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March 9th, 2010
If you have been reading our blog since January, you will have noticed a few posts about my husband’s and my journey to health, both physical and emotional. If not, here is a quick update. Jenny Bair and Betty Murray, are the co-founders of Living Well Dallas, a holistic collective of alternative, medical and therapeutic practitioners helping people to feel better. That’s a very brief description of what they do but I think their concept and their practice is amazing: you can read more about the Jenny, Betty and the Living Well by clicking here.
Brad and I had reached a point in our lives where nothing seemed to be working, weight kept going up, not down. Our priorities were skewed and we found ourselves putting work before our relationship with each other and our children. We felt buried under life and it’s accompanying paperwork around the house.
So we reached out to Jenny and Betty for help and it has been an amazing journey of growth, discovery, laughter and tears, not to mention sore muscles from restarting our fitness programs. I will talk more later about the success and absolute joy of working with Jenny Bair, our inner organizer who has done so much to change our relationships with ourselves and with each other. She is an amazing life coach and a deeply spiritual person who has helped us to see each other again and pay attention to what was missing.
Today, I want to talk about Betty Murray, . Betty is a nutritionist and holistic health counselor. If you read her bio online, you learn that she is committed to seeing each person as a unique individual and creating a health/eating plan unique to you. We are not all the same and not every plan works for everybody. Trust me, over the years I have tried them all. Since high school, I have been a yo-yo dieter, losing and regaining and losing the same 50 pounds. As I have gotten older it has gotten harder to lose the weight, to find the energy and focus to follow a plan for any length of time. I am too busy, too tired, too stressed, don’t care enough, you know the drill, too many excuses.
I have been working with Betty since January and not seeing a lot of success. I have been mostly faithful to the plan and made significant changes to how and what I eat. You can imagine my frustration two months later at my lack of weight loss (now granted, I totally accept responsibility for this and don’t blame Betty.) Every time I would go visit her, she would tweak my diet and exercise plan, ask me for an accounting of what I had been doing and eating and help me find the small moments to celebrate. God bless her for that or I would have quit.
I knew I was allergic to wheat but had never been formally tested and I knew that certain foods I was eating were not making me feel good. So Betty encouraged me to take a blood test to check for 93 different and common food allergies, hence the title of this blog post, what in the hell am I supposed to eat? Pardon my cursing, but that is exactly how I felt when I met with Betty last week.
Not only did I discover that I am severely allergic, not just to wheat but all gluten, which is in EVERYTHING, but I am allergic to almost everything I was eating. (At which point Betty said, this is why I like to do this testing FIRST, so that I can really help you make a difference. I had resisted taking the test, my loss!) Okay, are you ready, here is the crazy list of foods that I have to completely eliminate from diet for 12 weeks (I am on day three, so far so good.) All gluten products (so anything with wheat, rye, barley, any kind of flour, all bread, crackers, bagels, most sauces and even salad dressings, canned soups and sausage have gluten in them. Did I mention I love to eat out and it just got really hard?) Being wheat-sensitive is very different than having to live a gluten-free life. There are tons of websites full of information that I am still wading through with a sense of overwhelm and information overload.
But the gluten was just the beginning. I am also allergic to almonds, avocado (I cried about this one,) peanuts, mustard, chicken, pork, salmon, sole, eggs (both yolks ans whites) and the only HOORAY on the list: lima beans, who cares. But every single one of those other foods were ones I was eating a lot of.
So back to the question of what to eat for breakfast. Yesterday I had ground turkey and an apple. No more scrambled eggs and bacon! Basically, no more breakfast foods and I love BREAKFAST! Especially at Cafe Brazil, awesome vegie migas. I have to say goodbye to them for a while.
I am so grateful to Betty for encouraging me to figure this out. I will report back here in a week and let you know about my progress and if this will finally help that scale begin to move in the right direction.
