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Christmas Card 2013
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
A Tough Decision
Sitting in the mailbox waiting for the mailman to collect and deliver is an application to St. Bernard Academy.
I know this might surprise some of you, BUT I LOVE school and learning. I love almost everything about school. I love to see student work displayed in the halls. I love the smiles and hugs of children. I love that I have to tell kids to "walk in the hall" as they are so excited to get to the library. I love helping students find books that change their lives. I love when a student finally gets something after lots of hard work. I love how the laminating machine makes decorations shiny and last for a long time. I love the scissors, glue, and markers. I love to create bulletin boards that show off how smart the students are. I love all the misspelled love notes children give teachers that teachers proudly display on the wall by their desks. I love exploring, inquiring, and learning alongside students. I LOVE school and learning.
I even love public schools. I work in lots of great schools alongside great teachers every week. Yet, some parts of public schools hurt my soul. I know that is way dramatic, but it is so true. Why can't all schools be fabulous? Why does policy trump learning? Why do we take the joy of learning away from kids? They are KIDS-- school should be awesome! School should not be about a testing. Testing is a cheap trick -- most of the kids that pass would probably pass without a teacher, and the kids that don't pass -- fight like hell and still fail -- then they quit fighting and schools/policymakers get all bent out of shape.
So all this being said, we made a tough decision this week. Kat will change schools to where the focus is on learning to live productively and living to learn. She will be challenged, and she will grow. I will continue to advocate for and work in public schools. I will continue to work alongside teachers who navigate the rocky terrain in and around policy and their personal teaching/learning beliefs.
Two words: Hip Surgery
I need to write. There are times when I despise writing and there are times when I need to write. Why, you might ask? Writing seems to be cathartic for me. I am able to pour words onto a page and think things through without having to talk to anyone.
But why do I need to write today?
2 words: hip surgery (the link is a video---ignore the "lesion" part--the surgeon doesn't think he will have to deal with the bone, but he won't know for sure until he is able to see it.)
On Friday, a hip specialist will remove the torn labrum from inside the ball and socket joint of my hip. In a nutshell--this is going to suck. I will be on crutches for 4 weeks. Therefore, we sprung for some fancy, ergonomic crutches.
But why do I need to write today?
2 words: hip surgery (the link is a video---ignore the "lesion" part--the surgeon doesn't think he will have to deal with the bone, but he won't know for sure until he is able to see it.)
On Friday, a hip specialist will remove the torn labrum from inside the ball and socket joint of my hip. In a nutshell--this is going to suck. I will be on crutches for 4 weeks. Therefore, we sprung for some fancy, ergonomic crutches.
Won't I look really cool? The downside to the whole thing is that I won't be able to run for 6 months. Yep, you heard right---6 months. And then only for 1 minute at a time for up to 10 minutes, which is probably all I will be able to run after sitting for so long. Sigh.
The good news:
The hip is not broken--though maybe I wish there was a break… don't breaks heal faster? There is 0 sign of any kind of arthritis. The hip joint looks "incredibly healthy" except for the tear. So this really is just an injury. I will be back to running by my birthday (June), I will run the Women's half marathon is September, and I will run the Nashville Full Marathon in November, 2014.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Poster at Litton
The more you read,
the more you know.
The more you know,
the smarter you grow.
The smarter you grow,
the stronger your voice,
when speaking your mind
or making a choice.
the more you know.
The more you know,
the smarter you grow.
The smarter you grow,
the stronger your voice,
when speaking your mind
or making a choice.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Too bad it's not Halloween
Tuesday, I was stretching the last bungee over a load of boxes in the back of the truck. Easy, right? I've done it a hundred times. While fumbling for the hook near the bottom of the truck bed, the cord slipped right out of hand sailing directly into my left eye.
Here's a picture of my eye once it had been cleaned up at the emergency room. Lots of random tests that I didn't understand because I know nothing about eyes except that you see out of them (this comes from my stellar 20/20 vision therefore a lack of eye appointments). I did know that the letter on top of the eye chart was an "E" though it was more a black blur off in the distance.
