God's "Special Gift"

Kirsten loves soccer

Your daughter may never walk, she will likely be severely mentally challenged and she will struggle with obesity... Her whole life!  

They say God will never give you anything you can't handle.  Not very comforting to parents who have just received devastating news from the doctor who has diagnosed their brand new baby with Prader-Willi Syndrome... Or any other disabling birth defect. It also doesn't help as you work the phones looking for ongoing medical, therapeutic and financial support. Nor does it help as you lay awake at night worrying about your child who is struggling to survive. New challenges, new fears... And new strength!

What had started out, in my mind (and believe me, thats a scary place), as a post on behavior as it is influenced by our environment... Has changed direction today due to inspiration from a couple of "Moms Blogs" that I read. They reminded me of a "technique" of sorts, that has become a routine for me and was created through my experience, and those things that have been an influence on me.  

It is so simple, common sense really, but many of us overlook or forget this one strategy that can help almost anyone.  I had to re-learn it as a member of a Toastmasters club, but it has so much more adaptability to everything we do.  The Toastmasters club mission statement (what should be part of our child rearing focus) says it all: 

The mission of a Toastmasters club (or our home) is to 

provide a mutually supportive and positive learning 

environment in which every individual member has 

the opportunity to develop oral communication 

and leadership skills, which in turn foster 

self-confidence and personal growth.

A positive and supportive attitude is contagious, and can change lives! What doesn't reach out and grab you in this mission statement, does hit home with the Toastmasters Club experience. Just for starters, every individuals speech is evaluated orally by a peer, focusing on the individuals strengths and also providing a few suggestions for growth, but always in a positive and supportive manner. And this is just the tip of the iceberg! A great positive learning experience for anyone that can help in all aspects of your life.

Imagine if we didn't accept that our children had limitations. Because they don’t! Imagine if we didn't allow the doctors to label our children and put them in a one size fits all box. The box doesn’t exist! Imagine if our children, who look to us for guidance, reassurance and support, believed in themselves... Just as we believe in them!

They say God doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle... But they also say that God provides everything we need. Perhaps God loved my family so much, that he saw the need to send Kirsten to help us find our way home.  Kirsten was such a blessing for me and my family... And I couldn’t imagine life without her smile, her laugh, her habits, her routines and her love. She is surprising us every day with her accomplishments. She is perfect in every way, because God doesn’t make mistakes!

We are all God’s children and some of us are extra “Special”.  Treat your extra “Special” children as the “Special Gifts” from God that they are, full of potential and love, and God will take care of their... “Special Needs”.

As I said, God provides everything we need.  When it comes to nature, natural, my family, and especially my little girl who has Prader-Willi Syndrome, I trust Shaklee products to give me added hope for the future.

Terry Guinn, A Healthier You Too

Treat your family to the quality products they deserve. Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, Shaklee Independent Distributor, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

Shakleebaby & Shakleekids

A Genetically Engineered Future

Are we approaching a future where “organic” as we know it will no longer exist?  Is it also possible that the world food supply could be controlled by one company? We seem to be heading that way as the use of Monsanto’s genetically engineered (GE) seed grows in popularity. These crops are already in our food supply and being fed to livestock.

I read a lot of articles and looked at many resources looking for information to complete my last Blog post, and a name that I am very familiar with kept popping up, Monsanto. Perhaps it is just because "someone has to do it", but Monsanto has been connected to many dangerous products in its long history. Things like saccharin, DDT, Agent Orange, PCB's and nuclear weapons. Monsanto on Wikipedia   

As I said, I am very familiar with the name Monsanto. I spent twenty three years in the dairy industry in retail distribution, with time spent in my early years driving a farm tanker on weekends picking up bulk milk, and I became very familiar with the battles over rBGH.  

