Opening Day-2012

  Today was Opening Day and Season Opener all wrapped into one!  First pitch was at 3:05 pm, and I was still at school.  When I left it was bottom of the second.  The Indians batted around in the 2nd and scored 4 runs.  Shelly Duncan got the first hit of the season.  Justin Masterson got the nod to pitch in the first game of the season.  By the end of the 2nd, the score was 4-0.  By the time I got home, the score was 4-1.

   After eight innings, the score was 4-1, and Justin had gotten 10 strikeouts.  Sat down for supper at the top the 9th inning, with the closer, Chris Perez, coming out to pitch.  I, personally, thought that Justin should've been allowed to pitch the 9th and get to throw a complete game. After supper, dad, looked at the tv, and said the score was 4-4, in the 10th inning.  Chris Perez blew the save.  At this writing, the game is tied at 4-4 with the game in the 12th inning.

This week's doctor's appointments

While I was in Indy last week,  I got a sore throat, and while driving home on Sunday, I felt it go into my sinuses.  That means I have my fourth sinus infection since December.  Basically, we had a TX winter, and the winter did a number on my sinuses.  I went to school on Monday, and by the end of the day, felt miserable.  I called and made an appointment to see my doctor yesterday.  I am  on an antibiotic now.  She gave me a name of an ENT (ears, nose, & throat doctor) that she wants me to see.  I called and will see him next Wednesday, during my spring break.

Monday afternoon, I had an appointment with my lung doctor.  He is taking me off the inhaler he put me on last May.  He said, that I do have Sarcoid.  I will have another breathing test in October and will see him the next week.

NSTA-Indy

March 28-April 1 were the dates for this year's NSTA's national conference.  The conference was in Indianapolis, IN.  I heard Bill Nye speak.  At the beginning of his lecture, he asked, how many classrooms was he teaching that day?  Probably more than  half of the hands of people in the room went up in the air.  He is hilarious.  After his lecture, he stayed around for people to have their picture taken with him.  I had my pic taken with him.

I visited the exhibit hall, and talked to a lot of people from small companies, to textbook companies, to museums.  I bought stuff, got things for free.  I went to about 10-12 workshops over three days.  Most of them were very good.  I got a lot of info.  I spent Friday afternoon, at the Indianapolis zoo.  I took a lot of pics at the zoo, and saw a dolphin show.

Saturday evening, I spent time with my seventh grade teacher.  I hadn't seen her since August 1994, a couple of weeks before I started my student teaching.  It was good to see her.

My Weekend

This was my scrapbooking weekend.  It had been planned since the last one, back in October.  I took Friday off from school.  We were able to check in starting at 3 pm, and could start working on our albums at 4 pm.  I left the house about 2:50 pm.  I was only going about an hour away.  I got off the exit fine, turned right, sitting at the light, when I was given the arrow to turn left, nothing, and I mean nothing.  My car wouldn't move.

  About 30 minutes later,  or so, a police officer pushed my car, with his, out of the intersection.  I wanted to go left, but he turned me right.  Another police officer stopped traffic, so I could be pushed off the road.  While that was going on, I was on the phone with AAA to have my car towed home.  I was told up to an hour an half of a wait.  The tow truck guy was there within 15 minutes.  I called my friend, and she sent somebody from the hotel, (about 1/2 mile away) to come and get me and my stuff.  My car was towed to a shop in Norton, and I stayed put in Mayfield Heights.  I completed my two books and somebody from there brought me home.

   I had to get my transmission rebuilt and they did a few other repairs also.  The first police officer who stopped to see about helping me, had chew in his bottom lip, you could see the bulge.  The tow truck guy had dropping pants.

