Weird new thing...

I have a swelling over my right collar bone that Chris thinks is a swollen lymph node. I am not happy about it, but I have to look in to it. Can't ignore anything like this... I have an appointment with my primary care Dr. Monday at 2:40 and I need to ask for a referral. Probably need imaging and a biopsy. Fun.

My ankle is swollen up. I thought it was healing!!!

I am in Houston at Chris' hotel. I came yesterday after school and will go home tomorrow early. I wanted to see him, but I have piles and piles of papers to grade to get my progress reports in by Monday at 4:00. Last night we went out for Indian food and may go see a movie tonight. We want to see Avatar, but Chris can't see 3D. Anyone know if the non-3D version is worth seeing?

This has been a week of leaving... One of my kids, Brenda, a 7th grader who was just learning English, moved out of the school on VERY short notice Tuesday. It was one of those, "Today is my last day and I'm leaving before lunch!" Sad. Love that kid. Also, the secretary at my school, who has been there for YEARS, had her last day Yesterday. We did a big going away thing for her... She is almost a second mother to a lot of the kids at my tiny school and changed diapers for a few of the middle schoolers back in the day! We have a teacher at our school who was a student under her! Needless to say, it was a very emotional day for all. Kids crying everywhere. Next week we lose one of our 8th graders!! Another sad day is in store.

Crenshaw is such a tiny school that everyone is like family. When Travis leaves on Thursday, I will only have FIVE 8th graders!!! Okay, fellow teachers, don't get jealous. That is my smallest class AND I have 5 different preps. I am also solely responsible for the reading and writing test scores for 4 separate grade levels. If even one of my kids doesn't pass the state test, my average is shot! Not only my average, but our school rating. Now a little bragging: ALL OF MY 8TH GRADERS PASSED THE TAKS BENCHMARK!!! All but one of my 10 7th graders passed the writing benchmark (real thing is next week.) My 6th graders are doing pretty well, too. I only have 2 of the 11 that I'm worried about. The group I lose sleep over is my 5th grade, who need to pass the test in order to advance to 6th grade. I only have 2 passing at this point...

Nothing new.

Nothing much new to report.

Chris is in Houston doing a Kaplan University course, so I've been home alone... The neighbors have been checking up on me - nice people. He did come home for a night/day and is leaving tonight.

School is stressing me out. This past week was benchmark testing and I am kind of dreading the results. I wish I knew what they were NOW so I could plan for the week... I've already decided to cover the "rule of three" so we'll see what else is needed. Good thing I think well on my feet.

Knee and ankle appear to be getting better. I still have some pain, but it isn't constant, so that is an improvement.

There are supposed to be people working on our roof, but I haven't seen hide nor hair of them.

We finally watched the season premiere of LOST last night and WOW. I love that show. I'm so glad it's back on, but sad that it is going to end soon. Chris and I have derived so much pleasure from discussing this show.

Big Anniversary

Yesterday was the anniversary of my surgery. Yes, it's my mastectoversary and hysterectoversary! Hmm, what is the appropriate celebration for the momentous occasion? I just taught some kids some stuff and watched some American Idol (TIVO is wonderful.) We did make Mardi Gras masks in school yesterday... And, we celebrated Valentines day, so it was a bit festive.

Thursday was my court date for the renegade underarm seat belt debacle. I showed up, having to take the afternoon off from work and make my way through the endless rain, to find that just because I showed up and the officer didn't, the case was dismissed. The big, big annoyance is that my bond will be returned to me in 4-6 WEEKS! Now, I don't need this money right now, but what of the poor, disenfranchised people for whom $379 dollars is not something they can 'float?' If your case is dismissed, and you are declared innocent, you should get your money back right away. In cash. How wrong is that? Many people cannot scrape together that much money to loan the government and have to pay an extra amount to have a bond agent do it for them - how much does that suck? If you are guilty, you deserve the inconvenience and cost, but for people like me? End of rant.

Chris goes to Houston for 6 weeks starting on Sunday to do a study camp. I will miss him... Going to go and spend some quality time with my guy - right now.

I'm still, still here

I haven't been on here much lately. Busy. School/work is about all I can handle these days. I come home late and exhausted. I still enjoy my job, don't think otherwise. It's just hard. We are coming up on state testing and I have a bunch of kids that need lots of INTERVENTION. There are some that will not pass no matter what I do and it is frustrating beyond all belief. I also am in charge of WAY too much testing and record keeping associated with testing that has nothing to do with the actual teaching. In addition, I have been pulled from the classroom for a few trainings that my district has foolishly scheduled during the class day. I have another one coming up! I am on the textbook selection committee, so I have to review a lot of proposed English Language Arts textbooks and go to weekly meetings... Oh, yeah, I have been asked to study for and take the certification test for teaching English in High School since we will probably offer 9th grade next year. Yeah, my plate is oozing over the top in big gooey globs. I have at least put my foot down(somewhat) and will NOT be doing a UIL play.

