Stomach Flu Recovery Protocol

I am not a medical professional but since cold and flu season seems to have hit a bit early around here I thought I would share what we do at our house. As soon as someone in the house turns up with vomiting or diarrhea (and with soon to be 12 family members it happens more often than I'd like), we start diffusing DoTerra On Guard essential oil. Then we wait until there's been no vomiting for at least 30 minutes. At that time we start giving very small sips of Gatorade or whatever fluid we are using to rehydrate. When I say small I mean approximately 1/3 of an ounce,  no more than 1 T. We use a medicine cup. If that stays down for 5 minutes or so then we give 2/3 of an ounce.  After another 5 minutes without vomiting we increase the amount to 1 ounce. From this point on, we give 1 ounce every 5 minutes provided there is no more vomiting. If at any time vomiting recurs, we start the entire process all over again. It is a bit tedious but it keeps them hydrated and helps to avoid a trip to the hospital. As for food we generally wait until vomiting has stopped and the sick person is asking for food. Then we start the BRAT diet. B stands for Bananas, R is for rice, A is for applesauce, T is for toast. The rice and toast need to be plain, no added seasoning at all. You can substitute bread or crackers for the toast as long as its made with white flour. Basically you want a very bland, plain diet of white foods. As soon as they can keep that down  you can start to gradually add in other foods. Wait to add dairy after everything else is well tolerated. If you have a sick little one who is still breastfeeding just let them nurse on demand. Breastmilk is NOT a dairy food and it is the easiest and fastest thing to digest. These are all things I've picked up over the 21+ years that I've been mothering 10 children. We have never had a child hospitalized for dehydration or flu like symptoms. Once we came very close and that is when an older doctor recommended the fluid protocol above. The younger doctors in the practice wanted to hospitalize because our toddler was refusing fluids. I was so upset because I was worried about the toddler but I also had an infant who was breastfed and I was looking at having to choose letting my toddler be left alone at the hospital or weaning my infant. The older doctor told me to hold her down and basically force feed fluids in the manner described above. It was either that or staying overnight in the hospital for IV fluids. Some of the best advice I ever got! Now if I can just figure out how to avoid the vomiting and diarrhea bugs altogether.

Restoring America's Biblical Foundations & Give Away

Restoring America's Biblical Foundations & Give Away

Why I Am No Longer Choosing To Serve At My Church

When God reveals the details of how he wants me to serve is my response a simple "Yes, Lord."? Or do I first consider who, what, where, how and to what extent
I am currently comfortable and adequately equipped to serve? I may not like the assignment God has for me. I may not even like those whom I serve. I may look foolish, stupid or even crazy. Do I say "Lord, I'm sorry but I can't do THAT! People might think I'm judging them. I would look like a hypocrite!" I don't have enough time. It's too far to drive. I don't have enough gas money. I'm driving on a spare tire. I have a health condition. Those people made their beds, now they can lay in them. They don't even want help, they're just looking for a handout. I don't have a sitter. And besides I wouldn't even know where to begin. If these or other excuses are true barriers then I must take these needs to the Lord in prayer. And He is faithful! On the other hand, am I just using them to justify not serving? If I am His servant, I have surrendered my right to choose who, when, where, how and to what extent I will serve. A servant is completely available and utterly vulnerable. The truly awesome part is that there is freedom in this! When I surrender and become His servant I no longer have to fret over how I will manage to find enough time, money, resources, etc to do X, Y and Z because the servant owns nothing. Even my time isn't my own. My responsibility is simply to obey and make good use of what my master has given me. And we serve a very wise and benevolent master. So I am no longer choosing to serve in my church. Rather I am Christ's servant and He is my master. And I urge you, ask yourself "Have I merely made a choice to serve or have I surrendered my entire life to Jesus?" And then act accordingly.

Come Holy Spirit and Guard Our Hearts, Our Minds and Our Time

The kids and I go to the Wehrenberg Theaters Summer Series freebie every week. Week 1 we saw Winnie the Pooh, which we all loved. Week 2 was The Smurfs which the kids thought was great but I was sadly disappointed. I don't remember there being so much focus on the sorcery and magic when I was a kid watching the saturday am cartoon. Plus, I was disgusted with the fact that they seemed to go out of their way to use as many foul and vulgar phrases as possible by replacing the foul word with Smurf. Definately not a movie I care to see again or would ever own. Last week the movie was Happy Feet 2. I honestly didn't care for this one much either. I felt like Happy Feet had an environmentalist agenda and in the 2nd one it was even more apparent. The poor penguins were trapped and at risk of starving to death. At one point there were some people on a boat and they tried to save them but to no avail. So in the end the penguins and other animals work together and save themselves. It seems to me the message we are sending our kids is "You don't need God. If people would just follow the example of the animals and work together we can save ourselves." Sometimes I think people actually make an idol out of the animals and nature. Also there is a side storyline about 2 krill named Will and Bill. They have gotten away from the rest of the krill and are becoming lonely. At this point one of them makes a suggestion that they only need each other and that they could adopt. The other one says something to the effect of "We're just friends. No hanky panky." And eventually they "separate" and the one who suggested that they adopt is heart broken. They eventually meet up again and rejoin the other krill. It just seems to me that the point here is to tug at the heart strings of children and parents with the goal of softening hearts toward the practice of homosexuality. We are like the frog that will stay in the pot and boil itself to death if you gradually turn up the burner. I am going to be praying and asking the Holy Spirit to guide our choices in viewing material and how we spend our time. And this week we are opting to go to the zoo with my oldest daughter instead of The Summer Series. I would love to get feedback on my first blog post since I accepted Jesus as my Lord and savior.

