National Board work is done. Completely. I mailed the big box with my 4 portfolio entries last week at the beginning of my spring break. I kept it in my closet for weeks before finally mailing it, as I was nervous to let it go. I kept worrying that I would pack it incorrectly, forget something important, etc. Finally, I set it free. I felt a lot better when I got a letter from National Board confirming its arrival, and I could check online and see on my screen, in real print, the words "accepted" next to each scanned entry, so I knew my babies had arrived safely.
This morning I concluded my journey with 4 hours of assessment center exercises in Fort Smith, AR, at a testing center. That was the closest location to where I live, so I traveled down there yesterday and took the day off school to focus on testing preparation. I did everything humanly possible to eliminate stress, relax, and review my notes before the "big day." I had a nice hotel room which they upgraded to a king suite. I got take out from a nearby restaurant and tried to relax. I reviewed film clips on the computer, reviewed note cards, and finally went to bed at 10 p.m. Thankfully, the hotel was quiet with no wild party next door (like on the night before my wedding!), and even though I slept a bit fitfully, I woke up feeling good. I had prayed that I would not have a migraine today, as I have had more than usual in the past month, and I had brought all my medications for any possible malady.
The tests were amazingly smooth. Thank goodness for the two nice, kind grandmother-ish ladies who were the testing administrators. They smiled, asked about my kids, talked to me about my hometown, etc. and they put me right at ease. That was good because while they were doing this, I also had to remove all traces of watches or electronics, get palm vein scanned, get my picture taken, and be padded down and pockets checked. So, it could have been really nerve wracking if the administrator had acted like a jail warden or something. The grandmas were so nice, that I almost forgot my palms were being scanned.
The tests were about what I had expected. No huge surprises. I felt prepared, and I had studied a sufficient amount. Overall, I think I did really well. I feel like I did better on a few tests than I expected, but the test that asked me to use a non-print item and connect it to a piece of prose was a bit harder than I had hoped. I nailed the explanation of the piece and actually really liked the story, but the theme was really random and specific. It was hard to think of a piece of art or song off the top of my head that fit that particular selection. So, I sat for awhile as I watched the racing clock timer on my computer screen counting down to zero (we begin with 30 minutes). After answering everything else that I could in those prompts, I had to pick something. I picked a song that I use with my 7th graders. It generally fit the theme of the written selection, but the tone wasn't exactly right. It bothered my perfectionist nature that I couldn't find "the PERFECT" song that would wow the graders. Oh well. It was good enough to pass, I think.
I found myself writing a lot about the same theme in various ways, as 3 of my 6 tests had reading or written passages that were about different texts but slightly changed versions of the same theme. So, I felt as if I were in Groundhog's Day where I kept saying the same thing over and over. I found myself using the word "metaphorically" a lot. I was able to work in my favorite word, too. Anaphora. So, that made me happy.
When the last test was over, I was typing the last letter to my last word right as the timer counted down "4, 3, 2, 1, 0" -- the screen turned blank as my finger hit the last letter. I didn't even get my period in. I think I had a couple typos in that last paragraph since I didn't have time to proofread. Oh well, I don't think they count typos, and my content felt good.
I'm not sure if I feel relief yet. It will probably take a couple of weeks. I have lived with this in my mind for 12 solid months now. It will take a bit of time not to automatically think about national boards. So, the waiting begins. November seems like a long time from now, but I'm sure it will be here before we know it.
I am praying I get to see the word "Congratulations . . . " on my computer screen on that day!
Showing posts with label general life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label general life. Show all posts
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Highlights of 2011
We had a good 2011! Here are some highlights from the year (though I am sure I forgot some things that happened in my old age! ha):
1. Owen played tackle football for the first time. He love it, but the practice schedule about killed out family life from August through October! Luckily, we get a break until next fall!
2. Arden started pre-K and changed buildings. She has a certified teacher this year and is learning a lot!
3. Owen began middle school with 5th grade and also changed buildings. He now has 4 teachers for his core subjects and loves it.
4. I began the process of working toward National Board Teacher Certification in March 2011 and will complete the entries and tests on March 31, 2012. I will find out in November 2012 if I passed in the first year. This gives me a national teacher's license plus higher salary in Arkansas once I pass for the life of the ten year license. So far,I have logged in over 225 hours of work on it.
5. We took our first BIG family vacation across the country (by car for 20 hours) to Washington D.C. and were gone ten days. It was an amazing adventure, and we all loved D.C. We saw the 4th of July fireworks on the National Mall.
6. Stuart traveled to Seattle for a work conference and got to see the home of Starbucks! He also went to the Catalyst conference in Atlanta in October with one of his best friends.
7. I got my own permanent classroom at my school for the first time this year! Yea! No more floating with a cart into various classrooms up and down the hall. It is such a luxury!
8. I attended my first Beth Moore conference live in Little Rock with my mom. It was a fun girls' weekend!
9. We completed the hardwood installation in our house this year with flooring installed in the living room, hallway, dining room, and office. I love it!
10. Stuart has gotten to go on some photography adventures and practice with his new SLR camera. He is getting really good!
11. Arden got her long hair cut off into an adorable angled bob hairstyle in August. I love it, and it is so much easier to maintain. However, it really made her look much more grown up, and we realize that she is not a toddler anymore.
12. Hudson has had a great year with his first male teacher in 2nd grade this year. He has gotten an award almost weekly for most helpful, most responsible, etc. He has been voted student of the week the most times of any student in his class, and was a Kiwanis Terrific Kid in September! He has really developed his love (obsession) for math this year and asked for a calculator for Christmas!
13. The boys and I attended several performances at the Rogers Little Theater this year (which we didn't know about last year). We have seen "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "The Sound of Music," and "Christmas Story" in 2011. Owen loved Joseph best!
14. We enjoyed touring the new Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville which opened in November 2011. It is beautiful and amazing; it even impressed a ten year old boy who doesn't really like art!
We hope your family had a happy and healthy 2011. May 2012 bring us even closer to the ones we love. May God grant us all peace and favor in His eyes this coming year.
1. Owen played tackle football for the first time. He love it, but the practice schedule about killed out family life from August through October! Luckily, we get a break until next fall!
2. Arden started pre-K and changed buildings. She has a certified teacher this year and is learning a lot!
3. Owen began middle school with 5th grade and also changed buildings. He now has 4 teachers for his core subjects and loves it.
4. I began the process of working toward National Board Teacher Certification in March 2011 and will complete the entries and tests on March 31, 2012. I will find out in November 2012 if I passed in the first year. This gives me a national teacher's license plus higher salary in Arkansas once I pass for the life of the ten year license. So far,I have logged in over 225 hours of work on it.
5. We took our first BIG family vacation across the country (by car for 20 hours) to Washington D.C. and were gone ten days. It was an amazing adventure, and we all loved D.C. We saw the 4th of July fireworks on the National Mall.
6. Stuart traveled to Seattle for a work conference and got to see the home of Starbucks! He also went to the Catalyst conference in Atlanta in October with one of his best friends.
7. I got my own permanent classroom at my school for the first time this year! Yea! No more floating with a cart into various classrooms up and down the hall. It is such a luxury!
8. I attended my first Beth Moore conference live in Little Rock with my mom. It was a fun girls' weekend!
9. We completed the hardwood installation in our house this year with flooring installed in the living room, hallway, dining room, and office. I love it!
10. Stuart has gotten to go on some photography adventures and practice with his new SLR camera. He is getting really good!
11. Arden got her long hair cut off into an adorable angled bob hairstyle in August. I love it, and it is so much easier to maintain. However, it really made her look much more grown up, and we realize that she is not a toddler anymore.
12. Hudson has had a great year with his first male teacher in 2nd grade this year. He has gotten an award almost weekly for most helpful, most responsible, etc. He has been voted student of the week the most times of any student in his class, and was a Kiwanis Terrific Kid in September! He has really developed his love (obsession) for math this year and asked for a calculator for Christmas!
13. The boys and I attended several performances at the Rogers Little Theater this year (which we didn't know about last year). We have seen "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "The Sound of Music," and "Christmas Story" in 2011. Owen loved Joseph best!
14. We enjoyed touring the new Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville which opened in November 2011. It is beautiful and amazing; it even impressed a ten year old boy who doesn't really like art!
We hope your family had a happy and healthy 2011. May 2012 bring us even closer to the ones we love. May God grant us all peace and favor in His eyes this coming year.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Merry Christmas!
We have had a fun month of December, even though it seems like it has flown by faster than ever! I took Owen to see "A Christmas Story" play at the Rogers Little Theater, we toured Crystal Bridges museum which opened recently, and we saw Santa in our neighborhood. My mom came for a weekend visit where we drove to Branson and saw the great light display at Silver Dollar City. It really makes you feel like Christmas when you are walking around at night in a lit village atmosphere, listening to Christmas carols and sipping hot chocolate!
We went to school longer this year than ever before due to the calendar changes for our district, and we did not get out until December 21. We left the next morning to drive to Camden to see Stuart's mom and sister's family until the 24th. The kids had fun playing with their five cousins from Ohio, and the highlight was playing nighttime flashlight tag outside! I was worried that someone was going to trip and break an ankle, but the kids loved it.
We returned home on the night of the 24th to finish the remaining tasks to get ready for Santa to arrive! Arden has been such a fun age this year since she sincerely believes everything is real, and she is so animated about talking about Santa, Rudolph, and Jesus. We put out reindeer food for Santa's sleigh, and the kids actually slept in until almost 7:30 on Christmas morning before wandering in to find presents.
