It really happened

The Monkeys

Calvin (4.5 years)

Mia (7.5 years)

Juliet (10 years)

 

Can't believe they've gotten this big!

Disability....who knew

I'm still on disability because of the car accident.  I tried to return to work after Thanksgiving, but I was in so much pain after one day, that I just couldn't do it.  I went back to the doc for xrays and have been out of work since.  I have good and bad days.  On the good days I think, "I'm doing better.  I should be back to work in no time.  This isn't so bad." and then I wake up the next day hurting in so many places.  From the base of my head all the way down to my low back.  These days remind me that there is no way I can work feeling like this.  I think, "Maybe if I wasn't teaching the little ones it would be easier." But reality is, that's not true.  I'm injured and I'm having a hard time accepting that still.  I don't want to hurt every day.  It's getting old.

In a world that is so filled with insurance fraud, I am constantly questioning myself.  Asking, am I really hurt that bad?  Sadly the answer is yes.  I thought I'd just be sore for a little bit and then be better.  It's just not happening that way.  I am going to physical therapy, taking muscle relaxers and having the girls do a lot more than they used to around the house.  It all helps, but I am in no way healed.  I don't know what it's going to take.  Probably just more rest and being careful with the everyday things we take for granted.  Vacuuming hurts.  Changing the laundry hurts.  Bending to pick things up hurts.  Sitting in the car for more than a half hour hurts.  Sleeping is not the most comfortable thing anymore.  Crazy.

I went for a message yesterday.  Something that I tend to do on a yearly basis.  It costs a lot of money, normally has HUGE results of relaxation and a feeling of, "Ahhhhh that was nice!" but is hard to justify the cost more than once a year.  But man....that was an AWESOME message.  I felt so good all day yesterday!  It felt so worth the money.  I wish I could go get one every week! 

In all this, I have the best husband.  He has helped with everything.  Not that he didn't before, but he takes such good care of me.  I am so grateful again that God blessed me with him!

No Football Player Left Behind

This is a good one.  It's the NCLB (No Child Left Behind) as if it were toward football players!

NCLB - football  NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND---THE FOOTBALL VERSION   

1. All teams must make the state playoffs and all MUST win the championship. If a team does not win the championship, they will be on probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held accountable. If, after two years, they have not won the championship their footballs and equipment will be taken away UNTIL they do win the championship.   

2. All kids will be expected to have the same football skills at the same time even if they do not have the same conditions or opportunities to practice on their own. NO exceptions will be made for lack of interest in football, a desire to perform athletically, or genetic abilities or disabilities of themselves or their parents. ALL KIDS WILL PLAY FOOTBALL AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL!   

3. Talented players will be asked to workout on their own, without instruction. This is because the coaches will be using all their instructional time with the athletes who aren't interested in football, have limited athletic ability or whose parents don't like football.   

4. Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be kept in the 4th, 8th, and 11th game. It will create a New Age of Sports where every school is expected to have the same level of talent and all teams will reach the same minimum goals. If no child gets ahead, then no child gets left behind. If parents do not like this new law, they are encouraged to vote for vouchers and support private schools that can screen out the non-athletes and prevent their children from having to go to school with bad football players.

Learning to Rest

It's been nearly 3 weeks since my car accident.  My van has been repaired and looks like it did prior to the accident.  I'm very glad to have it back!  My neck and back were doing much better while I was on Thanksgiving break.  However, the first day back to work after a restful break I was feeling way worse than before.  If I had a desk job, it might not be so painful.  But these little Kindergartners are high maintenance full of energy!  I worked 4 days this past week and was in so much pain, I went back to the doctor yesterday.  Xrays were done and he has requested that I do not return to work until after the new year.

I must admit...about 2 months ago I would have jumped for joy at the thought of having 4 straight weeks off of work.  Must be one of those "be careful what you wish for" kind of situations.  I know my body needs the rest.  I need to heal.  I'm really worried that this injury could last a lifetime and that thought is what's keeping me home from work.  I feel very guilty for not being at work.  I miss the kids.  I do miss the challenges and rewards of getting the kids to learn.  I feel like I'm flaking on those responsibilities.  I feel like I'm letting my grade level team down as well as the parents of my students who have entrusted their children to me in this first year of school.  In all of this I am learning that I have no control.  This was not my fault and accepting that is going to be a learning experience.