DAY ONE - OILS JUST ARRIVED YESTERDAY

I have actually been using the essential oils now for a few weeks. However, they were small samples given to me by loving and dear friends. Yesterday was the day my very own oils finally arrived. I decided to purchase the FULL OIL KIT as I felt it was worth the investment due to the number of oils required by my family. Of course, as you read about all the different oils and their properties, you can't help but say, “Wow, that could work for such and such,” or, “I could use that on…” So, I just felt it best to get all the oils, even if they are not on my immediate list of “must have” oils identified in our Zyto scans. I just figured the oils not being used right now may show up on later scans and/or will surely come in handy down the road.

Along with the Full Oil Kit, I also ordered two Vitality packs. These are basically your vitamins, minerals and cell rejuvenation (energy). I got two packages because a few people needed to be on them. I also ordered the Deep Blue Rub because that was the rub that completely took me by surprise right after I rubbed it on my feet to help alleviate my broken tail bone pain. Also, Phil asked me to send him something to help him with his aches and pains after his workouts. I added the Phytoestrogen pills because both Hana and MaKayla needed to be on them. Along with my kit I also received some freebies and I ordered the Lotus diffuser in order to get the oils in the air for all to breath. This technique is great if you have a fussy child and they are not being cooperative (which I have not found to be the case). This way they are breathing in the amazing healing properties of these oils without realizing they are doing so.

Thus, today was the first day we used the oils as prescribed by our Zyto scans. I also used the Lotus diffuser and used elevation blend. The kids kept running up to breathe it in and WrayBeth really loved the smell. I found her frequently going over to the diffuser and taking it all in. Interesting to note that this blend is known to give you elated feelings of joy and really helps those who suffer from depression. WrayBeth has suffered her entire life from depression so I thought it very interesting that she was really drawn to this blend, more so than other oils I have diffused over the past few days.

Below is a list of what each member in my family is using so that we can start with a baseline:

Kathy: Vitality pack (3x/day); Geranium, Basil in veg cap (1x/day)
MaKayla: Deep Blue blend as needed; Peppermint, White Fir, Marjoram, Rosemary, Frankincense, Cinnamon in veg cap (1x/day); 1 Phytoestrogen (1x/day)
Hana: Whisper blend; Wintergreen, Cypress, Cinnamon, Fennel in veg cap (1x/day); 1Phytoestrogen (1x/day)
Brandon: Cassia, Helichrysum, Melissa, Peppermint, Ylang Ylang, Fracionated Coconut Oil (FCO) in 5 ml roll-on bottle used throughout the day as needed
Amornthep: Breathe and Ylang Ylang rubbed on feet and chest; 1 Microplex (1x/day)
Joshua: White Fir, Clove, Thyme rubbed on neck, feet and chest throughout day as needed
MaeLynn: PastTense blend and Thyme used on her eczema; 1 xEO Mega and 1 MicroPlex (1x/day)
WrayBeth: She is using the Vitality Pack and oils she feels she needs throughout the day. I do not monitor her use of the oils like I do the children

Of course, only being half-way through the day it is too early for extensive feedback, but the one person that both WrayBeth and I noticed an immediate response is Brandon. I would have to say this blend, which I put together based on his Zyto scan recommendations, seems to be working better than the Peaceful Child blend. I still plan to make the Peaceful Child blend, but I’m going to watch how he does on this for a few days. We noticed he has been VERY calm, does not scream or fight as much, responds quietly when asked a question and has even pointed out things that he must do that is part of his daily routine (he normally always puts up a fight). For example, right after lunch he politely and with clear pronunciation asked if he could be excused and then said, “I need to go potty first before I go for nap time.” WrayBeth looked at me with pure joy in her eyes. Also, he was outside playing and Grandma had called him to the house. Almost EVERY TIME we do this he throws a tantrum. However, today he did not and came right in, looked up at grandma and asked her what she wanted. He has not been as physical with the other kids and his responses seem to have more thought behind them. He has not fought me once to put this “new” oil on him and seems to like smelling the oil, more so than the other oils I was using on him. Therefore, I’m expecting really positive things from him. But, of course, it is still too early to make any definitive judgment.

