Simple

Although we had some ups and downs...this is my favorite Christmas in a long time.  It was a simple day full of joy.  Luke enjoyed his castles, blocks, coloring book, books, tent:). Nothing electronic or over the top.  Which was perfect, and simple.

It's finally here...

Almost here

4 days of school, 2 weekend days, and winter break.....whoop!!!!!

12 work days

And then Christmas break!!!!!! We got lots of rest over thanksgiving break.  And some online shopping too.  Unneeded in our current situation but, well couldn't help it.  Luke needs Christmas.  Sometimes he is so fragile and sometimes so fierce.  I love him so:)

I'm tired and a bit lonely as well...I miss the old us.

Creating

My little artist...creating from the time he gets up till he goes to bed.

Sweet November

We had our first taste of sweet November....Veterans day weekend.  3 days.....next will be Thanksgiving break, 6 days!  I love November! I am definitely thankful for restorative day's off!

November

Most times I dwell on what we don't have, need, worry.. This month I am going to be thankful at least once a day to remind myself others have it worst than me.  I have a lot to be thankful for...

5 weeks

Today began 5weeks of a headache almost every day :(  tried new meds and they didn't work...hope this cycle breaks soon.

Just the 3 of us!

I am happy to say that I am completely happy with our family of 3....Luke is just the only kid we need!

Pumpkin patch, costumes, smiles

Time to start planning fall fun!

Disinterested focus

I must regain my disinterested focus.  My room, my world...your school, your hell.  Time clock.  I used to be good at it...but then I had a person who cared and got spoiled.  I can do this.

Fall-autumn

Pumpkins, orange, black...it's my favorite time of year. Now it needs to cool off!

Long and tiring...that is my week.  We haven't quite got our rhythm going at school or home yet.  The added stress of finances and testing isn't helping. I need relief in both those areas soon. I know we are making progress at school forming a routine, but I have high expectations.  And it is hard to be carefree at home right now worrying about bills. It has helped me see where we have waste, which is not good anyways.
So now I am going to focus on trying to relax...and clean...and declutter.   Ahhhh.   Deep breathes.

Happy note: Luke swam across the pool with no floaties!   Wish I had been there.

Hair

My hair was feeling yucky.  I had  no time to get it cut.  So I watched a YouTube video.  And trimmed it myself.  Ta da.

Saturday

The Saturday after the first week of school....so sweet.

Making progress

We started school this week.  The first couple days were like herding cats. It is slowly getting better. But tiring, oh so tiring.  Luke really enjoyed his school this week too.  I am happy he is adjusting well.  Who knew?

Beginnings

It has begun...lists of things to do.  Probably impossible to complete.  I will try.

It's been a long, hard, boring week.  Long because I am back to work and of course still a mom.  Hard. Because my interim principal told me to get rid of the rabbit.  Poor Finney...he is a wild rabbit who runs free in our atrium, not a caged pet.  We don't have a lot of choices.  Luckily someone at Aaron's work with a chicken coop offered to take him until my REAL principal comes back. Boring because the teacher academy was a waste of time.  
It is time for the weekend!

Summer blues

I have the summer blues.  I can see the end in sight. I wait all year for this time and it slips through my fingers like sand every year. Ahhh...

Surgery

He did great. He never even cried.  He is such a trouper.  Now it is time for him to heal. By Sunday he is allowed out and about so we are going to see Despicable Me 2.  We can't wait.  Minions assemble!

Friday

Friday....so nervous.  Can't believe my baby is having his fourth surgery. Ahh.

It's been a anxiety ridden weekend . Aaron is worried about his new job, we both are worried about money, and Luke feels the stress in us both.  But being stressed out doesn't help us.  I have to be proactive in saving money, keeping Luke and I busy, and enjoying our time together. Tomorrow is the first day of July and I will start off better tomorrow.  Activity with Luke, exercise, shop smart....I can do it.  

Making up

I woke this morning and the last thing I wanted to be was a good mom....but.   We baked muffins, went to the library, watched monsters inc, rode his bike, and it is only 4. He deserves good parents....

Well husband will be on a new work journey starting on Monday...thankful he found a job so quickly but hate that he had to.  People can be so cruel. Not even thinking about others and their families. I hope this is a lasting place where he is happy.

Art in the evening....

Afternoon art and muffin making today...after nap of course.

I am done, in pain, and happy.

Whoop there it is!!!!!! The kids are gone. Two more days of work and I am done:)

7 more working days to go, unfortunately my body hit summer today....couldn't motivate myself to get dressed, do anything.  That is usually my first few days off .   Need to make it through this week, after that 2. Days should be a breeze.   Come on....

Five more days of school, two planning days.  I can't believe it is that time again.  I really want to have a great summer with Luke.

I can do it, I can do it, I can do it.   Oh it is hard.  Evil prying eyes, defiant sociopath, and energy bunnies.....end of year tasks, pack up room, my baby.......I can do do IT!!!!!!!

Today was almost more than I could handle.  It has been a long time since a child has had me in tears.    And this afternoon was positively bazarre. I hope Sarah is right and this is just a really bad year.  I wish the outliers didn't ruin it for the ones who are so sweet and want to learn, but they do. They almost suck the oxygen out of the room.  And punch you right I the gut...