So what happens if I eat any of these foods? I have achey joints, my whole body feels tender to the touch, my small intestine gets clogged and crampy, you don’t need all the gorey details, just suffice it to say that I don’t feel good. I don’t have my normal energy and enthusiasm.
I am ready for something different and it will be interesting to see what that looks like. So if you made it al the way to the end of this post, I would love to hear from anyone else who is suffering from food allergies and how you have managed happy eating, both at home and in restaurants.
And remember, there is a health/wellness program that is perfect for you. I chose Living Well Dallas is because they see each person as unique and create the program that will work for you, not some cookie cutter version that some super star says is sure to work for everyone. I encourage you to check them out!
Tags: Betty Murray, celiac, food allergies, gluten, Jenny Bair, Living Well Dallas
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March 3rd, 2010
Economic Pessimism Doesn’t Have to Depress You!
Dallas Motivational Maven says, “Ladies, Gather Your Personal Power and Snap Out of It!”
FRISCO, Texas—March 2, 2010— Move over Tony Robbins, there’s a new motivational force in town and her name is DeDe Murcer Moffett. “What if you knew that YOU were the only one standing between you and the life of your dreams!” says Murcer Moffett, a women’s motivational speaker based in Frisco, Texas.
Murcer Moffett, founder and president of The Snap Out of It Women’s Network, Snap Out of It Radio Network, and creator of the upcoming Snap Out of It Women’s Conference says “it’s time to realize that Prince Charming is not coming, the government has more to do to get things back on track, and NOW is the time for each one of us to move away from fear and hopelessness into joy and passion through realizing who we truly are.” Her relentless challenging demeanor demands that women leave their limiting beliefs at the door and step straight into empowered action.
Now, Murcer Moffett teams up with 12 other women’s empowerment dynamos to challenge women to tap into their personal power reserve and gas up for the rest of the year. The Snap Out of It Conference, May 20, 2010, unites women with power, passion and practicality. “Women have been the backbone of so many challenging economies, and together we can accomplish anything. It’s time for us to come together and move,” Murcer Moffett said.
“The conference is not just about financial success,” said Murcer Moffett. “It’s about whipping out all of your personal power in all of its forms – physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual – it’s about power and soul.”
The conference will support participants in snapping out of it by sharing:
The biggest CATALYST you can tap into in your life and business
What is REALLY holding you back and how this one awareness alone can move you toward FREEDOM
Why POSITIVE THINKING is a WASTE of TIME if you haven’t decided what to CREATE in your life
How to tap into FEARLESSNESS on a daily basis so you can move and leave worry behind
Tap into INSPIRATIONAL stories of women who have stepped into their personal power and how you can too!
“The rubber meets the road when we decide to get out of a situation that isn’t serving us,” says Murcer Moffett. “We are talking about getting honest with ourselves so that we can step into the inspirations and dreams that seem to taunt us. As one woman steps up she lights the way for hundreds more to follow. “When we come together as a group something magical and wonderful always happens. Expect it!”
The Snap Out of It Conference is a conference that any woman (and, yes, even the men who can muster up the courage to attend with all of the estrogen in the place) can access to increase their personal power and enjoy greater results than ever before in all areas of their life.
DeDe Murcer Moffett has more than 25 years experience as a business woman, entrepreneur, and performer and today she is a radio host, recording artist and consultant-coach as well. She is founder and president of The Snap Out of It Women’s Network, a Frisco, Texas-based organization that teaches hundreds of women how to eliminate limiting beliefs and plug into their personal power – both in life and business.
