Polysplenia syndrome; a congenital syndrome of multiple splenic masses, abnormal position and development of visceral organs, complex cardiovascular defects, and abnormal, usually bilobate, lungs. (according to the free medical dictionary)
I know you may be wondering why i would post the definition of such a odd sounding syndrome. I have it. As a result of my polysplenia, i have (as it states) multiple splenic masses, situs inverses and a complex cardiovascular system, complete with big defects. Which, even after being repaired, has left me with my version of normal.
Now, nothing about me is normal, so its no surprise that my internal organs would be off. lol. Anyways, i posted this, as I have recently found that my heart probably needs additional "fixing." Not of the leaks, but of an obstruction and a narrowing of one of the canals in the heart.
This is no small task, nor a quick and easy fix. But, I am of the thought of, if its concerning enough for you to bring it to my attention and won't get better if its left to itself, then why not just go ahead and fix it now? But my doc wants to make sure all the ducks are in a row, and they have no surprises, which is a wonderful thing. I just have very little patience and want my body to go back to my normal. Be it ever so frightening to lesser docs, its what I've come to be used to.
I have two options as to how I can deal with this, I can hide in my bed, bemoaning my condition, or I can allow myself to have faith and trust in God. I have to choose the latter. Feeling sorry for myself never solved anything.
If it were not for God, i would not be alive, period. The docs did not give me a good prognosis, but, I believe He sent a great surgeon into my life as an infant, and were it not for him, and God working through him, i would not be here today. 37 years ago, the prognosis was not very good for babies with heart defects. But, here I am, coming up on 37, despite a few health issues, I'm not doing too bad. :)
As long as i don't dwell on the negative too much, i do well, i keep my faith up and i try to rest some, but keep active at the same time. Its so easy to fall into the hide in my room and do nothing way of thinking, but i have to remember my kiddos and that they need me. My kids are such a blessing to me and they keep me young and happy. I have to get through this so i can see them grow up and give me grandchildren :).
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Zoey
Long time no post! So Sorry!!
Really crazy how you can let things get in the way of what you like to do. But anyways, no one to blame but myself. its been a while since I've updated, over a year, so i'm past due. Last February, Angel (our female cat) got out when the pizza guy came, he forgot the drinks in the car, so i left the door open while he did that and i put the pizza's on the counter.
Needless to say, Angel said woo hoo and took off *she loves to go outside and eat grass* Sad part is, we didn't notice she was gone till the next morning. We searched for her everywhere, asked most of the neighbors (cause you know, living in an apartment complex with a whole bunch of different kind of people - ones like me, who only talk to their neighbors if they talk first, ones who are in everyone's business, ones who NEVER come outside (although i'm kind of in that category too) and ones that just freak people out) and i did have someone tell me that a cat slept outside our landing the night before, but no one spotted her since.
It broke my heart, it broke my daughters heart, still does, almost a year later. And since I can't bring Angel back, i finally did the next best thing, I got her another cat, that looks so much like Angel, with her personality too, except she's a little bit saucier. LOL. She's a love bug, and if you have a lap, she's got a body for it. She doesn't care that she's 15 (yes 15)pounds, she'll give ya love. I don't' know why her owners gave her up, but their loss is our gain. She is a little pushy and if you aren't' petting her she will make sure she gets your attention, that is something that will need to be modified, but i think once she gets enough affection and realizes she isn't' going anywhere, she'll do well.
The kids love her, which is great, but i have to remind them that they can't ignore Taz, he's been alone this last 11 months too and he'd like NICE attention. Zoey isn't interested in giving him nice attention, but they are allowing each other to get closer, maybe one day they'll be friends. (I hope!!)
My husband likes to pick on the cats. He'll ruffle their fur and just mess with them (no he's not mean, but he can be annoying) Earlier today he was messing with Zoey, our newest addition and after he got done making her mad, he started to walk off. She LEAPED in the air after him and grabbed his leg, I couldn't' believe it! A cat that stood up to him! My respect for her jumped a bunch of notches, for sure. lol.
Angel will not be forgotten, but we need to move on, I can only hope and pray that someone has her and they are treating her well, the alternatives are just not something i'd like to dwell on. At all...
Really crazy how you can let things get in the way of what you like to do. But anyways, no one to blame but myself. its been a while since I've updated, over a year, so i'm past due. Last February, Angel (our female cat) got out when the pizza guy came, he forgot the drinks in the car, so i left the door open while he did that and i put the pizza's on the counter.
Needless to say, Angel said woo hoo and took off *she loves to go outside and eat grass* Sad part is, we didn't notice she was gone till the next morning. We searched for her everywhere, asked most of the neighbors (cause you know, living in an apartment complex with a whole bunch of different kind of people - ones like me, who only talk to their neighbors if they talk first, ones who are in everyone's business, ones who NEVER come outside (although i'm kind of in that category too) and ones that just freak people out) and i did have someone tell me that a cat slept outside our landing the night before, but no one spotted her since.
It broke my heart, it broke my daughters heart, still does, almost a year later. And since I can't bring Angel back, i finally did the next best thing, I got her another cat, that looks so much like Angel, with her personality too, except she's a little bit saucier. LOL. She's a love bug, and if you have a lap, she's got a body for it. She doesn't care that she's 15 (yes 15)pounds, she'll give ya love. I don't' know why her owners gave her up, but their loss is our gain. She is a little pushy and if you aren't' petting her she will make sure she gets your attention, that is something that will need to be modified, but i think once she gets enough affection and realizes she isn't' going anywhere, she'll do well.
The kids love her, which is great, but i have to remind them that they can't ignore Taz, he's been alone this last 11 months too and he'd like NICE attention. Zoey isn't interested in giving him nice attention, but they are allowing each other to get closer, maybe one day they'll be friends. (I hope!!)
My husband likes to pick on the cats. He'll ruffle their fur and just mess with them (no he's not mean, but he can be annoying) Earlier today he was messing with Zoey, our newest addition and after he got done making her mad, he started to walk off. She LEAPED in the air after him and grabbed his leg, I couldn't' believe it! A cat that stood up to him! My respect for her jumped a bunch of notches, for sure. lol.
Angel will not be forgotten, but we need to move on, I can only hope and pray that someone has her and they are treating her well, the alternatives are just not something i'd like to dwell on. At all...
Friday, September 23, 2011
And more old MYSPACE Blog posts
Dec 12, 2006
bah humbug!!
Current mood:anxious
people suck!! i am not gone for over 4 hours when i get home and it had been broken into and robbed!!
Long story short, why are people such brats??? Im' just sick to my stomach.... ugh...
Dec 14, 2006
a little more info....
Current mood:hopeful
yeah, so they took alot of our stuff... they did find my laptop, but of course, someone HAD to drop it in the water, so it no longer works.. So i have to take it and see if it can be fixed. *sigh* Nothing else has been recovered.. and of course, everyone wants lists.... How am I supposed to know what 300 dvds they stole??? ugh... and the PS2 games?? sheesh... ugh... those people suck!
So anyway... just waiting to hear from the police, the insurance company and the rental company. ugh...
Well, the GOOD news is that my friend Bri had her baby!!! yay!! congrats bri, and welcome sara!!! woo hoo!!!!
