Kitchen Gadgets

A few weekends ago I picked up this Zoku popsicle maker at Williams-Sonoma. 

It makes popsicles before your eyes, in about 10 minutes.  What I love is that it fits well into my diet.  I can take fresh fruit like these peaches and plums, add a little Splenda, puree the entire thing, and have delicious summer treats in minutes. 

I can definitely recommend this product!  And there are so many fun ways to use it. I have made striped popsicles, and filled popsicles like the ones above.  Plus, watching them freeze right before your eyes is awesome.

(Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way by the maker of the product or by Williams-Sonoma for this post.  I paid for the gadget the same way everyone else does.)

Makes Me Feel Less Crazy

I didn't get enough comments of the "please don't tell the darning needle in the eye story" variety, so now I'm sharing.  The story was told in my Abnormal Psychology class by one of my favorite professors.  This professor brought in a former FBI profiler to walk us through actual crime scene photos and profile the killer.  The profiler said I had a knack for it, then she broke my heart and said that the FBI usually wants people who are about 30 with life experience, not right out of college.  I'm not going to lie, I still have profiling in the back of my mind as a possible profession later in life.  Anyway, you came here for a needle story, so here it goes. 

My professor was working in the Psychiatric wing of a hospital when she got a call from a nurse in the Emergency Room asking her to come down ASAP.  She walked into the waiting room of the ER and found a doctor handing out Valium to a patient's family.  That was her first sign that something bad was waiting for her behind the ER door.  She walked back into one of the curtain areas and found a 50-something woman with a darning needle sticking straight out of one eye.  Now, darning needles are not small, they are large, thick and curved.  My professor politely backed out of the room and asked the nurse something along the lines of "What the hell?".  The nurse explained that the needle-lady said that the needle was her beacon to the "others".  She needed the needle so they could communicate with her.  So my professor thought for a moment and asked the nurse for tin foil.  The nurse was all "tin foil?".  Yes, tin foil.  With tin foil in hand my professor fashioned 2 hats complete with antennae.  She put one on her own head and brought the other one to the needle-lady.  She explained to Crazy that the needle-in-the-eye was like, so last week and that the "others" were now communicating via tin foil hats.  Needle lady was all, thank heavens for you, I'll just take this needle out now.  NO! How about we let the doctor do that? The doctor was able to remove the needle with no damage to the woman's vision, just a nasty black eye.  My professor then walked the woman back to the psych ward, both sporting their new beacon hats.  This proved two of her important theories of psychology: 1) Think on your feet and 2) If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

The One Where I Complain A Lot With All The Complaining

My back is killing me right now.  Literally killing me - like, I'm making final arrangements.  I have a notoriously messed up back, partly due to genetics (thanks Mom!) and partly because I did Texas Gymnastics for much of my childhood.  Why do I say Texas Gymnastics? Because this kind of gymnastics wasn't Gymboree.  It was like Texas Cheerleading or Texas Football: BIG.  In Texas, you go big or you go home.  I have distinct memories of being in some kind of splits-like stretch on the floor and the coach would come up and put all of his weight on my back so I would go all the way to the floor.  Like, forehead touching industrial carpeting.  They did this to all of us, one after the other.  I told a doctor about this once and I thought he was goin to call up that gym just to yell and scream at someone for THE PAIN and THE ABUSE and THE CARELESSNESS!  And I was all, "dude, just fix my back, then we can work on fixing Texas, mmkay?"

Late last year, I hurt my lower back.  Bad.  Lie in a prone position and contemplate death kind of bad.  It happened at work (damn wily 2 year olds) so the workers comp paperwork made it even more fun.  This current pain is in my upper back and is not related to any specific injury that I can remember other than the fact that I am a complete klutz.  I walk into things that other people would have to search out to injure themsevles on.  So this new and painful pain has driven me to see my massage therapist twice and the non-force chiropractor once.  Finally it has come down to GIVE ME THE DRUGS AND NO ONE LOSES AND EYE!  My friend asked if I had ever done accupuncture and I said that yes, I had before for headaches and depression and that it had worked well.  She was too freaked out by the needle idea to give it a go.  This is all a really roundabout way to get to some stories about needles and my back. 

