More about Silver

"Thanks to eye-opening research, silver is re-emerging as a wonder of modern medicine. An antibiotic kills perhaps a half-dozen different disease organisms, but silver kills some 650. Resistant strains fail to develop. Moreover, silver is virtually non-toxic." -- Science Digest, "Our Mightiest Germ Fighter" by Jim Powell, March 1978

"All of the organisms that we tested were sensitive to the electrically generated silver ion, including some that were resistant to all known antibiotics…In no case were any undesirable side effects of the silver treatment apparent." -- Dr. Robert O. Becker, M.D., Syracuse Medical University

It is pretty amazing gift - colloidal silver. Here are some ways we have used it.

1. When we bought a generator from the silver edge (which is a great site that I pulled these quotes from), it was partly due to an article Pete read. As most of you know, I had two miscarriages between Faith and Zade. (I share about that experience here and here.) He had read that one speculation of a miscarriage was due to a low lying infection in the mom.  Since there was really no adverse effects, during my pregnancy with Zade (and recovering from the miscarriage). I took about an ounce of CS (colloidal silver) most days.

2. When we feel sick, we drop about three drops of CS in our ears (one at a time) and let it sit for seven minutes, then drain it out.  We have literally felt sick one evening, did ear drops and felt better the next morning!

3. Boo-boos, cuts, scraps, etc.  We use CS on all open wounds.  Essential oils on bangs, thuds and otherwise below the surface injuries.  Spray bottles that are amber colored are all over our house filled with silver.

4. Sore throat - spray directly. Zade loves having "spray" anytime.

5. Any skin infection or eye infection.  Silver was the only thing we treated Faith's sty on her eyelid and it was gone in three days.  She hated having anything dropped in her eyes, but she proudly says, "My sty is all better!"

Love, Carra

Sick Kid (I'm Pregnant and We Didn't Paint)

Well, you know I tend to blog about whatever is going on in my life.  This is no different.

Just an update - we didn't get to paint Pete's office :( It was sad that he will be spending another semester in a dark space (well, when he's home at least LOL). It was going to be transformed from all darkish wood to nice cream color with the shelves white. We have gallons of Mythic non toxic paint in the closet waiting for us.....

Ok, another part of my life --- "ta da" I'm not just gaining weight and getting paunchy. Coming March 25 (give or take) we will have baby number 4! I'll tell you some more about this pregnancy soon.

But the other main part of my life that is taking my attention is my biggest girl. My normally energetic 8 year old has been lethargic and complaining of a sore throat but no stuffy nose. I know you're thinking, "Strep?" I really hope not. Her fever is very low grade so that is a promising sign. In addition to consulting the ONE that created her (i.e. prayer), we have been employing homeopathic remedies.

How have we been treating it?
1. Rest!
2. Vitamin D (2000 iu twice a day)
3. Colloidal silver - half an ounce a couple of times a day, sprays as needed for discomfort as well as ear treatment (whole post coming this week)
4. Old Indian Wild Cherry Bark (before bed and middle of the night if necessary)
5. Garlic capsules (once a day before bed)
6. Water
7. Pineapple juice and warm water (1/3 juice to 2/3 water as warm as she can handle) couple of times a day.

These remedies are pretty much what we do for us as well - just increase the amounts.  And of course I chew raw garlic.

Love, Carra

Looking for some time to relax!

This should probably subtitled - essential oils are welcome everywhere in our house. I recently read this book called "Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be" by Donna Partow. It's a "normal" book but she surprisingly seems to have some granola leanings. I like it.

One of the assignments (it's a 90 day journey) was to incorporate a cleansing bath at least once a week. I am not a "bather." I like my shower -its quick and doesn't make the bathroom messy. Both my girls get baths (usually together) but those involve soap and scrubbing off the layers of earth built up from their dirt cake endeavors. Zade is kind of bathed on an as needed poopy-directed basis.

