other peoples kids. You should listen when you are gently tugged. I sat down in the shade with all of our stuff, water bottles, six bags of snacks, diaper wipes for nasty things. Another mom sat down about three feet from me. No big deal, shade is limited and it was only 100 degrees out, no joke. Hmmm, now that I think of it, that also might have something to do with my insistence on maintaining my rigid schedule. Food for thought. ANYWAY, her kid decided to test his authority, she nonchalantly “disciplined” him. He nonchalantly did not respond. I gently smiled that “lady, if that is all you have, you are going to be in so much trouble” mixed with “thank God that is not my kid” coated with “we all have bad days” smile. O.K. God convict me now! And….He did. Soooo, I struck up a real conversation, “are you from here?” I asked. “We used to be but we just moved to Central Point - can he have some of your snacks?” She pointed to her hellion. Did she just ask me what I think I heard her just ask me? What do I look like, a stinkin’ mini-mart? Lady, feed your own dang kid. O.K. God convict me again! And…He did. “Um, sure”. That was all it took. A simple “um, sure”. You could see her trust in me explode. We got to talk about where we use to be from (Bend), where we are headed (not quite sure) and why (not quite sure). It turns out, she and her family are like so many others that have given up. Husband lost his job. Moved from the comfortable lifestyle to what sounds like the stereo-typical apartment complex I have vowed to never live. She struggles with depression, has two kids and cares but doesn’t. She wanted all my secrets to motherhood because my kids are amazing. I chose not to tell her I was there to get my hellions out of Grandma’s hair. We ended the conversation and I rounded up my kids. She told me one last thing before I left, “you are so friendly, no one is friendly anymore, this is your calling while out on the road. You have been such an inspiration to me today, I bet that’s it, to be an inspiration to other moms. You are awesome, I just met you and I am gonna cry”. No, Kristen, I am not awesome, you didn’t meet me today, you met the Holy Spirit because I didn’t want to share my snacks. God is good.
First of all, my mother bear instincts are on alert. Big city that I am unfamiliar with and so far the general attitude of the local residents is RUDE. I had to drive our car seperatley with the girls and Andon and Jeramie drove the motorhome because our car cannot be towed. Thanks to German engineering. As soon as we got there the kids piled out, Andon met us across the yard and followed us back to the motorhome. Lexi tried to run out into the road, which is busy with self-absorbed drivers flying down the street obviously ignoring the speed laws. “Look out Lex, your gonna get ran over, DO NOT run into the road and DO NOT come out here with out mom or dad” I yelled in a panic. “Yeah Lex, otherwise you will get ran over ‘cause we’re in Mexico now” Andon warned her. Well, maybe not exactly the real Mexico, but close enough.
This week in Medford has been totally of God. We have spent tons of time with Jeramie’s extended family. The dialogue in conversation has been challenging, exactly what we love. We have had the chance to really get into the meat of beginner belief and it was an exercise in preparation. We know the answers to so many of these questions but have a hard time articulating them verbally. We have confirmed that we are equipped with knowledge but need practice in readiness. The way God set up this lesson for us has been merciful, the opportunity to do this in the safety of our family is blessing.
It started with dinner at Jeramie’s Uncles with his wife, Jeramie’s cousin and his wife, their adorable kids and Grandma. All of a sudden the questions started firing and I mean from all sides of the room. Your initial reaction is to take cover under the table but we were quickly reminded to stand tall and take one for team Christian. The questions seem basic but all entwine together so we spent more time trying to unravel the answer to extract the appropriate information for the specific topics. We got “if Adam and Eve are the first people and Cain killed Abel then where did the cave man come from?”, “how do you explain dinosaurs?”, “why can’t evolution and creation work together?” and the conversation developed into “what does it mean to be a Christian?” and “what does it really take to be saved?”. IT WAS AWESOME and I do mean AWESOME!
Jeramie has gotten to spend some one on one time with his cousin who he loves sooo dearly. This time the visit is bittersweet. The visits are too few between and now will extend even further. Jeramie talks often of Jake wishing we could see him more. This time he has gotten to watch Jake be a dad which we haven’t had the chance to do yet. He is an awesome dad. Oh, and did I mention his kids are adorable?
