The final countdown

Well im down to 40 days left til I get married. It still seems like an eternity away and yet so close when I think of all I have left to accomplish. I think I have the majority of things done, its planning everything at the reception that is left and that is still a lot. With Peter being in school and me working full time I really only get to see him on the weekends which has been really hard. We get to go on a honeymoon in January before he goes back to school. Im excited we are going on a 7 day cruise...I don't know all the details because its supposed to be a surprise but I do know we are going to hit Jamaica and Cozumel. :D

Here are a few of our engagement pics we took. We had to retake some of them since it was pouring rain the whole day.

Swine Flu

By Ken Taylor, D.C., N.D.

I have had several patients ask me what my thoughts were so I thought I would pass them along. I am opposed to the swine flu vaccine, and am convinced that getting a vaccination against swine flu is not in your best interest. Read the facts, and decide for yourself. Feel free to email me back if you have further questions.

About the swine flu

Dr. Russell Blaylock, author, lecturer, retired neurosurgeon, and nutritional researcher, did a detailed analysis of the material from the CDC (Center for Disease Control), printed on September 5, 2009:

1. Flu hospitalizations are the same or lower for all flu illness this year, as compared to other years.

2. The number of flu deaths this year has not changed from yearly averages.

3. There is no evidence of viral mutation anywhere in the world.

4. Flu illness remains susceptible to antiviral drugs, so swine flu is not resistant to Tamiflu or other flu antivirals.

5. 43,771 cases were reported in the United States (however, poor reporting could place real estimates as high as one million). Of the reported cases, 5,011 people have been hospitalized; 302 deaths have resulted, which is 0.6% of 43,771 or 0.03% of one million.

6. Because the chronically ill and immune suppressed tend to get infected early, most deaths will occur early in the season (so even as illness numbers are rising, deaths will decrease as the season progresses).

7. People do not die from flu itself. The only reason people die from flu is that they have a contributing immune- suppressing chronic illness. Some illnesses that fit into that category are diabetes, dietary deficiencies, chronic pulmonary disease, heart disease, cancer, and direct immune dysfunction.

8. A review of the 1918 flu pandemic found that most deaths were related to complications of bacterial pneumonia, before the widespread use of antibiotics and when there were no IV fluids and no respirators yet in use.

9. The number of children’s deaths this year are less than the previous two years by this time of year.

Some Things Don’t Make Sense

If you are not into conspiracy theories, then jump to the next topic about the importance of being healthy as a protection from all diseases, including swine flu. But for those who are open to looking at some mighty odd information, check out the following:

These are some good questions brought to the forefront in a class action law suit from journalist Jane Burgermeister, filed on July 30, 2009 (you can find more information in Burgermeister’s letter to Dr. Chan, head of WHO):

1. Why are we at pandemic level 6 (the highest level) when the swine flu is so mild?

2. Why is a motion for legislation mandating forced vaccination being filed in the United States?

3. Genetically, swine and bird flu viruses don’t mix. So how could a genome sequence of a swine flu and bird flu and human flu come together, unless it was man-made?

4. Why would a vaccine that is rushed through the “fast-track” for clearance (fewer safety steps) be mandated in the United States?

5. Why isn’t the swine flu vaccine classified as a bioweapon?

6. Why don’t we know more about this from the media?

Being Healthy as a Protection

In the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), June 19th, 2002 edition, a scientific review of vitamins for chronic disease prevention in adults was printed. This well documented treatise, with 152 references, documented the benefits of nine vitamins and their positive effects on coronary heart disease, cancer, neural tube defects and osteoporosis. The treatise also documents the value of the vitamins in disease prevention.

