Well, it is Friday..the Friday before my Fall Break ends :( It went by way too fast, and the whole time I think I thought about work. Does that ever go away?! Probably not. Oh well, I guess that is the life of a teacher. I have conferences all next week and my kiddos get out at 2 everyday. When is my first conference you ask??? On Monday morning at 7:30 am! Ahhh!! So not ready! I think I will be ok, but seriously what was I thinking when I scheduled at 7:30am conference on Monday morning after having a week off.....clearly I wasn't thinking at all. Enough about my job, Matt and I have had an awesome week! It has been nice for him having me home, because usually he only has a few hours a day to spend with me. He works from home, so it was nice for me too because we actually got to do some things together.
My break started off with me and my wonderful family and bridesmaids going to look for a wedding dress! First of all the place screwed up and called us a few days before saying they had overbooked for our scheduled appointment time....umm sorry but we made our appointment a month ago, why do you need to switch ours?! Well being the wonderful customers that we are, we changed our appointment to an hour and a half later. Thank goodness everyone was still able to come out and help me find my dress. After about the 4th dress (going into this I had no idea what I wanted except maybe a sweetheart style top) I put on a really elegant looking dress. When I walked out everyone ooohhed and ahhhhed, and my mom got teary eyed. I of course got teary eyed when I saw her. Everyone loved this one, but I told myself I had to try on at least a few more just to make sure. So after 3 more dresses, I put "the one" back on. That confirmed it. We put it on with the veil and they had me walk around in it. It is so comfy and it is so me! I decided that was the dress! We put our money down, and it comes at the end of November! It feels so real now that we actually have the dress! Next is finding bridesmaid dresses! After the appointment we decided to all go to lunch at Oregano's. Big mistake. 45 minute wait at 2 in the afternoon.....we headed to Olive Garden for soup and salad instead. That was a really good day and I am so lucky to have had wonderful friends and family to share it with :)
The following Monday, Matt, my mom, Sadie, and I all headed to Flagstaff for our engagement session. You can see some of our pictures here. We left Phoenix around 9:30 am because we just wanted to get up to the cooler weather and hang out around the town. We stopped in Camp Verde for our usual Starbucks run, and headed on up the mountain. My mom was funny because she has never done a long car ride with Sadie. Our dog has really high anxiety about car rides. We have found a way to take her on long trips. We put her in her kennel with the seats down, and she lays down and relaxes. She still wont look at you and she wont let you touch her when she is in the car. Our dog is weird. My mom thought it was funny, and she tried to get her attention the whole way up. We got into town around 11:30, and decided to go eat lunch somewhere outside. It was breezy and cool, about 60 degrees! We went to the new brewery downtown (Flag has changed so much since we lived up there) and asked if we could take the pup out on the patio. They said we had to tie her up outside of the fence and that she couldnt be with us. Um hello? Isn't Flagstaff dog friendly? Apparently not the new places..We walked over to Altitudes and ended up on the patio there. It worked out better because Mondays are half price burger days. :) We got some wings and some burgers. So yummy! After lunch we walked around downtown and just enjoyed the beautiful weather. Then we headed up to Snowbowl to meet Lizzie for our pictures. We had so much fun goofing off and kissing each other all afternoon :) Lizzie was so great with us and our crazy dog, and she took some amazing shots! After the mountain we headed down to NAU to take some more pics. Sadly North Campus was under construction, but we found some good spots to take some awesome pictures! Monday was so much fun, I did not want it to end!
The rest of my fall break was spent being lazy, cleaning, and trying to get some work done for new lessons for my babes. I really have not gotten much done, but that is OK because I still have 3 days :) I am going to live up these next 3 days, and start a countdown until my next little break....Thanksgiving. Which happens to be my favorite holiday. Enjoy your October everyone, its almost over!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
October Already?!
So I was just looking at my calendar in my phone, and I can't believe that it is October. October 2nd. What the hell. When did that happen?! I feel like this year is already going by so fast! It feels like just yesterday that we were in San Diego, and now its October.
Speaking of October, when is it going to be nice enough to open the windows?! If we were still in Flag, we would be in jeans and sweaters with the windows open enjoying the crisp air. Too bad we live in Phoenix. Its brown, its ugly, and its hot. I long for the time when Matt and I can move back somewhere cool. Who knows if it will actually happen, but a girl can dream. There is hope for us though, my weather app says that on Thursday its going to be 74 for the high....I will believe it when I see it! Don't get me wrong I would be ecstatic if that were the case, but I honestly cannot see that happening. It doesn't get down into the 70's for a high until like January. Us Phoenicians also think that 74 degrees is FREEZING, and we are all bundled up...weird.
Besides griping about the weather and it already being October, I feel the need to gripe about teaching today. Pardon me if this post sucks, but I really just need to gripe!
I love teaching. I love my job. But there are some days when I feel like a complete failure! Teaching is by far one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. I think people really underestimate what teachers do and go through. You can all say you understand and you feel for us blah blah. But until you actually step into our position, you don't get it. It's constantly communicating with parents. Constantly saying "please listen to me while I am talking, its not your turn." or "sit down" or "get to work". It is constant paperwork, assessments, phone calls, assemblies, homework checking and packet assembling, making sure the kids are getting what they need and are challenged, making sure they are not bored. It is also making sure that you have done the right amount of assessments to fill out report cards and have them be accurate, hoping that when conferences come you know what the hell you are talking about. I am completely overwhelmed with the report card process that I don't think I am going to make it through. I want to be able to enjoy my fall break and not stress about conferences, but that is not going to happen. I am too much of a perfectionist to really relax. I want to KNOW that I am doing the right thing. I want everything to be super organized and easy to access. I want my storage to be beautiful and in containers and drawers and boxes. That is completely impossible, unless I want to spend every waking hour in my classroom. I know that I am in the right profession, and I will eventually be good at it. I am just really struggling with finding my groove and wanting to go into work in the morning without feeling some form of high anxiety. I also know that I am not the only one out there that feels like this or has felt like this in the teaching profession. It is just nice to be able to say it out loud. If you are a teacher and you are reading this, I will take ANY advice to make this process easier. I will listen to any instances where you have felt this way. I think just being able to talk through all of this and live it everyday will help, but I am just overwhelmed and I feel like I am drowning. I will get through it, eventually.
Thanks for reading friends. Here is to a better post when conferences are over! :)
Em
Speaking of October, when is it going to be nice enough to open the windows?! If we were still in Flag, we would be in jeans and sweaters with the windows open enjoying the crisp air. Too bad we live in Phoenix. Its brown, its ugly, and its hot. I long for the time when Matt and I can move back somewhere cool. Who knows if it will actually happen, but a girl can dream. There is hope for us though, my weather app says that on Thursday its going to be 74 for the high....I will believe it when I see it! Don't get me wrong I would be ecstatic if that were the case, but I honestly cannot see that happening. It doesn't get down into the 70's for a high until like January. Us Phoenicians also think that 74 degrees is FREEZING, and we are all bundled up...weird.
Besides griping about the weather and it already being October, I feel the need to gripe about teaching today. Pardon me if this post sucks, but I really just need to gripe!
I love teaching. I love my job. But there are some days when I feel like a complete failure! Teaching is by far one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. I think people really underestimate what teachers do and go through. You can all say you understand and you feel for us blah blah. But until you actually step into our position, you don't get it. It's constantly communicating with parents. Constantly saying "please listen to me while I am talking, its not your turn." or "sit down" or "get to work". It is constant paperwork, assessments, phone calls, assemblies, homework checking and packet assembling, making sure the kids are getting what they need and are challenged, making sure they are not bored. It is also making sure that you have done the right amount of assessments to fill out report cards and have them be accurate, hoping that when conferences come you know what the hell you are talking about. I am completely overwhelmed with the report card process that I don't think I am going to make it through. I want to be able to enjoy my fall break and not stress about conferences, but that is not going to happen. I am too much of a perfectionist to really relax. I want to KNOW that I am doing the right thing. I want everything to be super organized and easy to access. I want my storage to be beautiful and in containers and drawers and boxes. That is completely impossible, unless I want to spend every waking hour in my classroom. I know that I am in the right profession, and I will eventually be good at it. I am just really struggling with finding my groove and wanting to go into work in the morning without feeling some form of high anxiety. I also know that I am not the only one out there that feels like this or has felt like this in the teaching profession. It is just nice to be able to say it out loud. If you are a teacher and you are reading this, I will take ANY advice to make this process easier. I will listen to any instances where you have felt this way. I think just being able to talk through all of this and live it everyday will help, but I am just overwhelmed and I feel like I am drowning. I will get through it, eventually.
Thanks for reading friends. Here is to a better post when conferences are over! :)
Em
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wedding thoughts....
Well, Matt and I have been engaged for 2 and a half months now....where the heck did the time go?! It is going to be October tomorrow, and in a year we will be 27 days away from our wedding. Our wedding has kind of taken a back seat to both of our jobs. I am taking on my first official year of teaching, and he is working hard and traveling once a month for his TV show. Needless to say, we have not sat down and thought about a lot of details for the wedding. Luckily for me (and Matt) I am a control freak, and know exactly what I want for our wedding. I pretty much have it all planned out in my head. Thanks to my mom we already have our venue booked, the DJ booked, our photographer (family friend who is AWESOME, Lizzie Kimball...go look her up!) and the first appointment for trying on wedding dresses! We will be doing that next weekend! I am so beyond excited. I have not really been able to think about it because my thoughts are literally consumed by teaching, my kids, and trying to be the "perfect" teacher. I have also come to realize, that being slightly OCD and a perfectionist doesn't really go well with the teaching profession. I mean it makes it great for keeping things organized and knowing what I need to do next, but with kids its so unpredictable. Things change on a moments notice, and the lesson you wanted to present may not be what they need at the time. Very stressful for a girl who thinks she has everything figured out ;)
Ok back to the wedding. There I go again talking about my job. I don't think there is really anything else I talk about these days. I am at the school for 10 hours everyday. It is literally my life.
I think I know what I want for my wedding dress, but I am not 100% sure. I am just excited to try things on and see what looks best on my body type. I definitely want a lot of pretty beading on the top part, and I want a flowing princessy type thing on the bottom. I just don't want to over do it. I really just want our wedding to be simple but classy. The colors are going to be a darker teal, black, and white. The bridesmaids will be wearing short black cocktail type dresses and yes they will all be in the same dress. I like the idea of letting them pick whatever they want as long as it is black, but once again my OCD comes into play and I just want to keep it traditional and have them all in the same dress. The teal is going to be in the ribbon around the flowers that we all hold, and the flowers are going to be bright orange, red, and yellow. Traditional fall colors. I think I am also going to go with gerber daisy's or however you spell that word. Like I said, simple.
The black and white comes into play at the reception. The tables are going to be covered with long black linens that go to the ground, and the overlay is going to be the white and black damask print. The napkins will also be black with a teal napkin ring. I also want to put some teal into the centerpieces. I have no idea what kind of centerpieces yet, but I know I want something with candles, and the letter 'B' for Barton. :)
I really am excited and can't wait until it gets closer and the year turns to 2012. I think it will feel a lot more real then.
We are also going to go to Flagstaff on my school's Fall Break for our engagement photos. We plan on taking pictures in the aspens, downtown Flag, and on NAU's north campus where the old buildings are. Sadie will be a part of the pictures, and so will the beautiful fall colors. Our photographer is awesome. She is getting married in Flag next August, so she knows a lot about the scenery and where to take beautiful pictures. I can't wait to see what she comes up with. She did an amazing job on the pictures she took of us in San Diego, so I know these will be great!
