And One Blog After Another Bites the Dust

It must be spring in the blogosphere because I have been doing some spring cleaning tonight.

I have deleted several blogs, carefully managing a tricky cut and paste from the old blogs to this blog to save the extremely important information contained in hundreds of random blog entries that I have made over the years on numerous unrelated subjects. Critical data. Key information. Seriously. It's all about me. (It's 2010, remember?)

So now I only have three blogs. I have this blog, Gia's Outpost, for general banter on just about anything, Baugh Humbug for political ramblings, The Q on the QT for comments on Albuquerque events and venues. If you can't wait the links are to the left in the My Other Blogs box. And sometimes I comment at New Mexico Liberty, although those guys are way to serious and cerebral for me, well, at least they are for most of the time.

But that being said, my spring cleaning in the blogosphere is now done. You can thank me later.

Of course by the time anyone reads through all of those old posts and feels any desire to thank me I will have long since bitten the dust, just like my blogs.

Ah well, what's wrong with a belated thank you, no matter where you are.

So go ahead and thank me, no matter where I am. In the dust, or wherever.

I'll hear ya. Mom's always do.

Glug Place

And one more blog bites the dust, my very first blog way back in 2007 - Glug Place. Entries are below...

Monday, 12 November 2007

What happened to the past year?

It is November 12th, 2007...a very long time since I last posted to my blog. What happened?!?!?

Mostly life happened, the good, the bad, AND the ugly!

Since last post: Kalen and I have moved to Salt Lake City. I am working for Christmas Box International. BreAn is expecting. Kyle and Kurt will graduate in spring/summer 08. Kelly is a Junior at SUU. Kollin and BreAn moved to Utah and live just a few miles from us. Kurt and Ash have gone and returned from NY for an internship. Kyle is studying for the LSAT. Kalen is driving and working. Karynn and JR are finishing their basement. Daelan has curly hair to his shoulders. And we are all a bit older!

Posted on Monday, 12 November 2007 at 07:53 PM in Events |Permalink | Comments (0)

Saturday, 09 September 2006

Labor Day Weekend

We had a fabulous vacation, visiting family in Utah - holding Makinlee for the first time (and for as long as I could possibly justify). The kids were all great, Brianhead was fun on Labor Day, the Anniversary House was satisfactory and Provo chic reigned as the new parents opened their apartment to us. The baptism was awesome, the food was delicious, the company was the best ever. A week with kids and grandkids, followed by three days at home before returning to school and work made this vacation one of the best ever.

Posted on Saturday, 09 September 2006 at 09:38 PM in Family |Permalink | Comments (1)

Wednesday, 06 September 2006

3DAY Walk for Breast Cancer

Several years ago I participated in my first 3DAY walk as a crew member in Santa Barbara. It changed my life. This year, I participated in the Seattle 3DAY as a medical transport crew member again. And again I was affected in a positive way; the walkers were awesome, the crew appeared tireless and the staff was dedicated. The highlight of the event was standing in the welcoming line as the walkers turned their last corner and entered the UW; two walkers that I had transported to and from the medical tent and emergency room finished the walk!!! Another great event, another great impact on me.

Posted on Wednesday, 06 September 2006 at 10:19 PM in Events |Permalink | Comments (0)

She's here!

After a few false starts (she is already a tease) the first granddaughter is here! Born on August 17 at 2:23 PM weighing 7 lbs 9 oz and 19 1/2 inches long, she is perfect in every way, loves to sleep - except between the hours of about 1 and 4 AM - rarely cries, smiles in her sleep, groans and grunts and makes all kinds of funny little sounds and is beautiful. With a Stuart nose - a cute little turned up button of a nose - a rosebud mouth and big bright blue eyes, she is already making heads turn - usually Mom and Dad's. After two long weeks of tapping fingers and checking the calendar, I finally held my first granddaughter, and have not wanted to put her down since. She is perfect in every way, of course, with wonderful parents, adoring grandparents, a myriad of aunts, uncles and cousins and the promise of a life of fun, family, faith, love and laughter.  Thank heaven for this special bundle of blessings.

