Stop a cold before it starts!

Oh my how I wish I had known about this concoction when Porter was a baby! He was literally ALWAYS sick! Mostly because we could never keep a runny nose from turning into an ear infection! I've been hesitant to post this because it seems as soon as you want to tell other people how awesome it is that you haven't been sick all winter .... boom! But I'm determined to keep that from happening and now I at least have some tools to keep us healthy! So here it is, my secret weapons:

Xlear Nasal spray: can be found at Harmons or online at www.xlear.com. This is seriously sugar water nasal spray. Kills bacteria and stops the spreading of germs through your sinusus. Also prevents bacteria from settling behind the ear drum, which results in an ear infection. If I see one drop of a running nose from my kids I give them a spray! 

OnGuard Essential Oil; doTERRA: Can purchase it here. As soon as one person in the family starts signs of a sickness I start putting OnGuard on EVERYONE! One drop on the back of the neck 1-2 times per day. 

Breathe Essential Oil; doTERRA: For the one showing signs of an oncoming sickness I put Breathe on their chest 2 times daily, or whenever needed. 

I also use a diffuser by the bedside. Two drops of OnGuard & two drops of Breathe.

Being that we have had TWO little babies in the house this year, it has been very important to stay healthy! I am so grateful for the avoided sicknesses this year! I hope it can help your family too!

I'd love to hear your natural remedies for keeping your family healthy too! Leave a comment!  If you try this and if works, come back and share with me! 

Starting Fresh

I realize that this is not a NEW BLOG, but since it's been about 2 years since I've posted anything, I am going to start off posting as if no one knows anything about me, but feel free to look back over whatever interests you. Catching up on posts at this point does not interest me, unfortunately.

Let me start out with some background on me... I used to be an avid blogger when I found myself in one of life's crisis's where all the lovely caring people I know wanted updates. I kept it up for about 3 years and then the habit slipped away, like all other hobbies seemed to, as I focused my efforts on my growing family and all the needs that came with it!

From the beginning: In 2006, just 4 months after I graduated High School I married the most wonderful man I've ever met! He was a stunning 23 years old, & I was a fresh 18! We make a killer pair! He started college & I worked to pay for college... sounds unfair, but I really got the better end of the deal!

In 2009, after a year of unsuccessfully trying to start our family (due to complications with PCOS- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) we turned to the familiar fertility drug Clomid and after the first round found ourselves expecting Twins! We were ecstatic like all first time parents! On December 18, 2009 I had a Placenta Abruption. At only 25 weeks gestation my little babies arrived by emergency C-Section. Not quite how you picture that most glorious day into parenthood. Baby Boy, Porter Glen, weighed 1 pound 12 inches long (that's right! ONE pound.. not a typo) Baby Girl, Paisley Elizabeth, weighted 1 pound 9 ounces 12 inches long. Little Paisley suffered from a traumatic birth, causing uncontrollable bilateral brain bleeds. After seeking the guidance of our Heavenly Father through many many prayers, we felt it was not her journey to have to suffer through the pains of this life. When she was 3 days old, December 20th, she returned to her Heavenly home. We miss her everyday & wonder how different our family would be with her here. We have received many many blessings from this experience & although it was one of our greatest challenges, we wouldn't change where it has lead our lives.  "I've learned that grief, like a pot of soup, changes the longer it simmers and the more things you put into it. I've learned that sometimes people say unkind things, but they really don't mean to hurt you. And most importantly, I've learned that there is something down deep within all of us ready to help us survive the things we think we can't survive." - Tear Soup, by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen.

Porter was a courageous little lion right from the start! He packed in a lot of fuss for a little 1 pound baby! His journey has been LONG & HARD, but he is one amazing boy & I count my blessings everyday he has grown into such a wonderful kid! (To read more about him go back to December 2009)

Although I am forever indebted to the amazing doctors who were able to save my sons life, after we left the hospital we found ourselves sailing in uncharted waters! There is very little known about what is "normal" for a Micro Preemie who weighed 1 pound at birth. When my "Mother's Intuition" told me that there were needs not being met for him, and doctors had no advise for me, I began to see that my role as a Mother was far more then I ever imagined it to be. More then diapers, wiping boogers, naps, bottles, play time, and hugs. I was IT for Porter. I had fight for him. Study for him. Find alternative ways to help him. My faith in the medial system has dwindled... I'm fairly unimpressed with all the schooling they go to, that they don't learn more then prescribing medication. Some of God's greatest gifts to this earth grow all around us, and they don't have a clue what to do with it. DON'T misunderstand me, there is a great need for doctors and I agree with seeking their advise when necessary! I just think there is a lot to be said for being our own health advocates first!

A little less then 2 years later we had another successful round of fertility drugs and welcomed little Miss Kelsey into our family. She is a spit-fire and absolutely adorable! She is extremely creative and fun!

Like most families... 2 years later we were hoping to add to our craziness, but did not have such luck this time. Doctors proved to be unhelpful once again. After a year of following Doctors advise and having 2 miscarriages, I decided that no one cares about my health, about me having another baby, more then me! So I got to work! I started reading anything I could find related to my hormone issues. I learned A LOT! It was fantastic! I gave up soda, sugar, glutten, anything processed, artificial sweeteners, artificial coloring, anything with added hormones, bought everything organic that I could afford. Exercised a mere 30 minutes 3-5 times a week. My body felt so good! I learned what it would take to feed my body exactly what it needed. I felt empowered. 5 months of these amazing lifestyle changes and on my first round back on the fertility drugs I got pregnant. With TWINS... AGAIN!  Now to be completely honest I wish my dedication to taking care of my body was as strong as it was... pregnancy hormones are a little harder to fight against ;) but I am making a conscious effort everyday to get as close to that lifestyle as possible!  I was high risk for this last pregnancy for obvious reasons, if you read from my old blog you understand. These sweet little babes were also boy/girl twins. I carried them to 34 wks 6 days. They stayed in the NICU for only 6 days and have done very well since! We count our blessings every single day that we were blessed with TWO healthy babies! As I write this the babies are now 4 months old. They are truly amazing & I can't believe I have such a wonderful life! The most important thing to me, is to be the Mother that they need! To love them and nurture them to grow up well rounded, loved, and confident.

Now on that note, although I realize how amazing it is to be a wife and a mother, I have found myself a little lost as to what I have to offer the world. After much thought I realized that I have 2 passions in life: Motherhood & Health. So this blog is a way for me to share with whoever cares to listen all that I love! I plan to share my favorite Healthy Recipes, my adventures as a beginner gardener, Natural Remedies, Essential Oils, All Natural alternatives to cleaners... Who knows where this open road will lead me!? But I am here to tell you that I am excited about it! I am always looking for ways to reach my optimum health goals and I feel like this is a way to encourage myself, and maybe help 1 or 2 people along the way!

August 2012

July 2012

June 2012

May 2012