Good byes & Hellos

This past week has been quite the mix of hellos and goodbyes!

My friends Alisa and Mike are visiting from Australia with their two boys; what fun its been to see them and reconnect! I visited them last year in Australia and it feels like no time at all has passed since then. Those are the best types of friendships! More to come on their visit in future post...

The Old Harbor archaeology crew arrived, then left yesterday for Old Harbor. This years crew consisted of Catherine, Danielle, Sam, Chase and Patrick. Sam was the only new one out of the crew and she is an absolutely lovely person and so excited to be in Alaska. It is her first trip here and first field experience. The crew is off to Old Harbor to do a survey of the runway as the town prepares for a runway extension. 

While saying goodbye, I found myself more emotional than normal, as this trip is 6 weeks; a bit longer than standard digs. This comes right at a time when we have really found a nice spring rhythm and groove to our family. The good part is, however, that they have phone access and can call as needed. The kids and myself will most likely take a short trip to Old Harbor to say hello and check out the scene. 

Patrick cooked up the most rockin' turkey/stuffing dinner the night before they left!

The archaeology crew: Patrick, Catherine, Danielle, Sam and Chase. 

Nora and Stuey enjoy a snack with Eric and Elias. 

Catherine and Tank cuddle on the kitchen couch. 

Showing Chase the "drama" feature on our camera

After years of Catherine coming up for digs, its like a day hasn't passed when we see eachother! 

And a sad, but happy, farewell goodbye to one of my favorite, most dedicated fitness class members, Marcia Putney (below, center, in the green shirt). 

A WORK GOODBYE

Marcia has been one of my most consistent members at A Balanced Approach since I opened my fitness studio nearly 9 years ago and next week she and her husband move to Florida. She has always been so positive, fun and willing to try new classes. I've had a special fondness for she and her husband Todd. I will miss them. This picture was taken today at my last Powerflex class with her. We were both teary as we hugged goodbye. I've been so blessed with her presence in my life. Happy Trails to my longest-time member, Marcia!

Zoya

Last Ski

Chase in a snowstorm whiteout a few days ago

Yesterday I went for my last ski of the season - at least until July anyway.  It's hard to stop when the skiing is so good.  But on Monday I'll be digging away in the field, and in the next 2 days I got to get the field gear ready and into the field.  Chase might go for a ski today but I will not.  What's amazing is that yesterday we still skiied to the road.  Usually you can't do that by mid May - Especially in a low snow year like this has been - but it has been a cool sunny spring.  Patrick

Chase from the top

Some more ski photos of Chase from yesterday.  I had commitments on both of the absolutely spectacular days before yesterday and could not go skiing.  It about killed me to look up at the snow and be stuck in a meeting.  But Chase did go, and yesterday we beat the rain and got in a ski in the last of the good weather before it rained.  Today when we went up it was raining in town but on the mountain it was snowing hard!  This is the best skiing of the year.

What's funny is that last night Chase and I looked back at the ski photos I took when he was last here in 2008 and they are almost identical (click here and here).  Even the post titles and subjects sound a little similar.  I guess things have not changed all that much around here.  Good thing!  Patrick

PS if you look closely in a few of these photos you will notice a few lurking Navy SEALs.  They enjoyed watching Chase ski from the top of Pyramid.  I think he had an audience of about 40 SEAL recruits in training watching from the bottom of the run - all with cell phones and cameras at the ready.

Spring Changes

When I sit down and think about how much transition my business has had in the past 6 months, its a pretty wild list.

-October 2012  Contractor Renovated new rental space for larger fitness studio/PT clinic

-November 2012  Moved into new location

-December 2012  I started the physical therapy contract at the USCG for 16 hours a week

-January 2013  Hired new office manager (Kate) in preparation for Winona transferring and moving.

-January 2013 Became an LLC and therefore needed new contracts, logo, etc on all documents and signage. 

-February 2013  Kate began working.

-March 2013 Made the switch to Electronic Medical Records for physical therapy. Kate learned all the new software and   got us up and running with a new medical billing and electronic records program

-March 2013 I started implementing Nora's PT program 5 days a week, 1.5 hours a day

-May 2013  Winona leaves for Hawaii

Kate made incredible home made berry scones and a fruit plate for my birthday and Winona's last day at work. 

Team dinner at Old Powerhouse Restaurant. Winona is in the center in the blue. 