Favorite gifts from us or relatives include:
Owen: ipod shuffle, Vikings jersey, Connect 4 Launchers
Hudson: Pokemon playset, Bey blades triple battle set, Angry Birds game, calculator
Arden: American Girl bitty baby, Fur-Real barking/moving dog, doll clothes, pet shop set, and a kids' digital camera
Stuart: Starbucks gift card, monogrammed shaving kit, new snow boots
Michelle: red Tom's shoes, silver earrings, lots of great gift cards from students, a fleece jacket, and a lava lamp (from Owen :)
Arden turns 4 tomorrow! Where has the time gone? So, we will be wrapping birthday gifts today in Tinkerbell paper and trying to find a store to make a cookie cake for her since that is what she wants. I think we will eat at Chili's and use one of my gift cards for a fun celebration dinner for her tomorrow night!
It was a great Christmas, and we are glad to have some family time to relax and stay indoors. We hope you had a wonderful holiday with your family.
We went to school longer this year than ever before due to the calendar changes for our district, and we did not get out until December 21. We left the next morning to drive to Camden to see Stuart's mom and sister's family until the 24th. The kids had fun playing with their five cousins from Ohio, and the highlight was playing nighttime flashlight tag outside! I was worried that someone was going to trip and break an ankle, but the kids loved it.
We returned home on the night of the 24th to finish the remaining tasks to get ready for Santa to arrive! Arden has been such a fun age this year since she sincerely believes everything is real, and she is so animated about talking about Santa, Rudolph, and Jesus. We put out reindeer food for Santa's sleigh, and the kids actually slept in until almost 7:30 on Christmas morning before wandering in to find presents.
Favorite gifts from us or relatives include:
Owen: ipod shuffle, Vikings jersey, Connect 4 Launchers
Hudson: Pokemon playset, Bey blades triple battle set, Angry Birds game, calculator
Arden: American Girl bitty baby, Fur-Real barking/moving dog, doll clothes, pet shop set, and a kids' digital camera
Stuart: Starbucks gift card, monogrammed shaving kit, new snow boots
Michelle: red Tom's shoes, silver earrings, lots of great gift cards from students, a fleece jacket, and a lava lamp (from Owen :)
Arden turns 4 tomorrow! Where has the time gone? So, we will be wrapping birthday gifts today in Tinkerbell paper and trying to find a store to make a cookie cake for her since that is what she wants. I think we will eat at Chili's and use one of my gift cards for a fun celebration dinner for her tomorrow night!
It was a great Christmas, and we are glad to have some family time to relax and stay indoors. We hope you had a wonderful holiday with your family.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Fall has Flown
Football finally ended last week! Owen shed some tears when his team lost early in the playoffs, but it is so nice not to be tied down to a nightly practice most days of the week! I am glad he enjoyed it,but we are taking a break from any competitive sports for the next few months. I am looking forward to eating dinner together and having everyone home together in the evenings.
Halloween parties were on Friday, and I took a half day personal day to go to Hudson's school and see his costume parade and attend his class party. Then, I went to Arden's party at her pre-K at 3:00. Hudson dressed up like Hulk, and Arden was a Razorback cheerleader.
Hudson also came down with his first fall/winter illness of the season. He got a respiratory bug this week that did not keep him home from school, but he was coughing and dragging with it. On Thursday night, he woke up crying and said his left ear hurt. Now, we know what that means . . . ear infection! Stuart took him to the pediatrician on Friday afternoon after his party at school ended, and he did have an ear infection. Thankfully, he did not run fever, so he was able to attend his party! He is now on antibiotics and feeling much better.
Whooping cough broke out in Owen's homeroom at his middle school which resulted in six kids getting sick. So, the AR Dept of Health contacted me and said that he needed to begin antibiotics to prevent illness. Shortly after we began his Z-pack, the school called me and said he now needs a booster of the pertussis vaccine which they will provide at a shot clinic at the school this week. Thankfully, Owen has not gotten sick, but it has been a lot of phone calls and medication due to this outbreak.
We are trying to get a head start on Christmas shopping, as I have done NONE. I just didn't have the time to do anything this summer with working on National Board entries for several weeks, and it has been so hectic since school resumed. I am going to take the boys to Walmart to pick out things to put on their list, so we can start shopping before too much longer. Also, I think I am going to take a year off from sending Christmas cards this year, then I will try to get a new photo taken and a card out next year! It is so expensive and time consuming to address all those cards, and I am so busy with working on National Board writing that is due in March. I am trying to cut out all non-essential things this year, so that I don't get too stressed out, or time isn't taken away from my kids or family. I want to enjoy the reason for the season and not feel like I am always behind!
I did finally break down and hire a cleaning company to clean my house every other week which has been a real blessing! It is much cleaner than it's been in a while, and I don't have to spend my weekend doing it since I have very little free time right now. Now, if I could just find someone to come and do all my laundry . . .
Halloween parties were on Friday, and I took a half day personal day to go to Hudson's school and see his costume parade and attend his class party. Then, I went to Arden's party at her pre-K at 3:00. Hudson dressed up like Hulk, and Arden was a Razorback cheerleader.
Hudson also came down with his first fall/winter illness of the season. He got a respiratory bug this week that did not keep him home from school, but he was coughing and dragging with it. On Thursday night, he woke up crying and said his left ear hurt. Now, we know what that means . . . ear infection! Stuart took him to the pediatrician on Friday afternoon after his party at school ended, and he did have an ear infection. Thankfully, he did not run fever, so he was able to attend his party! He is now on antibiotics and feeling much better.
Whooping cough broke out in Owen's homeroom at his middle school which resulted in six kids getting sick. So, the AR Dept of Health contacted me and said that he needed to begin antibiotics to prevent illness. Shortly after we began his Z-pack, the school called me and said he now needs a booster of the pertussis vaccine which they will provide at a shot clinic at the school this week. Thankfully, Owen has not gotten sick, but it has been a lot of phone calls and medication due to this outbreak.
We are trying to get a head start on Christmas shopping, as I have done NONE. I just didn't have the time to do anything this summer with working on National Board entries for several weeks, and it has been so hectic since school resumed. I am going to take the boys to Walmart to pick out things to put on their list, so we can start shopping before too much longer. Also, I think I am going to take a year off from sending Christmas cards this year, then I will try to get a new photo taken and a card out next year! It is so expensive and time consuming to address all those cards, and I am so busy with working on National Board writing that is due in March. I am trying to cut out all non-essential things this year, so that I don't get too stressed out, or time isn't taken away from my kids or family. I want to enjoy the reason for the season and not feel like I am always behind!
I did finally break down and hire a cleaning company to clean my house every other week which has been a real blessing! It is much cleaner than it's been in a while, and I don't have to spend my weekend doing it since I have very little free time right now. Now, if I could just find someone to come and do all my laundry . . .
Monday, September 5, 2011
Labor Day Weekend
My mom came for a visit this weekend and arrived on Friday; she will leave tomorrow when we all head back to work and school. It has been a fun visit with a visit to Braums to get hamburgers and ice cream, a tour of the Walmart visitor's center which has been recently remodeled, a visit to see my classroom, and a getaway to see the movie The Help which I have been dying to see (I read the book awhile ago and highly recommend it).
While we were seeing the movie yesterday afternoon, Arden and the boys were home with Stuart. During that time, Arden managed to sneak into the kitchen, get scissors, and take them to her bedroom. She proceeded to cut out several large chunks of her hair! Yes, the newly styled, adorable bob haircut that we got last weekend! Apparently, getting a haircut made her interested in cutting hair because people were telling her how cute her hair was. She told me she "wanted to be even cuter" by cutting it some more. It could have been a lot worse, but now she has a section on one side that looks like long bangs where she chopped off about 3 inches. It makes me sick, but I know it will grow back. I guess I need to go to Gymboree and buy more of these barrettes that stay in her hair, so I can pull it back to the side. It is too short now to put behind her ears or pull up into an elastic. I really don't want to cut the front into short bangs since I want it to grow out. Sigh.
The cooler temps from this weekend are beginning to make it feel like fall is on its way, and it makes me want to go to Silver Dollar City soon. The kids were hoping to go to the pool one last time this weekend, but we haven't gotten to do that since it got too cool. Maybe it will warm up enough for that this week!
Stuart got back from his trip to Seattle, and I have been doing constant laundry it seems trying to get everything caught up from unpacking. He has had to work several times this weekend to get caught up from being out of the office. And, yes, Owen has football practice TODAY, on a HOLIDAY!! This practice schedule is still driving me insane; I'm just not a die-hard football fan. I am probably one of the only people living in northwest Arkansas that doesn't watch a single Hogs game! I am not from here, didn't grow up around football (I lived overseas), and I didn't go to college at Arkansas, so it just isn't a big deal to me. But, my son loves it, and I love him, so off to practice we will go.
While we were seeing the movie yesterday afternoon, Arden and the boys were home with Stuart. During that time, Arden managed to sneak into the kitchen, get scissors, and take them to her bedroom. She proceeded to cut out several large chunks of her hair! Yes, the newly styled, adorable bob haircut that we got last weekend! Apparently, getting a haircut made her interested in cutting hair because people were telling her how cute her hair was. She told me she "wanted to be even cuter" by cutting it some more. It could have been a lot worse, but now she has a section on one side that looks like long bangs where she chopped off about 3 inches. It makes me sick, but I know it will grow back. I guess I need to go to Gymboree and buy more of these barrettes that stay in her hair, so I can pull it back to the side. It is too short now to put behind her ears or pull up into an elastic. I really don't want to cut the front into short bangs since I want it to grow out. Sigh.
