Silver Shield and Strep

Well, I told you guys about Dane being sick in my last post.

We concluded he had strep due to his symptoms and the sick kiddos he had been exposed to.

I asked some other holistic friends what they did with strep since this was our first rodeo with it.

A friend I highly trust told me to use Silver Shield every hour.

We did a few other things to begin with, but religiously stuck to giving a dropper full every hour of Silver Shield.

I also tried to give him some ALJ.... he threw up most of what I gave him, but he was able to keep some of it down.

Other than the time his fever was close to 104 for 3ish hours, I let his fever run it's course and do it's thang. We took him for a chiropractic adjustment also on Monday morning.

He was sick from Sunday morning/afternoon, until Tuesday. He was fever free from Tuesday morning and on. He was still puny and lethargic so I continued to make him rest and take the Silver Shield. I think so many times we let kids get crazy again before they are completely better and hinder their healing process. Their little bodies require rest to heal.

By Wednesday night, he was totally and completely better!

I am so thankful I listened to the Lord here and did what I knew would work and didn't get scared away from healing strep at home. I'm also thankful I now know how to treat strep.

A friend of mine said if we stayed away from antibiotics, he would most likely develop an immunity to strep. I'm curious to see if that is the case too. I sure hope so.

Now, where to buy these natural suckers (I have no idea if this is considered homeopathic, natural, holistic, herbal, etc. When researching it, I found it to be classified as homeopathic, but someone, who knows more than me, corrected me on FB. I decided that doesn't really matter. All that matters is that it works!). When you are in dire need of something, you can't wait for it to be shipped and you are willing to pay lots and lots of money (just think of all you save with co-pays and antibiotics!). I went straight to the herb shop Monday morning and bought fresh colloidal silver since mine was expired.

BUT......

I recommend stocking your medicine (that is what we call it, but it is full of herbal, homeopathic, holistic goodies) cabinet  before a sickness occurs. At least with some of the basics (Silver Shield, Elderberry, ALJ, Golden Seal, Echinacea, raw Apple Cider Vinegar, raw honey, and the most recently discovered, Oregon Grape) . Like me, you may go into the herb shop with as sickness and have the herbalist tell you of a product you have never heard of before to treat something (She told me Oregon Grape is especially great for kids because it tastes like grape, unlike ALJ, and it is great for flu, strep, viruses, colds, etc. It helps your lymphatic system work properly.). I still didn't buy that one, I searched on Vitacost while in there and found it was S12 instead of the $32 the herb shop was asking and stuck with just the Silver (it was $35 at the herb shop and on Vitacost it was $15).

I do plan on buying some extra Silver on Vitacost and some of that Oregon Grape to make sure I have on hand. It is so much fun though to go into the herb shop and ask questions about common illnesses and find out what works! I seriously love learning about it.

If you decide to purchase things off Vitacost, I posted a blog a long time ago telling you how you can save $10 off your first purchase made through them (or through a new email address). Then you can stock up as well.

I have had many ppl ask me about how my husband feels about holistic health care since he is in the medical world.

Funny you should ask.

I think his opinion changes from time to time, but when it comes to our kids (so not necessarily himself), he lets me lead. He hasn't done the research like I have and I do believe he trusts me with my plan because he has seen it work every single time. He also sees the abuse of the system up close and personal. So many folks who take drugs just for a sniffle or sneeze and immune systems that literally don't know how to function. I think he actually might be proud of me for taking a different route, a road that sometimes gets judged or analyzed a little harshly, but is safe and effective.

His only stipulation is that our children not suffer unnecessarily with a fever. Because I believe fevers are a good thing, I don't like to give fever reducing meds, ever.

When Webb was 18ish months old, he had a febrile seizure. He was teething and he slept with us or I might never have known he even had one.

I woke up in the middle of the night to Webb nursing and I could tell he had a fever. He wasn't fussy though, just nursing and I knew he was teething. It was the first time, EVER, that I thought out of nowhere, "I hope he doesn't have a seizure." I think God allowed me to be concerned so I would be half awake when it happened. I started feeling him shake and I put my phone light on his face. I'll never forget the horrifying picture. His eyes were back in his head, his fists were clenched up at his head, and he was convulsing. I yelled at Brent, "Wake up! He is having a seizure!!" He was currently in EMT school so I actually felt very safe. He was asleep and we had a sick goat he thought I was talking about and he mumbled something and rolled over. I yelled, "BRENT!!!! Webb is having a seizure!!!" He jumped up telling me to turn the light on. He knew what to look for and how to position him. He told me to call 911 while he did those things. I stayed calm until I heard, "911, what's your emergency?" Then I lost it. By the time the ambulance came, he had come out of his seizure and was in the postictal phase. Very very confused and fussy. Like I said, had I not been sleeping with him, I never would have known why he was acting this way. We decided to travel by ambulance since Webb had a history of passing out daily just to make sure it was fever related and not another issue. Once at the ER, it was confirmed that it was due to his fever either raising too quickly or lowering to quickly. In tears I asked, "Is this my fault? Since I don't do fever reducing medication? Could I have prevented this?" The Dr on call said, "No! Most children that have these actually come from families who DO use fever reducing medications. That is the thing about a febrile seizure. They are sudden. You can't predict them or prevent them. We like fevers around here, just like you. We don't recommend using fever reducing meds until a fever hits 103.4 anyways. You didn't do anything wrong." That made me feel so much better. Still, the horror of what I saw was engraved on my mind. Brent and I agreed that day that if the kids ever had a fever around 104 that wouldn't lower, we would give them a small dose of Tylenol. Brent was adamant that if our boys were teething, or something that a fever didn't benefit them from, that we would give them something before that if we felt like they were in pain. Marriage is about give and take. Even though I didn't feel 100% on board with those decisions, Brent lets me make their healthcare decisions for the most part and I knew if this made him feel more comfortable, I needed to agree. So, I did. We stopped on the way home the hospital that day and bought Infant's Tylenol and only used half the dose that very night when Webb's fever spiked again. The only other time it was used was Sunday night when Dane's fever was 103.8 and had been for 3ish hours. I knew if Brent were home that would be his choice and I wanted to respect that.

