Lately I am LOVING...

I discovered Chia seeds, tiny, crunchy little seeds that are full of fiber and magnesium and the awesome omegas...specifically ALA's, which are hard to get into your diet!!
(1 TBSP has 5 g of fiber and 2,375 mg of alpha linoleic acid).
I have had a noticeable increase of energy (badly needed) since I've added them to my diet every day. I put them in smoothies or just stir them into my favorite greek yogurt.(I also hear that people like them sprinkled on salads and in dressings and stuff.)

And speaking of Greek yogurt, Chobani is my very favorite brand. Thick, creamy, not too sour, lots of flavors, and 14 g of protein per cup.  A lot of them are fat free and you could never tell. 


Herbal Essence Touchably Smooth shampoo/conditioner $3-4

This is one of my most favorite smelling shampoos/conditioner sets ever. I am huge into scents. Like, ridiculously so. Smell it next time you're in the shampoo aisle. I like the way it makes my hair feel too. I need a good detangling conditioner and this one does well.


Suave Moroccan Infusion shampoo/conditioner $3-4
This smells amazing as well! My husband commented that my hair smelled good after my first time using it. (He doesn't do that often). But the real reason this is a winner is because it will make your hair SO SILKY. I sometimes don't use it if I'm going to curl my hair, because I don't want it to be quite so silky. 

Million Lashes waterproof (by Loreal) $8
I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I put this stuff on. I bought the gold tube on accident (the waterproof one) and didn't realize until I couldn't get it off. Then I was super bummed, because the non-waterproof versions of mascara are never as good (IMO) as the waterproof ones, which don't flake (I wear contacts, so that's important) and that give me awesome length and definition. I can't use waterproof mascaras very often because I lose too many eyelashes when taking it off. But when I do use it, it looks amazing.



They're Real- Mascary by Benefit $23
This is the most expensive mascara I have ever bought. I don't think higher prices means better quality...with a few exceptions! This being one of them: This non-waterproof mascara is the best I've ever found, and is worth the higher price. You can get it in a travel size for $10 (check ebay, or sephora.com or ulta.com, or inside those stores). It has fibers, so it's still hard to get off, but it's not as hard as waterproof. It is quite impressive and it's the mascara I use regularly now. 


Doterra Oils + Diffuser











This one probably deserves it's own post- maybe more on this another time. You've probably heard of Doterra essential oils, but if you haven't, LOOK INTO THEM! They can do amazing things. They are the highest quality, so pure and potent, and they have changed our lives.
The first time I used them was years ago when my daughter had a thick green runny nose. A friend told me to put a drop of Oregano oil on her feet throughout the day. So I did just that- four times in 24 hours, one drop on her feet. I could not believe my eyes when I saw that mucus go from green to clear in those 24 hours.  I was sold. I have used Oregano ever since to fight infection, I've also slowly added oils to my collection that I use almost daily. And they REALLY WORK!!!!

Some of my favorite single oils are:
Basil for ear infections
Peppermint for fever
Citrus oils for mood and energy and also cleaning and disinfecting
Lemon oil (just a drop) in my water, great for detox
Oregano for fighting any sickness/infection
Thyme also for fighting infection, especially mucus. Is also supposed to help with snoring.

There are also some fantastic oil blends that work wonders.
On Guard heals canker sores super fast, boosts immune systems, and is good for almost any sickness at any time.
Serenity makes my kids (and myself) sleep deeper and better when put on the feet before bedtime.
Deep Blue is the best aches/pain/muscle treatment you have ever felt

You can take some of these oils in capsule form, rub them right on the skin and feet, and also, diffuse them into the air with a diffuser.

I got a diffuser for my birthday, and have started diffusing different oils into our home a few times a week. It causes no condensation at all, and the tiny particles will stay in the air for hours so everyone can breathe them in. I can't say for sure that it is a magic cure, but after TONS of sickness in my house after Thanksgiving and Christmas, the diffuser entered the picture, and not one of us has gotten sick since we've been using it. Crazy awesome.  Sidenote: I did not get a Doterra diffuser, I found a better deal somewhere else.