The cooler temps from this weekend are beginning to make it feel like fall is on its way, and it makes me want to go to Silver Dollar City soon. The kids were hoping to go to the pool one last time this weekend, but we haven't gotten to do that since it got too cool. Maybe it will warm up enough for that this week!
Stuart got back from his trip to Seattle, and I have been doing constant laundry it seems trying to get everything caught up from unpacking. He has had to work several times this weekend to get caught up from being out of the office. And, yes, Owen has football practice TODAY, on a HOLIDAY!! This practice schedule is still driving me insane; I'm just not a die-hard football fan. I am probably one of the only people living in northwest Arkansas that doesn't watch a single Hogs game! I am not from here, didn't grow up around football (I lived overseas), and I didn't go to college at Arkansas, so it just isn't a big deal to me. But, my son loves it, and I love him, so off to practice we will go.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Life as I Used to Know It
My life as I used to know it was leisurely. I stayed home for six years and only worked part-time as an online instructor at a community college, so I set my own hours. Sure, I had 1-2 children at home and 1 in school, but I was the one who determined the pace of our family life. If we had a busy day, it was usually because I had us running errands, going to appointments, or I aggressively cleaned the house.
Fast forward. Football practice 4-5 days per week. Three kids in school programs. Homework to supervise. A full-time job. A larger house to keep clean. Did I mention football up to FIVE practices per week for a ten year old? Wow. This pace is getting a bit crazy. We have never been the ones to have our children in many (if any) activities. We made them wait until school age to play any organized sports,and then we only did Upward on a non-competitive team. I knew I didn't want the pressure. After years of begging for tackle football, we are trying it this year with the Boys Club of Benton County. Wow. It. Is. Intense. I didn't expect 12-15 hours of practice per week in 5th grade. Stuart has been going to every practice and watching, so he and Owen leave at 5:30 and usually don't get home until 8:30. Then, Owen takes a shower and goes to bed. I feel like I'm missing half my family for the whole week, and I am an only parent most nights to the younger kids. The unfortunate part (for me) is that Owen LOVES it. Stuart thinks he actually has some talent. In three seasons, he will be old enough to try out for a school team which has daily practice (and sometimes twice per day), so he needs to learn now if he ever hopes to get good enough to make the junior high team. Compared to most families, Owen is very old to finally play a real sport at age 10. The younger two kids are not even enrolled in anything. No sports or lessons for them! I can't take the stress of having every member of the family at different events all week long after I have taught school all day. I don't think it is worth it on my family life.
I hope we survive football season; maybe I will actually learn the rules (ha!). I have thought a cornerback was the same thing as a quarterback! Hopefully, it will be good experience, and Owen will learn life skills about responsibility, team work, dedication, and hard work. I think those lessons would help him develop immensely. Somehow, he does seem much older since he started playing football and began middle school last week!
When I picked him up from school the other day,he was shooting baskets in the gym with some friends. I saw him make three long distance shots in a row, and he won the shooting game they were playing. On the way home, he mentioned that he is getting pretty good at basketball and might want to try it this winter when football ends. Lord have mercy . . .
Fast forward. Football practice 4-5 days per week. Three kids in school programs. Homework to supervise. A full-time job. A larger house to keep clean. Did I mention football up to FIVE practices per week for a ten year old? Wow. This pace is getting a bit crazy. We have never been the ones to have our children in many (if any) activities. We made them wait until school age to play any organized sports,and then we only did Upward on a non-competitive team. I knew I didn't want the pressure. After years of begging for tackle football, we are trying it this year with the Boys Club of Benton County. Wow. It. Is. Intense. I didn't expect 12-15 hours of practice per week in 5th grade. Stuart has been going to every practice and watching, so he and Owen leave at 5:30 and usually don't get home until 8:30. Then, Owen takes a shower and goes to bed. I feel like I'm missing half my family for the whole week, and I am an only parent most nights to the younger kids. The unfortunate part (for me) is that Owen LOVES it. Stuart thinks he actually has some talent. In three seasons, he will be old enough to try out for a school team which has daily practice (and sometimes twice per day), so he needs to learn now if he ever hopes to get good enough to make the junior high team. Compared to most families, Owen is very old to finally play a real sport at age 10. The younger two kids are not even enrolled in anything. No sports or lessons for them! I can't take the stress of having every member of the family at different events all week long after I have taught school all day. I don't think it is worth it on my family life.
I hope we survive football season; maybe I will actually learn the rules (ha!). I have thought a cornerback was the same thing as a quarterback! Hopefully, it will be good experience, and Owen will learn life skills about responsibility, team work, dedication, and hard work. I think those lessons would help him develop immensely. Somehow, he does seem much older since he started playing football and began middle school last week!
When I picked him up from school the other day,he was shooting baskets in the gym with some friends. I saw him make three long distance shots in a row, and he won the shooting game they were playing. On the way home, he mentioned that he is getting pretty good at basketball and might want to try it this winter when football ends. Lord have mercy . . .
Friday, August 5, 2011
Back to School
Well, it's that time of year again, and we are getting ready to head back to school. I think this was the shortest summer ever, so I am still not quite ready to let it go! We had an amazing family vacation to Washington D.C. over the 4th of July and were away for ten days. This was our first family road trip of this length, and it was really fun. The kids did amazingly well on the 20 hour drive each way, and we enjoyed seeing sights like the arch in St. Louis and Gettysburg along the way since we were driving. We were invited to stay in a friend's apartment for free, so that was so convenient! We were only blocks from the Capitol and the Smithsonian museums.
Arden started pre-K yesterday at a new building with a new teacher, and she has been crying at drop-off. I have to begin attending teacher meetings next week, so I wanted her to have a few days to acclimate before I have to take her even earlier. I was hoping it would be an easier adjustment than this, but she really doesn't know anyone in her class right now, and she misses the security and comfort of her old building. She is still in the Bentonville School District program, but she was too old to attend in her previous location which only serves birth-3 year olds. I didn't have a choice about her being promoted to the pre-K facility, and I'm sure she would be like this at any new school. I am hoping it gets easier soon!
The boys will attend a week of day camp next week while I am in teacher inservice meetings, then they begin officially on August 15. Hudson will have Mr. Stolt for 2nd grade, and he is SO excited to have a male elementary teacher! Owen doesn't know his teacher assignment until next week, but he will be switching to middle school and also have a new building to navigate. He is very excited about it! Owen also signed up for competitive tackle football for the first time and had a skills test last night for team placement. He feels he did well and didn't have any problems auditioning in front of a panel of coaches! I am hoping the heat tapers off, so that practices are not too hot or demanding, but that is the "mom" in me! Stuart says we need to let him toughen up and follow his dreams which are to be an NFL player at this point! Ha
I am wrapping up tagging all my consignment clothes for the upcoming Rhea Lana sale and hope to finish that today, then I need to complete Arden's baby book before I go back to school. The good news from school that I found out yesterday is that I do not have to float this year! That is where a teacher teaches classes in several different rooms. I have room shared for the past two years which actually was not terrible, as I only taught one class each day in another English teacher's room. However, it will be luxury not to have a cart at all and no longer transport markers, supplies, projects, handouts, etc. up and down the crowded hallway every day!
I got a lot done on National Board Certification this summer, and I am taking a break from it for a few months to get into the routine of the new school year. I will be collecting writing samples from students this fall in order to select samples to use for my last entry where I analyze student writing. I have until March to finish the writing, and I am about 2/3 done already, so I feel good about that. I am sure I will be revising this fall as I get some professors and other NB teachers to be readers for me.
Arden started pre-K yesterday at a new building with a new teacher, and she has been crying at drop-off. I have to begin attending teacher meetings next week, so I wanted her to have a few days to acclimate before I have to take her even earlier. I was hoping it would be an easier adjustment than this, but she really doesn't know anyone in her class right now, and she misses the security and comfort of her old building. She is still in the Bentonville School District program, but she was too old to attend in her previous location which only serves birth-3 year olds. I didn't have a choice about her being promoted to the pre-K facility, and I'm sure she would be like this at any new school. I am hoping it gets easier soon!
The boys will attend a week of day camp next week while I am in teacher inservice meetings, then they begin officially on August 15. Hudson will have Mr. Stolt for 2nd grade, and he is SO excited to have a male elementary teacher! Owen doesn't know his teacher assignment until next week, but he will be switching to middle school and also have a new building to navigate. He is very excited about it! Owen also signed up for competitive tackle football for the first time and had a skills test last night for team placement. He feels he did well and didn't have any problems auditioning in front of a panel of coaches! I am hoping the heat tapers off, so that practices are not too hot or demanding, but that is the "mom" in me! Stuart says we need to let him toughen up and follow his dreams which are to be an NFL player at this point! Ha
I am wrapping up tagging all my consignment clothes for the upcoming Rhea Lana sale and hope to finish that today, then I need to complete Arden's baby book before I go back to school. The good news from school that I found out yesterday is that I do not have to float this year! That is where a teacher teaches classes in several different rooms. I have room shared for the past two years which actually was not terrible, as I only taught one class each day in another English teacher's room. However, it will be luxury not to have a cart at all and no longer transport markers, supplies, projects, handouts, etc. up and down the crowded hallway every day!
