Scenes From My Weekend: Rejuvenate {Part 2}

This weekend brought an unexpected flu bug to our house.  

What started out as runny noses and coughs 

left my daughter and I in bed most of Saturday 

with feverish chills, body aches, and nausea 

(which resulted in puking for her).  

So, our weekend consisted of staying in our pajamas, 

using up all the Kleenex in sight, 

watching too many Netflix movies, 

and taking long afternoon naps.  

The laundry, dishes, and cleaning were forgotten 

while we allowed our bodies 

to rejuvenate our health for the week ahead.  

Poor girl got the worst of this flu bug and was in bed 

or curled up in daddy's arms most of the weekend.

Tired, bed-head little boy got the worst sounding cough ever, 

making this momma nervous about his weak lungs.  

Someone started feeling better Sunday morning, 

but hardly knew what to do without his favorite playmate.

 Thankfully, our littlest peanut only 

got a minor cough and runny nose, 

which could just be teething related.  

Everything has become a teething toy lately, 

including daddy's stocking-covered feet!

Big brother decided, since his favorite playmate was sick in bed, 

he should keep little brother entertained.  

Little brother was happy to oblige his brother's need for fun, 

giggling and chattering away, 

displaying his biggest smile for big brother.

This is one of my favorite moments of any day, 

because it's the only time our littlest peanut sits still.  

I cherish these moments, forcing myself to slow down 

and simply watch him sleep while I hold him close, 

because he is already growing far too fast.

Linking up with Bigger Picture Blogs for Scenes From My Weekend.

 

Wednesday Morning Coffee

Photo credit: alfstorm

In case you didn't already know, I love my morning coffee.  Currently, my favorite is Target's Archer Farms Hazelnut coffee with a little bit of vanilla flavored almond milk.  But, on the go, I do enjoy a delicious soy chai tea latte from Starbucks.  This morning, as I sip my morning coffee, I thought it would be fun to invite YOU for a virtual coffee date.

So, sit back, relax, and sip your favorite cup of coffee (or tea, if you prefer - I love chai tea!)...and join me as I share some random thoughts from my week and a few things that have been on my heart.  I'd love to hear from you - what's on your heart today, what are you struggling with, what are you joyful about, what are you needing prayer for.  

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I talked yesterday about how I've been longing for simplicity.  This morning I opened up my FlyLady email to discover February's challenge: 15 minutes of decluttering every day.  Then, as I sifted through my facebook newsfeed I saw this status on Money Saving Mom's page:

Happy February!  This month we're going to be focusing on reducing clutter and getting our homes in bettr order.  I'm going to be going through my home from top to bottom and blogging some fun clear-out-the-clutter challenges. 

I love how everything is focusing me on the same thing this month: a desire to live simply and no longer let the clutter of "stuff" control my life.  Could it be God getting my attention again?  Because he has a way of repeating things like that to get ahold of me. 

Yesterday was a rough day for me.  I'm not sure why, but I was feeling down and gloomy all day.  I sat around in my pajamas all day, sipping tea and munching on gluten free bread, my favorite comfort food.

My little ones were so sweet all day.  My daughter came up to give me a hug and said, "Mommy, I give you feel-good hug?" and my son kept asking me, "Mommy, you not feel good?"  At one point, he even climbed into my lap and cuddled with me for a while. 

I did part of my daily cleaning, but didn't have the energy to clean the kitchen floor.  And, really, that's okay.  I love having a cleaning schedule, because it gives me something to do each day so everything doesn't pile up...but, if I don't get one thing done it's easy to do it the next day or just not worry about it.  I'm learning to give myself grace in this area.

My husband asked me last night if I was physically tired...or if something was bothering me, because that often makes me feel tired.  I love how well he knows me and at the extra effort he's made to understand and care for me.  I don't think anything is really worrying or making me anxious right now (of course, sometimes it takes me a while to realize it)...maybe it's just the weather or my hormones or maybe I'm coming down with something again.

I went to the chiropractor on Monday morning.  He's been doing some therapy on my Achilles tendon to help me heal from my tendinitis flare up.  He was convinced my foot is getting stronger, especially after I told him I had done a 1 1/2 minute run that morning.  I'm anxious to get back into a running routine and start training for my goals this year.

