 |
| Mom Photo Frame |
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Merry Christmas To All!
I know some of you would like a full view of Noah. So below you will find a slide show of pictures throughout the course of the year. Enjoy!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
De-framing Framingham
The Framingham study is a study about the risk factors associated with heart disease. Their primary goal is to establish a risk score for individuals, so that the medical community can "size up" their patients against the score and give them guidelines. Most of the risk factors include blood work-ups. Cholesterol is a public enemy number one based on their findings...
There are so many reasons why the recommends in this study are counter intuitive, but I also like to find research that backs up my instincts.
The British medical journal was the first to publish the findings, but they have now been picked up by numerous medical journals. A team of scientist decided to do their own "Framingham" study in Britain...
Their study finding showed that the men in the "lowest risk" category based on the Framingham score had the highest number of Heart disease...84% higher than what was predicted. The study found that all the results and scores from the Framingham study were completely overestimated.
The British, more or less found the opposite to be true...higher cholesterol....lower the heart attack...
There are so many reasons why the recommends in this study are counter intuitive, but I also like to find research that backs up my instincts.
The British medical journal was the first to publish the findings, but they have now been picked up by numerous medical journals. A team of scientist decided to do their own "Framingham" study in Britain...
Their study finding showed that the men in the "lowest risk" category based on the Framingham score had the highest number of Heart disease...84% higher than what was predicted. The study found that all the results and scores from the Framingham study were completely overestimated.
The British, more or less found the opposite to be true...higher cholesterol....lower the heart attack...
Cod liver Oil
So, with all the talk about vitamin D and winter months...I have been asked what brands of cod liver oil do I reccomend. Make sure any brand you buy has been screened for mercury, has been cold processed, and has not had the original vitamin component removed. Fish oils in general are in the media right now because of Omega benefits. Many manufacturers, however, are removing the naturally occuring vit A and D for concerns of toxicity, and then adding back in lower levels of said vitamins in their synthetic form.
Some brand reccomends:]
Additional label information if you are choosing a brand not on this list. Some brands of cod liver oil contain very little vitamin D compared to vitamin A. The ration of A to D in cod liver oil should be 10 to 1 or less. (In one popular brand, the ratio of A to D is almost 100 to 1.) Vitamin A and vitamin D work synergistically and without the vitamin D, the vitamin A could be toxic. (Don't buy Barleans...it has a 1000 to 1 ratio.)
Additional Information in Article Form
Some brand reccomends:]
In Stores: Garden of Life, regular dose cod liver oil; Nordic Naturals Vitamin D Cod Liver Oil
Online/Mail Order:
- Dr. Ron's High Vitamin Old Fashioned Blue Ice Pure Cod Liver Oil, 1-877-472-8701, drrons.com
- Radiant Life, Premier High Vitamin Cod Liver Oil, (888) 593-8333, 4radiantlife.com
- Blue Ice, High Vitamin Cod Liver Oil, (402) 858-4818, greenpasture.org
- Wolf River Naturals, wolfrivernaturals.com
Additional label information if you are choosing a brand not on this list. Some brands of cod liver oil contain very little vitamin D compared to vitamin A. The ration of A to D in cod liver oil should be 10 to 1 or less. (In one popular brand, the ratio of A to D is almost 100 to 1.) Vitamin A and vitamin D work synergistically and without the vitamin D, the vitamin A could be toxic. (Don't buy Barleans...it has a 1000 to 1 ratio.)
Additional Information in Article Form
Vitamins an overview
With the winter quickly approaching, and access to fresh veggies is dwindling, many are left wondering how can I make sure my family gets enough vitamins. As American consumers we go to the grocery store and see shelves upon shelves of pharmaceutical vitamins. Some are multi some are single. Some have the whole complex of the vitamin, others are for anti-aging, men or women.
The true irony of vitamin supplements in the grocery store is so often missed or not even thought about by the average consumer. We have become accustomed to the "one-a-day" concept. We have failed to look around the grocery store for our nutrition, and tend to focus on the "one-a-day" for our nutrition. Further more, most of the items contained in the grocery store do nothing to enhance our body's vitamin storage and production, but rather necessitate something else being added after all the damage the food we bought does to our system. Gotta love the industrialization of our food.
Traditional cultures didn't have names for vitamins, they didn't know what vitamins were contained in what food and how many IU of vitamins were required everyday for optimal health. They didn't have food label, or Daily Values established for the foods they ate. They just ate the foods that energized and avoided the foods that caused lethargy or any array of other unpleasant side effects. Our problem. Our bodies operate at such a strung out mal-nourished state all the time we don't even know how to read our own bodies signals. We have been trained to think this tired, overwhelmed, stomach ache, constipation, headache, etc, etc. existence is normal. We have separated those and various other symptoms from our food and have deemed them symptoms that require a "supplement" to fix, whether it be a laxative or a vitamin...we are missing the point.
Vitamins occur in nature in their complete form in the presence of their naturally occurring counterparts, so the body can process and utilize them. When you give your body just a component of a vitamin, it is like giving a child a book, who can't read, and asking them to read it. Giving your child a book, is a good thing, but in the end it won't amount to much if you don't take the time to show them how to accomplish the task at hand...and vitamins are no different.
No pill can replace the value properly prepared foods. They wouldn't be able to manufacture a pill large enough to encompass such a task, nor would anyone want to swallow such a feat.
So what are you to do? Start by spending time researching your food supply. Many foods, vary greatly in vitamin content based on the soil they were grown in. For example, because of the excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers conventionally grown oranges contain 0% vitamin C. The USDA did nutrition profiles of crops from the 50's-70's. Additional research and label updates have not been done since then. It is your job to know what happens to your food before it hits your plate.
Get a basic overview about vitamins, where they are found, and what ones are worth the money!
Try to eliminate the synthetic forms of vitamins from your diet as much as possible.
Increase your grocery budget and decrease your supplement budget...
The true irony of vitamin supplements in the grocery store is so often missed or not even thought about by the average consumer. We have become accustomed to the "one-a-day" concept. We have failed to look around the grocery store for our nutrition, and tend to focus on the "one-a-day" for our nutrition. Further more, most of the items contained in the grocery store do nothing to enhance our body's vitamin storage and production, but rather necessitate something else being added after all the damage the food we bought does to our system. Gotta love the industrialization of our food.
Traditional cultures didn't have names for vitamins, they didn't know what vitamins were contained in what food and how many IU of vitamins were required everyday for optimal health. They didn't have food label, or Daily Values established for the foods they ate. They just ate the foods that energized and avoided the foods that caused lethargy or any array of other unpleasant side effects. Our problem. Our bodies operate at such a strung out mal-nourished state all the time we don't even know how to read our own bodies signals. We have been trained to think this tired, overwhelmed, stomach ache, constipation, headache, etc, etc. existence is normal. We have separated those and various other symptoms from our food and have deemed them symptoms that require a "supplement" to fix, whether it be a laxative or a vitamin...we are missing the point.
