Cosmetology School

My summer school classes for Cosmetology started on Monday. It was great to get back to school to see the old friends and start doing hair again. On Monday's we have theory for (4) four hours and it is so hard to sit our butts in theory class that long, because we wanna do hair. We get to work on each other from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm and that is only day we get to work on each other. On Tuesday through Thursday we have theory for one hour and we do hair from 9:15 until 3:30.. We are so happy because we don't have to school on Friday's. We go 7 hours a day for 4 days and we love it.. We sure miss having Mr. H and we can't wait until he comes back in the fall.. i love cosmetology class but at the end of the day, I am really tired. We stay really busy during the day. Manicure's are fun and relaxing because you get to interact with your client's. Pedicure's are fun to, unless you get a client with nasty and gross toes..ha. If you love doing hair then you should go to school for doing hair and just because you go to school to learn how to do hair, it doesn't mean that you have to do hair. Seriously, think about it.. Hair is great and TIME is MONEY!!

Frustration's of Boyfriends

OMG!! I don't know what to call this blog. I know I am so frustrated and I wanna scream. I now understand when my mom would say, " I just don't like them and there is something about them and I don't why." Whitney dated a guy from high school and I didn't like him from day one. I  don't know why I didn't like but I just didn't. Let me set this straight first, he was a black guy and it had NOTHING to do with his race.. I didn't think he gave Whitney the respect, time, or compliment's she so deserved. I would not allow to car date because she is to young but he come over to the house. He would bring her home from school, stay for about 15 minutes and then leave. This occurred daily. He would go to teen clubs with his friends. Whitney came second to everything he did. He would get mad at her and tell her not to come to the ball games at school, it was like he was trying to control her. Yes, it pissed me off. I have wiped thousand's of tears from this girl's eyes. She has awakened me in the middle of the night, running down the stairs, just a crying because he said something bad to her. Anyway, they broke up and the deal was he could never come back to the house, because of the things he done to Whitney and said about her, too.. Well, Whitney talked to my dad and my dad let this guy come back over. It was so hard to walk into the house with him sitting on the couch. I just wanted to smack the shit out of him. I just wished Whitney would open up her eyes and realize that he don't want wanna be with Whitney but he don't want her either. He came over the house and told her that he didn't wanna a girlfriend right now. Why is he leading my daughter on? Oh yeah, I forgot that he had sex with one of Whitney's really good friend's. I am sorry but he has no respect or loyalty for my daughter and I don't understand why she won't let go. Is it because I hate him so bad??

Parenting

Parenting is a big issue for me and I mean BIG!!!... I am 33 and will turn 34 near the end of June. I am a very open minded person, who believes that every person has a different opinion and that is great, but as my grandmother told me, "OPINIONS ARE LIKE ASSHOLES AND EVERYONE HAS THEM." Here are some issues that pisses people off when I tell them my opinion on parenting. I had my children when I was young and I remember the things that I did and didn't always tell my parents what I was doing and I did that on purpose. Do you think I would tell my parents, going to a party where alcohol will present? My parents would have fell through the floor.. No, I don't try to be kids friend but I DO REMEMBER what is was like to be TEENAGER and that is why I am glad I had my kids when I was young. Yes, as a parent you do want your children to do better than you did, but they are also gonna experiment. The question is DO YOU WANT THEM TO TELL YOU OR DO IT BEHIND YOUR BACK? So here is my opinions on some parenting issues that gets some people pissed off:

BIRTH CONTROL- Yes, I have told all four (4) of my children that when they decided to have sex to come to me and I would have them put on birth control. I have told my 3 daughters when they come to that point in their life and they make the decision to have sex and before they do have sex to please come to me and I would have them put on some form of birth control. I told my son that when he decided to have sex to come to me and if he was to embrassed to buy his condoms, to come and tell me and I would go buy them. I would rather my children didn't have sex at all BUT if they decided to that some form of birth control be used. My son had a friend who had a baby at 15 and he has seen the obstacles that has been placed in that friends life because of getting his girlfriend pregnant at the age of 15.  When my son's friend was in labor, he heard her scream and he ran the hall saying, "Mom, sex isn't worth it," and yes I hope he remembers those painful screams.

DRINKING- Umm, this is gonna make a lot of people mad but I would rather my children experiment with drinking at home instead of party. Why? If they are at party are they gonna leave with someone who has been drinking? Will they get raped? What kind of behavior mood will they be in? No, I didn't say let my children friend's drink at my house, I AM SAYING MY KIDS. I would rather my children be drunk at home, because I know what they are doing. As a teenager I never had the acquired taste for alcohol. I am hoping my children don't either. I know my son has been drunk, at the age of 11. I let my son go to beach with a friend of his and I didn't know that he was gonna get drunk, because this friend's whole family was going. On this week long beach trip, my son also smoked cigarettes. My son was not forth coming with the information but instead I heard it from the friend's mouth and what shocked me was that they friend's family said, Oh Tyler, was great. We had no trouble out of him and he was well behaved. I asked myself was great, no problem, and well behaved because he was drunk? That was MY decision to make, whether or not to let my child drink. Needless to say, my son has NEVER went on vacation with that family before.

CIGARETTES-NO. I would NEVER buy my children cigarettes.

I will add more to this, when we have our PARENTING MEETINGS in Monday's Class while fixing hair.. What a great conversation!!

Diabetes

Ugh!! I am so frustrated that it is not funny. Actually, I am very disappointed. I know there are other disease's out there that are worse that Diabetes, but Diabetes robs your life secretly. I had emergency surgery in January of 2009, because I had Ovarian Torsion on my right ovary. I had the doctors fooled because they thought I was pregnant, but wasn't. Ovarian Torsion is very painful, a lot discomfort, and tremendous amount of swelling. In fact, so much swelling that I looked like I was 38 or 40 weeks pregnant and wasn't even pregnant. I know you are wondering why I am talking about Ovarian Torsion and Diabetes together, is because Diabetes caused the Ovarian Torsion. Diabetes causes you to sweat, have pain or numbness in your hands and feet, swelling, being thirsty, blurred vision, and sores not healing as fast as they should. Those are a list of my symptoms. My grandpa had Diabetes, lost his vision and half of his right leg. He would tell you that he heard them saw his leg off, because he couldn't be put to sleep. I am scared to death that I am gonna go blind or lose a leg. I went to the doctor today and had to have some medication changes because my diabetes is progression rapidly. So today I left with numerous medications. I have to take Cymbalta for depression and neuropathy. Neuropathy is where you have sharp pain, numbness, and swelling in your hands or feet, but mostly feet. HCTZ is a diuretic, to help get rid of excess water. Metformin is used to help control blood sugars. Glimipride is used with Metformin or other medications to help in assisting to control blood sugars. Neurotin is for the neuropathy in my feet. I also check my blood sugar four (4) times a day. Today when I went to the doctor I found out that majority of my health problems that have occurred in the last year is due to DIABETES. I wanted to put my questions that I brought to the doctors appointment in my pocketbook and leave the office, all because I didn't wanna face reality. I didn't wanna face my FEAR of being diagnosed with DIABETES. Yeah, I can lose about 20 to 30 pounds but Diabetes has CONTROL of my body. If I lose the weight, that is great for me, because I will look better, be skinner, but I would still have to take the diabetes medication and that crushed me. Why? Because after seeing my grandpa and working in the medical field, you see first hand what happens. I have a greater chance of having a stroke, heart attack, going blind, or losing a leg. I know Cancer is bad because I seen firsthand how my mom's cousin suffered with Cancer. So, I asked my doctor to give me a medication called, Adipex, which helps with losing weight. I have set a goal for myself to lose 30 lbs. I have changed my eating habits, exercise regimen, and how I handle all these medications.I don't Diabetes to be the cause of my death or have this big control on my life. I wanna CONQUER diabetes.

