Movie Review: Prince Caspian

A couple weeks ago, Vicki's 3rd grade teacher organized an after-school field trip to see The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. They had just finished reading the book in class and Vicki LOVED the book and was SO excited to see the movie.

I LOVED it! I think it was even better than the first one. I loved the costumes and the scenery. Vicki says it was a little different than the book, but it was still really good. The battle sequences were amazing! Definitely will be buying this one on DVD! It will be awesome on our HDTV! I really want to read the books... someday with all my free time... I recently found a book at Deseret that explains C.S. Lewis' symbolism of Christian themes in his writing--I'm anxious to get a copy of that and study it when I read the series. I can pick up a few things in the movies already--like the lion being symbolic of Christ and his sacrifice for others, for example. Anyway, great movie... beautiful cinematography, better acting, very well done.

Lost Tribes

Oh my gosh, I had no idea the bubble I lived in. Did you know there are hundreds of ancient tribes that still exist that have no contact with the outside world? Did you know that some of those tribes are being wiped out by loggers and cattle ranchers and oil miners?

These people are "protected" by international law, but they do not speak the language of or have the resources to contact local authorities/government.

This stuff is absolutely amazing.

Here is the website of an organization trying to save these uncontacted tribes (there are amazing videos you can watch):
http://www.survival-international.org/home

Here's the first article my sweet husband sent my way:


Incredible pictures of one of Earth's last uncontacted tribes firing bows and arrows
By MICHAEL HANLON
Last updated at 6:53 PM on 29th May 2008

Skin painted bright red, heads partially shaved, arrows drawn back in the longbows and aimed square at the aircraft buzzing overhead. The gesture is unmistakable: Stay Away.

Behind the two men stands another figure, possibly a woman, her stance also seemingly defiant. Her skin painted dark, nearly black.

The apparent aggression shown by these people is quite understandable. For they are members of one of Earth's last uncontacted tribes, who live in the Envira region in the thick rainforest along the Brazilian-Peruvian frontier.

Thought never to have had any contact with the outside world, everything about these people is, and hopefully will remain, a mystery.

Their extraordinary body paint, precisely what they eat (the anthropologists saw evidence of gardens from the air), how they construct their tent-like camp, their language, how their society operates - the life of these Amerindians remains a mystery.

'We did the overflight to show their houses, to show they are there, to show they exist,' said Brazilian uncontacted tribes expert José Carlos dos Reis Meirelles Junior. 'This is very important because there are some who doubt their existence.'

Meirelles, who despite once being shot in the shoulder by an arrow fired by another tribe, campaigns to protect these peoples, believes this group's numbers are increasing, and pointed out how strong and healthy the people seemed.

But other uncontacted groups in the region, whose homes have been photographed from the air, are in severe danger from illegal logging in Peru and populations are being decimated.

Logging is driving uncontacted tribes over the border and could lead to conflict with the estimated five hundred uncontacted Indians already living on the Brazilian side.

'What is happening in this region [of Peru] is a monumental crime against the natural world, the tribes, the fauna and is further testimony to the complete irrationality with which we, the 'civilised' ones, treat the world,' said Meirelles.

It is extraordinary to think that, in 2008, there remain about a hundred groups of people, scattered over the Earth, who know nothing of our world and we nothing of theirs, save a handful of brief encounters.

The uncontacted tribes, which are located in the jungles of South America, New Guinea and the beautiful and remote North Sentinel island in the Indian Ocean (the inhabitants of which have also responded to attempts at contact with extreme aggression) all have one thing in common - they want to be left alone.

And for good reason. The history of contact, between indigenous tribes and the outside world, has always been an unhappy one.

In our overcrowded world their very future hangs in the balance. Almost all of these tribes are threatened by powerful outsiders who want their land. These outsiders - loggers, miners, cattle ranchers - are often willing to kill the tribespeople to get what they want.

Even where there is no violence, the tribes can be wiped out by diseases like the common cold to which they have no resistance.

According to Miriam Ross of Survival International, which campaigns to protect the world's remaining indigenous peoples, 'These tribes represent the incredible diversity of humankind. Unless we want to condemn yet more of the earth's peoples to extinction, we must respect their choice. Any contact they have with outsiders must happen in their own time and on their own terms.'

