Januaray Blahs

I am trying to stay positive about all the snow we have received this year but it is difficult at times.  I continue to take the kids outside each day even though temperatures are around 10 degrees.  We walked to the post office today in what seemed like a blizzard. Good thing the walk only took us 20 minutes there and 20 minutes back.

I continue to search for per diem work.  I am not willing to work on Saturday, as I believe that is the day God ordained as Sabbath. I am wiling to work second shift and maybe third shift but I would prefer per diem work, mostly on Sundays and one day a week.  I believe many of my work doors are being closed. I have a full time position that I could go back into but I feel that 1st shift, full time is too many hours to be away from kids.

With three kids I find that an exercise routine is difficult at times. I wear my baby often and go for short walks with the toddlers but I am not exactly ready to run a 5K yet. I hope that I can get more core back in shape so that I will be able to run this spring and summer with my hubby. I find that 10 minute workouts are perfect to get my heart rate up. Also, the toddlers and baby are able to entertain themselves during the work out.

I cannot believe that January is half way through.  We try to go through the date, month, year each day for circle time in the morning. We are working on Spanish counting and English counting. My husband also thinks my 3 year old is on the verge of reading. Therefore we are also working on "sight words."

Shiloh is imitating our words the last couple weeks. A couple months ago she was only using ASL to communicate. I used to be a nanny for a special needs 3 year old who also used ASL to communicate. I am thankful God has given me experiences that I can now use to raise my children.

I did the Garlic treatment for 3 more days on my "spot" near my collar bone.  I believe that after some of the skin heals from the "garlic burn" that the spot will be healed.  Amazing how herbs can be used inside your body as well as outside your body.

I am currently reading the book "Midwives" by Chris Bohjalian.  I am looking into being an assistant to a local doula.  I have a passion for mamas, natural births, nursing babes and toddlers.  I am  interviewing for per diem and "contingent" positions where I can spend more hours with my kids.  My resignation letter may soon be written to my employer of five years.

This month has been exhausting with a wedding, illness, baby dedication, birthdays and Father-son camp.  My hubby was in the wedding as an usher.  I know that we only have 3 little ones but I was quite worried how they would behave and if we could partake in all the wedding festivities.  We also are going vegan this year so that adds to the stress of what will we feed the kids.  I often bring homemade bars when we travel outside the house.

My mother watched the kids (all 3, first time) so the hubby and I could attend the Rehearsal dinner.  For the wedding the bride allowed me to enter the bridal chamber.  What a privilege to pray with the bridal party and parents of the bride.  I am thankful that my mother came down to the nursery and watched the toddlers while Jonah (in the ergo) and I prayed with the bridal party, right before the ceremony. God worked out all the details so I could have precious moments with the bride, her girls and parents.

On a side note, we decided to take both toddlers to the wedding.  They even ate the salad and vegan portobello mushroom meal.  I found it interesting that our waitress was not going to serve the toddlers a salad. I had to go up to the server and ask her why they didn't get a salad. She said "Oh, I thought kids don't like salad." Well, salad and veggies are a big portion of  my kids diet.

We also celebrated my brother's, mine and Shiloh's birthday this month. We ordered vegan pizza. The thing was that my dad could also get his meat pizza at this special place. We are thankful for another year.

The kids and I are currently battling upper respiratory illness. I usually get sick this time of year, as I was quite sick during the birth of Shiloh. I am wondering if it more "allergies" of when the weather warms above freezing for a couple days and then plummets to single digits for the next couple days.

Shiloh and Jonah are both coughing often at night and have "eye colds" too.  I have been up every 4 hours this past week coughing and making tea for myself as well. I have found that Mothers tea works for enhancing milk production and soothing coughs.  We did go to the Dr. (D.O.) but she thinks it is a viral infection and therefore antibiotics weren't recommend.

And lastly, little Jonah will be dedicated to the Lord tomorrow.  There will also be a baptism at our Sabbath service.  I pray that many friends and family will be able to attend. We will also be attending a prophecy "rally" tomorrow to learn specific outreach techniques in our city, community and state.

Well, we made it through the holidays with 3 kids and now the hubby is home the next week so life should be a little easier. We were able to go for a 2 hour long walk today because the temps are above freezing. However, due to last weeks ice storm, there is melting ice falling off the trees. Therefore, one needs to be quite careful walking under huge trees.

Our church has their Christmas program tomorrow. I am playing my flute and singing in the choir.  Then on Thursday the wedding festivities begin.  The Bride's party Thursday, Rehearsal on Friday, Wedding on Saturday, Brunch on Sunday.

The kids have been quite healthy so far this winter. We give them some Vitamin D to boost their immune systems. I also try to get them outside each day, even if it is for 20 minutes.  The kids are also on a vegan diet. No dairy, no meat. Which I believe makes them more healthy. Did you Daniel was a vegan? And his 3 friends too? The caretaker of the 4 men did not want them to appear weaker than the other young men. However, they appeared stronger than the other young men after the 10 days of their fruit, beans, bread and veggie diet.

