Day 26: Date night

This one leftover pancake wasn’t enough even after loading it up with cashew butter so I grabbed one of the blander bread muffins I made after.

There we go.

I had two cups of coffee too.  With coconut milk and stevia.  I’m all out of coconut milk so I better make some almond, cashew or something milk soon.  I really miss Califia’s mocha almond milk and if I go back to it I’ll be curious about how my taste buds perceive the sweetness.

I had my pills late so then I ate lunch late.  Probably for the best though since we had a dinner date planned for that night and we weren’t leaving til after the kids had eaten and V was down (meaning post bath and story).  We are finally making good on my two year old new year’s resolution to get a babysitter.  To be honest, I made no effort after our one babysitter (who was great!) left town.  We used her once and after that I just gave up.  And then we had a pretty terrible experience last month for my sister’s wedding (V is NOT into me leaving) so I was pretty discouraged from trying again.  But then a pastor from our church gave us some recommendations and I figured I should really make good on it.  Kyle and I need and deserve date nights!!

PS I didn’t have any of those treats shown above, but it’s only a matter of time…they were leftovers from the kids’ paint and sing class because it was someone’s birthday.  How amazingly thoguhtful that they were allergy conscious, and then gave us all the remaining treats, right?!

This is his “I’m so excited for a babysitter face”.  Ha. No joke they both ate the fastest they have ever eaten in their entire lives.

Kyle and I went to Bandera which is a Hillstone restaurant and if you look at the menu you will see that it is THE EXACT SAME as the Hillstone menu.  Like identical.  Why they call themselves Bandera is a mystery but as we all know, I loved Hillstone so fine by me!

Not wanting to get the same thing, I got the prime rib.  It was insanely good.  Salt and pepper crusted perfection.  Kyle tried a bite and said I won with my order.

He got the chicken and ribs plate with tomatoes and bleu cheese.  He loves a wedge salad and was stoked about the tomatoes.

There was also this skillet cornbread. Holy balls of dairy goodness.  I threw my diet out the door for this guy.  I couldn’t not dig in.  And once you try a bite, it’s seriously impossible to stop.  Gahhhh.  My stomach actually hurt for a bit after but then just went away.  I think that’s the biggest difference I’m noticing ever since I began this SIBO journey.  My gut still has minor reactions to the foods it has always reacted to, but they don’t last as long.  Perhaps it’s because I am overall being more cautious?  I guess it’s nice to know that I can get back on track relatively easily if I veer off course for say, cornbread, or chocolate, or whatever.  But I am beginning to realize that my hope that I would get to a free eating point is just not realistic. I’ve been so good about limiting my sugar intake and fodmap containing foods for so long…and it just doesn’t seem like the change is making a lasting impression on my gut lining.  I may be wrong, but I’m trying to be honest with myself and you all (because I know so many of you are following along with me).  Perhaps the herbs have killed off a bunch of stuff after all?  Perhaps that’s why my body bounces back quicker after dietary hiccups.  I mean I am definitely not as bloated and gassy as I was 30 days ago.  And for 10 or so days in the middle there I felt amaaaazing!  So maybe I had unrealistic hopes about the result of this process?  It’s hard not to be disappointed.  The idea of a “normal” gut is just something I long for so badly.  I’m not sure I’m willing to try antibiotics – especially since they have a lower success rate than these herbs.  So it could be that I just have to live on a low fodmaps diet and deal with it.  Anyway, I don’t want to wallow. I’m feeling better than before so that’s better than nothing!

I took my date on a stroll back in Davis since the night was still so young.  He got an iced mocha with whipped cream because he had to stay up and do work.

And when we got home, the kids were sleeping angels so the babysitter was a HUGE success. P had a blast with her and she gave him his dose and kept him calm and I’m thrilled to keep this date night thing going. Hold me to it okay guys!?!?!