ᕼOᑎOᖇ ᖇOᒪᒪ

Riley made the Honor Roll this in the first semester. He's made it several times, but this year his new principal made a big deal and had a special ceremony for all the kids. 

Riley's a great student, but sometimes guilty of doing the bare minimum...he and I have had this talk many times. Riley says he wants the Principal's Honor Roll, but hasn't been able to get there yet. At his P/T conferences we had great discussions about a few simple things he can do to bring those 3's up to 4's. We will see after Christmas break how seriously he is about improving. Either way, I can tell the teachers really admire the kind of kid/student he is, and they kept telling me what a great role model he is... and for this I'm very thankful and proud.

Riley and Celia showing off their Honor Roll certificates.

All of the Honor Roll recipients...this was a good chunk of the 8th grade. :)

Riley could have had the perfect attendance award...sadly, he missed a few hours going to the doctor for his knee. He may not have a paper that shows perfect attendance, but he was pretty darn close to it. Not a single sick day...he generally has at least a couple days out due to pesky fevers. The only change this year is the Probio5...and I know it's given his immune system a huge boost. I'm not saying he won't get sick while on it, I just know it's really helping! :)

hᎪᏢᏢᎽ hᎪᏞᏞöᎳᎬᎬᏁ

Jester Reece

Napoleon Dynamite is his duo tonight...aka Nate.

The boys freehanded their pumpkins this year... Reece made the goofy face and Riley carved out BOO!

ⓢⓞⓒⓒⓔⓡ ⓕⓘⓝⓐⓛⓔ

Reece wrapped up another season of soccer. And the fall weather truly spoiled us. His final game was at 9am and the temperature was around 30 degrees. I was bundled up, however when that sun comes out it heats up fast. Maybe not temperature wise, but it leaves you taking layers off every time. His team didn't win any games, but watching the improvement all season long was worth it.

Back row: Jake, Tom, Angel, Javi, Reece, Leo
Front row: Johnny, Sebastian, Luke, Ryu
(Missing: Noah)

Reece and Luke...quite the duo.

Throw-in king!

ᑭᒪE᙭ᑌᔕ:TᕼE ᒍOᑌᖇᑎEY ᑕOᑎTIᑎᑌEᔕ

My journey to better health keeps getting better.

I've had my boys on the ProBio5 for a little over a month now...the changes I've seen have been amazing. (I did have my sister in law, an APRN, look over the label and approve the product for my 10 and 13 year old.) The lack of "tummy aches" is a big one. We were getting to the point that Reece was struggling at soccer practice or having trouble sleeping at night because his stomach hurt. I've even witnessed my low-energy-Riley come alive! He's eager to go outside with Reece and play. It's been amazing watching Riley become more active right before my eyes.

Those aren't even the most exciting changes. The real excitement is Riley eating grapes with zero pain.

I know, this doesn't sound too exciting, but at age 7 we found out the hard way that Riley couldn't eat grapes and bananas (his two favorite fruits, go figure) without doubling over in a lot of pain. The last time he ate a banana it ended badly. That experience was a bit more traumatic, so he hasn't braved trying that food again...but we will get there. Baby steps. Riley had only been on the ProBio5 for a little over 2 weeks when he had these life changing results. So yes, eating grapes is exciting in this house.

To put this into perspective, several months ago we were having dinner with our friends, and there was a yummy fruit salad served as a side. In the salad were grapes and my "mommy advice" was to just eat around the grapes. Sadly, it wasn't long after dinner that I found Riley doubled over on the couch...in enough pain that we had to leave early. And this was just from the grapes touching the other fruits he did eat! Guess that was some pretty poor advice on my part...

So why did I even chance feeding him grapes, with the high probability that he'd be in terrible pain?

I don't know...I just had that much confidence in this product. That's the only answer I have. Let's not forget that after only 2 weeks of me being on Plexus, I was able to stop my daily allergy pills. I had been on them for over 4 years. Now I'm going on 3 months without them and fall/winter are rarely kind to me in the allergy department. True gut healing at it's best.

Here's a little info on the ProBio5...
All probiotics are not the same!!! They don't have chitosanase! Plexus Pro Bio 5 has it! It cuts through the ick!!! 

