This lack of energy is really doing a number on me. I’ve just felt frumpy as heck these last couple of days. I figured it might be that there were a few days when I stayed up fairly late and slept in. I figured if I’d just change my sleeping schedule back to normal - go to bed early, wake up early - that things would improve. I guess I was wrong because I feel like pooh. My mom suggested I try some nutritional supplements, specifically Vitamin B12. At this point, I’m about willing to try anything.

I absolutely cannot stand feeling this way. I hate it when I lack energy because it eventually leads to me lacking in other things like motivation. If I’m not motivated to do something, it may not get done. Better yet, it may get done but half-arsed.

My sister in laws boyfriend is coming down with the flu. I am doing my best to stay as far away from him as possible right now. That is one thing I really do not want but I guess it isn’t something anyone actually wants. I think I will try to stay out of the house as much as possible for the next couple of days and hopefully he is going to be sanitizing everything he touches. Actually, I think I will be sure to sanitize everything before I use it behind him, just in case he forgets to do it himself!

I can remember a few of the most stressful nights I had working at one of the hospitals back home. One night we had a female patient come in, who was not in the position to communicate to us what her illness was or even what allergies she may have. I am sure you can imagine how stressful something like that can be. This really made me appreciate medical alert tags.

Medical Alert Tag provide health care professionals and emergency medics with important information about your illness or allergies. Several of my relatives have them, and that includes me. We have them for various reasons - myself and my mother, to let those in health care know our allergies (sulfa, penicillin) and for others, like a close aunt, is for providing information like what diseases or conditions she has (diabetes for instance).

This is honestly something I think people should have. At Americanmedical-id.com, they provide medical ideas in bracelets, necklaces and even medallions (to name a few), in stainless steel, sterling silver and gold. They also have a great line of men’s titanium medical tags. And considering how important they are and the information they provide, the prices are really affordable.

Many of us know of someone who has battled with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Some may be our friends, while others are our relatives. I have fallen witness to both. Just recently one of my relatives was sent to rehab, where we hope she is able to fight off this addiction and move onto more positive things. That is often a difficult task, especially for those who seem to have lost all hope of anything good in life.

Cliffside Malibu is a drug and alcohol treatment center that provides extended care to adults struggling with things like; addiction to drugs and / or alcohol, eating disorders and even depression. They combine key components like detox, individual and group therapy and even alternative medicine to help patients find the road to recovery. Patients can enjoy beautiful ocean views, which I think would provide patients with wonderful relaxation. Patients can even participate in things like; surfing, hiking and even horseback riding.

Recovering from drug or alcohol addiction isn’t easy but the benefits of living addiction-free will certainly outweigh the downside of being an addict, which can sometimes lead to death. Cliffside Malibu can help and even offers aftercare programs, since the recovery process never really ends - it is a continuous battle but it is a battle that is well worth the fight.

Poor Jo.

He has really bad heartburn right now. It’s actually making him sick on his stomach (nauseated). He was so sick earlier that I honestly thought he was throwing up, it was merely dry heaving which I guess can be much worse at times. He’s been unable to go back to sleep for the last couple of hours, which has also kept me up and prevented me from going back to sleep. There’s a really nasty stomach bug that seems to be going around up here and I really hope that’s not what he’s got (on top of heartburn). I know I was sick on my stomach a couple of days ago but it was only for a few hours and I really believe it was something I ate. I guess it could’ve been this bug though.

I guess I’ll be making a trip to Wal-mart or maybe just Shoppers Drug Mart soon for something to ease his chest pain and nausea.

As many of you already know, I have a close relative currently being treated for their drug and alcohol addictions. She has been struggling with herself and these addictions for several years and finally our family had to step in. Not only to save her but to also to make sure she didn’t continue to harm the relationship she has with her children. It wasn’t an easy choice for her to make but with love and support from our family and a great rehab program, she’s improving so much every single day.

For those of you who are struggling with your own addictions or have loved ones struggling with their own addictions, Drugrehab.net can help. As one of the oldest and most established drug rehab companies in the United States, this California Drug Rehab Center has 76% of their graduates choose to remain drug free after rehab. This is a Narconon® drug rehabilitation program which consists of 4 phases to treat addiction. In phase 1, patients begin drug free withdrawal. This means that instead of using medication, patients will be given a specific nutritional compound which will help the patient physically. During this time, the patient is under 24 hour a day supervision by a Withdrawal Specialist. During phase 1, patients also go through a communication course and a detoxification program. In phase 2, patients learn more on communication and how to improve their learning skills. Phase 3 helps patients with self issues - going through an “ups and downs” course, personal values course, changing conditions course and a course on finding a way to happiness. During phase 4, patients undergo a final review and follow-up program.

