ocelotmom
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Posts posted by ocelotmom
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I have read about a few organizations today that made me smile in the midst of such sadness.
*JetBlue will fly any family members to Orlando for free.
*A church in Apopka will allow their facility to be used free of charge for any funerals and will webcast the service for out of town guests.
And the church in Apopka is, from what I've heard, a Seventh Day Adventist church. Not normally a bastion of liberalism.
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I worked as an EMT on ambulance and hospitals and recently spoke to other first responders. They recognize MEDIC ALERT BANDS. The classic style. Any other style of bracelets/necklace they think is just jewelry.
So please be sure its nothing cute.
As a nurse, I agree with this. The more blatantly medic alert it is, the better. Too many try to be subtle. Don't subtle yourself out of usefulness.
I wouldn't bother with putting blood type on unless it was something unusual - not the standard A/B/AB/O. If they need blood, they'll either type and crossmatch, or use O- if there isn't time for that. They will NOT go by what it says on the bracelet or medical record - a new type and cross is done frequently.
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Choose a seat away from the dining car.
We had a trip where we ended up in a seemingly ideal spot with a table. We realized why we got so lucky as the night progressed, and the stairs near us became a constant stream of drunk people.
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She hasn't shown any indication of danger to the children... is someone who tried to commit suicide automatically unsafe with their children? That's doesn't seem to follow.
No, the vast majority of people with mental illness would never try to harm anyone else, especially their children, even if they would hurt or kill themselves.
While it would be naive to think it never happens, I hope people keep in mind that there are plenty of individuals potentially reading this post who suffer from some form of mental illness, and the harm that the unfounded assumption that someone who is mentally ill might attempt to harm their children can cause to a family.
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I agree about a full endocrinology workup. She has an array of endocrine symptoms. You cannot know the approach that's going to be the best option for promoting long-term health (and that's presumably the goal) without knowing what is going on.
At the very least, I think a bone scan to check her growth plates would be appropriate. Reaching full adult height by age 12 is not normal (though not inconsistent with precocious puberty, either), and that's what it sounds like you're think is going on. It wouldn't take much of a height gain for 160 to drop out of the obese range, so knowing for a fact what you're dealing with as far as future growth would be helpful for determining what path to take.
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If you hate waxing you can also get an epilator. It's like waxing but it's a machine that rips out the hair instead of hot, sticky, messy, burn-inducing substances. Also you can epilate at much shorter hair lengths so you don't get the messy grow-out period.
I have a hard time imagining epilating working for someone who doesn't like waxing, unless the messiness specifically was the problem. Totally unpleasant. I've heard it gets less painful with time, but I really tried because I like the idea of it lasting for longer, and never got to that point.
I do use it on my face. I drink first. That's not adequate for legs, since there's so much more surface area. I can't even imagine using it in a more sensitive area.
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To update on mine:
I've been doing DuoLingo continually since the previous post (currently on a 400+ day streak). After DH lost interest, I went back to Spanish and finished the Spanish tree. Was doing English from Spanish (I'm a native English speaker, but doing it that way provides a different sort of challenge), when DH decided he was interested in it again, so I switched back to German. I've been working on that for a while now. It's probably going to take a long time because I have no previous background, while I did in Spanish.
Kind of tempted to switch back to Spanish, since DH has long since lost interest again, and it's more practical from a career perspective.
I finished the BSN program, and am waiting to hear back about admission to an MSN program.
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DH (a software engineer) has looked into them and says they're a terrible idea. (I think his objection mostly has to do with storing everything online--you can't use your stuff if your internet isn't working?)
They're supposed to have good battery life and mostly avoid viruses, though, I guess because you can't download/install a lot.
Our family has used Chromebooks exclusively for years, and one got me through my college degree. This isn't really accurate. DH and I are both former system administrators, so not coming from a non-technical background.
Chromebooks have fairly limited storage compared to computers with hard drives, but files can be saved locally, and many apps are available for local use. You can enable offline access in Google Docs and work on stuff locally when offline (I do this regularly). Someone mentioned Skype - it's not something I use regularly, but I have used it on a chromebook, and there are chromebooks with video cameras.
For the sort of casual use that OP describes, they work very well - they're inexpensive, easy to use, lightweight, and have an exceptional battery life.
They are not a good option for someone who needs to run software that isn't available for Chromebook. They may not be the best option for someone who wants something to use primarily offline (but how often is that the case these days?). Probably not the best option if you're doing video or music production. As someone else mentioned, it's not a good option if you want to use CDs/DVDs.
