I got married at 21. My husband and I were trying to have a baby. I took us two whole years for me to get pretty with my daughter. So for those of you who are trying to conceive, here is what I did.
I got an ovulation calendar off of the web. I followed what it said. It got with my husband one day before ovulating, according to the calendar. My cycles are pretty regular.
Before we did our deed I put a pillow under my lower back so maybe my cervix was more tilted. I don't know if this helps but it worked. After we did our deed, missionary position, I also put my legs up for about 20 minutes against the wall so the little spermies could get to the egg. I was pretty determined after two years of trying, we thought we were infertile. Two kids later and no more, we were wrong.
Lo and behold about 3-4 weeks later, I was exhausted and smells grossed me out. My husband said "I think your pregnant". I took a first response test and I was indeed pregnant. The sixth week I was so nauseated and sick to my stomach, fatigued, quit working and quit school. I had hyperemesis, where you are extremely nauseous and sick to your stomach.
Everything worked out fine and I have two happy, healthy, intelligent, beautiful, not so baby anymore, girls.
Friday, September 13, 2019
That time I found out I had an adopted cousin through 23& me. ( Adoption story that turned out fantastic)
It turned out more than fantastic.
I did a 23 & me DNA test almost two years ago. It was fun and interesting to find out where my ancestors came from. Then I looked at my DNA matches, (where you view your DNA relatives). I saw my Uncle, then I saw more people I knew. I saw a close match and didn't think anything of it. Then my Mom called me up because I gave her my password to my 23 & me so that she could see my results. She told me one of your Uncle's had a baby and put it in up for adoption. I was excited but I misunderstood her. I was like "a baby"? I wanted to keep the baby, I love babies, she was like no, one of your Uncle's fathered a child that is older than you and is looking for their biological family.
So right away I logged into 23 & me, I was beyond excited, I was estatic, I could not wait to meet my new found cousin already. I wrote him and told him "Hello long lost cousin, please write me with any questions you may have it's so nice to meet you". He also had very vague information about his adopted family that matched up. He posted on his profile that his Grandpa was a principal and yes, my Grandpa was indeed a principal. So, we just talked about everything. My late Uncle who was not his Dad also contacted him and encouraged me to reach out to him. My Uncle has since passed a few months ago in July from a sudden, unexpected heart attack at the age of 63. I got to finally meet my cousin at our Uncle's funeral.
I knew my other Uncle was his father because my Uncle on 23 & me matched him as an Uncle.
Anyway, my cousin was born to a 17 year, in the Texas cradle society, a home run by nuns, for unwed mother's. She stayed there throughout the pregnancy. This was in the early 70s. She gave him up for adoption, two days later to a wonderful couple from Mexico, who gave him a great life. His adopted Dadowned a farm in Mexico. They were well off.
Anyway, that left me stuck in the middle. I would talk to my cousin at least once a week. We really clicked. He wanted to meet his Mom so badly. I was determined to find his Mom. I would search through sites like ancestry.com, David Grey's people finder, adoption sites and the search turned out void. I mean I poured my heart and soul into this search I was spending a lot of time researching trying to find his Mom. It was a sealed private military adoption and she had him at a military hospital. See her Dad was a Captain in the air Force. We wouldn't be able to find his Mom no matter what we did.
After a year of talking to him, I told him to take a ancestry.com test because his biological sister and father took one. I knew his younger sister by 20 years would pull at his hearts strings and reunite everyone. So he did and a month later, his sister contacted him through ancestry.com. She was so happy! She said she was going to talk to her Dad, my Uncle, his Dad.
So then finally all the puzzle pieces started coming together. He talked to his Dad and he said that he could ask him anything and he will answer. He asked who his Mom was. My Uncle told him. He then found his Mom. He emailed his Mom a long letter, and she replied "whoa", I promise I will email you in the morning, I need to process this.
To make a long story short, he got to go and meet his Mom and his brother. I didn't get to see it but it is such a beautiful thing. His brother cried because he always wanted a brother. His Mom too cried of course. Then he got to meet his Dad and sister. Which is obviously my Uncle and cousin. I was so incredibly happy for everyone!
I remember when my Grandma had Alzheimers she told me that there's "one that I don't know about", referring to babies in the family, then it clicked. I should of listened to her because Alzheimers patients don't always lose long term memory.
