3 Steps to Finding an AWESOME Doctor to Treat Hypothyroidism
Finding an awesome thyroid doctor is some tough work! Do you know what I mean? Are you feelin’ my pain?
You've got to educate yourself. Know what tests for hypothyroidism are essential for your doctor to run. Know if your doctor is on the right track. https://www.intoxicatedonlife.com/2014/02/27/3-tips-finding-awesome-thyroid-doctor/
Doctors who don’t believe you have a thyroid problem
Doctors who only want to test TSH
Doctors who won’t prescribe natural desiccated thyroid
Doctors who don’t want to run the tests you request
Doctors who under-dose
I’ve experienced it all! I’ve experienced the frustration, the disappointment, and the exhaustion of going through doctor after doctor who just does not understand how to treat hypothyroidism.
1. Educate yourself.
Educating yourself is one of the first and most important steps of finding a thyroid doctor. Yes, a doctor is supposed to treat you. No, you can’t just trust that any doctor will know the best way to do that. In fact, it’s been my experience that most doctors don’t have a clue how to treat hypothyroidism. (I don’t say this out of pride, but out of a very real sense of frustration.)
You’ve got to educate yourself. Know what tests are essential for your doctor to run (hint: they don’t always run the right ones). Be sure to know about foods that could be destroying your thyroid. You have to know if your doctor is on the right track, or if it’s time to fire your doctor. Yup, you might have to fire a doctor (don’t forget, he/she works for you).
Learn all you can about hypothyroidism so you can ask questions, understand what the doctor is talking about, and advocate for yourself!
Books to get you started:
Below are some great books that will get you started on your education. Read them. Be informed. Information is truly the first step to finding your doctor.
2. Start Your Doctor Search
Now that you’ve got some basics under your belt. You know a bit about thyroid disorders yourself, it’s time to find a doctor that (hopefully) knows more than you. If you’re going to find a doctor who will get you on track, you’re going to have to do your research. Here are a few places to start.
Look for Doctors who Prescribe Natural Desiccated Thyroid
ThyroidDoctors.com: This site provides listings of doctors in your area that will prescribe NatureThroid and/or Westthroid—natural desiccated thyroid prescriptions.
Search for Doctors who practices: Integrative, Functional, or Holistic Medicine
These doctors are more likely than some doctors to be familiar with treating hypothyroidism.
Ask Your Friends!
Do you have friends who deal with thyroid disorders? Chances are you do. They may have a doctor that’s been helpful that they could refer you to.
3. Interview your doctor
The next step in finding a new doctor is to interview them. Yup, you heard me correctly. Just because a doctor is listed in one or more of the above places does not mean they’re going to be the doctor for you.
Now’s the time to make sure your doc can answer some questions correctly. Do you know what questions to ask your doctor? If not, be sure to check out these 5 questions to ask your doctor.
This final step in finding your doctor is so important. Now isn’t the time to be timid. If your doctor isn’t willing to be your partner in helping you regain your health, they aren’t the one for you.
Have you found a great doctor to help treat your hypothyroidism? What tips do you have to help others find a great doctor?
3 Reasons Why Our Family Avoids Sleepovers 5+ Must-Have Items for Babies & New Moms
How do you address the rules of no sleepovers with your kids, especially when dealing with birthday parties?
My daughter is almost 4, but I already see the excitement already beginning. Her friend we babysit regularly has parents who are divorcing. Last weekend was her first time to go spend the weekend at her dad’s new home. I helped her pack since we were babysitting her all day. She was very excited. When her dad picked her up, my daughter said she wanted to do that with her dad too. I tried to explain how it’s really more fun that her daddy lives with her instead of only seeing him every other weekend like her friend does. My daughter describes my husband as “fun daddy” & they do fun things together regularly- it was the idea of the sleepover that captivated her. (A couple months ago we went to visit family, so she understands sleeping at other’s houses & had fun.)
I have a good friend who is a Counselor & she’s heard a lot in sessions and sees daily struggles related to scars from childhood. She’s made a rule for her son that he can only have sleepovers with those she knows deeply- grandparents and a few of her friends she’s known a long time and knows their hearts/character. Growing up, my father-in-law always told my husband and his sister “the cockroaches come out at night.” My husband still says that regularly, especially when we hear about another crazy thing in the news.
While I was never molested I was exposed to plenty that wasn’t in line with values my parents wanted for me:
– a friend whose parents stored their bookcase in her room- which had a Joy of Sex book on it. She knew the book well. I’d heard about sex at school, then that was my next understanding of it. Certainly messed with my understanding of what sex was designed to be into my adulthood.
