Alzheimer's disease destroys lives--the lives of those you love. It robs people of their loved ones long before it should. For me, it took my beloved mom in Oct. of 2007, but in reality she was gone long before she left this world physically. Visiting my mom in the special care unit for 5+ years and missing her even though she was right there with me was a struggle. It was as if we switched rolls I was now her mother and she was my baby. Even though she failed to recognize me, she always had a smile for me. Her smiles were love unspoken.
Facts about Alzheimer's Disease:
As many as 5 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer's.
Every 71 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer's.
10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's in the United States.
100% Alzheimer's disease is always fatal.
June 2008 Update: Alzheimer's disease now sixth-leading cause of death.
Do you know the signs of Alzheimer's?
In 2007, the Alzheimer's Association started a campaign and set a goal to have 5 million people take action and join the cause. They are over 3 million short of this. Please sign up .
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
LOSING WEIGHT is the PITS!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so bummed out. I lost ½ pounds two weeks ago and this week I lost 0 pounds. YES!!! A BIG FAT ZERO POUNDS!! This depresses me. I have to do something. Now I did eat out 2 times, but took a doggy bag home from one meal and had it the next day for lunch. I tried to adjust my other meals to be smaller. I guess I should be happy that I didn’t gain weight. I’m thinking about whether I should do Weight Watchers or South Beach. I lost a significant amount of weight on South Beach several years ago, but gained it back after about 2 years. If I do South Beach the 1st week will be from the place that's opposite of heaven. I want to do something that I can continue to do so I will maintain my weight loss. Being a vegetarian could make South Beach more difficult, but it can be done. I have been exercising some, but definitely not enough. I want to stay on track, but my negativity says I can’t do this. I feel like I’ve been trying to no avail. My positive thoughts are it’s important and vital to your health and well-being.
I think I’ll go eat some chocolate.
No, I don't want chocolate.
I want to lose weight and have my pants be too big and not have a muffin top. I'm having a pity party. Do you want to come? I'll invite you.
HELP!!!!
Note to hubby: We are not getting popcorn if we go to a movie. Do you know how many calories it has???? Maybe I'll take some cardboard and eat that.
I think I’ll go eat some chocolate.
No, I don't want chocolate.
I want to lose weight and have my pants be too big and not have a muffin top. I'm having a pity party. Do you want to come? I'll invite you.
HELP!!!!
Note to hubby: We are not getting popcorn if we go to a movie. Do you know how many calories it has???? Maybe I'll take some cardboard and eat that.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
NANA'S TEACAKES
I've thought of my mom a great deal this weekend. Today was her birthday. My mom was known for her cooking. One of the special recipes she made was her teacakes. She used to make them and serve them warm from the oven. Sometimes she would add a little pat of butter on each one. They were so delicious. My kids did something very special, so special that it makes me cry to think of it. They made dozens and dozens of Nana's Teacakes for her memorial service. I was even able to help them bake some and that made us feel closer in our time of grief. I never really told them how much their actions touched me, but it is something I will never forget.
This is my mom's recipe in her handwriting.
Mama and me
This is my mom's recipe in her handwriting.
Mama and me
Saturday, February 14, 2009
five little words--THANK YOU & I LOVE YOU
As I sit on this valentine's morn, just reading blogs and enjoying the quietness of home, I linked to the most amazing story from the Boston Globe called "Forty Years' Worth of Thanks". I hope it touches you like it did me. Please read the story also.
Happy Valentine's Day. You know today doesn't have to be about gifts or candy. It can be about being with people you love and if you can't be with them, call and tell them you love them. So often folks are afraid to say these words--I love you and thank you. Don't ever forget the power of words and how they can make you feel. They can build you up, but they can also tear you to pieces. To my hubby, my 3 kids--jordan, sarah, and kristeen--I love you more than words can say. You make me smile, laugh, and cry happy tears. Hubby, I cannot believe we have been married almost 30 years. Where has the time gone? We aren't old enough to be married that long. My kids, now all grown up and out on their own or almost there. Sarah--only 3 short months until you graduate. I'm proud of you all. My friends-I love you. Thank you for being there for the good times, but more importantly for the sad ones. You helped me so much during the years I struggled with my mom's Alzheimer's and then when my dear sweet mama passed away.
May you have a beautiful day and spend time with someone you love.
Happy Valentine's Day. You know today doesn't have to be about gifts or candy. It can be about being with people you love and if you can't be with them, call and tell them you love them. So often folks are afraid to say these words--I love you and thank you. Don't ever forget the power of words and how they can make you feel. They can build you up, but they can also tear you to pieces. To my hubby, my 3 kids--jordan, sarah, and kristeen--I love you more than words can say. You make me smile, laugh, and cry happy tears. Hubby, I cannot believe we have been married almost 30 years. Where has the time gone? We aren't old enough to be married that long. My kids, now all grown up and out on their own or almost there. Sarah--only 3 short months until you graduate. I'm proud of you all. My friends-I love you. Thank you for being there for the good times, but more importantly for the sad ones. You helped me so much during the years I struggled with my mom's Alzheimer's and then when my dear sweet mama passed away.