AND, we got orders!! woo hoo!! going up north! I've never lived in new england. New York, here we come!! yay!! i'm very excited, if you cant' tell!!
AND, its less than a month till my honey comes home!! yay!!! I cant' wait!! its been the longest year EVER!!
And that is all i have, i believe.. Really wish i could reorder my blog!!
And more OLD MYSPACE blog posts
Nov 17, 2006
11 months today!!!
Current mood:thoughtful
Lizzie is 11 months old!!! 1 month till she is a year old!!
Its amazing how time can fly in one part of your life and be so slow in another.
Happy 11 months to Lizzie!!!
Nov 25 2006
Two MORE!!!!
Current mood:bouncy
New Teeth!! We've got NEW TEETH!! yay.
two more bottom teeth, up to 8 FINALLY!
Dec 5, 2006
feeling crappy
Current mood:lonely
Its been a little bit since i've blogged last. Had a holiday reciepe party last friday morning. had a bunch of people RSVP, but only 3 showed and only 2 stayed a bit. I had been up late and up early cleaning.
Lizzie started to get a runny nose and congestion last week. then she started with a barking sounding cough. Then I started to get sick as well. I have a stuffy/runny nose and cough. At the docs, i get diagnosed with sinusitus and lizzie gets diagnosed with.... NOTHING. she doesn't cough, her nose doesn't run or anything!! i'm like it was that this morning.... 20 minutes later, gee imagine that, its back!! ugh
SO, now i get to be sick while lizzies fine.. ugh... i am sooo stressed out!!
I feel like I just need a break and lizzies just full of energy!!
i gave her spagetti o's she must be like me(hates them), cause she threw them everywhere but in her mouth... stinking messes!!
my back hurts, and i just feel like crap and just wanna go to bed.. but once i'm in bed, then the blues begin. I miss my honey. I miss him being here, I miss his smile, the twinkle in his eye, all of him. I miss his arms around me and his lips on mine. i have 30 days left, and it just seems like forever!!
Lizzie has less than 2 weeks before she'll be one, less than that till her first birthday party.. i've invited quite a few people.. i know that stacy and her family will come, will anyone else? UGH i hate stressing over things i have no control over!!
this friday night, i'm hosting game night for the married women group i'm involved in.. i wonder how it will go Looks like there are only 4 yes' and 2 maybe's.... oh well, it seems like anytime I do anything at my house that hardly any people show.
And I hate hate hate hate hate the thought of being alone for christmas. I miss my hubby and I hate to spend another holiday with out him. It just doesnt' seem right. Nothing is as good as it could have been without him. And yeah, he's not much on doing anything but, we have each other. I just feel extra alone this year.
Everyone seems soo busy and wrapped up in their stuff that i feel like an intruder calling. I spend most nights home alone. Its almost like I only hear from people returning my calls or the ones i made. I really am tired of crying. and being alone. Its like last time, only worse, you look like crap and people are just like, oh its cause the kid wore you out. And people dont' want to KNOW how you're REALLY doing, it makes them uncomfortable. So, you suck it up the best you can, you cope however you can, you try to keep everything as normal as possible as comfortable as possible, cause change makes you nervous.
And you try to talk to the one you love, and it always comes out wrong, they end up taking it the wrong way and then you're left frustrated and upset, then come more tears. Sometimes it feels like you should give up. But you can't as, that's not what you should do, not how you are, so you just buck up and try not to say the wrong thing.
well, i need to go check o lizzie, she's not making much noise and she's there with unwrapped presents... And make sure i dont' try to rip my toe off jumping over the gate.
Yet more OLD blogs from MYSPACE
Nov 7, 2006
stomache bug
Current mood:crappy
well, supposedly lizzies ear infection is over.
I finally got seen last night and i have a stomache bug. that consists of naseua, puking and the runs. woopie... i feel like crap, slept almost 12 hours last night and still feel like crap. I had called for someone to look after lizzie, but then she puked this morning and had one bout of runs in her diaper, so i called and cancelled.. now i dont' know what to do. Lizzie ate a good breakfast and has seemed fine... I need to go back to bed, but dnt' want to sleep with her up and running around. I was so out last night i didnt' hear my cell phone ring.. i had a missed call from my friend jeannie.
dont' get sick with this, it sucks!!
Nov 8, 2006
Our poor baby
Current mood:drained
well, i am doing better *it seems* but lizzie woke up puking and pooping again. Poor baby. her little booty has to be on fire. I am exhausted, didnt' get much sleep last night. She did, but didnt wake up pleasantly. her sheets and mattress cover are in the washer again.
ok, think i might give her a bath.
Nov 14, 2006
update
Current mood:contemplative
well, kiddo is done puking *i pray* but she still has the runs. I'm not getting much sleep and am getting really frustrated, today she had 3 blow outs.... ugh.. that's just alot for such a little girl.
I miss my hubby so much. He's my dream guy, and what i want. I love him more now than i did when we got married. I hate that he's so far away, but i respect his job and know that its a necessity.
I get down alot lately, I need the motivation to continue doing the things i need to do.
Supposed to be hosting a partylite party on saturday, i need to get everythign set up for that. figure out what snacks to make. I want to decorate for christmas before the party, so that way its done and i dont have to worry about it later.
Thanksgiving is next week, i cant' belive how time is flying, but, it seems like the closer it gets to hubby coming home that the longer the days seem. I invited people over for thanksgivign adn i haven't heard anything, (except from you bri, i dont' expect you to haul your preggo butt back up here two weekends in a row!!) I bought a ham, i hope someone comes. (really wish the most important person was able to be here, I love you Kevin!!)
Other than being sick, Lizzie is doing well, getting bigger and bigger!! Such a crack up! she loves to make me laugh. always doing something to make sure i laugh. I see her daddy in her and when she's making me laugh, i feel like he is.
oh well, let me get off here, maybe, just maybe, i'll get to bed at a decent time tonight.
Joy and Peace to you all!!!
Again, OLD blogs from MYSPACE
Oct 30, 2006
My trip thus far...
Current mood:cheerful
well, we're halfway though our vacation. we had horrible times getting out of town, but we made it FINALLY, 5 hours late! oh well. I got to see my cousin and aunt, whom i haven't seen in YEARS, so that was awesome.
Went to Disney last wednesday, it was a blast!! well, actually, we went to Disneyland and California Adventure. I can't post pics yet, but I will as soon as i can !
Thursday we went to the pumkin patch, it was cute, we missed the hayride though, so that kind of sucked(my fault, takes me forever to get ready for some reason lately), but other than that, Lizzie had a blast and Lance did as well, so that is what it was for!
Had a restful morning on friday, then we went to the mall and out to dinner. great day! i got my eyebrows done, in a thing called threading. they used thread to get your eyebrows off, weird, huh? took like NO time.
Saturday we went to universal and saw a little less than half. Lance gets overstimulated easy and needed his nap early.
Sunday we went to an air show, i was concerned about Lizzie and how she would do, she did well, so that was good. It was nice, but it made me miss my sweet hubby so much (love you honey!!)
So, that was the first week, not bad, going going going. But that's what vacations are all about!!
Have a great week and happy Halloween!!!!!
November 3, 2006
aaack, the week is almost over!!!
