These are a few of my favorite things.

I must say that this is probably my favorite time of the year. It has been raining for a few days here in Washington and this morning when I woke up there was a big rainbow outside my bedroom window. This time of the year is so exciting because all the things I love are rapidly approaching.

September it starts getting cool again and I can wear long sleeve shirts and jeans. October is fantastic because I LOVE decorating and all the festivals that go on and the smells that go along with it: Caramel Apples, Cinnamon, Apple Cider, and Hazelnut. I LOVE fall. Colby informs me that we'll not have a "fall" here in Washington. I'm going to attempt to make it as 'fall' like as possible.

November- MY 25th birthday is coming up and I'm feeling like there might be a 'quarter life' crisis to go along with that. :) I told Colby that might include needing to buy a Mini Cooper. It's also Thanksgiving time- which will be a little sad this year considering we won't get our home cooked family meals. I think we have something planned for Thanksgiving though, we might go to Seattle. It will be our first Thanksgiving alone together and as nice as it would be to be with our families we are a family now so that will be nice.

December- What can I say?! I'm so excited for December because that means we'll be going back home. I'm so excited to see everyone again. I miss everyone SO much! And in January I'm going to Puerto Rico for 10 days! Amazing.

Char-Marie-1. Insurance Company- 0.

Since I was hospitalized in February I have been fighting with the insurance company to pay my medical bills to no avail. I had been calling every day and talking with "Jim" the insurance guy and really feeling like I was losing this major battle. Yesterday I awoke just like every morning and went down stairs to start the round of calls I would have to make that day to see if anything was being done. *Keep in mind this is more than 5 months later and the hospitals wanted their money...

I called my mom and discussed my options, my grandma called and I had another 'vent session', I talked to Colby in tears because I felt like I was at the end of my rope. We had just received another 500.00 bill to be paid upon receipt. One of those. I didn't know what we were going to do. Here I am looking for a new job in a new place, away from family and "Jose" from St. Joseph hospital wants his money, BUT "JIM" from insurance is giving him the finger and I'm trying to run intercept.

Well, I had just sat down to start filling out the complaint form against the insurance company, fully intent on running them into the ground... when Jim called,

JIM: "Hiiiii this is Jim (in a nasal-y voice) and I wanted to let you know that I did receive your fax and wanted to let you know that the claims department decided to pay 100%."

Just like that. Very nonchalant, like this life changing event didn't just take place in his little mind.

ME: "WHAT?! SHUT UP! Are you serious JIM!"

JIM: "Yeah. It should be going through sometime next week."

ME: "I LOVE YOU JIM! MY HUSBAND LOVES YOU JIM!"

JIM: "That's quite alright Ma'am"


That insurance company doesn't know how close that really was....Good job Jim, you saved your company.

Yeeessssssssssssssssssssssss!

I miss my girl!

As most of you know Maggie is my little lovebug. I love Macee an equal amount, but Maggie has grown to be very attached to her Auntie Bub. When I went down to Aurora to see the family everything would stop and she didn't pay attention to anyone else. Her second birthday is coming up and soon after she'll be moving back to Tennessee. I won't get to see the girls again until Christmas.

This is so HARD! Every time I call to talk to the family she finds out I'm on the phone and starts bawling. She tries to talk to me on the phone, but often it ends in tears.

Wa-Wa-Wa-Washington!!!

Colby and I are officially moved into our townhouse here on Washington State University Campus. I just have to say that I was a little nervous about being away from family, but I think we'll do just fine. It's so pretty here and the air is sweet. I definitely miss everyone, but right now there are so many things to do that I'm trying to keep my mind off of it.

I'm currently searching for a job. It looks like I might be a substitute teacher for the first year here in Washington, but maybe that's for the better. I'll have an opportunity to look into all the schools and see which school I'd like to be a part of next year.

Colby and I set up his studio here on campus tonight. He's got a pretty sweet little space. I'm extremely proud of him.

*I'll be posting pictures periodically.

Leaving on a Jet Plane....

Just a quick little note to let everyone know what's going on.

I am leaving in five days to move across the country to Washington. It's getting very real very quick. I will still be blogging when we get to Washington. I will post lots of pictures. The blogging will be more frequent there because I know my family will want to know what's going on.

See ya!

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...