The Meadow

Hello?

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:23:58 GMT

Does anyone even read this anymore?

Can't wait until next Monday

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:06:45 GMT

I feel like poop. I assume what I feel like is poop, anyway. I'm tired all the time and just want to do nothing. I could lay in bed all day and be perfectly happy. I don't think it's my antidepressant, I think it's the Lupus-caused anemia. Apparently, I take enough iron for a full grown man but I'm still anemic. And my skin is in terrible shape. I'm seeing a new rheumatologist at the same clinic I've gone to so maybe he'll have some new insights. A lady I work with here has RA and she sees this doctor and likes him. Here's to hoping I can get a new plan of action and shake this low energy. Perhaps if I can get rid of the 10 or 15 pounds of water weight I'm retaining that will help. I'll be getting my water pill prescription from the rheumatologist. Yay!

Busy, busy, busy

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:47:34 GMT

We're giving these computerized assessment tests at school. Imagine taking a standardized achievement test everyday, all day for 3 weeks straight. Sure, the kids are only taking 1 or two a week, but for those of us giving the test.......ugh.

Ho-hum

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:37:59 GMT

It's time again for me to be in an altogether "blah" mood. Day in and day out, I'm fine. Happy enough, energetic as I can be being chronically anemic. Things are going fine. I'm just not excited about anything, for lack of a better way of putting it. I'm sure you can all empathize. If it weren't for my job (which I still love) and my wonderful family, I would just sigh and sleep for a while.

Ewww, Sick

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:11:02 GMT

Ben has a double ear infection and was home yesterday. Stephanie came home yesterday with stomach troubles. Ben is still out today and I feel like he'll be out tomorrow as well. I was running a low-grade fever yesterday, myself. Sigh. I wish cold/flu/allergy/strep season would go away.

Friday

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:52:52 GMT

I've said it before, I'll say it again......short weeks are the longest weeks ever. Think about it. You know it's true.

Whew

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:50:51 GMT

Stephanie just has a cold. Of course. Or as I like to say.....her head is infected. She's got a heavy duty decongestant that apparently makes her hyper. If you've never seen Stephanie hyper, you should. It's amazing.

In other news, Ben's teacher has taken to telling me when Ben has "good days" and when he has "bad days". Sometimes he gets so frustrated he steams at the ears. Well, I decided to call on our resident behavioralist to observe him. She's in Ben's room anyway observing another kid. She got back to me and told me the only thing she noticed was that he has an intense need to be right ALL THE TIME. So much so that he tells everyone else what to do, including the teacher. Joe and I have warned against this behavior before but he seems smart enough to know we are not there. The behavioralist gave me some advice about how to talk to him in different ways to calm him down. She says he is also just so smart that he has problems relating to the other kids. The only way he knows how to be is bossy. She is going to start talking to him every now and then. She suggests that what he needs is someone outside the family to talk to. Just talk to. Since he talks like an adult, he needs another adult to relate to him. It makes sense, I suppose. I worry too much, I know, but if I can save my kids some of the ridicule I got from being the smart one, I'll do it.

Buckled

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:07:45 GMT

I'm giving in and taking Stephanie to the doctor today. She got up barely able to talk. I still say it's just drainage but perhaps it's worth paying the copay just so Stephanie can hear the doctor say she's not going to die of swine flu or anything. I'm hoping they can at least give her a sinus cocktail shot to dry her up. I'll keep you posted.

Colds

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:53:04 GMT

Colds, colds. Everyone has a cold. Well, not Joe (lucky dog). Stephanie's throat has been hurting her. I know it's just the drainage but I've said the same exact thing the last two times she had strep. Sigh. What is a mother to do?

Ouch

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 14:24:47 GMT

Why, oh, why did I do a cartwheel yesterday after hauling computers all morning? I'm too old for this stuff.

Detox

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:03:44 GMT

I'm trying to cut back on the Dr.Pepper. Not quit it completely. No, never completely. Currently I am on a 4 a day average. That's too much. I am going to go back to 3 a day, then 2 a day once I get over the caffeine headaches from losing 1 serving. I think 2 a day is a healthier amount and it will still give me the boost I need. Perhaps I may also lose a couple extra pounds.

Weekend Warp-Up

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:07:11 GMT

I meant to type "Weekend Wrap-Up" but left the typo. Warp-up seemed quite appropriate.

We survived the sleep-over. As it turned out, it was not a late night, it was an early night (10 p.m.) but the morning was early, too. The boys got up and snuck into the game room to play video games at 5:30. We all made it, though.
Stephanie spent the night at Kaleigh's Saturday night to go to church with her yesterday morning. I've had a formal invite to try out the church I've been thinking about. The problem is, the wonderful woman who invited me is the wife of my arch enemy. Sigh.
Anywho, I sold one of my textbooks online in record time. I was happy about that. Hopefully my other two will sell but if not, it won't be a huge deal.
Lastly, Ben was running a fever of 102 Saturday. It was about 100 by yesterday and nothing this morning. No other symptoms. He is coughing a little. It's the time of year his asthma acts up. I'm hoping that's all it is combined with little sleep the night before. If anyone here even seems like they have a flu symptom we're supposed to leave. The last thing I need is to miss work because of the non-flu.

