Unfair

I don't know who made this stupid "unfair campaign" but it sure is bullshit. Look at this pathetic display of unnecessary 'white guilt'...are they really calling for more damaging affirmative action policies?!


I thought this was an apt response:


It's so frustrating that the very people who constantly claim everyone else is racist, are the ones who are in fact obsessed with involving race in every issue of the day.

The amazing Col. Allen West exposes today's example:

Florida Republican Rep. Allen West said liberal Democrats in Congress — including many members of the Congressional Black Caucus — who walked out on the bipartisan votes to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in criminal and civil contempt of Congress did so because Holder is black.

“Today the Congressional Black Caucus and other liberal Members of Congress judged the Attorney General by the color of his skin, and not by the content of his character,” West said of their walkout in a Facebook post. “I am disappointed my colleagues would rather engage in a political stunt to distract the American people from knowing the truth behind the Attorney General’s disregard of the law and disrespect of congressional oversight to provide requested documents.”

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/06/29/allen-west-black-caucus-liberals-judged-holder-by-color-of-his-skin-not-by-content-of-his-character/#ixzz1zFd4pWi9

Actual ad from the 70's

Dad

He would've been 69 today (June 28th). Miss you dad.

John Roberts..

I am soooooo exhausted today. Fatigue is taking over, and my low estrogen greatly exacerbates my PMS... barely made it through spin...but just indulged in delicious thin crust spinach/chicken pizza with a friend, and feel a little better :)

 Therefore, I have the mental energy required to address things I normally would've! lol.

When I first saw the 5-4 ruling in favor ofObamacare, I was astounded that it was ruled constitutional, and then that it was upheld because of Justice Roberts' vote. But my husband as usual, explained things to me and although we definitely think it is a damaging mandate that won't truly help the affordability/availability of valuable healthcare, and that allowing people to do what they want (be it buy insurance from a private insurance co, or not be insured), and allowing business to do what they want (offer insurance or not), and allowing the market to set the standards for health insurance are obviously better ideas, strictly from the standpoint of an impartial judge, if the mandate is seen as a tax, it is constitutional. As far as the "wisdom" or "fairness" of the ACA, I'm sure Roberts agrees it is a bad move....but his job is supposed to only look at the constitutionality of the act, and since the 16th amendment permits that Congress can levy any taxes on the states, he couldn't see it as a violation. The main contradiction now is that Obama said the mandate "will not be a tax", and the he wouldn't raise taxes on the middle-class....this affects every class, and every individual, by forcing them to buy or pay a penalty..doesn't matter what euphemism you want to use, that's a tax....that's public money...which the government can do whatever the hell they want with.
Even with George Stephanolpoulos he's smug...because George looked up the definition of "tax" which would include B.O.'s mandate...

     I still think this will fail, either by repeal or eventually when it's enforced and becomes another link in the downward spiral of a bankrupt country. I still have a major problem with the fact that the money from this mandate will end up in part funding the abortion industry (what else does Obama do?) and hope more will be done to prevent that...besides us moving to South America....

    Anyway, John likes to stimulate my mind with this constitutionalist stuff, and I appreciate it, although it only makes you more frustrated! I haven't read into what Ron Paul thinks of this vote yet, but I am interested in that because I sometimes think he knows more about the Constitution than the court. John sent me this Washington Post article that sheds new light on Roberts' decision and how it might hurt Obama more than help, as far as this November. It's true that he can't tout political activist judges usurped the people's will, or act like he is constantly the victim of ______ (any predominantly republican trait) being kept from enacting the change he first campaigned on. I am anxious, in a good and bad way, to see how Romney does in a debate, especially since his name is often used as the creator of the blueprint for Obamacare. I start to feel indifferent about politics...or at least try to convince myself I am, but I'm not. I want people to have job opportunities, businesses to thrive, my homes appreciating value, and people to get off their soapboxes about gay rights already (because they aren't civil rights victims no matter how much they want to be)...and obviously I want the abortion industry to be eradicated. I want the federal government to stop encouraging dependence on public money for everything. I want my kids to have better opportunities...not because of any minority or victim status, but because of true improvement and progress and free-market capitalism. I want this country to be a meritocracy...And our president has done the opposite on every count....not quite sure about Romney, but it sure can't get any worse than B.O....

VP possibility Bobby Jindal (love him :) says:

The celebratory attitude of the Obama administration on this bill and on other entitlement programs shows how much out of step Obama has become from mainstream American experience, Jindal also claimed. “Success used to be measured by how many people we could get off of the government dole,” Jindal said.  “There used to be a stigma associated with government assistance.  Now we celebrate it.”  The entitlement expansion under ObamaCare and other federal programs is “unsustainable,” Jindal said.  “We’re going to see more people riding in the cart than pulling it.”

Poke-eno!

I got pokeno! yay. Get it? lol.

  It was still really bad after she rubbed me with a histamine cream...

 Before all the reactions got real bad...I could feel them bubbling up...felt like I was bleeding.

 I went back to my allergist for a standard skin allergy prick test. I didn't know what I was in for, as I've never had any tests done...but the doctor and assistant didn't know what they were in for with my whacked out genes.

   They tested me for 72 different common allergens, covering Environmentals, Molds, Trees, Grasses, and Weeds. Yes, that means 72 sharp pricks. Initially it wasn't that the amount of pain was high, but just the fact that it would keep coming for 70 more jabs...I was squinting and counting them down in my head lol.

   The nurse first pricked me with a standard histamine as a control, to ensure my reactions wouldn't be tainted by any medications etc. (since i've been off my meds for a week). She said that one would itch a little. That one began itching when she was half-way done, but it wasn't too bad. I read a magazine and she left to set a timer for 15 mins. A second after she left my whole back began heating up and crawling...begging me to SCRATCH!!!!!! I laid on my stomach distracting myself by texting, and kicking my feet back and forth. I thought this was normal....

I took this pic before they got really blistered..I wanted to see what my back looked like...soon after it began burning and itching like hell! I still thought it was normal at this point lol.

  Until the nurse came in and stopped mid-sentence...because she had never seen a back react so strongly, and to nearly EVERYTHING they pricked me with. She felt so bad she fanned me with a clipboard and then went and told the dr in the next room---"Samantha is burning up red hot over there..."

   I knew then it must look pretty bad...and that it wasn't normal. They do this all the time, and mine was that bad to shock them. The doctor was astounded and immediately said, "you can tell your husband and family you are NOT crazy". lol. He says it's very interesting how strongly I reacted to everything especially on my right side. He then proceeded to measure each and every reaction, so the nurse could write down the measurements. They were based on specific units for allergy tests starting with diameter of the blistering bubble, and then the diameter of the red halo around it.

  Some of my left actually happened to come out negative in the beginning, but by the time he finished the right, some of the left ones had also blistered up! So he had to remeasure them. Here are my results---anything with a "0" means I am not allergic to it...if you look closely you'll see ONE thing I am not allergic to....Pine trees. EVERY other tree, grass, and weed I am highly allergic to.

Can you find the one plant I am not allergic to? Pine! lol.. the nurse writes a lot more "0's" for the typical allergy patient.

   The doctor said, "You will not be an outdoorsy girl, you will not go camping. You will go to the marriot." Most of these plants, trees and grasses are found everywhere so there really isn't an ideal place to move to....although the doctor said, "maybe saudi arabia, but they don't really like women" haha. The only list that wasn't full, were the molds. The environmentals were the ones with delayed allergic reactions.

Doctor laughed and said "woah! wasn't expecting all this!"

   So basically that was the first part. They then take the ones you tested negative for, and re-test them again on your arm to be sure....typically that would mean they'd test ~30 or so on your arm..but since I reacted to damn near all of them, they only had to do 8 in my arm.....2 of which did come out positive (dust mites).

   He basically said I'm allergic to anything that grows....maybe we'll move to Antarctica next. how fun!

   Oh and after he measured the nurse swabbed me with alcohol and histamine cream and it was heavenly relief. The swelling took a while to go down.

   So...treatment..where do I start?
* I need allergy armor encasing for all my mattresses and pillows.
* I need a hepa filter at least in my bedroom, if not in all rooms. (said don't use humidifiers and definitely not any 'ionic' purifier as they produce o-zone which makes you sick.)
*Vacuum as much as possible with a Hepa filter vac.
*Wear michael jackson mask while cleaning (already do)
*Stay away from my dogs (i do...)
*Stay indoors...:( No tanning outside he said (which sucks because I am Vit D deficient..)
*Take singulair, flonase, and allegra daily
*Use saline mist for nose
*Use systane eye drops
*Use fluocilanone steroid cream for sebbhoreic dermatitis on eyes as needed
*Only use Dove bodywash, and CeraVe lotions
*In the future, do not have carpet in bedroom (wish Id known that when we installed flooring a few mos ago)
*he said DEFINITELY continue all the cardio I do, as that helps with allergies :) (did spin tonight!)

  He even said my next furniture should be leather and that he'd write a referral for leather furniture or exercise equipment to be tax-free (since he doesn't want me exercising outside). So basically live in a bubble!

 I will also be starting an allergy shot regimen to build up an immunity to all these allergens. But whereas most people get one panel, I will need 3....and I will need to get them 2 times a week....for a long period of time...like years...all this just to not be miserable daily.

   He also ordered a bunch of labwork to check for things regarding my immune system...metabolic panel, thyroid panel, and a bunch of other antibodies and stuff I am ignorant to. I am going to get those done tomorrow.

  As bad as the results are, I am very grateful I found him. Finally a doctor is interested in my true well-being, not just throwing a prescription at me to shut up. I am glad things are being discovered and treated. The next big issue will be my low estrogen and possibly premature menopause...that's later next month. Gonna get healthy! I swear!

     Unfortunately we think at least Lucas inherited my allergy problems, so I am going to do all the doctor says. I don't think he necessarily needs to be seen yet, or get pricked (hope not!) but I will be getting the hepa filters and special bedding covers for their rooms too.

   *Funny enough, the doc said, "well I'm sure your husband might be the healthy one to inherit from, but you got the beautiful genes to give to your kids" haha! I said, "how'd you know!?"

   I have been exercising, eating healthier-using healthier substitutes. I clean as much as I can, and keep the kids clean too. I got my blood pressure and cholesterol down to healthy levels, and I am going to do all I can to fix everything else...I'm still young dang it! I wanna feel good! I know I will be a better mom and wife when I do :)

This gon make you smile!

POONIES!
We bought Olivia underwear today to encourage potty training. After her usual whining and crying and getting off the toilet, she finally peed, albeit mostly on the seat....But I gave her a pair of new undies to excite her about being a big girl. Apparently she forgot exactly what they were called (i said panties) and tried guessing that they were "poonies!" So funny.

    Then she and Lucas started doing this "Oh Boy!" thing--don't know what it's from, but Olivia sure could be an actress! Ever since she watched Susan's contortion videos, she always tries copying them and has trained herself to do the splits!
  And at the end of the video, she does a little dancing. It reminded me of when I was little and I would play in the backyard by myself or climb a tree we had. My older sisters started calling me "princess of the breeze," to tease me, and I have decided to officially pass my crown onto Olivia, the new princess of the breeze. :)

F & F and Executive Privilege

I'm sure the majority of people aren't aware of what "Operation Fast and Furious" is all about, so I'll just give a little background I've learned about it. Apparently the first operation was "Wide Receiver", a smaller scale one by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) which happened under the Bush Administration in 2006-2007. It was a plan to intentionally sell ~500 guns to people who they knew to be connected to Mexican drug cartels. The guns were set up with radio-tracking devices to be able to follow where they go. The weapons were supposed to be confiscated once they crossed the border, by Mexican law enforcement. Evidently some of the tracking devices failed, and the Mexican law enforcement was also unable to locate or track down all the weapons. The operation was shutdown at that point. No one was knowingly killed, and there were several arrests made, and everything was disclosed--not hidden.
   I don't think it sounds like a good idea to begin with, and I wish the Mexican government/military would figure out how to stop the horrific crime perpetrated by their drug gangs. So I think it was a failure from the start.
     For some reason, even after "Wide Receiver's" failure, when Obama took office, the ATF began the Fast & Furious operation, on a much larger scale, with the intention of locating the higher-ups in the mexican drug war. The main differences between the operations were obviously the size (~2000 weapons), the fact that F & F was a covert mission---meaning Mexico didn't even know (while with WR they worked together with Mexican law), and the fact that F & F operation made even less sense, as the ATF were not permitted to interrupt the smuggling after the initial purchases. Many of the ATF officers complained about the clear and present danger in allowing thousands of guns to cross the border, WITHOUT any tracking devices whatsoever, WITHOUT notifying Mexican officials, and WITHOUT stepping in once they weapons crossed the border. Sounds pretty idiotic.

    Unfortunately, it has led to horrific murders of innocent Mexican citizens, and at least one border patrol officer. It has also emboldened and empowered the Mexican drug cartels as we see with the beheaded, bullet-ridden bodies found weekly in Mexico.

    While I am willing to believe that both President's were never informed of the details on these ridiculous failed operations, the problem we have now, is that with so many murders, someone has to be held accountable. An investigation is underway, but Attorney General Eric Holder is doing all he can to undermine it by evading questions and even lying about his being aware for years (according to archived emails) about the operation. It certainly seems suspicious. When he was subpoenaed for 80,000 pages involving the operation, and only hands over 7,000, it's suspicious. When he says he and President Obama were not involved in F & F, and yet, Obama now illegitimately tries to exert his "executive privilege" to keep everything concealed from the House Oversight Committee who is investigating this mess, thou doth protest too much. Why would he want to hide it? And more importantly, if the White House was not involved at all in the operation, by law, Obama isn't allowed to invoke his "executive privilege" powers. So is he or is he not?!

   In this clip-congressman Gowdy responds to Holder complaining essentially that "Bush did it first!"

I think they were both wrong, but obviously the points I outlined 3 paragraphs ago show a stark difference in  how wrong and lethal F & F was...why can't they all just be open and honest and let the investigation find the truth? He says, "bring them all! republican and democrat! It still doesn't mitigate this case!"

In reference to the ~4:46 part of the clip, he is talking about this 2007 clip, when then Senator Obama chided the Bush administration for invoking executive privilege....check it out:

what a disaster! 

the truth shall set you free man!

Interesting site explaining the differences between the 2 operations, and the suspected reason for the F & F's reckless choices (as initially suspected by the ATF whistle-blowers): the passing of more gun control laws.

Awesome Cartoon...50 yrs old!

Check out this cartoon. It was made over 50 yrs ago, but it's so true especially now. 

I Always Regret Cutting My Bangs

But I can't resist it when I get bored..

Anyway, here are some pics of the kids playing today--had fun at the mall:

 She broke this necklace a second later..beads everywhere. Thankfully other kids thought it was fun to pick them all up for me :)

Hot Wheels

Lucas behaved really well the other day when daddy took him to get the car inspected. So he was promised a new hot wheels toy. We went out to buy it sorta late last night so we waited til today to open it. I waited til daddy got home to build it with him. Lucas loves that time with daddy. :)

   This one attaches to the wall. It's kinda cool and they love it. I was surprised at how well they behaved and took turns. It was very touching to see them both enjoying something so much together no fights. In fact, the only one in the way, was apparently mom! Watch the video---at 2:50 Lucas says "stop please...just leave me alone!" Later on, he said, "momma, go downstairs." I was laughing so hard. I was being a little overbearing. I have to work on my patience and just letting them be even if something is wrong, or backward, or they have trouble with it, or they are making a bit of a mess....it's a challenge. That reminds me..this morning I woke up to hearing Lucas whining in his bathroom (I slept in the upstairs guest room) saying "I can't do it! I can't do it!" I finally said, "what!?" and he walked over to me with his pants down and cried, "WOOKISS (lucas) NOT A BIG BOY!"...apparently he couldn't get his pants off in time and peed on the floor, sprayed the door frame and the rest was on the toilet seat..so cute, but I was so exhausted and it was early (I never feel refreshed from sleep and mornings suck.. headaches right when I get up)...so it wasn't so cute at the time. I cleaned him and the bathroom up and he laid down with me for a little longer.

Oh, I also love when  Lucas cheers, "go lila!" when it's her turn. So cute...i love their conversations.

Some Cookin'

I hadn't tried any new recipes for a while, so I tried a couple I saw on yahoo recently. John's granny croce made authentic Italian meals for Johnny, and one of his favorites was sausage and peppers. This recipe by Fabio Viviani, seemed simple enough, but I am just not a natural cook, so it was hard to time everything right. First I started his simple marinade sauce with canned tomatoes, fresh oregano sprigs, and crushed garlic cloves.Then I browned some italian sausage after poking it to release some of the juices. Then I carmelized some sweet onions, with green bell pepper in light olive oil mixed with the sausage juice. Then I put it all together to simmer. Unfortunately, since I didn't start it earlier, I didn't have time to let the sauce simmer for hours to thicken, and I couldn't find canned tomatoes in puree, only in juice so the sauce was too thin. But the flavor was good. John appreciated it, although I know it could never measure up!

 Then the next day I had Lucas help me make some homemade donuts. Since I am not a natural cook, I should pay extra special attention to every detail in a recipe....ingredients, amounts, and the timing etc. But I sometimes think "it'll all work out, just put it together" and some little thing throws off the result....this time I didn't add the warm milk in the beginning, so the yeast didn't activate in time. Plus I think I didn't mash the potatoes up enough. I really wanted to get that dough-y texture with the mashed potatoes, but I have been so frazzled lately, and since I was actually more trying to get Lucas involved than make spectacular food, they didn't turn out like I wanted.  They weren't horrible, and of course the kids loved them, but they didn't rise to be fluffy like the recipe's, and I ended up throwing most of them out. I am going to try again, but I am thinking I will try to make a bavarian cream filling (my favorite). Maybe I should find some local cooking classes? That would be fun!
  Anyway, at least it served for some bonding time and pictures :)

I had instant potatoes, but wanted to do it from scratch, so I cooked 4 russett potatoes (lucas liked that part). We didn't use all of it though, so Olivia ate some of the plain mashed potatoes. :)

 The dough was coming along great--but the yeast never activated, so they were not fluffy...I waited the half hour and nothing happened...we were all impatient so we fried them in light olive oil anyway.

 Lucas counting...I actually spend almost an hour trying to get Lucas to count the hot wheels daddy bought him...I told him I wasn't going to open the package til he counted them correctly...there were only 5. I was so frustrated because sometimes he counts to ten no problem...other times he just wants to skip from 3 to 7 8 9 10. He eventually got it after I made him count with these youtube videos lol. Oh, and yes I used a mini-baseball bat covered with saran wrap to roll the dough!

 They came out like patties not donuts..

Also since they didn't rise enough, I found that they soaked up too much of the olive oil and were too greasy. We only ate like 3 of em and threw the rest out.

I will try the recipe again and pay more attention because I want to make good donuts! Someday we want to open a donut shop....for reals. :)

More China Forced Abortions..

As if it ever stops....there were over 14 million in the year 1983 alone...This story is so sad....

Feng Jianmei 23, and her 7 month old aborted baby....forced into hospital so they could inject her unborn baby with a lethal concoction. This is disgusting, and many in our own government wouldn't mind this kind of draconian policy enforced in our own country (our vice president apparently has no problem with it).

UPDATE: They apologized...so it's all cool.

Bedtime Reading

This was after their bath last night- Lucas wanted to read "My Messy Room" to show off to daddy :)

Olivia sometimes chimes in but she was so upset because I was washing all her bedding and put a different pillow case on her pillow...she wanted her heart pillowcase...she eventually went to sleep though. Such a princess she is...

Some New Veedeeyo

I know these videos look weird; YouTube offered to fix the shakiness and instead made them all distorted...going to bed now but will try fixing them tomorrow! Enjoy for now anyway :)

Lucas is getting a little better from his cold, but his throat seems to be bothering him again. No fever. Anyway, we love watching old disney/warner bros cartoons on youtube, and the Owl Jolson video "I like to singa" is one of his favorites. He tries to sing it with me sometimes, but gets easily frustrated and embarrassed :)

And here I decided after forgetting the many cute things Olivia says to me daily, that I would sit down and record a little interview of random questions. Pretty cute...:





And at the end, Lucas comes in and I try to teach him to pronounce his "L's" again. He was in a funny mood and was pretty sick so  I wasn't pressing him too hard. :)

Adrenals

I was kinda rambling incoherently in the last post as usual, so I wanted to try and clarify what my suspicions are about my health. I have had flank pain off and on for the past 3 years, and it was initially due to hydronephrosis from kidney stones. The 7 mm stone stuck in my right ureter caused such excruciating pain that I was terrified whenever I had that bad flank pain since having the stone removed. Every time I had a scan done, there were no visible stones, so I never figured it out. After having been diagnosed recently with very low estrogen, I researched reasons why a young woman would have low estrogen. I eventually found information on adrenal glands. I still get that flank pain about every few days, sometimes so bad I lay down. I always thought it meant I was dehydrated so I drink lots of water...but I realize now it usually occurs when I am working hard cleaning and am really fatigued.

    
Your adrenal glands sit atop each kidney, and when they are "burned out", or don't function properly, you can get that same flank pain. I didn't know all that adrenal glands were responsible for until I read up on it this week. Looking back, I was so terrified of the stones I had, I paid a lot of money to see a nutritionist and try to get a diet plan specifically to rid my body of stones. The nutritionist seemed more interested in her blood type diet, and ph balances and took out a case of little glass boxes with various ingredients...she would have me hold each one and push my arm up against hers to see which ones made me weakest...at that point I felt like a clown. She was sweet and said a nice prayer, and then hovered her hands over my back and said my adrenal glands were overworked. At that point I had already checked out mentally, and regretted wasting that money. But perhaps she was right about that.

      Your adrenal glands are responsible for regulating many things including your metabolism, blood sugar/sodium levels, cortisol/adrenaline (which affects how you cope with stress), and your hormones---and when your adrenals are overworked your immune system is significantly weaker. They even tell your kidneys how much water to retain. Most doctors only think of the extremes when it comes to adrenal gland issues, i.e. Addison's disease, but there are numerous studies proving how even minor insufficiency causes debilitating symptoms that are otherwise misdiagnosed and therefore, given the wrong treatment.

    Here are other symptoms of adrenal fatigue: (bold are ones I experience)
1. Allergies
2. Anxiety or Irritability
3. Arthritis
4. Cravings for salty and/or sweet foods
5. Depression
6. Excessive hunger
7. Extreme fatigue, exhaustion, or chronic fatigue
8. Eyes are sensitive to light
9. Feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope with life’s stresses
10. Frequently experience colds, flu, or other infections
11. Insomnia
12. Irritable bowel syndrome, IBS
13. Low blood pressure upon standing--causing light-headedness
14. Low libido
15. Low stamina
16. Menopause symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness
17. Poor concentration
18. Poor digestion
19. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
20. Reduced immune function
21. Reduced memory
22. Sensitivity to cold
23. Sleep does not refresh or revitalize you
24. Slow to recover from illness or injuries
25. Hair loss

I realize many of these are vague and can be caused by other things too. Which is why I am desperately trying to get my doc to refer me to an endocrinologist. I have called a few times this week with no response. I am frustrated that she gave me hormone cream! Prolonged use can cause cancer! And I don't think my low estrogen is the root cause of anything, but rather a symptom. Since I still get my period, I don't think it's related to my ovaries or reproductive system. My adrenal glands seem the likely culprit to me. I will need to be tested by an endocrinologist for ACTH to check them. And if I am diagnosed, start some kind of diet and change my lifestyle:

"The treatment for this condition is specific. The patient must take the correct adrenal nutrient for them every waking hour, at first. The adrenals must be "kick-started" in this way or they usually won't "wake-up" at all. The average patient will complete this hourly dosage in one week; some will take longer, and some shorter."

 If stress is overworking my adrenals, how can I get rid of stress? I am essentially a single mom when John works this much. I am trying to be healthier, and exercise, but it doesn't seem to help...and this article says strenuous exercise further weakens your adrenals..:

 Prolonged stress is one of the greatest risk factors for causing AI. Unrelenting periods of stress mean your adrenals eventually become unable to match your requirement for the 'stress' hormone cotisol. Stressful situations cause your body to adopt a 'fight or flight' response, causing your adrenal glands to pump out increased amounts of adrenaline in order to prepare your body for action, which further weakens your adrenal glands. 

So take active steps to relax - gentle exercise such as yoga has been shown to be an effective stress-buster.

However, it's important that you don't partake in any strenuous exercise, such as aerobics, as the physical strain will only tire weak adrenals and delay your recovery. In addition, avoid stimulants like caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, which tire overtaxed adrenals further. 

Following a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet is extremely beneficial. Too many refined carbohydrates means your pancreas has to produce excess insulin, causing your blood glucose levels to crash. This forces your adrenals into a cycle of pumping out surplus cortisol to unlock back-up stores of glucose in your liver as an emergency fuel source. Over time this causes your adrenals to become exhausted. Proteins digest slowly and release energy over many hours - this spares your adrenals from having to carry out extra work. 


Once I get a diagnosis I will definitely swallow my pride and go back to try Yoga again, do less strenuous exercise, and try a high protein low carb diet. B vitamins are also supposed to help. I assume my low vit D plays a role too. I hope that maybe fixing my problems will help the whole family...whether my stress and weak immune system is bogging down everyone else's health or not, at least I would be able to take better care of everyone and have more patience.

Swimming...AND sick again...

       The past week started out well; John and I are pretty much done with the strep, just dealing with a little phlegm from the cold, plus my allergies. But the kids and I were able to get back into the gym. I did spin monday, a brutal total conditioning class tuesday (EXTREMELY sore today...), and my regular cardio yesterday. Today we spent the nice warm morning playing at Alexandra's community pool, which is awesome. These slides were fun and that bucket was huge and loud when it soaked us!  

 Mark Anthony leading the way!

 Scared of the huge bucket of water and how loud it was :)

 Hangin out with "Chrisopher...my friend" as she calls him. 

 I love this picture. Lucas was so brave...I wish he were feeling better..he probably felt sick even then...

 Alexandra and the 2 yr olds :)

 "Mark Anfunny" (Olivia calls him) or "Macaroni"  (as Lucas mistakenly called him once lol) teaches them to use water guns.

 Olivia adopting a second mommy---she was lovey with Alexandra :)

Thanks for inviting us---I hope you all don't get sick!

 Drying off before heading home to see daddy before he left for work :) 

   I noticed this morning that Lucas was extra snotty, but convinced myself it was allergies, or residual snot from his last cold....he seemed to be having fun in the water....but upon getting home, he was out of it, snotty, eyes watery and lethargic. He's definitely caught something new again. I am at my wits end with this neverending sickness...no matter how clean I keep us and this house, or vitamins they take etc, we can't avoid sickness and my doctors don't care. He doesn't have a fever but has no energy and is zoned out on the couch. I tried to get him to eat  chicken stir fry with rice...they both wouldnt even try it...I can't tell if Olivia is getting it yet, but her eyes looked sick too. They finally ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and their vitamin, and I gave them a bath and let them watch "Ponyo" while I cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed and did laundry. I just don't know what to do anymore...we stay home, we get sick. We go out, we get sick. This gym is actually very clean, so I don't think it is the culprit. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, and I know at their age, they are still developing their immune system (that's how their dr explains it..) but seriously, since we've been here, back to back sickness? and not just little colds, but debilitating flu, strep and eye infections for all 4 of us?! 

  I am not one who likes to attribute physical ailments to stress....or one's ability to cope with stress as determined by your health per se....because I think you should be accountable for your behavior and not blame a 'condition'...but I have ZERO patience lately with everyone, especially the kids and the more I read about this estrogen thing, and how it could be caused by my adrenal glands not working efficiently, the more I am convinced I have something that is causing so many other problems in my life, and therefore that it can be fixed. (in fact I remember a nutritionist I saw in VA told me my adrenals were overworked...but I didn't give it any thought because she seemed hokey..she 'diagnosed' it by hovering her hands over my back..but I do have most of the symptoms.) But when my doctor and her staff are unwilling to get back to me about seeing a specialist instead of using carcinogenic hormone cream, I feel helpless. 

Going A Little Crazy

The past few days have been stressful. I had a little bit of a breakdown yesterday lol...but I'm okay, at least mentally. Lucas feels better since his penicillin shot, and he and Olivia even went to the dentist for the first time today. They did great and teeth are clean, no cavities. Olivia has a little bit of an overbite most-likely because she sucked her pacifier at night til about 4 months ago, but nothing major as of now. The dentist gave me a tool to start flossing their teeth nightly...i'm really going to try to make it a habit, but it's going to be hard for me lol.

  We had some major issues with our rental home in VA and our property manager....and we are still dealing with them. I won't go into detail, (there are so many..) but it's driving me crazy and affecting our finances so it was a huge headache. I am hoping all the calls I made today and yesterday will fix everything and we will all be sailing smooth for a while....

    Well, yesterday I went to my doctor for my blood results. I had to take L & O since John worked---that in addition to my sickness, and rental fiasco caused my BP to be 144/98...anyway I had her refer me to an allergist because I believe I am allergic to something that isn't covered by my prescriptions, and that is compromising my immune system thereby making me vulnerable to recurring strep/eye infections and colds, which the rest of the family then catch. She agreed and did more bloodwork to check different allergies I may have. And then she went over my hormonal blood test results from 2 wks ago. Most everything was fine, except my estrogen level was abnormally low, not even within the range. And what was peculiar was that according to my other hormones, I was ovulating at the time the blood was drawn, which is when estrogen should be at it's highest. But instead of answering any of my questions about what could cause it, my doctor just threw estrogen cream at me and sent me on my way....

  Upon getting home I started reading about why a young woman would have low estrogen levels, what the symptoms are (which I do have some of), and the treatment. Everything I've read says it's typically caused by excessive exercise, too little body fat, or anorexia.....sounds like me to a T huh? And the only other reason I can find, is early menopause!! There were few articles that really expounded on it in young women, but there was reference to possibly genetic conditions, one of which is Turner syndrome---which causes a short stature.:) I'm 5'9. I can't believe my doctor wouldn't care to look into a cause for something like this, especially in conjunction to my low vit d (which I read is related), and instead gave a menopausal hormone cream to a 27 yr old! I am wary of taking hormones esp at my age because they can cause cancer and I want to know the cause, not treat symptoms. I guess I should ask her to refer me to an endocrinologist...idk...any advice?

   I thought I was getting better yesterday so I didn't have her test me for strep...but I finally grew a pair to tell her that her nurse was testing wrong....swabbing my tongue instead of my throat/tonsils because she didn't want people to gag...doctor was shocked and said she'd fix that. Anyway, so I obviously should have asked her to swab me yesterday because I have strep still and feel worse. It gets really bad in the morning like 3 or 4am, I wake up and can't stop coughing. I am totally drained and tired all day because of it. And now today my throat is very raw like strep, but I also have phlegm and coughing/sneezing so I must also have a cold. My head has been throbbing all day, and feels like really bad dehydration headaches, but worse...and I have been drinking a lot of water, despite the pain when swallowing. John left for overnights around 5 and I just felt so bad I had to lay down with the kids and nap. But I had to force myself to get up and clean.. my head was still pounding and my throat was so dry. So I took a hydrocodone. About a half hour later, I felt better and was happy happy happy lol. So I cleaned the house--it needed to be done because an exterminator is coming tomorrow to treat the inside and outside for bugs. It was a great deal on living social, and you have to have something in Houston, especially in the summer.

    So I will either go to minute clinic or dr to get penicillin shot tomorrow. I want to turn the page on all this sickness so badly. My appt with the allergist is on the 14th. I hope it leads to something. In the meantime, I'll be wondering why my estrogen is so low...i'm trying to be healthy. Guess it ain't working! Could I be premenopausal in my 20's??