Confession: I drank the (oily) kool-aid

Essential Oils.  Most of my friends will read this post while silently chanting in their heads, "I told you so, I told you so."  I know, I know.  I'm very late to this party.  I was seriously the biggest skeptic out there.  I mean, it's oil.  It's "multi-level marketing".  It's all in your head.  It works just because you've made up your mind it will work.  Believe me, I had all the reasons why I was never going to drink that kool-aid.

So my skeptic friend, this post is for you. Especially if you have an ADHD child. 

I don't talk a ton about this but Reed was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 4.  I won't go into detail about the events that led us to have him evaluated but let's just say pulling a fire alarm at the day care he just started because he was kicked out of the last one may have had something to do with it. 

Fast forward nearly 5 years past this diagnosis and we still have not medicated Reed.  I don't really feel a need to justify the decision except to say that although his evaluation rated him "extreme ADHD", his ADHD has not had a negative effect on him socially, emotionally or academically.  He is not aggressive, he is not angry.  In fact, if you will allow me a quick mom-brag moment, Reed is actually in the advanced potential/gifted program at school.  But he just cannot sit still. (And a quick plug of encouragement to my fellow ADHD moms/dads who do medicate:  please hear me say you are a great parent and you are doing the best thing for your child.  I pray constantly about the decision not to medicate and hope that I will have ears to hear if the Lord calls me another way.)  With that being said, Reed does struggle with extreme impulsive behavior which certainly causes problems at school. 

We've never actually made it to the pre-set conference day since he started kindergarten.  This year was no different.  I sat down with several of his teachers just 2 weeks into the year and ugly cried my way through another conference trying to figure out how to accommodate my son.  I was so tired.  Do you ever feel that way? I was at a loss.  For years we tried natural solutions with minimal success. Although I will say our diet change made the most improvement overall and I've written another post about that HERE.  I was ready to try something new.  I started the conversation with a precious friend who sent me this video.  This video is a great explanation of how an ADHD and autistic brain works.  Food for my rational brain.  It's worth a watch if you are parenting a child on the spectrum or with ADHD.

In September 2015, we started using essential oils on Reed. I figured I'd try it until for a couple of weeks. Why not?

At Reed's normally scheduled conference, which was 3 weeks into his essential oil therapy, all of his teachers noticed a remarkable difference.  One of them even asked what I was doing because he wanted to try it on his own son.  He no longer comes home every single day with negative marks on his behavior chart. He is engaged in class and has better control over his impulsivity and his attention span.  Now, Reed even applies his oils and takes his supplements on his own because HE can tell a difference himself.  We are so thankful to God that we have found something to help him. 

Since we've had so much success with Reed, we started using essential oils in our everyday life.  Thieves and Peppermint helped Rowan rid a nasty cough in just 2 days.  We've used essential oils to combat the stomach virus, colds, headaches, car sickness, skin ailments and for just overall wellness.  None of my kids have been to the doctor for a sick visit since September. I have to admit, I'm still somewhat in disbelief they are working.  I mean they are just oils right?  But as I learn more, I've realized lots of interesting facts about essential oils. Did you know the bible makes over 200 references to oils for healing, for spiritual growth, and overall wellness?  I figure, if they are good enough for God, they are good enough for me and my family.  

So as I sat here tonight thanking God for the incredible positive change in my son, and all the ways essential oils have blessed my family in other ways, I couldn't help but want to share our experience. I guess I'm not the very last person on this planet to experience for themselves just how well essential oils work. My prayer is that our story can be an encouragement to someone else.  

*note: If you are interested to learn the specific way we are using essential oils for Reed and ADHD, just let me know. I'm happy to share!

I probably should be fired.

It's been more than a year since I blogged. I probably should be fired from this gig. But's it's 8:34 and my entire family (minus the teenager) is in bed so I figure I'll give it a go. My friend Sarah posted a blog about the evolution of pregnancies.  And I read it last night after church where the baby crawled around on the ground eating crackers (off the ground of course) and some random lady was very concerned about this runaway baby, and the absence of socks on her feet, frantically looking for her mother until I dismissively waved to her and said, "oh she's mine, don't mind her digging through your purse."  Unless you have a knife in there.  But really, only if it's one of those really sharp  knives.  So, anyway, Sarah got me thinking about the evolution of raising children.

