The end of an era coming close...

Almost five years ago when we found out we were pregnant with Audree, Michael accepted a position in the IBEW as an electrician's apprentice.  Today he is getting ready to take his state test to become a licensed journeyman!!  Granted, he still must finish his last 2 weeks (2 quarters) of classes to be recognized by the IBEW as a journeyman.. but he's so close!  He has class next week, then his last week of class, I believe, is either the last week or March or first week of April.  I'm so proud of him.  It's been a lot of work and a lot of sacrifice, but he's done awesome and will be graduating top of his class. 

I hope everyone had a great Christmas!  We sure did, though I'm not sure what happened to the time... it went by way too fast and we didn't get to do everything we wanted to.  We can try again next year.

I am looking forward to what 2011 has in store for us. We have several goals, dreams and wishes for the year that I will reveal as they come.  The first priority is Michael passing his test Friday... wish him well!

Came across this article... Apple Cider Vinegar

Interested In The Apple Cider Vinegar Acid Reflux Home Remedy?

Author: Kathryn Whittaker

Although you may need to take medications to help ease nighttime heartburn, did you know that there is a natural apple cider vinegar acid reflux remedy you can try to ease symptoms during the day? Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a natural treatment that has been used to treat a variety of ailments for many years, and is a popular choice among acid reflux sufferers.



ACV is vinegar made from crushed and aged apples known as cider or apple must.  When unfiltered, ACV has a brownish-yellow color. Unfiltered cider vinegar, also known as organic apple cider vinegar, contains what is known as the "mother of vinegar" or simply the "mother". The mother looks like stringy floating globs in the liquid, and is where all of the healing properties of ACV reside.



ACV contains minerals, as well as trace elements including magnesium, chlorine phosphorous, sulfur, sodium, calcium, potassium, iron, copper, fluorine and silicon. Due of all of its beneficial ingredients, ACV is a natural fighter of bacteria, which often makes it a beneficial vinegar acid reflux treatment choice.



How can apple cider vinegar benefit acid reflux sufferers? You may be confused as to how a type of vinegar could be beneficial for treating acid reflux symptoms such as heartburn. After all, doesn't vinegar have a high acid content? Wouldn't cider vinegar just exacerbate the problem? Surprisingly, for most acid reflux sufferers, ACV helps to relieve the burning sensation and nausea caused by reflux without adding to it.



Why? The reason is because many people with digestive problems like acid reflux, experience problems not because they have too much acid, but because they have too little. Apple cider vinegar mimics the acid level of the stomach, which aids in the proper digestion of food, and can help aid the stomach in digesting.



Therefore, in some cases, vinegar acid reflux remedies for heartburn work more effectively than antacids, because although antacids will cure heartburn, they are designed to diminish acid within the system. Thus, antacids will not treat the actual cause if acid reflux is the result of too little stomach acid, and instead can make reflux more frequent.



How should you take apple cider vinegar? Apple cider vinegar is available in many forms including liquid, tablet and capsule. However, when using ACV as a natural treatment, the only form you should obtain is the organic liquid that contains the "mother" enzyme.



When taking ACV, you will first want to shake it well before you ingest it to disperse the mother throughout the liquid. To start, try taking one tablespoon of cider vinegar before each meal. You will likely find the taste of the ACV to be quite potent. It is an acquired taste, and you should grow more accustomed to the flavor after the first few vinegar acid reflux treatments.



Nevertheless, should you find it too repellant, there are a few other ways you can take ACV such as:



- Mix a tablespoon in a fat free salad dressing or light mayonnaise and eat it with your meal

- Sprinkle a tablespoon on salad or vegetables

- Mix a tablespoon in an 8 oz. glass of water and add a bit of honey to sweeten the drink.

- Make a tea out of ACV by adding a tablespoon of the cider vinegar to hot water and slowly sipping it.



Although it is best to ingest apple cider vinegar prior to each meal, you can also take a tablespoon when your stomach is upset or heartburn acts up.



After taking apple cider vinegar for a few days, many acid reflux sufferers find that their symptoms improve, and continue to improve with treatment in the months that follow. However, in addition, you should be aware that ACV has a few mild side effects including stomach upset. Furthermore, ACV may worsen heartburn in some individuals. It is also known to thin the blood and should be avoided by anyone taking blood thinning medications such as anti-coagulants.



Always remember that you should speak to your doctor first before starting any treatment, including vinegar acid reflux treatment, and keep in mind that natural treatment should not replace any medication or treatment advice that has been prescribed by your doctor without prior consultation.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/interested-in-the-apple-cider-vinegar-acid-reflux-home-remedy-413860.html

About the Author

Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker's brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you discover more about why the apple cider vinegar acid reflux is so popular with acid reflux sufferers, along with additional natural acid reflux relief ideas.   

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Blog seems to have taken back seat

Sorry for the lack of posts.  I have 2 fun and crazy little girls to keep up with and working on finishing up my Christmas shopping/gifts.  I think I've done pretty well, but we have a couple of homemade gifts that have also taken a backseat... eek!

