Grant ~Fall 2014~

Well it’s winter and I am just getting to posting Grant’s Fall 2014 post.  Seems appropriate given how crazy busy life always seems.  I am always behind on posts lately but pretty darn proud of myself that it even gets done. 

Approximate size

Height: 40"

Weight:  35 lbs 

Grant is pretty much out of 3T items and fully in 4T.  He still seems average to small for his age and when I try to move him up a size in undies (currently 2T/3T) he drowns in them but his old ones are getting a little smallish.  He wears a size 9 shoe. 

Potty training:  I am happy to report that Grant is now accident free 99% of the time whether it is naptime or bed time.  He still wears a diaper to bed just in case but he never wakes wet.  I am mainly nervous because he has yet to wake to tell us he has to potty but he can hold it long enough it isn’t an issue. 

September

Favorite words, sayings and/or things:  Grant absolutely loves to do anything daddy is doing… building, working, playing.  He wants to be right there with daddy doing it as well.  He loves his Nike tennis shoes which he knows he only gets to wear when he isn’t playing or going to school.  

Funnies/Grant-isms:  On my birthday, Grant asked why it was my birthday and I told him because I was born 30 years ago and without missing a beat he said, “Wow, that is a lot!”  Thanks Buddy! 

Observations:  Grant is getting better at visually recognizing more words (Grant, mom, dad, Amelia, Jesus, dog, book, Pooh among some of them).  He is better at coloring in the lines.  He likes hopping on one foot but when you ask him to switch feet and put his right foot down he can’t do it.  He can put the dogs in their kennel on his own and latch them correctly.  Grant absolutely still needs a nap.  There are occasions when we push it because we have something going on but he gets super crabby and just isn’t ready to drop it.

Firsts/Adventures:  This month Grant got to ride in Papa George’s semi in a trucker’s caravan.  He thought it was absolutely the coolest thing riding up front so high waving and honking at all the people.

We made our first attempt of organized activity.  Grant participated in a series of tumbling classes.  At the first class, he didn’t really want anything to do with it.  By the end of the last class, he was more easily engaged and participated almost 100%. 

Grandma Cheryl was here for a visit towards the end of this month and of course we had a blast!! 

Illness:  Guilty mom moment ahead…  There was a night towards the end of the month that we tucked Grant in bed with nothing more than a minor cough and no other complaints.  About 20 minutes later he came out of his room and said he needed a Q tip because he had green stuff coming out of his ear.  Well, we know Grant likes to play games at bed time occasionally and stall so we sent him back to bed and again he didn’t complain. 

It was about an hour later when we heard him crying and whimpering.  I went into his room and he was complaining of his ear hurting and crying.  I checked his ear and sure enough he had green drainage coming from it.  Grant no longer has tubes and his ear drum has completely healed so to me that meant only one thing… his ear drum had ruptured.   We put some oils on and made sure he wasn’t in any extreme discomfort and he slept through the night no problem.

Fast forward to the next day and a visit to the ENT which confirmed my suspicion.  Grant’s ear drum had indeed ruptured.  The doc absolutely couldn’t believe we didn’t end up in the ER because of the pain alone when that occurs.  Grant still appeared to be slightly under the weather but his only complaint was a headache until the next day (October 1) and our first trip to convenient care… I’ll finish the story in the October section.  

October

Favorite words, sayings and/or things:  I wish I had a recorder on 24/7.  There are so many things he says that absolutely crack us up that I don’t remember and often forget to write down.  Grant absolutely loves Winnie the Pooh right now.  We have a set of 15 books and we literally read a Pooh book everyday!

Funnies/Grant-isms:  One day on the way home Grant asked me, “What happens if you drink P and put poop in your mouth?”  Talk about random and catch you off-guard.  When Grant says words that start with a th like thing or thank it comes out as an F sound like fing or fank.

Observations:  Grant is still very inquisitive but doesn’t ask nearly as many why questions.  He’s been talking a lot about Christmas already and also been telling us his “teeth hurt” which we don’t really know why. 

Firsts/Adventures:  Grant had a dentist appointment and handled it like a pro.  Matt caught a grass snake and without even hesitating Grant asked if he could pet it!  I was surprised he wasn’t more hesitant.  Trick or treating was a blast this year… once we got his costume on that is!  It was a bit of a fight because he had just woken from nap and was super crabby!!  

