Wanna Win a Flip? The Video Boss & Patina Soul

Yeah, so do I. I only wish I had one to give away. Ok, so I really wish I had one of my own to tell you about.

Since I don't have one - or have one to give away - here's the next best thing: I know someone who does. His name is Nate Hines and he runs an interesting blog. All you have to do to enter is click on the picture of the Flip below, and enter. What could be easier??

By clicking on one of my links to enter, you're also giving me another chance to win. He's actually giving away two Flips (one to a random winner and one to the person who has the most referral entries)...and I would actually flip to get one. Seriously. You help me to win the second Flip by clicking on my link, and once I receive the Flip, I will post a video of me flipping. Just for your enjoyment. (And enjoyable it will be, since I haven't done a flip in at least 20-25 years!)

Once you've entered, you'll be tempted to stick around Nate's site and check things out. Nate has some great articles on his site - I learned what ThumbVu is. If you're a website owner or blogger, you should be interested in it, too. He also gives you some tips on how to "Promote on Facebook". I like that he does this in video format. 

I've been taking some classes from Andy Jenkins (The Video Boss) about why video gets more viewers, completes more sales, etc. His newest video classes focus on helping you to make your own video - and each session he does is jam-packed with information.

So there ya have it - my two PSAs for the week. You're sure to be the court jester if you don't enter to win Nate's Flip Video. What are you waiting for? Go to Nate's site and enter. Then, when you have a few uninterrupted minutes and want to absorb some fabulous information (in an entertaining way, no less!), head over to Andy's site (The Video Boss) and learn why "Video GETS MORE Money than ANYTHING". I'm usually not into stuff like that at all - but Andy makes some great points and really is entertaining. (Not to mention I think he's kinda hot, too.)

And one more quick note...have you been to Patina Soul? What a blog!! Not only is this blog gorgeous, but there is a massive giveaway going on. You have to act quick, tho - it ends tonight. I'm sorry! I just found out about it like 2 minutes ago - but it's too good not to pass on to you lovelies.

Thank you for all your well wishes about Hive Girl. She has almost morphed back into the Princess. I'm still on pins and needles - but her breathing is under much better control. The hives are obnoxious (she was diagnosed with chronic urticaria) - but not life-threatening. I'll post more about the condition in the future.

I actually have several exciting new things to tell you all about...and I will - very, very soon. Promise.

xx,

Is This the Apocalypse?

Photo taken as I wrote this post

Since Friday night:

Benadryl - every four hours. Around the clock.

Hydroxyzine - a prescription antihistamine. Twice/day. On a dose higher than given to adults because it knocks people out. She has no effects.

Prednisone - a dose high enough to make her doctors worry she could suffer long term effects. Twice/day.

Albuterol - three times/day. Also, every 4 hours as needed for breathing problems.

Advair - twice daily.

Epi-pen - as needed.

We. Still. Have. Hives.

Where - on that list of medications - is xanax for me??

Although I'm not sure which, I am sure this is going to kill one of us.

xx,

Hive Girl, Girl Scout Cookies & Good People

I've been MIA for several days - which is unfortunate since I have news about Photobucket to share with you. That will have to wait for now, since I'm still caring for Hive Girl, formerly known as the Princess.

Her hives were so bad they were in her esophagus - so on top of being extremely itchy, she was throwing up like crazy. Poor, pitiful thing! Although she's seen some great doctors about this, I think we're going to go in a different direction. The dermatologist thinks the outbreak is due to an allergy. She was tested for allergies when she was little, after she choked on a peanut. The peanut got lodged in her main bronchus, which was removed endoscopically at the hospital. Her PCP thought the incident may cause a nut allergy, so we had her tested. Good thing the tests were negative - can you imagine her being surrounded by all these "nuts" (brothers, uncle, etc) if she were allergic?!?

I'm going to make an appointment with an allergist. Maybe they can figure out what's causing this. It's getting scary - the girl who has a sensitive immune system and serious asthma - is now having trouble breathing when she has these "attacks". Her upper lip and fingertips turned cyanotic (blue from lack of oxygen) for several long minutes during this attack.

On an interesting and happy note, one of her friends from school adopted a little Haitian girl. They've been in the adoption process for awhile - and everything was sped up due to the catastrophic earthquake.