But now we are trying to add a weekly cleansing bath for each of us. I call it a "soak bath" for the girls. I don't use soap for them on that one. I add baking soda (cupish) and some lavender and eucalyptus essential oils (3 +/- drops of each). They sit in the bath and play with their cups and washcloths until the water gets cool. I use about the same amounts but add a cup of Epsom salts for me.

If you do this - drink lots of water because this definitely has a detox effect. I'm just ready to go straight to sleep after this bath - lovely!

Love,

Confession #24 - Not looking for the fountain of youth

 My grandmother has cancer.  Doctors gave her a life expectancy of 6 months to live.  That was getting close to two years ago.  Hospice was brought in for over a year, but has now stepped out. Because she has Alzheimer's, the docs cannot do a followup scan (couldn't get her to understand that she would need to be still) and we certainly do not want to put her under (what little function she has could be lost).

So this unknown cancer, two bouts with breast cancer (result: double mastectomy) and this is my grandmother.  Heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and a host of other ills run through my family in addition to cancer.

The more I read and research, the more convinced I am that our eating, our environment, our use of chemical drugs are a big part of our illnesses.  There are many days I would just rather take Motrin for my headache.  But the causes are probably poor diet, dehydration, exhaustion and hormones.  I can "fix" a lot of that but there is the 15 minute "fix" that is so tempting.

So why do I pursue this natural stuff?
I don't want to live forever.  I look forward to the day of my Savior's return.  I am grateful that Christ has rescued me from all my failures and being with Him is the prize now and at the end of my life.

But what am I here for?  I want to have the energy and strength to do all the things He has called me to.  I want to be strong and feel well.  I want to have energy for my kiddos.  I want to give my children a good health basis for life.  I want to grow old.  I want to grow old with strength and clarity.

I think medical research has given us a wonderful array of options.  But don't discount the wonderful array of options offered by natural medicine.  Prevention, not cure is the best approach.  There is a lot out there that's way off and weird and sells you products instead of educating you about issues.  But there's really good information out there too.

Two places I'll recommend:
1. Dr. Mercola.  He does sell products on his site (and we have bought a couple of them) but he does an excellent job of responding to current studies and brings well documented research to bear.  He has a free newsletter that I receive couple of times a week.  I don't always read them (don't have the time).  But when I see a topic that interests me, I go ahead and check into it.

2. Grassroots Health.  Here's an excerpt about prevention of breast cancer (you can imagine why this one caught my eye):

Breast Cancer Prevention Month Initiated by GrassrootsHealth

GrassrootsHealth is changing the current Breast Cancer Awareness Month to Breast Cancer Prevention Month with a focus on taking action to prevent breast cancer with vitamin D testing and education.

"It's time to take action, women are already fully aware of breast cancer and its consequences," says Carole Baggerly, director of GrassrootsHealth. "When you can project that fully 75 percent of breast cancer could be prevented with higher vitamin D serum levels, there is no justification for waiting to take preventive measures such as getting one's vitamin D level up to the recommended range of 40-60 ng/ml (100-150 nmol/L)."

According to Dr. Cedric F. Garland of the Moores Cancer Center and the UCSD School of Medicine:

"This will potentially be the most important action ever conducted toward prevention of breast cancer. The more women who participate in this study, the greater the chance that we will defeat breast cancer within our lifetimes."

Women across the world are invited to enroll in a 5-year Breast Cancer Prevention Study initiated by GrassrootsHealth. To be eligible to enroll, you must be at least 60 years of age and have no current cancer. A free vitamin D home test kit will be provided for the first 1,000 women to enroll. The study aims to fully demonstrate health outcomes of vitamin D serum levels in the range of 40-60 ng/ml (100-150 nmol/L) and will examine the occurrence of breast cancer among a population of women 60 and over who achieve and maintain a targeted vitamin D serum level in the bloodstream. In addition to breast cancer prevention, short-term effects of vitamin D such as hypertension, falls, colds and flu will also be tracked. More information can be found at www.grassrootshealth.net.

