What was I thinking?

How does cleaning my child's room, become completely rearranging all the furniture?  Then, how does rearranging the furniture suddenly become painting the room?  I got a "bug in my bonnet" last night and decided to do all of this.

I was at Lowe's at 7:30 last night picking out paint colors.  I usually agonize about what color to paint but I didn't this time.  I did have a few seconds of anxiety of "what if I buy 2 gallons of paint and then HATE the color.  I mean, I was choosing a tan color and we all know that tan can sometimes come out like baby poop color.  I have the 3 tan walls done.  I did them last night (getting finished at midnight).  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THE COLOR!!!  It makes his room nice and warm.  So super cozy.  He has one wall that is paneling so we are doing that wall in kind of a blue jean color to match his Tommy Hill-finger (haha, that makes me laugh and I may or may not be able to spell his last name) quilt.

I also found (really stole from Shaun's office) a table from the basement that we are going to paint today too if we have time.  It will be perfect for his hermit crab aquarium to sit on. Not sure of the color for that one though.  Maybe a red or green since his quilt has those colors too. 

As for the walls, I think we are going to pull pictures out of his art portfolios to hang in his room.  He has saved pictures, drawing, painting, sketches for years.  These will be so cure hanging on his wall to showcase his artwork.  I'm hoping to have all the painting done today, all the furniture put back in place and all the mess out of his room and either in the trash or gone to Goodwill by the end of the day.

Tomorrow... sleep, do lesson plans for my professors observation, study for comps and pack for a 3 day conference on vision impairments on the other side of the state.  I'm pooped just thinking about it.

(Posting pictures of his completed room once everything is done).

Almost Done

OMG!!!  I can see the light at the end of that VERY LOOOOOONG tunnel.  I will finally graduate in April with another Master's in Visual Impairments.  There are only 2 hurdles I have to cross;  comprehensive finals and an observation from my professor.  I am confident I will pass both but I am always nervous anticipating each event. I think I am more nervous of my professor observing me teach.  What if she watch me and thinks "WTH???"  That would totally stink.  She is super nice and always has great comments and advice but, still.  I hate to be watched by an expert.

 All I can say is Mama Kiki is going to have a VERY nice BOTTLE of wine when I get that little piece of paper saying I am done.  FO SHO!!!

Things I Learned While Going Back to Grad School

Since I have been here in Kalamazoo, I have made some observations I thought I would share with you all.

1. I always either gravitate, or attract, people with my same sense of humor. I am so thankful I have met a few people up here who share my sense of sarcasm but who want to be good students at the same time. I laugh and say we are the slackers but that is really not true at all. I like to think we are the "cool kids".

2. There is such a thing as a stupid question! As a teacher, we are always saying there are no stupid questions and I really used to believe that....until I came back to school. I have heard the most stupid questions asked in some of my classes that I honestly don't know how some of these people made it this far. If the teachers says that something is going to be on the test immediately, there are at least 2-3 hands up in the air asking "Um, so are you saying that this will be on the test" followed by "what did you say is going to be on the test". When she explains again, inevitably, there are more hands asking more questions about what the professor just explained 2 times. Frustrating!

3. Not everyone knows the basics of how to use a computer. During the 2nd week of classes, someone asked what the "tab" key was for and I almost lost it. Seriously?

4. Some girls are the exact same as when they were in high school and seem to be proud of it. When you are 28 years old, you should not be getting trashed, screaming out the windows of a vehicle at strangers and yelling obscenities at people. I did not witness this but heard all about it. Come on... you are almost 30. Be a classy drinker!!

5. I STILL hate group projects. I hate them, hate them, hate them. Someone always is a slacker in the group and I end up having to pick up the slack. Why can't I be the slacker!?!? People, we are in graduate school. Step it up!!

6. Backstabbing still exists. Glad I'm not friends with this chick but I feel bad for the person she is stabbing in the back.

7. Some people like to pretend they are dumb. This one confuses me. Who wants to act like an airhead?

Enough of the rampage. Back to picking up the slack on the group project. Sarcasm is on full force!

Kiki's in Kalamazoo

Well, I made it to Michigan.  I had the route on my iphone GPS, I had the directions printed out sitting in the passenger seat AND I was following up another student from Lexington. As I passed into each state I held up my iPhone and took a video of the state sign for the boys.  I was super nervous as we were going around Cincy but we made it just fine.

