NAKED & RADICALLY HONEST…

The War Cry
Current mood: contemplative

Parts of my Interview with THE WAR CRY, a British publication
Regarding my success battling PCOS, Migraines, and mood swings/depression with the EPC program (created by Ian Stoakes)

1. What was your medical condition? How long had you had it? What problems did it give you?

I have polycystic ovary syndrome and also suffered from migraines and mood swings (bipolar disorder).

I have most likely had PCOS since I was a teenager although I was not diagnosed until I was 22 years old (that was 11 years ago).

The biggest problem at that time was that I was never having monthly cycles. When a woman does not have at least 6 menstrual cycles per year the chances of uterine cancer increase. I had a period maybe 3 times a year at the most. I had also been gaining weight, despite attempts to eat right, diet, exercise more and more. I was very athletic yet I was gaining and gaining and nothing I did would stop it. As every year passed the migraines got worse as did the mood swings and depression. It was a vicious cycle… snowballing. Later I found out that I was also infertile and had likely never ovulated in my life up to that point.

2. How did you hear about Ian’s work?

I was the President of the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association. Ian’s books were presented to the Board of Directors of the PCOSA to read and consider introducing to our members as an option to treat PCOS. The PCOSA’s spokeswoman went through Ian’s program and had amazing results. There aren’t any holes in Ian’s theory. Anything that we could find that was questionable he had the answer to, and the answer was always backed up with science.

3. What made you decide to take the plunge and spend money on the blood tests?

I found myself having hope for the first time since being diagnosed with PCOS. Hope isn’t something that I ever had because I was not only told “there is no cure” but also, there isn’t hardly an acceptable, successful treatment. Treatments were drugs that had horrible side effects and for many, didn’t work anyway, or shaving, having laser treatment, trying every diet imaginable to mankind. “Treatment” ended up being just another word for “Torture”. As a volunteer with the PCOSA I watched women struggle with their weight, health, infertility, and miscarriages. On one hand, I knew I wasn’t alone. On the other, I wished I was because I never wished that kind of suffering on another person.

4. How worried were you that you might be a victim of a scam? Did it cross your mind than Ian
might be like one of those old wild West quack doctors? Did you think it would be worth the risk anyway?

I was worried that it was a scam at first because it was “too good to be true”. I did wonder if Ian was a quack. But I came to the conclusion that there had to be an answer out there somewhere, there had to be better treatments than what we had found so far…. and why wouldn’t Ian be the one to have those answers? Who was I to say that he couldn’t have the cure? The risk was some money, and even more-so, the hope and belief that something was going to help restore health and not let me down, again. When I considered dealing with being ill for the rest of my life I realized that I could leave no stone unturned. I also realized that I had a responsibility as an advocate for women with PCOS and other illnesses - to find out what this was all about and bring them the information if it passed the “smell test”.

I think that Ian is in a place where he is a target to have stones thrown at him. But let’s not forget — “Ben Franklin was criticized for flying a kite in an electrical storm. President George W. Bush was criticized for declaring war on Osama Bin Laden. You will be criticized for making excellence your goal, sharing your faith, taking a stand, accepting a leadership position, not compromising your principles, speaking out or implementing change.”

5. How soon after starting the diet did your condition improve?

Within days of doing a few things that Ian recommended I began to feel better. It was really surprising!

6. What symptoms have disappeared?

I went off my migraine medications and have had only 3 headaches. I have those 3 in the last 6 weeks, most likely due to lack of sleep since having a new baby. Before I took the medications I had migraines 5-6 days a week. The migraine meds made me feel “dull” and slow. They also caused more weight gain. Getting off of the meds was really great. This was an amazing improvement in my quality of life!

I ovulated for the first time without medication and conceived. I had a healthy pregnancy - no miscarriage, no high blood pressure, preeclampsia, no premature baby… all of which I had dealt with in past pregnancies. I slept better and woke up feeling more refreshed. My moods on Ian’s program were like night and day compared to before. After having my baby I lost 30 pounds very easily.

7. Which symptoms remain?

I need to lose more weight to get to my healthy weight. I don’t think this will be difficult at all. I can’t think of any other symptom I have any longer!! I will have to have my cholesterol and other blood work done to see how well I am doing in those areas. I suspect it will be improved from last time beings I feel so much better.