As for now, I am busy preparing for my first round of conferences and report cards. The grading period officially ends next Friday. I plan on having all of my report cards done so that I can enjoy my break and focus on the conference part. The conferences are the week after Fall Break. I wish they would have done everything before so that I could really relax, but nope they don't think about us teachers in the big offices ;)
Happy Fall everyone!
Ok back to the wedding. There I go again talking about my job. I don't think there is really anything else I talk about these days. I am at the school for 10 hours everyday. It is literally my life.
I think I know what I want for my wedding dress, but I am not 100% sure. I am just excited to try things on and see what looks best on my body type. I definitely want a lot of pretty beading on the top part, and I want a flowing princessy type thing on the bottom. I just don't want to over do it. I really just want our wedding to be simple but classy. The colors are going to be a darker teal, black, and white. The bridesmaids will be wearing short black cocktail type dresses and yes they will all be in the same dress. I like the idea of letting them pick whatever they want as long as it is black, but once again my OCD comes into play and I just want to keep it traditional and have them all in the same dress. The teal is going to be in the ribbon around the flowers that we all hold, and the flowers are going to be bright orange, red, and yellow. Traditional fall colors. I think I am also going to go with gerber daisy's or however you spell that word. Like I said, simple.
The black and white comes into play at the reception. The tables are going to be covered with long black linens that go to the ground, and the overlay is going to be the white and black damask print. The napkins will also be black with a teal napkin ring. I also want to put some teal into the centerpieces. I have no idea what kind of centerpieces yet, but I know I want something with candles, and the letter 'B' for Barton. :)
I really am excited and can't wait until it gets closer and the year turns to 2012. I think it will feel a lot more real then.
We are also going to go to Flagstaff on my school's Fall Break for our engagement photos. We plan on taking pictures in the aspens, downtown Flag, and on NAU's north campus where the old buildings are. Sadie will be a part of the pictures, and so will the beautiful fall colors. Our photographer is awesome. She is getting married in Flag next August, so she knows a lot about the scenery and where to take beautiful pictures. I can't wait to see what she comes up with. She did an amazing job on the pictures she took of us in San Diego, so I know these will be great!
As for now, I am busy preparing for my first round of conferences and report cards. The grading period officially ends next Friday. I plan on having all of my report cards done so that I can enjoy my break and focus on the conference part. The conferences are the week after Fall Break. I wish they would have done everything before so that I could really relax, but nope they don't think about us teachers in the big offices ;)
Happy Fall everyone!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Fall, Blogs, and Coffee Creamer
Ok, there are 3 things that I am obsessed with right now. Fall, blogs, and coffee creamer. Yes, coffee creamer. I love all of the flavors they are coming out with. Right now we have french vanilla (classic, its always in our fridge) hazelnut, white chocolate caramel latte, and caramel machiatto. Not really feeling the hazelnut or caramel machiatto, but the white chocolate caramel latte is my favorite!! I love to go to the store and buy new creamers to try. I also am truly obsessed with my Keurig coffee maker. Matt doesnt drink coffee so its perfect because I dont waste a whole pot of coffee. I am super excited that they are coming out with all of their fall coffees, and cant wait to try a pumpkin spice one with the K-Cups. I am also really excited that Dunkin Donuts decided to jump on the K-cup bandwagon. I LOVE their coffee! Now I am just waiting for Starbucks to do the same thing....I know....Starbucks and Dunkin?! Total rivals, but I dont care, I love coffee and they both have totally different flavors.
Another obsession is FALL. I love fall, and anything to do with fall. I was trying to hold out and not bust out my fall stuff until the end of September, but I couldnt do it. I had to do it today. I already started burning the fall candles, but its not the same when the fall decor is not out. I cleaned, and decorated! Ive got my fall leaves on my cabinets, and all of my pumpkin stuff out...I am holding out on putting our fall wreath on our door because I dont want people to think I am a crazy holiday lady...(I still have our patriotic summery one on there). I totally miss the Flagstaff days where the mornings were really brisk and chilly, and the days were just perfect. I miss the leaves changing. I miss the smell of the prescribed burns. I miss seeing pine needles everywhere. I just miss having a changing season. I also hate feeling grumpy with the weather man because he tells me its going to be 110 for ten days in a row. Thank goodness that is changing. Sad when we think 99 degrees is a relief and "feels good". I guess I am a true Arizonan. I cant wait to do fall crafts with my kiddos, and make fall bulletin boards. I cant wait to put all of my fall work on the shelves and teach about the season. I cant wait until it actually gets cold enough to put a light jacket on....yes light jacket is about as heavy as we get down here....I just want it to do something different other than be sunny and hot! My poor students are trying to graph the weather for the month of September, and our graph will probably just be sunny. Lame. Cant really teach greater than or less than or any graphing activities with that. A girl can dream about someday moving back to Flagstaff or a place just like it. :)
Blogs. When did they actually become so popular?? I love reading blogs. I get so many ideas, and its fun to read about what everyone is doing. I started my blog to keep my family updated about my cancer and my health. It has turned into something fun, and it feels good to write about things. I dont know if anyone actually reads my blog, but I will keep doing it. It makes me feel good, and its fun to look back on it years from now. I actually read my first blog about my cancer, and it brought back a lot of memories I havent thought about it a while. So if you do read this, thanks. Hope it keeps you as entertained as I am when I read everyone else's blogs.
For now, I am done writing. Ill be back. I promise :)
Another obsession is FALL. I love fall, and anything to do with fall. I was trying to hold out and not bust out my fall stuff until the end of September, but I couldnt do it. I had to do it today. I already started burning the fall candles, but its not the same when the fall decor is not out. I cleaned, and decorated! Ive got my fall leaves on my cabinets, and all of my pumpkin stuff out...I am holding out on putting our fall wreath on our door because I dont want people to think I am a crazy holiday lady...(I still have our patriotic summery one on there). I totally miss the Flagstaff days where the mornings were really brisk and chilly, and the days were just perfect. I miss the leaves changing. I miss the smell of the prescribed burns. I miss seeing pine needles everywhere. I just miss having a changing season. I also hate feeling grumpy with the weather man because he tells me its going to be 110 for ten days in a row. Thank goodness that is changing. Sad when we think 99 degrees is a relief and "feels good". I guess I am a true Arizonan. I cant wait to do fall crafts with my kiddos, and make fall bulletin boards. I cant wait to put all of my fall work on the shelves and teach about the season. I cant wait until it actually gets cold enough to put a light jacket on....yes light jacket is about as heavy as we get down here....I just want it to do something different other than be sunny and hot! My poor students are trying to graph the weather for the month of September, and our graph will probably just be sunny. Lame. Cant really teach greater than or less than or any graphing activities with that. A girl can dream about someday moving back to Flagstaff or a place just like it. :)
Blogs. When did they actually become so popular?? I love reading blogs. I get so many ideas, and its fun to read about what everyone is doing. I started my blog to keep my family updated about my cancer and my health. It has turned into something fun, and it feels good to write about things. I dont know if anyone actually reads my blog, but I will keep doing it. It makes me feel good, and its fun to look back on it years from now. I actually read my first blog about my cancer, and it brought back a lot of memories I havent thought about it a while. So if you do read this, thanks. Hope it keeps you as entertained as I am when I read everyone else's blogs.
For now, I am done writing. Ill be back. I promise :)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
School Days...
Well here we are again! I am really impressed with myself this time around, because I am blogging two times in one month. That is totally rare, and shocking because I have been so consumed by my new teaching job. I never thought it would be this hard to be a teacher. I mean I knew it was hard, and I have watched others do it, but when I stepped into this position, I had no idea I would be tossing and turning at night thinking about my kids, the classroom, and the lessons I am giving them. It literally consumes my thoughts 24/7. Dont get me wrong, I absolutely love what I am doing, but I just had no idea what I was in for!
Lets start off with the first day of school....it literally came up so fast, and now it feels like forever ago. I thought I was prepared, I went through every little thing in my classroom and had a procedure or rule for it (so I thought). The first day, I showed up to work at 7am *the kids dont start until 8:20am. I was up all night, and ready for the little guys to come! Turns out I had duty the first day out front for parent drop off....umm I felt like an ass out there because I had no idea what to do, and what the norms were at the school for drop off procedures..no big deal...that was pretty successful, and the other teachers knew I was new....
Then,
The BELL RANG. Shit. I have to go get them now.....and I have to keep them busy and happy for 6 hours....
I walked to the kindergarten playground and had them line up with me. I had no kids crying, and everyone was excited! The parents were awesome and said good-bye right away. We sat around and waited for the other kinder classes to go in. My angels were sooooo quiet and good! We got inside, and remember when I said I had a procedure for everything? Nope. I forgot about backpacks and lunch boxes. How stupid! I quickly cleared a shelf for the lunch boxes, and told them to hang their backpacks on their hooks, then go find their name tags at circle time....ahhhh I was freaking out! We already missed the pledge and announcements by waiting outside for so long, what the heck now?!
I did a morning song, name game, the usual. We went over rules, and all that fun stuff the whole day. Before I knew it, it was over. Crap, I did it?! We actually got stuff done, and they followed the rules, and they listened and we practiced lining up, and I got them home safely?
Here we are now in the 3rd, almost 4th, week of school. My kids know the routine, they work hard, and I constantly get compliments from the librarian, and people in the hallway. I cant believe my luck with my class! I have a GREAT class! They listen, with the exception of a few outbursts from some, and they can walk in a straight line and turn off their voices in the hallway. They are respectful and just plain wonderful! The best part? They tell me they love me everyday. I must be doing something right. One little girl told me today that she is going to be the best student so she can help me to be a great teacher. (they know I am new) They constantly look to me at assemblies, P.E., and at the Library when I come to pick them up...they want to make sure I am there. They check to know that I am there. That is the best feeling to know that they NEED me there. They want me to teach them. I cant even begin to describe the other feelings I have about my job, but it is awesome. It may be hard, and I may work 24/7, but I would not have it any other way. These kids are the best thing and they can turn a bad morning (coffee spilling in my cup holder, no gas, etc.) into an awesome day!
Matt has been so supportive through all of this as well. He has been working really hard for the show and he started school again. He is only taking a few classes this semester, but he is almost done! So exciting! We are also moving this weekend. So hard to think about when I have my kids to think about too...but it will be worth it to be in a bigger place. I am actually really excited to start decorating for fall, and getting my fall candles out :) I will have more room for decorations too!
As the year goes on, I will add more blogs about my crazy first year of teaching, our wedding plans, and life in general. As for now, my hands hurt, and I am tired!
Happy Thursday everyone!
Em
Lets start off with the first day of school....it literally came up so fast, and now it feels like forever ago. I thought I was prepared, I went through every little thing in my classroom and had a procedure or rule for it (so I thought). The first day, I showed up to work at 7am *the kids dont start until 8:20am. I was up all night, and ready for the little guys to come! Turns out I had duty the first day out front for parent drop off....umm I felt like an ass out there because I had no idea what to do, and what the norms were at the school for drop off procedures..no big deal...that was pretty successful, and the other teachers knew I was new....
Then,
The BELL RANG. Shit. I have to go get them now.....and I have to keep them busy and happy for 6 hours....
