Friday, January 29, 2010

A bit of chocolate will help....

Yesterday afternoon was stress.  Andy was upset afterschool about things that happened, and I was as well.  We drove to wrestling practice and he completely vented the ENTIRE time.  By the time we arrived, he was so mad that he was in tears...... poor lil' man.  Life's lessons are tough!  I hate it!
So, wrestling practice was okay.  Matt had one of his fits(went and hid), because he thinks that Dennis is his partner, and only his partner and he cannot share Dennis.  Matt has a hard time adjusting to change.  Another of those conditions of Autism Spectrum..... I wish more people understood this thing we are going through....... I mean mostly adults who think that he is just naughty.... HE IS NOT NAUGHTY!        HE HAS SPeCiaL NEEDS!  Damnit, people frustrate me....... to tears.........
So, we came home and had some of my chocolate.  It was sweet, creamy, and relaxing.

Dear Lord, why are you testing me so?  I feel unable to lead these children in the right direction at times.  Help me with patience..... and forgiveness toward those who do not understand Matt.....and forgiveness for those who hurt my children emotionally..............Please?
Amen.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

OOPS! Sad but Funny!

A Sad but Funny thing happened: While I was excercising downstairs, Meggie was watching Dora, and playing with her old stroller.....Apparently, she sat in it and buckled herself in. THEN she couldn't unbuckle herself! She was crying hysterically when I got upstairs 25 minutes later! She is still sobbing, but has her... blankie to comfort her..... Poor lil' girl.....

P.S. Turn your speakers up, and DANCE! (Come on Jess ;b  )

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Happy Birthday BLOG!


This is it.  It is the 2nd year birthday of our blog. AND I have 499 posts!  YEA!  I think that it is time that I get it printed for my records, huh?
CONGRATS everyone on keeping up with us, too!
Have a great day!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Freaking ReDiCuLoUs!



Yep, I did it.
I weighed myself..... haven't done so for about 6 months.  Yep, it came true, DIET MADE me FATTER!
Time for the TRUTH!  I can DO THIS! I have said it so many times..... this is the hardest thing I HAVE EVER, EVER, EVER done.  I quit smoking, but that was only hard for a couple of months. 
THIS, this LIFESTYLE change is HARD!
I am on day 2 of elliptical, and eating healthy.
I WILL make it to at least 2 Weight Watchers meetings a month.
I WILL empower myself to SUCCEED.
My Mom, my rock is doing it.  She has hit her 50 pound mark!  YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAA!  And it is her third time to losing it in the last 20 years.  If she can, I CAN!
Damn, this is embarrassing that I have to keep saying this!

P.s. Time to get crafty!  Thinking bout the valentine's designs for the kiddo's!

P.S.S. My Marisa just sent me this e-mail, directly after posting the above content!

Thought this was too good to pass up! What a smart lady!


Recently, in a large city in Australia , a poster featuring a young, thin and
tan woman appeared in the window of a gym.
It said, "This summer,
"Do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"
A middle-aged woman,
whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the
poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.
To Whom It May Concern,
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious
humans.) They have an active sex life, get pregnant and have adorable baby
whales.
They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp.
They play and swim in the seas,
seeing wonderful places like Patagonia , the Bering Sea and the coral reefs
of Polynesia .
Whales are wonderful singers
and have even recorded CDs.
They are incredible creatures
and virtually have no predators
other than humans.
They are loved, protected and admired
by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist.
If they did exist,
they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due
to identity crisis. Fish or human?
They don't have a sex life
because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they
have sex?
Just look at them ... where is IT?
Therefore, they don't have kids either.
Not to mention,
who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me:
I want to be a whale.

P..S. We are in an age
when media puts into our heads
the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice
cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece
of chocolate with my friends.
With time, we gain weight
because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when
there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.
So we aren't heavy,
we are enormously cultured,
educated and happy.
Beginning today,
when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think,
¨Good grief, look how smart I am!¨

Saturday, January 23, 2010

BoUnCy...B-bALL pIx...


Sorry for the dark photos, but my batteries were dead for my slave flash!  DAMN, and I haven't taken time to "tweak" them yet.... Anyhoo, the boys did well today, and they are improving greatly!  I was so PROUD!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Our Niece-y!

HeRe she is!  Meggie would NOT stand by her to take the pic!  So, we went on without her!  Meggie is crabby as heck!  ARGH!  Have a great day!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Cutest Page...


K, I finally got my cell phone pics in my e-mail.... they must have been in deep cyberspace..........
Anyhow, top pic is a page I did for Kendal's album for Trish.  It has REAL sticks on it!  I had tons of fun making this!  Bottom pic is Matt making a page for Trish, too.  He was plum happy!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Yippee, YE, Yea! I had a great day!

