Dingos Run Walk Dance Box Pose bike and Swim into 2013 - Page 15

[kerc]

I'm considering a biking goal..... (one that involves getting myself a road bike. finally. 11 years into liking biking).

On reading: yeah. the pissy part about it all is that you can't read a story if you don't know the Dolch words (the 100 most common words). and the tough part about that? I think you can sound out like one.
 

On spelling:  I regularly volunteer in first grade (30 minutes, 1 x a week). Most of my job involves listening to kids read aloud. I'm marveling at the rate at which kids are picking up fluency simply by learning new words via spelling. They now can read good because they learned to spell g.o.o.d  and practiced it.  It is not how I learned, nor is it something that happens in my house, but the reality is that if we give kids a properly spelled list of words to learn, it enhances the chances they'll know the words later. Also pet peeve:  I suck at copying anything down. I take a picture of my grocery list from the whiteboard in addition to copying it down so I have it at the store.  Why the beep is fifth grade copying words down off the board in this era of photocopying machines? That involves so.many.skills: seeing the word appropriately, tuning out everyone around you, telling your hand to write the correct letter, writing the correct letter, going back to the word to make sure you're in the right spot. repeat. What are we testing there?

[Geofizz]

knee: around the outside, mostly above on the outside right at the base of the quad muscle and then wrapping around and sometimes hurting below the knee, ending centered under the knee.  So imagine a C-shaped arc of pain, where it migrates where it hurts most from moment to moment.  It seems worst going downhill.  When I'm sitting, it feels bruised at that point where it hits the quad.

[sparkletruck]

Sounds like IT band? You could try mega-gluteus-medius strengthening (think clam-shells, side-lying straight upper leg raises (making sure the leg is raising in line with or a little behind your spine, as opposed to coming forward, which wont get your medius so much). I have pain where you describe unless I do regular lateral hip strengthening (another good one is to prop your side-lying self up on your elbow - make sure the elbow-shoulder are aligned - put upper arm toward the ceiling straight, and keeping floor-side hip from "breaking" raise the upper leg. This is an advanced leg raise, and the real work gets done on the lower hip so long as you keep it in position. The leg raise is hard too...

Kerc - would you be interested in a tri?

[Shantimama]

Three feet of snow fell last week. It all melted in the last 36 hours while rain and freezing rain fell. My basement is flooded - I spent most of the afternoon filling garbage bags and lugging them outside. It isn't really a basement, more of a crawlspace (4.5 feet high) and it is a MESS. I am just in the mode of throwing anything even remotely questionable out - I just want it all gone. Fortunately things with sentimental value were high up or in plastic bins (things like a few baby clothes I saved, the doll house and wooden train set, the costume box, tools) but everything else is sodden and I am just pitching it. My back is killing me and I have to be careful not to OD on my asthma inhaler. I had to go out for a little bit tonight and the smell of mould when I came home almost made me sick. I have to clean like crazy tomorrow for the kids' sake but this is my worst allergy trigger. I am so mad. The house was tidy and I have a full schedule this week but now I have to clean this mess up and then move the salvageable things back downstairs. I hope we don't get any more snow dumps and quick melts this year! I am trying to look at it as a (badly timed) chance to really purge. So far there hasn't been anything I have had to throw out that has been upsetting. I am going to have to deep clean everything that was down there to get rid of the smell. I am thinking I might just keep going all through the house and purge anything that is questionable! Maybe this warm stretch will last long enough so I can air out the house a little bit.

[MelW]

All of the language acquisition talk is interesting. So individual... I laughed at kerc's annoyance at copying because I learn/memorize primarily by note taking and copying. I write my shopping list and generally leave it on the counter at home, since it's the act of writing it that helps me remember what I need. Interestingly, I noticed a switch a few years ago for spelling. Previously if asked how to spell a word I would mime writing it as I spelled out letters. Now I mime typing.

Shanti, I hope the rest of the clean up goes smoothly. What a nightmare!!!

[1jooj]

Shanti, that just sucks. Any way you can take some time after cleanup to avoid the house while things dry out? I'd be throwing everything out, too. 

