You say Worshington, I say Washington...

This weekend we had a going away party at my in-laws house. We had a fish fry and everyone came out to party with us before we left- It was a good time had by all. After everyone had been talking for a while my mom spoke up:

MOM: "So Char, you're going to Pullman, Washington, not Pulling?"

Me: "Mom, are you just figuring this out?"

Mom: "Well I thought that's what you've been saying."

Me: "No mom. We're going to Pullman, not Pulling."

Mom: "I didn't say Pulling. I said Pullin'. "

Me: "Oh, I'm sorry, drop the G. We're moving to Pullman, Washington mom. Not Pullin' Worshington!"


You gotta love her!
I love you Mimsy!

Back to School...

So, summer school has started. I went from fifth graders who know how to use the restroom properly to preschoolers....That's right folks I said it, PRESCHOOL!!! Yesterday was my first day and I was a little excited about having the younger kids again, but after the my day was over I was questioning if I even wanted to have my own children. I forgot how exhausting it was to have the little ones. I MISS my fifth graders. I think I'm a fifth grade teacher at heart.

And the school year comes to an end...

Sometimes we're meant to reach certain people in our lives. I feel that I've accomplished that task with a few of my students and even if it's only a small few it is very worth the effort. Friday was my last day of school with my kids and it was a very sad day for me. It turned out to be a sad day for all of us. From the moment the kids strolled in on Friday morning one of my girls burst into tears... I had been crying the night before and early that morning. It was a feeling of pride/sadness my chest felt like it had been put in a vice grip.

By the end of the day we were all crying, boys included. I will miss this group of kids SO much. They've definitely left their mark on me, I can only hope they'll look back on fifth grade and remember me. They're writing me through e-mail right now, but they have my new Washington address on stationary that I got for them so they can send me snail mail. I still have a teacher from 3rd grade that I write back and forth with. She's partly responsible for my career path.

Across the Universe....

On another note.....

My wonderful husband got accepted into grad school. As of now it looks like we'll be headed to Pullman, Washington. I'll keep updating-- Wish us luck!


Char-Marie

A thinner me....

Alright let's see.... I know what you're going to say, "YOU SAID YOU'D BE START WRITING EVERY NIGHT!!!" Well you probably wouldn't be that distraught, but I can pretend.

I've been through A LOT the past few weeks. I just got out of a two week stay in the hospital and it was extremely rough. I got sick on February 10th and two days later I was admitted into the Butler Hospital with a extreme viral infection. I was supposed to be getting better with the fluid they were giving me, but I got a lot worse that night and by the next evening I was taken by ambulance to a Kansas City hospital where I stayed 8 days. Within 20 minutes of being there they told my family that I was dangerously low on potassium. *kidney failure/brain damage low. While I was in the hospital I lost 20 pounds and threw up everyday....I went through rigorous tests and my white count fell to 2000, the normal amount is 5000. When I was released I was taken to my parents house to "recover" *because my husband had to work and couldn't be home with me* While I was home I started throwing up again and was back in the hospital the next day. I spent 7 days in that hospital as well. I continued throwing up all through that hospital stay as well and they ended up having to give me a nasal gastric tube.... Which is a polite way of saying they greased up a tube and shoved it up my nose and down into my stomach. It was the most horrible experience I've ever had and it makes me anxious even thinking about it.

I had my stomach pumped through my nose because all that time of being sick and in bed my stomach stopped working because all that time I wasn't eating. To make a long horrible story short.......I'm so glad to be back on the road to recovery.

One and Two and Three and....

Dear Readers,

Ok ok.... I know I wasn't back every night like I said I would be, but this is a start right? Thank you for the comments, I really had thought everyone had forgot about this site! I've been stretching like I said I would be and although it's tough right now, a positive mental attitude is really what I need to get me through. Sometimes I feel horrible about even complaining and many nights I've stayed awake crying because I know that SO many more people have pain much worse. I am my own worst enemy at times.

One thing I know for sure is that without my amazing husband I would be in a much worse shape. He is absolutely my saving grace. He has stayed up with me night after night, he pushes me to my limits, and I adore him. I am a lucky woman, blessed in so many ways.

My families... Mom, Dad, Mary Beth, and Bryan are also a huge support.

xxox,

Char-Marie

Macee Scott

Back Pain, Shmack Pain....

