I don’t know what we got hit with in this house, but if it wasn’t the H1N1 flu, I have no desire to see what it is like.  We have gone through more medication in this house in the past week, it isn’t even funny.  On Monday I started to keep a log of all the medications that myself, Jon & Hannah were taking.  I couldn’t keep track.  I now have 4-5 pages full – not kidding.  Good news is that the kids only missed 2 days of school (so far).  Jon’s cough is gone (interesting considering he is the one with asthma).  Hannah and I both still have a nasty cough, though I think she is feeling better overall than I am.  I may have set myself back running a half marathon last week, but you know, you gotta do what you gotta do.  I think that I am on the mend now, but it is slow going. 

So the first obstacle that I came to was – what is gluten-free that will help this nasty virus?   I consulted my handy list and found I could take Mucinex & I know Delsym is gluten-free as I have called them to verify it.  Sudafed PE (and it’s Walmart generic are gluten-free).  Hall’s cough drops are also gluten-free.  I chose the Hall’s Natural Cough Drops (Honey Lemon Chamomile) as they have the least number of ingredients & no artificial sweeteners. 

The most important thing, even above & beyond the gluten factor is to make sure that you are not overdosing by taking 2 different medicines that contain the same medication.  If you are unsure, always ask a pharmacist.  Some of the multi-symptom medications on the market not only contain a decongestant & cough suppressant, but a pain killer, too.  Also,  check to make sure that any other medications that you take on a day-to-day basis are compatible with the cold/cough medications.  I found out that one of my medications can have possible interactions with Delsym (dextromethorphan).  Good thing I asked. 

Hope you all stay healthy!  Wash those hands! 

Jon has really taken to baking & cooking over the past year.  Last week when I was not feeling well, he asked if he could bake a cake.  Of course I told him to go ahead.  He used Betty Crocker’s Devils Food Cake Mix and followed all of the instructions.  Once the cake was baked & had cooled, he wanted to decorate it.  Here are some pictures of his awesome creation.

Jon added powdered sugar, Special Dark chocolate chips & Brach’s Candy Corn to the top.  Can you see the smiley face?  Not only does the cake look cool – it was amazing!

Sorry for the delay in choosing a winner for this contest.  Both kids are home sick today and were yesterday, too!  Tis the season!

The winner is:

Doreen, on October 18th, 2009 at 10:05 pm Said:

The Pumpkin Ginger bars would be yummy!

Doreen – please contact me with your mailing information as soon as you can!  kbouldin@insight.rr.com

Congrats!

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Make sure to check out this article on the Examiner about a great gluten-free sales event at Meijer grocery stores. 

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If you love  pumpkin like I do, make sure to check out these amazing recipes using pumpkin!  They aren’t all gluten-free, but can be modified easily. 

I unfortunately came down with a cold/cough on Friday night.  I was bound & determined to run.  I was healthy for the past 8 months – what kind of cruel joke is this to get sick the few days before??  I made a deal with myself that as long as I was fever free and not fatigued, I would run.  I happily woke up (cough & all) on Sunday Am raring to go.  I didn’t feel bad – it was one of those things where I sounded much worse than I felt.  It was 32 degrees out..BRRR!!  I bundled up (well, in runner’s terms) and my Dad came to pick Jon & I up.  What an amazing experience this was for me.  I am so glad that I was able to run.  I started off well and felt great until about mile 8.  Then, I had taken a Clif Shot and because it was so cold out, it didn’t go down well and seemed to make all the crud in my throat just congeal.  It felt like I had to cough and something was stuck, but nothing budged.  I worked through it and kept reminding myself that this was all temporary and that there were others that have gone through (and are going through) much worse.  I had made a list before my race of people that I was dedicating my miles to and thinking of those people while I was struggling during mile 8 and then again during those last couple miles, kept me going.  I also saw this quote on the back of a guy in front of me from the Marines “Pain is weakness leaving the body”.  That was a bit of motivation, too.  The “official” stats are below:

bib number: 10572
age: 36
gender: F
location: Lewis Center, OH
overall place: 2585 out of 6858
division place: 180 out of 695
gender place: 1081 out of 4070
time: 2:01:22
pace: 9:16
10k: 57:08

My goal had been to finish under 2 hours, but considering I was sick & had to stop to tie my stupid shoe, I’ll take this and feel great about it.  I can’t wait to train for & run a full marathon in May 2010.  🙂 

Here is a pic my Mom took (a little blurry).  I am in the red w/black pants:

And here….there I go…

After the race with my medal & shirt.  Like the hair?  LOL!