I walked to the kindergarten playground and had them line up with me. I had no kids crying, and everyone was excited! The parents were awesome and said good-bye right away. We sat around and waited for the other kinder classes to go in. My angels were sooooo quiet and good! We got inside, and remember when I said I had a procedure for everything? Nope. I forgot about backpacks and lunch boxes. How stupid! I quickly cleared a shelf for the lunch boxes, and told them to hang their backpacks on their hooks, then go find their name tags at circle time....ahhhh I was freaking out! We already missed the pledge and announcements by waiting outside for so long, what the heck now?!
I did a morning song, name game, the usual. We went over rules, and all that fun stuff the whole day. Before I knew it, it was over. Crap, I did it?! We actually got stuff done, and they followed the rules, and they listened and we practiced lining up, and I got them home safely?
Here we are now in the 3rd, almost 4th, week of school. My kids know the routine, they work hard, and I constantly get compliments from the librarian, and people in the hallway. I cant believe my luck with my class! I have a GREAT class! They listen, with the exception of a few outbursts from some, and they can walk in a straight line and turn off their voices in the hallway. They are respectful and just plain wonderful! The best part? They tell me they love me everyday. I must be doing something right. One little girl told me today that she is going to be the best student so she can help me to be a great teacher. (they know I am new) They constantly look to me at assemblies, P.E., and at the Library when I come to pick them up...they want to make sure I am there. They check to know that I am there. That is the best feeling to know that they NEED me there. They want me to teach them. I cant even begin to describe the other feelings I have about my job, but it is awesome. It may be hard, and I may work 24/7, but I would not have it any other way. These kids are the best thing and they can turn a bad morning (coffee spilling in my cup holder, no gas, etc.) into an awesome day!
Matt has been so supportive through all of this as well. He has been working really hard for the show and he started school again. He is only taking a few classes this semester, but he is almost done! So exciting! We are also moving this weekend. So hard to think about when I have my kids to think about too...but it will be worth it to be in a bigger place. I am actually really excited to start decorating for fall, and getting my fall candles out :) I will have more room for decorations too!
As the year goes on, I will add more blogs about my crazy first year of teaching, our wedding plans, and life in general. As for now, my hands hurt, and I am tired!
Happy Thursday everyone!
Em
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Changes
Wow, it feels like forever since my last blog....maybe because it was about two months ago? Well, a lot has happened this summer! So many amazing changes and things have been going on for Matt and I, so excuse me while I ramble on about life...
First off, we are ENGAGED!!!!! :) I am sure most of you that actually read my blog, know this already. I am beyond excited! Every summer since Matt and I have been together (which will be 3 years this September) we have gone to San Diego in July. It has become our little tradition, that we look forward to every year, and we wont be changing it anytime soon! Well this year, Matt had something up his sleeve...He asked me at sunset our 3rd night there..we had just gotten back from a really good dinner in Old Town, and Matt asked if I wanted to go walk down to the water and just hang out. Of course! My parents went on their own walk, and Matt and I walked down to the beach. We got there around 7:15...I remember this because Matt kept saying, "I hope the sunset happens soon!" haha and I kept saying, "babe, its San Diego, the sun doesnt go down until 8 or so..." I dont think he really believed me...because we stayed out on the beach until after the sunset...which to me felt like forever because I had no idea what was going on, I thought we were just farting around and hanging out....I was happy and content, but didnt really care about the sunset because I have seen the sunset on the beach about 20,000 times...so he basically had to keep me occupied and walking so that I wouldnt try to go back to the beach house....anyways, we walked to the lifeguard tower (#11) and sat in front of it and just talked and laughed....these kids came running up to it and started climbing all over it, so Matt asked if I wanted to move....I said I didnt care, and we moved anyway....we were sitting down in the sand, and I laid down on his lap...we just sat and talked and watched the sun finally go down into the water....He started saying things to me like "I love you babe" and "you are my world" which I would reply with "I know babe, I love you too!" typical response because we tell each other this everyday...well, the next thing I knew he reached in his pocket and pulled out the ring box! He set it right in front of me, opened it, and asked me to marry him! I looked at him and said..."What did you do?!" haha I was totally surprised, and of course said yes!!! The whole situation was totally us, and I wouldnt have it any other way! After that, we walked back to the beach house and told my parents...my dad knew the whole time, but my mom had NO IDEA! She was just as excited as I was! We started calling family and spreading the news! It was so awesome to be able to share that with everyone in our families....Everyone knew but me, obviously lol. With that being said, we have talked about some wedding details, but not too much because we are both so busy with our jobs....we do know that the wedding will be on October 27th, 2012. I cannot wait to marry my best friend!
Another big thing that has happened this summer is the start of my new job...I am the new Kindergarten Montessori Teacher for Mesa Public Schools. The past week and a half has been nothing but setting up my classroom, meetings, and trainings. I have been pulling 10+ hour days, and I am so exhausted! On top of me working so hard at my school, Matt is in New Mexico for his TV show. We are both so blessed to be working in the career field that we went to school for. I am so excited to start teaching, but nervous at the same time. Things are so different when you are a lead teacher, vs.being the assistant. I have a lot more responsibility, and I literally have to write EVERYTHING down! Its crazy! I have never been so consumed by something, and I am having a blast! My classroom is pretty much all set up and ready to go..I still have a few things that I need to do, but overall, I think I am ready. Now I am stressing about my record keeping, lesson planning and assessments and DIBELS. All of my pre-assessments and first DIBELS are due in the 3rd week of school! I know once I get going and get comfortable, that I will be ok, but just the thought of all that scares the crap out of me!
On top of worrying about assessments and lesson plans, I have to make my first bulletin board outside of my classroom! Um excuse me, but I was the child in art class who would sit back and say "I cant" because I do not have one artistic bone in my body! My team is trying to theme our boards because they are all in the same hallway, so I at least have that going for me, but I started today, and I already know that I will have to take it down tomorrow....No clue what I am doing! Oh well, its all in good fun, and in the end its not about the bulletin boards, its about the kiddos in my class actually learning something from me! :)
That is another big fear, that my kids will not learn a single thing from me! I know it wont happen, but there are so many things that need to get done that I worry I wont be ready for them! School starts next Wednesday, so Ill let you know how that goes ;)
On top of all of the busy-ness going on in our lives, Matt and I are moving at the end of August...I am looking at the calendar and realizing that it is ALREADY August 4th! I dont remember August arriving.....Moving day will be here before we know it, and we wont even be packed! Life is super hectic right now, and I love it! I am excited for so many things that Matt and I are going to be going through together...I could not ask for anyone better to spend my life with....lots of love, and thanks for reading!
Em
First off, we are ENGAGED!!!!! :) I am sure most of you that actually read my blog, know this already. I am beyond excited! Every summer since Matt and I have been together (which will be 3 years this September) we have gone to San Diego in July. It has become our little tradition, that we look forward to every year, and we wont be changing it anytime soon! Well this year, Matt had something up his sleeve...He asked me at sunset our 3rd night there..we had just gotten back from a really good dinner in Old Town, and Matt asked if I wanted to go walk down to the water and just hang out. Of course! My parents went on their own walk, and Matt and I walked down to the beach. We got there around 7:15...I remember this because Matt kept saying, "I hope the sunset happens soon!" haha and I kept saying, "babe, its San Diego, the sun doesnt go down until 8 or so..." I dont think he really believed me...because we stayed out on the beach until after the sunset...which to me felt like forever because I had no idea what was going on, I thought we were just farting around and hanging out....I was happy and content, but didnt really care about the sunset because I have seen the sunset on the beach about 20,000 times...so he basically had to keep me occupied and walking so that I wouldnt try to go back to the beach house....anyways, we walked to the lifeguard tower (#11) and sat in front of it and just talked and laughed....these kids came running up to it and started climbing all over it, so Matt asked if I wanted to move....I said I didnt care, and we moved anyway....we were sitting down in the sand, and I laid down on his lap...we just sat and talked and watched the sun finally go down into the water....He started saying things to me like "I love you babe" and "you are my world" which I would reply with "I know babe, I love you too!" typical response because we tell each other this everyday...well, the next thing I knew he reached in his pocket and pulled out the ring box! He set it right in front of me, opened it, and asked me to marry him! I looked at him and said..."What did you do?!" haha I was totally surprised, and of course said yes!!! The whole situation was totally us, and I wouldnt have it any other way! After that, we walked back to the beach house and told my parents...my dad knew the whole time, but my mom had NO IDEA! She was just as excited as I was! We started calling family and spreading the news! It was so awesome to be able to share that with everyone in our families....Everyone knew but me, obviously lol. With that being said, we have talked about some wedding details, but not too much because we are both so busy with our jobs....we do know that the wedding will be on October 27th, 2012. I cannot wait to marry my best friend!
Another big thing that has happened this summer is the start of my new job...I am the new Kindergarten Montessori Teacher for Mesa Public Schools. The past week and a half has been nothing but setting up my classroom, meetings, and trainings. I have been pulling 10+ hour days, and I am so exhausted! On top of me working so hard at my school, Matt is in New Mexico for his TV show. We are both so blessed to be working in the career field that we went to school for. I am so excited to start teaching, but nervous at the same time. Things are so different when you are a lead teacher, vs.being the assistant. I have a lot more responsibility, and I literally have to write EVERYTHING down! Its crazy! I have never been so consumed by something, and I am having a blast! My classroom is pretty much all set up and ready to go..I still have a few things that I need to do, but overall, I think I am ready. Now I am stressing about my record keeping, lesson planning and assessments and DIBELS. All of my pre-assessments and first DIBELS are due in the 3rd week of school! I know once I get going and get comfortable, that I will be ok, but just the thought of all that scares the crap out of me!
On top of worrying about assessments and lesson plans, I have to make my first bulletin board outside of my classroom! Um excuse me, but I was the child in art class who would sit back and say "I cant" because I do not have one artistic bone in my body! My team is trying to theme our boards because they are all in the same hallway, so I at least have that going for me, but I started today, and I already know that I will have to take it down tomorrow....No clue what I am doing! Oh well, its all in good fun, and in the end its not about the bulletin boards, its about the kiddos in my class actually learning something from me! :)
That is another big fear, that my kids will not learn a single thing from me! I know it wont happen, but there are so many things that need to get done that I worry I wont be ready for them! School starts next Wednesday, so Ill let you know how that goes ;)
On top of all of the busy-ness going on in our lives, Matt and I are moving at the end of August...I am looking at the calendar and realizing that it is ALREADY August 4th! I dont remember August arriving.....Moving day will be here before we know it, and we wont even be packed! Life is super hectic right now, and I love it! I am excited for so many things that Matt and I are going to be going through together...I could not ask for anyone better to spend my life with....lots of love, and thanks for reading!
Em
Thursday, June 30, 2011
What a difference a year makes.....
So here I am again saying "I cant believe how fast time flies!" Tomorrow is July. Freaking July! What happened to May and June? Or April for that matter?!? This year has seriously gone by so fast, and what a difference it has made! A year ago, I was fresh out of surgery and had thoughts of cancer, medication, radiation, isolation, San Diego, and wishes to go back to work. I never thought the day would come where my anxiety and all of my fears associated with what we went through were pretty much gone. I mean dont get me wrong, I still am afraid of the thought that I take medication everyday for the rest of my life, and that my calcium has to be regulated ALL of the time. I have to take vitamin D supplements, and calcium supplements on top of thyroid medication. I miss the carefree days where I didnt have to worry about that, but its my life now, and I have gotten used to it. I got onto a routine (Yes its very OCD I have been told) of waking up, taking my Synthroid right away (you have to take it on an empty stomach and cant eat for an hour after taking it) so I take it at 5am...no matter what state I am in...if we are on vacation, yep my alarm goes off at 5am ARIZONA time...I'm that anal. Ill admit it. Then an hour later around 6:05 or or 6:10 I take my other three over the counter supplements on top of my prescription vitamin D. Then I get my coffee and head off to work. :) I have a schedule and I try to stick to it! I also have to take my calcium at lunch time, and right before bed. Yes I have times for those too that I can be "flexible" with, but only have about a half an hour to spare before I start freaking out. I am a control freak. I know this. Matt knows this, and thank God he loves me for me and fully embraces my controlling nature by balancing me out with his awesome laid-back-ness. I can be laid back, I promise!
