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An Overdue Update

So life just keeps on going, going, going; and sadly I am do for an overdue update. Last Thursday (Sept 21 – 2 days shy of 17 weeks), at the prompting of my friend, I met with her highly recommended MFM. He shall be called Dr. Wonderful. This man has the best bedside manner EVER. He is gentle, compassionate, pro-life, loves Jesus, and is not going to be bound by time in any way. My appointment with him was LONG and amazing and such a comfort. I got to watch my baby move and thrive along with one of my dearest friends. We sat there and watched my Little Peanut wiggle and turn around and have a great heartbeat. At 16 weeks Nuchal Translucency is no longer visible so they now measure the Nuchal Fold. Little Peanut had an abnormal thick…

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Read more about the article The Road Less Traveled

The Road Less Traveled

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. From The Road Less Traveled by Robert Frost This isn't a road I would wish on any family. Most days I wish we weren't walking it ourselves. I want to complain and argue and scream, "This isn't Fair.". And you know what?! It's truly not fair. It's just not. And like I tell my Man-Cub....a Fair is a park with rides and attractions and games. That's not life. Life is messy and murky and sad and hard and shows us just how much we all need Jesus. If life was fair and every mama that wanted a beautiful, healthy baby got one miraculously without thought, what would that teach anyone about the beauty and sanctity of life? How…

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A Second Opinion and a LONG Week

Monday afternoon I called my midwife to let her know about the appointment and she quickly encouraged me to not despair before a second opinion happened. She went about contacting a MFM she works with to get me seen immediately. The past 24 hours had been one of crying, sadness, loss, grief. These words do not even began to encompass the weight and enormity of the news we had been given. I knew immediately I would stand for life, but didn't make this any easier to process. Tuesday afternoon I went in to have this doctor do a Sono and eval. It is so sorrowful to walk around knowing I'm carrying life but that it is a life that has a terminal date. Dr. Rainbows and Sunshine was hopeful and cheerful from first meeting, and immediately I felt like she was…

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BEFORE & AFTER

August 28th. A Monday. An ordinary normal day that should have been a day of excitement and fun and just another milestone in our fourth pregnancy. Instead it has become the day where life changed forever. There is just now everything before that moment and everything since. So many people say life will never be the same after whatever xyz and now I realize how flippantly well-meaning people say this. I know differently. Life changed in that moment. Everything after has become our "new normal". I've always heard in crisis your senses are heightened. The day was partly cloudy and relatively cool for a late summer in Dallas, Texas. So cool to my body was the air, that I actually put on a pair of leggings to head to my appointment. It felt like a great Monday. I was running a…

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Read more about the article Carlsbad Caverns

Carlsbad Caverns

Our 2017 road trip begins with Carlsbad Caverns as our first stop! Hubs and I loved exploring here years ago, and we are excited to bring the kids along. We decide to leave in the middle of the night. Nothing screams road trip failure like sleeping for a few hours, then waking all the little kids to make them sleep in unbearable, upright car seats while we drive after no sleep. :) Surprisingly, this is many people's primary mode for kicking off and ending trips. Who knew we were in with what is trending?!?! Our departure is timed well. We pull out of our driveway at 4 am with three very wide awake and excited kids. Thankfully, not even an hour into the drive and all are back sleep. We stop for coffee and a stretch in Clyde at 7am, and again…

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Southwest Road Trip

It's that time of year. Summer vacation and family travels. This past school year was the first year that we did a co-op. My oldest has finished his last year of "preschool". That means.....we are officially on summer vacation! (at least in our family. ;)) Since we hit some bumps in the road last year, this year's National Park journey/see all the states will be a Southwest Road Trip again. We are planning a revisit of some of our spots from last year, plus some places we are super excited to explore for the very first time! Here are the highlights for this year's Southwest Road Trip. This is currently our game plan, and I cannot wait to see how it plays out! As we visit the various parks, I'll come back and blog/journal about the hikes we actually did and what we liked…

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Read more about the article Fall Wellness

Fall Wellness

Every year I feel like Fall just sneaks up on me. I'm coasting along, enjoying my summer and loving the sun and then bam, kids are back in school, the days are shorter, and full-time seasonal holiday promotion has happened at every store. As life around me gains momentum in football season, Halloween decor, and midterm exams, we use this time to build momentum in the way we take care of our bodies. I want my family to not triumph during this season with true Fall Wellness. It becomes easy to do this when our bodies are using the right supplements. (Read about the essential oils we use in the post here.) If you grew up like I did, it may seem overwhelming that we need so many more supplements to stay healthy then the days of the last century. While there are many factors…

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Read more about the article Fall Into Wellness

Fall Into Wellness

It seems that as soon as Fall starts, people begin to really struggle to keep their body systems healthy. No doubt this is due to so many environmental factors, including less sunshine/Vitamin D, lots of kiddos in close quarters/school versus the lazy days of summer, and the amped up sugar season. So let’s Fall Into Wellness and learn how we can combat that time of year that so many people dread.  There are lots of reason why you might choose to use essential oils this winter. Here are my top reasons for choosing oils this fall and winter! * I prefer a natural choice for my family. * Oils creates an amazing proactive approach to my healthcare! * Using oils is very cost effective * Using oils is fast and convenient. We are a super busy family so this is very important! Of course…

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Read more about the article Top 10 Ingredients for DIY Recipes

Top 10 Ingredients for DIY Recipes

I often get asked how to get started making DIY home products and what things are necessary. So, I am going to share my top 10 ingredients for DIY recipes. Natural living is such a journey. Maybe you are undertaking making your own household and beauty products for the first time. I love new adventures and remember trying all the recipes on the internet. Just remember we all had to start somewhere! Perhaps you are just wanting to simplify your life and the products you use. This is so freeing - fewer ingredients and money saved!  Or maybe you are like me - on a quest to replace as many toxic products as you can with affordable ones. Since Mayo Clinic, I have worked to replace products that were harming my body. So, settle back and take notes - here (in no particular order!) are my top 10 ingredients for…

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Read more about the article How I Went From Surviving to Thriving after Baby

How I Went From Surviving to Thriving after Baby

I swear I read everything and anything about what to expect when you are expecting. Ok that's not 100% true. :P But I am a reader and I sure did read numerous books. However, very little actually prepared me for the REALITY of having a baby. And nothing prepared me for how to go from surviving to thriving after baby. Oh sure, the books prepped me on the stuff that you should buy to be ready, such as having a crib or clothes or an incredible wrap if you love baby-wearing as much as I have. But, I sure did miss the books and articles that tell you just how much a baby poops. Oh my stars. The poop. Out the diaper, up the back, down the legs, in the clothes, on the feet.  No one prepared me for that. Or what…

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