Struggles. . .

 

 

I don’t know if some of you that follow me have seen that I haven’t been posting much. I have been struggling to keep my head out of the clouds. I am overwhelmed, and just having a rough time.

 

Right now, I have some issues going on at home. I will address that a bit later though. My biggest concern right now is a problem I have had for awhile now.

I don’t know if some of you have seen me mention that I have a thyroid problem. Well, over the years it has continually gotten worse. I now have 3 nodules, that are between 3-4 cm. I went to see the specialist last week, and he told me that one of them is calcified. Which means that it might be malignant. This was not the news I wanted to hear. . .

The verdict is that I am going to have surgery, the first week in November. I’m relieved, anxious, and nervous all at once. I am ready to have this thing out of my body, so that my life can get back to normal. I have been struggling with issues caused by it for to long.

 

So, if you don’t hear from me much in the next couple weeks. I’m working hard to stay focused, but sometimes can’t. Please bare with me, as I go about this journey.

New Health Care Law. . .

I’m sure by now you have heard the buzz about the new Healthcare law. To be completely honest with you, I am so confused about all the information out there. I have been slowly trying to soak up all the information and see how it pertains to me. Let’s face it, you can’t ignore it. . . Healthcare is highly important to your family. As the person who makes most of the decisions about our Healthcare, I need to be fully informed. Did you know that 80% of women make the healthcare decisions?!

Last week I had the opportunity to listen to a presentation put on by The Motherhood, and WellPoint (which is Blue Cross Blue Shield). They were their to discuss, and answer any questions we had about the new healthcare law, and what options we have available to us. I don’t know about you, but I had lots of questions.

Patrick Blair and Ellie Kay, both WellPoint spokespeople gave us an over view of the new laws, and answered some questions we had. WellPoint does business in 14 states across the U.S. most people know them more as Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

As we all know healthcare is highly important. It protects you and your family when sickness may occur. Major illness, and injuries can be super costly if you don’t have insurance. Here are a few figures to show you some costs:

• An average cost of a 3-day hospital stay is $30,000
• A broken arm can cost $2,500 or more (that is without surgery)

There are going to be four options to get your healthcare insurance for next year:

1. Purchasing through you or your spouse’s employer
2. Buy health insurance yourself
3. Enroll in government programs like Medicare or Medicaid plans – if you are eligible
4. Go without insurance – but you will have to pay a tax penalty

I’m sure you have seen the word Healthcare Exchanges around. If your like me, your not really sure what that is.

“Healthcare Exchanges” will be like a marketplace for healthcare. You will be able to compare your healthcare options.

• Enrollment starts: October 1, 2013
• Enrollment ends: March 31, 2013
• Coverage will begin: January 1, 2014 (this is for people who sign up before December 15, 2013)

Here are some important facts you need to remember:

• You may be able to qualify for financial help
• You can get preventive healthcare at no cost
• You can’t be denied based on pre-existing conditions
• Help will be available for people who make about $45,000 dollars a year, and families of four who make about $92,000 dollars a year.
• Financial help will be offered on a sliding scale. . . so the more money you make the less help you will get.

Later in the fall, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield will have a subsidy estimator available online for you to get an estimate of how much of a subsidy you may receive.

There will be health benefits that all plans will offer:

• Emergency services
• Maternity and newborn care
• Mental Health & Substance use disorder services
• Chronic disease management
• Pediatric services, including oral and vision care

Woman will not be able to be charged more. Cannot be charged more or denied for pre-existing conditions. Woman will get preventative care for mammograms, well woman visits, contraception, and more. You can choose your own primary care, OB-GYN and pediatricians without referrals. (I think this is HUGE)

All plans will come in levels or tiers. Such as Platinum, Gold, Sliver, and Bronze. Which means that if you choose the bronze you will have the lowest monthly premium, but will cover 60% of the costs. Or if you choose the platinum plan you will have the highest monthly premium, but will cover 90% of the costs.

All in all, there are plus sides to this new law. Like doctors are suppose to be more attentive, and be more helpful. Whether this happens or not is the real question. I’m still not 100% sure what is going to happen with this new healthcare, but I hope that it is going to work better for those who currently can not afford healthcare. I have always given up my healthcare to afford it for my children. Is this necessarily smart? No, probably not, but I think that my kids are more important. It will be nice not to have to chose between us anymore.

I hope that the information I have provided you with, will help with your decision. If you are still confused, or need more information you can look in these places.

• Healthcarereformforyou.com
• Healthcare.gov
• Anthem.com

*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. I was provided with information by The Motherhood and WellPoint. All opinions are 100% mine or my monkeys.

Lactaid Coupon Giveaway….

Do you have any children that allergic to milk? Or seems to have an intolerance to it?

All my children in one way or another can not have milk. We have experimented with lots of different things over the years to replace their milk. Rice Milk, Almond Milk, Soy Milk, and then finally Lactaid. Lactaid is the one that has lasted. While I still keep some regular milk in the house for some things we cook, I have found that Lactaid is the most versatile to cook with. Plus my husband, who while doesn’t like to admit that he has a milk issue does. After trying whole milk Lactaid, he will use it. He says it taste the most like real milk. He can’t usually tell the difference.

Recently I was able to join in on a webinar with Melissa d’ Arabian Lactaid Brand Spokesperson. (Which might I add I watched on food network when she first became a celeb, and still watch her to this day). She is a NY Times best selling author of the cookbook, Ten Dollar Dinners. All while being the mom of four girls. You might have seen her on the Today Show with Kathie Lee & Hoda? She was on it April 15th doing breakfast recipes, and will be back on June 26th for Entrée recipes. If you would like to you can check out 8 online videos here, and here.

