tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58802574330259926072024-03-13T11:57:12.099-04:00RMS SnowdropI'm losing weight, raising 4 kids, am a happily reunited adopted adult, dealing with having ADD, and loving my life. I'm also proud to have my own Guardian Angel, my son Jacob, who passed away from Trisomy 18 in 1997.Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.comBlogger182125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-9717437596427792142010-01-11T13:22:00.003-05:002010-01-11T14:34:35.211-05:00I CAN do anything for 21 days, it's just hard<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">I've said it before and I'll say it again – Losing weight <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1263238238_0"></span>sucks. I've learned I'm not very good at it. I am good at eating <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1263238238_1">yummy foods</span>, sitting on my butt, complaining about being overweight, eating yummy foods, being lazy, spending way too much time on the computer, and did I say eating yummy foods?<br /><br /> I do have a tiny update though. I lost 5 pounds. Woot. That only gets one woot because I should be much farther along. Rrrrrrrr!!!!! I don't wanna exercise! Actually, that's not true. Once I get up and start doing it I kind of enjoy it but it's the getting up part that I don't wanna do. I can't stand whiney weight loss blogs so I'll stop whining and let you in on how I lost 5 pounds. I started using the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1263238238_2">Wii Fit</span> Plus – I told Hubby that Reyna (12 year old kid) wanted it for Christmas. At least I think she said she wanted it… that may have been me wishing hopefully. I don't recommend using it on carpet then switching to using it on <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1263238238_3">wood floors</span>. Somehow I gained 28 lbs in 9 days according to the Wii. Ummm, I don't think so. No wonder it said my BMI was way under! I only use it on <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1263238238_4">the wood</span> now. I like it but don't like how you spend 30 minutes on it but half of that is reading all the little tips and instructions and clicking around to the different exercises. I also don't like how every time I add a new exercise, it makes me do ALL the ones I just finished,<span style=""> </span>Ok, so that's actually a good feature because I get a better workout, but still.<br /><br />What else? Hmmm, oh, I cut soda out and I am back to booty shakin' when I clean and do laundry which is always fun except when my teen or tween walk around the corner. I also broke down and joined <a href="http://anytimefitness.com">AnyTime Fitness</a> since my free membership was up. It'll be a week tomorrow – guess I better drive over there soon and start using it. I love how, since I'm paying for it now, I can use any location across the US. So if I decide to go to Rhode Island and they have one I can swipe my little key and take my happy butt for a workout! Or, I can use the one downtown (9.1 mi away) when I workout with my fabulous trainer <a href="http://bodybydouglas.com">Douglas</a>. Better yet, when I decide not to get my ass kicked I can travel a whopping 1.6 mi to the one right down the road. So no excuses right? Hahaha, I have 4 kids and ADD. I'm the Queen of Excuses. Oh, and I love that they don't have daycare. It gives me a few more minutes to myself where I can make a phone call or sing loudly with no interruptions or complaints.<br /><br />We'll see how this goes especially since I have only 13 days till my Mom's Night Out where I want to look hot and 21 days till Jan. 31st. Think I can lose 17 lbs by then? Yeah, me neither but I'll give it a try anyway – kinda.<br /><br />On a side note, my amazing sister-in-law has lost 30 lbs!!!!! All because I started this ‘lil blog about getting off my butt and losing weight. I'm very proud of her and knowing I gave her motivation makes my heart smile. </span></span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-91524734140967888222010-01-05T13:12:00.006-05:002010-01-05T17:30:40.632-05:00I can do anything for 27 days<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >I started January with "I can do anything for 31 days". But, I didn't really do much but kinda watch what I ate. Oh, yeah, then there was the day Kelly wanted McD's breakfast and well, I just can't pass up a sausage, egg, and cheese bagel. I didn't eat much the rest of the day though!</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Why am I blogging about losing weight? Are you checking the year on here? Yeah, that's right, it really is January 2010 and I really am blogging about losing weight- again. Why? Because after winning Sexy by Summer I sat on my ass the other half of the year and it all came back </span><insert shocking="" gasp="" here=""><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >. So, now I'm trying to lose as much weight as I can before January 31st. It took me, no that's not right, I took 6 months to get it off the first time and I refuse to take that long again. I know it's supposedly healthier to only lose 1 pound a week but if everyone followed that no one would ever get thinner till they had one or both feet in the grave. The contestants on The Biggest Loser lose 1-14 pounds a week and they're all ok!</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >So, here we go again- speedy version this time. Below are my newest bathing suit before pictures. I know, they're disgusting and the only o</span></insert><insert shocking="" gasp="" here=""><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >nes who will be completely honest about how chunky I've gotten are my two beloved sisters-in-law. For those of you who don't know me, this is HUGE for me. Normal</span></insert><insert shocking="" gasp="" here=""><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >ly I would look way cute and sexy in this bikini which, by the way, is the one I bought to wear after the Sexy by Summer contest. Nope, never got to wear it. So, you've had fair warning, look at your own risk.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >I'm off to get my fat, chunky ass on my new Wii fit then head down to AnyTime Fitness to sign up for a membership. Hopefully since I'm paying for it I'll actually get off my butt and use it.</span></insert><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0UzaYEUO6fpUkxb5bdRFhWJYIfhxqL2LUSytlRkR4OmHRBERhj1MujN0ExZtSsE5WvA2n-yNGvYjLZc2fQkbHM_Oovo-WCG18GMglRoBvqph59zmuQyjPKQHrHKQtJwFXdFs7O1jNYY/s1600-h/2009_1231showerbridal0004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 121px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0UzaYEUO6fpUkxb5bdRFhWJYIfhxqL2LUSytlRkR4OmHRBERhj1MujN0ExZtSsE5WvA2n-yNGvYjLZc2fQkbHM_Oovo-WCG18GMglRoBvqph59zmuQyjPKQHrHKQtJwFXdFs7O1jNYY/s200/2009_1231showerbridal0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423386090587276322" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvWaTxvtd8vbIU_D0MELHJTUGXNJ5YC5LVfkFmVWbADKjO33tvfZ8F9SUAYSBHRlUvHzEKVeysQvfuZnFZRVp3KTpbe-NKBZMHHLdEuMUKuBVO5I-f0j4CzJfTVEU7z0jAZLFhyOG7q8/s1600-h/2009_1231showerbridal0001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 122px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvWaTxvtd8vbIU_D0MELHJTUGXNJ5YC5LVfkFmVWbADKjO33tvfZ8F9SUAYSBHRlUvHzEKVeysQvfuZnFZRVp3KTpbe-NKBZMHHLdEuMUKuBVO5I-f0j4CzJfTVEU7z0jAZLFhyOG7q8/s200/2009_1231showerbridal0001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423386606771626210" border="0" /></a>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-80450004848683559372009-10-26T14:36:00.002-04:002009-10-26T14:45:11.221-04:00Back on the weight loss wagon<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">After gaining back 13 of the 17 pounds I'd lost the first half of the year, I'm back on a meal plan and working out with my amazing trainer, Douglas. The meal plan he gave me this time is much more bearable and has more foods on it that I like. I still can't get him to put pizza, cookies, and Mc Donald's on there though. I'll keep trying.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Last Friday I worked out with him for the first time in about 7-8 months. He almost killed me. I did make sure, at the beginning of the workout, that he knew where the defibrillator was...just in case. I did a high intensity interval workout on the stair climber. My heart rate wasn't supposed to go over 170- um, yeah, I was a bit more out of shape than we thought when it reached 196. He almost didn't let me finish but I only had one more minute of the intense part and then I was free to cool down- or die, whichever came first.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The good news was my body would burn fat for the next 16 hours. How cool is that? So I'm headed to go jog around on the mini-trampoline for a bit before I head to the gym to have him kill me again. I only have 6 more days to look fabulously hot in my pink pirate costume. I'm not holding my breath.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.costumesupercenter.com/sexy+costumes-pirate/BW819-sexy-pink-pirate-costume-adult.html"><img imagetype="500101" src="http://cdn.costumesupercenter.com/csc_inc/images/items/343x432/BW819.jpg" alt="Sexy Pink Pirate Costume Adult" sequence="0" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I tried to order the body, too, but the shipping was too pricey.</span></span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-88422476336167516932009-10-16T18:39:00.001-04:002009-10-16T18:39:33.753-04:00Looking for a personal trainer in Tampa, Fl?<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.bodybydouglas.com/"><img alt="Get Started Today!" src="http://www.bodybydouglas.com/Sparks/Ad.jpg" width="449" border="0" height="700" /></a><br /><br /><br />Thank you,<br /><span style="color:#888888;">Douglas Zimmerman C.E.S.<br /><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.bodybydouglas.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1255732682_0">www.BodyByDouglas.com</span></a><br /><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1255732682_1">800.637.8113</span> </span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-12354685213621940062009-10-14T16:37:00.007-04:002009-10-14T22:08:27.802-04:00Give a kid a camera<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqGLfo1_rPVYOaahnrG56aZErsG2q_Mbe8Pg6rh6XsAsShSXSq57TANmvlUxa9ypzkIdztmgMFHlK1LrtbQikXmLk6kcC7dafIFEH6PPlCA46m-FkPYVQSYtiWExOI2zOR8xrV7n9upQ/s1600-h/2009_1012showerbridal0005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqGLfo1_rPVYOaahnrG56aZErsG2q_Mbe8Pg6rh6XsAsShSXSq57TANmvlUxa9ypzkIdztmgMFHlK1LrtbQikXmLk6kcC7dafIFEH6PPlCA46m-FkPYVQSYtiWExOI2zOR8xrV7n9upQ/s200/2009_1012showerbridal0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392565696128162786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb23lSU0YDfhzbggRytzTtVe9-Lf7JT2xnp-xRCAVZbSTCJsPGZZ8STaJV4qYyRlx_b3FUu2yFxMZvK0j-9a25RONeSTFx02Ne-2IlAvG-vQ2WANENk8XK3S9MQKM768jr6VwZaIRwIs/s1600-h/2009_1012showerbridal0004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb23lSU0YDfhzbggRytzTtVe9-Lf7JT2xnp-xRCAVZbSTCJsPGZZ8STaJV4qYyRlx_b3FUu2yFxMZvK0j-9a25RONeSTFx02Ne-2IlAvG-vQ2WANENk8XK3S9MQKM768jr6VwZaIRwIs/s200/2009_1012showerbridal0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392565520090240706" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3lK_s7a5-fAVAA1Dlg5Jw6lALDil3LofevDaxoXFiskSxO0IGeee-2LuPlHfaJrfeG3USdFpD_JXNqSSOOahP_93EdXa-zEoEy9CAD8oivFuF8r2AbDCEQo-1SHTHwWKyWIBZzBAOeo/s1600-h/2009_1003showerbridal0056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_3lK_s7a5-fAVAA1Dlg5Jw6lALDil3LofevDaxoXFiskSxO0IGeee-2LuPlHfaJrfeG3USdFpD_JXNqSSOOahP_93EdXa-zEoEy9CAD8oivFuF8r2AbDCEQo-1SHTHwWKyWIBZzBAOeo/s200/2009_1003showerbridal0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392564331152341538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >My kids love to walk around and take random pictures with their sister's cameras. Rece</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zU22S9qYMrl4wULEAX2Jthbray-2ktV23V5G4h8ZlM9B-_EUHK-PddXQT1EvTCGSrl11S83vQPg0IEFNY5FOwdma7wukVIjqBA-uQs0Btfd_8m9mFSUc4jze_xMCnGmcB51dHyGgdQs/s1600-h/2009_1012showerbridal0006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zU22S9qYMrl4wULEAX2Jthbray-2ktV23V5G4h8ZlM9B-_EUHK-PddXQT1EvTCGSrl11S83vQPg0IEFNY5FOwdma7wukVIjqBA-uQs0Btfd_8m9mFSUc4jze_xMCnGmcB51dHyGgdQs/s200/2009_1012showerbridal0006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392565846297157634" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >ntly my oldest daughter's friend placed a camera in his tuba for the halftime show at his football game. It's pretty cool to see the show from the player's perspective.</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >I thought I'd share some of the ones that made me laugh out loud</span>. <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >*disclaimer- this pics were taken by my kids or kids I know. They were not taken from random websites so do not belong in the Finds From the Web category.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RPN1oS1kOI&feature=channel" class="video-thumb-link" rel="nofollow"><img title="Marching Sousa Cam" src="http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/5RPN1oS1kOI/default.jpg" class="vimg90" qlicon="5RPN1oS1kOI" alt="Marching Sousa Cam" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7ZunAZG6eLvX2TyXvK4W7EjCRlJBEpgjOiWTk4TokPj4VPsG3aD6R1lexmSQXKnpx6S-KTW167QN6XpcpaC_6jyUYalhWec4nDkK9FCWkuE2vELRAlCy2IvRkkSUdLxbaE21hPMcQ4k/s1600-h/2009_0930showerbridal0001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7ZunAZG6eLvX2TyXvK4W7EjCRlJBEpgjOiWTk4TokPj4VPsG3aD6R1lexmSQXKnpx6S-KTW167QN6XpcpaC_6jyUYalhWec4nDkK9FCWkuE2vELRAlCy2IvRkkSUdLxbaE21hPMcQ4k/s200/2009_0930showerbridal0001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392559329366510626" border="0" /></a>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-42806490174313968032009-10-04T09:48:00.002-04:002009-10-04T09:53:23.961-04:00Ride for diabetes<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family: verdana;">I just received this email from one of my cousins and wanted to pass it along to the world:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;">Hey everyone, hope all is well. We just wanted to give you all an update on the benefit ride that we are doing. I'm sure most of you knew my father, Dennis. For those of you who don't, he was a wonderful husband and father. On September 12, 2000, he past away of diabetes. </span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1254663996_0"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;">Again, for those of you who aren't familiar with diabetes, diabetes is a very debilitating disease. Diabetes is the number one </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1254663996_1">cause of heart disease</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> and blindness in the United States, among many other painful and heart wrenching problems. </span><br /><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> So a couple of months ago, Ricky and I decided to do a ride (motorcycle) for diabetes. We've talked to the American Diabetes Association <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1254663996_2"></span>and they are having a <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1254663996_3">walk for diabetes</span> on October 24, 2009, and they want our ride to kick off their walk! We have gotten numerous merchandise donations from local bike shops for our raffle that we are holding for the ride. We are also charging a $10 per bike fee, and we are going to have a 50/50 raffle, and are having food and drinks. I have also gotten my college involved in this ride/walk. ALL OF THE PROCEEDS THAT WE RAISE ARE GOING TO THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION!!!! </div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> </div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> The reason for this e-mail is to let you know what we are doing, and also to give you the link for our web-site if you would like to participate. We know times are tough right now, but every little bit helps. We are splitting what we raise between the diabetes children's camp here in Kentucky and the other half towards finding a cure for diabetes,</span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1254663996_4"></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> it will all go towards research for finding a cure for this disease. For those of you who have already donated, we can't thank you enough! Not only does it mean the world to Ricky,me, and my family; but I know it means the universe to all of those with diabetes! I know what we are doing may seem small, but we believe that all the contributions we raise will make a huge difference. So please help us succeed in our dream. Thank you for you time, we love and miss you all!</span><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> </div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> </span><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> </div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;">Love, Jessica, Ricky, and Jilyian</span><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> </div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> </span><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> </div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> </span><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> </div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;">And the link to our page where you can donate, or just to look around is; </span><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> </div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> </span><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"> </div><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/StepOut/StepOut184308010?team_id=387509&pg=team&fr_id=6392"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1254663996_6">http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/StepOut/StepOut184308010?team_id=387509&pg=team&fr_id=6392</span></a> <div style="font-family: verdana;"> </div><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family: verdana;">Diabetes is becoming more and more common. One of the best ways to help is to provide money for research and one day hopefully a cure. I encourage you to open your heart and donate or hop on your Harley and join the ride!