Random Tid Bits

I'm writing this a week early. Classes started this week, so I know I'll be super busy. If you comment, I'll be sure to get back to your blog.

1. I gave my fall sylabi to the Education Director in the spring, well before classes were over. She never went over them; that I'm aware of. I find it kind of insulting; considering I plowed through to get them to her before my surgery. It's less than a week before classes start, and she still hasn't given them back to me with any changes. I emailed them on over to the Director (a different person) of the school. She emailed me back asking, "Did the Education Director approve these?" I just replied with a, "Yes." There are times where I want things to be right, and there are other times I just choose my battles. At this time I just chose to let it go. Yes she's reviewed them in the past, so there's that.


2. I was surprised to see a guy teacher back at work. Why was I surprised? Last year he told the student it was his last year. He also told me that he has Alzheimer's Disease. 


3. Last year I had lots of workbooks for my kids to work on during the summer. This year I didn't. For one they stop making a lot of workbooks in upper elementary. For another I've read a few articles here's one that being bored is good for kids. Here I was trying to give them something to do all the time.
   
   Instead of always giving them things to do I encouraged this:
   
   

   

   Source

4. Mica's new to doing laundry. I went to go make Isaak's bed, after asking Mica to go get what was in the dryer. It was all wet. He put it in the dryer, but never turned it on. I just can't believe he brought them up and didn't think, These feel a little wet. We made him put them in the dryer, turn the dryer on, then I said, "Don't worry about it. We all start out laundry with mistakes."
   
   Travis piped in, "Mica I've washed a load of water before. I forgot to put clothes in there." Travis did that as an adult! I think us admitting we've made mistakes helped establish that he can come to us when he makes a mistake. 


5. We have a Family Reunion on my Mom's side once a year. In a way it's too much of the time. In another way it's just once a year. Here's a photo of my Grandpa with his siblings that are still alive. He's had 2 sisters, and 1 other brother that have passed away. These 3 have always been the closest of the siblings.
   
   My 91 year old Grandpa is the one in the front with the darker skin. I swear he looks part Native American, but I have no proof of that. 

What's your oldest relative? 

Dear Mica,

Happy Birthday Mica! You turn 12 today. You're a tweenager for sure.

A month ago we decided to get you your first phone. That's your big present. With walking and riding the bus to and from middle school we figured now is the time to get you a phone. We also lost our land line some time ago, so you needed a phone.

Today I'm giving you a set of lenses for your phone. 

Likes:

• Taking pictures with your phone is your newest hobby.

• Music! You love playing Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and Brono Mars the most. You like Peter Gabriel, Bob Marley, and the Village People. 

• Reading! You've been really into this series called Spirit Animals this summer. You read classics like Of Mice and Men, Two Kill a Mockingbird and more. You'll read books 4 or 5 times over again. 

• You still love movies and shows. Grimm is one of your favorites right now. No one else around here likes it. We've been watching The Cosby Show as a family. Yes Bill Cosby has been in hot water, and on the news a lot this year. It's still a good family show. You'll watch any movie really. 

• You got your first "job". You volunteered at the library and helped stock books, and collected zip codes from people for their Read to a Dog program.

• You started playing the trumpet. There are times when you practice where you're pretty good. Other times I don't think you try. You had hopes of playing Sledgehammer from Peter Gabriel, but you quickly learned that Hot Cross Buns and songs at that level would be played mostly. You did get to learn the Star Wars theme song, which is fun.

Your Personality Shines in This Video:

Dislikes:

• You're not a big fan of chores. You had to take over for me when I got an upcycled nose (surgery) hand washing dishes. 

• I've been having you do laundry at times. Last week I had you take up a load, and you forgot to dry it. 

• You still dislike playing outside and sports, but did decided to give soccer a shot in the spring.

Other Things:

• You do this thing where you bend your elbow out to stretch it. It drives Dad nuts. Ha!

• You're more apt to want to be in your room more. That's kind of the reason why I called you a "Tweenager". 

Goofball Photos:

Happy Birthday my soon to be Middle Schooler!

Love,

Mom

Little World Lightweight Sleeping Bag Review

Isaak still has a Cars sleeping bag. It's starting to fall apart. He just needs a new one.

One of Isaak's Christmas presents is going to be a Little World Lightweight Sleeping Bag! 

