Cloth Diapering...Is It Right For You?

Photo by spiral owl creations

Desiree over at So Fawned is doing a great series on cloth diapers; why use them, how to use them, etc.

Anyone who is a regular reader knows that I've been using cloth since the Mermaid was 8 months old. I started out using them to save money, and will continue to use them because I love how environmental friendly they are and I can't stand the chemicals that they put in disposables.

Today I am over at So Fawned as a guest blogger as part of her cloth diapering series. If you are interested in trying cloth diapers but are overwhelmed by all the choices out there, then head on over....I've written a post specifically for you!

Cloth Diapering...Is It Right For You?

More on Eating Wholesome Foods

I recently came across a couple more links with great information about the dangers of additives that are in our food.

First, Simple Mom has a great post up written by a health columnist about the three top additives to eliminate from your diet. According to the author, by eliminating High Fructose Corn Syrup, trans fats, and dyes with numbers after them, we will eliminate 90% of the junk food that we eat. It's great article that is very helpful for when you are checking out the nutrition labels, so head on over and check it out.

Also, if you want more specific information on what exactly the dangers are with High Fructose Corn Syrup, then you must read Change Your World. Evelyn not only outlines the dangers of HFCS, but also gives a list of the most popular products that contain HFCS and a link to where you can find out which products do not contain HFCS. From her post:

Excess fructose intake has been associated with adverse health effects such as:metabolic syndrome, elevated triglyceride levels, hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, excess uric acid levels (associated with gout), and elevated levels of advanced glycation end products (linked with aging and complications of diabetes).Excess fructose intake may contribute to hypertension. High blood pressure is a well-known comorbidity associated with obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperlipidemia.

I know that we have been trying to eat less products that contain HFCS, but now we are going to eliminate it as much as possible.

What are your favorite links that guide you in eating wholesome foods?

More on Eating Wholesome Foods

Wanted: A Green Thumb

I have bad luck with plants. When we moved into our new home, I got several house plants as gifts. I've killed them all, except two: one that I have no idea what it is but it is hanging on by some miracle, and an aloe plant.

My sister bought me the aloe plant because she knew I am cursed with plants but that I like natural remedies. She told me it would be hard to kill, even for me. I love aloe plants, so I was very careful in taking care of it. It started to die, so I gave up.

I have such a brown thumb, that once I stopped taking the aloe plant, it got better!!

I'm so excited that this year I have a yard. And a beautiful garden that we "inherited" from the previous owners. Except I have no idea how to care for a garden. And I am terrified that I'm going to kill every beautiful plant out there.

I went through on Mother's Day and pulled the obvious weeds out (even I know what a dandelion is) but there are some things I'm not sure about. A few of the plants are blossoming beautifully and I'd like to know their names. A few look like they are dead and I want to replace them, but I don't know if they are really dead or if they are just late bloomers.

So, to start: here was some of the plants blooming in the front of our house. Does anyone out there know what these plants are?

My goal this year is to be able to take care of the existing garden. If all goes well, then next year I will plant a vegetable/herb garden.

If anyone wants to share their favorite gardening resource as well, that would be fabulous!

Wanted: A Green Thumb

A Goal I Am Proud Of.

I've been breastfeeding the Guppy for two years.

The World Health Organization states that children should be nursed up to two years and beyond. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be breastfed at least up to a year, and beyond as long as it is mutually desired by the child and mother.

When the Mermaid was born, I promised myself that I would breastfeed her for six months. Six months turned into a year without me noticing, and on her first birthday I moved my goal up to two years. However, when she was 15 months old, I became pregnant with the Guppy and by the time she was 21 months she was fully weaned due to my decreasing supply.

When the Guppy was born, I vowed to make it to at least two years, unless she decided otherwise. Through an improper latch that made my nipples resemble raw hamburger, to pumping in a bathroom at my old part-time job, I'm proud to say that I stuck to my goal: I've been officially nursing her for two years.

The funny thing is, like with the Mermaid, I didn't even notice really that I reached that goal. I look at my beautiful child, in her funny stage of toddlerhood, and I think, "Of course I'm still nursing her. Why wouldn't I be?"