This year has already been a complete 360 from last year...Matt is almost done with school (1 more semester!) I completed my Montessori Training and got a new job as a Kindergarten Montessori teacher in a District (my dream, and what I have worked so hard for). Matt is working for a TV show and he isn't even technically done with school, and we get to go to San Diego in 2 weeks and actually ENJOY it this year! We enjoyed it last year, but it didnt have the same vibe that it did in previous years. It was rainy, cloudy, cold, and just weird because of the surgery. Dont get me wrong I love a good cloudy beach day, but everyday last year was kind of ridiculous. I also didnt feel fully like myself, so this year I plan on really letting go and having a blast! Matt is excited to go as well, and we cant wait to just hang out and leave all of our worries at home.
As you may or may not know by now, I had my 1 year scan done this week. When I got there, my endocrineologist was supposed to have sent my blood results to the radiology department. Did they?? NO! Of course not. I mean something as simple as that. I should have known. So the hospital took my blood for a pregnancy test (procedure!) and a TSH draw because the endo dropped the ball. They wouldnt even call the radiologist back when they asked for the results! I sat in the waiting room for 3 hours because that is how long it takes to get the TSH level. The TSH is the number that is important for the scan. Its the number that shows up when you are very hypo-thyroid (in my case no thyroid and off my meds) the higher the number, the more symptoms and crappy you feel. I was a 115! That is very high! I was grumpy and ready to get the stupid scan over with! Once the go ahead was given, they stuck me in the creaky tube for 25 minutes with my arms strapped to my sides. Sooo uncomfortable. I closed my eyes and tried to think of things like the beach, my new classroom, and I was praying hard for the cancer to be gone. I was praying for a lot of people actually. Finally that stupid thing rolled me out and I was done! Or so I thought........ The radiologist then told me that I had to come back the next day because they saw something in my abdomen/bowels. Ummmm what the hell?!? They then said "oh dont worry its normal, its because you are stopped up more than likely" They told me to go home and drink a bottle of laxative, and come back for a second scan. I was soooooo upset! So scared, and so upset! I went and picked up the bottle, drank it and stayed home alll night! I went in the next day, and while they were taking my scan the radiologist said "wow you are as clean as a whistle from what I can see" Whew what a relief! So after all of that, I did get a phone call from my endo saying my scan did come back negative and that I could go back on my meds! Hallelujah! I already feel better and it has only been two days back on medication.
So after my very stressful past two weeks, I am back to work and starting to feel less tired, and cranky. I also have my appetite slightly back! I dont eat very much when I am off my medication, I remember that from last year too, yet I still gain weight because I dont have a metabolism. I think I made myself sick these past two weeks after all of that stress as well. I have a hoarse throat and I am just blah! But at the same time I feel way more relaxed so a hoarse throat does not bother me. It is starting to sink in that I am starting a new job in just 4 weeks, and that I have a whole classroom to set up. I dont even really know what materials I have available to me, so I have to plan like I have everything, then go down from there. I know I have a lot of materials, and they said they could get me what I need so I am not too worried about that. I think I am more afraid of the enormous responsibility I will have compared to being an assistant. Its so HUGE! But so exciting! Being a teacher has already proven to be one of the most rewarding careers, and I cant wait for what is to come!
Well that is it for now! Here is to being cancer free again!!! Love you all and thanks for the continued support!
This year has already been a complete 360 from last year...Matt is almost done with school (1 more semester!) I completed my Montessori Training and got a new job as a Kindergarten Montessori teacher in a District (my dream, and what I have worked so hard for). Matt is working for a TV show and he isn't even technically done with school, and we get to go to San Diego in 2 weeks and actually ENJOY it this year! We enjoyed it last year, but it didnt have the same vibe that it did in previous years. It was rainy, cloudy, cold, and just weird because of the surgery. Dont get me wrong I love a good cloudy beach day, but everyday last year was kind of ridiculous. I also didnt feel fully like myself, so this year I plan on really letting go and having a blast! Matt is excited to go as well, and we cant wait to just hang out and leave all of our worries at home.
As you may or may not know by now, I had my 1 year scan done this week. When I got there, my endocrineologist was supposed to have sent my blood results to the radiology department. Did they?? NO! Of course not. I mean something as simple as that. I should have known. So the hospital took my blood for a pregnancy test (procedure!) and a TSH draw because the endo dropped the ball. They wouldnt even call the radiologist back when they asked for the results! I sat in the waiting room for 3 hours because that is how long it takes to get the TSH level. The TSH is the number that is important for the scan. Its the number that shows up when you are very hypo-thyroid (in my case no thyroid and off my meds) the higher the number, the more symptoms and crappy you feel. I was a 115! That is very high! I was grumpy and ready to get the stupid scan over with! Once the go ahead was given, they stuck me in the creaky tube for 25 minutes with my arms strapped to my sides. Sooo uncomfortable. I closed my eyes and tried to think of things like the beach, my new classroom, and I was praying hard for the cancer to be gone. I was praying for a lot of people actually. Finally that stupid thing rolled me out and I was done! Or so I thought........ The radiologist then told me that I had to come back the next day because they saw something in my abdomen/bowels. Ummmm what the hell?!? They then said "oh dont worry its normal, its because you are stopped up more than likely" They told me to go home and drink a bottle of laxative, and come back for a second scan. I was soooooo upset! So scared, and so upset! I went and picked up the bottle, drank it and stayed home alll night! I went in the next day, and while they were taking my scan the radiologist said "wow you are as clean as a whistle from what I can see" Whew what a relief! So after all of that, I did get a phone call from my endo saying my scan did come back negative and that I could go back on my meds! Hallelujah! I already feel better and it has only been two days back on medication.
So after my very stressful past two weeks, I am back to work and starting to feel less tired, and cranky. I also have my appetite slightly back! I dont eat very much when I am off my medication, I remember that from last year too, yet I still gain weight because I dont have a metabolism. I think I made myself sick these past two weeks after all of that stress as well. I have a hoarse throat and I am just blah! But at the same time I feel way more relaxed so a hoarse throat does not bother me. It is starting to sink in that I am starting a new job in just 4 weeks, and that I have a whole classroom to set up. I dont even really know what materials I have available to me, so I have to plan like I have everything, then go down from there. I know I have a lot of materials, and they said they could get me what I need so I am not too worried about that. I think I am more afraid of the enormous responsibility I will have compared to being an assistant. Its so HUGE! But so exciting! Being a teacher has already proven to be one of the most rewarding careers, and I cant wait for what is to come!
Well that is it for now! Here is to being cancer free again!!! Love you all and thanks for the continued support!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Growing up
So I know I have mentioned this before, but really, where did my young adult life go?! I mean I am still considered a young adult, but I am almost 25 and I feel like 50 is right around the corner at the rate things have been going! So many big things and exciting things have been happening for both Matt and I...
First off, I got my DREAM JOB! I have been talking about this for almost 2 years, and after countless interviews and saying no to a couple of jobs, I got the one I have been praying for! When I went back to school to get my Montessori certificate I was hooked on the methods and philosophies that Montessori can bring to a classroom setting. My eyes were opened to so many cultures and ideas. I felt so inspired to be an amazing teacher because of this training. It has always been a dream of mine to be a teacher. I just want to teach and inspire and help and be a support for families...and I want to be good at it! I always envisioned myself in a district setting, but was also struggling with not being able to provide the Montessori materials and love and respect into the traditional classroom. I believe that there are a lot of good things that a traditional setting can do for a child, and a lot of good things a Montessori setting can do for a child. I have always wanted to look into the two districts that offer Montessori in their traditional setting. I talked to a few people that knew about it, and one of my teachers works in the Mesa Public School system as a Montessori K-1 teacher. I knew that this method has been tried and true, why not put it in a traditional setting?! So a few months ago I talked to my teacher and asked her who I can contact about applying for a Montessori position with the district. She gave me an email address and I went home that day and emailed the lady. I got a response the next day saying that I need to apply to the district and note that I am Montessori certified, but that she wanted my contact info as well in case they did have any openings. I printed out the Mesa application with every intention to fill it out and send it in. I let it sit and collect on our desk for the next few months....oops. About 2 weeks ago I got an email from the same lady saying they had a position open and that I needed to apply. I sent everything in the next day, had an interview and found out a week later I got the job! Teaching Montessori Kindergarten! Soooo excited. The best part??? I found out that I got the job on the same exact day (June 8th) that I found out I had cancer, just a year ago. So last year it was a day filled with devastation and this year a day filled with joy and anticipation for my true first year of teaching! God really does work in mysterious ways and he knows what he is doing. He had a plan for when I was going to get my classroom, and He showed me that by letting me know on that very day. So needless to say since that day my brain has been non-stop thinking of lessons, ideas, and how I want to set up my classroom. I got to go check it out and meet the ladies I will be working with and I could not feel more comfortable and excited for what is in store for me this Fall.
On top of everything I have just been blessed with, Matt has been doing amazing starting his career as well. He is an assistant editor on a nationally aired TV show, and he has a few other clients and things lined up locally that he has been working on. He is a true freelance editor, and he technically still has one semester left of school! So proud of my babe and I seriously can't wait for what the future holds for him and his editing career. He gets to travel to places for business and he works all of the time, but its so worth it! We are so happy to finally be in a place where we know we can be successful and prove ourselves, because we have worked so hard to get where we are!
As far as my health goes, so far so good! I am having a hard time with my endocrineologist right now and we are considering moving offices, but I will have to wait until all of the dust settles with this next test and make sure that everything in my body is stable before I can do that. It started in April when I went in for routine blood work and a renewal on my thyroid medication. We were told that soon this summer I would have to stop my thyroid medication and get my blood drawn, then go in for a scan based on that blood draw. I had a few questions because quite honestly I was confused as to why I had to stop my meds (they make me grouchy, low energy, tired, gain weight, no metabolism, muscle cramps, hormonal, etc, etc, etc.) I went through this when they first took my thyroid out. I didnt realize I would have to do it all over again. As I was asking questions about it he was trying to explain it to me, but he was getting frustrated...he then said to me "Didnt we just go over this a year ago?!" I was pissed because um hello a year ago I was just diagnosed with cancer and had no clue what was going on!!!!! Whatever I left there upset and still not really knowing what to do except stop my meds for ten days then go get blood work. Well my blood work came back but I never got a phone call.. I had to call them...TWICE. She said that my levels are "normal" and that John C. Lincoln would call me to set up a scan. Ok good news there. I got a call from John C. Lincoln, the scan was set up and that was that. Well the next day after that...John C. Lincoln called back saying my levels are too low to scan me that I need to be off my meds for 4 weeks not 2, and that I am getting radiation. WHAT THE HELL?!?! I was never told that! I was scared! Radiation meant more cancer right?!? Well after I started crying on the phone the very nice lady ( I worked with her last year and she doesnt have a thyroid either) told me that this dose of radiation is minuscule and its for diagnostic purposes not treatment. I dont have to be isolated blah blah. Well I said what about the 17 5 year olds I come in contact with everyday?? She said oh that probably is not good. Dont go to work for a week. A WEEK?! That is so hard to get covered! I was stressing. Needless to say Villa has been amazing with this whole process and was willing to give me the week off to be safe with the kiddos and stuff. I would not want to put them in a vulnerable position I want the kids to be safe. I worked it out with John C. Lincoln so that I can get my radiation on a Friday, go for the scan on Monday, and go back to work by Wednesday. That way I am only missing 3 days of work, but I am still away from the kids for a week. It all worked out in the end, but I am still pissed at the complete lack of communication that my endo had. He also ordered the scan wayyyyy too early and if there truly was cancer back in my system, they might have missed it. So not taking that chance! My scan will be Monday June 27th, so lets just pray everything is gone. I am positive that it is, and with that attitude it will be. Everything is turning around this year for us, and our lives are really just now beginning.