Vitamins occur in nature in their complete form in the presence of their naturally occurring counterparts, so the body can process and utilize them. When you give your body just a component of a vitamin, it is like giving a child a book, who can't read, and asking them to read it. Giving your child a book, is a good thing, but in the end it won't amount to much if you don't take the time to show them how to accomplish the task at hand...and vitamins are no different.
No pill can replace the value properly prepared foods. They wouldn't be able to manufacture a pill large enough to encompass such a task, nor would anyone want to swallow such a feat.
So what are you to do? Start by spending time researching your food supply. Many foods, vary greatly in vitamin content based on the soil they were grown in. For example, because of the excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers conventionally grown oranges contain 0% vitamin C. The USDA did nutrition profiles of crops from the 50's-70's. Additional research and label updates have not been done since then. It is your job to know what happens to your food before it hits your plate.
Get a basic overview about vitamins, where they are found, and what ones are worth the money!
Try to eliminate the synthetic forms of vitamins from your diet as much as possible.
Increase your grocery budget and decrease your supplement budget...
Thursday, November 6, 2008
A Great "Con" fusion.
Scenario: Enter into kitchen, slice your chicken for pan frying, heat the stove, place your pan to heat and then you place ____________________ oil in the pan.
Question: What do you put in your pan?
For many of you, you simply follow the American Heart Assoc (AHA) recommendations: A low saturated fat oil which equals a vegetable oil (canola, soybean, cottonseed, etc.) You complete your pan fried chicken feeling good that you have feed your family a "healthier" dinner using your canola oil.
Why am a dedicating a post to this? Well, it is simple really...okay, not so simple, but we need to start somewhere. We will begin with the trans-fats misconception. So the AHA recommends a low saturated fat oil for consumption. The AHA also tells us that Trans-fatty acids are bad for us and increase the risks of cancers, heart attacks, blocked arteries, and inflammation. I'm sure you are thinking where is the problem?
A little piece of the puzzle is missing. Canola oil and its other vegetable oil counterparts contain trans-fatty acids. I know you are thinking that the nutrition label very clearly states that it is trans-fats free. In fact they base entire marketing campaigns on the fact that they are. The FDA requires foods that have a greater than .5g of trans-fats per serving to be labeled (page 17 section 5, first paragraph). Foods that contain .49 grams of trans fats a consumer doesn't have the right to know about them. Canola oil, according to the Canola Association in Canada states that Canola oil contains less than .2% per serving. Independent studies one in particular done at the university of Florida indicated that the levels of liquid oil were closer to 4.5% per serving (at the bottom of risks), and in solid vegetable oils as high at 40% due to the full hydrogenation of the oil.
Bottom line: it is best to avoid all trans-fats. They are not naturally occurring, and your body cannot process them. Pass on the canola oil and go for the butter or coconut oil for cooking.
Question: What do you put in your pan?
For many of you, you simply follow the American Heart Assoc (AHA) recommendations: A low saturated fat oil which equals a vegetable oil (canola, soybean, cottonseed, etc.) You complete your pan fried chicken feeling good that you have feed your family a "healthier" dinner using your canola oil.
Why am a dedicating a post to this? Well, it is simple really...okay, not so simple, but we need to start somewhere. We will begin with the trans-fats misconception. So the AHA recommends a low saturated fat oil for consumption. The AHA also tells us that Trans-fatty acids are bad for us and increase the risks of cancers, heart attacks, blocked arteries, and inflammation. I'm sure you are thinking where is the problem?
A little piece of the puzzle is missing. Canola oil and its other vegetable oil counterparts contain trans-fatty acids. I know you are thinking that the nutrition label very clearly states that it is trans-fats free. In fact they base entire marketing campaigns on the fact that they are. The FDA requires foods that have a greater than .5g of trans-fats per serving to be labeled (page 17 section 5, first paragraph). Foods that contain .49 grams of trans fats a consumer doesn't have the right to know about them. Canola oil, according to the Canola Association in Canada states that Canola oil contains less than .2% per serving. Independent studies one in particular done at the university of Florida indicated that the levels of liquid oil were closer to 4.5% per serving (at the bottom of risks), and in solid vegetable oils as high at 40% due to the full hydrogenation of the oil.
Bottom line: it is best to avoid all trans-fats. They are not naturally occurring, and your body cannot process them. Pass on the canola oil and go for the butter or coconut oil for cooking.
Flu Season
With the brink of flu season quickly approaching, the start of flu shots has begun. It seems I can't walk into a store or read a newspaper, that doesn't have some sort of promotion of this vaccine. I am not going to go into all the reasons and research that suggests that they are ineffective, if you want more about that, leave a comment and I will dedicate a post to it, but rather what you can do to prevent, shorten or lessen the symptoms of the flu naturally.
We will talk about 4 things in the post:
The new wonder vitamin. Vitamin D wins the vitamin spotlight this flu season. New research suggests that our vitamin D requirement, from the FDA, is guesstimated to be aprox. ten times lower than what our bodies really need. This new research also shows the important role that vitamin D plays in helping our immune systems fight off viruses (including the flu.)
We have known for a while now that Vitamin C is a wonderful immune booster too! The important thing to note about Vitamin C is that it is not a heat stable vitamin. By that I mean, once heated the activating power in the vitamin is killed. What does that mean for you? Put down the pasteurized OJ, and eat an organic orange straight up!
Garlic is a wonderful natural anti-fungal and bacterial agent as well. Garlic, just like vitamin C, needs to be consumed in its raw unheated state. Once it is heated, the antimicrobial agent is killed. So, hold your nose and chew some cloves. :)
Coconut oil. Natures miracle oil, Why? Coconut oil as well, has antimicrobial agents in it. Lauric acid is most commonly noted in the oil. This helps the brain and the immune system all at one time! Just think you are getting smarter and avoiding the flu all at one time! A recent study showed the patients who had pneumonia who were supplemented with Coconut oil recovered faster than those who just had antibiotic treatment.
We will talk about 4 things in the post:
The new wonder vitamin. Vitamin D wins the vitamin spotlight this flu season. New research suggests that our vitamin D requirement, from the FDA, is guesstimated to be aprox. ten times lower than what our bodies really need. This new research also shows the important role that vitamin D plays in helping our immune systems fight off viruses (including the flu.)
We have known for a while now that Vitamin C is a wonderful immune booster too! The important thing to note about Vitamin C is that it is not a heat stable vitamin. By that I mean, once heated the activating power in the vitamin is killed. What does that mean for you? Put down the pasteurized OJ, and eat an organic orange straight up!
