My Blog = My Life: natural remedies

Lavender has got to be my all-time favorite herbal scent. I purposely brush my legs against the plants when I walk along my garden so I can catch a whiff of their glorious fragrance. With a little work, I can preserve and enjoy the smell and its healing properties long after the blooms have died off.

Although not as strong as a distilled essential oil, a lavender oil infusion produces the same fragrance and can serve the same purpose without the need for dilution. Here's how I made mine:

You'll need:

• a pale colored oil with a mild scent (olive, almond, or jojoba work well)
• fresh lavender blooms, not completely opened
• a plastic (Ziploc) bag and wooden spoon or mallet (or a mortar and pestle)
• a glass jar with lid
• a piece of cheesecloth or muslin, large enough to cover the mouth of your jar
• a smaller jar in which to pour the strained oil

1. Place the lavender heads in the Ziploc bag and seal tightly. Green leaves and stems can be added too, but keep anything woodsy or branch-like out.
2. Tap the flowers lightly with the wooden mallet or spoon to bruise them so they can release their fragrance.

3. Stuff the large glass jar full and pour in enough oil until they are covered. 4. Seal the jar and shake well. Set aside for 48 hours for the flowers to steep.

5. After 48 hours, strain the oil with a cheesecloth into a dark colored jar and discard the flowers and stems. Store in a cool, dark place.

You'll find the aroma to be quite subtle, but it will become more pronounced when it's warmed or rubbed into your skin. Stay tuned for a luxurious, all-natural hand cream recipe that uses the oil we've just created.

I love nursing.

After breast-feeding Charity exclusively for 8 months (she quit on her own), I never thought I'd say that. That's because I was "doing it all wrong." Charity had some trouble with latching on when she was first born, so at the midwife's suggestion, I started using a silicone shield. It worked great. Too great; Charity grew so accustomed to using it that all my attempts to try again without it proved fruitless. It was similar to bottle feeding, having to clean and disinfect an artificial nipple after every feed.

Also, the easiest way for me to feed Charity was lying down. It's still I position I favor, but now I know the importance of switching it up. I nursed Charity lying down for the first few weeks, and that ended up being the only way she would feed! Whoops! Imagine having to ask, "Do you mind if I borrow your bed for an hour?" whenever you went visiting. It ended up being rather frustrating trying to schedule everything "just right" to avoid nursing her in public.

I didn't know it then, but I had a very low milk supply. I just figured it was normal for a baby to eat for an hour. Now that we've had Judah (a champ eater-done in 10-15 minutes!) and a lot of expert advice on getting this whole nursing thing to work-like taking Fenugreek to increase milk production- I know better.

Nursing is so much easier this time. I've had a lot of help from a different midwife than I had with Charity, who also happens to be an excellent lactation consultant. Her motto is, "sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind." In other words, flicking your lethargic baby's feet when he's just a day old and making him scream might be just the thing to getting his sucking reflex in high gear! She also taught me how to get his mouth to open and how to get a good latch. It took over an hour of one-on-one time with her to figure it out, but now that I've got it "mastered," I don't regret a minute of it! When Judah latched on within the first try after our "training session," I had a "so-this-is-how-it's-supposed-to-work!" moment.

There's a hundred and one reasons why I love nursing which I won't get into now, but here's small list of things I consider to be "Nursing Time Essentials"; things that make quiet time with your own baby even easier!

