It's Thanksgiving!

Remember in the last post I said I'd be glad that it was almost Thanksgiving?? Well you'd never guess how difficult it was to get our family through to Thanksgiving. Remember I said I'd be glad to have Doug home for a few days?? Well he's been "home" but getting him here was quite a roller coaster ride? Let me give you some of the details.

Sunday night Doug called and said he'd had a stomach ache since Thursday. I said it was about 10:00 pm on Sunday night when he called, didn't I? Well he described the pain, I found a "kids health" page on the appendix and we basically diagnosed that probably had appendicitis and I told him to get up early and get to the clinic first thing Monday morning. So I give him a wake up call and our Monday starts rolling. On the way to work, I call our pediatrician to find out "my son is 18 but in college will you still see him" details. Then I called my mom to let her know what was going on and to see if he needed picked up immediately if she could go since Don and I were 45 minutes further east from her house. So by 9:00 Doug called and said it was appendicitis so we moved into action. Mom went to go get Doug, although the clinic didn't want him to go any further than the local hospital. We wanted him home closer to us. I started making plans to leave school early. I met them at the hospital at 11:30.

Once at the hospital we waited for a while although he'd already been diagnosed. He had to drink some contrast for a cat scan and that took 2.5 hours before he could have the test. Then it was confirmed so we had to wait for the surgeon. So finally at 6:30 he went into surgery. We got word he was doing well at 8:30 and he would be going up to the peds floor. We were the only people up there, then things got crazy for them.

Finally we were resigned to the fact that the doctor was pretty adamit about 3-5 days and he was really firm about 5 days. Well Doug was progressing pretty well and we had the nurses on our side ;) The surgeon today was not the operating surgeon and he gladly released us to come home today. What a great day to be home. We had a little turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie or as much as you can call it that. I've felt ill after each time I ate the "meat" from the hospital so who knows what they cook it in. I'm just so thankful we're all home today.

There won't be any home cooking here today. No turkey and all the fixins. It's not about the food anyway, it's about all the things you have to be thankful for, and today there is a lot to be thankful for. The appendix didn't rupture, but it leaked, but Doug's on the mend and we were able to get him home.

I hope you've enjoyed your family and friends. I hope you've reflected upon what you are thankful for. I hope you've checked the sale ads and wish you luck in getting to the big deals early tomorrow. I think we'll be heading to Northern so that we can pick up some things for Doug. I am not sure when he'll be going back to school so we need his computer for him to finish that term paper that was due Tuesday. I'll also be washing his laundry he couldn't get together to bring home either.

Enjoy your weekend!

I'm a blog slacker

or am I a poser blogger? That is one of Brian's favorite words...poser. Somehow it's starting to slip into my vocabulary too.

I'm so glad Thanksgiving is almost here. I'm looking forward to having Doug home for a few days. I'm also looking forward to having 5 days off. I do need a little bit of a break and I think that will be just enough time. I'm actually in a bit of a Christmas spirit this year. Last year I just wanted to get away. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to go back up to that cabin again this year but Doug needs to work over break and we're trying to save some money. I am in the mood to start some simple decorating. Our house is really small and putting up our old Christmas tree is out of the question. I'd have to move large furniture and block my front door and I'm choosing not to do that.

I'm trying to think of some "winter" decorations that will last a bit longer than just through Christmas. I'm thinking of getting some star lights and icicle lights to hang from my front curtain rod. I'm going to use a smaller tree and I think it's going to have star decorations. I've been trying to collect star ornaments for a few years now to collect in a basket and have my family put on a smaller tree as we all do thoughtful things for one another. I know I don't nearly have enough star ornaments to cover a tree, but I think with a few simple ornaments, a few of my favorites, and the star ornaments I do have it should be a very special tree.

I'm also looking for some other simple but interesting ideas. I found these white birch decorations at crate and barrel They are way too expensive for me to buy but I'd really like to find something similiar. I'm also looking for some little dorm sized decorations to throw into a care package to send off and have there when Doug goes back to school.