</span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-41563105252228493192009-10-01T13:15:00.001-04:002009-10-01T13:18:21.119-04:00Today I'm taking my life back<span style="font-family: verdana;" id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1"><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I'm sick and tired of having Adult ADD and letting it control my life. I'm tired of hiding behind it and using it as an excuse. I'm done. Rx or no Rx this is <strong>MY</strong> life. I <strong>refuse</strong> to let my ADD run it anymore. </p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">My house and life are a mess because I can't ever finish anything. I say I'm going to do something then never do it. Adult ADD sufferers don't get personal assistants no matter how badly we need them. I have pieces of paper and notes in my phone for things I'm supposed to remember but forget to check them. I've gone into my kitchen more than 10 times this morning to clean it but wander out to do something else and forget to go back and finish it. I'm trying to do laundry, clean the playroom, the kid's rooms, the dining room, my room all at the same time. It's incredibly overwhelming. So much so that I usually wind up giving up. Not today.</p> <p> </p> <p><span style="color:#0000ff;">Today I'm going back into the kitchen</span> <span style="color:#800080;">I still need to find Maggie's bottle</span>. <span style="color:#00ccff;">I'm going to wash all the glasses without stopping</span> <span style="color:#339966;">I need to clean the fridge out.</span> <span style="color:#0000ff;">I need to make my bed</span> <span style="color:#800080;">remember to get the trash bags out of Rach's room</span> . <span style="color:#ff00ff;">I still need to go through the toys for the toy swap</span> <span style="color:#0000ff;">I need to clean the laundry room first so I have a place to put</span> <span style="color:#0000ff;"><span style="color:#008080;">ugh the car port really needs to be swept</span>.</span> <span style="color:#ff0000;">I'll just sit down and check my email really quick</span> <span style="color:#3366ff;">Rrrrrr, my desk is a mess and needs</span> <span style="color:#993366;">yikes! kids have started to take over my hutch which is the one place in the house I declared as mine</span> <span style="color:#339966;">man, I never did get to watch the Special Edition Titanic DVD Kai gave me for Christmas last year </span><span style="color:#0000ff;">where did all my pens go?</span> <span style="color:#ff0000;">Carey needs to memorize another book to read since he's mastered the Hot Dog book.</span></p> <p> </p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Why all the colors? That's how my mind works in less than two minutes. Every color is a new thought, many aren't even finished before a new one starts. Many times it's even worse. Sometimes it's not being able to concentrate one minute to the next. This isn't just "where did I put my keys?" or walking from one room to another and not remembering why you were going there. For me, and parents like me, it's almost a disability. We feel alone, helpless, like we're the only ones going through this. Which is why I'm sharing. </p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I've said this before and I'll say it again, if someone you know is telling you about themselves having Adult ADD <strong>PLEASE</strong> do <strong>NOT</strong> say, "Oh, that happens to me maybe I have ADD!" and laugh. It's not a laughing matter to us. It's next to impossible to get a doctor to diagnose us with this. I heard "Oh, you're just a mom of 3" from three different doctors until finally someone listened when I was pregnant with my 4th. Now my life growing up makes so much more sense- my grades in school, my personality, and my relationships with others. I understand so much more now that I know I was growing up with ADD.</p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">That being said. I'm going into my kitchen, putting a chair in front of the gate as a reminder to not walk out until it's finished. And I'm setting the timer for 20 minutes as well.</p> <p> </p> <p><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>Today I'm conquering my ADD and I'm taking my life back.</strong></span></p></span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-53990919592307805022009-09-23T17:54:00.003-04:002009-09-23T18:01:53.522-04:00Mom website-aholics 12 Step Program<span id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1"><p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>1.</strong> We need to admit that we are powerless over our mom website, that our household messes have become unmanageable- but we don't feel like it. <br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"> </p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>2.</strong> We should come to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore our sanity- but we don't want to, plus we enjoy our insanity.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"> </p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>3.</strong> We're supposed to make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him- but God is too busy to plan play dates and Mom's Night Outs for us.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"> </p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>4.</strong> We may have to make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. But that would take time away from starting discussions and posting.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"> </p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>5.</strong> We will admit to our DH's, DD's, DS's, LO's, SO's, BF's*, ourselves, and to other human acronyms the exact nature of our wrongs- wait, it's wrong to be a mom website addict?</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"> </p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>6.</strong> We are entirely ready to have God remove all the defects of character- screw that, we're happy with our defective addiction.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"> </p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>7.</strong> We could humbly ask Him to remove our shortcomings but the keyboard doesn't have any more room for "F" buttons.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"> </p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>8.</strong> When we find the time, we'll make a list of all the persons we've <strike>harmed</strike> blown off and become willing to make amends to them all- as long as they agree to join our mom website.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"> </p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>9.</strong> When we're finished going through all our open tabs with discussions we must comment on we will make amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others- or if there's a chat and win contest going on.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"> </p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>10.</strong> We will continue to take personal inventory and when we are wrong promptly admit it- then immediately start a new discussion to vent about it.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"> </p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>11.</strong> We'll seek through <strike>prayer</strike> discussions to improve our conscious contact with <strike>God</strike> our mom website as we understand it, <strike>praying</strike> commenting on our knowledge of <strike>His will for us</strike> our growing ability to navigate the site with ease and the power to become an expert poster.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"> </p> <p style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color:#0000ff;"><strong>12.</strong> If we ever decide to pull ourselves away from our mom website we'll have a spiritual awakening as a result of completing these steps- and a cleaner house. We'll try to carry this message to new members, to practice these principles in all affairs, and to drag whoever we can deep into the depths of the mom website addiction.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-family: verdana;" id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1">Adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc by</span><span style="color:#0000ff;"><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> Kaytii Angel<br /></span></span></p><p><br /><span style="color:#0000ff;"><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"></span></span></p></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;" id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1"><span style="color:#3366ff;">* DH- dear husband, DD- dear daughter, DS- dear son, LO- little one, SO- significant other, BF- boyfriend</span></span></span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-73094692335101082942009-09-17T23:16:00.002-04:002009-09-18T00:58:50.811-04:00History of the Hula Hoop<span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Wham-O can't claim to be the inventor of the Hula Hoop. That right belongs to the Egyptians who shaped grape vines into circles. Children rolled them, tossed them, and swung them around their hips. The Greeks used them to lose weight. The British blamed back problems and heart attacks on hula hooping in the 1400's. The Japanese banned them comparing them to the improper Elvis's hip shaking. And Russia thought they were "the emptiness of American culture."</span><br /><br /><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/images/HulaHoop.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Inventions.htm&usg=__sixSDmK0AJQAlzN7ZqB2n36CxPM=&h=311&w=375&sz=10&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=SG-iUTq71iIHpM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=122&prev=/images%3Fq%3Degyptian%2Bhula%2Bhoop%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1"><img style="border: 1px solid ;" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:SG-iUTq71iIHpM:http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/images/HulaHoop.jpg" width="122" height="101" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">But what defined the popularity of the phenomenon? The 50's. Australian businessman Alex Tolmer started selling plastic hoops at his department store, Toltoys, according to the Encyclopædia Britannica. Wham-O bought the rights, trademarked the name and sold 20 million hoops in six months- for $1.98 in 1958. Thanks to cheap plastic and Wal Mart, you can still buy them for that price. Or you can spend a couple of dollars extra for a higher quality, sturdier hoop. </span><br /><br /><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://fashionecking.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/large_hula_hoop_models.jpg&imgrefurl=http://thelovekey.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/&usg=__p1ZbhwCQhkJj7tbgdNk3rotIn2E=&h=443&w=453&sz=45&hl=en&start=28&um=1&tbnid=gPamz_rgTbqQYM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3D1950%2527s%2Bhula%2Bhoop%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20%26um%3D1"><img style="border: 1px solid ;" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:gPamz_rgTbqQYM:http://fashionecking.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/large_hula_hoop_models.jpg" width="127" height="124" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The Hula Hoop is making a comeback since it's extreme popularity in the 50's. It's become a fun cardio exercise as well as a way to tone muscles. Hooping groups are forming everywhere across the United States. I hate to exercise so I try to find things that intrest me. I love my dance DVD's and my stability ball. Now I love my Hula Hoop.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Buying one has not only helped me, it's helping my 12 and 15 year old daughter's as well. After telling Kelly, the older one, that I'd hooped for 10 minutes without dropping she issued a challenge. She wanted to see which of us could hoop longer. She beat me by two and a half minutes but only because I had to put my younger two to bed- after one hour of hooping. Yeah, that's right- one hour. After doing this research I discovered 600 calories can be burned in an hour. WOW! I'm sure it requires much more physical exerction than I did but it's very promising!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://fitness.resourcesforattorneys.com/images/hoop-dancing.jpg&imgrefurl=http://fitness.resourcesforattorneys.com/index.php%3Fm%3D07%26y%3D07%26entry%3Dentry070711-162606&usg=__WJQ4zuICzJ1M18ey6eE6n1NcWT8=&h=300&w=400&sz=71&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=t9KYqdr_dBuAnM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhula%2Bhoop%2Bexercise%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26um%3D1"><img style="border: 1px solid ;" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:t9KYqdr_dBuAnM:http://fitness.resourcesforattorneys.com/images/hoop-dancing.jpg" width="124" height="93" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I'm looking forward to another fabulous adventure of toning and weight loss- but tons of fun. Care to go hooping with me?</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://inventors.about.com/od/hstartinventions/a/Hula_Hoop.htm">Hula Hoop</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.loti.com/50s_fifties_hula_hoop.htm">The History of the Hula Hoop</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0825/p02s16-ussc.html">A new fitness craze- Hula Hooping?</a>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-2784894452803672552009-09-11T18:09:00.014-04:002009-09-14T09:12:17.471-04:00Open your hearts to a stranger<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2s8Wl2W_oK56Mm0ZZ0yhjhHhYlty0Xxf0ezqOP3wZK2F9bgwya-iCZFtcYDk4H_7mGl2EmFdD3vlgzf-CqSTyAZzUjQpq5yyta7FX3TTfIRq_RvMR4TPK2mLzp2Z-iy1Nglgm9RSo4B0/s1600-h/derrickshauna.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2s8Wl2W_oK56Mm0ZZ0yhjhHhYlty0Xxf0ezqOP3wZK2F9bgwya-iCZFtcYDk4H_7mGl2EmFdD3vlgzf-CqSTyAZzUjQpq5yyta7FX3TTfIRq_RvMR4TPK2mLzp2Z-iy1Nglgm9RSo4B0/s200/derrickshauna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380399141580780594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >I was recently made aware of a post on a site called MomsLikeMe.com. An excited mom, Shauna, posted a discussion on the Tampa Bay site announcing her engagement. She soon received many congratulations from several moms. It wasn't until Shau</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrGIRYmMkkTM2zGciZ2hUWgT56er88hwCDPDZoBnm__9gXyjzsKuPNSWKOwYyQGiN3vbc5mNHpFEuISinyIURM2M4443Cojy-NkqBj_nbYK2GEvgDim8B8p6CYekw3nqdkZv_X-vlVI4/s1600-h/shauna.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrGIRYmMkkTM2zGciZ2hUWgT56er88hwCDPDZoBnm__9gXyjzsKuPNSWKOwYyQGiN3vbc5mNHpFEuISinyIURM2M4443Cojy-NkqBj_nbYK2GEvgDim8B8p6CYekw3nqdkZv_X-vlVI4/s200/shauna.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380399776150124978" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >na posted that she wanted her friend, Angela, to be her maid of honor "if we c</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >an get her out here" that the moms realized Shauna lived in Texas. Originally, Shauna wanted to get m</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >arried on 10/10/10 but since her fiance, Derrick's, best friend was being deployed overseas, they moved the date to 10/24/09. The date worked for the best man but not for the maid of honor. The final date was set for 11/1/09. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >With the date set, Shauna posted the following discussion on the Tampa Bay site:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1" >I am moving up the wedding by a year due to Derricks Best Friend being sent to Afganastan. I </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1" >REALLY want Angela out here for this day. Is there anyone </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1" >who might have frequent Flyer Miles they could maybe spare so i can get her out here. I know its ALOT to ask but we are very strapped for money with moving this up. My Family really isn</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1" >t helping out so we are doing everything. If anyone has ideas or can help in anyway that would be GREAT! Thanks again for everyones help!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Immediately ideas started pouring in for inexpensive flights. No one had any frequent flyer miles but one mom suggested setting up a paypal account for anyone who wanted to donate money. Moms quickly started sending donations each expressing how much they wished they could give more. Others started suggesting locations and ways to have a frugal wedding. S</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >ome had met Angela at various MomsLikeMe activities but none had ever met Shauna since she lives in Texas. These moms were opening their hearts to a stranger. One mom decided to take thing</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGljjVsAXpD8zJdIy_AGYKfKPZ3SQrTooocs0feLc8bKLZTqYGlJDcMBuMJQG7bLxMfrWnLyJEWxepSl2vFg-ftPoj-CIO2SCOhFuASJRzQXwWndrXP0Ac_oxMPP8skfEIh9OCVDl8BY/s1600-h/matthew.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGljjVsAXpD8zJdIy_AGYKfKPZ3SQrTooocs0feLc8bKLZTqYGlJDcMBuMJQG7bLxMfrWnLyJEWxepSl2vFg-ftPoj-CIO2SCOhFuASJRzQXwWndrXP0Ac_oxMPP8skfEIh9OCVDl8BY/s200/matthew.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380399565367970690" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >s into her own hands. Faith marched over to the Dallas MomsLikeMe.com site and posted this:</span><br /><br /><span id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1"><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;">HI There,</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"><strong>My name is Faith and I am part of the Tampa Bay site and love it.</strong> I have had such a fun summer and have met some amazing moms and kids from our site. Recently, I read a post from one of your members, Shauna, who was so excited to be newly engaged and was planning a wedding for November 1st, 2009. Some of the amazing Tampa moms were willing to donate some money to try and get enough funds together to have Shauna's best friend from Tampa flown out for the wedding........</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;">Well.... to cut a long story short, Shauna has decided to postpone the wedding due to lack of funds. I was thinking to myself..... surely there must be some moms/people/organizations willing to help out Shauna in her time of need. Is there anybody out there on this site in Dallas/Ft. Worth or through any connections that could help out Shauna with: Flowers, finger foods, photography in order for her still to have her wedding on November 1st, 2009 it would be amazing for her. The Tampa moms jump at the chance to help out their fellow site members and am hoping that there maybe somebody in Texas that would like to help out their fellow mom too. Thanks for taking the time to read my message. Please post if you are able to help her out... Thanks from Tampa - Faith</p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;">Hope you don't mind me jumping onto your site to post this......</p><p><span><span id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1"><span><span id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1"><span><span id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1"><span><span id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6mSQcexz6PZcAoP303S1QtGWqkpXl7RlrxOCjwdXiyj6-RcrCM33WZDMpUhy1S9jeiPmBWX5BSpTzAgkkJ95hUET_URMcmOu-sJq2S82BFlQEAVYSxUWHUcTX6xHu7VP_9CBVFWS3uI/s1600-h/angela.