I will continue to keep you posted on how we are doing. But, based on our past two weeks and from what I’m seeing in Brandon already, I’m really excited. On a side note, I have been using OnGuard blend on his eye pustules and they are all almost completely gone. He is looking great!

ESSENTIAL OILS

I have been asked by a number of associates from Doterra that I keep a record of the extraordinary benefits that my family has and will find as we start our journey back to health by using essential oils from Doterra.

Almost two weeks ago, a dear friend from my church, Teresa Peers, was visiting when I mentioned I was experiencing horrific allergies. I have suffered years and years with allergies and tried everything, but to no avail. Either the drug knocks me out (which is impossible when you have six children), or doesn’t work at all. Teresa looked up at me and said, “I’m going to come back tonight with something I’m sure will help.” She then asked if I knew anything about essential oils. Admittedly, my first reaction was that they are great for stress, aromatherapy, but really…ALLERGIES!? I had gone to a naturopath a number of years ago and she had given me some lavender oil to help with my stress, but it was only for aromatherapy, not to ingest. And, in all honesty, I didn’t feel it made any difference. Therefore, my view of essential oils was more toward the negative.

Michelle Frink, another fine sister from my ward, had also been talking to me for a while about how amazing these oils can be for all kinds of ailments. Unfortunately, with the adoption and surgery, timing was just off and I didn’t take the time to look further. 

That evening, just as I was ready to retire, there was a knock at the door. There was Teresa with her vials of oil and some vegetable capsules. She started to put drops of lavender, lemon and peppermint in to the vegetable caps. At this point I realized she was expecting me to swallow that “stuff.” Now I was a little perplexed. I thought oils were for aroma or to rub on for massage purposes. I NEVER thought you could ingest them. My therapeutic lavender oil that was given to me by the naturopath even says, “DO NOT INGEST.” So, you can only imagine I was a little nervous as I was expecting a foul aftertaste, or worse, to be poisoned. But, I knew Teresa wouldn’t allow any harm come to me and at this point I was willing to try just about anything.

So, with deep faith in her stewardship, I went forward and tried the “stuff.” I really didn’t expect anything to happen right away and believed that if they did work, it most likely would take a few days to build up in my system before ANY benefits would occur. Elena, her daughter, did warn me that I might feel a coolness in my chest area due to the peppermint. 

WELL WHAT DO YOU KNOW!? After only five minutes, not only did I feel a soothing coolness in my chest, but my itchy and watery eyes and itchy throat and skin subsided. WHAT? After only five minutes? Can it truly be possible? I was dumbfounded…but very impressed. I then mentioned to her about the other conditions of my children, particularly my daughter’s severe eczema.

The next day, here shows up Teresa again with some more oils, fractionated coconut oil, and a few books for me to read. Again, I was touched by her kindness and immediately started to do the research. I started to use the oils on MaeLynn for her eczema and was really blown away. I was floored at how immediate her relief was and within hours how the look of her skin seemed to improve. Okay, that’s two for two. I devoured her book about the health benefits of coconut oil, as well as her book on oils as a whole. Now I’m starting to get convinced there is something to this. I started to research the web about Doterra, the company, and about all my various health conditions for me and my family. I was particularly interested in why THEIR oil worked and this therapeutic lavender oil didn’t. Well, I soon found out (I won’t go into the details here). 

During my investigation I came across some videos about a blend that a women put together called Peaceful Child. This blend is supposedly able to do wonders for children with Tourets Syndrome, ADHD, ODD, OCD and a myriad of other mental health issues. I was so anxious to find out more so I emailed Teresa to ask if she had even heard of this blend and if she knew if it worked.

