MIchele, what a wonderful way to start the new year off. Congratulations to you.

Yay to the new car and new job. I can understand about being sad to leave the current one as you love what you do. I used to work with children for years as a teacher and then a director for Child Development Centers. I changed jobs 3 1/2 years ago. I love the change but do miss working with the kids and families. I have a lot of fond memories. Happy Holidays!

With people like that it is best to save your breath (and your sanity) and cut all ties. Hope your new year is better.

Drama.

Family gatherings...

I am lucky in that way, we don't have a lot of family.
You select friends, but you are stuck with family.

Wow. Just wow. Sorry this happened to you. My only advice is to have no contact with crazy people.

Happy holidays to you too!

Originally Posted by Christie13

Oh my goodness. That is a lot to go through. The most important thing is that you are ok from the accident. I am sorry about the family drama but sometimes you have to separate yourself from the negativity....even if it is family. Wishing you a happy holiday.

Thanks! Agree w/ separating from negativity!!! I shut my sister out of my life for very similar situation while I was pregnant w/ my 2nd but at the end of my pregnancy she begged me to take her back & pregnancy hormones raging I acquiesced. UGH!!!
Christmas should be entertaining lol!! Hope you have a Merry Christmas & a Happy new year!

Originally Posted by sraebaer

Glad you are ok!!

Sorry about the family drama. Can't choose your family I guess!

Thank you!!! Christmas should be entertaining! lol! Hope you have a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!

Glad you are ok!!

Sorry about the family drama. Can't choose your family I guess!

Oh my goodness. That is a lot to go through. The most important thing is that you are ok from the accident. I am sorry about the family drama but sometimes you have to separate yourself from the negativity....even if it is family. Wishing you a happy holiday.

Only comment I have is to tell the aunt or MIl whoever that there's a way to stop receiving notifications on all - top of the post - three little dots - click on that - bottom is option TURN OFF NOTIFICATIONS. I have some moron that a friend tags in his posts and he reams me everytime I post cause he gets notifications ... um well then dude you aren't too smart - let me show you how to do it.

That is all you can do is take it one pound at a time. Good for you! Your life sounds as busy as mine. My daughter is a senior this year and it has been non stop go, go, go. But spending time with your family is the most important thing. Enjoy your kids!

Glad to hear from you, we've missed you! Happy Easter!

By the way, my grandson had speech therapy before starting school, and did great. Didn't need any special services once he got to kindergarden. They really knew what they were doing!

Wonderful that your family is doing well, and your slowly getting your baby weight off. (It took me about 26 years, lol).

Happy Easter to you and your family as well.

Sounds like everything is going great! So cool that your best friend will be getting sleeved as well. You'll be each other's support system. Wishing you all a Happy Easter as well!

I hope you can get yourself back on track and back to your happy weight. I know how frustrated you must feel. Make a plan and tackle it. Knock out those bad habits one at a time. Wishing you much success.

My soon to be 13 year old walks with me it really is beneficial for me and her i love it

Use that teenager, if she wants to go work out with you, that's always a benefit. My kids have helped get back into an exercise routine. Its the ones that love us the most that want to see this work for us.

Hallo!
You made a whole baby!!!! This makes you a superstar!!! YUP!
Baby weight is hard and plus it sounds like your hands are full with the kidlets!!! Children are a blessing even when they are driving you mad LOL.
Welcome back on board, I'm sure you know what to do, you've just been run off your feet with those kids! :-)

I'm 4 years out and I know it's a struggle to maintain. You just have to get back with the program. Does the gym have babysitting? You could take the baby and work out, that's the only way my daughter can get any exercise. Unless you're somewhere warm enough for walks with the stroller.

I went a little crazy and joined Weight Watchers again and am finding it fun. I've never tracked anything, and now the tracking is all set up on my phone. The program is just how we are to be eating, the high protein foods are the lowest points, stuff with sugar, fat, carbs high in points. I was just counting protein for 4 years, not realizing many of my protein choices sucked, like Greek yogurt or protein bars that are really high in sugar. I decided I needed the accountability of weekly weigh-ins.