It's also Girl Scout Cookie Time. Since Hive Girl has been so sick, she hasn't been able to sell cookies like she wanted to. If you live in an area where you can't get cookies - and want some - please let me know. I will pay shipping on all cookies, so you just pay the box price of $3.25. Please email me for information.

Enjoy your week!!

xx,

The End of 2009 & Still at the BACK of the Line - but I Got a Biggun'

"Queen Katherine, what's wrong with you? No blog posts lately, no funny stories, not even any art. What is up with you??"

Don't think I haven't heard the fevered clamoring from you guys. The whispers, sighs, and questions. The pitch is getting quite loud - and being  Queen, I couldn't do that to you, my dear, wonderful, lovely, beautiful readers. (Enough sucking up?) I had to pop in, this last day of 2009, and say...something.

Thank goodness 2009 is ending!

HERE'S TO 2010 BEING MUCH, MUCH BETTER THAN '09 WAS!

I'm big enough to admit that I have six posts half written and saved. Not published. To finish them would require me to complete the research for them...which seems like way too much work. (By research I mean putting in the links, finding pictures, blah blah blah.) So I'm starting over, saving those for another day. Maybe.

Let's examine why a spinal headache is so painful. Get out your No 2 pencils, sit up straight, and pay attention. There will not be a test on this at the end. I'm just too lazy at this point. Come on...I'm already schooling you in something you probably aren't the least bit interested in...so cut me a little slack. Lest I remind you I'm the Queen again.

According to THE QUEEN, and what I feel like writing:

A SPINAL HEADACHE happens when one gets a very small leak in the "sheath", or tough membrane, covering the spinal column. Since I'm now realizing what a pain this would be to explain, without getting into a whole anatomy class, this is going to be the short definition. If I do less than a fantabulous job, click the links at the end and get more information. At least I understand what I'm saying.

Any time a needle is inserted into your spine - whether it's to pull out cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), like a spinal tap, or to put medication in the spine, like an epidural - one can end up with a spinal headache. (Spinal headaches can also happen spontaneously, but it's very rare.) The needle has to puncture the protective "sheath" in order to get to the space where the CSF flows, which is the space where medication is put for something like an epidural. If the needle "hole" doesn't immediately close, CSF can leak through this "sheath". I always think of it like bouyancy - and may be totally wrong, but that's how I think of it. Your brain and spinal cord must be bathed in CSF all the time - they float in it. If the CSF is leaking, there isn't enough to keep the correct "parts" bouyant - your brain literally begins to sink, which is why you have such a severe, please-just-kill-me-now-because-I'm-in-hell, type of headache. It's like when you poke a balloon with a needle - the hole is so small that it's almost impossible to see, but the fluid inside the balloon can still leak out.

Now that I've totally confused you, forget it. Just read what happens here. Or here. Or even here. As an aside, very informative videos on all sorts of back pain, conditions, and treatments, can be found here, put out by Spine Health. Some fifty percent of the adult population will have back problems during their lives, and I highly recommend checking out the videos if you're struggling with any of these issues. Anyway...

The only way to feel better is to lay flat. Standing, sitting, or having your head upright at all, is painful beyond words - and if you cough or sneeze, God help you. You honestly think your head will shoot off - and wish it would. But lay down, and relief comes quickly (depending on how long you were upright before laying down).Usually, the hole(s) close without any intervention, and the headache goes away. But sometimes - unless you're me, in which case it happens all the time - they don't close on their own...and you win another fun medical procedure, called a blood patch - they draw a huge bolus of blood out of your arm, then inject it into your spine. The idea is that the blood cells will find the hole(s) causing the leak, and patch them. Having a blood patch is like instant relief...as soon as it's done, your headache resolves, and you return to a human state again. It's a strange thing, going from a headache that honestly makes you wish you were dead, to no headache at all - but if you're the one with the headache, you don't question it.

So that's where your Queen has been, in spinal headache hell. Not a place I recommend visiting. Ever. I wouldn't even say it's a place for the in-laws.