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6mSQcexz6PZcAoP303S1QtGWqkpXl7RlrxOCjwdXiyj6-RcrCM33WZDMpUhy1S9jeiPmBWX5BSpTzAgkkJ95hUET_URMcmOu-sJq2S82BFlQEAVYSxUWHUcTX6xHu7VP_9CBVFWS3uI/s200/angela.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380399313180951826" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The response was dismal. One mom offered to do a home party for the bachelorette party and a couple others suggested websites with tips for having an inexpensive wedding.<br /></p></span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Then Shauna surprised everyone by posting the following:</span><br /><br /><span id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;" >Hi Ladies I wanted to update everyone on what is going on. We are putting off the wedding due</span></span><span id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:Tahoma;font-size:130%;" > to finances. Everyone should be getting a refund on the money you sent to send Angie out here. I thank you all for your help with this. Im sorry to have put everyone in a spot. Thanks again for everything!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Faith and the other Tampa Bay moms did not accept this new news. Another mom,Kathryn, suggested Shauna put the paypal account back up and see what could be done to get the wedding paid for plus fly Angela out. Faith started a new post on the Tampa Bay site to let them know the latest news of the account being reposted. Frustrated with the lack of help from the Dallas moms, Kathryn all but instigated a showdown between the two sites. Crickets were all that could be heard from Dallas while a noise level that would rival any rock concert was pouring from Tampa Bay. Money, dresses, flowers, guest books, cake toppers galore were being offered to make sure this wedding happened....for a stranger. Shauna and Angela were left speechless and humbled. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >After hearing about this ama</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >zing show of compassion, I knew I had to let the world know. There is so much evil and destruction going on in the world today. It seems negativity has taken over our newspapers, magazines, television, and the internet. It's these little stories of hope, love, and compassion that need to make the headlines. This gives people the warm fuzzy feelings that can ooze across the world if people choose to share, to care, and to give.</span><br /><br /><span><span id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1"><span><span id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZOt2HxFU71ewqYllTGcPHQ-x8f8Cg2RSB4f67H7UwWr1JHHQrqUyKoVQCAqdqlxdiKLPbBpd-j1qZKgb20h71OlsHMoI01POAi0bKDB_hJPwwml1UFGs89gHjMz28lKPAbAxUItiG54/s1600-h/angelashauna.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZOt2HxFU71ewqYllTGcPHQ-x8f8Cg2RSB4f67H7UwWr1JHHQrqUyKoVQCAqdqlxdiKLPbBpd-j1qZKgb20h71OlsHMoI01POAi0bKDB_hJPwwml1UFGs89gHjMz28lKPAbAxUItiG54/s200/angelashauna.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380401029364507474" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >I implore you to join me and these selfless moms in a quest to make a dream come true. Oprah does it, Ellen does it, now we can too. Be a part of joining this couple, their family, and their best friends on a joyous day they will remember for the rest of their lives. No one is asking for anyone to go broke in donating. It's amazing how quickly $20, $10, $5, and even $1 can add up. In just 2 days, they raised $80 before deciding to cancel. The account is back up and ready for you to give if you choose. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Join me in opening our hearts to a stranger.</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Click</span>- <a style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;" href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=8004832"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Derrick and Shauna- A lifetime of love.</span></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><br /></span></span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-23958849369165065112009-09-11T12:36:00.002-04:002009-09-11T12:53:22.956-04:00Steven Curtis Chapman, Bio Dad, and Me<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">I recently discovered that blogspot counts "drafts" as posts. My 100th post was most likely 90-something. I'm getting close to 200 so today I decided to start going through my drafts to either finish or delete them. I'm not sure why I never posted this one as it was pretty much finished. This was a very special day for me that I will always remember:</span><br /><br />Last Saturday I had the pleasure of spending the day with my biological dad. If this is your first time visiting my blog let me catch you up to speed (if you've followed all along bear with me for a moment). I was adopted when I was two days old. I started searching for my biological mother when I turned 18 and 17 years later, I finally found her. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever meet my biological father as most do not want to be found. A year later, we've developed a wonderful relationship and I am blessed to have him in my life.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love, love, love Steven Curtis Chapman and was ultra excited when I found out he was coming to Glory at the Gardens at Busch Gardens. I sent bio dad an email and asked him if he wanted to come. He did! We got there early so we could walk around the park for a while. I got him on my favorite roller coaster, Montu, and it was a blast-at least for me. Then we wandered through the animals leading Kelly, my fifteen year old daughter, on a wild goose chase as she tried to catch up with us. She was there with a friend. Eventually she found us at the hippos which is my favorite animal. I could stay there all day (which you kind of have to if you want to see them doing anything exciting). The three of us wandered through the park giving bio dad a chance to get to know Kelly without my other three kids around. I don't know how to explain their relationship before then. It's not that they didn't get along they just didn't have an opportunity to really learn more about each other. On this day they talked and bio dad was able to watch the unique relationship Kelly and I have with each other. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">On our way to the concert area we passed Sheikra, my second favorite roller coaster. Since I usually have the little kids with me I don't get to ride it often. Kelly convinced bio dad to ride it even though he thought he would have a heart attack and die. We only ride in the front so we can look down the 200 feet of track which is at a ninety degree angle. They dangle you like that for about 5 seconds then let you go. I scream the whole way down...every time. Bio dad liked this one, too. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Eventually we made out way to the concert area. We were a few minutes late but I now know that it was part of a plan God had. I'd mentioned in an earlier post that I'd said something that ticked bio dad off. We talked about it on the phone before he picked me up and touched on it a little while we walked around the park. Just after we walked in Steven Curtis Chapman started to sing a song called "God is God."<br /><br /><br /></span></span><a id="video-url-cSsMsVEDFjs" href="http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=D4FDFA1B16ABA58A&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&v=cSsMsVEDFjs" rel="nofollow"><img title="My Greeting Videos" src="http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/cSsMsVEDFjs/default.jpg" class="vimgCluster120 yt-uix-hovercard-target" alt="My Greeting Videos" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here are the lyrics:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">And the pain falls like a curtain</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">On the things I once called certain</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">And I have to say the words I fear the most</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I just don't know</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">And the questions without answers</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Come and paralyze the dancer</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">So I stand here on the stage afraid to move</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Afraid to fall, oh, but fall I must</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">On this truth that my life has been formed from the dust</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">God is God and I am not</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I can only see a part of the picture He's painting</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">God is God and I am man</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">So I'll never understand it all</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">For only God is God</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">And the sky begins to thunder</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">And I'm filled with awe and wonder</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Til the only burning question that remains</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Is who am I</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Can I form a single mountain</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Take the stars in hand and count them</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">He is first and last before all that has been</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Beyond all that will pass</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">God is God and I am not</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> I can only see a part of the picture He's painting</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> God is God and I am man</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> So I'll never understand it all</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> For only God is God</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">How unsearchable for to Him and through Him and from Him are all things</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">So let us worship before the throne</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Of the One who is worthy of worship alone</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This touched us in a way I wish I could explain. It really puts your life into perspective. For those who think they know it all, can do whatever they want with out thinking about repercussions, who think only of themselves, who believe </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" >they</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;"> are in control, you're not. God, or whatever higher power you believe in, <span style="font-style: italic;">that </span>is who is in control. <br /><br />Specific memories of that day have already begun to fade but the memory of walking into that field during this song with a man I never thought I'd meet and have come to love- that memory will be with me forever.<br /></span></span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-22436172719522654892009-09-10T17:36:00.002-04:002009-09-10T18:00:52.972-04:00Taking a break...<span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">All this Alzheimer's research is doing a number on me. I'm exhausted and depressed both which are risk factors in developing the disease. Sooooo, it's time to do a little giggling!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I'm shifting through my notebooks, little pieces of paper, and "notes" app on my phone to put together funny little things that have happened in the last week. Well, at least I thought they were funny. You may read them and think they are dull. If that's the case, I'm sorry you and I don't share the same sense of humor. It just proves mine's better!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">_____________________________________________________________</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">So, last night Kelly, my 15 year old, came in and asked me for help with her Algebra 2 homework- something about slopes. I looked at it and said, "Ugh. I'm not good at this kind of math." Kelly replied, "You're bad at everything that involves math." Well then why the hell did she ask me for help??</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">_____________________________________________________________</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I keep looking at this note I wrote to myself- "takes few minutes to reset dates on bottom." Apparently it was important because I wrote it down but I can't, for the life of me, remember what the heck it means.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">_____________________________________________________________</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">My five year old son, Carson, was mad because I didn't let him go through the baby gate to put his scooter in the living room (I did it for him). "Mommy yo-" he started to say. I cut him off telling him, "Watch your mouth!" To which he replied, "But I can't see my mouth."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">_____________________________________________________________</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Caron: Why is Daddy so grumpy?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Me: I don't know</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Carson: Maybe he's got his feather's in a bunch.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">_____________________________________________________________</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Hubby and I were both kissing our three year old, Maisie, good night at the same time. "U bowff wuv me," she said, then "more kisses." We kissed her several more times. "Ok, that's enough," she declared. Awwww.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">____________________________________________________________</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I took Maisie on a play date to the mall yesterday with several of my friends and their kids. One of the moms said, "Kaytii, watch." So I turned around and watched Maisie holding hands with two of her friends on top of a giant hamburger. They counted to three and jumped off. Maisie landed on her face. I turned around to look at one of the moms and she's trying hard not to laugh. "I swear they did it perfectly three times just before!" Uh-huh. I kept watching to see the "perfect" jump I'd missed before. They did it three more times- unsuccessfully, with Maisie falling every time. Thanks for bringing that to my attention mommies! (Maisie was find, BTW)</span> <span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">She thought it was hilarious.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">_____________________________________________________________</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Yesterday morning, Maisie, demanded her morning bottle. Yes, I know, she shouldn't have one at age three but she's the baby so deal with it. The playroom is always a disaster so I spent 20 minutes picking up 60 Webkinz, Castle Mega Blocks, 10,000 Legos, and 20 Tinkerbell toys. No bottle. I checked the dishwasher. Found it. At least the playroom is cleaner now.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">_____________________________________________________________</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I've come to the conclusion that nothing in my house is ever where it is, except when it is.</span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-55307331667081208232009-09-10T11:06:00.002-04:002009-09-10T12:41:17.500-04:00Causes of Alzheimer's Disease<span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Hmmmm, the first couple of websites I read were not very helpful when I started researching the causes of Alzheimer's Disease. "Visiting our site is a great step." "Scientists are still working on finding the cause." They say third times a charm- or three strikes and you're out. Luckily it was the latter.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Scientists <span style="font-style: italic;">are</span> still researching the causes of Alzheimer's but they have uncovered risk factors which may be helpful.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The first risk factor is age. The older you get, the more likely you are to develop Alzheimer's which is the most common form of </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.youcanbetheone.com/seeingSigns/dementia.html?cid=ACQPDSWEB0509_01&source=google&HBX_PK=s_dementia&HBX_OU=50&o=35811859%7C214043340%7C0">dementia</a><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">. Several sites said the same thing- one out of every eight people over 65 have Alzheimer's. Once you hit 85 the chances jump to nearly one out of every two. "<a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://alzheimers.about.com/od/whatisalzheimer1/a/causes.htm">The</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> probability of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s nearly doubles every five years after age 65." "</span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.medicinenet.com/alzheimers_disease/page2.htm#tocd">Unless</a> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">new treatments are developed to decrease the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease, the number of individuals with Alzheimer's disease in the United States is expected to be 14 million by the year 2050.</span>" Very scary statistics.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The next risk factor is family history. This </span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: verdana;">is going to be difficult to write about as my adopted grandma had Alzheimer's as well as my biological grandmother (and her mom). This means that my adopted mom, my two adopted sisters, my biological mom, </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">my two biological sisters, biological brother and myself are all at risk.</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We are 2-3 times more likely to develop the disease than those with no family history. The more close relatives that have Alzheimer's the more the risk increases. </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Also, more women than men develop the disease. People who have suffered traumatic head injuries and those with less than eight years of education are also more likely. </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />Genetics are also involved as risk factors:<br /><br /></span></span><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>1)<a href="http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_causes_risk_factors.asp"> Risk</a> genes increase the likelihood of developing a disease, but do not guarantee it will happen.