One other thing that they did that was incredible was that Ella had a few allergic reactions to foods over the last few months. They make her espophagus swell up, and she has coughing fits for about 3 days, so hard that she vomits. Cough medicine and vapor rubs and even breathing treatments only help the tiniest bit. Through some trial and error (and advice online)  I found that layering 4 oils right on her throat (during a coughing attack) would stop the coughing fits within minutes. In fact, it was the ONLY way I could stop them. I used Frankincense first (best smelling oil ever!), then added Lime, Breathe (a blend), and then Rosemary.

I paid a membership fee so that I can order these oils at wholesale prices instead of retail prices (25% off). If anybody wants to try some oils at the wholesale prices, you can get in on my order. Just email me at heatheresplin@yahoo.com if you want to do that. I'll be making an order in about two weeks. Here's the wholesale pricelist:

Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® Essential Oils
Code	Product Name	Type	Size	Retail	Wholesale	Savings
3001	Basil	Ocimum basilicum	15 ml.	$26.67	$20.00	$6.67
3079	Bergamot	Citrus bergamia	15 ml.	$36.67	$27.50	$9.17
3002	Cassia	Cinnamomum cassia	15 ml.	$25.33	$19.00	$6.33
3003	Cinnamon	Cinnamomum zeylanicum	5 ml.	$28.00	$21.00	$7.00
3042	Clary Sage	Salvia sclarea	15 ml.	$48.67	$36.50	$12.17
3004	Clove	Eugenia caryophyllata	15 ml.	$18.67	$14.00	$4.67
3078	Coriander	Coriandrum sativum	15 ml.	$34.67	$26.00	$8.67
3005	Cypress	Cupressus sempervirens	15 ml.	$20.67	$15.50	$5.17
3006	Eucalyptus Radiato	Eucalptus radiato	15 ml.	$18.67	$14.00	$4.67
3026	Fractioned Coconut Oil		4 oz.	$16.00	$12.00	$4.00
3007	Frankincense	Boswellia frereana	15 ml.	$93.00	$69.75	$23.25
3009	Geranium	Pelagronium graveolens	15 ml.	$36.00	$27.00	$9.00
3008	Ginger	Zingber afficinale	15 ml.	$38.67	$29.00	$9.67
3010	Grapefruit	Citrus paradisis	15 ml.	$21.33	$16.00	$5.33
3041	Helichrysum	Helichrysum italicum	5 ml.	$100.00	$75.00	$25.00
3011	Lavender	Lanandula angustifolia	15 ml.	$28.00	$21.00	$7.00
3012	Lemon	Citrus limon	15 ml.	$13.33	$10.00	$3.33
3013	Lemongrass	Cymbopogan flexuosus	15 ml.	$13.33	$10.00	$3.33
3087	Lime	Citrus aurantifolia	15 ml.	$17.33	$13.00	$4.33
3014	Marjoram	Origanum majorana	15 ml.	$25.33	$19.00	$6.33
3015	Melaleuca	Melaleuca alternifolia	15 ml.	$25.33	$19.00	$6.33
3085	Melissa	Melissa officinalis	5 ml.	$153.33	$115.00	$38.33
3016	Myrrh	Commiphora myrrha	15 ml.	$69.33	$52.00	$17.33
3018	Oregano	Origanum vulgare	15 ml.	$32.00	$24.00	$8.00
3089	Patchouli	Pogostemon cablin	15 ml.	$39.33	$29.50	$9.83
3019	Peppermint	Mentha piperita	15 ml.	$27.33	$20.50	$6.83
