Cold and Flu Bomb

In the previous post I mentioned we were hit by the flu and cold bug.
Chad was definitely hit the hardest.
The kids and I were more cold/sinus-ish.
However I was on a mission to beat this thing and quickly.
"Ain't nobody have time for that."

On my RD blog I wrote about the miracle of essential oils. If you aren't on the essential oil bandwagon you might get a ticket and try it out. I promise you will be amazed.

My favorite blog regarding essential oils {EOs} is CampWander. You should check it out. I linked her getting started post. I don't know a lot, but I have been impressed with the results.

I know you may not be on board yet, but check this video out on how viruses spread. I spent one small group evening laughing at my germ-a-phobe friends and their persistent need to wipe down carts and drown in purell {my hubby is guilty of this of well} while me; you won't ever catch me doing that. Why? because viruses like the flu are airborne. All the purell use and hand washing (which actually I am a greater advocate of than purell using) isn't going to keep that sneeze that your friend just had from floating up your nose and gettin' busy.

Don't believe me watch this: {for the science nerds out there like me!}



Believe me now. You need a strong immune system. One that is ready to fight before you notice you are sick. I am living proof. Chad bathes in purell after touching darn near everything. Guess who brought home the flu? Well, it wasn't me who only washes hands AFTER I arrive home. It wasn't the kids who do the same and are very rarely sick. {In Chad's defense he is seldom sick too.}

Here is why EOs are so effective. More effective than OTCs and drugs.
Please click HERE and check out her post. I don't want to steal her thoughts.

The short and sweet of it if you don't click over, is that EOs can PENETRATE the cell and get to the virus while it is doing it's thing. Synthetic drugs can't. Hmmm. Interesting.

Okay back to my scientific trial this past week.

I found this recipe for the "cold and flu" bomb. The thing about using EOs is making sure you have EOs on hand to create these recipes. I am slowly building my supply up; and thanks to my neighbor I had all I needed to get this protocol going. We did the foot rub.

Recipe:
3 drops each of Oregano, Sheild or Theives and Melaleuca {tea tree oil variety} in either a 00 capsule, shot glass with at least 2 TBSP of water or rubbed on the feet using a carrier oil like coconut.
Dose every 3 hours until symptoms start to slow or disappear and then CONTINUE for 3 more days 3x/day. This makes sure the virus is good and dead.

I used tea tree oil and mixed my own Sheild/Theives since I couldn't get my hands on any.

Chad he wasn't that into it so he stayed sick. The kids and I got better and we are on day 3 of the protocol and when we woke up this morning we were feeling much much better. To prove my theory we only took our mucuinex meds for 1 day. Chad he is still on them. He finally came around one night as he was coughing up a lung. I begged him to trust me and give the cough/decongestant protocol a try.

His cough stopped within 5-10 minutes and he didn't really cough again until the next morning.

I think I am completely hooked. Again, I am totally grateful for modern medicine, but sometimes it is nice to get back to mother nature and let her cure us. Sometimes mother nature knows best.

I will keep testing out things and using us as guinea pigs.
Let me know if you have tried anything and what has helped you!

Peace Out!

P.S. Also keep your home healthy and sanitized by diffusing sheild/theives in a diffuser. If you don't want to buy a fancy diffuser you can use other alternatives, like your humidifier, scentsy warmer, or old fashion reed diffuser. I am using one of my scentsy warmers with water and 2 drops of my DIY theives. It is my understanding this helps grab those airborne germs and helps get rid of them. So we will be diffusing this from now until spring.

The Great Blizzard of Oz and the Wicked Witch of the Flu

Warning: snow pic overload...I know everyone is over these but really it is amazing to see so much snow in these parts. Especially after being in a drought for so long!