With all of that being said, its crazy to think that just a year ago today, we were having a barbecue with family for Father's Day and thinking and talking about my surgery that was just about to happen that week. We all decided then that everything was going to be ok. It was a tough road, but we made it. I could not do it without the support of my friends and family and my rock Matt. He is my other half and without him I may not have been able to push through all of this as easily as I have, I love you babe!
First off, I got my DREAM JOB! I have been talking about this for almost 2 years, and after countless interviews and saying no to a couple of jobs, I got the one I have been praying for! When I went back to school to get my Montessori certificate I was hooked on the methods and philosophies that Montessori can bring to a classroom setting. My eyes were opened to so many cultures and ideas. I felt so inspired to be an amazing teacher because of this training. It has always been a dream of mine to be a teacher. I just want to teach and inspire and help and be a support for families...and I want to be good at it! I always envisioned myself in a district setting, but was also struggling with not being able to provide the Montessori materials and love and respect into the traditional classroom. I believe that there are a lot of good things that a traditional setting can do for a child, and a lot of good things a Montessori setting can do for a child. I have always wanted to look into the two districts that offer Montessori in their traditional setting. I talked to a few people that knew about it, and one of my teachers works in the Mesa Public School system as a Montessori K-1 teacher. I knew that this method has been tried and true, why not put it in a traditional setting?! So a few months ago I talked to my teacher and asked her who I can contact about applying for a Montessori position with the district. She gave me an email address and I went home that day and emailed the lady. I got a response the next day saying that I need to apply to the district and note that I am Montessori certified, but that she wanted my contact info as well in case they did have any openings. I printed out the Mesa application with every intention to fill it out and send it in. I let it sit and collect on our desk for the next few months....oops. About 2 weeks ago I got an email from the same lady saying they had a position open and that I needed to apply. I sent everything in the next day, had an interview and found out a week later I got the job! Teaching Montessori Kindergarten! Soooo excited. The best part??? I found out that I got the job on the same exact day (June 8th) that I found out I had cancer, just a year ago. So last year it was a day filled with devastation and this year a day filled with joy and anticipation for my true first year of teaching! God really does work in mysterious ways and he knows what he is doing. He had a plan for when I was going to get my classroom, and He showed me that by letting me know on that very day. So needless to say since that day my brain has been non-stop thinking of lessons, ideas, and how I want to set up my classroom. I got to go check it out and meet the ladies I will be working with and I could not feel more comfortable and excited for what is in store for me this Fall.
On top of everything I have just been blessed with, Matt has been doing amazing starting his career as well. He is an assistant editor on a nationally aired TV show, and he has a few other clients and things lined up locally that he has been working on. He is a true freelance editor, and he technically still has one semester left of school! So proud of my babe and I seriously can't wait for what the future holds for him and his editing career. He gets to travel to places for business and he works all of the time, but its so worth it! We are so happy to finally be in a place where we know we can be successful and prove ourselves, because we have worked so hard to get where we are!
As far as my health goes, so far so good! I am having a hard time with my endocrineologist right now and we are considering moving offices, but I will have to wait until all of the dust settles with this next test and make sure that everything in my body is stable before I can do that. It started in April when I went in for routine blood work and a renewal on my thyroid medication. We were told that soon this summer I would have to stop my thyroid medication and get my blood drawn, then go in for a scan based on that blood draw. I had a few questions because quite honestly I was confused as to why I had to stop my meds (they make me grouchy, low energy, tired, gain weight, no metabolism, muscle cramps, hormonal, etc, etc, etc.) I went through this when they first took my thyroid out. I didnt realize I would have to do it all over again. As I was asking questions about it he was trying to explain it to me, but he was getting frustrated...he then said to me "Didnt we just go over this a year ago?!" I was pissed because um hello a year ago I was just diagnosed with cancer and had no clue what was going on!!!!! Whatever I left there upset and still not really knowing what to do except stop my meds for ten days then go get blood work. Well my blood work came back but I never got a phone call.. I had to call them...TWICE. She said that my levels are "normal" and that John C. Lincoln would call me to set up a scan. Ok good news there. I got a call from John C. Lincoln, the scan was set up and that was that. Well the next day after that...John C. Lincoln called back saying my levels are too low to scan me that I need to be off my meds for 4 weeks not 2, and that I am getting radiation. WHAT THE HELL?!?! I was never told that! I was scared! Radiation meant more cancer right?!? Well after I started crying on the phone the very nice lady ( I worked with her last year and she doesnt have a thyroid either) told me that this dose of radiation is minuscule and its for diagnostic purposes not treatment. I dont have to be isolated blah blah. Well I said what about the 17 5 year olds I come in contact with everyday?? She said oh that probably is not good. Dont go to work for a week. A WEEK?! That is so hard to get covered! I was stressing. Needless to say Villa has been amazing with this whole process and was willing to give me the week off to be safe with the kiddos and stuff. I would not want to put them in a vulnerable position I want the kids to be safe. I worked it out with John C. Lincoln so that I can get my radiation on a Friday, go for the scan on Monday, and go back to work by Wednesday. That way I am only missing 3 days of work, but I am still away from the kids for a week. It all worked out in the end, but I am still pissed at the complete lack of communication that my endo had. He also ordered the scan wayyyyy too early and if there truly was cancer back in my system, they might have missed it. So not taking that chance! My scan will be Monday June 27th, so lets just pray everything is gone. I am positive that it is, and with that attitude it will be. Everything is turning around this year for us, and our lives are really just now beginning.
With all of that being said, its crazy to think that just a year ago today, we were having a barbecue with family for Father's Day and thinking and talking about my surgery that was just about to happen that week. We all decided then that everything was going to be ok. It was a tough road, but we made it. I could not do it without the support of my friends and family and my rock Matt. He is my other half and without him I may not have been able to push through all of this as easily as I have, I love you babe!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Life is changing
Life is flashing before my eyes....I remember my parents always saying not to rush through high school or want to leave, because when I do, I will be a grown up before I know it....How true is that?? I have been out of college for two years...am a State Certified Teacher, and am also a National Certified Montessori Teacher...how did that happen?! Not to mention it is the year 2011...doesnt that just sound so weird?!? I remember saying that the year 2000 was weird and I was only 13 going on 14....I just cannot believe where I am today and every path that has gotten me here...
I have been kind of going back and forth on what to do with my teaching career. I have been talking to co-workers, friends, Montessorians, traditional teachers, family, and anyone else who wanted to listen to what I had going on in my head. I am an emotional and sensitive person, and really, really try to rationalize every choice I make when it comes to my life and the people in it. I also tend to worry a little too much about everyone else and their opinions, and therefore do not listen to myself and how I feel about things very often. What can I say? I got into the teaching profession because I care so much about giving back and other people, it is just who I am. Well, I realized this past weekend and today, that I shouldnt listen to everyone else when it comes to my career and me being happy. I need to be happy with the choice that I make because it is ultimately what is best for me! I have been contemplating going back to districts, then I think "but wait, Montessori is so great!" I have not formally taught in a district on my own, so who knows I might think that is great as well, I do have some experience with it through college and student teaching, so I kinda know how things run, but still cannot say that I have had my own classroom and know what it feels like to teach in a traditional school..
What I do know, is that when I graduated college, I stumbled upon Villa Montessori School. I came to work on the first day not knowing what to expect. I was hooked that first week. The love, respect, and knowledge that the people working at Villa have, totally opened my eyes to a new teaching philosophy. I have been working at Villa for two years, and this will be the second summer that I have applied to districts and thought about going somewhere else to teach. Why? I DONT KNOW! I think it is because I am so desperate to have my own classrom, and change the futures of kids, and just start my career...I have come to the realization that I have my whole life to work, I am changing kids lives doing what I am doing now...I work in the field and with the age that I want to be with, I inspire kids to love themselves and the earth, I teach them respect and patience, and best of all I get to open their eyes to a world of cultures and people that you just dont get to do in a traditional setting. We have had talking birds, chickens, a cat with no tail, a ferret, and a dog all visit our classroom for show and tell. In a traditional setting,you have to send permission slips to even have that! Montessori kids learn first hand about their world through these amazing experiences. There are no wrong questions, and there is no pressure. I guess what I am saying, is that I think I need to stay where I am at. Who cares if I dont have my own classrom yet?? I love my job! How many people can say that they enjoy waking up every morning at 5AM to be at work at 7AM with 3, 4, and 5 year olds? I can. I love that.
Montessori talks about the four planes of development...the fourth plane is described as young adults 18-24 years old. She said that young adults in this age range are still figuring out their place in this world. They are starting to figure out who they really are and what they will contribute to this world. I will be 25 this July, and I think I know in my heart what I am supposed to do....TEACH MONTESSORI! I went into my principal's office today and talked to them about my choice and I started to cry. I think I just feel so passionate about my choice, and I know that in the end I will not regret it. My heart and my eyes have been opened so wide in the past year through my training and my experience. I will stay Montessori and I will be great.
I have been kind of going back and forth on what to do with my teaching career. I have been talking to co-workers, friends, Montessorians, traditional teachers, family, and anyone else who wanted to listen to what I had going on in my head. I am an emotional and sensitive person, and really, really try to rationalize every choice I make when it comes to my life and the people in it. I also tend to worry a little too much about everyone else and their opinions, and therefore do not listen to myself and how I feel about things very often. What can I say? I got into the teaching profession because I care so much about giving back and other people, it is just who I am. Well, I realized this past weekend and today, that I shouldnt listen to everyone else when it comes to my career and me being happy. I need to be happy with the choice that I make because it is ultimately what is best for me! I have been contemplating going back to districts, then I think "but wait, Montessori is so great!" I have not formally taught in a district on my own, so who knows I might think that is great as well, I do have some experience with it through college and student teaching, so I kinda know how things run, but still cannot say that I have had my own classroom and know what it feels like to teach in a traditional school..
What I do know, is that when I graduated college, I stumbled upon Villa Montessori School. I came to work on the first day not knowing what to expect. I was hooked that first week. The love, respect, and knowledge that the people working at Villa have, totally opened my eyes to a new teaching philosophy. I have been working at Villa for two years, and this will be the second summer that I have applied to districts and thought about going somewhere else to teach. Why? I DONT KNOW! I think it is because I am so desperate to have my own classrom, and change the futures of kids, and just start my career...I have come to the realization that I have my whole life to work, I am changing kids lives doing what I am doing now...I work in the field and with the age that I want to be with, I inspire kids to love themselves and the earth, I teach them respect and patience, and best of all I get to open their eyes to a world of cultures and people that you just dont get to do in a traditional setting. We have had talking birds, chickens, a cat with no tail, a ferret, and a dog all visit our classroom for show and tell. In a traditional setting,you have to send permission slips to even have that! Montessori kids learn first hand about their world through these amazing experiences. There are no wrong questions, and there is no pressure. I guess what I am saying, is that I think I need to stay where I am at. Who cares if I dont have my own classrom yet?? I love my job! How many people can say that they enjoy waking up every morning at 5AM to be at work at 7AM with 3, 4, and 5 year olds? I can. I love that.