As to who these people are, how they live their lives, what language they speak - we know nothing. 'Normally you can tell who tribes are by their language, how they wear their hair, how they adorn their bodies and so on, but in this case the photos don't allow us to get close enough to see,' says Ms Ross.

When anthropologists first overflew the area, they saw women and children in the open and no one appeared to be painted. It was only when the plane returned a few hours later that they saw these individuals covered head-to-toe in red. 'Tribes in the Amazon paint themselves for all kinds of different reasons - one of which includes when they feel threatened or are aggressive,' Ms Ross says.

'And they are almost certain to feel threatened by or aggressive towards a plane, which was where the photos were taken from. They are almost certain not to understand what the plane is - perhaps a spirit or a large bird.

'The jungle is fundamental to their lives and survival. It's their home, their source of food, the source of their culture etc. Without it, they could not exist as a people.'

Contact is usually a disaster for these remote tribespeople, who live a life probably unchanged for more than 10,000 years. Even if the loggers do not shoot them (which they often do) or force them off their land, diseases against which these isolated humans have no resistance typically wipe out half an uncontacted tribe's numbers in a year or two.

Ms Ross added: 'These pictures are further evidence that uncontacted tribes really do exist. The world needs to wake up to this, and ensure that their territory is protected in accordance with international law. Otherwise, they will soon be made extinct.'

For more information on Survival International, see http://www.survival-international.org

IR Diet

Okay, so I'd shared with my grandma on Sunday my clever way of getting ice cream into my diet without cheating and she scolded me. She's real big into South Beach Living. She told me that the more I eat sweet stuff of any kind, the more I'll crave it. Well, I figure there's no way I'd crave it more than I did last week by quitting cold turkey. I was feeling a little rebellious and sad that she didn't appreciate my cleverness. But, I know she meant well and with some more research, I can see her wisdom.

I've been doing different google searches daily on insulin resistance. I've acquired several books as well. I do tend to obsess over new things and hoard as much information as I can and try to become an expert at whatever new thing I'm dealing with in my life. So, each google search, I try different key words to see what I can find.

Last night, I found this article and I think it's the best one I've read so far. It is simple and complete... it supports everything else I've read on IR so far, explains what my grandma was trying to tell me in her own way... it's not too long, but is jam-packed with information. I'm beginning to suspect there may be many people out there with IR and not know it. I'll share in another post later some info I found out about IR, but for now, the diet revelation:

Therapeutic Diet for Insulin Resistance

This low-carbohydrate, moderate-protein and moderate-fat diet is focused on real foods as the solution to Insulin Resistance Syndrome (IR), sometimes called Metabolic Syndrome or Syndrome X. It is mainly refined foods, especially sweets, combined with deficient exercise that gets people into trouble so a program based on whole foods, not more refined food products, is the best long-term solution in IR, and a host of other health problems as well. It is also recommended to take a good multiple vitamin/mineral.

Based on human evolutionary history and physiology this should be your most natural and optimal diet. It reflects what our Paleolithic ancestors (i.e., before agriculture) evolved eating over a million years and, as such, has the highest potential of supporting healing and preventing disease. In addition, this diet is naturally alkalizing, which is considered by some people to be healthier than the typical American acidifying diet.

If you need more dietary support than this webpage provides, the popular diet that is closest to this IR diet is The South Beach Diet by Arthur Agatston, M.D. We also recommended reading The Paleo Diet by Loren Cordain, Ph.D. It gives a good background on the problems of the modern diet and the advantages of the Paleolithic diet. However, use this webpage as your main reference and refer to these books only for recipes, background and support.

It will take at least 2 to 3 months to reestablish normal insulin sensitivity. If there is severe IR or obesity it could take much longer to stabilize. However, most people will experience some improvements early on in the program. After stabilization has been shown through lab values, blood pressures, improved energy, loss of weight (especially abdominal), loss of carbohydrate cravings and loss of hypoglycemic symptoms, then switching to the Maintenance Diet for Insulin Resistance is possible. However, it will be essential to continue to monitor the lab values, signs, symptoms and weight.

With this diet you should not be hungry until its time for the next meal. If this is happening try increasing the non-starchy vegetables, nuts, fats and/or protein intake in the meals. Do not avoid naturally fatty foods, but limit saturated fats. Avoid hydrogenated oils and fried foods. For hypoglycemia symptoms eat smaller more frequent meals. Try to eat for hunger and not emotional reasons. If you must eat for emotional reasons, eat non-starchy vegetables or lean protein. Snacks should be non-starchy vegetables, nuts, seeds or protein foods.