ER Diagnosis: bruises, lacerations, cornea abrasions/scratches.
ER Directions: Narcotic for pain, antibiotic to prevent infection, rest, avoid bright lights, keep the stitches dry, and see a eye specialist.
Wednesday
1:40pm -3:30pm The most painful eye exam of all time.
Diagnosis: Everything you would expect of a trauma injury
1. Blood pooling in retina/back of eye.
2. Fiber tears and stretches of the iris.
3. "Stunned" pupil in the upper left quadrant. (this means that the
top left portion of my pupil was not dilating properly and
evenly... king of like when you get hit in the arm and then you can't move your arm as well as
before).
4. Swelling in and around the eye.
5. I feel like there was something else, but who can remember all the details.
Oh, and my 20/20 vision is now 20/80ish (in the injured eye, which is way better than the "E" smudge I saw yesterday) with "as the swelling decreases and fibers heal, vision will likely return to normal."
Here's what I look like today:
Hahahahaha! Thanks, Lindsey, for the emergency run to Target for some extra large sunglasses to hide my scary eye from the world.
Out of the mouth's of babes: Kat said, "Mom, your eye is ugly." I agreed and said, "too bad it's not Halloween this would be great makeup."
P.S. Please do not judge or hold me responsible for typos and such. Remember eye trauma + dilation = blurry eyesight!
ER Diagnosis: bruises, lacerations, cornea abrasions/scratches.
ER Directions: Narcotic for pain, antibiotic to prevent infection, rest, avoid bright lights, keep the stitches dry, and see a eye specialist.
Wednesday
1:40pm -3:30pm The most painful eye exam of all time.
Diagnosis: Everything you would expect of a trauma injury
1. Blood pooling in retina/back of eye.
2. Fiber tears and stretches of the iris.
3. "Stunned" pupil in the upper left quadrant. (this means that the
top left portion of my pupil was not dilating properly and
evenly... king of like when you get hit in the arm and then you can't move your arm as well as
before).
4. Swelling in and around the eye.
5. I feel like there was something else, but who can remember all the details.
Oh, and my 20/20 vision is now 20/80ish (in the injured eye, which is way better than the "E" smudge I saw yesterday) with "as the swelling decreases and fibers heal, vision will likely return to normal."
Here's what I look like today:
Out of the mouth's of babes: Kat said, "Mom, your eye is ugly." I agreed and said, "too bad it's not Halloween this would be great makeup."
P.S. Please do not judge or hold me responsible for typos and such. Remember eye trauma + dilation = blurry eyesight!
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Cold Oatmeal
Nothing says, "Happy Mother's Day" like cold oatmeal. Really? You might think that is crazy so let me explain.
Kathryn made me a blue and purple sparkly box full of coupons that I can turn in as I choose. Yesterday morning I turned in "breakfast in bed." Kat disappears to the kitchen to make me a delicious breakfast.
About 15 minutes later, Kat brings me a bowl of oatmeal, toast with peanut butter, and apple slices all neatly arranged in a glass pyrex baking dish (she couldn't find a tray). So very sweet.
I thought she was going to make instant oatmeal; you know heat up some water, rip open a packet, stir, and eat. I was wrong. These are Kat's oatmeal making steps:
1. Get a coffee mug full of water.
2. Microwave for 36 seconds.
3. Put 4 large spoonfuls of oatmeal in a bowl.
4. Pour in the water and stir.
5. Use a strainer to remove the excess water.
6. Return oatmeal to bowl.
7. Look for cinnamon and sugar.
8. Add 4 shakes of cinnamon to the bowl and stir.
9. Add sugar and stir.
10. Set on the glass tray and make the toast.
She worked so hard! I ate every single bite. Delicious!
So happy cold oatmeal day to all you mothers out there.
Kathryn made me a blue and purple sparkly box full of coupons that I can turn in as I choose. Yesterday morning I turned in "breakfast in bed." Kat disappears to the kitchen to make me a delicious breakfast.
