I found myself taking a day off today from the studio because I have a sinus infection and swollen glands :(
However, I took the opportunity to rest up. Still not feeling 100% but so grateful for my usually stellar health today! As ironic as it sounds, it is the perfect time to express gratitude for my health. Sometimes I think becoming sick is the universes way of ensuring that we value the times we are healthy!
More tomorrow!!
~Trace
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Day #1 of Gratitude...
The perfect start to my 40 days of gratitude! Today I am grateful for my always supportive husband, Frank, without him I would be lost! :)
40 Days of Gratitude!
This month I turn 40 on August 25th. I am very excited about this! Life has been so wonderful.
As my way of paying it forward to the universe, starting today I will be posting for 40 days the things in my life I am most grateful for. I hope you enjoy.
~Traci
As my way of paying it forward to the universe, starting today I will be posting for 40 days the things in my life I am most grateful for. I hope you enjoy.
~Traci
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Maggie's Cornell Visit
This post is really for everyone that has been inquiring about our dog, Maggie.
Mags has been an itchy dog for a very long time but we never thought anything was wrong until we got Abbie. We noticed that what we thought were normal ears, were actually very red and irritated.
So, last October began a journey with her that started with a possible diagnosis of mites and has ended up much worse. At this point she is very young (not even 2) and nothing is life-threatening.
When the treatment for mites didn't help we started getting a little nervous. She started developing aural hematomas in both of her ears beginning in late January early February. At the beginning of February we took her back to our vet and they put her and Abbie on the 'best' mite medicine out there (REvolution) to give it one more shot. About a week after the second dose and 6 weeks on Prednisone that didn't do much for her itching, we took her back again and the vet immediately suggested we get her into Cornell ASAP that something else must be wrong.
I just wish we wouldn't have waited so long. Because of the trauma to her ears from her scratching them, her aural hematomas were big enough that she had to have surgery to remove them. Her left ear A.H. was so big that it caused the cartilage to break down and her ear flopped over from the weight of it. The doc said she doesn't think it will stand up completely again, which originally made me pretty upset, but I think that is the least of the worries now.
The internal medicine doctor was concerned enough about her symptoms to date, including an abnormal breathing episode, that she wanted to test her IgA (immunoglobulin A) level. Unfortunately, the test detected no level at all, which is not a good thing. They took two skin biopsies to assess the correlation of markedly decreased IgA level with her skin and they sent a stool sample to Texas to assess the correlation of markedly decreased IgA level in her GI tract.
We are still holding out hope that this might just be a food allergy, however, it is more likely that the food allergies are a secondary cause as well as her chronic diarrhea to the root problem of her IgA deficiency.
In reading up on it (including the article below), I hate to say that so many of her symptoms match having this challenging problem.
Basically what happens with IgA dogs is the symptoms and diseases that arise get treated as they occur, there is no medicine to cure it or make it go away. I did read that there is mixed success rates with stimulating the immune system to stave off complications from it, and I will definitely do more research on that.
So, I have attached an article that describes in greater detail what IgA deficiency is all about if this turns out to be the cause of her problems. We are hoping that Abbie doesn't end up in the same boat. If either of the tests come back confirming this diagnosis, then we will have to take her up to Cornell and have her tested as well.
The GOOD news is that we will have access to great medical professionals so close to home (Cornell), and that she is an AMAZING dog who is loved so much by us and we would do anything for her!
http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-health/selective-iga-deficiency.aspx
Mags has been an itchy dog for a very long time but we never thought anything was wrong until we got Abbie. We noticed that what we thought were normal ears, were actually very red and irritated.
So, last October began a journey with her that started with a possible diagnosis of mites and has ended up much worse. At this point she is very young (not even 2) and nothing is life-threatening.
When the treatment for mites didn't help we started getting a little nervous. She started developing aural hematomas in both of her ears beginning in late January early February. At the beginning of February we took her back to our vet and they put her and Abbie on the 'best' mite medicine out there (REvolution) to give it one more shot. About a week after the second dose and 6 weeks on Prednisone that didn't do much for her itching, we took her back again and the vet immediately suggested we get her into Cornell ASAP that something else must be wrong.
