Heather @ Night

A few notes of thanks

2008-07-16T10:07:00.003-04:00

Dear Governor Easley and NC legislature,
Thanks for committing yourself to the future of our state and cutting $3 million dollars for gifted education. I don't have the numbers on how my salary WON'T be increasing, but I want to say thanks for that too.

Dear Husband,
Thanks for folding your towel and hanging it so it doesn't touch mine and make it all wet.

Dear bees nest,
Thank you for not stinging my children when they are out playing near you.

Dear children,
Thanks for all the giggles and hugs and silliness.

Dear God,
Thank you for my small group, playgroup, and family that continue to love me in spite of all my faults. I have learned so much from them. You are truly awesome. I know I have a lot more to learn, but thanks for your patience while I attempt to use your words to guide my life.

Same stuff, different summer

2008-07-16T09:57:00.003-04:00

I have this problem.

EVERY SUMMER.

It's like somehow my body knows it is July or something. I'm not sure if it is the change of temperature, less structure in my day, or the fact that I don't have to be up at 5:30a.m.,(probably that one!) but I can't sleep. It is quite frustrating. I mean, I don't even have any lessons to plan (which is one of my favorite things to do when I can't sleep! I get some of my best ideas!) and I really don't have much to worry about so I just lie there.....

in the dark.....

waiting....

to fall asleep....

It's quite frustrating because it causes another bad cycle - the need for a daytime nap. I REALLY don't want to become dependent on that because it's a hard one to break or carry on during on the school year. HA HA. I have just trained my brain to quietly shut off at 2 o'clock during the school year to simulate a nap.
Anyway, I'm stepping up the frequency and intensity of my exercise routines this week to see if it helps. I think I'll also use some of my massage gift certificate and see if I can't get some of the aches and pains in my bones and muscles worked out.
On the up-side - I do love seeing The Daily Show and the Colbert report in real time!

This is why I teach

2008-07-01T08:27:00.003-04:00

For those of you who haven't known me long, I am a middle school teacher. I have been for 15 years now. I can't say I love every minute of it, I mean it is a job and it is a LOT of work most of the time. This year I made a shift in my position. Out of the regular classroom and in to what is called a "facilitator's" role. I am supposed to help teacher's kick their lesson plans up a notch for the gifted children in the school who haven't been growing on the end of grade tests. It turned out to be a difficult adjustment and WAY more political than I knew education could be, but I made it through. At one of my darkest points this year I received the letter I will type below. God is amazing to know what I need and provide it at the right time. You see, I was thinking of leaving the profession. All teachers (at least here in NC) do. That is because they squeeze the ever-living life out of us to get the most of the tax dollars they pay us with. I knew when I entered the profession I would never be in the top socioeconomically - I didn't know that my kids would qualify for reduced lunch because of it!? What I'm trying to say is that teaching is quite a thankless profession and we often don't get to see or hear from the kids we taught about how they turned out, which is why we cherish things like I'm going to share below. Ultimately, I think we want to know that we made a difference in someone's life. And so please read, get a tissue if you are tender-hearted, and if you have children in school - write their teacher a nice note.

Mrs. B,
Hi, this is Chris W. You may remember me as a former student. It's hard to believe that here I am about to graduate, and I had your class in the eighth grade. I just wanted to say thank you for being a great teacher. I don't know if you realize the impact you made on my life. You did more than teach me Language Arts. You showed me a lot about life. I still remember sitting with you and talking about the Third Day and Mercy Me concerts. It was so cool to have a teacher that shared the same interests as me. I believe it was your unique style of teaching that made me enjoy your class the most. It was you who inspired me to become a teacher. I want to teach seventh grade Language Arts. Well, thank you so much for everything.
Chris W.

And on that note I will return to the classroom, hoping to impact other students the way I did Chris.

A shadow of myself

2008-06-26T15:29:00.003-04:00

Sometimes I must confess I feel lost in this life I'm living. I haven't figured out why. I speculate a few theories.(which I might go in to another day) They have to do with the mistrust and lack of guidance from my parents. I'm a motherless mother - attempting to do things differently from the way I was raised. It is definitely a challenge to guard all the words that come out of my mouth before they exit it. The legacy I want to carry on is not one of hurt but that of love. Quite a big accomplishment when I look at back at my childhood. What I'm leading up to is this feeling of being lost makes me feel like I'm a shadow of what I used to be, at least with the good qualities and hobbies I used to pursue. Perhaps those talents are just on hold while my children are little? But they too feel as if they are withering from the lack of sunshine and nourishment. I could make a list of the many things I used to do before I had kids that I enjoyed and no longer do. It seems like the person I was even 5 years ago is here, but only in the background. Somehow, becoming a mom consumed "me" and that's what makes me a shadow of myself.
In other news.... I made it through my first gym workout with my husband. What he doesn't know is how much I hate the gym, sweating, and exercise in general. I have a free 30 day membership. Only 29 more days.......He is just trying to help me achieve my goal mentioned in a previous post. Did I mention that I hate the gym?

