Got Hemorrhoids?

What an odd title for a blog post, huh? heh heh. Well, just wanted to pass along some useful info about how to heal them. This was told to me by a friend of mine, and I have not tried it. So, take this with a grain of salt. Apparently, it works.

Make an infusion (strong tea) with witch hazel, which is a root, not the liquid you can buy at Walmart. I don't know where you might find the root, maybe the health food store? After you have your infusion, set your bum in it for a couple hours. I guess, just take a bath with a book or something. Voila! Hemorrhoids, be gone!

If anyone tries this with success, I would like to know! Happy steeping!

Pizza Dough Recipe

1/2 t sugar
2 1/2 t yeast dissolved in
1c warm water
add:
2t salt
2T oil
2 1/2-3c flour
blend with dough hook in stand mixer (or knead by hand on counter) until combined and dough is no longer sticky. let rest 5 min. make pizza as usual.

my version of pizza.....stretch or roll your pizza dough onto a cornmeal-covered cutting board/flat cookie sheet. Build your pizza on top of said dough. Loosen edges with spatula and slide unbaked pizza onto preheated-to-500 degrees pizza stone. Bake pizza for 10 min in preheated-to-500 degrees oven. Quick pizza, crispy crust, yum-O!

the RSVP

Am I the only person in the whole frickin' world who is irritated by people who don't RSVP to an event?? No, I know at least one other person. But I should probably keep my friends annonimous on a public blog post- so, Mark Griswold, if you're reading this, feel free to give a shout out.

Is it really so much to say "hey, wanna come to this rad party?" to one's friends/family/co-workers and expect a reply??

You would think that maybe I should add a reply by date to my invitation. I've tried that, too, and people still ignore it, calling me the day before to say, "hey, I'm coming!" (uh, thanks for letting me know) or "can't make it." (yeah, I figured)

I've even tried uninviting people if they refuse to RSVP in a timely manner: "yeah, sorry, please don't come as I requested an RSPV A WEEK AGO (!!) and you didn't bother to dignify me with a response." But, I realize this is rude. Should I repay rudeness with rudeness? What choice do I have? Perhaps people who have never thrown a party don't understand that one does not shop, cook, and decorate the day of the party (reasonable, I suppose...). Should I discontinue inviting my friends who don't RSVP? Well, there would be few invitations sent out...and for that matter, I would begin to have few friends. And that is not a sacrifice I am willing to make.

Shall I simply plead for an RSVP? I'm begging.

There has been a small, I repeat small, handful of times when I have failed to RSVP. If I have done this to you, I sincerely appologize. There may be nothing more frustrating.

Experimental Cupcakes

I have updated this post! I think I may have perfected these cupcakes!

Original post:
I went to a Cupcake Open House (curtesy of 'Taste of Amazing' and Gail Kurpgeweit), again. Bad choice? Maybe. Maybe I don't care enough about the 20lbs I still have to lose. Gail's cupcakes are Da Bomb! That is SOOO not an overstatment. Anyway, while stuffing my face with delicious confections of various flavors, Gail and I were talking about her yummies, and how she makes them. And, since I like to try new things, she gave me a few tips on how to make a great cupcake from scratch. I tried it out, and although not nearly perfect, they were good! She wouldn't give me her recipe, though- why ever not? I wonder. ;)

Anyway, if any of you are wondering how I created my chocolate cupcakes from scratch, look no further!

1/2c butter
1c sugar
1. cream together.

1t baking soda
1/2t baking powder
1/4t salt
1t vanilla
2/3c cocoa powder
1 pkg chocolate pudding mix
3/4c buttermilk
3 eggs
1c flour

2. add eggs, vanilla, yogurt.
3.add dry ingredients and DO NOT overmix.
4. Bake in paper/foil-lined muffin pan for 16-19min at 350.
5. Remove cupcakes promptly from pan so they stop baking.
6. Enjoy and share with friends!

Learn Something New!

I spent some time today with a friend who really appreciates when I share something with her that she doesn't know. Whether it's a cooking tip, health info, or fashion bit (ok, so I don't usually have any of those), she is interested in what I have to say. How refreshing!

I love sharing what I know and learning new things, too. What unique tidbit will you share?

