Farmed and Dangerous

I suppose it all started back in Genesis when God told Adam that because of the curse man would have to toil for his food. (Gen. 3:17-19) In rebellion mankind has been in constant search for ways to ease our burdens. Less work for more product or what have you. With the increase of technology we find a decrease in labor but as a result we find the repercussions skyrocketing; some immediate and others that have yet to be made manifest.

In the history of every great civilization from the beginning of time we can find the ups and downs of technology, progress and the pragmatics thereof. Looking just at the United States of America it has only been in the last century or more specifically in the last 50 years that technology really took a dramatic leap, changing the ways in which we work and live.

At a glance one might think we have come a long way in the US, in terms of living long and healthy lives, but the negative statistics are starting to stack up. One major area we can see this happening in is the food we produce and consume.  Processed foods cut down on the amount of time people spend growing, raising and cooking their food and this shortcut has left us at a dead end of striking health issues.

Having grown up on a farm and investing a large portion of my time in the "occupation of hope", as some would call it, I am quite interested in what sort of fruits my labor produces. As a farmer I am looking to see how I am affecting the world around me and how the world affects what I do. A lot of things play into this business. Things like agricultural sciences, GMO's, conventional vs. organic farming, the general view of farming held by the American public, the government's involvement, how farming matters are portrayed by media, among other things. The list is unending....

So I come to my point:
Chipotle, a 'mexican grill', has jumped ahead of the game by switching to serving food that customers can feel good about eating AND promoting the awareness of what's really going on in the food industry in a humorous, but quite serious, parody/mini-series called, "Farmed and Dangerous".

I recently watched it with my clan and we liked it so much that we emailed Chipotle to tell them we appreciate what they're doing. There has been a lot of conversation created by this show, some in favor of it and some against it... but that was exactly what Chipotle is aiming for. They want to raise awareness of these complex and pressing issues and get people to start discussing what is really going on in the food industry and what they can do about it. (Dr. Mercola wrote a good article about the show)

I'll warn you that it is not exactly a "family friendly" show, in that there are a number of innuendos and worldly implications, but all around it was witty, well written, well produced and performed, and it was incredibly provoking. It's also short (each of the four episodes are little over 20 minutes long). Those in my household greatly enjoyed watching the series and are looking forward to the next installment.

It really is true: You are what you eat. 
Be informed.

Seasons

Taken as the Fall wind flies
The slumber of the Summer skies
For now below the Winter's grey
The greenest growth of Spring awaits

Ta ta! We say to snow. Alas!
For all we long to see is grass
And pine we will until satisfied
The wish to see a daisy's eye

Blue rains caught in thunderclouds
Are lost, but not the stratus shroud
And grim the skeleton of trees
That long for leaves to catch the breeze

Come swift! Oh ever youthful Spring!
The frozen brooks desire to sing
To raise the wings of butterflies
Kept in cocoons while Winter lies

Now Fall has flown and Winter wanes
Who is Spring's sire and Summer's bane
A word or whisper from the South
Yes! This is what we wait for now

It Is Not Time That Ages Us

February is gone, robbing us of an extra day or two, it would seem. Though the calendar reads, "March", the snow is no less deep and the winter no less bitter. After a short burst of 40 degree weather we are again greeted each morning by the chill, sub-zero temperatures. People are hopeful that Spring is not far off but I fear we must not anticipate any serious warm weather just yet. April sounds more promising.

Each year it seems that I discover a few major things. Turning points or lessons of sorts. I suppose I realize what I am to learn quite early on, just as everyone discusses their New Year's resolutions. I don't tease myself to go so far as to set resolutions but it seems that I have noticed a common trend throughout the recent years of "this is what I am to learn".
 
This year I feel that I am learning to not take anything for granted. Especially the things that I find to be the most fixed or that I hold most dear. For example, I like my days/time off and yet I've worked more in the past months than I ever have before. Also the dramatic news of my baby niece, who likely has Leigh's Disease. The list carries on... and it's only March. What will be next?
 
From this question I have made a simple and yet profound discovery. Something that probably most people of greater wisdom or age have long since understood:
It is not time that ages, but rather, it is loss.

Even the accumulation of wisdom and understanding. I used to perceive the acquisition of such things to be a great gain, but is it really just the loss of innocence? There is no earthly thing of which I may be certain or whereby I may obtain security.
My confidence and hope is only found in the Lord.

Her Beautiful Face

I went over to Jed and Kendra's on Monday, the 17th, to take Meadow and Dexter for a visit. With the massive doses of B-vitamins and a seizure medication that Kendra needs to give to Leela seventeen times a day, on top of breastfeeding every two to three hours, it's been a lot to juggle so Meadow and Dexter have been staying at the farm with "Grandma and Grandpa".

Leela seems to be doing quite well, all things considered, and her dad even thinks he saw her smile last Sunday, although she still doesn't cry. Ever since the MRI that initially caused everyone to realize there was a much greater problem than lazy eyes Leela doesn't cry. The MRI removed all of the B vitamins from her body and may have caused serious losses to her body/brain.

Anyway, I took a few pictures and I thought everyone might enjoy getting to see them.

Leela. Notice that her eyes are open, which is a treat since she is often sleeping. 

Mommy holding Leela. :)

Dexter, Leela and Meadow! Very cute kids, if you ask me!

