Explaining Death

How do you explain death to children? What age is appopriate to tell them about someone passing? My grandmother hasn't passed but the doctors have pretty much given up on her. They have told us that it it pretty much ineveitable at this point. My son is 20 months old. I don't think I should say anything because I don't think he would understand. So I ask the question how do you explain death? Also is it necessary for my 20 month old to a funeral? Being a mother is about providing guidance and support even when you don't know what to guide and how to support this. I pray and hope the Lord see me through this difficult time.

Lessons Learned

Wow! 2010 has come in and it sure is leaving it mark. I don't think this year will ever really leave my mind and the sad thing is we aren't even out of the first month. Well 2010 rang in and I remember tell my grandparents (my mother’s god-parents) Wow you guys see 2010 you made it to another decade, they are 86 and 87. As the days went by things seemed great, I was just recovering from an exhausting holiday season we took pictures and laughed. My son enjoyed seeing the grands daily running, hugs and kisses. They enjoyed his youth and loved to see him explore. Well Jan 12th came and so did the horrendous earthquake of Haiti. My mother’s mom, my 2 aunts and 3 cousins were all caught in the devastation leaving us in a limbo of uncertainty for about 2-3 days. Our family is recovering from it for the most part.
This morning started off simple enough, my son went to play with the grands. He laughed ran around, gave them hugs and climbed in bed with them. I could hear their laughter’s from down the hall. My grandma decided to go to a shower and shortly after, I could hear her calling my name. She was telling me she felt her left side going numb. Her face looked fine and I reassured her she was all right. She said she didn’t feel ok. So we agreed to call emergency response. They came and she said the numbness was getting worse. We went to the hospital I saw her for a second she spoke and asked me to bring something from home for her and that was the last thing she said to me. Things got worse instantly. The CAT scan revealed she had bleeding in her brain, a vessel had burst in her brain and she was having a bleeding stroke. Then the tube was placed in her throat. Next thing I knew we were being asked about final wishes, if we wanted a DNR. We were told that the neurosurgeon wouldn’t perform surgery there was nothing they could do to alleviate pressure on her brain. Then she was and still is in a coma; all of this in a period of 4 hrs.
I keep thinking to myself that can’t be it. Not like that. How can we just be talking and laughing and then this? I believe we're to learn these life lessons and I wonder what this month of January has taught me. Do we really learn from death? I have learned to take things slowly and to calm down, tomorrow isn’t promised and to tell people you love them. We make me wonder is I’m always saying I love you but I can’t remember the last time I said it to her.

Getting In Shape

It's that time of year when everyone is obsessed with losing weight for the New Year. Well I refuse to start working out quite yet. I have been running after my son as usual, trying to figure out what my next step is, and helping hubby and family. The list goes on a mile. Anyway, I decided to wait until next week when everyone else falls off the wagon and I can have the parks and walking trails when they are not as packed. Trust me it can be nice to work out in a group but as a mom who seems to always have my phone ringing with advice needed from somewhere or errands needing to be done, I enjoy the quiet of putting on my IPOD, strapping the baby into the jogging stroller, lacing up my sneakers and being at peace.

I am also going back to my Jillian Michaels regimen. I love her. She really gives you a workout and trust you don’t get bored. I realize that many people (and I previously) have been stuck on getting on a diet. I am interested in making lifestyle changes. I have concluded I am a southern girl who loves to cook and loves to eat. I am destined to be overweight IF I do not stay on top of things. My plans for my future don’t include me counting calories forever. So I say to you enjoy life, if you can fit in 20-30 minutes of exercise in a day you’re on the right track. I know it’s hard to get outdoors, if you have a chance check out Craigslist and get a used treadmill, exercise bike or elliptical machine. Also, try Wal-Mart they have some machines for about $100. Put it in a place you can’t miss like near the living room. When you are tuning in to watch Grey’s Anatomy, House or whatever show you just can’t live without, hop on for a 20 minutes and enjoy. Good Luck!

Product Review

Carol's Daughter Tui hair collection. Absolutely love it!!! Here's the thing I have been looking at her products for the past 5 years (I know a long time). It seems like whenever I'm ready to try it I hear a bad review, someone saying her products are overrated or that the formula has changed. So I took my time and waited. Well a few weeks ago I purchased Tui Gift Set at Sephora. It included the Tui Herbal Shampoo, Tui Hair Smoothie, Tui Hair oil and Hair Milk. Let me let you know how wonderful this stuff really is. The smell is intoxicating.

I started with a fresh pallet, I rinsed my hair with baking soda and water. I then shampooed with the Tui Herbal Shampoo, it lathers up wonderfully. Then I used the Hair Smoothie, left it on for about 15 mins and rinsed with warm water about 90% of it out then added a cold water burst. Now the first time I did it, I just did a twist set with the Hair Milk my results really sucked.!!! (yea you read right it sucked)

So I rewashed my hair the next day this time adding Hair Oil to my hair prior to washing, followed the steps, here's what I did change: while my hair was still wet I applied Shea Butter and then sealed with Hair Milk. I did my twist out and it was fabulous!!!

Sometimes you have to tweak products use the new with the old and you can truly achieve great results.

These are my staples. Simple!

Tui Shampoo, Hair Oil, Smoothie, Shea Butter and Hair Milk. Its helped keep my hair moisturized during these cold winter months.

Welcome Back

I haven't been on here in such a long time its crazy. Well I am almost at my 1 year Nappy-Anniversary and I couldn't be happier. Time really does fly. I have my progress pics, and I swear if I didn't take any pictures I would think my hair never grew. LOL.

Somewhere along my hiatus I loss myself, I was questioning a lot so I wore a lot of weaves for a while. It was a great protective style, but I wore a lot of straight hair so I suffered from some heat damage in the front area. So I went back to twisting my hair, which works for me. No fuss get up and go...I have so much to say I'm bursting at the seems...LOL. Stay tuned.