Remember that song by The Kinks called "Paranoia?" GREAT song! Although the title above is from a different song, from the 60's. And this has absolutely nothing to do with what I'm blogging about today.
So I was up this morning at around 3:30 with WG, who is suffering from allergies that wake her up in the middle of the night. Luckily the tears and screaming had stopped, and she had commenced giggling, which is AWFULLY cute! Seriously, what's cuter than a little kid laughing like crazy?
I've been ignoring my own advice lately; reading news magazines at the checkout counter (seriously, why can't I just take the sex quizzes in "Cosmo" like a normal person?) and even watching the morning news. Yesterday I read an article in "Mother Jones." Yeah, that kinda says it all, doesn't it? I REALLY should have known better. Anyway, this article is about a group of people called Oath Keepers, who believe that the Obama administration is minutes away from declaring martial law; they are stockpiling weapons and food, and are ready to take arms against the government. They've been praised by Pat Buchanan and Glenn Beck. Many are soldiers, police, and veterans. According to "Mother Jones," they are a serious threat, not just a fringe group.
OK, I get it. When fringe groups start to be taken seriously by politicians and the media, it's scary. But this article made it sound like these folks are going to take over any day now. And I KNOW I should have taken it with a grain of salt, especially considering the source. (IMHO, "MJ" is the left-wing, print equivalent of Fox News: Let's take our opinions, backed up by few if any facts and actual research, and report them as truth.) But this is ME we're talking about: I can take ANY situation and immediately expand it to its Worst Case, Nightmare Scenario.
So there I was, thinking about the country, the mess we find ourselves in, the absolute unwillingness of most elected officials in Washington to work with anyone who disagrees with them, and I envisioned the fall of Rome. I pictured my family being sent to prison camps for mixed-race couples with children. I imagined my IUD being forcibly removed by government agents carrying Bibles. I imagined smuggling my family over the border into Canada, like the Von Trapp family with less harmonizing.
In other words, I went over the top. As usual.
I REALLY need to do something about this!
Because it's not just politics. If I'm having trouble, say, making a student loan payment, I imagine our home being taken away, my family being thrown onto the streets, living in a shelter with Hubby and the kids.
One time a woman in a special needs support group, who happened to be a dentist, mentioned that kids with poor oral health are considered abused. My son had a cavity, so, naturally, CPS was going to raid our home in the middle of the night, take out kids away, and throw Hubby and I in jail.
I honestly don't know if this behavior is learned, genetic, or both: my dad and paternal grandmother were worst-case-scenario types. I remember telling my Nana that I was going out on New Year's Eve: she told me to be careful and then said "Oy, I wish it was tomorrow, so I knew you were home safe." And I have no doubt she spent the entire night picturing me getting into one awful situation after another, all of them ending with me lying dead in a ditch.
My dad didn't want me hanging posters on the ceiling over my bed; he was convinced they would break free from their pushpins, fall on top of me and suffocate me while I slept. I tried pointing out that a) The posters were not living things, and were most definitely NOT evil spirits looking to do harm and going on killing sprees, b), If a poster DID fall on me while I slept, I would, um, WAKE UP, and c) If by some chance I DIDN'T wake up, I'd still be able to breath just fine.
So, y'see, I never really stood a chance of having a non-paranoid POV.
I've been trying to take cleansing breaths, I'm doing more yoga, and I try to calm my racing thoughts. Luckily, I'm still in therapy, so I can take this up with her.
I'm also having CRAZY dreams (I know, another surprise).
I'm exhausted!!!!!!!
Hm. Maybe I DO need those tranquilizers!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Withdrawal
In order to help me ease up on my meds, I'm actually taking MORE at the moment! I've been switched to a liquid concentrated version of the Sertraline (Zoloft). (Note: when given a liquid form of medication, ALWAYS read the instructions! 'Cause your pharmacist might not tell you that it's supposed to be mixed in with other liquids and not taken straight, and you may find yourself burning your esophagus and your tastebuds practically off your tongue!) I'm also on a low dose of Wellbutrin for 30 days. Which is having some interesting effects. Insomnia, for one (which is why I'm up writing this at 3:30 in the morning), as well as, um, constipation and some anxiety. Well, slightly HIGHER levels of anxiety than I normally have. Which is why he also gave me a few Lorazapam (about 20), which I have yet to take. I MIGHT try it tomorrow night, if I'm still feeling anxious. But the funny thing is, I get anxious about taking an anti-anxiety drug. Especially since I'm already taking 2 separate medications already. Yes, it's all short-term, but I'm anxious and Jewish; I can't help but worry.
