What Color Green Are You?

You Are Olive Green

You are the most real of all the green shades. You're always true to yourself. For you, authenticity and honesty are very important... both in others and yourself. You are grounded and secure. It takes a lot to shake you. People see you as dependable, probably the most dependable person they know.

What Color Green Are You?

Unintended Consequences of Mom Blogging

It is my assertion that every mom blogger has the right to run her blog the way she sees fit without public condemnation and wayward judgments. Beyond honesty, there are no concrete standards by which all mom bloggers should adhere. Read more at Mom Bloggers Club.

I believe as mom bloggers we have the innate capacity to rise to greater levels of compassion and appreciation for one another

No Matter How Much

I have a huge 'to do' list for this weekend. A good chunk of today is already gone, and I've gotten majorly sidetracked. Sometimes it is plain hard to find the energy just to get up in the morning! Seems like no matter how much I get accomplished, the list just gets longer.

Thought of the Day - 5/23/09

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
~~ Melodie Beattie ~~

Thought of the Day - 5/22/09

We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results.
~~ Herman Melville ~~

Mom to Mom Quiz

Take this fun Mom to Mom quiz and discover your parenting style.

Thought of the Day - 5/21/09

Making a decision to have a child – it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.
~~ Elizabeth Stone ~~

Works for Me Wednesday #18

Tech 911

Quick fixes to try before calling customer support or the repair shop.

Dropped Cell Phone in Water

If you act fast, your phone might not call it quits. Remove the battery and SIM card then wipe everything off. Use a vacuum to suck out the moisture, and let air-dry for a day or two (or more) before reassembling. Don't power up before then, or it could short out. It still may not work, but what do you have to lose -- other than a busted phone?

CD Stuck in Computer

For a PC, poke the end of a paper clip into the small hole on the CD/DVD drive to depress the internal button. Hold it in until the tray pops open. On a Mac, if dragging the disc icon to the trash icon doesn't do it, quit all applications and restart computer while holding down the mouse button while rebooting.

Spilled Drink on Keyboard

Turn the keyboard upside down and disconnect it. Let dry, at least, 24 to 48 hours before plugging it back in. A blow-dryer set on cool can help. Take a premoistened wipe to the surface.

DVR Didn't Tape Show

If you are certain the show was in your queue, it may have been recorded but deleted. Check the settings: The DVR may be saving only one episode, so the newest one overwrites what's stored. To catch what you missed, try the network's Website or a video site like Hulu.

To get more tips for just about everything, check out We Are THAT Family.

All Pro Dad Teams Up with Head Start

All Pro Dad has started a new partnership with Head Start. Head Start is a nationwide government agency that exists to help over one million young, at-risk children prepare for school so they do not fall behind when they begin kindergarten.

"We are pleased to be working with All Pro Dad to help the Head Start Programs build strong bonds between fathers and their children", says Head Start Executive Director Michael McGrady.

All Pro Dad will be rolling out its father and kids monthly breakfast program with Head Starts all across the country. This event features good food, fun and meaningful, relationship-building activities between dads and their kids

What Did You Do Today?

I voted today. What did you do?

Thought of the Day - 5/20/09

Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity.
~~ Kahlil Gibran ~~

Thought of the Day - 5/19/09

The more you have,the more you're occupied; the less you have, the more free you are.
~~ Mother Teresa ~~

Stress Busters for Busy Parents

Always have a 'Plan B.'
Make copies of important papers.
Praise other people.
Look at a work of art.
Quit trying to fix other people.
Keep a journal.
Ask for help when you need it.
Watch a good movie.
Kiss your child.
Eat a meal by candlelight.
Clean out a closet.
Learn something new.
Make duplicate keys.
Get enough sleep.
Have a support network.
Talk less.
Smile.
Prepare for the morning the night before.
Feed the birds.
Have realistic goals for yourself.
Be a better listener.
Avoid negative people.
Plant a flower.
Repair something that doesn't work.
Find the "silver lining."
Dance.
Avoid tight fitting clothes.
Be gentle.
Remember you are human.