– at a 3rd/4th grade birthday party a mother added a splash of gin to each of our glasses of punch
– rated R movies even as a young elementary child
– a friend’s dad who walked around in his tidy whiteys around bedtime/first thing in the morning. (from a family where I never saw my dad in his underwear and that was a shock and even at 3rd grade I remember thinking that was gross. lol)
– lots of language & attitudes that my parents would not have wanted me exposed to/adopting
– I witnessed a friend and her dad having a raging screaming match with each other for about an hour. It was shocking/a bit scary to be around an adult that enraged, but I was stuck- her dad was in the doorway. I also felt pretty awkward that I couldn’t leave the room so they could discuss their private issues by themselves.
*I don’t think I told my parents any of those things. I didn’t think to. But now I’m sure could have benefitted to process some of it in a healthy way with them.
Original article and pictures take thehumbledhomemaker.com site
These quick and easy ways to boost your health can all be accomplished today!
With the plethora of information on how to improve your health on the internet today, it’s so easy to become frustrated when you feel like you just can’t measure up.
With so many options on ways to boost your health, you may not even know where to begin.
The possibilities of ways to boost your health don’t just seem endless; they are!
I’m a huge advocate of taking baby steps. When I forge full-force ahead on any goal–health-related or not–I burn out and end up worse off than before I even started!
The following are three quick and easy ways to boost your health. You can take action with all three of these today with very little time or effort!
1. Drink more water.
This is probably the simplest health booster ever, yet it is one that I personally struggle with.
I drink a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, and it’s often not until I feel thirsty that I will realize I haven’t drunk anything else!
I’ve read that once you are physically thirsty you are already beginning to get dehydrated. Another sign of dehydration is chapped lips.
I am working on remedying this by carrying a water bottle around with me that reminds me to continuously drink water all day long.
I actually find I struggle with this more, though, on the days when I don’t leave the house (which can be most days for many homemakers!).
Filling up a large glass with water first thing in the morning and keeping it in a prominent place in my home is helping me to remember to drink more water.
I personally enjoy plain water as my beverage of choice, but if you prefer something with a little more flavor, you can always try these homemade flavored waters!
2. Take a daily probiotic supplement.
Before I became a mom in 2008, I had never even heard of probiotics–much less had incorporated their use into my daily routine.
In fact, when I purchased my first probiotic supplement, I was a little apprehensive about even using it. I had read probiotics were great for boosting your health, but I wasn’t quite sure exactly what they did or what they were.
Now, my whole family takes a probiotic every single day!
In short, probiotics help keep both the digestion and immune system functioning at optimal levels. These two systems are heavily related. Probiotics works in your digestive tract, where 70% of your immune system is located. Some people say that health actually starts in the gut!*
The first probiotic brand that our pediatrician recommended to me was the Culturelle® Health & Wellness Probiotic. The probiotic in Culturelle Health & Wellness works in the digestive tract to help to keep your immune system healthy. With just one capsule per day, the immune system is provided with a clinical strength serving of 100% Lactobacillus GG containing 15 billion live active cultures.*
I am now taking my supplements as part of my nighttime routine, and just one probiotic capsule per day can go a long way. It’s an incredibly quick and easy way to support your health.
3. Go to bed earlier.
This is probably the easiest way to quickly boost your health, but it takes discipline. For me, it takes cutting my computer time off by 9:00 p.m. (I don’t always do this), or else, like a friend says: “My butt gets glued to the couch.”
The later I stay up, the harder it is to make myself go to bed!
I finally started implementing a good nighttime routine about six weeks ago, and I’ve never felt better. When I go to bed between 10 and 10:30 p.m., I seriously feel like a completely different person!
Sleep in vital to overall health–and is integral in healing adrenal fatigue (a.k.a. burnout).
These three quick and easy ways to boost your health are simple enough that you can begin implementing them today!
What do you do daily to keep a healthy lifestyle? Do you have any tips for quick and easy way to boost your health?
Disclosure: * These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Culturelle Probiotics sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine.
Original article and pictures take thehumbledhomemaker.com site
3 Practical Ways We’re Teaching Our Kids About Money
Want to instill wise financial management skills in your kids? Here are three practical ways we’re teaching our kids about money…
“When should we start teaching our kids about money?”
We hear this question a lot — from friends, from people I meet at conferences, and often from readers. Our response is always the same, “As soon as possible!”
My husband and I believe wholeheartedly that it’s never too early to start teaching your kids about money! The sooner they can learn the value of money and how to handle money, the sooner they can begin to develop a strong foundation for wise money management.
We started teaching all of our kids about money from the time they were about two. When they are old enough to not swallow money, they are old enough to learn about how to start using it well! ��
My husband and I were blessed to come from homes where wise money management was modeled. And we are forever grateful to our parents and grandparents for the gift they gave us in this. We know that there’s no way that we would be in the financial position we are in if it were not for the foundation they gave us.
