Momma Monday No. 53

Well, apparently fate thought I needed another week of summer, and I have to admit... I agree.

I was supposed to start teaching this week with an after school drawing program, but the fliers didn't go home with the kids on time and so we're starting a week later.

For my High School, we were supposed to start Wednesday, but 2 teachers resigned last minute so that got pushed back to next week too.

My family was still in San Diego from that beautiful wedding I mentioned last week.  So, I didn't have to go into my office job since my boss {my uncle} wasn't there.

Monday was a recovery day from our vacation, you know that; unpack, wash everything, go grocery shopping type day.  Followed by Breakfast for dinner with my BIL and future Sister-In-Law.  We drank this cucumber juice with tequila drink he made, and if you're into a refreshing alcoholic beverage, this is it.  yummy. Although, I only got to drink a sip since I'm still trying to avoid alcohol for the anti-candida diet.

Sonja and I spent Tuesday running a few quick errands and then she slept for most of the day, letting me work on some artwork, lessons, birthday invitations {my mom's, sister's and Sonja's} and blogging.

My sister came over on Wednesday, like usual.  We got crafty and finished the invitations for her birthday and Sonja's {I'll be posting a more detailed DIY for both so keep an eye out}.  September is creeping up on us and that is birthday month in our family.  We've got 5 birthdays!  That's more than one a week!

Sonja's

My sister's

Speaking of Birthdays, Wednesday night was my Brother-in-Law and Nonnie-in-Law's birthday dinner.  Yummy pizza and salad!  I brought my camera but in all the chaos that is Sonja I forgot to take pictures. opps.

Latch On America stopped in Phoenix on Thursday at Midwives Rising {my Midwife's office} and connected breastfeeding mamas, advocates, supporters and organizers together. Check out the turn out!

  

 

Thanks to my Uncle for donating the water jug!

This sign is seriously impressive.

Take a close look at what breast {human} milk has to offer and then what formula has.

Huge difference!!

My friend Angie and I talked to people about Eats on Feets ~ Central AZ.  Angie, the social networker, was busy talking to healthcare professionals including the head of a local NICU unit.  She's also planning presentations for health care professionals regarding Eats on Feets, and getting human milk to human babies!

On Friday, I went to my classroom for a bit while my BIL watched Cupcake. I got a lot of my supplies unloaded and unpacked.  Photos of my classroom coming soon.  I share the room, but I also take over the wall space, maybe I should document it as the walls get more and more covered...

That afternoon I attended a vaccine lecture at Babymoon inn with NMD Philip M. Wazny from integrative health.  I learned a few interesting fact {I showed up a little late}, like, did you know if you delay vaccines and wait until your daughter is five (seven for boys) to start any, you increase her risk of M.S.?  I didn't, anyway I plan on doing a more extensive post on vaccines and why we're not, but also some information about your choices if you DO want to vaccinate.

In the evening I met my friend Jessica for coffee. Sonja slept on me most of the time, we discussed annoying people, like the girl at the register who didn't want to do two transactions for the coffee and tea.  And some very exciting weddings of our friends that are coming up!  It's really great to have a weekly monthly meet up for some girl chat.

We went to the farmer's market on Saturday for cupcakes and produce.  I love treehouse bakery, vegan sweets for Sonja's birthday are in the works!  This week she had rocky road cupcakes and marshmallows, sooo good.

After buying cupcakes, I went and baked some, with my friend Katie.  We decided to get together at her house to have a play date. I made chocolate banana cupcakes for my brother in law's birthday party that night.

His birthday party was a fun time full of food and swimming, Sonja enjoyed pool time with Daddy and I ate my fill of cupcakes and fruit salad.

Sunday, I took engagement photographs of my friends at the abandoned Phoenix Trotting Park race track.  I'm loving them, the location was disturbing and surreal.  See?

yes, he's laying in a pile of broken glass.

hide and seek?

We ended the weekend with some yummy pizza from Spinato's with our old room mate.

I'm exhausted.  I hope I can keep up with this coming week, office work, art classes and first days of school.

Hope you had a great week and here's to another good one!  Happy Momma Monday!

D.I.Y. Treating Thrush

MY How-To Guide on Treating the Yeast Multiplying "Disease"

If you've been following my blog, you know I've been ranting about this Thrush shit for a few weeks now.  I wanted to share some of the things I learned and how I {ME} handled it.  I'm not a doctor, but I am a mother, and I have common sense {I think} and this is what we did ourselves to battle it.  You can use this information as a jumping off point if you're also battling Thrush {the baby mama version, not the adult version or the vaginal version}.  You can tell me what advice I'm giving is awesome or awful.  You can do what you want with it. But here is what we did.

