I love the fall weather, but as the days get shorter and cooler, I do miss the warm sunny days of summer. I hate freezing, which now days is the norm. Steve won't let us turn the heat on just yet. So sweatshirts and 3 blankets to sleep is typical right now. There is alot of yard clean up to get done and usually I am on top of that and don't mind it. Now that I work at the vet clinic every day -- half days-- I try to do a little bit every day, but it's piling up, literally.... leaves every where, and lots to be cleaned up and put away for the winter. I have this weekend off, so if its nice enough, I will tackling some of my outdoor stuff. I am just getting over a 5 week bout of something, bronchities or pneumonia. It was pretty bad for a couple of weeks, lots of conjestion. Lost my sense of taste and smell and breathing was tough, espically laying down-- did lots of coughing, and blowing for a few weeks, and slept on the couch propped up. I never felt to terribly bad, and continued on with my daily duties. Only felt maybe a little tired the days I wasn't sleeping well at night. I got weekly adjustments at the chiropractor, and was on a couple supplements to help. They worked really well and I took nothing OTC or Rx to help kick this thing. It mighta taken it's own sweet time, but my body was able to fight it off without any help. Still coughing some-- but I feel good and amazed and proud of the fact I am getting better naturally.
Kids are off to a good start in school, and havent had any issues with them adjusting to the high school or middle school. Things have been going really well..... as far as I know. Bailey likes high school life much better than the middle school. More freedom, feeling more grown up, making more decisions...... and able to get ice cream at lunch is a plus for him. Don't really understand the ice cream at lunch thing, since they are trying to serve them more healthy lunches, but yet offer ice cream and nacho's etc. ( for a extra cost of course). He is enjoying the football season and likes to go to the varsity games on Friday nights. He is doing well in all his classes, but struggles in science-- he says he doesn't like the class, but hoping he tries his best, he is in high school now, and all his grades will affect his future. He is in German and is having fun learning a new language. I took 2 years of German in HS too, so it's intersting to see how much I remember--which isn't much. He also has a class called Wildlife and is learning lots of interesting things, even going to do a project of taxidermy of a bird in class. Bailey started hockey this week and he will be going strong for about the next month with practices just about every day. I think in the next month he will get maybe 2 days off. Tryouts are next week and games start early Novemeber. They have a couple of scrimmages scheduled and the first one is tomorrow vs Hutchinson. Bailey also had about a 4-5 week bout with some sinus , cold stuff before school even started. I think that is pretty much gone and didn't get quite as complicated as my stuff, but he also was on a supplement ( vitamin) and we did the chiropractor once a week....... but now he has been struggling with some sort of hip pain. It started when he got checked in hockey during one of his last games up in St Cloud. Sept 6, I remember because it was Hannah's b-day. He started with some hip pain, and that went away for a few days and then moved to the back of his leg, like hamstring area, just below his butt. It hurt to sit. That was his only complaint. It was pretty severe for awhile, so I brought him to chiropractor. He couldn't really figure it out, as he tried to reproduce the pain, by twisting and turning and rotating his leg/pelvis/hip. It didn't hurt at all, and doesn't hurt to walk, run, skate etc.....just sitting hurts. So we limited it to a pulled muscle, possibly a bone bruise, but there was no real swelling, so not sure what we were dealing with. He had 2 adjustments with no improvement. So he suggested gettting an xray of his pelvis/hip. So we did and that showed nothing abnormal, nothing broken. So at least we knew we weren't dealing with a fracture. It has been about 4-5 weeks now, and even though the discomfort comes and goes, he has always said there is not much change. It hurts to sit. I think it is getting better as time goes on. He was so uncomfortable in the beginning, couldn't sit comfortably in the car, in class, in church etc. Now it seems somewhat better but he still says it hurts. We did another chiro adjustment last week, and we'll see how it goes. Hockey doesn't bother it or so he says, so that might be some good physical therapy for it. The clinic wanted us to get him in PT, but I know that's all they had to offer him, so with time I am hoping it gets better.
Hannah is doing well too and I think she likes the middle school although she will still say she dosen't like school much. She is having fun being around her friends on a constant basis. School in general is more of a struggle for her, she has a hard time staying focused, and remembering things, but in general is doing very well and I am not too worried yet. I am just a big part of keeping her focused at home, so when she is at school away from me, she has to think on her own and that is teaching her to take some responsibility. We've had to run back to school to get assignments she forgot one Friday, and another night she rememebered she had homework to do at 8:30 at night, which is basiclly bedtime, so I helped her, but didn't really have a clue on how she was taught to get the math answers, we got through it, but not without a tad bit of frustration, yelling, and crying and a few deep breaths and a late bedtime. Math is her "hard subject", and at times just doesn't get it. I think she follows me in that respect, where as Bailey has Steve's math skills. Bailey is doing some pretty complicated algebra and getting a A so far. Middle school is the first time grades are given, so we will see this year how well she understand the concepts of her subjects, math hovering around the C level right now, while all her other subjects are A's. Hannah is in band this year and has choosen the flute to play. It's a hard instrument to learn.....the first step is getting it to make a sound when you blow into it.....its not as easy as it looks. I tried and couldn't get it to make a sound. There is a certain way to blow. She has been working hard at it, and can play a handful of notes now. The 5th grade band and choir concert is Nov 29 , so they have about a month and a half to put together a few more notes and a possible song. Hannah and I plan do some clarinet-flute duets in the future, maybe by christmas she will have learned Jingle Bells. She continues to do the Just For Kix dance classes on Monday nights with her friend Elizabeth. Since both us mom's/dad's work late on Monday nights, a friend of the family of Elizabeth's is taking the girls to Hutchinson and back-- which is VERY much appreciated. I am so glad they can still go and they love it. After about another month, Elizabeth's mom's schedule opens up and also Steve will have more free time to get the girls to dance. Her first performance is December 15, the Winter Show, come watch if you can.
