migraines...a curse

I have suffered from Cluster Migraines for many, many years. I've learned to adapt to it and get through my day as best I can. I just went to the E.R. 2 weeks ago because mine was so severe that no amount of meds would put a dent in it.

Last night at midnight Chloe came down with one. I felt so terrible to see her in that much pain. She didn't fall asleep until after 3 then woke up due to the pain at 5:30. She was crying which is unusual for her. She didn't even cry when she broke her arm the first time.

She skipped band this morning and just went straight to school. She want to miss out doing her first Conflict Manager with Monique. She called me, at 3, and when I asked about her head she said that it was worse. You know when your kid is trying to hold it together but they are just on the edge? I could hear this in her voice. Made my heart hurt to hear that in her voice. As soon as she was done with safety patrol and was in the car she immediately started to sob.

I drove like the wind home. I cut up one of my maxalt migraine pills and gave it her on the drive home. When we got home she went to her room and sat in the heater and I rubbed her head and face for a long time. She felt a bit better and ate some dinner but the migraine is still there.

I hope that a good nights sleep will take care of this migraine and that she will feel like herself tomorrow morning.

I don't want her to be cursed with migraines like I have been. She recieved a referral for and ENT, at her 11 yr. well child check up, for her ear problems. I made her appointment today to see the ENT specialist at Children's. I am praying that her ear problems, sinuses and migraines can be treated by the ENT. I also don't want her to struggle with sinus infections that don't go away even with massive amounts of antibiotics, like I have. I want to make a premptive strike on going down this line of problems.

Pray for Chloe that the ENT doctor will have some answers and that she feels better tomorrow. It makes my heart hurt to see my babies in pain and suffering.

Do Not Call Law

This is from the FCC on the 'Do Not Call' law. It seems according to this paragraph that the non-profit organizations are still legally to abide by the 'Do Not Call' law.

Here is the link to the excerpt below.

Here is the link to lodge a complaint against whom ever you think isn't following the law correctly, and bugging you with their incessant phone calls. Click here.

C. Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the Proposed Rules Will Apply

22. The RFA generally defines "small entity" as having the same meaning as the terms "small business," "small organization," and "small governmental jurisdiction" and "the same meaning as the term 'small business concern' under the Small Business Act unless the Commission has developed one or more definitions that are appropriate for its activities. A small business concern is one which: (1) is independently owned and operated; (2) is not dominant in its field of operation; and (3) satisfies any additional criteria established by the Small Business Administration ("SBA"). The Small Business Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA) provision of the RFA also applies to nonprofit organizations and to governmental organizations such as governments of cities, counties, towns, townships, villages, school districts, or special districts with populations of less than 50,000. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 601(3), the statutory definition of a small business applies "unless an agency after consultation with the Office of Advocacy of the SBA and after opportunity for public comment, establishes one or more definitions of such term which are appropriate to the activities of the agency and publishes such definition(s) in the Federal Register."

high expectations

“High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.” ~ Charles F. Kettering

After talking and thinking over last night PTA meeting I realize that this is part of the issue. And it may be hard to always achieve but it also is the best place to be.

I can't speak for other parents but Mike & I do have very high expectations of our kids' teachers and of our kids themselves. I think that if you have high expectations for your kids, and they believe you think that they can reach them, they will try to do just that. For my kids and teachers alike. There will always be times when I am disappointed in the outcome of this but there are more times when my expectations are exceeded. And that, I think, is a great thing!!

I love to see my kids proud of themselves for what they may have just accomplished. I love to listen to them tell me the story of how they did it. Giving them goals to reach for and teaching them how to do that I think is a good life lesson.

And I think this also goes for the teachers. Seeing low scores was a shock. Wait a second here, how did this happen?? Back the truck up. Where are we? Did my kid score low or will my kid score low? Does my kid have what they need to score higher?

Last night some of our teachers took the time to come to the PTA meeting and explain how things are being improved and what is being added to the curriculum. Although I am still a bit fuzzy on a few points but I do appreciate them coming and working with the parents to try to make themselves better teachers, make our kids better students and to score higher on the MSP this year and help me be a more vigilant parent.

Education is a shared commitment between dedicated teachers, motivated students and enthusiastic parents with high expectations. ~ Bob Beauprez

a bit overwhelmed...

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed right now.

I had a follow up doctor appointment from my sinus surgery, which I am having problems with still, and pain from. Top that with a cluster of my migraines and I'm feeling fantastic right now!

I dropped off a PTA board position but picked up Art Docent Chair.

So I guess it is less work but so far I am not seeing it...tonight is the training for the art docents. I LOVE being an art docent!! It is one of my favorite things that I get to do every month. I really hope that I can encourage and inspire those that have signed and share my passion for it with them.