Our treatment

Baby
baby probiotics (acidophilus specifically)
lots of apple cider vinegar to rub on her tongue (you can dilute we use full strength because it works better, risk of burning at full strength though) must wipe off skin to avoid reness
yeast beaters liquid dropper 2-3 times a day
NO SUGAR or fruit, no carbs, no dairy (except breastmilk)
*ultimately, I had to give in and use Nystatin a prescription medication, it worked great.  We fought the thrush with the natural remedies for 2 weeks and had great improvement, but we were traveling and I couldn't risk the situation getting worse, if we were not traveling I would not have used the prescription, and even while using it, I continued the probiotics and yeast beaters droppers to ensure it would not return! 

Baby Toys
vinegar spray everything
sun everything

Mama
probiotics (I bought the vaginal health one since it's the same type of yeast, it prevents yeast overgrowth and it's helping now that I'm actually taking it again after being sick with the flu)
diluted vinegar wash nipples after EVERY feeding (1 tablespoon vinegar 1 cup water)
I also used hydrogen peroxide to wash after feedings once I got a cracked nipple, I needed to clean the wound and it did heal.
coconut oil on nipples before feedings and after vinegar wash is dry
sunlight! leaving nipples exposed in the sun will kill the yeast
disposable nipple pads, the yeast can live in bras so you have to wash them in HOT water and sun dry them. but I only have 1 or 2 bras so I had to invest in the disposable pads so I could function.
anti-candida diet, I followed it as best I could as a vegetarian it's hard to cut out more food groups.
supplements to ensure a healthy immune system- see photo.

***UPDATE: We've been though more yeast fighting with my current pregnancy and I've found washing the affected area with Potassium Permanganate is the MOST helpful of all of the treatments!  I drop 10 black crystals into 8oz of water so it turns light pink and then I soak and wash affected areas.

I've also been using Candicin and Alli-Cinn for preventative treatment.***

My daily dose includes, pre{post}natal multi vitamin, glucoseamine{for back, not thrush}, garlic anti-candida formula, yeast beaters pills, vitamin C for immune support

Here are a few links about yeast and what it does to YOUR body, it's already there and if you want to avoid Thrush or ANY yeast infection you should read this, this and this.

Tips.
Do not wait until it gets bad in the baby's mouth to do something, ACV {apple cider vinegar} that shit right away, don't dilute it, just kill it full force, or at least that's what we should have done right away.
Do not wait until nipples are cracked, bleeding, sore, vinegar wash them right away, coconut oil then right away, PREVENT serious mama thrush by being proactive!
OH and make sure to continue treatment for 2 weeks AFTER the symptoms are gone!

Best of Luck!

If you have suggestions, please leave them in the comments for other mamas or god{goddess} forbid if it happens to us again.

Momma Monday No. 52

This week feels like normal, last week was so frustrating that it was a welcome return of the mundane and we got to go on a little vacation too, so that helps!

Monday, we headed into the office to pay some bills and manage the office, told you; the moby makes it possible!

Tuesday, we stopped by Midwives Rising to pick up some Thrush medication my AMAZING friend Diane gave to me.  Then, we met my Aunt Jenny at The Business Costco to get a few items for my mom's birthday, I'll be posting about that soon!  Giant bowls and table clothes!

Wednesday was a crazy day of errands and packing, because on Thursday we headed to SAN DIEGO!

My Aunt's Wedding was this weekend and it all started Thursday night with a Rehearsal Dinner!  The rest of this post is image heavy with pictures of this weekend's events.

When we arrived at the hotel,

we were greeted with these wonderful welcome bags filled with bottled water and snacks! yum.

The Rehearsal Dinner was at a lovely home, with amazing Mexican food as the feast.

an excuse to wear my butter by nadia dress and high heels!

My parents.

Across the street from our hotel, was the bay:

The Wedding:

I loved all the details of this old church, 

the church where the Groom's parents and sister {and now him} were married at.

Cupcake kept busy during the ceremony by playing on the stairs.

The Reception, at the San Diego Yacht Club: 

The first to dance as usual.

Heirloom Tomato Salad

He didn't know I was taking this...`

My sister and I

My uncle, photo bombing.

Passion Fruit cake!

The rest of our vacation: 

Lounging around

Breakfast at Hash House

Watching giant ships from our patio.

Staring at Glowing Downtown San Diego at night.