I am enjoying my new job at the Annandale Veterinary Clinic. It's a very busy place. I have gotton into a good routine with it all and it seems to be working out fantastic for now. I only work half days, but its a every day commitment. Mon, Tues and Thurs I work 1pm-6:45-7pm or so. I typically leave the house just before 12:30, and get home about 7:15ish. I am the last one at the clinic those days, and most everyone else leaves between 3:30-5:30pm. I close the clinic at 6pm and then spend about 45min- 1 hr cleaning. I start the cleaning about 5ish though, as the last appt is at 4:45pm, and then it's just wrapping up the day, clients can still pick up their surgery animals until 6pm, or pick up meds and food and such, and still answering phones until 6pm. On Wed & Friday's I leave the house about 7-7:15am and start working at 7:30-7:45am. I am then done at 1pm. I really like my schedule so far. The hours there go by quick. They are getting into a "slower season", after the fall hunting/ allergy season, I suspect the winter months they slow down some more, until it picks back up in March again for all the spring updates, and such.
I have seen alot happen in the last month being there. A Lab ate a golf ball and became obstructed, surgery required to remove gold ball from intestines, 3 new cases of Lyme disease, several new and continued cases of diabetes, I weighed in a diabetic cat that was 21 lbs...good Lord. Have had a hand full of animals hit by a car, couple didn't make it. A large number of euthansia's or PTS as we call them ( put to sleep). Usually that doesn't bother me too much, but a few have gotton me choked up. A 10 yr old golden retriever was one of them, just yesterday :( We had a severe case of animal abuse, which involved the cops, the dog had to be put down in the end. It had the clinic and those involved stressed for about a week just because of the threats and people involved in the case, lots of itchy dogs ( allergies), Lou is going through his own bout of it too, crabby cats, lots of lumps, bumps and tumors, dog came in with a torn ACL, ear hematoma's, lacerations, vomitting and diarrhea, IV fluids, 2 "plugged" male cats, as it's called-- no urine output and a bunch more stuff....... but I have seen a good share of kittens and puppies, and just plain ole healthy happy animals as well. It's been interesting getting back into the swing of things.
I am not a big fan of answering phones, but getting pretty good at it. I am hoping to do more Tech things in the future, but as of now am busy enough keeping the clinic moving along up at the front.
Steve is still busy as always this time of year. Thankful. He has travelled up to north western MN for a few jobs and has been gone 2-3 nights, he still has plans to travel and to do one more coming up next week. Otherwise, not much new with him, he continues to work hard and has stayed healthy....... besides his normal aches from roofing and aging-- ha ha. He still avoids all doctors, dentists, chiropractors and the like.
May God bless you as we change seasons and in all seasons of your life.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Our watermelon saga ends
Well, I left you last, with our watermelon growing.....it did grow and got really big. See?!!!
It looks good and we were so proud of our ability to grow the thing, even though it looks good, it was FULL of little white seeds, almost too many that it was really a hassle to pick them out. I had a "cold" and couldn't taste very well at the time I tried it out. After being frustrated picking out a ton of seeds to just give it a try, I was equally dissapointed when I did try it and it didn't have much of a flavor. I do realize my cold had something to do with the flavor, but I wasn't impressed. I LOVE watermelon and can eat a whole one myself-- but this one was dissappointing. Steve said it had a good flavor, but I don't think he was impressed either, especially with all the seeds. So we will try again next year, hopefully with better results.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Our first watermelon grown by the Emery's
this is when I first saw that we had a watermelon growing,
this is our watermelon a week later. Seems to be growing fast. It's our first.:)
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Struggling, yet thankful.
I have to admit, I have been struggling lately. I have been on this weight loss, getting healthy jouney for 16 months. I just wanna be done trying to loose weight, yet 16 months is nothing compared to trying for the last 20 years to loose weight on my own. I get it now, I have all the support, products and a plan in front of me, and am going to get these last 10 lbs off no matter what. I have let a few things go, when it comes to my nutrition and exercise the last few months. However, health and wellness has continued to be a high priortiy, and I haven't let it ALL go. I have been doing very well at maintaining my 60 lb weight loss, yet I have a goal that I haven't quite reached yet, so as soon as my XYNGULAR LEAN shake mix comes in the mail, I will start on the Ignite diet plan for the first time (I followed a different, but very similar diet plan to loose 50 lbs before being introduced to Xyngular products), and see if with a little help and determined mind set change, I can just be done and move forward from weight loss mode. Xyngular has given me more sustained energy levels, appitite control and mood enhancement. All in all, I feel great. These products have pushed me over a plateau period, where after loosing 50 lbs, with only a structured diet and exercise, I was stuck. With Xyngular I lost an additional 13 lbs in less than 2 months. The last 2 months or so, I have been stuck again, but I can see where my issues lie and and hoping with increased diet structure, Xyngular products and more exercise I can get over this last hill I am climbing. ( more like a mountian, it seems) I am hoping for a weight loss of 10 lbs by the end of June.....yup that's my goal.