My 39th summer

2008-06-25T14:02:00.003-04:00

WOW - that is a hard title to type! As I was walking with my good friend Allison today she said "So, how is your 39th summer going?" I gasped. Oh MY GOD! I am 39. I forget that A LOT. Not just because I have a 1.5 and a 3.5 year old and basically went without sleeping a solid night for about 2 years of my life. Sleep deprivation will do things to your mind - that's why they use it in war.
I know there are many things I have forgotten - mostly people/students names, some memories (which might be good especially if they are family related!). But, how on earth do I forget my age? I guess it is because the majority of people I converse, work, or spend time with are younger than me, and so it is easy for me to assume their age until there is an 80's reference. This happens with my husband A LOT. He is 6 years younger than me and so if a particular song comes on I'll say "Man, I remember roller skating to this" and he'll be like "I remember riding my tricycle to this!?"
I feel I should set some goals at this point. I have decided to share them with you. For example, I want to lose the last bit of Grant/nursing weight. That would be a good 15 pounds. My dream is to wear a size 8 again, but I'll be happy with a 10 which is 2 sizes smaller than I am now! This weight loss feels eminent. Like, if I don't do it NOW, then I won't ever lose it. To coin a phrase - it's now or never. To achieve this goal I have already started eating better and less ( I am guilty of stress and boredom eating) and exercising more. It is all about the math - less calories in = less calories to work off. Plus I feel better about myself when I am smaller because for 33 years I was petite. I can actually remember at one point in my life being put on a diet to gain weight!
Mostly, I don't feel 39. There are mornings like today where the whole left side of my body is aching. Maybe it has to do with the excess weight. But mostly I feel less than 39. Perhaps it is because I have small children, or I teach kids, but it just shocks me to hear that I am 39. I'm not sure where I was going with this, maybe it's because I am 39~!

Hey!

2008-06-24T16:01:00.002-04:00

Hey - how are you?! It's been over 4 months since I've typed. Things got worse for a while at work and then they got better. And now it is summer break. I went to a great workshop today. It's nice to be treated like the professional I feel I am. What have you been up to? I've got a bunch of things rolling around in my head to type about. Hope you will enjoy reading them, give feedback, or maybe think. I'll be back - hope you will too. :-)

SNOW DAY - take 2

2008-02-14T08:53:00.004-05:00

Indeed it is true. It wasn't even forecasted, but we got a good two inches last night! It fell in about an hour and a half. The roads are crazy icy, so we have what is called an "Optional Teacher Workday". Which means if you are old and have accumulated days (I earn 1.85 a month now) you can stay home or go in and keep your days to trade in when you want to retire. If you aren't old then you go. I would go, but I don't have any childcare and the one time I did try to take them to work and do something it was more stressful than not getting the work done. SO. We got another Saturday this week.(That's how I'm looking at it!) We had a nice breakfast. Played. Grant will go down for a nap in a while and then I will set to baking my birthday/Valentine's day cake.
I'm going to use the Red Velvet recipe I used to make the kids' birthday cupcakes. It is Paula Deen's and SO delicious. For some reason snow makes me feel like baking. And drinking hot chocolate. I might have to go make a cup shortly. Surprisingly, Grayson was only a little interested in playing in the snow. When she found out she could NOT wear her princess dress or just her birthday suit outside to play in the snow, she kind of changed her mind about going out and playing in it. It was very dry this morning before the sun came up. We couldn't even make snowballs to throw at one another! Greg just called to say it has melted enough to be good for making a snow man. I just don't know if we'll go outside. Grant doesn't have any boots, so as soon as he stepped in the snow his little shoes would get filled, and who wants to walk around with wet shoes and socks. Guaranteed to make your toes cold quickly. It would be fun to run out and make a snow angel however.
Oh, that's right. I've been meaning to tell you. There might be limited day time posting ( and reading) as I have not yet decided if I want to submit my blog address for review. You see they adjusted our filter at school and now I am not able to enter this site. I can submit it to be reviewed, but I'm not sure I want someone looking over my shoulder. So if my posts start to get sparse, you know it is because there is almost NO uninterrupted time in the evenings when I don't feel totally exhausted and can form a coherent sentence.
In other news.....my birthday was Tuesday. I am officially one year away from entering a new decade of life. I must say this somewhat bothers me. I mean I know the average life span of a woman is 80.1 years. Which means my life is almost half over. That is weird to type. You try it. Oh, that's right most all my readers are YOUNGER than me. You'll be here one day, don't worry. Grant just brought me some blocks. Time to go play.
Happy Valentine's Day. I'll post some pics later, and maybe my favorite LOVE poem.

