Essential Tools for Moms with Brain Fog

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If you have a chronic illness, you probably experience brain fog at least some of the time. 

Confession: I wrote that first sentence and then stared at it blankly for 20 minutes. Brain fog, anyone?

Anyway...like I was saying, brain fog is real and it can make life pretty difficult sometimes. Add in a few kids (hello mom brain!) and it gets really interesting. The struggle is real.

I use a lot of tools to help me manage my brain fog. My smartphone is the biggest one and what I refer to as my "external brain." I also work hard to stay organized with my home and schedule, stick to routines so I don't miss anything, and break down big tasks into smaller, more manageable ones.  

I'm going to share some tips, tricks, and tools for brain fog with you in the hopes that they'll help you as well. 

Google calendar

I used to carry a paper planner with me at all times to keep track of my calendar, but I needed to lighten up my purse to cut down on shoulder strain so I reluctantly made the switch to using a Google calendar. It turns out that I love it! I especially love that I can sync it with my husband and share it with my sister.

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Post-its

This one's a little less high-tech, but still very useful. I use them to leave reminders for myself around the house, notes for my kids, and I even write Bible verses on them so I can see them throughout my day. You can even get sticky notes pre-printed with Bible verses here. 

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Phone alarm clock

Thanks to distance learning with four kids who all have virtual classes, I currently have 17 alarms set to go off of my phone throughout the school day. Thankfully, that's not the norm for me, but I do use my phone alarm on a regular basis to help me remember things such as appointments, picking kids up from activities, and just about anything else.

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Tile

If you're like me, you're constantly looking for your phone, your keys, your purse, your mind, etc. Tile can't help you when you're losing your mind, but it's great for the other stuff! 

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Smart notebook

I don't write by hand as much anymore because it hurts my fingers and hands, but I'm still pretty obsessed with notebooks and always have at least one going at all times. I use it for my devotions, to write lists and reminders down, to plan things, etc. When I discovered smart notebooks, it blew my mind! Write in the notebook with a Pilot FriXion erasable pen, scan it and upload to your favorite cloud service, erase, and start again. I love that what I write can become digital so I can save and easily find it again. Plus, it's endlessly reusable!

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Flaredown App

This app helps you track your symptoms and is available for Androids and iPhones. This can make a huge difference in managing your health and being able to show your doctors exactly what's going on with you. 

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Medisafe App

Do you ever forget to take your medicine or is that just me? If that's something you struggle with too, this app can help remind you to take your medication and can even be synced with others so someone else can check in on you or so you can make sure your child or other loved one is taking their medicine. Oh, and did I mention that it's free??

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Motivated Moms App

I've used this app for about 10 years now and LOVE it. It helps me keep my house from reaching disaster levels by giving me a list of simple chores to do each day. They can be customized and even assigned to others in your house. 

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Cozi App

I haven't personally used this app, but I've heard rave reviews about it from lots of other moms so I thought I better include it in the list. Cozi is a family organizer that keeps your whole family on track and in communication with each other. 

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Chronic Pain and Symptom Tracker book

If you prefer to go old school, this book covers a lot of ground and can make tracking your symptoms and other aspects of your care easy to do and share.

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Mrs. Fisher's Imperfectly Perfect: Housekeeping for the Chronically Ill book

Need some tips for how to clean your house while minimizing your pain and fatigue? This book covers it all and is a must-read.

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This last one isn't really a tool, but it's a blog post about getting organized from Chronic Illness Warrior Life that I found to be very helpful. Check it out! 

What tools do you use to cope with brain fog?

How to Get Rid of Lice Fast and Naturally

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Lice.

Just seeing that word makes your head itch, doesn't it?

It's been eight months and I think I'm ready to talk about what happened last February. The month started out okay, but then I got the flu. After spending a week in bed, I was finally starting to feel well enough to rejoin the family when Anna announced that her head was really itchy. I keep a lice comb on hand to check the kids periodically so I pulled it out of the medicine cabinet and ran it through her hair. 

Lice. Live crawling lice of varying sizes.

*shudder*

Anna was beyond horrified to realize that there were bugs in her beautiful, blonde, nearly waist-length hair. I knew there were hours of intensive hair combing in our immediate future so I brought up the possibility of a haircut. Up until then, every time I had suggested cutting her hair, I was met with firm rejection, but this time, she was so eager to chop it off that she practically grabbed the scissors from me to do it herself. She probably would have agreed to shaving her head at that point.

BTW, she looked absolutely adorable in her bob haircut and loved it so much that she still keeps it that short.

I emailed Anna's teacher to let her know about the lice and ask if anyone else in the classroom had them. Anna was the only one and no one else ever got them so we think she probably picked them up at the clinic because that was the only other place she had been.