• A good nursing cover. I've tried three now and by far, my favorite one is the Udder Cover which I got as a gift from Sarah. It was a wire insert inside the top hem, allowing you to peek at your baby and nobody else. Also, the fabric is breathable and there's plenty of it; no need to worry about baring your midriff accidentally.
• A bottle of water. We normally don't buy bottled water because it can get pricey. But when I'm nursing, this is the luxury I like to indulge in. Bottled water stays contained much better than in a glass so it's easy to take a swig, even while lying down, when your mouth starts feeling parched. I drink a 500ml bottle at every feeding.
• A pocket Bible. Brad bought me a cute little, lime green, leather Bible when we were going out and I make the most use of it while I'm nursing. It's small enough to hold with one hand and its soft cover allows it to remain open on its own.
• A good book. Judah's barely two weeks old, but I've been able to do more reading in that time than I have in the previous two months combined! I've just finished three books, all highly recommended: Running Scared by Ed Welch, Shepharding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp, and Be Fruitful and Multiply by Nancy Campbell.
• Quality nursing pads. There's nothing more irritating than a nursing pad that doesn't stay in place when it's supposed too: "So that's why the delivery guy looked at me funny!" I've tried several brands, but there's only one that I really like: Johnson's Nursing Pads. They're extremely absorbable, breathable, and they have a sticky peel that actually works.
• Pen and Paper. My penmanship looks like chicken scratch if it's done while I'm nursing (I know people who can write beautifully while breastfeeding-that's what I'm working towards!) so for now, I limit myself to writing what my eyes only will see: grocery lists, reminders, etc.
• The telephone. If I have any phone calls to make, I like to do them while I'm nursing. I know Judah will be quiet, and it's a better us of my time to call while I have to sit down anyway. I can focus on the conversation much better then when I'm trying to clean the house, make supper, or fold laundry.

Please note that I am not being compensated for the endorsement of any of the above products. The views expressed are simply my own opinions.

Many mothers who are determined to breast-feed their babies, including myself, often worry needlessly about whether or not they have enough milk to grow their babies. Assuming you and your child have no major medical concerns, let me reassure you: You are well-equipped by God Himself to feed your nursling! I am not a lactation consultant or medical expert; just a mom who's enjoyed breast-feeding two of our children exclusively for most of their first year and am currently nursing our preemie.
Genetically speaking, we are not a large family. My pre-pregnancy weight is 120 lbs. and my husband has a slim (and handsome ;-) build, but as babies, our kids are chunky-monkeys! We're often asked where they get their rolls from - it's from Mama's milk, the benefits of which scientists haven't even fully researched yet!

Charity at 8 weeks Our first-born never dropped more than 2 ounces from her birth weight. She was all chubb until she started walking and slimmed down.

Judah at 8 weeks Our second was 17lbs at 4 months old - more than twice his birth weight.

When our Anna-Grace was born, the nurses at the hospital tried to convince us she needed formula because she was premature. I have no medical expertise but I knew they were wrong. I wanted to breast-feed my baby and believe God equipped me to do so. We fought long and hard for the right to nurse her, and eventually we won. As soon as I put her to the breast, she started gaining weight rapidly - 4 ounces during her last night at the hospital where she roomed in with me for the first time, and another 6 ounces within the first two days of coming home.

Here are some things I do to ensure a good milk supply for our babes:

Fenugreek (available through The Bulk Herb Store and Mountain Rose Herbs). Immediately after giving birth, I start taking Fenugreek: 3 capsules, 3 times a day with meals for the first week post-partum. By then I usually have too much milk and cut back to 3 capsules a day for the rest of my nursing duration. Blessed Thistle (available through The Bulk Herb Store and Mountain Rose Herbs). Blessed Thistle can be added to Fenugreek to further increase your milk supply. 6-12 capsules a day is adequate, but be sure to spread them out rather than taking them all at once. You can also drink this as a tea. Drink, drink, drink! It's so important to stay hydrated when you're nursing! I drink 500ml of water at each feed. No caffeine. Try to stay away from liquids that dehydrate like sodas, coffee, and some teas. Pump. I only pumped for our preemie because it was absolutely necessary (she wasn't allowed any oral feedings for the first few days of her life), but it worked splendidly! By the time she was 10 days old, she was solely breast-feeding and I haven't pumped again.

Use an electric pump an do both breasts at the same time, every 3-4 hours beginning soon after your child is born. Don't be discouraged if there's nothing collectible for the first few days. By the third or fourth day you'll be producing more milk than your baby will be able to consume in one feeding! A good latch. If your baby doesn't seem to be getting enough, more than likely the problem is in the latch. Wait for a wide open mouth, tongue down, before bringing your baby to the breast rather than your breast to the baby. It shouldn't hurt at all. A steady swallowing sound is a good indicator they're feeding properly. Rest. As a mom of three, aged 3 and under, I know this is easier said than done. Perhaps relax is a better word. The less stressed you are, the more milk you'll produce. Nursing while lying down is a good way to catch some shut-eye.A good diet with plenty of EFA's.I've found that incorporating DHA and EFA oils into my morning smoothie not only give me more energy to breast-feed, but the fat in my breast milk is higher too. Drain one breast completely before offering the other. Not only is it important for your baby to get your hind-milk (the stuff that fattens them up!), but draining one side completely helps keep mastitis at bay and regulates your supply.The best way to tell if your baby is gaining getting enough milk is by the amount of dirty diapers they produce and a steady weight gain.

