Cabin Fever

Well, its been a week and a day since Andrew's accident. Yes, he is still in pain... especially if he moves the wrong way, but he is getting around well. Occasionally he starts doing laps from the kitchen to the living room and back again, trying to dispel his cabin fever. The big piles of snow and the temperatures in the teens hinder many outside ventures, and the fact that our Suburban is awaiting a transfer case removes any options for family outings. Fortunately, we have friends! Right now, Andrew is out with Eric, on his way to pick up some more meds; it will be a good change of routine, for sure!

Speaking of routine, we don't have much of one, these days. We are managing to accomplish the bare-bones of school. Abbi is progressing in Math, Phin tackled some reading today, and for the next couple of weeks we are going to do a unit study on oceans. For now, this involves a lot of ocean books from the library, free coloring pages off of the internet, we will make a diorama of sorts... if I get around to designing it, and we even have a handful of videos with exquisite underwater photography; one of our favorites is from Planet Earth! Phinehas has declared that he loves dolphins and Abigail has a strange fascination with eels, of all things! Other than that, the kids are delighted to have their Papa home for a long while.

Thank you all for your prayers! We are coming along, little by little.

Lovely New Life (and a word on not-so-lovely GMO's)

From the back porch I can look out across the yard up toward Heart Attack Hill. A pale green haze is misting on the borders of the woods as baby leaves reach tentatively out from red hued buds. White violets, braver than their purple cousins, are scattered across the lawn. Scattered, that is, until they are gobbled up by Abigail. The wind is fresh and strong, bringing with its gusts the spring songs of twitterpated birds and white clouds leaping across the blue sky. The sun has warmed the earth and dried up most of the wet places so that now we can run along barefooted and feel the soft cushion of new grass and moss as they carpet the ground. School lessons have slowed to almost a stop and house chores are the last thing on anyone’s mind (specifically the laundry). And my fingers are itchy to start gardening – even though I know it is too early.

We are going to start small: The Carpenter is going to build three 4’ x 4’ squares and we are going to attempt square-foot gardening. I am super excited – especially now that lettuce and swiss chard are emerging in the window boxes on our enclosed front porch. I really want to get some Heritage Seeds.

[Speaking of Heritage Seeds, I just read a very disturbing book: Seeds of Deception by Jeffery Smith. It exposes the truth about GM (Genetically Modified) Foods. I can’t even begin to give a brief report on what was included in that book. Suffice it to say that the FDA and Big Agriculture do NOT have your best interest in mind. The foods we are eating may very well be killing us. I recommend that you try and get a hold of this book (I found a copy at my local library) and determine for yourself if GM Foods are something you want to be ingesting.]

Enough of that! We have been very much enjoying Elroy (though I’ve taken to calling him Rory) and the chicks (though we are down to 16 – no, we didn’t eat the others). I’ve been exceedingly glad that the weather has been warm and sunny because that has made it very easy to keep ‘Elrory’ outside all day long – which helps cut back on the number of accidents he has in the house. (Does anyone have any tips for housebreaking?) The chicks are growing like weeds. There is one little white one that looks absolutely TINY in comparison to the others; I hope she makes it. My favorites are still the brown ones. Andrew has been working on a coop so that by the time the chickies are big enough they’ll have a nice place to hide away from chicken-eatin’ critters. As you can see, we are pretty busy!

So it Begins…

Early this morning, following the Carpenter’s departure, I rejected the alluring opportunity to crawl back into my still warm bed and drift into dreamy oblivion for an extra hour and a half. Instead I decided to do one of the things I dislike the most: exercise. I don’t like to exercise. If you ever see me running, be sure to look and see what it is that I am running from; I will probably need some help, either to escape a fleet-footed foe or to revive me after I collapse from exhaustion. I don’t like to exercise. But, I know that something needs to be done.

