What's in your medicine cabinet?

Boy Scout first aid kit circa 1950's

What does your medicine cabinet look like? Everyone handles the care and comfort of their families in the best way they can. All of us are looking for ways to improve upon that and there is always room for improvement. 

When I was a little girl we saw our family physician regularly. He delivered me and my sister. We loved Dr. Hill. We always went to him when we got sick. Not every little cold, but when we were hit hard enough to miss school and need a doctor’s note, we were there. We also knew the drill. See the doctor. Get a shot. Take the green cough medicine. It was codeine. An opiate. We kept in in the medicine cabinet at home and would self-treat when symptoms reoccured. I liked it. I wonder why? It is seriously addictive and dangerous when overdone. Repressing symptoms is dangerous anyway, but I digress.

Growing up, our family's medicine cabinet held tons of prescription left-overs, headache medicines and pain relievers, antacids, and cold medicines. It looked like the medicine shelf at the drug store.

Fast-forward a couple of decades and I was newly married and raising a family. I continued visiting the same doctor until I got pregnant. Then, I saw an OB since things had changed and family physicians didn’t really deliver anymore. It was rare I would need to see a doctor, but when I did, there was usually a prescription to go along with it.

The kids were another story. We did vaccinate. I won’t talk about this here, but they were always sick. Recurring ear infections, eczema, asthma, milk intolerance, long-term constipation, dire stomach pain, full blown food allergies, hay fever, and yearly colds. The yearly colds happened to the girls, for whom I could count on a month-long string of doctor visits, nights sitting up to breathe, nebulizer treatments, cranky kids, and a nervous mom. February, in case you want to know which month.

For our health issues, I supplemented vitamin c, fish oil, multivitamins, and limited sugar. After that, I depended on medicines the doctors recommended. I had limits. We were not doing a month (!?) of Miralax. Instead, we added prunes. This seemed to help. Instead of steroid cream, I added fish oil to the diet and removed hydrogenated oils to heal eczema. Eczema is often associated with future asthma. I am relieved that the child who suffered from eczema is the one child who does not suffer from asthma. Thank you, Alice, for your suggestion about essential fatty acids!! I have removed dairy and other sensible things in order to get to the root cause of illnesses, and not just suppress symptoms. I have now added raw dairy, which is far more digestible than the pasteurized version at the store. (And it's practically free, since I have my own goats!)

So my own medicine cabinet had pretty much the same things as they did growing up, sans antacids. (Those are so bad for you!!) I did have a TON of supplements that helped us enjoy somewhat better health than when I was a kid.

Things are very different now. In full disclosure: I have 2 medicines that are over the counter run-of-the-mill drugs. I have a bottle of Flonase for Jeff and an inhaler for Kailyn. His hay fever is bad and this helps him. Perhaps when the girls have success with homeopathy he will do that too. Today I just ordered the medicines to root out asthma and allergies. Kailyn had a bad asthma attack at track last week. She began to lose vision because she didn’t know she had to stop running. She thought she could press through it. (!!!!) She forgot her inhaler. She uses it so rarely, I can understand that. It’s been months since she’s used it. We ended up using an oil to help soothe her airways and a homeopathic to fix it. I didn’t have the right homeopathic, but I rubbed her back and had her rest and drink lots of fluids. In case you’re wondering, we are putting her on an adjusted track workout. Just jumping. She doesn’t need to ever do that again. Maybe she can heal and try next year. We also have a nebulizer, but the albuterol expired, so it's there just in case. 

This journey has been long and is so full of detail that I’m going to skip ahead and give you a cheat sheet. My methods may seem crazy to you, but we only see the doctor to get physicals for the teenagers now. They knew me well before. I am so thankful for all the help and care we have received. However, I am much happier to have the ability to care for minor issues at home and root them out before they become serious. 

My healing cheat sheet

This list has been 20 years in the making. It has taken many sleepless nights and long-suffering to create. That is not an exaggeration. When I’m the sick person I can’t even think straight and suffer needlessly because no one else is thinking of what to do. I will break it down and save you about 20 years. You’re welcome.

my oil collection

Essential Oils: I use Young Living only. People have their brands, this is mine. This brand can be diffused, used topically, and taken orally. (The Vitality line is labeled for digestive purposes, and the same exact product is packaged for topical use with another label, per FDA guidelines.) Get an app for your phone that tells you what to use them for. Using essential oils supported my kids’ immune system to the point that doctor visits went from several times a year, including a full month of horrid colds, to only 1-2 visits per year (AS A FAMILY- like, one kid once and MAYBE one kid another time for illness.) That was life changing; so much so that I educate others about essential oils. 

