Well look who's back! We missed you Ginny! I'm so glad you are back!
Kerry, sorry about your DH. CONGRATULATIONS on your 5 pound weight loss!!! Woo Hoo!!! Go Kerry! Go Kerry!
Mouse, may I call you Mouse? I'm glad you found us again. IS YOUR SCHOOL NUTS?! Implementing NCLB when every educator and every state government in the country knows the law is flawed and underfunded! Holy Sh*t!!! All I can guess is that the school must be hoping that by doing this they will end up getting some funding. It all comes down to the almighty dollar. I'm also sorry about your aide. My aide is phenomenal at her job but terribly unreliable. So, I can relate. Also, I had my gallbladder out 5 summers ago, in August as a matter of fact. I know the misery you are going through. Best of luck with the surgery and with the recovery. I ate a low-fat diet following the surgery for a full year. It helped me lose weight which was nice. It was a loooooong time before my body could tolerate anything fatty. Even now, I have to be cautious. A trip to McDonalds is risky business! I really hope you do well, and that you feel better soon.
Robyn, I hope I don't put my foot in my mouth, but I worry about our self-esteem. We are such wonderful women, and I want us all to be treated with love, respect, and the dignity we deserve! I'm right there with you. I want a lot of things for myself when I turn 40. I unfortunately don't have as much time as you do...only 3 months.
Well, I'm finally back on track. The weight I gained while my DH was in the hospital is almost all off...just one pound to go. Now I can get back to subtracting inches and pounds for Disneyworld. I've got three weeks before we leave. I shall continue to exercise and eat well so that I can appear in photos! No, I won't be as thin as was my goal. But, I will be thinner than I would have been if I just did as I pleased. So, I shall be proud of my accomplishments and forgive my failings. Time to move forward...
Hi all. You can call me Mouse. The other forum I'm active on, PCOS/etc they call me Mouse or Mousie. I could tell you all the story behind my name if you want, it kinda involved education.:grin:
Yes, my school is nuts. It won't get us any money at all: we're a private facility run by a well-known research hospital, which provides funding for a children's neurological rehab hospital. My city is true, so most of you can probably guess WHO I work for if not the specific site I'm at. I'm not sure why they implemented it the way they did: its like they've done this complete set of negative reinforcement. If I were them, I'd be rewarding the staff that are jumping through hoops EARLY since NCLB doesn't take effect till 2006. Instead, they are chasing away good staff and quality people. And they're ticking me off (I'd be the last one to say I'm a good teacher, even though I'm told I am... I see way more areas that I can improve and learn in to say I'm good). I wasn't going to plan to leave, becuase the concept of our school is fantastic... its exactly how I would set up my school if I could run one. I was really excited to get offered a job there, especially since the school is just now entering its 6th year, and getting ready to graduate its 3rd class. That is, to me, an incredible opportunity for growth, change and goal-setting. And the administrator that interviewed me was
really interested in what I've done in the past in my classrooms... But he has since left. And it seems like the usual clique is in place here, with groups that aren't interested... and the staff that kiss up the best, and look good (physically) get the rewards.
Anyway... I've been dealing with the endocrine dysfunction since 1999, but wasn't diagnosed until 2001. Its taken me from 2001 till very recently to believe that I didn't do this to myself, and its not because of what I ate or didn't eat, exercise or didn't exericse (though I certainly could have done more of that!). But, its really ramped up. Its hard to get through the day teaching, plus I'm going to graduate school for what may eventually be a doctorate (that's why I'm staying for now: they're paying 100% of the tuition), without eating... or eating so little.
Swimming is really what is keeping me going. Its so weird, I can eat better after I've exercised.
Congrats to the people who have shown losses... and thanks for the welcome.
Hiya, friends! Happy, um....Thursday, July 1st! (I LOVE having to look at a calendar to figure out what day it is! hehehe! Truly a symptom of being on summer vacation!!)
aBIG hello to our new friend, The Swimming Mousie! Glad to have you aboard, Mousie! What do you teach? ...and I have much esteem for those at hospital related schools! It was someone at a school of this sort that first helped us with my son and his special needs! The first ray of hope and sunshine for our guy! A very pleasant memory amid a bunch of frantic ones!