I checked everyone else's heads and sure enough, Davy had them too. The next day, I also found some in Bobby's hair so I pulled the clippers out of the bathroom closet and shaved both of the boys' heads down to 1/2 inch to make it easier to treat them.

At this point, I had all three of the lice-affected children sleeping and quarantined in the same room. I spent most of my time vacuuming, washing bedding and pillows, bleaching everything in the house and the van, and combing hair over and over again. I also hit up Amazon for some products to help us kick the lice to the curb aka annihilate every. single. one.

Then I noticed that my head was itchy and, with trepidation, I ran a lice comb through my hair. Yup. I had them too. That terrified me more than the kids getting them because it was going to be harder to treat and comb out my hair by myself than it was for me to do it for the kids. Thankfully, I have a friend who had recently regaled me with tales of her days as a nanny which included treating a round of lice for the kids she nannied. I called her up and asked her for the biggest favor of my life. To my shock, she agreed to come help me get rid of the lice in my hair and arrived a short time later with a bag full of tea tree oil shampoo, hydrogen peroxide, coconut oil, shower caps, and more. I still owe her big. 

Within a week, the lice were all gone and although, I continued to check everyone daily for over a month, I never saw any more. Thankfully, Katie never caught them and neither did Hubby despite sleeping next to me while I had them.

Here are the steps we took to get rid of the lice in a week...

>Combing. So much combing! I combed everybody's hair four times a day for the first few days and then went down to twice a day after that until I was sure the lice were gone for good. I tried several kinds of lice combs and found the one that comes in this kit to be the best one for combing out lice and nits. I also used the Rosemary Repel spray on our hair and continue to do so. I also liked using these combs as they have magnifying glasses built in. 

>I vacuumed every single day, usually twice a day.

>I washed ALL of the bedding every single day in hot water and dried it on high heat. 

>I sprayed this lice killing spray on our leather couch and the mattresses twice a day. I also used it in our van.

>Each of us had our hair completely coated in a coconut oil/ essential oil mixture using a recipe like this one before bed one night and then slept in shower caps. Yes, it was a little messy and kind of uncomfortable to sleep in, but not as bad as I thought it would be. The next morning, we washed it out a round of Dawn dish soap and then regular shampoo. 

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 How to get rid of lice fast and naturally: https://bit.ly/33RuIDP

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All in all, it was a lot of extra work (SO MUCH LAUNDRY), but it wasn't as hard to get rid of the lice as I thought it would be and we didn't use any heavy chemicals to do so. 

While I hope you never have to deal with lice, I hope the tips I've shared here help you get rid of them if you do!

 

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Teaching Responsibility with Age Appropriate Chores for Kids

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My kids have helped out around the house since they were old enough to wield a dishrag.  As they've gotten older, I've given them more responsibility.

Children thrive and grow on responsibility. Sure, it can be scary at first (think of how you felt when you first started a new job), but it gives them so much confidence in themselves. Responsibility gives kids a sense of pride and accomplishment. Side note: Have you seen the toy vacuum from Dyson that actually works? I wish something like that had been available when my kidlets were younger! Rather than telling my kids that they’re doing something to help me out, I emphasize teamwork and family.  We all work together to take care of our home because we’re a family. We all help each other, especially when someone’s not feeling well, because we’re a family.

The whole teamwork thing applies to more than just cleaning the house though. Giving kids a sense of teamwork strengthens their bonds with each other and teaches them to work with others towards a common goal. They learn to negotiate instead of just bossing people around. The benefits of learning teamwork as a child are life-long.

To give you an idea of chores that are appropriate for your kids’ ages, I put together a list. Keep in mind that it’s meant as a guideline, and you should decide chores based on your child’s specific abilities. Scroll to the bottom to find a printable version of the list.

2-3 years old

Pick up toys and put in a toybox

Unload the silverware tray in the dishwasher (make sure you take the knives and anything else sharp out first!)

Dust

Put dirty clothes in the hamper

4-5 years old

Vacuum chairs and couch with handheld vacuum

Set table

Clear table

Wash bathroom sink (with safe non-chemical cleaners)

Fold dish towels

Match socks

Put clean clothes away

Feed and water pets

Help put away groceries

Wash doorknobs

Plus everything in the previous category

6-8 years old

Sweep

Fold laundry and put away

Clean microwave

Empty and load the dishwasher

Make bed

Wash dishes by hand

Pick up sticks in yard

Clean mirrors

Plus everything in the previous categories

9-12 years old

Rake leaves

Take out trash/recycling

Cook simple meals

Laundry

Mop

Vacuum

Clean toilets

Plus everything in the previous categories

13 years old and up

Clean shower/bathtub

Clean out fridge

Mow the lawn

Shovel snow

Change bedsheets

Vacuum out the car

Plus everything in the previous categories

Right click and save to your computer to get the printable.

