A Time For Health

That didn't sound right

2011-01-27T14:49:00.000-08:00

The other day I told Caleb, "if you don't stop that whining, Mommy's gonna Deep Blue you!"

I was trying to say was if he was in any pain from falling off the bed the day before, I was going to try applying some Deep Blue essential oil blend to ease his discomfort. Thankfully, all he wanted was attention. I do feel that applying Balance within minutes of his fall helped him recover quickly.

I never want to be without these oils!

Flexibility

2010-11-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

I love the flexibility of the AutoShip Rewards from doTERRA. I was going to be gone when my normal AutoShip would be coming in, but with a mere click of the mouse, I bumped the ship date to 5 days earlier.

You can select the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th or 25th for your monthly order to come in. I can imagine some people might wait until the end of the month to adjust their order if they're trying to reach a minimum OV (Overall Volume) number.

I took my vacation with my newly received order, which included Purify. I was very glad to be able to diffuse it in the hotel rooms to make them smell clean and ward off any bedbugs that might be lurking.

September doTERRA AutoShip

2010-10-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

A bit late, but this is my September AutoShip oils.

Serenity - this oil has been having a fantastic effect on Caleb! One night when my mom was visiting, he was feeling pretty fussy and none of my usual tricks were working. I applied a drop of Serenity on the bottom of his feet and he quit crying in 10 seconds flat. I also use it on myself. One afternoon I was getting uptight and upset over something I have no control, a couple drops on the back of my neck and I could feel my relaxing in several minutes.

TerraShield - the cheapest oil doTERRA offers. It's done a great job at keeping mosquitoes away from me and Caleb... when I remember to use it.

AromaTouch - I'm not using this as much as I thought I would. It has peppermint oil, and as a nursing mom, I'm staying away from that. I did dilute it and give Caleb a nice backrub one afternoon. Next up is to try it on Chris.

Wild Orange - haven't used it much either, but I should put it in the kitchen so I remember to put it in my water bottle. It sure smells yummy!

Citrus Bliss - it's like an orange dreamsicle. I've been using it in the difffuser, like last night. I was grading papers and could feel myself getting a little stressed out over how the students don't always follow or understand directions. Typically it'd take me a couple hours and a little venting to let it pass. It was mostly out of my mind in 10 minutes yesterday.

Lemon - good thing it's one of the cheaper oils, I go through bottles and bottles of this! I actually ordered 2 bottles this month. Love it in my water, and it's also handy for "cleaning" the diffuser from other oil scents.

My mom blessed me with a diffuser a couple weeks ago, and I sure love using it! It stays either in the living room or bedroom. I find myself using Balance, Serenity or Citrus Bliss the most in it. Thanks Mom!

Diaper Rash Cure

2010-09-23T21:24:00.000-07:00

I'll admit that I'm not too concerned with being "green" or into saving the planet. I strive for natural and wholesome. Cloth diapering certainly fits that bill.

Yet something that happens probably to every single baby at one point or another, they end up with a diaper rash. It could be a reaction to the detergent; a diaper left on too long and the acidity of the urine irritating them; improperly placed diaper rubbing friction onto their tender skin; poor hygiene practices; on and on it could go.

The standard diaper rash creams and cures that you could grab from the store aren't the best for cloth diapers. They'll clog up the fabric, and leave you fighting with more poopy blow outs and wondering why urine is leaking out when it didn't before. Then you need to get heavy duty and strip the diapers of the creams.

I save myself a lot of hassle simply by using coconut oil and doTERRA's lavender oil. Just put a kidney bean amount of coconut oil in your hand, a drop or two of lavender and blend. Rub it all over your baby's bottom a couple times a day and watch the redness disappear in two days.

Typically, I apply the lavender oil to his bottom once a week, at the first sign of any redness. I haven't ran into any absorption problems with my cloth diapers. It's lovely knowing that I'm not putting any chemicals on Caleb's soft skin.

Caleb thinks cloth diapers are drool worthy!

A Yummy Salad!

2010-09-09T13:44:00.000-07:00

I love how Bountiful Baskets force us to use fruits and veggies more creatively, or even in completely new ways.

This yummy salad put the Romaine lettuce and champagne grapes to use. We also added walnuts and shredded chicken to the salad. My husband made a dressing of honey, mustard, olive oil and green onion. It was a little too sweet for him, but just right to me!

It was so good that I had seconds for dinner, and then gobbled up all the leftovers for my lunch the next day.

It's probably been close to 20 years since my husband had a salad, but he's been making wonderful changes to his diet since we've been expecting our baby. And in Chris's own words, you can read how he's approaching a foreign territory:

So we're supposed to be having at least seven servings of fruit and vegetables a day, right? That's a pretty tall order for someone who, for the past fifteen years, has hardly let a fruit or vegetable pass his lips. How do you go from zero to seven? The slow way. You don't exactly go from eating chicken fried steak to ratatouille over night. So in case there are any others out there like me who have this huge obstacle to climb in terms of their fruits and veggies, here's how I'm dealing with it right now.