Of course, it doesn't help that I am and always have been a drama queen, that WG has been melting down all weekend (she has a loose tooth; I think it might be bothering her, poor thing!), that Hubby had to work all weekend and I took care of the kids, and the dog has fleas. (Not for long: I sicced some Frontline on their tiny little a**es! The liquid form, not the PBS news show.)
Let me address the first one. Yes, I'm a drama queen. I'm sure THAT comes as a huge shock! I have a wee tendency to take a comment or situation and blow it up out of all proportion. To imagine all sorts of slights and ills directed my way. Hubby's tired and quiet in the morning? He must be angry at me! For some silly little thing, no doubt! Oh, like maybe the eggs weren't good enough?!?! Well excuuuuse me, but I'm a little busy here, trying to get breakfast ready for ALL of us, AND get the kids' lunches packed, AND get out of the house in time so the kids won't be late for school, plus I have meetings with their teachers, have to take the kids to their therapy later, AND I'm teaching tonight, so SORRY if the eggs are less than perfect! YEESH!
Then, when I actually stop and ASK HIM if something is wrong, he says "No, Honey. I'm just trying to wake up. Need a little more coffee. Are you OK?" I'll ask if he's mad at me, and he'll say "Of course not! Why would I be?" And he's GENUINELY curious!
Let me tell ya, that is HELL on my righteous indignation!
Especially since he got up before I did, got the kids dressed and ready, started breakfast for them, and actually made himself some oatmeal. No eggs were even involved!
Yeah.
Maybe I SHOULD start acting again. At least that way I could save it for the stage!
My brain is a bizarre place, let me tell ya. I sometimes think that if someone sane and stable (like Hubby, for example) could spend a week as me, with my thoughts and feelings, they'd understand me more. Or run screaming from me, as fast and as far away as possible.
There is a constant commentary going on in my head. I believe I once referred to it as something like the Nosy nattering chipmunks that live in my brain. (I tried to find the post, but couldn't. I'm actually thinking of heading back to bed soon. Wish me luck!) I personalize EVERYTHING!!!! If someone cuts me off on the freeway, oooh, Road Rage! How DARE they?!?!?! What did I ever do to THEM?!?!?! I try to tell myself that it's, HELLO!, so NOT about me, and that karma (or in this case, CARma) will eventually catch up with them. But then there's that whole thing I wrote about in the previous post, about not being a Zen master. In fact, if there's an opposite of Zen master, that's be me.
Especially on the freeway.
OK, I must be tired, 'cause I'm going off on tangents here. I'm gonna head back upstairs and try to catch 2 more hours of sleep, until it's time to wake up again and start a brand new week. And a brand new month! Just think, Spring starts in a couple of weeks!
Nighty-night!
(BTW, did anyone watch the closing ceremonies of the Olympics? Is it just me, or were they kinda silly? Although I liked the inflatable moose and [snortgiggle] beavers.)
Of course, it doesn't help that I am and always have been a drama queen, that WG has been melting down all weekend (she has a loose tooth; I think it might be bothering her, poor thing!), that Hubby had to work all weekend and I took care of the kids, and the dog has fleas. (Not for long: I sicced some Frontline on their tiny little a**es! The liquid form, not the PBS news show.)
Let me address the first one. Yes, I'm a drama queen. I'm sure THAT comes as a huge shock! I have a wee tendency to take a comment or situation and blow it up out of all proportion. To imagine all sorts of slights and ills directed my way. Hubby's tired and quiet in the morning? He must be angry at me! For some silly little thing, no doubt! Oh, like maybe the eggs weren't good enough?!?! Well excuuuuse me, but I'm a little busy here, trying to get breakfast ready for ALL of us, AND get the kids' lunches packed, AND get out of the house in time so the kids won't be late for school, plus I have meetings with their teachers, have to take the kids to their therapy later, AND I'm teaching tonight, so SORRY if the eggs are less than perfect! YEESH!
