My accident

My "excuse" for not blogging lately is that I lost my camera cord, but I found it (in my camera case) and have still not blogged. Oh well. I did want to try to play catch up, but first I thought I would share what I've been up to. I have been laying in bed, struggling to walk, and fighting pain for a week and 2 days. Here is how it started:
David and I were busy preparing for the start of the school year. He was finishing up on the last minute honey-dos. The last item was to get my maternity clothes down from the storage in the rafters of our garage. (the loft) He climbed the 10 ft ladder and was looking around, but could not find the clothes. I followed him up to help. I got to the top of the ladder (a lean-to ladder) and noticed that the ladder was barely over the threshold of the loft. As I put all my weight on the last wrung of the ladder, it collapsed. Since all my weight was on the ladder I fell too. I was fortunate to first land on my Honda Pilot, I landed flat on my back on the hood. I bounced off, flipped, and landed on my back on top of the ladder, that now rested on the concrete floor. My first thought was that I was alive, my second was that I didn't think I broke anything, my third (and probably the dumbest) was that I needed to walk it off.
I was in excruciating pain, but managed to hobble in the house and yell for Ethan to help his Dad (who was stuck in the loft and panicking) get down. I hurried and laid down in bed and tried to assess my injuries. All I knew was, I was hurt. I decided to call the chiropractor to see if he could fix me. It was a Sunday, but he agreed to meet us at his office. David called his brother Brandon and together they gave me a blessing.
David helped me get in the car and we drove (very painfully) to Lovell. My pelvis was jammed up on the right side. My right leg was significantly shorter than my left. My back was already swollen and bruising on the lower right side where I landed on the ladder. I don't remember ever being in that much pain.
I did go to the Doctor the day after the fall to get pain meds. They did X-ray to make sure I didn't break anything (I already knew I didn't). I bruised my kidneys, a concussion, and a very bruised back, hip, and pelvis. By Wednesday, I looked like I was 6 months pregnant from all the inflammation in my back moving across to the front. My right leg was two inches bigger around than my left and my waist was 4 inches bigger than usual. I looked very large...
I went to work the morning after the accident because it was my first day with students, and I couldn't stand to miss being there to great 16 very nervous and excited 4th graders. I have absolutely no idea how I made it through that day, but when I got home my Mom was there to help me. I took Tuesday off, and worked half days the rest of the week. My body has been healing (slowly but surely), but I have been struggling with dizziness and headaches. (My head did dent the hood of my car:( But each day has better than the previous. I drove for the first time on Sunday (one week after the accident). It felt good to be a little independent.
I know I am very lucky to have fallen 10 ft. to a concrete floor and not break any bones, or worse. I am very humbled when I think of what could have been, but am so thankful. I know I will heal, I am just learning to be patient.
I am so thankful to everyone that has helped me. My class has been wonderful, my coworkers, family, and many friends have stepped up. I am so sick of asking people to help with everything. I can't wait to be 100 percent again. Then maybe I can help them out.

Tangled

Jenna singing Mother Knows Best. She is quite dramatic, she loves lip gloss, and her purse 'Sparkles'.

baseball

It is a cold and miserable day today. Its a good day to get caught up with things like blogging, but I am too lazy to go out to the car to get my camera so it will be a picture-less day. We have been so busy this May with baseball and school programs and everything! I'll just give a quick update on the baseball season.
Ethan is playing Minor league (8-10 years old). He is an amazing catcher and has also played pitcher. Since he is 10, he is one of the oldest on the team. He is also doing well at hitting. A lot of people compliment Ethan on his baseball skills. Baseball is his favorite sport. He is a natural. We could tell at a young age that Ethan had an arm on him. He has been practicing with the little league team since he was 8 and still in T-ball. He is left handed, so coaches get excited about that. Ethan wants to get a college scholarship to play baseball. We love watching E play ball, but he keeps us on the edge of our seats!

Taylor is playing Coach pitch. They usually hit from a pitching machine, and Taylor usually always gets a hit. He has hit at least one hit to the outfield each game. He plays 1st base, 2nd base, or pitcher. We have seen Taylor grow so much this year. He is actually really into baseball now. He always has his mitt on and is practicing. He begs everyone to go out and play with him, so if you drive by my house I am usually out pitching to him. His team has only lost 1 game, and Taylor is pretty sure that the coaches from the opposing team have it out for him since they always yell, "Plays at first or plays at 2nd..." whatever base Taylor is on! He's a hot one! They just can't get him out!

