Ceiling Repair

This is the week that our dining room ceiling is finally being repaired after the water damage that occurred last month. I am happy to report that things are going smoothly so far. Here is a picture before the repair began:

Water Damaged Ceiling

Ben Baker is our drywaller guy and he is doing a great job so far. Here is a progress report showing pictures, day by day. This a picture from Day 1:

Day 1: This picture shows a hole through to the attic, which was necessary to allow any damp spots to completely dry before sealing it back up.

Day 2 doesn’t show that the insulation was replaced before the sheetrock was put back up. Ben has also scraped all the texture off the dining room ceiling too. The end result should be a new texture on both the dining room and the kitchen ceilings. Here’s the picture from the end of Day 2:

Day 2: New insulation and sheetrock have already been installed.

Day 3 was when the mudding was done. The first picture is of Ben, the drywaller guy. The second one is of Eric, having fun with the stilts and the third picture is from the end of Day 3:

Day 3: Ben up on stilts putting mud on the ceiling.

Eric was trying out the stilts.

Day 3: Mud is drying.

Day 4 was texturing day. Ben said I should have gotten his picture after he got done with that job as he was covered in texture material. Here is a picture after he was done:

Day 4: After texturing was done.

Day 5 was painting day. Ben painted the ceiling in an antique white color. Here is the end result.

Day 5: Doesn't Ben do a great job?

I am so glad that this project is done though so we can get things back to normal.

Sleep Apnea

Should I have a sleep study to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea?

This information will help you understand your choices, whether you share in the decision-making process or rely on your doctor’s recommendation.

Key points in making your decision

The most common form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Although doctors use sleep studies to diagnose both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea, this Decision Point focuses on obstructive sleep apnea.

Consider the following when making your decision:

• If you snore but do not have other symptoms of sleep apnea, you may not need a sleep study. Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight (if needed), sleeping on your side, and keeping a regular sleep schedule may reduce your snoring.
• If you have symptoms of sleep apnea (particularly excessive snoring or daytime sleepiness), your doctor will probably suggest a polysomnography sleep study. Polysomnography is the only sure way to find out whether you have sleep apnea.
• If you know that you have sleep apnea, you can treat it.
  • If you have mild sleep apnea, or more severe sleep apnea without daytime sleepiness, treatment may or may not reduce your symptoms and complications such as high blood pressure.
  • If you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, treatment generally reduces symptoms of sleep apnea and may reduce your risk of complications.

Medical Information

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea occurs when you regularly stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer during sleep. It can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of times an hour that you stop breathing (apnea) or that airflow to your lungs is reduced (hypopnea). Apnea episodes may occur from 5 to 50 times an hour.

What causes obstructive sleep apnea?

A blockage or narrowing of the airways in your nose, mouth, or throat generally causes obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This usually occurs when the throat muscles and tongue relax during sleep and partially or completely block the airway.

Sleep apnea can also occur if you have bone deformities or enlarged tissues in your nose, mouth, or throat. For example, you may have enlarged tonsils. During the day when you are awake and standing up, this may not cause problems. But when you lie down at night, the tonsils can press down on your airway, narrowing it and causing sleep apnea.

Other factors that make sleep apnea more likely include using certain medicines or alcohol before bed, sleeping on your back, and being obese.

Why should I have a sleep study?

A sleep study can give you a positive diagnosis of sleep apnea. This is important because if sleep apnea is not diagnosed and treated, it can interfere with your quality of life. If you have sleep apnea, you may be at risk for excessive daytime sleepiness and complications such as high blood pressure, high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension), depression, irregular heart rhythms, heart failure, coronary artery disease, and stroke.

Will treating sleep apnea help me?

Research shows that treating sleep apnea can reduce sleepiness. It may also improve blood pressure. For people with sleep apnea and coronary artery disease, treatment of sleep apnea can lower the risk of some problems such as heart failure.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea occurs when an adult regularly stops breathing or has slowed breathing during sleep for 10 seconds or longer. It can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on the number of times per hour breathing stops (apnea) or slows (hypopnea).