I saw these really cool button trees on Ali Edwards' blog and now I'm kicking myself because I gave a ton of buttons away to the art teacher at school, otherwise I'd try to make one of these myself.

I'm really interested in seeing what cool holiday decorations you are making. Give me some cool inspiration! I'm in a creative mood!

Caio!

A Big Ole Pat on the Back

Today is the day that I can get my unofficial certification test results. These were the two tests I needed to take and pass to get my full state credentials to get my Reading Specialist teaching certificate. T.his will be my second teaching certificate. It is a specialized certificate that will piggy-back onto my K-9 certificate that allows me to teach and do more administrative jobs in a K-12 setting. Now if I want to move up to the big money...I'll have to go into the high school.

I'd been having dreams that were waking me up each morning that I had failed one or both. Usually it was a big time failure, sometimes by one point or two. These dreams really freaked me out. I don't know how I could have dealt with having to take one or both of these tests again. They cost me a good hunk of money to register and a big hunk of time. That day the first test took 3 hours and the second test took me 4 hours. That Saturday was emotionally draining. I don't know how you are about taking tests, but I complete all the problems I can and flag the ones I skip that I don't have a quick answer or need deeper thought and more intricate detailed thinking. The second test had a 2 essay writing component and very little room. It had to contain about 7 different requirements in the one constructed answer.

Well anyway I went online and got the test scores. I was sweating bullets and wasn't sure I wanted to look. How could I not look after those dreams??? Well I looked. I have to say, not perfect scores, which everyone seems to think I strive for, but really I don't. I didn't even want perfect scores, I knew I wouldn't get perfect scores, I just wanted to pass.

Well I PASSED BOTH TESTS!!! I wasn't even close to the failing score. Minimum passing scores were 240 and I both my scores were over 275. Hey...passing is passing, right???? Now I have a bit more leg work to do. I have to send some documentation into the university, then they have to send some things to the state, then I have to officially apply for my second certificate. Oh all of that and dishing out a bit more money for the new certificate.

So with that great news I'll end this post. A little happy dance and a big sigh of relief! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Updates

This post is all about updates!

Big update is about my son. He miracleously got rid of the headache as mysteriously as he got it. He went home (his home, the dorm room) on Sunday night. After having such heavy doses of pain meds all day Saturday, he took only 2 Advil on Sunday.
He will follow up with the doctor but as of now we (mom, dad, grandma, etc) are figuring it was the smell he smelled or a migraine. He's got a history with headaches now so getting migraine meds should be easily attainable.

Weight Watchers update. As of this past Monday I've lost 5 pounds. I'm so proud to be a LOSER! It is getting easier to judge portion sizes, and the good vs. bad foods. I'm really becoming a label reader. I still struggle, especially today with Brian's Halloween candy sitting there glaring me in the face. I've had some candies but I logged them in and counted their points and I still have 1.5 points left for today. I think I'll just forget that I didn't eat them.

Speaking of updates, I saw my good friend Angelina came by and left me a message. I wish she'd update her bloggy so we know what's going on in her neck of the woods. I also wish she's drop by the message board and give us the 411! Ange if you read this...girl get over there and give us a proper update!

Continuing on the update train...today I updated my hair! I went with a cute and very short easy style. I also updated the color to all one color again. I'm not a bi-color any longer.

I think I'll end my updates here.

Oh one more thing, I've finished Stargirl and have moved on to Love, Stargirl! Great young adult books by Jerry Spinelli! The sequal doesn't seem quite as good but a new book club I'm in is reading it.

posting from the "get well :) network"

in other words that means I'm sitting here posting from my son's bedside in the hospital. We got a call last night around midnight that he was feeling horrible. The worst headache he's ever had. 45 minutes later the phone rings and he says he headed to the ER. Remember that Doug goes to college 45-60 minutes from home. I get up, get dressed and get out of the house for that long drive to the ER. He looked terrible and he said his head throbbed with every heartbeat.