Saving at Safeway

I recently attended a coupon class and now am super pumped up to save money! I went to Safeway today to use a bunch of their store coupons and while there came across several peelies/blinkies/man. coupons that I used to get stuff for cheaper- not free *sigh*, but cheaper.

Classico pasta sauce 2/$4 sale price....buy 2 get 2 Barilla pastas FREE which were on sale for $1ea. (OK, that's technically something for free, but I break it down like I paid $1 ea for the 4 items. ....especially since I NEVER buy canned pasta sauce).

Pilsbury Grand rolls: (again, I never buy these, but Chris mentioned recently how much he likes them and since I had a couple of coupons, I thought, wth). On sale 2/$4. I had 1 man. coupon $.75 off 3, 1 man. coupon $1 off 2, and 1 peelie (is that what it's called when its a coupon on the item itself?) $.50 off 4. So I bought 4 (regular $3.79 ea) for $5.75 all together. Not bad, right?

Store coupon for $1.50 off Breyers ice cream. Sale price=$3.49 ea. Total OOP= $1.99 ea. Yea!

I like that I can get brand name food for cheaper than generic. Kinda thrills my soul. :)

Also, went to Rite Aid to take advantage of their 4oz Crest toothpaste and toothbrush for $2.69, and after $2.69 register rewards, FREE.....but didn't go at midnight when the sale started so someone else walked out with all my free toothpaste. whoops. Better luck next time.

Am also proud of myself for asking at Albertsons if they honor competitors' store coupons. They don't. Would have paid only $1 ea for the Breyers ice cream if I could have used Safeway's coupon.

New Mama Tips and Tidbits

I'm a mama! Again! Elias Raymond Lewis Hardy was born Thursday, August 26th at 12:46am weighing 9lbs 6oz and was 21 inches long. Being a mama is the greatest privilage I could have and also the most challenging job I can imagine.

Elias Raymond Lewis, born August 26th, 2010:

I've been thinking about what I went through after Rowan was born and how it's all coming back to me. AHHH!

Rowan Christopher Liam, born December 7th, 2008:


This post is about the first few weeks after giving birth, some particular 'challenges' I and others have faced, and how to cope. I sure wish I had known some of this the first time around and now that some of these things are coming up again, I thought I'd share the awkward and ooey gooey details and maybe help someone who'll be a mama soon.

Guts: The first few days are definitely the hardest as you've just had a large tumor removed from your gut and now all your organs must relocate to their original placement. Right after birth, I couldn't breathe well when standing because all of a sudden I had so much room in my gut- what a weird feeling of empty! Don't worry, after 2-3 days or so, everything settles back to normal.

The Undercarriage: I use this term to include it all: vagina, perrineum, anus. Yuck. This is the worst part, by far. After one has had a human being extracted, one way or another, from her body, she can hardly expect to just be back to normal. hahahahahahahaha!!! Pretty much, you'll never be the same again. But, don't be discouraged, it's not ALL bad. ;) For a few days, there's bound to be quite a bit of swelling and discomfort, which can be helped with ice packs, sitz bath, and various sprays. The hospital gives out a numbing spray which I was passed along to me by a friend. I found it burned in a chemical sort of way. Maybe I was especially sensitive to it, as my friend swore it was the best stuff. I prefer the New Mama Bottom Spray (yes, that's the name of it) made by Earth Mama, Angel Baby. It's all natural, herbal, and has a mild cucumber scent. It is useful to aid in the healing of the perrineum and to help with hemorhoids.

Speaking of hemorhoids, I always thought they were an old man desease, and eew, don't even go down the aisle that carries Preperation H! Well, they're also the desease of the newly un-pregnant. *sigh* Some people are lucky enough to escape this icky, but most of us will probably get them. Even if you have a C-Section you might get them after the birth because they're caused, not only by excessive pushing or constipation, but by the constant pressure that is a baby's head in the last months of pregnancy.

Bummer- litterally.

Some people get them as they're giving birth, some get them after just because, or with their first poop, and some escape. I hate those people. If the hemorhoids are really bad, you might want to sit on a donut. Not a real donut, silly! A round pillow with a hole in the middle made just for this purpose. Or a Boppy pillow. Otherwise, you might use the above-mentioned spray or Tuck's pads to help.

