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

A Passing Grade for Better Health

Doctors don't have all the answers and if it takes a village to raise a child, does it also take a team of specialists to become a part of that village, to raise a child with Prader-Willi Syndrome?

Another three months have gone by and that means its time for another visit to the endocrinologist. That also means its time to work on my notes and questions, in preparation for the appointment.  Our doctors rely on blood tests, X-rays, studies, consultations with other doctors... And a parents impute.  If we fail to provide the right information, in a way that the doctors can comprehend and use this information, we may not receive a passing grade which is improved health for our children.

Twas the night before our appointment and all through the house,

everyone else was sleeping including my spouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

because the children's excitement was to much to bear.

 I at my computer typing away,

preparing my notes for the following day.

For the endo would certainly be rushing about,

no time to stop and let questions come out.

Its Kirsten's health that I'm working on here,

so I'll do what it takes... I need a beer!

This is when I get excited, because I get to see just how successful we have been with Kirsten, now seven, who has Prader-Willi Syndrome.  It has been a real struggle to manage her diet and get the right balance of medicines.  Just like in the cartoons when someone plugs a leak in a dam, we feel like we have control and then another leak develops.  We plug that one and the initial leak burst again.  Our biggest struggle has been with weight and high cholesterol. We have managed to gain control of her weight this year and her cholesterol levels have come down some (as of 8/19).

We see many doctors in our quest to manage Kirsten's health, but it is the endocrinologist that I find most valuable.  Even though his bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired, he is very knowledgable and I find I can work with him as long as I come prepared. These quarterly visits, for me, have become somewhat of a quest for approval, and perhaps a challenge to earn that approval. I have always tried to do what is right, and what is best for Kirsten, but until the last couple visits, there was never any good news.  Of course one could say that if you are overcoming obstacles, even with new obstacles emerging, you are headed in the right direction.

Tomorrow promises to be enlightening and with all that I have learned this year alone, I am prepared to take Kirsten to her endocrinologist appointment... To see how I'm doing!

Another thing that I am doing to earn a passing grade in Kirsten's health, is providing her with Shakleekids Increditives multivitamin/multimineral dietary supplement. I want her to achieve her maximum potential, so I want products that I can trust to help her get there.

December is a great month to treat your family to the quality products they deserve.  Shaklee products are always safe, always work, and are always green.   Several promotions available, including the "Free Membership" offer below. If you would like more information about Shaklee products, please contact me, Terry Guinn, 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 

SPECIAL OFFER:

December 1-31, 2010, "Free Membership" 

(a $19.95 value) with an order for $70 worth of products at member prices.