The three main types of sleep apnea are:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is the result of blocked airflow during sleep, such as from narrowed airways. Other factors, such as obesity, often contribute to obstructive sleep apnea.

Central sleep apnea, which results from a problem with how the brain signals the breathing muscles. This type of apnea can occur with conditions such as heart failure, brain tumors, brain infections, and stroke.

Mixed sleep apnea, which is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea.

A person who has sleep apnea may snore loudly and have restless sleep with difficulty breathing. The person may wake up with a headache and be very tired throughout the day.

Sleep apnea may improve with changes in sleep habits, such as not sleeping on your back. Sometimes devices to help breathing during sleep are useful, and occasionally surgery may help.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy uses a machine to help a person who has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) breathe more easily during sleep. A CPAP machine increases air pressure in the throat so your airway does not collapse when you breathe in. You use CPAP at home every night while you sleep.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for sleep apnea

Sleep studies can also determine whether you have a problem with your stages of sleep. The two stages of sleep are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM). Normally, NREM and REM alternate 4 to 5 times during a night’s sleep. A change in this cycle may make it hard for you to sleep soundly.

Stages of sleep

Sleep stages are divided into non–rapid eye movement (non-REM) and rapid eye movement (REM).

Non-REM sleep

Non–rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep has four stages:

• Stages 1 and 2 are light sleep in which breathing is slower than when a person is awake.
• Stages 3 and 4 are called slow-wave (delta) sleep, in which the person’s rate of breathing slows down further.

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep is deeper than non-REM sleep. During REM sleep:

• The eyes and eyelids flutter.
• Breathing becomes irregular. During REM sleep, it is normal to have short episodes when breathing stops (apnea).

During sleep, a person usually progresses through the four stages of non-REM sleep before entering REM sleep. This takes about 60 to 90 minutes after falling asleep. The cycle is repeated three to four times each night with more time spent in the REM sleep stage and less time in sleep stages 3 and 4.

The most common sleep studies are:

• Polysomnogram. This test records several body functions during sleep, including brain activity, eye movement, oxygen and carbon dioxide blood levels, heart rate and rhythm, breathing rate and rhythm, the flow of air through your mouth and nose, snoring, body muscle movements, and chest and belly movement.
• Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). This test measures how long it takes you to fall asleep. A video camera is used to record movements during sleep.
• Multiple wake test (MWT). This test measures whether you can stay awake during a time when you are normally awake.

Sleep studies usually are done in a sleep lab. Sleep labs are often located in hospitals.

MY SLEEP STUDY

Billings Clinic Sleep Center

I had a sleep study done at the Billings Clinic in Miles City, Montana last night. I haven’t yet met with my doctor to discuss the results of my sleep study however I asked the person who monitored my sleep at the sleep lab (Ed) and he stated that I woke up 80 times, approximately stopping breathing for 10 seconds each time, between the hours of 10:00 PM and 2:00 AM. At that point, he asked me to try sleeping with a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure). I really do hope that a CPAP will give me the best sleep I have had in years, if ever. I have always snored loudly for as long as I can remember. I had a sleep study done 10 years ago and I woke up once every hour at that time and it wasn’t enough to determine whether it was actually sleep apnea and insurance wouldn’t cover the cost of a CPAP. I am really hopeful that this will give me more energy and a restful sleep. I will post more on on my sleep study after I have met with my doctor.

Safety Precautions at Jefferson Elementary School

Today, my 2nd grader came home telling me someone found a dead mountain lion on the other side of the tree row behind Jefferson School. I wasn’t sure how much of a rumor it was or if it was true. Well, then I went through the kids papers from their backpacks after school. Both Sydney and Charlie had the following note from the school in their backpack:

September 12, 2008

TO: Jefferson School Parents

FROM: Mr. Idso

REGARDING: Mountain lion sightings

We have been notified of the sighting of a mountain lion around the Jefferson School area. At home, please exercise caution with children and pets outside, particularly at dawn and dusk. I would like to remind everyone of some safety tips when encountering a “big cat”.