Hey, Ginny! Nice to see you again! Glad to hear that you are enjoying summer....or at least busy with what you want to be busy with!
Ker, yahoooooo and congratulations regarding your loss! THAT has to give you some confidence and a good dose of UMPH to keep at it! Way to go! Sorry to hear that your dh has hurt his leg. I'm glad that it isn't anything more serious! You will have to fill in for your dh with the kiddos! Ummmm...don't forget their sunscreen!
Summer, you always read my mind! Yep, self esteem and feeling that I'm worthy of my attention has been an issue....BUT I'm getting better with it / at it! It is so hard for me to balance things....TIME! and of course getting my list of "To Do's" in the order that actually includes ME! I'm making progress! You guys here help me keep my "head on" right!
Speaking of keeping my "head on".... I've done that this week! ANDDD...
Today is my "Monday"....I weighed in this morning ANDDD....
my scale says that today I weigh 2 pounds less than I did!
I'm so excited to be on the OTHER side again! I've been good about moving my fanny! I've been making a huge effort with my food intake! This week, journaling, WATER (all the diet soda is gone....and will not be replaced....) and changing the way I've been "moving" are my goals! I'm going to measure myself today. I know that this is about inches and not pounds! AND, once I add weights (today!) to the mix.... inches will change and the pounds might not! Thank you for your help, encouragement, "Dr.Phil sessions", and cheerleading!
I'm 28 pounds from my goal today! That is 2 pounds closer than last week!
(((hugs)))
Make a plan and then WORK it!
Take care,
Meeeeeee
Hi Mousie, Ginny , Robyn and Summer,
I am glad to see everyone is doing great.This must be the week for everyone to loss some weight. Let's keep it up next week to ladies! I was busy yesterday with my kiddos. I played with them outside and took them to the library. Then last night when I was going to mow the yard, for some strange reason I didn't have the engery or desire to. So I got up this morning and did it. My DH is feeling better today. He was able to go outside and sweep off the sidewalks for me. This afternoon I worked with my one stepson for a little bit on his letters and sounds. He is coming along. We had him to a specialist last week for his teeth. He had to have 6 teeth fixed that day. Ever since then he has been eating better and doing his work better. So I wonder if his teeth had a bit to do with his problem of learning in school this past year. Now I am going to go and get ready to go to water aerobics at the city pool. I will talk to you all later.
Have a great weekend!
Take care,
Kerry
Hi, all!
Congrats on the loss, Mermaid!
Kerry, glad to hear the husband leg is getting better. And yes, teeth or other health issues have a HUGE impact on school! As you probably know! I love water aerobics and lap swimming.
I'm firmly convinced that I work for a bunch of morons, though! I spent the day trying to convince our other vo-tech teachers that teaching independent living skills such as sorting CAN also teach job skills at the same time.
I am now teaching our 'survey' class, which is the introductory class to our vocational program. But the other teachers are firmly convinced that I must do this WITHOUT also teaching any independent living skills. I should only teach skills related to each of the 4 industry areas, and only specific to those areas, not any general job skills.
So if I do some sorting skills with our more severly involved kiddos, I'm supposed to have them sort specific to that industry: IE, for retail, sort products by category, for hospitality, sort foods, for IT, sort computer parts, for consturction, sort tools.
Which is silly... why not teach them how to sort, and THEN introduce job-specific skills?
Well let me tell you ladies water aeorbics was fun. Boy does it give you a great workout. But is also relaxes you too. I was a little nervous at first. Not only because I was trying something new, but because I didn't think I would know anyone there. I knew three people. The one lady works out at Curves and the other lady use to work out at Curves. Then one of the grandma's from the boys ball team was there too. Naturally I was the youngest there. When I got home my dh asked if it was fun. I told him I had a lot of fun. Then he asked if I would take his dd with me when she is here for a month. I said that I didn't think that was a good idea for her to go with me, since we do it out in the deep water. Plus I didn't want to be responsible for an 8 year-old while I was working out. Was that mean of me? He just doesn't seem to get that time is Kerry's Me time. I think that I do enough other stuff with her to get her body up and moving and don't need to take her with me everytime I go to workout somewhere. If she was a teenager, I might not have a problem with it. I think we might take them to the pool a couple times in July anyway so it is not like she won't get to swim at all this summer.
