Peaceful rest

I give thanks for a peaceful start to a rejuvenating healing night's sleep for my sweet baby girl. The thoughts sent our way and the Spirit have given me courage and strength as I always hope but tonight Alexiss fell asleep without tummy upset. She is still a bit dehydrated but not to a level to worry to much. May she sleep soundly and wake tomorrow on the road to her bouncy energetic self.

The Ryderson Flu. :(

Alexiss and I have been ill since Sunday and our carpet will never be the same. For her it started with one round of puking during the day on Sat, but she was fine after that. Then I started Sunday afternoon and she followed me Sunday night. One trip to emerg late Sunday night and we thought we had her turned around for the better. Poor Mark started being ill Sunday night at emerg with her. I couldn't even go because I wasn't well enough. Add on a mild cold with the stomach flu and it's been a tough week for all of us. Poor Mark, had to get out the carpet steamer twice on Sunday and clean up after us. I've never been so violently ill with a stomach flu.

The days seem to be a bit better than the nights. Today I thought she'd finally come out of it, but we just had some residual small spit up and diarrhea. Send good thoughts our way please.

This is really testing my faith that everything happens for a reason, I've always trusted what struggles come my way, but I'm not so trusting with struggles coming Alexiss's way. I find when I used to simply take what life threw me and prayed for the strength and courage to face whatever it is, I'm praying for specifics for Alexiss.

I'm tired and sick, she's tired of being sick and doesn't understand. It's so hard trying to pace her food when she's hungry and I can't explain to her that she'll get more in a short while if she keeps it all in. Last night after she's puked and dry heaved we gave her the rest of the Zofan that the Drs gave Mark. She hated it, she cried and I was really having a time. But we did it, and she finally slept at 1:30..until 3:30.

Here comes another night, I pray all goes well and her tummy doesn't give her problems tonight. Poor kid is still alert but she's getting less and less energetic. I've been living on Gatorade for 4 days and she's been living on half the amount of forumla. If I knew she was going to take a turn today, I'd have called the Dr and brought her in. But, we'll get through. And if tonight turns ugly, I'll be taking her in again.

Look what we tried!

Carrots and peas were okay, but were a little tough to manage so we tried bananas and they were a lot more yummy and soft! The health region recommends not waiting too long before stepping up the texture, so I thought we'd have fun without the pressure. I really think she liked chewing her food.

ouch ouch ouch

Alexiss just got her first "no-tap" after pulling the hair at the nape of my neck for two weeks and me saying "don't pull" and "let go", sometimes in a loud growl (well, it hurts!!!). She would sometimes stop after a few repeats, but today was the last straw. She didn't like it much at all...but she stopped for the time being. I think she'll heed my growls a little more in the future. Poor kid..

It's been so bad that at the beginning of this week, I actually got the lead outta my arse to call and make an appt for a haircut this weekend instead of just taking the scissors and grabbing a bunch of hair and cutting it as short as I could (without seeing what I was doing).

We went into Strathmore today to take care of some banking and grocery shopping to pick up stuff for chicken soup for dinner for three. I'm keeping with trying to remember to put shoes on her, she fits size 3 for now, but not for long I think. The woman at the grocery store insists to help me out with my groceries, no matter how small the bag, to get in a bit of a gab. How horrible, I don't even know her name...I must look next time. She tells me about her only child, a daughter aged 13, and loves to say hello to Alexiss.

I couldn't let the impulse go after looking into hazelwood this morning so I ordered a hazelwood and amber necklace for Alexiss and a bracelet for Mark and I, I'll let you know how they work out.

Hazelwood and Amber!

Yesterday at Moms and Tots (I'm the Mamma and Alexiss is the tot..in case you were confused) there was a little boy wearing a very earthy looking necklace, so I just had to comment! Turns out it's a teething necklace. It helps stop teething babies from drooling so much. I was curious but not overly interested since I'd read that drooling is what helps baby's gum soften to make cutting a tooth a bit easier. My curiousity this morning lead me to an online search and I found that it's so much more than just for teething! It's a natural remedy for skin, teeth and acid problems. Great, now I want one for me, for Alexiss and for Mark!




Here's a blurp from tinyteethers.com:

Hazelwood health benefits are well known to Aboriginal people, but are just now coming to light for many North Americans. How does it work? Acidity is a major component of the pain in your baby's teething. Hazelwood has the medicinal property of absorbing and neutralizing the body's acidity through contact with the skin. By doing so, the necklaces can also help babies with digestion, constipation and eczema. The necklaces are not just for babies, they are really for the whole family. They help teenagers and adults relieve or prevent ailments such as migraines, acid reflux, heart burn, nausea, arthritis, skin problems etc. There are no known allergy issues to this product because it is made with the Hazelwood branch, not the nut.

