Thankful

My heart has been very full the last few weeks and I feel like I need to get it out there somewhere. As many of you know, this year has been very difficult emotionally for Jeremiah and I. With births, deaths, and other trials I feel I have grown more than ever. And now with Thanksgiving here, I've had an opportunity to realize how blessed I've been. In the midst of trials, we find out who we really are. Sometimes, we need more than 1 trial to really get a kick in the butt, which is what has happened to me. I guess it all compiled last week when Jeremiah's brother Jonathon was severely burned in an explosion at his home. It was the final emotional problem that forced me to really look at my life and especially this past year.
I am so grateful to have a husband that is overly honest with me.
Grateful for my super healthy kids and being able to constantly shop since they grow so fast.
Grateful for our home which will hopefully sell next year for what we owe on it.
Grateful for J's job that provides income, stability, insurance and the opportunity to move every three years.
Grateful for friends scattered all over the US.
Grateful for extended family that loves me and my spouse unconditionally.
Grateful for college, as difficult as it can be with two young children.
I could go on for days but I won't. The key here is that my trials have forced me to truly appreciate life. Its better than being on my deathbed and figuring all this out. Thank you to everyone in my life for making me a better person. I love you all!
Anyone who can, a donation fund has been established for Jonathon at Potlatch Federal Credit Union in Lewiston to help cover some of his medical costs. We would greatly appreciate anything you can give.

Merry Christmas in November

So Christmas came early for me. I asked for a steam cleaner as a Christmas gift but J saw the need for it sooner than that (oh darn!). How did I live without this thing until now? What an awesome cleaning tool. I pour water in it, let it heat up while I vacuum, and pass the steamer over the floor. I can clean my floors without having to evacuate the house. The house looks and smells amazing already, not toxic and fumey like usual. This led me on an adventure researching household cleaners. Now, we all know that most cleaners are bad if you swallow them or don't ventilate the area well. Duh! Shouldn't that be a clue that we shouldn't use them? Now I love the smell of bleach but I think it's because I associate it with clean. I can't believe I let myself use it as much as I do though. It's a toxic product that researchers are now thinking is one of the biggest contributors to cancer. Not to mention if you combine bleach with ammonia you can kill yourself by toxic fumes. Okay, so enough with straight bleach, what about other disinfectants. Most products do not have an "ingredient" list, just warning panels. Any product that says, do not combine with other cleaners usually has either bleach or ammonia in it. Some other compounds in cleaners are Toulene, Formaldehyde, phenol, and benzene; all carcinogens.
Those of us with kids need to be extremely cautious because an infants system works much differently than adults. They do not excrete toxins through their waste as much as adults do. They tend to build in areas that are developing but tend to not accumulate in fat. So basically, the toxins kids are subjected to tend to stay with them their whole lives. Some researchers are saying that the toxins in the cleaners parents use are more hazardous to health than the stuff we're trying to clean off. The whole soak it in bleach routine (which I am SO guilty of) is one of the worst things we can do.

Here's a bunch of articles I ran across that give more information on some of this if you're looking for more. Basically, invest in a steamer. I bought the Haan floor steamer and the handheld steamer. I can't get enough cleaning. I guess that's a good thing.
http://lesstoxicguide.ca/index.asp?fetch=household
http://www.mamashealth.com/doc/cleanprod.asp
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-531269/Chemicals-household-cleaning-products-cause-asthma-children-finds-study.html
http://living.amuchbetterway.com/harmful-effects-of-household-cleaners/