Wow...what a draining week! I sure hope next week slows down a little. My weekend was basically spent at the school putting together and organizing my classroom. For being a first year teacher, I sure do have a lot of stuff. I'm sure my dad would would call it junk, like he always did when he helped me to move during the college years. However, one person's junk is another's treasure! My mom said that I better stay at Minnetonka for awhile or find a guy to help me move all of my stuff, because she sure isn't going to be of much help. My dad was always the one to help me move, now I'm sure he is smiling down from heaven happy that he gets to get out of this one.
I didn't do as much mileage as I should've this week, but that's ok. There was no way I would've been able to run more with how exhausted I was when I came home from teacher orientation. I'm glad I gave my body a little bit of a break, because when I ran 10 miles today it felt so good. It was crazy, but the run went by so quick. I definitely could've kept on going. It's wierd to think that 10 miles is an easy run for me. Crazy! My running partner, Michelle says that I'm doing a very good job with my training. We finished 10 miles in under 1 1/2 hours so that means we were running 9 minute miles. I think that's pretty good.
I'm going to be more vigilant this week of sticking to my running. I need to remember to take time for me!
I'm going to place the order for the t-shirts this week so this is your last chance to tell me if you'd like one. As of right now, only 3 people have expressed interest in a shirt. Please let me know.
Blessings,
Lacy
Ps. A little note to my dear Marsha. Thank you for your heartwarming comment. It must have taken you a long time to get all caught up with my blog. Thank you for taking the time to see what I've been up to. Your prayers and thoughtfulness are very much appreciated!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
There is not enough time in the day...
I did stick to my plan and slept in a little bit and went for a run this morning. It was still hot and sticky out and my legs felt incredibly heavy, but I did it! For some reason, it was a much more difficult run than my 14 mile run last Sunday. Strange!
I wanted to lay on the couch the rest of the day, but no such luck. I had Smartboard training for 3 hours at Minnetonka. I am very thankful I went. I learned a lot of stuff that will be beneficial for me in the upcoming year. The Smartboard is sure a great source of technology to have in the classroom. I feel so blessed!
I did get lots of work done when I went to my classroom after the Smartboard training. I feel much better about the layout. Now all I have to do is organize my desk and decorate my classroom. I do have a busy day tomorrow, but hopefully I can organize my desk. I know I'm crazy, but I will be going to the school this weekend to do my decorating. I just can't seem to think of another time to do so.
Please pray for me that I can stick to my running plan with all that I have to do here at school. I do plan to run 10 miles on Sunday with my running partner Michelle. It's hard to find time for myself these days. Please pray for me that I will be able to better manage my time and not put so much stress on myself. My body and my brain can't handle it.
I hope all of you are enjoying your last week of summer!
Much love,
Lacy
I wanted to lay on the couch the rest of the day, but no such luck. I had Smartboard training for 3 hours at Minnetonka. I am very thankful I went. I learned a lot of stuff that will be beneficial for me in the upcoming year. The Smartboard is sure a great source of technology to have in the classroom. I feel so blessed!
I did get lots of work done when I went to my classroom after the Smartboard training. I feel much better about the layout. Now all I have to do is organize my desk and decorate my classroom. I do have a busy day tomorrow, but hopefully I can organize my desk. I know I'm crazy, but I will be going to the school this weekend to do my decorating. I just can't seem to think of another time to do so.
Please pray for me that I can stick to my running plan with all that I have to do here at school. I do plan to run 10 miles on Sunday with my running partner Michelle. It's hard to find time for myself these days. Please pray for me that I will be able to better manage my time and not put so much stress on myself. My body and my brain can't handle it.
I hope all of you are enjoying your last week of summer!
Much love,
Lacy
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
I can't catch up....