The rooms up here are super sucky.  Seriously, the dorms I stayed in when I was a freshman at EKU were much better than this.  Old, kind of looks like a prison cell and no air conditioning.  I was tired from driving all day, hungry and HOT moving all my crap to the second floor so I was not in the best mood.  Things have started looking better though.  I will be in class until either 6 pm or 8 pm each day so by 8 it starts cooling off some.  As long as this fan doesn't break down in the middle of the night I should be good. 

Today is orientation all day.  Basically, they are reviewing things that they could have emailed out to us or things that they have ALREADY emailed out to us.  I hate being read to when they have already sent the info but it is fun to people watch. 

I am NOT the oldest one here.  There are quite a few people older than me so that makes me feel better. 

The funny thing about today is that we had to go around the room and introduce ourselves.  These people like to hear themselves talk.  I know way too much about these people.  Introductions took FOREVER.  Like close to 30 minutes when they only has 10 minutes on the schedule for it.  I was short and sweet... Krista, from Ky, in the TVI program.  Ok, not really that short.  I figured that since these people were droning on about everything they had ever done or thought I would too but I was still much faster than these other people.

I'm trying to figure out this one guy.  I have seen him for 3 days and he always wears tan.  Like, tan button down top, tan shorts, tan socks, tan shoes and yesterday he had a tan safari hat.  When I saw him I looked around to see if there were any elephants or if maybe I had accidentally ended up in Africa on safari.  No hat today but I can't wait to see if he wears tan every single day.  He is kind of goofy and walks like his shoes are too big.  He seems nice but just a little weird.  But I was digging the safari hat.  Might have to go get one of those.  OH, I know, he is a cross between safari and the crocodile guy except he tucks his shirt in (like WAY in, not a good look). 

Off to walk back to the classroom building for more orientation.  At least this time we are divided into groups based on our area so I will be with all the TVI students.  Hopefully they will go over all the stuff for classes so I can kind of be prepared for tomorrow.  And I have to figure out where one of my classes is at.  It is on the other side of campus (by the  way, this campus is HUGE.  The town is kind of like Richmond but this campus is spread out like UK.  It would take me 45 minutes or more to walk to the other side.).

Pass the Praxis..... like a boss!!

I passed!!!  I passed!!  I don't know how but I really don't care!  I took the Praxis test for teacher certification for visual impairments early as a practice just to see what is on it so I would know what to study.  I don't have to worry about what to study because I PASSED the first time. 

I feel smart!!  :)

4.0 Baby!!!

I just completed 2 more classes towards my Master's in Teacher of the Visually Impaired.  Only 10 more to go to be completely finished.  I was nervous checking  my grades because I didn't participate in the chats/discussions like I should have.  I figured that I would get counted off in participation which would knock me down to a B in that class.  I was ready for a B.  I was expecting a B.  I was OK with a B.  Finally, I saw that our grades were posted.  I was not prepared for what I saw when I opened my grades.  TWO A'S!!!!  I am so excited.  So I keep my 4.0 GPA for now.  I'm just hoping that I can keep it after the summer classes I am taking.

10th Annual Bryan Station Defender Classic 5K Run/Walk

 The boys ran the 5K at Bryan Station this morning.  It was a cold and rainy day.  Here they are when they finished the race.  Samuel's face cracks me up!!

Harrison was the 1st place winner in his age group.

Samuel was the 2nd place winner in his age group.

 

It was a good day for the O Bro's. 

Happy tonight...dreading tomorrow

Happy - Harrison just ran a personal record at his track meet tonight.  He ran the 2 mile in 12 minutes 28 seconds.  He took 43 seconds off his time!!  That is awesome.  The coach was so happy with him.

Dreading  - The 5K is here and I am not ready. NOT READY!!!  Every time I ran my shin really hurt so I haven't done any running this week at all!  I am going to walk it tomorrow.  I'll start over with my app to build back up and not hurt my shin again.

Even though I am bummed about not running the 5K, I still have big dreams of becoming a runner.  I hate that Harrison says I can't do it.  Of course, I just want to wake up and be able to do it too.  This training and building up endurance it not too fun. Actually, it kind of sucks big time.  I am the "I want it and I want it NOW" kind of person.  Isn't there some sort of botox for running?  You know, give me a shot and I can run.  Wouldn't that be awesome?!?!

I always loved a good challenge!!!