Vitamins and minerals have also been shown to improve the immune system. Many times, as a therapeutic measure, the dosage for these substances far exceeds the recommended amounts for daily use. Below are some examples:

1. In children with a vitamin A deficiency and low T cell counts (T cells are critical in the killing of infectious agents), a single large dose of vitamin A of 100,000 IU restored the T cell counts to normal[i]

2. Enhanced T cell-mediated immune function takes place at vitamin E intakes of at least 200 IU per day[ii]

3. Treatment of iron deficiency anemia showed improvement in T cell activity, IgG and IgM levels (antibody levels), white cell bactericidal (bacteria killing) activity[iii]

4. Twelve healthy individuals received a single dose of vitamin C (60 mg / kg or 4800 mg in a 180 pound man) and had a significant enhancement of natural killer cell activity for more than 24 hours[iv]

5. Selenium at 2 mg / kg reversed the age related immune cell decline seen in elderly mice[v]

6. Effects of vitamin C on a wide variety of viruses showed all were inactivated as the vitamin C was oxidized. Some of the commonly known viruses tested included hepatitis, measles, mumps, viral orchitis, herpes zoster, encephalitis, and others[vi]

7. 11,000 patients over a 14 year period were given vitamin C doses to cause bowel tolerance (a clinical term meaning enough dosage to cause diarrhea). The more severe the illness, the greater the number of grams needed to achieve bowel tolerance to destroy the virus. Up to 150 grams per day were needed in influenza.[vii]

8. 818 volunteers were followed through one winter. The volunteers had been administered either vitamin C, 250 mg 4 times per day (which was increased to 1000 mg four times per day if participants were ill), compared to a equally matched placebo group. The following was noted: no illness in 100 days-26 % in the vitamin C group, 18% in the placebo group; days confined to house-21% lower in vitamin C group; days missed at work-30% less in the vitamin C group. All these values reached significance with p ‹ 0.05 or less.[viii]

9. Vitamin D was given to inmates in one prison ward but was not given to other inmates in the Atascadero prison in California in 2005. A severe flu outbreak hit the prison, but the inmates in the ward receiving vitamin D did not have a single inmate infected, even though they mingled with the other inmates.[ix]

10. Many immune system diseases are improved with vitamin D administration, including some cancers, diabetes type I, Grave’s disease (autoimmune), Lupus Erythematosus, and Multiple Sclerosis.[x]

How Sugar Affects Our Immune System

The substances we take into our mouth also affect our immune system. For example, the following is a list of specific immune deficits caused by the ingestion of sugar:

1. Sugar interferes with the body’s phagocytes’ (the cells that eat up bacteria or viruses, like PacMan) ability for at least 5 hours after ingestion.[xi]

2. High glucose levels in the blood stream bind to proteins, thus damaging the immune system.[xii]

3. Sugar causes inflammation, which triggers an immune system response. This may distract the immune system from more important duties, like killing viruses or bacteria or cancer cells.

About the swine flu vaccine:

Continuing with Dr. Blaylock’s analysis:

1. Of the 5 tests that have been scheduled for vaccine safety, no one in the test group has been or will be injected with the adjuvant (the immune booster that makes the vaccine more effective); the adjuvant will be added later for mass vaccination. Injecting without the adjuvant makes the “testing” for safety suspect.

2. No data is available on safety for these vaccinations in children.

3. The vaccine has been “fast-tracked” (which means that, in the interest of speed, many of the usual safety precautions will not be required).

4. Sixty virologists were asked what they were doing personally about the swine flu. Of the interviewed virologists, thirty said nothing, twenty were stocking Tamiflu, and none mentioned taking the swine flu vaccine.

5. No information will be available on the safety profile of mixing the three viruses into a single vaccine, or the safety profile if the three viruses are given sequentially in three vaccinations.

6. Vaccine contamination is widespread, including containing pestivirus, mycoplasma, viral fragments, DNA fragments and bacterial components, all of which can cause chronic systemic disorders, cancer, neurologic disease and slow brain degeneration.

Other known facts:

1. The pharmaceutical companies making and distributing the vaccine are protected from law suits relative to the vaccine, regardless of the outcome, once the vaccine is widely administered.