Interracial Dating

Many of us that are parent's, all we want for our children is happiness or at least that is what we tell ourselves and other people. Why do we get angry when our children date out of their race? My oldest daughter, Whitney, dated out of her race. The relationship didn't bother me but what bothered me was, the guy. The guy came to our house, visited, ate, and played with her younger siblings. What made me angry was they way he treated Whitney. He would make her cry, talk to other girls, and they would have many fights. I got asked many times why do I allow Whitney to date out of her race. Who am I tell her that she can't. I have dated out of my race. I seen the prejudice's on both sides. I have seen the looks that white girls get for dating a black guy and I have been to my boyfriend's house and couldn't use their bathroom because I was white. If a white, black, or Latino guy or girl is what makes my children happy, so be it. If you don't like it, then turn your head. I want my children to be happy and live their life to the fullest. I don't want them to marry a white guy because they think their family will be mad if they marry out of their race. I want them to marry the person who makes them happy and they can't live without. I wouldn't want my children to miserable and have a failed marriage because they sold their self short to make someone else happy. I couldn't imagine seeing my kid's miserable to make other people happy. If you are a racist person, then you need to look inside yourself and see what you are scared of. Are you scared to get to know them? Are you scared that you might fall in love with a person, who looks different than you? Think about it..

"Illegal" Immigrant's

I am really curious to know this myself. Are any of us really "TRUE" Americans? As we all know the first "true" Americans in the United States were Indian's. I can't stand to hear the word's illegal immigrant, spic, and wetback. I have dated a legal and illegal immigrant. Are we considered "TRUE" Americans because we were born here or because our founding father's came over here, many year's ago, and took this land from the "TRUE" Americans. Why do we think we have the right to make comment's about illegal immigrant's. Yes, illegal immigrant's pay taxes. If a illegal immigrant, uses a social security number, rather it is real or fake, they still pay taxes. Some immigrant's get caught up with child support, alimony, back taxes, and other bill's that someone else fell to pay. Obama got a lot of Latino community to vote for him in 2008, because he was gonna do something on immigration. Obama hasn't done nothing for immigration and the Latino community is still suffering, because this was put on the back burner. I have seen illegal immigrant's pay thousand of dollar's for paper's, only to look over their shoulder, because they are scared that INS is gonna come looking for them. I have asked myself this many of times, Could I survive in another country without all the luxuries, that we have in the United States? Could I wash clothes without a washing machine? Could I go into a field and kill my supper? Could I use a outhouse? Could I walk a distance to pump water? We as people sit back and judge other people before we know what they have been through. I lived with an "illegal" immigrant for 6 years. He done more my kid's than their own father did and none of my kid's were biologically his. He worked and put me through school. He helped my family in many way's that some of the "Americans" wouldn't do. Are we scared that the Latinos are gonna come and take over America? All I am saying to the people out there that have negative thoughts of other culture's, research yourself. Are you willing to give up so many luxuries and wants? If you lived in a third world country, would you sacrifice yourself to come to another country, to provide better for your family, that you left behind. What some people don't know is that, in other countries, there is a raffle, where every month 30 to 50 people names are entered into a raffle drawing and if your name is drawn, then you receive paper's to come to America and no question's asked? All I am saying is sit back and think about what you would do, if you were in their shoes? I am not trying to make anyone mad but this is something that is close to my heart and everyone has opinion's. What is a wetback? To me a wetback is a person, that gets into a shower and gets their back wet. The term wetback is so stupid, because NOT all "illegal" immigrant's swam or waddled through the Rio Grande River.  What is a spic? There is no good explanation for the term spic, except that people that use it is stupid..

Depression

Depression has affected my life in many way's and I wish that I could wash it away. I have never had something that has ruled my life, for months at a time. I had my first bout with depression in 1996. I had postpartum depression after all four of my kid's. I can remember crying for no reason, thinking negative thought's about myself, and wanting to run away from children. I have tried different type's of medication and been through the ringer with them. I tried Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, Paxil, Wellbutrin, and some anxiety medication. I am currently taking Cymbalta and it works for me. I have anxiety, too. When my grandmother died, unexpectedly in 2006, my world literally crumbled. She WAS my rock. She protected at every angle she could. In her eyes, I done nothing wrong. She loved me for me. I never got help for my depression before my grandma passed away, because in her eyes if you depressed, that meant you were crazy. Grandma really believed that "depressed" people were crazy. I have figured out what "trigger" signs, that will bring on a depressed on moment. When, I am depressed I wanna cry, eat, sleep and I don't care about nothing in the world. When, Tyler, was 2 weeks old and Whitney, a year old, I remember walking through the woods to my mom's house and telling her, that if she didn't take Whitney and Tyler, I would probably hurt them. I have even went and had myself committed at UNC to help figure out, the kind of help I needed. I have been diagnosed with major depression issues and anxiety. I struggled for, six (6) hours and called many family members, to see if I should go seek the help I needed.. I didn't want people to think I am crazy, because I went an had myself committed. When I was in the hospital for 4 day's, I learned so much stuff about myself.  All, I hope is that if someone reads this blog and it helps them or someone they know, then I will be happy..

30 Day Challenge, Day 30~Something I Love

I have four beautiful thing's in my life that I love. I would die for these four little people that I gave birth too.. There are day's that I wake up and realize, I am so lucky because God gave them to me. I am not gonna lie there has been some rocky times but I wouldn't change the challenge that they give me. All four of them are unique in their own special way. I have 3 girl's and boy.

Whitney Erin was born on July 27, 1996. I was really excited when she finally arrived. She is beautiful and care free. She can sing and loves, too. I wish that she had more self-confidence and believed in herself, that she could do anything. She tends to trust people a lot and gets hurt. If Whitney loves you, really loves you. She loves you with everything she has. I hope she follows her dreams. I love you, Lubie..

Tyler Matthew was born on July 26, 1997. He is my only boy. I don't like his name. His name was supposed to be Caden Tyler but my grandpa, couldn't say Caden, so I let my mom name him. He is very smart and got nominated for scholarship this year. He loves to play basketball, football, and baseball. Tyler wants to go West Point, when he graduates and I want him to follow in his dream. He can be a bully sometimes but he will be in your corner, if someone is attacking you and he don't think it is right. I will say this, he does protect his family, especially his sister's.. I love you, Ty!!

Breanna Rae, was born on March 14, 2000. She is my feisty girl. She loves animals. She doesn't let anyone influence her decision's. She is very loyal to her friend's. She wants to be a veterinary and that is all she talks about. She loves to sing, too.. She walks on her tip toes 95% of the time. She loves to drink coffee and it has to be Folger's.  I call her my bully because they way she will fight her brother. There is never a dull moment when Breanna is around.. I love you B-Hanna's..