</strong> Scientists have so far identified one Alzheimer risk gene called apolipoprotein E-e4 (APOE-e4).</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;">APOE-e4 is one of three common forms of the APOE gene; the others are APOE-e2 and APOE-e3. APOE provides the blueprint for one of the proteins that carries cholesterol in the bloodstream.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Everyone inherits a copy of some form of APOE from each parent. Those who inherit one copy of APOE-e4 have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Those who inherit two copies have an even higher risk, but not a certainty. Scientists do not yet know how APOE-e4 raises risk. In addition to raising risk, APOE-e4 may tend to make symptoms appear at a younger age than usual.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Experts believe there may be as many as a dozen other Alzheimer risk genes in addition to APOE-e4.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>2) Deterministic genes directly cause a disease, guaranteeing that anyone who inherits them will develop the disorder.</strong> Scientists have found rare genes that directly cause Alzheimer’s in only a few hundred extended families worldwide.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;">When Alzheimer’s disease is caused by deterministic genes, it is called “familial Alzheimer’s disease,” and many family members in multiple generations are affected. True familial Alzheimer’s accounts for less than 5 percent of cases.</span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Genetic tests are available for both APOE-e4 and the rare genes that directly cause Alzheimer’s. However, health professionals do not currently recommend routine genetic testing for Alzheimer’s disease. Testing for APOE-e4 is sometimes included as a part of research studies.</span></p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Nothing can be done about the above risk factors but there are some things people can do to try to prevent or slow the onset of Alzheimer's.</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Avoiding traumatic head injuries early in life is one. Be sure to use seat belts in vehicles and proper head gear when playing sports.</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Also, take good care of your heart. </span><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">"</span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_causes_risk_factors.asp">The</a><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> risk of developing Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia appears to be increased by many conditions that damage the heart or blood vessels. These include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high cholesterol. Work with your doctor to monitor your heart health and treat any problems that arise."</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://alzheimers.about.com/od/whatisalzheimer1/a/causes.htm">Evidence </a>is also mounting for the promotion of </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://alzheimers.about.com/od/prevention/f/physexercise.htm">exercise</a><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> and a </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://alzheimers.about.com/od/prevention/f/nutrition.htm">healthy diet</a><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> to reduce Alzheimer’s risk. Avoiding </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://quitsmoking.about.com/">tobacco</a><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">, limiting alcohol consumption, staying </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://alzheimers.about.com/od/prevention/f/interaction.htm">socially active</a><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">, and engaging in </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://alzheimers.about.com/od/prevention/f/mentalactivity.htm">intellectually stimulating activities</a><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> have also been shown to have a protective effect against Alzheimer’s disease.</span></p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> Finally, there is a strong link between heart health and brain health. Those who are free of <a href="http://heartdisease.about.com/">heart disease</a> or related conditions are at a lower risk of developing <a href="http://alzheimers.about.com/od/glossary/g/Alzheimers.htm">Alzheimer’s</a> or another kind of <a href="http://alzheimers.about.com/od/glossary/g/Dementia.htm">dementia</a> than those who have cardiovascular problems.</p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The more I research this horrible disease the more I learn and find to blog about. After this one I may have to take a break as it's been very exhausting and emotional. But if it makes others more aware and helps even one person then my messy house and lack of sleep is well worth it. </span><br /></p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><br /></p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Resources used:</p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://alzheimers.about.com/od/whatisalzheimer1/a/causes.htm">What Causes Alzheimer's Disease?</a></p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_causes_risk_factors.asp">Risk Factors</a></p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/AlzheimersInformation/Causes/">Causes</a></p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htm">Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet</a></p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/alzheimers_disease/article.htm">Alzheimer's Disease</a></p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><br /></p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Related posts by RMS Snowdrop:</p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/09/caring-for-loved-one-with-alzheimers.html#links">Caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's</a><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/09/alzheimers-deeper-look.html#links">Alzheimer's- a deeper look</a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-is-alzheimers.html#links">What is Alzheimer's?</a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/08/alzheimers-stole-my-grandma.html">Alzheimer's stole my grandma</a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/08/alzheimers-stole-my-nanny.html">Alzheimer's stole my Nanny</a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/08/if-i-develop-alzheimers-letter-to-my.html">If I develop Alzheimer's- A letter to my family</a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Next up: Alzheimer's and aluminum</span><br /></p>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-4945178981339385192009-09-08T19:41:00.006-04:002009-09-09T18:11:48.910-04:00Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >I remember when my mom brought my grandma from Indiana to Florida to live with us. Just before, Grandma almost transferred all of her money into a scam artists account. This was a big sign that her memory was deteriorating. My mom cared for Grandma at home as long as she could. Eventually the decision to put her in a nursing home had to be made. It was a very touch decision. Most people don't want to put the care of their loved ones into the hands of others but sometimes there just isn't any other choice.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >There is a lot of support for the caregivers of Alzheimer's patients. With the help of the internet the options are almost endless. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Alzheimer's affects the brain in a way that the person loses their ability to remember things (both short term and long term), to think, communicate, and eventually simple functions like using the bathroom, walking, and talking. Grandma had to do physical therapy to help her remember how to swallow. Understanding the phases of Alzheimer's is important for loved ones taking care of and those visiting the person affected with the disease. Here are the three visible phases (the earliest usually isn't detected until 10-20 years after the onset):</span><br /><br /><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" id="RadEditorPlaceHolderControl1" ><h3 style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htm"><strong>Mild AD</strong></a></span></h3> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">As AD progresses, memory loss continues and changes in other cognitive abilities appear. Problems can include getting lost, trouble handling money and paying bills, repeating questions, taking longer to complete normal daily tasks, poor judgment, and mood and personality changes. People often are first diagnosed in this stage.</p></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htm"><span id="RadEditorPlaceHolderControl1"><p>Moderate AD</p></span></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" id="RadEditorPlaceHolderControl1" >In this stage, damage occurs in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought. Memory loss and confusion increase, and people begin to have problems recognizing family and friends. They may be unable to learn new things, carry out tasks that involve multiple steps (such as getting dressed), or cope with new situations. They may have hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia, and may behave impulsively.</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" id="RadEditorPlaceHolderControl1" ><p><a href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htm"><strong></strong></a><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><a>Severe AD</a> </strong></p></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" id="RadEditorPlaceHolderControl1" > <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">By the final stage, plaques and tangles have spread throughout the brain and brain tissue has shrunk significantly. People with severe AD cannot communicate and are completely dependent on others for their care. Near the end, the person may be in bed most or all of the time as the body shuts down.</p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">It's important to talk to your loved one about their long term care before the disease progresses too deep into the mild stage. It will be very frustrating for them to learn that eventually they will have no control over their lives and decisions that they used to make for themselves. Make sure you do your research for the many questions you will have. Find a local support group for yourself and those close to your loved one. Having a place to vent with people who are going through the same things you're going through is important in taking care of your own needs. Find other family members who will be willing to help in the care. You can't do it by yourself. You will should to look into having home care if you plan on avoiding placing your loved one in a home so you can take time for yourself.<br /></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Eventually, however, most Alzheimer's patients need to be placed in a home. Before the Alzheimer's gets bad, you may want to look at different nursing homes and let your loved one be involved in the decision making. Do your research. Not all homes are what they seem. There are now lawyers that specialize in cases against nursing homes that don't take care of their patients. There are many more homes that provide excellent care, though. Take your time choosing the right one.<br /></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Learning someone you care about has Alzheimer's will bring about a whole slew of questions and emotions. Caregivers need to remember to not only do what they can to help their loved one but must also remember to take care of themselves.<br /></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Excellent resources</span>:</p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><a href="http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/caregiving-insights/ask-for-help">Caregiving: Getting help from other caregivers</a><br /></p></span><h1 style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/CaringAD/caregiving/understanding.htm">Understanding How AD Changes People—Challenges and Coping Strategies</a></span></h1><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" id="RadEditorPlaceHolderControl1" ><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/caregiving-insights/starting-points"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Caregiving: Getting Started</span></a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/caregiving-insights/handle-stress"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Caregiver: Stressed Out? Advice to help you out</span></a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/caregiving-insights/default.htm"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Caregiving: Insights for caregivers</span></a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Caregiving/HomeAndFamily/"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Home and Family</span></a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Related posts by RMS Snowdrop:</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/09/alzheimers-deeper-look.html#links">Alzheimer's- a deeper look</a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-is-alzheimers.html#links">What is Alzheimer's?</a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/08/alzheimers-stole-my-grandma.html">Alzheimer's stole my grandma</a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/08/alzheimers-stole-my-nanny.html">Alzheimer's stole my Nanny</a></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/08/if-i-develop-alzheimers-letter-to-my.html">If I develop Alzheimer's- A letter to my family</a><br /></p></span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-13080912013529723722009-09-08T19:36:00.005-04:002009-09-09T15:09:13.618-04:00Alzheimer's- a deeper look<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Scientists around the globe are striving to not only understand what causes Alzheimer's but how to slow it down and have hopes of curing it as well. I came across two articles from U.S. News which discuss scientists latest finds in researching the genes that may cause Alzheimer's. </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/09/06/trio-of-gene-variants-discovered-that-may-raise.html?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a41:g26:r11:c0.005818:b27593812:z0&s_cid=loomia:three-genes-linked-to-alzheimers-disease-risk">Trio of Gene Variations That May Raise Alzheimer's Risks</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >explains how defects in CLU, CR1 and PICALM genes may increase ones chance of developing Alzheimer's. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" >"Although the role of these two new genes [CLU and CR1] . . . is not yet known in detail, previous studies suggest that they may be involved in the elimination of the major component of amyloid plaques," explained Amouyel, the leader of the team that studied the CLU and CR1 genes. "Genetic variants at CLU, CR1 and APOE may influence susceptibility to late-onset forms of the disease."</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">The collaboration of scientists from all over the world plus more than 20,000 individuals that volunteered for the study has provided the biggest genetic breakthrough in over ten years. Finding the gene variants may help them discover new treatments to slow or cure the disease.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Three Genes Linked to Alzheimer's Disease Risk</span> is a similar article. Click <a href="http://www.usnews.com/articles/science/2009/09/08/three-genes-linked-to-alzheimers-disease-risk.html">here</a> to read.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">In another <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/besttreatments/2009/sep/08/coughs-and-colds-might-speed-alzheimers-decline">study</a>, it is believed that colds and coughs may speed up the progression of Alzheimer's. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">It may be that infections cause inflammation in the body, which speeds up the damage caused by Alzheimer's. However, another explanation for the link is that people with worsening Alzheimer's are more vulnerable to infections.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >In this study, 275 Alzheimer's patients spent six months taking a series of tests which involved memory, thinking, as well as measuring TNF-alpha (a chemical that helps create inflammation). This is what was found:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" >Their carers were asked to record any illnesses or injuries, such as coughs, colds, upset stomachs, urinary tract infections, falls, and bruises.</span><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">People who had higher TNF-alpha at the start of the study had slightly lower scores on memory and thinking tests after six months. People with low levels had a drop of about 0.8 points, compared with 2.4 points for people with high levels.</p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">About half the people in the study had at least one infection or injury. These people were also likely to get poorer test scores. People who hadn't been ill saw their average score drop by 1.6 points, compared with 3.5 for people who had at least one infection or injury.</p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Although the researchers did find a bigger drop in test scores for people suffering inflammation, the differences were small. They amount to about 2 points, and the scale ran from 0 to 70. Doctors usually say that there must be a change of about 4 points on this scale before you'd notice a difference in the severity of someone's Alzheimer's.</p><h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">How reliable are the findings?</span></h2><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">The study did find a link between infections and worsening Alzheimer's, but it's impossible to be sure that these illnesses really caused the decline. It might be that as people become more ill with Alzheimer's, they're more vulnerable to infections and injuries. For example, research has shown that people who have Alzheimer's have a higher risk of falls. It's also possible that someone struggling to look after themselves might have difficulty with things like regularly washing their hands, which can increase the risk of colds and flu.</p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Another issue is that infections can make people confused. This could have led to lower scores in the memory tests, rather than worsening Alzheimer's. The researchers took cases of delirium caused by infection into account, but they might have missed milder cases of confusion.