June 24, 2010

Obituary for Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has
been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since
his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be
remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair; - and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more
than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in
charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but
overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy
charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended
from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for
reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job
that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly
children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental
consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not
inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an
abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and
criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a
burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to
realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her
lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by
his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son,
Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you
still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do
nothing.


*this was an email forward that I received today and I love it!

June 23, 2010

shedding the pounds

This morning I jumped on the scale, and boy o boy am I glad I did! I am down 9 pounds! YAY! I am a rock star!

June 22, 2010

The MIRACLE mix for diaper rash!

This past weekend, Emma had her first bout of the Ritavirus. Let's just say the ritavirus doesn't care that it is a holiday weekend.. With this virus it usually starts as vomiting and then ends up as diarrhea. What does diarrhea do to a child in a diaper you ask? Great question! Well, after just one diaper, Brian came to me saying Emma is getting a really bad diaper rash.. Really? How odd? We haven't changed anything and she never gets them! The next morning, I see the evidence for myself, only this time - WOWZA! Much worse! Her little hiney was bright red, front to back, and when we went to wipe her she would scream and yell "MEAN" and she would try and crab walk away from us. I thought she was going to climb the wall. So, Brian and I did everything we knew how to make her feel better, used Tylenol, Motrin, switched back to the gauze pads and warm water, instead of wipes, and slathered the butt paste on as if we were icing a cake.

Sunday night, I was awaken many times to the cries from Emma. She was in so much pain, her poor belly was still really torn up and still having the bouts of diarrhea. So, first thing Monday morning I got out of bed and clock watched for the time the pediatricians office opened. 10:30 am appointment, so sense we live an hour out, I throw on some clothes, got her ready and headed to Austin. Sense she has a horrible diaper rash the last thing she wants to do is sit. So that trip to and from was a blast! She was screaming bloody murder the entire time. Broke my heart, that there was nothing I could for her.

So the doctor prescribed the following for Emma or any child with the Ritovirus: FYI- the pediatrician said 1 of 3 kids in their office right now has this virus...

  1. BRAT diet - ( Bananas, Rice, Apples and Toast); and other starchy foods
  2. Lactos Free whole milk
  3. Carnation Instant Breakfast - if she has not successully eaten durning the day
And the BEST thing EVER! The diaper rash mixture that made me raise my eyebrows but worked within minutes!
  • Mixture of Butt Paste (she was very specific about the brands she named Dr. Smiths or Boudreaux's Butt Paste, Maalox (yea, I was like really??) and 1% hydrocortisone cream
  • I mixed all this together which makes a nice cream - however does take a bit to blend I used a popsicle stick to mash the different textures together.
  • Then loaded it up on Emma's hiney

The result, a much happier Emma emmerged. I feel like every mother with a child in a diaper should know about this mixture! It was amazing how quickly it worked! Thank you lord!

June 18, 2010

It's in the DNA

So, in the last two weeks, I have had nose surgery, and been hosting my baby sister who is 18 for the first time ever at my house. And by first time ever; it pretty much applies to everything! My baby sister I have known about sense she was born however; things happened that I am not aware of and I have never asked about and next thing you know our biological father dies and we officially meet for the first time, three years ago. Since this time we have talked on email, social networks and text messages; however there has been no opportunity for us to spend quality time together and really get to know one another. Sadness. However, here we are in present day and she is here! At my HOUSE! Spending weeks at a time with me! I have to say that she is not at all what I was expecting based on previous conversations with her and text messages.

Here is why, she is shy, a bit guarded, and comes across as very soft spoken, so trying to get to know a teenager who lives in another state via text message or a social networking site is a bit hard, especially when all you know about each other our dad just died.... oh, were to start.... Shortly after our dad died I was pregnant - fast forward to pregnancy brain, then I had a child, fast forward to even more craziness and next thing you know Emma is now 18 months old and Shelby is now 18... wow! I also did not know what her mom wanted me to share with her or what she did, my fault I should have addressed those boundaries sooner, but oh well, that is in the past now. moving forward!