He's had a ct scan, lumbar puncture and now a mri. He's on high doses of pain killers and it is NOT killing the pain. They are ruling out serious things such as tumor, meningitis, brain infection but they don't know what's causing this. He said there was a noxious odor in his dorm room for 2 days and that could very well be it. Don and I went today to check it out but I thought I smelled something faint but Don and the dorm lady didn't.

He's on iv's and is hardly eating. He throws up more than he takes in. If he doesn't improve, he'll be transfered to one of the university hospitals in Chicago. I pray he starts to recover overnight.

I've been going almost non-stop since 1:30 this monring and I'm quite tired. I did read a little bit but now I'm about ready to doze off in the recliner for a while. Thought watching the world series would be fun tonight, but Doug's sleeping and the tv seems to only have no sound or loud.

luckily we are in a brand new hospital with a private room. They're all private! This hospital opened 3 weeks ago, it is beautiful, sorry I can't supply you with a couple of pics.

Please keep Doug in your prayers.

A new layout

credits here

This is my crazy Brian. You can never guess what this kid's going to do next. These photos come as a result of my camera being hijacked! I have about 30 of these pictures. I have to say I have one unique kid here.

This great photo frame is by Valerie Fowler. There is a girly frame and a boyish frame included with the set. There are one,two, three, and four photo frames included. They can be purchased here. Run don't walk because they are on sale on Thursday!



There is also a fancy frame set by Val too.

Val has some of the cutest stuff. She's having a chat on Sunday night at The Digichick. Val and the team will be chatting from 8:30-10 eastern. I hear there are going to be goodies and a special prize given away at the chat. I hope you'll stop by.

Now the fun is over. See that kid above in that layout, well yesterday he was one of just a select few who was given an invitation to not attend school for the next 3 days. Ok, in layman's terms the kid was suspended. They call it harrassment, but I call it stupid. He was caught video taping different things at school and supposedly he was showing people when he shouldn't be and got caught. UGH, I'm telling you, things are never simple with this kid.

Until next time...toodles

Did I mention I joined WW

Yep I did I joined Weight Watchers. I've got a big goal but have to start little by little. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change. I have to be consciencious in what I eat. I can technically eat anything I want, I just have to think and use moderation.

I'm happy to report I've officially lost 2 pounds. Slow and steady wins the race. I walked a mile on Saturday. Easy Peasy! I think I'm going to look for some counter that tracks how many miles I walk. Unfortunately the weather is not getting cold and bad and darker earlier. I will really have to put my Y membership to good use.

Well just a short post to celebrate my success! I hope you acheive a small goal that helps you reach to a larger goal!

SPINNING LADY INTELLIGENCE TEST

SPINNING LADY INTELLIGENCE TEST


Is is amazing! I can literally sit and watch and one minute she's spinning clockwise and within seconds she's spinning counter clockwise!

It says if you see her spinning clockwise you are using your right brain. If she's spinning counterclockwise then you are using your left brain. If you can see both it says your IQ is supposed to be 160 or more. I don't know about that but it is interesting.

Here is what side of the brain does what.

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe


RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking

New header credits

I only know enough http edits to change the post colors and add a new header and a few tricks to change or add links to my sidebar but I don't know how to post a permanent credit so I thought I'd give it it's own post.

The items I used to create my spooky new header are from Jen Wilson.
The paper is from her Whoo's Halloween paper set. The webs, spider, fence, and house are from the Accessory kit from the Halloween Holiday Collection.

I also bought another set by Taran at Scrapbook Graphics so I can work on a "haunted Hearse" album for Don.

Happy Birthday to my Wonderful Husband

Today is his birthday. He thinks he's old but he's not. He's done things in his life he should be so proud of. He's wonderful, supportive, and makes me laugh.

