I had to bring my 3 and a half year old son with me to my doctor appointment, so I brought some things for him to do during my exam. I brought a dot-to-dot book and a few books for him to read.
I know he can read, he started sounding out words at 2-1/2. By 3-yrs old, he had mastered silent e and was working on vowel teams. He now understands punctuation and how it tells you how to say the sentence. Exlamation points are his favorite. This is no shock to me.
It was, however, quite a shock to our family doctor. She abandoned my exam to gush over his reading skills. She said he's reading at a first grade level... at 3-1/2! Her son is in kindergarten and is an advanced reader, she said. Then added that my son is reading the same level books that her son is... and her son is 5. She kept gushing... "He's gifted! Really! He is! You should look into programs for him."
Of course, I'm proud as a peacock, even though this is not my doing. My son has always been interested in letters... how they sound, and how they work together. My job is to keep it fun for him. We play I-SPY with sight words in a story. I buy books about bugs, Spongebob, and gross body functions... stuff boys like. I'm super-enthusiastic when he gets it right.
I'm a very proud mama today!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Panic attack follow-up
Ha ha, oh no!! You guys probably think I crashed and are saying little prayers for my family! No, no. All is well. I went driving that day and had no issues at all. Within another week I was back to driving anywhere without even thinking about it. I do highly recommend that panic attack CD from health journeys. If you're on anxiety medication, or have ever had panic attacks and worry that they might come back without warning, I highly recommend this CD. Of course, if you are on medication, don't stop taking it without consulting your doctor, but if it can help you sleep a little better, maybe even help your medication work a little better, why not?
What I like about it is that it's guided imagery and affirmations. Guided imagery helps you create a 'happy place' in your mind that you can 'go to' whenever you feel stressed. Affirmations help give you the power of mind to take back some control of these terrifying situations.
I'll say this. I was listening to the CD in bed when a panic attack struck. With the phone nearby -just in case-, I wanted to ride it out. This CD talked about every piece of what I was feeling, almost in order, and talked me through the whole thing. I have never had a full-on panic attack since. It was simply amazing. From the first initial zap, to the shallow breath, the racing heart, freezing/sweating, and the overwhelming feeling of dread... she talked me through all of it. She taught me how to control my breathing without hyperventilating. That was very key. She taught me that my feeling of danger was an illusion in my overprotective mind. Very true for me. She taught me that thousands of mentally healthy people have these kind of attacks and get through them, never to have them reoccur. Very reassuring. I thought I was going crazy.
I'm so glad I sought therapy without medication. Mine were mild enough so that was an option for me. I'm on my last therapy session, and I feel great. We were even able to touch on some of the issues that may have led me to that scary day.
Side note: My doctor recommended I stop drinking coffee. She said caffeine can trigger anxiety attacks. I have been caffeine-free since January. Turns out I don't need it for my energy level. I'm just naturally pretty hyper. None of my friends seemed surprised. ;)
What I like about it is that it's guided imagery and affirmations. Guided imagery helps you create a 'happy place' in your mind that you can 'go to' whenever you feel stressed. Affirmations help give you the power of mind to take back some control of these terrifying situations.
I'll say this. I was listening to the CD in bed when a panic attack struck. With the phone nearby -just in case-, I wanted to ride it out. This CD talked about every piece of what I was feeling, almost in order, and talked me through the whole thing. I have never had a full-on panic attack since. It was simply amazing. From the first initial zap, to the shallow breath, the racing heart, freezing/sweating, and the overwhelming feeling of dread... she talked me through all of it. She taught me how to control my breathing without hyperventilating. That was very key. She taught me that my feeling of danger was an illusion in my overprotective mind. Very true for me. She taught me that thousands of mentally healthy people have these kind of attacks and get through them, never to have them reoccur. Very reassuring. I thought I was going crazy.
I'm so glad I sought therapy without medication. Mine were mild enough so that was an option for me. I'm on my last therapy session, and I feel great. We were even able to touch on some of the issues that may have led me to that scary day.