Should get the race picture sometime this week. 

Oh, I did want to mention that after the finish, I was walking through the lines to get some fuel.  I was very discouraged to see that there was mainly doughnuts (gluten) and bagels (more gluten).  I did spot some bananas….not even close to ripe & too cold and then the only other thing I could eat, Conn’s Potato Chips.  Thank God they were gluten-free.  I scarfed them down like I hadn’t eaten for weeks!  LOL!  I know those other items were quick carbs/sugar, and I should be thankful there was something I could eat.  Plus, during the race they gave out gatorade (GF) and Clif Shots (also GF). 

Hi guys!  Tis the beginning of a new week.  The kids are both sick 🙁  Not sure what they have yet, but Hannah is seeing the dr today to rule out a kidney infection.  While she is there, the dr will test her for H1N1.  If she has it, then Jon does too.  Does the madness ever stop?

On a positive note, I ran my half marathon yesterday!  You can read about it here.

This week Wendy of Celiacs in the House is hosting the gluten-free menu swap.  Her ingredient choice this week is squash.  Another favorite of mine.  I will have plenty of squash this week.  I love kabocha, butternut, acorn, spaghetti….you name it!  I don’t think that I have met a squash that I didn’t like!  Thanks for hosting, Wendy!

Sunday – Rotisserie chix, pasta, green beans & salad

Monday- Bostons Gourmet Pizza (rewarding the half marathon!)

Tuesday- Burgers, butternut squash fries, broccoli & salad

Wednesday – Roasted Kabocha, coconut brown rice & chickpeas, asparagus & salad

Thursday -Salmon, roasted sweet potatoes & beets, mixed veggies & salad

Friday – Leftovers

Saturday- Breakfast for dinner

Baking

Pumpkin goodies

Bread and cinnamon raisin bread

Also, don’t forget to check out Orgjunkie for lots more menu ideas.

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I will be posting the winner of the My Blog Spark Tablespoon giveaway later today! 🙂

First things first.  The winner of the Febreeze/My Blog Spark giveaway never responded, so, onto a new winner!  And, the new winner is:

VeggieGirl, on October 5th, 2009 at 8:20 am Said: Edit Comment

I would use it to make my home smell like tantalizing fruit scents

Please contact me at kbouldin@insight.rr.com so I can send your gift card out!

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Now, onto a fun, new contest!  A few weeks back, MyBlogSpark contacted me and told me about a new website from General Mills, where you can find, save & share new recipes.  We all know how much I love General Mills.  General Mills is the maker of the Chex cereals, which now have 6 gluten-free varieties!

Some more information about Tablespoon:

When you visit Tablespoon.com, you can:

• View more than 25,000 of the best recipes on the web
• Share recipes easily on places like Facebook and Twitter

When you join Tablespoon.com, you can:

• Add your own recipe creations
• Create your own version of existing recipes that suit your taste.
• Save up to $80 every month with printable coupons from brands you love Rate, comment, and save the recipes you try

Bonus! And if that wasn’t enough, if you add your recipes to Tablespoon, your recipe and profile could be featured in a Tablespoon newsletter, which is sent to thousands of subscribers! The Tablespoon team will select some of the highest rated member submitted recipes to be featured in the weekly newsletter. If your recipe is highly rated, it could even be the main feature!

The Tablespoon site is not a gluten-free recipe site, but recipes can easily be modified.

Now, the fun stuff.  MyBlogSpark sent me a really cool prize package.  The “Pass the Inspiration” prize pack included a couple of nice pot holders, a stainless steel liquid measuring cup & a set of stainless steel measuring spoons.  One lucky reader will win a “Pass the Inspiration” prize package!  All you have to do is:

1.  Visit Tablespoon and leave a comment letting me know which recipe you would like to try.

2.  Subscribe to my blog.

Good luck!!!  This giveaway will run until midnight on Sunday, October 18, 2009.  I will choose a winner on Monday.