Homeopathy: I have stories. Injuries, illnesses, and emotional issues are all included in those stories. I'll have to share some later. Suffice to say homeopathy is very powerful medicine and I now cannot imagine life without it. I have a kit of 100 meds  (also called remedies), another kit of 50 remedies,  another kit of 12 remedies, dozens of remedies I’ve collected from Whole Foods, Granary, HEB and The Vitamin Shoppe, and I order from a pharmacy for what I cannot get locally. I carry a dozen or so remedies with me at all times. One thing to know is to store them away from your essential oils. This summer I am leading a homeopathic study group that I am making available locally or online. Please let me know if you want to be on the list for the next class! You’ll be glad you did.

all this...

in here

Vitamin C and D3. Buy a good brand. Walmart is not good. 

Herbs- I order some from Mountain Rose. I make teas from chamomile, hibiscus, and ginger. Some of my homeopathic protocols include herbal tinctures. Never buy cheap herbs. 

Honey and  cinnamon- 1 teaspoon of raw or Manuka honey mixed with 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon (Mountain Rose is what I use) will often knock out respiratory symptoms when taken every 3 hours. (We take it more than the blog suggested.)

Bone Broth can be made at home with the bones of meat you cook with. You can find recipes here and here. Collagen is the part of the broth that is so soothing to the tummy and can be added to hot drinks (I like it in my hibiscus tea with Ninxia Red.) Sole (SOH-lay) is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Good salt is curative. Here’s the place I learned about it. I credit sole with balancing my minerals and helping me feel better while recovering from adrenal issues. I like to add collagen and sole to my bone broth. The 1 teaspoon of sole to the 8 oz of broth is really yummy, warm, and comforting. Sometimes we add a little parsley on the top, a tiny sprinkle of garlic and maybe some pepper.

Berries- my kids can usually stomach these when nothing else sounds good. They are so full of antioxidants. Just make sure you buy organic. (I KNOW it’s so much more $$. But sick bodies don’t need poison.)

Kombucha- I used to make my own, but don't have the space anymore. A friend has invited me to make some at her house. We'll try that sometime when we have a little time to do it! You can read more about kombucha here, here, and here.

Ginger- we like crystallized ginger to soothe a sick tummy. It gives me time to find the right homeopathic medicine.

Activated charcoal is great for cleaning out your insides. I use it when someone is feeling sick, or when I eat something super junky. It absorbs toxins. 

TKM- We call this "The King Method" at home. You can learn more about the King method here. It is a healing technique that simply uses your hands to do the work. I have only scratched the surface with the first aid class I took. Using the knowledge gained there and a little further study, I have stopped bleeding injuries and bruising on multiple occasions, completely circumvented a huge knot on my head (a few times,) significantly lessened a sunburn, brought down a fever, abated nausea, and accidentally detoxed my husband after an expensive glass of bourbon. (The fastest way to detox is via vomiting. He wasn’t feeling sick at all, he just didn’t believe it would work. He won't let me touch him for that anymore.) It's not for everyone, but I would say at the very least, learn how to stop bleeding using this method.

Tuina massage uses specific pressure point massage to heal pediatric coughing. It is seriously awesome. You can learn this very easily. I purchased a quick video course one morning and was able to stop Maddox's croupy cough for several hours with one treatment. I only did the massage 3-4 times over the course of a day and a half and he was well again. 

Our 'tub' 😕

Epsom Salt soak: I love to add essential oils to the salt and then mix into a soothing bath. This can be detoxifying, soothing, or even pain relieving. Missing my bathtub!! We will soak feet in a foot bath if we can’t get the whole body in. Your feet are connected to all systems of your body, so even a foot bath is healing. I have a kiddie pool for the kids to soak in epsom salts in their swimsuits. The hose runs to a hot water spigot on the outside of the RV. Perhaps we'll get a galvanized trough one day.

Juicing: We feel better FAST when we juice! Our go-to recipe is kale, carrots, lemon, beets, apples, celery, ginger, and cucumber.

Lacey after her epsom salt soak in the sun. She was only down one day, but it's so sad when they are down.

Rest allows your body to actually heal itself.

Sunlight is the best source of Vitamin D3.

Lymphatic Massage: Massaging around the ears and throat helps move out clogs and allows your sinuses to drain properly. Dry brushing is a way of stimulating the entire lymphatic system. I try to do this before I shower. Another way to stimulate the lymphatic system is to alternate hot and cold water as you shower. (I try to tell myself the cold water is like a waterfall. I hate the feeling of hot/cold/hot/cold, but I really feel better when I do that!!

Honey Wrap: I do not have personal experience with this. I honestly hope not to. This is two different treatments. 1. you can make a honey wrap for a coughing child to heal the cough. 2. You can coat an injury in honey to facilitate the healing. Raw honey, of course. In my research, I read about a cat with a leg injury that was so bad it was recommended that the leg be amputated. The owner opted to coat the leg in honey and wrapped it up in a bag, basically just soaking it in honey for days. The leg healed completely. There are more stories, but that was the most impressive one.

