Amelia's Blog: Healthy Living

Over Thanksgiving, my sister informed me that our mother is exhibiting signs of Sundowners syndrome. As a health care professional, she has become quite familiar with the symptoms. I had never heard of the term before.

My parents still live on their own. Dad is approaching 90 and can still bowl a 204. Mom is almost 87 and bowls in the 180's. I am amazed at how well they are doing. However, none of us three children lives anywhere near them to really see what happens in their day-to-day life.

Dad is now seeking assistance in caring for Mom. After some quick research, I have found that some immediate steps that I can take are recommending that my mother gets medication for her urinary tract infections; that I can call in the early evening to reset her mind; and that brighter lights can uplift her mood as the sun goes down.

If you have experience with Sundowners Syndrome, please share your tips.

With love, compassion and empowerment,

Amelia
Animal Lovers Community

If you are looking for a Holiday gift basket for your dog or special treats for your cat, then be sure to click on the following links and order gifts that will please your pets' health, taste buds and sniffer... and your wallet! Hurry...they are priced half-off and are in limited supply! My American Eskimo loves to open the gift herself! Holiday Dog Gift Holiday Cat Gift With love, compassion and empowerment, Amelia Animal Lovers Community

I have owned both purebred dogs and mongrels which are now referred to as "designer dogs." Every one has their own opinion, based on their experience, about which is healthier. The BBC released this documentary in 2008 but it appeared on our TV screens here in the United States just recently. Watch the video and be sure to comment:
Documentary - BBC - Pedigree Dogs Exposed

bordercollie19 | MySpace Video

I must share with you all that my father is so nifty at the age of 90. I had the honor of celebrating my parents' birthdays with them last month. Mom turned 87 and she is the reason for my father's long life. She basically told him that if he was not alive for their 50th anniversary, she would make life difficult for him...she was serious. He had already had one open-heart surgery and was not all that well. They have now celebrated over 60 years of marriage.

So back to the birthday party. My parents invited over 100 friends for a late lunch. Only one or two were their age. Everyone else, by default, was younger.They kept inviting and inviting right up until the day before the event. If people had not had to dig out of over a foot of fresh snow, I am sure we would not have had seats for all of them. The ones that did make it were more than ready for a delicious lunch and entertainment.

So why is my dad so nifty? His mother died from the flu just before he was born. His father already had two young children. My father was adopted out only to have to leave that family at the age of 11 because of violence and divorce.

Dad ended up back with his biological father, just dropped off there by his adoptive mother...the only mother he had ever known. By this time, his father had remarried so that his two children (Dad's siblings) could have a mother. The surprise came when this new mother revealed that she already had six daughters by a previous marriage and they all ended up living in a blended family. Of course, my father was just one more mouth to feed. Luckily, his older brother showed him love as the rest of his world tumbled down around him.

Fast forward. Dad is so nifty...he has had to be resilient over the years. He "died" at the age of 87, had an out -of-body experience, another open-heart surgery and a remarkable recovery. Again, my mother stepped in and told him that she did not want him to end up like all of those "old" people in the nursing home where he was sent to recover because there were no rooms at the cardiac rehab center. She expected him to come home and soon. He still had to remodel their home and the job was waiting for him.

Dad is so nifty. He just "buzzed" me on Instant Messenger. He is uploading pictures from the party to his computer. He is a gadget guy and loves to learn about new technology.

Dad is so nifty. He loves his God. He loves his wife, his one and only. He loves his children. He prays. He is active in his church. He volunteers for "Operation Lifeline" to support our troops. He plays cards and can still bowl over 200.

Dad is so nifty at 90 because he is grateful for every day he has to live. I am too. I would love to have him around for another 90, setting an example on how to age gracefully and gratefully.

Dad is so nifty. Thank you for allowing me to share with you how proud I am of my nifty dad.

With love, compassion and empowerment,

animal lover Amelia

Can you be fully restored after you have experienced a trauma?Although it was my dog that was attacked by two dogs while I deflected their bites the best that I could, I was traumatized also. While the attack was happening, I used my life time of experience with dogs to control the situation and felt cool, calm and collected....then.

My dog's wounds have healed. Her psyche with other dogs seems fine. A mini-seizure that she had after the stitches were removed was troubling to me. She is under the care of a holistic vet.

The owners of the dogs have offered a partial payment of the vet bills for the immediate emergency care. They do not feel they should cover the expenses that I feel were necessary to make my dog as "whole" as possible. My feeling is that they can earn more money to replace what they have had to pay out but will my dog be able to "earn" her way back to the health that she enjoyed before the attacks?

I tried not to dwell on the emotional pain but found it revealing itself in my voice whenever I would answer someone's inquiry about my precious pet.

I have been led to do the Healing Code for forgiveness and to pass that healing to my dog. Perhaps to be fully restored, we must forgive those that have abused us. I have been able to let it go and get back to living in the moment. The peace that comes with forgiveness is healing.

How do you fully restore as life events challenge you?