anise seed tea

I'm a bit lost in the land of newborn tummy troubles.

Yet I vaguely remember having been here before.

Three times before.

Seriously, you'd think I'd have at least one baby without this issue.

I feel kind of alone.

I call friends with newborns and they report that their babies "hardly ever cry", that they're "easy", and "sleeping through the night" already.

I'm happy for them.  Really.

And I know that we'll find our way through this.  We'll just take one day at a time, for however many days it takes until this little tummy heals.

And it will heal.

And we will sleep more and fuss less.

Eventually.

What is so miraculous is the fact that somehow, in those brief moments of calm, when there is a short respite from the tummy tremors, my baby smiles at me.  

Big, dimpled, beautiful smiles.

I'm in love.

And I'd do anything to soothe away these troubles.

I've even cut all dairy out of my diet.  I avoid broccoli, onions, red sauce, garlic, carbonated drinks and caffeine.  I'm living on turkey sandwiches, folks.  I'm even considering ordering noni juice in case it's acid reflux we're battling.   

My dear friend Donna and her sister in law Rehna show up on my doorstep early in the morning with anise seed.  They brew me some anise seed tea and instruct me to drink it religiously.  It soothes tummies, they tell me.  Later, another beautiful friend from church drops in.  She brings fruit from the produce stand and a wealth of homeopathic wisdom.  I feel so much less alone and more thankful than ever for these amazing women-- these mothers.  They leave me feeling less alone in this journey of motherhood and even more determined than ever to find a natural way to treat this malady.

Anise Seed Tea for a Happy Tummy:

1 tablespoon anise seeds

2 cups boiling water

Steep for 3-4 minutes

add a few drops of honey