Our health roller coaster

FOUR years ago. We had just brought home our fourth SON. Life was a whirlwind of excitement, exhaustion, fun, chaos, silliness, sickness, sleepless nights and I was desperate for help, sleep and healthy kids.

BACK STORY
When our oldest was born a month early via C-section, he was healthy but struggled with all the "typical" issues, like colic and reflux. Our first pediatrician put him on multiple reflux drugs, one was a horrible neuro-inhibitor and is now off the market. We saw our baby react to the drug with a panic attack at just 1 month old... scary and sad. Right after his 1 year vaccines, he began getting sick all the time and suffered for months with chronic ear infections, was on round after round of antibiotics and eventually had surgery to put tubes in his ears. This was only a temporary fix and ear infections continued to be the norm in his life for many years.

Antibiotics, antihistamines, NSAIDS/Ibuprofen/Tylenol, acid reducers were commonly used medications in our home. I had grown up learning that there was a medicine for every issue, illness or injury. I had constant allergies, bronchitis several times a year and difficulties with asthma. I developed a medicinal stomach ulcer (at 17 years old) from drugs given after wisdom teeth surgery. I still remember reacting (with hallucinations) to a common antihistamine at the age of 5 years old. While I had seen many terrible reactions to drugs (OTC and pharmaceutical), it still took me awhile to wake up and learn that there is a better way to care for our health.

While we still saw allergic reactions to antibiotics (and vaccine reactions) with our 2nd and 3rd sons, we began waking up and trying to take a more natural approach to health and diet. Our middle sons have only been on antibiotics once in their lives because we stopped taking medicines... I even gave up the Tylenol PM that I relied on nightly for sleep and the Neosporin that I applied on every skin issue and boo boo.

We arrived at this point THREE years ago, DONE with medicines, pharmaceuticals and tired of putting temporary bandaids on health issues. We decided to make choices for REAL health, not just having the appearance of health in between the typical 11-12 sicknesses a year that pediatricians say is the norm!

With the help of an incredible doctors, chiropractors and my amazing oily friend Sarah, our family changed our diet to REAL foods, started regular chiropractic care and began using Young Living essential oils and supplements to support healthy body systems. Through balancing our digestive/gut health and supporting our immune systems, we have seen significant health improvements!

No one in our family has taken antibiotics in about 5 years. I no longer struggle with asthma, don't get bronchitis, have a balanceed digestive system, healthy weight and I SLEEP deeply and wonderfully! My oldest son, who was having bimonthly ear infections, hasn't had an ear infection in a year.

Our youngest son has reaped the benefits of all of our trial and error parenting of his older siblings. He has always had a clean real food paleo diet, super nourishing Weston A. Price goat milk formula, has never needed medicines or vaccines, and is the picture of health and strength... super hero strength!

Thankful for the ability to take control our health and see true health and freedom!!

Elderberry and Winter Wellness Tips

As winter approaches, people "Winterize" their homes to protect them from winter temperatures and weather. How much more should we prepare our bodies for the winter months, so they will maintain health and wellness through this season?!

An easy way to support health is removing the things that tear it down and weaken our Immune System.

Did you know that SUGAR (even in juice) will completely freeze/suppress your white blood cells and your body's ability to get rid of germs/bacteria/damaged cells? When preventing illness, and especially when you're fighting it, SUGAR will completely derail your efforts. While many reach for soda, Gatorade, juice or carb filled "comfort foods", you will experience far more comfort by avoiding those sugar laden foods & nourishing your body with healthy fats, green leafy vegetables & antioxidant rich foods. Here are several recipes for each meal!

Toxins from environment, household cleaners, body products, disrupt the pathways of the Immune System. Getting rid of toxic products in home is a simple way to boost Immune System! Thieves Household Cleaner is an amazing powerful and safe cleaner for every room in the home!

A weekly DETOX BATH is a great way to maintain Lymphatic flow and reduce toxins and stress. I have a couple recipes I like...

1 cup Epsom salt

1/4 cup organic baking soda 

Add EOs to salt and soda

-  Serious Immune support: Ginger, Thieves, Orange, Frankincense

- Relaxing detox: Lavender, Stress Away

- Respiratory support: RC and Lavender 

As a former "germophobe", I used to think staying away germs would keep us healthy. Inevitably, we will all be exposed to something. Strengthening & nourishing our God given Immune System empowers us to live the healthy life God created us to live!

I LOVE that we can be empowered to take charge of our health and make healthy choices for ourselves and our families! Our family supports our wellness with an antioxidant rich sugar free paleo diet (no mucous forming dairy or inflammatory difficult to digest grains). We eat lots of leafy greens (in smoothies, in soups and on plates). 

Antioxidants are SUPER important for maintaining wellness because they get rid of free radicals in our body and protect cellular health. We can eat enough foods to give us a significant amount of antioxidants, so we drink 1oz of Ningxia Red for an antioxidant boost! Our entire family love this drink!

Cloves contain the highest antioxidant level of any substance on the planet and are amazing for boosting the Immune System! Clove is the #1 ingredient in Young Living's Thieves Essential Oil and is also one of the ingredients in my elderberry syrup. My elderberry syrup recipe contains elderberries, rosehips (super high Vitamin C), Astragalus, cinnamon, cloves and Young Living Vitaity Essential Oils: Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Lemon and Ginger.

I make bone broth every week and use it to make soups/gumbo, quinoa, lentil pasta, in my chicken salad. It's great to drink in a mug too!

Supporting digestive/gut health, where 70% of the Immune System resides, is absolutely vital for health! We take probiotics daily and increase to several times a day when our bodies are stressed.

We use MANY Young Living Essential Oils to support Immune, Respiratory and Digestive Systems!

In addition to elderberry syrup and probiotics, our boys LOVE Goop! It's amazingly soothing to throats and respiratory systems! To an 8oz jar of local honey and unrefined organic coconut oil, I add 7-10 drops Young Living Vitality lemon and orange, 3 drops Vitality peppermint and frankincense and 1 drop Thieves Vitality EO.

One of my sons used to have often ear issues. Since adjusting our diet (cutting sugar, dairy and grains) and supporting our body systems, his ears are much healthier! Ear candling is another method that greatly supports ear health and is super simple!

Weekly chiropractic visits with our favorite chiropractors at Active Life Chiropractic have been a HUGE part of our family's wellness! When your body is aligned properly, it can function and even heal better. From torn ligaments to sniffles and clogged ears, they have helped us! Our boys love Dr. Barrett and Dr. Emily and how they keep us healthy!

Young Living's Raindrop Technique is a powerful Immune boosting method of layering oils on the spine. We try to do this weekly/monthly on our family.

 If you don't yet have these amazing oils, I am happy to mentor you and support you as you take charge of your health and wellness!! Follow this link to get your oils!!