Tonight several of us instructors and Kate shared in a farewell dinner with Winona at the Old Powerhouse. It was bittersweet for me; I'm so happy for her journey to Hawaii. I think back to the long conversations she and I would have at the old fitness studio location, dreaming, scheming of how to grow. And now, we're there. In a new space, more classes, more instructors. Its more than I ever could've dreamed of.

Happy Trails, Winona! I'm going to miss you!

Zoya

Chase, PACE and "Fetch"

Chase and "Fetch"
This weekend was the official start of archaeology season with the arrival of our first field archaeologist, Chase. He arrived yesterday from New Hampshire and this is his second time on a dig with Patrick. He was last here 5 years ago and its been great to have him back. Stuey has taken quite a liking to him, asking him to play lincoln logs, etc.

This morning something quite comical happened. Stuey woke up, Chase was still sleeping.
When Stuey woke up, he was looking around for Chase. I could tell he was trying really, super hard to remember Chases name.

He finally asked "Mommy, is Fetch up?"

I told Chase about Stueys' name confusion and we got a good laugh out of it! Especially since Chase absolutely loves dog and runs/maintains sled dog teams for a living. Another dog action-verb name...

Elke, Patrick, Chase and Stuey at Mothers Day Dinner last night. Patrick made Deer roast, Yorkshire pudding, green beans and dinner salad. So yummy!

PACE

Today was my first day doing PACE (Processing and Cognitive Enhancement) with Nora. I've been prepping for a few weeks and was excited to finally give the program a go. Nora was enthusiastic with it and it is actually very fun-a combination of a variety of mental exercises and games. Becka in Seattle gives me the 6 exercises I am to every day and we go through them one by one. It was exciting to see her progress within the exercises even today!
More to come on that with video of some sort later.


FRIENDS, FAMILY, THERAPISTS

Over the years I've had many supportive family and friends to help console me as I've worked to find the right combination of treatment and approaches for Nora. On a walk this past weekend with one of these handful of friends, she said, "Zoya, I remember a year ago when I walked into your house. Nora was upside down on the recliner chair biting her nails. You looked at me and were at wits end. You didn't know what to do to help make Nora happy." I got a good laugh out of this, thinking about how far we had come.

On the flip side, I've also had well intentioned friends/family/aqcuaintenances/nannies/therapists  who have said or inferred that I wasn't being firm enough or strict enough with Nora. They said that if I was firmer, then she would listen better or behave better.

Some people would try to model what they thought were "good discipline" approaches to use with Nora which were ultimately unsuccessful. Techniques which worked great for their kids (or for Stuey) did not work well for Nora.  I always knew inside that I WAS firm enough and now I really, really appreciate the handful of  friends who really encouraged me and helped me seek other avenues of treatment for her difficulties.  I wouldn't give up in finding something that would help address the base underlying problems.

Going through this makes me more sensitive to the challenges we face as moms and parents with our kids. What works for one parent/child relationship, won't work for another. All the good discipline/parenting books in the world was not going to solve the internal struggles Nora was having. Her struggles were a direct result of auditory and vestibular systems of her brain not connecting and working with each other.

The most important thing we can do as moms/parents/therapists is to be compassionate, caring, supportive of each other and to help bring each other up during down times.

Nora is essentially a changed, more relaxed confident girl as a result of this program. Our family is happier, and have a more peaceful relaxed rhythm. It is not as a result of me being heavy handed, or firmer. It is a result of finding the right combination of treatments to help "reset" her auditory system and help her be more settled inside herself.

Zoya

Field Season Begins

It's that time of year again - Field Season Begins!  In a week I will be off to Old Harbor for a 6 week archaeological excavation and today the first of the crew arrived.  Chase has worked with us on Kodiak before and he is an avid skiier.  So he decided to come a little early to get some skiing in before the dig begins.  And that brings up the sad part about field season - it means the end of ski season.  The snow is still great for skiing but once the field season begins I never have time to get away up into the mountains.  Or rather after a day of digging and screening dirt I am usually too tired to want to climb a mountain.  And so ends ski season.

But for the next week Chase and I will still hit it hard every afternoon.  Then it will be off to Old Harbor.  Below are some pictures of Chase fresh off of the plane getting in some turns on Pyramid.  Patrick

The Jungle Books; First Flowers and First Make Up

Yesterday was The Little School of Dances' Annual spring recital and this years show was the Jungle Books.