New, Challenging, Meaningful learning

(More information from the book Enriching the Brain)

If you already know how to do something, you already have in place the neurons and the connections to support the use of that learning. But to create an enhanced effect called enrichment, the learning and memory must be new, tough, and worthwhile. New learning creates new synapses (connections) in the brain, especially when it's challenging.

There is evidence to support that the more you learn, the more you can learn. Complex environmental enhancements produce higher levels of proteins associated with learning and memory. (refer to first post of mice testing)

Although simple physical activity may enhance the production of new cells, it seems that learning may increase their survival and functionality.

That's all for now!

Have you exercised lately?

This graph shows that in four weeks adult mice produced approx. 4,500 new brain cells in four week with exercise, as opposed to 2,000 new brain cells without exercise. The question is being asked, can exercise help prevent adult dementia? I don't know the answer, but there has been a lot of favorable studies leaning that way.

Brain Development part 1

My class has been taking the PAWS test, so I have had some time on my hands to do some studying. I am fascinated by brain research and studying the brain has really helped me parent and teach the kids that I work with. So I thought I would share some with you.

I am rereading the book, Enriching the Brain by Eric Jensen. This book breaks down the old paradigm beliefs about brain development. We once believed that the brain remained unchanged throughout our lives, that you were born with all the brain cells you have throughout your lifetime. This is not true, under the right conditions, brain cells continue to grow.

Today I am going to share how enriched environments benefit the brain. Researchers studied rats in varying living conditions. The control environment was a small cage with no companion. The second environment was bigger with a couple of littermates (social interaction). The third was more littermates and all the novelties a rat would want (stimulus): toys, a running wheel... They studied the brains of these rats and the results were unbelievable at the time. In fact, they have repeated and repeated these studies. All of the results have been the same, so researchers have made the following conclusions.

Enriched environment- significant social interaction, changes in stimulus objects (toys, tunnels, mazes...), and physical activity. In all of the studies done, the single most important activity for brain development was EXERCISE!

Benefits of an Enriched Environment
1.) Enhanced blood flow in the brain as well as a boost in levels of chemicals important to learning, mood, and cognition
2.) Increased levels of neurotransmitters- Erotonin and dopamine (essential for learning, mood, memory, and communication within the brain), Acetylcholine (memory function), Opioid (pleasure and analgesic), and it showed regulated Seretonin levels (enhanced mood and improved cognitive functions.)
3.) Showed gain protection from stress disorders
4.) Enhanced anatomical structures (brain weights were increased, thicker cortex, and increased size of neurons)

We all know that children as a whole are different then they used to be. We have seen significant rises in attention disorders, behavior problems, lack of interest in school or other activities. I have long suspected that the rise in sedentary activities (video games, computer, TV...) have had a significant impact on our children and society. Current brain research shows a very strong correlations between physical exercise and social interactions with increased memory, mood, and cognition.

You want to make your kids smarter? Get them moving, talk to them, turn off the TV!
Side note: In other research I have done, they suggest no video games, TV, computer... 1 hr before bedtime. The brain needs time to relax and calm down before sleeping.

Have a great day!

Ethan's recap of Denver

Ethan is in fourth grade, and he has turned into quite a writer. He loves to write, it of course, makes me really proud. Here is an essay he wrote about our trip to Denver.
He titled it "The best report of Denver in the history of reports of Denver."

Have you ever had the time of your life?! I did when I went to Denver. It is a long and boring drive there, but once I get there I’m sure I will fall in love. I got to travel to Denver all because of my Mom’s “happy feet.” Who knew that feet could get you from a boring school teacher to your five minutes of fame, by dancing at the halftime of the Denver Nuggets game?! Who would of thought?! It also got me in a fan tunnel, where I got to give high fives to my favorite NBA players!

As I was sitting in the car ready to start my trip, it was all running through my head like a movie, but that came to an end after my little sister screamed in her soprano voice. “Jenna shut up and quit being such a baby!” Taylor yelled. Then my dad boomed, “Shut up back there!” Jenna went into hysterics and Taylor just didn't talk. Then me and my Dad laughed because my Dad always does that, and for some reason it works every time.

After a while, Taylor started laughing, and eventually Jenna came out of her hysterics, and I ran back into the house to get my knife. As soon as I got in the car we were off to Denver. About an hour into our drive, we stopped and got beef jerky, licorice, and shredded jerky. We all got back in the car and drove off to Denver.

After about two hours, we came into what is known as the Wind River Canyon. After we came out of the canyon, we came to Boysen Dam. And a few more hours later, we came to Hell's Half Acre where the movie Star Ship Troopers was filmed. We also drove by the Johnson Power Plant. If you walked by a pipe with leak the size of a pin point the pressure is so intense it would cut you in half!