PROBLEM CARBOHYDRATES (refined and starchy) – The cause of the problem!

· No potatoes or simple sugars/carbohydrates (common table sugar, fructose, sweets, cookies, candy, ice cream, pastries, honey, fruit juice, soda pop, alcoholic beverages, etc.). Anything that tastes sweet (including artificial sweeteners and Stevia) may raise insulin levels, thus aggravating IR and perpetuating the cravings for sweets. As IR improves, sweet cravings usually decrease.

· Almost no grain products (breads, pasta, cornbread, corn tortillas, crackers, popcorn, etc.) and no refined grains/carbohydrates (white flour products, white pasta, white rice, etc.).

· Whole grains (whole brown rice, wheat, rye, barley and buckwheat) only in very small amounts.

GOOD CARBOHYDRATES (non-refined and non-starchy)

· Small amounts of fruit are OK but eat it with protein meals and not alone. Berries are best. No dried fruit.

· Eat lots and lots of non-starchy vegetables. Raw or lightly cooked is best. These should be the main source of carbohydrates in the diet. Fresh vegetables are best, frozen is OK but canned is to be avoided except for canned tomatoes and tomato sauce.

· Legumes (beans, peas, peanuts, soybeans, soy products, etc.) have a low glycemic index so are OK.

PROTEINS

· Consume moderate amounts of leaner meats, seafood and fish. The best are wild fish, wild game, free-range chicken & turkey, range-fed beef, lamb, buffalo and naturally grown pork. Grain-fed means more saturated fats and omega-6 oils. Wild and range-fed means less of these and more omega-3s. The more omega-3s the better. Feeding grain to animals, like cows, that were meant to eat grass is not healthy for the animal nor the person eating the animal.

· If you do not have a dairy allergy, some dairy is OK. Interestingly, the lower the fat in milk the more it raises the blood sugar, so low fat milk is worse than whole milk. But the best is no milk, it raises the blood sugar too much, plus cow's milk is for calves, not people. Other dairy products are okay. Use only unsweetened yogurt. Limit butter and no hydrogenated margarine.

· Eggs are fine unless you have allergies to them, but the best are eggs from free-range chickens and eggs grown to be high in omega-3 oils. Best is no more than 7 per week due to the high fat content.

· For most people: moderate amounts of nuts (walnuts, macadamia nuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, etc.) and seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, etc.). Raw are best. Walnuts are high in omega-3s. Nut and seed butters are good (almond, cashew, sesame). Peanut butter and peanuts are legumes.

FATS

· Consume moderate amounts of healthy oils. A low-fat diet is not healthy, nor is it compatible with this diet.

· Healthy oils are: Monounsaturated oils (olive, canola, nuts). Polyunsaturated oils that are high in omega-3 oils (canola, flax, fish oils, walnuts). Saturated fats from vegetable sources (coconut, palm, avocado).

· Limit animal sources of saturated fats as found in dairy products (cheese, butter, etc.) and most commercial red meats.

· Freely add healthy oils to salads, sauces for vegetables and when cooking lean meats. Natural palm and coconut oil are excellent for cooking and frying. Flax oil is high in omega-3 oils but goes rancid very easily so refrigerate and do not heat and add only after cooking.

· No hydrogenated oils and limit fried foods. Some low-heat frying with natural palm and coconut oil is okay.

MISC.
· Drink lots of pure water.
· Organic is always best when available.
· Cut down on salt but feel free to use other spices liberally.
· Except for non-starchy vegetables, the other carbohydrates should be limited to protein meals.
· It is usually safe to assume that most processed foods will interfere with this diet, even if low-carb.
· Finally, it must be emphasized that exercise is a very important component of success.

Highly recommended vegetables.
Eat as many of these as possible for the best health.

Artichoke
Asparagus
Avocado
Beet greens
Bok Choy
Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Cabbage (green and red)
Cauliflower
Celery
Chicory
Chinese cabbage
Chives

Collard greens
Cucumber
Dandelion greens
Endive
Escarole
Fennel
Garlic
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce (avoid iceberg)
Mushrooms
Mustard greens
Onions

Parsley
Peppers(all kinds)
Purslane
Plantain
Radish
Seaweed
Spinach
Swiss chard
Tomatillos
Tomatoes
Turnips greens
Turnips
Watercress
Zucchini

Vegetables to use in moderation.