So, there is our seizure story if you never heard it before! It was definitely one of the most terrifying things I have ever experienced.

I believe I will continue to stick to my natural remedy mindset. I just love the fact that God created exactly what we need to heal us!

Wednesday morning, as I was getting ready for Bible study, Brent came into the bathroom and told me, "I just want you to know you made good decisions with how to treat Dane. You did a good job."

That my friends, is music to my ears :-)

Sickness

My Dane is sick.

I can honestly say he has only been sick a handful of times in his 6 years.

The worst thing he has ever experienced was an ear infection and I was able to treat that at home with chiropractic care and his urine applied in his ear. He never had another ear infection after that. He was around 8 months old.

The same would be true of Webb. He has been sick about 3 times and the worst thing he has ever experienced was also an ear infection. I cleared that up the same way and he, also, never had another one.

Now, one might jump to conclusions and say it is because they are homeschooled and not exposed  to as many germs....

But, I argue that case. I don't raise them in a bubble. Quite the opposite. I am a busy woman. We go to church, play groups, Bible study, birthday parties, story times, restaurants, co-ops, and lots more. I am in and out of hospitals with birthing momma's and Brent is on the ambulance more often than not. We are definitely exposed to our fair share of germs.

I think a huge component is that I am not scared of germs for one.

I love germs! Bring on the germs, folks!!!

My kids drop their food in public, I let them pick it up and eat it. Your kids have recently been sick? Well, by all means, please have them sneeze on mine. Ok, not really that last one. BUT... if your kid did, I can assure you, I would NOT freak out. I might get grossed out, but whatever. Mine will survive.

The only germs I do try to stay away from are stomach bugs because NO ONE likes to deal with that.

But seriously, I think germs are great and I do not try to keep them from getting on my kids, scrub them off my kids, or bleach any surface the germs might have gotten on... or whatever y'all germ conscious folks germaphobes do ;-) 

For 6 years now, I have used holistic, homeopathic, herbal, and or home remedies. They have NEVER failed me.

I repeat.....

N-E-V-E-R

My kids have never had an antibiotic.

Their immune system kicks butt!

I believe God created the very things I need to fight infections in my home. I truly believe that. He is an amazing God and when it comes to things I put in my body, I stand firm in my belief that God-made is ALWAYS better than man-made; be it food or medicine.

Matthew 10:1 says:

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease

I'm not saying He has given me the power to heal my sons or myself, but I do believe He has given me the tools to do so. I believe He created certain herbs for the very purpose of healing, fighting infections, and boosting immune systems. Even as basic as the internet where I can search and read up on this lifestyle, I believe is a gift from Him.

So, when my Dane is exposed to kids at church who have strep and then he starts showing signs and symptoms of the same thing, I am not going to change my philosophy now.

Nope, I am going to research, ask my fellow voodoo friends and relatives for advice, take him for an adjustment, and go to the local herb shop and talk with the herbalist.

A friend of mine, Danielle, reminded me of Colloidal Silver. I always turn to Elderberry, Echinacea, Golden Seal, Apple Cider Vinegar, Honey, and Vitamin C. I always forget about Colloidal Silver. Mine was even 2 years expired, but I started giving that to Dane last night every hour. Colloidal Silver, I believe, is God's antibiotic. It is an amazing herb that can be used for pretty much anything! And it tastes like water too. I also gave Dane honey water with ACV, Vitamin C, and Elderberry last night. I kept a cool cloth on his forehead and he laid on an ice-pack because his head hurt. I also was feeding him ice chips and giving him lots of cold water. He took 2 luke warm showers as well.

I spent the afternoon/evening praying over Dane and asking God for wisdom. I asked Him to remove my peace if I was to do something different with Dane.

By bedtime, his fever was 103.8 and stayed that high for over 2 hours. He was almost delusional, but he still told me, "I'm feeling better, mom". I truly believe that fever was aiding in fighting his infection. I believe fevers are a good thing that if left alone, they raise up to where they need to be in order to play offense in his body. However, after 2 hours of it not lowering (and because I knew his daddy would ask me to give him some if he were home and that is really his only stipulation for my voodoo medicine) I went head and gave him some Infant's Tylenol (it was expired too!). We had that from when Webb was a baby and had a febrile seizure. It had been used once, so I think it was still good. 

He slept all night and I checked on him off and on and prayed for him. Once in the middle of the night, I was praying over him and as I closed, he piped in a sleepy, "Amen". LOL. 

As I was going to bed, I had lots of feedback on a FB post I had made about him being sick. I KNEW beforehand I would have some medically minded/folks completely opposed to holistic care/worried friends who would warn me. I have to say, not as many as I expected though! Whew, because defending my beliefs can sometimes be exhausting and honestly, not really worth the effort.

Naysayers don't bother me though (I know you find that hard to believe with all my alternative approaches). I appreciate their concern, but ultimately, Dane is mine and Brent's and we answer to God for how we raise Him. We choose paths that we feel comfortable with and that bring us peace. Every decision made is made out of a complete and abundant love for our children and with their health and safety (long term too) at stake and in our mind. I am not going to change my choice for fighting sickness just because I hear of a horror story or 2 (I have my opinions on the horror stories though). You will always hear horror stories.... no matter what path you choose. Alternative or not. I could list horror stories for antibiotics, circumcision, vaccinations, hospital births, etc. But I don't and I won't, because my convictions aren't always other's convictions. I don't answer for them, just as they don't answer for me. I appreciate the warnings, because they really and truly do make me think through my decision and ask God, "OK, are You using this horror story to show me something or is the devil trying to take me off the path you have chosen for me and bring fear into my heart and life?" And really, I appreciate the opportunity to know, that I know, that I know, that this is the lifestyle God has chosen for me. And clearly, what we do works for our family. 