Recommendations from Dr. Taylor:

1. Do not get the swine flu vaccine

2. Eat ‘real’ food and avoid processed food, especially refined sugar, which affects the immune system

3. Take a potent whole food supplement like Catalyn or LIVE by Nuriche (www.mynuriche.com/drtaylor) and a high vitamin Cod Liver oil (yes it does come in capsules). Cod Liver oil not only has the omega 3’s that are important for immune function, but also good levels of vitamin A and D which are also important for immune function. Most Cod Liver oils have the vitamin A and D processed out and either have very low levels or synthetic Vitamins A and D are added back in which are not as effective.

4. If you get an infectious illness (whether swine flu, regular flu, colds, sinusitis or something else):

• increase your whole food vitamin C intake to at least 6 tab orally each day
• take anti-virals from MediHerb like, Echinacea, Andrographis, Astragalus
• consider taking Calcium Lactate powder 1-2 tsps. in water daily. Ionizable calcium in the blood helps to direct white blood cells to kill off bacteria, and viruses.

I subscribe to Bernarr Macfadden’s philosophy. This pioneer in health made an astute comment back in 1928—one that serves us well to follow today: “The reader should now be fully persuaded to accept the statement of our assurance that most disease is preventable. There is no physician of any school who will not agree to the proposition that if the body be healthy it has the power to resist the aggressions of any kind of disease. Even though one accepts the germ theory to its fullest extent, we have shown that disease germs cannot grow and thrive in a healthy organism. No matter what contagion is, or how it works, it has no power over a healthy body.” (Macfadden’s Encyclopedia of Physical Culture, p. 66.)

Notes

---

[i] Bhaskaram P, et al. Effects of subclinical vitamin A deficiency and administration of vitamin A as a single large dose on immune function in children. Nutr Res 1989;9:1017-1025.

[ii] Meydani SN, et al. Vitamin E supplementation and in vivo immune response in healthy elderly subjects. A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 1997;277:1380-1386.

[iii] Zanni G, et al. An evaluation of the effect of iron treatment on some immune parameters in sideropenic patients. Curr Ther Res 1989;45:48-52.

[iv] Vojdani A, et al. In vivo effect of ascorbic acid on enhancement of human natural killer cell activity. Nutr Red 1993;13:753-764.

[v] Roy M, et al. Supplementation with selenium restores age-related decline in immune cell function. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1995;209:369-375.

[vi] Murata A. Virucidal activity of vitamin C for prevention and treatment of viral diseases. In Proc First Int Congr IAMS, Takezi Hasegawa (ed.), Science Council of Japan, 1975

[vii] Cathcart RF. Vitamin C: the nontoxic, nonrated-limited, antioxidant fee radical scavenger. Med Hypotheses 1985;18:61-77.

[viii] Anderson TW, et al. Vitamin C and the common cold: a double-blind trial. Can Med Assoc J 1972;107:503.

[ix] http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/51913.php

[x] Literature review

[xi] W. Ringsdorf, et al. Sucrose neutrophilic phagocytosis and resistance to disease. Dental Survey 52, No. 12, 1976, pp. 46-48.

[xii] R. Pamplona, et al. Mechanisms of glycation in atherogenesis. Medical Hypotheses 40, 1990, pp. 174-181.

Love hurts

I have always heard the saying "love hurts" however its not usually a good term. I have always thought of it in reference to the negative side of love. Usually along the lines of love was great but then it comes to an end, and then you are left with pain. But I never really thought of it along the lines of love someone so much it hurts. But I think I am really finding out just how much that side of the phrase is just as true. Right now Peter is in school full swing. He has tests around every corner (at least one or two a week) and I am up to my eyeballs busy at work. There just is no time for "us" right now. I usually see him on the weekends, but what ends up being for a couple hours on Friday and then again on Saturday. Then its back to waiting for another 6 days for Friday night to come around again. Its really starting to get to me. Its so hard right now, and yes I know this will pass and the time will fly all too quickly and I will eventually be able to look back and chuckle at how I am behaving, but right now this is sooo hard. I cried half way home from Peter's house on Saturday night. Its only 67 more days, I know its only getting smaller too. My uncle Mike says this just will just ensure that we will still like each other when we get married. LOL Love hurts, it really does, I miss home so much that is really does hurt. *sigh* Man Im a baby LOL!

