I called a co-worker tonight, and she didn't pick up. She was probably busy with her three young kids at home. A little while later I received a text from her asking "What's up?"
I replied with, "If I have pneumonia, can I borrow your legos?"
After I sent it, I realized how funny that sounded and of course I heard her in my head saying "What? Of course!"
It started a week ago Sunday with a soar throat. I started my inhaler routine so my reactive asthma wouldn't set in followed by bronchitis. I have had a pretty good success rate with this. Three years now and nothing. But this time, I wasn't so lucky.
Sunday: Soar throat (Oh crap.)
Monday: Soar throat and so exhausted that it took all I could muster to put one foot in front of the other. (Oh no. I hope I am not getting the flu. It is going around my school.)
Tuesday: Still tired. Can't get up. (I muscle through the day.)
Wednesday: Soar throat is gone but now I have developed a little bit of a cough. (Still tired.)
Thursday: Feeling a lot better. (Sucking on cough drops all day long.)
Friday: Feel great. (Up at 4:30 am, at the pool at 5. Swam a mile. Had lots of energy. Celebrated my son's 13th birthday.)
Saturday: EXHAUSTED! Slept until 11:45 am (which is a record for me).
Sunday: Slept in again and went to a lacrosse coach training. We got out early and I didn't run around at all, which was good. (Went to bed at 8pm.)
Monday: Woke up feeling pretty good despite this annoying cough and loss of voice.
I am so in tune with my body that I knew this wasn't just a cold that lingered. So tonight I went to Fast Care. Told the nurse my story. She listened to me breathe. A lot. Had me cough. Listened to me breathe again. She sent me for a chest x-ray. Might be pneumonia.
I asked, "If it is pneumonia, can I go to school tomorrow morning? I am taking the afternoon off."
"Um, no," was her reply.
I don't have time for this. Keeping my fingers crossed that it is my reactive asthma having fun with my lungs.
So now I wait but I would like a call soon. Those plans won't get done on their own. And of course legos would be involved.
Monday, March 11, 2019
Sunday, March 10, 2019
I Don't
I don't want to write today because my head is in a fog. When I feel like this, my bed is the only place I like to be.
I don't want to write today because my breathing is worrisome. I woke up feeling as though there wasn't enough oxygen in my house.
I don't want to write today because the time change has messed with me. It is 7:20 at night but feels like 4:00 in the afternoon.
I don't want to write today because Sparrow Fast Care was a 60 minute wait. I drove right past knowing I should have stopped. I have already self diagnosed what I have.
I don't want to write today because there is another job I must do. And it can't be put off until tomorrow.
I don't want to write today because I didn't take the time to notice anything. I was trying to navigate through the day so I could get back in my bed to rest.
I don't want to write today.
I just don't.
I don't want to write today because my breathing is worrisome. I woke up feeling as though there wasn't enough oxygen in my house.
I don't want to write today because the time change has messed with me. It is 7:20 at night but feels like 4:00 in the afternoon.
I don't want to write today because Sparrow Fast Care was a 60 minute wait. I drove right past knowing I should have stopped. I have already self diagnosed what I have.
I don't want to write today because there is another job I must do. And it can't be put off until tomorrow.
I don't want to write today because I didn't take the time to notice anything. I was trying to navigate through the day so I could get back in my bed to rest.
I don't want to write today.
I just don't.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
A Fight
The first time I got bronchitis was during my senior year of high school. No fever but just an annoying cough filled with the phlegm that goes with it. It was in the spring, smack dab in the middle of lacrosse season. I pushed through, didn't miss school, practice or any games. But it came back again the next year. And the year after that and the year after that until it became a yearly thing. Every spring, right on schedule, it was there. I would go to my doctor, tell her that I was at the beginning stages of bronchitis and she would reassure me that I was far from the beginning but smack dab full in. When you get something like this every year, it becomes the norm and trying to squeeze that doctor appointment in just to confirm your diagnosis so you can get some medicine kind of gets put on the back burner. Especially when you are teaching. And have two little kids at home.