Garlic is a wonderful natural anti-fungal and bacterial agent as well. Garlic, just like vitamin C, needs to be consumed in its raw unheated state. Once it is heated, the antimicrobial agent is killed. So, hold your nose and chew some cloves. :)
Coconut oil. Natures miracle oil, Why? Coconut oil as well, has antimicrobial agents in it. Lauric acid is most commonly noted in the oil. This helps the brain and the immune system all at one time! Just think you are getting smarter and avoiding the flu all at one time! A recent study showed the patients who had pneumonia who were supplemented with Coconut oil recovered faster than those who just had antibiotic treatment.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Noah Man
So, I know so of you want to see more photos of Noah, so here goes. This is the photo update from August to September. This covers our trip to see Rachel, Rob, and Hannah, Noah's broken arm, the labor day parade, and the purchase of Noah's new bike helmet. Which he seems to be absolutely attached to. While I know it is now November, and I am only covering till September, I promise I will get the others up this week! Happy viewing.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Aluminum
Ode to Aluminum. The following is a follow up on chemicals in Vaccines. The information is taken from the Environmental Defense Fund. (they have scorecards for most chemicals)
Here is the gist of it:
Suspected - cardiovascular or blood toxicant, neurotoxicant, respiratory toxicant. Implicated as a cause of brain damage; suspected factor in Alzheimer's Disease, dementia, convulsions and comas. More hazardous than most chemicals in 2 out of 6 ranking systems. On at least 2 federal regulatory lists. (This element is not toxic when only in trace amounts, indeed at such levels is even beneficial to the body, however a trace amount is extremely minute - the level in vaccines is enormously higher, at around 0.5%)
Here is the gist of it:
Suspected - cardiovascular or blood toxicant, neurotoxicant, respiratory toxicant. Implicated as a cause of brain damage; suspected factor in Alzheimer's Disease, dementia, convulsions and comas. More hazardous than most chemicals in 2 out of 6 ranking systems. On at least 2 federal regulatory lists. (This element is not toxic when only in trace amounts, indeed at such levels is even beneficial to the body, however a trace amount is extremely minute - the level in vaccines is enormously higher, at around 0.5%)
The Curse of "Convenience"
You race in the door, your dinner is cold in the fridge, and everyone is hungry. What do we do? We take out the food, which has been stored in plastic containers, pop it in the microwave on high for several minutes and voila-la. Dinner is served. Seem a little strange? Maybe not, after all we live in a modern society and are used to such "conveniences." We seemed to have resolved ourselves to the point of convenience, and anything that falls into the convenient category must be perceived as a heaven sent gift. Why we think that way, anyone could fill in their own blank, but is that something to view as a gift or a curse?
Let us take a closer look at the little kitchen miracle the microwave. We all have one in our kitchen, we all use it, and we all wonder what on earth we would have done prior to such an amazing invention. Somewhere along the line our "sixth sense" was thrown out the window or trained to be turned off, especially when we think about the microwave. When they were first widely introduced, our grandmothers, were hesitant to use it, and just thought there was something wrong with the idea of food being placed in a magic box and coming out piping hot 30 seconds later. This magic box, can't be good for the food was the natural conclusion, and so they refrained from this "convenience" while their children and their grandchildren laughed at their "unwillingness to change." I have one question and one questions only: Now who is laughing at who?"
I will give a summary here and then let you read the full text article that was in Nexus Magazine if you want all the gooey details. All the studies in the article are referenced and you can look them up yourself, they are real...not just scare stories.
Microwaves, what do they do?
They change your food on a molecular level and cause irreversible damage to it.
Why does that matter to you?
The change in the food in many cases causes versions of natural vitamins, proteins, and amino acids to convert into unrecconizable or even carcinogenic versions of them formally natural self. These means lower nutrition and lots of harmful effects.
(For example: A study published in the November 2003 issue of The Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture found that broccoli "zapped" in the microwave with a little water lost up to 97 percent of the beneficial antioxidant chemicals it contains. By comparison, steamed broccoli lost 11 percent or fewer of its antioxidants.)
So I lose a little nutrients, I'm not doing any long term damage...
Think again here too. Individual's blood after eating microwaved food is different from those who have consumed the same food cooked the old fashion way. How did it differ? The microwave eaters had:
Oh, the curse of convenience.
Let us take a closer look at the little kitchen miracle the microwave. We all have one in our kitchen, we all use it, and we all wonder what on earth we would have done prior to such an amazing invention. Somewhere along the line our "sixth sense" was thrown out the window or trained to be turned off, especially when we think about the microwave. When they were first widely introduced, our grandmothers, were hesitant to use it, and just thought there was something wrong with the idea of food being placed in a magic box and coming out piping hot 30 seconds later. This magic box, can't be good for the food was the natural conclusion, and so they refrained from this "convenience" while their children and their grandchildren laughed at their "unwillingness to change." I have one question and one questions only: Now who is laughing at who?"
I will give a summary here and then let you read the full text article that was in Nexus Magazine if you want all the gooey details. All the studies in the article are referenced and you can look them up yourself, they are real...not just scare stories.
Microwaves, what do they do?
They change your food on a molecular level and cause irreversible damage to it.
Why does that matter to you?
The change in the food in many cases causes versions of natural vitamins, proteins, and amino acids to convert into unrecconizable or even carcinogenic versions of them formally natural self. These means lower nutrition and lots of harmful effects.
(For example: A study published in the November 2003 issue of The Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture found that broccoli "zapped" in the microwave with a little water lost up to 97 percent of the beneficial antioxidant chemicals it contains. By comparison, steamed broccoli lost 11 percent or fewer of its antioxidants.)
So I lose a little nutrients, I'm not doing any long term damage...
Think again here too. Individual's blood after eating microwaved food is different from those who have consumed the same food cooked the old fashion way. How did it differ? The microwave eaters had:
- Increased cholesterol levels
- More leukocytes, or white blood cells, which can suggest poisoning
- Decreased numbers of red blood cells
- Production of radiolytic compounds (compounds unknown in nature)
- Decreased hemoglobin levels, which could indicate anemic tendencies
Oh, the curse of convenience.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
BPA in more than just Tupperware
So many of you have heard me say that BPA is in plastics numbered 3,6, and 7. Well, I was right and wrong all at the same time. BPA is in those plastics, but not only those plastics. It is found in Various canned goods including baby formulas and plastic bags/containers that house pre-packaged foods.
We were all out raged by the melanin in the baby formulas, but we stand idly by and let BPA in our baby formulas. Why? Well, most Americans don't know about BPA, what it does and how it could possibly be in canned goods, nor does it immediately make you ill. It causes "irreversible damage to hormone production."
You start to feel that the standard is, if it doesn't immediately kill you or produce catastrophic results, it doesn't make the front page, or even the 16th page of the news. Slow killers go unnoticed for years. The EWG has some amazing articles and research out about BPA in foods and infant formulas. Please click here to see the article, and here to see the infant formula purchasing guide.
We were all out raged by the melanin in the baby formulas, but we stand idly by and let BPA in our baby formulas. Why? Well, most Americans don't know about BPA, what it does and how it could possibly be in canned goods, nor does it immediately make you ill. It causes "irreversible damage to hormone production."
