UTI

My baby Liza has a UTI.  Poor thing.  I've been loading her up on cranberry juice, coconut water, water, homeopaths and anything else I can think of to help her out.  I'm trying really hard to avoid antibiotics at this point.  Anyone else have experience with this?  How long before you would take a kid in?  What symptoms would make you take her in?

She had a couple of UTI's as a baby.  We had the whole VCUG - kidney reflux tests done.  She's fine.  We haven't had any issues until recently.  I weaned her in August and started working harder at potty training her (she was about 90% there at that point).  Potty training quit working.  She kept leaking and seemed to have no control over her urine.  I gave up!  Put her back in pull-ups and figured we'd just wait.  (She still pooped on the toilet every time.)  She always stunk like urine, strong, nasty urine.  I just figured it was her.  A couple of weeks ago I started giving her some cranberry tincture I had on hand.  It seemed to help a bit with both the potty training and the smell, but I wasn't being extremely consistent about it.  Then Sunday she peed her pants at church and kept having to go to the bathroom.  I didn't think about it too much - she just does that sometimes.  Sunday afternoon she seemed uncomfortable, but nothing completely unusual.  I gave her some cranberry and went on my merry way.  She woke up Monday morning and cried when she had to pee, peed every few minutes, etc.  Classic signs.  Poor baby.  She's doing better today, but certainly not 100%.

Any advice?

***(Follow up)  I tried to take Liza in to the acute care clinic this morning, but it was packed.  I didn't have time to sit and wait around, so I came home planning to go back this afternoon/evening.  But she seems to be doing MUCH better!  Her urine doesn't smell and she isn't complaining and peeing nonstop.  I'm adopting a wait and see attitude.  If it is worse again in the morning, I will take her back tomorrow.  Oh, Mau, I ordered Uricare.  I have purchased Native Remedies before, but didn't think of it this time.  I might get it as a back up!  Thanks!

Frustrations

This past week was LONG.  Nothing enormous, just small frustrations and it all added up to me feeling very done. 

It started with my engagement ring breaking last Sunday night.  Then I got a flat tire.  It was dark and there is no cell coverage where the tire went.  Thank God I was able to get coverage 10 feet in front of the car.  The wind blew part of our kid's play set over.  (We despise the wind out here - our trampoline blew away a couple of years ago.)  We've had some ongoing HUGE issues at our church and someone wanted to talk about it this week.  I didn't.  I lost.

It's now Sunday afternoon.  I have a raging headache, want to cry for a few hours and am praying this next week is much better!

Current Events

My older girls and I spent 5 days last week in Ohio with one of my dearest friends, Marie.  She mentioned that I don't blog much at all, so this one is for Marie!  :-)

My in-laws are due in town today and we are having a blizzard.  They are driving!!!  This is our 3rd snowstorm of the year, so I'm expecting a bit of a long winter here.

We have been super busy since school started this year.  I usually work very hard at making sure we don't have stuff scheduled every day.  Somehow I've failed this year at that.  Well, we aren't supposed to have something every day, but it seems to be working out that way.  Every other Monday, Abigail has a friend over to work on science labs.  Every other Wednesday we have a world history discussion group at our house.  (Which has turned into most Wednesdays.)  The girls have piano lessons Thursday mornings.  Eric and I have been helping with music at church frequently too.  ETC ETC ETC.  We're busier than I like.

Well, Marie is calling me, so I will talk on the phone instead of blogging!!!

Motivation, Part II

I love Sally Clarkson.  Her books, her blog, her words.  She speaks my heart over and over and over again.  Her blog today fit perfectly with my post the other day about motivation.

I Heard Him Call Come Follow

“Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou my inheritance, now and always; Thou and thou only first in my heart, High king of heaven, my treasure thou art.”

Motivation

What motivates you?  What makes a person get up every day and keep going?  I recently had a day where I just had no motivation left.  I kept thinking of verses that talk about keeping our eyes on the prize, running the race, etc, but nothing.  I finally had a few moments to think about it and I realized that, in my mind, the prize we are running towards is heaven.  And frankly, I'm not too worried about getting in (no I'm not trying to be arrogant, I just know where I stand with God).  So no motivation there.  Then there's rewards in heaven - crowns, mansions, etc.  None of which I'm interested in.  Now what?  WHAT motivates me?  What has kept me going for all this time to work at my marriage, homeschool my kids, clean my house, make food, etc?

Some of you know me well enough to know the answer.  My husband knew it immediately.  Relationships.  I value real relationships more than anything in this world.  My relationship with Christ, with my husband, with my children, with my friends.  The thought of not obeying what Christ has asked of me would hurt our relationship, so I don't want to do it!

Now, can someone help me with a verse that I can put up to remind me of that motivation?

Weaning

I think I mentioned that I weaned Liza recently.  It's been a month now since she's nursed.  She and I can still have tears over it together (and separately for me).  But when I weaned her, I never filled up or felt a let-down.  Definitely nothing left.  I have been much sadder over all of this than I thought I would be.  She is 3 now and I always have another baby by now.  And while I don't really want to be pregnant ever again (I'm worn out, old, exhausted, etc), the whole thing is just making me feel OLD.  When did I get old?

I think I'll go cry now.

Arnica

Before I get into this post, I have to mention that my computer has been unable to connect to the internet for a few weeks.  Probably an easy fix, but no time.  So I've been stuck using Eric's computer which means I have no links for any blogs, including my own!!!  :-)  I'm finally making time to figure it out this morning (and I should be doing other things, but whatever).

I am accident prone these days.  Anyone else?  Last night, I was opening the door to Eric's office and smacked the side of my nose with the door.  Don't ask.  I have NO idea how I managed to accomplish such a thing.  Within about 5 minutes my nose started to swell a bit, just on the side.  Oh, and it crunched when the door hit.  I was very surprised it didn't bleed, so figured it wasn't too badly hurt.  But then I was able to SEE my nose.  Not in a mirror, just looking straight out and I could see the swelling.  I grabbed the Arnica (a homeopath for those of you who are scratching your heads) and put some on and took some.  (Eric about died laughing when I told him - he loves me, really, he does!!)  For the next 1/2 hour, I took Arnica and put some on my nose.  About an hour later, the swelling was gone and that spot wasn't blue anymore!  I love Arnica.  I have a barely noticeable spot on my nose today.  :-)