So what's up with cleansing?

Spring is here in full swing. Many people still do spring cleaning. I've never actually done it but I probably should. However, springtime is also a good time to 'clean house' in your body. We've had a long winter of more heavy foods, being cooped up inside with less than fresh air, being exposed to germs and such and probably less physical activity.

I've only done a couple of cleanses in my life, and they weren't in the spring. But this year I want to really scrub myself out :) The first one I did when I just changed to more healthful eating, and the food I ate did the job. I didn't notice any side effects except going to the bathroom more :) The second one I did when I was struggling with IBS. I had battled it for 18 months and finally went to a gastroenterologist. I had worked for him in his office and felt confident he would help me. After talking with him, you know what he gave me? An anti-depressant. That's it. I was so upset and cried out to God to show me what to do. Right after that I went to the internet and did a search and pulled up Dr. Schulze. I ordered his Intestinal cleanse #2 and that was the beginning of healing. I was unable to stay with it because I found out I was pregnant with Sarah in the middle of it and didn't want to take any chances since I'd had a miscarriage a few months before. But even the little I did do helped a lot.



Come to find out, if you have a clogged intestinal tract, more than likely you will be sick. Backed up colons are the main cause for most every disease. Think about it, your brain is directly linked to your gut because of the nerves in there. If your intestines are covered in old hardened fecal matter, this will impair the brain :) No wonder there is so much depression and mental illness in this country.

Anyways, Dr. Schulze is THE MAN on colon cleansing, let me tell ya. He always makes his patients and customers do that first before anything else regardless of what they have. In most cases, the cleanse will eliminate (pun intended there) the symptoms they are having. Most Americans are constipated, which means the waste from your food is just sitting in your gut, with the toxins being reabsorbed back into your body making you ill. So he has two cleanses. The first goes in and helps those that are constipated be able to go and gets things moving. The second one, the one I did, goes in and literally scrubs the walls of your intestines, absorbing parasites, pathogens, old hardened fecal matter, and draws out every nasty thing in there. Yet, it is soothing and gentle those who have sensitive bowels.

Monday morning I found out my cousin had to go to the ER over the weekend for bad pain under her rib cage. She had no idea what it was and the pain finally got bad enough to scare her. So she had an x-ray done and they found that her entire colon was BLOCKED with fecal matter. She is so thin that the pain was under her rib cage next to her stomach. The part that hurt the most was bulging with its maximum capacity! Yet, she had normal bowel movements everyday. So, they made her drink the laxative solution they use for performing colonoscopies. This sent her into the most awful pain ever, plus diarrhea. The only way she could get any relief is to lay down- no laughing or coughing or moving. I don't know what the doctors would have done for this.

So, as soon as I talked to my mom, I said "Well, I have something that will work." So I called her and loaded up my crew and off we went. I had her take two of the Intestinal cleanse #1 and told her take more if she doesn't notice anything in an hour or so. I made her a large jug of mint tea for gas and also left her a catalogue of Dr. Schulze's products.

That night she called me. She had taken 8 capsules over the day. After she picked up her kids from school, she finally had to go. Later she went again. She had NO MORE PAIN!!! She said she felt 100 times better and was sold on his stuff. I told her after she was completely pain free to start the second cleanse and that would really get it all out. Now she is planning to clean out her entire body with his liver and kidney cleanses. I knew his stuff would work given a proper chance. Who knows what they would have done in the hospital if she couldn't get any relief??

So, there is my plug for Dr. Schulze. His stuff is expensive, but compared to going to a doctor and getting prescription meds it isn't near that much. And his stuff is the absolute best out there. He is all about helping people, not money. This morning I started the second bowel cleanse. About 20 minutes later I had to visit the potty, but no pain or diarrhea. Just normal stuff :) I feel totally fine. I am planning to go all out and do his liver/gallbladder cleanse and the kidney one. I want to get my body squeaky clean!

Anyways, if anyone is interested in checking the doctor out, I am adding a new link to the sidebar under 'Websites I like'.

My Tuesday, so far...

I should be taking a nap right now. My eyes are so tired and heavy.
Anyways, it has been a busy day. I had to leave earlier today because Leiah had an appointment with the Brain Gym specialist in addition to her regular speech therapy. So, I decided to get up at 5am this morning to get a good start on the day.

Well, so did the oldest two girls. They woke up on their own at 5! Um, I don't think so. Leiah never went back to sleep, but I still made them stay in their beds in a dark room. So I did my Bible/prayer time, made dh's lunch, put supper in the crockpot, made breakfast, did the dishes, started some laundry etc. Then I made our grocery list and menu because I am planning to get that done while out and about too.