The first poop....might hurt. Or it might not. I have had one first poop that didn't hurt at all and one that did- because it was freaking ginormous! Maybe my body was constipating itself in anticipation, I don't know. So, eat plenty of fiber after you give birth and/or use stool softeners. But, the first poop did not hurt the perrineum like I expected. It was just another anus issue.

Perrineum: If you're lucky, you won't tear or get an episiotomy when giving birth. If you're not lucky, you'll have to deal with the stitches and healing time.

Vagina: It'll be all stretched out. And swollen. Just don't look at it for awhile to avoid the trauma. And start Kegals again as soon as you feel up to it. Btw, that squeeze bottle that you get after birth will be your best friend for a few weeks. Heaven knows you don't want to WIPE down there! Keep it filled with warm water or a healing herbal tea for use after you use the toilet.

Yeast infections: The vagina has a natural balance of yeast and bacteria keeping the yeast under control. You might get a yeast infection in your vagina after you've stopped bleeding. (Did you know you will bleed for up to 6 WEEKS after you give birth?? So much for getting a break from a period- your body will make up for lost time with this one) You will know you have yeast when the vajajay itches and burns-ick. What to do:

1. Eat yogurt with probiotic cultures. Check the container. Also, plain is best because sugar feeds infections.
2. Put plain yogurt up your hoohaw with a baster. Kinda messy but will help. :) Just rinse out after a while.
3. Make a douche of 1c warm water and 1T apple cider vinegar. Use this every time you go to the bathroom or whenever the itch becomes too much to bear. I put mine in the squeeze bottle. You don't have to douche, either. Just spray the affected area. This totally works to alleviate the itch while restoring the vagina balance.

Ok, on to some other cantankerous body parts....

Everyone knows 'breast is best,' and I certainly agree. I have chosen to nurse my boys and certainly don't regret it. But breastfeeding is not a walk in the park for awhile. Well, for some I think it is, but most of us nursing mamas experience some level of soreness for a couple of weeks. As I was learning to breastfeed, Rowan developed an improper latch and my nipples became cracked and painful- nursing was excruciating, to say the least.

The NIPPLE SHEILD= silicon's gift to the breastfeeding mama!

I used one just long enough for my nipples to heal and then they were calloused enough to nurse without pain. Just try not to use it so long that your baby becomes dependent on it. You can get one from the hospital fitted to you, with a prescription, or you can run down to Target and buy the one-size-fits-all. This is what I did, and it works just fine.

A proper latch is where baby's lips are splayed out around your nipple, with
nipple pushed far into his mouth (don't worry, he won't choke), baby's tongue is
under the nipple so he can massage the breast tissue to extract the milk, baby's
chin is pushing into the breast, and his nose is just resting on breast.
Baby should not be chewing ON the nipple or constantly latching on and
off. This causes friction where there should be none and will cause your
nipples to become increasingly sore.

Other remedys for nipple soreness include lanolin (I use Lansinoh brand in a purple tube) and soothies (a cooling breast pad), both found in the baby food/nursing section of the department store, and breast milk. Keep in mind that I was recently advised by a friend that using cream of any kind can breed bacteria for a yeast infection because cream keeps the nipple warm and moist. The best remedy for sad nipples is your own milk because breast milk is SOOO healing.

TIP: use breast milk in your baby's eyes if he gets goopy eyes- they will clear right up.

Clogged milk ducts can occur if nursing, maybe for no reason at all. In order to rid yourself of them, rub them from the base of your breast toward the nipple as hard as you can stand until they're gone- this worked for me. The clogged duct was painful enough that I rubbed all afternoon and it was gone by the next day. You can also adjust your nursing position so that baby's chin is toward the clogged duct. This way he is extracting the most milk from the affected area and so will unclog the duct. Hot shower or compress can also help relieve the clog.

