tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12283551583563056682024-03-05T23:38:43.693-06:00Healthy by Choices<center><br><br>This space is dedicated to those who are making the choice to be healthy; <br>whether it comes easy,
or you have to make the choice,<br> one at a time, every day!</center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-44163255065454938642013-12-01T19:58:00.002-06:002013-12-01T19:58:40.758-06:00Charlotte's Milestones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I keep forgetting to write down Charlotte's milestones, and if I don't do it soon, she and I will both be kicking me later when I have no recollection of them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlksnS1RUTnvF9O3Ub1s8T-h2yqKcczMyLtnU83FDbxOedx5gfyeMYPG58F5ZU-QwtWaN1UTAt1utySbZ8dFyCsKMqZ5WuumLhLZb-lFHOfgCqFSs2lLi7-bVOBAYMDl7xdDhyphenhyphen66lW1sx/s1600/Charlotte+and+the+lights+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlksnS1RUTnvF9O3Ub1s8T-h2yqKcczMyLtnU83FDbxOedx5gfyeMYPG58F5ZU-QwtWaN1UTAt1utySbZ8dFyCsKMqZ5WuumLhLZb-lFHOfgCqFSs2lLi7-bVOBAYMDl7xdDhyphenhyphen66lW1sx/s320/Charlotte+and+the+lights+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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She started crawling one day after her 7 month birthday.</div>
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At just about her 5 month birthday, she was completely mobile though with a fierce army crawl.</div>
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At 8 months, she is holding onto furniture and standing and taking a few timid steps.</div>
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Her first teeth, the bottom two came at 7 months. </div>
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We celebrated with buttered acorn squash.</div>
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There was no food before teeth. :)</div>
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She said "Mama" and meant it at 7 months, too.</div>
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We are working on "Dada".</div>
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At her only 2 well child checks, she has been in the 97th and then 90th percentiles for length.</div>
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She was in the 30th percentile for weight. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UqsVALdm9eULyfD6mcfqewjG6M9-aSlrU8pFYwJNsKtZnUa6qvpmu3IYOWcm1SODDwvMJBlNX2fLCwTI1WtwSP4xyuKHk2e8O5PPij5JMud6zZOTbK9guJdnW67touuYv_qXA55aD9pa/s1600/DSC_0224a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UqsVALdm9eULyfD6mcfqewjG6M9-aSlrU8pFYwJNsKtZnUa6qvpmu3IYOWcm1SODDwvMJBlNX2fLCwTI1WtwSP4xyuKHk2e8O5PPij5JMud6zZOTbK9guJdnW67touuYv_qXA55aD9pa/s320/DSC_0224a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Her first monumental giggle came at 6 months. </div>
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We are still hard pressed to get one out of her but usually it happens when we tickle her ribs.</div>
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Sigh. We love her.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-28688683441903791592012-02-09T13:44:00.001-06:002012-02-09T13:44:23.818-06:00Going Against the GrainYou might know two things if you stop by <b>HbC</b> very often. <br />
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-My posts have been less than regular lately.<br />
-I am totally obsessed with food. It is such a <a href="http://www.healthybychoices.blogspot.com/2011/12/gmo-debate-for-better-or-for-worse.html">love-hate-love</a> relationship for us right now.<br />
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The cause behind both of those effects is this:<br />
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<a href="http://www.goingagainstthegrainbook.com/"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW8EUTjurL1bpfGoxz7xcy7GfxmrmeFr-bmyAL4CN4NtS1GEhphyflsNtt3sklpl177_pKie9c2dEl9OxZs5CenTTTn93czhVqdZvp2e_4QrUZrCsFU0iy96dsW6V8EY9tWpg4G70dyU8/s320/Going+Against+the+Grain+button.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Its my <a href="http://www.goingagainstthegrainbook.com/">BOOK</a>!</span></b> <br />
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Well, cook book and <i>nutrition guide</i>.<br />
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Yahoo! and Yippee! It's a simple PDF that you can download straight to your computer for $9.97, unless you use the friends and family code FF40 (thank you so much for stopping by HbC!).<br />
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It has our family's favorite recipes (they are of course, our<a href="http://www.healthybychoices.blogspot.com/2011/09/on-fringe.html"> reason for making the change</a>), including snacks, birthday cake (grain free!), simple recipes (Frittata), delectable recipes (Boeuf Bourguignon!), affordable, tummy satisfying recipes (Chalupa!) with both time and money saving tips. See? Cook book and nutrition guide!!<br />
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I wrote it because it is hard to make changes to your diet. But the effects are amazing and I don't want anyone to have to go through it alone. Check it out <a href="http://www.goingagainstthegrainbook.com/">here</a>. Don't forget, you can use the friends and family code to get a discount!! Let me know what you think. :)<br />
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Oh, and you can win a copy today! Just leave a comment below and tell me what is important to you. I'll give away the copy on Monday. Don't forget to leave a way of connecting with you! Make the healthy choice today...sign up to win a life changing experience!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-32276466795159114992012-01-25T12:27:00.002-06:002012-01-25T12:27:56.437-06:00Of Wreckage and Miracles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently, I have learned that "Do not be afraid" is on of the most commonly used sentences in the Bible. And that reminded me of a picture I took a long time ago. Bear with me, this is a little bit of a story, but when you see the picture, you might think it is worth it.</div>
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Jeremiah and I were in AmeriCorps in 2003 and 2004 and as part of our training, we were certified in disaster relief with the American Red Cross. We were both deployed several times and had a lot of experience, so in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina hit, I took a 3 week leave of absence from my job and headed south with the St. Paul chapter of the Red Cross. Part of the three weeks that I was there was spent on an Emergency Response Vehicle delivering hot food and water to people who couldn't get out of their houses or neighborhoods for a variety of reasons. No one wanted me to go out on the ERV because of my age-they all thought I would be to young and under prepared for the disaster and devastation and stench.</div>
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Being who I am, I went anyway. It was a life changing experience and I will never forget what I saw on those excursions in Ocean Springs, MS. One man, Dale, wandered through the back woods looking for the wife that was separated from him during the storm, for weeks. The fire department found her body in a tree and was able to stop his search. He only had the flip flops he was wearing, cut off shorts and a ragged t-shirt. As awful as it was to finally know his wife had passed from him, it was an act of mercy be able to stop his search. We met an 80 year old woman who survived the storm by floating through the turbulent waters on a wooden door until she bumped into a tree. She stayed there until she was finally rescued. The day we brought food to her and her son, she was going to the wreckage that was her house to find one thing that was desperately important to her...the sewing machine her mom handed down to her 60 years ago.</div>
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Then we got to the place we had heard stories about. The house next door would eventually be featured on Extreme Home Makeover and I would watch it on ABC and recognize all of the features of the landscape and the wreckage. But at the address that we had heard about, there was barely anything left. We stopped to take a break and found the tree in this picture. It had played a huge part saving the wealthy stubborn family that survived the storm.</div>
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I don't remember their last names, but they had two kids. They saw the news of the coming storm and knew the predictions but they wouldn't leave their house. They just didn't want to. So they prepared and boarded up windows and got food and hunkered down. When the storm finally hit the way it was predicted, it was to late for the family to leave. When they panicked and decided to leave, it was <i>too late</i>. The floorboards of their car were under water. The first floor of their house quickly flooded and they rushed to the second floor and then had to climb onto the roof to avoid the rising, angry water.</div>
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As the water rose, the family made it into the tree, holding each other and branches. The dad was bracing the branches with his hands and feet-his bare feet on the rough bark of the tree, so his family could have a better chance of surviving. As a huge, tsunami sized wave rushed towards them, a tree larger then the one they were holding onto fell in front of them and split the wave around them. When the debris that broke windows and walls, wrapped fabric and plastic around and around and around anything in its path, this sheet of plastic was miraculously wrapped protectively around the family's tree, shielding them the debris that was so deadly.</div>
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They stayed in the tree for the entire hurricane. </div>