Montessori talks about the four planes of development...the fourth plane is described as young adults 18-24 years old. She said that young adults in this age range are still figuring out their place in this world. They are starting to figure out who they really are and what they will contribute to this world. I will be 25 this July, and I think I know in my heart what I am supposed to do....TEACH MONTESSORI! I went into my principal's office today and talked to them about my choice and I started to cry. I think I just feel so passionate about my choice, and I know that in the end I will not regret it. My heart and my eyes have been opened so wide in the past year through my training and my experience. I will stay Montessori and I will be great.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Updates (finally) :)
Well, last time I posted I said I was going to try and post every week...HA! Look at how that worked out! The last time I posted was in the beginning of March. Here we are already on the first of May...I seriously do not know where the time goes! A lot has been going on in our lives lately, and time has just gotten away from the both of us. This might be a long post so brace yourself...
First off, Matt is officially done working as a server at Outback! He got a job as an assistant editor for a T.V. show that will air this July...we will probably have a premier party when it does air, but it airs at 10am on a Sunday...if anything we will grill some good food and just hang out...I am so excited and proud of him for this accomplishment! Every person he has talked to has told him how lucky he is to be doing this as his first job, film editing is really hard to get into...and for him to have this opportunity is amazing. It started out as an internship for him, and they liked him so much that they hired him! He is also working as a lab tech for SCC's Film School, so that is awesome as well. We are praying that he doesnt have to go back to Outback after this T.V. show is done, and that he can just keep getting jobs through free lancing. I am sooo happy that he is finally starting his career, and cant wait for what the future will bring for him (Los Angeles for major motion pictures?? what??) :) Of course that is his ultimate goal, and I know he will be great at what he does :) As for me and my teaching career, I have one class left of my Montessori training (yay!) I cannot wait to be done! It has been so awesome getting to know the people in my training, and it has opened my eyes to so many things in the teaching world. Taking this training has made me such a better teacher, and I cant wait to have the opportunity to teach little guys and start my career as well. I have really been struggling with what I want to do as far as teaching goes...I dont know if I want to try the district route, and apply everything I have learned in Montessori and Traditional Education to my classroom, or stay with Villa and the Montessori world...Every time I leave my Montessori classes, I feel that more inspired to stay Montessori..I LOVE the philosophy and the potential that the kids have...I feel like they are kind of repressed in a traditional class, but with that being said I can take a traditional class to the next level because of my training....I also worry a lot about health benefits...its hard because of everything I have gone through..I HAVE to have benefits wherever I go. I had two job interviews about a month ago, and got offered a full time teaching position at a Montessori school in the north valley...great right?!....NO BENEFITS! That is one reason why I keep thinking districts would be better because you are guarenteed benefits, and because Montessori schools are typically smaller they cant offer them....I am lucky at Villa because it is such an established school and it has such an amazing reputation that I do get really good benefits...If I do go district, then I worry that I will get hired to teach for one year, and then get laid off for the next because of the budgets and everything else! Its so confusing and stressful...I really have to have a talk with myself and tell myself to stop worrying, and that the right classroom will open up...in the meantime, I am lucky I have a job in the field I want to be in, with a great class, and a great teaching team...it would be hard to give that up :)
So Matt and I decided that we need to upgrade from the one bedroom apartment that we are in....it is about 900 square feet, which is a decent size for a one bedroom, but we are totally busting at the seams! He has all of his editing stuff in the living room, our desk and computer are in the living room, and we are starting to pile up boxes and clothes everywhere! Our closet is a complete mess, and our linen closets cant hold anything else! We already have to push a comforter back in everytime we close the dang door! We originally started talking about renting a townhouse or a house because the market is so bad that we could probably find something cheap...well we want to stay north valley, and after looking around at a few places, they are totally out of our budget! 1200 for a 2 bedroom house to rent?! NO THANKS! At that point we might as well buy, but with my values and how I was raised, I want a ring on my finger first before that happens, and Matt feels the same way...Well, we looked at another Trillium property today for 2 bedrooms, because our Trillium is all full and they dont have really good floor plans for the 2 beds...we are soooooooo in love with the Cave Creek Trillium 2 bed 2 bath! its 1200 square feet, and its only 100 more than we pay now! It is also a split floorplan so Matt's office would kind of be secluded and he could get a lot done....it also has wood floors and all new appliances! Sooo excited, but we have to wait about a month and a half to hold it cause its too early...I am kind of a control freak, and would like to know where we are living next...NOW! Good thing Matt loves me! lol
My health seems to be great..I have lost 10 lbs, and feel amazing! My energy is good, and all of my medications are the right level to regulate everything. I just had an ultra sound done on Friday at my endocrineologist....the ultra sound was clear and he didnt see anything! He said if there were to be something funky in there he would have done a biopsy right there...so I am thanking God that nothing was found, and I am on the right track for my remission....the only thing now is that we have to wait until the end of May to find out blood levels of cancer in my system....its really weird and confusing and I am still kind of confused, but in the middle of May (the day we get back from Vegas) I have to start cutting my thyroid pills in half and taking only half a dose, then a week after that, I have to completely stop taking my thyroid medication..this makes me tired, cranky, my muscles will cramp, and ill probably gain some weight...ill be hypothyroid...once I am off the medication for a week, they will give me a shot, then take my blood....if those blood levels are negative, nothing happens and I can start my medication again...basically the cancer didnt come back...if my blood levels are positive..then the cancer is still in me and I will have to have radiation again and go through the body scan again....I am praying that is is completely gone, because really I am sooo over all of this! Another thing that sucks, is that my para-thyroid is damaged...we knew this the minute I got out of surgery, but my surgeon said it would come back...I have been taking calcium and vitamin D since the day I got out of surgery, and havent been able to get off of it....on Friday at the endo, I found out that my para-thyroid will probably never come back...ill have to be regulated with calcium and vitamind D for the rest of my life...it will affect pregnancy and a lot of other things....sucks, but I really have to think that it could be worse, what is an extra calcium pill everyday? A little scary to think about, but I am trying to take things one event at a time....My surgeon still thinks it will come back....who knows..another waiting game I guess...I am just happy I am alive, healthy, and feel great...I am not in a hopsital room, and I am able to work and go about my day...So many people take that for granted, and there are alot of children and people that are in the hospital that dont get what we get...I will stay positive that everything will be OK, and that life can continue on as normal.
So enough of the health talk, Matt and I are going to Vegas in two weeks just the two of us and I cannot WAIT! We are staying at the Excalibur for two nights....its going to be amazing to just get away and have fun :)
Hope everyone has had a great spring, and I will try to update a lot sooner this time :)
Love, Em
First off, Matt is officially done working as a server at Outback! He got a job as an assistant editor for a T.V. show that will air this July...we will probably have a premier party when it does air, but it airs at 10am on a Sunday...if anything we will grill some good food and just hang out...I am so excited and proud of him for this accomplishment! Every person he has talked to has told him how lucky he is to be doing this as his first job, film editing is really hard to get into...and for him to have this opportunity is amazing. It started out as an internship for him, and they liked him so much that they hired him! He is also working as a lab tech for SCC's Film School, so that is awesome as well. We are praying that he doesnt have to go back to Outback after this T.V. show is done, and that he can just keep getting jobs through free lancing. I am sooo happy that he is finally starting his career, and cant wait for what the future will bring for him (Los Angeles for major motion pictures?? what??) :) Of course that is his ultimate goal, and I know he will be great at what he does :) As for me and my teaching career, I have one class left of my Montessori training (yay!) I cannot wait to be done! It has been so awesome getting to know the people in my training, and it has opened my eyes to so many things in the teaching world. Taking this training has made me such a better teacher, and I cant wait to have the opportunity to teach little guys and start my career as well. I have really been struggling with what I want to do as far as teaching goes...I dont know if I want to try the district route, and apply everything I have learned in Montessori and Traditional Education to my classroom, or stay with Villa and the Montessori world...Every time I leave my Montessori classes, I feel that more inspired to stay Montessori..I LOVE the philosophy and the potential that the kids have...I feel like they are kind of repressed in a traditional class, but with that being said I can take a traditional class to the next level because of my training....I also worry a lot about health benefits...its hard because of everything I have gone through..I HAVE to have benefits wherever I go. I had two job interviews about a month ago, and got offered a full time teaching position at a Montessori school in the north valley...great right?!....NO BENEFITS! That is one reason why I keep thinking districts would be better because you are guarenteed benefits, and because Montessori schools are typically smaller they cant offer them....I am lucky at Villa because it is such an established school and it has such an amazing reputation that I do get really good benefits...If I do go district, then I worry that I will get hired to teach for one year, and then get laid off for the next because of the budgets and everything else! Its so confusing and stressful...I really have to have a talk with myself and tell myself to stop worrying, and that the right classroom will open up...in the meantime, I am lucky I have a job in the field I want to be in, with a great class, and a great teaching team...it would be hard to give that up :)
So Matt and I decided that we need to upgrade from the one bedroom apartment that we are in....it is about 900 square feet, which is a decent size for a one bedroom, but we are totally busting at the seams! He has all of his editing stuff in the living room, our desk and computer are in the living room, and we are starting to pile up boxes and clothes everywhere! Our closet is a complete mess, and our linen closets cant hold anything else! We already have to push a comforter back in everytime we close the dang door! We originally started talking about renting a townhouse or a house because the market is so bad that we could probably find something cheap...well we want to stay north valley, and after looking around at a few places, they are totally out of our budget! 1200 for a 2 bedroom house to rent?! NO THANKS! At that point we might as well buy, but with my values and how I was raised, I want a ring on my finger first before that happens, and Matt feels the same way...Well, we looked at another Trillium property today for 2 bedrooms, because our Trillium is all full and they dont have really good floor plans for the 2 beds...we are soooooooo in love with the Cave Creek Trillium 2 bed 2 bath! its 1200 square feet, and its only 100 more than we pay now! It is also a split floorplan so Matt's office would kind of be secluded and he could get a lot done....it also has wood floors and all new appliances! Sooo excited, but we have to wait about a month and a half to hold it cause its too early...I am kind of a control freak, and would like to know where we are living next...NOW! Good thing Matt loves me! lol
My health seems to be great..I have lost 10 lbs, and feel amazing! My energy is good, and all of my medications are the right level to regulate everything. I just had an ultra sound done on Friday at my endocrineologist....the ultra sound was clear and he didnt see anything! He said if there were to be something funky in there he would have done a biopsy right there...so I am thanking God that nothing was found, and I am on the right track for my remission....the only thing now is that we have to wait until the end of May to find out blood levels of cancer in my system....its really weird and confusing and I am still kind of confused, but in the middle of May (the day we get back from Vegas) I have to start cutting my thyroid pills in half and taking only half a dose, then a week after that, I have to completely stop taking my thyroid medication..this makes me tired, cranky, my muscles will cramp, and ill probably gain some weight...ill be hypothyroid...once I am off the medication for a week, they will give me a shot, then take my blood....if those blood levels are negative, nothing happens and I can start my medication again...basically the cancer didnt come back...if my blood levels are positive..then the cancer is still in me and I will have to have radiation again and go through the body scan again....I am praying that is is completely gone, because really I am sooo over all of this! Another thing that sucks, is that my para-thyroid is damaged...we knew this the minute I got out of surgery, but my surgeon said it would come back...I have been taking calcium and vitamin D since the day I got out of surgery, and havent been able to get off of it....on Friday at the endo, I found out that my para-thyroid will probably never come back...ill have to be regulated with calcium and vitamind D for the rest of my life...it will affect pregnancy and a lot of other things....sucks, but I really have to think that it could be worse, what is an extra calcium pill everyday? A little scary to think about, but I am trying to take things one event at a time....My surgeon still thinks it will come back....who knows..another waiting game I guess...I am just happy I am alive, healthy, and feel great...I am not in a hopsital room, and I am able to work and go about my day...So many people take that for granted, and there are alot of children and people that are in the hospital that dont get what we get...I will stay positive that everything will be OK, and that life can continue on as normal.