3080	Roman Chamomile	Anthemis nobilis	5 ml.	$44.00	$33.00	$11.00
3020	Rosemary	Rosmarinus officinalis	15 ml.	$18.67	$14.00	$10.67
3021	Sandalwood	Santalum album	5 ml.	$82.33	$61.75	$20.58
3022	Thyme	Thymus vulgaris	15 ml.	$36.67	$27.50	$9.17
3043	Vetiver	Chrysopogon zizaniodes	15 ml.	$46.00	$34.50	$11.50
3025	White Fir	Abies alba	15 ml.	$26.67	$20.00	$6.67
3017	Wild Orange	Citrus sinensis	15 ml.	$14.00	$10.50	$3.50
3023	Wintergreen	Gaultheria procumbens	15 ml.	$21.33	$16.00	$5.33
3024	Ylang Ylang	Cananga odorata	15 ml.	$47.00	$35.25	$11.75
Proprietary dōTERRA® Essential Oil Blends
Code	Product Name	Type	Size	Retail	Wholesale	Savings
3120	AromaTouch™	Massage Blend	15 ml.	$34.67	$26.00	$8.67
3101	Balance	Grounding Blend	15 ml.	$26.67	$20.00	$6.67
3107	Breathe	Respiratory Blend	15 ml.	$26.67	$20.00	$6.67
3102	Citrus Bliss	Invigorating Blend	15 ml.	$20.00	$15.00	$5.00
3142	Clear Skin™	Topical Blend	10 ml.	$28.00	$21.00	$9.83
3105	Deep Blue™	Soothing Blend	5 ml.	$42.67	$32.00	$10.67
3138	Deep Blue™ Roll On	Soothing Blend	5 ml.	$85.33	$64.00	$21.33
3103	DigestZen™	Digestive Blend	15 ml.	$41.33	$31.00	$10.33
3104	Elevation™	Joyful Blend	15 ml.	$49.33	$37.00	$12.33
3110	On Guard™	Protective Blend	15 ml.	$42.67	$32.00	$10.67
3135	PastTense™ Roll On	Tension Blend	10 ml.	$24.67	$18.50	$6.17
3106	Purify	Cleansing Blend	15 ml.	$24.00	$18.00	$6.00
3109	Serenity	Calming Blend	15 ml.	$40.00	$30.00	$10.00
3137	Slim & Sassy™	Metabolic Blend	15 ml.	$32.67	$24.50	$8.17
3119	TerraShield™	Repellent Blend	15 ml.	$12.67	$9.50	$3.17
3108	Whisper Blend™	A Blend For Women	5 ml.	$32.00	$24.00	$8.00
dōTERRA® Essential Oil Kits & Accessories
Code	Product Name	Type	Size	Retail	Wholesale	Savings
3301	Lotus Ultrasonic Diffuser.		22 oz	$119.93	$89.95	$29.98
3212	Wooden Essential Oil Box w/ Logo		1	$19.93	$14.95	$4.98
3218	Introductory Essential Oil Kit w/ Audio CD		Single	$26.67	$20.00	$6.67
3219	Introductory Essential Oil Kit w/ Audio CD		6 Pack	$153.33	$115.00	$38.33
3279	Family Physician® Kit		Single	$166.67	$125.00	$41.67
3280	Family Physician® Kit		7 Pack	$1000.00	$750.00	$250.00
3238	Emergency Preparedness Kit		19 Oils	$600.00	$450.00	$150.00
3257	AromaTouch® Kit		Single	$133.00	$100.00	$33.00
3258	AromaTouch® Kit		7 Pack	$800.00	$600.00	$200.00
dōTERRA® Wellness
Code	Product Name	Type	Size	Retail	Wholesale	Savings
3421	Lifelong Vitality Autoship Pack (Alpha CRS+, xEO Mega, Microplex VMz)			---------	$74.50	Autoship
3401	Alpha CRS+®	Cellular Vitality Complex	90 Veggie caps	$92.67	$69.50	$21.50
3419	xEO Mega®	Essential Oil Omega Complex	120 Veggie caps	$52.67	$39.50	$9.83
3420	Microplex VMz™	Micronutrient Complex	120 Veggie caps	$46.00	$34.00	$8.17
