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Introduction Text I have been active on SP since June, 2008. I have lost 21 pounds mostly from walking. Last year I had to use a walker outside. When I first started walking I could only walk around my house. Now I walk up to 3 miles a day with my dogs. When I first started using my treadmill I actually walk about 4 miles. I didn't have to worry about stumbling or the dogs pulling on the leashes. I love to cook--but I hate cooking for just one. I have tried some new foods but I am such a fussy eater that I am leery of trying most. I always welcome suggestions to get more fruits and veggies and protein into my cooking. I have learned to eat oatmeal. I put brown sugar, raisins and some trail mix on it. It has to be cooked on the stove--no microwave for making it. I usually make enough for 3 or 4 days and reheat it. I like to make muffins. They are so good I have to very careful I just eat 1. I try to keep them muffins in the freezer for a quick breakfast when I go to town. 12/6/08 Became Small Dogs, Big Hearts Team Leader. 12/10 I think I am going to keep the dog my daughter brought over for me to babysit for the weekend. He is so good with all the others. He protects Dutchess from Belle--that is really funny to watch. Belle will dive at Dutchess and all Gomer(that's the new dog) has to do is start to walk toward her and Belle runs back and lies down. Gomer came to my daughter's as a stray during the summer. He is white with black and part St. Bernard. If he stands just right I can really see it in him. He is such a good dog but he does not like a leash so I don't know if I will be able to walk him. 12/26 Had a wonderful day yesterday at my daughter's in-laws. They all were so friendly and genuinely glad I had joined them. I was so proud of myself that I stayed within my calorie limit even though I spent all afternoon sitting at a table full of cookies. Went to town today and started shopping for next year. Found some really nice things for 1/2 price. 12/31 Had a foot of snow. It was 37 below zero at 6AM. 1/4/09 1/2 I had my Rituxan treatment. My sister drove me home. Saturday I had to take her home. Luckily my son drove. We had another 6 - 8 inches of snow by the time we got home. Freeway was packed snow and slippery about 1/2 way home. 1/12 Well we had another blizzard. Have at least 8 inches of snow and wind is blowing so hard you cannot see the road when driving. It is supposed to get to 20 below zero tonight.BRRRRRRR 1/19 It has been in the 20's since Saturday. Saturday I played in the snow with Belle and Sunday I played in the snow with Gomer. It is so wonderful to know my Rituxan is working and I actually enjoy some of the things I liked as a kid. I am so greatful for SP. I know all my SP friends and family have helped me to become like a kid again. Got 25 points on the wheel today! 1/22 Yesterday it was nice enough outside I started putting netting over the top of the 3 foot fence so Gomer will maybe stay in. It was cold enough today that I couldn't finish it. It is supposed to be 40 below windchill tonight then back down to 25 below temp after the wind dies down. BRRRRR I will sure be hibernating in the house. 1/26 Made co-leader of Minnesota Support Team. Very excited. 2/2 I am so excited. there are 46 new members on the Small Dogs, Big Hearts Team. That really makes me feel good. Some of them have said they joined because I was the leader. That just makes me feel awesome. 2/7 My daughter's Springer Spaniel had 9 puppies on 2/5. Yesterday they were taken to the vet to get tails docked. 2/9 Became co-leader of No Gyms Needed. Rained here all day. It melted a lot of snow. We are still supposed to get more snow. I can only imagine how much there would be if it hadn't rained. 2/26 Had about 8 inches of snow. Supposed to be 20 below again tonight. Cold through the weekend. I saw the puppies yesterday. They are so roly-poly they practically fall over when they try to walk. 2/28 I am so down in the dumps today because MYSTIQUEMYSTIC passed away last night. She was the leader of Doxie Lovers and Dog Lovers Teams. I think she touched the lives of everyone who knew her. She was so helpful if you had a problem. She was the one who I went to for advice about Dutchess. I will really miss her. I felt like I actually knew her. 3/7 I just counted the new members on the Small Dogs team--82 since I became leader. I am so proud of the team. They are great. I seem to be stuck on a plateau again--losing and regaining the same pound. 4/2 All the Springer puppies went to their new homes today except for the 2 going to the Twin Cities. They will be taken down there on Friday. 4/8 It is finally getting warmer outside and the snow is melting. I started walking Scruffy to the post office. 4/14 It actually hit 60 degrees today. It is so good to walk outside. 5/4 Sassy became sick on Saturday. Monday I took her to the vet and was told she had Liver Disease. I quickly made the decision to have her euthanized. After watching her for 2 days, it was not very hard to make it. 6/10 Had Spunky euthanized. There were days when he fell over while trying to walk. 7/8 Went to the Chahinkapa Zoo in Wahpeton, ND. They have some animals that are not in either the Fargo or the Minnesota Zoo. It was great seeing kangaroos and animals from Madagascar other than Lemurs. 