weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice

One of Sophia's best qualities is that she does just this! When someone is happy, she rejoices fully. When someone is sad or hurt, she literally hurts with them. Especially if they are someone close to her and deeply loved by her. When her Ama (grandma) was really suffering with a painful knee due to arthritis, Sophia suffered as well and prayed taking on that suffering. This is just one of many examples of this quality in our sweet daughter's life.

Most recently, it's been about Lucas and his skin. I've been gluten free for about a month now and since going GF, Sophia is constantly asking me if I can have this or that or if things have flour in them. She's been very sensitive to this change in my diet and feels badly when she's eating something yummy that I can't have. Up until a week ago, that was the extent of it.

Then, last Wednesday, right before the goodies of Thanksgiving hit our home, she told me that she'd been thinking and that since she plays with, hugs on and gives kisses to Lucas, she had decided that it would probably be best for her to be gluten free as well. I told her that was very sweet and thoughtful of her, but that she didn't need to feel like she had to if she didn't really want to. She insisted that she did. I honestly expected it to last the day or maybe 2 days tops, but a week later, each and every time she puts something into her mouth, she asks me first if its Gluten-free.

She's 5.

I honestly cannot believe she's done it this long and my heart is overwhelmed by her thoughtfulness and love for her little brother! I do think she might just make one powerful intercessor someday!

Through this act of sacrifice that she has made, I've been incredibly blessed! I'm so thankful for her tender heart that suffers and rejoices alongside the people she loves.

Oh God, please use this for good in her life! Give her a heart for justice and mercy and love for those around her, not just her family. Thank you for her sweet, sensitive spirit. May it be used for your glory!

praying for our kids: week 6

Week 6: Will not lust after evil things

Dear Lord,
Please take away ______'s lust for evil things' don't let him/her want to be with sinners, doing what they do, sharing their dainties. Psalm 141:4 

brotherly love

 so thankful for brotherly love!

Pinning Week 3: Dear Santa

I'm linking up today with Courtney from Life with the Baxtrons to share what's on the Christmas list this year.
As the kids get older, they know more and more what they want...we're working on finding a balance between getting and giving and really want the kids to focus more on giving. We're sponsoring an Iraqi Refugee girl this year who is 8. Sophia has gotten really excited about giving her gifts and understanding how important it is to share with others.

Even so...I cannot resist giving them gifts. I love their expressions and excited exclamations. The list is long this year and we've told them they won't be getting everything, but here are some of the highlights:

Links to these and all his other wishes

Links to these and all his other wishes

Links to these and all her other wishes

What's on your Christmas List this year?
 

love this face!

Its so hard to believe that 9 months ago today, our little Lucas joined our family.
What an incredible joy he is. I absolutely love that this little kid loves to laugh. He is just the happiest kid I know!

Just look at this face! 

Happy 9 months, buddy!

highlight: entering the Christmas Season

Hope your Thanksgiving was very special! 

There were so many great things about this week! What a wonderful time with family on  Thanksgiving and the day after, doing our traditional out-and-about with the grandparents in NYC. So many new memories and traditions that are forming...but my favorite part of this holiday weekend is the permission it gives me to start celebrating the Christmas Season!
We always put up our tree this weekend and what fun!

This year, the kids are old enough to not just want to contribute a bit, but to want to do it all. Both hubby and I are perfectionists when it comes to our tree, so it was a bit hard to let go and let it look "kid adorned" but what fun watching them put their ornaments on the tree, remember ornaments they'd gotten from years past and get excited about the ones that were "cute" or "beautiful."

Nicholas seemed to like to put the ornaments in threes. I kept finding his all bunched up together...but what fun! Definitely think that has to be the highlight of my week!

Here are just a few shots of our afternoon.

Getting things started

Couldn't move the doubled up ornaments. They will be little for too short of time!

more doubles

Lucas did not like the feel of the branches!

still not very happy

much better!

happier with his siblings!

so thankful for my babies!