I got a lot done on National Board Certification this summer, and I am taking a break from it for a few months to get into the routine of the new school year. I will be collecting writing samples from students this fall in order to select samples to use for my last entry where I analyze student writing. I have until March to finish the writing, and I am about 2/3 done already, so I feel good about that. I am sure I will be revising this fall as I get some professors and other NB teachers to be readers for me.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Winding Down
So . . . the school year is winding down, and it has been flying by since we finished spring break in March. The boys have had lots of school activities, and Owen was in the performance of 101 Dalmations with the 4th graders at his school. My birthday in April was a fun celebration, and Stuart bought me an iPhone 4 to replace my vintage flip phone that didn't have working voicemail. I have really enjoyed having a phone that allows me to check the internet and my email when away from a computer. It also comes in handy if we have a long wait at restaurants or doctor appointments, so I can show Hudson or Arden a children's video from Netflix right on my phone.
It's been a good month with my students, and this time of year is always reflective as I prepare to say goodbye to my students and don't see them in the same way next year. I have gotten some nice letters, a poem written about me, and a bouquet of flowers from some dear students over the past few weeks. I really love teaching, and I do feel that what I do matters.
I went to Little Rock over my birthday weekend to see Beth Moore live at Verizon Arena with my mom. It was a whirlwind trip, but it was very encouraging and uplifting. It was just the getaway I needed! I think it was the first time in several years that I had gone away overnight without kids.
We took the kids to Silver Dollar City with our new season passes and visited or the first time last weekend. It turned out to be a very hot day at almost 90 degrees, but it was a lot of fun!We didn't attempt the rides with long lines and just casually enjoyed the time. The kids rode a few rides like the teacups, Dumbo, and the jumping frogs. We all rode the boat ride, and then we went to two shows (a comedy circus and the step dancers). Arden's favorite part is getting taffy at the old-fashioned candy store!
We have about three more weeks of school, then I will be going to a few days of professional development training on the new Common Core Standards which our state is adopting. I am also beginning work on my National Board Certification, and I have plans to work a few hours each week during the summer on some of the entries that I can start now. I have lined up a teenager in our neighborhood to play with the kids at my house or one half-day every week this summer, so I can go and write my materials in an undisturbed session at the my school or the public library.
We hope to visit the Tulsa Zoo next weekend, if the weather cooperates. Then, the boys have church camp from June 20-24, which is a full-day outdoor camp at Beaver Lake. We are hoping to be able to take a family vacation to Washington D.C. in July, if our free housing works out; Stuart has a friend who works there and has a two bedroom apartment near the Capitol that he is offering us, if the dates work out. It will be a long drive with the kids, but it will be a relatively affordable trip since the housing would be free, and most of the museums we want to see are also free admission.
I am trying to get all the last minute things done to wrap up the year while also enjoying my final days with my great classes. I can't believe that Owen changes schools next year and begins middle school! He loved the tour of the middle school when we attended the orientation a few weeks ago; he is really ready to move up and have a team of four teachers. It is still a little sad to think that he and Hudson won't be riding the bus together next year anymore, and they won't be on the same campus again until high school. Arden will also be changing buildings next year, as she will be promoted to the pre-K facility in the school district that begins at age 3 1/2 until kindergarten. Thankfully, all of her friends in her current class will be moving up with her which will ease the transition.
I love this time of year; it's getting warm but not too hot, the anticipation of summer is upon us, the expanse of our vacation is still ahead, and I feel grateful for all we accomplished in the past year of school!
It's been a good month with my students, and this time of year is always reflective as I prepare to say goodbye to my students and don't see them in the same way next year. I have gotten some nice letters, a poem written about me, and a bouquet of flowers from some dear students over the past few weeks. I really love teaching, and I do feel that what I do matters.
I went to Little Rock over my birthday weekend to see Beth Moore live at Verizon Arena with my mom. It was a whirlwind trip, but it was very encouraging and uplifting. It was just the getaway I needed! I think it was the first time in several years that I had gone away overnight without kids.
We took the kids to Silver Dollar City with our new season passes and visited or the first time last weekend. It turned out to be a very hot day at almost 90 degrees, but it was a lot of fun!We didn't attempt the rides with long lines and just casually enjoyed the time. The kids rode a few rides like the teacups, Dumbo, and the jumping frogs. We all rode the boat ride, and then we went to two shows (a comedy circus and the step dancers). Arden's favorite part is getting taffy at the old-fashioned candy store!
We have about three more weeks of school, then I will be going to a few days of professional development training on the new Common Core Standards which our state is adopting. I am also beginning work on my National Board Certification, and I have plans to work a few hours each week during the summer on some of the entries that I can start now. I have lined up a teenager in our neighborhood to play with the kids at my house or one half-day every week this summer, so I can go and write my materials in an undisturbed session at the my school or the public library.
We hope to visit the Tulsa Zoo next weekend, if the weather cooperates. Then, the boys have church camp from June 20-24, which is a full-day outdoor camp at Beaver Lake. We are hoping to be able to take a family vacation to Washington D.C. in July, if our free housing works out; Stuart has a friend who works there and has a two bedroom apartment near the Capitol that he is offering us, if the dates work out. It will be a long drive with the kids, but it will be a relatively affordable trip since the housing would be free, and most of the museums we want to see are also free admission.
I am trying to get all the last minute things done to wrap up the year while also enjoying my final days with my great classes. I can't believe that Owen changes schools next year and begins middle school! He loved the tour of the middle school when we attended the orientation a few weeks ago; he is really ready to move up and have a team of four teachers. It is still a little sad to think that he and Hudson won't be riding the bus together next year anymore, and they won't be on the same campus again until high school. Arden will also be changing buildings next year, as she will be promoted to the pre-K facility in the school district that begins at age 3 1/2 until kindergarten. Thankfully, all of her friends in her current class will be moving up with her which will ease the transition.
I love this time of year; it's getting warm but not too hot, the anticipation of summer is upon us, the expanse of our vacation is still ahead, and I feel grateful for all we accomplished in the past year of school!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Snow, snow go away. Come back another day!
We have had record breaking snowfall in Bentonville! In the past two weeks, we have had three snow storms and been in school for only three out of ten school days! The last storm that arrived Tuesday night dumped around 20-22 inches in our town and set a record for the most snowfall here! Then, the temperature was below zero in the morning for the next two days, so it didn't melt quickly. The boys have enjoyed snow days, but we are all about ready to have a normal routine again. We have had TEN snow days since January 4, so we will now have to deal with how to make up the days in order to meet the state requirement of 178 days of school to count for a full year credit. It looks like five days will be added on to the end of the school year, and five days might be made up with a combination of spring break days we lose and Saturday school (no fun!).
I got a lot done last week when I thought that might be my only time off school for awhile. We were out of school for snow and ice from Tuesday through Friday, and I was able to plan ahead to take home things that I needed to get some projects done. I filed our taxes electronically from home, I planned curriculum, I tagged all my items to sell in an upcoming children's consignment sale, and I cleaned my house well. This week, I haven't been quite as productive, but I have enjoyed the down time. I just have to remember this when it is the second week of June, and it feels so miserable to be in school when the pool is calling my name!
All the kids are excited to go back to school on Monday for their Valentine's Day parties, and it was CRAZY at Walmart today, as everyone appeared to be there at the same time to restock up on food after the storm PLUS purchase items for the Valentine's Day holiday. I still have to make a trip to Target tomorrow to get a few things for my own little Valentines, so they will have cute goodie bags from mommy and daddy on Monday.
I've been spending too much time bidding on things on Ebay while I've been home and browsing the internet for project ideas for the house. I'm beginning to embrace the whole idea that my house is a work in progress and enjoy thinking of ways to upgrade items I don't really like or make the house more "me." It was really different to have custom built our last house where I picked out everything and then buy a builder's grade house this time that didn't have much of what I would have selected. Since I shopped so much for everything in the last house (from doorknobs to faucets to tile selections), I had developed pretty specific tastes of what I liked in decor. However, now I am enjoying the process of "building" again, but it is in small bits and pieces as I can afford to change things in the house. Luckily, I love the floorplan, so I'm not really renovating as in knocking down walls; it's more of the cosmetic things. There is flooring I didn't like, a bathroom window that bugs me, a dishwasher that is not the best quality, sink faucet fixtures I want to change out, sconces that are ugly (who likes seashell shaped lights??). It will probably take me years to afford to get my projects done, but I've begun to enjoy the process! That says a lot since I am usually all about the end result! This is progress . . .
I got a lot done last week when I thought that might be my only time off school for awhile. We were out of school for snow and ice from Tuesday through Friday, and I was able to plan ahead to take home things that I needed to get some projects done. I filed our taxes electronically from home, I planned curriculum, I tagged all my items to sell in an upcoming children's consignment sale, and I cleaned my house well. This week, I haven't been quite as productive, but I have enjoyed the down time. I just have to remember this when it is the second week of June, and it feels so miserable to be in school when the pool is calling my name!
All the kids are excited to go back to school on Monday for their Valentine's Day parties, and it was CRAZY at Walmart today, as everyone appeared to be there at the same time to restock up on food after the storm PLUS purchase items for the Valentine's Day holiday. I still have to make a trip to Target tomorrow to get a few things for my own little Valentines, so they will have cute goodie bags from mommy and daddy on Monday.