My blood pressure is lower than it ever has been, my intestinal issues are clearing up and the last 2 months have been better than ever, I no longer get the 2 colds a winter I would get every year, in fact rarely get sick anymore, I have gone down approx. 5 pant sizes and am in size Med shirts ( I fit in my 14 yr old son's clothes, and he is on the small side) when I over do things or my body gets out of alignment, I get the source of the problem taken care of by chiropractic, and meds are not even an option for me anymore. I am very proud to say that I am on no prescription drugs and only supplemental chiropractic recommended all natural products for intestinal ( IBS) symptoms, a pancreatic enzyme (PAN) and a high fiber powdered mix with probiotics (FBR), which has seemed to work wonders, along with Xyngular to promote weight loss health. So that is my goal is to utilize these wonderful products to get me back on track, so that someday, a healthy lifestyle will have been learned, and that will be my only "drug". Xyngular is not a magic pill or even a drug for that matter. They have properities that allow your body to go into fat burning mode, give you increase energy, motivation, and appitite control but the sole purpse of Xyngular is a lifestyle change in eating habits.
If anyone wants to start trying Xyngular products, just let me know, there are many affordable options. In my case, things don't always seem affordable, life seems so expensive, but I decided to put my health on top and made it work. We all pay health insurance premiums and for alot of us that is a priority and it can get expensive, just so we can "afford being sick" and all the medical bills it covers just so doctors can use their power and make a diagnosis and "fix us" with drugs. They cover up symptoms, or help for awhile, until an unhealthy lifestyle makes you sick again and then the cycle starts over, back to the doctor for more meds and surgery, if the last drugs and surgery didn't work....... and on and on, plus all the side effects all those drugs have, can create a new health condition. Get your life on track with a true healthy lifestyle, and watch how drasticlly your health will change......no medical doctors needed. I look back at the path I was on, how I viewed healthcare, and am amazed at what loosing weight and utilizing chiropractic on a regular basis has done for my future health. Thank you Dr Chris and Xyngular for changing my life.
My blood pressure is lower than it ever has been, my intestinal issues are clearing up and the last 2 months have been better than ever, I no longer get the 2 colds a winter I would get every year, in fact rarely get sick anymore, I have gone down approx. 5 pant sizes and am in size Med shirts ( I fit in my 14 yr old son's clothes, and he is on the small side) when I over do things or my body gets out of alignment, I get the source of the problem taken care of by chiropractic, and meds are not even an option for me anymore. I am very proud to say that I am on no prescription drugs and only supplemental chiropractic recommended all natural products for intestinal ( IBS) symptoms, a pancreatic enzyme (PAN) and a high fiber powdered mix with probiotics (FBR), which has seemed to work wonders, along with Xyngular to promote weight loss health. So that is my goal is to utilize these wonderful products to get me back on track, so that someday, a healthy lifestyle will have been learned, and that will be my only "drug". Xyngular is not a magic pill or even a drug for that matter. They have properities that allow your body to go into fat burning mode, give you increase energy, motivation, and appitite control but the sole purpse of Xyngular is a lifestyle change in eating habits.
If anyone wants to start trying Xyngular products, just let me know, there are many affordable options. In my case, things don't always seem affordable, life seems so expensive, but I decided to put my health on top and made it work. We all pay health insurance premiums and for alot of us that is a priority and it can get expensive, just so we can "afford being sick" and all the medical bills it covers just so doctors can use their power and make a diagnosis and "fix us" with drugs. They cover up symptoms, or help for awhile, until an unhealthy lifestyle makes you sick again and then the cycle starts over, back to the doctor for more meds and surgery, if the last drugs and surgery didn't work....... and on and on, plus all the side effects all those drugs have, can create a new health condition. Get your life on track with a true healthy lifestyle, and watch how drasticlly your health will change......no medical doctors needed. I look back at the path I was on, how I viewed healthcare, and am amazed at what loosing weight and utilizing chiropractic on a regular basis has done for my future health. Thank you Dr Chris and Xyngular for changing my life.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Not ready yet
Our cat, Keaton, had been struggling. It happened fast, too fast for me and now he is gone forever.
He was old I knew it would be coming, but not yet, I wasn't ready...I guess I would never be ready. He was my baby, he had a long life, most of it with our family.
It started out as him loosing a little weight. I figured that would happen as he get older. He in fact he had just turned 18, according to my records. I made his birthday January 1, since I adopted him with an unknown birthdate at about age 2, I just thought it would be easy to remember.
Within the last year I could tell he was slowing down, and loosing weight, but before then he didn't look a day older than when I first got him at age 2.