I'm officially "out of it" with everything that I have going on right now. My brain seems to stop working around 4pm and it sure takes a long time to get it going in the morning. It doesn't help that I'm yawning almost every minute of the day. I'm sure every teacher would say they felt the same way during their first week of training. The training isn't all that bad, it is all the other stuff like setting up my classroom, communicating with parents, preparing curriculum, organizing stuff, etc that is suffocating me. Yesterday and today I spent several hours in my classroom sorting through things and trying out different layouts. Don't get me wrong, I was having a lot of fun doing it...I barely even stopped to take a drink of water. However, I've had the intention to go running both days but by the time I get home I feel so incredibly exhausted. I walked in my house today around 6:30pm and went right into my room to put on my pajamas and take a nap. It definitely felt good, but here I am now trying to catch up on things again. It doesn't stop. With that, I ask for your prayers. May I remember that I can't do everything and surrender to God all that is burdening me. May He give me the strength and energy to go on and reassurance of when to be done and go home.
With that, I have decided to go for my run tomorrow morning. I was going to go in to school and work on my classroom a bit more, but I'm pretty sure that will only make me feel worse. Tomorrow morning I'm going to focus on me so that I can have a more productive afternoon. I don't want to stress out my brain any more than I have to. If you read below, it definitely has a altering effect. To this day, I do believe that it was the stress of my grandpa's passing that triggered my dad's sickness. My dad died only 4 months after his father!
Why do we need to give our brains a break?
Numerous medical and psychological studies have suggested a large proportion of visits to the doctor's office are due to psychological problems, many the result of acute or chronic stress.
Stress is a normal process we use to appraise and attempt to cope with emotional threats and challenges. Stressors--events and situations--may be blamed for the uncomfortable effects of stress. But the way we perceive stressors determines whether stress is experienced as a panic or a challenge. While normal stress protects the body in times of threat, prolonged stress may potentially damage the body, including the brain.
When a stressful situation occurs, the body reacts with an outpouring of hormones (adrenaline, norepinephrine, and cortisol). These hormones increase heart rate and respiration, send more blood to skeletal muscles, dull pain, stimulate the immune system, and turn sugar and fat into energy.
The stress response is the body and mind's normal mechanism for addressing stressors. In most cases, the response occurs for a limited time to aid the individual in dealing with a specific stress situation then the body returns to a normal, non-stressed state.
Sometimes, however, the presence of sustained stressors--abuse, combat, perceived unrealistic pressures, illness, anger-producing situations--can have markedly damaging effects on the body and the brain. Robert Sapolsky at Stanford University, and others, have investigated stress and health and report that a prolonged flood of stress hormones can actually cause shrinking in certain brain areas, particularly in the hippocampus.
A major role of the hippocampus is in memory. It is not unusual for persons with prolonged stress to report forgetfulness and difficulty learning. A hopeful discovery is that certain portions of the hippocampus can recover once the stress response is reversed.
Since catastrophes, life changes, conflicts, and the myriad things that produce a stress reaction are a part of most people's lives, it is how we learn to interpret and control stressors that is crucial.
Coping with Stress
Exercise strengthens the body. It can reduce the experience of stress, depression, and anxiety. Dozens of scientific studies have demonstrated the relationship between exercise and mood. Exercise promotes arousal and relaxation, and improves quality of sleep. These conditions help the body recover from the stress response.
Relaxation through meditation, biofeedback, and a variety of other activities and techniques promotes lower blood pressure, slower respiration, reduced metabolism and muscle tension. These counteract the effects of stress.
Social contacts, friends, and family relationships can help in creating emotional trust, support, and relaxation. Even caring for a pet can provide significant emotional comfort that helps reduce stress.
Attitudes of confidence, positive ability to solve problems, and balance allow the cycle of stress response to resolve now and then instead of being sustained.
Healthy lifestyle--not smoking, minimal use of alcohol, balanced nutrition and weight control, and slowing down and taking time to smell the roses--promotes a sense of peace and control over one's life. Stress is often related to the anxiety caused by a feeling of being out of control.
