Press for CPS

A journalist from Augusta, GA has written an article detailing some of his journey with Central Pain Syndrome. He also has included some websites if the reader wants more information. Please note: This man received some relief from the drug Cymbalta. CPS is such a multifaceted disease that no one treatment will work nor cure it.

I hope you enjoy reading this article as much as Mommy did.

Central Pain Syndrome

Sugar Less

We just got back from the dentist's Candy Buy Back event. We sold them 6 POUNDS of candy! We had collected the hard candy and lollipops we had around the house and added it to what we weeded out from last night's haul. As a result of this "sale", Kitty and Jules got $3 each. They put the money in their banks to wait until they decide what to buy. Or, they may use it as a donation for church.

Gifts they got from the dentist include a glowing toothbrush, dental floss and toothpaste.

Halloween!

Halloween was fun. The girls wore their princess outfits we purchased for the Renaissance Faire last year. They wore them again at this year's Faire, as well. This year, we added period cloaks for the girls.

We went to Michael's for a craft clinic. Then we saw "Grandpa" Ed and "Grandma" Anne at the store. We got a free picture of the girls in their costumes there, as well.

In the evening, we bundled up and went to a local church. They had free lemonade and hotdogs, plus games where the girls could win candy.

Afterwards, we trekked through the neighborhood. By this time, it was getting a bit dark. The girls wanted to go all around, but we knew that wouldn't work. We walked and walked. At long last, they were ready to go home.

When both bounties were combined, it measured just about 5 pounds. That's a lot of candy! Unfortunately, Kitty and Jules didn't like the idea of donating all of the chocolate to Mom.

Tomorrow, we are making a trip to the dentist. They are buying candy at $1/pound and sending the purchased candy to our soldiers in Iraq. Pretty cool.

Another Monumental Day in the Life of a Learner

This morning, before church, Kitty read the entire book, "Ten Apples up on Top", by herself. It is part of the Dr. Seuss series of young reader books.

Hurray, Kitty!!!!

Miscarriage of Justice

This is a Daddy rant, but Mommy agrees.

Barack Insane Obomination is the winner of the noble peace prize. For what?!?!?!?!

Senior Noble must be spinning in his grave. This man is destroying our economy with health care, the environment with cash and destroy, and the used car market with cash for clunkers. What has he done to advance peace? He has weakened our place in the world, especially with his apology tours, giving american rights to those who want to destroy this nation. Hopefully, conservatives can keep him in check until 2010, when we can re-infuse some sanity into that puzzle palace that is surrounded by something called reality (Washington, D.C.). This only confirms the notion that the Noble committee is the most worthless organization or perhaps second, only to the gaggle of dictators called the United Nations. Why give the prize to liberal agenda loons and not to the US military or how about the people of Iraq or Afghanistan for their struggles against the terror masters.

The nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize was to have been submitted by February 1, 2009. Obama took office only 12 days earlier, on January 20, 2009. How is it possible to do anything to give the world "hope for the future" in that time? His public schedule for those 12 days can be found here. Based on this information, regardless of which side of the political "aisle" you may be on, this does not validate this award. It is ludicrous to honor someone for something he may or may not do in the future. If that is to become a standard, them everyone is the world should receive an Academy Award, a Tony, the Congressional Medal of Honor, as well as every Nobel Prize available.

We cannot say what Obama will do in the future. Perhaps he will become a good president. But does that really merit such an award?

Psalms 23 (lots of pictures)

This is copied from an email being circulated. Since it's author is unknown, we cannot give credit. We just thought this would be an easier way to send it to the ones we love.


A lot of us read the Psalm but do we really understand the fullness of this. Read, Relate, Rise with it, Run with and Reign with it.

From me to you


23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship!

I shall not want = That's Supply!




He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest!




He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment!



He restoreth my soul = That's Healing!



He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That's Guidance!


For His name sake = That's Purpose!



Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = That's Testing!



I will fear no evil = That's Protection!



For Thou art with me = That's Faithfulness!


Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = That's Discipline!


Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies = That's Hope



Thou annointest my head with oil = That's Consecration!



My cup runneth over = That's Abundance!


Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = That's Blessing


And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That's Security!



Forever = That's Eternity!


Face it, the Lord is crazy about you.


I thought this was pretty special, just like YOU!!!

What is most valuable,


is not what we have in our lives, but


WHO we have in our lives!