I take vitamin D regularly. It helps with kicking colds now, hopefully cancer later.
Love, Carra

Confession #3 - Cure for Mastitis

Sugar drops immunity.  I love sugar. Mastitis is a breast infection. Confession: So I eat a bunch of sugar and boom - mastitis!  I've probably had mastitis about 10 times with the birth of Zade.  I got it the first time when I was pregnant with Faith and thought I was going to fold and start on some serious pain killers.  But gratefully God gave me the stamina and my midwife gave me the solution for healing.

So if you get mastitis (I hope you never do) or are pregnant or nursing and just eat really poorly, etc. you can also do this as a preventative.  I've "felt the tinge" and took supplements before bed and felt completely well by morning.

• Lecithin - One gel tab (big purple one)
• Vitamin D - 2000 iu
• Grapefruit Seed Extract - Two capsules
• Garlic - One capsule

And lay off of sugar completely for three days!  That's the hardest part for me.

Love, Carra

Pregnancy update and belly picture

Last Sunday after church I was preparing lunch.  Of course I had definitely thrown off the shoes.  So there I was...all dressed up but barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen.  Pete thought that was an opportunity not to be missed.  I posed and he snapped the photo. This is the belly at the end of the second trimester.

I saw my midwife this week. Everything is looking great with the pregnancy - even my iron levels!  The main thing I have to do is to walk.  I'm trying to walk for 30 minutes everyday.  I have been really slack on walking. It feels like I've has so many things going haywire that consistency has been tough.  I'd appreciate prayers for me to focus on getting this walk in.  Two different midwives have told me that apart from any other exercise- the absolute best indicator of an easy labor and delivery is walking.  Two miles / 30 minutes a day minimum.

Three weeks ago I developed some gall bladder pain.  I certainly recommend being kind to your gall bladder - that pain was tough!  I had to employ my "labor mindset" once again to help get through them. Gratefully with more diet changes I had been able to more or less live pain-free (except for two bad days in the middle where I was a little too bold in my food choices).  Once the baby is born and life re-balances, I plan to try a natural cleanse.  Since that's several months out - I haven't decided which one to go for.  Anyone tried a cleanse for gall bladder issues?

Love,

Toothpaste Follow Up

Check out my previous post: "Opening a can of...toothpaste"

We just saw a pediatric dentist who saw both girls at the same time. I stayed in the closet about our stance with flouride and just observed what they did. The girls did really great!  Kept mouth open, didn't fidget - pretty amazing actually.

At the end of the visit, I was given a overview of their teeth condition.  Faith had a tiny bit of tarter and he expressed concern about her overbite (She is a passionate thumb-sucker).  I asked about Gracie's overbite because she sucked her thumb until she was almost five.  The dentist said that Gracie's teeth were fine and he didn't see any overbite.  Hmmmmm...... So Gracie stopped sucking her thumb before her permanent teeth came in, and after a little over a year, her teeth are in perfect alignment.


I love the fact that my girls sucked their thumbs - they never lose it (like a pacifier) and can comfort themselves at night without the mommy (that's me - in my bed sleeping :-) ).  But I was concerned about eventual braces. Wouldn't it be cool if God designed us that way?  That the thumb is a gift to the tired mommy and if kids give up the habit earlier enough, their teeth naturally go back to their proper position?

I mentioned this (at least a paraphrase) to the dentist.  He was certain that teeth didn't go back on their own. Well, Gracie hadn't been to "this" dentist before, but she had been to others.....all which warned me about her overbite.  Yup, the overbite that no longer exists.  Maybe a unique occurrence....but certainly something that God did.

The hygienists encouraged us to definitely use fluoride toothpaste on Faith and begin adding a fluoride rinse for Gracie.  They've never had more than a teaspoon of fluoride toothpaste in their whole lives... and no cavities.  I think we're going to stick with what we've been doing :-) ...maybe floss a little more often...