First, start with a smaller goal. Don't scare yourself out of it by going for the max right away. My goal for the month is three servings per day. From now till the end of the month, I want to try and get three fruits or veggies in per day. If I get more, great. But three is what we are shooting for. So with each major meal of the day, incorporate some kind of fruit or veggies. Or if you can't fit one into a meal, make it a goal to have one as a snack. Like right now for me... I have a banana for a mid-morning snack, an apple with my lunch, and some kind of veggie with dinner. Then next month we can up the ante. Try for four servings, or five. But these smaller, manageable goals help keep you on track without demoralizing you that you aren't getting everything that you "should."

Second, don't try and convince yourself that you will love eggplant and asparagus overnight. Just like with all other foods, you will find fruits and veggies that you like, and others that you will not. Don't beat yourself up when you find one that you don't, and don't assume that you have to love them all simply because they are good for you. Incorporate the "staples" that you enjoy as much as is practical without getting tired of them. I love corn, peas, carrots, apples, bananas, and berries. So these are my "go to" items. If I can't find a veggie to go with dinner, pop in some frozen corn or peas and you're done. Don't stress because you passed on the broccoli. Celebrate the fact that you found a veggie at all. And then slowly try and find new items to bring into your diet. This past month I've tried two kinds of squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli, parsnips, and asparagus. I rather liked the broccoli and parsnips. The asparagus was ok. But I didn't care for the squash or sweet potatoes. So now I have at least two more veggies I can add to my menu.

Third and finally, seasoning makes all the difference. Learning how to cook and season properly is an important part of all cooking. But for me, I find it even more vital with veggies. Make them taste good, and even the most unpalatable item can be lip-smacking good. So just like you can't be afraid to try new fruits and veggies in the first place, don't be afraid to try new cooking techniques or seasonings. For example, I have never liked green beans. But last week, I did a beef stir fry with green beans. I made an Asian style sauce with hoisin, sesame, garlic, and a pinch of red pepper, tossed the beef and beans in the sauce, and cooked it all in a little bit of olive oil. Those were the best green beans I had ever eaten. So a little creativity in the preparation and the seasoning can go a LONG way in helping you get to your goals of eating more fruits and veggies.

So if any of you are in the same boat as me, maybe some of these ideas will help. And we can all get to seven a day, the slow way. :)

Avoiding OnGuard

2010-09-02T20:43:00.000-07:00

doTERRA makes an oil blend called OnGuard. It's designed to help your immune system, so you won't get sick so easily. It has the following oils: wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus and rosemary. It smells so good! Somewhere between a spiced tea and Christmas scents.

I faithfully applied one diluted drop to Caleb's feet every morning. He got so many compliments on how wonderful he smelled. He would even smile as I applied the oil on. What was there not to like?

Then one day, I accidentally missed putting the OnGuard oil on him. It stretched into two days. By the third day, I realized for the first time since I started using OnGuard, Caleb wasn't staying awake 8 through 9 hours at a time. It's exhausting dealing with an overtired baby that keeps wanting to sleep, but the merest sounds drive him awake. With the OnGuard working itself out of his system, he was getting the needed sleep and wasn't acting so wired.

Ok, how about if I put the OnGuard myself? If I can keep my immunity strong, then it'll help keep Caleb healthy. So one morning, I put OnGuard on my own feet. The next day, Caleb was back to his 8-9 hour stretch of not being able to sleep. That really drove home how every single little thing I consume or put on my body can affect him, through my breastmilk. This oil wasn't even ingested by me, but it still coursed through my bloodstream and into my milk.

Now only my husband is allowed to use OnGuard. And he probably needs it the most, with teaching almost 200 students every weekday. It's been a couple weeks since he started using it, and this morning I was wondering if he noticed any difference.

Chris: One class down and I feel exhausted. This is going to be a long day.

Leah: Ohh, and I was just about to ask if the OnGuard stuff helped you to stay alert during the day.

Chris: I forgot to put some on this morning.

I bet he'll be a little more faithful in applying it! I love sniffing him after he rubs it on his feet.

First Bountiful Basket

2010-08-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

I'm really happy that Bountiful Baskets have come to my town!

Today's basket held
-Romaine lettuce
-2 Celery stalks
-2 Broccoli stalks
-Green beans
-4 Tomatoes
-Sweet potatoes
-Champagne grapes
-Pluots
-Oranges
-Bananas
-Nectarines
-2 Mangoes

We made the blank menu board full of meals using our new foods. I also priced most of the food items, and it would have cost us at least $30 at the grocery store. I only needed to pay $16.50, plus a $3 first-time fee.

A fabulous way to explore fresh foods!

Head Shaping for Caleb

2010-08-23T08:29:00.000-07:00

During the birth of Caleb, his head managed to get rather coned shaped. While some of his skull relaxed to a more round shape, we took him to a chiropractor at 2 days old.

With gentle fingers, the doctor encouraged Caleb's head plates to their proper position.