My childbearing days are over and I’ve run out of good excuses. I’m going to need to resurrect my tummy muscles so that I can properly sit on the floor for extended periods of time in order to play with the train set and the blocks. I’m going to need to have legs that have a better chance of actually keeping up with my lightning fast children. I’m going to need to have healthy lungs that can make my voice heard over the roar of laughter and lions, the squeals of horses and hilarity, and the unending jibber-jabber of story-telling children interwoven with too many questions. In other words, I’ve gotta get moving.

So, this morning it began. I found a free T-Tapp workout and thought, “Why not? It can’t be that bad and they’re claiming you see results after only TEN TIMES!” Well, I was wrong. It was bad. (Or maybe I’m in worse shape than I thought!) But, I must admit that when I was done I felt pretty good, not to mention a little bit prematurely proud of myself.

Then, to top it all off I decided to continue my torture and do laps this afternoon – up the hill behind the house, down and around the front, up the driveway, back to the top, lets do it again. I told myself I’d do 10 laps… or 30 minutes, whichever ended first. I finished the 10 laps first! Hooray! (And, thanks to the YakTracks that I borrowed from the carpenter, I managed to not slip and fall on either my face or my bum – thanks Philip!)

So, why am I publicly humiliating myself by telling you all how grossly out of shape I am? Well, to make all you mothers of young children feel not so alone in this world, AND so you can ask me if I’m persisting in my self-imposed exercise regimen.

So it begins. Lets hope it continues.

Indians in the House

Throughout the day, I usually am mother to a vast array of people and creatures. I often have baby goats, baby kittens, big lions, and water buffalo. I'm sure to find at least one little dog crawling around at some point during the day and not a day passes without a heard of wild horses galloping across the plains of carpet. When I don't have creatures crawling I have soaring cowboys on flying horses or indians creeping. Other times I have gypsies driving a great couch car across the ocean to Africa.

This morning, as I was luxuriating in bed, I heard the pitter-patter of little Liam feet coming from the boys' bedroom. From downstairs came a soft whistle, a call from the Papa Indian (who had gotten out of bed a short while before.) A soft, excited whisper of "Papa!" answered the whistle, then the little footsteps rapidly thumped down the stairs. It wasn't long till little Phinny Indian arose and was also greeted by an indian whistle; he too crept downstairs with little stomps.

I was thinking how great a Papa my kids have - how fun and loving - and I decided to join my chief and my little indian braves. This squaw knows how to creep quietly so I snuck down the stairs. As I descended, my nose was greeted with the sweet smell of homemade incense: mullein leaf mingled with pine needles to chase away a nasty cold that is trying to settle in our chests.

I have a whole collection of dried mullein plants that I harvested from the hill behind my father-in-law's house at the end of the summer; he sure had a bumper crop! They are hanging upside-down out on the front porch. At anytime, I can go out and grab some leaves and part of the stalk and set fire to them. They smolder fairly nicely and fill the house with a sweet smelling smoke that, amazingly, begins to break up the nasty phlegm that tries to reside in your chest. Mullein will help break up a tight cough and also expedite the drying up of a loose, lingering cough. It is a fantastic herb! You can also combine it with coltsfoot or pine needles to enhance the cough-kicking properties.

So, this family of gypsy-indians sat around the table this morning smelling sweet mullein and eating yummy apples and sipping tasty coffee.

More To Do About the Flu

The following is a portion of an article that can be found in its entirety at beeyoutiful.com. I think it is full of some very handy information! Happy reading!

Swine Flu: Prevention and Treatment

By Jessica Carter and Stephanie Walker Tallent

Armed and Ready:

In the past few years we have been bombarded with news of some dangerous viral outbreak or another. Seeing images from around the world, images of civilians wearing masks to protect themselves and holding masks over the faces of the young, have become more common place. Perhaps you remember SARS and Avian Flu. Now the most recent strain of influenza A is H1N1, otherwise known as Swine Flu. There is some alarm among experts that H1N1 could be “the one” that causes a pandemic in our generation. Regardless of whether it is Swine Flu or some media proclaimed super-scary flu of the future, the best defense is a good offense. We at Beeyoutiful firmly believe that it is the responsibility of individuals to educate themselves on how to best protect the health of their families. With that belief and goal in mind, we have researched extensively what tools are the very best to use to protect and defend against viral invaders.

