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Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Waiting For Test Results...

Leah unforutenaly has a really bad case of excema again behind her right ear. The poor girl has been dealing with this ear problem for the past couple of weeks. The ear is constantly cracked and bleeding. I finally decided yesterday, to call the doctor and make an appointment to get her a new steroid creme. I thought it would be a fast visit but I was wrong. The whole time we were waiting to see the doctor. Leah instisted on washing her hands over and over again. She really enjoyed making bubbles! Yes, making bubbles is fun at home not at the doctor's office. I thought for sure we were going to get in trouble. It always seems off limits to me. I finally managed to get her away from the sink and she managed to trashed the paper on the examining table. Finally, Doc. Cadle made her grand appearance. She checked Leah over and decided she wanted to test her for food allergies. The poor girl ended up getting poked two times. The lady that draws blood wanted me to leave the room. Excuse me! I don't think so. You always hear about those horror stories of nurses pricking babies over 100 times. Seriously, I wasn't moving. I took a seat and watched the whole ordeal. Leah really did great at first. One of the nurses held her down with her arms and legs wrapped around Leah to make sure she didn't move. Leah really didn't mind at first. The nurse lady decided to draw blood from one arm and than decided to try the other one. So, they all get set to take blood. The blood vein decided to blow. If that's the correct word for it. So, here comes the fun part. They had to try to get the blood from the other arm. Oh, she knew what was going on now! She wasn't happy at all. The nurses claimed she was only screaming loudly during the second attempt to get blood because I was in the room. Give me a break, Lady! She screaming at the top of her lungs because you just poked her for a second time to get blood. It was really hard but we manage to get the necessary blood work. The nurse informed me the lab is behind schedule and it could take up to 10 to 14 days to get the test results. Its going to be a long wait. I'm really hoping we can get to the bottom of the problem. I hate to see my little girl in so much pain.


Sunday, March 29, 2009

Biggest Loser!

Ya, I said it! I suck at trying to grow a garden. I came back home from my trip and just about all of my plants I was trying to grow from seed died! I still can't believe it. I'm so discourage at this moment. If I can't grow a plant from a seed than how can I grow anything in my garden. I guess I didn't inherit my dad's green thumb. Maybe I can just sign up from some sort of food share program. Oh, I'm not having a good evening. I'm so discourage:(

Thought I'd pass the word on.

Some of us have known for a long time that MSG is not 'good' for us because of reactions we have from ingesting it. Makes you wonder about the incredible increase in dementia (all kinds) and cancer, as well as other afflictions.

Read till the end please.

MSG (a slow poison)

The food additive MSG (Mono-Sodium Glutamate) is a slow poison.

MSG hides behind 25 or more names, such as Natural Flavoring.

MSG is even in your favorite coffee from Tim Horton's and Starbucks coffee shops!

I wondered if there could be an actual chemical causing the massive obesity epidemic, and so did a friend of mine, John Erb. He was a research assistant at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, and spent years working for the government. He made an amazing discovery while going through scientific journals for a book he was writing called The Slow Poisoning of America.

In hundreds of studies around the world, scientists were creating obese mice and rats to use in diet or diabetes test studies. No strain of rat or mice is naturally obese, so scientists have to create them. They make these creatures morbidly obese by injecting them with MSG when they are first born. The MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, causing rats (and perhaps humans) to become obese. They even have a name for the fat rodents they create: 'MSG-Treated Rats.' When I heard this, I was shocked.
I went into my kitchen and checked the cupboards and the refrigerator. MSG was in everything -- the Campbell 's soups, the Hostess Doritos, the Lays flavored potato chips, Top Ramen, Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper, Heinz canned gravy, Swanson frozen prepared meals, and Kraft salad dressings, especially the 'healthy low-fat' ones. The items that didn't have MSG marked on the product label had something called 'Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein,' which is just another name for Monosodium Glutamate.

It was shocking to see just how many of the foods we feed our children everyday are filled with this stuff. MSG is hidden under many different names in order to fool those who read the ingredient list, so that they don't catch on.

(Other names for MSG are 'Accent, 'Aginomoto,' 'Natural Meat Tenderizer,' etc.) But it didn't stop there. When our family went out to eat, we started asking at the restaurants what menu items contained MSG.

Many employees, even the managers, swore they didn't use MSG. But when we ask for the ingredient list, which they grudgingly provided, sure enough, MSG and Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein were everywhere.

Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, every restaurant -- even the sit-down eateries like TGIF, Chili's, Applebee's, and Denny's -- use MSG in abundance. Kentucky Fried Chicken seemed to be the WORST offender: MSG was in every chicken dish, salad dressing. and gravy. No wonder I loved to eat that coating on the skin -- their secret spice was MSG! So why is MSG in so many of the foods we eat? Is it a preservative, or a vitamin?

Not according to my friend John Erb. In his book The Slow Poisoning of America, he said that MSG is added to food for the addictive effect it has on the human body. Even the propaganda website sponsored by the food manufacturers lobby group supporting MSG explains that the reason they add it to food is to make people eat more.

A study of the elderly showed that older people eat more of the foods that it is added to. The Glutamate Association lobbying group says eating more is a benefit to the elderly, but what does it do to the rest of us? 'Betcha can't eat [just] one,' takes on a whole new meaning where MSG is concerned! And we wonder why the nation is overweight!

MSG manufacturers themselves admit that it addicts people to their products. It makes people choose their product over others, and makes people eat more of it than they would if MSG wasn't added. Not only is MSG scientifically proven to cause obesity, it is an addictive substance.

Since its introduction into the American food supply fifty years ago, MSG has been added in larger and larger doses to the pre-packaged meals, soups, snacks, and fast foods we are tempted to eat everyday.

The FDA has set no limits on how much of it can be added to food. They claim it's safe to eat in any amount. But how can they claim it's safe when there are hundreds of scientific studies with titles like these:
'The monosodium glutamate (MSG) obese rat as a model for the study of exercise in obesity.' Gobatto CA, Mello MA, Souza CT, RibeiroIA.
Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol.. 2002. 'Adrenalectomy abolishes the food- induced hypothalamic serotonin release in both normal and monosodium glutamate-obese rats.' Guimaraes RB, Telles MM, Coelho VB, Mori C, Nascimento CM, Ribeiro.
Brain Res Bull. 2002 Aug. 'Obesity induced by neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment in spontaneously hypertensive rats: An animal model of multiple risk factors.' Iwase M, Yamamoto M, Iino K, Ichikawa K, Shinohara N, Yoshinari Fujishima.
Hypertens Res. 1998 Mar.
'Hypothalamic lesion induced by injection of monosodium glutamate in suckling period and subsequent development of obesity.' Tanaka K, Shimada M, Nakao K Kusunoki. Exp Neurol. 1978 Oct. No, the date of that last study was not a typo; it was published in 1978. Both the 'medical research community' and 'food manufacturers' have known about the side effects of MSG for decades.

Many more of the studies mentioned in John Erb's book link MSG to diabetes, migraines and headaches, autism, ADHD, and even Alzheimer's. So what can we do to stop the food manufactures from dumping this fattening and addictive MSG into our food supply and causing the obesity epidemic we now see? Several months ago, John Erb took his book and his concerns to one of the highest government health officials in Canada. While he was sitting in the government office, the official told him, 'Sure, I know how bad MSG is. I wouldn't touch the stuff.' But this top-level government official refuses to tell the public what he knows. The big media doesn't want to tell the public either, fearing issues with their advertisers. It seems that the fallout on the fast food industry may hurt their profit margin. The food producers and restaurants have been addicting us to their products for years, and now we are paying the price for it. Our children should not be cursed with obesity caused by an addictive food additive.

But what can I do about it? I'm just one voice! What can I do to stop the poisoning of our children, while our Governments are insuring financial protection for the industry that is poisoning us? This message is going out to everyone I know in an attempt to tell you the truth that the corporate-owned politicians and media won't tell you.

The best way you can help to save yourself and your children from this drug-induced epidemic is to forward this article to everyone. With any luck, it will circle the globe before politicians can pass the legislation protecting those who are poisoning us. The food industry learned a lot from the tobacco industry.

Imagine if big tobacco had a bill like this in place before someone blew the whistle on nicotine?

If you are one of the few who can still believe that MSG is good for us and you don't believe what John Erb has to say, see for yourself. Go to the National Library of Medicine at www.pubmed.com. Type in the words 'MSG obese' and read a few of the 115 medical studies that appear. We the public do not want to be rats in one giant experiment, and we do not approve of food that makes us into a nation of obese, lethargic, addicted sheep, feeding the food industry's bottom line while waiting for the heart transplant, the diabetic-induced amputation, blindness, or other obesity-induced, life-threatening disorders.

With your help we can put an end to this poison. Do your part in sending this message out by word of mouth, e-mail, or by distribution of this printout to your friends all over the world and stop this 'Slow Poisoning of Mankind' by the packaged food industry.

Blowing the whistle on MSG is our responsibility, so get the word out.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

A Week In Review

A brief overview of our week in Eastern Tennessee!