</p><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >In an effort to find a cure or to delay the progress of Alzheimer's researchers looked at a cancer drug that make it easier for neurons in the brain to manufacture new proteins in mice.</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Read more here: </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/09/08/cancer-drug-may-fight-alzheimers.html">Cancer Drug May Fight Alzheimer's</a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Related Articles:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20090906/new-alzheimers-gene-targets-found">New Alzheimer's Gene Target's Found</a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/ResearchInformation/NewsReleases/">National Institute on Aging</a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/ResearchInformation/participateADresearch.htm">Participating in Alzheimer's Research</a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/ResearchInformation/ClinicalTrials/trialsQandA.htm">AD Clinical Trials: Questions and Answers</a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Related posts by RMS Snowdrop:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-is-alzheimers.html"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >What is Alzheimer's?</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/08/alzheimers-stole-my-grandma.html"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Alzheimer's stole my grandma</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/08/alzheimers-stole-my-nanny.html"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Alzheimer's stole my Nanny</span></a><br /><br /><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/08/if-i-develop-alzheimers-letter-to-my.html"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >If I develop Alzheimer's: A letter to my family</span></a>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-26127117846721929902009-09-08T16:37:00.003-04:002009-09-09T16:39:04.312-04:00What is Alzheimer's?<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >In 1901, </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp#Alzheimer">Aloi Alzheimer</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">, a German physician, had a patient brought to him with symptoms he'd never seen before. Fifty-one year old Frau Auguste D. was having problems with her memory, a hard time speaking and understanding what others were saying to her, as well as suspicions her husband was cheating on her. Following her death in the spring of 1906, Dr. Alzheimer asked the family's permission to do an autopsy. This is what he found in Auguste’s brain,</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">"he saw dramatic shrinkage, especially of the cortex, the outer layer involved in memory, thinking, judgment and speech. Under the microscope, he also saw widespread fatty deposits in small blood vessels, dead and dying brain cells, and abnormal deposits in and around cells."</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The following November, Dr. Alzheimer brought this case to a scientific meeting.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">"In 1910, Emil Kraepelin,</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">a psychiatrist noted for his work in naming and</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">classifying brain disorders,</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">proposed that the disease be named after Alzheimer."</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >From the </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp">introduction</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" > of What is Alzheimer's?:</span><br /><br /></span><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Is a progressive and fatal brain disease.</strong> As many as 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Today it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. For more information, see <a href="http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_know_the_10_signs.asp">Warning Signs</a> and <a href="http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_stages_of_alzheimers.asp">Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease</a>.</span></li></ul> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <ul style="font-family:verdana;"><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Is the most common form of dementia</strong>, a general term for the loss of memory and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50 to 70 percent of dementia cases. Other types of dementia include vascular dementia, mixed dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia. For more information about other causes of dementia, please see <a href="http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_related_diseases.asp">Related Dementias.</a><br /><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Has no current cure. </strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">But </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_treatments.asp">treatments for symptoms</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">, combined with the right services and support, can make life better for the millions of Americans living with Alzheimer’s. There is an accelerating worldwide effort under way to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, or prevent it from developing. Learn more about recent progress in Alzheimer research funded by the Alzheimer’s Association in the </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_research_ad.asp">Research</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> section.</span> </span></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Currently no one knows what causes Alzheimer's to start but it is known that it begins in the section of the brain for recent memory then spreads. The disease destroys brain cells and starts anywhere from ten to twenty years before any symptoms are visible. Unfortunately the number of those affected by Alzheimer's will only increase as more and more people are living longer lives. How long they will live depends on when they were diagnosed, the sex of the person, and if there are any other health problems- anywhere from three to more than ten years.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Here is a more in-depth description of how Alzheimer's works-</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htm">From the National Aging Institute Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">:</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" id="RadEditorPlaceHolderControl1" >Tangles begin to develop deep in the brain, in an area called the entorhinal cortex, and plaques form in other areas. As more and more plaques and tangles form in particular brain areas, healthy neurons begin to work less efficiently. Then, they lose their ability to function and communicate with each other, and eventually they die. This damaging process spreads to a nearby structure, called the hippocampus, which is essential in forming memories. As the death of neurons increases, affected brain regions begin to shrink. By the final stage of AD, damage is widespread and brain tissue has shrunk significantly. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >The very early signs of Alzheimer's can mostly only be seen in brain scans. Reading the mild signs of Alzheimer's was scary because it sounds like how I am now at 36. My mom just told me that it's because I have four busy kids. I hope she's right! My biological maternal grandmother has it, her mom had it, and This is about the stage my grandma was in when we first noticed something wasn't right.</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" id="RadEditorPlaceHolderControl1" ><h3><a href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htm"><strong>Mild AD</strong></a></h3> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">As AD progresses, memory loss continues and changes in other cognitive abilities appear. Problems can include getting lost, trouble handling money and paying bills, repeating questions, taking longer to complete normal daily tasks, poor judgment, and mood and personality changes. People often are first diagnosed in this stage.</p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The next stage is:</p></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htm"><span id="RadEditorPlaceHolderControl1"><p>Moderate AD</p></span></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" id="RadEditorPlaceHolderControl1" >In this stage, damage occurs in areas of the brain that control language, reasoning, sensory processing, and conscious thought. Memory loss and confusion increase, and people begin to have problems recognizing family and friends. They may be unable to learn new things, carry out tasks that involve multiple steps (such as getting dressed), or cope with new situations. They may have hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia, and may behave impulsively.</span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" id="RadEditorPlaceHolderControl1" ><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">This may sound odd but I feel grateful that this is the last stage my grandma went through. The Saturday before she died my mom took her out to lunch and they had a good time. Grandma couldn't remember much from one minute to the next and according to my mom, seemed frustrated by that. A few days later she was rushed to the hospital where she died from bowel blockage. She hadn't gone to the bathroom for a while but told the doctor that she had. She didn't know who anyone was or where she was. Of course she didn't know if she'd gone to the bathroom recently. However, this prevented her from reaching the last stage which in my opinion was a good thing.</p><p><a href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/adfact.htm"><strong></strong></a><strong><a>Severe AD</a> </strong></p></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" id="RadEditorPlaceHolderControl1" > <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">By the final stage, plaques and tangles have spread throughout the brain and brain tissue has shrunk significantly. People with severe AD cannot communicate and are completely dependent on others for their care. Near the end, the person may be in bed most or all of the time as the body shuts down.</p><p><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I hope that you have learned a little more about Alzheimer's and have a better understanding of this devastating disease. I know that I learned a lot.</p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Please visit my other posts on this subject:</p><p><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/08/alzheimers-stole-my-grandma.html">Alzheimer's stole my grandma</a></p><p><a href="http://http//rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/08/alzheimers-stole-my-nanny.html">Azheimer's stole my Nanny</a></p><p><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/08/if-i-develop-alzheimers-letter-to-my.html">If I develop Azheimer's- A letter to my family</a><br /></p><p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Sites I used in this post:</span><br /></p></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="font-family: verdana;" src="file:///C:/Users/Guest/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp">What is Alzheimer's?</a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/AlzheimersInformation/GeneralInfo/">National Institute on Aging</a></span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-47051191222659557412009-09-08T11:00:00.003-04:002009-09-08T12:46:32.069-04:00Run for the Fallen- 2nd annual<span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">On Sunday, August 23rd at 9:00 AM I was among over 500 people ready to walk/run to remember Marines who have lost their lives T.A.M.P.A./Tampa Area Marine Parents Association was founded in April of 2004 as a support group for families located in the state of Florida who have a family member serving in the United States Marine Corps. Last year 266 walkers and runners participated in the event. This year there were over 500.</span><br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size:100%;">This is was not a fund raiser, just a commemorative event to honor each of the fallen heroes in the state of Florida for OEF/OIF. I participated to walk for those Marines who we have lost and for my half brother, <a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/08/proud-strangersister.html">Brian</a>.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </div><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:100%;"> <span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" >The following email is from a participant from last year's run and was read during the opening ceremony. Cyd, who organized this event with her family had to choke back tears while reading it. The entire crowd was silent and at the end I witnessed many wiping tears away, myself included.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#000080;"><em>My name is Coleen and I met you at the run 2 weeks ago------I am a volunteer with Deb's organization, Grateful American Coin, and introduced myself to you and also met your daughter that day.<br />I thought you would like to hear a follow-up story. I walked for Pfc Joshua Brown. When I got home I "googled" the name and found a few different articles about his passing a little over a year ago. I couldn't let it go at that so, although I couldn't find his family's address, I did find his home church in Michigan (his pastor was quoted in a few articles along with the name of the church). I sent him a letter asking him to pass along my condolences and also to let his parents know we are thinking about him down here in Florida through this walk, and how much we appreciate his service to our country. I also included the bib from the race with Joshua's name and a Grateful American Coin.<br /><br />I received a letter from his pastor today. And a greater surprise was to receive a call from Wayne Brown, Joshua's father, tonight at home. He and his wife were calling from Dearborn Heights, Michigan. Mr. Brown called to thank me for the kind gesture. It was an extremely moving call. We talked for a few minutes and I reiterated what I had stated in my letter and how we in Florida had not forgotten.<br /><br />I want to thank you and your organization for putting this together. Also to Deb for passing it along to me. As you can imagine, I have coined many people since I joined Deb's mission and I gotta tell you, this is by far the most meaningful experience for me to date. Although you touched many lives that day, know that you also touched the lives of Joshua's parents over a thousand miles away in Michigan. -Colleen</em></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was truly pleasurable to participate in such a wonderful event. I'm already looking forward to next year and know that I will be doing more than walking or running. I want to be a part of making it happen. Seeing the huge jump in participants from last year to this year I have a feeling they are going to need all the help they can get. My hope is that the number of people involved grows quickly but the number of those who are to be remembered does not. My prayers and thoughts go out to all the families and friends who have soldiers that have given their lives to defend our freedom and help countries in need. To all who are injured, I wish them a quick recovery.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:6;"><a href="http://www.usmcfamilysupport.org/GoneButNEVERForgotten.asp"><u><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:180%;">In Loving Memory of Those We Personally Knew<br />Who Have Paid The Ultimate Sacrifice</span></u></a><br /><br /><img style="width: 310px; height: 386px;" alt="" src="http://www.charityadvantage.com/Tampa_Area_Marine_Parents_GDYIDZ/images/MD20094.jpg" width="310" border="0" height="386" /><br /></span> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:6;"><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;">LCpl Andrew J. Aviles, USMC - April 7, 2003 - OIF<br /><br />Major Richard Gannon II, USMC - April 17, 2004 - OIF<br />LCpl Gary VanLeuvan, USMC - April 17, 2004 - OIF<br />LCpl Ruben Vadlez, USMC - April 17, 2004 - OIF<br />Cpl Christopher Gibson, USMC - April 17, 2004 - OIF<br />Cpl Michael Smith Jr., USMC - April 17, 2004 - OIF<br />Cpl Ronald R. Payne Jr., USMC - May 7, 2004 - OEF<br />LCpl Jacob Lugo, USMC - August 24, 2004 - OIF<br /><br />PFC Roberto Baez, USArmy - October 3, 2005 - OIF</span></strong></span></div> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:6;"><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;">Cpl Joseph Bier, USMC - December 7, 2005 - OIF </span></strong></span></div> <div align="center"> <div><span style="font-size:6;"><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"> </span></strong></span></div> </div> <span style="font-size:6;"><strong></strong> </span><div align="center"><span style="font-size:6;"><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;">Cpl Scott Procopio, USMC - April 2, 2006 - OIF</span></strong></span></div> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:6;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"><strong>LCpl KunYoung Kim, USMC - April 2, 2006 - OIF</strong></span></span></div> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:6;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"><strong>Sgt. Lea R. Mills, USMC - April 28, 2006 - OIF<br />SSgt Joseph Fuerst, USANG - June 24, 2006 - OEF </strong></span></span></div> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:6;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:130%;"><strong>PFC Christopher T. Riviere, USMC - September 26, 2006 - OIF<br /><br />SSgt Sandy R. Britt, USArmy - August 21, 2007 - OIF<br /><br />LCpl Jordan C. Haerter, USMC - April 22, 2008 - OIF<br /><br />LCpl Alberto Francesconi, USMC - January 1, 2009 - OEF</strong></span></span></div>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-7379122509363980772009-09-08T09:36:00.002-04:002009-09-08T10:30:16.744-04:00MINE!<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">I've heard that word thousands of times in the last fifteen years of raising my kids. I understood when I was preggo with my oldest that I would lose certain things; time, sleep, boobs, my girlish figure. But there were other things I was unprepared to lose......like everything!</span></span><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lifehaschanged.com/images/products/tb400.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lifehaschanged.com/index.php%3Fmain_page%3Dproduct_info%26products_id%3D6&usg=__soraSTtFJ7UqoL1l-S0hW6LU-e8=&h=221&w=300&sz=16&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=7eiaKVMYR-ViPM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpregnant%2Bmom%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1"><img style="border: 1px solid ;" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:7eiaKVMYR-ViPM:http://lifehaschanged.com/images/products/tb400.jpg" width="116" height="85" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sleep and time went first as Kelly was a very colicky baby. My images of a quiet, cooing baby went out the window the day we brought her home- she did NOT act like that the four days we were in the hospital! As I attempted to nurse, there went the boobs. This was followed by my favorite food, chips and salsa. Apparently this was not good for a new baby's tummy. Ok, I can live with that, too.