On the reading...I'm seeing some interesting things in dd that I can't quite figure out. She is still very consistently flipping d and b, and while she aces spelling tests handily, her spelling while writing is still an abomination. I think she's just hurrying to communicate her ideas, and not interested in the slower process of writing. Her reading can be just as sloppy, which is SO FRUSTRATING. I don't know I wonder whether she's just on overload right now due to workload. Both my kids are drinking from the firehose this year, and I am hoping that a three-month summer break from the intensity will allow data to settle into place. But MelW, like you said, so many differences, kid to kid. Just my two are polar opposites, and there are no out-of-normal-ranges issues involved. I seriously cannot imagine being tasked with the work of a teacher, trying to handle 20-26 variants in one room. Definitely a vocation.

So, I went for acupuncture last night, to address my L4-L5-S1 issues, which never really go away and when they flare, cause major disruptions. It was quite a surprise how uncomfortable most of the needles were, but also a surprise to experience the effects. I am about to leave and go back for a second treatment. 6km walk there and back. 

Also, looking at booking an overnight stay and dhow cruise with the parents in Khasab, Oman. I think it is just what I need. Might need to make it two nights. Seriously, look it up. 

[Realrellim]

Originally Posted by kerc 

Running related:
My knees are sore too. This whole getting older thing: for the birds.

Yes. So very much yes.

Maybe you should just wait and see if something interesting pops up? Or are you feeling like you want to do something but don't know what?

Originally Posted by sparkletruck 

So this will be interesting... I sincerely hope he gets picked

Is this because you want him to suffer?

Originally Posted by MelW 

All of the language acquisition talk is interesting. So individual... I laughed at kerc's annoyance at copying because I learn/memorize primarily by note taking and copying. I write my shopping list and generally leave it on the counter at home, since it's the act of writing it that helps me remember what I need. Interestingly, I noticed a switch a few years ago for spelling. Previously if asked how to spell a word I would mime writing it as I spelled out letters. Now I mime typing.

Yep. Perhaps we share a brain? Though I now have to take the stupid grocery list because I will walk into the grocery store and think "huh, now what?" I blame that on the lack of sleep and the kid-wrangling involved in grocery shopping.

1jooj--sounds like the acupuncture helped, yay!

Geo--R's in 2nd grade. Good to know about the crystals and (non) growth. We'll start some this weekend and spring for a kit if we don't have good luck within a week. And no worries about delays in helping with topics for my kid's science project. As I understand it, you have a life and children of your own and an amazing career and all.

Plady--good luck with that decision. It's a lot to think about.

Mel38--wind is a good reason indeed to avoid high bridges while running! Crazy weather, eh?

Shanti--I am so so sorry to hear about your basement. You deserve a break.

NRR: Can I just say again how grateful I am for all of the Dingos? You really are an amazing group of women, and I appreciate our friendships and ability to listen to each other and our support of each other and everything in between.

[Nickarolaberry]

Oh, Shanti. 

I actually have a lot to say on all of these interesting discussions but due to lack of sleep and time, I cannot remember any of it.  Can I just say the Dinoges are awesome? What a bunch of awesome thoughtful, funny, and powerful women.

At the moment feeling completely overwhelmed....as usual. And I need to get a run in. I can't believe I didn't run outside yesterday, and it was in the 50s! Today it's even warmer but this morning early it was windy and rainy and very dark, so I am going to have to get one this afternoon. 

I finally went to the pulmonologist who took bloodwork for allergy-related asthma (at the moment we think it's reactive to having a cold/other respiratory thing) and he said, "I'm prescribing a cleaning service to get the dust and environmental pollutants out of your house." I told this to dh and he shrugged and said, yeah probably that's a good idea. So, I have someone coming next week I think. Just one time every couple months would be enough for me to maintain and not feel like I'm falling apart with trying to keep everything together...it will take me longer to save for the Vitamix but it will probably be worth it.

Turn my back for one second and there is maple syrup all over the floor.  Later, mamas.

