Well as many of you have heard I came down with that H1N1 business. Lucky for me I got Tamiflu and I am well on my way to healthville. The Dr. asked that I stay at home for 5 days which is in fact more time than I have probably been home this year, so I have really had the chance to catch up on sleep, TV, and internet. Formal internet love to all who have sent well wishes. I told Robert I thought I still looked pretty sick. He said "No actually, you don't look bad, you just look like Northwestern Grad school Christine, you know when you slept 2 hours a night wore the same clothing for 2 days, and didn't leave the house all weekend because you were studying." So to put that another way... "Grad school made me look like I had swine flu???"
That for sure gave some nice scary imagery in time for Halloween! In honor of this Swine Flu event we will likely carve a pig on our Halloween pumpkin....
Since Halloween is approaching I felt I should keep the blog themed. Should you care about the little life related updates, call, email, or complain on the blog comment and I will give the readers what they want!
So since I have been home watching TV there is a certain Dove commercial that seems to be very Halloween friendly. I find it to be a little scary. I wonder if any of you have seen it. The commercial is to the tune of "Do your ears hang low?" Here is the link http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Dove+Walmart&hl=en&emb=0&aq=f#
Now where to start... let's get the lyrics in print in case you too were charmed by the tune and could not fully soak in the lyrics.
"Do your eyes sit wide
Does your nose turn to the side
Do your elbows kind of crinkle
Do your knees sort of wrinkle
Does your chest tend to freckle
Do you have a crooked smile
Do your eyes sit wide
Do your ears sort of wiggle
Does your hair make you giggle
Does your neck grow long
Do your hips sing a song
Do your ears hang low."
Is it just me, or did that commercial just not put you in the mood to go buy some Dove products? MY INTERPRETATION: "Dove is for the lady who has mutant features, and can't use other beauty products," or "If you use Dove, you will look like a mutant, if you don't already."
OK so I am all for that natural beauty thing, and fully see the argument that society has made us think that we need to be skinny lil' toothpick things that look like models to be "pretty," but I think Dove has taken their "true beauty " thing too far with this ad. See, if the argument is that we are all pretty and we don't need any product to change us, except Dove products of course, then wouldn't it just be best to associate Dove with total beauty and not perceived "flaws." Every girl has unique features, and yes Dove, I do agree that each of us is beautiful as God created us each as individual gifts from him..... HOWEVER, I am pretty sure none of us wants the product that claims to show off that little thing we are not too excited about you know like "a nose that runs to the side" or your "wide set eyes" That's what makes us human.... we are flawed, and we are always going to be looking for something that shows our perceived best, and on this end I don't really ask for much. I simply prefer to look human, and not like a member of the X-MEN.... so looks like there will be no Dove in my future.
OK sorry for the ramble more normal stuff later.
RED
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Dreaming Big!
Welcome back everyone! (now including my sister, mom, Monica, Leslie, Carrie, Sarah, and Mandy). Bless you for pretending I am cool enough to blog on a regular basis.
As you may have noticed, I don't appear to have too exciting of a social life. If you scroll down, you may find that I really spend most of my time helping kids with hearing loss, helping their parents, or talking about helping with something related to d/hh. Although I find it to be the greatest thing in the world...it turns out others are not as excited as I am about the nerd talk.
In an effort to expand my horizons beyond my business, and my daily visits to the YMCA to workout, I decided to pay for some friends. Because nothing says exciting social life like an expensive women's social club. As of this month, I am now a new member of the Junior League of Richmond. This month I have already been to a couple happy hours, and a social. I have met some great girls... including another 20-something business owner, and someone who also works with ear related things, so I am sure to not have to talk about other things for too long! I will be sure to blog about this aspect of life in between my nerd blogs.
In other more important news. LOTS of people are going to be here to visit soon for TCU HORNED FROG FOOTBALL!!!! I am so pumped. The best part is Leslie will be here to hang out the entire weekend! YES! "Robert's people," or my "friend-in-laws" as I lovingly refer to them (for some reason they don't like it when I call them names), will be meeting in DC for some fun, and then joining us at the TCU at UVA game on Sept 12.
And finally, I will get to have my favorite kind of nerd fun in St. Louis over labor day weekend! I will be reunited with my Northwestern AuD buddies for Serena's wedding. I CAN'T WAIT!
That's all for now.
RED
PS- Say some prayers for an all clear at my annual cancer scans at MD Anderson on Sept 8 & 9. Here's to hoping my body has decided to take a holiday from tumor growing...
PPS- Stay tuned to the blog for a BIG announcement about an exciting new program we're starting as part of the business!