If you explore the internet for Monsanto related articles, you can find a lot of disturbing information on contamination, poisoning, intimidation, law suits, ect. Of course "the truth" is in the eye of the beholder or in this case, the eyes of the writers. I try to keep an open mind when it comes to what I read, based on what I know about business and the world. What I am somewhat familiar with are the lawsuits over promotion of milk that was not produced with Monsanto's rBGH, because of implications through marketing that milk produced by cows treated with rBGH was inferior or unsafe. Monsanto was very aggressive in its fight against the Dairy industry over labeling and marketing that had the potential for cutting into their profits. It appears that the farming industry has faced Monsanto's wrath for even longer, according to many articles like this one from 2008, Monsanto's Harvest of Fear, which continues to be referenced by many because the author provided so much information that if true, is cause for concern on many levels.

As you explore the internet, you can find a lot of articles referencing a fear that has continued in the farming industry.  You can also read about how farmers desperate to make a profit to feed their families, have been turning to GE seed and those who don't, find themselves dotting i's and crossing t's to protect themselves from the "seed police".  

On one side, you can understand Monsanto's interest in protecting its company from theft through unlicensed use of GE seeds and unfortunately, some "bad seeds" have given them good reason to have concern. I can also see the need to solve the worlds potential food shortage, as the worlds population continues to grow at an alarming rate.  But I also see this as a potentially bigger problem that began the day when the first GE seeds were approved for use. That is because of the lack of or limited studies used to gain approval.  


For us who lack the understanding of these complicated technologies, we must rely on published studies and our government to protect us. But, what happens when those published studies contradict the safety of those technologies and our government continues to make questionable decisions and create questionable policies? Almost as if they are being manipulated by big corporations. If you believe the articles written about the latest Monsanto triumph in deregulation of RR Alfalfa, you have to wonder about the future of our ecosystem, plant life as we know it,  animal health, the effects of GMO’s on humans and... Are we approaching a future where “organic” or “natural” as we know it, will no longer exist? 

One company that is still holding on to its over 50 year commitment to produce products from “natural” ingredients, is Shaklee.  To insure that commitment, Shaklee conducts over 80,000 quality tests annually to guarantee purity and safety. For my family, and especially my little girl who has Prader-Willi Syndrome, Shaklee products give me hope for the future.

Terry Guinn, A Healthier You Too

Treat your family to the quality products they deserve. Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, Shaklee Independent Distributor, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

Shakleebaby & Shakleekids

Taco Bell-ch

http://terrysnotebook.blogspot.com/

It takes a lot to surprise me these days, and when I saw that Taco Bell was being sued for their potential stretch in using the word beef for something that might not qualify... Well, I thought that to be somewhat humorous, especially since I prefer the chicken products and since I have been playing with fast food for a few months on my other Blog.  It seemed humorous, until I read the full story and then checked out the ingredients page for Taco Bell products.

What first caught my eye was the "anti-dusting agent" and "maltodextrin". Hmmmmm? Of course, we all know that there are a lot of chemicals, compounds and additives going into our foods, especially into our fast foods in order to improve taste, maintain quality and preserve them for long periods of time... You did know that, didn't you?  It seems that the anti-dusting agent and maltodextrin were not the worse things that I would find in my research.


Part of the chemistry experiment that gives us Taco Bell's "Seasoned Ground Beef" includes "fiber" for our diet, in the way of silicon dioxide.  Ok, perhaps my technical understanding of the use of silicon dioxide is too limited to understand the use and safety of this chemical compound that is commonly found in nature as sand or quartz. AND, is more commonly used in the production of glass and optical "fiber"! LOL  Seriously! Check it out at this link.  

Check out the ingredients for yourself at this Taco Bell link.  

As I said at the beginning, I thought this to be humorous because I prefer the chicken products from Taco Bell... Until I read that silicon dioxide was also used in the chicken products, rice, chilli and others, but no more than 2%... Is it just me, or does 2% seem like a lot? 

I will say this for Taco Bell, they have a very detailed list of ingredients and are quite possibly more forth coming and up front than most fast food chains.  They might not be required to list all of these ingredients because of the FDA’s GRAS policy (generally recognized as safe).  A policy that is over my head!

One thing that is not over my head, is the growing trend toward creating the best tasting food that is not necessarily good for you. Looking at labels and understanding ingredients is important for my family because my daughter has Prader-Willi Syndrome.  We are the lucky ones, forced to be health conscious and we have discovered a great company to help us. Shaklee is committed to providing natural nutrition and green cleaning products, plus so much more. Over 80,000 quality tests annually, with a history of over 50 years of helping families.

