Random Friday Post and 5QF

1.  I had no Internet yesterday.

2.  Part of it was my Internet provider's fault, and part of it was my fault.

3.  Apparently, I do not know how to successfully reboot my wireless router.  :(

4.  I had a LOT to catch up on last night around 9pm.

5.  But it was kinda refreshing to be "off the grid" for a while.

6.  I may have to start some "off the grid" days here and there.

7.  It's gonna be a hot, muggy day here.

8.  My hair is already frizzy.

9.  And I don't have frizzy hair naturally, it's normally pin straight.

10.  Have a great weekend!






1. Vow renewal ceremonies-yay or nay?


Um.....maybe?  How's that for an answer?!?!? 

Here's my take on it, and it kinda speaks to another issue I have.  So many couples feel the need to do the "big stuff" early.  Big presents, big vacations, big houses, big fancy schmancy cars, etc.  Our parents, and generations before that, saved, and waited.  They didn't need all these grandiose things in order to make them feel loved,  accepted or approved of.  So, you got a big house....what's next?  He surprised you with a trip to Bora Bora....is he going to have to top it next year?  It's always bigger, beter, and more, more, more...   Why do we constantly have to celebrate ourselves?  Vow renewals fit into this category, I think.  At least where the younger generations are concerned.

Unless there's been marital strife, and its necessary to celebrate a reunion.  Or perhaps after 25 or 50 years....that's something to celebrate.  Then, it's just fun to get together and have a party- with a little vow renewal mixed in...well, sure!

2. What sound/s annoy you the most?

Whining.  Oh, the whining.....  By anyone....but if they have a nasally voice, I'm running for the door.

((Shudder))


3. If you had to pick, would you have only all boys, or only all girls for kids?

HA!  Thankfully, I don't have to choose! 

I used to think "I don't know what I'll do without a daughter."  Thankfully, God totally knew what He was doing when he gave me boys.  I'm naturally a "boy" person.  I get along better with men than women (at least, I did when I was younger), and I understand their thinking patterns better.  Plus, I cannot stand the whining I hear when I call my friend on the phone (not saying every little girl whines...it's just hers that do it every.time.she's.on.the.phone).  Plus, I'm not a pink-girly girl.  Avoiding Barbie or princess-infested junk in my house is fantastic.

4. Do you believe in alternative medicine?

I believe that there needs to be a balance.

When I was very very sick, I was in my Dr.'s office once a week, EVERY week for 13 weeks straight.  They kept throwing new drugs at me, doing tests, more drugs, more money, no real relief.  $3375 later....

I went to a Functional, Anti-aging, and Rejuvenative Medicine Dr. who, within a few minutes of my first visit, took the time to look through my food journal and found my gluten issues.  Then ordered a full blood work up with a  tiered blood panel of my thyroid (not just the TSH) and found my real thyroid issue and also found my scary Magnesium and Vitamin D deficiencies.  Then ordered a month long saliva test and found my progesterone and cortisol (adrenal) issues . My regular Dr. would have just kept me on a double dose of Prilosec and Xanax- with a Beta-Blocker in there too.  I would still be eating gluten and still be hurting my body.  The last time he saw me, he realized that I hadn't been in to see him in over a year.  When I told him the issues I had with gluten, his response was "I just don't think that something like gluten can affect you so much....it must have been something else that went away on it's own."  Oh....ok, Dr.

Here's my take on it:  Conventional Medicine has its place.  I go to my family Dr. when I am acutely sick (like strep or ear infection).  I take my boys there for Well Child Checks.  But, I don't think Conventional Medicine is made to handle chronic issues.  For that, I'll go to my "alternative" Doctor.

5. Would you take a family member's children and raise them if they needed it?

Abso-frickin-lutely.  Without question, and with willing hearts.

And then I wouldn't worry about money or patience because it would really be a walk of Faith.  If God brings me to it, He's gonna see me through it.

But then, I wonder what would have happened to our siblings in order for us to have to take their children...and that thought scares me.

So, I'll just end here! 

Happy Weekend!

What it feels like....

It's no surprise to you (if you've been reading this blog for any given amount of time) that I mention adrenal issues often.  And thyroid issues, and gluten issues. 

All of them are related to each other...in some way, shape or form.  Kind of like a little domino effect.

At the same time, each of them has their own set of affects on me.  Each issue has its own set of medicinal support.  All the same, all related, but different.

Even over a year after my diagnosis, I still have "off" days.  They're coming around less and less, but when they do come a few things happen:

1.  I'm eternally grateful that they're happening less and less.

2.  I realize how far I've come in recovery.

3.  I realize I'm not as prepared to handle the bad days as I was when I was in them all.the.time.

What does an "off" day feel like?

I wake up already tired.  Like I haven't slept at all the night before.

