The incredible bouncing migraine

Yesterday, I threatened to get my eyebrow pierced (not kidding if it really would work) to alleviate migraines. That, of course, didn't go over very well. There's also the little matter of the incredible bouncing migraine. Most of the time my headaches begin and centralize over my left eyebrow. It is not uncommon, though, for the pain to ease on the left size only to materialize later over the right eyebrow and then to fade and reappear over the left brow again. What is that all about? I asked a doctor once and even he had no answer to that mystery. Since I'm really, really not interested in two piercings and my headaches can't seem to make a commitment, I guess my modern trepanning approach is a no-go. 

Admit it, some of you are a little disappointed.  (And most of you are really, really relieved!)

Fortunately, it's a day of no crazy, stormy weather and the magic of Sudafed worked to kill of the lingering headache. Staid mom persona remains. Until next time...

A Clear Pattern: Dairy Products Lead to Congestion

No headaches to report today, thankfully, but I'm again noticing that dairy is at least mildly problematic. As I've mentioned before, I've dramatically cut back on my use of milk and cheese. When I do have dairy products in my meals, I notice their effects. Yesterday's foods included the cheese in my lunchtime lasagna and one small slice of pizza with mozzarella at dinner. By bedtime, I felt a congestion that used to be a nightly occurrence but has disappeared since I cut out the dairy. It definitely comes back when I have a noticeable amount of milk or cheese in the hours before bedtime. This is a mild stuffy-nose kind of complaint, but the pattern is very clear for me. I breathe better when I keep my dairy consumption to a minimum. Unfortunate, but true. 

Dining in Elmhurst, Greek Style

There was a moment of indiscretion with an ice cream sandwich yesterday evening, which could account for the mild headache that has been threatening all day. (It looked so innocent -- and yummy!) There's also been the threat of stormy weather all day, so lets blame any headaches on that instead, shall we? 

Wind and other complaints did not keep us at home this Father's Day, though. Since the weather report did suggest that thunderstorms were a possibility, we chose an indoor activity: exploring Elmhurst and its historical museum. Unfortunately, the lunch restaurant of our choice wasn't open. (We had called. We had checked on line. Sources contradicted each other.) As we began to wander Elmurst for an open and interesting restaurant, a small billboard caught my eye. We were blessed to be in Elmurst during the weekend of the St. Demetrious Greek Orthodox Church Taste of Greece Festival. That was worth turning the van around! (Actually, we turned around at least twice, thanks to a GPS unit that may date back to the ancient Greeks, but I digress.) 

Our Greek lunch was not what I would call light eating, but let's not discount the joy of happy eating. Jamieson enjoyed the gyros, which the kids nibbled, too, and pronounced good meat. I tried pastitsio, a Greek lasagna. It was rich and filling and wonderful. More lasagnas should be filled with egg. For dessert, we shared the loukoumades, heavenly honey puffs topped with cinnamon and yet more honey. Can you imagine how many wipes were needed to clean up the crew before we let them back into the van? Not a few, but worth every one. Oh, and those spheres of loukoumades bliss went delightfully well with the Greek coffee Jamieson and I enjoyed at the end of our meal, too. Just beware of the extra, um, intensity at the bottom of the cup. Not unlike Turkish coffee, grounds do make their way into the bottom. 

Well-fed, we made our way to the Elmhurst Historical Museum and then on to Fullersburg Woods Nature Center. Since no rain ever dampened our day, we were able to enjoy a walk along Salt Creek before calling an end to our day's adventure. 

I have to admit either the eating, the walking or the weather did finally provoke a real headache, but so far it's managed to stay controlled with minimal effort. We had a great day of exploring some new tastes and seeing some fun sights. A good way to celebrate Father's Day. 

A Taste of Japan: Mitsuwa Market

Gabutto Burger! 

During the last week of May, we were without Daddy as he spent several days in Japan for business. Wanting to share some of the culture that he experienced during his travels, he took us on a trek to Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights for an dinnertime adventure. 

Mitsuwa is a full-sized Japanese grocery store that also includes additional shops, such as a book store, video store, and a food court with numerous menu choices. We wandered the grocery aisles for a while first, especially to enjoy the packaging of the products in the candy aisles. (Wouldn't you know it, the fun doughnut-shaped candy-making kit that Jamieson brought back from his trip was available at the store, as were some of the cookies he brought the kids.)  After browsing, it was time to experience some real Japanese cooking. 

Jamieson had heard good things about the ramen noodle shop Santouka, which was his goal. For the kids we went for something familiar: Gabutto Burger. It was a burger and fries, so they loved it, but the combination of beef, pork and breading made it different from the burgers they usually get at fast food places. We ordered plain burgers for them, but Gabutto offers unique sauces -- a demi-glace and Teriyaki -- to make the burger even more unique. Once the kids were fed, it was time to order for the grownups, but staring at Santouka's detailed menu overwhelmed me. So I told Jamieson to get his order in first. So, he did that and I headed back over to Gabutto to get the Teriyaki tofu burger -- not my most adventurous choice. More on that in a moment. While waiting for my food, I had a bite of Jamieson's ramen. Oh, my. Those "oriental flavor" ramen packets we all get for 20 cents each in college are nothing more than packing peanuts, folks. Real ramen is something mighty tasty. That was a bowl full of noodles of substance with some complex flavors in the soup. Yum. And, that was just food court ramen. 

