I have to be honest and say that I am SO tired of people saying you should let a young baby cry it out (CIO) at a young age. What I also hear is “they have to learn to sleep”, “they have to learn to be independent”.  Independence comes with time. A baby is SUPPOSED to have needs and they are SUPPOSED to need you. It’s ok!! I know we get frustrated because we feel that we never get time for ourselves. You are absolutely allowed to feel that way. You just have to communicate with your spouse and try to schedule in alone time. Sometimes that has to be during nap time. Enjoy the peace when you can! I now have a child who screams!!! I doubt I will get many complements in the next few weeks about how good and quiet my child is, because that is now how it has been! It’s a phase and I know it will pass.

So moms and dads, new ones and old. Be nice to new moms. It’s tough and it’s a major transition. Just be supportive but also know when to back off. Moms, follow your instincts! Hold your baby, love your baby. If you c0-sleep for a few years, hey, that’s what YOUR child needed. If you breastfeed until your baby is 3, that’s what YOUR baby needed. Find friends who are supportive if your family isn’t . Do me a favor and please educate yourself about vaccines! It’s not a trend my friend! Trust your instincts!

I hope all is well in your world!!

Of course the house you bought as a couple is no longer big enough for the three of you. Your car is too small because your stroller alone takes up the entire back of your car! (You know I HAD to have the SUV of strollers, and I love it) So now the car you got as a high school senior eleven years ago not only needs to replaced due to age, it needs to be bigger and better! Ahh…if only we lived in Europe. I think I could be happy. I know that we can adjust to living in a small space. I need to remind myself constantly that if I lived in Europe, 1,200 sq feet would be a mansion! My Rav 4 would be considered to be as big as a Toyota Sequoia (my DREAM car)!!!

I’m just wondering, how do people move to the next level without going into debt? I’ve read Dave Ramsey and everything he says makes sense. Budget budget budget. Of course Dave! BUT, if you’re only able to save maybe $200 a month, how in the hell are going to be able to even put 10% down on a bigger house? How can you pay for a new car with cash at the same time that you’re saving to put 10% down on a house? How is this all done without working 24 hours a day? Which I feel like the hubs is working that MUCH anyway, just to keep us going. Do we cut everything out and live with nothing? Then you listen to THE SECRET and they mention The Law of Attraction and to really feel that you are wealthy and have an endless supply of money. It’s so frustrating to think for a second, I HAVE ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORRRRLLLDDD!!! Wohahahahahaha. Then, you look at the bills and think of everything you need to pay and then you try to figure out what else can you cut out? It’s SOOOO frustrating.

THEN, you read about all the pesticides on produce and all the hormones in meat. Now I’m being forced to buy ORGANIC that costs SOOO much more just so that I can have a healthy child and avoid autism and all the other crap that the pesticides cause. I don’t need my children growing breasts at age 8 thank you very much (ok, if I had a daughter).

So I’m doing my part and I’m giving up the Blackberry! Honestly, $30 a month to have internet on my phone when I have access to the internet all day at home really is a waste. I’m sure my clients will adjust to calling me or texting if they need to cancel last minute. I WILL BE OK without my Blackberry. Right? I was fine without it before I even got it. I really want to know though, how do you get ahead with no raises, without cutting out everything in your life? How are you saving for your future homes, cars, retirement, children’s college? It can make you go crazy just thinking about it!!!! Let’s face it. Not everyone CAN make 6 figures. Are you all just in debt and living in denial? Talk to me people!!

I surely hope all is well in your financial world!!!

Love,

Nadine

Then, if the whole vaccine issue doesn’t give you a headache, trying to find food that isn’t full of pesticides will. Finding meat that hasn’t been pumped full of hormones will drive you crazy! The first three years of a child’s life are the most crucial when it comes to their diet and the food they consume. How many of you give your child animal crackers as a treat every day? Have you looked at the ingredients lately? Yes, made with high fructose corn syrup. Wonderful right? Not!! It’s so important now to read food labels. They will tell you a lot. A good rule of thumb is if you can’t pronounce the name of the ingredient, don’t buy it! My goal for Andrew is to help him live a life where his mental and physical health are not inhibited by the side effects of additives or chemicals. So, because of this I will do my absolute best to make only organic food for him. I will also be careful in giving him food that is processed.

