Dear Diary: My Life Raising Brown Girls

At forty-two, my menstrual cycle changed. Not gradually. Not quietly. It became something I had to manage, anticipate, and plan my life around. My periods became heavy. The bleeding was intense, and blood clots became a regular part of my experience. I never knew exactly what to expect, so I learned to prepare for the worst. I carried extra menstrual products everywhere.  I thought about where the nearest bathroom was. I worried about sitting too long. I worried about standing up. I worried about bleeding through my clothes. I worried about being caught somewhere without enough protection. And slowly, something else changed. My wardrobe. I had always loved wearing colorful, vibrant clothes. But those colors began disappearing from my closet. I started choosing dark, dreary clothing not because I suddenly stopped loving color, but because I was afraid of what might happen if I bled through my clothes. Black became practical. Dark colors became protection. My clothing choices ...

This week Tereya had a doctor's appointment. Two years ago we crossed a new milestone. Every time I accompany my oldest daughter to her doctor's appointment I am reminded of the moment when her physician asked me to leave the examination room.  I remember it like it was yesterday. After entering the examination room, the Registered Nurse (RN) asked Tereya and me how we were doing. We replied we are doing well. The nurse proceeded to take and record her vital signs (vs)--weight, height, and blood pressure. Shortly after, the Pediatrician entered the room. We engaged in a brief conversation before he provided a comparison of last year's vital signs and this year's vital signs. He stated, "She has maintained her blood pressure and weight which is wonderful". He stated, "It is very hard for many to do whether they are young or old".  He then he said, "Now it is time for you to wait in the waiting room". I was shocked and in disbelief. My...

Courtesy of The Oz Blog Vegetables are provide so many benefits to our well being. They provide us the necessary vitamins which our bodies need to thrive. The calorie intake is super low which means it would be difficult to gain weight. The food we is very beneficial to our well being. However there is a downfall. You should not consume certain food items .The food and beverages we consume while taking prescription medication can be hazardous to our health. It can also affect the method in which our medication is suppose to work. This is called a Food and Drug Interaction. This interaction can negatively affect your current side effects and create new side effects. There are several individuals who ingest prescription and over the counter (OTC-medications bought without a prescription) are not aware of the consequences of consuming food and medication together or within hours of each other. I have worked in the clinical and administrative areas of health field all of my adult l...