Posted on Wednesday, 06 September 2006 at 07:23 PM in Family |Permalink | Comments (0)

Wednesday, 02 November 2005

Celebrating A Life

Grandma passed away early this AM, she was almost 91. I remember the very first time I met her.  We were meeting for dinner at The Olive Garden and when she entered I was impressed with her regal bearing; she was tall and slender and carried herself with a graceful ease of confidence.  Her voice was deep, almost raspy, but she laughed with a crooked smile and had a quick wit.  She was generous with everything and adored having more kids to call her 'grandchildren' although adding six unknown kids into her life was a bit overwhelming.  Even after her falls and accidents, when the dementia was deepening into Alzheimer's, we can all remember evenings around the dinner table when she would make us laugh...out of no where would come a smart aleck retort or wry comment. The attention you kids gave her, even those who rarely saw her and didn't build a connection, was valued by both her and me.  It showed your character, your capacity for patience, your willingness to be selfless...and I thank you for that. You made me proud, but more importantly, you made Grandma happy.

We will miss Grandma K, but it was her time to be released from her earth life and I know that finally, she is happy and whole and with her family once again.  Goodbye for now, Grandma. We love you.

Posted on Wednesday, 02 November 2005 at 09:34 PM in Family |Permalink | Comments (0)

November 2nd

Hello kids...just a few tidbits of info...every post to this site has to be approved before it shows on the blog, so when I get your posts I will change your names and delete your email addresses, just to keep all of us 'private'.  And your RS recipe is still there Rynn, I added a 'list of comments' section to the left side bar...so it is easy to click on the most recent comments (this way you don't have to scroll through the whole blog). And thanks to those who keep looking, I hope to add something of some level of value daily or at the very least, weekly.

Love ya all - Mom

Posted on Wednesday, 02 November 2005 at 08:06 AM | Permalink |Comments (1)

Tuesday, 01 November 2005

To Glug or not to glug

OK, to clarify...my first knowledge of the word 'glug' was as a result of researching recipes, where I found 'glug' used as a measurement...a bit more investigation surfaced the little known fact that 'glug' is also a sound (like when catsup finally 'glugs' out of an upside down bottle)...and then, being even more curious and on a hunch, I searched google and found the recipe for GLUG. There, the history of Mom's fascination with the word'glug'.

Ok, Tia, do you get it now????

Posted on Tuesday, 01 November 2005 at 03:56 PM | Permalink |Comments (0)

My favorite salad dressing

Salad Dressing a la Dee

½ c. red wine vinegar mixed w/ balsamic vinegar

¾ c. oil

½ juiced lime or lemon

1 T. Dijon mustard

1 T sugar (or 1 pkg sugar substitute)

S & P

Herbs of your choice: tarragon, Italian, oregano (any or none)

1 t. Vietnamese chili sauce

In the salad, add small chunks of vegetable per your particular choice.

Posted on Tuesday, 01 November 2005 at 10:52 AM in Food and Drink |Permalink | Comments (0)

Non-Alcoholic Glug

Non-alcoholic Glug

8 ounces water
1 cup raisins
3 cinnamon sticks
5 whole cloves
12 cardamom seeds
2 dry orange peels

Boil ingredients for 10 minutes in saucepan, then add:

1 gallon concord grape juice mixed with lime zest, or cranberry juice mixed with lemon zest
3 cups white grape juice, or ¾ cup brandy or raspberry extract
2 cups pineapple juice flavored with almond extract
1/2 cup sugar

Bring to boil and let simmer 1 minute, then turn off burner and ignite. Allow the mix to burn for about 15 seconds. Serve hot .

---

adapted from original Glug recipe Copyright © 1997 - electronic Gourmet Guide, Inc. All rights reserved

Posted on Tuesday, 01 November 2005 at 10:45 AM in Food and Drink |Permalink | Comments (1)

Non-alcoholic Glug

It seems that we have overlooked the obvious...below is the link for non-alcoholic substitutions for alcoholic ingredients in recipes.  Hopefully, this will work well with green jello and funeral potatoes also.

Enjoy! (and don't forget to research http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/alcoholsubstitutes.htm)

Posted on Tuesday, 01 November 2005 at 10:23 AM | Permalink |Comments (0)

Teen Fibro

And Yet Another Blog Bites The Dust: Below are the Blog entries from Teen Fibro- 

teen fibro is A blog I started as my daughter was fighting the self-realization that she has fibro and dealing with the reality of life with it. She's only a teenager for 19 more months and is doing amazingly well. as a result, I am so irregular in my posting on teen fibro that I think it's better to quietly close the blog, but not delete it...maybe some teenager, some time, some where, will be searching the web for answers and find some help in its words. I simply will not be contributing on a regular (if ever) basis any longer. My best wishes to those who suffer from fibro's painful symptoms and my Greatest hope for them as well. Love, Jean - 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2009

It's not the Fibro, It's the Drugs.