<br /><br /> </span></span><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/files/2009/05/breastfeeding-clip-art.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/a-little-breastfeeding-cartoon-humor/&usg=__R8P-RJQuRLjHm59D8LLCmrrNoHI=&h=478&w=400&sz=40&hl=en&start=21&um=1&tbnid=dGv6xE8DzPkMVM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=108&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnursing%2Bmom%2Bcartoons%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20%26um%3D1"><img style="border: 1px solid ;" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:dGv6xE8DzPkMVM:http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/files/2009/05/breastfeeding-clip-art.jpg" width="108" height="129" /></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Four kids later nothing is mine. They've taken over everything. My oldest two daughters take my clothes, socks, make up, jewelry, even my sports bra! My youngest two take my drinks, food, even my toothbrush! My CD's, DVD's, TV, computer, paper, notebooks, pens, patience, time, girlish figure, my bed....all gone. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">A little over a year ago, I started taking "me" time. I filled my big garden tub up with floral smelling bubbles, lit some vanilla or strawberry candles, found a juicy Harlequin Romance book and tried to relax. "MOMMY I'M HUNGRY!" "MOMMY I'M THIRSTY!" "MOMMY SHE HIT ME!" What the hell am I supposed to do about that while I'm nekked in the tub? This is MY "ME" TIME dammit!<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4686864/bubblebath-main_Full.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ehow.com/how_5044826_make-bubble-bath.html&usg=__KScMvtDzCU2-jLtHmgZRMw8KgEg=&h=380&w=380&sz=21&hl=en&start=22&um=1&tbnid=RUdxVY7pfYPGeM:&tbnh=123&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbubble%2Bbath%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20%26um%3D1"><img style="border: 1px solid ;" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:RUdxVY7pfYPGeM:http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4686864/bubblebath-main_Full.jpg" width="123" height="123" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">A couple of months ago, I realized that not one square inch of our 2100 square foot house was mine. Not a one. Even Hubby had his office, it's a walk-in closet but still, there are no children or toys in there...ever. I looked around trying to find a corner. Bingo! My grandma's hutch. I spent half the day clearing out all the crap that was shoved in the drawers whenever we did the "oh crap, the in-laws will be here in twenty minutes clean up." I put all my romance books in there. My markers, crayons, and coloring books (which, yes, the kids have broken and colored in), are all stored underneath and in the drawers, my exercise magazines that I read but never use are lines up perfectly on the shelf....MINE, MINE, MINE!<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.madina.us/image/stressed.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.madina.us/Archive%25202008/May08/051108.html&usg=__OIZ6Mp1_oTIYgOkBXQokNNpDVHE=&h=356&w=262&sz=22&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=CX6nTcCaJPxLVM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=89&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstressed%2Bmom%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26um%3D1"><img style="border: 1px solid ;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:CX6nTcCaJPxLVM:http://www.madina.us/image/stressed.jpg" width="89" height="121" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">So far it's safe. My bras, toothbrushes, food, boobs, time, sleep, and bath time all belong to my kids. But the hutch is mine.....and my underwear. But I'm sure even that will find it's way into the hands of my children eventually. As long as it's not my son's.</span></span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-24332625541031837902009-09-05T11:26:00.002-04:002009-09-05T11:39:55.369-04:00Don't Mess with SAHM's<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">People often think that us SAHM's (stay-at-home-moms) have it easy. Here's the perception many people have of us:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> We get out of bed and start the coffee pot. We gently wake our sleeping babes because we have all the patience in the world since we don't have to be at an office with big bad boss every morning at 8 AM, work clothes ironed, hair perfectly done, and make up applied to perfection.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> We pour our coffee into a ceramic coffee mug and check on the kids. They are getting dressed in their ironed pants, crisp clean shirts, and matching socks. We gently move them along to eat their freshly-made chocolate chip pancakes, fresh squeezed orange juice, and perfectly toasted toast. Then it's off to the bathroom to brush and floss. After making their balanced lunch while finishing our coffee we usher them into the car, drive to school, and drop them off with lingering hugs and kisses.<br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://open.salon.com/blog/marple_fank/2008/11/23/files/frazzled_mom1227369071.jpg&imgrefurl=http://open.salon.com/blog/marple_fank/2008/11/23/os_collage_and_my_confession_updated&usg=__DPGdOOFxcJoqCFFL_pbALStJ_eo=&h=265&w=248&sz=20&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=Npt8IvDkrkkVFM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=105&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfrazzled%2Bmom%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG%26um%3D1"><img style="border: 1px solid ;" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:Npt8IvDkrkkVFM:http://open.salon.com/blog/marple_fank/2008/11/23/files/frazzled_mom1227369071.jpg" height="112" width="105" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Here's the reality- We grudgingly get out of bed in our rumpled pj's, hair in last night's pony tail, and yesterday's make up smeared across our faces. We make something that looks like coffee and dump it into a to-go cup. We run down the hall yelling, "Wake up! You're gonna be late!" Our kids grab clothes from under the pile that's been accumulating for the last several days, find two socks that don't even remotely match, and spend the next 10 minutes searching for a shoe. We put on ratty slippers from ten Christmas's ago, grab our cup of caffeine, a box of Poptarts, and a cup of milk for everyone to take one sip of (we don't have time to pull over for the Heimlich after all). We pull out of the driveway with kids pulling on shoes, buckling seat belts, and scarfing down Poptarts. We yell at at every idiot who dares to pull in front of us because we will NOT be that parent whose kids are late for school...no matter what stains are on their shirts and how many crumbs are on their faces. We pull into the car loop shove them out the door, tell them to run, then park to share our morning horror stories with the other moms standing their in their pj's with last night's pony tails, helping to unsmear yesterday's make up, drinking our much needed coffee, and scowling at all the perfectly made up working moms who are scowling at us for being in our pj's.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Then we come home, look at the incredible mess our wonderful children have made that resembles the aftermath of the hurricanes of 2004. We clean for about thirty minutes then quit because we've developed that "I'll do it later" attitude since we know how much extra time we have since we don't have to work in an office. We're grumbly and bitchy because our houses are a mess and we have no excuse since we're home all day. We chat with our internet friends, read a book, and watch exercise shows on TV (notice I said "watch" not "do") until it's time to pick the kids up and fill out the masses of paperwork each school thinks it's necessary to send home- so much for the country going green.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> This brings me to the inspiration for this post. I love teachers....well most of them but man do I hate the beginning of school. As if we don't have enough to do trying to get the kids back on their school bedtime schedules and getting the house in somewhat of an order so homework assignments don't get lost in the first week- then we get hit with school supply lists. I think teachers work all summer on these to get us back for sending our kids for them to deal with for nine months. This year I had three very long, specific lists of school supplies since my son is a big kindergartner. Fighting other parents who crowded the aisles while dragging four grumpy kids to two different stores was not my idea of fun. And curse the companies who thought it would be fun to put designs and characters on the front of notebooks then quadrupling the price. Apparently, plain fifty cent spiral notebooks are no longer acceptable.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thecorporategroupllc.com/img/schoolsupplies.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thecorporategroupllc.com/blog/&usg=__rZ3ynlfLG83uKb3bJjPIFXEmm6U=&h=325&w=467&sz=44&hl=en&start=20&um=1&tbnid=XwuLcdJMIl8laM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=128&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dschool%2Bsupplies%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1"><img style="border: 1px solid ;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:XwuLcdJMIl8laM:http://www.thecorporategroupllc.com/img/schoolsupplies.jpg" height="89" width="128" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"></span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> Apparently for this mom it wasn't fun either:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" id="ctl00_cphRightPane_journalaction_ctl00_incDisplayTextEntry_ctl00_formviewDisplay_Label1">Dear Mrs. X:<br /><br />In just over a week, you will be my son’s Grade 1 teacher. He is ever so excited to be under your tutelage. Why, since the last day of kindergarten, entering your class was all he could talk about. He gleefully thrust a piece of paper into my hand on that June afternoon, and said, “Here’s a list of the stuff I need for school next September!”<br /><br />And I have to admit, I, too, was excited. I’m a school supplies geek from way back. And so, in early August, I set out to buy the items you’d listed.<br /><br />It was on my fourth store that the realization began to sink in.<br /><br />You’re a crafty b#tch, aren’t you?<br /><br />This list was a thinly disguised test. Could I find the items, exactly as you’d prescribed? Because if not, my son would be That Kid, the one with the Problem Mother, Who Can’t Follow Directions.<br /><br />For example, the glue sticks you requested. In the 40 gram size. Three of the little buggers. (What kind of massive, sticky project you’ve got planned for the first day of school that would require the students to bring all this glue, I cannot imagine.) But the 40 gram size doesn’t come in a convenient 3-pack. The /30 /gram size does. But clearly, those would be wildly inappropriate. So I got the individually priced 40’s, as per your instructions.<br /><br />Another bit of fun was your request for 2 packs of 8 Crayola crayons (basic colors). The 24 packs, with their 24 /different /colors, sat there, on sale. I could have purchased /three/ of the 24 packs for the price I had to pay for the 8 packs. (Clearly, you’ll not be teaching the youngsters any sort of economics lessons this year.) Even the cashier looked at me, as if to say, “Pardon me, ma’am, but are you slow?” as I purchased these non-bargain crayons. But that’s what the list said. And I was committed to following the list.<br /><br />But the last item, well, now, you saved your malice up for that one, didn’t you? “8 mm ruled notebooks”, you asked for. Simple enough. Except the standard size is /seven /millimetres. One. Millimetre. Difference. Do you realize, Mrs. X., exactly how infinitesimal the difference between 7 mm ruling and 8 mm ruling is? Pretty small, I assure you. The thickness of a fingernail, approximately. But that millimetre, that small bit of nothingness, made me drive to four different stores, over the course of three sweaty August hours. And when I finally, finally found the last remaining 8 mm notebooks, I took no pleasure in my victory. I merely shifted my focus. To you, Mrs. X.<br /><br />You wanna dance, lady? Let’s dance.<br /><br />Because I am just batsh#t crazy enough to play your games. And, in turn, come up with some of my own.<br /><br />On show and share day, my son will be bringing the video of his birth. It will be labelled, “Ben’s First Puppy.” Enjoy.<br /><br />He will be given a list of words, and daily, he will ask you what they mean. Words such as, “pedophile”, “anti-semite”, and “skank”. Good luck with those.<br /><br />At some point, you will attempt to teach him mathematics. And I’m quite sure that, like most of your ilk, you will require my son to “show his work”. And he will.<br /><br />Through interpretive dance.<br /><br />Because that is who you’ve chosen to tangle with, toots. A stay at home mom who is not entirely balanced, and has altogether too much time on her hands. But is, most certainly, A Mother Who Can Follow Directions.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Ginny<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:85%;" >The above letter was passed on by a friend who got it from another website. I'd love to give this mom credit if I could. That's one bad-ass SAHM.</span><br /></span></span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-1311458693162378622009-09-04T15:53:00.003-04:002009-09-04T16:52:14.229-04:00DonorsChoose.org<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">While feeding my youtube addiction the other day, I came across this video:</span></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_IpvMOOdD4&feature=channel" class="video-thumb-link" rel="nofollow"><img title="Adam Lambert Teams Up With DonorsChoose.org to Support Public School Classrooms in Need" src="http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/9_IpvMOOdD4/default.jpg" class="vimg90" qlicon="9_IpvMOOdD4" alt="Adam Lambert Teams Up With DonorsChoose.org to Support Public School Classrooms in Need" /></a> <br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes, I'm a big Adam Lambert fan. I still think he should have won American Idol...and so does my cell phone bill. The editing is a little annoying but the message is what matters. We can't rely on the government to help our schools. It's up to us to make sure our students have the materials they need for them to succeed. We can do that by making donations to <a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/">DonorChoose.org</a>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think it's great to see him hooking up with such a great organization as DonorsChoose.</span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">org.</span></span><br /><br /><h2><a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/about/how_it_works.html"><span style="font-size:100%;">How we started</span></a></h2> <p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;">DonorsChoose.org grew out of a Bronx high school where teachers experienced first-hand the scarcity of learning materials in our public schools. </span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Charles Best, then a social studies teacher, sensed that many people would like to help distressed public schools, but were frustrated by a lack of influence over their donations. He created DonorsChoose.org so that individuals could connect directly with classrooms in need. </span></p> <p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Since launching in 2000, DonorsChoose.org has empowered more than 200,000 teachers and citizen philanthropists to become change makers. </span></p> <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our vision is of a nation where students in every community have the resources they need to learn. </span></span><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/">DonorsChoose.org</a> works by you visiting their site, searching through projects that have been submitted by classrooms or schools and choosing the one that you're the most passionate about. Each project has an explanation and a "give" box where you can choose how much to donate. This box also shows you the amount left that's needed, the numbers of days until the deadline, and how many people have donated.</span></p><p><br /></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 170px;" valign="top"><div class="image"><a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=272193"><img alt="Exploring Community By Opening Doors On Homes In The World" src="http://www.donorschoose.org/images/user/uploads/small/u186103_sm.jpg" onerror="getDefaultImage(this,'http://www.donorschoose.org/images/sp.gif',true)" /></a> <div class="smallPrint" align="left"> <!-- TEACHER NAME --> Ms. F.'s Classroom<br /> <!-- INCOME LEVEL --> High Poverty <a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html#" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/help/popup_faq.html?name=lowincome',500,400,'incomepop');return false;"><img class="faqMarker" src="http://www.donorschoose.org/images/faq_marker.gif" alt="?" /></a> <br /> <!-- LOCATION --> <div style="display: inline;" id="resultLocationInfo">Colorado <a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/help/popup_faq.html?name=photolocation" onclick="javascript:g_openWindow(this.href,500,400,'incpop');return false;"><img class="faqMarker" src="http://www.donorschoose.org/images/faq_marker.gif" alt="?" /></a></div> </div> </div> </td> <td valign="top"> <div> <!-- PROJECT TITLE--> <h1> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=272193"> <span id="resultTitle">Exploring Community By Opening Doors On Homes In The World</span> </a></span> </h1> <div class="desc"> <div class="shortDesc"> <h2 id="resultDescription"> <span style="font-size:100%;">It is imperative that students begin undertaking the task of placing themselves within our varied global society. This project offers them insight into the resilient and ingenious ways people survive...<a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=272193&more=true"><b>more</b></a></span> </h2> </div> <div class="myStudentsNeed"> <div id="resultDescription"> <strong> My students need</strong> 6 book titles, 1 large world map and 7 current giant world atlases. </div> </div> </div> <!