Diaper Rash Creams

My girls have very sensitive skin. I have tried several products for them, including prescription strength cream that my doctor recommended. Nothing has worked. When I apply the cream to the diaper rash either doesn't go away or gets worse in many cases.

Pre-made Cream
My sister recommended Young Livings diaper rash cream to me and it has been amazing.  There are no harsh chemicals, only natural products including; Mango butter, German Chamomile oil, and others. It has been the only pre-made product that I have tried that has worked for my girls.



Homemade Cream
If I am short on funds, which has happened often in the past, I end up making my own cream. I fill a 4 ounce mason jar with half Shea butter and half organic Coconut oil (you may use all shea or all coconut if you do not have the other). Then I mix in 1-2 drops of Lavendar essential oil, 1-2 drops of Gentle Baby essential oil, 1 drop Rose essential oil and 1-2 drops Purification essential oil. apply during diaper changes.

This is my favorite blend, but you can add or subtract oils depending on which benefits you would like. For example, I add the Rose oil because it is very good for the skin and has been used for thousands of years. It can also work as an anti-inflammatory and provide antioxidants for the skin.  It is one of my favorite oils.

Regardless of which oil blends you use it is important to remember that Baby's skin is very sensitive so be sure to dilute any oils that you use for them to at least 50:50


*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA

A New Lifestyle

My husband and I started a new chapter in our lives this week. Before we got married I was 145 pounds and fairly active. I went hiking a lot. Now 3 years, 3 pregnancies, and 4 kids later I am 231 pounds. I told myself each time I got pregnant take I would be good, try to eat healthy and exercise. But I gave into every craving. Which personally I feel is okay when your pregnant, because frankly pregnancy sucks, at least for me it did. But I digress. Now that there are no more pregnancies in my future, I have no more excuses.

This week we have committed to be better each day. We are changing the way we eat and we are exercising every day. We started Beachbody's 21 day fix and it's kicking my butt. I am so sore, but it's going to be worth it. After a lot of research we also started the Mediterranean diet.

Honestly, I don't care so much about the weight. That's not why I'm doing this. I just want to be able to keep up with my kids, or at least try. I want to be able to help them as they grow, to go in adventures with them. I want to be around to see my grandkids, and what's more I want to be able to play with my grandkids. I know that they say that you should want to change your life style for yourself, but if I focused on me I wouldn't do it, I wouldn't care enough to. My kids and my amazing husband are why I am changing my life. I want nothing more then to be the best me I can possibly be for them.

Happy New Year

A new year. It symbolizes so many different thoughts: out with the old, in with the new, a fresh start, putting away the past and striving for a new hope.
I know the New Year is used as a time for people to reflect on the previous year and set goals for the coming, but I personally don't like the idea of New Year's resolutions. Please don't mistake me, I am a firm believer in the power of goals, but not New Year's resolutions.
So many people set New Year's resolutions and are really good at keeping them, at least at first. But then the year moves on. Life takes over and they put their resolutions aside. And often when they forget about resolutions for a time they either decide "oh well I will try again next year" or they get discouraged and let feelings of failure creep into their minds.
No, New Year's resolutions are not effective in my experience. It takes so much more than once a year. It should be a daily resolution. Each morning we should resolve to be better than yesterday. Each night we should reflect on the what we did well and what needs improvement. Resolutions should not be something we do at New Year's. Resolutions should be a daily effort to reach our goals; a striving, through small acts to achieve great things.
Making daily resolutions allows ourselves room to grow without becoming discouraged. Taking the time to renew your resolutions each day by saying, "I may have slipped today, but tomorrow I will be better". It's okay to make mistakes. And it's okay to alter our goals if we realize they don't fit. It doesn't make you a failure. You are not a failure.
I pray that 2018 bring you joy through your struggles, and light through the darkness. Happy New Year!

Chaos

It's kind of funny, but before I had kids I would count down until fun events like a camping trip or date. Now the only thing I count down is the minutes until naptime or bedtime. Some days the space between naps feels like an eternity. Like today, all four of my children have decided that today is a screaming day. They have been crying, screaming, fighting, and causing mayhem all day. It is complete and utter chaos. They look sweet I know, but looks are deceiving. Today is an adventure in patience, and so far I'm not doing so well. I want to scream, just scream as loud as I can just to release the stress... I think naptime is coming early today.
 

It begins

If you would have told me three years ago when I got married that today I would be mother to four children, I would have laughed in your face. And yet here I am spending each day taking care of four little ones.
Don't get me wrong I love my kids more than I can express, but it's not a picnic (a picnic with all four kids would be insane). There are moments when all four are screaming and the diapers are piling up, I just want to run and hide in a closet where they can't find me. But then my 2 year old sings me a song, the twins come and cuddle with me, or my sweet baby boy smiles and it's all worth it.
Life is crazy; it throws twists at you when you least expect and you start to feel like nothing is going to work out, but there is light even if it's small. I doubt this blog will reach very far, but even if I only help one mom to realize that she can make it through the craziness than I've done what I set out to do. And if it doesn't, I have a place to vent and express myself. Win, win.