Two Terrific Tips

I seen the coolest tip on one of the hair blogs I follow. However, I feel it may have been missing a second tip. Maybe not quite as cool and awesome, but a second tip none the less. And if I may add, a very important one.

OK, so moving on to the tip. If you are a non-makeup wearing lady, like myself, this tip will be helpful, new, & exciting for you. Well, I guess I do apply makeup, on occasion, but very little. I'm sure I never picked up the "makeup habit", because my mom didn't didn't wear makeup. Which means, no one to show me. I've found myself stalking a few vlogs to learn how to apply makeup. Gotta love the Internet!!

Did I go slightly astray again? Sorry about that. So, my hair blog lady was talking about how jealous she is of her DD's eyelashes. How full and long they are. How she wishes she had them. Anyone else ever feel like that? I know I have. The 3 apples have the most beautiful eyelashes I've ever laid eye on! Seriously, don't dispute it, because it's a fact.

Here's the trick she let us in on. Heat your eyelash curler up before you curl your eyelashes. Use hot water OR your blow dryer as your heat. And voila! Beautiful eyelashes. Two days ago, I put this little tip into action. I chose the blow dryer method. ONLY because I couldn't understand the water concept. Um, so how does a wet eyelash curler work exactly?? My DH suggested blotting it dry after. D'oh, why didn't I think of that? Oh, right because I'm no good with makeup (and if "no good" is improper English, you can go ahead & put it right in your dictionary).

All this leads me right up to my second tip. If you'll remember, this is the important one. DO NOT heat your curler up, so much, as to burn your freaking eyelid off. Mmmmm, K???? Seriously, not good. I am still in shock that I walked away WITHOUT blisters.

And for those of you still wondering, YES the tip works. I had nice full and thick lashes for the day.

Flower Headband Tutorial

Here's a fun & easy headband tutorial. I made these up for the girls' fall photos. Enjoy!!

Things you'll need:

Felt

Scissors

Hot glue gun

Cheap fake flower bouquet

Alligator clips

Different style hairbands (elastic & cloth)

Start out by cutting a piece of felt into a circle. I used the bottom of a small cup for my template.

Pull one flower off the bouquet & disassemble it.

Here's the flower all disassembled.

Next, start hot gluing the flower back together, starting from biggest to smallest.

Flower all glued.

Now you'll dab a small amount of glue onto the piece of felt & attach your flower.

At this point, you can add your flower to anything you'd like. Like a cloth headband.

Or an alligator clip.

Or a basic headband. If you choose this style, cut a 2nd piece of felt & glue it over the headband. This gives it a more finished look.

And lastly, an elastic headband. Again, make sure to complete the look w/a 2nd piece of felt.

I also did a two flower headband. For this, I cut a rectangle piece of felt.

Made 2 flowers.

Glued them to the felt & added an elastic band. DON'T forget your 2nd piece of felt, like I did here!! See how unfinished that looks?!?!

Here's a bonus, the girls sporting their bows :)

AJB2Me Weight Loss Record #2

Here I am, 4 more weeks (8 total) into my "Live-it" and feeling wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even if I have been off plan for a little over a week. Someone send me some thinspiration, please?!?!

I thought I'd share a picture with you. I'm going to be using this picture as my thinspiration!! But, by all means, send more my way!! The picture on the left was taken July 9th, 2011 at my niece's wedding reception. This was the picture that made me think "Wow, I'm really F-A-T!" I mean, I thought that everyday, but when you actually see a picture of yourself, it's like a light switching on. I've spent lots of time hiding behind the camera because I didn't want to face facts. Now, here it is staring me in the face.

The photo on the right was taken at my bridal shower in 2005. I don't recall the exact date, but I'm thinking it was sometime in February. This was me at my goal weight of 130#. What can I say about this picture? I felt wonderful at this weight!! After 3 kids, I don't know if I'll ever be that thin again but I'm gonna work toward it. Only time will tell.

8/28/2011, a Sunday (end of week 5)

• 189.8# taken @ 6:30 AM (down 1#, 7.8# total)
• Energy level is higher then it's been in a long time

This week was slow going. There were a lot of times I felt like caving to crap. And a few times, I actually did. Sneaking a bite of the girls' mac n cheese or tots. But, all in all I'm pretty happy with the week. I made my 190# goal!! I'm (almost) half way to taking off the 16# I gained this past year. I've decided that's my first goal and when I hit that, I'll be close to having 10% of my weight off. I'm thinking a haircut and brow wax are in order once I hit my 10%!! Here's to a good week!!

9/4/2011, a Sunday (end of week 6)

• 188.2# taken at 7:30 AM (down 1.6#, 9.4# total)
• Yahooooooooooooooooo!

Today is 9/6/2011, a Tuesday

I hit a marker today! I could actually fit back into a pair of my maternity jeans. Are you confused? I had gained so much weight, even my maternity jeans were too SMALL!! I got them up today! Do a little dance......are you singing? However, you won't spot me in them.......Oh and one more marker: I am now .8# (point 8) lighter than when I got preggers with HC!!

I set a few goals:

• 1st, I told you this one already, but.....take off the 16# I gained this past year. I was 200# the day of my doctor appointment (not the start of this WWLR) and on weigh day I was 188.2#, so I only have 4.2# to go. That one's so close I can taste it!! 
• 2nd, to hit 173#. That's what I was when I got preggers with Gala.
• 3rd to hit 157#. That's what I was when I got preggers with RD.
• 4th, hmmmm, let me think on it.........dare I say 130#?? IDK if I can ever get back there but......