Did you know that GUT YEAST is protected by the same kind of shell that a ROACH has to protect it ... called chitin?
Grossed out? You SHOULD be! That exoskeleton made of chitin is also protecting the overgrowth of yeast that is WREAKING HAVOC on your body!
If you have yeast overgrowth, it INHIBITS the absorption of the good stuff ... nutrients that build up your body. The enzyme, CHITOSANASE, breaks through that hard protective shell (chitin) and kills harmful yeast (which is very hard to kill) so that the intestines can better absorb the culture forming units, thus getting your gut back into a HEALTHY state.
WHY is this important? WHY is yeast overgrowth a BIG DEAL? Because it can reside not just in your gut, but can escape to live THROUGHOUT your body. In fact, everyone has it to some degree (YES! YOU, TOO!), and it could be the reason you are dealing with:
Frequent stomach pains and digestion problems
Skin problems (skin infections, eczema, psoriasis, acne)
Foggy brain / Trouble concentrating
Constant tiredness and exhaustion
Anxiety
Mood swings
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Anger outbursts
Irritability
Headaches
Intense cravings for sugars, sweets, and breads
Itchy skin
Autoimmune issues

Now that I'm another month in to Plexus, I'm noticing even more changes. All of them have to do with my body resetting to it's "normal" self. This is an add on to my original post which highlighted my more immediate results I noticed.

My 28th year was a rough one. I had extreme and even scary lows. I was put on a prescription medicine (Lexipro) and it wreaked havoc on my body from day one. I put weight on for the first time in my life(conveniently right before my 10 year reunion...blah) and my overall body chemistry seemed to change drastically, in a way I really couldn't explain to my doctor. I had had enough of the Rx after about 9 months and decided to quit cold turkey...maybe not the wisest thing to do, as it left me bed ridden for many days, but enough was enough. I just assumed that once I was off the horrid pills, I'd go back to "normal". That was wishful thinking. Nothing really changed...until now.

For the first time in 5 years I'm noticing my "normal" again. I won't go into all of the details of " my normal", but a big change is sleeping comfortably at night. Pre-Lexipro, I was cold all the time. Post Lexipro, I would get miserably hot at night. Jake couldn't have enough blankets layered on him in the cold winters, and I would bite his head off if he had just a small fraction of a second blanket even touching me. Sometimes a sheet was too much for me. During the day I would get crazy hot flashes out of the blue too (usually accompanied with some anxiety)...I was smart enough to know I was a little too young to be experiencing those kind of hot flashes. My body was just out of whack. I 100% blame the Lexipro I had been put on at 28. Sleeping comfortably doesn't seem like a huge feat, but feeling like you are trapped in a strangers body with no hope of ever getting out is tough both mentally and physically. Five years of pestering my doctors about something just not being right with me has been solved in 3 months of Plexus. My last check up in April, I had a long list of complaints...and after more blood work, of course, nothing was found. On Plexus I'm noticing so many positive changes and I feel like that long list for my doctor is finally diminishing. Being able to sleep comfortably at night is a big one for me, as well as having my anxieties stay at bay to avoid those darn flashes of heat during the day. One day at a time I'm beginning to feel my "normal" again.

If you read my last post you also saw that I am in the process of weaning myself off of my BP medicine. I've been on a low dose for about 4 years (darn genetics!)...By monitoring my BP at home, and having great readings, I decided on my own I was ready to start taking half of my dosage. So I cut my tiny pills in half everyday. I continued to monitor and I was still getting great readings... For the last couple of weeks now I've only been taking half of a pill every other day. Still great readings...
 I did have a doctor's appointment today, and I could tell I was anxious on the way there. I was so sure when I got checked in my BP would be elevated and the doctor would be alarmed. NOPE! I got a 120/80... I don't even remember the last time I had such a reading when at the doctor's office, even on my full does of BP meds. I just know I'm going to be able to stop the Rx pills altogether...again, I'm taking baby steps, although it sure does feel like I'm taking huge steps toward my "normal."