Love,

Wrapping Mattress (DIY)

Please see my previous posts on preventing SIDS

One aside before the DIY:
Don't be mislead! My SIDS soapbox is not about "cheap" mattresses that off-gas. The mattresses (even those with special covers and toppers) are treated with flame retardant chemicals. So even though someone says - "Oh I got a good mattress - no worries," it does not matter. The only safe options (unwrapped) are going to be natural latex (like from savvy rest) or an organic cotton mattress. Even if the mattress you buy says "Eco, Soy, Plant Derived or Bio" it is often still a polyurethane foam (mixed with some healthy stuff). Just watch closely for PVC vinyl wrapped mattresses. Bad and often not disclosed. ----------------------------------------
As promised, here are pictures and instructions for wrapping your mattresses. We just graduated Faith up to a "big girl" bed. Since we aren't in a position to purchase the natural latex mattresses for the girls, we made sure their beds are wrapped.

1. You can purchase the wraps already cut to size or purchase a roll of 6 mil clear plastic sheeting (not PVC or Polyurethane) and cut enough to completely cover the mattress with overlap.

2. You want to wrap the mattress like a gift so that all of the seams are on the bottom (whichever you determine is the bottom). Clear tape is the ideal. This is semi-clear packing tape I'm using.

3. Ironically, you now need to cut a few vent holes in the plastic on the underside of the mattress. We want to stop the off-gassing the mattress, but it still needs a minimum amount of ventilation. The jagged holes prove I'm not a perfectionist (LOL)! It's going to be on bottom anyway.

4. Now you make the bed! Make sure vent holes are down and all seams are thoroughly taped shut. I have a wool blanket and an all cotton mattress cover then the fitted sheet. It makes the bed a little softer. It also cuts down on the "crinkly" sound that is an unavoidable result of the wrapped mattress.

Happy Wrapping!

Love,

I'm spending more money, I feel like junk and you say I'm getting better?

Ever been addicted to caffeine? It's delicious, isn't it? I was soooooo in love with Dr. Pepper that I had a t-shirt. I loved iced coffees from my favorite local spot - Coffee Underground. Ahhh, the days.

When we began walking down the path of natural living I expected to feel better, be less sick and lose weight. I did..... eventually.

One thing that is curious about natural stuff is: You feel worse, before you feel better. It's true, if you stop drinking sodas, you will get a headache. As you stop putting in the refined processes stuff and eating real food, you will probably feel yucky.

This weekend we took a mini-vacation and stayed a night at Great Wolf Lodge. We tried to make fairly good choices but after a weekend of visiting family, wedding food and a night at Great Wolf with random available restaurant food - I felt interestingly okay......til I got home.

Less than 24 hours after coming home to homemade cereal, fresh milk and organic veggies - I was a digestive wreck. My body was been "releasing toxins" all night.

So if you are on the first steps to less processed, real food -- be prepared. If you feel yucky for a bit - congratulations - it's working!

Love,

Eight Babies die every night of SIDS - just in the U.S.

It hurts to know that on average, eight babies die every night from SIDS.

I am on a mission to make as many people as possible aware of the danger. SIDS is largely preventable! I have so much compassion for families that has lost babies to this shocking "unexplainable" death. It is for that reason that I share that SIDS is largely explainable AND preventable!

I have read pages and pages of research on this. Those experts that refute the studies have very little to stand on compared the avalanche of science that show a link to SIDS deaths and the chemical composition of our mattresses.

Simply summed up, the fire retardant chemicals create a chemical reaction to normally harmless fungi that puts a layer of heavy gas that "sits" on the top of the mattress. Physiologically adults are not susceptible. However, SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants over one month old.

We buy life insurance, we put up baby gates, we get immunizations (well, some of us LOL), we try to minimize any risk of hurt or death. We choose to spend money with hope - the hope that our efforts will see fruit. Wrapping a crib mattress is about $25. Is that a good investment?

