The "M" word

Thank you for coming to my blog and if you have been here before thank you for coming back.  I have so many things going on in my head that it is hard for me to focus on one thing at a time.  I want to touch on menopause for today I think.  I didn't realize how hormones during pre-menopause, peri-menopause and post menopause can affect every aspect of a woman's life.

I'm sure there are more women out there who have had the same experience but are ashamed or unsure if they should share their stories.  I have recently started listening to Dr. Mariza Snyder's podcasts at www.drmariza.com and she has helped me to understand a lot about my body, hormones and why things happen the way they do.

So to start, a little bit of background.  I had some abnormal pap tests in my late 20s and my gynecologist and I decided, due to my biological mother's history of cancer, that I would have a hysterectomy.  So when I was 31, just before my 32nd birthday, I had my hysterectomy.  I was left with my ovaries which I think was a good thing because that meant I would not be spiraled into menopause and would still ovulate.  I didn't miss my monthly menstrual cycle at all, which I'm sure you can imagine.  Through the years though, I realized from time to time that my moods were changing, from crying to being pissed off at stupid things and every emotion in between.  I would have night sweats randomly, literally waking up in a pool of sweaty sheets. Sleep problems, not being able to stay asleep, waking several times during the night. I actually had to, several times, go upstairs or in the next bedroom to get away from my snoring husband because I thought that he was the reason I wasn't sleeping.  And a couple of years ago I had my first anxiety attack.  It was building and I was super emotional, crying at EVERY little thing, from a comment from my husband that would normally make me laugh, to my stepson showing me a ring he had bought for his girlfriend who he was planning on asking to marry him.  I sobbed at these things and more, songs on the radio, sad things or happy things on TV, some nights I just cried myself to sleep for no reason.  I had dealt with depression once before in my mid 20s, but never to this level.

My bio mom passed away from colon cancer, when she was 51 so I didn't have her to talk to about her symptoms of menopause.  She has 4 sisters to whom I looked for advice.  I reached out to them to see what their symptoms were to find out if they had any of the same ones I had dealt with and also see what they did to ease them.  Unfortunately they didn't have any significant information that I could use.

So a year goes by and my symptoms seem to be better, not as severe, no more anxiety attacks and I have my annual physical. My physician ordered, at my request, an FSH lab order. Follicle Stimulating Hormone, which tells if you are in menopause.  YAY, mine came back that I was post menopausal, which meant that I wasn't going crazy!!  My symptoms were legit and if I had realized that sooner, there may have been something I could have done to  ease them a little.  So without knowing exactly when I was in post menopause, because I wasn't having periods, I didn't realize what was happening.

From listening to Dr. Mariza, I realized what was going on with my body and that there are natural ways to ease symptoms of menopause and balance your hormones.  From what you eat, to the beauty/skin care products we use and daily self care rituals to get in the right mindset.

I am now 49, turning 50 this year!  I have created a place in my home where I can take care of my mind by doing some healing yoga, meditation and self love rituals.  I also try to put in and on my body all the healthy food and non toxic products I can get my hands on.  Diffusing essential oils which I haven't yet but will be subscribing soon to www.doterra.com and practicing in hygge when ever I can.  I am getting through this stage of my life and embracing what will be the best years of my life.  I would highly recommend any woman going through any changes that don't seem like normal or make you feel like you are not yourself, to talk to your doctor about menopause and ask all the questions, take care of YOU first, create some daily self care rituals and enjoy this next phase.

If anyone is beginning their journey into menopause and wants support, I would be happy to be that person.  I am not a professional in this subject, I only have my own experiences to go by but it is nice to be able to talk to someone who has been through what you are going through and who doesn't judge you because they don't understand.

Take care of you and live your best life!
Carin

The year I left off with......

Good morning!  I have to apologize because it's been 5 years since my last post and a lot has happened in that time.  Wow!  I don't even know where to begin.  So this picture is of me last fall getting back into running after a long battle with herniated disk, physical therapy and eventually surgery.  I was so happy to start running again but unfortunately it didn't last. I'm still hopeful that I will get back into running but right now it's not my priority
So now that I am back trying to share what life as a Maine Girl is like I will try to focus on one topic per week and welcome your comments, suggestions, stories. Here is a little run down of the last 5 years in the life of this Maine Girl. 
Vacations....

Cat Adoptions.....

grandkids 

These are the highlights, but there was a ton more of good that blessed us that year!  Here are some more pictures and I will let you know how 2015 went next time!

Sea Glass Hunting

Hi there!  It's been awhile.  I have been a little busy tending the vegetable plants (pictured below) and the weather has been great so not much time spent inside on the computer.  The greenhouse is out back and when we move to camp for the summer, we will just load it on the trailer and take it with us.  I should take some new pics of the plants, they are going crazy!  Had to repot the zucchini and cukes already. 