So, Shelby! Let me just tell you, NOT soft spoken at all. Very direct, opinionated, and knows what she wants. Likes expensive things and is very expensive! Good lord is this child expensive! WOW! I had no idea! I am sure most teenagers are expensive; but this teen, really takes the cake! But what makes it OK, is she will tell you; yea, I like expensive things. What makes it comical is that she is from now where land Oklahoma! HAH! Our first trip into Austin, she was just looking around and soaking it all in like a 3 month old who is just starting to see color. She also has a very great sense of humor and a lot of nievity.

Who does this remind me of..... ME! Shelby is totally me before college! Well, and most aspects are still present today... Hah, but wow, who would have thought that two siblings raised in two very different families and don't know each other end up so similar. Shelby told me the other day, "It's in the DNA". She is totally right. I am crazy about my little sister, I was a little worried wondering what we would talk about or what we would have in common.... She is too cute, and pretty sweet most of the time, but she will try and trick you if she can. Some of the best times I have had since she has been here is watching her interact and play with Emma, Emma totally adores her.

June 07, 2010

updates!

As of today I am down 5 pounds! No not an earth shattering 30 by any means but a 5 solid pounds! And I am even more proud of my five pounds because I have lost them all on my own! No assistance from anything! The only tool I have used as my weight loss accomplice is www.mynetdiary.com

I have been very structured about what I eat; I have an occasional treat, but I am honestly eating really well! I am proud to say that I don't even think about Soda's anymore, this post aside.

Here are the small changes I have made in my life.
I take at least three flights of stairs (up and down) everyday when I am at work. I have also started walking a minimum of one mile a day when I am at work, this is so easy, where I work there is a walkers route that is inside and air conditioned so I don't even have to break a sweat! It is awesome! Usually takes about 15 minutes to walk. Eleven laps around my building and all done! Then once a week I do Ashtanga Yoga, which I have to say has been a big game changer for me.
Things I did not know about Yoga
  1. It really does tone your body - I was a nonbeliever until I met Rachel my yoga instructor
  2. It helps with your allergies - WHO knew!
  3. It is calming - I have never done anything so relaxing in my life
  4. I have seen more benefits out of the last 10 weeks of yoga than I ever got out of 10 weeks of running. My body feels stronger! I wish I would have had this opportunity right after I had Emma, because my abs were shot!
Another addition I will be making is bike riding. Brian and I used to go on Bike rides all the time around our little town. That is until we had Emma. Then we put that on the back burner for obvious reasons. Well yesterday we decided we are ready to hit the pavement again! So we got a tailor for Emma and we got us a couple new bikes and we are ready to ride! That below is a picture of my new bike! What a beauty! I have to say that when I was trying it out; I almost busted multiple times! There is a different center of balance on a cruiser vs. a 10 or12 speed.
I have changed the way I look at working out; I no longer believe that I need to push myself to the point of exhaustion to believe that I am benefiting my body. I would have never have believed that if it would not have been for my introduction to Yoga.

And Tomorrow I go in for my surgery! I can not WAIT to breath!

June 01, 2010

my new nose.....


All of this started because I continually get sinus infections. There are no allergy pills, nasal wash, Netty pot, or nasal spray that can prevent me from getting sick. They ordered a CT of my sinuses and discovered that I have a 4mm deviated septum in my right nostril. They also followed that up with an allergy test to see exactly that keeps making me sick. The results were quite shocking. Nothing. That is right, I am allergic to nothing! So, after much debate of my options, keep getting sick or have surgery to remove the blockage. So, my doctor and I discussed and surgery it is. I just met with my surgeon, as he was checking out my nose and getting a game plan, he also noticed that when I take in a deep breath through my nose, my left nostril collapses. Perfect! This explains a lot! Anytime I have ever gone running I have never been able to breathe through my nose. No Wonder! How exciting! Wish I would have known about that collapse a long time ago! It would have been a game changer for running! So my right nostril is almost nonexistent and my left one collapses! GREAT combo folks!

Next Tuesday I have surgery to rebuild my nose. Not as glamorous as it sounds; the doctor prepared me that my nose will be bigger.... My family is known for its wide honkers and I always thought that I had escaped the "warren" nose... Alas, I have not. The "warren" nose is quite great I have come to find out. It is a nose that can stand the test of time, wide allowing adequate air flow and strong enough that air flow does not make it collapse. I look forward to my new wider nose. AND, my new great sense of smell! I am so excited, I can only imagine that I will be able to walk out my front door and smell the Veteran's Honor Roses that bloom right beside my porch. Now that will be amazing!