Monthly Archives: December 2009

Shingles-A Virus

December 31, 2009

Shingles! The word sounds like the tiles on your roof doesn’t it?  Actually, shingles is an extremely painful rash that comes from the same virus as the chickenpox virus that makes a home in our bodies for the rest of our lives. Enough about Chicken Pox. Again, I went to my favorite specialists at the Mayo Clinic website and searched for “Shingles.” I hope this information will be helpful to you.

Definition

By the Mayo Clinic Staff

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Although shingles can occur anywhere on your body, it most often appears as a band of blisters that wraps from the middle of your back around one side of your chest to your breastbone.

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles.

While it isn’t a life-threatening condition, shingles can be very painful. Vaccines can help reduce the risk of shingles, while early treatment can help shorten a shingles infection and lessen the chance of complications.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of shingles usually affect only a small section of one side of your body. These signs and symptoms may include:

  • Pain, burning, numbness or tingling
  • A red rash that begins a few days after the pain
  • Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
  • Itching

Some people also experience:

  • Fever and chills
  • General achiness
  • Headache
  • Fatigue

Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles. For some, it can be intense. Depending upon the location of the pain, it can sometimes be mistaken for a symptom of problems affecting the heart, lungs or kidneys. Some people experience shingles pain without ever developing the rash.

Most commonly, the shingles rash develops as a band of blisters that wraps around one side of your chest from your spine to your breastbone. Sometimes the shingles rash occurs around one eye or on one side of the neck or face.

When to see a doctor
Contact your doctor promptly if you suspect shingles, but especially in the following situations:

  • The pain and rash occur near your eyes. If left untreated, this infection can lead to permanent eye damage.
  • You or someone in your family has a weakened immune system (due to cancer, medications or chronic illness).
  • The rash is widespread and painful.

Causes

Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who’s had chickenpox may develop shingles. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus can enter your nervous system and lie hidden for years. Eventually, it may reactivate and travel along nerve pathways to your skin — producing shingles.

The reason for the encore is unclear. But it may be due to lowered immunity to infections as you grow older. Shingles is more common in older adults and in people who have weak immune systems.

Varicella-zoster is part of a group of viruses called herpes viruses, which includes the viruses that cause cold sores and genital herpes. Because of this, shingles is also known as herpes zoster. But the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles is not the same virus responsible for cold sores or genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease.

Are you contagious?
A person with shingles can pass the varicella-zoster virus to anyone who hasn’t had chickenpox. This usually occurs through direct contact with the open sores of the shingles rash. Once infected, the person will develop chickenpox, however, not shingles.

Chickenpox can be dangerous for some groups of people. Until your shingles blisters scab over, you are contagious and should avoid physical contact with:

  • Anyone who has a weak immune system
  • Newborns
  • Pregnant women

Risk factors

Having had chickenpox
Anyone who has ever had chickenpox can develop shingles. Most adults in the United States had chickenpox when they were children, before the advent of the routine childhood vaccination that now protects against chickenpox.

Age
Shingles is most common in people over the age of 50. The risk increases with age. Some experts estimate that half the people who live to the age of 85 will experience shingles at some point in their lives.

Weakened immune systems
People with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for developing shingles. A weakened immune system can be caused by:

  • HIV/AIDS
  • Cancer or cancer treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy
  • Prolonged use of steroids, such as prednisone
  • Drugs designed to prevent rejection of transplanted organs

Complications

Complications from shingles can range from a mild to severe, ranging from minor skin infections to postherpetic neuralgia.

Postherpetic neuralgia
For some people, shingles pain continues long after the blisters have cleared. This condition is known as postherpetic neuralgia, and it occurs when damaged nerve fibers send confused and exaggerated messages of pain from your skin to your brain. Pain medication, antidepressants or anticonvulsant medications may help provide relief until the pain subsides.

Vision loss
Shingles in or around an eye (ophthalmic shingles) can cause painful eye infections that may result in vision loss.

Neurological problems
Depending upon which nerves are affected, shingles can cause:

  • Encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain
  • Hearing or balance problems
  • Facial paralysis

Skin infections
If shingles blisters aren’t properly treated, bacterial skin infections may develop.

Wow! This is great information, isn’t it? How could we know that having chickenpox could possibly cause all these problems. The new vaccine, Zostavax may be the only way to eliminate the possibility of going through shingles later on in life. Anyway, tomorrow, I will continue this article with more information from the staff at Mayo Clinic about preparing for your doctor visit and what to ask him/her about this virus, tests and diagnosis, treatment and drugs, lifestyle and home remedies, and prevention. I hope you will stay with me and learn as much as possible. This information is important, especially if you’ve had chickenpox.

By Diane | Posted in Shingles Adult Chickenpox | Tagged , | Comment (1)

A Little More Information About Gout

December 30, 2009

I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s article on gout. The information is very important because there are a lot of folks out there suffering from this disorder. Yesterday, we learned what gout actually is, risk factors, causes, complications, and preparing for the doctor’s appointment. Today, we are going to find out about tests and diagnosis, treatments and drugs, lifestyle and home remedies, alternative medicine, and last but not least, prevention. Like yesterday’s article, the information is coming from the staff at Mayo Clinic.

Tests and diagnosis

By Mayo Clinic staff

Tests to help diagnose gout may include:

  • Joint fluid test. Your doctor may use a needle to draw fluid from your affected joint. When examined under the microscope, your joint fluid may reveal urate crystals.
  • Blood test. Your doctor may recommend a blood test to measure the uric acid level in your blood. Blood test results can be misleading, though. Some people have high uric acid levels, but never experience gout. And some people have signs and symptoms of gout, but don’t have unusual levels of uric acid in their blood.

Treatments and drugs

Treatment for gout usually involves medications. What medications you and your doctor choose will be based on your current health and your own preferences.

Different medications are prescribed to:

  • Treat acute gout attacks and prevent future attacks
  • Reduce the risk of gout complications, such as the deposits of urate crystals that cause nodules to form under the skin (tophi)

Drugs used to treat acute attacks and prevent future attacks include:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs may control inflammation and pain in people with gout. Your doctor may prescribe a higher dose to stop an acute attack, followed by a lower daily dose to prevent future attacks.

