Elderberry Syrup Recipe

We had a wonderful Christmas filled with love and joy and ~family~!  There were also a few germs that joined the party.  We knew we were going to be hit with some flu and virus and cold germs, so I made a big batch of this goodness to help our festivities keep going. 

Have you heard of elderberry syrup?  No, not elderberry wine!  Although, that would be tasty and full of vitamins too!  Elderberries are these amazing little berries that pack a nutritional punch and have been used for centuries in healing all sorts of ailments. Check this out from http://www.blackelderberry.info/elderberry-history/:

At sites in Switzerland and Italy, researchers have uncovered evidence that the black elderberry may have been cultivated by prehistoric man, and there are recipes for elderberry-based medications in the records dating as far back as Ancient Egypt. Historians, however, generally trace the tradition of the elderberry’s healing power back to Hippocrates, the ancient Greek known as the “father of medicine,” who described this plant as his “medicine chest” for the wide variety of ailments it seemed to cure.
Over the centuries, elderberry has been used to treat colds, flu, fever, burns, cuts, and more than 70 other maladies, from toothache to the plague. In the 17th century, John Evelyn, a British researcher, declared, “If the medicinal properties of its leaves, bark, and berries were fully known, I cannot tell what our countryman could ail for which he might not fetch a remedy [from the elderberry], either for sickness or wounds.”

I had heard about this elderberry syrup in my natural mama groups for awhile, but I had never tried it for myself.  WHY?  What was stopping me?  It's amazing!  And it's inexpenisve and ~cozy~ to make at home.  I think it can get pricey when you buy it from a health food store like Whole Paycheck though  (Uh...I mean Whole Foods).

It is used as a cold and flu preventative and when if you do get sick, it can help speed up your healing.  It's literally nature's medicine.  And I swear I could drizzle it over pancakes.  Gluten free pancakes, of course.  :)

Here is the recipe I used from wellnessmama.com:

How to Make Elderberry Syrup for Flu Prevention

Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

1 hour

Total time

1 hour 5 mins

A simple natural remedy with a big nutritional punch. We keep this on hand during cold and flu season to ward off illness.

Author: Wellness Mama

Recipe type: Remedy

Serves: 8+

Ingredients

• ⅔ cup black elderberries
• 3.5 cups of water
• 2 T fresh or dried ginger root
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• ½ tsp cloves or clove powder
• 1 cup raw honey (we get from our farmer's market)

Instructions

1. Pour water into medium saucepan and add elderberries, ginger, cinnamon and cloves (do not add honey!)
2. Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half. At that point, remove from heat and let cool enough to be handled. Pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl.
3. Discard the elderberries (or compost them!) and let the liquid cool to lukewarm. When it is no longer hot, add 1 cup of honey and stir well.
4. When honey is well mixed into the elderberry mixture, pour the syrup into a pint sized mason jar or 16 ounce glass bottle of some kind.
5. Ta Da! You just made homemade elderberry syrup! Store in the fridge and take daily for its immune boosting properties. Some sources recommend taking only during the week and not on the weekends to boost immunity.
6. Standard dose is ½ tsp to 1 tsp for kids and ½ Tbsp to 1 Tbsp for adults. If the flu does strike, take the normal dose every 2-3 hours instead of once a day until symptoms disappear.

Have I mentioned that it tastes AMAZING?!  Try it!  It stimulates the immune system and makes you feel like you've had a wonderful dessert :)

Christmas Zen

I am a Pinterest kind of lady. I looooooove crafting, cooking, sewing, creating anything with my hands at any time of the year, but especially for Christmas!  

But guess what?  I am battling Lyme disease. This means I get to do about 10% of what I want to do. At first, this was devastating to me. Last week, I remember laying in the hospital bed thinking wow I can't do Christmas this year. I'm really sick. This suuuuuucks. 

But this week, I'm getting stronger everyday and I've managed to "couch craft". :). Couch crafts are the best because you pile up all the materials and craft right from your couch. The bed is nice for this too because you can really utilize that space and spread out!  

I completed about 10 Pinterest projects last year.  This year I have done one. But guess what?  Last year, I was insane. I was frantically crafting and cooking and making Lily do art projects and activities everyday because Christmastime is only one month!  We had to fit it all in!  Agghhh!  This year I am enjoying singing carols with my daughter. I am taking the time to teach her about Jesus' birth and what that means. I am totally in a Christmas zen and it feels so good. I'm focused on what really matters. 

(But I'm still pinning like a madwoman! Ha!  It's called "virtual crafting" y'all.)

Quiet Box

This is what has saved my sanity through my illness. It's GREAT for when you need to rest or work. And it works so well when you combine it with the "script"!

I've noticed that Lily is much more cooperative if she knows what the day has in store. Sometimes plans get cancelled because my health fluctuates by the minute. This is my script for when I know I will need to work. This is mostly in the mornings. 

"Good morning Lily!  Today is Wednesday and mama will need to work this morning. We will have breakfast and then we can fill up your quiet box so you can have some fun while mama gets her work done!  Then when I'm finished with work, we can have lunch and read books. Ready?!"

Notice that I get straight to the point. I use a matter of fact, but also excited voice. Also notice that I tell her what to expect and what we will do. I try to say something happy right after the "bad" thing (mama has to work). It works every time!  And if she needs me while I'm working, I am always available for her. Sometimes she needs a snuggle or needs to touch base. I allow it and then redirect her to her quiet box. 

Here is my script for when I'm suddenly feeling bad and need to rest. 

