Oh MANNNNNNNN!
02/16/2007 02:20 p.m.
Ok... I'll admit it, I put off going to the dentist myself as long as I can. I make sure I get my kids in regularly, but me... I'm doing good to get in once a year. I had a lot of dental work done as a kid/adolescent, then I had braces as a teen, and as an adult I've had to deal with some problems that were the result of the orthodontia, so yeah, I try to avoid going.

But I PROMISE! I was just about to make an appointment for a check up over Spring Break next month. I guess someone thought they'd speed things up and make SURE I get to the dentist. I popped a cough drop in my mouth on the way to work this morning, and within less than a minute one of my teeth started feeling really weird. When I got to work, I looked in the mirror and there was a white spot at the base of my tooth, so I tried to rub it off.... it was a huge chunk of my tooth! Holy COW! And yes I freaked out a bit, I've never had something like this happen, at least not without a plausible explanation. So to cut to the chase... I am going to the Dentist first thing Monday morning (that's the soonest they could get me in), in the meantime, better stay away from the sweets, and cold/hot extremes for my poor little sensitive toothy.


I am currently O.K.

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The tears just came...
02/06/2007 06:56 p.m.
I've been battling some kind of flu/cold sinus thing for more than a month. When I went to the Dr. last week Thursday, he failed to give me a prescription for any of my upper respiratory stuff. Friday when I was leaving work my tonsils and adenoids were swollen, sore and rock hard. My lymph glands under my arms were also swollen and tender... and I KNEW... another weekend spent mostly in bed and resting. I have too much to be doing to keep going down HARD every other weekend.

Last night was my Grad. Class. We met in the library, and this was not like ANY library I've ever known. There were NO books! Yes, I do realize I'm a more mature student, but egads, I'm NOT ancient. I'm sitting at a monitor trying to figure out what the heck is going on, while everyone else in my class is zipping through searches, and printing out articles.

Even after the "librarian" gave her presentation (can she still be called a librarian when there aren't any books? this really bothers me; I want to put my hands on something tangible and smell the pages and printer's ink!) anyway, after the presentation, I was still frustrated, and still feeling puny from the weekend, the tears just started falling.

How embarrasing is that? A grown woman crying because of a blasted computer (I'd have liked to have blasted it straight to Mars!) I couldn't get into the database for the search because I couldn't remember my user name or password for my college, and it just got worse and worse, and the whole time I'm hearing and seeing everyone around me printing out pages and pages of articles for their summaries and research.

Finally, at long last, the librarian helped me find SOMETHING to use for my summaries. At that point I didn't care that we couldn't find the topic I wanted to research, just give me something that will fulfill the assignment requirements. And I think to myself.... I paid $1000 for THIS torture and headache?

So I survived the humiliation, got home,got in bed and read one of the articles until I started falling asleep.

This morning, as I'm getting ready for work, I discovered that I failed to put contact solution on one of my contacts last night... does it every end?


I am currently Depressed

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I'm a Grad Student Now
01/22/2007 08:08 p.m.
With all the other things that have been going on in my mixed up, crazy life lately, I forgot to let you all know. I GOT ACCEPTED TO GRAD SCHOOL!

Ok, so it's a conditional admission because I haven't taken the GRE yet, but my class starts tonight. I'm SO nervous, anxious, excited.

Wish me luck!



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Hey there, it's me again
09/22/2006 02:40 p.m.
Life has been one crazy, hazy fog since August, before school started, but let me take a moment and see if I can catch up on everything. I'm sorry if things are all a bit jumbled, but I've had serious sleep issues lately, so my brain isn't working nomrally.

After meeting with the principal and the new 504 coordinator at my son's school, he was promoted to the 8th grade. He had his 504 meeting for this year before the end of August, not the end of October like last year. On his first progress report he brought home ALL passing grades, and even had an A in a non-elective class. WOOHOO!

He's still having a lot of struggles, but I'll touch on those more later.

My husband left his salary job in August, and went back to work as a mechanic at hourly wages. I fully supported and still support his decision to leave the company he was working for. He's making close to the same, or a little bit more now, but he doesn't have insurance. Now I HAVE to stay at my job, at least until we can decide how to carry insurance on the whole family. It's already cost me over $6000 in premiums for medical insurance just on myself and my two boys! So much for the state supplement to our insurance huh?

I had to fly out to CA last week. It was a court mandated appearance for a pre-settlement conference. I have to say that I truly HATE Inyo County. It is TOO much like West Texas:dry, brown, desolate. The only thing that I got from that journey was a major case of jetlag and a HUGE bruise on my leg from the flight out. Long story short, I had to make the decision to dismiss the case because that's what was in the best interest of my son. Just last night I learned that he's been having "visions" of his father's death.. "it's like a movie that keeps replaying over and over". So it's back to the counsellor. He had never shared this with any of us, not even his counsellor.

