Genetically Modified Foods

Here is a clip from Rep. Kucinich arguing before Congress on the need for more transparency in our food supply.

Here is a documentary on GM foods that is being shown for free for the next several days.

Here is an article detailing the most recent study highlighting the health risks on genetically modified foods. This article includes a link to the abstract of the study.

Here is an interview on the study if you would prefer to watch a video.

Here is a mini-documentary if you don't have time to watch the previous documentary (or just want more information).

Some Favorite Books

I have been doing quite a bit of reading recently thanks to Matt's schedule. Here are some of my favorite reads from the past couple of months:

1. Safely Home by Randy Alcorn.

This is a fictional account of the persecuted church in China. But it is incredibly well researched and based in fact. Much of what you read about in this book, you won't read about in the news. Like with so many of Randy Alcorn's books, it ultimately points you to Heaven while it pulls back the curtain to show you a very Biblical and very amazing glimpse of what awaits us. Definitely a page turner.




2. Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick.

This book highlights how easily we model for our kids a work-based gospel, instead of a grace-based gospel. It stresses the importance of showing our kids (and everyone!) the gospel of grace in every situation. I found it to be a refreshing break from all the parenting books that guarantee a specific result if you follow a specific equation.




3. The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan.

This is just a funny, well written book. Corrigan has a great ability to make you feel as if you really know the characters. In the midst of some heavy reads, this was a great way to break it up!






4. Does the Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions by Randy Alcorn.

Speaking of heavy reads, this certainly qualifies. You have to hand it to Alcorn, he is a master at research and analysis. This is a must read for any couple considering their birth control options, any physician, pastor or counselor. He provides research from physicians, pill manufacturers, scientists and many other sources that are hard to ignore. This is definitely not information you will hear from many doctors (even Christians) as many of them are just not aware of what exactly the pill (and other chemical birth control) does.


5. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde.

This is actually a play, not a book, but it is the best. play. ever. written. I am a huge fan of all British Lit., but I think that Shakespeare sometimes gets a little too much attention. Oscar Wilde's writing was a witty, satirical, at times absurd commentary on British society in the late 1800's. In my opinion, it was for its time what Seinfeld is for our time. I think I have read this play at least a dozen times; it never gets old.




6. Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae.

Okay, this is actually a children's book. But I have read it every day the past couple of months, since it is Addie's favorite. And seeing how it involves one of Addie's main loves (giraffes) with one of my main loves (dance), it is perfect! Seriously though, this is a great child's book with a great message, and the rhythmic text makes littles love to hear it over and over.





Happy Reading!

Sick

Passed out on my chest...her home for about 4 days...

Well it finally happened...Addie got sick. After 15.5 months without a runny nose, earache or cold, we could avoid it no longer. A virus.

It actually got all of us. First Matt, then Addie, then me. From the time Matt started noticing he wasn't feeling well until we could all crawl out of bed again was a little over a week. It was a nasty bug. Addie's fever spiked around 103 degrees. Poor little thing. 

Since she was feeling so badly, she would only sleep on top of me. And since she was so congested, she would only sleep for very short stretches before she would wake up scared because she couldn't breathe. 

It was so sad. And so hard.

But we made it. And at least we got lots of cuddling in :).

Since I recently shared my thoughts on food, here are my thoughts on dealing with a sick little one. 

* I think fevers are good, so we let them run its course (as long as it doesn't get too high in relation to age). This means no Tylenol for us (or Ads). A fever is how your body fights a cold, virus, etc. I have also read several interesting medical and anthropological articles that hypothesize that one of the (many) reasons there is such an uptick in cancer rates is because we don't allow children to have fevers anymore. This is because heat can kill cancer, so if you have a fever spike occasionally it can be a good thing.

* We try to avoid antibiotics if at all possible. And for a virus, they don't work anyway. Antibiotics only kill bacterial infections, not viral infections. 

* We eat lots of raw garlic. It works on anything: viral, bacterial, yeast infections. Ads even ate some (and I downed it, and since I am still nursing, she got a lot more that way).

* We take extra Vitamin D, C and other supplements.

* We get as much rest as possible, eat lots of healthy foods, and spend a few minutes in the sun everyday (I'm telling you, around here we think the sun can cure anything!).

* We avoid cough syrups, antihistamines and all over-the-counter medicine like its the plague. Not only do they slow down your body's natural healing ability and make you more susceptible for a relapse, they are FULL of dyes, chemicals, corn-syrup and all kinds of scary stuff.

Which brings me to my proudest moment yet as a mom.

After about 5 days of Ads not sleeping at all, Matt decided the best thing for her was to have some benadryl so that she could sleep for a night and hopefully reset her body. I was horrified. That is not an exaggeration. But because I trust my wise, soon-to-be doctor of a husband, I told him we could give her benadryl. this. one. time. only.

So we got our poor little sick baby to give her the poison benadryl, and she refused to take any! Keep in mind that she eats raw garlic without a fuss, drinks a nasty green shake every morning because she sees me do it and loves things like artichoke soup. I have never seen her refuse to eat something. Until the benadryl.

I have never been so proud!

By the way, she loves the homeopathic medicine Matt got for her. Matt says I have brainwashed her; I think she is just a very discerning 15 month old.

And, for all of you who think I am crazy, I am aware that I am a smidge out of the mainstream :)


** If you want to watch a funny sitcom that highlights some of my oddities, here you go (watch till about 2:20).