It’s our hope that we can pass on this same foundation to our kids, too. Which is why it’s so important to us to make teaching our kids about money a very important priority in our home.
Here are three practical ways we are teaching our kids about money:
1. We Talk About Our Own Money Choices
Since the time our kids have been toddlers, we’ve talked about money and the choices we’ve made when it comes to finances. We’ve started out in small ways and gradually shared more as they’ve asked more questions.
In addition to talking about our money choices, we’ve also sought to model wise money management before our kids. They hear us talking about our budget together. They see us making sacrifices to pay for things. They watch us paying cash for things. They see us deciding not to buy something because it’s not a good enough deal.
I believe that it’s very important to teach through our words and through our life. Because often more is caught than taught.
This was definitely true for me. My parents taught me that money is a tool. In the hands of wise stewards, it can be put to good use and make a huge impact. In the hands of those who are unwise, it can be wasted and blown with nothing to show for it.
With their lives and checkbooks, they modeled the importance of being wise in how you use and manage money. It wasn’t about saving money for saving money’s sake, but so that you could use that money saved to impact and help other people. To invest in things that matter, to bless people, to donate to causes you believe in, and to give generously.
Seeing my parents’ sacrifices and creative commitment to living debt-free and how it put them in position to be able to give generously because they worked so hard to no longer have a house payment was a huge inspiration to my husband and me.
How to Teach Through Every Day Life
Recently, I took Kathrynne (12) and Silas (7) with me to Kroger. I had so much fun going through the aisles with them, showing them simple ways I save money at the store.
I shared with them that Jesse was in law school, we only had $17-$30 a week to spend on groceries, so I had to get very creative with menu-planning, shopping the markdowns, playing the Drugstore Game, and using coupons.
I told them how I would dumpster dive and search through the recycle bins for coupons. Between pairing the coupons and the markdowns, along with creativity, we were able to survive on a minimal budget.
We played The Markdown Game at the store — looking for the yellow markdown stickers and then, once we found them, deciding whether it was a really good deal or not. Teaching them that some deals aren’t as good as they seem and that it’s not a good deal if you don’t have the money for it is a fantastic way to connect the dots for them and increase the value of the dollar in their mind.
So we discussed our budget, and I helped them decide whether or not an item fit in our budget. We had so much fun doing this together — and we came away with some really great deals, too!
Near the end of the shopping trip, one of them said, “So when I go away to college, I can do this, too. I can afford to live and not go into debt.” Yes!
When we’re out shopping, they can bring their own spending money and spend it however they’d like (within reason!). This helps them learn valuable money management skills and also prevents the gimme attitude that can quickly pop up when out shopping.
If a child sees something they want and they ask me if we can buy it, my response is always, “Did you bring your money?”
I also love the real-life skills our children are learning from taking their items up to the register and paying for them themselves. They learn about counting change, interacting with sales clerks, and making sure they have enough money to pay for their items in the first place.
One of the greatest joys of paying our children for doing chores has been watching them become generous givers. We encourage them to set aside a portion of their money for giving and we regularly talk about the needs around the world.
We’ve been so proud to watch our children fund Operation Christmas Child boxes and buy goats and chickens and help fund a water project for those in other countries through Samaritan’s Purse. Truly, there has been nothing more rewarding as a parent than seeing our children want to follow our family’s mantra to “Live simply so others can simply live.”
3. We Let Them Make Money Mistakes
When our children to use their own spending money to buy things they want to purchase, we don’t give a whole lot of input or guidance — unless they ask us for it. Why?
Because we want them to learn how to think through the wisdom of purchases on their own. We won’t always be around to guide their purchases, so we want them to learn to think through what the best deal is and what the best use of their money is without a lot of prodding from us.
We also want them to make money mistakes. This might seem harsh, but we’d much rather have them make $3 mistakes now when they are little to hopefully prevent some $3,000 and $30,000 mistakes down the road.
They’ve learned a lot of lessons when they bought cheap items that were broken within a few days and they’ve learned that spending all your hard-earned money on some impulse purchase can often lead to regret. These instances have resulted in great discussions about how to carefully think through purchases and how to make sure you’re making the best use of your money.
Looking for more resources to help teach your kids about money?
Beth Kobliner is one of the nation’s leading authorities on personal finance for young people, and in this book she shares wise, practical, relatable advice to help parents teach children how to be smart about money.
Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even If You’re Not) is a jargon-free, step-by-step guide to help parents of all income levels teach their kids from ages three to twenty-three about money. The content in the book is based on the latest research from the fields of psychology, child development, and behavioral economics.