How have you spend your holiday weekend?

praying for our kids: week 5

in honor of Thanksgiving this week, I'm taking a break from the usual praying for our kids posts to talk about thanking God for our kids.

I'm sure you already do this, but this week, my prayers will turn to prayers of thanksgiving in regards to my kids, thanking God for each one specifically and for the things that make each one different and special. Each one of my babies is so different and unique and what a blessing and incredible joy to raise them and love on them each day. Too many days it seems I'm rushing through life, trying to get here or there or get this or that done.

I just want to pause and thank God for my kids.
Just a few of the things that I'm thankful for:

Sophia:
her tender and sensitive heart. Her heart is so big and so full of love
her sweet smile
her incredibly silly side and the way she wrinkles her nose when she's being silly
the way she loves and cares for her brothers
the way she wants to stop immediately and pray for others when she hears that someone is sick or in pain

Nicholas:
for his tender heart - he's such a big, rough and tough boy, but what a sensitive discerning heart he has
for his cuddles 
for his eyes that sparkle with mischief
for the way he giggles and plays with Sophia and sits next to Lucas and sings to him
for the way he encourages those around him

Lucas:
for his love of laughter
for the way he just loves to be with people
for the way he tries to laugh right as he's about to cry in a last attempt to be happy when something's wrong
for the way he just lights up when we walk into the room
for his love of learning all about the world around him

I cannot wait to continue to see what God does in and through each of their lives. I'm so incredibly blessed and my heart is so full when I look at my family. I have a wonderfully supportive husband who is such a great father and three little kids that just fill our home with noise and laughter.

Thank you God for these blessings!   

christmas pinterest finds

Today, I'm linking up with a dear friend, Courtney, from Life with the Baxtrons to share some fun pins I've found while preparing for Christmas next month. Normally my policy is no Christmas before Thanksgiving...but this sounds like so much fun, I just had to join in :)

Here are a few of the things I would like to try my hand at this year or in the next few years. When it comes to Christmas, my heart's desire is to find some wonderful traditions early on that my kids will cherish growing up and remember all their lives. My parents did a great job of that for us and I hope to do the same for my kiddos...

So, with out further ado, here are my pins:

DO IT YOURSELF DECORATIONS:

source

source

source

source

source

source

source

source

source

 

 

 

 

HOMEMADE GIFT IDEAS:

source

source

source

 

 

ORNAMENTS & PICTURES:

source

source

 

hopefully this has given you some inspiration for Christmas! I know it has me excited!!

I would love for you to check out all my pins. You can find them here

This post has been shared at "Pinning" Week 2, It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

one of the things I love about having boys

Nicholas and Sophia are currently in a timeout. Nicholas is stuck on the couch while Sophia suffers in her room...we have a blanket on the couch that has tassels on the edges...he's currently playing army men with them all...they are lined up, ready for something...

I love how well he can plan with absolutely anything.  Cute....even when he's in trouble.

highlight

Just a picture this week...this mama's heart is joyful and thankful! 

If you missed my update about this picture...you can catch up here

bathtime tears

before you think this is a sad post...I'll assure you that it's not! Let me explain...
One of my biggest joys as my infant babies got older has been watching them have fun and explore in the bathtub. Honestly there have been endless hours of fun in there as their imaginations go wild, but it's most fun (in my humble opinion) when they are first starting off in the big bath experience and can splash and kick away at the water. The joy on their faces is priceless!

I'd been looking forward to that with Lucas as well, but bath time has always been as quick as possible and usually with tears and frustration due to his angst with eczema. At it wasn't just Lucas crying...there were days when I just wanted to literally throw in the towel and give up as he screamed in pain and desperation from the itching on skin that was now fully bare and able to be scratched without interference.

After our community prayed for Lucas on Wednesday night, hubby and I came home talking more and more about different ways we could help soothe Lucas' skin. Granted he's doing so much better, but he still itches and we wanted to figure out if there was more we could do, holistically.