So we all get ready and drive to my mom's. I drop the younger two off and take Leiah to her appointments. Then my mom brings the other two up to the therapy place because she has to take my grandmother to the doctor. I get them in the car and my husband shows up. We decided to go to Sonic for lunch because they have a playground and it was a nice day. Note- anything fried from Sonic, except french fries, has a rancid aftertaste. Must be from the oil-yack!
After all that I drive to the grocery store. They all need diaper changes/potty breaks so we do that first. Everyone is doing well. Then Sarah's shuts her fingers in the door and things didn't go so well. I got them all in the buggy (note- Texan's say buggy, not cart, funny) and start going down my list. Last week I didn't buy quite enough, so I made sure to buy extra pantry items so I would have plenty on hand to work with.

The girls did very well- I kept them busy with food samples and asking what they wanted etc. They had a few skirmishes, but considering they'd been up for so long they did well. I got a lot of food, most of it unprocessed and some organic plus some household items, for $125. Not great, but better than I thought it would be. After I got home it all hit- Sarah was grouchy! Leiah had fallen asleep, Alexa was bouncing off the walls and I had loads of groceries to get in the house. Well, while I was getting the food in, I lost Sarah. She ran off to the neighbor's house chasing our cat. Oh I was scared-I couldn't believe I lost her. Next time I will confine her before I start going in and out of the house.

They are all asleep now and I should be :) A year ago a trip like that would have equaled insanity to me. But sometimes you just have to do what you gotta do. I think it makes me stronger and builds character. I don't enjoy getting out with all the kids to shop all that much, but I did today. All in the attitude :)

Tomorrow I am starting the first of several 'spring cleanses'. Can you believe I'm actually excited about colon cleansing? LOL, I am excited about feeling better, having clearer thinking and clear skin and a better working body in general. I plan to elucidate my cleansing tomorrow, if anyone is interested :)

Oh, to 'Mama', I will try to get more on here about the kiddies-there sure is a lot to tell!

Learning to relax

Thanks to everyone for their ideas on my squiggly bedroom and advice on relaxing :) We tore the border down Saturday, but never got around to painting yet. You may have noticed that I didn't get to all the 'changes' I was making to my blog. Well, life got in the way :) I am finding that the computer is less appealing to me lately. I have been making myself put it off until nap time unless I really need a recipe or something, and it's hard to settle down to it.

One reason I asked about loosening up as a mom is that lately I've been working too hard. What I mean by that is while my husband and daughters are playing, I'm making the kitchen shine and straightening the house etc. I justify it in my mind that they need time with daddy, but I'm constantly cleaning up after everyone. It will never stop. There will always be some cleaning and laundry to do. It's so hard to let go of this mentality of perfection. Deep down I want to be the absolute best for my husband and children. Ten years from now they won't remember if mama did the dishes every night or if there were crumbs on the floor. So, I am trying. It took awhile to become the clean freak so it may take awhile to let things go a bit.

The hard part for me is really enjoying my children. Sounds bad doesn't it? What I mean is I don't always have a joyful heart towards my children about doing what they want. They are still small so teaching them how to do housework is time consuming, but we do work on it. I'm not the kind of person scrubbing the floors everyday or alphabetizing the canned goods, but I try to make the house neat at all times in every room and look taken care of. That's hard to maintain with three little ones bent on destruction and a large house.

So, I am learning. I'll get there, it will just take me awhile. I have a plan forming in my mind so we'll see how it works once I get it all together.

We have been having beautiful weather here. Our garden is growing and the free flowers are flourishing. My poor inlaws are still getting snow!!!! How terrible...

Anyways, I was wondering, is there anything I should post about? Sometimes I feel like I run out of interesting things to say and end up talking about myself all the time or the same things over and over. My brain has been rather foggy lately. Tomorrow I am starting a cleanse that will hopefully take care of that. Yep, it's spring cleaning time, for this body anyways. More on that later :)

Questions to my 'fans' :)

I have two questions.

One- how do I become a more relaxed mom? My personality is naturally easy going and laid back, not very organized and a procrastinator. The last couple of years however, I've morphed into a more 'get up and go' type person, which is good, but I find it hard to know when to stop going. It seems like if I get the momentum built up, it's hard for me to stop and relax. Like right now, I was up at 5:30 and have since been cooking,doing some cleaning, made phone calls, went to the store to pick up a few items, made a lunch to take to the park, made dinner and cleaned up and still have more I want to accomplish. Plus the general care of small children and tidying up the toy messes etc. Now I am sitting only because Leiah naps on the couch and I like to wait till she's asleep before I start moving around again. (I distract her and keep her awake)

Second question- I have a bedroom dilemma. One is the kids' room. They don't ever really play in there and I don't want all three girls in the same room yet because Sarah is still a bit young. (they all end up waking early, grrr, and in a separate room she sleeps an hour later than the older girls) So, Sarah's room is the 'play room' with a crib in it and a closet of clothes. Leiah and Alexa's room still has Sarah's toddler bed, their toddler beds, two dressers, a toybox, a plastic vanity table, and another dresser in the closet. Everything is pushed against the walls for open floor space, but they hardly ever play in there. Should I move all toys to the playroom and use the princess room for sleeping or leave it? I guess I need to take some new pictures so you can see.

