Did you have any fun? Tell me what did you do?

SO I have been blessed to have been given the chance to direct my first theatrical production, which closes it's run tomorrow.

I really got into this without thinking it through, and once it got closer I found myself becoming really nervous at the commitment I had given with no directing experience other than the snippets of Annie I'd force my little brother and sisters to perform for family when I was a child. Questions started littering my mind such as:
Am I even good with children?
What if they don't like me?
What if I'm not as good as the previous director?
I don't even know everything about theatre; how am I going to teach them?

But the biggest one was; What if I fail and disappoint everyone? First, let me fill you in on this children's program... it's more of a classroom setting than just learning a play. They have to audition and learn stage directions- pretty much everything that goes into putting a play on stage and the class ends by the children actually performing their play on stage with a live audience. The decision to produce The Cat In The Hat was made, and there I was on the first day of class speaking to all the parents and making sure everyone knew everything they needed to know regarding rehearsals and attire etc.

Then the parents left, and there I was with 15 kids staring at me waiting for something amazing to happen =) Well, let me tell you... something amazing did happen! I became an instructor, lol, with the help of some of my treasured friends I learned how to direct and teach and I started falling in love with these kids. I'd watch them spend hours rehearsing scenes that took mere minutes to perform and I was proud... The heart and willingness to please was amazing and we did many group hugs.

I didn't realize you become their protector as well... I had children coming to me for hugs telling me that they wouldn't be in class the next day because a grandparent had passed away and wiping tears away. I bandaged boo boos and gave words of encouragement all while becoming more attached and believing in them. On one of our last dress rehearsals one of my smallest kids ( I had a class of 8-18 year olds) didn't get changed in time and collapsed in a puddle of tears losing all faith in herself and I sat back stage with her trying to convince her she was wonderful and that she could do it!

And guess what? SHE DID!

Before I knew it, opening day was here and I could barely breath as I gathered my kids in a circle to pray before they got in places back stage to show their friends and family what they'd been working on for 3 months. We said Amen and off they went... without me... and I realized I was powerless at that point. I had to sit in my chair and watch them and hope I had done a good enough job that they could overcome anything that might happen.

With my husband on my left and my parents on my right I watched as something incredible happened. The lights came up and it was theatre magic.... They remembered to smile and remembered every little note I had ever given them... they even hammed it up! At one point one of the things got her kite string stuck on one of the cake candles and drug it around stage and everyone played it up! Nobody fell and everyone loved it. At curtain call I was the first one on my feet in tears wanting EVERYONE to stand up for these wonderful little people that had just performed with their whole hearts... and guess what? Everyone stood. Everyone clapped and screamed and cheered... and I cried. I couldn't count the number of hugs and thank you's I got from my kids... funny... I'm calling them my kids now. I stood there in the lobby watching all of them smile and take pictures with everyone and I was just happy. I had done it!

Now for what I learned.... You have to have faith... I can't help but link it to my relationship with God, which might sound funny. He loves you and trusts you to do well but he doesn't have puppet strings attached to your arms making you do everything correct and perfect. Things are going to happen but he trusts that you'll do your best to get through it and he smiles. I didn't even know if I would get along with these children and now I am already mourning the fact that tomorrow is closing night of our show and then they aren't my kids anymore...

I'm sure my relationship with my own daughter will be a lot like this as well.... One day I am going to have to just let go and watch her act on her stage of life, and trust that I did a good enough job that she will thrive. What a wonderful and unexpected experience this has been.

ONE other thing... I did realize The Cat In The Hat has an underlying moral, which happens to tie into this blog nicely... In the Cat In The Hat the Mother is gone and has left her children trusting that they'll be good. The Cat is the symbol of mischief and trouble and all things children secretly want to do when their mothers are out of the house. The fish symbolizes the spirit of their mother... always in the back of their minds telling them what they should and shouldn't be doing. I thought it was pretty neat!

Oh.. I didn't mention that we sold out our opening show =)

I'm just so proud. What an experience! God is Good!

It is fun to have fun but you have to know how.

Personalize Your Calendar

Most of us have that yearly calendar hanging on the wall to keep track of our busy lives. We either pick it up from the bank or even spend money to buy one. Why not make it personal and teach your child a lesson with it?

This is a great way to teach months of the year, days of the week, and days of the month.
Begin with having your child draw pictures, color pictures, or even take pictures. Paste on the top of a large piece of construction paper or card stock. You can find calendar templates all over the internet for the entire year.