[Mel38]

Lisa: I know! Dingoes are the best

Originally Posted by Geofizz 

Can you guys tell I've spent a lot of time in the last year learning about normal reading development?  Sorry for being a know it all.

I love all this information! I feel much better armed to ask questions after reading what you have written.

Sparkle: Whew, Lance came in 2nd in 8 hrs? Yikes. Sounds very tough!

Jo, so glad to hear that the acupuncture is helping! And about the polar opposite learning styles.

Kerc: For some reason, on the subject of goals for the year, I thought of biking for you, too! Must be a cosmic thing What kinds of events do you have nearby?

Originally Posted by Nickarolaberry 
I finally went to the pulmonologist who took bloodwork for allergy-related asthma (at the moment we think it's reactive to having a cold/other respiratory thing) and he said, "I'm prescribing a cleaning service to get the dust and environmental pollutants out of your house." I told this to dh and he shrugged and said, yeah probably that's a good idea. So, I have someone coming next week I think. Just one time every couple months would be enough for me to maintain and not feel like I'm falling apart with trying to keep everything together...it will take me longer to save for the Vitamix but it will probably be worth it.

Yay for a cleaning service!! That sounds like just the ticket for the allergies and maybe also to take a bit of something off of your plate?  I hope you get your run in.

Shanti, Oh no!! What a horrible mess! So sorry that you are having to do this, and I hope the chore is done soon.

RR: measly 2 miles with kids and dogs yesterday. Hopefully I will get a bike ride on the trainer today. It is pretty out but windy as heck.

NRR: Older cat and kitten already seem to be getting along better. I actually caught them in the same room today, and older cat almost looked amused, or at least not aggravated. On the school issue, I am waiting to hear back from the teacher on a conference date, and told DH a little of the Dingo experiences and wisdom.

[Geofizz]

Originally Posted by kerc 

On spelling:  I regularly volunteer in first grade (30 minutes, 1 x a week). Most of my job involves listening to kids read aloud. I'm marveling at the rate at which kids are picking up fluency simply by learning new words via spelling. They now can read good because they learned to spell g.o.o.d  and practiced it.  It is not how I learned, nor is it something that happens in my house, but the reality is that if we give kids a properly spelled list of words to learn, it enhances the chances they'll know the words later. Also pet peeve:  I suck at copying anything down. I take a picture of my grocery list from the whiteboard in addition to copying it down so I have it at the store.  Why the beep is fifth grade copying words down off the board in this era of photocopying machines? That involves so.many.skills: seeing the word appropriately, tuning out everyone around you, telling your hand to write the correct letter, writing the correct letter, going back to the word to make sure you're in the right spot. repeat. What are we testing there?

Indeed, but 'could' in in the second half of Dolch words, making it something that should come once the kid is reading at a 1st grade level.  Our kids are exposed to the practice of spelling words like this for exactly the reason you state, but aren't expected to master the spelling -- use it in writing -- for another few years.  So it's found on higher grade level spelling lists, but is given as part of handwriting practice, etc, in kindergarten and first.  It's always felt strange to me, though, since this is totally not how my kids learned to read. 

On copying:  DD has this in her IEP that if she's to copy anything accurately (like her spelling list) it must be monitored for accuracy before she studies from it.  We've had weeks were she spends 1-2 days studying the wrong spelling for half the words before we notice.  At the IEP meeting, this was a major point of contention.  DD needs to be independent with this.  I asked the guy who was typing the IEP (and projected on the smart board) why he'd typed multiple things into her IEP wrong:  "Well, I miscopied it..."  The accommodation stayed.  Though personally, I'm with you.  As with so much else we ask of kids in schools, just because some kids can do things like this, doesn't mean it's developmentally appropriate to expect all  kids to be able to do this. 

Shanti:  Ugh.  You so don't need that.  Is this a space where you could install a sump pump?