Hubby got online and looked up websites from Peru (where he's from) and I wanted to smack myself for not thinking of that sooner. Home remedies that his aunt and mom give us have always worked for the kids and I couldn't believe we were just now thinking to look at what is traditionally and naturally used there.

The very first thing on the list was chamomile. Another duh moment! I love chamomile or manzanilla as we call it in Spanish and have used it for upset tummies, gassy babies and other such calming needs. Not sure why I hadn't thought of it for relieving itchy skin. The site recommended compresses that be applied but I figured, why not make some concentrated chamomile tea and put that in with his bath? Sounded like something that might help.

I tried it last night for the first time. I opted for the kitchen sink so that I wouldn't have to make that much tea and it would be more concentrated and stuck him in...Mami's tears quickly followed as my little boy enjoyed his bath for the first time in months! He played with the two cups I'd given him and happily splashed in the water. Only 2x did he reach for his diaper area that is usually the brunt of his scratching at bath time and when I moved his hands away, he never went back! I confess I couldn't hold back my tears of joy! He was in water, naked and completely happy for the first time! Chamomile tea... oh how I love you!

Here's my little guy...looks like I might just be able to add his bath time picture to his siblings pictures that I have in the bathroom...now that he's not crying while taking a bath! :)

I apologize that this one is blurry but he was so happy that he couldn't stop moving :) 

Please note that this is just our experience with chamomile and was not something that a doctor prescribed. I'm just sharing what's been working for our individual family and hope that it can somehow help others as well!

This post has been shared at Fight Back Friday

it takes a village

I clearly remember when then First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton came out with her book "It takes a Village".
What controversy!! I especially remember the outrage in my small circle of influence and Bob Dole while running for president, specifically stating that it just takes a family, not a village. That book came out exactly 10 years before I become a mother.

Fast forward 10 years to when our own little bundle of joy came into our lives. At that time in our lives, I needed to go back to work for financial reasons and only got to stay home with Sophia for the first 8 weeks of her life. After I returned to work, our then pastor's wife watched her 2 days a week, hubby watched her 1 day a week and my parents split the other 2 days between themselves. There was already a village starting.

Over the years, we've had different people involved in the aspects of our family's life and invested in our kids. The older two spent time in daycare and had outside nannies and sitters. I can say without a doubt that I'm proud to have a village of excellent people around us that encourage, support and help in the day-to-day of parenting. I honestly cannot imagine raising our children without them! I love that they have more than just two people investing in them and providing godly examples and behaviors. I love that they each have special people in their lives that just make them light up! I love that those people may or may not be blood relatives and the more the merrier (in my opinion!)

I've only been a mom for 5 1/2 years, but I can definitely say, without a doubt, that while yes, a larger portion of child rearing and education lies on our shoulders as parents, I welcome the village that we've created around our kids. Honestly, I do think that our Western Culture has totally missed the boat on this one! I love going home to Peru and having 30+ family members surround our kids, play with our kids, discipline them, educate them, love on them, etc.

And here at home...those of you who are part of our village (you know who you are) You are so very much loved and so very much appreciated! We are so incredibly thankful that we're not alone on this journey and that we have others who love our kids so much! 

Last night, our extended family, our village, (most of them are not blood relation) came around our family to love on and pray for our little Lucas and his struggle with eczema. What a sense of belonging and security, knowing that others love our kids and want the best for them. I'm so thankful for the people God has brought into our lives...some of which we've known for the full 5 1/2 years as parents and other we've just met but still feel like family. 