Snap Out of It Conference speakers include: DeDe Murcer Moffett “Wake Up, Stand Up and Snap Out of It!” http://www.dedemurcermoffett.com; Dr. Pat Baccili “Unstuckable - Your Life on a Waterslide” http://thedrpatshow.com; Tina Ferguson “Now is the Time, You are the One” http://www.tinaferguson.com; Darlene Ellison “Shattered… but Picking up the Pieces” http://www.darleneellison.com Dr. Minette Riordan “Life’s too Short to Wear Diamond Studs” http://www.minetteriordan.com”minetteriordan.com; Kathy Garland “Fearless Women Taking the Big Leap”http://www.kathygarland.com; Kathy Light “Releasing the Song in Your Heart” http://kathylight.com; Kim St. Andre “Stay True to You” http://www.mypersonalmedium.com; Bonnie Bolin Peterson “In an Abundant World, Where’s My Stuff http://www.bonniebolinpeterson.com; Bee Herz “You Don’t Have to be Psychic to be Psychic http://www.beeherz.com; Rita Reneaux “Revolutionary Relationships, Are you Ready?” http://yescompany1.vpweb.com/default.html; Michelle Barr “Healing Your Way to Prosperity” http://michellebarr.com; Kay Smith “Energy Dressing” “http://www.energydressing.com
For more information, contact DeDe Murcer Moffett at 469-358-9076 or at dede@dedemurcermoffett.com. For media inquiries, contact DeDe Murcer Moffett. Web Site: http://www.DeDeMurcerMoffett.com/Snap-Out-Of-It-Conference.html
Tags: conference, entertainment, event, minette riordan, mommy blog, motivation, wellness, women
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March 2nd, 2010
Vista Ridge Mall to host Open Call for models, actors, singers and dancers Tuesday, March 2 to Saturday, April 3
Free auditions for Fashion Show and Talent Show Extravaganza
LEWISVILLE, Texas. March 2, 2010. Beginning Tuesday, March 2, Vista Ridge Mall will host The American Mall Model Search Experience, which includes a Fashion Show and Talent Contest Extravaganza. Interested individuals can register at stations located throughout the shopping center beginning Tuesday, March 2. Registration will continue until Tuesday, April 13.
Boys, girls, men and women of all ages and sizes are invited to audition. From the applicants, the American Mall Model Search Experience organization will select approximately 300 local models and performers to participate in a final Fashion Show and Talent Contest on Saturdays, April 3 or May 15.
Individuals will be judged based on talent, personality, poise, appearance and self-confidence. Winners will be given a one-year contract with Model Productions of Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles and New York City and will be allowed to audition for professional modeling and acting projects.
Only a limited number of individuals will be given an audition, and selection is based on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no charge to register or to audition.
The first round of auditions are scheduled for Tuesday, March 2, with a Fashion Show and Talent Contest on Saturday, April 3. A second round of auditions will be held Tuesday, April 13 for a Fashion Show and Talent Contest on Saturday, May 15.
For more information, visit the American Mall Model Search website at www.TheAMMS.com or call 770.751.0500.
Vista Ridge Mall, featuring Dillard’s, Macy’s, JCPenney, Sears, Cinemark 15 and more than 140 specialty stores and restaurants, is at I-35E and Round Grove Road (FM 3040) in Lewisville, Texas. For information, visit www.vistaridgemall.com or call 972.315.3641.
Tags: family, fashion show, kids, model search, parents, talent show, vista ridge mall
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February 22nd, 2010
I want to give a big shout out to Melissa Plaskoff and her son, founds of Lemons to Aid. Melissa wanted to help out the families in Haiti in a way that was meaningful to her 4 year old son. Check out her story below and then go visit her website. Send us your stories of how you are making a difference in your community or globally. Melissa is doing a fabulous job of modeling for her son what it means to be caring and generous and committed to helping others. Way to go, Melissa!
Here is how Lemons to Aid (www.lemonstoaid.com) started….
My four year old son, Hudson, asked me if we could sell lemonade and make a lemonade stand. I told him it was a great idea, but first I had to tell him a story. In an age appropriate way, I told him about the Haiti earthquake and what has happened to the people. He asked about the kids his age—did they lose their shoes, their toys. I told him they did and we could make a lemonade stand and send all the money to them. He was so excited! We made signs and set up our stand. It was a huge success!! We made $150 in 3 hours.
We shared our story with others on Facebook, we set up a website and the word has started to spread!!! There have been fundraisers in:
Plano, TX – They raised $8,550!!!!