So enough of the health talk, Matt and I are going to Vegas in two weeks just the two of us and I cannot WAIT! We are staying at the Excalibur for two nights....its going to be amazing to just get away and have fun :)
Hope everyone has had a great spring, and I will try to update a lot sooner this time :)
Love, Em
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Its a season for change! Out with the old and in with the new!
Ok so I have made a goal for myself. I want to try and blog more. See, when I started my blog, it was because I wanted to keep everyone update on our lives, my cancer, and everything else that is going on. Last year was so crazy, and I cant believe that June will mark a year since my surgery. I was thinking about it this morning, that last year at this time we had no idea what was about to come! I didnt get really sick until April, and didnt go to the ENT until the end of May. So I was walking around with all of that cancer in my body and I didnt even know it! Things have changed so much in our lives, and we are so thankful that we are alive and happy and starting to live out our dreams. So bare with me in this post because I am feeling kinda mushy and emotional and so giddy about our lives and what is going to come for us!
Well, as everyone knows, or as I have said before, I gained some weight with the surgery and not having a thyroid and all of that fun stuff. I am starting to think that I have made that my excuse though, because really in the scheme of things, Matt and I were eating like crap! Seriously! We went out to eat at least 3 times a week and most of the time it was for happy hour bar food because it was cheap, and when we did go to those places we usually got a beer or a soda. Now I will say that after my surgery that changed dramatically because I was kind of hit with reality...But looking back on it, I was fat before my surgery! Having surgery just made it worse because I couldnt do anything physical for a while. Now I am sure that the thyroid thing has a little bit to do with it, but really its our lifestyle and the things we chose to do. So in January Matt and I decided that that was it! He went to LA fitness and got both of us a membership and we started to work out....so much easier said than done! Thanks to a family friend, I found out about these Zumba classes that were only 5 dollars a class, how could I say no to that?! So needless to say, I have been going religiously since the beginning of January (oops didnt go last night :)) and I have definitely lost some weight! Now, I am not seeing it on the scale, but everyone has been telling me how healthy I look, and that I look good! I am so excited! This morning I woke up and because Matt had a meeting, and I didnt have class I decided that I needed to go shopping. To my surprise I ended up with a pair of jeans, 2 pairs of jean capris, and a pair of cargo capris! The best part? All a size SMALLER! I feel soooooooo much better because I was really starting to get discouraged not seeing it on the scale...even though I know muscle weighs more than fat, its still hard to work your ass off and feel like there are no results. Matt has been trying to hit the gym as well, but with his editing job, he is so busy! Its hard because everytime I get home he has to take out his computer and work on stuff, so even though he his home he is unavailable because he has to work. I do love that he is home a lot more, even if he is working on stuff I still get to see his studly self :)
As far as my job and my career and school, I cant believe that I will be Montessori Certified in May! Crazy! And I was just telling Matt last night, that I graduated college 2 freaking years ago! I cant even think about that! I updated my resume, and have been sending stuff out, but so far no bites. I think it might be a little too early for schools to be thinking about next year. Bummer for me, but I know that God has a plan for us, and he will put me in the right classroom when the time is right. As far as summer school I did get offered to work as the assistant in the Kinder classroom for the month of June, and then as a lead in July. So I am pretty excited about that, and that I get the opportunity to prove myself as a lead teacher! I know that I can be so good, and that I am so ready to be out on my own with my own classroom. Its hard to be an assistant, but its nice in my case because I have a teacher that lets me do any of the lessons and really get practice and experience as being the lead. I really do love my job and enjoy going to work everyday. As far as Matt's career goes, he finished his first editing piece that he is getting paid for. His boss was really impressed with his stuff, and he was really excited! I cant wait to see what good things come for him and I cant believe that he is almost done with school as well!
Matt and I also have made a big decision about our living arrangements. We decided that if I do get a job working in my own classroom, that we are going to look into getting a house! We just think that the time is so right, and if we miss out on this opportunity then it will come back to bite us in the ass. Houses are so cheap right now and we could get a 4 bedroom nice house for less than what we pay in rent. We are going to meet up with my parents realitor and see what we can get approved for and all of that fun stuff. This is all pending on me and getting a job though. I really feel that our lives are moving in the right direction and I cant wait to see what else God has in store for us!
As for my blog goes, I promise to try and keep up on it. I am trying to make it all cute and what not, but I really suck at that! I mean I am sure you all are looking at my page right now and thinking man this needs work! I cant seem to figure out the cute headers and backgrounds and pictures and everything, so what you see is what you get for now! Maybe I can ask Matt to help me figure it out since he is so tech savvy.
Well, that is all for now. Ill try to post sometime next week!
Love, Em
Well, as everyone knows, or as I have said before, I gained some weight with the surgery and not having a thyroid and all of that fun stuff. I am starting to think that I have made that my excuse though, because really in the scheme of things, Matt and I were eating like crap! Seriously! We went out to eat at least 3 times a week and most of the time it was for happy hour bar food because it was cheap, and when we did go to those places we usually got a beer or a soda. Now I will say that after my surgery that changed dramatically because I was kind of hit with reality...But looking back on it, I was fat before my surgery! Having surgery just made it worse because I couldnt do anything physical for a while. Now I am sure that the thyroid thing has a little bit to do with it, but really its our lifestyle and the things we chose to do. So in January Matt and I decided that that was it! He went to LA fitness and got both of us a membership and we started to work out....so much easier said than done! Thanks to a family friend, I found out about these Zumba classes that were only 5 dollars a class, how could I say no to that?! So needless to say, I have been going religiously since the beginning of January (oops didnt go last night :)) and I have definitely lost some weight! Now, I am not seeing it on the scale, but everyone has been telling me how healthy I look, and that I look good! I am so excited! This morning I woke up and because Matt had a meeting, and I didnt have class I decided that I needed to go shopping. To my surprise I ended up with a pair of jeans, 2 pairs of jean capris, and a pair of cargo capris! The best part? All a size SMALLER! I feel soooooooo much better because I was really starting to get discouraged not seeing it on the scale...even though I know muscle weighs more than fat, its still hard to work your ass off and feel like there are no results. Matt has been trying to hit the gym as well, but with his editing job, he is so busy! Its hard because everytime I get home he has to take out his computer and work on stuff, so even though he his home he is unavailable because he has to work. I do love that he is home a lot more, even if he is working on stuff I still get to see his studly self :)
As far as my job and my career and school, I cant believe that I will be Montessori Certified in May! Crazy! And I was just telling Matt last night, that I graduated college 2 freaking years ago! I cant even think about that! I updated my resume, and have been sending stuff out, but so far no bites. I think it might be a little too early for schools to be thinking about next year. Bummer for me, but I know that God has a plan for us, and he will put me in the right classroom when the time is right. As far as summer school I did get offered to work as the assistant in the Kinder classroom for the month of June, and then as a lead in July. So I am pretty excited about that, and that I get the opportunity to prove myself as a lead teacher! I know that I can be so good, and that I am so ready to be out on my own with my own classroom. Its hard to be an assistant, but its nice in my case because I have a teacher that lets me do any of the lessons and really get practice and experience as being the lead. I really do love my job and enjoy going to work everyday. As far as Matt's career goes, he finished his first editing piece that he is getting paid for. His boss was really impressed with his stuff, and he was really excited! I cant wait to see what good things come for him and I cant believe that he is almost done with school as well!
Matt and I also have made a big decision about our living arrangements. We decided that if I do get a job working in my own classroom, that we are going to look into getting a house! We just think that the time is so right, and if we miss out on this opportunity then it will come back to bite us in the ass. Houses are so cheap right now and we could get a 4 bedroom nice house for less than what we pay in rent. We are going to meet up with my parents realitor and see what we can get approved for and all of that fun stuff. This is all pending on me and getting a job though. I really feel that our lives are moving in the right direction and I cant wait to see what else God has in store for us!
As for my blog goes, I promise to try and keep up on it. I am trying to make it all cute and what not, but I really suck at that! I mean I am sure you all are looking at my page right now and thinking man this needs work! I cant seem to figure out the cute headers and backgrounds and pictures and everything, so what you see is what you get for now! Maybe I can ask Matt to help me figure it out since he is so tech savvy.
Well, that is all for now. Ill try to post sometime next week!
Love, Em
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Its A Wonderful Life!
Wow, January came and went...and its already the second week of February....life flies by when you are having fun! This month brings a lot of fun things for us! We have the Superbowl tomorrow (I dont care about the teams, just the yummy food!) Valentines Day...the one day that Matt and I can really splurge on dinner and go out and have a good time...then we have Kendyl's birthday! I cant believe she will be one year old this month!
As far as the Superbowl goes, we havent really done anything in the past because we both usually had to work at Outback. Well, now that I am not working at Outback anymore, I have weekends off. I told Matt to request it off this year so we could actually do something. It worked out because Holly and Mike invited us over to watch the game and eat yummy yummy food! I am so excited! I made a big batch of pasta salad, and turtle brownies :) I am also making a chili cream cheese dip, and a salsa cream cheese dip. I could really care less about the Steelers or the Packers, so I am just excited to hang out with good company and enjoy the food. I told Matt I would drive so he wouldnt have to worry :)
For Valentines Day this year Matt is taking me to The Keg. Its usually a tradition for us to go all out and spend money on dinner for our birthdays, anniversary, and Valentines Day. We love to dress up and go out and enjoy each other.. our time together is very few and far between with both of us being back in school and working full time. I cant wait to be able to spend the night with my love! Plus roses are usually in the agenda and he knows how much I love those ;)
Kendyl's first birthday party is coming up too! I am soooooo glad that I dont have school on that Saturday because I cannot miss anymore days until we graduate! If I do miss any days, then everything that I have worked for goes out the window! So even if I am puking my guts out, I have to drag a trash can around and show up to class! I know its so going to be worth it in the end because I will have more certificates to add to my teaching degree. I cant wait to spend the day celebrating little Miss Kendyl and hanging out with our family.
Work has been going really well, I was just saying to one of my co-workers last week that I have not called out sick once this year! (knock on wood!) that is a far cry from last year, although I never called out last year until the end of the year when I got really sick with the strep and the mono.Hopefully this year does not end up that way!