About 15 minutes later, Kat brings me a bowl of oatmeal, toast with peanut butter, and apple slices all neatly arranged in a glass pyrex baking dish (she couldn't find a tray). So very sweet.
I thought she was going to make instant oatmeal; you know heat up some water, rip open a packet, stir, and eat. I was wrong. These are Kat's oatmeal making steps:
1. Get a coffee mug full of water.
2. Microwave for 36 seconds.
3. Put 4 large spoonfuls of oatmeal in a bowl.
4. Pour in the water and stir.
5. Use a strainer to remove the excess water.
6. Return oatmeal to bowl.
7. Look for cinnamon and sugar.
8. Add 4 shakes of cinnamon to the bowl and stir.
9. Add sugar and stir.
10. Set on the glass tray and make the toast.
She worked so hard! I ate every single bite. Delicious!
So happy cold oatmeal day to all you mothers out there.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Words are powerful
"Kathryn is having a hard time breathing," said Kat's teacher today at 2.50pm.
I instantly felt all the anxiety and weight of these words as if it were her first preschool teacher calling with the exact same phrase. Well, one tiny difference, at 2.5 Kathryn was Katie Beth, but the feeling of your child having a hard time breathing is perhaps one of the scariest things I have ever lived through. I thought those days were behind us. We had been doing so well.
2:51pm, I drive to school, talking to the pediatrician's nurse the whole way. All 1/2 mile. But in school traffic and with crossing guards, it felt like an eternity getting to Kat. School is out at 3pm so I am navigating all the afternoon traffic of an elementary school releasing 500 students.
2:54pm I park illegally. Well, half illegally, I park on the street. Half the car is in a parking space and half the car is on the parallel lines that mean "don't park here." I bolt from the car daring anyone with my crazed look to say something about my parking job. I run up the steps to the school, kids are spilling out, parents are piling up, and I am afraid they won't let me enter since this is the "walker" exit not the school entrance. I squeeze past the teachers probably looking sufficiently panicked and dash down the hall to Kat's class. Sitting peacefully and sipping a Capri Sun, Kat bursts into tears. I describe her breathing to the nurse, who had been trying to calm me down the entire way to Kathryn.
2:59pm The nurse decides we need to come to her and the doctor, not the hospital, which is a relief even though it is farther then the hospital.
3:04pm We walk quickly out of the school. I have to repeatedly tell myself to slow down...my child is struggling to breath, we don't need to add running to the mix.
3:23pm We arrive at the doctor, and we are seen immediately.
3:25pm "She is wheezing like crazy," exclaims the pediatrician. Quickly hooking into a breathing machine, Kat settles into read a book. I am praying for calmness and clarity.
3:42pm The breathing treatment ends, doc listens to her breathing, and we start all over again. "Wheezing is some better, but breathing is not under control," explains the doc. "We will give her a steroid drink and complete another breathing treatment." Nasty tasting medicine and hooked back into the mask.
4:03pm Doc returns and breathing is even better; "No hospital for now. The next 24 hours are critical, we are going to continue liquid steroids and breathing treatments every four hours. Return here tomorrow so that I can listen to her breathe. If she labors or wheezes any more than she is now, call us and go to the ER. No school tomorrow."
4:27pm We trudge to the car with 3 prescriptions and an appointment for tomorrow.
4:41pm We trudge into grocery store for juice, Popsicles, and other provisions.
5:17pm We arrive home, Kat changes into pajamas, eats dinner, and begins watching a movie.
I am exhausted. Many, many decisions to make and plans to change since the words, "Kathryn is having a hard time breathing."
Words are powerful.
Words evoke strong emotions.
Words kindle rational and irrational responses.
Words can help process.
Words create tears.
Words can steady.
Words are powerful.
I instantly felt all the anxiety and weight of these words as if it were her first preschool teacher calling with the exact same phrase. Well, one tiny difference, at 2.5 Kathryn was Katie Beth, but the feeling of your child having a hard time breathing is perhaps one of the scariest things I have ever lived through. I thought those days were behind us. We had been doing so well.
