The adventure I will not be reliving...

Spring clover was so green and deep this year

    

    Spring break was an interesting one this year.  The Friday it started my brain was already mush from weeks of no sleep.  We had an impromptu dinner with two neighboring families.  Half the things I said made no sense, and a few interesting glances confirmed it.  A trip away started the next day, followed by three nights of no sleep and then a parenting challenge.  Though we figured out how to handle the situation, in the middle of it I realized how done my brain was.  A few more days later and I send a PM on IG to a friend and it makes no sense...on rereading it, it even seems mean, just not me.  I apologized, but realized the brain fog was worse than I thought.

    I first experienced "adrenal fatigue" when our second was 20months old. Lots of stress from a family situation and a baby/toddler that didn't like sleep.  I researched, I applied everything that felt right for me, followed my intuition and healed it.  I remember telling my husband how I have to always incorporate smoothies and yoga in my life from then on...that was 7 years ago. Then twins, I don't think I need to explain that one, we moved when they were 3.5months old to a rental with lots of boxes and then again when they were 18months old.  I managed the fatigue well considering everything going on.  Occasional brain fog, lots of lost sleep, exercise was really hard.  There was always times of recovery, I deepened my gratitude practice, and saw the beauty in everything.

    I made a commitment to finish projects and to get back to what is important.  The last time I slept, without interruption and woke feeling rested was 6 months ago, and before that over a year.  That day was amazing, I did everything and didn't want to stop!  I keep it in my mind to remember it is possible and I will make it back there.  Celery juice and a bunch of great herbals do help...but there is a lot that is different this time.

    I don't like excuses, I grow up with too many, and I know I can do it all.  I wanted to share what it feels like so people understand, so others can find the help they need and to have accountability for the discipline I need moving forward.  I stopped drinking smoothies when it got cold, yoga just didn't feel right, I am so far in my head all day long that I am constantly thinking about the next thing on the todo list instead of being present.  This is not a self care issue, I am sure I will get messages on that one.  The latest research shows "adrenal fatigue" as a multisystem occurrence, down to a cellular/mitochondrial level.  It is so hard to find where to cut in on the cycle, like so many chronic illnesses today.  This is not a post about what causes it and all the things I have done or tell clients to try...It is time for me to stop treating everyone else first this time (I will keep repeating it is not a selfcare issue, it is deeper and a healer related thing I will write about later).

    This time it was so different.  It snuck up on me.  It is the heavy true brain fog that can be mistaken for cognitive issues.  I can have a paragraph in my head and the moment I try to say the words it all falls apart, it is so thick, and then I am left there wondering why the words came out that way and if the person I said them to will be able to understand why it happened when I apologize for the 10th+ time.  My body feels great 90% of the time, I am training with my husband and friends for the memorial day #MurphChallenge2021, I feel stronger for the first time in a long time.  The fatigue, waking between 2:30-3:30 were hard, and after last week have caused some tears.  The normal hair loss that comes, didn't, It has actually grown back, but it is normally delayed so we will see next week.  So much of my body feels great, but my brain is done.  I think it is a lot of different things this time, but the lack of sleep triggered the regression and brain fog.  It feels so much like burn out, which is interesting when I think of other healthcare workers and moms in the middle of the storm.  I can see how easy it is to confuse the two, when we can get defensive when people tell us we just need a break, to meditate, have "self care" time, etc.  My from of selfcare is not the same as what mom bloggers deem correct in todays age...but that is for another time. Already I am reading back my words wondering if this even makes sense, adding in may make this all fall apart and no one will be able to follow it...but then I think it needs to just stay that way, authentic to the moment and my experience.

 So a picture and another thought...

    I think it is ok to go through cycles in life, we come out better off in the end.  The top picture is our wisteria before we left on our trip, before two unexpected low temp nights.  It is late in the year for a freeze here, though frost happens often until May.  The one side was almost full bloom and the other we thought would be ready when we returned.  We came home to them all dead, looking freezer burned and growth stopped mid bloom.  A week later, three small flower bunches and leaves coming through.  This year there will be a fraction of the invasive seeds, though beautiful this 25+ year old vine has probably cause a lot of damage over the years in neighboring woods (since moving here we try to contain the seeds/pods the best we can but we can't get every one).  Nature knows when it needs a break.  It knows when to flower, or our dying (normal life cycle) pines know when to cone, the clover to fill the fields for the nitrogen and flowers for the bees, the freeze that helps the cycle, the wind that calms or fuels the cycles, the rain that restores, on and on.  I need to get out of my own way, stop overthinking, play, sit in the silence, make the todo list smaller, breath deeper, allow people to do things, even if it is not my way, stop volunteering to help, sit in my garden, let my intuition flow 100% instead of 40.  I am working on reconnecting my mind, body and spirit, breaking the habit of waking, decreasing my cortisol levels and more.  This is more a post about naming it so it is real, not an excuse, but a letting go.  Thank you for your patients with my words, I know I will find them again, along with a few other things that have lost their way.  For now I send you lots of love and light on your own healing journey.