Side note: My doctor recommended I stop drinking coffee. She said caffeine can trigger anxiety attacks. I have been caffeine-free since January. Turns out I don't need it for my energy level. I'm just naturally pretty hyper. None of my friends seemed surprised. ;)
Thursday, January 24, 2008
3 Panic Attacks!!
A couple of Mondays ago, I had two panic attacks while driving. One on the way to where I was going, and another on the way home. This happened to me once this summer while I was on this Prednezone power pack, but never had any issues since. This time was completely different. Not only did I have the two while driving, but then I had another one at midnight at home!!
I was lying in bed when I felt it come on and I felt like I was going to faint, my limbs were freezing, and I started shaking uncontrollably. Since my husband was out of town, I called my in-laws... at midnight. Bless their hearts, they came right away. In the meantime, I called a doctor who did not think I needed emergency care. My father-in-law (a Fire Chief) thought I had exhaustion.
The next day, my parents came from Iowa to stay with me until my husband could come home early. I felt fine as long as there was someone in the house and I wasn't driving. There was no need for my husband to jump on the plane instantly. He cut his trip short by 4 days, which was perfect. In the meantime, I saw a doctor who said I had exhaustion which triggered an anxiety attack. However, he said it was not simply a 'body rest' situation I had, but a 'mind rest' situation. He referred my to a mental health professional.
My first reaction was, "what? my brain is fine." But while waiting for my Dad to pick me up I realized I needed this mental health professional if I was going to be independent and driving again. When I called to schedule an appointment, the first thing they asked me was, "Do you want medication or no medication." No medication, please! So that puts in one-on-one therapy. They got me in right away, first thing the very next morning. I found myself really looking forward to meeting with her.
I got there, the place was packed! A lady who was with me in the elevator and also in line kept talking to me- trying to figure out if I had something worse than her, presumably. Or, maybe I was just self-conscious and she was just being nice. I'll go with the latter.
When I met with my counselor, I think the first thing I said to her was joking, "I should've been here years ago." She laughed. I was uncomfortable at first, but she was very easy to talk to. It wasn't like the movies at all! She interacted, she shared little stories of her own, it was like talking to a friend... but better! This friend could actually help me!
Since I opted for no medication, she prescribed a relaxation & wellness CD from www.healthjourneys.com. I bought the one she recommended and another that was just for panic attacks.
On Saturday, before receiving the CDs /downloads, I tried driving on the highway. My heart seemed to be racing with the speed of the engine. I made it to one exit ramp... about 4 blocks. Then had to take side streets home. See, that's the thing. I'm fine if I'm driving less than 40 mph. It's the highway that was triggering it. Anyway, I couldn't do it. I came home in tears I was so frustrated and angry that my brain would limit me like this!
It's now been four nights of listening to the relaxation and affirmation CDs. I'm going to try driving today. I'll let you know how it goes...
I was lying in bed when I felt it come on and I felt like I was going to faint, my limbs were freezing, and I started shaking uncontrollably. Since my husband was out of town, I called my in-laws... at midnight. Bless their hearts, they came right away. In the meantime, I called a doctor who did not think I needed emergency care. My father-in-law (a Fire Chief) thought I had exhaustion.
The next day, my parents came from Iowa to stay with me until my husband could come home early. I felt fine as long as there was someone in the house and I wasn't driving. There was no need for my husband to jump on the plane instantly. He cut his trip short by 4 days, which was perfect. In the meantime, I saw a doctor who said I had exhaustion which triggered an anxiety attack. However, he said it was not simply a 'body rest' situation I had, but a 'mind rest' situation. He referred my to a mental health professional.
My first reaction was, "what? my brain is fine." But while waiting for my Dad to pick me up I realized I needed this mental health professional if I was going to be independent and driving again. When I called to schedule an appointment, the first thing they asked me was, "Do you want medication or no medication." No medication, please! So that puts in one-on-one therapy. They got me in right away, first thing the very next morning. I found myself really looking forward to meeting with her.
I got there, the place was packed! A lady who was with me in the elevator and also in line kept talking to me- trying to figure out if I had something worse than her, presumably. Or, maybe I was just self-conscious and she was just being nice. I'll go with the latter.