Dear Readers,

It has been a long time since I've written in my blog. I know I say this all the time, but I've been so busy. Tonight I was sitting on the couch like I have been the past few nights and realized...this isn't busy! I have been extremely sick this month and am feeling better now, however, I haven't had time to really rest since I've gone back to work. I have really been struggling with my back pain lately. I sometimes feel at the end of the my rope with it. I've been to doctor after doctor, had injection after injection.....this February will be one year of dealing with this pain- that NEVER goes away. It has been constant since the first time it started hurting. I don't know what the doctors are going to do, but I am trying to trust that they will figure something out. I think I might start updating every night...For a while this may be the most boring posts ever, but I'm going to use this for an outlet.

In family news - Colby and I will be expecting to find out whether or not he's made it into grad school in the next week or so. We'll be hearing from 2 schools. The other schools will follow later on next month.
UPDATE: Stori has had her 2nd baby Macee Scott and she is adorable. She looks just like her momma. Life seems to be flying by.

I'm having a great time with my students and learning more about myself every day :)

xxox
Love,

Char-Marie

Miss Magpie is One!

Maggie turned 1 this August, and she is now talking and walking up a storm! She's my little lovebug! She's Adorable! She's going to be a lamb for Halloween!

Few and Far Between

I realize my posts are few and far between, I apologize! I've been busy busy, it's almost parent teacher conferences, I'm so nervous! I absolutely love my job- the kids are great. I have pictures uploaded to my computer now so I'll show you a few of Colby and I' s little house.

This is our Retro Kitchen. I love it!






This is our living room. One good way to describe how big our house is, is to tell you that we can vacuum all of our bedrooms/living room from one electric outlet..... :)

Yesterday

Ahh the weekends... Yesterday I woke up early to greet my parents in the lawn of our new house. It was the first time my dad had seen it, and I think he really liked it. Mom and I went downtown , where they happened to be projecting "Latin music" over our quaint little square. We danced around to each shop and stopped into the sweet shop, an old fashioned ice cream parlor. After taking the parents to the in-laws I had the bright idea to go to the wine cellar in town and do a wine tasting..... BIG, H U G E .... Mistake

Long story short- Later on that evening my husband was driving us home while my mom was hanging out the back window dry heaving... Ahh the weekends..

Update!!

Dear Readers,

I've been getting little comments and I'm excited that you all are still interested in my small life! I've been such a busy girl since getting married, and starting my career. This is the fourth day of school and I feel like I'm already buried under stacks of paper. My class seems to be pretty well behaved, but I think we're still in the honeymoon stage. This weekend Colby and I might go for a 40 mile bike ride on a trail here in Missouri. 40 miles one way....I wonder if they make those seats that small kids ride behind their parents in- in a larger size? Colby wouldn't mind.

Colby and I are doing fantastic he's starting to look into Grad schools to apply to this December. Some of the places include: Austin, TX, San Antonio, TX, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Washington, Oregon, Massachusetts, Chicago, IL, and a few others.

I hope everyone is doing well! Thanks for sticking with me.

Hello again! It has been awhile since I've updated. Colby and I just moved into our first home and it is so cute. I'll eventually post pictures of it, and more pictures of the wedding. I'm exhausted it's been 100 degrees and SO humid, but most of the heavy lifting out in the heat is finished. This is short, but it's nice to have updates.

Until then.....

Love,

Char-Marie

I'm still here.

So it's been a long time, I'm well aware. I've been crazy busy, until now. Up until the wedding I was running around chasing my shadow- I had school and graduation, bachelorette party, rehearsal, WEDDING, then off to sunny Florida for our honeymoon, which was amazing. As soon as we got back from the honeymoon I started teaching summer school. Since summer school has been over, I've been sitting around trying to figure out what to do with my time.

Soon we'll be able to start moving in to our house, and in August I'll be able to get into my classroom and start moving everything around. Exciting stuff. When Colby and I get our house and have the Internet, I'll be able to write more often. I'll leave with this picture of Colby and I at the wedding. I'll add more pictures later on, the wedding was BEAUTIFUL!!

Not a Pill Popper...