And then Wednesday came!

2008-02-06T14:32:00.000-05:00

My job this year is quite different from what I have done the last 14 years. For the last 14 years I've been a regular classroom teacher - creating and executing life changing or at least memorable lessons, building relationships with students and staff, and excelling at both. So it is hard for me to set up criteria by which to gauge this year as far as being successful. I might have mentioned earlier that I have been placed in a highly unethical situation for the rest of the year. I have to do something simply because of who a child's step-dad is. I also have to spend a large amount of time (at least an hour and a half) daily preparing and executing this service (which started as a professional courtesy, but has gotten WAY out of hand) The amount of focus this service requires takes away from what my job is "supposed" to be. Needless to say, it bums me out. This is coupled with the fact that my job is only funded for this year. We were doing some investigating of the upcoming 5th grade population and it is about 40% of what it is this year - thereby giving more fuel to the "don't rehire" possibility. So on Saturday I found out a good friend got an administrative position and would be leaving her position similar to mine. It is called a curriculum facilitator. They are always funded. So I started thinking that maybe I could transfer to her position. And as I was thinking it came to me that the Board of Education has to approve transfers. THE BOARD. And then I realized it will never happen. That is because the unethical situation I mentioned earlier is a result of the President of the School Board. Yeah, he's the one who approves transfers, so if I transferred then the service would stop since it is his step child whom I serve. So, do you think I would be allowed to transfer. Probably not. I will have to find a job in another county. Which might not be such a bad thing because all the surrounding communities have higher pay than the one where I currently work. The poopy thing is that is will increase my travel time which will decrease my time with the kids.
So I was carrying all that poop with me today - thinking thoughts like - I don't care about the rest of the year. I'll do the least amount of work that is possible and comply and get out. And then......

Wednesday came.

Today is the day that I get to teach the smartest kids in the school. For a while I forgot that they were the reason I came here. Luckily today they reminded me with their wit and depth. Today we had meaningful conversation about why segragation should end, how the KKK really doesn't promote Christian values as its website suggests and why Jim Crow Laws were ridiculous.
Today we got to talk about the importance of being a good citizen to maintain our environment to reduce the disappearance of particular species due to their food chain being eliminated.
Today we got to create a video to help the incoming 5th graders.
Today we discovered that salt and baking soda really CAN embalm a chicken.
Thank GOD for Wednesday! I think I can make it until Friday now.

Good things come to those who wait!

2008-02-01T13:37:00.001-05:00

So, I FINALLY have a decent vacuum. Last Saturday I took the kids to Tar`get to kill some time while their dad was working a 14 hour day and I spotted it - $60 off. "It" was a Dyson vacuum. I had asked for one for Christmas and had not received it. (Shockingly, because the expense alone would have knocked out a year's worth of gifts!) Anywho, instead of impulse buying it, I did the right thing which was ask my conscience - I mean ask my husband because it was a $300 purchase and I remember how I felt when he purchased a new TV and surround sound system 4 years ago without consulting me. I still have about $100 left from my Christmas money and with my birthday coming in a little over a week(that will be a post for another day!) I'm sure to get some more so I would only have to use a little from our account. We talked on Sunday and I told him there were only 3 so I would go and see if there were any on Monday. Well our toaster oven stopped working Monday, so when I went to the store, they were out. I figured that it was a sign it wasn't my time. Yesterday luckily I mean unfortunately Grant ran out of diapers at daycare and thinking that Greg would be gone/working all weekend I would just run by and pick some up. I was in the store and decided to take a chance and see if there happened to be any that arrived - sure enough, there they sat, just waiting for me to put one in my cart. I could have done cartwheels I was so excited!!! I could have saved another $36 by applying for a Target red card making my little vacuum $100 off!!! But I didn't because I'm already over $20,000 in credit card debt and adding one more temptation would only deepen the hole.
Let me tell you - it runs like a dream. Even Greg wanted to use it!?! Grant took a turn pushing it. It's actually very quiet. We kept walking around saying (with your best British accent too)
"It doesn't loose suction!".
The most exciting part for me was the hose. You see about 14 years ago I sucked a "AA" battery up the hose of my vacuum when I was cleaning under and behind the couch. I got the vacuum fixed, but the hose never recovered.
I highly recommend it if you need a new vacuum. The soft whirr of the vacuum is inspiring - I might even do the car later. I think that will have to wait because Greg decided he wants to have our small group over for the Super Bowl on Sun. - so I get to use my new vacuum!