Morgan Leigh, was born on October 10, 2001. She is my tomboy and there is nothing girly about her. She loves to wear basketball jersey's all the time. She don't like to comb her hair. She loves to play sports of any kind. In her eyes, Tyler is her idol, because he can do no wrong. She does not like change. She is my only blonde hair, blue eyed girl. She is very tender hearted..  She is very giving and loves JB.. I love you MoMo!!!

30 Day Challenge, Day 29~My Own Personal Hero

My own personal hero is my Mom. When I was younger, you always heard the saying that blood is thicker than water or your mom is your true best friend and you didn't believe it. I have to say that is so true. There is no one in the whole world gonna have your back your like your mom. My mom has been there when I have fallen, been sick, had children, made the best and worse decision's that I could ever make. Your mom is never there to judge you. She is there to wipe to your tear's when those nasty boy's break your heart's. You can step on, be mean, and say mean thing's to your mom but they always forgive you. I have worked for my mom twice and I always say I will never do it again. I have called her the slave driver. She has taught me valuable lesson's and been in my corner, when I thought I didn't have no one. Your mom is your rock, cheerleader, friend, and caregiver. I love my mom with all my heart and when I lose her to death, I will honestly say that I will be lost without her.

30 Day Challenge, Day 28~Something's I Miss

Grandma-The one thing I really miss is my Grandma's cooking.. I would give anything to have some homemade bread pudding. I have asked people if they knew how to make it and they don't. I have not had any since my grandmother passed away unexpectedly on April 10, 2006. There are some thing's she taught me how to cook but they are not as good as her's. I miss her and her cooking.

Juan-I have done a blog on Juan, as my first love. I have son by Juan. I miss Juan for the simple fact that Tyler never got to meet Juan. I want Tyler to know his father's side of the family. I want Tyler to learn where he get's his attitude, looks, and intelligence from. Juan was murdered on June 22, 2007.

Jamie-I miss Jamie. He was my cousin. We were really close growing up. I was there when his son Cory was born and he was there when Whitney was born. I remember telling Jamie on a hot June day about Juan getting killed. Jamie loved his family and his family loved him. His wife didn't like for him to smoke but he could drink. So, when Jamie came around his favorite question was, "Hey do you have a cigarette, that I can have, but please don't tell Tela?" Tela was his wife. Jamie was killed in automobile accident on September 24, 2007.

Dawn-This person was a good solid rock. I could tell her anything and she never said anything about it. We met because our husbands were in the same military squadron. She was a blessing to me, especially when I missed my family. I only lived 3 hours away but I couldn't always just up and live my life to come home to visit. She was family, even though we were not related.. My friend, sister, confident, passed away on February 18, 2008..

30 Day Challenge, Day 27~What Is In Your Purse

In my purse will find my wallet, hair brush, make-up bag, bobby pins, sunglasses, pad's and tampon's, Kleenex's, my sugar machine, numerous pill bottles, candy, chap stick, loose change, pieces of paper, and key's. I have to carry a "HUGE" purse because of all the medication that I take. I got diagnosed with Diabetes last November. The stuff in my purse that I didn't put there came from my children. I am sure that other people have a lot of stuff their children put in their purse. I am a very emotional person, so that is why I carry my Kleenex's, you never know when you might cry. My sugar machine is what I check my sugar with. My bobby pins is to pin my hair back at school.

30 Day Challenge, Day 26~A Proud Mommy Moment

This proud mommy moment was total shock to me. My son, Tyler, who is in the 7th grade, got a $22,000.00 scholarship. When Tyler was in kindergarten, the teacher's told me to hold him back and have him repeat his kindergarten year. As a parent, I did what the teacher's told me to do, after all, I thought they knew what they were talking about. The following school year, I had to put Tyler into a different school and the teacher there, asked me, why I held him back. I explained to her what the other teacher told me to do. She told me that, I shouldn't have held him back because Tyler is smart little boy. Tyler isn't always perfect and had his share of trouble at school. In his 6th grade year, he got inducted into The Beta Club and nomainated for a leadership conference. I was a proud mama then. Then in 2010-11 school year, Tyler got nomainated from his guidance counselor for a scholarship, just for 7th graders in North Carolina. At the awards ceremony, Tyler was given his award for that. So, if he graduates, he will receive a $22,000.00 scholarship. I was proud of Tyler. This little boy has came so far. Tyler lost his father, in June of 2007, to murder. This has been a struggle for Tyler, because he is missing a piece of him. I love you Tyler and proud to call you my son..

 Tyler's Award

Tyler, my son

30 Day Challenge, Day 25~A Letter To Someone

Dear Pill Head's,

I have to say at this very moment, I am a very upset woman. I have four beautiful children and I would not trade them for nothing. What really makes me angry is that I have a cousin, who got his girlfriend pregnant, and both are not suitable parent's. They both drink, snort pill's, take pill's, and smoke pot. When any NORMAL woman becomes pregnant, they usually kick the bad habit's. They give up smoking, occasional drinking, and any other bad habit, they have started over the year's. Why would any woman want to risk the health of their baby? Do they NOT care or just ignorant as hell? Are you stupid? 

I am going to tell you what frustrates me. A girl becomes pregnant and is happy as can be. At the very moment you find out your preggo, wouldn't you stop your bad habit's. Why would you wanna spend money on pill's to snort and take, to make you high? Why are you living off the system and selling your food stamp's to support habit? Why can't you get off your butt and go to work, to support your habit. Why do you need to bring an innocent baby girl into this world? There is thing's that your baby is gonna need, that food stamps can't buy. Who is supposed buy those thing's for the baby? This woman, has four children already and lost all four children. Why I don't know and don't care? She is given the chance to get, two of four children back, if she could pass random drug test. Does she care? No, the only thing she cares about, is where her next pill high is coming from. All through, your pregnancy you snorted Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, and Methadone. Each time you went to the doctor, they secretly drug tested you and for month's they knew that you were using drug's that you didn't have prescription's for, but you thought you had the system beat and guess what you, you didn't. Your daughter is born and she is not having withdrawals to the drug's that were in YOUR system, thank goodness. That means God was looking out for her. You wouldn't even go to the hospital until you got "pill high" and you tested positive for Methadone. We know you don't care about passing the drug test that Social Services make you take, because you have failed all of them. What blow's my mind is that you run to the Methadone clinic everyday to get your 30 mg of Methadone in liquid form, because you are addicted. Someone really need's to kick your butt and give you reality check. You wouldn't even tell your "OWN" daughter that you were pregnant because you didn't know how to, WHY, because you lost custody of her
There are couple's in this world that wanna have children and can't. Sorry, but the one's that have kid's sometimes, honestly don't need them, like YOU.. We are taught not to question to God, and I am not doing that, or at least I am trying not to. I just hope that something happens before it is to late for this innocent child and another innocent child life is lost.

30 Day Challenge, Day 24~Places I Like To Go For Vacation

 The Beach

The Mountain's

30 Day Challenge, Day 23~My Dream Home

30 Day Challenge, Day 22~My Favorite Athlete's

30 Day Challenge, Day 21~The Person You Would Trade Places for A Day

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Kate Middleton

The reason I would love to switch places with her is, because I wanna see what is like to be a "Royal" for a day and raise money for charities that I love and care for. I would love to have the admiration, that she has, to raise money for different charity's. I would love to tour the Buckingham Palace and live in that life for the day. I would not wanna be photographed all the time..

