Spring is here...i think

The rain has stopped for now and the sun is out! To celebrate Athena received a new collar in the mail :)

Blessing and a curse...

I was wandering through target one day when I spied a Chuck it on Clearance....I had looked at the chuck it launchers for a long time, but never bought one due to the high price they wanted for them. And since I try to keep Athena away from her tennis ball obsession I never purchased one Until this winter...I welcomed the idea of being able to throw a ball clear across a baseball field with little effort! esp when the winds kicked up and the frisbee had a mind of it's own. And let me tell you 30min of Chuck it = one tired ass dog.

And just like that Athena had a new form of crack...or rather she was revisiting one I took away from her a long time ago for my own health and hers LOL. Every night now when I get home she greets me then waits at the closet door for me to take out her new favorite toy. And if I don't? I spend my workout hour with her either under foot or trying to time my bike pedals to get the toy she stuck under there. And unlike most dogs she does not learn what being whacked in the head by the pedals means.

I really should know better then to buy a tennis ball launching toy. And since Athena generally breaks the ball after 3 flexes of her mouth (She seems to think it will squeak at her) I ordered some all rubber chuck it balls.

It could be worse...I could have a dog who tears my house apart right?

Maybe I'm the toy monster not Athena ...

Candy

Since I don't see the point in posting a name or bra color to raise awareness maybe something a little more educational? I know I'll get the usual "you spoiled it" or "you aren't fun", but really cancer of any form isn't fun. So wouldn't you rather give people the knowledge of how to prevent it or identify the signs you may have cancer? How many women actually do a self exam on a regular basis? Maybe reminding them how to preform a self exam will keep another woman from finding out too late.

HOW TO DO A BREAST SELF-EXAM

In the Shower

Fingers flat, move gently over every part of each breast. Use your right hand to examine the left breast, left hand for the right breast. Check for any lump, hard knot, or thickening. Carefully observe any changes in your breasts.

Before a Mirror

Inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead.

Look for any changes in the contour of each breast, a swelling, a dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. Then rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly match—few women's breasts do.

Lying Down

Place a pillow under your right shoulder and put your right arm behind your head. With the fingers of your left hand flat, press your right breast gently in small circular motions, moving vertically or in a circular pattern covering the entire breast.

Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast.

For pictures : http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/About-Breast-Cancer/Breast-Self-Exam.aspx

BREAST CANCER MYTHS

The Myth

Finding a lump in your breast means you have breast cancer.

The Truth

If you discover a persistent lump in your breast or any changes in breast tissue, it is very important that you see a physician immediately. However, 8 out of 10 breast lumps are benign, or not cancerous. Sometimes women stay away from medical care because they fear what they might find. Take charge of your health by performing routine breast self-exams, establishing ongoing communication with your doctor, and scheduling regular mammograms.

The Myth

Men do not get breast cancer.

The Truth

Quite the contrary. Each year it is estimated that approximately 1,700 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 450 will die. While this percentage is still small, men should also give themselves regular breast self-exams and note any changes to their physicians.

The Myth

A mammogram can cause breast cancer to spread.

The Truth

A mammogram, or X-ray of the breast, is one of the best tools available for the early detection of breast cancer. It CANNOT cause cancer to spread, nor can the pressure put on the breast from the mammogram. Do not let tales of other people's experiences keep you from having a mammogram. Base your decision on your physician's recommendation and be sure to discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor.

The Myth

Having a family history of breast cancer means you will get it.

The Truth

While women who have a family history of breast cancer are in a higher risk group, most women who have breast cancer have no family history. If you have a mother, daughter, sister, or grandmother who had breast cancer, you should have a mammogram five years before the age of their diagnosis, or starting at age 35.

The Myth

Breast cancer is contagious.

The Truth

You cannot catch breast cancer or transfer it to someone else's body. Breast cancer is the result of uncontrolled cell growth in your own body.However, you can protect yourself by being aware of the risk factors and following an early detection plan.

The Myth

Knowing you have changes in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene can help you prevent breast cancer.

The Truth

While alterations in these genes in men and women can predispose an individual to an increased risk of breast cancer, only 5% to 10% of patients actually have this mutation. This is not an absolute correlation. Like your age or having a family history of breast cancer, it's a factor you just can't control. But you can let your physician know, perform regular breast self-exams, and focus on the fact your chances of not having this disease are greater than 90%.

The Myth

Antiperspirants and deodorants cause breast cancer.

The Truth

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) are not aware of any conclusive evidence linking the use of underarm antiperspirants or deodorants and the subsequent development of breast cancer.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays! This year I have a great surprise for my mom coming today. My auntie is flying out to spend Christmas with us. My mom and her have not spent a Christmas since I was 10! It's been hard to keep it quiet so long and hide the gifts I was suppose to mail out on Monday. But I get to pick her up tonight woot! My mom has absoultely zero idea shes on her way :) I love surprises like this.

And to Athena....the dog who's ears are now evil. After 4 weeks of very strong anti biotics she still has brown gunk :( So the vet wants me to keep cleaning then and put drops in for another week. I have been thinking back to when this whole issue started with her ears and realized it was shortly after getting the last bag of dog food. After doing some reading on the food I bought i found out they recently changed their formula...AGAIN. So after some thinking I decided to change her food. It's a little frustrating considering I don't feed the crappiest food on the market. Only grain free for my baby. I guess I should have expected as much from a company I switched from when Athena was still growing due to formula change. So after chatting with a friend who's dog had yeasty ears and her trails with dog food. I decided to switch from the Canadae grain free to Natural Balance Grain Free Duck and Potato. All the reviews are good and they have many different flavors I can rotate though. I'm just hoping this works. I know she hates having a gross ear and so do I! Thus far Athena seems to like the food. I'm mixing it half and half for right now, but Athena doesn't like that as she has been spitting out the old food in favor of the new LOL. So tonight I'll be tossing the last of the old food (about 2 cups) and using the new. *sigh* what we don't do for our kids.