You start to feel that the standard is, if it doesn't immediately kill you or produce catastrophic results, it doesn't make the front page, or even the 16th page of the news. Slow killers go unnoticed for years. The EWG has some amazing articles and research out about BPA in foods and infant formulas. Please click here to see the article, and here to see the infant formula purchasing guide.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Formaldehyde
A post all on its own, I guess I will post one of all of the major Vaccine ingredients. (courtesy of the Vaccine Information Service)
Formaldehyde:
(Used in vaccines as a tissue fixative)
Aust. National Research Council: Fewer than 20% but perhaps more than 10% of the general population may be susceptible to formaldehyde and may react acutely at any exposure level. More hazardous than most chemicals in 5 out of 12 ranking systems, on at least 8 federal regulatory lists, ranked as one of the most hazardous compounds (worst 10%) to ecosystems and human health (Environmental Defense Fund).
It is not safe at ANY level.
National Academy of Science:
There is no population threshold for irritation effects.
National Research Council:
Fewer than 20% but perhaps more than 10% of the general population may be susceptible to formaldehyde and may react acutely at any exposure level.
Formaldehyde is oxidised to formic acid which leads to acidosis and nerve damage. Acidosis can be described as a condition in which the acidity of the body tissues and fluids is abnormally high. The liver and the kidneys may also be damaged.
Other effects:
Eye; nasal; throat and pulmonary irritation; acute sense of smell; alters tissue proteins; anaemia; antibodies formation; apathy; blindness; blood in urine; blurred vision; body aches; bronchial spasms; bronchitis; burns nasal and throat; cardiac impairment; palpitations and arrhythmias; central nervous system depression; changes in higher cognitive functions; chemical sensitivity; chest pains and tightness; chronic vaginitis; colds; coma; conjunctivitis; constipation; convulsions; corneal erosion; cough; death; destruction of red blood cells; depression; dermatitis; diarrhoea; difficulty concentrating; disorientation; dizziness; ear aches; eczema; emotional upsets; ethmoid polyps; fatigue; fecula bleeding; foetal asphyxiation (and they don’t know what could cause SIDS?); flu-like or cold like illness; frequent urination with pain; gastritis; gastrointestinal inflammation; headaches; haemolytic anaemia; haemolytic haematuria; hoarseness; hyperactive airway disease; hyperactivity; hypomenstrual syndrome; immune system sensitiser; impaired (short) attention span; impaired capacity to attain attention; inability or difficulty swallowing; inability to recall words and names; inconsistent IQ profiles; inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs; intestinal pain; intrinsic asthma; irritability; jaundice; joint pain; aches and swelling; kidney pain; laryngeal spasm; loss of memory; loss of sense of smell; loss of taste; malaise; menstrual and testicular pain; menstrual irregularities; metallic taste; muscle spasms and cramps; nasal congestions; crusting and mucosae inflammation; nausea; nosebleeds; numbness and tingling of the forearms and finger tips; pale, clammy skin; partial laryngeal paralysis; pneumonia; post nasal drip; pulmonary oedema; reduced body temperature; retarded speech pattern; ringing or tingling in the ear; schizophrenic-type symptoms; sensitivity to sound; shock; short term memory loss; shortness of breath; skin lesions; sneezing; sore throat; spacey feeling; speaking difficulty; sterility; swollen glands; tearing; thirst; tracheitis; tracheobronchitis; vertigo; vomiting blood; vomiting; wheezing.
References; C. Wilson; Chemical Exposure and Human Health (1993), McFarland & Company taken from Our Toxic Times Feb 1997 pgs 18 & 19.
Vaccines
Upon request, I am going to post some vaccine information.
While there are a million reasons to vaccinate or not vaccinate your child, this might throw a curve ball at you. I have recently become aware that many aren't aware that some vaccines are derived from Aborted Human Fetal Tissue. While this might sound shocking, it has been going on for quite some time. The following website contains information about the vaccines that contain aborted human fetal tissue.
What is in that well baby check up Vaccine? The following is the actual page from the CDC listed by vaccination
What do those seemly weird combinations of chemicals do to your system in addition to providing supposed "immunity?"
That is an excellent question. The CDC will inform you that vaccines are "safe" or a "safe alternative" to the actual disease. YOU ultimately, as the parent, get to make that decision. How do you get to make that decision. You research! Start by knowing what the chemicals in those vaccines do to your body once they are let loose. Your body isn't a controlled environment, there are endless reactions that can take place when chemicals are introduced. Some have no reaction immediately, while others will pose a serious sometimes life threatening reaction. The CDC and the FDA really have no way of knowing. I have to give them credit, that no one could have the answer. There is no 100% fail proof way of testing safety...your body is more complicated that a pietry dish.
How do you find information about the chemicals? Well, you could start by googling the effects of Formaldehyde on the system (important to note that most studies done of the safety of formaldehyde are topical and inhalants...not injections. It is considered a human carcinogen when inhaled, or rubbed onto skin. It is also considered to be deadly to a human when injected through an IV at amount of only 1-2 ml. The EWG has more about Formaldehyde as well.) ... and then go on from there another notable one would be Aluminum...those are the two highest occurring ingredients...
Then you would want to be aware of all of the names of MSG as you scroll the list. It can hide as hydrolyzed ____ proteins, yeast extracts, etc.
That should keep you all busy for awhile, when you start asking questions again, I will post another comment.:)
While there are a million reasons to vaccinate or not vaccinate your child, this might throw a curve ball at you. I have recently become aware that many aren't aware that some vaccines are derived from Aborted Human Fetal Tissue. While this might sound shocking, it has been going on for quite some time. The following website contains information about the vaccines that contain aborted human fetal tissue.
What is in that well baby check up Vaccine? The following is the actual page from the CDC listed by vaccination
What do those seemly weird combinations of chemicals do to your system in addition to providing supposed "immunity?"
That is an excellent question. The CDC will inform you that vaccines are "safe" or a "safe alternative" to the actual disease. YOU ultimately, as the parent, get to make that decision. How do you get to make that decision. You research! Start by knowing what the chemicals in those vaccines do to your body once they are let loose. Your body isn't a controlled environment, there are endless reactions that can take place when chemicals are introduced. Some have no reaction immediately, while others will pose a serious sometimes life threatening reaction. The CDC and the FDA really have no way of knowing. I have to give them credit, that no one could have the answer. There is no 100% fail proof way of testing safety...your body is more complicated that a pietry dish.
How do you find information about the chemicals? Well, you could start by googling the effects of Formaldehyde on the system (important to note that most studies done of the safety of formaldehyde are topical and inhalants...not injections. It is considered a human carcinogen when inhaled, or rubbed onto skin. It is also considered to be deadly to a human when injected through an IV at amount of only 1-2 ml. The EWG has more about Formaldehyde as well.) ... and then go on from there another notable one would be Aluminum...those are the two highest occurring ingredients...
Then you would want to be aware of all of the names of MSG as you scroll the list. It can hide as hydrolyzed ____ proteins, yeast extracts, etc.
