Try-it Tuesday - Home Diaper Rash Remedy

Ok, it hasn't been a secret that we've been battling diaper rash on and off for the past couple of months. The Chewy Tot's bum will start to get a little better, and then before I know it, it's all raw again. :( So, in conversation with my sister, she mentioned that when she had the same problem with one of her boys - our Grandma told her to use burnt flour. She said my reaction was pretty much like hers... Burnt Flour? Really? I've never heard of that...it sounds totally ridiculous, and if it really worked, wouldn't I have heard about it before now?

Well, everything else we had tried would start to get better, but then just not quite heal up - and cause another flare up. I was ready to try anything, and on Thanksgiving, my sister reminded me again, and how it had worked for her. So, that night, I put about 1/2 cup of white flour in a cast iron skillet, and started cooking and stirring with a wooden spoon over medium heat. It took about 5-10 minutes to get it to a dark tan color (about the color of a brown paper sack), and I was constantly stirring and scraping it from the bottom of the pan. WARNING - it does STINK!

The next morning, I starting using it on the rash - using a pretty hefty pinch and rubbing it right on the sores. (I use about a teaspoon each change.) Within a couple of changes - we could already see dramatic improvements! What I really noticed - was the flour was keeping his sores DRY. There was a dry layer of flour still against his skin. The other flour that does get wet, isn't gluey either like I thought it would be - I'm guessing that is because of cooking it.

We have now been using it for a few days and he is almost totally healed up, the smaller sores are all better already. He also doesn't freak out for diaper changes like he had started to (he knew it was going to hurt!) so those are about back to normal, except for the addition of the flour - which is MUCH easier than trying to smear any cream on!

We did switch to disposable inserts or disposable diapers while we are on the heavy doses of the flour - I just don't want to risk gumming up the pocket diapers. Now that we are mostly healed - I am hoping to start to just use a sprinkle of the flour until we are totally healed - and with the smaller amount, I think I will just use a liner in my pockets - and not worry about a little bit of flour if it gets through.

Overall, I am totally AMAZED at the success of the burnt flour, and surprised that it isn't something that I had heard more about. I think it's a great "chewy" choice since it's cheap, single ingredient, and "homemade".

I let my sister know how well it worked, and I got the same response that I'm sure she got from Grandma White twenty-some years ago... "I told you so!"

Mish Mash Monday

While most people are aware it is Cyber Monday - I understand it is also National Chocolates day (I don't know if that means you should or shouldn't poke holes in the bottom to see what is on the inside - I'm in favor of springing for custom mixes so I know I like them all!) If you aren't a fan of chocolates - you'll have to check out National Chocolate Day,or National Bittersweet Chocolate Day, or National Chocolate with Almonds Day, or National Milk Chocolate Day... (you get the idea) on their respective days during the rest of the year. Evidently it is also Lemon Cream Pie day too.

Considering the Chewy Tot has starting dragging things around the house (I was folding laundry today and he started pulling a pair of Mr. Chewy's pants on the hanger around.) I think it's a good thing we got him a pull toy for Christmas! I can't believe I'm so excited about a simple kid's toy -but I hope he likes this one! We got this Plan Sorting Bus at Little Padded Seats at their Black Friday Sale. Always thrilled to support a small , local business - but even more when it's a great sale! I'd love to tell you what we got the Chewy Kid for Christmas... but he subscribes to the blog - so I'd better not!

For a video this week -- I think it's time for a classic Christmas tune....

Family Friday - Christmas Traditions

Advent starts on Sunday - wow! This year we are hoping to be more intentional with some of our preparations - and hopefully creating some new and meaningful family traditions (as well as continuing some!) in the process.

One thing we have already done is collect items for and deliver our Operation Christmas Child boxes. We will have the opportunity to track our boxes and see where they go this year. What a great way to show the Christmas spirit - buying gifts and sharing the love of Christ with people we will never meet.

We will probably get out the Christmas tree this Sunday afternoon. Over the past several years we have purchased a Christmas ornament on our family vacation. Looking forward to adding a Disney Cruise Line ornament this year! It's always fun to talk about and remember the vacations when we put them on the tree. Maybe this year we'll be able to laugh about the "Cackler Curse" of illness when we put the Animal Kingdom Lodge ornament on the tree... maybe...

I know we are hoping to do some more baking this year - I'm hoping we can share with friends and family too.

What are some of your traditions? Any particular recipes we should try? Stories? etc.?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone is able to take some time to reflect on what they are thankful for - I am ever so thankful for my family, my salvation, my home, my job, and of course, the internet! :D

Thanksgiving at the Chewy house usually means a bit of a slower morning, and making a side dish or two to take to my family for Thanksgiving dinner - and then the craziness and fun that comes from a lot of people getting together to talk and eat! The chewy tot is the youngest participant, and with him being especially mobile this year - I'm sure it won't be dull at all! After dinner, we head over to Mr. Chewy's dad's house to watch football. It makes for a busy day - but it's tradition!



And, a little bit of Muppet Thanksgiving humor...

Wordless Wednesday - First Horse ride!

Post #100

Wow -- a hundred posts - I don't know which is more amazing, that I've come up with 100 things I've wanted to share, or that people actually read them...

I have enjoyed sharing random thoughts about the family, our activities, and why we do what we do. I have also enjoyed and gleaned wisdom from your comments as well (and if you don't leave comments (either here or on Facebook) why not? It's never to late to start.

The next month is going to be a bit crazy, but I am hoping to post when I can. As always, I'm open to ideas - let me know if there is anything you think I should tackle here!

Family Friday - vacation

A quick photo overview of our recent vacation!


Water and beach play!






Finding our first "International" Geocache!



Great Food!





Getting out and exploring new places...





Interacting with wildlife...






and of course, grabbing some rest whenever, and wherever we could!