By now, with the official start of summer, you should have used your summer survival lotions and potions quite often. You know, the SPF 50+ sunscreen (we're on our 2nd bottle already), the bug spray, the hemorrhoid cream. That's right--hemorrhoid cream--Preparation H or its generic counterpart should be in your survival kit, too.
We had a crew working on our duct work a few years ago and they shared a little tidbit about Preparation H healing bug bites over dinner one day. Landen was about 1 and just so happened to have a bug bite swelled to the size of an egg on his forehead. Wanting to see if these guys knew what they were talking about, I borrowed some cream from my neighbor. I spread it over the swelled area after he was asleep so he wouldn't rub it off, and the swelling was completely gone by morning.
We haven't had many mosquitoes around so far this summer, but for some reason the biting flies have been very fertile. I'm not sure of their technical term, but growing up we called them "horse flies" or "deer flies." They are big, striped, and nasty.
By the time I feel the pinch of their bite, it is too late. Even if I don't scratch the venom around (and they immediately itch SO bad), I will still have a welt and a huge, hot swelled area around the bite for days afterward. I've already had a few of these this summer. I would take a mosquito bite any day. (Unless it is carrying the West Nile Virus, that is.)
That brings me to today. I went outside to bring Nathan's bike across the yard this afternoon and in that time was bitten by one of those nasty flies. Since I was close to the house this time, which was not the case with the previous bites, I came right in and rubbed the cream on it.
It took a couple of hours, but the welt from the bite has now gone away and I can't even feel the bite at all. I still, however, can feel the one from a couple of days ago.
I am tempted to carry a tube around in my purse for when we're out and about, but I am afraid Teresa may pull it out while she's rummaging around. "Sure, Laura, it's for bug bites--riigghht!"
So, if you have a bad reaction to any type of bug bite, be sure to stock up on hemorrhoid cream--and a big bug zapper.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Pool Bums
Ever since my bright idea to go to the pool early last Wednesday, the kids and I have become pool bums. Last week we got rained out on Thursday, so had to go back on Friday. We were all SO disappointed.
This week we have lessons today, Tuesday, and Thursday. As long as the weather cooperates, it works out very well to go early, play at th park for a half hour after the pool closes, and then return to the pool a half hour later for the boys' half hour lesson. It sure has been fun watching them all splash around. Even Teresa likes the water this year and loves the zero entry pool. She walks in a little bit, climbs out, and then walks back in--going a little farther in each time. It's great until I have to keep her OUT of the pool during lessons. She thinks she is taking lessons, too, and wants to do everything the big kids are doing.
If we're lucky we'll get to the pool once a week or less after lessons are over. It is a long way to drive to swim for an hour and, as I've posted before, is easier to just give the kids the garden hose for awhile.
I am glad that the original indoor swimming lesson idea did not work out. Since the lessons are held in the afternoon, the boys haven't had to shiver at all--except for the first chilly day.
As an added bonus, I have the best tan I've had in years.
This week we have lessons today, Tuesday, and Thursday. As long as the weather cooperates, it works out very well to go early, play at th park for a half hour after the pool closes, and then return to the pool a half hour later for the boys' half hour lesson. It sure has been fun watching them all splash around. Even Teresa likes the water this year and loves the zero entry pool. She walks in a little bit, climbs out, and then walks back in--going a little farther in each time. It's great until I have to keep her OUT of the pool during lessons. She thinks she is taking lessons, too, and wants to do everything the big kids are doing.
If we're lucky we'll get to the pool once a week or less after lessons are over. It is a long way to drive to swim for an hour and, as I've posted before, is easier to just give the kids the garden hose for awhile.
I am glad that the original indoor swimming lesson idea did not work out. Since the lessons are held in the afternoon, the boys haven't had to shiver at all--except for the first chilly day.
As an added bonus, I have the best tan I've had in years.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
What to do with those herbs . . .
I was checking email and saw this article posted on Yahoo! Since I am just venturing into the world of herbs, I was excited to see that the herbs I have planted not only taste good, but may have health benefits, too.
According to Dr. Maoshing Ni's "8 Commonly Used Herbs and their Healing Properties," my garden is a virtual pharmacy. The herbs discussed below are just the herbs I have growing. I have summarized each of them, as it was a very long article, so visit the following link to see everything Dr. Ni had to say and the other herbs that make up his top 8.
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/19028/8-commonly-used-herbs-and-their-healing-properties.
1. Rosemary
Rosemary stimulates brain activities and brail alertness. It also helps digestion and the immune system.
2. Mint
Mainly, Dr. Ni says it helps with digestion. (So there really is something to the old remedy of sucking on a peppermint candy to soothe a stomachahe!) It is also an excellent source of antioxidants that aid vision and helps to remove toxins from the body by cleansing the liver.
3. Oregano
When steeped in hot water, oregano vapors are "antibacterial, antiviral and decongesting." It is also supposed to help with digestion.
4. Chives
Chives contain vitamin C as well as potassium, calcium, iron and folic acid. In Chinese medicine they are used to "clear stuffy noses, prevent bad breath, ease stomach aches, strengthen the lower back, and improve poor circulation."
5. Basil
In Dr. Ni's words, "Basil's scent can perk up your energy level and it is filled with luteolin, a bioflavonoid that studies have shown to be the best protection of cell DNA from radiation."
6. Cilantro
Cilantro also boosts energy, aids the immune system, and can smooth digestion.
Have a wondeful weekend everyone!
According to Dr. Maoshing Ni's "8 Commonly Used Herbs and their Healing Properties," my garden is a virtual pharmacy. The herbs discussed below are just the herbs I have growing. I have summarized each of them, as it was a very long article, so visit the following link to see everything Dr. Ni had to say and the other herbs that make up his top 8.
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/19028/8-commonly-used-herbs-and-their-healing-properties.
1. Rosemary
Rosemary stimulates brain activities and brail alertness. It also helps digestion and the immune system.
2. Mint
Mainly, Dr. Ni says it helps with digestion. (So there really is something to the old remedy of sucking on a peppermint candy to soothe a stomachahe!) It is also an excellent source of antioxidants that aid vision and helps to remove toxins from the body by cleansing the liver.
3. Oregano
When steeped in hot water, oregano vapors are "antibacterial, antiviral and decongesting." It is also supposed to help with digestion.
4. Chives
Chives contain vitamin C as well as potassium, calcium, iron and folic acid. In Chinese medicine they are used to "clear stuffy noses, prevent bad breath, ease stomach aches, strengthen the lower back, and improve poor circulation."
5. Basil
In Dr. Ni's words, "Basil's scent can perk up your energy level and it is filled with luteolin, a bioflavonoid that studies have shown to be the best protection of cell DNA from radiation."
6. Cilantro
Cilantro also boosts energy, aids the immune system, and can smooth digestion.
Have a wondeful weekend everyone!
Friday, June 19, 2009
No More Training Wheels
Landen decided this morning that it was time for the training wheels to come off his bike. He has been riding around the yard and up and down the road ever since. He is loving the new freedom and Nathan is liking carting the training wheels in the back of his tricycle.
Next on our list is learning how to tie shoes. I keep forgetting to teach him since we live in sandals all summer!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Overlooked
When developing our house rules, David & I seem to have missed one--"No going potty in the bathroom garbage. Especially on purpose."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)