OT - Cleaning the Natural Way - You, Your Mask, Your Home

NEW LAUNDRY SOAP RECIPES

Found these in this book: "Clean Naturally: recipes for body, home and spirit" by Sandy Maine

Haven't tried them, but I do like the way the first recipe sounds. Probably would be gentler than the Fels Naptha. And easier to get ingredients.

Cheers,
B.
--------------------------------------------------
Simple Washing Powder
16 cups baking soda
12 cups borax
8 cups grated castile or glycerin soap
3 tablespoons lavender, lemon or grapefruit EO

Combine dry ingredients. Add EO and mix with a wire whisk. Use 1-1/8 cups of powder per load. This recipe makes enough powder to last a family of four one year.


Pre-Wash Stain Spray
½ Cup White Vinegar
¼ cup baking soda
2 tablespoons ammonia
3 cups water

Stir together and fill a labeled spray bottle. Spray on heavily soiled spots just before Washing. (test on hidden spot for colorfastness first)


Bleach/Brightener Substitute
1 cup hydrogen peroxide
1-1/4 cup lemon or grapefruit juice
12 cups water

Store in a labeled on-gallon plastic jub. Add 2 cups per load.

The hand draw is a catch 22 in my opinion. They can be closer to the surface, so SEEM easier. However...I rarely used them for 2 reasons. They roll, making it hard to do without causing more pain. Plus it hurts more. Knowing this....and how kids (and even adults) can freak about sticking something in the hand, I used to go straight for the arm.

During school we all had to practice on each other. I came home every day with holes in both arms and both hands. Once in my foot......I let the teacher demostrate on me.

I am glad he is feeling better. Faith hasnt done any blood draws yet....but I dread the day. I know what you mean on the torturing front. As a mother you are primed to defend your baby at all costs, with your own life if need be. So it is hard to turn that instinct off, even when the pain they are going through is for their benefit. There is that part of you just wanting to grab your child and tell them to get their hands off your baby. But the other side knows you cant. It can break your heart. It will likely take you longer to forget about it then it will take him.

It can take a lot out of you....but you are doing the best thing you can do for him, making sure he grows up without the apnea problems that have plagued you. I think you are amazing, and I clap my hands for you being able to sit through that and be strong for him.

I will have to try the olive oil, and the heating pad sounds really good. Been on antibiotics for 2 and a half days now....and the pain is actually worse. My head hurts from all the pressure in my ear. I am going to buy stock in advil.

Babs....I used the boil and bite from walmart for about a year. I really liked it. The only reason I stopped is I lost it. It disapeared one night while I was sleeping and I never found it. I have a feeling the bf at the time found it and tossed it, or just took it intentionally and tossed it. Either way, it worked really well for me when I had it. I may get another one now that I think of it. It was like $20 in the dental section.

My AHI shot up to 11 this past week. So I played with my pressure last night. I upped it from 14 to 15.6. Seemed to do the trick, and bonus it also seemed to help the coughing. So I am down to about 3. Not as good as my usual 1.7....but better than 11.

My face is doing better. I had to make up a new batch of OCM mix. I realized that I had cut out the tea tree oil on my last batch, and it didnt seem to work as well. So I added it back into the mix. Seems to be working better.

I got lazy about the hair, now my scalp is itchy again. Going to do a lemon rinse and see if that can stop it. The ACV did a good job....but I dread putting it on my head again.

JennMary, Cool new Avatar! Is that recent? You sexy thang you!

BTW, I'm such a doofus, I never knew you could draw from the hand. Is this primarily a thing they do to kids? I'd almost rather be stuck in the hand than my forearm...

Cheers,
B.

Babette, on that laundry soap recipe (first...don't be posting a recipe that doesn't call for one of my newly-acquired 13 bars of Fels Naptha!) It makes 36 cups and calls for 1 1/8 cups per load and claims to last a family of 4 a year? I do 4 loads of laundry a WEEK with towels, sheets, lights, and darks. How on earth can a family of four go with 3 loads per month?

Could they have made a mistake in the amount of soap needed per load? Doesn't everyone wash their sheets once a week, along with towels and lights and darks?