Also, my bedroom needs help. Save me from the squiggles!!! (please refer to the left hand sidebar and click on 'My Home'. When you get to our bedroom pictures click on them- you will see a border and above it some kind of weird paint effect)

I don't know what color to paint the room! I can't paint the furniture either. (not that I want to really) I want our bedroom to be romantic, but still homey and comfortable for other family members to be in. I can't seem to find what I want in a picture yet. I've looked at hgtv.com and Better Homes and Gardens websites.

Cute cloth diaper pic and grocery miracles

Sarah loves to play at the sink, and since she had covered her hands in washable marker, I figured soapy water would be a good diversion. I took her dress off and she looked so cute with her pink diaper, pink crocs, piggy tails and pink pacifier. (called a 'pow pow' here)


She is growing like a weed! She already weighs more than her 4 year old sister and can wear her clothes.


Last night I went to the grocery store, yay, after a long day out and about with children, I wasn't thrilled :) Many people have been writing about being more frugal and cutting costs in the food area. I was trying to do that too. But, lately, my husband and I have been learning more and more about the provision of the Lord and how He so desires to give us abundant life. I believe it is important to be wise in how you spend your money, but I also believe it is even more important to be led by the Spirit in all matters. Lately He has been telling me that He will provided what we need, even if it seems it will cost us more.

For example, food. It is better to put your money in quality foods than vitamins and supplements. Those certainly have their place, especially in a limited diet, but eating it straight from the source is best. (like eating fresh salmon in place of fish oil) So, I went to Brookshires, the grocery store chain my husband works for which is quite a bit pricier on organic items and such, and asked the Lord to guide me. I was hoping for less than $100.

I bought things that I don't normally buy because of cost. I bought more organic items this time. I even bought some cleaning items that I usually buy at walmart because of price. I even bought natural cleaning products, which are usually sky high.

As the checker scanned my groceries I just knew it was going to add up to $150 or something. But I knew that we would be provided for because I was listening and obeying. My total ended up being $93 and some change. The only thing I forgot was disposable diapers, which is usually around $5. I was so excited! Thank you Jesus! How wonderful to serve a God that cares so much about the details of our lives. What uncomprehensible love.

Some of the things I bought that are generally more costly:

fresh pineapple and strawberries
all natural nitrite free deli meat
cheese made from cows' milk with no growth hormones/antibiotics
organic half and half
the good eggs
organic whole grain pasta
organic raisins
6lbs of cabbage (on sale though)

Anyways, I thought it was pretty cool. So what meal have I been making lately? Here's the menu:

Monday: oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, sandwiches and macaroni salad, Mexican food at restaurant.

Tuesday: eggs and toast, fruit recipe next post down, lunch at Chuck E. Cheese (!!!not my idea), turkey sausage and bean soup, sourdough biscuits and butter

Wednesday: turkey sausage gravy, rest of biscuits, scrambled eggs; lunch was turkey and cheese sandwiches, strawberries and pickles, I ate the rest of the macaroni salad and kefir, we baked oatmeal raisin cookies( healthy and yummy, more about that later); lemon herb roasted chicken, sweet taters sauteed in coconut oil, corn on the cob and iced tea; after dinner herb tea party with cookies :)

Thursday: brown rice 'pudding' for breakfast and fruit; lunch-not sure yet; fresh pea soup (new recipe from Nourishing Traditions-I'm cooking chicken stock now), curried chicken salad with 'Rainbow Rice salad' (also from book)

Friday: kefir pancakes and turkey ham; leftovers for lunch; hamburgers with homemade buns, raw veggies and dip, dessert night, probably brownies

Saturday: planning an egg casserole and scones, lunch is free for all; dinner is homemade macaroni and cheese, steamed broccoli and salad

Sunday: leftovers from breakfast on Sat. or cereal, lunch at mom's, leftovers or ramen noodles (we eat a big lunch at Granna's)

See, I cook normal food :)

Dee-licious!

This morning I made a super yummy breakfast that could serve as dessert, a snack or whatever you want. And yes, it is healthy :)

For 1-2 people, or a few children, you need:

1 medium-large navel orange
2-3 T whole milk yogurt
2-3 T creme fraiche or sour cream
1 t honey, preferably raw
1 t vanilla extract
sprinkle of cinnamon

Cut the peel off the orange- I cut of the stem ends, then turn to one of the now trimmed and flat sides, then use the knife to cut downwards and get all the peel off. You end up with a whole peeled orange. Cut into bite size chunks, place in bowl and drizzle with honey.