So basically what I’m saying is, take responsibility for your child. Remember that doctors only spend a few hours in school learning about nutrition. There are many professionals who specialize in nutrition. For me, going to a Naturopath for advice on nutrition has been the best thing for my family. Making sure your child is eating a healthy diet is the best thing you can do for him. Be careful with your little one. We are so lucky that we are able to research any topic and find endless amounts of information. Help your child live his/her best life.

I hope all is well in your child’s world!

Nadine’s Awesome Cookies

Preheat Oven to 350F Degrees

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Butter Softened
1/4 Cup Raw Sugar
1 Egg
1 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/2 Tsp. Baking Powder
1 1/2 Cups Spelt Flour (I use Arrowhead Mills)
1/3 Cup Oatmeal (not instant)
1/2 Tsp. Sea Salt (I use Celtic Sea Salt)
1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips
1/4 Cup Pumpkin Seeds
1/4 Cup  Sunflower Seeds
1 Tbls. Ground Flax Seed
1 Tbls. Water-if needed

Directions:
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with sugar, egg and vanilla extract. Blend flour, baking powder and salt. Stir well. Fold in chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and flax seed. You made need to add a bit of water if it doesn’t all stick together. Drop cookies on a oiled cookie sheet (I use a baking spray with flour in it). Make them as big or small as you’d like. Bake 10-12 minutes or until done. Enjoy!!!!

I hope all is well in your cookie world!!!

Yesterday morning I noticed that my little baby was pretty congested when he woke up. After making sure that he didn’t have a temperature and checking with the appropriate people to make sure he wasn’t sick, I decided to use the Breathe respiratory blend on his feet. I also have a diffuser in our home. So I diffused the Breathe blend so that he would be able to inhale it. I would say within an hour his congestion had cleared. It was amazing!!! I’m also using a Purify blend to purify my house. The OnGuard can also be diffused to help kill airborne pathogens. So far this winter none of us have been sick.

Those are just a few oils that I’ve been using. I’ve noticed that the essential oils have also helped my mood! One of my favorite combinations is lavender and geranium! It smells so good and I feel so relaxed whenever I diffuse it. Just wonderful!! I think it’s great that we are able to use something natural to help protect and treat sicknesses. Of course you should always consult your physician if you are sick, but this is a natural way to keep yourself healthy.

If you would like information about DoTerra Essential Oils, please contact me at nadine@alliswellinmyworld.com. These oils are 100% therapeutic grade, which is what you want your oils to be. Since you are able to use some of these oils internally, it’s important to use them in their purest form. Essential oils have been used since Biblical times. I think there is something to it!!!

I hope all is well in your world!!!!

**Always consult a physician when your children are sick. Some essential oils used by themselves can burn a person. Be very careful when using the oils on children. Use with caution.

Andrew Bauer Gammon arrived 11:21pm on November 10th weighing 7lbs, 6 oz and measured 23 inches long. He was born at 42 weeks and by judging his size, that was when he was supposed to come. Many of you know that I was so frustrated by the end and ready to have him. I know now that if he was born earlier it’s possible that his lungs wouldn’t have been ready to function. There is a group on Facebook called “An EDD (estimated due date) is not an Expiration Date”. This is so true!!! How many times do we hear of women being induced on or before their due date when no medical intervention is necessary? I know now what patience means. I was one of those women who was ready early on to have my baby. However, I’m so happy now that Andrew came two weeks late.

I will be honest and tell you that at 39 weeks I started working on my pressure points to try to induce myself. I tried acupuncture three times, eating eggplant, walking, bumpy car rides and Clary sage oil. I feel like I tried everything you can imagine to try to have him early. What did I learn from all this? That a baby isn’t going to come unless he is ready!

I had some pretty painful contractions starting at 36 weeks, which made me think that Andrew would come early. Because of these contractions,we had our bags packed and were ready to go early on. At my 41 week appointment we decided that it was safe to go ahead and strip my membranes, hoping that it would bring on labor (Thursday, Nov 4th). Besides having some cramping, nothing else happened. Sunday morning (Nov 7)  I lost my mucus plug, so I was super excited about that. We knew that labor would probably start within 48 hours of losing my plug. By Monday morning nothing was happening, so I went for my third acupuncture treatment, followed by a trip to the birth center to have my membranes stripped again and to get homeopathics  (black and blue cohosh) . I started taking those every hour. Tuesday came without anything happening. I think I cried all day because I was so frustrated. I took the homeopathics every 30 minutes.