7/9 Still cannot seem to lose anymore weight. At least I haven't gained any. I cooked my first fresh yams tonight. I was impressed at how good they were. 7/12 Start of a new week. I have decided to change my exercises. I am doing completely different strength and only aerobic 3 days a week also. See if this helps me to start losing weight again. 8/14 Went with my daughter to have an Ultrasound. The baby is about 10 weeks old. I was absolutely amazed at how big it was and how active. I could see the brain, bladder, arms, legs, heart. It looked like it was rubbing its eyes. The dr said it was dancing and that is why she is so sick. I cannot imagine anyone having an abortion if they would see that. You can definitely tell it is a baby. 9/8 I can't believe it. After spending all weekend canning I look in my emails today and there are 24 new members on the Small Dogs, Big Hearts Team. This brings our members to 562. 11/11 Diagnosed with Pancreatic Carcinoma. 11/12 biopsy was negative. 11/25 2nd biopsy was positive. 12/12 Sick all day. Could not keep any food or liquids down. 12/13 Spent 4 hours in the ER getting IV for dehydration. 12/17 Have an appointment at Mayo Clinic. Hopefully will know more and have a game plan for treatment before I come home. 12/20 Tumor is growing around the Aorta so it is inoperable. I now have to find an Oncologist. 12/31/09 NEW YEAR'S EVE! What a way to end the year. I am listed in the FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLNESS as a MOTIVATIONAL SPARK PAGES. This makes me so proud. I cannot express my gratitude to SP and all my Spark Family and Friends. I see an Oncologist on Januray 4, 2010 so hopefully I will know something more about this tumor than I know now. HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVERYONE! Drive safe and be careful. 1/8/2010 I had my first Chemo treatment yesterday. So far I have felt fine and had no adverse side effects. 1/14/2010 Changed my goal weight to today's (145). My Oncologist told me no DIETING and to stop trying to lose weight. He said I probably lose more anyway from the treatments. 2/1/2010 Had a fish fry tonight at my son-in-law's grandmas. OOH was it good! Thursday 2/4 I start my 2nd round of chemo. So far I have had no adverse side effects and I feel a lot better than I expected. Gave Belle to my Home Health Nurse. Her family just loves her. She was hesitant to take her but I said I would rather give her up now and know she went to a good home than get really sick and have to try to find homes for all 4 of the dogs. My sister is taking Gomer when it warms up so we can take the kennel down there. 2/28 Ellie had 8 puppies on 2/25/10. I have been really sick the last 2 weeks. Thought I was getting better for a few days then today I got really sick again. Tuesday I have another scan to see if the tumor is growing. Dr is on vacation so I am sure I won't know anything until 3/18 when I have my next Chemo treatment. SCRUFFY A VERY LUCKY DOG The Monday before Thanksgiving 5 years ago my sister took me to the pound to see a small dog. I took one look at the dog and said "No, he has too much white." Tuesday I took my dog Bubba and went back to the pound. I let Bubba out of the car on a leash and he and Scruffy got along just fine, so I took Scruffy home with me. My sister told me Thanksgiving day that if I hadn't gotten Scruffy, Wednesday he would have been put down. The pound was at the city garage and there would not have been anyone to take care of him over the long weekend. The city employees were off from 4PM Wednesday to 8AM Monday. Scruffy is a very smart dog. If I had felt better and could have trained him I think he could have been taught a lot of tricks. Scruffy is indeed a very lucky dog. WHY I USE THE NAME SQUIRTZIE: About 20 years ago I had a dog named Princess. She was part beagle and terrier. She looked like a beagle except she was mostly black. She was definitely my "baby". She went every where with me. I was working 10pm to 6 am cooking in a restaurant. One night she jumped in the car and would not get out. It was in September so it was getting cool at night. I told her "OK, you can go but you have to stay in the car all night." She slept on the front seat all night. At about 5 am I took a 5 gallon pail of scraps out to the car. I told her "Don't you get into this" and she never did. I had about 200 laying hens at the time so I always took the produce scraps home for the chickens. The owner took a pail of other scraps home to her cats. One morning I woke up about 8AM and Princess was on the bed and I happened to open my eyes enough to look at her. Her left eye was popped out of her socket. I screamed of course because it startled me. I was home alone so there was no one to help me. I called the vet and took her right in. The vet said she could put the eye back in but she would still be blind and most likely she would eventually get an infection and have to have the eye removed. I decided to have the eye removed right then. She got along just fine with one eye. My daughter used to tell people that if Princess could drive