New York City (4 of them!)
San Antonio, TX
Dallas, TX (3 of them!)
Arlington, TX
Tampa, FL
Atlanta (3 yr old read-a-thon)
Phoenix, AZ (school had a bake sale and collected change)
Los Angeles, CA
Oakland, CA (3 yr old read-a-thon)
Maryland
By challenging each child in America to turn lemons into lemonaid, we are not only sending money to earthquake relief, but we are teaching our children to get involved and help at an early age through this hands on experience. People can email me at help@lemonstoaid.com if they have questions or when they decide to have a fundraiser. I will add their information to the website.
Thanks so much!
Melissa Plaskoff
www.lemonstoaid.com
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February 12th, 2010
Since my children started playing soccer and going to Brownie meetings, I have done my duty as “snack mom”. My job was to provide a drink and a snack for each of the kids participating in the soccer game or Brownie troop. I watched other moms bring parades of Krispy Kreme donuts and Gatorade for post-soccer game treats. My own children would go crazy with glee and greed, begging for more than one donut. Why, you might ask? Because I am the mom who doesn’t feed my kids donuts or Gatorade very often. The other day my daughter came home from a Brownie meeting on a sugar high, she had been treated with a cupcake and a cookie and a piece of candy, which she gobbled down in about 3 minutes, the time allotted for snack at the beginning of the meeting.
I would watch all of this sugary stuff parade by, watch my kids crash shortly after the hysteria of eating the chocolate and sprinkle coated donut and think, that won’t be me, I won’t bring donuts, I will bring a healthy snack! Oh, the pressure. I won’t give in, I won’t give in, I chanted to myself. And I tried, I honestly tried but you can imagine what happened, can’t you? No one ate the snacks. They begrudgingly drank the 100% juice boxes and a few nibbled on the peanut butter crackers but most turned their noses up. Oh, no, I thought, I have failed! My son is going to be teased for being different! My daughter won’t be liked at Brownies, all because their mom doesn’t believe in sugar-loading her kids.
So I admit, I caved. I didn’t go to Krispy Kreme and I still only brought water or 100% juice boxes, but I did buy Oreos or those giant packs of multi-flavored chips. One month I made brownies for Brownies. I try not to lose sleep over it and I usually compensate at home by making my kids eat extra servings of fruit and vegetables. Am I making myself crazy?Making my kids crazy? Maybe, but they are healthy and neither one has been sick with the flu or had anything worse than a slight cold for the past two years. I can’t remember the last time one of them stayed home sick from school. Eating healthy is a priority in our family but an occasional sweet treat isn’t going to kill anyone.
Dr. Minette Riordan is the publisher of North Texas Kids magazine and mother of two elementary school aged children. She can be reached at minette@northtexaskids.com.
This article appeared in the January issue of Richardson Living Magazine, thanks to them for publishing my mommy rantings!
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February 9th, 2010
What a great way to get you and your kids outside! Here in the DFW area, we have so many great places to go bird watching from the beautiful cardinals and blue jays in our back yards to the hawks and indigo bunting at some of the local parks. A few of our personal favorite nature walks: Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano, Cedar Ridge Preserve in Dallas, White Rock Lake or the Dallas Arboretum and the Ray Roberts Greenbelt Trail on Hwy. 380 east of Denton. At North Texas Kids, we want to encourage all of you to get out and be healthy, even in the winter!
From February 12-15, join bird watchers from coast to coast for the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). The event engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real–time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent and in Hawaii. Anyone can participate, from beginner bird watchers to experts. Participation is free and no registration is required.
Participants count birds anywhere for as little or as long as they wish during the four–day period. They tally the highest number of birds of each species seen together at any one time and can easily report what they see online at http://www.birdcount.org and get an instantaneous snapshot of their record, as well as submit photographs of the recorded birds.
You can report the five species in your backyard feeder or the 75 species you see during a day’s outing to a National Wildlife Refuge. Be a “citizen scientist” and get involved in the count.
