New Traditions

We started a new Christmas tradition this year. Elf on the shelf has swiftly becoming the kid's funnest part of the day. Every morning Lanie wakes up and immediately goes on the search for Elfie, our EOTS. Even funnier are the selfies Elfie has started taking on my ipod. The kids think its hilarious and I just love seeing them so happy. So watch out for more of Elfie's selfies!

Mommy Update

I'm a few days late on updating about my medical issues.

The very last diet soda I drank

was on the 19th.

Within 36 hours of no diet soda,

no artificial sweeteners of any kind,

I was able to not only walk,

but run with minimal pain.

When I went to the doctor on Friday

November 23rd

I found out my blood work came back great.

I started explaining  to the doctor about the article I had read,

http://mommyconfessionalinmyshoes.blogspot.com/2013/11/pain-pain-go-away.html

and he said he had just read that same article.

So after explaining how the pain had gotten so bad,

then better so quickly after stopping diet pepsi,

he too agreed that I had Aspartame poisoning.

With every passing day

I feel better.

I am still not quiet 100%

but I'm not far from it.

I am still in shock

that I could do such a horrible thing to myself.

I knew that what you put into your body could harm or help you,

but I never gave it any thought.

I thought I was just cutting back calories

and trying to loose weight

to be a better me.

Instead I was cutting back calories,

and potentially killing myself.

If I hadn't of read that article,

my condition would have worsened

until one day Id be dead.

But thankfully

I have a great support system of

friends and family who care

so when they saw the article they thought of me.

I will never touch another diet soda again,

nor anything with artificial sweetener.

I started reading labels

and you'd be shocked how many products you use daily,

that contain some form or another.

If its sweetened with anything but

SUGAR

its artificial and you should try to stay away from it.

I went to buy gum today and couldn't because just about every brand

uses artificial sweetener.

If the package says

"no cal"

"zero cal"

Its made with artificial sweetener.

Splenda

Sweet N Low

are both artificial sweeteners.

When it comes down to it,

products made with sugar

even though they have more calories

are actually healthier for you.

And the sugar is easier for your body to burn than

the fake stuff.

So what is Aspartame Poisoning?
Aspartame is artificial sweetener's
It's found in diet soda,
sugar free candy,
gum,
some coffee,
even yogurt.
FDA originally approved it for use in dry food goods.
Aspartame poisoning can affect you phycologicaly,
nurologically,
and physically.
 Among these symptoms are dizziness, numbness in the limbs, severe tremors, facial pain, seizures, headaches or migraines, confusion, fatigue, slurred speech and hyperactivity.
According to author Karen Hanrahan, a wellness educator and nutrition consultant, aspartame poisoning may cause nausea, vertigo, skin lesions, ringing in the ears, loss of taste, muscular and joint pain, irregular menstrual cycle, heart attack symptoms and menstrual cramps. Physically you may also experience diarrhea, abdominal pain, painful swallowing, asthma-like symptoms, thinning hair, hair loss, burning during urination, excessive thirst, fluid retention, high blood pressure, allergic reactions in the mouth, weight gain or loss, leg swelling and bloating.

Family Ties

Family is always something that meant alot to me.

Sometime I haven't had much of.

Until recently that is.

When I married my husband,

I gained his family.

Supportive,

Loving,

And caring.

I also had "my" family.

Which consisted of non-blood related family members.

Those that even though we don't have the same blood coursing through us,

or share the same genetics,

meant more to me than any of the blood relatives I know.

Still,

I wondered about the missing link.

I've searched for years and years for my dad's side of the family.

Honestly at the least,

I searched for 10 years without being able to find a single

blood related relative.

I searched social media sites,

ancestry site to no avail.

Then one day,

just days after Facebook demolished the

'Can't search for me' privacy option,

I get a major shock.

A message on Facebook

from my dad's mom.

MY GRANDMOTHER!

I jumped for joy.

Finally,

the missing link,

isn't missing!!

I have a whole slue of blood related family now.

I can't even begin,

nor will I try,

so explain the extent of my new found family.

Daily I learn more about them

and they about me.

Daily do I feel their love reach through the computer,

and phone to lift me up.

In the last few days,

my heart has grown enormously

to encompass my new found family.

They were my missing link,

and I was theirs.

In getting to know them,

I am getting to know more about  myself.

What physical and personality traits

came from them.

I am so happy that the circle is finally complete.

And that now we are back together again,

like we are meant to be.

I feel like I have everything in the world I could ever want.