3516	PB Assist®	Probiotic Defense Formula	30 Veggie caps	$46.00	$34.50	$6.50
3511	TerraZyme™	Digestive Enzyme Complex	90 Veggie caps	$50.00	$37.50	$12.50
3512	Zendocrine™	Detoxification Complex	60 Veggie caps	$32.67	$24.50	$8.17
3504	GX Assist®	GI Cleansing Formula	30 Softgels	$34.67	$26.00	$8.67
3501	FM Assist®	Monthly Female Discomfort	15 Softgels	$32.67	$24.50	$8.17
3502	MJ Assist®	Muscle and Joint Relief	20 Softgels	$39.33	$29.50	$9.83
dōTERRA® Spa
Code	Product Name		Size	Retail	Wholesale	Savings
3707	Skin Care Essential Kit		4	$146.67	$110.00	$36.67
3701	Facial Cleanser		1	$22.00	$16.50	$5.50
3702	Pore Reducing Formula		1	$23.00	$17.50	$5.50
3704	Tightening Serum		1	$66.00	$49.50	$16.50
3703	Anti-Aging Moisturizer		1	$46.00	$34.50	$11.50
3705	Invigorating Scrub		1	$24.00	$18.00	$6.00
3604	SanoBella™ Protecting Shampoo		1	$26.00	$19.50	$6.50
3606	SanoBella™ Protecting Conditioner		1	$28.67	$21.50	$7.17
3608	SanoBella™ Shampoo & Conditioner Auto/Pack		1	$35.33	$26.50	Autoship
dōTERRA® Living
Code	Product Name		Size	Retail	Wholesale	Savings
3405	On Guard® Protecting Throat Drops		30 Drops	$19.33	$14.50	$4.83
3801	On Guard® Foaming Wash		Single	$24.67	$18.50	$6.17
3802	On Guard® Foaming Wash		Twin Pack	$44.67	$33.50	$11.17
3803	On Guard® Foaming Dispenser		Single	$2.67	$2.00	$0.67
3804	On Guard® Foaming Dispenser		3 Pack	$6.67	$5.00	$1.67
3807	On Guard® Foaming Wash & 2 Dispensers		Combo	$30.00	$22.50	$7.50
3809	On Guard® Hand Wipes		2	$15.33	$11.50	$3.83
dōTERRA® Business Tools
Code	Product Name		Quantity		Price
4701	Product Guide		Single		$1.00
4702	Product Guide		25 Pack		$18.75
4703	Essential Oil Cap Stickers		All Oils		$2.00
4201	Intro To Essential Oils Audio CD & Booklet		Single		$2.50
4202	Intro To Essential Oils Audio CD & Booklet		10 Pack		$20.00
4203	Intro To Essential Oils Audio CD & Booklet		100 Pack		$150.00
4210	Intro To Essential Oils (Booklet Only) - Spanish		10 Pack		$5.00
4211	Intro To Essential Oils (Booklet Only) - English		10 Pack		$5.00
4212	Intro To Essential Oils (Booklet Only) - Japanese		10 Pack		$5.00
4215	doTERRA Introductory Video DVD Single		1		$1.50
4222	doTERRA Introductory Video DVD 10 pk		10		$10.00
3234	Introductory Essential Oil Kit - Chinese Insert		10 Pack		$1.00
3235	Introductory Essential Oil Kit - Japanese Insert		10 Pack		$1.00
4213	AromaTouch® DVD & Booklet		1		$2.50
4214	AromaTouch® DVD & Booklet		10		$20.00
4216	Family Physician® Audio CD		Single		$1.50
4217	Family Physician® Audio CD		10 Pack		$10.00
4221	Family Physician® Event Kit		Single		$29.50
4714	Family Physician® Kit - Chinese Insert		10 Pack		$2.00
4715	Family Physician® Kit - Japanese Insert		10 Pack		$2.00