That should keep you all busy for awhile, when you start asking questions again, I will post another comment.:)
Gluten Free Freedom
Since the end of July when we took Noah off his anti-seizure meds, we have been seizure free. All we did...change his diet, most notably, remove gluten, and rice. I was rather fascinated at how removing such products stopped the seizures, then I began to research. We believed that he had a magnesium deficiency based on the Dr's findings, while he probably does, I lately have begun to question the cause of his seizures.
After doing some research on Gluten, there have been various cases of Gluten sensitives or Celiac Disease causing certain forms of "unclassified epilepsy" which was Noah's diagnosis. Even more interesting than that is recent studies indicate that Gluten sensitives could be to blame for a wide variety of other problems, and most individuals with it are going undiagnosed. Why? Well, not everyone with a gluten sensitivity has the severe bowel systems, some have other forms of symptoms, that range from Chronic fatigue to Seizures. When you go to the doctor b/c you are tired or are having seizures, they aren't going to first check for GS. They will run a blood panel, check your levels, they may even find you are anemic which, by the way is a common symptom of GS, or nothing and then prescribe you a supplement or a pharmaceutical which ever they prefer. You go home taking care of the symptom or not, but not doing anything about the actual problem. GS have now been linked to many of the rising diseases, IE: osteoporosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Various forms of Cancer, chronic ear infections or sinitus etc.
For those of you who say, "that is nice, but I don't have any food insensitivites," think again. It is estimated that 1 and 111 adults are asymptomatic, today, but has a GS, and 1 and 146 children are also asymptomatic but has the sensitivity. Interesting thought huh? You may be asymptomatic today, but that doesn't mean you will be tomorrow. The reality is as Americans we put so much junk in our systems everyday, that we don't even know what it is to feel healthy, not tired, full of energy etc. You don't if you have any sensitivities until you try eliminating foods from your diet.
Article with more information and definitely worth reading through
After doing some research on Gluten, there have been various cases of Gluten sensitives or Celiac Disease causing certain forms of "unclassified epilepsy" which was Noah's diagnosis. Even more interesting than that is recent studies indicate that Gluten sensitives could be to blame for a wide variety of other problems, and most individuals with it are going undiagnosed. Why? Well, not everyone with a gluten sensitivity has the severe bowel systems, some have other forms of symptoms, that range from Chronic fatigue to Seizures. When you go to the doctor b/c you are tired or are having seizures, they aren't going to first check for GS. They will run a blood panel, check your levels, they may even find you are anemic which, by the way is a common symptom of GS, or nothing and then prescribe you a supplement or a pharmaceutical which ever they prefer. You go home taking care of the symptom or not, but not doing anything about the actual problem. GS have now been linked to many of the rising diseases, IE: osteoporosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Various forms of Cancer, chronic ear infections or sinitus etc.
For those of you who say, "that is nice, but I don't have any food insensitivites," think again. It is estimated that 1 and 111 adults are asymptomatic, today, but has a GS, and 1 and 146 children are also asymptomatic but has the sensitivity. Interesting thought huh? You may be asymptomatic today, but that doesn't mean you will be tomorrow. The reality is as Americans we put so much junk in our systems everyday, that we don't even know what it is to feel healthy, not tired, full of energy etc. You don't if you have any sensitivities until you try eliminating foods from your diet.
Article with more information and definitely worth reading through
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The American Corn Refiners Association
I recently was told of a rather disturbing ad by Ms. Amy. She told me how she saw an ad more or less promoting that HFCS was healthier for you than honey. I laughed thought it was ridiculous, and then I looked into it. Well, it is nothing to laugh about. The Corn Refiners Association has spent lots and lots of money with a campaign to convince the American public that it is "good for them, or at least no worse than other sweeteners for you."
Some interesting facts. First of all, HFCS is not good for you, and is one of the worst things you could put in your body. It isn't a nutrient! It contains no healthful benefits. Check out my links on the side of the page if you want more facts from reputable sources.
On a more interesting side note. There was just an article back in April 2008 about how the FDA and finally starting the new requirement of removing 'Natural" from the label of any food containing HFCS. I was so excited I thought the FDA was finally making a good decision. Well, shorting after that decision was made the CRA birthed its campaign. We are now in October, and in June 2008 only 2 months after the original decision was made to remove natural from the label, it was overturned. Now, the FDA does allow Natural on the label of products containing HFCS. The new ruling can be found on the CRA home page under www.HFCSfacts.com please don't read anything else on this webpage as it is filled with misleading information the quote scrolls in the home page and says:
"The Food and Drug Administration stated, referring to a process commonly used by the corn refining industry, that it "would not object to the use of the term 'natural' on a product containing the HFCS produced by [that] manufacturing process..." GA June, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (Letter to Corn Refiners Assocation, July 3, 2008.).
The original article on the FDA decision in April can be found here: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Regulation/HFCS-is-not-natural-says-FDA
Needless to say don't be fooled by ads or even by the FDA decisions. If you are curious about the refining process of HFCS please read here: http://www.westonaprice.org/motherlinda/cornsyrup.html
Or information on the actual sweetener check out the Debra lynn Dadd link and look for her sugar page.
Here are the warnings wikipedia had for it:
I could write a book from the information on the CRA website, so look for more posts.
Some interesting facts. First of all, HFCS is not good for you, and is one of the worst things you could put in your body. It isn't a nutrient! It contains no healthful benefits. Check out my links on the side of the page if you want more facts from reputable sources.
On a more interesting side note. There was just an article back in April 2008 about how the FDA and finally starting the new requirement of removing 'Natural" from the label of any food containing HFCS. I was so excited I thought the FDA was finally making a good decision. Well, shorting after that decision was made the CRA birthed its campaign. We are now in October, and in June 2008 only 2 months after the original decision was made to remove natural from the label, it was overturned. Now, the FDA does allow Natural on the label of products containing HFCS. The new ruling can be found on the CRA home page under www.HFCSfacts.com please don't read anything else on this webpage as it is filled with misleading information the quote scrolls in the home page and says:
"The Food and Drug Administration stated, referring to a process commonly used by the corn refining industry, that it "would not object to the use of the term 'natural' on a product containing the HFCS produced by [that] manufacturing process..." GA June, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (Letter to Corn Refiners Assocation, July 3, 2008.).
The original article on the FDA decision in April can be found here: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Regulation/HFCS-is-not-natural-says-FDA
Needless to say don't be fooled by ads or even by the FDA decisions. If you are curious about the refining process of HFCS please read here: http://www.westonaprice.org/motherlinda/cornsyrup.html
Or information on the actual sweetener check out the Debra lynn Dadd link and look for her sugar page.