Source: www.brainsource.com/stress_&_health.htm
With that, I have decided to go for my run tomorrow morning. I was going to go in to school and work on my classroom a bit more, but I'm pretty sure that will only make me feel worse. Tomorrow morning I'm going to focus on me so that I can have a more productive afternoon. I don't want to stress out my brain any more than I have to. If you read below, it definitely has a altering effect. To this day, I do believe that it was the stress of my grandpa's passing that triggered my dad's sickness. My dad died only 4 months after his father!
Why do we need to give our brains a break?
Numerous medical and psychological studies have suggested a large proportion of visits to the doctor's office are due to psychological problems, many the result of acute or chronic stress.
Stress is a normal process we use to appraise and attempt to cope with emotional threats and challenges. Stressors--events and situations--may be blamed for the uncomfortable effects of stress. But the way we perceive stressors determines whether stress is experienced as a panic or a challenge. While normal stress protects the body in times of threat, prolonged stress may potentially damage the body, including the brain.
When a stressful situation occurs, the body reacts with an outpouring of hormones (adrenaline, norepinephrine, and cortisol). These hormones increase heart rate and respiration, send more blood to skeletal muscles, dull pain, stimulate the immune system, and turn sugar and fat into energy.
The stress response is the body and mind's normal mechanism for addressing stressors. In most cases, the response occurs for a limited time to aid the individual in dealing with a specific stress situation then the body returns to a normal, non-stressed state.
Sometimes, however, the presence of sustained stressors--abuse, combat, perceived unrealistic pressures, illness, anger-producing situations--can have markedly damaging effects on the body and the brain. Robert Sapolsky at Stanford University, and others, have investigated stress and health and report that a prolonged flood of stress hormones can actually cause shrinking in certain brain areas, particularly in the hippocampus.
A major role of the hippocampus is in memory. It is not unusual for persons with prolonged stress to report forgetfulness and difficulty learning. A hopeful discovery is that certain portions of the hippocampus can recover once the stress response is reversed.
Since catastrophes, life changes, conflicts, and the myriad things that produce a stress reaction are a part of most people's lives, it is how we learn to interpret and control stressors that is crucial.
Coping with Stress
Exercise strengthens the body. It can reduce the experience of stress, depression, and anxiety. Dozens of scientific studies have demonstrated the relationship between exercise and mood. Exercise promotes arousal and relaxation, and improves quality of sleep. These conditions help the body recover from the stress response.
Relaxation through meditation, biofeedback, and a variety of other activities and techniques promotes lower blood pressure, slower respiration, reduced metabolism and muscle tension. These counteract the effects of stress.
Social contacts, friends, and family relationships can help in creating emotional trust, support, and relaxation. Even caring for a pet can provide significant emotional comfort that helps reduce stress.
Attitudes of confidence, positive ability to solve problems, and balance allow the cycle of stress response to resolve now and then instead of being sustained.
Healthy lifestyle--not smoking, minimal use of alcohol, balanced nutrition and weight control, and slowing down and taking time to smell the roses--promotes a sense of peace and control over one's life. Stress is often related to the anxiety caused by a feeling of being out of control.
Source: www.brainsource.com/stress_&_health.htm
Monday, August 18, 2008
Tell me more about prions!!
Small regions within prion proteins regulate their ability to cross species barriers
Researchers have known for decades that certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as mad cow disease or its human equivalent, Cruetzfeldt-Jakob disease, result from a kind of infectious protein called a prion. Remarkably, in recent years researchers also have discovered non-pathogenic prions that play beneficial roles in biology, and prions even may act as essential elements in learning and memory.
But although prions have received a great deal of scrutiny, scientists still don't understand many of the most fundamental mechanisms of how prions form, replicate and cross from one species to another.
Now, through studying non-toxic yeast prions, scientists at Whitehead Institute have discovered small but critical regions within prions that determine much of their behavior.
"These findings provide a new framework for us to begin exploring properties of prion biology that, up until now, have proven difficult to investigate," says Whitehead Member and MIT Professor of Biology Susan Lindquist, senior author on the paper, published in Nature.