Take the yogurt and cream and blend together with the vanilla extract. Pour on top of oranges. Sprinkle on the cinnamon. Eat it up :)

I am thinking this would be good with any fruit. I plan to put fresh pineapple and berries on the grocery list this week. This is an enzyme rich breakfast with the raw fruit, if you have raw honey and cultured dairy. Fruit is excellent for breakfast- it digests easily and is quickly absorbed for energy. Usually it will digest within an hour if eaten alone.

I have been working harder to put only whole foods into my body. Drawing from what I know of eating healthy and how I lost weight before, eating raw fruit for breakfast makes sense. Yesterday I just ate half a pink grapefruit and kefir. Then later I ate some soaked oatmeal with honey and cream. I was full for a long time! And I'm just going with what I feel like eating. My body seems to be wanting healthier foods. I haven't drank my decaf coffee in several days now, and only drank about two ounces of tea this morning.

Yesterday I had to go to the direct care clinic because my ankle started hurting and swelling for no apparent reason. After two weeks of pain I figured I better get it checked out. Anyways, after an x-ray, they just think it's from an old injury flaring up and me not wearing supportive shoes. (yes,yes I know, flip flops aren't the best) BUT, the doctor told me that my weight was just too much for my ankle. How humbling is that? He told me that according to my height of 5'9, my weight should be around 150lbs!!!!!! That means I would have to lose 100lbs. I'm sorry, but just looking at me, I don't need to lose 100lbs. Even at my fittest in highschool, when I was all muscle, I weighed 190lbs. That's just how I am.

Anyways, it was a rather depressing ride home, wondering how in the world am I going to lose this weight? A typical doctor will tell me to cut carbs and eat low fat products. I know that low fat is a myth and good quality properly treated whole grains are good for us. Plus it's better for our food budget. I know that Nourishing Traditions is right; the Holy Spirit is guiding me and things just feel right in that area. Exercise has been hard- my workout tapes require some equipment I don't have yet and finding a good time of day to do it and be consistent is a challenge. I may need to find a good double stroller or triple stroller, lol, and workout that way.

Anyways, sorry to ramble. I have asked the Lord for help, and I believe that He will show me what to do. So, I'm not going to worry about it. I didn't gain all my weight because I sat around and pigged out- I had 4 pregnancies in three years and my body just held onto the extra weight for some reason. I actually lost weight in my last pregnancy!

Anyways, that's what I'm doing now. Hopefully my body will continue to crave healthy things :)

Encouragement

Forgive my lack of just being around- general busyness and some issues of my own have kept me away. I did well the beginning of the week last week, but things started going downhill Thursday. I don't know if it was hormones or what, but I'm better now :)

One thing that I wrestle with weekly and that I've noticed other moms are struggling with, is that we all somehow seem to think we aren't being good moms. My main problem is getting distracted with doing things in the house. I allow myself to think that if I don't keep things spic and span that someone will judge my worth as a person. I get to the point where I feel that 'I just can't stand to have grit on the floor, toys strewn around etc.'. I constantly have to step back and reevaluate what my purpose is in life. And I always come back to this: The house will always need cleaning, meals will always need fixing, and laundry will always be present. My little girls however, will not always be little, and I don't want to have regrets that I was chasing after something temporal and not the eternal souls under my roof. Even my own mom admitted she didn't think she was a good mom, and we thought she was the best mom in the world!

Something else I think most women forget is that we have an enemy. The word 'satan' actually means 'adversary'. He hates us and wants to destroy our lives and get rid of us. We are trying to obey the word of God and raise our children to be godly and strong in the faith, to be wives that are loving and submissive to our husbands and to make our homes the strong refuge they were meant to be. Of course he will make us feel like we're wrong, like we're not doing enough or whatever! He wants us to compare ourselves to other women and see our faults so clearly.

We forget that we've been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus, that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We have access to the Holy of Holies anytime day or night- we are now blameless and spotless because Jesus took our place and lives inside us.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1

I can't tell you how many times the thoughts have gone through my mind of 'things would be so much easier if I just had two children, or if Leiah weren't special, or when I just had one child etc.I could do so much more, I could have lost the weight already etc.' Then the ensuing guilt comes for even allowing myself to think something like that. But this is what I have now, this was God's plan, I need get in the now and not let myself desire the past. I may not be the person I am now if I only had one or two children, or if Leiah was more 'normal'.

Honestly, though there have been some hard times, I wouldn't go back or change anything like that. I would go back and make myself learn all about woman's calling and learn how to be a wife and homemaker before I got married, but again, can't change it. Thank the Lord I've learned what I know now. Who knows, maybe I wasn't ready for it then.

So, when those thoughts go through your mind that you are failing and not being a good mom, tell the devil he is a liar, that the Holy Spirit is your guide and smile. I am planning to take my own advice today :)