Then, when I actually stop and ASK HIM if something is wrong, he says "No, Honey. I'm just trying to wake up. Need a little more coffee. Are you OK?" I'll ask if he's mad at me, and he'll say "Of course not! Why would I be?" And he's GENUINELY curious!
Let me tell ya, that is HELL on my righteous indignation!
Especially since he got up before I did, got the kids dressed and ready, started breakfast for them, and actually made himself some oatmeal. No eggs were even involved!
Yeah.
Maybe I SHOULD start acting again. At least that way I could save it for the stage!
My brain is a bizarre place, let me tell ya. I sometimes think that if someone sane and stable (like Hubby, for example) could spend a week as me, with my thoughts and feelings, they'd understand me more. Or run screaming from me, as fast and as far away as possible.
There is a constant commentary going on in my head. I believe I once referred to it as something like the Nosy nattering chipmunks that live in my brain. (I tried to find the post, but couldn't. I'm actually thinking of heading back to bed soon. Wish me luck!) I personalize EVERYTHING!!!! If someone cuts me off on the freeway, oooh, Road Rage! How DARE they?!?!?! What did I ever do to THEM?!?!?! I try to tell myself that it's, HELLO!, so NOT about me, and that karma (or in this case, CARma) will eventually catch up with them. But then there's that whole thing I wrote about in the previous post, about not being a Zen master. In fact, if there's an opposite of Zen master, that's be me.
Especially on the freeway.
OK, I must be tired, 'cause I'm going off on tangents here. I'm gonna head back upstairs and try to catch 2 more hours of sleep, until it's time to wake up again and start a brand new week. And a brand new month! Just think, Spring starts in a couple of weeks!
Nighty-night!
(BTW, did anyone watch the closing ceremonies of the Olympics? Is it just me, or were they kinda silly? Although I liked the inflatable moose and [snortgiggle] beavers.)
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Conversations With My GP
Had my annual visit with my doctor yesterday, and we started weaning me off my meds. I also noticed that he carries a little Macbook with him, so he can reference pretty much anything he needs without having to shuffle through a bunch of files. Tres cool!
I mentioned that I'm looking to my diet to help with my anxiety and depression issues. So he talked to me about that. For an hour!!!! It was so cool! How many GPs will take an hour out of their busy schedules to talk to a patient about their issues? He also explained the process for weaning me off the antidepressants, talked about my workout programs WITHOUT nagging, and said "It's a good program, you're not overdoing it." And my weight gain didn't even warrant a single mention.
At the end, he said something that really hit me: he said that people with anxiety and depression often come to realize that we may not be able to get rid of it entirely, but it becomes simply another facet of who we are and doesn't control us anymore.
For me, this is HUGE!!!!! I always wanted to be a calm, zen-like person. The kind of chick who lets life's troubles roll over her like water off a duck's back. But I'm just not engineered that way. I was so happy to hear my doc talk about the genetic AND environmental causes of anxiety and depression; that it is a complex issue, and that I'm not a failure if I can't blissfully meditate on a pointy rock for 6 days.
As far as diet goes, I'm gonna try and go without some stuff for a while. I've never liked extreme diets, because I think they usually lead to a binge. But I remember something from Intuitive Eating, which is about taking care of yourself. If you are diabetic, you don't eat tons of sugar, even though you may want to. If you have Celiac, you must stay away from that crusty sourdough, as much as you want to tear into it. For me, it may well be that sugar, caffeine, and too many starches are exacerbating my issues. I may also have formed a bit of an addiction to them, ESPECIALLY sugar! He explained to me that the way these foods are absorbed by the body can effect brain chemicals. I won't go into it, I probably wouldn't explain it very well. Suffice to say, they are absorbed differently and don't feed the brain as well once they get into the bloodstream. And they may well inhibit the production of things like Serotonin production, as well as leech calcium from the bones. I'm gonna be 41 this year, and I need all the calcium I can get. And Heaven knows I can't afford to lose anything else from my brain, lol!