He also checked on Caleb's spine; things got a little cozy for him in the last month of pregnancy!

The first visit, Caleb cried. Especially when the doctor hung him upside down by the ankles. Every visit after that, there's never been a complaint from my baby. Minor adjustments are needed every month, especially as he grows way too fast for my liking.

Chiropractic care on an infant can reduce the pain of birthing; encourage longer sleep times; minimize reflux and colic. I have even read that there's been some cases of babies not nursing on one side due to discomfort. Once they were adjusted, they easily nursed on either sides.

At $30 a month, I feel like this has a direct benefit for my son. Just another step in taking health in our own hands.

The Damage of Birth Control - Miscarriages

2010-08-20T23:49:00.000-07:00

I had two miscarriages before Caleb was born, and I blame both on my birth control usage. The first one was one year after being on the pill. The second one was just shy of 2 years of being off of the hormonal alteration. I have read that the effects of birth control can affect your reproductive system up to 2 years.

Neither of the miscarriages made it past 5 weeks pregnant. Once I reached 6 weeks with Caleb, I felt safe in sharing the news with friends and family. That was definitely a successful and beautiful pregnancy.

No more chemical birth control for me!

August doTERRA Order

2010-08-16T10:33:00.000-07:00

For my August AutoShip, I bought:

Basil - for ear infections. I get one once or twice a year. I would love to correct it without resorting to antibiotics. At $20 wholesale, it's cheaper than the doctor visit, antibiotics and ear drops.

Balance - it's a calming scent, and when I put some on Caleb he was sleepy pretty fast.

Lemon - mostly for flavoring my water, but also good for young children when they have colds.

OnGuard - for my husband as he faces almost 200 students every day. If he doesn't bring the germs home, then Caleb and I are not so likely to get sick.

SuperMom Vitamins

2010-08-13T08:34:00.000-07:00

In May 2009, I purchased SuperMom Vitamins, in hopes of improving my health. I wasn't very consistent about taking them. Once I got pregnant, I started to do better. This vitamin didn't make my morning sickness worse.

After I gave birth to Caleb, I suddenly started to notice a huge difference in my energy levels. Some days I would just feel dragged down and crabby, and when I reviewed the day, I hadn't taken the vitamins. Breastfeeding does take a toll on an undernourished body.

I do feel that there's different vitamins for different periods of a person's life. As a new mom, this one fits me nicely.

Discovering doTERRA

2010-08-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

Before getting pregnant, I had no clue that essential oils could be used for anything beyond a soap scent or with those tea candle burners. It was my midwife who shared doTERRA with me, suggesting peppermint oil for my morning sickness. Honestly, it didn't appeal to me at all. I envisioned peppermint tea, which I dislike.

It was another 25 weeks later before my midwife basically said "here, take this lemon oil and put it in your water." I was really surprised at the nice flavor, that one can actually consume 100% complete pure oil, and it was a great boost in helping me reach my quota of three through four quarts of water a day.

The tragedy was the day I ran out of lemon oil... and that's when I knew I was hooked on doTERRA oils.

Hippocrates Quote

2010-08-06T18:17:00.000-07:00

"A wise man should realize that health is his most valuable possession." -Hippocrates

The Damage of Birth Control - Weight Gain

2010-08-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

I was on birth control pills for three years, and then the NuvaRing for another year. In those 4 years, I started at 215 pounds and gained all the way to 275. It didn't matter which kind of pill I took; it didn't matter what I ate; it didn't matter how much I exercised; I still gained about 15 pounds every year. I have no doubt that if I remained on birth control, I would be over 300 pounds now.

Four months after I quit chemical birth control methods, I dropped 20 pounds in less than a month. I would remain at 255 for another two years before I got pregnant. Morning sickness in the first trimester, along with the elevated hCG levels caused me to drop to 237 before I started to gain again at 4 months pregnant. In the wee hours of my labor, I weighed myself - 275. One week after birth, I dropped to 245. Two weeks later I was at 237.

The irony isn't lost on me. I was using something that was supposed to keep my figure, and in reality it was destroying it. I get pregnant and end up in better shape than before.

There's no doubt that going on prescriptive birth control was the most damaging thing I've done to my health.

The turning point

2010-07-30T23:12:00.001-07:00

Growing up, I was blessed with a health-conscious mom. Not that I appreciated it as a child, I wanted a mom that bought coke, candy and other "yummy" stuff. Instead, there was plenty of fruit, veggies and balanced meals. Over time, I slowly turned into my mom with my food purchases. Yet, I feel the real turning point was when I got pregnant and aggressively took charge my health. The sharp attention on producing a healthy baby and mom expanded into the whole family making better health choices.

My first move was to birth with a midwife at home. She taught me what foods to eat, exercises to do and supplements to improve the birthing conditions. A gestational diabetes scare kicked my husband and I into high gear of keeping our relatively good health. Once our son was born, I continued to push and learn how we can improve our health in our own home.

You're welcomed to join my adventures and share your own experiences in the comments or by email. I love gleaning more information!