Current mood:drained
well, my time is almost over here in So. Cal. I have had a blast!! Thank you so much to Ally and Tariq sorry that time couldn't have been longer and Lois-Lynn, you are awesome!
Okay, so i've uploaded *almost* all of my pics to 3 photo albums, here is the link: http://photos.yahoo.com/angeltazcuddy Take your time, there are like 800 some odd pics.
Tomorrow is our flight, just two, not three, so that's "better" i guess. Lizzie is such a squirmy worm lately, not sure how we'll do! She's almost done with her meds for an ear infection, but i'm not sure its gone... there aren't any posts nearby, closest one is almost 2 hours away....
Just wanted to say hi and let ya know i'll be home soon.
Have a great weekend!!
Nov 6, 2006
sick
Current mood:sick
just wanted to say i'm sick. woke up this morning, made a phone call for lizzies dr appt and of course they had no one to see her, but said she needs to be seen, i can go to er or wait for the night clinic to open, i chose the latter ate cereal and went to bed. i woke up feeling really hot and very naseus. i finally puked a few hours later adn it was breakfast... still feel icky, puked again.. now i get to drive like this! uck.
Continuing my OLD MYSPACE blog retrieval. I wish we could reorder the blog posts so these older ones would be listed first... oh well.
Oct 10, 2006
Blessings
Current mood:grateful
With all the things that go wrong and can go wrong in your life, remember all the blessings you have. no matter how big or small, there are tons, from the moment you wake up, to the time you go to sleep, they are there. Breath, life, love, joy, peace, family, friends, things you have, they are all blessings.
Take a deep breath and say a prayer of thanks. Look at a loved one, an email from a loved one, and smile, you are loved and looked out for. God is there, dont' ever deny it.
Bless someone today.
Oct 20, 2006
Stressing!
Current mood:anxious
Ever have one of those days, when its like, oh man, am i gonna get to sit down any time soon?? I got up early, cause i forgot to take the trash out last night and i can't have a full trash can.
So, got up early, took the trash out for the trash people and now am getting ready to make a home movie for hubby. He called last night (thank you sweetie!) and made my day.
Apparently locked Taz in the computer room, Little knucklehead. no damage, he survived till i got up, it was only 5 hours or so that he was locked in there.
Still got Lizzies costume to cut out and sew.. arrrgghh, stupid computer has been taking up so much time! I *think* its working. Seems to be. So, we'll see!
I have my friends graduation today, yay!! She's come a long way, graduating from the police academy.
I get to pick up Meg tonight, so i'm happy to get to see her again.
I still have to get the house clean and finished. blah. So, let me go, have a great weekend everyone!!!
Oct 20, 2006
Just saying hi
Current mood:calm
I am in CA right now, just chilling out. Just wanted to say hi and say i'm not sure how often i can get on line.
I hope everyone has a great week!!!!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
You Know They Are "Practicing Weather" When....
The forecast says "Through 9pm: Rain developing. The rain will change to a mixture of snow, sleet and/or freezing rain by mid-afternoon. Cloudy with temperatures steady in the mid 30s. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Snowfall of less than half an inch through 8:30pm." and its already over that now. then "Heavy snow this evening will diminish to a few snow showers late. Thunder possible. Low 28F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. 4 to 6 inches of snow expected." is tonight's forecast. lol. Gotta love weathermen, i suppose, right? :D oh well, the great thing about NOT being in the artic north, is that this is SEVERE WEATHER, and i can handle this :D long as we don't' lose heat, haha.
Looks like DC will get it worse than us.
Whoah... thunder snow... interesting...
Hmm, a little more light left in the day... snowballs anyone? :D
Looks like DC will get it worse than us.
Whoah... thunder snow... interesting...
Hmm, a little more light left in the day... snowballs anyone? :D
Friday, January 21, 2011
A Letter Copied from the Thyroid Website
Dear Friend/Family Member:
Someone you care about has thyroid disease. You may not know much about thyroid problems, but I imagine, like many of us, you've heard things here and there. If anything, you probably associate the thyroid with weight problems, or think it's an excuse people use for being overweight. Or, you may already know someone else who's taking thyroid medication -- usually Synthroid -- and they seem to be doing fine, so you assume thyroid disease will be similar for your friend/family member.
There's so much more to thyroid disease, and while I can't cover it all in this letter, I'm going to try, briefly, to give you a sense of what your loved one is facing. So can I ask that you set aside for a few moments the information you do have about thyroid disease, to open your mind and heart?
The thyroid is our master gland of metabolism and energy. Every single body function that requires oxygen and energy -- basically, everything that goes on in our bodies! -- requires thyroid hormone in proper amounts. That means we need the proper balance of thyroid hormone in order to feel and live well. We need thyroid hormone to think clearly and remember things, to maintain a good mood, to grow hair and nails, to have basic energy to get through the day, to see well, to digest our food, to burn calories, to be fertile, to get pregnant and have a healthy baby, to have a good sex drive, and much, much more. In some ways, you can think about thyroid hormone as the gasoline that makes the car go. No gas, and there's no way to move forward.
Typically, a thyroid problem comes in one of several forms. Your loved one may be hyperthyroid...that means that the thyroid gland is overactive, and producing too much thyroid hormone. When the thyroid becomes overactive, you can think of it a bit like the gas pedal on the car is stuck, and the engine is flooding. If your loved one is going through hyperthyroidism, he or she may be feeling extremely anxious and nervous, with a rapidly beating heart, higher blood pressure, and even palpitations. Some people describe the sensation as like their heart is beating so hard and loud everyone around them can even see it and hear it! They may be hungry and thirsty all the time, suffering from diarrhea even, and losing weight. Others may even be wondering, wrongly, if your loved one's rapid weight loss is due to an eating disorder or some sort of illness like cancer or AIDS. His or her eyes may be sore, sensitive, gritty and irritated, and vision can even become blurry. Sleep may be difficult or impossible, and lack of sleep combined with the body zooming along at 100 miles an hour can cause extreme exhaustion and muscle weakness. Frankly, people who are in the throes of hyperthyroidism have told me that they feel and look like someone who is strung out on drugs, or who has had 20 cups of coffee after not sleeping for a week. With heart pounding, and all body systems going full tilt, your jittery, stressed-out hyperthyroid loved one may even feel like he or she is losing it, ready to fall apart at any moment.
If your loved one is hypothyroid, they are facing different challenges. Hypothyroidism means the thyroid is underactive, and not producing enough of the energy and oxygen-delivering thyroid hormone. This is like trying to get somewhere with barely enough gas and feet that can't reach the gas pedal. If your loved one is hypothyroid, he or she may be feeling sluggish and tired, and exhausted all the time. Think about the worst flu you've ever had, and how tired, and achy and exhausted you felt. Now imagine waking up every day feeling like that, but having to get up, go to work/school and take care of yourself and others feeling that way. Depression -- or feeling blue -- is common, as are memory problems and being fuzzy-brained -- we patients call it "brain fog." Your loved one may look in a mirror and not recognize herself (and I say herself here, because the vast majority of thyroid patients in general are women -- thyroid problems do happen in men, but are seven to ten times more common in women.) Because when she looks in the mirror, she sees the outer half of her eyebrows are thin or missing, her hair is thin, dry, coarse and falling out, her face and eyelids are puffy, her face is bloated and puffy, and she may have gained weight, despite eating less and working out more than everyone else around her. With hypothyroidism, anything and everything can be slow, even digestion, which can cause constipation. For women, periods can be worse, and come more often than before. Menopause can be worse, and come earlier than for other women. And after pregnancy, hypothyroidism can worsen postpartum fatigue and depression, and make breastfeeding difficult or impossible. And then there's that issue of weight gain. Your loved one may be following the most rigorous and healthy diet and exercise program, and yet be unable to lose weight. He or she might even be gaining weight on that program.
