Recovering

Hey Friends..well its been a rough month for me. It all started at work about 4 weeks ago when the heat went out in our building at work. It was so freakin cold. It actually got to 40 degrees one day inside, so after that we all brought our space heaters from home to warm the building until they could get it fixed. Around the 2nd week of January I caught a cold. I felt awful but because my manager was on vacation that week I couldn't call in, I just toughed it out and drank my Dayquil and my hot tea. My daughter was to return back to college on Sunday the 17th and it would be a 2 1/2 hr drive to Atlanta for her flight back to Texas and there was no way I was up to that so I asked a friend to drive us there and back since I felt to bad. The trip down and back went good and I was happy my baby made it safely back to Houston. Not even 24 hrs later I woke up to feeling like I was going to die. I had chills, body aches, nausea, dizziness and I could not breathe good. I was so weak I could not even reach to answer the phone when it rung. My friend was in the livingroom watching tv and I couldn't even raise my voice loud enough to call for help. I laid there looking at the clock praying someone would please walk in my room to check on me. I honestly thought if it wasn't soon they would find me dead in my bed. After a couple hours she finally came in to see if I needed a drink or something to eat and I looked at her and said call 911. She said if your feeling that bad I can take you to the hospital but told her I can't move and I can barely breathe. She went to get a thermometer and saw my temp was 102..not good at all and then she called 911. In the few mins it took them to get here my temp rose to 104. I was rushed to the hospital and hooked up to all kinds of machines, turns out I had Pneumonia...long sigh...Well after spending my 36th birthday in the hospital, 2 days in ICU and 5 days in a reg room I am finally out trying to recover and get my strength back. I am so thankful to GOD for helping me through that and all my family and friends who prayed for me and visited me. I have no family where I live but my friends rallied and came to my aid. They even gave me a birthday party in my hospital room. I love each and every one of you..thank you thank you thank you..oh and on a hair note..My Sisterlocks held up fine except for the oxygen mask kept snagging them with the velcro..I finally asked them to find me one of those surgery caps so they can stop pulling my dang hair out lol..I will add pics of my ordeal at the bottom. I am on short term leave for another week..please continue to keep me in your prayers so I can fully recover. Thanks and stay blessed.

4 Months Locked..Sorry It's Been a While

Hey again..its been a few months since my last post but I wanted to do a mini update. I am now 4 months locked...yeah me!! I am still so in love with my hair and look forward to each and every day my lock babies grow and plump up. I can't wait til the day I can chop off these permed ends..Bunching is the pits..It makes me want to just cut them all off...I did slip a week ago and cut 3 just to see if I could..but then I thought I better not cut anymore and now its hard to keep those 3 from sticking straight up...wth was I thinking lol. I can now see a bit of a difference from when I first had them installed. Still trying to look for more ways to style them since I have about 5 inches of permed ends..anyone with ideas please share. Even though I have not posted I am on the site lurking through everyones blog learning and researching ideas, shampoos, and just best practices. I love reading everything you write so please keep them coming..newbies like me really count on you guys for guidance. I will add some pics of my 4 month journey below. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
( The first 4 just random 4 months shots and the last 2 a few of my bunching dilemmas).

Saddest Weekend Sat 9-19-09

This was the saddest weekend I have had in a very long time. I have a 2 1/2 yr old cat named Nala. She is really my daughters, I got her when she was in high school. Well I never really wanted to get a pet but she talked me in to it. My daughter has now been gone away to college going on her 2nd yr now and I felt guilty because I don't play with her like pet owners should and she is home all day by herself. I decided to try and find her a home with people who could give her the attention and love she deserves. Unfortunatly I couldn't so I called the local animal humane society and asked their procedures on animal intake. I was told they work very hard to place the pets they have there and they even team up with local rescue groups and only put to sleep ones that can't be adopted out or who require alot of special needs. I was also given the choice to leave my phone number incase they can't find her a home and I can't get her back before they would put her to sleep ( which I gladly did). The thought of that happening makes my heart sink. I just want her to find a loving family that can play with her and give her all the attention she needs but it tore me up inside so much I cried and cried.

