It’s been a wild few weeks over here. After sharing about ear tubes last month, my little one - our sweet pup Alfred - needed sedation and a scope to investigate recurring ear inflammation. At one point or another, we've tried it all for this guy - allergy testing and nutrition consults, acupuncture, probiotics, supplements, and more. His gut flared terribly post-procedure. We were up every 1–2 hours at night for days. Sleep was ruff, and I was wiped. While I know it’s not the same as parenting a child, the constant worry, sleep deprivation, and endless searching for answers hit close to home.

So, if you’re in the thick of it right now, struggling to find answers or just trying to get some rest, I see you. And I’m here to help shine light on the lesser-known factors that might be affecting your child’s health, sleep, and development. Because when your child can experience better health and begin to thrive, your whole family can live more joyfully.

The good news: Alfred is doing much better now. The vet and I had a great chat about airway-related issues in dogs. I even got to share a bit about how nasal breathing and proper swallowing impact ear drainage. She taught me that dogs have a 90-degree bend in their ear canal, making things even trickier. I've seen dog orthodontists before, but if anyone knows a good vet myofunctional therapist, please send me their contact info! For now, we'll keep working on the variables that we can control.

Now, back to the little humans...

What Is Your Child’s Smile Telling You?

As someone already tuned in to the airway-health conversation, you know the value of early awareness. That’s why I made Airway Alert: A Smile Screening Tool -- a new, parent-friendly guide to help you visually identify when growth may be off track.
Even though you’re already a subscriber, you’re still more than welcome to grab it for free -- just click here. I would love to hear what you think!

Why I Do This Work (And Why It Might Matter to You)

This month, I’m sharing two special videos I think you’ll find meaningful. First, I finally recorded my personal story -- why I created Oris Wellness and how I found my way into this work helping families navigate the overlooked connection between breathing, facial growth, and whole-body health. I’m also making the recorded version of my foundational webinar “Breathing, Muscles, and Bone Growth, Oh My!” publicly available for the first time. I hope you’ll take a moment to explore these when you can -- especially if you’re curious about why I do what I do, or why it might matter to you and your family too.

Your Health Matters Too

If you’ve been deep in the trenches of your child’s health journey, it’s easy to put your own needs last.​
But here’s the truth: the more supported you are, the more capacity you’ll have to show up for your family. That’s why I want to introduce you to Danielle Kepics: a functional health expert and one of the most curious, well-informed humans I’ve ever met.
I personally learned so much from her Preconception to Postpartum: Complete Women’s Wellness Care Guide. Whether you’re just getting started or already knee-deep in lab results and lifestyle tweaks, Danielle meets you exactly where you are.

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She also offers amazing free resources like:
​Poop Like a Pro – for gut and microbiome support
​How to Test Your Hormones – because yes, stress and sleep loss will show up there eventually

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If you’ve never taken the time to reflect on what changes as we move through our cycle (🙋‍♀️), suspect your sleepless nights are catching up with you, or just want someone who can explain what mittelschmerz actually is—Danielle’s your girl.
In my work, I focus on the physical foundation— bone structure, tooth positions, muscle function. Danielle brings in the internal chemistry—your hormones, gut health, detox pathways, and everything in between. She's the kind of person who casually drops deep insights about liver support while I'm venting about my dog’s vet experience. Would have been amazing for the vet to have mentioned the same thing!

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👉 Check her out at https://www.empoweredmindbody.co/. Your future self (and your family) will thank you.

Did you miss this?

If you’re not already following Dr. Ellie Macgregor, you’re in for a treat. I originally subscribed to her email list just to learn, and quickly found myself resonating with both her approach and her voice. Dr. Ellie is a board-certified holistic pediatrician and the founder of Middle Path Integrative Pediatrics, where she blends conventional and functional medicine to get to the root of chronic issues in kids. We’ve since connected for a collaboration. She recently launched a podcast that’s full of empowering, myth-busting content on gut health, brain development, nutrition, sleep, and more. If you’re a podcast person, tune in here, or catch us over on YouTube.

That's all for this month. Thank you for being here! As always, feel free to hit reply and share any thoughts. I'd love to know what topics you'd be interested in exploring together next month.

All the best,

Dr. Julia