Antioxidants and Udo's Oil

Yes I am back. I know it's been awhile but hey, I changed my working hours, trying to train for a half marathon, home schooling and trying to at least keep the laundry done. Fogeddaboudit.

I wanted to blog about something that I found to be a little bit interesting about myself. I have been plagued by bursitis in my hips for the last couple of months from running. I am a research oriented type person so I looked up all sorts of remedies and whatnot. 

Some tell you to ice some tell you let the inflammation do it's thing so you heal faster. Some tell you to use NSAIDS others say steer clear. Make an appointment with your doc and he says, "I don't know what you are asking me." (that's why they get paid the big bucks). Stretching and strengthening exercises. Supplements, pre-run and recovery regimens. They can't put anything on the internet that's not true right-WHATEVER. What do you do?

I tried everything nothing seemed to help. I finally started on a regimen of Udo's oil (omega oil preparation) and tart cherry juice (potent antioxidant). I really didn't think it was helping until I ran a 10k race with NO PAIN, and shaved 7 minutes off my 10k PR.  I then promptly forgot about it, ran out of cherry juice, stopped taking the oil (the oil is really hard to swallow)  and the pain is back in both hips now. I started back on the oil and juice today and hoping it isn't all in my head but something that actually helps. 

24 Pounds Lost That Don't Want To Be Found

 I lost 24 pounds  following the Dukan Diet. I have been at a standstill for two months now but have not been following the diet either. I haven't gained any weight though. I am running and exercising 5-6 days a week too. I also agreed to do a half marathon in January. A whole marathon has always been a goal for me so if I can complete a half marathon then I can do a whole one. The Boston or New York Marathon would be something I could reach for.

I have never been much for running but now that I am older and have gotten the hang of it I really love it. The shoes were the clincher. Just kidding but that helped. You have to have good shoes and fitted properly for the way that you run. The freedom that I feel when I run and the way that it raises my heart rate is really gratifying. Plus every week I can run farther and faster.

I still feel as though I need to lose at least 8 more pounds to get rid of the pudgy middle and I read that the lighter you are the faster you are at running. It has been hard but I am trying to think of food as fuel not as something to comfort me or for pleasure. Still every evening I am munching on something that I know I shouldn't. I do have a hard time going to bed without eating something I just don't need to pig out.

There are so many opinions about sports nutrition out there it's very confusing. I have read stuff that people swear by. Recovery supplements has been an obsession for me lately. Recovery meals are supposed to cut down on soreness after a workout. So far not any tricks that I have come across have worked, so I have decided they are all full of s**t. Although if I hydrate and eat a banana and some nuts I don't tend to feel like I am starving two hours after a long run or hard workout.

Gotta run.....

The AD/HD Medication Holiday Experiment

Okay so we tried the child off of his AD/HD medication for the last three days. General physician consensus does not recommend doing this. My child forgot to take his when I had to work on Friday and the babysitter was all impressed about how happy he was all day and playing and having fun. By Sunday night my husband was saying he doesn't need to be off his meds he has been out of control all day. I had to agree because all the cupboard doors were left open in the kitchen, a rolling chair was in front of one (you get the picture) and all of the soda and drink boxes were gone.

We took the medication today, he has been able to concentrate and has been fairly quiet but slightly irritable. As we speak both children are at the table doing math-quietly. My sister doesn't give her child his AD/HD medications when he is not in school (weekends, holidays, summer time). She says she just ignores his behavior because he can't help it. She only has him at home no other children so I can see that as being okay. My kid chases the cats around, turns furniture upside down, interrupts, eats continuously and takes way too many risks. I agree he can't help his behavior but am I doing him any favors by letting him be out of control?

The Guilt Trips

Of course the only time (in a long time) I turn on the Today Show they have a so-called expert who knocks medicating your AD/HD child. Saying it's (as always) the parent's fault that the child cannot sit still, concentrate, not genetics. I get really tired of seeing stuff like this on the television. No one who doesn't know first hand is or has a child with AD/HD can tell me that they know more about it than I do, period.

AD/HD runs in my family. It has to be genetic or why else would so many of my family members be living with the diagnosis? My child cannot remember simple instructions like go and let the dog out. He'll stop and say, "What was I supposed to do?" Just this morning he has already (just now) gotten side tracked by something he was supposed to do for me. 