How do you handle chores at your house?

How to Make DIY Spend Save Share Banks

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For months, Nano kept telling me that he had a fifty dollar bill in his piggy bank.  Obviously, I didn't believe him because where in the world would a 7-year-old have gotten that kind of money?  I figured that he had mistaken a five dollar bill for a fifty and was a little overly optimistic about his financial state.

After months of hearing him brag about his riches, I was getting tired of it.

Bodysuit Solutions for Special Needs Kids

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I was also compensated for this post, but all opinions stated are mine. 

Davy wore an actual shirt instead of a onesie for the first time ever when he was 18 months old.  Before that, he only wore onesies to protect his G Tube on his tummy.  They kept his Mini One button covered and protected from pull-outs.

We had planned to leave the G Tube in until after the next cold and flu season as Davy generally regressed quite a bit with his oral eating when he got sick.  However, due to recurring infections, Davy's G Tube was removed earlier than planned.  Thankfully, he continued eating 100% by mouth and didn't regress too much during cold and flu season, as we had feared he might.

Just Like Me: Toys for Kids with Special Needs

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Kids love it when their toys look like them.  From hair and eye color, to any special needs that they might have, it helps them feel accepted.  They can also help kids feel less afraid of their differences or medical conditions.

My son Davy was only two months old when he had surgery to get his G Tube.  The day before his surgery, a nurse came into his hospital room with a stuffed bunny that had a G Tube just like the one Davy would be getting.  I practiced hooking the extension tube up on the bunny before and after Davy got his feeding tube which was much less stressful than having to practice on my screaming baby.  He got his G Tube out when he was 18 months old, but the bunny still sits on top of his dresser.  I plan to add it to his memory box when he gets older.

Toys that are adapted or created to have special needs or disabilities shouldn't just be for the kids who have them though.  What greater way to teach your child that it's okay to be different, have a feeding tube, or wear leg braces than for them to play with a toy like that?

How to Make No Sew DIY Rice Heating Pads

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There are five people in my family who have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which means that pain is a normal occurrence around.  I prefer to try alternative methods of pain relief such as using essential oils (Panaway is a great one for muscle pain!), massage, ice, and heat before turning to tylenol.

A few weeks ago, I had all four of my wisdom teeth removed and was in excruciating pain for 10 days straight.  After applying ice to both sides of my face for the first 48 hours, the oral surgeon recommended switching to heat.  He said I could heat up the ice packs he'd sent home with me, but they just didn't seem to hold the heat very well so I decided to grab one of our trusty rice socks that I'd made with one of Hubby's (clean!) tube socks instead.  The problem was that it was too big and bulky to work well for my face.  In a rare moment of clarity, I grabbed a leg warmer from the kids' mis-matched sock basket and turned it into a perfectly sized rice heating pad.  

Want to make your own rice heating pads that are the perfect size for kids AND adults?

How to Make a Snot and Chest Rub with Essential Oils

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I don't know about your kids, but when mine have stuffy noses and coughs, no one sleeps in my house, which makes for cranky kids and a cranky mama.  Thankfully, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to help everyone sleep a little better!

First, I run a diffuser in the sick child's room at bedtime for about 30 minutes with a drop of R.C. oil from Young Living.     

Secondly, I rub some of my Snot and Chest Rub on the bottom of my little one's feet and on his or her chest.  

When I first got some Snot and Chest Rub from my oily friend, I had doubts about how much it would help, but after four sleepless nights with Anna, who was three years old at the time, I was getting pretty desperate.  Guess what?  We both slept all night!!

Want the recipe?  You can find it below.

10 Survival Tips for When Your Child is Sick

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Cold and flu season are just around the corner!  Yay. *insert sarcasm here*  

So far, we haven't been hit by anything, but I know it's coming especially with school starting back up again soon.

To make things a little bit easier, I thought I'd share with you some of tricks I use to prepare for and survive when my kids get sick.

Etsy Finds: 15+ Educational Toys that Kids Will Love

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Most of my kids' toys are in the play area of our basement.  The kids aren't allowed in the basement because the last time they went down there, they dumped ALL of the toys out.  ALL OF THEM.  That happened just about a month after I spent countless hours painstakingly organizing all of the toys into labeled boxes.

I may have cried a little.  

Since Toypocalypse, the kids only get to play with the toys that were already in the main level of our house.  That's about 10% of their toys.  They have legos, playdough, the sensory bean box, tractors, Shopkins, and a few other assorted sets and random toys.  It's been about 6 months (because I just can't bring myself to go downstairs and face the insanity), and they have barely noticed.