30 Day Challenge, Day 20~Someone That Inspires You

Princess Diana inspires me. I would love to have my life legacy to be around year's after I died. She touched so many peoples lives. I admire her for treating her children, like regular children. She was a beautiful woman inside and out. She was an amazing woman and there will never be one like her..

Candle In The Wind (Tribute To Princess Diana)

 

Goodbye England's rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself
Where lives were torn apart
You called out to our country
And you whispered to those in pain
Now you belong to heaven
And the stars spell out your name

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in
And your footsteps will always fall here
Along England's greenest hills
Your candles burned out long before
Your legend ever will

Loveliness we've lost
These empty days without your smile
This torch we'll always carry
For our nation's golden child
Even though we try
The truth brings us to tears
All our words cannot express
The joy you've brought us through the years

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in
And your footsteps will always fall here
Along England's greenest hills
Your candles burned out long before
Your legend ever will

Goodbye England's rose
May you ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed yourself
Where lives were torn apart

Goodbye England's rose
From the country lost
Without your soul who missed the wings of your compassion
More than you will ever know

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never fading with the sunset
When the rain set in
And your footsteps will always fall here
Along England's greenest hills
Your candles burned out long before
Your legend ever will

Your footsteps will always fall here
Along England's greenest hills

Your candle burned out long before your legend ever will

30 Day Challenge, Day 19~Books I Have Read

1. To Kill A Mockingbird
2. Good In Bed
3. Certain Girls
4. Goodnight Nobody
5. Little Earthquakes
6. In Her Shoes
7. The Guy Not Taken
8. Best Friends Forever
9. The Notebook
10. Message In The Bottle
11. Dear John
12. A Walk To Remeber
13. Three Weeks With My Brother
14. The Wedding
15. The Last Song
16. Cold Mountain
17. Songs of the Humpback Whate
18. Harvesting The Heart
19. Mercy
20. My Sister's Keeper
21. Picture Perfect
22. Perfect Match
23. Plain Truth
24. Salem Falls
25. Second Glance
26. Vanishing Acts
27. Tenth Circle
28. Heidi
29. Washington Acts
30. Nineteen Minutes
31. Change of Heart
32. Color Purple
33. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
34. The Great Gatsby
35. Macbeth
36. Scarlett Letter
37. The Grapes of Wrath
38. Huckleberry Finn
39. The Crucible
40. Julius Ceaser
41. The Odyessey
42. Uncle Tom's Cabin
43. Great Expections
44. Tale of Two Cities
45. Hamlet
46. Romeo and Juliett
47. The Sound and The Fury
48. Frankenstein
49. One Hundred Years of Solitude
50. Diary of Anne Frank

30 Day Challenge, Day 18~Favorite Food's

Carne Asada Tacos

Ingredients

• 3 pounds flank steak
• 1/3 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 limes, juiced
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
•  
• 1 white onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 lime, juiced
•  
• 2 large tomatoes, chopped
• 2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
• 1 white onion, quartered
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled
• 4 dried New Mexico chile pods
• 1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
•  
• 1 (32 ounce) package corn tortillas
• 2 cups grated cotija cheese (optional)
• 2 limes, cut into wedges

Directions

1. Lay the flank steak in a large glass baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar, soy sauce, 4 cloves of garlic, juice of two limes, and olive oil. Season with salt, black pepper, white pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, oregano, cumin and paprika. Whisk until well blended, then pour over the steak in the dish. Turn over once to coat both sides. Cover with plastic wrap, and marinate for 1 to 8 hours.
2. In a small bowl, stir together 1 chopped white onion, cilantro, and the juice of 1 lime. Set aside to use as a relish for the tacos.
3. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Toast chile pods in the skillet for a few minutes, then remove to a bowl of water to soak for about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
4. Place the tomatoes, 1 onion, jalapenos, and 4 cloves of garlic onto a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for about 20 minutes, until toasted but not burnt. Place the roasted vegetables, and soaked chile pods into a blender or food processor, along with salt and pepper. Puree until smooth.
5. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cut the marinated flank steak into cubes or strips. Cook, stirring constantly, until the meat is cooked through and most of the liquid has evaporated.
6. Warm the tortillas in a skillet for about a minute on each side to make them pliable. Tortillas may also be warmed in a microwave oven. Arrange two or three tortillas on a plate, and lay a generous amount of beef over them. Top with a sprinkle of the onion relish and a large spoonful of the pureed salsa. Add as much cheese as you like. Garnish with lime wedges, and serve.

30 Day Challenge, Day 17~Things you Are Scared Of

30 Day Challenge, Day 16~Favorite Cartoon Character

Ariel, The Little Mermaid

Eeyore, The Winnie the Pooh

30 Day Challenge, Day 15~What Your Name Means To You

A~adorable
M~magnificent
Y~young

E~elegant
S~silly
T~talkative
E~energetic
L~loud
L~lively

C~crazy
O~old-fashioned
L~late
E~entertaining
Y~yell's

N~nice
E~excited
S~successful
B~brave
U~upbeat
R~romantic
G~generous

30 Day Challenge, Day 14~Your Dream Wedding

 The dress

The bridesmaid dresses

The flower girl dress but will use a black slash

 The bouquet 

The wedding cake but not the right colors.

I want to have an outside wedding. My color's would be black, pink, and white. If I could not match those color's good, I would use the chocolate color.. 

Songs I Want For My Wedding

I Do by, Colbie Caillat

It's always been about me, myself, and I
I thought relationships were nothing but a waste of time
I never wanted to be anybody's other half
I was happy saying I had love that wouldn't last
That was the only way I knew 'til I met you

You make we wanna say
I do, I do, I do, do do do do do do do
Yeah, I do, I do, I do, do do do do do do do
Cause every time before it's been like
Maybe yes and maybe no
I can live without it, I can let it go
Ooh what did I get myself into?
You make we wanna say I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do

Tell me is it only me
Do you feel the same?
You know me well enough to know that I'm not playing games
I promise I won't turn around and I won't let you down
You can trust I've never felt it like I feel it now
Baby there's nothing, there's nothing we can't get through

So can we say
I do, I do, I do, do do do do do do do

Oh baby, I do, I do, I do, do do do do do do do
Cause every time before it's been like
Maybe yes and maybe no
I won't live without it, I won't let it go
What more can I get myself into?
You make we wanna say

Me, a family, a house, a family
Ooh, can we be a family?
And when I'm eighty years old I'm sitting next to you

And we'll remember when we said
I do, I do, I do, do do do do do do do
Oh baby, I do, I do, I do, do do do do do do do
Cause every time before it's been like
Maybe yes and maybe no
I won't live without it, I won't let us go
Just look at what we got ourselves into
You make we wanna say I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do,
Love you

Song 2~From This Moment On, by Shania Twain

(I do swear that I'll always be there.
I'd give anything and everything and I will always care.
Through weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow,
for better for worse, I will love you with
every beat of my heart.)
From this moment life has begun
From this moment you are the one
Right beside you is where I belong
From this moment on

From this moment I have been blessed
I live only for your happiness
And for your love I'd give my last breath
From this moment on

I give my hand to you with all my heart
Can't wait to live my life with you, can't wait to start
You and I will never be apart
My dreams came true because of you

From this moment as long as I live
I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment on