How can a virus kill someone anyways?

Autopsies of victims of Avian Flu, SARS and the deadly Spanish Flu of 1918, which killed an estimated fifty million people, revealed evidence of destroyed respiratory tracts. This suggested that the flu victims had been killed by their own immune systems, not from the flu itself.

The immune system response suspected of being responsible for killing the victims is something called a cytokine storm. Cytokines are a type of white blood cell, and are a normal and essential part of a healthy immune system. T1 cytokines are a particularly aggressive part of this segment of immune system super-heroes and typically are very crucial. Some viruses, such as Swine Flu, can cause these cells to over respond and the T1 cells actually become deadly to the body. Just as insulin is normally released in proportion to the amount of sugar intake, so cytokines normally respond in proportion to the assault on our bodies. However, just as the release of too much insulin in the body can result in death, so an overwhelming assault by T1 cytokines can cause the lungs to fill with fluid causing a person to drown.

What does this mean for me?

For those of us who are accustomed to reaching for the nearest available immune boosting super power when we come down with an illness, I have bad news. A lot of our traditional favorite supplements and herbs can potentially cause more harm than good when dealing with the risk of a cytokine storm. Little attention is given to the balance necessary between the T1 and other cytokine cells in order for our immune systems to operate safely. Since the T1 cells are more aggressive front runners than other T cells, supplements that directly support their production are among the most popular for quick recoveries.

Champion among these treasured products is elderberry syrup, otherwise known as BerryWell for the Beeyoutiful fans. Several studies show a clearly documented connection between elderberry extract and rapid T1 cytokine production. This is part of what makes it so very effective as an immune boosting preventative measure against viruses – it can stop the virus in its tracks before it takes hold. However, because of the concern of a cytokine storm, if one becomes ill with one of these dangerous viruses I do not personally recommend treating with BerryWell. My personal guideline for usage right now is two-fold. 1. Take BerryWell liberally as a preventative every time myself or family members go out in public. 2. Discontinue giving to any individual that exhibits symptoms and switch to other broader and safer immune boosting treatments.

Is anything safe to take or do we just take our chances?

The good news is that there are several powerful and effective products out there that are known for their support of balanced immune system production. This makes them not only safe to take, but also ideal aids for the body to prevent and even treat Swine Flu as well as other variants of flu. Below is a list of products I will personally be using as both a preventative and treatment should it be necessary.

The often overlooked anti-viral powerhouse: Vitamin D

Although most of us realize that our bodies need this essential vitamin, it is one of the most under acknowledged resources for combating viruses. There is an amazing body of documentation to prove its effectiveness not only in boosting the body’s ability to resist the flu, but also in powerfully treating it. It might just be the single most important supplement you can take to equip your body to face off with Swine Flu and walk away the victor.

If exposure to sunlight is limited, like during wintertime for example, 4,000-5,000 IU’s per day would be appropriate for most adults. If you weigh significantly more than the typical person, you may need to double that dose. For children the dose can be halved. For supplemental purposes, I would highly recommend using the D3 vs. the D2 form. D2 is the more common and readily available version but is not as easily activated within the body as D3 is. Vitamin D can be used therapeutically to treat the flu but it is also important to understand that, if you are taking the above doses of vitamin D, the chances of you getting the flu to being with are very remote. The old saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” could not be more accurate regarding this treasure of a vitamin. The daily dose of vitamin D you would use to treat the flu would be 1,000 IU per pound of body weight (round down, not up). The dose would be taken once a day for no longer than three days. (Note: This could be a very large dose if you are a large person.) This is the dose that Dr. John Cannell, the founder of the vitamin D Council, has been using very successfully for a number of years.