8. What overall difference has Ian’s ‘treatment’ made to your life?

In addition to feeling better and blessing me with a beautiful, healthy baby, the EPC lifestyle has given me hope, an answer to many prayers. I can’t put into words how much better that makes me feel. It’s like a huge burden has been lifted.

9. Do you believe Ian has found, as he claims, the cause of infertility?

I do believe that. To date, everything that Ian has told me has proven to be the truth. I believe that Ian is reaching out, trying to heal the sick, as he should if he has the knowledge to do it. I think that God has blessed him and he is trying to share that with the rest of us. I believe that it is his job to do so — because if someone can help others to achieve better health, they have no right to keep that information to themselves.

Ian has helped me and quite possibly saved my life. Women with PCOS are at higher risk for diabetes and heart disease (which is already the #1 killer of women).

LINKS:

The War Cry

PCOSLiving

Extreme Performance Consultants Program

Fertility For All

2:50 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

My husband
Current mood: loved

Check out my husband’s airbrushing –
He ROCKS!

HeartL Airbrushing

And… my husband… isn’t he handsome??

3:50 PM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Critics
Current mood: hopeful

Ben Franklin was criticized for flying a kite in an electrical storm. President George W. Bush was criticized for declaring war on Osama Bin Laden. You will be criticized for making excellence your goal, sharing your faith, taking a stand, accepting a leadership position, not compromising your principles, speaking out or implementing change.

A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” — David Brinkley –

“You will be criticized. So it might as well be for doing the right thing.”

“If you’re willing to stand apart from the crowd, you’re putting yourself in a vulnerable position, so count on some degree of criticism.”

“Criticism is something you can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.”

If you are a creative person, committed to excellence, you’ll be surrounded by critics.

3:43 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Just a thought or two
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Life

I am a new mommy… well, sort of. I have six kids, and my youngest is just a month old. She is such a sweetheart… it is amazing how different they all are. My four year old son is totally taken by her. I watched him today while he sat on the couch with her. She was sleeping. He was examining her feet and toes as gently and quietly as possible. When he was done he covered her feet back up so nice. He seemed to be thinking, “Wow, her feet are so little!” Yesterday he told me she looked like a “sleeping angel”… especially when she had HIS blankie on her. He is so adorable!

Currently listening: I’m Not Dead By Pink Release date: By 04 April, 2006

10:13 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Charleigh Smiles
Current mood: cheerful

Charleigh has been smiling lately (while awake that is). She has been animated and so much fun - squeaking and making all kinds of little noises. She is discovering her voice! A little while ago I caught her smile on camera. She is such a doll and so much fun!!

5:40 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

EAGLES are getting my poultry
Current mood: indescribable
Category: Pets and Animals

We have been losing some of our poultry to birds of prey (raptors). It is NOT nice. Usually owls come and get our guineas but lately we have lost a couple to eagles. A couple weeks ago one came down across the yard from us and scooped up a guinea and took off with it. If you have never heard a guinea… they make noise all the time. They really noisy and they warn you of intruders etc. Well imagine 30 guineas screaming while the one that is being carted off screams bloody murder…. it is very creepy and terrifying. Something you would see on the discovery channel!!!! And I would prefer that it stayed on the discovery channel.

So I have been trying to get photos of these birds because they have returned a few times now. Today I got a couple decent ones. This bird was right over my head and my camera ran out of batteries so I had to run inside, get more batteries, and come back out only to have him much farther away. But, I still got the best photos so far.

We are guessing that this is a juvenile bald eagle - one that doesn’t have all the white on it yet - and one that is very bold and not scared off by people as it’s hunting.

Here is a photo of how far away it was from me when I finally got photos of it. It’s soaring above the trees in our pasture.

Here are some that I blew up so we could see him better.