Finally, Wednesday at 1:30 am I woke up with contractions. They went on until 3:30 am and were time-able….every 12 min for about 1 min. I was excited and made a sandwich because I didn’t know how quickly they would intensify and I knew that I would need all the nutrients I can get. Since I changed positions and was moving around, my contractions pretty much stopped.  From 3:30-7am I had a few contractions here or there. I spoke with my midwife  at 7am and started taking the homeopathics every 15 min and started nipple stimulation. This definitely helped start the contractions again. I did nipple stimulation for 4 hours only taking a 5 min break after each contraction (this was not fun, by the way). My contractions were so intense that I ended up throwing up all day. I’m a pretty tough cookie and can handle quite a lot of pain. This was pretty intense though!

I think by 1:30 or 2 one of the midwives came over to our house to check on us and to strip my membranes. After she left my contractions seemed to slow down a little and I started nipple stimulation again. After I started the nipple stimulation my contractions went from 10 min to 5 min apart with some that were 3-4 min. apart. When they were that close together, we decided to leave for the birth center (I think we got there around 5). I have to say that that was the most uncomfortable car ride I’ve ever had in my life. I sat in the front passenger seat and held on to the door handle. I could only imagine what people must have been thinking if they looked over and saw the expressions on my face. It was a 40 minute car ride to Spartanburg during rush hour. I was throwing up in the car (thank goodness we brought a trash can) and was  just praying that we would get there soon.

When we arrived at the birth center I was almost 5 cm dilated. I got in the birthing tub after having a few contractions on the bed. I really liked being in the tub and I think I was in there for a few hours. Justin had to hold a vomit bag for me the entire time. Linda put peppermint oil in it which really helped with the nausea. After pushing for a bit in the tub-Linda and Amy (the midwives) wanted me to lie on my back on the bed and push. I pushed for a bit and they saw that I had a cervical lip. After trying to push on the bed for a bit we tried the birth stool (my biceps hurt for more than a week from birth stool) After the birth stool I tried pushing on all fours on the bed. After pushing for a few hours , I was absolutely exhausted.  At some point during pushing, Andrew turned and ended up in a posterior position.

After all that pushing, the cervical lip not going away, we made a unanimous decision that it was time to go to the hospital. Amy called the hospital to let them know we were on our way and they sent an ambulance. When the EMT’s arrived they wanted me to get on the gurney and lie down. Well, I was on all fours on the bed and there was no way that I was turning! They were really great and let me get on the gurney on all fours and strapped me in.  Justin drove the car to the hospital and followed the ambulance, so he was able to see the EMT checking me. The whole time I was in the ambulance the EMT kept telling me not to push. Yeah, try not pushing when all your body wants to do is push!!! Well, I did push and I could hear her radioing in that she could see a head.  At this point I thought I was going to have him right there. We got to the hospital and the doctor wanted to take me in to do a c-section. Linda and the EMT kept telling him no, that I was already pushing his head out and that a c-section wasn’t necessary. He checked me and they took me to a delivery room. Keep in mind that I’m still on all fours on the gurney and have all these people around me. I had to take a little ride up in the elevator this way as well. In the delivery room  I had no choice but to turn over on to my back. I pushed for a little bit and nothing (as far as I could tell) was happening. The doctor told me he was going to do an episiotomy. So with the help from the episiotomy,  some light suctioning, pushing from me and looking up to see the pearly white gates of heaven open up, I was finally able to push Andrew out! RELIEF, JOY, GRATITUDE!!! Andrew was finally born and he was ok!!!

We stayed at the hospital for probably two more hours after he was born before we were released. We didn’t feel that we would be comfortable there, so we went back to the birth center to rest for a few hours before going home. Justin and I are so grateful for the two midwives, Linda and Amy and their apprentice Rhonda (from Labors of Love) for everything that they did for us. We had a really positive experience at the hospital as well and really happy with the treatment we received. Am I ready for another baby? I wouldn’t say so. I’m so grateful to hold my little baby and know that the next time might not be so traumatic. This is by far the hardest, most painful thing that I have ever had to go through. My husband was so supportive and I am grateful that he was by my side the entire time.  I know that it was difficult for him to see me in so much pain. You know what they say! “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. I did at some point want to die, but I’m glad that nobody put me out of my misery. Motherhood has been wonderful and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world.

I hope all is well in your world!