So how are the playdates going Summer? I hope you are enjoying your company.
Robyn doesn't it feel great to be closer to your goal weight. I have about 80 more pounds that I would like to lose. But I take it day by day and pound by pound.
Ginny glad to have you back. I bet you are glad it is summer too.
Mousie glad that you have found us and joined us. We are here for you. One thing you will found out from us is that we are a wonderful support group. We are all going through the same thing and can help each other.
Well ladies I am going to check my other forum that I post on. Then I think I am going to get off line and go finish my Karen Harper book. It is called The Baby Farm. I just got to a really good part in it. Has any one read any good books lately?
Take care,
Kerry
Books not related to school...right?! I'm sort of addicted to Janet Evanonovitch's Stephanie Plum books... They aren't exactly rated G....but they are a LOT of fun! If you read one of them...Read _One for the Money_ . It is the first one...and she just published number 10. (I'm on the waiting list for it!) I'm actually heading to the dentist (bleech) and the library (yea!) tomorrow to see what I can find! I have no idea what the movie is like, but I highly recommend the Nicholas Sparks book _The Notebook_...along with a box of tissues! Another fast read! (I started reading his books when my youngest was an infant...they were the "skinniest" novels I could find on the shelf closest to the door.... a GREAT way to pick an author....but I did enjoy several of his books! (Sappy but sweet! ...nothing like my prior recommendation!)
Anyway....
As I planned.... I kicked up my exercise a bit tonight.... I did one of my favorite Firm videos and used my weights! (AND didn't DIE!) I drank all of my water today...and then some! I controlled my food intake....nearly perfectly...I ate a piece of bakery bread with dinner that I shouldn't have....BUT...I'm getting better at it! When I log off of here...I am getting that #$%@ journal out!
I'm going to call the gym (where I have a membership and have NEVER gone...) and ask about their water aerobics classes.... I once was a die hard water aerobics fan... yearrrrs ago! LOL (Back when I THOUGHT I had a weight issue! LOL) Anyway... I would love to do that again! I wouldn't want to take a child with me to those classes to try to keep track of...lifeguard or not...if something should happen ...dear me!
Mouse...I know NOTHING about what you're doing really...but SORTING is sorting is sorting is sorting....a very useful skill to know and use in many many aspects of ones life....hardly seems "right" to try to isolate instead of integrate the broad skill.... BUT, what do I know? I am only a first grade teacher! (But we *DO* sorting!)
Gotta go take a shower and grab that darn notebook!
Summer...hope your day was fun! We missed you!
I also love to read... I just finished Wen Spencer's Ukiah Oregon series. I'm eagerly waiting the 4th book, but that's not out till October! :sigh: And I'm afraid its going to come out in hardcover, because her last new book did! Most of what I read is SF/Fantasy, and some of the more obscure authors aren't picked up by the library. But, I also like John Grisham, and John Lescroart (similar books: legal thrillers). And I read children's literature, I really like Margaret Peterson Haddix's books, especially the Shadow Children series (Among the Hidden, Among the Imposters, Among the Barons, etc). I also read social history: I have lots and lots of kids in foster care, so I tend to read about that topic to figure out how the system has gotten so screwed up, plus books about special education or children living in inner city environments. Oh, and I've also been reading books by Chaim Potok, who writes about Orthodox and Hasidic Judaism in NYC just after World War II.
Morning Ladies,
I just got back from Curves. I am so happy. According to their scales, I lost 4 pounds for the month. 1 1/2 inches from my abdomen and 1/4 of inch from my hips. So I am back in the losing game again there. It is a wonderful day to go to the bank to cash my paycheck, pay bills, go to the library to return videos. Then do whatever else the kiddos what to do for the afternoon. I have to pump myself up to go to my in-law's tomorrow for a cookout. They are all skinny people and don't have to worry about what they eat, so they bring fattening food to every family get together. So I will just have to watch what I eat tomorrow. Plus for some reason, my mouth seems to get me in trouble at these family get togethers. But then I wonder if it is because I have a college degree and know what is going on in the world somewhat and they just have a high school degree and work in low paying jobs. Wish me luck that I don't get into a fight with any of my in-laws. But I am also great to have around when they need something. Oh well.
