Which One Are YOU?!

Accept the Diognosis, But Do NOT Accept the Verdict That Comes With It

     What is a "chronic" illness?  Many people believe it is all in the mind of the other person, and because they can't actually see signs like you can with someone who perhaps has cancer.  There are still many people and even a few doctors still think "It's all in your head."  That is so NOT a true statement.
      A chronic condition has been defined as something that "is prolonged, doesn't resolve spontaneously, and is rarely ever cured completely."   When you say you are doing well, that doesn't mean you are cured; instead it refers to your ability to cope and make needed adjustments.  It's learning to live 'In spite of" your chronic condition. They may not be something "curable" (unless God provides you with complete healing), but they are also not deadly. 
     So what are some "chronic" illness's???  Well there are a few that
are most "common," such as; Arthritis, Asthma, Diabetes, Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Chronic Sleep Disorders, COPD, and more.  A "chronic disease is not contagious, and no the person may not "look" sick at all.  That does not mean that they are not sick, or in pain, or depressed about this "new you that you have had to become."  They do, however, have real feelings, still are in pain, and when family and friends act like they are "faking it" or psycho about having a chronic illness, it hurts in such a way that it makes the person who is suffering to either pull away, or go to the opposite extreme, overdoing things and pretending for the sake of others who don't believe them, that nothing is wrong, even when it truly is!!!
     So what do you do?  You hang on to hope, keep having faith, and concentrate on what you are able to do.  You learn how to turn your life over to God's loving care and seek HIS comfort, strength and healing.  You are not fibromyalgia!  You are not lupus!  You are not chronic fatigue!  When you say these things, you aren't recognizing your God-given talents, skills, personalities, and characteristics.  You need to separate your illness from whom you really are!!  Remember when you attempt to hide your situation from others, in a sense you're letting them control your life and who you are at that very moment.

To read more on "Chronic Illnesses," read the book "Coping with Chronic Illness" by H. Norman Wright & Lynn Ellis
    
    
      

Be a RESPONSIBLE Pet Owner

Having recently gotten 3 Persian kittens (my 2 males just turned 5 months old on St. Patrick's Day & the little girl is only 10 weeks), I am compelled to encourage everyone, unless you are a clean, professional dog or cat breeder, to be a RESPONSIBLE pet owner.  How many, many times do we have a pet that was so "cute" as a baby, but the newness and excitement has worn off?  Maybe you are running late to an appt., or to work, and figure, "Oh well I'll feed them when I get home."  Well you get home, you are hungry yourself, tired and want to just sit, relax and watch a little TV before bed.  That's "okay" you tell yourself. "I'll feed them in the morning."  Well the morning is hectic, you're running late, and once again you say, "When I get home..."  And never mind the fact that your pet has had no water for what...Two, Three, or Four days now.  Plus, the fact it rained yesterday and your dog was on its chain with no chance to get any shelter, or get away from the thunder and lightning that it's something that scares the stuffing out of your pet!!!!  But that is what I am hoping to make a point about.  These are supposed to be your pets!  

These "pets" deserve to have the same things that YOU need to survive!  That is food, water, shelter and most of all...LOVE!!  Take care of them, feed them, get them their rabies shots and other vaccines. and get them SPAYED and/or NEUTERED!!   If there is even the slightest chance that you won't have time, money, and patience for that "cute" little kitten or puppy, PLEASE, DON'T GET IT!  There are hundreds, upon hundreds of thousands of neglected and abused "pets" out there!  Let's work together to be responsible pet owners!!  And if you see or know of any abused animals out there, call someone and turn them in!  Love yourself enough to love your pet just as much as they unconditionally love YOU!

In the Omaha/Council Bluffs area, there is a wonderful, inexpensive place called The Leid Spay/Neuter Clinic that is actually on the property of the NE Humane Society in Omaha.  They will neuter your cat for $30, and Spay your cat for $40, and for your dogs it is $55 to neuter your male, & $65 for your female to be spayed.  Set up an appt. today!!!!  
                                                (402)905-3490

37 Characteristics of Dyslexia

• Appears bright, highly intelligent, and articulate but unable to read, write, or spell at grade level.
• Labelled lazy, dumb, careless, immature, "not trying hard enough," or "behavior problem."
• Isn't "behind enough" or "bad enough" to be helped in the school setting.
• High in IQ, yet may not test well academically; tests well orally, but not written.
• Feels dumb; has poor self-esteem; hides or covers up weaknesses with ingenious compensatory strategies; easily frustrated and emotional about school reading or testing.
• Talented in art, drama, music, sports, mechanics, story-telling, sales, business, designing, building, or engineering.
• Seems to "Zone out" or daydream often; gets lost easily or loses track of time.
• Difficulty sustaining attention; seems "hyper" or "daydreamer."
• Learns best through hands-on experience, demonstrations, experimentation, observation, and visual aids.

