Friday, September 28, 2012

Days #6, 7, and 8 | OMG!!! This is almost as bad a childbirth!!

I spent day #6 in the ER.  I was having back spasms which, I have to say, made me think I was having a heart attack... LITERALLY.

Therefore days #7 and #8 were spent trying to learn to function with the pain.

But since I (and the nurses) thought I was having a heart attack because I was displaying all of the symptoms, let's enlighten ourselves to the symptoms of a heart attack in women.

Peace, 
tne


common heart attack early symptoms in women

Heart Attack Warnings Can Be Subtle

Studies on cardiac events in women reveal that many women may experience prodromal -- or early -- symptoms of cardiac distress in the days, weeks, or even months leading up to a heart attack. Unfortunately, many of these signs may be dismissed as nothing out of the ordinary -- by both women and their doctors. The most common early warning signs include:
Unusual fatigue -- Fatigue is a common complaint and one that may indicate that you're simply missing out on sleep, fighting a virus, overextending yourself, or experiencing a side effect to medication. But unusual or extreme fatigue may also be an early heart attack symptom or a warning sign of heart disease. In one study, more than 70% of the women surveyed experienced marked fatigue in the days or weeks prior to their heart attacks.
Sleep disturbances -- Although it's not unusual to feel tired due to a lack of sleep or a particularly demanding week or month, you should take special notice of any unusual or prolonged disturbance in your sleep patterns. A recent study revealed that almost half of the women who had recently suffered a heart attack also experienced sleep disturbances in the days or weeks leading up to their attacks.
Shortness of breath during normal daily activities, indigestion, and anxiety may also be early heart attack signs or symptoms of cardiac distress in women.
So how do you know if your symptoms are serious? Getting into the habit of noting your typical aches and pains and your normal reactions to foods and activities may help you recognize when something is truly amiss. Also, remember that if you have risk factors for heart disease, you should be especially vigilant about monitoring how you feel -- particularly if any of your usual symptoms are often early heart attack signs. If you experience worrisome or unusual changes in your energy level, comfort, or sleep habits, you should discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider, especially if you have heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, a smoking habit, or a sedentary lifestyle. 

Day #9 | I got a camera!!

We will call this "First Signs of Autumn."

Peace,
tne




Monday, September 24, 2012

Day #5 | Back on track... ANTICIPATION



My dear parents have bestowed upon me, something that I have been asking for, for a very long time.  Hopefully it will be here tomorrow.  Whenever it gets here I expect that this whole blogging thing is going to transition from a short writing everyday to a picture that will be snapped every day...

365 days of pictures... that would be fun!

Peace,
tne
Canon EOS Rebel T4i DSLR 18 MP Camera w/2 Lenses, Bag & 8GB SD Card

Day #4 | I done messed up already!!

Wow... I didn't even make it four days without dropping off.  I have a good excuse though... had to help Malachi w/ his project for school.

Check out his puppet of the main character, Benjamin.

Peace,
tne


Saturday, September 22, 2012

Day #3 | Parental Responsibility

As a parent you have a responsibility to make sure your child has basic water survival skills.  A study commissioned by USA Swimming revealed that almost 70-percent of African American children cannot swim.  If you can't swim you can drown.  It's a life or death situation.

Peace,
tne

Check the stats:


US swimming stats

  • USA Swimming/University of Memphis study found ethnic differences
  • 68.9% of African-American children with no or low ability to swim
  • 57.9% of Hispanic children
  • 41.8% of white children
  • Study quizzed 2,000 children and parents in six US cities
  • CDC recorded 3,443 fatal accidental drownings in 2007
  • Drowning is second greatest cause of accidental death in children under 14
  • African-American children aged 5 to 14 3.1 times more likely to drown

Theories for low black American swimming rates

  • Propagation of incorrect scientific theories such as black people being much less buoyant
  • Historic factors going as far back as slaves not being allowed to learn to swim
  • Denial of access to pools in 1920s and 30s causing ripple effect to present day
  • Lack of municipal pools in predominantly black neighbourhoods in 1960s onwards
  • Perception of swimming as elitist or white sport




Friday, September 21, 2012

Day #2 | Hey!! I wanted to do that :-(

Meet: Misty Copeland, who some call first African American female soloist for the American Ballet Theatre.

I look at her and say, "Hey!! I wanted to do that!!"

Peace, 
tne




Thursday, September 20, 2012

Day #1 | Ben-isms


What is a Ben-ism?
A Ben-ism is a statement or phrase that comes from the mouth of my Benji.  This phrase is often humorous to the listener but serious to Benji.

Here are some past Ben-isms:
Me: Ben, what do you want to be when you grow up?
Ben: A man.

Trinity: Ben, may I have one of your dinosaur fruit snacks?
Ben: No, Sis, dinosaurs are too dangerous.

Ben: Mommy, look at my Barack Obama t-shirt.
Then he shows me a shirt with an American flag on it.

Peace,
tne



#33 | Finish Something

I came across a list of “33 ways to stay creative” and my eye was immediately drawn to number 33…  FINISH SOMETHING.  Those two words – words that I have shared with a close friend – are the Achilles heel of my existence.  I never finish ANYTHING.  I have goals and dreams.  I start. I stop.  Why?  I’ve found that I take on too much; causing me to feel overwhelmed and I just give up on everything.


With this blog, I have decided to put forth a conscious effort to FINISH SOMETHING.


What I need to do is figure out what I like (or don’t) and write about it… and write about it every single day until I have reached September 19, 2013.  I will finally FINISH SOMETHING.  


Who knows... by the time I'm done I may have finished the other 32 ways too.

Peace
tne