Angel's Dog Story

Name: Angel
Breed: Doberman
Sex: Spayed female
Age: 8 1/2 years

During the last week of June, owners of a dog named Angel had noticed that their dog seemed very lethargic and depressed. Prior to this behavior, they did observe her reluctance to eat the usual dog food. At the time, she was eating Merrick brand kibble with additional cooked meat added.

On June 28, 2007 the owners took the dog to a vet for a basic checkup to see if the doctors could shed any light on the Angel's condition. They did the customary checks along with blood work. According to her blood levels, she was diagnosed with kidney disease. Her thyroid was also higher than normal. At that time, the owners were advised that their dog needed to intake approximately 8 cups of liquids per day. In addition, she needed to be on a low protein diet. The owners were told that kidney disease was not detectable until there was at least 75% damage were done to the kidneys. The really bad news was that, no matter what the owners did, her diagnosis was basically a death sentence, which could predict Angel to live anywhere from a few weeks to 6 months.

For the next few days, the owners made sure that their dog did intake the proper amount of fluids. This included encouraging their dog to drink more along with adding water and broths to her food. The dog did not appear to be gaining any ground.

On July 3, the owners visited the vet again as they were not seeing any progress. They agreed to begin treating their dog's treatment more aggressively. This entailed giving her sub-Q fluids. After 2 days of trying this method, the owners still were not seeing any noticeable improvement.

The dog was taken back to the vet July 5. At that time, the vet recommended to flush the dog's kidneys intravenously. They kept her for two days of constant flushing. After another blood test, her levels had decreased a small amount. However, not nearly enough to justify the constant IV.

At this time, the owners were obviously discouraged and not happy with the diagnosis nor the treatment.

These events were what let the owners to seek help from me. Following my recommendations, the owners were detoxing Angel's system while adding acidophilus and a digestive enzyme to the dogs food. The owners utilized a diet of mainly meats with high quality proteins along with brown rice for bulk. Also, as a vitamin/mineral supplement - owners gave the dog a product called Sea Meal which is similar to a multi-vitamin.

Only July 14, the owner returned to the vet for another blood test. They wanted to see how her levels were moving. The owners were pleased to see that they are slowly returning to normal. At that time, the levels were a little above the high end of the normal numbers. Close enough to take much of the worry out of the situation.

The result to date have been nothing short of miraculous. The first sings of chance within 12 hours of the dog starting to holistic treatments. Within 48 hours, observed a drastic difference in her attitude and overall appearance. The dog has continued to improve ever since.

Some of the improvements were observed are definite increase in the dogs energy level. Her eyes are bright and clear again - rather than drab and dull. Her coat is becoming amazingly shiny and soft. Her body it self has altered. Where her tissues were once very hard- she has now lost close to 10 pounds and feels "normal". Although cannot say for sure, we do believe that she had toxins backed up into her tissues that had crystallized. As the detox was working, it apparently dissolved these toxins and removed them from her body. She is now behaving more like she did several years ago... very happy and puppy like.

Raise Your Child to Be a Leader Not a Follower

Your child's leadership skills begin at the family dinner table. In this day of working moms and fast food eating, sitting down together for dinner is sometimes neglected. However, it is often the foundation of family life and should become a treasured tradition.

The dining table functions like a corporate meeting, it is where the parents set the family agenda and model both the attitudes and traditional modes of behavior and decorum. They set the example of pleasing conversation, showing an interest in what the family is doing and experiencing, and see that everyone knows proper table manners.

When you child is very young, still in a high chair, meals may be quite chaotic. Messes are made, food may be thrown, and you may wonder if you will ever get through it.

So, the challenge is: keep your cool and your voice down. Many of us react to our child's gross behavior by shouting at them, and if I ever meet a parent who has never shouted at his child, I will submit his name to the Vatican for canonization! However, we need to set a goal for ourselves to keep control of our reactions. After all we are modeling leadership and if we are shouting and adding to the chaos we will find that this is what our kids are learning from us.

Consistent, firm correction works very well. Save the yelling for a dangerous situation which warrants the emotion. Never forget the fact that you, the parent are the leader of your family, the decision maker, and that your kids don't run the show.

Goals at the table change as your children age. The one goal that should apply throughout their lifetime is that the table is a place for tranquility, relaxation, but also a place for lively conversation. As this is the family gathering place, it can be used as a forum for discussion, the imparting of family values, the building of character, and the learning of ordinary day to day behaviors.

What can you do to set the tone for a gracious meal?

1. Have everyone wash his hands (and face too if needed) before coming to the table.

2. Instruct everyone to wait until every family member is present and then sit down together at the same time. You may want to have them stand behind their chairs till all are assembled.