Contact your local refuge; many participate in the GBBC each year, including Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge in Idaho, Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma and Togiak National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
A complete list of National Wildlife Refuge activities and special events is available at: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/SpecialEvents/FWS_SpecialEvents_Search.cfm
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February 3rd, 2010
I receive Christine’s newsletter and love her insights and articles. As I move forward into a new year and hopefully a new me, I loved her ideas for creating a morning ritual. Mine is haphazard at best although I love rituals. I do find it hard to build new habits. How about you? Do you have a morning ritual? With two young kids at home, I find the only way to get anything accomplished in the morning is to get up before they do. That can be a challenge some mornings, but maybe if I knew what I had to look forward to, it would motivate me to get up! In working with Jenny Bair, my inner organizer at Living Well Dallas, she has helped me to identify what I need to spend more time on, and how to focus on myself through prayer and meditation and other forms of self care. It’s not just about the eating and the nutrition! What do you do to take care of yourself?
Enjoy this great article by Christine Kane.
It is said that your habits create your destiny.
I’d add that your habits also create your confidence, courage and even your creativity!
In other words, your daily choices, routines, and seemingly insignificant moments make all the difference in your results.
One of the best ways to generate great results is to create a morning ritual. A powerful morning ritual sets the tone for your entire day - and your entire year!
A ritual is personal. A ritual is creative. (Not reactive!) A ritual is what gets YOU on track to create your best day. (And subsequently, your best life!) It can be as simple as a 15-minute routine, or as intense as long-distance running. The important thing is that it becomes a HABIT.
My morning ritual combines a mixture of physical, mental and heart-centered activities to engage each of these human power centers!
Here are some ideas to help you create your own powerful morning ritual.
Hydrate First
Many Eastern health practitioners recommend chugging down at least a half-liter of filtered room-temperature water first thing. (Yes, before your coffee!)
Upon waking, your body has spent hours without hydration. Drinking pure water at this time triggers a series of physiological functions that keep your body super healthy. Some report that this one practice can actually heal many diseases. (I’m not a scientist – but I can attest to the amazing results!)
Get Moving
Exercise is called “The Number One Form of Preventive Medicine.”
It is also a prescription for happiness and a cure for depression! Getting exercise first thing sets your day off right. You can do a simple stretching routine, yoga or an all-out heart-pounding hour at the gym. Pick something do-able and do it.
Meditate
Many people don’t meditate because they find it intimidating. I say, start with just 5 minutes. Meditation connects you to your center, and to the deep silence that surpasses any drama that might be happening in the world of your personality. Don’t worry about doing it right. Just allow yourself the time to BE.
Set Intention
“Intention rules the earth,” says Oprah Winfrey.
It’s true! Your intention is a powerful force to engage.
Remembering your intention puts you back on track. You become focused again.
Reflect for a moment on your Word of the Year. Read a goal you’ve written down for yourself. Remind yourself of a financial dream. (If you’re one of my new students in Uplevel Your Business, read the intention you wrote down on the first day of the program!)
You don’t have to know the HOW. You just need to set the intention so your inner GPS can stay on target!
Be Grateful
Before I get out of bed, I silently create a morning gratitude list. When I begin my day remembering my “gratitudes,” (instead of my “anxieties”) my heart fills with extreme joy and deep awareness. I then bring that energy into everything I do - and to everyone with whom I connect.
Use a Netty Pot
(This one’s a little weird!)
For years, my acupuncturist told my husband and I to use a Netty Pot. We laughed at him. Then, in the face of acute sinus problems, my husband tried it and became a convert. He converted me.
A Netty Pot uses warm water and a special salt to cleanse your sinuses and clear your breathing. Google it, and let the idea sit with you for a while. (You might be a convert too!)
Eat Creative
Your choice of breakfast foods can set up your success with other meals as well. Start your day off in the healthiest way possible for you - and make it a ritual, not a chore.