Chiropractor: They do not just make your back feel better. They can help clear out some underlying disturbances, and facilitate healing in many organ systems. I had one chiropractor that did an lymphatic flush when I came in feeling flu-like. I was better in minutes. The teens are currently seeing the chiropractor weekly. They bring their ailments to her and she changes what she does based on what is going on. Jeff recently had kidney stones and she adjusted for that. BOY, was that a huge help to him. (It was residual pain, not an active stone.)

Body massage: what wouldn’t that help? I can’t afford to just run out and book an hour long appointment, but someone is usually around to rub my feet or shoulders.

A homeopathic electrolyte option

Hydrate, Electrolytes: This is easy to forget. And SKIP those high fructose corn syrup and color-laden options! Opt for Shaklee's Performance, sole, or bioplasma. 

Probiotics: Fermented foods are one way to get this, but they will only get so far in your gut. Some other probiotics are better taken as supplements since they need to get past the stomach acids to become effective. Some good brands are Shaklee, Probiotic America, and BioKult. These often take time (weeks) to work, so don’t expect a fast improvement, but it’s a reminder to take care of your gut health. The immune system is in the gut.

Calendula and Arnica gels are homeopathic gels that you can find at health food stores and Walgreens. They also make creams and ointments. Calendula is amazing for cuts and burns. Arnica is great for bruising and soreness.

I keep Bandaids and wound strips around. If you use a wound strip on some deeper cuts quickly, you’ll avoid larger scars by taping them closed. I don’t like butterfly strips- they don’t work for me, but the long wound strips are very nice. Those are found at Walgreens. I clean the wound (usually with lavender oil) and put a small amount of Calendula gel on it and then cover it. I might also follow up with a homeopathic that will prevent infection if the situation merits it.

Mg spray is Magnesium spray. This is good for sore or stiff muscles, as well as relaxing for sleep. It’s like an epsom salt bath in a spray bottle. (Although I'd take that bath any day over the spray!)

In addition to this list, I use saline nose spray and saline eyewash for the kids when they have allergy issues. I also use Castor oil for inflamed areas and sore joints and muscles. Looks like I'll be adding to my list! 

Another thing to consider is real food. If you are eating processed items, they are not good. That cannot be overstated. I recommend this website, as well as this one if you are interested in learning more.

There you have it! You know my secrets.

What about you? Do you use any of these? Do you have other things you do that I don’t? Please tell me about them!

Organizing an RV Part 2: What's in a bathroom- and what I miss

I really like the bathrooms in the 5th wheel. For such a tiny home, the bathrooms feel fairly spacious. Both have fans to the outside, which is helpful in a small space. ;) The half-bath in the kids' room has adequate space. It's not huge, but it holds what they need and functions.

Here is the view standing outside the door (from outside.)

This is a closer picture of the extra storage I hung on the walls. I found the lower piece at Cost Plus, and the larger one at Hobby Lobby.

I hung them using "monkey hooks," which hold up to 35lbs. Those things are really awesome. The inner walls are hollow to allow for these hooks, although narrower than in a house. Command hooks will only hold so much, and even if they are strong, sometimes the wallpaper will not hold the weight.

Here's the vanity. There is an essential oil diffuser plugged in, and I hung my own towel rack. Lacey has requested a faucet that is higher, which I'm looking into.

This is under the sink. The toothbrushes are stored in "Command razor holders." There is plenty of room for spare toilet paper and personal products. The opening is small, but the storage is pretty good.


The master bath is quite spacious, in my opinion.

There is a locking door from the hallway, pictured above, and a sliding door to the master bedroom, pictured below. The picture below makes that door look exceedingly narrow, which it isn't. I added a toilet paper holder by the door, and a hook on the door, which holds my brush for lymphatic dry brushing. I wish I could say I do this often, but alas, I do not. I plan to replace the towel bar so that we can hang more towels to dry, but I'm looking for just the right one. I think I've found it, if I can just remember where that was. :)

The towel bar under the sink is quite convenient. The white soap dish was given to me by my friend Tonya back in high school! It holds my beloved Beauty Counter charcoal bar. This sink is really big. The drain closes, so I am able to fill the sink with cleaning water or soak something.

Above the sink is a fairly sizable medicine cabinet. The lower section holds personal care products, I have another command razor holder for our toothbrushes, and even a hook on the door for a lint roller. The upper shelf is a portion of my medicine/first aid section. My first aid supplies and medicines have had a complete overhaul in the last couple of years. I am convinced we are enjoying more optimal health because of it. That will have to be its own blog post.

Under the sink holds my cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and trash bags (on the door.) I've used grocery bags for years, but love how perfectly these fit the trash cans.

