Work today was nice. Nothing really eventful at either job. At the pool I realized that I really need to push myself to do laps. I need to train myself enough that I can swim a 500m front crawl. I also realized during my attempt to see how far I can go now that I NEED goggles. My eyes are burning so bad right now. I ended up being able to do 100m in one try and I tried to get another 100 in and was only able to get 50m more. I am going back tomorrow and trying again. The more I practice, the more I will be able to do, right? Heh...everyone I talked to at the pool told me my best bet was to just keep at it and keep it up.
I know I need to get into shape, and this is something that HAS to be done so I guess I have no choice now but to get into shape. I need to be able to swim at least the 500m because I need to get my lifeguard certification. I know I can do everything else, it's just the long distance swimming that I have a hard time with.
I talked to Mishu a little bit today and that helped. I don't like to complain because there are so many that have it so much worse, and we have dealt with so much worse, but I think that because he is stateside I am spoiled and like to talk to him more. He works at an Army medical center and the department he works in is the ER. He has been on the night shift and they work 12 hours shifts. It's an odd schedule and I'm forever forgetting when he works and when he doesn't. But this schedule makes the days he works suck because I work from 8:30-3 (M-F)and then from 3:40-7P on Mondays and Tuesdays and from 5-6:30P on Thursdays and Fridays. He starts work at 7PM EST. :( Sometimes he is still sleeping when I get out of work and I have to keep calling him to wake him up. Like, yesterday we talked for about half an hour, today we talked for about 20 minutes. I know I shouldn't complain but I still miss him and I hate not getting my time to talk to him.
Off that...a co-worker (at the pool, we will call her A) came up to me today visibly upset. She started telling me how she had just gotten off the phone with her cousin, who was like a sister to her. She told me that her cousin's child was 2 years old and the whole family was concerned because the child had not started talking yet. I guess they recently had the child tested and he now has a diagnoses of Autism. At this point, A got very jittery and said, "I feel like you are one of the only people I can talk to about this! I feel horrible right now for feeling this way. Is it ok that I feel sad about this?" I almost didn't know what to say. She broke down into tears at this point. I felt really bad for her. I know it's a tough diagnoses to swallow and I told her it was ok to feel that way, as long as she worked through it and realized that it was a blessing that they did the testing and they now can get the child into an early-intervention program. I hugged her and told her it was going to be a rough road, but she really needed to be there and be strong for her cousin and the child. We talked about it for a little while and she kept getting worse emotionally, so I showed her a breathing technique, breathing in her nose and out her nose 10 times. She ended up giggling a little and telling me she felt light headed. I told her she needed to remember this technique because it might come in handy one day! LOL! I hope she feels better soon.
That's about all for today. If I can think of anything else, I'll definitely post! LOL!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Recentness
So. :D
Most of the wedding plans are in order. We are just trying to figure out right now if Mishu is going to wear his uniform. He's gotten a lead on getting some Dress Blues but he doesn't want to get married at his current rank. He will probably be able to get promoted but we still aren't sure. So we may not end up having a military ceremony. Which I don't like but I cant make him walk down the isle in something he doesn't want to wear. Other than that, there is really only a few things that need to be done.
My wedding shower is in a few weeks and I'm kind of excited! My mom and friends have been doing so much planning, and I can't wait!
Last week I went to go visit Mishu down in GA. The weather was great, we worked on a couple of our registries, everything was awesome. We didn't do much other than that and well...loafing! Hehe! Oh, I did go to the ACS office on post, to figure out some sort of employment when I move there in July. The lady I talked to was real nice and put me in contact with a guy at the pool on post and the lady that is in charge of the Exceptional Family Member Program on post. I also met one of Mishu's fellow soldier co-workers and she is really cool. We spent the day together, shopping at shoe stores and getting our nails done! I haven't had a day like that in a long time and apparently, neither has she. She and her husband have a little girl and she said all their shopping time is devoted to her. :)
When I went to the ACS office I got some information from the lady about the area and what the school districts are like. the job prospects don't look good, especially since a lot of school districts are cutting back on budgets and that usually means not hiring new assistants. :( Boo! BUT.....While I was in the office, I was talking about my experience and what not and they latched on to me teaching aquatics. They put me in contact (actually called him...on the phone...and then thrust the phone at me and made me talk to him!) the director of the aquatics facility on post. He sounded really excited that I have the experiences that I do. Wanted to get my resume right away and was kind of sad, in a way, that I couldn't start right away. That really made me feel good! Also, the lady that does the EFMP stuff was really glad I had done respite work before. I guess they really need people over there. :) Again, made me feel really good!
