The trifecta

I've stopped posting to this blog because it started feeling like a need for public adoration and less like a helpful "how to" blog like I had intended. Tonight my fingers started itching to write out the day I've had, that I now refer to as the trifecta.  Three God written stories:

First Walt & Annie. They are missionaries who came to our church to share their mission. Our church doesnt currently support them, but we support Annie's sister and her family in their mission work. When they showed up to our church they had a powerpoint presentation that didnt compute with our dated system. So while we were waiting to try to make the presentation work they started telling the story of Chloe. Justin & I had just suffered a second trimester loss. The doctors told us, if we made it to the second trimester everything would be ok and the pregnancy would progress. It didnt. I delivered our baby after hours of painful  labor to see its little hands formed hands and body. We didnt know what God had planned for us, but nothing seemed concrete and real, but we believed in a plan. So did they:  Here is Walt & Annies beautiful story  Here is where to donate to their family 

Then my tornado story:
A year ago today a tornado ripped through Mayflower & Vilonia, AR.  Here is the first story you should read of a mother and her loss, the one the news media calls the Cheerleader  Then here is the story a  year later follow up post  And below is my response to my friend (the blog writer) who held tight to her friend, and Jesus during the loss:

When you knew me I was married and I was pregnant with Mia the same time you were pregnant with your first son. I remember comparing pregnant belly's. Fast forward through several years of pain and then beauty in God's plan: My second husband & I were working a christian's growth weekend in Hot Springs the weekend of April 27th. We usually meet Billy in Clinton because that's half way between our new home and his. Since we were in Hot Springs on a Sunday afternoon we planned to meet him at the Mayflower exit since that's close to his home, and pick up Mia to bring her home for the week. As we waited at the exit our phones started going off with Tornado warnings. Where would we go? Billy's was driving towards us and there wasnt a safe place for us. We drove to the first gas station we saw, Bates field & Tackle and waited for him to show up. As a mother without my child (and pregnant with my second) every second that Billy & Mia hadnt made it to my arms ticked by like hours. When they finally made it the relief was only temporary as we had no safe place to be. As a mother I've never not been able to keep my baby safe that feeling of lack of control was uncomprehendable. As we huddled on the dirty gas station bathroom floor I cried out loud to God, begging him to spare our lives. My pregnant belly cramped as I huddled scared with an elevated heart rate. We heard what they refer to as the sound of a train. I could hear the metal building shake and things slap against the building. My ears popped with the pressure.  What seemed like hours passed in minutes. Then it was over and  we walked outside. Debris cluttered the road and pieces of house insulation stuck to my vehicle. We had the flight response and immediately got in the vehicle to drive north away from the storm that headed to Vilonia. As we left we truly didnt know the extent of the damage. It wasnt until we watched the news coverage later, and mapped the path of the storm that we saw how close we were to the path of destruction and how devastating the storm had been. We joined our family in praising God for his sovereignty that spared us. Fast forward again to this past weekend. Billy was getting married to his wonderful, God ordained, Bride in the town of Searcy. As I drove to their wedding it was the first time I'd driven from Mayflower, through Vilonia on to Searcy. I cried as I passed the houses that had been reconstructed, the trees stripped of all their branches and leafs, the lives that had been ripped from their beauty. As I drove, I thought of the cheerleader and her beautiful, heart wrenching story, still unaware of the pending anniversary. When the news again lit up with the past stories, with corresponding links to your first blog post I cried for those less fortunate realizing the sovereignty of my journey through that torn up land. A part of me looked forward to the beautiful words I knew you would compose that would squeeze every part of my heart. The cute jeans post wrote out every word I longed to hear. Praise to the Father who makes all things new. I'm so thankful that in this chaotic mess of destruction Gods Love is flowing out for all unbelievers to hear. I pray His message reaches the masses to show others who ask "why, God?" 

