Sleep Habits @ MindSay 
I was wondering about my grade school years. I am self-diagnosed ADD/ADHD and mildly dyslexic. And I have struggled with these all my life. I don't know if my parents ever had me tested for these. I think they might have. But then again my childhood was full of doctors ranging for heart doctors to specialist for my birth defects. Also, I have in many ways either forgotten or blocked out most of my childhood so how am I to know.
I do know that my parents mad a conscientious decision to not put me on the drug Ritalin heavily being pushed back then. I know now that that was one of the hardest decisions they ever made with me. I also, know now that it probably was the right thing for my future.
but back then, It made my school years very very hard. I did next to nothing in school. A few of my teachers all but gave up on me (teachers will tell you they don't do this but we all know they do).
I kind of wish my parents would have sat me down and told me about my conditions and explained to me what and why I was the way I was. I wish they had explained to me ways to control it. They probably didn't so that I could just have a bit of my childhood innocence in tact.
They never gave up though, I'll give them that much, they got me tutors (well actually, paid my cousin to tutor me) and put in long frustrating hours working with me.
I knew that there was something wrong, but mostly just felt stupid. I felt isolated from my peers because I could barely do things like basic math. And this lead to so negative behaviors.
Growing up, I had a relationship with my parents, especially my father, that was very stern and controlling. I never felt I could go to him about problems. He was very distant and unapproachable emotionally. The only emotion I ever saw from him was anger. I was very afraid of his temper. I was afraid that he would react with anger if I went to him about anything. My mother has even said to me that my father wanted us to fear him.
I'm still dealing with some of those issues today, but mostly I know how foolish they were. But, I wonder and wish about how my life could have been.
Like I said, My parents decision to not medicate me for ADD was a good thing. I know a number of people form my generation that can not function in society because they never learned how to deal with life without popping a pill. I am so glad that I did not end up like them. But was I diagnosed ADD and what would it have been like if I knew what was wrong with me fifteen years ago? I may not have been medicated but there are a number of was to handle ADD without it. But did we even know them back then?
I often think about my fucked up life. About all the mistakes I've made and where I am because of them. It has taken me much longer then most people to figure my life and and get my shit together. I know, most of it is my own damned fault and blaming my father is just plain wrong. But I just can't help but wonder.
Mark
Dixie currently feels:
Sick 
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I came home today, baked myself a chicken and bacon stuffed crust pizza - and ate it whilst I watched The Weakest Link.
I shouted out all the answers I knew, and I never got one wrong.
I felt rather intelligent, especially when the dimwits on the telly got wrong what I'd shouted out right.
Anyway, I think I've either ate too much pizza, or drank too much Sprite.
Maybe it was the dodgy ice cubes I put in the Sprite?
We buy bags of ice - dad likes to have ice with his cider on his nights in.
But the ice smells like seafood.
I have this really awful feeling that the ice is recycled, having already been used in seafood displays...
Eeewww...
I really hope not.
I fell asleep on the sofa at half 6.
Dad came in and fell asleep on the other sofa.
When I woke up, I turned over - and I rolled into a nice warm patch where I'd been laid.
I have a really high core body temperature - I'm ALWAYS warm.
I'm sat here in a room with no radiator on, in a towel, with wet hair - and I'm still warm.
It's not fair - I'm on a heavy flow period, and I've leaked a little on the front of my jeans when I was asleep.
Oh how the feminine cycle radges me so.
I fell asleep because of my lack of sleep.
For the past week, I've been satying awake until 5-6AM, talking to Emily or playing on my DS.
I'd wake up exactly 8 hours later, either at 1 or 2PM.
Last night, I couldn't sleep.
I laid awake with my DS, listening to some Fire of Glory recordings Emily had done.
Not that she has a boring voice - but when people read to me, I always nod off easier.
When I was little, I listened to stories on cassettes.
I still like to. :)
Ah, the sleep habits of some people. :D
Well, Eloise got that second bottom tooth this week. It is just peeking through the gum and the first one is just sticking up a little bit now.
The other day she was eyeing up the package of rice crackers on the table, so I decided to let her suck on one. The next thing I knew it was gone! So there you have it: Ellie's first solid food was a sesame rice cracker, lol. Today I set up her high chair (I saw it while rummaging in the basement yesterday and thought "oh yeah!"), so that she can sit up with us during meals. I got a plastic bowl and a spoon for her to gnaw on so she doesn't feel so left out :) Oh, and she loves sippy cups! I bought a couple of new ones the other day and decided to give Eloise one with a bit of water in it to see what she would do. Well, she happily sucks on the spout and then every once in a while she gets rather shocked by a mouthful of water, lol.
Since this second tooth started coming in she has changed her sleeping habits again. For a while there she was having these lovely long naps, but now she has gone back to having short naps during the day...however, she has started going to bed earlier. Tonight it was about 9:45, but last Thursday, after a busy and exciting day (we went to see Disney on Ice) she was down for the night by 7pm! Unfortunately, she is waking up earlier too...like, at the same time as Ana (6:30-7:15, ugh). This morning was even worse, as Eloise woke at about 5am to nurse and then just wouldn't settle back to sleep. Which reminds me....I need to go to bed!