Health Update

Well I don't usually talk in great lengths about my health, but I figure this is easier to do it here for friends and family than-me trying to call everyone and fill them in.

So... everyone who watches this blog knows I have an aquired brain injury from 2005 that has definitely changed my world. But in my opinion it has changed it for the better.
I had to learn to take it easier and to plan better.

Some of our family and friends know that my health has been varied all my married life, because I also have a rare auto-immune disease called Sjogrens. Which is actually why I was susceptible to the brain injury in the first place. I have been in remission from Sjogrens (for the most part) since 2001.

In 1995 I started to show signs of the Sjogrens and in 1996 I was biopsied and diagnosed with it. Sjogrens is a connective tissue disease. It has killed my tear glands and saliva glands and has effected my esophagus and my digestive system. But, except for the tears and saliva issues, I have been doing very well all through the 2000 yrs. In the 90's I was reduced to strict vegetarianism because I lost my ability to produce digestive enzymes for meat protein, dairy, and wheat. By using nutrition to help my body heal, I was able to go back to normal eating after 7 years of regulated eating.

This past year has been really cool for me reguarding diet. I have been on Dr. Poon's high protein, low carb diet and I have lost over 50lbs and I have also reduced my cholesterol to zero and my blood sugar to normal( I became a diabetic in 2003). In the past couple of months Dr. Poon had noticed I began to hold fluid, and there did not seem to be a good reason for it. Well we discovered this week, the reason for that. I am no longer in remission for the digestive issues of Sjogrens. My body is losing its digestive enzyme production again, and it is stressing and holding fluid as an auto-immune response.

So this answers a lot of questions to why this fall I had an increase in my pain levels (which was diagnosed as fibro myalgia) and why I became terribly tired.
In an attempt to progress with my art gallery and needle felting, I had to give up some stuff. Timing is everything for me when it comes to doing what is most important for my world.

I am sure some of my friends have wondered why I am not returning calls as easily, or responding to emails quick enough or why I am not planning stuff with them. It is because I have to plan every moment of my day around my health and wellness.

Currently I am determined to continue teaching needle felting and knitting, and to continue to develop my needle felting kits and business. I am also trying to get out and do stuff, but I really only feel like I can plan more than one outing a month. So I am really choosy about what I pick. (so I am not going to please most folks....oh well). Please don't get me wrong...I am not feeling horrible. I just know that managing the Sjogrens so I can feel more well each day, requires me to be very proactive in my care. So it is just another line of action I have to add to my day. And to do that I have to let some stuff that isn't a priority be put to the side.

So this month I am going out with MaryAnn. That is my planned outing. In December I am going to Carl's work Christmas Dinner. I am also trying to get out to see Pauline before Christmas. I am also planning to cook family Christmas Dinner here. That is all I am planning till after Christmas.
Besides these outings I will be doing knitting and needle felting stuff, prepping for the holidays, and doing stuff at home with the family.
I am also planning to cook family Christmas Dinner here. So if I don't return your calls or emails it is because this stuff has to be set aside for a while.

So I have to go vegetarian again. Then I will add fish to my diet and stay like that for a while. I have to add a regimen of digestive enzymes to my day, and I have to eat huge amounts of fruit and veggies for a while. I also have these weird intestinal cleanses which are gross. These help get the food that is stuck in my intestine because the enzymes never broke them down....out of me.....echhhh!

I will probably bounce back quickly, but I am telling everyone so they don't freak if I am hermit- like for a while.

I won't die or anything, and all of this won't be a sign of some horrible outcome for me in the near future. This is just a management issue. I am the expert on managing this medical issue, so everyone will just have to trust that I am fine, but busy with my health to ensure I will be very very fine in the near future.

If you are waiting for me to help you with something...then you will be waiting a while. I won't forget where I have left-off with all my activities, and I will get back to them when I am better.

http://motivated-motion.blogspot.com/2008/11/health-update-well-i-dont-usually-talk.html

Oh The Flu, The Flu!


Well, I have been nursing the flu since Sunday.
I thought it was just a cold, but when I became plagued by fever after fever from Monday to Wednesday morning I am thinking Flu.

I am beginning to feel better this afternoon. I have been sleeping in for my health, and I am trying my best to eat well.

Most who have been following along know that my diet has removed a lot of fruit from my daily eating to speed up my metabolism. I have been eating the way the Dr wants me to, but since I got sick I have added berries to my diet. I figure if I am gonna eat anything I am craving while sick, the fruit is the least invasive. I know I have had a considerable weight loss this month, and since I have been sick I have still noticed signs of weight loss. Perhaps tonight I will actually get on the scales.

My friend had this go into her chest. I am much more fortunate than that. I only got the stuffy head. I am hoping that marking the sundown today with no fever is the means to an end of it for me now.

http://motivated-motion.blogspot.com/2007/10/oh-flu-flu-well-i-have-been-nursing-flu.html

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree!