You're the reason I believe in love
And you're the answer to my prayers from up above
All we need is just the two of us
My dreams came true because of you

From this moment as long as I live
I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn't give
From this moment
I will love you as long as I live
From this moment on  

My First Dance Song

You Had Me From Hello, by Kenny Chesney

One word, that's all you said
Somethin' in your voice caused me to turn my head.
Your smile, just captured me
And you were in my future as far as I could see
And I don't know how it happened, but it happened still
You asked me if I love you, if I always will

Well you, had me from "Hello"
I felt love start to grow
The moment that I looked into your eyes, you owned me
It was over from the start
You completely stole my heart
And now you won't let go
I never even had a chance you know
You had me from "Hello"

Inside, I built the walls
So high around my heart, I thought I'd never fall
One touch, you brought it down
The bricks of my defenses scattered on the ground
And I swore to me I wasn't gonna love again
The last time was the last time, I let someone in

But you, had me from "Hello"
I felt love start to grow
The moment that I looked into your eyes, you owned me
It was over from the start
You completely stole my heart
And now you won't let go
I never even had the chance you know
You had me from "Hello"

That's all you said
Somethin' in your voice caused me to turn my head
You had me from "Hello"
You had me from "Hello"
Girl I've loved you from "Hello"

Father Daughter Dance

Through The Years, by Kenny Rogers

I cant remember when you werent there
When I didnt care for anyone but you
I swear weve been through everything there is
Cant imagine anything weve missed
Cant imagine anything the two of us cant do

Through the year, youve never let me down
You turned my life around, the sweetest days Ive found
Ive found with you ... through the years
Ive never been afraid, Ive loved the life weve made
And Im so glad Ive stayed, right here with you
Through the years

I cant remember what I used to do
Who I trusted whom, I listened to before
I swear youve taught me everything I know
Cant imagine needing someone so
But through the years it seems to me
I need you more and more

Through the years, through all the good and bad
I knew how much we had, Ive always been so glad
To be with you ... through the years
Its better everyday, youve kissed my tears away
As long as its okay, Ill stay with you
Through the years

Through the years, when everything went wrong
Together we were strong, I know that I belonged
Right here with you ... through the years
I never had a doubt, wed always work things out
Ive learned what loves about, by loving you
Through the years

Through the years, youve never let me down
Youve turned my life around, the sweetest days Ive found
Ive found with you ... through the years
Its better everyday, youve kissed my tears away
As long as its okay, Ill stay with you
Through the years

30 Day Challenge, Day 13~Something Weird That Happened To You

 JR and Whitney

 Jay, Melissa, Savannah Byrd

 Savannah Helie Byrd

 JR holding Whitney

As a little girl, I had a best friend named Melissa Baldwin. We were inseparable from middle to high school. We dressed a like, done each others hair, and lived at each others house. Melissa married her high school sweetheart, Jay Byrd in August of 1994. I got engaged in April to 1995, to William Charles Lounsbury, junior (aka JR). I graduated high school in May of 1995 and in August of 1995, I was married. Our marriage only lasted for about four months (living together) but longer because of marriage laws in North Carolina. Melissa found out in early December that she was pregnant and her baby was due in July of 1996. My baby was due in August of 1996. I found out I was pregnant on January 2, 1996 and boy I was in shock. One, I was heartbroken because my marriage fell apart and her I was gonna be a single mom, to a beautiful baby. Melissa and I went to the movies and watched Father of The Bride 2, together. This movie is about where the mother and daughter, go into labor at the same time. Melissa and I joked about us going to labor at the same time. On July 26, 1996, Melissa labor was induced and I had an ob-gyn appointment that morning at 9 am. I called and old Melissa that after I went to the doctor, I would stop by and see her. I had two weeks before my baby was due. After, my ob-gyn appointment, I went to the hospital to see Melissa. Melissa was miserable. The doctor just arrived, about 5 minutes after I got there. The doctor finally decided to break Melissa's water. I left the hospital around 10 am to head home. When I got home I put me a Mr. P's pizza in the oven and started cleaning. My mom had called me and asked if I would bring her my vacuum cleaner, through the woods and I did. I went back home and told mom to call when she was finished with the vacuum and she said okay. I was cleaning and about 15 minutes later, mom called and said come get the vacuum. I went through the woods, got the vacuum cleaner, carried it back through the woods, and was walking up the back door steps. As, I was walking up the back door steps, I felt like I had peed on myself. So, I called mom and told her I thought my water had broke. She told me to call the doctor and I did. The doctor's office told me to go the hospital, because there was strip they could use and tell if my water had broke. Well, I didn't get to eat my pizza, called Melissa told her what was going on, grab my bag's for the hospital, and got in the car. I was nervous and scared because my baby wasn't due for another 2 weeks. On the way to the hospital, my dad kept asking, "Amy, you sure that you didn't pee on yourself?" I told dad, I don't know. Well, when I got to the hospital, the put me in a wheelchair and wheeled me to the maternity ward. I was placed in a room and a strip test was done and sure enough my water had broke. My dad was nervous and excited, because this was the first grand baby. I wasn't allowed to walk because my water had broke and I was placed in my room, on the opposite end of the hall than Melissa. I explained to my nurse what was going on, with Melissa and me. The nurses thought it was so cute. So, the race was on to see which one of us would deliver first. Melissa had to have a c-section and Savannah Helie Byrd, was born at 8pm. I dilated to a complete 10 centimeters at 8 pm. I started pushing and finally at 12 am, my bundle of joy was here, Whitney Erin Lounsbury. I was a proud mama. The next day, I walked down the hall, because Melissa couldn't because of her c-section to show off Whitney to Melissa and so I could see Savannah. When I walked in to the room to see Melissa, we both busted out laughing, because we went and seen Father of The Bride 2, together and we were in labor together. So, we said they should come out with a movie called The Best Friends In Labor Together..

30 Day Challenge, Day 12~Dieases That Have Affected My Life

Diabetes-Type 2

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Diabetes is caused by a problem in the way your body makes or uses insulin. Insulin is needed to move blood sugar (glucose) into cells, where it is stored and later used for energy.
When you have type 2 diabetes, the body does not respond correctly to insulin. This is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means that fat, liver, and muscle cells do not respond normally to insulin. As a result blood sugar does not get into cells to be stored for energy.
When sugar cannot enter cells, abnormally high levels of sugar build up in the blood. This is called hyperglycemia. High levels of blood sugar often trigger the pancreas to produce more and more insulin, but it is not enough to keep up with the body's demand.
People who are overweight are more likely to have insulin resistance, because fat interferes with the body's ability to use insulin.
Type 2 diabetes usually occurs gradually. Most people with the disease are overweight at the time of diagnosis. However, type 2 diabetes can also develop in those who are thin, especially the elderly.
Family history and genetics play a large role in type 2 diabetes. Low activity level, poor diet, and excess body weight (especially around the waist) significantly increase your risk for type 2 diabetes.
Other risk factors include:

• Age greater than 45 years
• HDL cholesterol of less than 35 mg/dL or triglyceride level of greater than 250 mg/dL
• High blood pressure
• History of gestational diabetes
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Previously identified impaired glucose tolerance by your doctor
• Race/ethnicity (African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans all have high rates of diabetes)

Symptoms

Often, people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms at all. If you do have symptoms, they may include:

• Blurred vision
• Erectile dysfunction
• Fatigue
• Frequent or slow-healing infections
• Increased appetite
• Increased thirst
• Increased urination

Signs and tests

Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed with the following blood tests:

• Fasting blood glucose level -- diabetes is diagnosed if higher than 126 mg/dL on two occasions.
• Hemoglobin A1c test -- this test has been used in the past to help patients monitor how well they are controlling their blood glucose levels. In 2010, the American Diabetes Association recommended that the test be used as another option for diagnosing diabetes and identifying pre-diabetes. Levels indicate:
  
  • Normal: Less than 5.7%
  • Pre-diabetes: Between 5.7% - 6.4%
  • Diabetes: 6.5% or higher
• Oral glucose tolerance test -- diabetes is diagnosed if glucose level is higher than 200 mg/dL after 2 hours.
• Random (non-fasting) blood glucose level -- diabetes is suspected if higher than 200 mg/dL and accompanied by the classic symptoms of increased thirst, urination, and fatigue (this test must be confirmed with a fasting blood glucose test).