What that tells me is that it's quality, not quantity that matters when it comes to kids' toys.

So guess what?  I'm going to be having a garage sale (or rummage sale or tag sale depending on where you're from) and selling a LOT of toys!  Also, I'm going to be a lot more selective about bringing toys into the house.  (Unless they're for me...I collect Vintage Fisher Price toys)  As far as toys that the kids play with, I have a few requirements.

Any toys in my house must be educational and non-annoying (to me, not them because we all know that kids don't care how annoying a toy is.)

With that in mind, I put together a list of awesome educational toys I found on Etsy that kids AND their parents will love.  Bonus: not a single one of these toys needs batteries!

What It's Like to be a Special Needs Mom With Special Needs

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I have 4 kids. Katie (8 years old) has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, asthma, and a visual tracking disorder.  Nano (6 years old) has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, asthma, and eczema.  Anna (4 years old) has Amblyopia, and Davy (2 years old) has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, asthma, GERD, severe eczema, hypotonia, mild developmental delays, and is a tubie graduate. 

And then there's me, the source of my kids' bad genes.  I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, GERD, asthma, eczema, Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome or POTS, unexplained sudden anaphylaxis episodes, and PTSD.  I'm what is referred to as a spoonie.

Join the Free Birds Coffee Club!

My baby sister had a baby last year.  I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around that.  Wasn't  it just yesterday that she was a little 4 year old with a head full of Shirley Temple curls following me around like a cute, but annoying little puppy?

But I digress.

She entered into motherhood with a lot of experience and knowledge under her belt, thanks to watching both me and our older sister have four babies apiece and being the cool babysitting aunt.

Basically, she's rocking the mommy thing, and I'm kind of amazed at how awesome she is at it.

One of the things she's learned about being a mom is that you will go crazy if you don't take some time to recharge every now and then.  So she decided that once a month, the three of us sisters and our mom will visit a coffee shop together while one of our husbands watches the kids.  Not only is she making sure that she stays sane as a mom, but she's making sure we do too.

Have I mentioned how amazing she is?

Gift Guide - Unique Toys Under $20

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My kids are watching the mail like hawks right now.  Why?  Because they know that Mommy does most of her shopping online, including the Christmas shopping.

Which is also why I'm glad that the mail usually comes while the older kids are in school.

Anyways...if you're like me, you can sometimes have a hard time figuring out what to get your kids for Christmas.  I don't like to spend a lot of money on their gifts since they also get a lot from relatives.  Bigger ticket items are usually reserved for birthdays.

With that in mind, I put together a gift guide of toys under $20 each for kids of all ages.  I hope you find some good ideas for your Christmas list!

30 Random Acts of Kindness to Do With Your Kids

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Update 12/7/2020: I've received a lot of comments and feedback on this post and I wanted to address some of them. First of all, I live in a small rural town where homemade treats are the norm, but I understand that that's not the case for everyone. That's okay! Just substitute store bought treats and you're good to go. This list is meant to give you some ideas of various things you can do with your kids. Adapt it as needed to make it work for you, your kids, and your community. Not everything needs to include spending money or giving it away. One of the best random acts of kindness your kids can do is to be kind to others. Also, for those worried that people might think finding things in public places is "creepy" or accidental, make sure you're including a "random acts of kindness" card with them so the meaning is understood.

I want to do something with the kids this Christmas that encourages them to put others first and focus on the real reason of Christmas.  After being inspired by this book, I put together a list of 30 random acts of kindness that I can do with them at Christmas and all year round!

I thought it would be a good idea to leave a little note with each random act of kindness so I created this printable sheet of cards to cut up.  I plan to print mine on card stock to make them a little more heavy duty.  I'm also going to print extras to keep in my wallet for those times when I come across an opportunity to do a random act of kindness unexpectedly :)  If you don't feel like making your own, you can buy some really cute ones here.

Right click and save to your computer to get the printable.

  

Welcoming My Tube Feeding Kid Home with Nestle Health

This is a sponsored post and I received product to write my review. However all opinions expressed here are my own.  This post also contains affiliate links.

Davy had just been discharged from his nine day hospital stay.  Just the day before, he'd had surgery for a G Tube placement, and I was terrified of that little button in his tummy.

It took me several nervous breakdowns and four training sessions with a G Tube nurse in the hospital before I was even able to hook up the extension tube to Davy's Mini One Button.  Thankfully, the nurse provided me with a dvd that she had made for her patients that gave details on what to expect when your child gets a G Tube.  She also brought me a stuffed bunny? kangaroo? (we're still not sure what it is...) that had a G Tube that I could practice on without the stress of having to hook up an extension tube to a screaming, flailing two month old baby.