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And when the hurricane finally stopped, they opened their eyes and looked around and saw each other, all four of them, protected in their tree.</div>
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When the water started to recede and the shock finally wore away, they wondered how they would get out of that big tall tree.</div>
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Then a completely whole unbroken ladder floated by and they used it to climb down to the ground and wait for help. With their feet safely on the ground.</div>
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I don't know if they were believers, but they must have been after that.</div>
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Here is the photo I took of the tree.</div>
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Sorry for the long story. But sometimes it's nice to remember the Miracles and how God provides.<div class="yj6qo ajU" style="cursor: pointer; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 10px; width: 22px;">
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-3727469062147632012-01-23T13:36:00.004-06:002012-01-23T13:36:53.590-06:00Freshening up our bedroom-thank you PinterestI found a new recipe on Pinterest (does anyone else need a 12 step program for Pinterest?). It is how to freshen, deodorize and remove all the ickiness that inhabit such places as mattresses. Since I needed to wash the sheets today and wanted to try another "Pinspiration"--my new word, yes you are welcome, I went for it (after all, I do everything I pin, of course! ha!).<br />
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I drug the mattress out to the living room, carefully avoiding a small child, a toddler and a giant dog and got ready to sprinkle on the magic defunking powder. Here is the recipe:<br />
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1 cup of baking soda (we keep a 10 pound bag around the house)<br />
10 drops of essential oil (I use Texas Cedar Wood....dreamy and perfect for a bed)<br />
-Whisk the two together and sprinkle all over the bed. By the time your sheets are done washing and drying, you are supposed to be able to vacuumm the baking soda up off the bed and miracles will have happened.<br />
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This sounded great to me, because when we have any kind of bed wetting accident in our house, I just drop a cup of baking soda onto the wet spot, wait for the powder to soak up the odor and dampness and vacuum it up. Viola! No muss, no fuss.<br />
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What I didn't count on as I upholstered our box spring (my other Pinsperation-that word is totally going to catch on, remember, you read it here first!) was how gross the box spring would be.<br />
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Seriously, I started to sweat just looking at it. I drug out the hand held vacuum to best avoid waking any sleeping children, dust cloths for the bed frame and got to work. Let's just say I haven't gotten back to the vacuuming of the mattress yet. But it sure is going to be sparkly, upholstered and dust free by the time I am done.<br />
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Be prepared people. If you have never "freshened" your mattress before (we flip and rotate ours every couple of months, but apparently we missed a few things), you are in for a big surprise. A gross one. Good luck!<br />
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p.s. Let's never speak of this again. My cheeks are beet red-but I thought you might want the ideas for your own house.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-24307803148234410592012-01-01T08:00:00.000-06:002012-01-01T08:00:07.451-06:00Resolve to Meet Your Goals this Year<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently I caught
the Thanksgiving wrap up episode of the Biggest Loser that was being replayed
on NBC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently, tennis great Anna
Kournikova was one of the new trainers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
guess is that if she was half the personal trainer as she was a tennis player,
her clients were sweating like never before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What she mentioned on the wrap up show that day though, stopped me in my
tracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the same thing that I tell
everyone that I work with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said that
she wasn’t responsible for the success of the people that she was
training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said that it didn’t matter
what trainer the contestants had and when they switched trainers it mattered
even less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What mattered was what the
contestants did, what they gave and were willing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their success, and therefore their failure,
was their own, not the trainers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Own your
success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you own your success, then
you must also own your failure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know why
you succeed, know why you failed and don’t be afraid of either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hear or say “Oh, you didn’t fail!” or
something equally pacifying, enough times that we start to believe it and think
“Well, I don’t need to reach that goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is good enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
satisfied this way”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But is that satisfying?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that meaningful?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My guess is no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Own your failures too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By doing that, you will not only know that
you tried, are trying, and are going to succeed, but success will come to you
so much faster because you know what doesn’t work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t get to the top of a mountain of any
kind if you are okay with slipping, sliding back down to the starting point and
camping there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another recent
quote made me laugh out loud and cheer while I sat at my computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was from Gwyneth Paltrow on Pintrest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please excuse the language here, but you get
the idea... "<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The reason that I can be 38 and have two kids
and wear a bikini is because I work my (expletive) ass off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not an accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not luck, it’s not fairy dust, it’s not
good genes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s killing myself for an
hour and half five days a week, but what I get out of it is relative to what I
put inot it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what I try to do in
all areas of my life.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy New
Year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Choose the healthy choices this
year and get what you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t let
them slip by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard, I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you can do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am here for you along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me know what questions you have and I
will try to get them answered here for you.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-91119793795950502012011-12-22T08:00:00.000-06:002011-12-22T08:00:13.400-06:00<a class="link" href="http://search.mywebsearch.com/mywebsearch/redirect.jhtml?searchfor=nativity&cb=RG&n=77cfdc2c&ptnrS=RGxdm147YYUS&qid=06f56ee1743bb5e9b77fb313ff1281e4&action=pick&ss=sub&pn=1&st=kwd&ptb=ELWhiIpFwKUpWfK4x1YcrQ&pg=AJimage&pt=PI&ord=5&redirect=mPWsrdz9heamc8iHEhldEaQC%2BR754rI%2BZc%2FrcTLajQ2z9XfCNu2%2FPc85%2FvHSDBZnT7UcSMrEp9itVGVeHO2GaA%3D%3D&ct=AR&tpr=sbt" id="ri6" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img height="200" src="http://media2.picsearch.com/is?iunBSUnt6OWzG3-3BDZnCIZHptmIuVdGqa6QhrZZe8o" width="163" /></a>We had the honor of sharing a live Nativity with our one year old and almost three year old this year. Romans roamed the parking lot on quarter horses. Camels, goats and donkeys allowed themselves to be pet, angels met us near the barn to joyfully ask if we had heard the good news and Joseph himself introduced our awe filled, star struck children to the wonder of baby Jesus. Our almost three year old received a piece of gold, smelled myrrh and heard the healing value of frankincense. But the best part was when his little face shown with light as he told us he met baby Jesus.<br />
<br />
Here is a bit of <a href="http://www.owlhaven.net/2011/12/20/a-good-day-at-the-mall/">Christmas wonder, hope and joy (flash mob style!)</a> for you and your family. The video is about 5 minutes and it is gorgeous. Merry Christmas!<br />
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Thanks <a href="http://www.owlhaven.net/">Owl Haven</a> for posting it!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-44180921302096077992011-12-21T13:06:00.002-06:002011-12-21T13:06:55.882-06:00Pure, Natural Orange Juice-or is it?<br />
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<img alt="The secret ingredient added to orange juice (ABC)" src="http://l.yimg.com/cv/ip/ap/default/111220/ojbottle_.jpg" /></div>