My husband and I are both still on the board of directors at the Little League where my boys play. That's keeping me very busy. I'm spending about 15 hours a week, give or take a few hours, in the evenings up there running the concession stand etc. Last night I was by myself in the concession stand all night, cooking, taking orders, etc., etc. There were 3 games and we made over $250. Not bad, but today my back and legs hurt like nobody's business.

And Finally... I have actually finally sent my application out to go to Grad. School. Hopefully, if all goes well, I'll know whether or nor I've been accepted by the middle of October. Let's hope it goes well! Then I can contemplate whether I'm going to stay a teacher full time, or go back to just part-time while I'm earning my Master's.

So many things to think about, so many things to get done... SO LITTLE time!

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Letter to an Administrator
07/26/2006 09:15 p.m.
July 26, 2006
In regards to: Retention of my child

Dear Administrator,

This letter is to inform you of my opposition to the retention of my son. I have notified the school of my opposition and intention to take this to the next higher level and have contacted a 504 advocate.

The basis for my appeal is because I do not feel that my son’s 504 accommodations were not met or were not met consistently by the faculty and staff at his school last year. Despite numerous contact and correspondence on my part throughout the year, requests that my son’s accommodations be re-examined due to continued lack of success, that a BIP be put in place, etc. It was not until May 8th, that there another meeting was held with my child's teachers and the 504 coordinator at his school. At this point it was too late to implement anything that would change his outcome for the year. I feel that if my requests had been acknowledged and things had been dealt with when I first began expressing my concerns and asking what other accommodations, etc. could be implemented; the outcome for my child may have been much different.

As a student with a disability, identified and eligible for 504, there are laws and procedures that must be followed. Instead of making further accommodations, it was suggested that my son be referred to Special Education. When I specifically asked what Special Education could offer my child that 504 could not, my questions were unanswered. I should not have to place my child under a special education classification in order for him to receive the accommodations and supports that he needs to enable him to be successful.

My son has gone through some very difficult things in the past 3 years, including having to be hospitalized for severe depression during the school year last year. I have gone to great lengths and a lot of expense to get him help and treatment outside of school and it has not been until the last 2 months that we have seen consistent improvement in the way he deals with his disability. I feel that my child is being punished due to the affects of his disability and the faculty and staff’s failure to follow through with 504 accommodations that were in place, further recommendations that were made, inconsistency with interventions, lack of communication with me when my son went from an improved status back to a failing status, and not pursuing further accommodations that could have been put in place.


Sincerely,

A parent who refuses to sit idly by any more.


*** names and locations have been ommitted to protect the innocent, and the not so innocent.***

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More Dr. Visits
04/16/2006 12:52 a.m.
It seems I have been to the Dr more this year than ever before... and I haven't actually been "sick" this year!

Last year I went to the ER several times, due to MRSA and some pretty potent back pains, but this year?!

I went to see my GYN in November, because of some PMS issues. She changed my BC to a much lower dose and put me on a mood regulator,as well as encouraged me to change my diet. From November to now I've lost 22 lbs!

I went back to see her in December, January, February and March. During the last visit with her I talked to her about the constant numbness and tingling in my right shoulder, and asked (OMG I am actually contemplating this!) about reduction surgery (I have an aunt who had more than 10 lbs removed from her chest!) She referred me to her husband who is a family practitioner.

I saw him last week. He put me on a steriodal anti-inflammatory for 10 days to see if that would help my shoulder and hip (sciatic) pain. It has helped it, but not cured it, although it's only been 2 1/2 days. He also had a battery of lab work done, gave me some exercises to do (although I can't find a corner in my house that doesn't have something crammed into it to actually DO the exercises), and told me to come back in 3-4 weeks. Next steps include MRI's , EKG, EMG, etc.

Hopefully before summer is over there will be an answer and a solution. I currently sleep with a pillow under my rt. leg, and can't stand pressure on it at all, and a pillow to hold my rt. shoulder up as well... kind of puts a damper on the newlywed status too.

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Just over 24 hours...
03/10/2006 02:20 p.m.
and I'm at work rightn ow!? What on earth was I thinking?

The church isn't decorated yet, there are still some arrangements that need to be made, the tables for the reception need to be dressed and the room decorated!

I still have to get the decoration for the grooms cake,
Don't forget new nylons...

M. is supposed to be driving in from working in Dallas tonight, but the transmission is going out on his work truck. He doesn't know if it will make it all the way back to Houston!!

Ok, so NOW I'm starting to stress out!

M.'s ex told him yesterday that "we need to sit down and talk"... I have a very strong feeling that she's gonna pull something crappy to try to screw up the wedding tomorrow.

