No answers yet... But more tests!

I finally heard from the doctors today after my

battery of blood tests and my stool test and my ultrasound...



(via)

(isn't this a sneaky ad campaign for United Colors of Benetton?)

My blood came back normal.

My allergies came back clear.

The bacteria they were afraid of is not present.

But there are nodules on my thyroid.

Yep, they are nervous about what the little lumps in my neck mean.

So, I'm preparing for a radioactive uptake scan.

They'll inject me with radioactive fluid, then watch.

I may have to write a post about all the bizarre tests I have had run on me.

It's sort of a comedic tragedy in fact.

I have run a couple of times this week.

Thank my very good God for that chance... My poor legs are restless!

But I'm not all here still.

And even with the changes in my diet I'm just not right in my tummy.

Now my sleeping is starting to get weird too.

I'm moved (sort of)... You know how that goes right?

It's a disaster before anything resembles any sort of organization...

My disaster looks like a nuclear bomb has exploded.

I'm begging J to move closer to me as soon as possible.

He says July. Oh cross your little fingers for me please!

He leaves for Germany tomorrow.
That may mean I'll be a little better at communicating here in hopes he'll read it!

Where I am today... Or going to be tomorrow!

How does time escape me so? 

I can't believe that I've fallen behind so horribly in my blogging... 

But I promise this isn't the only part of my life that's being neglected with me not feeling so well. 

I know that life has got to be crazy for all of you too!

Please update me... Fill me in, what's going on with all of you? 

Other than not feeling well and working I know loves is happening here... 

I'm moving. 

Yep, no more sweet little studio in San Diego... 

I'm headed home to save some money and 

enjoy this last bit of time before the wedding with my family.

This also means not as much cooking because I'm enjoying Mama Bird's. 

I promise the cooking part will return! 

The doctors have no answers yet. 

I had an ultrasound on a lump in my neck. 

They're checking out the state of my thyroid. 

They are running about a dozen blood tests. 

And I had to complete a stool test.

(TMI.. yes... but it's important I survived)

Less than three months until the wedding.

Invites are out. RSVPs are starting to come in.

We have lots of friends and family that are coming to join us in our big day!

Now it's time to start celebrating with my bridesmaids and with bridal showers.

Life is definitely changing... But it's going somewhere great! 

I will be all settled after the move by Sunday and then I'm going to make sure this 

simply sweet space grows like it used to... 

Please bare with me! 

Why Gluten-Free is the Life for Me?

[via]

How could something so beautiful be so hurtful?

Looking at that field makes my heart fill with awe. 

In 2008, USAToday published an article about

the rising popularity of gluten-free diets. 

I am thankful that now, three years later, I am finding that a life

free of gluten is the right life for me. 

About five years ago I contracted H. Pylori, a bacteria that

infects that lining of the stomach which can lead to ulcers and cancer. 

After severe chest pains and a battery of tests I was put on two weeks

of harsh prescription drugs to upset the lives of the bacteria within me. 

My dietary trouble has continued to grow and wane since then. 

Originally we thought it a lactose intolerance. 

I would stop milk for a while, but cheese couldn't keep from alluring me. 

Then, about a month ago the sensitivity to food exploded. 

It didn't matter what I was eating, I was bloating, nauseous, uncomfortable. 

My mom grabbed a Fitness magazine in Target and 

flipped to a random article on intestinal issues. 

Celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, was covered. 

Although I am currently undergoing blood tests and meeting with doctors, 

I have decided that gluten-free is the life for me. 

Today marks day 8 that I have ingested no gluten and I'm so happy to report

that I feel clean inside, not bloated as seriously, and overall much more comfortable. 

In researching the use of gluten I am a little bit horrified. 

Wheat is used as a thickener, as a preservative, and as an additive to many meats.

Vigilance in reading food labels and understanding the ingredients is key. 

Do you know what you're putting in your body? 

Tomorrow I will post on one of my favorite gluten-free meals and

how to keep your gluten-free self while enjoying going out to eat!

P.S. Leave any questions you have and I will put together a Q&A post! 

Missing In Action... or Appetite... or an Apology to You From Me.

Wow, I've been gone for far too long... A post on here is much overdue, 

I apologize for my little out-of-the-blue sabbatical 

but those tummy issues I wrote about two weeks ago 

are still wreaking their havoc inside my intestines and it's taken it's toll 

on my energy and creativity. 

With all of the problems of the last few weeks this Simply Sweet space of mine 

has a couple major shifts in focus and food! 

1. All recipes are going gluten free!

Bye, bye to wheat, rye, and barley... Hello to a more wholesome diet. 

I'm still learning, but I want to share some of the gluten knowledge I'm obtaining! 

2. Organic is the new black.

I will share some of the ways I'm shopping organic to try and keep inside me all clean. 

3. More healthy food posts to come. 

All of the healthy food posts I wrote earlier this year were some of my favorite.

These will be coming in a greater dose now... 

4. My little journey is going to be shared with you too! 

Although we don't know what's going on, I know there's something for

everyone to learn from it... So I want to share! 

The story starts tomorrow. Please come back and share!