So a few weeks ago, this challenge started going around facebook and pinterest to raise awareness for ALS or "Lou Gehrig's Disease." I have heard of this disease, but there really are so many sucky diseases out there, it's hard to keep them straight. And forget about remembering their names or pronunciations. Well, ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed. Even if you don't know anyone affected by this desease, it's important to be a tiny part of the movement to at least raise awareness. If you can donate at least $5 to the cause at www.alsa.org.
Since we are on the subject of sucky diseases, I'd like to shine a light on another one, Leukodystrophy. This one also attacks the nerves by disrupting the growth or maintenance of the myelin sheath that insulates nerve cells. These disorders are progressive, meaning that they tend to get worse throughout the life of the patient. It is similar to MS. There are 40 different types of leukodystrophy:
http://ulf.org/types-of-leukodystrophy
There is the cutest family in my neighborhood, with 4 rediculously handsome little boys. 2 of their boys have this rare Vanishing White Matter disease. The motor difficulties of VWM are progressive, but the progression is often stepwise in association with fever or injuries. Prolonged periods of stability or even transient mild improvements lasting years are common. Most patients develop seizures (epilepsy) late in the illness that are easy to control. Life expectancy is reduced, though patients can live into their second or third decades.
September is Leukeodystrophy awareness month, perhaps awareness can be raised as it has been for ALS. The $6million would be helpfull, too ;)
http://ulf.org/give-online-now
https://secure2.convio.net/alsa/site/Donation2;jsessionid=F445CAAD5F0BC3714ECF421ADD72DEC3.app296b?df_id=27420&27420.donation=form1
https://secure3.convio.net/nmss/site/Donation2;jsessionid=597E5B36F3B418A5CFA08D689D93E0CD.app322a?df_id=51176&51176.donation=form1
Remember, as far as everyone knows, we are a nice, normal family...
Sunday, August 24, 2014
I kissed a cop and I liked it
First I said I didn't want to marry a hunter, then I said I didn't want to be married to a police officer. Well now all I have to say is that there is no way I am willing to be married to a millionaire...
I have dead animals on my wall and a badge in my bedroom. At this rate, we'll be rollin in the dough in about 9 years. Kasey graduated from the Weber State Law Enforcement academy on the Febuary 24th, 2014. This year has definately been tough on our family, Kasey mostly, but I'm so proud of his dedication and this accomplishment. It has been almost an entire year of being a single mom and I'm sure it will only get worse when he goes out on patrol someday. Congratulations to WSU LEO #68
I have dead animals on my wall and a badge in my bedroom. At this rate, we'll be rollin in the dough in about 9 years. Kasey graduated from the Weber State Law Enforcement academy on the Febuary 24th, 2014. This year has definately been tough on our family, Kasey mostly, but I'm so proud of his dedication and this accomplishment. It has been almost an entire year of being a single mom and I'm sure it will only get worse when he goes out on patrol someday. Congratulations to WSU LEO #68
Also, a shoutout to the LEO class #69
Potty Training a 26 month old
*This may be one of those TMI posts, but I assure you, there are no offensive photos.
When I was 6 months pregnnt with Parker, I decided to potty train Phoenix. I had to get it done before Parker was born and it's best to avoid training durring holidays or major life changes, so I did it in November, just after Halloween. I found this 3-day method online. http://www.3daypottytraining.com/
It costs about $24 to download the e-book, but you also get an account that allows you to e-mail Lora, the creator of this method if you are getting frustrated or stuck and she will give you extra tips and advise. (Look up a coupon code and you can save a little, too)
So I started on Friday, and I am taking Monday off, as an extra buffer, because I am the only one who can be patient with him and I'd hate to send him to a sitter that soon.
Friday, Day 1:
I noticed that it is both harder and easie to potty train my second child. This time, I was better prepared. I had sticker charts and prizes ready to go and the hall and Parkers room covered with towels. I also bought 20 pairs of underwear this time. With Phoenix, I only got a 7-pack and we went through that in the first hour. I think I changed Parkers undies 25 times that first day. He earned 3 stickers and he knows that he doesn't like to be wet. It's easier for me to stay possitive this time because I am expecting him to have so many accidents. When I was training Phoenix, I was surprised at how much untrained toddlers pee in a day. The hardest part about training the 2nd child, is trying to entertain the other child in the house. I can't just let her go outside, unattended and when I do let her have more freedom than Parker, Parker freaks out because he is trapped in the hallway. (I rolled the luvsac down the hall to block his exit. Also, (TMI warning) Parker has yet to go #2. This kid usually goes 4-5 times a day. I'm hoping he doesn't let it build up for a few days..
