Work in Progess V

Southeast corner of garage
View of the roof facing north
Spot patrols the south facing side of the garage
The front of the garage, awaiting its doors
An exciting view looking south

Work in Progess IV

What a lovely roof!
Our trees peek down through the new roof trusses.
Fantastic sky to match our happy new garage!
Little Bear can put his geometry skills to use...look at all those triangles!!
We were so happy the trusses came a day early!

Work in Progess III

Walls! Walls! Walls! Can you believe it Spot??
View to the northeast.
We play math tag on our slab. Hours of fun!
Is it the chocolate chip zucchini bread or the impending garage he loves?
While the work continues on the garage, Little Bear and Spot help Mama & Papa Bear rebuild the patio.

Work in Progress II

Spot inspects the rebar to be used in the concrete forms.
Little Bear and Papa Bear enjoy the new set up for the concrete.
See, I told you they are enjoying it!
Two handsome men!!
One beautiful slab of concrete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Work in Progress I

Shed no more...now a giant DIRT pile to play in!
See what I mean?
A view we've never seen before
So many possibilities...

Links

Click below to connect to another page with more information from the Mayo Clinic:



http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/crohns-disease/DS00104/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies



Yet another site John found...



http://www.ccfa.org/info/diet?LMI=5.2

Foods Part IV

1. Breakfast

   • A diet high in protein and calories is important for Crohn's disease. Many patients are malnourished due to diarrhea or lack of appetite . Keep a food journal to identify what foods cause you pain. Fibrous foods have been noted to hurt those with narrowing small intestines. Raw vegetables and legumes can cause cramping. Start your morning with something stomach-settling like oatmeal. Garnish with brown sugar or fruit. For some protein, make an egg sandwich on an English muffin. It has been found helpful to give the stomach a break from solid food. Protein shakes are a fantastic source of nutrients and calories. If you are lactose-intolerant, replace the milk with soy milk.

   Snacks and Lunch

   • By eating small snacks twice a day, you ensure that you get enough calories. Find out from your doctor how many you need a day based on your height, weight and gender. Fruit, pudding, applesauce, protein bars and smoothies are filling and easy on the stomach. Lunch is a great time to fill up on energy-providing foods to see you through to the end of the day. Fried foods are discouraged, because they upset the stomach. On the other hand, sushi is delicious and uncomplicated for your stomach to break down. Pair your sushi meal with some warm miso soup. A basic sandwich of turkey, avocado and tomato is filling and doesn't include the problematic roughage of lettuce.

   Dinner and Dessert

   • After a hectic day, it's nice to relax with comfort food. Meals may include mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, rice and white dinner rolls. Keep the menu and ingredients simple. Proteins consisting of fish, shrimp, pork, turkey or chicken can be prepared in several ways. When you find enough foods that do not upset your stomach, mix up the meal plan by adding spices, herbs and sauces. Relax to a delicious dessert of cookies, cupcakes or pudding. Chocolaty treats may be too rich. Stick with something with cake and icing. The perfect diet for Crohn's disease is individually determined. By cutting out complicated meals and sticking with some basics, you will be on the road to figuring out what is right for you.

Foods Part III

1. Flare-Up Foods

   • During a period of flare-up, individuals with Crohn's disease will find that their digestive tract responds better to foods with less fiber. Foods to incorporate include rice, crackers, baby cereals, oatmeal, cooked skinless potatoes, celery, yams, squash, eggplant and other mild cooked vegetables, apple juice, grape juice, or other fruit juices (except for prune), cooked unsweetened fruits, fresh melons and papaya (including the seeds).

     Foods to avoid are broccoli, cabbage, kale or other cruciferous vegetables, beans (of any kind), lentils, whole grains and seeds. Raw fruits and vegetables should be avoided during a flare-up, with the exception of small portions of banana or apple. Other foods to avoid include dairy, fried foods, processed foods and refined carbohydrates.

   Other Considerations

   • Drink your recommended daily requirement of water. Staying hydrated is an important step in preventing constipation. Be sure to ask your doctor about vitamin and mineral supplements, which are often necessary for individuals with Crohn's disease. Also, eat approximately six small meals throughout the day to support your digestive tract.

     Aloe Vera is also recommended for individuals with Crohn's disease. It is an aid for softening the stool and digestive healing. Additionally, taking papaya supplements can assist the body in better digestion.