Lisa:  I can come up with a bunch of cool experiments much more along ecology.  Any chance she'd go for that? 

http://www.lapappadolce.net/62-esperimenti-scientifici-limportanza-del-verde/

Sparkle:  OK, so googling, I agree, this seems like the IT band.  I was scared it was my ACL.  All the exercises I can find on the IT band seems to focus on when the pain is higher up the IT band.  As I've had problems with that in the past, I'll do those too, but I'm wondering if there's something specifically to target that C arc around the knee.

[JayGee]

Spelling - "could" doesn't seem like an appropriate 1st grade spelling word IMO either. DS is an amazing speller. I don't think he has misspelled a word on a spelling test since kindergarten (and he's now in 5th). He has a very visual learning style, and can picture the word as he has seen it written and then spell it correctly. DD1, on the other hand, can't spell verbally at all, but if she writes a word, and sees that it looks wrong, she can easily fix it. Just this year, in 3rd grade, she has started spelling more words correctly rather than phonetically. Just another example of how different kids, even in the same family, learn in different ways.

Shanti - oh no!!! You SO do not need that right now. I hope cleanup goes quickly and smoothly without much mold developing.

Nic - yes to the cleaning lady!

kerc -either a tri, or if you don't want to run, a swim/bike (aquabike) event sounds like it might be good for you.

jooj - the accupuncture sounds promising! You and I seem to have similar back issues .

Geo - that does sound kind of IT band-y. Do you have a foam roller? ACL injury would have more of your knee actually giving way when you are walking. Could it be a meniscus thing? Do you have pain on the back of your knee? How do I know all of this? Yes, I have had all of the above injuries!

Sparkle - hope your DH gets selected for the race! Exciting!

Mel38 - glad the cats are getting along. My older two still hiss at each other and they've been living together for 12 years....

MelW - interesting how you learn by note taking. I learn by hearing stuff, hence my talking to myself all the time! In college and grad school I used to find an empty classroom and pretend to lecture the empty seats about thew test material. I also have to walk around while I talk. DS learns best in the same way. If you quiz him on test material while passing a soccer ball back and forth to him and having him explain the material at the same time, he has great information retention. Just reading it, or writing it down even, not so much.

RR - walked/ran last night at the Y during DS's swim practice. Will do the same this morning and do my PT exercises too.

[JayGee]

I don't know if anyone is interested, but this article - http://www.bnd.com/2013/01/30/2477493/we-cant-cut-forever-metro-east.html clearly explains the funding issues with our local schools. And if you read the comments at the end, you can get a taste of the closed-minded, anti-education jerkishness we are battling with our upcoming tax referrendum. Sigh....

[sparkletruck]

Geo - the reason the IT band gets aggravated, either up high or around the knee, is because of hip instability and corresponding lack of strength in the gluteus medius. I'm recalling this from studying it several years ago when mine started, so Im going to get this in the ballpark, but the idea is that when you run, the hips move out to the side with each foot-landing, so when the right foot hits, the right hip juts out to the right, then the left, and so on. The IT band keeps your hip in alignment with your knees, or else you couldnt stay balanced while you run. The gluteus medius is the main actor in keeping your hip from jutting, but when it is weak the IT band has to take over more of the job and it gets strained. When your gluteus medius (the butt muscle that's in the area above where the butt - ok, here come the technical terms - dimple is and below where the roll of back fat would be) is strong, the IT band is relieved of duty. Where your IT band hurts has little to do with this physiological equation and probably more to do with how you are running/running form.

edited to add: This link agrees http://news.menshealth.com/it-band-syndrome/2012/07/27/


Shanti - Im so very sorry for this utter p.i.t.a., and the emotional and physical toll! I hope it resolves easily. Can you ask your kids to help scrub? h?

[mommajb]

Good Morning.

Yesterday was such a mess. We have too many kids in orthodontic care. (4 right now.) I took dd in for a sick visit. The doctor was as puzzled as I am. We decided to treat a possible sinus infection and see. If she isn't better in a week we will look further. Something is 'off' and it isn't obvious. The visit was reassuring as I felt understood. The pharmacy was horrible and shorted me on her prescription. Overall it took hours though the younger two found ways to burn energy - the burpees in the waiting room were better than the random running in the parking lot.