Why do you medicate your child with powerful stimulant drugs if you are homeschooling? I have seen this question on forums, in books, on blogs, and many other places. Plain and simple I wasted a whole year trying to teach a child who was out of control, could not sit down to do his work, was easily irritated, and could often be violent toward us and our pets. When I started medicating him with the lowest dose possible for his size his concentration was better and the meltdowns were fewer. For his and our safety and for him to succeed we went this route. He now loves to do math and sits down and finishes a whole lesson. What took us the entire day to do now takes an hour to an hour-and-a-half tops. He can memorize violin music and we found that he is a great little performer.

A note about the diet: I have lost 8 pounds on the Dukan diet. It's not easy but it's the first diet I have been on where I am not hungry and I don't have to count calories just eat what is on the list and exercise. I haven't been able to lose the extra weight I gained since I was 40 not matter what I tried. 12 more pounds to go.

Homeschooling and the AD/HD Child

I know there are thousands of people who are taking their children's education seriously and making the decision to teach their children at home. Hoping to teach them how to think outside of the box. I am one of those parents. We took the leap when my youngest went to kindergarten and my son who was in third grade had a (what I term as) a nervous reaction to the MCT test. I was tired of sending them to strangers every day and not knowing what was going on and being the way I am, fearing the worst.

I was not entirely wrong. I hear reports from acquaintances about 10 years olds trading their cell phones for bb guns on the bus. This coming from an area that is supposed to be safe and the school district excellent. Incidences like these either not reported or reported and swept under the rug. I just want my kids to grow up the way they should not the way someone says they should. Public education is a right but not always necessary for a growing number of families throughout North America.

Now being in charge of my children's education is not easy especially when one is AD/HD. I knew something was not right but I had no clue the he was AD/HD. I continuously had to teach him what he was supposed to have learned during the day at school. He brought homework assignments home each night but didn't have a clue what he was supposed to do. We knew he was intelligent that was a given--but why was he not getting what was being taught? He was also extremely forgetful and disorganized.

 The first day of grade three he didn't eat because he misplaced his lunch money and was too afraid to talk to the teacher. Imagine how it feels to be a mom and know that you are sending your child to fend for himself every day. I sent an email to the teacher and she never answered it. A week later I sent a note and she said she never used her email. Communication at it's finest. I do not knock the teachers they have a big job and don't get compensated for what they do (just like firefighters, EMTs,nurses, police). I just decided that was not the way I wanted to raise my children. All of my child's teachers always marveled at how well behaved he was.

Behavior wise my AD/HD was super polite and well behaved in school. We got the worst when he was at home. He would either get off the bus smiling and happy, sullen and quiet, or fighting mad. He has moderate social anxiety and rarely speaks outside the home. He has my introverted personality. In this world of extroverts, introverts really have a steep slope to climb. It always hurt me that my child never got invited to other children's birthdays. It never bothered him because he hated all of the anxiety that came with having to mingle with other kids and strangers.
MORE TO COME TOMORROW.

Diet Update: I have lost 6 pounds on the Dukan diet this month and at least two inches. My jeans are too big. 14 pounds to go!

New Year New Me (or Old Me)

I embarked on an effort to improve my weight and my physical fitness January 2nd. I started a fad diet (I know fad diets don't work) however I have never actually been on a diet before. All the times I have lost weight I just cleaned up my eating habits and exercised more. Now that I am over 40 (at least what I think is the problem) my weight won't budge no matter what I try. I injured myself at a martial arts class and consequently had to take a month off from any exercise including walking. I went back to running after a month, but the pain from the injury came back so I had to stop exercising again. I have been pain free for a month now and have joined the gym where I can use the commercial grade ellipticals, treadmill and weights. I have also shed 5 pounds and at least an inch (my jeans are too big).

I have 15 more pounds to go. The diet is called the "Dukan Diet". It's a three stage diet and it seems to be working so far. It's easy for me to follow although a little monotonous in the second stage but you only follow the second stage until you lose to your true weight. There is a website that you can go to that will help you find a realistic and true weight, and how long you will need to follow the stages (dukandiet.com). A friend and I are following the diet together and that helps a lot. The diet is a low carb, low fat, high protein diet.

We are going to Disney World in April. I want to be at my goal before then. I think I should be able to do it. I am happy to say that I look forward to going to the gym everyday. I even went after work yesterday (that is a big feat if you ask me especially after a twelve-and-a-half hour shift). Wish me luck I will be posting my progress and am going blog more about living with and homeschooling an AD/HD child.