We will definitely be in Galveston for at least another year. This is a good news, bad news thing. Chris didn't pass a couple of tests that he must pass in order to begin his residency, so he has an intensive study program planned that will allow him to "match" for residency next year. Anyone who knows him knows that he is capable, he just has to focus and do it. I am kind of happy because I love my school and like to know that the things I put in place this year are going to be foundation for next year. I am however, upset that Chris has to go through all this.

The leg (sprained ankle and knee) are still painful and although I apply heat every day when I get home from school, have been wearing the ankle and knee brace, and am using a cane, I don't see much improvement. I am having to take more pain medicine that I would like. Not lots, but I take a pain pill about once a day.

The breast, or lack, doesn't hurt much anymore. It does swell (lymph fluid) and hurt, but i guess my attention is on the leg so much that I'm not paying much attention.

This coming week is my court date for the seat belt ticket. I know I will be "not guilty" but I wish I didn't have to take the afternoon off work to attend to this. Another class I won't have with my kids!

I've been found!

Yesterday, one of my new students "found" me on the Internet and was SO excited to show everyone my picture from when I was young... She found the "headshot" from Batboy, that was from about 8 years ago. The picture is the one on the main page of this blog. One of the other kids (who should receive extra credit) said I look better now. This new student also found this blog and I think that as a 5th grader it was "too much reading." Oh well...

I had two doctor's appointments yesterday. First, I saw Dr. Markowitz, my Oncologist, who I hadn't seen since about this time last year. I have since gained almost 20 pounds! I have to lose it. Not only is the extra weight unsightly, uncomfortable and unhealthy, it may cause the cancer to re-occur. Medication, menopause, whatever, this cannot continue. Today begins the BIG CHANGE. No more junk, or fast food. No more cokes during the week - I'll allow one per day on the weekend - I know I have to be able to stick to it!!! I know myself and I know I LOVE my Coca Cola. I will make ahead breakfast and lunch to take with me to school... Now, I intend to make these meals as tasty and gourmet as possible so I won't feel deprived, but I will know what is in them and be sure of the nutrition and calories. Dr. Markowitz also said that I should start doing some weight training especially with my right arm! He said the latest studies on lymphodema have indicated that weight training and exercise are actually good for me and will, done correctly, reduce the likelihood of lymphodema. I am all for this, and will do some research on the subject. Otherwise, everything looks good and I'm healing well. I do have a few odd places where I'm tender - partly because I'm starting to get feeling back.

Second appointment was with Dr. Siller, an orthopedic surgeon. He said that my ankle and knee are healing well and I should continue to exercise them. Walking is the answer. If I have pain, pull back. Continue to wear the braces as long as I have pain and he envisions that I will be better in 6-9 weeks. This is good news. He didn't want to see me again. He said that unless something gets worse, I shouldn't need to come back.

Turns out that right after I left L.A. my sister, Becka, decided that my crutches were so fashionable she needed her own. She has sprained her ankle pretty badly and is maneuvering the stairs in her house on her butt... I KNOW that I am a role model, but this is ridiculous. I hope she heals quickly, since her life is very busy (she is a definite type A)and she is in the process of doing job interviews.

New year, old me

Had a great time in LA playing with my nieces and hanging with family. Jade (8 year old niece) kept asking "What do you want to do?" Often the answer was: "Exactly what I'm doing now, visiting with people I love!" Somehow this wasn't totally satisfying her... We did do other things: went to Getty Villa, made videos, decorated my luggage, made smencils (smelly pencils), danced, read, ate, drank, practiced knitting and telling time, visited with old friends and sang. The only way it could have been better is if Chris had been there.

I managed to hurt myself a bit too much over the holiday. I cut my finger pretty badly before I left. Not bad enough for stitches, but bad. I lost a filling. And THEN I fell down the stairs at Becka's and sprained my ankle and knee. Yeah, I know... I am now in the too familiar state of quasi-invalid. I hate it. The knee and ankle a getting better every day. I now can move my knee pretty normally (although it does hurt) and the ankle isn't really swollen anymore. Maybe subconciously I wasn't getting enough attention??

I'm still here

Went to the doctor, Dr. Hatch, last week and she said that I shouldn't be surprised that I'm gaining weight. It seems that the medicine I'm on (Arimidex) causes most people to gain 10% of their body weight!!! Add to that the fact that I'm now in menopause because of the hysterectomy, and I'm going to gain weight. I am so NOT happy about this. I actually have been more active lately and haven't changed my eating habits... Boy, does this suck. Also, I just found out that my Arimidex is $400 a month. Wow, glad I have insurance.

I'm in the middle of doing laundry and packing for my trip to LA. My sister is hosting Christmas this year. I wish Chris was able to go also, but he has a big test coming up... My brother is flying in to LA soon and Mum is already there. I can't wait to see the girls, Sage and Jade, since it has been so long. Last time I was there was at least 2 years ago... Maybe I'm calculating wrong?

Chris is on his way home from Alaska, where he fell and hurt his wrist. He'll need an xray when he gets home. We hope it isn't broken. His "walking on ice" technique is a little rusty.