I suffered with migraines for years and they have only begun to disappear in the last year or so.  The height of these migraines, when they were worst and closest together, was also the height of the West Nile Virus craze.  It was the swine flu of 2002.  That year also happened to be the year that I spent 2 weeks in Costa Rica after High School graduation.  I highly recommend not mentioning migraines and Costa Rica in the smae sentence to a doctor unless you are really in the mood for a CT Scan or MRI or both.  After one CT scan showed slight swelling in my brain (which was later found to be incorrect and the diagnosis was actually Hypochondriac Aged Doctor With Bad Eyesight, or HADWBE.) I was sent for a spinal tap to check for "The West Nile".  I want you to let those words sink in.  SPINAL. TAP. Now, I'm not afraid of needles at all. Stick me, draw blood, give me an IV, no problem.  But I am kinda protective of my spine.  There is just some biological urge to run screaming from the room at the very mention of taking fluid from around the spinal cord.  I don't like those words, spinal cord.  They give me the shivers just typing them.  At this point, I was on a hospital bed totally freaking out.  Losing My Shit.  I was begging the doctor to "please just give me a sedative" and he kept saying "after I'm done".  After you're done? Thanks Dr. Backwards but usually the anesthetic comes before the surgery.  There's less annoying screaming that way.  I got through the spinal tap, otherwise known as one of the most awkward feelings ever.  It's not a particularly painful procedure, but highly strange.  Feeling the pressure of a large gauge needel in you back isn't pleasant at all.  I have also had epidural injections of steroids to fix some back issues, but they are nothing compared to a spinal tap.  The epidural injections don't actually puncture (yeesh, that word) the spinal sac (dry heave) but rather put fluid around the sac.  That makes all the difference in the world.

So, now you know that you can't freak me out with needles.  Although one college professor managed to freak me out a bit with a story about a darning needle in an eye.  I will share that story at some point unless 1. I discover some HIPPAA regulations preventing me from doing so, or 2. you leave me a comment saying please, god, no darning needle in the eye stories.  

Bedside Manner

I see three doctors regularly right now.  The first is my general practitioner who I see when I get sick.  The second is my Psychiatrist, who manages my mind meds.  The third is my Psychologist (therapist) who helps me in many ways.  A rare thing has happened.  I have found three doctors, in three separate fields, who I like.  They are good at what they do, but also have amazing people skills.  

Realizing this made me think of an old joke: 

"What do you call the person who was last in their class in medical school?"

"Doctor"

Health Care Reform

I have been asked by several people recently about my views on the new Health Care Reform Bill.  

I have to say that I have not read all 2000+ pages of it, and am no expert in the field.  

Here are my basic feelings about the arguments surrounding the bill:

1. It is not socialism in the way that the Tea Baggers are talking about.  Go read up a little on socialism and see how many parts of the American government and public works are "socialized".

2. Children cannot be dropped from coverage for a preexisting condition.  Most of the children I work with were born with a preexisting condition.  There was never a time in their life when this condition did not exist.  They are the ones who need healthcare most.  These children will be much better cared for under this new law.

3. "The government is going to get between me and my doctor."  Okay, here are the three scenarios now: 

a) You have private insurance: that insurance company is between you and your doctor.

b) You have MediCare or Medicaid: the government is between you and your doctor.  

c) You don't have insurance: you probably don't see a doctor. 

There is always going to be someone that has to deal with the economics of healthcare.  The hope is that if we can limit the power of private insurance companies, who employ people solely to turn down claims, then maybe the system will work better.  It is not perfect.  There is never going to be a time when you can walk into a doctor's office, tell them where it hurts, walk out with some pills and no paperwork needs to be done.  It is a necessary evil.  

4. Children up to age 26 can stay on their parents insurance policy.  That is huge.  Do you know how many uninsured college students are out there? Imagine not having to worry about going into debt over insurance and health costs while you are trying to pay for college.  It would be an amazing relief for many people.  

My final thoughts: I think this entire HealthCare fiasco could have been handled better if the Republicans stopped throwing hissy fits and the Democrats stood up for themselves.  The religious and racist undertones coming out of the Republican party recently have been appalling.  Clearly for them it is Party before Country.  The Democrats could have gotten the real information out there in a cleaner form.  If you give the people the facts of the bill, then Sarah Palin and FOX news can only twist the info so much.  It is an imperfect bill, but it is damn better than what we have right now.  Hey Republicans, maybe if you had helped a little instead of having your heads so far up your asses it would be a little more to your liking.  The bill was passed while you guys pouted.  I'm sorry the Democrats took "your" Presidency and "your" Majority and your candy, but GET OVER IT AND GOVERN!

Yick

Feeling crummy. Sorry no posts.  Yick.

