Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Merry Christmas

here is all of us (Kristi is taking the picture) 25 soon to be 26! can you guess who is having the NEW baby??

the boys all playing together



Regina and her girl Kherington

family picture Christmas night

my babies by our tree Christmas morning
OH I forgot to write about Isabel's ear piercing!! David's dad has a tradition of getting his grand daughters diamond earrings their first Christmas! so she now has bling! she is really tough and did cry for about a minute. she looks so cute with little baby earrings! now no one will call her a boy!

my mom made all the little kids Indian Skins!


Well I am finally getting around to posting something about our Celebration of Jesus' BIRTH! we had church cancelled on Christmas eve which was a bummer. that is usually the kick off to Christmas for me, but instead we had a little more time to get ready for all 25 of my family members to stay at my house! we woke up and had a quite morning with the kids to open gifts and have a big breakfast together. That night we celebrated with David's family and came home to all of my family already at my house partying. we had lots of great food (thanks to MOM), games, visiting, and MUSIC. we have so many kids that can play instruments it makes our singing and worship so much fun! the little kids love to dance and pretend to play(using blocks or whatever resembles an instrument) with the big kids. thanks for the great time guys!

Friday, December 19, 2008

my girl


this is how Isabel plays peek-a-boo!


she loves bath time!

Her first time in the snow!
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Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Happy happy happy


well we have so many Happy things to celebrate this month. it's a little crazy but we have learned how to cope with it. My sisters b-day was the 10th, her son on the 12th mine on the 14th and David and I celebrated our 8th Wedding anniversary!
we have come so far in eight years it some times seems like twice that in a good way. we have built two houses had three kids and have managed to still seek God's will for our family. Marriage can be fun and then you have those years were it can be work. this year has definitely been one of those years filled with work. but I know it pays off. this year we sold moved had a baby and started building all in February and march. that alone could kill a mother! but we made it to the other side and can now see a brighter year ahead. so babe lets sit tight and enjoy the fruits of our labor this year, what'd ya say?


Genesis 2:24

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and they will become one flesh."


no matter how much work or how hard things can get I am so glad God Blessed us with each other David! we are well suited and I can see our Lord shaping us and using us together forever!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

formula problems

I'm sure you have all heard of the formula problems have Melmine in them. here is a ariticle from a Doctor about the options you can take if you can't breastfeed...

It is clear that feeding your baby artificial formula instead of breastfeeding triples their relative risk of death. A number of studies point to this fact. But now you have yet another brand new reason to be wary of feeding your baby manufactured, processed formula.
In its usual pro-industry fashion, the FDA has taken the stance that trace amounts of melamine, an industrial chemical, WILL be allowed in infant formulas sold in the U.S., despite the fact that they have no idea whatsoever as to what the “safe” level might be (i.e. how much of this dangerous chemical a baby can consume without it causing terminal kidney damage from the formation of insoluble plastic “stones”).
My guess is, it will require far less than they imagine.
And I surely would not take the fact that the U.S. contamination was due to the manufacturing process rather than intentional dilution as reassurance that the contamination levels are safe.
I’ve previously reported on the issue of melamine-tainted food products from China, and the potential health hazards of consuming this chemical. But there are still more questions than answers on this issue.