Nursing is a natural part of our lives. It's part of our daily life, like eating or sleeping or brushing our teeth. I give my daughter kisses when she bumps her head, and I give her Na Na's. It's how I comfort her, how I give her nourishment when she is ill and isn't eating, how I calm her when she gets upset, how I tell her I love her. Really, when I am nursing her, no more thought goes into it than when I give her a hug, or tuck her in, or change her diaper. We just do it, and it works for us. It's so natural to us, it requires no thought.

I can't imagine weaning her right now. Maybe in a little while, I'll approach night-weaning, but not right before a move. And since the Knight and I are trying for our third baby, who knows what will happen when I get pregnant. But right now, I know that she is still in a stage in her life where she needs her "nanas", and I am still in a stage in my life where I am fine with giving them to her.

Besides, on top of all the benefits of nursing her that I've mentioned above, it's been proving that nursing a toddler is beneficial to her health. And that's enough reason for me.

To nursing moms out there: how long do you plan on nursing? Have you nursed children past the first year? Past the second? I'm interested in hearing your stories.

A Goal I Am Proud Of.

Crazy Sexy Cancer Trailer

I really want to see this. With cancer rampant in both the Knight's family and my family, cancer is a concern for us. Let me know your thoughts on this trailer.

Crazy Sexy Cancer Trailer

It Sounds Like A Dog Kennel In Here

I did end up taking the Guppy to the doctor yesterday and she does have croup. We didn't see our normal pediatrician, we saw another doctor, who was so kind enough to examine my daughter for a full three minutes before darting back out to rejoin the birthday party that was going on. @@

Anyways, as she was walking out the door she told me that the Guppy will be fine, call them again if she developes a fever. I took the girls home and took out my trusty book, my best friend, the book that every parent should own: Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child. Are you a parent? Yes? Then go get it.

Anyways the symptons for croup outlined in the book pretty much match the symptons that the Guppy has perfectly so I'm convinced. The book gave some homeopathic remedies and some suggestions of teas she can drink that I'm going to start her on today, plus I'm going to do some of the accupressure that they recommend as well. I did some last night before she went to bed and she actually slept better than she has in the past two months. She's still sleeping, so we'll see how she feels when she wakes up. I'm going to do some accupressure and teas with the Mermaid as well, because although she isn't as sick as the Guppy she still does have some congestion and a little cough. Combine her cough with the Guppy's distinctive croup cough and it really does sound like a dog kennel in this house.

Goals for today: take care of sicky kids, stick to weight watchers, prepare for my doula workshop on Saturday, and find some way to get rid of the damn fruit flies that have suddenly infested our house!

It Sounds Like A Dog Kennel In Here

Year of Action

The year of 2007 was a great year for our family. The Knight and I call 2007 the "year of enlightenment." It was the year that we realized that life could be different, that we could live however we wanted, and the way that we wanted to live was with as much freedom as possible.

Our first area of learning was in finances. We decided that the only thing between us and financial freedom was debt. After the Mermaid was born, we got into some serious credit card debt, on top of our student loans. We learned that getting out of this debt was the key to being able to set aside money for a savings, and to being able to afford a house on just one income. So, we went on the Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover Plan. From March to December, we paid off about $12,000.00 worth of debt and saved up for a down payment on a house. Our goal is to be completely free of debt, except for a mortgage, by the end of 2009.

Our second area of learning was in health. We did some research on nutrition and decided to become vegetarians. We are seriously considering going vegan. Being vegetarians is simply healthier: in fact, eating meat is seriously detrimental to your health. Books that we read in our research include The China Study, You Don't Need Meat, and The Mad Cowboy. The science is there, we just accessed it.

Our third area of learning was in lifestyle. First, we made a conscious decision to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. While we did take some positive steps in this direction (switched to cloth paper towels/napkins, set up a recycling center, etc), I still think we need to work on this one. Second, we decided that we did not want to live the traditional 9-5 lifestyle. We want to both work from home and be home with our kids. We want to homeschool them, be there for them, and raise them with our values, so that they learn the importance of family. Since right now we are relying on the Knight's income, we decided to take steps to allow me to work from home first. This decision led me to starting two of my own home-based businesses: the first was my Doula business, the second was my Direct Marketing business. I adore doing both businesses, and have a blast with each one. Once we are more out of debt, the Knight wants to open his own business as a financial advisor for the Dave Ramsey plan. Then we will both be home to raise and school our children.