With much love and adoration

Jenny Dillon  

Now for the 3rd to complete the trifecta: My brother Andrew took his life on November 6th. My mother's birthday. He was an organ donor and we are lucky enough to know his lung recipient. She shared her story on Easter Sunday with her church  It has been so beautiful to know to person who is using his lungs. God has been so good to show His sovereign plan through the pain.  

I pray for those who waiting to see his plan, who are walking through the fire. I thank God for days like today, when He has abundantly poured out his Love on my family and we can see how much He loves us through our pain and gives us hope for the Eternal. 

I love my God, 

Jenny 

Fall Decor + Organ Donation + Batman Family

Mom got a fur jacket at a thrift store and used it to make tepees with the kids using sticks, tape and markers. They turned out so cute and are inexpensive. All the plant life is from our prairie.  

Last week marked the 10 year anniversary that my brother Andrew ended his life here on Earth and received his eternal life in Heaven. We were blessed to have the recipient of his lungs in for a visit. She fits in so perfectly with our family and so does her husband. Most recipient families dont get to experience what we have. We get to have a personal relationship with one of our recipients. Its wonderful and beautiful the way God has orchestrated everything for our joy and His glory. We all went and painted together at a local studio. The bass guitars are for Andrew. One of his favorite things to do was play his bass.

While I'm sad that my brother will never meet his nieces in this lifetime its such a blessing to know his lungs are giving his recipient life to enjoy my children. 

For Halloween we were the Batman family. It started with a batgirl costume for august and ended with zip up footie batman pajamas for me. Mia couldnt be happier that we were all dressed alike. 

Paver Sidewalk & Fall Decor

Here is my mantle ready for fall. The J & D look a little wonky from this angle but its cool. 

 We got the backsplash done while we were in the Hospital having August. I just havent taken time to post pictures yet. I love the way it turned out.

 Backsplash detail

 That light up pumpkin is from my childhood, as is the lightbulb, cazy...........

 Justin turned 32, and almost dropped the ice cream cake right after this picture. We had dinner at Arnies Barn (without the girls) at Top of the Rock. The view there was awesome. We ate on the porch and had great beer and mexican food.

The sidewalk is in progress. They now have the grilling patio to the left done and need to finish the sidewalk heading that direction. The white (limewaste) you see will be covered by dirt and grass so the stone path will have a natural feel. 

Dad happened to be on our roof fixing a leak made by the DirectTV (always have a roofer inspect after they install your dish. They will poke holes in your roof and are not liable for leaks) and took a picture of the sidewalk view from the upper roof. 

August is smiling all the time. She is a happy girl. 

A concert & A comparison

Justin & I got a parents night out last friday night. For his birthday we went to see Jason Boland & Cody Canada & The Departed. It was so much fun to get out for a little bit. The first picture on the left is us at a concert 2 years ago BB (Before Baby), the second one is last friday. Its funny to see how Justins hair has changed. I hope my next blog post is pictures of Justin cutting off his hair. A girl can hope. 

 I got this tiny lovey from Shelbys (if you are a local) if not the brand is Bella Torino. Its called a pacifier holder. It can be looped through your paci. August loves having something soft against her face, but doesnt like a whole blanket because she's a hot box. 

This is Mia's school picture this year. She makes me so proud. She is a wonderful student. I never have to worry about her causing trouble. What are we going to do if we have a boy next? 

This is August @ 7 weeks and Justin @ 8 weeks. I see her dad in so many of her expressions. 

A friend sent a funny blog the other day about things that were different than she thought it would be after baby. Here are a few that I've noticed: 

- I thought I would wash my hands after every diaper change. Or at least the poopy ones. I mean come on I wash my hands after using the bathroom, why wouldnt I after cleaning up after someone else?? I remember being a little sicked out after watching a mother change a poppy diaper and not wash her hands. I'm sure I had a face of superiority. Little did I know.... I would change a dirty diaper at my sisters house then proceed to lick, yes lick my fingers to open a plastic sack to place the dirty diaper in. Oh how the superior fall so far from grace.  