I sent the man that runs the aquatics facility my resume and current certifications. He did make kind of an issue over the phone that I did not have my lifeguard certification. I am kind of reluctant to do it, it's just a lot of work and well...I am inherently pretty lazy. :D I got an email today from the director of aquatics at the facilities on post and she said she was impressed with my resume and was wondering if I would be interested in getting certified for lifeguard. *sigh* But she also mentioned that "We would love to expand our lessons to further help our wounded soldiers and your certifications would be an excellent dove-tail fit into our desires." O.o Wow. Interesting...I've never worked with neuro-typical individuals in an adaptive aquatics setting. I'm actually really interested in it. A little scared but I think it could be a good experience!
I had a total OH CRAP! moment today! You know, how people say they have an AHA! moment? Yeah, well, an OH CRAP! moment is a complete 180 from that. :\ I realized that I will be out of a job (my TA position) in June and I won't be leaving until July. That leaves me about a good month that I am down over half my income. CRAP! So I had asked my supervisor at the YMCA if I could get more hours and he was pretty sure they could do that. I thought about it today and I am already teaching lessons at the YMCA 14 hours a week currently. I know that they have issues giving part-timers (almost everyone that works at the Y) hours totaling close to full-time. I talked to him today and he was pretty sure they could get me up to higher 20 hours a weeks to lower 30 hours. That makes me a little less nervous. Mishu also said things will be ok, he will figure a way for them to work. I also talked to my supervisor at the Y and he said he would have no problem getting me lifeguard certified! YAY! WOOOHOO! Crap...I need to get in shape!
Other than that...I think most everything is caught up! LOL! I'm sure I'll find more to blog about in a couple of days!
Most of the wedding plans are in order. We are just trying to figure out right now if Mishu is going to wear his uniform. He's gotten a lead on getting some Dress Blues but he doesn't want to get married at his current rank. He will probably be able to get promoted but we still aren't sure. So we may not end up having a military ceremony. Which I don't like but I cant make him walk down the isle in something he doesn't want to wear. Other than that, there is really only a few things that need to be done.
My wedding shower is in a few weeks and I'm kind of excited! My mom and friends have been doing so much planning, and I can't wait!
Last week I went to go visit Mishu down in GA. The weather was great, we worked on a couple of our registries, everything was awesome. We didn't do much other than that and well...loafing! Hehe! Oh, I did go to the ACS office on post, to figure out some sort of employment when I move there in July. The lady I talked to was real nice and put me in contact with a guy at the pool on post and the lady that is in charge of the Exceptional Family Member Program on post. I also met one of Mishu's fellow soldier co-workers and she is really cool. We spent the day together, shopping at shoe stores and getting our nails done! I haven't had a day like that in a long time and apparently, neither has she. She and her husband have a little girl and she said all their shopping time is devoted to her. :)
When I went to the ACS office I got some information from the lady about the area and what the school districts are like. the job prospects don't look good, especially since a lot of school districts are cutting back on budgets and that usually means not hiring new assistants. :( Boo! BUT.....While I was in the office, I was talking about my experience and what not and they latched on to me teaching aquatics. They put me in contact (actually called him...on the phone...and then thrust the phone at me and made me talk to him!) the director of the aquatics facility on post. He sounded really excited that I have the experiences that I do. Wanted to get my resume right away and was kind of sad, in a way, that I couldn't start right away. That really made me feel good! Also, the lady that does the EFMP stuff was really glad I had done respite work before. I guess they really need people over there. :) Again, made me feel really good!