So, here I am, 41 years old and trying to become a runner.  Have I ever run a day in my life?  NOPE!  Well, maybe when I see a spider or a snake and that is just running out of the room.  Even then, I am out of breath.  But my oldest son, who IS a runner said one little thing that changed my mind about trying to become a runner.  He ran up with the high school cross country team and has been on the track team for the past 2 years.  He is really a good runner if I do say so myself.  And that's not just my "mother's perspective" talking either.  He really is a good runner.  Anyway, One day I made some backhanded comment one day that maybe I would run a 5K one day.  He laughed at me and just said "Oh mom, you could never run a 5K".  Well, I do like a challenge and I DO NOT like to be told I can't do something.  So, here I am.  Trying to get my flabby, lazy, never run a day in my life self out there and run a 5K.

I downloaded the Ease Into 5K app on my iPhone.  I started off great the first week.  It wasn't too bad at all.  So the second week I thought, "shoot, I don't need this stinking app.  I can just go run".  And that is what I did.  The actual run wasn't too bad.  I ran/walked 2.2 miles.  Now, seriously, it was a lot of walking but I got in some good stretches of running.  I was so proud of myself.  At least, until my shins hurt like hell afterwards.  Yep, I gave myself shin splints.  So today is the first day I tried running again.  I had to stop just shy of a mile.  I was doing the app and backed back to the beginning.  My right shin still hurts but it isn't the bone.  It is the muscle to the left of the bone.  Maybe I pulled it.  I don't know.  I can walk fast but I just can't run on it or it burns like fire and really starts hurting....bad.

So, the 5K is in a week and I will probably be walking it.  I am going to walk everyday this week to get ready.  I am disappointed that I took on too much too soon but I am still motivated to eventually run a 5K.  I know I can do it.  I'm just going to keep on walking. 

I asked for it

Funny Samuel story.

Samuel and I were in the car when he started acting up. Here is our conversation.

Samuel: being a smart mouth...

Me: You need to change your behavior.

Samuel: I did change my behavior.

Me: How?

Samuel: I changed it from good to bad.

Me:

He was so serious. Like, super serious. He wasn't being smart when he said it. It was just matter of fact with those big, cute eyes opened up really wide.

I have to give it to him, he was telling the truth. But he straightened right up after this.

My Samuel is so funny.

The Excitement is BACK!!

I've talked a lot on here about leaving my position as the preschool teacher and moving to a position teaching children with vision impairments. I wanted to do this for so long but when we actually started working and when the first syllabus came in from Western Michigan, the doubt started creeping back in.

What if I'm too old to learn anything else?

What if my brain is already FULL?

What if my fingers are too rittled with arthritis to learn braille (not sure where that particular hysterical rant came from since I do not currently have arthritis, but I still thought of it)?

What if I can't figure out all of the technology of having online classes? I did go to school during the time of actually GOING to class with a real live professor standing up front teaching.

But, after I had my little breakdown, I drank some whiskey and I'm so much better. Seriously!! I really think I can do this (as long as I lay off the whiskey....braille and whiskey probably don't mix).

So, now I'm really excited about this job and going back to school. My kids are so great and the teachers have been really nice to work with (well, not one but I'm TRYING to be positive here people).

Healthy Harrison

Harrison had his 12 year check up today. He is as healthy as a horse, according to the doc. Also, he has a clean bill of health to do sports this fall at school. The doc asked about his heart murmur and if he had been cleared by a cardiologist. He got a clean bill of health at around age 8 or 9 from the cardio. She said the hole was closed but the docs may hear an echo. Dr. Lewis listened for a long time and never heard anything, thank goodness.

In addition to his regular physical, he got the sports physical paperwork signed so he can play sports at school. He is going to do Cross Country this fall. Practices start July 15. He is supposed to be running every day but only gets to run a few times each week due to swim team and playing with his friends. He has to be able to run at least 3 miles without stopping by July 15th. He can already do that so I am not worried about him. I do need to get him a couple of more pairs of running shoes. He wears them out FAST with all the running.

In the winter, he will hopefully, play Basketball and in the spring he will do Track. He will be super busy but that is best for Harrison. He does better at school if he is busy and has less down time.

One funny thing happened today on the way back from the doctor's office. We were listening to the radio and there was a commercial about "Red, White and Boom". When he heard it, he whipped his head around and asked, "did they just say Red, White and BOOB???" HAHA, the mind of a middle schooler.

Back to School

No, I'm not talking about all the school supply sales. I'm not talking about next school year either. I AM talking about me going back to school to add on another teaching certification. I have wanted to add on the visual impairment certification for quite a few years but the timing was just never right. Every year I keep thinking that I should just bite the bullet and do it but never have. Well, I'm biting that bullet.