Behind the ball

2008-01-31T11:57:00.000-05:00

Behind the ball is a figure of speech that I find applies to my life more and more.(unfortunately!)
How is it that I used to stay on top of everything and now can barely stay on top of anything!
Is it because the amount of things I have to stay on top of has increased exponentially with adding 3 members to my family? I remember the days (fondly of course) when it was just my cat and I. Those were the days when I could lay something down, and then it would still be in the place I put it (unless it was shiny or made a crinkling sound and then they were Romeo's!)
EVERY day is such a struggle - just to get out the door to work and then once I get home to get dinner ready and spend some time with the kids and don't forget the hubby, he needs time too. It makes me wonder, do other people have to struggle this much? Should it be such a challenge for me to get something on the table for dinner, or maintain a semi-clean, clutter-free home? Will the whining, crying, and clinginess EVER end? Will there EVER be a time when I can say "Wow, that was easy?!" Nothing ever feels like it goes smoothly. It's all interrupted and chaotic despite my best efforts to create routines.
After further reflection I think everyone does have his or her own struggle. I continue to hope that the days of smooth and easy are ahead in my future. Those are the days where I might actually be able to stay awake past 9 p.m.! LOL.
Since I am always open to suggestions - I would love to hear from some of the moms who read about how they create calmness in their life or reduce the stress. Thanks in advance!

Two lefts don't make a right!

2008-01-22T13:25:00.000-05:00

So winter weather arrived again last week - and it has actually had the nerve to stay for more than a day! We had snow Saturday that has hung around and as they say in the South - Snow that waits is waiting for more snow!
Anyway, back to the REAL blog entry that coordinates with the title. It was cold and icy in the mornings which required us to scrape our car windows. I go out the first morning and start the cars and proceed to scrape. Something I hadn't done in a very long time. I reach in my right pocket which is the usual storage location for my gloves and there isn't anything in it. Strange I think to myself. Then a flashback hits me, I remember Grant was carrying my glove and I quickly grabbed it from him and stuck it somewhere so that I would have it for an exact situation as this. Alas it is morning and I am running late, so my brain could not process where that somewhere spot was that I stuck my glove. So I go to get the back up pair in the house in my room and realize that he had pillaged that set too - taking the right glove again. I had two left gloves, and no right. I simply stuck a left glove on my right hand and managed to remove the ice.
And so the title of this entry, no matter how hard I wanted my left gloves to work, they couldn't make a right one. I continued to search and found both right gloves. Luckily I also received a new pair of gloves for Christmas which I was able to utilize on the next really cold morning.
Later today I travel to the doctor for my yearly gyno. check up ( down there! ). Good times!
At least I have 3 complete sets of gloves. I even thought about purchasing a new pair yesterday - or opening a shop that sells single gloves!

What to do, what to do

2008-01-16T15:59:00.000-05:00

So, it's been another fun week at our house. We have a stomach bug and I have spent virtually NO time at school right before the close of the semester. I have paid for full daycare tuition, and now my husband and I are trading taking half days without pay to stay home with sick kids. BLAH. They have " the rea" (as a child I was a nanny to used to call it!) Grant has been loose since Sun. YIKES. Now I am just waiting to see if I get it. On to more exciting news.....

We might have a snow day tomorrow!!!!!! Living in the Piedmont of North Carolina creates interesting weather patterns. In fact, weather is one of my favorite things to teach! SOOOO, there is this cool thing called the Appalachian wedge. (excuse me, but here in NC the A word is pronounced Ah-puh-lah-chen). That is when a front of moisture moves up from the South and meets a cold front that has gotten stuck and trapped by the mountains. The result of this mixture is - SNOW. Thick and wet snow!!!! We have not had a measurable snow since Grayson was born - she is 3! The other thing that can happen is if the air isn't cold enough, then you get ice. I'm hoping it is snow and not ice tomorrow morning!!!

My favorite Snow day memory occurred when I was in college. I went to Western Michigan University in scenic Kalamazoo Michigan (yes, there really is a place called that!) It was close to the end of my academic career. In fact, I was student teaching. The other thing that you might not know is that since it can snow almost daily in Michigan, there aren't many snow days. That might be why this one sticks out. It involved a hill, two kids I babysat and my best friend - whom I was living with and presently miss very much - and her name is the same as mine. We had SO much fun sledding. I can only remember one other time having that much fun sledding and that was at my Grandparents house WAY up almost to the upper peninsula in Michigan and I lived there for 10 years. There were many snow forts, caves, and snow football games as well as outdoor skating!!! but back to the memory at hand....
I think we spent at least half the day outside sledding in different areas around the neighborhood. One was a hill at a Junior High near us. Another was near some tennis courts. You see, we lived half way up a hill, so any direction we went was down! I remember not minding the cold and knowing that this was a day I would always remember.
I wish I could remember more details, but I am old, and stressed, and sleep deprived! So, think of a really good time in the snow and then add my face. Perhaps my best friend will comment since I know she frequents the blog and share her memory.
I used to have such a good mind.....