    NSAIDs include over-the-counter options such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, others), as well as more powerful prescription NSAIDs such as indomethacin (Indocin). NSAIDs carry risks of stomach pain, bleeding and ulcers.

  • Colchicine. If you’re unable to take NSAIDs, your doctor may recommend colchicine, a type of pain reliever that effectively reduces gout pain — especially when started soon after symptoms appear. The drug’s effectiveness is offset in most cases, however, by intolerable side effects, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

    After an acute gout attack resolves, your doctor may prescribe a low daily dose of colchicine to prevent future attacks.

  • Corticosteroids. Corticosteroid medications, such as the drug prednisone, may control gout inflammation and pain. Corticosteroids may be administered in pill form, or they can be injected into your joint. Corticosteroids are generally reserved for people who can’t take either NSAIDs or colchicine.

    Side effects of corticosteroids may include thinning bones, poor wound healing and a decreased ability to fight infection. To reduce the risk of these serious side effects, your doctor will try to find the lowest dose that controls your symptoms and prescribe steroids for the shortest possible time.

Drugs used to prevent the complications associated with frequent gout attacks include:

  • Medication that blocks uric acid production. Drugs called xanthine oxidase inhibitors, including allopurinol (Zyloprim, Aloprim) and febuxostat (Uloric), limit the amount of uric acid your body makes. This may lower your blood’s uric acid level and reduce your risk of gout. Side effects of allopurinol include a rash and low blood counts. Febuxostat side effects include rash, nausea and reduced liver function.

    Xanthine oxidase inhibitors may trigger a new, acute attack if taken before a recent attack has totally resolved. Taking a short course of low-dose colchicine before starting a xanthine oxidase inhibitor has been found to significantly reduce this risk.

  • Medication that improves uric acid removal. Probenecid (Probalan) improves your kidneys’ ability to remove uric acid from your body. This may lower your uric acid levels and reduce your risk of gout, but the level of uric acid in your urine is increased. Side effects include a rash, stomach pain and kidney stones.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Medications are the most proven, effective way to treat gout symptoms. However, making certain changes to your diet also may help.

The American Dietetic Association recommends following these guidelines during a gout attack:

  • Drink 8 to 16 cups (about 2 to 4 liters) of fluid each day, including at least half water.
  • Avoid alcohol.
  • Eat a moderate amount of protein, preferably from healthy sources, such as low-fat or fat-free dairy, tofu, eggs, and nut butters.
  • Limit your daily intake of meat, fish and poultry to 4 to 6 ounces (114 to 170 grams).

Alternative medicine

If gout treatments aren’t working as well as you’d hoped, you may be interested in trying complementary and alternative treatments for your gout. Discuss these treatments with your doctor first. Your doctor can help you weigh the benefits and risks and tell you if the treatments will interfere with your gout medications.

Though you may be reluctant to discuss complementary and alternative medicine with your doctor, many mainstream doctors are becoming more open to discussing these options. But, since few of these treatments have been extensively studied in clinical trials, it’s difficult to assess whether these treatments are helpful for gout pain. In some cases, the risks of these treatments aren’t known.

Some complementary and alternative treatments that have been studied include:

  • Coffee. Studies have found an association between coffee drinking — both regular and decaffeinated coffee — and lower uric acid levels, though no study has demonstrated how or why coffee may have an influence on uric acid in your body. The available evidence isn’t enough to encourage noncoffee drinkers to start, but it may give researchers clues to new ways of treating gout in the future.
  • Vitamin C. Supplements containing vitamin C may reduce the levels of uric acid in your blood. However, vitamin C hasn’t been studied as a treatment for gout. Don’t assume that if a little vitamin C is good for you, then lots is better. Megadoses of vitamin C may increase your body’s uric acid levels. Talk to your doctor about what a reasonable dose of vitamin C may be. And don’t forget that you can increase your vitamin C intake by eating more fruits and vegetables, especially oranges.
  • Cherries. Cherries have been associated with lower levels of uric acid in studies, but it isn’t clear if they have any effect on gout signs and symptoms. Adding cherries and other dark-colored fruits, such as blackberries, blueberries, purple grapes and raspberries, to your diet may be a safe way to supplement your gout treatment, but discuss it with your doctor first.

Other complementary and alternative medicine treatments may help you cope until your gout pain subsides or your medications take effect. For instance, relaxation techniques, such as deep-breathing exercises and meditation, may help take your mind off your pain.

Prevention

Medications
If you experience several gout attacks each year or if your gout attacks are less frequent but particularly painful, your doctor may recommend medication to reduce your risk of future gout attacks and of gout-related complications.

You usually begin taking preventive medications once your acute gout attack has subsided. Options include:

  • Low-dose NSAIDs
  • Low-dose colchicine
  • Allopurinol or febuxostat
  • Probenecid

Dietary changes
During symptom-free periods, these dietary guidelines may help protect against future gout attacks:

  • Keep your fluid intake high. Aim for 8 to 16 cups (about 2 to 4 liters) of fluid each day, including at least half water.
  • Limit or avoid alcohol. Talk with your doctor about whether any amount or type of alcohol is safe for you. Recent evidence suggests that beer may be particularly likely to increase the risk of gout symptoms, especially in men.
  • Eat a balanced diet following the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Your daily diet should emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk products.
  • Get your protein from low-fat dairy products. Low-fat dairy products may actually have a protective effect against gout, so these are your best-bet protein sources.
  • Limit your intake of meat, fish and poultry. A small amount may be tolerable, but pay close attention to what types — and how much — seem to cause problems for you.
  • Maintain a desirable body weight. Choose portions that allow you to maintain a healthy weight. Losing weight may decrease uric acid levels in your body. But avoid fasting or rapid weight loss, since doing so may temporarily raise uric acid levels

I hope this information brought to you by the staff of Mayo Clinic was helpful, especially if you have gout. If you don’t have gout, maybe you know someone who does. Please share the articles on this blog with your friends and family members.

By Diane | Posted in Chronic Pain, Gout | Tagged , , , | Comment (1)

Have You Ever Had Gout?

December 29, 2009

The term “gout” has always made me think of people who eat rich food. I’m not sure why that is, only that when I was a child, I knew some family members who complained of “the gout.” In order to educate people about what gout is, the symptoms, treatment, and other information; I’ve turned to my favorite medical website, The Mayo Clinic. The first item to explain is what gout actually is.