The sleeping bag can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XKHNC78 $34.99 on Prime.

Like most sleeping bags, this one comes in an outer bag:

I do like how the bag hugs the sleeping bag. You can really get something large in a small space!

I dislike how there are so many straps on the bag. I found it difficult to get open and closed easily. Just a open and close on the top, and possibly one strap going around it would be all it needs in my opinion.

I also wish the bag would match the sleeping bag. Stick with all blue, or go all black.

About the Sleeping Bag:

Temperature Scale - 15℃-5℃ or 26 and 73 degrees (Fahrenheit) It's good for spring, summer and fall. Not ideal for winter.

Material - 170 Polyester Cloth

Size - 180 x 75 cm and a hat with length of 30 cm

Good For - Camping in a Tent or Cabin, Hiking, Overnight Stays, Trips, and In Door Camping (which we do in the winter)

Waterproof - The outside is waterproof

I do like the pillow area. Some of my other sleeping bags do not have this. It's nice because the pillow stays in the bag.

I do like that the head part can be adjusted. If you have a large pillow it can be loosened up, if you have a small one it can be tightened up.

 

There are zippers on both sides. I wish they were metal, but they are plastic. There is a velcro, which doesn't seem to secure. It look like it could come apart any time to me.

Typically we make camp outs during the winter indoors. We invite a friend over for each kid, or their cousins. We pop up a tent in the living room, have mats and sleeping bags inside, make smore's on a light broil in the oven, and watch a good movie. It's a good way to feel like down in the winter. The boys really love it. It doesn't make my allergies or asthma flair up. Ha!

What do you do during the winter months to shake up your routine?

Disclaimer: I received this sleeping bag for a discount in exchange for my honest opinion. I only review products I feel my family or readers will be interested in.

WW: 8 Eyes {Linky}

How many eyes does Isaak have here? Technically he has 2 eyes.

He has his own 2 eyes, glasses on his face + 2 more, each lens has 2 eyes + 4 more = 8 Eyes.

My Only Elementary Schooler

It's kind of odd that only Isaak is going to elementary school this year.

Everything seems foreign with middle school. The principle still hasn't gotten back to me from an email I sent last week. An email I sent the vice principle bounced back to me. Travis called last week to find out that they don't have a supply list, bus schedules went out on Friday, and back to school night is on the 15th.

I looked over Isaak's supply list. I was ready to go fork over a lot of money just to find out that I bought a ton of supplies when Shop-Ko (a store similar to Walmart) closed down. Score for me.

Isaak got Miss Nelson for a teacher. I don't know either teacher, so I have no opinions either way. We had to laugh because of the children's book, Miss Nelson is Missing. If you're unfamiliar with the story the nice Miss Nelson goes missing and comes back as mean Miss Viola Swamp to basically get her student body to act more appropriately.

Travis texted Isaak's friend Ben's Mom to see what class he got. Ben is Isaak's friend from Argentina. He got the other class. I was really heartbroken for Ben more than Isaak. Isaak will make or have friends in either class. Ben doesn't know very much English. Last year Isaak communicated with Ben through gestures, and drawings. 

Every day Isaak was excited about something he taught Ben, or something that Ben taught him. One day Isaak said he was humming the Indiana Jones theme song, and found out that Ben knew it too! That amazed Isaak. 

His teacher last year said that Isaak would stand up to show Ben it was time to get in line. He'd put his hands in his pockets when it was time to be quiet. 

For the first time in my life I felt like crying for someone else's kid, that I didn't even know. 

Could you imagine going to another country at the age of 9, and not know much of what they were saying? Ben connected with Isaak, and now they are going to be split apart. 

Argentina's government is really messed up, and they moved right before Trump was elected. I just can't imagine how they feel. If I were in their shoes I'd feel unwelcomed, unwanted, and confused. 

I wrote a letter to the principle on behalf of Benjamin. I said everything I felt. I ended it with saying something like: Please get their teacher from before - her input. He wrote back saying that their teacher from before suggested the switch. 

When I mentioned to Isaak that they were going to have different teachers (after I knew for sure) he said, "I know Mom. It's probably because we talk too much!" I asked, "How can you talk too much to someone that barely speaks English?" He said, "He speaks enough Mom." 

My emotions took over the situation. I felt all this empathy for this kid I don't really know. My kid duped me.