Doug came home from Northern to spend the day with his dad. We'll be going out for dinner later, probably for ribs. That is one of Don's favorite meals. I don't know if we'll have any dessert, Don's not a big dessert guy. He does love pie so maybe we'll stop for pie.

I'm going to go get some things done so I can make some pancakes and scrambled eggs for a special breakfast.

Hope my wonderful husband has a special day.

Gotta love those extra "holidays"

As a teacher, I love those little extra holidays. Today being Columbus Day, my school district recognizes it as a holiday. It's a little break that teachers can so use to relax, unwind, and catch up on posting grades. I love these holidays, but sometimes I think it would do more for students if they were actually in school learning about the holiday instead of being home. I believe that students should know the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria; and that in fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But what we don't touch on is the horrible side of Christopher Columbus and his men who killed the Native Americans. So we keep celebrating the man for "discovering America."

I remember this holiday as being so much more when I was a kid. Of course it was a REALLY big deal when I grew up in Columbus, Ohio. There was a huge parade and there was a huge statue of Christopher Columbus standing outside city hall. I used to see that a lot because my dad worked for the city.

I guess I've become such a cynic with holidays. I think I'm turning into my father. He never has really had an affinity for holidays. I think Valentines Day is too commercialized and gives the floral and candy companies a reason to jack up prices. I think Halloween has become a let's decorate as much as Christmas kind of holiday. I know Don totally disagrees with me on that one. I think it's redicilous that the department stores set up their Halloween and Christmas displays in July or August. I don't mind at all handing out treats to the kids for trick or treat but please everything is too commercialized and is all about the mighty buck.

Ok I'll just end this by saying it's nice to have today off.

Going "dark" this halloween

Some of you may know that my husband owns a hearse. Yep I'm sure that if you didn't know that, your jaw just dropped. It is his "toy". He's always wanted to get into the funeral business and this was his first step. He actually bought it from ebay. Guess you really can find anything on ebay!

Well he's had it just over a year and he's been competing in hearse shows and contests. I've only gone to one that was in our town because some of the things these people do are a bit "darker" than I choose to be. I guess Don and I are ying/yang, light & dark. Well I decided to get a bit involved in his "dark side"

I told him I'd make him a hearse album. These are some of the kits I've found that could just work. What do you think??

busyizzie's Wish List by busyizzie

A trip to...

Some of you may know that 2 years ago for Christmas I got a little gold box inside of a purse. Inside the gold box was a lovely letter from my mom. She wrote that she was giving both my sister and I a trip to anywhere in the world. They could be two seperate trips too. With finishing my master's degree and getting my son ready for college, I just felt I couldn't go yet. Not only was I not ready to go, but another part of the problem was that I just could never decide where I wanted to go.
I have considered a trip to Hawaii, Australia, Germany, Finland to meet a friend face to face finally, and even an African Safari.

Well I've been doing some serious thinking and I think that I've finally decided. I think that I will be going on an Alaskan cruise early next summer. I just checked out books from the library about Alaskan ports and two people who worked at school went last summer.


I think it would be so amazing to see glaciers and whales. The land for some reason just seems to be calling me. I can't wait to do some research and book this trip. I don't know if it will be all cruise or if there will be land and cruise both. I guess it depends on the prices and how long my mom wants to be gone. I'm getting so excited to finally have made that decision. I am so torn about not going to Finland or Germany but I've wanted to go to Alaska for so long.

If you've ever been on an Alaskan cruise please leave me some comments about what was best about it and which cruise line you sailed on.

should this blog stay or go?

I know I'm a really horrible blogger. I just already know that but I am wondering if it is really worth putting the time into my blog any more. I know that in about the last month or more there have been only about 2 comments on anything I post.

This blog takes me extra time, I know my family doesn't read it, and I really don't know who else reads it. Since I've put my blog counter on, which was in the spring, I've only had approximately 300 views. I am not highly sophisticated to be able to go behind the scenes and figure out who comes and goes. Apparently not too many because I guess people find what I write to be boring and probably self-centered.