Proteins are the cell's workhorses, and they need to fold into complex and precise shapes to do their jobs. Prions are proteins that start out normally, but then at some point misfold - rather like an origami swan that comes out looking and acting instead like a vulture.
But prions have another characteristic that enables them to wreak havoc. They recruit other, properly folded proteins into misforming along with them, a process Lindquist calls a "conformational cascade." In many organisms, this conformational cascade creates long fibers called amyloids. (The brains of animals that have died from prion infections are literally packed with amyloid clumps.)
In order to glean insights into the mechanics that enable amyloid formation, Peter Tessier, a postdoctoral scientist in Lindquist's lab, used peptide arrays - glass slides covered with thousands of tiny protein fragments. Traditionally, these arrays are used for finding binding sites within well-behaved proteins. Here, Tessier designed the arrays so that he could observe protein folding and amyloid formation in real time.
Tessier covered the array with peptides from baker's yeast and then added prion protein to the array, also from the same yeast species. He found that a small cluster of peptides recruited the prion proteins to misfold into an amyloid structure. This region of the protein, which Tessier called a "recognition element," constitutes about 10 percent of the prion. Tessier repeated this experiment with peptides and a prion taken from pathogenic fungi. The results were the same.
While this prion is a laboratory construct not found in nature, these findings provide researchers with a new way to approach old questions, such as why some prion diseases can jump from one species to another but others can't. Tessier and Lindquist say it is likely that natural prions contain more than one recognition element, and recognition elements can slide into a neighboring region. Many external factors can determine which recognition element is activated, in turn influencing the downstream behavior of the prion.
FINDINGS
Scientists at Whitehead Institute have found that small regions within prion proteins are responsible for their infectious properties. Moreover, these regions regulate the ability of prions to cross species barriers.
RELEVANCE
Prions are highly robust and infectious proteins, most notable for their central role in bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly called mad cow disease. But very little is known about how prions form aggregates of malformed proteins that ultimately result in disease. This study provides initial insights into how prions recruit and distort healthy neighboring proteins.
"These findings are remarkable for two reasons," says Lindquist, who is also an investigator for Howard Hughes Medical Institute. "For one thing, this is the first time that these peptide arrays have been used to study protein folding. We've taken this platform to a whole new level. Also, we've seen just one small part of this prion inducing proteins to fold. This is an entirely new concept."
Earlier research from the Lindquist lab, published in Nature in 2005, identified the amino acid regions where prions connect with one another to form amyloids. Those interaction regions turn out to be the same regions Tessier identified as recognition elements - further confirmation that these regions are key to prion activity.
Tessier and his colleagues plan to further investigate this process in mammalian prions, such as those responsible for mad cow and Cruetzfeldt-Jakob diseases, as well as in other non-prion proteins that can also form amyloid structures.
Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/70530.php
Researchers have known for decades that certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as mad cow disease or its human equivalent, Cruetzfeldt-Jakob disease, result from a kind of infectious protein called a prion. Remarkably, in recent years researchers also have discovered non-pathogenic prions that play beneficial roles in biology, and prions even may act as essential elements in learning and memory.
But although prions have received a great deal of scrutiny, scientists still don't understand many of the most fundamental mechanisms of how prions form, replicate and cross from one species to another.
Now, through studying non-toxic yeast prions, scientists at Whitehead Institute have discovered small but critical regions within prions that determine much of their behavior.
"These findings provide a new framework for us to begin exploring properties of prion biology that, up until now, have proven difficult to investigate," says Whitehead Member and MIT Professor of Biology Susan Lindquist, senior author on the paper, published in Nature.
Proteins are the cell's workhorses, and they need to fold into complex and precise shapes to do their jobs. Prions are proteins that start out normally, but then at some point misfold - rather like an origami swan that comes out looking and acting instead like a vulture.
But prions have another characteristic that enables them to wreak havoc. They recruit other, properly folded proteins into misforming along with them, a process Lindquist calls a "conformational cascade." In many organisms, this conformational cascade creates long fibers called amyloids. (The brains of animals that have died from prion infections are literally packed with amyloid clumps.)