In New Zealand, where all this "stuff" was nationally promoted, mattress wrapping was publicized as much as "Back to Sleep" here in the U.S. Results? Since 1994, tens of thousands of babies in New Zealand have slept on properly wrapped mattresses. Of those properly wrapped, there have been ZERO deaths to SIDS. Not everyone wraps in NZ, but of those that do, that is 100% effective. My baby gate doesn't promise that. My immunization documentation certainly doesn't promise that. Is it worth $25? It certainly is to us.

Love,

What next?
Why aren't you hearing this from your doctor, etc.?
Where you can buy a wrap for baby mattress...
Where you can buy a wrap for an adult mattress...
How to wrap your own mattress (instructions - scroll halfway down)
Heavy research - Cause of SIDS
What we have done in our home (an inventory of all our beds :-)

Happy in my Skin

One of the steps that we have taken off the edge of normal is skin care. I posted a few weeks ago about the dangers of sun screen. Unfortunately there are lots of products that are filled with toxins. I just read a very interesting Mercola article and thought I'd share the points that really hit me.

• Your skin is 1/10 of an inch thick (that is crazy-thin) and it is highly permeable.

I've shared that we have filters on our showers (for that very reason). But we do expose ourselves to chlorine sometimes. We go to a public pool a couple times a week and I know it is filled with chlorine.

This is where I have to balance my goals. I want my girls to know how to swim and we do not own or have access to a pool that is naturally maintained (like with baking soda), so we make the choice to absorb some chlorine so we can have swimmers. But we definitely shower when we get home!

• Don't put anything on your skin you are not willing to eat.

Isn't that a great rule of thumb? But i suggest you do not take this literally.

The other night I was in bed (and it was dark). I 99.9% of the time keep a spray bottle of throat spray by my bed. I snore (yes, I admit it) and my throat gets dry and uncomfortable sometimes. Well, I woke up and reached beside my clock where the throat spray ALWAYS is, grabbed it and sprayed.............

Ack, oh dear, yikes, and bleh!!! I had left my tea tree oil - oh yeah, the full strength one beside my throat spray. I grabbed the wrong bottle!

I swished water, I drank water, I washed my mouth. I couldn't get the smell off of me. And you now know I'm pregnant and nauseousness is an ever present part of my life. Needless to say this was an "event."

So consider carefully what you are putting on your skin - from makeup to sun screen to lotion to whatever. Google "toxins in skin care" sometime and see what you find. Use natural products in your home and on your body. But don't eat the tea tree oil.

Love,

"Real Simple" ...real dangerous

Pardon me, don't let me accidentally drop this on your foot. But my soapbox is getting a little dusty and I'm just compelled to bring it out to comment...

So I got a deal last fall for a subscription to Real Simple (RS) magazine for $5. I'm glad it was such a deal. RS is a thick, visually appealing magazine with articles that sound interesting. A ton of friends read it and just love it. I'm...well... read on...

It is mainstream... I know that Covergirl, Revlon and Loreal are major advertisers - of course they're not going to talk about the dangers of most makeups.

BUT - this got me riled up. Title of the article: "Sunblock, solutions for every excuse not to wear sunscreen." The excuse they were battling was "I want to get enough Vitamin D."
RS's retort: "Some research links vitamin D deficiency to cancer, heart attack and diabetes. But why risk wrinkles and cancer when you can get vitamin D from food and supplements?" (page 108, June 2010 issue)

Seriously?

Watch your toe again... God made the sun. God made the sun to literally create vitamin D inside our bodies. We were not made to worship the sun (or the tan it offers). But there is sooooo much research to show that we are doing far more harm than good by running from the sun.

I used to use sunscreen all summer long, but not anymore. Here are a few interesting pieces from a recent Mercola article (you have to register your email to read the rest, but access to this level of research is so worth a few more items in your inbox - and it's free)

• While excessive sun exposure can increase certain types of cancer, there is a good deal of research that shows that exposure without sunburn actually decreases the likelihood of melanoma.
  
  
• Your body produces the most active form of vitamin D in existence -- calciferol. Also known as vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is actually the precise form your body needs for the proper functioning of your organs and cells.

