Drawing

Hands down, the best part of this winter (besides adopting Mango & Rainbow--see previous post) has been watching Alice's drawing abilities develop. 

After getting her a set of her own skinny markers, she has been into drawing ALL the time, even when she's mad, which is great. 

We watched her scribbles turn to blob-people, and now she even draws cats and people so detailed they have shoes and hair clips. It's amazing how rapidly her perception of people has transformed over such a short time. 

"A girl sitting"

"A girl holding a treat for her two cats with ants on her skirt."
Notice the word "TACO" in pink? That's what she wants for dinner she says.

Electrolyte Replacement Recipe

One of the scariest things about being a parent is seeing your child hurting and feeling helpless. One of the best things about being trained in herbal medicine is having knowledge about plants that have been used for centuries. My herbal education, both formally and informally, has made me feel like I have more power over protecting and caring for my family and myself. I don't have to rely on doctors and modern medicine that I do not necessarily trust all of the time. Holistic health care is something that I really and truly believe in. I have been practicing and using natural home remedies for years and years, but now that I have a child I am given the opportunity to use this knowledge on a little human. That being said, it can be scary to give your child herbal or natural remedies for the first time. I have been reassured by other moms, herbalists, and books and it has given me the confidence to treat my daughter during colds, flu, rashes, vomiting, etc. I cannot recommend enough Naturally Healthy Babies and Children by Aviva Jill Romm. I turn to this book often and it is reassuring to see this information, even if I know it already, from a knowledgeable herbalist.

This week our daughter was vomiting for about 48 hours. We used this Electrolyte Replacement Drink recipe so that she wouldn't get dehydrated. She is finally feeling better and on the road to recovery. I wanted to share this recipe with you, as it is simple to make and uses ingredients that most people have in their kitchen. Maybe this will entice you to buy or borrow this book!

Electrolyte Drink Replacement 

by Aviva Jill Romm

This drink ensures that the body maintains its mineral balance, prevents dehydration, collapse and shock. Do not use honey if your patient is under one year old.

  

8 ounces water (warm or at room temperature

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

a pinch of salt

2 tablespoons or more of honey or maple syrup

To prepare: Combine all the ingredients.

To use: You can administer the drink by tablespoon often or by 1/4 to 1/2 cup every half hour or so.