I just wish we wouldn't have waited so long. Because of the trauma to her ears from her scratching them, her aural hematomas were big enough that she had to have surgery to remove them. Her left ear A.H. was so big that it caused the cartilage to break down and her ear flopped over from the weight of it. The doc said she doesn't think it will stand up completely again, which originally made me pretty upset, but I think that is the least of the worries now.
The internal medicine doctor was concerned enough about her symptoms to date, including an abnormal breathing episode, that she wanted to test her IgA (immunoglobulin A) level. Unfortunately, the test detected no level at all, which is not a good thing. They took two skin biopsies to assess the correlation of markedly decreased IgA level with her skin and they sent a stool sample to Texas to assess the correlation of markedly decreased IgA level in her GI tract.
We are still holding out hope that this might just be a food allergy, however, it is more likely that the food allergies are a secondary cause as well as her chronic diarrhea to the root problem of her IgA deficiency.
In reading up on it (including the article below), I hate to say that so many of her symptoms match having this challenging problem.
Basically what happens with IgA dogs is the symptoms and diseases that arise get treated as they occur, there is no medicine to cure it or make it go away. I did read that there is mixed success rates with stimulating the immune system to stave off complications from it, and I will definitely do more research on that.
So, I have attached an article that describes in greater detail what IgA deficiency is all about if this turns out to be the cause of her problems. We are hoping that Abbie doesn't end up in the same boat. If either of the tests come back confirming this diagnosis, then we will have to take her up to Cornell and have her tested as well.
The GOOD news is that we will have access to great medical professionals so close to home (Cornell), and that she is an AMAZING dog who is loved so much by us and we would do anything for her!
http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-health/selective-iga-deficiency.aspx
Take Care and have a great weekend :)
Traci
Monday, January 24, 2011
A Second Home
Ahhhhhhhhh....
I made it to Hawaai! And for those of you wondering the results of the 21 day challenge yesterday.... (drum roll please...) I made it by .1! 10.1 pounds lost in 21 days! I was a little worried because I indulged in a double chocolate truffle in Newport.
So it is our first of 6 full days in Kona Hawaii. it is so beautiful here. there really is no other place on earth quite like Hawaii. Maui is my favorite but the big Island is nice too. I feel at home here. it is like my 'tropical life'
I think on thursday we are going to go on an Eco-Zip line adventure in the Kohala Mountain Rainforest. right now I am sitting on my balcony enjoying a cup of Kona coffee and blogging to all of my faithful bloggees. I hear it is cold back home. Not here. 80 degrees. life is certainly good.
tomorrow it will be back to the gym. I have given my body some rest the past few days with the exception of some yoga. Planning to start some light mileage on the treadmill in prep for the beginning of our half marathon training when I return. very excited about that and so many other things. however, I am going to try my best to stay in the moment for the next several days. This won't last forever.
Have a great week my friends! Look for all our fabulous pics on Facebook. Hoping to catch our zip lining adventure and post those pics!
This 'IS' Easy, and I am Worth it!!!
Trace
I made it to Hawaai! And for those of you wondering the results of the 21 day challenge yesterday.... (drum roll please...) I made it by .1! 10.1 pounds lost in 21 days! I was a little worried because I indulged in a double chocolate truffle in Newport.
So it is our first of 6 full days in Kona Hawaii. it is so beautiful here. there really is no other place on earth quite like Hawaii. Maui is my favorite but the big Island is nice too. I feel at home here. it is like my 'tropical life'
I think on thursday we are going to go on an Eco-Zip line adventure in the Kohala Mountain Rainforest. right now I am sitting on my balcony enjoying a cup of Kona coffee and blogging to all of my faithful bloggees. I hear it is cold back home. Not here. 80 degrees. life is certainly good.
tomorrow it will be back to the gym. I have given my body some rest the past few days with the exception of some yoga. Planning to start some light mileage on the treadmill in prep for the beginning of our half marathon training when I return. very excited about that and so many other things. however, I am going to try my best to stay in the moment for the next several days. This won't last forever.
Have a great week my friends! Look for all our fabulous pics on Facebook. Hoping to catch our zip lining adventure and post those pics!
This 'IS' Easy, and I am Worth it!!!
