2016 Summer Games - The Hero Within

Our last summer games in Arkansas - I loved the theme "The Hero Within".

 

 

Fortunately for us, Ethan's events were in aquatics so Phil and I sat by the pool (inside - with fans) while those track and field folks had to alternate between sun and humidity or storms and humidity.

Ethan had his own fan club.

He won two gold medals, though in all honesty he didn't have much competition in his age group.

 

 

Ethan and his swim coach, Mrs. Little.

He is never short of admirers.

Including his mom and dad.

We look like we are about to choke him.

We left immediately after - we hit the road for Tennessee.  It was very sad to leave everyone we have grown to love so much.  I'm sure God has other plans for us, but it is hard to change.

But for now, it's training for next year!!  Hoorah!!

Loading Day

Just shoot me now.

My packers/loaders have not been the most efficient crew I have ever worked with.  They promised me they would be out by Thursday evening.  However, it is nearly seven in the evening and we are not even close.  I had to apologize to the buyers, who are supposed to move in Friday morning.  Grrrrrrr.

They aren't even certain everything will fit on the truck.  We still have a utility trailer and a storage unit to load - after they are done with the house.  Cue explosion.

I overdid it a bit (not on purpose) - but I am a bit sore and stiff in the neck.  I will try to do better today (i.e. Phil will do all the work while Ethan and I chill in the hotel).  Speaking of which.....

It is Special Olympic weekend and the only room available was the hospitality suite, which is bigger than some homes I have lived in.  Ethan is chillin' with the remote.

 Stay tuned, because Ethan is swimming in the Special Olympic State Games today....wish him luck!
 

Riverdance

My youngest is going to cowboy camp in two weeks.

Yep.  Ethan and horses.

Calls for some cowboy boots (and a hat, he insists, but more on that later).

We finally found some "affordable" cowboy boots.  The saleswoman was a little too encouraging and urged him to wear them home.

In Arkansas he fits right in. :-) 

jk fellow Arkansans.....

The trouble began after we arrived home and he began to dance on the hard floor - his version of Riverdance meets Saturday Night Fever.

Cowboy boots are noisy.

Just sayin'..........

Sad Goodbyes

We aren't quite out yet, but the packers were busy while I attended my last day of school.

Oh my, today was hard.  I love my job, and better yet, I loved going to work each day.  How many people can say that?  I work with an amazing group of ladies.  They are kind, compassionate, talented, and passionate about their jobs.  They love what they do, and they are very, very good at it.  Everyone from the teachers, to the secretaries, to the counselor, to Rosie the janitor were good to me and so great to work with.  They are just good people - inside and out.

I won't lie.  I bawled when the students left Monday.  Knowing I would never see them again just broke my heart.

It was even worse yesterday when I knew I wouldn't see my friends at school ever again.

Life can be hard in so many different ways.

Lindsey was my favorite second grade teacher.  I could entrust her with any of "my" ELLs and she would do amazing things with them.  She can help a struggling learner through just about anything.  She is a talented teacher.  Our school is so lucky to have her.

These two ladies are my partners in crime.  Amanda (in purple) has shared a room with me for the last three years.  I also worked with her in third grade.  Julie (in green) has worked with me in first grade for the years.  I can also count on her to crack.me.up.   They are both excellent at what they do and I trust their advice and opinions in all things.  They will be soooooo missed.  It was a lonely drive home yesterday knowing I will not be working them anymore.

These girls helped me out this year and covered for me more than I can even count when I was hurting and sick.  I always knew I could count on them - and even now, if I called they would be there.  I was so blessed to have them in my life - both personally and professionally. 

Saying goodbye is super hard, especially after all these years, but they have influenced and enriched my life so how lucky am I?

Goodbye my dear, dear friends.

"The Strong Finish"

Last week at Special Olympic swimming practice they worked on the "strong finish."

Ethan cracks me up.

Because you can't have enough...

You know change is coming when Dad makes it home for the big pack up.

Selfies - the best way to show off your doubles chin(s).