31 years

On Tuesday my parents will be celebrating their 31st anniversary. They are even getting to take a trip together for the first time in their married lives. I can only hope that I can be married for that long and even longer.
Peter's mom is on her third marriage. And when I mentioned that my parents were going to celebrate their 31st anniversary she made some comment along the lines that she could not imagine being married to someone that long. There are just too many compromises, and its just too hard to get a long with a man that long. I just can't believe that someone who is a member of the church can think that way. I want nothing short of being married for 50 plus years. I mean seriously isn't that what marriage is all about? Compromises? If you have gone through life thinking you are going to get your way on everything you have been sorely misinformed. But what better person to compromise with for the sake of happiness than your eternal companion. I am not under any false pretense that marriage will be in any way easy. But I for one, am up for the challenge. I think why bother getting married if you are not in it for the long haul? When you area already planning on finding your way out, that is not a good sign.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

He proposed!

Peter proposed to me yesterday and I said YES!!!!!! (although he told his mom I said no, lol) He told me were were going to take some pictures yesterday. I got all dressed up and went to his house and then he took me to the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. It was soooo hot but we walked around for a bit. He was pointing out good places to take pictures and telling me how he would come there for lunch sometimes since he works in Fort Worth. We went down by this fountain, and we saw this metal sort of archway. We walked through that to this park bench and sat on that for a bit watching the people around us. Then we went back under the archway. I leaned up against one of the metal bars and told him it would be a cute picture if he did the same. So he humored me and leaned up against the other bar. Then he told me maybe it would be a good picture if I leaned up against the bar and he did this...and he got down on one knee. Bless his heart he was soooo nervous but the ring is the prettiest thing ever. I am the happiest person on the face of the earth. We are getting married in the Dallas Temple on November 20th and will have a reception on November 21st!

Happiness is not the absence of problems but the ability to deal with them.

I think that everyone in this life is in some way or another, on their own personal quest to find happiness. That is the ultimate goal isn't it? If only I could find happiness, then life will be good. Isn't that what life is all about? The eternal quest for happiness? But what exactly is happiness? Wikipedia says that happiness is this: "Happiness is emotion in which one experience feelings ranging from contentment and satisfaction to bliss and intense joy. This definition is, however, a synonymous one rather than one based on analytic evaluation, because of the varied and elusive nature of happiness."
But why does that have to be the case, why does happiness have to be elusive? Why isn't it just something that everyone is entitled to? I know the way the world is today it makes it hard to be happy. It seems like everything that can and will go wrong in our lives does. It seems like some days you are doing good just to make it through the day without killing anyone. This "prayer" depicts it all...

Dear God,

So far today, I've done all right. I haven't gossiped, and I haven't lost my temper. I haven't been grumpy, nasty or selfish. But in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed and that’s when I’m going to need a lot of help. Amen

I think happiness has to be something we choose. No matter what our circumstances, we have to choose to be happy. Life throws many things at us, but whether we stumble and fall is not what matters. If we fall down 16 times we just have to get up one more time than we fall. I think many of us these days have a hard time remembering what we have to be thankful for. I have struggled with this concept for a large portion of my life, it’s really easy to only see all the negatives in life and forget to look to the positive. Life is good! I can honestly say I am happier now that I have ever been. I have so many people who love me and so many things that I have to be grateful for. I am making good choices and doing what I am supposed to, and I can see the blessings in that. Happiness is a choice and I for one am going to choose to be happy!

So Lucky

The last few months have been a whirlwind for me. Life has been so incredibly great over the past few months and it only looks to get better. Peter has made me the happiest person on earth, and I am so happy he has come into my life. Jason Mraz has this new song out that is called Lucky. I love it, because that is exactly how I feel. LUCKY!

They don't know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you I promise you, I will

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

MySpace Playlist at MixPod.com

So true

Everyone concentrates on the problems we're having in this country lately: illegal immigration, hurricane recovery, alligators attacking people in Florida. Not me, I concentrate on solutions for the problems. It's a win-win situation.
+ Dig a moat the length of the Mexican border.
+ Send the dirt to New Orleans to raise the level of the levees.
+ Put the Florida alligators in the moat along the Mexican border.

