Sick Days with Little Remedies®

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.  #MyLittleRemedies #CollectiveBias

So one thing I noticed REAL quick when I became a mom is that the whole 'sick day' philosophy just doesn't apply to me anymore. Moms don't get sick days! But what I also have noticed is how much I remember my mom's sick-day remedies. The hot water, honey and lemon concoction, resting in her big, comfy, king sized bed, the cuddles and extra hugs. So when my toddlers are feeling yucky, these are usually among the first that I do.

Now that we have not one kiddo but two, when sickness comes around it REALLY hits hard. Runny noses, belly aches, stomach flus, you name it. Well, Mamas, I discovered a product that I not only really LOVE, but also firmly believe WORKS! With their last flu bug, my 3-year old son was hit the worst. He couldn't keep anything down, was using the bathroom incessantly, and I got to the point of worry. I texted one of my dear friends who is a pediatrician at our local childrens hospital, and also a mom of two herself. She recommended probiotics, so I went to our nearby Target and found the most awesome deal in their Digestion aisle: Little Remedies® Probiotic Plus Electrolytes!

When my kids were babies, I remembered using Little Remedies® Gripe Water for their infant tummy pain, and I also keep their saline drops on hand for the numerous colds and allergies that occur all year round. So when I saw this, probiotics + electrolytes, I was so excited to use a product from a brand that I already love and trust!

When I got home, I mixed one packet of Little Remedies® with 6-ounces of water and mixed until it was dissolved. I cooled it down with some ice cubes and let my son sip it every fifteen minutes. For the first time in hours, he was able to keep something down! Beyond that, he expressed that it tasted so good and was asking for more after he had finished. Throughout the day, he had a few more servings and I began to notice such an improvement in his attitude, demeanor, energy and even the paleness of his skin was beginning to turn back to its' normal color. Hallelujah for a product that greatly maintained his hydration AND helped support his digestive system during this super not-fun sickness! If you're a mama who wants to know exactly what's IN the products you are giving to your child, let me help:

-Little Remedies® Probiotic Plus Electrolytes contains 5 billion active cultures of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG (simple terms: helps keep the digestive system in balance and supports immune function!)
-The electrolytes provide vital minerals and nutrients to help support hydration (and what I love the most, is that both of these ingredients are put in 1 convenient packet!)
-It's gluten free, and has NO artificial flavors, artificial dyes or parabens
-The flavor has a yummy berry taste and a dissolving powder (that actually dissolves--aka, NO CLUMPS!)
*These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

And if you want to know how our family of four spends our days when sickness barges in, here are my own helpful hints to survive a day with sick littles:

Hint #1: STAY FLEXIBLE! Sick-days in our house translate to flexibility, and a LOT of it. We are a pretty scheduled family, and naps and bedtime occur at the same time almost every single day. But when there is sickness in the household, we've realized that it is so important to not focus on the schedule. If one of them wants to nap, we let them nap. If they can't fall asleep at bedtime, that's okay too. We will rest with them, sing extra songs, read more books and may need to check on them more than usual.
 

Hint #2: HELP THEM REST! We're probably the fairly typical parents in that we attempt to limit screen time for our kids. That's one of my biggest requests to our babysitters, "Please refrain from letting them play on the i-Pads too much!" But I also know that some days, letting them watch an additional TV show or having an extra ten minutes on the iPad, is just what they need for some much needed rest (for both, adult AND toddlers! ha!) Something that sometimes has a tendency to stress me out when mine are sick, is that the fact that more often than not, my toddlers just don't know how to REST. They are two and three years-old, and their minds and bodies are so active, ALL the time, even when they have fevers or belly and head-aches. What I like to do is make a giant, comfy 'bed' on our couch and let them have their pick of favorite movies. If I can get them to snuggle quietly for thirty to forty minutes, that's always such a plus for me (and for them! We all know that puke isn't picky about when it chooses to let loose, so avoiding it occurring in their toy bins is kinda ideal, right?)
 

Hint #3: GIMME ALL THE CALM + QUIET! Coloring, drawing and reading are also go-to's with them and while they do activities such as these, I'll play soft music in the background. Canned soup (working mom of two, heck no I don't prepare it homemade!), ice chips, and other soft foods are the foods we typically trust. Remember how you felt when you were a sick kid? I know I do, and I remember always wanting my mom. I try hard to put my ever piling 'to-do' list aside on days like these, just so I can be readily available to be their shoulder, their pillow and their biggest hug!

Sick days don't mean easy days. In fact, they're quite the opposite! But they have the opportunity to offer extra cuddles (which I'm always in favor of), and maybe even some extra art for your fridge ;) And with the help of Little Remedies® Probiotic Plus Electrolytes, hopefully the sickness will be even more manageable!

