tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60804454495144692422024-03-12T21:47:08.372-07:00Saplings of HopeLittle Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-33255956445103738852014-02-26T19:02:00.002-08:002014-02-26T19:02:15.099-08:00The Pressure To Be Perfect<div>
As I've been reading others' posts for NEDAwareness Week and exploring the NEDAwarenss website, I came across this post that I felt needed to be shared. It resonated with me on such a level that it was as though Claire Mysko plucked it from my subconscious. So much of this is exactly what fueled my <a href="http://saplingstories.blogspot.com/2013/08/theotherside.html" target="_blank">eating disorder </a>that I can't just pass over it. In fact, "Perfect" was such arriving force in my life that my husband (then boyfriend) saw what it was doing to me and made it an off-limits word. His one caveat- It was encouraged when referring to how perfectly-imperfect I (and life in general) was/am/is. So this article is pretty great. I could give you a synopses, but as I'm reading this I can't find a place to break it. I want to put the entire thing in quotes, lol. So I've decided to do something you're not really supposed to do (in the "blog world"), but I must. I very much encourage all of you to follow my links to her post on NEDAwareness's website, as well as the link provided there to her original piece. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><a href="http://nedawareness.org/node/55" target="_blank">5 WAYS TO HELP GIRLS RESIST THE PRESSURE TO BE PERFECT</a></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eHZB5JUz-jA/UwwKs-tYi3I/AAAAAAAACao/3f6dWVoMAQM/s640/blogger-image-991447839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eHZB5JUz-jA/UwwKs-tYi3I/AAAAAAAACao/3f6dWVoMAQM/s200/blogger-image-991447839.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
By: Claire Mysko (Adams Media). These tips are adapted from You’re Amazing! A No-Pressure Guide to Being Your Best Self </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Girls today are told they can do anything. Unfortunately, the message they’re often getting is that they have to do everything--and please everyone while they’re at it. All this pressure is adding up to big time stress. According to The Supergirl Dilemma, a study conducted by Girls Incorporated, more than half of girls in middle school reported that they often feel stressed. By the time girls get into high school that number jumps to 74%. One third of all girls in grades 3-12 said they often feel sad and unhappy. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When girls get caught up in the quest to be supergirls, they are less likely to feel confident in themselves and more likely to struggle with low self-esteem and poor body image. Here are five tips to help the girls in your life tackle The Supergirl Dilemma.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Does the pressure to do it all sound familiar? Supergirls and Superwomen hear the same voice, and it says “you’re not good enough.” Remember to give yourself a break and take time for healthy stress relief. If we want to break this damaging “super” cycle and set positive examples, we have to start with ourselves.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Teach girls to be savvy and critical media consumers. Resist the urge to simply lecture about what you think is inappropriate. Instead, ask them what they like about the movies and TV shows they watch and the magazines they read. What do they dislike? Talk about the difference between fantasy and reality by showing girls real examples of retouching. Point out how often retouching is used to make models and actors look artificially flawless.</div>
<div>
Encourage girls to exercise their bragging rights. Girls are often hesitant to talk about what makes them amazing because they don’t want to be seen as conceited or they feel like they’re not perfect enough to be proud of themselves. Turn that thinking around by challenging girls to take pride in all of their amazing qualities, not just their achievements. Ask a girl what makes her amazing. If you get a sheepish shrug or an “I don’t know,” press on. You can spark the conversation by sharing a few of her qualities that you think are amazing, but don’t let her off the hook until she can say this sentence out loud: “I’m amazing because…”</div>
<div>
Discuss the value of making mistakes and taking healthy risks. Many girls are so focused on being perfect and doing things “right” that they miss out on valuable opportunities because they are so afraid of failure. Share a mistake you made or a risk you took in life that helped you get where you are today.</div>
<div>
When girls talk about the pressures they feel, the best thing you can do is listen. Don’t judge, interrupt, or get upset. Remember that what girls need most of all in their lives are supportive adults<br />
who take the time to hear what they’re saying. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Amazing Girl</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Asks questions</div>
<div>
Makes mistakes and learns from them</div>
<div>
Talks about her feelings, fears, hopes, and dreams</div>
<div>
Tries new things</div>
<div>
Supports other girls</div>
<div>
Is proud of her accomplishments, no matter how big or small</div>
<div>
Knows three trusted adults she could turn to if she had a problem</div>
<div>
Knows how to set boundaries and say no</div>
<div>
Takes care of her body, mind, and spirit</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Supergirl</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Is afraid of not knowing the “right” answer</div>
<div>
Makes mistakes and agonizes over them</div>
<div>
Keeps it to herself when she’s stressed or sad</div>
<div>
Doesn’t take on new challenges</div>
<div>
Is jealous of other girls’ successes</div>
<div>
Feels like no accomplishment is good enough or big enough</div>
<div>
Wants adults to think she is happy, even if she doesn’t always feel happy</div>
<div>
Sometimes does things she doesn’t want to do if she thinks people might like her more for doing them</div>
<div>
Wishes she could be smarter, prettier, more popular, more athletic--the list goes on</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FF9b6Da_ucA/UwwKt9ZMH6I/AAAAAAAACa0/LJdEHZ_Mors/s1600/blogger-image--2056641240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FF9b6Da_ucA/UwwKt9ZMH6I/AAAAAAAACa0/LJdEHZ_Mors/s1600/blogger-image--2056641240.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-51773494030255778052014-02-24T18:50:00.001-08:002014-02-25T18:56:53.695-08:00About Eating Disorders: NEDAwareness 2014<h1 class="art-postheader" style="font-weight: normal; margin: 20px 0px 5px 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;"><a href="http://nedawareness.org/" target="_blank">NEDAwareness Week 2014 </a>is officially underway! What is NEDAwareness Week? Go <a href="http://nedawareness.org/about" target="_blank">here</a>, and <a href="http://saplingstories.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2014-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2015-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=2" target="_blank">here</a> to find out more ;) </span></span></h1>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zQs_HGhHSls/UwwEbk0bl0I/AAAAAAAACaY/Lf334tD0gPI/s640/blogger-image--841956654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-zQs_HGhHSls/UwwEbk0bl0I/AAAAAAAACaY/Lf334tD0gPI/s320/blogger-image--841956654.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;">As the week gets into high gear, I feel it's important to put up a basic info post. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px;">Here's some general info from the National EatingDisorder Association for NEDAwareness Week: </span></span></div>
</div>
<h1 class="art-postheader" style="margin: 20px 0px 5px 10px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">ABOUT EATING DISORDERS</span></h1>
<div class="art-postcontent art-postcontent-0 clearfix">
<div class="art-article">
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded">
<h2 style="font-weight: bold; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">What is an Eating Disorder?</span></h2>
<div style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Eating disorders – such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder can include extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), these are the basic characteristics of some of the most common types of eating disorder:</span></div>
<h3 style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal;">Anorexia Nervosa:</span></h3>
<ul style="background-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 1em 0px 1em 11px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Restricting food intake to below the requirements for a particular individuals physical requirements</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Intense fear of weight gain and obsession with weight and continual behaviors to prevent weight gain</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Inability to recognize true body shape or recognize the seriousness of condition</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">May or may not use binge eating and/or purging behaviors</span></li>
</ul>
<h3 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">Bulimia Nervosa:</span></h3>
<ul style="background-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 1em 0px 1em 11px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Eating an unusually large amount of food at one time followed by compensatory behaviors (such as vomiting, taking laxatives and/or excessive exercise) to prevent weight gain</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A feeling of being out of control during the binge-eating occurrence</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Self-judgment largely based on weight and shape </span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KgKZMKkVMCE/UwgVgDVWr6I/AAAAAAAACZw/cfC85inmjX8/s640/blogger-image-199028521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KgKZMKkVMCE/UwgVgDVWr6I/AAAAAAAACZw/cfC85inmjX8/s400/blogger-image-199028521.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</span></li>
</ul>
<h3 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">Binge Eating Disorder:</span></h3>
<ul style="background-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 1em 0px 1em 11px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Recurrent situations of eating an unusually large amount of food at one time</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A feeling of being out of control during the behavior</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">May have feelings of shame or guilt towards eating which can lead to eating alone</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">May eat until the individual is beyond full to the point of discomfort</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-G0LA6Wo1gK0/UwgVg3Py8qI/AAAAAAAACZ4/FTB5TFRIifw/s640/blogger-image--1908318136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-G0LA6Wo1gK0/UwgVg3Py8qI/AAAAAAAACZ4/FTB5TFRIifw/s400/blogger-image--1908318136.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong>Note:</strong> There are several other types of feeding or eating disorders outlined in the DSM-5. Many people may not have every symptom of a disorder, but may still receive a feeding or eating disorder diagnosis. If you or your loved one is experiencing significant discomfort surrounding food that interrupts basic functions but does not meet the above criteria, you should still seek professional help.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">***I will be addressing those later in the week*** </span></div>
<h2 style="font-weight: bold; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">Is it an Eating Disorder?</span></h2>
<div style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A popular misconception about eating disorders is that if someone has one, it will be obvious by their low weight and starvation habits. However, those suffering from eating disorders can be of any weight and are often adept at hiding their illness. To help with early detection, here is a brief list of eating disorder signs, symptoms and behaviors to keep an eye out for as they may be indicative of a bigger problem:</span></div>
<ul style="background-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 1em 0px 1em 11px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Makes frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In general, behaviors and attitudes indicate that weight loss, dieting and control of food are </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">becoming primary concerns</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Evidence of binge eating, including disappearance of large amounts of food in short periods of time or lots of wrappers and containers indicating consumption or large amounts of food</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Evidence of purging behavior, including frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Develops food rituals (e.g. eats only a particular food or food group, excessive chewing, doesn’t allow foods to touch, etc.)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Skips meals or takes small portions of food at regular meals</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hides body with baggy clothes</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Maintains excessive, rigid exercise regimen—despite weather, fatigue, illness or injury—because of the need to “burn off” calories</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Drinks excessive amounts of water and/or uses excessive amounts of mouthwash, mints and gum</span></li>
</ul>
<h2 style="font-weight: bold; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">How Can I Help?</span></h2>
<div style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When initiating a conversation with someone who may have an eating disorder, it is important to remain supportive, non-judgmental and let them know that they are not alone. Here are some recommended Dos and Don’ts of talking to someone about their eating disorder:</span></div>
<h3 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">Do:</span></h3>
<ul style="background-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 1em 0px 1em 11px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Learn the difference between facts and myths about weight, nutrition and exercise</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="background-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 1em 0px 1em 11px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ask what you can do to help</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Listen openly and reflectively; be patient and non-judgmental</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Talk with the person in a kind way, when you are not angry, frustrated or upset </span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Explain the reasons for our concerns, without mentioning specific eating behavior</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ask if he/she is willing to explore these concerns with a healthcare professional who understands eating disorders</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Remind your loved one that many people have successfully recovered from an eating disorder</span></li>
</ul>
<h3 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">Don’t:</span></h3>
<ul style="background-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 1em 0px 1em 11px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Invade privacy and contact the patient’s doctors, friends or others to check up behind his/her back</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Demand weight changes (even is clinically necessary for health)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Insist the person eat every type of food at the table</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Make eating, food, clothes or appearance the focus of conversation</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: none; list-style-type: none; margin: 12px 0px 0px; overflow-x: visible; overflow-y: hidden; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Offer more help than you are qualified to give</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<div class="art-blockheader" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; margin: 0px auto 7px; padding: 12px 5px;">
<h3 class="t subject" style="margin: 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">CALL THE HELPLINE NOW</span></h3>
<h3 class="t subject" style="margin: 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal;">Call NEDA's toll-free, confidential Helpline, Monday-Thursday from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm and Friday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (EST)</span></h3>
<h3 class="t subject" style="margin: 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<a href="tel:1-800-931-2237" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black;">1-800-931-2237</span></a></h3>
</div>
<div class="art-blockcontent" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; margin: 0px auto; padding: 5px;">
