Kate Returns

Dear Family:

Our biggest news is that on Thursday of last week Kate came home. Tim and I left our house at 4:30 a.m. that morning and we pulled in the drive with Kate at 1:30 a.m. on Friday morning. Wow-Tim and I are rather old for 22 hour days but it was worth it. Her dog was so excited to see her and in fact has not left her side. Shona has gotten upset with Connor for coming too close to Kate so that has proven to be interesting. It seemed fitting that Kate was discharged during National Eating Disorder Awareness week. We do not profess to be experts on eating disorders but we are much more knowledgeable and aware than we ever have been before. They are “wicked” but can be recovered from and that is the journey that Kate is on. We thought we would post some information that might be helpful and may answer questions that you may have. One of Kate’s directives from her therapist is to educate people what she needs so ask if you want to know.

When Kate was in Oklahoma, she was taught a dietary program called the Exchange program. The Center for Change uses an intuitive eating philosophy. The basic premise is that you learn to follow your natural hunger and fullness cues. Think about a baby (Adelynn and Olivia will do). Basically, they let you know when they are hungry and they stop eating when they are full. Experts say that we lose those skills as adults and if we would just listen to the cues no one would have to worry about dieting and etc. There is a good book on the subject, called Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole if you want to know more. What this means for Kate is that she can eat whatever she wants and doesn’t worry about amounts. It is much easier for her and all of those around her. She has never enjoyed desserts so you may not see her eating those much. It isn’t an eating disorder thing but a Kate thing.

Here are some things that if you can avoid, please do---don’t talk about diets and calories or how rich a food might be. It’s okay to talk about the food tasting good and similar things. Don’t say so and so is fat, thin and etc. Please no comments about your own size.

Thank you for all the support everyone has given to Kate through calls, email, mail and prayers. Even though she is home, she can still use your support and will be drawing on it at times. Plus she says now she will have time to write, call, or email back.

On another note, my fractured wrist is now healed (Yea) but Tim is down in the back. After our 22 hour day he was really hobbling and as I write he is in the rocking chair with a bag of frozen broccoli.

Love

Auntie and Uncle Tim