Be Prepared: Create a Not-to-Do List
Everyone needs a “Not To Do” morning list.
Suggestions here include anything that brings up a “reactive” state: Turning on the local news. Checking email. Answering texts. Answering the phone.
Let these things wait until AFTER your ritual has been completed!
Your Assignment:
After reading this article, don’t just think, “Wow. Those are some good ideas. I should try one or two.”
Instead, deliberately create your morning ritual now. Take about 20 minutes to think about and write down what your ritual will be each morning. Start simple at first. Choose one or two items from this menu. Or come up with your own. Write out your Ritual in detail.
Begin first thing tomorrow morning, and let your habits create YOUR destiny starting now!
Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her ‘LiveCreative’ weekly ezine with more than 11,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com.
WANT TO SEE HUNDREDS MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Christine’s blog - Be Creative. Be Conscious. Be Courageous - at ChristineKane.com/blog.
Tags: children, Christine Kane, famiiy, habits, kids, meditation, parenting, rituals, wellness
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January 25th, 2010
I am finally back in Dallas and getting my life back on track. After a month away from home and office, I felt like everything was spinning out of control and I was lost. To give you an idea of how crazy last week was, I got this great quote from Martin Luther King in an email newsletter last Monday (on the actual MLK day) from one of my favorite sales motivation sights called “Smile & Move.” Just seeing those two words makes we want to do exactly that! They have an awesome blog: http://blog.givemore.com/ Great for when you need a quick pick me up, no matter what you are doing. I have been “meaning” to blog about it for week now. This idea of “meaning to” is symptomatic of why I need to make some lifestyle changes, from the inside out.
Last week Sam sent out some inspirational quotes from Martin Luther King and this one stopped me in my tracks:
“The major problem of life is learning how to handle the costly interruptions. The door that slams shut, the plan that got sidetracked, the marriage that failed. Or that lovely poem that didn’t get written because someone knocked on the door.”
That is how I have felt recently. That poem that didn’t get written was the one about my life, where I get to take care of me and my family and put my health first. That didn’t happen while I was away caring for an aging parent, spending 10 or more hours a day in a hospital room. There is no one to blame and I am not upset or angry about this “costly interruption” but I am concerned with how to get it all going in the right direction again. It would be so easy to just give up on the goals I have set for myself and keep living the way I have been. But if I do that, then I am giving up on myself and allowing a small interruption to become a life-changing event. Seems silly doesn’t it?
What’s wrong with that picture? I just turned 45 years old, I am 45 pounds overweight (poetic justice in those numbers) and my business has been on hold for the first several weeks of the year. If I keep doing what I am doing, I will not be alive in 20 years to play with my grandchildren, grow old with my husband and see my children’s success in their lifetime. And I really want to be here, in a way that I have not focused on before. Maybe it is that big number, 45, which suddenly looks a lot closer to 50 than it ever did before. Maybe it’s just realizing that I am cheating myself. I don’t have the energy or enthusiasm I used to have for anything.
I finally got to meet with Betty Murray last Friday after a 5-week hiatus, the nutritionist that my husband and I are working with at Living Well Dallas. Yes, after being gone for a month I did gain weight, two pounds, could have been worse. But Betty gave me some good advice, she said to celebrate the small success of just moving forward every day. Forgetting about the scale, focus on what I did right during those weeks I was away. I managed to walk 3 to 4 times a week and while I didn’t carefully pay attention to what I was eating, I by no means went insane and ate everything in sight. I would have done this in the past, when any opportunity to splurge was a valid one.
In fact, when my stepmom was diagnosed with brain cancer a couple of years ago, I did just that. In all the craziness of travel, stress, sadness (she died two months after her diagnosis) I gained about 25 pounds that I am still carrying. I stopped running and stopped taking care of myself for a while, I tried to get business going again and tried to spend some much needed time with my family.