At the beginning of the year, he started peeing next to the litter box not in it, sometimes he would go in and make it, sometimes not. It was a hit or miss type of deal. So I cleaned up messes off and on for awhile, until it seemed to be more misses than hits. At least it was in the kitchen and he wasn't trying to go other places in the house., he really was trying to make it. So I did some rearranging of litter boxes, and taking covers off, etc and adding another small litter box next to the bigger one in case he missed he might hit another one :) Who knows what my thinking was. It kinda worked for awhile.
During the month of March he was also getting increasingly more weak....started out by still being able to jump on the counter where his food was, to bearly making it on the counter, to missing the counter and falling to the floor, to jumping on a bin to get halfway up and then jumping the rest of the way, to just not being able to make any sort of jump anymore and him realizing it, and waiting for me to lift him up to his food. ( we couldn't keep cat food down on the floor because the dog would have it gone in a second). For about a month or so, I was solely feeding him canned food, just to get him nutrition, as at one point, I finally realized how thin he was and he wasn't really eating his dry food good anymore. He still seemed REALLY hungry at all times, almost starving, he would want people food more often, and eat almost anything ( except his dry cat food). I now know that was his body needing that extra protein, he was no longer making red blood cells and his body was using up all his muscle protein to live... kidney failure to be exact. His eyes were sunken in from dehydration, even though he drank all the time or tried to anyway. Towards the end he was just too weak to move more than once or twice a day. The things that where always pink, like his nose, the inside of his eyes, his gums, etc were all white-- lack of making red blood cells.
I finally made the decision and it was so hard. That was the hardest part, making the decision to have him put down, and then waiting the 2 days to actually do it, thinking about it 24/7 and watching him struggle, hoping this wasn't real.
Keaton's last days---- "sick"
He wasn't doing well the last few days, I was bringing the food and water to him. He ate and drank well that last day and the morning of. The day before he did get up maybe once or twice and he seemed so disoritented and weak. I knew it was time, but the next morning he ate and drank good when I brought it to him and was purring. It was so hard.
He was my baby, the best cat ever.
Came when I called him, every time. He liked to sit on laps and just be petted. He loved it outside, even though he was an inside cat, during the spring and summer months, he loved to sneek out and explore for like an hour or so. He never went far, just around the yard and maybe into the neighbors yard a little, but he always came back after a short time, and waited by our patio door.
Keaton came into my life as a stray. He was at the Ramsey Cty Humane Society in St Paul. Several animals from there came to my school for learning purposes. I was attending the Medical Insitute of MN, in Bloomington to become a Veterinary Technician. I was in my last semester and we had actual animals to care for during the entire semester. I was assigned a cat. I was so hoping for a dog. When I saw the cat I was assigned I instantly fell in love, this one was my responsibility. I named him, assisted with his neuter/declaw surgery, got him up to date on vaccinations, was able to practice drawing blood for tests, made sure his ears were clean, and gave him a complete physical. I fed him and cleaned his litter box daily. When it was time for him to go back to the humane society, I knew I had to go adopt him, I was way too attached, in fact many of the students ended up adopting their animal ....but I lived in an apartment that didn't allow pets. That is kinda funny, cuz I had already inherited a large lop eared rabbit from a school friend, named Reggie, and I had him living in the apartment with me. I knew I was going to move after school was done which was after a few months internship. So I had my boyfriend at the time ( yes Steve) adopt "Keaton" for me. Steve lived on a hobby farm in Waverly at the time, and so it worked perfect, it was a lie though, and Keaton came to live with me in the apartment. It worked out fine until I had to move, and the silly rabbit did all the damage to the wall paper-- he liked to chew it off. There was some white textured wall paper on one wall, and I let my rabbit out and about alot, so he would sit behind the couch and knaw on wall paper. So I did have a hefty damage deposit to pay at the end. Lesson learned rabbits are not good apartment pets and sneaking them in there when not allowed wasn't the best idea.
Keaton was 2 years old back then, and he moved with me as I moved and we added a few pets along the way that he had to adjust to. I then went to New Hope, MN to an apartment that ALLOWED cats/ and a rabbit, and we gained 2 kittens (Dusty and Wylie). Keaton hated them at first, but grew close to them after awhile. It sure was a full apartment. Then we moved into Steve's parents basement in Howard Lake after we got married, brought the 3 cats, but decided to bring Reggie the rabbit to the humane society. Then we moved to the duplex in Delano, and finally out to Dassel where he stayed the rest of his days. He had to lastly adjust to the 2 new kittens we got 2 summers ago, that were strays that ended up in our garage.....and we of kept them. Keaton wanted nothing to do with those things either, but it wasn't long and everyone was getting along,
Keaton spent his last weeks on a rocking chair in our family room, it was usually dark in that room, and more quiet. It wasn't like him to be in there, he loved it in the sun on the top of the couch by the window. We held him, and took pictures, and finally the time came to take him in.
Hannah came with me, it was during spring break. Bailey had his cousin over that day so he decided to stay home. We said our goodbyes and off we went. Hannah held Keaton on her lap in a blanket, we decided to stay for it all, and it was kinda unexpected for Hannah as I told her we probably wouldn't stay. We were both balling our eyes out, it was quick and painless for Keaton, and he was calm by having us there, I think. I will never forget that moment.....when he was gone. I wasn't ready yet, but he was gone forever. I wll never forget my blue eyed handsome fella. Best cat ever!!