We were able to trade our all wheel drive, not towable family car for something that we all still fit in and can actually attach to the back of the motorhome. What? So it is our seventh car in the last twelve months. WHATEVER!! The best part for any of you who have known us… we officially own a Jeep Grand Cherokee…AGAIN. Stop laughing at me. We made the trade while the kids were napping. When they got up I excitedly (o.k. the excitement might have been a little forced) asked “look outside, see anything new?”. “A new car!!!” says Lex, “mom isn’t that just like the car we had that drove like a tank?” says Andon. Yes, I have once again been asked to learn another lesson on contentment. This last fall we had a Jeep Grand Cherokee that I thought I would like and decided I did not. It drove like a tank. It felt like a tank. I haven’t actually ever driven a tank but if I do I am sure the Jeep will have all of the same characteristics. Funny thing, this one is a bit different. Smaller engine, not all wheel drive, etcetera but I don’t mind driving it this time around. I still haven’t decided if it is the rig that is different or me that is different.
I have gotten to spend a lot of time with Grandma. We have talked about everything from things she use to do to things she thinks I should do. She says it all out of love and has always spoken her mind so I am not shocked by anything. We have had a moment of frustration that has been lovingly diffused. The kids and I are on our own little schedule and I kinda-sorta like things my way. Grandma is on her own little schedule and she kinda-sorta likes things her own way. Somehow we have learned the hard way that my schedule and my way are not her schedule and her way. Or is it her schedule and her way are not my schedule and my way? When on a normal visit our schedule would be put on hold and we would gladly maintain Grandma’s schedule. This trip is longer than normal. We can’t stop life and disrupt our patterns for an entire week. My kids are already somewhat energized by the change in scenery in the first place and I am pretty sure they were sucking all of grandma’s energy resources dry. But we are here to see Grandma, spend time with Grandma and love on Grandma so Grandma’s way it is.
I was trying to get my hellions out of the house to burn off some energy so I loaded them up and we made our way to Jacksonville, which is right outside of Medford. What a sweet little town. History is big to them. The main street buildings are all restored to their original historical structures. Aunt Cella told us about the Children’s Museum over there so off we went. It was closed until further notice. Bummer. It turned out to be o.k. I was probably more interested in seeing it then the kids were as it was. However, you can’t go to the trouble of loading up three kids, snacks and all, tell them we are going somewhere and then just go home. We drove around the block to turn around to go to the park in Medford. While doing so, we passed a park. O.K. guys, we can go back to the park we went to yesterday or we can go to this park right here, right now. One vote for here, one vote for yesterday. The court has over-ruled, we are going here. This was another God thing, the court was actually ready to drive back to Medford. Medford’s park was bigger with more stuff to play on. This one, though very clean, was smaller and crawling with other peoples kids. You should listen when you are gently tugged. I sat down in the shade with all of our stuff, water bottles, six bags of snacks, diaper wipes for nasty things. Another mom sat down about three feet from me. No big deal, shade is limited and it was only 100 degrees out, no joke. Hmmm, now that I think of it, that also might have something to do with my insistence on maintaining my rigid schedule. Food for thought. ANYWAY, her kid decided to test his authority, she nonchalantly “disciplined” him. He nonchalantly did not respond. I gently smiled that “lady, if that is all you have, you are going to be in so much trouble” mixed with “thank God that is not my kid” coated with “we all have bad days” smile. O.K. God convict me now! And….He did. Soooo, I struck up a real conversation, “are you from here?” I asked. “We used to be but we just moved to Central Point - can he have some of your snacks?” She pointed to her hellion. Did she just ask me what I think I heard her just ask me? What do I look like, a stinkin’ mini-mart? Lady, feed your own dang kid. O.K. God convict me again! And…He did. “Um, sure”. That was all it took. A simple “um, sure”. You could see her trust in me explode. We got to talk about where we use to be from (Bend), where we are headed (not quite sure) and why (not quite sure). It turns out, she and her family are like so many others that have given up. Husband lost his job. Moved from the comfortable lifestyle to what sounds like the stereo-typical apartment complex I have vowed to never live. She struggles with depression, has two kids and cares but doesn’t. She wanted all my secrets to motherhood because my kids are amazing. I chose not to tell her I was there to get my hellions out of Grandma’s hair. We ended the conversation and I rounded up my kids. She told me one last thing before I left, “you are so friendly, no one is friendly anymore, this is your calling while out on the road. You have been such an inspiration to me today, I bet that’s it, to be an inspiration to other moms. You are awesome, I just met you and I am gonna cry”. No, Kristen, I am not awesome, you didn’t meet me today, you met the Holy Spirit because I didn’t want to share my snacks. God is good.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Of Mice and Mold!
OK. Correct me if I am wrong, but didn’t we already establish that I am not the camping type person? Not only are we camping but we are DRY camping Little House on the Prairie style with dirt, packing water and all. Wait for it, wait for it… here is the best part… we have uninvited guests of the rodent and fungi pursuasians. That’s right, mice and mold.