Did you catch this video on ABC news? If you felt safe avoiding apple and grape juice by drinking orange juice, you need to watch <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/video/health-15749655/flavoring-found-in-orange-juice-recipe-27641711.html#crsl=%252Fvideo%252Fhealth-15749655%252Fflavoring-found-in-orange-juice-recipe-27641711.html">this video</a>. It highlights the production process, the six month storage process and the additives that go into the "pure and natural" OJ you started your day with.<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-81684508073793240882011-12-13T20:18:00.001-06:002011-12-13T20:18:53.276-06:00The GMO debate: for better or for worse?<span style="color: #073763;">I recently read the book <strong><a href="http://www.thriftbooks.com/viewDetails.aspx?ISBN=074326763X">Food, Inc</a></strong>. which is actually different than the movie <strong>Food Inc</strong>. The book focuses soley on genetically modified organisims and foods, the pros and the cons, with the author's main goal of letting you choose for yourself whether GMOs are acceptable in the food stream. I already had strong, very strong opions, but the book was pretty thought provoking. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;">My opinions were strengthened after the read, but here are some interesting ideas from the article "</span><a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-to-win-a-gmo-debate-top-10-facts-why-gm-food-is-bad.html?page=1"><span style="color: #073763;">How to Win a GMO Debate: 10 Facts Why GM Food is Bad</span></a><span style="color: #073763;">".</span><br />
<br />
<strong>1. GMOs are unhealthy.</strong>The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) urges doctors to prescribe non-GMO diets for all patients. They cite animal studies showing organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility. Human studies show how genetically modified (GM) food can leave material behind inside us, possibly causing long-term problems. Genes inserted into GM soy, for example, can transfer into the DNA of bacteria living inside us, and that the toxic insecticide produced by GM corn was <em><strong><u><span style="background-color: yellow; color: #990000;">found in the blood of pregnant women and their unborn fetuses</span></u></strong></em>. Numerous health problems increased after GMOs were introduced in 1996. The percentage of Americans with three or more chronic illnesses jumped from 7% to 13% in just 9 years; food allergies skyrocketed, and disorders such as autism, reproductive disorders, digestive problems, and others are on the rise. Although there is not sufficient research to confirm that GMOs are a contributing factor, doctors groups such as the AAEM tell us not to wait before we start protecting ourselves, and especially our children who are most at risk.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrg9mRMiL0FRShPztF9SkvltIgnzspI6wuNL1FwBf39f9Z6NpVLhFGFnz-eTRYIxmM61XuTDPBA919ijoddCQZPUaOQ8za1PmbRjTP1mFUfck8fOsP__iSwBOCPbcMu0J7cPEqwlgnaF66/s1600/found+in+mother+and+fetus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrg9mRMiL0FRShPztF9SkvltIgnzspI6wuNL1FwBf39f9Z6NpVLhFGFnz-eTRYIxmM61XuTDPBA919ijoddCQZPUaOQ8za1PmbRjTP1mFUfck8fOsP__iSwBOCPbcMu0J7cPEqwlgnaF66/s1600/found+in+mother+and+fetus.jpg" /></a></div>
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The American Public Health Association and American Nurses Association are among many medical groups that condemn the use of GM bovine growth hormone, because the milk from treated cows has more of the hormone IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1)―which is linked to cancer.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #073763;">I added those highlights by the way!</span><br />
<br />
<strong>2. GMOs contaminate―forever.</strong><br />GMOs cross pollinate and their seeds can travel. It is impossible to fully clean up our contaminated gene pool. Self-propagating GMO pollution will outlast the effects of global warming and nuclear waste. The potential impact is huge, threatening the health of future generations. GMO contamination has also caused economic losses for organic and non-GMO farmers who often struggle to keep their crops pure.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy_ZAc80_FSmgeBGfAR8ToE8Gd7kva_XSOIxQMDPSvyOqzPbGtKtlsDp1x2MrXG3x2owyCt4wCYtnOSen_55SoAYx7-ywCufXrHElvGHNkJi_flKi9Kes4v9Tkh4aBNVt-1xigoFie3Ec/s1600/gmotomato.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy_ZAc80_FSmgeBGfAR8ToE8Gd7kva_XSOIxQMDPSvyOqzPbGtKtlsDp1x2MrXG3x2owyCt4wCYtnOSen_55SoAYx7-ywCufXrHElvGHNkJi_flKi9Kes4v9Tkh4aBNVt-1xigoFie3Ec/s1600/gmotomato.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /><span style="color: #0b5394;">Once you go GMO, you can never go back!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<strong>4. Genetic engineering creates dangerous side effects.</strong><br />By mixing genes from totally unrelated species, genetic engineering unleashes a host of unpredictable side effects. Moreover, irrespective of the type of genes that are inserted, the very process of creating a GM plant can result in massive collateral damage that produces new toxins, allergens, carcinogens, and nutritional deficiencies.<br />
<br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;">New food allergies in your family or in yourself? Foods bothering you that never bothered you before? Remember, foods don't have to be labeled genetically modified before they wind up on your plate. Genetically modified foods mean that your body recognizes a soybean as a peanut (talk about an allergy problem!), could recieve scorpion toxin from corn and potatos that are partially green and aren't fully cooked can be poisonous. Nope, I am not kidding.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC62NiyvikOcJjn1uxP_ikfMldRe5GaNFK76BXsyX1CFKIbQ3Hyyu0BR_5kz-bLIA3HZfOhY3vqU3Qxcdj1n4dFN0pV_jS7RorH7gR83NLMzJstk3C8IwoYiHysjkyTZ58adb4CCQdFpkd/s1600/gmo+comic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC62NiyvikOcJjn1uxP_ikfMldRe5GaNFK76BXsyX1CFKIbQ3Hyyu0BR_5kz-bLIA3HZfOhY3vqU3Qxcdj1n4dFN0pV_jS7RorH7gR83NLMzJstk3C8IwoYiHysjkyTZ58adb4CCQdFpkd/s320/gmo+comic.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>
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<strong>5. Government oversight is dangerously lax.</strong>Most of the health and environmental risks of GMOs are ignored by governments’ superficial regulations and safety assessments. The reason for this tragedy is largely political. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for example, doesn’t require a single safety study, does not mandate labeling of GMOs, and allows companies to put their GM foods onto the market without even notifying the agency. Their justification was the claim that they had no information showing that GM foods were substantially different. But this was a lie. Secret agency memos made public by a lawsuit show that the overwhelming consensus even among the FDA’s own scientists was that GMOs can create unpredictable, hard-to-detect side effects. They urged long-term safety studies. But the White House had instructed the FDA to promote biotechnology, and the agency official in charge of policy was Michael Taylor, Monsanto’s former attorney, later their vice president. He’s now the US Food Safety Czar.<br /><br /><span style="color: #0b5394;">Number five is my favorite reason of all. If you want to be able to win a GMO argument, or just be able to make the healthy choice, read the rest of the article, click <a href="http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-to-win-a-gmo-debate-top-10-facts-why-gm-food-is-bad.html?page=1">here</a>.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-59854911687051991652011-12-10T19:38:00.001-06:002011-12-10T20:25:58.948-06:00Sugar for BreakfastDoes your child have trouble focusing throughout the day, or do you? Do you start off the day on the right foot with a decent bowl of breakfast before leaving the house? <br />
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Unfortunately, depending on your cereal, you could be starting off the day with more of a crash and burn pattern than one of a success. <br />
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The Environmental Working Group (they publish the <a href="http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/">Safe Sunscreen List</a> and the <a href="http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/">Cosmetic Safety Database</a>, remember?) recently published a list of the top 10 sugar cereals on the grocery store shelf. Prepare to be amazed, horrified and totally bummed out if you and your loved ones love cereal.<br />
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<strong>Here are the top 10 worst offenders:</strong> <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DS4V14uYMOe7G7gKlAjTmNbEcRLegePTbjUOj2nPk4Rw8BtrA5o9Oa1UmR-gJoycZU1ZZhQOzlpizAeSYPnNYdOZkn41mltBCfDDTC8bEpgC6B9aaDBP3fY2xzhQuf60tW1AeeUkybVn/s1600/sugar+smacks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DS4V14uYMOe7G7gKlAjTmNbEcRLegePTbjUOj2nPk4Rw8BtrA5o9Oa1UmR-gJoycZU1ZZhQOzlpizAeSYPnNYdOZkn41mltBCfDDTC8bEpgC6B9aaDBP3fY2xzhQuf60tW1AeeUkybVn/s200/sugar+smacks.jpg" width="141" /></a>1. Kellogg's Honey Smacks (let's just say you'd be better off with a Twinkie-it's 56% sugar by weight!)<br />
2. Post Golden Crisp (funny, number one and two are my dad's favorite!<br />
3. Kellogg's Fruit Loops Marshmallow<br />
4. Quaker Oats Cap'n Crunch's OOPS! All Berries<br />
5. Quaker Oats Cap'n Crunch Original<br />
6. Quater Oats Oh!s<br />
7. Kellogg's Smorz<br />
8. Kellogg's Apple Jacks<br />
9. Quaker Oats Cap'n Chrunch's Crunch Berries<br />
10. Kellogg's Fruit Loops Origional<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOQQOuY5fs0PFU0oRrzvUXgRU4Fyig8iFUhGACVOJSP9ttMYUZDe9GNZnKY5ZHMN0JwULncH0KjrwJUjQvCTBtsBptiHrrOE9K22mZUPnNcQ2cMBCbw5FJ-HRX3C8MKr1bCpUUYTWovv0/s1600/choc+cookies.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOQQOuY5fs0PFU0oRrzvUXgRU4Fyig8iFUhGACVOJSP9ttMYUZDe9GNZnKY5ZHMN0JwULncH0KjrwJUjQvCTBtsBptiHrrOE9K22mZUPnNcQ2cMBCbw5FJ-HRX3C8MKr1bCpUUYTWovv0/s1600/choc+cookies.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOQQOuY5fs0PFU0oRrzvUXgRU4Fyig8iFUhGACVOJSP9ttMYUZDe9GNZnKY5ZHMN0JwULncH0KjrwJUjQvCTBtsBptiHrrOE9K22mZUPnNcQ2cMBCbw5FJ-HRX3C8MKr1bCpUUYTWovv0/s200/choc+cookies.png" width="200" /></a>This one isn't on the top 10 list of worst offenders, but if you ate a bowl of Honey Nut Cherrios (at 12 grams of sugar) you could have had some chocolate chip cookies instead. <br />
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For the more information, you can check out the Environmental Working Group's <a href="http://breakingnews.ewg.org/report/sugar_in_childrens_cereals/more_sugar/">Full Report</a>.</div>
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Remember, once you trip the mental trigger for sweetness, your body craves more and more, paving the way for reduced will power and not so great, high calorie, low nutrition choices through out the day. Start your day off with something else instead. <br />
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<strong>Here are some alternative ideas to help you make the healthy choice for breakfast:</strong> <br />
-<a href="http://healthybychoices.blogspot.com/2011/09/apples-for-breakfast.html">Apple Cereal</a><br />
-Smoothies made from plain yogurt, frozen fruit and nut butter<br />
-No Sugar Added Applesauce mixed with nutmeg and cinnamon, topped with cream and walnuts or pecans<br />
-Toast with peanut butter<br />
-Whole eggs any way you like to eat them<br />
-Left over thin crust veggie pizza!<br />
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Absolutely must have cereal for breakfast? Here are some EWG grainy recommendations:<br />
-Homemade oatmeal with fruit or peanut butter<br />
-GMO and pesticide free Laughing Giraffe: Cranberry Orange Granola (remember to vote with your dollars!)<br />
-Post Honey Bunches of Oats with Vanilla Bunches<br />
-General Mills Kix<br />
-General Mills Cheerios<br />
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Don't forget...sugary bedtime snacks might be troublesome as well!<br />
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Thanks to Heather for Quick Tip!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-42529516945967668702011-12-02T20:20:00.001-06:002011-12-02T20:36:29.137-06:00Apple or Pear Nachos!We tried out the best recipe this past week, and it includes something we haven't had a really long time. NACHOS!<br />
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But, hold on to your seats, these were made from pears and apples! No cheese or black olives but peanutbutter and chocolate chips! They were del<em>ish</em>!<br />
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Here is the recipe:<br />
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2 apples or pears, cored (and peeled if you need to). We liked the pears the best-the crisp muted flavor showcased the toppings better!<br />
1 tablespoon of peanut butter<br />
1 tablespoon of chocolate chips (10 or less is plenty)<br />
1 tablespoon of finely chopped walnuts or pecans<br />
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Combine peanut butter and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Melt in 10 second increments and stir until smooth. Slice the pears or apples and lay them out, nacho fashion, on the plate. Drizzle with melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture and top with walnuts.<br />
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Enjoy with a fork, or plan to lick your fingers! Yum!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-6083746047608213042011-12-01T22:18:00.001-06:002011-12-01T22:34:15.453-06:00Resources for Arsenic and Apple JuiceWorried about the apple juice in your fridge?<br />
Check out Dr. Oz's website. There is a lot good, current information. And this is where the publicity and ruckus started (it was actually measured before, but results were not widely pulicized).<br />
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Here is the general gist:<br />
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Okay, so from what I have been reading, the arsenic comes into the picture because it has been used as a pesticide in foreign apple orchards (and can be found in water, etc). It was banned as a pesticide here a long time ago. But we recieve the concentrated juice from 7 different countries, including China. So if your juice comes from concentrate, that could be trouble (make sure the lable says "not from concentrate"...or if it says "from concentrate" always, always put it back). The brands in question are Minute Maid, Apple and Eve, Motts, Juicy Juice and Gerber (AREYOUKIDDINGME???). </div>
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So, if your apple <em>cider</em> comes from 100% locally grown apples, especially organic ones, it should be fine. But don't forget to check all of the labels of the pre packeged foods in your house because apple juice/concentrate is used as a sweetener quite a bit. Especially in prepackaged <em>baby foods</em>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-86917472018572232722011-11-30T22:10:00.001-06:002011-11-30T22:40:47.338-06:00Outlaws, Arsenic and ApplesI am obsessed with food.<br />
<br />
Totally, completetly obsessed with food. Currently, it is my passion, my hobby and my family's wellfare.<br />
<br />
So, um, I think about it a lot. It makes it kind of hard to write a blog about being healthy when I am so singlemindedly focused (sorry! it's all I want to write about, so sometimes I just don't write anything so I don't embarass myself). But today, today I just can't help it. And it may come out like gangbuster for the next couple of months. Here is why food occupies so much of my thoughts...<br />
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In many European countries, babies and even toddlers sit backwards in their cars until they are two years old. Our countries recommendation recently caught up to them (much to the chagrin of many toddler parents).<br />
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There is antifreeze in our shampoo and floor cleaners (anyone have any pets that lick the floor???), MSG is added to foods as a preservative, but has also been proven in unconventional research to be very addictive and otherwise problematic. We eat genentically modified foods that have no research done to prove their safety (and I can vouch personally for some of the havoc GMO's raise) that other starving nations refuse to allow in their own countries instead of risking their own food supply/sources; food coloring, including Red 40, Yellow 6 and Caramel color are completely banned in the UK and Astralia, New Zealand and Japan.<br />
<br />
Tonight, a new study was released that pushed the envelope of what we are willing to tolerate. It wasn't about arsenic in our chicken, or the inhumane way our eggs are produced.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lx0QaU2bgIBeqXkjaV-mV-T6bKP_JuYp9o89LU0I3_8BzlfgVr3Rw20NPG_tWvgwWtRvNpr7wo-bThxH6fKY6fp9VhSStqbEPTwQFfKUmwAOW78oV41Q4qzaSl_aP6GS_4Bbtz9EUvlS/s1600/apple+juice.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lx0QaU2bgIBeqXkjaV-mV-T6bKP_JuYp9o89LU0I3_8BzlfgVr3Rw20NPG_tWvgwWtRvNpr7wo-bThxH6fKY6fp9VhSStqbEPTwQFfKUmwAOW78oV41Q4qzaSl_aP6GS_4Bbtz9EUvlS/s1600/apple+juice.png" /></a><br />
It was about apple juice. <br />
<br />
It was about the ARSENIC level in <em><span style="font-size: large;">DOMESTICALLY </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;">produced apple juice.</span></em><br />
<br />
Arsenic is a human carcinogin, or cancer causer (not "linked to" but actually acknowledged by our government as a CAUSE). It kills mice, its found in cigarettes and tobacco products and the apple juice we give to our very young and many times, our very sick.<br />
<br />
The end results of the study are some what inconclusive and leave you wanting more. The generally published information says this: "Arsenic levels in the urine of men and women (full grown adults) who were willing to report their food and drink consumption for 24 hours had 20% levels of total arsenic than those who did not drink it."<br />
<br />
<strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;">TWENTY PERCENT HIGHER.</span></em></strong> <br />
<br />
In full grown adults, not pint size tots who consume large quantities of apple juice, especially when they don't feel good and need to be enticed to replenish their fluid levels in a dye free way.<br />
<br />
No one is saying anything besides more research needs to be done. And that you should think about reducing your exposure, tots under 6 months should AVOID JUICE ALTOGHETHER, and that children under the age of 6 years should consume no more than FOUR TO SIX OUNCES PER DAY. That is one sippy cup, people. <br />
<br />
WHO is going to do this research???? <br />
<br />
No one. Know why? No one stands to benefit financially from it. But you and the young and old and the susceptible in your life WILL be harmed by it.<br />
<br />
Change it.<br />
<br />
Make a stink. People dragged Dr. Oz into the ground when he brought it up because he stood alone.<br />
<br />
Don't let the unconventional voice stand alone. Tell some one you don't like it. Bring it up. Make a noise! Talk to your freinds and family. <br />
<br />
<strong>THIS IS NOT OKAY!</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-77808128098108199082011-10-25T12:50:00.001-05:002011-10-25T12:50:39.626-05:00100 Year Old Marathon RunnerFauja Sing took up running at the age of 89. This weekend he broke a record as the oldest man to complete a marathon. AT THE AGE of 100!<br />
<br />
<img alt="" src="http://media.citytv.topscms.com/images/0b/c9/291090c84fea824a0c2c43e6bab8.jpg" /><br />
<br />
It was the Brit's 8th marathon. Think <em>your</em> too old to try something new?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-17114327330705989232011-10-20T13:36:00.001-05:002011-10-20T13:36:38.279-05:00Until Death Do Us Part...The Huffington post ran an amazing story today about a man and wife that had been married for 72 years. They spent more of their life together than they did apart (she was 90 and he was 94). They passed away after a car accident sent them to the hospital. The kind staff put them in the same ICU room where they were able to hold hands until they passed through this life...he first and she an hour later, her heart beating through him for her last hour on earth (the monitor even registered it).<br />
<br />
Read the entire story <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/share?viewLink=&sid=s651420350&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ehuffingtonpost%2Ecom%2F2011%2F10%2F19%2Flong-married-couple_n_1020085%2Ehtml%3Fref%3Dtw&urlhash=UNr6&pk=member-home&pp=2&poster=7452621&uid=5532764139962761216&trk=NUS_UNIU_SHARE-title">here</a>. You won't be sad that you did.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-36766311070857290112011-10-19T09:48:00.000-05:002011-10-19T09:48:12.827-05:00Psoriasis, Mold and Candida UpdateLast week, I posted about <a href="http://healthybychoices.blogspot.com/2011/10/psoriasis-mold-and-candida.html">Jeremiah's attempt to feel better by visiting the naturapath</a>. Here is an update for the week:<br />
<br />
<strong>How are the dietary changes going?</strong><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;">Changes are hard. It is hard to find snacks that I want to eat. Breakfast, lunch and dinner aren't so hard, but snacks are really, really difficult. I want sweet stuff, but I'm not supposed to have that. That is the hardest part.</span><br />
<br />
<strong>How are you feeling?</strong><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;">I am feeling tired again. Good days and bad days are about even. Some pretty major headaches that could have something to do with dietary changes and not much coffee. Psoriasis still isn't getting worse but its still all over. I am really tired after lunch and hungry all of the time. But my joints don't hurt. Actually they feel a lot better.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Only six weeks left to go!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-61186513276812697942011-10-17T12:49:00.000-05:002011-10-17T12:49:27.273-05:00Changes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSK9IYyYv-xOBoy1UUCzmQOmy_ueqmCfuUakXJJwjyOfa1Y6kuT" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="rg_hi" data-height="219" data-width="230" height="380" id="rg_hi" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSK9IYyYv-xOBoy1UUCzmQOmy_ueqmCfuUakXJJwjyOfa1Y6kuT" style="height: 219px; width: 230px;" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I love to read signs. Blowing by them down the highway, all 500 of them in our county on our two lane-er that remind you to drive safe, drive SAFELY and DRIVE SAFELY (I WILL! But I might do better if there weren't so many signs to distract me...sheesh!), and especially the ones that rotate.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTJJ6EUkNa_XpRud7yOrZjohgixKEVAniqbcJLOUPXmK5qWTOa5rQ" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="rg_i" data-src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTJJ6EUkNa_XpRud7yOrZjohgixKEVAniqbcJLOUPXmK5qWTOa5rQ" data-sz="f" height="128" name="FMKIS_hp_HyZnM:" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTJJ6EUkNa_XpRud7yOrZjohgixKEVAniqbcJLOUPXmK5qWTOa5rQ" width="100" /></a><br />
I used to notice signs that said "Just Do It", "Dream Big", "Reach for the Stars", "Never Settle", "All good things come to those who don't eat, sleep or dream of anything besides working and being motivated to do it ALL!"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Okay, just kidding on the last one...a little.</div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ideasevolved.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/quote_contentment_lao_tzu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" id="il_fi" src="http://www.ideasevolved.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/quote_contentment_lao_tzu.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="420" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Now I see signs that say "Be Content" and "Gratitude Turns what we have into Enough". They are great signs, and I am encouraged by them, but I wonder...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Is this a "sign" of the times or the life stage that I am in?<br />
<br />
Is this a signal of continued recession even though the media and everyone driving it wants us to think that the recession is over (and go spend your galdang money!), or is this a sign of the life stage that I am in (tight budget, looking for work stay at home mama)?<br />
<br />
Is this just me? What do you think? Have you noticed it?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-59783517372034057222011-10-14T10:20:00.001-05:002011-10-14T13:09:28.472-05:00Psoriasis, mold and candidaJeremiah is my husband (you've seen him in "<a href="http://healthybychoices.blogspot.com/2010/08/perfect-push-up.html">The Perfect Push Up</a>" pictures. He is sweet, wonderful, handsome and funny. He is devoted to his family and wife, he works hard and he is covered in Psoriasis. Normally, his Psoriasis subsides in the summer time sun. This year year it aggressively persisted and brought with it unrelievable body aches and a few other issues. Before he went back to the dermatologist who would send him to a rhumatologist to determine if he has Psoriatic Arthritis we decided to see what Dave the Naturopath had to say. It was an expensive visit, but we made the choice to try this first instead of subjecting his body to more tests and his immune system to the only thing that brings the Psoriasis and arthritis into submission: immune suppressing drugs. I asked him if he would tell his story here so we could follow along with him for a few weeks. Here is the whole story, in his words:<br />
<br />
<strong>What did the Naturopath have to say (what was your "diagnosis")?</strong><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;">I have a mold issue that has spread through my blood stream and digestive system. Dave called it a chronic infection that wasn't bacterial or viral but fungal. That infection messes with my stomach acid production and means I am not able to break down food properly.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #45818e;">It also means I am not getting all the nutrients needed for energy, to fight off being sick. Mold in my bloodstream was considered by my body to be a chronic infection. That helped my psoriasis get out of control and stay out of control.</span><br />
<br />
<strong>What is your treatment?</strong><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;">Dave did the acupressure test to see what supplements would get rid of the mold and yeast problems and increase my stomach acid. In addition to the supplements, I have to change my diet for the next two months to exclude grain, yeast, sugar, beans, potatoes, and bananas. He said I should eat breakfast. A smoothie with protein would be an easy option. He said I should stay away from processed cheese and try to have a 4:1 acid base balance. </span><span style="color: black;">(Yikes! How am I supposed to cook with out beans and potatoes??????)</span><br />
<br />
<strong>One week later, how are you feeling?</strong><br />
<span style="color: #45818e;">For the first few days, no real change. Just hungry and a little bit grumpy! But today I woke up with more energy, generally feeling better. My brain seems sharper and I have less joint aches. I am especially thinking more quickly. My Psoriasis seems to have stopped spreading.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
So that is how it is going so far! As much as possible, I will keep you posted once a week.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-69730097167026341392011-10-10T11:00:00.000-05:002011-10-10T11:00:05.007-05:00Just Label ItThis is a letter that I recently sent to Commisioner Hamburg (of the FDA). <br />
<br />
"Dear Commissioner Hamburg,<br />
<br />
I am writing to urge the FDA to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. I have a right to know about the food I eat and what I feed my family. <br />
In America, we pride ourselves on having choices and making informed decisions. Under current FDA regulations, we don't have that choice when it comes to GE ingredients in the foods we purchase and feed our families. Labeling is essential for me to choose whether or not I want to consume or feed my family genetically engineered foods. <br />
<br />
Genetically engineered foods are required to be labeled in the 15 European Union nations, Russia, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, and many other countries around the world. As an American, I firmly believe I should also have the right to know if my foods have been genetically engineered. <br />
<br />
A recent poll released by ABC News found that 93 percent of the American public wants the federal government to require mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods. As ABC News stated, "Such near-unanimity in public opinion is rare." <br />
I hope you will listen to me and the other 93 percent of the American public who want mandatory labeling. Please show your support for the interests of the American people by labeling genetically engineered foods. "<br />
<br />
<br />The best part was that I didn't even have to write it myself. It was already written and expressed my feelings quite well.<br />
<br />
Want to send the same letter with your name attached?<br />
Click <a href="http://justlabelit.org/dininginthedark">here</a>, add your name and off it goes. Then you get to commend yourself for joining the fight against non labeled GMOs. Good for you!<br />
<br />
Did you know that 88% of corn, 94% of soy, and 90% of canola are genetically modified? Want more information on GMOs and how or why to avoid them? Click <a href="http://healthybychoices.blogspot.com/2010/06/book-giveaway-and-safety-concerns.html">here</a> or <a href="http://justlabelit.org/why-label/what-are-ge-foods">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-3744608967753332882011-10-06T10:40:00.000-05:002011-10-06T10:40:00.992-05:00Tractor Supply Wednesday Wisdom<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601549423758861410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmD7PzsL7VT76rHwVOvBtdEB1faD3_N7B20YC0aK98prHm0IOFneCwtSCllZKfH7QU177g_U6tFtXsX_UGrCz_tORV0sFkpdJl-uRrb5YzGP_l8OOf0Z5DYzCRg9u_FNC978mMHFAf/s400/P1020558.JPG" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">-Anatole France</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Studies show that having a pet in your life can decrease feelings of stress, increase feelings of contentment, and decrease blood pressure.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-45298409313501160532011-10-02T22:05:00.001-05:002011-10-02T22:05:29.241-05:00The Winter Time Exerciser's Best FriendThe days of fall are gorgeous. <br />
Walks are long, runs have a dream like quality and we want these days of crisp air and easy temperatures to last forever. <br />
<br />
But the rain, the snow and short, dark days on their way. <br />
<img height="287" id="il_fi" src="http://www.shepherdpics.com/Blog/uploaded_images/snow-795901.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /><br />
Don't want to crimp your exercise style, but don't know how to manage all of the things that need to fit into those short day lit hours?<br />
<br />
Consider a treadmill purchase to extend the hours available for exercise. It is the most versatile aerobic machine out there and can be adjusted to meet all of your needs including walking at an incline, mimicking natural weight bearing activity you would do on the ground (unlike a lot of other exercise machines) and can be an automatic pacer (preventing any "unintentional" slow downs!). A treadmill is also versatile enough to fit a household of soccer players, basketball players, weight loss maintainers, rehabilitators and those who are just getting started on an aerobic journey. <br />
<br />
<strong>Ready to buy a treadmill? Here's a few things to consider:</strong><br />
-Do you want to power the belt on your own, or do you want a motorized option?<br />
--A walker will need 1.0-1.5 horses under their motorized belts, while runners will need 1.5-2.0 ponies to keep up with them.<br />
<br />
-Is manual incline okay or would you prefer power incline? Will you want to change your incline without stepping off of the treadmill? Powered options generally offer a range of 0-10 while manual incline will generally provide four different options.<br />
<a href="http://www.treadmillreview.net/bladez-treadmill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" id="il_fi" src="http://www.treadmillreview.net/bladez-treadmill.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="338" /></a><br />
-Do you need bells and whistles or is a base model going to keep you motivated?<br />
<br />
-Long legs abound in your house? Opt for a treadmill belt length closer to 60 inches. Shorter legs can get away with shorter treads; 45 inches in length is the shortest.<br />
<br />
-Live in a small space? Look for a treadmill that folds up and can hide away.<br />
<br />
<strong>Need a good deal?</strong><br />
<br />
-Try Craigslist.com and FreeCycle.com. Be safe when you test drive either of these options.<br />
<br />
-Check out last years models in online store clearance sections, online auctions and used stores like <strong>2nd Wind</strong>.<br />
<br />
-Local gyms will sell older, well used models when they are replaced by newer models. These treadmills have usually been well maintained and used by everyone from professional runners to the first time gym rat. If she can figure it, you probably will be able to do it pretty easily, too.<br />
<br />
Always, always try out a treadmill before you agree to hand over your cash. It may look good and sound good, but you might hate the bounce in your step or the way your toes graze the console. Try before you buy!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1N50HTOdIhFdete-_vJC4FXHww5k2p6twxw-CMI-jH1jYIo3Ea_He_fFo892JOfBNvpQWDvdfQxpmwr8K7n6eSzD4I5dbLhRuIg0N2TOIGl8FQnPpBdIsPuCkPB24_cbWIwR6iNea0bb/s1600/treadmill2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1N50HTOdIhFdete-_vJC4FXHww5k2p6twxw-CMI-jH1jYIo3Ea_He_fFo892JOfBNvpQWDvdfQxpmwr8K7n6eSzD4I5dbLhRuIg0N2TOIGl8FQnPpBdIsPuCkPB24_cbWIwR6iNea0bb/s200/treadmill2.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a>The most important treadmill feature is not the fan, the type of belt you run on, the heart rate monitor or whether or not it has a TV on it. The most important feature is your ability to use it and continue to exercise. If you purchase a treadmill and don't use it, it will be the most expensive clothes hanger your shirts have ever landed on. Use the treadmill five times a week, and it can join your list of top ten best life time investments. <br />
<br />
<br />
Happy shopping!<br />
<br />
Next Monday...Another indoor exercise option: Jillian's 30 Minute Shred!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-39962511100047861192011-09-28T20:39:00.001-05:002011-09-28T20:49:05.476-05:00Apples for BreakfastJust in case you wonder what we eat now that we don't eat (much) grain...<br />
Just in case you are like us...<br />
Here is a delicious breakfast recipe:<br />
<br />
<img class="rg_hi" data-height="214" data-width="235" height="214" id="rg_hi" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT8iX1eYDECoTFckFgBdfwgh0DLaHQONm0hzodmlXCyAnyAO1Sk" style="height: 214px; width: 235px;" width="235" /><br />
<br />
1 Shredded Apple<br />
1 tsp of finely chopped walnuts <br />
1 pinch of cinnamon sugar (to taste, depending on the apple)<br />
2 tablespoons of cream<br />
<br />
1. Place the shredded apple in a bowl. Top with cinnamon sugar and walnuts, then mix thoroughly.<br />
2. Add cream and enjoy as is or warmed in an oven safe dish for 15 minutes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-24826373449071364302011-09-26T09:22:00.002-05:002011-09-26T09:22:33.650-05:00On the Fringe
In case your wondering where we've been...<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Brayden was sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was so sick for so long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t have a terminal illness but his
constant coughing, his incessant runny nose, the inability for my 11 month old
to fall asleep for any length of time without gagging and chocking was killing
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t have a picture of him
before the age of two where his little mouth isn’t draped open as he struggled
to breathe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6evTWdrRrywUB9UjSnwv8OzK60x12rKjKUIFA4NYObbOTgpmwtatki5pxGzo0DET5SOzeACtPoF8-QPnr313vNN48m3FQ6ullm8X9DLIuMHgE88j4nMVPKzfda6JjAcIgnZyxNy_B_wph/s1600/phone+pictures+135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6evTWdrRrywUB9UjSnwv8OzK60x12rKjKUIFA4NYObbOTgpmwtatki5pxGzo0DET5SOzeACtPoF8-QPnr313vNN48m3FQ6ullm8X9DLIuMHgE88j4nMVPKzfda6JjAcIgnZyxNy_B_wph/s320/phone+pictures+135.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Children's Hospital, with a Sinus Infection</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We went to the doctor every
week from the time he was nine months old until he was well over a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had multiple cases of strep throat, never
ending ear infections, RSV, H1N1, pneumonia, reflux, bronchitis and more ear
infections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were sent to the
gastroenterologist, the pediatric pulmonologist and the ear, nose and throat
(ENT) specialists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was prescribed 12
different antibiotics before his first birthday and was subjected to two
different torture chamber style chest x-rays in the same amount of time.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first time we saw the ENT,
he took one look into his happy, cherub cheeked ears and asked how long our
little fellow had been this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
counted back the months as he asked me if my beautiful little fellow was always
this happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I proudly answered yes and
sheepishly told him “That is why no one believes me when he is sick”.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KJtJezpsOUkNn5cNRPIRdZdwBvGnK3iP4F2ULSRMIedEDnRudQ3hy_gAWiFBtd4i829e1dkqE4mhuZXvDmSNRkgDZkalrMoZN7fiOoPAnuqfR4_Xa6Ah4FOJtpBG6NXySiMLUt4o5-js/s1600/Kids+Haven+Christmas+pic+20090001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KJtJezpsOUkNn5cNRPIRdZdwBvGnK3iP4F2ULSRMIedEDnRudQ3hy_gAWiFBtd4i829e1dkqE4mhuZXvDmSNRkgDZkalrMoZN7fiOoPAnuqfR4_Xa6Ah4FOJtpBG6NXySiMLUt4o5-js/s320/Kids+Haven+Christmas+pic+20090001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy little boy, struggeling to breathe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At that Friday morning
appointment just before Christmas, just before his first birthday, Brayden was
scheduled for emergency Eustachian tubes to salvage his hearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was also scheduled for three very painful
intramuscular injections of antibiotics to try to clear up the persistent infection
before the surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We scrambled through
a pre-operative exam and held his chubby, little body to the table as he
received his shots;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one on Friday, one
on Saturday and one on Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
emergency surgery was at eight a.m. on Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After his procedure the
Harvard educated doctor came out to meet with me and tell me how it went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had to remove quite a bit of gunk, but
with the drops he gently placed in my hands that would help with healing,
instructions for keeping water out of his ears and wishes for a merry
Christmas, he predicted far fewer ear infections for the future.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewbdGsFNoFif8gUA-rAxltwtXayZdmVV1tWizdxQcEpn4mIUsgduA26Vmxb1SNukS1rL0d7xHxvn4dvsjbQCEPYN1fnv8bMzBlD3CuKk6BiX8KxCaqHq5r3G5hpjlts1IFX-l_vUBuKiE/s1600/P1000273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewbdGsFNoFif8gUA-rAxltwtXayZdmVV1tWizdxQcEpn4mIUsgduA26Vmxb1SNukS1rL0d7xHxvn4dvsjbQCEPYN1fnv8bMzBlD3CuKk6BiX8KxCaqHq5r3G5hpjlts1IFX-l_vUBuKiE/s400/P1000273.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheerios can get stuck pretty easily when your nose never stops running!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A lot of things were new when
Brayden first started to get sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
had just moved to our new house with a new climate; he was in a daycare center
with 250 other kids and he had been on solid foods for about four or five
months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started making changes to see
what would help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cleaned like I had an
obsessive compulsive disorder and cried because I couldn’t keep our wooden
floors clean enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We interviewed
smaller daycares and started making changes to his diet, eliminating certain
items while adding things that we had heard might help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In spite of all of that, his ear infections
continued and his doctors were no longer helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The general practice doctor continued to
write scripts and was unbothered by the sharp drop from 50<sup>th</sup>
percentile to 30<sup>th</sup> percentile on the growth charts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pharmacist greeted us by name as passed
by to pick up toothpaste and cotton swabs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The pulmonologist couldn’t pin point the coughing but told us if we
thought dietary changes were helpful to please continue them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drew the line when the gastroenterologist
recommended more tests.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No one could tell us why our little one, the first love of our combined lives, was so sick all of the time.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLkIVw-OlEPkXTWZQ3YwJP82_q6uid4M4hU2lbgSbuVDtIraD2_Bk5MkCX3Bg7dl0UKUi_CYVDFb9PMt1m0IcUm8KzDQtHOpHFgoK1gnx3CSlqyI_ooK5_fHGksL8aWRiRcb4_duxqFtf/s1600/P1010062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLkIVw-OlEPkXTWZQ3YwJP82_q6uid4M4hU2lbgSbuVDtIraD2_Bk5MkCX3Bg7dl0UKUi_CYVDFb9PMt1m0IcUm8KzDQtHOpHFgoK1gnx3CSlqyI_ooK5_fHGksL8aWRiRcb4_duxqFtf/s320/P1010062.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning to cover his cough</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He slowly disintegrated into
a toddler who was hyper emotional and susceptible to very low moods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would find out later that his attention
span was also quite a bit shorter than an average toddler taking away the baby
who could sit with his parents and a pile of books leaving behind a toddler without
any interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We continued to struggle
with his health after the birth of our second son, Jack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jack’s first ear infection provided our
second big break at improving Brayden’s health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I refused to struggle through the antibiotic process again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After so many antibiotics, Brayden was in the
process of being tested for C-Difficile, a dangerous and life threatening
condition that is caused by the overuse of antibiotics, usually seen in
geriatric populations in long term care facilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The doctors had dismissed his diarrhea as a
symptom of toddlerhood and too much juice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our third general practice doctor finally understood my concern that
this was not normal and after taking his case history and antibiotic use into
consideration, she had him tested for several other antibiotic resistance
related troubles as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgrbAShKpheEe2SVu5o_1LURcZMtWrHmc1oNP9ZL1pS_1quEyFJmyoA8wBhVXki8FJY40bBrqFsS5U6WYzAZbJYz2xmG-BLcAhnskbj3h1yJ0pz2FsP7s62i-B4IVWTjhFChu2hu8u3Nb/s1600/P1010626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgrbAShKpheEe2SVu5o_1LURcZMtWrHmc1oNP9ZL1pS_1quEyFJmyoA8wBhVXki8FJY40bBrqFsS5U6WYzAZbJYz2xmG-BLcAhnskbj3h1yJ0pz2FsP7s62i-B4IVWTjhFChu2hu8u3Nb/s320/P1010626.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Brayden was first
troubled by ear infections we had heard others had great success with
chiropractors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had met a pediatric
certified chiropractor that was covered by our insurance, and I kept her
card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jack’s fever started and he
began rubbing his ears, I didn’t even bother with the doctor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went straight to the chiropractor’s office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She adjusted baby Jack while he wiggled and
massaged his lymph fluid away while we talked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She supported my efforts to improve their health and decrease the ear
infections by cutting dairy out of their diet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cutting dairy out of our diet
(I was breastfeeding baby Jack) was the only thing that had done what the
Eustachian tubes were supposed to do: stop the ear infections for Brayden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also cut Jack’s reflux and gas issues; he
was no longer as stiff as a board all day and night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We remained puzzled by cradle cap, eczema and
“toddler diarrhea”, but were exceedingly relieved to be able to sleep at night
without waking up to coughing and choking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It had been a long road and we were becoming worn out.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While Brayden was busy struggling
to grow and breathe, my sister started to see a naturopath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lifted the fog that enveloped her every
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He helped her to stop her near
constant migraine pain and avoid a costly gall bladder removal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She recommended repeatedly that we take
Brayden to go see him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We weren’t
opposed to natural remedies; we had such wonderful success with our sweet
chiropractor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we struggled with the
upfront costs that weren’t covered by insurance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those up front costs that were in addition to
the medical costs that actually were covered by insurance but that we were
already struggling heavily to pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
knew we had to do something different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gratefully, Brayden’s C-Difficile tests came back negative, but he was
still struggling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I made an
appointment and sold our horse trailer to raise the cash for his appointment
and some of his conventional medical bills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The majority of our
appointment with the naturopath was spent in education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took about 10 minutes to diagnose Brayden
and didn’t even need to listen to his long medical history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brayden’s diagnosis was simple but frightening…and
changeable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had a toxic level of
yeast in his short little body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
only absorbing about half of his vitamins and minerals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He explained why my short, well fed toddler
was growing so very slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He explained
that eliminating the dairy had helped with the symptoms, but never completely
eliminated the problems leaving behind the tummy and skin troubles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He explained that grains go undigested and
unabsorbed by those under the age of five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He sent us home with supplements for both of our children and dietary
changes that would help them become healthy children with growth and breathing
unhindered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhUwUfU1D0svsNgapswskLAl0nPPnIoEX6dmhdNsTXd2VYTFSSa51mgTY3i9x94UB68btalinqREVhXAg5P5fHbgNhBCQ6Z6D4gds30C9CoRIpaBju-VVMMorQN7pjpTJyUtRBJTeU0A7/s1600/P1030067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhUwUfU1D0svsNgapswskLAl0nPPnIoEX6dmhdNsTXd2VYTFSSa51mgTY3i9x94UB68btalinqREVhXAg5P5fHbgNhBCQ6Z6D4gds30C9CoRIpaBju-VVMMorQN7pjpTJyUtRBJTeU0A7/s320/P1030067.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We followed his
“prescription” to the T.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drops were
taken three times a day and no grains or sweets for Brayden, Jack or the mommy
who was making his milk, until our follow up appointment two months later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miraculously, things began to change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baby Jack’s gas pains subsided, his reflux
faded away and so did his eczema, cradle cap and the stiffness that held him
like a board every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best news of
all was that Brayden’s diarrhea stopped (even though he still drank
juice!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brayden’s snoring stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the day, he could breathe without
wheezing and could even pass air through his nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t cough through his sleep or gag on
his tonsils anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t wake up at night
anymore because the house is quite, because no one is snoring or chocking and I
am afraid that means not breathing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wake up because Brayden is growing and his little legs and feet hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get to watch him sniff at flowers, and
spices, and dirty diapers and mommy’s hair and daddy’s shaving cream<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and try to figure out what smells and
why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are back to sitting with books,
reading and telling silly stories and jokes with baby Jack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His low moods are few and far between and
don’t last for hours, but for much more normal toddler lengths of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to running around and acting
silly he will color or paint on his own again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He works on puzzles with concentration and success.</span></span> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8hQwWKexcxsdoUHNbf0o1BV_tQ_Ap2x78N3zB7HvYLckbhcghUin6BQpoTpsEzV8PWA8s42Uzw904zX765gr9HblZaJ_bKPUPTo5aiKm5ihEUnam_aInvYL4P_cquiS7bTvRxTPyCKid/s1600/P1030376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN8hQwWKexcxsdoUHNbf0o1BV_tQ_Ap2x78N3zB7HvYLckbhcghUin6BQpoTpsEzV8PWA8s42Uzw904zX765gr9HblZaJ_bKPUPTo5aiKm5ihEUnam_aInvYL4P_cquiS7bTvRxTPyCKid/s320/P1030376.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brayden and Baby Jack, "reading" a book together</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He is well on his way to a
healthy life, saved from an eternity of sickness, of discomfort and mysterious
pain and freed to a life that is comfortable and long, God willing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we look back at those pictures, I wince
at how sick he was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His cheeks always
flushed, his mouth always agape, struggling for air or blood dripping from his
ears-all of that is such a stark contrast to the beautiful calm face we are
graced with today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same beautiful,
happy eyes, ringed with his daddy’s dark lashes, the same cherubian cheeks,
always in a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now his closed lips
curve into that smile too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a very
hard fought, very expensive lesson in parenthood, nutrition, life and grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we will never be afraid to be “on the
fringe” again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-21360779494455263902010-10-25T08:20:00.004-05:002010-10-25T08:39:57.167-05:00Another Ban in New York City?According to the Food Stamp Act of 1977, the purpose of those food stamps is to <strong>"alleviate hunger and malnutrition, by increasing food purchasing power for all eligible households who apply for participation".</strong> The Food Stamp Act is actually part of the Farm Bill, and helps many, many, many parents provide fruits, veggies, meats and milk to keep their children healthy and strong as they grow. Preventing kids from hunger helps them learn better, be more active and achieve more through out their lifetime. <br /><br />New York City has about 1.7 million people on food stamps. <br /><br />About $75 million per year (just in New York City) goes to subsidize and pay for sugary drinks, like soda pop and energy drinks (not fruits, veggies, meat or milk).<br /><br /><a href="http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/npr.php?id=130399285">New York City is working to ban the use of food stamps on sugary drinks.</a><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">What are your thoughts?</span></strong><br /><ul><li>Should those who use the SNAP program (food stamps) be allowed to spend the money as they wish (with the current exceptions of no tobacco or alcohol)?</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Should nutritionally devoid foods, like pop and energy drinks, be purchased with money earmarked for "alleviating hunger and malnutrition"?</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Should pop and energy drinks be considered "food"?</li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-22538338330304131572010-10-21T08:17:00.006-05:002010-10-21T09:08:15.897-05:00Treat...or Trick?<span style="color:#cc6600;">Halloween candy! It's almost time to fill the house with peanut butter cups, candy corn and every individually wrapped piece of candy available at the grocery store. But before filling that bowl (and not being able to walk past it without snapping up a handful), remember this:<br /></span><br /><br /><br />Halloween candy can come at a calorie rich price. Not having any might send you over the edge of insanity; having too much might send you over the edge of your pants waist.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#993300;">So indulge in a healthy way! Make sure that candy fits into your calorie budget (by working out to increase your calorie budget, or skipping something else). Here are some common candies, to help you keep your calorie budget in mind:</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530493529320011442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 115px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 75px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpvvfFHvbmVpLNNeNXuu66WKPW0Usj9AKENecGzFtCvQUpZhvvulxWXFrLmjcW9RXGORjHjGYWbLTYNyxca_9orMl2nvHU4yccsR0RTNK1_TyFftLwPuJOkFi7qQ60m6q0QjbaEd9olkl/s320/pf_reese_pumpkin.jpg" border="0" /><br />-One Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup (in the Pumpkin Shape) has 170 calories, 10 grams of fat </p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530493758286401906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 124px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 93px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Z3c9WXErVnqxEHvzO3YybiF-akCdEkcK5w6WNXtAwDOf4SnPn5HDDf0rxAuSVV1vCop2-KInqMngfDR4KPaaN26cY7_ZR84mKCIrxoZWX5efQmxzmRgs5jSLRSBSv1HmmdWStMPX096J/s320/candy+corn.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">- 22 pieces of Candy Corn has 140 calories, 0 fat<br /></p><ul><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530494150030077362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 110px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqSkxrVMGN0xRN0To6h1tgYKOSDaGwvuNVYqnbeb0fdPPvM7ZKEyFOzMdlLLGDRFiYUqvIh4fab8F62mjRHHwTih9LmhNIc6LbMeijJO_64E0h_8dofrFNIvw-PYTCeP478DiScd9toHf/s320/popcorn+balls.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><li>1 Popcorn Balls- 100 calories, 1 gram of fat </li></ul><ul></ul><ul><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530494539734144642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 116px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 116px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4Pr-15OPyqAfroUdtcESLpU1zOV3l_QbVWuIzN_PJFDX3aA0eqdumTWq8v1IGWxR01c98XNodlp5ip1JKLpb4_zx8NHSqMk9uz6kOOsFBn3qttwKfIYBSR4KZfZFb7gqIGwvMMqZUM-V/s320/snickers.jpg" border="0" /><br /><li>Fun size Snickers-72 calories, 4 grams of fat<br /></li><li>1 Fun size Milky Way- 76 calories, 3 grams of fat </li></ul><p> </p><ul><li> Three Musketeers, 71 calories, 2 grams of fat<br /></li><li>6 Midgee Tootsie Rolls- 140 calories, 3 grams of fat</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>1 Tootsie Pop- 60 calories, 0 fat.</li></ul><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#993300;">Remember, eat a serving of the candy that satisfies you to avoid over indulging on the candy that just isn't what you really wanted in the first place. Happy Halloween!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If all of that candy is just too tempting, buy and keep on hand just what you need, just before the spooky 31st instead of keeping extra bags around for weeks before hand. Don't forget the kids will be bringing home treats too!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1228355158356305668.post-80405487433494723482010-10-14T10:33:00.000-05:002010-10-14T10:33:00.469-05:00Did you know?Over one third of American kids eat fast food every day.<br /><br />Did you know that a chicken McNugget is only 50% chicken? And that hamburgers are now (a recent change) 100% beef? <br /><br />Great! What were they before?<br /><br />Check <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101012/bs_yblog_upshot/mcdonalds-happy-meal-resists-decomposition-for-six-months">this out</a>…it’s a six month old Happy Meal, that hasn't changed since the day it was...created.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0