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-12091399082359995752014-02-24T18:20:00.000-08:002014-02-24T18:20:09.186-08:00Kicking Off NEDAwareness Week 2014<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So there's this really awesome thing is going on this week hosted by an incredible organization. It's called </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">NEDAwareness Week</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> by National Eating Disorder Assoctaion (NEDA). Aside from being an incredible force for raising awareness, NEDA also has a helpline, screening tools, and information not only for those sufferering and those in recovery, but also parents, siblings, peers, coaches, and teachers. I participate in <a href="http://saplingstories.blogspot.com/2013/07/neda-awareness-week.html" target="_blank">NEDAwareness Week</a> last year and loved it! I met some incredible people, made lifelong friends, and gained awesome <a href="http://saplingstories.blogspot.com/2013/07/eating-disorder-links-and-resources.html" target="_blank">resources</a> to pass along. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This year's theme is "Get In The Know"</div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span id="goog_826754854"></span><span id="goog_826754855"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> <a href="http://nedawareness.org/about" target="_blank">Get In The Know</a><span id="goog_1343569749"></span><span id="goog_1343569750"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>(from NEDA's site)</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-021MpR8YyIQ/UwgUcvDkXWI/AAAAAAAACZo/lNOVhIAuSFA/s640/blogger-image--1906515910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-021MpR8YyIQ/UwgUcvDkXWI/AAAAAAAACZo/lNOVhIAuSFA/s400/blogger-image--1906515910.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<br />
<h2 style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Our Theme: "I Had No Idea"</b></span></span></h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px; margin-top: 12px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This year's NEDAwareness Week theme is "I Had No Idea" to raise awareness towards the significant impact eating disorders have on individuals, families, and communities across the nation. The more people who learn about these life-threatening illnesses, the more lives we can save. Last year, 100% of U.S. states hosted NEDAwareness Week events and activities. Additionally, 51 international countries participated in raising awareness. This year we strive to surpass these numbers, and have everyone get in the know and do just one thing to raise awareness!</span></div>
<div>
<h2 style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Our Mission</b></span></span></h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px; margin-top: 12px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The aim of NEDAwareness Week is to ultimately increase outreach and awareness of eating disorders and body image issues, while reducing the stigma surrounding eating disorders and improving access to treatment resources. Eating disorders are serious, life-threatening illnesses - not choices - and it's important to recognize the pressures, attitudes and behaviors that shape the disorder.</span></div>
</div>
<h2 style="margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: small;"><b>What is NEDAwareness Week?</b></span></h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px; margin-top: 12px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">NEDAwareness Week is a collective effort of volunteers, including eating disorder professionals, health care providers, students, educators, social workers, organizations and individuals committed to raising awareness of eating disorders. The impact of increased outreach efforts leads to a greater chance of people seeking out resources and help for an eating disorder, which ultimately saves lives.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>What are the Key Messages of NEDAwareness Week?</b></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px; margin-top: 12px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This year the National Eating Disorders Association is stressing the need to address eating disorder misconceptions - as many individuals, families, and communities are not aware of the often devastating mental and physical consequences - and highlights available resources for treatment and support. We urge you to talk about the pressures, attitudes and behaviors that shape these disorders with your family, friends, colleagues and community by doing just one thing during NEDAwareness Week. Learn more about the <a href="http://nedawareness.org/key-messages" target="_blank">key messages </a>for 2014 NEDAwareness Week and share with others so they can get in the know!</span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>How NEDAwareness Week Works</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 12px; margin-top: 12px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">NEDA asks everyone to do just one thing to help raise awareness and provide accurate information about eating disorders. NEDAwareness Week participants can choose from a huge range of ways to get involved: Distribute info pamphlets and put up posters, register as a Volunteer Speaker or host a Volunteer Speaker, post information on Facebook, or plan interactive and educational events like a community meeting, panel discussion, Barbie event, movie screening, art exhibit and more.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As a NEDAwareness Week participant you can be involved in any way that works with your schedule, resources, community, and interests. These events and activities are vital to attracting </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">public media attention - on local, national and international levels. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="art-postcontent art-postcontent-0 clearfix">
<div class="art-article">
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded">
<div style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening conditions that affect both a person’s emotional and physical health. In the United States alone, 30 million people will be impacted by an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime. These conditions affect all kinds of people and don’t discriminate by race, age, sex, age or size.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you or someone you care about might be suffering from an eating disorder, it is important to educate yourself and seek professional guidance as soon as possible because early intervention is key to successful recovery.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This page will provide a basic information about eating disorders, outlines how to spot a problem early and offers suggestions on how to talk to someone who is struggling.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XNBA4F3CYqs/UwvyrTXRhXI/AAAAAAAACaI/_QMhouOCw0U/s640/blogger-image-1345549110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XNBA4F3CYqs/UwvyrTXRhXI/AAAAAAAACaI/_QMhouOCw0U/s400/blogger-image-1345549110.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">
Still have questions? Check out their <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_2094858430"></span>FAQ section <span id="goog_2094858431"></span></a></span></div>
<div style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">***This week I will be posting on here, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for NEDAwareness Week. I invite and encourage everyone to share this information. Widely! Check out NEDA's site. Take the screening test - it's 100% anonymous, free, quick, and completely online. Don't be afraid to call the <a href="http://nedawareness.org/get-help" target="_blank">help line</a>.</span></div>
<div class="art-blockheader" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; margin: 0px auto 7px; padding: 12px 5px;">
<h3 class="t subject" style="margin: 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">CALL THE HELPLINE NOW</span></h3>
<h3 class="t subject" style="margin: 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal;">Call NEDA's toll-free, confidential Helpline, Monday-Thursday from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm </span></h3>
<h3 class="t subject" style="margin: 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal;">and Friday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (EST)</span></h3>
<h3 class="t subject" style="margin: 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><a href="tel:1-800-931-2237" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">1-800-931-2237</a></span></h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-84024654393197186272014-02-05T21:50:00.000-08:002014-02-05T21:50:12.300-08:00Leibster Awards<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I just had the privilege of learning that this really great blog, <a href="http://medicalmusingsbymeg.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-liebster-award.html?m=0" target="_blank">Healing Hopefully</a>, has awarded me with a Leibster! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xt8eXUvZ1M8/Uu2o84UGtoI/AAAAAAAACLw/XFPfQpeOvKE/s640/blogger-image-1819525647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xt8eXUvZ1M8/Uu2o84UGtoI/AAAAAAAACLw/XFPfQpeOvKE/s400/blogger-image-1819525647.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">No, seriously, she did. Even though I've been unable to blog lately and have been totally slacking, she has passed the torch to me. I'm extremely honored! I am also feeling that proverbial kick-in-the pants I needed to get back on track. Thank you, Megan. I needed that ;) </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know a bit about the Leibster blogging award and what it's all about because I received it last year from <a href="http://justmildlymedicated.com/" target="_blank">Just Mildly Medicated </a>(another super awesome spoonie blog). So here's the gist:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's an awarded given by bloggers, to bloggers. It's reserved for "smaller" blogs - blogs with under 200 followers. It's pretty awesome. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1pkxYa_jA60/UvMg4UejhpI/AAAAAAAACMk/A0RrbYTjXX0/s640/blogger-image-903608859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1pkxYa_jA60/UvMg4UejhpI/AAAAAAAACMk/A0RrbYTjXX0/s640/blogger-image-903608859.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The questions Healing Hopefully asked us: </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>1. Why did you start blogging?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It was initially just something to claim as my own. Something I did for me, at a time when all my other hobbies seemed to have vanished. Now, it has morphed into something I hope helps others. I blog about disabilities, chronic illness, autism, and eating disorders. I blog about the inqualities and ignorant preconcived notions drawn up regarding them. I blog about awareness and hope. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>2. What are your favorite hobbies?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Drawing, painting, crafting, reading, watching movies... </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>3. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Oh my, that's a very tough question. There are so many places I've dreamt of visiting. Of those places, I've plucked my <i>top</i> bucket list destinations: First and foremost, my husband has always dreamt of going to Alaska. I would love to take him there, and hopefully hear the Denali wolves sing :) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After that, my main Bucket List destinations are: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">France - I just <i>must </i>see the Louve before I die. I'd also love to see the French countryside and lavender fields. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Scotland - My husband and many of my friends have been to Scotland for pipe band (that's Bagpipes and drums) competatitions. I missed out on them but have heard its wonderful. My husband says th</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">at</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">if all the places he's been, he'd love to take e there. That says a lot because he doesn't like to travel </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">and would rather be a hermit on the side of a mountain. Lol. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>4. What is your favorite color and why?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Purple. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aside from amethyst being my birthstone, there are many other reasons why I favor it. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Purple balances the intense, stimulating reds and the calming blues. It garners spirituality and creativity. It's the color of the crown chakra - Sahasrara - responsible for </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">the nervous system. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">For someone with Dysautonomia and Epilepsy it seems both appropriate and ironic that my color represents the nervous system, lol. Interestingly enough, I've been told that my aura is purple. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">5. Do you have any pets? </b></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yes, I do! I have 4 dogs and 3 snakes. And I love them dearly :) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>6. What's your favorite way to pass the time in bed while you or your loved one is ill?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Definitely Netflix! Reading is a super close second and of course, wasting time on the internet (namely Pinterest and Facebook) are way up there. I also really enjoy sketching when I'm able to be upright long enough. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>7. What is your favorite food?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Chocolate!!!! Anything chocolate. Especially dark chocolate. I swear I would love to live off of chocolate and coffee if I could!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>8. Can you remember a recent dream you had? What was it about?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Many of my dreams are very vivid and, when they are, I often wake up feelling disoriented and exasperated. The context of my dreams seem to dissolve as I become more awake and alert. As the minutes pass, the dream vanishes. I can only remember bits and peices from them, but the theme and energy remains as vivid as whilst I was in them. Lately, the themes and energys have revolved around the old/past/familiar vs the new/future/unknown with both content and anxious energies intertwining amongst the dreams' phases. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</b></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">9. What is your favorite thing about yourself? </b></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</b></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">My<b> </b>fervent desire to learn. My empathetic abilities would be my top pick, but it is often more of a curse than a blessing. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>10. What is your favorite quote?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is another question that simply I can not strip away to just one. So are here are a few of my favs. I like quotes and there are so, so many that I love. To see what I mean just check out my <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/minralph/words-to-live-by/" target="_blank">Words to Live By </a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> Pin board ;)</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." - Nietzsche </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"Even the darkest night shall end and the sun will rise." - Victor Hugo </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"Though she be but small, she is fierce." - Shakespeare </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>My 11 Random Facts:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">1. I have 2 children under the age of 5</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">2. Aside from Dysautonomia (both POTS and NCS) I also have Gastroparesis, Epilepsy, Neuropathy, and sensory sensitivities. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">3. </span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I love animals and consider myself an animal activist.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">4. My favorite animal is the wolf. I simply love wolves.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">5. I'm a vegetarian. The rest of my family is not. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">6. I'm a Marine wife. My husband was honorably discharged about a year ago. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">7. We've been married for 9 yrs. 10 this October. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">8. Ummmm.... This is getting tricky.... Oh! I'm 27 years old (haha, found an easy one!)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">9. I am an eating disorder survivor. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">10. I love old movies. I mean, real old. Like 1920's-1940's old. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">11. My top 3 favorite books are: </span><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">A Tale of Two Cities </i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">by Charles Dickens, </span><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We the Living</i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> by Ayn Rand, and </span><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia </i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">by Marya Hornbacher. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Being the small blog that I am, I don't really know 11 "smallish" blogs *embarassed* So, I'll be awarding 4 amazing blogs. Drum roll, please..... </span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://sprinklingsofhappiness.blogspot.com/2014/01/getting-bargain.html?showComment=1391569378242#c8490003760152071352" target="_blank">Sprinklings of Happiness</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<a href="http://timetolisten.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Radical Nuerodivergent Speaking</a></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<a href="http://autisticchick.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Autistic Chick</a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.fitvsfiction.com/Fit_vs_Fiction/Blog.html" target="_blank">Fit vs Fiction</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>My questions for them are:</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">1.) What is your favorite food?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">2.) Why did you start blogging?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">3.) What is your favorite book?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">4.) What is your favorite (or a couple) quotes?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">5.) If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">6.) Your taking a trip. Money is no object. Neither are physical limitations or obligations. Where do you go?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">7.) What is something high up on your Bucket List?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">8.) If you could give one piece of advice (on life, in general) what would it be?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">9.) Do you have any pets?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">10.) What's your favorite way to unwind?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">11.) Name something on your wish list. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div>
Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-39997832688876669152013-12-29T02:59:00.001-08:002013-12-31T20:45:18.893-08:00My New Dragonfly Friend (aka: port Huber)<p dir="ltr">I got a new accessory! No, it's not a purse, or shoes, or jewelry... It's an accessed Power Port with a Huber needle. </p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yURRbR8hkxo/UsOdPcLJcmI/AAAAAAAACDc/IMVWSJiCPU0/s640/blogger-image-476957314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yURRbR8hkxo/UsOdPcLJcmI/AAAAAAAACDc/IMVWSJiCPU0/s640/blogger-image-476957314.jpg"></a></div><br><p></p><p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Ok. If you're not a dysahtonimiac, gastroparesis chick, or some other spoonie you probably have no idea wtf I'm talking about. Here's a quick synopsis:</span></p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_(medical)">Wikipedia's</a> page on it says: </p>
<p dir="ltr">"In medicine, a port (or portacath) is a small medical appliance that is installed beneath the skin. A catheter connects the port to a vein. Under the skin, the port has a septum through which drugs can be injected and blood samples can be drawn many times, usually with less discomfort for the patient than a more typical "needle stick".</p>
<p dir="ltr">Ports are used mostly to treat hematology and oncology patients, but recently ports have been adapted also for hemodialysis patients.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The port is usually inserted in the upper chest, just below the clavicle or collar bone, leaving the patient's hands free."</p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gofundme.com/MinsMiracleFund">Why a port</a>? You see, I have terrible - I mean <i>terrible</i> - veins. This saves me from needing a peripheral IV ( the regular kind that goes in your arm) every time need IV hydration, medicine, or other treatment. It can stay in for years and is completely under the skin, and no open wounds ( except when accessed) is always a good thing ;) I am extremely relieved to have this and be able to do all of this at home! My daughter is still a bit nervous about me having this thing in my chest, but for the most part she has decided she likes it because Mommy gets to stay home and doesn't have to go to the doctors for long periods of time (aka: hospitalizations). I totally agree :) </p>
<p dir="ltr">With the special Huber needle, I think it looks like a Dragonfly. Don't ya think? I love dragonflies :-) </p>
<p dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Tomorrow I'll start my first saline hydration therapy (I have no idea what the crap I'm supposed to call it. The Rx says "hydration therapy", so I guess that's what it is.) </span></p>
<p dir="ltr">So right now, I'm rocking it! ... or at least trying to, lol. </p><p dir="ltr"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JS4NpHyR8mg/UsOdQaozknI/AAAAAAAACDk/6Q0W9eLk5qc/s640/blogger-image--1122309615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JS4NpHyR8mg/UsOdQaozknI/AAAAAAAACDk/6Q0W9eLk5qc/s640/blogger-image--1122309615.jpg"></a></div><br><p></p><p dir="ltr"><br></p>
Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-12385538837079273652013-12-20T20:41:00.001-08:002013-12-21T20:43:01.072-08:00Emotional Break of The Day<p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I don't usually post this sort if thing on here, but I do feel very strongly about this and it has weighed on me so hard that I just needed an outlet. Please, rest assured, after this I will resume my normal topics :) </span></p><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anyway... </i></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p></div><div><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I Just attempted to watch <b>Blackfish</b>... I got 12 minutes into it and had to turn it off. I had been so excited that this documentary was being made. Orcas have always been one of my absolute favorite animals. I was ecstatic about the attention it was getting. <b>Finally! </b>I<i> had</i> to see it!</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After hearing more and more, I got a little more, and more nervous. Yep, my nerves were dead on. <b>I. Can't. Watch. It. </b></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But I sure as hell can support it! </b></p><p style="margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As a kid, they were my favorite animal. They now hold the #2 spot, just beside my beloved wolves - which is really what Orcas are, the wolves of the sea. They have very similar social structures and hunting strategies. That's probably why I love them both so much. They are <i>extremely</i> intelligent, powerful, perfect preditors. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"></p><p class="separator" style="text-align: start; margin: 0px; clear: both;"><a imageanchor="1" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kuFcE1BrJD4/UrZed3Xj5GI/AAAAAAAACB8/6QPEsLI4iBo/s1600/blogger-image-1149302036.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kuFcE1BrJD4/UrZed3Xj5GI/AAAAAAAACB8/6QPEsLI4iBo/s320/blogger-image-1149302036.jpg" border="0" width="320" height="297" style="cursor: move;"></font></a></p><p class="separator" style="margin: 0px; clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What this film brings to light is ground breaking. And very much needed. It's just so, so horrible. So deplorably wrong. There aren't enough words to properly describe what happens when animals are used for entertainment. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If anyone has ever gone to Sea World and saw a show, (I did when I was a kid. It was amazing.) Or, if anyone doubts the validity of the statements made against institutions like these, then please, <b>PLEASE</b> just <b>TRY</b> to watch Blackfish. <b>I dare you. </b></span></p></div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-68583524358096373192013-12-13T22:51:00.001-08:002013-12-13T23:27:26.192-08:00Fear, Anxiety, and Looking Inward<b>Many<i> </i>of us parents in the chronic illness community experience an <i>intense</i> fear and anxiety that we aren't doing a good enough job raising our children with our health circumstances.</b> That our children will feel unloved, angry, or even sad that mommy/daddy can't play with them sometimes (and sometimes for long stretches of time). That our children will develope anxiety. Many parents I've talked to have said that their child/children becomes very emotional whenever they are in a flair-up. <div><div><br></div><div>My daughter, for example, used to get full blown panic attacks any time I needed to lay down or go to a doctors appointment. I felt <i>very guilty</i> about that because her anxiety and fears are all well warranted. There have been <i>many</i> times in her short life when mommy has gone to the doctors and ended up being hospitalized for a week or so. Additionally, she <i>knew </i>that my needing to rest a lot tended to precede said doctors appointment. <div><br></div><div><b>A while ago</b>, I had posted in a support group about my struggles with this, asking for advice and/or support. Today, a friend of mine in the group responded with her own experience supporting and reassuring me that I wasn't alone. </div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>She wrote</b> "My son is going on 10 and struggles with me being ill too. He often wants to play games with me but I just haven't been feeling well enough to. He'll start to cry and tell me that I don't love him and that he just wants to spend time with me. It makes me so sad." </span></div><div><br></div><div><b><i>It is simply, yet profoundly heartbreaking.</i> </b></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As I typed out my response, it just started to flow from me. And as it did, I was able to look <i>inward</i>. Resulting from her supportive comment, which was in response to my anxiety driven plea, came the answers I had been seeking the <i>whole</i> time. </span></div><div><br></div><div><b>I posted this in response:</b> </div><div><div>There is hope. My sister (who is 2 yrs older than me) is autistic and also has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and severe developmental delays. As a kid, I had an understanding of things far beyond my peers (still do sometimes) At home, we had sibling rivalry <i>just like</i> other siblings. She would spit at me, I would yell at her to stop, say she was so annoying, she'd spit again (she knew it was the <i>one</i> thing I hated most, lol) we'd go round and round. My family and I look back at those times fondly. Even though she was nonverbal, in a wheelchair, and developmentally around 18 months old (but much smarter) we were still sisters. We still bickered, and loved each other. We annoyed each other, and we stuck up for each other. I may have expressed anger and resentment towards her and my parents at times, but I never really was angry or resented having a sister like her. When I was around the ages of 8-9, I felt sad that I didn't get to have a "normal sister" and our family couldn't do "normal family" things like vacations, beach trips, getting share a closet with my big sister, having her help me get through middle school and all of its social protocols. But as I grew older, (by age 13) I no longer envied those other families. I wouldn't change my sister for the world, and I am so proud that she is <b>My Sister.</b> I think a big part of how I felt ok with it and not left out was how my parents made it a priority to make time for me and what I wanted to do. I never felt neglected or overshadowed. Part of it <i>is </i>the age. I was like that, too. Later he'll remember these years and think of them differently. I do. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s2JaLWXu9ss/UqwHmqJ-EFI/AAAAAAAACAc/UGRouJ1hfRc/s640/blogger-image-217528606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s2JaLWXu9ss/UqwHmqJ-EFI/AAAAAAAACAc/UGRouJ1hfRc/s640/blogger-image-217528606.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Something I've started trying with my children is doing simple little gestures that let them know I love them and always want to be with them. I have instated an <b>open door policy</b>. I always invite them in when I'm ill and need to rest. They can go in and out, watch Netflix, cuddle with me, talk, or whatever works for us. If they get too rambunctious, they have to leave. Or, if I really need to actually <i>sleep</i>, I'll tell them they can hang out on the bed and watch TV, or play in the room but they have to let me sleep. So far, this policy has made a <i>world </i>of difference. They <i>know</i> I need to rest, but I still <i>want</i> to be with them. </div><div><br></div><div><b>Another very important part of it:</b> As soon as I'm up, I play whatever they were asking about when I had to say "not right now" and had to rest instead. Now they <i>know</i> that if I rest, I'll be able to play with them later. But if I <i>don't</i> rest I won't be much fun at all. </div><div><br></div><div><b>Lots of hugs, kisses and cuddles.</b> I sit with them and hold them at night as they fall asleep. That's their special time with me. You just have to find what works for <i>you</i> and <i>your family</i>. It doesn't matter what other people say (example: the theory that you shouldn't make it a habit to sit with them while they fall asleep. They'll never learn to put themselves to bed and they'll have attachment issues)<b> It</b> <b>only matters what works for you and your family. Chronic illness creates a household that isn't "normal" and it shouldn't be held to "normal" standards. </b></div></div><div><br></div><div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Then, I apologized for my comment being so dang <i>long</i>. And I'll apologize again for this post being so dang <i>long</i> ;)</div></div></div></div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-88359314097664692882013-11-12T20:20:00.001-08:002013-11-13T01:27:23.198-08:00Autism Speaks Doesn't Speak For Autistics<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oGDHo78P54M/UoL_BP6W3pI/AAAAAAAAB60/4f1ppL0-r5Y/s640/blogger-image--893784621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oGDHo78P54M/UoL_BP6W3pI/AAAAAAAAB60/4f1ppL0-r5Y/s640/blogger-image--893784621.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Autism Speaks is the most well known non-profit touting that they spread autism awareness and education. On November 13, 2013 Autism Speaks will descent upon Washington lobbying for political action budgets. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Autism speaks already has a plethora of corporate, celebrity, and media </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">sponsors. Thus, allowing</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> them to be a very strong force. But there is a stronger force out there contending with autism speaks. What is this force? The autistic community. The parents, friends, and autistic individuals themselves. The </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">real </i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">advocates of autism. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Many people think Autism Speaks seems like a pretty decent charity. On the surface, they kinda do. They lobby autism awareness and yada yada yada. But if you actually listen to what they say, to what their goals are, you will see the sinister organization for what it really is. </div></div></span></div><div><div><br></div><div>Need some examples? Ok, here are some facts about Autism Speaks via </div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>The Caffeinated Autistic </b></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> http://thecaffeinatedautistic.wordpress.com/so-what-is-the-problem-with-autism-speaks/</div><div><br></div><div><ul style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em 2.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: square;"><li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Autism Speaks does not have a single autistic member on their board. Not even a token autistic. </span></li><li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Autism Speaks only spends 4% of their budget on “family services”.</span></li><li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-style: inherit;">Much of Autism Speaks’ money goes toward research, and much of that research centers on finding a way to </span><i>eliminate </i><span style="font-style: inherit;">autism, and thus, eliminate autistics. </span></span></li><li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-style: inherit;">Autism Speaks produces advertisments, small films, etc. about what a </span>burden<i> </i><span style="font-style: inherit;">autistic people are to society.</span></span></li><li style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-style: inherit;">Autism Speaks was responsible for </span><b style="font-style: inherit;">"Autism Everyday",</b><span style="font-style: inherit;"> which featured a member of their board talking about contemplating murder-suicide of her daughter </span><em style="font-style: inherit; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">in front of her daughter. </em><span style="font-style: inherit;">This has now be removed from Autism Speaks’ Youtube channel. </span><i>* </i></span><i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">producer of this PSA (Autism Everyday, 2006) explicitly admitted that the film was intentionally staged to portray negative images of autistic people and their families. See this here: </span></i><span style="font-style: inherit; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://www.alternet.org/story/38631/autism%3A_the_art_of_compassionate_living</span></li></ul><ul style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.625em 2.