Foods Part II

High-Fiber Foods

Patient with Crohn's disease should avoid high-fiber foods because they may worsen diarrhea, gas and bloating, according to MayoClinic. High-fiber foods cause increased passage of stool which exacerbates diarrhea in patients with Crohn's disease. Examples of high-fiber foods to be avoided include oatmeal, bran, seeds, popcorn, millet and oats.

Fatty and Fried Foods

Patients suffering from Crohn's disease should also avoid fatty and fried foods such as ice cream, fries, donuts, steak, butter, cream and margarine. Patients with Crohn's disease may not be able to digest and absorb fat normally, according to Mayo Clinic. Fatty foods take a long time to be digested and may cause an upset stomach. Fatty foods also do not benefit Crohn's patients because they contain little nutritious value.

Other Foods to Avoid

Patients with Crohn's disease who are intolerant to lactose should avoid dairy products in order to prevent diarrhea, gas and abdominal pain, according to MayoClinic. Patients should also limit alcohol and caffeine consumption. Caffeine stimulates the contraction of the intestines, which may worsen diarrhea. Patients with Crohn's disease should increase fluids intake in order to compensate for the fluids they lose through frequent watery stools.

Caffeinated and Spicy Foods

Foods and beverages that contain high levels of caffeine stimulate the smooth muscles of the intestines and may set off cramping and diarrhea. Chocolate, tea and coffee are prime culprits. If you have Crohn's disease, you may not be able to tolerate spicy foods. In addition to avoiding foods that worsen symptoms, you should avoid eating large meals. MayoClinic.com says that some patients feel better if they spread their daily food intake out over five to six small meals per day instead of three larger meals.

More Info

Nutrition

Although diet cannot cause or cure Crohn's disease, some studies suggest that people who eat foods high in saturated fat and sugar or who eat processed foods may be more likely to develop the disease. Certain foods may also reduce symptoms and make recurrences of the disease less likely.

• Eating fruits and vegetables, lowering fat, and eliminating sugar may reduce the risk of developing Crohn's disease. Although a low-fiber diet is one of the risk factors for developing Crohn's disease, some people with Crohn's disease find that fiber makes symptoms worse. If fiber bothers you, steam or bake your vegetables rather than eating them raw, and avoid high fiber fruits such as apples.
• Certain foods may aggravate symptoms of Crohn's disease – most often, dairy products, fats, and spicy foods. People with Crohn's disease may want to avoid these foods.
• Eat antioxidant foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes) and vegetables (such as squash and bell peppers).
• Eat foods high in B-vitamins, calcium, and magnesium, such as whole grains (if not bothered by fiber), dark leafy greens (such as spinach and kale), and sea vegetables.
• Avoid refined foods such as white breads and pastas.
• Eat five or six smalls a day.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco.
• If symptoms are severe, an elemental diet may be recommended. Elemental formulas are liquid diets that contain only the basic building blocks of food and do not need to be broken down into smaller substances along the digestive tract. Some people find it hard to stick to an elemental diet, but after a period of time, often other foods can be reintroduced. One study suggests that adding omega-3 fatty acids to an elemental diet may boost its nutritional content and make it more likely that people with Crohn's disease will stick with it.

Foods

Which foods should I avoid with a Crohn's disease diet plan?

The foods that trigger symptoms differ for each person with Crohn's disease. To know which foods to leave out of your diet plan, you'll need to determine which foods, if any, trigger yours. Many people with Crohn's disease find that the foods on the following list aggravate symptoms during disease flares. So it's possible that at least some of these listed foods will trigger your symptoms:

• alcohol (mixed drinks, beer, wine)
• butter, mayonnaise, margarine, oils
• carbonated beverages
• coffee, tea, chocolate
• corn husks
• dairy products (if lactose intolerant)
• fatty foods (fried foods)
• foods high in fiber
• gas-producing foods (lentils, beans, legumes, cabbage, broccoli, onions)
• nuts and seeds (peanut butter, other nut butters)
• raw fruits
• raw vegetables
• red meat and pork
• spicy foods
• whole grains and bran

Once you've identified foods that cause your symptoms to flare, you can choose either to avoid them or to learn new ways of preparing them that will make them tolerable. To do that, you'll need to experiment with various foods and methods of preparation to see what works best for you. For instance, if certain raw vegetables trigger a flare, you don't necessarily need to give them up. You may find that steaming them, boiling them, or stewing will allow you to eat them without increased GI symptoms. If red meat increases fat in the stools, you could try eating ground sirloin or ground round to see if you can tolerate a leaner cut of beef. Or you might decide to rely on low-fat poultry without skin and fish as your main sources of protein.