Humph

Well, that lasted long enough for me to read to him and turn the lights out for 5 minutes. Then I hear a "Will you come tuck me in?"

"Umm, Son, you're in bed, with me. What more do you want?"

"No, I mean MY bed."

So much for keeping me safe and protected.

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Sharing A Bed

My son has informed me that he will be sleeping in my bed for the next 5 nights. To protect me and keep me safe. Because hubby is going out town for the next 5 days. Awwww :)

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What A Little Bug Can Do

Last week my Son showed us a red mark on his shoulder. Looked like a bug bite with some redness around it. Nothing out of the ordinary we thought. Then Friday morning I took a look at it (or rather saw it). Yikes! Time for the doctor.

We're pretty sure its Lyme Disease. Son is on a 3 week course of antibiotics. He started with the flu-like symptoms to go along with the bulls eye mark over the weekend.

A 2 weeks ago a possible broken foot (which I thought I had blogged about but didn't). This week Lyme Disease. Stay tuned for the adventures my Son has next week!

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A Trip To The Nutritionist

Recently I have gained weight. Let me back up some first though.

I have been real lucky. I've always weighed what I should and eaten what I wanted to. After having my Son, I lost all of my pregnancy weight real fast. I do eat fairly OK and I do make a point to stay active and exercise.

Last year I was diagnosed with high cholesterol. Like, total was over 300. Because I'm still in my 30's and both my parents have high cholesterol I got a free ticket to here's a prescription for meds. But the side effect of those meds made me gain 15 pounds over the past few months. I went right back to my doctor who had no problems switching my meds.

However, I have not been able to take it off.
I've upped my exercise and tried to decrease my portions of food. And although my cholesterol levels are decreasing, my weight is not. And this puts me in an another category for 'at-risk for heard disease'. It's a catch 22. I need the meds to lower my cholesterol, but gaining weight puts me at anther risk factor.

Not only am I running out of clothes that fit REAL fast, I feel horrible about myself. I know why I gained the weight - it was for an attempt to become healthier. But I just don't like the way I look. 15 pounds, no matter where your weight was is still 15 pounds.

At my last cholesterol recheck I expressed my concern about the weight gain and the difficulty I am having taking it off. I told her I haven't weighed this much since I was 5 months pregnant - and this time I have no baby coming! A former co-worker had the nerve to comment on this too.

After running some more tests to check some things like thyroid, my doctor referred me to a nutritionist. I loved that she didn't want to put me on additional meds. I love that she took my concern seriously.

I went to my first appointment last week. I had no idea what to expect as I've never been to a nutritionist before. And I hit the jackpot. She is amazing. She gave me some quick surveys to test my knowledge of healthy eating and to access if I was an emotional eater. She also gave me a RMR test to determine my metabolism rate, and a BMI test. With this I now know exactly how many calories I need to sustain my weight, which also means if I eat more, I gain, and if I eat less and/or exercise I lose. And best of all, she gave me sample menu plans with portions, some recipes and websites and articles and healthier versions of my favorite foods.

I now feel empowered instead of hopeless. I have the knowledge where as before I was clueless. I thought I was doing everything right, but obviously I wasn't since I was gaining/plateaued and not losing. I feel like I have a fresh start on this project.

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Thoughts on Bribing

With spring in the air I decided to take up running again. I ran long distance track all through high school and ran for fun all through college and post college. And then on and off again until a few years ago when the shin splints finally won. And even though I ride a real bike and a stationary bike, I MISS running. I miss the endorphin rush. I miss the running down a trail with music blasting in my ear from the headphones.



So I decided to take it up again. I went to Dicks Sporting Goods to get a decent pair of sneakers (so to hopefully prevent shin splints).



There's a climbing wall there. And it's right next to the women's sneakers.



I had my son with me at the time. I think you can see where this is going. Yup. I told him if he could sit quietly while I looked and compared and tried on different shoes he'd get a trip up and down the wall. It worked. It was as if I was shoping on my own. Except at the end I got to see the smile of pure joy as he got unharnessed after climbing the wall.

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Random Thoughts

• What does it mean about my character that I am kinda upset that Rock of Love II is over?


• Why is my Son obsessed with colleting the helicopter leaves that fall from trees and keeping them in buckets?

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What if I TELL?

This is an amazing book. Really amazing.

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The Zombies Fight Back

Remember the decapitated victims?