I use Thieves household cleaner, Basic H2, and Basic G, baking soda, vinegar, essential oils, and liquid Barkeepers' Friend, although I'm looking for an alternative. I'm thinking my latest baking soda/essential oils/water mixture will be the winner. The bottle in the back corner is Unique RV Digest-It, an enzyme-based black tank maintenance solution. We have a septic system, so I want to use what's safe for that, with as few chemicals as possible.

This is the linen closet and vanity drawers.

The top shelf houses back up soaps, razors, a nebulizer,  and cosmetic travel bags. The bottom shelf holds bath towels and epsom salts.

This is the counter space. It is quite deep. The white square is a pillow for the skylight to block heat in the summer. Kailyn gave me the candle as a gift, another plug in essential oils diffuser, and then there's the chest for toiletries. the pull-out shelf is useful if the counter gets filled with stuff not put away. The kids usually use it to hold the clothes they'll wear once they shower.

This looks like a mess, but I just cleaned it out. Clockwise: hair brushes and scissors, tooth care and makeup, the jars hold homemade coconut oil mix and a hair heat protectant, more makeup, q-tips, cotton pads. The center squares hold a variety of tools (nail clippers, tweezers, etc) and hair stuff- clips, headbands, etc. Beauty Counter is my makeup of choice. If you want to know more, Lauren can hook you up. :)

The second drawer is the home of my essential oils. I found the dividers on Etsy and LOVE them! I'm five oils away from buying two more and using the 3rd drawer. The oil labels are available on Young Living's website. I keep back-up oils in the cardboard cylinders. I love my oils and can't imagine life without them. I love to teach about them and it's one of my first line defenses for pretty much everything, homeopathy being the second. Speaking of homeopathy, I store my homeopathic medicine in my bedroom office closet to keep them away from the essential oils, as EO's can antidote homeopathic remedies. I plan to lead a homeopathic study group as soon as the school year comes to a close.

The 3rd drawer is for rolled hand towels and face cloths. I obviously need to do laundry. ;) I don't know where they'll go when the oils take over.

Hm. This picture is upside down. The green basket is my first aid supplies, primarily for cuts. Then, there are hair appliances.

Here is the shower. It is full-sized and quite nice. I do have some yucky chemical-laden products, but I'm looking for products my teen son will be happy with. In the meantime, he chooses his own. The hot water is interesting. In order to help the instant water heater work properly, we fill the reserve tank with water, turn on the pump, run hot water in the sink and then hot water in the shower. The water heater needs adequate pressure running through it to heat the water consistently, so when we simply turn on the shower, the water will go hot-cold-hot-cold, which isn't so comfy. I'm glad we found a solution!

And the one thing I miss?

A bathtub. For real. I think of this every day. Every. Day. Some days I am sad for the loss. I consider ways of putting one in. I consider getting an outdoor hot tub. Epsom salt baths were a HUGE part of my wellness repertoire. Mixing some lavender and Pan-Away with epsom salt makes an amazingly relaxing and relieving bath.

A goat birth story- or two

   The day started out fairly low-key. It was Sunday; Jeff went to work and the kids and I had decided to stay home from church since Kailyn wasn’t home. I was catching up on cleaning up around the house; my main goal for the day was to clear the area we had chosen to start building the chicken coop. Since Kailyn, our goat herder, was spending the weekend at a friend’s house, Lacey insisted on feeding the goats in her stead. 

The wind was picking up with wind gusts nearing 40mph, so I was making sure our outdoor rug was held in place with heavy blocks. I was just about to go back inside when I heard the feed bucket hit the ground and saw Lacey running to the house. 

11:05 “Mom! Mom! Come here! Quick!” she called. I asked her what was wrong and she said she thought Mae was giving birth, that she thinks there was a head out. I ran over to check it out, and sure enough, there was! This was not a good thing, though. Goats are born in a “diving” posture- front hooves first. The danger of the baby coming head-first is a dislocated or broken shoulder. I was not aware of this fact at the time, but the baby looked dead. Its head was cold and it’s tongue was sticking out. It was fairly dry and dirty. I had no idea how long he had been in that position. I immediately found my phone and began calling people. I first called Jennifer, who sold me the goat. No answer. Then I called Kathryn, who does the testing and raises goats and chickens. No answer. Then, I thought of Paola, my homeopathic study group leader, who happens to have livestock. She answered!! That’s when I learned it was really bad to have a baby in this position. (Upon researching this more fully, it seems there can be head-first births that go well. This baby was there over 40 minutes with no change, so intervention was warranted.)