"Keaton"--- healthy
He was old I knew it would be coming, but not yet, I wasn't ready...I guess I would never be ready. He was my baby, he had a long life, most of it with our family.
It started out as him loosing a little weight. I figured that would happen as he get older. He in fact he had just turned 18, according to my records. I made his birthday January 1, since I adopted him with an unknown birthdate at about age 2, I just thought it would be easy to remember.
Within the last year I could tell he was slowing down, and loosing weight, but before then he didn't look a day older than when I first got him at age 2.
At the beginning of the year, he started peeing next to the litter box not in it, sometimes he would go in and make it, sometimes not. It was a hit or miss type of deal. So I cleaned up messes off and on for awhile, until it seemed to be more misses than hits. At least it was in the kitchen and he wasn't trying to go other places in the house., he really was trying to make it. So I did some rearranging of litter boxes, and taking covers off, etc and adding another small litter box next to the bigger one in case he missed he might hit another one :) Who knows what my thinking was. It kinda worked for awhile.
During the month of March he was also getting increasingly more weak....started out by still being able to jump on the counter where his food was, to bearly making it on the counter, to missing the counter and falling to the floor, to jumping on a bin to get halfway up and then jumping the rest of the way, to just not being able to make any sort of jump anymore and him realizing it, and waiting for me to lift him up to his food. ( we couldn't keep cat food down on the floor because the dog would have it gone in a second). For about a month or so, I was solely feeding him canned food, just to get him nutrition, as at one point, I finally realized how thin he was and he wasn't really eating his dry food good anymore. He still seemed REALLY hungry at all times, almost starving, he would want people food more often, and eat almost anything ( except his dry cat food). I now know that was his body needing that extra protein, he was no longer making red blood cells and his body was using up all his muscle protein to live... kidney failure to be exact. His eyes were sunken in from dehydration, even though he drank all the time or tried to anyway. Towards the end he was just too weak to move more than once or twice a day. The things that where always pink, like his nose, the inside of his eyes, his gums, etc were all white-- lack of making red blood cells.
I finally made the decision and it was so hard. That was the hardest part, making the decision to have him put down, and then waiting the 2 days to actually do it, thinking about it 24/7 and watching him struggle, hoping this wasn't real.
Keaton's last days---- "sick"
He wasn't doing well the last few days, I was bringing the food and water to him. He ate and drank well that last day and the morning of. The day before he did get up maybe once or twice and he seemed so disoritented and weak. I knew it was time, but the next morning he ate and drank good when I brought it to him and was purring. It was so hard.
He was my baby, the best cat ever.
Came when I called him, every time. He liked to sit on laps and just be petted. He loved it outside, even though he was an inside cat, during the spring and summer months, he loved to sneek out and explore for like an hour or so. He never went far, just around the yard and maybe into the neighbors yard a little, but he always came back after a short time, and waited by our patio door.
Keaton came into my life as a stray. He was at the Ramsey Cty Humane Society in St Paul. Several animals from there came to my school for learning purposes. I was attending the Medical Insitute of MN, in Bloomington to become a Veterinary Technician. I was in my last semester and we had actual animals to care for during the entire semester. I was assigned a cat. I was so hoping for a dog. When I saw the cat I was assigned I instantly fell in love, this one was my responsibility. I named him, assisted with his neuter/declaw surgery, got him up to date on vaccinations, was able to practice drawing blood for tests, made sure his ears were clean, and gave him a complete physical. I fed him and cleaned his litter box daily. When it was time for him to go back to the humane society, I knew I had to go adopt him, I was way too attached, in fact many of the students ended up adopting their animal ....but I lived in an apartment that didn't allow pets. That is kinda funny, cuz I had already inherited a large lop eared rabbit from a school friend, named Reggie, and I had him living in the apartment with me. I knew I was going to move after school was done which was after a few months internship. So I had my boyfriend at the time ( yes Steve) adopt "Keaton" for me. Steve lived on a hobby farm in Waverly at the time, and so it worked perfect, it was a lie though, and Keaton came to live with me in the apartment. It worked out fine until I had to move, and the silly rabbit did all the damage to the wall paper-- he liked to chew it off. There was some white textured wall paper on one wall, and I let my rabbit out and about alot, so he would sit behind the couch and knaw on wall paper. So I did have a hefty damage deposit to pay at the end. Lesson learned rabbits are not good apartment pets and sneaking them in there when not allowed wasn't the best idea.
Keaton was 2 years old back then, and he moved with me as I moved and we added a few pets along the way that he had to adjust to. I then went to New Hope, MN to an apartment that ALLOWED cats/ and a rabbit, and we gained 2 kittens (Dusty and Wylie). Keaton hated them at first, but grew close to them after awhile. It sure was a full apartment. Then we moved into Steve's parents basement in Howard Lake after we got married, brought the 3 cats, but decided to bring Reggie the rabbit to the humane society. Then we moved to the duplex in Delano, and finally out to Dassel where he stayed the rest of his days. He had to lastly adjust to the 2 new kittens we got 2 summers ago, that were strays that ended up in our garage.....and we of kept them. Keaton wanted nothing to do with those things either, but it wasn't long and everyone was getting along,
Keaton spent his last weeks on a rocking chair in our family room, it was usually dark in that room, and more quiet. It wasn't like him to be in there, he loved it in the sun on the top of the couch by the window. We held him, and took pictures, and finally the time came to take him in.