I'm feeling really good, y'all! Here's to a great week!!

9/11/2011, a Sunday (end of week 7)

• 187.4# taken @ 7:00 AM (down .8#, 10.2# total)

I'm gonna take this weight loss and run!! I had a very crappy week. I let the excitement of hitting a few milestones get the best of me. I decided to grab a package of my favorite cookies and told myself I'd have just one. I ended up skipping lunch two days in a row, to have iced sugar cookies @ 180 calories a pop instead. Then I spent the rest of the week paying for it. I honestly don't know why I do that to myself? OK, yes I do. I'm an addict. I just cannot keep this stuff in the house. PERIOD!! Next time I want one, I'll get ONE and ONE only from the cookie shop in the mall. Moving on. Here's to a great week!!!

Today is 9/15/2011, a Thursday

It's been one long week. It seems like it should be Saturday already. The girls have been sick. Nothing major but it's thrown the week out of whack. I've even felt "off" all week. Less energy and simply run down. I've skipped lunch everyday so far and I haven't had one single smoothie this week. I weighed this morning to see where I was. Up 2#. Deep sigh. I'm hoping I can get a groove back for the rest of the week.

9/18/2011, a Sunday (end of week 8)

• 188.4# taken at 7:00 AM (UP 1#, 9.2# total)
• I'm not gonna let this get me down

If you can't tell by my stats above, I've gone off plan. I don't want to make any excuses because it's really my own actions and choices but it's been crazy hectic feeling since RD started back to school. I'm hoping we can get back into a rhythm soon. Any encouraging words are welcome!!

AJB2Me Smoothie #5

I owe you guys one more smoothie!!

Here's the last of the five and my least favorite. Who am I kidding? Least favorite? To tell the truth, I won't EVER have this one again. I couldn't get through it the first time, so why bother? I still want to share it with you since one of you may LOVE it. The lady in the magazine did. It was her favorite!?!?!!!!!

"Better-sleep Cherry Smoothie"

One cup tart cherry juice

Half banana

Half cup soy milk

Five ice cubes

Quarter teaspoon vanilla extract

1~2~3 BLEND!!!

According to the magazine, "this one will help you sleep more soundly---which is shown to reduce cravings and stimulate metabolism---good sleep is the missing link in weight loss."

Have you tried one of the four previous smoothies? If so, don't forget to let me know what you thought!! Happy blending!

These smoothies and some of the ideas are taken from the August 2011 "Woman's World" magazine. I do not own the rights to them. I am only re-printing the smoothies and some of the ideas for educational purposes.

AJB2Me Smoothie #4

It's time for another tasty tale----or something like that......

This smoothie is just OK, in my opinion. It's got the whole pina colada feel going on, but just falls short of a true colada's greatness. Maybe it's the fact I choose the frozen fruit route instead of the fresh option? Frozen tends to lose flavor, don't you think? Don't get me wrong, I still like it. It's just not one I'll jump up and down over, but don't take my word for it.....YOU TASTE IT!

"Get-Glowing Smoothie"

Two tablespoons unsweetened coconut milk

One cup almond milk

Half cup pineapple

Half cup mango

Half cup ice

1~2~3 BLEND!!!

According to the magazine, this smoothie "contains vitamins A, B, C, E and the enzyme bromelain to soothe internal inflammation--a hidden condition linked to weight gain." They go on to say, "it fights wrinkles, puffiness, even teenage acne!" It's like a double bonus, get rid of inflammation and gain beautiful skin. Who doesn't want that?!

That's four smoothies down, one to go! Has anyone tried one of the smoothies? If so, don't forget to leave your comments here OR on the Facebook fanpage! I'd love to hear your thoughts!!

These smoothies and some of the ideas are taken from the August 2011 "Woman's World" magazine. I do not own the rights to them. I am only re-printing the smoothies and some of the ideas for educational purposes.

AJB2Me Smoothie #2 & 3

Yes, you read that right, I'm "feeding" you two recipes today! Why? Because I can't decide which one of these I like better. For me, they both rank #2 of the 5.

First up is the "Get-Lean Green Smoothie". You can have a full serving of this tasty treat for a snack OR enjoy it as a meal. (Remember if you choose it for a meal, make sure to have one stick of string cheese AND 5 whole-grain crackers). There's nothing I don't like about this smoothie but I have found it needs to be fully blended for the flavors to come through. Don't let the name or color fool you! It's an all around perfect blend of fruits! This is a favorite of mine and I tend to have it for dinner.

"Get-Lean Green Smoothie"

Two-thirds cups ice

Three tablespoons cold water

Handful spinach leaves

One-third cup cooked kale

Three orange slices

One-third cup green grapes

Half peeled pear

Half small banana

Three-fourths teaspoon chia seeds

1~2~3 BLEND!!!

The first few times I shopped for these ingredients, my store was always out of kale, so I added extra spinach in it's place. I've yet to try it with the kale, which means I can't attest to the tastiness of the smoothie made to directions. According to the magazine, this smoothie was created by the Cleveland Clinic and is a "low-cal blend---high in filling fiber---and included in Dr. Oz's new book, as one of his favorite recipes for dieters." They also say, "Chia seeds boast omega-3s that can help restore energy levels."