According to the staff of The Mayo Clinic, Gout is a complex form of arthritis characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, redness and tenderness in joints, often the joint at the base of the big toe. Gout can affect anyone. Men are more likely to get gout, but women become increasingly susceptible to gout after menopause. An acute attack of gout can wake you up in the middle of the night feeling like your big toe is on fire. The affected joint is hot, swollen and so tender that even the weight of the sheet on it seems intolerable. Fortunately, gout is treatable, and there are ways to reduce the risk that gout will recur.

The signs and symptoms of gout are almost always acute, occurring suddenly — often at night — and without warning. They include:

  • Intense joint pain. Gout usually affects the large joint of your big toe, but it can occur in your feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists. The pain is likely to be most severe within the first 12 to 24 hours after it begins.
  • Lingering discomfort. After the most severe pain subsides, some joint discomfort may last from a few days to a few weeks. Later attacks are likely to last longer and affect more joints.
  • Inflammation and redness. The affected joint or joints become swollen, tender and red.

When to see a doctor
If you experience sudden, intense pain in a joint, call your doctor. Gout that goes untreated can lead to worsening pain and joint damage.

Seek medical care immediately if you have a fever and a joint is hot and inflamed, which can be a sign of infection.

According to The Mayo Clinic Staff, gout occurs when urate crystals accumulate around your joint, causing the inflammation and intense pain of a gout attack. Urate crystals can form when you have high levels of uric acid in your blood. Your body produces uric acid when it breaks down purines — substances that are found naturally in your body — as well as in certain foods, such as organ meats, anchovies, herring, asparagus and mushrooms.

Normally, uric acid dissolves in your blood and passes through your kidneys into your urine. But sometimes your body either produces too much uric acid or your kidneys excrete too little uric acid. When this happens, uric acid can build up, forming sharp, needle-like urate crystals in a joint or surrounding tissue that cause pain, inflammation and swelling.

You’re more likely to develop gout if you have high levels of uric acid in your body. Factors that increase the uric acid level in your body include:

  • Lifestyle factors. Choices you make in your everyday life may increase your risk of gout. Excessive alcohol use — generally more than two drinks a day for men and more than one for women — increases the risk of gout.
  • Medical conditions. Certain diseases and conditions make it more likely that you’ll develop gout. These include untreated high blood pressure (hypertension) and chronic conditions such as diabetes, high levels of fat and cholesterol in the blood (hyperlipidemia), and narrowing of the arteries (arteriosclerosis).
  • Certain medications. The use of thiazide diuretics — commonly used to treat hypertension — and low-dose aspirin also can increase uric acid levels. So can the use of anti-rejection drugs prescribed for people who have undergone an organ transplant.
  • Family history of gout. If other members of your family have had gout, you’re more likely to develop the disease.
  • Age and sex. Gout occurs more often in men than it does in women, primarily because women tend to have lower uric acid levels than men do. After menopause, however, women’s uric acid levels approach those of men. Men also are more likely to develop gout earlier — usually between the ages of 40 and 50 — whereas women generally develop signs and symptoms after menopause.

The Mayo Clinic Staff go on to say that people with gout can develop more-severe conditions, such as:

  • Recurrent gout. Some people may never experience gout signs and symptoms again. But others may experience gout several times each year. Medications may help prevent gout attacks in people with recurrent gout.
  • Advanced gout. Untreated gout may cause deposits of urate crystals to form under the skin in nodules called tophi (TOE-fi). Tophi usually aren’t painful, but they can become swollen and tender during gout attacks.
  • Kidney stones. Urate crystals may collect in the urinary tract of people with gout, causing kidney stones. Medications can help reduce the risk of kidney stones.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have symptoms that are common to gout. After an initial examination, your doctor may refer you to a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory joint conditions (rheumatologist).

Here’s some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

  • Write down your symptoms, including when they started and how often they occur.
  • Write down key personal information, including any recent changes or major stressors in your life.
  • Make a list of your key medical information, including any other conditions for which you’re being treated and the names of any medications, vitamins or supplements you’re taking. Your doctor will also want to know if you have any family history of gout.
  • Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the information provided to you during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
  • Write down questions to ask your doctor. Creating your list of questions in advance can help you make the most of your time with your doctor.

Questions to ask the doctor at the initial appointment include:

  • What are the possible causes of my symptoms or condition?
  • What tests do you recommend?
  • If these tests don’t pinpoint the cause of my symptoms, what additional tests might I need?
  • Are there any treatments or lifestyle changes that might help my symptoms now?
  • Do I need to follow any restrictions while we’re seeking a diagnosis?
  • Should I see a specialist?

Questions to ask if you are referred to a rheumatologist include:

  • Do I have gout?
  • What treatments are most likely to help me feel better?
  • What are the possible side effects of the drugs you’re prescribing?
  • If these drugs don’t work or cause serious side effects, what will we try next?
  • How soon after beginning treatment should my symptoms start to improve?
  • Do I need to take medications long term?
  • I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • Do you recommend any changes to my diet?
  • Is it safe for me to drink alcohol?
  • Are there any handouts or Web sites that you’d recommend for me to learn more about my condition?

If any additional questions occur to you during your medical appointments, don’t hesitate to ask.

What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to talk about in-depth. Your doctor may ask:

  • What are your symptoms?
  • In what part of your body do your symptoms occur?
  • When did you first experience these symptoms?
  • Do your symptoms come and go? How often?
  • Does anything in particular seem to trigger your symptoms, such as certain foods or physical or emotional stress?
  • Are you being treated for any other medical conditions?
  • What medications are you currently taking, including over-the-counter and prescription drugs as well as vitamins and supplements?
  • Do any of your first-degree relatives — such as a parent or sibling — have a history of gout?
  • What do you eat in a typical day?
  • Do you drink alcohol? If so, how much and how often?
  • What else concerns you?

This is very helpful information presented by the Mayo Clinic Staff from their website. You can read all of this information there; however, I will continue this article on Gout tomorrow explaining more about the tests you will need for diagnosis; treatments, drugs, and home remedies; alternative medicine; and prevention. I hope this information will help you diagnose and treat an extremely painful condition especially if you do not know what it is. Until tomorrow, then.