I decided today to go to Marlboro Beach in Lamoine to hunt for some sea glass.  I love walking the beach and combing for treasures of ships from the past.  Sounds good, but most of the time I find pieces of broken beer and wine bottles.  Today I found a nice piece of light blue glass.  Not sure what it is a bit from, but it is pretty and nicely smoothed.  After about a half hour of searching my eyes started to get buggy!  It was pretty windy out there today as well.  Marlboro Beach is a place that is wide open and alot of folks go there to fly kites, because the wind is usually perfect there.  The tide goes out pretty far also and you can go out on the sand bar where the seagulls are picking up mussels and crabs, dropping them from up in the air and then swooping down to eat the juicy seafood dinner.  I love the ocean and it's sounds and smells.  The air is crisp and salty and you carry that smell with you.  Anyone know of any good areas to find sea glass in Eastern Maine?  I would love to check out some new areas. 

Well, it's time to close for now and I promise not so long until the next time!  Have a good night and thank you for stopping by!

Snow is almost gone!

I am so glad that the snow is melting fast. The crocus` are coming up, the birds are going crazy and I have the fever for running! PT appointment yesterday went well. He said I can get back at it on Saturday! Every other day though for the first week :( better safe than sorry. My owl is still around and amazingly I haven't had any squirrels around....hmmm, I think the owl got them or they are petrified of being caught so they stay hidden.  Anyway, I love that they aren't hogging the bird feeders.
I have to tell you, I started my garden around March 18 and it is growing so good! I have zucchini plants that have there first ruffley leaves. I hope it starts warming up soon so I can get the plants into the greenhouse. Still only in the low 30s tops at night.
Peace out for tonight! Thanks for stopping by ;)

In the kitchen.

Good morning! I'm typically not the cooking type. The quickest way out of the kitchen is the way I take.   my husband jokes about me wanting to go out as many nights a week as possible.  However, I do enjoy home cooked meals and get so sick of the same old same old.. So now and then I get out interest or a cookbook and try something new. Probably the biggest reason I dislike being in the kitchen is the brainstorming and trying to figure out what to do, making a shopping list then having the money and time to get the shopping done.... I could go on and on.  Anyhow, this morning hubby is doing some man stuff and I'm in my pajamas still (it's only a little after 9am).  I chose a blueberry breakfast cake by richestoragsbydori.blogspot.com.  I made a couple of substitutions to use what I have on hand and to make it diabetic friendly. My husband is a diabetic, so he doesn't get this kind of treat often.  I didn't have buttermilk so used 1tbsp lemon juice and a cup of milk. Easy peasy! Then instead of sugar I used honey and I made some oat flour from oatmeal so I only had to use half of the amount of white flour.  Although you could do wheat flour too.  The timer just went off but because I made some changes to the recipe I also have to add a little time for baking.  I'll let you know how it turns out . Fingers crossed!  Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

That looks a little moose-y!

Whenever I go out for a run/ride on the Sunrise Trail or the camp road, or if we go camping up in the Maine northwoods area I'm always on the lookout for moose.  Moose are the largest member of the deer family and can weigh upwards of 1000 pounds, yet they are very elusive.  Swampy areas with dead trees, like the Schoodic Bog are great areas to potentially see one of these great beasts.  One morning, while out on my morning run on the camp road, I was headed back to camp and came around the corner where there are clumps of birch trees along the side of the road.  Up ahead, nibbling on the brances of a bunch of birch trees, standing right in the road and not leaving me any room to get around, was a huge moose!  I normally have a camera with me, but of course this time I didn't.  All I could do was stand there, quietly and watch. Escape routes were running through my mind, because although he was still a little ways away, I'm pretty sure I couldn't out run him, no large trees around to climb and I didn't have a phone to call for help.  They don't see very well but they can hear and smell so I hoped he didn't hear me breathing hard and want to check me out.  Fortunately he was done munching and ambled off into the woods.  I was still leary to go to the area he left the road, thinking he was waiting in the woods and was going to come out and get me on my way by.  I lived to tell the story and wouldn't mind having this happen again, I will be ready with my camera next time!
Have a great day!

Morning visitor

Well good morning to you, Mr. Owl! 
I was on my way out the door this morning and this owl flew by me about 15ft from the ground.  He was amazing.  I knew tthere was a chance I might be late to work, but I dropped my lunch bag and went back into the house to get my camera.  I followed him around my father-in-law's garage where he was perched high in the pine tree.  He was very curious as to what my motives were for "sneaking" up on him and he kept peeking out from behind the branch.  He flew away to another tree and I followed, out behind the garage now.  I didn't get any good pictures of him from that point because he was too far up and blocked by the branches.  There were smaller birds following him too, which puzzles me.  I assume it's because if the owl gets something, maybe the other birds get leftovers??  Anyhow, thought I would share this with you.  I love taking pictures too, did I mention photography is one of my most favorite outdoor "sports"?  Have a good evening!