As you may have noticed, I don't appear to have too exciting of a social life. If you scroll down, you may find that I really spend most of my time helping kids with hearing loss, helping their parents, or talking about helping with something related to d/hh. Although I find it to be the greatest thing in the world...it turns out others are not as excited as I am about the nerd talk.
In an effort to expand my horizons beyond my business, and my daily visits to the YMCA to workout, I decided to pay for some friends. Because nothing says exciting social life like an expensive women's social club. As of this month, I am now a new member of the Junior League of Richmond. This month I have already been to a couple happy hours, and a social. I have met some great girls... including another 20-something business owner, and someone who also works with ear related things, so I am sure to not have to talk about other things for too long! I will be sure to blog about this aspect of life in between my nerd blogs.
In other more important news. LOTS of people are going to be here to visit soon for TCU HORNED FROG FOOTBALL!!!! I am so pumped. The best part is Leslie will be here to hang out the entire weekend! YES! "Robert's people," or my "friend-in-laws" as I lovingly refer to them (for some reason they don't like it when I call them names), will be meeting in DC for some fun, and then joining us at the TCU at UVA game on Sept 12.
And finally, I will get to have my favorite kind of nerd fun in St. Louis over labor day weekend! I will be reunited with my Northwestern AuD buddies for Serena's wedding. I CAN'T WAIT!
That's all for now.
RED
PS- Say some prayers for an all clear at my annual cancer scans at MD Anderson on Sept 8 & 9. Here's to hoping my body has decided to take a holiday from tumor growing...
PPS- Stay tuned to the blog for a BIG announcement about an exciting new program we're starting as part of the business!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Good Day Plan
Hello Loyal Blog Readers and first timers....
I attended this session at a conference I spoke at recently, and it talked about ways to help with social emotional aspects of d/hh kid's lives. They talked specifically about helping kids make "Good Day Plans." These are supposed to be a way to have the kids identify the critical aspects of their day that keep them happy and calm, or to put the half empty spin on it... they things that may cause the kid to get all Nanny 911 on you if they don't happen. For example... "I may be all crazy like if I don't get my nap." Anyways, it got be thinking about the little things that make my "Good Day Plan." Of course for me is just turned into a list of random things that make me happy...
A Red Head's Good Day Plan:
1. A great run
2. Cereal for breakfast
3. A walk with the dog
4. Sweet voices of kids at work
5. Empowered parents
6. Free samples at the grocery store
7. Temp above 80
8. Friends to keep me company on the way home from Cville
9. Talking to people from Texas
10. Dinner with my Husband
11. Paying Cash
12. Reading before bed
13. Jam out session on the ride home from work
14. Watching some Disney Channel TV show
So there you go the recipe for an awesome day!
I attended this session at a conference I spoke at recently, and it talked about ways to help with social emotional aspects of d/hh kid's lives. They talked specifically about helping kids make "Good Day Plans." These are supposed to be a way to have the kids identify the critical aspects of their day that keep them happy and calm, or to put the half empty spin on it... they things that may cause the kid to get all Nanny 911 on you if they don't happen. For example... "I may be all crazy like if I don't get my nap." Anyways, it got be thinking about the little things that make my "Good Day Plan." Of course for me is just turned into a list of random things that make me happy...
A Red Head's Good Day Plan:
1. A great run
2. Cereal for breakfast
3. A walk with the dog
4. Sweet voices of kids at work
5. Empowered parents
6. Free samples at the grocery store
7. Temp above 80
8. Friends to keep me company on the way home from Cville
9. Talking to people from Texas
10. Dinner with my Husband
11. Paying Cash
12. Reading before bed
13. Jam out session on the ride home from work
14. Watching some Disney Channel TV show
So there you go the recipe for an awesome day!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Summer!
What a summer!
It's been a crazy hectic summer, but it has been filled with blessings and big changes. After much prayer and consideration, Robert and I have decided to stay put here in VA for a while. As much as we miss Texas and our friends there, we both are filled with peace as we know this is where God wants us right now. The opportunities we both have professionally are so great here in VA that it is almost too much to take in!
Now for the updatin'....
A bulk of the summer has been spent expanding my business to Richmond, doing several presentations at area conferences, and doing contract work with several school districts. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the friends and families who helped me get started. I can't even begin to express how much it means to have your support!
Somewhere in the mix I managed to do a summer camp for children with cochlear implants with a fellow SLP buddy. "Camp Listen in the Kitchen" was quite possibly one of the most rewarding experiences I have had as a professional. All of the kids made such great progress, and they had a blast! It was bittersweet as it made me realize how few resources there are for oral deaf children in Virginia. The times are a changin', but it is still a slow process. I am glad I get to be a part of it!