I've been spending too much time bidding on things on Ebay while I've been home and browsing the internet for project ideas for the house. I'm beginning to embrace the whole idea that my house is a work in progress and enjoy thinking of ways to upgrade items I don't really like or make the house more "me." It was really different to have custom built our last house where I picked out everything and then buy a builder's grade house this time that didn't have much of what I would have selected. Since I shopped so much for everything in the last house (from doorknobs to faucets to tile selections), I had developed pretty specific tastes of what I liked in decor. However, now I am enjoying the process of "building" again, but it is in small bits and pieces as I can afford to change things in the house. Luckily, I love the floorplan, so I'm not really renovating as in knocking down walls; it's more of the cosmetic things. There is flooring I didn't like, a bathroom window that bugs me, a dishwasher that is not the best quality, sink faucet fixtures I want to change out, sconces that are ugly (who likes seashell shaped lights??). It will probably take me years to afford to get my projects done, but I've begun to enjoy the process! That says a lot since I am usually all about the end result! This is progress . . .
Friday, December 31, 2010
Happy New Year!
We have had a wonderful, but busy, holiday season! I think it's just going to be this way with three kids from now on! My mother visited us for three days right after we got out of school on Dec. 18, then we went down to Camden, AR, for two days to visit Stuart's family. The kids enjoyed seeing their cousins who were in from Ohio, even though it was a whirlwind trip. Arden is finally starting to travel better and is enjoying sitting in her new booster seat instead of the toddler convertable car seat. I think she's a lot more comfortable now.
We enjoyed a low-key Christmas in Bentonville where the kids woke up in our house to open stockings and gifts on Christmas morning. Hudson's best gift was a Wii Poke Park video game while Owen's was an XBox360 Madden '11 game. Arden has enjoyed her new dollhouse and Melissa and Doug wooden doll bed and highchair for her baby dolls. Santa brought Stuart a Kindle electronic reader, so he has been enjoying figuring it all out!
My Christmas dinner didn't turn out very well, as Stuart informed me that my turkey breast tasted "funny," so we weren't sure if maybe the meat had started going bad after thawing several days in the fridge while we were traveling. So, we packed up the kids (still in their Christmas pjs) and headed towards the only restaurant open on Christmas Day -- IHOP! It was a long wait and totally packed, but it made for a fun event to eat breakfast food with a full restaurant of people on Christmas Day! We might make IHOP an annual Christmas Day tradition while the kids are still young. They enjoyed Make-a-Face pancakes a lot more than mom's turkey meal!
This week of our Christmas break has been full of appointments with four dental appointments, Arden's birthday, and some playdates with the kids' friends. Arden did so well at her first dental appointment, and she is in the 85th percentile in height and weight at her 3 year old check up.
Arden got her twin bed assembled right before Christmas, too. I had purchased the sleigh bed frame from Craiglist almost a year ago for $50 and kept it in the garage until Arden was ready. She was a little fearful for the first few nights since it is such a tall bed, but she is now completely adjusted to it and enjoying it. I was a bit sad to pack up her final remnants of her infancy, but her twin sleigh bed is so adorable that it has been fun to see her progress to this stage. I gave away her crib and sold the baby mattress, and I'm still trying to sell her crib bedding on Craigslist.
We have enjoyed spending a lot of time together over the break, and we have been staying up too late and sleeping in, so now we have to get back to the reality of our regular school schedule over the next couple of days. I'm sure we will have a few days of adjustment next week! I don't think the boys are looking forward to doing homework again, but they are excited to return to school to see friends. If this January is anything like the previous two years in northwest Arkansas, I'm sure we will have some snow days to enjoy at home in the next month!
Happy New Year!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Top Ten
It's been so long since my last post, and if you know me well, then you are probably my friend on Facebook where I do a lot better at posting since it can just be one random sentence! As the holidays approached, things got so busy, and posting just couldn't get to the top of my long list!
So, here are the TOP TEN things I can think of that have been highlights of the past six weeks:
10. Hudson won the handwriting of the week award (believe me, it's a BIG deal!)
9. We went to Branson the weekend before Thanksgiving to see the Christmas shows and lights. I soon realized that I'm not one for 90 minute waits for shows when it is freezing,plus Arden was getting sick (see #5 below)
8. Owen participated in a school book club for 4th graders over The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
7. Stuart shopped like a crazy person on Black Friday and went to both the midnight and 4 a.m. sales! I slept in!
6. Hudson went ice skating for the first time at a birthday party which was held at the new outdoor skating rink
5. Arden got a double ear infection 1 1/2 weeks ago, and she was such a trooper that I didn't take her to the doctor until it was apparently pretty bad, so I felt terrible.
4. My students at school collected gifts for 3 siblings for Christmas and purchased coats, jeans, shirts, shoes, and toys for each child. It was amazing to see their generosity!
3. I attended the fabulous "I Get 2 Give" event at our church where you win gifts that you then give to someone else. It was a lot of fun.
2. I have Arden's crib mattress and crib bedding for sale on Craigslist and (finally) plan to move her to a twin bed over Christmas break.
1. Both boys were in the Bentonville Christmas parade (Hudson with Cub Scouts and Owen played in the Swamp Band for his school and marched). I got to ride the float with Hudson and wave at the people! It was sort of like my dreams of fame from my childhood, even though I was sitting on a haybale and wasn't wearing a crown!
Have a wonderful week! I'll post more and add pics once school is out -- only four more days!!! Whooo hooo!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Halloween and Parties Galore!
We had an awesome time in Branson last Sunday with perfect weather that was sunny but not too hot. There still were very few crowds at Silver Dollar City, so we are thinking that Sundays are the day to go! The first few pictures we took in the morning show the kids all alone in the streets there, so it looks like we are there all by ourselves instead of at a theme park! We discovered the teacup ride this time which ended up being the kids' favorite, and I think Owen rode it ten times. Arden went on the mini-rollercoaster and survived it. She was a bit scared and didn't want to go again, but she didn't cry. We saw a hilarious saloon comedy show that we hadn't seen yet, and Hudson left with some more jokes to tell his teacher at school (he is the biggest joker and reads joke books!).
Stuart's big news is that he finally got his new professional Nikon SLR camera that he has been wanting for years and years! It was a big purchase, but he loves photography so much and has been wanting a good digital camera to do more artistic, nature stuff. Hopefully, we'll also get some good pictures of the kids, too!
The week before Halloween always seems to be CRAZY with school activities! Owen has his last football game this morning (yea!), so that will help our lives calm down a bit with no weekly practice and game anymore. All three kids had fall parties yesterday in their classrooms, and the boys' school let them dress up and wear their costumes to school for the school-wide parade. Owen didn't like the prince costume which I got him at a consignment sale. Apparently, it was too feminine and not "cool" enough! So, he opted to wear his Arkansas football jersey which he already owned and put black paint under his eyes to be football player. Hudson was a red Power Ranger, and he was happy to report that he got lots of comments about how "awesome" it was. Arden will be a happy witch, and I found this adorable tulle and velvet costume at a consignment sale for her that is mainly purple and black and really sweet. However, she asked me yesterday if she would get to have the stick that comes out of her bottom to go with it (the broomstick) since that's what it looks like to her when she's seen billboards around with Halloween pictures on them! Ha! Everyone had fun at the parties, and we are all looking forward to Trick or Treating in our neighborhood and helping at our church Trunk or Treat on Sunday!
I had parent-teacher night on Tuesday, so I was at school from 8 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. with no break! What a marathon. The parent-teacher conferences began at 4:15, so we only had a quick break to grab a bite to eat before heading to the gym for arena style conferences. I had 37 conferences, so I don't think I stopped at all until 7:00, then I got to grade a few papers while I waited. It made the whole rest of the week exhausting to begin with such a long day. I'm glad it's over, and there isn't another day like that until March! Additionally, our school had an accreditation inspection from the Department of Education on Tuesday, and two people were on campus to ask questions, observe, etc. They ended up coming in my room and watching for a bit, then I got asked questions about my lesson plans, standards, 504 plans, parent contact log, etc. Luckily, it was easy, and I knew all the answers and had all my documents in order since the principal had warned us to get everything all gathered up ahead of time.
It was Red Ribbon Week at all the schools this week, so the kids wanted to dress up each day for the various themes (hat day, red day, etc), plus I had a lot of activities and extra assemblies going on during my workdays in my building, too.
Then tonight, Stuart is taking the boys to a Razorback football game in Fayettevelle since we were given last-minute, free tickets! They will have so much fun. I am opting to stay home where it's warm with Arden.
I attempted a fall craft this week which is much more like the old me (before I went back to teaching full-time and have no free time anymore). It was fun to gather all the supplies this week, but the craft didn't work out as I had hoped. I was trying to replicate a picture in Pottery Barn that had indian corn wrapped around a large glass candle holder, but my indian corn husks wouldn't bend, wouldn't stand up straight, kept slipping on the glass and leaning, etc. So, I finally gave up and just stuck them inside the glass container and wrapped the jute around the outside of the glass. It looks really good on the dining room table, but it isn't the candle holder that I was hoping for. Oh well. It was still fun to try to make something again.
So, that is the end of our fun and crazy week. We've all had too much candy (except Stuart who doesn't even like candy), and I am officially sick of candy corn!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Getting in the Groove
I have been back to work full-time since August 6 which seems like a life time ago! We had weeks of endless meetings (or so it seems) which always confirms to me that I would die if I had an office job that revolved around sitting and attending meetings on a permanent basis. I much prefer running my own "classroom show" and being up and moving all day long.