Dr. John Cannell documented his remarkable experiences with vitamin D and the Flu. He shares the story of how his patients — who were in the hospital ward of a maximum security prison for the criminally insane — were being supplemented with vitamin D, and how they were able to avoid influenza when an epidemic broke out in the prison. Fascinated and intrigued, he subsequently put the vitamin to even more rigorous trials in the years to follow. His very lengthy but highly worthwhile article can be found here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/51913.php

Vitamin D is especially valuable as a preventative and treatment for potentially deadly viruses because it supports a balanced immune system reaction and actually works to keep the cytokine T cells in balance with each other. This makes it particularly helpful when there is a risk of the T1 cytokine cells triggering a “storm”

The indispensable foundation to a balanced immune system: Probiotics

Rapidly gaining recognition for their multi-faceted and universally beneficial properties, probiotics are considered absolutely essential in any immune system alliance. Most of us are familiar with these beneficial bacteria because they are found in yogurt. Cultures around the world have used these amazing “good” bacteria to culture, safely preserve and leaven a variety of foods and beverages like kefir, kimchee, kombucha, sourdough bread and sauerkraut. Probiotics are the cornerstone of a healthy gut and, subsequently, of a healthy immune system.

Although one can find a limited amount of this bacteria in commercially manufactured yogurt, it does not contain enough strains or enough live bacteria to patrol the yards and yards of digestive tract and war with any offensive bacteria found there. Since most of us have not grown up with a lifetime of eating live cultured foods, we need a more powerful and immediate source. Probiotics are readily available these days in wider varieties than ever before. They come in tabs, chews, loose powder, regular capsules and enteric-coated capsules (a special protective coating on the capsule to get it through the damaging stomach acids and into the gut, safe and sound). They can be found in single strains, like Acidophilus, and multiple strains from a variety of sources. When taking a pro-biotic supplement, always determine the minimum guaranteed bacteria count, as well as the recommended storage instructions.

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Vital life force: Colostrum

Colostrum is the super nutrient-dense, pre-milk substance that mammals produce for their young before a normal milk supply sets in. Few things in nature are known to have such amazing life sustaining properties and seemingly magical immune building properties as colostrum.

When dealing with these potentially deadly flus, it is important to insure that the balance of T2 cells will be produced in proportion to, if not in excess of, the T1 cells while the immune system is attacking the offending virus. Studies show that nothing does this better than colostrum. Researchers in Australia set out to learn if dried bovine colostrum protein (a popular supplement with athletes) had the same ability to stimulate cytokine white blood cells in humans that the fresh colostrum does in cows. In the study, researchers saw that the T2 “retreat” cytokines were activated and the T1 “attack” cytokines were suppressed when measured 6 hours after administration.

Multiple studies show colostrum to be an incredibly vital product to have on hand if there is any danger of a cytokine storm related illness. It has no known side effects and is very safe for even small children (capsules of the dried powder can be opened into food or drinks).

Healer from the inside out: Aloe vera

Many of us know of aloe’s healing properties having used it by slapping a fresh cut of aloe leaf on sunburns and feeling the instant relief. Aloe is also an amazing miracle worker and support for the body from the inside out. Aloe vera is chock full of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids and micronutrients that can help the immune system to be strong and resilient against infection.

Consuming Aloe vera on a regular basis provides your immune system with the extra boost of nutrients it needs in order to perform at a superior level. It also provides you with antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial protection. Aloe vera is known for its synergistic properties, meaning all of the nutrients it contains work together to bring about the desired result of a strong and balanced immune system response. What makes aloe particularly good to take in an antiviral regimen is that it, like colostrum, directly supports a balanced and therefore safer immune system response.