Engorgement: many women experience this and it is basically from having so much milk that baby can't keep up. This usually happens soon after the milk comes in before your body can regulate. It is characterized by rock hard, painful-to-the-touch breasts. Pump the extra milk a tiny bit if baby cannot get a good latch. Don't pump much as milk is made on a supply-and-demand basis and if you pump too much you will just make more and more milk-ouch! Nurse as often as you can, take hot showers to help you relax so your milk will let down, place cold cabbage leaves on sore breasts. I haven't experienced this personally so maybe a reader who has could comment on the best ways to relieve engorgement.

Hopefully, that's enough tidbits on breastfeeding to get you started. :)

Sleeplessness. Oh, no one told you that you might not sleep much after baby is born?? oops! Yeah, babies eat in the middle of the night. And sometimes are nocturnal and have to be reconditioned. But, you will learn to survive on less sleep. That's all I have to say about this. Oh! Sleep when the baby sleeps for awhile. Take naps and such. And be greatful when your newborn sleeps 3 WHOLE HOURS in a ROW.

Where have the midwives gone?

Did you know that only 10% of laboring women in the US are attended by midwives? That compared with 70-80% in most other developed countries. And that midwife-attended births have comparably positive outcomes, when you look at the number of healthy mothers and babies, as births attended by OB-GYNs, and considerably better outcomes if you consider the much lower levels of unnecessary medical interventions (delivery by cesarean, forceps, or vacuum, episiotmy, use of drugs, etc)?

Besides that, I have NEVER heard anyone who delivered with a midwife say, "I sure wish I had gone to the hospital to have an epidural. My delivery experience was less than satisfactory." (and I know several midwife-delivered women personally) On the contrary, many women who deliver in hospital with an OB wish their labor would have had fewer interventions. Although that's not the way it is usually put. They might say, "I wish I could have moved around more during labor." (They couldn't because of the IV, used for hydration if they weren't allowed to eat and drink during labor, or the epidural drip, or the fetal monitors)

So, why is it that we now consider midwives to be outdated and home birth to be dangerous and primative? There is absolutely NO evidence to support this feeling.

FEAR. We no longer view our bodies as capable. We don't view the pain as useful and necessary. We think labor will be too hard and too long, excrutiating. We are convinced that something bad is going to happen (when, in fact, only about 2% of interventions become medically necessary and hardly ever emergent).

As a woman who has chosen to labor with midwives, I feel personally rebuffed and offended when someone asks me incredulously, "WHY??" (as though I am somehow harming myself and my baby for refusing to be brainwashed into the culturally accepted idea that the hospital is the only place to be to have a baby). Why not?! It is better, safer, and more comfortable laboring with a woman in attendance who knows me and the mechanics of birth intimately, who cares about my and my baby's well-being, and who does not feel it is necessary to poke and prod me every hour or to hook me up to a variety of machines to measure my progress which would restrict my mobility, comfort, and progression of labor.

Now, I am not saying that one shouldn't go to the hospital. Some women are more comfortable surrounded by doctors, nurses, med students, machines and monitors. To each their own. But perhaps the reality is that women are misinformed. Misinformed about the safety of home birth (or birth anywhere with a midwife). Misinformed about the real risks (or lack thereof) to their baby with each method of care. That is sad.

If women educated themselves on all their options, would not more chose a midwife-attended birth out of hospital? I think so.

For further information on your birthing options, statistics of labor and birth, medical interventions used (with good reason or not) during labor and delivery, and a broad look at obstetrics through the centuries, read:

'Ina May's Guide to Childbirth' by Ina May Gaskin, leading American midwife in practice for over 30 years. (In her practice, only 2 women out of 324 gave birth by cesarean, compared with the nearly 30% c-section delivery rate nation-wide).

'Stand and Deliver' by Emma Mahony. A funny, non-graffic, and informative look at all types of birth with positive outcomes.

'Pushed' by Jennifer Block. An eye-opening account of current labor and birth practices in the US.

...and watch 'The Business of Being Born.' Obstetrics today truly is a business.

Italian Saute Over Pasta

Too many veggies in your fridge that you just don't know what to do with before they go bad? That was me yesterday. So, I decided to make them dinner- all of them. What the heck, the greens were wilting fast and I knew I didn't have too many days left before they had better be used or they were gonna be trashed. This is what I did:

Boil 1 lb whole wheat spaghetti until tender. Drain, set aside.