Thank you family...we love you!

praying for our kids: week 4

week 4: Desire to be with those who love the Lord

Dear Lord, May ____________ enjoy the companionship of those who love you and have pure hearts.  II Timothy 2:22b

homemade vaseline

While being gluten free has greatly helped my little boy's skin, hydrating his skin has also helped greatly. I had been using quite a bit of Aquaphor and Vaseline and since it's made from petroleum jelly, I thought it might be fun to make my own, non-petroleum vaseline. It's one of the things I'd pinned to do. I must say, I much more successful at following through on things I find on the internet since pinterest!

I used extra virgin olive oil and bees wax as the recipe indicated.

Melting the beeswax and olive oil together

Since I was running low on my lip balm I decided to put some into my chapstick containers. 

Mine is much darker and much more olive toned than the one I pinned and I think I would put more beeswax in it the next time if I used olive oil again. I do think I would also like to try it with coconut oil. I really like it for chapstick, but unfortunately, it just didn't work for Lucas' skin. It didn't keep him nearly as hydrated as I wanted and his skin got irritated quickly.

So much for petroleum-free vaseline...I suppose my consolation is that I am not using steroids on his skin anymore, right? For now, 100% pure petroleum jelly will have to do.

I will soon be sharing more and more of the pin recreations that I do from what I've pinned on Pinterest. Check back soon for more! 

Check out all my pins here

rest

Over the past few months, as my life has gone from very scheduled and structured to hardly any at all, I've been thinking and wanting to figure out how to make sure I have a sabbath. Having worked for Orthodox Jews before leaving the work place, shabbat was very much part of my life, even though I didn't practice it. Once Day Light Savings time ended in the falls, on Fridays, we had to be very careful to leave the office before sundown and were prohibited to go in to work on Saturdays or do work from home. Having an understanding from the Old Testament, it was very important for me to honor their practices and be very respectful of that time.

Interestingly enough, now that I'm not there on a daily basis, I have an longing for my own sabbath day more than I ever did while employed there those 7 years.

When I first started my stay-at-home gig, things seemed pretty easy! Sophia was in pre-k 5 days per week from 8:30-2:30. Nicholas is so easy going and Lucas was brand new and pretty content. For the most part, it was simple. But I started getting bored and restless. I needed more than just laundry and play time with the boys. (both of which are great...but you know...)

My first change came when I totally revolutionized our eating by switching over to Traditional Food cooking and that all of a sudden took up a lot more of my time. I joined a Bible Study on Thursday nights. Then I added about 1 1/2  hours per week of work for my old job. It was easy enough and the extra money was great.

I also added a lot more play dates with mommy friends which I love! And then most recently, I added another 5-6 hours of work from home...again great and the money is great but it's taking up more time than I thought it would.

All of this has me thinking about rest. When food prep takes so much of my time, how can I better streamline it so that I don't have to use so much of my time getting food ready? How can I make sure that the time I spend working from home is done most effectively so I'm not wasting time or neglecting time with my kids?

My goal this year was to figure all this out so that I would be ready for homeschooling next year. I start to panic when I think that I haven't figured it out yet because I can't imagine adding teaching two kids to my already very full day.

And that's when I come back to rest and a sabbath of my own. I've long since realized that Sundays will probably not be my sabbath. As the kids get older and require less naps, Sunday afternoon, which used to be my sabbath time, is no longer as restful. I really don't have anything figured out yet...just that I need to figure something out. I know that resting will refresh and renew me. I know that consistent time with my Savior will give me the grace and strength for the challenges of each day.

But how to do that, do the laundry, feed us, play, keep the house relatively clean and make sure we're all sane at this point is beyond me.

When I start to feel the "overwhelmed" button blinking, I know I need to figure something out quick...

If you've figured out how to keep a routine and keep sane, I would love to hear about it! And if I figure something out...I promise to share it with you as well!

all that to say...I do love my life and time with my family. I'm thankful for the food that is making our family healthier and the money from working for home that helps with the extra expenses of eating this way...I'm thankful for the privilege and opportunity to stay home with my kids and the craziness that comes with it...but if I can be a better wife and mom in the process...I fully welcome that as well!