Yesterday, I traveled to Scottsbluff to do a little research, and then onto Torrington in the afternoon to attend a "Coffee Class."  It was hosted by the local coffee shop, "Java Jar."  Three ladies started this shop together 14 years ago, and continue to be extremely successful.  They were full of help and ideas.... they even let us make coffee!  It was great fun, and I so enjoyed myself.  I also go to have supper with the Trish & Tracey family..... it was funny & delicious!  Thanks BFF!  I had a great day!

Monday, January 18, 2010

The broken pipe didn't matter........

Okay, the cabin weekend was a little uncomfortable....cause we had no running water!  But, we all "roughed" it and made it, with several gallons of water to flush the toilet!  HA!  We did stink a bit, because we didn't shower or take the time to run up to the ranch to shower.... we didn't want to cause a problem with the kiddo's at Grandma's wanting to come with us back to the cabin.
Friday night, all of the girlies came for food fun and laughs!  It was soooooooo nice to see most everyone, and we had a roaring fire going to keep us cozy.  It was nice.........
Thank the LORD for good friends, and cheesecake!  YEA!

Friday, January 15, 2010

I have been tagged! -Thanks Jess-a-cita!

Okay, 7 things you may not know about me...... quite frankly.

1. I used to be persnickety about my homes cleanliness....... now, I just can't and won't keep up!

2. I had big dreams as I was a senior in high school, I didn't want to marry OR have children.  I WANTED A CAREER in broadcasting. I never dreamt of a having a family......

3.  I used to be allergic to chocolate.

4. I was married once before..... and he still haunts my dreams to this day.

5. I chased my dear hubby, and he didn't want to get too serious with me as I was 17, and he was 22 yrs old.  He was the quiet, timid one...... the exact opposite of me. I chased him once again in 1996.... AND GOT HIM!

6.  I take happy pills and a pill for my thyroid daily. UGH!

7. I used to have a mud-pie area on the farm that I named "Becky's Bake Shop."

I TAG MISTY & LISA

Thursday, January 14, 2010

OHHHH I am counting the hours.......

...........till I run away tomorrow evening.  I am taking the kids to the farm, then I am headed to the cabin for food, fun, and friends.... YEA!  I so need it.  I am starting to feel "cooped" up.  Winter, kids, stress, stress, did I say stress???? is starting to get to myself, and my dear hubby.
Pray for all of the ladies in the world who are overwhelmed, stressed, confused, and needing more coffee & chocolate!
Hugs 2 U!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

My precious little boy has this.........

Yep, this is what Dr. M thinks Andy has....

What Does IBS Mean?


Irritable bowel syndrome is a disturbance of bowel function that includes symptoms of abdominal pain or discomfort and altered bowel habit (change in frequency or consistency) – chronic or recurrent diarrhea, constipation, or both in alternation. IBS comprises a group of functional bowel disorders.
"Irritable Bowel" refers to a disturbance in the regulation of bowel function that results in unusual sensitivity and muscle activity.
"Syndrome" refers to a number of symptoms and not one symptom exclusively.

How Common is IBS

A population based study of 507 middle school and high school students by Hyams et al. indicated that 6-14% of the adolescent population note symptoms consistent with the IBS. In the study, anxiety and depression scores were significantly higher for students with IBS-type symptoms compared with those without symptoms. Eight percent of all students had seen a physician for abdominal pain in the previous year. These visits were correlated with abdominal pain severity, frequency, duration, and disruption of normal activities; they were not correlated with anxiety, depression, gender, family structure, or ethnicity.

What Are The Symptoms of IBS
Diagnostic Criteria (Rome III)
Criteria fulfilled at least once per week for at least 2 months prior to diagnosis. Must include both of the following:

Abdominal discomfort* or pain that has two out of three features:
Improvement with defecation; and/or
Onset associated with a change in frequency of stool; and/or
Onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool.
No evidence of an inflammatory anatomic, metabolic, or nelplastic process that explains the subject's symptoms.
*"Discomfort" means an uncomfortable sensation not described as pain.
Children with IBS may also have headache, nausea, or mucus in the stool. Weight loss may occur if a child eats less to try to avoid pain.