In order to glean insights into the mechanics that enable amyloid formation, Peter Tessier, a postdoctoral scientist in Lindquist's lab, used peptide arrays - glass slides covered with thousands of tiny protein fragments. Traditionally, these arrays are used for finding binding sites within well-behaved proteins. Here, Tessier designed the arrays so that he could observe protein folding and amyloid formation in real time.
Tessier covered the array with peptides from baker's yeast and then added prion protein to the array, also from the same yeast species. He found that a small cluster of peptides recruited the prion proteins to misfold into an amyloid structure. This region of the protein, which Tessier called a "recognition element," constitutes about 10 percent of the prion. Tessier repeated this experiment with peptides and a prion taken from pathogenic fungi. The results were the same.
While this prion is a laboratory construct not found in nature, these findings provide researchers with a new way to approach old questions, such as why some prion diseases can jump from one species to another but others can't. Tessier and Lindquist say it is likely that natural prions contain more than one recognition element, and recognition elements can slide into a neighboring region. Many external factors can determine which recognition element is activated, in turn influencing the downstream behavior of the prion.
FINDINGS
Scientists at Whitehead Institute have found that small regions within prion proteins are responsible for their infectious properties. Moreover, these regions regulate the ability of prions to cross species barriers.
RELEVANCE
Prions are highly robust and infectious proteins, most notable for their central role in bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly called mad cow disease. But very little is known about how prions form aggregates of malformed proteins that ultimately result in disease. This study provides initial insights into how prions recruit and distort healthy neighboring proteins.
"These findings are remarkable for two reasons," says Lindquist, who is also an investigator for Howard Hughes Medical Institute. "For one thing, this is the first time that these peptide arrays have been used to study protein folding. We've taken this platform to a whole new level. Also, we've seen just one small part of this prion inducing proteins to fold. This is an entirely new concept."
Earlier research from the Lindquist lab, published in Nature in 2005, identified the amino acid regions where prions connect with one another to form amyloids. Those interaction regions turn out to be the same regions Tessier identified as recognition elements - further confirmation that these regions are key to prion activity.
Tessier and his colleagues plan to further investigate this process in mammalian prions, such as those responsible for mad cow and Cruetzfeldt-Jakob diseases, as well as in other non-prion proteins that can also form amyloid structures.
Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/70530.php
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Wow...what a run!!!
I had a hard time getting up this morning and I was yawning the entire way as I drove to my running route. However, as soon as I started and my blood starting moving I felt great. I ran along the Mississippi River and it was such a beautiful day! It was steamy out, but the path was shady for the most part and there was a little of a breeze. I listened to praise music the whole time and prayed that God would give me strength and energy to finish the 14 miles. If you know the cities you'll understand how long of a run I did. I started out on Frankline Ave and ran several miles into the Fort Snelling National Park. It was quite a hefty run, but I could've definitely gone further. There was a strange thing that happened towards the end of the run when I ran across the Franklin bridge. There were all these cop cars blocking the street and lots of people stopped to gawk. Everybody was looking over the bridge and I couldn't really pick out what they were looking at...I sure didn't see anything. However, I saw that the cop was standing by a pair of sandals and I came to the conclusion that somebody must've jumped off the bridge. I did ask a spectator, but she didn't seem to know much. What a crazy thing to do, but please pray for this person that he or she makes it out ok.
Also, once again I'm going to ask for your prayers for me as I start my first official week as a kindergarten Spanish Immersion teacher for Minnetonka. There is so much to learn and so much to do. Eventhough I'm very excited to start, it is all very overwhelming and suffocating at times. Please pray that I stay calm and centered through it all.
One last thing. Please let me know if you are interested in purchasing a t-shirt and what you would like it to say (loved one or father, walk or run). I need to get a rough guestimate for an order in asap. Thanks so much!