Lacey was distressed. I was distressed. She was so brave and stayed with me to manage the phone. At this point, I’m getting texts and phone calls from Kathryn and Paola. I am told I either need to push the head back in, or reach in for the forelegs. Obviously, I start pushing the head back. But it doesn’t work. The baby begins to show signs of life and I can’t stand putting that much pressure on its head. It’s a goat- they head butt early on, but I was panicking a little. I finally had to do the inevitable. I reached in. I prayed and prayed out loud as I did this. I could find one hoof, but there was no way I could get ahold of it. I finally decided to grab the baby by the shoulders and pull there with the next contraction. It worked!!! Baby #1 was born with his left hoof at his shoulder, and his right hoof laying on his belly all the way down to his back legs. I cleared the mucous from his mouth and had Lacey go get a bucket of hot water and Maddox get a towel. As I was instructed, I rubbed him down hard with the dry towel. His breathing was labored. The first thing I gave was Aconite. Aconite helps in a shocking situation. I gave mom and baby Aconite. I also gave Arnica Montana 200 to address the swelling, alternating every 10 minutes. Lacey called Kailyn to let her know what was happening. My mom went to get fresh straw for us to give them a softer, cleaner space.

12:25 In very short order, kid #2 was born and was walking around bright-eyed and curious after just a few short minutes. This is when I realized kid #1 was in danger. Most striking was the  difference in appearance. Kid #1 was extremely swollen from the neck up. His eyes were swollen shut and he was pretty limp and laid there for some time. He was too weak to stand, so I gave him Cuprum Metallicum 30, often given when there is distress such as a seizure. I also began rolling his shoulder blades and massaging his spine, checking (in my very limited ability) for dislocation or subluxations.

   

12:35 At this point we changed to Carbo Veg 30, which is given to newborns in distress. His gums were blue and he was breathing with quick shallow breaths, so the medicine seemed a better fit for him. I alternated Carbo Veg and Arnica every 10 minutes. We also tried to help him get milk from his mama.

1:04 His eyes began to open. The swelling was less and I could see his little eyes! I continued alternating remedies and massaging.

1:27 He could finally stand. He had to be raised into this position, but could hold himself up with shaky legs. 

  
  

1:46 Our dam got weak and sleepy. She rested her head against the wall. It had been over an hour since the second kid was born and we were not seeing any afterbirth. I began giving her Caulophyllum to help her contractions progress. She perked up in about 5 minutes, got up and drank immediately. Then, she ate some hay. I continued giving alternating remedies to the baby every 20 minutes or so. By 3:00 he could finally get up on his own. At this point we replaced the hay with straw in the goat house. I also had to continue giving the dam Caulo P every 30 minutes or so, as well as one dose of Nat Sulph. In hindsight, I should have given more often, but I was exhausted. I hadn’t eaten all day, so I had to leave her to have some “breakfast” at 3pm. Becky had brought Kailyn home and they stayed for about an hour. She talked me into eating something and Kailyn and Hannah took over watching the goats for me. The afterbirth finally came close to 4pm. The first boy was doing remarkably well, curious and playing like his twin, just a bit weaker.

We came to check on them around 9pm and the baby was less swollen. I gave more Arnica and Carbo Veg. 

       Monday morning he looked just about like the other goat, but still weak. I gave Arnica but forgot Carbo Veg. We also gave them both a bath. Goats aren't real crazy about baths.

   

By Tuesday he was fully relieved of his swelling, but still wobbly, so I dosed Arnica and Carbo Veg twice. By the second dose, he was finally jumping around playing with his brother and following his mama around. The screaming goat below is baby #2, who screamed while being held the first day. They both like being held now.

          
             kid #1 named Djali

     

                kid #2 named Samuel

As for me- I took aconite that first night. I probably should have done it sooner. I was so stressed that I forgot about all prior commitments I had made that day. Kailyn was supposed to babysit. Thankfully, it was for Jennifer, who was aware of our situation, so she offered to have her husband come pick Kailyn up. I also had plans for dinner with Jeannette, another friend who happened to text a reminder to me that day. The following day I think I was still in a state of shock- I still watched the baby goat closely and dosed him as needed. On Tuesday, while talking about the situation with the kids, tears just flowed from my eyes as I spoke, but it was more of a relief kind of tears. At that point I was finally at peace with the whole thing. I don’t think I could ever work in a hospital!

Yesterday, while at our two family co-op I got a call that our second goat was in labor. We rushed home just after the birth of the one baby goat. Polly was a little young for her first kidding, but she did well and is a good mama, even if she was dumb enough to have her baby in the dirt and try to keep him out in the open all night. Her baby was a bit bigger than expected- I think I fed too much grain throughout her pregnancy, but she came through alright. Now we have 3 baby boy goats to sell!

   Polly and Midnight

Organizing an RV, part 1: Outside

Before we moved into our fifth wheel I obsessed over how I would organize everything we owned into such a tiny space. As I've stated before, we are not traveling and have a little extra leeway here.
First of all, we have our shed on the property with us. In here we store most of our tools, dog food, bikes, and other "garage" items. Our lawnmower and other large yard equipment are in the workshop, another building on the property we recently re-roofed. Our washer and dryer are in the adjacent laundry room, which also houses the items we need to sift through (again) to reduce and get rid of.


