Our 14 year old daughter was just diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome-Cancer

It has been one rough week here. Our 14 yr. old has been feeling weak and fatigued, just not herself. We had set up an appointment with a dr. however my husband suggested testing her hemoglobin. I did and was shocked to see it was a 6, when it should be anywhere from an 11-16.
  We chatted with her nurse practioner, and she highly suggested taking her to children's hospital that very day, Sunday. However we had since been pumping her full of Young Living's Ningxia and other Young Living Supplements. By that evening, her HGB was a 9, so the hospital sent her home telling us my machine was wrong, even though everyone else tested normal. We did however have a hematology appointment scheduled for that Weds. We knew it was the ningxia and other supplements keeping her up. Tuesday after her daily dose of ningxia and supplements, I said no more until she see's that Dr. just so he will see her levels without our Young Living products. By that night, Tuesday, her gums were white, her tongue was white (they had already been pale for close to a week) and that night she collapsed in the bathroom after showering. By the time she got to the ICU her HGB was a 2.3!
  They took us serious this time. After 4 units of blood, many Iv's and a bone marrow biopsy, she was diagnosed with Myelodysplatic Syndrome. A not so common form of cancer.
  After being in shock, denial, questioning, my anger and grief and fear, I had been reminded that the Lord has not placed in us a spirit of fear! We have many many people storming heaven on my little girls behalf and I know that their prayers have been heard and felt by my family. The love and support have been amazing. I feel confident in my faith that the Lord will move in Alyssa and she WILL be healed.
  We have decided on a treatment plan, along side prayers I just know she will be ok.
We are asking if you find it in your heart, alongside your prayers, to donate toward Alyssa's Treatment Fund it would be more then appreciated. No matter how small the gift is even $5 will help.
  I will be placing a button on my page, you can donate through PayPal. I will be posting updates. Thank you and God Bless each and everyone of you.

   Alyssa's Treatment Fund
                              

my beautiful girl before her bone marrow biopsy, finally some color back in her!

Can Someone Say Addict

Yes that's right another little blessing is on the way! At least I'm fairly certain thats a positive. Wink wink 

I can't help myself, I just love watching the positive line pop up!

One of My Top Priorities

While there are always things that could be getting done, making time for our children is a top priority for me. Hadassah has already taken an interest in doing hair (maybe that's why she cut her hair twice) She can already braid my hair!!!

She is growing up

              It has happened, Orchid is now pulling herself up on everything!
While daddy is all for it, I am a nervous wreck. All I can think about are the bumps and bruises that she could get, if she falls.

We are not going without, and it is not just about weight loss!

   There is something so cute about a two year old asking for quinoa (pronounced keen-wah).  People keep complimenting me on my weight loss, which yes is flattering, but very odd for me. But I wish that more people would realize that we did not change our eating habits, honestly my goal was 145, I never dreamed I would weigh 122. We changed our eating habits to be healthy. Being overweight might not be pleasant, but it seems to be mildly acceptable these days. So when we talk about being grain free and sugar free, people react as if that would be hard for them and simply not worth it just to loose weight. I dare to say some (stress SOME) people would rather have surgery then change what they are eating.
  What they are missing though, is that we are not eating more healthy to loose weight, we are eating healthy to be healthy! I mean I can do squats again, and easily, not pushing myself up while groaning. I just can't understand when people will talk about disease and illnesses that they or their family are suffering from, yet the strictly rely on Dr.s to heal them. Why not let your body heal itself, or, better yet, why not do all that's in your power not to get sick in the first place? 
  So rather then focusing on what you can't have focus on what you can...
           

snicker doodle cupcakes with meringue

chocolate chocolate pie with fresh whipped cream

and a quick lunch or snack, apples, almond butter prunes and pecans!

Now with sharing that, it is not as if we are going without. And the benefits are so worth it. A long healthy life!

Why

                     Why is it so hard to admit  things to others?
 Writing about my wanting to slow down, makes me feel as if I am a failure. As if I can't handle being busy. I find myself wanting to explain, I can I really really can, I just don't want to!
  Writing about wanting to save money, be more frugal, makes me feel as if everyone will think we are poor. We may not be millionaires, but I do not think we are poor. I feel self employment has it's waves of ups and downs yes, but I just want to be more wise with my money. Yet I keep thinking, I don't want people to think we are poor so I have to do these things.
  Why am I like that? Why should it matter?
 I suppose it is my pride, and I know that it shouldn't matter, so I suppose these to are things I should be working on as well.
 

Baby Led Weaning, or Solid Starting at Least

I have always wanted to make it to a full year exclusively breastfeeding. However I never make it a full year without letting our little ones begin to eat solids. I usually give baby food, organic but still baby food. This time, with number eight I decided to skip the whole baby food mess. I was ale to hold her off until eight months before letting her begin tasting things. She LOVES solids. Not that she gets our food everyday, but boy she loves it when she does.

I am still providing her her main staple, breast milk. However she is allowed to try anything that isn't hard or needs a lot of chewing, so no steak.

I figure if she can pick it up, and it makes it to her mouth, why not. She has not had any digestive issues, she actually is filling her diaper more often. Which I know is due to the fact many babies use all of mama's milk, leaving no left overs to come out.

I will never buy baby food again though. We eat very healthy in my opinion, and because I am waiting until she is ready, practically begging for solids, I think this is the perfect way for children to start solids. We of course started with things such as avocado's and butternut squash soups and easy things, but I think she could do much more. I only wish I could have figured this out years ago. I highly recommend baby led weaning. And by weaning I mean starting solids, not weaning off breastfeeding. of course.