If your loved one has thyroid cancer, they have an entirely different challenge. The majority of thyroid cancers are considered highly treatable and survivable, so doctors and others often cavalierly refer to thyroid cancer as "the good cancer." But the reality is, no cancer is "good," and someone who has thyroid cancer has cancer, "the big C." Cancer as a concept is frightening, and raises fears and concerns. Someone with thyroid cancer typically does not have many symptoms to start, but will usually require surgery to remove the thyroid -- and this can be daunting, the of a several-inch incision in the neck. After surgery, many thyroid cancer patients will need to have followup radioactive iodine treatment to ensure that all the cancerous tissue was removed, and it can be many weeks after surgery before a thyroid cancer patient -- who by that point is typically hypothyroid -- can start thyroid medication to again get lifesaving thyroid hormone they need. And the thyroid cancer patient in your life will require lifetime of treatment for hypothyroidism, along with periodic follow-ups and scans to monitor for a recurrence of the cancer.
These are just a few of the conditions that can affect thyroid patients. There are autoimmune diseases -- Graves' disease and Hashimoto's -- that can be at the root of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Sometimes people develop a goiter -- an enlarged thyroid -- or benign nodules that cause symptoms. Sometimes a temporary infection causes thyroiditis. And again, these problems can be difficult to pinpoint, misdiagnosed as everything under the sign, and even when diagnosed, poorly treated.
So what many thyroid patients have in common is living in a world that overlooks, downplays, poorly treats -- and sometimes even makes fun of -- their condition.
Magazine articles, books by doctors, patients brochures in doctors offices -- and doctors themselves -- insist simplistically that thyroid disease is "easy to diagnose, easy to treat" even though patients know that this is far from the truth. As for "easy to diagnose," your loved one may have even struggled to get diagnosed -- to get taken seriously -- in the first place. Doctors regularly misdiagnose hyperthyroid patients as having an eating or anxiety disorder, and hypothyroid patients as having stress, depression, PMS, or menopause.
Worse yet are the truly unsympathetic physicians that we all too frequently encounter in thyroid care. Like the marathon runner with hypothyroidism who was in training, on a strict diet, and still gaining weight and was told by her doctor that she had "fork in mouth disease." Or the endocrinologists who tell patients, "Well, you should be GLAD, you know, because you have the GOOD cancer!" Or the doctor who diagnosed a woman with hyperthyroidism by clapping his hands together loudly behind her head, chortled: "Oh, I can always tell you hypers, because you practically jump off the examining table when I do that!"
There are advertisements and comedians who use "thyroid problem" as the not-so-secret code to describe someone who is fat. And there's a whole realm of scam artists out there trying to sell us cockamamie Thyro-this and Thyro-that "cures" for thyroid disease that in many cases can make things a whole lot worse -- or at best, not help at all.
Even Oprah admitted she had a thyroid problem, then claimed it went away, then said she had it but it wasn't an excuse for her weight gain, then decided not to get treatment, and continues to struggle with her health issues.
And perhaps saddest of all, there are friends and relatives who say "I don't buy this thyroid disease thing, it's just an excuse for not losing weight" or "Thyroid? Hah! She's just lazy!" Or, "Why can't he just get OVER it and get back to normal?" Husbands criticize their wives for gaining weight. Teenagers whisper behind a friend's back about anorexia.
Once we're diagnosed, treatment is not an easy fix for many thyroid patients. Doctors try to rush hyperthyroid patients into permanently disabling the thyroid with a radioactive treatment that will make them hypothyroid for life. Many doctors believe there is only one medication to treat hypothyroidism -- a medication that does not resolve symptoms for all patients. When patients learn about other available options, doctors may stonewall, refuse additional treatments, or push antidepressants, cholesterol medications, weight loss pills and more, instead of addressing the thyroid issues. The conventional medical establishment believes that treatment for thyroid problems is one-size-fits-all. This cavalier attitude means that many thyroid patients struggle for years to live and feel well, despite being diagnosed and "treated."
I'm here to ask you -- in a world where thyroid patients are disregarded, overlooked, misdiagnosed, abused, exploited, mocked, and ignored -- to be the person who truly "gets it" for the thyroid patient in your life. Be the person who understands that while thyroid disease may not be visible, it is causing your friend or loved one to suffer. Be the person who understands that even though celebrities aren't talking about thyroid disease, and sports figures aren't wearing bracelets to promote thyroid awareness, that this is a genuine, difficult, and life-changing diagnosis.
Be the person who opens mind and heart to the thyroid patients in your life. Be the person who listens, and learns about the struggles and challenges. Be the person who empowers the thyroid patient in your life, by helping him or her do as much as possible to improve health. Be the person to help find doctors and practitioners who do not view your friend or relative as a cookie-cutter patient on a thyroid assembly line. Be the person who helps the thyroid patient in your life to maintain balance-- to help find time for rest, for exercise, for stress reduction, for self-care, for proper nutrition, for fun!
Live well,
Mary Shomon
Thyroid Patient Advocate
Someone you care about has thyroid disease. You may not know much about thyroid problems, but I imagine, like many of us, you've heard things here and there. If anything, you probably associate the thyroid with weight problems, or think it's an excuse people use for being overweight. Or, you may already know someone else who's taking thyroid medication -- usually Synthroid -- and they seem to be doing fine, so you assume thyroid disease will be similar for your friend/family member.
There's so much more to thyroid disease, and while I can't cover it all in this letter, I'm going to try, briefly, to give you a sense of what your loved one is facing. So can I ask that you set aside for a few moments the information you do have about thyroid disease, to open your mind and heart?
The thyroid is our master gland of metabolism and energy. Every single body function that requires oxygen and energy -- basically, everything that goes on in our bodies! -- requires thyroid hormone in proper amounts. That means we need the proper balance of thyroid hormone in order to feel and live well. We need thyroid hormone to think clearly and remember things, to maintain a good mood, to grow hair and nails, to have basic energy to get through the day, to see well, to digest our food, to burn calories, to be fertile, to get pregnant and have a healthy baby, to have a good sex drive, and much, much more. In some ways, you can think about thyroid hormone as the gasoline that makes the car go. No gas, and there's no way to move forward.