Hannah came with me, it was during spring break. Bailey had his cousin over that day so he decided to stay home. We said our goodbyes and off we went. Hannah held Keaton on her lap in a blanket, we decided to stay for it all, and it was kinda unexpected for Hannah as I told her we probably wouldn't stay. We were both balling our eyes out, it was quick and painless for Keaton, and he was calm by having us there, I think. I will never forget that moment.....when he was gone. I wasn't ready yet, but he was gone forever. I wll never forget my blue eyed handsome fella. Best cat ever!!
"Keaton"--- healthy
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
my new passion- a lifestyle I can live with
I have a new passion..... my determination be healthy, like really healthy. It's not just about weight loss either, although that is one of my goals, but with the weight loss I want to achieve whole body health. I don't just wanna loose weight only to gain it back at some point. I've thought alot about this my entire adult life and haven't come up with the solution for me....yet.
My life has taken a huge turn in this respect. Mostly by the fact I understand what it takes to loose weight and prevent sickness and disease to live well naturally. It's overwhelming, there is alot to learn. It's actually science, and that helps because I love science, I like to know the whys. In science there is alot of whys. I have learned that alot of my questions and the why's are being answered through relearning nutrition and how our body digests food and elminates waste. The body is so complex.
It all starts out with my car accident...... Sept 11, 2010. --
I was in a car accident last fall, and ended up with limited mobility for 3-4 months. The day after the accident, I literally could not move, everything hurt. I had soft tissue knee damage, back and neck pain besides that every single muscle hurt. Within a week, I was into a chiropractor for the first time in my life, because my lower back hurt so bad.
I decided to go to Litchfield, a chiropractic center, right next door to where I work at the hotel.
I met the most wonderful chiropractor ever, and from that first day on, he really made an impression on me. This chiropractic stuff was all new to me. He basicly improved my back that very first day. I went home in half the pain, and a few days later extremely improved after a few more adjustments. He adjusted my back, hips, knees, and neck every few days and then it went to every week, then every 2 weeks, then every month...for about 3-4 months. Starting in January I was feeling better as far as the accident goes, and was released from accident treatments...... but had gained even more weight, and knew from being in his office so often, that he also specialized in nutrition and weight loss. I was nervous to reach out to him, we had been so focused on my injuries, but finally brought it up around the New Year.
He was excited to help, and I set up the first nutrition appt. Insurance dosn't cover any nutrition work, so I was bummed to hear that, but I had my mind and my heart in this, I wasn't gonna back out. I knew this was my chance to get healthy, and that somehow I believed that this terrible accident happened for a reason, to bring about something good.
My starting weight was the highest it has ever been, in January 2011. I was disgusted with myself and ready to learn. I had a plan and the additional support I thought I needed. I just couldn't do it on my own.
The diet:
The diet is called the "Cellular Healing Diet". It's called a diet because that's what it focuses on, it's all aspects of nutrition. It's a lifestyle change, not just something I will follow for now to get the weight off and fix my body, it's something I will follow forever. It's very strict at first, and it was a whole body detox from the way I was used to eating. The detox involved elminating all sugar, and everything that turns into sugar in the body ( ie: grains and fruits). It involves including the "good fats" in my diet which includes things like butter, oils, nuts, fish, lean grass fed meats, etc. I was mainly eating vegatables and protein in the beginning along with learning how to add in the good fats. It was so hard, and I really didn't have any family support, nobody to confide in , nobody that understood how I understood it....my support to get me through the beginning stages was my monthly visits to see Dr Chris. He was a huge support. In fact I got alot of negative thinking, questions as how this is possible to continue on in, questions about the chiropractic-natural thinking, the expense was high and was wondering how I would continue to afford everything and a frustrated husband because of the money issues involved. It was the hardest thing both mentally and physically but I pushed though it trying to remain positive despite all the negativity surrounding me. I always felt I had something to prove. That this was really the way, the way that would lead me to weight loss like never before.
The change in eating on this plan, is geared towards all natural, organic, raw foods. It's what the body craves and uses to heal the cells. No more processed, quick fixes, and sugar. I have learned that when you remove the interference, the body can heal itself. I was on my way to being on medication for high blood pressure very soon, low energy levels, sore knees and back from the extra weight and digestive and intestinal issues that had developed over the last 2-3 years. Not to mention the possiblility of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and disease in my future solely because of my weight and poor eating habits. We really are what we eat.
The Cellular Healing Diet was created by Dr Dan Pompa, and my chiropractor, Dr Chris Patten, has been to his seminars to learn from him in person. He has an interest in teaching and helping others achieve health. To me it's all facinating, it may just be my love of science again, but as I follow what I'm being told, I know how this can and does work for my benefit.
I know now I am not gonna be given medication to treat my high blood pressure, when diet and exercise has brought it down into nearly normal levels., my energy has sky rocketed, my knees and back are not near as sore, my digestive/intestinal issues are being resloved with enzymes, and supplements for the time being with the hope that soon I will be off all digestive enzymes. It's been taking a long time for my body to adjust, and still am experiencing intestinal problems that we are still trying to figure out.
