Essential Oils - Thieves Oil

Sometimes, I wonder what the drug companies would do if people started using more natural/alternative medicines. I mean seriously… what would they do? The feeling I have right now is pretty similar to the feeling I had the morning after I put Bentonite Clay on my daughter's brown recluse bite. Shock. Awe. Amazement. And, admittedly, a bit of disbelief.

Some alternatives to modern medicine I judge much too soon. Others simply gross me out and I'm unwilling to try them. While Essential Oils don't gross me out, I always thought they were a bit too… voodoo. Like "smelly stuff can't possibly heal or treat anything". But I kept hearing people in the "crunchy" community rave about oils and how well they worked.

I've been sick just about every other week for the past 3 months. Sinus pressure, sore throat, coughing, sneezing…the usual "cold weather" ailments. I've tried a few medications, and they treat the symptoms, but they don't treat the problem. I also am very limited on the medications I can take because I am still nursing. When this last bout of misery kicked in, I decided it can't hurt to try.

As luck would have it, someone posted that they were putting in an order for some oils. A few quick messages later a bottle of Thieves Oil from Young Living Essential Oils was on it's way. It couldn't get here fast enough. I had that awful combination sickness. The one where you wake up almost OK, but as the day goes on your head gains 15 pounds, and by bed time you can't breathe. Or sleep. Or function. You can blow your nose all you want, no matter how much comes out, there's more waiting to take it's place. You might as well have gills, because your nose no longer functions.

I managed to survive 6 additional people staying in my house (hopefully none of them got sick… my kids seem to be just fine), 2 massive cakes, and my son's first birthday party. By the time the last guest left yesterday, I was an autopilot zombie. I'm not going to lie, I can't even remember the last time I showered. It was BAD. I was so tired that I picked up the oil around 3 and forgot about it until 8:30. Maybe it was the skepticism, but I'm pretty sure it was just pure exhaustion.

I applied the oil as instructed and sat back down, noting my new scent was almost like Vicks, but stronger. Wait a second…scent? I could smell! Both nostrils have been mortared shut for days, and still were, but I could smell! Fifteen minutes later, there was a massive pressure release as one nostril cleared. Fifteen minutes later, the other cleared. I went to bed breathing! It was a good feeling, especially since night-time is usually miserable.

This morning, I'm still a tad congested, and there's the faintest twinge of pain when I swallow, but we are leaps and bounds from this time yesterday. Could it be coincidence? Sure. Think that if you wish. But I'm a believer. I'll be doing a lot more research into Essential Oils to see what else I've been missing out on!

A Beautiful Mosaic

Crunchy. Instinctive. Attachment. Helicopter. Authoritative. Permissive. Scrunchy. Have you ever been confused at just how many parenting styles there are? I know I have been. It's even more confusing when you are trying desperately to fit a mold and find other parents with the same values and styles. I finally came to a simple conclusion the other day: I have a Mosaic parenting style. I'm pretty sure almost every single one of you does, as well.

What is Mosaic? Exactly what it sounds like it is. It's bits and pieces of every type of parenting style there is. Named or not. With it's own book series or never heard of. Debated on mid-day talk shows. Criticized on the evening news. There's so much judgement and prejudice in the parenting community about what is the right or wrong style or what is going to harm your child for life… They should sleep on their tummies-they should sleep on their backs, don't give them a pacifier-pacifiers reduce the risk of SIDS, put the baby down or they will not learn to self soothe-hold the baby or they will feel abandoned… I could go on for HOURS! While I have opinions on every single one of these issues (and so many more), I don't feel like all of my opinions match a set style. And why should they? It's parenting.

So I'm going to be posting based on what issues arise in the day-to-day life of staying at home raising a 2.5 year old and a (almost) 1 year old. I'm going to write transparent, honest blogs with my opinions… and if you don't agree, that's OK! That's the point. We are all here creating our own Mommy (or Daddy!) Mosaic!