Child #1: Don't touch the baby.  Only if you have showered, washed your hands, and sanitized may you touch the baby.  And then you can only touch her feet.
Child #4: Please touch the baby.  If you have some leftover Popsicle on your fingers she can lick to entertain her, by all means, please insert your fingers in my baby's mouth.

Child #1: Baby proof at 37 week gestation.  Everything must have a cover, latch, lock.
Child #4: Baby proof when baby attempts to insert fork in socket.  When baby learns 6 short weeks later to remove the cover, take lots of pictures.  You guys, I must document this genius baby of mine.

 Baby #1: First birthdays.  You guys, Thade had a special outfit purchased just for the occasion.  I labored over his cake for 2 days.  There was a theme.  Like everything matched.  Reed got the same treatment, I think.  (cut my memory some slack I was 8 months pregnant with Adalae).  I can't even remember Adalae's first birthday.  There might be pictures of it somewhere on our computer where every photo taken for the last 10 years remains stored and unprinted.
Baby #4:  I've been asked what I'm going to do for Rowan's birthday so let's see.  Rowan turns one on the day that Thade graduates high school.  (OMG) I'll go to project graduation all night Friday, then host a birthday party, followed by a graduation party on Saturday.  I was feeling proud to get a paper invitation in the snail mail for all of these festivities.  What will we do at these parties you ask?  I HAVE NO IDEA.  We will eat cake and open presents.  My only aspiration is too be awake.

Baby #1:  I am not kidding, but I bathed Thade EVERY TIME he ate.  Meal, snack, it didn't matter. That baby was squeaky clean 100% of the time.
Baby #4: Gets a bath on spaghetti night.  And maybe a bonus bath in the kitchen sink with the dish soap if I'm feeling particularly ambitious.

PACI......  There is no such thing as a dirty paci.

But I do have to admit, the rules for all the children become much more relaxed when there are so many of them.  I mean, I might've put up more of a fight for Thade's prom outfit if these people of mine didn't suck the life out of me  request my love and attention for all of the time of all of the days.

Stunning isn't he?

Pooping barbie dogs

I saw this ridiculousness on TV today and I could NOT.stop.laughing.  I mean, seriously, if a pooping doll wasn't enough, will people actually buy this crap?  And if I've offended you because you've already bought this crap (literally), well then I just can't apologize.  I just can't.

 
Which got me thinking about some other pretty amazingly bad toys I've come across in my day.  Like the Lightening Reaction Extreme Game. 

What is the goal of this game?  To not get electrocuted.  What do you win?  The right to not get electrocuted.  Believe it or not, I actually know people Rustin who shall remain nameless who have played this game.  There is not enough chardonnay in the world to get me grabbing one of those electrical surge conduits.

And what about the Skip It?  Remember this toy?

Hey kid, no friends to jump rope with?  I'll play with you.  We will have lots of fun.  Oh, and if you fail to jump over me, I'll slap you in the leg.  And hard.

Jacks.

Here's how you play Jacks. Go to the park. Set your jacks on the ground and make like you are having fun (you won't really be having fun, but play along). When another boy comes along with a much cooler toy, throw the little ninja-star jacks in his face and take his toy.

In unrelated news, we have a name for baby girl; Rowan Lane.  Here we are starting the 3rd trimester at 28 weeks.

Baby girl is healthy despite my "advance maternal age" status!

Celebrating Reed!