' Do not ask the Lord to Guide your Footsteps if you are not willing to move your Feet'
Peace.







Even though you can't see Him, GOD is there for you.
When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you!

Kiwi!

Here's a cute little video to brighten your day. It also shows what can happen if we don't give up on a dream. Would that we all could live so well.

A very sad day

We received some horrible news today. A wonderful friend - a Godly man and his handicapped wife were murdered in their home last night during a burglary. The teen stole their car when he left. It is believed he was looking for drugs and/or money.

Candy Sushi

This is probably the only sushi the girls would try until they are much older.

Fortunately, if you'd like to make some, there is a tutorial.

Happy Birthday, Lily!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday, darling Lily
Happy Birthday to you.

You are a blessing in our lives and are so happy you are two!

We must never forget.

Isn't nature amazing!

Yesterday, when we were driving home, we saw an amazing event that Mommy doesn't think she has ever seen before.

It was sprinkling. Up ahead, we saw a change in the color of the pavement and the visibility of the cars. We realized that it was a "wall" of rain.

As soon as we crossed this "boundary", it rained so hard that everyone on the road slowed down a great deal. Windshield wipers were put on high and headlights were turned on, if they weren't already. Then, after a bit more driving, it stopped a suddenly as it started. We were back to simple sprinkles.

Wow. Mommy was just as impressed as the girls.

God's earth sure is amazing!

A small, but significant, historical inaccuracy

While finding information to use in creating a unit study and possibly lapbook about Hot Air Balloons, mommy has found a problem with the recording of some history. (Now, this is not really uncommon, because, especially when it comes to conflicts, the winners write the history.)

The first airmail flight is considered by most to have been made by an airplane in 1911. This, however, is not so.

The actual first airmail flight actually occurred on August 17, 1859 by balloon. This flight is documented by the Smithsonian Institute's Postal Museum.

According to the Mirriam-Webster dictionary, air mail is defined as a system of transporting mail by aircraft. As a balloon is considered an aircraft, this also validates the authenticity of this history event.

History is subjective. But, it would be nice if people did get indisputable facts right. Even the Baton Rouge, LA is wrong in that as of 2006, it had a historical marker proclaiming the first sanctioned airmail flight stopped at an airport near there.

C'est la vie.

An update note from Mommy

According to the State, I am officially considered permanently disabled. I was diagnosed about two weeks ago with both CPS (Central Pain Syndrome) and Fibromyalgia. I had injured my lower back the summer of 1994. Since then, I had only two or three times when my back really hurt. I did have sciatica and very loose joints when I was pregnant with my two girls, but this virtually vanished when they were born.

This past October, I went to see a chiropractor who has greatly benefited a good friend and her family. It wasn't for any special reason, just to see what would come of it.

Well, what came of it was CPS. After an adjustment at the base of my spine (at just my second appt!), I was in a great deal of pain. He made another adjustment, which brought no relief. Since that time, I have lived with the shooting pains, light touch sensitivity, etc.

It has developed into a real pain in the a**, literally. I can't walk for very far or long. Sitting is extremely difficult and I never know if I will be able to sit down anywhere when we go out.

I was eventually sent to a pain specialist, where I was given a misdiagnosis of a herniated disk between my 3rd and 4th lumbars in my spine back in March.

So, now I'm not only dealing with the pain of both conditions, I'm also trying to accept that this pain will last the rest of my life. I'm also very frustrated, as the only info I have about CPS I have found online. It is considered to be a "Rare Disease". Mom has fibro, so I understand a bit more about that.

Today, I was granted a permanent handicap placard by the State BMV. I'm glad to get any help I can in dealing with this.

I can smile, and laugh, so I know I will be okay. I know that I am a lot more than just my pain.

Kitty's Best Day

Yesterday was a great day for Kitty. She believed that unless she was baptized, she could not have Jesus in her heart. Mommy explained that it was simply a ceremony. It was a way to show the world what she believed.

Kitty prayed, telling Jesus that she knew she was a sinner (explained to her as someone who did "bad" things, even if they were accidents), she asked to be forgiven and asked Jesus into her heart.

Kitty told Mommy and Jules that she felt different, felt better after she did this.

Jules had made a similar prayer a week or so before, when we were at family camp. She also said that she felt different.

Neither of these instances were instigated by Mommy, Daddy or anyone else. The girls came to these ideas and feelings on their own.

We are so proud of them!