We took a trip to Iowa to go school shopping. Iowa had no sales tax much of the weekend. 

Mica got some new pants at Rue 21 that's closing. $19 for 3 pair of pants isn't too shabby! We got shoes at Kohl's. Some school supplies, or things we needed we got at Target. 

Mica's all into being appropriate. When we ate at Burger King, Mica did not care for Isaak wearing a paper crown. Mica, "Isaak that's embarrassing!" So I put one on. Then heard Mica and Travis say, "You're not really going to wear that?!" I acted like I was going to, but took it off.

Are you still friends with anyone you were friends with in elementary school? 

#Natrogixessentialoil Review

I use essential oils for a lot of different things:

• To add to homemade laundry soap
• To add to dryer balls to make my clothes smell good
• To add to plain lotion or coconut oil to make me smell good
• To add to my mop water, or homemade cleaners
• To add to sugar or salt scrubs

and more...

I recently got a box of Natrogix Essential Oil to review: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071RXT6N8. 

You can get this set on Amazon for $32.99 on sale for $18.99! That's with Prime Shipping!

I was super impressed with the packaging! The brown is dye cut paper! How cool is that? Side Note: I'm keeping it as a sample to show my design students.

The brown paper is a box sleeve that slides off the purple box. This is what's inside:

9 Main Essential Oils!

• Lemongrass - Clean, crisp and energizing. It's great for massage oils and to add to skin care products.

• Lemon - Bright and awakening. used to turn a bad day around, and clean your surroundings.

• Frankincense - A holy oil because it's been used since Egyptians and Sumerians. It's sweet, yet earthy. It's recommended by many aromatherapists.

• Tea Tree -It has medicinal aroma. Helps with skin problems, and can be added to cosmetics and ointments.

• Eucalyptus - It has a minty scent with a touch of honey. It enhances creativity, relieves pain, and heals.

• Peppermint - Eliminates fatigue and drifting thoughts. 

• Sweet Orange - Brings joy, and back pleasant memories. 

• Lavender - Helps with stress and makes it easier to sleep. Added often to perfumes and body care products.

• Rosemary - A refreshing scent. Supportive to cognition and memory.  

I love all the different scents. Essential oils are something I can smell because alone they are so strong. Some of my nasal preceptors were eaten away by polyps. :( 

I tend to add Sweet Orange, Lemon, Lemongrass and sometimes Peppermint to cleaning supplies.

Other oils I use in body products. I feel like

Frankincense has more of a masculine scent, so I add it to Mica's unscented facial wash.

Whenever any of us are feeling off I add Lavender to our bath.

This set comes with a book and a free E-Book:

The book has facts about the oils, and what they can be used for. The E-book has 200 recipes you can make with essential oils.

What's your favorite scent out of the essential oils I reviewed? 

Disclaimer: I received this set of oils for a discount in exchange for my honest opinion. I only review products I feel my family or readers will be interested in.

Random Tid Bits

1. I have an ex that I'm still friends with - sort of. I mean we're friends on facebook, but haven't talked in years. He quit his advertising job to follow his dream of being a comic book artist. He's not married, so no one can carry the financial weight if things don't work out.
   
   He set up a gofundme page when he quit his job to pursue his "Dream Job". I even got an email from him asking for a donation. A year later - now - he set one up again because some clients haven't paid him. I'm all for donating to a cause, a new product that just needs a boost of funds, or boosting a small business that could use a little help.
   
   I think if you're going to go after a dream job, you may need to work another job until that dream job gets off the ground. Wow I'd love to quit my job to paint all day, Travis would love to quit his job to make sculptures all day, but realistically we know that's not going to happen. We work extra hours just to get our art time in. 


2. My boss now thinks I'm some sort of web master. Ummm...no. I wish I was, but I'm not. He had me help make changes to the school's website. I aways feel like sites that are not mine are some sort of foreign language staring at me in the face. 


3. I go and pick mulberries at work a lot. If I don't pick them, no one does.
   
   
   
   
   There's this truck that's always out there. When I say always, I mean it. They don't look like they are ever doing anything. I could see if it's their go to spot to eat their McDonalds, which is right around the corner, but nope! I just think it's so odd. So much of me would like to pick berries in peace. The introvert comes out. Ha!





