Toddler Approved THM Meals

As parents, I'm sure we've all been there when we make a beautiful spread for dinner. We slaved over the stove and oven for hours, we seasoned everything just right, we set the table, and made sure to make a variety of delicious items that you're whole family was sure to love. As you make the plates for your little ones, and with a smile, place it in front of them, you're met with the shrill whiny voice of - "Mommy, I dont want it!!!!!"

I know the struggle is real. I know it is frustrating and irritating when we make yummy healthy food for our families and our kiddos just want chicken nuggets, or peanut butter and jelly.

So for all you Trim Healthy Mama's struggling to get your kids to eat healthy, satisfying, delicious meals, I've compiled a list of meals my toddlers have not only tried and ate, but ate all that was on their plate. Lets get this list started, shall we?

Surviving RSV

Its something no parent ever wants to hear.

"Your child has RSV."

Maybe RSV doesn't concern you, but when you have a small infant, it definitely adds stress to your plate because it can be very serious for small babies.

This has been my life for a week now. "Mouse" started running a fever the Monday before last. It wasnt a gradual fever either, It was a sudden spike to 103.4, and you could tell he didn't feel well. Which says alot for my kiddos, NORMALLY, they act fine despite being sick. I knew if he was actually acting sick, then whatever this was was taking a toll on his little body. Tuesday, the fever seem to be going down so I just kept an eye on him. I also noticed a cough had developed. In my mind, the worst case scenerio was bronchitis. It wasn't until I made the doctors appointment after his fever spiked again, that I realized we were dealing with something else.

The poor dear was miserable. I've never seen one of my kiddos be that lethargic before. He just laid in bed for hours, going in and out of sleep, crying, and fussing. The doctor had told me he not only had RSV, but he also had a double ear infection. We were prescribed an antibiotic for the ear infections and sent home with the strict orders to keep him and "Sweet P" as separate as possible. "RSV in infants can cause serious problems, including not being able to breathe and hospitalization. Do not let him touch her, its highly contagious." the doctor told me.

In case your not familiar with RSV, (which if you are a parent, then you've at least heard of it, maybe even have dealt with it within your family as well.) it is a viral infection of the lower respiratory system. The lungs. *Most of the time* it presents itself like a really bad cold that just has to run its course. Lots of fluids, sleep, and a cool mist humidifier to help with breathing is what is typically used, in addition to some fever reducers, if the fever is too high or making the child feel worse. *Some times* however, RSV can get to the point where the respiratory system becomes swollen, making it hard to breathe. There might be wheezing involved, or a child may not be able to get a good enough breath, resulting in loss of oxygen. In severe cases (Primarily those under the age of 6 months, or preemies, or those born with lung issues, or weakened immune systems) hospitalization is required due to not being able to breathe adequately.


Since its viral, it has to run its course on its own, all you can do is help treat the symptoms to make your child more comfortable. There are conflicting reports as to how long a child is contagious, some say anywhere from the first 4 days, upward to 8 days, or even a few weeks, or until symptoms go away. Our pediatrician told me that "Mouse" most contagious period would be until fever was gone for at least 48 hours.  I'm going to share with you the things I did to help "Mouse" recover quickly, and also the things I did to prevent "Sweet P" from getting it.

-Wash everything!-

Upon returning from the doctor that Tuesday afternoon, I stripped "Mouse" bed and washed everything he had touched that day prior to diagnosis on HOT water. I tumbled his pillows on high heat as well to kill any sort of germs.

I also washed all of "Sweet P" blankets, bedding, anything that was in the same vicinity as her older brother that he may have coughed on or touched.

-Separate the siblings!-

I put "mouse" up in his room, moved the smaller TV in there with the dvd player and made him as comfortable as I could, I put the baby gate in the doorway so he couldnt wander around the house. I then moved "Sweet P" into the office/guest room, which is on the opposite side of the house.

-Diffuse!!!!!-

Oils that is. I started diffusing 1 drop of thieves oil in our living room every few hours. Thieves oil is awesome for being an anti-bacterial fighter.

-Keep kiddo hydrated!-

I dont know if it was just because he didnt feel well, but I had a hard time getting him to drink fluids for a while. I finally got the point where the only thing he would drink was fruit herbal tea I made, poured over ice, sweetened with some stevia. Once I realized he would drink that, thats all I made for him for the first 4 days.