2 T oil heated in large saucepan over med/high heat
Add:
3 peeled and smashed garlic cloves
1 spoonful previously minced garlic
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/4 white onion, chopped
Saute all until tender.
Add:
several sliced mushrooms
1/2 head green cabbage, thinly sliced
Saute a couple of minutes.
Then add:
3/4 bag baby spinach
Cook until wilted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve over buttered noodles and cover with fresh grated parmesan cheese. Delicious!

This was totally an experiment but I've come across several similar recipes that use kale or broccoli rab instead of cabbage. I just used what I had. So, dig into your fridge and see what you come up with!

Keeping Herbs Alive- HELP!

So something's gotta give- my herbs are dying. I have Lemon Balm, Lime Thyme, and Peppermint gowing, or rather not growing, in pots on my balcony. They're in full sun from noon to 7pm I'd say, which may be too much, and my Lemon Balm (especially) is drying up. AHH! (I suppose I could put them where they get more shade...) Herbs are supposed to be easy to grow and manage....

I guess not when I forget to water them.

I would like to know....HOW am I supposed to remember? I think I'm so worried about over-watering that I let them go too long in this heat without water. Man, I SO do not have a green thumb.

Like-Minded Mamas?

The longer I'm a mama, and a SAH one, at that, I'm finding that few others share the same need as I do...to get out of the house! I am not one to be indoors all day, be super crafty, or look at the same white walls for hours. I suppose some peoples' kids keep them so busy that they don't have time or energy to get OUT, TOO, but I've found that my one (for now) little boy just goes with the flow pretty well.

Being a very energetic person, and not wanting to spend all day cleaning the house when it's a sty, I get it done fast so I can do something FUN! This is probably why as a kid my own mama complained that I did half-jobs instead of a thorough cleaning. Probably true, but life is about more than having a spotless house, and now that I keep my own house, I can make my own rules. Yes!

So, is there anyone out there who agrees that they're trapped in their house too often? Do you want to have a playdate? Or a grocery-shop-together date? Or come over for tea/coffee? I'm so open and I always like to make new friends! If you're reading this and you know someone who feels the same way, please pass along my name and number as I would love to meet them!

Kid's Shoes Cheap

It is my opinion that to pay full price for kids shoes is outrageous (!) and a waste of money. Of course, some people have so much money that they would either start a bonfire with it or buy things for too much. To each their own, I guess. I have never been that rich and I love a great deal! And I have a husband who also loves a great deal-we're perfect for eachother. :) We buy all of Rowan's shoes second hand for pennies on the dollar what we would pay for them new.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like nice things. We find NEW and almost new shoes for Rowan all the time! I'm not gonna take my child to a wedding wearing extremely scuffed or otherwised damaged shoes, for example, and it is such a thrill to find those brand new black dress shoes for $4. Not even kidding.

Recently, just before heading out of town for a friend's wedding, we stopped by PayLess and Value Village to buy a pair of black dress shoes for Ro. The stores were next door to eachother and I figured I could price check and see who carried the shoes for the best deal. Of course, VV's inventory is always changing so I went in to PL first. I found the shoes for $22 *gulp*. He's gonna grow out of them within 6 months and probably only wear them a handful of times (3 weddings this summer and maybe we'd get dressed up for church just to get some use out of them)! So, I went next door...can I find them for cheaper??? YES! VV had some NEW with tags for $4! Halleluia! (I said I love a great deal)

And that is just one story. Currently Rowan has several really cute, barely worn, brand name shoes in his possession:
Tevas: $.99 (OK, these ones are pretty worn but he's gonna wear them outside in the dirt all summer anyway and Chris really couldn't pass up the deal)
Sprockets black dress shoes: $5
StrideRites: $4

The only new shoes Rowan gets (at least for now while he is growing so fast) are from Pappy and Grandma. :)

The Elephant in the Room

Ever been a room where the air is thick with tension that everyone can feel but no one is willing to broach? This drives me nuts! Why not bring up the uncomfortable topic, apologize, agree to disagree, or whatever, and MOVE ON. Perhaps etiquete says to ignore it altogether, dwell on a different subject, pretend nothing's wrong and it will go away on its own. I've been in several situations like this and the elephant does NOT lumber off on its own.