Have you breast-fed your babies? What kind of tips do you have for mothers who'd like to do the same?

Linking to: Mind Body Sole, Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Frugally Sustainable, Natural Living,Modest Monday, A Mama's Story, Raising Arrows, Homestead Revival

I've enjoyed this herbal bath with each of our babies! The herbs, garlic, and sea salt make combine to make a healing, soothing, aseptic bath that helps prevent and control excessive bleeding, repair a woman's reproductive organs, and rapidly heal the baby's cord stump. No one (except the midwives who told me this would happen!) could believe how quickly our babies were sporting beautiful belly-buttons instead of black stumps - usually within two or three days!

This recipe is midwife approved and makes enough for 2 baths. If you don't use it all up, it can be frozen until the next bambino comes along or passed along to a pregnant friend. She'll love you for it!

You'll Need:

• 1 oz. Calendula
• 1 oz. Uva Ursi
• 1 oz. Comfrey
• 1 oz. Shepherd's Purse
• 1 cup sea salt
• 1 large, fresh garlic bulb

Directions:
Place herbs in a large pot (I use my biggest soup pan) and fill with water. Bring to almost a boil. Steep for a minimum of 2 hours - the longer, the better! Strain the solution. Pour the liquid into freezable containers (ice cream or yogurt tubs work well) and store in the freezer. The garlic and salt are added directly to the bath on the day you intend to use it.
As soon as possible after the birth, fill the tub with comfortably hot water (Brad usually does this for me while the midwife is checking baby's vitals and making sure everything is okay). Add one frozen tub of the herbal solution (it will melt in no time), a cup of sea salt, and a whole bulb of crushed garlic. You won't come out stinky, I promise!
Immerse yourself in the warm water and have your husband or midwife pass the baby to you. Your baby will stretch, unfold, float - maybe even smile, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of familiar weightlessness in the warm water. It's beautiful!

After you've had a good long soak with your precious new gift, pat yourselves dry, dress in warm, soft pajamas (or clothes if you give birth during the day!), and snuggle up in bed with your baby!

***You can also enjoy this bath after a hospital birth! Ask your husband to prepare it for you whenever you're feeling up to it after arriving home. The sooner after giving birth you use it, the more noticeable the healing effects will be.

I recommend buying your herbs and sea salt from high quality, organic sources like the Bulk Herb Store or Mountain Rose Herbs.

Linking to: Mind Body Sole, Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Frugally Sustainable, Natural Living,Modest Monday, A Mama's Story, Raising Arrows, Homestead Revival

It took a few tries, but we finally made a lip balm that's "just right!" It's a combination that works to permanently heal your lips, rather than offer a short-term solution as is the case with many store-bought brands made from synthetic ingredients.
There are a variety of cute little containers to use at the Dollar Store, and if you really want to go all out, you can even design your own labels on the computer! (Do I smell a business potential here? If you're in the natural skin care business, this recipe is free to use.)
:-)
Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 Tbsp grated beeswax
• 1 Tbsp Coconut Oil
• 1 Tbsp Sweet Almond Oil
• 800 IU (2 capsules) Vitamin E
• 3 drops tea tree oil
• 4 drops spearmint oil

• Combine beeswax, coconut oil, and almond oil in a glass measuring cup (or a double boiler, if you have one).

• Add water to a small saucepan and set the measuring cup inside. Heat slowly until all the ingredients have melted together.

• Remove from heat. Pierce the vitamin E capsules (I used the tine of a fork) and squeeze into the oil mixture. Add the essential oils and stir together.

• Pour into a small container and let it stand for twenty minutes to cool and harden before using.

This post contains affiliate links.

Photo source: Getty Images
When we were on our honeymoon, I picked up a bacterial infection. I couldn't keep anything down and spent a day in the hospital on IV. The doctors gave me an antibiotic designed to kill the bacteria. I took it as prescribed, but the problem got worse. I sought the advice of a Doctor of Natural Medicine who suggested I take Black Walnut tincture. The infection was gone in two days.