Everyone has a different "normal" and I truly believe Plexus is a great tool to get them there or to improve their "normal"...or maybe it's just to maintain their "normal". The older we get the more challenging that is. Life takes a toll on us all. The changes and results I'm seeing will probably be different from what another's experience will be. I'm a true believer that it all starts in the gut and so far Plexus is proving me right. My body feels as though it's resetting and functioning the way it's supposed to be. It's not magic, but somedays it feels like it is. I'm excited to see what Plexus has in store for my entire family. I couldn't have imagined feeling better at 33 than I did at 23...but I do. I just can't make this stuff up!

Plexus

PT

Well.... Riley seems to have grown too fast for his poor muscles. I'm guessing it's been 6+ inches in less than a year. It's causing him a little grief... so the orthopedic surgeon has prescribed physical therapy. He is also suffering from a knee injury he had on one of our hikes over two years ago. Although nothing shows up on X-rays, they are thinking it probably got displaced which makes it painful until he can learn to go through the motions with correct posture every time, as well as get those muscles stronger. He's been good sport...He'd rather sit around and play video games, but with basketball starting this week, we had to act on it. 

suᏢᎬᏒ mööᏁ

So I uploaded this picture over a week ago...and got busy. Story of my life right now.

Jake and I did another moonlight hike, but this was no ordinary moonlight hike. It was the super moon, a blood moon and lunar eclipse. It was incredible... my legs hadn't quite recovered from my 14er, but I made it and we enjoyed every phase. This is about as good as my phone camera could get... we hiked up Sunlight Ski Resort and the colors were beautiful. Next time we are up there it will be all white and covered in snow. But it feels like it won't be anytime soon because our fall has felt a lot like summer... temperatures in the 80s. Definitely not what we are used to in October, but until Reece is done with soccer, I will not complain.

ᑭᒪE᙭ᑌᔕ ᒍOᑌᖇᑎEY

I've started a new health journey. I'm pretty excited about it. It's called Plexus.

My good friend from McPherson started talking about it and the amazing things she had seen from it...I was a little intrigued, but skeptical. Then another friend from McPherson started talking about it too...the difference was she is a nurse and was giving certain products of Plexus to her little kids. (No offense to my first friend, as I knew she was always very cautious of what she put in her body, just knowing healthcare providers were using and selling gave me a little more peace of mind.) My intrigue peaked. I broke down and committed... and while the first couple of weeks were tough as I was detoxing, I haven't looked back. I'm now on my 3rd month and feeling amazing! In a short period of time I've seen...

*Better sleep. I sleep so well, that my body wakes up on it's own (at 4:30 am!!!) and is ready to go. I haven't used my alarm clock in months. I'm in no way, shape or form a morning person, but I thank Plexus for making mornings so much easier to get moving. 

*More energy. I do not feel sluggish or bogged down. Ever. I've struggled with being so tired my entire adult life...I've pestered my doctors over and over, convinced something was wrong with my thyroid. I could work out and literally lay down to take a nap immediately afterwards. Not normal...Even now,  I will find myself yawning at work, but I will be completely awake and aware. I assume my brain just needs oxygen at those times, instead of me needing a nap, because I don't feel tired. Needless to say, I will not be getting any more unnecessary blood work from here on out.

*Lower Blood Pressure. I've been struggling with elevated BP for several years now...my doctor was convinced it had to be genetic. So I've maintained it with a low dose of Rx meds. Well I am currently weening myself off by cutting my dosage in half. It's a wonderful feeling! My cholesterol didn't look super great back in June either...but I'll have to wait for my next check up to see if that's improving. This supplement is supposed to help with that too. I'm actually anxious to have my blood drawn...call me crazy!

*Allergy pills gone. Yep! I haven't taken an allergy pill in months. I didn't have allergies growing up, but about 4 years ago I was coming down with cold like symptoms every two weeks. Almost like clock work. My doctor told me to get on allergy meds and stay on them...year round. When I moved to Colorado my allergies only got worse. I tried to get off them here and there, only to have a horrible sinus headache and symptoms within 24 hours. It's mind blowing that I've gone so long without them. Simply amazing.  

*More Focus/Less ADD. I've never officially been diagnosed with ADD, but my concentration and focus have been a train wreck for most of my life (Just ask my husband.) Well, I get to work after being awake for 3 hours and I'm amazed at how clearly I'm thinking. I'm totally focused! It's such a new feeling. So much clarity.