The good thing is, there are plenty of carbs I can still eat. While I will try to avoid flour, I can can still eat beans, oatmeal, cassava, and, of course, non-starchy veggies. Will I miss my potatoes and corn? Oh, you betcha! But it's worth it to see if I can calm down and chill out.
I wouldn't be doing this if it were all about weight loss. But, I must say, there is a part of me that's thinking "Yeah! I'm gonna lose weight! I'm gonna get a SMOKIN' bod outta this!"
Well, maybe I will, maybe I won't. I'm going to try to focus on feeling better, getting more sleep, and finally, FINALLY dealing with my anxiety/depression!!!!
Combining diet with therapy (using EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, which I'm finding VERY helpful! It's all about changing reactions to stress.), I hope to become, if not a Zen master, at least more duck-like.
I LOVE ducks!
I mentioned that I'm looking to my diet to help with my anxiety and depression issues. So he talked to me about that. For an hour!!!! It was so cool! How many GPs will take an hour out of their busy schedules to talk to a patient about their issues? He also explained the process for weaning me off the antidepressants, talked about my workout programs WITHOUT nagging, and said "It's a good program, you're not overdoing it." And my weight gain didn't even warrant a single mention.
At the end, he said something that really hit me: he said that people with anxiety and depression often come to realize that we may not be able to get rid of it entirely, but it becomes simply another facet of who we are and doesn't control us anymore.
For me, this is HUGE!!!!! I always wanted to be a calm, zen-like person. The kind of chick who lets life's troubles roll over her like water off a duck's back. But I'm just not engineered that way. I was so happy to hear my doc talk about the genetic AND environmental causes of anxiety and depression; that it is a complex issue, and that I'm not a failure if I can't blissfully meditate on a pointy rock for 6 days.
As far as diet goes, I'm gonna try and go without some stuff for a while. I've never liked extreme diets, because I think they usually lead to a binge. But I remember something from Intuitive Eating, which is about taking care of yourself. If you are diabetic, you don't eat tons of sugar, even though you may want to. If you have Celiac, you must stay away from that crusty sourdough, as much as you want to tear into it. For me, it may well be that sugar, caffeine, and too many starches are exacerbating my issues. I may also have formed a bit of an addiction to them, ESPECIALLY sugar! He explained to me that the way these foods are absorbed by the body can effect brain chemicals. I won't go into it, I probably wouldn't explain it very well. Suffice to say, they are absorbed differently and don't feed the brain as well once they get into the bloodstream. And they may well inhibit the production of things like Serotonin production, as well as leech calcium from the bones. I'm gonna be 41 this year, and I need all the calcium I can get. And Heaven knows I can't afford to lose anything else from my brain, lol!
The good thing is, there are plenty of carbs I can still eat. While I will try to avoid flour, I can can still eat beans, oatmeal, cassava, and, of course, non-starchy veggies. Will I miss my potatoes and corn? Oh, you betcha! But it's worth it to see if I can calm down and chill out.
I wouldn't be doing this if it were all about weight loss. But, I must say, there is a part of me that's thinking "Yeah! I'm gonna lose weight! I'm gonna get a SMOKIN' bod outta this!"
Well, maybe I will, maybe I won't. I'm going to try to focus on feeling better, getting more sleep, and finally, FINALLY dealing with my anxiety/depression!!!!
Combining diet with therapy (using EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, which I'm finding VERY helpful! It's all about changing reactions to stress.), I hope to become, if not a Zen master, at least more duck-like.
I LOVE ducks!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Can You Say STRESS?!?!?!?!
So I was looking at the photo I referenced in the previous post, and I realized that...
I look like my DAD!
Which isn't a BAD thing, y'know, excpet,
my dad was a DUDE, you know?
And I don't wanna look like a DUDE!
Right now I can picture him up there, sitting with Howard Zinn and Robert B. Parker, nursing a beer, and saying "What's so wrong about looking like your old man?"
And, I repeat, NOTHING.
Except, well, I'm a WOMAN.
