Monday afternoon Brady came home from school with his eye all red and bruised. When I asked him what happened he said that he poked his eye. That was easy to believe...so I went with it. The next morning his eye was still like that, but I didn't give it much thought. Brady often gets hurt and doesn't know how to communicate with me what happened....I just figured that he couldn't remember. He went to school....oops.
The next morning Trin woke up with her right eye a little pink and it had some goop in the corner. Oh dear me, could they possibly have....pink eye? I've never had it, so wasn't quite sure if it was that or allergies. After much internet research I realized that it probably was conjunctivitis - now I just had to figure out if it was viral or bacterial. Supposedly bacterial conjunctivitis can only be healed with antibiotics....meaning a trip to the pediatrician office.
Everything I read said that it was extremely contagious and it was very important to see your doctor. Now...since I don't actually have a doctor - I began experimenting. (I would like to add here that I'm not saying that you SHOULDN'T go to the doctor...or that doctor's don't know what they're talking about...or that I don't TRUST doctor's...I just didn't want to go.)
First I began washing the kids eyes with warm water (oh, the baby had gotten it now too) and then would use cotton balls soaked in warm sea salt water. I did this for a day and it seemed to be helping Brady's....but he was further along with his infection. I did a little more reading and started really doubting myself. Everything was saying that I needed antibiotic drops...which bothered me a lot. I try my very best to stay away from antibiotics...I believe that they change our body's immune chemistry. At the same time...I always have this sense of fear in me when I try to "self heal" - especially with my kids. I think it's because it's not the norm, and I'm scared that others will think that I'm taking risks..and what if I am? Maybe I'm lazy....just thinking of taking all four kids to a doctor's office makes me want to pull my hair out...and I'm not ready to have bald patches just yet.
Thursday night, after the kids were in bed...I finally came across a thread on the internet that showed a more holistic and natural approach. Many people were writing about how using castor oil...tea bags...colloidal silver and even aloe vera
all helped them and completely cleared their eyes.
Needless to say, I jumped off of the couch and headed straight towards my fireplace mantel (I keep a potted aloe vera there)...I broke off a piece of aloe and headed into my kid's rooms. I dabbed aloe into each of their eyes while they were sleeping and headed back to the living room and asked God to
please take this away. I asked Him if I was being prideful....was I avoiding the doctor's office because it wasn't something that "Alyssa does" or was it because I honestly don't think that there is a need?
And, is it okay
not to do something just because "Alyssa doesn't?" Zac says I think to much...he be right.
I made the decision that I would try things at home for the weekend and then if it wasn't cleared up by Monday...I would take the kids in. Everything I read said that regardless of what you do...it usually takes about 5 days to heal.
Friday morning, Brady's eyes were much better. Trin's were better.....but I wanted to do more. Tristan woke up with the goop..and the babies were semi clear. Friday afternoon I read that brewing strong black tea, and applying 2 drops per eye every 3 hours was extremely successful.
Well...I did it. I applied the drops to the kids every three hours or so, kept their eyes clean and had them wash their hands regularly. After one day of this Brady's eyes are now completely clear. Trin's eyes are no longer pink at all and don't itch...Tristan's eyes don't look pink and he just has a tiny bit of discharge...and the babies eyes are almost clear.
I love how God has made our earth perfectly...how He created plants to be used in so many ways. Take tea for instance....green tea for healing...strong black tea to wake you up....calming chamomile and peppermint to aid digestion. And now....tea for pink eye! Anyways, by Monday hopefully all the kids will be better...and you can bet your buns I've already started putting tea drops in my eyes....just to be safe.
For the last few days, I've barely been able to keep up with just "normal" housework. The never ending mound of dishes, the four loads of laundry needing to be folded....the endless supply of crumbs under Finn's highchair...boo. I've been craving *earth.* I've been dreaming of a hike in Breckenridge for weeks, a new potted plant - I've been scouring the internet for gardening tips and dreaming of vegetables and little packets of seeds. My green thumb was calling (or Mother Nature - take your pick.)
And then it happened. A clear blue sky and a perfect early morning. Zac worked with me the night before to get caught up on laundry, the fridge was full of fresh produce and enough pita bread to feed an army - the only excuse NOT to start my garden was the dishes...and the dishes could wait.
After some coffee fresh from Italy (there are perks to your brother being in the Air Force) and a bowl of hot oat bran (I added chopped dates and honey this time....SOOOO good) I retreated to my back yard for the next two hours and did this....
Sat in the dirt, touched the dirt, smelled the dirt. I should probably just become an earthworm since I feel so at home with soil, except I don't think Zac would approve of my reincarnation choice. I guess I'll just stay a girl who sometimes gets to garden. We already had some corn growing in the plot so I added tomatoes and some cucumbers...
Such lovely little plants full of promise - I can't wait to make my own fresh pico de gallo - yummo. I also have another little spot in the yard with some jalapeno peppers and then basil and some rosemary.
This gorgeous perennial is one of my new faves - Lacy Blue Russian Sage. I love how wild and wispy it is...a flower after my own heart. I'm a big fan of the style of landscaping I've noticed out west...very eclectic and not a lot of "symmetry" going on. I like that. :)
Trin and I concocted this delicious lunch of watermelon slices, mini omelets with orange bell pepper, black olives and cilantro, cucumbers sprinkled with Himalayan sea salt and dill, gorgeous deep red cherries, and a pitcher of ice water with lemon. So refreshing after being in the hot sun...
Aren't they just gorgeous? I don't know if YOU know this but cherries are one of the only foods that naturally have melatonin in them...great for regulating heart rhythms and also it promotes healthy sleep cycles. Cherries also contain anthocyanins which is great for people who have arthritis or swelling (like gout.) Superfoods amaze me.
And it would also seem that I've been growing my very own flower child - she gets her good taste honestly. And speaking of honest, five little ponies and a cutsie t shirt for 3 bucks is a total steal - yah for good quality thrift stores - makes me wanna dance, and I just might....in my back yard surrounded by sage and tomatoes.