-- FUND THIS --> <div class="addToCart"> <div class="simpleWidget"> <form action="https://secure.donorschoose.org/donors/givingCart.html" method="get" onsubmit="return ajaxAddToCartSubmit(this);"> <input name="costToComplete" value="145.000000000000009094947017729282379150390625" type="hidden"> <input name="proposalid" value="272193" type="hidden"> <input name="zone" value="0" type="hidden"> <input name="referrer" value="/donors/search.html?" type="hidden"> <div style="background-color: rgb(219, 236, 185); padding-left: 6px;"><div class="donationAmountBg" style="background: rgb(219, 236, 185) url(../images/cart/give_widget_simple.gif) no-repeat scroll left top; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; height: 29px;"><input src="http://www.donorschoose.org/images/sp.gif" style="width: 53px; height: 29px; vertical-align: middle;" type="image"><input style="border: 0px none ; width: 40px; vertical-align: middle; font-size: 14px;" name="donationAmount" value="" type="text"> <input src="http://www.donorschoose.org/images/sp.gif" style="width: 30px; height: 29px; vertical-align: middle;" type="image"></div></div> <div class="needs" style="padding-top: 5px;"><span>To go:</span> <strong>$145</strong></div> <div class="needs"><span>Time left:</span> <strong>17 days</strong></div> <div class="needs"><span>Any amount welcome.</span></div> </form> </div> <div class="originalWidget"> <form class="fundingWidget" action="https://secure.donorschoose.org/donors/givingCart.html" method="get" onsubmit="return ajaxAddToCartSubmit(this);"> <div style="display: block;" class="give25"> <a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html#" onclick="return submitFundingWidget(this.parentNode.parentNode,25);"><img src="http://www.donorschoose.org/images/cart/give25.gif" alt="Give $25" border="0" /></a> <div class="or">---------or---------</div> </div> <input name="costToComplete" value="145.000000000000009094947017729282379150390625" type="hidden"> <input name="proposalid" value="272193" type="hidden"> <input name="zone" value="0" type="hidden"> <input name="referrer" value="/donors/search.html?" type="hidden"> <div><input src="http://www.donorschoose.org/images/cart/give.gif" value="Give" type="image"><input class="donationAmount" name="donationAmount" value="" type="text"><input src="http://www.donorschoose.org/images/cart/btn_givearrow.gif" type="image"></div> <div class="second25" style="display: none;"> <div class="or">---------or---------</div> <a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/search.html#" onclick="return submitFundingWidget(this.parentNode.parentNode,25);"><img src="http://www.donorschoose.org/images/cart/give25.gif" alt="Give $25" border="0" /></a> </div> <div class="needs"><span>To go:</span> <strong>$145</strong></div> <div class="needs"><span>Time left:</span> <strong>17 days</strong></div> <div class="needs"><span>Donors so far:</span> <strong>7</strong></div> </form> </div> </div> <!-- /FUND THIS --> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"> <div class="dmSet" style="padding-top: 10px;"> <div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="dmTagline"> <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Sam from Houston, TX </span> </span></span></div> <div style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" class="dmMessage"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"What you're doing is important. Thank you for teaching and learning these important things."</span><br /><br />Giving doesn't get much easier than that! There are pages and pages of projects to choose from. Teachers need books, science equipment, rugs, bean bag chairs, art drying racks, electric pencil sharpeners, camcorders, SAT booklets, dumbells, children's books and games, binders, art supplies, etc. They are not asking for overly expensive and lavish items, just every day things to help the students learn and help them do their jobs better.<br /><br />DonorsChoose.org had even made it extremely easy to find the project that you want most to help out. You can search by location, subject, urgency, cost, and days left. They have really put a lot of thought into this site and project. It's one of the easiest to use sites I've ever seen. <br /><br />They even have a <a href="http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/giftoptions.html">gift giving card</a> which would be great for birthdays and weddings where people want to use "in lieu of..." when they feel they don't need gifts for themselves. You buy the card, your friend chooses a project then hears back from the classroom after they've received the gift. Easy peasy!<br /><br />Check out this video, which features Claire Danes and Zach Efron, further explaining the program:<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWVtj76ucw0&feature=channel" class="video-thumb-link" rel="nofollow"><img title="DonorsChoose.org National Expansion Event" src="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/HWVtj76ucw0/default.jpg" class="vimg90" qlicon="HWVtj76ucw0" alt="DonorsChoose.org National Expansion Event" /></a><br /><br />I donated. Will you?<br /><br /><br /></span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-88189499318941828702009-09-04T11:14:00.003-04:002009-09-04T12:11:38.546-04:00The Spirit of.....jumping?<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-family: verdana;">Well jumping and giving. I think I stumbled on <a href="http://www.spiritjump.org/">Spirit Jump</a> on twitter though I'm not sure who followed who first. Doesn't matter. What does matter is what <a href="http://www.spiritjump.org/">Spirit Jump</a> is. This is from the <a href="http://www.spiritjump.org/">Spirit Jump</a> blog:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-family: verdana;">How It Started:</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;">In February 2007 Meaghan Edelstein, a law student at Shepard Broad Law Center in South Florida , was diagnosed with stage 3B cervical cancer. After being misdiagnosed for over two months the tumor was finally discovered by her doctors. She was told she had little chance of survival but Meaghan decided to fight. She was immediately flown to Boston where she received treatment at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. After receiving internal/external radiation, chemotherapy and numerous surgeries Meaghan was on her way to recovery. While in the hospital many people visited Meaghan, she also received many cards and gifts along the way. Meaghan credits these small touches of love with giving her the extra strength to keep fighting for her life.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;">Looking for a way to reach out to others Meaghan started a blog called </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.cancerlost.blogspot.com/">I Kicked Cancers Ass </a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;">where she wrote openly and honestly about her experience. Many began to find her on her blog and were able to receive answers as well as comfort. Realizing she was helping others began a healing process of her own. Wanting to make more of a difference she thought hard about what else she could do. Finally the answer came. Remembering the cards and gifts she received and how they lifted her spirits during a desperate time, Meaghan decided to match those who wished to give with those who needed support. Thus began SPIRIT JUMP.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;">The Spirit Jump Mission: </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;"></span></span><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;" align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;">The mission of Spirit Jump is to provide hope and comfort to the many men, women and children battling cancer, one gift at a time. Spirit Jump strives to let each and every cancer fighter know that they are not alone in their battle and that there are people behind them as they fight. Spirit Jump's goal is to help cancer fighters fight strong by providing uplifting cards and inspirational gifts from our "Jumpers" to help fighters maintain the strength they need every day as they battle this terrible disease.</span></div><div style="font-family: verdana;" align="left"> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153); font-family: verdana;"><br />The Amazing Part:</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana;">The amazing thing about Spirit Jump is that both the person giving a gift (Jumper) often has their spirit lifted just as much as the person receiving the gift (Jumpee). </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Spirit Jump won the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://greatnonprofits.org/cancer">Cancer Fighters Award</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> in 2009 for Best in South in the Regions category. It also won Best Charity Blog by Blogger's Choice Awards. But it's not about the awards, it's about the <span style="font-style: italic;">re</span>wards. Helping others through an extremely tough time.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I remember when my sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. She had the support from a slew of friends and family. When my friend Pat was diagnosed with cervical cancer, she too had a lot of family and friends supporting her. Not everyone has that. But <a href="http://www.spiritjump.org/">Spirit Jump</a> jumps in and makes sure they do. Even those with a lot of support can benefit from this. Sometimes it's nice to hear the words "I care" or "I'm thinking of you" or "Get well soon" from someone other than family or friends. Knowing that you've touched the lives of a stranger enough for them to send you words of encouragement can be uplifting in itself.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Today, I added their "I'm a Proud Spirit Jumper" button to my blog. I also signed up to be a Jumper. If you don't want to be a Jumper there is a place to donate money as well as stamps on their website. If you need support for yourself or a loved one you can become a <a href="http://spiritjump.blogspot.com/2005/07/request-spirit-jump.html">Jumpee</a>. Click <a href="http://spiritjump.blogspot.com/2008/12/what-is-spirit-jump.html">here</a> to see their list of Spirit Jump Shops (many offer discounts up to 20%) and Spirit Jumper Blogs. It's humbling to see the support Spirit Jump is receiving. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">My daughter's weren't really old enough to understand that their aunt had cancer but they're old enough now. It won't be just me who will be a Jumper but my kids as well. I feel this is an important lesson for them to learn. We can always find a few minutes during our busy day to stop and do something for someone else. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'd like to encourage you to visit <a href="http://www.spiritjump.org/">Spirit Jump</a> and <a href="http://www.cancerlost.blogspot.com/">I Kicked Cancer's Ass</a> blog sites. Be sure to visit <a href="http://http://spiritjump.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-spirit-jump-works_05.html">How Spirit Jump Works</a> and read the amazing and inspiring stories of some of Spirit Jumps Jumpee's.</span></span> <span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />Open your hearts and give.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);"><br /></span></div>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-14195687355426489972009-09-03T19:17:00.005-04:002009-09-03T21:19:11.682-04:00Aspartame Part 2: Prosecution<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/09/aspartame-part-1-aspartame-defense.html#links">Please visit Aspartame Part 1: Defense</a> for the up side of aspartame.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">In this post I'll be sharing the down side with the information I've found on the internet.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">On the site </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://dorway.com/">Dorway to Discovery</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> they suggest </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://dorway.com/dorwblog/?p=901">Which Sweeteners to Use</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">:</span> </span><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Acceptable choices</strong><br />The following are healthy choices:</span></p> <ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Sugar – granulated, confectioner’s, or brown</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"> Cane sugar crystals</span></li><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbinado_sugar">Turbinado</a> and various raw sugars</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"> Honey, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molasses">Molasses</a>, Pure maple syrup</span></li><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_rice_syrup">Rice syrup and similar syrups</a></span></li><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia">Stevia</a> (an herbal no-calorie sweetener found in the supplements section of your supermarket or a health food store)</span></li></ul> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Acceptable, but don’t overdo</strong><br /><em>When a sugar name ends in “ol” that means it is an alcohol sugar. Too much has a laxative effect.</em></span> </p> <ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;"><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorbitol">Sorbitol</a></span></li><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannitol">Mannitol</a></span></li><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol">Xylitol</a></span></li><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.caloriecontrol.org/hydrosta.html">Hydrogenated starches</a></span></li></ul> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Less desirable</strong></span></p> <ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;"><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.feingold.org/PF/cornsyrup.html">Corn syrup, corn sweeteners, dextrose</a></span></li><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fructose_corn_syrup">High fructose corn syrup</a></span></li></ul> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Questionable</strong></span></p> <ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;"><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acesulfame_potassium">Acesulfame-k</a> (Sunett, Sweet One)</span></li><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagatose">D-tagatose</a> (Naturlose)</span></li></ul> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Do not use</strong></span></p> <ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;"><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.feingold.org/Research/aspartame.html">Aspartame</a> (NutraSweet, Equal) </span><ul><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.feingold.org/PF/neotame.html">Neotame</a></span></li><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alitame">Alitame</a></span></li></ul> </li><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclamate">Cyclamate</a></span></li><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saccharin">Saccharin</a> (Sweet ‘N Low),</span></li><li> <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.feingold.org/Research/splenda.html">Sucralose</a> (Splenda)</span></li></ul><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Yup, that's good ole aspartame at the top of the "do not use" list.</span> <a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://dorway.com/dorwblog/?p=1940">Aspartame: One Man's Profit Another Man's Poison</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> is an extensive look into the history of aspartame.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Janet Starr Hull has a great website full of information including the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html">side effects</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> of aspartame as well as a <a href="http://www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-detox.html">detox program</a>. The side effects she lists are for eyes, ears, neurologic, psychological/psychiatric, chest, gastrointestinal, skin and allergies, endocrine and metabolic. Some of the scariest side effects listed are:</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Additional Symptoms of Aspartame Toxicity include the most critical symptoms of all</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" > death</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" > irreversible brain damage</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" > birth defects, including mental retardation</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" > peptic ulcers</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" > aspartame addiction and increased craving for sweets</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" > hyperactivity in children</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" > severe depression</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" > aggressive behavior</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;" > suicidal tendencies </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Below are the steps that Janet suggests for people who suffer some of the above symptoms to live a healthier and aspartame free lifestyle:</span> </span><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Steps:</span></p> <ol style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Remove all sugar-free products with aspartame from your diet.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Learn to 'read' your body. Begin recording any health changes.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Get a hair analysis.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Be happy with yourself.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Detoxify.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Restore depleted nutrients.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Exercise and get plenty of rest.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Eat 75% raw foods at every meal.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Drink water, water, water.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Get control of your life.</span></li></ol><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Click </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://http//www.sweetpoison.com/articles/0706/aspartame_symptoms_submit.html">here</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> to see the list of symptoms people have sent in the the FDA.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Here are more links for you to do your own reading:</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/dangers.htm">Aspartame: What you don't know can hurt you</a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.321recipes.com/aspartame.html">321Recipes.com</a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.cspinet.org/new/200706251.html">FDA Should Reconsider Aspartame Cancer Risk, Say Experts</a> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I know this was a lot of copy, paste, and links but I thought it was more important for you to read and form your own opinion than for me to try to summarize it and form my own opinion. I implore you to read both this and my <a href="http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/09/aspartame-part-1-aspartame-defense.html#links">Aspartame Part 1: Defense</a> posts and see what you think. Feel free to leave your comments below.