I sent the man that runs the aquatics facility my resume and current certifications. He did make kind of an issue over the phone that I did not have my lifeguard certification. I am kind of reluctant to do it, it's just a lot of work and well...I am inherently pretty lazy. :D I got an email today from the director of aquatics at the facilities on post and she said she was impressed with my resume and was wondering if I would be interested in getting certified for lifeguard. *sigh* But she also mentioned that "We would love to expand our lessons to further help our wounded soldiers and your certifications would be an excellent dove-tail fit into our desires." O.o Wow. Interesting...I've never worked with neuro-typical individuals in an adaptive aquatics setting. I'm actually really interested in it. A little scared but I think it could be a good experience!
I had a total OH CRAP! moment today! You know, how people say they have an AHA! moment? Yeah, well, an OH CRAP! moment is a complete 180 from that. :\ I realized that I will be out of a job (my TA position) in June and I won't be leaving until July. That leaves me about a good month that I am down over half my income. CRAP! So I had asked my supervisor at the YMCA if I could get more hours and he was pretty sure they could do that. I thought about it today and I am already teaching lessons at the YMCA 14 hours a week currently. I know that they have issues giving part-timers (almost everyone that works at the Y) hours totaling close to full-time. I talked to him today and he was pretty sure they could get me up to higher 20 hours a weeks to lower 30 hours. That makes me a little less nervous. Mishu also said things will be ok, he will figure a way for them to work. I also talked to my supervisor at the Y and he said he would have no problem getting me lifeguard certified! YAY! WOOOHOO! Crap...I need to get in shape!
Other than that...I think most everything is caught up! LOL! I'm sure I'll find more to blog about in a couple of days!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
A sad situation.
A fellow Army wife on a support forum that I am on lost her husband in Afghanistan yesterday. He was home about a month ago on R&R and got to spend some nice, quality time with his wife and young son.
I can't imagine what it must be like for her. Some of the moderators on the board decided to take up a collection to buy a plant or tree of some sort for her, and due to the amount of donations so far, are probably going to do something for her son as well. It is amazing the support that has poured out for her.
My heart and prayers go out to her and her family.
I can't imagine what it must be like for her. Some of the moderators on the board decided to take up a collection to buy a plant or tree of some sort for her, and due to the amount of donations so far, are probably going to do something for her son as well. It is amazing the support that has poured out for her.
My heart and prayers go out to her and her family.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Something my brother wrote
This is a story that my 13 year old brother wrote about his life so far as he knows it. Just so you all know, my brother has a form of kidney disease (Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis) and is under the autism spectrum. I just thought I would share it with you all! I am copying it right from his paper so please dont mind the grammar and spelling issues.
"My Life Story (by C***** F****)
This story begins practically when I was born. I had been diagnosed with Autism just recently. Although, the doctors say I am more Aspergers than autistic. When I was younger I used to have to wear a helmet because I used to crash right through fences and I really liked to run into things! I had also been quite sick for a while. Sick as in physically unhealthy like all puffy and really pudgy. My doctors hand just diagnosed me with severe kidney disease. I had to go to the hospital a lot from three years old to I think at least six years old. I had to get things called Biopsy's. They were these tests that doctors did to check to see how my kidneys were doing. To explain kidney disease a little bit more, kidney disease is some thing where my kidneys don't function normally. They don't filter the protein that it's supposed to keep in my body. And don't worry it's not contagious (I hate it when people ask me that)! Just so this story doesn't go on forever I'll skip a few years. I am now thirteen years old and have gotten better in understanding the differences that I have. Though some people think it's very childish (and I don't really care) I really like Pokemon and Yu-gi-oh I like to participate in tournaments for the Yu-gi-oh card game. I have also seen a bunch of teenage boys playing the game too. Back to my differences, in January 2007, I was in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at the Rush University Hospital. I was there because I was so sick that one kidney in my body almost failed! For my future problems, my sister is getting married! I say it's bad because I think that at least two months after her marriage she's moving to Georgia for at least EIGHT YEARS! And that is sending me into a really deep depression. I just feel like I need to spend more time with my family and not go to school. Lastly, people keep asking me why I am so puffy these past couple weeks. Here's the deal, just last year I was diagnosed with the high end of dangerous kidney disease. The name is really long so I can't remember it. I have to take these really big pills and they make me look like this. I hope this has educated you and answered some questions."