We were sleeping one night when I heard the first intruder. It was raking its paws up and down the metal air ventilation grate in the kitchen in a teenage horror movie kind of way. The thing was making so much noise that I was sure it was a squirrel. However, 2 o’clock in the morning is not Jeramies best time of day so ignoring it until morning seemed the most reasonable plan.
Sure enough, the next day while making breakfast I found various seeds and dog food nicely organized by type with each having a dedicated drawer. It was officially moving in. I know God likes order but I wasn’t aware that he made ALL creatures big and small with the same type of housekeeping skills. Good to know. However, after examining the storage contents we decided it was a mouse.
We made a trip to Bi-Mart, bought our weapons of mass destruction and planned our strategy because like Jeramie said “all trespassers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Jennings Law”. We chose traps because I was not about to have poisen floating around my space for various reasons but the primary reason being there was no way I was having that thing die in the depths of the motorhome where we couldn’t get to it.
The big dilemma was what type of bait to use. Jeramie and Andon voted cheese, I voted peanut butter. They traps were set with organic, creamy peanut butter drizzled with locally grown organic honey. Hey, even inmates on death row get an amazing last meal. The traps were set and there was nothing to do but wait for morning.
Promptly at 2 o’clock, SNAP, SNAP. The traps, yes that is plural, the traps went off. I couldn’t wait until morning to see what we got. Neither could the kids. There they were. Two mice. Dead. Upside down. Traps on top. Tails hanging out. The kids were in awe, followed Jeramie out to the fire pit and stared at them for an hour. That is when Lexi decided she needed a pet mouse and its name would be “Friend”.
It was the beginning of the… beginning. Fifteen mice later and the mouse troubles are not over. They are so not over that Lexi did end up with “Friend”. I am praying that when we get to civilization that the last one will be eradicated. Gross.
I was starting to enjoy our little house on the prairie lifestyle when Jeramie had a water transfer incident. It was really no big deal he just got soaked with crystal clear FREEZING Jack Creek water. The fill tube to the fresh water tank popped off and got lost inside the holding tank. Hey, we have thirty days, so there really isn’t any true sense of urgency to fish it out. Besides, it kept him busy for an hour and he learned a little more about the motorhome. He got it fixed and we moved on with his day. In fact, it was such a small ordeal that he didn’t even tell me about it.
Then Andon had an asthma attack. It didn’t come on until that night. We wrote it off as a one night event, but then he had another the next night. What the heck. The weather hadn’t seemed to change, his diet hasn’t changed (he is on a strict diet because of things like his asthma). Could it be the pollen? It’s nothing new in the air but maybe it is getting to him? Trouble shooting helped us figure out that he only had problems in the bedroom. I was at a loss. All I knew was that this kid could not live on Zyrtec and an inhaler. What a miserable existence, because it makes him feel so bad that’s all it would be, is an existence. There was nothing to do but tear the back room a part until I found the culprit.
And tear it apart I did. Clothes all over the main living space (which is so spacious to begin with), toys in the tent outside and dresser drawers strung all over the dirt. There it was. Mold. Not just a little bit of mold but three kinds of mold, everywhere. Where the heck did it come from. I went over this place with a toothbrush cleaning it before we even moved in.
Oh, apparently we had some sort of water spillage event the day before yesterday. Hey, check that out, the fill tube goes right through the closet through the floor into the fresh water tank. CRAP! We accidently started a science experiment. Well, what is the best thing to kill mold with. Straight up household Chlorox bleach. I drenched the place and let the sun do its thing to everything I could expose it to. I didn’t have any gloves for the cleaning process so ended up losing a layer or two of epidermis but that mold was gonna die. Oh, and if we ever start a fire back there we will probably burn to the ground in about 7 seconds but at least we can breathe now. Right? WRONG!
I’ll be danged if I didn’t wake up the next morning and the stuff grew back twice as fast and reproduced twice as much. Are you kidding me? Don’t underestimate me, it is not beyond me to gut a place before consulting with Jeramie. I was about 2 minutes from breaking out Jeramies skill saw (it was either that or the hatchet) when he produced the “30 seconds”. Hmmm, “kills slimy green and slippery black algae, moss, mold and mildew”. Sounds like it should take care of business. Another day of drenching the place, drying it out and waiting patiently, or rather, maybe more like a sniper with my gun.
Gone. It’s finally gone. Andon can breathe again which means I can breathe again and Jeramie didn’t have to build anything new this time. Now, about that last mouse that has recently relocated from Sisters to Medford…..all I can say is his days evading the authorities are numbered.