You should see your health care provider every 3 months. At these visits, you can expect your health care provider to:

• Check your blood pressure
• Check the skin and bones on your feet and legs
• Check the sensation in your feet
• Examine the back part of the eye with a special lighted instrument called an ophthalmoscope

The following tests will help you and your doctor monitor your diabetes and prevent complications:

• Have your blood pressure checked at least every year (blood pressure goals should be 130/80 mm/Hg or lower).
• Have your glycosulated hemoglobin (HbA1c) checked every 6 months if your diabetes is well controlled; otherwise every 3 months.
• Have your cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked yearly (aim for LDL levels below 70-100 mg/dL).
• Get yearly tests to make sure your kidneys are working well (microalbuminuria and serum creatinine).
• Visit your ophthalmologist at least once a year, or more often if you have signs of diabetic retinopathy.
• See the dentist every 6 months for a thorough dental cleaning and exam. Make sure your dentist and hygienist know that you have diabetes.

Treatment

The immediate goal of treatment is to lower high blood glucose levels. The long-term goals of treatment are to prevent diabetes-related complications.
The primary treatment for type 2 diabetes is exercise and diet.
LEARN THESE SKILLS
You should learn basic diabetes management skills. They will help prevent complications and the need for medical care. These skills include:

• How to test and record your blood glucose (See: Blood glucose monitoring)
• What to eat and when
• How to take medications, if needed
• How to recognize and treat low and high blood sugar
• How to handle sick days
• Where to buy diabetes supplies and how to store them

It may take several months to learn the basic skills. Always continue to educate yourself about the disease and its complications. Learn how to control and live with diabetes. Over time, stay current on new research and treatments.
SELF-TESTING
Self testing refers to being able to check your blood sugar at home yourself. It is also called self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). Regular self-testing of your blood sugar tells you and your health care provider how well your diet, exercise, and diabetes medications are working.
A device called a glucometer can provide an exact blood sugar reading. There are different types of devices. Usually, you prick your finger with a small needle called a lancet. This gives you a tiny drop of blood. You place the blood on a test strip and put the strip into the device. Results are available in 30 - 45 seconds.
A health care provider or diabetes educator will help set up an at-home testing schedule for you. Your doctor will help you set your blood sugar goals.

• Most people with type 2 diabetes only need to check their blood sugar once or twice a day.
• If your blood sugar levels are under control, you may only need to check them a few times a week.
• Tests may be done when you wake up, before meals, and at bedtime.
• More frequent testing may be needed when you are sick or under stress.

The results of the test can be used to adjust meals, activity, or medications to keep your blood sugar levels in an appropriate range. Testing can identify high and low blood sugar levels before serious problems develop.
Keeping a record for yourself and your health care provider. This will be a big help if you are having trouble managing your diabetes.
DIET AND WEIGHT CONTROL
People with type 2 diabetes should eat at about the same times each day and try to be consistent with the types of food they choose. This helps to prevent blood sugar from becoming extremely high or low. Meal planning includes choosing healthy foods, eating the right amount of food, and eating meals at the right time. You should work closely with your doctor, nurse, and registered dietitian to learn how much fat, protein, and carbohydrates you need in your diet. Your meal plans should fit your daily lifestyle and habits, and should try to include foods that you like.
Managing your weight and eating a well-balanced diet are important. Some people with type 2 diabetes can stop taking medications after losing weight (although they still have diabetes).
See: Diabetes diet
Bariatric (weight loss) surgery may be considered for very overweight patients who are not well managed with diet and medications.
See:

• Gastric bypass surgery
• Laparoscopic gastric banding

REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Regular exercise is important for everyone, but especially if you have diabetes. Regular aerobic exercise lowers your blood sugar level without medication and helps burn excess calories and fat so you can manage your weight.
Exercise can help your overall health by improving blood flow and blood pressure. It decreases insulin resistance even without weight loss. Exercise also increases the body's energy level, lowers tension, and improves your ability to handle stress.
Consider the following when starting an exercise routine:

• Always check with your health care provider before starting an exercise program.
• Ask your health care provider whether you have the right footwear.
• Choose an enjoyable physical activity that is appropriate for your current fitness level.
• Exercise every day, and at the same time of day, if possible.
• Monitor blood glucose levels at home before and after exercise.
• Carry food that contains a fast-acting carbohydrate in case blood glucose levels get too low during or after exercise.
• Wear a diabetes identification bracelet and carry a cell phone in case of emergency.
• Drink extra fluids that do not contain sugar before, during, and after exercise.
• You may need to modify your diet or medication if you exercise longer or more intensely, to keep blood glucose levels in the correct range.

MEDICATIONS TO TREAT DIABETES
If diet and exercise do not help maintain normal or near-normal blood glucose levels, your doctor may prescribe medication. Since these drugs help lower your blood sugar levels in different ways, your doctor may have you take more than one. These drugs may also be given along with insulin, if needed.
Some of the most common types of medication are listed below. They are taken by mouth or injection.

• Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (such as acarbose) decrease the absorption of carbohydrates from the digestive tract to lower after-meal glucose levels.
• Biguanides (Metformin) tell the liver to produce less glucose and help muscle and fat cells and the liver absorb more glucose from the bloodstream. This lowers blood sugar levels.
• Injectable medications (including exenatide, mitiglinide, pramlintide, sitagliptin, and saxagliptin) can lower blood sugar.
• Meglitinides (including repaglinide and nateglinide) trigger the pancreas to make more insulin in response to the level of glucose in the blood.
• Sulfonylureas (like glimepiride, glyburide, and tolazamide) trigger the pancreas to make more insulin. They are taken by mouth.
• Thiazolidinediones (such as rosiglitazone and pioglitazone) help muscle and fat cells and the liver absorb more blood sugar when insulin is present. Rosiglitazone may increase the risk of heart problems. Talk to your doctor.