Typically, a thyroid problem comes in one of several forms. Your loved one may be hyperthyroid...that means that the thyroid gland is overactive, and producing too much thyroid hormone. When the thyroid becomes overactive, you can think of it a bit like the gas pedal on the car is stuck, and the engine is flooding. If your loved one is going through hyperthyroidism, he or she may be feeling extremely anxious and nervous, with a rapidly beating heart, higher blood pressure, and even palpitations. Some people describe the sensation as like their heart is beating so hard and loud everyone around them can even see it and hear it! They may be hungry and thirsty all the time, suffering from diarrhea even, and losing weight. Others may even be wondering, wrongly, if your loved one's rapid weight loss is due to an eating disorder or some sort of illness like cancer or AIDS. His or her eyes may be sore, sensitive, gritty and irritated, and vision can even become blurry. Sleep may be difficult or impossible, and lack of sleep combined with the body zooming along at 100 miles an hour can cause extreme exhaustion and muscle weakness. Frankly, people who are in the throes of hyperthyroidism have told me that they feel and look like someone who is strung out on drugs, or who has had 20 cups of coffee after not sleeping for a week. With heart pounding, and all body systems going full tilt, your jittery, stressed-out hyperthyroid loved one may even feel like he or she is losing it, ready to fall apart at any moment.
If your loved one is hypothyroid, they are facing different challenges. Hypothyroidism means the thyroid is underactive, and not producing enough of the energy and oxygen-delivering thyroid hormone. This is like trying to get somewhere with barely enough gas and feet that can't reach the gas pedal. If your loved one is hypothyroid, he or she may be feeling sluggish and tired, and exhausted all the time. Think about the worst flu you've ever had, and how tired, and achy and exhausted you felt. Now imagine waking up every day feeling like that, but having to get up, go to work/school and take care of yourself and others feeling that way. Depression -- or feeling blue -- is common, as are memory problems and being fuzzy-brained -- we patients call it "brain fog." Your loved one may look in a mirror and not recognize herself (and I say herself here, because the vast majority of thyroid patients in general are women -- thyroid problems do happen in men, but are seven to ten times more common in women.) Because when she looks in the mirror, she sees the outer half of her eyebrows are thin or missing, her hair is thin, dry, coarse and falling out, her face and eyelids are puffy, her face is bloated and puffy, and she may have gained weight, despite eating less and working out more than everyone else around her. With hypothyroidism, anything and everything can be slow, even digestion, which can cause constipation. For women, periods can be worse, and come more often than before. Menopause can be worse, and come earlier than for other women. And after pregnancy, hypothyroidism can worsen postpartum fatigue and depression, and make breastfeeding difficult or impossible. And then there's that issue of weight gain. Your loved one may be following the most rigorous and healthy diet and exercise program, and yet be unable to lose weight. He or she might even be gaining weight on that program.
If your loved one has thyroid cancer, they have an entirely different challenge. The majority of thyroid cancers are considered highly treatable and survivable, so doctors and others often cavalierly refer to thyroid cancer as "the good cancer." But the reality is, no cancer is "good," and someone who has thyroid cancer has cancer, "the big C." Cancer as a concept is frightening, and raises fears and concerns. Someone with thyroid cancer typically does not have many symptoms to start, but will usually require surgery to remove the thyroid -- and this can be daunting, the of a several-inch incision in the neck. After surgery, many thyroid cancer patients will need to have followup radioactive iodine treatment to ensure that all the cancerous tissue was removed, and it can be many weeks after surgery before a thyroid cancer patient -- who by that point is typically hypothyroid -- can start thyroid medication to again get lifesaving thyroid hormone they need. And the thyroid cancer patient in your life will require lifetime of treatment for hypothyroidism, along with periodic follow-ups and scans to monitor for a recurrence of the cancer.
These are just a few of the conditions that can affect thyroid patients. There are autoimmune diseases -- Graves' disease and Hashimoto's -- that can be at the root of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Sometimes people develop a goiter -- an enlarged thyroid -- or benign nodules that cause symptoms. Sometimes a temporary infection causes thyroiditis. And again, these problems can be difficult to pinpoint, misdiagnosed as everything under the sign, and even when diagnosed, poorly treated.
So what many thyroid patients have in common is living in a world that overlooks, downplays, poorly treats -- and sometimes even makes fun of -- their condition.
Magazine articles, books by doctors, patients brochures in doctors offices -- and doctors themselves -- insist simplistically that thyroid disease is "easy to diagnose, easy to treat" even though patients know that this is far from the truth. As for "easy to diagnose," your loved one may have even struggled to get diagnosed -- to get taken seriously -- in the first place. Doctors regularly misdiagnose hyperthyroid patients as having an eating or anxiety disorder, and hypothyroid patients as having stress, depression, PMS, or menopause.
Worse yet are the truly unsympathetic physicians that we all too frequently encounter in thyroid care. Like the marathon runner with hypothyroidism who was in training, on a strict diet, and still gaining weight and was told by her doctor that she had "fork in mouth disease." Or the endocrinologists who tell patients, "Well, you should be GLAD, you know, because you have the GOOD cancer!" Or the doctor who diagnosed a woman with hyperthyroidism by clapping his hands together loudly behind her head, chortled: "Oh, I can always tell you hypers, because you practically jump off the examining table when I do that!"
There are advertisements and comedians who use "thyroid problem" as the not-so-secret code to describe someone who is fat. And there's a whole realm of scam artists out there trying to sell us cockamamie Thyro-this and Thyro-that "cures" for thyroid disease that in many cases can make things a whole lot worse -- or at best, not help at all.
Even Oprah admitted she had a thyroid problem, then claimed it went away, then said she had it but it wasn't an excuse for her weight gain, then decided not to get treatment, and continues to struggle with her health issues.
And perhaps saddest of all, there are friends and relatives who say "I don't buy this thyroid disease thing, it's just an excuse for not losing weight" or "Thyroid? Hah! She's just lazy!" Or, "Why can't he just get OVER it and get back to normal?" Husbands criticize their wives for gaining weight. Teenagers whisper behind a friend's back about anorexia.
Once we're diagnosed, treatment is not an easy fix for many thyroid patients. Doctors try to rush hyperthyroid patients into permanently disabling the thyroid with a radioactive treatment that will make them hypothyroid for life. Many doctors believe there is only one medication to treat hypothyroidism -- a medication that does not resolve symptoms for all patients. When patients learn about other available options, doctors may stonewall, refuse additional treatments, or push antidepressants, cholesterol medications, weight loss pills and more, instead of addressing the thyroid issues. The conventional medical establishment believes that treatment for thyroid problems is one-size-fits-all. This cavalier attitude means that many thyroid patients struggle for years to live and feel well, despite being diagnosed and "treated."
I'm here to ask you -- in a world where thyroid patients are disregarded, overlooked, misdiagnosed, abused, exploited, mocked, and ignored -- to be the person who truly "gets it" for the thyroid patient in your life. Be the person who understands that while thyroid disease may not be visible, it is causing your friend or loved one to suffer. Be the person who understands that even though celebrities aren't talking about thyroid disease, and sports figures aren't wearing bracelets to promote thyroid awareness, that this is a genuine, difficult, and life-changing diagnosis.
Be the person who opens mind and heart to the thyroid patients in your life. Be the person who listens, and learns about the struggles and challenges. Be the person who empowers the thyroid patient in your life, by helping him or her do as much as possible to improve health. Be the person to help find doctors and practitioners who do not view your friend or relative as a cookie-cutter patient on a thyroid assembly line. Be the person who helps the thyroid patient in your life to maintain balance-- to help find time for rest, for exercise, for stress reduction, for self-care, for proper nutrition, for fun!
