Life around the Haney house has been just grand lately- Wei has been visiting since last Wednesday! If you don't know, Wei is my mom :) We planned on her being Gran, but Emersyn decided she should be Wei (my mom says it's because she is so much fun). She and Emersyn are best friends. We LOVE Wei visits, she's the greatest person in the world (tied with Peeps, of course). She loves on babies and I get time to actually think, Lance and I have time to have a real conversation, I get to go on runs without screaming babies, and we get to shop. A LOT :) we love having her here and loving on her! So far, we have gardened and made one shopping trip. Lots more fun to come!
Our oils are amazing our family more and more each day! Since we are talking about Wei, I'll share that we are keeping her back pain under control and she isn't taking Advil continuously. She was recently diagnosed with disc degeneration and osteoarthritis- nothing a little oil rub can't handle! We need Wei healthy for many more years and are so thankful we have an option that is so safe AND effective. I'll say it everytime- yay oils!
You know that feeling you get when you feel like you've struck a gold mine and stumbled upon something incredible that has changed your families lives?! We are there. I will try to contain my excitement :)
So, let's back up and get some background information. I have never wanted to have any type of business or work outside of mommy duties in any way- I've turned down team after team because it was never anything I truly believed in or could be excited about- I could see my future failures before I even began. I am perfectly content just being mom, and SO thankful for my hard working smarty husband who provides so I can do this. Well, this is something I want to share with every single person I see- that's how much our lives have changed since we have been involved with this company. Anxious yet? And here's this- it's nothing that hasn't been around since creation! Ok, here's our new obsession: Young Living essential oils. I include the brand because not all essential oils are the same, and this brand is the bomb (this kind of excitement makes me revert to middle school lingo!) When researching brands and how the company retrieves their product, and over and over I saw "never ingest an essential oil that is not Young Living" a little light bulb went off in my little researching brain. There must be something to say about the quality and purity of these oils? Oh yes- AMAZING.
I'll keep this as sweet and simple as I can, there is so much information. My contact info is listed above, feel free to call, email, text, Facebook message, whatever- just let me talk your ears off about these babies! What got me interested and even looking into essential oils? Well, when you are a mom and you have a sick baby who is on way too many prescription drugs for even a sick child, you just have enough of the guessing game at some point and realize you have a perfectly capable brain to try and resolve your baby's issues. That's where I was. My two year was a perfectly healthy baby- she was born 3 days after her due date, beautiful, natural, drug free delivery- scored a 9.9 on APGAR and thrived! When she was 13 months old she got RSV and her little lungs were never the same. She was eventually diagnosed with asthma and on SO. MANY. MEDICATIONS. Every single day. Then, she kept getting colds. Well, she is allergic to penicillin so we are limited to one good antibiotic to treat these colds. She had this antibiotic so much that it wasn't even effective anymore. Hello, wake up, mom! I was so frustrated and felt like it was just a guessing game, we tried Prevacid because one thought was silent reflux. I mean, I'm definitely not a doctor ( my husband will be quick to tell you he is, he's a PhD in engineering- far cry from the medical field :) ), I'm not even a nurse, but I am a mom who would go to the ends of the earth to help her babies. Thankfully, I didn't have to go far. I was introduced to essential oils many years ago and was intrigued, but never took the time to really learn about them. Well, recently back home in Alabama, I've had some friends who started using Young Living products and started spreading the word. It just so happened to be at the same time I was becoming desperate to do something besides prescription drugs for my baby girl. I researched, I read, and I asked a lot of questions. The only problem was my husband thought I had gone loony. We finally agreed that I could order one blend I thought was very beneficial to the issues we were having with Emersyn, if it worked we could dive in with the FABULOUS starter kit. I had seriously bugged my poor husband to death for probably a month at this point. Well, it worked. Emersyn had a horrible up all night coughing fit AFTER finishing up ten days of antibiotics, we grabbed the oil, rubbed some on her and let her inhale it and we slept the rest of the night. The next morning I got the green light to dive into these bad boys. And I did, and haven't looked back or regretted one second. One month later, Emersyn has not touched her nebulizer nor has she had any antibiotic or prescription in her body and she is doing better than I can seriously remember! And get this, our kit was being delivered on a Friday. Early that morning, between midnight and 1 am I woke up feeling like I had been hit by a truck- mastitis round one hundred, I think! Seriously- between both girls it was #6 or 7! I did not want another round of Keflex, little Edyn has awful tummy aches from it. So, my kit arrived around 10 am and I began an oil regimen. In TWO days I was a new woman, completely free of this awful infection. The last round of keflex I was on, I didn't do anything for seven whole days! I'm definitely not an expert and haven't experienced using oils outside of our little issues, but I'm learning the chemistry behind them and how they work- no, it's not magic or some voo doo oil. It's pretty amazing when you grasp the goodness of these gems that God put on this Earth to heal us :) I am absolutely loving learning everything I can about essential oils, their properties and how they can help us all!