I was supposed to be having a rhizotomy, or radiofrequency neurotomy, today. The follow up to last week's medial branch block - which is what I ended up having, instead of facet injections. Why stop at injecting the facet joints, with itty-bitty needles - when you can go for the whole branch of nerves, with a much larger needle? The medial branch block went alright, unless you consider that I spent the rest of the week flat on my back, in spinal headache hell. Except for the brief periods of sickness I experienced because of some great new medication for something else.

Mine's Bigger Than Yours!

And

OH MY GOODNESS - IS A BLOG POST JUST A "POST" IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE SUB-HEADINGS??

If you've made it this far, you're at the climactic point of the novel that has become this post. You're on the edge of your seat wondering why on earth I'm not having the rhizotomy right now. So why am I writing you - and not acting as the human pin cusion/electrical conduit? It's all due to my uvula.

No! We don't want to know about your gynecological issues, Queen! Ha - no matter how much it sounds like a dirty word, the uvula is the "punching bag" thingy that hangs down at the back of your mouth, in your throat. Mine is all swollen up for some reason - and you can't have any sort of back procedure when you're hosting an infection. I've had a swollen uvula before - several times. I don't know what causes it - nor do I know anyone else this happens to. I just know the doc won't touch me like this. Is this a minor sidetrack...or a major roadblock?

Who knows. I just know that as the worst year of my life, I'm glad 2009 is drawing to a close...and I won't be sorry to see it go. I hope all of you have a fantastic New Years - but more than that. I hope 2010 is full of love, prosperity, success, great friends, and good health. I mean that. You all have touched my life in ways you'll never know...and I hope your goodness and kindness is returned to you - ten-fold.

 xx,

It's Confirmed - 2:30 is Too Early to Wake Up!

It's 2:37 am. I think. I can't see the clock real well with all the sleep still lingering in my eyes. It better be 2:37 - or I'm in big trouble.

My aunt should be here in about an hour-and-a-half to pick me up. Am I going to some tropical destination for Christmas - and need a ride to the airport? Cha, right. Is she coming to get me so we can do some early morning Christmas shopping? I don't think so - I'm pretty sure you need money for that. So where am I off to so early in the morning? What fun and exciting adventure could I possibly be embarking on?

Wanna Know More?

Ugly Dog Flu, Swine Flu & Turning into a Wombat

I. AM. SO. SICK.

Is it UGLY DOG FLU??

 

Could it be SWINE FLU??

Or...Am I just turning into a WOMBAT??

Any of these is entirely plausible.

Whatever it is, I'm dying. Wait. I can only hope I'm dying.

Since I rarely go anywhere, I didn't just pick this up somewhere. No. I think it was a conspiracy. I think this is the way my children have planned to finally get rid of me.

Everything hurts. It's hard to type this post. But I wanted to let someone know, just in case this is it.

If I make it the next few hours, I'll be laying in bed, watching my favorite new shows. Have you checked out ABC's Wednesday night line-up? Hank (with Kelsey Grammar), In the Middle (Patricia Heaton), Modern Family (Ed O'Neill), and Cougar Town (Courtney Cox Arquette). Sadly, watching these shows is the high point of my week, sick or not. If you haven't seen any of them, you are under orders by the Queen to watch. Especially In the Middle. LOVE IT. Whether it's due to fantastic acting - or the strange way the three kids remind me of my three kids - this is a DO NOT MISS show. And I don't think I've said that since Ally McBeal.

Since I'm dying, you have to find the links yourself. Or not. I don't have enough energy to care. I just think you'll really enjoy these shows.

And that, my dear friends, is my final gift to you, in case whatever-this-is really does kill me. Just know you were loved enough for me to share my television-watching secrets with you.

Now get out of here before you get whatever-this-is. I'm also not doing any dropping today...I'm sorry. I just can't. And I don't want to infect anyone. But I really do love you.

xx (from afar),

Listerine Oral Care Challenge

Note: This may be the longest review in history...but I hope you'll find it worth your time.

 

I remember being a teenager - and I brushed my teeth a lot. When I had braces, I remember even taking my toothbrush to school so I could brush after lunch. I was so self-conscious about everything at that age - and so boy crazy - that I wanted to give off the idea that I had nothing "unbecoming" about me. (Then I had kids...and now I'm lucky to grab a shower every other day. And we have burping contests.Yep, I've apparently come a long way, baby.)