-The wrap carrier I HAD to have and watched tons of youtube videos about while pregnant......SUCKS. Yep. It doesnt just slide on and whip into place like the chick on youtube pretends. I look more like a fat kid stuck in a coat trying to shove a screaming watermelon into my tight coat. 

-and I had a few more but August got the hiccups and I'm spending more time trying to keep her pacifier in than is worth. Until next time! 

New sidewalk, busy board, baby updates

I know I'm long overdue on a blog post. It's been hard keeping up with it being a new mom again. When I get on my computer I am trying to get caught up with work. 

Justin and dad were hard at work today digging up the dirt and smoothing out lime waste to prep for the pavers. Once the lime waste hardens we will start laying the pavers. I can't wait! 

I posted a picture of the scartlet vine I started growing up our chimney at the beginning of the summer. It grew all the way to the top of the net and kept going. I wish now we would have made the net higher. I love the color it brings to that side of the house. Next year it will wrap around and get thicker. 

I got some new yellow bins for the storage locker Justin built. I like the color they add. Now I just need bins for the top and to get my hoarder husband to clean up his 2 (yes he gets two) lockers. Bet you couldn't guess which ones are his. 

For my nephews birthday we made him a busy board. I've seen several on pintrest and knew he would love one. Kids always love non-toy toys. 

Mia was my helper. We used a left over board from our wood pile. 

I used a power sander and sanded down the sides to prevent splinters and gouged eyes. The we went to ace hardware and got yellow & black duct tape, and lots of hardware that he would enjoy playing with. My dad brought me short screws so they wouldn't poke through the board. Mia and I taped lines across the board and used some vinyl letters to write work zone.

 My other nephews loved it as much or more the birthday boy. 

Being a mom again has been awesome. I'm so much more relaxed this time. Im enjoying more, and stressing less. My body is recovered. Breast feeding is going really well. August is a really sweet girl. We bought a mamaroo for her fussy times. I know those don't work for everyone and it doesn't work all the time but it sure helps! I am sleep deprived but try to sleep in on the weekends. Justin's good about helping so I don't get burnt out. We joke that God made August easy so we will have #3. I have enough room in my heart for another chubby baby. 

Natural aid to heal from a C-Section

After 41 weeks of pregnancy my body still showed no signs of dilation, thinning or beginning the labor process. Since I was attempting a VBAC that is the longest my doctor would allow me to go past my due date. So we scheduled a section and I still held out hope that my body would start labor. As I got ready the morning of my scheduled section I still waited. It wasnt until 30 mins before the procedure started while laying in a hospital bed on an IV drip that reality hit. I wasnt going to go into labor, I would be having major surgery in 30 mins. The fetal monitor they strapped to my belly felt like it was a vice, I started sweating, and got really hot. I looked over at my husband with a shaky voice and said "pray for me". Soon my doctor came in and everything started happening. I kept reminding myself as I was prepped on the table for the spinal block that God was with me, He went before me and was waiting for me, He would comfort me. I felt His presence. Once the spinal took the team moved fast. Justin came in and I could see fear in his eyes. My calm rock looked shaken. He just stared at me with big eyes. I squeezed his hand and said "Talk to me..." I needed to hear something..anything. Our wonderful doctor started making jokes and conversation and after lots of tugging, pulling, and squeezing Justins hand I heard her first cry. I had been waiting 9 months, since we decided to try again after our first loss to hear that cry. Now she is here, healthy, happy and nursing well.

Really I started this blog post because when I was preparing for a section I could not find much information on natural things I could do to aid in the healing process. I've also had several friends ask for a list of what I did so here it is to the best of my foggy/new mom/drugged memory. These are all things I ADDED to the drugs I got from the spinal block, the IV pain meds, the pills in the hospital, the OnQ pump (more on that later), and the pain meds they sent me home with. I believe it helped me get off the meds faster but I didnt do it med free.

