Nadia agreed to wear pants to Target, if she could pick out a toy. I’m weak, I agreed, as seeing her back in pants, if only for a few hours, was worth the $10 toy she picked out! Notice she picked out her own outfit today.
Nadia agreed to wear pants to Target, if she could pick out a toy. I’m weak, I agreed, as seeing her back in pants, if only for a few hours, was worth the $10 toy she picked out! Notice she picked out her own outfit today.
Nadia was doing so, so well since she went back to school after Christmas break. And while the doctors told me to expect setbacks, I guess I kind of thought, that won’t happen to us. Well, it did. And I’m so very sad. And discouraged. And scared.
Last Tuesday we chatted with one of Nadia’s doctors and it was decided that we should be more aggressive with killing off some yeast that showed up in her gut reports. Yeast in her gut is one of Nadia’s many issues. We’re trying to tackle one at a time. Yeast in her gut leads to leaky gut, which can allow bacteria into her blood and then brain, which can cause the inflammation she is experiencing. Since Nadia has so many possible causes, it’s important we address each. We had been using just an over-the-counter supplement to kill off the yeast, called Candex, giving her one pill each Friday night for the past two weeks. Her doctor suggested, since Nadia didn’t have a negative reaction, meaning a regression in symptoms, that we should try to increase the dose. So last Friday and Saturday night I gave her a pill. And Monday morning she woke up saying she felt ‘wet’, refused pants, and cried she didn’t want to go to school.
I just feel so, so defeated. We worked so hard for months to get her back to school and over the ‘wet’ feeling. I’m so sad for her, knowing this cycle of good times and not so good times, could be our normal for years. I guess I’m hopefully that this is only a small setback. In addition to increasing the Candex dose, we had also stopped and decreased a few supplements, as the number were are giving her is getting out of hand. But for now, adding all the supplements back in and giving her Motrin round the clock to help reduce the inflammation. We also added in a binder to try to decrease the symptoms of the yeast dying off, basically activated charcoal. We’ll see I guess. All I can do is pray at this point. Maybe this is God telling me now isn’t the right time to open my coffee shop…
I was feeling a bit creative this morning so I created this office print 🙂
For more details and the option to purchase, click the link below.
I think awhile back I mentioned a new business venture… Well, it was/is a coffee franchise. I’ve been in contact with the franchise manager, and all the top people at the company since sometime in December. I’ve met with my accountant to review financials, my lawyer to review the franchise disclosure agreement and contract, a real estate broker to search out possible locations, the banker to talk about financing, and even a small business advisor here to provide some insight into the industry and local economy. The franchisor has awarded me the opportunity to purchase, when/if I’m ready.
And then yesterday in the news I read that a different coffee franchise is planning several locations in my city, including one on the very land I was considering. Seriously?? I was super bummed all of yesterday, really just feeling like this meant I needed to halt my plans. I mean, maybe it was a sign, maybe God’s trying to tell me something…
This morning the franchise manager called me and we chatted for quite a bit. Of course he said I shouldn’t be afraid of competition, that competition is actually good. We talked about how the business models and intended customers are a bit different for the two franchises in question… But I don’t know. I mean, of course this guy wants me to purchase, as he works on commission. I spent all morning looking back over the numbers, messing with the payroll expenses and sales forecasts, trying to get an idea of how this will work and ultimately how many coffee shops this town can actually support. But I’m still lost…
More to come on this I guess.
I’m a bit over winter. I know, I live in Iowa. I should be used to the cold. And it could be worse. I’m guessing North Dakota is much colder right now! It was -18F actual temperature this morning. I’m not sure what the windchill was, but a lot colder. I think our school was the only one for MILES and MILES that didn’t have a delay for the cold. The roads are horrible, it’s too cold for salt to work, so we all basically just slide everywhere. I saw some cars in some really interesting places yesterday, and that was just from running errands in town.
Nadia is still going to school each day, and wearing pants! Sometimes even to bed, and sometimes with shirts rather than dresses. She has her moments though, still some meltdowns, and still come times when she says she feels ‘wet’. Most of those times don’t involve crying fits or wiping for 30 minutes anymore, so I’m still viewing it all as improvement. We’re following a combination of treatment between her PANS specialist and a Naturopath who treats a variety of issues, but her practice includes many kids with PANS and PANDAS. She’s in Australia, if you can believe that. We meet with her next tonight at 9pm my time, which I think will be morning for her. She’s very interesting, and her and our MD are aware of the shared treatments. So far it seems to be working for us… I’m curious if she will add any more supplements when we talk tonight though. Nadia is already on so many that Eric calls one of our kitchen counters, Stef’s Apothecary.
And guess who lost her first tooth?? Yes, Nora! I can’t believe my little peanut Nora is already getting adult teeth. Actually, her two bottom permanent teeth have been in for weeks. Hopefully her other bottom tooth falls out soon so her second row of teeth can move forward, lol!
Last week felt rough. I picked up the girls from school Wednesday afternoon at 1:30p, and we didn’t leave the house again until Monday morning for school. And Eric was on-call, and terribly busy. Snow days, ugh, and weekends when Eric works. And yes, we totally could have ventured out, but where to with COVID and the below freezing temps? Here is a picture of the girls waiting for daddy to arrive home… Pay no attention to our messy garage entrance…
I’ve done a little, yes, very little, decorating of the house so far. We still haven’t ordered any furniture. I just need to decide I guess. Here are a few little areas I put together so far, nothing fancy. I kind of have a thing for green wreaths all the sudden. I obviously need to order another candle for the one holder, but I’m not sure I love that wall anyway. I didn’t get it all quite in the center of the wall, and it bothers me. Although I assume in person no one else would notice. Our coffee bar wall needs more help, more on the top shelf as I took down a few things that were up I didn’t like. And no judging my messy kitchen! (There is obviously a theme in this house with messy. Or rather, real-life.)
Did I ever post pictures of Nadia’s bedroom? It’s pretty much complete, could use a bit more decorating. I’ll take a few pictures and post again soon!