But whatever works for you. Glad to see you back! Enjoy those kiddos!

Originally Posted by Christie13

So glad that the stomach bug has flew the coop and your baby walking! How sweet!

ty!

Originally Posted by sraebaer

Aww.....cutest time ever!

ty!

Aww.....cutest time ever!

So glad that the stomach bug has flew the coop and your baby walking! How sweet!

Thanks Pam!!
I used lots of tea tree for many many years (we lived four years in New Zealand and I discovered that one over there 15 years ago) in soap and even body lotion, or tea tree mixed with oregano for skin issues. Besides lavender that I love since childhood, I love the Thieves blend for getting rid of virus but I use many kinds of essential oil. I usually got them online, compared prices and tried to get organic when possible (especially for those I will use on the skin). The Now brand is great, cheap and efficient, I also got a lot at Edens garden.

2. Ravensara (Ravensara aromatica)
Does someone have the flu? Reach for ravensara — one of my all-time favorite essential oils for when influenza strikes. Its antiseptic, antimicrobial, and antiviral qualities disinfect the air and its expectorant and immunomodulant actions also help those stricken with the flu get better faster. Plus, it has a pleasant sweet, herbaceous scent. So, it’s a win-win for those healthy and sick alike. If coughing is a big issue, I often mix it with a little Eucalyptus radiata and some spike lavender to calm the nerves and promote sleep. You can also add some to a carrier oil to massage sore, achy muscles, that are often the result of fever and chills. (See how to make massage blend in the “Eucalyptus” section above).
Note: Avoid ravensara during pregnancy.

Originally Posted by lundbergmn

thanks sandra!!! what essential oils did you use & where did you get them?

1. Antiseptic Surface Sprays

This would be from my homemade cleaners and it includes basic cleaning supplies and essential oils. This surface spray has evolved over time from something very basic (water and vinegar only) to adding in a cleaning essential oil blend to it, to separating it into two sprays when I really want to clean well.
When I first learned of the powerful effects of vinegar followed by peroxide on germs, I knew this would be something that I’d take extra time to do when sicknesses were going around. What’s even better is that I learned of an essential oil blend that works in synergy to kill viruses and bacteria when combined, and I decided to add this to it. Here’s how it works.
Spray #1

• 1 cup pure water
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 50 drops ravensara essential oil (Agathophyllum aromatica)
• 50 drops tea tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Bottle #2

• 1 cup pure water
• 1 cup hydrogen peroxide
• 100 drops of thieves blend

That’s it. It’s fairly simple and easy. When wintertime rolls around and viruses pick up, I simply take both of my bottles around, shake them well to mix the oils into the water, spray with #1 and wipe, then spray with #2 and wipe, and I’m all done.
2. Diffuse Essential Oils

The next thing I do is I diffuse antimicrobial essential oils in my home. I have an essential oil diffuser that can be set to diffuse off and on until the chamber is empty. This usually works well for my home. I do it once a day and call it good.
Seeing as how I have 4 kids that range in age from 7 months to almost 7 years, it can be hard to find an essential oil blend that is safe for all of them. Essential oils aren’t really recommended for kiddos under 2 unless they’re heavily diluted, and when it comes to diffusing this antimicrobial essential oil blend, I prefer the one that is for ages 3 years and up so I try to do my diffusing when my baby is down for a nap just to be on the safer side.
The blend that I use comes from aromatherapist Lea Harris, and I love it. Not only is it safe and effective, but it smells great. There are versions of this blend for younger and older ages as well that you can find here.
Anti-Germ Essential Oil Diffusion Blend

• 3 drops sweet orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis)
• 3 drops pine essential oil (Pinus sylvestris)
• 2 drops clove bud essential oil (Syzygium aromaticum)
• 2 drops cinnamon leaf essential oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)