Illness:  2 days after his ruptured ear drum Grant began running a 102 fever but initially had no other complaints.  It wasn’t until the end of the day when he casually mentioned his mouth hurt.  I had him open wide and took a look at his throat.  His tonsils and throat were flaming red and covered with white puss spots.  Figuring we were headed for a strep throat diagnosis we packed up and headed for our first trip to convenient care.  After a visit with the doc and a strep culture which was “surprisingly negative,” we headed home and treated him as if it were any other viral infection (oils, oils, oils and thieves and honey cider).  He wasn’t even complaining of a sore throat the next morning.

 A Grant funny from the doc and being sick… Tonsils are also know at “twinsils.”   When referring to his tonsils and how ugly, puss-covered and swollen they were Grant asked us, “Where’s your twinsils?”    

November

Favorite words, sayings and/or things:  My boss gave us an antique school desk which the kids love sitting at and playing school.  Tis the season and Grant loves the park’s light show more than ever this year!!  He has a recent obsession with putting multiple pieces of paper together, folding them, and making a “book.”  He also loves stuffing envelopes and making “presents.”

Funnies/Grant-isms:   While playing one day Grant told me he was driving to Africa.  I asked what he was going to do there and he told me work.  I then asked him where he worked and he said he was building a poop plant.    

Observations:  Grant will ask questions he already knows the answer to.  It is slightly annoying so we turn it around on him and make him answer his own question.  He of course wants everything his sister puts her hands on immediately.  He’s been talking a lot about witches and ghosts and has told us he wants to be a nice witch for Halloween next year. 

Firsts/Adventures:  After some floating back and forth, he officially moved up to the 4 year old classroom.  It’s been a bit of a rough transition because Grant was so attached to his awesome teacher in the previous classroom.  We’ve made it through the bumps and he’s doing much better. 

I think we officially had the scariest moment of our lives to date.  We went to a Christmas tree farm to cut down a Christmas tree.  They have a horse drawn wagon that takes you to the trees.  Well, when we got there we walked up with Grant and we pet the horses and he loved it.  We went and got our tree and came back to warm up.  

The horses had returned and Grant wanted to go pet them again.  We walked around the back of the wagon and were walking up to the front of the horses when Grant reached out and touched the horse’s front leg.  Everything immediately slowed down and I could see it all coming.  His hand touched the horse, the horse’s leg twitched because he got spooked.  The horse rared up and then kicked his legs back kicking Grant squarely in the upper arm and knocking him to the ground.  All I could think was I have to get him out of there (because I didn’t know if the horse would keep bucking and kicking).  I reached down, grabbed his coat, and dragged him away from the horses.

Grant was crying and at this point we didn’t know where he had been kicked (by a fully grown CLYDESDALE!).  By the time we got him inside, he was no longer crying.  We pulled his coat off to see where he was kicked, if it was broken/dislocated, etc.   He was so incredibly lucky.  A matter of 6 inches higher and the horse would have kicked him in the head.

We took the opportunity to talk to Grant about always letting the horse see him before he reaches out to pet them.  (The horses had blinders on and never saw us coming.  I should’ve made sure we weren’t walking so close until we got to the front of the horse and now Grant knows how to approach an animal.)  Proud parent moment though… after we were assured he was OK, he asked us if he could go back out and pet the horse which he did very bravely and was very excited.

On the way home he asked me when his arm was going to stop hurting and when we laid him down for a nap he was already beginning to get a black and blue bruise.  Oil moment though… I put an oil called Deep Relief for pain and Valor for bruising on there before his nap and I kid you not  when he woke up there was no sign what so ever of bruising.  His arm was slightly red but not bruised.  Even several days later it never turned black and blue but when it began to heal a bit more at about day 5 it turned yellowish in color like bruises often do. 

The house was decorated and ready for Christmas and we have started some of the winter festivities including building and decorating a gingerbread house kit which both he and Amelia loved!