Another great give-away!

This one is for a copy of the book Breastfeeding with Comfort and Joy: A Photographic Guide for Mom and Those Who Help Her, by Laura Keegan! Here is where you can sign up for the give-away...
http://womantowomancbe.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/100000-hits-party-and-giveaway/
And here is where you can purchase the book yourself...
https://www.lifeforcefamilyhealth.com/breastfeeding_book.htm

100% FREE K-12Another Awesome Freebie! Tailored Tutoring Programs in Math and Reading!

This info is taken from the Mindsprinting home page. I love this website!

MINDsprinting is 100% FREE. 5 good reasons to Enroll Today!

1.

Comprehensive Assessment Tests
Our Tests determine school grade level, skill gaps, and enable us to tailor our programs to a student's needs. You receive diagnostic results promptly, and if a Test is taken multiple times you can select which results to use for that program.
2.

Coordinated Math (K-12) Tutoring. [View Sample Lessons/Curriculum]
Each student receives two tailored programs in which we assign teaching and practice lessons:
* Personal Math: Tailored to each student on the basis of skills that should have been mastered by his/her grade level and the ones he/she has actually mastered. Students can fill skill gaps from prior grades at their own pace, without peer pressure, and raise their skills to grade level and beyond without any limits. Ideal for remedial and enrichment purposes.
* State Standards Math: Addresses all skills, by grade and by state, students must know for the annual NCLB-required exam. Over 50 different programs - we track your state's standards exactly! We tailor the program to assign lessons for all required skills in a student's grade that are not yet mastered (and show you the ones that have been mastered too).

You can use either program alone - but together they are a one-of-a-kind teaching tool that provides individualized tutoring AND state exam preparation at the same time!
3.

Reading Tutoring (K-12) [View Sample Lessons/Curriculum]
* Reading Excellence (K-3): Teaches children how to read and write from the very beginning.
* Reading Comprehension (4-12): Improves students' understanding of what they read.
4.

User Friendly System.
An easy-to-use website - no training is required. Start immediately after you enroll.
* The Dashboard: Manage students and access features from one page.
* Fast Tracking: Select, skip or repeat lessons for one or all students.
* Reports: Detailed Transcripts; Progress Reports, and Custom Reports.
* Printed lessons: No sitting in front of a computer required.
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* Parents: Help your child improve from the comfort of your own home.
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* Students: Take control of your future. Get the tutoring you deserve and maximize your abilities.

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Or learn more by taking a tour
Teachers, click here for more detailed information

Homeschool Freebies!

If you haven't already you really should check out this awesome resource for homeschoolers. There is something different every single weekday and it is always a free download! Here is this weeks list. Enjoy!

Monday, Feb 16th:
Great President's Day Resource Links! (links)

Want to make the most of President's Day? Check out these
Lesson Plans, virtual tours, poetry & the actual papers
of presidents Washington & Lincoln!


Tuesday, Feb 17th:
A Chinese Wonder Book (PDF ebook)

This fascinating collection of Chinese stories and legends,
edited by Maggie Hogan of Bright Ideas Press, is a great
literature-based introduction to the rich history and
culture of China. Includes a read-aloud guide.


Wednesday, Feb 18th:
"Harriet Tubman & the Railway to Freedom" (MP3 audio)

A classic old time radio dramatization of the story of
Harriet Tubman and the activities of
the "underground railroad" during slave years.


Thursday, Feb 19th:
Blessed Is The Man: High School Unit Study Sampler (PDF ebook)

"Blessed is the Man" is a wonderful High School Unit Study
geared to Christian young men, and based on Psalm 1.
Today's resource is this extensive 74 page preview
of the complete four year curriculum - normally $10 on the
publisher's website - but yours to download today!
If you have growing boys in your household, DON'T MISS THIS!


Friday, Feb 20th:
Creatively Simple: How to Make Butter in the Blender (PDF ebook)

Learning to make butter is something everyone should do at least once.
This simple ebook by Penny Raine can teach you how, using items you
probably already have in your kitchen. Detailed instructions and lots of
pictures.

You can get all of these on their respective days at www.HomeschoolFreebieOfTheDay.com