My health has been great too, I do have a small sinus infection right now that I have been fighting the past two weeks, it started as a cold, but turned into this yucky thing! I realized it today when my head was throbbing every time I moved it, and it was worse when I would bend down or cough...weird but its totally the pressure right above my eyes and under my eyes, so I knew that was my sinuses. As far as all of the thyroid stuff, I went to my endocrineologist back in January and everything seems to be going ok...Just have to get an ultra sound in April to make sure everything is OK, and then more blood tests to make sure evreything is negative. I do still have the vitamin D and calcium deficiancy so hopefully that goes away over time too.. I am so sick of taking 4 pills every morning. I knew I would be taking the one thyroid pill everyday for the rest of my life, but I was not prepared for 4...things should be improved by now...speaking of medicines and thyroids, my surgeon was totally in Matt's Outback last night! haha Matt ran his food I guess and they talked about me :) So funny for him to see Matt there...I am sure it was weird for Dr. Leff too.
Well, that is really all I have for now! I am just so blessed to be living a happy healthy life, and cant believe that when April gets here, that will mark a year when all of this really started with the strep! I really do love where I am at right now, and cant wait for what the year will bring Matt and I.
Have a Happy February!
Love, Em
As far as the Superbowl goes, we havent really done anything in the past because we both usually had to work at Outback. Well, now that I am not working at Outback anymore, I have weekends off. I told Matt to request it off this year so we could actually do something. It worked out because Holly and Mike invited us over to watch the game and eat yummy yummy food! I am so excited! I made a big batch of pasta salad, and turtle brownies :) I am also making a chili cream cheese dip, and a salsa cream cheese dip. I could really care less about the Steelers or the Packers, so I am just excited to hang out with good company and enjoy the food. I told Matt I would drive so he wouldnt have to worry :)
For Valentines Day this year Matt is taking me to The Keg. Its usually a tradition for us to go all out and spend money on dinner for our birthdays, anniversary, and Valentines Day. We love to dress up and go out and enjoy each other.. our time together is very few and far between with both of us being back in school and working full time. I cant wait to be able to spend the night with my love! Plus roses are usually in the agenda and he knows how much I love those ;)
Kendyl's first birthday party is coming up too! I am soooooo glad that I dont have school on that Saturday because I cannot miss anymore days until we graduate! If I do miss any days, then everything that I have worked for goes out the window! So even if I am puking my guts out, I have to drag a trash can around and show up to class! I know its so going to be worth it in the end because I will have more certificates to add to my teaching degree. I cant wait to spend the day celebrating little Miss Kendyl and hanging out with our family.
Work has been going really well, I was just saying to one of my co-workers last week that I have not called out sick once this year! (knock on wood!) that is a far cry from last year, although I never called out last year until the end of the year when I got really sick with the strep and the mono.Hopefully this year does not end up that way!
My health has been great too, I do have a small sinus infection right now that I have been fighting the past two weeks, it started as a cold, but turned into this yucky thing! I realized it today when my head was throbbing every time I moved it, and it was worse when I would bend down or cough...weird but its totally the pressure right above my eyes and under my eyes, so I knew that was my sinuses. As far as all of the thyroid stuff, I went to my endocrineologist back in January and everything seems to be going ok...Just have to get an ultra sound in April to make sure everything is OK, and then more blood tests to make sure evreything is negative. I do still have the vitamin D and calcium deficiancy so hopefully that goes away over time too.. I am so sick of taking 4 pills every morning. I knew I would be taking the one thyroid pill everyday for the rest of my life, but I was not prepared for 4...things should be improved by now...speaking of medicines and thyroids, my surgeon was totally in Matt's Outback last night! haha Matt ran his food I guess and they talked about me :) So funny for him to see Matt there...I am sure it was weird for Dr. Leff too.
Well, that is really all I have for now! I am just so blessed to be living a happy healthy life, and cant believe that when April gets here, that will mark a year when all of this really started with the strep! I really do love where I am at right now, and cant wait for what the year will bring Matt and I.
Have a Happy February!
Love, Em
Sunday, January 9, 2011
2011 already?!
Well the holidays have come and gone, and here we are about to start the second week of January. Seriously where has the time gone????? Life has been wonderful so far this year, I feel amazing and I love living with the love of my life. What could be better?!
Christmas was awesome as usual. We went to Disneyland the week of Christmas where it rained like crazy the first two days there! We loved every single bit of the rain, because of course we never get any here. It also was good because Disney was kind of dead the first day there. We did not have to wait for any of the rides and we got to splash around in the puddles and just be silly. They cancelled the fireworks the first night, but the second night we got to see them so we basically got the best of both worlds. Also, on the second day when the sun started to come out we went to California Adventure. It was crowded but not as crowded as Disney was....DIsney was absolutely insane! When we went back that night to get something and to watch the fireworks we were walking around like sardines! We were so happy that was our last day, because at that point we were so pooped out and ready to go! We also were told that the next day and the few days after we left Disneyland had to shut their gates because there were so many people there. Thank goodness we were able to get in!!!!! We left California on Christmas Eve early in the morning because we had to be at my brothers house for Christmas Eve dinner. We got back at like 2 in the afternoon, took showers and were at my brothers house by 4. They made such an amazing feast!!! We had fun just talking and laughing as usual and exchanging gifts. My mom also surprised Matt and I by bringing Sadie (our baby girl) to my brothers because we missed her the week we were gone. After we did Christmas Eve at my brothers, we went back to my parents..did a couple of gifts there (we got a GPS this year :) ) and then went home to pass out cause we were exhausted! Then the next day, Christmas Day, we got up early again and drove up to Flagstaff to spend Christmas with his family. That was soooo much fun! His mom and stepdad made the best food (of course) and we just hung out and exchanged gifts and played Monopoly...oh yeah...Matt was a sore loser this time :) I love going up to Flagstaff and spending time with his family! There was also snow on the ground which made Christmas more Christmas-y. After our wonderful weekend up in Flag and our fun filled week in Disneyland, it was time to pack up and head home for reality. That next week at work was easy though because it was only a 3 day work week. New Years flew by and we had a good time hanging out at Dani's house with her family and friends and playing games.
Now here we are in January. Its crazy to think that it is already 2011 and come this May I will have been out of high school for 7 years...that 10 year reunion is coming up quick! We have so many things to look forward to this year, we have baby Kendyl's birthday in February, Allisons wedding in March, and Erin and Jake's wedding in June! We are also already talking about our annual San Diego trip in July. I cant wait for that to get here!
As far as my health goes, I am feeling sooooooooo much better! I have started to do Zumba three days a week. I started last week and I cant even begin to explain the change I already feel...I have a better attitude, my stress is practically gone, and I just feel amazing! I am going to keep this up and my goal is to lose 15lbs by March for Allisons wedding.
My thyroid stuff is doing ok as well. My calcium levels are totally stabilized, but my surgeon still wants me to stay on the calcium until March because my parathyroid is still low. He thinks its because I am taking too much calcium and its suppressing the parathyroid, but he wants to be sure. Plus taking all of this calcium is really good for me right now so why not. I went back to my endocrineologist also for the first time since September and since he switched my medication. He told me some stuff, that I think I always knew but never wanted to say out loud. He told me that my cancer can come back and that I have to get an ultra sound and a body scan every year for the first 5 years. It makes sense, but it scared me a little bit. He also said that my Thyroid Globuliun level has to be a negative and so does my scan. Right now that level is at a 5. It was a 7 back in Septemeber, and it could be lower now. They are taking my blood this week and will call wth the results. I am praying every single day that it goes down into the negatives and that this stuff is really all gone! I am trying to just push all of this stuff into the back of my mind and not worry about it too much. God knows what he is doing and he has something planned for me. I trust Him in that. Oh and I was also told that with my Thyroid Globuliun level that it ususally takes about a year to go down to the negatives..so the fact that it is already at a 5 is good news :)
Ok well as usual this is a really long blog. I feel like once I get typing and going that I cant stop! I love writing, and it really helps me cope with some things. So thanks to all of you who actually do read this :) I love all of you guys! Have a great January!
Love- Em
Christmas was awesome as usual. We went to Disneyland the week of Christmas where it rained like crazy the first two days there! We loved every single bit of the rain, because of course we never get any here. It also was good because Disney was kind of dead the first day there. We did not have to wait for any of the rides and we got to splash around in the puddles and just be silly. They cancelled the fireworks the first night, but the second night we got to see them so we basically got the best of both worlds. Also, on the second day when the sun started to come out we went to California Adventure. It was crowded but not as crowded as Disney was....DIsney was absolutely insane! When we went back that night to get something and to watch the fireworks we were walking around like sardines! We were so happy that was our last day, because at that point we were so pooped out and ready to go! We also were told that the next day and the few days after we left Disneyland had to shut their gates because there were so many people there. Thank goodness we were able to get in!!!!! We left California on Christmas Eve early in the morning because we had to be at my brothers house for Christmas Eve dinner. We got back at like 2 in the afternoon, took showers and were at my brothers house by 4. They made such an amazing feast!!! We had fun just talking and laughing as usual and exchanging gifts. My mom also surprised Matt and I by bringing Sadie (our baby girl) to my brothers because we missed her the week we were gone. After we did Christmas Eve at my brothers, we went back to my parents..did a couple of gifts there (we got a GPS this year :) ) and then went home to pass out cause we were exhausted! Then the next day, Christmas Day, we got up early again and drove up to Flagstaff to spend Christmas with his family. That was soooo much fun! His mom and stepdad made the best food (of course) and we just hung out and exchanged gifts and played Monopoly...oh yeah...Matt was a sore loser this time :) I love going up to Flagstaff and spending time with his family! There was also snow on the ground which made Christmas more Christmas-y. After our wonderful weekend up in Flag and our fun filled week in Disneyland, it was time to pack up and head home for reality. That next week at work was easy though because it was only a 3 day work week. New Years flew by and we had a good time hanging out at Dani's house with her family and friends and playing games.
Now here we are in January. Its crazy to think that it is already 2011 and come this May I will have been out of high school for 7 years...that 10 year reunion is coming up quick! We have so many things to look forward to this year, we have baby Kendyl's birthday in February, Allisons wedding in March, and Erin and Jake's wedding in June! We are also already talking about our annual San Diego trip in July. I cant wait for that to get here!
As far as my health goes, I am feeling sooooooooo much better! I have started to do Zumba three days a week. I started last week and I cant even begin to explain the change I already feel...I have a better attitude, my stress is practically gone, and I just feel amazing! I am going to keep this up and my goal is to lose 15lbs by March for Allisons wedding.
My thyroid stuff is doing ok as well. My calcium levels are totally stabilized, but my surgeon still wants me to stay on the calcium until March because my parathyroid is still low. He thinks its because I am taking too much calcium and its suppressing the parathyroid, but he wants to be sure. Plus taking all of this calcium is really good for me right now so why not. I went back to my endocrineologist also for the first time since September and since he switched my medication. He told me some stuff, that I think I always knew but never wanted to say out loud. He told me that my cancer can come back and that I have to get an ultra sound and a body scan every year for the first 5 years. It makes sense, but it scared me a little bit. He also said that my Thyroid Globuliun level has to be a negative and so does my scan. Right now that level is at a 5. It was a 7 back in Septemeber, and it could be lower now. They are taking my blood this week and will call wth the results. I am praying every single day that it goes down into the negatives and that this stuff is really all gone! I am trying to just push all of this stuff into the back of my mind and not worry about it too much. God knows what he is doing and he has something planned for me. I trust Him in that. Oh and I was also told that with my Thyroid Globuliun level that it ususally takes about a year to go down to the negatives..so the fact that it is already at a 5 is good news :)
Ok well as usual this is a really long blog. I feel like once I get typing and going that I cant stop! I love writing, and it really helps me cope with some things. So thanks to all of you who actually do read this :) I love all of you guys! Have a great January!
Love- Em
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