A few months later, Brad lost thirty pounds in three months (and he didn't have a pound to spare in the first place). He saw multiple specialists and had every test under the sun. No one could make a diagnosis. He was eventually told, "Maybe this is your ideal weight. Not everyone is meant to be the same size." Another doctor recommended that he should start drinking Boost to gain weight.

We took a look at the ingredient list and were shocked to discover that the first three ingredients were water, sugar, and corn syrup which made up 47% of the actual serving! That's equivalent to swallowing your vitamins with a 237ml glass of water containing 7 teaspoons of sugar.

Brad wanted to gain the weight back but in a healthy way. He chose not to drink Boost. We quit going to doctors and started doing our own research. For two years, we tried various diets and eventually eliminated gluten, and limited corn, and cow's milk (we still love dairy, just not store milk itself). I started making smoothies full of good fat and kefir for breakfast and he started taking probiotics with his meals. We still have a long way to go, but he's slowly putting the weight back on.

When our then 18 month old son started getting chronic ear infections (at least one a month), we took him to a specialist. He said our son would eventually grow out of it, but in the mean time, we could either choose to have tubes put in his ears, or relieve the pain with Tylenol and Motrin. I knew Tylenol and Motrin would do nothing more than mask the real problem and was concerned with the toxic effect regular doses of ibuprofen would have on his liver and kidneys. A friend of mine recommended I take him to the chiropractor. After a series of four adjustments, he hasn't had an ear infection in over a year.

When our daughter was born 6 weeks premature, I was denied the right to breastfeed our daughter because the nurses said she would burn too many calories if I let her work for it instead of using the tube for feedings like they recommended. My midwife was happy to intervene on our behalf and when I finally got the chance to breastfeed our little girl, she gained four ounces overnight - more than she had gained on the tube since birth!

We were told our youngest baby's life was not "viable" (worth trying to save) until I reached 24 weeks; I hemorrhaged nine-days postpartum after a botched manual placenta removal; our ex-gynecologist had no problem delivering a child in one room and aborting another in the next.

Doctors are but men.

They have helped us on many occasions and to a large extent, we place a lot of faith in their expertise. However, we must be careful not to credit them with an infallibility they do not have, and remember that it's an individual's right and responsibility to choose who they trust with their healthcare.

We've been reminded many times over the past few years that the best men are men at best. Doctors make mistakes, just like everybody else. They don't have a solution to everything, and often their solutions are atomistic instead of holistic. If that's what you like, it's not a problem, but if your philosophy of healthcare has got you believing that we ought to focus on healing the root cause of a malady in addition to providing symptomatic relief, then it makes sense to investigate alternatives to conventional medicine.

It's odd to me that our advocating the use of natural means (which have proven to be effective and superior to conventional medicine several times in our experience) can bring out the worst in people. There seems to be some sort of understood rule that if you don't put all your money on a conventionally trained M.D. from the Mayo clinic, you must therefore be a fringe greenie who will drink herbal concoctions to the death!

We make our healthcare decisions based on a position somewhere in the middle of the two extremes. I'm not comfortable putting all my eggs in a basket I've seen break before, and I'm skeptical of advice that comes from a doctor who doesn't believe all of life is sacred, beginning at conception and ending with natural death.

I don't trust natural "medicine" doctors who believe the power to heal lies within yourself (this philosophy contradicts everything Scriptural), and I don't buy the lie that you can discredit diet, exercise, and proper hygiene so long as you take several handfuls of supplements and chug them down with a bottle of Pepsi.
With conventional medicine now the third leading cause of death killing 225,000 people each and every year as recognized by the Journal of the American Medical Association and half of doctors routinely prescribing drugs they know won’t work, learning to stand up for yourself in any sort of medical situation and not take advice blindly can be a lifesaving skill. An informed patient is no doubt a doctor’s worst customer. ~ The Healthy Home EconomistSo, who do we trust?

