What A Month

This month (December) has been a really hard month for me.  To explain, I meed to rewind time. In October,  I got a text from Mom, saying that she had taken Grandma to the emergency room, and that Grandma was being admitted to the hospital.  I was still at school grading papers and doing whatever else I do after school.  Turns out, Grandma had fluid in her right lung.  She spent little over a week in the hospital, and had her lung drained of fluid. From there, she went to rehab. 

While at rehab, both of her lungs started to fill up, and she decided to quit working with the physical therapists. On November 9, she was brought home, and we were told that she was dying, and didn't know how much time she had left here on Earth.

I think at this time, is when the behavior in my classroom, starting going downhill.  My team partner was on maternity leave, and so I started to prepare for when I would be out due to my Grandmother's death.  I started making copies galore. 

My second cousins and first cousins started coming around to see Grandma one last time.  Grandma had some bad days, good days, and bad nights. There was someone else here every day and every night to help with Grandma.  Grandma is my last remaining grandparent.  I was 21, when I lost my first grandparent, and now, I am 45 years old. 

Grandma ate at the table with us on Thanksgiving day. That Saturday, we skyped with my cousin who lives in Ireland. 

Grandma died Tuesday night of November 29.  I was only in bed a few minutes, when I was told that she had died.  The next morning, I went to school, and put in for a sub for 3 days, December 2, 5, 6.  Had conferences on December 1 (my mom's birthday). I woke up on December 2 barely able to talk. I had a sinus infection, and I had gotten my doctor to prescribe a zpack for me on the 1st. 

On Saturday, December 3, while I was watching TV, and barely able to talk, my principal called to tell me about a house fire in the area I teach, and that one of my students died in the house fire.  That is still hard to comprehend at times.  I miss seeing this student at school. Their name is still in the grade book, and still on the mailboxes.  Turns out, I had another student have their house burned down also that same weekend.

My class was told about the fire and the death of their classmate on December 5.  I wasn't at school that day, because my grandmother's calling hours and funeral was that day. 

I stayed home that Wednesday also.  While I was out, my students' behavior wasn't very good.  They can be good. 

I went back on the 8th.  It was hard seeing the empty desk.  I have moved the desks around about 3 different times since the  9th.

By the time Christmas break came around, I was sick again with a nasty sinus infection.  I have other health stuff going on, which was probably brought on by what has happened this month.

I am praying for God's will to be done, and for something good to come out of this.

Jesus Prom

    Last night, Friday, September 11, my church held a Jesus Prom.  This was the first time we did this.  The theme  was Candy Land.  The decorations were very cool.  Pool Noodles used for Licorice Forest.  We had Peppermint Forest.  Colored squares on the floor, to be like the trail on the game board.  The guests could get their shoes shined, nails done, play games, have supper, get treats, dance, and even go on a carriage ride pulled by a horse named Bingo.  Even, Webster the Duck from the Rubber Ducks was there.
   While I was watching people dance, I thought about what my night would be like if I was there with Timmy.  There was no visible speakers, and he would not have liked that.  No place for him to stand in front of the speakers.  The music was loud, though.  I even wondered how he would done with doing the Limbo.  He probably would've liked all of the people, going up to them, getting  hugs, and such.  My fun would've been keeping him from pulling down all of the different decorations.  i still think it would've been fun with him there. 

Akron Zoo: Memeber's Night

  The Akron Zoo has a few member only times for their members to be at the zoo.  Last year, I went to a member night visit, that was in June.  Last week, on Thursday, August 13, was another member's night, and I went after working in my classroom.  Here are some pictures that I took last week at  the zoo.

Lemurs

lemurs

Macaws and they say hello

seahorses

tiger

bald eagle

grizzly bear

flamingos

 

My Vacation

  I went on a three week vacation last month.  I left on Thursday, July 16 and got home on Wednesday, August 5 at 1:30 am. I spent a week in the Dallas area to see my friends.  We had lots of girls time (that is the norm when I am in town.), went to the Perot Museum, saw the movie, "Faith of our Fathers",  went to the zoo, went to church, did science experiments, got a massage, went swimming at a friend's house.
   After a week in TX, flew up to Portland, OR.  Spent the weekend in Vancouver, WA. My cousin got married on my birthday.  My parents, my sister, and my niece also flew out for the wedding.  The day after the wedding, drove to the beach, to check out the Pacific Ocean.  It was low tied, so we were able to walk out far.  The water was very cold. 
    The next day, drove back to Boise, ID.  On the way, stopped to see a waterfall.  I spent a week hanging out with my aunt and uncle, and my cousins.  It was a great vacation.

giraffe at the Dallas Zoo eating from a tree

Kasey and Josh at On the Border

My sister, Jodi, with our third cousin, Miriam

cousins: Elyse and Brandi at Hannah's wedding

My sister and I at Cannon Beach, OR

My family

My Aunt Dorothy and my mom

Siblings: Aunt Dorothy and my dad

Akron Zoo: June 30

I went to the Akron Zoo yesterday and saw some cool animals.  I love the zoo.  Here are some pics that I took yesterday.

                                               The Jaguar drinking water.

                        This is a Blue Macaw.  Very pretty blue feathers.  Never knew it was at the zoo before.

                                           A group of seahorses.

                                             These starfishes live in the same tank as the octopus.

                                        Octopus, must be new and way smaller than the other ones were.

                                  When I first saw the lion, he was cleaning himself. Once his mate laid down next to him, he started cleaning her also.  Kind of sweet.

                       Just before I got to this exhibit, the tiger saw the bird and captured the bird.  Here he is tearing it apart and eating the bird.

                   Here is one of five Bald Eagles that the zoo has.  None of these eagles are able to fly.

                                     Flamingos

Orthopedic Surgeon

   Over the past few years, my right knee has been bothering me off and on. For awhile, it seemed to bother me only when I didn't wear my compression stocking, but then other times, when I would wear it.  But since I gotten sick back in the fall of 2013,  it has been bothering me more often.  Back in January, my knee hurt a lot at night.  It bothers me walking up the stairs, so when I do not have to walk with my students, I use the elevator. 
    I had my physical last month, so I complained to my doctor.  I've complained before to her.  She recommended I see an orthopedic and I had my appointment this past Saturday.  He took x-rays of my knee, and showed me one of them.  On the inner part of my knee, there is no cartilage, so my knee is bone on bone.  He said, that I will have to eventually have to have the knee replaced.  When I am ready, then he will do it.  Until then, I will live with it, and as needed get cortisone shots to help.

Spring Break

         Last week was Spring Break. Spring Break started on Good Friday.  I went to Horseshoe Bend, AR with my parents and my niece.  We stayed at a 650 acre lake, and rode a pontoon boat on Tuesday afternoon.  Could see the lake from our unit, and was very peaceful.  Wednesday afternoon, we went to Blanchard Springs Cavern and got to go inside a cave.  Very cool to see what dripping water can do.  Left on Friday and went up into MO to see Grand Gulf Canyon. On Saturday, while on the way home, we stopped at Wright Patterson Air Force Base to walk around the Air Force Museum for a bit.  In the museum, we only checked out the early years/WW 1 and Vitenam War part.  Here are some pictures from my trip.