Live well,
Mary Shomon
Thyroid Patient Advocate
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
11 years
Today is my 11 year anniversary with my husband. Its unreal to me that its been that long, yet it feels like it has been forever (in a good way, obviously)
What can i say about him? He's the man that takes care of our family, he protects others when he deploys, he's served his country for just about 20 years now, he loves all his children and would do anything for them. (and me too) and i would do anything for him. He has comforting arms and though he isn't a big talker, he is there for me when i need him.
He has the kindest heart, the most wonderful eyes, and when he lets it out, the nicest smile. I adore him to the moon and back several times.
I love you Kevin and I am thankful for you! <3
@---->-
What can i say about him? He's the man that takes care of our family, he protects others when he deploys, he's served his country for just about 20 years now, he loves all his children and would do anything for them. (and me too) and i would do anything for him. He has comforting arms and though he isn't a big talker, he is there for me when i need him.
He has the kindest heart, the most wonderful eyes, and when he lets it out, the nicest smile. I adore him to the moon and back several times.
I love you Kevin and I am thankful for you! <3
@---->-
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Thinking of Having Kids??
Thinking of having kids? Try this 11 step program first!
Thank you, Jennette!!
Lesson 1
1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.
Lesson 2
Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.
Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.
Lesson 3
A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...
1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)
2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)
Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.
Lesson 4
Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?
Lesson 5
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.
Time allowed for this - all morning.
Lesson 6
Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.
Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.
Lesson 7
Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.
Lesson 8
1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.
You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.
Lesson 9
Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.
Lesson 10
Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.
Lesson 11
Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.
This is all very tongue in cheek; anyone who is parent will say 'it's all worth it!' Share it with your friends, both those who do and don't have kids. I guarantee they'll get a chuckle out of it. Remember, a sense of humor is one of the most important things you'll need when you become a parent!
Thank you, Jennette!!
Lesson 1
1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.
Lesson 2
Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.
Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.
Lesson 3
A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...
1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)
2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)
Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.
Lesson 4
Can you stand the mess children make? T o find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?
Lesson 5
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.
Time allowed for this - all morning.
Lesson 6
Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.
Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.
Lesson 7
Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.
Lesson 8
1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.
You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.
Lesson 9
Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.
Lesson 10
Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.
Lesson 11
Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.
This is all very tongue in cheek; anyone who is parent will say 'it's all worth it!' Share it with your friends, both those who do and don't have kids. I guarantee they'll get a chuckle out of it. Remember, a sense of humor is one of the most important things you'll need when you become a parent!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
A Welcome to the New Year and a Homicide...
Happy New Year! Yes its just past the date of 1-1-11 :) I pray that you have a wonderful year and that you are blessed from God. (and that you bless him back!)
Remember, every day is a gift!
Oh, you were waiting for more???
Ahh the previous mentioned item...
Also, the homicide.. yes, I committed homicide this morning.. I was getting ready to take my shower when a pest entered my shower and wouldn't leave. i tried telling it to leave, and it wouldn't, sprayed water on it and it still wouldn't leave, so I sprayed more and more till it slumped down and i kept spraying till it fell on the floor of my shower. Then i sprayed it some more till it went down the drain, then i sprayed some more to make sure it didn't' come back. Yes, i killed a fly this morning, kind of felt bad, was more worried it wasn't dead and would come back UP the drain and land on me while i was washing, lol.
Remember, every day is a gift!
Oh, you were waiting for more???
Ahh the previous mentioned item...
Also, the homicide.. yes, I committed homicide this morning.. I was getting ready to take my shower when a pest entered my shower and wouldn't leave. i tried telling it to leave, and it wouldn't, sprayed water on it and it still wouldn't leave, so I sprayed more and more till it slumped down and i kept spraying till it fell on the floor of my shower. Then i sprayed it some more till it went down the drain, then i sprayed some more to make sure it didn't' come back. Yes, i killed a fly this morning, kind of felt bad, was more worried it wasn't dead and would come back UP the drain and land on me while i was washing, lol.
Amazing Home Remedies
AMAZING HOME REMEDIES
1. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP
2. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT BY USING THE SINK.
3. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.
4. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.
5. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. THEN YOU'LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH.
6. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.
7. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.
DAILY THOUGHT:
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKYS - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
1. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP
2. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT BY USING THE SINK.
3. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.
4. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.
5. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. THEN YOU'LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH.
6. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.
7. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.
DAILY THOUGHT:
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKYS - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
A Touching Story I Was Emailed....
RED MARBLES
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas..
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
'Hello Barry, how are you today?'
'H'lo , Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.'
'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'
'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'
'Good. Anything I can help you with?'
'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'
'Would you like to take some home ?' asked Mr.. Miller.
'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'
'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'
'All I got's my prize marble here.'
'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller..
'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'
'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home ?' the store owner asked.
'Not zackley but almost..'
'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'.. Mr. Miller told the boy.
'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store..'
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr... Miller had died.
They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in a Marine officer's uniform, one in his Navy Dress Blues and the other in the uniform of an Army Special Forces captain.....all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket..
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about colour or size.....they came to pay their debt.'
'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.'
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband.. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.... Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.....
Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...An unexpected phone call from an old friend...Green traffic lights on your way to work....The fastest line at the grocery store...A good sing-along song on the radio...Your keys found right where you left them.
Send this to the people you'll never forget.. I just Did....
If you don't send it to anyone, it means you are in way too much of a hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles when they occur.
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas..
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
'Hello Barry, how are you today?'
'H'lo , Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.'
'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?'
'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'
'Good. Anything I can help you with?'
'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.'
'Would you like to take some home ?' asked Mr.. Miller.
'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.'
'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?'
'All I got's my prize marble here.'
'Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller..
'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'
'I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home ?' the store owner asked.
'Not zackley but almost..'
'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'.. Mr. Miller told the boy.
'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store..'
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr... Miller had died.
They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in a Marine officer's uniform, one in his Navy Dress Blues and the other in the uniform of an Army Special Forces captain.....all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket..
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about colour or size.....they came to pay their debt.'
'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.'
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband.. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.... Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.....
Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...An unexpected phone call from an old friend...Green traffic lights on your way to work....The fastest line at the grocery store...A good sing-along song on the radio...Your keys found right where you left them.
Send this to the people you'll never forget.. I just Did....
If you don't send it to anyone, it means you are in way too much of a hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles when they occur.
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED
Friday, August 13, 2010
More old postings
3 old blogs. lol
Dec 30 06
Just around 94 hours till hubby comes home!! i am so happy!! I can't wait! Its been a long stressful lonely year. I am thankful for the friends i do have though.
I need to make sure to relax and not stress out with getting done what i need to get done.
I love this man so much. He's been such a blessing to me, and regardless of what happens, he's there. I love him and am so thankful that he loves me.
I can't wait for Lizzie to "meet" her daddy again. She looks for him now. Its soo cute and heartbreaking for me at the same time. She is just gonna eat him up, and love on the fact that she has a daddy just like everyone else. She might not let him go and never look at me again!! Shes been super clingy lately, i think she feels my stress.
WOO HOO.