In other news, my sister moved to VA a couple of weeks ago! We got a great visit from the Schmidt family including Mom, Dad, Ringo, Manda, and Kofi all under the same roof. Ralphie was so excited I think his tail is still wagging! We can't wait to have more Kofi and Mandi adventures!
And now for the REAL news.... I have discovered the coolest trick I get to play on people! I have learned through many comments over the course of the past few weeks that I look a little "youthful" for my age. As it turns out I seem to initially give people a brief awkward moment when they think a 12 year old will be teaching their kid to listen and talk, or give them a scholarly presentation etc. Yes, I will admit that it makes me want to shout at people, "I know I look 12, but I promise it will be OK!" In an effort to keep this positive, and not get annoyed, I have decided to start to accumulate the comments. I hope to try to find the best smart remark...Maybe I will take a vote. So I will end this blog with the ones from the last week or so:
- "When I saw you at the last meeting I was like either I'm getting old or Christine's getting younger... Honey you look 12!"
- "You know, all I kept thinking during your presentation was, How on earth could an 18 year old have already done all that schooling, and started a business?"
- "The first time I saw you at the meeting I seriously thought you were a high school student"
- "Our family just lovingly refers to you as "Doogie Howser, A-V"
- "Are you sure you are old enough to drive yourself to the office?"
Hope to keep you posted with more comments. Thanks for reading my rambles!
RED
It's been a crazy hectic summer, but it has been filled with blessings and big changes. After much prayer and consideration, Robert and I have decided to stay put here in VA for a while. As much as we miss Texas and our friends there, we both are filled with peace as we know this is where God wants us right now. The opportunities we both have professionally are so great here in VA that it is almost too much to take in!
Now for the updatin'....
A bulk of the summer has been spent expanding my business to Richmond, doing several presentations at area conferences, and doing contract work with several school districts. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the friends and families who helped me get started. I can't even begin to express how much it means to have your support!
Somewhere in the mix I managed to do a summer camp for children with cochlear implants with a fellow SLP buddy. "Camp Listen in the Kitchen" was quite possibly one of the most rewarding experiences I have had as a professional. All of the kids made such great progress, and they had a blast! It was bittersweet as it made me realize how few resources there are for oral deaf children in Virginia. The times are a changin', but it is still a slow process. I am glad I get to be a part of it!
In other news, my sister moved to VA a couple of weeks ago! We got a great visit from the Schmidt family including Mom, Dad, Ringo, Manda, and Kofi all under the same roof. Ralphie was so excited I think his tail is still wagging! We can't wait to have more Kofi and Mandi adventures!
And now for the REAL news.... I have discovered the coolest trick I get to play on people! I have learned through many comments over the course of the past few weeks that I look a little "youthful" for my age. As it turns out I seem to initially give people a brief awkward moment when they think a 12 year old will be teaching their kid to listen and talk, or give them a scholarly presentation etc. Yes, I will admit that it makes me want to shout at people, "I know I look 12, but I promise it will be OK!" In an effort to keep this positive, and not get annoyed, I have decided to start to accumulate the comments. I hope to try to find the best smart remark...Maybe I will take a vote. So I will end this blog with the ones from the last week or so:
- "When I saw you at the last meeting I was like either I'm getting old or Christine's getting younger... Honey you look 12!"
- "You know, all I kept thinking during your presentation was, How on earth could an 18 year old have already done all that schooling, and started a business?"
- "The first time I saw you at the meeting I seriously thought you were a high school student"
- "Our family just lovingly refers to you as "Doogie Howser, A-V"
- "Are you sure you are old enough to drive yourself to the office?"
Hope to keep you posted with more comments. Thanks for reading my rambles!
RED
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Long time no post
Oh loyal blog readers... So sorry it has been so long since my last jabber-fest. It has been a crazy couple of weeks. Below is the recap. I will post something more exciting soon.
The last weekend in May we went to Michigan to celebrate Robert's Grandma's bday. It was a great trip all -in -all. Except for the fact that it is still COLD in Michigan in May. I only packed skirts because May = WARM in my brain. I was cold, but thought it was worth it because I loved the skirts I packed. Grandma said she liked my skirt too, so it's a very good thing I packed for summer and not Antartica.
Then it was a crazy CRAZY week. The first week in June a number of insane things that only happen to me took place:
1. My laptop caught on fire... smoke etc. while at work. But thanks to the fire I now have a super cute netbook (although it's not pink)
2. My car decided to make funny noises so Robert got to drive me around to Cville, MCV, and even to a home visit for one of my therapy kids while my car got a check up and some new brake pads!