2:51pm, I drive to school, talking to the pediatrician's nurse the whole way. All 1/2 mile. But in school traffic and with crossing guards, it felt like an eternity getting to Kat. School is out at 3pm so I am navigating all the afternoon traffic of an elementary school releasing 500 students.
2:54pm I park illegally. Well, half illegally, I park on the street. Half the car is in a parking space and half the car is on the parallel lines that mean "don't park here." I bolt from the car daring anyone with my crazed look to say something about my parking job. I run up the steps to the school, kids are spilling out, parents are piling up, and I am afraid they won't let me enter since this is the "walker" exit not the school entrance. I squeeze past the teachers probably looking sufficiently panicked and dash down the hall to Kat's class. Sitting peacefully and sipping a Capri Sun, Kat bursts into tears. I describe her breathing to the nurse, who had been trying to calm me down the entire way to Kathryn.
2:59pm The nurse decides we need to come to her and the doctor, not the hospital, which is a relief even though it is farther then the hospital.
3:04pm We walk quickly out of the school. I have to repeatedly tell myself to slow down...my child is struggling to breath, we don't need to add running to the mix.
3:23pm We arrive at the doctor, and we are seen immediately.
3:25pm "She is wheezing like crazy," exclaims the pediatrician. Quickly hooking into a breathing machine, Kat settles into read a book. I am praying for calmness and clarity.
3:42pm The breathing treatment ends, doc listens to her breathing, and we start all over again. "Wheezing is some better, but breathing is not under control," explains the doc. "We will give her a steroid drink and complete another breathing treatment." Nasty tasting medicine and hooked back into the mask.
4:03pm Doc returns and breathing is even better; "No hospital for now. The next 24 hours are critical, we are going to continue liquid steroids and breathing treatments every four hours. Return here tomorrow so that I can listen to her breathe. If she labors or wheezes any more than she is now, call us and go to the ER. No school tomorrow."
4:27pm We trudge to the car with 3 prescriptions and an appointment for tomorrow.
4:41pm We trudge into grocery store for juice, Popsicles, and other provisions.
5:17pm We arrive home, Kat changes into pajamas, eats dinner, and begins watching a movie.
I am exhausted. Many, many decisions to make and plans to change since the words, "Kathryn is having a hard time breathing."
Words are powerful.
Words evoke strong emotions.
Words kindle rational and irrational responses.
Words can help process.
Words create tears.
Words can steady.
Words are powerful.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Yo! I'm Sorry for Lying to You.
Kathryn's letter to her teacher... 2.26.13
"Dear Ms. Jerome,
Yo! I am sorry for lying to you. I won't do it next time. Well I liked being a teacher the best (in Junior Achievement Lessons) and also winning 1st place in the make donuts together contest! I also liked liked learning about taxes, but I think my favrite is probibly learning lots of things about community.
Do you like Harry Potter or Matilda books better?
Love,
(P.S. I love to right.)
(P.S.S. Chinatown is good.)
(P.S.S.S. You are a good jump roper.)"
Wow! This short letter says so many things.
1. I am not sure where the "yo!" originates, but it is an interesting greeting.
2. Kat generated work without really doing the work that was asked... meaning she faked the work, made up stuff, and lied to her teacher. A great learning experience for all. Good kids make mistakes. Smart kids get away with far too much. And lying is never acceptable. Consequence: No after school playing with friends for a week.
3. On a brighter side, Kat loves to learn. Last week at school they had Junior Achievement lessons where they experienced different types of jobs. Apparently, Kat loved ALL of it. She loves school and loves learning (even learning about taxes--weird). She is definitely my child.
4. Kat also loves to read and wants everyone else to love reading as much as she does. Ms. Ann, the book lady at Vanderbilt, loaned Kathryn Matilda by Roald Dahl. She loves it! But Kat is very loyal to the Harry Potter Series. In fact, she will dress as a HP character for the 3rd or 4th time on Friday's character dress up day! Ms. Ann goes to London tomorrow for the Harry Potter class she is teaching. Check it out here.