Nora was one of 5 little Monkeys and she skipped around the stage with such joy and ease.
Its been wonderful to see her improved confidence on stage and she is already looking forward to dance class next year!

Nora with her friend Estella. 

This was a peformance of firsts for Nora-her first time wearing make-up and her first time getting a rose after the performance.

Nora is finishing up 1st grade and I decided it was time to put a splash of blush, some lipstick on for this performance. Nora was thrilled and beamed a huge smile as I put her make up on here at home.  Stuey was being very goofy, laughed and said, "Nora, you look funny" Ahhh.....Sibling Love.

 After the performance I gave her a single red rose, as did her cousins Leo and Zeke.

I believe Stuey missed being on the big stage. He LOVED watching the performances (we went to both shows). He was captivated. He says he wants to start dance again next year, which would be wonderful.

Zoya

Giving Nora's exercises a Try!

Nora doing her interactive Metronome program in my PT clinic. 

This past week Nora graduated from  one phase of her 20 week program; the Interactive Metronome.

This was the component where she listened to a metronome beat on headphones and then clapped her hand or tapped her foot as the computer recorded her accuracy and gave her feedback. I really attribute this part of Nora's therapy to the progress she had made in music class. (Her music teacher commented several weeks ago that Nora was able to keep tempo much better since starting the program). The thing that struck me is how Nora was so agreeable to  doing it 5 days a week, for 6 weeks. The program is an intrinsically motivating one, and I just had to keep a solid point-reward chart going for her.

Last week I decided it was time to try the program myself, as we only had a few sessions left. I had yet to don the headphones and see what it was really like.  Nora gave me permission to take one of her turns and I gave it my best shot. It was HARD. Nora watched me, aghast, and said, "Mom, you're ruining my score. You have to tell Ms. Becka in Seattle that you took this turn and thats why my score will be low". I think of myself as being able to keep an OK beat, and I played the flute for 5 years growing up, but that didn't help me.

The other thing I tried was an exercise in her movement/listening program (CORE). She stands on a balance board with her headphones with music on. I toss a bean bag back and forth as she tracks it with her eyes, while maintaining balance on the board. Nora loved being the teacher as I had to work hard just to keep balance on the board. She said, "Mommy, watch the bean bag". We had a lot of good laughs out of that!

Trying these two parts of her program gave me a solid appreciation for how hard these exercises are and how far she has come in the 6 weeks. When we started, it was hard for her to track a slow moving bean bag just standing on the ground, and now she is able to do it while keeping balance on the board AND listening to her Mozart headphones.

On Monday we start the PACE component (Processing and Cognitive Enhancement) of her 20 week program. This is designed to help brain processing speed and its used for all types of ages of people from kids to adults. For Nora, it will help with her reading and memory. Medical students wanting to improve their memory capacity even use it! It is fun, with lots of quick, challenging, engaging various exercises and games. I'll have more short videos of Nora and I doing it once we're underway.

 I'm continuing to study up to be fully prepared for implementing PACE. I am learning how to run it via CD's, phone call, Skype and watching Nora's teacher Seattle training sessions with student.
 Running PACE with Nora a challenge I"m ready for. Its fun to go into it knowing that Nora and I will BOTH be challenged! (and I must admit, I have small, occasional "freak out" moments in my mind where I think "OMG. Will I be able to implement it?" but then I talk myself off the ledge by reminding myself that I didn't think I"d be able to implement CORE and well, by-gosh-I'm doing it! And its working fabulously.)

We just finished a LONG week of dress rehearsals for a dance recital which was today (x2), so it is nice to have that over with. (More to come with pics about her dance recital-so fun to watch!) It will feel good to just focus on school and Nora's program again. Trying to squeeze in extra dance practices became exhausting as the weekend approached. I remained committed to not stopping or pausing Nora's Seattle program and Nora was a trooper and powered through. I kept Nora from a couple of her dance rehearsals for fear of her getting too exhausted, which I think helped as well.

Tomorrow is Mothers Day-I'm hoping for perhaps a few hours to myself where I can ZEN out and not do anything. I"m realizing how much busier Nora's program has kept me going, because in some of my down time, I am prepping and learning about the activities which I will do with her.

It gives me such pride and drive, however, to see it working so beautifully for her. Nora has just been blossoming in so many ways the past 6 weeks and we have a more fun, spunky, connected relationship than we've ever had together.

