Amy's Life - Day to Day Events » uncategorized

Rise and Read Breakfast at School

amy — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:31:10 +0000

Yesterday was the Rise and Read Breakfast at the school for Kindergarten and 1st Graders so I went with Sydney to the school. She was extremely tired or just dragging getting ready so we were a little late getting there. She was still eating her cinnamon roll when the first bell rang. We still had reading to do. We did get the reading done before all the kids came in for school but it sure was a close one. I love spending time with Sydney at her school. She loves having me there too. She asked me if I would pick her up after school too but I told her she would be riding the bus home with Charlie as usual. She seemed a little disappointed but accepted it.

Rise and Read for 2nd grade through 4th grade is Thursday and Charlie asked Chuck to read with him this year. Chuck did this last year with Charlie too. I am sure they won’t be late as we were but it should be fun.

When Ashley and Eric were in those grades in school, they had Muffins with Mom and Donuts with Dad which was about the same thing.

Chuck is home today…

amy — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:21:45 +0000

from the hospital. I spoke with his doctor this morning and he gave me a detailed description of what all is going on with Chuck. Apparently, he does have the PSVT, which we knew and then he said they did find a few smaller blood clots in the right lower lung (none in the heart, thank the Lord for that) and he also has pneumonia as well so he was really in need of the medical care he received. We are glad he is home and on the way to recovering. Thank you all for your prayers. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as he heals and continues to search for work.

And today the sun is shining and it has warmed up to 20 degrees here so that is actually nice for a change. It has been so bitterly cold. I, for one, am getting very tired of the cold temps and winter weather. I hope this is a good sign for good health and maybe wealth too.

PSVT

amy — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:52:50 +0000

On January 13th, Chuck gave us a scare. His heart rate was up to 212 and not going down. He was not overdoing it as he was relaxing on the couch when this happened. So we took him to the Emergency Room and the doctor said that he had what they call PSVT which is short for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. http://www.medicinenet.com/paroxysmal_supraventricular_tachycardia_psvt/article.htm is a website that explains more information about what it is and what the symptoms are and how it is treated. Chuck’s doctor prescribed a beta blocker for him to take. He did a followup appointment and everything seemed like it was okay but then he seemed to get more symptoms afterwards that we thought could be side effects from the beta blockers he was taking. It turned out not to be side effects however.

On January 24th, we made another trip to the Emergency Room. He was having a hard time breathing without pain. He also had heart palpitations and a heart rate of 220 when he got to the ER. So they ran tests on him and thought at first that maybe he had pneumonia but then determined after a CT scan that he has a blood clot in his lower right lung. So they have been doing blood tests and giving him blood thinners and meds to ease the pain. They admitted him to the hospital that night and have been monitoring him closely. He is in an ICU room but not because he needed to be in ICU, simply because the hospital was full and they did not have a room for him except for ICU.

After he was admitted to the hospital that night and I had the kids all tucked into bed, I took time to look up blood clots in the lungs and what came up was “pulmonary embolism”, which after reading was really scary. I almost wished I hadn’t taken the time to look it up. What I read seemed to fit all the symptoms Chuck has had so it really put things into perspective for me but it sure scared me too. But when I mentioned this to Chuck, he seemed to think that according to the doctor, this wasn’t what he has but it would seem to me that the doctor may not want to use that term when discussing his illness and treatment with him. I am hoping to learn more from the doctor soon. At any rate, this is something that sure makes you NOT take life for granted. It makes you realize what your family and loved ones really mean to you.

Today Chuck told me that they did an ultrasound of his heart. He said it was neat seeing the colors and how the heart works.

He also said that the care he has been receiving here at the Glendive Medical Center has been really wonderful. We are hoping he will be home in another day or so.

Any prayers you want to send his way would be greatly appreciated. I know I sure have been saying my share of prayers lately, with his health the way it is and no income for us right now either. Things have not been so great for us in the first month of 2009. But we are hopeful things will improve. We are trying to stay positive through all this.

It’s too early for snow…

amy — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:15:24 +0000

Last Sunday I woke up to a snowstorm and no power. We were without power for 3 hours. My husband, my personal weatherman (http://chucksweather.com) said we were going to be getting snow but who knew it would be that bad. Charlie took the liberty of getting a few pictures for me later in the afternoon.

The snow was really wet and heavy. We noticed a few snowmen around town as it was perfect for that. It sure did some damage to the trees. In the picture above, our apple tree has a broken branch.

With the power going out, I had to take off my cpap early too. I had just started wearing a cpap at night just Thursday night so Saturday night was my third night and then the power went out during the night. I found out that the first cpap wasn’t for me and on Monday switched to another cpap. The first one left blisters on my face so obviously it wasn’t a good fit for me. The second one seems to be working much better. Now I am hoping that one of these days I will feel rested when I wake up in the morning. I am sleeping better but still tired most days.