I was so glad to help him find his biological family. I wonder what it is like to be adopted and not know where you come from biologically speaking. He had outstanding parents and a good upbringing. He has his master's degree, he felt like he belonged in his adopted family but he still wanted to know where he came from for learning his identity as a person. He is from Mexico, which is cool to me because I've been fascinated with the Latino culture. I grew up in a Latino predominant area. I can speak Spanish with him. He is so intelligent, he speaks English better than me! It's also fascinating because of the genetics vs environment factor and how much each factor plays into our lives.
I finally got to meet him. It was the most awesome thing in the world to learn that you have a cousin that you have never known about, until you are 35 years old. We had the best uplifting family reunion that words can't describe. He came out for our Uncle's funeral. My heart was just shattered. I was close to our Uncle. He died so unexpectedly of a heart attack. My cousins visiting really uplifted my spirits and brought me out of a depression. We went out to eat and to an outdoor mall, we had BBQs and visited until late hours of the night. We have a big family so it was loads of fun. I talked about what my Uncle was like, whom he'll never get to meet.
We had the most awesome 4 day family reunion. Then he had to go home and we all miss him. We will see each other again soon.
Now totally 100% recommend getting a DNA test through 23 & me, or ancestry, or both. You may have family secrets like me. You never know. I also have third or fourth adopted cousins looking for their families so I don't think it is rare. I know not all adoption stories turn out great, but mine with my cousin did, and I couldn't be happier.
I did a 23 & me DNA test almost two years ago. It was fun and interesting to find out where my ancestors came from. Then I looked at my DNA matches, (where you view your DNA relatives). I saw my Uncle, then I saw more people I knew. I saw a close match and didn't think anything of it. Then my Mom called me up because I gave her my password to my 23 & me so that she could see my results. She told me one of your Uncle's had a baby and put it in up for adoption. I was excited but I misunderstood her. I was like "a baby"? I wanted to keep the baby, I love babies, she was like no, one of your Uncle's fathered a child that is older than you and is looking for their biological family.
So right away I logged into 23 & me, I was beyond excited, I was estatic, I could not wait to meet my new found cousin already. I wrote him and told him "Hello long lost cousin, please write me with any questions you may have it's so nice to meet you". He also had very vague information about his adopted family that matched up. He posted on his profile that his Grandpa was a principal and yes, my Grandpa was indeed a principal. So, we just talked about everything. My late Uncle who was not his Dad also contacted him and encouraged me to reach out to him. My Uncle has since passed a few months ago in July from a sudden, unexpected heart attack at the age of 63. I got to finally meet my cousin at our Uncle's funeral.
I knew my other Uncle was his father because my Uncle on 23 & me matched him as an Uncle.
Anyway, my cousin was born to a 17 year, in the Texas cradle society, a home run by nuns, for unwed mother's. She stayed there throughout the pregnancy. This was in the early 70s. She gave him up for adoption, two days later to a wonderful couple from Mexico, who gave him a great life. His adopted Dadowned a farm in Mexico. They were well off.
Anyway, that left me stuck in the middle. I would talk to my cousin at least once a week. We really clicked. He wanted to meet his Mom so badly. I was determined to find his Mom. I would search through sites like ancestry.com, David Grey's people finder, adoption sites and the search turned out void. I mean I poured my heart and soul into this search I was spending a lot of time researching trying to find his Mom. It was a sealed private military adoption and she had him at a military hospital. See her Dad was a Captain in the air Force. We wouldn't be able to find his Mom no matter what we did.
After a year of talking to him, I told him to take a ancestry.com test because his biological sister and father took one. I knew his younger sister by 20 years would pull at his hearts strings and reunite everyone. So he did and a month later, his sister contacted him through ancestry.com. She was so happy! She said she was going to talk to her Dad, my Uncle, his Dad.
So then finally all the puzzle pieces started coming together. He talked to his Dad and he said that he could ask him anything and he will answer. He asked who his Mom was. My Uncle told him. He then found his Mom. He emailed his Mom a long letter, and she replied "whoa", I promise I will email you in the morning, I need to process this.
