Sickness

Lots and lots of sickness. We have been fighting different things since around Thanksgiving. Because of how many people there are here it takes a while to go through everyone. Every time we "get over it" and are healthy, we've picked up something else :( Just a few we've had.. RSV/PinkEye, Flu, Strep, ear infections, stomach viruses, upper respiratory viruses, colds, allergies, etc... Lots and lots of sickness!

These are just a few things that have helped us through all this...

RSV/Pinkeye ~ Bee Propolis, Vitamin C, garlic, colloidal silver (eye drops) and breastmilk (eye drops). Pinkeye is caused by the same virus as RSV. Research it :)

The Flu ~ Homemade chicken soup, garlic, Vitamin C, Elderberry, Mentholatum, Oscillococcinum

Strep ~ Apple Cider Vinegar!!! Seriously a life saver for us! We tend to get it so frequently. (we're thinking we have a silent carrier?) We can't keep taking antibiotics for everything and it's kinda ridiculous to be on them for strep and within a month have strep again. So when that happened (we all were on antibiotics, all 11 of us! And 2 weeks after we got done my oldest girl got strep and antibiotics again) I did some research for remedies because nothing else I had tried worked. I know a lot of people swear by colloidal silver, but for us it's like drinking water. Nothing works. I found a few places recommending ACV and since we had it I gave it a try. Word of Warning... It BURNS!!! If you have strep it's like burning coals going down your throat. At first I just gave it to the kids straight. They cried :( So then I gave it to them in grape juice and while some don't like it, some actually do like it. But regardless of whether they like it or not, it WORKS! My daughter was the only one who had to be on antibiotics. Others were starting to get it but within just a couple days they were all back to normal. So from now on anytime anyone starts with symptoms they get ACV juice and Voila' they're over it super quick. I've gotten to use it several times and same thing every time. Yay for ACV!

Stomach Viruses ~ Charcoal, Slippery Elm, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Peppermint

Ear Infection ~ Warm coconut oil in the ear, juice fresh garlic with other fruits and drink lots

Upper Respiratory, Colds ~ Lots of Vitamin C, garlic, Bee Propolis

I am in no way a "Doctor" or expert, these are just things I've done and had success with. Hope someone else might find them helpful :D

Blessings, ♥T

Deodorant Recipe

My recipe for deodorant.... 

I tried a few different recipes and this is the one that worked the best. And had little to no irritation like the others. 

6-8 TBS coconut oil. 

1/4 c baking soda 

1/4 c arrow root powder 

1/4 c shea butter

mix the powders, then add in the coconut oil and then the shea butter. I generally store in a small tupperware bowl with lid and just apply with my fingers.

I am generally "lazy" and just get out my KitchenAid with the whisk attachment. But when that wasn't available I used a bowl and fork and it was still super easy to make. 

Thanks to changing hormones with all these babies I have had some major issues with sweating profusely and smell, even with store bought deodorant. I actually was buying the strongest stuff out there and it still wasn't working. After using it just once I was able to notice a major difference. No smell and much less sweat. Plus even when I did sweat it didn't get that weird smell. :) Pleasant I know, lol...

 I try to use the best products available, but have just used what's available at times. It does make a difference, IMO. I've tried the LouAnna and Spectrum brand coconut oil, but didn't feel like it gave the same results. My preferred brand that I can find is Nutriva. They sell Nutriva coconut oil at Costco now. For the shea butter I get raw ivory shea butter. I've tried the golden shea butter, but didn't like the smell, consistency or the way it worked. I get mine on amazon and usually just get 1 lb at a time. 1lb lasts forever! This Site has some good info, that is pretty helpful, on shea butter.

Besides the fact that it works, which I think is extremely important, it also is much healthier for you. Store bought deodorants are full of unhealthy chemicals that are very damaging to your body. Also, while it may seem like the cost up front is a little pricey (if you get the best product available) it actually makes quite a bit and you only have to use a little bit a time so it lasts forever. 

Let me know if you give it a try and how it works for you :)

Blessings, ♥T

Back to Life...

Yes, I'm still here :) Life...

We have had a very long year. Filled with trials, tribulation, and troubles. Most people have no clue what's going on, and I'll just keep it that way :) There are a select few who do and those who we know IRL who can probably guess some of it. Suffice it to say, it's not been pretty and it's been very hard on us all. I for one have been struggling with major depression because of it all. I do not understand it. Why? What did I ever do? What horrible sin must I have committed? Nothing...

It has affected me to the point where I just had nothing to blog about. I couldn't get on here and pretend everything in life was just great when I was so angry and frustrated. So I have remained silent. I'm not saying I'm back to normal, but I at least feel like I can (and want to) blog again. I'll be trying to stay away from subjects that are controversial, debatable, or "sensitive matter". I will be talking about what we've been doing in school, posting recipes that work for us, money saving tips, and just other "boring" stuff that's going on.

For now an update...

My oldest is now 14. Totally crazy being the mom of a 14 yr old. I cannot believe he will be in high school next school year.

We celebrated everyone's birthdays from October to March. Just have one in July, for now, as I will be having baby #10 at the end of July! :D It's another girl which brings the tally up to 3 boys, 7 girls. The boys aren't tremendously thrilled, but they're happy for another baby :) Everyone is looking forward to seeing her. She is nameless right now, but I'm hoping to settle on a name soon.

We spent most of the winter, from Thanksgiving til March, sick with everything from the flu to bronchitis to pinkeye to rotavirus to allergies. Just when we thought we were safe and done I've got 2 sick again. Hopefully it won't last long though. (I think Sarah is just teething as she's done this with every tooth that broke through)

It is now way past my bed time so I guess that'll wrap it up. Hopefully I'll put up another post in the next few days.

Blessings, ♥T