Beets
Carrots
Green beans
Eggplant
Jicima
Peas (actually a legume)
Squashes
New potatoes
Taro
Yams

Vegetables to avoid.

Potatoes
Parsnip
Pumpkin
Rutabaga
Sweet potatoes
Corn (actually a grain)

Guess what I had for breakfast this morning...

Yes, it is very tricky to get in a minimum of 10 grams of protein without going over in my allowed carbohydrates. Especially for snacks--I'm only allowed 15 grams of carbs and still need 10 grams of protein. So, it can be very tricky because even if I find something low enough in carbs, if it doesn't have my protein, I can't have it...

So, where in the world can I fit in my ice cream? It's got my max of 15 grams of carbs for snacks, but only 2 grams of protein, so I'd need some protein to with it... but then I go over in carbs... so, what to do?

Have it for breakfast!

That's right... I decided if I'm going to get in my little indulgences here and there, it will have to be when I have a bigger budget of carbs to divide up. SO, I had two eggs scrambled with colby-jack cheese, a slice of wheat toast... and 1/2 a cup of my all-natural ice cream with 1/4 cup fresh blackberries mixed in! It was the best breakfast!

Ah, the little triumphs in life!

This is tough!

Just finished breakfast and my first food journal entry. It takes forever reading all the labels and measuring stuff. I ate out of a measuring cup this morning. I think I need to buy new dishes--measuring cups! LOL I know I'll get a feel for portions eventually.

What is tough is making sure I get the 10 or more grams of protein without going over on my carbohydrate allowance! I got in 8.5 grams of protein with 27.5 carbs, but pretty much anything else I add for more protein will put me over in carbs. Unless I go cook an egg. Maybe tomorrow. I'm too tired right now. Aaron works late on Wednesdays and so I didn't get much sleep.

I think the water will be easy. 8 oz is not very much. I think I got in more than 24 oz just this morning.

I miss my orange juice. Too many carbs and not enough protein.

I'm worried about getting enough calcium now... milk and OJ cost too much in carbs. I don't want to drink my carbs, I want to eat them. LOL I'll check my vitamin supplement...

Information Overload

I had my follow-up visit with the doctor today to talk about my test results.

The test that is going to cost me more than $2,000 came back normal (my brain scan).

The test that is nearly $700 came back normal as well, although my thyroid is slightly enlarged, so it is possible I could have thyroid problems later, but this ultrasound says everything is fine for now.

The 4.5-hour blood test showed that everything except my insulin was fantastic! A normal insulin number is about 17 and mine was 41. My insulin level is totally off the chart! So, I am insulin resistant, which means my tissues/organs are rejecting my insulin. My blood sugars are totally fine. I know that doesn't seem to make sense, but my sugars are fine. I am producing too much insulin because my cells are not accepting it... my body thinks I am starving and is hoarding all this fat.

So, what I have to do is train my body to realize I am, in fact, getting more than enough food so that it will stop storing up all that fat. I do that by making sure I do not ever go more than 4 hours without eating while I'm awake. If I go longer than 4 hours, or fast altogether, my body will just confirm I am not getting enough food and it will keep hoarding all that energy. (This is why I'm so tired all the time.) If I continue to eat every 4 hours (three meals and two snacks a day) my body will eventually get the idea that I'm not starving and start working normal. I have to accompany this regime with medication to help my cells accept my insulin and exercise to increase my metabolism.

The eating part is not quite as bad as I at first thought... I can still eat lots of different kinds of foods, just not as much of it and I have to start counting everything. I have an allowance of carbs and proteins I can have each day... I'm allowed 45 grams of carbohydrates at breakfast, 50 at lunch and dinner, 15 for snacks. And it sure goes fast!! So, I'm going to have to be creative! I cannot go over in my carbs per meal/snack. I cannot bank my carbs and use them later--if I don't use them all at a meal/snack, I lose them. I also must get 10 or more grams of protein at each meal and snack. And of course, drink lots and lots of water.