My children are evidence of that.

So, I will keep on until it I find that it doesn't work for something and then, I will try another route.

Please know that I don't think badly of anyone who chooses a different path than we do for issues such as strep. Like I said, this is my conviction and I feel as strongly about this as you probably do about using meds and that is fine. We are not all the same, but that doesn't mean we have to cast judgement or look down on one another for our differences. I also appreciate the fact that there are medications WIDELY available to treat pretty much everything under the sun. I am grateful to know that if the need, that is NEED, ever arose for us, I can get something we need and get it fast. 

Oh, and the herbalist today said that ALJ, and Oregon Grape are also great for fighting strep along with Colloidal Silver. She said Colloidal Silver works great though and will most definitely fight off this infection. Since this is my first time dealing with strep, I'm anxious to see... I'll keep you all posted! And Dane has been fever free all day, although he is still pretty lethargic and puny. 

Upcoming School Year and Classical Conversations

Surprise! It's me again.

I have no idea if any followers still exist out there or not.

Regardless, it is time for me to start blogging again.

I pretty much dropped off the face of the earth last year.....

I found myself in a pretty rough patch of life and to be honest, it would have taken too much effort/felt like a lie for me to search within myself for pleasant things to blog about.

It was a season.

A season I still find myself traveling through and yet, by the grace of God, I'm getting through it and learning so much about God, forgiveness, grace, commitment, and love as I plunge my way forward.

It's amazing how God can take something that is so dark and gloomy and that just downright sucks, and turn it around for MY good. Not necessarily by making everything hunky dory, but more so by what He shows me and reveals to me through His Word, His nature, and His goodness to me- when I don't deserve it.

Today, I am taking the day to just relax. We have NOTHING on the agenda. Did you hear that........

N-O-T-H-I-N-G

Ahhhhh. I'm going to let that sink in again.

These days are so few and far between.

I love to go, go, go, but lately, it seems as though I'm trying to see how much I can cram into one day.



We are enjoying this last month of summer.

As you know, we homeschool and that is something I believe God has called our family to do.

I feel a burden for this. It's not just that I want to protect my kids and keep their innocence intact. I know God Himself gave me this desire because it is so much deeper than a desire. It is a burden. For my children. The most precious little things in my life.

I have never exactly known what path we would take in our journey of homeschool and I am SO excited that we have found the path that we believe is where God has been leading us. I think it was a part of His plan 2 years ago when He uprooted us and moved us to Cartersville.

Classical Conversations.

I love the motto of Classical Conversations----> "To know God and make Him known."

You may, like me, wonder what classical education is:

"A classical education recognizes that we learn anything by going through three distinct phases: learning the words and basic facts associated with the subject, sorting, understanding, and practicing using those words and facts, and finally, using the information by teaching the subject to someone else, writing original essays on the subject or solving problems with the information.

These three phases are called, respectively, grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric."

I had various FB friends who were involved in CC and it always piqued my interest. I would ask friends about it and I always got a variety of explanations about the curriculum. So, as the school year ended last year, I discovered who the director was and I called her up.

As she was talking to me and explaining how CC worked, I just felt the peace of God come over me and I knew this was the path we were to take.

I went the next week and sat in on what would be Dane's class (Kindergarten for those of you wondering. I want him to be the oldest in his class instead of the youngest.) and was absolutely amazed at what I learned! I learned Latin, mathematics laws, the 3rd Law of Thermodynamics, a history timeline, and so much more.

Dane will be in Foundations:

Grammar
This first step in learning any subject is to learn the vocabulary. For example, when you learn to read, you learn the names of the letters and the sounds they make. Classical educators call this the grammar stage. Young children enjoy this phase: they love repeating songs, chanting rhymes, and pronouncing big words. We capitalize on their enjoyment by teaching young students the grammar of many subjects using songs and chants and practicing with friends.

Foundations is the Classical Conversations grammar-stage program. In this program, students receive the building blocks for later learning in science, math, geography, Latin, English grammar, history, fine arts, and public speaking.

There are 3 cycles and students who begin in Foundations as abecedarians (What, you don't know the definition of this word?!?!?! Ok, I didn't either-----> A-B-C-darians, ABC-darians, or abecedarians were the youngest students (then called scholars) in the typical one-room school of 19th-century America, so-called because they were just learning their "a-b-cs". It could also refer to someone teaching the alphabet.) will compete each cycle at least twice, developing greater understanding and mastery through repetition.


This year, Dane will be going through Cycle 3. This is what he will learn (it is all based off memorization):

Geography and History- United States: Columbus To Current Events
Science- Anatomy, Chemistry, Related Experiments and Projects
Timeline- Creation to Modern America (He will memorize this timeline)
Art- American Masters, Drawing
Music- Composers, Music Theory
English- Participles, Irregular Verb Tenses and Clauses
Latin- Translate John 1:1-7
Math- Multiplication Tables, Conversions, Geometric Formulas, Algebraic Laws
Bible Memory- John 1:1-7

I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited to be learning as well! LOL

We will do Handwriting, Reading, and Math practice on the side and fill in any other gaps we find along the way.

I am so very excited to start this school year and to watch Dane learn and grow.

We took the Summer to learn to read and Dane has thrived off it. I love the fact that I am teaching him. I never knew I was capable of such a task. What a reward it is to see him enjoy it and for it to click.

If you are a homschooling mom, take the advice I was given--- Don't force the issue. Wait for the child to be ready and show interest and in the meantime, read LOTS to your children. If they aren't reading by age 4, it doesn't mean they won't be smart and if they are reading by the age of 4, it doesn't mean they will be smart. LOL. The biggest issue is that they develop a LOVE for reading and that won't happen if it is forced on them. So, they are ready at 4. GO! They aren't ready till 6, that's ok too.