May you have a beautiful day and spend time with someone you love.
Friday, February 13, 2009
a school year, math, and multiplication
I cannot believe how quickly a school year passes. You think all is going good, but then Christmas comes and goes and suddenly it’s Feb. 13th and you have 15 weeks of school left and only about 45 school days until the Math TAKS test for 3rd and 4th graders, which is on April 28th. I am usually not a worrier, but how shall I say it? This test makes me quite anxious and in fact PANIC at times. After all, I teach math in small groups and also do inclusion. I want all students to do well, but especially MY students. They are the students who struggle with math concepts, particularly when it comes to problem solving. I wish I had a magic potion that would enable them to understand the problems they struggle with, but I don’t. So when I pull a small group, I do my very best to teach everything I possibly can in less than 30 minutes while trying to make them feel good and more confident about their problem solving abilities in math.
If you want a fun way to practice and master multiplcation facts, go to big brainz for a free basic version of timez attack. It is in video game format which your child should love. From a teacher's point of view, it will greatly benefit your child if they can memorize their facts.
***FYI about the game: We teach multiplication like this 3 x 4 = 12 which equals 3 groups of 4. This game for some reason currently shows this as 4 groups of 3, but multiplcation has a commutative property (3 x 4 = 4 x 3) and it shouldn't cause a problem. I just didn't want any confusion for you or your child.
Another website I just found that looked great is from mathcats. This website has a plethora of information on multiplication.
***note to friends and family--i realize some of my posts are really random. i just write what comes to my wandering mind. maybe this post will give someone info they can use or past on to someone else.
If you want a fun way to practice and master multiplcation facts, go to big brainz for a free basic version of timez attack. It is in video game format which your child should love. From a teacher's point of view, it will greatly benefit your child if they can memorize their facts.
***FYI about the game: We teach multiplication like this 3 x 4 = 12 which equals 3 groups of 4. This game for some reason currently shows this as 4 groups of 3, but multiplcation has a commutative property (3 x 4 = 4 x 3) and it shouldn't cause a problem. I just didn't want any confusion for you or your child.
Another website I just found that looked great is from mathcats. This website has a plethora of information on multiplication.
***note to friends and family--i realize some of my posts are really random. i just write what comes to my wandering mind. maybe this post will give someone info they can use or past on to someone else.
 |
 |
| Make a Smilebox greeting |
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Diet and Exercise
Someone asked me how is it going with the diet and exercise. First, let me say this is hard to do, VERY HARD to do, but I'm committed and I'm making progress. It just isn't happening so quickly. I have lost a total of 6 pounds. Now I have shown my commitment at school also and joined our weight loss club which means I have a little paper shoe posted on the bullentin board and each week I lose weight my little shoe moves forward. I am happy to report my shoe did move forward!! Hip hip hurrah!! Our weigh in is on Thursday. I like my weigh in at home much better for 2 reasons:
1. It's anonymous even though the only person that is supposed to know your weight at school is our nurse.
2. I weigh less on my Wii fit because it deducts 2 pounds for my clothing. This doesn't happen at school.
Exercise is coming along, but it is oh so hard to exercise by yourself. There's no one making me do it. I have walked, done floor exercises, and my wii fit, but I must admit I'm not doing it as consistently as I should.
My yummy indulgence last weekend was very simple and I just made it up.
Apple and Peanut Butter Pizza
*Spread 1 whole grain tortilla with peanut butter (not TOO much!)
*Put heated cinnamon apple slices on top. I made these with peeled Gala apple slices with a little Promise margarine, brown sugar, and cinnamon. You could substitute freshly chopped apple.
*Sprinkle a few chopped walnuts on top.
Place in skillet sprayed with Pam and heat until tortilla is lightly crisp on the bottom. Slice with a pizza cutter into quarters. This was very yummy and satisfied my yearning for something sweet.
This weekend has been good, really low key, but I got lots of work done. I cleaned out the closet in J's room, sewed and FINISHED several projects, worked in the yard and got several cuts and scrapes and a big ugly splinter that hurt!
1. It's anonymous even though the only person that is supposed to know your weight at school is our nurse.
2. I weigh less on my Wii fit because it deducts 2 pounds for my clothing. This doesn't happen at school.
Exercise is coming along, but it is oh so hard to exercise by yourself. There's no one making me do it. I have walked, done floor exercises, and my wii fit, but I must admit I'm not doing it as consistently as I should.
My yummy indulgence last weekend was very simple and I just made it up.
Apple and Peanut Butter Pizza
*Spread 1 whole grain tortilla with peanut butter (not TOO much!)