To make a long story short, he got to go and meet his Mom and his brother. I didn't get to see it but it is such a beautiful thing. His brother cried because he always wanted a brother. His Mom too cried of course. Then he got to meet his Dad and sister. Which is obviously my Uncle and cousin. I was so incredibly happy for everyone!
I remember when my Grandma had Alzheimers she told me that there's "one that I don't know about", referring to babies in the family, then it clicked. I should of listened to her because Alzheimers patients don't always lose long term memory.
I was so glad to help him find his biological family. I wonder what it is like to be adopted and not know where you come from biologically speaking. He had outstanding parents and a good upbringing. He has his master's degree, he felt like he belonged in his adopted family but he still wanted to know where he came from for learning his identity as a person. He is from Mexico, which is cool to me because I've been fascinated with the Latino culture. I grew up in a Latino predominant area. I can speak Spanish with him. He is so intelligent, he speaks English better than me! It's also fascinating because of the genetics vs environment factor and how much each factor plays into our lives.
I finally got to meet him. It was the most awesome thing in the world to learn that you have a cousin that you have never known about, until you are 35 years old. We had the best uplifting family reunion that words can't describe. He came out for our Uncle's funeral. My heart was just shattered. I was close to our Uncle. He died so unexpectedly of a heart attack. My cousins visiting really uplifted my spirits and brought me out of a depression. We went out to eat and to an outdoor mall, we had BBQs and visited until late hours of the night. We have a big family so it was loads of fun. I talked about what my Uncle was like, whom he'll never get to meet.
We had the most awesome 4 day family reunion. Then he had to go home and we all miss him. We will see each other again soon.
Now totally 100% recommend getting a DNA test through 23 & me, or ancestry, or both. You may have family secrets like me. You never know. I also have third or fourth adopted cousins looking for their families so I don't think it is rare. I know not all adoption stories turn out great, but mine with my cousin did, and I couldn't be happier.
Guess my ethnicity according to 23 & me and Ancestry.com
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I jumped the band wagon and took one of those DNA test, not one but two. Let's have fun. Guess my ethnicity. I think it is fun to guess other people's ethnicity. I'm obviously European but from what part? Guess what kind of breakdown of regions. I'll post my ancestry test in a few days and let you all guess. Growing up I was told German, German, German. My Great Grandma's parents were from Germany and everyone else as far back as I know we're American. I'll put some pictures of me below so you can guess.
Ok so this is what some people have guessed.
Ok so this is what some people have guessed. - Syria (according to one test maybe .1 %
- Japan ( nope, although 23&me used to say 1% East Asian and Native American)
- South African (no only . 2 Subsaharan African.
- Scandinavian (yes 1-4 % Swedish)
- Irish (yes! 12% according to ancestry.)
- Cherokee Indian ( .2 % Native American which is cool but I'd like more)
99.6 European. Big surprise! 98% Northwest European. Which it looks like these regions all share DNA. See below.
Region breakdowns. Cool! I'm pretty much from London, the UK and part of Ireland.
This is ancestry.com. more than half of my DNA is from England/Wales. My family is very American and have been here for 200-300 years. My maiden name is Miller. Then German. My great great grandparents, we're from Germany. Then Ireland. My great great grandpa (Jemison) immigrated from Ireland. Then Sweden. No idea where or from whom I inherited this from. Then Eastern Europe. Maybe Polish because my Aunt's DNA test says Poland. Then France my 3rd great grandparents we're from France and also Italy.
Communities. I guess this is spot on my parents and ancestors are definitely from the Midwest generations back.
Above is my heritage. Says I'm mostly Irish, Scottish, Welsh. It's different.
There's that Siberian that someone predicted.
This is my orgins. Mostly west and central Europe.
I like this part. I'm very cultured. My grandpa told me Native American. Only .2% but from where. It's such a tiny percentage. Some people don't count these percentages, but it's in your DNA. It's so small is it really there.
.2% Subsaharan African.
Breakdown of where my ancestors are from and time range. Even cooler.
Ancestry says that I am native to England ok I'll take it. Makes sense I'm an englishman. The English immigrated here years ago to escape the English government. Kings and Queens. Do I have royal blood? Maybe one day I'll find out, if I have the money to renew my ancestry membership.
This is DNA. Northwest European again.
Which DNA test do I recommend? I like both 23& me and ancestry.com, but I think I pick 23&me because it has my haplogroup, more breakdown of regions, health reports, research, and I found my adopted cousin through 23 and me.