I really do want to start blogging again and keep up with our homeschool journey for those that are interested. My schedule is super busy with homeschooling, cleaning houses (I have 7 I clean each month and I'm no longer accepting anymore), being a doula (had the summer off and now many moms coming up this Fall-March that I know of), Bible Study (I teach the High Schoolers), and being a wife, mom, and homemaker.

I hope to find time in the quiet of the mornings to sit down and get my thoughts out and record our first official year of homeschooling.

Soooo... interested in CC.... stayed tuned. Our start date is August 26!

Provision

I have had this story on my mind all night and all day.

Usually when that happens, God is trying to show me something or remind me of something. He wants me to open up my eyes and see it.

There was a time in my life that I was a single-mom. I think that is documented here somewhere.

During my single-mom days, income was low. I was in school, cleaning house, and keeping a little girl a few days a week.

At our church we had an annual Missions Conference. We were asked to commit to a certain amount of money, whatever God laid on your heart, and then in FAITH commit to give it each month. No matter what.

I committed my amount and for the most part, never truly struggled to give that in faith each month.

There was one Sunday that I went to church and even though I knew it was the end of the month and my mission money was due, it was literally the ONLY money I had in my bank account. Down the the dollar. There was some change in there, but not an extra $1.

I prayed and asked God to provide and went home and noticed that my gas tank was on Empty. We lived about 30 minutes from church.

"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."
-Ephesians 3:20

I drove back to church that night for Sunday evening service. I very clearly heard the Lord tell me, felt Him lead me, convict me-- however you want to look at it, "Give your mission money". I was so scared because I knew I couldn't make it home on the amount of gas I had and there would be $0.74 left in my bank account after I wrote my check.

I wrote my check and prayed asking God to provide the money before the check I just wrote cleared at the bank.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
-Hebrews 4:16

I told not another soul about this situation.

It was a cold evening and as I pulled into the gas station, my grandparents pulled in behind me.

I got out and pulled my coat tight around me as I watched my grandparents pull up to the pump next to me. My Boppa came over and said, "Get in the car. I'll do this for you." I handed him my debit card and said, "Thanks!" He said, "No. Your gas is on me and Gran. Get in the car while I pump it."

Speechless I got in the car. I saved my tears for the ride home and I didn't even tell my grandparents that story for months... maybe a year even.

About how God used them.

I'm sure they listened to God as he said, "Get out and pay for her gas."

That story is precious to me and such a great reminder that God knows my need. He sees my life from beginning to end and even though stepping out in faith, no matter the situation, might be scary, when I know He holds my life in the palm of His hand, I can Fear Not.

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee: yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
-Isaiah 41:10

"Declaring  the end from the beginning..."
-Isaiah 46:9a

"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hand..."
-Isaiah 49:16a

He loves me so much and He will ALWAYS provide. BUT!!! Here is what I have learned, He doesn't provide so that I will then step out in faith. No, waits for me to step out in faith and THEN He proves Himself faithful. He wants me to prove I trust Him before He shows me His great and wonderful plans. Faith isn't seeing..... I wouldn't be showing Him that I had faith if I knew my Boppa would pay for my gas that night so then I felt secure in writing that check. No, he wanted the check first and then the gas would come.

And, he doesn't always provide in the way I tell Him to, or think He should, or try to manipulate Him to. No. His ways are very rarely my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
-Isaiah 55:8-9

This story is great for so many other areas of my life where finances are not concerned. God is faithful. He is good. He loves me. He sees me. He knows me. He will provide for me. He will take care of me. I can trust He will provide my gas when I am on empty because He has proven that to me time and time again.

"But my God shall supply ALL your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
-Philippians 4:19 

Pray for the Boppa I mentioned in this story. He is undergoing back surgery as I type. 

A Letter To My Youngest

Dear Webb,

I cannot believe we are celebrating my BABY’S 3^rd birthday! Goodness. It is really bittersweet for me. You are my baby and every stage we go through with you is our last time (unless God- and your daddy-sees fit to add another child to our family) to do it. I feel such an urgency to hold on to every second. To slow down the stages. To hold on to your yesterdays. To cherish every accomplishment, because I might not ever be at this stage again. That is hard for me to wrap my head around. You are so far from a baby. You are a big boy in every single sense of the word. In fact, you are accomplishing things at an amazingly fast pace. Just tonight, I was practicing AWANA with Dane and you were sitting next to us looking through a book. I was singing his verses to him over and over to get him to remember the tune and the words. After a few times through by myself, I would sing a few words and then stop to let him sing what was missing. Instead of him saying it, you did! I just laughed and told you “Good Job!!” but it is like that every day. You pick up on the things Dane is doing and you progress soooo quickly because of him, which means, you are growing up much quicker than you should and quicker than I like! LOL.

Spiderman boots and shades and ready for church!

 It has been a wonderful 3 years and you add so much life and happiness to our little family. I always tell people you are a unique character and that is the best and most accurate description for you. The best word for you would be “joyful” though. You spend all day showing us what joy really is and how to be full of it.

This past year you have really developed into your own person. I have fallen more in love with you every single day. You are hilarious and always silly (you remind me of myself in many ways! – not that I’m hilarious) and make us all laugh all throughout the day. If we laugh at one thing you are doing, you will do it nonstop for the next 10 minutes trying to get that same reaction out of us. You are rarely serious and laugh even through your disciplinary talks and disciplinary actions, which I might add often make it hard for mommy and daddy to keep a straight face. You are straight up crazy 90% of every day!!

Makeup all over your face!

You are super excited to celebrate your actual birthday tomorrow. We celebrated with family at a party a few weekends ago because of Mommy and Daddy’s work schedule. So, you are thinking it is pretty grand to celebrate AGAIN! Thankfully, Daddy is off of work tomorrow. After church, we are taking just you out on your special day. We will take you to lunch and to pick out your present. It will be a day devoted to you and making you feel special and loved. Dane will spend some one on one time with Nana and Papa even though he keeps slyly asking you, “Don’t you want me to come with you, Webb???” I told you we would sing “Happy Birthday” to you in the morning and you said, “I will sing it too!” I am sure you will. You are so full of life and live every moment to the absolute fullest.