Sunday:
Bristol Motor Speedway
Monday:
Marguerite Falls


Shooting Range

My first time ever shooting!
My first bullseye!


Tuesday:
Laurel Falls

Wednesday:

Hands on Children's Museum



Thursday:

Biltmore Estate
Largest Home In America

























Knock Your Socks Off Spaghetti Sauce!


I just created this spaghetti sauce! It's so yummy! The smell is intoxicating! I literally could eat this whole pot of spaghetti sauce. I will warn you this makes a ton! I'm going to freeze the sauce into smaller portions so I can use it again for another meal. You need to try this recipe out! I will never buy spaghetti sauce again. The whole house smells awesome...


Knock Your Socks Off Spaghetti Sauce

3 TBSP Olive Oil

1 Large Onion, chopped fine

1 Green Bell Pepper (OPT.), chopped fine

2 clove garlic, chopped

1 TBSP Chopped Dried Parsley

1 lbs Ground Beef

1 1/2 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
2 TBSP Italian Seasonings

2-28 oz Cans of Crushed Tomatoes

1-6oz Can of Tomato Paste




Directions: Saute Onion, bell peppers, garlic, and parsley in olive oil until light brown. Add meat and seasonings: cook until brown. Add remaining ingredients and simmer one hour, stirring occasionally, serve over cooked thin spaghetti with grated cheese on top.




April Showers Brings May Flowers...

We decided to come home a day earlier. I'm so glad we decided to head home on Friday becuase this morning we were hit with a hail storm! Look at this...Unreal! I don't remember ever getting hail in March! The kids were so excited! They were running around outside with their buckets trying to catch the hail. Logan started to yell that the hail balls hurt! Duh! Well, the hail storm just started up again! I'm glad I haven't planted my garden yet!







Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Spring Break

Sorry, I'm currently still on spring break. We drove over to Jonesborough, TN on Saturday! We already did a ton of things. I don't have much time to write a long post but we will be leaving this Friday to come back home. I will post pictures than! We did a lot of really cool things. So, check back next week.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Goes Where We Are Going For Sping Break?





Any ideas????????????????




If you haven't guess it yet? We are headed towards Eastern Tennessess! Leroy just bought two tickets for this Sunday's race! This is one of Leroy's dreams to come true. Leroy was so funny. I called him to see if he was able to get the tickets for the race. He confirmed he did get the tickets but he doesn't know how much they cost. The lady didn't give him a total. I normally don't care to watch Nascar on tv but hopefully watching it in person will be more fun.








Tuesday, March 17, 2009

What was I thinking?

I came across this awesome recipe to make these Pecan Sticky Muffins! Yummy!!!! Ya, I know I'm on a diet. I thought I would go ahead and make them for the kids. Of course, I would need to test one to make sure it tasted good. Well, I pulled them out of the oven. My first thought was I did something wrong. I rethought thru the whole process. I was pretty confident that I didn't make a mistake. Well, I took one bite. I realized I made a huge mistake. I forgot the BROWN SUGAR. Serves me right. I should of just avoided the temptation in the first place. Lesson learned: no cheating on my diet. It will come back to hunt me.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Kicking Up Some Dirt!!!!!!

Just being kids...When I was little we lived right next door to a new subdivision that was being built. They had this massive dirt hill. My friends and I would love to go over there and play on this dirt hill for hours. We would literally come home covered in dirt from head to toe.

So, today at Landon's soccer practice. I realized the kids could go up and play on the dirt hill while Landon played soccer. Logan was very nervous about the hill at first. I ended up climbing all the way to the top of the hill with him. Once he got over his fear. He was exploring the whole dirt hill. The little guy just lite up. He was running, climbing, exploring, and kicking up the dirt. Freedom. Yes, freedom. So, many parents are way to worry about kids getting dirty or afraid their going to get hurt that kids nowadays don't even want to be outside and active. No wonder, so many kids are overweight.

Leah of course had no fear of the dirt hill and took off for it in a flash. I think she might of been trying to out run Logan. She kept on walking around the dirt pile kicking up a ton of dirt with her brand new boots. Did you look at them closely. They are so cute. So, her personality. Than, she started to kick dirt at ME! I really wasn't to happy about getting dirty.

Landon kept wanting to leave soccer practice early so he could run off and join in the fun. I told him firmly if he didn't finish practice he wouldn't be able to climb up on the dirt pile. So, he hesitated for a little while and got back into the practice game. I ended up driving him over to the pile so he could check it out. Boy, did he have a blast.