Sure enough, that following Sunday, here comes Teresa and do you know what she had. A large 10 ml bottle of the BLEND; I WAS SO TOUCHED. To me, that oil was like gold. I was ecstatic and immediately rubbed it on my two children with ADHD, MaKayla and Brandon. The ride home from church was beyond amazing. They were quiet and less agitated. 

Over the past two weeks I have made other observations that have amazed me. The first time I tried to put oil on Brandon, he fought me. But ever since, he actually comes up to me and asks for “his oil.” I have been given samples of some oils and have used them to diffuse in the car and the car rides have gone SO MUCH SMOOTHER. The kids are quieter and more patient. When I rub "Serenity" blend on them at bedtime, I don’t fight them to get to sleep anymore. Last Sunday, MaKayla was about to have a meltdown during Sacrament meeting. I started to get really nervous because once she passes a certain point, there is nothing that can calm her down. I saw my dear friend Michelle sitting in a pew across from me. I asked her if she had some “Deep Blue” on her person and, of course, she did. This particularly blend is what came up in MaKayla’s Zyto scan as being the blend she is most in need of at this time. I had her breath the blend and within seconds, she immediately started to calm down. I asked her five minutes later how she felt. She said she was still angry, but she remained calm for the remainder of the meeting.

Brandon has had small, pimple-like bumps around his eyes. Every time you pop one, five more appear. This has been going on now for months and months. When speaking to the doctor they said that nothing really takes them away, NOT to pop them and give them time. Unfortunately, they were getting worse and one in particular seemed to be infected. I started using the oils and the VERY next day, the severe one on his eye popped. Now, just five days later, they are all almost gone.

Last Wednesday, another friend from our ward, Kaye Coatney, came to our home to give us Zyto scans. MaKayla was given a small sample of “Deep Blue” since that is the blend that is most effective for her right now. As she was smell testing all of Kaye’s oils, she seemed automatically drawn to “Deep Blue.” A few hours later she had her social therapy class. I had her take her sample oil and during the 30 minute drive she kept smelling it and telling me it smelled like candy. After her therapy, the social workers meet with each parent for about 5-10 minutes to discuss how therapy went. Once her therapist pulled me aside, she immediately said, “MaKayla did really well today. It was the first time I really noticed her focused, and on task. So much so that I heard her make a statement that it was impossible for anything to keep her still, yet I noticed she was awkwardly forcing her leg to jerk like it use to. Almost as if she was aware that she was calmer, but NEEDED to act the part so was forcing her leg to jitter. This really impressed me. What have you been doing?” When I told her I’ve been trying to wean her off her meds she gave me that look of terror. Then I continued to tell her about the oils that we JUST started and she got really intrigued. 

On Thursday I went to another Doterra class. I informed the ladies that two years ago I broke my tailbone and the doctors have tried every pain medication possible, including Lydocain patches, but they are not working. They now say I most likely will need surgery. The ladies suggested I try “Deep Blue” on my feet, since it may be too sensitive to put directly on my tail bone. Within 5 minutes, for the first time in years, I could no longer feel the pain. I was even able to sit all the way back in my chair, which I can’t remember doing for ages. I started standing and sitting over and over again to test the pain in my tailbone and they all looked at me strange. I then yelled, “Where did it go? I’m not kidding, I can’t feel the pain anymore.” Of course they were all elated, and OH BOY…so was I.

Personally, I have yet to have a severe allergy attack, and I’ve only taken two pills, three times just two weeks ago. I’m sure that if I was outside more, I would need to take them more regularly, but thus far, my allergies have been under control. Also, I’ve noticed that I have much more patience with the kids. Even my mother-in-law noticed and made a comment. I’m not flying off the handle as much and don’t get as tired as easily. 

With all the conditions and issues that my family has, I think that we will be yet another great testimony to the amazing benefits of these oils. I will give a brief description of each of our children and their health issues for those of you that may not be as familiar with our family and background. Each of my children are adopted and each all have very different backgrounds.