When I was eight months pregnant with my third child, I knew I was getting sick before it actually happened. I am so in tune with my body that I can feel it in my saliva. This time around though, it was November and not March when it usually happens. I thought I could wait it out but when I went to the doctor, I couldn't really breathe. My lungs were so heavy. I ended up being diagnosed with exercise induced asthma (I am a runner), had breathing treatments, was sent home with two different kinds of inhalers, and missed four days of school. Not fun. That was nine years ago.
Fast forward a few more years. Bronchitis still arrives right on schedule but this time my doctor is worried. The bronchitis is having a hay day on my lungs. My exercise induced asthma turned into reactive asthma. The moment I start getting sick, my lungs pretty much shut down. Walking and talking take so much out of me. It is horrible. So my doctor decides we need to be proactive. The moment I feel as though I am getting sick, I have to start taking an inhaler with a steroid to kick this out before it turns into bronchitis. And it works. It has been almost three years since I have had bronchitis.
My current situation is a fight. I am fighting off a cold that so badly wants to turn worse. I have been using my blue inhaler for a week. I have almost lost my voice. I slept until 11:45 this morning, which is a record for me. And when I stepped outside at noon, all I wanted to do was go for a run. It was 40 degrees, and you could smell spring in the air. But I couldn't because my lungs are heavy and I am fighting a battle. One that I hope to win.
When I was eight months pregnant with my third child, I knew I was getting sick before it actually happened. I am so in tune with my body that I can feel it in my saliva. This time around though, it was November and not March when it usually happens. I thought I could wait it out but when I went to the doctor, I couldn't really breathe. My lungs were so heavy. I ended up being diagnosed with exercise induced asthma (I am a runner), had breathing treatments, was sent home with two different kinds of inhalers, and missed four days of school. Not fun. That was nine years ago.
Fast forward a few more years. Bronchitis still arrives right on schedule but this time my doctor is worried. The bronchitis is having a hay day on my lungs. My exercise induced asthma turned into reactive asthma. The moment I start getting sick, my lungs pretty much shut down. Walking and talking take so much out of me. It is horrible. So my doctor decides we need to be proactive. The moment I feel as though I am getting sick, I have to start taking an inhaler with a steroid to kick this out before it turns into bronchitis. And it works. It has been almost three years since I have had bronchitis.
My current situation is a fight. I am fighting off a cold that so badly wants to turn worse. I have been using my blue inhaler for a week. I have almost lost my voice. I slept until 11:45 this morning, which is a record for me. And when I stepped outside at noon, all I wanted to do was go for a run. It was 40 degrees, and you could smell spring in the air. But I couldn't because my lungs are heavy and I am fighting a battle. One that I hope to win.
Friday, March 8, 2019
You May Not Know
During the current session with my first grade STEAM students, we are creating a collaborative piece of art. I have nine different first grade classes so as you can imagine this piece is going to be large. We are finding inspiration from Dr. Temple Grandin and using the style of Andy Warhol to create this piece. Today after reading the book The Girl Who Thought in Pictures to the first graders, we talked about being unique. What sets us apart from others? We played the game four corners discovering what makes us alike and different from our classmates. So I find inspiration for today's post from Dr. Temple Grandin, Andy Warhol, and Mrs. Park's first grade class. Here are some things you may not know about me.
1. I didn't learn how to read until third grade. I was so shy in school that I never talked and easily fell through the cracks. It wasn't until I met Mrs. Teles in 4th grade that I felt as though a teacher finally saw me.
2. I was held back in sixth grade. It did nothing for me academically but socially it changed my life.
3. I have my grandmother's feet. We would agree to disagree about who had worse feet. I won. I ended up having an operation on my left foot called Triple Arthrodesis. I was 26, on bed rest for a month and in a cast for three. And I limped for another year.
3. The only thing I can really cook is my Italian grandmother's spaghetti and meatballs.
4. I refuse to get the flu shot. The only time I had it I ended up with walking pneumonia.
5. I have a passion for teaching in the inner city. If it wasn't for a few odd things during my second year of teaching, I would probably still be in Detroit.