My kids were quite entertained by the skeleton hanging in the room at the chiropractic clinic.  They kept laughing and saying "that's funny, mommy!"  We went to the library after and found several books about bones and the skeleton.  I figured if they're showing some interest I might as well take it as a learning opportunity.

Speaking of learning opportunities, I need to start doing some more tot school activities with the kids.  Valerie is so interested in learning these days and I want to encourage her curiosity and interest with fun projects and experiments.  I found a book on preschool science activities at the library too.  I'm going to search through it today and find some things to do for the next week.

I need to spend more time in His word.  Why is it always so hard to be disciplined about making time for bible study?  I always come up with some excuse - I'm too tired, I have too much to do, I can't concentrate right now... And before I know it several days have gone by without time spent with Him.

It melts my heart hearing my kids sing the words to "Jesus Loves Me" and hearing them ask to pray with them.  "I talk to God!" my daughter loves to say.  I want to be a better example to them, but I also know my soul needs Him too.

I read this verse on facebook yesterday and it was just what I needed to be reminded of:

Oh satisfy us early with your mercy 

that we may rejoice and be glad all our days!" 

(Psalm 90:14) 

Body After Baby Revisited

I know it's been a while since I updated about my goal to lose weight and be consistent with exercise.  I struggled for a while when my depression and anxiety were at the worst to get myself out the door to exercise and to eat healthy.  There were days when it took all my energy just to get out of bed and my appetite was so messed up. 

A few weeks ago, my doctor diagnosed some digestion issues I've had for quite a while that have gotten worse recently.  (Seriously, just another in a long line of health issues I've had lately...) She suggested taking probiotics and exercising and, as I researched more information, I decided to change my diet too.  A lot of research I did suggested that gluten and dairy were the biggest trigger foods along with tomatoes, oranges, broccoli, beans, caffeine, and sugar.  So, I decided to cut out all of the possible trigger foods for 4 weeks to sort of cleanse my system.  At the end of the 4 weeks, I will slowly add one food back into my diet at a time to see what really triggers my symptoms.  So far, the diet has been helping tremendously with my indigestion problems, but I've also discovered that stress makes my symptoms worse no matter what.  And, being on antibiotics for the bronchitis I had a few weeks ago caused stomach aches regardless of what I ate. 

I feel like I have more energy though and just generally feel better physically.  It also feels good just to know why I've been having these symptoms and, as a bonus, I've been losing weight again.  Since I started the diet three weeks ago I've lost five more pounds.  And, I've been enjoying cooking again as I learn to cook without gluten or dairy.  I've been trying new recipes thanks to cookbooks from the library and all the resources available on the internet for gluten free and dairy free diets. 

I'm also thankful for all the foods I can find at the grocery store that are gluten free or dairy free.  Some of my favorite snack foods are Larabars, because they are gluten, dairy, and sugar free.  Plus, they have no preservatives and I actually know what the ingredient list is.  I've also discovered quinoa and rice pasta which help break up the monotony of cooking with rice.  There are even alternatives to butter and mayonnaise that have no gluten or dairy.  I love to use coconut milk and almond milk for cereal or recipes and it's easy to substitute dairy free and gluten free products in recipes we use every day.  We buy a LOT of fresh produce and it feels good to know I am helping my family learn to eat healthier too.  Of course, eating healthier has a price tag, but I am thankful my husband has a good job that provides us with more than enough to buy what we need.  I'm also looking forward to growing some vegetables again this year in our yard and using the farmer's market for our fresh produce. 

I was listening to the radio the other day and heard this list of ways to eat healthier on a budget.  One suggestion we've begun using is buying whole chicken instead of the individually frozen chicken breasts.  They are much cheaper, taste better, and are actually relatively easy to cook with.  I have a deep covered baker from my days of selling Pampered Chef products that makes it super easy to cook a whole chicken in an hour in the oven or even a half hour in the microwave.  One recipe I found suggested stuffing the chicken with onions and lemons and spreading a mixture of olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic over the chicken before cooking.  The chicken tastes so moist and has a lot more flavor.  I may share a few other recipes here because I've loved learning how to cook healthier and would love to share what I'm learning. 