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: square;"><li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Autism Speaks is responsible for the atrocity known as<a href="http://vimeo.com/20692567" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;"> </a><b>"I am Autism"</b>, a short film produced by the same person who directed the 3rd Harry Potter movie and features an ominous voice saying things like “I am autism…I know where you live…I work faster than pediatric AIDS, cancer, and diabetes combined…I will make sure your marriage fails.”</span></li></ul><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">That is NOT an organization who understands autism. It's definitely not an organization that believes in autism awareness and acceptance. This is an organization that believes that autism is a disease. That autism is a plight against humanity. That autism is something evil. Even scientist who research autism disagree with this idealology. </span></div></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div>This organization compairs autism to deadly diseases, and natural disasters. They do very, very little to encourage support of Autistics. They use tragedy models of disability to directly shut down the principles of anti-ableism, disability justice work, as well as the disability civil rights movement. In Autism Speaks’ Strategic Plan for Science 2013-2017, the authors uses language that inaccurately refers to autism as a "disease," and discusses autism’s "cost" and "burden to society," and how autism is an "urgent public health crisis." </div></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Their views are beyond concerning. These fear tactics are appalling. As </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">their co-founder Susan Wright states, Autism Speaks wants to "ultimately eradicate Autism for the sake of future generations."</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">kerima çevik</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">, parent of an autistic child, will be fighting against Autism Speaks tomorrow. I love this quote from her:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">"(I) thought this was the United States of America. I can speak for myself, and adults with my son's degree of impairment can speak for him, until he can clearly communicate his needs himself. Only someone who knows what road my son will travel as an adult can know what he needs. Sorry that is not someone who is not autistic."</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">"The goal is autonomy. I want the whole American Dream for my son. I want lifetime educational access so he can continue learning until he reaches his highest potential. I want supported employment beyond him pushing a shopping cart. I want him to live on his own in clean, safe, housing beyond poverty. I want him to be an active part of his community. No revamped institutional residential housing is going to be accepted by me for my son. I have seen segregation. That didn't really work out for us people of color at all. We decided that was enough of that. How is that supposed to be ok for my disabled son?"</font></div></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">She goes on to say that, "</font><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Mrs. Suzanne Wright refers to autistics as "the autism crisis", dehumanizing them in a most ableist manner. She goes on to equate my son and his peers, who are still very much here as being "missing", a clear reference to the highly offensive "Ransom Notes" campaign launched by New York" </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">University referenced here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/business/media/20child.html?_r=0</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Suzanne Wright's entire disturbing post can be found here: http://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/autism-speaks-washington-call-action</div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Now, if for some reason none of this bothers you, then at the very least you should have some concern about where their money goes. According to their 2010 annual report, Autism Speaks spends OVER HALF of their proceeds to pay management salaries.</span></div><div><br></div><div><b>For further reading, please follow these links: </b></div><div><br></div><div><b>An Autistic Speaks About Autism Speaks</b></div><div>http://m.dailykos.com/story/2007/05/19/336513/-An-Autistic-Speaks-About-Autism-Speaks</div><div><br></div><div><div><b>Say NO to Autism Speaks </b></div><div>http://www.autistichoya.com/2012/07/georgetown-say-no-to-autism-speaks.html?m=1</div></div><div><br></div><div><div><b>Autistics, Media, and Misrepresentation (Thinking Perons's Guide to Autism)</b></div><div>http://paulacdurbinwestbyautisticblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/this-is-who-i-am-this-is-what-i-do.html</div></div><div><br></div><div><div><b>Protesting Autism Speaks by Autisyic Hoya </b></div><div>http://www.autistichoya.com/2012/11/protesting-autism-speaks.html?m=1</div></div><div><br></div><div><div><b>Alternet: Autism: the Art of Compassionate Living</b></div><div><b>Parents of autistic children strive to raise awareness in a world full of misconceptions about what autism really means.</b> </div><div>http://www.alternet.org/story/38631/autism%3A_the_art_of_compassionate_living</div></div><div><br></div><div><div><b>Autism Speaks Against Autistic Free Speech and Fair-Use Parody</b></div><div>http://m.dailykos.com/story/2008/06/22/540306/-Autism-Speaks-Against-Autistic-Free-Speech-and-Fair-Use-Parody</div></div></div></div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-32351457992557753582013-11-09T19:46:00.001-08:002013-11-09T20:08:19.565-08:00MaintenanceIt seems like it's really hard for some people to grasp that having to be in the hospital from time to time is a perfectly normal aspect of dysautonomia. To others, it seems that being ill and in the hospital means that when you leave you'll be better - and that is what it normally means. But for someone with dysautonomia (or anything chronic for that matter). The truth is, being in the hospital is just a tune up. It's reestablishing equilibrium. <div><br></div><div><b>This is my "normal"</b><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LJ7KMhL2qYI/Un8GsoE7HdI/AAAAAAAAAjw/ukTnGhWfKUg/s640/blogger-image-1053434910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LJ7KMhL2qYI/Un8GsoE7HdI/AAAAAAAAAjw/ukTnGhWfKUg/s640/blogger-image-1053434910.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Example: Last week something seriously irritated my gut. I have no idea what exactly it was, or if it was even something specific. For all I know, it might have just been my body being a defiant teenager. The rest of the week I was unable to keep anything down. Nothing. Not water. Not my meds. Nothing. I finally called my doc and he told me to get over there ASAP. Because apparently not keeping anything down for three days is a bad thing. So long story short, I'm in the hospital. Again. </div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>Sweet, sweet IV fluids... Oh, how I love you! </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hqis7FoZM0g/Un8EdEvczFI/AAAAAAAAAjc/zqnfFoszt8c/s640/blogger-image-711095796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hqis7FoZM0g/Un8EdEvczFI/AAAAAAAAAjc/zqnfFoszt8c/s640/blogger-image-711095796.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><br></div><div>And I'm facing the <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">statements like, "Maybe you just need to try harder to eat even if you get sick." </span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">And questions like, "</font><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Well what are they doing to fix this?" and "What if you just do ___?" </span><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">...*sigh*... </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Ummm, no, I can't try harder. No, I can't just do ___. And they aren't doing anything to "fix" this. This can't be "fixed".</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">There comes a point where you just have to accept that this is reality and part of this reality is hospitalizations from time to time. This one is mainly to give my gut a rest. I'm on IV fluids (miracle juice!), IV meds, and a strict clear liquid diet. After being here for a couple of days my vitals are back where they should be and I'm keeping some of my meds down. My stomach is still ridiculously irritated and I'm still needing IV fluids and meds. But once everything chills out, I'll be able to go home. I won't be cured and it won't be the last time this happens. This is just maintenance. And I'm ok with that. I'm just waiting for everyone else to be ok with it, too. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NdViQuIGFhI/Un8Ed-kOYLI/AAAAAAAAAjk/Pp_kypHcw8s/s640/blogger-image--2005200637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NdViQuIGFhI/Un8Ed-kOYLI/AAAAAAAAAjk/Pp_kypHcw8s/s640/blogger-image--2005200637.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></span></div><div><br></div></div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-62557732616857517512013-09-30T20:04:00.001-07:002013-12-21T18:56:57.224-08:00Yay! It's October!October is one of my favorite months (if not my #1 favorite month). It has so many awesome things going on! I LOVE fall, even though I live in Florida, which doesn't exactly get the best "fall" experience. That's actually the one thing I miss from living up north (and by "up north" I mean North Carolina). I miss the crisp air, beautiful foliage, and real pumpkin patches. But Florida has way more going for it, so it wins. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Aside from October being the beginning of my favorite season, it's also the month of my wedding anniversary, and (duh) Halloween -which totally ranks right up (if not over) Christmas! </span></div><div><div><br></div><div>It is also Dysautonomia Awareness Month. I know, it's awareness month to other things, too... But this is something with awareness so obscure that most medical professionals have NO idea what the heck it is let alone how to treat it. I was diagnosed with dysautonomia pretty recently (May, 2013), but I have actually been battling it for the past 10 years. There are so many aspecks of my life that it affects and I am finding myself advocating more and more out of necessity. I have to try and explain what they heck it is to people and justify why I have all the issues I do. That, by itself, is exhausting. Lucky for me, I have a wonderfully supportive family and have found others with dysautonomia through support groups. Those support groups have proved to be paramount to my quality of life. I never really thought much about support groups before, but I must say, with out them I'd feel very alone in my illness. They have become true friends of mine, even though I have never met most of them on person. Ok, all rambling aside, since it is Dysautonomia Awareness Month I'm at least going to give you my favorite links and resources. </div><div><br></div><div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 8pt; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Dysautonomia</b> (or <b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">autonomic dysfunction</b>) is any disease or malfunction of the<a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomic_nervous_system" title="Autonomic nervous system" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">autonomic nervous system</a> (ANS). The autonomic nervous system controls a number of functions in the body, such as <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_rate" title="Heart rate" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">heart rate</a>,<a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_pressure" title="Blood pressure" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">blood pressure</a>, <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digestive_tract" title="Digestive tract" class="mw-redirect" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">digestive tract</a> <a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peristalsis" title="Peristalsis" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: none;">peristalsis</a>, and sweating, amongst others. Dysfunction of the ANS can involve any of these functions.</span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">A fantastic place to start is </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Dysautonomia SOS </b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">They have an enormous amount if information and can help connect you with regional support and doctors. </span></div><div>http://www.dysautonomiasos.com</div><div><br></div><div><b>Dinet</b> is another great resource! What is it? From their website: </div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Our Mission: </b>To raise awareness of autonomic nervous system dysfunction and to promote dysautonomia education, support and networking.</span></div><p><span face="Verdana" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Dysautonomia Information Network (DINET)<b> </b>is a volunteer run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://www.dinet.org</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">For children/adolescents with dysautonomia check out <b>Dysautonomia Youth Network of America </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://www.dynainc.org</span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">A couple of my absolute favorite blogs are run by amazing women with dysautomonia. Definitely check them out! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>Living with Bob(dysautonomia) </b></span><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">http://bobisdysautonomia.blogspot.com/?m=1</font></p><p><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><b>Just Mildly Medicated </b>http://justmildlymedicated.com </font></p><p><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><b>Healing Hopefully </b>http://medicalmusingsbymeg.blogspot.com/?m=1</font></p></div></div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-64812683212578115432013-09-26T09:52:00.000-07:002013-09-27T08:25:53.546-07:00Anti-Anti-Obesity<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQwf9lcQBV8/UkJ4hmYaANI/AAAAAAAAAZA/ILY88JFswIM/s1600/blogger-image--1292383475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQwf9lcQBV8/UkJ4hmYaANI/AAAAAAAAAZA/ILY88JFswIM/s320/blogger-image--1292383475.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br></div>
<br></div>
<div>
<br></div>
The anti-obesity campaign really irks me. If it was a healthy living campaign, focusing on healthy habits vs the numbers on a scale, then I'd be much more enthusiastic about it. Unfortunately, that is not what is happening. More and more the path is weight shaming and stigmatizing in the vein attempt to regulate our country's weight issues. The topic of weight stigma is far to vast for me to sum up in one post - especially since I'm exhausted and should really be asleep right now. Seriously, writing sentences that are comprehensible is really <i>interesting</i> with brain fog and neurological pain. So for right now I will focus on one area of this topic that is very important. Our youth.<br>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dina Zeckhausen is a psychologist and founder of the <a href="http://myedin.org/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Eating Disorder Information Network</a>. In an interview with CNN in 2013, Dina reported seeing kids in third and fourth grade who are already worried about being fat.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br>
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"There is so much emphasis on obesity," Zeckhausen said, "that there's a danger that we are going to produce a lot of anxieties in kids around weight."</span></div>
<div>
<div>
See full article <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/22/health/child-eating-disorders/index.html?c=&page=2" target="_blank">here</a></div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ccca_JAEQDc/UkJ3qxcG6rI/AAAAAAAAAYw/cJquT87dk8I/s1600/blogger-image-1189833431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ccca_JAEQDc/UkJ3qxcG6rI/AAAAAAAAAYw/cJquT87dk8I/s320/blogger-image-1189833431.jpg" width="320"></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal;"></span></span><br>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It seems like every other week (if not day) I'm hearing about some new way our communities are "fighting obesity" and each time it seems to be more infuriating than the last. Everyone has already heard about the "fat letters" sent out by some schools. Some say they're dangerous while others say that parents are being over sensitive. Honestly, if the schools were really trying to educate and advise families about health they would focus on teaching and focusing in healthy habits, not a number. Numbers do not indicate health.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div>
<span style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">There are many, many larger sized individuals who eat healthy, are very active, and have no health issues - except for what the scale says. Let me be clear, if someone (of any size) has a health issue, then treat that health issue.<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i></span></span><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">But that’s different than treating their weight as the issue. </i></b></div>