• The main chemical used in sunscreens to filter out ultraviolet B light is octyl methoxycinnamate. OMC for short. OMC was found to kill mouse cells even at low doses. Plus, it was also shown to be particularly toxic when exposed to sunshine. And guess what? OMC is present in 90% of sunscreen brands!
  

Well, I try not to wear sunscreen except when I will be out prolonged times that I simply cannot control to I'm in intense sun my body is not used to (like the beach). There are lots of ideas for safely enjoying the sun without a chemical bath. So join Mercola and read up on the best ways to enjoy the sun. Enjoy your Real Simple magazine for the cute decorating ideas, organizing tips and photos, but find your health advice elsewhere.

Love,

Opening up a can of.......toothpaste

My little offhand comment about fluoride has sparked quite a bit of interest....

Aside: I couldn't think of a photo that made sense with fluoride dangers and I've already posted our toothpaste. So I decided to add a random bathroom photo. Here's how I justify it: We filter our drinking water, shower heads and avoid fluoride in toothpaste, making our bathroom a safe place to play. :-)

Fluoride: I've linked some articles at the end of this post but here are my personal reasons (most convincing for me) why we avoid it.

It is a waste product of industrialization. The form that is added to our water is not the same that exists in nature. When we introduce things that our bodies do not recognize it typically produces toxins.

It you read your mainstream toothpaste, it basically has a poison warning label. Not for children under 2 - call poison control if ingested etc., etc. I remember being warned at the dentist - do not swallow the fluoride wash! BUT.... the mouth is one of the most absorbent areas of the body. Soaking my mouth in poison seems like a bad idea.

If you really want the data, check out these links:

• Weston Price - Deep details with heavy research
• Weston Price - lighter details but still well researched (read in one sitting)
• Holistic practice in NY - good basic overview

Coming soon... More water oriented blogging - taking a cleansing bath. Still trying to figure out those pictures!

Love,

I (heart) Green Juice (and so do our kids!)

So we had some friends come visit to learn more about the work we do with college students here in NC. Because they stayed in our house, they quickly noticed that we are a "little bit different." I love telling our story of the process we are taking with natural eating, natural medicine and making our home clean (safely!)

Our morning routine has had some changes over the last few months. But one thing has been consistent for over three years - Ben Kim's Greens! Our friends were laughing with surprise at both girls running eagerly chanting "green juice, green juice!"

Every morning we mix a teaspoon of the green powder, teaspoon of food grade diatomaceous earth, and half a teaspoon of acerola cherry for a vitamin C boost (especially helpful during allergy seasons) with water and some orange or apple juice. Mix it all up and drink! Yum.

Aside: My two midwives were very encouraging of the use of the Greens. When I gave birth to Faith as well as following the two miscarriages this year - I boosted my body with Ben Kim's Greens about four times a day.

Love,

Teeth, Teething and Toothpaste

One of my sweet friends (and new mom) from TN emailed me yesterday. She wanted to know how we handled teething. So I began to reflect on our natural oral care.

It's interesting how long teeth issues are well, "issues." Gracie is almost six and has not lost a baby tooth yet. Faith is almost three and is currently cutting some molars.

When Gracie was three months old Pete and I began seeing a chiropractor. Gracie went along to the appointments and Dr. Bourg offered to adjust her as well (for free - yay!). He recommended giving Gracie silica tablets to strengthen her teeth.

We picked up a bottle and began giving her four tablets, twice a day. We have run out a few times, but for must of her life we've been giving silica tablets at bedtime and nap. Faith started on silica when she was about three months old as well.

The tablets dissolve quickly and have very little taste. However the girls think they are like candy. When they were tiny, we'd press one tablet at a time into their mouth. if I could get it under their tongue, I would. Once the teeth began popping out - that became dangerous. Baby teeth are sharp! But they always liked taking their silica. And that's the only thing we've done with aid to teething.