Landon and Logan finally decided to climb up on top of the mountain. The boys were playing "King of The Mountain". Logan ended up peeing off the top of the dirt hill onto the other side of the dirt hill. Nice! Logan doesn't quite have a full understanding of modesty!

I could barely get them off the dirt pile to go home. I have a feeling this is going to become a ritual of playing on the dirt pile every time Landon has soccer!

Keeping It Real...


Well, this morning I dropped Landon off at school. I decided it would be a great idea to jog around the lake before going home. It was a little bit on the chilly side but I managed to get Logan on his bike. Logan was really complaining at first about being cold. I told him I would take him to Sonic afterwards are a special treat if he made it around the trail on his bike. So, once we were done jogging around the trail. We headed straight over to Sonic. We pulled up and parked! Logan asked me if eating at Sonic was healthily? Oh, man!!!!!!! The guilt. hummm, NO, Logan! Sonic isn't healthily for our bodies. I don't want to eat here. Let's go home. Okay! Ya!! What was I thinking. Here's some sweet little boy holding me accountable. The little guy has been paying attention to what we consume in our bodies. He doesn't want unhealthy food. So, I put the van in reserve and we headed straight back home. I'm so proud of myself. I'm trying really hard not to eat fast food anymore...Also, I lost another pound this morning.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

My Weight Loss Journey!

Sorry, to all of my loyal readers but I haven't had much time to blog. I'm currently working on transforming my body. So, I have been spending lots of time working out, reading weight loss books, and just focusing on myself! We haven't done any school stuff this week. I already feel super guilty about ignoring my kids while I work but I need to lose this weight. I ended up finding an awesome deal on a jogging stroller at a resale shop in Rogers. I ended up with the coolest stoller for wholesale price. I would post a picture but I missplaced my camera again. I'm thinking I left it a Chuck E Cheese along with a book I checked out at the library. Ya, I'm not to happy with myself. I'm taking Fish Oil to help me with my brain. I swear...I'm losing some brain cells. Anyhoo, I ended up jogging and Logan rode his bike. Sweet...He doesn't feel neglected and I get an awesome workout. Logan even asked me if I was a slow runner due to my big belly. Thanks son, for keeping it real. Than, the weather went super cold so back inside on the treadmill. I did manage to jog for three miles straight without stopping on my treadmill. Yes, I can make it! I will be able to run at the 5 K without making a complete fool of myself. I'm going to be doing the Body Of Life program. I'm going to sign up in April. I'm even going to take before and after pictures. My hubby thinks I'm crazy but I'm going to do it. I really want to loss the weight before my 31st birthday! It's coming up the end of May. I'm currently following the Body of Life eating plan. I already lost 3 lbs this week. I'm so excited. Anyhoo, I have to run. Leroy just got up and the kids are being naughty.

Give Away Winner!

I just wanted to thank all of my readers that took the time to read my blog. Landon helped me select a winner. I ended up writing everyone's name down on little pieces of paper and Landon pulled out the winning name:
Emily!!!!!!
So, Emily your my grand winner! Let me know when I can come by and deliver your goodies!!!!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Homemade Jelly & Bread Giveaway

This is my first time doing a blog giveaway. The giveaway will be for people who only know me in real life here in Bella Vista! Sorry, I'm not shipping! I'm giving away two bottles of my favorite homemade blueberry Jelly and Strawberry Jelly! Yes, I picked the berries myself and made my own jelly with my hubby's help. If you haven't tried my blueberry jelly its soooooooooo good! I will also make a loaf of honey of an oatmeal bread to go with the yummy jellies. So, please leave a comment about what you like about my blog!

I lost my camera! Silly me, misplaced it somewhere in the house! I really wanted to included a picture of my jelly but this will have to do! So, ahead and leave a comment!!!! By the end of the week, I will randomly select a winner!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

On this very day, 147 years ago...

that the battle of Pea Ridge took place!



Pea Ridge was one of the most pivotal Civil War battles, and is the most intact Civil War battlefield in the country. We took the kids plus the two neighboor boys to the Pea Ridge National Miliatry Park. This was a first time for us to visit this historical site. I still can't believe we never been here before. The military park is a very scared placed! You almost feel almost as if you were back in time. The landscape is breathing taking! I thought the weather was going to be warm and sunny. But I was so wrong. I had all the kids dressed in short sleeve shirts and no jackets. Even though it was 70 degrees outside the wind was killer cold. I felt horrible about it. The kids didn't seem to mind so much was they were busy on the hiking trail. The trees really helped in blocking out some of the wind. Over looking, the open fields of the battle field were really stunning. You really need to visit to really get the whole experience!