a car I would get her a brand new one. I had her put down when she was about 14. When she was 12 she got cancer. The vet put her on Prednisone and the cancer went into remission so the vet took her off the Prednisone. She was on Prednisone for about a year and the cancer was in remission for about a year. As soon as she went off the Prednisone, the cancer ballooned in her system. I should have had her put down about a month sooner than I did but I did not want to lose her. The cancer ballooned all over her body and she was so miserable I cried every time I looked at her. After watching her go through this I vowed I would never do that to an animal again and if I ever had one on Prednisone it would be on it for the rest of its life. Anyway to get back to the name SQUIRTZIE. My boyfriend always called her squirty, eventually because of the number of letters you have to have for some of the websites it became SQUIRTZIE. Gomer's Story Gomer a Saint Bernard mix came to my daughter's house last July. He had a collar, but he was so thin and thirsty. She didn't think he would ever quit drinking water and eating. He was also very skittish. He would not come near her at first. She came and got me and we finally got hold of him and started pulling ticks off and cutting some of the mats. At first we thought he was a large Springer Spaniel because he was white with black like a lot of Springers are. She checked with all the neighbors within a couple of miles and nobody claimed him. She took him to the vet to have him checked out and the vet said he was Saint Bernard because of his back feet. My daughter had him neutered and posted notices at the shelter and the vet's offices. I wanted to have him as soon as I saw him but I had enough sense to realize I could not have a big dog like that when he would not go into the house or get into the car. I thought with his size there was no way I could have a dog like that. By September he was finally making himself at home even on the couch. She and my sil had a male and a female Springer Spaniel that were registered. They were hoping to have pups. When Ellie came into heat she didn't want to mate with Ranger she wanted Gomer even though he was neutered. That's when they brought me the dog. He came into the house and laid right down. He never bothered any of the other animals. He was so good. He didn't get out of the fence either. He didn't start getting out until we had so much snow he could walk over the 3 foot fence. I expanded the kennel last year with a 3 foot fence because my dogs couldn't get out of it. Now I have to tie him until I can get the fence covered in netting. I am sure once he started getting out he will keep doing it. Gomer kept jumping over the fence, so as soon as the weather permitted, the fence was taken down. Natural Home Cleaning Products Looking for a cost-effective, safe way to keep your home clean, naturally? Try these four common household items: 1. Olive oil: Use to lubricate and polish wood furniture (three parts olive oil to one part vinegar; or two parts olive oil to one part lemon juice). 2. Potatoes: Halved potatoes can remove rust from baking pans or tinware - follow with a salt scrub or dip the potato in salt before scrubbing. 3. White vinegar: Cleans linoleum floors and glass (from windows to shower doors) when mixed with water and a little liquid soap (Castile or vegetable). It cuts grease and removes stains, and removes soap scum and cleans toilets (add a bit of baking soda if you like). Pour down drains once a week for antibacterial cleaning. Add to water in a spray bottle to kill mold and mildew. 4. Tea tree oil: Can be added to vinegar/water solutions for its antibacterial properties. Use it to kill mold and mildew, and on kitchen and bathroom surfaces instead of chemical products. Add 50 drops to a bucket of water to clean countertops and tile floors. 5. Make Your Own Prewash Spray: Mix equal amounts of dishwashing (not dishwasher) liquid, ammonia and water. Pour into a clean spray bottle and label clearly — Prewash Spray. After applying to clothing, wash right away; don't let set for more than 20 minutes. My son received this in an email: MY ATTORNEY After living what I felt was a 'decent' life, my time on earth came to the end. The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house. The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table. As I looked around I saw the 'prosecutor. ' He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me. He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen. I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I knew Him. The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as He moved across the room I couldn't take my eyes off of Him. As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, 'Let us begin.' The prosecutor rose and said, 'My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell.' He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and In the past when I cheated others.. Satan told of other horrible Perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about. As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at My Attorney who sat there silently not Offering any form of defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I'd done? Satan finished with a fury and said, 'This man belongs in hell, he is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise.' When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach the bench. The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned Him to come forward. As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty. I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior. He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, 'Hi, Dad,' and then He turned to address the court. 'Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wage of sin is death, and this man deserves to be punished.' Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, 'However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so he is Mine.' My Lord continued with, 'His name is written in the book of life and no one can snatch him from Me. Satan still does not understand yet. This man is not to be given justice, but rather mercy.' As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, 'There is nothing else that needs to be done. I've done it all.' The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from His lips... 'This man is free.' The penalty for him has already been paid in full. Case dismissed.' As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, 'I won't give up, I will win the next one.' I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, 'Have you ever lost a case?' Christ lovingly smiled and said, 'Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you, ~Paid In Full~ 'Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!' Give God all your worries and your cares, For He knows how much you can bear. MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU AND HAVE A NICE DAY! Why Pets Can Be Good for Your Health Friday, January 30, 2009 It's funny how dogs and cats know the inside of folks better than other folks do, isn't it? -Eleanor H. Porter, Pollyanna From "Unconditional Love: Healing from Pets" by Jill Neimark, Spirituality & Health Magazine (July/August 2005): A survey by the American Animal Hospital Association found that three-quarters of pet owners say affection is their pet's most endearing quality. Now a review of the research from Stanford University shows that the love goes both ways and suggests that our own altruistic behavior makes caring for pets so beneficial. "The attachment we feel to our pets is similar to the unconditional love a parent feels for a child," says Marivic Dizon, a postdoctoral candidate at Stanford University. "Acts of kindness and compassion directed at animals are authentically altruistic. There are few social benefits to such actions beyond the possible reciprocation of love from the animal." Dr. Dizon explains that altruism is linked to improved mental and physical well-being, and the care and nurturing we give animals offers similar benefits. Whether you're rescuing an injured bird or stroking your dog's belly, you will likely be boosting your own health and well-being. Dizon reports that adults and children who feel empathy towards their pets manifest stronger feelings of empathy toward other people. In Project Pooch, incarcerated youth who learned to care for dogs that had been abandoned also learned greater honesty, empathy, nurturing, social growth, respect for authority, and leadership. A study of women in prisons who trained dogs to help the handicapped found that the women's self-esteem increased significantly. One long-term study on pet ownership found that adopting a pet is associated with almost instantly improved physical and emotional well-being. This may be in part because caring for a pet connects us more strongly to society.

Stay within my calorie range. Drink 12 glasses of water. Walk 1 - 3 miles per day Lose 1- 2 pounds per week.

Measuring food for portion control. Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies. Get enough protein.

I live in NW Minnesota about 50 SE of Fargo ND. I live in a small town of about 100 people. I can only get Fox TV station with an antenna. Have to have satellite for internet or dial-up. I tell people it was like moving back to the 60's, but I love it.

I have 3 dogs, Scruffy(rat terrier mix), Dutchess(mini dachshund), and my newest addition Gomer(St. Bernard mix), and 2 cats, Kiki-10 years, Snickers-7 years, Spunky-16 yrs-just put down 6-10-09, Sassy-5 years-put down 5-4-09-liver disease. I just gave Belle (12 year old Pom Poo) to my Home Health Nurse. All of my animals are rescued either from a shelter or because people were moving and had to leave them behind or in Belle's case the owner died. Gomer was dumped at my daughter's house last July. In December I decided to take him.

Add a Link Small Dogs, Big Hearts Team: <link>www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_individual.asp?gid=7164</link> Doxie Lovers: <link>www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_individual.asp?gid=10493</link> No Gyms Needed: <link>www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_individual.asp?gid=5843</link> MN Fat Kickers: <link>www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_individual.asp?gid=13164</link>
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