By Diane | Posted in An Inflammatory Disease, Chronic Pain, Gout, Keeping Healthy | Tagged , | Comment (1)

New Year’s Resolutions

December 28, 2009

Are you going to be making New Year’s resolutions this year? Everyone makes resolutions like “I’m going to lose 10 pounds by Valentine’s Day,” or “I’m going to quit smoking this year,” or “I’m going to do more reading instead of watching TV,” etc. I could go on, but the idea here is, “Resolutions don’t matter because people never keep them.” If resolutions are not kept, why are they made?

That’s a good question! My opinion on New Year’s Resolutions is they are a tradition. Every year since I was a child, I remember everyone I knew made resolutions on New Year’s Eve in preparation for the New Year. Apparently, 75 percent of all resolutions made are broken. Can you believe that? I’m sure it is true.

Every year since I was about 10 years old I made New Year’s resolutions. One year, when I was 15, I decided to make the resolution (at the beginning of the school year and at New Years) to have a boyfriend. I went to a Catholic high school and wore a green plaid pleated skirt, a white shirt, and a black blazer uniform. At 15, I was as round as I was tall. None of the boys in my class or any of the other classes liked me, but I didn’t lose hope. I was so determined to have a boyfriend that year that I started exercising and dieting. In October, I turned 16. Still no boyfriend. I lost 10 pounds and my little round belly. My girl friends were very happy I had lost weight. They thought for sure I would have a boyfriend in a few months. Christmas came and went. Valentines Day came and went. By the time school was out for the summer, I still didn’t have a boyfriend. Actually, when I finally got a boyfriend, I was 18 years old and in nursing school. So much for that year’s resolution.

The media hype acclaiming the new year encourages people to change something about themselves to make life better. There are so many people trying to lose weight, stop smoking, do more exercise, be less lonely, start new businesses, etc. Those who usually make a resolution to change themselves or their lives may start out strong, but after a few weeks they lose steam and quit. For those folks trying to change their image or quit smoking, they work hard at it for awhile, but because our society is used to having what we want right away, when we don’t lose weight or we can’t quit smoking we quit trying. There is no willpower anywhere or our resolutions are not serious.

I’ve come to realize that New Year’s resolutions are a game. When we are with friends, we make resolutions to keep up with them. When we are alone, we have no intention of keeping resolutions. If everyone who made a resolution was accountable to someone other than a family member or co-worker, I bet more people would keep their resolutions. That is the reason I don’t make resolutions any more at New Years or at any other time. Saying a resolution out loud is tantamount to being accountable and I would have to go through with it.

You will have to do what you think is best when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. If you feel like you can go through with it, go ahead and make as many resolutions as you can keep.

By Diane | Posted in Breaking Bad Habits, Exercise is Important For Everyone! | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Christmas Day at Grandpa Roy’s & Grandma Ruth’s

December 27, 2009

Christmas morning began with little Drew waking up all wet. He called frantically for his Momma, who was in the kitchen making breakfast for her husband and his mama, Abuelita Merina. Poor little Drew ended up in the bath tub. His sister, Katy washed him thoroughly with soap and rinsed him off in the warm water. Pretty soon, he started crying, “I’m cold, I’m cold.”

Whining and whimpering, Drew got out of the tub and Katy wrapped him in a towel. The whining continued as my daughter dressed him in his favorite hoodie shirt and corduroy pants. He was all ready to start Christmas Day.

Drew did not want his waffle and orange juice so his Momma wrapped the waffle in plastic wrap and put the orange juice in a travel cup and put both in his backpack for the trip to Grandpa Roy’s and Grandma Ruth’s house. We would take two cars this morning because Papi was bringing his Mamma. Drew and Katy were going to have all three of their grandmas together in one place.

My son-in-law, Rico drove his car with his mother, Merina and my daughter. Tracy was going without the children this morning to get a little break from her whining son. Chris, my son, drove with Drew in his car seat, Katy in charge of entertaining herself and her brother, and myself in the front passenger seat. The drive was pretty quiet until Drew got too warm. He started whining, then crying. Chris became nervous and asked Katy what was wrong. Katy told her uncle that her little brother was too hot. Chris told her to take Drew’s jacket off. As she did that, Chris turned the heater down and opened the window a crack to let in a little outside air. Everything was fine and Chris settled down for the rest of the drive.

Before long, we were off the freeway and driving along side the cargo runways at O’Hare Airport. We were almost to our destination. Ten minutes later, we were in Grandpa’s and Grandma’s driveway. We told them we would be there by noon and we were in the driveway two minutes before noon. We went into the house and received a wonderful Christmas welcome.

The house was filled with the smells of Christmas, with Wassail, appetizers, little meatball hoagies, shrimp & cocktail sauce, sweets, and more. In the kitchen, Grandma Ruth was cooking a savory crown roast of pork, with dressing, real mashed potatoes and gravy, salad, and fresh rolls. Dinner was absolutely wonderful. Little Drew was so excited and exhausted, he hardly ate a thing. Katy ate what was put on her plate, but she had eaten so many appetizers, she wasn’t very hungry for dinner.

We ate dinner and talked as the children ran around and played with Drew’s Ben 10 watch and light saber. I helped Ruth clear the table. She put the majority of the food in containers for everyone to take home, as I put silverware, salad bowls, and little punch cups in the dishwasher. When we finished, Ruth let everyone know it was time to open presents.

The children raced to the Christmas tree as Grandpa Roy started running the Christmas train around the tree. Drew was mesmerized by the train. He wanted to run the train, so Grandpa helped him. When everyone was seated around the roaring fire and the Christmas tree, Grandma Ruth and Drew handed out presents. Even Abuelita Merina got some nice presents. By the time everyone was finished opening some really nice gifts from Grandpa Roy and Grandma Ruth, Drew started crying tears of exhaustion. Understanding what these tears meant, my daughter picked her little boy up and took him in one of the bedrooms. She rocked him as she walked. Before too long, Drew was out like a light, asleep. Tracy laid him on the bed and let him sleep.

At that point, we sat down at the table for coffee, tea, and dessert. After Katy had her cookies, she went back to one of the bedrooms and laid down on one of the beds as well. She was tired too.