TTYL

Abby Chapter IV

My newest chapter in the Abby thriller. Click on the highlight here: Abby Chapter IV

The Nurses' Hands

The Nurses' Hands

Blinis and a List of Demands

Blinis and a List of Demands

Apple Muffin Sandwiches and the Food Police

Apple Muffin Sandwiches and the Food Police

Lateral Violence in Nursing and a Blurb About Google+

Have you ever heard of lateral violence? I've heard of it and never really paid it much attention or delved into the dynamics of the phenomenon. It's just another term for bullying really. Funny thing is I have been witness to and a victim of this particular form of bullying many (many) times. I can even recount times in nursing school when I was bullied by classmates and nurses during clinical and classes. Is this type of behavior acceptable amongst nurses? If not then why has it happened to me and others countless times in my career (I include nursing school) which now spans over two decades?

In an article that was shared by the website Nurse Together written by Kathleen Bartholomew (who has written a book Nurse to Nurse Hostility) there are actual statistics that accompany this statement. Also factoring in to this phenomenon is the fact that this problem causes mistakes and poor treatment of patients when the nurse is constantly being exposed to lateral violence. This issue also applies to those who just witness incidences.

Just what constitutes lateral violence you might ask? There are several forms and several ways that this abuse plays out. Behaviors from peers are referred to as horizontal or lateral hostility and are defined as: "Consistent patterns of behavior designed to control, diminish or devalue a peer (or group) which creates a risk to health or safety" (Farrell, 2005). Overtly consisting of but not limited to name calling, bickering, shouting, blaming, put-downs, intimidation, and gossip. Covertly consisting of but not limited to unfair assignments, refusing to help someone, ignoring, refusing to only work with certain people or not work with others, sabotage, whining, and exclusion.

I wish that I could say that I never witness these things. But every day that I work I am a victim of and witness to ignoring, refusing to work with certain others, whining, ignoring, gossip, put downs, raised eye brows, exclusion, fault finding, criticism, and raised voices. It is tiresome to say the least and really has made my workplace rather toxic. I am part of the problem because I just passively let people do these things to others and myself, so I think I can shoulder some of the blame. I am definitely going to try to become part of the solution not part of the problem. Now I must go and try to find Kathleen Bartholomew's book.

Just updated my new Google+ account (thanks for the invite Natalie). I don't know if it's just me or if it really is easier to navigate this new social networking site. I am sure there are always ways they can make it as difficult to navigate as Facebook has managed to do. Time will tell.

Clarion Ledger Article

Home-schooling numbers rise in Miss. This article is on the front page of our local newspaper today.

AD/HD Is The Diagnosis We Got From A Psychiatrist.

We got a diagnosis for my child this week. The psychiatrist said AD/HD. While he still has some gross motor difficulties, rarely talks outside the home and has tremendous difficulty making friends. Some of these symptoms go along with AD/HD, but not all. I do have immediate family members who have AD/HD with other learning disabilities. Now we need to see about treatment options. But what if we are treating him for the wrong thing?

We won't get in to see our pediatrician for treatment until August 16. It's a good thing we homeschool because there is no way we could start treatment and school at the same time. Change is not something my son is very good at.  

Some might say he just needs some discipline. I have another child who learns from her mistakes, she doesn't repeat behavior that has been corrected. Her reactions are not violently incongruent for simple requests. She receives the same discipline as her brother and we don't have learning, behavioral and motor skill difficulties with her. We have an exceptionally bright child with at disability, where do we go from here? We need help and have to wait on someone else's schedule to get it.

Nowadays you go to the doctor and wait and wait and then they rush you out the door as fast as they can, they barely listen. I know first hand, the Doctor's time is always more valuable than yours. We are so stuck with my son, we can't progress until we have some help. The psychiatrist said that he would grow out of his extreme shyness and the nervous tics and the twirling and that medication would help him concentrate on schoolwork. We took him there for diagnostic testing specifically for behavior problems all the questionnaires that we filled out were for AD/HD nothing else. Apparently any other diagnosis was out of the question.

AD/HD kids do get better but they need specific therapy to learn how to cope, they don't  "just grow out of it."  I know when to ask for help. We homeschool because we feel as though we can nurture our children's strengths instead of corralling them into schools who just teach according to state testing. But like I mentioned before we are at a crossroads with my son. We need help, and more answers.   

The Reliable Child Care Challenge!

I have a really hard time finding reliable child care. I don't know if it's me, or the people I hire. I am almost beginning to think it's me.

One time I hired someone and even bought her lunch when I interviewed her and she didn't show up. She didn't even answer her phone. Then about 4 months later I got a text from her asking me to retract a review that I posted at the agency that I use to find child care providers. This young woman went so far as to say that she was in a near fatal car accident that left her with a crushed pelvis and that she had no way of contacting me for that length of time and that she was fired from her job elsewhere (no respectful business would do that if someone was in such a life threatening situation). Out of the goodness of my heart I retracted the review. I am still skeptical.