Next up is the "Smartypants Smoothie". If you choose this smoothie, you can have a half serving as a snack OR a full serving as a meal. I had been on plan for almost 3 weeks before I actually got to try this smoothie. Two of the ingredients were hard to track down. One being flaxseed oil, which I found at our local health food store and the other being hemp nuts. My sister finally hunted down "hemp granola" at our local grocery store. I've yet to check it out myself. However, I did research a substitute. I found that walnuts were the closest with sunflower seeds and almonds following close behind. (I've been using walnuts in place of the hemp nuts) Again, this is one of my favorites. I usually have this or the "Fatigue-fighting protein blaster" for lunch.

"Smartypants Smoothie"

One banana

Quarter cup blueberries

Handful of hemp nuts

Half cup apple juice

One teaspoon flaxseed oil

1~2~3 BLEND!!!

According to the magazine, "antioxidants from the blueberries and the omega-3s from the hemp and flax are all proven to target ab flab!" I'M IN!!! I need to target ab flab!! And I will tell you, I can see a huge difference in my tummy area in just a few short weeks! They go on to say, "hemp supports brain health---blueberries are linked to improved memory." Guess that's how it got it's name! Any mom knows we could all use a little of these in our diet! Ha!

These smoothies and some of the ideas are taken from the August 2011 "Woman's World" magazine. I do not own the rights to them. I am only re-printing the smoothies and some of the ideas for educational purposes.



AJB2Me Smoothie #1

I'll "feed" these to you one at a time..........

Up first is my favorite of the five!! The "Fatigue-Fighting Protein Blaster". There's not one thing I don't like about this smoothie, with the exception that it has soy milk in it. AND I'm sure you remember, I'm on the fence about soy. However, after talking to a nutritionist (in a round about way), I decided it would be OK in my diet. I still won't let the girls have it. OK, that was a bunch of blah blah blah.......on with the show!!

I don't know why, but I haven't taken a picture of this one. Oh well, a smoothie looks like a smoothie, right?

"Fatigue-Fighting Protein Blaster"

Half ripe banana

Quarter cup low-fat soy milk

 Half small can crushed pineapple

 Quarter cup pineapple sorbet

 Half tablespoon protein powder

Quarter cup strawberries

1~2~3 BLEND!!!

According to the magazine, soy is protein & protein "lays down the building blocks for metabolism-boosting muscle---helps you keep going all day long---steadies blood sugar & prevents afternoon crashes."

These smoothies and some of the ideas are taken from the August 2011 "Woman's World" magazine. I do not own the rights to them. I am only re-printing the smoothies and some of the ideas for educational purposes.



 

Typical Day

Here's a glimpse of a typical day for me on my "Live-it"........

Breakfast:

Spray small skillet with cooking spray. Heat pan on high for 30 seconds or so. Add one third cup egg whites to pan. Lay 3-4 slices of zucchini OR yellow squash OR 4-5 strips of yellow peppers on one side of the whites. Top that with chopped onion. I use lots of onion (about quarter cup). I'm an onion freak. Then add quarter cup low fat shredded mozzarella cheese. Sea salt & pepper to taste. Reduce heat to low. Cover w/lid & cook till done.

Along with this omelet, I have one slice whole-wheat toast with spray butter & half cup fruit (strawberries or cantaloupe are my favorites). I also have a cup of coffee with fat free creamer & 1 packet sweetener (this is the only artificial sweetener I will have for the day otherwise I crave sweets!). VERY filling breakfast & great way to jump start my day. This takes about 5-8 minutes TOPS!!

Snack:

Piece of fruit with string cheese OR palm full of almonds. I can also choose HALF of any one of the 5(or should I say 4? I didn't care for one) smoothie (from the magazine I picked up) OR a FULL serving of the "Get-Lean Green Smoothie".

Lunch:

I always choose one of the smoothies (again, from the magazine). When choosing one of these smoothies, as a meal, I can have a whole smoothie. I usually choose either the "Smartypants Smoothie", "Fatigue-Fighting Protein Blaster" OR "Get-Glowing Smoothie" for lunch. However, if I choose the "Get-Lean Green Smoothie", it recommends eating it with one piece string cheese AND 5 whole-grain crackers.

"Get-Glowing Smoothie"

"Smartypants Smoothie"

Snack:

Again, I have a choice of one of the snacks listed above OR I also like having two tablespoons of hummus with veggies (carrots are my favorite). The hummus and veggie really help me power through till dinner time!!

Dinner:

I'll usually choose to eat a smaller portion of whatever I fixed for the family. Whether it's tacos, spaghetti, etc. I eat it (if I really want it!!!) I can also choose to have another smoothie (which I did 3 times last week). Again, following the rules stated above in "Lunch". I tend to have the "Get-Lean Green Smoothie" with dinner since I can have the piece of cheese & crackers as well. That makes it feel like I'm eating a "meal" with the family!!! I've also done some of the other suggestions from the magazine. Such as, three ounces of a lean protein, one cup veggies sauteed in half tablespoon olive oil and half cup brown rice or whole-grain pasta. 

"Get-Lean Green Smoothie"

And again, another snack!!!!

Each smoothie takes me less than 5 minutes to whip up. EASY as 1-2-3 blend!! If I can do it (with 3 small kids running around), YOU can do it!!! 

Hungry for those smoothies?? Recipes to follow.......

These smoothies and some of the ideas are taken from the August 2011 "Woman's World" magazine. I do not own the rights to them. I am only re-printing the smoothies and some of the ideas for educational purposes.

