Bits and Pieces...

We have been pretty busy at the VandeDrink-Andress Household.  Rick has some great new clients and projects, Soren is a ball of energy and my CSO/May Festival season is on it's way out.  Since I haven't had a chance to blog in excess - I am going to use my Instagram feed to do a round up of our crazy past few weeks.​

↑ My name is joined by several talented and amazing people on Philip Glass and Matt Haimovitz's recent release of Cello Concerto No. 2.  I had the opportunity to work with the ​Michael Riesman - ​not to mention the amazing ​Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra!  We were in the iTunes scroll for 2 weeks! ​​

↑ ​I've got mommas term, the Doula bag is packed and ready to go!  Spring means yummy fresh salads with my favorite pink lady apples.  I love how everywhere I go, I see a part of my kiddo.  He loves his cars and trucks! ↓

​↑ No words - He is getting so big and more handsome everyday.  How did I get so lucky?  Here we are on our way to Soren's first Red's game.  Soren downed a green smoothie and proudly sports his green 'stache. ↓

↑​ We are Sensory Play abound in these parts.  From stacking our Juice Plus+ containers and plowing them down to digging out treasure (straws, spoons and forks - all of which Soren has worked into his vocabulary!) from yummy raspberry jello!  Soren is also an excellent Barista and makes the best coffee. ↓

And the most recent of events - my newest Tattoo and by new, I mean - got it yesterday.  It's a Lotus with my Oma's shorthand, from the flower up saying: Patience, Consistency, Respect and Love.  Four words that impact me and my family more with each passing day.  One of the many lessons I have learned from motherhood - with many more to come.  India Behrens from Skincraft created this work of art.  I love it.​ ↓

Autoimmune Deficiency

Eczema - A particular type of inflammatory reaction of the skin in which there are typically vesicles (tiny blister-like raised areas) in the first stage followed by erythema (reddening), edema (swelling), papules (bumps), and crusting of the skin followed, finally, by lichenification (thickening) and scaling of the skin. Eczema characteristically causes itching and burning of the skin.
Eczema, which is also called atopic dermatitis, is a very common skin problem. It may start in infancy, later in childhood, or in adulthood. Once it gets underway, it tends not to go quickly away.

​Yuck - I know.  Soren and I both have it and it is characterized under the autoimmune deficiencies.  Most medical professionals tend to blame it on consuming a food or the use of some kind of cream, soap, etc....  They never think a diet could be deficient in anything.  Well - except steroids apparently, their answer for any type of inflammation.  Since we are naturally supposed to take those anyway?!  (Yes - sarcasm)

As it turns out - the two of us are deficient in something.  What that is - I am not so certain, but Juice Plus+ seems to be fulfilling the void.  I ran out of my sample pack 2 days ago (we got our shipment today - yeah!) and I had two new patches in two different locations yesterday.  That speaks volumes.  My eczema was disappearing just last week - two days off a whole food supplement and I have brand new patches.  Unbelievable.​

Nutrition is so important and I fear we take it too lightly at times.  There's a pill for this - a steroid for that, a supplement for that side effect.  NO!  Did we ever think to check our diets?  To be sure we are absorbing the natural micro-nutrients our bodies need to thrive?  We thought we did, but we weren't serious enough about it.  I got serious - I wasn't going to be stuck on steroids the rest of my life and I was only paving a road for disaster with my son.  Lead by example, right?

This is a real deal product and I stand behind it because of what it has done for this family.  If you don't believe me - watch this video with Dr. William Sears (I bring him up A LOT in this blog - the man that coined Attachment Parenting.  He's A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!)​.  Even better - here is a great, short article about autoimmune diseases and how Juice Plus+ has treated them.  It gives a quick, concise explanation on what happens with these diseases and how whole foods can affect them positively.

So now we are all on it (Juice Plus+) - and feeling fantastic.  Soren gets pumped for his gummies and its been awesome seeing his red cheeks turn pale pink again.  For more info click here - and to order click here.  If you have any questions or concerns contact me here. ​

​This was one of the first shots I have taken in awhile, his cheeks weren't bright red.  My happy little reader!

are you on Juice Plus+?  how has nutrition affected your life/autoimmune deficiency?​