facebook :)

Quick note: added facebook account today:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=100002212943476
hope to see you soon!

Small Victories and Major Realizations

Think one of the best things that I've done this week is to get some speech recognition software. One of the problems I had in continuing on with blog postings was typing. Typing is very difficult with fibromyalgia and arthritis, however, speech-to-text is not as easy as you think it would be. Nevertheless, I decided to use this technology to help me post more on my blog communicate with other people.

In trying to focus on my own recovery and ways to make life easier, I realized it one of the biggest issues is (and always has been) food. It was so enlightening last night to watch the premiere of the new show “Addicted to Food.” I've known for years that I've used food as a coping mechanism, consciously even. I'm too old and have too many responsibilities to use as a vice stop things like drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and other are you responsible behaviors area however one irresponsible behavior that I've continue to do is eat in a very unhealthy way. Considering I have diabetes, the way I eat is not only unhealthy, it is deadly. I am very inconsistent about eating; I eat randomly. Sometimes healthy, most times not.

A couple things have prompted this post today. One, as I mentioned earlier, was watching the show “Addicted to Food” last night. Then there was sitting in the family dressing room in Target today while my daughter was trying on her size 2 pants and getting a look at my thighs in the mirror…while sitting. Oh boy, not a sight I would recommend for the faint-of-heart! Then there is the almost constant pain in my hips, knees, ankles, and feet. Hard to know what is caused by the fibromyalgia and what is due to carrying around 240# on my 5’4” frame! I am still down from my highest weight. And, this is not really about weight. It is about feeling better!

As I sat and contemplated this, I absentmindedly grabbed a handful of GoodnPlentys (one of my favorites). I was chewing some in my mouth and looked at the ones in my hands. I thought to myself, are these worth DYING for?? Well, that was a little too abstract for my sugar-addled mind to fathom. So, I imagined someone had a gun to my head and told me if I picked up the GoodnPlentys, they would shoot me. It’s funny, but that made sense. It sunk in, and I walked to the trash and threw them away.

Small victory.

However, I am not celebrating yet, as I still have the bag of GoodnPlentys. I did not get rid of those yet. The thing I fear the most is the detox…the detox off sugar and simple carbs. The irritability. I mean, I have enough of that with the fibromyalgia as it is. I’m not sure how much more of the bitchy mom/wife my family can take!

So, I will vow to start blogging again, and to start increasing my blog following. I am going to set up a Facebook account soon for the The Petticoat Polymath. I hope to reach out more and use this blog for the reasons that I set it up for initially: accountability, community, education, and sometimes venting.

Thanks all for listening!

Jane

I love Malcom in the Middle

"Lois: God, they're just boobs, lady. What's your problem?" 
 
 I just love this show! It is much like my life...or makes my life look better, I can't decide which :)

 Have you ever watched it?
"Lois: Drink your milk. "
"Dewey: It's lumpy. "
"Lois: Then chew it."

I don't know...I guess I just like the sick humor of it all

"Lois: Look at those Parker boys across the street. They may be healthy, but, honest to God, those are the ugliest little boys ever born. They look like boiled beets, don't you think? And those Henderson kids? They electrocuted their dog when they were trying to get free cable. How smart can they be? Just remember, any kid who makes fun of you is a creepy little loser who will end up working in a car wash.
Malcolm: This shouldn't make me feel better, but it does."

I guess I relate to Lois, the mom, the most

She is hot-headed and stubborn. Her kids see her as tannical figure, a crazed control freak, and indeed she is, but her behavior was caused by Francis' bad behavior as a toddler (wow, that is familiar!). 

"Francis: I'm working for a moron. "
" Lois: Of course you are, honey. Your boss is an idiot, your co-workers are incompetent and you are underappreciated. Welcome to the working world. "

Just my musings for the day :))

Passing on a couple great blog posts I saw today

1) This “In Their Own Words” essay is written by Lydia Wayman. Lydia is a 22 year old who “resides somewhere on the autism spectrum.”  Her three favorite things are her service cat, Elsie, her best friend and her mom. She recently wrote and published a book, “Interview with Autism,” for parents and caregivers about life on the autism spectrum. Lydia previously submitted a fabulous post called “Ten Things That I Wish You Would Accept, No Questions Asked.”