The road to recover isn’t always easy. Long term drug rehab is often required but in the end, it’s well worth it. Throughout my life, there have been a couple of my relatives who needed the help of drug rehab to help them fight off their addictions. All have been successful and I truly hope the relative I have in rehab right now is just as successful.

Those struggling with addictions need to know that there is hope and there are people who care. Drugrehab.net can help.

My aunt has been thinking about buying a hot tub because she thinks it will help her relax a bit more after work. She works as head of a busy ER back in my home town. Relaxing is something she rarely gets to do, though she does enjoy a swim in her pool every now and then. The pool will be covered soon though, since the weather is getting a bit cooler. She could use the hot tub year ’round. She has also been looking into hot tub covers. Lucky for her I just learned about Hottubworks.com. They have covers in nearly all makes and models of hot tubs out there and for a great price. They make ordering easy for their customers by providing tools like a video that shows you how to measure for your cover. Customers can even compare spa / hot tub covers right on their website and if they have questions, they may even find their answers in the website’s FAQ’s section.

Anyone looking to replace a spa cover or even those looking for one for their new spa should check them out - Best Spa Covers from HotTubWorks.

Jo has another session of therapy tomorrow. They’re going to reevaluate his condition and improvements (or lack of) on Thursday. One of the things they’ve been considering is hydrotherapy, which should help relieve some of the pain in his back and we’re hoping will help to loosen him up a bit. So far the physiotherapy isn’t helping all that much and at times, causes him to be in even more pain. Perhaps therapy in a hot tub or one of those swim spas with the pulsating jets will help? I know it helped my mom after her back surgery (once she was able to start therapies).

I’ve always found hot tubs, and the like, very relaxing and especially so when I’m exhausted or aching from doing a lot of physical activity.

With summer coming to an end, it’s a good time to invest in one. Hydropoolhottubs.com has a new Summer promo that you might be interested in! They’re great for leisure or even for therapy for people like my husband who suffer from chronic pain or have suffered an injury.

First of all, I woke up with a terrible sore throat and have been congested most of the day. I think it’s cold, but it could also be partially due to the weather (cold, rainy and windy). I did buy something for it but unfortunately it is a nighttime remedy, so I am trying to hold off on taking it until bedtime.

Second, my grandmother has been taken to a Hospice Care facility. She has been there since late last night and we are unsure if she will ever come back “home”. After having 15 bowel movements last night, all of which had blood clots in them, the Hospice nurse felt this was the best decision. I am hoping that it is not a permanent stay but if it is, I know she is in great hands and will be taken care of. My mom lives about 20 miles from the facility, my sister and aunt live about 4 miles from it - there will always be someone there with her. This has really started to make me consider flying home. I am absolutely terrified about this but since Jo is unable to travel there and back by car/truck/bus, this is really the only option for us. It makes me queasy to think about but I know it is definitely something I have to consider at this point.

I am fixing to call my mom right now and get an update on my grandmother’s condition.

PS; I will be announcing the winner of the handbag contest later on tonight. Be sure to check back later for that.

Someone extremely close to me will soon be getting help through a drug rehabilitation treatment center. This is the second relative of mine, who’s sought help through a treatment center. After many years of living the life of drugs and alcohol, having several run-ins with the law which resulted in heavy fines and probation, this relative is finally seeking professional help. After their last arrest, they realized it is time to put priorities back in the right order and live a life that’s free of drugs and alcohol.

Like I said, this will make the second time one of my relatives needed and eventually sought help for their addictions. The first relative is a complete success story. They’ve been drug and alcohol free for years now. Their life is finally back on the right track and things improve for them everyday. Without the drugs and alcohol, they’ve regained who they really are. There’s no more anger or aggression. They’re able to hold down a nice job and not piddle away their earnings on things like before (the drugs and alcohol). Their relationship with their children has also improved - their children actually want to spend time with them and be around them.

Hopefully this other relative that’s in trouble now will be just as successful. I know through the help of a great rehabilitation center and the support of the rest of my family, they will.

Getting help isn’t something anyone should be ashamed of. Addictions are hard to break and just saying it’s time to quit just won’t cut it. If you or a loved one is in need of drug or alcohol rehabilitation, The Water Shed provides addiction treatment programs that you may find affordable and may be able to help.