And here is a photo of what a young bald eagle looks like close up (not my photo):

3:00 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Precious Moments
Current mood: sleepy

Tonight my 8 year old son has been talking to my 6 week old baby. It is the cutest, sweetest thing. He has been telling her all about his playstation game, Shrek 2. He describes to her all the characters and says she can be Tink when she plays, because “Tink shoots spiders”. He sounds so serious… he really means what he is saying. And she just sits there and stares at him, hanging on every word. Listening to him talk about “Gingy” and “Puss [in boots]” and all the other characters is just so cool. I took some photos and I will post them here. It is so neat that they all love her so much but I am surprised at how much he absolutely adores her. He is always asking to hold her and take care of her. He is certain that he is the one who can walk with her and make her feel better anytime she is crying. (And she does stop crying for him). Any future boyfriends she has better fear her big brother I think!! He is going to be really protective.

I know I know… I have Charleigh in boy clothes today. What can I say… I have to do laundry! And following TWO boys, I have a lot of little boy clothes!

Tristan is 8 and Charleigh is almost 7 weeks old

10:12 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

The Day GOD SPILLED THE PAINT!
Current mood: calm
Category: Religion and Philosophy

The Day GOD SPILLED THE PAINT!

Honor & Respect
Current mood: worried
Category: Blogging

I hope you all had a nice Memorial Day weekend. I have posted a slideshow on my page. My brother made it after our family get together on Saturday at my mom’s house. I think it’s pretty neat. Our family is going through some hard times right now so these gatherings are really special to us.

We visited my stepdad’s and uncle’s graves at the Veteran’s Cemetary. It’s very beautiful there. It is so neat to see how supported our military is, and how honored they are when they are laid to rest.

That brings me to two things. My nephew’s friend, roommate, and comrade, was killed last week in a RPG attack on their convoy. Not only do our hearts go out to our fallen hero’s family, it was also much too close to home for us. My brothers will be riding with the Patriot Guard at the funeral on Friday. My brothers and nephew are members of the Patriot Guard Riders. If you don’t know what they are you should check them out for sure. A very worthy group. They ride at military funerals to “protect” the friends and family of the fallen hero from protesters, mainly the WBC. (If you believe that the hatred they spew and the judgement they cast is spreading the word of God, well, I have no words for you). I commend President Bush on the passing of the newest law regarding nasty protesters at military funerals.

Finally, I read about Google not recognizing Memorial Day, in protest of the war. Check this out. I know that there are many opposing views to war but Memorial Day is not about that. It is about honor and respect. I am very disappointed in Google.

Have a great week!

3:35 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Good Times, Hard Times…
Current mood: scared
Category: Life

Before I forget this conversation I must get it written down…

My mom, dad, one sister, two brothers, my kids, etc etc… were all chatting on Sunday. My oldest son was going home with my mom and he was going on and on about how much he would miss Charleigh (our baby). He adores her and he spends a lot of time with her (see photos on a blog from a couple weeks ago). Well he is 8 years older than Charleigh, which is how much older than me my closest sibling, brother Ron, is. So I asked Ron if he liked me that much when I was a baby. He started laughing and said, “Honestly? No.” (Funny yes, but also very true!!) So then my mom chimes in and said very seriously, “I didn’t think any of them would like you! I am surprised anyone wanted you!” (OK Mom, open mouth, insert foot!!!!) She was totally serious, though she stated it a bit more harshly than she intended. Everyone laughed while she felt like a jerk. She went on to explain how my siblings ranged in age from 8 up to 16 when I was born and she figured they’d all be embarrassed to have an “older mom” with a baby. I knew what she meant so she didn’t have to tell me, but she felt so bad after how it came out at first that she tried to fix it. LOL! My oldest sister jumped in and said, “I wanted you! I thought you and Dina were so cute together!” Which we were. Dina is my niece who is 1-1/2 year younger than me.

Oh, what can I say except perhaps “GOOD TIMES!” LOL.

I am suffering from Coke and chocolate withdrawls. Coke as in the SODA POP. I am trying that diet Coke with splenda (aspartame is a no-no for me, although Mr Ian would say that pop of all kinds is and so is splenda… but I have to do something to come off of the coke…. argh argh argh… he is cursing me right now if he is reading this).

