Each One Different

Leave of absence

2009-01-29T08:17:00.000-05:00

I am beginning to do a short stint of work outside of our home, and I have a feeling that I won't be back on here for a little bit. I apologize in advance. I look forward to seeing you soon!! :)

Sodium, Salt, and Your Health.

2009-01-24T12:41:00.002-05:00

If you're like me, you probably haven't thought much about the sodium and salt in your food until you, or someone close to you, has a health problem that requires you to think about it. It is an important aspect of your health to consider, however.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) today released "Sodium and Salt: A Guide for Consumers, Policymakers and the Media", a science policy paper that provides current and scientifically accurate information and resources on sodium and salt.

“The food industry takes seriously its commitment to develop products that provide choices for consumers interested in managing their intake of salt (sodium chloride) and sodium,” said Robert Brackett, chief science officer for GMA. “Companies are achieving lower sodium in products through extensive research, reformulation, new salt reduction technology and new product development. Thanks to these industry efforts, today there are more and more sodium- or salt-modified products available nationwide for consumers in the marketplace.”

This policy paper takes a closer look at the basics of sodium and salt, the effect too much or too little sodium can have on a person, and what the food industry can do to help. We don't want to cut sodium out of our diet altogether, as sodium is an essential nutrient. Some sodium and salt is needed as part of a healthy diet. The policy paper suggests that “the food industry can play a key role in offering consumers lower-salt food choices with conventional and modified levels of salt or sodium.”

I found this policy paper an interesting read, and in case you'd like to check it out yourself, you can visit http://www.gmaonline.org/publications/sciencepolicyseries.cfm to access it. Let me know your thoughts!

Once again....

2009-01-22T12:38:00.000-05:00

Once again I've tried to fit too many things into my list of things to do, and well, blogging got pushed down the list. It got pushed down to the point that it hasn't really seen the light of day for quite some time. Sorry about that.... My intention was to keep this site going as a quality place to discuss health, disability, abilities, and issues of that sort. So let's try that again, shall we? :)

DISEASES AND CURES: Foot Care in Diabetes

2009-01-02T08:04:00.002-05:00

I don't know an awful lot about diabetes, but my grandmother does have to deal with it, so I'm interested in learning more..... I just read a really good article about foot care in diabetes that I'd like to share:

DISEASES AND CURES: Foot Care in Diabetes

This is a really sad picture, but it drives home the dangers that are possible with this disease....

Perfection

2008-12-31T10:03:00.000-05:00

"A lot of disappointed people have been left standing on the street corner waiting for the bus marked "Perfection". "

-- Donald Kennedy

Healthy Aging After Retirement

2008-12-30T12:04:00.000-05:00

I received this email from Tri-Vita, so it has some product links, but it also has tons of good info on an important topic!

According to the book “BioMarkers,” the greatest predictor of health as we age is the level of lean body mass that we carry. Lean body mass fuels our metabolism. Unfortunately, a chronic wasting condition affects many seniors. The condition is called sarcopenia. What causes it and what can we do to prevent and even reverse it?

Sarcopenia – chronic wasting
A deficit in lean body mass (muscles, organs, bones, etc.) is called sarcopenia. Energy is born in your muscles and other lean body mass. It is created to meet the needs of the day. People actually program their energy metabolism by their activity level. In other words, if you regularly expend a certain amount of energy every day, your body will start anticipating this. Your metabolism will create the lean body mass and produce the energy needed to meet the regular tasks of the day.

Energy requires fuel. A healthy person will have a hunger equivalent to their energy needs. The hunger ceases and you feel satisfied when nutrient levels – especially fats – have reached the general requirements for fuel anticipated by your body. Interestingly, in a healthy person certain cravings will direct their appetite to foods containing the nutrients they lack. Most of us have obliterated our delicate sense of taste with added salt and sugar. We have erased the ability of our body to communicate through cravings.

These are three main components for metabolism and building lean body mass:

Peaceful sleep
Nutritious foods
Purposeful daily activity.

Without these three elements your body simply does not have the resources or even the need to build lean body mass. Building up does not keep pace with wearing down. As the balance of metabolism tips toward muscle loss instead of muscle gain, a person is at risk of sarcopenia.

Purpose, sleep and nutrition
“BioMarkers” also discusses how the human body can begin to shut down after retirement when there is a lack of purposeful daily activity. This is accompanied by a reduced ability to sleep and eat. With less whole food in the diet, fewer nutrients are ingested and vitamin deficiency is very common.

A real key for healthy aging is reclaiming your sense of purpose in life. When we are younger, this sense of purpose is often expressed in caring for a family or pursuing a career. As we age, new activities may replace the endeavors of our youth:

Adult education
Volunteerism
Mentoring.

Additionally, a regular exercise program becomes very critical as we age, and we should pay more attention to a healthy diet every day and peaceful sleep every night.

The supplements of healthy aging include four critical components:

A balanced multiple vitamin/mineral supplement to protect against nutrient deficiency
An essential fatty acid supplement to reduce inflammation in the arteries and rehydrate the brain
A Vitamin C supplement to serve as an antioxidant reserve and to help keep the immune system active
A B-12 supplement to help keep energy levels up and the mind bright.

Vitamin B-12 is the number one nutrient deficiency among seniors, followed by Vitamin C.

Healthy aging after retirement
The average lifespan of retirees is only 2.5 years from the point of retirement. Without a sense of purpose there is no reason for energy and the body simply begins to shut down. The greatest wellness and longevity is experienced by those who enjoy purposeful daily activity, peaceful sleep and a nutritious diet. Take your healthy aging supplements and, to paraphrase former President George H.W. Bush, “Stop yelling at the TV; get up off the couch, get out of the house and live the life of your dreams!”

Dare

2008-12-03T13:52:00.001-05:00

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly."

Robert F. Kennedy

A new test for Alzheimer's

2008-11-01T12:46:00.002-04:00

I received this email today - it is an advertisement for Trivita as well as great information, but I really wanted to share it here in its entirety. It is very encouraging news as far as progress being made in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of this challenging illness.

A New Test for Alzheimer’s

A breakthrough blood test for Alzheimer’s disease may soon be on the market. It is for a protein called CD-69 that lives in lymphocytes (white blood cells involved in your immune system). This new blood test joins the established blood tests for Alzheimer’s risk: Apolipoprotein e-4 and Homocysteine.

Risks for Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s dementia is a progressive disease where inflammation tangles up nerve fibers and toxic proteins trigger plaque formation. Inflammation often occurs in the immune system of the brain.

This damage increases as you age. It can be amplified by certain lifestyle choices, such as smoking and poor nutrition, and multiplied by brain injuries, heart disease and depression. Injury, nutrient deficiency, electromagnetic fields and stress all cause brain inflammation and produce tangled nerves. Toxic blood levels of minerals such as aluminum, iron, zinc and copper can also create inflammation and may produce toxic protein complexes that trigger plaques.

Tests you can take
If you suspect you or a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, there are a number of tests you can take that may help determine a diagnosis:

CD-69 lymphocyte test
As I mentioned, the CD-69 lymphocyte test will be available soon. Lymphocytes are immune system cells made in your lymphatic system; primarily in the lymph nodes of your abdomen. The same stem cells that create these lymphocytes also serve as the foundation for the immune system in your brain.

The CD-69 lymphocyte test helps to confirm the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and to separate it from other causes of dementia such as Parkinson’s. It is very accurate once a person has serious signs of dementia. However, we do not know how early these CD-69 proteins appear. So, we do not yet know if CD-69 can be used to predict Alzheimer’s disease in time to alter the course of dementia.

Apolipoprotein e-4
Apolipoprotein e-4 is a genetic test for Alzheimer’s and other diseases. We get Apo-e genes from our parents (e-2 is the longevity gene, e-3 is the common gene and e-4 is the gene associated with heart disease, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s).

Homocysteine
Homocysteine is a test that shows how active the disease process is: the higher the homocysteine number, the more active the disease. Homocysteine is a strong trigger for inflammation. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a measurement of inflammation.

Other beneficial tests that can help determine your level of risk for Alzheimer’s and other diseases of inflammation include LDL-C (“bad,” inflamed cholesterol) and fasting insulin levels (insulin is very inflammatory!).

Steps to take
It is always better to know than to not know. Take as many of the tests listed above as you or your loved one can access. And remember, a positive test is not a death sentence. There are simple lifestyle techniques that can yield a profound result in terms of wellness.

A single brain injury can increase your risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 1,000%! Yet, lifelong learning can erase much of the effect of injury by creating new connections in your brain. (See the WWR article on Memory).
Low homocysteine, low CRP and low LDL-C are all associated with reduced risk for dementia. Eating an organic, plant-based diet high in fiber and B vitamins can help reduce CRP and homocysteine. Eating cold-water fish like wild salmon may reduce LDL-C. Supplements such as HCY Guard and OmegaPrime can make the critical difference between success and failure in a prevention program.

Good health – your best defense
Aggressive application of the Ten Essentials as well as the principles of healthy aging can help create the best possible biological terrain – your best defense against Alzheimer’s dementia and, indeed, all diseases.

Childhood Bipolar Diagnosis?

2008-10-30T19:17:00.003-04:00

I enjoy reading "My life as being a bipolar person", and she's given me permission to share a little from her blog. She's been doing some research about children with Bipolar disorder vs. ADHD that I wanted to share here....

Both disorders share many characteristics: impulsivity, inattention, hyperactivity, physical energy, behavioral and emotional lability (behavior and emotions change frequently), frequent coexistence of conduct disorder and oppositional-defiant disorder, and learning problems. Motor restlessness during sleep may be seen in both (children who are bipolar are physically restless at night when “high or manic”,though they may have little physical motion during sleep when “low or depressed”).

And the differences are;

The destructiveness that are in both disorders may seem the same but they are very different. A child with ADHD often breaks things carelessly while playing, where as the destructiveness with a bipolar child is not a result of carelessness, but usually out of anger. The duration and intensity of the angry outbursts and temper tantrums in the two disorder differs. A kid with ADHD usually calm down within 20 to 30 minutes wheras a kid with bipolar will continue to feel and act angry for over 30 minutes to 4 hour. The energy that a child with ADHD puts out during the anger outburst could be mimicked by an adult, If an adult tried to mimick a bipolar child would reach exhaustion in a few minutes.

You can check out more at her blog, linked above...

2008-10-30T12:52:00.001-04:00

Don't forget to change your clocks back one hour this Sunday!!!

Looking for someone similar?

2008-10-25T20:27:00.002-04:00

There are so many different networks online - it's amazing! Most everyone knows the "classics" like MySpace and FaceBook, and then there are all sorts of niche networks as well, ones that I'm sure I've never heard of. I think that they are fun, but I lose interest quickly, and they require some time to keep up. I've found a neat one today that is new to me - maybe you've heard of it already. It's called MyTrybe. It's easy and once it's set up it kind of does the work for you, which I like!! I've got their Similar People widget on my sidebar right now. It is meant to expose your blog to people like you. It allows you to express your sense of style, humor, art, music, food, and so on. It shows your "similar people" and what they like best, and it even has a similarity indicator that shows visitors how similar they are to you. I signed up today - it only took about ten minutes. Anyway, check it out and see what you think... Learn more & get the widget, then maybe I'll see you around - maybe we'll turn out to be "similar people" :).

Fall Allergies

2008-10-23T11:04:00.002-04:00

My younger daughter has a doozy of a time with fall allergies. I guess it's the mold in the leaves. The only way that she can get through it that we have discovered so far is Benadryl at night and Claritin in the morning... I'll be glad when we have a real cold spell; then she'll be fine and we can lay off the medicine!!

I got a great email from TriVita specifically about fall allergies, so thought I'd share :)...

This can be a difficult time of year for many people. It is the time when autumn plants bloom outdoors and mold spores bloom indoors. Both of these trigger allergic responses in people prone to allergies.

What are allergies? Why do some people get them? And how can you find relief if you have allergies?