In Kentucky, there is only one university that has the certification program for Teacher of the Visually Impaired. I was so excited to get registered at University of Louisville. I only needed 6 more classes according to their website. I was totally blown out of the water when I received an email stating I could not register for the program because the state of KY had suspended their program to anyone not already enrolled due to lack of funding. They have to offer the classes to people currently taking classes but won't let anyone else register. I was so disappointed. I was very mad. I was an email writing maniac. I tried EVERYTHING short of bribery and threats to get in their program for the classes. I mean, seriously, it's only 6 classes. They are going to offer them anyway. Why can't they let me take them?

The professor at U of L was great about emailing me different schools across the United States who offered the program. The bad thing about taking classes from another state is that I live in Ky and can't be traveling every weekend to some other state. He finally emailed me a booklet listing all of the universities across the USA that offered the certification. My name is all over the place. I emailed no less that 10 universities trying to find a program that fits my situation.

Well, I did it. I found a great program that is very well known for being a great program. I will be attending Western Michigan University from the comfort of my own home. I will be doing most of the classes online (which I have never done before). I say "most" because next summer I will be moving to Michigan for the hands on classes. I am so excited about this. The program is a Master's program. I never thought about getting another Master's degree. I already have one so I didn't really think I needed another one. But, this opportunity is too good to pass up. There is a grant that helps with tuition so that really helps a LOT!!

This whole process has made me think that MAYBE I could go and get my PhD. I have some friends who are going through the "doc" program at UK in special education. I could do it too. I don't really want to teach at the college level but I would love the degree just for me.

Middle School Honors Band

This year was Harrison's first year to try out for the middle school Honors Band. Being a band director's son, he didn't really have the option to NOT try out for it. He auditioned on trumpet and baritone. He plays the trumpet in class and has learned to play the baritone just for fun at home. I am proud to say he was one of only a few to audition on 2 instruments. Long story short, he is the 2nd alternate on trumpet so he probably won't be called to play trumpet. However, he came in 3rd on baritone!!!! Not bad considering he was competing with all the middle school 6th graders in the county. He is so proud of himself. Here is a pic of us toasting the next night when we got the results. Don't worry, it is sparkling grape juice!!

How did "HE" know I needed that?

I am constantly amazed at how I always get a "message" at just the right time. I can be having a terrible day and question the choices in my life and... BAM...I get a message that brings it all in perspective. The last couple of times I have read a particular friends quotes on FB (you know how you are little lady), it has been something that I NEEDED to read at that time. It has happened at least 3 times recently and happened again today at our faculty meeting.

I have been feeling really bad about my class and my choice of teaching in general. I always start feeling this way when I get overwhelmed. Today, we had a whole meeting about "getting over myself" and the feelings, hang-ups, etc that we all have that stand in our way. It was just what I needed to hear. Sometimes (OK, many times), I let my feelings get hurt or get angry at people and, let me tell you, it is HARD to let it go. I can seriously hold a grudge!! But today we talked about just letting things go and doing what we need to do to "get over ourselves". At first I thought, this is crazy and a waste of my time, but as our administrative dean kept talking, I thought, "dang, she is making sense and is up there, brave enough to say what I am thinking about my classroom, students, how I feel.

So, thanks God for putting message this in my path. Keep it up, big guy!!!

1st snow day of the year

Today we had our first snow day of the school year. I was so happy when they called off school last night. It was nice to not have to decide whether or not to call in or go to work. I like having the decision made for me. The boys and Shaun thought they would camp out in the den and keep the fire in the fireplace going all night long. Samuel got cold so he came up and snuggled with me.

Anyway, I thought I would get tons of stuff done today but.... NOPE. I finally got up and got a shower at the crack on noon!! The boys just played here at the house. They had some friends come over and go sledding in our back yard. I should have gotten pictures but I just didn't think about it. It was just too cold out there!!

So far we have a 2 hour delay tomorrow. I'm still praying for the powers that be to call off school tomorrow. A girl can hope. I know we will have to make up these days but I would rather make up these days when the weather is NICE!!

Anyway, a girl can dream. I'm doing the snow dance now.

Jumper Cables

Well, I'm the proud owner of jumper cables. Yea me, YAHOO, YIPPEE!!! I know what you are thinking. "Jumper cables... why is she so happy about jumper cables." No, I haven't lost my marbles and my car didn't need fixed either. Let me explain.

I have been passing out and getting dizzy for over 2 years. Shaun says much longer but as this is my blog, I get to say how long (I feel powerful behind this keyboard). It has been a long road to figuring everything out. My first symptoms were just getting dizzy and ALMOST passing out. Not just once, but, over and over for days. Can you imagine my doc when I go in to tell him I'm almost passing out? It kinda went something like this.

