According to Denise Archives

PYHO: Yoga, Take Me Away

23 May By Denise

Last week I was lamenting over how my dietary changes seemed to be making no difference (or possible making my headaches worse). Over the weekend I spent time away from reality and with several long time girlfriends. We drank and I didn’t limit my diet, I ate whatever I wanted. And for the first time in months, I went a day without having to take a nap or take a med or something else to deal with head pain.

I did have some minor head pain but it wasn’t much.

So what does this mean?

I have no idea. Just another data point in the quagmire of conflicting evidence I have built up over the years trying to isolate the thing that is responsible.

Lately I’ve been thinking that maybe the underlying issue is simply stress. Even when I don’t particularly feel stressed, I bet my stress level is still higher than many years ago when my headaches weren’t so bad.

Maybe I had a good day this weekend because I was able to let go a little. Not worry so much. Just be.

On Monday I made a commitment to myself to do yoga everyday.

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

I’ve done yoga off and on in the past. I enjoy it and it does have a way of silencing my mind for a short period of time. As I try not to fall on my face or my ass holding a pose while also making sure I breathe, I tend to forget about everything else.

Will this be IT.

Will this help?

Who knows. But it can’t hurt, right?

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: Chronic pain, Exercise, Headache, Meme posts, Migraine, Working on myself

3 Comments

PYHO: Diet and Migraines – A Month of GF/DF

15 May By Denise

It has been a little over a month since I went dairy free and gluten free. When I started I really expected a change. I had test results that I could see that indicated issues with dairy. I thought, “finally this is it”.

But so far I don’t see anything good. My headaches have actually been worse. Granted, the barometric pressure has been conspiring against me as well so who’s to say where the failure lies.

Not to mention I’ve also been trying supplements to help my headaches and stabilize nutrient deficiencies at the same time. In other words I’ve changed a flurry of variables and am left with no positive results and no clear villain to blame.

Unless of course I just blame myself which is a favorite pastime.

So where do I go from here?

I am miserable. The chronic pain is exhausting and frustrating and the dietary restrictions are annoying.

I’ve had in the back of my mind for a long while that I just might have to eliminate virtually everything to see if I can make a dent in this pain cycle. Go full on raw vegan for at least some short period to see if helps. To see if I can begin to identify any food villains.

But I have been afraid of feeling deprived. Of having nothing to eat. Of feeling like utter crap.

I feel that way now. So how much worse could it get?

I know it could be bad. I have attempted detoxes with food before and I end up curled up in the fetal position in horrible pain and pukimg my guts out.

Guess that means I’m pretty toxic.

Maybe I need to be simpler. Focus on what to add instead of what to subtract. I used to be good about having green smoothies but I got out of the habit. Maybe if I focused on increasing my fruits and vegetables. Have green smoothies everyday and snack on fruits and veggies. Increase my water intake.

It seems that would be gentler to my system and allow for moderation instead of deprivation.

I don’t know what to do.

I’m miserable and I feel like my body is screaming at me that it needs something but I have no idea what it is. And I have no idea how to figure it out.

I wish I had some sort of reset button. Some way to start over without shocking my system into rebellion.

Why can’t I find something that helps? There has to be something. Because I’m breaking and I need something to mend me.

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: Chronic pain, Gluten free, Headache, Meme posts, Migraine

8 Comments

Hanging Out Over At Things I Can’t Say

3 May By Denise

Along this blogging journey I have discovered many great blogs and friends. When I ran across a weekly meme called “Pour Your Heart Out” over at Things I Can’t Say blog, I knew I had found something really special. And the woman behind the meme is just as special.

I am so excited to be featured over at Shell’s place for Things They Can’t Say. Shell is one of the nicest bloggers out there and she encourages bloggers every week to get in touch with their feelings and bare their souls. On top of that she hosts bloggers every Friday which is where I am today.

Go on over and check it out!

If you are stopping by here for the first time then WELCOME! I am so glad to meet you. You can poke around for yourself or take a gander at my page of favorites.

I love to write about my daily joys and struggles and hope you enjoy your stay in my little corner of the internet.