Reed is 7 years old today!  There are so many things I love about this precious boy. But most of all, I love his enthusiasm for LIFE. You will rarely see my Reed in a bad mood. In fact, he might possibly never be in a bad mood. He approaches everything with such zeal, and his consistent positive and happy attitude is contagious. And also sometimes infuriating when he is in trouble but STILL can't wipe that smile off his face. Reed has never met a stranger either.  As I sit here at Adalae's gymnastics practice writing this blog post, Reed has imposed befriended an eighth grader and is currently giving him a Pokemon lesson.  You're welcome kid. I know whatever you were engrossed in on your iPhone before my brilliant kid interrupted graced you with his friendship is not nearly as entertaining as learning about how Tentracruel's hyperbeam was no match for Skunktank's fury swipes.

And this kid's energy level.  Seriously y'all. He doesn't sit on the couch, he leaps on the couch with a full sprint start. He doesn't eat a meal, he shovels his meal into his mouth while simultaneously narrating his latest Minecraft creation with astonishing DETAIL.  Oh the details.  Doesn't he see my eyes glaze over when he starts in about these things I don't understand?

No side hugs from my Reed either.  He doesn't hug me, he throws himself into my arms with everything he has and including the trust that I'll catch him. Even though I typically full on turn/flinch to the side to avoid a swift knee to the shin. Sorry dude, you're not 20 lbs and 2 anymore. You're SEVEN!

What a precious gift from God Reed is to our family. I thank the Lord daily for the day you were born Reed.  We love you buddy!!

Gender Reveal

So, apparently I am "advanced maternal age" which is kinda cool because I get all this extra prenatal care.  One of these extras was a special old lady sonogram at 13 weeks in which we found out our Downs chances are 1 in 623,000 (or something that sounded really unlikely, thank you Lord) PLUS the gender of our little pea! 

There has been lots of talk around here about boys vs. girls.

Boys are the best because:

• They can wear the same pair of jeans for 13 days in a row and nobody would notice or care, including the boy himself.  In fact, boys don't much care about what they wear, or don't wear.  Reed comes in the door each day and immediately strips off his shirt and his underwear (yes, his underwear; don't even ask about this child of mine).
• The more boys we have, the less weddings we pay for.
•  Less drama.  I don't know about your daughters, but my mine came out with an attitude and a tiara. 

Girls are the best because:

• Less pee on the bathroom floor.  Seriously, someone (not me but maybe you) should invent a training course on how to aim the pee IN THE BOWL. You know, like puppy training.  Now I'd pay for that.
• ACCESSORIES.  I just love playing dress up with my precious little doll daughter.  The boys will have no part in styling their hair, sporting a cool trendy bracelet or skinny jeans.  On second thought, I think I'm OK with this.
• They can just be still.  This seems to be an impossible feat for my boys, but Adalae is the best snuggler in the whole wide world. 

Turn up your sound and enjoy the littles reaction to the big news.  God has been so good to us. We feel so incredibly blessed and are beyond excited (well most of us anyway).

Summer is over

I've been thinking lately about how MUCH I miss summer.  It was a complete free for all around here for 3 months.  Reed and Adalae could no longer read or compute simple math problems after our 3 months of NO.LEARNING.AT.ALL but this is besides the point.  This was my first summer since I was 15 years old that I didn't have a full-time job.  So I took a 3 month vacation from work (and obviously from responsibly preparing my kids for the next grade level), just whatever.  We are playing catch up now, which means the kids read to us every day, which means I'm facebooking reading in that bedroom FOR.EVER.  I might actually die in that bedroom.   Seriously, it's great and all the first couple of pages but when will you remember that we learned the word "said" 2 sentences ago and 67 times total this week?

Speaking of school, Adalae loves kindergarten.  She brings her weekly homework home on Mondays and promptly completes Mon-Thurs homework..... on MONDAY.  She actually cried last Friday when she didn't have any homework in her folder. 