Webb, Mommy and Daddy love you so much. More than you could ever imagine. Tonight, I am letting myself go back to the night before your labor. I was a very active mom and I had cleaned 2 houses that morning, taught a water aerobics class at our gym, and run 2 miles that night. I laid in bed wondering if it would be the night. At 3am, I woke up and thought I had wet the bed. To my surprise, my water had broken. I wasn’t having any contractions, but I called the midwife and your grandmothers. My midwife told me to get some rest before the contractions started and that was when reality set in. Contractions would be starting. I would be giving birth to another baby. Maybe a son, maybe a daughter. I was overwhelmed with fear, excitement, anxiety, etc. I bawled my eyes out instead of getting some rest. I could not even imagine what it would be like to have 2 children and to have to share my love between them. How could I ever love another child as deeply and fiercely as I loved their brother??!!! Contractions started about 45minutes later and all that went out of my head. I was focused and determined. We took bets as to what time you would be born around 8:45am (about 6cm) as I labored in the pool in the living room and most bets were for lunch time or after lunch. About 9:45am, she checked me and said I was complete and the excitement hit me! I would be having a baby in my arms in just a moment. You were born at 9:54am and I was sooooo overwhelmed with immediate and unconditional love for you. Daddy was the one who announced, “It looks like another boy!”  Another boy! It was exactly what I had wanted. I so desperately wanted Dane to have a little brother. I couldn’t believe I was the mommy to 2 little boys!!!! I looked at your skinny, long body, your soft downy skin, and your beautiful face and my love didn’t have to be shared between the 2 of you, in that moment, my heart doubled its original size. I loved you just as deeply and as fiercely as I loved Dane and it still amazes me today that God allows our hearts to hold so much love. What a dream come true you were for us! Dane was amazed by you and even now, you 2 are the best of buds. It makes my heart overflow again and again when I see the bond the two of you share.

About 8:30am and 6cm

About 9:15 or so and 6-8cm

9:54am. My first glimpse of you. I was in love with you in that moment.

Webb, you are such a gift from God. We are so thankful for you and not only would our family not be the same without you, I wouldn’t be the same without you. You caused my heart to grow and expand in every direction. You made it possible for me to love better and to love deeper. You teach me about patience and laughter every day and force me to practice and exercise both. You have even given me nerves of steel I didn’t think any mom every truly developed as I watch you try every dare-devilish act you (or Dane) think up. You are absolutely, positively the toughest/most tender child I know (funny combination). Today, you and Dane were rastlin’ and he punched you square in the cheek—hard! I held my breath and you didn’t even bat an eye. You just came back for more. Your daddy and I just had to laugh. At the same time, you will barely fall and pass out and pee all over the place. LOL. You will stand up for Dane to bigger kids calling them a “butt-hole” in exchange for them calling your BIG brother a “BABY!”, but when Mommy or Daddy prays for your sad heart, hurt finger, or missing kitty, you will sob through the entire prayer. I am sooooo glad we had you.

I am honored to be your mom. It is not something I take lightly and I understand my responsibility to you. You turning 3 does things to my heart. I cannot pretend that you are my baby anymore. No, I must face reality. I am the mom to two, very big, independent, amazing BOYS! It makes me want to sit down and mourn the baby days, cry over no more breastfeeding, late night rocking, cheering on the crawling and walking, and first words. I refuse to do that though. Tonight, and tomorrow, I celebrate life. I celebrate that you are alive and healthy and that at 3 weeks old God Almighty healed you. I celebrate that even if I am done having babies, Dane got his brother and you have a big brother to help you and be your best friend. I celebrate all your major accomplishments and even your minor ones. I celebrate that deep down, you’ll always be my baby, and that for right now, that is ok with you. I celebrate every single thing about you and I smile and I laugh… because we all know, that is what you would do!

I love you my sweet, not so little, baby. I look forward to watching you grow and change more and more over this next year. I am your biggest fan!

Love always, Mommy 

Most recent picture with mommy. At Starbucks for my birthday :-)

Most recent picture of you with your daddy (and only one I have on my phone!) You boys played and wrestled in the back of the van for close to 30 minutes. All 3 of you were belly laughing!

The Boys

I have stopped using a baby book for each boy and I have just opted to use the archive of Facebook and my blog to keep up with their accomplishments and cute things. I am definitely more dedicated to FB and I share my life with the world ;-) or so my hubby says.

That's just me.

Transparent.

It is officially time for me to update my blog on the boys.

Dane turned 5 in June and it just doesn't seem real. Webb turns 3 in a few weeks and I find myself saying, "Really, are my baby days really gone?" (For now?)

One of the things Dane has been saying for quite awhile is, "Gollee". It cracks me up and he puts a nice southern draw on it. Makes me laugh every time I hear it and I find myself saying, "Golllllleeeeeee" all the time.

Dane gave up the training wheels the 2nd week of April while he was still FOUR!!! He mastered the big boy bike in 2 days, but was an instant learner. He is now working on "tricks"-- one hand only, one foot on the bar, riding off curbs and riding up curbs. He is quite talented and brave!

He did have his first major bike wreck in June and I caught the whole thing on video. He was racing another boy down a steep hill and lost control. He plummeted head first into the cement in front of me. What a trooper. Although he hit his head hard, scratched his elbows, hands, and knees, and had the handle bars go into his stomach, he cried for about one minute and never really complained of pain of anything. In August, he went down that same hill again for the first time since June.

Dane LOVES to color and draw. He spends hours each day coloring and he is such a perfectionist. Stays right in the lines and is extremely talented. I print things offline for him to color based on what he wants to color. He will say things like, "Mom, can you get on the internet and go to armyman.com and print me off an angry man?" or "Can you go to ninjalego.com and get me a page?" when really I just google, "army man coloring pages" or whatnot and let him pick. His wording cracks me up and his "knowledge" of the world wide web.