I was looking around the net for gluten-free candy info this morning and while there hasn’t been any update to the Silly Yaks list, I did find another list that may be helpful.  You can find that list here. 

I hope this is helpful and I will post updates as I get them.  Another option is to subscribe to Zeer.com and then you can check the status.  I did a mini-review of Zeer here.  Basic is free and the select has been lowered to $4.95/month!  A great resource, especially if you or a family member is newly diagnosed or gluten-free. 

I still haven’t heard from the winner of the Febreeze/My Blog Spark contest.  Will the following person please email me?

Robertville, on October 6th, 2009 at 10:06 pm Said:

I would use it to spruce up my bedroom

Please contact me at kbouldin@insight.rr.com with your email & mailing address so I can get your gift card out in the  mail.  Congrats!

If I don’t hear anything by tomorrow (Thursday) morning, I will choose a new winner. 

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Jon came to me this afternoon while reading his new Sports Illustrated magazine.  He pointed out that on page 21, in “The Pop Culture Grid”, Cedric Benson’s, of the Begals, answer to what he was having for dinner is gluten-free spaghetti!  Jon thought that was pretty cool.  🙂 

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Lots of cool contests coming in the next few weeks.  At least one per week.  Make sure to check back!

This past week has been one of the longest weeks.  It seems like the week got progressively worse as it went on.  As I shared on Saturday, baby Wyatt lost his 44 day battle.  Then, on Sunday, I received news that a friend lost her battle with breast cancer.  She was only 40 years old.  Another friend of mine, Karen, wrote a blog post that says it all very well. 

We have a busy week coming up.  Hockey is in full swing, that is on top of all of the other stuff, like Hannah’s gymnastics & skating.  Also, my half marathon is this coming Sunday!  I feel like I am ready & now I just want the day to be here!  The weather forecast says chilly & dry.  I’ll take that! 

Cheryl from Gluten-free Goodness is hosting this week’s gluten-free menu swap and her chosen theme is apples!  OOH!!  I have been loving the Honeycrisps this year!  One of my favorite breakfasts is cooking up a half of a Honeycrisp in the micro with cinnamon and then putting that on top of some gluten-free waffles with almond butter.  So fall-like!!  Here is one of my favorite apple recipes:  Crockpot Applesauce .

Sunday – Find your own food night! LOL!

Monday – Spaghetti with marinara, roasted veggies & salad

Tuesday – Make your own Tacos, black beans & salad

Wednesday – Burgers, sweet potato fries, green beans & salad

Thursday – Crock pot BBQ pulled pork, baked potatoes, broccoli & salad

Friday – Calzones, veggies & salad

Saturday – Pumpkin Baked Ziti, veggies & salad

Baked Goods

Pumpkin Cookies

Granola

Pamela’s Bread

Bagels

Also, don’t forget to check out Orgjunkie for lots of great menu ideas!

I apologize for not posting this sooner and being MIA.  Back in August, I shared the new of the premature birth of my nephews, Wyatt & Jack.  Yesterday, after 44 courageous days, Wyatt lost his battle.  From my sister, posted on Wyatt & Jack’s Caring Bridge site:

Thank you everyone for your support and prayers for Wyatt.  Heaven welcomed it’s newest angel this afternoon – Wyatt Andrew Fons lost his battle after 44 days of fighting an uphill struggle of being born so prematurely with a significant heart defect.   Last night I had a dream that we let Wyatt go, and he told me it was going to be okay.  When he passed today, he was in his mommy’s arms, and he went peacefully.  Greg and I both got to hold him before he died. The most beautiful sight was seeing Wyatt without any tubes or lines and knowing that where he is now there are no needles, ventilators or dopamine.  He is surrounded by the love of his family members who went before him and most recently his sister,  Baby B.  He is our guardian angel, and aren’t we so blessed that we were given a glimpse of God’s perfect love in such a teeny tiny package?!  We look forward to the day that we can be with Wyatt again, and in the meantime, we know that he will be watching over us with his eyes wide open.

The winner of the giveaway is:

Robertville, on October 6th, 2009 at 10:06 pm Said:

I would use it to spruce up my bedroom

Please contact me at kbouldin@insight.rr.com with your email & mailing address so I can get your gift card out in the  mail.  Congrats!