Oh, and Babette, feel free to come on down to California and visit me! I have 3 extra bedrooms (well, there is stuff in them, but not people sleeping) and I live 15-20 minutes from the beach. You may have to share the pool with my son since he is currently doing laps daily in training for a triathelon. (he's a cutie, and very polite) Actually, I think it would be fun to get together and make some projects. We could try soap!

-----

I found a supply place about an hour from my house - containers, essential oils, soap kits, lotion ingredients, etc. Doesn't look like they have a store, but you can do pickup and avoid shipping fees. I have the link at home and will post it tonight.

NO WAY! I only do towels and sheets on an as-needed basis. Usually once a month for sheets, every 2-3 weeks for towels. I average one small load a week. Plus I don't wash alot of my clothes. I wash primarily undies and jeans and t-shirts weekly. Work clothes only get washed sporadically. I air them out every night after wearing.

I started this when I didn't have my own washer, and couldn't afford to go to the laundry mat. Now I keep it up because it makes all my clothes and fabrics last longer, and I can't afford the electric bill.

I used to live with a man who washed everything once a week. I let him do that. But he was paying half the electric bill, too.

LOL,
B.

Thanks babs....yes the pic is from about 2 weeks ago.

The hands are usually only used if a good vein cant be found in the arm. They are closer to the surface in the hand. The down falls are that it is more painful, the veins roll easier, and they colapse easier....so you have to draw slower. You are not supposed to use a vacuataner on the hand, so it has to be a butterfly draw (needle attached to long tube that goes to the container) or a syringe draw which is very slow and only gets a very small sample of blood. I dont like to use the hands if I can help it. But if you have problem arm veins than the hand is a good option. Because of the pain issue most patients prefer the arm and since the arm is also easier for the nurse they dont usually give you the option to use the hand. But if you want them to use your hand just tell them. They are all trained to do it. They could also get blood from your foot or head if they really had to....but trust me when I tell you that you dont ever want to have to use those options.


lol. I wash clothes after every wearing. I wash my sheets about every 2 weeks unless my daughter throws up or something on them. Towels go every week along with wash clothes.

I am so tired today, I feel like I havent slept. Sound familiar to anyone???? lol I think it is just being sick taking its toll on me.

BTW just found out that shea butter, emu oil, and seasame seed oil all have natural SPF properties. So I will be adding those into my lotion if I ever get around to making it.

Well, I'm a slob, so you can't judge laundry by me. And I wash as needed. Accidents happen. There was a coffee incident on the futon the other day...

Thanks for the tips on the blood draw, JM! I will probably stick with this one arm vein I've found, as long as I can remember it.

I'm very tired this week. Partly, I'm sure, the stress at work, but I'm thinking more and more that it's because I'm waking up several times a night with arm pain. And taking pain meds is NOT the answer. I need to get the arm dealt with. Doctor appointment is on Tuesday.

Got most of the armoire stained last night. Yay!!! I just love new places to store STUFF!!!

AND, my coworker is wanting a TV, and has two sewing machines she doesn't use, and I have a TV I don't use, so we're talking a swap. Wheee! Just what I need - another sewing machine for me to ignore...

LOL,
B.

lol babs......I have a beautiful sewing machine that I have used MAYBE 3 times. I thought it was a good idea at the time. The last time it was used was actually about this time last year, to alter my nephews holloween costume.

I am so tired. I am ready to just lay down and sleep for the next 24 hours. My ears still hurt, and still cant hear much. I hate it. I mixed some olive oil with a few drops of lavender EO in a small bottle. I used it twice in my really bad ear, and it helped for about 5 min. Still trying to remember what I did with my heating pad.

This is my 3rd ear infection in 8 months. I am being sent out to a new ENT for my tonsills and such anyway....so now they also want him to take a look at my ears. Lots of fun.

I was researching. Tea tree oil is supposed to be ok dilluted to put in the ear. However studies have shown that putting pure tea tree oil in the ear can cause permanant hearing loss. So being on the safe side I decided to leave that alone. How am I supposed to know what a safe dose is? Not going to mess with it. Although it is supposed to be soothing. Also learned that drinking Tea tree oil could cause a coma. So if you have small children I would keep that far out of reach. Just an FYI. I am sure everyone has it out of reach already.
'
I also found a few sites that will no longer sell neem oil.....something about it being potentially dangerous. I wonder if it is because of the pregnancy risk???

