Summer Heat Wave

I know that Florida is usually hot in the summer, but this crazy. Our temp has been about 99/100 degrees the past few days, with a heat index 110+. The worse part is having to keep the kids inside. I am trying to keep them busy inside with arts and crafts, music time, etc, but truly...they are going INSANE. I can't get them to settle down for naps or at bedtime (since they get no time outside to run around and burn energy). I surely hope the temperatures start to drop soon!

Win One of Five Blu Prizes!

Have you tasted the new BluFrog Energy Drink!? With less calories and sugar than Red Bull or Monster energy drinks, BluFrog has a taste you are sure to love. The company's web site reads, "With way healthier ingredients, real fruit, lower calories and carbs, nothing artificial and a load of vitamins in every can, Blu Frog may be the most nutritious energy drink ever."

Check out the site, tweet about this great drink and you could win! What could you win!? Well, one of five five great prizes: Ultimate game system, New Year's Eve in New York Trip, Lollapalooza in Chicago, Richard Petty Driving Experience in Orlando, or the 14th Winter X Games from ESPN in. Aspen.

There are three ways to enter (from the official rules):
(1) Place a comment on our contest page (www.itsabluworld.com/contests), sharing within your comment which experience you want to win and why.
(2) Use Twitter to tweet out why Blu Frog is better in 140 characters or less. You must include #bluworld and http://bit.ly/UiiJy in your tweet to be registered for the contest.
(3) Write a blog post about our contest and which experience or prize you would choose if you won. You must leave a comment on on the www.itsabluworld.com/contests page along with the URL of your post if the trackback doesn’t appear.

For official contest rules http://itsabluworld.com/contests/rules/

Take a vacation close to home...

It's no secret that money is tight for many of us these days. So to those in the Southeast who are looking for a vacation within driving distant, consider SeaWorld of Orlando! (Now, I am lucky enough to live within minutes of this great theme park so I could write for days, but let me try to sum it up quickly for you.)

It's not only full of fun, but is also educational. You and your youngsters get to experience (upclose!) dolphins, killer whales, alligators, sea turtles, manatee, and more. The Shamu killer whale show is a must have, too.

The rides are exciting as well. Kracken is the floor-less coaster; and Journey to Atlantis is sure to have your heart beating! Plus, don't forget to check out SeaWorld's great new rollercoaster, Manta. It's like no other in the area! The new attraction allows guests to take a soaring, gliding journey above the park.

BONUS TIP: Buy a ticket to SeaWorld and you get a ticket to Aquatica or Busch Gardens for FREE!!!!

So pack up the car, take a quick drive over to Central Florida and take advantage of this amazing offer. Summer will be over before you know it, so make your plans today!

More Doctor Appointments Ahead

So the ENT called today. He reviewed all my tests results, and does NOT think I have an inner ear virus causing my problems. (There is a small possiblity that it could be Meneire's Disease or positional vertigo. However, if you are having a "good day" it may not always show up on the tests.)

What DOES worry him is that my test did show some problems with my eyes. (Remember I had to follow a light on some tests last week. Well my eyes couldn't do some of it. I had trouble following the light as it flowed from left to right.)

SO, now I need to see a neurosurgeon for a consultation on July 3. Ugh, make it end already.

Gotta love summer!

Name the mascot and win $10,000

Listen up moms! Kroger-owned food stores are holding a contest to name its Comforts Firefly mascot. The winner will receive a$10,000 college scholarship for their child. Awesome, uh?

Comforts for Baby is a line of formula, lotions, wipes, and more available only at Kroger-owned stores (Kroger, Smith's, Bakers, City Market, QFC, etc). Comforts store-brand baby formula contains all the essential ingredients required by the FDA and required by the Infant Formula Act. The Comforts formula also contains lipids DHA and ARA, which are associated with infant mental and visual development. It is fortified with choline, and contains lactose. And like, many named-brand formulas, Comforts provides nutrients found naturally in mother's milk that help develop the immune system.

Take a minute to visit the web site, where you can also download Conforts for Baby and other store coupons!

The line's mascot is a cute little firefly. Kroger needs your help to name this lovable little mascot. From June 1st to July 31st, you may enter the contest online by visiting http://www.comfortsforbaby.com/. You must include all information shown on the online entry form, including the name you have chosen for the Comforts firefly (25 characters or less).

The grand prize is a $10,000 college scholarship for your child. The winning entry and the name of the winner will be announced online after September 21, 2009.

Good News/Bad News

GOOD NEWS: Well, I was having a great day and decided to go out to lunch with hubby and kids.

BAD NEWS: I missed the ENT's call. (However, he did leave a message.)

GOOD NEWS: They did find something in my tests on Wedneday. (yea--I am not a crazy person--ha--well that's debatable, right?!). He has a few more questions for me before we can discuss recommendations. He will call me back on Monday (since the office closes 1/2 day on Fridays).

BAD NEWS: He also said he would love for me to go back in for the caloric portion of the test (but I can tell you that will NOT happen.)

ENT testing, ugh.

I went in today for testing with the ENT.