What I love most about this book is that it is full of “teachable moments” that allow parents to learn how to teach their kids character traits that are important in all aspects of life: a strong work ethic, the ability to exert self-control and to weigh our choices carefully, the perseverance to work toward distant goals, and a giving spirit.
I don’t agree with all of the advice in the book — especially the parts that make it seem like debt is just an expected and normal part of life — but I think there is a lot of incredibly valuable information in this book and it’s presented in a simple and easy-to-understand format. I think it would be a very helpful to any parent who is looking for some guidance and practical help to set your kids up for financial success.
The book also features various financial chapters with each chapter divided into the many stages of a child’s development (i.e. toddler, elementary school, college, etc.) for parents to read through or reference whenever they need to.
Do I have a kids multivitamin that I love? Not so much. I'm a big believer in serving nutrition on a plate – not in a pill. That said, there are a handful of kids supplements that should be in regular rotation.
These three kids supplements will only do a body good. This is true for kids struggling with eczema, allergies, and mood swings. And it's true for kids that are already teeming with energy and vibrant health.
Three kids supplements for every small human
Even if your kid eats a “healthy” diet and spends plenty of time outdoors in the sunshine, chances are good that vitamin D requirements aren't being met. There's also widespread exposure to drugs and chemicals that put a strain on digestive health.
So, small amounts of seafood (if any) along with lots of seed and nut oils, time spent indoors, and modern conveniences filled with drugs and chemicals. This is your reality. And when it comes to nourishing young bodies – it's not ideal.
Fortunately, you can supplement. And if you have ever wondered which kids supplements are most important, here's a short and sweet list that touches on what kids really need.
#1 – Fish oil
Kids and adults alike thrive with an abundance of long-chain omega-3s. For children, this need is especially important, considering these special fats support brain development.
In short, your child's diet should be filled with lots of long-chain omega-3s relative to omega-6 fatty acids – which are found in grains, nuts, seeds, and common cooking oils. The problem? Most kids aren't eating foods that are high omega-3s. But they are eating plenty of grains, nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils.
Examples of long-chain omega-3 fats are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). These omega-3s are found mostly in seafood. You can also get small amounts of DHA from:
Eggs
Organ meats
Fat of well-raised animals
Besides the role they play in brain development, long-chain omega-3 fats are vital for healthy eyesight. They also safeguard against inflammation, which means they play a role in how your child's immune system works.
BEWARE: If you offer your child flaxseed oil as a source of omega-3s, there's good reason to reconsider. The omega-3s from plants like flaxseed must be converted into a usable long-chain form. Not only is conversion poor – but depending on genetic makeup, your child might have a very difficult time pulling brain-important DHA from short-chain plant oils.
Kids should receive between .7 and 1.6 grams of omega-3s each day, depending on their age. Unless they’re eating a 3 ounce filet of salmon every single day, it can be hard for them to get enough through diet alone.
Probiotics support your kid's immune system, digestion, and brain development. Issues like ADHD, autism, eczema, allergies, and asthma all have a reputation for being linked to an unhealthy gut. And unfortunately, gut imbalances can be traced back to some very common trends, including:
Antibiotic use
Formula use – instead of breast milk
Refined, processed foods
While some foods – like yogurt – are marketed for their probiotic power, pay close attention to the ingredients. Oftentimes, you'll find plenty of added sugar. Sometimes, there will even be artificial colors and flavors. You're also not likely to find bifidobacteria in most yogurts, which is a probiotic strain that tends to dominate the gut of healthy babies and has been linked to a number of health benefits.
When shopping for a probiotic-rich yogurt, look for one that's unsweetened and organic. Even better, make you own using raw milk.
Besides yogurt, I recommend a high-quality probiotic like this one.
For starters, many kids spend their days indoors for class and after-school events. They’re simply not getting the recommended amount of sunlight needed for adequate vitamin D levels. Genetic variations can also determine how much bioavailable vitamin D is floating around and free for immediate use.
Besides sunshine, food can be a wonderful source of vitamin D. We're talking BACON.
High-quality bacon and lard from pigs that have spent time outdoors foraging are an excellent source of vitamin D. Carnitas cooked in lard for melt-in-your-mouth perfection or a side of bacon is easy for any kid to love. Other sources of vitamin D comes from a spectrum of seafood, including:
Wild salmon
Sardines
Mackerel
Oysters
Fish roe
In addition to seafood, you can find vitamin D in a high-quality cod liver oil, like this one. To make cod liver oil kid-friendly, mix it with a little fruit juice.