I wish I had known a little exercise could have helped. This kid loves to run and he is super-FAST. I could have sent him down the hall and back and had them get him in position and stick him. Next time I'll do that. I knew about the hydration--the kid was so hydrated he peed 4 times in an hour and a half!

You know, thanks JM for being so honest about the hand. I'm going to say something next time. I usually keep my mouth shut thinking they know best, but next time I'm going to say something. Also, thanks for being my cheerleader. I appreciate it! I'm so grateful that I am able to save him from the same rough sleep I have suffered. If I hadn't been diagnoses, he never could have been. I wouldn't have known what I was hearing. Now I just wish I had taken him to the ped sooner so I could have had it done right away and wouldn't have had to wait so long. But it is ok. He is getting used to the idea. And he's been talking about the blood draw like such a big boy now. I'm so proud of him!

EMLA creme--you have to get a prescription for it, but it is worth the trouble. The one in his arm didn't hurt at all according to Harry. He didn't even seem to know it was happening. There is a reason why it hurt in the hand--there are just so many more nerves there. The hand is senstive! If nothing else he felt the pressure. And he could SEE what was happening.

When I got the EMLA, the pharmacist and I talked about how handy it would be to have around even for things like poison ivy or something. I'm going to keep this tube around and frankly, I will use it myself when I get blood drawn. I'm just like you in some ways. I faint or come really close to it. I had an awful first experience at abouy Harry's age and the nurse terrified me and set me up for a lifelong fear of it. My response is completely beyond my control. It is a full body thing. I go all hot and my ears rush and then I break out in a cold sweat and my face is white. It is far better if I lay down. I have has phelbs tell me I should never sit up for a draw again. Only lie down--as a 6' tall person, you can do a lot of damage if you pass out. They worry about your safety and their own liabilitiy. I'm sure.

I got over a lot of my squeamishness when I was pregant. It was weird. Maybe hormonal. But lately it is back full bore. Especially since my surgery. I think it was the pain. It brought it all back fresh and new.

I try to wash sheets every week or two, but have been known to go longer when very busy, distracted or slovenly. We all have too many allergies to really let it go though. I was clothes after every wearing in the summer. In the winter I usually get 2 or more wearings out of them unless a stain gets on them.

BTW I am now refusing to use regualar stain removers anymore. I have noticed lately that they are just eating thru the damn clothes! I have holes in some of my fave shirts!

Babs, Have your dentist make adjustments to it. Is it cutting into your gums? Is that why it hurts?

I'm so sick of taping I'm going to try boil and bite again.

Oh, hey. Saw my aesthetician on Friday because my skin has gone completely crazy and I got a good facial. She thinks my mask headgear is rubbing on my skin--friction is causing the pores to inflame and clog.

So, I ordered a comfortlite 2 with all three accessories. Then I get home from my sisters tonight to find that my DME called and I fiinally qualify for a new mask. ARGH! Oh, well. Guess I'll see if I can get the opus. Then I will have tried nearly every mask on the planet!

Jen

Neem is used to induce labor. Maybe that is why.

Your ear is probably getting infected because of your tonsils. All that stuff is connected in your head. I'll be really interested to hear what the ent says to you! Sure wish I could be there. Go SOON. You need to get this taken care of. I wouldn't be surprised if you have cryptic tonils (is that what its called?) when your tonsils are perennially infected and spread the infection around the rest of your head.

jen

You are good Jen! I do have cryptic tonsills....we have known that for years. Now the ears are starting to take a beating.

I had to have blood drawn every 2 weeks when I was pregnant. I never even flinched. I think it is the begining of the whole motherly instinct thing. You know it is for the good of your baby, so you somehow get through it. But I am glad to not have to do that anymore, I dont like being a pin cushion.