I have now had three days with my students, and I think it will be a good bunch. However, most seventh graders are scared enough for the first few weeks that it's hard to tell their true colors this early! ha! Right now, they all seem pretty eager and/or intimidated. I finally begin teaching literature tomorrow after three days of rules, policies, ice breaker games, library orientation, etc. Every year at this time, I feel like I am drowning in paper work. There are so many forms to collect from the signed syllabus contract to the emergency cards to the health forms. Then, it's my job to check off the items for each student, alphabetize cards, and get things turned into the office. With all our technology, there must surely be a better way than this! I think teachers in the 1950s were sorting back-to-school forms in this exact manner. Maybe if I figure out a better way, I can hit the jackpot and invent something that will revolutionize the teaching world like the Post-It!
I've decided to try to start up a mentoring program with my students and a couple of classes at an elementary school that is right across the street from my campus. I'm hoping to get enough interest for three classes to let my students "adopt" their younger kids and be "big brothers/sisters" to promote literacy by coming into their classroom once every quarter. I'm also starting a community service emphasis each quarter with my classes this year to encourage them to see giving as a normal part of their expected life. For one week during first quarter, we will begin by collecting items for Snack Packs for Kids, then each class will adopt a family during second quarter to purchase Christmas presents for them. I hope it will be a good experience for my students.
Well, I need to get to bed soon. I will try to do a better job of updating my blog! I think that after next week, I will not have any more evening meetings to attend which will help. This Thursday is our school's open house where we meet the parents, and it is always fun but tiring. Believe me, in pre-AP classes EVERY parent attends, so it's a packed house!
The kids are doing well in school, although Owen has gotten in trouble for talking already. I can't imagine where he gets that! ha. I hope they have a great year and have teachers who will pour into them lots of attention and inspiration, as that's what I strive to do each day to 75 other kiddos. Thankfully, Arden is readjusting to her return to preschool very well, and it is 100% better than this time last year! She hasn't had a single potty accident at school while in underwear! She's even stayed dry overnight a few nights recently, so we may be wearing underwear at nights soon, too! I'm thankful that potty training was so easy with her. Arden hasn't been overly clingy and crying in the evenings, and she loves her friends and school. I'm thankful for those wonderful ladies who are called to teach 3 year olds!
I have now had three days with my students, and I think it will be a good bunch. However, most seventh graders are scared enough for the first few weeks that it's hard to tell their true colors this early! ha! Right now, they all seem pretty eager and/or intimidated. I finally begin teaching literature tomorrow after three days of rules, policies, ice breaker games, library orientation, etc. Every year at this time, I feel like I am drowning in paper work. There are so many forms to collect from the signed syllabus contract to the emergency cards to the health forms. Then, it's my job to check off the items for each student, alphabetize cards, and get things turned into the office. With all our technology, there must surely be a better way than this! I think teachers in the 1950s were sorting back-to-school forms in this exact manner. Maybe if I figure out a better way, I can hit the jackpot and invent something that will revolutionize the teaching world like the Post-It!
I've decided to try to start up a mentoring program with my students and a couple of classes at an elementary school that is right across the street from my campus. I'm hoping to get enough interest for three classes to let my students "adopt" their younger kids and be "big brothers/sisters" to promote literacy by coming into their classroom once every quarter. I'm also starting a community service emphasis each quarter with my classes this year to encourage them to see giving as a normal part of their expected life. For one week during first quarter, we will begin by collecting items for Snack Packs for Kids, then each class will adopt a family during second quarter to purchase Christmas presents for them. I hope it will be a good experience for my students.
Well, I need to get to bed soon. I will try to do a better job of updating my blog! I think that after next week, I will not have any more evening meetings to attend which will help. This Thursday is our school's open house where we meet the parents, and it is always fun but tiring. Believe me, in pre-AP classes EVERY parent attends, so it's a packed house!
The kids are doing well in school, although Owen has gotten in trouble for talking already. I can't imagine where he gets that! ha. I hope they have a great year and have teachers who will pour into them lots of attention and inspiration, as that's what I strive to do each day to 75 other kiddos. Thankfully, Arden is readjusting to her return to preschool very well, and it is 100% better than this time last year! She hasn't had a single potty accident at school while in underwear! She's even stayed dry overnight a few nights recently, so we may be wearing underwear at nights soon, too! I'm thankful that potty training was so easy with her. Arden hasn't been overly clingy and crying in the evenings, and she loves her friends and school. I'm thankful for those wonderful ladies who are called to teach 3 year olds!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Back to School
The summer is basically over for me, and it went by way too quickly! Now, I am not happy that we had 1 1/2 weeks of snow days that took away our days out in June (however, I was thrilled in January when I got to be home!). Arden went back to preschool full-time this week for the first time after being out for seven weeks, so I was a bit anxious about her adjustment. She returned to the same school with the same kids and staff, so it has seemed to be an easy switch for her. She hasn't had any bad mornings getting up yet, but we will have to get up even earlier next week when I have meetings to get to and the boys to drop off too. She only cried a little this morning when I left her, but she stopped after a minute. She has also worn her "big girl" underwear to school all day this week, and she hasn't had a single accident this week! Yea! Once I switched her to regular underwear, she has pretty much been using the potty on her own without me prompting her and never has accidents at home. I'm only using Pull Ups for naps and overnight now.
The boys start Adventure Club at their elementary school this Friday through August 17 while I'm at a conference and in teacher inservice meetings prior to the students' first day. They will be at their local elementary school with teachers who plan a full-time program of activities for them. Hopefully, they will have some of the same teachers and friends attending as last year, and I hope it is still a fun time for them that feels more like vacation than school. They return to regular school on August 19 for the first student day. Both boys got the teachers that I requested for them (district employees can make teacher preferences for their own children in most buildings in our district), so I hope that it will be a good fit and strong year for each of them.
I have taken the boys up to my school for two half days this week (4 hours yesterday and 3 hours today) to work on unpacking and decorating my classroom. We had to pack up every single item before we left for the summer and box it all. Teachers had to empty bookshelves, take all posters down, empty our teacher desk, etc. since the entire school was being painted. Luckily, this shouldn't happen next year, but I returned this year with just as much to do in my room as a new teacher all over again! I am in the same classroom, and I bought some new posters, a used bookcase, and had a student paint a 5 foot canvas mural for a large wall. So, I am happy with how it is looking! I'm not an elementary teacher who has to cover every surface from ceiling to floor and do elaborate bulletin boards, but I do like a "themed" room with cuteness. My theme is "Life is a Highway" and I had the mural done with that saying and a landscape of a car driving down the highway into the sunset. Then, I found a lot of highway themed posters ("U turn in homework, U get good grades," "Learning Zone," "0 excuse limit," "Stop and Read" etc.) I also put a large bulletin board lined with maps that is titled, "Travel through plot" with the plot diagram and literary terms on it. I brought in an old area rug I had in my attic, some discarded faux greenery, and I rescued an old maple drop leaf table from another teacher who didn't want it. Overall, it feels a lot more like "my" room this year! Usually, I would decorate during the work day next week, but I am missing it due to a pre-AP teacher's conference that I have to attend for two days in Fayetteville since I am required to get 12 hours of professional development in gifted/talented in order to be the team leader for that specialty on my campus.
I am finishing up appointments and haircuts with the boys on Thursday and mainly staying home to rest. My first full day of meetings is Friday.
It's been around 102 degrees here this week, and it's sooooo hot! I'm glad the earlier part of the summer was cooler, but I hope I don't begin the school year with outside lunch or bus duty, or I might faint in the heat!
The boys start Adventure Club at their elementary school this Friday through August 17 while I'm at a conference and in teacher inservice meetings prior to the students' first day. They will be at their local elementary school with teachers who plan a full-time program of activities for them. Hopefully, they will have some of the same teachers and friends attending as last year, and I hope it is still a fun time for them that feels more like vacation than school. They return to regular school on August 19 for the first student day. Both boys got the teachers that I requested for them (district employees can make teacher preferences for their own children in most buildings in our district), so I hope that it will be a good fit and strong year for each of them.
I have taken the boys up to my school for two half days this week (4 hours yesterday and 3 hours today) to work on unpacking and decorating my classroom. We had to pack up every single item before we left for the summer and box it all. Teachers had to empty bookshelves, take all posters down, empty our teacher desk, etc. since the entire school was being painted. Luckily, this shouldn't happen next year, but I returned this year with just as much to do in my room as a new teacher all over again! I am in the same classroom, and I bought some new posters, a used bookcase, and had a student paint a 5 foot canvas mural for a large wall. So, I am happy with how it is looking! I'm not an elementary teacher who has to cover every surface from ceiling to floor and do elaborate bulletin boards, but I do like a "themed" room with cuteness. My theme is "Life is a Highway" and I had the mural done with that saying and a landscape of a car driving down the highway into the sunset. Then, I found a lot of highway themed posters ("U turn in homework, U get good grades," "Learning Zone," "0 excuse limit," "Stop and Read" etc.) I also put a large bulletin board lined with maps that is titled, "Travel through plot" with the plot diagram and literary terms on it. I brought in an old area rug I had in my attic, some discarded faux greenery, and I rescued an old maple drop leaf table from another teacher who didn't want it. Overall, it feels a lot more like "my" room this year! Usually, I would decorate during the work day next week, but I am missing it due to a pre-AP teacher's conference that I have to attend for two days in Fayetteville since I am required to get 12 hours of professional development in gifted/talented in order to be the team leader for that specialty on my campus.