*Mental/Mommy fog gone. This ties in to the newly found focus above. I'm pretty sure I've been in this fog since I became a mom, 13+ years ago! And it's been lifted! It almost doesn't seem real.

*Mood swings gone. This is real. I get moody and even struggle with depression at times... it can feel like a roller coaster at times. Well, thanks to Plexus, I feel so stable! I'm not up and down, I am consistently stable. Lucky for the 3 men living under my roof. ;-p

*Cravings gone. I don't crave anything... my body naturally makes better choices. Not 100% of the time, but it's doing better. We get free Starbucks on Thursdays at work. Guess what? I don't need or want any of those sugary, high calorie drinks. My energy comes from the natural caffeine in my Plexus and I don't crave junk. My blood sugar is regulated, so when I go too long between eating, I don't run to the pantry to eat whatever I see first. I've even had some foods that I used to love, not taste good to me any more. I'm not controlled by food. Ever.

*Healthy gut. I never even knew my gut wasn't healthy...but it's night and day how great I feel. My gut doesn't hold me back at all. A healthy gut is so important...it can impact so much on your overall health. Again, I don't feel bogged down.

*Weight loss. Now I'm not a big fan of Plexus being advertised for weight loss...and I was a little annoyed that I wasn't losing weight at first. But then I stepped back and looked at my list above and decided I didn't care. I felt too good to care. And guess what? When I finally stopped worrying about my weight, I finally lost a few pounds. Just an extra bonus if you ask me.

What is Plexus?

It's a natural, plant based supplement. The "pink drink" was originally created for diabetics, and it was then seen that the properties that helped regulate blood sugar also assisted in weight loss. I'm on the Tri Plex...it's a daily "pink drink", probiotic and bio cleanse. Together, my gut and blood sugar are targeted. Once those two are properly controlled, your body can begin to function as it should be. I feel even the healthiest of people need help with a healthy gut and blood sugar. Even when I'm eating right and staying active, I have never felt as good as I'm feeling now. It feels like years have been added to my life. Such a great feeling. I'm so glad to be on this journey...it's been life changing! Watch me or join me!

Here's my website!

Here is a little more on the Plexus Slim aka the "pink drink."

There are actual reasons why Plexus works. It's not some magic potion.
Looking for the nitty, gritty details on Plexus? Will it work? How fast? What's in it? What is it & how does it work?
Below is a detailed description from its creator that answers all these questions.

THE SCOOP ON SLIM:
David Brown, co-developer of Plexus Slim speaks about the “Pink Drink”:

• Our products work with the body to help re-educate the body

• Slim is designed to help your body get to a healthy BMI (body mass index - % of body fat). Once you hit that BMI, it doesn’t burn tissue. It doesn’t make you lose weight that you don’t need to lose. It will help you maintain and keep you at a healthy BMI.

• The reason people lose at different rates: If you’ve been carrying around extra weight since your youth, your body thinks a 40% BMI is a natural healthy state. It takes our product a while to re-educate your body to say “No, that’s not a healthy body weight.” It’s what your body has become ACCUSTOMED to. If your body has been at that BMI for a while, it’ll take some time to re-educate.

• There are 3 types of weight gain:
1) Genetic

2) Stage or Plateau which is when you get older and gain, then gain more a few years later

3) Event – like a pregnancy or medication. Of these 3 types of weight gain, usually the “event” weight will come off easier. Plateau and genetic gains will usually have plateaus as you come down in losing. BE PATIENT. Some of our bodies are “slow learners” and everyone’s biochemistry/physiology is different. No two people will react the same when you introduce a supplement to the body.
SLIM CONTAINS:
*4 ingredients for heart health
4 ingredients for kidney and liver health
1 ingredient for gastrointestinal health
4 ingredients for antioxidant repair
1 ingredient to aid in blood pressure levels
5 ingredients to aid in cholesterol levels
4 ingredients to aid in triglyceride levels
4 ingredients to aid in weight loss
3 ingredients to help suppress appetite

**ALL PLANT BASED
**ZERO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
**GLUTEN FREE
**NON-GMO
**NO PRESERVATIVES
**Naturally colored, flavored and sweetened