Simple Woman's Daybook - My Week 2

A while ago, I created another blog specifically for meme-type entries, Bluegrassgal's Weblog. (I know, original, isn't it? *lol*)

Anyway, my SW Daybook entry for the week can be found at this address: http://bluegrassgal.wordpress.com/simple-womens-daybook-week-2/

My 2nd Prairie Dream of the Day

OK. For the 2nd time today, I have "found" something at the Prairie Dream blog that I just "had to have": The Simple Woman's Daybook, from the Simple Woman blog.

FOR TODAY ...

Outside my Window...a sultry-warm afternoon, and freedom from the noises of the house.

I am thinking...my head hurts, and when do I go back to work? (Today is my day off.)

From the learning rooms...DD (5) giving herself a manicure with the toenail clippers.

I am thankful for...a husband that knows just about anything that needs to be known about computers.

From the kitchen...coffee brewing in our new pot, bought after 3 of us broke the old coffee pot.

I am wearing...brick red w/fake gray lining tee-shirt, blue jeans one size too big (how often does THAT happen? - add that to the thankful bit), and lightish pink crocks

I am reading...blogs on the internet

I am hoping...a day of rest

I am creating...a home business that will hopefully allow me to transition to being a WAHM (i/o a WOHM). Every day I go to work, DD says, "...but I thought you loved me." *OUCH*

I am hearing...my 3 kids' raging case of the galloping grumpy gimmies

Around the house...one very pregnant (w/8 pups) Border Collie.

One of my favorite things...turtle cheesecake

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...making it through my four shifts of work before the weekend (which I have off).

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...




This is my DD about 3 years ago, when we first moved to Kentucky.

Cool Book for Kids (of All Ages)

I've been doing various things to expand my blog lately, one of which is using Scoutle, where a little virtual stick-figure me runs around telling other peoples' blogs that I am a hillbilly, not a redneck.

One blog that I found through the Scoutle service that think I'm going to like is "My Semblance of Sanity". Right now, this Mama is running a contest for a picture book where folks are anticipating the circus coming to town, called, "Sidewalk Circus", by Paul Fleischman and Kevin Hawkes. Picture books are great for all ages, because they allow our imaginations to fly. And, if you have kindergarten-age children (or thereabouts), you can make up stories about the pictures when they ask, "What is that?" or "Why is that baby crying?"

Go check it out. You won't be disappointed.

Gonna Be a Long Day...

OK. So I wake up this morning and decide to to the Entrecard Credit Generator from The Germz.com Early. For those not in the know, this is a way to find new blogs, learn something, and (hopefully) get some visits to your blog or site in return. I've found enough things that I want to do a little bit more with that I'm blogging about my experiences today.

So, in no particular order...

On the Prairie Dreams blog, I came across a badge for the "350 Challenge" hosted by Brighter Planet, a sort of "webroots" movement for personal action on the environment. So, I'm adding the 350 Challenge badge to my sidebar. Brighter Planet has teamed with 350.org in order to spread the word about the need for reducing our carbon/CO2 emissions. The 350 site has a very good call to action for larger scale events and movements. I would like to find something that also stresses the contributions invidivduals can make to their own CO2-offset efforts, like using public transportation where available, etc. If you know of a good place for this, please let me know in a comment.

So, what am I going to do about it?

1. There is a woman who works in the same home I do at the same facility. I've gotten rides from her when I'm low on gas and she's gotten rides from me when her DH worked over at his job. I'm going to suggest we ride together more often - for both of us to save money and to help reduce our environmental impact. Sure I'm only one woman ... but every single step plays an important part in getting you where you're going

2. Start a ride-share program at work. There are about 1200-1300 people who work at the residential/training facility for adults with MR/DD along with me, spread over 3 shifts.

3. Once I accomplish these two objectives, I'll come up with more ideas. Anyone want to join me? :)

HELP! NEED IDEAS!

I work at an ICF (intermediate care facility) for adults with MR/DD (mental retardation and developmental disabilities). This week the folks that oversee Medicaid funding are on grounds as part of the certification process, determining if they will provide Medicaid funds for the residents who live there. One of the things they most like to see is what they call "active treatment". Active treatment is defined as "involvement and engagement in all activities of daily living".

This means that after the residents come home from their classes during the day, they don't just sit in the living room or lie down in their beds. There are various programs they need to run ... learning daily living skills or engaging in activities that they enjoy.

The ladies in my home are age 40 and up (the oldest is 73). They all have mild to profound mental retardation. Five of the seven are in wheelchairs. Three of the seven have g-tubes (where they are fed with a tube leading directly into their stomachs).

One of our ladies has a program to "engage" with a mop-like duster. We model the desired behavior and then (ideally) she takes the duster and dusts a bookshelf.

One likes stringing beads to make necklaces and bracelets.

One makes a choice of three beverages to have with her meals. The three drinks are set on an "assisted communication device" that has three corresponding buttons. When she pushes the buttons, a recorded voice states what is on the pad. By pushing the button, she indicates her choice. (Really, she just picks the tallest drink - but that's beside the point).

There are other leisure activities such as puzzles, drawing with crayons, balls, sensory equipment, etc. etc. etc.

We are supposed to have the ladies "actively engaged" on our shift from the time they get home from classes until meal time, then again after meal time until they get their baths ... then again from bath time until the time they retire for the evening.

I'm tired of the same old, same old and am looking for other ideas of things we can do with our ladies. Mobility is obviously an issue, but not necessarily a barrier. Our ladies have cognitive ages of up to 5 years old.

So, I'm asking for y'all's help in coming up with some new ideas for activities! Thanks very much in advance! Y'ALL ROCK!

One for the Girls

You see rows and rows of them by the registers in WalMart. Trading cards for kids ... a la Pokemon and the like. My boys can count battle statistics, weapon strength and the likelihood of so-and-so putting the hurt on the other guy. Now I am all for a well-trained imagination, and believe that children need play time as much as they need chores and education, but I worry about them giving more worth to a fantasy world than to building their own skills for the real world.

So, I was delighted to find a notification in my inbox today (it was actually sent a couple of days ago, I think, but my inbox is out-of-control!) from Kailani over at An Island Life introducing me to The Chatter Chix!

The target market is girls 5-12 years old. There is one card/chix per state and they show having good values (respect, responsibility, etc) in a positive light. There is also the website where girls can leave messages for each other and learn about girls in other states as well as info about the states themselves. Now how cool is that?

In my book, Chatter Chix and An Island Life are both definitely worth your time! I know they were and continue to be worth mine.