I have to go pick up the rental car tonight. If she gets snotty about him running late to pick up the kids, I told him to tell her that her other choice was to meet me at the half-way point. That's going to put the pressure on me because the pick-up time is 6 pm and the rehearsal is supposed to be at 7 pm.

Then I have to go pick up the cakes and half of the food at 7 am tomorrow. We have to go get our hair done, and I have to pick up the rest of the food at 10 am. I still don't have a punch bowl... oh well, guess we'll make due with plastic pitchers for the punch at this point.

I did pick up the coffee urn, and the church has a huge tea urn.

I don't know if the alterations are finished on my dress... I'm almost afraid to ask.

I have to press the guys' shirts before tomorrow too.

I know I'm forgetting something... maybe it's how I'm going to eat or sleep between now and 1 pm tomorrow.

God help me get through the next two days!!!
I am currently Scattered

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In just over 48 hours....
03/08/2006 02:33 p.m.
I'll be married!

Nervous? It seems everyone asks me that, but who has time? Since we (I) am doing this almost entirely by myself, and as of yet I haven't taken any time off of work to do it... tomorrow will be a different story, and maybe Friday as well.

I have to order the food, get the table linens, the plates, decorations, etc., etc. for the reception.

I don't know if the alterations are done on my dress yet... I'm afraid to even ask! The boys' and girls' outfits are complete as of last night. M. just needs to get his pants, and A. needs to polish his boots.

The bouquets are done, I just have to take mine up to the church.

I need to go ahead and reserve a rental car so that we have a vehicle we can ALL fit into without sitting on each other's laps.

My soon to be sister-in-law has helped out quite a bit. She picked up the cake topper and guest book the other day. She also works in a bakery and they are doing my cakes, I just need to pay for them.

I still need to pre-record the music I'm singing, just in case I get a bad case of the nerves the day of and can't pull it off. I don't think that will be a problem, but...

I also have to get up early on the day of to get mine and the girls' hair done. Also, two of the boys need haircuts.

M's ex is being a total snot right now. She "refuses to support this marriage in any way", although she remarried two years ago, and will not pay to getting my soon to be step-children's hair cut. She's being pissy because M. let his sister and I take S. to get her ears pierced. That, and she doesn't want to lose the last of her hold/control over M. She's used the kids, and other methods, of manipulating him to get what she wanted for years. She and I were in HS together 1 1/2 years, she knows me well enough to know I won't let her continue to do that. Not to mention that her own mother just recently reported her to CPS again (I've been told that she's done it at least 2 times in the past).

Why am I allowing myself to think about the negatives that she is trying to throw in the way. At least she has to work the day of and won't be at the ceremony! Thank you God!

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Finally! Got the dress!
02/27/2006 02:19 a.m.
After trying to order a dress for my wedding (3/11) online, only to have them tell me it was no longer available in my size... well I went frantic for a few days, checking every place I could imagine online to find something suitable for our casual/country wedding at a price I was willing to pay (less than $200!) I went to 4 western wear stores, and a special occasion dress store as well, before we set out on the "big adventure" yesterday.

In miserable weather (100% chance of rain, which managed to fall directly over us for the majority of the day) we drove over 100 miles... from one end of town to the other, and back again, oh and just for fun, one more time to the far reaches of the county visiting 3 more western wear stores, and 4 more bridal stores!

20 minutes before the store closed, we walked into the Bridal Outlet... in less than 15 minutes I tried on more than 8 dresses! Yes, I won the gold in the dressing room marathon! I know have a lovely, ivory gown. Strapless, lace bodice, long satin skirt... and thank God I have a mother who can sew like no bodies business (when she's of the mind to) because the bodice was an unbelievable 4 inches too big around the top! The skirt will need to be shortened about 8 inches... once I get my boots and she can mark it.

Amazingly, my dress and the bridesmaids outfits are going to be much cheaper than the groom and groomsmen!

At least I've finally gotten the dress... I've ordered the grooms/men attire, we have to get boots for the kids still; and other odds and ends... but it's amazing what you can do in less than 30 days... if I weren't having to work I'd have finished this more than a week ago!

I'm currently feeling great relief!

Oh, and just so I don't have to post a new journal entry for it... I got/gave him his wedding present today... a male minature daschund. He doesn't have an official name yet... Jake or Bo...wonder if I could convince him to call him Jaebo... hehehe

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Invitations are ready
02/20/2006 03:55 a.m.
After many phone calls, and much typing, I have FINALLY typed, printed, stuffed, and stamped all of the wedding invitations for our immediate family, closest friends, and church family... now I only have to get the ones done for the people I work with that I really want to be at my wedding.

The bummer of it all is that I ordered a wedding dress, only to be notified today that it is no longer available in my size.

Now I am frantically trying to find a dress in my size in a casual/western/country style locally and right away...

HELP!



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