<div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br>
</i></b></div>
<div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></i></b><br>
<h1 class="entry-title" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; border: 0px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">Carmen Cool, MA, LPC said it beautifully: </span></i></b><b style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-weight: normal;">“With all due respect, I need to disagree with you that we need this war on obesity. What we need, is to work together to end it. Not by making fat people thinner, but by recognizing and celebrating the truth of body diversity. Weight is not the problem. The way we make assumptions about it is the problem. I want to live in a peaceful world. And a peaceful world starts with a peaceful self. Rather than fighting fatness, why don’t we help people of all sizes feel peaceful in the bodies they have.” </span></i></b></h1>
<h1 class="entry-title" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; border: 0px; font-style: normal; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal;">see full article here: </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal;">http://bedaonline.com/wsaw2013/weight-stigma-viewed-eating-disorders-lens-carmen-cool/#.UkJy_429LCT</span></span></i></b></h1>
</div>
<div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br>
</i></b></div>
<div>
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></i></b><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3eiYWgeg6d4/UkJ4iBbizeI/AAAAAAAAAZE/fhKPzpa4E_o/s640/blogger-image--1448340236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3eiYWgeg6d4/UkJ4iBbizeI/AAAAAAAAAZE/fhKPzpa4E_o/s640/blogger-image--1448340236.jpg"></a></i></b></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br></span></i></b></div>I<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">brought this up with my mom today and she immediately jumped in agreeing that it is ridiculous and dangerous. Aside from the obvious (obvious to my mom and I) health risks it poses, there is another very valid point she made regarding schools sending out "fat letters" that I had previously over looked - When there are students failing and struggling in reading and math, why would they focus on what the student looks like? Isn't that a bit of course? When there art, music, and science opportunities shut down by lack of funds why would the schools set their sites on the </span><b style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">appearance of health </b><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">(note the word </span><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">appearance</i><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">) with little to no regard for the individual student and their </span><b style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;"><i>real </i>health</b><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">. Better yet, how is it even the school's </span><b style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">place </b><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">to decide who is healthy vs unhealthy based on a number? Oh, that's right, </span><b style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">it's not</b><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></span></div><div>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XCnOj-KbYlk/UkJ4hLYq5wI/AAAAAAAAAY0/BmEYwaVmSh4/s640/blogger-image-460418368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XCnOj-KbYlk/UkJ4hLYq5wI/AAAAAAAAAY0/BmEYwaVmSh4/s640/blogger-image-460418368.jpg"></a></div>
<br>
<br>
If I am <b>ever </b>at a school (as a parent or otherwise) and I find out that the school has been sending <b>anyone </b>weight<b> </b>stigmatizing letters or promoting weight stigma in any way, I will be very upset. I will be <i>beyond</i> upset.<b> I will be their worst nightmare.</b></div>
</div>
</div>
Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-82994947056855828072013-09-25T18:52:00.001-07:002013-09-26T09:55:21.973-07:00DSM-5 Finally Fixes Anorexia Criteria!<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFyaAeUWalQ/UkOmlZtzpsI/AAAAAAAAAZk/kxejeYxksGY/s1600/blogger-image-873654094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jFyaAeUWalQ/UkOmlZtzpsI/AAAAAAAAAZk/kxejeYxksGY/s320/blogger-image-873654094.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">This is long over due! The criteria for diagnosing anorexia has </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">finally</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> been broadened to include </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">any</b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> weight - instead of the precious under weight "symptom". This help clear up the misconception that anorexia is a weight disease instead of purely a psychological one. With </span><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Weight Stigma Awareness Week </b><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">in full swing I'd say this is a great time for the news! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">More than 55% of teen girls and more than 30% of teen boys report some kind of “disordered eating”. This means they exhibit symptoms like purging by way of self-induced vomiting, laxative and/or diuretic abuse, excessive exercising, restricting food consumption, binging, using diet pills, and even diabetics using insulin to regulate and manipulate their weight. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Before, patients were very sick before meeting criteria, and the evidence is pretty clear that if you interfere in anorexia before there’s been significant weight loss, the outcomes are much better and the illness is easier to treat in an outpatient setting,” says Kimberli<a href="http://www.mccallumplace.com/treatment-staff.html#km" style="background-image: none !important; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto !important;" target="_blank"> </a>McCallum, founder and medical director of eating disorder clinic McCallum Place in Saint Louis, in an article by Tara Haelle</span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">with Scientific America[1]. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Before, many people fell into the EDNOS category[2]. EDNOS is the diagnosis given to any person exhibiting disordered eating but didn't fit exclusively into either the anorexia or bulimia category. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bbmf4TCN11E/UkOmmEMsIfI/AAAAAAAAAZs/Qra1lrrfIN4/s1600/blogger-image--243189927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bbmf4TCN11E/UkOmmEMsIfI/AAAAAAAAAZs/Qra1lrrfIN4/s320/blogger-image--243189927.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So what was the problem with EDNOS? Usually the EDNOS diagnosis was not taken seriously by insurers, family members, or even physicians. This tremendously complicates treatment for an extremely deadly disorder. In fact, it's the </span><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">most</b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> deadly eating disorder. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Aside from the change to the DSM-5 criteria regarding a weight requirement are other changes. Instead of the previous psychological markers of </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">“intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat,” it now reads “or persistent behavior that interferes with weight gain, even though at a significantly low weight.” And the criterion "at least three missed periods" has been completely removed. It has also added that while using BMI to help establish severity, “the level of severity may be increased to reflect clinical symptoms, the degree of functional disability and the need for supervision.” Additions of “partial remission” or “full remission” have also been added to prevent recovering anorexics from being rebranded with EDNOS. I know that, for myself, there have been several partial remissions. These remissions I experienced always had some other element that wasn't there the first time around. I suspect it's the same for many others. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The real challenge is going to be physicians and families seeing an over weight child/adolescence lose weight and actually <b>investigating</b> the weight loss methods instead of just congratulating them. Being complimented and praised is so addictive, not only to children and adolescents, but to anybody. The truth is that there can be serious health complications going on such as </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><b>dehydration, digestive issues, cardiac issues, kidney and liver issues, and difficulty concentrating. </b></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="background-image: none !important; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">These changes will hopefully help health insurance claims as well. Many insurance companies automatically refused any patients for overnight treatment if they were more than 85% of their ideal weight. </span></div>
<div style="background-image: none !important; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This should also help obtaining more reliable research statistics as well. <b>Yay!</b></span></div>
<div style="background-image: none !important; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto !important; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>This is a win, guys!!! </b></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">[1] </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=expanded-clinical-definition-of-anorexia-may-help-more-teens&WT.mc_id=SA_sharetool_Twitter</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">[2] </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">http://www.something-fishy.org/whatarethey/ednos.php</span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-22239868869059476262013-08-20T20:36:00.000-07:002014-01-31T18:51:27.380-08:00A Picture of myself? Oh, Man<span style="color: purple;">This week's Wordless Wednesday: It's often hard to like pictures of ourselves - post your favorite picture of yourself</span><div><br></div><div>
*Yeah... I can't do <em>"wordless"</em>... Sorry.* </div><div><br></div><div>They are correct. It is very hard for me to like pictures of myself. Over the past <em>several</em> years there are a <em>handful</em> of pictures that I actually, truly like. Each one is significant and each one is in a different time/phase/place of my life.
At this moment in time, my favorite picture of myself is one from a dare. Yep, a dare. </div><div><br></div><div>There is a movement called <a href="http://www.operationbeautiful.com/" target="_blank">Operation Beautiful </a>and they have initiated a very powerful. <a href="http://www.thesaplingstories.com/no-make-up-monday/" target="_blank">No Make Up Monday</a>. That's right. You are asked to take a picture of yourself, sans-makeup, and post it to <a href="http://www.operationbeautiful.com/" target="_blank" title="Operation Beautiful">Operation Beautiful</a>/Facebook/Twitter - you get the idea. Seriously, this is something super hard for me and I know it shouldn't be. So, a couple of weeks ago I took the challenge and posted my No Make Up Monday picture to social media and wrote a post about the challenge. I have to admit, it was incredibly liberating and that picture is now my favorite picture of myself.</div><div><br></div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-u7FGpzXe6H0/UuxhJ_0gZeI/AAAAAAAACKQ/6SAW1YaQOsI/s640/blogger-image-935298160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-u7FGpzXe6H0/UuxhJ_0gZeI/AAAAAAAACKQ/6SAW1YaQOsI/s640/blogger-image-935298160.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>The other ones I'm fond of:</div><div> </div><div> A <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">rose from the bouquet my hubby sent for our anniversary during his second deployment to Iraq.(2007)</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5SQ_O9m0c9w/UuxhLP2P5RI/AAAAAAAACKY/Ynvf9lRep3c/s640/blogger-image--1735477389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5SQ_O9m0c9w/UuxhLP2P5RI/AAAAAAAACKY/Ynvf9lRep3c/s640/blogger-image--1735477389.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div> </div><div><br></div><div>On our trip to Boone (Thanksgiving, 2008) </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-M8x0juZqEYo/UuxhIgvjjWI/AAAAAAAACKI/v5n5x82brz4/s640/blogger-image--424741078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-M8x0juZqEYo/UuxhIgvjjWI/AAAAAAAACKI/v5n5x82brz4/s640/blogger-image--424741078.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-48368447533788801302013-08-19T21:10:00.001-07:002013-08-20T20:33:16.549-07:00Lost Down The Rabbit Hole<div>There seems to be a new fad going around in full force: clean eating</div><div>The root cause of this lifestyles is admirable and important. I love that more people are becoming aware of what they're consuming and really beginning to examining their food... <div><div><br></div><div>That being said, I desperately want to caution those who <i>have </i>adopted this lifestyle change. So here is my cautionary tale:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JVYpMdt2Idw/UhMo9WTNmfI/AAAAAAAAANM/q_9NXW8wbD8/s640/blogger-image--1013161109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JVYpMdt2Idw/UhMo9WTNmfI/AAAAAAAAANM/q_9NXW8wbD8/s640/blogger-image--1013161109.jpg"></a></div></div><div>{source}</div><div><span style="font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">http://www.michellechant.com/2011/08/</span></div><div><span style="font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">curiouser-and-curiouser-down-the-rabbit-</span></div><div><span style="font-family: '.HelveticaNeueUI'; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; white-space: nowrap; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">hole-and-back/</span></div><div><br></div><div>I wanted to be a lean, mean, clean eating machine. I did everything right. I did my research. I balanced my meals. I was informed, and level-headed. I workef put everyday and had six pack abs. Despite all of that, my obsession turned lethal. The scary truth is that being "healthy" nearly killed me. <span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Now anytime I see someone being/striving to be uber-healthy I feel an urge to warn them, to show them the otherside of the looking glass.</span><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "> </span></div><div> </div><div> *Let me clearify, by "healthy" I mean: Cutting out processed foods, trans fats, unnatural sugars, added sodium and chemicals, preservatives, refined flours, dairy, and meat. I ate a very balanced vegetarian diet (I did eat fish and egg whites). <br>
<br>At about the same time that I had mastered clean eating, I also began experiencing terrible GI issues (including extreme nausua, severe cramps, and stabbing pains). I don't believe my new lifestyle had much to do with it. I felt physically better whilst adhering to it,and drastically worse when I veered off-course. I had bouts of milder symptoms before (off and on for several years, actually) so I believe the severe physical illnesses I was experiencing were most likely the same thing. I <i>do </i>belive that my compromised health exasperated my underlying medical issues (I just recently got my answer as to what this mystery ailment that has plagued me for over 10 years is - Dysautonomia). Coincidentaly, the deepest part of my struggle with ED occured just when my Dysautonomia really started to get revved up. As that gained strength, the physical pain of my body was in became too much. The pain from just ingesting food was great enough to cause a fear so intense that I would develop a full-fledged phobia. </div><div><br></div><div>I should also mention that I experience (and sometimes still do) a strange compulsion to move after ingesting something. This started several years before my epic battle with ED began. It was as if being idle turned the food into lead, which would painfully weigh down on my stomach. That "full" feeling was physically painful. <i>Excruciating. </i></div><div><br></div><div> Soon after the clean eating and fitness obsession hit its pinnacle, the delusions began. If I worked out, the calories I ingested would turn to muscle and it would fuel my body more efficiently. If I didn't, then said calories would turn to fat and would be wasted. The health and fitness fanatic in me just screamed "Muscle is good, fat is bad!"</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I will always remember one particular day in the fall of 2002. It was then that I realized I was completely at the mercy of my eating disorder. This was the day that I <i>knew </i>I was sick. I <i>knew </i>I was too thin. I <i>knew </i>I was dying. Even more startling - and important to convey- is the fact that I didn't<i> </i>want to be that thin. Not in a million years. I wanted to gain weight. I wanted to be like I was before: Athletic, strong, fit, lean but not skinny. What happened that day and the revelation I had, shook me to my very core. I was terrified. That moment went something like this:</div></div><div><br></div><div>It was morning and I was sitting on the couch, watching TV while I ate breakfast which consisted of a regular sized bowl of cereal (some sort of Kashi), soy milk, and 1/2 a banana. Sensible and satisfying. </div><div><br></div><div>Immediately after ingesting it, I panicked. <i>That</i> was the day I knew I was a prisoner on death row. The only reason I <i>didn't</i> reach out and seek help right then and there was because of the social stigma attached to eating disorders. I was too scared of what <i>everyone</i> <i>else</i> would think. The fear of being labeled a weak, entitled little white girl was too strong. This vivid memory is locked in my mind, forever etched into the walls of my psyche. I dig it up anytime I hear that voice - that dreaded siren call of ED- whenever I'm on the brink of relapse. This memory reminds me of the journey back home and how long, scary, and dangerous it was. Because of that, I don't dare jump back down that rabbit hole.</div><div><br></div><div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="text-align: left; ">“In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.”</span><span style="text-align: left; "> </span></span></div><span style="text-align: left; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; ">― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8164.Lewis_Carroll" style="text-decoration: none; ">Lewis Carroll</a>, <i><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2933712" style="text-decoration: none; ">Alice's Adventures in Wonderland</a></i></div></span></div><div>