Any other problems you would like for me to solve today?
Yes! Think about this one:
1. Cows
2. The Constitution
3. The Ten Commandments


C O W S
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.

T H E C O N S T I T U T I O N
They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq . Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for over 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.

T H E 1 0 C O M M A N D M E N T S
The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments posted in a courthouse is this: You cannot post 'Thou Shalt Not Steal,' 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery,' and 'Thou Shall Not Lie' in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians...It creates a hostile work environment.

Dead and Gone

That is the best way to describe my lawn. The 100 plus temps have been so bad it is just sucking the life out of my lawn. My dogs were home for 13 hours today because I went to work and then over to Peters house. I have a dog door so they can go out, but they wont eat or anything while Im gone. So when I got home i started watering my ever so dead lawn cause daisy loves to chase the water. She inhaled a few gallons chasing the hose but she had a good time!

Isn't the lawn awful? lol

Even the leaves on my new tree are all fried

She soaked me!

Economy

The economy is so bad - -

1. I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

2. CEO's are now playing miniature golf.

3. Hot wheels and Matchbox cars are now trading higher than GM cars.

4. McDonalds is selling the 1/4 - ouncer.

5. People in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their
children's names.

6. The most highly-paid job is now jury duty.

7.. People in Africa are donating money to Americans.

8. Motel Six won't leave the light on.

9. The Mafia is laying off judges.

10. When the bank returns your check marked "insufficient funds" you
have to call and ask if they meant you or them.

A journey to happiness

I often look through my journal from when I attended Ricks college. I wrote in my journal every day when I was there about how I wanted to fall in love and get married. I took an eternal marriage class, and I took a family prep class so it was easily on my mind. But looking back at it now, I was no where near ready for marriage then. I have been through so much who has gotten me to where I am. I was such a different person when it comes to relationships. But all of my past relationships have gotten me to where I am now. A person who is capable of love, something I wasn't even a few short years ago. Anyone who knew me, knew I hated pet names, I hated holding hands, I hated cuddling I hated anything a person who wants to be in love should like. It took time for me. Past relationships to open my heart and teach me things, so that when the right one came along I would be ready.
Without all this previous preparation I wouldn't be where I am today. With the man of my dreams who makes me happier than I have ever been. He sent me an email yesterday that was the sweetest thing ever. He said " I love to see you smile as much as I like making you smile and that is all I ever want to do. I know that life is never simple or that a relationship is not all smiles, but when I am with you that is how I want to make it. You compliment me in ways that I can't even describe like a glove to a hand or a warm blanket in wintertime....it just feel right. I want to be apart of your life, I want a family with you and I want to do anything I can that would make that happen. All I want is for you to be happy and I am willing to try and do everything within my power to fill your life with the joy and happiness you deserve. You mean the world to me you make me very happy I just wanted you to know that."
He is the best thing that has ever happened to me, I am so glad that I found him.

Flaws and All

Who is more critical of us than ourselves?

Nobody.

We all have flaws.

Some of us may have a birthmark in an obvious place. (I know I did, I had it removed lol) Some of us may tend to be too needy. Some of us may nag or become too unkind when the pressure of our daily lives starts to close in on us.

Some of us may have habits that annoy some and are cute to others.

Some of us may be overweight. Some of us may be too short. Some may be too flat chested. Some of us may have body parts that don't quite look right.

We all have flaws; be it physical or in our personalities. Nobody is perfect. We are human.

I am not a girl who like cliches.

One cliche that bothers me is Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder. I get it. I get the point of this saying.

But it still bothers me.

The most insecure people I have ever met are the most attractive people. Why is that? If they are already seen as beautiful by most, then why are they the ones constantly seeking positive reinforcement?

It's because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But for true beauty to exist, the eye of the beholder must be our own eyes.

In other words, if we don't find ourselves attractive, if we aren't comfortable with who we are, if we don't love ourselves; nobody else will or if they do, it won't be for long.