And, truthfully? I don't think he'd be offended.
But I also realize something else: I am STRESSED beyond belief! This week, in particular, has been exceedingly difficult, and has led to not only overeating (and eating junk), but to a lot of yelling and cussing.
In front of my kids.
Which is NOT good!
And as I look back over the past few years, I see that my stress level has been consistently high, and I've been in denial. But this past week has really opened my eyes, and I need help. Help with the kids, with the housework, with managing my moods. I'm already in therapy, which is a good thing. But I need to be more honest with my therapist, and I can only do that if I'm truly honest with myself.
My kids are very forgiving. They don't hold a grudge. But yesterday, when I was yelling and cursing, I think I scared them a bit. And I always said I would NEVER make them feel that way!!!!!! And I certainly DO NOT want them to learn that kind of behavior, especially from me! If I can deal with things calmly, then they will learn to do the same.
For so LONG I have been focused on my weight. Which lets me defer the focus from where it belongs: on my feelings and my reactions to those feelings. It's time to buckle down, grow up, and deal with it once and for all. I may not like what I see when I look inside, but I like what I'm doing now even less. Sometimes I really don't like myself. And Sometimes I need to cut myself a break.
I'll figure it out. It won't always be pretty, but it's gotta be done.
So here goes.
I look like my DAD!
Which isn't a BAD thing, y'know, excpet,
my dad was a DUDE, you know?
And I don't wanna look like a DUDE!
Right now I can picture him up there, sitting with Howard Zinn and Robert B. Parker, nursing a beer, and saying "What's so wrong about looking like your old man?"
And, I repeat, NOTHING.
Except, well, I'm a WOMAN.
And, truthfully? I don't think he'd be offended.
But I also realize something else: I am STRESSED beyond belief! This week, in particular, has been exceedingly difficult, and has led to not only overeating (and eating junk), but to a lot of yelling and cussing.
In front of my kids.
Which is NOT good!
And as I look back over the past few years, I see that my stress level has been consistently high, and I've been in denial. But this past week has really opened my eyes, and I need help. Help with the kids, with the housework, with managing my moods. I'm already in therapy, which is a good thing. But I need to be more honest with my therapist, and I can only do that if I'm truly honest with myself.
My kids are very forgiving. They don't hold a grudge. But yesterday, when I was yelling and cursing, I think I scared them a bit. And I always said I would NEVER make them feel that way!!!!!! And I certainly DO NOT want them to learn that kind of behavior, especially from me! If I can deal with things calmly, then they will learn to do the same.
For so LONG I have been focused on my weight. Which lets me defer the focus from where it belongs: on my feelings and my reactions to those feelings. It's time to buckle down, grow up, and deal with it once and for all. I may not like what I see when I look inside, but I like what I'm doing now even less. Sometimes I really don't like myself. And Sometimes I need to cut myself a break.
I'll figure it out. It won't always be pretty, but it's gotta be done.
So here goes.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Richard Simmons
We all know him. You either love him or hate him, as it's hard to be indifferent to all that energy and all those sparkles. If you ever saw THAT clip of him on "Whose Line Is It Anyway" you probably fall into the former category.
I've always been a fan. When I was a kid, my friend's mom was on his program. She had the workout videos, the snacks, and the Deal-A-Meal. We'd walk into the house to find her Sweatin' to the Oldies, having a grand old time. And I was fascinated.
As I got older, he never seemed to age. And I started wondering why he kept showing up on "Letterman" when all Dave did was make fun of him. I finally realized; Dicky has a sense of humor! He doesn't take himself SERIOUSLY!!!!!! But he does take his WORK seriously, and he actually cares about us fatties. The ones the rest of our culture have deemed Too Useless To Live.
Last night I was watching Dr. Oz. (Seriously, I'm lusting after that man's brain! I mean, yeah, he's attractive, but he's SOOOOOO SMAAAAART!!!!!!!) And who should appear, but Richard Simmons!!!!! He's about to release his 59th workout DVD (!!!!!!) and was showing off some of his moves.
And you know what? It looked like FUN!
So today I went on his website, and he has two workouts that (sorry) jumped out at me: "Sweatin' to the 80's" and "Sweatin' to Broadway."