If you continue to have poor blood glucose control despite lifestyle changes and taking medicines by mouth, your doctor will prescribe insulin. Insulin may also be prescribed if you have had a bad reaction to other medicines. Insulin must be injected under the skin using a syringe or insulin pen device. It cannot be taken by mouth.
Insulin preparations differ in how fast they start to work and how long they work. Your healthcare provider will determine the appropriate type of insulin to use and will tell you what time of day to use it.
More than one type may be mixed together in an injection to achieve the best blood glucose control. Usually injections are needed one to four times a day. Your doctor or diabetes educator will show you how to give yourself an injection.
Some people with type 2 diabetes find they no longer need medication if they lose weight and increase activity. When they reach their ideal weight, their own insulin and a careful diet can control their blood glucose levels.
It is not known whether hypoglycemia medications taken by mouth are safe for use in pregnancy. Women who have type 2 diabetes and take these medications may be switched to insulin during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
MEDICATIONS TO PREVENT COMPLICATIONS
Since those with diabetes have a much higher chance of developing heart disease, kidney disease, and other medical problems, they may need to take certain medicines to treat these problems or prevent them from happening.
An ACE inhibitor (or ARB) is often recommended:

• As the first choice medicine for treating high blood pressure in persons with diabetes
• For those who have signs of early kidney disease

ACE inhibitors include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), quinapril (Accupril), benazepril (Lotensin), ramipril (Altace), perindopril (Aceon), and lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril).
Statin drugs are usually the first choice to treat an abnormal cholesterol level. Aim for LDL cholesterol level less than 100 mg/dL (less than 70 mg/dL in high-risk patients).
Aspirin to prevent heart disease is most often recommended for persons with diabetes who:

• Are 40 or older
• Have a history of heart problems
• Have a family history of heart disease
• Have high blood pressure or high cholesterol
• Smoke

FOOT CARE
People with diabetes are more likely to have foot problems. Diabetes can damage nerves, which means you may not feel an injury to the foot until a large sore or infection develops. Diabetes can also damage blood vessels.
In addition, diabetes affects the body's immune system. This decreases the body's ability to fight infection. Small infections can quickly get worse and cause the death of skin and other tissues. Amputation may be needed.
To prevent injury to the feet, check and care for your feet every day.
See also: Diabetes foot care

Support Groups

For additional information, see diabetes resources.

Expectations (prognosis)

The risk of long-term complications from diabetes can be reduced. If you control your blood glucose and blood pressure, you can reduce your risk of death, stroke, heart failure, and other complications. Reduction of HbA1c by even 1% can decrease your risk for complications by 25%.

Complications

After many years, diabetes can lead to serious problems with your eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, blood vessels, and other areas in your body.
If you have diabetes, your risk of a heart attack is the same as someone who has already had a heart attack. Both women and men with diabetes are at risk. You may not even have the typical signs of a heart attack.
In general, complications include:

• Cataracts
• Damage to blood vessels that supply the legs and feet (peripheral vascular disease)
• Diabetic retinopathy (eye disease)
• Foot sores or ulcers, which can result in amputation
• Glaucoma
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Kidney disease and kidney failure (diabetic nephropathy)
• Macular edema
• Nerve damage, which causes pain and numbness in the feet, as well as a number of other problems with the stomach and intestines, heart, and other body organs (See: Diabetic neuropathy)
• Stroke
• Worsening of eyesight or even blindness

Other complications include:

• Erection problems
• Infections of the skin, female genital tract, and urinary tract

Calling your health care provider

Call 911 immediately if you have:

• Chest pain or pressure
• Fainting or unconsciousness
• Seizure
• Shortness of breath

These symptoms can quickly get worse and become emergency conditions (such as convulsions or hypoglycemic coma).
Call your doctor also if you have:

• Numbness, tingling, pain in your feet or legs
• Problems with your eyesight
• Sores or infections on your feet
• Symptoms of high blood sugar (being very thirsty, having blurry vision, having dry skin, feeling weak or tired, needing to urinate a lot)
• Symptoms of low blood sugar (weak or tired, trembling, sweating, feeling irritable, unclear thinking, fast heartbeat, double or blurry vision, feeling uneasy)

Prevention

Diabetes screening is recommended for:

• Overweight children who have other risk factors for diabetes, starting at age 10 and repeating every 2 years
• Overweight adults (BMI greater than 25) who have other risk factors
• Adults over 45 every 3 years

You can help prevent type 2 diabetes by keeping a healthy body weight and an active lifestyle.
To prevent complications of diabetes, visit your health care provider or diabetes educator at least four times a year. Talk about any problems you are having.
Stay up-to-date with all your vaccinations and get a flu shot every year.
To prevent diabetes-related foot problems, you should:

• Check and care for your feet EVERY DAY, especially if you already have known nerve or blood vessel damage or current foot problems.
• Get a foot exam by your health care provider at least twice a year and learn whether you have nerve damage.
• Improve control of your blood sugar.
• Make sure you are wearing the right kind of shoes.
• Stop smoking if you smoke.
  
  
  
  Cervical Cancer
  
  

  Causes, incidence, and risk factors

  Worldwide, cervical cancer is the third most common type of cancer in women. It is much less common in the United States because of the routine use of Pap smears.
  Cervical cancers start in the cells on the surface of the cervix. There are two types of cells on the cervix's surface: squamous and columnar. Most cervical cancers are from squamous cells.
  Cervical cancer usually develops very slowly. It starts as a precancerous condition called dysplasia. This precancerous condition can be detected by a Pap smear and is 100% treatable. That is why it is so important for women to get regular Pap smears. Most women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer today have not had regular Pap smears or they have not followed up on abnormal Pap smear results.
  Undetected precancerous changes can develop into cervical cancer and spread to the bladder, intestines, lungs, and liver. It can take years for precancerous changes to turn into cervical cancer. Patients with cervical cancer do not usually have problems until the cancer is advanced and has spread.
  Almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV (human papilloma virus). HPV is a common virus that is spread through sexual intercourse. There are many different types of HPV. Some strains lead to cervical cancer. (Other strains may cause genital warts, while others do not cause any problems at all.)
  Risk factors for cervical cancer include:
  

  • Having sex at an early age
  • Multiple sexual partners
  • Poor economic status (may not be able to afford regular Pap smears)
  • Sexual partners who have multiple partners or who participate in high-risk sexual activities
  • Women whose mothers took the drug DES (diethylstilbestrol) during pregnancy in the early 1960s to prevent miscarriage
  • Weakened immune system

  Symptoms

  Most of the time, early cervical cancer has no symptoms. Symptoms that may occur can include:
  

  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods, after intercourse, or after menopause
  • Any bleeding after menopause
  • Continuous vaginal discharge, which may be pale, watery, pink, brown, bloody, or foul-smelling
  • Periods become heavier and last longer than usual

  Symptoms of advanced cervical cancer may include:
  

  • Back pain
  • Bone fractures
  • Fatigue
  • Heavy bleeding from the vagina
  • Leaking of urine or feces from the vagina
  • Leg pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Pelvic pain
  • Single swollen leg
  • Weight loss

  Signs and tests

  Precancerous changes of the cervix and cervical cancer cannot be seen with the naked eye. Special tests and tools are needed to spot such conditions.
  

  • Pap smears screen for precancers and cancer, but do not make a final diagnosis.
  • If abnormal changes are found, the cervix is usually examined under magnification. This is called colposcopy. Pieces of tissue are surgically removed (biopsied) during this procedure and sent to a laboratory for examination.