4. I finally finished the difficult task of working on a logo and t-shirt design for SOFT, which is an organization to help kids with chromosome issues. It's not easy working on something where they want a rainbow, balloons, and the colors: red, yellow and blue in. Then the t-shirt design they wanted all the above + an Omaha feel in it without it saying "zoo" only. 





Here's the t-shirt design. It's still not my cup of tea, but it's as simple as I could get it with all the stuff they wanted in it. All the white will be whatever color of shirts they choose. The "O" Is similar to their logo "O" just the bottle thinner. It can also stand for "Omaha", which is where the conference will be located.






5. Next week classes start for me. Crazy! It feels a bit like I didn't have a summer at all with all the doctor's appointments, surgery, recovery, graduation, and Travis' residency.
   
   It was great for Travis to have this artist residency, but put me as a single mom a lot. He informed me that he's still going to work, work, work when his residency is done; only at home. He's trying to build up a whole new body of work. It's hard having 2 artists in the family at times. I'm sitting over there exhausted from surgery. So much so that I haven't had the energy to even paint. That's not Travis' fault. Is is what it is. 

Aspirin Desensitization #Allergies #Asthma #sinusitis

Last week I had my Aspirin Desensitization. 

What in the heck is an Aspirin Desensitization?

Taken off the internet to help explain it: In patients like me that have sinusitis and nasal polyps, endoscopic sinus surgery it was needed to help patients like me whose asthma is worsened by their nasal problems. After surgery is performed, it is often helpful to perform "aspirin desensitization."

In my own words: I'm allergic to Ibuprofen, which reduces inflammation. If I had an allergy or asthma flair up I couldn't take Ibuprofen or Aspirin; they are related.

What happened when I took it? My lungs would shut down, and I'd have a sneezing snot fest.

They gave me little bits of Aspirin every 90 minutes for 2 days, which could have lead to 3 days. I was closely watched in case something major happened.

What to expect with an Aspirin Desensitization?

The Allergy and Asthma Clinic couldn't give me a Aspirin Desensitization too soon after my septum and polyps surgery. Why? Because it thins the blood. It would have been dangerous for me. They also couldn't do it too far away from surgery because polyps could form. That still could happen, but I'm at less of a risk now.

They gave me an IV. I thought the Aspirin would be dripped into me. Nope! The IV was just in case they needed to save my ass. I was confused when they taped it to my arm with medical tape because I thought it was going to get used for 2 days.

Per usual I was stuck twice. It's either two or three times I get stuck. I just have small rolling veins.

That IV was left in the whole time - 2 days. The boys freaked out when I got home that first night. Mica, "Mom a needle is really stuck inside your skin still?" Me, "Yes. You be good, or I'll stick it inside your skin!" Totally kidding of course, but I didn't need to say that to him. He knows my humor. Mica, "Isaak! Mom has a needle stuck in her skin!" Isaak, "Really?" Me, "Yep!" Isaak, "Gross!" For some reason it was a big deal to them. I told them both that they had an IV needle stuck in their skin for a few weeks when they were babies - one had Meningitis and the other had a Staph Infection. 

They flushed the IV out that 2nd day with saline just to make sure it worked. Other then that, that's all it was used. 

Aspirin:

Liquid Aspirin was given to me in a little medicine cup with some gross stuff that tasted like Alka Seltzer. If you're getting this done have something to drink to wash that crap down! Luckily gross drinks don't bother me. 

After my first dose I had to use the bathroom. I drink coffee, a smoothie, and a tall glass of water in the morning! When I left the office to use the bathroom the cute doctor said, "Are you ok?" with a concerned look on his face. I wanted to joke with him by saying, "I am now that I've seen you." Of course I didn't say that though! Ha! I just asked a nurse to show me the way through the maze to the bathroom. I feel like all medical offices are mazes in the back! Are like that to you? It was then I figured out that the gross drink was my Aspirin. I really had no idea! 

I had one of those shots of liquid Aspirin drinks every 90 minutes along with a breathing test, my blood pressure taken, and they checked my pulse. My blood pressure and pulse were fine, but almost every time - except the first time - I failed my breathing test. 

Was it the Aspirin, or was it the nasty storm that came through that day? I'm not bitching about the rain; we needed it! I just know storms that come through make my allergies and asthma act up! We didn't have one for awhile. They were thinking it was the Aspirin. I beg to differ. I think it was the storm.