That's for you to decide, but these are a few principles our family tries to take into consideration when we have a decision to make regarding our health:

Find a Christian, pro-life doctor who respects your parental rights and invites inquisition. If your doctor ignores your questions, fails to give straight answers, or gets agitated when you don't immediately jump at his offer to write up a prescription, it's time to find someone who treats you like a human being instead of another cog in the wheel.
Get a second opinion, and a third, and a fourth. I feel more confident of a diagnosis and prescription if multiple doctors are in agreement. If four doctors tell me four different things, I don't know who to believe and start seeking the counsel of others who have been in a similar situation.
Seek counsel from seasoned mothers. Is there anything more sincere than a mother's love for child? Mothers who have dealt with a sick child are usually well-studied in all the different options available, and tend to have an empathetic heart to go along with it.
Do your own research. By that I mean, don't believe everything you read online. Study reputable sources, consult with herbalists, chiropractors, nurses, nutritionists, doctors, and homeopaths. Self-educate and become well-rounded so you can make an informed decision.
Trust your intuition. God gave that to you!

Pray! Too often I forget that the miracle worker of Nazareth is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). God is not limited by time, space, medicine, or a diagnosis. He invites us to touch the hem of His garment when we've spent all our living searching for answers and finding none (Matthew 5:25-29).
Remember that God has all our days planned. I can't explain the paradox of God's Sovereignty and man's responsibility, but it's a comfort, not a curse, to know that even though the responsibility of their healthcare falls into my lap, God entrusted them into our care after He had planned out all their days (Psalm 139:16). Not a hair can fall from their head without His permission (Luke 12:7).
Recommended Resources:

Treating Fevers Naturally by Meagan Vissers, RN, FH. Meagan is a Christian friend of mine who has been trained in both conventional and herbal medicine. The information in her eBook was the answer to my concerns about Tylenol and Motrin's effect on our organs, and gave me a plethora of effective, natural solutions.

Treating Fevers Naturally taught meeverything the doctor didn't:what a fever is and why it’s a good thing; what’s going on with your child when they have a fever; what the difference is in “degrees” of fever; the concerns of fevers and how to deal with them appropriately; the difference in medical vs. natural treatment options; and natural treatments for bringing a fever down and making your child comfortable.

Treating Fevers Naturally sells for $14.97, but the education and confidence it gives a mother in charge of her child's health is priceless.

The Bulk Herb Store. The Bulk Herb Store is a Christian, family-run business that sells a vast collection of organic herbs and teaches people how to use them for practical and medicinal purposes.

I used their herbs to help a complicated pregnancy, and to make the post-partum herbal bath I enjoy after each child is born. Their book, Making Babies, taught me how to make my own herbal tinctures and salves and how and when to use them. I also use their spices and sea salt in my baking and cooking.

Other hugely informative books and videos they carry include:

• Be Your Own Doctor by Rachel Weaver
• Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD, MMedSci(neurology), MMedSci(nutrition)
• Herbal Antibiotics by Stephen Harrod Buhner
• Herbal Antivirals by Stephen Harrod Buhner
• Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar
• Practical Herbalism by Phil Fritchey
• The Green Pharmacy by Dr. James A. Duke
• The Herbal Drugstore by Linda B. White, M.D., Steven Foster.

Trust Your Intuition by Jenni Wilson, M. H., wife of an M.D. Trust Your Intuition is the combined work of several Christian medical experts (three of whom are my personal friends), and seeks to provide balanced, grace-filled, information regarding both conventional and alternative medicine.

It offers easy ways to protect yourself and family from synthetic medicine and it's negative side effects, help you avoid toxic treatments, and choose natural therapies that have proven to be effective in homes all across the country.

The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin, Ph.D., N.M.D. We were thrilled to discover this book shortly after Brad's weight reached an all time low. Most diet books are designed to help people lose weight, but The Maker's Diet is the story of how Jordan Rubin, a once healthy young man in his prime, who experienced the same kind of weight loss as my husband and was eventually given up on for dead by several doctors.

He started patterning his diet and nutrition according to principles he discovered in the Bible, attained his ideal weight, and wrote about his journey in book that has helped people boost their immune systems, improve their physical appearance and digestion, regain their energy, and reduce their stress.

We don't follow The Maker's Diet explicitly, but it was the foundation for much of our diet change and investigation into holistic healthcare.