So the last 10+ days have been some of the longest I have experienced. Matter of fact this entire month may be the longest month ever, is it ironic since it is the shortest? Never sure on my irony. :)

Yeah, yeah, we have all been sick around the globe, but for me and mine we are seldom ever sick. Ever. I have never realized how for granted I have taken our health until recently. It all started in January when Lo puked in the middle of church, followed by mommy and daddy getting slammed. We had 1 relatively good week and then right before their birthday party MW comes down with croup. Which is such a scary thing to listen to; I was so afraid he would just stop breathing! Insert sinus infections (me) and now the actual flu.

Right before the first round of the "Blizzard of Oz" hit MW was acting really lethargic and whiny. Then he kept complaining his wrists hurt (namely the previously broken one) along with a high fever. So high momma didn't need a thermometer to tell me. I didn't get it. Then he threw up (which apparently is common in kids with the real flu, not just the tummy bug) and then had some terrific diapers every.single.night. Still didn't get it. We just snuggled on the couch and watched Kai Lan and Deigo until I wanted to scream!

In the midst of this the snowstorm hit. We got around 12 inches the first time. I hadn't seen that much snow since I was a little girl and it probably wasn't that much! It was awesome and we had fun playing in it.

These were on Wednesday afternoon when we just got 4ish inches and were in our "lull" before the overnight "Blizzard" hit.

Thursday morning we awoke to this: 

I couldn't believe it. Our meteorologists are always so wrong, that I wasn't going to believe it until I saw it. 

Best "hill" we had to sled on. HA!

Later that evening we went out again for more exploring. They love to explore out back wooded area.

Daddy had fun teaming up with the neighbors and shoveling 5 driveways!

Although Micah loves the snow he wanted to just go in. So we did and there we laid for the next 2 days. Mommy STILL had no idea...just assumed it was another tummy bug.

By Sunday round two of the hyped up "Blizzard of Oz" that never really came was slated. As was apparently Lo's turn at the flu. She tossed her cookies that morning and then proceeded to lay on the couch just staring at the wall. If you know my child at all, she is NEVER like that even SICK! That night she woke up screaming her legs hurt, her fever was off the charts and well let's just say I am glad she still wears pull-ups at night. I get her cleaned up and a little Motrin for the pain and put her in bed with me. As I am drifting off to sleep I finally put two and two together it's the flu. Now I feel bad because MW was trying to tell me and I just didn't get it. Of course thanks to the Blizzard that was completely missed forecast ..I mean they were WAY off, embarrassingly so, the entire state including doctor offices shut down for nothing! And I couldn't get her in to get tested. Oh well, she still would have had to suffer.  By Tuesday I am down.

Monday night we did finally get more snow, just not the 12+ inches of blizzard conditions that were promised. Should I be sad or happy about that?!?! HA!

Tuesday surprisingly Chad got another snow day so we went out for a bit to bring some joy to a little girl's face!

Finally made some larg{er} snowmen. Are first one was so tiny he drowned in the overnight snow. :(

The trees were gorgeous, like Bob Ross painted them! My photog skills do them ZERO justice.

Micah was feeling better and decided to help daddy shovel with is sand scoop. HA!

My neighbor, is so creative I hate her. Just kidding. :) They made their "snow" family and one kid is doing a handstand, so we posed by it and pretended it was ours! HA!

So here we are, 10 days later, but who is counting, still suffering the backlashes of all of this as the kids and I keep getting flare-ups. :( I just want to be well. For good. I promise never to take our health for granted again. Amen.

Leighton has been bored and sad that she didn't get to play in the snow too much and with her friends. It is sort of a bummer, all this snow and we haven't been able to really enjoy it. But I am trying to teach her to be appreciative of what she did get to do and enjoy. Life is not always sunshine and roses.

But I have secretly enjoyed every.single.second of snuggle time with Micah and Leighton when they were at their neediest. I have very busy kids, and they don't sit still long enough for me to hold, especially Leighton, so that is our silver lining.

Two kids feeling a bit better. I love how they love each other. Sometimes when I wonder why I had two, I just think of these moments.

Speaking of silver lining, have you all seen that movie "Silver Lining Play book" so good. I loved it and it was a fun night out with some girls to escape the sickness for awhile!