U.S. health officials have uncovered trace amounts of the chemical melamine in a sample of infant formula sold in the United States.
FDA spokeswoman Judy Leon said. "There's no basis for concern because we're talking about trace levels that are so low ... that there's absolutely no risk."
Melamine-tainted formula in China has caused thousands of children to fall ill; several have died. The concentrations in China were as much as 2,500 parts per million — about 10,000 times greater than what the FDA found in the U.S.The FDA and other experts said the melamine contamination in U.S.-made formula had occurred during the manufacturing process, rather than intentionally as was done in Chinese production. The manufacturers insist their products are safe.
On November 28th, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took a new stance, stating it will allow trace amounts of melamine in infant formula. This partly reverses the agency's October assessment that it was safe to consume food and beverages with melamine levels below 2.5 parts per million, with the exception of infant formula. The FDA said at the time that it couldn't determine if there was a safe level of melamine and melamine-related compounds in infant formula.
Sources:
Reuters November 25, 2008
The Wall Street Journal November 29, 2008
CNN November 28, 2008
Do You Make These Mistakes with Your Hand Hygiene?
Find Out More
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
It is clear that feeding your baby artificial formula instead of breastfeeding triples their relative risk of death. A number of studies point to this fact. But now you have yet another brand new reason to be wary of feeding your baby manufactured, processed formula.
In its usual pro-industry fashion, the FDA has taken the stance that trace amounts of melamine, an industrial chemical, WILL be allowed in infant formulas sold in the U.S., despite the fact that they have no idea whatsoever as to what the “safe” level might be (i.e. how much of this dangerous chemical a baby can consume without it causing terminal kidney damage from the formation of insoluble plastic “stones”).
My guess is, it will require far less than they imagine.
And I surely would not take the fact that the U.S. contamination was due to the manufacturing process rather than intentional dilution as reassurance that the contamination levels are safe.
I’ve previously reported on the issue of melamine-tainted food products from China, and the potential health hazards of consuming this chemical. But there are still more questions than answers on this issue.
I received much of the information below in an email from a reader in the U.K. There’s no telling where it originated (if the creator notifies me, I will gladly credit him or her for it), but I believe the information is valuable enough to share with everyone as it offers some practical guidance, and answers many common questions about this new health threat.

Question: What is Melamine?
Answer: It is an industrial chemical used in the production of melawares – a nearly indestructible, hard plastic. It’s also used in other household items like laminates and fertilizers.
Question: Why is Melamine added to milk powder?Answer: The most important nutrient in milk is protein. Melamine mimics this protein, so adding inexpensive melamine into the milk reduces the actual milk content required while still making the product appear to have the correct level of nutrients.
In a nutshell: it saves manufacturers lots of money.

By Marie Bishop, Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, PhD
From Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts, the quarterly magazine of the Weston A. Price Foundation, Volume 6, Number 2, Pages 18-28.
The advice to make homemade baby formula as an alternative to commercial formula has been one of the most controversial positions taken by the Weston A. Price Foundation -- and also one that has elicited the most grateful praise.
While government officials and orthodox pediatricians are often appalled at the thought of a parent mixing up baby formula -- and one based on raw milk, no less -- the feedback we have received from parents has been extremely positive.
Some breastfeeding advocates have also criticized our stance, claiming that by providing a more healthy alternative to commercial formulas, we are discouraging breastfeeding. Make no mistake: the best food for baby is breastmilk from a healthy mother.
However, many situations call out for a good substitute: adopted and orphaned babies, babies born to mothers with serious health problems, and babies whose mothers do not have enough milk (a situation that does happen occasionally) deserve to receive something better than commercial formula.

The following information has been compiled by the authors over a period of several years and should cover most situations encountered by parents giving homemade formula to their babies.