I got teary-eyed when the doctor was explaining that fruits are carbs... I LOVE fruit and have been eating tons and tons of fruit this spring! But, by the time the carbs are broken down and get to my bloodstream, my body can't tell the difference between sugars from a piece of fruit or my own freshly-ground wheat... or a candy bar! So, carbs are carbs. Of course I want to make healthy decisions for the sake of my heart and overall health, but my body won't know the difference between wheat or white, fruit sugar or chocolate sugar. It's all just about how many grams of carbs and that's it.

My good friend Dawn was kind enough to give me this awesome booklet that lists all the nutrition facts for food in many fast food restaurants. I can totally still eat at Chick-Fil-A and get my chicken sandwich on wheat with a side of the best coleslaw ever and still be in my allowance of carb grams!!! I will have to carry that booklet with me everywhere I go. And I've been reading labels of all my favorite foods in the house and using a calculator to see what I can eat for breakfast tomorrow. I still haven't quite figured out how I will stay within my 45-gram allowance and not be hungry in an hour... I'm always hungriest in the mornings.

Here, I'd gone out and bought this $5-a-jar organic peanut butter thinking I've got to avoid all this fat, when in reality, the carbs aren't very far off from regular peanut butter and since I have great cholesterol, I'm okay to eat the regular peanut butter as long as I'm within my carb allowance! Theoretically I can even have Dr. Pepper if I want to, but it would cost me an entire meal. LOL But, the nurse was nice--she told me that if I just HAD to have a bowl of ice cream, go ahead, but have it with my grilled chicken instead of whatever side dish I'd normally eat and just stay within my allowance. Sounds much better to me than what I'd originally thought! But, it's still going to be tedious.

So, I'm excited, really. I'm excited to lose weight! I'm excited to have more energy! I've got a new bright pink binder organized with my notes, food journal worksheets I customized for myself, nutrition fact sheets, etc. I can do this! It's gonna take some effort, planning ahead, and being creative on how to fit all the numbers together just right, but I think I can do this.

If you have a favorite low-carb snack or meal idea/recipe, be sure to leave it in my comments!

Strike a Pose

We had dinner at my mom's after church on Sunday for Mother's Day. My Grandpa loves to take pictures. My brother is the cutie strikin' a pose in the first photo. =) Grandpa accidentally called him "Aunt Matt", so it's stuck. Bridget loves "Aunt Matt" and asked me on this day if she could move in with him. She told him "you wanna keep me, don't ya?". Others in the photos are my sister, Angela, and my mom... my niece Jasmine... my second cousin Harmonie. Cute kids!

The Field of Child Development and Human Relations

Happy Mother's Day everyone!



Here is another wonderful email I received this month:

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office, was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

"What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job or are you just a ....?'"

"Of course I have a job," snapped the woman.

"I'm a Mom."

'We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'

"What is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out.

"I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.'"

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in m midair and looked up a s though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply,
"I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another Mom".

Motherhood! What a glorious career!
Especially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" and great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates"?
I think so!!!
I also think it makes Aunts '"Associate Research Assistants"!

To quote my most favorite book on the topic, I Am A Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson:

"Even when our children cannot--or will not--express it, even when the voices of the world tell us that mothering isn't as important as anything else we could be doing, we are making a difference."

"... it's the consistency of providing [family prayer, scripture study, family home evening, a shared testimony, a sympathetic hug, a smile], day in and day out, that makes a difference and leaves a lasting impression."

"... rather than losing my identity with the children, the irony is, I actually feel as though I have further identified my true self."

Follow-up to "Got Rice?"

I came across this article today. "Wow" is all I have to say.

My resource: The Food Shortage Panic of 2008

Once upon a time, in a land far far away, harsh weather conditions caused a crop shortage. The crops that were left were in short supply, and with growing demand, prices began to increase. This left many people wondering how they were going to afford many basic foods.

On the other side of the world…

The media, hearing that staple grains like rice and wheat were scarce on the other side of the world, began taking advantage of the situation. They labeled the problems in other countries a “global crisis” and watched as news of this dilemma improved their ratings.

******************************************

Media-induced panic no longer comes as a shock to me. In their quest for viewers and readers, the media often irresponsibly incites mass hysteria. You may recall the epidemic of Bird Flu that was rumored to kill us all and the SARS scare that kept so many people indoors…

Did you know that Bird Flu has killed less than 250 people in the last five years? And that SARS is responsible for less than 800 deaths? Malaria, on the other hand, is responsible for approximately 3 million deaths per year, as are diarrheal diseases. The simple truth is that you are more at risk of a getting hit by a car or being struck by lightening than you are of contracting either one of these diseases.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t worry about bad things happening. Worry keeps us in check; it helps improve our judgment in the face of danger. But raw panic without reason makes every situation worse.