Zoya

Dance Rehearsal

Line of monkeys

The other night I took some pictures of Nora's dance rehearsal.  The performance is based on Rudyard Kipling's 'Jungle Books'.  The final shows are today at 1 and 7 PM, but photos at shows are frowned upon - hence the rehearsal pictures.  The light was so low at rehearsal that I am amazed that the pictures came out at all.

Because of the low light I was having a hard time telling who was who, and at one point I was taking pictures of the wrong monkey thinking it was Nora.  Good thing they did the dance twice!  I might even try to sneak in some pictures tonight when Nora dances under the bright lights, and I can see things a bit better.

At the rehearsal I was very proud of how much better Nora is as a dancer.  In the old days her group would sort of stumble/dance to the beat of their own drums.  These days they all jumped and danced in time with each other and Nora was actually leading!  No need for the 'dance shepherds' - older student dancers - to keep the kids all in line either.  Nora and her peers are progressing as dancers.  She has moved up a rung, and I can actually see a day when she and her peers reach the top of the ladder and become the leading ladies.  A few years ago this was a little hard to envision.  Patrick

Nora's not in this photo but her friend Bella is

Nora watches the older girls dance

Lots of other parents were taking pictures too!

Nora is one of the monkeys looking out of the windows

~A Birthday For Four~

On Sunday afternoon Elke, Angie my sister and myself celebrated early May birthdays. We all had birthdays within a 4 day period so we combined birthday forces for one action- filled, food and chocolate-filled party! 

The weather was in the 40's but we fired up the outside fire pit and the kids ran around playing ball, swinging on the hammock and running around the yard. Ella, Angie, Elke and myself blew out the cake candles together and celebrated with hugs. 

Highlights of the food on the grill included some Kodiak cod and Kodiak  tanner crab as well as salmon dip made by Adelia and incredible salad by Elke. 

Angie, Ella, Elke and myself celebrating another year around the sun! 

I'm used to frequently blowing out candles alongside my sister  but this year it was fun to blow out candles alongside 3 cool women!



Zoya

On Monday, my actual birthday, I picked up Nora from school early to do her program as usual. She asked, "Mom, did you see clients today?" I replied, "yes" She said "Mom, you should've given yourself the day off. Because you are your own boss." So true and sweet- But tough to actually do...

Sunday Morning Drive

Yesterday was Zoya's birthday, but we had her celebration 2 days ago on Sunday.  Prior to kids, on her birthday Zoya and I used to drive out the road with binoculars and check out the migrating birds.  After kids we sort of stopped doing it.  Maybe it had to do with confinement in a car for 2 hours with fighting kids?

Anyway, this year drove out the road with kids.  On the way out we picked up beach peat for the garden, but the goal of the trip was 'Surfer's Beach' out past Pasagshak on Narrow Cape. We drove out in tandem with Elke and her kids Mila and Phoebe.  Elke is a surfer - hence the surfing destination.  It was a beautiful day, and the kids did not fight in the car (not much anyway).

I have never gone out there to watch the surfers and I was kind of amazed at how fun it looked.  I'd always thought that Kodiak must have sort of marginal conditions, but to my untrained eye the waves looked pretty good for surfing. Absolutely gorgeous out there too - with beautiful light.  I could not help but take lots and lots of pictures.  Patrick

A different World

With the arrival of the dandelions on my lawn it is now officially Spring in town.  We have still been getting frosts at night, but my lawn has started to turn green.  I fear it is not long before we begin the endless cycle of mowing the lawn.  I mostly planted the garden over the weekend.  Now I am wondering - do frosts kill seeds?

In the afternoons I have been going up to the pass to go skiing.  It is a completely different world up there, and the higher I ski the more winter-like it gets.  But even up there the birds are singing and there are ptarmigan nesting on all the snow free spots.  Even on the snow spring is in the air.  Patrick

Soccer in the Snow

It's hard to believe that this was yesterday morning.  Today it is brilliant sunshine, no wind and the temperature is nearing 50 degrees.  I am lighting the fire pit for an outside barbecue.  Tomorrow is Zoya's birthday and so we will do a small pre-birthday porch party.

But yesterday Stuey had soccer practice in the snow.  Very few people showed up and it ended up a 3 parent and 3 kid scrimmage.  We tried to emphasize passing the ball.  If the kids scored they got to throw snowballs at Bob the coach.  What's ironic is that while you'd expect some snow at the beginning of soccer season this is nearly the end of the season.  Maybe they would have been better off playing ice hockey.  Patrick