-Keep the germs off of you!- 

This had the be the hardest and most time consuming thing I did. First, I laid out a pair of shorts in the living room, which is like the halfway between sons room and office where baby girl was at. Then I set up two stations. 1, right outside my sons room. I put a pump bottle of anti-bacterial hand sanitizer, a t shirt and a pair of yoga pants outside the door. Whenever I needed to go in and take care of him, I put on that t-shirt and pants, and then sanitized hands up to my elbows. I'd take care of whatever he needed, then whenever I left, I would take off that t-shirt and pants, sanitize again up to my elbows, then walk across to the livingroom where I would put on that pair of shorts, and make my way to the office where my daughter was. I had another pump bottle of hand sanitizer, a t-shirt and a pair of pants. I'd sanitize, put the shirt and pants on, go in and take care of her, feed her, hold her, change her, etc. When I was done I'd take off those clothes, sanitize, put back on my shorts, and if my son didnt need me again, I'd do some house cleaning or laundry. When either of my kids needed attention, I would repeat the process. Sanitize, change into set of clothing, take care of kiddo, and then undress, and sanitize. It was time consuming, and exhausting - but I figured it is kind of like doctors when they have to put on the masks, the scrub coverings and gloves when entering into a highly contagious patients room. This cut down on the transmission of germs between "Mouse" and "Sweet P" because the two sets of clothing never came in contact with each other. Throughout the day as well, I was washing my hands thoroughly, with warm water and soap.

-Boost that Immune System!-

If you've never heard of using Colloidal Silver, you should definitely look into it. Its been used for centuries as a way to boost the immune system because of its antibiotic properties. I used this for "Mouse" and myself. 5 drops in the morning for him, and 5 drops in the evening. I took a full tsp every day.

For "Sweet P" I got a baby probiotic/vitamin D powder to put in her bottles twice a day. 1/8 tsp in the morning and evening. I used this brand -

-Treat the symptoms!-

My kitchen counter probably looked like a drug store for this whole past week. There were several things I used to help "Mouse" with his symptoms and to keep him comfortable, and honestly, I believe some of them helped it not get as bad as it could have. 

-Baby Vicks Vapor Rub : I smeared some of this on his chest and rubbed it in, especially at nap time and night time when he would be sleeping. I also put this on his feet, covered with socks. It helps tremendously with congestion. 

-Zarbees Cough and Mucus Syrup with Dark Honey: This is a game changer for middle of the night coughing sessions. It does a beautiful job of taming a cough so little one can sleep, and the added help of keeping the mucus thin helps for it not to turn into pneumonia. 

-Cool Mist Humidifier: Running this intermittently throughout the day, but especially all night and at nap time helps keep their air ways open, making it easier for them to breathe. 

-Steam Showers: If your little one is up in the middle of the night with a cough that just wont calm down, head to the bathroom and shut the door. Turn on the shower and fill the bathroom with steam. It will help loosen the mucus and tame that horrible cough making it easier for them to breathe. 

-Hylands Tiny Cold Tablets: I used these when "Mouse" was towards the end of the virus and had a really bad runny nose. It helped keep his nose dry and also helped with any sort of congestion he had.  

There you have it folks. In addition to some good ol' TLC, this is how I have survived RSV in my toddler, and prevented infant from contracting it! Have any other tips or things that have helped you if your child has had RSV? Leave me a comment below!

Pass the Coffee Please!

Its been one of those mornings.

You know, the ones where your kids wake up before the sun comes up and instead of snuggles and sweet voices of "Mommy, I love you." You instead hear screaming and "Mommy, I'm hungry, I need cereal!!!!" as if they have not eaten in months.

Thank goodness I remembered to prep the coffee last night so this morning as I drug myself out of bed and half asleep made my way to the kitchen, all I had to do was press one button to brew my glorious pot of coffee.

Coffee. Such a simple word. Yet for moms of tiny little dictators (Aka - Toddlers) it may as well be a drug of choice. The aroma of the coffee brewing, the "splosh" of filling a cup, the "tink, tink, tink" or stirring in your favorite creamer or sweetener, the "ahhhh" warm fuzzies you get as you take that first sip.