In order to really know your child's vitamin D levels, you might want to use this home test kit. Then choose a kids supplement for vitamin D3 and follow these steps:
Start with 35 IU per pound of body weight. That’s approximately 1,000 IU for healthy children under the age of 2. 2,000 IU for children over the age of 2. And 5,000 IU for an average sized adult or adolescent per day.
After 2 months of taking the recommended dosage, check your vitamin D levels again.
Adjust your dose and retest as needed. Adequate vitamin D levels fall between 50-80 ng/ml.
Packed full of vegetables, these kid-friendly recipes for fall use Annie’s products as a base to make three quick, wholesome lunch or dinner ideas the kids will love!
Thanks to Annie’s for sponsoring this post.
Hi Friends!
I’m not sure if I mentioned it or not but after Squish turned one a couple weeks ago, we went to the doctor for his checkup and she gave us the green light to transition him off formula. As you guys know, he’s been eating solid food since about 6 months, but until now formula has still been his main source of nutrients. Now that he’s eating all solid food, I’ve really been focusing on finding quick and easy meals he enjoys, that are also healthy!
About a month ago, he started spitting out some of the vegetables I give him, which I knew would happen at some point, so since then I’ve been experimenting with different ways to keep him eating those veggies!
When my friends at Annie’s reached out to me about trying some of their products, including a few of their new line of Organic Soups and some mac and cheese (my fav!), I jumped at the chance. They now offer five delicious soup flavors with fun, kid-friendly pasta shapes! I tried a few of the soups myself and really enjoyed them. However, as you might imagine, soup is a bit tough for my little guy to manage…especially since we’ve just started working on using a spoon. So, I put on my thinking cap and started thinking about ways that I could make the soup easier for him to eat. I chose two different soups and gave them a little nutrient boost, while simultaneously making them a little more toddler-friendly!
First up:
First of all, every serving of this soup packs in a 1/2 cup of vegetables, which is awesome. I knew I wanted to find a way to thicken the soup up a bit to make it easier for my toddler, so I grabbed a few of the sweet potatoes I baked during my weekly food prep, mashed them up and stirred them in. This is an easy way to add some beta-carotene to the meal. Our bodies convert beta-carotene into Vitamin A, which is important for good vision and also boosts our immune system – perfect timing since flu-season is here. Then, since kids love dipping things, I made some avocado toast dippers to go along with it. Added bonus – Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin so it’s good to eat it with sources of healthy fat – ie avocado. I also sprinkled some hemp hearts on the toast for added texture.
Then, to top everything off, I added some Cheddar bunnies….because they make fun little croutons! They soak up some of the tomato soup, which makes them nice and soft and Squish-friendly.
So let’s recap. To make this tomato soup you need:
1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato
Toast
Avocado
Hemp hearts
Directions:
Pour soup into large bowl. Add mashed sweet potato and mix well. Heat in the microwave or on the stove.
Mash avocado and spread on toast. Sprinkle with hemp hearts. Cut each piece of toast into dipping strips.
Ladle soup into bowls, top with cheddar bunnies and serve with a side of avocado dippers!
Up next –
Squish is a pasta-lover like his mama, so I knew he’d love the pasta in this one. Although he’s probably not quite old enough to appreciate the fun shapes – bunnies and carrots – I thought they were so fun! Fun fact- a serving of this soup gives you 100% of your daily value of Vitamin A.
I recently did some baking with pumpkin, and as I’m sure you’ve experienced, I had a little bit of pumpkin left over. This soup has an orange color, very similar to pumpkin, so I decided to just mix that leftover pumpkin right in! Not noticeable in color or taste and another easy way to add some beta-carotene to your meal. I also threw in some leftover chicken from dinner earlier in the week for an added protein boost! Soups like this are one of my favorite kitchen shortcuts. They’re great on their own, but you can also use them as a base to transform your leftovers into a totally new meal!
To make this soup:
1/3 – 1/2 cup pumpkin
1 cup cooked chicken, chopped
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Heat and serve topped with bunnies!
And finally –
When I was pregnant with Squish, I pretty much lived on this mac and cheese. Either mac and cheese, Cheerios or peanut butter and jelly toast were just about all I could stomach for dinner for a several month stretch.
So it’s probably no surprise that mac and cheese is one of little man’s favorite foods as well. All Annies’s Mac and Cheese varieties are free of artificial flavors, synthetic colors and preservatives and I love pumping it up with some extra protein and veggies to make it a more complete meal. I make no exception when Squish eats it. I usually add some leftover chicken or some pre-cooked chicken sausage and then move on to the vegetables. Two of his favorite veggies are roasted squash and red peppers, so I mixed some of those right in and then I also added some broccoli, one of his least favorite veggies! Although he still picks some of it out, he’s much more likely to eat a few pieces if it’s covered in cheese and served with noodles.