1.  MaKayla was adopted in the states at 3 days old. We were told that she had a high risk for Fetal Alcohol due to her mother’s excessive drinking all the way through her eighth month of pregnancy. It was so severe that in her eighth month the judge ordered her to rehab. Though she seemed healthy when first born, we were advised to watch her once she reached school age. Sure enough, she exhibited learning disabilities and has social and emotional issues. Though she was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol at a young age, her ADHD was diagnosed a little over a year ago. She has a difficult time in social situations and has a very difficult time staying on task and managing her emotions. Obviously the hope is that we can completely get her off her medication and help her improve her focus, learning and social interactions, along with managing her emotions.

2.  Amornthep was adopted a little over two years ago from Thailand. Health wise he is amazing as he has yet to have come down with any illness, let alone a sniffle. He has Waardenburg syndrome and is deaf. He was implanted with Cochlear Implants last year. He does show orphanage behavior, such as shadowing and extreme fears. His Zyto scan focused on his ability to stop and breath and learn to be a kid again. This makes complete sense since he was one of the few kids that was healthy (other than being deaf), so the orphanage workers always asked for him to assist and do a lot of chores. Therefore, he has a VERY HIGH desire to please. Almost to point where he is more under foot than anything. Our hope is that through the use of the oils, he will learn to relax a little, let go of some of his fears and realize that it is okay to be a kid.

3.  Hana came to us 1.5 years ago. Her tale is rather a sad one. While in Ethiopia she watched her mother die from a horrific disease. That very day she and her two brothers were separated and taken to an orphanage where she has informed us that it was quite abusive. Later, she was removed to another orphanage, where she said the treatment was a little better but was soon adopted. She, and her two Ethiopian brothers came to the states to live with her new family. Unfortunately, after seven months they felt she was not a good fit for their family and felt she needed to be readopted by another family. How devastating, especially since they were going to keep her biological brothers. You can only imagine the trauma of losing her mother, then her brothers, and then feeling rejected by her adopted family. Interesting to note that in her Zyto scan, everything was centered around her ability to heal from abandonment and loss of mother and working through issues with her mother. When she received her scan, it really brought tears to my eyes for the amazing accuracy. I realized that the oils are not just for physical needs, but the oils truly help us emotionally heal. However, she is a fighter and a really sweet girl and doing wonderfully. I believe the oils will truly help her heal and move forward.

4.  Joshua came to us just this past December. You can read our amazing experience on a prior post regarding how we just knew this little boy was to be our son. He has Levlo – Transposition of the Great Arteries and Severe Epstein Anomaly (60% regurgitation). We were very aware of his serious heart condition. China did not do any surgeries because they truly believed he would not survive. Well, we are proving them wrong. With the miraculous abilities of Dr. Hanley out of Stanford, the hand of God, and the powers of the oils, our hope is that we will see his recovery from his surgeries be much faster, and eventually be able to control his blood pressure without medication.

5.  What can I say about Brandon. Brandon is our little challenge. He came to us when he was just 4 months old. His early life was already full of heart ache. He was conceived through a rape situation so during those four months it was very difficult for his mother to bond with him. Right out of the hospital he was kidnapped and then after one week left on the steps of the police station for who knows how many hours (they suspect at least 12). Once reunited with his mother, she and her then boyfriend, now husband, moved from place to place and oftentimes he slept in a pull out drawer as they had no baby furniture. But, out of the grace of our Lord, she realized she just did not have the means to continue to care for him and asked her aunt if she knew of anyone who could adopt him. Our lives have only been enriched with our little Brandon. However, he does carry a lot of anger from his past and he also has been diagnosed with ADHD, ODD and possible schizophrenia as it runs in his family and his birthmother has been diagnosed. Obviously, I think you all know what we are hoping to gain from the oils for our little Brandon.

