Dear Jack: The Cabinets Are Now Installed In Our House

3 years, 11 months.

Dear Jack: The Cabinets Are Now Installed In Our House

Dear Jack,

This weekend was very special. Your Nonna and Papa (my parents) drove up to see our new house we are building in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

On the way to the site, you made sure you had some Annie’s snacks, as well as GoGo Squeez, both of which are contributing to your “No Artificial Anything” 4th birthday party this weekend. (Mommy and I let you sample some from the stashes that were mailed to us.)

Dear Jack: The Cabinets Are Now Installed In Our House

We also were moving most of our stuff into storage this weekend as well, but more on that in the next letter…

As for the new surprises in our house this week, we saw that our cabinets have been installed; both in the kitchen and bathrooms. It’s a pretty big deal to see them. Mommy and I are very pleased with our choice; black with these cool “scoopy” handles.

Dear Jack: The Cabinets Are Now Installed In Our House

It was a decision we made very quickly, along with the carpet, outside color of our house, which type of hardwood floor, etc. So it’s good to know we made a good rash decision a couple months ago.

I stood in front of where the sink and dishwasher will go to get a feel for what it will be like to do the dishes in our new kitchen.

Dear Jack: The Cabinets Are Now Installed In Our House

Mommy and I were also pleasantly surprised with the banister on our staircase. I feel that it is more elaborate than the one featured in the model home.

Another cool surprise was the storage space in the attic. I actually forgot about that!

Dear Jack: The Cabinets Are Now Installed In Our House

We finally figured out what crop is being grown behind our house: soy beans.

Should I thank Monsanto for that? Oh well, it’s a pretty view at least.

Dear Jack: The Cabinets Are Now Installed In Our House

Obviously, the construction is really coming along; we’re actually ahead of schedule. Our closing date is January 29th. However, our agent explained that typically the house is typically move-in ready 45 days after the dry wall is installed.

If that’s the case, in theory our house should definitely be finished before January 29th, since the dry wall was already in a week ago.

Of course, I am keeping my expectations low- to be a realistic optimist. We’ll see what happens on that…

Dear Jack: The Cabinets Are Now Installed In Our House

We finished the morning with lunch at Whole Foods, where you were able to (very easily) talk Nonna and Papa into buying you a new stuffed animal; a penguin who you instantly named “Pingy.”

Dear Jack: The Cabinets Are Now Installed In Our House

To be continued…

Dairy And Egg Free Testimonials: James Hardy’s Asthma- Week 7

Let’s found out about James Hardy’s 7th week on my challenge:

Journal entry date: November 2, 2014

Since my last update I have had some great changes since I have cut all eggs and dairy from my diet. I have lost 6 lbs and kept it off without any additional changes to diet or exercise. My back acne is dropped to only a few zits here or there. Around this time of year my asthma gets the worst yet it seems to be causing me no major issues. In the past 2 weeks I have no longer needed my emergency inhaler while at the gym. With lacking breathing problems my workouts have gotten easier and I have actually noticed I am recovering faster after a workout.
Dairy And Egg Free Testimonials: James Hardy’s Asthma- Week 2
Today 11/2/14 I have decided to test how my allergies are being affected. I went to a local pet store where every time I have ever entered I needed 2 Benadryl and 2 puffs of my emergency inhaler. Today I was in there for 30 minutes and I usually stay less than 10. I had no need for my inhaler or Benadryl. I did get have my nose run a little bit but it went away probably 10 to 15 minutes after I left.
After the gym I played with my dog and kept him close to my face than normal. He hasn’t caused me more than just light sinus issues when we played too long, but today we played for a long time and I had no issues. I even pushed it by sticking my fingers in my eyes and nose. Yes, my nose, and I had no issues.

Dairy And Egg Free Testimonials: James Hardy’s Asthma- Week 2

Let’s found out about James Hardy’s 2nd week on my challenge:

Journal entry date: September 21th, 2014

Dairy And Egg Free Testimonials: James Hardy’s Asthma- Week 2

I have officially gone over a week with no dairy or eggs. This has been a very tough week for me. I never knew how many things needed eggs, or milk and how much of the food I purchase had eggs and milk in it.

In this week I have had all kinds of things happen to my body that were out of the ordinary. I had a very harsh sinus drain on day 4. I wasn’t sick, it lasted only a day, and it was very clear. Since then my breathing has had an improvement and something else improved that I didn’t expect. I have had hearing issues in my left ear since I was 16 years old. I qualified for a hearing aid but after that sinus drain I have noticed a very noticeable improvement in my hearing.

The last weird thing I have had happen is my stomach some crazy issues on day 7 and 8. These weren’t normal bowel movements and I feel my body was moving out all of the nastiness that doesn’t get moved due to all of the dairy. Things are back to normal now.

 Day 6 was a big test day for me for how no dairy and eggs would affect my asthma and allergies. On day 6 my wife and I went to visit her parents and brother for her brother’s birthday. Her parents have cats and dogs all over the place. Normally when I go over there I take a total of 6 Benadryl throughout the time there and will have to take many puffs of my emergency inhaler.