We also heard from Michelle Harrington, R.D. and Lactaid Regulatory and Nutritional Affairs Manger. As well as being a pediatric dietitian at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia.

So I’m sure many of you are asking what is Lactose exactly? I know, that was my big question when I started researching the milk issue with my kids. Well, lactose is the major carbohydrate in milk and other dairy foods. Lactose is milk sugar and consists of two simple sugars, which are glucose, and galactose. Therefore people who are lactose intolerant can’t break down the lactose probably. Or the body doesn’t know how. Sometimes lactose intolerance can be progressive, so many people may become more intolerant later in life.

Lactaid is a product that helps people who have a lactose sensitivity in digesting dairy products without having the stomach discomfort. It provides the lactase that the body can’t produce enough of to break down lactose.
Believe it or not Lactaid is also 100% real dairy. It just doesn’t have the natural yeast derived enzyme added called lactase. There is a very wide variety of Lactose-Free products as well. You can get different kinds of milk, cottage cheese, ice cream, and eggnog. My son tried the eggnog this year for the first time, he was so EXCITED.
Did you know that Lactaid is the nation’s #1 lactose-free dairy brand?

Once Lactaid is opened it should be consumed within a week. Lactaid products are calcium enriched as well. I make sure to get that for my kids, so they are able to get the calcium they need. It has 500 mg in an 8 oz glass, so you only need two glasses to get your daily amount of calcium.

While it is hard to find in our area.. you can get Lactaid ice cream in 5 flavors. (we only can find chocolate and vanilla which makes my kids sad)

• Chocolate
• Vanilla
• Cookies & Cream
• Strawberries & Cream
• Butter Pecan

All flavors except cookies and cream are also gluten free.


I know my kids get frustrated when seeing the things they can’t eat. We have found that yogurt doesn’t bother them. That is because it has live and active cultures. Greek yogurt has double the protein and fewer carbs, which leads to less lactose and easier to digest. (My son prefers Greek yogurt)
Cheese is a bit harder. A rule of thumb for eating cheese though, is that harder the cheese, the less moisture or whey in it. Meaning there is less lactose in it. Always choose the aged cheeses, they are lower in lactose. My son loves Cheddar and Gruyere. However, Pecorino and Swiss cheese are also great hard cheeses to try.

Now cooking with Lactaid. Is it the same or can it be done?
Well, Melissa suggests using it in smoothies. The kids tend to like it more due to a slight sweetness. She also says she swaps Lactaid for regular milk in recipes, cup for cup. When substituting Lactaid for cream in recipes, work in a teaspoon of corn starch. Can also be used to make buttermilk by adding vinegar.

I’m going to be experimenting with some different recipes using Lactaid over the next month, so stay tuned for my blog post in July. Using the link above, leave me a comment telling me something you would like me to try? Telling you how well it worked, and how good it is. In the meantime would you like to win a coupon for a free Lactaid product?
a Rafflecopter giveaway





*Lactaid through The Motherhood provided the giveaway and information for this sponsored post. All other opinions are mine or my monkeys.

A new phone app, sugar, and exercise…..

 

 

What do these have in common you ask???

Well, at my most recent doctors appointment (and this is why I hate going) my blood work showed that I was borderline diabetic. Now, granted I have know for a long time this could always be a possibility. There are a few people in our family that are diabetic, and I also had gestational diabetes for all three of my pregnancies. I was able to control that by diet, and never needed to take medicine.

 

I have been struggling with my weight for a long time, and I try to do things to help loose weight, but lets face it when we think about that “Diet” word.. its just causing failure. After my last appointment with my doctor, we decided to re test my blood sugar in a month. That means, she wants me to loose some weight this month, and watch my carb intake.

Thus far, I have been consuming less carbs.. Not going to lie, this one is hard for me. I love bread, and pasta! Most of my favorite foods are made with either of these! Now I have to learn to adapt. Even if this works, and I don’t become a full fledge Diabetic, I will have to continue to always watch my carbs. Lets face it, the risk will always be there. That means no more soda (Not that I am a huge soda person), and no more Caramel Ice Coffee, extra caramel, extra cream, and sugar. (Yup, that probably wasn’t helping me huh?) Taste so good though!

 

What I have a done to help myself this week. Well, Monkey Man and I went for a 2.6 mile walk on Friday. I was going to go again on Sunday, but the rain mad it hard. My plan is to go every other day til my body is a bit more used to it. I did that walk in 1 hour, including a 15 min stop to say “HI” to my uncle at the farm. I was really quite impressed with myself. I know I can do this. I’m going to lie though, if I have to do it alone, its going to be hard. I have also been watching my food in take. Limiting myself to only so many calories, and fewer carbs. I have done pretty good with this thus far. I struggle a little with eating more than once a day.. I’m not a huge 3 meals a day kind of person. Getting a little better with this as well.

 

So, that leaves you thinking where does the phone app come in? That my friends, is a great question. I needed something to help me keep track of my carb intake. Its called My Fitness Pal, and it is a completely free program. You can use it on your computer, or your phone. I like it on my phone, cause then when I am on the go, I can put in what I had. Then it is not just being forgotten. It has hundreds of foods already in its data base! Plus you can use the scan option, and scan a bar code to a product, and it brings up all the information right to your screen! Frist time I tried that I was so giddy! It was awesome! It keeps track of your calories, and lets you know how many remaining ones you have… Lets you see all your daily or weekly nutrition. You can see what you are eating to little or much of.  Letting you tweak your habits. I’m really hoping that this will help me keep both my carbs down, and to help me loose the weight I need.

 

If anyone has any good Diabetic Recipes that they would like to share with me, I’m looking for new options, and ideas to add to our menu. Trick will be finding something everyone will like.

 

*I was not given any compensation for writing this… all opinions are 100% mine.