Back in a Flash

My aunt is doing fine. We made a mad dash today to Wichita and back. Hubby took me to the hospital, then he took the kids to Chuckie Cheese. This picture has nothing to do with my post, but it's one of my favorites. This was taken on Hubby's birthday, during lunch at the local Chinese restaurant. Obviously, we had a good time.

We went to Petsmart and picked up some puppy odor spray for the carpets. It's supposed to take the proteins out of the carpet so that the dogs doesn't keep going back to the same spot. I hope it works. The dog is doing better, but she still needs some work. I also picked her up a smoked pigs ear-----it about grossed everyone out as we could even see the veins---eeewww!! Ginger ate less than 1/4 of it and was full. They sell them by the bag.

I embarrassed myself today at the hospital and made my uncle and cousin laugh so hard that my uncle had tears streaming down his face. I think it's one of those "had to been there" things, so I won't even try to explain, but needless to say we had a good laugh and a nice time together, despite being there because of the stroke. That's my family, always finding something to laugh at in any situation.

Prayers, Please

Hi, friends.
I'm asking for prayers for my aunt, Kathryn Godfrey, who yesterday had a stroke. She seems to be okay at this point, but things can change very rapidly in these situations. Thank you!!! I appreciate you!

This is my mother's sister. My mom died 8 years ago this month of a blood leak, in the brain, from a weak vein. It would be like losing my mother all over again if my aunt passed.

I'm on my way to Wichita where she is hospitalized.


Thanks!

A New Friend

I just finished having lunch with Suzanne, a frequent commentor over at Catholic Ragemonkey. She recently moved to town and we finally met. For the first time in my life I can say that I've met someone via the internet. Actually, it had to be via God is what we both decided.
She has four beautiful children. Her husband is a professor of English at the local jr. college. They seem like a great family and I'm very excited that we've begun this friendship. Thanks, Suzanne, for coming today! I had a great time!!

Hands and Feet

I Love baby feet and hands. Actually, hands are my favorite. I love the little chubby ones. My babies' feet are getting so big---not many toes left in the house that like me to smell them, nibble on them, or play that piggy/roast beef game. When tragedy seems overwhelming, it helps me to do something simple like take stock in what makes me the happiest and remember how much I am blessed. I am blessed by feet, in many sizes, in many shapes, actually, in several different colors. How truly blessed I am!

????????

I think they lost my address!!! Did anyone see who won? I'm going to their website and check it out right now. Actually, wouldn't it be wonderful if someone who was affected by this terrible hurricane to have won the PCH sweepstakes?

Gospel Meditation

Here is what I heard from today's Gospel: It said that Jesus went out into the boat, away from the shore, sat down, and preached to the crowd. This stuck me, in a motherly kind of way, as something awesome that probably could actually happen in this house. We could and SHOULD lower the tone in this house. Not that we shout in anger all the time, but this house is big and most of us here, instead of going to find the one in which we are wanting to speak, decide to shout to the other. Jesus probably didn't have to shout for the crowds to hear him. This is just my guess as the Gospel said he sat down in the boat---and it's much harder to shout when sitting than when standing. Go ahead, try it. He spoke and the crowd heard. I can speak and be heard, even from a normal tone.

My resolution for today will be to go to the person to whom I'm speaking and encourage others to do the same. No shouting.

What did today's Gospel say to you?

Prayers

Please, pray for Crystal, Fish (her husband), and their children. They had to evacuate before the hurricane and fear they've lost everything. You can read her blog when you click on Slip Of The Pen over at the sidebar.

Eewww!

Okay, I'm feeling a little "invaded", if you will. I recently put the stat-counter on the blog, which counts each time someone reads here. I knew there were a few of you who would come to visit once in awhile, sometimes leaving a message, sometimes not. Some days there were no comments, so I thought that no one had been here that day. BUT, this stat-counter tells me different---did you see that number down there? Something like 132. Eeewwww! This is like someone is peeking in my windows or like the neighbor who comes to help after the baby is born and starts to fold my whites--embarrassing and gives me the creeps!