We were sleeping one night when I heard the first intruder. It was raking its paws up and down the metal air ventilation grate in the kitchen in a teenage horror movie kind of way. The thing was making so much noise that I was sure it was a squirrel. However, 2 o’clock in the morning is not Jeramies best time of day so ignoring it until morning seemed the most reasonable plan.
Sure enough, the next day while making breakfast I found various seeds and dog food nicely organized by type with each having a dedicated drawer. It was officially moving in. I know God likes order but I wasn’t aware that he made ALL creatures big and small with the same type of housekeeping skills. Good to know. However, after examining the storage contents we decided it was a mouse.
We made a trip to Bi-Mart, bought our weapons of mass destruction and planned our strategy because like Jeramie said “all trespassers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Jennings Law”. We chose traps because I was not about to have poisen floating around my space for various reasons but the primary reason being there was no way I was having that thing die in the depths of the motorhome where we couldn’t get to it.
The big dilemma was what type of bait to use. Jeramie and Andon voted cheese, I voted peanut butter. They traps were set with organic, creamy peanut butter drizzled with locally grown organic honey. Hey, even inmates on death row get an amazing last meal. The traps were set and there was nothing to do but wait for morning.
Promptly at 2 o’clock, SNAP, SNAP. The traps, yes that is plural, the traps went off. I couldn’t wait until morning to see what we got. Neither could the kids. There they were. Two mice. Dead. Upside down. Traps on top. Tails hanging out. The kids were in awe, followed Jeramie out to the fire pit and stared at them for an hour. That is when Lexi decided she needed a pet mouse and its name would be “Friend”.
It was the beginning of the… beginning. Fifteen mice later and the mouse troubles are not over. They are so not over that Lexi did end up with “Friend”. I am praying that when we get to civilization that the last one will be eradicated. Gross.
I was starting to enjoy our little house on the prairie lifestyle when Jeramie had a water transfer incident. It was really no big deal he just got soaked with crystal clear FREEZING Jack Creek water. The fill tube to the fresh water tank popped off and got lost inside the holding tank. Hey, we have thirty days, so there really isn’t any true sense of urgency to fish it out. Besides, it kept him busy for an hour and he learned a little more about the motorhome. He got it fixed and we moved on with his day. In fact, it was such a small ordeal that he didn’t even tell me about it.
Then Andon had an asthma attack. It didn’t come on until that night. We wrote it off as a one night event, but then he had another the next night. What the heck. The weather hadn’t seemed to change, his diet hasn’t changed (he is on a strict diet because of things like his asthma). Could it be the pollen? It’s nothing new in the air but maybe it is getting to him? Trouble shooting helped us figure out that he only had problems in the bedroom. I was at a loss. All I knew was that this kid could not live on Zyrtec and an inhaler. What a miserable existence, because it makes him feel so bad that’s all it would be, is an existence. There was nothing to do but tear the back room a part until I found the culprit.
And tear it apart I did. Clothes all over the main living space (which is so spacious to begin with), toys in the tent outside and dresser drawers strung all over the dirt. There it was. Mold. Not just a little bit of mold but three kinds of mold, everywhere. Where the heck did it come from. I went over this place with a toothbrush cleaning it before we even moved in.
Oh, apparently we had some sort of water spillage event the day before yesterday. Hey, check that out, the fill tube goes right through the closet through the floor into the fresh water tank. CRAP! We accidently started a science experiment. Well, what is the best thing to kill mold with. Straight up household Chlorox bleach. I drenched the place and let the sun do its thing to everything I could expose it to. I didn’t have any gloves for the cleaning process so ended up losing a layer or two of epidermis but that mold was gonna die. Oh, and if we ever start a fire back there we will probably burn to the ground in about 7 seconds but at least we can breathe now. Right? WRONG!
I’ll be danged if I didn’t wake up the next morning and the stuff grew back twice as fast and reproduced twice as much. Are you kidding me? Don’t underestimate me, it is not beyond me to gut a place before consulting with Jeramie. I was about 2 minutes from breaking out Jeramies skill saw (it was either that or the hatchet) when he produced the “30 seconds”. Hmmm, “kills slimy green and slippery black algae, moss, mold and mildew”. Sounds like it should take care of business. Another day of drenching the place, drying it out and waiting patiently, or rather, maybe more like a sniper with my gun.
Gone. It’s finally gone. Andon can breathe again which means I can breathe again and Jeramie didn’t have to build anything new this time. Now, about that last mouse that has recently relocated from Sisters to Medford…..all I can say is his days evading the authorities are numbered.
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