The Start of Daily TS Tidbits and Other Random Thoughts

I've been annoyed how life has derailed my original intent of this blog. Although, I do have to say that I'm extremely lucky so far in that The Boy has not had Tourette's symptoms or tics that would actually give me much to write about on a daily basis. So yah, thank you God. I'll take it!

But in the interest of imparting information, I've decided to have my daily Tourette's fact or observation. Well, maybe not daily. But each time I post, I'm going to put a fact or observation about Tourette's first. Then I'll move on to whatever minutiae is on my mind at the moment.

Most of my facts will probably come from the virtual cornucopia of information that is the Tourette's Syndrome Association (http://www.tsa-usa.org/). They have been my main source of one-stop-shopping info. But I will also delve out into the webosphere in search of other information.

Today's Tourette's Tidbit (from the TSA site's Fact Sheet page):

Is obscene language (coprolalia) a typical symptom of TS? Definitely not. The fact is that cursing, uttering obscenities, and ethnic slurs are manifested by fewer than 15% of people with TS. Too often, however, the media seize upon this symptom for its sensational effect.

I found this one most interesting. I think those of us who are ignorant about TS (and I would say I was in that group until my son was diagnosed) think of this symptom first when we hear the word "Tourette's". I know that many movies and sitcoms make references to this. I know I've seen comedians burst out with a swear and then joke, "Oh sorry...I have Tourette's!" to big laughs. And I was one of the ones laughing. How funny that it's one of the less common symptoms of Tourette's.

The few people I've encountered with coprolalia didn't yell out swears. One pre-teen would just yell out random words that just weren't appropriate. Not in the politically correct sense. But in the, hey, that doesn't belong there sense. One kid would yell out "Metal!" or "Coffee!" So the whole swearing thing is a rarity. And I often wonder how the mind decides which random words to pick. I imagine it has a lot to do with your environment and experience. Although I have nothing to back that up. Just a hunch.

Now on to more stuff that doesn't matter...

I didn't post for quite a while because I was just too angry. And I'm really sick and tired of hearing and reading my own anger. I'm sure anyone just popping by here is, too. So I'll just Readers' Digest it here for you: Future ex spent a long time with his friends and then with his girlfriend. I got mad. I got raving lunatic mad. I had a nice little emotional meltdown. He got back in town this past Saturday. He's trying to be "helpful" by taking the boys out and such. It's so lovely to have someone take your kids so you can actually have time to....DO HOUSEWORK. Yah. Good times.

But I'm doing much better. God is much more powerful than my own anger. I sang at church on Sunday again. I love singing backups. Harmonies are my favorite. But every single song just spoke to me so powerfully so I was having one of those singing times where I was doing everything in my power not to start crying. I am not a pretty crier. I am not a dainty crier. I can't stand there singing with a single tear rolling down my cheek so that everyone just goes, "Awwww..." and weeps. No, my face scrunches up in the most horrific display. It's impossible to sing in tune when I get like this. So, as a service to my church and humanity in general, I stood there singing and silently praying, "Help me keep it together God! Pull me together!!!" And he did. I was able to truly worship and sing my butt off. One of my friends came up afterwards and said, "You were ROCKIN' that worship, girl!" Which meant she appreciated my sincerity of worship. Not that I was jumping around and crowd surfing.

That's about all I have. I'm not very creative today. And I must go pick up the wee one from day care. The Boy is having one on one time with his daddy. So I must go distract the wee one.