When I met with my counselor, I think the first thing I said to her was joking, "I should've been here years ago." She laughed. I was uncomfortable at first, but she was very easy to talk to. It wasn't like the movies at all! She interacted, she shared little stories of her own, it was like talking to a friend... but better! This friend could actually help me!
Since I opted for no medication, she prescribed a relaxation & wellness CD from www.healthjourneys.com. I bought the one she recommended and another that was just for panic attacks.
On Saturday, before receiving the CDs /downloads, I tried driving on the highway. My heart seemed to be racing with the speed of the engine. I made it to one exit ramp... about 4 blocks. Then had to take side streets home. See, that's the thing. I'm fine if I'm driving less than 40 mph. It's the highway that was triggering it. Anyway, I couldn't do it. I came home in tears I was so frustrated and angry that my brain would limit me like this!
It's now been four nights of listening to the relaxation and affirmation CDs. I'm going to try driving today. I'll let you know how it goes...
Thursday, December 27, 2007
A little help with feeds?
I'm pretty new at this and would love a little help figuring out how to add feeds to my blog.
I did this one for Technorati by adding the code into my post template, but not sure how to use it or others. Which are the better ones to use?
I did this one for Technorati by adding the code into my post template, but not sure how to use it or others. Which are the better ones to use?
Write regularly and relevantly in 2008
I turned 39 this past summer. Already people were asking about what I'll do for my 40th birthday. As I looked around, I realized I have Writer's Market books dating back to 1996. Yet, I have never attempted to be published. So this, my 40th year, is dedicated to writing. To see if I'm still good at it.
I'll admit, I have a few distractions. Must be the OCD and ADHD that would explain so much if I actually had. I've also wanted to learn how to build a website, and digital scrapbooking, and how to actually earn a living writing (ideally online), and still be the full-time caregiver to my preschooler, and keep doing the actual job that I have and love- part-time hairstylist in my home, and spend quality time with my husband who travels a lot for work. See what I mean? ADHD for sure. Although, I couldn't survive without it.
In theory, all these things can work together. I may be spreading things a bit too thin, but we'll see which ones stick, I guess.
The website building I have a pretty good handle on now. Last year, my toddler (now a preschooler) and I tagged along on 5 of Daddy's business trips... each lasting between 10 days and 3 weeks. So, to fill the time in the hotel rooms from toddler's 7:30 bedtime until hubby came home from working, I built a website devulging many of the tips and tricks we learned about traveling with kids. You can check it out at www.BestKidFriendlyTravel.com. My friends always ask me what products I use and where to get them, so you'll find a lot of links to that stuff there. I actually made it to the first page of Google for 2 articles!! Without paying for ads!! Yay!!!
Digital scrapbooking just makes so much sense for me! Besides the obvious benefit of documenting my memories; if I learn how to do more of my own creations... make my own embellishments and papers, I can use them in my website/s. I just bought the latest Adobe package with both Photoshop Elements 6 and Premiere Elements 4. I'll let you know what I learn as I go.
Apparently the way to earning a living writing online is to do as my title says... write regularly and relevantly. That's my mantra for 2008. What to write about? There's always more to say about traveling, that's one. Here, that's another. I started a blog about beauty tips... things I learn as a hairstylist. You can check that out at www.dyesandcurls.com. So that's three. Too many? I hope not. We'll see.
I'm always coming up with another thing. It could get interesting as things go on. ;)
I'll admit, I have a few distractions. Must be the OCD and ADHD that would explain so much if I actually had. I've also wanted to learn how to build a website, and digital scrapbooking, and how to actually earn a living writing (ideally online), and still be the full-time caregiver to my preschooler, and keep doing the actual job that I have and love- part-time hairstylist in my home, and spend quality time with my husband who travels a lot for work. See what I mean? ADHD for sure. Although, I couldn't survive without it.
In theory, all these things can work together. I may be spreading things a bit too thin, but we'll see which ones stick, I guess.
The website building I have a pretty good handle on now. Last year, my toddler (now a preschooler) and I tagged along on 5 of Daddy's business trips... each lasting between 10 days and 3 weeks. So, to fill the time in the hotel rooms from toddler's 7:30 bedtime until hubby came home from working, I built a website devulging many of the tips and tricks we learned about traveling with kids. You can check it out at www.BestKidFriendlyTravel.com. My friends always ask me what products I use and where to get them, so you'll find a lot of links to that stuff there. I actually made it to the first page of Google for 2 articles!! Without paying for ads!! Yay!!!
