We All Need Somebody to Lean on
by Lynn Daniels on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 10:37 am
Children's Alopecia Project
National Alopecia Areata Foundation
Until this year.
Just as Alopecia’s onset is often inexplicable and without warning, the reason behind this year’s escalation is also a mystery. This year, we’ve reached a point that LittleDude’s condition is impossible to hide. I would guesstimate he’s lost over 40% of the hair on his scalp. Additionally, his eyebrows are nearly gone, as are the eyelashes at the bottom of his right eye.
Although there’s not much we can do (Alopecia Areata has no cure), we’re not sitting back and doing nothing. We’re seeing a dermatologist again, who’s trying a couple of different treatments. I honestly don’t hold out much hope, as many of the various treatments had no effect when we tried them the first time around when he was four years old. So we’re laying groundwork — we’ve started talking to LittleDude about possibly shaving his head. Later this afternoon I have an appointment with his school to get a plan in place so he can wear a hat to school when he feels the need to do so. We’re doing everything we can to get him ready. Prepare him. And we’re all trying to keep a brave face. Easier said than done.
Hopelessness and helplessness are not good feelings. They’re horrible states of mind. And if those feelings are weighing me down and keeping me up at night, I can’t even imagine what LittleDude might be going through. He doesn’t show much, and that could be because he doesn’t remember not having to deal with Alopecia. It’s just the way things have always been. Still, we got him a counselor…just in case.
Me, I’ve had to find other support.
Which is why I’m so thankful for the internet. Without it, I might never have found the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF), the Children’s Alopecia Project (CAP) and Alopecia World. I’ve contacted both NAAF and CAP for literature and other information about Alopecia, and Alopecia World has shown me that we’re not alone in our struggle. Through all three sites/organizations I’ve been able to see how others have dealt with their situation. I’ve found links to other sites that might be able to help with wigs, eyebrows, camouflage. I’ve got names of books. Examples of ways to help educate the school and students in order to cut down the teasing LittleDude is certain to endure. Advice. Comfort.
I may not feel much less helpless. I might not have a whole lot more hope. But at least now I know we’re not alone.
The Christmas Hangover
by Lynn Daniels on Monday, December 28, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Photo by cagdelhi @ Stock.Xchng
So I’ve been converting the ebooks I already have and downloading new ones while watching season one of Castle on the TV upstairs. The kids have been going to town on the new family Wii downstairs. SoundGuy’s outside taking advantage of a couple days off work and cleaning the yard up with one of his new toys. My mother’s following LittleDude around when he’s moving, or doing her thing in her room when he’s not. What’s not getting done is the housework.
It’s the Christmas Hangover. My kids forget how to clean up after themselves, or maybe they expect Santa’s elves to return and clean up for them. Actually, I wouldn’t mind that, myself. A few gifts still remain in the library, which becomes the Christmas tree room during the season, waiting to be taken up to their new owners’ rooms to be put away. My kitchen counter & dining table have become resident dumping grounds again (and I had just managed to get them clean!). And I just look around the house at all the mess and think I don’t wanna.
‘Tis the season.
This year I have the added bonus of my mother being here, telling me how wonderful my house would be if I would just… Subtle, yes? Except she never seems to finish the sentence; I guess she figures I can do that part adequately on my own. She’s right. I can.
Maybe it’s just because the kids are out of school and home. Maybe it’s because we have an out-of-town visitor. Maybe it’s because I just plain don’t wanna. Regardless of the reason, it’s part of my stress of the holiday season, and the reason I look forward to it being over.
Wow, this post has really become a downer! I didn’t mean it to be; we really have had a wonderful Christmas. Would it surprise you to hear it’s not my favorite holiday, though? Didn’t think so.
I hope you have an amazing new year with wonderful things on the horizon!
To end this post on a higher note, I leave you with dancing bananas.
WOO HOO!
New Tweeture
by Lynn Daniels on Monday, December 21, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Tweet Tweet
The latest addition: I’ve added a plugin from Alex King’s repository that compiles all my tweets each day and puts them into my blog as a daily blog post. It might be a lot of white noise, but I kind of like it.
I still haven’t decided if I’ll update to the new WordPress 2.9 or wait until the next version. If anybody’s had any experience with this upgrade, would you mind letting me know how it went?
Post title corny enough for you?
Nail Biter
by Lynn Daniels on Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 4:16 pm
~???~
Another big question: Once those gifts get here, will my back still be in any condition to wrap those gifts? Or will I be more likely to hide them behind the couch and just toss them at the recipients?
Yet another question: How much longer can my back possibly hold out?
Final question: My blog dashboard tells me WordPress just released version 2.9. Do I dare try to upgrade and risk the problems I’m reading on the forums? Or do I wait for version 2.9.1?
(Spoken in my best announcer voice)
Tune in next time for the answers to these and other important questions.
Oh, No! Not Christmas Shopping!
by Lynn Daniels on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 8:42 am
~.~
I thought my shopping was done (with the exception of a couple small things), but then my mother flew in last night. I’ve since learned I have to go out and do more shopping. While most women enjoy shopping, I don’t, unless it’s shopping for books, CDs, or DVDs. And I especially don’t enjoy shopping the week before Christmas. Even though it’s not the full contact sport it is on Black Friday, it’s still a pain in the neck. I generally like to do all I can to avoid more pain.
Yet here I go, out for more shopping. In the traffic. With the crazies. And the weirdos. And it’s not for books, CDs, or DVDs.
If you’re so inclined, please pray for me.