Last minute aside - And while we're taking about oral health - let me share our toothpaste. We used to use Nature's gate but now we use Xyliwhite toothpaste. May I encourage you to consider a fluoride-free product for your mouth.

Love,

Stuffy Noses and Bonked Heads - I heart essential oils!

A few days ago I shared the homemade hand sanitizer with Tea Tree oil. Did you know that tea tree is both antiviral, anti-fungal? It is one of the most powerful antiseptics and has no known allergic reaction. It is a true favorite.

So I am a big fan of the essential oils in a bottle. My favorite or at least most frequent use of any oil is eucalyptus and water. I call it the "Stuffy Nose, But Not Full-Tilt Cold Nighttime Spray" (SNBNFTCNS for short)

SNBNFTN Spray Recipe
20 drops of eucalyptus into a 8 ounce bottle of water

Spray all around the room where your stuffy-headed sweetheart is sleeping. Be careful because the spray will drop down and can irritate the eyes. Spray away from faces, especially yours. :)

How do you like the shiner on Faith? Another common reason we use oils is for pain killer. Faith decided to hurry out a door that was partially closed. It popped out right away and I dashed upstairs with her to grab an oil. Lavender is my first pick for the "Hit My Head" need but it was in the van. So the most available one? Tea tree. :-) I dropped two drops on my finger and lightly applied it to her head. She stopped crying immediately - I'm absolutely serious. These oils are mega-super-ultra amazing for immediate pain relief.

If she had fell and hit her leg, I would have dropped it directly on the leg. But since oils are so strong, I use extra precautions when using around the face. The vapors (as mentioned above) can get into their eyes. They usually dislike that.

So if you are a newbie to the essential oils deal - grab a bottle of eucalyptus, lavender and tea tree. If you buy at Earthfare or Whole Foods probably cost around $30 for all three. If you buy online (my fav is Lucky Vitamin) - you can get them for about $16 plus shipping. Plan to be amazed!

Love,

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

So last night I heard Faith (my two year old) crying. That's not too unusual - she typically quiets down fairly quickly and goes back to sleep. I had already been asleep two hours so I was at the "let me go back to sleep" groggy place. But I felt like I better check. So into the room I go. First I think -oh no a poopy diaper has leaked all over, but alas - it was vomit. Argh.

There has been a nasty stomach bug going around all over but I thought I had successfully avoided contact. Apparently not. Both my girls sleep in the same room, so keeping Gracie well while Faith tossed her cookies - that could be a challenge. Especially because it happened again at 5:30 a.m.

I cleaned up everything (I'll spare you the details, but I'm still running laundry this afternoon) and wanted to do something to clean the germs. If you are a regular reader to ETS , you may recall a post I did on natural cleaners. Well, last night I had an inspiration to create some sanitizer. I grabbed a bottle left over from some throat spray (I keep thing like that). I grabbed the tea tree oil and measured approximately 25 drops into the 4 ounce bottle and added water to fill it. I sprayed it all around the room.

I also sprayed both girls hands and mine. Then I was like - this is a great non-toxic hand sanitizer! So I thought I would share. In the picture, you can see that I have not gone to great lengths to make a groovy label. hey - it was the middle of the night and I didn't want to get to confused with something else. I suggest making some in advance - it doesn't get any easier in the middle of the night!

Love,

Save Yourself from Your Cleaners!

The Facts: Have you considered...?
In an industrial setting, the use of bleach, antiseptics or chlorine requires protective clothing. Our precious vulnerable babies are being laid on a plastic mattress that is regularly sprayed down with diluted bleach. This concerns me because chemical cleaners are so dangerous and the available alternatives are both effective and frugal.

What makes bleach so bad?
When bleach (chlorine) comes in contact with organic matter, it creates chloroform which is both a toxin and known carcinogen. So whenever we wipe up some crumbs, pee pee etc, we are adding this toxin to our children’s lungs. Bleach also becomes ineffective as a disinfectant very quickly when it comes in contact with organic matter. What that means is that in order for bleach to disinfect properly the surface must be completely clean before the bleach touches it in order for it to disinfect completely.