Sometimes life takes turns you are not expecting, and then sometimes it takes a U-turn that leaves you with whiplash.

The drugs that fibro patients take are critical to their ability to live a less painful day-to-day life, but those same drugs can be harmful to a growing fetus.

This is why it's so important for fibro patients to understand that their ability to have a child is not cancelled out by their fibromyalgia, but the life of an unplanned child might be cancelled out by the drugs they are taking IF they don't plan ahead and work with their doctors as they begin to plan a family.

Medications are not something to guess about. Your doctor can tell you what, when and when not, to take them, ESPECIALLY when you are wanting to get pregnant.

Like everything in life, and life everything in a fibro patient's life, planning makes all the difference.

If you want to get pregnant, talk to your doctor first. Most likely there will be some changes in your medications, whether it's a change in prescription or dosage - it will make the environment your baby will be living in for 9 months much more conducive to nurturing a healthy baby.

NO drugs may not be the answer, so please don't self-prescribe or self-diagnose.

Keep your doctor in the loop if you are sexually active, whether single or married, and whether you are planning a child or not.

Your health is just as important as the baby's health. Don't think one can be sacrificed for the other.

It's not the fibro that will cause problems in a pregnancy, it's the use of necessary prescribed drugs without conversation with your doctor about appropriate adjustments when you are carrying a child.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2009

You Are In the Driver's Seat

Sometimes you just don't know what to say or how to say it, you are at a loss for words. People disappoint you, plans get derailed, health fails and doctors deliver unexpected news.

Life can take twists and turns that were definitely not shown on the road map you had been following.

I suppose that's how it is when someone is diagnosed with any unexpected condition, including fibromyalgia. Words may suddenly fail you.

And when that diagnosis and sudden fork in your chosen road appears, the inaccurate road map you had been following isn't going to be of much help. In a nanosecond you feel lost. Suddenly it seems as if you are on your own, even if someone is sitting right next to you in the passenger seat, and only you can turn the steering wheel, only you can apply the brakes, only you can accelerate out of control, only you will determine where to go from here.

So whether at a loss for words or simply lost, you are in the driver's seat.

Yogi Berra once said, "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." Since those who are diagnosed with fibromyalgia have no choice in the matter, Yogi's advice is right on target.

Don't let a fork in your mapped out path derail you completely. Take the fork and remap your gameplan from a new starting point. You don't have to lose time and progress, but you do have to reprioritize.

Suddenly the destination seems further away and the road to get there is now a detour, but the the important thing is that you are still heading toward the same destination. You are still you.

When words fail you, rethink and try another tact. When plans fail you, regroup and try another path.

And even from the driver's seat, you can listen. Ignore irritating backseat drivers, but listen to your front seat passengers -those who care about you, listen to those who have been there before, listen to those who are familiar with your circumstances. No, they cannot and do not feel and know what you do, but they can often be of help. They can provide alternatives, suggest new directions, even give you a sample map to follow.

It's still your life. It's still your reality. It's still your detour. You may want to slam your foot down on that accelerator and just fly on by as if nothin has changed. But that isn't going to help and sooner or later you will run out of gas.

Racing ahead is not the best answer, you need to take a pit stop and examine the critical areas of your life that may be affected by this unexpected change. You need to assess your friends and family for those who can be of help. You need to remember that you may be in the driver's seat, but you aren't really alone.

We are all here to support you, whether it's fibromyalgia or some other unexpected turn in the road. We are just down the street, or around the corner, or at the other end of a phone call - so be careful and don't drive right by the support that is so close that you might not see it; take your foot off the accelorator, brake slowly and use us as your rest stop. Let us help where we can, even if all you need is a peaceful place in the shade to think or a cool drink.

You can do this, I know you can. And we're right there behind you. Just check your rearview mirror.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

Fibro and Pregnancy

Not very much is known about fibromyalgia and pregnancy. Doctors know a lot about pregnancy, but fibromyalgia is still a misunderstood illness even when you aren’t carrying a baby. From what I have read, the research that has been done often conflicts, so just as with fibro all by itself, more information is needed for both doctors and patients.

