HaleMom.Com

Moving is a tough job, and is DEFINITELY harder when you have children! I never realized how hard it was going to be with a baby in tow, but we finally managed to do it. Thank you to everyone out there for your support and for still coming back to read my bloggy blog even though I haven’t been able to post every day.

Anyway, we finally got everything loaded into the moving truck and then brought it to the new place, and since the driveway is at an incline, it was a weird angle, so we had to duck our heads to get into the garage. This is where it gets good….I was helping my husband pull my daughter’s crib off the truck (baby was on our bed with a pillow fortress) and BAM! I hit my noggin dead on at the top of garage. Instantly I fell to my butt and just stopped while on the ramp in the rain. My husband thought I was bleeding, but I couldn’t say a word. Needless to say, I have a massive line of a bump on my head. What a great house warming present!

So from our move (which is still going on, sorta) we have had feet smashed, shins banged, arms and knees bruised, and a near concussion experience.

Anyway my friends, my computer is about to die and can’t find the cord, and my internet is slow because I’m tethering it since we have no internet here until Sunday.

Stay tuned for more adventures in moving land.

~Hale Mom

When I took a look at my site recently, I saw that there is an ad for “e-cigarettes.” I remember when my husband was trying to quit, he asked me if it was ok if he buy some.   At that point, I had never heard of them before, so I told him that it would probably be safer to get more information, and find reviews, but cold turkey was probably the best bet.

I have to admit that I used to be a “social smoker,” (if that is even a real term) but that was in my indiscriminate days and is but a distant memory. Quitting cold turkey is the best way, but that’s just from limited experience.

Anyway, when I saw this ad on my site, I decided that I would do a little bit of research into their health and safety, because I would not want to support something that is dangerous. These electronic cigarettes were spurred in response to laws banning indoor smoking, and are pretty controversial at the moment.

Upon my research, I found an article from early 2009 discussing how hazy the FDA is on these particular cigarettes.  Apparently there is no real scientific data on the e-cigaretes besides lots of promises that since there is no smoke that it will not cause cancer.

Maybe it’s just me, but I think there is a burden of proof that someone must provide, especially since nicotine is an addictive substance.  My only question is who should carry this burden of proof?  It’s certainly not up to the consumer, as they are simply looking to satiate their habit without breaking laws.  Should it be the company?  Or perhaps the FDA should regulate these cigarettes that have no proof of being “healthier” than smoking actual cigarettes.

What do you think?  Have you had any experience with e-cigarettes?  Have you tried to quit smoking?  Are there any smoking bans in your area?  I don’t think it’s a federal ban yet, but I may be wrong.

~Hale Mom

For those that know me, I’m a big UT fan, because well, I live in Austin, but I also went to school there, so it’s very near and dear to my heart.

Suffice it to say, I was grief struck last night after I knew we were going to lose the game. I was so upset I couldn’t even bring myself to write a post.

I normally try to post everyday, but was saddened by the fact that our best Quarterback was injured and unable to help bing u to victory.

I have to give Garret Gilbert some credit though, because eventhough he’s a freshman, he was able to give Alabama a run for their money.

Oh well, sometimes you win some, sometimes you lose some. I would have preferred not losing though.

My husband, daughter and I were all sporting our UT attire, and we still didn’t get the win.

Maybe next year we’ll get another chance at the championship.

I think sometimes I try too hard to come up with good content that I forget about the little things that I think I might blog about that day, but then I get another idea and that goes out the window.  There are a few things that happened this week that I just plain forgot to mention that are noteworthy.

A few days ago, I went through a drive thru (I know, I know, but I’m only human, and it was mainly rice and beans, and guacamole, so it wasn’t something bad, ) and forgot to order a drink, so I ordered a large iced tea at the window after we got our order.  When the guy gave me the drink, I was ready to give him my card back, but he said, “nah, it’s OK, don’t worry about it.”   Something so small made my day.  He probably didn’t want to run my debit card again, but it was such a nice gesture.

Later that day, I was at the grocery store (because I obviously needed to go,) and it was pretty cold outside, so I put my daughter in the sling so that we could keep each other warm.  While I was in the store and ready to check out, this lady saw me with the baby and putting my items on the conveyor belt and asked me if I needed any help.  Although I probably could have used some help just to make my life a tiny bit easier, I said no thanks, and continued.  It was really nice that she asked, but I really didn’t feel that I needed someone else to help me.  It’s so nice when people are in cheery moods and want to help.  I probably should have said yes, I need help, but I didn’t think she asked the question in an offering way.  She said, “do you need any help,” and then looked around as if she was going to ask one of the employees to help me out.

