The weather has become more humid in the last few days and my body is really feeling it.  This week I was pretty sore even before I went to Pilates.  So, today I am hoping to take a nap, since sleep always seems to improve my fibromyalgia symptoms.  Research proves that restorative sleep is one if the keys to managing fibromyalgia.  Will a small nap really help or do I need a full 8 hours?  I guess I’ll have to test it out myself.  Back to the weather, though.  I’m not the only person who has more symptoms with weather changes.  Check out this link for more information.  It lists some changes you can make to help fight symptoms as the weather cools, you can dress in layers, stay away from cold temperatures, and open window coverings to allow more light to come inside.  I think I’ll go snuggle in my bed for awhile in an effort to get warmer. 

Today I did something I’ve never done before.  I called my trash/recycling company and ordered a small dumpster bin.  It stays in front of my house for two days and I can fill it with up to 1,000 pounds of trash.  With the kids in school, this allows me to sort through games, papers, media, books, etc. and empty my home of clutter.  Who knew that $55 could buy that kind of freedom! Anyway, with my husband and I both working all day and into the night to empty our home and garage of unwanted, unneeded, and generally uninspiring stuff, we were barely able to finish establishing the first layer.  There’s a lot of space in those things! 

Unfortunately, I don’t think that filling it is going too difficult of a task.  We still have plenty to sort through and several construction projects to finish by Saturday afternoon.  On a positive note, we’ve collected about 12 large trash bags filled with usable items for donations to local shelters.  My husband took great satisfaction in flagging down one of these trucks as it coursed through our neighborhood today.  He made sure they got plenty of outgrown and disgarded clothing and shoes.  It was a long day, but very rewarding.  I’m going to sleep well tonight!

Achieving a healthy lifestyle requires a minimal amount of organization.  To eat healthy, meals, grocery shopping, and scheduled mealtimes must be established. 

Rotating through a schedule of meals or a meal plan allows for ingredients to easily be kept on hand.  It also takes much of the stress out of food preparation, especially if you have a large family, like me.  Knowing ahead of time (for me this is weekly, for others monthly works best) what I’ll be serving for dinner and how I will make use of left-over meal items also makes grocery shopping much easier.  I can more easily shop sales if I plan my menus ahead of time, making adjustments as necessary.  I can also save money by knowing that Sunday is salsa chicken day.  That way if I find a yummy salsa on sale, I can pick up several jars, knowing that my supply will be exhausted in a month.  In this way meal planning also helps financially.

When you eat standing up (my mom calls this eating like a college student), and rushing around, you inhibit your ability to relax while eating.  This interrupts the digestion process.  Mealtime should be a time of healing, a time of reflection, and a time to share.  That’s why the traditional family meal is so important in our home.  My children love to eat out or in the car as special treats, but since I’m their mom, they’ve learned to eat “at a table as a family” on a regular basis.  This is one of our family traditions and remains despite changes in eating habits and lifestyles. 

I know that I eat healthier when I actively use these basic principles in my life.  Hopefully they will be of help to you, as well.

Now that the kids are back in school, I have a little more time.  That’s probably the understatement of the year!  This year our children attend 8 different schools - luckily I am not responsible for getting all of them there on time.  My morning/afternoon routine only involves 4 schools.  Between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., my mommy duties only include our almost 4 and 1.5 year old boys, so the house seems much quieter.  With most of our children back in school, I look forward to keeping my blog updated.  If you have any topics you’d like to know more about, leave a comment, and I’ll research it. 

Also, if you’re looking to earn some extra money, my blog editors just informed me that they need more writers.  Here is the link to check it out.  You can choose your topic and they pay directly into your paypal account, so it’s easy to track how much you’ve made. 

I just received a letter from Bristol-Meyers Squibb Company, who have developed a new medicine that may help with Rheumatoid Arthritis.  If you suffer from RA and would like to volunteer in the clinical research study, please visit www.myRAstudy.com or call (888) 207-9909.  You must be 18 or older and currently taking methotrexate therapy to qualify.   However, you do not need medical insurance.  If you participate, you can receive free medical care, lab work, research medication and possibly a travel allowance.  I know this study is not directly fibromyalgia related, but feel free to pass the information along.  Rheumatoid arthritis is degenerative and debilitating.  If you know someone who has been diagnosed with RA, make sure they receive proper care.  There are medications that can slow the disease process and allow for improved quality of life.

I’ve been tagged by Greenstew.  In the blog world, tagging is similar to chase that the kids play in our schoolyard.  Now I get the opportunity to tag someone else, or in other words, recommend some great blogs to you.  Here are the rules:
1. Link back to the person who tagged you
2. Mention the rules on your blog
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

Here are my six quirks.

1.  I collect armadillos.

2.  I scratch the roof of my mouth with my tongue unconsciously.

3.  I can have coherent, complete conversations in my sleep.

4.  I love to eat hard poached eggs.

5.  I’ll use broken devices that barely work, to avoid the hassle of trying to replace it (ie. my laptop).

6.  I name my cars. 

Here are the blogs I am tagging - they’re worth checking out!

Jane 4 Girls

MPS

Chronic Pain

Jen Magazine

Teen Blog

Ever feel like you can’t describe the pain and fatigue you feel?  Have trouble pinpointing exactly how you feel?  This article, published by CNN, tells the story of Dana Poole, a 31 year old with fibromyalgia.  It’s a very interesting and validating article, supported by her doctor’s comments. 

With the kids home for summer, it’s been hard sticking to my food goals.  I’ve been slacking a little too much, eating the occasional granola bar and sweet treat, and have noticed a difference in my pain and fatigue level.  It hasn’t been awful, but I was definitely feeling better 3 weeks ago. 

I am going in for acupuncture again next week, and am a little hesitant.  Last time the acupuncture session was fine, but I seemed to have stronger sugar cravings and more stiffness in the days that followed the treatment.  I chalked it up to the release of the toxins that were stored in my tissues.  So I think I’ll drink plenty of water afterwards next time.  I was advised to do this and forgot last time. 

We just came home from a church beach party celebrating Pioneer Day, July 24. That’s the day the Mormon pioneers, led by Brigham Young, arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.

We, as modern day pioneers enjoyed a feast of fried chicken, various salads, watermelon, rolls, freshly steamed salt-water corn, and s’mores while participating in 3-legged races, ocean play, and watching video clips from our Memorial Day sprint triathlon. A good time was had by all.

When I think about all that the pioneers had to endure, I sometimes wonder about my aches and pains.  Could I have made the 1200 mile journey? 

I spent several hours at the beach and feel a little stiff and achy from being out in the wind and cold.  Would I have been able to continue the journey in spite of the wind, snow, and continuous fatigue? 

These are questions I am glad I don’t have to answer.  Tonight as I think about this, I am grateful that I am a pioneer for fibromyalgia awareness in 2008, rather than a pioneer seeking religious freedom in the 1840s.