Break

Lately I've found that this blog is the last thing on my mind. It's been a long time since I've had thoughts of, "Oh, I should put that on my blog". I haven't even spent much time reading other blogs that I usually keep up with.

I've been feeling good the past two months and more busy I guess. I've been out and about more, so less time sitting at the computer. Also a little more time outside as the weather permits (so slowly and hesitantly Spring has arrived this year in Michigan!) Spring is my favorite season, followed by Fall. I want to enjoy it and soak it up!

I'm taking this as a cue to take a break from my blog for a time.  I'll be back when it feels right.

Enjoy Spring!!

He Will Enable

Being a mom is hard.

Being a homeschooling mom is really hard.

Being a homeschooling mom with chronic health issues is extremely hard.

When my health is not so great, when I get discouraged with the ups and downs, I often wonder how in the world my kids ever learn anything!  But somehow, they do! I'm thankful that my older two work independently in most subjects now. But still, some things are skipped more often then I'd like. Sometimes it ends up taking two years to get through one year of history. But they are learning. And more importantly, they are gaining godly fruit and character, despite my limitations!

When my health is inconsistent, I also miss out on other activities and things I'd like to do. It's easy to start feeling sorry for myself when I can't do as much as "normal" people do in a day; or I can't commit to something as simple as a weekly Bible study. I don't make as many plans as I used to, because I never know if I'll be able to follow through.

But one thing God has shown me in more than one way the past couple months is this:

He enables me to do what He calls me to do.

What has God called me to do right now, at this point in my life? Be a wife, a mom, and homeschool my boys. That's all!  Those are my God-given priorities. That's where I need to pour my energy, little as it may be on some days.

All those other things don't matter. I can't be frustrated with God when He doesn't supply energy for all the activities I "wish" I could do. That's not what He has promised.

When I feel as though I'm failing at those three roles, if I stand back and re-focus my perspective, I realize that God really IS enabling me to do those things which He has called me to do.  Maybe not in my ideal way, but it's enough! I just need to keep my focus on Him and His promises, not on me and my limitations.

It's a New Day!

Okay, I think I'm over my New Year's Bloggy Identity Crisis!

I have a problem where my mind is frequently over-active and dreams up way more ideas than I could ever follow through on. I have to be careful not to feel like I'm failing when I can't keep up with my ever-running, unrealistic idealism. Especially so when my health dictates my activity level.

I'm inspired by many blogs I read regularly. Some showcase amazing photos. Some share delicious recipes. Some are homeschoolers who have good ideas and seem to be way more accomplished than we are. Some are great writers. Some are incredibly creative and crafty. Some decorate their home just like I would if I had the money or the 2-story farmhouse I dream about. I'm encouraged and inspired by them in so many ways. However, enjoying them can easily lead to comparing or wishing that I could blog like "that". I have to reign myself in and remind myself that my blog is just that - MY blog. It should portray who I am and what I do and nothing else. No worried about what it isn't.

I really do enjoy blogging.  It's a good outlet for my wandering thoughts, a place to post photos, a way to connect with others, and a way to reach out of the somewhat small boundaries of this mom who is home a lot with her kids. I've met some kindred spirits in blog-land. Those are the reasons I began blogging, and the reasons I will continue. I guess I just needed to re-focus.

I also remembered this week something that my favorite Bible study author and teacher, Beth Moore, once said. She said that God wants us to turn our miseries into ministries.  That is one way He redeems our trials. With that in mind, I'd like to blog about my trials and what I've learned from them as I feel inspired, hopefully in a way that is encouraging to others and also honoring to God.

So here's to a new year of blogging and living and learning.  Thanks for coming along with me on my journey!

What To Do

Sorry it's been a little quiet around here ...

First there was a bad cold the week before Christmas that put me down for several days.

Next was a flurry of activity in preparation for a family Christmas in Tennessee.

And then it was five fun-filled days enjoying Christmas in TN.

After that (and actually, by the last two days of our vacation), my cold relapsed.

And then the New Year came, with me still blowing me nose and feeling sick.

Finally, I went to the doctor and got antibiotics for a sinus infection (no wonder I still wasn't feeling well!)

So now it's January 12th. My sinus infection and cold have finally cleared up. I had a couple good days, but now again, I'm still not feeling 100%, probably because illness can set off my chronic health symptoms.