CT Results and other Medical Stuff

   I saw my oncologist this morning. I had a long wait in the room to see him, which is unusual. I was weighed and it was different to Curves weight and when I was weighed at a different doctor's office this afternoon. Even my blood pressure was different at each place. The CT results: minor lymph node changes, kidney stone, minor lung changes, spleen slightly abnormal. Labs said I was slightly anemic, but that is due to having blood drawn just after finishing my period. Overall, my oncologist was pleased, and I do not have to see him or have another CT scan for a year. I am scheduled for next February. I can always call him and schedule an appointment if I need to. He also, asked about what I want to do with my port. I said I want to keep it, since I do not trust my veins, they are very hard to access.
     I saw my personal physician after lunch for my yearly physical. I do have to leave another urine sample in a couple of weeks, since she saw blood in this sample. My left ear was cleaned back in December, and had to be cleaned out again today. I got a prescription for another antibiotic for my third sinus infection in two months. I was given a stronger one this time. If I get continue to get sinus infections, then she will schedule me to have a scans done of my sinuses. I told her that I thought I had a bone spur, so she gave me orders to have my left ankle/heel x-rayed. When I left her office, I went over to the Wellness Center to get an x-ray. I do have a heel spur. I will wait to hear from my doctor about what she wants to do about that. I did buy new shoes on Saturday, hoping they will help with the spur. I also have a small mass in my left breast I found and she felt it also. For that, will just be keeping an eye on it myself. If it gets bigger, then I am to call my doctor.
      In between my doctor appointments, I went to Curves. Today, was my 9th visit of the month and my 104th visit since I started in December 2010. I was weighed and measured this morning. According to their records, I hadn't lost weight in the past month, but lost inches all over. I lost between 1/4 inch to 2 inches.

February Follow-up Tests

The yucky stuff went into the fridge Monday night, I think. My first dose was last night at 9 pm and two more doses this morning. My CT scan was scheduled for 9 am this morning, but I was about 20 minutes early. (Drinking contrast is a good way to clean out your system, along with drinking water.) I was done by 9:30. I had no problems in accessing my port. Then I had to walk to a different building for a lung function test. This time, the tests were like the ones I had for the first time, back in May of last year. You take in a deep breath and then let it all out and forcing it out. There was a test where you would just pant for about 10 seconds or so. Another one in taking in a deep breath and just holding it, then letting it out. I was given a breathing treatment and did the first test again. Again, there was no difference in the results of the first test before and after the breathing treatment. I see my oncologist Monday morning, and my lung doctor in March after school. I started going to Curves in December 2010, and at the beginning of this week, I made my 100th visit to Curves.

Monthly Port Flush

I was scheduled to get my port flushed and have blood work done this afternoon. I am getting my next CT scan on the 17th. No problems with getting blood return. I didn't wait for my results of my blood work. I was in and out within 15 minutes and saw my favorite nurse for a few minutes. My blood pressure was 139/86, a little high, but it was after school. They got my weight, which I don't like. I prefer what it is when I get weighed at Curves. Starting next week, I will be having a pre-student teacher two mornings a week. I am not sure what they call it now, but that is what it was called 20 years ago. He will be observing my class Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8-11, the first 4 periods of the day. I got an email from him, and replied, saying to expect to teach a class or two during his observation time. This will be my first time ever having one. It will be an interesting experience.

ABC's of Friendship

Always be honest. Be there when they need you. Cheer them on. Don't look for their faults. Every chance you get, call! Forgive them. Get together often. Have faith in them. Include them.Just listen. Know their dreams. Love them unconditionally. Make them feel special. Never forget them. Offer to help. Praise them honestly. Quietly disagree. Rescue them often. Say you're sorry when you need to. Talk frequently. Use good judgement. Vote for them! Walk beside them. X-ray yourself first. Your words count. Zip your mouth when told a secret. The above is found in workbook for the Successful Relationship Workshop I am doing at . It lasts for eight weeks, and this page is the last page of section one in my book.

Spaghetti Pie

The picture is a picture of the spaghetti pie I made Monday night for supper. I found the recipe in the new cookbook my mom received last month. The cook book is called A Quilter's Christmas Cookbook.