What are allergies?
Allergies occur when a plant or animal protein or a synthetic substance contacts your mucous membrane and your immune system reacts to reject the irritant. These irritants can include:

Mold
Pollen
Dust
Animal Dander

When your immune system senses one of these irritants it creates an antibody. The antibody protein is rushed to the site of the irritation and “pops” a mast cell. This releases histamines, which create inflammation in the area surrounding the site. This in turn attracts white blood cells and plasma fluid from the lymphatic system, causing heat and swelling. At the same time, blood vessels in the area dilate, causing redness. This irritation may also cause pain.

Although trigger proteins often come from pollen or mold spores, they can really come from anything. For instance, the most common food allergy in North America is milk. Here, the allergic reactions happen within the intestines, where the milk antibody protein (casein) pops the mast cells in the intestines similar to the way a needle pops a balloon.

Something interesting about the nature of mast cells is that they seem to be connected in groups. The H-1 (histamine-1) receptors line the sinuses, intestines, skin, joints and lungs. So, when ragweed pollen triggers mast cells in the nose or a milk protein triggers mast cells in the intestines, all the body’s H-1 mast cells react. That’s why milk allergy is related to asthma, ragweed-induced asthma is related to eczema, and mold-induced eczema is related to arthritis.

Why do I have allergies?
A more important question than “What are allergies” may be “Why do I have allergies when others do not?” A little story might help us understand where we are in the course of health in North America and around the world.

Many years ago, coal miners took a canary with them into the mines to check whether the air was safe for them to breathe. As long as the canary was alive, the miners knew that the air was safe. However, if the canary began having breathing problems, the miners knew that the air was toxic and that they had to immediately leave the mine. Today coal miners use sophisticated air-quality sensors to test for toxic air.

People with allergies are like canaries in the coal mine: They suffer sooner than others. But make no mistake – toxic air affects everyone sooner or later! Those watching world health trends are seeing incredible increases in rates of hay fever, asthma, arthritis and many other allergy-related disorders.

Therefore, we can easily say that there are only two kinds of people:

Those who have allergies today
Those who will develop allergies tomorrow

Health research from around the world confirms this startling trend.

What you can do
Allergy protection is possible when you approach the problem from two perspectives: isolation and insulation.

Isolation
This means keeping your environment as allergen-free as possible. You avoid foods that may be allergy triggers as well as keep your indoor air as clean as possible. It may also mean you stay indoors when allergen counts are high.

Insulation
This means keeping your mast cells as tough as possible so they don’t “pop” too easily. All mast cells are made of good fats, such as those in OmegaPrime. In fact, OmegaPrime has specific “anti-allergy” fat called perilla seed oil. Using these fats in a high concentration (two per meal) over time will toughen up mast cells and help prevent histamine release.

Vitamin B-12 also helps protect you from allergies by reducing the total amount of histamines your body makes. According to an ongoing study of B-12 and allergies, it takes about three milligrams of B-12 to break through the allergy process and reduce symptoms. Additionally, there appears to be a long-term effect. People in the B-12 study experienced more allergy relief in their second year than they did during the first.

A few other nutrients play important roles in allergy reduction:

Maximum levels of Vitamin C (learn about the Vitamin C Flush) act directly to help block histamines
Calcium assists B-12 in blocking histamine formation
Probiotics with enzymes (such as those in Digestive Complex) help reduce mast cell triggers found in foods.

What we all can do
The incidence of allergies increases as carbon dioxide increases in our air and toxins increase in our water and foods. Everything we do to reduce these toxins and support organic agriculture decreases the toxic burden that all of us, including our children and grandchildren, are forced to bear. We are the canaries in the coal mine. Each of us must decide for ourselves how to best insulate our bodies, while at the same time, doing our part to help reduce our planet’s toxic load.

Chronic pain

2008-10-15T13:42:00.002-04:00

I read an article by the American Pain Foundation that talked about chronic pain in America. It was amazing! One in four adults in our country report having had daylong bouts of pain in the last month, and two in five report pain for a year or longer. Yikes!!!

Some disorders that are accompanied by chronic pain:

Osteoarthritis
Rhematoid Arthritis
Diabetic Neuropathy
Fibromyalgia

Treatment options:

Medications
Injectable therapies
Mind-body approaches
Rehabilitative approaches
Complementary/alternative approaches
Surgery

If you find yourself, or someone you care for in this large group of chronic pain sufferers, your first stop should be your primary physician. You need to really work together in coming up with a plan to deal with chronic pain, and the emotional and psychological pain that can accompany it. Don't give up!!!

Palin on Special-needs Children

2008-10-12T21:02:00.003-04:00

"Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge.
And children with special needs inspire a special love.
To the families of special-needs children all across this country,
I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more
welcoming place for your sons and daughters.
I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend
and advocate in the White House."

-Sarah Palin

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-10-06T19:37:00.001-04:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know?

The third Friday of October is designated as National Mammography Day, a day on which women can receive free or discounted mammography screenings at participating facilities.

The risk of breast cancer increases as a woman grows older. The risk is especially high for women age 60 and older.

A woman’s best overall preventive health strategy is to reduce her known risk factors as much as possible by avoiding weight gain and obesity, engaging in regular physical activity, and minimizing alcohol intake.*

If you are living with breast cancer or have had some form of breast mastectomy, especially if the lymph nodes were involved, your physician may advise you to avoid having blood pressure or venipuncture taken on the arm of the affected side. Many women have a warning to this affect engraved on their MedicAlert jewelry and also include detailed information about their condition in their MedicAlert personal health record.

For more information about breast cancer and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, please visit NBCAM.org.

*Source: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month website.

Happiness

2008-10-05T15:28:00.000-04:00

"Many persons have the wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but though fidelity to a worthy purpose."

Helen Keller

That's a bit different then the general worldview today, isn't it?

Words of Comfort

2008-10-04T12:33:00.001-04:00

WORDS OF COMFORT
by Charles R. Swindoll

Read Job 3:1--26

In the early l960s when a Christian suffered from a depression that resulted in Job's kind of thinking and candid admission, you never said so publicly. You wallowed your sorrow. The first book I read on this subject, covering emotional turmoil and mental illness among Christians, was considered heresy by most of my evangelical friends.

The pervasive opinion then was simple: Christians didn't have breakdowns. Furthermore, you certainly didn't say "depressed!" You know what term was used to describe those who struggled with deep depression in the early and mid-sixties? "Nervous." "He's got a nervous problem." Or simply, "She's nervous." And if you ever, God help you, had to be hospitalized due to your "nervous" disorder, there just wasn't a Christian word for it. I repeat, you didn't tell a soul. Shame upon shame that you didn't trust the Lord through your struggle and find Him faithful to help you "get over" your depression.

I remember being told by a seminary prof, who talked to us about assisting families with funerals, that if you did funerals for those who had committed suicide and the deceased was a Christian, we were never to mention that fact. Frankly, it didn't sound right then, and it doesn't sound right today. Shame-based counsel never sounds right because it isn't right! And I didn't know enough to know that Job 3 was in the book back then. Had I known, I would have said, "Hey, what about Job?"

I want to write to you who are reading these lines who may be in the pit, struggling to find your way back. It's possible that things have gotten so dark that you need a competent Christian psychologist (or psychiatrist) to help you find your way. The most intelligent thing you can do is locate one and go. In fact, go as long as you need to go. Make sure that the counselor really does know the Lord Jesus and is truly competent, able to provide the direction you need so you can work your way through your maze of misery. And, I would add, "God bless you for every hour you spend finding your way out of the hole that you have been in. There is hope. Our faithful God will see you through."

Inferiority

2008-10-01T12:03:00.000-04:00

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

Eleanor Roosevelt

Keeping your memory sharp

2008-09-30T12:00:00.001-04:00

I got this emailed to me from TriVita and just wanted to share in its entirety, as I think it's valuable stuff...

Keeping Your Memory Sharp

OK, I will admit it if you will – I have forgotten the names of people while talking to them! I have lost my car keys, misplaced my glasses and turned the wrong way on my drive home.

How about you? Does it seem like your memory is playing tricks on you as you age? Well, there are reasons for that and very few of the reasons are related to diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

How to make a memory
Your memory is an amazing miracle. Each second, your brain processes billions of bits of information from your five senses. You may consciously perceive only a very small percentage of this information because one function of your brain is to filter out unimportant information. The things you remember will usually be advantageous to you, such as remembering your wedding anniversary date as well as where the speed trap is on your drive home.

Memory is divided into two basic groups:

Short-term memory
Long-term memory

Short-term memories are quickly forgotten when they are no longer important. Practicing or rehearsing can improve your memory by moving more information into the long-term category. For instance, when I am distracted by stress I may not be able to remember where I left my car keys. That information was deleted from my short-term memory. However, if I consciously say, “I am hanging my car keys on the hook,” I am far more likely to remember where they are.

How to keep a memory

Reduce stress
Stress kills your memory. The stress system is designed to ensure survival. It helps us fight off a snarling dog or flee from a menacing bear. As important as that is, humans do more every day than merely survive. If you want to have a good, healthy memory, do all you can to reduce the need for fight or flight stress responses.

Learn something new
As I mentioned earlier, practicing or rehearsing something enhances memory. So does learning something new. You see, memory is facilitated through the billions of neurons and synapses in your brain by patterns: retracing old patterns as well as creating new patterns. The more new things we master, the more connections we create and the better our overall memory will be.

If you want to remember your anniversary, start learning a foreign language. If you want to remember important names, learn how to play a musical instrument. The more you learn – and the more you connect the old with the new – the better your overall memory will be.

How to nourish a memory
Certain nutrients help the memory remain sharp. These nutrients fall into two basic categories: those that create brain structure and those that nourish brain function.

Your brain is made mostly of fat. And the majority of that fat is an Omega-3 fatty acid called DHA. So, to have a healthy brain we need healthy fats like OmegaPrime. Your nerve cells convert some fats into functional nerve proteins called myelin. Formation of myelin requires dietary protein and Vitamin B-12. So, for healthy brain structure and function we need Omega-3 fats, healthy dietary protein and Vitamin B-12.

When the memory is activated it creates heat in the brain. To fuel the memory, quench the heat, and repair the daily wear and tear on your brain, you need antioxidants. Certain antioxidants specifically target brain function. A recent study at Arizona State University demonstrated that the antioxidants found in Optima4 not only helped golfers perform better on the course, but they also significantly improved their memory.

What do you remember?
To recap: Occasional memory lapses usually indicate you are distracted by stress. Rehearsing things you want to remember will help and practicing new things that you have learned will help as well. Because new behaviors create new pathways in your brain, learning something new such as a foreign language or musical instrument can improve your overall memory.

Stress kills your memory. Nutrients such as Omega-3, Vitamin B-12 and brain-specific antioxidants such as those found in Optima4 help rebuild and restore your ability to remember. With all of these tools at your disposal you have access to the power of a healthy memory.

Take Control of Your Health

Reduce stress
Increase physical and mental activity
Learn something new
Rehearse before an important event
Practice and review the things you want to remember
Nourish your memory with
OmegaPrime
Super Sublingual B-12
Optima4

Some Children Must Work Too Hard To Learn

2008-09-27T00:16:00.002-04:00

I received this via email from the Home School Legal Defense Association, but it has great information for anyone who struggles in school or with learning...

It is always puzzling to a parent when one of their children doesn’t learn to read or write as quickly as their siblings. Sometimes parents find that giving the child more time to mature works well. Other times the child struggles with the learning process in spite of being given more time.

Maybe you are a parent who has recently taken your child out of the school setting because he was not learning well, despite an Individual Education Plan and special reading and writing classes. Your child is likely suffering from a block in one or more of his “learning gates.” One of the main learning gates is the “writing learning gate,” and consequently is the most common to be blocked by a glitch in learning.

Writing Gate Blocked—When Copying Doesn’t Work

God designed our left brain hemisphere to concentrate on new tasks, such as driving a car, or riding a bike. After concentrated practice, that task is then transferred over the corpus callosum (the brain midline), to the right brain, which is responsible for automaticity of processes. If we imagine the left brain hemisphere as the “thinking (concentrating) brain” and the right hemisphere as the “doing (automatic) brain,” we can see how this transfer allows us to “think and do” at the same time. Then we can think and drive at the same time, or think and ride our bike at the same time.