While my son was *sleeping* the Zombies came back to life. A battle against the droids ensued.
Unfortunately for the droids they look to be outnumbered.

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Parents are in town
Dad is done with tax season
And needs some time off.

We went to the zoo
Son took the day off of school
Along with my niece

A trip to the park
To enjoy the warm weather
Running and playing

If we are lucky
They will babysit at night
A night out for us!

Head over here to play!

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Book Review Time Again

And for your reviewing pleasure, I've got 2 up this time!

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Attack of the Zombies, Part 1

My son and his friends were up in his room playing Lego's. I love this all-time-favorite. Imagination, building, pretending.

And of course, what Mom can complain about some time to read a book while the kids are happily playing - right?

When tucking my Son in for the night I glanced at the floor still covered with Lego's and see the ships and forts that they built. Oh great I smile to myself. Childhood memories in the making.

And then I take a closer look.


What I though was a fort was filled with heads, not captured Lego people.














































The space ship holds the decapitated victims.

What happened to sweet innocent playing?

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Yum!!

Come check out my new review - it's yummy!

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Junk Cars

Hey - Stimey - Look what else you can do with junk!!

This was a school project at the end of force, motion, friction & simple machines unit in my Son's class. They had to construct a vehicle out of junk. His junk car uses orange juice caps, straws and a box from a fruit snack.

And best - it really works!

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I'll Out Smart Them!

There's one thing I absolutely hate. It's asking for help in a 'traditionally male field' topic. Like my car for example. I know how to change the tire, and fill the tank, but that's about it. I am real good at scheduling appointments to keep up with the maintenance. But when a service light comes on or the car makes a weird noise?

I just don't know what it all means. And I'm absolutely horrible at describing the noises and feel of the car. Which means I have to ask my husband or the man at the car dealer.

But, thanks to Parent Blogger Network and AskPatty.com I may be able to solve my car problems on my own. Heck, I'll get the answer I'm looking for and will be able to tell my husband what's wrong. I'll be able to call for a service apointment and with confidence tell them the problem before they even look at my car! Can't wait to see their faces for that!!

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Haiku Friday

It's Friday again

Another week has gone by

Now it's the weekend.

Sounds like complaining?

Or maybe even whining?

Oh no, not at all.

The week was OK

Working and parenting stuff

Cleaning, paying bills.

Juggling the schedule
When to do what and then how
The ups and the downs.

But I wouldn't trade

It's what I've always wanted

To be a Mommy.

Balancing it all

The challenges and the joys

And the best of all:

When tucking in Son

at bedtime and him saying:

"Mommy I Love You!"

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Help!!

The last 2 posts I have posted have gotten spammed. I can't figure out how to delete the comments, but I have enabled the 'I get to preview and decide if the post goes up first' ability.

So, my blogging friends: has this ever happened to you? I feel like my email box is now ringing with telemarketers instead of my phone!

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STill Alice

Now that my eyes have dried up from crying I can tell you to head over here to read my thoughts on STill Alice. You can also

read an excerpt below (posted with permission of course):
STILL ALICE - A Woman's Struggle Against Alzheimer's


BOSTON, Feb 19, 2008 - Lisa Genova, PhD, has written an amazingly accurate portrayal
of one woman's descent into the darkness of Alzheimer's Disease in her novel STILL
ALICE.

"Powerful, insightful, tragic, inspirational.and all too true." Dr. Alireza Atri,
Massachusetts General Hospital Neurologist

Of the 5 million Americans with Alzheimer's, over 600,000 of them are under the age of
65. In her riveting debut novel, STILL ALICE, Lisa Genova explores one woman's
descent into Alzheimer's during the prime of her life. Written with an extensive
knowledge of the subject, Genova articulately demonstrates the struggle to maintain
balance when your life is spiraling out of control and your biggest enemy is your own
mind. Genova has the esteemed background to support all of the claims made in her book
and the National Alzheimer's Association has officially endorsed the novel.

Alzheimer's is a disease that is being covered more frequently in the mainstream media
and just recently actress Julie Christie was nominated for an Oscar for her role in
"AWAY FROM HER". In the film she portrays a woman suffering from Alzheimer's
disease and brings to the screen the prevalence and attention that this often
misunderstood disease needs.