<br>* Side note: I think it is important to be honest in order to truly grow awareness. However, to keep things as safe as possible I will NOT divulge information such as: weight, height, BMI, or clothing size.</div><div>
<br>
<br>
<u>The depth of my rabbit hole</u></div><div><br></div><div>*Upon Hospital Addmittance*<br> Average body temperature: 95 degrees<br> Average heart rate: 40bpm<br> Hospitalized in critical condition<br> Beginning stages of multipule organ failure<br> NG (nasogastric) Feeding Tube (24hr/day feeds) <br> PICC line with 24 hr IV infusion nutrition (TPN - Total Parenteral Nutrition)<br>
<a href="http://www.eatingdisordersonline.com/articles/anorexia/refeeding-syndrome-symptoms" target="_blank">Refeeding Syndrome</a> after starting IV and NG tube nutrition.<br>
<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastroparesis/DS00612" target="_blank">Gastroparesis</a></div><div> Severe GERD</div><div> Water intoxication <br>
<br>
How long did it take me to make my way out of just <i>that</i> part of it?</div><div> I was rid of the PICC line and NG tube after 6 months, but was still unable to attend school for another year. </div><div><br></div><div>Ok, how about after that? </div><div> It's 11 years later and I still have issues with gastroparesis. </div><div> I have weak joints, osteoarthritis, gastritis (which causes my stomach lining to bleed periodically), neurological damage (though some of that is due to a medication reaction a year later), memory problems... That's all I can think of at the moment. </div><div><br></div><div>Please, please, <i>please </i>be careful! Being healthy and fit is wonderful. No longer being able to enjoy (or even eat) something "unhealthy", or just a day to be "lazy" is not. </div><div>
<br>
<br>
<br></div></div></div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-23411971249363193412013-08-11T22:12:00.001-07:002013-11-03T19:55:51.822-08:00Special Needs Links/Resources <br>*Autism and Autistic Community Links*(for all ages, not just kids)<br><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)</span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">http://autisticadvocacy.org</font></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The Autism National Committee</span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">http://www.autcom.org</font></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Autism Network International</span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">http://www.autreat.com</font></div><div><br></div><div>Autism Women’s Network</div><div>http://autismwomensnetwork.org</div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">AASPIRE (Academic Autistic Spectrum Partnership In Research and Education) </span></div><div>http://aaspire.org</div><div><br></div><div>Autistic Hoya</div><div>http://www.autistichoya.com/p/about.html?m=1</div><div><br></div><div>TAAP</div><div>http://www.taaproject.com</div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The Caffeinated Autistic (this is a great blog)</span></div><div>http://thecaffeinatedautistic.wordpress.com/tag/autism-speaks-doesnt-speak-for-me/</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>*Disability Advocacy Links*</div><div><br></div><div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">TASH </div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">http://tash.org</font></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">ADAPT </font></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">http://www.adapt.org</font></div></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div><a href="http://www.r-word.org/Default.aspx" target="_blank" title="R-word">R-Word</a> </div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/meet-the-wrights/" target="_blank" title="It starts with a voice">Meet The Wrights</a> </div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://vimeo.com/45152895" target="_blank" title="It starts with a voice">It Starts With A Voice</a> (video) and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ItStartsWithAVoice" target="_blank" title="It starts with a voice fb">Facebook page</a> </div><div><br></div></div><div>*Cerebral Palsy* </div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://cerebralpalsy.org/" target="_blank" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">CerebralPalsy.org</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.cerebralpalsy.org.au/" target="_blank">Cerebral Palsy Alliance</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.ndss.org/" target="_blank" title="NDSS">NDSS</a> - (National Down Syndrome Society)</div><div><br></div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-48501984485111532922013-08-11T21:52:00.000-07:002014-01-30T18:32:58.334-08:00Spoonie Links and Resources<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Chronic Illness Links:</span><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5UEDrO2PeSk/UusLWO0uSbI/AAAAAAAACJA/V4qWNVsY_3E/s640/blogger-image--2073045283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5UEDrO2PeSk/UusLWO0uSbI/AAAAAAAACJA/V4qWNVsY_3E/s640/blogger-image--2073045283.jpg"></a></div><br></font><div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://bobisdysautonomia.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank" title="living with bob" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Living with Bob </a><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">(Blog about living with Dysautonomia) </span></div><div><a href="http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/wpress/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/" target="_blank" title="spoon theory" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">The Spoon Theory</a><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "> </span></div><div><a href="http://www.dinet.org/" target="_blank" title="DINET" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">DINET (Dysautonomia Information Network)</a><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "> </span></div><div><a href="http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/wpress/" target="_blank" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">But You Don't Look Sick</a><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "> </span></div><div><a href="http://justmildlymedicated.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="Just mildly medicated" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Just Mildly Medicated</a><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "> (Blog) </span></div><div><a href="http://chronicallyawesome.org/" target="_blank" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">The Chronically Awesome Foundation</a><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NFMCPA" target="_blank" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association</a><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "> (Facebook)</span></div><div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><a href="http://www.epilepsy.com/" target="_blank">Epilepsy.com</a> </div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><a href="http://www.celiac.org/" target="_blank">Celiac Disease Foundation</a> </div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><a href="http://www.wellspouse.org/" target="_blank">Well Spouse Association</a> (support for spousal caregivers) </div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><a href="https://www.facebook.com/GrowingThroughPain" target="_blank">Growing Through Pain</a> (facebook and blog) </div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><a href="http://4pawsforability.org/" target="_blank">Paws for Ability </a>(providing service dogs to children) </div><div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><a href="http://www.allpurposecanines.com/index.html" target="_blank">All Purpose Canines</a></div></div><div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-34013249790071360932013-08-11T21:51:00.000-07:002014-01-31T19:12:57.990-08:00No Makeup MondayYesterday, I learned about the <a href="http://www.operationbeautiful.com/no-makeup-celebration/" target="_blank">No Make Up Monda</a>y movement. Every Monday Operation Beautiful celebrates the natural beauty we all have by going make up free. For the record, I <em>love</em> make up. I think it's so fun! - and <a href="http://www.operationbeautiful.com/" target="_blank">Operation Beautifu</a>l agrees with me ;) But it is so important to remind everyone just how <em>amazingly beautiful</em> they are as their naked self. I actually really needed this reminder. After taking <em>several</em> pictures and analyzing which one was the best, (Proof of just how strong our sense of commercial "beauty" really is.) I nervously posted my picture to Facebook and Twitter. Here I am posting, once again, on the Internet. I must be getting better at this whole "body confidence" thing.<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GLkvA2csU_g/UuxmMEdM0-I/AAAAAAAACLA/XuDCCP5lm-c/s640/blogger-image--1705674857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GLkvA2csU_g/UuxmMEdM0-I/AAAAAAAACLA/XuDCCP5lm-c/s640/blogger-image--1705674857.jpg"></a></div><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>Some added inspiration, courtesy of Huff Post Women, helped quite a bit. In this article <a href="http://brittanyherself.com/2013/03/18/bikini-mountain/" target="_blank">"Why I'm Wearing A Bikini On The Internet"</a> Brittany Gibbons writes about her mountain she wants to climb: Wearing a bikini. <span style="color: purple;">*Note: I love bikinis but after having two kids I'm less than friendly towards them*</span> She goes even farther and posts pics of this endeavor on the Internet! She's now my hero. Later this week she posted another article in response to the outpouring of commentary on the bikini one. This one was the reveal of her weight! I know, she's amazing! This article titled, Why I'm Revealing <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brittany-gibbons/why-im-revealing-my-weight-on-the-internet_b_2949053.html?ir=women&utm_campaign=032613&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Alert-women&utm_content=Title#slide=1597430" target="_blank">My Weight On The Internet </a>she writes about how she had to defend her body and how she is, in fact, plus-size. In the end she writes:
<span style="color: purple;">" People carry weight in all different ways. you can't draw a line in the sand and toss assumptions on either side. I do this, all of this, to show you what a real person looks like at this weight. And what a real person looks like in those cloths."</span> <div><br></div><div><strong>Love it! </strong>Maybe one day I'll be that brave... Until then I will continue to raise awareness and try to help others in their recovery.
Another awesome act of bold, natural beauty in the media is The Nu Project. <a href="http://thenuproject.com/about-the-project/" target="_blank">The Nu Project</a> is a 100% volunteer gallery of nude women in all shapes and sizes.The goal is to inspire women to feel better about their bodies. Huff Post Women also did a story about this project (how I heard about it) and has a slide show of 7 pictures from the gallery that are stunning. The creator of The Nu Project, Matt Blum, says that he tries to photograph women where they feel most comfortable - in their own homes- respectfully, with out a lot of sexual over/undertones.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ENqf7VnVluA/UuxmNGrFf6I/AAAAAAAACLI/v9zNksfX3Vg/s640/blogger-image--376611380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ENqf7VnVluA/UuxmNGrFf6I/AAAAAAAACLI/v9zNksfX3Vg/s640/blogger-image--376611380.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pX5nygFm9WQ/UuxmNwz2pKI/AAAAAAAACLQ/otkfJhkMWcc/s640/blogger-image--1546674911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pX5nygFm9WQ/UuxmNwz2pKI/AAAAAAAACLQ/otkfJhkMWcc/s640/blogger-image--1546674911.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br><div><b><i>Simply beautiful<br> </i></b><br>
<br><br></div></div></div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-73105926600539382002013-08-11T21:50:00.002-07:002014-02-24T21:36:57.251-08:00Letter to my 16 Year Old Self<b>Dear Me,</b><br />
<br />
<div>
Yeah, this is me...Er, you... In the future... I know what you're thinking - but this <em>isn't</em> a dumb prank your friends are pulling. You're quirky and aren't one to dismiss strange things, so I'm going to assume that about half way through this you're going to just take my word for it. I also know that you're crazy busy but please just listen and give me the benefit of the doubt. So, yeah, this is you in the future... I'll let that sink in a minute.
Ok. Now that we're on the same page (or at least the same book), I'll begin.
You are 16, and unlike most 16 year olds you don't take yourself to seriously. That's good. Hold onto that. The adults in your life really do respect you and what you have to say. You don't have to try so hard to impress them, or anyone for that matter. For some reason (believe me, you'll spend<em> years</em> trying to figure this out. You'll come up with some theories, but nothing earthshaking. No crazy revelations.), you feel that you must be the<strong> best</strong>. Quit chasing that coveted #1 spot. In everything. I know that working your ass off only to make it to the top 5 (in everything) is frustrating - and for <em>once</em> it would be amazing to actually be the best in something - but top 5 is actually really awesome.<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
After that speal I feel compelled to tell you that you don't even need to try for top 5. <em>No matter what anyone says.</em> You don't have to exhaust yourself trying to impress everyone because of some idealized notion society has placed on you. <strong>Everything is</strong> <strong>not a competition</strong>. That also goes for your love life. Let's face it, it's not even about the boy anymore. It's a competition. If you could just move on it would save a lot of heartache for several people. Teenage angst and melodrama aside, you really can stop competing with yourself. Stop pressuring yourself to be the<em> "ideal"</em> daughter/student/friend/etc. Let go of that incessant<strong></strong> need to be "perfect". To have <strong>zero</strong> flaws.<strong> LET IT GO!</strong> It could help us tremendously in the future if you would just realize that you <em>already</em> are perfect. There is no need to keep chasing the mirage. That's all it is, a twisted little mirage. In two years someone will say these words to you: "you ARE perfect" and they will resonate with you more than any truth ever before. I know that 2 years seems really close, but it is actually light-years away. You're rolling your eyes right now and are thinking, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever. Everything is going great right now. I have awesome friends and everything is going according to my plan. I have a high GPA and am on track for a stellar transcript. I have scholarships lined up and it's all because of my hard work. That hard work that you're telling me to let up on. If I let up, I am never going to make it. <em>I'll fail</em>."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lTqpfymvzKY/Uwwr0SP4qDI/AAAAAAAACbA/B8meUFl70PI/s640/blogger-image--64474304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lTqpfymvzKY/Uwwr0SP4qDI/AAAAAAAACbA/B8meUFl70PI/s400/blogger-image--64474304.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<b>That takes me to my next message.</b>
<br />
In a year your world is going to come crashing down around you. You will have no warning (other than this right now) and you'll panic. You'll panic like you've never panicked before. Yeah, I thought that would get you're attention. To be honest, I'm conflicted with whether or not to disclose certain details of this chapter. If you know before hand and somehow manage to side-step it, it would change everything about you... I know I would have liked some warning, so I'll tell you anyway. If for some reason, through some kind of divine intervention you <em>do</em> see it coming, just let it happen. If nothing else, let this be of some comfort and hopefully it will soften the blow of what is to come. In one year life is going to test you. Big time. You MUST survive. No, I'm not being dramatic. This is a real. It's life or death. Ok, don't panic. You're panicking, aren't you? Stop. <em>Breath</em>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's nothing like what you are thinking, or could possibly think. You aren't going to be stalked by some crazy serial killer or anything.