Going up the stairs from our room will leave me winded and breathless.  And tired.

Hopefully we don't have to jet out the door right away.  Having to start a day on a busy note will literally render me useless for the rest of the day.  If we can sit around for a bit, I'm semi-useful.

Regular dizzy spells throughout the day.

Feeling like fainting in the shower....feeling too tired to wash my hair- because lifting my arms above my head is just too much effort.

My arms feel like they weigh 80 pounds a piece when it comes to blow drying my hair.  A pony tail will have to do.

At any given time during the day, I need a nap.  Not want a nap....need.

On a rare day that I get a nap, I will wake up still tired....still needing a nap.

Exercise?  Ha! IF I can push through it, it's a hard hard workout full of half-hearted moves, bad form, and breathlessness.  And it takes me almost 2 hours to recover.

Brain fog.  I will sit at my computer attempting to work and blog, but essentially do a lot of nothing.  These are not productive days. 

If I have errands to run, it's like walking around with 50 lb. ankle weights strapped to my legs.  Each step a struggle, and I'm exhausted by the time I'm finished.

At 3 o'clock (when a normal person has a natural slight dip in cortisol), I will bottom out.  Nothing left.  This leaves my body in shut-down mode....craving any type of sugar for a quick pick-me-up.  Sugar craving like you've never heard of....I'm learning to reach for protein....but sometimes it just doesn't cut it.

By dinnertime, I'm useless.  Mumbling, and short tempered.  Hopefully this is a crockpot day and the boys are playing nicely outside.  If not, we have boiled chicken breasts and some sort of boiled veggie....D. will take the boys outside and I am a spectator while they play....I clean the kitchen at a snail's pace.

After the boys' bedtime, I will sit at my computer and stare at the screens for an hour or two before realizing I've just wasted a bunch of time.  Then, I just head to bed praying the next day will offer relief.

D. once asked me if it was "all in my head."  Until I showed him that these are measurable hormones in my body...and once measured, were proven to be well-below normal.


What do I do for it?
- I take adrenal support medicine prescribed by my Dr.
- I take Celtic Sea Salt shots first thing in the morning, before I work out, after I work out, and usually at 3pm.  And sometimes more often depending on the level of fatigue and the amount of pain in my back.
- I try to avoid anything very early in the morning.  This means switching my car pool during the school year so I don't have to drive in the morning, I quit my gym membership because the only time I had to go was at 5:30am...which made it worse.  I now work out in the comfort of my home in the late morning/ early afternoon, and only drive the afternoon pick-up at school.
- I try to keep my schedule sparse of commitments.  I didn't do such a great job of that last year...and think I prolonged my recovery.  I need to do a better job of it this year.
- I'm maintaining a gluten free diet.  The level of reaction in my body was leading me to go into "fight or flight: mode...which put my adrenals on overload.  By keeping my diet clean, I'm keeping my body's reaction at a minimum.
- I rest when I can.  Trying to push through will do no more than tax them more.
- I take 1 tbsp. of extra virgin coconut oil every day.  This makes a BIG difference when I work out!
-  I take advantage of good days.  I get as much as I can done when I can, so I don't fall so far behind on the bad days. 
-  I say a prayer of thanks for every good day.  And then I ask God for another good day...and say "thank you" for that one too.


So, yeah....that's what it feels like.  And that's what I do to maintain some sense of normalcy.

This post isn't to gain pity at all.  I realize that until someone explains to me what something feels like, its hard for me to understand.  So, the next time someone tells you they have adrenal issues....well, now you know.

Top then things I learned while camping

1.  Bug Spray.  You can never have enough bug spray.

2.  There's always one kid that has to learn the hard way about the dangers of the fire pit.

3.  Rainy afternoons aren't all that bad.

4.  Socks and shoes are preferable where sand fleas are concerned.

5.  Mother nature will always call on you while camping.

6.  Frozen slushies are even better when it's hot, humid, and sunny out.

7.  Frozen slushies are even better with alcohol.

8.  Bug spray.  (yes, worthy of 2 entries)

9.  Naps are very, very good.  For.everyone.

10.  Creating memories with my family (and awesomely close friends) is worthy of all the dirt, sleepless nights, and bug bites.  The dirt washes off, you can catch up on sleep, and the bug bites will dissipate.  But those memories...those awesome memories will last forever.

A number story

I just spent three nights one hour north of here.

The four of us went camping with three other couples from our church.

Two of us went one night early so our five boys could play, and we could score campsite #'s 3 and 4 (right on the water)

Cindy and I walked two miles in 35 minutes every morning at 9:15.

I took a 3 hour nap in the RV on Saturday afternoon.

I consumed about 2000 too many calories over the course of the extended 3- day weekend.

I went swimming once, and something walked over my foot.