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The all powerful: Garlic

Perhaps no plant has been more treasured throughout history for its incredible flavor and culinary contributions than garlic. As anybody who has eaten a clove of raw garlic will tell you, there are few things that come close to the incredibly powerful and pungent flavor of garlic. This little powerhouse has also been documented to have antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties and has been used medicinally for thousands of years in many countries around the world.

Several studies have shown that high doses of garlic help to regulate cytokine response. What constitutes a high dose is difficult to define because garlic potency varies from one variety to another, from one region of the country to another, and from one harvest to another.

If your stomach and taste buds can tolerate it, the most beneficial way to utilize garlic is to eat it raw, ideally from an organic or all-natural, pesticide-free source. For those of us that prefer a supplement to a burning tongue and watering eyes, there is good news. Allicin is a component of crushed/raw garlic that is considered incredibly beneficial but is also highly unstable. For years the only way to get it was by eating fresh, crushed garlic. However, a couple of years ago they figured out a way to stabilize allicin so that it could finally be offered in a supplemental form. Although garlic in just about any form will be beneficial in some way to your body, if you can find a stabilized allicin source I highly recommend it.

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Fresh garlic can be a challenge to get into small children orally and the gel capsules are not much better. For babies or small children I highly recommend a garlic poultice as an effective way to get the benefits of garlic into small peoples bodies.

A note of caution before consuming gigantic quantities of garlic: There is risk that, if you have a bleeding or clotting disorder, very, VERY large amounts of garlic could exacerbate the problem or cause some drug interactions. Individuals on blood thinners should be especially aware of this concern.

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O, What To Do About the Flu?

By now everyone is expressing some measure of concern about the Swine Flu. A school 20 miles from us has actually closed for a few days due to the number of children that are out with sickness. So, rather than sit here and wring my hands, I've done a bit of research to prepare myself to take care of my family, should we get the dreaded pandemic. I've also been researching ways to try and avoid contracting this widespread bug. I thought I'd share what I've learned:

To Help Prevent Flu Sickness
(1) Wash Hands - the age old sage advice. (Now, if only I can remember for myself and four little ones, we'll be good!)

(2) Drink LOTS of warm teas. The following are a list of teas I'm incorporating into our daily diets:
1- Immune Booster (A combination of Elderberries, Echinacea, Peppermint, Nettle) This we will drink for about a week on then a week off so as to not over do it with the Echinacea.
2- Children's Composition (Elder Flowers, Peppermint, Yarrow) This is a nice evening tea for the kiddos before they go to bed. (Yarrow is a superb herb!)
3- Pine Needle Tea. See the following links for some good info.
Pining for Nourishment

Pine Needles

(3) Boost the Immune System. The above teas ar a part of that, as well as eating bunches of yummy garlic, taking a dose of Elderberry Tonic each day, and taking Vitamin D3

(4) Burn Pine Needles and Mullein as incense. This helps purify the air from harmful pathogens. Plus, it smells very nice!

(5) And, we eat copious amounts of cayenne on just about everything! Even the kids like it!



Now, if we DO end up getting the Swine Flu, this is what I would do. First of all I would, for the most part, STOP taking all Immune Boosters and move to Immune Supporters.
(1) Use Garlic Poultices on the Lymph nodes
(2) Take Raw Honey with Garlic, Ginger, Lemon and Cayenne for sore throat.
(3) Up the Pine Needle Tea and the Vit D3
(4) Drink Olive Leaf Tea
(5) Take Oreganol (Oil of Oregano)
(6) Burn more Mullein and Pine
(7) Spend lots of time in a warm tub with Epsom or Dead Sea Salts and Eucalyptus Oil
(8) Drink Grapefruit Peel Tea (breaks up chest congestion)
(9) Continue with the Children's Comp Tea (Elder Flower, Peppermint, Yarrow)

That is about all I can think of at the moment. If I had more time I'd go into the whys of it all, but I don't. Gotta go nurse the cutest baby in the world!