And speaking of Friday, Reed had an eventful day.  He colored on his teacher's computer monitor with an orange sharpie, peeled the googly eyes off the Kindergarteners work in the hallway, and damaged another kids binder.   I really just have to laugh, because the alternative is not very attractive.  Ain't nobody got time for ugly crying.  Plus, Reed's energy level, inquisitiveness and his, *ahem, creativity generally produces some pretty cute stuff too.  Like when he tells me he was "accidentally" wild.  Or when he phonetically tried to sound out "FWC" at the dinner table (you go ahead put those sounds together and you'll see what I'm talking about). Or when we read a Magic School Bus book about the human heart and he asked where Jesus was. Or when he asked if we are going to live in our house until it burns. Or when he kisses both of my cheeks-even at school in front of his friends. Or when he tells me he loves me to Pluto and back times infinity.

And then there is Thade.  What can I say about Thade except that my heart might explode with just how proud I am of the young man he is.  About the man he is becoming.  That boy has a heart of gold and loves Jesus.  What more could a mom ask for? 

I thank God everyday for these 3 blessings.  He has been good to me.

Celebrate Adalae

We sure had a great time celebrating Adalae over the last couple of weeks.

5 years old!

 

Having cake on her birthday, April 22nd

 

Her PINK birthday party last weekend, colored with beets and raspberries!

 

 

We decorated pringle cans to make music shakers and played a game with them.

 

 

 

Sweet Aunt Barbara helping her make a necklace.

 

 

I love her attack look.  Teeth gritted and all.

 

 

Then chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese raspberry frosting!

 

 

 And the added bonus of PJ and Grandpa in from Arizona.

 

 

Plus some of my family made it in from Abilene which they are so sweet to do almost every year for my kids birthdays.  Although sweet Adalae has brought a lot of typical little girl drama to us, she has brought us MUCH MORE joy.  Love you precious!

 

 

 

 



Sweet 16

To my firstborn,

How is it possible you are 16 years old today?  It seems like yesterday that I, as a baby myself, brought your tiny little body home.  It's hard to believe my 6'4" boy was this small one day not long ago. 

 

 

 

I had no idea how we would make it at times, but my love for you pushed me to do my best; to BE my best.  All I've always known is I wanted you to know how much you are loved. Today we celebrate your 16th birthday.  I couldn't be more proud of the man you are becoming.  You love Jesus and I see that overflow in the way you love people.  You are loyal to long time friends.  You love on your little brother and sister; even when they annoy you.  You give up hours of your time to coach Reed's basketball team, with nothing in return.  You give me great hugs, and even sometimes in front of your friends. You tell me thank you after EVERY meal.  You are mature beyond your years, and your good decisions show that.  So we celebrate you today, Thade.  And this mama knows the way to your heart.... food that is.  And lots of it.

 

 Bacon, eggs, banana bread, cheesecake and strawberries for breakfast.

 



 

Panda and cheesecake for lunch

 

 

Chili's Chicken Crispers for Dinner

 

 

From scratch chocolate cake and chocolate icing for dessert

 

 

And the after presents love

 

 

 

I can't help but think how different my life might be if God didn't let me borrow you those 16 years ago.  I thank Him everyday I get to be your Mom.

 

I love you,

 

Mom

WINNING!

Winning....  Adalae that is.  Today she made her soccer debut.  Adalae scored THREE of her team's four goals.  I have to admit, I was in shock.  Don't get me wrong, Adalae has her talents.  She can twirl her hair better than me and she could negotiate peace in the Middle East with one doe eyed look.  But, compared to her brothers, she is so docile.  I mean this girl is frail!  She eats like a bird (literally bread only) and can't even close the car door by herself.  Adalae is good to walk about 16 feet before she needs someone to carry her.  She is the first kid at the party to rest because she is "so tired".  She sleeps past 6am!

 

You rock baby girl!

Lego Party

Birthday parties.....birthday parties.  I really love taking my kids to birthday parties.  And I really love the personal touch of having my own kids' birthday parties at home.  However, I really need to find a birthday çhef-fairy that will actually "throw" my kid's birthday for me.  Planning an activity? no problem.  Decorating?  No problem.  Finding people to show up?  No problem.  Food?  Problem.  If you remember this post, we try our best to avoid artificial color, flavor and sweetener.  This tends to present a problem when your birthday boy wants RED cupcakes and  YELLOW cake pops. 