When I don't write on my blog for a while, it calls to me, "Chris! You've been ignoring me!"  And I feel disappointed with myself because I'm "supposed" to be posting but I just don't feel like it or have the mind to.

Which has led to several days of thinking and praying about my blog.  Should I continue? Should I give it up, so I don't feel like I'm failing when I don't post very often? Should I just blog whenever I can, and not worry about it when I don't?

And also, what is my purpose in blogging?  I'd been a reader of blogs long before I started my own. Which is why I started mine, because I like how the blog-world connects people of like minds. I thought it would be fun to share some of my self and my world. However, I enjoy blogs have a more specific focus than "here's what happened this week"; so I'd like mine to go beyond that also.

I've tried not to focus too much on my health issues, because I didn't want to come across as complaining, or woe-is-me. I haven't posted much about homeschooling either because I don't feel like we do anything spectacular or out of the ordinary that would be of great interest or help to other homeschoolers.

Yet, homeschooling and my health are a huge part of my life; they are my life. Again, that leaves me wondering about my purpose in blogging. What might God desire of my blogging? If I post more about my health struggles and somehow managing to homeschool in spite of them, can I do it in a way that God could use to be encouraging to other moms in a similar boat?

Parenting and being a mom was also a big struggle for me for the first several years. Should I go back and sift through the lessons I learned along the way, and share those? Perhaps that could be helpful to younger moms? But then I doubt myself, that I don't really have anything "worthy" enough to say that hasn't already been heard. And there are much better writers out there anyway.

Any thoughts? Or feedback?  I guess I'm in limbo here, and need to continue seeking what God thinks about my blog. Because that's the real purpose.

So Thankful

It seems that God has constantly been reminding me lately how much I have to be thankful for.

When I complained about how tight it is in our garage after we put both vehicles in for the winter, I stopped short and reminded myself, "you have two working vehicles and an attached garage; you are wealthier than much of the world!"  How many people would like to have my "problem"?

I got frustrated trying to figure out our new printer/scanner/copier. Poor me, another luxury to complain about?

After blood tests confirmed I am border-line hypothyroid, my chiropractor/nutritionist started me on some new supplements to support my thyroid, which are not cheap.  On the way home, I starting feeling sorry for myself about how much money we spend trying to keep me healthy. I began to pray that God would provide the money needed. Again, God quickly reminded me, "I do provide for you!" I should be thanking Him, not asking again! Although it means we have to sacrifice in other areas, like vacations, or replacing old windows in our house, we are able to pay for my health costs.

I'm still fighting a cold that's had me home and doing pretty much nothing for 4 days now. Besides feeling crummy, we're also due to travel for the holidays on Thursday and I'm quite behind in Christmas preparations. But I've had all the comforts of home in the meantime, for which I am thankful. And I am also grateful I'm sick now and not over the Christmas weekend.

Anyone who reads this post has electricity, a computer, internet connection, and knows how to read. We are so blessed!

We have trials, but they are temporary, and we are not alone.

I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world, born in a common stable - accommodations for which I doubt Mary grumbled and complained!

It's all about the (Good) Beef!

This fall we bought a quarter of a cow from our milk farm. I think it amounted to approximately 80 lbs. of meat, almost half as ground beef.

Here it is stocked in our new (used) freezer that conveniently fit in our garage, just steps from the kitchen!

Not only will it be nice to have meat readily available for the next several months, but the cows are grass-fed on natural grass and never given growth hormones, hormones of any kind, or antibiotics, so the meat is more nutritious.  It tastes better to! Just one more step in our journey toward healthier living.

And by the way, if you're thinking that "eating beef" shouldn't be part of a paragraph about "healthier living", check out this article (it's kind of long).

I'm not an expert, but what I do know ... Fats are not created equal. The nutrition of all-natural beef can't be compared with assembly-line, medicated, get-big-quick cows. Digesting our food well is crucial to good health, and beef does digest well in a healthy digestive system.  There are so many myths out there, and errored research, that so many things we're taught (mostly here in the U.S.) sadly, just aren't true.

There are an endless number of posts that I could write about such food and health issues that I've learned over the past several years (such as, real butter is better for you than fake, low-fat butter substitutions, and  raw milk is extremely healthy).  One book that dispels many current food and health myths is Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.  The Weston A. Price Foundation is also a good starting point.  Look around, you might be surprised!