Here is a view of the backside of our RV. You are looking at the power pole and water line that we installed and use.


Here is a more detailed look at the RV. From right to left: 50amp power plug, the white door houses our instant water heater, the next cabinet is the main water and satellite control center, the large door is the basement storage, which also houses the automatic leveling jacks controls, and the far door is the propane tank that services the water heater. On this side of the basement we keep gallons of drinking water, paper towels, Korbin's footlocker with his scout camping stuff, and Korbin's keyboard which he gets out when he feels like playing.

Do you see that slide sticking out over the basement? That's the master bedroom slide. I have lost count how many times I've opened up the grey tank only to stand up while already walking back only to smack my forehead right into the CORNER of that slide. I can walk under the slide and my head barely touches it, but the corner is low and gets me every time I'm not ready for it. When Jeff was out of town for a weekend I actually got a concussion from that particular corner. It was dark and I was in a hurry and BAM! I crossed my hands over the injury (right under left) which stops bruising and bleeding very quickly. (check out the King Institute) I did not have a bruise at all. I held my crossed hands over my forehead for about 30 minutes. However, I still had a concussion. (That was before I knew about Arnica. Now, I keep a vial of Arnica 200 with me at all times for head injuries.) The entire next day was spent sleeping and resting, as I was monstrously grumpy and tired. I had Arnica gel, which my friend Heather told me about a few months ago, but too bad I didn't have the pellets!! The gel helped the pain, but I needed the pellets to help my mood and fatigue.


This is the water/satellite control center. From top left to bottom: Satellite cord inlet, the black rectangle is a covered electrical outlet, the red/blue/black knobs control whether your water comes from the outside spigot or the holding tank, I have no idea what the black spigot is for. (Jeff is the primary user here.) The "faucet controls" attach to a water hose and are useful for an outdoor shower, the incoming hose is coming from the spigot, the white covers are for rinsing out the grey and black tanks, and the black handles are for emptying the grey and black tanks. Behind the wall adjacent to the basement there is also a water filter.


Under the nose there is a pretty good sized storage area we keep all our camping gear in. Korbin camps nearly every month and as a family we go a few times each year. In this spot we have 6 cots, 6 camp chairs, a massive Coleman instant tent, a backpacking backpack, and even a target for Jeff's bow. As you can see, I also keep a backup propane tank nearby. (It's not fun to run out of hot water mid-shower. Kailyn can tell you all about that.)


This is our front "porch" area. I bought step carpets which help the dog keep her footing (and her humans, too!) I found it's best to keep them on one side of the step so that when you walk down with socks on after a good rain, your socks don't get soaked on the way. There is a small black rug at the bottom and inside there is another rug as you walk in, both designed to trap dirt and mud. I think they work pretty well. I've had years of concrete sidewalks and driveways, so now that everything's dirt, we need the extra help. The area rug is made for RV's and I found it at Wal-Mart. Did you know that every Wal-Mart has an RV section? I did not. I don't like the rug, but it is functional and I wouldn't be without it. The patio furniture we brought from home and recently purchased new cushions for. I keep rain boots handy, as there is plenty of need for them. We keep the awning out unless the wind picks up. When it rains, I move the chairs and set them between the steps and the basement opening to keep them dry.


The propane storage on this side holds 2 tanks, which power the heater and stove. As long as I remember to turn off the oven when I'm done, they last a long time! Inside the basement we store our shoes. You can see an old yellow extension cord hanging on the shoe rack. That is plugged into the ceiling outlet in the basement and there is a hole in the floor to run a cord to power anything you like. (I keep a fan nearby, which works well to dry the stair carpets when they get wet.) It's a little harder to see the mounting hardware behind that cord on the wall, but that is made for the TV in our bedroom. The mounting arm is made so that we can just pop it off the wall in the room and pop it on the wall in the basement, in case we want to watch something outside. (Good for sports!)


In this picture you can see the outdoor kitchen, the kitchen slide, and the patio.


The outdoor kitchen is my favorite space outside. It is really more Jeff's space, but it's so functional and orderly that I really like it! On the countertop, we store a compost canister (for coffee grounds), a mini Keurig, coffee pods (I usually buy compostable/recyclable ones from Bed Bath and Beyond or use my refillable K-cup), distilled water for the coffee maker, a sink, and some paper towels. I am on the hunt for these paper towel boxes. I used to be able to find them, but the box size at the store has increased. If you see some, please tell me!!


We will have to get rid of a LOT of glass if we ever travel. Here I am storing growlers, which we use to purchase beer on tap or to make kombucha. Currently, my friend Chris is brewing some green tea ginger kombucha for us!! The cabinet on the other side has coffee mugs, wine glasses, beer glasses, and wine aerators.