I did the Tympanometry (a quick test to measure pressure via energy transmission through the middle ear) and Electrocochleography (basically listened to "clicks" in my ear for 30 minutes to check for Meneire's Diseased), and some ENG Testing (oculomotor tests & positional and positioning tests)...BUT refused to do the Calorics part of the ENG Testing(water in the eardrum).

I just knew I couldn't do it. The test basically puts hot (and then cold) water in your eardrum (20 seconds in and 20 seconds out), while I had on dark googles (no light allowed). It would produce spinning to check my balance but I just freaked out too bad (at the thougth of getting sick!)--and knew it would tramatize me! (Remember I hate roller coasters). It would be done four times--twice in each year--once with cold water and once with hot water. The purpose of this test is (well would have been) to measure my balance to see if I need balance (vestibular) rehab.

But the other test will give the dr some good information, however. I will let you know what I hear.

Get ready for football season with Direct TV

Okay gals. Who is like me and struggle each year on what to get my hubby for Father's Day? My hubby no longer wears ties to work, he doesn't golf, and has tons of pictures of me and the kids on his desk. So I was glad to hear about this great new package that you may want to also consider the best Father's Day gift.

Have you considered Direct TV for your home? Well, combine that with NFL Games and you have a winning ticket for your dad or hubby.

Let me tell you more!

Its almost time for the NFL to start up again. Most teams will be heading back to camp in July and then the preseason starts on August 9th. Direct TV is the only company able to bring you all the action for every team and every game with the NFL Sunday Ticket. If you are a football fan then this programming package was designed especially for you. With the NFL Sunday Ticket you get access to 200 NFL Games, 14 games every Sunday, Player Tracking, and the NFL Network. Its a great option for Football lovers.

Direct TV offers 100% digital programming, and direct tv is also the leading provider of HD programming with over 130 channels available in HD. Check it out!

Although I "clench", it's not TMJ

I paid wasted $297 today to see a DDS/PhD/LMT for a TMJ consultation. It is a practice of two doctors who specialize in TMJ and Sleep disorders. The patient before me was running extremely late so I waited over an hour for my appointment. One doctor exammed how far I could open my mouth, used a doppler to listen for popping and made me wear these headphones on my TMJ joint to listen for sound. NO X-rays.

Then, I got a written estimated saying I need a night guard for $1197 and 3 follow up appointments at $157 each. I was told by the second doctor that if I didn't take care of my clenching at this time, I would have TMJ later in life.

I was in the exam room for maybe 20 minutes and paid $297 for this "consultation". WOW, I should feel glad I don't have TMJ-- but DAMN I am extrememly upset at what little I got. (Dental insurance will not cover this expense, maybe that should have been my first clue, ha)

Summer plans?

I am so behind in reading blogs but plan to catch up soon. What do you plan to do with the kiddos this summer? Any cool vacations or just backyard fun? I'd love to hear more! We have postponed our annual trip to the grandparents house until I feel better, but hubby will still take off the scheduled week and we will do fun things around our city. (By the way, GO MAGIC!!)

Nurse's Guide to Good Living

Attention nurses! I was asked to tell you about Scrubs, a new online magazine specifically for nurses. (And we know I have run into my share of nurses the past few weeks, ha!)

Also referred to as Nurse's Guide to Good Living, it's not another clinical web site. Instead, it's a fun site that is about you as a person. There are great chapters like health, fashion, mind, money and love. (You can check it out here: http://www.scrubsmag.com/?utm_source=B.) There are no registration fees or username required. Just head there and enjoy! Can't be any easier than that!

You know me, I went straight to the beauty section. I stumbled across a great article which I took a minute to read, "Wake Up Younger": http://www.scrubsmag.com/articles/beauty/tips-amp-secrets/wake-looking-younger. The articles gave "five quick tweaks" nurse can add to their daily regimen to keep skin looking younger.

The entertainment section also included a review of Showtime's new show, Nurse Jackie! Sure to push a few buttons--and maybe a few laughs--in the nursing community!

So if you are a nurse, please take a minute to unwind. Check out this new web site created especially for you. I am sure you will keep going back for more!

Granny is still here

My mom is still in town, helping me out with the kids while I get to all my doctor appointments. The kids love when "Granny" is here. She really "wears them out" each day by playing in the pool, play-doh on the patio, etc. Here is a cute photos she took today.

One Dizzy Blonde...

I saw my eye doctor today, and my eyes are fine. 20/20 vision. IRONICALLY, my eye doctor said his 23-year old daughter is going through the same thing I am (dizzy spells and such). Their ENT said it is a virus and takes 2 to 3 weeks to "run its course". Interesting, time will tell.

It has been great having mom here to help with the kids, and to help me get through this (emotionally and physically).

I have good days and bad days. (Meaning, some days I have to take drugs & stay in bed to stop the spinning & nausea. And other days I can clean house and maybe even run an errand or two). It's been "on and off" for ten days so I am truly OVER IT.

I have stopped drinking Diet Coke (and artifical sweetners) and now drink TONS of water. I also picked up high potency vitamins that I take throughout the day. When I am not too dizzy, I try to walk (some) of the treadmill. I have lost more weight (down to 119.)

Tuesday is my appointment with a TMJ specialist (to see if it's a jaw/ear problem) and Wednesday I see the ENT for the horribel vestibular testing.