"The Hot Mom's Handbook" Review

For me, the beginning of the book seems chalk full of nothing more than common sense. However, after giving it a chance, I found myself really relating to the other women, mothers like yours truly. In my opinion, one of the best things about this book was this overall feeling of unity. Though I have never met a single mom in here, I knew they had dealt with and conquered one of the biggest issues we moms face. Guilt. Guilt will suck the "real" women, you are, right out of you.

Toward the middle of the book, I was feeling rather bored. I was actually forcing myself to read. It was jam packed with websites to check out, which would be great IF I had the dough to spend on any of these fancy little sites. I do have to hand it to her though, she included a "Baby on a Budget" section for almost every topic she covered. However, toward the end of all the suggestions, I felt less connected to the women in the book. A complete turn around from the feeling, of unity, I had in the beginning.

I could not bring myself to finish this book. I made it through 3/4's of the way. I'm sure my lack of interest in these types of books had a lot to do with. So was it worth the read? For me, YES & NO. Let me explain. Yes, due to the advice: "let go of the guilt". That made me snap out of the rut I'd put myself in. I also gained a few helpful (& cheap) skin/beauty care tips. No, due to my feeling this book was geared toward a much "richer" audience than I.

What I did love......

The "in your face" way Jessica, plain & simply, said "Hot Mom loves herself and her family but doesn't get consumed by the madness of motherhood."
We've all been there, right? I have. I've been in the "madness" for 3 years. I still had a sense of self when RD was born but was "consumed" during my pregnancy with Gala and I've never gotten it back.

This little insight: "Carl Jung believed our lives need meaning and purpose. He felt that if we don't have meaning and purpose, we acquire bad habits in order to create drama and excitement. Jung called these patterns "low-level spiritual quests."
Oh boy! What a smack in the face?! I can see that in myself, as well as, those around me. This was, for me, just another reminder I need to get to the business of finding my purpose.

And a quote: "Ultimately, children learn by example. They do what they see." -Lauren Holly
Two little sentences. So simple, right? I've heard this before, but why did these words strike me now? Easy. All the sudden, as if it hit me upside the head, I realized the less I take care of me, value me, the less the girls will value themselves. And I will not be the reason they feel less than worthy or beautiful.....

I wanna save

This post is really more of a question for everyone out there. At one of our RCIA classes, the speaker said something that struck a cord with me. He was talking about tithing and how you can't help others if you are always in debt. True? Yes.

I'm getting serious about cutting some more costs, but I'm out of ideas. Here are the things we've done this year....

• Switched to Virgin Mobile for cell phones. No contracts. We get 300 anytime minutes, unlimited text, email, data & web for $25/month. Savings = unsure?
• Cancelled our Dish Network services. Savings = $58/mo
• Switched from Huggies to Walmart brand diapers. Savings = $26/mo
• Eat out less. Savings = ? (I haven't tracked it)

My questions to you all......How have you gotten out of debt or are you still in debt? Do you budget or do you fly by the seat of your pants? How have you cut spending? What are your best tips for cutting costs? Lay them on me & everyone listening....we could all benefit from any and all saving tips!!

And the results are in

Gala was scheduled for two appointments. One with a GI surgeon & one with a GI (nutritional) specialist. Before the appointments were made, I was on the fence about even scheduling an appointment with the surgeon. I was, & still am, 100% sure we would not have had her go through surgery. So what was the use in seeing one? Her primary care Dr. said that we could at least see what he had to say. Plus, she added, I could ask about the dreaded "knot". So I agreed.

On the other hand, I was stoked about the GI specialist appointment. It was like a gift. We were finally going to get an answer. We'd finally know what was causing all the diarrhea. I wasn't excited about Gala going through a slew of tests but it would be worth it to know what to avoid to clear up this whole mess.

At the 1st appointment, the surgeon's nurse (SN) came in to do a quick medical history before we seen the surgeon. First we talked about the prolapse. When did it first happen, how many times has it occurred, how long & how often she's had diarrhea, etc. I gave her the photos I had taken of the prolapse. And then she asked if I had any other concerns. I told her about the knot on Gala's stomach & lifted her dress to show SN. She told us it was a hernia. I was excited. Not that it was hernia, silly. I was excited we might actually get acknowledgement here. I gave her the ultrasound films that were taken at our primary care Dr office. And then we waited for the surgeon.

He came in & spoke with us about it all. He said she definitely had rectal prolapse & said the pics were great. He asked about her diet & how it was working out. I told him how Gala's bowels have been great off of dairy. He told us how he rarely does surgical fixes for rectal prolapses since the outcome is never great & the chance for having to have it redone are high. And since it seems we could control her bowel through diet, that was his recommendation. Then he did an exam (which was awful for Gala).

After that we talked about the knot. When I said, we had been told it was "nothing" & I found that hard to believe, since you could physically see it, both he & SN agreed. He said it was definitely a hernia. Could be her stomach or part of her intestine coming through a tear in her abdominal wall. He told us how these types of hernias are generally non-bothersome & wouldn't need intervention. BUT sometimes they can cause problems, such as trapping stools, so he would be reviewing the ultrasounds we brought along. He asked us if she ever complained of pain. She hasn't. He told us if they had gotten all the shots/angles he needed & he didn't see anything worry some, we'd do nothing OR I could elect to do cosmetic surgery but then she'd have a scar instead of a knot. (No thanks, a knot is good for us.) BUT if they didn't have the shots/angles he needed OR if he seen something "off" we'd go from there.