5. Freudian slip... Kat loves to WRITE and do RIGHT. Kat is in the Eakin Eagle Writers Club where she works with other 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders to write and publish articles and stories. She loves attending this after school club and spending time with other kids that love writing. After many tears tonight about lying to her teacher and the need for honesty, I believe that is what slipped out in the first P.S. statement.
6. If you are ever stumped at what food to offer: Sesame Chicken is always a winner.
7. In a letter to Kat, Ms. Jerome said, "I love to jump rope, but I'm not very good at it." Building people up and empathy for others is her strength.
Now it is time for my P.S.
P.S. Being a parent is the hardest job ever!
"Dear Ms. Jerome,
Yo! I am sorry for lying to you. I won't do it next time. Well I liked being a teacher the best (in Junior Achievement Lessons) and also winning 1st place in the make donuts together contest! I also liked liked learning about taxes, but I think my favrite is probibly learning lots of things about community.
Do you like Harry Potter or Matilda books better?
Love,
(P.S. I love to right.)
(P.S.S. Chinatown is good.)
(P.S.S.S. You are a good jump roper.)"
Wow! This short letter says so many things.
1. I am not sure where the "yo!" originates, but it is an interesting greeting.
2. Kat generated work without really doing the work that was asked... meaning she faked the work, made up stuff, and lied to her teacher. A great learning experience for all. Good kids make mistakes. Smart kids get away with far too much. And lying is never acceptable. Consequence: No after school playing with friends for a week.
3. On a brighter side, Kat loves to learn. Last week at school they had Junior Achievement lessons where they experienced different types of jobs. Apparently, Kat loved ALL of it. She loves school and loves learning (even learning about taxes--weird). She is definitely my child.
4. Kat also loves to read and wants everyone else to love reading as much as she does. Ms. Ann, the book lady at Vanderbilt, loaned Kathryn Matilda by Roald Dahl. She loves it! But Kat is very loyal to the Harry Potter Series. In fact, she will dress as a HP character for the 3rd or 4th time on Friday's character dress up day! Ms. Ann goes to London tomorrow for the Harry Potter class she is teaching. Check it out here.
5. Freudian slip... Kat loves to WRITE and do RIGHT. Kat is in the Eakin Eagle Writers Club where she works with other 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders to write and publish articles and stories. She loves attending this after school club and spending time with other kids that love writing. After many tears tonight about lying to her teacher and the need for honesty, I believe that is what slipped out in the first P.S. statement.
6. If you are ever stumped at what food to offer: Sesame Chicken is always a winner.
7. In a letter to Kat, Ms. Jerome said, "I love to jump rope, but I'm not very good at it." Building people up and empathy for others is her strength.
Now it is time for my P.S.
P.S. Being a parent is the hardest job ever!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
8 is great!
Not that the other ages weren't fantastic, but 8 is great! Why, you might ask?
1. Hermione Wand Reading. We hear Kat's bedside lamp click off... Josh said, "Good idea. Sleep tight." I'm thinking, "Wow, she must really be tired." But never fear, Kat is reading "by the light of her Hermione Wand. It really is like a little flashlight."
2. "Emergency earrings" packed in a purse to take to church. You never really know when there might be an earring emergency.
3. "Mom, why do you always get your multiplication tables right?"
I answered, "I memorized them in school."
"What, they taught multiplication tables in 1896?"
Apparently I should be in the Guinness Book of World Records!
Stay tuned for more!
1. Hermione Wand Reading. We hear Kat's bedside lamp click off... Josh said, "Good idea. Sleep tight." I'm thinking, "Wow, she must really be tired." But never fear, Kat is reading "by the light of her Hermione Wand. It really is like a little flashlight."
2. "Emergency earrings" packed in a purse to take to church. You never really know when there might be an earring emergency.
3. "Mom, why do you always get your multiplication tables right?"
I answered, "I memorized them in school."
"What, they taught multiplication tables in 1896?"
Apparently I should be in the Guinness Book of World Records!
Stay tuned for more!
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