I enjoyed my tofu burger, but like I said, it wasn't a daring choice. My food was tasty. I was satisfied. But I would have felt like I took better advantage of an interesting food opportunity if I had ordered something more unique. Any food that I couldn't possibly make at home would have meet that criteria. Sometimes, though, as we seek to broaden the kids' cultural and culinary horizons, I unexpectedly find myself to be the most difficult-to-feed member of the group. Why didn't I try those noodles? I was afraid. What has been my experience with fast food, inexpensive Asian food, and (obviously) cheap ramen noodles? Near instant migraines. As much as I want to be a daring diner who eats any odd thing that comes my way, I am so very, very tired of food-induced headaches. So, at the same time I am trying to teach my children to try everything, I am also trying not to eat everything. It's a dining dilemma.

At least Mitsuwa has a good bakery and sells plenty of desserts.  On our way out, we picked up a few things for the ride home: the Koala's March cookies for the kids, Calpico soda for mom and dad, and Mochi Ice Cream, balls of green-tea flavored ice cream covered in sticky rice cakes. Mochi was a bit more stickiness than the kids wanted to have between themselves and their ice cream, but they did attempt a bite. At least we had those cookies. And no one went home hungry. 

(And no one had a headache the next day!) 

One for the road
Mochi: Green Tea ice cream 

Trying Mochi

Health By Bike

A peaceful stretch of the
Illinois Prairie Path

One of the most delightful blessings of my life is living close to the Fox River and its wonderful trail network. Yesterday's glorious weather called me outdoors and I couldn't resist hopping on my bike and zipping on to the trails for a quick trip down to the library. Sure, it would be a smidge faster to do errands by car, but that would be to miss out on the fresh air factor. Navigating traffic and parking lots causes headaches. The only problem I had biking was the near-miss when a chipmunk with a death wish darted in front of me and parked his furry little body in front of my oncoming wheel almost a moment too long. Ah, a little nature-induced adrenaline is good for the brain, too. 

Today I made time for running on the treadmill in the basement, which isn't nearly as invigorating. I do open the windows but it isn't the same as running or biking under a verdant canopy alive with the birds and filled with some of the happiest pedestrians a person can meet. It just feels good to be outside these days and my body thanks me for making time to be there. 

My Brain is Like An Old Car

My head is like an old car. Huh? Oh, let me explain. It's been a glorious week of no headaches since I've been on the steroid prescription that was to knock out the flurry of headaches that gave me grief last week. The week has been filled with first-week of summer vacation stresses, but nothing off-the-charts. And no headaches! Thursday I had a message on my answering machine from the doctor's office checking up on me. It was also the last day of that prescription. Friday, wouldn't you know it, a felt a twinge of headache creeping up on me. Was it the food from the lunch I treated the kids to on Thursday? I had a vegetarian omelet. Could that really be it? More likely it was that the kids and I walked Jamieson to work Friday morning and I didn't have enough water to re-hydrate myself. So, I popped some ibuprofen when we were out doing errands Friday morning and when I talked to the nurse from the doctor's office a bit later in the day and I felt perfectly fine. Of course an hour later I felt a headache creeping up on me again. Grrr. See? Just like when the car runs great when you talk to the mechanic and makes that weird clunking noise again an hour later. Anyway, all is well. I took the newer prescription around dinner time. It did kick in as advertised and I woke up headache-free this morning. 

I feel like an old woman with all these different prescriptions, but at least something works, right? It's a beautiful day and I am thankful I am feeling well and able to enjoy it. 

Like Mother, Like Daughter

For a change of pace in AchyHeadLand, I'm just fine today. It's my darling five-year old girl who has twice mentioned that she has a headache. Considering today's wind and the stormy weather front that came through earlier, I'm not surprised. There's always a question in my mind, though, if she has a true headache or if she's just repeating what I say. Considering that her statement came with a most bereft look on her face and a willingness to take some kid-strength Tylenol, I'm going to accept her assessment. Generally, all my kids resist medicine of all forms. (Can I tell you how many places I have found hidden vitamins? It would be an entertaining scavenger hunt if I wasn't so annoyed at the deceptive little dolls!) If someone says yes I will take that medicine, I'm going to assume they have a real headache.

My quest to manage my headaches isn't just to make my own life easier. It's to find the solutions that I can share with my girl as she inevitably (curse you, family history) experiences migraines. If the boys are blessed with avoiding headaches, I hope that they at least remember how to do their chores. Someone has to keep the household running. Maybe all the kids will realize that it works best when done as a team.

Sweet Relief

Ah, sweet relief! I woke up to the blessed feeling of ... no headache. How easy it is to hop out of bed after that initial tentative self-evaluation reveals wellness. How fast I forget the agony of the previous day. Yesterday, I wanted to call myself a goner. Today: "Hello, world! Let's do this!" (This headache amnesia is why I get myself in trouble with my various headache triggers. I'm writing these experiences down so I can remember and all of you can hold me accountable for taking care of myself.)

Now by the Murphy's Law Code that governs our family, only one adult can be fully functional at all times. Today the jet lag hit Jamieson big time and he was in full zombie mode. Also, while Erik's cough is already subsiding, William has some sort of mild stomach upset for us to ponder. (Hey kid, life tip: Do not lick O'Hare!) It's always something. Always.

Even though we had some germs, yawns and a few literal dark clouds on the horizon, my dear husband did tell me to follow through with my intended alone-time activity of the day. That was a bike ride to the library, an iced latte from the coffee shop, and a leisurely stroll among the stacks. Heaven. I even picked up magazines and sat alone to read them in the silent reading room. I feel cured of all my ills! What's more, the fitness boost and the caffeine jolt gave me the kick needed to even vacuum the house when I got home, so we're even off to a slightly clean start to the week. Never underestimate the therapeutic powers of that feeling of accomplishment.

Thank you to everyone who has kindly asked how I am feeling the past few days. It has been very encouraging to be remembered. Despite, the stormy weather forecasted in the week ahead, I'm feeling optimistic that this rough patch is now in the past. Onward.