He also wanted to check her for cystic fibrosis & would send the order over to her 2nd appointment since he was sure they'd be running several tests & they could just tack that one on. And he suggested keeping a daily food/bowel diary on her. He said we'd just play phone tag from here on out unless something major came up. His nurse gave us their office info & said she'd be in touch in about a week. Leaving that appointment, I almost felt like I was on cloud nine. No major invasive surgery needed for either issue, but acknowledgement that we are not nuts.

At the 2nd appointment, the NP (GI specialist) came in & asked why we were there. I started with my "hunch" of a diary allergy & was interrupted with a scrunched WTH face & "What would make you suspect that?" question. I answered with a Karla style answer (remember that's a long story) the whole while getting the WTH face. I was starting to feel embarrassed & irritated when I finally got, an "I see". Followed by a "well, I don't think she has a dairy allergy. You see, it is very rare, I mean it can happen, but it is very rare that children have an allergy to a protein in dairy."

Hmmm, weird?, since RD has a classmate that is & I know a few other kids who are as well. Woah. Small world for me, I guess. OK. So then it's not dairy "allergy."

Then she says, "Now, she could possibly have a lactose intolerance." GREAT!, I'm thinking, lets check for that! She then tells me that diary is VERY important to a child's diet (like I don't know this) & that I could remove dairy to see if that is, in fact, the problem but I'd need to add dairy back in gradually to see how she does. I explain that we have been on a dairy free diet for 3 weeks & the few times I did add back in dairy, she got the runs & prolapsed. "Hmmm, well, I'll give you a sheet on what she can & can't have. I won't need to see you again."

OK, I said. Do I need to call you to let you know how she's doing?

"You can. If you do, just tell the front desk."

OK. Did the Surgeon call to let you know he was ordering a test?

"Yes, but I don't believe she has cystic fibrosis, so I will not be running that test."

And out the door we were booted. Seriously?! I mean they could have told me that back home. I drove, well my hubby drove, 2.5 hours to be told that?!? What a freaking joke! I was fuming mad. I still am. I was left feeling so let down & put off yet again. I can grasp the fact that she is NOT "allergic" to dairy. BUT that doesn't explain the diarrhea related issue. And yes, I understand that a lactose intolerance could but there isn't a test? What about all the other tests Gala's primary said this "NP specialist" would run. Tests that they could handle better there because "Mrs. NP specialist" would have child size equipment. What about the the tests the GI surgeon assumed "NP specialist" would run? What about the one test he wanted ran?

Deep sigh. I guess all I can do is keep on keeping on. She's doing great off dairy & that's what we're sticking with. The crazy thing about all this was the one appointment, I thought was not necessary, ended up being the best of the two.

Cheap summer fun (sort of a tutorial)

I am a huge fan of magazines. Between my hubby & I we are subscribed to 4. He also picks another one up, from the store, every month. I'm not quite sure why he hasn't subscribed yet, it is his favorite. Plus we have our oldest subscribed to one & just renewed it for another 3 years so all 3 girls will get to enjoy it.

One of mine is Disney's Family Fun. This magazine is jam packed with craft, party, food & game ideas for the whole family. While some of the ideas are too "advanced" for my girls, just yet, I LOVE this magazine. My first year's subscription was a gift, to me & RD, from an ex-coworker of mine. Since I loved it so much, I redeemed some of my Disney Movie Rewards to renew my subscription. Suhweeet! I love feeling like I got something "extra" for buying products. If you don't collect Disney's rewards, you can still save a bundle. Order from online sites, IE: Magazines.com There are several sites like this & they all offer a certain percentage off of the cover price of any magazine. These site's prices are usually way cheaper than sending in the insert found within the magazine itself. Cha ching!!

We tried out a few cute card ideas from last month's issue of Family Fun. The girls really enjoyed themselves & so did I! Our recipients of the cards have yet to enjoy them. Why? The cards are still sitting on the kitchen counter. Bad Mommy!!

And yesterday we tried another fun idea from this month's issue. I had hoped that we could replicate the idea to the max but, it didn't work out that way. While our oldest follows direction well (OK, for the most part), our middle does not. The game consisted of 2 players, facing each other, with a balloon attached to a pole in between them. The object of the game was for each player to get the balloon wrapped around the pole first, using only a spray bottle, filled with water. Here's how our girls played......



RD, playing alone



HC looking rather pale, blinding even & Gala running. She does not want to be sprayed!!



HC enjoying a drink....



Gala getting in a few shots before RD comes back.



Done with the balloon & off to water the plants.



more plant watering....

 So it didn't turn out like planned but, doesn't it still sound like fun on a hot summer day? You bet! Oh & cheap. I forgot to throw in cheap!!

Gala update

I wanted to update you guys on Gala. In case you've missed the last few posts on her, here's a quick breakdown:

• She's had a knot on her "stomach" for as long as we can remember.
• We've had 2 ultrasounds done, showing nothing.
• I have suspected a dairy allergy, in her, for close to a year because of chronic diarrhea, but was put off by her Doctor on many occasions. Actually I diagnosed it (ha) when she was 6 weeks, took myself off dairy while nursing, & put her on soy formula when she switched.
• Then her rectum prolapsed, much to our shock. I brought up the diarrhea again the day she prolapsed & got no response.

A few weeks later, at her 2 year appointment & prolapse checkup, I brought up the allergy & diarrhea again. After a denial of ever hearing my concerns, I freaked. I chewed the Doctor, nicely, with a quick play by play of our visits with her. Each one recounting "the dairy issue". One of those stories hit a cord & you could see the light come on. She seemed to remember at least one of the conversations. I'm sure it was due to my telling her how she'd (the doctor) had confided in me about her dislike of dairy. She apologized & agreed we should remove dairy, starting that day, plus she was now referring us to a specialist. Then the doctor teared up saying she felt as though she caused this. Of course, I felt bad. BUT dang it, if she would have listened a year ago we may not be in this mess.