Also, today while I was on the way to meet a realtor, and in the lane to turn right, this big blue truck (mind you a drive a small car) decides that he is going to suddenly go into the lane that I was in.  I was stuck and had no where else to go, so the only reaction I could have was to pound on the horn.  I slammed that thing so hard it made a weird noise, but I guarantee you that it made that [use colorful word here] got back into the lane he was in.  When I got passed him, I look back and he’s laughing and smiling.  Like it was a joke.  He could have seriously injured my daughter and myself, so I was FURIOUS.  I couldn’t tell if he was on the phone, but if he was, I couldn’t see it.  He probably was though.

And a baby note: my daughter is getting braver by the day, and has now gotten the guts to let her hands off of the toy she uses to stand up and lifts her arms up, balancing herself.  She can stand on her own for a few seconds, but it seems like as the days go by, that she can stand for longer and longer.  Everyday we walk her around the house and today I stood in front of her, and she got so excited that she started running.  It was so funny and soooooo cute.  It’s funny when you have kids, that all you want to do is brag about them.  SORRY!  I just can’t seem to help it.  Maybe it’s just a mommy thing.

Anyway, I forgot how tired I am.

Off to bed!

Have a good weekend, and I’ll catch up with you soon!

~Hale Mom

Earlier in November, I started a series where I offered daily tips on how to develop healthy habits for the holidays, and have fallen off with many things swirling in my babysphere, so I would like to kick it back up until the end of the year. Can you believe 2009 is almost over? It’s just zoomed by! Moving forward…

Now that November and Thanksgiving have rolled passed, don’t be surprised when some of your friends seem to be grumpy or irritable . We’re about a quarter of the way through the cold months of the year now.  From the months of November to February, the days are shorter and colder, and the nights longer and darker.

As season and climate transitions, many people tend to feel gloomy, miserable, and talk about how much they “hate the holidays.”   Such mood disorder is known as winter depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.), and you may have heard about it.

Based on statistics released by the S.A.D Association, 500,000 people in the United Kingdom have experienced some form of winter depression.  Doctors have estimated that 20% of the population,  approximately 2 million people are affected by the disorder in Sweden.

Norman E. Rosenthal, a US doctor, coined the term S.A.D in 1984.  Winter depression is a sound medical basis that involves changes in the body’s mood centers evoked by shorter daylight hours and a lack of sunlight in comparison to the spring and summer months.

Some people suffering from this depressive illness experience a sense of unrelenting isolation and inconsolable loneliness. The only consolation to most suffering this condition is the fact that many people go through the same grumpiness during this time of the year; it provides a sense of comfort and assurance that sufferers are not alone.

Light therapy, proven to be the most effective and clinically proven treatments for S.A.D, has shown to benefit some 80-85 percent of S.A.D cases.   It may sound very simple but the process involves more than just turning on a light and twiddling your thumbs as you wait for that renewed energy to power up your whole well-being.

Since most spend most of their time at home or the office, these lights only emits a feeble 200-500 Lux (a Lux is a unit of illumination,) yet a minimum of 2,500 lux is required to alleviate the symptoms of S.A.D.  In comparison, a clear Summer’s day may reach an intensity of 100,000 Lux.

It may have something to do with the lack of Vitamin D, or maybe the sun provides a healthy dose of liveliness, but light therapy, such as making sure to be in sunlight for at least thirty minutes to about an hour and a half, depending on your tone of skin.  There are even light boxes to provide just enough light, based off of illumination measurements, that will combat the symptoms of S.A.D.

When it comes to treatment of S.A.D symptoms, light therapy could be the best approach to consider.  However, those with severe symptoms, addressing the root causes of the condition may involve the use of both anti-depressant drugs and psychotherapy treatments.

Additionally, according to statistics, cases of S.A.D increases dramatically traveling 30 degrees of latitude further north or south.  In fact, the condition is virtually unheard of in the tropics, speaking volumes for how big of a role sun plays in the condition.  As impractical it may sound, a movement or vacation trip to countries near the equator can definitely improve ones mood and well-being.

Another good way to combat the symptoms of S.A.D would be through movie therapy. Bundle up with you favorite movie buddy, and watch movies that feature warm, sunny, summery climates and see marked improvements in mood. A film with clear blue cloudless skies, palm trees, and absolutely an absence of snow may qualify as movie therapy.

Watching outdoor sports may also produce the same mood-enhancing effect.   Furthermore, overexposure to many indoor sports have been found to bring on a state of depression and trance-like catatonia that, in severe cases, resulting in complete mental health breakdown.

So for your health, and the health of your friends and family, make sure everyone bathes in the sun around an hour of sun a day, or consider a light therapy box, especially if you live in an area where the sun doesn’t make it’s appearance for periods at a time.  Vitamin D may also be something to consult a doctor about, if you are not able to be exposed to enough light, and are not consuming enough foods that contain the nutrient.

To your holiday health!

~Hale Mom

Disclaimer: This article is solely for informational purposes, and should not be replaced for a proper diagnosis or treatment from a doctor.