Have you had your mammogram exam yet? If you’re over 40 and haven’t yet, I can totally relate. I am the best procrastinator especially when it comes to my own health. I put off this particular torture until I was 45 when my doctor insisted I get it done and would not trust me to make the appointment but rather went ahead and scheduled it for me.

It was uncomfortable as heck, I won’t lie to you, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought and all was well with that exam.

Last week, I went for my second mammogram roughly three years later than that first one. I was supposed to go last year, but again, I procrastinated and kind of ignored it. Anyway, this year I will turn 49 so I decided to go.

Well, earlier this week, they called not with the result I was expecting. They wanted me to go back for a repeat mammogram as they found two questionable areas. Oh fun! Right? So they scheduled me to go back the following day.

When I got home that evening, I forgot to tell my husband I had an appointment the next day. Maybe I didn’t forget… but rather just procrastinated again. I know he freaks out over these kind of things.

I was right. He got upset that I didn’t tell him right away. He said I should have called him as soon as I found out. I guess he’s right. But I don’t like to dwell on things that haven’t happened yet and I don’t like being fussed over (well maybe a little but only by him).

Well as it turns out they found two cysts. They are probably benign. My doctor thinks so too. But even then, a biopsy was recommended and scheduled for the following day which was yesterday. I went and had mine done. I wouldn’t say it was painless, but again, not as bad as I thought.

I am no stranger to cancer. I don’t think anyone is anymore. But sometimes, it just comes a little too close for comfort and this incident is just that side swipe I didn’t need. I am not freaked out about it or anything, the thing that affected me more is how my husband and family would react. With him, he was predictable as ever. Such a sweetheart! The girls were sweet too, although they are probably more worried than they let on. They are a lot like me in that way.

However, like my doctor said, it’s nothing to worry about and will more than likely be benign. In the meantime though, I have to wait until next week to hear the result.

I won’t be worrying though until there is something real to worry about. There is enough ‘what ifs’ as it is without me adding to it. Besides if you thought I was just too lazy that is why I procrastinate, then you’re right and I’m too lazy to worry too.

Now what fun thing should we do this weekend?

Are you one of those super organized and on time people everyone hates and already have your garden tilled and spring cleaning done? Or are you more like me, the ace procrastinator and goddess of distraction?

Every time I walk into a room at my house lately, I see things that need to be done. Then I walk out.

Oh, I know I have to get around them somehow and the sooner the better. I can’t stand a mess, after all. I just don’t like cleaning them up.

For instance, last night I was so sleepy that all I wanted to do was take my shower and lay down. But on the way to the shower, I felt grit under my feet. I tried to ignore it but the more I walked around, the more dust and junk keep sticking to my soles.

I don’t ever wear shoes or slippers inside the house so I knew this would totally get on my nerve when I step out of the shower and have to walk around picking up grit on my newly washed feet. So I go get the broom and sweep the whole house until it is dust free. And I thought I was too tired to do anything! Well, I guess I could dig deep to find the energy when I have to.

So that’s what I aim to do this week. Dig deep inside me and find the energy to clean the rest of the house. This is not your usual wash the dishes, do the laundry and mop the floor type of cleaning. Hopefully, you do all those on a regular basis. lol! I’m using this list for How to Keep A Clean and Healthy Home as a guide. Thank goodness I don’t have to do some of these tasks but a few times throughout the year.
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My girls and I have been hyped over a box of Listerine and Reach products that arrived at our house last week as part of the LISTERINE ORAL CARE CHALLENGE. They’ve got a blue rinse that is just amazing! It was designed to encourage little kids to brush but my teens were all over that stuff! They even got me into it and I really don’t like stuff that color anything on my body. Well especially one that will show where the bad germs are! Yeah, I like being ignorant about stuff like that.

Germ killers or not though, I like having clean smelling breath so all the rinses that they sent us to try out are being put to good use and much appreciated. Hop on over to my review blog and check out my post about this oral care challenge.

There is no better gift than the gift of good health for any occasion. With Father’s Day coming up, however, it is even more pertinent that we give the special Dad’s in our lives something that most of them take for granted, and that is their own health. They worry about us, take care of us, make sure that we have everything we need, but when it comes to the most important thing in their life, their health, they tend to put that in the back burner.

“Did you know that new research has found that men are 31 percent less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year? In fact, men report making fewer routine health care appointments compared with women (56.5 percent vs. 73.8 percent).”

National Men’s Health Week is on June 14 – 20 and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Ad Council are launching a new movement on behalf of their national public service advertising campaign designed to encourage middle-age men to learn which preventive medical tests they need to get and when to get them.

Make sure that when you show your appreciation to dad this year, include a gentle nudge to get him to go to the doctor. It may be the greatest gift you can give him and may keep him around longer.

Here are a few things you can do to give that nudge:

• Send this new e-card for Father’s Day from: http://www.dadtothedoc.org to remind the men you love about the importance of protecting his health this Father’s Day
• Ask your husbands, fathers, brothers, etc. to take the health quiz: http://www.ahrq.gov/healthymen/quiz.htm
• Encourage the men you know to visit ahrq.gov/healthymen, which provides recommended ages for preventive medical tests, a health care quiz designed to test knowledge of preventive health care, tips for talking with doctors, a glossary of consumer health terms, and links to online resources to find more medical information. Also, keep an eye out for the new PSA’s encouraging dad’s to take care of their health.

This post was created for the Global Influence Network Father’s Day Campaign.