After I dropped her off I went to the auto service center for my regular scheduled maintence. I was still crying. I could barely even get my words out to go over what I was there to get. I told the worker where I had just left and how I had to give my kitty away and he came from across the counter and gave me a big hug. That was so nice of him. I sat in the waiting area still in tears and even drove home still crying. I swear I almost turned around to go get her. Maybe I should have..but I have to give her the chance for a better life. I promise if they call me and is unable to find her a family..I will take her back with open arms and know it was just meant to be for me to have her. I miss you and love you so much Nala!! May God watch over you and keep you safe. Pictures of her will be added shortly.

1 Month Anniversary...yeah :)

Hi fam..It has now been one month since I got my hair Sl'd. I must say I am even more in love with my hair than ever before. I so wish I had done this years ago, but there is a time for everything and now is my time. I get alot of questions and compliments on my hair. I say you think you like it now..just give me a few more months and you will love it even more. I am still just using simple hair styles..less is more I heard. I do my weekly braidouts. I really like them, I just put 2 braids in front and 2 in back before bed and in morning finger comb and clip up the top. I have to use my clip to hide my spot. I started thinning at the crown from years of wearing my trusty pony tail with the clip that pulled my hair out..Sighs..Pics below showing my 1 month look (1) on the way out to store (2) Closeup of my pony (3 & 4) After my first retightening..had a braid out I wore that day










Lots of things have happened in the past few weeks, not dealing with me but just in the world. First with the young runner who they thought was a boy. I feel so sad for her..to have the whole world know her business like that. Being a teen is hard enough but to now know that you have both is just unimaginable. I feel for her and her family for having to go through what should be private to now have the whole world looking at her. I pray she continues to be strong and make it through this. Ok now on to the idiot Kanye West. This man has some nerve to take his butt up there and do that to Taylor Swift. I could not imagine what was going on in his brain when he thought he was doing the right thing by doing that. He would have lost his mind (if he had one) if someone dared try to still his glory like that. I know his mother would be so hurt by what he did. May she rest in peace and not have seen the actions her son did that night.

Now on to Chris Brown. He is a very young man who lost his way. I have a 19 yr old daughter and would want to hurt someone if that abused my child, but as a forgiving person I have to forgive if I want to be forgiven. He has admitted his crime and now he has begun to get the help he needs to become a better person. I am happy things did work out and he has a 2nd chance at his life. I do hope he learned his lesson and also for Rhianna who should be a lil more careful when choosing a partner. Ladies and gentleman at the first sign of abuse one should get out and not stay. I am not saying you can't be with that person but not until they have received help for their problem.

Seems I have a bit to say today..Its been a week or so since my last posting. I did go to the Dr yesterday. My diabetes is a little bit better and my weight has not gone up which is great. I have lost 15 lbs since March of this year and I want to lose about 20 more. I am happy it did not go up and that is mainly because of eating better with only a few slips in between. Its not my fault we had a pot luck at work (actually it is..I started it lol) I eat oatmeal during the week at work..simple and filling and I love it, for lunch I usually have a turkey sandwich on whole ground wheat with mustard (hate mayo) with yogurt or sugar free jello or pudding and my Tropicana sugar free lemonade. Dinner is mostly a meat with veggies (love green ones) and small amount of carbs (which carbs are my favorite).

3 Day Weekend..Yeah!!

Hi all..well lets see..last night I braided my hair in a few plats..like when you wash it..I wanted to wear a braidout for Friday..since its casual day at work..so no need to curl hair. It came out nice. I just pulled top in a pony and had the back half loose. I swear I wish I would have done this so long ago. The styles are so easy, no fuss, just spritz and go. It will be 3 weeks on Sunday but I swear it does look a little bit plumper than when I first got them done. I know I wont see too much of a difference until about 3 months or so, will have to be patient I guess. Well I am off work now and ready to start my 3 day weekend..gotta love bank holidays. I haven't really made plans yet but Sunday is a special day for me. Me and my baby will celebrate 1 yr of knowing each other. It is not the day we became a couple but it is the day we met :) Will go out to dinner maybe..not sure yet but I will let you know what we do. Take care til next time..Have a safe but fun weekend.