Easy Sweet and Salty Popcorn

photo credit here

This has quickly become my absolute favorite treat. Being gluten-free for these next few weeks/months, I've had to come up with some new treats. I mentioned this in my post about my "new friends" but thought I'd share the actual recipe. Yum!

sweet & salty popcorn
1/2 cup popcorn
1 tbsp oil (high smoke point) I use palm shortening
3 tbsp honey
3 tbsp butter
salt

Pop popcorn on the stove. Salt as you would normally.
Melt together honey and butter. Drizzle over popcorn and stir to mix. DONE! Enjoy! :)

My mom makes some killer caramel corn, but with brown sugar. My goal would be to eventually make something comparable with a healthy sweetener, but for now, this does the trick...and is definitely finger-licking good!

This post has been share at Fight Back Friday

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we have an suv that seats 7...which is great...but the back row is a bit tricky to get into what with moving the car seats and climbing over the chair, but it is so very nice that we can have 7 people in the car if needed!
When we take people in the car with us, my sweet, dear hubby usually volunteers to sit all the way in the back with Sophia. It's so nice, but I know it's tough on him because I end up driving and moving the seat and the mirrors and all for usually just a short trip somewhere. He never complains, but I finally told him it was my turn to sit back there.

This week, I had the opportunity to sit back there with Sophia on two separate occasions and I had no idea how sweet and fun it would be. Sophia just loved that I was back there and we played games and just had fun, silly time together. Each time that extra seat opened up and I could jump back up into the passenger's seat, she clung to my arm and begged me to stay. It was special.

It's those memories I hope are always etched in her mind. I know they will be memories that I forever cherish!

How was your week?

pumpkin pie casserole

I made this early last week, knowing I was going to take the gluten-free plunge and it's delicious! It's actually in the oven again. I seriously love...LOVE...all things pumpkin and the smells of fall and this just is so easy and gluten-free so Sophia and I made it again today!

And, can I just say how much I'm loving pinterest. I'd love to have you follow me here. I am finding so many great recipes I can't wait to try and pinterest is the best and easiest way to categorize it all!

This recipe was found on pinterest. Man my house smells so good! :) Think this definitely might be on the Thanksgiving Day menu with two of us (my mom and me) gluten free this year! Even if you aren't GF, it's so great! Nicholas just loves this too! :)


Here it is: Pumpkin Pie Casserole
And here's a picture of the one Sophia and I just made :) I'll admit, her picture looks much better, but I promise it's mostly my camera...new camera coming soon and I'm so excited :)

my new friends

I've officially been gluten free for 7 days. The first couple of days were really rough. I don't think I realized how much wheat/gluten and grains that I eat. It's been a good wake-up call to help me try to reduce the amount of grains the entire family eats. For the first couple of days, my body went into "starving" mode. I was hungry all day long and breastfeeding and burning those extra calories didn't help! So I had to figure out what I was going to do to keep hunger away and keep the caloric intake in for what I needed to feed Lucas. Raw almonds, trail mix and eggs, milk and yogurt became staples. It's been interesting to say the least.

Today I went to the store and picked up some new "essentials" Here they are:

I got two new flours to try out...honestly it's fall and my most favorite time to bake, so I figured it would be fun to try out some brown rice flour and buckwheat flour (which actually isn't wheat at all) both  wheat/gluten free. I'm also going to be buying some coconut flour this weekend! I've heard great things about that flour!

Popcorn has become another fun treat. As a family we love popcorn and since it's naturally gluten free, it became something I could enjoy this week while the family had some yummy sourdough crackers or bread. A couple nights ago I decided I wanted a sweet treat so I melted some butter and honey and drizzled it on top of the already popped, salted popcorn. Oh my goodness! Literally finger-licking good! :)

The almonds, sunflower seeds and peanuts will be added to some chocolate chips and raisins for some homemade trail mix. I found that the trail mix was what really helped curb that hunger! And it's tasty.