Isn't it time you took a, run... from the border, and started thinking, outside the... restaurant?

Terry Guinn, A Healthier You Too

Treat your family to the quality products they deserve. Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, Shaklee Independent Distributor, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

Shakleebaby & Shakleekids

Mom's Blog

Warning! Proceed with caution. Reading a mothers blog may cause heart pain and eye strain.

Roaming through the world of blogging can sometimes lead you to a blog post that really touches your heart.  I on the other hand, seek out these type of posts to face head on the stark reality of the world we live in. The posts written from the heart, about children who are struggling, hit especially hard.

Doctors, books and articles written by professionals can provide a one size fits all approach to raising children, including special needs children.  But everyone knows that our children are not all the same.  They learn at different speeds and in different ways.  They grow at different speeds and in different ways. They all encounter different obstacles... Including health issues.  

I am a part of a very large community on-line whose lives have been changed due too a child being born with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS).  Doctors can tell you what they learned in books, but parents can share with you what they have learned in life. Reading some of the stories from these parents can be educational and inspiring, but can also be very emotionally draining at times.  I was reminded of this in recent days while reading blog posts by a mom sharing in words, her life with a little girl struggling with PWS.  Hugs denied and questions on being different, simple things with a big impact on the heart.

So why would I subject myself to such stress??? I am looking for inspiration and guidence.  Like many other parents of children who have special needs, I want real answers. I don't want the text book version of what “will be”.  I want to understand the struggles and pain from real world experiences so I can prepare myself. Even, perhaps, avoid those struggles and pain through a different approach. Not only that, I want to help others if I can, even if only through words of encouragement.  

As many parents would, I would do anything for my seven year old daughter.  I look for anything with potential for adding to a better “quality of life” for my daughter, now and for the future. 

This is also one of the reasons we started using Shaklee products in our home.  My daughter has enough health issues and we want to try to minimize the risk of her developing any others.  With her low muscle tone and limited ability to cough productively, should the need arise, and the rise in children developing asthma, we wanted to lessen her risk, as well as the risk to our other children, of breathing problems by removing as many toxins from the air as possible.  We did this by switching to “Green” cleaning products from Shaklee for the kitchen, laundry and the rest of the house.  As a result, a breathing problem I had for years has disappeared.

We also have a real concern for her nutrition, given the unreliability of the food supply and her very limited diet. So we use Shaklee vitamin supplements. I have used vitamin supplements most of my life, but noticed a big difference after using Shaklee multivitamins for a while. 


There is a wealth of information on the internet to help you and your loved ones. People around the world are sharing their real life stories to touch and inspire others. How can I help? 

Terry Guinn, A Healthier You Too

Treat your family to the quality products they deserve. Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, Shaklee Independent Distributor, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

Shakleebaby & Shakleekids

Endless Chocolates? Test Me!!!

How much conscious control do we really have? Could you imagine a bowl of your favorite soup that kept replenishing itself? How about an endless supply of your favorite chocolates... Right at your finger tips!

I am a firm believer in setting good examples for our children, especially when it comes to food.  But my calling to healthier food choices and habits did not come without some major influences.  My daughter Kirsten (now seven) has Prader-Willi Syndrome.  Change in food choices and eating habits was a necessity!

In my world, measuring food quantities with great accuracy is important, but how many of us are using "best judgement" when it comes to portion sizes? Check out the studies conducted by Dr. Brian Wansink, author of the book "Mindless Eating".  Some of his insightful experiments remind me of the old "Candid Camera" show.  

 

There is no escaping it.  Food is everywhere!  It's in our kitchens, in our favorite TV programs, in everything we read... It's in our thoughts and at almost every event we attend, including church (how I miss sticking around for pot luck dinners).

For the benefit of our children, we must set a good example.  They are watching everything we do, and our bad habits will be their bad habits to build upon. If we are cheating with a hidden stash of chocolates, you can bet they have noticed us reaching for them, chewing on them or they can smell them on our breath.  If we are stopping for our favorite flavored coffee drink every day, they are probably on to us and craving a chocolate shake.  If we are going heavy on the burgers and fries, while cutting back on vegetables, you can bet they are upset at the healthy amount of broccoli on their plate.