I guess the reason this all means so much to me is that he is self-advocating. He has NEVER EVER done so! And also...we finally has a reason why he has been fighting my mom on going to school! I am going to start trying to make more time to spend with him before I move to be with Mishu!
"My Life Story (by C***** F****)
This story begins practically when I was born. I had been diagnosed with Autism just recently. Although, the doctors say I am more Aspergers than autistic. When I was younger I used to have to wear a helmet because I used to crash right through fences and I really liked to run into things! I had also been quite sick for a while. Sick as in physically unhealthy like all puffy and really pudgy. My doctors hand just diagnosed me with severe kidney disease. I had to go to the hospital a lot from three years old to I think at least six years old. I had to get things called Biopsy's. They were these tests that doctors did to check to see how my kidneys were doing. To explain kidney disease a little bit more, kidney disease is some thing where my kidneys don't function normally. They don't filter the protein that it's supposed to keep in my body. And don't worry it's not contagious (I hate it when people ask me that)! Just so this story doesn't go on forever I'll skip a few years. I am now thirteen years old and have gotten better in understanding the differences that I have. Though some people think it's very childish (and I don't really care) I really like Pokemon and Yu-gi-oh I like to participate in tournaments for the Yu-gi-oh card game. I have also seen a bunch of teenage boys playing the game too. Back to my differences, in January 2007, I was in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at the Rush University Hospital. I was there because I was so sick that one kidney in my body almost failed! For my future problems, my sister is getting married! I say it's bad because I think that at least two months after her marriage she's moving to Georgia for at least EIGHT YEARS! And that is sending me into a really deep depression. I just feel like I need to spend more time with my family and not go to school. Lastly, people keep asking me why I am so puffy these past couple weeks. Here's the deal, just last year I was diagnosed with the high end of dangerous kidney disease. The name is really long so I can't remember it. I have to take these really big pills and they make me look like this. I hope this has educated you and answered some questions."
I guess the reason this all means so much to me is that he is self-advocating. He has NEVER EVER done so! And also...we finally has a reason why he has been fighting my mom on going to school! I am going to start trying to make more time to spend with him before I move to be with Mishu!
Friday, October 24, 2008
10 Things you may not know about me. :D
I have been tagged by dayngr to go through the file cabinets in my head and figure out 10 things you probably don't know about me. So here we go!
1. I feel most comfortable with either children or the elderly. I feel most uneasy around my peers.
2. I didn't learn to swim in the deep end of the pool 'til I was 13, I was too afraid to before that. Now I teach special needs children to swim.
3. I am so afraid I will never be able to have children.
4. I get angry at parent's who call Autism a "curse." Yes it can be hard, yes it is life changing, yes depression sets it. Move on...you can't let it stop your life and you need to make the best of what you have. And yes I do have room to talk, I've been beaten on, bitten, almost had my nose broke, been glared at and yelled at in stores because the child was screaming and crying and having a melt down and we had to restrain him, I've been rammed into. And all this by my wonderful brother. I wouldn't have it any other way. You live and you learn and that is all you can do.
5. I am scared to move away from my mom and brother.
6. I have 6 piercings. ;) all above the waist.
7. I never really know the right thing to say, so I run the conversation in my head...and never say any of it out loud.
8. I have a huge super crush on Anthony Michael Hall. (I totally <3 geeks!)
9. I was so desperate to sleep with this one guy in high school, and when we did years later...it wasn't all I made him out to be. Isn't that usually how it goes?