August Woes

I'm not exactly sure why, but the past few summers my chronic health issues have flared up by mid-July and on into August. Summer is not my favorite season (Spring and Fall come first) in general because I don't like the heat. But it seems that summer doesn't agree with my mind and body too.

I try not to be discouraged, but it's difficult to struggle through my days instead of really enjoying them, especially when I have children to take care of.  Mornings are worse. Some days are better are others. But much of the time I don't have the mental or physical energy to do what I would like to do.

My summer goals of exercising and organizing have become dust in the wind. I do what I can when I can on better days (or even better hours). But I've had to let go of my weekly plans so that I don't have unrealistic expectations of myself, and then end up feeling like I've failed. 

This too shall pass. By September sometime, I usually start feeling better. Wonder if it has anything to do with lunar cycles and seasons? I've heard such theories.

Among others, 2 Corinthians has many verses that I hold on to during such times.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 is a favorite passage:

 "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."

Paul had a thorn in his flesh that he asked God three times to remove.

But each time, God replied, 

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9)

Learning to be content in weakness is difficult. But God is faithful; and if we're open and seek Him, it's IN times of weakness that we meet God in a more personal way and develop deeper character.

Lazy Days of Summer?

Whoever coined that phrase did not have children!

We're only 1 1/2 weeks into our summer schedule, and I'm exhausted!  Mostly because I spent all last week getting ready for the used book sale I participated in Monday at our local Home School Building.  It's a huge sale; approximately 200 tables worth of used books and curriculum set up in the gym.  It was hot, crowded, and rather mind-boggling at times, but I did sell a lot and made some money to use for next year's curriculum. 

In regards to my summer goals, I accomplished 2 out of 3 last week.  My first area of cleaning and organizing was our homeschool books, which was mostly accomplished before the book sale.  But I still have this past year's things to put away.  Also, I exercised 6 times! Two of those days I walked first thing in the morning - something that hasn't worked for me in the past.  It sure feels good to cross that off the list so early in the day!

This week I'm way behind due to the book sale and other various appointments and scheduled events.  Hopefully I'll be back in the game next week.  Oh, yeah, then family is coming.  Well, maybe the week after that?!

The kids are certainly enjoying their summer!

Summer Goals

With homeschooling done for the year, I've made 3 goals for myself this summer.

Putting it in print will help keep me accountable, I hope!

1. Extra, heavy-duty cleaning and organizing of one room or area of the house per week.
2. Walk or exercise regularly - my goal is daily, but I'll be happy with at least 5 days a week.
3. Try one new recipe a week from several cook books that I haven't had time to explore yet.

The cleaning and exercising are the most important to me.  Dealing with depression and health issues on and off for several years made regular, consistent exercise an impossibility, and anything beyond basic survival-mode cleaning usually didn't happen.  I have muscles and a house long-neglected that I aim to pay a lot of attention to now that I'm feeling better.

I still have to keep boundaries in place to keep from over-doing things and exhausting myself. But I'm hopeful that my health will allow me to meet my goals as much as possible. Wish me luck! 

Moooooo!

This is Lucy. She is part of the Cow Share program that we just joined. I'm so excited! A cow share program is when you buy an interest in a local farm's cows. And then you get to regularly pick up your share of the raw milk from the cows each week.

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized (heated) or homogenized (processed to keep the cream from separating). Raw milk retains all of the natural vitamins and minerals, enzymes, and healthy bacteria which are killed during pasteurization. Real milk is naturally very healthy, while commercial processed milk can be linked to dozens of chronic health issues. One study I read recently found that calves who were fed pasteurized milk taken from their own mothers died within 6 months! In most states, it is illegal for farmers to directly sell raw milk to customers. But through a cow share program, non-farming people can get nutritious REAL milk. (see www.realmilk.com or www.rawmilk.org for more information, and different state laws and farms.)

When we go to the farm, we fill our half gallon jars with milk from a huge, silver refrigerated milk tank. The milk goes straight from the cows to the milk tank without ever being exposed to oxygen. Raw milk is safer than it may have been in the past due to modern milking equipment and refrigeration.




This week I made butter from the cream that rises to the top of the milk jars. It's very easy using a food processor.




I went to a "milk class" at the farm last weekend where I learned how to make yogurt, sour cream, cream cheese, butter, and ice cream. All are very easy to make. We may have to increase our share to get more milk each week if I make various dairy products regularly. We're going through it faster than we thought we would! A friend is also gong to teach me how to make mozzarella cheese. I can't wait; I love fresh mozzarella cheese!