I am plan on staying at Key Acupuncture and will be sharing space there. I look forward to seeing you all in 2011! Please note that as of February 2011 my rates will be increasing to $60 for a 60 min Swedish, $85 for a 90 min Swedish, $70 for a 60 min Deep Tissue and $95 for a 90 min Deep Tissue. Packages are available throughout January at rate of 5 60 min massages for $275 and 5 90 min massages for $400.

I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! Thank you for a wonderful 2010!!!

I hope all is well in your world!

My day finally arrived to see Terry. During my session with her she looked at my nails, looked at my tongue then looked into my eyes. She didn’t ask too many questions, which I was happy about because I truly wanted to know what she would find out by looking into my iris (my eyes). She told me that I had an under active Thyroid and that I have been having problems with my colon, which would be the Irritable Bowel Syndrome I have had for numerous years. She could tell that overall I was quite healthy, but I needed to work on a few things. She created a new diet for me and gave me some herbs to take.

My new diet was quite an adjustment but I was able to see results immediately. When you’ve had years and years of stomach problems, being pain free is huge! I remember Terry’s list of no no’s were: no canned foods, no microwaving, no red meat, no dairy, of course no processed foods and no acidic fruits. When she went down the list I felt frustrated because I thought, well what can I eat then? Turns out there’s a lot you can eat!!! I switched to almond butter instead of peanut butter due to peanuts being more acidic. I started eating Ezekiel bread and cereal. For lunch I would have salad, lentils and rice or hummus and avocado sandwiches. Then for dinner it was usually a protein with veggies. Food combining was really important when it came to meals. I was not to eat starches with proteins. Only proteins with non-starchy vegetables or vegetables and carbohydrates.

This diet may seem overwhelming at first. However, once you see that you feel better physically and emotionally you’ll know that it’s definitely worth it. Taking the herbs may seem like a lot as well, but I’ve learned that just tackling one issue at a time saves you from taking so many pills. The herbs definitely help though. I found that I could take natural herbs as an anti-inflammatory for when I was doing all my racing. I could take a mood-elevator or a natural anti-depressant for those bad days. Too many times our doctors just write a prescription for us without really finding out what the issue is.

While I was waiting for my appointment with Terry one day, there was a gentleman who was waiting as well. He started chatting with me and told me his history with Terry. He was diagnosed with cancer and started coming to her for treatment. While taking the herbs and sticking to the diet she recommended, his cancer went away. He stopped taking the herbs and had another check up. The doctors found that the cancer came back and they scheduled radiation for him. Before his appointment he came back to see Terry and went back on the herbs and stuck to her diet. He never had to have that radiation treatment, because they couldn’t find the cancer! It’s truly an amazing story and I know there are many more people out there.

Terry treats people with many different ailments. I feel truly lucky to have had the privilege of being one of her clients. She has inspired me to do my own research on nutrition and to be more mindful of what I am eating. A nutritious diet plays a key role in our lives. It affects our mood daily and how we feel physically. When you don’t feel your best, you simply can’t be your best. If you feel like you need a diet make over, I highly recommend you start with an appointment with one of the Iridologists at Creative Health. Terry is wonderful and she works with a great group of people!! Good luck! I can’t wait to hear about your journeys to living a healthier life.

I hope all is well in your world!

I think being pregnant has opened my eyes in many different ways. I’m more confident now than ever before. I’m also more driven, career wise than I have been in the past. Being pregnant has opened so many doors for me personally and professionally. Having a child changes your life in so many ways. For me it’s just helped me focus on what’s really important. I’ve become less of a people pleaser and stand up for the things that are important to me. I’ve also found that I don’t have to explain myself and my decisions to anyone. I’m a smart, competent being and I trust my instincts.

If I could give a word of advice to those of you out there, it’s to stay true to yourself. You’ll encounter so many people who will try to make you feel bad about yourself and the decisions you make. It’s because of these people that I urge you to surround yourself with people who do support you. When you’re around people who do not support you, you’ll find yourself questioning your decisions constantly. Trust your instincts, even if you make a mistake, learn from it and move on. Nobody’s perfect! People who support you will understand if you make a mistake, they’ll pick you up and encourage you to do better.

I hope all is well in your world! You’re the one who’s in control of it!

Those clients that have already been in this month to see me will be added into the drawing. I am still offering my frequent massage card. After coming in for 5 massages, you will receive $20 off your next massage. This does not apply to packages.

I hope all is well in your world!