I am finishing up appointments and haircuts with the boys on Thursday and mainly staying home to rest. My first full day of meetings is Friday.
It's been around 102 degrees here this week, and it's sooooo hot! I'm glad the earlier part of the summer was cooler, but I hope I don't begin the school year with outside lunch or bus duty, or I might faint in the heat!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
I will give you rest
I've been thinking a lot lately about how stressful our lives have seemed for the past three years. I feel like I could star in a soap opera with all the events and drama that seem to have been a part of our lives recently! I am really praying that for this school year we have peace and rest. I don't want to experience any tragedies or deaths of family members this year, and I would like to feel like we only have to deal with the "regular" stuff -- even if just for this year. We just really need life to be less painful and less hectic, so we can catch our breath.
In case you don't know us or can't remember, here is a short recap of all of the stressful events we've gone through since 2006:
Nov, 2006: my dad entered final stage of cancer and entered home hospice care.
Jan, 2007: my father died
Aug, 2007: my niece was stillborn
Dec, 2007: Arden was born (a happy time, but still involved sleep deprivation and illnesses for the first year)
June, 2008: Stuart found out his job would most likely be ending and began a job search
Oct, 2008: Stuart accepted a job in Bentonville, AR, and moved there on Dec. 1 to begin work; my mother also had hip replacement surgery
Dec, 2008: we moved to Bentonville and faced the task of unpacking a semi-truck worth of belongings
Jan, 2009: my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double masectomy
Aug, 2009: I accepted a last minute teaching job and returned to the classroom full-time for the first time in 8 years; Arden began daycare for the first time at age 20 months
Aug, 2009: Stuart's dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer and began treatment
Feb, 2010: Stuart's dad went downhill and entered final stage of terminal cancer
April, 2010: Stuart's dad died
May, 2010: I was diagnosed with a possible jaw tumor and scheduled for a biopsy
June, 2010: I underwent oral surgery on my jaw bone and had a several week recovery. Thankfully, the mass was benign.
So, we have lost two parents to cancer, gotten two new jobs, gained a new baby, moved across the state, and had several health scares all since 2007.
I'm praying that this year is uneventful! I know God is faithful, and we are still managing to find joy and happiness in every event, but I would like a bit of rest every now and again!
In case you don't know us or can't remember, here is a short recap of all of the stressful events we've gone through since 2006:
Nov, 2006: my dad entered final stage of cancer and entered home hospice care.
Jan, 2007: my father died
Aug, 2007: my niece was stillborn
Dec, 2007: Arden was born (a happy time, but still involved sleep deprivation and illnesses for the first year)
June, 2008: Stuart found out his job would most likely be ending and began a job search
Oct, 2008: Stuart accepted a job in Bentonville, AR, and moved there on Dec. 1 to begin work; my mother also had hip replacement surgery
Dec, 2008: we moved to Bentonville and faced the task of unpacking a semi-truck worth of belongings
Jan, 2009: my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double masectomy
Aug, 2009: I accepted a last minute teaching job and returned to the classroom full-time for the first time in 8 years; Arden began daycare for the first time at age 20 months
Aug, 2009: Stuart's dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer and began treatment
Feb, 2010: Stuart's dad went downhill and entered final stage of terminal cancer
April, 2010: Stuart's dad died
May, 2010: I was diagnosed with a possible jaw tumor and scheduled for a biopsy
June, 2010: I underwent oral surgery on my jaw bone and had a several week recovery. Thankfully, the mass was benign.
So, we have lost two parents to cancer, gotten two new jobs, gained a new baby, moved across the state, and had several health scares all since 2007.
I'm praying that this year is uneventful! I know God is faithful, and we are still managing to find joy and happiness in every event, but I would like a bit of rest every now and again!
Road Trip
As summer is coming to a close, I felt the need to do something different and vacation-like before going back to work. The thing that I most wanted to do (and could afford) was go and see old friends back in Cabot and Little Rock. I decided to embark on a road trip last week with the three kids all by myself, as Stuart still had to stay in Bentonville for work.
We took one bag of pool gear and one bag for the hotel, and that's it! I wanted to pack light, so that I could manage to get it all into the hotel on my own, especially if a certain 2 year old decided to have a tantrum! We left Wednesday morning and returned Thursday night, and we were able to stay at a hotel in Little Rock for FREE with some hotel points we had accumulated. All of our meals were with friends, so gas was the only expense.
This was a trial run of how far I could travel alone with Arden since I've never driven with her out of town by myself. She is normally a terrible traveler who never sleeps in the car and cries/screams for much of the long drive. Amazingly enough, she did GREAT on the trip and was only mildly fussy for short periods on the three hour drive down. We arrived at noon with a picnic lunch in the van that I had brought with us and went to Splash Zone in Jacksonville to meet friends. We ate our lunch at the park next door (though the kids were too excited to eat anything!) and went swimming with the Burlesons and the Hollaways. The kids had so much fun returning to their favorite Cabot area water activity. We have so many great memories there!
Then we drove up the highway to Cabot and briefly stopped by our old house and neighborhood as well as Owen's old school. It was bittersweet to see our old life. I remembered taking Owen to his first day of kindergarten there and bringing Hudson and Arden home from the hospital. I remembered that those were my main years of being a stay-at-home mom, and how different (but good) my life is now. We spontaneously dropped by the Vances and visited with Angie and her boys for about 45 minutes before heading to the McElroys where we were spending the rest of the evening.
I had such a good time visiting with one of my best friends from Cabot, Kristy McElroy, who is pregnant with baby #4 in October!! Our children are all friends and close in age, and the boys had fun swimming for a second time that day in their backyard pool after we ate a pizza dinner. Our brief visit was over much too soon when it was time to make the drive into Little Rock to check into our hotel.
We arrived at 9 p.m. in our hotel, and Arden hadn't had a nap all day. The kids loved the hotel, although Arden was very scared to ride the glass elevator to our room on the 9th floor, and we had to force her to get in the elevator everytime we rode it. Amazingly enough, the kids obeyed so well, and we all fell asleep very quickly, with Arden sharing a bed with me and not a crib. She didn't fall out of the hotel bed (which is another first!) and slept well all night, except for the fact that she kept kicking me in the head!
We ate a big breakfast which was included with our stay at the hotel, then we loaded up our luggage to check out. The only glitch in my trip was that when we tried to get into our van on Thursday morning, the car battery was DEAD! So, I went into the hotel to see if they would let me back in my room and found out that a hotel employee could jump start it for me, so I wouldn't have to wait for roadside assistance to come. Luckily, the car started quickly, and there wasn't any other more significant problem with the van. I had initially feared that I would have to get it towed to the dealership and be stranded in the hotel for another night while my car was being repaired. We then set off to hit Mardel's since we don't have one in my area, and I got some great posters and items to decorate my classroom. The kids twisted my arm to get each of them a Webkins, which I probably gave into since I was just so happy and thankful that my vehicle was running again!
Finally, we drove to Maumelle around 10:30 and spent the next few hours with long-time friend Christine Franklin and her kids. The kids loved playing in their big backyard and playing "hide and seek." We ate lunch with Christine, and her "rainbow popsicles" were a big hit; my kids are still talking about them! We left Little Rock around 2:00, so we would be home by dinner.
The kids all crashed and slept for much of the three hour drive home, and Arden didn't wake up until we were in Springdale! It was a very fun and enjoyable trip, and it has given me more confidence to do it again now that my children are getting older. I didn't realize how much I had missed my old friends, and I know that I need to see them more often.
I love where I live now, but I love where I moved from, and I will always enjoy returning to see my old "home."
We took one bag of pool gear and one bag for the hotel, and that's it! I wanted to pack light, so that I could manage to get it all into the hotel on my own, especially if a certain 2 year old decided to have a tantrum! We left Wednesday morning and returned Thursday night, and we were able to stay at a hotel in Little Rock for FREE with some hotel points we had accumulated. All of our meals were with friends, so gas was the only expense.
This was a trial run of how far I could travel alone with Arden since I've never driven with her out of town by myself. She is normally a terrible traveler who never sleeps in the car and cries/screams for much of the long drive. Amazingly enough, she did GREAT on the trip and was only mildly fussy for short periods on the three hour drive down. We arrived at noon with a picnic lunch in the van that I had brought with us and went to Splash Zone in Jacksonville to meet friends. We ate our lunch at the park next door (though the kids were too excited to eat anything!) and went swimming with the Burlesons and the Hollaways. The kids had so much fun returning to their favorite Cabot area water activity. We have so many great memories there!
Then we drove up the highway to Cabot and briefly stopped by our old house and neighborhood as well as Owen's old school. It was bittersweet to see our old life. I remembered taking Owen to his first day of kindergarten there and bringing Hudson and Arden home from the hospital. I remembered that those were my main years of being a stay-at-home mom, and how different (but good) my life is now. We spontaneously dropped by the Vances and visited with Angie and her boys for about 45 minutes before heading to the McElroys where we were spending the rest of the evening.
I had such a good time visiting with one of my best friends from Cabot, Kristy McElroy, who is pregnant with baby #4 in October!! Our children are all friends and close in age, and the boys had fun swimming for a second time that day in their backyard pool after we ate a pizza dinner. Our brief visit was over much too soon when it was time to make the drive into Little Rock to check into our hotel.