6 oz pkg spaghetti, cooked and drained
2 Tbsp olive oil or butter
1 large egg
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
fresh basil

1. Toss hot spaghetti with olive oil or butter.
2. Mix together egg and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Stir into spaghetti.
3. pour spaghetti mixture into a greased 10" pie pan. Form into a "crust".
4. Spread ricotta cheese over bottom of spaghetti crust. Add spaghetti sauce.
5. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake another 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
6. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Cool for 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.
7 Garnish with fresh basil and serve.

January Port Flush

This morning I had fasting blood work done for next month's physical. No problems in accessing my port, or getting blood return. Hopefully, the problems of getting blood return is behind me.

I will have blood work done again next month, because of the CT scan I will have later that month.

My blood pressure was high, but I think it was due to the worry of whether if my port would return blood or not. Plus, I have a sinus infection also.

Boise, Idaho

We flew out to Boise for Christmas. My cousin and his family flew over from WA. I have one cousin who lives six hours away who couldn't come home, and my brother wasn't here, other wise it was all of us. My sis and my niece had an adventure getting here. We had a nice Christmas. It was nice seeing people I haven't seen in six years, and meeting cousins I have never met. My cousin from WA and his wife, I haven't seen in 23 years.

On Christmas afternoon, my aunt went to the hospital because her hip came out of the socket and she went down onto the floor. It has been put back in.

They opened gifts on Christmas and again on Monday.

Woke up to snow on the ground yesterday. I will get the chance to shoot a gun for the first time this week. Going to see a movie this afternoon. We are hoping to go over to Boise State University to see the blue field. It has been a good week.

December Port Flush

After three months, of my port not returning blood, it decided to return blood Tuesday afternoon. I had no pop during the day, and I sat as straight as possible. Will see what happens on January 3 when I go in for a port flush and blood work.

A Christmas Alphabet

A is for Animals who shared the stable.
B is for the Babe in the manger cradle.
C is for the Carols so blithe and so gay.
D for December, the twenty-fifth day.
E for the Eve when we're all so excited.
F for the Fun when the trees at last lighted.
Gfor the Goose, so round and so fat.
Hfor the Holly you stick in your hat.
I for the Ivy that clings to the wall.
J is for Jesus, the cause of it all.
Kfor the Kindness begot by this feast.
Lis the Light shining way in the east.
M for the Mistletoe, all green and white.
N for the Noels we sing Christmas night.
O for the Oxen, the first to adore Him.
P for the Presents Wise Men laid before Him.
Q for the quaking of shepherds in fear, when the bright angels brought them the words of good cheer.
R for the Reindeer leaping the roofs.
S for the Stockings that Santa Claus stuffs.
T for the Toys, the Tinsel, the Tree.
U is for Us-the whole family.
V is for Visitors bringing us cheer.
W is Welcome to the happy New Year.
XYZ bother me! All I can say, this is the end of my Christmas.

Beautiful Wedding

Saturday afternoon, I went to a beautiful, Christ-centered wedding. I've known the bride since she was a toddler. Our families have been friends for years. Her parents and my parents are very close friends. They even went to Hawaii together almost 17 years ago, during that time, my sister watched their kids. This friend is the youngest of her siblings.

The solo sung was "Turn your eyes up on Jesus", and another song sung, was "Tis, so Sweet to trust in Jesus". When the bride and groom exchanged rings, they each quoted the verse from Ruth 1, about going where you go, your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. That is the verse that Ruth said to Naomi.

The reception was fun and enjoyable.

The new couple was set up by friends in the late spring. They got to know one another via emails, letters, and phone calls, met in June at a wedding, and the rest was history. I wish them well.

Port Check #2

I had a port check this afternoon. It was scheduled for 1 pm. I got to the hospital a little after 12:30 pm. I went up to Special Services and signed in. I was called about around 1:45 pm. I stood up while the nurse accessed my port, still no blood return. Had the x-ray, then had the full dose of the clot buster drug. There is a very slight chance I will get blood return in two weeks, when I go get my port flushed.

Talked to the doctor on duty there, and we talked about having my port replaced next year. If I do not get blood return in two weeks, will have my oncologist office call and have it scheduled for in January. Will see if they can do it on MLK day, no school that day. Would like to try not to take a day off if I can.