I am not like some child care employers. I don't expect a lot. I do expect my kids to like the person who is taking care of them and I expect them to pick up after themselves. I do have one pet too many but they aren't that hard to manage. My house is clean. I also tell my sitters to help themselves to food and drinks. It's a pretty good gig with pay. At least I think it is. There is also the fact that some of these people think they should be paid a professional salary for sitting in my house, eating my food and watching my television. Sorry folks you get paid a professional salary when you have a degree and many, many years of experience. I went to college got my degree and now I have over 17 years of experience and the salary that reflects that.


With the summer coming I hope I won't be hunting someone new for child care. I had to hunt this week again. I finally got in touch with a sitter that I used a lot last fall (who consequently had been unavailable for a few months). Interviewing sitters is a really pain in the butt. It's hard for us we have no family nearby and my children are home educated so they are too old to go to daycare. Soon my son will be old enough to take care of his younger sibling. 

Is It Really True?

I remember exactly where I was on 9/11/01. I'd be willing to bet just about everyone I know remembers exactly what they were doing the moment that first jet hit the twin towers. Not to sound ungrateful but I would like to have seen Bin-Laden on American soil. The details are still a little sketchy to me but if the President gives a speech to say they had eliminated him I should believe. There is always a second in command. I don't think we will ever be rid of Al-Quaida.  However I will never give up hope we rid mankind of those who only hate.

In another thought. We are getting ready for a round of storms again this afternoon and evening. I am thinking only positive thoughts and hope those that were severely impacted by the recent bombardment of severe weather are spared from a second attack. Burt Case (those of my readers here in MS know him) is looking rather grave today it has been a rather busy newsy weekend.

I saw some posts on my Facebook home-page that read, "This weekend was like a Disney fairy-tale. The girl married the prince and the bad guy is dead." I was tickled when I saw that. If you read my last post I was up at 3am to watch the wedding of William and Kate. 

Hope the day brings less excitement and bad weather than it had over the past week. I wish everyone a quiet uneventful day.

The Royal Wedding and The Exhausted Nurse

Yes, I'll admit it I got up at 3am to not miss a minute of the event of the decade. I have always been fascinated with the Royals. My grandmother had a scrapbook she put news clippings, photos and any other memorabilia that she found that had to do with the British Royal Family. Never a visit went by that I didn't sit and look at that book. I intend to ask her if she still has that book.

I got goosebumps when I saw Prince William and Prince Harry on the move toward Westminster Abbey. Kate's dress reminds me of Princess Grace's gown, very glamorous. I gave a shameful play-by-play on Facebook this morning. I am sure my friends will forgive me.

I love hats! I am fascinated by all the headwear that adorn the heads of all the royal guests. Some hats are definitely a feat of architecture and gravity. Some of those hats were just downright gaudy. Princess Beatrice's Phillip Treacy fascinator was definitely a show stopper (just trying to be nice). The queen looked beautiful in her yellow ensemble.

 I didn't realize that the area front of Buckingham Palace was dirt. One day I will get to see it for myself. It is now 6:30am and I have been up for 3 1/2 hours. I will definitely need a nap this afternoon. I am waiting for the kiss. 

How Does a Nurse Decompress?

I'd tell you what happened at work on Sunday but then I'd have to kill you. I can't really think about it without getting emotional. Nurses are just expected to go on about their business as though nothing even happened. It's no wonder most of us are on some sort of mood enhancer. Do you know what the drug dependence rate is for Nurses is? According to the American Journal of Nursing one in ten nurses has a substance abuse problem. A 1998 study by Trinkoff and Storr announces 32% of 4, 438 respondents indicated some substance abuse.

Needless to say the AJN notes that it's our job to monitor our fellow nurses and help nip substance abuse  in the bud. They say that the ones who are actually showing signs of a problem are so far entrenched that they need professional help and are usually impaired while caring for patients...Yikes!

There is no system for debriefing or decompressing after a traumatic experience where I am employed. Not saying that it's not a great place to work (it is the best place I have ever worked). I also have some great co-workers but we don't have time to go to the bathroom let alone try to counsel each other. None of us wants to attend a counseling session or anything to do with work for that matter during our time off.

It truly does wear on my heart to have to quash feelings and thoughts about what others would say was a traumatic experience. Instead it's chalked up to just another day on the job. The feelings subside and you do forget about it over time. I'm not complaining this was the profession I chose and still proud of. My best advice for anyone who wants to be a nurse is wear comfortable shoes and go to the bathroom when you can.