Swing Shut Toilet Lock

The twins are getting mobile. While they are only crawling and rolling, Liam stomps around with Frankenstein-like strides when he attempts to walk. What does this mean? Baby proofing!

I had already baby proofed all the window treatments, the outlets, gated those babies into the living room like jailbirds. Since I cannot keep them in the living room for the next two years, the bathroom seemed an obvious place to continue with my efforts. Outlet covers, check! Doorknob covers, check! Then came an unexpected turn of events...the toilet seat latch...look at this photo. This is the one I bought. PLEASE IDENTIFY WHAT PROBLEMS COULD ARISE-->

Close your eyes. Take yourself back to the last time you needed to book it to the bathroom.  While running, relief is in sight...and then you get to the toilet and need to use both hands to expertly open this latch system. Anyone else scared for me?! 

Maybe it is not as bad as it seems. I will let you know. I am terrified that white knuckled I will not be able to successfully get the cover up in time. EEEEE.

Yes, this was a moment of parenthood I was not prepared for.

A Crohn's Care Package?

I have spent a lot of time in the lavatory lately. Did I just say lavatory? I am trying out new words for bathroom (which just gets old.) I find I cannot refer to the bathroom as the powder room, comfort station, or john without breaking into hysterics. When I try to call it a privy or loo, I feel I must put on a little cap and do a jig. I don't know why. Not a fan of lavatory....what do you call it? Inspire me!

Actually, in our home, you may see me run by you while screaming "I gotta 20 in a 22!" I am married to a police officer...in his department that means you are driving back to the station to use the lavatory:) Humor goes a long way in my house and my husband thinks this is fantastic.

Back to spending my time in the "special" place...I have been considering this.

Upon diagnosis with Crohn's I believe you should be handed a care package. In this care package you would find the following items...

• an eReader 
• a box of anti-diarrhea tablets 
• the softest toilet paper money can buy...as well as wet wipes 
• massive amounts of beverages loaded with electrolytes 
• and a tiny fairy that sits on your shoulder that says "Dear, there is always someone worse off than you. Suck it up and try not to eat food that makes you s*%& your brains out."

If you have this disease or are a very empathetic person, you know why the above are in this care package:) If you know someone who has recently been diagnosed or is in the middle of a flare up, I guarantee those items would make them happy. 

If you find that fairy, please send her my way too!

Specific Carbohydrate Diet...in my world

Hello autoimmune disorder...how shall we battle you this year?


Since the prednisone after the boys were born...I have not gone on any medication...let's be honest, Humira and Remicade gave me drug-induced LUPUS...and the only biologic left is Cimzia. I do not want to try this unless absolutely necessary. Do you know what's worse than going to the bathroom 12 times a day, losing crazy weight, and suffering from abdominal pain? Doing all those things, but barely being able to move because every single joint is on fire...not to mention your skin actually hurts. Potential Alternatives?


After lots of reading, I decided to try again with a change in my diet. I discovered the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. Have you heard of it? It is a diet, a lifestyle, for those suffering from Crohn's, UC, Celiac's, CF and other bowel issues. By removing the foods that have crept into our modern diet (grains, pastas, breads, complex sugars, etc.) you start to reduce the harmful bacteria in your gut...bottom line- it is lactose-free, sugar-free, gluten-free and grain-free. Now, you are thinking...so what the heck do you eat?!

Here is a list of foods of the SCD legal/illegal foods! 

Strictly adhering to the guidelines, I followed the SCD for 2 months...and I was very hungry!! Two infants, no time to cook, no sleep...just was not working. So I made it work for me. I introduced brown rice and gluten-free oats back into the equation. Lots of fruits and veggies, cheese (with .05% lactose content), homemade yogurt, and occasional meat choices...and I am doing VERY GOOD!  I'm not perfect, I do cheat occasionally, and suffer for it. I cant help it, life is short and I am a foodie!


This diet is worth trying or a reasonable variation of it:) Make it work for you- Revise the diet to see if some alterations help your gut! I found the following books and recipes very helpful:

Breaking the Viscous Cycle by Elaine Gottschall

Eat Well, Feel Well by Kendall Conrad

Recipes for the SDC by Raman Prasad

**An aside- make sure you are getting enough Vitamin D! Deficiency is very common for those with Crohn's- and with indoor winter activities, even more so! 

Here's looking forward to a lovely spring and some awesome D!