No Shame In Living Vibrantly

I was the kid at the camp lunch table who could be heard saying, “Is anyone going to eat those stringed beans?” (…meaning the entire bowl!) I loved eating clean food.  I was also the kid who climbed up on my dad’s workshop stool to reach for his needle-nose pliers so I could use it to meticulously navigate and then remove the dried up “gunk” from the Elmer’s Glue orange nozzle. I had a knack for clearing out clogged up spaces! In grade school, I remember loving the fragrance of “Love’s Baby Soft” as it would float through the air when classmate Kim Vileno walked by on any given day. I had a nose for scents! This introspection validates my belief that we all have moments in our childhood that point to the professional path we may take later on in life.

I am vegan. 

I am a Certified Colon Hydrotherapist. 

I teach and empower others how to use Essential Oils for daily living. Ka-Pow!

My childhood was truly awesome! I grew up with a super-cool brother and awesome parents who have been married for over fifty years. But in light of the fact that my dad could easily have been a stand-up comedian, he started suffering with severe manic depression in his 40’s. He suffered for decades while trying a variety of options that didn’t hold water and his quality of life and career were severely impacted. The nurturer in me wanted to discover a better solution.

My professional career started out in advertising but a chance colon hydrotherapy treatment in my early twenties helped place my health back in my own hands and changed my career path forever! Colon Hydrotherapy provided me with many personal game-changing health transformations and right before I turned thirty, an opportunity to change my profession and share the benefits of this work with others fell in my lap. Colon hydrotherapy had liberated me from infirmity and chronic health conditions (ear, nose, throat infections, poor complexion, allergic reactions, weight management, herniated disc, etc.) so I was compelled to share with others how easy it was to reclaim THEIR health and liberate themselves from illness naturally, too!

Over the years, I used Essential Oils (solely for the scent) but once I took a certification course in 2015, the science behind the scent completely revolutionized my knowledge of them and has truly benefitted my practice. Now that I have implemented doTERRA Essential Oils to my personal life and with my clients at The Springs, I can honestly say that the thought of working without them feels like I’d be wearing handcuffs! 

Personally, I will share that I had three adverse life-changing experiences occur one right after the other: 1. I closed my NYC practice of seven years and separated from my business partner in doing so. 2. My husband, who I was with for fourteen years and I decided to end our marriage (amicably but still…) 3. I decided to move from New York (where I lived my entire life) to LA and begin a new life and take on a role at a brand new business. My physical health was in tact but emotionally, you can guess, I needed some radical support! Essential Oils rescued and comforted me through the most challenging times of my life; they allowed me to remain competent in the face of adversity while I trained new therapists and helped birth a division of a new company! For the sake of brevity and intrigue, come to a FREE class to learn more about how they work in this way! Or stay tuned to Brandi’s blog for our future classes and specifically the one we will offer on Emotions and Essential Oils! 

As a health practitioner, my approach with my clients is “the guru is you.” My goal is to provide them with safe, effective, affordable, and easy-to-use tools that they can implement in their everyday lives – in the absence of harmful side effects. Working with essential oils allows me to do exactly that – share powerful and beautifully aromatic plant-based medicinals that they can resort to outside of their colon hydrotherapy sessions when unexpected issues may pop-up! These oils provide results - whether we are trouble-shooting a physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional issue – there’s an oil for that! 

Beyond the importance of purity of the oils, much like I am sure many of you have some personal non-negotiables, I love knowing that the companies I align myself with are passionate about their mission, uphold a strong ethical code, and seek to extend their impact beyond just their product or brand to impact the globe. I found two! The Springs and doTERRA! doTERRA’s heart-centered mission to “Place a Healer In Every Home” is the reason why I now teach ongoing classes here (and around the world) …to help empower others and build our community. Learning how to use these pure plant extracts is revolutionizing the way we mange self care. For many, the oils have even created residual income, which helps lift them and their families out of financial dept so they can be luminaries and help inspire others to do the same. Their unique Co-Impact Farming model nurtures century old botanical traditions and creates sustainability of newly developing nations, allowing them to use their own natural resources to life themselves out of poverty. Their humanitarian organization, Healing Hands Foundation, gives 100% of it’s contributions to build birthing centers, schools, water lines, hospitals, and even educate and dispel stigma around young girls menstrual cycles so they can stay in school and graduate to go on and lead more productive lives and live out their dreams! When we use these oils, we are all contributing to these bounties! I love making a difference!

