Off and Running

Spring break is over.

My new class began this week.

That about sums things up for me.

It always amazes me how a new class turns my world upsidedown. It's only one night a week, but it takes up 6 hours of my evening, makes me super tired, and kicks me into catch-up mode for the rest of the week. As soon I start to see the light of day, it starts all over again.

The good news....if I double up classes for one insane 6 week period this summer, I will be done by Christmas!

The other good news...the program I am in is really great.

It's a good thing I love to read. I am currently reading my School Law text, a 100+ page self-study for an accreditation visit at a school in a few weeks, and an instructor's manual for a new testing system.

I am living every woman's dream.

Ha.

While everyone else is trying to get over their jealousy of my current past times, I am going to return to drowning myself in school court cases.

Happy Adoption Day!

Happy Adoption Day to this little guy who adds energy and excitement to everything we do!

PANDAS

I really, really wish I meant these little guys.

So cute and cuddly and.....something you can walk away from when you are tired of observing.

Instead, I'm referring to something you might find in a medical journal -- Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS)

My six year old appears to have this.

In a nutshell, it seems to start with undiagnosed strep.  When strep is not treated, the body takes over and builds antibodies to fight strep.  Apparently sometimes these antibodies do their job well, but sometimes they begin attacking various parts of the body as well.  The antibodies can be measured through bloodwork.  My little guy's were very high. 

High levels alone do not cause PANDAS.  However, when coupled with lengthy (weeks to months) come-and-go episodes of OCD behavior, tic disorders, or other significant emotional/behavioral changes, PANDAS enters the scene. 

So far we seem to be very fortunate.  Of all of the scary behaviors and symptoms listed, he has a tic which comes in the form of clearing his throat.  A LOT.  Sometimes it is hardly noticeable.  Other times it is nearly 10 times a minute and makes you want to jump out of your skin.  He has had three episodes, possibly four, spanning over the past 20 months. 

One doctor thought it was allergies.
Another told us it was acid reflux.
Most people thought it was just a habit.

Throat clearing is not exactly something you rush your kid in for, but looking back, I now realize that his little body has possibly been fighting this since he was FOUR. 

This diagnosis raises so many questions.

Does this mean he is a strep carrier?
And if so, what does that really mean?
How do we treat this?
What are the long-lasting effects?
Will he get worse?
Will he grow out of it?
How dangerous can it be?

For every answer I have found, I have read nearly the exact opposite answer as well.  In fact, there is controversy in the medical world if PANDAS even really exists. 

Nice.  That is very helpful. 

Regardless, we have now begun a new journey of reading, researching, and learning new information.  Our first appointment since the diagnosis is Thursday.

If you doctor at the same place as me, here's fair warning not to make an appt. after 2:00 on that day.  I told them to schedule me PLENTY of time.  :)

Entering the 21st Century

I have made the plunge.

I can't quite decide if I like it yet.

I have now had an iPad in my possession for two days. That part I LOVE. However, last night I made a huge shift that might be a bit of a stretch for me.

I love reading. I could spend an entire day curled up with a good book.

"Curled up with a good iPad" just doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

But...I'm giving it a shot. Last night I realized that I haven't yet ordered my textbook for a class that starts in a week. Something tells me that my School Law professor would not be impressed with a student showing up unprepared.

Then it hit me...iPad...apps....problem solved.

Download app.
Register app.
Purchase book.
Open app.
Voila.

Saved $15.00

But...I'm still skeptical. I like to highlight, write notes, underline, bookmark....be ONE with the book.

Most of all, I'm sad that I won't have a book to add to my collection on my bookshelf.

Dumb, I know.

Maybe someday I'll catch up with the times.

UGH

I'm preaching at my son to make his messy bed................and then realize that mine hasn't been made in days.

I'm preaching at at my son to clean up his toys..............and then realize my school work is spread out all over.

I'm preaching at my son to take care of his laundry................and then realize my closet is a huge disaster.

I'm preaching at my son to be nice and use kind words................and then realize I am raising my voice at him. 

No wonder I am so frustrated.

Sometimes I Almost Scare Myself

I do not love to cook.  I think I may have mentioned that a time or two.

Or possibly 30 or 40.

However, I am trying really hard to eat healthier.  Here is what I have discovered -- it is really hard. 

Planning for meals now takes more time and organization.  Shopping now takes more time and costs more money.  Cooking now takes more time and patience to figure out what works and what doesn't. 

Notice the TIME issue?  I already don't have a lot of that, so this has been somewhat interesting.

But I have stumbled across a few things this week that have been major hits in my house.  This is a minor miracle in and of itself, since my oldest child gets a bit nervous when mom tries "another healthy recipe". 

I have no plans to turn this into a healthy food blog. 

       Reason #1 - I have no pictures.  I rarely make anything that is actually picture worthy.
       Reason #2 - Last night we had fish sticks and macaroni and cheese.

I said I was TRYING to eat healthier.  I have by no means arrived.

I leave the food blogs to my trusty food friends.  This is where I steal many of my ideas.  Rachel is amazing.  She and a friend have also started a new blog together that is full of good, healthy stuff.  I let them do the research, and I reap the benefits.  It's a win-win situation.  Well, at least for me.

Ok, on to my week....so successful in the kitchen, it was almost scary.

Here is a bit of what I found:

Chocolate Banana Muffins - Everyone in the house loved these.  No one knows that they are full of pumpkin, flax seed, bananas, organic plain yogurt, and whole wheat flour.  Well.....maybe they caught on to the banana part, but I am keeping the rest a secret.

Homemade Granola Bars - This is not necessarily "diet" food, but is a great way to have granola bars around made with natural ingredients and no preservatives.  They don't stay around long enough to need preservatives.

Whole Wheat Tortillas - This was by far the biggest hit and the biggest shock.  My family loves flour tortillas.  Not so long ago I discovered the ingredient list is a mile long and full of things I cannot even pronounce. 

I may just need to stop reading the ingredient lists.  It's frightening.

I set out to figure out a way to make tortillas at home.  This is the first recipe I tried.  I was shocked to discover that my family loves them straight out of the pan warm and soft like a real tortilla, or cooked crisp like a chip.  They eat them plain, or as a wrap, or crispy dipped in salsa, or sprinkled with a cinnamon and a bit of sugar and baked. 

Rolling them out doubles as a nice workout, or better yet, make your husband do the rolling, and the whole process goes much faster.  (Remember that time issue?)

That's it.  Pretty basic for many people, but worth celebrating in my world.

I'm pretty sure I've reached my domestic quota for the year, so I'm off to write a paper and research educational technology.

Hmmm....cooking is sounding better all the time.