Much love,
Lacy
Also, once again I'm going to ask for your prayers for me as I start my first official week as a kindergarten Spanish Immersion teacher for Minnetonka. There is so much to learn and so much to do. Eventhough I'm very excited to start, it is all very overwhelming and suffocating at times. Please pray that I stay calm and centered through it all.
One last thing. Please let me know if you are interested in purchasing a t-shirt and what you would like it to say (loved one or father, walk or run). I need to get a rough guestimate for an order in asap. Thanks so much!
Much love,
Lacy
Saturday, August 16, 2008
New life...
Uncle Ray went home peacefully early Friday morning. I'm glad that I went to go visit him when I did. It kind of feels like he was waiting for me, just like my dad waited for him. I didn't think it would all happen this fast, but I couldn't be happier for him that he is finally free. Please continue to pray for Uncle Ray's family. I know that they will really miss his heartwarming presence, I know I will.
Also, please send some prayers out there tomorrow morning for me because I will be running 14 miles. I have never ran more than 13 miles so I'm a little bit nervous that it will all go ok. I had such a great run last weekend...I just pray that God confirms to me that I can do this. I'm going to go to bed pretty soon here so that I will be all rested up. Wish me luck!
One more thing, I need to know if any of you out there would be interested in purchasing a shirt and if you want, you can order it with "Loved one" instead of "father" and you can even replace "run" with "walk". Please shoot me an email and let me know. I don't know of the exact price yet, but the cost will include for the shirt, printing, for Holli and a little donation to my dad's account. It will most likely be more than $20 I'm thinking. I just need to know how many are interested so I can place an order and they can give me a bulk price.
Check out this Fox 9 News Story. It is frustrating how much CJD goes misdiagnosed and incorrectly reported. Even though only 8 have passed away in Minnesota from CJD....I'm pretty sure the actual number is much higher. It is here and we need to know more!
Misdiagnosis: CJD
Last Edited: Thursday, 14 Sep 2006, 3:13 PM CDT
Created: Wednesday, 13 Sep 2006, 5:17 PM CDT
AP
FOX 9 -- Her daughter say their mother sparkled in her golden years, but when Shirly Rassieur turned 68 -- it was like someone flipped a switch.
She lost the ability to walk and talk. Suddenly, she couldn’t figure out how to work the thermostat.
The doctors diagnosed Shirly with Alzheimer’s, even though some of the symptoms didn’t fit. Shirly didn’t just slip away -- her decline was abrupt and brutal.
When she dies in July of last year, her daughters demanded an autopsy.
They found their mother dies from Creutzfeldt-Jakob Didease, or CJD -- often referred to as a human form of mad cow disease.
Like British mad cow disease, which is transmitted through contaminated meat, the disease is caused by the same microscopic and indestructible protein.
No one knows what causes cases of CJD in the U.S., which afflict about one in a million.
The Minnesota Health Department has been tracking CJD deaths since 1991. Last year eight people died from the disease, but the health department bases that number on death certificates.
Shirly Rassieur’s death certificate still says Alzheimer’s -- her doctor refuses to change it.
It’s a disease that stole the sparkle from the woman they love, and her daughters can’t help wondering how many other cases may be misdiagnosed.
Source: www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=60D2D47D0B02B08E3FD1CD1EAF6614F9?contentId=876930&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
Also, please send some prayers out there tomorrow morning for me because I will be running 14 miles. I have never ran more than 13 miles so I'm a little bit nervous that it will all go ok. I had such a great run last weekend...I just pray that God confirms to me that I can do this. I'm going to go to bed pretty soon here so that I will be all rested up. Wish me luck!
One more thing, I need to know if any of you out there would be interested in purchasing a shirt and if you want, you can order it with "Loved one" instead of "father" and you can even replace "run" with "walk". Please shoot me an email and let me know. I don't know of the exact price yet, but the cost will include for the shirt, printing, for Holli and a little donation to my dad's account. It will most likely be more than $20 I'm thinking. I just need to know how many are interested so I can place an order and they can give me a bulk price.