This past week I finally got motivated to exercise more too.  My hubby showed me how to attach the bike trailer to my bike so I could take the kids on bike rides.  We've taken three bike rides during the week - once to the Y to go swimming, once to a park to play and have a picnic lunch (which Ted even joined us for on his lunch break), and once to the Y gymnastic studio for open gym play time.  And I made it to the Y for a 30 minute workout on the elliptical on Wednesday.  It really does improve my energy level and helps tremendously with my overall emotional well being too.   And, of course, being outside gives me good healthy doses of vitamin D that my body craves.  And my kids LOVE going on bike rides, so it's been fun to be able to go out on little adventures with them (and not have to drive around in our gas-guzzling minivan either). 

The Secret Behind THIS Mom

About a month ago I finally picked up the phone and called my doctor.

"I need to schedule an appointment with my doctor to talk about depression."

It was possibly the hardest phone call ever.  I didn't even want to make the phone call to begin with.  I didn't want to admit I needed help.  And I most certainly didn't want to admit I had depression, real, clinical depression.

It was as though in admitting it, I admitted I was not perfect and maybe, perhaps, I was also a failure.  I failed to be the mom, wife, daughter, friend God created me to be. 

And also, how could I say I knew Christ as my Savior, chose to follow and serve Him in my life...and I'm still depressed?  There was this lie in my head telling me that Christians can't be depressed.  What do I have to be depressed about when I have such a great hope?

But, the truth is, I am depressed.  For over a year I've been struggling and it's gotten to the point where I just can't handle it anymore.  I've mentioned here and there of my struggles with depression, but I thought I had it under control and I didn't want to admit just how bad it really was.

Several months ago, it got really bad.  In the midst of a major meltdown, I kept thinking over and over, "I just want this pain to go away...I want to be done with it...I want to die."  And that thought scared me, a lot.  I knew I didn't want to actually die, but it was just so painful, so all consuming. 

Both my mom and my husband finally said to me just over a month ago, "I think you need to go to your doctor."  I wasn't getting any better...in fact, it was getting worse.  The depression was leading to anxiety, not just worrying about tomorrow, but the overpowering panic mode that overcame me for the simplest reasons.  In those moments, I could no longer control my thoughts. 

I was constantly anxious about anything and everything, I wasn't sleeping well, and all I wanted to do was lie in bed and sleep all day.  I forced myself to get up in the mornings, went through the motions of caring for my little ones, attempted to give them all the love and attention I could muster...and by the end of the day, I could barely move. 

According to the Anxiety Disorders of America Association (ADAA), anxiety "helps us get out of harm's way and prepare for important events, and it warns us when we need to take action", but an anxiety disorder happens when it "is persistent, seemingly uncontrollable, and overwhelming. If it’s an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it can be disabling."  Often, depression and anxiety go hand in hand.  In fact, the ADAA says that "nearly one-half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder."

The day I went in for my doctor appointment, I received the most encouraging, supportive words from several sweet sister-friends.  I emailed them to ask for prayer and almost immediately was flooded with words of love and acceptance.  They shared bible verses to encourage me and some even shared their own stories.  As I walked into my appointment, I felt a peace that surpasses understanding, knowing that I was being held in prayer and that I had friends who loved me no matter what.  

I am so thankful for my doctor, because she never once made me feel guilty or bad about how I was feeling.  She immediately reassured me that it was okay, that lots of people struggle with depression, that it is a real and treatable problem.  She also reassured me that a lot of my symptoms were related to anxiety and it helped so much to put a name to it, to know there was a reason I was feeling the way I was. 

She prescribed some medication and explained that the medication was a good thing, because depression and anxiety is not just an emotional thing.  It is a physical, medical condition that can be treated with medication.  She also told me that it didn't have to be a long term thing, that I could overcome this, that I would get better.

This week I also started meeting with a counselor.  I realized after just one appointment that there is a lot of emotional baggage I need to work through and that there are a lot more contributing factors than I realized.  I know it was the right decision and I'm thankful the Lord led me to my counselor.

So, that's where I'm at and why I've been silent on my blog for so long.  Some days are better than others and I am truly starting to get better, but I still have rough days where I don't even want to crawl out of bed.  Like yesterday...I just felt like I would never be better, that it was hopeless, even though I know there is hope, that I will get better.

