Ever since Mariana was an infant, whenever she would also get terrible coughing spells. Her first pediatrician insisted that she had asthma as an infant. I had never dealt with this with Macey, so I went along with the antibiotics, breathing treatments, allergy meds, etc. You wouldn’t believe the amount of meds she had Mariana on at once as a baby. A red flag went up quickly for me at that point. So, we changed pediatricians and the new ped confirmed what I long suspected – Mariana was prone to sinus infections which caused post-nasal drip and contributed to the constant coughing. She also had recurrent ear infections that absolutely plagued her, so we had ear tubes put in her ears. The ear tubes helped tremendously. The first set went in when she was 19M old. She didn’t get another ear infection for about a year and when one tube came out, the infections resumed. At that point, the ENT wanted to also take a look at her adenoids because she continued to be plagued by sinus infections and snored also. Turned out that her adenoids were huge and he felt they were contributing to the problem. So, last March (2009) Mariana had her adenoids removed. At the same time, the ENT replaced the ear tube that had come out and cleaned up the remaining tube. That procedure helped her and she didn’t cough or have any colds, infections, etc. for months. When fall came and a new set of allergens popped up, she had a flare. At first, I was disheartened and worried that we were back on track for antibiotics, etc. This was NOT something we wanted for Mariana, of course. I took her to a chiropractor that I had met in Bible study over the summer. Dr. Jamie adjusted her and recommended putting RC essential oil on her feet for the coughing. I’m not going to pretend like I wasn’t somewhat skeptical, but I was more than willing to try it because it was all-natural and worth a shot. So, we took home a sample bottle of RC and used it on Mariana’s feet at bedtime that evening. I kid you not, Mariana didn’t cough once the whole evening! She got a full night of rest! The oils helped her tremendously. At that point, I started to see just how amazing essential oils really are!  I went from being skeptical to very optimistic about oils at that point.

Mariana continues to be the subject of my oils testimonial because in the fall she sustained injuries to her face which required stitches. I contacted my friend Christi who has a lot of knowledge about oils and she recommended that I get helichrysum to help with the scarring. She also recommended Super Salve from Nutritech because it is WONDERFUL and made using essential oils also. I used Super Salve until the wounds started to heal nicely and then we started putting helichrysum on the wounds. I have to say that both the Super Salve and the helichrysum worked WONDERS!! Mariana’s wounds are now light scars and it has been about four months since she was injured. We have been using the helichrysum daily and we are amazed at how wonderfully she has healed! It’s been incredible and we are SO grateful for her healing!! (As a side note, Super Salve is great to have on hand because it’s a great healing agent! Way better than things like neo-sporin and such.)

I could go on and on about essential oils. We have purchased a home diffuser and use it daily. I have used peppermint oil in the diffuser when I have had a bad headache. I’ve used Purification to help with allergens too. And, for Mariana’s coughing I’ve used melaleuca (great for sinuses!!) and the RC I mentioned previously. These oils really help and work beautifully and naturally! I know that some may be skeptics and I can relate because I was there too. But, I can vouch that they are incredibly helpful. God’s products work best, that’s all I can say.

I have become a Young Living distributor now, so if anyone is interested in purchasing any oils, I’d be happy to help you with that. I am still learning, so I rely on Christi (my dear friend who has been using oils for year) and I also sign onto Oils-Testimonials for recommendations and guidance. The thing I value the most about the oils is that they are natural and Young Living oils are all therapeutic grade oils. The more I learn, the more I appreciate oils and what God has given us in them!

God bless,
Kelly

Well, Mariana didn’t have a great night last night. That, of course, means neither did I. Not sure what was exactly wrong, but she didn’t sleep well. She woke up fussing/crying quite a few times through the night. She was a touch more congested than she had been, so maybe that was it.  I seem to recall that Macey’s second evening after surgery was a bit tough too. Maybe that’s just one of those things. Whatever the case may be, I’m ready for a nap. I hope today turns out to be a better day for Miss Mariana. She has been doing so well and hopefully this is just a little speed bump in her speedway to recovery. Her ENT had called and left us a voicemail checking up on her on Friday evening, but I just got the message yesterday. (Why am I so terrible about checking messages anyway?!) He also called yesterday afternoon to get an update on her. What a great doctor!! This morning Mariana is doing better, but is touchy and cranky. Naptime cannot come soon enough for either of us.