We sat and talked as Rico translated everything to his Mamma. Merina doesn’t speak English. I think Merina had a good time, though, because Grandma Ruth made sure she felt wanted and comfortable. Abuelita Merina was with her son Rico and his family. She had a very happy look on her face all day.

The day had gone by quickly. Everyone was feeling very comfortable as we sat and talked over dessert and coffee. I wanted to get into the kitchen and help Ruth wash the dishes that could not go into the dishwasher, but she told me it wouldn’t take her and Roy very long. By the time I rolled up my sleeves and started the water, my daughter came in and told me we were leaving. We left at 6:45 pm, it would be 8:45 pm before we would get home.

My son helped me into the front seat of his Escape because there was ice on the driveway. The temperature had gone down from the low 40s. Snow was falling, replacing the rain. This time, Tracy rode with us so her son would be happy. As we started out, I thought I would close my eyes for a minute or two to rest. Before I knew it, we were making the turn from US 45 onto Pilgrim Road, 5 minutes from my daughter’s house. Wow! I had slept the whole way.

Drew was happy to get out of his car seat and into his house. The first thing he wanted was his Ben 10 watch and the discs. We looked everywhere, in his backpack, in the car, in his car seat, in Katy’s backpack, no watch or discs. My daughter called Grandma Ruth’s and sure enough, the Ben 10 watch and discs were in the bathroom, where Drew had gone potty and washed his hands, with his Momma’s help.  Grandma Ruth promised to mail Drew his Ben 10 watch first thing Monday morning. I hope Tracy, his Papi, and Katy can make it until the watch comes in the mail.

I gathered my beautiful presents and my pajamas and headed for home. Ahhh! Home Sweet Home. A little lonely without Hank, but I was home. Saturday morning, I woke up late around 10:00 am. I got ready to drive to West Allis to pick up my dog. He wasn’t all too happy to see me. I suppose he was giving me the stand offish act. Into his kennel he went and we were off. Before I was on the road two minutes, Hank let me know he had to go out. I stopped in a large parking lot near the local CBS Television Station and Bally’s Fitness Club. He went twice. I picked up to “doo doo” with one of his diapers and went to find a trash can. By the time I was ready to get started, he whined again. I let him out one more time. This time, I walked him around awhile in the parking lot to allow his system to settle and back he went into the kennel.

I got on I-94 knowing I would not be taking US-45 because there were two accidents going North. We continued on I-94 until we got to Moorland Rd. I got off at Moorland and took Pilgrim Road east to I-45 totally bypassing the accidents. Throughout this drive, Hank whined letting me know he didn’t like being sequestered in the kennel. This was not a fun drive. However, by the time we got on US-45 at Pilgrim Road, Hank stopped whining. Apparently, he realized I wasn’t going to let him out so he settled down and stopped whining. What a blessing!

The weather did not cooperate on the drive home anymore than Hank. Snow fell in almost blizzard-like conditions. Between running the windshield wipers, quieting Hank, and easing the brake to stop without sliding I truly had my hands full. By the time we got home, I felt like kissing the ground. Hank got out of the kennel and went straight to the back door. He went out, did his thing, and went straight to his bed. The poor little dog was exhausted. We were home safe and sound.

This was a true story. All the names were of real people and there will likely be a similar story next Christmas. As you can see, my Christmas was memorable. I hope your Christmas was as wonderful as mine. God bless you all and I wish you all the best today and everyday throughout the year. See you tomorrow. Take care.

By Diane | Posted in The Christmas Spirit | Tagged , | Comments (0)

How Much Fun Did You Have On Christmas Day?

December 26, 2009

Christmas Eve was so much fun with my children and grandchildren. I got to my daughter and son-in-law’s home by 3:00 pm so we could all go to Christmas Mass together. We listened to the children’s choir as they sang several beautiful songs. Two of the children had solo parts and were very good. I’m sure these children practiced for months to perform on Christmas Eve. By 5:00 pm we left the church for home, traveling through pouring rain (instead of snow). Dinner was set for 6:30 pm.  The little ones were hungry but were very preoccupied, because they were so excited to start opening their presents. We waited as long as we could and when my son did not show up, my son-in-law decided to call him. My son told us to go ahead and eat dinner without him. His dinner would be kept warm until he arrived.

My daughter truly outdid herself with her Christmas Eve feast. She had been cooking and cleaning all day long. Dinner included a beautifully baked ham with pineapple, candied yams (my favorite), twice cooked baked potatoes (the children do not like yams), green beans, fresh cranberry salad, 5-ingredient marshmallow salad, and freshly baked bread. Even my grandson, Drew, who is generally a picky eater, ate his fill of ham and marshmallow salad. I helped my daughter clear the table and wash the dishes so she didn’t have to spend too much time cleaning up. When we were all done, my son showed up.

As soon as her brother walked through the back door, my daughter took his plate out of the oven where it had been warming, and she started putting more ham, green beans, and twice cooked baked potatoes on it. While Uncle Chris ate his dinner, my grandson and I played his favorite Indiana Jones game. Every time I come to his house, Drew always wants to play his mother’s Indiana Jones game because he loves the movies. However, this time, all he wanted to do was look at different video sections. He wasn’t into playing the game by the rules.

As soon as Uncle Chris was finished with dinner, my daughter announced that it was time to open presents. The children excitedly handed one present at a time to a recipient, and little Drew threw his arms around each person telling him or her Merry Christmas! He was so excited every time he received a present. My son-in-law took still photos with my daughter’s Canon digital camera and my son used his Sony camcorder to record the evening’s festivities for posterity. My son even remembered Hank (my dog) with a “Snuggie” for dogs. Actually, the week before, I had gotten the same size, same color Snuggie for Hank myself. This was a wonderful thing for my son to do to remember my dog on Christmas. I was so happy.

My daughter, son-in-law, and the children gave me a beautiful brown microfiber cape. The cape was so warm. They also gave me some really nice dangly earrings, and a stocking full of goodies. My son was so generous. He gave me a beautiful pink Snuggie (the one with the book light), a Charging Station, and a terrific box of Pot-O’-Gold variety of Milk Chocolates. My evening was complete as I sat in my rocker wrapped in my lovely chocolate colored microfiber cape and pink Snuggie.