1/2 cup roasted squashed, mashed (butternut or acorn work well)
1/4 cup roasted red peppers, diced
1-2 pre-cooked chicken sausages, chopped
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and broccoli and cook for 8 minutes. Drain and return to pan. Mix in remaining ingredients (including cheese packet from mac and cheese) and stir until well combined. Serve warm.
So there you have it! 3 easy, kid-friendly meal ideas that are packed with fall veggies and still taste great!
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
Original article and pictures take www.theleangreenbean.com site
There are a number of good traditional Christian mealtime blessings out there, but why not use meals as a opportunities to also teach Bible verses? Post one of these psalms in your dining area and recite it during meals. Or post all three: one for breakfast, another for lunch, another for dinner. If you recite these before every meal, your children will know them by heart before you know it.
3 Great Psalms for Mealtime Blessings @ Intoxicated On Life.com
.
Psalm 136:1-3, 23-26
In Jewish families this psalm is called “the Great Hallel” (praise), and it is traditionally recited during the Passover meal. Psalm 136 celebrates God as Creator and Rescuer. It speaks of God’s supreme lordship over the universe, His creative power, and His mighty acts during Israel’s exodus and wilderness wanderings.
Psalm 136 is also a call-and-answer psalm (antiphonal). It was written to be recited by two groups of people. The first group recites a line and the second responds with “for his steadfast love endures forever.” This can make for a very engaging mealtime blessing: parents can recite the first line, and children can respond.
Use as much of the psalm as you like for your thanksgiving prayer, but be sure to include the last two verses, which state, “he who gives food to all flesh…Give thanks to the God of heaven” (Psalm 136:25-26).
Psalm 104:14-15, 27-31
Charles Spurgeon called this psalm “a poet’s version of Genesis” because it echoes the six days of creation. The grand theme of this psalm is God’s providential care of His creation. God is celebrated as the one who created the world and sustains it by causing streams to flow, plants to grow, and the sun to rise and set. All of creation is utterly dependent on God’s provision: He opens his hand and fills the world with good things (v.28).
Reciting verses 14-15 are particularly suitable for mealtime blessings because they reminds our children about the natural processes God orchestrates to bring food to our tables. God causes mountain streams to flow into rivers, watering the ground, causing plants to grow, allowing man to cultivate the ground for livestock, crops, and vineyards. God does this that we “may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.”
Psalm 145:14-21
King David evidently composed this psalm to be memorized: he wrote this psalm as an alphabetical acrostic, meaning each line begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet in sequence, making it easier for Hebrew worshipers to recite it by heart. Interestingly, it is the only psalm with the words “of praise” in the title—the entire song is nothing but praise.
This psalm mentions the importance of the older generation imparting the truths of God to the next (v.4), but also gives a sober reminder to parents. We are not merely to teach our children about God, but rather we should model what it means to praise God in front of our kids. We are to “extol” Him (v.1), “greatly praise” Him (v.3), “declare” what God has done (v.4), and “celebrate” God’s abundant goodness (v.7). John Piper says it this way,
“Teachers and parents who do not exult over God in their teaching will not bring about exultation in God. Dry, unemotional, indifferent teaching about God—whether at home or at church—is a half-truth, at best. It says one thing about God and portrays another thing. It is inconsistent. It says that God is great, but teaches as if God is not great.”
We are in good company if we teach our children to recite this psalm, especially for mealtime blessings. Many observant Jews pray this psalm three times a day. In addition, in the ancient church this song was sung during the midday meal, specifically because of verses 15-16: “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.”
3 Easy Ways to Guard Your Health Before You Leave the House Here's three ways to prevent illness instead of just reacting when illness comes knocking. Guard the health of your family before you even leave the house with these natural options!
Does your family get sick all the time? It doesn’t just feel like it – you literally say, “we’re sick again” at least twice a month. I’m sorry, friend. I know how it is, really. I used to say the same thing quite frequently.
But not anymore.
Now, illness just isn’t something that happens much in our home. We’re exposed to a lot of it, for sure. My husband is a paramedic and spends a good deal of time taking people to the hospital. And we spend time with other (potentially sick) families at church, our home school co-op and such. Opportunities to pick up the latest bug abound.
So how is it that we only get sick twice a year (maybe) and when we do, we recover very quickly?
Well, a few years ago, my focus shifted from reacting to illness as it came to strengthening our immune systems to prevent illness. This simple shift in mindset has been huge for our family and, over time, has become second nature to us.
One easy way to prevent illness? Make sure you’ve guarded your health before you even leave your house.
Now, there are three main ways we do this and one of them is so ridiculously simple, that you might be quick to dismiss it. Don’t. Instead, consider them all as valid, easy ways to guard your health.
