The things people eat...

For a while now I have been posting photos only. I have been unsure of what to post.

The first link below will lead you to a page about natural sugar substitutes. Why am I writing about this? Well, I am allergic to chemical sugar substitutes (most people are, they just don't realize it). This site lists multiple options for individuals that cannot have sucrose (regular table sugar) but think that chemical substitutes are their only option. Chemical substitutes are NOT the only option. They just have funding and PR people working for them.

http://life.familyeducation.com/nutrition-and-diet/weight/46764.html

Now, I realize that many people feel that sugar substitutes are wonderful but do they realize what they are doing to their bodies? Diet/Sugar-free products claim to not have any, or very little, calories. That is because our bodies cannot process the drug, at least it SHOULDN'T process it. Everyone is different and there are many people whose bodies DO process the drug. That means they have a caloric intake from it. Not to mention, sugar substitutes make you HUNGRY.

Look, after reading and researching just a little bit you may realize what a danger this stuff is. Sure, you may have to look for a while before you find something else that works for you but why stuff your body full of a drug that is toxic. I mean, some of the chemicals used to create sugar substitutes can actually make formaldehyde!

http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/3/sucralose_dangers.htm

http://www.holisticmed.com/splenda/

Take a moment...and dream...

Creating again...

A wonderful woman that attended physical therapy with my mother ordered these four Cane Bracelets. She has the same style of cane that these were originally created for so my design would not have to be reworked to fit hers.

Autumn continues...

Autumn...

Landmark No More...

I had never been inside this building, with it's rundown exterior and sad, gaze-less windows. I did not know the original purpose of its structure, its calling in the world. All I did know about this building was that it always had the most beautiful mural on the outside walls. They have faded over time and, to some, lost their appeal. To me, I loved to disappear into another world, an Eden, where you could be anything, anyone. I loved to imagine that our world looked like the murals on these walls. . .

Unfortunately, the doorways to another imagining were torn down today. I did not get there fast enough to capture forever the whole view of the fantasy world I love to escape to. Just one lovely, forested waterfall still struggling to flow, trying to hold on to a time long lost. Hopefully, the few moments of time that I managed to capture will be enough. Hopefully, I will not forget the joy and release those worlds brought me for so many of my still-young years.

Sunday morning...

Last night was beautiful...

Grandma's Maple

Hello, Deer...

Traditional Medicinals ©

Oh, okay. So I forgot to put this in my first post of the day.

DH and I went grocery shopping last night. In the second store of the evening, as we passed the organic foods section, I noticed they had boxes of tea. Upon closer investigation I discovered it was almost the entire line of Traditional Medicinals© herbal and organic teas. I have a box of the Nighty Night tea that my mom gave me a while back. I love it! I didn't think it would really do anything different for me but after a few cups I noticed a difference. It really helped my calm down and get ready for a good night's rest.

I don't usually promote things like this, as it may tend to bug some people, but I encourage everyone to browse their site or look for it in the stores. One of the great things is they have several teas that are Fair Trade Certified. I will stumble all over it if I try to explain what that is, so just click the link and enjoy. They do a much better job of telling you what Fair Trade does for the farmers.

For those that want just a straight link to the website, here it is. Explore and enjoy!

Oh, and DH bought me two boxes! He knew I was almost out. He is such a sweet man.

Today I went to rehab with Mom. She is doing so well! Of course, she is exhausted by the time she gets finished but the therapists are thrilled with her progress. Guess what?! Thursday I took her to the store to get her out of the house for a bit and she WALKED for 45 minutes! She hasn't been able to walk a store like that in over 6 months! I am so proud of her!

For those that sent me encouraging vibes in dealing with my migraine, I thank you so very much. Ewokgirl, I will be checking my library for that book. After the experience with Topamax, I am so iffy on going on another medication. I still have my Maxalt, but I don't think I want to get another med in my system right now. Dana, don't worry, okay? It's all good. The worst seems to be over for now. I have gotten through the majority of withdrawal from the Topamax and things have evened out a bit. Granted, my head doesn't feel that fantastic at the moment but we have a storm front moving through. As for Mom...she knows you and G are thinking of her. Her policy is that her kids have lives and families of their own. If it was an emergency, she knows you would be here immediately.

So, abrupt change of subject! The photo shoot for Saturday has been rescheduled. T is suffering from cabin fever and wants to spend time with D for a change. No books, no stove, no chefs. We have things penciled in for Nov. 3, which will be interesting since that is my oldest's birthday. Oh, well. It will work out. If we get lucky, maybe it will have snowed by then. Can you just imagine those shots?! Oh, I can hardly wait!

Migraines & Mom - Part 3

So, mom is home now. She is going to have rehab 2-3 times a week to keep her knee moving. So far she is doing well. We went out to one of her churches on Sunday (She came home on Saturday) for a wedding. She did not officiate because she wouldn't have been able to stand that long. However, she had another pastor coming anyway and he performed the service. It was wonderful. The groom owns a flower shop, so of course there were flowers everywhere! They were just gorgeous. The bride wore a tea-length, autumn brown satin dress. It was beautiful.

One of the blessings during the wedding on Sunday evening was that it was my first afternoon/evening without a migraine. I had one that morning that was taken care of with my medicine and time. Thankfully, I was able to function through it. Since going off my Topamax, I have been in a constant state of migraine. One long period of pain. I was finally able to describe the pain to my husband. It feels like someone is shoving a pike into my skull and using a blade to scrape the thinnest layer of skin off my scalp. ...Lovely...

