4-Wheelin' Fun

I got a crazy hair the other day and hopped on the back of my honey's four-wheeler to spend some much-needed alone time with my man. Mind you--I am two weeks, or thereabouts, away from delivering our 6th child.

Pretty quickly I realized that all those bumps and dips out in the pasture don't feel so good at nine months pregnant, even if we were only going 20 mph! He joked and said he was just helping me go into labor. "I've still got too much to do to get ready!" I hollered into the wind. But, much to his credit, he slowed WAAAYY down for his aching wife and got us comfortably home. No baby yet.

I love what my friend Andrea said when I was telling her about it. She laughed and said (and I'm paraphrasing), "I don't think there's anyway you can bump, shake or coax those babies out. They come when they come!"

So true!! God's timing is perfect. . . every time! Stay tuned--we'll keep you posted on our little one's arrival.

Balancing Act

People often tell me I'm a Superwoman.

I need to dispell this myth.

I am simply OCD task-oriented. My grannie was always working on some project; my daddy is always working on some project--it runs in my blood to find joy in having something to do.

With this baby coming, I've had to sit down and lie down a whole lot more. And that's been REALLY hard for me to do. I am used to pressing through the tiredness or the pain, and it honestly makes me feel weak to sit down for too long. Ok, there's the dirty laundry--I judge myself.

What makes you feel weak? What makes you feel strong?

I feel weak when in a moment of passion, I eat three slices of key lime pie in one sitting. I feel strong when I courageously drive past the whipped chocolate donuts screaming my name from the Shipley's donut store.

The things that make us feel weak or strong are going to be a little different for each of us, but that's what makes the world such a beautiful and diverse place. Whatever your strengths and weaknesses, I really believe it's all about balance.

Forgive yourself for the times you are weak and be thankful for the times you are strong. Learn from those things that make you feel weak and then concentrate on the things that make you feel strong.

When I realized how much God adores me in spite of my weaknesses AND my strengths, I felt such release and freedom. I don't have to be Superwoman for Him to love me, lead me and bless me.

But, if He could just help me get my schoolroom organized. . . !!

Reflux: Probiotic

I have been dealing with some reflux of my own with this pregnancy. It will even wake me up at night and make it uncomfortable to sleep no matter what position I lie in. I have found that taking some probiotic "soaks" up that burning sensation very well. I usually do not take it until I feel something, but it would definitely be best if I took probiotic all the time.

And it would be best for you, too--even if you're not pregnant! :-)

There are so many benefits to taking probiotic on a regular basis! I like the way the folks over at Beeyoutiful describe how probiotic works: Our stomachs normally contain both good and bad bacteria. When the two are in balance, the good guys win—even when viruses attack. But the balance can get thrown off if we eat too much processed sugar and white flour or take antibiotics, which indiscriminately kill all bacteria.

Taking a probiotic regularly helps to boost good bacteria which in turn fight off bad bacteria. An abundance of good bacteria is so incredibly important to the health of your intestinal tract and to your overall health that I just have to make sure you know about probiotic.

One of the beautiful things about probiotic is that it is safe for everybody--pregnant women, babies, etc. I love that! Just make sure not to take it when you're just about to drink something really hot because the heat can kill the good bacteria.

To order some of the best probiotic I have found on the market, click on this banner below.

My Wintertime Health Pantry: Activated Charcoal

Viruses abound. Especially if you have several children in the house and they like to share.

If one of my kids gets a stomach bug, it will invariably make the rounds of all of us before it's all said and done. But I've decided to fight back!

My favorite weapon against stomach viruses is activated charcoal.

Activated charcoal is pure carbon specially processed to make it highly adsorbent of particles and gases in the body's digestive system. Activated charcoal has often been used since ancient times to cure a variety of ailments including poisoning. Its healing effects have been well documented since as early as 1550 B.C. by the Egyptians.

It is GREAT to have on hand for kids because it can be used if you are concerned your child has overdosed on a chemical cleaner or an over-the-counter medicine. You can even mix it with water to make a paste to apply topically to bug stings or bites. Activated charcoal has even been used effectively in the treatment of snake bites.

It's one of the "right hand warriors" in my health pantry. So, when my four-year-old recently started throwing up and having stomach cramps and diarrhea, I whipped it out and instructed everyone to take some charcoal with their Emergen-C. Paul and I took two a day and the kids each took one.

No one argued with me. I guess they've learned over the years that stomach bugs are no fun!

Since the charcoal is very black and powdery, I camoflauged it as best I could for my two-year-old in some Activia yogurt (Activia is boosted with probiotic). He took it fine. My four-year-old balked a bit, but took it ok a half capsule at a time in the yogurt. It is odorless and tasteless as a capsule.

The quicker you can start activated charcoal once you've been exposed to something or start showing symptoms, the better.

Here's to a year free of stomach bugs!!