Filed Under: Guest Posts

5 Comments

The Claw Game – #iPPP

2 May By Denise

Whenever A and T see one of those claw games, they are obsessed with trying to get something out of it. When they were little, my youngest stepson retrieved a stuffed pig-like animal from a claw game on his first try and ever since, they believe the game is worth playing.

We try to tell them that the game is meant to be difficult and that it isn’t very likely they will get a toy out of it.

But they still try anyway.

At the Red Robin we frequent, there is a claw game up front so when we went last week, they both brought some of their own money so they could play. Once we ordered they ran up to try. T got a toy almost all the way to the dropout on his first try, then wasn’t able to get it with the rest of his money.

A then tried with hers. All heads in the restaurant turned when A yelled “Yes!” as she got the toy down the shoot. They came back over hugging a stuffed toy and huge smiles on their faces.

They had decided to share the toy since they had each spent $1.50 toward getting it.

So meet Snooffles.

I’m linking up with Greta from Gfunkified and Sarah from The Sunday Spill for iPPP.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: iPPP, Kids, Photos

8 Comments

PYHO: Diet and Headaches

24 Apr By Denise

After report cards, we take the kids out for a celebratory dinner because they all often do well. This morning I told A and T that we would try to go this weekend when their older brothers are here and that we’d go to Red Robin again. We just went to Red Robin with my parents last weekend so although they love it, they were less than thrilled.

“But Mommy can eat there” was my response.

You see after going both gluten and dairy free, it has become difficult to eat out. I know I will eventually get a groove and be able to branch out, but for right now, I have to stick to what I know is safe.

The kids have taken much pity on me for my dietary restrictions. T says that even if being dairy free might help his migraines or hyperactivity, he would not give up his beloved milk. That is an argument for another day as we have no reason at this point to believe that it could help him.

A told me “being dairy free is the worst thing that could happen to a person.”

Whoa, wait, hold on little girl, stop right there! I took the opportunity to talk about how eating healthier for my particular body’s needs is not “the worst thing” and that there are far more serious issues that others face. It may be difficult for me right now, but change always is difficult.

She agreed that she misspoke and clarified that she just thinks it is hard and wishes I didn’t have to do it. I can understand as I agree.

But that also reminded me of something a friend told me the other day as we discussed dietary restrictions that may help like raw or vegan eating. She said “Having headaches is hard. Cutting out meat and cheese … Not hard.”

And she really is right. All the energy I spend fighting head pain is really hard. It may seem the easier path because it is what I have grown used to but it is not easier. Being healthy and pain-free would be easier if I put forth the energy to get there.

So I have to remember as I grumble to myself about how much I really want to stuff my face with bread and cheese that I am on a journey to find the path that works best for me. What will eventually be the “easier” path.

Because having headaches is hard.

Don’t forget to check out my Minted giveaway!

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: Dairy Free, Gluten free, Headache, Migraine, Working on myself

13 Comments

Minted Review And Giveaway

23 Apr By Denise

My daughter has been planning her birthday party since the minute last year’s was over. She had her heart set on a “dance party” at our house. This was not my first choice since a bunch of girls dancing around to music just means LOUD but that is what she wanted and has never wavered in that desire so that is the plan.

When I was contacted by Minted about hosting a giveaway, I saw a golden opportunity to have fancy invitations for her dream dance party birthday. We sat down together and I let her choose what she wanted and she was so very excited. She chose the following design.

Source http://www.minted.com/product/kids-party-invitations/MIN-76X-CBP/little-miss-magic

Source at minted little miss magic

Now this is not exactly a dance party theme but Minted designs are very customizable so I could change all the text to remove the princess wording and replace with more appropriate words like “rockin’ party”. As you can see from the photo below, she loves the invitations.

Loves them so much that she even stuffed them into Minted’s awesome envelopes. I even got complements from other moms about the cute invitations.

So now that I am hooked on Minted, it is only fair to share the love with you guys. Enter my giveaway below for a chance to get a $50 credit from Minted. You will love all the designs they have. And not just for invitations. You can get business cards, stationary, announcements, all kinds of things. I am seriously considering some stationary so that I can send some handwritten (GASP!) notes every once in a while.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was given credit on Minted.com in exchange for hosting this giveaway. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Reviews and Giveaways

16 Comments

The World Is Scary

19 Apr By Denise

This has been a rough week for our nation. So much sadness and anger due to senseless tragedy. Every one of us touched in different ways by it.