My granddaughter, Katy, was so excited when she opened up two pairs of toed knee socks. She ran over to her Momma and gave her big kisses. Katy is an innocent little 10 year old who takes wonderful care of her brother for her Momma and Papi (in Mexico, little children call their father Papi). She is a very big help so her next gift, an MP3 player was a very exciting gift. Katy was so excited, she immediately put the ear phones in, turned her MP3 player on, and started singing to the music. What a sweet little girl! I gave Katy a Discovery Kids laptop with 55 different games and tasks that she could do with her little brother, and a pink Snuggie with a pair of pink slipper socks. She was very happy with these gifts and gave me a hug, a kiss, and a heartfelt thank you.

Then, my son opened his presents from his sister. She gave him a fleece Chicago Bear jacket. You have to understand. My son is a die-hard Chicago sports teams fan. He is in to the Cubs and the Bears mostly, not so much the Bulls or the Blackhawks. One of my presents to my son also involved the Bears. I found a Chicago Bears Snuggie and hoped he wouldn’t think it was stupid. He loved it! The Bears blanket was also available; however, he already has one so I wrapped it up for Drew. He loves to use blankets to make a fort. The Bears blanket will keep him really warm if he chooses to use it in his bed. I also got my son a heated throw blanket. If he didn’t want to use it on his couch or chair as he watched TV, he could use it in his bed. When he opened it, he was very happy to have it. I guess I had made good choices for him. That always makes me happy.

My gift to my daughter made her very happy as well. She enjoys using a straightener. Even though I knew she had one, I gave her a well-made, not inexpensive straightener, definitely not from the Dollar Store. Apparently, her straightener had stopped working, so she had spent a couple of months without one. How lucky is that? I know she will be happy with the way this one works for her. The safety holder came with it so she wouldn’t burn herself or the counter top. I hope it works well for her.

I got my son-in-law a faux fur lined hooded jacket. He spends time outside shoveling snow, working on the snow blower, the car, etc. I hope the jacket keeps him warm. My daughter started laughing when her husband opened the jacket. She said she would have fun wearing the jacket, it would keep her very warm. She was joking, I think. Tracy gets very cold during the winter, so she wears her husband’s sweaters, jackets, pajamas, etc. She said she would wear the pajamas he got last night from his brother. All her husband could do was laugh. He knew he probably would not wear the pajamas or the jacket very much.

Little Drew was jumping up and down with excitement. He and his sister played Santa, delivering gifts to recipients and giving each a hug and a cute little “Merry Christmas.” When it came time for him to open his presents, his little face lit up like the Christmas tree when he opened the “Ben 10 Wrist Watch” from his Uncle Chris. His eyes got really big and his mouth opened wide with excitement. He immediately brought the package to his Momma to open so he could play with the watch and the discs that had come with it. The Light Saber (Star Wars) his Momma and Papi had just given him ended up on the floor when the Ben 10 watch came out of the package. Drew’s Christmas was complete. The rest of his presents were somewhat anticlimactic, the Diego and Dinosaur (from me) and the Transformer (from his Uncle Chris).

By the time everyone had opened their presents, it was 11:00 pm, time for bed. We had to get up the next day and drive to Addison, a suburb of Chicago, for Christmas Dinner with Tracy’s Dad and his wife (Grandma Ruth). Tomorrow, I will let you know how Christmas with Dad and Ruth went. We had a great dinner and there were more presents to open.

I hope all of my readers had as much fun Christmas Eve as I had. If not, you will be in my prayers and thoughts. Take care and don’t be afraid to leave a comment or two or three. Love to all!

By Diane | Posted in A gift that counts for Christmas., The Christmas Spirit | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

It’s Christmas Eve 2009

December 24, 2009

This morning when I got up, I realized my dog had not slept with me as he usually does. I heard him walking around about 6:45 am looking for me. Calling out to him didn’t help because he is hard of hearing so I got up to let him outside. By the time I got to the living room, it was too late. He had gone to his usual “wee-wee” place in front of the TV and did his thing. How could he do that? He knew I had gone to bed and left the light on so he could see to climb up his steps to the bed. Why did he openly do his thing on the carpet?

Hank may not be able to hear or see very well, but he is aware of changes in his routine. Last night, he watched me while I wrapped presents in the kitchen until 10:00 pm. He watched as I typed up instructions for his sitter. When I talked with his sitter on the phone, he began to withdraw. He knew something was going on that involved him and he didn’t want any part of it.

The trip to the sitter will be a little hard for Hank because he gets so nervous. I have to drive on the freeway for quite awhile, which means this usually easy going little white dog is anxiously having a “hissy fit” for 20 miles, until the exit in West Allis. Then I have to put him on a leash and let him walk around and relieve himself. What a drive!

194204As you can see, this little 14 year old dog is may be old and infirm,but he is as smart as a whip. He fights me all the way there, but when he gets to his sitter’s house, Kathi always makes him feel welcome. Hank always has other dogs to play with. And besides, he’s only going to be there two nights and one day. The last couple of times he went to Kathi’s, he had to stay three weeks each time. I tried to explain to him that it won’t be so bad, but he’s not convinced.

I feel bad about leaving him with a sitter, but I’m glad there will be someone there to give him his medicine and let him outside to do his thing. At least he won’t be alone. He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s going to have a great time.

On the way to Kathi’s, I’m going to tell him the story of Christmas. I’m going to tell him how Joseph and Mary were getting ready for their trip to Bethlehem. Every so often, the Romans required everyone to travel to the place of their birth and be counted. In other words, Joseph and Mary had to participate in a census, just like we do every so often. Joseph was concerned for Mary as she was with child, so he wanted to make the trip as easy for her as possible.

When they got to Bethlehem, Joseph went to a hotel to get a room for himself and Mary. Every room in the hotel was full. Joseph heard the same story from every hotel owner in Bethlehem, “There are no rooms available here.” Joseph asked the last hotel owner if there was some other type of shelter available, because his wife was with child and needed a place to rest. The hotel owner told Joseph that he and Mary could stay in the stable behind the hotel with the animals.

Joseph led his donkey around to the rear of the hotel and helped Mary off. She was weary from the trip. Joseph rearranged the hay to provide a comfortable area for Mary to rest. Mary rested for awhile and then realized that it was time for her baby to be born. Joseph found a manger and filled it with hay. He also found a few pieces of material to wrap the baby in.