Generally, when we teach a child how to write, after six months of practice that writing is expected to cross over from the “concentrating brain” to the “automatic brain” so the child can now “think and write” at the same time. For many children, this transfer does not easily occur. Thus, they have to give energy, or a level of concentration, to a task that other children do not have to do...

This often solves the mystery of why many children learn their spelling words easily by writing them in a workbook, or writing them five times each, while other children can write words hundreds of times and still not store the spelling word in their long-term memory. Now we realize that these struggling children have to use their “batteries” just for the writing process, so that the learning process cannot occur. Thus, the method of copying to learn is totally ineffective for these children. We need to help them open up their writing gates.

These children are very commonly thought of as “lazy, sloppy or unmotivated.” We, unknowingly, make them re-copy work that is sloppy, not realizing that they have a bona fide writing block. The majority of the time, when a child who loves to listen to mom read stories, but says that he doesn’t like or even “hates” schoolwork, he is struggling with a blocked writing gate.

Characteristics

Let’s look at some of the symptoms children who have blocked writing gates present to us daily:

Frequent or occasional reversals in letters or numbers (after age 7)

Letters made from bottom to top (vertical reversals)

Writing is very labor intensive

Copying takes a long time

Math problems solved mentally to avoid writing them down

Writing appears sloppy and child is often considered lazy

Oral recitation of stories is excellent, but writing is minimal

Capital and small letters mixed in writing

In math, lining up numbers in multiplication or division is difficult

No child has all of these characteristics, but if your child has several, you may consider this an area he or she is struggling in. If a child has many of the characteristics, or is over age 9 and still writes reversals, they may be labeled with dysgraphia. Many times these children are considered “gifted with a glitch.” They are excellent in verbal expression, but way behind in written expression. Writing paragraphs and longer papers are something that they take great pains to avoid. They give one-word answers whenever possible.

Compensation

When a parent recognizes that their child has a blocked learning gate, and is not just being sloppy or resistant to writing without a reason, then steps can be taken to alleviate some of the writing burden on the child, until the problem can be corrected.

Reduce the amount of writing a child needs to do during the day. Do more answers for chapter questions orally. Limit the amount of writing in workbooks.

Reduce or eliminate copying for 3-6 months. Save the child’s “battery energy” for writing paragraphs, or a paper once a week.

Use another method of learning spelling words that does not include writing multiple times. Resources include Sequential Spelling or Right Brain Spelling.

Teach the child keyboarding for some writing projects (However, most children who have dysgraphia, or a writing glitch, also find keyboarding quite labor-intensive also.)

Correction

There are various methods that can be used to take the stress out of a child’s writing system, and make the whole writing process more fluent. Here are a few:

NILD has a private therapy program that incorporates “Rhythmic Writing” to help reduce the stress in the writing system.

“The Source for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia,” from LinguiSystems contains ideas on how to correct writing problems.

The “Brain Integration Therapy Manual” by Dianne Craft, contains a daily “Writing Eight Exercise,” that opens the child’s writing gate and eliminates reversals.

“Handwriting Without Tears” is a writing program that works well after a child has a strong midline.

Conclusion

A child can have a learning glitch, or block in a learning gate, that causes him to struggle everyday with schoolwork, without the parents’ knowledge. Using some simple checklists, the parent can identify this problem and design the school day to be less frustrating. More importantly, the parent can avail herself of all the wonderful corrective techniques, so that the child does not need to struggle with the burden of having to work so hard at writing, or with a dysgraphia. God has wonderful answers for us. He leads us in so many ways, and we are ever grateful!

For more information on the Four Learning Gates, and how they can be affecting your child’s daily learning, visit the HSLDA Struggling Learners website. This site is designed to help parents both identify and correct many of the everyday learning challenges that children experience. Of particular interest is the “Smart Kids Who Hate to Write” article on that website.

Life Is Difficult

2008-09-27T00:05:00.000-04:00

Read Job 1:1--12

Life is difficult. That blunt, three-word statement is an accurate appraisal of our existence on this earth. When the writer of the biblical book named Job picked up his stylus to write his story, he could have begun with a similar-sounding and equally blunt sentence, "Life is unfair."

No one could argue the point that life is punctuated with hardship, heartaches, and headaches. Most of us have learned to face the reality that life is difficult. But unfair? Something kicks in, deep within most of us, making it almost intolerable for us to accept and cope with what's unfair. Our drive for justice overrides our patience with pain.

Life is not just difficult, it's downright unfair. Welcome to Job's world.

Job was a man of unparalleled and genuine piety. He was also a man of well-deserved prosperity. He was a godly gentleman, extremely wealthy, a fine husband, and a faithful father. In a quick and brutal sweep of back-to-back calamities, Job was reduced to a twisted mass of brokenness and grief. The extraordinary accumulation of disasters that hit him would have been enough to finish off any one of us today.

Job is left bankrupt, homeless, helpless, and childless. He's left standing beside the ten fresh graves of his now-dead children in a windswept valley. His wife is heaving deep sobs of grief as she kneels beside him, having just heard him say, "Whether our God gives to us or takes everything from us, we will follow Him." She leans over and secretly whispers, "Why don't you just curse God and die?"

His misery turns to mystery with God's silence. If the words of his so-called friends are hard to hear, the silence of God becomes downright intolerable. Not until the thirty-eighth chapter of the book does God finally break the silence, however long that took. Even if it were just a few months, try to imagine. You've become the object of your alleged friends' accusations, and the heavens are brass as you plead for answers from the Almighty, who remains mysteriously mute. Nothing comes to you by way of comfort. It's all so unfair; you've done nothing to deserve such anguish.

Pause and ponder their grief---and remember that Job had done nothing to deserve such unbearable pain. If it had been you, how would you have responded?

World Alzheimer’s Day

2008-09-21T00:24:00.000-04:00

Did you know?

World Alzheimer’s day is commemorated every year on September 21.

6 out of 10 Alzheimer's patients wander away from home. Of those, 70% will wander more than once.

It is estimated that more than 5 million people have Alzheimer's or another form of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive, degenerative condition, is characterized by worsening symptoms which, in advanced stages, include confusion, memory loss, disorientation, dementia and the inability to communicate. People with these advanced symptoms often require continuing supervision to prevent them from harming themselves or wandering away from home. Advanced symptoms may be mistaken for drunkenness or mental illness.

This was sent to me by MedicAlert, and they had some amazing stories of how their bracelets have helped keep individuals with Alzheimer's safe. Worth checking out...

Quiet Strength

2008-09-19T22:57:00.000-04:00

INTRODUCING...

Tony Dungy on Winning with Quiet Strength DVD

In this engaging and revealing DVD presentation, Coach Tony Dungy encourages us to look beyond life's struggles and disappointments and learn to live with a sense of purpose and significance. Anyone who loves sports and desires a winning life will enjoy this candidlook at how one man used his quiet strength to rise to the top despite overwhelming personal and professional obstacles.

The DVD can be viewed in 10 segments for small group study along with study material supplied as a PDF or as one presentation.

AFA Online Store is offering this DVD while the supply lasts. Don’t miss your opportunity to own this DVD.

Success

2008-09-16T13:36:00.000-04:00

"I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position one has reached in life as by the obstacles he has overcome trying to succeed."

- Booker T. Washington

Share?

2008-09-15T15:47:00.001-04:00

Anyone have any great info on their blog, website, or somewhere else that they'd like to share about struggles and successes? Let me know - I'd love to have lots of great resources on here!!

The Basic Building Blocks of Healthy Aging

2008-09-06T20:30:00.002-04:00

I received this email from TriVita today and thought it was a great one about aging well.

“None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.” - Henry David Thoreau

Healthy aging is an important topic for me as I age, and I am sure it is an important topic for you as well; no one wants to be sick as they enter their “wisdom years.” This article is about living long and maintaining optimum health.

Is that possible? Yes, it is! Even though some of our longevity depends on genetics, even more depends on the choices we make every day. Health only comes from healthy living, based on healthy choices. The best possible choices for healthy living today will give us the best chance for healthy aging – and a life filled with vitality instead of disability.

What is aging?

Look around at the wide variety of people you know. Look at the health status of each of them and you will see people of the same chronological age that are far different in their biological age.

We see seniors such as John Glenn who went into space at age 77 and former President George Herbert Walker Bush who went skydiving at age 75 and then again at age 80. Unfortunately, these remarkable people may be the exception to the rule. All you have to do is look around you and see people your own age (and younger) who are already disabled or suffering. Many chronic health concerns may be prevented with just a little care!

So, chronological aging is about the calendar and has nothing to do with our health and vitality. Biological aging is about how healthy we are and how energetic we feel. Whereas we cannot literally “turn the clock back” on chronology, we can often repair and rejuvenate our biology and reduce the speed at which we age.

Learning life’s lessons

If we are observant we can learn from people around us. For instance, don’t you see that non-smokers live longer and healthier (in general) than people who smoke? And don’t you see that people with a strong sense of community are happier and more engaged than people who tend to isolate themselves? So, it is easy for us to learn some of the lessons we need for healthy aging just through observation and common sense.

Other lessons are a little more challenging and we need to look to science and medicine for a healthy perspective. For instance, after decades of admonishing people to “just eat a balanced diet” (whatever that may be), we are now told that everyone should be taking a multiple vitamin. Why? Because science and medicine have observed that the people following the practice of nutrient supplementation are healthier than those who don’t.

So, be quick to learn the lesson of nutrients and nurturing from people around you and from your own experience. Also, set aside time to keep up on current information concerning health and aging.

Healthy aging nutrients

Multiple vitamin

Let’s start with a good, food-based multiple vitamin and mineral supplement. Everyone needs one! We need it because even if we eat a perfectly balanced diet, the foods we eat are grown in depleted soil. They simply don’t have the nutrients in them that they once did.

Vitamin B-12

We also need Vitamin B-12 in a form that is readily usable by the body. Vitamin B-12 deficiency is the most common vitamin deficiency in people over 50. Vitamin B-12 deficiency may cause everything from fatigue and grumpiness, to mental confusion and mental exhaustion.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C deficiency is the second most common vitamin deficiency among people over 50. It’s also something you should take every day, because your body can’t store Vitamin C. Results of Vitamin C deficiency include a sluggish immune system, poor dental health and easy bruising. Vitamin C helps your skin, bones and blood vessels.

Omega essential fatty acids

The most common cause of death in North America is cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association tells us that Omega essential fatty acids can help delay or prevent many heart and vascular diseases. So, Omega oils round out the basic recommendations for healthy aging.

A body deprived of the proper nutrients and nurturing will be more prone to disease and premature aging. Practicing the 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness gives us the healthy habits we need for healthy aging. And supplementing with the right nutrients helps us get what we need to facilitate the replacement of old cells with new healthy cells.

So, the choice is always yours. But remember, the clock is ticking...

A Refreshing View

2008-09-04T11:42:00.002-04:00

“I’m looking at him right now, and I see perfection. Yeah, he has an extra chromosome. I keep thinking, in our world, what is normal and what is perfect?”

Sarah Palin on the birth of her son, Trig, who has Down Syndrome. No matter what your political stance, you have to admit that this is a refreshing view. I like it.

Lactose Intolerance: Separating Myth From Reality

2008-09-02T11:29:00.000-04:00

Another great article from Meals Matter...

Do you think you might have lactose intolerance, or do you know someone who does? If so, you are likely getting advice from a wide range of people on what you should and shouldn't be eating.

In reality, many people who say they have trouble digesting milk have actually never been diagnosed as lactose intolerant by a health professional.

Unfortunately, there is a large amount of misinformation on lactose intolerance that may place people at risk for serious nutritional deficiencies and a number of chronic diseases.

The following common questions and answers about lactose intolerance will help you separate the myth from reality.

What is lactose intolerance?

Lactose intolerance refers to digestive disturbances caused by not having enough intestinal lactase, the enzyme needed to break down lactose--the sugar found naturally in milk and milk products.

If lactose is not digested, it can cause gas and stomach cramps. While no treatment exists to improve the body's ability to produce lactase, symptoms can be controlled through diet.

Drinking milk gives me gas and makes me feel bloated. Does that mean I am allergic to milk?

Milk allergies can cause stomach discomfort similar to that of lactose intolerance but with milk allergies the body may react more quickly and/or include skin reactions and breathing difficulty.

