For those of you that don’t see me on a regular basis these past 4 days have been very interesting to say the least. I ended up with and intense stomach bug which lead to one symptom after another until it got to the beginning stages of a bladder infection. Not good as bladder infections can cause contractions. So I have now been commanded by my midwife to rest. That is exactly what I have been doing the past couple of days. Resting is not easy when there is so so much to be done but wonderful when it can get accomplished.

Proeun has been holding down the fort at the farm and home while I spent most of the past couple of days in bed. Now it is back to work for him and I am at least able to take care of myself and the children.

One good thing that this sickness has done was give me ample opportunity to try out some herbs. I have been drinking Raspberry and Nettle leaf tea for general health, unsweetened cranberry juice for the bladder infection, and using Witch Hazel, Comfrey and White Oak bark for my other ailment, those familiar with herbs can probably figure it out from that list.

I have contacted a couple herbalists in the area with plans to take classes with them and have begun my wish list for an herb garden

Borage
Comfrey
Lavender
Calendula
Catnip
Feverfew
Soapwort
Yarrow
Nettle
St. John’s Wort
Oatstraw
Hops

I have Susan Weeds book Herbs for the Child Bearing Year and am particularly interested in the section on “After Pains” another great time to rest. At least then I will be done with the season. If anyone has any suggestions on how to deal with after pains I would greatly appreciate it. With the last baby it was pretty intense, worse then labor I would say.

So tonight I am up and about a little bit more. My task for tonight was to restock my lagging supple of healthy convenience food, mostly granola and bread. On tonight’s menu is meatloaf and mashed potatoes and gravy. I am feeling a little light after my unintended starvation diet. I’ll write more later, I promise. Back to resting.