Paleo for the whole family?

There’s one thing that I don’t talk about much on my blog and that’s my daughter and her health issues. For several reasons, which I’m sure if you thought hard enough about it, you could figure out, I haven’t discussed her food issues. It’s one of those things that I wish I could blog about more because I believe many of you out there have either experienced this, or have kids that have, but I’m not willing to ask your advice at the expense of airing my daughters issues to the world. So, this is the first time I’ve mentioned this, but I think we’re finally moving towards some answers and so I’m willing to discuss what we’re doing to help instead of just discussing her struggles.

Story has found comfort in food since the day she arrived home. Literally the day. She spent her first 5 days in the hospital, and I truly believe that she experienced so much trauma in the first week of her life here in America. New people, new home, new EVERYTHING, and on top of that she was in the hospital being picked and prodded at for her first week. Not the best start.

We have suspected there to be medical problems and psychological problems related to food, but it wasn’t until this past year that things became out of control and just not making any sense one bit. The medical community tells us that there’s nothing wrong with her, but we clearly see that there is something wrong. We know what we feed her, we know what she eats, and we see that it just doesn’t add up to how her body is changing.

A few months ago a friend introduced me to a doctor that was changing her life. I slowly began to listen and to find more friends that were also becoming better for the first time ever after he began treating them. I decided to give it a try for Story, an after two visits I truly think we are on the road to answers and healing for her. That brings me so much joy and happiness. This is not her fault, she’s doing nothing wrong, and so I’m hopeful that this doctor can help us get her healthy.

She now has a regiment of supplements that she’s taking each day, and we will begin a paleo diet for her this Monday. What this means is that actually the Ivey family will begin a paleo diet this Monday. That means all of us. I’m excited and anxious about this all in one. This isn’t a diet I’m doing for 6 weeks to try and shed a few holiday pounds, but this is something that will hopefully help my daughter be on her way to a healthier body and life.

So, December 1st not only begins the month we celebrate the birth of Jesus for us, but it’s the month we change the food in our home. On some levels this won’t be too extreme, but on others I’m going to struggle quite a bit I just know it. For example, breakfast on school days is going to be hard. I admit we are quick to hand out bagels, waffles, cereal and yogurt, and as of Monday none of those will work. School lunches will be easier, but still they will take more thought. No more snack bars, no more chips, crackers, pretzels, cheese sticks, yogurt sticks …. LOTS more veggies. That’s what I’m noticing will be the most change.

So, friends if you have any great paleo foods for me to try please send them my way. Especially if you have kids my age and you pack their lunches every day. That’s where I need some encouragement and ideas.

I know we can do it, and we are all in this for Story.