So I think I'm going to let my blog go idle for a bit. I've got 100 different things going on and I'm really trying to start to make things more simple. I read something really interesting on Ali Edwards blog. It was about saving time by touching things once. I couldn't find the post but what she talked about was her mail. She is trying to open it up then deal with it immediately. Either putting it away, throwing it away, or taking care of it right then and there. It really made sense to me. I think she said she read it in Real Simple magazine, which I've subscribed to and still waiting for the first issue!

So that is one thing I'm trying this year. I don't know why it is working a little bit at home, but not at school. I'm so far behind this year at school it is unbelievable. Partially because I have a difficult group and partially because I got caught behind the 8 ball with 7 training days during the two weeks we could get in and work on our rooms. A third reason is because I've undertaken such a enormous project of leveling all my books. I'm looking up the lexile levels, color coding them, and putting a library pocket and note card for check out in each one. I purchased a box of 500 library pockets and I'm worried I might have to purchase another one.

Until I update again, read, comment, and enjoy life!

A second layout with Falling Over

Here is another layout I did with Valerie Fowler's Falling Over. Today, Thursday it is available here for 20% off I think I also read in Val' blog that there is an extra $3.00 off coupon in the kit too.



Credits are here

My days have been super crazy and super busy. I wish I could make it to my friend's scrapbook day on Saturday but I'm headed to Northern tomorrow for an early family weekend and dropping B off there to stay over with D for the night. Then on Saturday I'll be cooking and cleaning because we're having 8-10 friends over for the evening.

So it's an early night for me. I'm really cold and can hardly stay awake. Have a great weekend everyone!

Great Kit Giveaway!

Did you see that Val Fowler was giving away a free kit for commenting on her blog?
Her new kit is called Falling Over. Run and check it out!

It's an awesome kit that is getting ya into the fall mood. Those warm fallish colors and the great journal and grid paper are really cool. You can enter for Val's free kit givaway here on her blog

I have used it already and I'll share it with you now.

Crazy busy!

I'm getting really bad about updating my blog. It's just something I don't know that I want to make a mandatory, daily event. I'm enjoying being able to come home, fix dinner (yes you read that right) and enjoy just doing whatever I want. One night this week I was so hot from being at school all day that I did a quick foil dinner to throw on the grill and washed my car. I never wash my car but somehow just being close to the cold water from the hose helped cool me down.

I've got a doozy of a class this year. I can't say much publically but a lot of them are nice kids and want to learn. I've even gotten a pretty note from one girl telling me I was the best teacher in the world, and a coloring book page that a boy took his time and colored for me. On the other hand, I have some kids who need to realize that school is about learning and not fighting. One boy brought a squirt gun to school and took it out to recess without me knowing about it and was suspended for 3 days. I've had two boys who are working well together inside of class as partners but yesterday they were fighting on the playground after school. UGH, even the custodian told me last night that he's heard that my class is the worst in the school. I know he was joking around with me, but I've got to try really hard to not let that happen. Another incident yesterday had one boy writing with blue marker on another kid's shirt because a third kid use the non-writing end of his pen to act like he was drawing on the kid's back. Needless to say when he got punished he cried like a baby begging me not to send a note home. Then at the end of the day when I wrote the note, he begged and pleaded and cried again.

So between all of the all of these little "fires" that need putting out, I have a boy who has bad behavior and will also shut down and not work. The heat of my room, which is about 85 degrees by 9:00 am and the beginning of the year pretesting I'm coming home exhausted.

I've also undertaken a HUGE project at school. I've decided to put library pockets into ALL of my books, then look up their Lexile level or reading level, put notecards into the pockets,which involves writing the title of each book, then putting colored dots onto them so my kids are reading books at the correct level for them. I only got about 35 book pockets, and cards done yesterday. I looked up about 10 book levels but none of the books got dots. I can tell this is going to be a long term project because I probably have close 400-500 books. I wish I had a parent helper who could come in and do some for me.