When your world is bleaker than anything you've ever been through, trust in your friends. They really are great friends. They will stand by you through everything. Don't cut them out. You won't want to talk to people, but try. They care more than you realize. <strong>Give your parents a break</strong>. They aren't trying to control you. They are scared. Terrified. Stick to your guns. Just because they are supposed to be "experts" doesn't mean they know what's best. Listen to your inner voice. Above all else, remember:
<strong>This too shall pass</strong>
When it does, wonderful things will happen because of it - but I can't say anymore about that ;)
Be strong. Your life may not happen as you so carefully planned, but it will be <em>perfect</em>.
*Thank you, Carrie at<a href="http://justmildlymedicated.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Just Mildly Medicated </a>for this great blog idea. I loved it :)</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-28397697693191015872013-08-11T21:50:00.001-07:002014-01-31T18:52:24.368-08:00Old School Blogging I was visiting one of my favorite blogs, <a href="http://hopeandcoffee.com/" target="_blank">Hope and Coffee</a>, and I saw that she did this "old school blogging" post. It looked pretty fun, and yeah, I needed something kind of fluffy to post (I admit it!). So I borrowed her template and here's what I got:<br>
<br><strong><span style="color: purple;">What where you doing 10 years ago?</span></strong><br>
<br>
Wow, OK, so "fluffy" isn't exactly going to happen as much as I thought... I just realized that 10 years ago I was as close to dead as you can get. I was a junior in high school. I had everything going for me: National Honor Society member, top 10 student ranking, Pipe Major in the pipe band (our town has a Pipes and Drums band -bagpipes- that competes internationally), soloist in the symphonic band (piccolo), tons of friends, AP classes, scholarships, etc. I was extremely healthy and fit. I only ate whole foods (way before the trend) and was a vegetarian. Then the floor fell out. I became very ill, very fast. With in 3 months I had dropped 30lbs (I was 4'11", so 30lbs is A LOT). The weight loss was largly due to an underlying medical condition that caused crippling pain whenever I ate anything. The doctors didn't know what was going on. By the time I had reached such a low weight, I had developed a full-fledged phobia of food. All I had to do was see food and my stomach felt like it was being stabbed. Everything that happened when I ate, I would suddenly feel. I was admitted to one of the country's best children's hospitals (All Children's Hospital in St.Pete, FL). At one point the doctors, along with a chaplain, pulled my parents aside into a conference room and told them that if they couldn't get me to eat with in 6 months, I would die (that's while being on a feeding tube, TPN, oxygen, etc.) Long story short less long, I was fighting for my life. I later acknowledge that I did have an eating disorder, but I also had a chronic medical condition. My eating disorder was ignited from the combination of that undiagnosed medical condition and my need (obsession) to stay healthy and <a href="http://www.something-fishy.org/whatarethey/exercise.php" target="_blank">fit</a>. The later has just recently become recognised by the eating disorder community as <a href="http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/orthorexia-nervosa" target="_blank">orthorexia</a>. So, in a nutshell (albeit a large nutshell) that's what was happening 10 years ago.<br>
<br>
<strong><span style="color: purple;">5 Things on your To-Do list</span></strong><br>
<ol>
<li> Keep kids entertained, engaged, learning, etc... Ugh, can't that be my 5?</li>
<li> Laundry</li>
<li> Write/Research</li>
<li> Make dinner</li>
<li> Clean snakes' cages and feed Opal</li>
</ol>
<strong><span style="color: purple;">What are 5 snacks that you enjoy?</span></strong><br><br><div>Can I count coffee? Because coffee is my favorite everything ;) OK, fine, I'll put down 5 actual foods - Chocolate (the darker, the better), fresh fruit, pretzels, Luna Bars, raw veggies.<br>
<br>
<strong><span style="color: purple;">Name one thing you would do if you were a millionaire?</span></strong>
Pay off our debt! Pay off my parents' deb, my mother-in-law's, and my Yia Yia's too. Fix our house in NC so someone will actually buy it (shoot, at this point it would be just so someone would actually want to sell it) and buy one here so my parents can have their house back. Savings! Donate!<br>
<br>
<strong><span style="color: purple;">Name some places you have lived:</span></strong>
My husband and I both grew up in Dunedin, FL. When we were dating he became a US Marine in 2004 and was stationed in Jacksonville, NC. We married right after his training ended and lived there for 8 years. Although, the 8 years were broken up with deployments. During long deployments I moved back to FL due to medical reasons. My hubby just ended his tour in the Corps and we are settling back in Dunedin. So if anyone knows anyone who wants to hire an honorably discharged Marine for more than part-time (you know, so we could actually pay our bills), that would b awesome ;)<br>
<br>
<strong><span style="color: purple;">Name some bad habits you have:</span></strong>
Checking (more info<a href="http://www.thebeginwithinblog.com/2010/09/body-checking/" target="_blank"> here</a>), not resting when my body says it needs to rest -but seriously how can I when I have tons of stuff I need to do? <a href="http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/" target="_blank">Always being sick </a>is sooo annoying! Am I right? You know I am.<br>
<strong><span style="color: purple;"><br></span></strong>
<strong><span style="color: purple;">Name some places you have worked:</span></strong>
I have had several jobs over the years, but they all ended ether by hospitalizations or moving. Some of those jobs/places would be: Gymnastics coach (I was a gymnast for 10 years), Victoria's Secret, and Neilsen (market research). I was also in school for a chunk. I've done a little freelancing here and there, but now I'm a SAHM.</div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-15327997002914331252013-08-11T21:50:00.000-07:002014-01-31T18:54:05.491-08:00Friday Fluff<span style="color: purple; ">Friday Fluff</span><br>
<br>
I would live on coffee, dark chocolate, and red wine if I could.<br>
<br>
<strong><span style="color: purple;">
</span></strong>
Dogs shed only twice a year - the first half, and the second half.<br>
<br>
Always make more food than you intend to eat because no mater what it is, the little ones are going to wan some. If you already have it made, it just saves time/effort.<br>
<br>
Even with my allergies raging, I would rather be outside than stuck in the house - I mean, that's what inhalers are for, right?<br> <br>There is a very fine line between the amount of coffee needed to function and the amount that will cause you to be up half the night.
<em id="__mceDel"> -and also-
How much coffee does it take to equal the energy of a 3 year old? The world will never know.</em>
<div><br></div><div> If you give a Kelly a cookie, she's going to ask for a glass of milk...
When given the chance, my husband WILL embarrass me.</div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-53265694094423696802013-08-11T21:49:00.001-07:002014-01-30T18:30:29.415-08:00The R Word <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5519449/?claim=5at7hdd32k2">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a> <div><br></div><div>
<span style="color: purple;">It was late afternoon and my mom was cooking dinner.</span> My sister was... well, I actually don't remember what she was doing, and I was in the living room watching TV. Suddenly I heard shouting outside and something hit the front of our house. Startled, I looked out the window. Standing outside my house was the girl who lived down the street from me, shouting and throwing rocks at the front of my house. we went to school together, and for some reason we just never really got along. We tolerated each other. I thought she was a show-off and she thought I was too. I had probably done something or said something at school that day that peeved her off, I don't know. I threw the door open and was shocked at what I heard her yelling. " Melinda's sister is a retard!", "Retard!", "Retard!" "Melinda's sister is retarded!" Each verbal assault was accompanied by rocks hitting my house. The shock quickly faded and anger took over. I ran across the yard and yelled for her to "Take that back!" She kept shouting it and shoved me. I broke her nose. Right there, in my front yard, for all the neighbors to see. I probably should have felt bad or at least a little scared because people saw it. I was, after all, a total goody-goody. But I didn't and I still don't. My dad was watching from the front door, half upset by my outburst and half proud of how I defended my <a href="http://www.thesaplingstories.com/my-sister/" target="_blank">sister</a>. I don't remember anything else that happened that day. I didn't get in trouble aside from a lecture about how resorting violence isn't the right thing to do. </div><div><br></div><div>
<span style="color: purple;">I learned how to deal with things like that better and by high school I calmly asked people to please not use that word.</span> If they asked why not, I explained it to them. Everyone I spoke to respected my request and I never heard any of them intentionally use that word in my presence again. When the occasional slip-up happened they always sincerely apologized. Generally, people use this term in a completely benign way and have no idea what the power of that word actually holds. Once they find out, as with most other things that are shrouded in ignorance, they understand better and it changes their perception and behavior. It is for that reason that I am a firm believer in spreading awareness.</div><div><br></div><div>
<span style="color: purple;">March 6th was the annual</span> <a href="http://www.r-word.org/Default.aspx" target="_blank">"Spread The Word To End The Word"</a><span style="color: purple;"> </span><br>
<span style="color: purple;">awareness day</span></div><div><font color="#800080"><br></font></div><div><font color="#800080"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZHreD-ejfb8/UusKw1xpobI/AAAAAAAACIw/H-tLPtwDNDY/s640/blogger-image--588316901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZHreD-ejfb8/UusKw1xpobI/AAAAAAAACIw/H-tLPtwDNDY/s640/blogger-image--588316901.jpg"></a></div><br></font><br>
<br>What is Spread the Word to End the Word?
<span style="color: purple;">Spread the Word to End the Word</span> is an on-going effort to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word "retard(ed)" and encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word. The campaign is intended to get schools, communities and organizations to rally and pledge their support to help create communities of inclusion and acceptance for all people.
<span style="color: purple;">Learn more about this campaign</span><a href="http://www.r-word.org/r-word-questions-and-answer.aspx" target="_blank"> here</a> </div><div><br></div><div>
<span style="color: purple; ">The R-word fosters LONELINESS</span> </div><div>“It hurts and scares me when I am the only person with intellectual disabilities on the bus and young people start making “retard” jokes or references. Please put yourself on that bus and fill the bus with people who are different from you. Imagine that they start making jokes using a term that describes you. It hurts and it is scary.” – <em>Joseph Franklin Stephens, Special Olympics Virginia athlete and Global Messenger</em>
As evident with my childhood confrontation, there are times, situations and personalities sometimes involved that may not be best suited for an immediate intervention when you hear someone use the R-word. It simply may be best at times to walk away from a situation, but that doesn't mean <a href="http://www.r-word.org/r-word-how-to-walk-away.aspx" target="_blank">you can’t still do good after walking away. </a>
<br>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: purple;">Language affects attitudes. Attitudes impact actions. Make your pledge to choose respectful people first language at</span> <a href="http://www.r-word.org/Default.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.r-word.org/Default.aspx</a></li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.r-word.org/Stories/News/2013__It_Starts_with_a_Voice.aspx?taxid=1342" target="_blank">It Starts With A Voice</a> is an amazing facebook page chronicling the journey of a wonderful family in their quest to end the r-word. If nothing else, please watch this <a href="http://vimeo.com/45152895" target="_blank">video</a>. I just did and now I'm in tears, happy tears.