Originally written for Parents Page, Fall 2003.

Thought of the Day - 5/18/09

What I do today is important because I'm exchanging a day of my life for it.
~~ Author Unknown ~~

Thought of the Day - 5/17/09

Do something for somebody every day for which you don't get paid.
~~ Albert Schweitzer ~~

Save an Hour, Give an Hour

We all have the same amount of hours in the day. It doesn't matter what you need or want to get done or how noble your intentions are. Each of us only has 24 hours in a day--for good or bad, to waste or to use efficiently.We will see on TV or read in the paper about people who give generously of their time to help others. Examples are people who volunteer to serve food to the homeless or rock those babies to sleep who have no one to love them.

Often, these are people who have families, careers, and commitments. What makes them special is that they have managed to figure out a way to make time in order to give their time and themselves.

Saving time requires some effort. How do you make time?

Thought of the Day - 5/16/09

Look at a man in the midst of doubt and danger and you will learn in his hour of adversity what he really is.
~~ Lucretius, Roman philosopher ~~

Fibromyalgia Resources

Find a new place to learn, share your story, and do something about your fibromyalgia:

• Fibromyalgia Health Center
• Fibromyalgia Health Manager
• National Fibromyalgia Association
• Fibromyalgia Focused
• Fibromyalgia at Medline Plus
• Fibromyalgia Support Center
• Fibromyalgia Network
• About Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, Inc.
• Patients Like Me Fibromyalgia Community

I hope you liked the articles and resources I shared this week in honor of National Fibromyalgia Day (12th).

Bodywork for Treating Fibromyalgia

Have you had or considered bodywork for treating fibromyalgia (FMS) or chronic fatigue syndrome? Are you asking, "What in the world is bodywork?"

The term bodywork is used for any therapeutic or healing methods that involve touching or physical manipulation. Chiropractic and physical therapy fall into this category and are widely used for FMS, but bodywork also covers a lot of alternative treatments, including massage, Rolfing, the Bowen Technique, and Reiki.

You can find claims about each of the alternative forms of bodywork as a treatment for FMS or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, but some have more scientific backing than others.

To help you make informed decisions about your treatment options, continue reading.

What is Bodywork?

The term bodywork is used for any therapeutic or healing methods that involve touching or physical manipulation. Bodywork encompasses a wide range of alternative-medicine techniques, including all types of massage, Rolfing, the Bowen Technique, and Reiki.

Doctors usually recommend bodywork as a complementary treatment, not as the only treatment. While you may want to try alternative treatments your doctor doesn't recommend or endorse, you should include him/her in your decisions and report back to your doctor on your experience with the treatment.

Whether bodywork will help you with fibromyalgia depends both on the form of bodywork and on your specific symptoms.

What is Massage Therapy?

First, you need to understand the difference between Swedish massage, which is primarily for relaxation, and therapeutic massage, which is aimed at helping the body function better. A clinical massage therapist uses techniques such as myofascial release and neuromuscular therapy to get muscles and connective tissues to relax and function properly.

Research shows therapeutic massage can help people with FMS if it's the correct type of massage for the specific symptoms. Experts say massage is especially useful for people who can't exercise because it has similar effects on your tissues and circulatory system.

Make sure you're going to a licensed massage therapist (LMT) and be sure to discuss any other pain conditions or health problems you have.

Massage as a Fibromyalgia Treatment

Because FMS causes pain and makes your body extremely sensitive to touch and pressure, you probably won't be able to tolerate any kind of deep-tissue massage. Open lines of communication are vital when it comes to how much pressure the massage therapist can put on your muscles. Make sure your massage therapist is familiar with the gentle touch required for treating FMS or is willing to do some research on it.

After a massage, you're likely to feel more relaxed and get a better night's sleep, which in turn can help alleviate your symptoms.

What is Rolfing?