Coffee is morning life for me. Its what helps me wake up, focus (somewhat) on my day ahead, and be able to get through the endless babble and blubbering of toddlers and a baby.

As a mom, and a person who adores and cherishes some alone time, I diligently set my alarm clock every evening for the following morning to go off at 6am. ((I can just hear the laughs from moms who wouldnt dare venturing out of their bed before 8am or 9am. I applaud you for getting your kids to sleep that late, mine seem to sense the sun and are up at the very latest of 7:30am.)) However, even though I set my alarm like a good mom, when 6am rolls around - I lay there weighing the pros and cons of sleeping till they wake up, or getting up and having some peace and quiet to myself. Sleep almost always wins.

But then I notice something whenever I do get out of bed. I notice that when I end up waking up the same time as my kids, I feel rushed to start my day. I dont get to ease into being mommy, cook, maid, chauffeur, and all the other hats I wear during a 24 hour period. I'm instantly being pulled on, pleaded with, asked a thousand questions, and I notice when I dont get my quiet time before the crazy begins, I am aggrivated, I'm tense, I'm frustrated before it ever hits 9am. I dont like starting my days like that. I like being able to sit down on the couch and read to my kiddos. I like being able to wash dishes while I hear them sharing their toys with each other. I like being able to approach my day with calmness knowing that I started it off right.

What are some things that you do as a mom to prep for your day? Do you wake up early? Leave me a comment below and give me some of your ideas for starting your day off right!

For Those Just Joining Us...

I thought, with a new blog and all, it be only appropriate for me to kind of re-introduce our family.

You've got me - Allison, I'm a stay at home mom of 3 little Lytles, who I will introduce in a minute. I'm a wife of 8 years to my husband Aaron, I love to read, write, and sleep. I'm an avid lover of coffee, herbal teas, and anything that has almonds, coconut and chocolate all together. :) I'm currently enrolled in school to get my degree in English and Literature. ((A very fitting degree, if you ask me!))

This is sweet husband - Aaron. He loves to play guitar, he's a hard worker, and he loves to be silly with our kiddos. 

"Roo" is our oldest. She will be 4 soon. She's a bundle of crazy energy, loves to bounce around and loves her younger siblings to pieces. She knows her alphabet and her numbers, she loves to learn new things and play outside. She has a crazy compassionate heart, and loves to help. 

"Mouse" is our middle child. He will be 2 soon. He is a very independent, strong willed child who loves cuddles. He loves to make silly faces, and is a non-stop energy ball of fire. He loves planes and trains, and apple juice is his drink of choice!

"Sweet P" is our youngest little Lytle. She was born December of 2015. She is cooing, loves to smile, loves to make silly faces and loves to snuggle with mommy at nap time. She's our only brunette headed child who looks like me. (Which I prayed hard for during my pregnancy!) 

So there you have it, our little family of Lytles. No, these are not the real names of our children, just nicknames I've chosen to address them by here on my blog :)

Mom U

Ever seen the cute prequel to Monsters Inc. titled - Monsters University?

The story settles in on Mike and Sulley and how they first got to know each other at Monsters University as scaring majors. They quickly realize that not only does it take hard word and dedication, (Sulley thinks his giant stature and mega roar will get him through all his classes and exams without having to study) but they also find that that you need to actually BE scary (Mike, although fierce and determined, just isnt as scary as he thought he was.) If you havent seen the movie - definitely check it out. Its super adorable! Both my kiddos love it.

Why am I talking about Monsters going to college? Well, this "mom-ster" decided to take the plunge and go back to college to get her degree in English and Literature. Thats right, I'm going to be a college student!!!!

Let me be honest - I'm terrified. I've got to retake entrance exams because its been 8 years since I was in my last college class. The process if financial aid was daunting, and the application process of getting transcripts and applying to begin with was a headache. I did it though, I got it all figured out, and I'm well on my way to becoming a stay at home mom college student. WOW! Am I nuts? Surely there are others who have taken such a leap of faith in themselves and invested the time and energy (what little energy I have left) and have sought after that coveted degree choice of theirs. 