So yes, I have experienced a short blip on my personal 2010 timeline of goals and dreams, but I am not really starting over. I am going to remember to celebrate my successes, no matter how small and to keep sight of the long term goals. Tomorrow, I get to touch base with Jenny Bair, my “inner organizer”. I can’t wait to revisit the plans we made and put them into action.
Tags: aging, famiiy, fitness, goal setting, motivation, parenting, parents, weight loss, wellness
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January 19th, 2010
Behavioral Innovations Works to Ensure Comprehensive Programs Available
DALLAS, TX (January 6, 2008) – Behavioral Innovations, the premier Dallas/Fort Worth provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for families of children with autism and other developmental disorders, announces its partnership with key insurance carriers to offer in-network insurance coverage for several ABA therapy programs. Behavioral Innovations is the first behavioral therapy center in the Metroplex to offer in-network insurance for select treatments – mitigating the financial burden on parents.
As of January 1, 2010, Behavioral Innovations started accepting insurance from Aetna covering payments associated with their In-home Treatment Program and SAIL After School Program. The company started accepting in-network insurance coverage from Aetna for children in their Center-Based Day Program in 2009. Starting January 11th, the company will accept United Behavioral Health, which will cover their Center-based Day Program and SAIL After School Program.
“Behavioral Innovations has proactively partnered with specific insurance companies so parents can afford necessary treatments for their autistic children,” said Billy Edwards, Director of Business Development at Behavioral Innovations. “This alleviates some out-of-pocket expense and stress, which many parents face, and helps them start early intervention therapy for their child.”
Behavioral Innovations is the first ABA therapy center in Texas to join Aetna’s network and the first to partner with United Behavioral Health, providing in-network services. The company also provides in-network coverage for military families through Tricare/Humana, is filing claims for BCBS and Cigna and is working diligently with additional insurance companies to gain provider status and network coverage in the near future. This will allow the company to continue treating children that have developmental disorders, while making it more affordable for their parents.
“Autistic children need intensive therapy and treatment is expensive no matter how you slice it,” said Edwards. “We want families to have access to comprehensive programs that best fits their needs.”
Recently, the Texas legislature made it a priority to make changes in Autism insurance and treatment options. In 2007, the Texas Legislation passed House Bill 1919 to mandate that insurance companies recognize disorders on the autism spectrum. In May 2009, the legislature passed House Bill 451, widening the range of ages for insurance coverage and House Bill 192, excusing a temporary absence from school from a student diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders for an appointment with a health care practitioner.
“The Texas Legislature is helping parents overcome challenges associated with autistic children,” said Lisa Martin, whose autistic daughter, Paige, attends Behavioral Innovations. “With these insurance and legislative changes, it’s easier to get Paige the therapy she needs to improve her quality of life.”
Behavioral Innovations provides diversified and individualized autism therapy programs in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The qualified professionals help children who have been diagnosed with Autism, Asperger’s, Cerebral Palsey, Down Syndrome, and many other developmental and behavioral disorders. Each program is tailored to meet each child’s unique situation.
Behavioral Innovations offers complimentary screenings for children with behavioral or delay disorders as well as a tour of the facility for parents. Its North Texas Autism Treatment Center, located in Irving, is designed to provide a clinical setting where children receive superior therapy services.
For additional information about Behavioral Innovations and its insurance plans, contact Billy Edwards at bedwards@behavioral-innovations.com. Or to set up a complimentary admission screening email info@behavioral-innovations.com or call 469.374.0700.
About Behavioral Innovations
Established in 2000, Behavioral Innovations is the first provider in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to offer on-site ABA treatment and establish an office for consultations. The qualified professionals help children who have been diagnosed with Autism, Asperger’s, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and other developmental and behavioral disorders. Behavioral Innovations is one of the largest private employers of Board Certified Behavior Analysts in the state of Texas, with directors that hold Master’s Degree in Behavior Analysis. The company is also one of the fastest growing providers of high quality behavioral services in the country. For more information, contact www.behavioral-innovations.com.