While we've been waiting for the upcoming appointments, one for a GI surgeon consult & one w/a GI specialist, the doctor has ordered several tests. All are standard tests the specialist needs ran, prior to the visit. This way they're all done & they have a better idea of what Gala's situation is. They also requested we bring the films from the ultrasounds so I've picked those up as well.

They requested a second blood sample so we headed down to the clinic last week. This time around it was a little more unnerving for Gala. Probably because she knew what was coming. Getting the sample also took longer. Her blood would flow, then stop, flow, then stop. Finally it just stopped. They thought they had enough for the tests but it was clotting as well. I just prayed it was enough. I didn't want her to go through it again.

With the blood they collected from the two draws, they checked her blood sugar, electrolytes, allergies, & a few other things I don't recall. They also did 3 different stools collections. Honestly, I don't remember what any of those were for (information overload & kids screaming during calls) except one, blood in the stool.  Everything has come back perfect.

On the dairy allergy......The Doctor says there are 4 components in milk that a person can be allergic to. 3 out of the 4, Gala shows no allergy to. The 4th component test has not come back, yet. Now, while consuming dairy, Gala had chronic diarrhea. Off dairy, it's been 2 weeks & 5 days, she seems borderline constipated. I actually gave her a milk sippy 2 nights ago to get her bowels moving & it worked like a charm. Yeah, yeah, probably not the best idea but it worked. AND then when I decided to just give in a little on the strict diet, she prolapsed. Probably the worst it's been. She had cheese pizza for dinner & I caved on a milk sippy the next morning. She was begging for one. UGH!! NEVER AGAIN! Anyway, with that said, I can't see how she couldn't be allergic to milk? Obviously, we'll find out more at the appointment since they'll also be checking for crohn's disease, celiac disease, colitis, & IBS.

We decided to make the best of this trip. It's now part appointments, part fun. We are gonna hit the zoo the day after the visits. It's sort of a treat for all but especially Gala since we've been told they plan to do an upper GI scope (not looking forward to that). And for Daddy, who is working 8 straight days in order to get Gala's appointments off.  We leave in a few short days. Wish us well & I'll update you post trip/results.

Sunscreen, it is important!

I know how it feels to have someone throw out simple little reminders. They might say, "Make sure you put a coat on, it's cold outside". Those reminders get a little annoying sometimes. It can sorta feel like they are reminding you not to be a dumb parent. But those reminders can save a lot of heartache as well. This post is gonna be dedicated to one of those reminders. As simple as it is, it's often forgotten. And sadly, someone pays the price.

My urge is for everyone to wear sunscreen. I know, as a kid, I could go to the pool for the whole day, sunscreen free & get burned, but nothing like I've just witnessed. The sun is so much more powerful! They say 15 minutes in today's sun could cause burn. That's crazy!

This is also a reminder to know, I mean really know, who you're sending your children out with for the day. Some parents are just dumb (sorry) & really will benefit from a reminder. If they're going to the pool w/friends, ask the parents or person supervising where they stand on issues, like sunscreen. Who cares if the supervising parent gets a little offended? It's your child you have to protect!

I'd also like to say, that offering a little sunscreen to someone, a stranger even, at your local pool, who looks like a "lobster" might be the best thing you ever did. Someone offered my nephew. I sure wish he had taken them up on it.

Which brings me to one last point. Teach your kids the importance. Lets not assume they know what can happen. Talk to them & show them. I know my nephew will never forget. He shed lots of tears & spent days in preventable pain. It's too bad he learned the hard way.....

This was the night he came home from the pool. He was there for 6 hours w/no sunscreen.

This was the following night. The blisters had burst, prematurely.



Another shot from the 2nd day.



This is after a visit to the ER. He has 2nd degree burns. The white is the newly exposed skin & the yellow, oozing.  He was given silver sulfate to apply to the skin.



This was a few days after treatment. Feeling slightly better but still a long way from healed.



The stuff we call food

Remember my middle daughter's scare about a week and a half ago? Sadly, it hasn't gotten better. It has shown itself 4 more times & each time it seems more painful for her. By more painful, I mean she actually has taken notice that it's out. She doesn't want to be taken off the toilet, be wiped, or go on about her play once off the toilet. Deep sigh.....

I'm convinced after talking with the doctor & doing some of my own research that she ended up in this mess due to chronic diarrhea. But the real question is, why does she have chronic diarrhea? All this has made me really want to change our eating habits. Not just to have a healthier eating lifestyle. I know how to do that. I want to know what is in our food, where it came from, how it benefits us or damages us, etc. I have been doing a lot of reading the last week on our food supplies here in the USA. I am honestly horrified at some of the info that is out there. I know I shouldn't be. There is always going to be "something" in our food IF it is man made. I guess I am just astonished at what seems to be deemed "OK" for the masses to consume.

Over the last few years, more people just got the news about a brother, sister, mother, father, son, daughter, & the list goes on, having cancer. So many of my close friends or their wives are having problems conceiving. Sadly, it seems, there are more and more of these type of "issues" occuring. After reading what I have, I am no longer left wondering why they seem so prevalent. We are what we eat & if you don't want to know some truths, don't go searching & DO NOT read below....you have been warned....