We arrived at 9 p.m. in our hotel, and Arden hadn't had a nap all day. The kids loved the hotel, although Arden was very scared to ride the glass elevator to our room on the 9th floor, and we had to force her to get in the elevator everytime we rode it. Amazingly enough, the kids obeyed so well, and we all fell asleep very quickly, with Arden sharing a bed with me and not a crib. She didn't fall out of the hotel bed (which is another first!) and slept well all night, except for the fact that she kept kicking me in the head!
We ate a big breakfast which was included with our stay at the hotel, then we loaded up our luggage to check out. The only glitch in my trip was that when we tried to get into our van on Thursday morning, the car battery was DEAD! So, I went into the hotel to see if they would let me back in my room and found out that a hotel employee could jump start it for me, so I wouldn't have to wait for roadside assistance to come. Luckily, the car started quickly, and there wasn't any other more significant problem with the van. I had initially feared that I would have to get it towed to the dealership and be stranded in the hotel for another night while my car was being repaired. We then set off to hit Mardel's since we don't have one in my area, and I got some great posters and items to decorate my classroom. The kids twisted my arm to get each of them a Webkins, which I probably gave into since I was just so happy and thankful that my vehicle was running again!
Finally, we drove to Maumelle around 10:30 and spent the next few hours with long-time friend Christine Franklin and her kids. The kids loved playing in their big backyard and playing "hide and seek." We ate lunch with Christine, and her "rainbow popsicles" were a big hit; my kids are still talking about them! We left Little Rock around 2:00, so we would be home by dinner.
The kids all crashed and slept for much of the three hour drive home, and Arden didn't wake up until we were in Springdale! It was a very fun and enjoyable trip, and it has given me more confidence to do it again now that my children are getting older. I didn't realize how much I had missed my old friends, and I know that I need to see them more often.
I love where I live now, but I love where I moved from, and I will always enjoy returning to see my old "home."
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Wordless Wednesday
Silver Dollar City, Branson
Kindergarten Graduation Luncheon
Owen as Davy Crockett for a school program
Easter 2010
Arden and best friend Cheza at school
Arden and teacher Wendy (LOVE her!!)
Kindergarten Graduation Luncheon
Owen as Davy Crockett for a school program
Easter 2010
Arden and best friend Cheza at school
Arden and teacher Wendy (LOVE her!!)
Benign: my new favorite word!
The pathology results for my jaw growth came back as BENIGN. Praise the Lord! I hadn't really been worried while we waited ten days for the results because the oral surgeon had told Stuart after surgery that it didn't present like a tumor and was like a bone growth. His impression of what the five most likely things it could be were all benign growths, and it did turn out to be one of the things my surgeon had mentioned. It has a long name that I don't remember (I'll get copies of my pathology report in a few days via mail), but it is almost always found in middle aged, African American women. So, that was why my doctors didn't immediately think that I would be a candidate for it.
Luckily, no future treatment is necessary. I am about 80% recovered from the biopsy procedure which involved cutting open a flap in my gum line inside my chin, cutting out a piece of the bone growth, and then stitching me back with about two inches of stitches. It has taken longer for the swelling to go away than I expected, and I still have some soreness and swelling right around the area where the biopsy was taken, plus I still have no regular feeling in my two, center bottom teeth. Hopefully, that won't be permanent due to nerve damage.
I'm so thankful that it isn't anything serious that would require more invasive surgery or loss of teeth. The only slight negative right now is that I might not be able to get adult braces (which I was seriously thinking of getting in 1-2 years when Owen gets his since my school dental plan will cover adult orthodontics). My surgeon is researching this and talking to his orthodontist friends, and I'll find out more at my final check-up in two weeks. Apparently, my four (crooked) bottom teeth might be fused into this excess bone spur and may not be able to be moved or corrected with braces. I guess I'll just live with my crooked teeth if that's the case, and I'm very thankful that I get to keep them!
Thanks so much for your prayers!
Luckily, no future treatment is necessary. I am about 80% recovered from the biopsy procedure which involved cutting open a flap in my gum line inside my chin, cutting out a piece of the bone growth, and then stitching me back with about two inches of stitches. It has taken longer for the swelling to go away than I expected, and I still have some soreness and swelling right around the area where the biopsy was taken, plus I still have no regular feeling in my two, center bottom teeth. Hopefully, that won't be permanent due to nerve damage.
I'm so thankful that it isn't anything serious that would require more invasive surgery or loss of teeth. The only slight negative right now is that I might not be able to get adult braces (which I was seriously thinking of getting in 1-2 years when Owen gets his since my school dental plan will cover adult orthodontics). My surgeon is researching this and talking to his orthodontist friends, and I'll find out more at my final check-up in two weeks. Apparently, my four (crooked) bottom teeth might be fused into this excess bone spur and may not be able to be moved or corrected with braces. I guess I'll just live with my crooked teeth if that's the case, and I'm very thankful that I get to keep them!
Thanks so much for your prayers!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Surgery Complete
Thanks for all the prayers. I finished my oral surgery on my jaw tumor. I am only in minimal pain, but it's hard to open my mouth to eat or talk at this point without causing pain. The surgeon only took out part of the mass for the biopsy because it wasn't what he expected based on the CT scan. He said it is actually more bone-like, and not presenting like a tumor or cyst (which I think is a good thing based on his opinion). He felt that it was going to be painful and invasive to chisel out all the bony mass, and it appears that the five most likely things it could be are most likely benign. So, he felt that less pain right now was warranted, and hopefully, he won't have to go back in again to take out more. Keep praying! Pathology will take 7-10 days.
I'm resting now and trying not to talk too much. I'm on antibiotics and ibuprofin for a week, plus I have pain meds if needed. Hopefully, I will be back to my normal routine in a few days. I will be greatly relieved to get the recovery and the pathology results behind me!
I'm resting now and trying not to talk too much. I'm on antibiotics and ibuprofin for a week, plus I have pain meds if needed. Hopefully, I will be back to my normal routine in a few days. I will be greatly relieved to get the recovery and the pathology results behind me!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Surgery
School got out about a week ago, and I don't really feel in the summer mode yet. I had to return to school for a full-day conference this week to get my summer professional development hours in, and then I had to go back to school the next day to grade make-up final exams from students who missed the original exam date.
Stuart's mom spent the week at our house, so she helped watch the kids while I wrapped up work duties, and I used the time with her here to do a lot of appointments that were more easily done without taking three children with me! All the kids are out of childcare for the summer, and Arden will return to her daycare/preschool during the first week of August to get back in a routine before I return the following week for inservice days. I took Owen to the pediatrician for a check-up, and both boys went to the dentist and got haircuts.
I had a follow-up appointment on Tuesday with an oral maxillofacial surgeon. After my dental appointment three weeks ago, the dentist saw an abnormal shadow on my x-ray and referred me to the oral surgeon to get it checked out as a possible cyst in my jaw bone. The surgeon did a head CT scan which confirmed that there is a partially solid/partially fluid mass inside my lower mandible in the chin area. It is around 1 inch wide by 3/4 inch thick. It is now classified as a "mixed tumor" and not just a cyst since it is partially solid. It is impeding circulation to my lower front teeth, and two of my teeth's roots are embedded in the mass. I have experienced slight teeth sensitivity in those teeth over the past couple of months, which is a result of the growth. The surgeon said it must come out, and it will be sent to pathology as a precaution. I have oral surgery set up for Friday, June 25, under sedation. I will have the growth removed and end up with about a 2 inch incision with stitches inside my mouth. He said the recovery/pain would be similar to wisdom teeth removal.
Please pray that the biopsy results show a benign mass, so that no further treatment or surgery is needed. Also, please pray the this procedure goes smoothly with no infections, complications, and a fast recovery. I think I will have to wear an external taped dressing on my chin for 4-5 days to support my chin muscles as they heal, since he said he has to cut through them to get to my jaw bone. So, I might not be leaving the house much for the week after surgery!
Stuart's mom spent the week at our house, so she helped watch the kids while I wrapped up work duties, and I used the time with her here to do a lot of appointments that were more easily done without taking three children with me! All the kids are out of childcare for the summer, and Arden will return to her daycare/preschool during the first week of August to get back in a routine before I return the following week for inservice days. I took Owen to the pediatrician for a check-up, and both boys went to the dentist and got haircuts.
I had a follow-up appointment on Tuesday with an oral maxillofacial surgeon. After my dental appointment three weeks ago, the dentist saw an abnormal shadow on my x-ray and referred me to the oral surgeon to get it checked out as a possible cyst in my jaw bone. The surgeon did a head CT scan which confirmed that there is a partially solid/partially fluid mass inside my lower mandible in the chin area. It is around 1 inch wide by 3/4 inch thick. It is now classified as a "mixed tumor" and not just a cyst since it is partially solid. It is impeding circulation to my lower front teeth, and two of my teeth's roots are embedded in the mass. I have experienced slight teeth sensitivity in those teeth over the past couple of months, which is a result of the growth. The surgeon said it must come out, and it will be sent to pathology as a precaution. I have oral surgery set up for Friday, June 25, under sedation. I will have the growth removed and end up with about a 2 inch incision with stitches inside my mouth. He said the recovery/pain would be similar to wisdom teeth removal.
Please pray that the biopsy results show a benign mass, so that no further treatment or surgery is needed. Also, please pray the this procedure goes smoothly with no infections, complications, and a fast recovery. I think I will have to wear an external taped dressing on my chin for 4-5 days to support my chin muscles as they heal, since he said he has to cut through them to get to my jaw bone. So, I might not be leaving the house much for the week after surgery!
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