I always have had the inclination that I would write a book one day, and I've actually started several----getting to the middle of the first chapter and then having to feed, fold, and fluff, so never getting back to it. I wonder if this is how it would feel having others read my stories? I wonder if that Harry Potter lady who is so popular feels this way? Well, she HAS to be creepy, even if she doesn't feel that way----anyone to write like that has to have some type of CREEP about them! Let's see, what writers do I know??? Okay, let's take Mark Shea. I wonder if he gets creeped out by people reading his stuff? Maybe one day he'll visit here and he'll be able to answer that. You may say, "Well, you don't really KNOW him." But, I say to you-----he had supper at my house. I also know an author by the name of Roger Worley. He's my daughter's best friend's dad. He lives here in the same town as I. I might ask him. We've talked about publishing and writing and such, but never about getting the creeps when doing so! HA! I'm SURE this is only ME being a doofus, I realize this.

AM I THE WINNER?

Just wanted all of you to know that after tonight, when I'm rich and famous, I'll still be my humble self and chat with you via the internet. I can't wait to make a list of how I'm going to spend some of the money I'm going to win tonight with Publisher's Clearing House. I guess that Arthur guy will be at my house during the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, so they've said on all of my entries. So, I'll be sure to wave at you if you're watching. Gosh, I think I better run and get a haircut so I'll look my best. I wonder if they will bring the camera that makes a person look 10 pounds LIGHTER?

Smokin' in the Boys' Room

I had to go to "Back To School" night at my son's high school. This was something that was not easy for me, and it was not just the stairs up to the third floor that I disliked. I was so uptight that I almost cried, right there in the large, cold hallway. I was completely overwhelmed, trying to find the classrooms----I can only imagine what the first time freshmen went through on their first day of school---and wondering what I might find behind the classroom door. THANK YOU, GOD for all of the teachers----they all seem wonderful. I don't know if this will prove out the rest of the year, but so far they all seem great. I KNOW that part of my anxiety is the fact that I now have a high school aged child. This means that I am not longer a spring chicken---the 17yo carry-out boys at the supermarket no longer watch my bottom as we walk to the car. HA! Did they ever? No, probably not, but it's sometimes fun to think they did! This means that I really am having the perimenopause symptoms. This means that for every gray hair I can see at the FRONT of my head, there are probably three in the BACK. This means that I have extra flesh under my brastrap on my back (this really grosses me out!) This means that my children are growing up and it's more important than ever to prepare them for life and I so don't want to fail. Okay, now you know why I was about to cry? It was not fun tonight. It won't be fun with the children to come. I cannot imagine what I'll feel when the baby gets to high school.

AH--HA!!

Well, my investigating payed off. I found the culprit!

Happy Birthday to Hubby!

Yesterday was Hubby's 41st birthday. Yes, and oldie, but a goodie! I love the t-shirt that I got for him. I know everyone has seen this phrase from St. Francis before, but I could see it everyday and love it as much as the first time I read it. I made him a pillow case from the kids. He really liked this. I also got him a cedar mailbox post, but I didn't think that was worthy a picture.

Perimenopause

Last night I attended a meeting, put on by a friend of mine, that discussed Perimenopause. This is something that is VERY real, that many women suffer from, and something that doctors dismiss as "oh, it's just stress and hormones, you'll get better."

Perimenopause is the 10-15 years before actual menopause. Symptoms include irritability, fatigue, weight gain (especially in the middle and in the thighs), visual disturbances, thyroid problems, night sweats (or daytime sweats if you're like me), blood sugar problems, and many more.

Now, I guess I first must say that although I have training as a Registered Nurse, I am in no way qualified to give medical advice, and I'm only telling you what I found out and what I'm going to do about my perimenopause symptoms. I will have NO advice, mostly because I'll be learning, right along with you! I will post several websites where you can look up information to help you get healthy, get informed, get over this not so small, but not so pleasant, bump in the road.

Here are some things I learned:

The first thing I am going to do is get a saliva test for my hormone levels. I learned last night that getting a serum (blood) test for hormone levels does no good as "we don't care what levels are circulating around in our bloodstream, we care about what levels are in our tissues." You will be able to find out how much hormone you have in your tissues from a saliva test. A local pharmacist does this here---it doesn't take a doctor's order to obtain.

We, as women, need a good balance of progesterone and estrogen. Being estrogen dominant (or having too much estrogen and not enough progesterone) leads to cancer.

CHRT--Conventional Hormone Replacement Therapy. THIS IS NOT WHAT WE WANT. We want a natural replacement therapy.

Progesterone. It balances out the estrogen. A study shows that women with good progesterone levels the day of surgery had double the survival rate than those with low progesterone levels. Something to think about. Progesterone is best used as a cream (rotate sites from inner arms, neck, chest, and stomach.) A good balance of progesterone to estrogen is 300 to 1.

We do not want to be taking Provera or Premarin.