3. Require proper dress at the table. No bare chests, underwear, or hats. Dressing in an appropriate manner is a sign of respect and is one of the building blocks of teaching your child to be respectful.

4. Begin to teach manners at a very early age. Please, thank you, and excuse me can be firmly in your child's vocabulary by the age of three.

5. Little by little your child will be learning the table etiquette which you model. He probably won't be able to handle his utensils very gracefully until around age 7 or 8, but you can suggest and quietly demonstrate what to do, and not get upset if he can't do it properly. His motor skills may not be developed to the level of your expectations, so just know that time and maturation will cure the problem.

6. Have a definite plan for teaching table manners, but keep it low key. There is nothing more disruptive to a happy meal than a parent fussing at a kid for every little thing they are doing incorrectly. To prevent this, decide that you will model a certain proper eating technique on a certain day of the week, or every other week. You might want to call this "MANNERS NIGHT" and everyone will know that they are going to have specific training on "manners night".

7. There is a very subtle way to correct an unacceptable behavior without having to actually confront and embarrass the wrong doer. This technique will work if you have more than two people at the table. Let's say that Jenny is sitting there running her hands through her hair and twisting it. If you have already taught Jenny to keep her hands in her lap when she is not using a utensil , all you need to do is ask someone else at the table, "Dad, would you please review for us what we do with our hands when we are not eating?" If Dad indicates that we keep our hands in our lap, Jenny's hand will probably be seen descending to her lap. If she doesn't hear Dad because she is daydreaming, a gentle but direct approach may be necessary. Again, we are modeling respect for the feeling of others. This indirect method of correction is very effective when several people are present and know the "rules".

8. Foster interesting conversation. Suggest that the children think of things and make a list of things they would like to talk about when you meet together at the table. If the family is sharing the fun of reading a book together you might even want to read aloud at the end of the meal for the length of a chapter. We tried this with James Hariots's "All Creature Great and Small", and the family not only enjoyed the book, but found much to think and talk about. Make the table a fun and interesting place to be.

10 Frugal Food Organization Tips - Part 1

This is my first set of tips in my series on food organization. These tips are things I have learned over the last 30 years of homemaking.

1-Take a few days to make up a master grocery list. As you think of things you buy, write them down. When you can't think of anything else, you can organize it any way you want (food categories, alphabetically). You can make copies of this and put one on the fridge. Just put a check mark by something when you find you need to buy it. You can take the list with you when grocery shopping and replace with a fresh one.

2-Make another list. This is your Master Meal List. You can do one for each meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner) if you want but I just do one for dinners. Try to get a month's worth of dinners down. I put these in seperate categories: beef, chicken, pasta, vegetarian, etc. This may take you a day or two to come up with too.

3-I go every other week to do my main grocery shopping. I look at my meal list and pick 2 week's worth of dinners and check off the ingredients I will need off my grocery list.

4-The alternate weeks, I'll go pick up just the few perishables or things we have run out of. Also if any new great sales come up that week, I'll pick up those items. Takes just a few minutes.

5-I check my grocery store circulars when making my lists and develop meal plans according to what is on sale. You can also look online to check your local circulars if you do not get the newspaper. Just do a google search.

6-It goes without saying to use coupons. I have saved as much as $70 on a $300 bill (that was for 2 households-mine & my parents for 2 weeks) with coupons. I will often use a coupon to try a different brand of something I use to see if I like it. It's great when you have a coupon for something already on sale. You can sometimes get things for free this way.

7-I always stock up on meat & freeze it when it's on sale. I'll do that with everything as long as it won't go to waste (perishables that can not be frozen).

8-Some people have set nights for set meals such as Monday-pasta night, Tuesday-beef roast night, etc. I do that for several days a week but the rest of the week is pretty flexible. I have a list I made when making my grocery list of the dinners we will have for the next 2 weeks. I just mark it off when I cook one. That way, there's no wondering what to have for dinner. My choices are on my list on the fridge.

9-This is probably common knowledge but don't go grocery shopping when hungry. I guarantee you will buy more impulse items if you do.

10-Also try not to take the kids with you. If you have no choice, give them jobs to do. Even toddlers can put things in the cart for you. Older kids can go fetch items for you. I'm one of those moms who would buy her kids a small toy or candy at the checkout. BUT it was understood, they only got it if they did their job well and did not beg me for everything through out the store. If they saw a special cereal or something they wanted while shopping, well then that was their prize instead of the toy or candy.

A Mickey Mouse Waffle Iron Could Be the Thing to Brighten Up Your Day

The Mickey Mouse waffle iron is something that many people have found lifts their spirits and makes them smile. With so many people that don't enjoy breakfasts, this may be the perfect thing to start your day off fantastically!