You are welcome for the cheering Jen, you deserve it. You said something even when others including your husband thought you were just being foolish...not everyone would do that. He is a lucky kid. Just goes to remind some of us to always trust ourselves. You found the one positive thing about SA.....the fact that you are now equiped with the power to keep your children from suffering through it. I know that we all feel like years of our lives were just robbed from us, and he will hopefully now never have to feel that way......thanks to you.

I figured that was why on the neem oil.

Found the heating pad....it is my new best friend. Having to fight myself not to leave it on my ear for more than short periods of time.

I havent washed my hair in a week, I havent brushed it either. It has been up in the same knot/bun for a whole week. I was sick....I was not about to deal with my hair. It is pretty gross right now.

I rarely use stain remover. When I do it is only the toddler spray. (pink label). Never had it eat through clothes. But I also just spray like 2 min before I put it in the washer....so it isnt sitting on the clothes for long. I have had the same bottle for about a year now, shows how much I use it.

My daughter jumped on my mask today and cracked it. So it is now covered in duct tape. We shall see how well that works....3 months until I get a new mask. I understand suddenly why it is called the terrible twos. She also has taken to ripping every single piece of paper she comes accross....including my mail and even pictures. Insanity at my house right now.

JM,

Thank you!

One word of advice from one Mom to another. When Harry was two I was like, "Whew, this is bad, but if this is as bad as it gets, then I'm going to be a-ok."

Little did I know the "terrible two's" might lead you to believe that once that episode is over you will breathe a sigh of relief and life will get easier.

Little do you know at that point that they aren't really talking much yet. Once they start getting articulate then the why's and the nagging and whining and even criticism--yes constant critiques of what and when you do things!

I was shocked to learn to bitter secret other moms hold out on us. The terrible twos are just a portal to all kinds of annoying behavior. It might be easier to deal with if you know that. I went in blind!

There are the Threatening Three's (Sanity Threatening that is)
and the Frightening Fours (frightening at how easily you will be driven batty).

All this is tongue in cheek, of course. Every kid is different. I'm sure bad sleep played a roll at our house (on both our ends). Harry is a really good kid!

What I did to deal with the paper thing--gave Harry a pile of paper that was "His"--old magazines, scratch paper, all kinds of stuff. After he had that and was well aware my stuff was off limits, I didn't have a problem any more with paper. Of course I kept my stuff out of reach as much as possible.

Whenever possible, give kids their own version of adult things. Then send them to play with it when you are feeling stressed out!

Jen

jennmary wrote:My daughter jumped on my mask today and cracked it. So it is now covered in duct tape. We shall see how well that works....3 months until I get a new mask. I understand suddenly why it is called the terrible twos. She also has taken to ripping every single piece of paper she comes accross....including my mail and even pictures. Insanity at my house right now.

Mask housekeeping tip: I got one of those "over the door hooks" to hang all my stuff on as soon as I take my mask off in the morning. Here's the exact one I got from Bed, Bath, and Beyond:
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product ... 1942&RN=50

It's got some big hooks that work well for my hose, which I hang over several hooks so it's not hanging down so much. I hang the mask on another hook. I also use a mesh bag (like the kind that onions come in) and after I wash any mask parts I put it in there to dry, this is on another hook. You can just use a twist tie to fix the mesh bag to the hooks. I also put my tape, ayr-gel, and melatonin in a small mesh laundry bag and hang it on there so everything's in one place. I like the onion bag better for drying since it has such an open mesh.

This would keep your stuff up high so your 2 year old couldn't get at it. Maybe you could put the mask in another mesh bag if it seems like it's too precarious hanging from the straps. The Swift and NAII are not very breakable, so I just hang them from the headgear.

Thanks guys! I think the mask incident really was an accident. She was jumping on my bed (though she knows better) and I left it laying on my pillow. Partly my own fault for leaving it there when I have her in the house.

Glad to know jen that the paper thing is not just my kid. Lately I have just been giving her all my junk mail, she likes to open envelopes. She has gotten so tall that she can reach some of my old hiding spots. She is already a few inches over 3 feet tall.

Kids love paper! I still give Harry all the envelopes from the bills when I sit down and pay them online. He likes to play "mail."

Jen