He is always sounding out words. "Ccc-Oooo-Sssss-Ttttt-Cccc-Oooo, is that Costco, mom?" It helps that he already knows it is ;-)

Dane picked up the phrase, "What the heck?" awhile back although he doesn't say it near as frequently now.

He loves chores and is always standing at his chart seeing what he has finished and what still needs to be done. Earning tickets and Best Behavior Tickets make Dane super happy and proud!

Dane got "into" Angry Birds right before he turned 5. That just seems soooo grown up to me!

A few months ago, I went into the boys bathroom and there was pee everywhere! I figured it was Webb, but asked who did it anyways. Dane says, "Oh. It was me." He comes in there and says, "I held my goober like a water hose to see what would happen and the pee went everywhere!" I was speechless and trying not to laugh. I told him to not hold his goober like any object other than a goober and to just focus on peeing when he needed to and to clean up his mess when he forgot! In case you are wondering what he did, he put his finger on the end of his goober and held it tight as he peed like you would to a water hose to make water spray in every direction possible!

By the time Dane was 5, he knew 8 Bible verses and today he knows, 14. He loves to recite and practice them. I give a chocolate chip for each memory verse they know and then as we learn a new one, I give 2-3 for new phrases learned. We make up hand motions and songs to go with the verse and it helps us all remember the verses.

Dane's favorite colors in July were-- blue, black, and camo

He is extremely OCD. He has a certain order he gets dressed, does his chores (they are cards lined up and he REFUSES to go out of the order they are listed. He gets all that from his daddy. He will drive Brent nuts and I remind him where it comes from and Brent will start cracking up and appreciate that OCDness a bit more!), and puts his markers in their box (he knows the exact order and I don't. I always get in trouble for putting them in the wrong place. Brent likes to sneak and switch them all around. Dane will pull them out and say, "HEEEEY!!!!!! WHO MESSED UP MY MARKERS???!!!! THEY AREN'T IN ORDER!!!!!!!"). Don't mess with his order or sequence of anything!!!

Dane is a hoarder. I am not and it drives me batty. He, once again, gets that from his daddy. He doesn't want to throw away anything and everything has a special meaning. He has 2 treasure boxes. One is a small wooden one we got from Hobby Lobby and I let him paint it and the other is a Nike shoe box. He keeps all his special things in there or special money (a dollar from the preacher is in there, a dollar from Boppa, and a quarter from Papa.). He has this fireman house that sits next to his bed. All of his special things are on it or in it. It looks like a trash receptacle and drives me bananas. If I even mention him cleaning it up he says, "MOM! No!! This is my SPECIAL stuff!!!"

He loves to play with big boys and if he sees some out, he automatically starts doing "cool" things for them to see or so they will notice him.

Dane learned to swim in July and is great! He must have on googles and I pride myself in that I was his teacher! Whoo hoo! I didn't know I knew how to teach swimming ;-) we saved a lot of money by me doing so.

He has started begging for a dirt bike. He and Brent will sit on YouTube and watch videos of kids racing and search for which dirt bike Dane should get, etc. He is ALL boy!

Dane loves to go to church, Bible study, and AWANA. Almost every day he will ask me if today is a church day.

He is so self sufficient and can do almost everything for himself on his own. I am amazed at what a mature, good boy he is!


Dane has mastered counting to 100 and does almost everyday. Now, he is begging for me to teach him how to count to 1,000 and I refuse to! LOL.

He struggles with his attitude and anger. He crosses those arms and gives looks out that could kill and gets in trouble multiple times a day for it ;-) Definitely something that I am in constant prayer about.

Dane is very interested in Heaven and the things of God. He tells us Jesus is in his heart and I prayerfully wait for the day he is truly ready and understands he hasn't done that yet. I was saved at 5 and I am hopeful and optimistic that this could be Dane's year to be born again!

Dane amazes me everyday at how bright he is and how easily he catches on. I am so thankful God led us to homeschool as each day is an adventure and I love sharing it with him. He is such a good boy and aims to please.

He loves to read and we read chapter books on a regular basis.

I think his love language might be quality time and he sincerely craves that and needs individual time with just mom and dad. Even if it is just 5 minutes here and there.

Dane, I LOVE being your mom. You are a challenge and you force me to better myself constantly. I look at you and see innocence, faith, and happiness. I am constantly praying that God would make me into the mom you deserve. You are truly a gift from God and I want you with all of my being.


Webb is about to turn 3 on Sept 1.

He is still my baby in so many ways though and has even started telling us recently, "I not a big boy. I teal a baaabbby. Hoed me." He will crawl through the house and even outside. Sometimes, he even lays at my breast and pretends to nurse. He will cry out, "Waaaa- Waaaaa". He told us to turn his carseat backwards "betause babies not wide dat way and I a baaabby." We have named Webb as the baby, BamBam.

Webb was potty trained the first week of April and mastered that immediately. The only accidents he has are when he passes out, which have become a daily occurrence again :-/

Webb loves to make us laugh. He will definitely be the laugh of the party and the "class clown". A few months ago, he would turn into a "mad kitty" and would have a mean Meow and would bite the couch or your shirt and pull the fabric back as he had a "mad" face.

Sometimes, life happens and I have to pray for Webb. He might not feel good or have lost his kitty. Whenever I pray for him, I peek out and watch him, he will be struggling with his bottom lip. It comes out and he starts boo-hooing. He is super sensitive.

Webb says, "Hehe. I twick you" all the time. Especially if he lies and he knows he has been found out. He'll look all guilty and smile and say, "Hehe. I twick you." It is so hard not to laugh.

He stacks his food when he eats. Every morning, he eats 2 pieces of bacon (or more, but never less) and I have to stack his eggs on top and feed him. LOL.