True milk allergies are very uncommon. Only about 2 to 3% of children experience cow's milk allergy and they usually outgrow this by age three. In adults, the incidence is even lower.

Chances are you are not allergic to milk but may have some degree of lactose intolerance. Try consuming smaller amounts to see what your "threshold" is for digesting lactose. Using the tips below will help to ensure that you are getting enough of the important nutrients in dairy foods without experiencing symptoms.

Tips for eating dairy foods if you are diagnosed with lactose intolerance:

Drink milk with meals or snacks. Symptoms are generally milder if milk is consumed with other foods.

Consume dairy products in smaller amounts - if one cup of milk makes you uncomfortable, try one-half cup.
Try chocolate milk - it may be better tolerated and is nutritionally comparable to regular milk.

Buy lactose-reduced or lactose-free milk.

Eat yogurt and hard cheeses (cheddar, Monterey Jack and mozzarella) - these have as much calcium but less lactose than softer cheeses and milk.

Increase your consumption of milk products gradually. Your body will slowly build up the enzyme it needs to digest the lactose.

If you've been avoiding dairy products due to a recent bout of stomach flu or other virus, gradually introduce them back into your diet after you've fully recovered.

You may consider taking lactase enzymes. These come in the form of drops to add with milk and in capsules to have before a meal.

Include other good food sources of calcium in your diet, such as broccoli, kale, almonds and fortified foods.

Are certain ethnic groups more likely to be lactose intolerant?

Some ethnic groups such as African Americans, Asian Americans, American Indians and Latinos have a higher chance of developing lactose intolerance. The condition is least common among persons of northern European descent.

Does lactose intolerance mean I should avoid all milk and dairy products?

No. Avoiding dairy products altogether makes it difficult to get the calcium you need. Dairy products are an excellent source of calcium, which is needed to develop and maintain strong bones, as well as a host of other nutrients.

Often people with lactose intolerance can comfortably consume smaller amounts of dairy products throughout the day. A recent study showed that most people with lactose intolerance can consume up to 2 cups of milk per day, one in the morning and one at night, without experiencing symptoms. Others may be able to manage ice cream and aged cheeses, such as cheddar and Swiss.

Dietary control of lactose intolerance depends on each person learning through trial and error how much lactose they can handle.

People who give up dairy products consume far less calcium than they need, putting themselves at risk for chronic diseases such as osteoporosis, hypertension and certain types of cancer.

If you have an extreme case of lactose intolerance, talk to a registered dietitian about how to get enough of these nutrients from other sources.

If I can get my calcium through supplements and fortified foods like orange juice, why should I even bother with milk products?

Calcium-fortified foods may be a good way to boost your calcium intake if your intake is low. However, fortified foods do not always provide the same combination of nutrients as found in nature (for example, milk provides calcium and other bone-building nutrients protein, vitamin D and vitamin A). In addition, the calcium from fortified foods may be less completely absorbed than calcium found naturally in foods.

In addition, new research shows that there may be a number of other components in milk and milk products that are beneficial to health. Fortified foods and supplements don't come close to providing this unique "package of nutrients" available only through dairy products.

Take a few minutes to check your diet with the Calcium Quiz and see if you are getting enough of this important nutrient.

Prevent Osteoporosis: How to keep your bones strong

2008-09-01T11:27:00.000-04:00

A great article from Meals Matter....

Prevent Osteoporosis: How to keep your bones strong

Everyone needs strong bones. Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become brittle and are more likely to break. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks.

Osteoporosis leads to an increase risk of bone fractures typically in the wrist, hip, and spine. A broken hip almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. It can impair a person's ability to walk unassisted and may cause long-term or permanent disability or even death.

Contrary to popular belief, osteoporosis is not a natural part of aging and is preventable in most people. You can improve your bone health through weight-bearing exercise and adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D.

Activity is important for maintaining strong bones. Any exercise that puts weight on your bones will help your bones stay strong. Walking is a good "bone exercise" and is ideal because it can be done anywhere and can easily fit into your day. Jogging, dancing, stair climbing, tennis, yoga and weight training are also good examples of weight-bearing exercise.

The Role of Calcium

Calcium is one of the minerals that helps build strong bones, especially during childhood and young adult years. We all lose bone mass as we age, but if you've built up bone mass early in life, the loss is less likely to cause devastating problems as you age.

What is your calcium IQ?

Strong bones depend on many things. How many yes answers do you have to the following questions?

Are you female?
Do you have a family history of osteoporosis (sibling, parent or grandparent) or broken hips?
Do you diet to lose weight much of the time?
Do you do weight-bearing activities (running, walking, weight training) less than three times a week?
Do you get less than 15 minutes of sun exposure (without sunscreen) daily?
Have you gone through menopause without taking estrogen replacement therapy?
Do you eat less than 3 servings of calcium-rich foods every day? (One serving = 1 cup of milk, yogurt or calcium-fortified orange juice, 1½ oz. of cheddar cheese)

The more you answered "yes," the more your bones are at risk. Some of these things you cannot change, but others you can - for example, getting enough calcium from the foods you eat and drink every day.

The foundation for a lifetime of strong bones is built during the teen and young adult years until about age 30. This represents your peak bone mass. This is the strongest your bones will ever be. The trick is to keep them that way the rest of your life.

Women are at increased risk because their bones are less dense to start with and after menopause, bone loss is accelerated due to hormone changes. This is a time when women need to be particularly attentive to bone health.

How much calcium do you need?

Although calcium alone cannot prevent or cure osteoporosis, it plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of the disease.

The Current Calcium Recommendations

Group (years)	Calcium mg/day
1-3	500
4-8	800
9-18	1300
19-50	1000
51-70	1200
70+	1200

The upper limit level is 2500 mg/day for all age groups.

The best natural food sources of calcium are milk and dairy foods, which provide about 75% of the calcium in the American diet. However, calcium is only one of the nutrients you need for bone health.

Vitamin D also plays an important role in healthy bone development. Vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium (this is why milk is fortified with vitamin D). Others include vitamin A, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus and protein. Foods often provide unique nutrient packages. Milk, for example, is a nearly perfect package of bone-building nutrients.

Other food sources of calcium include broccoli, almonds, tofu and beans.

Quick and easy ways to add calcium to your diet

Use yogurt as a dip for vegetables
Add a slice of cheese to sandwiches
Grate cheese in salads and soups
Add kidney beans to your chili or white beans to pasta dishes
Make a smoothie with fruit, yogurt and juice
Eat yogurt for a mid-afternoon snack
Eat a bean and cheese burrito for lunch
Add milk to soups, sauces and hot cocoa mix instead of water
Order a latte instead of plain coffee
Eat almonds as a snack

Bravery

2008-08-31T13:01:00.002-04:00

Ok, so normally I don't go looking to tv personalities for good advice, but here's one saying that I really like...

"You can't be brave if you've only had wonderful things happen to you."

Mary Tyler Moore

I'm sure that there are people who would argue with that, but you know, the more challenges that you've had to overcome, the more opportunities that you do have to become stronger, and braver. It's not fun, but it can be a good thing.....

Vice President Pick

2008-08-30T13:11:00.003-04:00

It's been all over the news - John McCain has picked little known Susan Palin for his VP candidate. She's a mom of five, can you imagine? I have a hard time balancing homeschool, housekeeping, two of my own kids and one foster kiddo, a tiny bit of work at home, and just life!!! Wow! More power to her! I also read today that her youngest son has Down Syndrome. She certainly would bring life experience to the White House that's a bit different than your typical politician. I look forward to seeing what happens in this race!

Paralympic Games 2008

2008-08-26T12:24:00.002-04:00

The Olympics have gotten a LOT of press coverage over the past few weeks, which is a good thing. Unfortunately another event that will be held shortly on the olympic grounds in Beijing probably will go unknown by many. The Paralympic Games 2008 will begin on September 6, with a torch relay beginning with a lighting ceremony on August 28th. A lot of information is available about the Paralympic games in general, and this event in particular, on the above linked website. If you are unable to find coverage on tv, there is even a web channel of the games. Check it out - these hard working athletes deserve a loyal fan base as well!!

A Universal Issue

2008-08-23T15:09:00.002-04:00

"No matter your name
We have one problem the same
Paying all our bills."

Pretty clever eh? :)

I just finished taking the BillsIQ quiz on www.bills.com, so my mind is on things money... Normally I don't break into random haikus, but hey, I'm overtired and it just kind of happened :). Anyway, this site is great!! It's jam packed full of tips about debt consolidation, debt help, and debt relief. The quiz that I took is helpful too. It helps you to see which areas of your financial health need a bit more attention, and also which you're doing well with. It doesn't take more than a few minutes to take, and gives you an easy to understand summary. Check it out...

You know, money stuff is an issue that we all, no matter the rest of the details of our life, have to deal with. It can be overwhelming at times, so it's important to have as many tools as we can to help with it. The internet has many many resources on it that can serve as these tools, but be careful about who you take advice from, and especially who you give any personal information to. Happy researching!

More homework hints

2008-08-21T22:43:00.002-04:00

I found a few more homework hints for kiddos with ADD/ADHD at Additude. These obviously aren't a one size fits all formula for "fixing" every situation, but hopefully you can pick and choose from them and find something useful. Any other ideas you'd like to throw out?? Things that have worked for you or your children?

* Make a plan for tracking homework assignments. Encourage your child to write every assignment in his daily planner. As a backup, see whether assignments are also posted on a school website. Get a phone number for a student in each class who would know the assignments. One high school senior wrote his assignments on 3 x 5 cards, preprinted with the names of his courses, that he stored in his jeans pocket.

* Establish time for homework. Some children need a break after classes. Others work best while still in “school mode.” If after-school activities make a regular schedule impossible, post a weekly calendar that lists homework start and finish times.

* Ask the teacher about assignment routines. The math teacher may say, “I assign algebra homework four nights a week, and give a test at the end of each chapter — roughly every two weeks.” This tells you that something is amiss if your child says he doesn’t have any math homework two nights in a row.

* Schedule a five-minute break for every 20 minutes of work. Short, frequent breaks help children with ADD recharge.

* Respect your child’s “saturation point.” If he’s too tired or frustrated to finish his homework, let him stop. Write a note to the teacher explaining that he did as much as he could. If he has problems focusing, writes slowly, or needs extra time to understand concepts, assignments will consistently take longer than they should.

* Talk with the teacher. If homework sessions are often emotionally exhausting,work with the teacher to determine whether assignments are too long or are too difficult for your child.

* Consider medication for homework time. Talk with your doctor about a short-acting medication, like Ritalin, which lasts three to four hours. Taking the medication between 3 and 5 p.m. shouldn’t interfere with sleep. Most medications given earlier in the day have worn off by late afternoon. When medications are working, students stay focused, complete homework quicker, and are more likely to remember the material they studied.

* Monitor your child’s progress with a daily or weekly report. Daily and weekly reports from a teacher warn parents when their child is in danger of failing and in need of more supervision at home. The reports help you and your child identify missing homework assignments, so you can find them and get them to the teacher. Younger children need more frequent feedback, so a daily report may be best for them. In some cases, weekly reports may be sufficient for students in high school.

* Request an extra textbook to use at home. Students with ADD often leave their books at school. Having access to a textbook every night is essential. Once a student with ADD falls behind, it is difficult to catch up. Since many schools have only one set of books for each student, you may have to purchase extra copies.

ADD and homework

2008-08-20T22:29:00.004-04:00

I have a daughter who deals with some of the challenges of ADD, and we are attempting to deal without medication. Even though we homeschool, and can accomodate some of her special needs, schoolwork can sometimes be tricky. I came across a site with some great recommendations on the topic of ADD and homework.

After a long day at school, homework can be tough for children with attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD) or learning disabilities such as dyslexia—and for their parents, too. Here are strategies for wrapping up assignments:

1. Start a homework group.

Invite one or two kids from your child’s class to come over and do a little homework together. This can be an effective way to get a look at other children’s studying strategies, and the chance to play for a while when homework is done is a strong incentive to do the work more efficiently.