This is the phrase Dad uses to describe my middle-aging in comparison to my mother.
I see the similarities every day, and sometimes it can be quite amusing, and sometimes it can be...just sad, to think that the stuff I declared I would never do when I got older, I am doing. And I just don't do it in the fashion, I do it exactly like her.

Mom trained me well. Even if now there is absolutely no way I can appreciate it.
Like: stretchy pants and too big shirts.

For God's sake! I have prided myself on being quite fashionable for my age. I don't spend oodles of money on clothes, but I try my best to put myself together nicely.

But today is the end. Today I found myself drooling over these great yoga pants I got at Costco.
I undid them from their wrappping and I stretched out the waist on the 3 sizes smaller than before pants. Jersey cotton with a ribbon drawstring, and a stretchy waist. I was in heaven!

Heaven?! Oh it has happened. I now know I am completely like my Mother! Stretchy pants and too big shirts. Good Lord!

http://motivated-motion.blogspot.com/2007/07/apple-doesnt-fall-far-from-tree-this-is.html

The Psychic Is Just Back From The Ghost Hunt And Is Now Trying To Pick Just 3 Blogs To Vote For In The Blog Off For Breast Cancer

I have so much to tell everyone about our over-nighter to Niagara On The Lake to talk to the ghosts of Fort George.

It isn't too often that I tell about my adventures as Lynn the Psychic who sees dead people and smells the past. But alas I am more pre-occupied with my task at hand than what I did do yesterday.

My task at hand is to vote for my three top picks this week in the Blog Off for Breast Cancer.

This week our word to write about was HOPE.
All of the work by the members of the competition was fabulous.
I was very stimulated over the last few days as I read the posts. I must admit I had to wait until tonight to read quite a few of the posts.
It figures that the first two weeks of the Blog Off would have me unplann-ed-ly busy, all of a sudden. And this mess won't end until Monday next week.

When I do my voting for the bloggers I get out a recipe card for each week. I first read the blogs who post at the same time as me, or before me on the posting day. I try my best to give an honest comment to each participant. If I don't comment it is because I have not figured out how to comment to a bloggers typepad or lillypad without registering, or I just can't find the comment link. Most of the time I do get it, and my comment is recorded. I do get refused ability to comment in the way I think I can do it, then I end up posting as anonymous and putting in my comment my url and name etc.

I must say that I am not the most savvy techno person when it comes to commenting on some blogs. But I get by.

Tonight I am astounded. I cannot choose a top 3. There are way more than 3 great posts, and I am tormented while picking my choices.

Upp see here I went off on a tangent (bad blogger, bad blogger!) So as I was saying I use the recipe card. After I see my original earlybird posters, then I look at last weeks comments and read the blogs of the ones who commented on my blog and left their linky. (I will put a linky at the bottom of this post with a silly list name so you can see it again) After I have exausted the list of folks who commented on my blog, I go back to Courtney's original list and read every single post on the list. I write the blog name on the card. Then a couple of words to jog my memory of the story, and a one word comment if I am inspired, and then a check mark if I think it is really good.

Most weeks I only pick 3 or 4 really great ones, and I eliminate the excess by re-reading the blogs with check marks and choosing my final 3 by seeing if they meet this criteria: 1)excites me
2)makes me laugh or makes me perplexed and analytical
3)sucks me in
4)teaches me something.
5)made me think
6)entertains me

So I must find the ones with the most checks to remain my final three.

This week it is impossible for me to decide this way.
OOOOooo I don't like having to change my intricate system so I can pick just 3, but I have to.

I am HOPING for a revelation.

http://motivated-motion.blogspot.com/2007/07/psychic-is-just-back-from-ghost-hunt.html

I Am Home, But I Am Broken


Oh not emotionally broken, physically broken.
At least that is how I felt on Tuesday morning when I woke up.

I had a little stiff neck coming home from Pembroke, but when I awoke in the morning I was in agony. Every joint hurt, and I was swollen all over my body. I could barely get out of bed.
I got out long enough to sit in my chair in the family room and promptly fall asleep all day.
Today I finally got to the chiropractor. Yesterday there would have been no way....cuz I hurt so bad.

Chiropractor said I made a big mistake with the stiff neck. I did one thing I thought would help my stiff neck, that actually made it all worse. I went in the hot tub Sunday night. That is what caused the pain and swelling all over.

Dumb body.....
Sigh

So I am getting back to normal, and......Harry Potter starts today! Yeah!
I am going with Cheryl tomorrow!

So now I have to rethink my plans for Pembroke in two weeks. I think that we have to scrap the hot tube room.
Poo!

http://motivated-motion.blogspot.com/2007/07/i-am-home-but-i-am-broken-oh-not.html

Oh A Full Long Weekend!


Thursday was my Birthday, but we didn't really do the Birthday celebrations until Saturday.
Saturday morning Carl drove to Peterborough to get Alex, Amber and Kitty Candy!
On Saturday afternoon we had the family and the Lyons here for a BBQ.
We had chicken teriaki, salad, veggies and dip, and cherries.