And my little heart went pitter-pat.
I can work out to SHOWTUNES?!?!?!?! Where has this DVD been all my life?
And, yeah, sure, once in a while an instructor at the gym might throw an 80's tune into the mix, but they're few and far between. But an ENTIRE workout set to synth-rock? Oh, I am THERE, BABY!!!!
I have to see if they have these at the library.
Because, while I kindamaybesorta enjoy my "Insanity" workouts, sometimes you just gotta mix it up. And I'm feeling too old and fat right now to be jumping around so much. Maybe I can do "Insanity" 2-3 days a week, plus other cardio, plus my yoga and Pilates. And I've missed my Spin classes. Wanna get back to those, too.
I guess I'm just not the kinda gal who can follow one prescribed program for too long. I get bored and don't get any results. Plus, I CAN'T do "Insanity" as prescribed AND teach 4 days a week! My legs will fall off! And sometimes ya just wanna have FUN doing your workout, rather than pray for it to be over.
Finally, this morning I had Hubby take a full-body picture of me in my workout clothes.
(Um. YIKES!!!!!)
I'm thinking of posting it.
It'll motivate me.
Or get me cast as "Tweedledum" in the "Alice In Wonderland" sequel, 'cause I'm kind of cute and round and cranky.
When will this week be over?
I've always been a fan. When I was a kid, my friend's mom was on his program. She had the workout videos, the snacks, and the Deal-A-Meal. We'd walk into the house to find her Sweatin' to the Oldies, having a grand old time. And I was fascinated.
As I got older, he never seemed to age. And I started wondering why he kept showing up on "Letterman" when all Dave did was make fun of him. I finally realized; Dicky has a sense of humor! He doesn't take himself SERIOUSLY!!!!!! But he does take his WORK seriously, and he actually cares about us fatties. The ones the rest of our culture have deemed Too Useless To Live.
Last night I was watching Dr. Oz. (Seriously, I'm lusting after that man's brain! I mean, yeah, he's attractive, but he's SOOOOOO SMAAAAART!!!!!!!) And who should appear, but Richard Simmons!!!!! He's about to release his 59th workout DVD (!!!!!!) and was showing off some of his moves.
And you know what? It looked like FUN!
So today I went on his website, and he has two workouts that (sorry) jumped out at me: "Sweatin' to the 80's" and "Sweatin' to Broadway."
And my little heart went pitter-pat.
I can work out to SHOWTUNES?!?!?!?! Where has this DVD been all my life?
And, yeah, sure, once in a while an instructor at the gym might throw an 80's tune into the mix, but they're few and far between. But an ENTIRE workout set to synth-rock? Oh, I am THERE, BABY!!!!
I have to see if they have these at the library.
Because, while I kindamaybesorta enjoy my "Insanity" workouts, sometimes you just gotta mix it up. And I'm feeling too old and fat right now to be jumping around so much. Maybe I can do "Insanity" 2-3 days a week, plus other cardio, plus my yoga and Pilates. And I've missed my Spin classes. Wanna get back to those, too.
I guess I'm just not the kinda gal who can follow one prescribed program for too long. I get bored and don't get any results. Plus, I CAN'T do "Insanity" as prescribed AND teach 4 days a week! My legs will fall off! And sometimes ya just wanna have FUN doing your workout, rather than pray for it to be over.
Finally, this morning I had Hubby take a full-body picture of me in my workout clothes.
(Um. YIKES!!!!!)
I'm thinking of posting it.
It'll motivate me.
Or get me cast as "Tweedledum" in the "Alice In Wonderland" sequel, 'cause I'm kind of cute and round and cranky.
When will this week be over?
Friday, February 12, 2010
Damn Right it's That Time of the Month, So Back the F*** Off!!!!!
Faux News is insisting that all the snow that's been falling is proof positive that global warming doesn't exist. Of course, every environmental scientist, including my brother-in-law, who literally spent years in Barrow Alaska, above the Arctic Circle, has been saying for years that this is precisely what would happen. But then, the folks at Fox never let a little thing like years of scientific evidence stop them.