We are going to miss church since Mariana is still recovering. We don’t like to miss it because, well, we MISS it. But, it’s really best to stay home today.

Macey went to her school friend Alice’s birthday party yesterday and had a ball! It was the first time we dropped her off at a party and she thought that was cool. Tinkerbell came to the party and painted faces, made balloon animals, did “magic” tricks, etc. Macey just had the best time!

After several days of rain, today is supposed to be sunny. WOO HOO! It’s supposed to be cooler than it’s been lately with temps in the 50s, but the sun will be nice to see. Everything is so green and springlike lately. It’s gorgeous! Of course, it won’t be long before everything is pollen coated. ACHOO!

Guess that’s it for my Sunday morning update. I’m thinking another cup of coffee (half-caff) is in order for me.

Have a beautiful day,
Kelly

Please remember to keep Baby Stellan and his family in your prayers:

Mariana was such a little trooper today. Seriously, a rock star patient! She couldn’t eat anything this morning and she only had a little bit of apple juice prior to 7am. She had one teary moment at home about it this morning, but that was all. She didn’t cry or fuss or anything after that. Once we got to the surgery center at around 8:30am, she entertained herself with toys in the waiting area and then watched DVDs in the surgery prep room. A couple of times she said she was hungry, but we reminded her that the doctor said no food and she was fine with that. She was just so calm! When I took her back for the anesthesia, she didn’t even cry. I had talked to her and told her they were going to put a mask with sleepy medicine in it and then they would fix up her ears once she went to sleep. So, when I laid her on the table, I held onto her and she didn’t even shed a tear. She drifted off so peacefully. I am absolutely SURE that part was a thousand times more difficult for me than her.

Her surgery took about half an hour. The ENT came out and told us that everything went well. He cleaned out around her left ear tube which was still in place. He replaced the right tube. He also removed her adenoids and said they were “huge.” We had to wait about 15 more minutes and then an RN came to get us to come to her recovery room. Mariana was VERY upset and frantic when we got to her. It was heartbreaking. I mean, imagine being an almost-thre year old who goes to sleep in one place with mommy there while feeling good and then waking up feeling weird and yucky in another place with strangers. No wonder she was crying. It took awhile once I got her, but she finally settled down. However, all the little medical things they had going on with her set her back a few times. She’d settle a bit and then notice she had a pulse-oxymeter on her finger and that would upset her. So, off it came. Then she settled down again and noticed the red light on her toe (another pulse-ox), so that had to go. The final straw for her was getting the IV out of her arm. I had to talk to her for awhile so that the last of her IV fluids, but when that finally came out she was reasonably happy. Once the IV was out, the RN checked her vitals and we were clear to go home. They had given Mariana a popsicle about 15 minutes or so prior to us leaving, but she only wanted to hold it and not eat it. Well, when we got her in the van, she was ready to it it. And, she enjoyed it!

On the way home, we stopped and got Mariana a Chick-Fil-A strawberry milkshake. She ate several bites of it with a spoon. When we got home, she and I laid down to nap. She was sleep just about the time her head hit the pillow.  Her ENT said she may snore for awhile during her healing time and, sure enough, she did. WOAH. But, she rested for a good two hours which was well needed. When we got up, she was a touch cranky, but rebounded nicely after a popsicle and then a yogurt. She has also eaten a Fruit Roll Up and is working on an Italian ice. Yes, that’s a lot of sweet stuff, but most of it is cold stuff that feels good to her throat. Doctor’s orders. Our sweet friend Amy C. and her family are making supper for us tonight, so that is really sweet. Maybe Mariana will finally feel like eating “real” food.

Hopefully the next few days will see our little girl bounce right back. She really has been amazing about everything.  Thank you all for the prayers. Please know how much they are appreciated. I drew so much comfort today in praying and in knowing we had support from so many that care for us and our family.

Blessings,
Kelly

Looks like we’re in for some unpredictable, but WET, weather today. We really need the rain (always!), but hopefully it won’t get too bad as far as storms. We’ll see. It’s actually supposed to rain through Saturday, I believe. Maybe it’s time I invested in some rain boots, huh?