For some reason, my two teenage boys don't feel like that. At all. Getting them to brush their teeth is...well...like pulling teeth. Especially since they got their braces.

My daughter is really good about it - and if it was up to her, we'd buy every product in the oral care aisle.

It was because of the lackluster interest of my boys, and my daughter's over enthusiasm, that I thought signing up for Mom Central's Listerine Oral Care Challenge would be a good idea. Like everything else, I wish I had known what I was getting myself into.

It has been two weeks of Agent Cool Blue staining my entire bathroom. (My boys found it fun to squirt their "mouth cooties" at each other after they've rinsed with Agent Cool Blue. And it doesn't come out of already-stained-off-white carpet so well.) The Princess thinks using Agent Cool Blue, the flosser, and Smart Rinse should be used every time she eats something...and will eat things just so she can use the items we received. Which sparked contests of who could come up with the worst tasting food to eat after brushing. (This is one way to get them to brush...and each citrus fruit. At least they didn't try anything but food.)

Listerine was very cool to send us a whole stash of awesome products. This is the loot we found in the box:

Above: Flosser and refills, dental floss, tooth stickers, a chart, and Reach Wonder Grip toothbrushes.

Above: Total Care (in Icy Mint and Cinnamint) and Reach Total Care Dental Floss Listerine Mint

Above: Agent Cool Blue (in Mint Shield and Berry Shield)

We all began with the Agent Cool Blue. Even though it's for kids, I wanted to try it - so I did.

  Cute, I know

I can see why the kids love it - although it's a little too sweet for me (and I'm a sweets fanatic), it tastes good. And it is pretty cool to see your mouth cooties in the sink.

After rinsing with the Agent Cool Blue, your teeth are tinted with coloring - showing kids where they really need to brush. It's a great concept - and similar to the pink tablets the dentist used to give us when I was a kid. The difference? While Agent Cool Blue tints your teeth, it doesn't stain them (and your fingers, and your counter, and your...) permanently pink. Remember how awful those were? (They were cool, but that pink color took about 72 years to wear off - even if you brushed really well.)

We poured the Agent Cool Blue into cups (heaven forbid we all use the same bottle), and the kids toasted the beginning of the Listerine Oral Care Challenge. (If they say I "forced" cooperation or enthusiasm, I'll never admit it.)

The mouth cootie wars not yet thought of, the childebeasts swished and swished for the 30 seconds. I tempted them to continue on for the full 30 seconds by telling them the longer they swished, the more mouth cooties they'd see in the sink. Those mouth cooties would also be much bigger if they made it to the 30 second mark - because they'd get all the mouth cooties out that were hiding. (Ok, so the boys thought I was dumb - but the Princess totally believed it.) I also liked that the Agent Cool Blue worked so well for the brace-face boy beasts.

Although we are all a little big to be using the Wonder Grip toothbrushes, to give a fair review I talked everyone into using them. Granted, for some of us it was like sweeping the Grand Canyon with one of those little hand brooms...but we all managed to accomplish the job.

The kids had all used Agent Cool Blue in the past (see the comment about the Princess "needing" every product in the oral care aisle), but this was the first time I'd used it. I have to say my teeth felt smooth and clean after being thoroughly brushed...and all the blue tint removed...even though it took quite awhile with the tiny little toothbrush.

After brushing, the four subjects moved on to the dental floss portion of our experience. As I pulled out a length the purple floss for the boys and myself, one thing was immediately clear: this was a different kind of floss. Not sticky, like normal flosses; not waxy, like other flosses; it's light and springy. Stretchy. Pliable. And it has a pleasant Listerine taste.

One thing I don't like about dental floss is the way it makes my fingers sticky as I floss. The second thing I don't like is how floss seems to be either too thick - or too thin. I either have to force it between my teeth - or it slides through so easily that I cut my gums. The Reach Total Care Dental Floss, with Listerine Flavors, didn't leave my fingers sticky. And it was wonderful sliding through my teeth while being gentle on my gums. The flavor was good, too. It isn't often the boys and I agree on anything - but all three of us really liked this floss. The proof? They actually ask to floss now. Absolutely unheard of before this yummy purple floss entered our medicine cabinet.

