Less Ouch In Testing Your Blood

I’m sure everyone hates testing your blood as much as I do.  If you tell Missy Moo that she is getting her blood tested – she will freak right out.  Screaming too! hahha!!  Yes !  I know I have to test my blood daily but I sure hate it with a passion.  Not that it is very painful – but pain is pain right?
As far as I know the only way to take the ouch out of testing your blood sugar is to not test – but like all diabetics – we have to test it at least 3 times a day or sometimes more. I don’t mind seeing the blood – but the pricking the finger is what annoys me much!  In the beginning I had to ask Mr Moo to prick my fingers for me – but now I can do it myself – but I hate it.
They say to prick at the side of your fingers – but for me – it still hurts.  I do try using different fingers and different spots on each day – but it still hurts.  I haven’t tried using tea tree oil on the pricked spot because I’m always typing and working on the computer – but i should try that – if it helps to heal better.  So if anyone out there has a great machine or better tips – let me know eh.

Hospital Upgrade

Every year the local hospital plans for several charity event and although I am not active here for our local hospital – I am back home.  You see my uncle was the head of the nursing department back home – therefore – the partnership with the hotels I used to work for – linked me to the hospital back home very closely.  The local hospital approached our store – with an ongoing event every year – but this year they are upgrading a few things from some Industrial pc to a new ultra sound machine for the labor ward.  You would think that the hospital with so much funding wouldn’t need for any charity event right?  but I guess I’m wrong.  Last year – they were raising fund for a MRI and like most fund raiser they have had – it’s always big amount of money they needed.  Wonder how much is the new 4D ultra sound machine and the industrial PC will cost the hospital?  but whatever the cost – i guess it is for a good cause no?  so yes – we will donate and even attend the charity ball – which is a black tie event.

Long Lasting Cold

I’ve had this cold for the longest time – and it still doesn’t wanna go away.  More than a week to be exact but I haven’t been taking my Contac C as regular as I did before – because I’m already having lots of medication.  Could it be because of that?   I was quite keen on letting the cold fight itself – or rather my body – but since I have to work and look after Missy Moo – I just didn’t have the luxury to do that.  So instead of taking the medication till i was feeling better – as soon as I felt a wee bit better, i didn’t take a full dosage anymore.  Maybe – this is the reason why it is taking longer?  but you can’t blame me for not wanting too much meds in my body right?

Wrinkles, Wrinkles

Time and growing old is not kind to a woman – my mom used to lament – and from young – I’ve seen her using  wrinkle cream – she always said – prevention is better than cure.   At 45 – it certainly looks like gravity and everything else is working against us – and who like wrinkles right?   Some people choose to go for botox – or cosmetic surgery – but I prefer the less expensive way – and non-invasive as well.  So I’m always in search for a good wrinkle cream – if you have any to recommend – that you’ve used and tested – do leave me a comment and let me know – so that I can share it with my readers as well.  I would definitely try out any products that comes my way.

Shaking Out Sodium

Yes! salt – we all know it is not good for us – but we still eat it – maybe not so much in our cooking but in the chips we eat and the junk food – plus all the processed food that we have each day because we are so busy everyday.  Even if we tell the restaurant to go easy on the salt – they would still put some.   So yes – it does worries me a lot and I’m putting Missy Moo at risk for obesity and high blood pressure.  If you think that kids don’t have high blood pressure – think again.   The more sodium we take in, the more likely we are to face potential health concerns such as high blood pressure, kidney failure, strokes and heart attacks.

Home cooked food may be the best – but when i look at the sauces i put into frying noodles – they too have lots of sodium too.  I learned that if i can – I should use herbs instead of this premade sauces.  We are going to try not eating too much chips too.  Luckily for us – Missy Moo don’t eat too much processed food – so we are saved there.  So I’m going to work on my sauces for cooking and try not to use too much of them.   What about you?  how much salt intake do you take every week?