When we sit down to explain to our 9 and almost 8 year old about events like these we are even more saddened about how many times we have had to have similar discussions.

The kids always ask why someone would hurt other people like that.

My answer is that I just don’t know. There is no reason that can make sense of something so horrible.

My daughter said she doesn’t want to leave the house. That the world is scary.

We tell her that bad things do happen in the world but you can’t stop living your life due to fear. If you did, you would miss out on so many wonderful things.

Luckily she accepts this.

I repeat it to myself often. Because I wish I could keep them here with me. In my arms. Safe. Forever.

Because the world scares me too.

Filed Under: From My Heart Tagged With: Family and Parenting, On my mind, Parenting is hard

10 Comments

Wordless Wednesday Work Is Fun

10 Apr By Denise

Filed Under: Miscellaneous

2 Comments

Going Dairy Free

3 Apr By Denise

A month ago I went to a naturopathic physician for the first time. I was looking for an alternative to the never ending cycle of trial and error with pharmaceuticals that I’ve been in for my headaches and other issues. I have felt for years like my body went crazy after having kids and I haven’t been able to figure out how to fix it.

The doctor ordered a bunch of blood work and other tests. While we waited for the results, she recommended certain supplements and changes to my diet that would help get me started back to better health. Although I already took multivitamins, she recommended some with less fillers and extra junk in them.

One of the biggest changes she wanted me to make was to cut out artificial sweeteners. Let’s just say I needed to ween myself off of the diet soda. And I just might have replaced with some regular soda, but hey, I’m trying.

I went back to go over the results of the tests and I found out something I was not expecting. Apparently I have a sensitivity to dairy. All the other foods they tested for were OK, even gluten, but the dairy was pretty clear.

So now I have to figure out how to be dairy free. I’m trying to decide whether I keep excluding gluten or go ahead and add that back while cutting out dairy. I think that may be better so if I feel better, I know it is the dairy.

But how does a cheese addict go dairy-free? Kicking and screaming with a bad attitude, that’s how. I am not looking forward to it at all. I’ve been watchful of what I am eating and as I suspected, there are dairy ingredients in tons of stuff.

The plan is to get shopping this weekend and prepare for the plunge. Wish me luck.

Filed Under: Health and Wellness Tagged With: Working on myself

15 Comments

Working Full Time

31 Mar By Denise

I can rock a headset

I went on maternity leave at the end of 2003 and that was the last time I worked full time hours. I was off for nearly 2 years for T and then A to be born. When A was 6 months old I went back to my job but as a part time employee. I was very lucky that my work was flexible enough that I could be part time and I only went into the office one day a week. Our little girl appreciated that as well because she only had to scream and cry one day a week because she was not a fan of the bottle.

Since November of 2005 we have juggled work and family using a nanny and au pairs to watch the kids while I worked. It wasn’t long before I moved to working all my hours from home and started to creep up the number of hours I worked each week. Once A and T were both in elementary school, I could work while they were in school and we stopped having the au pairs to help.

Now comes another milestone. This week I start full time hours for the first time in 10 years.

And I’m incredibly nervous.

Most of the time I feel like I am juggling on a high wire.

Desperately trying to keep my balance while also trying to keep from dropping anything on the ground.

And now another ball is being tossed at me. A rather large ball, really.

There a lot of positives to upping my hours, not the least of which is mo’ money, yo.

But I’m just so worried about how I’m going to manage more hours. Luckily most of the hours will fit into each school day, as they did before, but that is always impacted by appointments or teacher workdays or days off, etc, etc. Whoever makes the school calendar is not exactly my favorite person.

Plus there is the neverending bane of my existence – my chronic daily headache – that is always rearing its ugly head to make life more exciting by impacting any carefully planned schedule.

My husband and I will be doing much more tag teaming to cover kid duty. He’ll have to cover some of the school days off in the future. That has already started as he is covering the kids’ spring break which has made it easier for me to work all my hours.

Certainly the dance we must do to cover kids and work is not an impossible task or we would not have gone down this path. However, it will be more difficult that before and require more dancing skill.

We will handle it. I will handle it. But I will still be nervous. And stressed.