I've also realized how common and serious depression really is.  So many people have shared their stories with me or stories of people they know who have struggled with depression.  If even one person reading this is struggling, please know that there is hope, that it is okay to admit you need help, and that you are not alone.  Depression is such a silent disease, but it is so much more common than we realize.  I wish it was talked about more, that it wasn't a silent disease anymore, so that people who struggle didn't feel so alone or helpless.  

I am so thankful to know where my true help comes from.  I know the One who will give me victory over this.  He will carry me through this storm and lead me to a place of great abundance.  He is always faithful and always good. 

"For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you 'Fear not, I will help you.'" Isaiah 41:13

PS - I stole the title of this post from my sweet friend, Amanda, who has been a huge encouragement to me in the past year and whose story made me realize I am not alone and helped me to finally ask for help.  I hope that by sharing my story too someone out there who is struggling would be encouraged, would seek help, and be able to overcome this awful disease.  

Project Life 2011: Week 4

I almost forgot to take a picture today, so Ted told me to take a picture of his empty popcorn container. His favorite bedtime snack is his own popcorn. He started making it on the stove, but just recently discovered how to create his own microwave popcorn. I'm not a huge popcorn fan, but his popcorn is delicious!

My kids LOVE bath time. Whenever I say the word "bubbles" they both start running for the bathroom, giggling and saying "bubbles! bubbles!" I love bath time too, because it gives me a little quiet time while they happily splish and splash around in the tub.

I LOVE cooking, but I have come to enjoy it even more in the past couple of years as we've learned to incorporate healthier options into our diet. When I discovered Wildtree products, I absolutely fell in love, because they are delicious AND good for you. All the products are made with all natural ingredients and don't have any of the nasty preservatives found in so many grocery store foods. I enjoy cooking with Wildtree and cooking most meals from scratch so our kids can learn how important it is to have a healthy diet.

Today was finally the day for my sinus surgery, surgery that became necessary after several sinus infections in a row and constant sinus pressure. We arrived at the hospital around 9 am for surgery at 10 am, but the surgery was delayed and I didn't get home until almost 4 pm. I am exhausted from the anesthetic and surgery itself and in a lot of pain, but thankful for doctors, surgery, and pain medicine to help me finally recover from all my sinus issues. I am also thankful for my husband who is taking such good care of me and for my mom and my friend, Christa, who helped take care of the kids.

I spent most of the day here, curled up on the couch with my new soft and comfy blanket from my cousin, Angela, lots of pillows, plenty of water, a big box of Kleenex, some new magazines, and two new books to read. I have been able to get caught up on lots of reading...of course, I may not remember most of it thanks to the pain medication I'm on, but I'm enjoying the time to relax and rest while my hubby takes care of us.

The sun actually came out today and it was beautiful. As I sat through church service this morning, I could feel the warm sun on my back and I enjoyed soaking up the vitamin D. A sunny winter day makes for a beautiful sunset too - I was so glad I captured it.

This photo is a little blurry, but I love how it captures Valerie's pure joy as daddy tickles her. When she hears his car pull in the driveway she yells, "Home!" and runs to the door to see him. She cannot wait for him to scoop her up and make her giggle. She is definitely a daddy's girl!

PS - I finally ordered my first Project Life album and it is scheduled to arrive today!  I canNOT wait!

Sinus Surgery

At 9:00 am yesterday morning, after fasting (no food OR water) since midnight, Ted brought me to the Surgery Center for my sinus surgery.  We dropped the kids off at my friend, Christa's house and then my mom picked them up as soon as she could get there from her own doctor appointments.  (Thank you both SO much!)  The surgery was scheduled for 10, but I needed to be prepped and an IV needed to be started. 

I was actually most nervous about the IV, because I have such small veins that often leave me with a collapsed vein or multiple pokes in order to get just one needle in.  It made me nauseous that morning just thinking about it.  I told my nurse, Gabriella, and she assured me she could get it on the first try.  She also said she would put some medicine in initially to numb the area so I would only feel a slight poke.  I was surprised at how little it actually hurt and thankful for how quickly she got it in and started.  I did start to feel some burning when she started the fluids at first, but, after that I didn't feel anything...well, except the urge to go to the bathroom two times before I was actually wheeled into surgery.  Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a very weak bladder, which only got worse after having two kids, and is often worse whenever I'm nervous.  My nurse didn't tease me at all though and was super sweet to help me to the bathroom twice. 