6.  MaeLynn also came to us from China this past December. She is also deaf and has Microsia/Atresia (She has no ears). She came to us with severe orphanage behavior. Although she was two years of age, she acted as if she was 11 months. She couldn’t eat with any utensils, could barely walk, obviously had no form of communication and was dealing with such post-traumatic stress that she didn’t make a sound for days. Then when she finally did, all she did was cry and cry. She has flat head, which was caused from being left in her crib all the time while in the orphanage, causing her head to develop a flat side. She also has severe eczema, which we believe is caused due to her liver and kidneys most likely not developing fully, just like her ears. They develop at the same time as the ears develop in embryo, and most with her condition show abnormalities with their kidneys and liver. Therefore, her body is not able to get rid of the toxins appropriately and it shows with her severe eczema. We hope that the oils will help heal the past orphanage abuse and help her with her eczema. Also, as she is learning a language, we hope the oils will instill within her confidence.

As you can see, we have our hands full and are hoping wonderful and great things with the oils. Come back often as I will do my best to post our progress. Though I’ve been given a few oils for sample, I have ordered the full oil kit and it should be arriving any day now. Once it does, I will post what I have each of my children on and how well the oil is working. I am very excited and based on the success I’ve seen thus far, I truly believe we are going to see some miracles occur.

JOSHUA'S SURGERY

It has been quite a long time since I have updated this blog. As many of you may know, Joshua had his first surgery of two major surgeries in May. What was supposed to only be two weeks ended up being a good month-long stay. Unfortunately, right after his surgery, less than 24 hours, our poor son crashed. I was called around 2:00 AM by the nurse stating he was having a hard time settling down after the surgery. I drove back to the hospital to do my best to comfort him. Apparently he contracted a viral infection and his temperature was off the charts and they were doing everything they could to bring it down. His surgery required a band to be placed around his ventricle in order to strengthen it before his second surgery, called the duo switch, which is scheduled for January.  With every increase in temperature, the heart has to increase its work load by 11% in order to fight off the infection. Unfortunately, with the new band placed around his ventricle and the extra work required by the heart, the output was just too much and his little heart gave out and stopped completely. 

Around 5AM, while I was helping him sit up in order to breathe easier, he slowly brought his hand up to try to remove the oxygen mask. Within seconds, while I was looking down at him to stop him from doing so, the room was filled with doctors and nurses. I had no idea what just happened. I was still cradling him when, before I knew it, I ended up in the back corner of the room. The tiny room in the PICU was now crowded beyond capacity with hospital staff. I just stood there, trying to figure out what was going on. Nothing was registering with me until after about 10 minutes there was a slight part between staff and I could see my son, lying there limp, lifeless, breathless and blue.

At that moment I knew exactly what was going on and I grabbed my phone and left the room. I immediately called my husband who had left a few weeks earlier for Army Captain's Career Course in Missouri. He was going to be there for a good six months, but now the whole paradigm had changed. He heard my voice and how frantic I was but was quiet. After I told him what was going on, I pleaded with him to say something. He just didn’t know what to say. Soon after the doctor came by, sat down with me and while Phil was on the phone told us that he had crashed but that he was breathing now and seemed to be out of the worst. I asked if I could go see him but she said they had to paralyze him and were still working on him and to wait a good ½ hour to an hour. We breathed a heavy sigh, thanked her, and Phil commented that he needed to go to the gym to work off some steam.

About ½ hour after this, I kept peering through the PICU windows as my son’s room was right at the end. I became more confused as it seemed more and more doctors and staff were rushing to his room. I was under the impression he was doing better, but the situation seemed to be getting worse. Just as if the doctor read my mind, she walked out of the PICU door and said, “Kathy, it doesn’t look good. His heart has stopped completely and we can’t get it to beat on its own. We have to do emergency surgery.” Of course she saw the fear in my face but also knowing she had to be as honest as possible, put her arm around me and said, “I’m so sorry, but really, it doesn’t look good.”