Illness:  None

Essential Oils: The Journey is Just Beginning

I'll be honest here... I started this post back in October.  Why didn't I finish?  Well, I was still so early in my essential oil journey that I honestly didn't feel confident in some of the information that I wanted to put out there.  Maybe I wasn't quite "sold" on them yet.  When I first heard of the idea of essential oils and the uses, to say I was skeptical was an understatement.  I thought some of the oil lovers were just a bit out there. :)

This all changed when a friend of a friend brought some Young Living Thieves over for Grant when he had chicken pox.  It smelled amazing... Cinnamon, cloves, with a hint of lemon along with some others all blended into this amazing oil.  I really feel like it helped to shorten the course over all and he loved it too! 

After a little more research, I decided at that point to sign up with Young Living to become a distributor.  However, it was only to get the cheaper wholesale price of the oils.  That is still my primary purpose.  At this point, I really have little ambition to try to turn it into a business.  If it happens naturally that is fine but all I want to do is share what I have learned so far.  The fun part?  I am learning that as I share more... people want to know more!  And as I learn more and use them more... I want to share more about them with everyone I know!

I should point out that not all oils are created equal. There IS a difference in essential oils. You can't go to just any store and buy them and expect to get the same results you would with a quality oil like the Young Living brand.   Young Living are pure, unadulterated therapeutic oils distilled from various plants with no fillers or perfumes.  Since learning more about essential oils I have heard of other competitors that are very close in quality if not better.  If interested in oils, find the brand oil that best fits your life but make sure it is a HIGH quality oil.  It DOES make a difference.  One way to test the quality of an essential oil is the white paper test.   Put a drop of essential oil on a piece of white blotting paper.   It will leave a mark.   However, after several hours when it is dry, there should be no oily residue.  Pure oils should not be cut with carrier oils such as jojoba or grape seed oil.   Some brands and blends do have carrier oils, but that should be clearly stated on the bottle.

My knowledge has grown though it is far from extensive.  What prompted me to write all this now?  There is obviously a desire for people to know more and learn about the amazing medicinal oils that God placed here just for us.  In fact one of my favorite bloggers I follow pointed out this Bible passage:

“Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.” Ezekiel 47:12  

Isn't that so true?  There are amazing resources and I reference my Essential Oil Desk Reference daily.  It lists each and every oil, oil blend, and young living product along with uses for each of them.  There is also a section in the back where you can look up everything from colds to infertility to depression (thousands of ailments and disorders!).  I've learned there is an oil for everything. 

Young Living offers every oil you can think of and additionally even sells cleaning products (using Thieves as the base), personal care products such as shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste, and other nutritional supplements.  I digress though!  I honestly have yet to try any of their other products. 

Let me tell you about my three favorite oils.  I learn about and try a new oil all the time that I love for a new reason but so far these are the most versatile.

Mini Disclaimer:  I've found that all oil users have their own way of using them... methods they prefer.  Some say always dilute.  Others say they never dilute.  Some ingest, others don't.  Note that you should never ingest an oil that isn't marked for ingestion.  MANY brands are not but that is the beauty of Young Living oils, many of theirs are!  For us personally, the method we use depends on the oil we are using.  And when I say dilute, it means to use a carrier oil such as coconut oil, olive oil, or even an unscented lotion.     

Fun Fact:  Did you know your feet have the largest pores and largest concentration of pores in your entire body.  That means when you put essential oils on your feet, they are rapidly absorbed into your body and begin working almost immediately!

Thieves

The history of Thieves:
Its name may sound odd but is based on exactly what it would seem to be.  The name originates from a group of thieves who were stealing from those affected from the Bubonic plague, but somehow avoiding catching the Plague themselves.  They admitted to using a blend of aromatics for protection, and in exchange for a lighter prison sentence, turned over their recipe.

"Thieves has natural antibacterial and antiviral properties and studies conducted by Weber State University in Utah in 1997 showed the antibacterial effectiveness of Thieves against airborne microorganisms.  One study showed a 90% reduction in the number of gram-positive micrococcus luteus organisms after diffusing Thieves for 12 minutes.  After diffusing Thieves for a total of 20 minutes, there was a 99.3% reduction.  Another study with the gram-negative pseudomonas aeruginosa showed a kill rate of 99.96% after just 12 minutes of diffusion." 

How awesome is that?!?

So how do we use it in our house?

First, Thieves may be a little strong for sensitive skin so you may want to dilute it.   When using on our feet and wrists, we don't dilute.   If using somewhere else, I usually dilute. 