6. I am fascinated with dyslexia. I would like to go back to school and get a degree in Dyslexia Studies.
7. I would rather have the kids who struggle in my classroom than the ones who get it. I seem to understand those kids more because I was one myself.
8. If it wasn't for the recommendation of my high school math teacher, I probably would never have gotten into college. My GPA and ACT scores were nowhere near average.
9. I was an extremely hyperactive child. Although no one saw it in school, my parents did at home. I grew up on no sugar.
10. My wedding was in the same church as my mother's funeral. If she couldn't be there physically, I wanted her to be there spiritually.
11. I missed one day of school K-12 with a fever. Seventh grade. I remember it clear as day. I was so mad at my mom for not allowing me to go to school because I hated to miss things.
12. I love to write. Always have. I find comfort and peace in letting my thoughts flow onto the paper.
13. I am wildly creative. I can think of ideas for anything.
14. I love odd numbers. My favorite number is 17.
15 What about you? What is something people may not know? Share in the comments.
1. I didn't learn how to read until third grade. I was so shy in school that I never talked and easily fell through the cracks. It wasn't until I met Mrs. Teles in 4th grade that I felt as though a teacher finally saw me.
2. I was held back in sixth grade. It did nothing for me academically but socially it changed my life.
3. I have my grandmother's feet. We would agree to disagree about who had worse feet. I won. I ended up having an operation on my left foot called Triple Arthrodesis. I was 26, on bed rest for a month and in a cast for three. And I limped for another year.
3. The only thing I can really cook is my Italian grandmother's spaghetti and meatballs.
4. I refuse to get the flu shot. The only time I had it I ended up with walking pneumonia.
5. I have a passion for teaching in the inner city. If it wasn't for a few odd things during my second year of teaching, I would probably still be in Detroit.
6. I am fascinated with dyslexia. I would like to go back to school and get a degree in Dyslexia Studies.
7. I would rather have the kids who struggle in my classroom than the ones who get it. I seem to understand those kids more because I was one myself.
8. If it wasn't for the recommendation of my high school math teacher, I probably would never have gotten into college. My GPA and ACT scores were nowhere near average.
9. I was an extremely hyperactive child. Although no one saw it in school, my parents did at home. I grew up on no sugar.
10. My wedding was in the same church as my mother's funeral. If she couldn't be there physically, I wanted her to be there spiritually.
11. I missed one day of school K-12 with a fever. Seventh grade. I remember it clear as day. I was so mad at my mom for not allowing me to go to school because I hated to miss things.
12. I love to write. Always have. I find comfort and peace in letting my thoughts flow onto the paper.
13. I am wildly creative. I can think of ideas for anything.
14. I love odd numbers. My favorite number is 17.
15 What about you? What is something people may not know? Share in the comments.
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| Isabella and I on the first day of school last August. |
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Thirteen
My mother passed away two weeks before I met my husband John for the second time. I can't help but think she had something to do with our meeting. My mother had never met John or my three kids. She would have loved them all.
One of my fondest memories I have of my mother is how special she made my sisters and me feel on our birthdays. Our birthdays were the one day where all the attention was focused on us. She gave us birthday parties filled with fun, friends, and presents we didn't know we wanted. So when I had my own kids, I knew that I would carry on my mother's tradition.
Tomorrow my son turns 13. He rarely asks for anything and said he doesn't want anything for his birthday. He has everything he needs. This is hard for me. I want to make his birthday special for him, so I will drive him to school (something I don't normally do) and watch him play Fortnite (something else I don't normally do). I will decorate the dining room and surprise him with donuts for breakfast. Hopefully when he is an adult, he will remember these little things. As it is the little things that make for the special memories.
One of my fondest memories I have of my mother is how special she made my sisters and me feel on our birthdays. Our birthdays were the one day where all the attention was focused on us. She gave us birthday parties filled with fun, friends, and presents we didn't know we wanted. So when I had my own kids, I knew that I would carry on my mother's tradition.