I made it to page 246 on my new book "The Help."

Upon returning home, I gave two little boys 30 minute showers, and washed 5 pounds of dirt down the drain

I, again, took another 35 minute nap.

I now have two sore sinus cavities, and 400 bug bites all over my body.

Three of which are large, hard, and hot...and very itchy.

I spent three hours catching up on emails and phone calls this morning.

I have another 4-5 hours of catch up left.

I am infinitely glad our "traveling" season is over, and we can "stay home" for the last 5 weeks of summer.

The End.

Captain Obvious

Guess what? 

It's hot outside.

That's all I've got today.

Crime, meet punishment

There's always a few weeks every summer that are challenging.

I'm trying to get things done, and the boys just aren't getting along.

Last year, it was the first two weeks of summer (trying to transition A. home from school), but this year....

it's now.

Only last year, I could still refer to C. as a baby.

"Be careful!  He's still a baby!"

"Be patient!  He's a baby, we need to teach him these things...he doesn't just know them."

This year, with a 4 year old birthday looming, I cannot use the "baby" line.

So, I take a line from a Jodi Picoult book:

"Take care of your brother, he's the only one you've got."

I'm learning that this is only effective the first 40 times you say it.

(Or, perhaps its totally ineffective given that I've had to say it 40 times!)

So, the other day, A. pushed C. which resulted in a GIANT black goose egg on the side of C's head.

Giant.

Granted, A. didn't mean to hurt his head like that.

But, he did mean to push his brother.  Hard.

At first, I saw a flash of white- I was sooo angry with my son for his actions.

So, I bit my tongue until the anger subsided.

Over an hour later.

After I prayed for discernment, I decided to match the punishment with the crime.

He showed anger with his hands.

Hands are not for showing anger.

So, A. had to come up with a list of 10 things he could do to show love with his hands.

10 things to show love to his brother.

I got to choose the first one.

Here's his list:

1.  (My choice) Give a hug

2.  Make C's bed and mark it off on his commission list.

3.  Feed Molly for C. and mark it off on his commission list.

4.  Clear C's plate, cup and silverware from the dinner table.

5.  Let C. play the wii for the entire 1/2 hour.

6.  Give C. something.

7.  Push C. on the swing.

8.  Clean up all the toys tonight.

9.  Let C. pick the show during TV time.

10. (My choice again) Say a prayer with and for C.

I think he thought of a pretty good list!  He couldn't think of a #10, so he left it up to me.  Which surprised me only because he already saw what I put for #1, and threw a FIT about hugging his brother.

The prayer was short.  Very short.  But...it was a start.

There's only been one other offense with hands during the past few days, and since it was only minor , so the list was only 5 items long (the first one I chose....which, again, was a hug.)

Is this a solution? 

It is for now.

If I had a million dollars

Don't get me wrong....I am a contented person.  I give thanks to God for every single solitary blessing he's given me.  And I try not to worry about finances...but at some level, I think everyone does.

Someone asked me yesterday what I would do if I had a million dollars.  Which got me thinking...so I thought I'd put it in a post.

1.  Finish the house.  Oh, to not live in a construction site!  I'd decorate to my heart's content and love every minute of it.  Pottery barn desk, here I come!

2.  My teeth.  I have a mouth full of amalgam fillings.  Full.  Two dentists have informed me that they are starting to fail (since I had them filled at such an early age).  And studies have shown that they do indeed seep mercury into our bloodstream.  I'd love to get them all replaced.  The smallest quote I've received for this is $3000.

3.  New van.  Actually, I should say new/used.  Even though I had money to burn, I'd still be smart with it.  Thanks, Dave Ramsey for the education.

4.  Vacation.  The right way.  Fly far far away (preferably to the Rhine River Valley in Germany and cruise up the river), lots of bad-for-you food, lots of fun, great photographs.

5.  Brand new top of the line DSLR camera.  All the lenses.  All the fun stuff.  Start my fun little side-show business.  This would be more hobby than business.  But, man...I'd have fun!

6.  Fun car.  1969 Food Mustang Convertible.  Please.

7.  Fully fund my boys' college funds.  Which right now are non-existent.

8.  Fully fund our retirement.  Which does exist....but....well, whatever....

9.  Get Dave a Sprinter van for work.  These are really cool looking and really economical on gas.  Unfortunately, they run around $25,000.  I hate that he uses an old beat up van for work everyday.  It works, and its paid for...but we have to revisit the same issue every 3 years.

10.  Give the rest away.  All the bases are covered and we've had some fun....now it's time to be generous with our gifts.  (Assuming that the tithe was taken care of right off the bat....which is why it's not on the list...it's just a given).  There's a few local charities that I'd love to support, and I'd give a bit more to some programs that need funding.

The end.