Thursday, February 18, 2010

How do you get rid of Hiccups?

First of all, did you know that the correct spelling of hiccups is Hiccoughs? And that the definition of said ailment is: A hiccough is an extraordinary type of breathing movement involving a sudden intake of air (inspiration) due to an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm accompanied by closure of the vocal apparatus (glottis) of the larynx. As stated at MedicineNet.com.

Secondly, it is very important for you to know that we at Whoville are frequent possessors of the hiccups. We somehow find ways to pass them from one to another of us and have one of two reactions: uncontrollable giggles or severe annoyance.

Because of this, we are on a relentless search for "The Cure".

Cures we have tried:
1. Holding your breath. (Success Rate: 0%. Retry Rate: 100%.) EVERY time I get the hiccups I try it. Why?
2. Swallow 5 times while holding your breath. (Success Rate: 80%. Retry Rate: 50%) Bondifaj came up with this and if I'm well hydrated it seems to work. If not, well, there just doesn't seem to be anything to swallow.
3. Swallow 10 mini gulps of water without breathing. (Success Rate: 80%. Retry Rate: 80%) This is my tried and true method.
4. Drink upside down. (Success Rate: ? Retry Rate: ?) I completely forgot about this method until I ran into these pictures the other day.
How do you get rid of the hiccups?

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

We've got spirit, Yes we do!

Wacky Hair Day 5th Grade.



Fashionista is in 5th grade and has gone to the same school for her entire elementary school career.
She LOVES spirit days.
80's Day 3rd Grade
50's Day 3rd Grade
Hat Day 4th Grade
Hawaiian Day 2nd Grade

Super Hero Day 4th Grade
Wacky Hair Day 3rd Grade
Wacky Hair Day 1st Grade
70's ~4th Grade

Halloween 3rd Grade
Isn't it nice to relieve the monotony now and then?

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Success

Today my mind is full and so are all the dirty laundry baskets, so it's time to spend a few minutes writing...

I've thought a lot lately about...

~the importance of womanhood and the amazing things women have to offer.
~success and what it takes to find it.
~family and just how important it is.
~possibility and how we find our own.

Today I want to talk about success.

Goals are important. Our family starts every year with a family night about goals. We make little posters to hang on our bedroom walls with 4 areas of focus. Educational, Spiritual. Physical, and Temporal.

There have been times when the poster itself never makes it onto the wall or bulletin board. Buried on a desk, the goals get forgotten and discarded.

That has taught me something about goals. They need to be in your face! They need to have a schedule and a purpose. They need to be s p e l l e d out.

Then as you begin to work toward the final outcome, you need to enjoy the journey and allow the journey itself to be filled with small successes.

I read somewhere recently how important it is to go to sleep feeling good about yourself. Too often as I lay in bed going over the day in my head I think about my failures; berating myself for mistakes made. Instead I'm learning to think of positive experiences of the day. No matter how small.

For instance, yesterday when I wanted a snack I ate an orange instead of a handful of potato chips. The point of this exercise is to focus on one success and review it over and over in your mind. Not only are you thinking about something good you did, the monotony will help you fall asleep.

Another important message you need to give yourself is in the way you plan. You need to be able to picture yourself having success. You say, "I am going to eat an orange," instead of saying, "I'm not going to eat those chips." Your mind can't hear the not. How do you picture not?

"I am going to ride my stationary bike for an hour"
"I am going to complete that race."
"I will have a pleasant conversation with my teenager"
"I will sit still and listen to my child when they come home from school"
"I will laugh when my kid ..."
"That one end table will be dust free."

Raise the bar on your personal expectations but be realistic. Sometimes when you have a house full of little children it's okay to let your positive successes be a shower, a meal, a happy child.

I heard a story once about a woman whose husband was asking about her day. She said, "I didn't accomplish a single thing today." Her young daughter said, "Yes you did! You helped me find my lost toy and you played with me."

Plan for success, recognize your success no matter how small, and expect joy along the way. There is plenty of failure, fix it fast, forgive yourself fast and focus on the good.

On that note: "When I go to bed tonight, everyone will have something clean to wear tomorrow!"

Monday, February 8, 2010

Dad

Seventy Eight years ago today a little girl named Walene ran from her home in a small Idaho town to the one room school house where her sister was attending. She threw open the door and announced that their mother had just given birth to a baby boy. Her sister was mortified. The year was 1932 and one just didn't talk about babies being born in public and now here she was having it announced to the whole town.

That baby boy was my father. He weighed over 10 pounds and was the sweetest baby boy the world has ever known.

He grew up to be the best father the world has ever known.

When I was a teenager he started writing notes to me and that became a regular thing. He would leave a note on my pillow or dresser and I would respond leaving notes for him in his briefcase or somewhere he would find it. It was a lot easier to share things in writing than face to face and it made me feel important.

I had 5 brothers and sisters and as a little girl I would often sneak behind a living room chair and play by myself to get some time alone. I remember my dad coming back there and sitting with me once and I told him that I loved him. He said there was nothing better that I could say to him. I said, "How about I adore you?" He said, "Nope, I love you is even better than that."

I never wondered how my dad felt about me and I always wanted him to be proud of me. I still love it when my dad gives me hugs and love to see how much my children love him.

Happy Birthday Dad. I love you.