Here's how I got started. I was bored, 2 girls sleeping & one needing a rest, I decided to watch a movie called "Food Matters" & that lead me to research the people & products they discussed on the show. I then decided to "friend request" someone, that I was told about a few weeks back, on Facebook. That lead me to a very shocking & unpleasant article. An article that left me feeling less than awesome about the formula choice I made for my two younger girls.

Of course, I'm discussing this info with my hubby which has lead to further talks & interest into our health. Tuesday he decided to accompany me to the grocery store. As we are standing in line, a very long line, what of all things does he happen to notice? One of our favorite magazine's front page, shouting loudly....."Top 10 Food Shockers"....yes, we bought it. I just started reading the article this morning & HAVE to share a piece with you.....

The following information (in quotes) is taken from ConsumerReports ShopSmart;) June 2011 issue. Please purchase the magazine to help support their research & find out the rest of the shockers!!

"Part of the complexity involves the creation of food ingredients. Take veggie burgers and protein bars. They sound like healthful additions to your diet. But most soy protein is processed using hexane, a chemical that the Environmental Protection Agency considers a pollutant and that affects the central nervous system.

And if you think popcorn is harmless, you should know that the greaseproof paper used in microwave popcorn bags (as well as fast-food wrappers) might leach toxins into your healthy snack. Last fall, a study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health concluded that polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters used in that paper can migrate into food and then break down in the body to form perfluorinated carboxylic acids, chemicals associated with cancer and reproductive problems in animals."

I dunno about you, but this info scares the hell out of me. I fix our family at least 10 bags of popcorn a week. We visit our local fast food places at least 2 times a month. I was in the habit of having a soy "veggie" sausage patty & sometimes a soy "veggie" burger at lunch, daily. And the above passge is NOT the first "bash" against soy that I've read. Here I thought I was eating healthy & doing myself this great service. Boy, was I wrong!! I'm finding so much conflicting info, every critic has their view, but I like that I am trying to educate myself instead of assuming everything they "allow" us to it is safe.

So, have I stopped cold turkey due to my recent findings? NO. I think changing our eating habits is going to be a long tough road. But we will be changing it......

Is this for real?

CAUTION: this post is about bodily parts, pooping & all the other lovely natural things that go on with the body. Just know you've been warned. 

If you've been a follower of the blog for awhile or if you've checked out the other pages on my blog, you'll know that I have Pelvic Organ Prolapse. You'll know that I worry for my girls' future. Not how it will turn out, well of course I worry about that too, but I worry about them developing what I have. Yesterday was the most sickening day I've had. My middle child's rectum prolapsed! That is NOT the same thing as POP, but very similar. Instead of her female organs, it was her rectum. I knew what it was right away because I've researched "prolapses" so much. My heart sunk so low......

My oldest, RD, was taking my middle, Gala, to the bathroom. Something they have been trying out the last few weeks. Buddies in the bathroom...what can I say, they're girls. They were in there just a few minutes when RD comes out to ask me to wipe Gala. She had a BM & RD will not wipe her if she's had one. Can't say I blame her. I don't like the task myself. At first glance, I thought she had extra poo hanging from her bum but when I went to "knock" it off, I knew what it was. I was shocked. I kept thinking...No, really? Really? REALLY??

After that, I just knew I had to get a picture. What if it goes away before anyone gets here? No one would believe what I was seeing if they didn't have proof & I didn't wanna sound like a nut & tell everyone I knew without a doubt is was a prolapsed rectum. Oh, there goes Karla again with her self diagnosis....With lots of panic in my voice I asked RD to grab me my camera & the phone. RD had 100 questions. You know how it is with little kids. What's going on? Why do you want the camera? What's wrong with Gala? Why is there an emergency? Talk about heightened stress trying to answer these questions! However, when it comes to my girls, I always answer as honestly as I can.

On one hand, I didn't know if I should move Gala & on the other, I knew the gravity of just sitting on a toilet was NOT good either. WHAT TO DO??!! RD couldn't find the camera so as calmly as I could I explained where it was. Then she couldn't reach it. Again, calmly but a little more rattled I asked her if she could find a stool or chair. Finally here she comes with both in hand & tells me, matter of factly, that we should call Daddy. Daddy is the hero of the house. If there is a crisis, she needs him called. Not in a few minutes, NOW....but she's always so, IDK, calm about it....God bless her!

I snapped two quick pictures & then called my hubby. Voice mail. Redial. Voice mail. More stress. Redial. Voice mail. Scream. Phone my Mom....tell her, while fighting back tears, Gala just took a BM & her rectum is turned inside out. My Mom says....well, I'm sure she's just getting hemorrhoids. HEMORRHOIDS?!? No, you don't understand. Her rectum is turned inside out, it prolapsed, IDK how to explain this to you! Moms. Aren't they the best thing ever? She says so calmly, well phone the doctor & if you need us we'll come right over. OK then, COME NOW!

I tried my hubby once more & got voice mail yet again. I phone the clinic, ask for the nurse only to be told they are gone for the day. Is anyone there I can talk to?? Silence...then a, what do you need? I explain again this time adding.... & it is NOT hemorrhoids. She puts me through to the relay service. They take my message & tell me the doctor will get to us ASAP....I wonder if the dispatcher heard the urgency in my voice?!?! Maybe we should just head to the freaking ER! Are my parents here yet? & why the hell hasn't my husband called back??!!