Medicine Is Magical and Magical Is Art

That is one of my favorite quotes in the world.  It is from a Paul Simon song called The Boy In The Bubble.

This lyric seems to be running through my head right now. 

I have been having an internal debate about whether or not to discuss the following subject on the blog.  I finally came to the decision that this blog is about who I am and I cannot leave this part out.

I have depression.

Like millions of other people in the world I struggle with the chemicals in my brain.  I have been on medication for many years (medication I am not willing to name) and it helps me.  Well, sometimes it helps more than others.  Lately I have been going through the unpleasant process of adding a medication to my regimen.  I decided that this was the perfect opportunity to bring this topic up here.

Part of my decision to talk about it is that I don't want to perpetuate the stereotype that depression is something to be ashamed of.  Depression is chemical and is often genetic.  There is depression on both sides of my family as far back as I can think.  At first I didn't bring it up because it didn't seem to have anything to do with the blog.  Then I realized that because it is something I deal with every day (even when "dealing with it" simply means taking a pill), it is a part of me and therefore a part of my writing here. 

Over the years, my depression has had peaks and valleys.  Some of the peaks were wonderful and lasted a long time.  Some of the valleys were very deep and seemingly endless. 

A recent string of events has made it hard to see the good side of life.  I cannot talk about the specifics of the tragedy because it is not my tragedy.  I do not own it.  My friend owns it.  What I can say is that it has changed my worldview and will stay with me for a very long time.

This tragedy came only a month or so after a little one I know was diagnosed with a fatal disease.  Watching her deteriorate week by week has been tough.  Watching her little hands shake as she comes in for a hug pulls at my heart.  Watching her have ten to fifteen absence seizures an hour is difficult to watch.

I guess the main reason why I am blogging about depression is because I don't want this blog to be about some charicature of myself.  I want it to be about me.  And part of me is my battle with depression. 

If my being open about my depression helps even one person who reads this understand that their depression is not something to be ashamed of, then I have been able to squeeze some good out of some bad.

Luckily I have good doctors and am now on the other side of this little hiccup.  The days are good and will continue to get better.

"Medicine is Magical and Magical is Art.  Just look at the Boy in the Bubble and the Baby with the Baboon Heart." -Paul Simon

Are We Paying Attention Yet?

Today the CDC released a new study which estimates that 1 in 100 American children have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).   This is up from their previous estimate of 1 in 150.

Are we paying attention yet?

Please, do your research before vaccinating.  Whether you choose to vaccinate or not, you will have the power of knowledge.  I know this is a touchy topic, but I don't feel that I can keep quiet on this.

Here are a few books that I can recommend if you are interested in Autism, its causes, prevention, and treatments.

Evidence of Harm: Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic: A Medical Controversy. by David Kirby

Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Complete Guide to Understanding Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and other ASDs. by Chantal Sicile-Kira

Mother Warriors: A Nation of Parents Healing Autism Against All Odds.  by Jenny McCarthy

Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey Into Healing Autism.  by Jenny McCarthy

Animals in Translation.   by Temple Grandin

Knowledge is power.

Go claim yours.

Yup, I'm A Freak

I love freaky medical shows on Discovery Health or crazy shows on TLC about people that are really tall, or really short, or really missing all of their limbs.

These shows are my guilty pleasures.

So when my mom walked through the room while I was watching one I wasn't surprised by the conversation that ensued:

"What's wrong with this one?"

"Why do you assume something is wrong with her? Seriously!"

"....."

"Legs fused together."

"Uh Huh.  That's what I thought."

See, I have a freaky ability to retain information.  I have an eidetic memory so when I see something, it is pretty much branded into my brain.  I seem to have a particular knack for medical information.

Child with congenital hydrocephalus?

When was the shunt placed?

Bilateral deafness?

Are you considering cochlear implants?

Diagnosis of Osteogenesis Imperfecta?

Are you for or against rod surgery?

Cerebral Palsy patient?

Hypotonic or Hypertonic?  I hear Botox can help.

Trisomies? Tetrasomies?  Chromosome Deletion Syndrome?

I'll give you life expectancy and cause.

Child born prematurely?

How long in the NICU? Any IntraVentricular Hemorrhages? How about PDA ligation? Retinopathy of Prematurity? Sensory Integration Disorder? Reflux? What about a Nissen Fundoplication?

I really like this stuff.

I'm that big of a freak.

Pickup Lines For This Fall

"So...I don't have the swine flu.  You don't have the swine flu....
Wanna hook up?"