It does more harm than good. On porous surfaces, it does not penetrate so for killing mold, it only cleans the top layer. Bleach is not registered with the EPA as a disinfectant to kill mold. It also damages floor and countertop sealers, and damages surfaces, discolors and corrodes hard surfaces over time.

Many natural cleaning products such as tea tree oil or vinegar can be used to both clean and disinfect at the same time which can save a lot of time when you are cleaning.

This does not have to be an area of choosing safety over cost effectiveness. A single bottle of tea tree essential oil (one ounce for $7 = 200 to 250 drops) can make enough spray disinfectant for 8 to 10 gallons of water (that's 40 bottles of spray disinfectant for about $7!). There are so many fantastic alternatives. I keep spray bottles with various mixes of essential oils for disinfectant, odor control and antiseptic purposes. For general cleaning, I use Shaklee Basic H which also is diluted and cleans great. Seventh Generation products also disclose exactly what's inside the bottle. Read your labels - the simpler, the better. Happy cleaning!


Sources
http://www.moldacrossamerica.org/notobleach.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A795611
http://www.thecaretakers.net/CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=46&Itemid=1
http://www.howtodothings.com/home-garden/how-to-understand-why-bleach-is-bad
http://www.lightparty.com/Health/DangersOfChlorine.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1639812/bleach_health_dangers_effectiveness_pg2.html?cat=5
http://www.twittermoms.com/profiles/blogs/the-dangers-of-using-bleach

This may make you angry

SIDS aka Crib Death - if you read "back to sleep safe sleep" website you will find that SIDS is the #1 killer of babies age zero through one year old. ....AND they have no idea what causes it......REALLY???

RANT warning: I am not a conspiracy chick, but there is definitely a trail that begins in greed. Follow the money (i.e. FDA drugs etc. but that's a whole 'nuther blog). Did you know that crib manufacturers fought to get the name changed to "SIDS" so that we the consumer would not associate death with a crib? Helps sell more cribs. That's just the tip of the iceberg.

What if it is the toxic fumes, fungus and off gassing of the baby's mattress? When I found out about the four-year research study, the 100% success rate in making a change to your baby's environment - I was angry. I trust that God is bringing you to this blog to open your eyes (or find out from a "real mama") the truth about keeping our babies healthy.

A 100% successful crib death prevention campaign has been going on in New Zealand for the past 11 years. Midwives and other healthcare professionals throughout New Zealand have been actively advising parents to wrap mattresses. During this time, there has not been a single SIDS death reported among the over 100,000 New Zealand babies who have slept on mattresses wrapped in a specially formulated polyethylene cover. The score in New Zealand is now 810 deaths (orthodox crib death prevention advice) to none (mattress-wrapping).

You are currently reading the blog of a mattress wrapper (cue the beatboxing, LOL).

Here's what we have done in our home:

• Our bed - three layer Queen latex from savvy rest which was about $2000 (but it lasts 30 years!)
  
• Baby Bed - Arm's Reach Co-sleeper - awesome alternative to sleeping in literally connected to your bed. The mattress is regular foam, so we bought a wrap ($25 - two years ago)
  
• Big Girls' bed organic futon mattress (seen here). It has a wool cover so it is naturally flame retardant and doesn't off gas dangerous fumes.
  
• Crib Mattress - New mattress from babies r us and we bought a wrap (another $25 - two years ago)
• To have a safe place for me to nap with the baby (now almost two), we purchased a cover for the spare room bed ($38 from No Chem) Our toddler grew out of her organic futon crib mattress so she now has the wrapped full bed mattress from the guest room.

I encourage you to read about the research and 10+ years of use - Cause of SIDS, and Stop SIDS Now. You can buy the covers here (BabeSafe is the manufacturer): Eve's Best, For adult beds at No Chem bed Solutions. Sleep safe!