Sleep Over

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:17:28 GMT

Ben will be having his first sleep over tonight. His best friend, Cameron will be joining us for the evening. These two kids are like twins. Close to the same size, wear the same kinds of clothes and shoes (which both of their fathers hate [the shoes, not the clothes]), and have the same crazy sense of humor. You'd think they were brothers if it weren't for the fact that their skin tones are quite different.
I'm excited. Ben has been left out of many fun times when Stephanie has Kaleigh over. Now Ben finally gets to experience the late nights and tired Saturdays. Yay!

School

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:17:55 GMT

College, not work. I preregistered for 3 classes for the semester. I'm down to one. I decided during the summer to drop one of the classes just to lighten my load. Then, after looking into textbooks for the remaining two classes I realized I would be close to spending as much on books (and CD's for the music app class) as I spent on tuition. Not gonna cut it after a summer of no paychecks for me. I'm going tonight to drop the music class. All I've got left is some legal business environment crud. I've been good at BSing my way through these types of classes, so far. Shouldn't be a problem.
Once I get the grant money I'm working for, I'll load up on hours again. Until then, I'll be carrying a light college load.

Stumbling Block

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:15:41 GMT

Joe and I jumped back on the "eating better" wagon last week. Joe's been good all summer (more or less). Me, not so much. In the last week and a half, I've dropped a couple of pounds. Nothing to write home about. I'm sure I've put it all back on though. One of my big toes has been swollen so I haven't gotten on the Wii Fit the past two days. And today, we had a Title I parent breakfast. I ate 3 mini powdered donuts and a Chik-fil-A chicken biscuit. I've got a second, leftover, chicken biscuit on my desk for later. You just can't pass up Chik-fil-A. This afternoon, there will be a parent "tea" for those who couldn't come this morning. I'll be eating cookies (or biscuits for you British people). I hope my toe swelling subsides so I can start exercising again.

More Great Names

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:00:50 GMT

Welcome to the August 2009 edition of "What were their parents thinking?!"
You may recall from last year, Sylvester Lester, and the sisters: Arionna, Dreonna, Teonna, and Brionna along with their brothers Tyriquis and Diriquis.
This year, the choices are slim but I have run across a few notable names. First, Brittney Spears. No lie. My new favorite, though, is LaRRico Kihyashi Pickens.
Lovely.

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:51:51 GMT

Why have I been singing the Golden Girls theme song all morning?

Hmmmm

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:07:04 GMT

Why is it, the less money one has in their checking account, the harder it is to balance?

Tired

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:49:30 GMT

Tiiiiiiiiiiii-erred.

Will I EVER Sleep Soundly?

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:37:26 GMT

I had a dream last night that I was pregnant. Lord have mercy! Where did THAT come from? Sure, about a dozen people here at work are pregnant (ok, only 4), but why, on earth, would I put myself in that group? I have no desire to have a baby. Strange. Guess I'll hit the dream interpreter again.

Lower Water Bill

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:15:10 GMT

You know it was a nice rainy summer when it's the middle of August and the outside faucet insulator is still firmly attached (as ours is).

High Blood Pressure

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:30:29 GMT

I've posted before on the work of art that is our I.T. guy. The saga continues. I shan't retell the story suffice it to say that I got home with my blood boiling. When told the story, steam rose from Joe's ears. Awesome, but sad. Stephanie reckons the guy just likes to argue. I agree. Am I really that easy to pick on?

Day 1

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:31:18 GMT

School is in. With a bang. I'm so glad I've got at least a week before kids come to the lab. There is so much else to do. I still haven't even seen the program the kids will spend most of their time on this year. And I'll be off campus in training on Thursday so I'm losing a whole day there. I'm so dern tired. I actually slept pretty well last night but I don't think it helped too much. I think my years of waking up 3 to 4 times a night every night are starting to catch up with me.

TGIF

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:32:35 GMT

I am so tired. I was looking forward to a full 5 days of in-service but I've changed my mind now. I didn't get any more done than I would have with 3 days and I'm a ton more tired.

We went to Stephanie's open-house tonight. The principal's son is in her class. You know you've got the best when the pricipal's kid is in there. There are also quite a few kids she's gone to school with at Walls. None of her "friends" are in her class but she'll make new ones quickly.

Almost bedtime. Thank goodness.

In-Service

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:06:53 GMT

3/5ths of the way through in-service week and I've gotten about a tenth of my prep done. Anyone feel like doing the math on that one? I got news today though that I may only have 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. No more 2nd (maybe). Also, the main program I've used the past two years has been replaced by a better program, but, of course, a brand new one. I know nothing about it. Hopefully, I'll have at least a week before kids come to the lab. Sigh. I love my job. I really do. It's never boring.