Rolfing is a form of deep-tissue work with the goal of bringing segments of the body into proper alignment. It's based on the belief that the fascia (fibrous connective tissue that covers muscles and runs throughout the entire body) can get stiff, shortens, and becomes less elastic, and thereby lead to a lot of musculoskeletal problems.

Rolfing as a Fibromyalgia Treatment

Rolfing generally involves high amounts of pressure and very deep tissue work, so while some practitioners may claim it's beneficial for fibromyalgia, most experts agree that this kind of bodywork will cause huge amounts of pain for people with FMS.

What is the Bowen Technique?

The Bowen Technique involves gentle rubbing techniques that practitioners say send impulses to the brain and nervous system that alleviate pain, help relax your muscles, restore normal movement to joints and connective tissues, and increase blood flow. The underlying theory is similar to acupuncture, and several Bowen moves involve acupuncture points that are believed to bring your body's energy in balance. When the treatment is effective, relief is often immediate.

The Bowen Technique as a Fibromyalgia Treatment

In a study conducted by Jo Anne Whitaker, MD, of the American College of Rheumatology, almost all FMS participants had some relief, which lasted from a few days to several weeks. After several sessions, a few people reported a complete remission of FMS symptoms. Benefits can include better sleep, less neck pain, better balance, and less dizziness.

What is Reiki?

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

Reiki as a Treatment for Fibromyalgia

Reiki is a Japanese technique based on the belief that spiritual energy, properly channeled, can heal the physical body. It can be done through light touch or even at a distance. Reiki is most often used for stress reduction and relaxation but also has many other applications. Practitioners say it can help with pain, sleep, muscle tension, anxiety, depression, circulation, and poor immune function. Some practitioners recommend against using Reiki on anyone with a psychological disorder.

Researchers from the University of Washington and Seattle's Harborview Medical Center, published in the Fall of 2008, studied Reiki as a fibromyalgia treatment and found it was not effective at reducing symptoms, using either touch or distance methods. The researchers recommend more research before Reiki is recommended as a fibromyalgia treatment.

Some practitioners and patients say they've seen results from Reiki. As with Bowen treatments, risk is low.

What types of bodywork have helped you? Have you tried any that didn't work? Share your experiences here.

Sources:
Cathy Wong, About.com: Alternative Medicine, Rolfing, 2007.
Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, About Rolfing, 2007.
Ruth Werner, Lippincott Williams, & Wilkins, A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, 3rd Edition.
Julie Deardorff for The Chicago Tribune, Massage Therapy Rubs Sufferers the Right Way, 2005.
http://www.reiki.org/

Adapted from Adrienne Dellwo, http://chronicfatigue.about.com.

Neurotransmitter Glutamate Tied to Fibromyalgia Pain

Another neurotransmitter is joining the ranks of those that are not quite right in people with fibromyalgia (FMS) - but while serotonin and norepinephrine levels are too low, glutamate is too high.

In a recently published study, researchers at the University of Michigan Health Systems have discovered that pain goes down when they reduce levels of glutamate in an area of the brain. Led by well-known FMS researcher Daniel Clauw, MD, they say this information could be useful for finding new medications and monitoring their effectiveness.

When glutamate moves through your brain, it makes cells more active. After researchers discovered people with fibromyalgia had a lot of extra activity in the area of the brain called the insula, they theorized that glutamate could be involved.

To test the theory, they used a brain-imaging test called proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS) before and after acupuncture or "sham" acupuncture, because acupuncture is proven effective at inactivating areas of the brain.

After four weeks of treatment, both pain and glutamate levels in the insula were lower, suggesting glutamate plays a part in FMS and could be used as a biological indication of how severe it is. This was a small study, so the research team is calling for more research to verify the role of glutamate.

Think how it would change things to have a biological test showing how severe your FMS is! Do you think it would help people get disability? Would it help you convince your friends and family that you're really sick? Will this discovery lead to new drugs? Does this make you think more seriously about acupuncture?

Adapted from Adrienne Dellwo, http://chronicfatigue.about.com.