*Put heated cinnamon apple slices on top. I made these with peeled Gala apple slices with a little Promise margarine, brown sugar, and cinnamon. You could substitute freshly chopped apple.
*Sprinkle a few chopped walnuts on top.
Place in skillet sprayed with Pam and heat until tortilla is lightly crisp on the bottom. Slice with a pizza cutter into quarters. This was very yummy and satisfied my yearning for something sweet.
This weekend has been good, really low key, but I got lots of work done. I cleaned out the closet in J's room, sewed and FINISHED several projects, worked in the yard and got several cuts and scrapes and a big ugly splinter that hurt!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Super Bowl Sunday
And I'm not going to watch it. Sorry kids and hubby, but it just doesn’t interest me. I do like football and I know it's the biggest game of the year; I just want to do something else. Now I might watch halftime and the puppy bowl some, but other than that I can leave it alone. I didn’t mind getting ready and straightening up the house some and cooking a little. I made Tamras Lemon Artichoke Pesto. (***I didn't used frozen artichokes though. I had gotten a large jar of them from Costco. They had been packed in some oil so I probably only added 1/4 cup of olive oil.) Yum Yum!! It's good on pasta or crackers or bread. One of our friends is here to watch the game with hubby. So hopefully they will enjoy the game while I enjoy myself hanging out in J’s room with my computer, TV, my sewing machine, and several DVDs. Right now while I’m trying to get a little blogging done, I’m listening to Smarter than a 5th grader. I think I need to get on that show. It would be nice to win some money. So far all the questions have been incredibly easy, but I’ll let you know if it gets harder. One question was does every sentence have to have an adjective? Another was how to you spell the word misspell? Now if they ask who is playing in the Super Bowl, I would have to say one team is Arizona, and I don’t know the other team. I know President Obama is for the other team, but I’m drawing a blank as to who it is. For some reason I’m thinking the Steelers, but I’ll have to check on that. Hey I’m right!! That is amazing! So the President is a Steelers fan. Now I’m showing my lack of intelligence on Smarter than a 5th Grader cause I didn’t know a 4th grade question about What state borders the body of water Puget Sound? The contestant, “Hoot” Gibson, knew it, but I’m thinking he doesn‘t live in the south!!!
It was Washington.
Now 5th grade Science question: What do you combine with carbon to make steel? Hmmmmmmm don’t know that either. Do you?
It’s iron!!
4th grade health $175,000 question: The human body has how many spleens? Well, I’m thinking just one. Our buddy that is here had his spleen removed over 21 years ago. I remember that because my daughter was just a month or so old when he called to tell us that he was going to the hospital.
3rd grade art 300,000 question: What is the name of the artist that painted this picture (Mona Lisa) in 1506?
Leonardo da Vinci
5th grade World History 500,000 question: Morse code was named for the man who developing in the 1830s. What was his first name? I thought John.
But it was Samuel.
1,000,000 question: Now the contestant had the choice after he saw the category whether he would take it. He wanted Science or Math. It was a math question so he went for it. How many common factors do 28 and 32 have? After a little factoring in my mind, I said three, but Hoot said two, which would be 2 and 4 and so I thought maybe you don’t count 1. Who was right????? He was going to donate all his money--- $500,000 to the astronaut scholarship program which was a very admirable thing to do. But unfortunately for him, he was wrong so he went from 500,000 to $25,000. I had this one!!! There are 3.
I think I would have done pretty good on the show, but I would have used some of the life lines or whatever they are called. Hubby might have thought I was stupid though, but that’s ok. I am what I am.
It was Washington.
Now 5th grade Science question: What do you combine with carbon to make steel? Hmmmmmmm don’t know that either. Do you?
It’s iron!!
4th grade health $175,000 question: The human body has how many spleens? Well, I’m thinking just one. Our buddy that is here had his spleen removed over 21 years ago. I remember that because my daughter was just a month or so old when he called to tell us that he was going to the hospital.
3rd grade art 300,000 question: What is the name of the artist that painted this picture (Mona Lisa) in 1506?
Leonardo da Vinci
5th grade World History 500,000 question: Morse code was named for the man who developing in the 1830s. What was his first name? I thought John.
But it was Samuel.
1,000,000 question: Now the contestant had the choice after he saw the category whether he would take it. He wanted Science or Math. It was a math question so he went for it. How many common factors do 28 and 32 have? After a little factoring in my mind, I said three, but Hoot said two, which would be 2 and 4 and so I thought maybe you don’t count 1. Who was right????? He was going to donate all his money--- $500,000 to the astronaut scholarship program which was a very admirable thing to do. But unfortunately for him, he was wrong so he went from 500,000 to $25,000. I had this one!!! There are 3.
I think I would have done pretty good on the show, but I would have used some of the life lines or whatever they are called. Hubby might have thought I was stupid though, but that’s ok. I am what I am.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)