</span> </span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-33401857824161273372009-09-03T17:04:00.007-04:002009-09-03T21:18:07.682-04:00Aspartame Part 1 Aspartame: Defense<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >I like to look at both sides of things before making my own decision about what to do about it. I've been hearing a lot about aspartame, good and bad, and decided to look into it on my own. This post is about the positive facts I've read. I'll be honest though and tell you that I had to weed through a lot of negative web pages to find positive ones; most of which are companies that sell aspartame sweeteners.<br /><br />The first site I visited was <a href="http://www.aspartame.net/">The Aspartame Information Service</a>. This is the opening paragraph from their website:<br /><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Aspartame is a low calorie sweetener that helps people to control their weight. It is made from two building blocks of protein, just like those found naturally in many everyday foods such as meat, fish, cheese, eggs and milk. Aspartame is digested by the body in exactly the same way as these other protein foods and so does not bring anything new to our diet. It has been safety-tested in over 200 studies and has been approved for use in foods and drinks by more than 100 countries. People all over the world have been enjoying the taste of aspartame for more than twenty five years.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Under their Frequently Asked Questions, I found this:</span><br /><br /></div><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); text-align: left;font-family:verdana;" class="articletitle"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>What are the benefits of using aspartame?</b></span></p><div> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-align: left;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Today, more than 500 million people around the world regularly choose products with aspartame. Calorie-conscious consumers like aspartame because it's low in calories and tastes like sugar. Aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar and can replace up to 99 percent of the calories in soft drinks. It also intensifies and extends certain flavors, especially fruit flavors. As a sugar-substitute, aspartame helps diabetics improve their quality of life by enabling them to follow nutrition recommendations and choose from a much wider variety of good-tasting foods and beverages. Aspartame is also tooth-friendly. It does not promote tooth decay and is endorsed by the American Dental Association.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); text-align: left;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); text-align: left;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Under their <a href="http://www.aspartame.net/news/Health_Canada_report.asp">News</a> section, according to Health Canada "there is no evidence to suggest that the consumption of foods containing this sweetener, according to the provisions of the Food and Drug Regulations and as part of a well-balanced diet, would pose a health hazard to consumers."</span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); text-align: left;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); text-align: left;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">And under their <a href="http://www.aspartame.net/Aspartame_opinion.asp">Opinions</a> tab they share this information:</span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); text-align: left;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><b>American Dietetic Association evidence-based analysis puts questions to rest</b></span> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-align: left;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">April 2009</span></p><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-align: left;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">In 2008, the ADA undertook an in-depth analysis of a list of questions about aspartame using its "evidence analysis" approach, which systematically evaluates human studies (within specific parameters) related to defined questions. After the research analysis, conducted in this project by five registered dietitians (RD) chosen and trained by the ADA, is completed, a separate expert group of five RD's evaluates the work as it applies to the questions at hand. A conclusion statement is then formulated, with a "grade" applied to each conclusion statement to indicate the strength of evidence supporting that conclusion.*</span></p><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-align: left;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The ADA project looked at the science around several questions raised by the media and others over recent years. The final analysis, posted on the ADA Evidence Analysis Library web site, puts these questions to rest. For example,</span></p><div style="text-align: right; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: verdana; text-align: right;" id="op_lst"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><ul><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Some have claimed that low calorie sweeteners like aspartame could have a "rebound" effect that leads people to have more of an appetite or to eat more food. The analysis found: <b>"There is good evidence that aspartame does not affect appetite or food intake."</b> This consensus statement was given a "grade 1," the highest grade in the EAL scale.</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Others have implied, despite the implausibility, that low calorie sweeteners actually "make" people gain weight. The ADA committee looked at studies in adults and concluded that using aspartame in the context of a reduced calorie diet <b>either does not affect weight or is associated with increased weight LOSS</b>. This body of research was also given a "grade 1".</span></li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">For years urban myths about aspartame's supposed "negative effects" have proliferated on the Internet. The committee evaluated peer-reviewed research from the scientific literature on this topic and concluded that: <b>"Aspartame consumption is not associated with adverse effects in the general population."</b> Once again, the committee found that the support for this statement is "grade 1."</span></li></ul> </div><div style="text-align: right; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </div><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); text-align: left;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The ADA and Ajinomoto jointly funded the overall evaluation, with research analysts and expert committee members chosen by the ADA. For complete access to the full report, and to review all of the questions, along with access to summaries of the research that was considered for each, click <a href="http://www.adaevidencelibrary.com/default.cfm">here</a>.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); text-align: right;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); text-align: left;font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">You can visit the <a href="http://www.aboutaspartame.com/professional/index.asp">Aspartame Resource Center</a> for more information on debunking the "myths" of aspartame being harmful.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.aspartame.org/">The Aspartame Information Center</a> also has a slew of positive information on the use of aspartame.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://www.greenfacts.org/en/aspartame/#4">Green Facts</a> also has a break down on the facts of aspartame not causing health problems.<br /><br /><a href="http://http//www.caloriecontrol.org/sweeteners-and-lite/sugar-substitutes/aspartame">Calorie Control Council</a> goes into detail on the following topics about aspartame:</span><br /><br /><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:verdana;" id="cc-toc"><ul class="jquery-toc-1"><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.caloriecontrol.org/sweeteners-and-lite/sugar-substitutes/aspartame#BENEFITS">benefits</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.caloriecontrol.org/sweeteners-and-lite/sugar-substitutes/aspartame#AVAILABILITY-IN-FOODS-AND-BEVERAGES">availability in foods and beverages</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.caloriecontrol.org/sweeteners-and-lite/sugar-substitutes/aspartame#ASPARTAME-AND-A-HEALTHFUL-LIFESTYLE">aspartame and a healthful lifestyle</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.caloriecontrol.org/sweeteners-and-lite/sugar-substitutes/aspartame#SAFETY">safety</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.caloriecontrol.org/sweeteners-and-lite/sugar-substitutes/aspartame#HOW-THE-BODY-HANDLES-ASPARTAME">how the body handles aspartame</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.caloriecontrol.org/sweeteners-and-lite/sugar-substitutes/aspartame#ASPARTAME-INTAKE">aspartame intake</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.caloriecontrol.org/sweeteners-and-lite/sugar-substitutes/aspartame#USE-BY-SPECIAL-GROUPS">use by special groups</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.caloriecontrol.org/sweeteners-and-lite/sugar-substitutes/aspartame#THE-FUTURE">the future</a></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.caloriecontrol.org/sweeteners-and-lite/sugar-substitutes/aspartame#SAFETY-CONFIRMED">safety confirmed</a></span></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;">So on this side of things, aspartame seems to not be the poison the internet and media have hyped it up to be.<br /><br />Please read <a href="http://http://rmssnowdrop.blogspot.com/2009/09/aspartame-part-2-prosecution.html#links">Aspartame Part 2: Prosecution</a><br /></span></div>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-87730765432635070682009-09-02T11:34:00.001-04:002009-09-02T11:35:55.556-04:00Meeting my daughter's boyfriend<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Wait, what? She's fifteen already? I thought she was two yesterday!</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Ugh, I finally have to face the facts. My little girl is not a little girl anymore. If I wasn't such an over-protective mom, I'd post her beautiful face all over my blog to show her off. But I am so you don't get to see her. And, no I'm not biased. If my kids were ugly I'd say so. </span><img style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" src="http://tampabay.momslikeme.com/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/msn/tounge_smile.gif" border="0" /><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Last weekend Kelly wanted to go bowling with some friends- which included her boyfriend. She'd met Frankie through a mutual friend at Busch Gardens. They mostly talk, well, text and have hung out at Busch Gardens at few times but I hadn't met him yet. When I picked her up from bowling she and Frankie walked out holding hands. I'm okay with that, anything else- not so much. </span><img style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" src="http://tampabay.momslikeme.com/fckeditor/editor/images/smiley/msn/whatchutalkingabout_smile.gif" border="0" /><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> She got in the car and after she introduced me, he reached over her to shake my hand. Points scored.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I didn't want to leave him there by himself so we waited a few minutes until his parents showed up. The more we chatted the more I liked him. I honestly believed him when he told me he didn't drink, smoke, or do drugs....something Kelly's last boy she liked couldn't have said honestly, though he was a sweet kid. More points. When Frankie's parents drove up he told them to park so they could meet me. In the thirty seconds we stood there and talked I liked them. More points adding up. It was great to meet a couple that was still married and obviously involved in their son's life- Mom got out of the van and was hugging on her poor embarrassed son (loved it!). He got extra points for enduring Mommy and not shoving her off like some kids would do.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I don't think I'm really ready for all of this boyfriend stuff but Kelly is fifteen so I kind of have to be. I've been pleasantly surprised that she hasn't had a boyfriend until about 7 months ago. I started a little earlier than Kelly and had a string of boyfriends that my parents did NOT like...some my mom were even afraid of! Oh, the rebellious years. I was the baby though and my two older sisters were the ones who helped pave the road for me. By the time I started having boyfriends it wasn't that big of a deal for my parents. Kelly is the oldest. I'm sure by the time her three year old sister, Maisie, starts dating Kelly will be annoyed at how relaxed we are. Someone has to break the mold, though, and Kelly has that unfortunate job. </span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">In Kelly's eyes, Frankie is her fourth boyfriend. In mine, it's her first. I never met the two in the middle and the first, well, that was the trial period. This kid, is sweet, courteous, intelligent, grounded, and very easy to get along with. I don't know how this came up in the conversation but the fact that his mom and I both enjoy going out and taking long candle-lit baths are big giant checks in my book!</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Overall, meeting my daughter's boyfriend was a breeze. I'm so glad that she's not one of those girls that thinks she's going to marry every boy she dates. She has a couple of friends like that and thinks they are stupid <angels>. Too many times, girls fall head over heels and get so caught up in love and romance not paying attention to the fact that most high school couples don't wind up getting married. Thank goodness for small blessings. Apparently I </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">have</span><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> done something right in raising my daughter. Yay!</span></span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Disclaimer</span>- my editor left for Europe today so my apologies for any spelling, grammatical errors or severe ADD moments. Apparently I pay her much better than I pay myself since this is her third vacation this year...while I've had none! Ha, actually I'm lucky to have an editor who works for free.</span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5880257433025992607.post-89353854948845620662009-09-01T12:51:00.002-04:002009-09-01T18:17:17.645-04:00Only best friends.....<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">...would have conversations like these. And only mine would be stupid enough to share them with me knowing I have a blog.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Text 1: I have cramps so bad I want an epidural.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Text 2: Want me to seduce an anesthesiologist for you?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">_____________________________________________________</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Text 1: My uterus feels like it's going to fall out of my butt.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Text 2: Owwwww....take pictures!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">_____________________________________________________</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Text 1: Ugh, I need to poop.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Text 2: Oh, crap. That's shitty.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">______________________________________________________</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Text 1: Finally pooped! Thank goodness for Poopberry juice!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Text 2: Wahoooo! Betcha feel better. :)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">_______________________________________________________</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This one I've had sitting in drafts for a couple of days and am so glad I waited. This is between a friend of mine and her boyfriend. I changed their names because I'm such a good friend.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Angel and Chris were sitting in bed watching TV. All of a sudden Chris jumped out of bed and started looking around frantically.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chris: Son of a bitch!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Angel: What's wrong?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chris: I just got bit by an ant!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Angel: Where?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chris: On my balls......twice!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Angel: (stifling a laugh) Are you okay?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chris: No! ON MY BALLS!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Over the next two days Angel asked about Chris's bites to see if he was feeling better. It's a darn good thing she was sympathetic instead of sarcastic.....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two nights after Chris got bit.....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Angel: Oh, huh uh!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chris: What?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Angel: That is so uncool.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chris: What?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Angel: I just got bit!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chris: Where?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Angel:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chris: Where?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Angel: (pointing between her legs) Right there!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chris: Does it itch?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Angel: No! But it freakin' stings!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Chris: Guess that means no sex tonight.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Angel: (glares)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">You gotta love Florida during the rainy season. Even the smallest creatures are looking for shelter...including horny ants!</span><br /><br /></span>Kaytii Angelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15579491187716863662noreply@blogger.com0