Check out this Fox 9 News Story. It is frustrating how much CJD goes misdiagnosed and incorrectly reported. Even though only 8 have passed away in Minnesota from CJD....I'm pretty sure the actual number is much higher. It is here and we need to know more!
Misdiagnosis: CJD
Last Edited: Thursday, 14 Sep 2006, 3:13 PM CDT
Created: Wednesday, 13 Sep 2006, 5:17 PM CDT
AP
FOX 9 -- Her daughter say their mother sparkled in her golden years, but when Shirly Rassieur turned 68 -- it was like someone flipped a switch.
She lost the ability to walk and talk. Suddenly, she couldn’t figure out how to work the thermostat.
The doctors diagnosed Shirly with Alzheimer’s, even though some of the symptoms didn’t fit. Shirly didn’t just slip away -- her decline was abrupt and brutal.
When she dies in July of last year, her daughters demanded an autopsy.
They found their mother dies from Creutzfeldt-Jakob Didease, or CJD -- often referred to as a human form of mad cow disease.
Like British mad cow disease, which is transmitted through contaminated meat, the disease is caused by the same microscopic and indestructible protein.
No one knows what causes cases of CJD in the U.S., which afflict about one in a million.
The Minnesota Health Department has been tracking CJD deaths since 1991. Last year eight people died from the disease, but the health department bases that number on death certificates.
Shirly Rassieur’s death certificate still says Alzheimer’s -- her doctor refuses to change it.
It’s a disease that stole the sparkle from the woman they love, and her daughters can’t help wondering how many other cases may be misdiagnosed.
Source: www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=60D2D47D0B02B08E3FD1CD1EAF6614F9?contentId=876930&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
Thursday, August 14, 2008
No vacation for me....bummers!!
I found out last night that my new teacher orientation actually started today!! I was thinking that the ball started rolling on Friday, but I was wrong and boy am I glad I realized that. After my last night class, I headed out to sing karoake with my good friend Tracee. It was a night to celebrate not only because I successfully finished my two summer courses, but also because it was Tracee's birthday. I sang "Can't fight the moonlight" and "Let's hear it for the boy". I had a lot of fun singing the second song and I plan to sing it to my future husband one day. If that ever happens...hehe!
It was an early night though, because I had to be in Minnetonka for training at 9:30am. It was a good first day and I learned a lot of beneficial information, but at the same time everything I have to do and know is so overwhelming. Please pray for me! Tomorrow will be an even longer day...I have to be there from 8am-4pm oofta! Anyway, after my training was over, I picked up my grandma Hladky to go out to lunch and visit my great uncle Ray who is in the hospital.
Just a little bit about Uncle Ray. He is truly an amazing man. He took care of my dad and his siblings a lot when they were young. My dad often talked about Uncle Ray and how much he loved him. He saw him like a second dad. Uncle Ray is over 90 years old and even though he has an ailing heart, it couldn't be more full of love. When my dad was in hospice care, Uncle Ray found a way to make it all the way up to St. Cloud to visit him. It was after his visit that my dad went to be with the Lord. He was waiting for Uncle Ray! I actually wasn't in the room when my dad passed. I knew I wouldn't be able to take it so I had been outside, walking by the river and listening to praise music on my ipod. When I walked back into the hospital, it was the first time that my heart didn't race thinking that someone was going to tell me that my dad passed. He went at the one moment when I didn't expect it. So it came as a shock when Uncle Ray who came walking towards me to give me a hug and let me know that my dad has been freed. It was truly a special moment. That just goes to show how special my great Uncle Ray is.