Here are the warnings wikipedia had for it:
There are a number of relevant studies published in peer reviewed journals suggesting a link between high fructose diets and adverse health effects[citation needed]. Studies on the effect of fructose, as reviewed by Elliot et al.,[18] implicate increased consumption of fructose (due primarily to the increased consumption of sugars but also partly due to the slightly higher fructose content of HFCS as compared to sucrose) in obesity and insulin resistance. Chi-Tang Ho et al. found that soft drinks sweetened with HFCS are up to 10 times richer in harmful carbonyl compounds, such as methylglyoxal, than a diet soft drink control.[19] Carbonyl compounds are elevated in people with diabetes and are blamed for causing diabetic complications such as foot ulcers and eye and nerve damage;[20][21] Furthermore, a study in mice suggests that fructose increases obesity.[22] Large quantities of fructose stimulate the liver to produce triglycerides, promotes glycation of proteins and induces insulin resistance.[23] According to one study, the average American consumes nearly 70 pounds of HFCS per annum, marking HFCS as a major contributor to the rising rates of obesity in the last generation. [24]
A 2007 study also raised concerns of possible liver damage as a result of HFCS in combination with a high fat diet and a sedentary lifestyle.[25]
I could write a book from the information on the CRA website, so look for more posts.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Little Chef
Noah was rather interested in what I was doing in the kitchen the other night while I was making dinner, so I decided to let him stand on the chair so he could see what I was doing. I first explained to him what Kale was, and how it had a stem and leave. I showed him how I de-stemmed the kale. Then he grabbed the kale and started to destem. I was so surprised at his accuracy with this project, I decided he was ready for something else. We pulled the food processor out, and he was amazed by it. I let him turn it on. We was so surprised he almost fell over. He wasn't expecting it to turn on and be so loud and amazing:)
After he processed the kale and onion, it was time for the tomatoes. Since I was using Cherry tomatoes this was the perfect activity for him. He was able to feed the cherry tomatoes through the top hole, and then turn the processor on. I'm not sure if he enjoyed feeding the food processor or his face more, but needless to say he had a great time, and I learned to expect the unexpected from my son. Who knew he could be such a help in the kitchen.
How did the project turn out? Well, jonathan said it was one of the best sauces he had ever had...so I say, it went well. After all he is young, think of all the years he has to improve upon his recipe. :)
After he processed the kale and onion, it was time for the tomatoes. Since I was using Cherry tomatoes this was the perfect activity for him. He was able to feed the cherry tomatoes through the top hole, and then turn the processor on. I'm not sure if he enjoyed feeding the food processor or his face more, but needless to say he had a great time, and I learned to expect the unexpected from my son. Who knew he could be such a help in the kitchen.
How did the project turn out? Well, jonathan said it was one of the best sauces he had ever had...so I say, it went well. After all he is young, think of all the years he has to improve upon his recipe. :)
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Comfort
When Noah first had to go on medicine, Jonathan and I were admit about getting him off of it as quickly as possible. We were determined to find a Doctor who would approve us taking Noah off the meds, and finding a reason via alternative medicine for the cause of the seizures in the first place.
Well, we did find an alternative dr. who helped us identify a possible cause and solution for the seizures, and then it was time to take Noah off the meds. The irony in all of this is, it was really hard for me to start the weaning process of the medication.
What seemed like a really bad idea and tedious and unnecessary became part of our daily routine with Noah. I found that giving him the medicine at first knowing the side effects and possilbe long term side effects was really hard. I thought about how I was weakening his bones with every dose of the meds for the first month. As time went on, we got used to it.
Noah got used to taking them, and I slowly forgot about the potential dangers and was taking comfort in the meds thinking Noah was safe as long as he had them.
Noah got used to taking them, and I slowly forgot about the potential dangers and was taking comfort in the meds thinking Noah was safe as long as he had them. I don't think I had realized how much comfort I was taking in the medication until it was time to wean. I found myself filled with fear and thinking Noah was going to start having seizures and I couldn't leave him in a room alone anymore. Crazy, huh? I had grown to trust in the medication to take care of him instead of the Lord. It was and is still really hard for me to think that I so quickly lost faith in our Creator and put faith in a Pharmaceutical to protect my son.
Needless to say Noah has been off the meds for 2 and 1/2 weeks now and on his molasses treatment and there are no signs of any seizures yet. My next challenge will not be to have faith in the molasses.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Natural Instincts
So we went down to the NJ shore for our annual Maul family gathering. We stayed in a beautiful hom
e right on the beach and enjoyed the ocean for a full week! Noah loved the beach, and every morning when he was done eating breakfast, he would ask "beach?"
e right on the beach and enjoyed the ocean for a full week! Noah loved the beach, and every morning when he was done eating breakfast, he would ask "beach?" Our vacation routine began. We would head down in the morning, come back for nap and lunch, and head back up for the afternoon. While the weather wasn't completley cooperative, we still had a good time enjoying the sand.
One afternoon, a very nice gentleman came over to all the kids to show him the fish he had caught. The fish was put down right in front of Gianna and Charlie. The man gentley reccomended that they pick up the fish and put him back in the water. They both weren't so excited about that idea, in fact they just stared at the struggling fish out of wa
ter on the sand. Noah, who was playing 50 feet away, comes walking over, takes one look at the fish, picks it up (without being prompted) and carries it back to the ocean where he very matter of factly drops it back in.
ter on the sand. Noah, who was playing 50 feet away, comes walking over, takes one look at the fish, picks it up (without being prompted) and carries it back to the ocean where he very matter of factly drops it back in. My jaw dropped, I couldn't believe he had just picked up the fish and returned it. He just marched away like it was just another day at the beach. 
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Growing Up
I am constantly amazed at the development of our little Noah. He is truely a little man. Two nights ago when driving home in the car, he was being rather quite. Then we hear a loud giggle. When we turn around what do we see? Noah, who had managed to find his cowboy hat in the back of the car and put it on his head. He knew he was being silly and wanted to be seen in all of his silliness. We both got quite a laugh at the visual, especially becasue the hat is way too big!
Just the idea that he is now at the age where he is playing the jokes is funny. When you chase him, he now chases you and tries to get you. He knows the game, and he knows he likes it, and he knows he likes getting mommy or daddy more than he likes us getting him:)
Then there is beloved dinner time. The first real food word
that Noah has said...Baked beans. Loud and clear...no question about it. My kid loves baked beans, and they love him. I can't make them fast enough....He has also taken quite a liking to "grooving." I say grooving instead of dancing...because he has always liked to dance, but his dancing is now much more coordinated and sophisticated...okay, maybe sophisticated is the wrong word, but he can really move. He has
some super stellar moves, and quite frankly, I think he could teach me a thing or two:) Here he is dancing away.
Let's do the math a little more carefully next time.
US health care fails it's test yet again this yeat, with the highest infant mortality rate among all civilized/developed countries, and the most likely to die from a preventable disease. Then I read the article about the new weightloss study...here , and I wonder why we have health care problems. Keep in mind that the study was done in isreal, but our US paper wrote the article. They touted that of the three weightloss options given to patients over two years they produced similar results. Similar, being the key word here. So, you can imagine that I was rather surprised to see the results were:
After two years, dieters lost an average of 7.3 pounds (3.3 kg) on the low-fat regimen, 10 pounds (4.6 kg) on the Mediterranean diet and 12 pounds (5.5 kg) on a mostly vegetarian version of the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet, Israeli researchers reported on Wednesday.