(click any photo to make it bigger)

Pamela and Gary Lyon

Alex Lyon

Al and Amber

Cheryl, Gary, Cam, Amber and Al (Pamela is hidden)

My Dad Rich, Carl, and Cam

My Cake
It is a no carb cake with Nutriwhip and fresh rasberries on top
The cake is orange cranberry
It was yummy!

Me gettin ready to BLOW!

This is voted the ugliest photo ever, but I had to promise to post it on the blog.
Al took it and shocked himself. Haha!

Cam, Al, My Mom Sandra, Me

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Canada Day! July 1st.
Click on the photo to see the slideshow

Canada Day Fireworks!
Click on the Photo to see the slideshow

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On July 2nd Carl left to be stationed at CFB Petawawa for a month.
He is taking the DP1 course
This is 6AM

Cam and Al dragged themselves outta bed to see Dad off.

I had to take Carl to the Denison Armories which is located in North Toronto,
on the site of the old Downsview Airforce base.
At Denison they catch the bus for the 7hr ride to CFB Petawawa

Getting in ranks for inspection and bus loading prep

These guys leaving on course are 17-50 years of age.
Guess who the 50 yr old is!

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Kitty Candy had her birthday on June 30th.
So she is no longer a kitten.
This was her first visit to our place.
She had a blast with stairs and carpet, and the big window
that shows more than a parking lot

Click on the photo to see the slideshow

Tomorrow will be video day!
Please return to see the fireworks video, the Canada day on Main Street video, the Candy video,and the Scottish Tattoo Video

http://motivated-motion.blogspot.com/2007/07/oh-full-long-weekend-thursday-was-my.html

Oh! It's My Birthday today.

I was born at 10:20AM, in Scarborough, ON
in 1963

for those into Birth Charts.

I don't have Birthday celebrations planned for today.
Tonight we are going to a fundraiser being put on by Cam's Drum Teacher for an animal adoption rescue.

My Parents and Cheryl and her Husband, and Alex and hopefully Amber, and Cam are coming for dinner on Saturday.

Carl and I went to Niagara Falls for the day on Monday.
That was my Birthday outing:



To get to Niagara Falls from the Toronto area you have to drive through Vineland. Vineland is part of Ontario's Foodland, and it is the land of the basin that contains Niagara Falls.



The temperatures here are more moderate in the spring, and are perfect in the summer so we can grow grapes and fruit in this area. It is also called Fruitland.

Our Ontario wines are created here. And our very special Ontario Ice Wine. Ice Wine is a very sweet and fruity wine. It is only sold is tall slim bottles, and it is very expensive. Ice Wine is like dessert wine. It goes well with a robust coffee and dessert, and can also be the sweetness of a light dessert combination.

Once we pass the tall ship wreck that is beached at Prudhommes Landing we are getting close.

On the top tier of the cliffs overlooking the falls is where the big hotels are located. Along with the hotels the Fallsview Casino and Hotel shares this perch too.
This is the lobby of the casino.
Outside the Atrium of the Casino is this lovely fountain.
This young boy had a blast in the water.
His Mom and Grandparents were laughing so hard they couldn't breathe!






From the lovely walking paths surrounding the casino I could spy the falls.
This is a view of the other big hotels and the Minolta tower.
At another crow's nest I spot the falls.

We got ready to take the incline railway down to the souvenir and attraction shop, and I snapped this pic

See how tiny the people are!

The pics above have been of the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. They are called the Horseshoe Falls. The pic below is of the American side Falls, called the American Falls. The bridge there is the border between Canada and the USA.
The boats are the Maid of the Mist fleet









I could not have wished for a better photo day. It wasn't too busy with tourists and the rainbows were perfect!

The Skylon Tower
The Gorge being overlooked by the Giant Ferris Wheel
Carl is gazing into the mist

Me posing in the clothes I wore in yr 2000!
The Incline Railway
Take a ride up with us!:

Ahhh Timmies Coffee and Knitting after a day of site seeing and gambling!


This is the famous Clifton Hill area.
The big attractions are haunted houses, wax museums, and Ripley's Believe it or Not.

It was an awesome day! It ended kind of weirdly though.
Carl and I were in no rush, so before we headed home we decided to cruise around town a bit to see what the rest of Niagara Falls would be like.
We followed the signs for downtown.

We came across this area that started out with a divided road with a decorated median in the middle.
The streets were a bit old fashioned,but the architecture was lovely.
Every storefront was empty. And only a few businesses actually existed.

It was like we were in a suspense movie like the one that showed the morning after an atomic blast. All buildings...no sign of life.

The downtown was barren.
The perfect place for a movie shoot, but a sad statement on what tourism growth really means.

Carl has updated his blog too! To go to his blog go here

http://motivated-motion.blogspot.com/2007/06/oh-its-my-birthday-today.html