• Diffusing! As the study showed above, I diffuse this at least once a day in our home.
• 1-2 drops on the bottom our our feet before bed and then put socks on 
• For treating coughs or flu, put 1-2 drops Thieves with a carrier oil and apply to chest, neck, and behind the ears and rub in well.
• Before work or school, place 1 drop of Thieves on both wrists and rub together.  The Thieves will work all day to kill bacteria and viruses that you come into contact with! 
• Put 1-2 drops of Thieves on your toothbrush to kill unwanted bacteria & viruses in your mouth, which is where lots of sickness starts!  Do this daily for protection or when you are sick.  Kids can do this too, but be warned that it’s very strong!
• If you have a headache, place 1 drop on the tongue and press it against the roof of your mouth.  This really helps but let me warn you... there is a definite burning/tingling sensation that lasts for a brief period

I have so many anecdotes already from our family and friends that I have shared this oil with that have seen drastic improvements in their lives.  From stopping a cold/flu dead in its tracks on several occasions to another person who has suffered from sinus problems their entire life that said she has "never drained so much crap as she did after using Thieves just once."  She had me order her a bottle after using it just once.   

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint is strong aromatically and a little goes a long way so I prefer to use it with a carrier oil or just inhale. 

Common Uses

• Fevers!!!! I can't praise this oil enough for the treatment of fevers.  On numerous occasions in our house this winter it has gotten rid of or lowered a fever... even a 104 degree fever Amelia had   
• Perfect for treating congestion.  Drink 1-2 drops in 8 oz. spring or filtered water for sore throats and congestion.
• Drop 1-2 drops on the neck line to help clear up stuffy noses. (Again, depending on age you may want to use a carrier oil because it is powerful.)
• If you have a headache, put 1-2 drops of peppermint in the palm of your hands and rub them together.  Cup them over your face and inhale as deeply as you can.  It is very strong but helps tremendously with headaches.
• Rub 1-2 drops along with organic coconut oil onto sore muscles.
• Inhale straight from the bottle if you need a pick me up.
• Some people like it in their morning coffee.  I tried it once but honestly it was too strong for me to enjoy it.

A friend of our suffers from migraines and felt one coming on.  I brought her some of our peppermint oil and she said that within 30 minutes of applying it to her neck, temples, and forehead.   

Lavender

Commons Uses

• Use it to sleep better at night.  Before bed, put 2-3 drops of lavender on your wrist. Rub your wrists and inhale deeply.  You will sleep so much better.  This can also be done for small children but I like to put it on their feet or onto their favorite teddy bear or blanket.
• Put 10 drops of lavender into your or your kid's bath to help calm nerves and for detoxing.  It provides for an extremely relaxing experience.
• Use it directly on cuts and scrapes in place of your typical triple antibiotic ointment.  It has amazing antiseptic properties.  You can even add several drops to hand soaps around the house.
• Diffuse it to clean the air in your home and give a lovely scent.
• Put 10 drops into each new bottle of hair conditioner you buy.  It helps with dry scalp, hair growth, and overall health of your hair. 

Other uses: cough/bronchitis and teething


Other favorite oils of mine: Lemon & Grapefruit (smell amazing and delicious in water!)

My most recent order will include Clary Sage which is supposed to help with endometriosis and I am super excited to try it out!

I am not saying the oils have been the end all, cure all but I firmly believe they have helped drastically.  Grant has not missed a single day of daycare this cold and flu season due to being sick.  We have dealt with Amelia's ear infections and colds but I think that is pretty par for the course for an infant.  I actually hate to imagine how rough our winter would be without using the oils on her for ear infections, bronchitis, coughs, teething, and soothing.  I don't know if anyone remembers or read it but during the time period that Amelia suffered from ear infection(s) for 6 weeks, the only time we ever got even just one ear to clear up was when we didn't use any antibiotics and used only natural methods. 

If you want to learn more about signing up or trying some oils out please don't hesitate to contact me.  I'd be happy to order some for you at wholesale or we can talk about how you can sign up as a distributor yourself.  I started with the premium starter kit when I signed up here which comes with an amazing beginning selection of start oils AND a diffuser.  Then after you have signed up, you get oils at wholesale price. 

PS I am not trying for one huge sales pitch here!  I just want to share the information, plant the seed, and let everyone who is interested do the research.