<span style="color: purple;">Other resources to check out (please do!):</span>
<a href="http://specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/meet-the-wrights/" target="_blank">The World Of Special Olympics</a>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/opinion/sunday/a-word-gone-wrong.html?_r=1&" target="_blank">NYT: A Word Gone Wrong</a>
<a href="http://barrington.patch.com/blog_posts/spread-the-word-to-end-the-word-274644aa" target="_blank">Barrington Patch: Spread The Word To End The Word</a>
<a href="http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_10351963" target="_blank">denverpost.com</a>
<a href="http://specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/the-hurtful-effects-of-the-r-word/" target="_blank">The Hurtful Effects Of The R-Word</a> written by Eddie Barbanell from the hit movie “<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0267891/"><span style="color: black;">The Ringer</span></a></span>"</div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-73868917619753663132013-08-11T21:49:00.000-07:002014-02-24T21:49:08.500-08:00My Sister<div>
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">I have a sister</span> (2 yrs older than me) and anyone with a sister knows how is is both annoying and amazing. My relationship with my sister has always been just like any other sibling relationship. We fought growing up and had our fair share o sibling rivalry. My mom recently told me about one incident when we were quite young (young enough that I don't remember it). We were eating dinner, my sister and I were sitting on opposite sides of the table. My sister started to yank the table towards her, so I yanked it right back. This went on for a while, the two of us yanking the table back and forth. My mom was sitting there, laughing, and couldn't help but enjoy the sibling squabble that was so "normal" being displayed in front of her.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;">Why would my mom be happy about a "normal" sibling squabble?</span> Because everything else was so "abnormal". My sister has severe disabilities. She has been diagnosed with sever (like, farthest end of the spectrum you can get severe) autism, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. As a child and teen she was very abusive (towards herself and others) and our mom was constantly covered in bruises. She actually broke our mom's cheek bone once. Many people told my parents to write her off, to put her in a special facility. They never did and never would. My parents' strength was and is superhuman. There wasn't a lot of resources then, so our mom would come up with ways to adapt things for my sister. Her innovation is incredible. My sister needed a bed that was safe, but she was too big for a crib - so my mom and dad made one out of pvc pipes to fit a twin bed. They covered the pvc in large pool noodles and then our mom <em>hand sewed</em> strong mesh around every side. My sister would rip the mesh almost every night and my mom would sit there and sew it back together the next day. She also came up with pj's that she couldn't get out of but buying denim vests and jeans and sewing them together with a zipper in the back to make soft denim coveralls.<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: purple;">Growing up, I loved my sister but man did she get on my <em>nerves</em>!</span> Family outings were dictated by whether or not my sister would allow it. If she was having a bad day, we canceled. If we actually went out and then she abruptly needed to leave, we did. Growing up this was annoying and sometimes hurtful. I would be excited to be going somewhere only to have it canceled because my sister was acting up. I understood it and knew it was right to cancel but the "child" part me was angry. She still can get on my nerves. She has always loved music and needs something playing at all times. She also loves Raffi (not just any Raffi, one particular video on repeat) and prefers that be playing at all times as well. Now, in all fairness this is a major improvement. For years (I mean like 10 year <em>strong</em>!) she loved Barney. Yeah, I don't think I need to explain that one at all. You all are groaning right along with me. Seriously, you know it's bad when you catch your dad signing Barney songs in the shower and when you ask him about it he has no recollection of the event at all. Or when you hear it playing in the background of your dreams. Yeah that's<em> fun</em>, let me tell you! She is non-verbal, but very loud. The neighbors can hear her screaming with all of our doors and windows closed. I love her to death, but she can be such a pain in the butt!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple;">I'm allowed to say that because I'm her sister</span>.
She will be 30 soon and still lives at home. She is still as loud as ever but much calmer. She seems happier, more relaxed. That makes me so happy. There are still rough days and her health is slowly getting worse with every passing year, but my family is committed to giving her the best life we possibly can.<br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;">My childhood may have been different, but I wouldn't want to have any other sibling in he world.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: purple;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="color: purple;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VTyL8BreG98/Uwwt3izdJ9I/AAAAAAAACbM/xDyNsiIDT_4/s640/blogger-image--1912683608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VTyL8BreG98/Uwwt3izdJ9I/AAAAAAAACbM/xDyNsiIDT_4/s400/blogger-image--1912683608.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-26697957847270344072013-07-29T05:03:00.001-07:002013-08-21T22:53:57.018-07:00Everyday Blessings<h4></h4><h4 style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); "><span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 102); "><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 255); ">On a good day I see my house hold in a</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 255); ">positive</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 255); ">,</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 255); ">uplifting<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; "> </span>light</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; "><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 255); ">:</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 255); ">Children laughing, playing, growing, and loving. A family united, not divided. Caring and giving</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 204, 255); ">.</span></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; color: #000000;">But the truth is that <span style="color: #ff00ff;">life<strong> </strong>engulfs us</span>. The mundane chores of the everyday consume us and we soon forget how precious it all is. Even the tedious, tiring events become joyous when looked upon with fresh eyes. If it were all to end tomorrow I certainly would savor each of these moments.</span>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; color: #000000;">The things that usually leave me tired, haggard, and run down (or even bored) would be <span style="color: #ff00ff;">celebrated</span>. I would realize that I take so much for granted because soon, it will all end. Then I shall long for those tiring, tedious, mundane events of yesterday. I must <span style="color: #ff00ff;">always</span> remember this. <span style="color: #ff00ff;">Savor</span> the moments. Be <span style="color: #ff00ff;">joyous</span> in the everyday. In all of life's uncertainty, those everyday chores should be greeted with <span style="color: #ff00ff;">enthusiasm</span> and counted as the <span style="color: #ff00ff;">blessings</span> they are. </span>
<h4><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 255); text-decoration: underline; ">My Mundane Everyday and The Joys That Accompany It</span></span></h4>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #000000;"> Waking up hearing Kelly asking if she can get up yet. Then jumping on me saying "mama, get up!"</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;"> Alex's big hugs and huge smile every morning when I go to get him out of bed</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;"> The beautiful pitter-patter of tiny feet</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;"> Sleepy toddler monologues</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;"> Alex being "sneaky" and smirking as he gets into mischief </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">How Kelly lights up when we have a "task" that needs to be accomplished and can not be done with out her her</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Their love of animals</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">How they play with each other</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Kisses, hugs, and noses for Daddy. Only Daddy.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Picking flowers in the yard</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Saying "good night" to the moon and stars</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">The joy on their faces when Mike walks in the door after work</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Washing their sippy cups and tiny silverware</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Folding their adorable little cloths</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Putting the blankets on them after they've fallen asleep</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Laying with Kelly, reading while she holds my hand</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Cuddling with Alex late at night , just the two of us</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">How much Alex enjoys bath time</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">How Kelly wants to be just like Mama</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Kelly's little whiny plea of "Mama, hold me"</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Alex's ability to just roll with Kelly's drama, and always finding the humor in her tantrum</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #000000;">Reading "Guess How Much I Love You" and "The Very Hungry Caterpillar"</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 255); ">* Note: This was originally written in May 2012, so a <i>lot </i>of these things have changed... And I do miss them so very much. H</span>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-26532374213982702912013-07-29T04:56:00.001-07:002014-01-30T18:35:09.698-08:00Mora MomentsI <span style="color: #800080;">have often described my parents' home as an... <em>unusual place</em>.</span> My long-time favorite would be<strong> </strong><span style="color: #499df5;">'The Asylum'</span>,which I coined somewhere around age thirteen. Yeah, I know, it's not <span style="color: #499df5;"><em>nice</em></span> to call your mom's house an asylum - but seriously, it's <span style="color: #499df5;">not a negative thing</span>. It's an ode to the vast chaos that goes on and how everyone in the family has grown accustomed to it. <span style="color: #499df5;">It's endearing</span>. Why do I call it 'The Asylum'? Well, let me give you some background information. <div><br></div><div>My parents' house is always very busy and loud. <span style="color: #499df5;">Very loud</span>. It's "Fellowship of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" meets "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". My sister (2 years older than me) has severe autism, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. She is much calmer now, but as a kid she was very aggressive. More often than not, she is hollering about<span style="color: #499df5;"><em> something</em></span>. My mother's family is Greek and is all up in each other's business. At any moment they may show up and abduct you! I actually really like that, though. My dad is quite a bit like Shep from Ya-Ya, only not so much the innocent bystander. </div><div><div><span style="color: #800080;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: #800080;">Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Sidda talking to her father, Shep: "and the inmate takes over the asylum." - Sidda. "No, it's more like Stockholm syndrome." - Shep</span> </div><div><span style="color: #499df5;">Exactly!</span></div><div><span style="color: #499df5;"><br></span></div><div>
Add in some animals and you pretty much have the whole picture.</div><div><br></div><div><span style="color: #800080;">The animals in our family have always had more of a <em>supporting role</em> in the chaos, that is, until Samora.</span> </div><div><br></div><div>My cousin called my dad up one day and told him about this littler of puppies a neighbor had. My cousin became increasingly aware that these puppies were not going to have a good future. The owners didn't want them and just wanted to get rid of them.The mother was a chow, <span style="color: #499df5;">and my dad loves chows</span>. No one knew who the father was, but the puppies looked like pure chow. So my dad drove up and took a look. This <span style="color: #499df5;">adorable</span> little 8wk old <span style="color: #499df5;">puff ball,</span> bouncing around,ended up coming home with him. That first car ride should have been the tip-off. Samora rode on the passanger's seat, inside a small cardboard box. Apparently, she was able to wrestle her way out of the box and go all Cujo on my dad. This little 8 wk old puppy <span style="color: #499df5;"><em>tore</em> him up like a wolverine.</span>
I had never been scared of a dog before, especially not a<span style="color: #499df5;"><em> little puppy</em></span>. But this thing was <span style="color: #499df5;">crazy</span>! We all started calling her <span style="color: #499df5;">Taz</span> since she embodied the little devil <em>so</em> well. Anything was fair game. If I wanted to go to sleep, I would barricade myself with <span style="color: #499df5;"><em>anything</em> and <em>everything</em></span> in my room. It wasn't much help though, because she would just climb the <span style="color: #499df5;"><em>whole</em> </span>thing. If I was working on homework, well, forget it. Those jaws were <span style="color: #499df5;">shredders</span>. If I wanted to go on my trampoline I had to throw a stick a far as I could, wait for her to chase it, and make a <span style="color: #499df5;">mad dash</span> for it - hoping I made it in time. It was clear that this was not a <span style="color: #499df5;">"normal"</span> dog, she was something more. <span style="color: #499df5;">Something wild</span>. My dad and I did as much research as we could on raising dog mixes, in case that was, in fact, what we were dealing with. In time she became a <span style="color: #499df5;">wonderful</span> addition to our family. She is 12 years old now and is just as <span style="color: #499df5;">"different"</span> - think of her as an extreme version of <span style="color: #499df5;">Marmaduke</span>. She our little <span style="color: #499df5;">Miss Priss</span> and I love her dearly.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uvhSyL8wYxU/UusL3KqGqPI/AAAAAAAACJQ/hqGRDa1nNMI/s640/blogger-image--993577501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uvhSyL8wYxU/UusL3KqGqPI/AAAAAAAACJQ/hqGRDa1nNMI/s640/blogger-image--993577501.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kee_wc5_Py0/UusL2MrP09I/AAAAAAAACJI/oIdM4RVprCc/s640/blogger-image--1560544307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kee_wc5_Py0/UusL2MrP09I/AAAAAAAACJI/oIdM4RVprCc/s640/blogger-image--1560544307.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div><span style="color: #800080;"><br></span></div><div><span style="color: #800080;">It seems like everyday that dog is doing something that makes us go</span> <span style="color: #499df5;">"what is the dog doing?"</span> Or better yet, something that makes us go <span style="color: #499df5;">"Good grief Mora, it's really ok."</span> So I've decided to capture these little <span style="color: #499df5;">Mora Moments</span>. Enjoy! </div></div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080445449514469242.post-80224894263212358572013-07-29T04:55:00.002-07:002014-01-31T18:23:54.284-08:00Animal SaplingsThis area is dedicated to animal rights, welfare, and conservation.
These are some AMAZING organizations and outreach programs: <div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.defenders.org/"><em>Defenders of Wildlife</em> | Protecting Native Animals and Their Habitats</a> <div><br></div><div><a title="Defenders of Wildlife" href="http://www.defenders.org/" target="_blank">http://www.defenders.org/</a>
Visit the <em>Defenders</em> website to learn more about what we're doing to protect our <em>wildlife</em> and wild places—and what you can do to help.
<div>
<div><br></div><div><a title="Wolf Haven International" href="http://www.wolfhaven.org/" target="_blank" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://www.wolfhaven.org/</a></div>
</div>
The mission of Wolf Haven International is to "Conserve and protect wolves and their habitat." Wolf Haven accomplishes its mission through providing sanctuary, education and conservation. We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that has worked for wolf conservation since 1982. We rescue and provide sanctuary for displaced, captive-born wolves, promote wolf restoration in historic ranges and educate the public about the value of all wildlife.
<div><br></div><div><a title="The Animal Rescue Site" href="http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/" target="_blank" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/</a></div>
<strong>Animal</strong> jewelry, clothing & gifts. Orders feed & shelter <strong>rescued</strong> pets.
<div>
<h3><a title="International Wolf Center" href="http://www.wolf.org/ " target="_blank" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal;"><cite>www.<strong>wolf</strong>.org/</cite></a></h3>
</div>
<div>
<div>The <em>International Wolf Center</em> provides complete wolf information on wolf biology, their environment and interaction with humans.</div>
<div></div>
<div><br></div>
<div></div>
</div></div></div>Little Moon Whimsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12105671589315534040noreply@blogger.com0