 2)This morning’s riddle – what do autism and a mullet have in common?
Adrien and Aaron are eight-year-old twins; Adrien is nonverbal and has autism. Since age four, Aaron has donated “every penny he has received” to Autism Speaks, starting with change he found on the ground. He is now taking his fundraising capabilities to a new level. He is going to shave his head the second week of October and is accepting donations. He hopes to raise $200.
(Here’s where a great story becomes even better.)
Their Uncle Virgil (pictured here) has offered to cut off his beloved 16-year-old mullet, IF Aaron is able to reach $5,000 in donations for Autism Speaks. And, he will donate his lovely locks to a worthy organization like Locks of Love.
In my opinion, everyone wins. Donate to Hairs To Adrien For Autism, benefiting Autism Speaks. Even one dollar will help. Check out his Facebook page and be sure to share it. And be sure to thank Aaron and Uncle Virgil for their efforts!

Rededication to this blog

Hello all,

I have neglected this blog recently, and I really miss posting here. Today, I am rededicating myself to this blog. I will find new followers and start following others. I will post on here, as you have seen me do before, my real life (pretty or not!). If you are just joining me, I hope you find something useful here! I am new to blogging, but I am learning every day.

My last blog post was in January and in February I had a car accident...actually, the person who hit me had the accident; I got the injuries! It has been a tough road to heal from the whiplash & associated problems. I am still going to the chiropractor seven months later. Have a lawsuit pending. So, that is about all I will say about that for now.

And, here is a report on Summer: Every summer I have the intention to work with my kids over the summer on their reading and math skills. We usually buy summer study books, flash cards, the whole shebang! And, as you might have guessed, usually the summer flies by and we rarely open the books. This year was similar, however, I decided several weeks ago that it was a conscious decision on my part to not push the kids and let them have fun this summer.

One of the reasons for this is our youngest will behaving surgery again (his 7th) at Shriner's Hospital and will be in a wheel chair for the first quarter of the school year. I wanted him to have some times to play all he wanted; run around, swim, and have fun. He will be having his heel cord lengthened (it is short now due to limb lengthening in 2008...he gained 1.5" in bone length, but the ligaments often don't stretch as well), and part of his femur straightened. So, he will be non-weight bearing for at least 6 weeks, hence the wheelchair. So, he has had a great summer, riding bikes, summer camps, going to the park, playing in the pool, etc.

Our second youngest (the one with autism) has had a great summer as well. In fact, he has grown a lot. He is nine. And, while it might be unusual for a parent of a nine-year-old to brag about these things, it is pretty amazing for him to be able to have done them: 1) he learned to ride a bike this summer. No training wheels, no crashing...he just took off & hasn't stopped since! He has had bikes for a long time now, but something just clicked this summer. 2) He also learned to tie his shoes!! He is very proud of that and now has to wear "tie" shoes everyday. 3) He is no longer in pull-up/good-nights at bedtime! Which saves us LOTS of money and him lots of embarrassment! 4) He is starting to play some team sports at the local boys & girls club. And, that is a big deal for a kid on the spectrum.

The grandbaby has grown by leaps & bounds. She is walking, running, laughing, and doing a little talking. She is funny and happy! The teenager has moved back to the town we lived in for 13 years prior to moving to this one (3 years ago) and moved in with a long-time family friend so she can go to school (community college) there since she took & passed her GED this spring.

Lots of changes and adjustments in our family. Fibromyaglia is mostly stable. Was diagnosed with type II diabetes last month. However, I also lost 30# after my diagnosis...still working on losing the rest!

That's all for now. I will try to post some "catch-ups" soon.
Best,
Jane

new blog

The new blog is going well. Has kept me on track for working out & eating well.

In other news: I have started to read some books by Sandra Felton (she started Messies Anonymous and is now a speaker in the area of organization). They are very helpful to me in getting organized around the house and getting housework into a manageable realm.

That is all for now (a short post!) but I will post more soon. Gotta get back to the weekend chores while I have the energy and the time.

Best,
jane

A New Blog?????

OK, I am thinking of creating a new blog (in addition to this one). One that is totally anonymous (a couple people know who I am and read this blog). One just on food, diet, issues and the like. I know that everyone and their brother has a blog like that....but I dont really care. It is not necessarily for people to read, but for me to write. I really feel like I have to focus just on that for a while.

I was inspired by a really great blog I saw - maybe you saw it on CNN: http://www.344pounds.com/











Check our the blog...it is pretty cool.

I know these things:
I am addicted to food
I have tried for most my life to deal with it and can't
I now weight over 250#
My well-being is affected by my weight
I have let myself go, terribly

I don't even know if I can actually do anything that will be successful...but not doing anything isn't getting me anywhere.

So, anyone else out there have an anonymous food blog? does it help?

Would love to hear about it.
Jane