I feel so lucky to be able to share these gifts from the earth with those I may come into contact with on a daily basis (ok, yeah, maybe Uber driver’s love me). They are a joy to share with my clients – some of whom have found me that reside in other countries that I’ve never even traveled to! The oils are a new and powerful modality for me that I love to teach to others so they can transform on all levels, too! When all of our bodily systems are nourished equally, joy, freedom, and bliss will always be ours to share – drop by precious drop!

My C-Section... and the healing thereafter.

Watching birthing videos, and hearing about all these vaginal births fills me with so much love and hope. However, I can’t help but feel hurt and bitterness towards my cesarean...

April is Cesarean Awareness month, and every motherhood page I follow has been acknowledging C-sections as equal of a birthing experience as natural or vaginal birth. In my head I’m thinking, 'Damn right, they are!'. But, that’s completely opposite of what I feel, and the broken heart for the natural birth I wanted shows. My first born, Elias Foxx, was my fighter babe, delivered via cesarean.

3 weeks and 5 days was how far along I was when I visited the clinic. It was also when I found out my blood type is Rh negative. What? What does that even mean?? So, the Rh factor is a type of protein on the surface of red blood cells. If you have the Rh factor, you are Rh-positive. If you do not have the Rh factor, you are Rh-negative. When you are Rh-negative, you may develop antibodies to an Rh-positive baby. If a small amount of the baby’s blood mixes with your blood, (which often happens), your body may respond as if it were allergic to the baby. Your body may make antibodies to the Rh antigens in the baby’s blood, in which then you become sensitized, and your antibodies can cross the placenta and attack your baby’s blood... resulting in serious illness, brain damage, or even death in the fetus or newborn. Scary thing to first hear as a new mother, right? So schedules for Rhlg (Rhogam) injections throughout my pregnancy were made aside from the usual pokes and pricks.

Around week 16 for blood samples, I learn I am a carrier for fragile-x. What?? Onto lesson number 2... Fragile X syndrome is a genetic condition that causes intellectual disability, behavioral and learning challenges and various physical characteristics. (I will provide links so you can find out more information about being Rh-negative and about fragile X syndrome. Also, I'll have a partial video of my C-section.) Of course, fear is planted.  We get an amniocentesis (the scariest thing aside the cesarean itself), only to find out our baby has all 46 chromosomes, not even a carrier, and a boy. I was tired of feeling like a lab rat and at that point of my pregnancy, all I wanted was a natural birth, the way our womanly bodies were created for. From week 34 through the last 39, there was no change in Elias’ position, and my OBGYN scheduled me for the cesarean.

I couldn’t help but feel helpless, and a sense of guilt, as if I was not good enough and that my body was failing to perform up to it’s God-created potential. I was beginning to enter a dark place. I was angry with myself, feeling undeserving to my child, and I constantly thought my OBGYN just wanted another (c-section) so she could go on with her schedule of other deliveries (mostly cesarean at that hospital as so I’ve discovered). It was towards the end of my pregnancy that I finally sat myself down with my journal and just prayed for peace with having the cesarean, and that if there was the possibility of having a natural, vaginal birth that God would make the way of having that happen.

From the breech positioning to the Rh-negative scares,  and being a carrier for fragile-x, all I wanted in the end was my baby boy in my arms. Unlike other mothers, I did not struggle with gestational diabetes, my uterus was not abnormal, nor was my baby too large to deliver vaginally. During my cesarean, actually, I was having contractions that ended up prolonging the procedure, and his head got stuck in my uterus through the incision! So they had to cut more to get him out. (You'll see where one of the nurses ask my sister to stop filming.) If only I had planned out this pregnancy and found the support I needed. Perhaps I could have had the birth the way I believe women were so divinely created to... But, the cesarean happened... and my son is here alive and well.