Nice clear picture of the mouth wire...My photo skills ROCK!

The Princess got the Reach Access Flosser. She put up quite the fight for it - I don't know whether it was the idea of the Flosser or the pink color. Whatever it was, she wanted it...bad. And like with everything else, she got it. (You don't mess with the Princess, lest you pull back a bloody stump!) This implement actually worked really well for her...her small fingers can make flossing difficult - and the Reach Access Flosser alleviated that problem. The Flosser acts like a toothbrush - which makes flossing a lot easier for kids. Besides, she thought it was neat to get rid of the disposable head and put a new one on. (Of course now I have disposable heads all over my house...but I guess that isn't Reach's fault.) The part I liked the most? She has a metal spacer wire along her bottom teeth that makes flossing impossible. She can't get the floss down as far as she needs to with the wire in place - and since the wire is soldered to her back teeth, taking it out isn't really an option. The few times she's managed to floss correctly, the wire has actually come unsoldered, creating this projectile object in her mouth. The Reach Access Flosser makes it possible for her to floss without breaking the wire...SCHWING!

Finally, we were onto the last step. (Has anyone else noticed it's taken me longer to write this review as it did to actually use the products, make the kids behave, and take pictures??) We ended the same as we started - with swishing. The Princess and Wix used the Smart Rinse - while Evanator and I used the Listerine Total Care. We were all really happy with the mouthwashes. Before we started, this was the step I dreaded most.

To be honest, Listerine makes me gag. I feel like I'm rinsing with a hospital ward. I don't like it, don't buy it, and won't use it. Period. The Listerine Total Care changed my mind. I really liked the taste - gone is the harsh, hospital-like taste. I'm not gonna lie - it still burns like you're swishing with liquid fire.

The directions say to rinse for 30 seconds - and this could possibly be the longest 30 seconds of your life. Seriously! After the Agent Cool Blue, brushing with Crest Extra Whitening with Tartar Protection Gel Toothpaste, flossing with the Reach Access Flosser - or - the Reach Total Care Dental Floss with Listerine Flavors, your mouth feels clean. Really clean. Then rinsing and gargling with the Listerine Total Care finishes off the job. Your mouth will feel clean and fresh - and your breath will smell awesome. Not medicine-y like with normal Listerine - but really good. The Listerine site says their new Total Care line of mouthwash has these six benefits:

• Helps Prevent Cavities
• Restores Minerals to Enamel
• Strengthens Teeth
• Kills Bad Breath Germs
• Freshens Breath
• Fights Unsightly Plaque Above the Gum Line

I am really happy we participated in this review. It's changed the products I will buy in the future. I know you all were dying to know the secret hygiene habits of the Royal Family - and now you do. I will throw in one little tidbit: I never mention this, but I smoke. I'm trying to quit - but that hasn't happened completely - yet. As a smoker, my mouth never feels clean and sparkly. That wasn't the case after using these products over the last 2 weeks. I can honestly say that my mouth hasn't felt cleaner than it has since I began using the Listerine and Reach products we received - and as a huge bonus, my breath has never been fresher. Ever. I have to admit I'm a convert - and I have no doubt you will be, as well. If Wix and Evanator now go to brush their teeth on their own at night - and it isn't a knock-down-drag-out - something is working. All three of them now brush twice a day, using Agent Cool Blue and Listerine Total Care Mouthwash in Cinnamint. (I prefer the Icy Mint.) I like the extra cavity protection - and removing the teeth brushing arguments is a great thing. (Don't worry - they've found something else to argue about to fill that time space.)  I have also found that talking to them in the morning has been much more pleasant - I no longer want to totally throw up from the smell of their breath. It's been a great change!

This picture cracks me up - is he showing me his teeth? Or is he a rabid dog??

I found that Listerine and Reach have some coupons for these products if you'd like to use them. You can also get more information about any of these products by clicking on the links. You've now earned a roll of gold stars for reading this far.

Listerine - Feel 100% Clean & Get a Healthier Mouth
Reach - A Cleaner, Healthier Mouth is Within Reach

My family and I were supplied with the Listerine products pictured above, in return for posting a review of these products. All opinions in this post belong to the Queen and are only that - opinions. I appreciate Mom Central giving me the opportunity to review these products.