Clinical Evaluation
Some Sugars Can Cause Diarrhea
The artificial sugar sorbitol is used as a sweetener. For example, it is often used to sweeten diet gums and candies. It has no calories, but is a known laxative if taken in sufficient amount. A glance at the ingredients of many confections or sweets will reveal the offending sugar. Mannitol is another sweet substance frequently found with sorbitol.
Fructose is a natural calorie-containing sugar found in fruit. It is one reason why large amounts of fruit can cause diarrhea. It is also naturally present in onions, artichokes, and wheat. It is also used as a sweetener and may be found in candies, soft drinks and fruit drinks, honey, and preservatives; and in sufficient amounts can cause diarrhea.
 history that fits the Rome Criteria for a diagnosis of IBS, accompanied by a normal physical examination and normal growth history, are consistent with a diagnosis of childhood IBS. A nutritional history, assessing for adequacy of dietary fiber in those with constipation, as well as ingestion of sugars such as sorbitol and fructose in those with diarrhea, is often useful.
Factors alerting the clinician to the possibility of disease include night time (nocturnal) pain or diarrhea, weight loss, rectal bleeding, fever, arthritis, delayed puberty, and a family history of inflammatory bowel disease.

A limited laboratory screening for disease is frequently reassuring to the clinician, patient, and family for patients with persistent symptoms and may include a complete blood count, stool studies, and breath hydrogen testing or a trial of a milk free diet for lactose malabsorption.

Psychologic Features
The population based study by Hyams et al. noted that anxiety and depression were more prevalent in adolescents with IBS than the control population. However, psychological data in childhood are limited to assessments in recurrent abdominal pain, and so are not directly applicable to childhood irritable bowel syndrome.

Treatment
Once there is a diagnosis of IBS, the treatment goals are to provide effective reassurance to the child and family, and to reduce or eliminate the symptom(s). The doctor must educate and reassure the child and family that although IBS causes discomfort it is not serious or life-threatening. The presence or severity of the pain should not be disputed. A review of the current understanding of IBS and the exacerbating effects of stress and anxiety on the problem helps the child and family to understand why the pain occurs. Psychosocial difficulties and triggering events for symptoms will be asked about and, if present, addressed.

Children and Fiber

Children, as well as adults, benefit from a balance of fiber in their diet. Their requirements are less than for adults. For children, ages 3 to 18, the American Dietetic Association reports a formula for determining recommended fiber intake – a child's age plus five equals the grams of dietary fiber he or she should eat daily. Good sources are fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. As with anyone increasing dietary fiber, it is important to drink extra liquids such as water, or milk.

Medications may be used -- such as a tricyclic antidepressant, which in low doses acts as a pain reliever, or anticholinergics to help control intestinal cramping. However, effectiveness of these drugs in children is anecdotal and not supported by well-designed studies to confirm their efficacy. In those with constipation increased dietary fiber may be recommended. However, fiber is often associated with an increase in intestinal gas production, and may increase abdominal cramps and flatulence. Flatulence is especially embarrassing to the school-age child.
Mineral oil may be a helpful adjunct, but use only as recommended by your child's physician.
In patients with symptoms that do not respond to treatment, endoscopic evaluation of the colon may be done. Irritable bowel syndrome may coexist with inflammatory bowel disease. Tests can differentiate an inflammatory bowel disease from a functional GI disorder such as IBS.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Nuts & Babies...

This last Saturday Mom, Meggie and I went to Muffy's baby shower in Alliance. It was a beautiful, cozy, happy occasion with great punch, and cake!  We had a great time and are so happy for Muff!








Then I went to the Firehall for "Bosses Night."  I was told by my hubby that I am his ultimate boss!  Funny boy!  We had a good time visiting with several folks, and I was so glad that Debbie came as her hubby's boss, too.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

ANOTHER snow day?!?!?!

Yes, it is!  Holy CRAP!  We were just getting into the groove with schedules and, you know it! A snow day...... so, Andy went to hang with his buddy Nick.  Matt and Megan are completly content with watching Sprout channel..... Dora, Diego and ect..... YIPPPPPEEEEE!
I am still dreaming of the sandy beaches, despite my fatness.....


Off to bond with Ellie, the elliptical!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Screw THIS!


I am mainly speaking of this winter weather!  We have had enough ALREADY!  And another storm is headed our way tonight!  So, let's dream of a long vacation to FIJI!  Warm ocean breezes washing our faces, cool ocean waves tickling our toes.... tall, cold drink in hand, warm sun on our chests........AWWWWWWWW, I need a vacation from reality!
DO YOU?????

Monday, January 4, 2010

Okay, I did it......AGAIN!

Yep, I promised myself to TRY my BEST to lose some weight.......AGAIN!  This is the most difficult task I have ever tried to take on......AGAIN and AGAIN!
The little engine that could; I think I can, I think I can....
For starters:
----- I dusted off the elliptical this morning for 20 minutes...
-----I am trying to eat healthy....( no sweeets :b
-----DAMN GENETICS!
-------Thanks Mom for the inspiration!

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Oh, we had so much fun, ah rum,pah, pah, pum!


We had a great time sledding with friends, having a sleep-over with these friends, our trip to Paxton to spend time with the family there...... we drank wine, watched the HUSKERS win, drank some more, ate great food, and visited some more!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

My favs.