Two of our boys, as well as myself, have had sensitivities to commercial milk in the past and could not have it regularly. But all of us are tolerating the raw milk just fine (which is very common). I'm enjoying drinking milk again!

Sleepy Improvement

I'm so glad I was able to get out and enjoy and photograph the beautiful fall colors in late October; before all the leaves fell, and before I got "sick" again. Because since then, I've pretty much been here, at home.

The good news is that a week ago, my doctor prescribed an additional medication because I wasn't seeing any improvement, and I was losing my ability to cope. The new medication took most of my anxiety and depression away in about ONE day! One day! What a relief and answer to prayer, because I literally felt like I'd been hanging on by the very last thread, which was about to snap.

The main side effect of this medication however, is that it very calming. Sedating is probably the more accurate word. After so much anxiety and inability to relax and desperation, I welcomed sedating with open arms!

So, my past week has somewhat resembled the schedule of a 3 month old baby - wake up, take medication, eat breakfast, do a few things until med. starts to knock me out. Sleep for 1 - 2 hours, wake up, "play" a little, take medication, eat, then sleep again. I take the medication 3 times a day, at meal times. At first, I would feel the effects of the medication within 20 - 30 minutes, and then sleep soundly for at least 2 hours. As the week's progressed, I am usually awake for at least 1 hour before needing to head to bed. And my naps have become a little shorter too.

This sedation effect is supposed to go away eventually, for which I will be glad so I can function a little more normally. Our oldest 2 boys left last Tuesday with my parents for a trip down to TN to see my sister and her family. So we've only had Aaron home. But you can't leave a 5 (almost 6) year old on his own each morning and afternoon while you're sound asleep for 2 hours. S0 we've had to ask for some help with him. How thankful we are for friends who have been able to watch and entertain him. And Wednesday, grandparents and big brothers will be back, so Aaron won't have to be shuffled around.

And for now, I need to go sleep, I'm getting tired of having to correct typos every other word!

Ugh . . .

After 6 or 7 weeks of feeling well since my depression in late August & early September, I've found myself back at that horrible, anxious, depressed spot again.

We aren't exactly sure what caused the relapse, but most likely a combination of some scheduled changes in medication dosages as well a couple new nutritional supplements. Supposedly, the supplements I was taking shouldn't or usually don't interfere with most prescription meds. But my body always seems to be the exception, and it just got out of control.

There's so much we don't know about the brain, so I'm again needing to stop the nutritional supplements that have helped me with past issues, and concentrate only on getting my meds. stabilized. I'm again needing to give this completely over to God, because I worry about being on medication long-term.

The fear that comes through in my dark times can be intense and paralyzing. How thankful I am that the light of Christ lives in me, even when I can't feel it. Praise the Lord we won't need medications or have weary, sick, stressed, or depressed bodies in heaven!!

I'm so greatful for the wonderful, supportive friends and family that I have - huge blessings in the midst of the yuck. And thanks, Mom and Dad, for coming up to help again. We couldn't do it without you!

Well, it's been a dark few weeks . . .

Try as hard as you might, but some things just don't ever turn out the way you would like.

We all know this a fact of life. But still, we're often surprised when it becomes obvious that our best efforts are just not enough. Especially when we're sure that we're doing the right thing, the best thing, with our circumstances.

And that's when we need to remember that we do not hold the present nor the future in our own hands. That's when we finally hear God saying "your way may be good, but my way is better." And we realize that we need to stop fighting, and release ourselves into his plan, because that's the best place to be.

That's what I've been struggling with the past several weeks. After months of being off the antidepressant medication that I've always had to take post-partum, after months of working hard to stay healthy, both physically and mentally, through natural and nutritional methods, I crashed into a bad depression.

Having had post-partum depression after the birth of each of my 3 boys, I'm no stranger to depression. But I had thought/hoped that was all behind me. This time, it snuck up on me - slowly and somewhat disguised at first. Then suddenly within a few days, it boldly made it's presence known, loud and clear in a way that couldn't be ignored.

My symptoms were similar to my previous experiences - feeling completely overwhelmed by and unable to accomplish ordinary tasks, crying a lot, feeling hopeless and despondent, having no interest in things I usually enjoy, and extreme anxiety. The anxiety caused almost constant feelings of restlessness, agitation, fear, no appetite, and the inability to relax or concentrate on anything.

