Category Archives: How to help

Friends Make It More Fun

03 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by Helen in How to help, Ketogentic Diet

≈ 2 Comments

Hey there, Figuring It Out readers! My name is Helen, and I’m friends with Amy, Chuck, and Gabriel. I’m also a blogger and photographer, so when Amy texted me one evening in January, and asked if I would bring my camera to her house to photograph some Keto Cooking and then guest blog about it, I was more than willing!

One morning, last fall, a group of us were chatting about Amy (yes, Amy – we talk about you!) while waiting for our mom’s group meeting to start. We were discussing the enormous amount of work Amy does to cook meals and snacks for Gabriel, and wondering aloud how we could help her more. Half joking, we talked about setting up an assembly line some time, to help her knock out a bunch of meals all at once. Right away we thought “hey, that’s actually a pretty good idea!”, so plans were made and Keto Cooking Nights were started.

Once a month, 4-6 friends will gather in Amy’s kitchen, and under her guidance, prep and cook as much food for Gabriel as possible. It’s a fascinating experience, that a lot of the Type-A, perfectionists especially seem to enjoy.

Foods all have to be carefully measured, weighed (down to the gram!), and cooked.

Ingredients are divided into small cups, in preparation for the actual recipe assembly. The mass quantities of cups of ingredients, reminded us all of what you see on cooking shows!

Some of the food combos look a little, uh, interesting to start. These pizzas come to mind… Low and behold, they look like mini pizzas by the time they come out of the oven!

While we’ve all admired Amy and her strength from afar, it was even more awe inspiring to be in her kitchen with her, to watch her handle a small seizure while we were there, and to watch her give Gabriel a dose of his medicines and various supplements. She handles everything with such beautiful grace and calmness; she definitely inspires us all!

If you’re reading this because you have a child on a diet like this, and people ask how they can help you, tell them a Keto Cooking Night would be helpful! And if you know someone who is living this, offer a Keto Cooking Night to them. Friends always make things more fun!

How can keto cooking become fun? Just add friends! :)

27 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by Amy in How to help, Ketogentic Diet

≈ 1 Comment

These 4 amazing women took time away from their families to help me making brownies and pizzas for G 🙂 They came just in time too because after several weeks of minimal seizures, G has had 10 in less then 24 hours. It is such a relief to know I have enough food to feed him for a few days if I don’t have time to cook.

I wish I had remember to get the camera out earlier to take pictures of all the food they helped me make.  I am holding the remaining pre measured ingredients and they are each holding on of our precious 0.1 gram scales 🙂

I had throw away 3 scales last week because they quit working. W hen I ordered new ones I tried several different kinds. (Another little science experiment…which scale will last the longest!)

I was so excited when my friend emailed and said she would like to organize a cooking night.  Then the stress of trying to figure out keto cooking with a group set in. I’ve been able to teach several people one on one but this was the first time I would be teaching a group. I didn’t want to make anyone feel stressed out but I wanted to be sure to teach well, so we would have as few mistakes as possible.  One of the most annoying things to me about keto cooking is that if you make a mistake, you have to throw it out and start over.

I premade a big batch of brownies. Then taught the ladies how to prepare each portion. Weigh 17 grams brownie, then add 2.5 grams coconut oil, microwave for 10 seconds, let cool and package for fridge.

Chuck helped me measure out most of ingredients to make 20 pizzas.  Then the ladies and I assembled them. While one group created crusts, another group worked on dishes, so we could get the next round of crusts going.

By the end of the evening we had 17 pizzas ( I didn’t want to take the time to whip more egg whites and do more dishes to hit 20), 15 (I think) brownies and tons of premeasured macadamia nuts, parmesan cheese and chocolate for me to use in future cooking.  Aside from helping with the food, these ladies brought grown up snacks and drinks, paper goods, and great joy to my soul!

Gabriel was fascinated with the whole shebang. He wanted to be with us so badly…he would run in from the living room where he was playing with grandma,about every 20 minutes.  He would kind of watch and look around at all of us…have me hold him then leave.  So cute 🙂  I am going to think about ways he could “help” in the future.

Here he is getting ready to eat one of the pizza’s we made that night. 🙂

Before would take a bite, he pushed the plate over and said “take a picture of the pizza” 🙂 HA! I cracked up….he is so used to me snapping pictures of every new food he tries, he waited to eat his favorite because he thought I would want a shot of just the pizza.

Then he chowed down.

 

 

evening out and ideas for helping

06 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by Amy in How to help, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Things seem to be evening out a little bit for our boy. After 3 days of 20 + seizures, he has only have 5 or 6 the last couple days.

We have felt tremendously supported through this latest rough patch. I have been especially grateful for the encouraging bible verses friends have been messaging us. Our small group is reading a book called “The Story”, which is the bible in chronological order with some extra stuff to fill in the gaps. We had just read and studied the story of Joshua when G’s seizures started this time. God told Joshua many, many times but STRONG and COURAGEOUS! (and not to turn from God’ word, inferring that knowing God’s word would give his strength and courage). This could not be more true for myself right now. Having others write down a psalm or send me a song have given me words to pray when my own soul was too tired to know what to say. I was literally reading bible verses off my facebook wall in the ER Tuesday night.  One friend sent me a note saying she thought of me when listening to “Praise You in the Storm”  (below is a link to this powerful song)

It was pretty humbling to think, maybe we are able to do that a little bit.  I have always loved this song and it speaks to me deeply these days.  I want to be found faithful in loving God everyday.  I hope and pray  that our sweet boy sees that and decides our faith is a faith he wants as his own.

Speaking of praising in the storm. We now have lodging for our trip to Baltimore! We will be staying in a furnished but not lived in home of a pastor Chuck knows through his work at the church.  This offer of lodging is HUGE! and quells huge amounts of anxiety for me. I will have a kitchen that I am in charge of, to make sure everything in and out are safe for G!  We were wondering a few weeks ago if we even really needed this trip. Now with all the pieces falling together so beautifully  we have a tempered optimism that we may get some new answers for our sweet little guy.

We are thankful for all of the continued offers of support we are getting. Here are a few tangible ways you can help if you feel lead.

1. come hang out with us, so mommy can get some cooking done with G is safe.

2. help with the lawn (the darn grass keeps growing!)

3.  target or walmart gifts cards are great (we buy food at walmart and one of his prescriptions is not covered by insurance and we purchase it at target).

4. we use lots of pecans, butter, macademia nuts and paper towels for cooking.

5. never feel embarrased to ask us how we are doing. (we try not to talk only about ourselves and our kid…but if you are curious….we are happy to share!)

6. if you hear of someone else with difficult epilepsy, who has found help. please share! We are open to looking into any and all options.

 

 

 

♣ Subscribe to FIO

♣ Helpful Websites

  • Charlie Foundation
  • Danny Did Foundation
  • Doose Syndrome
  • Keto Cook

♣ Recent Posts

  • Perspective
  • Back to Blogging: I’m here to Call Back!
  • Celebrating Successes
  • “The Eagle Has Landed”?
  • So far…so GOOD!

♣ Recent Comments

  • Cheryl Roberts on Celebrating Successes
  • Amy on Starting the Descent—Weaning Felbamate
  • carole Sandels on Starting the Descent—Weaning Felbamate
  • Suzanne on “The Eagle Has Landed”?
  • Sarah Mackay on So far…so GOOD!

♣ Archives

  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • June 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • February 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012

♣ Categories

  • Doose Syndrome
  • Family
  • Gabriel
  • How to help
  • Ketogentic Diet
  • Uncategorized

Proudly powered by WordPress Theme: Chateau by Ignacio Ricci.