I sit here late at night with my thoughts and ask myself questions. Questions like... why am I 29 and not married. Or why have my past relationships not worked out?

For years, I wrestled with these thoughts.

The answer does not deserve as much reflection as I give it.

The answer is simple.

Accept myself.

I am flawed.

Whoever decides to love me is flawed.

Work on those flaws but don't let those flaws dictate my actions and words.

Don't try to change someone else.

And finally, be kind to myself.

Who is more critical of ourselves more than us?

Nobody.

And that is a shame.

Beyonce has this song out Called Flaws and All. Its so beautiful, I love it.

Flaws and All

I don't know why you love me
And that's why I love you
You catch me when I fall
Accept me, flaws and all
And that's why I love you- Beyonce, Flaws and All

That is what I think of when I think of Peter. He loves me flaws and all. The last guy I tried to date, was a decent guy. But he told me that I had all the qualities of a person he would like to marry however he only had dated petite girls and he thought he would have a problem with me being the way i am. He make me question myself, but above all I know this is who I was. And no matter what if I changed it would have to be for myself, if i changed for him I would only hold it against him later. Ultimately I knew that I would never be what he wanted, and being what he wanted would never make me happy.

Then I met Peter. Never once have I ever had to try and be something that I am not with him. I don't have to try and act smarter than I am (cause he knows I saw some extremely dumb things, A LOT!) I don't have a dress a certain way or say or do a certain thing. Peter loves me just the way I am, and he doesn't hesitate to let me know this each and every single day. I don't know why he loves me, and I may never understand, but he loves me flaws and all.


Beyonce - Flaws And All Live (Official Music Video) - Funny videos are here

Im totally slacking but life is good

I just haven't had much motivation to blog lately. I don't have much to blog about. Things have been going really well in my life lately. Work is starting to get much better. We hired a new nurse who started this past Monday so im in the process of showing her a few ropes and then she will take over on the CBA program (the one for the elderly) and I will get the CLASS program which is mostly kids. I have a lot of work to do in the program, but now I can devote all my time and energy towards getting that done.
Things with Peter are going amazing! He is the most incredible guy, and I count myself lucky every day that he found his way into my life. I am absolutely in love with him, and enjoy every minute we get to spend together. He is so fun and Witty and he ALWAYS makes me laugh. I can act like a complete idiot (and trust me I do this often) and he still makes me feel like the smartest person in the room. I got to meet his sister Laura last weekend. Its his only sibling, she is 29 like me, and is married and lives in Austin. She was great to meet, even though she didn't know much about me, she welcomed me with a hug the second she met me. She had lots of questions about who I am and what i do, how I met Peter, etc etc. She said it was all the things a sister should know.
So things are amazing. I am extremely happy. My boss commented that I have been smiling so much more at work. And she realizes how much less stressed I am right now. Funny side note, the new nurse Amy and I realized today that Peters dad used to be her boss at Children's ICU a little over 2 years ago. What a small world! We made that connection when she just so happened to ask what Peters last name was today on our way home from a visit. Mohat is not really a common last name.

Trip to Seaworld

I went to Austin this weekend with Peter and we got to go to Sea World. That is one of my most favorite places to go, I am just in awe of the trainers and the relationships they have with these animals. I think the trainers of the killer whales have the most amazing job in the entire universe. But anywho here are some of the pics, it was very hot, and I was kinda melting all day so u can tell which pics where taken towards the end of the day by just watching my hair.

This gave me chills

I was reading Britani Hill's blog and she had this video posted. Wow I love these songs and I love John Schmidt, talk about amazing! Gave me chills!!!

Lauralee's Locks of Love

I love having lauralee in town. Its great to have a family member in the hair business cause I love to have my hair done, and she does a fabulous job. We lightened the overall color a bit last week and today she did blonde highlights and cut it a bit to give it some shape. I took a few pics so u could see.

Things got little bit hairy for a bit

I was supposed to look like I was yawning since macie said I looked like I just woke up


The finished product