Honey and Adoption Advice

This has just been a weird day, on so many levels. I have felt discombobulated all day, probably because I didn't sleep well last night, and the only time I left the house was to get the mail.

Mother has edema of her lower legs and her left leg is really swollen and red. We can't get her to the Wound Clinic at Emory until next Friday, October 5th, and so I have been putting raw honey on her bad leg and wrapping the leg with Ace bandages, just in the past 24 hours. This is a tough thing because her legs swell during the day, and the bandages become uncomfortable. So I have tried to figure this out all day. I haven't wanted to leave her, either, so I have stuck around here all day so I can help. At one time this afternoon I had put some cinnamon on her legs and it was burning, so I ran downstairs and bathed her leg in cool water.

Edema is horrible. 

Now, before you accuse me of being a nutjob, I will tell you that honey and cinnamon both have well-documented healing properties. I was reminded of this the other day, from a post by a lady who has a delightful blog, and posted this blog about honey and cinnamon recently.

A few years ago when my daughter's face was horribly broken out and I couldn't afford the medications, I persuaded her to try wearing a honey and cinnamon mask every night for two weeks, to bed, and it improved her face dramatically. We had to wash a lot of pillowcases, but so be it. It was a miraculous thing.

Folks are finally coming back around to the notion that honey is a miracle substance. Consider:

"In a fascinating modern development, scientists and doctors are beginning to rediscover the effectiveness of honey as a wound treatment. In recent years, honey has been used effectively in clinical settings for the treatment of fist-sized ulcers extending to the bone, as well as for first, second and third degree burns. Complete healing has been reported without the need for skin grafts and with no infection or muscle loss. It can be applied full strength to such conditions, covered with a sterile bandage, and changed daily. When the wounds are clean, honey acts as a healer."

-from The Natural News

Just Google "honey healing" and you will be amazed. It's amazing.

Of course, keeping it on Mother's legs and keeping it off her clothes and bedding is a challenge.She is cooperating, though.

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On a completely unrelated topic, I heard from a lady who is in the process of adopting a 14 year old girl from a Bulgarian orphanage, who found my blog. All day, I've pondered what to tell her about what to expect. There still isn't what I consider a good sourcebook for what to do after you adopt an older child. There are just so many variables, it's hard to generalize.

Some kids have an easy transition, some don't.

I sent her some articles I've written over the years, and links to some blogs. I hope she and her husband are prepared. They have no other children so it's going to be a rude shock. I tried not to be discouraging though, just realistic.

When I was adopting my daughter I had a number of well-meaning friends and aquaintances tell me I was crazy, to the point it really irritated me, and hurt my feelings.

Ignorance is still rampant. I was asked not long ago what Michael calls me. I said "He calls me Mom?!" not realizing the depth of ignorance behind the question. Did he think Michael should call me Dee?! He doesn't call his parents by their first names. He also asked me if Michael uses my last name. I wanted to shout I AM THE ONLY PARENT HE HAS YOU IDIOT WHY WOULDN'T HE USE MY LAST NAME?!?! - but I controlled myself.

Adoptive parents have to listen to all manner of bizarre questions.

Anyway, I will refrain from ranting here because it's late and I need my sleep.

PRAYER NEED

I am trying to cut down on my food intakeand eat more healthfully, but if I don't eat enough I feel faint. So that's a real challenge. Pray for me!

I actually fixed broccoli tonight for the first time in.... EVER. I didn't eat it, but I fixed it for Mother. So my home is no longer broccoli free zone. I still won't eat baby trees, but I am getting better.

Slowly.