Now, I don't know who used the word similar, but those numbers aren't similar in my mind. The Mediterranean group lost aprox. 40% more weight than the "low fat" group. I wouldn't consider that similar. If you were dieting for two years and lost 40% more weight would you consider that similar?
After two years, dieters lost an average of 7.3 pounds (3.3 kg) on the low-fat regimen, 10 pounds (4.6 kg) on the Mediterranean diet and 12 pounds (5.5 kg) on a mostly vegetarian version of the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet, Israeli researchers reported on Wednesday.
Now, I don't know who used the word similar, but those numbers aren't similar in my mind. The Mediterranean group lost aprox. 40% more weight than the "low fat" group. I wouldn't consider that similar. If you were dieting for two years and lost 40% more weight would you consider that similar?
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Juice: Not a health food!
As I was reading the health section of Rueters today, I found myself thinking, "no duh?" This is in reference to a new study that they just concluded on type 2 diabetes. They have concluded that the consumption of juice is linked to an increase in type 2 diabetes, while the consumption of whole fruit was linked to a decrease. This news, of course, came as a surprise to the nurse's group that was performing the study. The conclusion: since the juice is liquid, it is absorbed quicker into the blood stream that the actual fruit. Wow, what a statement.
I'm not trying to bash the individuals who performed the study. I think it is great that they found a correlation to juice and diabetes, simply for the reason that maybe, just maybe, they might be willing to consider that juice is not a substitute for fruit.
Now I know some of you might be thinking, "but what about 100% fruit juice?" Well, the sad truth, in many ways, it is no better for you than pop or soda or whatever else you want to call it. I'll pause and let this information settle in. How did I come to this conclusion.
Click play for a video, or read on.
I used to be a juice-a-holic, true confession. I drank countless glasses a day. I encountered some health problems and had to go off all sugar, including fruit sugar just for a short while, and then the truth search began. When you eat a piece of fruit, there is fiber, vitamins and minerals in the skin and flesh. If you were to squeeze the fruit to make juice, it wouldn't be clear, it would be, chuddy, but it would still have all of it's fiber, vitamins, and minerals intact. When you buy juice at the store, it is clear, pasturized, and then bottled. Why does this matter?
Clear=strained and clarified=no fiber. No fiber=quick absorption of sugar uptake=insulin overload.
Pasturized=heating to a min of 180 degrees at least once and usually four times. Why? this kills any and everything in it, and I mean everything. Many vitamins and minerals are heat sensitive. Once they are heated they are killed, like vitamin "C."
The end product: Sugar water with the essence of the fruit devoid of nutritional value.
Then why does the label say "100% vitamin C in every serving?" That is a wonderful question, and I will get to it in another post:)
I'm not trying to bash the individuals who performed the study. I think it is great that they found a correlation to juice and diabetes, simply for the reason that maybe, just maybe, they might be willing to consider that juice is not a substitute for fruit.
Now I know some of you might be thinking, "but what about 100% fruit juice?" Well, the sad truth, in many ways, it is no better for you than pop or soda or whatever else you want to call it. I'll pause and let this information settle in. How did I come to this conclusion.
Click play for a video, or read on.
I used to be a juice-a-holic, true confession. I drank countless glasses a day. I encountered some health problems and had to go off all sugar, including fruit sugar just for a short while, and then the truth search began. When you eat a piece of fruit, there is fiber, vitamins and minerals in the skin and flesh. If you were to squeeze the fruit to make juice, it wouldn't be clear, it would be, chuddy, but it would still have all of it's fiber, vitamins, and minerals intact. When you buy juice at the store, it is clear, pasturized, and then bottled. Why does this matter?
Clear=strained and clarified=no fiber. No fiber=quick absorption of sugar uptake=insulin overload.
Pasturized=heating to a min of 180 degrees at least once and usually four times. Why? this kills any and everything in it, and I mean everything. Many vitamins and minerals are heat sensitive. Once they are heated they are killed, like vitamin "C."
The end product: Sugar water with the essence of the fruit devoid of nutritional value.
Then why does the label say "100% vitamin C in every serving?" That is a wonderful question, and I will get to it in another post:)
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Assuming the Worst
I have found lately that I am always quick to assume the worst in the situation. Whether it be my husband asking me to get ready for bed, or the Lord giving us a circumstance that doesn't quite make sense. I always assume that it is because I have sinned, or we have sinned in some way and now we are being punished until we see the error of our ways. How messed up is that? I so often forget that, in the case of the Lord especially, that he isn't seeking the worst for us. My husband is just asking me to get ready for bed. He isn't telling me that I am taking forever, or that I just need to hurry up. He is just kindly reminding me that I take longer than him, and I need to get a head start on him if we are going to be in bed at the same time.
Assuming the worst in someone, is ultimately not trusting them I suppose. I don't trust that my husband is telling me something in love, rather than frustration, or that the Lord is giving us a blessing to see him or understand him more clearly, rather than a cursing and a sign to repent. My lack of trust, really does hinder my ability to love and not judge. After all, assuming the worst, is judging the circumstance I suppose.
Assuming the worst in someone, is ultimately not trusting them I suppose. I don't trust that my husband is telling me something in love, rather than frustration, or that the Lord is giving us a blessing to see him or understand him more clearly, rather than a cursing and a sign to repent. My lack of trust, really does hinder my ability to love and not judge. After all, assuming the worst, is judging the circumstance I suppose.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Wait, you have an opinion now?
Feeling the toddler oats, what a time in a mommy's life. It is as though my sweet, little, innocent, son has recently become very aware of likes and dislikes. He has also become a pro at 
demonstrating his desires, usually in very appropriate ways like throwing himself down on the floor and screaming, or running away from whatever it is you are telling him to do.
demonstrating his desires, usually in very appropriate ways like throwing himself down on the floor and screaming, or running away from whatever it is you are telling him to do. While I find it difficult to see this transformation happen, simply because it means my little boy is growing up, and I desire to keep him small forever, I know it is a necessary step in his journey toward manhood.
The training we were doing before seems so easy now. It was easy to train him to not touch, or throw food, or go upstairs, when all he wanted to do was please me. Now that he has his own 
"oats" so to speak, the battle of wills begins. When we were at the park a week ago, I had a women ask me "who is in charge, him or you" (this is of course while Noah was throwing a tantrum about leaving the park, I will give him credit, while he was screaming in protest, he was walking unaided toward the stroller, that is at least a step in the right direction. No pun intended) I very quickly responded..."I am."