Mousie, I also teach special education. Every teacher I work with has a different view on how to teach skills. So I just follow what my heart and head tells me to do. I think you will do fine doing the way you want to. You have to give your kids exposure to a lot of different things so they know what kind of job they would like to do. Does that make any sense to you?
Robyn I have read all of Nicholas Sparks books too. They are wonderful. I also like Richard Paul Evans, John Grishman, and my romance novels.
Have a great and safe holiday weekend!
Take care,
Kerry
Kerry: Congrats again. My own little bonus today was swimming 1.05 miles. I just started lap swimming on May 20th, though I was doing water aerobics before that, and still do. I've been doing that for almost a year where I am now. Anyway, I started off only being able to do 8-10 lengths, then 18 (1/4 of a mile). Tuesday was the first day I swam a full mile, which is 72 lengths. Its been taking me about 2 weeks per 1/4 increase since I hit 1/2 a mile, so I'm really happy to be at 1 mile now.
I do take treading water breaks, because I can't kick, so I do it all with my arms... I need the break or my arms will really hurt!
I think that may be part of the problem, actually, Kerry... in the group I'm in, I am (and I'm pretty positive about this) the only special education certified teacher, and certainly one of the only ones that has come up from actual classroom teaching. The info tech teacher is working on a master's in special ed, and allegedly our retail teacher is working toward a degree in teaching as well. The construction shop teacher is certified in Tech ED and also a certified architect with a master's in computers in education... Anyway, I just have a very different outlook on what the kids I teach (although students are classified as mild MR, its really a moderate disability) have moderate to severe disabilities. Almost all of them are emotionally disturbed or multiply disabled, and really need lots of repetition and assistance. The best way to get them instruction without having to do huge amounts of scaffolding is to reach for what they know. ALL of my kids know some self-care skills, are familiar with parents getting money, working, paying bills, etc... or see it on TV... its not completely foreign to them. I just don't understand why everybody is so against this plan. It didn't make any sense at all.
Well, you've all been busy since the last time I posted! This should be fun...trying to respond properly.
Yesterday was the playdate with the Tricklets (triplets). I invited the mother and the kids for lunch and swimming in our pool. Well, the mom, being the mother of triplets, misunderstood or had selective hearing and thought that she was dropping the kids off to play. She figured out that she was also invited when I asked her what she wanted to drink. (I would never drop my kindergartner over a friend's house without knowing the parents first...I mean, how does she know that she can trust me? Granted, pedafiles hide it well, and there really is no way of knowing how someone will be with your child when the parent isn't around, but you can usually get a "feel" for someone by spending the afternoon with them chatting.) So, anyway, when she realized that she didn't have the afternoon off, she said she needed to take care of something but would return in one hour. After I fed everyone, had them put their swimsuits on, and put sunscreen on the tricklets (they didn't have their own), we went swimming. Shortly thereafter, mom returned. It was awkward at first, but we ended up having some pretty good conversations in between dealing with the kids, who by the way, were very well-behaved. All in all, it was a great day, and we received an invitation to their house next week. I think I'm invited...but I'm not 100% sure.
Today was our playdate with my best friend and her DD and DS. Her DD is my DD's best friend as well. It was super hectic, her DD has ADHD, and I think her DS will turn out to have it as well. All in all, with the craziness, it was fun, and we got lots of sun. Tomorrow, a friend of DD's from school and her whole family are coming over for a BBQ and for swimming. Hopefully they are friendly people who like to have fun. I don't know them at all, but since they live in our neighborhood, and DD is friends with their DD, it is my responsibility to get to know them. Who knows? I may end up with some new friends myself!
My DH has taken a turn for the worst. In the middle of all this gleeful fun, he has been spending way too much time in the bathroom. He is being put on a third round of antibiotics. I'm really scared that he will need to be opened up again. We are leaving for Disneyworld in 19 days. This can't be happening!!!