                                                                                                                                               Always...

Elderberry Syrup

I have a post started on how to combat and prevent the flu...but twins, so here is the Elderberry I promised for now.

Elderberry Syrup

3/4 cup of dried elderberries  (flu season has increased the demand and price, they are normally $18-19)
4 cups water (reversosmo. if you are lucky enough, distilled great, filtered will work too)
1 TB cinnamon
2 TB dried ginger or about 1/2 cup fresh peeled and chopped or about half that grated (see what you like)
1 tes cloves
1 cup Raw local honey (I use a little less than a cup, the more honey the sweeter but it also stores longer)


In a sauce pan place the water, berries and spices (NO honey at this point).  Bring to a boil decrease heat and simmer for about 30-45 mins or until it has reduced to about 3 cups...meaning a little more than half for my non kitchen savvy friends.
Turn off the heat and let it sit covered.  Then squish the berries a bit, I use this, you would be amazed at the things I use this for ha!
Then strain the liquid into a medium size bowl ( love this set!), add the honey and stir well...again you want the liquid to be close to room temp, not hot.
Once it is nice and mixed, use a funnel to put it in your favorite jar....If I was supper messy, and I normally am in the kitchen, I strain it again into the funnel to catch the extra bits.

Store in the fridge.
To prevent illness and boost the immune system the recommendation is to take 1 TB for adults and 1tes for kids (over a year old cause it has honey) once a day.  If you are starting to feel the crud coming on take it right away, 1TB every 1-3 hours.
If you really want a boost, add a shot of AVC to one of those and you will kick a cold, sinus infection and heal your guy all in one.

Don't want to make it?  No worries!  Try this great local to the Charlotte area one call Sweet's Syrup.
They are getting new retailers all the time or she ships as well. It has become a big thing in the last year, so I bet a local farmers market has someone selling it...I am hoping the price on the berries decreases when they meet the demand.  It is cheaper to make and supper easy!

Once you have it down, try adding more or less of the spices you like...We will talk more about what they do later.  In summery...it boost the immune system, fights colds/sinus stuff and interrupt virus replication.

Ps The links are affiliated, they don't increase the price to your product and I get credit for introducing you to it.  Also I am not your primary care these are just suggestion you take freely, so take your own health into consideration with all topics here...when in doubt call your midwife or family practice.

Morning sickness and Whats up with the magical 12 weeks??

So lets talk options...
-Preggie pops  and Drops
           Basically a vitamin B supplement, but a nicer way to take it.  Morning sickness symptoms can be increased when you have a lack of vitamin B in your system.  Very normal since you now have a little bean sucking it our of you...Bottom line, take a vitamin B complex of some variety; this is one many women like and has natural ingredients. B-Natal and other companies also make a version of the pop.

-don't want the sweet?  try chewy vitamin B supplements if the pill is to hard to swallow.

-Morning Sickness Magic

This is again using vitamin B complex, but with a few other things.  The ingredients include ginger, red raspberry leaf and extra floic acid.  I would be aware of how much you are taking if you can manage to get your prenatal vitamin down as well...you could be getting a lot of folic acid!

-Ginger

Great stomach soother.  Comes in many different forms, including candies, bonbons, loly pops and more!

- Teas and aromatherapy

There are lots of teas out there, just read the back and see the list of ingredients before buying...they may be more hype then real soothers in there.

Aromatherapy is used for so many things, energy booster, calming, nausea, you name it!

one example of aromatherapy (but you can find more at your local whole foods or health food store)
http://www.morningsicknesshelp.com/queaseease.html


-Accupuncter and Reflexology

Both really great techniques if other options are not working.  Both very relaxing and have lots of health benefits besides preventing morning sickness.  To learn more about the techniques and benefits try out
these links:
http://www.tai.edu/NCCAcupuncture.aspx  - a local teaching clinic and great community resource.


Reflexology
http://www.naturalhealers.com/qa/reflexology-massage.html


 A fun chart
http://www.reflexology-research.com/whatis.htm

http://reflexologychart.info/history.html

-Unisom
25 mg of doxylamine succinate (Costco sells a generic for cheap!)


So why 12 weeks?
 At 12 weeks your amazing body dose a few great things.  Prior to this time your body was producing the amount of progesterone needed from the cyst (or corpus luteum) left over after ovulating.  For normal healthy women this is the perfect amount of hormone to sustain a pregnancy until the placenta has developed a health blood supply and well established in the uterine wall.  Yup, you guessed it, 12 weeks is when the placenta takes over the production of progesterone and all the side effects related to the hormone being produced by the corpus lutuem resolves...or so the theory goes, lol.  Some women are just more sensitive to progesterone then others and the symptoms can last longer, and for others the whole pregnancy.  My frist pregnancy I didn't get relief until ~18wks, this time right around 12 weeks, it was amazing the change...I thought, yup the placenta just kicked in.  It is really awesome what our bodies can do as women and how different each pregnancy really is!