That means on January 3, there is a very good chance that my veins will be accessed to have have blood drawn that morning. Not looking forward to it at all. My veins are very hard to access.

Something for Joey

"Something for Joey" is one of my all time favorite books. It is a biography and a tear jerker. Be prepared to cry at the end of the book. I knew what was going to happen, and still did. I found this book at the public library when I was in college. I haven't read it since I was in college. First this story was made into a tv movie, then it was made into a book.

Together, they won college football's highest award. This is a true, memorable, compassionate story of courage and love between two brothers. In 1973, while John Cappelletti was winning the Heisman Trophy as the outstanding college football player in America, his younger brother Joey was suffering from leukemia. But John, now a running back for the Los Angeles Rams, had a very special medicine fro Joey. It was called touchdowns. and John scored them in bunches because they were "Something for Joey." The story of the Cappelletti family is a story of courage you will never forget.

This book was written in 1977.

Kickball: Teachers vs. Students

Today, students watched the teachers play the softball and soccer teams in a game of kickball. This game took place during the last hour of the school day. The first three innings were against the softball team. The next three innings were against the soccer team, and the final inning against them both. I had a lot of fun. I kicked the ball three times and each time, made it all the way around to home and scored a run. The first time, it felt weird running. One of my kids was sitting in the bleachers by first base and laughed when I ran. I don't run.

Seeing our pitcher rolling the ball to the kicker was funny. Both teams scored homeruns, by kicking the ball so it would hit the back wall. Kicking the ball into the bleachers was an automatic out. I enjoyed myself and had a lot of fun.

The kids paid $2 today to dress down and go to the game, or bring in 5 cans of beans or corn or mac and cheese in the last two days. The student council is trying to collect 3,000 cans by next Friday.

Still No Blood Return

I had an appointment after school today to have my port flushed. (considering how my afternoon was, my blood pressure was good.) My port flushed without a problem, but still no blood return. Get this, when the needle is removed, that area bleeds.

The nurse has a theory about why it won't return blood. She called the doctor, nothing will be done now. A call will be put into Special Services to see what they think/say. I will get it flushed in four weeks. On January 3, I am to have blood work, if it doesn't return blood then, the nurse will try to access a vein in my arm for blood work, since this is to be fasting blood work. If need to be, I will go to Special Services the week of Valentine's Day to have them check my port and give me a certain drug, since I am to get a CT scan on February 17.

If nothing by then, we will start discussing what to do about my port. I'd rather have it replaced than try to have my veins accessed, when I know they do not work very well.

Teacher Merit Pay

For the last 10 years, off and on, there has been talk about paying teachers via merit pay only or in some form. I am totally against merit pay. On testing day, a student could be off, and fail the test, don't show growth, or maybe they were absent. Some students are just not good test takers, while some don't care one bit. This is what gets my goat. Teachers are judged on how well kids do, but if they don't care, then they will not try. Then why should the teachers get blamed for them doing poorly? Yes, sometimes, it could be the teachers' fault, but more than likely it is not.

Ohio is doing it right now, on a volunteer basis, but will be for sure in three years. Right now, just reading and math. There is an article about this, in today's Akron Beacon Journal. Go to www.ohio.com and do a search on teacher merit pay.

Port Check

My appointment was scheduled for 10 am, and was told to be at the hospital by 9 am for preregistration. I get there and was told that I was already pre-registered. They took info from my old account from last month and started a new one. So they took me early.

I had the same male nurse that I had last time, and he remembered me. He accessed me, and there was still no blood return. My port flushes nicely. They did the x-ray and even inserted some contrast. The doctor couldn't find anything that was stopping the port from returning blood.

I was giving the option of receiving the drug that begins with an R. I decided to get it, it is a small bag that is I got through and IV for about two hours. I was at the hospital this morning for about three hours.

Will see what happens on the 22nd when I go to get my port flushed. If there is no blood return then, will probably have to go back to special procedures again.