1. Protective essential oils
One of the beautiful things about essential oils is that they contain so many helpful properties. Lemon alone has several, including being antibacterial. (It’s not just used in cleaning recipes for its delightful smell.) Many oils are antiviral and antifungal as well, making them a powerful weapon as bugs circulate.
So what oils should you use and how? Well, there are many choices. But to keep things simple, I’ll tell you about some of my favorites that are mild enough to use on little ones. (And here’s a little tutorial in case you want to know more.)
First, frankincense. There’s a saying in the essential oil community – “If in doubt, use frankincense.” Frankincense is a powerful healer, reduces pain and boosts the immune system.
Next, lemon. As I mentioned earlier, lemon is antibacterial. It’s also antiviral and makes a great disinfectant.
Finally, tea tree. This well-known oil comes with a whole host of microbe-busting properties and boosts the immune system when diffused in the air.
Want to make it even simpler? Pre-blend your oils in a roll-on bottle. In a 10 mL bottle, put 10 drops each of lemon, frankincense and tea tree essential oil and top it off with a liquid carrier oil. Roll on the arches of everyone’s feet before leaving the house in the morning.
Now, I’m very picky about essential oils, so I encourage you to only use EOs from companies that test their oils to make sure they’re 100% pure so that you’re not rubbing in concentrated doses of harmful contaminants.
2. Herbal concoctions
Herbs provide gentle, effective immune-system boosting properties. I like elderberry syrup and immune-boosting tinctures for their ease of use and longer shelf lives – I don’t have to whip up a new batch each time I use them.
Elderberry syrup. This is another great way to keep your immune system strong, especially when you’re going to be hanging around people who may be sick. You can buy it pre-made, but it’s super simple (and more cost-effective) to make it yourself. You’ll find recipes for homemade elderberry syrup and elderberry gummies here.
Immunity-boosting tincture. Certain herbs, like echinacea and thyme, are great at protecting and enhancing your immune system. We buy a pre-made one for kids that my children love to take – they even remind me if I forget to give it to them.
You can always buy tinctures pre-made or learn how to make your own. Either way, take a dose before you leave the house for immune system protection.
Which brings me to my last easy way to support your immune system before you leave the house …
3. Good night’s sleep
Our culture seems proud of how little sleep we get. Sure we complain, but it’s almost like we try to out-do each other with our lack of slumber.
But getting 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night is optimal for our health. While we sleep, our bodies take some much-needed time to repair after a long day.
According to WebMD, losing out on much-needed sleep makes us more prone to getting sick, particularly in cold and flu season. So even if you’re doing everything else right, you may still be increasing your chances of getting sick by not getting enough sleep, whether that’s because you’ve got a new baby, or just like to stay up after the kids go to bed for some peace and quiet.
Here's three ways to prevent illness instead of just reacting when illness comes knocking. Guard the health of your family before you even leave the house with these natural options!
This one single factor makes a big impact on your overall health. But you know what? That’s great news! Because it means you can fix it, often with some simple lifestyle changes:
Herbal tea. Not always necessary, but I know when I need it. I make this herbal blend to help with stress throughout the day and as a sleep aid at night.
No computer/screen after 9. Screens work to reset your brain, waking you up when you should be winding down. Turn off the computer or TV and put away the cell phone.
Essential oils. Yes, I love essential oils. Because they work. If I’m having a hard time getting to sleep, I rub on a blend of lavender, vetiver and wild orange, diluted in coconut oil. It helps me sleep great and wake up feeling rested.
Now, there’s definitely more you can do to keep your family healthy year-round, but these 3 easy tips are a great start and can soon become sustainable habits in your healthy living journey.
How do you try to guard your health before you leave the house?
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy through our links, we earn a small commission, which helps to keep this site going so that we can continue to offer free and useful content, so thanks!
Original article and pictures take keeperofthehome.org site
3 Decisions Made During Labor that Affect Your Baby’s Health and Your Recovery Time
The environment you labor in and the interventions that you have during labor can not only affect your baby’s health, but can also affect your recovery time. Thinking about these early on and making a decision about what you would do in different scenarios can ensure that you understand the risks and benefits of different options. When you’re in the middle of a contraction, or in the whirl-wind of just walking into the hospital during labor, you don’t have the time, energy, or mental capacity to give each decision consideration and thoughtfully choose what is right for you.
These are three decisions that you will need to make during labor, their pros and cons, and how they can affect your newborn’s health and your recovery time as well.
1. IV Fluids during labor
Most hospitals place an IV with fluids as soon as you are admitted into Labor and Delivery. Those fluids are usually normal saline, but medication like Pitocin can also be put in through the IV.