Ladies I love to read...trash in particular...what I mean is, romance/suspense/lots of sex! Right now I am reading the second book in a trilogy by JoAnn Ross called, Out of the Blue. I mostly read Jayne Ann Krentz. I refuse to read anything of any value in the summer!
Mouse, I worked with adults with developmental disabilities for 15 years in the residential setting. I was an assistant manager of a group home. I've only been a classroom teacher for 3 years. Anyway, I think your people do need to be taught life skills. They should be taught the skills needed to be a whole person. It will serve them well in the future if they can do more than just their limited job requirement. I'm sorry those around you are so short-sighted. Good for you hitting a mile!!! 72 lengths...HOLY SH*T, that is impressive!!!
Kerry, I am soooooo happy for you and your accomplishments this month!!!
Robyn, I like water aerobics too. The old location of my gym had a pool, and I took water aerobics a couple of times, but the class consisted of 80 year old women. I felt rather ridiculous after a while. If there was just one other young/middle aged person there...The gym's new location doesn't have a pool, so it isn't an option for me.
Well, I'd better get back to my family. Take care one and all.
Hi Mousie, Robyn and Summer,
Congrats on reaching your mile of swimming. How long does it usually take you with the breaks built in? I don't think I could swim a whole mile. I just like to play around in the water and swim a few laps,play some more and swim a few more laps, etc.
As for work,keep your chin up. I am the only MH teacher in my building. There are three other MH teachers in my county school district. I really don't think they worked really hard at teaching some of my current students any acedmic skills. They just knew some life skills and how to watch tv and play games when I started my position two years ago there. I asked the lady who I took over for what she did. She said she did a math sheet with them in the morning, had them do jobs around the school and in the afternoon did a reading paper with them. I was amazed at how little they were exposed to social studies, science and language arts. So I started to incorprate those into my lesson plans. I was teaching one student who had been passed through the system up to the 7th grade, how to read. He was ADHD and from a really bad family life. So when I was teaching this kid how to read his other acedmics started to improve too. But then,mom got in a fight with her parents and moved away with him. So I am afaird that he has gotten lost again in the system. It amazes me how little some of this students have been given a chance to learn. Enough about school!
Summer sounds like your play dates went well. Glad to hear that you got invited over to the triplets house next week. Sorry to hear that your dh is not feeling well again. I hope you can still go on vacation.
We had a rough afternoon at our house. Earlier this week, my stepdd's softball coach was found died under his deck. He was fixing something under his house and they think he had a seizure and that threw him into a heart attack. He was 31 years old. Well my stepdd was very close to him and has been pretty upset about his death. His calling hours were this evening. She insisted that she was going to them to say good-bye. We explained to her that he was going to be in a coffin and not alive. He was not going to be able to talk to her like he did on the ball field. She said that she knew this,but she still wanted to go. So I helped her change clothes and her mom took her to the funeral home to see him. Her mom, dad and I had talked about how we didn't think it was a good idea to let her see him like that. But she keep saying she needed to go. I hope she is not traumatized over this for years to come. I ended up taking the twins for a bike ride while their mommy and sister went to the funeral home. I needed to keep them busy from asking any questions, becasue I didn't know what to say to a set of 6 year olds.
Well I better go to bed. It has been a long emotional day. I need to rest up for my big family get together with the in-laws tomorrow evening.
Have a safe and happy 4th!
Take care,
Kerry
With breaks and all, my shortest time is 90 minutes. I also don't count the stretching before and after. I hardly ever 'run out' my mp3 player's music, so I don't think it takes me longer than that. My longest time is 2 hours, but I stopped and had an involved conversation with a friend in between two sets of laps.
As for the other: how can you teach life-skills if you can't read? Unless these are really severely disabled kids (like severely MR), there is no reason for not integrating the life-skills/job-skills into an academic whole. That's what I do. And we do science and social studies, though we might not call it that. The last 2 years at my inner city school we had a science fair, and my kids entered. Our first year, we won an honorable mention. I was really proud of them: all I did was help provide the structure and print out the labels and Boardmaker symbols for the presentation board. They did all the work. Their hypothesis was that Jello using the 'quick set' method would gel faster than Jello made using the standard method. They charted the time and temperature, did the whole thing. Of course, we made like 80 zillion things of Jello that year before they did the experiment, but who cares????