We started teach your child to read in 100 days this week. We are only on lesson 2 because I think Luke needs repetition for mastery.  But he is doing great.  He is consistently giving me sounds for letters and wrote m and s today.  I like that is mostly verbal and quick. He is learning to read:)

19 days and then I will be me, mom, wife, daughter, friend....and that is it for two months.

One of these days I will get to teach all day long, instead of deal with behavior dramas. It is really wearing on a persons spirit and energy.i keep telling myself I need to care less, learn to ignore more. But I am not good at it. Tomorrow is another day.

29 days! Yay! Then it is naps and beach and zoo and reading and fun and relaxing :)

I am totally over even thinking some people have a grasp of the real world.   Help me....but I won't tell you everything you should know. My lil one is monster but don't correct him, because I don't.   It seems the only way to win in teaching is retirement.  Too long too go.   I have got to start caring less, it is the only thing that will save me. Ahhhhhhhh.

Happy birthday Luke!

I can't believe my baby is four. It seems like just yesterday I was struggling with labor and praying for a miracle.  And then a few hours later he was born emergency c-section. My first realization as a mom that you don't always get what you pray for, but you get what you need.  I didn't get my natural birth, but I got my healthy baby:). It has been the hardest four years of my life but the best. I love you Luke!

Spring Break

Well just last week I was frustrated and upset with my impatient self. Now I feel resfreshed and ready to start this short week.  Luke and I had a great week, we found our groove and were busy and happy.  I can't wait for summer :)

Good mama

Oh where is she? I just have absolutely no patience left for my own child.  I have it in my head that Easter is over because I already did those crafts at school.  Boy I think spring break came just in time.    I need to find me again.  And bond with my little man.  I has been a hard couple of months.

I pad

I ordered us an I Pad!!!  I am so excited.  Luke came home today and asked for one.  Yes I know, spoiled. But I have been thinking about it for a while.  On credit of course...That's our life!!

huge weight off of my shoulders

In one day I did my formal observation and student led conferences. I am done, done, done.  Just the results now.  yuck, but done.

I don't know how to help my boys with the loss of Nana Cooper. My husband is so sad and my little one is so angry.  I just don't know.

illness, aging, and missing daddy

Another week of Luke feeling yucky: stuffy nose, wheezy.  Not too bad so far, I hope that it doesn't get any worse.  I am trying my best to hold it at bay.

Aging or illness?  I pray, pray that Luann is dealing with illness that is curable and this is yet another hurdle for her to get over with prayers and love.  I don't know what Aaron will do if anything else happens.  He is becoming more and more crushed everyday.

With daddy gone taking care of nana in the hospital Luke really is missing his daddy :(  Me too.  It just doesn't feel right here without him.

30 shots in the head

Tomorrow is the day...30 botox shots in my head.  You know your headaches are bad when you will willingly have 30 shots in your own head.  I really hope this helps.  REALLY, hope this helps.  TG momma is going with me :)

headaches, cupcakes, and moonlit walks

Well two doctor visits and we still don't know why his head has been hurting and he has been so moody....We are going to focus on food and sleep and see if that helps.

We made chocolate cupcakes for Nana's birthday yesterday.  They were a hit, we even had them for breakfast today :)

After Nana's birthday party last night somebody needed to get some energy out ??? So we took a moonlit walk around the old neighborhood before heading home.  Nice way to end the evening with my boys!

ent

Heading to the ENT tomorrow.  It seems Luke's tubes may be blocked.  After 20 days of antibiotics for a double ear infection, he was still complaining of a headache, earache, and was REALLY grumpy.  We went to the ped today and she couldn't find anything wrong with him.  Which would be good, if he didn't feel so bad.  So she gave him an rx for cipro drops for his ears to see if they were blocked.  We got home and I put the drops in and he literally screamed for one hour.  The ENT said they would see him tomorrow.  I hope that is what the problem is, because what else could it be??

code red

It is really depressing to go to work everyday to covered windows, locked doors, code red signs, and fear.  Why do elementary schools have to be a place where people want to kill people?  It makes me pray, hope, wish beyond all that Luke never has to go to public school and sad for the fact that I know he will have to.  No child should have to practice hiding in the closet or in the bushes on the playground.  What a horrible childhood memory...

3 month ortho visit was today.  The doctor said Luke could stop wearing his splint and that the bone was pretty much healed.  He also said that we have to monitor loss of blood flow and lack of growth for a year.  He also he could break it again :(  I am so scared that he will.  Sometime in the next 3 months we will have the screw removed, they are calling this week to schedule. 

Frustration....I don't know I let everything get to me so much.  But I do.  I need something to do of my own more often so that I can get out my anger, frustration, and rut.  That is what it is...rut, rut, rut.  Some of it I love but some is drudgery.  Maybe just a walk around a block or two a week.  Read more often. Nothing big just some me time :)

3 day weeks

3 day weeks are pretty awesome!  By the time you are tired and getting frustrated, tomorrow is Friday!  Next week is going to be a long week!