The SDD

2008-01-12T08:47:00.000-05:00

For a while now I have been contemplating an invention. I feel there would be enough support from families that it could help simplify hours of searching or days of waiting.

The device's name - the S D D for short or the Sippy Detection Device for long.

Yes the sippy cup detection device will help coral all those lost and wayward sippy cups filled with milk that can't find their way back to your toddler or the refrigerator.

We seem to have this problem where the sippy cup gets filled and carried to some part of the house - which is way better I guess than an open cup spilled?! Maybe?! Instead our sippy cups head out of the kitchen and sometimes living room for what is supposed to be a 3 hour tour and wind up stranded on some island. For example, this week. I KNOW I washed like 8 sippy cups on Monday so they were all in the kitchen. I filled 2 with milk. Only 1 could be found at dinner time. Each day I looked in closets, under the couch, in the toy box, etc. scouring the house for the lost (and hopefully not full of milk!) sippy. Sometimes this can happen two or three times in a day if dear old dad is around. So what do you think? What I see is something similar to "the Clapper". In fact it reminds me of a device that my friend Eric had on his keys. He kept misplacing his keys, so someone got him this thing which he attached to his key chain. Then, whenever he forgot where they were he just clapped loudly and if the keys were within reach of the clapping sound they emitted this horrible signal letting him know where he left them. He could then easily follow the ear-shattering signal to the location of his keys.
That is what I picture for the Sippy cup Detection Device. I'm serious about the amount of time I spend searching for these things. No amount of encouraging will get the sippy's back home. Sigh.
What do you think? Is it marketable?

Need a snowday?

2008-01-11T08:02:00.000-05:00

Hello friends.
It has been 11 days since my last blog post. I have blogged a little in my brain - sorry there isn't a piece of technology for you to use and get to see that!
Anyway, I was searching online the other day for something to do with my math group of kids on symmetry and I found this.
I find it very soothing. I might even link it to my blog I like it so much. Maybe you will share your designs with me?!
I'll try to blog more this weekend, but the dealership is moving in to its new home, so that means a lot of home time with mommy and not much daddy at home time which means not much time for mommy on the computer. I'll have to think of a mathematical way to express that! Or perhaps you can.

What are you doing New Year's?

2007-12-31T15:35:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite tunes is the title for my post. If you haven't heard it, you should check out Harry Connick Jr. or Ella Fitzgerald's versions. I love it because it is somber, yet hopeful. It's dreamy and sexy. I've always dreamed of a guy playing it for me and asking me out for New Year's. That hasn't happened yet.......in fact as I reflect my New Year's Eves have drastically changed in the last 16 years.
There was the New Year's Eve in college where I sprained my ankle on the way IN to the party and had to be on crutches (in the snow and ice no less!) for evah.
There was another New Year's Eve in college when I came home with a friend and so didn't have "our car" (that would be the car that my brother and I shared) and had to borrow my parents' vehicle. As I was preparing to depart my mom said "Be home at 11:30". I was exasperated! Here I had been making my own decisions and living on my own for at least 3 years and she was telling me to be home before the all important kissing moment! I stomped in to the living room and asked my dad if he needed the car at 11:30 and that was why I needed to be home. He said no and so I asked my mom if she planned on going out at 11:30 and needed the car. Of course she wasn't and I now understand since I am a mom that she just didn't want me out on the roads at a dangerous time of night.
There were numerous drunken New Year's Eves because I LOVE champagne!!! There has always been good food and plenty of it. I spent one New Year's in Chicago with my best friend and her now ex-husband.
New Year's now that I have 2 kids who have only recently started sleeping through the night is quite different than those memories. We've had fondue on a few occasions with my husband's brother and sister in law. We've also gone out to restaurants a few times with friends from church. Those were good times.
It used to be so easy to stay up until midnight. Now I'm thinking of having 'midnight' happen at 8 right before our kids go to bed so they can participate on the horns and kissing. They won't get to see the ball or the Acorn drop (that's what they drop in Raleigh NC) but I think it would be fun. Dh got some horns and fun hats to wear.
So as with most posts my point comes at the end. And it is that my life continues to evolve.
So, what are you doing New Year's?