HOMEMADE FORMULA RECIPES
Milk-Based Formula
Makes 36 ounces
Our milk-based formula takes account of the fact that human milk is richer in whey, lactose, vitamin C, niacin, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to cow's milk but leaner in casein (milk protein).
The addition of gelatin to cow's milk formula will make it more digestible for the infant. Use only truly expeller-expressed oils in the formula recipes, otherwise they may lack vitamin E.
The ideal milk for baby, if he cannot be breastfed, is clean, whole raw milk from old-fashioned cows, certified free of disease, that feed on green pasture. For sources of good-quality milk, see www.realmilk.com or contact a local chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation.
If the only choice available to you is commercial milk, choose whole milk, preferably organic and unhomogenized, and culture it with a piima or kefir culture to restore enzymes (available from G.E.M. Cultures 707-964-2922).
2 cups whole milk, preferably unprocessed milk from pasture-fed cows
1/4 cup homemade liquid whey (See recipe for whey, below)
4 tablespoons lactose*
1 teaspoon bifidobacterium infantis**
2 or more tablespoons good quality cream (not ultrapasteurized), more if you are using milk from Holstein cows
1 teaspoon regular dose cod liver oil or 1/2 teaspoon high-vitamin cod liver oil*
1 teaspoon expeller-expressed sunflower oil*
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil*
2 teaspoons coconut oil*
2 teaspoons Frontier brand nutritional yeast flakes*
2 teaspoons gelatin*
1 7/8 cups filtered water
1/4 teaspoon acerola powder*
*Available from Radiant Life 888-593-8333
**Available from Natren 800-992-3323 or Radiant Life 888-593-8333
Add gelatin to water and heat gently until gelatin is dissolved. Place all ingredients in a very clean glass or stainless steel container and mix well. To serve, pour 6 to 8 ounces into a very clean glass bottle*, attach nipple and set in a pan of simmering water.
Heat until warm but not hot to the touch, shake bottle well and feed baby. (Never, never heat formula in a microwave oven!) Note: If you are using the Lact-Aid, mix all ingredients well in a blender

Homemade Whey
Makes about 5 cups
Homemade whey is easy to make from good quality plain yoghurt, or from raw or cultured milk. You will need a large strainer that rests over a bowl. Line the strainer with a clean linen kitchen towel or several layers of cheesecloth.
If you are using yoghurt, place 2 quarts in the strainer lined with a tea towel. Cover with a plate and leave at room temperature overnight. The whey will drip out into the bowl. Place whey in clean glass jars and store in the refrigerator.
If you are using raw or cultured milk, place 2 quarts of the milk in a glass container and leave at room temperature for 2-4 days until the milk separates into curds and whey.
Pour into the strainer lined with a tea towel and cover with a plate. Leave at room temperature overnight. The whey will drip out into the bowl. Store in clean glass jars in the refrigerator.

Friday, December 5, 2008

December?

I Dont think I have ever been outside in such nice weather in December! very nice to be out in our backyard enjoying the sun.




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Thursday, December 4, 2008

mammography warning I didn't know

Breast cancer is the second most deadly form of cancer for women in the U.S. Only lung cancer claims more women’s lives than breast cancer.
According to Cancer.org’s latest report, Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2007-2008, 2007 ushered in more than 178,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer, and more than 40,000 women died from the disease.
But men are by no means immune to breast cancer. Just over 2,000 men were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007, and approximately 450 men died. Since routine screening for men is next to nonexistent, men are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced disease, and therefore have poorer chances for survival.
Unfortunately, conventional medicine is stubbornly holding on to outmoded ideas of cancer detection and treatment, no matter how ineffective it’s been proven to be.
Mammography is a perfect example of this stubborn head-in-the-sand approach to cancer screening.
Education and awareness of better, less risky and more effective options for detecting breast cancer are woefully deficient, but they do exist, and it is my hope you will take the time to review this important information, whether you’re a man or a woman, and forward it widely to your family and friends.

The Case Against Mammography
Health officials recommend that all women over 40 get a mammogram every one to two years, yet there is no solid evidence that mammograms save lives, and the benefits of mammograms are controversial at best.
Meanwhile, the health hazards of mammography have been well established.
John Gofman, M.D., Ph.D. – a nuclear physicist and a medical doctor, and one of the leading experts in the world on the dangers of radiation – presents compelling evidence in his book, Radiation from Medical Procedures in the Pathogenesis of Cancer and Ischemic Heart Disease, that over 50 percent of the death-rate from cancer is in fact induced by x-rays.
Now consider the fact that the routine practice of taking four films of each breast annually results in approximately 1 rad (radiation absorbed dose) exposure, which is about 1,000 times greater than that from a chest x-ray.
Even the American Cancer Society lists high-dose radiation to the chest as a medium to high risk factor for developing cancer.