Doc: So what brings you in today?
Me: I almost passed out 6 times last night.
Doc: So, you passed out 6 times last night?
Me: No, I ALMOST passed out 6 times.
Doc: Hmm, well, how many times did you pass out?
Me: None, I just almost passed out.......6 times.
Doc: (insert long pause here and funny look on his face)
Me: (nervous and realizing I sound like an idiot or hypochondriac) I know this sounds crazy but every hour or so I get really dizzy and feel like I'm passing out so I lay down or sit with my head down and it passes.
Doc: OH, so you never actually passed out?
Me: &%#$$&&$& (cursing in my head)

This is where all the referrals started. I have seen so many doctors; cardiologist, neurologist, ENT, general doc, back to the cardiologist. Nobody could figure it out and each one referred me to the other doc. Possible diagnosis were vertigo, low blood sugar, brain tumor, heart issues but every test came back fine. FINALLY, I actually passed all the way out and hit the floor. My general physician was excited for the new symptom. He pretty much told me what I had but to get the actual diagnosis I had to see the cardiologist again and wear that lovely holter monitor. Unfortunately, my symptoms are so random that they don't always happen when the doctors want them. So back to the drawing board. I was in tears when my doc finally said, "don't come back to me because I don't know what else to tell you". Well, you know me and my mouth. I had all kinds of nasty thoughts running through my head of things to say to him. Unfortunately, I was so distraught I just left and cried in my car in the parking lot. As I was walking out he did tell me to go to the ER the next time my spells happened so they could hook me up to the heart monitors right then and catch it on the monitors. I guess he felt so bad for me he had to tell me something. It turned out that was great advice.

I had more spells so I went to one particular ER (I shall not repeat its name but I will never go again to that ER). They were getting ready to conduct some sort of drill. There were people walking around in their "space suits". Anyway, she hooked me up to the monitors for about 30 minutes, told me I was fine and it wasn't heart related and sent me on my merry little way. I just sat there and finally asked her "So, you're going to let me walk out of here and get in my car even though I told you I keep getting dizzy and almost passing out?". She said "yep" so I left crying once again.

So I lived with these spells for about 6 more months refusing to go back to the ER or the doctors. I mean, what's the use? They can't figure it out and don't seem to want to. So, at the beginning of this school year they came back.... bad. I felt terrible so I went to a different ER this time. I am so glad I did. The ER physician assistant thought I had vertigo and was insisting that is all it was. I told him my symptoms and what my general doctor thought it was (it is a really long name). He didn't like me contradicting him very much. Anyway, I felt another dizzy spell come on and beeped the nurses station telling them to check the monitor. SCORE!! They caught it on the monitor. My heart stopped for a few seconds making me feel dizzy. I think the nurse was more excited than I was. He came bouncing in my room yelling "we got it, you're not leaving the hospital". I was pretty excited too just because it was finally documented. Well, the ER physician assistant wasn't so happy for me. I think he was mad because I was right and he was wrong. His response was "Well, looks like it was your heart. I hope you're happy". HUH?? What a jerk!! But I did tell him I was happy that it was finally caught so I could do something about it.

I got admitted that night and had the same tests done as before but they actually got the results they needed to get a diagnosis. Basically, my heart rate drops drastically (or in a few cases it stopped for a few seconds) and causes me to pass out or get really dizzy. I thought he would say something like "here's the pill to fix it" but was shocked to hear that I would eventually need a pace maker. He offered it in the hospital but I refused and said not yet. He did give me some meds but they didn't work for me. I ended up with another few days of dizzy so I called him back thinking I could just get an implantable recorder put in to document these episodes. While talking to the nurse, he just took the phone from her and told me "no" I couldn't have the device when what I really needed was the pace maker. He got me in quick... real quick. Like just a few days later. I was scrambling to get everything ready for a few days off work but I'm glad he did it that way. I didn't have too much time to think about it and freak out about it.

So, this is why I say I got new jumper cables. I have had to take off work for longer than I thought too. I thought that I would go back to work after 3-4 days but on Monday, I still couldn't lift my arm and sitting up still REALLY hurt. I has now been one week and one day and I can sit up with mild discomfort and lift my arm better but that still hurts too. I have developed some sort of rash on my shoulder but that could be from something else. Who knows. Once this thing heals I can do everything I once did with no restrictions. I was kind of bummed to see I couldn't use a jack hammer anymore (haha).