Now that 2007 is over, we know that we have definite goals in all three areas and we also have plans laid out to reach those goals. So, for us, 2008 is going to be the year of action. We are both going to work to develop and build my businesses, to help us get out of debt. We hope to get even more out of debt in the spring, and get a house. We've started homeschooling the girls. And we are gazelle intense on reaching all of our goals, and getting the lifestyle that we want.

Will we succeed? We have to. We have officially removed the option of quitting from the table. It is this or nothing. And we are determined.

As for personal resolutions, I do have a few. My general resolution is to improve as a person. The specific ones I have are:

~ Find value in myself, and know that I am worthy of the all the blessings I receive.
~ Don't let other people's opinions rule how I feel about myself
~ Be more positive/optimistic (including doing some positive affirmations about myself and my life every morning)
~ Move forward in both my businesses
~ Yell less (I hate it when I lose control of my anger and yell at the Mermaid)
~ Lose weight (kind of cliche, I know, but the Knight and I are going to TTC in September/October and I want to be as healthy as possible for the pregnancy.)

So that is our outlook for the year. I would love to hear what your goals for 2008 are!

Year of Action

Bisphenol A Found in Formula

First in plastic baby bottles, now in formula. According to an article I read recently, bisphenol A is found in the lining of cans of liquid formula and often leaches into the formula itself. The article states:

New research from a U.S. environmental group reveals the potentially carcinogenic chemical bisphenol A is in the lining of most cans of liquid baby formula and often leaches into the liquid at what they say are dangerous levels for babies.
"Because they eat so much relative to their small size, their
exposure is intense," said Sonya Lunder, lead researcher on bisphenol A for the Environmental Working Group, a research agency based in Washington. "We can't use endocrine-disrupting chemicals in a baby's first food. The formula companies need to take action."

The response of the formula companies, of course, is unsatisfactory. The article recommends that if you do buy formula, to buy it in powder form instead of the liquid form.

Yet another reason to be so glad that I chose to breastfeed.

Bisphenol A Found in Formula

Cord Clamping After Birth

I recently came across an interesting article about how early cord clamping after birth can be harmful to the baby. From the article:

In the baby, evidence has shown that allowing the cord blood to keep flowing for a few minutes increases the iron stores. In the developing world, where anaemia is a big problem, practices have now changed to delay clamping and the World Health Organization has dropped early clamping from its guidelines.

When the Mermaid was born, her cord was cut almost immediately. Oh how I wish I had known what I know today! With the Guppy's birth, we left the cord attached to her until it stopped pulsating, I believe it was anywhere from 15-30 minutes.

The benefits of delaying cord clamping is proven. There is no need to rush and deny the newborn baby all the nutrients that his or her body is still trying to receive from the placenta. It doesn't take much to just say, No, we want our baby to remain attached to the placenta for now.


Another practice involving delaying cord clamping in infants is Lotus Birth, in which the baby remains attached to the placenta until it falls off naturally, usually in 3-6 days. I find Lotus Birth intriguing, and I am thinking of considering it for our next child.


What are your views on cord clamping? Did you delay cord clamping with your children, or perhaps you had a Lotus Birth? I would love to hear your thoughts/experiences/opinions!

Cord Clamping After Birth

Profesionals Call To End of Water Fluoridation!

The Fluoride Action Network has recently released a statement signed by 600 professionals from all around the world that calls for an end to water fluoridation. According to the statement, eight events have led up to this call for the end of fluoridation. These eight events include:

1. Reports that fluoride has been linked to adverse side effects, such as an increased risk of bone fractures, decreased thyroid function, lowered IQ, arthritic-like conditions, dental fluorosis and, possibly, osteosarcoma.