Feb 07
Just figured i would do an update, as it seems that the last blog has been up forever.
Kevin got home on the 3rd of Jan. Its awesome having him home. Lizzie just loves him and when he's there, its all about daddy.
She is now walking and tries to run, its just too cute!!
Just always love it when things that are going good can just mess up for ya... We have to move asap because the owners didn't pay their mortgage for like 6 months. fun fun!! then we're moving in 2 months to NY as well. blah!!
Lots of surprises coming up!!
Happy Birthday Honey!!!
march 07
just a quick hi. we finally got our orders, guess its official. blah. I am finally getting Lizzie's first pics since she turned 1 done today. She just so smart and wonderful. and very very much knows what she does and DOES NOT want. lol.
its a dreary rainy day today. blah. supposed to get cold again. blah. i hate the cold. yes, me, i despise the cold. i much prefer warmer climates.
oh well, just wanted to do a small update....
Dec 30 06
Just around 94 hours till hubby comes home!! i am so happy!! I can't wait! Its been a long stressful lonely year. I am thankful for the friends i do have though.
I need to make sure to relax and not stress out with getting done what i need to get done.
I love this man so much. He's been such a blessing to me, and regardless of what happens, he's there. I love him and am so thankful that he loves me.
I can't wait for Lizzie to "meet" her daddy again. She looks for him now. Its soo cute and heartbreaking for me at the same time. She is just gonna eat him up, and love on the fact that she has a daddy just like everyone else. She might not let him go and never look at me again!! Shes been super clingy lately, i think she feels my stress.
WOO HOO.
Feb 07
Just figured i would do an update, as it seems that the last blog has been up forever.
Kevin got home on the 3rd of Jan. Its awesome having him home. Lizzie just loves him and when he's there, its all about daddy.
She is now walking and tries to run, its just too cute!!
Just always love it when things that are going good can just mess up for ya... We have to move asap because the owners didn't pay their mortgage for like 6 months. fun fun!! then we're moving in 2 months to NY as well. blah!!
Lots of surprises coming up!!
Happy Birthday Honey!!!
march 07
just a quick hi. we finally got our orders, guess its official. blah. I am finally getting Lizzie's first pics since she turned 1 done today. She just so smart and wonderful. and very very much knows what she does and DOES NOT want. lol.
its a dreary rainy day today. blah. supposed to get cold again. blah. i hate the cold. yes, me, i despise the cold. i much prefer warmer climates.
oh well, just wanted to do a small update....
Yet more old posts
april 7 07
Well, the move is coming up fast. It never ceases to amaze me how fast things move. How fast time flies, how fast kids grow up. I can't believe that Lizzie is already less than 10 days till she's 16 months old. And i really can't believe that I am 12 weeks preggo.. its just like, whoa, slow down, I'm still tired from 2 months ago! lol.
I've loved NC, always felt like it was home... But it is time to move on. ever since the break in, I've not felt like i was at home anymore. It helps with Kev here, but its just like the "contentment" of being here is gone. Never in a million years did I think that we would be moving north. Its like, ummm, wait, we don't' wanna go there, the south is better. WARM is better. west is better. anything is better. but i guess it could be worse... oh well. Time to stop whining.
The morning sickness is getting better, but every time i say it, it seems to get worse. blah.
I will miss my dear friends and hope that we can stay in touch. I suck at it quite a bit. But i do think of ya.
Starting on the 18th, my ability to check email and get on here will be greatly diminished. till we get a place. blah.
oh well, guess i had better go, things to do, and I'm hungry again.
Well, the move is coming up fast. It never ceases to amaze me how fast things move. How fast time flies, how fast kids grow up. I can't believe that Lizzie is already less than 10 days till she's 16 months old. And i really can't believe that I am 12 weeks preggo.. its just like, whoa, slow down, I'm still tired from 2 months ago! lol.
I've loved NC, always felt like it was home... But it is time to move on. ever since the break in, I've not felt like i was at home anymore. It helps with Kev here, but its just like the "contentment" of being here is gone. Never in a million years did I think that we would be moving north. Its like, ummm, wait, we don't' wanna go there, the south is better. WARM is better. west is better. anything is better. but i guess it could be worse... oh well. Time to stop whining.
The morning sickness is getting better, but every time i say it, it seems to get worse. blah.
I will miss my dear friends and hope that we can stay in touch. I suck at it quite a bit. But i do think of ya.
Starting on the 18th, my ability to check email and get on here will be greatly diminished. till we get a place. blah.
oh well, guess i had better go, things to do, and I'm hungry again.
more old posts
April 13 07
OK, so this is the last weekend. We don't' leave town till the 1st though. Should (hopefully) be on line, in just over a month, well, consistently on line.
I'm doing much better, bigger belly, but next to no morning sickness left. Yay.
Lizzie's doing good. she's 32 inches tall and 24lbs. Strong willed and stubborn. The sweetest thing in the world too. gives great kisses and hugs.
Well, just wanted to give a heads up. At the end of next month I'll be halfway done with my pregnancy... sooo unreal! i cant' believe I'm already 13.5 weeks preggo.... time is FLYING!!
Love ya
OK, so this is the last weekend. We don't' leave town till the 1st though. Should (hopefully) be on line, in just over a month, well, consistently on line.
I'm doing much better, bigger belly, but next to no morning sickness left. Yay.
Lizzie's doing good. she's 32 inches tall and 24lbs. Strong willed and stubborn. The sweetest thing in the world too. gives great kisses and hugs.
Well, just wanted to give a heads up. At the end of next month I'll be halfway done with my pregnancy... sooo unreal! i cant' believe I'm already 13.5 weeks preggo.... time is FLYING!!
Love ya
More old Posts.
April 07 from old blog
Leaving the good ole fayetteville. So unreal! Oh well, been a long time coming, I've been ready to leave, but Its hard to go to a new place. I'm going to miss my friends here, PWOC, my church. Its been tough, being displaced for going on 10 days, staying at a friends. Poor kittens are in a kennel, but we pick them up Tuesday before we leave.
I cherish my Spunky moms and my Jan moms very much. Not to mention my hubby, for which I couldn't' do anything without. My little Jan baby who is teething and just miserable sometimes, and confused the rest of the time. All her stuff is gone, her kitties are missing, and she's bored. I'd act out too!
When we leave here, we're going to visit family for 10 days or so, then to NY. UPSTATE NY. May the next 3 winters be VERY VERY mild!!
To my unborn. I am sorry for not picking up my paperwork earlier for the test i had done in feb. I hope and pray that you have not been harmed from the problem they found. I look forward to meeting you in October.
Well, its dinner time and i should go get something and help out my hubby. I love him so much, even though i let stress get to me too much sometimes and I fuss too much. Love you Babe!!
Later Peeps!
Leaving the good ole fayetteville. So unreal! Oh well, been a long time coming, I've been ready to leave, but Its hard to go to a new place. I'm going to miss my friends here, PWOC, my church. Its been tough, being displaced for going on 10 days, staying at a friends. Poor kittens are in a kennel, but we pick them up Tuesday before we leave.
I cherish my Spunky moms and my Jan moms very much. Not to mention my hubby, for which I couldn't' do anything without. My little Jan baby who is teething and just miserable sometimes, and confused the rest of the time. All her stuff is gone, her kitties are missing, and she's bored. I'd act out too!