With the snow storm and colder temps, we also had the furnace go out for the downstairs part of the house and had to wait for MDU to come over. So it was a little cold for the kids downstairs for a day or two as well. Good thing we had lots of blankets and that it wasn’t overly cold yet.

The kids were disappointed when it started melting and you could see green grass again but I am glad. It sure makes it easier for Halloween if we don’t have snow on the ground. Hard to say if it will stay away that long though. I am never quite ready for snow though, until Christmas time.

Sleep Apnea

amy — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:26:34 +0000

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.

First Day Back to School

amy — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:59:09 +0000

The first picture is Eric. He told me he wouldn’t smile but it was okay for mom to take his picture. I asked him why he needed a hoodie today and he said it was because he needed the pockets. Leave it to the teenagers to come up with answer like that one. The next picture is of Charlie and Sydney, ready for mom to take them to school. They were more excited than Eric by a long shot. Eric was glad to see his friends again I think but not so excited about the classes. The third picture was on the playground before school. Sydney and her friend Sophie were playing on the slide. Dillon (a neighbor that plays at our house often) was standing behind Sophie too. Dillon, Sophie and Sydney were all starting Kindergarten this year. Charlie is in the second grade this year. The last picture was taken just as the kids were starting to line up to go inside the building to begin their day. Sydney seemed either scared or nervous or something. There was absolutely no smile or look of excitement on her face in that picture. I felt sorry for the kids today too. The high temperature today was around 98 degrees here and there is no AC in the schools but they were allowed to bring water bottles so that helped some. Some of the teachers had cold snacks like popsicles for them today too from what the kids were telling me.

Eric - Sophmore

Charlie (2nd grade) and Sydney (Kindergarten)

Sydney and Sophie (and Dillon) on the playground

No Smile - Not sure what she was thinking or feeling at this moment. (Notice the kid in the orange shirt... ewww!!!)

Those Born 1930-1979

amy — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:00:27 +0000

I received this in an email today and most of the time, I just delete emails like this one and lots of times, I don’t even take the time to read this kind of stuff however I found this one quite interesting. I hope you will too. It kinda takes ya back, if ya know what I mean…

Those Born

1930-1979

READ TO THE BOTTOM

FOR QUOTE OF THE MONTH

BY JAY LENO.

IF YOU DON’T READ ANYTHING
ELSE—VERY WELL STATED

TO ALL THE
KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s!!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked

and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing,

tuna from a can, and didn’t get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets

and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets,

not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with

no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm

day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden

hose and NOT from a bottle

We shared one soft drink with four friends,

from one bottle and NO ONE actually died
from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter

and drank Kool-aid made with sugar,

but we weren’t overweight because,
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE
PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day,

as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day.

And we were OK.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps

and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes.

After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo’s, X-boxes, no video games at all,

no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD’s,

no surround-sound or CD’s, no cell phones,
no personal computers, no Internet or chat rooms……..
WE HAD FRIENDS
and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth

and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt,

and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays,

made up games with sticks and tennis balls and,

although we were told it would happen,

we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend’s house and

knocked on the door or rang the bell,
or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team.

Those who didn’t had to learn to deal with disappointment.

Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out

if we broke the law was unheard of.

They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some

of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and
inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion

of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility,

and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

If YOU are one of them. CONGRATULATIONS!

! ! ! ! You might want to share this with others who have

had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers

and the government regulated so much of our lives

for our own good.

While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they

will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run

through the house with scissors, doesn’t it?!

The quote of the month

by Jay Leno:
‘With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control,

mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country
from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist
attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take

God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?’

Are you a crafty person?

amy — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 01:52:38 +0000

I wish I had the time and ideas to come up with some of the things Nila does. She does scrapbooking and all sorts of things. She has even spent time with the kids on a few projects, and in the process kept them out of my hair when I was busy with client work. Here are some of the projects they have done so far…

Thank you so much Nila!! It’s no wonder my kids love you so much!

My Baby is 20 Years Old Today!

amy — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:11 +0000

I cannot believe that she is already 20 years old. She is no longer a teenager. Ashley was born on Monday, July 11, 1988 ( 7/11/88 ) at 5:26 PM EST at St. Luke’s Hospital, New Bedford, Massachusetts. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 7 oz. and 19 inches. She was the most beautiful little girl I had ever laid eyes on but every mother thinks that about her first born baby, I am sure. I am so proud of her now. She has grown into this beautiful young woman who lives on her own and is doing better than I ever thought about doing at that age. She is a strong person. She is not a quitter. She is all the things a mother would want in a daughter. Anyway, I wish her the best on her 20th birthday!