I still have Reflection and Hospitality chairs (which I totally love also).

Chloe's 11th birthday is Saturday. I can not figure out where those 11 years went! How can she be that big? I don't feel that old! An I really that much older? I have to get her party organized and all the supplies for it...i.e. mainly the quads that girls are going to ride...home on Friday. Cake baked, posted painted, gifts bought and wrapped. I don't remember birthdays being like this when I was growing up, where yours?

I love my baby though and would do anything for her. She is such a blessing everyday!! She puts a smile on my face no matter what is going on and how I am feeling.

She has x-c meet and band 3 mornings a week now. The band is a bit much but we are going to try it and see how it goes. I'm not quite sure what Hudson and I are going to do for an hour 3 days a week before school starts and after we drop her off but we'll find something.

And I have an audit to start tomorrow with the state. Big fun...ugg!

But I do try to keep a smile on my face and remember that it can get worse and try not to think to long on what the could be. :)

School...bits

I should say that it is NOT the PTA that is changing the Ice Cream Social, we all want to have it, as in past years. It is an important event to kick off the school year and start community building for the coming year.

And the kids really look forward to this event!! It is one of the most attended of the whole year. Sorry to see it go by the waistside.

Voice your opinion with me if you want to have it re-instated.

School

Well, it's that time of year again. Waiting by the mailbox for the letter with teacher assignments, getting all the school supply list, finding the "perfect" backpack and me getting geared up for the schedule.

I am thinking of cutting out some of my chairing responsibilities this year. I have several reasons for putting this option on the table. I'm waffling back and forth with the idea and what to cut and what not to cut. Or should I cut it all? I'm a bit miffed, to put it mildly, about the Ice Cream Social being basically cancelled this year. That is a bit reason why I'm thinking about cutting back. Why should I donate hundreds of hours of my time, my funds, my energy, and time away from my family to help make the school community better for the kids, parents and teachers?

My kids, and I, are very disappointed in this and it has put a bad taste in our mouths before the school year has started.

Well, things to think about...

Mark 10:27

And Jesus looking upon them saith,

With men it is impossible, but not with God;

for with God all things are possible.

Something that I'm trying to remember on a daily basis.

Eating breakfast...does it help

I have been trying to eat better and been pretty good at it. With the exception of eating breakfast. I am not a breakfast eater. It is supposed to get your metabolism going and give you energy to get a running start to the day, right? going and give you energy to get a running start to the day, right?

Well, I ate breakfast this morning and I am doing everything that I can to stay awake. There is no extra energy zigging around in me. There is no burst of energy. There is no optimum alertness.

I think that it is a bit sham!
your truly snoozy...zzzzzzz

Recipe...Creamy Leek - Potato soup

I have had several people ask for the recipe for my soup. Here it is:

Ingredients:

4 medium leeks, white and light-green parts halved lengthwise, washed, and sliced thin (4 c.), dark-green parts halved, washed, and cut in 2" pieces
2 c. low sodium chicken broth
2 c. water
4 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 medium onion, chopped medium (1 c.)
table salt
1 small russet potato, peeled, halved lengthwise, and cut in 1/4" thick slices
1 bay leaf
1 4" sprig of Thyme
1 large slice high quality sandwich bread, lightly toasted and torn into 1/2" pieces ground black pepper
Instructions:

1. bring dark-green leek pieces, broth, and water to boil in large saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes. Strain broth through fine-mesh strainer into medium bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible; set aside. Discard solids in strainer and rinse out saucepan.

2. melt butter in now empty saucepan over medium-low heat. When butter foams, stir in sliced leeks, onion, and 1 tsp. salt. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until vegetables are softened, about 10 minutes.

3. increase heat to high, stir in reserved broth, potato, bay leaf, and herb sprig and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until potatoes are tender (but not to soft), about 10 minutes. Add toasted bread and simmer until bread is completely saturated and starts to break down, about 5 minutes.

4. remove and discard bay leaf and herb sprig. Transfer half of soup to blender and process until smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to large bowl and repeat with remaining soup. Return soup to saucepan and bring to simmer, season with salt and pepper to taste.

Optional: adding crisp bacon bits to the soup after processing is really good.

Creamy Leek - Potato soup

I am trying to find new items to put in our dinner rotation. We seem to be stagnent and keep having the same few dishes. So I have gotten out my recipe book and picking through them for the healthy, tasty and easy to prepare recipes.

I've love looking through my recipes that people have given me over the years. There are some really good dishes for dinner in amongst all the pages & pages of my recipe book.

Tonight I made a new dish from one of my favorite cooking magazines, Cook's Illustrated. I made Creamy Leek - Potato soup. Very low cal, one pot used, few ingredients and you don't have to stand there tending to it, all things which I really like in a recipe.