Was I surprised? I recommend DNA tests if you have the money it is fun and educational to me. I thought I was German. I guess I'm English but if you look at the reports all these regions share DNA and I also read that Germany and England share 30% DNA. I don't know if this is true or nor do I have time to research. I think it is cool to have Native American and African. Even if the percentages are minute. I didn't have Native American on my ancestry.com test, but my Uncle did. You can also upload your DNA to other sites like GED.com, and other sites. Just endless discoveries and education. Oh how far along we have advanced scientifically. My husband's Mom is from Germany so he is 70% German and my girls are 50%. America is the melting pot. I have more diversity than my husband because his family immigrated sooner than my family. I think when you're family has been in the United States longer there's a chance for more diversity, but I don't know. Until next time. I'm going to be late for work.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Remembering 911
Today marks the 18th anniversary of the most horrific act of terrorism that has ever happened in the United States.
Do you remember where you were when you found out about 911?
I was a youngster, only 19 years of age, prime of my life. I woke up in the morning. Of course I slept in, I didn't have any responsibility's in life just yet. Anyway, I work up to beautiful weather, got breakfast, sat down, turned the TV on. I didn't know what I was watching. I thought it was some kind of Armageddon movie review. I had literally no idea. Then it was on the next channel. I called my Mom at work and realized that I had 10 missed calls from her. She was freaking out! She being an overprotective Mom, told me to stay in the house. She explained it to me and I was in so much shock. I then called my boyfriend at the time to check on him and talked to him for hours.
This was so shocking to me. It took me hours to process what had happened. Never in my life have I ever heard anything like this. My Aunt who worked in a skyscraper in San Francisco was traumatized by 911 had to find a new job because of her anxiety.
It effected the whole world. I felt so safe growing up and not imagining that anything like this could ever happen in America.
Many lives lost were lost in this day, and many people lost their loved ones. With a heavy heart I am honoring and thinking of all the people effected from this tragedy. I have the upmost respect for all the fire fighters and police officers, and am thinking of the ones that lost their lives trying to save others. Today I remember all the victims of 911 and I am saying a prayer for their families.
There is also a petition on change.org to make 911 a National holiday. I mean I think it is a good idea to honor the families. Petition for making 911 a holiday
Do you remember where you were when you found out about 911?
I was a youngster, only 19 years of age, prime of my life. I woke up in the morning. Of course I slept in, I didn't have any responsibility's in life just yet. Anyway, I work up to beautiful weather, got breakfast, sat down, turned the TV on. I didn't know what I was watching. I thought it was some kind of Armageddon movie review. I had literally no idea. Then it was on the next channel. I called my Mom at work and realized that I had 10 missed calls from her. She was freaking out! She being an overprotective Mom, told me to stay in the house. She explained it to me and I was in so much shock. I then called my boyfriend at the time to check on him and talked to him for hours.
This was so shocking to me. It took me hours to process what had happened. Never in my life have I ever heard anything like this. My Aunt who worked in a skyscraper in San Francisco was traumatized by 911 had to find a new job because of her anxiety.
It effected the whole world. I felt so safe growing up and not imagining that anything like this could ever happen in America.
Many lives lost were lost in this day, and many people lost their loved ones. With a heavy heart I am honoring and thinking of all the people effected from this tragedy. I have the upmost respect for all the fire fighters and police officers, and am thinking of the ones that lost their lives trying to save others. Today I remember all the victims of 911 and I am saying a prayer for their families.
There is also a petition on change.org to make 911 a National holiday. I mean I think it is a good idea to honor the families. Petition for making 911 a holiday
Alzheimers Awareness month!
September is Alzheimers Awareness month. This is something that mean a lot to me. My great grandma lived until the age of 97. She had Alzheimers, by the time she was 95 she forgot who I was. She inspired me to be a caregiver at the age of 15. My Grandma had encephalitis, which caused her to have Alzheimers early around the age of 72. I was already working in assisted living by the time I was 20 when she needed my care. I was certified to pass meds and do vitals. Thank goodness. I would do my grandma's meds, blood pressure, housekeeping, cook for her and shower her and so on. She had to go to an assisted living, and has gone to be with the Lord.
