Hello, my dear friends!

It sure has been a while since my last post!

I don't get on Grab much anymore, but I do like to keep in touch, so if any of you are interested, I have a profile on facebook - here's the link:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=756902691&hiq=christina%2Cgrejs%2Cstobberup

Some of you are already there, but I'd sure like it, if more of you stopped by!

I'm starting school again on Wednesday and I'm feeling much better now.

My graduation won't be until June next year, but that's a small price to pay for my health, right?! lol

Hope, you are all doing well!

Hugs & Kisses

Christina

Hello, my dear friends!

In Denmark we celebrate Christmas on th 24th, not the 25th like I'm sure a lot of you do.

According to tradition, I'll be going home to my parents - my grandma, my brother and the kids will be there, as well!

I am looking forward to tonight - the food, the dancing around the Christmas tree singing carols and the kids opening the presents.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is watching the Christmas show from Disney - the same cartoons every year but always a pleasure to watch!

Here's a picture of a traditional Christmas dinner.  

Looks good, doesn't it?

Anyway - I'm gonna go get ready!

Hugs & Kisses

Christina

Hello, my dear friends!

Just a quick update on me.

I'm doing okay - they've increased my medicine, because it wasn't really helping.

These days, I'm finally getting some sleep again and I'm trying to go for walks, which apparently should help as well.

I've had two therapy sessions and I have another one on December 18.

It's really doing me good to just talk about everything!

The kids are seing their mom again - two weekends in a row.

Patricia is delighted, but Lukas is more reserved - it's gonna take some time for them to build a relationship.

At first, I got the impression that my brother wanted to get back with her, and yesterday he told me, that he would like to at some point.

He did assure me, that he wasn't stupid (of course not, he's my brother lol) - he's gonna do the best for him and especially for the kids.

His former mother-in-law has invited him and the kids to spend Christmas Eve at her house.

He's not sure, it's a good idea - for many reasons. But especially because my grandma is spending Christmas with us this year - and she loves her great grand kids.

Well - guess, it wasn't a quick update after all! lol

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Hugs & kisses

Christina

Well, I thought I'd better let you all know, what's going on in my life!

I'm not doing too well.

I went to see the doctor last week, because I haven't been feeling well.

I have a depression! My doctor has perscribed antidepressants today - and I'm going to have to get some councelling.

Not a psychologist, because that's way to expensive (800 Dkr an hour which is about 100$).

In Horsens where I live, the hospital has what they call a mobile team.

It's a team of nurses, who perform therapy like a psychologist would.

They make house calls - so it'll be like therapy in my own home. And it's free!

As for school, I'm on sick leave at the moment - I won't be able to finish next year, but I'm starting to come to terms with that!

I could kick myself for not doing something sooner - but I kept thinking, it would pass.

I really didn't think, it was a big deal - I consider myself to be a strong person, but somehow I have forgotten to take care of myself, which is what I have to do now!

I miss you all, and I hope you're doing well!

Hugs & Kisses

Christina

It's been a while, since I've posted some music, so I thought, I'd do it today.

I love Chris Daughtry and this song seems appropriate, as Audrey is leaving Canada to go home again in a few days.

I'm sure, Lala can't wait to see her again.

My dear friends!

I'm sure, you've all been to Lucy's blog by now.

The news of Lucy's condition has affected all of us, I'm sure, and I wanted to post this to let her know that we all love and care about her.

Please keep her in your prayers!

Thank you!

Hugs & Kisses

Christina

Lower Your Risk

Everyone seems to know someone with breast cancer, and we wonder whether we, too, will be affected during our lifetime. All of us want to do everything we can to reduce the risk of ever getting the disease. Right now, though, we just don't know enough about what causes breast cancer and we haven't yet figured out how to keep it from happening—so we can't say that we can “prevent” it.

However, researchers are working to learn how our “external” and “internal” environments may work separately and together to affect our health and possibly the risk of developing breast cancer. “Internal environment” means the things inside our bodies that influence our health, such as genetics (the genes you got from your mother and father), hormones, illnesses, and feelings and thoughts. “External environment” refers to the things outside of our bodies that influence our health, such as air, water, food, danger, music, noise, people, and stress. Also, the external environment enters our internal environment every day—think of the food you eat, water you drink, air you breathe (including whether you smoke or not), and medicines you take. More subtlely, there's the way you “breathe in” or absorb your environment, such as your home or workplace, and the way you take in energy from the people you spend time with.

Some of these factors, such as your genetic makeup and the medicines that you take, have a very direct effect on your breast health. The impact of other, indirect factors, such as air quality, exercise, meditation, and spending time with friends, is less well understood.

Anything that INCREASES your chance of developing breast cancer is called a risk factor. Anything that REDUCES your risk of developing breast cancer is called a protective factor.

You can control some risk factors. For example, if you are overweight, you can seek to lose excess pounds, which may reduce your risk of breast cancer. You can also make informed choices about the medicines you take.

But other factors are beyond your control. For instance, you can't change your gender. Women are much more likely than men to have breast cancer. This is mostly because women have more estrogen and progesterone in their bodies. These hormones stimulate breast cell growth—both normal and abnormal. Also, you can't stop growing older. Aging is the biggest risk factor for breast cancer (besides being a woman).

Risk reduction means making choices to avoid or minimize any possible risk factors that you can. It also means increasing the protective factors in your life so your chances of developing breast cancer are lower.

Although you can control many risk factors, remember that doing so does not guarantee zero risk. It is also important to keep in mind that many women who have a particular risk factor for breast cancer never develop it.

Knowledge is power. Instead of living under the shadow of myths and misunderstandings, KNOW your own realistic level of risk. Then you can talk to your doctor about ways to lessen controllable risk factors and boost your protective factors.

Hello, my dear friends!

Just a quick update on, what's going on.

I am in so much pain today - my bruised rib is acting up, and the painkillers don't seem to do their job!

I have fall vacation this week, and as of Monday, I have 4 weeks of teaching to look forward to.

A new law was passed October 1st.

It allows pearents, who haven't seen their kids for a long time to file for visitation and in some cases even joined custody.

So this weekend, my brother received a letter, because his ex-wife has decided, it's time to see the kids again.

She hasn't been in their lives for 2 years, and except for her tv appearance last year, none of us have heard from her!

I'm scared that she's gonna hurt the kids again - and I'm terrified, that she might try to get custody!

This weekend, they were at their grandma's house and it seems, there's a room all prepared for Patricia - but not one for Lukas!

I don't want to read too much into things, but given the history of that family, I wouldn't put anything passed them!

School is going fine - busy as usual!

That's it for now - please bear with me regarding any typo's.

Hugs & Kisses

Christina

Hello, my dear friends!

I received an email from Grab, saying I hadn't blogged in a while, so I thought, I'd better stop by and let you know, what's going on!

First, I want to say welcome back to Pat - you have been so missed, my friend!

I'm sick - caught the flu!

I spent all Saturday doing absolutely nothing, and I was too sick to even feel guilty about it! lol

School's going well - I do have a lot to do, but I'm sticking to my plan and so far, everything is going well!

Tomorrow is my niece's birthday - she will be 6 years old!

She started school in August, and she is bored out of her mind! lol

She doesn't understand, why she doesn't learn anything yet - it's all fun and games, which wasn't what she expected! lol

She's a member of the pupil's council, and we're all really proud of her! Especially her dad!

I hope, you are all well!

Hugs & Kisses

Christina