Think I'm crazy yet :) don't worry, my husband did, too. Now he's asking for oils daily! Too many products are advertised as "all natural", we all want to be healthier and cleaner. Nothing is more natural than an oil that is extracted straight from a plant! You don't have to have debilitating health issues to get involved with oils, either. Sore muscles? Want longer eyelashes and pretty hair? Have some seasonal allergies? Want a REAL natural detox? Trying to train for a race and need some help with recovery? Kids not sleeping well? Snoring spouse? I could go ON and ON....
Get ready, I'll be coming at you with a lot of oil love and info :) local friends, get excited- we will be planning some classes, and non local friends- email, call me, let's FaceTime, let's introduce you to this goodness. This is seriously just touching the surface- they've changed my family's life in so many ways. One little investment has given our family so much freedom! If you have been thinking about it, but just keep putting it off- don't put it off any longer :)Life. Changing. Yay oils!!!
Happy Patriot's Day! FIVE years ago I was scared out of my mind, riding on a little school bus all by my 21 year old self out to the start line of the Boston marathon. I was not trained well due to injuries and very cold. I started out way too fast, got a huge blister on my foot at mile three, wanted to curse Heartbreak Hill, and even stopped at a water stop or two and WALKED. I hurt and wanted to quit, but five years later I am so glad I crossed that finish line. I will never forget hearing my daddy cheering on the final stretch to the finish line (he was standing across the street from where the bomb went off at last year's marathon) and the tears started flowing! Then, they really flowed when I finished and couldn't get to him from all of the barricades. I had a little hypothermia, finally found him and had to promise not to mention any of this to mom until we were back safely in Alabama :)
I still don't know how I qualified, besides a grand finale to my testimony of that season, but I am so thankful I got to experience it. I am thankful for the memories and that a week later I met my husband (he had just ran his first marathon) I am thankful that five years later I couldn't run 26.2 miles if my life depended on it and the only runs I get are pushing 60+ pounds in a jogging stroller. I do hope I can qualify again and go back one day, until then memories from 2009 will be on my mind every Patriot's Day :)
So, today, I will proudly wear one of my Boston tech tops and push my babies for a few miles (until the littlest baby starts screaming because she hates it so much!) and remember one of the coolest days of my life!
I am a total holiday nerd- no lie. If I had the extra time (hahaha) I would have a decorative wreath on my front door and full mantle attire for every calendar holiday and birthdays. Let's be honest, though, my Auburn door hanger has been up since last July (with the exception of the Christmas wreath) and I don't see it leaving soon. BUT I still love holidays even if my front door doesn't show it. Emersyn and I have created a special tradition of finding cookie cutters for each holiday and making a batch of sugar cookies. Now granted, most of our special time is spent by me saying " Emersyn STOP eating cookie dough by the handfuls!" The girl loves cookies-and the dough- I don't blame her. So, of course we made bunnies for Easter. I felt terribly convicted and we searched for a cross but couldn't find one on our grocery run so we recited that Easter is about Jesus while we cut out bunnies. She's far from grasping any knowledge of what Easter truly means, but we are trying to plant the knowledge in her sweet little heart. For her, Easter means you get a lot of "eggs", Reese eggs to be exact and she's addicted. She asks for them with the sweetest southern drawl "aygs, pease?" It's pretty cute. She also prefers mulch and dirt in her Easter basket over eggs, don't let the hairbows and dresses fool you.
We had a wonderful weekend remembering the sacrifices that were made so we can be forgiven and have a chance at eternity with our savior. So thankful the grave could not hold him! ... And eating our bunny cookies :) Happy Resurrection Day, friends!
Maybe this can be version one because when mommy hasn't slept in many nights, her brain is not too grand at title brainstorming :) Our days have been long this week, but I keep reminding myself of the truth that finishes that statement "but the years are short!" We have been stuck inside with cold weather while our new swingset taunts us in the back yard! Our two year old goes nap-less most days, and the baby has had some belly aches. At the end of the day, when everyone is tucked in bed I a) repent for all of my impatience b) am completely overcome with thanksgiving for these babies who can fuss and cry and pitch fits :) Even as crazy as they are, I don't ever want these days to end!