The main problem I've run into is that memory is a little on the low side, and I can't have 50 kazillion browser tabs open without things crashing. But that varies by model, and mine is about two years old. Also, I can't download Amazon Prime videos to watch offline (I can watch Amazon Prime while online), which is tolerable, as I have other devices that will. The newer chromebooks are supposed to be able to run Android apps soon, which should fix that particular problem.
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I probably wouldn't exist if it weren't for the draft. My mom and dad met in college, and my dad would have dropped out before she got there if not for the draft exemption.
Both my grandfathers were in WWII, but I believe they were both voluntary.
My husband is a wartime veteran, and feels strongly against a draft. He wouldn't want the people he's relying on to be there under duress.
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On the flip side of this, I am constantly saying hi or waving to someone who kind of looks like the person I think it is, but is not in fact the person I think it is. It's so embarrassing to get the confused half-wave with an odd look from a complete stranger.
It's also great fun when someone waves at you, so you do the confused half-wave...and then realize they were waving at someone behind you.
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I had a new co-worker recently insist that she knew me from somewhere. She did actually look familiar, and I was wondering the same thing, but we couldn't figure out any overlapping history.
But then she kept insisting that she knew me, and decided that it *had* to be from the bar on New Year's Eve.
I didn't go to the bar on NYE. I don't even live in the town in question, and have never gone to any bars there. But she was very very insistent on this.
Add to this the fact that we're both nurses. Not that nurses can't go to bars, but erronously insisting that you previously met someone at a bar on your first day of work is not really a promising sign.
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I really can't see #3 being practical, as there are incredibly inexpensive routes to NP available.
My daughter is in a 4 year nursing program and I know how much she studies. She is involved in school activities but if she added in a sport she would have to drop everything else. Is your daughter going to stick with swimming for 4 years?
This is an important consideration. Nursing school may not allow time for sports. It's not just that there's a lot of studying, which can generally be worked into free time - clinicals take up a lot of time, and likely won't have particularly flexible scheduling.
If swimming is important, for personal or scholarship reasons, be sure to talk to the nursing and swimming programs to figure out how feasible it would be. It's possible that another path would be better. For example, completing all prerequisites as part of some other degree, then doing a nursing program after graduation. There are accelerated programs for students who already have degrees that take 12-18 months, or Master's Entry NP programs (these are controversial, because part of the reason NP programs have fairly low clinical hour requirements is that it was intended that students would already have clinical experience as nurses. But they are an option).
BSN and then either N.P. or P.A. after graduation (possibly with employer tuition reimbursement to help pay for it).
This is another good point. BSN doesn't close the door for PA if she decides to go that route - it will meet most or all of the prerequisite requirements for a master's-entry PA program, especially if she chooses higher level classes in the science classes if it's an option.
Don't be too impressed by a 100% NCLEX pass rate in itself. What that most likely means is that they don't let anyone graduate who isn't basically assured of passing the NCLEX. Which isn't a bad thing (they shouldn't be graduating anyone without the requisite knowledge), but doesn't necessarily indicate that the program is doing an excellent job preparing students. I mean, it's theoretically possible that the program does a horrible job preparing students, and the only students who manage to graduate are those who are excellent self-studiers and strong test takers.
Also look at the number of graduates. 1 person failing will disproportionately affect the score of a small program, and 1 person failing may mean that person scheduled the test on a day they ended up having the flu.
Rates below say 85-90% would concern me. Above 95% is pretty much all equal in my book. (Taking into account the size of the program)
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I have not myself, but, working in a nursing home, it is something I've watched over and over. It is very common for families to feel this way. And invariably, they feel like they must be the most horrible person on earth to feel that way about someone they love.
It's ok to recognize that quality of life matters. It's ok to not want your loved one to have to continue suffering, especially knowing that it's circumstances they wouldn't have wanted. It's ok to accept death as a part of life. It doesn't make you a bad person, or mean you love them any less, and it's definitely not abnormal to feel this way.
They ALWAYS start with "You must think I'm an awful person for feeling this way....". It's unfortunate that aging, decline, and death are such uncomfortable, taboo topics that so many people feel so universally alone and guilty in dealing with this.
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I work in a nursing home. Some people truly require 24 hour care that is physically and emotionally stressful even for trained caregivers in good physical condition who are not related and get to go home at the end of their shift, have days off, etc. They may need to be changed/repositioned every few hours, which may require 2 (and sometimes more) people to do safely for both the patient and caregiver. They may need constant supervision in order to keep safe. They may be combative. They may need a level of personal care that is not comfortable for either patient or caregiver given the individual family dynamics.