Driving to church in another town today and we had to stop at a light with a gas station on the corner.  How many gas stations do you know that have a subway, baskin-robbins, a MEXICAN restaurant in it?

A sad (happy) fact of moving is that you get frozen burritos and cheese dip for lunch.  Hoorah!

For a family that won't go camping unless we are in a cozy trailer we sure do have a lot of water coolers and ice chests.  Unbelievable.  Sorry, mom, these will have to stored at your place.

All of this packing up gave me weird dreams.  Last night I dreamed there was an attack and we had to leave town asap.  Unfortunately, I didn't have my bugout bags ready and I had to run around collecting what I would need and Ethan was slowing me down.  By the time we got out in the car the sirens were blaring and military was out in the road.

I know.  I am weird.

 Of all the things I could be worrying about right now, I am worried because our 72 hours kits are not put together.

What can I say, I've been up since 2 a.m.

X-Ray

My surgeon report came back P.O.S.I.T.I.V.E.

Yeah!

I still can't lift, but I was allowed to throw my neck brace into the garbage :-)  And, unfortunately, I must avoid sports such as skydiving and rappelling (such restrictions!).  Other than that, I can gradually get back into physical activity and by the middle of July should be back to "normal" activity wise (with the exception of the heavy lifting).

Yeah!

Tomorrow I get to go back to work.

Yeah!

Just because I am fascinated by the plate and screws in my neck ...... for your enjoyment:  my neck, before and after.

It's technically after and before.  Don't those screws look huge!?!

One Week and Counting

Funny thing about time - it never stops.  You think something will never get here and before you know it, it does.

In just a short week my movers will be here!  I go in for my follow up with the doctor this week AND I will go back to work on Thursday.  For four days, but hey, four days of pay is better than not.

So, first things first, I'm Frankenstein:

COMING HOME!  My neck was stiff and sore and I was afraid to move it.

Everytime I go anywhere (I can't drive yet) I have to wear a neck brace.

It took the bandage almost three weeks to come off.  That doesn't look like something that is going to just fade into the background!

Mom has been cleaning out every inch of my house - my movers will have it so easy.  She is taking care of me, the house, the dogs, AND Ethan.  Wonder woman.

Ethan went to the prom and enjoyed every minute of it.  From what I understand, he never left the dance floor.

Ms. Ava, who has been with him for 6 years, was an escort.  Ethan had to take his own gluten-free meal.

Ethan, i.e. Officer McGrath, has been leaving stickers that Officer Davis gave him all around the house (on the walls and the furniture - he must have given him a whole roll).  Can't wait to run into Officer Davis.........

Only one week left!

Post Surgery

After deciding I would have a nervous breakdown from my constant pain if I didn't do something drastic - I was lucky enough to be squeezed in for surgery.

It would mean:
5 weeks off work
No driving for several weeks
My mom would have to be my nurse and live with us for 5-6 weeks.
I would not be able to lift anything, or do any housework or laundry for weeks.
I will not be able to really lift anything or exercise for anything for up to 6 months.

BUT....

If it worked, it would mean I would be pain free.

The doctor informed me on a Wednesday they could do it the following Tuesday (April 19).  Of course, Phil is gone, but mom came up during the weekend and planned to stay long-term.  My work friends assured me all would be well.  I was able to clean the last of my office "just in case" I didn't make it back, and everything just fell into place.

I woke up after the surgery with no more nerve pain.  After 6 months of constant pain I can't even describe how good it felt.

Now, less then two weeks after surgery and just three weeks away from moving, I feel like a new person.  I am finally sleeping again, my appetite is starting to come back, I can move without numbing, constant pain.  It feels WONDERFUL!  I miss school - I miss my colleagues, I miss my kids, I miss being busy.  But after being out for 90 minutes at church today, I came home exhausted.  Apparently I am not ready to get back on my regular, normal schedule - it would seem the doctors know what they are talking about!

And except for the texts I sent to several people after the surgery that are unintelligible, I came out unscathed.  I should have a minimal scar on my neck that will fade into "nothingness."

Google it and see how it works: 

Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF)