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Friday, July 24, 2009
Brielle Baby Shower - Please Come
Yeah! It's time for Brielle's Baby Shower! We hope you can come!
Saturday August 1, 2009
2:00 PM
Jackie's House
RSVP: jprobert@dsdmail.net
Click on the pictures in the Smile Box below!
We feel so blessed, and would love to see you !
Saturday August 1, 2009
2:00 PM
Jackie's House
RSVP: jprobert@dsdmail.net
Click on the pictures in the Smile Box below!
We feel so blessed, and would love to see you !
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Price of Children
If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again
Original Author: Diane Loomans
If I had my child to raise over again.
I'd finger-paint more and point my finger less.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
I'd be firm less often, and affirm much more...
If i had my child to raise over again,
I'd teach less about the love of power and more about the power of love.
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family.
Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down.
It translates into
$! 8,896 a year,
$741.38 a month, or
$171.08 a week. That's a mere
$24.24 a day!
Just over a dollar an hour. Still, you might think the best financial advice says don't have children if you want to be "rich." It is just the opposite.
What do your get for your $160,140?
Naming rights,---
First, middle, and last!
Glimpses of God everyday.
Giggles under the covers every night.
More love than your heart can hold.
Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
A hand to hold, usually covered with jam.
A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sand castles, and skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain.
Someone to laugh yourself silly with no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140, you never have to grow up.
You get to finger-paint,
carve pumpkins,
play hide-and-seek,
catch! lightning bugs,
and never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
watching Saturday morning cartoons,
going to DisneyLand,
and wishing on stars.
You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.
For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck.
You get to be a hero just for retrieving a frisbee off the garage roof, taking the training wheels off the bike, removing a splinter, filling a wading pool, coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat to history to witness the first step, first word, first bra, first date, and first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long li! st of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren.
You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there with God.
You have all the power to heal a booboo,
scare away the monsters under the bed,
patch a broken heart,
police a slumber party,
ground them forever,
and love them without limits,
so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost.
ENJOY YOUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Here is another version:
the price of a child
Original Author: Unknown
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock. That doesn't even touch college tuition. For those with kids, that figure leads to wild fantasies about all the things we could have bought, all the places we could have traveled, and all the money we could have banked. For others, that number might confirm the decision to remain childless.
But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into $8,896 a year, $741 a month or $171 a week. That's a mere $24 a day; just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice says don't have children if you want to be rich. It's just the opposite. There's no way to put a price tag on: feeling a new life move for the first time and seeing the bum of a knee rippling across your skin. having someone cry, "It's a boy," or shout, "It's a girl," then hearing the baby wail and knowing all that matters is that it's healthy. counting all 10 fingers and toes for the first time. feeling the warmth of fat cheeks against your skin. cupping an entire head in the palm of your hand. making out da-da or ma-ma from all the cooing and gurgling. What do you get for your $160,140? What you get is naming rights, (first, middle and last), glimpses if God everyday, giggles under the covers every night, butterfly kisses and velcro hugs, endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, babies, warm cookies, and more love than your heart can hold.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Interstitial Cystitis
Interstitial Cystitis
Left: Interstitial Cystitis.
Right: Normal Bladder.
On Thursday, I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease of the bladder. It is called Interstitial Cystitis.
The emotional support of family, friends, and other people with IC / PBS is very important in helping patients cope. Studies have found that patients who learn about the disorder and become involved in their own care do better than patients who do not. It may take up to 6 months to get good relief and response to treatment.
Interstitial cystitis
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is pelvic pain, pressure, or discomfort related to the bladder typically associated with urinary frequency and urgency, in the absence of infection or other pathology. IC is also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), painful bladder syndrome (PBS), and bladder pain syndrome (BPS).
IC can affect women, men, and children of any age, race, or sex. It is most commonly found in women. Three to 8 million women in the United States may have IC. That is about 3 to 6 percent of all US women.(IC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the bladder that causes frequent, urgent, and painful urination with or without pelvic discomfort. The natural lining of the bladder (epithelium) is protected from toxins in the urine by a coating of enzymes (mucopolysaccharides) called the GAG (glycoaminoglycan) layer.
In IC, this protective layer is defective, allowing toxins to penetrate into the "interstitial layers" of the bladder wall, depolarize the nerve endings located there, and cause severe irritative voiding symptoms and bladder pain.
Here is a link that has helped me learn about this disease. There are also many other links and YouTube presentations that are helpful if you want to learn more.
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is pelvic pain, pressure, or discomfort related to the bladder typically associated with urinary frequency and urgency, in the absence of infection or other pathology. IC is also called chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), painful bladder syndrome (PBS), and bladder pain syndrome (BPS).
IC can affect women, men, and children of any age, race, or sex. It is most commonly found in women. Three to 8 million women in the United States may have IC. That is about 3 to 6 percent of all US women.(IC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the bladder that causes frequent, urgent, and painful urination with or without pelvic discomfort. The natural lining of the bladder (epithelium) is protected from toxins in the urine by a coating of enzymes (mucopolysaccharides) called the GAG (glycoaminoglycan) layer.
In IC, this protective layer is defective, allowing toxins to penetrate into the "interstitial layers" of the bladder wall, depolarize the nerve endings located there, and cause severe irritative voiding symptoms and bladder pain.
Here is a link that has helped me learn about this disease. There are also many other links and YouTube presentations that are helpful if you want to learn more.
For the next few weeks I will be seeing my urologist for weekly treatments as described below.
Bladder Instillation
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/interstitialcystitis/
During a bladder instillation, also called a bladder wash or bath, the bladder is filled with a solution that is held for varying periods of time, averaging 10 to 15 minutes, before being emptied.
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/interstitialcystitis/
During a bladder instillation, also called a bladder wash or bath, the bladder is filled with a solution that is held for varying periods of time, averaging 10 to 15 minutes, before being emptied.
The only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for bladder instillation is dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, brand name Rimso-50). DMSO treatment involves guiding a narrow tube called a catheter up the urethra into the bladder. A measured amount of DMSO is passed through the catheter into the bladder, where it is retained for about 15 minutes before being expelled. Treatments are given every week or two for 6 to 8 weeks and repeated as needed. Most people who respond to DMSO notice improvement 3 or 4 weeks after the first 6- to 8-week cycle of treatments.
Doctors think DMSO works in several ways. Because it passes into the bladder wall, it may reach tissue more effectively to reduce inflammation and block pain. It may also prevent muscle contractions that cause pain, frequency, and urgency.
A bothersome but relatively insignificant side effect of DMSO treatments is a garlic-like taste and odor on the breath and skin that may last up to 7 hours after treatment. Long-term treatment has caused cataracts in animal studies, but this side effect has not appeared in humans.
A bothersome but relatively insignificant side effect of DMSO treatments is a garlic-like taste and odor on the breath and skin that may last up to 7 hours after treatment. Long-term treatment has caused cataracts in animal studies, but this side effect has not appeared in humans.
Blood tests, including a complete blood count and kidney and liver function tests, should be done about every 6 months.
FAQ
Will I always have IC?
The short answer is yes to whether you will always have IC. As far as the limited research has discovered there is probably a predisposition to the bladder lining being compromised. But the specific answer is that it is the symptoms of IC that effect your life. The symptoms of urgency, frequency, and pain in varying degrees take charge. That is why working on the healing of the bladder lining and calming down the symptoms is the work that must be done.
Why does it take so long for the symptoms to go away?
The short answer is that the time needed for IC symptoms to be brought under control appears to depend on the length of time that you have had your symptoms. Initially, the symptoms may appear to have attacked without warning. As you learn more about IC, the trail of when your symptoms began can range from bed wetting as a child, or that you always understood that you had to void more often than any of you friends. Another clue is that you had bladder and/or prostate infections that were so frequent that you kept antibiotic available. Others have shared that they accepted that sexual intercourse was the pattern that led to pain. This short list all can signal years of movement to a point that you could no longer accommodate the IC symptoms. With that in mind you have to realize that it will take time to see positive results.
Do IC symptoms ever go away?
The short answer is that the symptoms of IC fade away as life style, dietary changes, medication and you take control over your IC. You will also learn your own personal signals to IC symptoms. Signals can be as indirect as a twinge of low back pain, or knowing that there was a dietary misstep when that chocolate sundae was a temptation not resisted. We find there comes a time when we all do a test, we feel that we are symptom free and no longer have IC; The doctors were wrong in their diagnosis. We skip the medication, return to old habits, and guess what, the symptoms come back to remind us that the need to stay on the path to taking control is a rule we had better not break.
Should I care about my diet?
The short answer is yes, absolutely, and how could you think otherwise? Remember the old saying " We are what we eat"? This seem to be incredibly true for IC patients. There was a time ( not that long ago) that a trip to the fast food restaurant was a monthly treat and not the center of our dietary intake. There was a time when long shelf life and attractive colors were not the main focus of the food industry. The amount and number of food additives and artificial colors in our food is over-whelming. There was a time when a 8oz cup of carbonated beverage did not have to come with a "as many refill as you can consume" policy. Obesity is the media focus, but the question is ... what is going through your body as you wolf down your hamburger, snack on your frozen pizza, and gulp down your sugar substitute diet drink? Your urinary tract knows and will share its' great misery with you.
Can I exercise with IC?
The short answer is yes, with the understanding that lifting, squatting, bending, and pulling, or putting pressure on your pelvic area is not a good idea for the IC bladder. Even the newly re-discovered Kegel exercises can make the nerve endings in the IC pelvic area feel that they are being assaulted. Stretching is the best, and a recumbent bike also takes the pressure off the pelvic girdle. Upper body and pressure free from the waist down exercises seem to bring benefits without causing or adding pain.
The short answer is yes to whether you will always have IC. As far as the limited research has discovered there is probably a predisposition to the bladder lining being compromised. But the specific answer is that it is the symptoms of IC that effect your life. The symptoms of urgency, frequency, and pain in varying degrees take charge. That is why working on the healing of the bladder lining and calming down the symptoms is the work that must be done.
Why does it take so long for the symptoms to go away?
The short answer is that the time needed for IC symptoms to be brought under control appears to depend on the length of time that you have had your symptoms. Initially, the symptoms may appear to have attacked without warning. As you learn more about IC, the trail of when your symptoms began can range from bed wetting as a child, or that you always understood that you had to void more often than any of you friends. Another clue is that you had bladder and/or prostate infections that were so frequent that you kept antibiotic available. Others have shared that they accepted that sexual intercourse was the pattern that led to pain. This short list all can signal years of movement to a point that you could no longer accommodate the IC symptoms. With that in mind you have to realize that it will take time to see positive results.
Do IC symptoms ever go away?
The short answer is that the symptoms of IC fade away as life style, dietary changes, medication and you take control over your IC. You will also learn your own personal signals to IC symptoms. Signals can be as indirect as a twinge of low back pain, or knowing that there was a dietary misstep when that chocolate sundae was a temptation not resisted. We find there comes a time when we all do a test, we feel that we are symptom free and no longer have IC; The doctors were wrong in their diagnosis. We skip the medication, return to old habits, and guess what, the symptoms come back to remind us that the need to stay on the path to taking control is a rule we had better not break.
Should I care about my diet?
The short answer is yes, absolutely, and how could you think otherwise? Remember the old saying " We are what we eat"? This seem to be incredibly true for IC patients. There was a time ( not that long ago) that a trip to the fast food restaurant was a monthly treat and not the center of our dietary intake. There was a time when long shelf life and attractive colors were not the main focus of the food industry. The amount and number of food additives and artificial colors in our food is over-whelming. There was a time when a 8oz cup of carbonated beverage did not have to come with a "as many refill as you can consume" policy. Obesity is the media focus, but the question is ... what is going through your body as you wolf down your hamburger, snack on your frozen pizza, and gulp down your sugar substitute diet drink? Your urinary tract knows and will share its' great misery with you.
Can I exercise with IC?
The short answer is yes, with the understanding that lifting, squatting, bending, and pulling, or putting pressure on your pelvic area is not a good idea for the IC bladder. Even the newly re-discovered Kegel exercises can make the nerve endings in the IC pelvic area feel that they are being assaulted. Stretching is the best, and a recumbent bike also takes the pressure off the pelvic girdle. Upper body and pressure free from the waist down exercises seem to bring benefits without causing or adding pain.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
I Can Read
Kelcey helped me with a school project. I needed some photo's for my lesson plans that I submitted to the District, and I found just the right little lady! Thank you Kelcey for helping me so much. I love you!
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Lucky Lady Bugs
About Lady Bugs: http://www.geocities.com/sseagraves/ladybugphotos.htm
At Zeke's blessing... I noticed all the little kids over in the garden. They were so darn cute hunting for lady bugs. I took pictures of them from a distance so as not to disturb their childhood fun! I love these kids!
The song I found is perfect! I believe these lady bugs were lucky to have such special playmates!!!!!!! These little kids are always looking for bugs! They name them and build little home environments for them. Each time they find a bug they squeel to the others and they all gather around. It's always tender to me to watch them.
Today, July 12, 2009, I saw this on the internet. It's really cool!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/31866374#31866374
At Zeke's blessing... I noticed all the little kids over in the garden. They were so darn cute hunting for lady bugs. I took pictures of them from a distance so as not to disturb their childhood fun! I love these kids!
The song I found is perfect! I believe these lady bugs were lucky to have such special playmates!!!!!!! These little kids are always looking for bugs! They name them and build little home environments for them. Each time they find a bug they squeel to the others and they all gather around. It's always tender to me to watch them.
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Today, July 12, 2009, I saw this on the internet. It's really cool!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/31866374#31866374
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