I am happy to say, though, that my shopping is done.  I am almost done turning my computer room into a multi-purpose computer/playroom/school room.  It's nice to be able to work on the computer downstairs during waking house while the kids are playing with toys or coloring.  And I have a place to store the extra toys... they're tiny little rooms just can't handle all the toys they get and I have a hard time figuring out what to get rid of.


As I know I probly won't be able to get on here again before Christmas, I just want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Our Christmas Cards this year... arent' they adorable??

check out the Cute cards I was able to make this year.  I'm so excited to recieve them, I got an email a day or so ago that they are on the way.  

 

 

 

Check out Shutterfly, I guarantee you'll find something you like!

Goody Garland Christmas 5x7 folded card

Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Nap time, please stay!!

I'm not sure if we've thrown little sissy's schedule so far off that we've screwed up her internal clock or what, but sleep times are not coming easy for her lately.  I'm hoping she hasn't decided that naps are no longer!  I need that bit of free time, even if I can't get Audree to lay down anymore.    Izy's been jabbering away for over an hour now in her crib... been doing it at night too, but that means she sleeps longer in the morning.  I haven't decided if that's a good thing or a bad thing yet.

I think and hope I finally got my grocery shopping taken care of for the week... maybe with teh exception of some bananas and some stuff to finish my cake for class tomorrow.    We are doing our final project, pictures to be posted later.  I have decided that I'm done with cake decorating classes for now. They are costing at least $100-$150 per class, which is money that could be put to good use elsewhere.  It's fun, don't get me wrong, but I don't feel I'm getting my $$ out of the class when I can read the book and get almost all the same information on how to do something.

Working on Christmas shopping. My idea for the girls has gone out the window since Izy is still in the destructive phase.  My sister found a huge wood dollhouse at the thrift store this summer that would be perfect for the girls, but I'd hate to fix it up only to have it destroyed within a day or two.  Maybe for next year.  I have one person done... well, almost 2.  I know what I'm doing for the 2nd person, but it'll take a little bit more than buying it at the store, it must be assembled.

I am so antsy to start on the house!  Our original goal date for having the house ready to sell is spring 2012.  We'll see how the market is at that time.  Unfortunately there is little chance of selling our house right now for the price we want because there is so much that needs to be done to it.  However, I told Michael that he can't start working on projects around the house until he finishes his homework for school next week.  I love that he's almost done with that!! :)

By the way, I have a new favorite author... well, she wrote a baking book and I think she has another cookbook due out soon.  http://www.foodallergymama.com/  Check her website out.  If you have to deal with food allergies, she has some great recipes... and they almost all fit our diet! :)

Have you tried Shutteryfly yet?

I love the designs on Shutterfly this year!  I have done business with Shutterfly in the past and always have been extremely happy with the results of the returned product.  Right now I am working on our Christmas Cards.  Yeah, I know, it seems a bit early, but better to do it now than scrambling around at the last minute.

I have picked out a design that is elegant and simple to complement our family pictures.  It is "Oh Holy Night Religious"   I saw this one and fell in love with it!  With such a large extended  family it is sometimes difficult to make sure everyone gets a picture because the cost ends up being so high and this way we get 2 birds with the same stone!  I have seen our past year's cards up on the fridge or wall of multiple family member's homes for the entire year, so that is an extra bonus for me when I choose a background everyone likes. 

I would highly recommend you check them out!  The prices are great and the quality is incredible.

Here are some links you should see.
Christmas Cards
Holiday Cards
Calendars - Everyone I know loves personalize calendars!  They are such a great gift.

My kiddos are getting so big!

Well, my current sewing project fell through.  I had planned to make the girls' Halloween costumes this year.. Audree was going to be Tinkerbell and Izy was going to be a purple fairy with the same costume.  Imagine my frustration when the fabric was falling apart as I was working with it!  UGGHH!  We did end up with some adorable costumes though. Audree went as a Pumpkin Princess with some fiber optic action going on in her costume and Izy was the cutest ladybug I have ever seen!  My goodness, so incredibly cute!  Of course my girls always are incredibly cute.

Getting rid of the Mystery Machine

If you've been around the past few months, you know that we purchased a motor home for Mich's temporary stay out of town while working on the wind farm.  After some discussion and a couple family camping trips, we've decided that it doesn't really fit our needs, we need something with a little more room for our growing family (no, I'm not pregnant).  If you know anybody that might be interested, please pass this along.  It does need some work, but the engine runs great (it went over several passes without a hiccup) and the roof doesn't leak. 

Here's the link http://kpr.craigslist.org/rvs/2011582330.html

Our goal is to get rid of it as soon as possible, but the price is pretty firm right now.

Ok... let's try again...

I am temporarily reinstating the blog to see how it goes...  If there's anybody out there still reading, send me an email (click here).  I will be changing things up a bit.. so hopefully this will have a different look soon.