My kids even liked it! Yeah I have another new dish for the rotation. It doesn't hurt that I get the leftovers for lunch the next day.

FINALLY...OUR KIDS MATTER! Lawmakers reach agreements on key education bills

Lawmakers reach agreements on key education bills Posted on 12. Mar, 2010 by Mike.

oly src="http://www.educationvoters.org/~/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/students-oly.jpg" width=300 height=207>Parents, educators and students have a lot to celebrate this morning. On the final day of the 2010 legislative session, lawmakers reached agreements on key education bills.

Thank you to legislators and especially parents and education advocates who worked so hard on behalf of kids this legislative session.
Basic education funding bill

Lawmakers took the next step in implementing last year’s historic education reform bill (House Bill 2261) by approving the Quality Education Council’s recommendations in House Bill 2776. The legislation:
•Establishes a new and more transparent school funding formula;
•Lowers class sizes in kindergarten through third grade and increases funding to cover maintenance and operations costs; and
•Revises how the state pays for pupil transportation costs.

Thank you to Rep. Pat Sullivan, Rep. Marcie Maxwell and Rep. Skip Priest for your hard work to begin fully funding basic education.

Race to the Top reforms Washington is in a better position to win a $250 million federal Race to the Top grant thanks to the passage of Senate Bill 6696. The bill will also improve Washington’s public schools by:
•Adopting the State Board of Education’s guidelines on turning around consistently low-performing schools;
•Revising teacher evaluations and creating new principal evaluation criteria; and
•Expanding teacher preparation and recruitment pathways.

Thank you to Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, Sen. Eric Oemig and Sen. Curtis King for your work on this bill.

Early childhood education
Our state’s youngest learners received tremendous support from Olympia in House Bill 2731 and Senate Bill 6759. The bills reaffirm the state’s commitment to ensuring kids start kindergarten ready to succeed. The bills:
•Expand pre-school programs for three- and four-year olds across the state;
•Protect funding for early learning by making it a new state entitlement program; and
•Consider the establishment of a program of early learning in basic education.

Thank you to Rep. Roger Goodman, Sen. Claudia Kauffman and Rep. Ruth Kagi for being champions for kids.

kids...kids...kids...

sometimes they can just make your day with the simplest of things, like their laugh.

they can infuriate you when they don't obey.

they can help each other with projects or play together for hours, never arguing, and perfectly content.

they can make you so proud that the emotion brings tears to your eyes.

they can give you a running commentary on every event in real time.

they make you smile at a memory.

they can surprise you when they do something on their own.

they can be instinctive and give you a hug out of the blue, which you later realise is exactly what you needed.

they can remind you of the rules when you have a lapse.

there is nothing like them and our lives are richer with them in it.

A New Love

This year was Chloe's first experience playing basketball on a team. I don't really count playing with me and goofing around.

She found herself on a team where she didn't know any of the girls. She had hoped to get on her classmates team but there was a glitch in the registration and she didn't get on that team. The first practice she walked in a bit apprehensive but did what I suggested; walked up and introduced herself to the group and coaches. Never looking back at me for reassurance or with a 'what am I doing here Mommy' look.

Turned out that she had seen a few of the girls at track and cross country meets. So now she had names to go with the faces. After that first practice she was among friends. All of the girls where very nice and fun and supportive of one another.

Each game was so much fun to watch.

1. watching her skills develop

2. watching her have fun

3. watching her learn a team sport

4. watching her find something new that she really, really loves

5. great family time spent encouraging her in her new pursuit

She had great coaches who taught the girls in a manner that was fun yet they worked the girls like mad. (when you are having fun you don't notice how much work it is)

They went with only 1 loss all year. And that team ended up being the same team that they had to play for the championship. The other team was undefeated for 2 years.

That last game was so intense and close in scoring that I was a bit hoarse after it was over. Yes, I'm an obnoxious mom, thankfully I wasn't the only one on our team who was loud.

When the last minute was almost over and our team was up by one it was so exciting to see the girls pull off the hugest upset! They were so proud of themselves for winning and how hard they worked to keep the other team in check.

The parents from our team whooped and hollered after the buzzer buzzed! It was off to DQ after the game for the team party! And boy where the girls riled up and excited. Add on some sugar from ice cream and cup cakes and you get a team like this!!

Awesome to see Chloe try something, give it her all and have a positive experience that has pushed her to keep practicing and to attend the Seattle Storm training camp.

I'm very proud of my girl!!

Sunny weather = Sunny disposition

“Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day.”

Good intensions 2

Challenging myself to make a change isn't the easy for me. It's easy to say it but hard to put into practice. ONE DAY AT A TIME.

I did pretty good yesterday. I have to make a conscience effort to be responsible for my diet and health.