In other news, we are set for Mariana’s surgery tomorrow. She can’t have anything to eat after midnight tonight (so, really, after bedtime at 7pm) and can have only clear liquids until 7am tomorrow. This is a child that really enjoys her breakfast, so the no-eating part really worries me. I hope she isn’t too cranky about it all. We have to arrive at the surgery center at 8:30 for her 10am procedure. Her ENT tends to run ahead of schedule, so hopefully that will be the case tomorrow. I have spoken to and emailed with a few moms whose children have had this same procedure and they all assure me that the recovery isn’t much more than it is with “just” tubes. So, we pray that is the case for Mariana. She handled her last ear tube surgery like such a champ. Maybe she’ll sail through this one too. Kids are so resilient and maybe she’ll pop back quickly. I’m just ready for it to be done and for us to be on the other side with her feeling SO much better. Prayers for our girl are very much appreciated.

I have just started receiving the Proverbs 31 Daily Devotion via email and I am loving it! I highly recommend signing up for it!!

We are finally finished with the photos I took at the wedding reception over the weekend. I really hope the family is happy with what I captured for them. I am taking them CDs with all the images I edited for them. And, Mickey graciously created a photo montage DVD which shows highlights from the day set to music. I am excited and hope they like all the photos and the DVD!

SHOUT OUT TIME! I have to give shout-outs to some friends that have told me they are reading my blog regularly. (If you post and let me know you’re a regular reader, I’ll give more shout-outs.) So, this is a big HEY and THANKS to Cheryl M, Heather W, Mary C and Renee W!

Have a great day,
Kelly

In news from my home front…

• As I mentioned previously, my friend Dana and I went to see Kate Gosselin speak on Friday. I had so much fun hanging out with Dana and getting to just talk, share, laugh, etc. That was great! I thought Kate was good. She spoke for about an hour and most of it was about her struggles to get pregnant, their decision not to selectively abort any of their multiple babies in utero and how they handle things at home. So, that was very informative and uplifting, of course. I was just a little disappointed because I had hoped she would speak some about Proverbs 31 Ministries because she sometimes does speaking engagements through them from what I understand. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable evening out with a friend and I’m so glad that Dana and I got to go.
• On Saturday afternoon I got to photograph a wedding reception. I had so much fun! It was “work”, sure, but it was quite a great time. I am almost done with the final edits of the photos. Mickey and I are also working on a photo montage video for them. I am so hopeful that they like the photos I got for them.
• We went to church on Sunday. We have been trying to go at 9:30, but this Sunday it just worked out better to go to the 11:00 service. I’m so glad we were at that service because not only did we get to see our friends Jessie & Carly (who we LOVE), but the message was incredible! Jody preached on the Acts church and how that is what we should strive to be. Church isn’t about meeting in a building once a week. Church should be about what we do every day. How we live. How we reflect Christ in our lives so that others see and want to know what He means to us. It’s a lot to take in, but wouldn’t that be an awesome way to really live?!
• Yesterday Mickey and I went to Macey’s school for lunch. We thought it was a special lunch for her “Character Education” award. But, no. I had the date wrong. That lunch is NEXT Monday. So, we just got to have a nice meal with Macey for no particular reason other than just because. And, hey, just because is always good enough. I hope I will get to go to the lunch next Monday, but I have jury duty beginning that day, so it’s anyone’s guess as to what time I’ll be done.
• This morning I am taking Mariana to the ENT for her pre-op visit. On Friday she is having her ear tubes replaced and her adenoids removed. We hope this will help solve the continuing issues that plague her so often. Prayers, of course, are much appreciated.

Guess that’s it for now. Hope everyone has a beautiful day. Please keep praying for Stellan!!

In Christ,
Kelly

Macey has school pictures tomorrow and as of right now, I have no clue what she’s going to wear for them. I had chosen a blue top for her to wear, but it has short sleeves and tomorrow is only supposed to be in the 40s. (80s early week, 40s late week = crazy) So, I have to figure this out today. No matter what she wears, she’ll be gorgeous, of course. She’s really excited about her pictures. They get to select a pose and she has chosen a seated one, so we’ve been practicing it. TOO cute!!

My Lenten sacrifice of Facebook (etc) is going well. I miss it and I miss keeping in touch, but it has really gone well so far. I have signed on VERY briefly both Sundays just to add friends that I have requests from and also write down birthdays. I make sure that if I am on there on Sundays, it is only for VERY specific purposes and only for a few short amount of time. That is working out well.

I’m ready for my coffee now. So, I’m outta here. Have a wonderful day!