2. Consider your child’s daily rhythms.

Most children do much better if they do their homework relatively early in the day—maybe not immediately upon coming home from school but certainly before supper. (Everyone deserves a break, and our kids, in particular, may need a chance for some physical activity before they have to sit down again.) Some quirky kids are notoriously early risers and that can be a terrific time to get homework done.

3. Have a plan of attack.

Sit down and strategize the day’s homework with your child: How much has to be done? What looks easy? What looks hard?

4. Have a specific place to do the work.

How can you minimize distractions? How available do you, or some other supervising adult, need to be? You may want to set up a dedicated homework location. If your child’s room is the place most full of possible distractions, the best spot might be some boring adult setting: a little desk in the living room or some space at the kitchen table.

5. Reward accomplishments.

We are big believers in small, tangible rewards for small, tangible accomplishments. Finish your worksheet, and you’ll get a cookie. Finish all your homework, and we’ll go to the playground for 15 minutes before dinner. With the assignments your child really hates, there’s nothing wrong with offering a grape or a gold star for every single successfully completed sentence on the worksheet or math problem on the list.

6. Don’t overschedule.

If you fill up every afternoon with sports, therapy sessions, and other activities, then homework will have to wait until later, and that may be hard. How about moving some of these activities to the weekend? How about getting your child accustomed to bringing his homework along if you know there’s usually a wait in the physical therapist’s office? Some schools send home a weekly packet of assignments due on Friday, or the following Monday. This allows for more flexibility in planning, and the final product is more likely to be relatively neat and well thought out.

7. Plan for supervision.

Think about homework supervision as you make your child-care arrangements. If you have a babysitter overseeing some of these after-school hours, give her clear instructions for helping with homework, and make sure she understands that, if possible, it needs to be done by dinnertime. If your child spends time in an after-school program, is there some provision for homework? Many of these programs offer a supervised homework room, where kids can work in peace and get help if they need it.

8. Organize.

For many quirky kids, just keeping track of papers is a big task. When an assignment is given at school, your child should know exactly where to put the paper so she’ll be sure to bring it home.

After homework is done, she should pack it in whatever special folder or backpack is going back to school the next day. The parent who picks up and drops off the child at school may need to double-check to see that assignments or completed homework has been packed. No matter how carefully you plan, every parent has, at some time or another, driven madly back across town one morning with the forgotten, left-at-home important assignment in hand. You just don’t want to have to do it every day.

9. Check in with the teacher.

If the assignments are not always clearly indicated, or if your child has trouble figuring out exactly what is expected, you should either check in with the teacher on a regular basis or establish a connection with another parent who seems relatively clued-in, so that you can, in a pinch, call for advice and instructions. Some teachers are available by e-mail, and some even post homework assignments on a website.

10. Bend the rules.

By far our favorite homework activity for young children is reading—reading together, letting the child read to the parent, and, of course, letting the parent read to the child. If your child’s worn out by the evening, take over more of the reading and let her enjoy the pleasant one-on-one contact. We’d like to express the hope that homework reading programs will recognize the pleasures and comforts of reading aloud and will allow children to select books that interest them. If you find yourself with a homework reading program that is taking all the fun out of it, you may need to make some discreet alterations at home—with or without notifying the school.

11. Use tools to plan.

Help older children plan their time—not just for any one evening’s work but for the bigger, longer-term assignments. Some quirky children are unable to understand how to break these down into manageable steps, so a chart, a checklist, or a calendar, with separate due dates for each task, can be really helpful.

12. Remember the power of praise.

Try to make homework a period that is associated with a certain amount of praise, with some physical comfort, and even the occasional treat. It won’t make your child love worksheets, but it may start to seem like a familiar, relatively pleasant interlude in the day—or at least, like a doable assignment.

Adapted from Quirky Kids (Ballantine), by Perri Klass, M.D., and Eileen Costello, M.D.

Autism and Asperger's signs

2008-08-20T11:02:00.003-04:00

I found a great fact sheet by Barry K. Morris about early signs of asperger's or autism that I wanted to share some of with you here. These are two diagnoses that we hear tossed around a lot, but what really are the "signs"?

This fact sheet is one of over 350 fact sheets for parents of children with autism and Aspergers syndrome. Visit www.autism-help.org for practical information on communiation issues, behavioral strategies, tips for school, personal stories and more.

All children will have both delays and sudden progress in their development. It is normal to be worried or concerned over lack of progress or unusual behaviors, and happily these are resolved eventually. However, parents are in an ideal situation to watch for potential early signs of Autism, Asperger's syndrome, and other developmental issues in their child.

Autism and Asperger's syndrome are developmental disorders and minimizing these developmental delays is very important for a child's long-term outcome. For this reason, early diagnosis and early intervention are crucial. Here are some tips for parents looking for possible early signs.

These disorders will cause delays in a child's early development, with possible indicators in social skills; the senses - hearing, taste, touch, sight, smell; play and imagination; and behavior. It should be stressed that a diagnosis of Autism or Asperger's syndrome arises from a wide range of these indicators appearing to be a consistent theme in a child's development.

THE FIRST YEAR - possible signs of Autism & Asperger's syndrome

There are certain milestones of development that the average child reaches within the first year of development. Some of these include: standing with support by parents, crawling around, saying single words, waving goodbye and other simple gestures.

Not reaching these milestones does not indicate your child has symptoms of Autism or Asperger's syndrome, as many children may be late developers and catch up at a later point. However it pays to look out for possible early symptoms as early intervention therapies can make a big difference if a diagnosis is reached in the years ahead. Children are usually not diagnosed until the second year at least but there are moves toward making earlier diagnoses to allow earlier intervention therapies.

Even in the first few months of life, it may be apparent that an autistic child does not interact with others, and avoids eye contact. They may seem indifferent to other people and prefer to be alone. They may not like attention, or just passively accept cuddles.

Toward the end of the first year, the child may not appear to react normally to certain objects and activities. They may have an extreme reaction, or none at all. They may begin to show the first signs of repetitive behaviors such as rocking, or fixating on objects with their eyes. A lack of eye contact with other people is very common at later stages but may not show in the first year.

In some cases, a child can be developing normally in the first year then begin showing these characteristics.

THE second YEAR -

Possible signs of Autism & Asperger's syndrome are a lack of interest in other children and people, lack of eye contact, not pointing at objects that are wanted, not using sentences of two words by two years of age, losing words or language skills that were already acquired, does not look at objects you are pointing to, repetitive behaviors such as hand flapping or rocking, does not play pretend games, walking on tip toes.

Unusual behaviors and the differences in the way an autistic child reacts to people may become apparent in the second year or later. This change could be sudden, with a child starting to lose language skills, rejecting people and developing some of the above mentioned behaviors. Sometimes the child ceases to progress, and this lack of development becomes noticeable when compared with other children of the same age.

TWO TO FIVE YEARS

Some possible signs of Autism & Asperger's syndrome are a lack of interest in other children and people, lack of eye contact, not pointing at objects that are wanted, strange reaction to the distress of other children, obsessed with certain objects, toys and games, focus on order, routine and arrangement of objects, distress when these orders, routines or arrangements are disturbed, repetitive movements such as rocking, hand flapping, or spinning around, sensitivity to loud sounds that don't disturb other children, sensitivity to touch ie. disliking hugs or fabrics of certain clothes, sensitivity to smell and taste.

Pre-teenage years

In some cases, a child may be at the milder end of the autistic spectrum and developmental delays may only become obvious in the pre-teen years. Some signs of Asperger's syndrome could include lack of eye contact, few if any close friends, does not share or take turns, lack of communication skills, unusual ways of talking, little use of non-verbal communication and gestures, repetitive phrases and focus on limited range of topics, does not show empathy toward others, difficulties with the 'give and take' of conversation, and unusual gestures made when excited or distressed.

Teenage years - signs of Asperger's syndrome

In mild cases of Asperger's syndrome, developmental delays may only become evident in the teenage years. Some signs of mild Asperger's syndrome could include lack of eye contact, apparent lack of emotion, difficulty in establishing close friendships, literal thinking and trouble with sarcasm, irony and subtle humor, tendency toward obsessive and compulsive behaviors, inappropriate comments or behavior in social situations, difficulties in understanding the views, emotions and needs of others.

What is psoriasis?

2008-08-17T22:31:00.005-04:00

Another illness that I don't have a ton of info about, but I found a site that does - www.psoriasissolved.com.

There are about eight broad categories of psoriatic symptoms:

Psoriatic Arthritis - Where a person has both psoriasis and arthritis.
Inverse Psoriasis - Smooth patches lying within the folds of skin, often exacerbated due to the presence of candida or fungi.
Erythrodermic Psoriasis - The most uncommon form, and a very serious condition that can lead to blood loss.
Plaque Psoriasis - The most common form, affecting about 90% of all those with psoriasis.
Guttate Psoriasis - Short-lived, and usually affecting those under 30.
Pustular Psoriasis - An uncommon form consisting of pus-filled bumps on the skin.
Scalp Psoriasis - Dry, scaly skin. Often confused with seborrheic dermatitis.
Nail Psoriasis - psoriasis concentrated on fingernails and toenails. The nails become weak and bumpy. May also be related to fungal infections.

The "R" word

2008-08-17T21:56:00.002-04:00

I've been wondering how people who are directly impacted by the use of this term, because of the fact that they either have a developmental disability themselves, or because they love someone who does, feel about this movie that we keep hearing about on the news, the one where the main character uses the "R" word, retarded... I found a blog where a mom of a child who's been diagnosed with Down Syndrome shares what she thinks and feels in a very eloquent way. I share with her permission....

I know you’ve all probably heard about the controversy with the Tropic Thunder movie and the word “retard”, so I won’t bore you with the details. I’m sure you all can guess how I feel about it all. Once again, people try to pass off the use of this derogatory word in a way that makes it “okay” - by saying that they’re making fun of something else with it - not actual developmentally delayed people. I don’t get it. How does that logic fly? You are reaching out for laughs by using a word that brings to mind people like my son. Not in a positive way, but because our society views these people as something funny to point & laugh at. I mean, seriously. When does anybody pull out that word when they’re not trying to elicit a laugh from people? My son is not a punch line. His abilites or disabilities are not there for you to use as a reference point for your joke. To continue to use the excuse that “I was referring to myself; I was making fun of myself!!” when they’ve thrown about the word to show how STUPID they were. Come ON, people. You’re not fooling anyone. When you hear that word, what comes to mind? A person with Down Syndrome, maybe a person who has autism or is mentally disabled, right? How is comparing yourself to someone like that FUNNY?

I’ve discussed this topic a number of times before and my stance hasn’t changed. The word no longer has any place in our society. It’s only used as an epithet or an insult referring to a certain segment of our society, which is as unacceptable as using the “n” word or any other word like that. Back in October I wrote this about it:

…October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Unless you live in a cave somewhere up in Nunavet, you know this. Because, every October, absolutely everything is pink. Pink housewares, pink storage bins, pink socks, pink underpants, pink windshield wipers, pink garbage cans - all giving a portion of their proceeds to various breast cancer groups. Which is cool. I’m all for eliminating breast cancer. My mother-in-law had it & beat it.

What you might not know is that October is another awareness month that doesn’t get a whole lot of press. But it’s one that’s near & dear to my heart. It’s Down Syndrome Awareness month. It’s a month devoted to promoting awareness about what Down Syndrome REALLY is. About how amazing people with that little extra chromosome are. About how we’ve spent centuries treating them as if they can’t do anything simply because they do it more slowly & deliberately. Because they look different than neurotypical people. But that they’re showing us “normal” people every day that they can do far, far more than we’ve given them credit for.

It’s difficult, as the mother of a child with DS, to not get frustrated with the way the world views these people. To constantly hear jokes with Down Syndrome as the butt. To hear the word “retard” bandied about as we insult ourselves & one another. I cannot imagine what it must be like to live in this world as a person with DS. Because they aren’t deaf. Or brain dead. Or blind. They know that people stare at them. They hear the jokes. They get hit between the eyes with the insults. They hear the whispering. It must totally hurt. But, in spite of it all, most of the people with DS I know don’t hold hatred or bitterness in their hearts about it. I admire that. Because I? HATE IT.