A few months back he would say the phrase, "What??? Tell me, momma!" and it was so precious. Anytime I would say I have a surprise, or guess what.

His official Webb Phrase would have to be "I not tare" (said with an attitude). He says it if we tell him he will get hurt or if we tell him his shirt is on backwards or his shoes are on the wrong feet, "I not tare." Sometimes, we tell him things just to aggravate him and hear his response that we already know he will say. His newest phrase is, "I be tough!" Tonight, we were playing down the road and the kids had a swingset. He slide was missing off one side and Webb was about to jump. I said, "Oh no you don't. You'll get hurt and pass out." He said, "nuh-uh. I be tough, mom." I went on the edge to catch him and right when I got there, he acted like he would jump to me and twicked me. He turned to the other side really quick and jumped before I could get there. He laughed at me and said, "I tell you I be tough!" Then, he did it again before I could get to him and passed out cold the minute he hit the ground. He was out for about 25sec and peed all over himself. He has sprained his ankle apparently (swollen and can't put any weight on it) and I said, "I thought you were going to be tough!"

Along with the "mad kitty", Webb also turns into a "mad man". If you have ever seen him wrestle before, this isn't hard to imagine. He squints up his eyes and balls his fits up next to his face. He puts his meanest face on (which is still not very mean looking), but what makes him "mad" to me is how tough he is. He will claw, bite, pull hair, and NEVER give up. You can be dead exhausted from wrestling for 30 minutes and here comes Webb, charging at you again ready to fight once more!

He is tough as nails. Sure he can be whiny, but he is strong and tough and can defend not only himself, but Dane! Dane was being bullied at the pool one day from some much older kids. I was sitting back listening and when Dane tattled to me that one had called him a baby (which I clearly heard), before I could respond, Webb stood up next to Dane, faced those kids, and puffed out his chest. He screamed to that child in particular at the top of his lungs, "WELLLLLL!!! YOU A BUTT-HOE!!!!"

Webb learned to swim in June, before Dane did. That was on purpose. He had NO fear of the pool. He has no fear in general. One day at the pool, before he learned to swim, he had his floaties off because he and Dane went to the kitty pool (Webb has always thought we are saying "Kitty" pool when we say Kiddie pool). He came running back to the big pool which I was in. He had this huge, daredevil smile on his face. As he got closer, he dodged me and ran to another side of the pool, laughing hysterically the entire time and yells at me, "Not tatch me! I tan wim!!!!!". I'm in the water, which makes it hard to run, but I run after him. My sister-in-law, her boys, Dane (none of who can swim so she is watching them while they are in the pool helpless to assist me), and the ENTIRE pool watched this unfold. As I run towards him, he darts back to where I came from, still laughing and yelling, "I tan wim, mom! Not tatch me!!". I run back that way and he darts the other way. I start to get frantic as I realize how big this pool is and how I'm in the middle pretty much helpless while he does this. I start saying ,"No Webb! You can't swim. You will go under!!" He gets more cocky and starts running further distances away from me and yells, "I NOT TARE!!!!!". I end up yelling, "NO, WEBB, NOOOO!" So, if everyone wasn't already watching, they are now. I'm sure they were impressed with how much control I had over my child. He eventually jumps in while I'm no where close and I have to swim to him. When I pull him up, he is smiling from ear to ear and said, "I tell you I tan wim, MOM!!!" I was speechless. I was also exhausted. I told Brent that day, "no more trying to teach Dane to swim. He has a healthy fear. Webb is my number one priority." And he did learn to wim. Very quickly. Now, he flips in the pool instead of jumping. Such a daredevil.

Webb sleeps in his bed every night, but gets up and gets into our bed every single night. A few months ago, every single morning he would call out for me. When I would get in there, he would have his face buried and say, "Baaakk, Baaaakkk" (like a chicken) and he would say, "A ticken in your bed, mom!"

His favorite color is pink :-)

He is still super attached to me and passed out this past week because I told him he couldn't get in the shower with me because we were in too big of a hurry.

He mastered a scooter before the age of 3! I find that highly impressive.

He still nurses in his sleep (not for real). His sucking noises wake me up every night. I tell Brent that means he got taken off the tit too soon ;-) He finds it hard to believe that 30 mnts was too soon to wean.

When Webb spells his name he says, "Double, E, B, B." So it sounds like he is EEBB. He calls "W" a "double".

Webb is like a little echo for Dane. ANYTHING that Dane says, Webb repeats it word for word. I often make Dane let Webb answer first or else, I won't really know Webb's answer.

He idolizes his big brother. I think that is normal. I sure idolized mine growing up!

Webb knows about 8 Bible verses and he took catches on very quickly. I am going to start working with him this year as Dane starts Kindergarten because he wants to do school with Dane and I can see how eager he is to learn as well.

Webb makes more messes than any child I've ever know. He destroys things just to destroy them and spills things just to splash in them. Every morning, it appears more eggs are on the floor than in his stomach. If he is carrying a glass of any liquid, go ahead and count on him spilling it, because he will ;-) He keeps me on my toes and is always finding something get into.

Because of Dane, Webb has been listening to chapter books for about 5 months and understanding them. He loves to read also!

Webb, I LOVE being a mom to you!! You keep me on my toes and force me to work on developing patience. When I look at you, I see joy, lightheartedness, and trust. You make me want to better myself and be all you think I already am. You are truly a gift from God and I want you with all of my being.


I am so grateful that God allows me to raise these boys. It is my prayer that I honor God as a mom and that He receives all the honor and glory for their life. They are such blessings and although they know how to frazzle me and truly make me loose my mind ;-)  I can't imagine my life any other way and I wouldn't choose it any other way!

After Dinner

Howdy Folks!

Long time, no blog ;-)

I love a schedule.

Maybe it is my controlling nature or maybe it is security to me.

I just know I like it and I thrive off a good schedule.

Thankfully, kids do too!

We have a pretty good one going here that is slack to some extent due to summer.