I have been a caregiver for over a decade in assisted livings. I have worked in memory care where they have advanced or end stages of Alzheimers.
Alzheimers deteriorates your brain. It is a horrific disease. First stages they get forgetful and lose their short term memory. They have trouble finding things around the house and so on. Then forgetting they left the stove on. Trouble caring for themselves. As the stage progresses, it is like they are going backwards in life but they have aches and pains and health problems. Young people can also get Alzheimers but it is rare.
A lot of the people I take care of cannot do anything for themselves. Some still think they are a child asking for their mommy and daddy. They still remember things that have happened in their childhood but they cannot remember two seconds ago. They can ask me the same question all day. It gets redundant but they are suffering from their disease and they need care.
It is really sad and depressing to see this day in and day out, but it is a rewarding job and I am happy that I have the opportunity to help them.
The disease deteriorates the brain. Eventually their brain doesn't tell them to breath, the heart can't beat, and they cannot swallow. It is fatal.
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Sunday, September 8, 2019
How I stay healthy working in assisted living.
I work in assisted living with a lot of people and a lot of germs. I do care, I assist them with basically everything. Sometimes, I am not allowed to call in sick because the residents are dependant on me and I hate working sick and we are short staffed all the time. I also have an elementary age and middle school aged children that bring home sickness. Since the elderly population immune system is weaker, they are more at risk for sickness and disease. There is a lot of viruses, influenza, and pneumonia going around every year. So how do I stay healthy? I don't always stay healthy but I do most of the time.
I've read up online on how to stay healthy so I have done my research. You can use these tips for the whole family. Flu season is approaching us. Trust me you don't want influenza. Influenza is more in the lungs and body aches more so than it is having a stomach bug. Stomach flu is gastrointestinitis I. Influenza is awful.
First of all you all know this. Wash your hands. Really wash your hands for at least 20 seconds or as long as the happy birthday song. In health care, and in meetings they are always telling us to wash your hands. The first thing you learn in nurses aide training, wash your hands. It is the first skill I preformed for the state board test for CNA. I also carry hand sanitizer for my kids for when they come home from school. They say in microbiology that kills the good bacteria but I'm to OCD and germaphobe to care.
Next vitamins. I had a doctor tell me that you just flush out the vitamin's and that vitamins are just a marketing scheme. I don't believe here's why.
One day I wasn't feeling good. I had a nasty virus. My manager told me that I had to come in. I didn't get any sleep because I was sick and upset. I had to come in at 6 in the morning. I worked but it was miserable. I could barely do my job. I went home and took 3 tabs of airborne and felt better. I took one airborne everyday and stayed healthy for almost a year. Which was shocking because I got sick a lot beforehand, since I work in healthcare.
Airborne has 1,000 mgs of vitamin c. Vitamin c helps the cells that regulate the immune system and it also has e which helps the immune system as well. I also take herbs like garlic, Andrographis and elderberry. If you have influenza, take elderberry syrup and oscillococcinum together. Also, oregano oil. Oregano oil can kill strep bacteria. Also, the same doctor that told me not to take vitamins, told me to take vitamin D3. You can also get out in the sun for some D. Fresh herbs with cooking also helps. Probiotics and prebiotics. Most of our immune system lives inside of our gut. Green tea is full of antioxidants and flushes toxins. Also, drink plenty of water. Also fish oil is awesome for brain health.
You can also use a neti pot, because you inhale germs and you can flush these germs out to prevent illness. If you run out of the solution that goes with it you can use salt. Also gargle with salt water. Kills bacteria in the throat.
Ok, we all know this healthy diet and exercise. When I was sick in bed researching, I kept coming across this. Try to eat at least 5-10 fruits and veggies a day. Try to cut down on sugar because it represses the immune system.
Aim for a goal of exercise 3-5 days a week for 30 minutes. You can walk, swim, run, whatever you like. I like one day of strength training, one cardio day, and one stretching yoga day.
So there you have it. This is what I have found from my research and have tried. It's worked for me. Germs are everywhere, especially for me because if I'm not around the elderly, I'm around little kids. I have asthma so I gotta stay healthy. You can use these tips for your children as well. I try to get my kids out in the fresh air for exercise and vitamin D at least 5 times a week. Stay healthy this flu season!
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