For some, depression can simply be a lingering feeling of sadness. For me, I became almost unfunctional and felt like I was drowning in a deep, dark, scary pit. And that's when we knew that I needed help.

Natural, holistic methods have helped me with other chronic issues that I've had in the past. But it now became apparent that it wasn't enough for maintaining my mental health. I was so disappointed to be back at this point, and fearful of starting on antidepressant meds. again, because of side effects and that I felt that it contributed to many of the other health problems I experienced while on the medication.

I went to psychiatrist this time to get a full evaluation and to see what options there might be. She helped me understand, and finally accept, that I have a deficiency in my brain chemistry (neurotransmitters) and that I would probably need to be on medication for the rest of my life. The good news is that she felt the old medication I had been on wasn't really helping in the right way, and she wanted me to try a newer, different type of medication that has worked well for many people for long-term treatment, and with fewer side effects.

There've been some ups and downs, as there often is in adjusting to and tinkering with dosages with these types of medications. And some days I was convinced that this would never go away. But I finally began to see the light at the end of the tunnel a week or so ago, and am feeling a little more "normal" each day.

Before this, I prayed for years that God would bless my efforts to become and stay healthy by taking good care of my body. After all, God created all the herbs and vitamins and minerals that are so good for us, so why shouldn't I expect Him to answer that prayer with a "Yes"?

I was heart broken to feel that God was telling me "No". But I've slowly accepted that His "No" in this situation is really a "Yes" to another plan. His plan. A plan that I can't see fully at this point, in my limited, earthly mind. But it's a plan that He can see perfectly. And for that, I am humbled, thankful and grateful.

And The Garden Goes Wild . . .

Wild in a good way, that is. Our vegetable garden is growing wonderfully this year! Last year, we gave it a rest and didn't plant anything. This year, we added about 6" in depth of topsoil mixed with composted manure on top of the planting areas.

To control weeds, we put down black landscaping fabric over the paths/walkways and have been putting grass clippings on top of that throughout the summer. That has really helped keep weed maintenance to a minimum; we'll definitely do that regularly from now on.

This is what half of the garden looked like about 2 weeks ago:



And this is the same area yesterday:



Our crop of sugar peas was much more abundant than any other year. They've been producing steadily for several weeks, but are about done for now. I think the fact that our weather hasn't been too hot kept them growing throughout July. The sugar pea plants grew to a height of at least 6' - I had to reach up to pick the top ones!


(we had to quickly rig up an additional, though awkward-looking string trellis when they wouldn't stop growing!)





The cucumber, zucchini, and summer squash plants are showing lots of promise with tons of blossoms.



We just picked out first zucchini and cucumbers last week. In past years, our cucumber plants started dying off just as they began producing. I'm not sure why, but am hoping that doesn't happen again this year.




(some of the last of the sugar peas and lettuce, and the first green pepper)

Coming soon, tomatoes and green beans:




(the poor tomato plants - I planted them a little too close together, so as they've grown, it looks like a tomato plant forest!)

Healthwise, I've been hitting some bumps in the road again. It seems like I have lots of old, long-hidden "stuff" that wants to be noticed and taken care of. Sometimes it's very frustrating, but I continue to seek natural/nutritional healing and hope that I'll soon be back in more of a maintenance mode rather than a trouble-shooting repair mode. Fresh vegetables from the garden are sure to help too!

Summer Rambles Along . . .

It's been about two weeks since I last posted! I hadn't been feeling well, and there really wasn't much to post about.

After making progress with my health since winter, I had a set-back for the second half of June. Between busyness and consequently not eating well and just the ups and downs of chronic health issues, some of my symptoms flared up and I had a couple bad weeks. But thankfully I'm feeling much better now.

One thing that happens when my thyroid acts up and my body gets worn down is that I start having sensitivities to a food group (or two or three!) Over the years I've had to eliminate dairy, eggs, soy, tomatoes (for some reason, that's not too common) and wheat from my diet; wheat being the most recent. I still avoid soy and milk, but I'm fine with eggs, cheese, and tomatoes now. Wheat is a really difficult one to avoid - you never realize how many things contain even a teeny bit of wheat until you can't eat it. I do feel better when I don't eat wheat. But when I get too busy, it's easy to just have a little here and a little there, and suddenly I'm showing signs of reacting to it again - like fatigue, "brain fog", headaches, and depression. ugh. Then it's back to eliminating it completely for 3 months to totally clear your system of it.