Praise for STILL ALICE:
"An intensely intimate portrait of Alzheimer's seasoned with highly accurate and useful
information about this insidious and devastating disease." Dr. Rudolph E. Tanzi, co-
author, Decoding Darkness: The Search for the Genetic Causes of Alzheimer's Disease

"A work of pure genius. This is the book that I and many of my colleagues have
anxiously awaited. The reader will journey down Dementia Road in a way that only those
of us with Dementia have experienced. Until now." Charley Schneider, author of Don't
Bury Me, It Ain't Over Yet

"With grace and compassion, Lisa Genova writes about the enormous white emptiness
created by Alzheimer's in the mind of the still-too-young and active Alice. A kind of
ominous suspense attends her gathering forgetfulness, and Genova puts us,
sympathetically, right inside her plight. Somehow, too, she portrays the family's response
as a loving one, and hints at the other hopeful response that science will eventually
provide." Mopsy Kennedy, Improper Bostonian

About the book:
STILL ALICE by Lisa Genova
ISBN: 978-0-595-44009-2
Publisher: iUniverse
Date of publish: July 2007
Pages: 300
S.R.P.: $18.95

About the author:
Lisa Genova graduated valedictorian from Bates College with a BS in biopsychology and
has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University. She is a member of the Dementia
Advocacy and Support Network International, DementiaUSA, and Grub Street Writers.
She writes the blog for the National Alzheimer's Association's VOICE OPEN MOVE
website. She is currently writing her next books, LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER'S and
LEFT NEGLECTED

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What's For Dinner Tonight?

Tonight I had a staff meeting so Hubby and Son were on their own for dinner. No biggee. Last week while I was at class Hubby took care of dinner for Son. A few bowls of cereal and a banana. Not a traditional dinner, but not a bad one either (and the cereal wasn't even a 'junk cereal').

So, tonight before I left I suggested either corn dogs or fish sticks. And don't forget to eat a piece of fruit before you have dessert. And off I left. Reassured that Son would eat a complete dinner of some kind.

When I came home I went to tuck Son in bed. He told me he had fruit and dessert by no dinner. Said Husband and he forgot.

Son was giggling. I couldn't tell if it's because it was true and he though it was funny, or if he was trying to pull one over me. So, I went off to confirm this with Hubby.

Son was right. They both forgot to have dinner.

"But," my husband ever so proudly stated, "I remembered to give him a piece of fruit before he had ice cream!"

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Smelling the Roses

You should. They smell good! What's that? You don't have time you say? Life is going by to fast with all that we need to take care of?

Us Moms say this over and over again, don't we? I've got the book for you though. You can head over here for my review. And here is an excerpt (posted with permission of course):

Excerpt
The following is an excerpt from the book The Mindful Woman
by Sue Patton Thoele
Published by New Harbinger; April 2008;$15.95US; 978-1-57224-542-6
Copyright © 2008 Sue Patton Thoele

Busy Women Can Be Mindful Too

Because women possess an innate ability to perceive an expanded range of feelings, thoughts, and experiences, we are adept at consciously handling several things at once. That doesn't mean you don't get frazzled and frustrated. It does mean you can feel even better and more productive by attentively, purposely, and nonjudgmentally staying in the present moment. Having qualities such as diffuse awareness and sensitivity means you already possess excellent tools for creating a more peaceful, loving, and mindful life. With awareness and intention, you can be mindful within your busyness -- the caveat being that busyness needs to be comfortable and enjoyable, not a fear-based busyness. We'll explore both forms of busyness in various practices throughout the book.

Intention as Ally

Your thoughts and intentions announce your deepest wishes, desires, and goals to your subconscious mind, or inner sage, whose job it is to bring you more of what you project. It's great to have so willing a friend as long as your thoughts are positive and your intentions are set consciously. So often, however, they are neither. Many of our thoughts and intentions reflect deep-seated fears, unhealthy beliefs, and intolerances. For instance, if we fear we're not up to snuff in our job and think, "Good grief, how dense can I be?!" or "I'm never going to be able to learn all this!" sure enough, our brain, mind, and subconscious centers will obligingly provide what we ordered -- feelings of inadequacy and stupidity. And, of course, such feelings make it hard for us to concentrate and keep us from learning as quickly and easily as we could if we were free from fear. Or, if we believe we're being treated unfairly, gnaw on feelings of being cheated, and long for revenge, once again the inner sage will obligingly present matching experiences and feelings.