You can add your oils to your diffuser individually, or you can make a larger sized batch of this and store it in a 5ml bottle clearly labeled if you want. Simply add 10 drops to your diffuser, and you’re good to go!
This is also a great blend to put in an essential oil pendent when you’re out and about, but that’s more for us moms than it is for our kids!
3. Herbal Air Fresheners

Herbal air fresheners are a great way to cut down on airborne viruses. They’re basically a mix between the antiseptic cleaning spray and the diffusion blend above, and they can be sprayed in the air, on pillows and sheets before bed, or on clothes before heading out anytime you need them.
Herbal Air Freshener

• 1/2 cup strong rosemary infusion
• 1/2 cup witch hazel
• 20 drops pine essential oil (Pinus sylvestris)
• 20 drops lemon essential oil (Citrus limon)

Mix your ingredients together in a spritzer bottle, shake well, then spray away!
4. Herbal Incense and/or Smudge Sticks

Herbal incense and smudging has been around a long time and has traditionally been used to cleanse the air of impurities such as viruses. In fact, many herbs are rolled and smoked for their healing properties. For example, mullein smoke has been known to help asthmatic children when they feel an attack coming on. Simply take a dried mullein leaf, light the end on fire, blow the flame out and waft the smoke around and breathe it in.
Smudging is very similar. You take a dried bundle of herbs (sage is most popular), light it, blow the flame out, and waft the smoke around. The properties of the herbs are released into the air as well as the scent. Beyond sage, you can use pine needles, rosemary, and even lavender. There are a lot of options. You can buy smudge sticks premade or you can grow your own herbs and make your own.
Herbal incense if very similar except you can blend herbs together and you don’t light the actual herbs on fire. You place your herb blend on top of a lit charcoal disk which heats the herbs causing them to smoke.
Here’s exactly how you do it.

1. Take an incense burner and place a layer of sand in it.
2. Place a charcoal disk on top of the sand and light it until it catches.
3. Lastly, place your herb mix on top of the charcoal disk and let it smoke away.

Herbs to use for herbal incense:

• sage
• thyme
• rosemary
• cedar leaf tips
• lavender
• peppermint
• pine needles
• frankincense
• myrrh
• patchouli

How to prep your herbs for burning:

1. Put 1 tsp. of each herb you plan on combining in an electric coffee grinder and grind until it’s a fine powder.
2. Store in a glass jar away from heat and light. This mix is good for a couple months as powdered herbs lose their properties faster than whole herbs.
3. Use as needed throughout the day!

Think it will stink? Think again! It actually smells nice. It’s got that wood stove or campfire smell only it’s more herby and earthy. I love it!
If you’re interested in learning more about herbal incense, this post is very informative. It will teach you how to use resins and other herbs as well as how to switch between different blends easily and so much more.

Originally Posted by Sandra3

Wow! I hope you will all recover very fast! drinks lots of water!
When a virus start to attack every member of the family it is very difficult to cope. We had a similar story a few years ago, it was during the Xmas holidays, we were packing for a trip at 4 PM one kid started to be sick, so we decided to stay home and wait until the next day. Next morning everyone was sick! Worth holidays ever, I was happy to go back to work!
Besides the cleaning I love to use essential oils to "purify" the air and kill all those viruses, plus it smells really good too.
Take care!

thanks sandra!!! what essential oils did you use & where did you get them?

Wow! I hope you will all recover very fast! drinks lots of water!
When a virus start to attack every member of the family it is very difficult to cope. We had a similar story a few years ago, it was during the Xmas holidays, we were packing for a trip at 4 PM one kid started to be sick, so we decided to stay home and wait until the next day. Next morning everyone was sick! Worth holidays ever, I was happy to go back to work!
Besides the cleaning I love to use essential oils to "purify" the air and kill all those viruses, plus it smells really good too.
Take care!