So about three months ago I really hurt my hip and have been having problems with every day routines like bending over to tie my shoes. I did go to the doctor and received a steroid shot and some anti-inflammatory medicine. I quit taking the medicine even though I wasn't supposed to, because it was inconvenient. The pills were way too big and I can barely watch someone take pills! I was splitting them in half with a spoon or some other tool that was handy at the time, but I would forget to bring the spoon and forget to take the medicine. Tonight I was reading on the computer trying to do a self diagnosis when Colby walked in the room. He stood there reading over my shoulder and then he said, "See Char-Marie it says: It is important to know that the anti-inflammatory medication is not for pain relief, but to reduce the inflammation in the joint. Do not stop taking the medication until your doctor tells you to do so or it will (basically) NOT WORK." I looked at him and told him that the pills were just too big and blah blah blah..

He came back 5 minutes later with most of the pills (and there are A LOT!) from the bottle split into perfect halves. "Now there is no excuse not to get better." Everyone needs that person in their life that will chop their pills in half. I'm a lucky girl...

Life

Life is way too short. One of the kindergarten students at my school was just diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Her mother found a lump on her abdomen and took her to urgent care, a couple hours later they were on a helicopter to St. Judes. The cancer is in her liver, and her lungs. My heart is broken for her and her family. Please pray for them!

It really makes you want to sit and evaluate your life, are you living it to the fullest? I take for granted so many things in my life, I can't imagine someone being fine one day and having stage 4 cancer the next. The doctors think she has probably had it since she was three, but she's never really been sick. They say it went through a growth spurt within the past 2 months. I don't even know what to say.

Wish List

The other day I walked into the IPA Educational Supply Store.....*Cue the singing from above...* It was amazing. I'm definitely starting to feel like a real teacher. Seriously, for instance the other day when the toilet paper ran out I thought to myself: Could I use this roll for something? I think about that with everything now.

Tonight for an entire hour I made a wish list of all the things that I want for my classroom off of the IPA website. Just for fun I thought I'd link it to my blog.... : )

Feel free to scroll through!

http://catalog.ipaeducational.com/find_wish_list.php?email=ldybug02@gmail.com


Have fun!

Are you smarter than a fifth grader?

Alright I know I've been away for awhile, but give me a break! Since I've last blogged I have accepted a job teaching 5th grade near Kansas City, MO. I'm super excited, but a little nervous. I haven't stepped foot in a fifth grade class since I was in fifth grade! The only thing I can remember about fifth grade was that our class pet was a Madagascar hissing cockroach.

I'm going to make it, but may not make it out with any hair. I've already started buying things to get my room ready. I thought in the beginning that I would have a kindergarten class, but it turns out fifth grade was in my future. So I'm stuck with Dr. Seuss, I hope fifth grade likes the theme....because I have lots of cute-sy stuff. Ehh.. So if you find something you'd just LOVE to contribute to my room I'd be delighted! I'm so extremely excited, nervous, and anxious all in the same breath. Wish me LUCK...I'll need it.

YeeHaw

I know it's been a long time since I posted, but I have been so busy with school stuff and wedding stuff! The girls have been fitted for their dresses and now we're basically just waiting for the day! I am extremely excited about getting everything started.

I have received a few e-mails asking me how kindergarten is going now that I'm in charge- it's going fantastic! I love being at school it doesn't feel like just another job. One little boy at recess today grabbed my hand as we were walking outside and said, "Miss can we talk?" I said of course we can. He said, "OK, what do you want to talk about?" I replied: anything you want. He was holding my hand looking at my ring and talking about what a pretty ring I had. He wanted to talk about everything under the sun. We played I spy, and he told me about his business he was going to open up called FAMILY FUN. I told him that was awesome and could he please hire me someday? He said, "Sure Miss, but if you die before it opens then you can't work there." To which I replied, "I'll try not to do that!"

Today I was offered my very first teaching position- 2nd grade. I'm giving it a few days and making sure that's what I want. EXCITING!!!!!

Oy!

This week was my spring break, and I've really done nothing, but work on lesson plans, papers, resume, etc... I'm getting very stressed out because Tuesday is career day at Missouri State, and I will be able to interview with lots of school districts. I'm afraid I'll sit down to interview and completely blank... 5 years of college, huh?

I'm completely excited about the wedding, everything is coming together so nicely! I have the best family in the world. My parents are helping me out tremendously! I couldn't be more happy. I'm doing dress fittings Tuesday with the girls, and we're sending out invitations this week! Colby's birthday is on Wednesday, and my teacher's last day is Wednesday too. I'll be taking over the kindergarten class all by my lonesome starting Thursday! Wish me luck!

This was a very random post.... I realize.