Tags: autism, developmental disorders
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January 13th, 2010
It’s January 13, what’s happened to your New Year’s resolutions?
Over the last few weeks I have read numerous articles and blog posts about how to create and stick to our New Year’s resolutions. But here it is Jan. 13 (my 45th birthday by the way) and those articles have stopped. It’s only the 2nd week of January but how many of you have already gotten off track, changed track or forgot you even set new goals for 2010. Or didn’t even bother to do any planning for 2010?
I know all too well that life gets in the way. My husband and I did some great planning in December. We signed up for a very exciting health and wellness program with Living Well Dallas. You can read my earlier blog posts for details. But rather than walking an hour a day and paying careful attention to what I am eating, I am spending the first two weeks of the year away from my husband and kids, taking care of my stepdad in the hospital and trying to continue to take care of myself. (Not feeling very successful on the eating part, hospital cafeterias and restaurants are not the best choices but I have been walking every morning.) I do not regret being here with my stepdd, I would not be any place else right now. Yet the best laid plans have gone awry and I am struggling to keep my head above water and my weight from ballooning back to where it was when I first started the Living Well program. Both my personal life and my business are just on hold which requires patience on my part, not a virtue that I possess in any quantity. Plus the guilt of leaving my husband to take care of the kids for a week by himself and my office manager to run North Texas Kids all by herself…. the list goes on.
I have spent a lot of time sitting in a hospital room over the last two weeks. I have had time to think, pray and surf the internet. I have been doing some planning for our upcoming February issue, which is focusing on toddlers and I was trying to come up with some ideas for fun, creative articles and ideas on what to do with children this age.
I was also reading the latest blog post on one of my favorite blogs: Zen Habits (it’s all about productivity, something I am always seeking more of). www.zenhabits.net. The latest blog post was titled, “8 Unconventional Ways to De-stress and Release Tension” Wow, I thought, definitely sounds like something I need right now. I am stressing myself out with worry, guilt, being exhausted! There were some interesting and insightful suggestions like massaging your ears, taking a laughing yoga class and decluttering your living room. But number 2 on the list was to finger paint (are you starting to see where I am going with this long-winded post?)
The author writes: “Finger paint. If you thought that getting messy and painting with your fingers was strictly for kids, think again. Finger painting allows you to have fun, be artistic and play in a child like way. It gives you permission to express your creativity and spontaneity without expectations. So why not be the creator of some new abstract art pieces. Visit a nearby children’s store and pick up a set of finger paints.” I don’t know about you, but being a mom of young children, I don’t have to go to the store, just to our craft cabinet!
You can read the rest of the article here: http://zenhabits.net/2010/01/8-unconventional-ways-to-de-stress-and-release-tension/#more-5213
But then, I was surfing for some fun toddler activities and found an even better take on finger painting with your children. Finger painting is a great sensory activity for kids (and adults) and a developmental tool many preschool teachers use. But it can be messy and difficult to stop little ones from eating the paint, which scares me even if the bottle says it’s non-toxic. What’s the solution? Paint with pudding! Yummy!!
Materials: Instant vanilla pudding, food coloring, small containers for pudding, long sheet of bulletin board paper or heavy craft paper, soap and water.
Description: Prepare pudding and tape paper to a table. I usually put down a big plastic tablecloth first and then the paper on top of that. You can make the pudding yourself and add the food coloring or let your kids help (depends on how big a mess you can tolerate.) Make four or five different colors and place them in small containers. Then let your kids dive in! Talk to them about how it feels between their fingers, about the taste, and the smell. Don’t watch, do it with them. When was the last time you got messy with your kids and had a great time. Put on an apron or an old t-shirt and paint your masterpiece!
As soon as I get back to Dallas, I am going to make the time to fingerpaint with my daughter and relax. My goals are not going anywhere and I will get back on track, I have to remember that this is just one little bump on our road to wellness, not an excuse to derail the entire program!
Tags: elderly parents, finger painting, new year's resolutions, parenting, toddlers, zen habits
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