The smiling face of Mickey Mouse has become an icon that all generations find to be amusing and brightening. With hundreds of different novelty items with Mickey Mouse incorporated that people love, having a waffle iron which gives you that happy, smiley face on each waffle can only be a great thing! Not many people wake up in the morning and have their breakfast give them a huge beam, and lots find that this really tickles their funny bone and puts them in a good mood before they go to work, school or begin their daily activities.

Not only is the fact that Mickey Mouse is on these waffles a great thing to put a smile on your face, but the fact that they taste delicious and are of a perfect consistency means that you are sure to be delighted with how great they are as a breakfast, snack or dessert to a delicious meal. With a huge range of toppings that you can add to your waffles, you can select your favourite and make this fun experience even better; whether it's chocolate sauce, fruit or syrups that you really have a fancy for, you can have the utmost enjoyment from your waffles.

One of the best things about the Mickey waffle iron is the fact that you will love creating a batch for any guests. By offering them some delicious Belgian waffles and then surprising them with their favourite character's smiling face looking back at them from their plate is sure to amaze them and enjoy their tasty meal even more than they would have anyway! These delightful waffles are also great for making for your kids since they will find the shape of these waffles entertaining and are sure to love the great tasting waffles that this waffle maker creates, and they can add any of their favourite toppings to make this experience better.

With so many fantastic reasons why a waffle iron which makes Mickey Mouse shaped waffles is the perfect purchase for you, whether it be to impress your guests, keep the kids smiling or because you can't get enough of the wonderful Mickey, you should definitely consider buying a Mickey Mouse waffle maker!

Mickey Ice (Ice Ice Baby - Mickey Mouse-style)

I have this song from a CD I have a free McDonald's Happy Meal 1998



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UPpI4rWX6A&hl=en

Snootz Ep.101 - Teenie Beanie Tour Guide

Snootz gives the Teenie Beanies a tour of Beanieland. www.badgersoup.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQppHjMaIb8&hl=en

Throwing the Best Little Girl's Birthday Party

To a little girl, birthdays are a big deal. In fact, when I asked an 8-year-old friend of mine what her favorite holiday was, she replied, "My birthday." Making a young girl's birthday memorable is an important and fun responsibility for parents. The best part of throwing a party for girls under the age of twelve is that you can be creative without breaking the bank. There are all sorts of ways to cut costs when it comes to planning your little darling's birthday party. One of the best ways to throw a memorable and exciting party is to use a popular party theme the majority of little girls will get giddy about-one example is a "Pretty as a Princess Party."

The first thing that needs to be taken into account before throwing a "Pretty as a Princess Party" is the location. One of the best ways to keep costs low is to host the party in your home. However, renting a room at party place is always a great option too. When making invitations for this party, a clever idea is to create the invitations on the computer and print them in a fancy, calligraphy font. The wording could say something along these lines: "Dear Princess, The honor of your presence is requested at a special party to celebrate the birthday of your dear princess friend. Please come dressed in your finest princess apparel and be prepared to have a magical time and feel glamorous!" After the invitations are printed, roll the invitations from the outsides towards the middle. This will make the invitation resemble an old-fashioned, scroll-looking proclamation. Tie the scroll with a pretty ribbon and hand-deliver the invitations to each of your daughter's friends.

When it comes to the actual party planning, there are several activity ideas you could incorporate to have hours of fun-filled partying. If you have a friend, babysitter or daughter in her teenage years, ask her if she would be willing to spend an hour doing nails or hair for the young princesses. It is a known fact that little girls idolize teenage girls, so a smart idea would be to get a teenager you respect and would like to see your daughter emulate. It would be a kind gesture to offer the teenager payment for her time; $10 would be sufficient. Asking for permission from the other parents to paint their daughter's nails, style their hair or perhaps even do a little makeup is recommended, because some mothers may prefer their daughter not be "made-over." These teenage girls could even teach the little girls a lesson about how to fix their own hair or give themselves a manicure.

Another fun party idea is to split all the party attendees into groups of three or four and allow them to make homemade wedding gowns! Let the girls use toilet paper to wrap one member of each group and turn her into a TP bride. Girls can express their creativity by adding a bouquet or veil and tuck the toilet paper into the selected bride's hair clips, clothing or accessories. A glamorous party favor idea for each of the guests is to fill a gift baggie with a fake princess tiara, Mardi-Gras beads and a package of princess fruit snacks.

Your little princess deserves nothing but the best when it comes to the party for the most important holiday of the year-her birthday! Remember, the day may come when the little princess may want to have a party outside the walls of your home with her teenage friends, but for now, just celebrate that you can host a party and have happy, darling little girls celebrating your daughter and partying in a wholesome, delightful, princess way.