Let’s educate ourselves about Down Syndrome & what it REALLY means, okay? It doesn’t mean institutionalizing people. It doesn’t mean they’re “retards”. It doesn’t mean they can’t learn or love or do much of what we all do every day. They go to work. They go to school. They play sports. They love music. They have friends. They go on dates. They’re even going to college & getting married. They are JUST LIKE YOU & ME. From what I can see - here’s the only difference. They do what we do - just a little more slowly & deliberately. It’s not that they CAN’T do something - it’s just that it takes them a little longer to learn how to do it. Having seen the strides we’ve taken in just the past couple of decades, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a future when people with DS regularly drive, live on their own, and do a lot more. Of course, I’m speaking in generalizations, but I see it. I believe it.

Don’t be fearful of him or other people with DS. They’re people. They like to be treated like it. Talk to them. If you see someone with DS working at your store - say “hi”. Ask how they are. Don’t stare. Don’t whisper. If someone tells you a joke who’s punchline is something about DS, tell that person “that’s not funny”. Seriously. If I never hear another joke about Down Syndrome or “retards”, it’ll be a glorious world...

Do we not REALIZE these things?? These people are PEOPLE and yet we treat them as if they’re not there, shouldn’t be there, their very EXISTENCE offends us. Could you imagine going through life, hearing people whisper (or even talk loudly, assuming you’re too stupid to understand) about you, talk across you, ignore you, refuse to look at you or stare incessantly? She’s right. By too many of us, they’re all viewed as “unpeople” and their treatment by society shouldn’t matter. The fact that people cannot realize the detrimental effect of hearing that word tossed around proves it to me.

Anyway. I also ran across this site that the Special Olympics has put up. It’s a site to sign a pledge that you’ll cease & desist using the “r” word. As they say, “The r-word is hate speech that perpetuates the negative stereotypes that face people with intellectual disabilities every day. Yet, its use continues to gain in popularity.” Click on the “Learn More” there to really understand how this little word demeans, hurts and belittles. Then, sign the pledge. Try to make an effort to eliminate that word from your vocabulary. View it like you view the “n” word or any other word that offends you or makes you cringe. Do it for Henry. Or Caroline. For Jenni. For Rhett. For Delphine. For Will. For Gigi. For Steven. For countless HUMAN BEINGS who live like us, love like us and deserve respect & dignity just like us. Thank you.

From www.motherhood-unscripted.com

IBD

2008-08-11T08:44:00.002-04:00

IBD is something I know next to nothing about, but I found someone who knows it well, personally. I'm sharing her story with permission.

I’ll just break the ice by starting with my personal story. For those who suffer either of the two, Crohn’s or Colitis, then you already know the hell. For those who don’t, or maybe know someone who does but still can’t completely comprehend, then this will help.

The fundamental cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown. Evidence suggests that a genetic predisposition leads to an unregulated intestinal immune response to an environmental, dietary, or infectious agent. However, no inciting antigen has been identified.

Chronic diarrhea with abdominal pain, fever, anorexia, weight loss, and a right lower quadrant mass or fullness are the most common presenting features.

Back to the Beginning

Around the age of fourteen, I began having abdominal pain during meals. Immediately after eating, I would have to rush to the bathroom where I spent 30 minutes doubled over with cramps, and having diarrhea. Initially, my mother thought it was a ploy to get out of doing the dishes. But as the weeks went by with the same symptoms, she finally decided I was indeed sick. It’s not easy as a teenage girl to admit to having diarrhea. little did I know just how bad things would get.

First my mother took me to an Internist. He spent thirty minutes asking me questions then barely poked around on my stomach for less than two. I had always had trouble with my periods, cramping so hard I would nearly pass out. My diarrhea episodes seemed to be worse around my menstrual cycle. The doctor in all his wisdom informed my mom this was all normal for a girl my age.

So off to our regular physician I went. He’d just taken in an Internist as his new partner and insisted I see him. Next thing I know, I’m on my hands and knees on the examining room table with a cold metal rod stuck up my rear end. It was painful to say the least.

He suggested I see a Gastrointerologist, a GI doctor. When i went to the specialist, he set up my first of many colonoscopies I would have. The prep was horrible. A gallon of the foulest tasting stuff, the nasty dreaded Golytely, and several enemas. It was painful and embarrassing for a young girl.

Not only that, but I was placed on a table, unmedicated, and a long tube was inserted. During the course, the doctor pumps air into the colon, causing a cramping sensation that rivals the worst menstrual cramps I’d ever had.

As if it wasn’t bad enough that I had to endure this with him, with the tube still up my butt and cramps gnawing at me, he leaves the room and gets his partner. I felt like it was some sort of open house. Why not bring in a few more doctors and nurses to have a look at my backside. Hey, the more the merrier. I felt like not one doctor knew what my face looked like, but if I pulled down my pants they’d say, “Oh hi, Laurie, nice to see you again.”

The next day I was admitted to the hospital. The initial diagnoses was Ulcerative Colitis. Ulcerative Colitis is similar to Crohn’s in appearance and symptoms, the only exception being that UC is limited only to the large intestine. And unlike Crohn’s, there is a cure for UC…the complete removal of the colon.

…to be continued at http://ibd.overfortyandlovingit.com

Teaching Emotions Through Conversation

2008-08-09T15:27:00.001-04:00

I have come across a blog that is a great resource in regards to homeschooling, and in regards to special needs stuff. I'd like to share a little bit, with permission, by Angela DeRossett.

One of the biggest obstacles parents face when homeschooling a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is how to teach appropriate socialization. This becomes just as important as the core subjects like math, language arts, and science.Did you ever wonder how these children learn the basics of good conversation? Perhaps you've experienced the blessing of echolalia, the repetitive conversational nature of ASD that pops up during times of stress or pure joy. Perhaps your child is non-verbal and you've been battling the 'how do I teach this kid' struggle. Communication skills are one of the greatest gifts -verbally and/or non-verbally - that you can teach your child. It strengthens their abilities to adapt in their environment. It builds positive experiences. It leads to less embarrassing situations during social functions for parents. :-)

To read more join me on Heart of the Matter Magazine: August Edition

Fibromyalgia - what is it?

2008-08-09T10:59:00.001-04:00

I read a great article yesterday, in Women's Day, about fibromyalgia, and they had a section in it called "Defining Fibromyalgia." I know a lot of people still aren't familiar with this disease, though it wrecks havoc on many lives, so thought I'd share from it.

What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia? They vary but may include allover achiness, pain, stiffness and tenderness in muscles and joints, fatigue, chronic headaches, difficulty sleeping, trouble concentrating, disorganized thinking and forgetfulness, and depression or anxiety.
What causes it? No one knows for sure, but research continues.
How is it diagnosed? If you have symptoms for more than 3 months, talk to your primary care doctor. He may administer a tender point test or refer you to a specialist.

For more info visit the National Fibromyalgia Association at http://fmaware.org.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

2008-08-08T06:59:00.003-04:00

Quite a few years ago I was diagnosed with DeQuervain's syndrome, which is an inflammation or a tendinosis of the sheath or tunnel that surrounds two tendons that control movement of the thumb. It's similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, in that it is a repetitive motion injury of the hand. It caused me a lot of discomfort, and I ended up getting steroid injections, having surgery, and doing physical therapy for it. In hindsight, I wish I had skipped the injections and surgery, or at least held them off until I more fully explored other options. My only medical opinion was from a hand surgeon, and I think he may have shortchanged the other options that may have also worked. Now I'm starting to have some issues with my carpal tunnel region, and I certainly will be more fully exploring everything that's out there. I don't want to rush into possibly unnecessary surgery, with all of it's implications, and I can't take many pain medications, because of other medications that I am on. One thing that I am most likely going to implement in my carpal tunnel relief plan is a support splint. I'm looking at the IMAK SmartGlove. I like that it's made of washable, breathable cotton Lycra, and that it has a massaging ergoBeads™ pad under the wrist, which cushions and improves circulation. That would be a smart conservative step to take in keeping my hands healthy.

Trichotillomania

2008-08-06T11:56:00.003-04:00

I was a psychology major in college, and yet never had heard of trichotillomania. The other day I came across a website where the author shares her story of her struggles with trichotillomania. This post was just so compelling that I wanted to share it with you.

My Trich Story

When I was about 9 I got a hair braid in my hair on holiday, and I always used to fiddle with it. When I finally undid it I continued the fiddling, which turned to pulling out the hair and it went from there (I was, in fact, quite prone to ‘habits’ such as this, for example picking out the fluff in my teddies, or my blankets, but had never yet used my own body for the purpose). In my last year of primary school my parting had grown from a thin line to over an inch wide (bald), and I also pulled out one of my eyebrows pretty much completely.

When it was at it worst age 10/11, I didn’t really know what was going on but, weirdly, I also didn’t really feel bad about it. My mum used to try and stop me pulling, and my friends mentioned how big my parting was, but I didn’t really think much of it, and I’m not sure why, but I appreciate the pain I was saved. When I started secondary school I was pulling a lot less (again I don’t know why) and had a large, very short patch of hair growing back which was very obvious. I remember getting comments about this, and one of my old friends from primary school actually started spreading things about me, telling everyone that I used to have a bald patch. This bothered me, but again I never felt too bad about the pulling.

I can’t remember when I found out what it was, but I remember reading that it was as common as biting your nails and my immediate reaction was anger. What’s so bad, then, and why do people think it’s so weird if it really is the same as biting nails?!

Since my late primary school/early secondary school years I never pulled my eyebrows again after the hair had grown back, and also eventually got to the stage where I was able to wear my hair down and feel proud of it. I remember the first time someone said I had nice hair and how happy it made me. I suppose it was at about age 16 that I would start to wear it down, and before that I used to keep it tied back every day. I think it helps that my hair is very thick, and it is long, and areas do not notice as much. I also know that I don’t pull the large amounts that I used to, but this was not a conscious effort. I started pulling my pubic hair as well, though keeping it short has pretty much prevented this as I do not use tweezers to get at the short hairs like many people do.

Facing Trich

It is only recently that I have consciously decided that I am not going to let this be a problem anymore. I have been in a relationship for over a year now, and, unlike my last relationship, I have been able to tell my boyfriend everything. He wasn’t shocked, or even too confused as to why I do it, which is of course a great help. Sometimes I do feel that he can never help in as much as he will never understand, but I know that he loves me and accepts everything about me which is amazing. Apart from him I have never really told anyone else, except my mum that it was as common as biting nails when I was a bit younger. However, I do worry that it shows, as recently with the workload of university I feel I have been pulling more, mainly from around my parting and there are a lot of short hairs that are visible, even though there are no bald patches.

One day I was working on an essay with some papers on the floor beside me. I was subconsciously pulling the whole time and when I went to pick up the paper the hairs showed up against it and I really was horrified by how much there was. It also made hoovering my room a nightmare when our hoover is not very powerful at all! Things like this may seem small, but are significant in people’s lives, no matter how much you pull.

My blog posts are anonymous, and this is, in part, due to the fact that I am not open about my trich to the majority of people who know me. Of course this is something that bothers me, but in writing I hope to come to terms with such issues.

Blogging and forums have been the greatest help for me coming to terms with the fact that trich is part of me, which is why I also decided to start this blog. If you want to write something, help yourself and others, then you can do it here. Just get in contact!

Her website is http://trichblog.wordpress.com/.

Alzheimer's and Dementia

2008-08-03T06:50:00.002-04:00

There are so many challenges that are faced daily around the world, but the ones that I think would be hardest for me are the ones that involve your mind. How sad it must be to watch someone change so much in this way. TriVita emailed this article recently about alzheimer's and dementia.

Dementia & Alzheimer’s: The Best Hope is Prevention

Who am I? Whatever the answer, that’s our “identity.” One definition of identity is: a set of unique characteristics belonging, for life, to one individual. Another expert defines identity as the total accumulation of all life experiences, built one upon the other, up until this present moment. It’s as if we are an unfinished tower building, with each new story of life experiences being built upon the story below it.

Dementia steals all this − our memories of the past, our ability to reason in the present and our ability to plan for the future. In essence, dementia robs us of our identity.