• travel in groups
• Stay calm
• Do not make sudden movements.
• Do not run. Move slowly.
• Do not turn your back. Face the animal and remain in an upright position.
• Do all you can to enlarge your image. Do not crouch down or try to hide.
• If necessary, speak loud and firm. Arm yourself with a large stick and throw rocks.

The objective is to convince the animal that you’re not prey, but are a danger to the animal.

Below are some precautions that will be taken at Jefferson School when sightings are reported.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

JEFFERSON SCHOOL

(Mountain Lions)

Assure students that they will be safe and that precautions are being taken. We must tell them that there have been mountain lion sightings in the area. Yet, we can assure them that…

1. Any lion would probably be following its source of food – deer
2. a lion probably wouldn’t come near a place where there was noise and a crowd
3. The tree line by the 2nd-4th playgrounds will be patrolled at 7:45 A.M. and again at 9:50, just before mid-morning recess.

In the event of a sighting, playground supervisors:

1. Blow your whistle, gather students into a crowd, and walk them to the door and into the building. Students should not run, and they’ll be safer in a crowd.
2. Radio the office.
3. The office will call 911.
4. Students should go to their classrooms and quick attendance taken. Report to the office the names of any unaccounted for students.

Supervision of

the playground

begins at 7:55

each morning.

Students should not arrive earlier.

As a parent, this is not the type of note I want to receive in my child’s backpack. Especially when one of my children is in the 2nd grade and the playground he plays on is at a greater risk. A little scarier for me as his mother. This is not the first time they have mentioned mountain lions in this area but this is the first time it has been so close to my family.

Mother Goose

I have two friends,

Both have birthdays tomorrow,

Both live out of state.

By the time they receive their birthday cards,

They will both receive them late.

This thought just came to me just now and this is exactly why my kids call me Mother Goose. I am a mom who does tend to make rhymes here and there and this is just one example, off the top of my head. And the statement above is true. Can you guess who will be receiving their birthday cards late?

Isn’t the www great?

It’s amazing all the people you have been searching for who just appear online one day when you least expect them. My daughter, Ashley, from my first marriage was search for her half brother and sister for several years. The other day she called me and said, “Guess what?! I found them!” I had no idea what she was referring to but when she told me it was really great. I haven’t seen or heard from them in 16 years. So they are all grown up now and there was so much to learn about them. Ashley and Eric are both related to them through their dad. All four of them have decided that their dad isn’t really so important in their lives but that it is great to get to know each other. Ashley said she found them on myspace.com. I was amazed at how much Dusty looks like his dad and his uncle. Kristi looks a lot like her mom but her eyes are the same color as Dusty and Ashley’s too. Anyway, here are some pictures of all four of them. Do you think they look alike?

Dusty and Kristi

Eric

Ashley

I really can’t get over how they have changed. I remember them when they were little. Eric was a baby and Dusty was old enough to help out with him and play with him. Ashley thought Kristi was the greatest at that age. I remember when Dusty had a cast on his arm. They both had freckles when they were little. Dusty used to play legos a lot when he was little. Kristi used to antagonize Dusty when they were about 4 and 6. I have some good memories of them but we moved to Massachusetts and back and then when we moved back, they moved to Montana and then to Indiana eventually. With divorce and remarriage and moving on both sides, it was difficult to keep in touch but I am really glad they found each other and hope that they can keep in touch now. I have learned that Dusty has been married for two years now too. They have invited Ashley to come visit as soon as she is financially able to and she can’t wait. Eric feels like there is so much for him to learn about them. He feels like he barely knows who they are. I guess with time, it will be interesting for him to learn more about his family. I really do hope they keep in touch. I know Ashley will do her best to keep up with them.

Isn’t the www a great thing?