Zombies Are People Too

**Spoiler Alert**

I'm not a Brad Pitt fan....But when I saw the previews for World War Z, I knew right away that the movie was about zzzzzombies!  I turned to my hubby, who was anxiously awaiting for his Star Trek  movie to start...and gave him the "thumbs up" sign, that I definitely wanted to see THAT movie!

I've always been a zombie fan.  I remember when 'Night of the Living Dead' came on tv when I was just 9 yrs old...I was sitting in front of my TV cheering for the undead...Leaving my parents wondering if they should discipline me...Or take me straight to the shrink.

I have since seen almost every zombie flick out there.

Here's the spoiler alert.....

So the zombies in THIS movie didn't go after people who had some sort of disease...or illness.  Which brought my husband and I into a discussion this morning.  

He has a leg/foot that did not develop correctly -- and is now an amputee.  Drs arent sure what caused this "abnormality" ... Genetic or not, it has caused him many issues.

Me...?  I have Neurofibromatosis.  Yes- a genetic disorder. 

In the film, people with cancer or other life threatening issue were passed by.  Not seen by these ravenous, blood thirsty, undead monsters.

As my husband and I were waking up this morning...the conversation began...

(We have the weirdest pillow talk, I know)

Would I be passed up by these zombies?  Not good enough?

Anyway...When it comes down to it, I know that I would never survive a zombie attack.   I would actually probably be the first to go.  Me...the one with 6 kids surrounding her, probably trying to flee from the local wal-mart.

I don't run fast enough, or have the skills to shoot, stab, or cut the heads off a fast-moving, tooth combing kill machine.

I REALLY enjoyed this movie though...WAY more than my hubby.  It was fast moving and got right into the Zombie-Action.  No waiting for some drawn out, boring plot.

And still....Like when I was 9....found myself feeling sorry for the zombies.  (sure, I felt bad to the people too...but, zombies are people too, right?  At least they WERE)

THRIVE ON!  

(even when zombies are after you)

More On Sensory Integration

If you haven't read the first blog post about Sensory Integration click HERE

Yesterday I watched as Rachel had her second evaluation for Sensory Integration...It was NO SURPRISE, that the results were the same (even if her scores were higher) as they were 2 yrs ago.

I sat through the very familiar testing process...And saw my sweet little girl, struggle with things like watching flashing lights, guessing an object that was placed in her hands (eyes shut), matching rhythms (clapping, tapping feet)

Rachel became very frustrated during certain points of the test...Often refusing to continue.  

"My head hurts..."  "I'm too tired..."

But- Like 2 yrs ago....It was nice to see that someone else could see, the issues my daughter faces.

Sensory Integration won't go away....BUT....There are ways to help parents AND child manage.

Last year, I sunk my head into a book called "The Out of Sync Child" and I was shocked how almost every page, was like it was written about Rachel.

This check list was given to me by our Occupational Therapist

_____ Fear of new tasks and situations	______Overly aggressive/explosive
_____Overly passive	______Easily frustrated
_____Impulsive	______Emotionally labile
_____Can’t follow directions	______Unorganized
_____Can’t get work done on time	______Can’t work independently
_____Distractable/short attention span	______Can’t wait/take turns
_____Doesn't learn new activities easily	______Clumsy
_____Tires easily	______Difficulty hopping, jumping, skipping
_____Slouches, poor posture	______Always something moving(leg, hand, body)
_____Poor pencil grasp	______Poor handwriting
_____Breaks pencil or crayon	______Awkward with pencil/scissors
_____Can’t copy from board/book	______No consistent hand preference
_____Letter or number reversals	______Likes physical contact
_____Avoids being touched	______Dislikes getting hands dirty
_____Oral overflow (tongue out, drooling, hands in mouth)	______Can’t keep hands to self
_____Fearful of activities moving through space	______Poor balance
_____Excessive need for swinging, spinning, rocking	______Delayed speech and language
_____Difficulty screening out visual/auditory stimuli	______Difficulty with dressing skills
_____Difficulty discriminating shapes, colors, letters	______Makes repetitious vocal sounds
_____Responds negativity to loud or unexpected noise	______Positions hands awkwardly
_____Walks on toes	______Rejects textures of food, clothing
_____Smells objects	______Self-stimulation/self-injury

If your child shows signs of any of the above, it is recommended that you get a referral to an Occupational Therapist for further testing.

A Rare Disorder?

I have done a lot of reading (especially lately) and seen articles that refer to Neurofibromatosis as a "Rare Disease"....But...In the SAME article, state that NF is THE MOST COMMON disorder/disease that affects humans....Soo....What is right?

As I researched, I was able to find THIS description of what "Rare Disease" means:

 

Sounds accurate, when it comes to NF, doesn't it?

When I explain NF to friends or any interested person...I have NEVER once told them that I have a rare disorder called NF....My explanations typically start out with how COMMON NF is...

1 out of 2500 births!

While it IS true -- That NF carries a very HIGH LEVEL of complex symptoms....Maybe, if we took away the "easy out" excuse that NF is rare...and began talking about how common it actually is...Will get more people talking and learning about it...Just Maybe?

THRIVE ON!

Excuses Excuses!

My FIRST thought, when I was asked to join a kickboxing class was that my tumors were too noticeable...What if I get out there, and someone says something about my bumpy...sweaty body...?

Ya...What if?

See?  I am continually being reminded what THRIVING with NF is all about....

Life is filled with very real excuses...It's YOUR choice if those excuses stop you from doing something, or give you a reason to try harder!

THRIVE ON!!!

I sat there....Biting my nails, looking down at my phone...Playing my hundredth game of Candy Crush (trying to look "busy"...)

My mind was a mess....I kept wondering why on Earth I was so nervous.  I mean we've had close to 30 MRI's, over the last 3 yrs...So why was TODAY any different?

I'm not sure.

I had this feeling of dread.  Bailey has been on her "Chemo -Break" for 3 months....And I guess I was SURE we were going to get bad news.  I didn't want to talk myself into it....But I was definitely preparing myself to hear those words, no parent of a child with brain tumors wants to hear.


GROWTH.


After the MRI...We headed upstairs to talk about the results.   We were sent back downstairs to give the Drs time to read the MRI...This did NOT calm my nerves...or Bailey's.

We got some lunch and visited with another NF mom, who works with the NF clinic and CTF...What a GREAT distraction this was.....*Thanks Jane*

During lunch, Bailey prayed the sweetest, most heart-breaking prayer I've ever heard...."Dear God....Please take away my brain tumors."

Ouch.

At our appointment, we met up with Molly...(I just love her.  She listens.  Sympathizes. and Follows through)
We were told how "Awesome" Bailey's labs were and how good Bailey looks (always lead with the good stuff.....I know this trick)

On to the tumors....JUST TELL US, my mind screams!!

While there was slight growth....Molly tells us this is still considered STABLE.  But my mind focuses on that frustrating little word....Growth.  Confused....Growth -- But Stable???

We'll take it.

This is where THRIVING comes in.  Sometimes the answers are unclear...Sometimes the answers just plain stink....But we are living proof, that switching your attitude has EVERYTHING to do with your outcome!

THRIVE ON!