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Linking to: Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots At Home, Raising Arrows, A Wise Woman., Walking Redeemed,, The Modest Mom, A Mama's Story, We ARE That Family, Raising Mighty Arrows, Time Warp Wife, The Prairie Homestead,

It takes just a few minutes to whip up this exfoliating salt scrub that will leave your skin looking fresh and feeling smooth. It's also an easy and inexpensive gift idea for birthdays, Mother's day, or "just because." All you need is a pretty jar (the Dollar Store has many to choose from), and three ingredients.
Ingredients:

• Coarse Sea Salt (enough to fill your jar)
• Olive or melted Coconut Oil
• Lavender Essential Oil (a few drops)

To give you a little update on baby first, here he/she is at 19 weeks old!

As most of you know, I was diagnosed with a very large subchorionic hematoma quite early in this pregnancy. Simply put, I had a blood clot (three times larger then our baby) between my placenta and the lining of my uterus. We were told we had a 1 in 3 chance of miscarrying for the second time.
After many ultrasounds, many trips to the ER, and too many times where I broke down into tears because I "knew for sure" we were losing our baby, we are half way through this pregnancy. We are so thankful for God's sustaining grace thus far and all the help we've received from our family, friends, and church so I could be on modified bed-rest.
Last week, things got a little more complicated as an emergency ultrasound showed that the original blood clot had not shrunk in size at all. In addition, I have developed two more clots which cause heavy bleeding, even in the middle of the night while I'm resting.
Second-trimester bleeding puts me at "high-risk" and I am no longer allowed to consult with my midwife alone. We now have and OB in addition to our midwife, and our hopes for another home-birth are put on hold unless something drastically improves.
"Modified bed-rest" has been changed to "strict bed-rest." With the exception of getting up to eat, shower, and use the bathroom, I spend most of the day lying down or crocheting. As you can imagine, it's very difficult with two toddlers running around. :-) Lord willing, we will be moving in with family who have graciously opened up their home to us for as long as we need it sometime this week or next.
We're often asked what's causing these blood clots and how I can get rid of them. The truth is, not one single doctor of the many we have met with over the past few months can explain why they develop or how to prevent them. No one has prescribe any medication to help the clots dissolve, so we've being using the herbs and homeopathic remedies our midwife has suggested to help sustain the pregnancy. Here they are (and what they do) in case you find yourself in the same situation:
Pregnancy Vitamin: I take this with all of my pregnancies, for the baby's health as well as my own. Make sure the folic acid content is at least 1mg daily, and that the iron is taken in a separate pill from the calcium. Calcium inhibits iron absorption.
Arnica: I take 15 arnica pellets a day. It is a homeopathic remedy that aids in the healing of bruises and wounds. I take it to control the growth of the clots, and hopefully, to shrink them as well. You can also use Arnica flowers in a tincture, or to make a salve.
Sepia (Inky Juice): These past few months have been a whirlwind of emotions. One minute we think we're losing another child, and the next we're happily staring at our energetic little babe on the ultrasound screen. I take 15 pellets of Sepia a day to help with the morning sickness, headaches, weariness, and emotional exhaustion.
Later on in the pregnancy (Lord willing, there will be a "later"), I plan on drinking Red Raspberry Tea to help prepare my uterus for birth. I took it with our second child and noticed a huge difference between my labor with him and our first.
Evening Primrose Oil is something else I take near the end of a pregnancy to help soften the cervix. After an hour and a half of pushing and second degree tear with our first, I was willing to try anything to prevent it from happening again! It worked wonders with our second - no tearing at all, and he literally "slipped" out in three pushes!
The Arnica and Red Raspberry Tea are available through The Bulk Herb Store. I love this family run company and its commitment to providing quality, organic, herbs, teas, and information on how to use the natural medicines God has created for us!

This post contains affiliate links for products I love and personally endorse.

Morning sickness; some people get it, some people don't. Some people are incapacitated for their whole pregnancy, others get off nausea-free. With Charity, I fell somewhere in between. I took two months off of work between weeks 7-16 and spent my days lying on the couch with a red pail on the floor beside me. I couldn't cook, and Brad had to eat his meals in another room so the smell wouldn't send me running for the bathroom... again. We ordered in and ate out more than I ever dreamed I'd allow myself to.

Week 17 I felt like a new person. The morning sickness (I called it 'morning-noon-and-night-sickness') stopped almost over night, and I quickly packed on the pounds, delighted in making Brad dinner again, cleaned our house from top to bottom, ignited the pregnancy glow once again, and gave birth to a healthy, strong girl who weighed 9 lbs, 10 oz.

