NyQuil, Neti Pots, and Natural Healing Part 2- Internet based experiments

For the record, my right ear is completely plugged. It has been for DAYS now. I am currently fighting the urge to put a sharp object into it and pop it.

By the way, I know this would be a bad idea.

Also by the way-I did go to the doctor and get antibiotics. Not because they are for every illness, but because when you have a fever for four days and a sinus infection, they are recommended.

But back to the ear.

I had to get some relief from this fluid. So I googled, “drain ear fluid”.

I found Massage By Heather.

Heather details a method called “lymphatic drain massage” that is a series of light touches to coax your ear fluid down the paths it should be draining down. She does the series of massage positions in video. It’s easy to follow.

I figured I had nothing to lose, so I tried it.

It definitely helps! I would say it reduced my ear pressure by 30%. I could also feel the ear fluid trickling down my neck and into my throat (gross, but that is how drainage works).

This is basically my approach to natural healing and self-directed remedies. I research. I ask myself, can I do this? If it doesn’t work, is no change in my condition the worst possible result? If the answers are “yes”, I try it.

Since the Massage by Heather experiment, my friend, an actual massage therapist, let me know that it really is safe to do this type of massage on yourself. I found that reassuring-because I’m about to do it again.

NyQuil, Neti Pots, and Natural Healing-Part 1

This winter has been a constant sick day. We started toddler activities this fall, and have caught everything under the sun. Colds, strep, fifths disease, and now ear infections.

My little baby, in the spirit of sharing, has gotten everything her sister brought home-except strep.

Which brings about an important point-exclusively breastfeeding your child does not prevent illness. I’m sure it helps build the immune system, as all the studies show, but it’s not a magic bullet. She is sick WAY more than her formula fed sister ever was. Formula doesn’t cause sickness people-GERMS do. And you know who has lots of germs? Toddlers.

But I digress.

As the winter has proceeded, I’ve gotten sick as well a few times. While I daydream longingly of weeks chugging NyQuil, (and sleeping!) my options are somewhat limited on what I can take, thanks to aforementioned breastfed baby. Also because you can’t be in a NyQuil stupor when your toddler is up crying because she is a MESS every 45 minutes.

Therefore, I’ve been experimenting with the word of “natural remedies” to see what helps.

Like all responsible bloggers, I should say I am NOT a doctor, just a person, and if you or your kids are sick, you should take thee to the doc ASAP.

I’ve done enough at this point for a couple of posts, but I’ll leave you today with my favorite-my Decongestion Concoction.

This is found, with different proportions, all over the web. For good reason-it works.

16-24 oz hot tea. I use either chamomile or ginger.
2+ Tablespoons honey. Local honey is recommended but supermarket honey is fine.
1/2-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2-teaspoon ground ginger (people use fresh too. Feel free.)
*people also put in lemon

To Make: Boil water. Put all other ingredients in a cup. When water is at a boil, pour over and mix to incorporate all ingredients. Clears up your nose and makes a sore throat feel much better!

Today is One of Those Days

Today is one of those days that begins the night before, when you get home from the first date night (date hour, actually) that you’ve had in months and your six month old vomits all over the first actual clothes you’ve worn all week.

Today is one of those days your ear still won’t pop and you can’t take decongestant because it will dry up the breast milk said six month old vomited all over you again at 4:30 AM (in your bed) while your feverish two year old cried in the bathroom with her dad (who may have also wanted to cry, if I had to take a guess.)

Today is one of those days your 2 year old eats a pickle for breakfast.

Today is one of those days both your children cry while you take a shower at 1 PM to finally rinse off the 4:30 AM vomit. But you don’t get to shower much because your 2 year old comes in, crying, to report her sister is, in fact, crying.

Today is one of those days you have one baby in the baby sling and the other in your lap when really, you want to drop them off at the fire station on your way to go beg your own mom to hold you and feed you. Which won’t happen because the thought of anyone, including your mom, seeing you in this state is too much to bear; and anyway, your kids won’t stop crying long enough to get them ready to go anywhere.

Today is one of those days you cry along with your kids while texting your husband at work that you can’t do this, you can’t be mom today. While you do this they cry that they want daddy and you sob, “Me, too.”

Today is one of those days you wish your kids would just watch more TV, so maybe you could wash vomit and phlegm out of every item of clothing (and sheets) in the house. This proves impossible as you continue your job as Human Hankie.

Today is one of those days you don’t want to admit to, ever, to your family, your friends, your spouse-yourself. It’s too messy, angry, tired, snappy, crabby. You signed up for matching Easter dresses and playing at the playground and re-watching Disney movies. Not piles of dirty laundry, backed up paperwork from work, and Puffs all over the floor.

Today is just one. of. those. days.

Where have you BEEN!?!

Hey everyone, all you peeps out there who click on my links. ‘Sup?

I haven’t written because we have been continuously sick for most of this winter, and in between having a sick child or two hanging on me, being sick myself, attempting to work in between, and the resulting sleep deprivation, I haven’t had many opportunities to come up with anything to say.

Actually, that’s not completely true. I could have complained about germs on here every. single. day. But that is hardly compelling.

I have also not seen friends since…October? It feels like every greeting I’ve given someone recently is, “Where have you BEEN!??”

It goes without saying that this winter has been brutal. Like, considering moving brutal.

But even though I am sitting here with baby vomit in my hair and a low-grade fever of my own, I’m feeling spring coming. Seed catalogs have arrived. We are getting foster chickens while friends are out of town. Birds are returning to the bird feeder. There are visible patches of lawn. My girls are starting to play TOGETHER! The air is changing.

Finally.