A sigh of relief

2007-12-26T12:44:00.000-05:00

Ahhhhh. We made it. The hustle and bustle of the holidays has officially dropped by at least 50%. I am ready to pack the stuff up and get it back in the attic. I've never felt like that before. Maybe it is because we started early this year. I usually like to take the tree down New Year's day, but I think I will start removing ornaments today. We STILL have presents to open thanks to dh's big family. Every year we are amazed at how much they give us and every year we are overwhelmed. And now that all of the anticipation is over, on comes the let down. I've been feeling for a lack of a better word down. I know it has to do with the time of year. I like it warm and sunny, now is *supposed to be* the rainy, gray time of year. So I don't get to enjoy the sun as much and it effects this former California girl. I think it also has to do with this time of year being so connected to family and events with family. It's like a slap in the face or maybe a subtle jab that no one will be calling from my side of the family on the holiday to wish us anything. I should be used to it by now, but for some reason I have this naive side to me that hopes every year will be different. And then it is not. I did get one call from may Aunt. Thank god for her and her kind words reassuring me that everything that has happened in my family is not my fault as they want me to believe. That I am a good, loving, successful mother and teacher who makes her proud even if I don't make my parents proud. I really value her opinion. She and I have similar personalities and have always been close in heart even though we are not in miles. She said she wished she could be the mother to me that my heart needs and that is exactly what I needed to hear. She helped me see that I have to let the relationship with my parents go and that it is not going against anything in the Bible to do that because I have tried to make amends with them. However, I think I haven't forgiven them and that is something I will have to work on this year. So for now I am a motherless daughter attempting to raise her own child in a manner to which I am not accustomed. Which is scary territory. I need a mentor in this area, so if you pray, would you pray that God would bring someone in to my life to fill that position? Also pray for financial wisdom because we are seriously struggling and getting a second job just ain't going to make up the short fall.
So, this isn't exactly what I started out writing when I sat down, but it was on my heart and I needed to get it out. Feel free to share thoughts and advice. You could be my virtual sounding board. I like the sound of that.

Rashes, dry skin, and hives - Oh My!

2007-12-22T20:54:00.000-05:00

Another hurrendous week teedled by and thankfully I am on what is known as a "break". We might have to debate whether I am actually doing what dictionary.com says a break is on another post; "An allowance or indulgence; accommodating treatment". Hmmmm. Anywho on to what this blog was REALLY supposed to be about.
I noticed on Thursday that Grayson had a reddish colored patch of skin on her left hand. Still haven't figured out where it came from. Then today, the little buddy incurs some hives. Once again, don't know where those came from. And finally since it has turned to winter here (just for a few days - it will be back to 65 tomorrow!) we all seem to have the itchies. So dh went and bought a nice new big old humidifier. It is super quiet which I like. Now maybe I won't wake up feeling like I slept in the desert and inhaled most of it through my mouth. That's a nice picture isn't it?!
I have decided to monitor both kids' situations. I've applied Aveeno lotion to Grayson's hand and it seems a little better. The little buddy just got a round of ibuprofen because the rash from the antibiotic on his little hiney seems to be getting bad again and I think he might be teething. His gums look they might have some square raised puffy spots.
It's Saturday night. The kids are asleep and dh went to the bar to watch the Panthers lose. It is weird to be here all alone. Not sure what I will do. Maybe watch a movie? Take a bath?
Probably just go fall asleep in bed reading. Yeah, I think I hear the flannel sheets calling me now.

Rules of Christmas from a Toddler

2007-12-14T14:52:00.000-05:00

This is the first year that my oldest child is able to comprehend the holiday season. We have lights outside that she helped put up and she turns them on each night when we get home. We have a song from "Santa" that she loves to play over and over and each night we do read about how Jesus was born and that we are celebrating his birthday soon.
One of my favorite things to do this season has been to drive around the neighborhoods each night for about 15 - 20 minutes and view lights. Last Friday night we spent a good 45 minutes patrolling. It was great. We had Christmas music on in the car and stopped for an Eggnog milkshake to top off the event. Even my husband said it was fun!
However, through all of this I am noticing some funny things that I am calling the Rules of Christmas - from her point of view. I will add to this list as I think of more.
1) ALL lighted reindeer are Rudolph.
2) Eggnog is an acceptable substitute for milk at dinner.
3) There is only one verse of Rudolph that matters and you must sing it over and over and over. "Then one foggy Christmas eve, Santa came to say...."
4) Santa hats make interesting slippers.
5) All presents will be for Grayson!

I'd love to hear what other toddlers are thinking this year.

Soooooooo

2007-12-13T14:52:00.000-05:00

Long time no type. Thank you to those who stop by regularly expecting something new. I can sum up the last 6 weeks since I've written in one word.

Sick.