Tomorrow my son turns 13. He rarely asks for anything and said he doesn't want anything for his birthday. He has everything he needs. This is hard for me. I want to make his birthday special for him, so I will drive him to school (something I don't normally do) and watch him play Fortnite (something else I don't normally do). I will decorate the dining room and surprise him with donuts for breakfast. Hopefully when he is an adult, he will remember these little things. As it is the little things that make for the special memories.
 |
| John at 9. |
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
A Bit Too Good
One of my favorite sports that I played growing up was lacrosse. It was relatively new to my high school when I joined the team. And I found that I was really good at it. I played center and rarely lost a draw. I could read the field and know what was happening before it happened. I loved that game and went through a bit of mourning when I realized my college didn't have a team.
A few years ago the town where my daughters attend school began a U10 lacrosse program for girls. The high school has a reputation for being really good, so I was excited that my girls could be exposed to the sport I love at such a young age. Last year was their first year playing, and I found myself helping to coach the team. Almost all the players had never played before. They improved immensely throughout the season and had a great time.
Well, lacrosse season has rolled around again and a few months back I was a bit worried that we wouldn't even have enough girls to play because most of ours from last year were moving up to the fifth/sixth grade team. So I did a little recruiting. Maybe a little too much. The club offered free stick sessions to come try the sport out. I invited a few kids who ended up inviting a few more and well, you know where that ended up.
Currently I have 16 first through fourth graders on my team and I know of at least four more who will be signing up. Twenty is a great number especially when many of the girls play multiple sports. I am thrilled to be able to help instill a love of the game with players this young.
Now I need to figure out how to make sure all the girls get equal playing time!
A few years ago the town where my daughters attend school began a U10 lacrosse program for girls. The high school has a reputation for being really good, so I was excited that my girls could be exposed to the sport I love at such a young age. Last year was their first year playing, and I found myself helping to coach the team. Almost all the players had never played before. They improved immensely throughout the season and had a great time.
Well, lacrosse season has rolled around again and a few months back I was a bit worried that we wouldn't even have enough girls to play because most of ours from last year were moving up to the fifth/sixth grade team. So I did a little recruiting. Maybe a little too much. The club offered free stick sessions to come try the sport out. I invited a few kids who ended up inviting a few more and well, you know where that ended up.
Currently I have 16 first through fourth graders on my team and I know of at least four more who will be signing up. Twenty is a great number especially when many of the girls play multiple sports. I am thrilled to be able to help instill a love of the game with players this young.
Now I need to figure out how to make sure all the girls get equal playing time!
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Supports
One of the things that my school does really well is meet the needs of students, whether this be in small groups or one one one. Besides my responsibility as a STEAM teacher, I meet with two students on an individual basis before my plan time, check in with another, and meet with two groups after my lunch offering support with their reading. This afternoon only one of the four students in my first group was here. The other three were out sick. Since there was only one student, I told this child's teacher that she would be back before her normal one o'clock time.
When we got to the room and started our lesson, this girl asked, "Can I stay the whole time?"
"Sure," I replied. "But don't you want to get back to your class?"
"Yes and no."
"What do you mean?"
"Yes because I like my class, but no because I like being in here."
"Why is that?"
"Because I like what we do. I feel like I am getting better at reading."
And just like that, we worked the full 30 minutes. We went through our routine but instead of competing with three others for my attention, it was just her. Something I think she needed.
And we did finish a few minutes early. But instead of sending her back, I asked if she wanted to help me get things ready for my DK class.
She was elated.
It was then when I realized that sometimes, those small connections make all the difference in the world.
When we got to the room and started our lesson, this girl asked, "Can I stay the whole time?"
"Sure," I replied. "But don't you want to get back to your class?"
"Yes and no."
"What do you mean?"
"Yes because I like my class, but no because I like being in here."
"Why is that?"
"Because I like what we do. I feel like I am getting better at reading."
And just like that, we worked the full 30 minutes. We went through our routine but instead of competing with three others for my attention, it was just her. Something I think she needed.
And we did finish a few minutes early. But instead of sending her back, I asked if she wanted to help me get things ready for my DK class.
She was elated.
It was then when I realized that sometimes, those small connections make all the difference in the world.
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