Saturday, Day 2:
I changed undies twice in the first 17 minutes he was awake, but he had earned 3 more stickers within 3 hours. He is totally getting it! He still doesn't make it in time, but he totally makes a run for it when he starts feeling wet. I should've been carefulwhen wishing for #2. He finally let one go, which was ok. We dumped it in the potty and flushed it. We had given him a bunch of fiber ad prune juice and now he's shat down his leg....Thank goodness for the towels. Grandma Suzie is coming to pick Phoenix up for a sleep over. Hopefully we will all have a better day tomorrow. Thanks, mom for helping me out the very same day flying in from a week on vacation.
Sunday, Day 3:
2 stickers first thing in the morning but no more all day. 2 more poo-running-down-the-leg episodes. He does not like the feel of that at all. Again, thankful for the towels, I still have not had to clean poo out of the carpet once. I just put him in the tub and rinse him off. Then it's clean unders and on carry on. I've opened up the hallway of doom and lengthened his leash to the kitchen. I just layed a trail of towels leading to the bathroom. Every time he starts to pee in his unders he gets excited and starts saying "again, again". So we run to the bathroom and get on the little potty, hoping for a drop to make it in so he can earn a sticker. Having the house to ourselves made for a little nicer day, Phoenix got to play at both grandma's and her cousins houses, but tomorrow, she's stuck back home with us. I took off 1 extra day just to be sure he's got it and I really don't want to send him to my friends house to tend until I'm a little more confident that he'll make it to the bathroom more often than not.
Monday, Day 4:
Last day home with mommy!
When I was 6 months pregnnt with Parker, I decided to potty train Phoenix. I had to get it done before Parker was born and it's best to avoid training durring holidays or major life changes, so I did it in November, just after Halloween. I found this 3-day method online. http://www.3daypottytraining.com/
It costs about $24 to download the e-book, but you also get an account that allows you to e-mail Lora, the creator of this method if you are getting frustrated or stuck and she will give you extra tips and advise. (Look up a coupon code and you can save a little, too)
So I started on Friday, and I am taking Monday off, as an extra buffer, because I am the only one who can be patient with him and I'd hate to send him to a sitter that soon.
Friday, Day 1:
I noticed that it is both harder and easie to potty train my second child. This time, I was better prepared. I had sticker charts and prizes ready to go and the hall and Parkers room covered with towels. I also bought 20 pairs of underwear this time. With Phoenix, I only got a 7-pack and we went through that in the first hour. I think I changed Parkers undies 25 times that first day. He earned 3 stickers and he knows that he doesn't like to be wet. It's easier for me to stay possitive this time because I am expecting him to have so many accidents. When I was training Phoenix, I was surprised at how much untrained toddlers pee in a day. The hardest part about training the 2nd child, is trying to entertain the other child in the house. I can't just let her go outside, unattended and when I do let her have more freedom than Parker, Parker freaks out because he is trapped in the hallway. (I rolled the luvsac down the hall to block his exit. Also, (TMI warning) Parker has yet to go #2. This kid usually goes 4-5 times a day. I'm hoping he doesn't let it build up for a few days..
Saturday, Day 2:
I changed undies twice in the first 17 minutes he was awake, but he had earned 3 more stickers within 3 hours. He is totally getting it! He still doesn't make it in time, but he totally makes a run for it when he starts feeling wet. I should've been carefulwhen wishing for #2. He finally let one go, which was ok. We dumped it in the potty and flushed it. We had given him a bunch of fiber ad prune juice and now he's shat down his leg....Thank goodness for the towels. Grandma Suzie is coming to pick Phoenix up for a sleep over. Hopefully we will all have a better day tomorrow. Thanks, mom for helping me out the very same day flying in from a week on vacation.
Sunday, Day 3:
2 stickers first thing in the morning but no more all day. 2 more poo-running-down-the-leg episodes. He does not like the feel of that at all. Again, thankful for the towels, I still have not had to clean poo out of the carpet once. I just put him in the tub and rinse him off. Then it's clean unders and on carry on. I've opened up the hallway of doom and lengthened his leash to the kitchen. I just layed a trail of towels leading to the bathroom. Every time he starts to pee in his unders he gets excited and starts saying "again, again". So we run to the bathroom and get on the little potty, hoping for a drop to make it in so he can earn a sticker. Having the house to ourselves made for a little nicer day, Phoenix got to play at both grandma's and her cousins houses, but tomorrow, she's stuck back home with us. I took off 1 extra day just to be sure he's got it and I really don't want to send him to my friends house to tend until I'm a little more confident that he'll make it to the bathroom more often than not.
Monday, Day 4:
Last day home with mommy!
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