We are up and eating breakfast usually by 8am every morning. Most mornings, by 7:30 (possibly earlier like 6am today).

We have morning chores that need to be done by 9am so we can start school.

School lasts about 45min at this age.

I workout if I didn't before they woke up and they pay to watch 30 minutes of cartoons (that keeps me on schedule to be done with my workout in 30 and cut down on an obsessive habit for me).

Then, we have lunch... do devotions... read books... learn/practice Bible verses... play outside... run errands... just play and have fun all day.

We always eat dinner around 5pm. Sometimes as early as 4:30pm.

We don't like eating and having a full stomach when going to bed and if we ate at 7 or 8, that would be the case for us! Plus, it would totally cramp our early bedtimes for the boys.

We have finished eating around 5:30 and kitchen is completely cleaned up by 6pm.

We recently started a new habit that was adopted into our schedule immediately by the boys and me.

At 6pm, we head out on an hour walk.

This is something we all look forward to all day.

It is not an exercise routine for me and I am not looking to gain an ounce of calorie burn here which allows the walk to be slow and at their pace. We stop and play in the woods, in puddles, look at bunnies, walk through ditches, play with kids we meet as we are walking, go up and down the same street 10x, etc. I get to see my kids enjoying life and experience new things. Even be daring and try things that make my stomach sit in my throat while I smile and act like a 5 year old riding down a hill SHOULD try to put his feet on his handle bars. It's all good though ;-)

I love having this time to be with my boys and having no hidden agenda.

They absolutely LOVE this new habit.

The only thing that I don't like about it is our neighborhood has some freaking MANIACS that think this is a highway. People come flying by and sooooo often are looking down (texting) and scare the living daylights out of me. It is hard to enjoy a peaceful walk when you are saying, "Car" every minute and making the boys get in the grass, far off the road (we learned our lesson quickly!), and standing next to their bike or scooter. By the time we get going good again, I'm yelling, "Car!" and we do it over. Plus I've got two daredevils who like to get ahead of me and do wild stunts on the road (then, I DO get my exercise as I chase after them!) all while I'm yelling, "Car!!!!" and trying to catch up to them to monitor them once we are in the grass.

I know, I probably look like the maniac more than them, but I'm scared for all our lives! No joke.

Brent hasn't gone with us because to be honest, by 7pm, he is tired and we would probably him not go with us ;-) He stays at home in the AC, lounging on the couch.

We all want him to start joining us and I want to start driving someplace close to enjoy our new evening ritual.

There is a school down the road for us and I got smart and tried it the other night.

Brent even came (only because he had to make sure it was safe for us, but still! He enjoyed the physical activity and the boys loved having him with us.)

What a different atmosphere.

First, it is gated which totally confused me! It IS open to the public, RIGHT??? I mean, we pay for these things.

And then, I realized it has FOUR entrances and that is likely to keep traffic out from people trying to take short cuts.

Then, I LOVE the gates because that is safety for the boys!!

We park at the gate and get our gear out and just walk up.

We went tonight and I enjoyed myself soooooo much just playing with the boys nonstop for an hour.

They are both at such fun ages and we had a blast.

Gotta love Webb's self-chosen attire (I always feel the need to explain that!)

We played at this one playground that I think is insanely dangerous and I tend to let my boys do dangerous things. I climbed it and felt sick to my stomach I was so high with no rails. I couldn't believe that teachers allowed students to play on that. We are talking life or death, no joke!

Today, we decided to venture all around the playground and we found a much safer, age appropriate playground. Apparently, the other one is for parents.

Because of the gates, the boys can run and bike anywhere they want without me being nervous and we are alone!!!! I like that a lot ;-)

This game totally rocks! No clue what it is called, but we had a blast playing it (and I got in another workout as I had to hold each boy up to shoot over and over). It really helped Dane practice addition as he thinks 5+4 is 54 or 45. He really got the concept better tonight.

We asked if Mommy would have a girl one day :-)

Huge open field where we play "kick ball" more like soccer if you ask me and where Webb ran for probably 15 minutes straight kicking the ball. They also love the game, "Catch Me" where they run from me and I chase them, ultimately catching them and throwing them to the ground (gently!) and tickling them to death.

While Webb did that, Dane practice dirt bike tricks. Brent told him he has to learn to get his bike up before he can take it down (YES! The stairs!!!)

Oh crap! Does that mean tomorrow he is going DOWN???

Riding through the grass and down hills (this is a mini hill)

This is the big hill with rocks and holes galore! So, I know we will go overboard eventually ;-) It's all good though!

Poor Webb, still out running after I get some water.

Dane riding to meet me at the gate.

I'm smiling because I'm sweating and, for the first time in a long time, that ONLY happens outside and not inside my house. 

I love being a mom and I cherish these evening walks where I get to spend quality time with my boys. (Webb refused a picture!)

We get home around 7 and clothes come off immediately and we shower. 

Then it is snack (pickles, cheese, and pretzels for Dane and me and pickles and cheese for Webb). I dry my hair and then we brush teeth and usually it is about 7:30. We read until 8 and then it is lights out. We pray and I scram out to make lunch, clean up from snack time, wipe turds up from kittens (they crap all over the house!), read, watch Big Brother with my honey, etc.

Not only do I enjoy being with them on our After Dinner walk, the walk itself is so beneficial for them. It keeps them from being bored in that little window between dinner and bedtime routine and it keeps them from wanting a screen of some sort. It also exhausts them and makes them tired when they do hit the sack.

We all get to get outdoors and get some Vitamin D and get that food digesting that we ate earlier. 

I'm grateful I saw a trainer post about making that a habit. It is a perfect one for us. Hoping Daddy starts joining us or at least does for the next 3 weeks (HE IS OFF OF SCHOOL!!!!!! YA-HOO!!!!)

Well, Just saw it is 5 minutes past my bedtime and I'd like to workout before the little angels stir in the morning!