How Mammography Increases Your Cancer Risk
X-rays and other classes of ionizing radiation have been, for decades, a proven cause of virtually all types of biological mutations. When such mutations are not cell-lethal, they endure and accumulate with each additional exposure to x-rays or other ionizing radiation.
X-rays are also an established cause of genomic instability, often a characteristic of the most aggressive cancers.
Additionally, radiation risks are about four times greater for the 1 to 2 percent of women who are silent carriers of the A-T (ataxia-telangiectasia) gene, which by some estimates accounts for up to 20 percent of all breast cancers diagnosed annually.
When everything is taken into account, reducing exposure to medical radiation such as unnecessary mammograms would actually likely reduce mortality rates.
The practice of screening mammography itself poses significant and cumulative risks of breast cancer, especially for premenopausal women.
Making matters even worse, false positive diagnoses are very common – as high as 89 percent – leading many women to be unnecessarily and harmfully treated by mastectomy, more radiation, or chemotherapy.
There are instances where mammography may be warranted. But the fact remains that there are other technologies that are proven to be more effective, less expensive, and completely harmless, that can save far more lives.
Now, imagine being able to look inside yourself and be able to get as much as 10 years warning that something is about to develop, giving you ample time to PREVENT the cancer from forming in the first place by taking the appropriate lifestyle changes that can radically change your health.
That technology already exists, and has been available since the 1960s.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

a sweet visit

Great Grandma Knifong came to visit this week. we have all enjoyed the time to get to see her. The kids have not seen her in a while so it was fun for the boys to show her what they are learning now. And Isabel tried and tried to talk with her squeaky little voice. She is cracking us up trying to get out her words. she said HI to me and YAYAYA today. Can't wait to come to your house next Grandma! see ya soon-
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Monday, December 1, 2008

a duet!


well Colton and Rhett were able to play together for the first time since Colton started to play. they were so happy and cute together. it was really fun. I didn't get a picture of it but later Seth Christian Rhett and Colton all played together. it was a simple Twinkle but Seth was the harmony and it sounded so great! very fun to hear them all with Colton. it was his dream come true to play with his buddy's!






Sunday, November 30, 2008

Thankful for YOU!

We had a great time on Thanksgiving at my sisters. we all drove down and had good food and great fellowship. here are some cute pictures. of everyone. Mostly the kids I guess.












well here is a list of the things I am thankful for this year in no particular order!-

1- a great church

2-healthy Kids

3- good friends

4- work for David
5- my parents and all their support

6- my siblings encouragement and wisdom

7- God's love for us and forgiveness












Thursday, November 20, 2008

God's blessings

well here are God's little blessings on me. Isabel's getting more verbal everyday. I swear she can say ahh-daa (all-done). she is too fun right now. she loves her books and flash cards. she is wanting to explore new textures all the time. i have started to put little peices of food on her tray for her to pick up and taste. she gives some funny faces and sounds. mostly noises of gaging and trying to dislodge the bite.


this is Isabel's favorite place, under the table


can you see her two teeth on the bottom?

Clay's babies


Math sheet!
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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

a shot in the dark?

here's an article from DR. Mercola.com I thought was good info and educating. if you go to his site and look up this article, you can find a really emotional utube of families that have kids affected by vaccines. made me cry....

The Insanity of the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule-
I published Dr. Donald Miller's excellent article, A User-Friendly Vaccination Schedule in 2004. At that time, 12 different vaccines were given to children before they reached the age of two.
As of 2008, the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that number has risen to 14 in the first 24 months, plus the meningococcal vaccine, which is to be administered between the age of two and six.
Infants and toddlers aged 0 to 6 years of age are now given vaccines to prevent the following diseases:
Hepatitis B
Rotavirus
Hepatitis A
Measles
Diphtheria
Mumps
Tetanus (lockjaw)
Rubella (German measles)
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Varicella (chickenpox)
Polio
Meningococcal
Pneumococcal infections
Influenza (yearly flu shots)
Hemophilus influenzae type b infections

If your child is vaccinated according to the CDC's recommended schedule, by the time your child starts kindergarten he or she will have received 48 doses of 14 vaccines. Of these, 36 doses will be given during the first 18 months of life.
And now consider this: one vaccine injected into a 13-pound, two-month old infant is equivalent to 10 doses of the same in a 130-pound adult. Where is the common sense in these guidelines?
Would any adult concede to being injected with 360 doses of vaccines within a couple of years’ span; equal to one injection every other day for two years?
Public health officials have NEVER proven that it is indeed safe to inject this number and volume of vaccines into infants. What's more, they cannot explain why, concurrent with an increasing number of vaccinations, there has been an explosion of neurological and immune system disorders in American children.