I am not a doctor, I dont give medical advice, please consult your doctor before doing anything. (Not that your doctor is the supreme answer giver, but I have do make that statement because this is America and people like to file lawsuits).

Lets start with Arnica Montana. Arnica 30x relieves pain from joint & muscle soreness, bruising, swelling, stiffness, back ache, fatigue and inflammation. We use Arnica gel anytime the kids take a spill so I knew this was one I wanted to take. I dont have a way to know how effective it was but I will say I only bruised inside my belly button, I stopped taking any form of pain meds by 1 week post surgery and I was getting up and down without pain by 1.5 weeks so for $6 a bottle it doesnt hurt to try!

The next thing came from Modern Alternative Pregnancy Love that website! They made a healing salve for the scar. I know not all of you have access to these things. If you need some let me know and I can give you some of mine.

C-Section Scar Salve Recipe:

• Frankincense essential oil (therapeutic-grade) – This essential oil is well-known for its ability to heal scars. It also helps to reduce stress, which is helpful during the newborn days. 
• Coconut oil – This wonderful anti-microbial oil is great for moisturizing the skin and preventing infection with its anti-microbial properties. 
• Arnica – Great for healing the skin and soothing inflammation. 
• Comfrey leaf – Comfrey promotes fast healing and much-needed pain relief.
• Lavender essential oil (therapeutic-grade) – This a great oil to use for healing and to help ease pain and itching. 
• Calendula – This soothing herb is great at reducing inflammation and speeding healing. 

For simple application, I suggest infusing the herbs in coconut oil. Try 1 Tbsp each of arnica, comfreyleaf and calendula in 1 1/2 cups of coconut oil. After they’ve steeped for a few hours in a warm place, strain the herbs and add 10 drops each of frankincense and lavender essential oils. Keep in a jar and apply as needed. If it’s warm in your house, it will stay liquid.

I was lucky, my sister had Arnica, Comfery Leaf and Calendula growing in her garden. We made the salve together and added helichrysum (which is a great skin healer). I did have staples with my surgery. So I waited until the staples were removed to start applying it, I know how fast YL oils heal skin and I did not want them healing around the staples). Also if you have steri strips or some type of skin closure strips it will take the sticky out of them (because of the coconut oil). After I started using it my steri strips came of 3 days later but they were ready to come off. Now I continue to apply the salve to the scar every day. The left over salve will be great for future accidents. Also I used this salve in the hospital to remove the sticky patch they place over the IV port in my arm. I know from past experience how painful that thing is when you try to rip it off so remember to take some time of oil to the hospital to help work that patch off! **Edited to say after I was done using it for my scar I started using it on August. She had the worst baby acne plus flaky skin. For a few days it was a face only a momma could love. I slathered her every morning with the salve. Now she has the most beautiful, soft skin**

(this isnt my infographic)

I am sold on Young Living because I know their products are pure. Cheaper isnt better to me when it comes to food or medicine. So I only know about YL essential oils. All others are inferior to me. I used lemongrass in a wide circle around my scar for regeneration/recovery/anti inflammatory. I also used it on my back around the area of the spinal block. A few days I had almost as much pain in my back as I did in my front. I could tell nerves were coming back to life and damage had been done. (its a hot oil so try it on a small area first and dilute if needed)

(not my infographic)

I also used PanAway  in a wide circle around my scar when I had the white hot pain and burning. I also used it frequently on my back because of spinal block pain/damage. 

I knew from my previous section that the pain meds affected when my milk came in. It took me 5 days for my milk to come in with my first. Then that turned into high jaundice levels, a return to the hospital for 4 days and lots of stress. I was determined to get my milk to come in faster this time. I started taking Gaia after delivery. I took it twice a day. My milk came in by day 2 and I have a great supply. I believe this was crucial in getting my supply to start. It does make your armpits smell like maple syrup. No clue why. But thats better than body odor I guess. Also while she was feeding I took two fingers and rubbed lines from my outer breast towards the nipple. I did this over and over like a massage. I noticed the tingling sensation of letdown once I started this. I also offered every 2 hours for the first week to establish a good supply. Then after that week I let her decide when she was hungry. Also for nipple soreness I used Coconut Oil. I put it on after every feeding. I kept a small container with me everywhere I went. I used disposable breast pads. I have very sensitive skin and I know how long it took me to heal BFing my first time. I know using coconut oil faithfully healed me so much faster. I could never use lanolin. It was like trying to rub tar on super sensitive nipples. 