When we leave here, we're going to visit family for 10 days or so, then to NY. UPSTATE NY. May the next 3 winters be VERY VERY mild!!
To my unborn. I am sorry for not picking up my paperwork earlier for the test i had done in feb. I hope and pray that you have not been harmed from the problem they found. I look forward to meeting you in October.
Well, its dinner time and i should go get something and help out my hubby. I love him so much, even though i let stress get to me too much sometimes and I fuss too much. Love you Babe!!
Later Peeps!
June 07 from old blog
More From Myspace blog
internet is up and running, finally.
belly still growing, I am 20 weeks and 2 days today. baby is an avid exerciser, lol. my only exercise is chasing Lizzie all over creation and going up and down the staircase at our house..
For the most part, i feel great, get tired really easy, but that's to be expected.
Drum is OK... haven't been here long enough to make a big judgment call on it... it'll do, not like we will live here forever (I hope!) lol.
Lizzie is full swing into the terrible twos(started when she turned one) hopefully that means that she'll be done sooner... i hope! She loves to assert her independence... little stinker! lol. She's soo smart and loving and sweet when she wants to be. I converted her crib into a toddler bed... I'll give it the weekend and see how it goes then make my decision about putting the crib back together Sunday night.
ummm, Dr appt the 7th, just routine (OB) got my consult for cardiology, so i'll make that appt on Monday.
the movers broke our washer,so we have to go to the stinky laundromat. blah. I did 11 loads today.
i feel like it will be forever till the house is straight. our book cases and media towers got broke and our computer desk was broken before we moved the second time, so blah.
I can't wait to put the baby's room together. and i cant' wait till i know if i can do it all boyish. I'm excited.
well, ummm, i think that's all for now.
Have a great weekend!!
internet is up and running, finally.
belly still growing, I am 20 weeks and 2 days today. baby is an avid exerciser, lol. my only exercise is chasing Lizzie all over creation and going up and down the staircase at our house..
For the most part, i feel great, get tired really easy, but that's to be expected.
Drum is OK... haven't been here long enough to make a big judgment call on it... it'll do, not like we will live here forever (I hope!) lol.
Lizzie is full swing into the terrible twos(started when she turned one) hopefully that means that she'll be done sooner... i hope! She loves to assert her independence... little stinker! lol. She's soo smart and loving and sweet when she wants to be. I converted her crib into a toddler bed... I'll give it the weekend and see how it goes then make my decision about putting the crib back together Sunday night.
ummm, Dr appt the 7th, just routine (OB) got my consult for cardiology, so i'll make that appt on Monday.
the movers broke our washer,so we have to go to the stinky laundromat. blah. I did 11 loads today.
i feel like it will be forever till the house is straight. our book cases and media towers got broke and our computer desk was broken before we moved the second time, so blah.
I can't wait to put the baby's room together. and i cant' wait till i know if i can do it all boyish. I'm excited.
well, ummm, i think that's all for now.
Have a great weekend!!
More Backward Postings from my old blog.
From myspace blog, approx 5 weeks before AJ was born.
We are doing OK, we did end up at Fort Drum, for those of you that hadn't' heard. NY is not what i expected. This is a smaller post than Ft Bragg, so its taking some to get used to, Watertown is about 20-25 minutes away, depending on traffic. They have some nicer restaurants, but from what i understand, they only got here in the last year and a half.
Lizzie is doing well, she's growing and her personality is expanding. She is very independent, despite the sudden clingyness she's experiencing, but its the age and its not as bad as other kids I've heard about so that's good. She has a head full of huge curls, she turned 20 months last Friday and at her 18 month appt (2 months ago) she weighed 24.9 lbs and was 32.5 inches tall. She wears 18months to 3Ts, yes, a large range. lol. She SEEMS very excited to be getting a new baby. She hugs and kisses my belly, announces baby to everyone whenever she see's one, lifts up my shirt and announces when we're out that there is a baby in there. She knows the baby's stuff is in the baby's' room, so we'll see. She watches birth day and baby story with me.
The baby is a boy, his name will be Aric James. As of yesterday, they are guesstimating that he is 4 to 4.5 lbs right now. He has hair as well. He is a big mover and loves to move at night before i go to sleep. tomorrow he will be 32 weeks along. I have been told they will not stop labor after 34 weeks. He will be born in Syracuse, as opposed to up here, as they are being overly cautious due to my heart, no reason for them to be, they just are.
Kevin's unit is deploying in a few weeks. He is not deploying in a few weeks, but he is deploying in Jan or so. I'm thankful that he gets to be home for the birth and has time for connection with Aric and Lizzie. She just loves her daddy so much, i hope that she transitions well to having a brother and to her daddy leaving again.
The weather here is crazy. when we got here in may, it was in the 40s, now its high of 70, still cold. we've had hot days, but nothing like down in NC, but when you get used to 60s, 80s seems hot. lol. I guess that's cause we're so close to Canada. (30 miles or so)
I am doing OK for the most part, this pregnancy has been harder on my body than Lizzie's. I am more tired, but I'm sure that has a lot to do with chasing around Lizzie.
We are doing OK, we did end up at Fort Drum, for those of you that hadn't' heard. NY is not what i expected. This is a smaller post than Ft Bragg, so its taking some to get used to, Watertown is about 20-25 minutes away, depending on traffic. They have some nicer restaurants, but from what i understand, they only got here in the last year and a half.
Lizzie is doing well, she's growing and her personality is expanding. She is very independent, despite the sudden clingyness she's experiencing, but its the age and its not as bad as other kids I've heard about so that's good. She has a head full of huge curls, she turned 20 months last Friday and at her 18 month appt (2 months ago) she weighed 24.9 lbs and was 32.5 inches tall. She wears 18months to 3Ts, yes, a large range. lol. She SEEMS very excited to be getting a new baby. She hugs and kisses my belly, announces baby to everyone whenever she see's one, lifts up my shirt and announces when we're out that there is a baby in there. She knows the baby's stuff is in the baby's' room, so we'll see. She watches birth day and baby story with me.
The baby is a boy, his name will be Aric James. As of yesterday, they are guesstimating that he is 4 to 4.5 lbs right now. He has hair as well. He is a big mover and loves to move at night before i go to sleep. tomorrow he will be 32 weeks along. I have been told they will not stop labor after 34 weeks. He will be born in Syracuse, as opposed to up here, as they are being overly cautious due to my heart, no reason for them to be, they just are.
Kevin's unit is deploying in a few weeks. He is not deploying in a few weeks, but he is deploying in Jan or so. I'm thankful that he gets to be home for the birth and has time for connection with Aric and Lizzie. She just loves her daddy so much, i hope that she transitions well to having a brother and to her daddy leaving again.
The weather here is crazy. when we got here in may, it was in the 40s, now its high of 70, still cold. we've had hot days, but nothing like down in NC, but when you get used to 60s, 80s seems hot. lol. I guess that's cause we're so close to Canada. (30 miles or so)
I am doing OK for the most part, this pregnancy has been harder on my body than Lizzie's. I am more tired, but I'm sure that has a lot to do with chasing around Lizzie.
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