Vascular dementiaThis is the most common cause of dementia among younger people. It may be caused by poor circulation from vascular inflammation, high cholesterol, viral and other infections, “mini-strokes,” medications, drug and alcohol abuse, or a few other rare conditions related to excessive pressure in the head.

Poor circulation in the brain is directly linked to elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood. In some people, high homocysteine ignites LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol). Thousands of fiery, burning LDL particles pierce the protective lining of the blood vessels and cause the whole artery to inflame. As the inflammation builds, it can block circulation, and thereby starve to death the area of the brain served by the inflamed blood vessel. You can help reduce LDL inflammation by lowering your homocysteine levels with HCY Guard. You can also increase your protective HDL cholesterol through daily exercise and OmegaPrime.

“Mini-strokes” are associated with nutrient deficiency and inflammation. First, nutrient deficiency causes the blood vessels of the brain to weaken. Then, inflammatory protein slices though the delicate lining in the blood vessels until they cut completely through and a small hemorrhage develops. Though this may quickly seal, tiny clots may form on the scar. These clots break off and block blood flow in random areas throughout the brain. You can toughen up the blood vessels by increasing Vitamin C intake. Vitamin C creates collagen which in turn creates resilient blood vessels that are stroke-resistant.

Alzheimer’s diseaseThe most feared of all the dementias is Alzheimer’s disease. The risk of this disease increases as we age. This is partially due to damages accumulating in the brain over time. One of the primary reasons for Alzheimer’s disease is nutrient deficiency. When there are nutritional deficiencies, the body experiences different types of breakdowns, and some of these contribute to dementia.

Attempts to overcome the nutritional deficiencies can be challenging. In part, the problem is the foods we eat. The foods of today simply do not provide the same level of nutrients as they did in the past. This is partially due to the “nutrient-poor” way in which many foods are grown. Another reason for nutrient deficiencies is that the body’s ability to extract nutrients from foods declines with age. For example, after age 40, the body’s ability to absorb Vitamin B-12 from food declines. As a result, this particular deficiency is one of the most common in older people.

Finally, many of our nutrient deficiencies are based on food choices we make. And these choices, much to our detriment, are often based on cultural conditionings.

As an example of cultural conditionings, the average North American eats about 17 pounds of fish per year. In contrast, the average Japanese person eats over 150 pounds. This culturally developed habit may be one reason why the occurrence of dementia is much lower in Japan than in North America. Coldwater fish contain high levels of a fat called DHA. Much of the human brain is made from this fat. As a result, the more DHA you consume, the greater your potential for optimal brain health. A good way to obtain this is to eat fish every week and supplement your diet with DHA.

Four other factors that can help contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease are:

Genetics – The good news here is that the genetic component for Alzheimer’s really only accounts for about 1% of the total contribution to the disease. The gene family that predisposes a person to this disease is called Apolipoprotein E-4. It is the second most common gene in North America. Antioxidants reduce the expression of this gene and are known in medicine to reduce the symptoms of dementia. These specific antioxidants are Acetyl-L-carnitine, Vinpocetine and Huperazine A.

Environment – A variety of environmental factors play a significant role in the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. One factor is electromagnetic fields. They are an area of great interest in dementia research because of the impact they have on the brain. Another factor is environmental toxins. Those with Alzheimer’s disease have been found to have an accumulation of metals such as mercury and aluminum in their brains. Toxic accumulations of copper and iron can also contribute to this disease.

Lifestyle – By far the most significant contribution to Alzheimer’s disease comes from lifestyle factors. Smoking, a low nutrient diet, hydrogenated trans-fats, a sedentary lifestyle and an aversion to education and learning are all strong contributors to dementia. And, people that get little or no exercise are placing themselves in the highest risk category for Alzheimer’s disease.

Excess Homocysteine – The human body needs some homocysteine (HCY) to function properly. But elevated HCY levels are very toxic and strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease. And, the higher the HCY level is in the blood, the more severe the Alzheimer’s disease will be. Thankfully, high homocysteine levels can be dramatically reduced with HCY Guard.
The impact of Alzheimer’s disease is powerful and widespread – affecting individuals, families, business and industry, the Medicare/Medicaid system, communities and entire nations. The best hope lies in prevention. Applying TriVita’s 10 Essentials for Health and Wellness can help protect you from a rapid decline in health. And, the recommendations are easy to follow:

Get your exercise: 30 minutes of activity on most days of the week can help prevent Alzheimer’s disease as well as many other conditions.

Eat a diet rich in nutrients, and supplement it with nutrients and brain-specific antioxidants.

Get your rest and develop an interest in helping others.

Start today. The brain you save may be your own.

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis

2008-08-02T07:50:00.002-04:00

It is very important to treat rheumatoid arthritis promptly and aggressively, once you figure out you've got it. That can keep it from spreading and causing irreparable damage to your joints and the rest of your body. Traditionally, doctors recommend one or more of a variety of prescription medications.

There are many different drugs used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Some are used primarily to ease the symptoms of RA; others are used to slow or stop the course of the disease and to inhibit structural damage. Most of these drugs fall into one of the following categories:

NSAIDs – Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include more than a dozen different medications – some available over-the-counter, some available by prescription only – used to help ease arthritis pain and inflammation. NSAIDs include such drugs as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), ketoprofen (Actron, Orudis KT) and naproxen sodium (Aleve), among others. If you have had or are at risk of stomach ulcers, your doctor may prescribe celecoxib (Celebrex), a type of NSAID called a COX-2 inhibitor, which is designed to be safer for the stomach.

Corticosteroids – Corticosteroid medications, including prednisone, prednisolone and methyprednisolone, are potent and quick-acting anti-inflammatory medications. They may be used in RA to get potentially damaging inflammation under control, while waiting for NSAIDs and DMARDs (below) take effect. Because of the risk of side effects with these drugs, doctors prefer to use them for as short a time as possible and in doses as low as possible.

DMARDs – An acronym for disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, DMARDs are drugs that work slowly to actually modify the course of the disease. In recent years, the most commonly used DMARD for rheumatoid arthritis is methotrexate. But there are about a dozen others that fall into this category. They include hydroxycholorquine (Plaquenil), sulfasalazine (Azulfidine, Azulfidine EN-Tabs), leflunomide (Arava) and azathioprine (Imuran). A person diagnosed with RA today is likely to be prescribed a DMARD fairly early in the course of their disease, as doctors have found that starting these drugs early on can help prevent irreparable joint damage that might occur if their use was delayed.

Biologic agents – The newest category of medications used for rheumatoid arthritis is that of the biologic agents. There are currently six such agents approved for rheumatoid arthritis: abatacept (Orencia), adalimumab (Humira), anakinra (Kineret), etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade) and rituximab (Rituxan). Each of the biologics blocks a specific step in the inflammation process. Humira, Enbrel and Remicade block a cytokine called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-?), and therefore often are called TNF-? inhibitors. Kineret blocks a cytokine called interleukin-1 (IL-1). Orencia blocks the activation of T cells. Rituxan blocks B cells. Because these agents target specific steps in the process, they don’t wipe out the entire immune response as some other RA treatments do, and in many people a biologic agent can slow, modify or stop the disease – even when other treatments haven’t helped much. (from the Arthritis Foundation)

Research is also being done on new medications, and with using medications currently being used for other conditions. It is my hope that my daughter's generation won't have to worry quite so much about RA's effects.

Rheumatoid Arthritis - What is it?

2008-07-30T14:31:00.004-04:00

I've been doing some research on this illness that I have a special interest in, as it is all over my family. I planned to research and write my own summary, but The Arthritis Foundation has done a great job already, so I'll just share their stuff here, with thanks to them!

Rheumatoid arthritis (rue-ma-TOYD arth-write-tis) is a chronic disease, mainly characterized by inflammation of the lining, or synovium, of the joints. It can lead to long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and disability.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progresses in three stages. The first stage is the swelling of the synovial lining, causing pain, warmth, stiffness, redness and swelling around the joint. Second is the rapid division and growth of cells, or pannus, which causes the synovium to thicken. In the third stage, the inflamed cells release enzymes that may digest bone and cartilage, often causing the involved joint to lose its shape and alignment, more pain, and loss of movement.

Because it is a chronic disease, RA continues indefinitely and may not go away. Frequent flares in disease activity can occur. RA is a systemic disease, which means it can affect other organs in the body. Early diagnosis and treatment of RA is critical if you want to continue living a productive lifestyle. Studies have shown that early aggressive treatment of RA can limit joint damage, which in turn limits loss of movement, decreased ability to work, higher medical costs and potential surgery.

RA affects 1.3 million Americans. Currently, the cause of RA is unknown, although there are several theories. And while there is no cure, it is easier than ever to control RA through the use of new drugs, exercise, joint protection techniques and self-management techniques. While there is no good time to have rheumatoid arthritis, advancements in research and drug development mean that more people with RA are living happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives.

Healthy choices

2008-07-24T07:24:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to share a great resource...
My mom uses, and recently has become an affiliate in sharing, high quality supplements from a company called TriVita. (www.trivita.com/12953740 ) This company not only sells great products, but they have a huge library of resources and articles about health and nutrition. They provide great tools for helping your body to work at its best. Check it out... :)

Aching for Compassion

2008-07-21T09:45:00.002-04:00

I read a really good article titled "Aching for Compassion" in a Focus on the Family magazine the other day. It was all about chronic pain, and those of us who have to deal with it. It offered six tips that I thought were really important to share. They are tips for the people who care about and interact with those who do have chronic pain.

Listen with empathy. Accept what they say.
Speak with compassion. Affirm that the pain is real.
Pray together.
Do something. Offer to do something specific.
Accept limitations. Include them in activities, but understand if they need to bow out.
Laugh and celebrate. Celebrate your friend.

Good stuff. When life is going well, and you don't have to deal with this kind of stuff on a daily basis, you can forget about those who do. Good reminders :).

D.O.O.R.

2008-07-19T11:38:00.002-04:00

Did you know that there are 25-40 million people who are deaf around the world?

I found out about a new ministry today that I had never heard of before - D.O.O.R. (Deaf Opportunity Outreach). They help to train and develop teachers, leaders, and evangelists to the deaf community. They have trained missionaries to the deaf in 49 different countries. Pretty cool... (doorinternational.com)

Held

2008-07-17T15:23:00.002-04:00

A great reminder that troubles don't mean that God is absent, rather He is there with us, holding us....

Why don't we?

2008-07-16T07:58:00.006-04:00

This is the first harvest from our garden: a slightly green, not quite done growing, undersized tomato. Yet, when we picked it we celebrated!! My kiddos and I were thrilled that finally, after weeks of waiting, our tomato plant had born fruit!! It wasn't quite as big and plump, red and juicy, as we had pictured, but we celebrated. The kids told everyone, we took a picture, and we gave it a prominent seat on the kitchen window ledge to finish ripening.

Why do we do any less with people? Why do we cast aside those less than just as we picture they should be, less than close to perfect? We don't do it like in years past, in an institution where no one sees them, but still, many of us do it. We avoid all eye contact. We place ourselves in situations where we don't have to interact with "those kinds of people." We create our own little world where green tomatoes and "different" people don't exist.

We are each one different. We need to celebrate the way we each were made. Why don't we?

Sir Isaac Newton

2008-07-14T12:09:00.002-04:00

I was reading an article about Sir Isaac Newton yesterday, you know, the guy with the apple and gravity and all :). This man was amazing, tons of discoveries to his credit, and all sorts of other achievements as well. He was ahead of his time in science and mathematics, and was knighted for achievements in currency reform. Years later, many historians believe that Sir Isaac Newton had Asperberger syndrome, a condition on the autistic spectrum. Amazing. He didn't exactly let the challenges that were dealt to him slow him down, but maximized the strengths they also brought. Good stuff.

Paralympics

2008-07-13T19:11:00.002-04:00

I heard someone talking about the Paralympics the other day and I realized that I really didn't know much about this contest. I had the vague understanding that it was something like the Olympic games, but for disabled individuals, but nothing more than that. Soooo, I decided to do some research...

The Paralympics have existed in some form since 1948, originally designed for injured veterans' participation, but have run along with the regular Olympic games since 1988, sharing the same host city and facilities, but a few weeks later.