After that, we watched Shrek for the fifth time, and we kept repeating the part where donkey says, ”I like that boulder, that is a nice boulder.” Then in about four hours we were there in Denver. We stayed the night at my Aunt Ruth's house.

In the morning, it was very warm. We saw my uncle's and cousin's AR-15's. Otherwise we just were lazy the whole time. Then my mom bought some shoes for her Zumba and we went to sleep.

The next day was special because we went to the Denver Nuggets game! I was surprised at how normal the day seemed. Then we left for the game and once we got there we went to sit down, on the front row! I could believe I was really there! As the game time neared, we went and stood on the floor to greet the Nuggets players. The players ran out and I got to give all players high fives as they entered the court. I even shook Nene's and Carmello Anthony's hand! (They are my favorite players!)

There was people clear up to the nosebleeds and later there was one less person attending the game because he was taking off his clothes and got arrested! Unfortunately, the Nuggets lost to the Hornets, but my Mom won. She danced at halftime on the court. She did awesome! On the ride to my Aunt Ruth's house we were talking about the highlight of Mom's dance.

I had a great time in Denver spending time with family and attending my favorite NBA team's game. Maybe I can go to a Nugget's game again with the help of my Mom's “happy feet.”

Denver

After the game

Rosy and I before the game

The fan tunnel

Patiently waiting

I had an exciting opportunity to dance (Zumba) at the half time of the Denver Nuggets game on Jan. 8th. I think my boys were more excited then I was. We bought the whole family tickets 8 rows from the court. We got a great deal since I was dancing. It was really a once in a lifetime experience. A couple of days before we left for Denver, I got an email saying that my boys were selected to participate in the the fan tunnel before the game. they got to give the players high five as they entered the court. They about cried when I told them. It was really cute. I took two days off of work, and we headed out. We got in late Friday night. Saturday we hung around with David's Aunt Ruth, Uncle Jim, and cousins. It was so nice to relax, but I was a little nervous about the game. Sunday was the big day. David dropped me off for rehearsal at 4, and then David brought the boys and his cousin Steph back with him at 6. The boys got escorted all the way down to the floor and got to hang out for quite a while. After welcoming the players we took our seats. The boys cheered and hollered the whole game. During the second quarter, I went to line up with the other dancers. We got to go in the players only areas. It was neat to see. We had so much fun and glad we all had this opportunity.

More winter

This is Taylor and Chance

Ethan and Jenna going slow

Ethan getting ready to be tortured.

This was in November, back when I was glad to see snow

I love Jenna's smile here

I am having camera woes again, so I can only upload ones from my computer, but since I never blog anymore that works out. We have had so much snow here this year, it is crazy. I am not a fan of winter, actually I hate the cold. My kids have had so much fun sledding all winter long. Usually we only get a few snowstorms that leave enough to sled, but this year there has been plenty of snow to go around. Thank goodness David likes to do it too. Jenna and I usually stay home, but if she sees the boys with their snow pants on she runs in her room and gets hers on too. She loves riding the four-wheeler. The boys are absolutely crazy. I hate to admit it, but the older I get, the more I worry. I get really nervous when the kids are sledding, riding motorbikes, all that kind of stuff. I really try not to be like that, but sometimes it is just best if I stay home. I guess we all have got to learn our limits:) I am glad to clean up the mess when they get home.

Picture Review part 1

I am once again, behind. This winter has just drug on and on, and I like everyone else, am definitely feeling it. I need sun and warmth, and the mess of the snow and mud- to be gone. I am so looking forward to green grass and planting flowers. I love the feeling of spring! I can't wait, but we have had a great winter. I though I would post a few reviews: In November, we finally bought a new TV and entertainment center. We love it! It only took me 10 years to bite the bullet and buy one.

I have spent a lot of time getting pampered by my baby girl. She loves to comb my hair and rub my back. I love it too:) Notice the tutu:)

Jenna decided at the beginning of December, "NO MORE PIPERS (diapers). So we did it, she is potty-trained! She has an occasional accident, but she has done really well.

Jenna loves her car. The boys push her around the house and she laughs and giggles. She also puts her babies and stuffed animals in with her, and she doesn't forget her purse. In this picture, she is wearing her Tinkerbell pajamas. You see, Jenna loves "jammies", Has to put them on, until bed. She will not sleep in anything but her panties.

She is also two, I wouldn't say "terrible twos" because she is actually pretty good. The thing I love about this picture, is all I have to do is hold her in my arms, and she stops crying. She loves to snuggle. Isn't it great to be a Mom and have that kind of healing power.