JG, what a mess with the state/schools/etc. I hope you can see a path through (out?) for your family.
jooj, thank you for sharing so much of your life with us. It is really helpful to me to read about home education in other families. I hope the accupuncture provides lasting results for you.
plady & mel, report back on the school issues. How receptive are the teachers? Did you get ideas/paths/goals? Did you recognize the child the teacher sees?
geo, crosstraining! Not the fun kind!
shanti, Yuck! I like the idea that this is a jumpstart and not a setback but I bet you would have preferred a different week to clean out the crawlspace.

I snuck a run in last night during glee practice. I dropped the girls off and ran. For the trip home I smelled no worse that the van 5 kids have spent ten years dirtying.

Plady! you will be here soon!

[Plady]

Mommajb -Yes!  I can't wait!

So I'll have to check in later, I'd had a bunch of multi-quotes set to respond but some little raccoon reset my browser so it will all have to wait until the morning.

[Geofizz]

Originally Posted by sparkletruck 

edited to add: This link agrees http://news.menshealth.com/it-band-syndrome/2012/07/27/
 

OK, that's consistent with other sites I've seen.  Is there a way to do this without putting lateral stress on the knee?  Even when doing the leg to the side exercise without the band, the downward pull on my lower leg address stress on my knee right where it hurts.

Ug.  I hate being hurt.  Thanks for the help and commiseration. 

[Plady]

Geo - Thank you for the words of wisdom and we're all glad you're a know-it-all, that's one of the things we love about you!  I'll admit I laughed a little thinking of the contrast in the methodical approach you suggested and what actually happened.  But had the teacher been someone else I know your suggestions would have been totally appropriate and extremely helpful.  What ended up happening was a totally pleasant chat over cinnamon tea about a little girl she clearly loves nearly as much as I do.  She seemed very relieved that I had broached the topic and confirmed my suspicion that A'li Gs behavior tends to be more 'young' when I'm around, which is natural.  She did say though that there are times when Ali G doesn't seem to be catching on to things as quickly as others though she does eventually seem to get there, ability to focus being one area and having a group of friends being the other.  That said she told me of a few examples in each area where Ali G had actually excelled and said that basically just when she thinks she's got her pegged in some way Ali G surprises her and does just the opposite.  So for now we're just going to continue to see how things go and put off any decisions until the spring, or even the summer.  She sent me home with a couple books about 'grade retention' just to have the concept out there as something that happens and is okay in case it becomes clear to be the right choice.  Dh and I just feel like we'd rather keep her back if it looks like her whole school career is going to be about struggling to keep up with the 'big' kids and the teacher agreed.  I really like the idea of 'junior kindergarten' and 'senior kindergarten'  and also the possibility of finding some 1/2 and 1/2 approach in which she could continue into 1st but with extra support as needed.

Shanti - Where is H?  Is he away?  I am so sorry about the mess, it does sound awful.  I can't help picturing you in Cinderella's work clothes though, you've got more than an unfair burden.  That kind of home and health wrecking disaster should not be allowed to happen twice.  I'm sorry but the fact that you are made to survive in a house despite allergies to the heat and its propensity to flood and mold seems like cruel and unusual punishment to me. 

Mel38 - If it's any consolation I think 'one' seems like a pretty crazy word to have to sound out.  Do your kids speak German too?  I wonder sometimes if having learned Spanish so young might have affected C's ability to sound things out.  In Spanish it's so easy, everything is pronounced but in English, yeesh.

Interesting split in opinions on the appropriateness of the copy and study method.  I'm very much like MelW, once I write something down I usually can recall it clearly so the copy-from-the-board thing seems like a no-brainer good idea to me.  However, dd1 often copies things (and then studies them) incorrectly.  Up until now I've just thought she should simply be more careful, it never occurred to me that the task of copying itself was somehow inappropriate in the first place. 

Jo - Glad the acupuncture is changing things.  I love it.  And that trip looks amazing.

Nic - Yay for your dr!  I love that prescription!  Shanti need to see the same one.