Postpartum depression is a big one for me. I had it so severely with my first. I believe its something you are prone to and something you have to actively fight against. I take 3 things to prevent PPD. 

Progessence Plus has so many benefits. We used it to help conceive and its great for balancing the hormones after labor. I take a drop under the tongue twice a day. 

A friend gave me Birth Song Botanicals - Nutured Mother as a gift. I started taking it right after labor. I take a dropper full 2x a day (or 3 if I'm feeling crazy). Here is what their website says:

Think of Nurtured Mother Postpartum Tincture as a friend who is there to support you physically, emotionally, and hormonally as you transition into your new life as a mother. Nurtured Mother Tincture is especially helpful during your first week postpartum. Nurtured Mother Tincture comforts you just after giving birth by softening the harshness of afterbirth cramps, bringing you much-needed relief. It is an astringent, nervine, and nutritive uterine tonic that maintains uterine tone, minimizes postpartum bleeding, and helps your uterus return to its pre-pregnant size.

I noticed while grabbing a pic from their website that they have a "c-section recovery kit" and "c-section antiseptic spray". I will look into those next time around! 

(not my infographic) 

The third thing in my PPD was placenta encapsulation. Gag now if you will. I dont care. If you've ever felt the crushing weight of PPD, and the mommy guilt for not being "happy enough", and the diarrhea side effects from the depression medication you might try eating your own placenta. My defense is animals in the wild do it, obviously there is a reason for that. Sometimes we should imitate that. I'm blessed to have a sister who is seasoned in the sport of placenta encapsulation. She has the whole set up so she encapsulated for me. If you live close to me you can hire her, if you dont I'm sure you can find one in your area. 

While I have my army of 3 to fight PPD I still depend heavily on the Lord. On day 8 post-delivery I was struggling. I had to cry out many times to the Lord begging him to fill my heart with joy. I spent a lot of time in the sunshine too closing my teary eyes facing the sun, soaking up its goodness. I still have my moments, I'm still an emotional mom but today I dont feel crushed, or abandoned or defeated. 

I'll speak briefly on my replacement for the Vitamin K shot. I dont care to hear your thoughts on it if you are NOT in support of it, and feel free to skip mine. If you are looking for an alternative to the Vit K shot I would recommend what Dr. Mercola has to say about Oral Vitamin K . I ordered my oral Vit K from Birth With Love because they use a base of olive extract instead of vegetable oil. 

Now for the OnQ Pump. I decided to do this to try to get off pain meds as soon as possible. It was annoying to have to carry around that little black bag everywhere. I would get up out of bed and forget about it and it would jerk behind me. Then on day 4 Justin noticed blood on the front of my dress. I went to the bathroom and blood was coming out of the port where the catheter entered my body. It was coming at a decent pace. I called L&D and they said clamp it and remove it. We already had instructions on how to remove but it still was gross. It took about 30 mins and Young Living oils to stop the bleeding. I still had plenty of meds left in the pump. 24 hours after I took it out I noticed no pain increase by not having it. My recommendation is to save yourself the money and dont get one. Its inconvenient and I'm not convinced it relieved any pain. Thats just my 2 cents. 

Ok this is the longest blog post to date. I need to nurse, eat and refill my water. Feel free to contact me with any questions on the above products. I dont get paid for any endorsements, this is just truly my opinions. 

She's here!

August Wren joined us on wednesday via csection! She was 8lbs 3oz and 18" long. We love her! It's hard writing one hand while holding her. So I'll write more later.