Therefore, if you suffer from…

· Rheumatism, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, arthrosis, osteoporosis

• Dental cavities, gum bleeding, teething
• Acid reflux, heart burn, ulcers, constipation
• Cracking at the corners of your mouth
• Skin problems such as acne, cold sores, pimples, eczema
• Sinus problems
• Ear infections
• Bronchitis
• Headaches and migraines
• Anal irritations
• Sciatic nerve pains
• Muscular pain
• Lack of energy, fatigue, depression
• Shivers
• Heaviness in limbs
• Irritability and nervousness
• Sleep problems

.…it is highly probable that you are suffering from an acidity imbalance. And Pure Hazelwood necklaces can help you alleviate this in a natural way.

I also found amber was used in teething necklaces, traditionally European remedy for teething because it works like a natural analgesic and has healing effects. Verrrryyyy interesting!

I'm a bigger girl now!

We just got home from Moms and Tots in Carseland, which usually means a nap for Alexiss. One hour playing and watching other kids zonks her right out. So I'm taking this time to update her blog. It really seems like I've slowed down, but rest assured, Alexiss hasn't slowed one bit! She's rolling and playing and smiling and..yes..still crying, but she's still as adorable as ever and her two teeth smile never fails to be contagious and make me smile too.

She's still fitting into her 6 month outfits, but barely, so I broke out all the 9 month sized outfits/sleepers. I also thought I should start putting shoes on her feet instead of just using sleepers under her pants and jackets or trying to keep socks on her feet. There was a lady in the line up at the store when I bought three pairs who said it's good to start now so she'll get used to it. I never thought of it that way..sheesh, at this rate she's always gonna want to be barefoot! I'd be okay with that, heck, I'm not a shoe fan, if it wasn't for the doggy doo in the back yard. And why is it now, with a little one...everyone..everywhere.. thinks I'm social and talk to me. Perfect strangers before more than happy to ignore me are now striking up conversations. It's a change for me, but in actual fact, it's nice to exchange smiles and chats instead of simply standing..waiting to pay. It's part of the reason people like small communities.

Okay, she's waking and is most likely a'hungry.

A way to a babeh is through their stomach!

Today I got impatient with the idea of having to introduce foods in two day phases, and I think Alexiss was too. "They" tell you to introduce a new food every two days only, so you can tell when your child has an allergic reaction, not for any other digestive reason. So today I said...screw(sorry, heh...family present) forget it and decided to give her soup. I'd made a beef soup on the weekend with corn, potato, kale and barley in it and heated it up for my lunch.

So we both had the same lunch! Mind you, Alexiss's wasn't as appetizing looking, pureed beef soup looks kinda gross.

I will definitely go back to just veggie's or fruit for snacks and meals, but I think I'll be making more soups from now on and sharing!

...let's just hope it all...err...comes out okay (and doesn't give Alexiss a stomach ache)

It's not easy bein green!

Specially if you're a vegtable and on Alexiss's "try" list. Seems she's opposed to eating green. Peas are tolerable, but barely. Avocado is a definite make-your-body-quiver-and-make-you-yell-"ack" kinda way, broccoli wasn't a hit either. The nurse we saw on Thursday said to try things 15 times before deciding Alexiss doesn't really like it. I will try again...not so sure on the 15 time thing though. Squash was a big hit to my amazement! Banana's and apples with cinnamon are edible, the rice cereal and oatmeal are doing good, peas and carrots are okay but not a favorite. Oh! And water out of her sippy cup confuses her still, but she's liking it for the most part. She still gets all the nutrients she needs from her formula, this is more about learning and experiementing.. but now to balance it out with some protein. Today on the menu is garbanzo beans (chick peas)....well.... at least it's not green. *snicker*

We had her 6 month check-up and her 6 month shots this week on Wednesday and Thursday. All is good! She is 18 pounds and 26 inches!

Oh! I have to do a tooth check today, another one came out on the bottom and Mark thinks he feels one on the top. She's not a fan of showing off her new pearly whites yet!

I just went through her clothes again, the 6 month sleepers are juuuust fitting. It's wonderful that we had so many different sizes gifted to her, it's definitely helped and I haven't had to really shop for clothes yet. I did notice the summer stuff is out now though, I'll have to learn to shop ahead.... or knit really quick!

Mark's been getting tons of smiles this week, he must be more fun than me this week. heh. Sure sure, I take her for her shots, feed her, stick her in the truck two days in a row (she hates the sound of the doors shutting in the truck) and feed her....what's fun in that? heh.

Well, the house is sleeping, I've got soup starting and groceries to try a cheesecake recipe out. It's a challenge now to find a good cheesecake recipe that doesn't take like cool-whip jello pie! Gotta get moving!