Whew, what a week!

Getting back into the swing of things can be tough. I only spent two days at my desk to work, the rest of the time, I was teaching in various locations and at a conference. Plus, this week was book fair week and that was crazy. Fortunately my aid ran the whole thing and sold over $8000 in product to give us $4600 in "free" books. Whoo, Hooo!!!

I was at this conference that was mind numbing and I hear my name. My name is not the most common so I figured whoever it was must be calling me. I turn around and there stands a friend from college, Kim Schalk. She says hi to everyone and tells me she is doing great. I also ran into old friends from my old school who were there having their brains bored to tears as well. I was able to catch up on some gossip. If it hadn't been for seeing Kim and the gossip, it would have been the longest day.

In one week, you will all (I know it's about five people out there) be able to congratulate me. I will officially be done with my Master's Degree. That paper that I procrastinated on is finished and I must say, it's not bad at all. I presented it last night and thought that went very well. Pay raise, here I come. No more classes, no more books... at least until my cert. is up again.

The family is doing very well and things seem to be getting back to normal. Now we just have to figure out how to get our Christmas decorations up.

LOL,
CDR

They're out!

What a morning! We arrived at the hospital at 6:45 as directed and were taken into preop. Mallory did great with the whole not eating or drinking thing. It's like she knew something was up last night and didn't even ask about food or drink. So we are sitting there waiting for the doctors to get everything ready and we hear this loud crash, like a person has fallen from their hospital bed onto the floor. Nope, it wasn't the patient next to us, but her finance who hit the dirt and hard. They had to take him to the ER while she went in for surgery.

Anyway, back to us. They took Mallory into surgery at 7:30 as scheduled and said it would be about an hour. At 8:30 the doctor came out and said all went well. We waited about 10 more minutes and then we were able to go see her. She wasn't even crying, such a big girl. I grabbed her up and rocked her for about an hour while she slept. Then the ugly started, fortunately it wasn't too ugly. We had a bit of vomit, but that was OK and to be expected. She shook it off, had some water, then rested for a bit longer. We were able to get her to eat the Popsicle and then it was time to go. Now another ugly. For those of you who know me, you know that I am a bit squeamish when it comes to needles and blood. Well, Mallory still had to have her IV taken out and of course they want Mommy to put pressure on the hole in her tiny hand. It wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't actually seen the needle, but I did and then there was a bit of blood. If I hadn't been sitting, I would have been in the ER with the other guy from earlier. Fortunately, my mom and Rodd were there. Rodd took Mallory and Mom took me. The nurse thought I was a nurse before this happened because I understood what she was talking about. That's because my mom is a nurse and I paid attention. I was so embarrassed. Rodd took Mallory to the car while I sat there like a dork trying to compose myself. The nurse gave me some apple juice and all was better. Also, the longer I stayed there, the more I could hear words that were not good for me to hear, like IV, etc. I'm such a loser and I can't believe that that effected me so much. She's my baby and I should be able to see that stuff. I guess now we know, but Rodd isn't good with that stuff either. My prayers are that we never have to face it again.

Well, we are home and Mallory is really doing great. She is liking the Popsicles and sherbet. It's hard not to give her milk, but it can be gaggy. Tylenol with Codeine is also a nice touch for the pain, hers not mine. I may have a beer though.

Thanks for all of the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes.

LOL,
CDR

Procrastination

I have just one paper left to write and just two more class nights to attend and I will officially have my Master's degree. However, the words for said paper seem to elude me and I cannot focus. It's a research proposal and it just hurts my brain to even try to wrap myself around its concept. I know the material, but developing a science project is not my line of ability. I didn't do them in grade school and I can't fathom why it's so important for me to do one now. I would benefit so much more by having another literature class or kids literature class, but no, I have to be stuck in the most boring, painful class on the planet. I think I may have written about this before, but it's just not fun. I have an amazing GPA so far, if I do say so myself, and I will be happy with a B in this class. I'm ready to take the B at this point and just be done. Now if only the words would flow and I would be done.

Of course I don't have anything else on my mind this weekend, like say surgery on Monday morning or anything. More on that endeavor after its completion.

LOL,
CDR

Now comes the fever, what next?

On Friday, Mallory was acting very sluggish and just not herself. She had a slight temp. so we did the Motrin then Tylenol thing through Saturday. When the temp. hit 103, we decided that enough was enough and since it was Saturday, we ventured to the ER. Why now? She can't have a fever and have surgery so I'm so happy that we took her in. They checked her out and decided that she only has an ear infection and can treat that with the 5 day antibiotic instead of 10 day amoxicillin, which will allow us to keep the surgery date. They were scared that she had strep and then we would really be up a creek without a paddle. The dotcor took one look at her throat and said, "man, those tonsils are huge." Guess the decision to have them out along with the adenoids has been the right one. We are so looking forward to her being well. My mom is coming down to hold our hands during surgery and the first 24 hours or so. Thanks God for moms! Keep us in your thoughts and send your prayers/well wishes.

I was looking over my work budget and I need to let that simmer a bit. I am very close to going over and the super. will not like that. I just get so excited to order new books for the kids. They are so excited to have someone actually order new things. Maybe I'll just wait another month before I spend the remaining balance. I wouldn't want them to think I'm greedy.

LOL,
CDR

The date is set

Monday, November 19, our baby goes in to have the adenoids and tonsils out. This is so scary. Do they give mommies sedatives? I think they should.

More later,
CDR

Halloween

I'm ready for trick or treating, Mom! Daddy and Ladybug.

Mommy and Ladybug.

Adenoids it is!

Daddy took Mallory to the doctor and the doctor said, "no more adenoids jumping in your nose." We haven't scheduled the surgery yet, but I will work on that one tomorrow. I don't know why they only want to take out the adenoids and not the tonsils, but apparently her adenoids are really blocking her airway which is leading to her breathing through her mouth, which could then in turn be making her cough. Of course, she has another stuffy nose/cold right now that we are fighting so the coughing continues and continues, oh yeah, and continues!!!

On the work front, things are good. I really love what I do when I'm allowed to do it. I find that some people are stuck in the "it's always been done that way" frame of mind. I think that the admin. is very supportive, but only when I don't push too hard and I don't want to push too hard because I'm not tenured yet, which is not fun. I have a small confession to make, but it goes no farther. If a certain former employer were in need of a certified SLMS, I would apply and deep down I kind of hope that happens. It's not that I don't like where I'm working, I really do and the people are great. They have really opened up to many of my ideas and they have welcomed me without a doubt. I'm just feeling a bit homesick for my friends. I can't tell you how much I miss Nancy. It's so hard to not talk to her everyday. She's busy and I'm busy and because we aren't in the same building, district, city, it's just hard. There are so many good things about my new place, but the friendships from the old place weigh on me sometimes. Is that crazy? Plus today was especially hectic and I had to be several places at the same time. I did all of the work ones, but I had to miss Mallory's drs app. That was not fair, but the dr. changed the app. and I just couldn't get there. Rodd is giving me feedback from the notes he took, that I made him take, but because I was in the elementary today, I couldn't leave. Rodd did do a good job, but I missed a very important appointment, that hurts.

Anyway, I guess it's just one of those days. When I get a chance I will post some Halloween pics. Mallory was a ladybug, super cute.

LOL,
CDR