Print out each month and paste on the bottom of the construction paper or card stock. Finish off with a hole punched in the top left corner and attach all twelve months with a metal ring. You can also have your child mark important dates on the calendar. This is simple to do and creates something we all use, but makes it personal.

Wishing all of you a Happy New Year!

My house got run over by a reindeer

Christmas has come and gone and now my household is a wreck. Will stray decorations ever go back in the boxes? I feel maybe my elf is distressed with all the Christmas spirit leaving our home, so he is putting decorations in random places.

How often must I reopen a box or run another item to storage?

I'll tell you something, if putting away the decorations was as much fun as decorating, I would go all out for every holiday. Unfortunately, for me that isn't the case, but definitely worth the effort for the joys of the next year.

Live Without Fear

It's been so interesting (and a little sad in some cases) to see how people are reacting to the "12-21-12" phenomenon... For me, it's been a good opportunity to talk to my kids about *not* living in fear, and not allowing fear to rule their lives.

Rumors of threats at schools Friday had them questioning whether they wanted to go today.

"There are no guarantees in life," I told them, "Something can happen anytime, anywhere, and no one ever knows what tomorrow will bring."

Although the rumors are hopefully just that, SAISD and the San Angelo Police Department are being proactive by placing patrol officers at every campus- even elementary schools.

What does sending them to school teach them? Maybe nothing.

And, of course I pray for their safety, as I do every day...

But, hopefully it will teach them to rise above their fears, live life to the fullest, and never let anyone's words bully them into cowering in their home.

12-21-12 is the last day of school before Christmas Break! Enjoy it~ Lol, it's the last break "we" get for two weeks ;) 

Have a great day!

Contest Announcement!

Well, I was planning to do a big, fun contest during our Blog Blast, but I have been sick! So instead, we're going to go the easy (boring) route and just do a random drawing.

Two winners will get to have their pictures taken with Santa at Sunset Mall!

Just write your name in a comment below. All names will be entered into randompicker.com, and two will be randomly selected. Winners must be followers of SanAngeloMoms.com, and the SanAngeloMoms Blog ("Like" the Facebook page, and "Join" the Blog).

Submissions will be taken until Friday, 12/21 at 9:00 a.m. Winners will be announced at noon on Friday.

Good Luck!

Baby's Health Alert: It's RSV Season

Facts about RSV:  What is it and how is it different from the common cold?  

Flu season brings along with it another thing for Moms to worry about.  Most of us have heard of RSV, but aren't quite sure what the deal is.  Is this something I should be afraid of?  What should I do if my baby is exposed to RSV?  What if my baby is diagnosed with RSV?  There are horror stories going around about serious illnesses and even deaths from RSV.  It’s important to get the facts before we panic! 

What is RSV?   RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is one of many viruses that (in MOST children) causes an upper respiratory infection = aka “the common cold.”  However, in babies who have chronic lung disease (CLD) or babies who were born prematurely (especially before 35 weeks gestation), it can cause serious illness.  It can cause pneumonia and is the leading cause of bronchiolitis (infection/inflammation of the small breathing tubes of the lungs). 

It’s transmitted just like the cold and flu – by direct contact or airborne droplets. 

As always the best way to prevent RSV is to stay away from other sick contacts, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, throwing away tissues, and good hand washing. 

Symptoms of RSV?  - Are the same as the common cold:  runny nose, cough, and fever.  Usually the cough gets worse.  In serious cases, the baby’s breathing will become rapid and difficult (especially in those high risk groups: preemies and CLD).  Sometimes, feeding/drinking can become difficult, because it just takes too much energy for these babies to suck or swallow & they can easily get dehydrated.  Be especially on the lookout for any bluish color around the lips or fingertips.  These are a bad sign that not enough oxygen is being delivered to the baby’s bloodstream. If your baby has this or any of the following symptoms, contact your Pediatrician right away or get to your nearest emergency room: breathing difficulties, baby is younger than 2-3 months and has fever or shows any signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, crying without tears or urinating less often. 