I feel fine, healthy, and never felt better since loosing almost 60 lbs in 9 months, but there is just the occassional stomach upset, and almost constant diarrhea/soft stools that still linger on. I have already cut out most white grains, caffine, soda, milk, and most dairy, although I do eat some of them on occassion, there may be products with gluten in them or dairy that may be affecting me. Also just recently I can't eat a salad without getting a stomach ache afterwards. Lettuce is hard to digest. I have never had a problem with eating salads in the past so this is a recent change to figure out as well. He is also taking another route and treating me for parasites, just in case.
I have also had some kidney detox "issues", as I call them, as my body is adjusting. For the most part I have seen positive changes. However, I did have 2 occassions where I felt the frequency and painful urge to urinate. In April, my medical doctor told me since I had protein and blood in my urine it must be a bladder infecion, and gave me antibiotics. I ironiclly had a chiropractor appt the next day and never did take the antibiotics and after my discussion with him we decided it probably wasnt a bladder infection, but more of a kidney issue in relation to my diet change. My symptoms dissapeared within a week, only to resurface 3 months later, more severe. There were about 3-4 days that I was peeing or felt like I had to pee all the time with very little volume. At one point I was in tears and thinking I needed to go to the ER, but it only lasted about 30 minutes and it got better. I made it through the next few days and it started to resolve again. This time my chiropractor was sure it wasn't a bladder infection, and was leaning more towards kidney's adjusting to diet changes. I haven't had any of these symptoms since that first week in July. I have never had a bladder infection, so why start now. Antibiotics just screw up the gut by killing the bad bacteria, but also the good bacteria needed for proper digestion and gut health so I am glad I never took any antibiotics for a problem I never had.
All in all this diet is there to regulate and heal the cells of my body, regulate hormones, and decrease inflammation. I have seen positve effects in the ability to loose the weight I haven't ever before been able to do, decrease my blood pressure , and increase my energy and mood.
''How cool is that?''(a phrase my chiropractor always says)
I know by some initial urine tests that inside my body has made improvements as well. Not everyone I talk to is sold on chiropractic and this diet I am on, but it's too frustrating to explain in detail, I will leave that to the professionals. All I know is from what I have been taught over the last year that it has worked, if applied. Its a lifestyle, a change I was willing to make. It has brought me to a place I love, and thrive on. I have never felt better.
I have recently ran my first few 5K's ( 3.1 miles) and I enjoy running short distances now. Exercise is a passion for me now, an important part of my week. It clears my mind, releases stress, prevents sickness, and keeps me fit. I still struggle with stress and my blood pressure still needs to come down about 20 points on the top number to be more in the optimal range==another goal.
Ideally I am still about 12 lbs overweight, according to an online assesment of ideal weights. I would love to reach my weight loss goal and loose about 10- 15 more pounds....it really is more about health and prevention to me though, and if I stay at the weight I am at now, I know I will have prevented alot already. So please dont call me skinny or thin...hopefully people will look at me and see healthy....that's my goal anyway, I am not skinny or thin nor will I ever see myself that way, I have always been the fat girl. But to be fit and healthy, well that I can live with.
My life has taken a huge turn in this respect. Mostly by the fact I understand what it takes to loose weight and prevent sickness and disease to live well naturally. It's overwhelming, there is alot to learn. It's actually science, and that helps because I love science, I like to know the whys. In science there is alot of whys. I have learned that alot of my questions and the why's are being answered through relearning nutrition and how our body digests food and elminates waste. The body is so complex.
It all starts out with my car accident...... Sept 11, 2010. --
I was in a car accident last fall, and ended up with limited mobility for 3-4 months. The day after the accident, I literally could not move, everything hurt. I had soft tissue knee damage, back and neck pain besides that every single muscle hurt. Within a week, I was into a chiropractor for the first time in my life, because my lower back hurt so bad.
I decided to go to Litchfield, a chiropractic center, right next door to where I work at the hotel.
I met the most wonderful chiropractor ever, and from that first day on, he really made an impression on me. This chiropractic stuff was all new to me. He basicly improved my back that very first day. I went home in half the pain, and a few days later extremely improved after a few more adjustments. He adjusted my back, hips, knees, and neck every few days and then it went to every week, then every 2 weeks, then every month...for about 3-4 months. Starting in January I was feeling better as far as the accident goes, and was released from accident treatments...... but had gained even more weight, and knew from being in his office so often, that he also specialized in nutrition and weight loss. I was nervous to reach out to him, we had been so focused on my injuries, but finally brought it up around the New Year.
He was excited to help, and I set up the first nutrition appt. Insurance dosn't cover any nutrition work, so I was bummed to hear that, but I had my mind and my heart in this, I wasn't gonna back out. I knew this was my chance to get healthy, and that somehow I believed that this terrible accident happened for a reason, to bring about something good.
My starting weight was the highest it has ever been, in January 2011. I was disgusted with myself and ready to learn. I had a plan and the additional support I thought I needed. I just couldn't do it on my own.