2. Studies by the CDC have shown that fluoridation of water has led to dental flourosis in children.

3. The American Dental Association's call to make sure parents use only distilled and purified water when preparing their babies formula: not water with fluoride.

4. The CDC's concession that exposing the entire body to fluoride through water is not beneficial or necessary for dental health.

....and so forth.

This statement is an interesting read. Be sure to check it out and research the dangers of fluoride before giving any fluoride supplements to your child.

Profesionals Call To End of Water Fluoridation!

Dangers of Nail Polish

When a woman becomes pregnant, or even when she is nursing, she is careful to take care of herself and her baby. She avoids alcohol, smoking, drugs, junk food, etc.

Now women can add nail polish to the list of "Things to Avoid When Pregnant or Nursing".

According to this article in The Daily Green:

...nail polish isn’t the sort of thing you want to be slathering on your digits when you’re pregnant. It likely contains phthalates to make it flexible and chip resistant. Certain phthalates are banned in Europe, and some big American companies are starting to pull them out of their nail polishes as well, because
research has shown they can cause cancer and/or reproductive abnormalities in lab animals. A small study suggested baby boys exposed to high levels of the chemical in utero were more likely to exhibit penile anomalies.

It's scary when you think about all the toxins we are exposed to through the products we use. If you are concerned about more than your nail polish, you can always check out Skin Deep and find out how safe all your beauty products are.

Dangers of Nail Polish

Nature Walk

The weather these past few days has been absolutely lovely. So, I jumped at the chance of getting the girls outdoors and letting the Mermaid learn a little about nature. We don't have any trails to walk on but our road is pretty slow and safe, so with the Mermaid at my side and the Guppy on my back, we took a little nature walk.

Playing in a Stream

Looking at a Rooster and chickens




Loved the pine cones
CRUNCH!!!!
So excited to be outside!
A little bit of green showing through!
Watching a stream.
Which rock do I like best?

Nature Walk

Homeopathic Remedies

This past Friday, the Mermaid, the Guppy and I were all inflicted with a stomach bug. It started a couple minutes after the Knight left the house, with the Mermaid throwing up her breakfast.

It was a rough day. The Mermaid had it the worse, throwing up many times during the day. The Guppy threw up a couple times, and I threw up a little myself as well. But thank God for homeopathic remedies! I did not have to worry about how the side effects would effect my daughters and I, or if it would do more harm than good. By the end of the day, we were all feeling great.

I started with administering Echinacea, in order to boost the immune system and combat the total onset of the bug. I also gave the Mermaid and myself Tummy Aches throughout the day, a natural, homeopathic remedy for nausea and vomiting. The Mermaid grew quite upset whenever she got sick, so I also created a calming mist of Lavender pure essential oil. I also gave the Mermaid doses of Ipecacuanha, a homeopathic remedy for nausea and vomiting. To make sure she was getting plenty of liquids, I also gave her watered down Peppermint tea. Finally, because garlic is great for boosting the immune system, I made us all some garlic soup. Of course, for the Guppy, my breastmilk was the only medicine she needed.

Garlic Soup Recipe:
2 tablespoons or more of minced garlic
2 teaspoons olive oil
4 cups chicken broth (I used vegetable broth)
2 eggs
Serves 2-4
Saute the garlic in the olive oil in a 2 quart saucepan over low heat for 30 seconds or until garlic is pale gold, stirring constantly.
Add broth. Simmer for 5-7 minutes.
Beat eggs in small bowl then add to soup gradually, stirring gently.
Cook for 1 minute longer. Serve immediately.
Yummy!

This was the first time in which I resorted to only homeopathic and natural remedies when we've been sick and I was very pleasantly surprised on how well they worked. Most of the remedies I read about in Natural Family Living, but other great sources for homeopathic research include: Homeopathic Remedies: An Quick and Easy Guide to Common Disorders and Their Homeopathic Treatments and ABC Homeopathy.

Of course, if you are not interested in homeopathic remedies and if you are a nursing mom, you can always check to see which medications are safe for breastfeeding moms to take at KellyMom and at LactMed.

Here's to your health!

Homeopathic Remedies