It should come as no surprise that I chose a degree in English. As a lover of all things writing, poetry, books of all sorts and a tad obsessed with proper grammar and sentencing structure, a degree in the art of English and literature felt natural, normal, the thing among things that I wanted to pursue and invest myself in. (I'm a nerd, I love to write papers.)

If all goes well, I start summer courses in June. I just hope I can get through this and not get overwhelmed. 

I need this printed on a coffee mug. haha! 

What about you? If you had the oppertunity to go back to college, what would you major in? What would be your goals to achieve? I'd love to hear some of your thoughts and dreams! Write me a comment below, or on my Facebook Page

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THM Coco-nutty Almond Joys

I think one of my all time favorite candy bars is an Almond Joy. Theres just something about coconut, almonds and it all being covered in decadent chocolate. Especially that time of the month. ;-)

Today I did my bi-weekly grocery shopping, and while waiting to check out I kept eyeing the Almond Joys...by the grace of God, I did not buy any!!!

I did however, come home and whip up some on plan ones...and let me just say, they are to DIE FOR!!!!

So heres what you will need:

2 cups of unsweetened shredded coconut
4 tbsp of coconut oil
2 tbsp of sweetener comparable to Pyure, Gentle Sweet, or Truvia. *If using stevia extract, please consult the THM sweetener conversion chart*
1 bar of 85% dark chocolate or higher (I used the 86% Ghirardelli Intensely Dark)
Sweetener to taste to put into the chocolate if you so desire
Roasted Almonds

Instructions:

Melt the coconut oil till its semi liquid and then mix in your sweetener till dissolved.

Once sweetener is dissolved, mix in the coconut till it clumps together.

Form little mounds on parchment paper or Aluminum foil

Place almonds on top of the coconut mounds.

Place the coconut mounds in the refrigerator while you prep the chocolate

Melt the whole bar of chocolate in the microwave or stove top till liquified

Add in your sweetener

Spoon the chocolate over the mounds of coconut

Stick back in the freezer till solidified

These are on plan as an S, due to the coconut oil, the coconut and the almonds.

Enjoy! I had to stop myself after 3 of them, they are ridiculously amazing!!!

 
  PS - If you haven't already, get the immediate updates and all things encouraging on my Facebook Page:

Live, Laugh, Love, Encourage

The Start of Something New

All my life I knew I wanted to be a wife and a mother.

Its just been something that has been engraved in my brain, in my heart, in the deepest part of my spirit. I was meant to be called someones wife, and I was meant to be called someones mom.

I've now been a wife for 8 years, and a mom for almost 4 years.

Being a wife and a mom are hard.

I struggle daily. I yell at my kids...and then later go back and hold them as I cry and apologize for yelling...only to turn around an hour later and yell again.

I cant stand whining. Whining = Nails on a chalkboard.

I hate that my husband works out of town so much.

I have the tendency to overreact, and to only think of what could go wrong, and once I have a train of thought in my head, its really very hard for me to function and do anything worthwhile if I'm still thinking about it.

I'm not the greatest at organizing or keeping our home free from clutter. (Which totally stinks, because thats my husbands biggest pet peeve.)

Theres alot of things I could list off that I dont do right, or that I could improve on, but I wont put you through that. Theres no reason to dwell on the things I didnt do right yesterday. I should be focusing on what I can do right, RIGHT NOW and in the future.

I am a daughter of the King. I'm his beloved princess.

I am a good mom, despite my short comings.

I am loved unconditionally by my Heavenly Father.


I was the author behind the webpage - The Heart of a Homemaker. But thats not who I am. I'm not a homemaker by any means. I dont create new recipes. I honestly, hate to cook. I'm not good at being joyful in my home, I hate to clean.

But I love to write. I love to encourage, and make people smile. I'm good at enjoying the little things in life. I love the simplicity of just sharing my life, and things I learn along the way with others. I'm not a high profile blogger, and having a website made me feel like I needed to keep up with all the other bloggers I knew that had massive followings. I'm so grateful for the individuals who do take the time to read my blog and who have messaged me and told me how encouraging it is to read what I write. I appreciate that more than words can say.

I hope you will continue to follow me on here, and I hope in some way or another you find encouragement.

Be Encouraged - Allison