The anesthesiologist came in the room shortly after the IV was started to prep us for the surgery and the anesthesia.  Before he came in, Ted saw him in the hallway and said he looked really familiar.  Sure enough, he was the same anesthesiologist for my epidural with Almanzo's birth.  He remembered us too, because of my unique history of heart surgery for coarctation of the aorta.  All I remember is that he was really happy and talkative for the middle of the night...and I wasn't very happy after being in labor for so long.  But, he did a great job with the epidural so we knew I was in good hands once again. 

The surgery itself didn't start until well after 10, because my doctor didn't come in to see us until after 10.  I don't remember much of what he said to us, because I was really starting to get nauseous from nerves.  I was so thankful Ted was there with me, because he kept teasing me and making me laugh.  He is always so calm about everything, so it really helped calm me too.  Shortly after my doctor left the room to go prep for surgery, the surgery nurse came in to bring me to surgery.  Ted kissed me goodbye and went to the waiting room while I was wheeled to surgery. 

The first thing I noticed in the surgery room was how bright and cold it was.  The nurse put some warm blankets on me right away and then helped me scoot over the surgery table.  Then, the anesthesiologist put a mask over my mouth and nose to give me some oxygen and the last thing I remember was him telling me they were starting the anesthesia and it wouldn't take long.  The next thing I knew the room was starting to spin and I could no longer keep my eyes open.

The first thing I remember after surgery is that my throat was so sore and dry (from the breathing tube used during surgery and the fact that I could only breathe through my mouth), I had a huge headache, and it felt like someone had punched me in the nose.  The surgery nurse helped me take some pain medicine and also put some pain medicine through my IV.  I had a hard time keeping my eyes open and the next thing I remember they were wheeling me to a recovery room where Ted was waiting for me.  The pain medicine started making me feel really dizzy, so Ted helped me drink plenty of water.  He asked if the doctor had come to talk to me, but I couldn't honestly remember if he had or not.  Ted said the doctor told him the surgery went well, but it took longer than expected.  It turns out, I had several polyps from chronic allergy problems that he had to clean out in addition to the expected repair of my deviated septum and cleaning out my sinuses.  The doctor was glad he did the surgery, because he said it would really help me breathe better than I have for a long time.  After talking a little while, my eyes started to feel heavy again, so Ted told me to rest while he called my mom to let her know the surgery went well.

I slept for a while and then my nurse brought me some crackers and more water.  I wasn't feeling quite so dizzy so she helped me get up to go to the bathroom.  Then, she helped me sit in the recliner until I was ready to get dressed.  Ted helped me get dressed and then I sat to rest for a little while.  My nurse came back in to give us discharge instructions and it's a good thing Ted was listening, because I could not keep my eyes open.  At one point she teased me that she was putting me to sleep, but reminded me it was normal to feel sleepy from the anesthesia and because I was recovering from surgery. 

Finally, the nurse brought me a wheelchair to bring me to the car while Ted pulled it up to the doors.  On the way home, we stopped at Walgreens to pick up my antibiotics (a preventative measure after surgery and with my heart history) and pain medicine.  He went inside instead of using the drive through so he could get some chicken broth to make chicken noodle soup.  I slept in the car and the next thing I knew we were pulling into our driveway.  He helped me walk into the house and sit down on the couch.  It was almost 4 by the time we got home, so the kids were already up from nap and getting ready to eat a snack with Grandma. 

Valerie was very concerned when she saw the bandage I had around my head to catch the blood drainage from my nose.  Plus, I was pretty out of it, so she just kept staring at me from a distance.  Almanzo, of course, was ready to jump up and say hello right away.  My mom got ready to go home after giving the kids a snack.  (Can I just say I have the BEST mom in the world?  Thanks so much for all your help, Mom!)  I took another 1 1/2 hour nap after Ted made me some mac and cheese.  When I woke up, he helped me change the bandage and made some delicious chicken noodle and rice soup.  He has been taking such good care of me; I am so thankful for him. 