The Paralympics are designed for individuals with a variety of disabilities, including amputees; those with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke or similar disabilities affecting muscle control, balance or coordination; athletes with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities which require them to compete in a wheelchair; those who are visually impaired; and also people with a few other physical disabilities like dwarfish, MS, and congenital deformities, that don't fit into the previous categories. Previously individuals with intellectual disabilities were also included, but due to some cheating in this category, this category is currently suspended.

The Special Olympics are sometimes confused with the Paralympics, but they are designed for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The Paralympics, like the Olympics, consist of many many events, and require serious training to participate. Unfortunately, as of yet, the Paralympics don't have the press coverage and name recognition of the Olympics, or probably of the Special Olympics, but a medal winner, or even a participant in these contests, is a serious athlete who deserves serious recognition.

Inability

2008-07-12T10:37:00.003-04:00

I found this slogan on the Special Olympics website.
Be a fan of empowerment. "Disability doesn't mean inability."

I like it. We all come into this life with challenges, some bigger than others. We accumulate more along the way. Our life may be hard, but we are able to suceed, each in our own way.

2008-07-12T10:30:00.002-04:00

Cool picture, and reminder, hmm?

Homeschooling

2008-07-10T15:14:00.002-04:00

There has been a back and forth battle over special services in New York for homeschooled kiddos over the last few years. This letter was just sent out by the president of LEAH (Loving Education at Home, a large statewide homeschool support group) to its members. It is a huge victory for homeschoolers, and will hopefully help parents to do the very best in meeting the needs of their children with disabilities.

Dear Friends of New York Homeschooling:
I have great pleasure to inform you that on July 7, 2008, New York Governor David Paterson signed A11463, the bill which restores special services to disabled homeschool children. This is the final step in making this bill a law in the state of New York. Disabled homeschool children in New York are once again eligible to receive critically needed special services, on the same basis as other students in New York,
As you may know, these services were abruptly terminated by the State Education Department (SED) earlier this year, changing a policy of more than 17 years of providing these services to homeschoolers. This action was in response to the outcome of a particular NY judicial case (which cited a legal technicality in Federal law). As a result of that change, parents, instead of homeschooling, would have had to enroll their children in a public or private school to receive services critical to learning and development.
However, as a result of calls, letters, emails, and prayers from New Yorkers like you, we were able to persuade the Board of Regents and the SED to see the folly of this new policy and to convince them to support legislation to restore service. More calls, letters, emails, and prayers brought about necessary changes when early legislative proposals were judged to be defective. And even more calls, letters, emails, and prayers generated support within the Legislature which paved the way for this bill to be passed. And I believe it was prayer that caused the final version of the law, which is now signed, sealed, and delivered, to be even slightly better than the version homeschoolers were actively trying to push through the legislature.
In addition to giving praise and thanks to God for his gracious providence in this matter, I suggest that you consider dropping a note of thanks to any government official (SED, Regent, Legislator) that you may have contacted in support of this effort. Listed below are some of the key legislators involved:
1) The following is a suggested message which you may put into your own words:
"Thank you for acting quickly and passing Assembly Bill 11463. This bill will allow homeschool students with disabilities to be eligible for special education services as other nonpublic school students are."
Assemblyman Michael Benedetto (Sponsor)
Email: benedem@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (Co-Sponsor)
Email: nolanc@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (Co-Sponsor)
Email: lupardod@assembly.state.ny.us
Assemblyman Steve Englebright (Co-Sponsor)
Email: engles@assembly.state.ny.us
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
Email: speaker@assembly.state.ny.us
Senator George Winner (Sponsor)
Email: winner@senate.state.ny.us
Senator Dale Volker (Co-Sponsor)
Email: volker@senate.state.ny.us
Senator Joseph Bruno- President pro tempore
Email: bruno@senate.state.ny.us
2) Please contact both your state senator and assemblyman and give them this message in your own words:
"As a constituent, I want to thank you for voting in favor of Assembly Bill 11463. This bill will allow homeschool students with disabilities to be eligible for special education services as other nonpublic school students are."
To get the name and contact information for your state senator or Assemblyman, go to http://www.hslda.org/toolbox
Please be in prayer as the State Education Department defines how the new law will be implemented on a practical basis, and sends guidance to the local school districts in regards to details and procedures. The Special Needs Task Force and the Home School Legal Defense Association are already in communication with the SED in regards to a number of practical issues. How these issues are worked out can significantly impact the degree of ease or difficulty of working with this new law.
SPECIAL NOTICE
If you have disabled homeschooled children that need to receive special services under the provisions of this new law, please note that the signing of this bill sets into motion a 30-day window in which you need to make a written request to your school district for such services. The details and the procedures of this are still to be worked out – please go to www.piccnys.com for the latest information on this. It will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
Thank you very your participation in helping protect and maintain homeschooling rights in New York,
Rich Stauter
President, NYS Loving Education At Home (LEAH)

Wheels for the world

2008-07-09T09:14:00.002-04:00

I love opportunities to save money and reuse things, and this is a great program that does both. It's a program that takes the used wheelchairs that we Americans have piled up, refurbishes them, and gets them to folks that need them around the world. Very cool....

Reaching the stars

2008-07-08T14:43:00.002-04:00

A neat story I came across about someone working in the field of astronomy who happens to be legally blind. It's a sidenote of who she is, not the defining feature. Very cool.

Transitions

2008-07-07T07:31:00.002-04:00

My younger daughter has never really been "diagnosed" with anything, well, except when we moved a few years back. The doctor slapped a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder label on her chart then... We talked about OCD at the time, as she handled her stress about moving with going a little germphobic, washing hands and cleaning things compulsively. As she adjusted the obsessions subsided, thankfully. But transitions have always been hard for her. She likes things to be predictable. She likes the same, the same, the same. We were just on vacation for a week, and the first two days were hard - meltdowns and tears. The rest of the week was good - she had fun. As we prepared to leave -meltdown city again. As she's gotten older the transition meltdowns have become a little more manageable, not as all encompassing, but I still feel bad that I can't seem to help her head them off. Ideas?

Transportation

2008-07-06T23:46:00.001-04:00

I had a long chat today with a old friend of my husband's. She is a single mom of two young kiddos, and needs to use a wheelchair to get around in recent years. She was just sharing a bit about some of the frustrations she's had in the area of transportation, and in people not understanding the difficulties with it. Just very recently she acquired an adaptive van with a lift, but before that she was dependant on public transportation, which in her area requires 24 hour advance notice for use of the accessible public transportation. I can't even imagine always having to know at least a day in advance when I'd need to go somewhere, especially with kids!! She shared a story about a time when she needed to get to her daughter's school quickly, and just how challenging that was, and how difficult it was to get school staff to understand the hoops that needed to be jumped through. Anyway, just throwing it out there - any stories about transportation issues? Any ideas on solutions?

A good path

2008-07-05T22:15:00.000-04:00

An article that I just wanted to put out there....

“I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland.""Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.”

I first heard this piece by Emily Perl Kingsley when I was going through an orientation at my first job working with people with disabilities. The social worker read it to us, and it grabbed my attention. I was just looking for a summer job between my junior and senior years of college, and the spot in a group home would fit my schedule well. I really had not thought about it much more than that. But this, well, it made it real.I worked that summer in the group home where nine adults with developmental disabilities lived, and it became more real. I got to know the people behind the diagnoses, beyond the files I had read. I got to “travel in Holland” and see things through the eyes of those who had lived their whole lives in this very different place.

After I graduated from college I came back to the group home, and I worked with the folks there for several years. I eventually got promoted up and left the home, working in coordinating services for individuals living out in the community, but I kept in contact with the residents back at the house for a few more years. One of the men, George, took pictures for me at our wedding, rigged up with a camera operated by his pushing a button with his foot. One of the ladies, Susan, was the one to catch my bouquet; it flew right into her lap as she sat in her wheelchair. I worked in service coordination for a few years, and became familiar with a lot of different disabilities that I had never heard of before. I became connected to a lot of people, those disabled and their supports, that I probably never would have met without that job. I had a degree in Psychology, but most of my learning happened after school ended.

I have traveled an interesting and varied path since I left that job. In the Service Coordinator position I had come across a huge need for appropriate and accepting child care for kids with disabilities. I took coursework to become a licensed childcare provider, and opened up a small day care in my home. I planned to focus on providing individualized care, especially for children with disabilities, and sent flyers out to all of the local agencies. Nothing. My day care did get up and running, but it was filled with plain old, “regular” children. I was disappointed, but again was educated by the experiences in my life. I learned that rather than viewing disabilities as a cut and dry line that some children fell into and others did not, we all live on a continuum of sorts.

We all struggle with with our own set of difficulties, some of which can be easily spotted and identified as disabilities with names such as Down Syndrome, autism, and ADHD, and some which a professional will never categorize or label. We all have strengths and we all have weaknesses.I am now a homeschooling mom, with two daughters who have stretched, and rewarded, me in ways I never could have imagined before parenthood. As I help them to learn their schoolwork, we also learn together how to live our lives. We learn together how to take the strengths and weaknesses, the abilities and disabilities, that we have been given, and to do our best with them.We have recently added a foster child into our family, and he has helped us to see how each and every person has so much to offer, regardless of what labels have been applied to them. He has helped us to realize firsthand that even when the journey of life takes us down an entirely path than we had planned, it can be an amazingly wonderful path. Even when the path is not easy, it can be good.

Disabilities

2008-07-03T22:05:00.000-04:00

I make no pretense of being an expert about disabilities. I have a handicapped parking pass for my van, but that doesn't mean anything to me except that on days when I'm really really wiped out, I have the good fortune to not have to walk so far. I go to the doctor a little more often than some, but not as often as others. I studied Psychology and Sociology in school, and we talked about disabilities, but I certainly didn't learn it all. I've worked with folks with developmental and physical disabilities for a few years in the past, but I've only brushed the tip of the iceberg, I know. I only want to create a place to talk things through, to have a forum of sorts, to share successes and struggles. So that's my idea with this blog. Please talk back. Tell me if I'm helping, annoying, or

A glimmer

2008-04-27T13:39:00.000-04:00

I'm really not a gloom and doom kind of person, but when it comes to my kids I can quickly list off about 50 things that I've done wrong in raising them so far, and they're only 7 and 10! I have so many things that I wish I had done differently, wish I had done, and wish I hadn't done. I worry about how they are going to turn out, and if little things I see now are going to manifest into major issues later. I wonder if homeschooling them is helping or hurting. I just really want to see them turn out okay, and wonder if I'm doing what I'm supposed to as a mom to help that to happen.

All too often I see things that give me cause to ask all those questions. They're squabbling too much. They're not treating their dad and me the way I think they should, at least not all ofthe time. They're this and that. If someone followed me with a figurative clipboard like I do with them at times, I'd hate to see the notes!!

Well, we had a glimmer moment the other day. We had a glimmer of hope, of promise, a glimpse into the good stuff going on inside of their heads and hearts. Yeah!!

The kiddos and I were walking to the little corner store. They had coins jingling in their pockets, and were rattling off all of the candy that they were going to be able to buy with their quarters. Exciting stuff!! The five blocks probably seemed like an eternity to the girls, since they had to slow down for our little foster two year old, but they were troopers, and happily, albeit a little impatiently, they plodded along to the store.

We were one block from the store when we saw a young man with Down syndrome walking towards us. I said hello, the girls smiled, and we kept on going. Then, we heard a noise and turned to see the young man lying in the road. He had tripped in one of upstate New York's famous potholes while crossing the street, and lay with his ankle twisted, looking quite uncomfortable. I saw the girls glance at the store and glance at me. I braced myself for fussing about getting to the store, but went to the young man and helped him to the curb, checking to see if he was okay. We called his mom for a ride, and stayed with him for a little bit to be sure he was okay, and you know what, never once did I hear a peep about getting to the store. No one whined, fussed, or even said a word!! My girls stood with me in helping someone else, and I was able to catch a glimmer. My girls delayed their own gratification for the sake of another, one who was not going to do anything for us in return, and I saw a glimmer. I saw a glimmer of hope and of good, and I was able to exhale. It's sinking in.... Things are going to be okay :).