Don't get me wrong… I'm more than grateful for the wellbeing of my son.  Nor am I shaming those who choose to have a cesarean out of convenience.  But, the fact my son was not born the way I dreamt, naturally, is still a hard pill to swallow. When my husband and I decide on the time for our family to grow, we will take the initiative to do our research, look for a doctor who is willing to go for a VBAC as long as I am eligible, and that the hospital or birthing center doesn’t have a high cesarean percentage.

For you mothers who look at your scars everyday... I am with you. When you see those beautiful birthing videos and photos or crowning and prolonged umbilical cord cutting... I am with you. When you hear about other mother's water births and how many hours of labor they were in... I am with you. When you think of how you were not the first to hold your baby... I am with you. When the memory of being alone in that OR while your baby was taken off... I am with you. I pray that the voids in our hearts our filled with love, hope, and peace. I pray this will bring unity for the mothers out there with this same hidden hurt that we realize, “Hey, I am still upset about this,  and that’s OK.” 

One day I'll heal,  I'm sure.  But until then, I have every right to mourn over the reoccurring moments of grief not having the birth I wanted for my son. So do you.

http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/rh-factor/

Fragile X Syndrome - National Fragile X Foundation

herSELF

Christy. Writer, Mother, and creator of the blog, BonjourAva..

I knew something was wrong when I woke up one morning with tears flooding my eyes. I looked at Josh as Ava was in the middle of us jumping on the bed, I grabbed his hand and softly said ” I can’t do this today.”

Josh, confused by what I said, saw how distraught I looked, he and I both thought I would feel different later on or even the next day. But I felt worse the next day, I woke up, made Ava breakfast put her in front of the television, kicked Josh out of the bedroom and went under the covers, not to go back to sleep, but to cry. I just didn’t want to be a mother in that moment, I just didn’t feel like interacting with her in anyway.
I was so focused on keeping everything together I wasn’t taking care of myself. And you know what? I didn’t care that I hadn’t showered in days, and that’s when I knew something was up.

I was diagnosed with postpartum depression after I gave birth to Ava, I thought the way I felt was only supposed to last for a few months, but was it possible for my Postpartum to lead into some other depression? I didn’t have suicidal thoughts, but I just had no desire to be apart of everyday life. It was more than motherhood that was keeping me in a emotional place, Josh and I were, and still are going through so many unsettling areas in our partnership, both trying to figure out what will make all three of us happy. For years my depression was noticeable, but it was ignored. It’s a topic that isn’t discussed much in the black community. It wasn’t a real thing to some, it was a bump in the road as I was told growing up. But it wasn’t, the more and more I and my family ignored it, the more severe it became, and it has made it’s way through my journey of motherhood. So Josh and I found it very necessary, not only as a woman, but a black woman to get the attention and help that I needed once and for all.
Mothers have the most important jobs in the world and so many want to do their best. For months I kept calling my own mother over so she could be present and to just take her outside, because I didn’t even want the sunlight to touch me. I was lacking normal interaction with Ava, not singing our usual songs, not playing pretend or reading.

I felt like screaming every night around the same after dinner, anxious for bedtime. I was ready to scream, and I did. One night I left Ava and Josh watching television and I broke down, I laid on the bathroom floor held myself and cried. I realized I couldn’t go on the way I was without outside help. I didn’t want my depression to affect her. I became lethargic, miserable and nothing could amuse me. I felt so low. It scared me. I didn’t wanna to push it away and sit around in hopes of it not returning, I couldn’t push it away. I had to face it. I’m someone’s mother, I didn’t want to end up in a vicious violent space as I did when I was a teenager and my early 20’s, pre Ava.
Mothers who experience depression and other forms of mental illness, listen we can’t help what’s going on with us, We love every ounce of our children but are afraid to be honest about our emotions, afraid of what others might think of us. So many women suffer in silence and I was one of them. I thought I could just get over it, and that it would go away. I was so wrong. I’m grateful for the push from Josh to have me connect with a doctor, sign me up for classes that teach natural ways to eliminate all the toxic feels that I had.