An Update On Little Leela

I don't think we are ever prepared enough for the unexpected... 

I doubt my brother and sister-in-law thought they'd face the challenges that they are dealing with today when they took their baby daughter to get an MRI. After over a week at the hospital and visits from more doctors than they can probably count, they finally came back home on Saturday night but it's likely that my niece Leela has Leigh's Disease.

For Leigh's Disease in a nutshell click here. 

A little more information can be found on this site.

And an in-depth explanation is available on Wikipedia.

The truth is... it's not likely that Leela's life will extend beyond the age of 3. Eight years of age if she's lucky. Please keep Jed, Kendra, Leela and their family in your thoughts and prayers, folks.

Leela

Hey! For those of you who have been keeping my niece, Leela, in your thoughts and prayers here's an update from my sister-in-law, Kendra, on how Leela is doing and what the doctors have found out:
"Okay, so it's been hard to find time to post any updates but I will try to give y'all the scoop in a nutshell (but it will be hard). On Friday Leela went in for an MRI to look for possible reasons for the way her eyes drift apart, and developmental issues. She has also been having spells that we have been suspecting were some kind of seizure, though the doctors at the time felt it was probably acid reflux. She was given Nitrous Oxide to sedate her for the test, which should only take 15-20 min. to wake up from. She didn't really even start to snap out of it for over 24 hours. After staying at the hospital overnight in Eau Claire, the nest afternoon when she was still totally limp the doctors decided to ship her to Mayo Rochester via ambulance. The neurologists there (here) reviewed the MRI and found some abnormalities in the brain stem consistant with a genetic condition called Metabolic Syndrome. It is where the body is missing some building block that is required to break down some nutrient(s) in the body, so the nutrient(s) build up in the body. They also decided that her spells (which have increased since this started) are almost certainly infantile spasms, which are a type of seizure. The other possibility is that she has some kind of mitochondrial issue, which I'm more confused about. They said she has Lactic Acidosis, and has for some time, but has been compensating well for it, and a slight heart abnormality that isn't causing her any probems right now. She also had elevated levels of some other acid that I think starts with a P. She's undergone quite a few tests and seen about 1000 different people. So far, besides the MRI she's on her 2nd eeg, and she's had an ekg, an echogram, a few blood tests, urine test, a skin biopsy, a swallow test and later today they are supposed to do a spinal tap. They had to put something called a stick line (pretty scary) in her, which they had to sedate her for again, but they used a different gas this time and she came out of it just fine. Some of the tests they are doing to find out if the condition was passed down genetically or if it's a new mutation. They probably won't know that for about two months. They said that the problem they think she has would explain the eyes, the seizures, the developemental issues, the heart abnormality and the trouble coming out of sedation. BTW, she's finally been acting more herself since last night. She's still not 100% though. Also, this whole time I've been very ill. I was almost positive it was influenza but they tested me for it and it came back negative. So now I'm thinking it's just some random respiratory infection that has developed into pneumonia. Anyway, I have to wear a mask a lot and everyone coming in is supposed to wear a mask, gloves, and gown. They really hope Leela doesn't catch it because apparently kids with this condition have a hard time dealing with illness. So, I think that's about it for now. We're still here, waiting. After all that, we have a lot of info, yet we really don't know much at all yet. We have no idea when they will send us home. We would like to thank everyone who has helped us and sent us they're thoughts and prayers. Sorry we don't post more often or respond to everyone individually. We never know when another team of doctors is going to walk in. God Bless everyone!"

It's Good To Just Laugh

In the winter the birds come out on warm days and chirp. It makes you feel good. But you know it's bad when the birds start coming out to chirp when it's below zero and 10 degree weather feels really warm. It's been a cold winter!

Dorothy Hamill

The 2014 Winter Olympics are here. Skating, skiing, snowboarding... I enjoy watching a number of the sports when I get a chance... and of course I cheer for the American teams and athletes. Over all I find it to be awesome and inspiring. To go above and beyond accomplishment.... to not only achieve reaching the end goal, but crossing the finish line in first place... to accept defeat with grace... to push the limit... to get up and keep going even after you fall... to have passion, not because you're good at something or because you can do it, but because you love it.
This is why we watch the Olympics, isn't it? To be moved. To be motivated.

But life is not all about achievement and passion. It is also about laughter. The kind that makes your guts hurt and your tears run. The kind of laughter that every company aims for when making a commercial to be aired during the Super Bowl:

Ah, yes. Life has many pleasures and pains. We prefer the pain that comes from pleasure such as laughter, but sometimes there's a great deal of pleasure that we get from pain. Like Jay Leno's last night on the Tonight Show after a good, long 22 year career. I didn't watch his show that often but it was a good last night. It's a big deal when a comedian cries. I think it's fair to say that everyone wonders if it will really be his last night. A comedian would do that though! Come back just for kicks. Jay was a bit crude, a bit crass sometimes but he went out with class (having Garth Brooks and Billy Crystal on his last show was epic!) and as the years carry on people will look back and remember the good ol' days when Jay Leno was the man who made us forget our worries at the end of the day.

Anyways... dinner is waiting, there are drinks to be drunk and amusement to be had.
Eat, drink and be merry folks.... because it makes the winter shorter.