Monday Update

So guess what we found out from the doctor's office today? That's he's out of office until 7/5! Ugh. But we also found out that the biopsy results aren't in my dad's chart yet, either. And so we keep waiting.

Waiting

Waiting is hard.

We are waiting for some medical test results for my dad, and it's SO hard to not get ahead of myself with what-ifs, etc.  There's a difference between thinking about something, maybe even having a plan for the worst case scenario...and fretting.  I'm making a conscious effort to NOT fret.  Patrick and I are having conversations about our part in all of this (we all live together, so this affects us, too),  our plans and hopes for the future, etc.  I don't feel like I'm letting my worries get away from me, but it will be a relief, one way or the other, to get the results.  The hospital said it would take three days...which falls on Saturday. I don't know if they'll contact us then? or if we have to wait til Monday.  Time will tell, and any and all prayers are appreciated.

In school news, I registered for my classes on Tuesday!  I had mapped out my first choice of days/times, and then I pulled together a Plan B, just in case the first ones were unavailable.  I got into all of my first choice classes!  I will be taking Math, English, Anatomy & Physiology, and Medical Terminology. 

Shannon's off with her BFF in Florida this week.  She started off the week playing with TS Debby, but now the weather's nice, and they're getting lots of beach time, etc.  Today they toured Florida State University.  Shannon said she really liked it, but she didn't think she could go there, because she might melt, lol!  As much as I miss her, it's actually been good having her away during all of this medical testing and the resulting conversations.
 

Shingles and NYC

Summer's off to a whiz-bang here! 

Shannon finished up her freshman year of high school with straight A's.  So proud of that girl! She went on an impromptu 4-day camping trip with her BFF, to kick her summer off right!

I've been noticing over the past 2 weeks that my arm was extremely itchy, and that my upper back/shoulder blade area was sore...like a sunburn.  My underarm ached.  Those symptoms didn't match any ailment that I knew of, so I just kept an eye on them, and tried to drink a lot of water in case my glands (underarm) were swollen, etc.  Saturday morning I woke up with a line of bug bites on my arm.  Patrick looked at them, and agreed that they were probably spider bites.  Sunday morning, my bites were more "clustered" looking, and I concluded that it must be poison ivy (I've never had poison ivy, so I was just guessing).  I felt better, because I assumed this explained my weird symptoms.

I was talking to a friend of mine about my "poison ivy," and she said that whenever she'd had poison ivy, it DIDN'T feel like what I was describing.  I did a little googling, and began to notice a trend of seeing Shingles mentioned.  Finally, I searched Shingles, and lo and behold, the description fit perfectly.  Argh.

I went to the doctor on Monday morning, and she confirmed it.  I've got anti-viral meds, and medicine to help with the nerve pain...but to be honest, I'm pretty miserable.  I feel generally ill, and my whole right upper body/arm feels like it is simultaneously being stung by fire ants, badly sunburned, and very deeply bruised. My arm is still developing bumps; they haven't blistered yet. Funzie! (My parents live with us, and have both had the Shingles vaccine, in case anyone remembers that, and wonders.)


While all of this has been happening, there has been other excitement in the house, too!  We've been preparing Shannon for her trip to NYC!!! For the past two years, her Girl Scout trip has been saving and planning this trip, and it's finally here!  She spent Monday night at her leader's house, and they caught an early morning flight on Tuesday.  She texted me a few pictures yesterday, and all I can say is that she has perma-grin!  My girl is in heaven, and I couldn't be happier for her.  It's a very nice distraction from my dumb arm.

Well. I did it!

Thursday was my last classroom day.  It doesn't feel real yet.  I'm not sure when it will.  Lots of people came by my room to wish me well. I didn't cry, but I sure felt like it, lol!

During each of our programs, my director made me stand up and be acknowledged because this was my last year, but also because it was my 10th year of service. I hate standing up in front of a group of people, but it was nice to have the recognition!

Yesterday my girlies took me out for lunch and gave me presents!  They gave me THE CUTEST Hello Kitty umbrella, and a Kohl's gc for "back to school" shopping. I know I will keep in touch with them...but I'm gonna miss my peeps.  They've been my "family" for so long.

I'm cleaning out my storage room here at home, and giving everything away.  Feels awesome.  I thought I'd be sad to see it go, but I've known for months that this day was coming...that it just feels good.

I have to work on Monday to finish cleaning out my classroom, and then our staff party is on Tuesday.  After that?  I'm unemployed.  Gulp!  LOL!

Heading into my last week

I have birthday parties at school the next two days, and then End of Year parties the following two days.  And then I'm done.  That's it. 

In other and unrelated news, I found this cool quote and it really resonated with me:
"Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones.  And when you have finished your daily task, go to sleep in peace.  God is awake." -Victor Hugo

That quote just really speaks to the worrier in me.  I can let go.  God won't let me fall.

The last Friday

This week has literally been a blur.  After Monday, and all the way through next Thursday...we have a party each day at school.  Whoa.  Yesterday and today were "Muffins for Mom" parties.  Fun, but a lot of work.  It's magical seeing the kids' faces, and then the expressions on the mommies faces as they enjoy their first preschool Mother's Day parties.  I love it.  I was working through the reality that these are my last preschool Mother's Day parties.  What I had forgotten is that today was my last preschool Friday.  We're really getting down to it, now.

Time to check in

Was kind of a weird week for me.  I wrote about our awesome weekend, and went to bed last Sunday night, ready for my normal week ahead of me.

When I woke up Monday morning, I knew something wasn't right.  My stomach was upset and as I rolled over in bed, my head just pounded.  Turns out I was getting a migraine that didn't leave me until Wednesday! Ugh.  I missed those three days of work, which is a *little* stressful because our Muffins for Moms parties are coming up this week, and it's just a really busy time wrapping up assessments, class projects, etc.  Oh well, couldn't be helped I guess!

Last night was Shannon's chorus Spring Showcase.  Her chorus sang two songs, and she had a solo!  We think s he did a great job!  What I'm most proud of though, is that it's HER idea to try out for these solos, to practice them, and that she has the courage to stand up in front of a large group and SING.  Awesome!

She is switching high schools next year and had to audition to get into the chorus at her new school.  That audition was last week, and she did so well that she was placed in Advanced Chorus, and the director only had her sing half of her piece, and didn't require her to sight-read! Go, Shannon!

Today was spent running errands and then working on Mother's Day stuff for preschool.  The best news is that I'm about 98% done now!  I just need to put the text into the cards, and one little boy needs to make up one page for his book.  That's it! Woot woot!