Then there's the near perfect experience like my 44-year-old mom had just a few short months ago with Charity's little uncle William. She had no symptoms, except for her expanding waist line. She could hardly believe she was pregnant (none of use could, actually); no headaches, no puking, no swollen ankles, no nausea, no nothing. Just this sense of being overwhelmed that her baby would be younger than her granddaughter; Grandma was having a baby!

So far with this pregnancy, I'm feeling much better than I did with Charity. The nausea is persistent, usually at it's worst in the morning. We have VBS this week and I'm in charge of the crafts for the 6-7 year-olds. Thankfully, I've been given permission to come near the end of the class when the worst of it is over, and I can cut and paste with out gagging at the smell of the glue or marker pens. I'm sure the kids would laugh at the sight of me gagging; Charity thinks it's hysterical.

I've never taken any medication for morning sickness, although it has been suggested by many including my Doctor. I know it's not a chronic condition and that one day it will pass. As difficult as it can be, so far I've been successfully in biting the bullet, and skipping the Diclectin. Perhaps it's because I'm naive and stubborn. Morning sickness is normal, just not particularly enjoyable. Over 80% of women experience it, and usually it means that everything is going just fine with baby.

When I'm tempted to go on medication, I just remember the story my aunt tells of her sister, who has had nearly as many miscarriages as babies (five or six). She was truly thankful for morning sickness, because it was with these pregnancies that her babies survived. To her, morning sickness meant new life inside her womb. The pregnancies in which she felt well usually ended devastatingly within a few weeks.

Along the way, I've learned a few things that seem to keep the uncomfortable symptoms in check. Most of them I learned from other experienced moms. Feel free to add anything you've found helpful in the comment section. I'll make great use of them to be sure!

• Take your iron, folic acid or other pregnancy vitamins when you feel the least sickly. Iron should be taken with orange juice because it needs the Vitamin C to absorb properly. Unfortunately orange juice triggers my gag reflex first thing in the morning. I take mine right before bed at night and everything stays in.
• As soon as you find out you're pregnant, double your meals and freeze one. Most people feel fine for the first month or two. Take advantage of it and stock pile meals for the freezer. You'll be so grateful for a yummy, healthy meal, without having to fork out when the last thing you feel like doing is cooking meat or sauteing onions.
• Can't sleep at night? Try drinking hot milk before bed.
• Keep a package of soda crackers next to your bed, in your purse, or in your pocket. Sometimes I get the overwhelming urge to munch on something. If I don't, I know I'll be sick. So I keep a package of soda crackers nearby at all times. It saves making pit stops at Tim Hortons when the urge comes on suddenly.
• Take a nap. Many of them. You'll feel refreshed.
• Accept help when it's offered. Having a sister over for the day to help fold the mountain of laundry can bring great relief and a renewed sense of hope.
• Keep up your fluids. It's easy to become dehydrated when you're constantly bringing up.
• Look at baby pictures, read up on how your baby's developing, or having an ultra sound, can be just the thing to help you remember that this is all so, so worth it!

I really feel for women that deal with infertility. Most women have a strong, natural desire to have a baby. I don't know the pain of never being able to conceive, but I know the strong desire to hold my own baby in my arms and can only imagine how painful it would be to not have had that experience.

I conceived my first 3 children fairly easily, but knew I was dealing with infertility when baby #4 wasn't happening. Most of you may be thinking, "You should have been happy that you at least had three healthy children." And you're right - I was thankful I had 3, but I had such a strong desire for a forth. I read and researched and came across some information that hit home to me. The information was on imbalanced hormones. I had several symptoms of having imbalanced hormones, and one of the symptoms was infertility.
What can cause imbalanced hormones?

