Healthy family by choice

You can't log on to Facebook right now (let alone talk to someone) without hearing how sick they or there family has been this season.  I feel so blessed that we have, other than a quick 24 hour bug, been untouched by the sickies.  I must say tho, I think it's because of some simple choices we make for our family. While I can't say any of these things individually are the cure all, I do feel that the combination is why we remain healthy.  So take them for what they are- choices.
(Just a side note: Other than the first item on my list, the rest are not necessarily listed in any particular order of importance.)

Chiropractic:  First, and foremost, we are all adjusted at least once a week by an amazing chiropractor. I have learned so much from Dr. Bryan and Dr. Stacy Wills about how the body works and the importance of keeping your nervous system healthy.  I will be the first to admit that I was clueless about it all before I started working for them, but now I can't imagine ever going back to not being adjusted.  We used to live a very "treat the symptoms" way of life before.  Now if one of us has a "symptom", we go have the entire nervous system checked (and get adjusted if necessary) and let the body heal itself naturally. 

No Sanitizing: We do NOT sanitize or disinfect anything. No antibacterial soaps, no bleach, no Lysol or Clorox wipes, and especially no hand sanitizer. (That stuff is terrible!) Sanitizing your house kills all the good, healthy bacteria that keeps us healthy.  I use a vinegar and water solution to clean most everything in the house. It costs far less than store bought and it's safe for the kids and the environment.

Open the house:  At least once a week, even on the coldest days, I open up the windows in the house for a good 10+ minutes.  If it's above freezing out, I leave them open even longer.  I turn down the heat and tell the kids to put on a sweater or wrap up in some blankets if they get cold.  I feel that this helps to air out the house.  It lets the good, fresh air in and the recycled, stale air out.  And it's very invigorating! 

Keep the house cool:  People who don't come over often seem to always say, "It's chilly in here!"  Yes! Yes it is!  I keep the house cool for a number of reasons.... 1st- I'm almost always warm and so are 2 out of 3 of the kids.  Little E tends to be chilly, but she wears socks and a sweater and is always moving, so she stays plenty warm. 2nd- I'm cheap!  I don't want a crazy high gas bill if I can help it, so we keep the temp down and use extra blankets!  3rd- I think that a warm house harbors the "sickies"!

Probiotics, Supplements and Natural Food:  I try to make sure everyone takes a probiotic, Omega-3 and a good fruit/veggies/multivitamin supplement.  I am also in the process of trying to "de-package" our pantry.  My ultimate goal is to not have any pre-packaged "food" in our house.  For now tho- baby steps! I try hard not to keep cookies, chips, soda or any other empty-calorie, processed food in the house. This is not to say that I never give the kids a treat or fast-food, but I try my best to keep it limited.
My recent addition to our natural food endeavor is raw honey and a juicer.  And I'm always experimenting with new recipes that involve real food and simple ingredients.

No Flu Shots:  As you may or may not know, we are a vaccine-free family.  I am more than happy to talk to anyone about how we came to that decision, but for now, I'm interested in sharing with you that the only "flu shots" we take contain fresh fruits and veggies!

Let them eat dirt: This statement makes me chuckle because I have a little guy that I watch who loves to eat dirt and sand and anything else that he shouldn't put in his mouth!  I'm constantly telling him, "Spit it out!" With that said, I think it's important for kids to get dirty and yes, even eat a little dirt.  I will readily admit that I struggle with letting my kids get dirty, but if I take a deep breath and remind myself that we have a bath tub, I can usually tolerate it!  LOL! I think about last summer with our garden and letting the kids eat the veggies, dirt and all, straight from the ground. They loved it! 

Fresh air and Sunshine:  This obviously goes without much explanation.  Obviously these super-cold winter months make that a bit tough, but we take it when we can get it!

Prayer: Last, but certainly not least, I pray for my family's health.  I lift them up to the Lord when they are healthy and give praise and I lift them up when they are sick and ask for healing.  Inevitably, everyone gets sick now and then, but sickness is a gift from God, as He created our amazing bodies to be smart and know how to use that illness to improve our immune system and make us stronger and healthier in the long run.

I pray that these words find you and your family healthy and thriving, and if not, I pray that you are soon on the mend. 

Friday Funnies 1/4/13

Grant: Mommy can I have a sammich?
Me: No, you should have finished your dinner.  I told you that you were going to be hungry later.
Grant: I know, but really want a sammich!
Me: No. You are done eating tonight.  And besides, you just ate 2 cookies that you weren't supposed to get into.
Grant: (pause) Ok.  Well, I will just have a sammich with turkey and cheese and mayonaise.
Me: UGH!  This is not a restuarant!
Grant: I know it's not a restaurant.... but are you going to make my sammich now?

Grant: Daddy, go that way!  I wanna show you the fire station!
Rick: Ok.
Grant: And maybe Fireman Sam will be there!  If you hear woo-oo-woo... then he is there!
(This was one you might have had to be there for because the sound- or lack there of- is why this was especially hysterical to us.  Most kids will try to imitate an actual siren sound, but not Grant- Mr. Literal, never changed his tone and simply stated- woo-oo-woo!)

Elena: (talking to Grant) ... and my other brother, he got killed...
Me: Sissy, that's not very nice.  Please don't say killed.  You don't have a brother who was killed.
Elena: But Mom, I do and he was killed.
Me: Elena! Enough, please don't say killed.
Elena: (to Grant) ... my other brother, who got... um... dead...
(UGH!  Too smart for their own good!)