10. I hate the color pink but it is one of the colors that looks best on me.
1. I feel most comfortable with either children or the elderly. I feel most uneasy around my peers.
2. I didn't learn to swim in the deep end of the pool 'til I was 13, I was too afraid to before that. Now I teach special needs children to swim.
3. I am so afraid I will never be able to have children.
4. I get angry at parent's who call Autism a "curse." Yes it can be hard, yes it is life changing, yes depression sets it. Move on...you can't let it stop your life and you need to make the best of what you have. And yes I do have room to talk, I've been beaten on, bitten, almost had my nose broke, been glared at and yelled at in stores because the child was screaming and crying and having a melt down and we had to restrain him, I've been rammed into. And all this by my wonderful brother. I wouldn't have it any other way. You live and you learn and that is all you can do.
5. I am scared to move away from my mom and brother.
6. I have 6 piercings. ;) all above the waist.
7. I never really know the right thing to say, so I run the conversation in my head...and never say any of it out loud.
8. I have a huge super crush on Anthony Michael Hall. (I totally <3 geeks!)
9. I was so desperate to sleep with this one guy in high school, and when we did years later...it wasn't all I made him out to be. Isn't that usually how it goes?
10. I hate the color pink but it is one of the colors that looks best on me.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Freezin' for a Reason!
For the last two years, a handful of friends and I have done the Polar Plunge. It's actually called the IL Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge for Special Olympics...big mouthful, so most of us just call it the Plunge. :D What is it? It's a great time! It is a bunch of crazy people (believe me...get to know some of us and you will believe it!)raising money and jumping into freezing cold water to benefit the athletes of the IL Special Olympics. I personally got involved because of my brother, who is on a SO Swim team and the SO swim team I assistant coach. I love them all dearly and this is the least I can do to give back to them some of the joy they have brought me!
Keep your eyes open on here for more info.
Maybe I can get my soldier to do it with me this year! ;) He would have last year, but he was across the world, experiencing conditions that were the "polar" opposite of mine!
Here is the vid of us doing it from last year!
Look for the Polar Bears, that's my group! :D
Here is some more info about the Polar Plunge. The one I will be at is at Northwestern University's North Beach, Evanston. Not the Super Plunge, but the regular one. :D
"What is the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge? It is a unique and wacky opportunity to support Special Olympics Illinois ( SO ILL) athletes by taking a flying leap – a leap into the frigid waters of an Illinois lake! In 2009, there will be 17 locations (see below).
Participants raise at least $75 in donations from friends, family and co-workers in exchange for jumping into the icy waters in the middle of winter. Each plunger receives an official Polar Plunge sweatshirt and entrance into a Post-Plunge Party, plus the chance to win additional prizes for raising more money. All proceeds benefit the more than 21,000 athletes of SO ILL!
Get involved and take the Plunge!
In 2009, Polar Plunges will take place from Feb. 27 to March 21 in 17 different locations around the state:
Friday, Feb. 27 & 28 (tentative):
*SUPER Plunge at Northwestern University's North Beach, Evanston
Saturday, Feb. 28 (tentative):
*Northwestern University's North Beach, Evanston
Sunday, March 1:
*Miller Park Lake, Bloomington
*Lakefront Park, Fox Lake
*Lake Storey, Galesburg
*Twin Lakes, Salt Creek Park District, Palatine
Saturday, March 7:
*Rend Lake, South Sandusky Beach, Benton
*Carlyle Lake, Carlyle
*Lake Springfield, Knights of Columbus Hall #4179, Chatham
*Lake Decatur, The Beach House, Decatur
*Lake Sara, Effingham
*Sunrise Beach, Lake Bluff
*Manteno Lake, Manteno
*Moorman Lake, Upper Moorman Park, Quincy
*Olson Lake, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford
Sunday, March 8:
*Loon Lake, Silver Springs State Park, Yorkville
Saturday, March 21:
*Lincoln Lakes, Private Beach Access, Lincoln
*Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet"
Keep your eyes open on here for more info.