Right then the phone rings & it's him. Did you call? YES, I called! but that didn't come out. Nothing came out. Once I heard his voice, I broke down, I could not speak & finally I said what I could through sobs & you know what? He actually said, Do you need me to come home? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! YES, I need you to come home! I needed you here 15 minutes ago!!

I decide to get her off the toilet & lay her down on the living room floor. I cleaned her up with a wet wipe the best I could then ran around looking for my clothes, my purse, something comfy for her to slip on & the phone rings. It's the clinic. Hello?
Yes, we have the doctor on the line..
OK, Hello? Nothing but silence..Hello?
Yes, can you hear me?
Barely...
OK, this is Dr. Blah Blah what's the matter?
Well, this is Karla, Gala's Mom...& then I start explaining & I get interrupted
I'm sorry what? who is the Dr?
WHAT?? Is this Dr. Blah Blah?
Yes
YOU, YOU are my Dr!!!!
Oh, I'm sorry, the patient?
Gala! This is Karla, Gala's Mom....
Oh, yes, I'm sorry...Gala...go ahead
so I start over....to end with..... & her rectum is hanging out of her....
Silence
HELLO??!! DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID?!
oh, yes, sorry, I can barely hear you. I am almost at the clinic...can I call you back?
FINE, just call me! I need to know what to do!

Can you say frazzled, scared, sick, s t r e s s ssssssssssssssss

Thank God, that right then my hubby came through the door. His face dropped as soon as he seen Gala & he now knew I was not f**king around.......He could not get his hands cleaned or his greasy uniform changed fast enough. Relief, someone seen it. I was not a loon. I was starting to be believed....

The phone rings & it's the doctor. She asks me to explain it again because she heard nothing. I tell her.
Well, we can push it back in.
You mean like right now?!
Yes, or you can come in...
Yes, that is what we are doing. I am not doing this. I don't wanna damage her!
How soon can you be here?
15, 20 minutes tops..
OK, I'll add you to the schedule.

In comes my parents & my Mom immediately got down on the floor with Gala & started stroking her head. She knew I wasn't "just being a Mom"...this was for real! I slip some panties & a comfy tee on Gala & we are out the door. One question we both have. Do we just sit her in her seat? What other option do we have....

When we get to the clinic, we stop to check in. It never fails if I get this one receptionist, she always needs to see INS info....I am not in the mood, lady!! She is always so nice I couldn't be upset with her. She has a job to do after all & maybe she is doing it exactly the way she's supposed to....what do I know?

In comes the Dr & I ask right away. Is it a prolapsed rectum? She says, politely, that's what it sounds like from what you describe but I won't know till I examine her. I also need your consent.
For what?
To push it back in. Anything could go wrong when doing this so we need your consent.
Hubby jumps in....Like what? What can go wrong?
Well, it can come out.
It's already out!
Yes, but it can come out.
Like what? I mean, it's already out. Like more? Farther? What??

See, now he's panicked. It's not just a Mom thing. Ultimately, we decide to push it back, but guess what? It went back in on it's own. Relief. Right then, I knew I had to show the Dr the pics. Yes, I packed the camera!! Very nice pics she said & yes, it was prolapsed. A stage 2. :( not good news.

So now what? Well, if it keeps reoccurring, surgery. Reoccurring means like 8-10 times. I'm all choked up again. You know, this is not life threatening. It's not say like a cancer scare. I know that. What I do know however are all the risks involved with a surgery like this & I have opted to NOT have it for myself. How in the world can I subject my tiny & precious little 2 year old girl to it? The bad thing is, it came out again last night during another BM.....my heart is breaking....

Please, please, pray for healing for her. Pray for no more recurrences. Pray for strength & courage & for answers to find us, if we are faced with this decision in the future......

Today is Day 8 of my song challenge. It really isn't even a challenge any more. It's just more a daily song post... I almost just said the heck with today's song post but I decided I could post one. This song doesn't have a dang thing to do with the above situation & it doesn't really relate to anything in my past or present. Strike that, guess it does.....because, I just love this song. I love his voice, the words, it's just beautiful, & I do, I believe....so enjoy...

A teaser

I'm so excited for you to see what I'm working on for Wily Wednesday! A little hint....I'm sure I'll give myself away in the process!

I love all ribbon! I am the type of girl that will stand in front of the aisle of ribbon for hours. I love mixing and matching colors. I love everything baby! I mean, what's not to like? Cute little faces, tiny toes & fingers, & sweet smells (unless they got a package in the pants, not so sweet)!!! I love baby showers! I could search for ideas for these things for days, months, years. I love wrapping! I spend more on the presentation of my gift than I do on the gift! HA! I sure wish I had an endless bank account to spend on this stuff. How about you? 

Here's a few items that are must haves, IMHO, when working w/ribbon.....

E-6000 is a glue. It is handy when you can't be near your hot glue gun. I love my hot glue gun too!

A simple lighter & Fray Check. This is helpful w/keeping your ribbon ends from fraying. Yahoo!

These can be found at most craft stores (something else I love). I could get lost in there!!!

Craft Day Coming Soon

I've decided to get going on these little crafts I've been promising. It's been long enough, eh? I wanted to set a certain day where I could share a craft or something fun. I figured once a week would be good but what to call it? I came up w/ Foxy Friday, Tutorial Tuesday, Funday Sunday or Monday, or Wily Wednesday. Out of all those days Wednesday was the winner. Why? Well because Wednesday happens to be the best day for a post, don't you think? ;)

So make sure you come back & check me out. I'm working on a good one for this upcoming week...Cya then :)