I don't see it being a point of pride to keep someone at home if their needs exceed your ability to care for them.
Sometimes moving into a facility allows the individual to maintain a level of independence and autonomy that they would not have living with family. With many families so geographically separated, it may let them stay within their own community and maintain their existing relationships.
I'm not trying to argue in favor of putting family members in a nursing home. Just that you can't make blanket statements. I agree with the OP - you can't compare keeping mom who needs just a little physical assistance at home to someone who needs total care 24/7 for years on end.
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Husband swims a lot and I haven't yet found anything that would work well for him.
The Garmin VivoSmart HR is waterproof and has a HR monitor, which seems approximately as accurate as the Charge HR (in other words, good for resting, less reliable when exercising). I switched to it about a month and a half ago, and the only thing I miss about the Charge is the FitBit community.
I like the look of the Alta. I like that it has interchangeable bands - sometimes I'd like something less utilitarian. I might have considered jumping ship back to fitbit if it had a HR monitor, but that's my primary reason for wearing a fitness band, so it just doesn't work.
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I was held back in 1st grade. Here's what I wrote up about it: http://learninglemurs.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-experience-with-grade-retention.html
(Not a positive view. Linked because I can't resist commenting on these threads, but hate writing out the details over and over.)
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Pretty much anything by Lurlene MacDaniel (I think she has a few where the person learns to cope with a chronic health issue and doesn't die, but not many). Maybe not the absolute best from a literary standpoint, but as much tragic death as you could possibly want.
I agree about Where The Red Fern Grows, Bridge to Terabithia, and On My Honor.
A Taste of Blackberries.
A Summer to Die by Lois Lowry
The Birchbark House by Louise Ehrlich
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I did attend a lecture by a woman who does living medieval history. she had a goat. eventually the goat caused so much chaos (despite her best efforts), she had to deal with him. she said he was very tasty.
I suspect *a* goat and "he" were the problem here. As others have mentioned, you really do need multiple goats since they're herd animals, and uncastrated males are notoriously problematic.
Anyways, websites make it sound like goats are delicate snowflakes that will explode into piles of bloody poop at the slightest offense. In our experience, they've really been pretty easy.
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So, there is Amazon FreeTime, which is a freely available to everyone, and then Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, which is the content subscription service that goes along with it.
Amazon FreeTime, used for parental controls, could be appropriate for a teen, and you can set it up so that it automatically goes to that rather than the main account. We found it too limiting and high-maintenance for the older kids.
FreeTime Unlimited, the content subscription service, contains very little that would be of interest to a kid older than about 10ish. It does have a reasonable selection of middle grade books (it's really not just branded preschool cartoon stuff!), but nothing aimed at teens.
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I've been getting a lot of messages lately from people asking to join the FitBit group.
It still exists. I'll still add people (though expect it to take a few days because of my work schedule). I don't know if anyone is paying attention to it at all, but anyone still a member of the group and using their fitbit has their step count posted, so you can use it for motivation, and anyone can post on here and get it more competitive at any time.
Send me a PM on here *with your email address*. I need your email address in order to send the invitation. You'll get added much faster if you just send me your email address right off the bat rather than asking if the group is still active and if I'll add you and making it into a back-and-forth.
Again - send me a PM with your email address if you want to join the FitBit group!!!!
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If anyone reading this thread is still looking, the new Garmin Vivosmart HR looks promising - it has all the features of the FitBit Charge HR, plus it's waterproof. I'm considering jumping the fitbit ship for it.
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Yes, it's a rough time of year for me. It's fun to watch the kids be happy. Everything else is just stress, guilt, difficult memories, and too much junk food available at work.
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If it weren't for DH, I can see potentially living near either of my parents. I don't know about in the same house, but we lived next door to my grandparents for most of my childhood, and that was great.
But my husband doesn't get along well with my mom, and living with them in close proximity would be an utter nightmare.
We both agree that living near his father would be a nightmare. Major boundaries issues that are bad enough living 500 miles away.
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Do people really pay attention to the edited line in anything except a heated discussion? Is there really a stigma about it?
I'm another who routinely catches my mistakes after I post. Often I realize I want to add something more, but don't want to make two posts back-to-back, so I edit to add it.
I fainted last night
in The Chat Board
Posted
That also sounds like it could be a vasovagal response. Which isn't generally serious in itself, but is something to be aware of.