It has been a really tough week here. As you know we had a fundraiser for my sister who is fighting lung cancer right now. It went really well but, as I wrote in my previous blog, it’s not a happy thing to watch a loved one suffer like this. Then on Tuesday we found out that we lost the 12th North Dakota guardsman to an RPG attack in Iraq. We waited to hear who it was. We knew it wasn’t my nephew, but we didn’t know who it was. Come to find out it was his roommate. So he’s dealing with being apart from his family during hard times and having to pack up his friend’s belongings to send home. Oh, it’s so heartwrenching… Our hearts and prayers are going out to the family and friends of our fallen hero.

Wishing you all a blessed Memorial Day weekend.

Currently listening: Daniel Powter By Daniel Powter Release date: By 11 April, 2006

12:07 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Sad Sane Psycho Supergoddess
Current mood: depressed
Category: Life

I had forgotten this song existed for a while and I am really glad to have heard it again…

That is about the best thing I have to say for today. The thank you note thing? I am so over that. Life can be sooooo…. complex. Thank you notes are trivial. Though I have a MILLION of them to write now. The benefit we held went absolutely incredible. The clubs that assisted us in hosting it said that they had never seen such a huge turnout before. Yes, people LOVE my sister and for good reason. She is awesome!

More than a few times people made the statement “wish we were all getting together for a more joyous occasion”. Is it joyous that someone we love is sick and fighting for her life? No. Not at all. Not a bit. In fact, most of the time it’s hard to remember to even smile. However, there is virtue in the world. The kindness, love, compassion, and amazing support shown to us has been really uplifting.

Not much in the mood to say anything more today I guess. I think partially I am just pooped from the weekend.

So anyway, back to the song…

You think that I go home at night
Take off my clothes, turn out the lights
But I burn letters that I write
To you, to make you love me

Yeah, I drive naked through the park
And run the stop sign in the dark
Stand in the street, yell out my heart
To make, to make you love me

I am extraordinary, if you’d ever get to know me
I am extraordinary, I am just your ordinary
Average every day sane psycho
Supergoddess
Average every day sane psycho

You may not believe in me
But I believe in you
So I still take the trash out
Does that make me too normal for you?

So dig a little deeper, cause
You still don’t get it yet
See me lickin’ my lips, need a primitive fix
And I’ll make, I’ll make you love me

I am extraordinary, if you’d ever get to know me
I am extraordinary, I am just your ordinary
Average every day sane psycho
Supergoddess
Average every day sane psycho
Supergoddess

See me jump through hoops for you
You stand there watching me performing
What exactly do you do?
Have you ever thought it’s you that’s boring?
Who the hell are you?

I am extraordinary, if you’d ever get to know me
I am extraordinary, I am just your ordinary
Average every day sane psycho
Supergoddess
Average every day sane psycho

Average every day sane psycho
Supergoddess
Average every day sane psycho

Average every day sane psycho
Supergoddess
Average every day sane psycho

Average every day sane psycho

Currently listening: Liz Phair By Liz Phair Release date: By 24 June, 2003

12:15 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Thank You Notes
Current mood: tired
Category: Religion and Philosophy

Thank you notes are such a simple courtesy, not to mention proper etiquette. Today I received a note from a friend and thought I would share this verse with you. It seems that God Himself does not regard thankfulness so lightly.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, *unthankful*, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers…..” 2 Tim 3:1-5

I must say, I have always been a big writer of thank you notes, but in recent years I have become a bit more lax after often not receiving thank you notes myself. I have always had my children write thank you notes or perhaps, these days, send a thank you email, as poor etiquette as that may be. Isn’t it disappointing to choose gifts, package them up and mail or deliver them and never have them acknowledged? So many people lack this simple, but important manner and are passing along the “bad manner” to their children now as well.

Although it’s so easy to “not thank” those who don’t thank you, I will strive to never let my inactions be the cause of disappointment to others. I also want to train my children in thankfulness. I don’t want to be included in 2 Timothy 3. It is pretty easy to blow thank you notes off with the idea that gifts are not to be given for that reason, but then if God doesn’t take it lightly then we shouldn’t either.

2:52 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Candice

I agree that thankfulness is way more powerful than some people think. Many of us blow it off and that could make or break a friendship in some cases. Everyone likes to be acknowledged and thanked for what they do, even for little things. It’s the very least we are able to do. I wish us all no grudges and no hatefulness because that’s the poison of life.

Posted by Candice on Thursday, May 25, 2006 at 11:15 PM