Stroke Prevention and Awareness

Heart disease runs strongly in my family, especially on my Dad's side (he died of heart disease when he was 57, I was 20), so it's always on my radar. I'm constantly looking for ways to lower my heart disease risk factors. I realize that family history is still working against me, but I want to do everything in my power to keep my ticker going strong. It was one of my motivations to lose the weight I did.

However a new topic, one I hadn't really thought of before, has come to my attention and that is Stroke risk. My good friend Criss became Stroke Coordinator at the hospital where she works, and I've learned so much from her. Thankfully the measures we take to reduce heart disease also reduce stroke risk. I wrote a two part article about it here:

http://buzz.prevention.com/community/category/trimom73

Stroke is a leading reason for death and disability in our country, and time is absolutely of the essense in stroke situations, so it's important to get the word out about signs and symptoms!

Guilty Indulgence

Check out my latest Guilty Blog Indulgence: a blog devoted solely to Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Be still my beating heart!

I'm not much of a candy eater anymore, but those who know me well, know one of my all-time favorite foods is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. (And well really, anything involving Peanut Butter. And chocolate.)

My poor husband is deathly allergic to peanuts. It's a wonder he married me. I'm guessing just reading this blog would make him itchy. Sorry, honey, but this one is just too good to pass up!

Rivers of Water

Here in arid Colorado, water is a precious resource. Rivers of water flowing in the mountains? Beautiful. Rivers of water flowing from under my washing machine? Umm...not so good.

That was the sight greeting me as I came downstairs on Saturday evening. I'm not talking a trickle of water. I'm talking a flood. Apparently something is leaking on the tub of our washing machine. I'm not sure how much water a large washing machine holds, but let's just say it's enough to soak every single towel I own and I was thinking I grabbing blankets next. Rebekah and Kiersten were helping me and we were down to washcloths and hand towels before the water finally slowed to a drip!

This is one of a long string of break downs we've had since starting our new budget system early this Fall. We are following Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and it's been a wonderful experience (I would highly recommend his books and classes) but I do feel the Devil is out to get us with all the various break-downs we've had!

Mike wrote about his new adventures into becoming a handyman in his blog, so I'll allow him to share the details.

We have no solutions to the washing machine yet. Currently it's in many pieces spread throughout my hallway and downstairs bathroom. I'm just praying it's a repair and not an autopsy I see going on in there.