or more info on all the oils at the website HERE

33 weeks + Chevron

 Somebody loaned me 3 maxi dresses that I liked okay. 7 weeks to go.

Hormones and size

Well, it happened again. I wore a cute (I thought) maxi dress to church, and got the comment (from Samuels idiot friend) about how I looked ready to pop. 8 weeks to go people!! I'm sorry to give you the impression that I won't get bigger BUT I WILL. I just can't seem to make any male understand why those comments bother me so much. But in a depressed rage I went out the next day trying to minimize the bump/weight gain instead of maximize it. It was very depressing. I decided that maxi dresses are not my friend right now. I took pics to document my size and to try to see what things were working against me but everything was working against me and I gave up. Samuel says not to worry, only 8 more weeks...no need to buy new clothes that will only be worn for 8 weeks. But I am tired of feeling like a frumpy fat cow and we are in a brand new ward (boundary changes) and I am the new girl again with no friends to know well enough to give me a badly-needed compliment. Truth be told, I am an emotional, hormonal wreck this week and I just hope this will pass and I will look back and laugh and laugh. I sort of love to do that. So here is my actual belly size, maximized by horizontal stripes, enormous chevrons, and polka dots. Lol.

32 weeks

I found an old post (4 weeks old, to be exact) and didn't realize it was still sitting in my drafts. Just so I can look back and similar, and yet how DIFFERENT every pregnancy has been.
(I copied this off my blog from when I was pregnant with #2 Annie, so ignore me talking in the present tense about a past pregnancy.)

Hello 3rd Trimester

I hit the 3rd trimester today. This pregnancy is flying by. There are just too many other things to think about, revolving around a 5 year old, a 4 year old, and an almost-2 year old.

Since I like to do comparisons, here's how pregnancy #4 is measuring up to the others.  But I will sum it up in one sentence: This pregnancy has been the closest to my first, with Kalia, hands down.

1st Pregnancy: Seemed to last for five years
2nd Pregnancy: Seemed to last for five months
3rd Pregnancy: Seemed to last for four months
4th Pregnancy: Absolutely flying by in an alarming manner. No joke.

MORNING SICKNESS:
1st Pregnancy: All day sickness, threw up 4 times, lasted 6 weeks
2nd Pregnancy: All day (off and on), didn't throw up, lasted about 3 weeks (being at home did allow me to snack frequently, this probably made a huge difference)
3rd By far the sickest I have ever been. Threw up dozens of times and couldn't even keep water down. Dr. gave me Phenegran to help. Lasted 9 weeks.
4th: Came on fast, intense @ 5 weeks, was really bad @ 7 weeks, and started disappearing @ 10 weeks. Was almost gone by 11 weeks. Didn't throw up, but I believe it's because of the Unisom and B6 I started taking.


FATIGUE:
1st: Lots in the first trimester
2nd: The entire pregnancy felt like I was pulling an all-nighter. I took a million naps to compensate.
3rd: I can't remember but I know I had a hard time sleeping at night.
4th: I took a nap every day in the first trimester. I'm always tired. Except at bedtime.

CRAVINGS:
1st: Salsa, Jamba Juice drinks (but not together)
2nd: French Fries, Baja Chalupas from Taco Bell
3rd: Taco Bell
4th: Whole organic milk...constantly. And to go with that, warm, baked foods like homemade cookies and brownies.
(Don't I eat so healthy?)

BABY MOVEMENTS:
1st: Every night at 11 p.m. I loved it every time.
2nd: This one kicks so hard, so frequently, it would often keep me awake or wake me up. So I didn't love it quite as much this time.
3rd: Can't remember
4th: Very active- every ultrasound tech has commented on my "active baby."

BABY SIZE:
1st: Measured normal throughout, but big baby in ultrasounds
2nd: Measured big throughout, but normal baby (predicted) in ultrasounds. (Actually on Tuesday they estimated that she is already 7 lbs 5 oz, so we will have to see.)
3rd: Measured normal throughout, at times a little small.
4th: Measuring normal, 28 cm at 28 weeks. 

WEIGHT GAIN:
1st: 44 lbs (9 in the last 3 weeks, lost 29 lbs within 1 week of her birth. Water weight?)
2nd: 40 lbs
3rd: 35 lbs
4th: 23 lbs (at 28 weeks), (probably up to 27 lbs at 32 weeks) My face is starting to chub up. The rest of those pounds are in the chest :), booty, and thighs. :(

EXERCISE:
1st: Walking about 10 minutes a day
2nd: Nada, zip, zero (see fatigue, above)
3rd: None
4th: Weekly volleyball night w/girls in my ward until 3rd trimester hit.