Good-bye February and Hello to what I hope is a HEALTHY! March!!

Things Leighton Says

Ok I know all I am posting lately is my Kids Say the Darnedest Things...I will try and do better, but it is all I have and I can't bear to forget it. And maybe it may bring some laughter to your day.

I don't remember what exactly we were talking about, but I said something to Chad about "that is Awesome..."
Lo replys with "God's AWESOME."
My mouth just hit the floor. 'Yep, He sure is."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Side note--Leighton is obsessed with being 3 again. She is flat out refusing to turn 4, she will cry if you talk about it. She just doesn't want to grow up yet.
So on Micah's birthday...
M: I can't believe I have a 2 year old and an almost 4 year old (Feb 15).
Lo: Almost 3 year old mommy.
M: Weeelllll, technically you are going to be 4.
Lo: Weeellll, technically I am going to be 3.
M: HA! Ok baby whatever you say.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last Saturday (Jan. 12) I got called out of church after marching all the way up to the.very.front.row. to find a sit all by my lonesome 20 minutes after the service started. Chad was in the sound booth. I do puppets for the 3/4yo.
On the way there Lo said her tummy hurt. I figured it was 515p and she hadn't had anything to eat, not even one goldfish cracker or milk, so I ignored her.
While doing puppets I could see her on my computer monitor and she looked sad and pathetic, not her usual bouncy self. Maybe she didn't nap well?!
Back to church.
After I paraded all the way to the front feeling eyes boring into me and judging me for being late, paying close attention to the message our pastor had begun preaching, I see a number flash on the screen. Naturally, every parent in there prays it isn't their kid. To my horror I realize it is my number! MINE. Really?! I just sat down, and I haven't had to worry about my kids since MW was 10m.
So I proceed to get up and parade back down the sanctuary while aforementioned eyes are staring and everyone silently "tisk tisking me", everyone is taking in every word pastor Mark has to say.
At this point I have no idea which child it is. I assume Micah. Nope. Happily playing.
Leighton?! Really?! When I come up on her, she is in completely new clothes and crying.
My first thought a really bad potty accident...no, mom she puked all over herself in Adventure Avenue.
What?!! We don't get sick, she had no symptoms, great I am "that mom" who brings a sick kid to church. I am so sorry. Baby are you alright. Tears.
I gather her up and explain someone has to go get me my son. {our church locks our kids down tight and no one can get their kids unless it is a major emergency.} While I go pull up the car, because this story wouldn't be complete without the freak snow/ice shower we got that afternoon.

Bless her she was sick for the next 24 hours.

Later when I asked what her tummy felt like so we could establish a baseline for that sick feeling  I said "Baby, did it feel like you had butterflies in your tummy?!"
Without missing a beat she replies "NO! It felt like crocodiles!"

I already felt bad for her, but that made me feel so sad for her. You just hate seeing your kids sick.
Daddy: I wish I could be sick for you sweetie.
Mommy: Yeah, me too. I wish Daddy could be sick for you too.
Daddy: Really? You wouldn't take this from her.
Mommy: Yes, but you offered. No sense in me taking that from you.

Mommy gets sick 24 hours later.

Momma ain't got no sick day

I don't even know why I am sitting here at the computer when I have a bazillion things to do. As Leighton would say "llama llama such a tizzy, sometimes momma's very BUSY!" She hears that a lot! {Llama Llama Red Pajama Book}

Last week through a huge wrench into my plans b/c momma ain't got no sick days. Seriously, I think that is one of the hardest things to come to terms with once you become a mom. There are no sick days. I can handle the giving up everything else, but when all you want to do is hug your toilet and curl up on the bath mat and die, it is a little to much.

Wednesday the "great stomach flu" of 2011 hit with a vengeance. It is only by God's divine grace I survived Wednesday and tending to two kids until Chad got home at 415p. Every hour I got worse and worse. Normally Micah is attached to me like white on rice, but this particular day as I lay in the middle of the living room floor praying fervently for Jesus' return, I realized Micah was PLAYING by himself!! Miracle right here. Even Lo who is seriously the greatest toddler evah didn't ask her 1000 annoying inquisitive questions that day.