"oats" so to speak, the battle of wills begins. When we were at the park a week ago, I had a women ask me "who is in charge, him or you" (this is of course while Noah was throwing a tantrum about leaving the park, I will give him credit, while he was screaming in protest, he was walking unaided toward the stroller, that is at least a step in the right direction. No pun intended) I very quickly responded..."I am." The amazing concept that I would be in charge of my child, and not the other way around. I never understood why mother's let their children control them, until now. I see the battleground and I know we are in for a fight, a fight to stay faithful to training our child in the midist of increasing difficulty. The fight for us to train and discipline in love and obedience to the Lord, and the realization of why we should even go through with the fight...because we want our Son to 
know the Lord.
know the Lord. One of my friends recently shared that she started telling her children that "if you obey, how sweet it will be for you to be my child." How true these words are even for us, in our obedience to the Lord. When we are obedient, trust and follow the Lord how sweet is truely is to be his child. The blessings that come are immense and great, and the beauty: worth it. This is no different from my child. He needs to learn the beauty in discipline and following his earthly father, which will hopefully help him see the beauty in his heavenly father.
The journey is not one without tears, and a battle, but I know it is for a great cause.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
toddler teething: mommy needs a soother.
Have you ever wondered what a mommy soother would look like? In my mind it is an unearthly sized chocolate bar with my name on it that I can bit on and bit on until it is all gone or my "troubles" have gone away. Not that I am condoning eating for comfort during stressful days with kids, but wouldn't it be nice if that is all you needed?
Noah, who is 18months in a few days, has begun his trials of cutting his 2 top teeth. I know some of you are probably thinking, he is still on his 2 top teeth? Yes, that is right. He only has 2 teeth that are fully in. So, he isn't a kid that has had to deal with much oral pain, and now I am getting to see what so many other mothers talk about, the teething tears. I'll let you decide whether I am referring to Noah's tears or my own.
After 3 days of him refusing to nap/eat/play/or be pleasant, I hit my limit. I couldn't take Noah's teething any more. Then I thought to myself, the irony of this statement is rich! I can take "his" teething, as if I was the one who was cutting his tooth in my mouth. Well, we all know this isn't the case, but somehow it feels that way. My child's disposition has been, hum, shall we say slightly to moderately, ok, extremely ornery, and somehow, my disposition has gone with his.
I'm the one who is supposed to be the mature one in this relationship, and yet I find myself following my son's example when something is bothering him. I am complaining and miserable, and yet I am frustrated with Noah for complaining, crying and being miserable.
I wonder is this is how the Lord views us from time to time? I am being no different from Noah right now in my handling of the circumstance. And I thought I was mature. Well, guess not. I guess you could say I still have a long way to go in my refining process as a mother. Instead of loving him in his need, I am asking him to love me. How backwards.
Here's to hoping that tomorrow my attitude is different and I am able to love my son in his weakness.
Why?
Read this article in the NY times and found myself just wondering why. Why do we continue to try to defy the laws of nature, and think we will be better off?
The link is to an article about Corn and the corn industry. The lastest bill the bush administration passed to "help" farmers who produce corn, to produce more, and what happens to all the surplus corn.
The link is to an article about Corn and the corn industry. The lastest bill the bush administration passed to "help" farmers who produce corn, to produce more, and what happens to all the surplus corn.
Monday, June 23, 2008
The Simple Pleasures
Have you ever wondered why it is that small children know what it is that they want to do with their time? Granted Noah can't talk, but he makes it very clear that he loves to go to the park, for a stroller ride, or to the splash park. I wouldn't even need to ask him that question, I would already know the answer.
Why is it that Jonathan and I sit around in the evening asking each other "what do you want to do?" When the question is asked, we don't have a definitive answer, we just look at each other shrug our shoulders, or say "I don't know." How rarely we actually have a definitive answer.
Our son, who is only 17 months old, has an answer. Life is simple to him. I don't know when it is in life, that we lose our ability to just see joy and pleasure in the simplest things that life has to offer. Noah will settle for just a stroller ride in the evening. The equivalent of a walk for us. Why is it that this isn't as joyous for us? Why do we lose our ability to just take joy in our
surroundings and the world that the lord has created? We somehow need more than that to enjoy ourselves. What happened to simple? What happened to free? What happened to our childlike minds?
surroundings and the world that the lord has created? We somehow need more than that to enjoy ourselves. What happened to simple? What happened to free? What happened to our childlike minds?How thankful I am that the Lord gave us the blessing of Noah to be reminded of the simple pleasures. It doesn't take lots of money or lavish food to bring a smile to his face, it doesn't even take spending money. How envious I find myself of my son's mentality.
I guess that is why the Lord tells us to become childlike. The beauty in simplicity, something to strive for.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Noah
The struggling question of how a kid goes from never being sick to seizures is still mind blowing to us. Until the 16th a April, our son had only been sick once in his 15 months of exsistence, we never had a thought in our head about where he was in the house or what he was doing. That all changed on the 16th. I was greeted by a crying Noah in the kitchen. Crying Noah soon turned into a seemingly unconscious Noah, who then fell to the floor and started having a seizure. It took a minute for my brain to process what the heck was going on. Then all the questions started flowing through my mind. I had taken enough classes in First Aid to know that I just had to keep him from hurting himself, but I still felt like I should be doing more. I waited for what felt like an eternity before deciding to leave him to get my cell phone to call 911. Although the whole situation took 2 minutes it felt endless. Watching my child lay on the kitchen floor lifeless was not anything that I could have been prepared for. After the emergency was over, and we returned home, we immediatley started to go through all of our actions feeling like we, as parents, were responsible. Maybe it was something we fed or didn't feed him? Maybe it was because we had just gone to seattle for a few days without him? We spent time researching seizures and causes and were sure we would find our parenting flaw. It was the first lesson for our family that no matter what we do to "protect" our child, we still are not in "control" of our child. We, thankfully were given the clarity to see that Noah was given to us by someone much greater than ourselves. While we started the process that would "make" him, we did not put him together. He was made and given to us by God; his ultimate Father, and while we have been given him to shepard and raise, he is not our own. This reality had never been so clear to me.
We would get to face the same reality again a month later when 1 siezure turned into 4 in one day. We just couldn't grasp why our son was having to go through this. I think I finally understood the feeling as a mother where you would rather be going through the pain than have your child go through the pain. The sacrificial love that I had read about so often when reading the gospels, but never really fully understood. Not that I fully understand it now, but I have a better understanding of the sacrifice that Christ made for me as my father.
While we still don't know why Noah is having seizures, when they will stop, or what we can do to "help" him, we do know that the Lord is in control, and works all things together for his glory, and our sanctification.
For Noah, he has a 85% chance of growing out of the seizures!
His treatment plan is still undecided, but when it does get decided I will update you all.
A New Leaf
Today is the day we begin our blogging Journey. One that our family hopes will be a blessing to others and provide you all with an update about how our family is doing. We hope to be transparent with our readers and provide you with a true glimpse of our family. Please feel free to comment or email with questions. Enjoy your visit to our blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