My child deserves a mother that is attentive and a mother who takes care of herSELF!
I see you and I support you, you are not alone. It’s ok to ask for help when you know something doesn’t feel right, when you see a specific behavior has become a part of your everyday life, affecting your family. Be the brave woman you are, and seek help. Find out the best route to tackle your depression. It will be the greatest gift you give yourself and your child.
Peace & love
Christy

I Gave Birth...And Now My Body Shows It

I... Gave... Birth... These words, grouped in that sequential order, still amaze me. In prepping for this week's post, I grew very excited about photographing my postpartum body. For the most part, I've always considered myself to be a body positive individual. Being one of the countless women who stare in the mirror, agonizing over imperfections, has never really been my thing. Perhaps this is due to me always being in a hurry to get dressed or undressed, thus not really having the time to glance in the mirror, let alone, obsess over what others may deem as flaws. As a young girl growing up, I never heard my mother bashing her own body. That woman proudly embraced every stretch mark and dimpled butt cheek. My mother not only thought that she was beautiful... but that she was FINE!  Her favorite song was "Brick House" (although technically she didn't meet the true definition of a "Brick House"... still, this was reality in HER head)  So naturally, I was all about the mantra of "accepting your body as is..." That was until I saw MY postpartum body photographed. 

To be perfectly honest (and not to be overly cocky), prior to seeing my post-babe bod, I honestly thought that MY body was bangin. Don't read me wrong, I never thought my body was Naomi Campbell worship status, but I honestly thought it was somewhere between Naomi Campbell & being hot enough that somebody thought it dope to procreate with... The truth is, after much studying of this postpartum photo, I didn't recognize my body. My tummy,  softer and laced with marks reminded me that I had, two times before, housed a small human. My boobs... saggy... don't even get me started on my booty. I mean, I've always been a part of the little booty committee. However, I couldn't believe how my booty now resembled a popular breakfast dish... the pancake.  I... Gave... Birth... and now my body showed it..

After giving birth, I remember the first feelings of going to the restroom. Peeing resembled something of a double dutch match. Releasing a stream of urine initiated a timidness that can only be compared to feelings of a first date. Like many mothers, I have had to reacquaint myself with not only my body, but my bladder. The last minute rush of finding a public restroom while out and about, all while doing the low key, grown woman pee pee dance is one of the worst feelings in the world! In doing so, I run the risk of the slightest sneeze being the trigger to a full on accident. 

Postpartum Urinary Incontinence is an issue that women seldomly discuss. One in three women suffer from urinary incontinence, and it usually takes several years on average for most women to even seek help… all the reason why I was so excited to spread the word about the brand, THINX and their newest line of feminine products, ICON. Imagine if you were able to ditch your panty liners, and most importantly, you could ditch the worry of those minor accidents!! ICON, similar to their predecessor THINX, offers beautiful underwear with built in technology designed to hold any leaks, preventing grown woman accidents. ICON panties are available in two beautiful styles: High Waisted & Bikini. I chose to take the High Waisted design out for a test drive. After trying these beauties on for the day, I must say… I was pretty impressed. I stayed dry all day… no leaks or mishaps. To really test them out and see how well they would hold up, I decided to jump on a trampoline while wearing my ICON Undies.  Once Again… no accidents or leaks. All clear! As an added bonus, they are super comfortable and soft. I actually almost forgot that I was wearing underwear.

Pictured wearing ICON undies. https://www.iconundies.com

In addition to being in awe of these well made undies, I was equally impressed with their philanthropic work. The creators of THINX/ ICON are heavily involved with the Fistula Foundation. What is Fistual (Obstetric Fistula)? An obstetric fistula is a hole between the vagina and rectum or bladder that is caused by prolonged obstructed labor, leaving a woman incontinent of urine or feces or both. Research shows that there are 1 million women living with Fistula.

"At the heart of our mission as a company is a focus on eliminating the shame and anxiety that women feel when they are held back by their bodies. We support that mission twofold: through our products in the first world, and by improving the lives of girls and women in developing countries through our giveback."--Kejal McDonald (VP of Marketing)

Calculated in every pair of ICON underwear sold, contributions are made toward the surgery and treatment (including antibiotics, transportation, recovery and education) for women living with Fistula. "The best part of the Fistula Foundation's work, is that once women have had this life-changing surgery, they also have access to education and midwife/ nurse training to assist other women." --KM

Here's how it all breaks down:

•    One pair of Icon underwear can provide a single course of injectable antibiotic to give to a woman prior to surgery to prevent infection.