Sometimes, I hate being that mom. That mom who thinks her kid deserves only the best, most natural food.  Well, I don't really hate being that mom.  But the fear of a reaction the artificials will cause can make me a bit irrational at times and I may politely say "no thank you" to the lab produced snack you try to hand my child after a basketball game, but inside I'm screaming, "DON'T FEED THAT TO MY CHILD".  So yeah, I do really hate being that mom.

So, I try not to go too crazy and I admit I've been a bit of a slacker as of late, but I know my kids get real food most of the time at home.  So we make allowances for birthday parties or other events if I haven't had time to make an alternative.

With a little research and A LOT of time in the kitchen, we pulled a natural foods birthday party off.  Thanks to everyone that came and made my boy's day special.  I'll also post photos of the food along with resources for ingredients.

Birthday boy

 I had mason jar of legos and the kids guessed how many for a prize.

What's a birthday party without a meltdown from the birthday boy because his friend Charlie won the prize?



The kids picked out heads, bodies and accessories to build their own lego mini-figure.  Cutie pie Matthew cheesed for every picture.

We had a contest to see who could build the tallest lego tower in 1 minute.

And the token sleeping uncle......

Ok FOOD. 

Lego cupcakes from Cupcake Bliss because I knew they made them from scratch.  They were very expensive and not as good as the mini cupcakes I made on the right.  (Lesson learned).  Central Market just started carrying natural food coloring.  I made the mini cupcakes from scratch and the icing is an organic vanilla brand from Central Market tinted with natural coloring.  You have to be careful to not use too much because it's tinted with vegetable juice (and tastes like it!) which is why my "red" icing is closer to pink.  The colors are all a bit pastel in comparison with food dye made in a lab.

Organic crackers and god ole cream cheese held on the circles of cheese I cut with one of my frosting tips.

Lego pops:  Homemade marshmallows from Central Market with HEB brand melting candy (no artificials listed on the label).  I melted the candy and tinted with the natual yellow dye.  Now, the faces are the ONLY not natural addition as I couldn't find a natural food pen anywhere.  But it's such a small amount, I was OK with it.  And of course the M&Ms but they were for decoration only.

On a side note, we thought we might try to complicate our eating habits even more this week.  Yesterday, Thade thought he'd try the Paleo diet to get "buff".  Without a bit of research, I said I'd try it with him.  We both made it 45 minutes before we eagerly consumed a cupcake.  Thade made it another hour before devouring 4 breadsticks. 



The faces of Reed

Reed can express ANY emotion, and on demand.  I might be in trouble.

Mad Face

Deep Thoughts Face

 Happy Face

Excited Face

Sad Face

Silly Face

He may or may not channel this ability to manipulate me on a daily basis.  I love this little guy!

A day in the life....

Someone accused me gently reminded me today that I promised to blog more.  I actually started a post on Friday but a bloody lip distracted me.  Reading back over it, I bored even myself with the details of my day so I'll give you the ADD version.

Thade woke up sick with fever and proceeds to milk his state of illness like a hospice patient.  I figure skipping the gym was OK since he had me up and down the stairs 47 times by 9am.  Which is when the call came from the nurse at Reed's school.
Me: Hello
Nurse: Reed threw up.  He said he choked on something but his teacher said he wasn't eating.
Reed in background:  It was my finger!
So I pick up Reed, who looked really "sick" as he climbed all over the poor girl lying down in the nurse's office who really was sick.  Yep, he stuck his finger down his throat, "just because".

It was all good because we had a fun day planned with friends at Central Market, aka black-wood-chips-that-destroy-everything-they-touch Market, and I always feel bad that Reed is in school for these outings.  So we get home mid-afternoon and I start the process of STRAIGHT TO THE BATH BEFORE EVERYTHING I OWN HAS CENTRAL MARKET BLACK WOOD CHIP MARKS ON IT.  Which is silly when I think about it since I don't own anything in this apartment.  While I'm bathing Adalae, I hear a crash.  The dreaded crash followed by gushing liquid.  The milk gallon crash.  Apparently, Reed is a big-boy-in-kidergartern-and-I-can-pour-my-own-milk.  Good try buddy.  Please don't try again until you are 12.  I return to Adalae in the bath to find she has squeezed an ENTIRE bottle of conditioner AND shave cream in the water and is swimming in a pool of pink floating globs.