That's right. It's been one bug or another. I was trying to think of how I could put it in a festive holiday-type song. Here is a tidbit:
5 office copays
4 ear infections
3 different viruses
2 antibiotics
1 worn-out mother. (that would be me)

I won't go in to all the gory details but I have 1 official sick day left. That's it. Then we go in the hole (MORE!) each time I stay out. And they have had fevers - high ones. Not the kind that leave after 24 hours.

I also had a blogging identity crisis. I thought perhaps I shouldn't be writing about what I was writing about and then if I wasn't what would I write about?! Like, do you really want to hear about how I grapple with how to handle the holidays without speaking with my parents? How I can't figure out how to honor their request and honor God's command at the same time? Or how my MIL drives me crazy although she is well intentioned? Or how I get so angry at my inept husband that I long for the single days except I wouldn't have my sweet pea children? Or how proud I am that my daughter hit a boy who spit on her but I had to give her consequences since hitting isn't the best response? Or how I just can't seem to shine at anything since I feel so overloaded and don't have anyone to help?

And then. It's the holidays. There are so many years of negative stuff that have happened around this time of year for me that I tend to just withdraw. And for that I say I'm sorry.

Got any ideas for me on the identity thing? Or advice on the relationship thing?
So - enough about me. What's been going on with you?

When's it due?

2007-11-06T13:55:00.000-05:00

Apparently my loose fitting clothing is giving people who haven't known me before this year the WRONG impression - one that I am with child.
Now, I thought the first time I would let it pass. I was wearing a dress and my tummy did feel a little more jiggly than usual, so I guess one could assume I am of childbearing age and possibly carrying one.
Then, again, I was asked. This time I could not ignore that I must still look pregnant even though I delivered almost one year ago. I was dumbfounded both times and could not figure out what to say. Here are a few thoughts:

Mind your own business
I just miscarried
Dec. 1........2006 (which was really his due date)

What are your ideas on how to respond?
I guess I'm taking it as reminders to stop eating so much junk and exercise more. Although it does hurt my feelings.
I told my husband because when we married I was a size 6. I have kept just a few items when I was cleaning out the closet before we moved to remind me how small I used to be. I am now not a size 6. I am a 12 on a good day. Does that mean that I am twice as large?
I haven't actually measured myself nor do we have a scale for me to go by. I do know that the clothes I bought to wear when I went back to work after having Grant seem to be a little tight. Which means that I have GAINED weight since January.
Perhaps this is hard for me because I have been small all my life and have always been able to eat whatever I want. I did not gain much weight with either of my pregnancies - 23 pounds with Grayson and 18 with Grant.
I have always known that if I did gain too much weight I would have a hard time losing it.
And that seems to be holding true. Which is why I get asked - when's it due?

Quiet = bad

2007-11-04T20:34:00.001-05:00

Since I will be spending larger amounts of time in math(courtesy o' my principal) my brain is thinking in different ways. What was once a twisted trail (ah, yes, alliteration) of words is now *sometimes* straight-forward and logical. Go figure! (no pun intended)

The new equation is: Quiet = bad.

This applies to children. I especially think it applies to those children under the age of 5. This weekend my husband and I both had many tasks which we needed to complete. I will tell you on a regular weekend when this happens it usually works out that we talk about what needs to get done and then I watch the kids after he returns from work so that he can do what is on his list. Never is the childwatching returned so that I may work on my list accomplished. I have to fight my way through one-handed to finish anything. Most things get started, and are then interrupted by little people who can't go to the bathroom by themselves or feed themselves. I digress.....back to Quiet = bad.

I guess the severe lack of uninterrupted sleep has caused my mother's intuition to be defunct because normally I can ward off some evil. Not this weekend.
will be by with her white glove. Grayson has gotten particularly good at going to the bathroom when she needs to. She doesn't tell us, just heads to the bathroom. This makes me oh-so happy to not have to change or spend money on diapers. She still has a few things to work on, such as wiping and washing hands afterword, but the pee-pee is in the potty 99% of the time. It is because of this that I did not suspect anything. I had a million things on my list I needed to do because next weekend is the family birthday party for my little people and super-perfect SMIL will be around with the white glove. ANYWHO, Grayson entered the bathroom and I got busy in various parts of the house and then realized

it's quiet.

Oh NO - TOO LATE. The first time it happened she had gotten in to her new Princess toothpaste -("Mommy it comes out like a heart") and had sucked a good portion straight out of the tube in addition to smearing a heavy dose on the bathroom counter because "It needed to brush its teeth too". When dh saw it and was amused, I told him he could clean it up if he thought it was so funny.
The next incident occurred during the hurried dinner making fiasco time.
ONCE AGAIN under the guise of going to the bathroom she disappears. In the meantime I am checking peas, listening for timers to go off, and then

it's quiet.