I really wish people would get over feeling awkward about talking about the forbidden subject in order to have honest and open relationships.

The close relationships that I maintain have all reached a point where something has come up that needs to be discussed. I think it's because when you truly get to know someone, you WILL find something you don't like. We're all human, nobody's perfect, and we all have things that irritate us about others and that others find irritating about us. When I have had an uncomfortable topic to broach with a friend and the friend is open-minded, and I am graceful, our friendship always grows stonger through the mending of fences.

And sometimes, it doesn't work out so well...the other person does not deal well with confrontation or the issue is so large and the gap so wide that we decide instead to go our separate ways. That's OK, too. You can't like everybody.

Who's More Strong-Willed?

I've been thinking lately about the strong-willed child. I think I have one. Uh-oh. Well, I can't really say I didn't have it coming- Karma's a *#%$^, right? I guess I gave my parents just enough that God decided I should know what I put them through.

But the question is, who wins these battles of the will that go on, seemingly without end, some days? Do we as parents fold under pressure and let the willful toddler, determined to dominate his world, do whatever his sinful little heart desires in an effort to prevent the storm? NO. Or do we keep on keeping on preventing the naughty little will from takng over completely, training the character and evennnntually conquering for the benefit of all? I hope so. Just depends if we (read: I) have enough patience and will-power.

My mantra? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me...I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me... And so I continue in this war for my childs heart, soul, and disposition.

Picky Kids? It's YOUR fault!

We just finished a dinner of salmon, rice, tomatoes, and grilled mushrooms- all of which my 19 month old ate in copious amounts.

So I started thinking about why some kids don't eat much of anything- a diet of mac n cheese, chicken nuggets, and pb&j with the token fruit seem to be the norm. And some people never grow out of these habits. Gross!

Universally, people like what they know (some say they know what they like-whatever). It makes sense that this applys to food as well. If children are exposed to a large range of food options at a young age, they will like to eat a large variety of food. Of course, I am not discounting food preferences or aversions. I think that people are individually sensitive to certain flavors or textures and I will always allow my kids to have a couple of things that they refuse to eat. When I was growing up, I hated onions and my parents allowed that I didn't have to eat them- ever, if I so chose. But they didn't let me refuse many foods. Now I like most things I didn't care for as a child, including onions to a point.

I am convinced that picky kids are made. I have observed that picky kids have parents who do one of two things: either the parents are picky themselves and refuse to eat many different kinds of food, or they allow their children so many preferences that the kids end up "liking" only a very short list of items.

Now, back to the preference thing. There are many things right now that Rowan has refused to eat, either all the time or depending on his mood. But I continue to offer them with hope that his tastes will change as he ages, which is often the case with small children. Our latest food is tomatoes. Every time Chris and I have tomatoes at a meal, Rowan get a bite on his plate as well. He always tries it, probably because it is brightly colored:), and then puts it back on his plate making a face. Tonight, he ate 1/2 a roma tomato! I guess the flavor/texture didn't bother him or he had watched us eat them for so long that he decided they MUST be good. Whichever it was, he is learning to appreciate food he previously didn't like (and therefore not be picky). Yea for victory over vegetables!

My method: offer a meal of whatever the family is eating for dinner-not a different menu just because it might be easier to feed Rowan yogurt, fruit, and hot dogs. In the long run, what a hassel! (plus, what does this teach him about life? "I get whatever I want, my parents exist to serve my selfish desires, I don't have to do what I'm told," and on and on). Then, if he makes a decent effort and seems to truly dislike the food, top him off with healthy food that he does like. Topping him off is important to me at bedtime so he doesn't wake up hungry in the middle of the night. And, note, this is what I'm doing now, while he's 19 months and still exploring his tastebuds. At 3 years old, capable of reason and understanding, used to eating with the family and probably posessing of a much stronger will and selfish tendencies, the option will be to eat what's served or go hungry. I do not think this is an unreasonable requirement, especially since I cook yummy food of a diverse variety. There's always something Rowan is sure to like. :)

Are your kids picky? Try not letting them dictate the menu. And no snacks between meals. They might go hungry a couple of meals. Let them! Hunger is an awful effective teacher. Also, eat a greater variety of food yourself and let them see you enjoying it. If daddy always turns his nose up at a salad, how do you expect the kids to like salad (since it's obviously gross)?