Other than that, Doug's shoulder is hurting again so he's coming home monday night for an appointment with a new orthopedic surgeon. Don's been busy getting ready for another Uhaul auction, and Brian is going to tryout for the volleyball club again tomorrow.

Hope you are having a great weekend. I'm working on taking pictures for ebay listings and working on stuff for Val Fowler's creative team!

It's been a few days

I know it's been a few days since I've updated my blog. Bad, bad blogger. I've just been a little busy. School started and not only am I trying to adjust to going back to work, but I'm also trying to still get the room put together. That and juggling having one gone to school and the other trying to get on track with school too.

I've not really been doing much more that that. I come home and practically pass out from the heat. It was sooooooooo hot in my room yesterday. It was so hot that I really thought about having ice cream for dinner.

This weekend I've decided to do a little cookout. It will just be both boys, Don, and my mom and dad. If things change my sister and bil might try to stop by. An easy meal of something on the grill, corn on the cob, pasta salad, and some desert.

We're all fighting itch mite bites and I'll tell you they're so much worse than mosquito bites. They are big, red, blotchy spots that don't go away too quickly; two weeks minimal. I've also heard they won't go away until the first frost.

Ok, it is a long weekend coming up so make the most of it. Enjoy and don't labor too much. Our weather should be surpurb!

Did you see Val's CT is having a contest???

Did ya...huh...huh..huh???
Come play join the contest and have a chance to win one of these two sets of Val Fowler's quick pages.

They are so easy to get a couple of pages done!

I'm here to report...

I only cried a little bit when we took Doug to college today. We were rushed because since tomorrow is the official move in day they wanted the routes cleared from cars starting at 5:00. I did help get a couple things in his closet so he could put away his clothes tonight and we got his bed totally made. We got him the cables he needed to hook up his computer and his tele. We took a fan and bought him a second one. He's on the 5th floor, no elevator, no airconditioning.

While I was there I felt he was going to be ok. He told his dad he really had a lot on his mind which I'm interpreting into nerves. I made him a list of about 5 essential things I wanted him to try to get done in a week. You know, pick up books, give the bursar some information, drop off immunization records, put the late night ride service number into your cell phone, those types of important things.

I took pictures and Don took his own pictures. I can't wait to start to use them on a couple of scrapbook pages.

Ok it's been 5 days of training and 2 more to go. I went to school after training yesterday and tried to get my bulletin boards done but it seemed to be 1 step forward and two steps back. I got my alphabet up with the border strips on that board. I got the borders on 3 more bulletin boards. I still have to get up the calendar and the important information on that board and the border too. I also have to unpack the shelves and get the new books in order. Rearrange the desks and tables, put up a welcome bulletin board with all the students' names, make name tags and put them on desks, and then probably a ton more. I've got 3 afternoons left, I don't know when I'll stay and get it all done. I'd stay all three days but it's been so hot and humid and the sweat just pours off me. One window, no airconditioning, second floor.

On other things going on...Brian is registered for school and if his schedule is rearranged like I think the counselor was telling me, he'll only have to make up one semester at summer school next summer. That will be 3 weeks and then he'll have caught up on all the missed credits. Please pray for a successful year!

I also don't think that I've mentioned that I've accepted a digtal scrapbooking creative team position with Valerie Fowler. Val sells at here at The Digi Chick. She's really wonderful and I think you need to check out her store. She's also got some great stuff being added to the store tomorrow. Again, check it out!

Well I think that's all for right now. I'm feeling much less emotional and stressed now that we've got Doug out at school and we've missed the rush of move in day by taking him out a day early.

I've got to scoot and download AIM so that I'll be able to communicate with Doug when needed. I want that up and running in case he needs something in the next couple of days.

As Brian says, "Toodles".