My daughter Kirsten (7 years old) is not allowed to have many 

sweets or unhealthy snacks because she has Prader-Willi Syndrome 

and weight control is, and will always be, a major struggle. Yet she 

sees everyone else indulging. How do you explain that to a seven year 

old who looks forward to church, just so she can take part in communion. 

Every potential morsel of food... A distracting focus.

Be sure to check out the video above and you can find more of Dr. Wansink's videos on YouTube at the "MindlessEating" channel. These videos are not only entertaining, but a good source of inspiration as well. 

If you are looking to make a change in you're eating habits and/or are concerned about your families nutrition, please visit my website listed below.

Terry Guinn, A Healthier You Too

Treat your family to the quality products they deserve.  Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, Shaklee Independent Distributor, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

Shakleebaby & Shakleekids

Be "SMART" About It In "2011"

Today is the first day... Of the rest of your year!  It's also the beginning of those "2011" New Years resolutions.  Maybe you don't start working on those until you have fully awakened and have had a good lunch.  Or, after "New Year's Day" perhaps.  Of course, It would be a shame to waste the holiday weekend suffering.  Oops, I forgot about Monday... How can anyone expect to be successful starting something new on a Monday???

Shaklee "A million trees, a million dreams"

New Year's resolutions, or setting goals, are great for planting seeds for success in the new year, but if you don't take action, they are just dreams.  It is so easy to make or find excuses to avoid following through on your goals, and before you know it, many months have gone by, the seeds are still in the package, and you are then waiting for 2012 to start fresh with your goals... As if a specific start date is required.

Just do it!  Now!  Take the time to evaluate, estimate and create excitement! But be "SMART" about it. Is your goal a "SMART" goal?

• Specific - Have you set a specific and realistic outcome/goal.
• Measurable - What changes, and what does success mean? 
• Attainable - Are your goals realistic and do you have what it takes to achieve them?
• Relevant - Are your goals meaningful and beneficial?
• Time Bound - How will you stay focused and know your on track?

Once you have identified and evaluated your goal, write it down, share it and create a plan to track, achieve and celebrate success.  Don't just celebrate the achievement of your goal, track your progress and celebrate every step toward success! With every step you take, you are getting closer to success and gaining confidence & strength. 

Now consider this... How will you stay on track?  

• A chart to update regularly? 
• A sign on your bathroom mirror as a morning reminder or inspiration?
• A picture on your desk for encouragement?
• A preset daily alarm in your cell phone or daily electronic reminders?
• How about a collage of pictures that represent your dreams (new car, house, vacation, ect.)?
• Will you share it with others who will help or hold you accountable?

For most, achieving their goals will require making changes and there in lies the biggest obstacle.  Overcoming the fear and or struggles associated with change requires a mindset for success.  This mindset exists within in all of us, otherwise we would not be alive today.  Anything is possible, but that is not to say that anything is easy. 

Victory is within your reach, if you plan your battle and stay focused on the goal. A big part of remaining focused and positive is feeling good.  With every successful step we feel more confident and excited, but when something slows us down, we can easily fall into the same old rut which is our contort zone.  A healthy lifestyle is the key to unlocking our inner strength and empowering each of us to achieve our dreams. 

If you are looking to start creating a healthier lifestyle for you and your family, Shaklee has products that can help. From natural supplements like daily vitamins for you or your children, fish oil, cholesterol reduction and probiotics, to green cleaning products for a healthy home, laundry and kitchen.     

*And, If you are considering weight loss, as many do for their new year's goal, Shaklee can help you with that as well. The Cinch® Starter Kit has everything you need to get started.

Shaklee's "Cinch® Starter Kit

    

Terry Guinn, A Healthier You Too

Treat your family to the quality products they deserve.  Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, Shaklee Independent Distributor, through my website at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.com or if you would like to checkout the products for yourself, go to my Shaklee page at  www.ahealthieryoutoo.myshaklee.com 

Shakleebaby & Shakleekids