Mary did not have any discomfort when she gave birth to her baby. She and Joseph wrapped their baby in the material as warmly as they could and laid the baby boy in the manger. As she had been instructed, she named her newborn baby boy “Jesus.”

As soon as Jesus came into the world, a very bright star shown in the sky. The Bible says it shown in the East. Shepherds saw the star and brought their sheep in it’s direction. When they reached the stable and saw Joseph and Mary as she held Jesus in her arms, they lay face down and welcomed Jesus into the world.

The shepherds weren’t the only people who had seen the star and traveled toward it. Three king from the Orient saw the star and traveled far to bring gifts to Jesus. They brought gold, incense, and myrrh and set these gifts before Jesus. They felt that the beautiful bright star belonged to a king, so as each king presented his gift to Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus, he knelt in homage.

The three kings started the tradition of gift-giving as they each brought Jesus a gift. That is why we give gifts to our loved ones and people we are close to.

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas. If you are traveling, please be careful if the streets are slippery. And for heaven’s sake, please don’t drink and drive. Be safe, and I’ll see you on Saturday. As I said yesterday, there will not be an article tomorrow, on Christmas, as I will be out of town. Take care, and God Bless every one, and thank you so much for reading my blog.

By Diane | Posted in A gift that counts for Christmas., Giving vs Receiving!, The Christmas Spirit, The Comfort of a Pet | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Is it Christmas Yet?

December 23, 2009

Today is Wednesday, December 23rd. I had to go out to pick up a few things like my dog’s medicine. In order to wrap my grandchildren’s Christmas presents, I had to go to Wal-Mart. What a rat race! You would have thought that Wal-Mart was giving merchandise away free with all the cars in the parking lot. I had to park quite a ways from the entrances. That’s OK, though. I don’t mind walking.

I went into the store fully intending to be done in 30 minutes; however, that didn’t happen. Even if I only needed one or two things, it would take me 15 minutes to walk from one end of the store to the other. The wrapping paper was on one end of the store and the printer paper was on the other. By the time I got into my car and was ready to leave, I looked at my purchases and realized I forgot to put the wrapping paper in the cart. That meant I had to go back in the store and get it.

While I was in the store (both times), I listened as people went from department to department either talking with one another or talking on a cell phone about what they should buy. Everyone seemed to be busy looking for last minute Christmas presents that were actually pretty reasonably priced. I shouldn’t say anything about the folks that were Christmas shopping because I was one of those folks. This year, I thought I had every present bought for everyone but I had forgotten one, no two presents. I needed one present for a man and another for a woman.

The man I had to buy a present for is pretty picky when it comes to clothes. His wife always buys him whatever he needs. On occasion, she has been known to pick up two or three different items so he can choose what he likes. Then, she returns what he doesn’t choose. I hope he likes the black faux fur-lined jacket I chose for him. From the men’s department I went to see what was on sale in the women’s night wear aisle. Fleece pajama bottoms were on sale. I think I’ll get a pair for the woman on my list. Unfortunately, there were no fleece tops, so I had to improvise. I needed something long sleeved, preferably warm to go with the fleece pants. Ah yes, a sweater! A red sweater with a V neck to go with the black patterned fleece bottom. That will be a great combination. Actually, if my friend has a warm pajama top to wear with the fleece bottoms, she can wear the red sweater with a skirt or a nice pair of black pants if she wants to. Great choice, I hope!

The people in the store were so busy trying to get all the things on their lists and the cashiers were busy trying to check out all the people standing in lines. There were very few customers smiling or sharing Christmas greetings with one another. Many of the customers were in a hurry to finish their shopping so they could get out of the store and go home. I’m sure the cashiers and stock people felt that way as well, but they were there taking care of customers and most of them had smiles on their faces.

By the time I got to the check out line, I noticed every aisle was very busy. The season was starting to show on all of the cashiers. When it was my turn to check out, the young cashier appeared harried, but she dutifully asked if I had found everything I needed. After answering her affirmatively, I asked her how she was holding up. She told me she was ready for it to be tomorrow at 6:30 pm, when she would be off. The store had been very busy and it was only 1:30 pm. She was also working tomorrow, Christmas Eve, until 6:00 pm, when the store closed for the Christmas holiday. I was surprised that a 24 hour store would close for Christmas. However, I’m very happy the personnel are going to get the holiday off. They certainly deserve it.

I’m glad my shopping is done and I won’t have to go to any stores tomorrow. Tomorrow is Thursday, Christmas Eve. I have to get Hank (my dog) ready to go to his sitter because I will be out of town on Christmas Day. Everything needs to be done before 3:00 pm so I can meet my family at Church by 3:30 pm. We’ll go to Mass and go to their house for dinner. Meanwhile, my son will be there and when supper is over, and the dishes are done, we’ll open presents. That will be so much fun.

I love watching the children open presents. Everyone gets to open one present at a time until they are all open. My son loves to shop for presents for the children. His presents are always their favorite.

Christmas Day will consist of getting up early and driving about an hour and a half to meet the children’s father and his wife at their Church. After Church, we will go to their house and have dinner and open presents again. I just love Christmas. The children get to open presents from their rich step-grandma. She always buys them the best clothes. One day, I will be able to buy the children expensive gifts too.

We will drive home about 6:00 pm or so and I will go home to an empty house. I will miss my dog, but at least I know he will be well taken care of. Hopefully, your Christmas will be as happy and full of love as I know mine will be. I wish you all a very Merry and safe Christmas.

There won’t be a Christmas Day article, but I will be back the day after. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

By Diane | Posted in The Christmas Spirt | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Losing Weight

December 22, 2009

Have you ever thought, “I will do everything possible to lose weight, I don’t care what it is?” That was what I thought about later in life as it became more and more difficult to lose weight. When I was in my twenties and had gained many pounds as the result of pregnancies, I used the original Weight Watchers Diet to lose a total of 60 pounds. Every time after that when I only needed to lose a few pounds, I used Weight Watchers and learned to use the new and improved versions of a terrific weight loss system. As I aged, however, every time I tried to use Weight Watchers, the diet became more and more unique and since I didn’t go to the meetings, I didn’t know how to use the diet to its maximum efficiency, so it didn’t work for me anymore.