3. I decided to open a second private practice location in Richmond starting July 1! It's exciting and a little scary to take another risk!
After that, I headed to Texas from June 6-22 for the TCU Listening and Spoken Language Summer Institute (AKA: A-V BOOT CAMP). It was so wonderful to brush up on my skills and get coaching from some of the best A-V therapists around! Paige was a rockin' therapy buddy, and TV pal. Wish we could do therapy together all the time!
As part of my trip to Texas I got to be a part of Jessica and Jonathan Bowman's wedding extravaganza, The Englebrecht wedding anniversary, and lots and lots of friend outings. Nick was an awesome host and let me stay at his house. I got lots of friend-in-law time at Kyle's house, and even got to see MK's new doggie! It was so great to see everyone! Miss y'all already, but I will see many of you in September when the Frogs take on UVA in Cville!
So the first week back from Texas is always an adjustment. I think we get used to being home, and have to readjust to cool evenings, and the many other differences between here and home... This week was no exception. Robert's car had a little bit of a hard time adjusting to Virginia as it decided to break down just days after we put Virginia plates on it. After 2 trips to the mechanic, the Charger still hasn't fully recovered. Robert was for sure it was some sign that we need to just go back to Texas ASAP. I laughed it off, and said there is no way his car would reject Virginia plates as a ploy to get back on the Texas highway...... FYI- My car will NOT be turning in it's Texan-hood anytime soon, just in case. I figure it's the only way they may let us back across the border when we decide to move back some day =).
We have been trying to remain positive and love where God has us right now. Virginia is a great place to be, and we know God will use us to do great things while we are here. Of course it is no secret that a little (ok BIG) part of us will always be in Texas.
Well that's all for now folks...I will post more pics and exciting things once I get some more time.
The last weekend in May we went to Michigan to celebrate Robert's Grandma's bday. It was a great trip all -in -all. Except for the fact that it is still COLD in Michigan in May. I only packed skirts because May = WARM in my brain. I was cold, but thought it was worth it because I loved the skirts I packed. Grandma said she liked my skirt too, so it's a very good thing I packed for summer and not Antartica.
Then it was a crazy CRAZY week. The first week in June a number of insane things that only happen to me took place:
1. My laptop caught on fire... smoke etc. while at work. But thanks to the fire I now have a super cute netbook (although it's not pink)
2. My car decided to make funny noises so Robert got to drive me around to Cville, MCV, and even to a home visit for one of my therapy kids while my car got a check up and some new brake pads!
3. I decided to open a second private practice location in Richmond starting July 1! It's exciting and a little scary to take another risk!
After that, I headed to Texas from June 6-22 for the TCU Listening and Spoken Language Summer Institute (AKA: A-V BOOT CAMP). It was so wonderful to brush up on my skills and get coaching from some of the best A-V therapists around! Paige was a rockin' therapy buddy, and TV pal. Wish we could do therapy together all the time!
As part of my trip to Texas I got to be a part of Jessica and Jonathan Bowman's wedding extravaganza, The Englebrecht wedding anniversary, and lots and lots of friend outings. Nick was an awesome host and let me stay at his house. I got lots of friend-in-law time at Kyle's house, and even got to see MK's new doggie! It was so great to see everyone! Miss y'all already, but I will see many of you in September when the Frogs take on UVA in Cville!
So the first week back from Texas is always an adjustment. I think we get used to being home, and have to readjust to cool evenings, and the many other differences between here and home... This week was no exception. Robert's car had a little bit of a hard time adjusting to Virginia as it decided to break down just days after we put Virginia plates on it. After 2 trips to the mechanic, the Charger still hasn't fully recovered. Robert was for sure it was some sign that we need to just go back to Texas ASAP. I laughed it off, and said there is no way his car would reject Virginia plates as a ploy to get back on the Texas highway...... FYI- My car will NOT be turning in it's Texan-hood anytime soon, just in case. I figure it's the only way they may let us back across the border when we decide to move back some day =).
We have been trying to remain positive and love where God has us right now. Virginia is a great place to be, and we know God will use us to do great things while we are here. Of course it is no secret that a little (ok BIG) part of us will always be in Texas.
Well that's all for now folks...I will post more pics and exciting things once I get some more time.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Hodgepodge
Greetings Blog fans...now formally including Mom, Sara, Leslie, Carrie, and Monica! If I knew how to follow your blogs, I would return the favor.