There are Other Options
As the trends indicate, many parents are so concerned about the potential dangers of overloading their children with this massive load of vaccines that they resort to home schooling. However, not all parents have the ability to make that type of commitment.
Fortunately, if you are unable to home school, you still have other options.
As I’ve stated before, I’m not anti-vaccine, but rather pro-vaccine safety. I also believe it is extremely important to have the right to choose; to be allowed to make informed consent decisions about what you want to inject into your child, and yourself, and when.
Dr. Donald Miller is a cardiac surgeon and Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle and a member of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness. His more sensible vaccination schedule, which I published back in 2004, is worthy of being revisited at this time.
His guidelines can help you devise a more appropriate vaccination plan for your child – a schedule that takes the best interests of your child into consideration rather than what biased government planners cite as being best for society. His is a far better approach than the "one-size-fits-all" dogma foisted on Americans by the CDC panel.

Devising a Sensible Vaccination Plan for Your Child
Your brain has its own specialized immune system, separate from that of the rest of your body. When you are vaccinated, specialized immune cells in your brain, the microglia, become activated.
Multiple vaccinations spaced close together over-stimulate the microglia, causing them to release a variety of toxic elements -- cytokines, chemokines, excitotoxins, proteases, complement, free radicals -- that damage brain cells and their synaptic connections. (The damage caused by these toxic substances is sometimes referred to as "bystander injury.")
In humans, the most rapid period of brain development begins in the third trimester and continues over the first two years. (By then, brain development is 80 percent complete.)
From a risk-benefit perspective, there is little doubt that the risk of neurological and autoimmune diseases from vaccinations at this stage far outweigh the benefits of avoiding the childhood infections that they (supposedly) prevent. (One exception is the hepatitis B vaccine, IF the mother tests positive for hepatitis B.)

As a more sensible, “user-friendly” vaccination schedule, Dr. Miller advises the following:
No vaccinations until your child is two years old.
No vaccines that contain thimerosal (mercury).
No live virus vaccines.
The following vaccines can be given one at a time (not as a combination vaccine), every six months, beginning at age 2:
Pertussis (acellular, not whole cell)
Diphtheria
Tetanus
Polio (the Salk vaccine, cultured in human cells)

And that would be pretty much it as far as vaccinations. Your pediatrician will not like this schedule, but if you have reviewed the evidence and still feel your child should be inoculated to a certain degree, this is a far safer alternative to the standard vaccination schedule.

How to Avoid the Vaccinations You Don’t Want
Remember, although exemptions for religious beliefs are becoming harder to obtain in some states like New York. All 50 states have vaccination requirements but all states provide exemptions for medical reasons while 48 states allow exemptions for sincerely held religious beliefs. Another 18 states allow parents to opt out for personal, conscientious or philosophical beliefs as well.
Mississippi and West Virginia only allow exemptions for medical reasons. In some states medical exemptions written by a licensed M.D. or D.O. must conform to CDC contraindication guidelines or public health officials will challenge them.
Maryland, despite their handling of the issue, also still offers the right to opt out for religious beliefs. My previous article, How To Legally Avoid Unwanted Immunizations Of All Kinds, spells out how you go about practicing this right.

Remember, you need to educate yourself on the dangers of the vaccines that your doctor or pediatrician insists on administering., as well as the vaccine laws in your state.
I have numerous articles detailing the dangers of various vaccines on this site, and you have the entire internet at your disposal in addition to what I have documented through the years.
There is also an entire chapter in my book Take Control of Your Health devoted to this very topic, including what you should know before vaccinating, and what to do if you decide not to.