Later on, we were able to watch an reinactment of the Confederate Firing Program! We were actually able to be part of history. The guide told us we were standing on scared ground. This was where the battle took place. They had several cannons lined up to demostate how they worked in the battle. This was the very FIRST time in 147 years that cannons were loaded and fired! Leah hated it! The poor girl ended up covering her ears. The boys loved it! They didn't care for the sulfur smell that came from cannons being fired! Afterwhere, they children were invited to cross over the yellow rope and check out the cannons first hand!



After, that reinactment we ended up watching the 1st Iowa Battery demostate how they used their weapons. I ended up having to run Leah to the potty during this demostation. Yes, Leah is finally potty trained! I ended up not catching all the information. The boys were right up against the fence watching the whole thing. They were so impressed. They especially loved watching them fire off their weapons.





At the end, Leroy decided to walk with all of the boys back to the Vistor Center while I drove the van back with Leah. The boys all found walking sticks and were so excited to hike back to the park enterance.

While back at the Vistor Center we all watched a movie about the Battle of Pea Ridge. Leah ended up going crazy at the vistor center! She ended up hitting three random kids. It was so embrassing. Eventually, I had to take her out to van. Seriously, the poor girl was so exhausted.

After leaving the park, we decided to hit Draiy Queen and pick up some yummy frozen treats for all the kids.

If you haven't been to the Pea Ridge National Military Park you need to. The kids loved being able to be on the actually spot that history took place. Talk about bringing history to life. We are planning on going again when its not so windy and take the kids on the whole walking trail.

I'm not able to upload any photos at the moment but I will try to post them tomorrow!

Here is a wonderful video of Pea Ridge! Check it out!






Battle of Pea Ridge




Remember the 80's!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Which Jane Austin heroine are you?

Please take a minute to take this quiz. Share the results!

I am Elinor Dashwood!


Take the Quiz here!

Some of her favorite things...

Here's my little sweet pea giving her baby a kiss!


While at the store Leah found these really cute Elmo juice boxes. She insisted that I buy them for her. She ended up drinking them all at once. So, I was really surprised when I found her in my room with the juice boxes in a big zip lock bag. She's still holding onto those juice boxes. I guess she's turning into a Elmo fan!

This is where I discovered Leah the other day. She climbed into my bed with all of her favorite stuff. I found her singing Old Mcdonald song to her baby. She was signing this part over and over again "e, i, e, i, o"! Over and Over again. She was even busy reading to her baby her favorite Seasme street book. I just love having a little girl. My boys never did anything this cute!

Her favorite baby doll given by her grandma

A plastic bag filled with three old Elmo juice boxes

Her favorite sesame street book from her auntie

Two foam puzzles

Her favorite baby blanket that I made her for Xmas

Baby cradle

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Reading Challenge: On Top Of Spaghetti

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to locate the book "On Top Of Spaghetti" instead I found this book called "Giant Meatball" by Robert Weinstock! I know this isn't the right book for the challenge but this was the best I could do. The kids absolutely loved it! The Gaint meatball is really rude in the book. The towns people get tried of the gaint meatball destorying things all over the town. The mayor is finally able to stop the gaint meatball. The very last page in the book shows the townspeople sitting around a big table about to eat the Gaint Meatball! Super Cute!


“On the outskirts of a snoozy little town, not so long ago, there lived a giant meatball…”

“…He swerved and sloshed his way about…”


I also found this other book called " Keep on Rollin' Meatballs." It's a kids cook book. I had Landon look over the page on how to make meatballs. All of sudden, Landon starts yelling about how gross the recipe is. I'm thinking to myself what's gross about meatballs. So, I asked him what his problem with meatballs? He said "Gross, you have to mix the meat mixture with your hands! Gross!!!!! I told him that he wouldn't have to mix it by hand. He would add all the indegredients and I would mix it by hand. The meatballs turned out prefect!















Join Ms. Shannon at Teaching Tiny Tots for the reading challenge!







Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Outdoor Wednesday!

This is my first time posting on Outdoor Wednesday! Logan came running into the house this afternoon to tell me he found two purple flowers in the front flower bed! I grabbed my camera and this is what we found. Two purple Crocus! Logan asked me if he got the color correctly which I told him he was correct they're purple. The little guy has a really hard time with his colors. Spring is on the way...My daffodils are just about to bloom. I'm think by the end of the week. This is my favorite time of the year!

Be sure to go visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for more Outdoor Wednesday posts.



Just about to open up and bloom!

Isn't is so beautiful especially after a long hard winter! I just love watching plants coming to life!