Skin Care After A Cold

I don’t know if it is me or is it for everyone – I’m having a cold now – this is the 4th day – mann!  i’m feeling so lousy and my skin !!! my skin!! is in terrible shape!   Dull and shaggy – I feel like i need to do something – afterall, i still need to be at the store daily – with or without the cold.  I think at 45 – everything just work against you?  yes!  even the skin – no more subtle anymore – so more bouncy anymore.  My mom has used olay all her life and told me to try olay regenerist – and there is a discount at good ole Walmart this week – they are celebrating some sort of anniversary.    And I read a review on Olay – they provide more moisture in this cream.  Let me know if you’ve tried it before eh.

Are You A Bit Hyper?

Missy Moo was asked this question by a 9 yrs old at the store the other day – and I found it really amusing.  You see the kid himself has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) – a common disorder apparently with the kids here – and the symptoms are hyperactivity which includes fidgeting or exploring inappropriately, impulsiveness and inattention.

During our time in school, we’ve never heard of ADHD but these days – everyone throw this ADHD around like it really isn’t a huge deal.  Every time a child display any characteristic that is not within the teacher’s norm – they are farmed away quickly to be diagnose with ADHD.   Most kids are put on meds – but they are not aware that there is a combined of meds and behavioral treatment for kids with ADHD.   I don’t have a kid with ADHD but I can imagine – it isn’t easy.  I hope people can understand ADHD more conclusively and hopefully they didn’t diagnose a kid wrongly – I’ve known one or two – who were just being boys.

All About Losing Weight & Staying Healthy

I’m all about losing weight these days – from going to infrared sauna to wanting to try out the t-zone vibration machine and exercising of course.  Plus I now watch what I eat and gave up my 3 honey dipped timbits every morning for the last 1.5 months – almost 2 months.  I’m all about getting healthy and losing weight – and if you don’t believe me – check with Mr Moo – I would do just about anything to stay healthy and lose the weight.  So now I’m reading about colon cleanser because I hear it helps to detoxify your body, lose weight – makes your skin healthier.   Anyhow tried it yet?  give me a shout and let me know how it worked out for you – coz’ I’m all about losing weight and staying healthy – the safe way.

Jumpstart Your Metabolism

When one is 45 – your metabolism slows down – if you don’t know what metabolism is – it’s the energy (calories) your body needs to function and everyone of us operates at a different rate.  But as one gets older your rate gets slower – so it is important for us to up our activity level and eat well – not overeat and exercise.

But hang on – people with diabetes – like myself have to check our blood sugar levels several times a day so that our exercises will balance and you do not get too low sugar count either.   So how do one jumpstart our metabolism everyday – I hear you asking?  I make sure i eat my breakfast everyday – without fail.  I also now exercise everyday 30 mins and try to stretch every hour when i am sitting down at work.  I also eat regular meals – more meals but less in portion wise.  Customer had asked me or made fun of me – saying I’m always eating when they come in at all times of the day – but that’s alright – I tell them I’m diabetic.

To be cont’d  …

Beauty & The Beast

I have an adult customer who have had the worst acne I’ve seen – and she said she tried tons of acne products but nothing seems to work for her.  I too, recommended a few that I’ve used for myself and worked when I was a teenager because I felt really bad for her – she seems like a very nice person.

I haven’t seen her for the longest time – till she came back with a baby recently – and she looked so different  – no more acne!!!  wow!! i had wanted to ask her – what she did but didn’t want to appear rude.  But I’m wondering if having a baby changed the hormone in one’s body?   But the next time she is not with her spouse or the store isn’t busy – I’ll be sure to check with her and let you all know.  And if it’s a product – I would definitely let you know too.

Mental Health For New Mothers

I went out with a friend for a workout – the other day – and while we were entering the gym – she stopped and started to sob.  Like any friend – I stopped and asked her if she was OK – but she cried even harder.  I was kinda taken aback – and my friend told me she was just tired.