Garlic on Trial

Garlic...nature's miracle cure for all things bacterial. This goes for colds, ear infections, yeast infections, and countless other illnesses for which we're hopping down to the clinic for some anti-biotics. Don't believe me? Try it!

Colds: Next time you get a cold, start popping garlic- fresh, peeled, whole cloves, or fresh minced on toast or added to pasta- whatever your flavor, just get it in somehow. Your cold won't last too long.

Ear Infections: For ear infections, which most children seem to suffer from often, make your own garlic-infused oil and put a couple of drops in each ear several times a day. Chances are, your baby won't even complain of any pain from the infection and it will heal without a trip to the doctor. Even if you only suspect an ear infection, add the oil. It's perfectly safe, has no side effects (unless your child is allergic to garlic, which I suppose is rare), and can't be overdosed. I make my Garlic Oil in a glass ramekin and store it that way, too, since I only make it when I need it.

How to make Garlic Oil: peel 3 garlic cloves and smash with flat side of knife. Add to 1/2c oil (any kind will do. The oil is only a medium to carry the garlic) in glass bowl or sauce pan. Microwave for 1 min in bowl or simmer over med/low for 5 min in pan. Let oil cool completely. Pick/strain out garlic pieces and discard. Store oil in glass jar. Use oil in ears by the drop when needed. Oil lasts about a week. After that it looses potency.

Now, here's the thing...I'm a baby. I don't take my own advice enough. I would often rather suffer with a cold than stink like garlic- and I LIKE garlic. I don't get myself. Maybe I need you all to try this out and say how much it works for you and all that for me to believe it's worth it. *sigh* But, since I did just give this advice yesterday, and since I do currently have a cold, I've started taking it-by the half-clove swallowed alone. ick. I really wish I could take it intraveneously. boo. I'll post an update about how the cold's going (or not going) in a day or so.

God was really thinking when he made a stinky little plant that we like to cook with, caused it to grow like a weed, and enabled it with over 30 anti-bacterial properties!

Whooping Cough Scare-CA

I recently read an article about the Whooping Cough Epidemic in CA. Apparently, there are almost 600 cases and 5 babies under 3 months old have died. So the local authorities are recomending children be immunized and people who care for children get a booster shot.

Now, one point of the article particularly ammused me: the suggestion that babies who aren't immunized are most vulnerable. First, the people who promote vaccines in children are required to by some higher-ups who make a lot of money on all those shots (some of which have more costly side-effects than the disease itself). Second, the babies who die from whooping cough are the ones who are too young to get the shot anyway!

My bro Sheldon almost died at 2 months old from whooping cough because he hadn't had the shot (too young!), and he cought the disease from the neighbor kids who didn't even know they had it. Clearly, if they didn't know they had it, they weren't on deaths door. Interesting. It all kinda seems like a scare tactic to me (or maybe an effort to get every parent to run down to the local office to get their kids shot up). Just sayin'.

Homemade Yogurt

Whenever someone finds out that I make my own yogurt, they always want to know how. Yes, I do make my own yogurt. Because it's WAY cheaper than buying it! The price of 1 qt of natural plain yogurt is about $3. The price of homemade yogurt is less than $3/gal (depending on the current price of milk). Now, whether you are just curious if this is actually possible or you would really like to know how so you can make your own, never fear-I'll tell you. This is actually quite easy and even the clumsiest in the kitchen should have success.

1. Scald 1 qt milk (this means cook until just before boiling), stirring constantly.
2. Cool milk to about 11o degrees (bathwater). A little cooler is better than a bit too hot. If the milk is too hot, it will kill the starter and you'll never get yogurt. I did this once. Bummer.
3. Pour milk into glass bowl or jar
4. Add 1/4c yogurt (store-bought yogurt or previously-made). This is your starter. It must have live/active cultures. The label will indicate such on store-bought yogurt. No live/active cultures? No yogurt.
5. Combine with wisk
6. Set in warm place (not hot!) for 8-10 hours, not bothering it, and voila, Yogurt! A good warm place is in the oven with the oven light left on. You wouldn't have to worry about the temperature, you wouldn't have to be home to monitor it, etc. A friend of mine leaves hers in wrapped in a towel in a cooler/other insulated box. I'm not sure how you keep it warm enough...unless it just stays.
7. Store in refridgerator and enjoy at your leisure. Add a bit of jam or fresh fruit to sweeten.