The mini fridge holds drinks. Cokes, waters, beer, cider, drink mix ingredients, and coffee. To the left here, you can see a handy bottle opener attached to the cabinet I found at Cost Plus.


The drawer on the left houses an outdoor stove.


The drawer on the right contains outdoor utensils. (My basting brush and meat thermometer were being washed.)
The grill is only a few steps away. It has a propane burner, gas grill, charcoal grill, and smoker.

Time, Money, Duties and Relationships, part 2: Money & Relationships

Money is something I’ve talked about before on my blog. It is probably where I struggle the most. I just don’t budget well. Food is a big budget-killer, as is lack of budgeting. I highly recommend Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace classes as a way to figure out where you are and get to where you want to be. This year we have made enormous leaps and bounds in that area, but we still have habits to form. I have attempted many times to implement the envelope system, but whether it is laziness or fear or confinement (which is an oxymoron here) I haven’t been consistent about the envelope system. I tried the virtual envelopes (Dave Ramsey has an ap for that) but I’m not cut out for it. What is actually helping me is using Rachel Cruz's (Dave's daughter's) "clip system," which is just tiny binder clips in different colors so that your cash is basically "filed" in different colors, denoting your spending category. I've used this the last couple of weeks with success. You just pull cash you have budgeted for the categories you normally overspend in. For me that's groceries, eating out, entertainment, and personal items. I have TONS of tiny binder clips in the cutest colors, if you want to get some from me for a few cents instead of buying a huge container. We have been so selfish and have a hard time telling ourselves “no.” While we are out of debt besides our home, and we are living within our means, we are not saving, and there is no excuse. There you have it. Both a confession and a goal. 

We have been teaching our children to avoid the pitfalls we fell into. Korbin has a checking account, and it is time we open one for Kailyn as well. I am compiling a list of jobs that can be done for money around the property, and Kailyn can take babysitting jobs. Korbin wants a job, and will be able to pursue that once his Eagle project is complete. Once the project is done, I’ll have the time to enroll him in drivers’ ed so that he can drive himself to work. I do have to think of myself and I’m already on the road more than I like.

Korbin has matured greatly this year. He sees the logical perspective and lends his support when he agrees with the principles. He thinks much in black/white. It either is or it isn’t. Gray areas are harder for him to navigate, but he is making progress here too. Since the weather has cooled down, he has been taking walks or runs outside. He is fun to talk to and I really like his opinions and his willingness to hear others’ opinions. Sometimes I can tell he forms opinions based on those of popular You Tubers. I like that he shares them with me, as it brings up opportunities to discuss those opinions and talk about deeper issues that he wouldn’t have the experience of years to consider. There are also times that I learn from him. He can come up with some concise explanations of things and put ideas together logically and even with humor. (He's hilarious, actually.) I don’t believe a young man needs to be with his mother most of the day. It really is time for him to focus on his future, whether that is to dive into his studies, find a passion, or keep busy with jobs outside, I don’t know. Too bad Dad doesn’t work from home in a way they could work together. Perhaps we can get to where there are plenty of things to do on the “farm.”

Kailyn is a great conversationalist. She has some lovely insights and I enjoy talks with her. At fifteen, she doesn’t always want to talk to me, but I think we are working our way through that. Fifteen is a hard age- a crux, if you will. For real. She is definitely on the upside of this, but we still have our moments. I think it’s often difficult for teens to think clearly or logically in the moments their emotions take over. She is wonderful and I love her big heart. She puts others before herself and thinks matters through, especially when her friends are part of the equation. I’m very proud of who she is and how she handles herself.

Lacey is very sensitive. She can be whiney and emotional. On the other hand, she can be super thoughtful and empathetic. When Kailyn cried recently after an emotional night, Lacey cried alongside her. (Chocolate fixes some things, as it did that night, along with a cozy talk with mom for both girls.) Sassiness has a way of creeping in at 10 years old (and sooner, really.) With Lacey, the key to working with her is gentle speech and really listening. She tends to feel unheard. I get that. Sometimes I feel ignored too. If you have ever sat in a group of people, made a suggestion, and been ignored, only to have someone else show up after the fact and make the SAME suggestion to a captive audience who raves about the brilliance of the idea, you would understand how that feels. I don’t know what it is, but there’s a tendency to feel invisible in certain situations. So if I take the time to listen to her, she feels validated and loves to help. I got pretty lucky in that regard with her!

Maddox is one of those kids who is often viewed as “too much.” He has a tendency to break nearly everything he touches. He jumps into action before thinking things through. He spirals into anger to deal with his frustrations. However, he has been a gift to me as a parent. He has stretched me and helped me to understand other children. Some of you may not realize I grew up with an aunt who was born with microcephaly and Smith-Magenis Syndrome. She had significant special needs. I have understanding for special needs kids; I have my whole life. What I’m talking about is strong-willed-bull-in-a-china-cabinet behavioral problem children. As a teen and young adult I was full of solutions. Living it is different. Each situation is different and I’ve learned to curb my judgement and pray for kids who display behavioral issues. Some of these kids have sensory issues, as does Maddox. 