OH CRAP not again! She had emptied these shaped soap flakes; a few in the tub, the rest on the floor and her brother was scurrying to taste them.

So remember, in the future, if you are a new parent, a parent to be, or not yet a parent.

Quiet = bad. It could save you unnecessary cleaning up.

In case you haven't tried it....

2007-11-04T07:29:00.001-05:00

Sierra Mist has cranberry splash back - you know, just in time for the holidays. I remember seeing it advertised and not being able to find it last year. Well, just like with the orange-filled oreos for Halloween, one must strike early. Dh found this in the store and brought some home.(NOT DIET! this was the only picture I could find) It was delightful and as Grayson would say de-wicious. Pick some up if you can. The cranberry is not overpowering. Just a splash as its title would suggest.

Some things they just don't understand

2007-11-04T07:19:00.000-05:00

For example - daylight savings time. Or is that what we just ended? I never can keep it straight. I just know to fall back in the Fall and spring forward in the Spring.
Anywho. Although we kept the little people up an hour or so later last night, their internal clocks have not yet adjusted leaving us(oops I mean me, dh is still sleeping) up at their "normal" time which was one hour earlier today. Hopefully, I'll get a nap later. (Yeah right with football on?!)

My principal + a problem = solution (me)

2007-11-02T22:31:00.000-04:00

My once seemingly well-balanced plate at work has simply runneth over this past week. I don't think I've explained my job as it is a new position and we are somewhat ironing out the kinks while I work. I am a certified ( and certifiable!!) Middle School teacher. I have 4 areas of certification which one might say is overzealous.(yes, English is one of the areas) Someone else might say it is smart because that means I will never be out of a job. ( come on, I live in NC, we're CONSTANTLY short teachers - why do you think I moved here?!?!) But a third person could say is stupid to have that many areas because that means you will be switched every year.....which I mostly am, but I digress.
This year I get a fancy title - AIG facilitator. And since education is noted for its acronyms I will tell you that AIG = Academically/Intellectually Gifted.
That's right. As I comprehend from my interview last April I am to assist with the program AND (here comes my favorite part!) I get to teach WHATEVER I WANT!!!! That's right. Every Wednesday the top 5% of the school comes to my room to be "enriched". These kids are amazing. It makes my week. I don't feel worthy to teach them.
SO back to the story at hand (which is getting quite lengthy I might add). Besides teaching the STARS ( Students That Are Really Smart ) on Wednesdays I am supposed to be able to assist teachers by planning and/or executing lessons for the classes that they have AIG kids in. I was making my own schedule for the most part and coordinating with the 3 grade levels of teachers.
It appears my "services" are needed now in whatever classroom they receive the most parent complaints from. Doesn't matter if there are AIG kids in the room or not. Not that I have to exclusively ONLY teach gifted kids. I have taught all levels of students up until this year, so it is no skin off my nose. The problem was that by being in these other classes I was not able to "my work" which includes maintaining accurate files (close to 225) and I had a big report due yesterday.
I am being ping-ponged between two main classes - 6th grade math and 8th grade English. The 8th graders' teacher is on maternity leave and they need to be ready for Honors Freshman English next year. Having a substitute who just writes the assignments on the board will not do it. The 6th grade teacher is entering teaching from another position. This is his first ever teaching gig. Teaching my friends is not for the faint-hearted. This gentleman is mathematically sound, but has not refined his discipline or teaching techniques because this is his first teaching gig. Which is where I enter the picture. I thought I had raised him up enough in the six weeks I was going in there so I exited to handle the English because the two class times clash. However in the 2 weeks I was out of math the parents raised enough of a stink that I am now back in math

for the whole year.

My principal and I had a chat after I visited the director of Gifted Services for our county and attempted to set up a schedule.
My principal explained that this (probably meaning the parents who were complaining) is problem. While there were other solutions such as changing students' schedules he was not willing to do that. Which means that I am his solution ( which is what I said to him). SO the new math is
principal + problem = solution (me)

The other facilitators at my school are aware of the problem and so we joke that if they have any problems, I might be able to solve them since I am the solution.
Just let me know if you have any problems, I might be the solution to them too.

Only a man

2007-11-02T22:01:00.000-04:00

The leaves are finally changing colors here in the Southeast. This requires men to pull out the heavy artillery - jet pack leaf blowers. I was somewhat startled by the sudden whirr outside my classroom window today, so I leapt to the window to see the custodian
with his jet-pack leaf blower on
blowing
one
leaf
all
the
way
down
the
covered
walkway.
And thus the title of tonight's post.