**This BRAND NEW product can be found in the Digestive (NOT baby) section of Target and you will get a $5 Target Gift Card when you purchase! (April 24-May 14) To find more great reasons to love the new Little Remedies® Probiotic Plus Electrolytes click here!

This is Home

Recently I was sitting in my daughter's rocking chair. She rested on my shoulder, arms around my neck, her breaths collecting warmth in the crook of my collar bone. As I finished her song, You Are My Sunshine, she sleepily looked up at me. As clear and confidently as she could, she whispered, "Mommy, this is home."

"Yes, Reese," I smiled. "This is home." She continued though. "Mommy and Daddy and Pierson and me, we live here. Mommy goes to work, and Daddy works, but this is home. This is my room, and my bed, and my home, forever." I patted her back and for a second I wondered if she felt insecure that perhaps we were going somewhere else. Or maybe she questioned if we would be together, for the rest of our lives?  

But the next night she said it too and so joyfully. I then realized there was something consoling in her words. Through my two-year old baby girl, I was reminded once more, that no matter where we are, what is going on in life, and what position our heart may be in--we are together and together is home. 

Lately I have been pondering, "What are the things that light my soul on fire?" and there are clear, specific thoughts each time: 
-Writing
-Envisioning my future farmhouse, land and horse
-Photos and the stories that they capture
-and my family

Louisville, Kentucky is where I have called home the past ten years. But, I also call Michigan my home. Having been born and raised there, and spending my first eighteen years in a quaint, country town, it will forever be home. I honestly question that we will ever find our 'dream home' in this city or state. I just don't know if it exists and the longer we spend time in the neighborhood we are in, the more I hear the voice of God saying, "You won't live here forever." I have found contentment for the time being, but still, I just don't know. 

Sometimes, having dreams and passions are hard. It's like I have these tiny little video compartments inside my brain, and they're playing in the background all the time. I see the future house, the green grass, the old barn, the horse that runs there and I also see myself sitting at my desk, pencil in hand, journaling often and transferring those thoughts here. But what am I supposed to do with them? Lara Casey says, "Know that this is a process--Put your focus where God wants it, in His timing, not letting fear keep you from taking leaps of faith. Do what matters and forget the rest...there is only ONE path to purpose: Jesus." 

Who KNOWS where we will end up? My husband despises driving through Indiana to get to Michigan but jokes, "Watch... our future horse farm is going to end up being here." (We both DEEPLY hope that's not the case, ha!) But maybe it'll be Tennessee, or back to Michigan, or a completely random state like Texas? And regardless of where the next house is at geographically, regardless of how God allows me to use my gifts, I will trust the path that Jesus walks us down. When we are there and while we are here, I know that I can hold my children and husband's hands and say:

"This is home." 

How is your heart, friends? I am always available to pray for you and with you if you feel like sharing! Send me an e-mail, comment below, or find me on Facebook! And what places or people are home to YOU? 

Meals With my Man: Pesto Salmon + Bell Pepper Salad

It's not that I can't cook, it's several things: the first, is that years and years ago I vowed to meet a man who enjoyed cooking so I didn't need to; and the second is that God handed me just the man I asked for and he cooks a gazillion times better than I ever could. Seriously, his made-up recipes and from scratch ideas end up being WAY better than a single dish I try to re-create from Pinterest.

So in this space you will see some posts like this and I'm calling it Meals With my Man. You're welcome for providing you with such irresistible recipes, but don't just make them, leave a comment and share your experience with us! We would love to hear from you and see how your food turned out.

Today we are sharing a dish that is a spring + summer favorite: Pan Seared Salmon served on a warm Bell Pepper Salad.

Ingredients:
4 Salmon Filets with Skin
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
4 Bell Peppers (Various colors) Sliced
1 Onion (I like Red for the color) Halved and sliced
4 Tbsp. Pesto
Salt/Pepper

Directions: 
Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. (He uses a iron skillet for this dish, but any skillet will do.)
Once the skillet is hot, add 1 tbsp. olive oil and bring to the smoke point. Meanwhile, liberally season both sides of the filet with salt and pepper.
Place the filets in the skillet, skin side down. Did it sizzle? Good. Depending on the thickness of your Salmon filet, cook for about 4 minutes and flip over to the other side. Cook an additional 4 minutes and then remove to a plate.

Add the remaining olive oil and toss in all the veggies.
Add some salt and pepper.
Toss the veggies and sauté for about 4-5 minutes, or until they are cooked but still crisp. Smooth out the layer of peppers and onions and place the salmon filets back in the skillet on the bed of veggies.
Add 1 tbsp. of pesto to each salmon filet, and about ¼ cup of cold water. Immediately cover with a lid and turn off the burner.
Allow everything to steam for a few minutes, and for that pesto to loosen up and run down the sides and edges of the salmon.
Serve the salmon over a bed of the veggies. 