Digital scrapbooking just makes so much sense for me! Besides the obvious benefit of documenting my memories; if I learn how to do more of my own creations... make my own embellishments and papers, I can use them in my website/s. I just bought the latest Adobe package with both Photoshop Elements 6 and Premiere Elements 4. I'll let you know what I learn as I go.
Apparently the way to earning a living writing online is to do as my title says... write regularly and relevantly. That's my mantra for 2008. What to write about? There's always more to say about traveling, that's one. Here, that's another. I started a blog about beauty tips... things I learn as a hairstylist. You can check that out at www.dyesandcurls.com. So that's three. Too many? I hope not. We'll see.
I'm always coming up with another thing. It could get interesting as things go on. ;)
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Big Tornado in a little town
In 1979, an F-4 tornado ripped a path through my small Iowa town 8 football-fields-wide. I was 11. I remember the sky turning green, and watching the massive pale wedge turn black after consuming acres of farmland. I was mesmerized. My mother had to pull me in the house from the driveway, only to later peel me from the windows as I tried to keep watching. It really did sound like a train, not the train whistle, just the rhythmic roaring down the track. By the time she got me and the dog into the basement shower, the windows started buzzing. Then everything was silent. Dead silent. Then the roaring and buzzing again. When all was calm, we went outside to see the damage.
Everybody was on the sidewalks in minutes all telling each other what happened in their house. We all needed to know that what just happened really happened. Our neighbors said they looked out the window and it was right above our house!
Just then my dad pulled up in his brown Ford van. After lots of hugging, he said the tornado destroyed the entire truss building except for the small office where he worked. He saw the hail and went to put his van into the garage. When he got outside, the tornado was just a few hundred yards away and headed straight for him! He left the van and ran back into the concrete building and prayed.
Several homes were leveled in that storm, I forget now how many. There were a few who died, mostly elderly who couldn't get downstairs, or who had no basements. Many tragedies come with a storm like this.
But tornadoes do very curious and amazing things also. In our town, for example, there was a house that was picked up, an RV was set down in the basement, and the house was set right back down again almost perfectly in place. In our house, all the siding was sucked out 1/2 inch... just 1/2 inch! We had to pound every single board back in. There was a large piece of corrugated steel laying inches from our car in the driveway, yet the car had nary a sratch. There are so many stories of these oddities that don't get told outside of the locals. But for those of us who've experienced them, they are forever etched in our minds.
This storm created my fascination with tornadoes. If you share this fascination, you may already know about this website featuring some of the best tornado footage I've ever seen. If not, enjoy!
Tornado Videos, Tornado Stock Footage, Storm Stock Videos
Everybody was on the sidewalks in minutes all telling each other what happened in their house. We all needed to know that what just happened really happened. Our neighbors said they looked out the window and it was right above our house!
Just then my dad pulled up in his brown Ford van. After lots of hugging, he said the tornado destroyed the entire truss building except for the small office where he worked. He saw the hail and went to put his van into the garage. When he got outside, the tornado was just a few hundred yards away and headed straight for him! He left the van and ran back into the concrete building and prayed.
Several homes were leveled in that storm, I forget now how many. There were a few who died, mostly elderly who couldn't get downstairs, or who had no basements. Many tragedies come with a storm like this.
But tornadoes do very curious and amazing things also. In our town, for example, there was a house that was picked up, an RV was set down in the basement, and the house was set right back down again almost perfectly in place. In our house, all the siding was sucked out 1/2 inch... just 1/2 inch! We had to pound every single board back in. There was a large piece of corrugated steel laying inches from our car in the driveway, yet the car had nary a sratch. There are so many stories of these oddities that don't get told outside of the locals. But for those of us who've experienced them, they are forever etched in our minds.
This storm created my fascination with tornadoes. If you share this fascination, you may already know about this website featuring some of the best tornado footage I've ever seen. If not, enjoy!
Tornado Videos, Tornado Stock Footage, Storm Stock Videos
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)