Anyway, long story short, jumper cables = pace maker = cured Krista!!

Random thoughts

I was going to blog about all kinds of great stuff today but really don't have anything great and wise to discuss. Instead, I have several random thoughts that have popped in my head today.

1. I hate it when people stand too close to me. Seriously, I have a space bubble and this older lady was all up in my bubble standing in line at T.J.Maxx. I was waiting in line to pay when she walked up behind me. She was very close to my bubble but not yet in it. Still, that is too close for a stranger so I took a little step forward. SHE DID TOO. I was getting a little irritated so I took another little step forward and SHE DID TOO. I looked around thinking that maybe I was on that show "what would you do". Nope, no camera's. I took another step this time turning to the side so she was beside me instead of behind me. HAHA, I outsmarted you, you close standing, bubble invading lady. I was a little smug a little too soon. She took another step acting like she was looking at something on the shelf then ended up behind me AGAIN in my space. My mind was racing as was my heart. What should I do? Should I tell her to step back? Should I take yet another step forward? Should I .... SCORE, my turn in the checkout lane. Whew, saved by the quick sales clerk.
2. I wish I was a singer. I was driving down Nicholasville Road today singing to a Katy Perry song when I thought, dang, with the radio up loud and the traffic all around, I sound pretty good. HA! I don't care if I totally stink and can't carry a tune in a tin can, I seriously love to sing. I am so blessed to have a job that allows me to sing whenever I want and I always have an audience. I'm so glad they are only 3 and 4 and don't really understand tone, pitch and being in tune. They just love to sing with me. I'm thinking about getting a Karaoke machine for the boys for Christmas but secretly it is really a gift for me! I can't wait!! I think Harrison will LOVE it. He loves singing as much as I do. I have a hysterical video of him singing that I will post IF I can figure out how.
   

Maybe I will have some wise, insightful or even witty things to say tomorrow or later in the week.

Krista

I just don't get it!

I don't usually post about my job or my classroom but I am so confused by a new little friend I just have to write it down. First, let me start off by saying I teach in a school where there are many children who are considered at risk just because of their socio-economic status. In the preschool program in our state, we take children based on low income and on identified disabilities. Throughout the years I thought I had experienced almost everything I could possibly experience in this particular school. I have had children with ADHD, physical disabilities, cognitive disabilities, oppositional defiant disorder, and even children who are medically fragile. I have had typical children who have so little structure in their home lives that they appear to have disabilities but are, in fact, very bright children who just needed someone to show/teach them to have boundaries.

Tourette's Syndrome is something I have only seen on television. I watched a movie about a man with Tourette's who went on to be a teacher. It was something like you would see on the Lifetime Channel but it was a great movie. Now, I'm not saying I have a child in my class with Tourette's because I am no diagnostician and have no qualifications to make such diagnosis. I am saying I have a child who has some very random behaviors. Very random and sometimes very violent. I pride myself on being able to just go with the flow in the classroom and if a child disrupts the classroom, I can usually go right on with what I'm doing. This child's first day I was so distracted I could barely get through our morning calendar group. The random shouting, the cursing not to anyone in particular. I have never been that surprised in my whole teaching career (well, maybe I have been that surprised during my first few years of teaching but you get my drift). When you look at this little child you just see this beautiful little face with these big beautiful eyes. It is so hard to accept that he has the mouth of a sailor and just acts/reacts in such a violent or random way. I definitely will be getting more info on Tourette's and ADHD in the very near future. I am hoping that once everything is checked out that there will be a different diagnosis for this little one. But in the mean time, I am just plugging away with him trying to do my very best to make him feel loved. He is truly becoming one of my favorite children despite the behavior. I always end up getting attached to the ones who take more time to get under control.

I always try to put a positive spin on things especially when I am in a very difficult situation. So, here is my "spin". At least I might loose a couple of pounds and get into shape with this little one in my class. Also, I might learn to be a more patient person and more accepting of other people's situations.

I have always been the kind of person who loves a challenge and this might just be one of the biggest challenges I have had in quite a while.

I love the smell of Lysol!

I love the smell of Lysol! I really do. I especially love it when someone is sick in my house like last night. Poor Harrison has a stomach virus and was up the whole night throwing up. I felt so bad for him (and me since I couldn't sleep either). My mother in law brought me some Lysol and I have sprayed everything with it. I forgot about how much I love the smell (crazy, I know). He is feeling better tonight but still isn't 100%. I will continue following him around with the Lysol for at least another 24 hours just to be safe.