Monday, November 10, 2008

baby signs



Isabel is now eight months old (ok, ok I'll face it! she's really NINE months) She has been starting signs the last two weeks! it's so cute. she can sign hungry and all done! She is so little, I weighed her and she is 15 lbs. she is even trying to say some words, dadada nanana (i think this is mama). she tried to play peek-a-boo last couple days with her hands. such a funny little girl.
The boys have been doing good with school. Colton is progressing well with violin and swimming. he can now play 7 variations of "twinkle twinkle", "lightly row" and almost all of "Song of the wind". he likes math and is challenged by reading. In swimming he can do a couple laps of free style (on the short side) and has finally learned how to swim on his back. that has been a lot of work for him.(more work for me I feel sometimes!)
Clay is learning his ABC's and is doing good with memorizing verses. just a little update! hope this finds you all well....gotta go cook dinner and make some flash cards!

boys with their Salamander they caught on Halloween. Colton thought he came out for the Holiday....

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Friday, October 31, 2008

October 31st...


we caught a salamander on our front walk way! the boys are delighted! the love catching anything that moves. Halloween is not a big holiday around here but just a fun day to dress-up. the boys love to do this everyday, but this is our one day a year to go and show off there characters! and let me tell you they are indeed characters! I'll post costume pictures later- have a great day...
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Wednesday, October 29, 2008

pumpkin patch 2008














I think this was the best weather we have ever had for the fall time. we went to the pumpkin patch on Monday and it was 74! David even came with us. fun fall! enjoy the pictures :)

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Friday, October 24, 2008

health tip for Breakfast

The problem with most American breakfasts is that they are a prescription for disaster and will only worsen your health.

When you plan your meals you can immediately exclude:
Doughnuts
Cereals
Fruit Juice
Waffles and pancakes
Bagels and Toast (even whole grain organic types)
ALL cereals (even whole grain organic types)

The confusing issue for many will likely be why whole grain breads and cereals are not recommended. While there are some people who can tolerate and even thrive on them, it is safe to assume that you are likely not one of them.

Grains rapidly break down to sugar in the body and stimulate insulin production. So, if you:
Are overweight
Have high cholesterol
Have high blood pressure
Have diabetes
you will best be served by avoiding these foods.

so go for more things like eggs, nutts, yogurt, veggie juice (best if made yourself) or homemade oatmeal. get you and your kids day off to the right start!

There are two major problems with breakfast cereals:
Their high sugar content
The grains (carbohydrates, which also break down into sugar)
On average, just one serving of a typical children’s breakfast cereal equates to more than 90 percent of the daily sugar intake for sedentary girls aged 9 to 13.

Regardless of the “healthy fiber” content of the cereal, consuming that much sugar is not going to promote good health. Foods high in added sugar contain little in terms of essential vitamins and minerals, and the calories they contain are not made up of important micronutrients needed for health and growth.
Reducing sugar intake should be on the top of your list regardless of whether your child is currently overweight or not, because it’s been proven over and over that sugar increases insulin levels, which can lead to:

High blood pressure and high cholesterol
Heart disease
Diabetes
Weight gain
Premature aging, and more

Thursday, October 23, 2008

voting?

well polotics are one of my least favorite things to talk about and think about. I have a friend who wrote a great blog that I think all Christian's and prolife people should read about the upcoming election. http://randyalcorn.blogspot.com/ Read it all the way to the end, it's really worth it.-

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

oh man the weather!!

the flowers we planted



the kids and I got out and enjoyed the weather a little today. 70 on October the 22nd! What an amazing day. i wish I was able to have nothing going on and just have been able to stay home and enjoy it. too bad today is one of my busy days. we had violin today so we were gone most of the day. I love the fall when it's as nice as it has been this fall! I thought I was going to miss all the planting this year. we just got our lawn and bark dust in. so now I get to plant some color! happy day---
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