Unfortunately I had an entire ½ gallon of raw milk that went sour. I really didn’t want to dump it out, didn’t have the cultures to try making cheese and a few of my kids can’t have it at all, so I couldn’t try putting it in baked goods. So what to do with it? Continue reading “Old Fashioned Cottage Cheese”
ATTN Male readers (if any): this post may make you feel uncomfortable or may contain photos you prefer not to view… read at your own risk!
I debated a post on this… but as our precious baby girl Xanthie has arrived, this what a lot of my day (and night) consists of. And since this is not only a blog about health, and food and green living, I’m trying to add more about our family and family life in this home! So here are some of my thoughts and experiences!
Thankfully I’ve been able to breastfeed all four of my little ones. I know that sometimes isn’t a desire or sometimes isn’t possible for some. I thank God daily for equipping me with the ability to nurse my children. I also thank God that I’ve been blessed with more milk than my children need and with the last three births I’ve been able to share what God has given me.
It is additional work and time and effort and some minimal cost to pump extra to donate, but I also think it is very special. I feel honored that I’m able to bless a little baby somewhere with healthy milk to help them grow, mature and develop. I know the mamas who have received milk appreciate it and are very thankful they have some breastmilk to feed their children besides just formula.
But enough of that… it has been a special part of having babies for me, knowing that it provides a new time to bless others as well. However, there is so much more than just that!
Breastfeeding does take a lot of time and I do need to be the one getting up with baby through the night, but sometimes even when baby is finished nursing I just sit and stare at them. Enjoying their sweet smell, hearing their restful breathing and just enjoying the snuggles before time passes all too quickly and they are grown and running around.
I’ve known since I was young that I wanted to nurse my children… in fact I didn’t really think there was another option! My mother breastfed me and my four younger siblings, so I really didn’t even know there was any other option! I also remember other mothers sharing milk with those who were in short supply. It was normal for me and just a natural part of living in close community with other families.
Thankfully each of my children has been quick to learn to suckle (within a few minutes of birth) and it has come pretty easily for both baby and I. My milk always came in on the third day after birth which always gave me a happier newborn!
I can’t say it’s all been fairy tales and roses though… I’ve had my share of the run of the mill issues as well, engorgement, blocked ducts, mastitis, sore and cracked nipples, babies with lazy latches that caused a lot of pain, unexpected letdowns, and other such excitement! However, we have been able to work through all of them and press on!
In fact, each time I get a blocked duct or mastitis it is usually early in the life of the newborn and I know it’s because I felt great and tried doing too much. I usually feel almost 100% back to normal within the first week after birth, but that always seems to bite me in the boo boo…. I end up trying to fix dinners, do laundry, take a few trips too many up and down the stairs and etc and etc in the life of a mama! Thankfully, taking a step back, resting and a few other natural remedies I’m able to get it cleared and healed! It’s certainly uncomfortable in the process, but thankfully we have been able to get it cleared up and move on!
My children also don’t want to learn to take the bottle until they are 3 months old or older. This has been tough since I have return to my job when they are 6 weeks old. I feel bad for poor hubby as he has to fight them to take it and usually has at least 4 hours of a screaming little baby until I get back home. Those days are hard, especially when I call home on break and hear my little baby crying and there isn’t anything I can do until I get off. Those days are really hard…
But even with the struggles and hard work that it takes, the pleasure and bonding is so worth it! With each baby I look forward to sitting and snuggling and taking that time that I HAVE to sit down to nurse the baby when I have 1000 other demands of the day. It makes me sit, take a moment to put my feet up and enjoy this new little one that has joined our family!
Now that little baby Xanthie has been here for a few weeks and our meals from our church family and friends have come to an end it’s time for me to start getting back into our family routine! Also we are planning on starting homeschool in two weeks and we need to find our new norm and establish our new routine. Continue reading “Rosemary Cod with Plum-Tomato Sauce”
I ♥ Etsy!
I’m sure many of you know what Etsy is and how it works, but let me tell you… I’m in LOVE! I’ve used Etsy a lot more than I thought over the last few years and I’ve always been 100%+ pleased with the products and especially the customer service. It’s real people selling to real people! Continue reading “I ♥ Etsy”
Recently I’ve been itching to purchase some [amazon_link id=”B001ELLBJS” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Great Lakes Grass Fed Beef Gelatin[/amazon_link] because of all the health benefits (post on this coming soon) it offers and for it’s many uses. I’ve especially been wanting to make some marshmallows for the kids to enjoy over a campfire and not worry about the high fructose corn syrup and food coloring in them (yes… even though they are white, they still have dyes!) So hopefully I’ll have a recipe to post on that as well before too long… but first off I started with Jello. Continue reading “Jello”
About 1 year ago Brian had his last attack of gout and it was after he broke a rotten tooth and before he had it pulled. It was about a 1 month period of time and he had two episodes back to back. Continue reading “Gout”
As many of you know we live in a small town home (1000 sq ft/2 bedrooms for a family of 6) with minimal storage. Consequently I store most of my home canned goods in my mother-in-law’s basement which is only about 20 minutes away. We are often there to visit and I just pick up what I need when we visit. Continue reading “Canning Strawberry Jam”
Birth Story of Xanthie
(pronounced Zan-thee)
August 5th, 2013
7 lbs 12 oz and 20 in
I think Xanthie was trying to outdo her sister, but didn’t quite make it! Aisling was 10 days late, but Xanthie didn’t quite make it that long. She arrived 7 days after her due date. In this home, the boys seem to arrive early and the girls late! 😉 I guess they need the extra gestational time for beauty sleep! Continue reading “Birth Story of Xanthie”
(pronounced Zan-thee)
Ready for more birth stories? Here is the last one for now, but hopefully another to soon be written once baby #4 decides to arrive!
Birth Story of Aisling
February 1, 2011
8lbs 4oz and 20.5 in
Aisling decided she was going to be 10 days! I guess in her mind arriving in January was too cold and not a good idea, so she waiting until February 1! Continue reading “Birth Story of Aisling”
Home of the Hymn of the Month Community
Striving to preserve what we have graciously been given.
Striving to preserve what we have graciously been given.
Green & Grateful 