Today, my big girl begged to make cupcakes, so we went digging in the pantry and found just enough ingredients to whip some up. I lost count at how many she has eaten...
And this little darling has found her toes and can ALMOST get that big toe in her mouth. She is so proud :) Check out those rolls, I love every last one of them! Oh, I wish I could keep these babes like this forever, fits and all!
Hello, world. If you've known me a while, then you have been around for my series of blogs- this makes #4 and can hopefully transition throughout the changes in our seasons of life. I started blogging about marathon training when I ran my first Boston marathon (I say first because I hope there is a second SOMEWHERE in my future!), then I moved on to telling about loving Lance and our wedded bliss, and the most recent was all about our little family and our first child. Poor baby #2 has had no attention and I missed the outlet, so here we are.
Here is a little about me. I grew up in a small town in Alabama. I am Southern from my head to my toes and "y'all" and "bless your heart" are all over my vocabulary. I live in Missouri now, but have also lived in central Pennsylvania. I never ever imagined in my small town mind I would be so well traveled, but here we are and I have been blessed every step of the way. I have been married to my husband, Lance, for four years and we have two amazing little girls, Emersyn and Edyn. We also have a crazy dog, BoJackson, who drives me bananas every second of the day, yet somehow I would feel terrible for leaving him out of this family introduction. I am a stay at home mom- it never makes sense to me how something that I have always wanted, that is so wonderful and fulfilling, makes me completely crazy and in tears most days! I wouldn't trade being home with my babies for anything in the world, our days are full of giggles, tears, two year old fits and more grace than I ever deserve! I love my family and wish I could have my whole extended family under
one big, giant roof. I love big family holidays! I love Jesus and am
just amazed at this life He has blessed me with, I wonder why I am so
blessed all of the time, then just spend every minute I have in complete
thanksgiving. I love to exercise, running is my favorite- however,
running with screaming babies isn't my favorite so many days we resort
to basement Shaun T workouts, he's our second favorite :) I am a
nutrition nut and food snob. I carry, deliver, and raise babies in much
more of a hippie sense than I ever thought I would, and I love it. I
have a degree in nutrition and enjoyed every second of studying it, but I
wouldn't hesitate telling you my main priority in college was finding a
husband- which I did! I worked as a personal trainer and group fitness
instructor since I was in college until I was pregnant with baby Edyn,
then the politics and drama just got way too much for my pregnant
emotional state. I am extremely OCD and not a spur of the moment gal at
all. I love cleaning and my Rainbow vacuum cleaner more than any woman
should. I am just so thankful for this life,and hope I can use it to
glorify God every single day. I'm really good at talking about my babies- so here ya go.
Our little Emersyn graced our world in November 2011, 3 days after she was due and has turned our world upside down. She is strong willed, high energy, passionate, tender hearted, spirited, and just makes our days happier and brighter. She has a huge personality and gives the best kisses. She would live outside in the dirt with the neighborhood dogs if we let her. She is our sidekick whenever we exercise, and she is a strong as an ox! She is a leader and marches to her own beat, I love this so much about her. She would eat MY weight in cookie dough if I allowed, and shares my baking passion. The girl loves a KitchenAid :) she is a housewife on training as she loves to cook, clean, and take care of laundry. She is more OCD and a stronger type A personality than I realized was possible :) she is just now talking a lot, at almost 2 1/2 years old simply because she could get by just fine up until now grunting like Curious George (who happens to be her fave) I just love this girl to pieces and never thought I could love another the same, then came our Edyn...
Edyn Rose blessed our hearts by joining us on her due date this past November. She was the exact same size as her big sis at birth and looked almost identical, however we immediately could tell she was much more laid back. I had no idea normal babies sleep when they are new?! She adores her big sister and is always comforted by her presence. She is such a sweet baby! She is a little rotten and demands to be held when her daddy is in sight :) she isn't a fan of sleep- I mean, who would want to sleep in this house, too many exciting things are happening! She absolutely despises going for runs in the jogger (hoping this changes when she can be out of her car seat and by her sisters side) and loves to eat, hence the many chubby rolls! Edyn has the sweetest little spirit and the saddest little pout. I can't wait to watch her grow up big :)
I could babble on about them all day :) Those two girls plus their daddy are my superstars, and I couldn't do life without them. Clearly I am a family girl.
I cannot promise what you may or may not see in this blog in the future, but I hope a little glimpse into our daily life can at least bring you a chuckle and encouragement. Now, let's hope you don't have to wait 6 months on a new post.