I typically like to keep my blogs "theme" based, kind of like my therapy, but I've got a couple blog topics to discuss tonight, so pardon my lack of "theme."
1. To my A-V parents who read the blog, and those who enjoy learning more about how children with hearing loss can learn to listen and talk please visit http://www.cochlearimplantonline.com/ .... so many great resources on that blog. Plus it's a bonus read for my blog fans because I got to submit some additional ramblings to Rachel, the author, and got some Internet fame there this week.
2. Speaking of A-V parents...Please check out the fabulous talents of Kimberly Hassenger. She is a painter and fabulous mother and teacher to her 8 year old son with bilateral cochlear implants. She and her son are now in the "business" of designing and painting custom cochlear implant covers. Above, with her permission, is one of her more recent designs she did especially for her lil' Yankee's fan! She has more to come, and I'll be posting them on the private practice site soon!
3. We are going to TEXAS VERY SOON!!! I will be there from June 6-21 for the TCU LSLS summer institute, and Jessica Keller's big wedding day! I can't wait (especially because it is still cold and rainy in VA... I think it is only "Christine weather" 2 months a year here). I hope that I will get to see ALL of my frog friends when I am there, and also make trips to the following establishments:
- Mi Cocina
- Great Outdoors
- Burt Grant Salon Spa
-Rosa's
-The Ballpark -- must see Rangers
- TCU bookstore for some car stickers
- Texas store to pick up a flag for our backyard
- Outside - Sun
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Welcome to Atlanta... Dr. Green!
Well day 1 in Atlanta proved to be very busy! We did lots of planning, thinking and listening. I love what I do on a daily basis and I am so eager to help make this system better for families of children with hearing loss. If it takes us a whole day to even identify all the issues involved in newborn hearing screening follow-up, I can only imagine what it is like for parents and their newborns! Overall though I would say that today was a fabulous day that let me know just how small of a world the D/HH world is. Here are just a few small world moments:
1. First and most importantly.... I found "Ms. Carolyn Green" (see blog below), she is actually attending the same even as I am. As it turns out she is actually Dr. Green, a very famous neurologist in Colorado. She had her name an complete bio in our fancy notebook we got at check-in.....good thing I didn't eat her candy... that would have been a bad first impression!
2. There is another Texan on our team... Monica is an SMU grad, but we'll let it slide because she went to eat Mexican food with me =).
3. The audiologist on our team almost went to Northwestern the year before I did, and we both went to several sessions together at the ASHA convention, but never met until today.
4. I had the pleasure of meeting Rachel, famous blogger ... http://cochlearimplantonline.com/site/ and illustrator for children's books written by a fellow TCU grad Elizabeth Boschini about having a cochlear implant. On the way to meet her my Texas friend Monica told me that we were going meet a friend she met online, and she proceeded to explain all of Rachel's many accomplishments. I then told Monica... I think I may know who this is because there is a girl at TCU who blogs online about implants and wrote a book for kids about CI's... and what do you know... we were talking about the same person! I got to have a great dinner with Rachel, and she let me ask her many questions about life and her blog. Please check her blog and books. I will be adding it as a resource to my private practice's website asap!
Well that is all for now from Atlanta. I'll keep you posted on the progress and all of the happenings as we move through this process.
1. First and most importantly.... I found "Ms. Carolyn Green" (see blog below), she is actually attending the same even as I am. As it turns out she is actually Dr. Green, a very famous neurologist in Colorado. She had her name an complete bio in our fancy notebook we got at check-in.....good thing I didn't eat her candy... that would have been a bad first impression!
2. There is another Texan on our team... Monica is an SMU grad, but we'll let it slide because she went to eat Mexican food with me =).
3. The audiologist on our team almost went to Northwestern the year before I did, and we both went to several sessions together at the ASHA convention, but never met until today.
4. I had the pleasure of meeting Rachel, famous blogger ... http://cochlearimplantonline.com/site/ and illustrator for children's books written by a fellow TCU grad Elizabeth Boschini about having a cochlear implant. On the way to meet her my Texas friend Monica told me that we were going meet a friend she met online, and she proceeded to explain all of Rachel's many accomplishments. I then told Monica... I think I may know who this is because there is a girl at TCU who blogs online about implants and wrote a book for kids about CI's... and what do you know... we were talking about the same person! I got to have a great dinner with Rachel, and she let me ask her many questions about life and her blog. Please check her blog and books. I will be adding it as a resource to my private practice's website asap!
Well that is all for now from Atlanta. I'll keep you posted on the progress and all of the happenings as we move through this process.
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