When nap time arrived I thought I had arrived. Just a few short long hours until Chad would be home to rescue me. Thankfully the kids both slept 2-2.5 hours. Only 1.5 hours of torture to endure. Pretty sure in that time I scarred my kids who so rudely busted through what I deemed a locked bathroom door. Nothing like trying to keep Micah away from his favorite toy: the potty while you are on your hands and knees. I am going to say it--I deserve a medal. ;)

Of course Lo who is a little on the dramatic side started gagging and saying she didn't feel well. I told her to just go lay down then. I didn't believe her. Big mistake. 10 minutes later she is re-living lunch all over the basement floor. Awesome. Two down. Sadly I couldn't even clean it up! Chad arrived home 15 minutes later to that mess. Thanks honey. You can have a medal too!

The rest of the evening was a blur. I was so dehydrated my arthritis was flaring up big time. Yes, I have arthritis at the tender age of 29, thank you gymnastics and cheerleading. Thankfully Chad stayed home the next day to help me recover. The closest thing to a sick day I got, even though I found myself taking care of everyone per usual. At least I got a few naps in. I pray it is a long time before I am that sick again!

By Thurs night Chad was hit. Lucky for him he is daddy and he can lay in bed all day. :) {I still love you!}

We all slowly recovering. This junk seriously messes with your GI system for days!
Lo woke up the next morning and said "I feel much better!"
"Awesome baby, I don't!"

Micah may have gotten it; he was one nightmarish diaper after the other for 4 days! Bless his heart due to his surgery he can't throw up--at least I thought. He did "puke" a very little bit on Friday...so my guess is he got some form of it, at least his messes were mostly contained to the diaper and not my couch.

Now Christmas is here and I feel so behind. My house needs cleaned sanitized since I am hosting, last minutes gifts need to be purchased, food bought. The list goes on. Yet I sit here...time to get busy.

Welcome to the land of*...

*the sick. (note: I am barely banging on 1 cylinder, so please excuse me if I ramble, don't make sense or spell all the words right.)
My family, extended included, has been plagued by the Great Stomach "Flu" of 2010. Chad and I haven't been sick in years, Lo in 13.5 months has never been sick, so this struck us hard. I shall spare you the details, but all 3 of us were all sick simultaneously Sun-Mon. As some of you know it is hard to care for a sick baby, but it is even harder when you can barely get up off the floor. If it weren't for my MIL (mother in law) coming over a few times to bring us some essentials we may have never made it!

The "sickies" the "flu" made Lo super super cuddly!!!!!!!!!

However, it is now Friday and we are doing better (not 100%) but better. So I will eventually get around to the obligatory Easter post, because I am sure you are all just dying to see Lo in her Easter dress :). HA!

*Make Believe...
On another happier note I finished Lo's "playroom." It is more of an area residing in our office space. It is so nice to get the majority of the toys out of the family room. Thus far she seems to like it, but it is taking some time to get use to.
It cost me a grand total of $16.98 for the vinyl wall lettering "Welcome to the Land of Make Believe." I love this saying because I spent 98% of my childhood here, ok who am I kidding I still have a permanent residence there, and I hope Lo is as imaginative as I was am.
Anyway, I got my quote from the "Vinyl Lettering" shop on etsy, I used them once before if you remember from THIS post. They are amazing and totally recommend using them for any of your vinyl wall lettering needs. Check them out HERE. They are super affordable and will custom any order your imagination takes you. And I "shopped" my house for the rest of the stuff.

Here are the before and afters!
BEFORE: I am a little ashamed of this, but clearly my "office" area became a catch-all place that I hardly ever did anything with...
AFTER: I imagined it looking more magazinesque (yes, I just made that word up), but I didn't want to spend a lot of money and really the goal was a place to corral the toys and play which was accomplished.