•    Two pairs of Icon underwear can provide rehabilitation training materials for a woman after her surgery.

•    40 pairs of Icon underwear can fund transportation to the fistula surgery for one woman.

•    300 pairs of Icon underwear can fund a life-changing surgery to repair one woman's obstetric fistula.

An amazing pair of undies that you can feel confident in, all while assisting in the rebuilding of our fellow women’s confidence across the globe… I'm totally down for that!

Yes, my body has changed. My boobs may point a bit more south than I’d like. My butt may not be as firm as desired. My belly may not be as chiseled as in years past (perhaps that was just in my head). While my body may lack society’s standards of perfection, THIS body is mine. It has housed and nourished (and is still nourishing) two baby boys. I thank God for my "fun" bladder, as it serves as a reminder that I pushed a baby out of my vagina LIKE A BOSS. I… Gave…Birth… and now my body shows it. For this I am forever grateful.

Loving the Skin You're In..

Nadia Mejia, Miss California. Age:20

"My name is Nadia Mejia, I'm 20 years old, I'm the current Miss California USA. I frequently lead worship at my church in Los Angeles. I'm a full time model and I love the Lord more than anyone will ever be able to comprehend." That introduction makes it seem like I've got it all together doesn't it? Well... here in Los Angeles, we are professionals at putting up a good front. In today's society, we idolize people for the way they look, how many followers they have on Instagram, what cars they drive, etc. Sometimes it's hard to keep it together and pretend everything is perfect... so when I got asked by my beautiful friend Brandi to share my "not so private parts," a sense of relief hit me.

As women, we need to keep it real so that we are able to support and empower one another when things get rough. If I were to give an honest and more raw introduction of myself... considering all of the things that I go through... things that most people aren't aware of... it would sound more like this: "Hi, my name is Nadia Mejia; I'm a 20 year old who has recovered from, yet still battles Anorexia Nervosa every single day of my life... I am lonely and suffer mild depression because my entire family has lived across the country since I was 17 thus causing me to miss out on many life changing moments with the people who matter most, to due to my career... I am recovering from a breakup because I need to focus on myself as an individual and find happiness by being one with God and need to stop seeking happiness from a man... AND I love the Lord more than anyone will ever be able to comprehend." Not so glamorous anymore now, huh?

Thank God that I'm saved by the grace of God and have Him to get me through every trial and tribulation in my life. I had to hit rock bottom before developing that relationship. Growing up, I was raised in a Christian household. I attended church every Sunday and spoke about how much I loved the Lord, but still did not have that one-on-one "on fire" relationship with God that many of my peers spoke so highly of... at least not until I was broken, slowly killing myself, left clinging to my only hope... the Lord like no other.

Being a full time model, I'm constantly being judged based on my appearance and measurements. Breaking into the entertainment industry so young without my parents being there to keep me grounded and sane was extremely difficult. My mom and dad were going through the process of separating (but their faith in the Lord has kept them together to this day). I dealt with my anger and resentment a bit differently than probably most. I focused all of my energy and heart into my work to distract me from the chaos going on around me. I would focus so much on pleasing my bookers, who body shamed me endlessly, that I went from 132 lbs to 102 lbs in the matter of 2 months. I counted calories endlessly and refused to eat over 1000 cal a day. I ran 4 miles a day and feared food more than anything in the world. Eight months of my life, I struggled with this. But with the support of my family and my faith in God, I was able to overcome what the devil was telling me.

Upon realizing that my self worth should not come from someone else's opinion of me but that it should come solely from the Lord, I was given a new freedom. I am perfectly made in His image. I am never alone because He is always by my side. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. My life isn't perfect, yet I'm not ashamed to share my "not so private parts."

I pray that my testimony will help inspire young girls to love the skin they are in. Today, I'm 130 lbs. I work alongside the National Eating Disorder Association. I am closer than ever to my family emotionally, simply because they were my rock throughout my recovery. I freely share my story with schools, churches, and many others throughout California because God has given me a voice and a reason to spread His light and love.

Remember as woman, we are all worth more than any precious pearl or jewel to the Lord, and we must remind each other of one another's beauty every single day. We are all His unique creation. Embrace who you are.