I had a good healthy lunch and dinner...and most importantly I didn't have any unhealthy between meals snacks. I even took my vitamins!!

I can do this, I can do this, I can do this. It sounds so ordinary almost even stupid but it isn't for me. I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.

Good intensions

I have good intensions of getting so many things done but I haven't been following through with some of them.

Why, why, why?

Isn't that always the question?

I don't have an answer for this question. I wish I did.

I am trying to figure out how to over come this...I don't like having things that I want to do but just can't seem to find either the motivation or energy for.

I think that part of it is by diet...or lack there of. I'm good at making sure the kids eat properly but I don't do it for myself. If it comes to me making breakfast or lunch for myself...I just will not eat. I hate to prepare food just for me.

I haven't been taking my vitamins like I should, well I haven't been taking them at all. That would I'm sure help.

I haven't been exercizing like I normally do. I can't seem to get myself out of bed in the morning to go exercize. Now that it is sunny I keep feeling like I should be out there enjoying it and getting my exercize. I love to do it but just haven't been doing it.

I am challenging myself to tackle these issues and track my changes. Changes in how I feel, sleep, energy level, strength, attitude and focus.

Starting today!

HURRAY WE PARENTS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WHO THINK IS WRONG!

THIS IS FANTASTIC! Now to see what the courts will do with it. Finger crossed, prayers sent. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010981329_webschoollawsuit05m.html

Gregoire to close funding for the low income and kids!

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today proposed her 2010 supplemental state budget, which would fill a $2.6 billion hole in the budget for 2009–11 through service eliminations, reductions or suspensions. As required by law, she submitted a budget based on currently available revenue.

Among the programs targeted for elimination are the state Basic Health Plan, which provides health care coverage to nearly 65,000 individuals ($160 million); Apple Health for children, which provides health care coverage to 16,000 low-income children ($11 million); and the General Assistance Unemployable program, which provides cash grants for 23,000 adults and medical services to nearly 17,000 adults ($188 million).

In education, funding would be eliminated for 1,500 3-year-olds participating in the Early Childhood Education (WHICH ARE NOT FREE, YOU PAY FOR THIS CLASS!!) and Assistance Program; the kindergarten-through-4th grade staffing enhancement that reduces class size in the early grades; and levy equalization, which provides extra support to districts with a lower than average property tax base.

Slated for reduction are the State Need Grant program, where 12,300 students would lose grants, and grants would be smaller ($146 million); and funding for the state’s community and technical colleges as well as the baccalaureate institutions ($89 million).

Gregoire explained that as difficult as it was to recommend an all-cuts budget, “We were thoughtful in making these decisions. They represent, I believe, the most responsible decisions we could make with the constraints we faced.”

Months after balancing the biennial budget in the spring, another budget gap developed as state revenues again plummeted due to weak consumer spending, and state costs that rose from higher demand for unemployment benefits, health care and public education.

The governor recently announced several reforms to make government services more efficient through consolidations and eliminations of a number of boards and commissions. She is closing all or part of nine state institutions. She will be proposing measures to allow local governments more spending flexibility and school districts the authority to access voter-approved levies. And she has directed the Department of Corrections to move ahead immediately on actions to consolidate inefficient facilities.

“As we made the hard decisions necessary to produce this budget, I understood the impact of these cuts on real people,” Gregoire said. “I realize the future this budget will create. It does not reflect my values nor do I believe it reflects the values of my fellow citizens.

“Let me be very clear: I do not support this budget. As required by law, it is balanced. For me, it is unjust.”

The governor plans on introducing in a second budget in January, which will restore several of the most critical programs that would be eliminated by the all-cuts budget, including:

■Basic Health and Apple Health plans;

■General Assistance program for the most needy;

■Levy equalization funds for public schools;

■State financial aid to allow more students to attend higher education;

■Early childhood education money;

■Adult medical, dental, vision and hospice programs; and

■Developmental disability and long-term care provider funds.

“Today’s document does not reflect our values as a state,” Gregoire said. “It does not reflect the Washington I know and love or the Washington I want for our future and the future of our children and grandchildren. I am convinced it is not the plan for the future that Washingtonians would choose, either.”

Her second budget will be accompanied by a revenue package that would eliminate tax exemptions, close loopholes and raise revenues.

The governor expressed concern about new tax burdens for families and businesses.

“I will do my best to avoid any new taxes that slow our economic recovery. I will balance, as best I can, my interest in keeping new taxes down, while still protecting programs that I believe the vast majority of us agree are just too important to eliminate,” Gregoire said. “We need a combination of reduced funding for services and raising revenue.”

After tapping into the state’s Rainy Day Fund, Gregoire’s proposed budget leaves an ending fund balance of $310.5 million.

Contact: Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136