Tip: Don't worry if it's thinnner than the store-bought kind. Most of those have additives to make them so.

Tip: Whole milk makes the thickest and creamiest yogurt but any kind works just fine. I use 1% usually.

Stage or Sin? .....the first Tidbit

I've been thinking about toddlers a lot lately, since I have one. Rowan has begun hitting as a show of his defiance toward anyone who tells him 'no,' requires something of him that he doesn't like, or simply as an outburst of anger. And something that gives me pause is this word that people use....because we've all heard it, we're conditioned to believe it, and many of us buy into it... A stage. Most people use the word stage to describe their children's behavior as a way of excusing it.

I don't believe hitting/tantrums are a stage in the way that most use the word. It's the beginning of sin.

"He'll grow out of it," they say. And maybe he will- "grow out of" the behavior. But he'll only learn/develop/discover more and worse ways to behave when he doesn't get his way, whether it's whining, stomping on the floor, throwing things, screaming, etc. These displays are an attempt to dominate others, to gain control of the situation or the parents, thereby demonstrating his sinful nature. (interesting that most parents prefer to difuse the situation instead of dealing with the sin).

Now a stage as a term of the child's development is different. This is just refering to the level of cognisant reasoning present in a child's mind at any given time/age. Rowan's stage of hitting just means that he has figured out that he can react by hitting whenever he feels like he is not the dominant party: another child has taken his toy, he is being prevented from taking a toy, Mama has told him "no," or for any other reason. His natural instinct takes over in an attempt to dominate. The particular behavior or awareness of the child is not really the issue. It's where we go from here that's important.

If left to himself, Rowan's natural instinct will turn to sin....and sin, when it is fully formed, brings death. So, it is up to Daddy and Mama to instruct and correct with the rod and reproof to teach Rowan to make better choices and learn to control his natural instincts which are not all good, for his benefit in the long run.

Sin isn't a stage. It's something that we're all born into and must choose to avoid. So, one reason I spank Rowan each time he hits is to teach him to do what's right even before he can conciuosly make the decision himself. In the long run, he is learning self-control, to make the right choice even though it's harder than lashing out and doing what comes natually to him.

The other reason I'm training him to obey (whether it's to not hit, come here, eat all his lunch, clean up the toys) is so that he submits himself to the higher authority. For Rowan, Mama and Daddy are the authority and our instruction is backed up with the rod/switch/paddle. If we're not in charge, than he is. And he wants to be, as do all children. But he doesn't know what's best for himself and we're the ones with the responsibility to "train him up in the way he should go."

The reason I use a switch to spank him instead of the many other methods used to train children is 1. because the Bible instructs it, 2. because it is quick, effective, and not a drawn out form of punishment, 3. because it works (!) to bring about a change in behavior, and 4. I can discipline him without bringing about an emotional response in myself as threatening/yelling/bribing would bring. I want to gain complete obedience from Rowan every time and I want to do it avoiding the emotional upheaval that these other things would do.

Another thought: spanking does yeild great results, especially in young children whose attention span is not really long enough to benefit from a time-out (what am I sitting here for?), because it is quick and painful. For the child whose parents consistently administer the discipline, pain is soon associated with negative behavior. BUT, it's not fair to the child who doesn't have clear and consistent boundaries. If you only spank after you are exasperated and angry with your child, he will associate the pain of the spanking with your emotion. "I get a spanking when Mommy gets angry enough." The child will learn to push your buttons just far enough and then back off when he senses you're ready to explode. Talk about unjust! You would be training him to avoid your wrath instead of the (sinful) behavior that is causing your irritation.

Just thought you might be interested in a bit of my kid-raising philosophy. :) I welcome questions or comments!