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!

Sneak Peeks

I finally got up enough energy, time, and courage to take Arden to get an outdoor photography session with a professional photographer. We had not had a professional sitting since she was 12 months old, before we moved to NW Arkansas! So, after 18 more months, my darling daughter had changed quite a bit, and I wanted to capture her preschool personality on film.

It was a challenge to photograph her, as she NEVER sits still. Not even for five seconds straight. Plus, she talks constantly, and is very social, so we couldn't get her to really smile because she was always talking and pointing. The photo shoot was done by one of my former high school students at Pulaski Academy,Jessica Ritchie,who now lives in NW Arkansas also. She is amazingly patient and great with kids (she is a former first grade teacher), and it was a very low stress shoot. We took Arden to the University of Arkansas campus where she basically ran around barefoot for 1 hour and 40 minutes while Jessica tried to capture shots. Arden talked to strangers and random joggers, chased dogs and birds, and she basically thought the campus was full of "princess towers" and wanted to climb the steps of every academic building! The summer weather was perfect at 85 degrees in the early evening with a slight breeze.

I knew that we wouldn't get a lot (or any!) shots of Arden sitting perfectly posed and smiling for the camera because that just isn't her personality or stage at 2 1/2! However, I knew that whatever shots we got would capture her spirit and age because she was in a great mood and acting just like herself.

I was so thrilled when I found Arden's cute eyelet dress (from Gap Kids) for just $4 at the Rhea Lana consignment sale this past spring since I knew it would be good for a future photo session, and I borrowed the hairbow from my neighbor Laurie since Arden normally hates wearing them (notice that Arden had removed the bow by the middle of the session! ha).

So, here are a couple of "sneak peeks" that Jessica just posted on her blog, and I will get to see all my proofs in a week or so. I can't wait. Enjoy!

Redesign

For my 20th anniversary present to myself (August 4), I decided to redo our master bedroom bedding and accessories this summer. It was a fun project, and I tried to do it in a cost-effective way with minimal furniture purchases, sales, and no custom items.

Here is the before:







Here are the after pictures:







I liked the old "cottage" look, but we had had that bedding for almost eight years, and I was ready for different colors. I also wanted to go more tailored and less feminine, so I went with chocolate brown for a lot of the background colors and a more tailored bedding set without any ruffles. I moved out the trunk at the end of the bed,changed nightstand tables, and I also removed the heavy mirror that had previously been attached to the double dresser. Those changes really seemed to open up the space since the room isn't that large. The paint color was left the same as before, but it still feels a lot more airy.

I bought most of the items at discount stores, and I repurposed many things that I already had in the room. Here is a brief list of where I purchased the main items:

Bedding: "Audubon" by Rose Tree, Dillards
Throw pillows: Walmart
Drapes and curtain rod: Target
Burlap tablecloth and side table: www.ballarddesigns.com
Wooden nightstand: Riverside Factory Outlet, Rogers
Botanical wall prints: www.ballarddesigns.com
table lamp: Pottery Barn
vintage books: Friendly Bookstore, Rogers
tabletop frames: Hobby Lobby

I'm happy with how it turned out!

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!

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!

Goodbyes

We are winding down the school year. Our last "full" week is over, and now we are into the snow make-up days.

Next week we will have four days of class, but two of them are final exam days. Then, we will end with the last two final exam days on June 7 and 8. Nothing about next week will be normal with locker clean out, talent show, final exam review, and all the other scheduling changes that end the school year.

So, I ended this week sort of feeling like the end was near. My students did CD project presentations during the last two days which went along with their literature circle novel from fourth quarter. The songs were fun to listen to, and it was a nice way to end the week. Except that it made me a bit reflective and teary when I listened to some of the sad songs and thought about how my time with these kids is winding down quickly.

I think I'm realizing that the big difference between my former school and my present job is the ability to continue close relationships with students after they exit my class. I don't know what next year will by like, so maybe I will still stay in touch with some of my former students with whom I've bonded this year. However, it seems like it isn't going to be the same. At my former school, I taught upper high school classes, and I taught electives for juniors and seniors. Students could have me as their sophomore year English teacher, then they could take one of my elective classes in their junior or senior year, and I would teach them again. Frequently, that occurred with those students whom I was close to, and it allowed me more time to mentor and teach them. Then, they graduated, but we could still stay in touch via Facebook or email because they were adults, and our relationship could evolve into friendship. I have many 20-something students whose weddings I've attended, Christmas cards I've received, etc. and it is meaningful to me to see where they end up in life and see the full circle of their lives.

Now that I'm teaching such younger students, it isn't the same. They will move on next year and never get to take another class with me as their teacher. Since the district moves them to a different building in ninth grade, I won't be able to pass them in the halls, have them run into my room for advice between classes, watch their participation in pep rallies, or write their college rec letters. So, I feel that my season of influence with these amazing students is coming to a more permanent end.

I hope I said enough. I hope I taught enough life lessons. I hope I shaped their values.

I'll probably shed some tears next week as they rush out of the building towards the sunshine of summer.

I will say a prayer that these amazing students will continue to choose wisely, live lovingly, give generously, and achieve greatly.

I am alive . . . barely

I just want to check in with my five readers (ha!) and let you know that we are alive! I literally have no time to post until school is out in three weeks. I am SWAMPED with end-of-the-year events with my children as well as at my school. I am in charge of a big project for the gifted/talented audit with my school district which is consuming all my spare time at work, and Arden has been sick with a double ear infection, sinus infection, and wheezing this week! We returned today to the pediatrician for the second time this week to find out that her antibiotics weren't helping, and we are trying stronger ones for her ears.

So . . . I probably won't post much, if at all, until after June 8 when I am out for summer. The summer will fly by, as I have meetings that resume on August 5.

Life has been crazy, busy as Stuart is still gone to Camden many weekends, and all my time has been spent trying to keep things running here while he's gone.

Otherwise, we're alive, but tired. I'm enjoying my job, but I will glad when the pace slows down. I will need to figure out how it got so crazy in April and May and try to figure out how to make my life less busy at this time next year!