OH and Athena had her 4th Birthday on the 20th! My big girl is growing up *sniffle*

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Just when i thought it was safe...

Just when I thought it was safe to say Athena was all healed up she proves me wrong lol. Last night I come home to a dog who yelps when I barely touch her head. So i look in her ear and everything was fine like before...So i try to get her to bark because that was the first thing to go last time. And she refuses to bark :( So a 20min phone call to the vet and shes going back in anti biotics for 2 weeks maybe more if it's not clearing up.

I feel so bad for Athena. She has never had something majorly wrong like this before, well besides her weed eating incident a few years ago. At least this time I don't have to take time off work to bring her in. The vet is just re filling the script. Also Athena HATES these pills. I have to crush them up into some yogurt because they are chewable pills and huge so i cant force them down like other ones.

On a better note, I found my granpa's old tri pod and it works with my camera! My mission this weekend will be to get an X-mas pic out of the beast and make dog cookies. I think Athena will forgive me for messing with her ears if I make her tons of dog cookies. Peanut butter & Pumpkin and Peanut butter cookies are on the menu.

I guess what they say is right. Tis the season to spend money though I think most people spend it on gifts. Though I think getting my dog healthy again is a good xmas gift to me LOL.

Where has this year gone?

Wow I can not believe it is December 1 already! I am hoping December is going to be much better and less financially draining then Sept/Oct/Nov.

I love Athena, but she's gotta get a job to pay for her medical bills Ha! It all started in September when she got a foxtail UP her nose *sigh*. Never in all my years have any of my dogs had one up their nose. Toes and ears yes, but not the nose. Then in October she started acting not like her self. She didn't want to move and all she wanted to do is hide. I instantly thought it was her ears because 1. she had some gunk more then normal and 2. she kept trying to shake her head but would just hang it to the side. So off to the vet we go and of course my brain went into worse case scenario thinking she messed her back up or something horrible. The vet (new to us i might add) told me she might have pulled her neck and gave me a series of drugs. They looked in her ears, but told me they looked great. I honestly left the office thinking it was still her ear, but maybe the vet knows better? She seemed to get better until a week after she finished her drugs and then she was back to feeling like shit and imo even worse then before.

So back to the vet we go. By this point Athena has become more and more ear shy due to various encounters of her ears. While she will let me look inside and do whatever i want, she likes to scream in pain of the doc gets too far down into her canal. So the only way to get a great look was to sedate her....And what did the doctor find??????? A festering inner ear infection AND a small tear in her ear drum.....I refrained from saying SEE I TOLD YOU. After a long discussion with the vet about what caused this infection we both agreed that it could have been caused by the foxtail from September. The ear affected was the same side the foxtail came out. Two weeks of some strong anti biotics and shes back to normal. I never thought I would be so happy to get dog food kisses or hear her bark.

And although the new vet was very nice I just wish she took my concern about the issue being her ear more seriously. Athena is not one to show pain. My mind often goes through the "should haves", but you cant change that now. So long story short. Athena is back to her normal bouncing off the walls self and just in time for this cold snowy season.

I am proud to say that ALL of my holiday shopping is done! Yay! I have a few more items to crochet and then I'll be done and able to start wrapping. Speaking of crochet. I have been a crocheting fool. I guess it's in my blood. I have finished a TON of scarfs, a few hats and a few shawls. Most of the stuff i have made is for xmas, but i have some that i'm going to put up for sale. I took a big leap and put some stuff up on my artfire page only to take them down the next day. Why? Well you see...i like to prewash stuff before i sell it or give it away. Mostly so i know it wont fall apart if someone else needs to wash it. And the yarn i made the couple scarfs with washed up UGLY. And by ugly i mean ugly. The yarn it's self was this really soft fluffy acrylic yarn. And after the washing and hang dry process the fuzzy clumped together :( So not cool. And this scarf, which i totally fell in love making it

Had random loops come out of place after i washed it! It's not even like we have a top load washer. I put everything on super gentile then air dried. I guess they did not want to leave my neck? LOL. Oh well I guess I have new scarfs for the winter or maybe I'll clean them up and donate them. I'm sure there are people out there who need a warm neck more then I do, but i think ill keep the pink one haha.

Back to the grind. Work is calling my name.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Nothing like a little Inspiration

Ah spring time. Land of fresh fruits and veggies from the farmers market and most of all the start of many gem shows and craft fairs.

I headed out the International Gem Show last Saturday and it was so much fun seeing how other people put their jewelry together. I bought some stones and wire for a fraction of what I'd spend in the store. I was like a kid in a candy store and i have so much stock at home i really need to work more on making things.

My loot from the show. I'm partial to the ruby red beads. My mind is throwing around ideas and I'd much rather be at home working some of them out.


And a few things i put together this weekend. I experimented with crocheting wire and i have to say i really liked how it turned out. My friend even bought my prototype yay!



Gold colored wire with some fake pearls i had for practice.


And a quick four strand i put together one night. My mom promptly took over this one since it matched the earrings i got her in AZ.


I find my self whining "do i have to work i wanna go home and craft"