Once sensory information has been evaluated, the child’s “type” should be assessed. I rely on typing my children and others. In my mind it is just a litmus test telling me their basic temperament. Their secondary type, or temperament is likewise important, because it will bend the primary type/temperament one way or another. Knowing your own type will give you the tools you need to come at this in a way that supports who you are.

Here is a brief description for the child and mom:

Type 1- fun-loving child, (bright & animated woman)

Type 2- sensitive child, (soft & subtle woman) 

Type 3- determined child, (rich, dynamic woman)

Type 4- serious child, (bold, striking woman)

To let you in on our family dynamic, here’s the description of us:

Jeff 4-3 (Primary 4, secondary 3)

Me 2-4

Korbin 4-2

Kailyn 1-2

Lacey 2-1

Maddox 3-2

We’ve got it down to ordering all 4 types in our family, (Jeff is 4-3-2-1, etc, but I digress…)

Looking at my family, you can see that all but Jeff have some strong tendencies toward softness/subtleness. This was God’s grace for me. While I can say I have all 4 types in the family, it is a much more subtle version of each type. They are all fairly quiet and calm. I’m not sure it’s all nurture- I believe it’s inborn. While the author of the program doesn't see these as temperaments, I disagree and believe they are. While other "personality" programs are great and fun, this system is far more reliable than any other I have found. (In my humble opinion.)

If you’re curious and want more information, take a look at Dressing Your Truth to learn more about the types. You can access The Child Whisperer from there, which has links to help you profile your child as well. (I do earn points toward products on the website if others follow my link. I have found lots of help understanding people from this site, although I do not ascribe to the author's theology.)

Knowing that Maddox is a determined child helps me realize that redirecting his fast forward motion is much more effective that stopping it. There is a song that typifies Maddox- “You Can’t Stop Me” by Andy Mineo. For real. He sings it every time it comes on. It’s like his anthem. 

Recently I felt like things had come to a crisis with Maddox. He had gotten to the point at den meetings that he would wander off, jump on chairs, talk over me, and throw chairs in anger. He wouldn’t listen to adults in many situations and I realized I had created a monster. Moms always see the sweetness of their babies, but I was seriously doing him no favors. Jeff and I discussed it and decided that on the night that the teens would be at an ice cream social and Lacey would be at a slumber party, instead of the fun we had planned at Main Event, he would have to stay home with Grandma while dad and I went on a date. He was shocked and sobered, but he took it well and it was a major step in changing his behavior. That night my friend Ann told me about “Parenting With Love and Logic,” a book I had heard much about but never picked up. I have finished it now, and it is really good. The principles within that book are helping me to truly let go of my kids’ problems and also gave me permission to enforce delayed consequences. I had heard in our “Growing Kids God’s Way” classes about giving the monkeys back to the kids (monkeys being the problem that belongs to the child) but I didn’t really grasp the concept. PWL&L gave me some examples of such problems and guidance on how to allow children to handle them on their own. In other words, give the children a safe place to fail. An example of one such situation happened when we camped with the Cub Scouts. At the end of the trip, Maddox had to fold his own tent. I had always done it for him. He was mad. He kicked the tent. He threw the tent. He waded it up. I detached myself from feeling on the matter. He had earned the tent himself in last year’s fundraising efforts. If he broke it, it would be broken. If he didn’t fold it, we would stay until he did. The key was to speak to him in a loving way and allow him to choose his own actions. He finally calmed down and asked for help. I helped with the first fold, instructed him on the second, and suggested he use tent poles to guide the rolling. He did it his own way. It didn’t work. I went to the restroom. (Kailyn and Lacey were there waiting in the car.) By the time I got back he had followed my suggestion calmly and put the neatly folded tent in the back of the car. Next trip he will either decide the tent isn’t worth it, or be prepared to handle it on his own. (He decided it wasn’t worth it.) This newfound confidence has spilled over into other areas. He is super willing to get chores done. I think he was feeling like the unappreciated and incapable youngest child. He is much sweeter and I am thankful Ann twisted my arm and made me get the book!

To add to the fun, I more recently got “Parenting Teens with Love and Logic.” Just as good. The teen years are very different than the younger child years, and I highly recommend this book, whether your child is 11 or 25. It would have been nice to start with them. I could tell that my relationship was strained with my older kids. They knew I loved them, but I wasn’t allowing them the space to make their own decisions, which is not healthy. They need to do that in order to mature into adults that make wise decisions. I won’t attempt to make that clear here, but I highly recommend the book if you have teens.