Soooo, I start writing only to get interrupted 15 minutes later when Reed somehow "fell" into Thade's foot, busting his bottom lip open.

Some happenings over the last couple of weeks:

Attempt at a picture at Oktoberfest:

Thade and Reed in A-town for my mom's birthday on Saturday.

Reed at the library:

 Reed delivers a coupon book to our local fire department.  This is the engine that put out our house fire.

Adalae had her first dance class today and Reed wanted to look nice for it.  So I said sure, let's change into a shirt without jelly and your morning boogers on it.  No kidding, the tie was HIS idea!

Reed drew an anatomically correct picture of me today at lunch.  I asked him to please color a shirt on me so I could go outside. And quick, before our waitress sees it. Thank you for the shirt Reed, I think the color red really brings out my jaundice. 

I shaved my legs on a Tuesday

Day one of my retirement is here.  I got up at 6am, as usual, when Adalae stumbled into our room, one eye shut, and squeaked "where is the iPad".  (She may or may not have an addiction).  I might be a little aggressive with my timeline as I had the kids dressed, sheets changed, kids fed, dishwasher unloaded and a load of laundry folded by 7am.  Sounds great, except school doesn't start until 8am.  We could sleep until 7am?  That was only for the weekends!

I think I love Tuesdays.  First of all, I might never make a trip to Target on a Saturday again.  Target at 8am on Tuesday morning?  Fabulous!  I also tackled another task usually reserved for Saturdays.... wait for it ..... shaving my legs.  Don't judge, nobody cares if I have shaved legs under my work slacks.  Well maybe Rustin cares when I stab him at night with my pricklies, so see there - we ALL will benefit from my retirement.

Adalae and I organized the kids toys today and guess what?  The carpet in their room is brown.  Not sure I remembered the color.  It's ugly poop brown. But that's cool, this town home is temporary.  Which also is why I vacuumed the stairs for the first time today since we moved in.  (don't judge, it hasn't even been 3 months).  While tackling this task, I may or may not have vacuumed up 14 Polly Pocket shoes.  Adalae can't read so I think I'm safe to say - I definitely vacuumed up at least 14 tiny, miniature, miserable pieces of someones-invention-that-doesn't-have kids.

I also plan to blog more than 4x per year.  I know my 2 readers are happy about that.

I'm loving this verse recently, He who began a good work in you will be faithful (paraphrased by me) Phil 1:6

I have awesome friends

Thank you so much to everyone that helped us this weekend. We cannot express how humbled we are once again by the love of our friends.
We were able to complete our to do list on the house we need to sell. It is such a blessing to cross this item off our suddenly expanded to do list.

Kelly and Madison (Madison may have worked the hardest!)




My wonderful husband



Leslie Thomas who is responsible for the idea of re-staining all my kitchen cabinets!



My BFF Leslie Harrison, soon to be Leslie Pollard



Luke Alverson who painted a room by himself in a hour. Superman!



Cristi Robarts, one of my longest and bestest friends!


Ricky Lewis because he doesn't have anything better to do with a newborn and moving his own family to a new house.





My big boy Thade. Thade actually laid in the floor texting most of the time but we got a rare action shot!


Calista Railsback, painter extraordinaire!



Justin Pollard, Lowes errand runner and doorbell expert.


Chesley Walton, who can crawl around on the floor better than any preggo I've ever seen!




And thank you Jayce Alverson, Jennifer Belknap for bringing us snacks and Barbara for chasing my kids around all day. We love y'all and are so very thankful for the village God has put in our lives.

Oh and Happy 7th Anniversary today to Rustin and I! How about a week at the LaQuinta to celebrate?

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