I had a rough night of sleep last night.  It felt like I was trying to sleep with a horrible head cold.  Around 4:30 am, I woke up in so much pain.  I took some pain medicine and thought it would be nice to take a hot shower.  I forgot how dizzy the pain medicine makes me at first...and almost passed out in the shower.  Thankfully, Ted came to my rescue and helped me get dressed and propped up some pillows on the couch so I could sleep better.  I finally got some good sleep and didn't wake up again until 7:30.  I am feeling a little better today, but still sore and tired.  I am thankful it is the weekend, so Ted is home with me and he has been so good to me.  Thank you all who have been praying for me and checking in on me the last few days.  I am so thankful for ALL of you...and, even more, I am so thankful for a God who provided doctors, surgery, and pain medicine to help me finally heal from these sinus problems. 

PS - I hope this makes sense...if it doesn't, I'll blame it on the pain medicine.  It's making me feel a little loopy. Ha!

Body After Baby: Week Four

It has been one crazy week for me.  On Thursday I realized I was still sick with a cold after two weeks and it didn't seem to be getting better.  In fact, I was feeling worse.  I had been fighting a sinus headache for almost a week and had horrible drainage and sinus pressure.  Friday morning, I finally called my doctor, because I was miserable.  It turns out I had another sinus infection.  Yes, the second one in the last month...or maybe just a continuation of the first.  So, I was put on a different antibiotic and told I would need to see a specialist if it didn't clear up this time.  This morning, as I type this, I still have sinus pressure.  I'm no longer congested, but the pressure and headache are still there.  So, I guess I'll be calling my doctor again this morning...

On Sunday morning, I woke up after a very fitful night of sleep (or lack thereof), because my stomach felt terrible.  I started puking and then crying, because the only time I really throw up is when I'm pregnant.  I would love to have another little one...but not quite yet.  I really, really want to lose this baby weight before another one comes along and I just don't quite feel ready to add a third little one to our already crazy life.  But, then my hubby and Almanzo had diarrhea and on Monday my dad and brother were throwing up as well.  So, we all caught some kind of nasty bug.  Of course, I think my upset stomach was also related to the antibiotics, because I still had a tummy ache last night and haven't been very hungry the past few days.  Seriously...can I just be healthy, please?

Needless to say, I've only made it to the Y once in the last week.  Yesterday morning I wanted to go to Spin class, but still wasn't feeling 100%.  So, I decided to go to water aerobics.  It felt good to be working out again, but I realized I really miss working out.  Crazy, I know.  I never thought I would enjoy working out as much as I do or that I would miss it when I am sick.  My hubby reminded me yesterday that there will be bad days for exercising, but there will also be good days.  I'm looking forward to having good days again.

The one good thing about being sick and not very hungry is that I have once again maintained my weight from last week.  I haven't lost any, but I haven't gained any.  So, I am still at an overall weight loss of 8 pounds, which is still a great start.  Plus, I'm really glad I didn't gain any over the holidays.  Now, if only I could be healthy and start working out on a regular basis again... 

Check out Samantha's blog for more of the Body After Baby Challenge.

***

Also, the winner of my Two Year Blogiversary Giveaway is...

Jenilee

Congratulations Jenilee!  I'll be in contact with you about fabric choice and your address.  Is anyone else interested in purchasing a handmade hobo purse?  I would sell them for $18 and you could choose your own fabric.

Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful...

We had our first snow storm of the winter over the weekend, which turned into a blizzard with 50 mph winds.  I woke up Sunday morning, because it sounded like someone was trying to break into our house only to realize it was just the wind.  The wind was so crazy, it felt like our house would blow over with a huff and a puff.  We got about 10 inches of heavy snow.  My poor hubby spent over two hours outside shoveling, because he offered to help our neighbor out since her hubby was gone.

Our church service wasn't canceled, but most church services in the area were canceled.  When I woke up, I told Ted what it was like outside and he said, since our road is usually the last to get plowed, that we should just wait and see what it's like for church service instead of trying to make it to Sunday School.  When he woke up around 8, we were surprised to see a snow plow on our road already.  But, we still couldn't see our driveway or the sidewalk.  Around 9, he went outside to start shoveling and, by the time he finished our driveway, we were already 10 minutes late for church.  So, we decided to stay home and he went back out to help our neighbor with her driveway. 