SWELLING:
1st: Like a balloon. Couldn't fit my ring on for half the pregnancy. Had awful swelling in my joints, and felt like I had arthritis for 2 months.
2nd: I can still wear my ring and see my ankle bones. No arthritis! Desert climate I guess? Cooler weather?
3rd: Very little swelling
4th: More swelling this time, just like pregnancy #1- it started all the way back at 18 weeks, but isn't an every day thing.

 HEALTH:
1st: Not great, several bouts of sinusitus and bronchitis that lasted forever.
2nd: WAY better. Never got sick in fact. Weird.
3rd: Got really sick at the end, couldn't taste or smell for weeks.
4th: Have been sick several times- stomach virus, flu, sinus problems, bronchitis. (But have been healthy for the last 8 weeks, very grateful for that.)

OTHER SIDE EFFECTS:
1st: Sciatica Pain for a few weeks, lots of rib pain.
2nd: I think I have my first hemorrhoid, but I can't say for sure. :) Rib pain is gone, sleeping pretty well...maybe it's just a smaller baby.
3rd: Burning rib pain for most of the 2nd trimester, gone by the 3rd. Hip and leg pain started @ week 38, and continued (got worse) for 6 months after she was born.
4th: WORSE burning rib pain in the 2nd trimester (just started to go away), hip and leg pain is back almost every day. If I sit a lot in a day, I can't walk normal (inner thigh pain). I'm really worried about how much worse it will get.
Also: I was not very moody with my 3rd, but was (and am) very emotional, moody, and can snap into an angry mode REALLY fast with #1, #2, and #4. I also didn't have dandruff with my 3rd, but had it with #1, #2, and #4. I also had leg slow hair growth (and lots of hair retention....hairs not falling out of my head) in #1, #2, and #4, but had crazy fast leg hair growing with #3, and all my hair was falling out of my head. Pregnancy #3 was just super unique, who knows why. That's why I was sure she was a boy.

CONTRACTIONS:
1st: Nothing recognizable til the very end
2nd: I had Braxton Hicks contractions at least 6 times a day, every day since 22 weeks. They are worse when I am active (exercise, lifting, cleaning). I am really tired of them.
3rd: Lots of contractions from 2nd trimester on
4th: Braxton Hicks started REALLy early this time, (@ 14 weeks) and some of them hurt. I tried drinking lots of water, and then ironically, started playing volleyball once a week, and they went away until 25 weeks. Now they come and go, but I'm pretty sure I'm having way less than I've had in past pregnancies.

PRE-LABOR:
1st: Baby never dropped, but I did dilate to 1 cm. at 39 weeks
2nd: Baby has already dropped, I was dilated to 1 cm. at 36 weeks, and I'll tell you if there's any more dilation tomorrow.
3rd: I dilated to 1 cm around 37 weeks, stayed that way until 3 days before my due date, when I started having regular braxton hicks contractions, and I got to my weekly appointment dilated to 2-3 cm. Had my membranes stripped, and went into labor later that night.
4th: ?

LABOR:
1st: 27 hours, then a c-section (Epidural wore completely off three times. I was on Pitocin too. Those contractions are from hell.)
2nd: Induced with a foley catheter balloon, had a 5 hour labor on Pitocin, and a VBAC. (Epidural wore off again and the baby was born before I got more.More pain from hell.)
3rd: Labored for 4 easy hours at home, was in serious pain for about an hour before she was born naturally and without pain meds.
4th: We shall see!


BABY SIZE:
1st: 9 lbs  (went into labor on my own, 3 days before due date)
2nd: 8 lbs (induced 9 days before my due date)
3rd: 8 lbs  (went into labor on my own, 3 days before due date)
4th: We shall see! My mom is scheduled to fly in, you got it, 3 days before the due date.