Believe it or not, at room temperature without using the fridge, standard Jello gelled first. I was surprised!
I admit that I didn't break science and social studies into separate periods, but made it part of the whole. But the 7th and 8th grade curriculums called for exposure to scientific thinking, scientific method, etc... and we did it. We also did modified US history (lots of mapping and local attraction type stuff).
Sorry to hear about the baseball coach. I don't think she'll be scarred, Kerry... one of our gym teachers at my last public school was found dead in the weight room by students (he had a heart-attack while exercising alone). Lots of students and staff went to the viewing... it seemed to provide closure for many. And then in the Spring the school did a memorial for him and planted a tree outside the school for the teacher.
Mouse, GOOD for you and your kiddos! You are teaching them "stuff" that they need to learn! Winning and participating in the Science Fair has got to thrill them to pieces! (As well as teach them a "bunch of stuff"! One of my favorite posters that I had when I was a brand new teacher ....back in the dark ages...was of Garfield and Odie flying through the air...The caption said, "One doesn't know what one can't do it one doesn't know what one can't do!" or something like that. (I still have it....and I still believe it! It is amazing what you can accomplish IF....) Keep up the great work!
Kerry, so sorry to hear about your dsd's coach. How sad! What a way and place to die. I can't remember how old she is, but.... I think that she will react the way that the adults in her life will react. I also think that it is important that children "deal with" the death of someone they loved just like adults need to "deal with" it. I'm thinking that her going to the funeral home was a good thing in the long run.... especially if she was close to this coach. Poor baby.... no one ever wants to do those things...AND to have to learn to say goodbye at such a tender age.... BUT... She knew she needed to say goodbye. I'm sorry that you've had this to have to sort out and deal with! Be strong for your dsd!
Summer, What fun you are having! How busy you must be! Isn't it funny/strange/ and down right sad.... How / What people think about their kids?! I would have NEVER considered leaving my 5 year old with someone I didn't know to swim in a backyard pool.... OR anywhere else for that matter! I am not too sure that I would leave my 9 or 12 year olds with people that I didn't know. Heck, when our oldest went on a field trip to a theme park (2 hours away) with his band...his father went! He didn't hang out with dad all day...but just knowing that my dh was there made me relax a bit! I know that he has to grow up...... and he will but something isn't going to happen to him because we've decided that he doesn't need us anymore! He is at such a wonderful and yet painful age.... one minute he will be acting like an adult...and then the next minute he is doing stupid kid stuff! Nope...he still needs his parents!
I'm sorry to hear about your dh. What else can be done to help him? Poor guy!
He remains in my prayers! You are also in them!
Well, yesterday I did "good"! I measured. I did what I was supposed to! This weekend, we have some socializing to do! I'm going to control my mouth and what goes in it! Nothing dripping with mayo is going on my plate! I am going to take my own chips with me so that I won't feel left out with the chips! I've got a plan and I'm going to stick to it!
Go Kerry! Go Kerry!
I'm also sorry about your aide. My aide is phenomenal at her job but terribly unreliable. So, I can relate. Also, I had my gallbladder out 5 summers ago, in August as a matter of fact. I know the misery you are going through. Best of luck with the surgery and with the recovery. I ate a low-fat diet following the surgery for a full year. It helped me lose weight which was nice. It was a loooooong time before my body could tolerate anything fatty. Even now, I have to be cautious. A trip to McDonalds is risky business! I really hope you do well, and that you feel better soon. 
I could tell you all the story behind my name if you want, it kinda involved education.:grin:
And it seems like the usual clique is in place here, with groups that aren't interested... and the staff that kiss up the best, and look good (physically) get the rewards.
What do you teach? ...and I have much esteem for those at hospital related schools! It was someone at a school of this sort that first helped us with my son and his special needs! The first ray of hope and sunshine for our guy! A very pleasant memory amid a bunch of frantic ones! 
Glad to hear that you are enjoying summer....or at least busy with what you want to be busy with! 