Okay, you really have no idea how excited I am about this. I actually cranked up the radio and DANCED on my way home from the meeting. My kids would have been mortified---no Motley Crue headbanging, but a steady head bobbing jig at the wheel, I was SO EXCITED! I am SO ready to start feeling good again. I'll probably go and get my saliva test in the morning when the kids are at preschool. It will take about a week to get results, then there will be another consultation, then the results will be sent to specialists in bio-identical medicine. All this for around $60. Not bad for me to feel better---I'm worth it! I'll let you know what information I learn.

Here are some websites that I'm going to study:

www.salivatest.com
www.womentowomen.com
www.pccarx.com
www.acam.org
www.acatoday.com
www.worldhealth.com


I have not checked out these sites, yet. If you do, let me know what you think.

Here are some books that were recommended:

"What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause." John R. Lee, M.D.
"Premenopause" John R. Lee, M.D.
"Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom" Christiane Northrum, M.D.
"Restoring Your Hormone Balance" George Gilson, M.D., Ph.D.
"Guide to Better Health Through Hormonal Balance" Eldred B. Taylor, M.D. Ob/Gyn

I have not read these books.

I also have here a "HORMONE HOTLINE DIRCTORY." (Help! I'm wigged out and can't get the hammer out of my hands!!! You know, that feeling that someone MUST DIE TODAY? Not normal, but can BE HELPED!! WHOO-HOO!!) Actually, it's not that kind of hotline, but hey, THEY SHOULD MAKE ONE!! I'd be calling, let me tell you!
"The Hormone Hotline is a 24 hour taped audio-library with a growing list of topics on every aspect of hormone balance, saliva testing, and blood spot testing. You can access the hotline by phone at 1-503-466-9166 or also at the site listed above, www.salivatest.com

Is anyone else out there suffering from these things? I would love to hear from you.


Peace, ladies and gents, our homes may one day be normal again!

HUH?

Today I made Taco Salad for supper. One look and the eldest child made a snarl and lumpily sat down, obviously not happy with my meal choice. This recipe makes so much that I have to put it into two bowls, so only one went to the table. Here is the conversation, if you can call it that, that took place.
"Don't put the picked out beans back into the bowl, son."

"Okay, but there are too many beans in here and no meat."

"There's meat in there. If you want, go and get some out of the other bowl, maybe there's more in there."

"I don't want any meat."

"You just said there was not enough meat."

"That doesn't mean I want some."


AAARRRRRGGGGG!!! Did I do these things when I was a teenager? ABSOLUTELY NOT! I was too perfect, too respectful, too mature. Hahahahaha. If you believe this, then what is it they say about a bridge for sale?

YIKES!

Okay, last night Hubby and I had a "double-date." We went to the movies with another Catholic couple we've known for years. With the previews being SO funny, we all decided that we wanted to see this particular movie. Now, I'm not one to be easily offended by things, a "good" dirty joke can usually bring forth a laugh from me (I don't TELL them myself, but if I HEAR one, I don't condemn myself or the person telling to Hell, get the picture?), and as you know, I've been known to spout a verbal obscenity when the toe gets stubbed or the legos split open the tender underside of my foot in the middle of the night. (Yes, I do go to Confession, if anyone is interested.) Okay, back to my point. I was completely and totally EMBARRASSED and OFFENDED by some of the subject matter in this movie. Now, to the director's credit, some parts had me wheezing with laughter, but I could have wheezed and enjoyed myself much more if the vulgarity had been eliminated from this movie.

What had me the most MIFFED was the fact that there was a CHILD in the audience of this theatre------about 8 years old, with her GRANDPARENTS!!! The language was VERY NASTY and some scenes showed things that most adults shouldn't see, let alone ANY child.
Please, don't waste your money. My money was wasted last night. If I'd been at home with a rental this bad, I would have returned it and demanded my money back. I guess I should have done that last night, but the circumstances being I was there with three other people made it a little harder to just get up and leave. I suppose I should have done like I tell my children and "set the example" for others, but I finished it out. TRAVIS, DO NOT go see this movie. (Travis is a teen commentor here.) I saw teenagers in the theatre----NO WONDER teens have a distorted view of sex----what is supposed to be beautiful and sacramental to a marriage is being portrayed as what I saw last night.

So, I had to LIE when I got home from the movies, to my children and to my mother-in-law. I was TOO embarrassed to admit that I had been at that movie, so I said that we had watched something else.

Just a warning to you----you can learn from my mistake, dear reader.