"Hi baby!  Mama is needing some rest, so I thought we could fill up your quiet box with some of your favorite things!  While I rest, you can play!  When I'm feeling better, we can read some books.  Ready?!"

Pretty much the same thing. I make sure to say what I'm going to do and what is expected of her a couple times in my script so it's all clear. Again, I let her visit me for a snuggle or a question, then redirect her to her quiet box. 

Oh yeah!  The quiet box!

This is basically like laying out toys for your child, but in a box. For some reason putting stuff in a box makes it more appealing!  I just use a medium sized cardboard box, but you could decorate it together to make it extra special. 

Ideas for your quiet box:

-art supplies (crayons, paper, stickers, scissors)

-musical instrument

-imaginative play (little people, playmobil, etc)

-picture books or favorite stories 

-sorting materials (Pom poms, buttons, tongs, sorting tray, etc)

-etc

I try to add several different categories, not just all art supplies. Sometimes I put something new in to keep her intrigued. She helps me put activities in there sometimes, and sometimes I will do it for her. 

Quiet box + script works so well for us when she wants to play, but I need to rest or work!  Hope it helps you get the time you need. 

Happy resting/working!

Oxygen Mask

"In case of an emergency, put your oxygen mask on first, then your child's."   

When I began my lyme journey, nothing was going to stop me from continuing to be the best mama I could be.  I knew in order to beat this disease, I needed to be super optimistic and dive deep inside myself to find the strength to heal my body/mind/spirit and also mother my daughter.  In the early days, I focused on my daughter too much instead of my healing.  I didn't put my mask on first. 

I focused on making her have the most normal mama and childhood that I could provide.  I didn't want her to be a sick mom's child.  I wanted her to go to playdates and learn letters and sing songs with an energetic and upbeat mom.  I put on a show for my own daughter. 

Some days I was able to pull it all together and pretend like I was a normal mom.  Most days, I would wear down until I was a useless mom. 

I was just released from ICU for having 20+ non-epileptic seizures.  The top-notch neurologists had no idea why I was having them.  But I do.  I put Lily's mask on first.  I wasn't focused on my healing anymore.  I was popping 50 pills a day and not balancing that with self-love.  I was giving all my love away. 

My entire 2014 has been consumed by trying to change my reality and put on this great act for everyone (including myself).  And as we wrap up this most challenging year, I ~surrender~ to our lifestyle.  It's a life of lounging and laughing rather than coming and going.  It's a life of being grateful for food on the table while we kick the dustbunnies around with our feet.  It's a life of watching my husband and daughter grow together in the challenge of nursing me.  It's a life of love.

Earth Day coloring "Recipe"

Age: 1-5 years
Energy Required: Medium
Skills: Fine motor, Color recognition, Nature/earth appreciation

Ingredients: Coffee filter
                     Blue and green markers
                     Spray bottle with water
                     Towel or newspaper
                    
Preparation: Pull a table up to the couch so your child can make planet Earth!  Gather your ingredients and set them beside you for access.

Directions: Cover your table with the towel or newspaper.  Spread the coffee filter flat on your craft table.  Give your child green and blue washable markers to make blobs of green and blue to resemble Earth (you might want to show them a picture of Earth if they aren't familiar with it yet!).  Give one or two sprays of water on your colored coffee filter and watch as the water dissipates and blends the colors.  Let dry.  Optional: glue onto black construction paper.

Mama Notes: While making the craft, teach your child about the beauty of our planet.  Talk about trees, water, wind, flowers, and how it is important for us to take care of our planet. Make up an Earth song! 

Mother Earth

Happy Earth Day!  I am so thankful to be feeling well on this gorgeous spring day!  Mother Earth is rocking it today here in NC.  The sun is perfect.  The wind is a lovely breeze, bringing me sweet smells of fresh blooms. 

I want to be like Mother Earth.  Isn't she amazing?  Talk about mother of the year award.  We (her children) continuously drain her of all her energy and resources, yet she continually forgives us and provides us with more fruit and nourishment.  What a mom.

I feel her pain some days.

My daughter and my disease are constantly demanding more of me each day.  Some days I can hardly keep my head afloat.  But I strive to be like you, Mother Earth.  I want to be strong and intuitive, and a never ending source of love for my children. 

I pray for your amazing instinct, Mother Earth- I want to know how to get rid of my weeds while feeding my flowers. 

Spring hope

This blog is supposed to be happy. Haha!  But we just found out our 2.5 year old daughter also tested positive for Lyme disease. Booooooo. Not happy.

BUT!  She is not sick. Yay. Happy. Therefore, we have decided to not treat her. I can't imagine having to treat both of us at once. My husband would lose his marbles. (And he doesn't have many marbles to spare).

So I'm going to be happy. This spring, I have decided to enjoy the life that I DO have in front of me, even if it is not exactly "as planned". My entire life has been a series of surprises- good and bad. Why should this period in my life be any different?  Every time I have an expectation, I am disappointed. Unless, of course, I am expecting the worst and then I'm pleased. But if I spend my life expecting the worst, then I have wasted all that time worrying, when I could be enjoying the present moment.

My present moment: spring. Sunshine. My healthy and happy daughter. My husband who hasn't lost ALL his marbles. My family. My friends. HOPE.

So what if my daughter has a positive lyme test. That is under her skin.

Should we live our lives afraid of things we can't see?  Instead, I choose to have faith in what I can't see. That is a much happier existence.  And that's what this blog is all about.