Cops...sighs

Ok fam..this morning on my way to work I was listening to my usual morning talk show..Tom Joyner..Huggy Lowdown had just did his bit when I looked to my left and saw a cop. Dang (ok was the other word) I then looked to see how fast I was going and low and behold was doing 70..speed limit is 55. Looking through my rear view mirror I see him cross the grass median and turn his lights on (!@$%) So then I took foot off gas and slowed my but down as I watched him navigate through a few cars to come get me. Lights flashing I pull over to the side..stomach in knots..rolling down window as he walks over I say, " Good Morning Officer" with a smile. He says " license and insurance please". Handing him the stuff he said did I know its against the law to speed? I said, Sir I'm sorry I didn't think I was. He then say he will be right back. I pick up my cell and call job and tell them I will be a lil late because I was stopped by the state trooper and she asked was I speeding lol...well yeah but I won't tell him that and hung up. Then as I sat there watching people pass by looking at me wishing I had a radar detector. Not wishing I went slower but that I need one. Does anyone have one and do they really work? OK so back to story, he comes back with a paper in his hand and ask was I late for work. I said no..was just on my way there and listening to radio. He told me that going as fast as I was would be 4 points off my my license and my insurance would skyrocket..My heart sank face looked like a sad puppy dog..he then said slow it down and that he was going to only give me a written warning...Bless you, bless you, bless you I said and thank you. I proceeded to tell him how broke I am after just helping my daughter start her 2nd year of college and all those expenses. He smiled at me and said have a nice day..Taking a breath I thanked him again and off he went. There is a lesson here somewhere..don't speed, always be nice, tell the truth, pray, or get a radar detector. I think I will drive a bit slower now. Much love out there to our police officers..we all don't end up tasered and harrased.

Now for update on hair..I curled my hair last night first spritzing it with a lil water eo mixture then two strand twisting a few sections. I then used my trusty lock loops. I have my hair parted down middle in front and curl the sides..the back I wear clipped up with a small claw. Its easy, its fast and its cute..I am all about fuss free hair..lets just keep it moving. Usually on the weekends I wear it freestyle or a ponytail. I am really trying not to do too much to it as I have learned in the baby stages. I do spritz with water every day..I picked that up on someones blog (sorry can't remember who) I want these babies to swell..I have decided to wash every sunday. Does anyone think that is too much. I also was curling using Lotta Body setting lotion but was worried about build up..it did hold curls better but need more info on it since I am only 2 weeks into being locked. I have shoulder length permed hair so I have to do something with this until I can cut them off.
( Pictures Below - (1) Curled sides with part down middle back clipped up (2) Freestyle after curls have fell with small clip )

Second Shampoo

This past Sunday made my 2 week mark being sl'd. I did my first wash at the end of first week and now I tried my second one. Well I braided and banded like I am suppose to, then I did the first lather with Dr Bronners Peppermint shampoo because I like it and it makes my scalp feel good then I followed up with the sl starter shampoo. The first time I ever washed it I used it straight from the bottle but someone told me next time dilute it first so thats what I did. I did notice my scalp looked white and I was able to use the tip of my nail to pick a lil hmm something so I washed one more time just to make sure I did a good job but it was still there. I then decided to wait after hair is dried to see if it is still visible. I unbanded and unbraided and seperated each section and noticed quite a few locs were bunched. I did a bit pf research on it and I think I did not braid it tight enough because it did not do it the first time.

In my last post I talked about my tendonitis acting up and so therefore last night I could not braid it like I did last week so I spent a minute trying to fix those, which I did..sighs. I spritzed my hair with my concotion of water, tea tree, rosemary and peppermint eo's and let it air dry. After hair was dry I did not see the white stuff on my scalp like when it was wet so not sure what that was but glad its gone. I curled my hair with my trusty lock loops..put on my bonnet and called it a night. This morning my curls were loose and fell nicely but after 2 hrs there was no curls and out popped the scrunchie for my pony at work. I had been using water and lotta body for hold but was worried about build up so opted for water alone which I see did not work or either I did not curl hair tight enough as I had been doing. I did want the loose look but the curls didn't last . Guess I will use the lotta body again unless there is something better for my hair someone can suggest since I have shoulder length permed hair and only 2 inches new growth that is sl'd.