My pain tolerance has increased, though. I seem to be able to handle the...geez, what can I call it?...symphony of pain, I guess. My worst day was Saturday, September 29 (?). The 16-year-old took his girlfriend to Homecoming at the high school and I was the driver. We drove the 30 minutes north to pick her up and take pictures with friends before dinner. On the way to drop them at the restaurant, my migraine hit - HARD. I faked a smile and a laugh expertly. Since they were eating just a few minutes from the rehab center Mom was at, I was going to see her until they were finished. I stopped to get some food and, in tears, drove to the center. I could hardly see by the time I got to Mom. I tried to eat but it was like cardboard in my mouth. I curled up on Mom's bed and slept for over an hour before the kids called to be picked up. I, again, faked the smile and laugh all the way to the house - I had a young lady who's hair was in need of repair. I then drove them to the dance. After I left the school, I had to call my husband. My head was causing me such agony, I had to have him talk to me just so I could make it home. When he got me in the door, he was prepared - medicine, water, wet washcloth, bed - all ready to go. I was helpless, couldn't function on my own at all. I seriously thought I was going to be able to get over this in a few hours and then pick up the kids and take them to the bonfire party at a friend's house. I woke up at 2:30 a.m. when my husband came home from taking the teenager's girlfriend home from the bonfire.

After sleeping until 8 a.m., I awoke still suffering from the migraine. It didn't go away until almost 1p.m., when we left for my MIL's birthday party. That was a rough 18 hours.

I am hoping that I can keep the migraines under control through the weekend. I have a photo shoot with a couple on Saturday and Mom has church on Sunday. The photo shoot is going to be a blast! It is my husband's best friend from high school and her life-partner. They did not have any formal photos for their ceremony (I think it was a year ago?) and would like me to do an album for them. They loved the photos I did for T's culinary portfolio assignment and my oldest's senior pictures, so they are thrilled I am going to do this with them. I got paid in CAKE when I did T's culinary shots. I wonder if I can get BROWNIES this time. Hubby LOVES brownies. See? You don't have to get money...bartering is fantastic! I just love that T is in culinary school!

This is one of the water lilies my MIL has growing in her Koi pond. Every time I have been over there, the lilies are closed but at her birthday party they were open and beautiful. This is an unedited photo, right down to the little bug on the petal. Lol!

Migraines & Mom - Part 2

For Dana - I completely agree about the food Mom has to be eating but from she says, it is pretty decent. They give her fruits and vegetables that she really likes and that has a lot to do with her weight loss, I believe.

Well, the doctor has taken me off the Topomax. He agreed with my husband, who wanted to flush my pills down the toilet, that this has to stop. So, for the next month the whole family gets to help me keep track of my migraines.

Migraines & Mom

Okay, so Mom had her surgery on her left knee. She is now in a rehab center for a few weeks and is doing very well. Besides her knee healing, she has also lost weight! YAY! This is what we have been waiting for. It is difficult to exercise if you can't walk - now she is starting to lose weight that she has been trying to get off for years.

I am going to the doctor today. I actually have to leave in a few minutes. I just needed to get this out of my system first. My migraine medication, the preventative - Topomax, is causing me so many problems. The good things no longer outweigh the bad. I can't continue with it. My memory STINKS! I am unable to remember things the kids have told me. I don't remember conversations. I can't concentrate on anything - I haven't made any jewelry in so long! I am unable to focus on simple tasks, like cleaning the house. Ugh! It's a monumental feat to get things done. I lost the van in the store parking lot the other day. This wasn't just forgetting the exact location but knowing the general direction to go - I LOST THE VAN! Luckily, my 18-year-old was with me and I just followed him, after I told him I did not remember where the van was.

My system reacts to medication in such an odd fashion. I could only take 1/4 of the dose of Topomax my doctor wanted me to take. I don't like the way I am right now. I don't like forgetting things. I am afraid that one day I will forget to go get the kids or even forget that I have kids.

Am I scared? Yeah. Do I think that another medication is the answer? . . . I don't know. I just want to be me again.

Mom walked today...

I just took a call from my mom. She walked from her bed to the doorway of her hospital room! Of course, she then started to get a little fuzzy from the pain in her knee but the nurses and therapists took care of her. I am so thrilled that she is doing better! The pain had been so bad that she was unable to put any weight on it the day after, like the doctors were hoping she would.

I am going to dinner with my longtime friend Rachel this evening. Plans were that I would meet her at her home but I think I will just meet her at the restaurant. This way I can spend a few hours with Mom at the hospital.

A few days ago...

Mom

Well, Mom had her knee surgery today. She is in a fair amount of pain but that is being managed with the medication they are giving her. After reporting to the hospital before 10 a.m. this morning for check-in, with the anticipation of surgery at 12 noon, she wasn't taken back into the O.R. until almost 4 p.m. It made things rough, having to spend the whole day in the waiting rooms, jumping when the phone rang, hoping the next doctor stepping in was going to be hers. In the end, things went well.

One of the many unique things about today, I had a few brief, wonderful conversations with my SIL's mother. Dana's mom was in visiting and was able to talk with me about Mom when I called to leave a message for her and my brother. She is such a sweet lady! Dana, Mom says to tell your mom, "Thank you."

Another unique moment occurred throughout the day. Aunt Martha took the day off and came to the hospital with us. She brought this fantastic book on photography that she checked out from our local library! Now, the three of us (me, Grandpap, and Aunt Martha) are determined to BUY THAT BOOK! It is full of wonderful information and humor! Plus, I had a blast playing with Pap with it. I would leave the waiting room - he would take it; he would leave the waiting room - that thing was mine! Aunt Martha laughed and giggled every time! Now, if I could just remember the name of that book. Help!

Oh, and the photos posted for today, I took today. The petunia was shot this morning in Grandma's yard while the dew still rested on the petals, before we left for the hospital. The clouds and sun were shot through the glass of the waiting room window (Aunt Martha saw a flag hanging down the street - she humors me - and then we saw this shot).