I was glad to stay home, because, after driving to go skiing, Ted told me the roads were not so good.  The wind was causing snow drifts and made for a very slippery, slow drive.  This morning, there was a wind chill advisory.  It was 4 degrees when I woke up, but the wind chill made it feel like -15 degrees.

I had to laugh when Veronica posted on my Facebook wall wondering how in the world we can survive storms like this, because, when you grow up in the Midwest, these kind of storms are just a part of everyday life in the winter.  We learn to dress warm, keep extra blankets and sturdy boots in the car, start our cars several minutes before we need to go anywhere, and stock up on food and necessities in case we need to stay inside for more than a day.  We are also used to driving in snow, but I gladly opted to NOT drive anywhere during the blizzard.  Also, I am very much looking forward to leaving the cold behind for a few days really soon to visit you, Veronica!

Kristin also told me they were feeling cold in 40 degree weather down in Texas.  Right about now, 40 degrees sounds really, really warm!  But, I must admit, it does look beautiful outside and, as my hubby said, December snow is the best snow because it is fresh and new and we've had all spring, summer, and fall to forget how long and old winter gets in March...or April...and, on occasion, May...

Today, we are choosing to enjoy the beauty of the snow within the comforts of our warm and cozy home.  The kids are feeling better, other than runny noses, and I am just feeling the start of another sinus/allergy sickness.  I'm really hoping this is not sinus infection number 2.  Thankfully, I have a neti pot, green tea, and a lazy day to spend at home.

***

Can you believe it's been TWO whole years since I first started blogging here?  I finally had some time yesterday to update my blog design for Christmas and will probably keep it up until spring.  What do you think?  Also, stay tuned tomorrow for a fun little giveaway to celebrate two years of blogging.  Thank you to all who read, comment, and encourage me as I share my joys and my struggles here.  I am so thankful for this little space to write, to share, to connect, to encourage, and to be reminded of a God who is faithful always and forever. 

Natural Cold Remedies & Relief

As most of you know, we've been sick with nasty colds a lot this winter.  I'm especially prone to getting colds, because of my asthma.  When I was 5, my mom realized I had asthma when she heard me wheezing after a wrestling match with my dad.  Our family has a long history of asthma, so my mom knew right away.  I was put on daily preventative meds, but often ended up in the ER with asthma attacks.  I remember sitting in the ER, wheezing horribly and feeling like I was breathing through a straw.  My mom would get so mad that we had to wait while I struggled to breathe, when she knew all I needed was a nebulizer.  As I got older, my asthma got a lot better, so I was able to stop taking the preventative meds and only needed to use my inhaler on occasion.

Just recently, I realized my asthma was in need of preventative meds again, so I am now on Advair, which has made a huge difference in being able to fight colds.  Of course, I still pick up colds very easily.  I've had three nasty colds this winter.  Cloth diapering (as well as the lack of meds that are safe for a nursing or pregnant mom) has opened me to a whole new world of natural remedies, so, I've been on the search for ways to treat my colds other than over the counter or prescription meds.  I have found a few that really seem to help alleviate my cold symptoms and help me heal faster (along with Advair and my inhaler, of course, because, let's face it, when you have asthma there's no avoiding some kind of prescription meds).   Here is a list of some of my favorite natural cold remedies that we use in our home:

• Humidifier - When Valerie got her first cold, I knew we needed to invest in a humidifier.  I am so glad we did, because it really helps her to sleep well at night when she's sick.  I need to get another one for our bedroom, but, for now, I can put it in our room during the day and leave it on in her room at night. 
• Ricola - I really dislike some of the traditional cough drops, like Halls, because they taste disgusting. Ricola is a natural cough drop made from herbs grown in Switzerland.  They taste way better than Halls and really help soothe a sore throat too.  
• Boogie Wipes - I received some Boogie Wipes at Cupcake10 and absolutely LOVE them.  They are made with "natural saline to dissolve mucus" and, let me tell you, they make a big difference for my daughter's runny nose.  They don't leave her nose red and puffy and help to clear up her congestion just like saline drops would.  
• Tea Tree Oil - I discovered this essential oil when I started using cloth wipes.  I add a few drops to my wipe solution and when Valerie's diaper rash flares up again I add a few drops to her bath water.  It does wonders at getting rid of and preventing yeast rashes.  It is also a great natural disinfectant.  Add a few drops to a spray bottle filled with water and spray it around your house.  I sprayed it on door handles, light switches, and other places that our hands frequently touch.  
• Green Tea - There's nothing like a glass of hot tea to soothe a sore throat and ease a persistent cough.  I love to drink tea, especially when I'm sick.  I have found that drinking green tea helps alleviate my cold symptoms and boost my recovery.   

Stay tuned tomorrow for another fun giveaway and don't forget to enter my Earth Mama Angel Baby giveaway by 10 pm CST tonight.  Also, feel free to share your natural remedies; I'd love to hear them!

Special Music

I love singing at church, especially when I have the opportunity to sing with some wonderful women.  Here are two of the pieces I was recently part of singing for special music during our church services.

Ladies Quartet

Naiza, Mellie, Christa, and me

(I can't remember the name of the song ;) and if you listen at the end you can hear Almanzo making some noise unto the Lord - ha!)

 

"O To Be Like Thee"

Duet with Amy

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Thank you so much for all your prayers for the illness going through our home.  We are finally seeing an end to it.  Valerie started getting better on Tuesday and Almanzo started sounding much better last night.  I really think the nebulizer was a huge factor in preventing Almanzo from getting anything worse and ending up in the hospital.  It just seems like this is a horrible year for sickness.  Just at our church alone, there are cases of bronchiolitis, bronchitis, and RSV in the past week and before that there was a nasty 24 hour stomach virus going around.  Ted even stayed home from work on Tuesday and came home early yesterday. 

I ended up taking myself to the doctor yesterday, because my asthma was really aggravated by the cold.  I started taking Advair before Christmas as a preventative thing and that has made a huge difference.  I think I would have been in the ER this time if it weren't for the Advair.  I called my doctor yesterday morning because I'd been relying on my nebulizer quite a bit the day before and through the night.  Her nurse told me I definitely needed to come in, because they were seeing a lot of pneumonia and my asthma obviously needed to be checked out.  The doctor put me on Prednisone (for the second time in four months) and I already feel better.  It really got me thinking though about how much I need to take care of myself.  My asthma was really bad when I was a kid, but got better after my heart surgery.  Then, within the last two years, it has gotten worse again.  It's a scary thing, not being able to breathe, and it makes me worry about getting another cold and how my body will continue to handle it.

I decided last night that I HAVE to start exercising, except my husband told me not to call it that because I hate exercising.  The one reality show I love to watch is The Biggest Loser, so I went online this morning and purchased three of their DVDs - 30 Day Shred, Boot Camp, and 30 Day Jump Start.  I think I will start with the 30 Day Jump Start, then move on to the Boot Camp, and finish with the 30 Day Shred.  I've been told Jillian really makes you work hard in the 30 Day Shred, so I'm going to work myself up to it.  Since I'm a morning person and Almanzo likes to wake up between 6 and 7, I'm going to go downstairs and do one of the 20-30 minute workouts after feeding him and getting him back to sleep.  If he's still awake, I can always put him in a bouncy seat while I do my workout.  I will try to blog about it every so often and would love your encouragement and support...because I know it's going to be hard and I need some accountability.  I'll try to give an update each week on my progress once I start.

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I'm also really excited about three opportunities I have to do review/giveaways on my blog.  Two of them are related to cold season and I'd love your input on other products/companies I could contact that offer natural cold remedies or relief.  I would especially love to work with mommy businesses, because I love to support stay at home moms.

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This weekend I'm going to try posting some pictures and videos from the past few weeks once I get caught up on all my photo editing.  Stay tuned next week for some exciting posts related to Valentine's Day.  I'm working on putting together a series of posts about Real Life Love Stories to share here.  I have been blessed with a long heritage of long lasting marriages and am hoping to share some of their stories here as well as their advice for how to make a marriage that lasts a lifetime.