This can affect your birth and recovery time:
Having an IV placed will inhibit you from freely moving around during labor. Women who move are better able to listen to their body’s signals of what position is most comfortable and productive for labor. For example, mothers who squat or birth on hands and knees increase their pelvic opening through this position change, and allow their babies to be born easier.
Medications can be added to the IV bag without the laboring mother noticing. Most notable is Pitocin, synthetic oxytocin, which causes stronger contractions. Pitocin should only be used after understanding the pros and cons of the medication.
The excess fluid can cause swelling in your body, which is uncomfortable, and causes the kidneys to work to extract it. It’s not uncommon for a first time mother to be in labor 24 hours or longer, and with an IV running the whole time, that’s a lot of fluid!
IV fluids are not shown to be more effective than allowing the mother to drink to thirst during labor. (source)
This can affect your baby:
Babies also are receiving an excess amount of fluids during labor when the mother has an IV placed (source). After birth as they lose these fluids and return to normal, care providers can become alarmed because it looks like too much weight has been lost. Mothers can be pressured to supplement with formula due to this large drop in weight, and the breastfeeding relationship is less likely to be successful.
2. Your Environment Immediately After Birth
The baby has been born, is nice and pink and is crying. Everything’s all okay now, right?
Not so fast.
The environment after birth is important both for baby to latch on and start the nursing relationship, and for mom to deliver the placenta safely and prevent postpartum hemorrhage. Skin-to-skin contact promotes temperature regulation in the newborn (source), helps them regulate their breathing, and allows them to breastfeed. Early breastfeeding provides the newborn with colostrum for nutrition, antibodies, and it may even help with establishing good gut flora (source).
Oxytocin is produced during labor and after delivery by both the mom and baby. This hormone is responsible both for the letting down of milk and the clamping down of the uterus. When left undisturbed, with the lights and voices low, oxytocin levels are high in baby and mom for at least the first hour after birth. When disturbed by bright lights, and even the happy excitement of family and friends, adrenaline competes with oxytocin within the body, which lowers the oxytocin levels (source).
Keep the lights dim, diaper the baby if desired, or just let him be skin-to-skin with mom for at least the first hour, covered in a receiving blanket. Leave the hat off of baby to allow the natural bonding take place between the parents and the baby that involves smelling the baby’s head, stroking his hair, and giving him kisses and nuzzles. Any vitals needed can be taken while baby is resting on mom, but a pink baby who is alert and breastfeeding can usually have the newborn exam put off for an hour or two.
3. Internal exams during labor
Internal (vaginal) exams are just a part of giving birth, right?
Wrong.
I’ve had three children and have never had a vaginal exam during labor. (I’m busy when I’m in labor doing other things, like, you know, birthing the baby!)
This is good news! Nobody likes vaginal checks, and they really don’t tell us much (source). A woman who is dilated to 3 can easily stay at a 3 for hours longer, or can quickly dilate up to a 10 in the next few minutes. Vaginal exams introduce bacteria into the birth canal, can cause distress to the mother (see above about adrenaline and oxytocin not getting along), and can be discouraging to a woman who has been in labor for hours only to hear that she’s just now dilated to a 5.
With internal exams comes the risk of rupturing the membranes (source), which can cause the water to be broken before real labor has started, can cause cord prolapse with the prematurely breaking water, and increases the risk of needing a cesarean delivery.
Can I refuse vaginal exams? Yes, you can. It may be hospital policy, or your doctor’s standard procedure, but you are well within your rights to refuse vaginal exams that you do not wish to have (some women do want to be checked to see if labor is progressing, some women check themselves, and some women opt out all together).
Educating yourself during pregnancy is important
It’s important to understand your choices well before you present to the L&D floor. You want to know what is and isn’t important to do during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Reading about the pros and cons of different protocols and procedures well before you are in labor is imperative. When you’re in labor you won’t have time to thoroughly consider your options.
Need help advocating for yourself?
Doulas are wonderful advocates for the laboring woman. A doula can help remind you of your birth plan, can prompt you to ask questions of your care provider, and can help you achieve the birth you want – both in the hospital and at home. I strongly encourage families to interview local doulas while they are pregnant, and choose one that they feel comfortable with to help them during the birth.
Did you like this article?
Yes?
Then you’ll love the BRAND NEW book The Empowered Mother: A 42-week Guide to Decisions (just like these) made during pregnancy, birth, and the baby’s first few weeks. This is an e-book to guide you through all these options for childbirth and pregnancy to give your family a healthy start.
A 42-week guide to the decisions made during pregnancy, birth, and the baby’s first few weeks. Original article and pictures take healthhomeandhappiness.com site