Vision, Reading, and Spelling

• Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading.
• Confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences, or verbal explanations.
• Reading or writing shows repetitions, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions, and reversals in letters, numbers and/or words.
• Complains of feeling or seeing non-existent movement while reading, writing, or copying.
• Seems to have difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don't reveal a problem.
• Extremely keen sighted and observant, or lacks depth perception and peripheral vision.
• Reads and rereads with little comprehension.
• Spells phonetically and inconsistently.

Hearing and Speech

• Has extended hearing; hears things not said or apparent to others; easily distracted by sounds.
• Difficulty putting thoughts into words; speaks in halting phrases; leaves sentences incomplete; stutters under stress; mispronounces long words, or transposes phrases, words, and syllables when speaking.

Writing and Motor Skills

• Trouble with writing or copying; pencil grip is unusual; handwriting varies or is illegible.
• Clumsy, uncoordinated, poor at ball or team sports; difficulties with fine and/or gross motor skills and tasks; prone to motion-sickness.
• Can be ambidextrous, and often confuses left/right, over/under.

Math and Time Management

• Has difficulty telling time, managing time, learning sequenced information or tasks, or being on time.
• Computing math shows dependence on finger counting and other tricks; knows answers, but can't do it on paper.
• Can count, but has difficulty counting objects and dealing with money.
• Can do arithmetic, but fails word problems; cannot grasp algebra or higher math.

Memory and Cognition

• Excellent long-term memory for experiences, locations, and faces.
• Poor memory for sequences, facts and information that has not been experienced.
• Thinks primarily with images and feeling, not sounds or words (little internal dialogue).

Behavior, Health, Development and Personality

• Extremely disorderly or compulsively orderly.
• Can be class clown, trouble-maker, or too quiet.
• Had unusually early or late developmental stages (talking, crawling, walking, tying shoes).
• Prone to ear infections; sensitive to foods, additives, and chemical products.
• Can be an extra deep or light sleeper; bedwetting beyond appropriate age.
• Unusually high or low tolerance for pain.
• Strong sense of justice; emotionally sensitive; strives for perfection.
• Mistakes and symptoms increase dramatically with confusion, time pressure, emotional stress, or poor health.

More Information:

• Common Traits of Adult Dyslexia
• Symptoms and Diagnosis.
• Davis Dyslexia Correction Explained.
• FAQs: Testing for Dyslexia
• Free Online

            
          

              (© 1992 by Ronald D. Davis.)

Dyslexia - Why do MY Children Have It?

     Let me start out by saying that out of our 9 children, 3...possibly 4, of our children have dyslexia.  This did not stop our 3rd oldest daughter from going to college where they gave her help for what they call her "disability," nor did it stop her from becoming a Certified Nurses Assistant, a Photographer, as well as a wife & mother.  As well, we will not let it stop our younger children who struggle with it on a daily basis, from doing what they want to do too.

What is dyslexia?     Dyslexia is a specific developmental disability that alters the way the brain processes written material.  According to The International Dyslexia Association (IDA), dyslexia is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities.  Studies show that individuals with dyslexia process information in a different area of the brain than do non-dyslexics.

     There is no single pattern of difficulty that affects every dyslexic person.  Dyslexia can cause a variety of issues.  I found a wonderful checklist here called 37 Common Characteristics of Dyslexia.   

What causes dyslexia?
     Dyslexia is thought to be an inherited condition. It may be genetic, but how and if it comes to be varies considerably from individual to individual. Sometimes dyslexia can be attributed to a wide range of environmental factors, like birth trauma, problems during pregnancy, brain injuries, infections and toxins. However, although considerable progress has been made, the exact mechanism that causes genes to contribute to the multi-faceted dyslexic condition is still unknown. Research shows dyslexia affects about 10% of the population.

Is there a cure for dyslexia?
     According to the Mayo Clinic website, there is no cure for dyslexia. It's a lifelong condition caused by inherited traits that affect how your brain works. However, most children with dyslexia can succeed in school with tutoring or a specialized education program. Emotional support also plays an important role.

      Dyslexia is a medical diagnosis. Therefore, public schools don't test for it and often don't have programs to address it.
             
                  Thank you to Melissa's research at:
         http://reflectionsfromdrywoodcreek.blogspot.com