Yesterday I had to drive a lot. And I was tailgated. A lot. In traffic. And at red lights. Yeah, THAT'S effective!
The Daily Beast should never, ever, ever, ever,ever,ever,ever let Lisa Hilton write another article for them. EVER! Check Leslie's blog entry from yesterday over at "The Weighting Game." She writes much more eloquently about it than I ever could.
Tomorrow I'm teaching Pilates from 7-9 AM, then getting re-certified in CPR. For 7 1/2 hours. WHY it takes 7 1/2 hours, I don't know; my initial certification took ONE hour.
My son and I both have a nagging cough, left over from The Cold (See previous post). It really s**ks.
And, to top it all off, THE KIDS ARE ON VACATION!!! FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK!!! AND MY IN-LAWS ARE STILL IN HAWAII!!!!!
HEEEELLLLPP!!!!!!!
It's gonna be a looong week.
Yesterday I had to drive a lot. And I was tailgated. A lot. In traffic. And at red lights. Yeah, THAT'S effective!
The Daily Beast should never, ever, ever, ever,ever,ever,ever let Lisa Hilton write another article for them. EVER! Check Leslie's blog entry from yesterday over at "The Weighting Game." She writes much more eloquently about it than I ever could.
Tomorrow I'm teaching Pilates from 7-9 AM, then getting re-certified in CPR. For 7 1/2 hours. WHY it takes 7 1/2 hours, I don't know; my initial certification took ONE hour.
My son and I both have a nagging cough, left over from The Cold (See previous post). It really s**ks.
And, to top it all off, THE KIDS ARE ON VACATION!!! FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK!!! AND MY IN-LAWS ARE STILL IN HAWAII!!!!!
HEEEELLLLPP!!!!!!!
It's gonna be a looong week.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Signs
Some very exciting things have been happening here. Other than the fact that we ALL have what seems to be the same cold.
Yeah. Not fun.
Well, let me just say that WG is starting to fade out the in-home therapy she has been getting for nearly 3 1/2 years. But this is good, because...
SHE'S GOING TO A NEW SCHOOL!!!!!
And not just ANY school, the Morgan Autism Center in San Jose!!!! One of the oldest schools in the country devoted solely to kids with special needs, mainly Autism (hence the name). AND, she could conceivably stay there until she's 22 years old! She'll get picked up at 7:15 AM (ugh, lol!) and brought home at 3:30 PM. And the best part?
OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PAYING FOR IT!!!!
Because they recommended it. I'd never even heard of it. But last week I went down for an interview and to see the campus, and knew right away that this would be the PERFECT place for her.
The first sign was that the program director brings her dog to work. She is a 13-year-old retriever who loves everyone, and lets all the kids (and adults, too, more on that later) pet her.
When I saw the classroom, I found out that not only do they have assistive communication devices, but speech and occupational therapy are part of the everyday curriculum. Every student spends the entire day, other than snack, lunch, and recess, one-on-one with a teacher. All the teachers do 15-minute rotations with all the kids. Also, this school very rarely has any openings, so when this one came along, for a 6 year-old, I took it as another sign.
After I left, Hubby called and asked me to pick up a job application for an assisted-living complex in San Jose. Turns out it's 3 blocks from the school! When I went over, there was a cat and his human sitting outside. I pet the cat and chatted with the human (better than the other way around, right?), and it turns out that not only did he, the human, grow up near Boston, he knew my dad! Had, in fact, given him a lead on what turned out to be a HUGE news story!
Coincidence? I don't believe so. I have to wonder if Dad was up there pulling a few strings.
(A few other weird things: the school is right off of Santana Row, where my boss used to work, at the same club that owns the one we now work at. It's also near the Winchester Mystery house, which we took a tour of a few years ago when my parents were visiting.)
This past Thursday I brought WG to the school so she could spend an hour in class and see if it would be a good fit. I went to a nearby mall to get some coffee and calm my nerves. (I know, I know, trying to calm nerves with coffee is light trying to put out a fire with lighter fluid.) By the time I got back, they were ready to offer her the slot. And told me that not only could she start Monday, she could start taking the bus right away! She LOVED it there, and they fell in love with her.
