THE GOODS BLOG: Erika's Precious Little Life ~ April Edition

This blog is a week late because last week was Spring Break and Archie was off of school and always around. Plus my parents were visiting. So I really haven't had any opportunity to sit down and write this! I also just haven't been in the mood to talk about life right now. I certainly did not have a parasite and a possible celiac diagnosis on my 2026 bingo card... But here we are. Needless to say, March was not a very good month for me at all. But before I get into all of that, here's the re-cap of what went on in March. I was mostly just going through the motions for the most part because I haven't been feeling like my best self. Sarah came to Edmonton from Regina at the beginning of the month and it was really nice to spend some quality time with her and to catch up. She even joined me for The (M) Factor 2: Before the Pause film screening event and we both learned that all of our problems are thanks to perimenopause, ha ha!

We did green things on St. Patrick's Day, of course!

The Broadway Jazz class that I had been taking wrapped up! I attended this class weekly from January to March and it was SO CHALLENGING! I am not a natural dancer and it was a pretty humbling experience. However, by the end I did feel like I had made a lot of progress and picking up the various moves started to come a bit easier. I'm glad that I took the chance on trying something new and got out of my comfort zone. The last dance that we learned was the dance sequence from the Barbie movie (which was super fun!!). We recorded the dance and you can watch it HERE. The video quality is pretty poor and dark and there's part of it when I'm not even in the frame - but you'll get the idea! I'm all the way to the right side of the video.

We put up our Easter decor so that our house would be all ready for the holiday!

This month's awesome food writer victory came courtesy of Kickstand Drinks! They invited me to their newly opened business to try their dirty sodas!

The other big food event of the month was the annual EDify Best Restaurants 2026 Event, which I love to attend every year! Tim and I always have a blast eating everything in sight and we did the same this year!

I was also invited to the Sorrentino's 34th Annual Garlic Fest Kick-off Party! This is the fourth year in a row that they have asked me to attend their event and I always enjoy eating all of their garlic-themed foods! This year I was very excited to get to meet Teresa Spinelli, the owner and matriarch of a very prolific Edmonton business called The Italian Centre - they're a local chain of Italian specialty grocery stores and are very beloved. She came and sat down right next to me and we had a lovely chat! We also got to say hello to Gene Principe, a Sportsnet reporter and broadcaster for the Oilers, who was the MC at the event.

We went out for a very fun monthly double date night with Mary and Jonny in honour of Mary's birthday, and as always, we had a total blast together!

And then Spring Break began and Archie was off of school for a week! As usual, I did my best to plan a bunch of fun activities for us around Edmonton (since we did not have any major travel plans or anything like that). We had a great science centre day and we also went to an Edmonton Oilers hockey game where they played against the Seattle Kraken and WON 3-0. Yay!

I guess that I'll talk about all of the absolute crap that has been going on with me. It all started at the end of February and it's now been six weeks. Basically, I started to experience a lot of abdominal discomfort (kind of like a stomach ache or cramps) all of a sudden and completely out of the blue. It never went away and I was feeling terrible 24/7. At first I thought that it was a gynecological issue and that it was maybe bad menstrual cramps (because I have started getting my period again regularly, which is so weird). The doctor sent me for a pelvic ultrasound which came back all clear. As the days went on, it became apparent that the issue was actually gastrointestinal. So my doctor ordered a bunch of blood and stool tests... And I got a bunch of abnormal results. First of all, my Fecal Calprotectin came back as slightly elevated which suggests inflammation. Then my Tissue Transglutaminase IgA blood test, which is a screening for celiac disease came back as positive. I got a 52.1 KIU/L result and it's supposed to be under 15.0. So that was very upsetting news. Celiac is usually genetic and my paternal grandfather DID have celiac disease. So that's not great. A large portion of my personal identity and everything that I love is tied to eating anything, enjoying food, and not having any restrictions. So this news was distressing to say the least. However, celiac CANNOT be diagnosed until you have an endoscopy done where they take a biopsy - and you must continue to eat gluten normally until this happens. I have been referred to see a gastroenterologist but it could take months before I get in for an appointment. BUT THEN I got another result: my Stool Parasite Microscopy came back positive for Dientamoeba fragilis!! This is a very common parasite and I could have picked it up anywhere (maybe in Jamaica??) and it seemed that maybe this was the root of my problems! It's also possible that this parasite could have caused a false-positive on the celiac test! So then my doctor started me on a week-long course of antibiotics (Metronidazole) and the treatment was WORSE than the issue itself. I felt SO SICK while taking it because it was basically nuking everything inside of my body. I had no appetite at all and food tasted terrible. In fact, through all of this I have lost 8 lbs. I'm feeling quite a lot better now but still not 100%. The recovery from the parasite and the treatment can take weeks. I still have to have the endoscopy done because there's no way to know for sure if I really do have celiac or not - having the parasite could have discovered it by accident. Or maybe I don't have it and it was really just the parasite all along. So yeah, this has been a literal shitty disaster and it has taken a large toll on my mental health. I have had episodes of spiraling so much that my anxiety has been through the roof and my doctor prescribed me Clonazepam to use as needed. We'll see what happens and I'll keep you updated... But I have not been having a good time. Sometimes I feel pretty chill about the entire situation and I'll almost feel completely normal again. Other times I really get into my head and my symptoms seem awful. I'm doing my very best to get through this like a champ. Life with Archie: I've been putting a lot of the energy that I do have into just keeping things as normal and undisturbed for Archie as possible. Archie had a Green Day at school for St. Patrick's Day and there was a matching lunch/snack to go with it!