Just Like Her … But Not
by Lynn Daniels on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Kids say funny things sometimes, without even trying to be funny.
I’ve had the pleasure of my son’s company all week; he was diagnosed this past Friday with pneumonia, and today has (so far) been his first fever-free day. That means he could possibly go back to school on Friday! I think he’s ready, even though he won’t admit it. He’s acting like he’s got cabin fever, and I know he misses his friends.
But I digress. On to the funny.
Today, we were coming out of the grocery store. “What color is Philippines?” he asked.
What color? Where? On a map? In real life (probably brown & green)? “What do you mean? I don’t understand your question,” I said. I truly was baffled.
“Skin color,” he said. “What color skin do Philippines people have?”
“Brown,” I said. “Like Lola.” Lola is what my kids call my mother, who is a Filipina.
My son looked up at me (he won’t be doing that for much longer — gor, he’s getting tall!). “You look like Lola,” he said.
I was about to point out that my mother’s skin is a little darker than mine, but he didn’t give me a chance. He finished his thought.
“Yeah, you look like her. But without all the wrinkles.”
Brain Fart
by Lynn Daniels on Friday, September 25, 2009 at 3:50 pm
An e-mail just came into the home computer’s inbox while I was processing pictures. I glanced over at the subject line. What it said:
What I saw:
Wow!
by Lynn Daniels on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 7:07 am
And I mean WOW! It’s only been forever since I’ve updated my blog. Funny how time flies.
Both my summer and fall have been jam-packed, with my kids keeping me hopping. They’ve got me busy seven days a week, and that’s not just an expression. Between marching band, Tae Kwon Do, Hap Ki Do, soccer, and scouts, we are quite literally running seven days a week. It’s exhausting!
This past weekend, I took MiniMe to her first rock concert. We saw Journey and Night Ranger here in Atlanta, and we had a ball. If I manage to get back online soon, I’ll give details. Right now, I have to go and get ready to start the day.
So much to do, so little time! (For a moment there, I thought I was going to have a Willie Wonka moment. I resisted. Aren’t you proud?)
Mine All Mine
by Lynn Daniels on Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 9:00 pm
A few weeks back, MiniMe came home with a permission slip, but not for a field trip. She took art her first semester this year, and her teacher was asking for permission to auction one of her pieces during the Good Arts Festival (in case you’re wondering, the name drives me insane) at the school, with all proceeds going to help fund the Art Department.
I figured What the heck. I mean, it was going for a good cause; we may as well donate it, right? Besides, I figured we’d be the ones buying the piece at auction, so we’d essentially be donating money to the school. Still — good cause.
Good Arts Festival day came. SoundGuy and I bid on her artwork in the silent auction. We wandered the school, looking at all the displays. Proud parents that we were, we returned just to look at MiniMe’s drawing, especially since we’d seen all the other offerings and we wanted to talk about how much better our daughter’s work was.
Did I mention we’re proud parents?
Anyway, we get back to MiniMe’s drawing… Somebody had outbid us! We couldn’t believe it! Not that we don’t think her artwork’s worthy (proud parents, remember?), but to be honest, I wouldn’t be bidding on the middle school artwork of some kid I didn’t know. Yet, there was somebody out there who felt differently. Somebody who didn’t share our last name, somebody who wasn’t a teacher at the school, and they had actually put in a bid on the artwork. Of course, we upped our bid and won it.
MiniMe’s pencil drawing is pictured above. Yes, I took a picture of it. As soon as we have a little extra cash, we’ll have it framed so we can hang it in our home for all to see.
Yup, it’s another proud Momma moment.
As it Comes to a Close
by Lynn Daniels on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 11:39 am
~*~
I’m referring to the school year, of course. And apparently only in my county. It seems the rest of the world is already enjoying their summer break. But we aren’t yet, and the past couple weeks have been crazy, prepping for the start of summer.
This morning was MiniMe’s award ceremony. A 10am ceremony that she told me about at 7:30am. Thoughtful, isn’t she? Anyway, I just got back, and I gotta say — despite her occasional inconsideration (2-1/2 hour warning? REALLY?), I’m pretty proud of her. Admittedly, she dropped the ball in her language arts class this year, but she wasn’t the only student who had problems, so I won’t ding her too hard for that one.
She received three awards this morning. Her full year of all As & Bs on her report card won her the honor of Merit Roll. She was Honor Roll last year, but we’ll settle for Merit Roll. As long as she brings those grades back up next year. 
Her second award was Outstanding Jazz Musician in her school band. She was presented the official award, which included a plaque, at the last band concert. Still, it was nice her band director chose to honor her again in front of her entire grade.
The last award is one I’m really proud of her for. She was honored for exceeding standards on the Georgia Middle Grades Writing Assessment. During the school year, all middle grades are given a writing test. They’re to write a certain type of composition, and they’re graded in three areas on it. One student received a perfect score. MiniMe was one of a handful who scored “exceeds standards”. After the ceremony, she told me she missed perfect score in each grading area by two points. TWO POINTS! Yeah, I’m definitely proud of that one.
After the ceremony, students were sent back to class unless they were with a parent. MiniMe and all her friends gathered around me and we talked about the awards, the upcoming year in marching band, and other things. Until the principal came over and sent us to class. All of us. Me included. Until she realized her mistake. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I thought you were a student.” Of course, I thanked her profusely.
I think it was the sunglasses on my head that gave me away. 
Tomorrow morning is the awards ceremony at LittleDude’s school. Somehow, I don’t think I’ll be mistaken for a student there.
Random Photo
Twittering
NaNoWriMo