Since the media is always looking for the next best scare, I would like to announce: The Food Storage Panic of 2008

The background story

Australia, one of the largest worldwide distributors of wheat and rice, has been suffering through a seemingly never-ending drought. Where rice and wheat fields once flourished, only dry dirt remains. Over the past few years, this has caused a decrease in 98% of Australia’s rice and wheat.

As exports have lessened, demand has significantly increased. Coupled with rising oil and commodity prices, the amount of available grains has caused quite a stir in several countries.

Fortunately for the U.S., wheat, rice, and other staples are thriving. Our market has had no problem keeping up with demand—until the mass hysteria started.

The problem

When the media equated Australia’s problems with a worldwide epidemic, we all started rushing to the grocery store to fill our shelves with the things the media told us we need most. Distributors, not planning on such a high demand, have become backed up on outstanding orders. In the spirit of keeping a loyal customer base, retailers have begun to place purchase limits on certain grains, not because of a food shortage, but because of a distribution deficiency and an inability to predict the sudden increase in demand.

Luckily, our outlook is bright. Grain manufacturers are working double-time and limits on food are certain to be short lived.

Let’s take this a step further

Even though we are not actually in a state where food is scarce, what would happen to you if the situation we have been recently scared into believing was true? What if there was a worldwide drought and wheat, rice, oats, and other staples were unavailable to the masses?

Would you be prepared? Would your cupboards be full, or would you find yourself looking into the eyes of your hungry children trying to explain how the last bag of rice was clawed out of your hands at the empty grocery store?

Like I mentioned earlier, worrying can be good, but having knowledge and information is better. Are you prepared for hard times? Are you aware of your preparation options? Panic is never the right answer, so take a deep breath and create a good plan.

Tests Results

After three phone calls and two days of phone tag, I finally got to talk to the nurse and find out the results of my rounds of tests. My follow-up appointment isn't until next week (5/14), but I figure if I'm starting to get the bills in the mail (the ultrasound alone was more than $650) I'd like to know the results of these bank-breaking tests.

My thyroid is fine. I guess that's good. This one made the most sense, runs in my family, and fit all the symptoms (almost all), but just isn't the right diagnosis.

My brain is fine. I know, that's debatable. But, as far as the MRI contrast test is concerned, my brain is fine. No pituitary glad problems at least.

The least expensive, but most time consuming and painful test was the ticket. I am Insulin Resistant.
Yes, the one diagnosis I was hoping was NOT the one I had.
This is pre-diabetes.
I'm so scared.

It involves life-style changes (diet and exercise). And medication.

I don't understand because it says online that obesity is an indicator, or that weight is a contributor, but for me it was a symptom, not a cause. I was thin before. It was when I began taking those awful birth control pills that I blew up, gaining about 10 pounds a month. Diet and exercise did NOTHING before, so I don't understand how it's going to help this time. And I'm not a big fan of meat, so I'm not sure how I'm going to reduce my carbs and increase my protein and not be miserable. I really don't know what else I'll be able to cut out... I already eat only wheat bread, I rarely eat potatoes anymore, I only fix pasta a few times a month... what else can I cut out?? And where in the world am I going to get my protein when I don't enjoy eating meats and I hate fish?

I'm worried about the stereotype of type 2 diabetes. I just don't think I fit that stereotype. My cholesterol is great. My blood pressure is great. I don't eat junk all the time. The only link I have is that stupid birth control pill and no one seems to believe that is what caused it. I read ONE little thing that said MAYBE progesterone could be a link to triggering Insulin Resistance. I sure wish I could fund further studies on this horrid pill Seasonale or Seasonique and reveal to the world that man-made progesterone can do this to a woman's body.

So, there you have it.
I'll know more in a week.
Until then... I am totally depressed about this.
But... maybe soon we'll see a brand new Elaine in a new body... at least I finally have a diagnosis after all these years.