This visit I only used 2 Benadryl and 1 puff of my inhaler but I don’t think I needed it. I could breathe perfectly fine and wasn’t having allergy issues but my brain was freaking out like it was. My body is starting to have positive reactions to this new diet but my brain has yet to make new connections to what is going on.

On day 4 I had felt like I was having an asthma attack yet I could breathe perfectly fine. I took some deep breaths and it stopped. I have a few theories as to why my brain is doing this but for now I am having less breathing issues, less allergy issues and I can calm my body down from these fake reactions through deep breathing.

I plan on another expose test to an allergen on day 16 to see what my reactions. This will be a controlled test, with medication ready and my focus will be to see how my eyes, nose and skin reacts to cat allergens.

So far this diet change has not affected my workouts. I have been using a pea based protein for after gym protein intake. It taste like I am drinking rice when I mix it with water but when I mix it with vanilla almond milk, it taste great. So far I have not physical changes to my body.

Still at the same weight and I seem to be the same body fat percentage. I am hoping other than my asthma and allergies getting better I am hoping to finally lose my love handles.

Dairy And Egg Free Testimonials: James Hardy’s Asthma- Week 3

Let’s found out about James Hardy’s 3nd week on my challenge:

Journal entry date: September 28th, 2014

Dairy And Egg Free Testimonials: James Hardy’s Asthma- Week 2

I am more than three weeks into no dairy and no eggs. There have been some battles over the last week. My wife’s family had a pre-holiday get together and the foods I love the most I had to avoid. It was tough but I fought through it.

Since my last post I have noticed some more changes I have noticed. For as long as I can remember I have had issues with plaque buildup on my teeth. I brush twice daily and floss trying to prevent it. On day 18 I did not have any plaque buildup. I kept to my ritual but I haven’t had any plaque buildup on my teeth since then.

The next thing I noticed was my bacne has gotten better. I do a lot of weight lifting and no matter what I do, it doesn’t go away. On the three week mark I noticed that my bacne was noticeably better. My wife has also commented on how much it is clearing up. I was told by a doctor when I was in high school that if I avoided milk it would clear up but I didn’t listen.

Week three was very rough for me because I was sick as well. I was starting to feel a cold coming up but my mucus never thickened or changed colors. My body still hurt and I suffered many of the symptoms but my nasal passages moved very well and my mucus stayed thin. I am fully recovered and feeling great.

This diet change as not just been tough on me, but it has been a challenge for my wife as well. One of a go to quick meals has been hamburger helper, which requires milk and has cheese in it. Since I am avoiding dairy we have had to get creative on quick meals so we came up with our own version. We brown hamburger meat like you would for hamburger helper and then we add half a can of tomato paste, 1 cup of almond milk, handful of daiya cheese, and then we sprinkle in some of our favorite seasonings. It taste much better than hamburger helper and it is much healthier.

Dear Jack: You Think We’re Just Fishing… For Tadpoles

3 years, 11 months.

Dear Jack: You Think We’re Just Fishing… For Tadpoles

Dear Jack,

Immediately after leaving Walden Farm on Saturday, Mommy wanted to stop by some “cute” antique shops in downtown Nolensville.

I spotted a creek behind the shops, so you and I did the guy thing and opted for the outdoor exploration adventure as opposed to looking at beautiful junk in stores.

Dear Jack: You Think We’re Just Fishing… For Tadpoles

Our original agenda was simply to find rocks and sticks to throw into the water.

However, after you realized the creek was swarming with what appeared to be tiny tadpoles, you decided to “catch a tadpole” instead.

First, you called them: “Here, tadpoles! Come to me!”

Then you used a stick as a fishing pole, hoping to catch a few of them. I joined you, of course.

It didn’t take long at all before you thought you caught one, and boy, were you proud!

Dear Jack: You Think We’re Just Fishing… For Tadpoles

Granted, it was just algae… as it was each time after that.

But in your mind, there was a real possibility of actually being able to catch tadpoles simply by placing a stick down into the water for just a few seconds at a time; with no bait attached.

I love your fascination with fishing. Never mind the irony in the fact our family doesn’t even eat fish or any kind of meat.

Still, it’s as if it’s ingrained in a little boy’s mind to want to go fishing with his Daddy. Likewise, I want to “go fishing” with you.

https://familyfriendlydaddyblog.com/2014/10/27/walden-farm-pumpkin-patch-family-friendly-review/

You and I could have stayed out there at the creek all day, but Mommy eventually came back from looking around at the shops; happy to see us doing “guy things.”

Our recent fishing trip has inspired me to already consider buying us a small 2-man tent to put out on the back patio of our new house once we move in.

We could be camping out by next spring!

Love,

Daddy

https://familyfriendlydaddyblog.com/2014/10/27/walden-farm-pumpkin-patch-family-friendly-review/