The good news is that research shows that babies born to women with fibromyalgia are typically healthy, full-term, and of a good birth weight. However, from conception to birth and even the first 90 days following birth can be a challenge for the fibromyalgia Mom, according to some research. Other research showed that the fibro symptoms in pregnant Mom’s tend to lessen or even go away altogether, possibly due to the ovarian hormone relaxin which increases to 10X the normal levels when women are pregnant.

Although pregnancy can eliminate fibro symptoms for some, most women will experience the return of their pre-pregnancy fibro symptoms after giving birth and will experience specific symptoms such as muscle pain when they breastfeed.

Simple precautions that should be recommended for any woman who is breast feeding, not just fibro sufferers, should be taken: find a supportive and comfortable chair, prop your arm on a pillow, make certain the baby is supported and that you don’t have to hold all of their weight, be careful about your own position and posture, find a place that is as tranquil as possible to nurse.

The issue of meds is also of concern, not all medications are safe to continue during pregnancy, but some are. Make certain you talk to your doctor prior to getting pregnant or immediately upon becoming pregnant about your meds.

And of course, eat smart and healthy, keep moving and work out moderately, don’t overdo anything, sleep enough, sit enough, walk enough, eat enough, take appropriate meds, and enjoy your pregnancy.

The best news is that you can stop worrying, because fibromyalgia should have no negative effect on your baby. The challenge is whether your fibro-body can manage a pregnancy. The question is, are YOU up to it?

There’s a baby at the end of these 9 months, what other time will you have such a reward at the end of what may include some very uncomfortable times?

So enjoy, be smart, plan ahead and congratulations!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2009

FDA Warnings about Meds (Alarming Treatments?)

I was sent a note by Tricia, who has provided this link for information about some medications that may have some very serious side effects that we all should be aware of. She was informing me in case my daughter was taking any of these meds. What a sweetheart. This is what I am talking about. Together we can help one another and we CAN make a difference.

Here is Tricia's note in part:

I just read a FDA warning about certain medications that are sometimes used to treat fibromyalgia and cause an increased risk of lymphoma and other cancers associated with the use of these drugs in children and adolescents. It's Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Blockers and are marketed as Remicade, Enbrel, Humira, Cimzia, and Simponi.

Thank you Tricia!

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2009

National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week, September 14 - 20

Click here for information about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week! It's right around the corner!

Magical Inspiration for Fibromyalgia

Every day with fibro can be filled with pain and frustration, but more importantly, every day with fibro can be a new opportunity to celebrate life and face challenges with determination.

No, it isn't easy.

Yes, there will be days you want to just stay in bed. There may be days you can't do anything BUT stay in bed.

But there will be days...and that's the gift you can't forget. You have days. You are alive. You are important. You have something to contribute. You are YOU, and you are unique and precious.

Make sure you don't let fibro win, it may keep you in bed for a day or two, but that isn't winning; if you let it suck your smile and happiness it will have won.

The top picture is of my daughter Kalen with her niece, Kayla - a miniature Kalen as you can see. Kalen suffers from the collective challenges of fibro every moment, just as so many do. But she also chooses to celebrate life...and savor the good moments. She is in college. She is dating. She rides her bike. She eats smart and rests well. She has her bad days, but she lives for the good days. She is brave and beautiful and she is in pain; she has fibromyalgia.

Cysts and pain and fatigue and mood swings make it a challenge to rise to the occasion sometimes, but she almost always manages (without whining or complaining), as you can see in the second picture of Kalen as a bridesmaid, which was taken at Kalen's sister's wedding.

She is my inspiration. If you need someone to help you, use Kalen. She is amazing. You can email her at teenfibro@gmail.com. Or you can always email me at that same email address.

Dream. Never give up. Don't let it win. This final picture is of Kelly and Logan, Kalen's older sister and her new husband. It's magical, isn't it?

Kelly doesn't have fibromyalgia, but she has had her own challenges, as we all do. And yet, there she is, a bride and now married to her dream guy. She is also my inspiration.

I know that you can do this, and together we can increase awareness and improve treatment of fibromyalgia.

Life can be magical for all of us. So, please, let the magic begin in your life...remember who you are!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2009

On the Road...

I have been travelling for the past several weeks and will be pretty much continue trekking through southern Utah and then back to New Mexico for the next week or so. Thanks to those who have visited the site and posted as well, I will be back and focused sometime next week!

Carry on!