Worthwhile Wednesday- Make your own foaming soap

I love foaming soap!  Mainly because foaming soap doesn't leave dried soap all over the sink top for me to clean later.

Can you tell I have kids?

But foaming soaps are primarily water based, so your putting a lot of money down for not much soap.  Not to mention most commercial soap have chemicals in them you don't want (not even really soap, but detergents) or worse antibiotics which are next to worthless and even dangerous.

So why not DIY it?  It's beyond easy and great for your health & wallet!

To begin, you'll need a few things: liquid soap, water, and a foaming soap dispenser.  I use old dispensers from our commercial soaps days.  You may also want some glycerin, this provides some extra moisturizer.  For soap, I like castille and my favorite brand is Dr. Bronner's.  I could go on and on about how great the product and company is, but you can read about that here. Just don't skip the parts about how great they treat their workers, awesome company!

1. Empty foam dispenser:

-Make sure and wash out your empty foam dispenser to get it ready for use. 


2. Fill with water:

-Fill about 4/5 the way full with water (filtered or distilled is best).

3. Add soap

-Add  ~1/5 of soap, you don't want to overfill, but add enough soap to fill the dispenser completely without spilling when you put in your pump.  Also add soap second or it will foam up when you add your water or you'll have a lot of foam and very little water in your container.

4. Add glycerin and/or essential oils (optional).

-If so desired you can add glycerin for extra moisture (to your desired level of moisture, but not much) and essential oils if desired (just a drop or two).  The essential oils really add fragrance unless you use an naturally antiseptic oil (lavender or tea tree oil fall in this category).  I like to use Dr. Bronner's Lavender soap and not add extra oils.

Some extra notes: I also use this as a baby soap for my girls, only I use the Dr. Bronner's baby mild soap instead of lavender.  It works great and castille soap being so versatile (and the girls still so young) I use it for all over, even their hair.  Works great for little ones!

There you have it: so easy, healthy, and frugal!

This post is part of Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways #30.

Mom Monday- One Year!

Today was Evie's one year old doctors appointment.

Even though she HATED the shots, she actually did wonderfully.  She calmed down quickly and when they drew blood, she didn't make a sound.  She was a trooper!  Though funny aside- she pulled off her bandaid and got blood on her checkout sheet- I was mortified, but the checkout lady said she'd had much worse. ;)

The doctor was really impressed.  Evie was very happy and was measuring great.  She is 18% in weight, 40% in height, and ~50% in head circumference.  I will say, both my babies are petite, but very healthy.

She is talking more each day.  The doctor was particularly pleased that she knew so many words.  My personal favorite is when she says thank you- it comes out tank you- so cute!  I have to say, I credit her vocabulary to two things: 1) my house is never quiet, someone is always talking and we don't talk down to anyone, the same words I use with Mark, I use with the girls and 2) Kindermusik: I could go on and on about how great Kindermusik is, but in the interest of time, I'll say that Evie picked up at least two words from Kindermusik.  All in all the doctor made me one proud mommy!

Now to be fair, it wasn't all perfect.  She is still a little picky about some of her foods, but the doctor told us we had a normal child and not to worry, just keep exposing her to the items that she isn't eating.  But I think we are turning a corner with Evie's "pickiness" she's eating a little broccoli now and tomato based sauces.  So hello more yummy veggies!  Of course she'll always eat her staple veggies- carrots, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash- and the girl hasn't met a fruit she doesn't like.

All in all a good day for little Evie!

Good News

I found a DOCTOR!!

So here's the great stuff about him:

1. He listens to me.

2. He took me seriously from the moment I walked into his office.

3. We already have a plan of action for all my health stuff.

This is SO MUCH BETTER!!  I'm super happy.

The really great news, our plan does not involve me having a hysterectomy or having to get pregnant any time soon.  (Yes, I love kids, just not this close together)

It also doesn't involve me having to take Lupron anymore either (which means no menopausal symptoms)- Double YAY!

I'll be going in for some preliminary blood work and ultrasounds during different parts of my cycle to make sure I don't have any serious complications going on.  If all looks good, then I'll start a new medication regimen and if that goes well I may start a more "permanent" version of it. 

If none of that works, I have two other drug regiments I can try before moving onto the "hardcore" stuff.

We also talked about a brand new drug that is entering phase III in clinical trials.  It's the first time in a decade that a new drug is coming out for endometriosis.  It's a GnRH antagonist that can be taken orally.  No more monthly shots!!  If things move that direction I think I'd be willing to try it.  Though to be perfectly honest, I'm really hoping the first option works.  It'd be so much better for all of us (including Little Evie who is breastfeeding).

But all that aside, it just feels great to have a doctor who took me seriously!!

Granola...yeah, I guess so.

So it's happened.

I'm a completely granola mom.

I never thought it would happen, but the evidence is all there. Though I must warn you I sound pretentious, but I swear I'm not. I just do what is best for my family and if you do something different no bigs, this is just me...being a big ole hippie. ;)

1) I exclusively breastfeed. Apparently, this is now associated with being a hippie, which boggles my mind.

2) I also plan to allow Evie to self wean. I did the same for Elizabeth, only she wanted to quit at a year...I'm hoping Evie will do more than a year, but we'll see.

3) I sometimes co-sleep. I don't do it much anymore, but it is nice. Plus up to three months Evie was sleeping in the bassinet by our bed.

4) I cloth diaper. I love this, as Evie's skin looks great, we're not throwing anything away, and it saves us a TON of money!! But I did use disposables with Elizabeth.  I was full time then and she went to daycare.  Daycare = no cloth.