While I would eventually like to try making a gluten-free bread, I'm not sure I'm ready yet, so I picked up a loaf of brown rice bread. It's actually very tasty, especially when toasted, and will certainly do the trick when I have a hankering for bread!

It's so nice to know that as more and more people become aware of food allergies, there are new and great ways to still get "treats" from time to time and still stay away from the food.

After 7 days, Lucas' skin actually looks a bit better. It's definitely not as raw as it was on Sunday. Honestly, if it meant him never itching again, I'd go gluten free for the rest of my life!

If you or someone you know does gluten-free I'd love to hear your favorite recipe!

praying for our kids: week 3

Week 3: A prayer for them to love the Word of God


That _________ would guard God's Word as his/her most precious possession. That he/she would write them down, and also keep them deep within his/her heart.  Proverbs 7:2-3 (TLB)

greek style pumpkin yogurt

I've shared before how I make our yogurt and I usually strain to make it Greek style. It's the only way hubby likes it and I think it's tastier and creamier that way too.

This is day 2 of my gluten-free challenge and I must confess, I must have eaten a lot of grains/wheat prior to this cause I'm grasping at straws trying to figure out what I'm going to eat/make that will keep me from being hungry. Thankfully I've found several blogs that are inspiring me and my best friend has been gluten free for years, but its still posing a challenge.

So I decided to make some pumpkin yogurt. I love pumpkin and yogurt has so much protein I figured it was a win-win! And it's tasty for sure! :)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup greek style plain yogurt
1/2 cup pumpkin puree (I make my own but you could use canned as well)
1 tsp honey
dash of cinnamon

Blend it all together in the food processor and voila - a tasty, fall snack for that mid-afternoon hunger pang!

Enjoy!

This post has been linked to Fight Back Friday

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The kids sleep in the same room, in bunk beds. Hubby and I take turns saying goodnight to each and then it's night-night. Ever since they were little, I've sung to them before they sleep. For a while a year ago or so, Sophia decided she didn't want me to sing anymore, but she likes it again...has for a while. So we sing. I usually try to sing different songs to her than I do Nicholas, but sometime this week, one of them suggested that it would be fun for all 4 of us to sing the songs together...so we've been doing that this week.

There's something so sweet and joyful hearing four voices sing together simple songs like "Jesus Loves Me"

It's definitely become my favorite part of bedtime.

How was your week? I'd love for you to share!

pudgy little arms, full of love

Nicholas is the king of delay tactics and repeatedly coming out at night after we've said goodnight. Granted, some of this has to do with the fact that we're in that stage where he might not need naps as much anymore, but does much better during the day with them. When he naps, he's not tired until 8:30-9:00 p.m. but without a nap, he's whiny and so exhausted by 4:30...so we're struggling.

Regardless, he's so good at turning on the charm when he comes out with "one more thing" he has to tell us or with something he needs. More often than not, I get frustrated. By that point, it's been a long day and I'm exhausted...coveting a little quiet time with hubby before bedtime...but God is gently reminding me of how precious even these moments are. He will be little, with little pudgy arms for only so much longer. He'll be three next month!

The other night as I was leaving his room for the fifth time I hear behind me, "Mami wait! I need to give you a kiss."

Be still my heart...he's a stinker...but he's my stinker and I treasure these moments of extra kisses and hugs...

my arch nemesis: eczema

There are several things on my heart as a mom...things that my kids are dealing with or struggling with or how I can be a better mother to them...these concerns weigh on my heart all the time. I go to sleep thinking about them and usually wake up with them on my mind as well. They are taken to the Father and I trust that he will give me wisdom as I walk this journey of motherhood. (I don't think anyone ever told me HOW challenging it can be!) :D

For about 5 months, there has been a HUGE concern just weighing my heart. When little Lucas turned 4 months or so, right after we got back from Peru, I started noticing that his bad baby skin was just not clearing up at all. In fact, it was getting worse. After a couple of weeks, my mom (dermatologist nurse) thought he probably had impetigo. I took him to the pediatrician's office and they gave him an antibiotic cream and a steroid. I started using that as directed and within a week, his skin looked amazing and he was no longer fussy. I was thrilled!