I Got a Nebulizer Treatment About 5 Times That Day:

What did I learn? Don't breathe deeply the whole time with a Nebulizer! I was majorly tingly almost every time afterwards + I was out of breath when they tested my breathing again. Breathe normal. 

Bring Stuff to Do:

I wanted to paint, but figured that would be too messy + it would require more trips to the bathroom for cleaning out water. Too bad I wasn't in a sewing stage of an art project. To be honest I haven't had the energy to paint much all summer. Lame! I'd say excuses are for losers, but that surgery took more out of me than 2 c-sections ever did. 

The first day I wrote down 30+ ideas to paint. I also looked through art books.

Javier Mariscal: Mariscal Drawing Life

This is his character Twipsy done in different styles. He's from Spain. Fact: He's won awards for the best animated feature and he created, he created the character Cobi for the Atlanta Olympics in 1984, and he did all the graphics inside a Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, Ohio! He's kept up with the times in Spain. He's not known as much throughout the US.

Joe Sorren

This is a limited edition book. His work went from illustration to privately owned pieces. It's very dream-like. He's from Arizona.

I was at the Allergy and Asthma Clinic all day day 1. My cute doctor only visited me twice. 

Day two my cute doctor informed me that I still could have a bad reaction. The Aspirin went from liquid to pills, which they nearly doubled the dose. 

I I brought a laptop, and finished my sister's t-shirt design for the most part. 

I got a visit from the cute doctor at 3:30, which he said I was released for good. I passed all my breathing tests day 2. Now I'm on 2 Aspirins a day 2 times a day. 

One other thing to expect if you have an Aspirin Desensitization: Bring food! I had a freezer bag with a sandwich, raw veggies and fruit. 

I've also learned in the process that the doctors consider all my nose stuff to be a disease. I never thought of myself having a disease. Apparently to them I have one. 

After months of taking Aspirin I should be able to take more pain meds. That will leave me just allergic to Sulpha. 

Are you allergic to any meds?

WW: Babysitter and Clue Lock-In {Linky}

I love our library! They offer so many things there. 

Mica's been helping them stock books and with their Read to a Dog program. It gets kids reading, and dogs love attention!

Mica and a friend took a Babysitting Clinic at the library earlier in July. I think they were the only boys, but they learned how to change diapers, first aid, what to charge, what to do in emergencies and so on. Both boys seemed happy when I picked them up, so they must of had fun.

Last weekend Isaak and Mica had a Clue Lock-In at the library. All the Librarians were dressed up like people from the game/movie. They had clues in each room to solve a mystery. It looked fun to me!

All their classes, clinics and lock-ins are free. I make sure to thank our Librarian's. They have coding classes, Lego classes, story time, and a ton of classes for adults too. 

Digestive Enzymes Review

Isaak, Mica and I tend to have streaks in the fall and winter where we have IBS type issues. It comes on us like a storm, then we can't seem to get rid of it. The only way I've found to put my system back in check is by going on the B.R.A.T. diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast and/or Tea). I also start taking Digestive Enzymes. Something that would take me a week or two to get over changes to a few days. I'm a happy camper, and so is my stomach!

When I was in middle school I kept getting sick. My mom had me in for stomach testing. During the testing my stomach was totally fine. I wish they could have tested me when the symptoms were present.

During the time I take Digestive Enzymes I stop taking Probiotics.

HealthLabs Nutra has the Ultimate Digestion Solution packed into 1 bottle. You can take a few a day, for 30 days. There are 60 pills in a bottle.

Each bottle have a plastic coating, a foil wrapping on the top, cotton and a lid to ensure that the pills don't get damaged in shipping. If the plastic ever looks like it's been opened let the company know right away.

I like this style of pill best! At times I open them to put them in a smoothie.

You can get these at Walmart for $18.95 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Digestive-Enzymes-30-Day-Supply-Irritable-Bowel-Syndrome-Relief/111422852 It's well worth the price to feel better.

What it Helps With:

• Gas
• Bloating
• Abdominal Discomfort
• Breaks Down Fats, Carbs and Protein
• It Restores Natural Digestion 

It's all plant based.

Do you have stomach problems from time to time? 

Disclaimer: I got these product to help write this review. The company in no way influenced my decision when reviewing this product.