With my husband only working four days a week right now (automotive industry - need I say more?), I've only had 4 days a week alone with the kids, which has been a blessing. And he's now into the 2nd week of his 2 week mandatory vacation. So when I was really feeling yucky last week, I was able to rest a lot because he was home to watch Aaron. (Noah and Isaac were gone on their own little vacation, which I'll post about next time). So in that regards, it was great timing to be feeling down although that was not the way I had hoped to spend vacation time!

Finally feeling better, I actually had the energy to get out of the house and we got to have some fun over the weekend. Yea! I'll post some pictures after I get them downloaded from my camera.

Everything I Need

Not much to blog about. I'm mostly doing a lot of nothing. Still not feeling well most of the time. Trying to be patient with my body. Other than a couple short trips to the grocery store, a doctor appointment, or sitting in the car while Rashed took me on a drive in the country last Sunday, I've just been at home. Just eating as healthy as possible, taking my supplements, hoping for (though usually not getting) some good sleep, reading a lot, watching too much TV, and keeping the kids alive and somewhat schooled!

So I guess I'm really not doing "nothing", but sometimes it sure feels like it. I've had to adjust my expectations as it appears that this process will take a while. Longer than I thought when I first started. Improving your health naturally takes time. So I'm in it for the long haul, even though it's difficult. After being on medication for so long, my thyroid and adrenal glands, among other functions, were forced to work until they became exhausted. Without medication, they're slowly re-learning their jobs again. I've kind of been "here" before, years ago when first seeing a holistic doctor; so I know that I'll see improvement eventually. I need to keep my focus on that, and on the Word.


My dad sent me this reminder the other day from Psalm 23:1 (New Living translation)

"The Lord is my shepherd;
I have everything I need."


In this crazy, busy, over-achieving world, we think we need and deserve far more than we really do. I'm trying to rest in the knowledge that I really do have everything I need.

And some day, these earthly trials won't even matter any more. Some day we have no more sorrow, no more death, no more pain (Rev. 21:4). That will be a great day!

Being Thankful

I haven't been feeling well most of this week; still working on balancing out my thyroid, and it's been very sluggish this week. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I'm trying to focus on the things I have to be thankful for:

1. A husband who does dishes and laundry (but not my clothes because he tends to shrink things)

2. Boys who are old enough to do most of their schoolwork on their own; and aren't bothered at all if I don't make them do everything when I don't feel well!

3. A preschooler who is SO into Legos right now that he plays well alone much of the time when the other boys are doing school and I'm resting

4. A comfortable house to live in

5. A cozy bed, pillows, and blankets (and fans; love my fan for white noise at night)

6. A doctor who is helping me get better, the natural way

7. My husband still has a job (he works in the automotive industry; fun place to be lately)

8. Spring is coming

9. A great family, even though we're spread out and don't get to see each other very often

10. A God who loves me, even when I complain to him about not feeling well again

Old Books

I collect old books - the older the better, as long as they're in fairly decent condition, not water-damaged and moldy or falling apart. Besides the fact that I just love books in general, I like to think about an old book's history - who's owned it, who's held it in their hands and read it, what shelves it's sat on and where. If only they could talk and tell me their own story, aside from the story held within their pages. The first thing I usually check is the publication date; the older the date, the more exciting the find.

Last week I found this book at an antique store. It was apparently a health textbook in "The Health and Happiness Series". I'm guessing it was written for late elementary grades.



It was published by the American Book Company, copywright 1934. It was a revised version of the original, published in 1928. The preface says that a revision was "desirable" because of the many advancements and new information that had risen during those 6 years. "The American Physical Education Association has made some valuable contributions to the study of physical education and hygiene." And also, "Likewise, the American Medical Society has of late years given special attention to problems of personal and community hygiene." There's more details that follow in the preface; but it makes me chuckle to see what they called major advancements in the field of health 80 years ago, and that's exactly one of the things I love about old books.

The wording they use is often amusing to me, due to being written for children and simply using the common language of the time. At the end of most chapters, after some review questions, there is a small drawing with a clever statement pertaining to a part of that chapter.







When discussing how to avoid getting sick, they recommend -

" . . . keep your body in good physical condition by eating plenty of nourishing food, by having sufficient sleep, and by taking regular exercise in the open air."