The diet:
The diet is called the "Cellular Healing Diet". It's called a diet because that's what it focuses on, it's all aspects of nutrition. It's a lifestyle change, not just something I will follow for now to get the weight off and fix my body, it's something I will follow forever. It's very strict at first, and it was a whole body detox from the way I was used to eating. The detox involved elminating all sugar, and everything that turns into sugar in the body ( ie: grains and fruits). It involves including the "good fats" in my diet which includes things like butter, oils, nuts, fish, lean grass fed meats, etc. I was mainly eating vegatables and protein in the beginning along with learning how to add in the good fats. It was so hard, and I really didn't have any family support, nobody to confide in , nobody that understood how I understood it....my support to get me through the beginning stages was my monthly visits to see Dr Chris. He was a huge support. In fact I got alot of negative thinking, questions as how this is possible to continue on in, questions about the chiropractic-natural thinking, the expense was high and was wondering how I would continue to afford everything and a frustrated husband because of the money issues involved. It was the hardest thing both mentally and physically but I pushed though it trying to remain positive despite all the negativity surrounding me. I always felt I had something to prove. That this was really the way, the way that would lead me to weight loss like never before.
The change in eating on this plan, is geared towards all natural, organic, raw foods. It's what the body craves and uses to heal the cells. No more processed, quick fixes, and sugar. I have learned that when you remove the interference, the body can heal itself. I was on my way to being on medication for high blood pressure very soon, low energy levels, sore knees and back from the extra weight and digestive and intestinal issues that had developed over the last 2-3 years. Not to mention the possiblility of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and disease in my future solely because of my weight and poor eating habits. We really are what we eat.
The Cellular Healing Diet was created by Dr Dan Pompa, and my chiropractor, Dr Chris Patten, has been to his seminars to learn from him in person. He has an interest in teaching and helping others achieve health. To me it's all facinating, it may just be my love of science again, but as I follow what I'm being told, I know how this can and does work for my benefit.
I know now I am not gonna be given medication to treat my high blood pressure, when diet and exercise has brought it down into nearly normal levels., my energy has sky rocketed, my knees and back are not near as sore, my digestive/intestinal issues are being resloved with enzymes, and supplements for the time being with the hope that soon I will be off all digestive enzymes. It's been taking a long time for my body to adjust, and still am experiencing intestinal problems that we are still trying to figure out.
I feel fine, healthy, and never felt better since loosing almost 60 lbs in 9 months, but there is just the occassional stomach upset, and almost constant diarrhea/soft stools that still linger on. I have already cut out most white grains, caffine, soda, milk, and most dairy, although I do eat some of them on occassion, there may be products with gluten in them or dairy that may be affecting me. Also just recently I can't eat a salad without getting a stomach ache afterwards. Lettuce is hard to digest. I have never had a problem with eating salads in the past so this is a recent change to figure out as well. He is also taking another route and treating me for parasites, just in case.
I have also had some kidney detox "issues", as I call them, as my body is adjusting. For the most part I have seen positive changes. However, I did have 2 occassions where I felt the frequency and painful urge to urinate. In April, my medical doctor told me since I had protein and blood in my urine it must be a bladder infecion, and gave me antibiotics. I ironiclly had a chiropractor appt the next day and never did take the antibiotics and after my discussion with him we decided it probably wasnt a bladder infection, but more of a kidney issue in relation to my diet change. My symptoms dissapeared within a week, only to resurface 3 months later, more severe. There were about 3-4 days that I was peeing or felt like I had to pee all the time with very little volume. At one point I was in tears and thinking I needed to go to the ER, but it only lasted about 30 minutes and it got better. I made it through the next few days and it started to resolve again. This time my chiropractor was sure it wasn't a bladder infection, and was leaning more towards kidney's adjusting to diet changes. I haven't had any of these symptoms since that first week in July. I have never had a bladder infection, so why start now. Antibiotics just screw up the gut by killing the bad bacteria, but also the good bacteria needed for proper digestion and gut health so I am glad I never took any antibiotics for a problem I never had.
All in all this diet is there to regulate and heal the cells of my body, regulate hormones, and decrease inflammation. I have seen positve effects in the ability to loose the weight I haven't ever before been able to do, decrease my blood pressure , and increase my energy and mood.
''How cool is that?''(a phrase my chiropractor always says)
I know by some initial urine tests that inside my body has made improvements as well. Not everyone I talk to is sold on chiropractic and this diet I am on, but it's too frustrating to explain in detail, I will leave that to the professionals. All I know is from what I have been taught over the last year that it has worked, if applied. Its a lifestyle, a change I was willing to make. It has brought me to a place I love, and thrive on. I have never felt better.
I have recently ran my first few 5K's ( 3.1 miles) and I enjoy running short distances now. Exercise is a passion for me now, an important part of my week. It clears my mind, releases stress, prevents sickness, and keeps me fit. I still struggle with stress and my blood pressure still needs to come down about 20 points on the top number to be more in the optimal range==another goal.
Ideally I am still about 12 lbs overweight, according to an online assesment of ideal weights. I would love to reach my weight loss goal and loose about 10- 15 more pounds....it really is more about health and prevention to me though, and if I stay at the weight I am at now, I know I will have prevented alot already. So please dont call me skinny or thin...hopefully people will look at me and see healthy....that's my goal anyway, I am not skinny or thin nor will I ever see myself that way, I have always been the fat girl. But to be fit and healthy, well that I can live with.
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