Of course! I may be biased, but pretty much everyone falls in love with our kids.
The school caters to kids of all ages (and will even potty train WG!), but also has adult groups. I'm not sure EXACTLY what that entails (but also don't have to worry about it just yet). We're even thinking it might be a good place for LG when he starts middle school, if they have room.
We'll see.
Speaking of LG, Hubby took him to the rock climbing gym with his buddies on Friday night. And not only did LG climb, he sang WHILE he climbed! Then he took a shower and went into the sauna with the guys. With a towel wrapped around his waist, just like Daddy. He was a little startled at first, but then he settled in and started singing again, much to the amusement of everyone else in the sauna. (They only stayed 5 minutes. Don't want too much exposure, lol!)
SO that's the news from here. I've gotta go fill in a few thousand pages of paperwork to send with WG tomorrow. Have a good night!
P.S. Yeah! Go SAINTS!!!!!!!!
Yeah. Not fun.
Well, let me just say that WG is starting to fade out the in-home therapy she has been getting for nearly 3 1/2 years. But this is good, because...
SHE'S GOING TO A NEW SCHOOL!!!!!
And not just ANY school, the Morgan Autism Center in San Jose!!!! One of the oldest schools in the country devoted solely to kids with special needs, mainly Autism (hence the name). AND, she could conceivably stay there until she's 22 years old! She'll get picked up at 7:15 AM (ugh, lol!) and brought home at 3:30 PM. And the best part?
OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PAYING FOR IT!!!!
Because they recommended it. I'd never even heard of it. But last week I went down for an interview and to see the campus, and knew right away that this would be the PERFECT place for her.
The first sign was that the program director brings her dog to work. She is a 13-year-old retriever who loves everyone, and lets all the kids (and adults, too, more on that later) pet her.
When I saw the classroom, I found out that not only do they have assistive communication devices, but speech and occupational therapy are part of the everyday curriculum. Every student spends the entire day, other than snack, lunch, and recess, one-on-one with a teacher. All the teachers do 15-minute rotations with all the kids. Also, this school very rarely has any openings, so when this one came along, for a 6 year-old, I took it as another sign.
After I left, Hubby called and asked me to pick up a job application for an assisted-living complex in San Jose. Turns out it's 3 blocks from the school! When I went over, there was a cat and his human sitting outside. I pet the cat and chatted with the human (better than the other way around, right?), and it turns out that not only did he, the human, grow up near Boston, he knew my dad! Had, in fact, given him a lead on what turned out to be a HUGE news story!
Coincidence? I don't believe so. I have to wonder if Dad was up there pulling a few strings.
(A few other weird things: the school is right off of Santana Row, where my boss used to work, at the same club that owns the one we now work at. It's also near the Winchester Mystery house, which we took a tour of a few years ago when my parents were visiting.)
This past Thursday I brought WG to the school so she could spend an hour in class and see if it would be a good fit. I went to a nearby mall to get some coffee and calm my nerves. (I know, I know, trying to calm nerves with coffee is light trying to put out a fire with lighter fluid.) By the time I got back, they were ready to offer her the slot. And told me that not only could she start Monday, she could start taking the bus right away! She LOVED it there, and they fell in love with her.
Of course! I may be biased, but pretty much everyone falls in love with our kids.
The school caters to kids of all ages (and will even potty train WG!), but also has adult groups. I'm not sure EXACTLY what that entails (but also don't have to worry about it just yet). We're even thinking it might be a good place for LG when he starts middle school, if they have room.
We'll see.
Speaking of LG, Hubby took him to the rock climbing gym with his buddies on Friday night. And not only did LG climb, he sang WHILE he climbed! Then he took a shower and went into the sauna with the guys. With a towel wrapped around his waist, just like Daddy. He was a little startled at first, but then he settled in and started singing again, much to the amusement of everyone else in the sauna. (They only stayed 5 minutes. Don't want too much exposure, lol!)
SO that's the news from here. I've gotta go fill in a few thousand pages of paperwork to send with WG tomorrow. Have a good night!
P.S. Yeah! Go SAINTS!!!!!!!!
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