Good advice for all of us that is simple, and still true today.


And this cracks me up: in the chapter about food and digestion -

"Few people realize how much their health depends on the way in which the wastes of the body are removed. The regular removal of waste is a duty which cannot be neglected without serious results."

More good advice for us to heed - don't neglect your waste removal duties! (is this an OPTION??)




Responsibly follow public health laws. This book was written before the use of antibiotics, when quarantines were still carried out. When I see obviously sick people out and about, coughing and hacking or other unpleasant symptoms, I wish people would have the wisdom to "quarantine" themselves at home and stop spreading their germs. Especially if it's a child being allowed to play in a public play area with a gross running nose; don't get me started!


One other comical heading I noticed (in the chapter The Nose, Mouth, and Throat) -

"The Mouth is for Food; Do Not Misuse It"


Speaking of health, I've definitely been feeling some improvement the past few days. My thyroid has calmed down, even though it's still being somewhat sensitive. I'm surely not yet where I'd like to be, but I'm not where I was; for which I'm very thankful.

Reality

The blogs I enjoy reading the most are not the ones that only post about the best part of a day, or just the fun and exciting things they do or accomplish. My favorites blogs include sad things, or difficult things - real life. The good, the bad, the ugly. (okay, maybe not the really ugly!)

That being said, I want my blog to be "real" also. So I've decided to share a little about the health adventure I've been on recently. Actually, the latest chapter is recent, but the entire story began a long time ago - almost 14 years ago.

I've always had to take medication for post-partum depression after each of our babies being born. My body doesn't do well with all the huge hormone changes that happen after delivery. It was very scary and overwhelming the first time. After our second baby, we knew it was likely and I started med. right away

But then, about 2 years after the second baby was born, I began a descent into other chronic health problems and was eventually diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I was getting sick all the time, had no energy, didn't sleep well, was sluggish and achy, and had "brain fog", among other issues. It wasn't the same every day, some days were better than others. But sometimes, just taking a shower and doing the barest minimum to care for the kids was completely exhausting. I just felt yucky a lot.

Fast forward a couple years - I had discovered a holistic doctor who helped me clean out and strengthen my body, get off all medications, and get rid of the worst of my symptoms. I became aware of, and a big fan of, the whole natural health world that I had previously known nothing about. And then, I got pregnant again.

I'd hoped this third time I wouldn't have to take medication for depression. And yet, despite trying nutritional supplements first, I ended up with the same old symptoms and resigned myself to taking antidepressants again because I was spiraling downward quickly.

I was determined not to stay on the med. long though, because it eventually contributed to the fibromyalgia symptoms that I'd had before. I was able to decrease my dosage after several month, but not go off completely, though I tried many times. "You'll probably need to stay on the medication for the rest of your life" my regular doctor told me. I was worried she might be right, but I wanted to prove her wrong.

Last November, our third child turned 5, and I was still taking the antidepressant. We'd been going to a different chiropractor/natural health doctor for a while now, and he felt I was ready to try weaning off again. Thus began the latest curve of the roller coaster.

Happily, I had no problems cutting down my dosage through November and December. But by mid-January, when I was down to just a teeny amount every-other day, I started having the dreaded withdrawal symptoms of dizziness, anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Going in right away to see my natural doctor, we adjusted the nutritional supplements I was taking, and I felt tons better in less than 24 hours. Yea! I had hope that it was really going to work this time.

So . . . I've been completely off the med. for 3 weeks now. I've had lots of ups and downs. I've had my share of really yucky days, but I've also had some good days where I felt fairly "normal" and actually felt like I had my brain and body back!

We're working on getting my dysfunctional thyroid to behave properly, which I've learned was likely the main cause of my depression and fibromyalgia in the first place. My biggest enemy right now is insomnia. My thyroid has been kicking into high gear at night and slowing down during the day - apparently it thinks it's nocturnal - and we're trying to convince it that it's not.

Well, this has gone on long enough. But it's been a big part of my life and I just wanted to "put it out there". It's my hope and prayer that I will continue to see improvement, and have the opportunity to really enjoy life instead of feeling like I'm just surviving day to day.

I also wanted to say that my marvelous husband has been sooooo supportive!! I couldn't have done this without Rashed's support and encouragement. Thank You Rashed. I love you very much!