Introductions

[Terri Wilson]

Please post an introduction. It would be very easy to let this be your first post. We have so many wonderful members and it would be great to hear more about each and every one of you. It also helps to establish a community so there is not just a core group of people who post and a lot of people who lurk. It only takes a few minutes.

[Sofia T]

Hi holistic moms and dads,
I'm Sofia,
We moved in Charlotte from Chicago two months ago. We have a 3 y old cute girl.
The truth is I’m a greek, I moved in USA from Greece just four years ago, I apologize for my poor English. We are renting an apartment in South Charlotte area.
As an original mediterranean I used to cook the healthy way and of course I know a lot of things about fresh, locally grown,herbs etc. This was just what I ve learned all these years. I could never understand the American diet and I didn’t want to bring home junk food, especially after I got pregnant.
I do have though serious health issues and very low energy, because of the medication and bad habits in the past. But I’m trying to do my best, healthy diet, alternative heeling etc. to help myself and raise a healthy strong child. I ‘m happy to have this local group and I’m sure I have a lot to learn. My husband travels so I don’t know if I can make it to the meetings. But I hope I will find a way to make it there, cause I really really want to meet all of you.
And please forgive me if I don’t post often, cause it takes me long to express myself in English.

[Pat]

Welcome!

Hope to meet you at one of the outings. I'm sure we can learn a lot from your diet.

Are there areas you are wanting more information?

Pat

[Terri Wilson]

It is so nice to meet you. I hope to get to meet you in real life.

[Sofia T]

thanks for the warm welcome messago. I 'm having a hard time now fighting my candida, so not enough time for other interests... Unfortunately I had to learn about holistic the hard way, after I got sick... Better late than never.
Hope to meet all of you soon.
sofia

[Pat]

There are some informed mamas on Mothering.com about candida. Here are a few threads for more info about holistic alternatives related to leaky guts, candida, healing the gut, adrenal fatigue, etc.

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=434071

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=921487&hi...

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=952566&hi...

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=685848&hi...

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=941070&hi...


Probiotics are my current obsession. I'm crazy about kefir. Let me know if you need more info.

Glad you are here. Hope you are feeling better soon.


Pat

[Pat]

Woo-hoo! We have 100 members now.

Love to "meet" more of you with an intro!

My husband and I have been happily married for 25 years. He is more conservative and conventional. I'm more liberal and alternative. :-) We married as young adults and have traveled all over the world. We enjoy scuba diving, skiing, and hiking. And I love gardening, philosophy, and alternative parenting and holistic health. We have one young son, he has always unschooled. He is seven. We live in Weddington.

I learned of alternative birthing with the Bradley birthing classes and planned a homebirth with a lay midwife. Our son was born naturally, at the hospital after 43 hours of labor. To my chagrin, I believe the labor was so long, because I had parallel care with a CNM, and we were under the threat of ultrasounds and induction the weekend before he was born. We arbitrarily "induced" birth naturally (read *early*), with all the "natural induction" options (an oxymoron), to avoid the medical route. He just wasn't ready to be born, for days...

Ultimately, with maternal exhaustion and an "absent" heartbeat, we transported to the hospital. Ds was born four hours later, heartbeat always audible. Now, I believe he was just positioned such that we couldn't hear the heartbeat and IF I had trusted birthing, he'd have been born at home. Unfortunately, the NICU pediatrician believed that a 40-week gestation baby "looked post-date" and with a bit of meconium, convinced us to "give some antibiotics to be on the safe side, until the blood cultures come back" (two days later). We did antibiotics at birth for multiple doses and he ended up with a leaky gut, food intolerances to e.v.e.r..y.t.h.i.n.g., and exhausting sleep patterns and "colic".

Along the way, I'd researched vaccines and we declined those "until age 2, when the immune system is more developed". At that point, what is the point? LOL So, he is unvaccinated, uncircumcised (not sure he'd like this discussed!). And we extended breastfed until age 2, exclusively until about 15 months, due to the food intolerances. Fortunately, we found Naomi Zeskind and classical homeopathy and pretty much ds can eat anything now, after doing huge elimination diets and Feingold, etc.

We did the whole co-sleeping, slinging, cloth diapering, child led toileting, etc. We live consensually as a family and ds's autonomy is a priority.

Finally, at age 7! I'm learning about the messed up gut, secondary to antibiotics at birth, and am working to recolonize our guts with whole food probiotics. For a couple of years, we've been enjoying raw Guernsey cow's milk from SC. And enjoy making raw milk kefir for all of us. And am soaking whole grains for batters and baking for the nutritional benefits (and ease).

We embrace our body as healthy and strong, and treat issues with herbal and homeopathic alternatives. Oh, and I was a critical care nurse for 17 years. LOL

That is our holistic journey. And I am learning all the time! I'm so delighted to have met so many informed and confident women to learn from and with! Glad you all are here. I'm looking forward to meeting more of you, and hope you'll post an Intro about yourself, your family, your journey and your passions.


Pat

[Karen Davis]

I'm Karen and I am a homeschooling mother of 4 - ages 20, 18, 12 and 7. We moved to Indian Trail going on 4 years ago. We had moved quite a bit but it looks like we are here until our children are through school. We love it.

My holistic interests include breastfeeding, organic foods, natural health, exercise and homeopathy. My current challenge is to rebuild my metabolism after two years on an SSRI. Naomi Zeskind (thank you Pat) has been instrumental in this transition. I am a JuicePlus distributor who is not active but my family still incorporates this into our diet. I have dabbled in many holistic areas; however, the homeschooling consumes most of my focus for now. I am always delighted to talk to folks who are thinking about it. I make a good sounding board because I truly believe in each family making the best choice for them no matter what that turns out to be.

[Pat]

Wow! We just topped 200 members! Hope you all can join us for some of the events. Invite your friends to join us here. Share this link or use the "Invite" menu tab at the top of the forum. http://xploringholisticalternatives.ning.com/

We have MNO, potlucks, park days, holistic gatherings, luncheons, and other outings planned.

If you are in an outlying area, you are not alone! Consider posting an event, park gathering or MNO near you. There ARE other moms nearby!!

Post an intro so we can get to know you. It is exciting to have so many folks interested in holistic living. There are discussion forums for many holistic topics. Or start a discussion about what interests you.

Where do you live? How many children do you have? What do you LOVE? What are you passionate about?

We live in south Charlotte, Weddington. Our son is seven, we homeschool. I LOVE being home with ds. I'm passionate about holistic health and organic gardening.

Hope to meet you soon.


Pat Robinson