GoD and DoG

This little video clip is lovely and a tribute to both. We pray that God (and your dog, should you have one) grants you grace today.

Another Boy!

We are happy to learn that there is another boy going to join our family next year. Aunt G is pregnant.

We are happier than we can say that our family grew this year, as well. Babies, babies, everywhere! The picture of him we saw was so amazing. Aunt C & Uncle E are such wonderful parents. We are looking forward to seeing little L and his older sis Lil. The girls talk about them all the time. They are so proud to have cousins.

Fireworks

Here is a fun fireworks show that may whet your appetite.

Do you Guerrilla?

Guerrillas have been around for a long time. Some may remember the guerrilla warfare tactics of Vietnam. In the past two decades, many people have been taking the guerrilla idea into different arena. Guerrilla marketing is one of the most well-known.

We have just been introduced to another form of guerrillas. The site is for practitioners in Europe, mainly London.

Have a look at Guerrilla Gardening!

Do Electric Sheep Dream?

This is a short, amusing video from YouTube. Have you ever seen electric sheep?

The rights of the child - here we go again!

Even tho it wasn't ratified by the Senate, a U.N. treaty, signed by Madaleine Albright in 1995, is to be reviewed by President Obama. God help us all if this treaty is okayed by Congress.

According to the Parental Rights website, the substance of the Convention on the Rights of the Child dictates the following:

• Parents would no longer be able to administer reasonable spankings to their children.
  
• A murderer aged 17 years, 11 months and 29 days at the time of his crime could no longer be sentenced to life in prison.
  
• Children would have the ability to choose their own religion while parents would only have the authority to give their children advice about religion.
  
• The best interest of the child principle would give the government the ability to override every decision made by every parent if a government worker disagreed with the parent's decision.
  
• A child's "right to be heard" would allow him (or her) to seek governmental review of every parental decision with which the child disagreed.
  
• According to existing interpretation, it would be illegal for a nation to spend more on national defense than it does on children's welfare.
  
• Children would acquire a legally enforceable right to leisure.
  
• Teaching children about Christianity in schools has been held to be out of compliance with the CRC.
  
• Allowing parents to opt their children out of sex education has been held to be out of compliance with the CRC.
  
• Children would have the right to reproductive health information and services, including abortions, without parental knowledge or consent.
  

Additionally, the CRC could remove the ability of parents to choose the method of their child's education - effectively making home education illegal.

While we believe that children should have some rights, parents are the best determinators of what is "in the child's best interest". NOT the government!

The homeschool community will be watching this closely. It is believed, tho, that even if the treaty is reviewed, it will not be ratified due to the opposition of American parents.

We've just been introduced to a website devoted to Boston Terriers and how amusing they are.

Check out LOLBostons!

Many of the captions are funny, even if written with a "Bastan" accent. The mobster motif (Iz stealin yuz ___) gets old fast. Anyone can upload pics, as it is for Boston lovers.

W hope you enjoy. Maybe you'll even see a dog that reminds you of one you've known.

The Life of a Dog

Lazing around in the sun - instead of parking on Mommy's lap!

What a life!

It's Sprung!

We purchased a starter garden kit for Jules & Kitty. It's early to start planting yet, but these are flowers and it is an educational tool as well. We started them three days ago. Look at the progress so far. The girls are so excited!

Snow People, part 2

Today was warm - 40F. The snow warmed enough that the girls could make a snowman. Of course, their ideas were bigger than their muscles, so Mommy had to help with the biggest part. We found a long, curved pinecone to use as the smile, an eaten corncob from the squirrels that we broke into pieces for the eyes and nose. We even added a very little sprig of pine needles to use as a touch of hair.

The girls so love the outside!

Snow People

With all the snow that has fallen, Kitty & Jules like to play outside. They want hot cocoa afterwards, of course, but still have a great time.

While it has been too cold to make real snow people, the girls sometimes look like they are made of snow when they come in. The especially did when Mommy used the snow blower to clear the driveway.

Sometimes, Winter is best seen from inside a warm house!

Never Forget ....

This is "old news", in that the christening took place on March , 2008.

The USS New York is a new battleship commissioned into the U. S. Navy. What is special about this ship is that it is made with iron from the World Trade Centers in New York. The motto os the ship is "Never Forget".

We suggest that you check out the website. It is a wonderful story and a tribute to the lives lost.

We should NEVER FORGET ....