Here's a good article I found that explains some things I've dealt with and what lies ahead: Insulin Resistance in Women

Our Little Artist

Last month (April 17th), one of Vicki's art projects from school (Rosa Parks Edison Elementary) was displayed in the Perry Township Art Show! My mom and sister came with us to the art show to see Vicki's displayed piece and hundreds of other pieces of art from Perry Township Students. It was amazing to see all the talent in our local school system. We were so proud of Vicki to be a part of it all.

Vicki loves art and I think she really has a talent at it. I hope she sticks with it and we have many more art shows to attend on her behalf! Her displayed piece is of the Statue of Liberty. They had several different steps they went through to complete the project, but I don't completely understand it, so I'll have Vicki get on here later and explain it...

Movie Review: Ironman

I LOVED IT!!!!

Aaron and I went out tonight for dinner and to see Ironman. We both really loved the movie!

It's up there with Transformers, for sure. Not sure right now which one is my favorite recent flick (not including Enchanted), but I can say this movie was freakin' awesome and I can't wait to see it again!

Great acting! I loved Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts--I think being an Executive Assistant would be the coolest job! I would love being a personal assistant for someone important. I would enjoy keeping them organized, doing their shopping for them, keeping them on schedule... But Pepper's job is even cooler than that. SUCH a fun role she got to play! And Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man was just fantastic! I know he's quite famous, but I've never really seen any of his movies... but I was quite impressed with his acting in this for sure. His character was just amazing.

Fabulous special effects! I LOVED the technology Tony Starks uses--fiction is great!
Perfect balance of humor and action... just a fun movie to watch! Totally kicks butt!!

Only part of the movie that made me really sad (besides the sweet Yin-Sen character who helped Stark escape in the beginning) was when the beautiful blue sports car got smashed in Stark's experimenting with his new "weapon". I loved that little blue car. Why couldn't they have smashed one of the other ones? ;-)

So, go see it.
And sit patiently through all the credits to see the lead-in for the sequel (they've already signed contracts for part two and I can't wait to see it!!!).

IRON MAN Tony Stark, who develops an invulnerable robotic suit to fight the throes of evil. In addition to being filthy rich, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark is also a genius inventor. When Stark is kidnapped and forced to build a diabolical weapon, he instead uses his intelligence and ingenuity to construct an indestructible suit of armor and escape his captors.

Spread the word, not the germs

I remember many, many years ago when antibacterial hand soap became a common household item instead of the basic bar of Ivory, my wise Grandmother told me that all this antibacterial stuff was dangerous. She is a retired nurse from the "old school" days of healthcare, and I learn a lot from her. When she explained it to me, it made perfect sense. But, how do you share that kind of information--no one will believe me because everyone uses it!

Well, now you're starting to hear more and more about these "supergerms" that are NOT responding to antibiotics!
I think it only took about a decade for my Grandmother's prophecy to come true.
Pretty scary stuff.

So, I'm researching composting on the internet for our small backyard garden, trying to find an inexpensive compost bin that will save me a bunch of work, and I came across a short and well-said explanation of why we should not use antibacterial soaps.

I'd like to dedicate this post to my wise Grandmother who saw this coming years and years before anyone would listen.

My source: www.treehugger.com

Are we breeding supergerms?
The antibacterial and antimicrobial ‘cleaners’ that many people think are necessary, especially during cold season, don’t clean hands better than soap and water, and also add to the risk of breeding “super germs,” bacteria that survive the chemical onslaught and have resistant offspring. The FDA has found that antibacterial soaps and hand cleansers do not work better than regular soap and water, and should be avoided.

Even better, for the more scientific-minded who like a good, proven explanation filled with references and data tables, here's an article from the official Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.



Get more info on Triclosan here.

The Ubiquitous Triclosan: A common antibacterial agent exposed

Dolphins and Butterflies and Sharks... oh, my!

On Thursday, April 17th, Tricia and I took Lauren, Layton, Bridget and Evan to the Indianapolis Zoo. It was the perfect day--breezy, warm and sunny. The first thing we did was go to the Dolphin show. Then we went to the Butterfly Exhibit. I love going there--it's amazing. One of the large blue butterflies even landed on me! We also visited the dessert to see the snakes and reptiles (I love the meerkats here), went to the petting zoo, rode the train, had a picnic lunch, petted the sharks, saw the penguins (another of my favorites), went to the plains to see the giraffes and elephants... it was a wonderful day.