The only other thing I could think of to do was to start smoking again. Was this a smart thing to do, definitely not, but it was the only appetite suppressant I could think of to use that would work. Not only did I start smoking again, but I also used the laxatives I was already taking for irritable bowel syndrome to increase my metabolism and get rid of the extra calories. I thought this was a great way to lose weight. Did it work? Of course it did! Is it the healthiest way to lose weight? Heavens NO!

Fortunately, I came to my senses in January 2006 and stopped smoking so my lungs could start healing, not necessarily to decrease my appetite. However, I didn’t stop using the laxatives because they have always helped me with regularity issues, not just to increase my metabolism. However, I decided to use Phillips Caplets because the magnesium did not cause cramps. I was regular with Phillips and I didn’t have to suffer through the abdominal cramps that other laxatives caused. What a deal!

I just want to let you know what can happen when you use Phillips caplets consistently every day for an extended period of time. The magnesium works very well in your system to help your bowels move, to the point of making bowel movements soft. After using this brand for awhile, I started leaking loose stool from you know where. How embarrassing is that? I couldn’t believe this was happening, but when it first started, I didn’t equate it with the Phillips product. To keep from leaking, I rolled toilet paper and put it on the rectum to keep from leaking (I truly hate to report this because it is embarrassing, but I need to let people know about it in case others are having the same difficulties). I reported the situation to my primary care doctor, who scheduled a colonoscopy right away. The colonoscopy didn’t find a loose sphincter, which might cause the leaking, however, it did notice my use of laxatives.

I’ve had to use laxatives all my life, but I have never abused them. Ever since I was a child, I was always bound up. At the age of 6 or 7, I can remember taking Milk of Magnesia or Citrate of Magnesia to help me go. As I got older, my difficulty was always there, so I’ve always had to use laxatives. When I was pregnant with my children, my condition got worse, to the point of hemorrhoids. I’m sure you ladies reading this are totally agreeing with me.

After the colonoscopy, I started to suspect the laxatives I was taking so I checked the side effects of the “Senna” and the Phillips caplets. Neither one had leaking as a side effect so I didn’t think about it anymore; however, the problem continued. I finally decided to start taking “Docusate Sodium Stool Softeners” and decrease the Phillips caplets. The stool softeners took a little while to start working in my system; but, when they did, I was able to decrease the Phillips caplets. As I decreased the Phillips caplets, the leaking diminished. This was a terrific revelation. Now I know what was causing the leaking. What a relief not to have that happen anymore.

Right now, getting the word out about leaking as a result of using Phillips Caplets for an extended period of time is most important right now. I’m sure there is a disclaimer on the bottle that the product is not to be used for an extended period of time. The bottle states that you shouldn’t use Phillips caplets for more than 14 days without telling your physician.

If anyone has had this type of experience no matter what laxative they have used, please comment on this article. I would like to find out if my experience has ever happened to anyone else and what they have done about it. Please let me know, so I can let the company know about this side effect.

By Diane | Posted in Breaking Bad Habits, Lose Weight, Medication Information | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Staying Well During The Holidays

December 21, 2009

There is so much going on right now. People are out shopping for last minute gifts for family members and friends. Everyone is in a hurry to get through the stores, find their gifts of choice, get them wrapped in customer service, and finally declare that their Christmas shopping is done for the year.

I’ve always loved shopping for gifts for people I love, but not when 300 people are also shopping at the same store and for the same things I’m shopping for. Doesn’t it seem like that happens around Christmas time? This year, it seems like the stores are having sales every single day to lure customers in. With the recession, retailers are hoping to save the season with a Saturday after Christmas Sale.

With so much to do, it seems like people are trying to get everything done in one day. They come home tired and push their immune systems to the maximum, and then wonder why they don’t feel good. One of the first things that people don’t do when they are in a hurry to get things done is wash their hands.  Washing your hands between stores is a very good thing to do. So many people touch items that are for sale and go from one item to the next. There are also lines in the bathrooms because there are so many shoppers, so people interrupt their hand washing ritual. As important as hand washing is, people try to accommodate the long lines by letting the water run on their hands, wash their hands for a second or two, and get on their way. This is the worst thing to do.

The best hand washing routine is to wet your hands, apply soap or foam, wash your hands until they are sudsy for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse and dry thoroughly. If you can’t wash your hands using this method, you should, at the very least, clean your hands with hand sanitizer. The alcohol base in the hand cleaner will kill many of the germs out there that are waiting to get inside your body, at least for a little while. The soap-and-water method works better to ward off germs for a longer period of time. If you are able, after using the rest room, the best method to use for hand washing is with regular soap and water.

During the holidays, when you have a lot of company in your home, make sure that your bathrooms are well stocked with liquid soap or foam and fresh towels. This will encourage your guests to wash their hands consistently after using the bathroom, and washing their hands before and after eating. These are rules set by Occupational Safety &  Health Administration (OSHA). Any person that handles merchandise and especially food needs to wash their hands. They need to be careful about putting their hands near their faces, mouthes, and eyes, because the moist membranes harbor bacteria that can spread from individual to individual.

Another important concept for warding off sickness during the holidays is getting enough sleep. What with Christmas parties, decorating, cooking, work schedules, and other things that require so much of our time, we go to bed late and get up early in the morning in order to get everything done. By the time the holidays are over, we are so overtired, our immune system is no longer working and our bodies are open to any bacteria that flies by.

In order to make it through the holidays this year, you need to be vigilant about washing your hands before and after meals. Then, after the holidays, it would be great if you could continue washing your hands 20 seconds with soap and water every time you go to the bathroom and before and after meals.  Also, you need to give your body the rest it needs to keep it healthy. Getting the rest you need will help your body fight off every “Tom, Dick, and Bacteria” that enters the area.

We are worried about getting the Swine Flu virus. The Swine Flu has killed some people around the country and the world and everyone is concerned about it. However, if we keep our hands clean consistently throughout the day, get enough sleep, and drink plenty of fluids, I know our immune systems will keep us well and strong during this holiday season and well into 2010.

By Diane | Posted in Good Hand Washing Techniques, Keeping Healthy | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)