With that, she walked over to the elevator to keep it open for transport. In that moment, pure fear enveloped me in a way I never experienced. The PICU doors flew open while I saw a doctor on top of him trying to keep his heart pumping with NUMEROUS doctors and nurses surrounding his gurney. They were screaming to the other doctor, asking if the elevator door was open. She yelled yes but they couldn’t hear her and kept requesting a response. Suddenly I blurted out, “YES…IT’S OPEN…GO!”

In those seconds from the time they moved his gurney from his room to the elevator, I had a most personal, sacred and intense learning experience that I will NEVER forget. Of course, as a mother, I was in shear panic. But, in that intense state, I suddenly heard a LOUD voice, as if standing directly in front of me, bellow, “IT IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT YOU!.” Of course, this immediately took my mind off of the fear as it completely caught me off guard. Soon after, the voice became calmer and then continued to teach me what seemed like a million years worth of knowledge. He continued to explain that not all of our trials that we experience are suppose to be completely for or about us. That there was a doctor there that needed to learn something so critical and important in order for him or her to help another individual sometime, someday, somewhere and that only Joshua and his condition would be able to teach him or her what they needed to know. He went on to explain that Joshua had agreed to this before his earthly experience and then, he gave me a crash but yet profound course on how we are all so interconnected we, as mere mortals, have NO IDEA. That it is not just happenstance that we just bump in to that person in the elevator that we may never meet again. That somehow, for some reason, in ways we cannot comprehend, we are all so very connected that he is in so much more control than we can ever realize. There are honestly no human, mortal words in any language that can truly detail the knowledge that my Heavenly Father blessed me with in that fragile, terrifying moment of my life.

By the time the elevator doors closed, I was as calm as I could possibly be. I had already come to accept that if this little boy was to be taken home, then it was not in vain. That there was purpose. And, if the Lord decided that his life was to continue, it is NOT in vain, there is purpose. I truly was enlightened, and with that enlightenment, came peace.

A few minutes past as I reflected on what just happened. I then started to call Phil but, of course, he was working out so was not able to get a hold of him right away. In the meantime, I called family to inform them of the dire situation Joshua was in and requested prayers and fasting. Finally, I was able to get a hold of Phil and told him, “Phil, you need to come out here because either your little boy will have passed away, and I will need you. Or, if he survives, HE will need you.” He remained very quiet on the phone and then said, “I’m on my way.”

Seven hours later, dressed in a tie, he walked out of the San Francisco airport. I look back on this with such awe and respect for my husband. During that whole trip, he had no idea if he was going to find his son dead or alive upon arrival. I can’t even imagine the fear and torment he must of went through. Nonetheless, knowing that regardless of his son’s condition, he had to give him a blessing, he dressed in his Sunday best so that he could immediately administer to him a priesthood blessing.

We had previously arranged with the local Bishop of our church to meet us at the hospital. Around midnight, there he was and Phil and he immediately gave Joshua a priesthood blessing. Of course Joshua was not awake and would be kept asleep for a good week following in order to allow his heart a time to rest and heal. After a good week, they had to go back in a third time to tighten the band in order to lessen the regurgitation on his heart. But, three surgeries and one month later, we walked out of Stanford Hospital with our little Joshua. 

Since we have been home, he has not had to go to the ER once. He is doing VERY well and is the happy, fun-loving boy that he has always been. His second surgery is scheduled for January and this will be much more risky and severe and we have been told that we will be at the hospital for AT LEAST one month. Luckily, Phil will have just returned from Missouri by then so he will be able to man the troops during my absence. Of course our hope is that with time, his heart will be as good as new. He won’t be able to ever participate in competitive sports, but for the most part, and per Dr. Hanley, he should be able to have a long and normal life after these surgeries. Of course, we cannot forget the will of the Lord and how deeply grateful and full of love I am for a loving Heavenly Father to allow us more time with our beautiful son and to also bless me with life-lasting wisdom that will not only stay with me during my sojourn in this life, but for all eternity.