Anyway, Uncle Ray is currently in hospice care at methodist hospital and preparing to make his way to heaven. He has had complications from the heart meds that he has been taking for many years and they are causing him to blead internally. His body can't recover not only because of his age, but because he doesn't want to fight for life. He wants more than ever to go home! I felt a huge peace come over me as I sat by his side, holding his hand and saying prayers for his comfort and peace. Even though he couldn't verbally respond, I knew he could hear me by the squeeze of his hand. It does all kind of seem eary that he is in a similar end of life situation as my dad and around the same time, but it also couldn't feel more right. The more that I see my loved ones pass away, the more I adjust to the reality of death and it not being all that scary. This may be wierd for some of you that I say this, but witnessing the passing of life is a relief. We are here temporarily, it is just a passing ground to our eternal home of everlasting life in heaven. Why is death viewed with such darkness? It is unfortunate for us who are left behind, but I couldn't be happier for Uncle Ray that he will make his journey to live in complete happiness. He definitely deserves it!
I ask for your prayers for my great Unlce Ray and his family. May that feel God's love comfort their aching hearts at this time. May his peace warm them from head to toe.
As for my training today, I went rollerblading for 2 hours. I got sprinkled on here and there, but it was very refreshing. My legs were sore and I could feel a blister coming on strong, but I kept on truckin'. I knew that this workout will be nothing compared to Sunday when I have to run 14 miles. Please keep me in your prayers that all goes well. This will be the most that I have ever ran at 1 time. Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers. Remember...don't stop spreading the word.
Much love,
Lacy
It was an early night though, because I had to be in Minnetonka for training at 9:30am. It was a good first day and I learned a lot of beneficial information, but at the same time everything I have to do and know is so overwhelming. Please pray for me! Tomorrow will be an even longer day...I have to be there from 8am-4pm oofta! Anyway, after my training was over, I picked up my grandma Hladky to go out to lunch and visit my great uncle Ray who is in the hospital.
Just a little bit about Uncle Ray. He is truly an amazing man. He took care of my dad and his siblings a lot when they were young. My dad often talked about Uncle Ray and how much he loved him. He saw him like a second dad. Uncle Ray is over 90 years old and even though he has an ailing heart, it couldn't be more full of love. When my dad was in hospice care, Uncle Ray found a way to make it all the way up to St. Cloud to visit him. It was after his visit that my dad went to be with the Lord. He was waiting for Uncle Ray! I actually wasn't in the room when my dad passed. I knew I wouldn't be able to take it so I had been outside, walking by the river and listening to praise music on my ipod. When I walked back into the hospital, it was the first time that my heart didn't race thinking that someone was going to tell me that my dad passed. He went at the one moment when I didn't expect it. So it came as a shock when Uncle Ray who came walking towards me to give me a hug and let me know that my dad has been freed. It was truly a special moment. That just goes to show how special my great Uncle Ray is.
Anyway, Uncle Ray is currently in hospice care at methodist hospital and preparing to make his way to heaven. He has had complications from the heart meds that he has been taking for many years and they are causing him to blead internally. His body can't recover not only because of his age, but because he doesn't want to fight for life. He wants more than ever to go home! I felt a huge peace come over me as I sat by his side, holding his hand and saying prayers for his comfort and peace. Even though he couldn't verbally respond, I knew he could hear me by the squeeze of his hand. It does all kind of seem eary that he is in a similar end of life situation as my dad and around the same time, but it also couldn't feel more right. The more that I see my loved ones pass away, the more I adjust to the reality of death and it not being all that scary. This may be wierd for some of you that I say this, but witnessing the passing of life is a relief. We are here temporarily, it is just a passing ground to our eternal home of everlasting life in heaven. Why is death viewed with such darkness? It is unfortunate for us who are left behind, but I couldn't be happier for Uncle Ray that he will make his journey to live in complete happiness. He definitely deserves it!
I ask for your prayers for my great Unlce Ray and his family. May that feel God's love comfort their aching hearts at this time. May his peace warm them from head to toe.
As for my training today, I went rollerblading for 2 hours. I got sprinkled on here and there, but it was very refreshing. My legs were sore and I could feel a blister coming on strong, but I kept on truckin'. I knew that this workout will be nothing compared to Sunday when I have to run 14 miles. Please keep me in your prayers that all goes well. This will be the most that I have ever ran at 1 time. Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers. Remember...don't stop spreading the word.
Much love,
Lacy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)