Ack, out of time again!  Have a good day ladies!

[sparkletruck]

Geo - I dont do the standing-up exercises. Ive always done them laying down, and the clamshells, for me, put the least stress on the knee itself (straight leg exercises putting more, and standing straight leg more). I wouldnt do any resistance for the reason you described. From what Ive heard, most people have pretty weak/unattended medius muscles so even if you are a strong runner/person, its not unreasonable to have to start low. That said, I usually hold a 5 or 10 pound weight on the outside of the knee that Im raising when doing clamshells, that is, I dont start them with no resistance, only because I find them easiest. The straight leg raises find their own resistance via the weight of your leg, etc. As for hurting and aging, I dont know if this will make you smile or frown, but when I am out of shape (now) my IT band/knee pain gets exacerbated by crossing my leg! As in, sitting in a chair and crossing said leg over the other like a lady, or crossing the other leg over hurt leg, which pulls hurt leg inward and causes pain. Aging. Le sigh. I'll be 43 in a month

Plady - We kept DD1 "back" to the degree that she is academically qualified to be in the next grade, and her age is right at the cut-off, for the very reason you mentioned - we'd rather she be at the top of her class than working to keep up. We're always glad we did, but she never repeated a grade, rather, she had the option to skip. It's a tough decision. Thank goodness for geo

[kerc]

Originally Posted by Plady 
 However, dd1 often copies things (and then studies them) incorrectly.  Up until now I've just thought she should simply be more careful, it never occurred to me that the task of copying itself was somehow inappropriate in the first place. 

Yes, this.

I'm pretty decent at copying stuff laterally -- from my draft copy to my final copy in school I did totally fine. From the desk to the board is where I SUCK. LOL. And I totally learn by writing.

[tjsmama]

Oh, I am soooo far behind here. I've been trying to read along, but even failing at that pretty miserably. I worked m/t/w nights and it was ROUGH. Seriously, I don't know if it was the full moon, or the storm that blew through, or what, but work has been out of control. And not just the fact that we've been busy, we expect that. It's been that our patients have been CRAZY. I know we get a much lower dose of this in OB than in other specialties, but whooboy...we've had some doozies this week. From the patient who told us that she's immune to benadryl because she took 2 pounds (!!!) of it once when the nurse turned her back and left it on the table (um, yeah...right...) to the patient's father (yes, the grandfather!!!) who got caught by security on video hanging condoms on the railing of the elevator. While his daughter was in labor. What? Yeah, this is just a very small sampling of what we've been dealing with this week. I actually walked in my patient's room the other night to see the father snoring on the couch, while the mother (the patient) who had just had a c-section has the father's 1 year old from another mother in HER bed, trying to give it a bottle and keep it from crawling off the bed. Seriously. This is what this week has been like.


geo~ Foam roller? Weakness is probably the ultimate cause and needs to be addressed, but in the meantime, foam rolling can help a lot with symptoms...

bec~I saw on FB that you quit your job? Did I miss that here??

Everyone else~So sorry I'm behind, and much love to you all.


I really don't even remember the last time I posted here. The XILs were here last weekend, so we went up and skiied with them on Saturday, and then went to the Stock Show for a rodeo on Sunday. Both events were quite fun...I had never been to a rodeo before, it was definitely interesting! DS skiied the whole day with the grown-ups on Saturday, and did awesome. I'm so proud of him, he's really getting the hang of it...and it's so exciting to actually be able to ski with him without being super bored! Now, to get him onto the bumps so mommy can have a little more fun than just skiing groomers. :-)

rr~There has been pitifully little. I took a 3 hour nap last Friday instead of going to workout, but after the 6 out of 8 stretch, combined with the crud I had, I needed it. I did drag myself to spin class on Monday. I was hoping to get a run in, too, but was too wiped out after spin. Today was the first day getting back into a semi-normal routine, got 30 minutes on the hamster wheel in before spin class. Of course, tomorrow we're going to go up skiing, so I won't get a workout in, and the nanny has plans on Sunday, so I don't have any childcare. Hmmm.