Daniel 1:6-20

New King James Version (NKJV)

6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the nameBelteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who areyour age? Then you would endanger my head before the king.”
11 So Daniel said to the steward[a] whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants.”14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king’s delicacies. 16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.

17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Working outside the home

To work or not to work. That is the question. I packed up all 3 kids yesterday and we attended my work Christmas potluck.  I loved being among co-workers. I love that we are one big family.  When one works in a stressful environment you feel as though you have been to "war" and back with those co-workers. You have been in the trenches with those special individuals.

My husband and I talk about whether or not I will seek employment outside of the home on a weekly and sometimes daily basis.  I worked hard to get my masters degree, credentials and pay off my student loans. I was in the workforce less than 10 years.  I do have a 401K started and pray that money would continue to grow exponentially.

I love being home with my kids and having a schedule 8am-8pm and that I have control over their schedule. I love that that I have control over their meals and how they are prepared. I love that I do not have to pump breast milk for the baby. I enjoy all the direct cuddles all day long.

And so the dilemma continues, should a woman work outside the home? How many hours? Each family and woman is different. But as I dig deeper into God's word I keep coming back to "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward in one's youth" Psalm 127.  These 3 children God gave me to raise and I want to follow God's best plan for them.



http://www.hautemama.ie/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/workingmomgraphic.jpg

http://www.workingmother.com/

http://gingerlouiseclothing.blogspot.com/2010/08/vintage-rosies1940swoman-to-admire_15.html

Garlic

Today I would l like to talk about garlic.  Garlic is a healing herb that can prevent illness but also heal the outside of the body. One of the books I rely on for my family is "The Natural Remedies Encyclopedia. ( http://www.amazon.com/The-Natural-Remedies-Encyclopedia-Edition/dp/B004GYQ5UU).

I put dump 4-6 tablespoons of garlic in most of my dinner meals. Most of my meals are currently very simple. For example, dry pinto beans with garlic, cooked in the crockpot for 4-6 hours. We eat a side dishes of organic brown rice, guacamole and salsa.  We eat this meal 3-4 days out of the week.

Here is the rice we use: http://www.amazon.com/Lundberg-Organic-Grain-Brown-32-Ounce/dp/B005763JMI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387395182&sr=8-1&keywords=organic+brown+rice

Pinto beans are from Aldi https://www.aldi.us/

Salsa http://www.amazon.com/KirkLand-Organic-Salsa-Medium-6-Oz/dp/B0059U6GUY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387395310&sr=8-1&keywords=salsa, 

Guacamole https://www.aldi.us/. 

I buy the garlic from Costco

http://www2.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?prodid=11601678&whse=bd_823&topnav=bd&cat=10708&hierPath=10035*&lang=en-US

I am currently using Garlic as a healing herb. I have a red rash, the size of a dime near my coller bone. I have been putting Garlic on this spot for 3 days at a time, using bandaids to hold the garlic in place.  The first layer of the red rash peeled off after 3 days of garlic treatment. I let the area air out for several days and now I am going to apply Garlic for another 3 days.  I am thinking that the red rash could be a form of skin cancer so I am trying the herbal route first.  

Here are some other sites recommending to use garlic as a healing herb.  

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/prevention/garlic-and-cancer-prevention

http://caitrionatopping.wordpress.com/2012/11/05/garlic-the-skin-cancer-cure/

http://www.jamesdirect.com/books_garlic.htm

http://blogs.plos.org/retort/files/2011/09/Garlic.jpeg

3 under the age of 3

Well now I have 3 kids under the age of 3.  Let me tell you. God gives you just enough strength to get through the day.  No more, no less.  I am staying home for 6 months maternity this time around but am considering being a stay at home mom.  Let me tell you this whole motherhood thing is not for the faint of heart.

In this blog I would like to talk about natural births, gentle mothering, cloth diapering, pumping, homeschooling and raising 3 kids under the age of 3.  Please feel free to comment and ask questions. Thanks.

Tuesday

My second day of work was today. So far I am pumping enough milk in a little closet. Shiloh slept Til 10am today after being fed at 6am. Little E seems to be doing okay with the new sitter. His aunt watched him the first 18 months of his little life. He did throw a temper tantrum when I arrived home. I am thinking he still struggles with transitions and cannot voice his frustrations that his mama left him again. I am so thankful we found someone who is willing to come to our house, change the cloth diapers and bottle feed breast milk. The sitter is asking lots of questions about breastfeeding and I am trying to figure out how much information to divulge. I could talk about breastfeeding all day long. I am so thankful to be able to breastfeed mt kids. Best part of the day? Starting it with breastfeeding and wnding with breastfeeding.