Maybe I can get my soldier to do it with me this year! ;) He would have last year, but he was across the world, experiencing conditions that were the "polar" opposite of mine!
Here is the vid of us doing it from last year!
Look for the Polar Bears, that's my group! :D
Here is some more info about the Polar Plunge. The one I will be at is at Northwestern University's North Beach, Evanston. Not the Super Plunge, but the regular one. :D
"What is the Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge? It is a unique and wacky opportunity to support Special Olympics Illinois ( SO ILL) athletes by taking a flying leap – a leap into the frigid waters of an Illinois lake! In 2009, there will be 17 locations (see below).
Participants raise at least $75 in donations from friends, family and co-workers in exchange for jumping into the icy waters in the middle of winter. Each plunger receives an official Polar Plunge sweatshirt and entrance into a Post-Plunge Party, plus the chance to win additional prizes for raising more money. All proceeds benefit the more than 21,000 athletes of SO ILL!
Get involved and take the Plunge!
In 2009, Polar Plunges will take place from Feb. 27 to March 21 in 17 different locations around the state:
Friday, Feb. 27 & 28 (tentative):
*SUPER Plunge at Northwestern University's North Beach, Evanston
Saturday, Feb. 28 (tentative):
*Northwestern University's North Beach, Evanston
Sunday, March 1:
*Miller Park Lake, Bloomington
*Lakefront Park, Fox Lake
*Lake Storey, Galesburg
*Twin Lakes, Salt Creek Park District, Palatine
Saturday, March 7:
*Rend Lake, South Sandusky Beach, Benton
*Carlyle Lake, Carlyle
*Lake Springfield, Knights of Columbus Hall #4179, Chatham
*Lake Decatur, The Beach House, Decatur
*Lake Sara, Effingham
*Sunrise Beach, Lake Bluff
*Manteno Lake, Manteno
*Moorman Lake, Upper Moorman Park, Quincy
*Olson Lake, Rock Cut State Park, Rockford
Sunday, March 8:
*Loon Lake, Silver Springs State Park, Yorkville
Saturday, March 21:
*Lincoln Lakes, Private Beach Access, Lincoln
*Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet"
Friday, September 26, 2008
I am so sick and tired of College bullshit!
I am just so freakin' aggravated right now. I was supposed to get a call from my adviser at WGU at 3:15. I put off everything else I had to do so that I could have some quiet time to talk to her. I didn't get any calls until 3:50 (this is not the first time this has happened) and it wasn't even my adviser. The assistant called me to tell me that my adviser left early and she had rescheduled me with another adviser but that one left early also. So I'm not very happy about that right now, and she tells me that one of my transcripts did not make it in yet (I had them sent rush two weeks ago) and they had a meeting today to drop me and she didn't have the results of the meeting. I delayed entry last month due to some of my other colleges dragging their feet on sending the transcripts.
Now, I am also attending one of the community colleges in my area, finishing up my last two classes before I graduate. I enrolled now because I was told by the adviser that I could do so and transfer my AA when I finished it.
Well...come today I was told by her assistant I cant do that. I need to finish the classes I am taking now or they wont count. I dont understand that. What if I earn education credits at the job I have. Will those not count???? Ugh....I am so aggravated now. At least I got confirmation from the assistant that my application fee wont be effected and I wont have to pay it again. Looks like I wont be starting my BA in Special Ed until at least January. I just cant even explain how upset I am right now. :\
Now, I am also attending one of the community colleges in my area, finishing up my last two classes before I graduate. I enrolled now because I was told by the adviser that I could do so and transfer my AA when I finished it.
Well...come today I was told by her assistant I cant do that. I need to finish the classes I am taking now or they wont count. I dont understand that. What if I earn education credits at the job I have. Will those not count???? Ugh....I am so aggravated now. At least I got confirmation from the assistant that my application fee wont be effected and I wont have to pay it again. Looks like I wont be starting my BA in Special Ed until at least January. I just cant even explain how upset I am right now. :\
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