Treatment of RSV is usually treatment of the symptoms.  It is a virus, so it usually has to just run its course, but sometimes inhaled medications called bronchodilators are used to help open up the airways.  Sometimes, this is not much help for babies with RSV at all, and if they are very ill, they may need to be hospitalized for observation, oxygen, and IV fluids.  Antibiotics won’t work, because RSV is not a bacteria.  In general though, treating RSV is just like treating the cold:  supportive treatment.  Nasal saline washes, running cool mist humidifiers, fluids, rest and fever reducers as needed…..and, of course……..Mommy’s TLC!!!!

The Good News about RSV is that most kiddos are well their way to recovery in about a week and as your baby gets older, the less serious RSV is, because the airways get larger.  After about age 2, RSV presents as just the common cold in most kids. 

The Bad News about RSV is that in preemies and kiddos with CLD, it can be a precursor to and make asthma and other breathing problems worse.  And children with heart disease can especially have a hard time recovering. 

Bottom Line:  Prevention is the key.  No one can say it enough.  Your baby should avoid contact with other sick people, and everyone should be washing their hands frequently, especially after coughs and sneezes.  If your baby was born prematurely, there is a vaccine available, so talk to your Pediatrician about that. 

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This post intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on SanAngeloMoms. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911."

Cancer survivor.... I think.

I just finished my chemo treatment for skin cancer two days ago and man was that a wild ride....

Six months ago I went into the dermatologist's office because I knew I had one cancer spot on my face. I knew it was cancer because it never healed... it would look like a pimple and then would crust over like a scab and bleed a little then repeat.... Well I had it for about 8 months before I knew myself it was cancer then I waited another 2 years to have it checked because... I was scared. dumb.

After I healed from my surgery I was told I needed to do chemo to kill all my pre-cancer. For one month I had to apply a topical chemo cream to my face once in the morning and then again at night before I went to bed. Nothing happened for about two weeks and then like some kind of evil magic I looked like I dumped hot oil on my face....

Welts started appearing on the sides of my nose first which wasn't too bad, it was like having a really bad cold and only having paper towels to wipe your nose with, but after the 3rd week I was in total pain. I am in no way complaining because I finished my treatment and am thankful that I caught it all before I had to have more surgeries to have it all removed.

I missed having my baby be able to touch my face and giving her kisses without fear of her touching this toxic cream and getting it on her face. The sun made me feel like a vampire!!! When the sun was directly on my face I literally was in pain like I would catch into a big mass of burning flames and turn into dust. I found myself vomiting and would get random nose bleeds. I was exhausted all the time and just didn't feel like myself which I of coarse expected to happen but things always stink a little more when your actually doing them instead of mentally preparing yourself for them =)

These "spots" or "scabs" look like severe acne from a distance and I have gotten so many disgusted looks and know people talk about me when I'm at the store... gives me a new perspective on people that look different that I see... I have always tried to be compassionate and not to stare and have taught my daughter to do the same though it's a very difficult thing for 2 year olds to do, lol.

I have had people tell me that I should wear makeup to cover it up so I don't scare children during my photo shoots but I can't because it can cause an infection..... through it all I kept a smile on my face.

Luckily for me I have a loving family and friends and wonderful clients that stood by my side and kept me incredibly busy the entire treatment time so I didn't have a chance to sit and dwell on everything and feel sorry for myself. I don't know what I would have done if I would have been left at home all day every day like I had planned when I first found out I had to do chemo. I have received many messages over my treatment coarse telling me of alternate treatments and how chemo is poison and can actually kill you faster than some of the organic remedies, though harsh I don't think my topical chemo is as hard core as the other types of chemo. And it got me thinking.... how does someone decide what to do?

My cancer was pretty easy to treat and made me funny looking but what does someone with liver cancer do? Someone with lung cancer? They know how harsh their treatments will be and that it could kill them... do they do chemo? Do they do the organic remedies and just hope that all the online research is true and that God will pull them through? I am a God fearing and loving woman but I'm not sure that I would be ok with just leaving my life up to this new research and prayers, as horrible as that sounds.

On one hand chemo has worked for some and on the other hand I have read endless testimonies about people dying from the chemo alone. I imagine doctors make a killing off of it too.... no pun intended. I had a checkup 2 days ago and my dr told me that she wants me to do another round of chemo in 2 months to make sure I have killed all the cancer on my face. If this doesn't work I will have surgery on my face yet again and I am very torn on how to feel about this.

I am facing at least a month of healing for these sores to heal and then I will have a burned/red look on my skin for about a year already.... I would like to hear your thoughts on this subject... am I really off??? But hey... I can hug and kiss on my baby now =)