5) I make my own baby food. Even my own cereal...

6) I use cloth wipes, see #4.

7) I garden and try to stay organic. Again I love this, because there is a huge satisfaction growing your own food.

8) I make my own jams, jellies, freeze produce, and I'm learning to can and pickle. Big thanks to my mom, who is helping learn on my hippie journeying, by teaching me all this stuff.

9) I crochet most of our hats and scarfs. I try to make clothes for the girls. Though I've not been successful on the clothes.

10) I shop at a locally owned grocery store, keeping profits here in the USA. Ummm, this is more of a convenience thing as I hate the other grocery store in our area.

11) I shop as much as I can at the Farmer's market. This includes buying our beef and pork from there.

Which is why I wrote this post. There is something about buying local produce and meats that is so wonderful!

When you buy directly from the farmer, he/she gets all of the money. No feeding the corporate beast.

**Side note- Everything I buy at the farmer's market is CHEAPER than the grocery store- with the exception of our sausage, that is about a quarter more expensive (but totally worth it on taste)**

You also get local produce that was pick at freshness, only hours from reaching you. Unlike all the big grocers who pick unripe and transport all over to reach you days or weeks later.

You get grass fed, hormone free beef. Safer due to the lower amounts of E.coli and no additives (usually to kill E.coli) or dyeing meat to look fresh.

Best of all, tasty treats like this...

The blueberry bread I made just this week.  New recipe and it was GREAT!

which, I wouldn't have discovered without a good trip to the Farmer's market, where Mark found the tastiest blueberries ever!!!

So call me a hippie,

Or a granola mom,

I'm happy that way.

Though when you see my baby-wearing-liberal-minded self walking around don't forget to say hello.

I don't think it's catching...

Ha. Ha. ;)

One Mad Mommy

I had originally planned to write about this past weekend. But then I went to my doctor, and I came back angry.

So instead of entertaining you all with stories of hot air balloons, I'm afraid I will be ranting instead. Though I do have to warn you, this post talks about "lady" issues. If you are offended by this talk or would prefer not to know, please stop reading now.

Before I delve into the angry part, I'm afraid I have to supply some back story. I'll try to keep it brief though.

Way back when (dinosaurs were extinct though) I was 17, I started having very painful periods. When I went in for a regular checkup I mentioned it to my dr. She told me that was normal and to take ibuprofen. Being young and immature, I didn't fight her on it and starting taking ibuprofen.

(side note- never EVER let someone tell you pain is normal)

To be honest, it didn't hardly put a dent in my pain. So I talked to my aunt who is a nurse. She told me I could take more than what was listed on the bottle, and from then on I was taking huge doses of ibuprofen to manage the pain.

That actually worked until I turned 19 and started having dull aches in my back that wouldn't go away. I went to the dr. Lots of tests and ultrasounds later I was on birth control and taking much stronger pain meds (the pain was so intense). A year or so after seeking help, I begged my doctor to do surgery. The last possible diagnosis was endometriosis and it can only be diagnosed via surgery. He relented and it was discovered I did have it. Two huge adhesions were removed from my ovaries and multiple sections from my abdominal wall. Suddenly, the game had changed and the doctors believed me.

I was advised to start Lupron and it did relieve my pain. Granted the menopausal symptoms were no fun, but I was so happy to be pain free.

After Lupron, I started a cycle of birth control after birth control. Basically, staying on one until it stopped working. About two years after my first surgery, I had to once again go back to Lupron.

From there it was more birth control, bone scans, another surgery, more birth control, pregnancy, miscarriage, and a successful pregnancy.

(Side note- I was SUPER lucky to have gotten pregnant. I credit this to my early and excellent treatment. Especially my doctor in KY- both of my girls are miracle babies)

After pregnancy I had a full ten months of relief. No birth control and no pain meds. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I then went on birth control and that gave me another year.

Then it came back, and I did Lupron again. For some weird reason it didn't work this time, and I had to decide between hysterectomy, more surgery, or pregnancy. We knew we wanted more kids so we got pregnant.

Since I've had Evie my period returned in the second month (even though I exclusively breastfeed). The second period I had was super painful, but I ignored it the best I could. Then this last month I had PAIN. Not with a period, just straight up pain on its own. So I called my doctor.

First it took then over a week to get me in. During that time the pain faded, and I started to wonder if I had a cyst. I kept the appointment and went even though I only had some dull back pain.

From the moment I got there, I knew I should have gone someplace else. While my doctor was a great OB, it was apparent that anything outside of pregnancy was either not interesting or out of her scope.

Now I loved her in the delivery room. She was great! But the whole time yesterday, she was anxious to leave and very non-committal about anything. She even suggested my pain might be due to chasing around two kids. After ten years of dealing with this disease I couldn't believe I had found another doctor that didn't believe me!!!

She finally relented and told me I might have a cyst. They would do an ultrasound, but they couldn't do it that day. It had to be scheduled. So off I went to reception, only to find out that they couldn't do an ultrasound until next thursday- over a week away!!!

Now if you know anything about cysts, you know that they usually don't last very long and by the time I got back would be gone. I was so MAD!!!

First to be told I might be overreacting, and then to not even go through the possibilities seriously?!?

Needless to say, I'm looking for a new doctor and will canceling my ultrasound.

At least it's 29 year old Kate dealing with this instead of 19 year old Kate.

Older Kate knows it's not normal to have pain...

Older Kate won't put up with disrespectful people...

Older Kate knows she is the expert when it comes to her body...

I only hope that other people in the same situation know this too.

Thanks for sticking with me, and if course, for letting me vent.