Trace
Saturday, January 22, 2011
newport coast
today I am headed to Newport on the Oregon coast. Picking up my brother, his wife, 3 kids and my sister Megan.
yesterday was a busy day. Went to the Y in the am and I put Will, Le Ann, and Meg through an hour circuit workout. then we hit subway for lunch, a few stores including a grocery store to stock up on good food and then back to the Y for the kids' Disney workout. Very cute and awesome to get kids moving. the Y has a lot going on! I think it is a great thing for my bro and his family.
This morning I am 1/2 pound from my goal of ten pounds in 21 days. tomorrow is day 21. I am certain that I will hit it.
More exciting is that my brother lost 3 pounds and Le Ann lost 2.8. in ONE day!! great job to them. I am hoeing that this trip gives them the motivation and inspiration they need to keep going on their journey.
Traci
yesterday was a busy day. Went to the Y in the am and I put Will, Le Ann, and Meg through an hour circuit workout. then we hit subway for lunch, a few stores including a grocery store to stock up on good food and then back to the Y for the kids' Disney workout. Very cute and awesome to get kids moving. the Y has a lot going on! I think it is a great thing for my bro and his family.
This morning I am 1/2 pound from my goal of ten pounds in 21 days. tomorrow is day 21. I am certain that I will hit it.
More exciting is that my brother lost 3 pounds and Le Ann lost 2.8. in ONE day!! great job to them. I am hoeing that this trip gives them the motivation and inspiration they need to keep going on their journey.
Traci
Friday, January 21, 2011
Visiting my bro and sis
Good evening!
It is late and it has been a long day. Made it to Oregon without a hitch. This morning (at 2:30am) when my travel day began I am happy to say that I am 2 pounds from goal with 3 days to go and today being one of those days was an effortless clean eating day. All meals out and nothing bad for me. I even took my brother, his family and my sister to Applebees where each of us adults made great choices.
For those of you who do not know part of the reason I am here is to be my brother's 'Jillian Michaels' for a few days. He is still doing great and I think he is ready to refocus. He has a great attitude and realizes that his road to better health is a long and learning journey.
From my brother's journey I am reminded of a few things:
1. We are not always going to be perfect nor should we expect ourselves to be.
2. As all roads have twists, turns, bumps, detours and U-turns... So do our weight loss journeys.
3. remember for every uphill there is a downhill; the hard work of the climb helps us appreciate the easy breezy effortless downhills in life.
4. Raising a family, supporting a family and trying to be healthy yourself is very hard. but, remember 'always to put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others'
And
5. ... When you almost need a whole hand of fingers to count the years that have gone by since you have seen your sibling, it is entirely too long :(
so good to be here. Makes all this eating right and taking care of myself seem second nature and not so difficult in the grand scheme of things.
tomorrow I am headed to the Y with Will to do a little bit a training, Inspire Fitness style!
Then it's grocery shopping and a little cooking at their house. Then another trip to the Y w the whole family for a Disney themed workout!!
Exciting stuff :)
over and out...
trace
It is late and it has been a long day. Made it to Oregon without a hitch. This morning (at 2:30am) when my travel day began I am happy to say that I am 2 pounds from goal with 3 days to go and today being one of those days was an effortless clean eating day. All meals out and nothing bad for me. I even took my brother, his family and my sister to Applebees where each of us adults made great choices.
For those of you who do not know part of the reason I am here is to be my brother's 'Jillian Michaels' for a few days. He is still doing great and I think he is ready to refocus. He has a great attitude and realizes that his road to better health is a long and learning journey.
From my brother's journey I am reminded of a few things:
1. We are not always going to be perfect nor should we expect ourselves to be.
2. As all roads have twists, turns, bumps, detours and U-turns... So do our weight loss journeys.
3. remember for every uphill there is a downhill; the hard work of the climb helps us appreciate the easy breezy effortless downhills in life.
4. Raising a family, supporting a family and trying to be healthy yourself is very hard. but, remember 'always to put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others'
And
5. ... When you almost need a whole hand of fingers to count the years that have gone by since you have seen your sibling, it is entirely too long :(
so good to be here. Makes all this eating right and taking care of myself seem second nature and not so difficult in the grand scheme of things.
tomorrow I am headed to the Y with Will to do a little bit a training, Inspire Fitness style!
Then it's grocery shopping and a little cooking at their house. Then another trip to the Y w the whole family for a Disney themed workout!!
Exciting stuff :)
over and out...
trace
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