How BEAUTIFUL is this dish?! Besides being pretty, salmon is jam packed with Vitamins D, B6 and B12 as well as tons of other nutrients. Hey, do you want to see more recipes like these?! I'll be posting here periodically but if you aren't following my husband, The Kentucky Kitchen, on Instagram OR his website, you are missing OUT. 

Have fun cooking and we can't wait to hear how you enjoyed this light and refreshing entrée!

Just a Mom

Photo by: Jana Glass

I vividly remember being in the hospital after having my first-born. I labored twenty-five hours with him, had the hardest time progressing in dilation, endured back labor the entire time, and spent much of the active labor, moaning and puking. He was born at 11:11am on a Friday before Father's Day. I was rolled to a room, with him in my arms, and I vaguely remember my mom being at my side. I had been awake, also, for twenty + hours, and my mind was so fuzzy, my body so tired. I couldn't coherently answer nurse's questions, and after I woke from a short nap, I was so shocked and horrified that I was still having contractions!!

Through all the books I read, the other moms I talked to, how come no one ever mentioned the contractions?! I suppose there's a possibility they did, and I just didn't have a clue what they were talking about because I didn't yet have a baby! But oh the pain, of learning how to nurse a baby for the very first time and at the same time, trying to get through those tight tortures of my uterus shrinking back to normal.

But there are a lot of things people don't tell you, isn't there?

Like how badly you may blister from learning how to breastfeed. Or the medical side effects (ahem, Thyroitis). People don't tell you how drastically things will change: your emotions, your hormones, your ability to think straight and rationally for the next ____________ (still waiting!) years. But most of all, do you know what I was the least prepared for? Do you know what I still am shocked to hear or understand, after being a mother for three and a half years?

The comments and the lack of understanding from so many people.

Shortly after my son was born, I noticed that my friendships began changing drastically. I had after all, never been 'held down' before and had always been free to make plans when I wanted, where I wanted, and how late I wanted. The fact that we put our son on a schedule from the day he was born, also made friendships challenging. Nap times were important to me, breastfeeding was important to me, and it was no longer as simple as arranging lunch or dinner plans without having a time limit on them.

There were a lot of adjustments to be made, my feelings were easily hurt (sensitive, first time Mom problems...? You bet!) and many friends I had,  just couldn't understand. The phrase 'Mommy Ashley' pops into my head often. And I heard, 'If you're just going to be a mom..." A friend once confided in me that she missed Ashley, and didn't know what to do with 'Mommy Ashley.' Well, at 11:11am that Friday morning, 'Mommy Ashley' was the new me. 

Just a mom.

What mom is 'just a mom?' I don't need to sing my praises here because honestly, I don't think I'm an A+ Mother. But I love my children well and deeply. I never would have planned to have two children so close together in age, but God did, so I sucked it up and decided that I would be the best mom of two that I can be. There were (and still are) many sleepless nights. There are tears to wipe, life-lessons to teach, diapers to change, mouths to feed, laughter to create, and cuddles to be had. There are two tiny humans who rely on me for everything. And there are people who want to venture with me through it, and those who don't. And I'm learning how to let this be okay.

When I shared my decision to take some time next year to stay home with the kids, I was once told, 'That's just lazy!" I was mortified. Lazy, being used as an adjective to describe someone who 'just wants to be a Mom.' After walking away, I had to take a breath and remind myself that people make different choices. And I get it: I made the choice to have a baby (and was surprised with two), the one to get married and to live the current life that we live. But when I take days "off" to be with sick kids, my mornings do NOT look like me peacefully sipping coffee, starting slow, or really, me sitting at ALL. There is structured chaos, from seven-thirty in the morning until nap and then from the afternoon until eight at night. And nap time for them, includes laundry and dishes for me, editing photos for clients, searching ways to write a book and then if there's any time left at all, writing the thoughts jumbling in my head, such as this one.

Just a mom.

I'm a referee for sibling squabbles, a teacher as they learn how to read, draw and imagine. I'm a nurse when something hurts, a counselor when they need to talk. I'm a house cleaner as I dust and sort and pick up toys. And don't forget the titles: worrier, planner, cook, and friend. If you don't already know this, I'm a full time teacher to fourth and fifth grade students who have emotional and behavioral disorders. From 7:30-2:30, Monday through Friday, I'm in my classroom, playing many of these roles for other peoples' children. I also run a professional photography business and, AND, I am working my darnedest to go big with this blog.

Maybe to some this isn't a high-status job, but to me, there is no higher calling. If you are a mom reading this, please don't ever refer to yourself as 'just as mom,' because you are so much more. And if you've created a life different from the ones that consist of diapers and little mouths to feed, great! But can't we join arms around each other and love the heck out of other women, regardless of these titles?

You're not just a mom.

And you're not just a woman.

You're a soul that was created for a purpose and whatever purpose that may be, let's celebrate together.