Luckily, thoughts and intentions are equal-opportunity magnets. Actually, I choose to believe they are tipped ever so slightly toward the love and joy side of the equation. Yes, we can attract negatives, but our benevolent inner universe really seems to want to give us the good stuff more than it does the difficult. Consequently, thoughts of love, tolerance, acceptance, and general goodwill combined with conscious, positive intentions draw more good to us than we can even imagine. On the other hand, unhealthy, fear-based thoughts and intentions draw to us more of the same. Henry Ford was right when he said, "Whether we think we can or think we can't, we're right."

It's important to know that your subconscious mind is extremely literal and unable to discern between "true" and "false," "good" and "bad," or "positive" and "negative." What you say, believe, think, fear, and assume, the subconscious will do its darnedest to provide. The wonderful news is that knowing the nature of your inner sage gives you the understanding and ability to use the power of positive to mindfully set life-enhancing intentions that unerringly help you become a magnet for your desired results.

Intentions can be both expansive and minute. You can set far-reaching intentions, such as "My intention is to be a mindful woman," or intentions for the moment like, "My intention is to pay absolute attention to my next four breaths."

Expansive: My intention is to become more loving.

Minute: I choose to respond (or stay silent) lovingly toward ________ right now.

Expansive: My intention is to be a healthy weight for my body type.

Minute: I am choosing to forgo this piece of candy right now.

Intention is an invaluable ally on your journey toward increased mindfulness. One small step that can make a huge difference is to set an intention each morning before you are off and running. I might say, "Today I will be consistently kind." A favorite intention or affirmation if I'm worried about someone I love is "I place _______ in the arms of angels today and know that she or he is loved and protected."

Intentions are like personal angels who set our course and light the way to where we want to go and how we want to be in our lives, loves, and attitudes. Of course, because we're human beings, we'll fall short of our intentions time and again. When we do, it's important that we take an accepting, angelic approach and love ourselves back into alignment. Gentle correction is much more effective than criticism and judgment.

Copyright © 2008 Sue Patton Theole


Author Bio
Sue Patton Thoele is a psychotherapist, former hospice chaplain, and bereavement group leader. She is author of eleven other books, including The Courage To Be Yourself, The Woman's Book of Soul, Growing Hope, Freedoms After 50, and The Woman's Book of Courage. Sue and her husband, Gene, live in Colorado near their adult children and grandchildren. For more information, please visit: http://suepattonthoele.com




.

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Post April Fools Day

You guys were good! My sisters birthday was yesterday. She was born 4 days less than a year after me. And for those 4 days she never left me forget we were the same number age, to which I would argue back only because you were born on April FOOL'S day.

And as for the Special K diet - I did try it. And I did lose 5 pounds. And I got so. incredibly. sick. and. tired. of eating only those foods despite the variety in flavors that after I lost the 5 pounds and went back to 'real' food and even tried to watch portion control, eat well, etc, the 5 pounds came right back. So, that story is only partly true.

You can go here, here, and here to see some more!

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April Fools?

Yup - it's that day everyone likes - April Fools. Time to play gags and see how much we can get away with.

I always loved this day. It means that my birthday is in a few days. My sisters is today. When my Mom went into labor with her and called my aunt to come watch me it took quite some convincing to get her to believe it was the real thing. But my poor sister. Oh the taunting she got - see - your birthday is on April Fool's. It only proves your a fool!

In other news, I've been on the Special K diet. You get to eat breakfast and lunch via Special K cereal, waffles or protein meal bar. You also get to choose 2 snacks, via Special K Snack Bar or Snack Bites and then dinner of your choice. It's been just about 2 weeks and I've been real good about riding the bike for about 45 minutes 3-4 times a week. Yup - going to give it my all to lose those 15 pounds that have slowly crept up on me (some due to laziness, some due to a medication I must now take). And, finally I'm seeing some results. I am down 5 pounds and can now fit into a pair of jeans I haven't been able to for a few months!!!

OK, OK. Like I said. It's April Fools. Over at The Blog Exchange, we were given a different type of assignment this month. Instead of a blog exchange, we were asked to write 2 'stories'. One true, one not true. You get to guess - which one is true? My sisters birthday being today or me losing 5 pounds?

I'll be posting the answer tomorrow along with links to all the other bloggers playing along this month!

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