They also had a Beach Day at school!

Archie finished his latest round of Swimmer 3 swimming lessons. He didn't pass but he came pretty close. He'll get it next time!

Archie's programs have started up for the spring! This time he's doing: Jr. Rock Band at Backbeat ~ This is a super cute program where they are now putting him together with kids on different instruments to form a band and play songs together. Archie is sticking with piano and there are other kids in his band on guitar and drums!

Archie built a Leprechaun Trap at the latest Kids Workshop at Home Depot and a Sports Car and a Crescent Moon at two different LEGO free-build events.

Archie has continued making the family dinner on a weekly basis! His next dishes were Caesar Salad, Greek Salad, BLT Sandwiches with Cooked Bacon, and The Best Grilled Cheese. All so delicious!

Archie's school had a Spring Concert this year instead of a winter one. We got to go watch Archie play the alto xylophone and he did a great job!

We attended Bannock Fest and Archie was very excited to meet Taylor McPherson and Katie Mulkay who were judges. They WON season 10 of Amazing Race Canada and they were Archie's favourite team!

Archie also attended the Cubs Oil Kings Sleepover where he got to watch an Oil Kings hockey game and then sleep over at Rogers Place arena! I know that that was such a cool experience for him!

And finally, fun was had on Spring Break and Archie enjoyed taking part in all of the things that we went out and did!

Just holding life together over here as best I can. April began with the continuation of Spring Break and my parents came to visit from Regina for Easter. Easter involves the Easter Bunny and good food at our house! April is otherwise very low-key without any big events. I'm hoping to use this time to get health answers and to feel much better, less distracted, and more like myself!! THIS MONTH’S SHOUT-OUTS!: April 7th is Melanie Santiago’s 45th birthday!

I know that you're going to have a perfectly fabulous Melanie style of day!! I hope that you collected all of your freebees! You've always been one of my most vivacious friends and I love that we have always remained close over all of these years. I hope that you get extra spoiled by your boys! Love you!! <3 April 10th is Amy Bull’s 41st birthday!

You are one of the most valuable people in my life and your love and support has meant so much to me. I really have no idea what I would do without you by my side! You are such an inspirational person and I have been so proud of the incredible steps that you have taken to live your best life. Can't wait to celebrate you... Tonight!! Love you so much always! <3 April 18th is Colen Quinn’s 44th birthday!

My sweet, sweet friend. I could not love you more and you always live within my heart. Going through the trials of life together for our whole lives is such a special gift. I hope that you get to have a perfectly relaxing day and that it's full of the most delicious treats! <3 April 18th is Nadine Ottenbreit’s 44th birthday!

You are the most beautiful person, inside and out. The way that you take care of the people in your life is unmatched! I am constantly in awe at everything that you manage to accomplish and the way that you are always striving to do better. I cherish you so much! Love always! <3 April 18th is Lacey Suttie’s 46th birthday!

I am BEYOND excited that you will be spending your birthday in France this year and I cannot wait to follow along!! You deserve this SO MUCH!! I have loved that we've gotten to spend more time together recently and our friendship means so much to me. You've always been someone who I look up to so much. I love you! <3