hello quiet and sleepy friends

let's be more chatty, shall we?  hehe.  I know this is always a busy time of year, but we need to RALLY (as we say in New Hampshuh).  

Amy, big hugs.  I think it is probably incredibly overwhelming to think of the task ahead in helping Samuel live with autism... and in living with it yourself.  I am sorry honey that it has you down and out.  It makes sense that you will have huge ups and downs in your perspective and your ability to deal... some days you will feel like a supermom who is blessed with a challenge of a special and unique scenario of child raising, other days, like now, it will bum you out and make you feel tired and doubt that you are up to a challenge such as this.  That is ok, friend.  It doesn't mean that you AREN'T up to it.  Everybody has doubts and frankly, humility is your best friend because it reminds you that you need support and nourishment too.  This is a huge, HUGE karmic path you are on with your son.  Please take care of yourself and be gentle with yourself.  You can only be strong for Samuel if you do.  Big hugs.  Big love.

We are finally getting some rain here in our drought ridden state.  Apparently this is the worst drought ever in California history, worse than in the 70's when there was statewide water rationing.  I am wondering when they will institute water rationing for us...  We are in year three of it and desperate for some heavy rains, but most of January was 70's and sunny.  It was lovely, don't get me wrong... but totally not what we need.  Hopefully the rains keep up now through march and we can store a little water. I am worried about fire season.

Ava was sick this weekend but made a quick recovery, thankfully.  I have a great book, called 'naturally healthy babies and children' by Aviva Jill Romm, which has great information in it about herbal nutrition and healing for kids.  I made Ava an infusion (that's a very strong tea) of red clover blossoms, rose hips and nettle with lemon and honey and she drank it all day on the day she spiked a crazy fever.  It was really cool, because it brought her fever down and I didn't have to give her ibuprofen or tylenol.  Plus I am certain it kept her from getting sicker because nettle is an antibacterial, and rose hips are an immune support.  The book has a foreword written by Dr. Sears, so in case any of you are wary of alternative medicine you know it comes highly regarded from the pediatric community.  I really appreciate having ideas for fostering wellness, so that she will be sick less and for shorter times.  I like having more of a role in it than just bringing her to the doctors office.

Ok.  25 weeks now.  Doing well, feeling good.  My gestational diabetes really kicked into high gear though, so now I am on the super diet.  No more bread for mama, which sucks, because I really love sandwiches.  That's ok... it is only 3 more months.  Since I have been off any sugars for the whole pregnancy, now all I have to drop is the complex carbs.  I can do the south beach thing for three months.  oy.  But I do get a little tired of salad and meat.

how is everyone else?

MaryStarr