Why does it feel like the Medical Establishment Hates Women?

so really? In the same week there is report that we need less mammograms AND less pap smears. REALLY? The day the mammogram report came out a colleague was having a lumpectomy for a a breast cancer tumor that could not be felt at all and was only detected through a mammogram. Now, she is over 50, and would fall under the new guidelines, but still. And to say no to self-exams? WHY?? That one I really don't get at all. How can that hurt? I get that mammograms are radiation and you want to limit that - but self exams???

Now I read that a medical study back in 2002 showed the same results - that delaying mammograms and spacing them wouldn't impact breast health. So I don't think it is some sort of conspiracy. But I have to say I don't understand it. Will be a good conversation to have with my ob/gyn.

Then there is also a study saying people should get pap smears less often. Again, really? I mean not that I relish either of these tests, but why is limiting them or delaying them make sense. Again, look forward to talking to my Dr.

So Very Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving one and all. I am Thankful for my wonderful family and my amazing friends. They make my life so much fun and so worth living. I can't thank them all enough. Hope you are all enjoying the day with your loved ones, as we are!

Here is a joke to amuse the kids at the dinner table:

What happened to the turkey when he got in a fight? He got the stuffing knocked out of him!

Road Trip!

Along with more other families than we want to think of, we are hitting the road for Thanksgiving. We will drive 500 miles to my Dad's house to spend the holiday with him, his new dog (katie - a golden retriever), and my brother, sister-in-law and nephew. The kids cannot wait to meet the dog (they want to see the rest but the dog is ruling the roost now).

Also plan to see a whole bunch of high school friends I haven't see in more than a decade. I have officially not known them longer than I have known them. But thanks to Facebook, we will be again crossing paths. Looking forward to it.

No, I have not dropped off the face of the earth

I'm back. Really. After Hawaii life has just been crazy I have totally ignored this blog. Sorry. Quick recap of our life:

• finally got over jet lag from hawaii, and had Big Man stop being mad at us leaving
• went to Boo at the Zoo all dressed up
• cleaning house like crazy
  
• Halloween- including a big party that was a blast
• lots of work
• work trip to San Diego - should have been fun but was mostly just busy
• jet lag after working 15 hour days and 3hr time difference
• H1N1 shots for all 3 kids- yayy!
• B gets walking pneumonia (diagnosed while at Dr for ear infection - I am such a good mom)
• still trying to convince DH we need an RV
• lots of packing;/unpacking
• still working on girls new room

ok..all caught up. Here is our Halloween picture.

Calm as the Ocean, Calm as the Ocean

When K was an infant I heard a child psychologist speak and she said that regardless of what behavior your child was exhibiting your job as a parent was to act like an emergency room nurse. Deal with the problem without letting emotion, fear, etc enter into it.

Man is that hard. When my kids are tantruming it is difficult not to get caught up in the drama and emotion. I cringe when I hear myself yelling.

I thought this was a great article on Businessweek.com that talks about how to be a better boss at home and on the job. Now I am not anyone's boss at work. And despite the occasional protests, I AM the boss of my children. I thought this article was a good reminder of this technique.

Don't Say I Didn't Warn You

If you are a woman over 40 - do NOT do this. I did and it nearly gave me a stroke.

I was putting on some makeup, and had moved the little mirror in my office up too high to see, so I put it down flat on the table. Then I LEANED over it to put on my makeup. Oh, dear GOD, I should not have done that. You have no idea how horrible you look until you see all your skin sag down into the mirror. Honestly. I am 41 and look pretty good for my age. I recently got denied access to a bar, I look that good. (hee hee - true, but c'mon, I don't look 20!!)

So if you like to keep believing you are not an old woman, do not try this at home.

please someone do it - so I know it isn't just me

Aloha!

Last week DH and I were in Hawaii - without the kids. I knoW!!!! Thanks to Nana, Auntie Ronnie, and some amazing friends, we actually escaped for a week in paradise!

We had a fantabulous time (although I think we could have been in Toledo for a week without the kids and had a great time).

Hawaii was amazing. We had been to Maui and Kaua'i on our honeymoon. This trip was for a conference (read - mostly free for me!) in Waikiki. We went early and spent 3 days on the Big Island. The most amazing thing about the whole trip had to be hiking down on old lava to see the lava flow into the ocean. SOOOOO cool. As my Dad said it is like seeing CREATION. The lava is literally making the island bigger. We spent much of a day at Volcanoes Natl Park. The Big Island also has lots of waterfalls and black sand beaches.

In Oahu we probably had the best time on our sunset catamaran sail (read - booze cruise) and snorkeling at Hanauma Bay.

All and all a HUGE success. Here are some pics to drool over.