1. The birth control pill {I do not take birth control} ~ The pill contains progestins and progestogens, which are man-made, synthetic hormones. These synthetic hormones cause low progesterone levels. These hormones are highly toxic to our body. They mess up our natural hormones, and can cause miscarriages, heart disease, migraines, depression, high blood pressure and cancer. The birth control pill is just not a good option for any woman.
2. Hormone Replacement Therapy ~ Hormone therapy is used to ease the symptoms of menopause, but it contains synthetic progestins, which again, confuses our natural hormones. The side effects of HRT are far worse than the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause! The side effects of hormone replacement therapy can include: osteoporosis, high blood pressure, blood clots, cancer, vaginal bleeding, rashes, acne and weight gain. If you suffer from menopause, try taking the herb red raspberry for a safe, natural remedy.
3. Eating non-organic meats and produce ~ most of the non-organic meat bought at the store contains estrogen steroids, which causes our estrogen levels to be higher than they should be. Non-organic produce contains dioxin from pesticides.
4. Eating a diet of too much sugar and processed foods
5. Stress
6. Cosmetics {use only natural make-up}
7. Plastics
8. Toxins {be sure to cleanse on a regular basis}
9. Paint
10. Ink

How To Know If Your Hormones Are Out of Wack:

If you have 6 symptoms or more from the list below, your estrogen level is probably too high:

• PMS
• Heavy Periods
• Painful, lumpy breasts
• Puffiness and bloating
• Rapid weight gain
• Headaches linked to monthly cycles
• Mood swings
• Foggy thinking
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Weepiness
• Insomnia
• Infertility

• Irregular periods
• Ovarian cysts
• Mid-cycle pain
• Acne
• Excessive hair on face and/or arms
• Thinning hair on head
• Hypoglycemia
• Apple shaped body
• Infertility
• Excessive weight around abdomen

Red Clover Fenugreek Saw Palmetto
This is the schedule I followed: Days 1 and 2~ Take one red clover pill 3 times a day
Days 3 and 4~ Continue taking the red clover 3 times a day, and add one fenugreek capsule 3 times a day.
Day 5 and beyond~ Continue with the red clover and fenugreek 3 times a day, and add one saw palmetto capsule 3 times a day. Note: Take two saw palmetto capsules instead of one if you are too high in testosterone.
It is recommended to take these herbs for at least 2-4 months; for some women it could take up to a year for hormones to be balanced. I recommend taking them at least until symptoms subside. These herbs have many other healthy benefits and can be taken long term.

In less than a month of starting this herbal program, I found out I was expecting our 4th daughter! She is an adorable blessing to us!
I don't understand all the reasons for infertility, but I know that the situation is ultimately in God's hands. If you deal with infertility and have any symptoms of imbalanced hormones, try balancing them naturally and perhaps God can use it to bless you with a sweet bundle of joy. Disclaimer: These statement have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to treat, cure or prevent disease. ______________________________________________________

Jill is a Christian and has been married to her dear husband for 12 years. She's a homeschool mom of 4 and is thankful for God's goodness in her daily life. As a certified family herbalist, her passions include reading and researching about health and home remedies, and sharing with others the knowledge she gains. You can find her blogging at Jill's Home Remedies and connect with her on facebook and twitter.

I dislike wearing gloves when I garden. I prefer to feel the earth crumble in my hands and get soil underneath my fingernails. There's something utterly organic and romantic about having gardener's hands. But only while I'm gardening. When I'm done, I like nothing more then to freshen up and scrub every last particle of dirt away.

Of course, these actions are harsh on the skin and my hands end up requiring a little TLC. This hand cream recipe is hands down (pun intended) the most healing of all salves I've tried. Made with pure coconut oil, beeswax, lavender infused almond oil, a few essential oil drops, and enriched with Vitamin E, this balm is a treat for your hands. A few applications will have them soft and satiny in no time. A little goes a long way. This recipe will make a year's supply.

You'll need:

• 4 tablespoons coconut oil
• 4 tablespoons grated beeswax
• 8 tablespoons almond oil (I used lavender infused almond oil - recipe here)
• 4 capsules Vitamin E oil
• 25 drops lavender essential oil
• 10 drops tea tree oil
• 6 drops spearmint oil

Directions:
1. Add all ingredients except the essential oils into a glass measuring cup. Set measuring cup inside a larger bowl and pour boiling water between the dishes and stir until everything melts together. You may need to replace the boiling water a couple of times.
2. After the beeswax has melted completely, remove the measuring cup from the hot water and add the essential oils to your hand cream mixture.

3. Pour into an air-tight container and cool to harden. Refrigerate cream to speed up the process. I used an old Brie cheese tin to store mine:

Apply as needed to rough, dry, itchy, or sunburned skin. I also use it on my feet, rubbing it into my heals to keep them soft.
If you love this hand cream, you may enjoy making your this lip balm too.