It reminded me of the many times I felt like crying too – when I first had Missy Moo and no one whom I think could help me look after my baby.  I had anxiety – and separation issues – and didn’t want to leave Missy Moo with anyone and every time she wakes up at night or even started whimpering – I would be jumping out of my bed and rushing to her crib before she even whimpered the 2nd time.

Anyhow – what I’m trying to get to is – if you see someone like that – don’t take it lightly – because depression sets in easily – like it did for me.  An sense of overwhelming feeling is not good for any new mothers.  Offer a kind word – lend a helping hand.

Diabetic Needs Enough Sleep

I wake up often with a headache and as a diabetic, I have my suspicion as to whether it is because my blood-sugar is too high overnight.  It is normal for the blood sugar to go up in the night – as I had been told many times – by my  previous doctor.  But one day – I went to bed really early – earlier than my usual time and slept in – and woke up feeling really good – no headaches.  So I told the spouse about it – and told him – that he is the cause – for me not going to bed early – so we tried it again – the next night and true enough – my headaches are gone – so that really proves that diabetic needs lots of sleep or enough sleep.  Now if yu are having trouble sleeping click here to find out more about help for sleep – coz’ sometimes I do have trouble sleeping too.

Lost 3Kg In 1.5 Months

Woohoo!! i went to my family doctor for a new prescription for my anxiety medication and Metformin and was told that I lost 3Kg in 1.5months.  My family doctor thinks that I’m making it good – and besides the exercise – and the infrared sauna – and eating moderately – it was a lot of hard work.   So to keep the weight steady and losing it steadily I had asked for her opinion on some safe diet pills that work – as a supplement.  I won’t depend on it fully – but it’s good to have a supplement – just so I know I am being pro-active at it.  I’m determined this time to lose some weight.  Wish me luck eh.

Addicted To Exericising

I never thought that I would say this – but yes – i’m addicted to exercising and if i didn’t exercise – i feel so bad and after I skipped exercises for a few days – and come back to it – i feel extremely lousy.  Plus exercising helped me with my stomach wind – so I can’t skip exercises anymore and I feel good after exercising – even though it is only half an hour a day.  I am hoping to increase it up to an hour a day – but I’m taking things slowly – so that I don’t hurt myself.  I can’t wait to lose more weight – wish me luck! Exercising makes one feels good – you should try it too sometime.

Good Sofas For A Better Back

I watch a lot of shows on tv – so the spouse had wanted to get this chaise lounge for me for my birthday – but because I have a bad back – we decided instead to get some contemporary sofas for our living room.  You see – our basement is done renovating this summer and we had just moved our living room furniture to the basement.  We had agreed many years ago – when buying this house of ours – that the living room will be all mine to decorate – when the time comes.  But now that I have a back problem – i have to buy some sturdy sofas – but I don’t want the ordinary or black looking ones  – i want color – a good sofa need not be dull color right?  so yes modern sofas it is for me – without giving up on the health concern  – i’m sure I will find one that is good for my back and good on the eyes.

Death & Kids

Missy Moo lost her fish a few weeks ago – and she cried her eyes out – because she didn’t want her fish to go to fishie heaven.  At 6.5 almost 7 to be exact – Missy Moo wasn’t really to deal with death yet – even though Mr Moo thought that she was.  It broke our heart to see her cried so hard and if you had seen her – you too would – but we all know that one day – she would have to know that fishes do go to heaven.  Coping with painful feelings is a important – growing up process – so how do a mom teach this to her kids?

Like many parents – I am sure – we were not the only ones who felt lost – plus I was brought up differently – my parents never did deal with emotions like this at all very well – so they too, did not teach us how to handle grief properly when we were kids.  Grief is a healing process – and the more info we give a kid about what is going on – the better they can comprehend it – so i was told.  But how does a child learn that being sad is part of life?  Good grieving – is what one must teach your child – my doctor told me.  It’s healthy to keep the memory of a loved one – even the fish – by keeping a peace jar or a memory box.  Closing rituals are also very important for children.  By honoring their death – it gives closure to the child – unless the child expresses a strong wish not to attend a funeral – experts recommend taking them and explaining to them what will happen there and what they will see there.   So the next time Missy Moo’s fishy die again – we will try a little harder to help her cope with grief – but for now  – fishie is coming home from the vet.

