So much has happened since I last blogged. The time just flew, and also dragged along. We had 2 strange weeks at school. 1/2 days for Parent Teacher Conferences, and then a week with 2 field trips. Nothing makes time go slowly like an irregular schedule.
The biggest news surrounds Derek. He stopped taking the pain killers only 3 days after the surgery and started driving himself around because while his isn't working his regular shift, he still has to coach. He quickly figured out how to dress himself, eat with his left hand, and even shave. The only thing I had to help him do was sponge shower. He made it to his 2 week post-op. He had 20 or so staples removed from his wound. He even made taco soup and brownies for a High Priest Dinner on Friday. You may wonder why he was so motivated to cook for a church dinner? Because in the midst of all of this surgery stuff, he was called to be the High Priest Group Leader for our ward. I am out of big leadership. He is in. The doctor cleared him to return to light duty tomorrow. We aren't sure what he'll be doing yet. He can't type for very long, and he can't officially drive. But he has never been so excited to go back to work.
It's a couple of weeks sooner than expected, so that's great. Maybe that can be the pattern for his return to regular work. (A couple of months sooner than expected would be amazing...but I'm trying not to get my hopes up. Wouldn't want him to reinjure and have to start all over.)
I scheduled the surgery to remove the cyst from my wrist for the Monday of Spring Break, April 16th. Hopefully Derek can wash dishes by then. I am looking forward to being able to put pressure on my hand, and to hopefully relieve the mess that is happening in my shoulder and neck on the left side. I hope the cyst in my wrist is causing the problem all the way up the chain and that fixing the wrist will help everything.
I have had a lot of angst in the past 2 weeks. An angry parent after Parent Teacher Conf. (that she didn't even attend, she was angry about what she heard about what happened) emailed me and the principal. He told me she has a pattern of doing this and not to worry about it. But then she emailed the Superintendent too. That drama dragged on for over a week until she finally agreed to come in and have a conference with me herself (principal in attendance too, of course). I think she felt somewhat better. It is hard to hear it when your student is struggling, I get it. But the vitriol was intense. My principal supported me very well.
It was also the end of the Folkstyle Season and beginning of the Freestyle Season for Rhinos. We have had a hard time making decisions and pulling this season together. We have sent out two erroneous emails that had to be retracted and fixed. We didn't book our facilities in a timely manner. We have had board members out of town. Literally on the day Greco started, we had a text marathon that morning about who was allowed to attend. We have got to get things more organized for next year! We have some new volunteers for the board, so hopefully we can get more people on board to help us stay organized.
Finally, and seriously the straw that almost broke me, was a note from some 4th grade girls that they are concerned about the way student council is being run. Seriously. Seriously. When I talked to the teacher of the girls, it turns out they are mostly concerned about some things that Student Council wasn't involved in at all. But they do have some concerns that we can solve using the Class Rep from their class to deliver the message. Democracy in action. Whew that I wrote a constitution for this year that I could use to help her understand how the system works. Whew that I have a good principal, again, to support me on this one. And Whew, that we are coming up on several normal weeks of school in a row. I just need to get back into a rhythm.
A hilariously sad moment this week was when Ben got caught using the chain link fence as a urinal at recess. He was SO SO sad that he got in trouble. That poor kid. He hid under the desk in my classroom and cried. He hates getting in trouble and getting attention. I think it's safe to say he will never do that again!
Did I complain enough!?! Our family is thankful for your prayers in our behalf!
We are going to make it!