Funny thing though...about a week after I stopped using the creams that were prescribed, his little ears, which were the worst area affected (he would tug and pull to scratch them so much that they would tear at the lobes and bleed) started getting red and bothered again. So, I started with the creams again...and, as long as I used the creams, his skin looked pretty normal...but the minute I stopped, the red, inflamed, itchy skin returned. Every time the doctor saw him, he would tell me I just wasn't using enough lotion and that I should dip the kid in lotion from head to toe every time I changed his diaper...but that wasn't working either.

It was increasingly frustrating as I would see his anguish. He was miserable and the only thing that made it better were the steroids...but just temporarily and I started wondering how good it was for him to consistently have topical steroids put on his little body.  So I started reading and researching and what I found (on more holistic, traditional websites) was that the steroids were in fact just covering the topical problem and not curing the root cause. Eczema, which is also known as atopic dermatitis is an autoimmune, inflamatory skin disorder that won't go away with just applying lotion and prescription creams. This disorder is usually the first sign that there is an allergy present.

Most traditional foods sources recommend increasing omega 3s and probiotics as skin is an organ that is manifesting that something is wrong internally.

So I have started using just vaseline and my own hard lotion (shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax), coconut oil and getting in the probiotics.  I've gone to bathing him in Organic Coconut Soap and we've tried to avoid all other possible topical allergens. While this has helped somewhat, Lucas is still suffering.

Several sites have said that the largest allergens that cause eczema are the following:

• Wheat
• Gluten
• Dairy

The biggest offender is usually wheat, then gluten and then dairy so for weeks, I have thought about giving up wheat or most grains until we can get to the root of the problem. I've also gone back and forth on whether to follow the GAPS diet that heals and seals your gut and eliminates all dairy and grains from your diet. It's something I would definitely like to do anyway with the entire family, but with breastfeeding, I don't want too much die-off to affect Lucas. Or maybe I need to just work up to it :)

Anyway...my dream is to have a healthy-skinned boy by next summer. At this point, it's horrible to take off his clothes because once he has access to skin, he just starts clawing and it's anguish for him and heartbreaking for me. I have been in tears more often when changing his diaper or giving him a bath and can't keep his clothes off of him for very long because we both end up crying! I would even welcome non-itchy, rough skin because at least that wouldn't make him miserable.

I always thought it was "special" to have super sensitive skin growing up. It meant I got to have extra special lotions and creams. If Id' only known that my sensitive skin would be passed on in such a miserable way to my sweet Lucas, I would never have been content to be the "one" with sensitive skin.

I am convinced, have been since the first day I discovered more Traditional/Real Foods and Whole Body Nutrition that this way of eating/living was given to us by God at this time in our lives for Lucas. Granted, we all are benefiting and I know the other two kids have some allergies that I would like to cure naturally as well, but it's so apparent to me that God in his infinite grace and mercy gave me this Traditional Foods challenge when he did, knowing that it would help Lucas and his sensitive skin.

So...for the next month, I will be going wheat/gluten free. I will actually probably try to avoid most grains. And if that doesn't work, I'll go dairy free. Darn it...we're getting to the bottom of this skin issue whether I like it or not! :)

Some of the websites/blogs that I have researched and read that have greatly helped are:
Heavenly Homemakers, Dr. Mercola, Health, Home & Happiness, Made On: Hard Lotion


This post has been shared on Fight Back Friday

praying for our kids: week 2

Week 2:  A prayer for their obedience

Give my son/daughter, ___________, a good heart toward God, so that he/she will want to obey you in the smallest detail.
I Chronicles 29:19 (TLB)