Customer Service @ The Local Hospital

This is our local hospital in this town -  not as big as the one in the city nor the many we have back home.  But one thing for sure – and that I know is that customer server at any hospital is very important – in fact much more important than in the hotel industry or the retail industry.  Why?  because you are dealing with many emotional folks – folks that are sick – folks who have loved ones who are sick – or recovering from an illness or even those who are having a baby – can be a very emotional experience as well.

And I have to applaud the local hospital in this town – for they must have selected these individuals with great care because customer service jobs are not easy in a  hospital.  They are afterall, the first people that the patient or their family come in contact with as soon as they get into the hospital.  And I have to say that the many department that I’ve been to – they are awesome folks.  They really make you feel good – when you are not feeling good – and they try their utmost to help you when you need any information.  They never raise their voices – and they are awfully patient with everyone.  Whether you are slow – or messy – they still smile at you.  So yes!  they do really well – in this area – especially the emergency department – these days – when they see Missy Moo – they always take care of us first.

Omega-3 Fats For Babies

A girlfriend called me up this morning and asked me if babies need Omega 3 fats?  I was a wee bit taken by surprised because I  never knew myself that babies needed Omega 3 fats?  I thought they had everything they needed in their milk? no?   but a check with my family doctor from home – he too said that Omega 3 fatty acid is most important for babies when the eyes and brain are rapidly growing is DHA or docosahexenoic acid (what that is I don’t know).

And this was what i found out and wished i had known earlier – a baby’s brain and eyes go through rapid growth from the third trimester of pregnancy up to 2 years of age.  During this time, a good supply of fatty acids is needed to support this growth.  Baies get a supply of DHA from their mother when they are in the womb.  After birth, breastfed babies get DHA from their mother’s breast milk, they are also able to make a small amount of DHA in their bodies, but this may not be enough and some baies will benefit from supplemental DHA in their diet.

Formula fed babies should be fed an infant formula enriched with DHA to supplement the small amount of DHA their bodies produce from the food they eat.  Research has shown that DHA – enriched formula supports the normal development of babies’ brain and eyes.  So there you have it – Missy Moo was formula fed – i wished i had known earlier – so i know how to look out for DHA in her milk.   But i went and check it out – and she was on Good Start – and they do list DHA in their formula – *whee*

Exercising With Your Wii Fit

So I went out buying a micro sd but ended up with a Wii Fit !  you see the mall had a promotion on and since i need to lose weight – i didn’t see any harm getting a Wii Fit to put in the office – so that I can exercise – whenever i have the time.  So is a Wii Fit exercise – an exercise?  can I really get fit – just using the Wii Fit someone asked me.   Well, to me – walking is a form of exercise too – so if i am moving for a continuous of 30 mins and get my heart and blood pumping – that is a form of exercise too.  So I did good eh?  hahah!! went out shopping for a micro sd but ended up with something even healthier.

Gardening Is Therapeutic

Gardening Is Therapeutic  – if you haven’t tried it – you should.  I find it very calming and kinda accomplished feeling – plus when the flowers bloom during Spring and summer – it gives you a unexplained glow.  So when I received my first Mechanix gloves during Christmas last year – it was one of the best gift – that i made used of constantly during the early spring days – and summer.  Come this fall – i’m also gonna do some planting and replanting with my gloves.   It’s so comfy and lets my hands breathe and it’s not sweaty wearing them at all – maybe that is why i could do my gardening since it kept me warm as well without making me feel uncomfy.  So if you are like myself and needs calming or needs alone time – try gardening – don’t forget to get a good set of gloves.