                                                                  Taken at 16 weeks

Benefits of Amber and Hazelwood

I found this site from a cloth diapering site and was excited about their baby legs...then I read on and found they had some really cool natural products for the whole family.

The following is from the site:

Inspired by Finn

"Our Baltic Amber jewelry is a unique piece of history…The amber beads are fossils from an ancient forest which existed tens of millions of years ago. Baltic amber is not a stone, but a fossilized tree resin.

Historically, Baltic Amber has been used in Europe as a natural and traditional remedy and curative for many ailments for centuries. Long ago it was considered one of the leading ‘medicines’ of its time. Baltic Amber is the most esteemed amber in the world, and the healing qualities of Baltic Amber make it unlike any other type of amber found in the world.

When Baltic amber is worn on the skin, the skin’s warmth releases trace amounts of healing oils from the amber. These oils contain succinic acid and are absorbed into the skin.

Baltic Amber has some of the highest concentrations of Succinic Acid found in nature, and this is what makes it so special. Succinic Acid is a natural component of plant and animal tissues, and it's presence in the human body is beneficial in many ways.

How can Baltic amber help us?

• Pain Relief -

Baltic amber contains analgesic properties and helps take the edge off of many types of discomfort associated with dental issues, headaches, joint pain, etc.

• Strengthens the body's immune system -

In many different and subtle ways, succinic acid helps boost the body's own natural healing ability and immune system.

• Restoring Energy –

The human body naturally produces succinic acid. The salt of succinic acid (succinate) is one of the most active substances in the processes of cellular respiration and intercellular energy creation. Succinic acid restores oxygen and energy supply to depleted cells and helps the body return to a normal, functioning state.

Succinate is a raw material and a catalyst in the Krebs Cycle which is one of our main sources of energy. During the Krebs Cycle carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are metabolized for energy.

• Maintaining Wellness -

When the human body reacts to stress, the body’s cells begin to use oxygen more quickly. Oxygen plays a central role in the intercellular creation of energy, and a lack of oxygen can result in feeling lethargic.

Oxygen is alkaline-forming in the blood and maintaining a slightly alkaline blood ph helps keep us healthy. Whenever the body functions in a state of low oxygen, it is much more susceptible to illness.

• To help break a cycle of (chronic) inflammation -

Where chronic inflammation is present, disease lurks.

When the body’s cells are chronically inflamed the human body’s immune system response is to increase production of free radicals. Chronic overproduction of free radicals results in inflammatory-related disease. Chronic inflammation is a common denominator of many seemingly unrelated diseases.

Hazelwood 

Hazelwood is an ancient remedy first used by aboriginal people -- It has the medicinal property of neutralizing the body's acidity.

It relieves or prevents ailments such as ulcers, acid reflux, heartburn, skin problems (psoriasis, eczema, acne), arthritis, constipation, migraines, sensitive & bleeding gums, helps reduce dental cavities and more. These necklaces are a great remedy for heartburn and nausea during pregnancy!

Hazelwood necklaces are made from the branches of a hazelwood tree alternated with glass and/or gemstone beads for ornamentation. They are handmade - from the gathering of the wood to the stringing of the beads.

In order to receive a therapeutic benefit the necklace must be worn as much as possible - for adults, we recommend wearing the necklace over night as well as during the day. It is also recommended to wear the necklace while bathing. Keeping the hazelwood moist aids the body in absorbing the beneficial properties of the Hazelwood.

The life span of the necklace will depend on the level of acidity of the body. In general, a necklace will maintain its medicinal benefits for 6 –12 months. Higher acidity may mean a shorter lifespan of the necklace. A necklace is losing effectiveness when the ends of the wood beads darken and/or symptoms return."

At 2 months old I bough a teething alternative anklet and a hazelwood necklace for my daughter.  She was having pretty bad reflux and I though with shots coming up and growth spurts, putting on the amber a little early couldn't hurt.  The day after I put on the amber was the last major episode of reflux and three days after, first day the amber was on, she slept the most she ever had.  She has the occasional spit up now and then but nothing like the whole feeding or two she used to project out.  We are having a little change in her sleep pattern now, but related to a growth spurt that I hear most babies go through around this time...and she is at least sleeping some, many of my friends are not getting much sleep through this same growth spurt.  So, from our experience I think it is wroth the money ($21-$25 depending on what you get) to at least give it a try.  Next I want to try out the adult version for head aches, carpel tunnel and morning sickness (not quite yet though ;] ).  Have you tired amber? What is your experience?