  Other tests may include:
  

  • Endocervical curettage (ECC) to examine the opening of the cervix
  • Cone biopsy

  If the woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer, the health care provider will order more tests to determine how far the cancer has spread. This is called staging. Tests may include:
  

  • Chest x-ray
  • CT scan
  • Cystoscopy
  • Intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
  • MRI

  Treatment

  Treatment of cervical cancer depends on:
  

  • The stage of the cancer
  • The size and shape of the tumor
  • The woman's age and general health
  • Her desire to have children in the future

  Early cervical cancer can be cured by removing or destroying the precancerous or cancerous tissue. There are various surgical ways to do this without removing the uterus or damaging the cervix, so that a woman can still have children in the future.
  Types of surgery for early cervical cancer include:
  

  • Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) -- uses electricity to remove abnormal tissue
  • Cryotherapy -- freezes abnormal cells
  • Laser therapy -- uses light to burn abnormal tissue

  A hysterectomy (removal of the uterus but not the ovaries) is not often performed for cervical cancer that has not spread. It may be done in women who have repeated LEEP procedures.
  Treatment for more advanced cervical cancer may include:
  

  • Radical hysterectomy, which removes the uterus and much of the surrounding tissues, including lymph nodes and the upper part of the vagina.
  • Pelvic exenteration, an extreme type of surgery in which all of the organs of the pelvis, including the bladder and rectum, are removed.

  Radiation may be used to treat cancer that has spread beyond the pelvis, or cancer that has returned. Radiation therapy is either external or internal.
  

  • Internal radiation therapy uses a device filled with radioactive material, which is placed inside the woman's vagina next to the cervical cancer. The device is removed when she goes home.
  • External radiation therapy beams radiation from a large machine onto the body where the cancer is located. It is similar to an x-ray.

  Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer. Some of the drugs used for cervical cancer chemotherapy include 5-FU, cisplatin, carboplatin, ifosfamide, paclitaxel, and cyclophosphamide. Sometimes radiation and chemotherapy are used before or after surgery.

  Support Groups

  National Cervical Cancer Coalition - http://www.nccc-online.org/

  Expectations (prognosis)

  Many factors influence the outcome of cervical cancer. These include:
  

  • The type of cancer
  • The stage of the disease
  • The woman's age and general physical condition

  Pre-cancerous conditions are completely curable when followed up and treated properly. The chance of being alive in 5 years (5-year survival rate) for cancer that has spread to the inside of the cervix walls but not outside the cervix area is 92%.
  The 5-year survival rate falls steadily as the cancer spreads into other areas.

  Complications

  • Some types of cervical cancer do not respond well to treatment.
  • The cancer may come back (recur) after treatment.
  • Women who have treatment to save the uterus have a high risk of the cancer coming back (recurrence). 
  • Surgery and radiation can cause problems with sexual, bowel, and bladder function.

  Calling your health care provider

  Call your health care provider if you:
  

  • Are a sexually active woman who has not had a Pap smear in the past year
  • Are at least 20 years old and have never had a pelvic examination and Pap smear
  • Think your mother may have taken DES when she was pregnant with you
  • Have not had regular Pap smears (ask your health care provider how often you should have one performed)

  Prevention

  A vaccine to prevent cervical cancer is now available. In June 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine called Gardasil, which prevents infection against the two types of HPV responsible for most cervical cancer cases.
  Studies have shown that the vaccine appears to prevent early-stage cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. Gardasil is the first approved vaccine targeted specifically to prevent any type of cancer.
  Practicing safe sex (using condoms) also reduces your risk of HPV and other sexually transmitted diseases. HPV infection causes genital warts. These may be barely visible or several inches wide. If a woman sees warts on her partner's genitals, she should avoid intercourse with that person.
  To further reduce the risk of cervical cancer, women should limit their number of sexual partners and avoid partners who participate in high-risk sexual activities.
  Getting regular Pap smears can help detect precancerous changes, which can be treated before they turn into cervical cancer. Pap smears effectively spot such changes, but they must be done regularly. Annual pelvic examinations, including a pap smear, should start when a woman becomes sexually active, or by the age of 20 in a nonsexually active woman.
  See also: Physical exam frequency
  If you smoke, quit. Cigarette smoking is associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer

 Diabetic Neuropathy

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

People with diabetes commonly develop temporary or permanent damage to nerve tissue. Nerve injuries are caused by decreased blood flow and high blood sugar levels, and are more likely to develop if blood sugar levels are not well controlled.
Some people with diabetes will not develop nerve damage, while others may develop this condition early. On average, symptoms begin 10 to 20 years after the diabetes diagnosis. Approximately 50% of people with diabetes will eventually develop nerve damage.
Peripheral nerve injuries may affect nerves in the skull (cranial nerves) or nerves from the spinal column and their branches. This type of nerve injury (neuropathy) tends to develop in stages.
Autonomic neuropathies affect the nerves that regulate vital functions, including the heart muscle and smooth muscles.

Symptoms

Digestive tract:

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Swallowing difficulty

Legs and arms:

• Deep pain, most commonly in the feet and legs
• Loss of the sense of warm or cold
• Muscle cramps
• Numbness (if the nerves are severely damaged, you may be unaware that a blister or minor wound has become infected)
• Tingling or burning sensation in the extremities, particularly the feet
• Weakness

Other symptoms:

• Dizziness
• Drooping eyelid
• Drooping face
• Drooping mouth
• Impotence
• Light-headedness when standing up (orthostatic hypotension)
• Loss of bladder control
• Rapid heart rate
• Speech impairment
• Vision changes

Note: Symptoms vary depending on the nerves affected, and may include symptoms other than those listed. Symptoms usually develop gradually over years.

Signs and tests

Physical examination, including nervous system (neurological) and sensory tests, may diagnose neuropathies. A common early finding is the absence of ankle reflexes.
Health care providers often test for loss of sensation in the feet with a brush-like instrument called a monofilament.
Electrodiagnostic testing may be done.

Treatment

The goals of treating diabetic neuropathy are to prevent the disease from getting worse and to reduce the symptoms of the disease.
Tight control of blood sugar (glucose) is important to prevent symptoms and problems from getting worse.
Medications may be used to reduce the symptoms in the feet, legs, and arms. These medications include:

• Antidepressant drugs, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), doxepin (Sinequan), or duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• Antiseizure medications, such as gabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica), carbamazepine (Tegretol), and valproate (Depakote)
• Drugs that block bladder contractions may be used to help with urinary control problems.
• Erythromycin, domperidone (Motilium), or metoclopramide (Reglan) may help with nausea and vomiting.
• Pain medications (analgesics) may work for some patients on a short-term basis, but in most cases they do not provide much benefit.
• Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) drugs, such as sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), and tadalafil (Cialis) are safe and effective for treating impotence in patients with diabetes.
• Capsaicin can be used topically to reduce pain.

Regular foot exams are important to identify small infections and prevent foot injuries from getting worse. If foot injuries go unnoticed for too long, amputation may be required.

Expectations (prognosis)

Treatment relieves pain and can control some symptoms, but the disease generally continues to get worse.

Complications

• Injury to the feet due to loss of feeling
• Muscle breakdown and imbalance
• Poor blood sugar control due to nausea and vomiting
• Skin and soft tissue breakdown (ulceration) that may require amputation

In addition, neuropathy may mask angina, the warning chest pain for heart disease and heart attack.

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

Prevention

Tight control of blood sugar levels may prevent neuropathy in many people with type 1 diabetes, and may reduce the severity of symptoms.
In addition, regular foot care can prevent a small infection from getting worse. This is why no appointment for diabetes care is complete without a thorough foot examination.