A Normal Week!

I have been in a funk since Derek's injury.  So many tough things have happened in addition to his surgery.  But finally, this week felt pretty much like a normal week.  We went to school all 5 days.  There were no field trips.  No 1/2 days.  I love routine.  I got in good workouts every morning.  I went to the temple on Saturday.  I cleaned out the pantry, the office and the garage.  Derek and I even went on a date. Having Derek home during the day has been pretty good.  He ran some errands, even taking Libby to the doctor for an ear infection check (just fluid, not infected).

The kids and I made it to our first Einstein match of the season.  They lasted 1 match and then went outside to play. Sadly, it was the last regular dual match.  This week is the end of wrestling until November.  I think the whole family is ready for a break.  Derek is especially ready since he can't actually wrestle or show moves.  This week at one practice he pulled off his sling to show something and his whole team shouted "NO!!!!"  This hasn't been a very successful Einstein season.  Einstein lost to Kellogg for the first time in 8 years.  Happy to put this season behind us. Derek ran a practice with our own kids yesterday for their Saturday workout.  It was so fun to listen to as I cleaned in the office.

We finished the school Read-A-Thon this week.  Ben actually recorded the most reading minutes (I'm sure Sarah actually beat him, but she doesn't do a good job of tracking her minutes).  He is so excited about reading right now!  Huge win! Together they raised about $200 for the PTSA.  Thanks to all the family that donated!

We have another normal school week ahead of us, followed by some Easter fun.  I'm looking forward to that!

The match

Libby is all about taking selfies on my phone when I leave it unattended.  I have about 50 in the March folder alone.  She's pretty cute! 

Happy Birthday Grandpa Brion & a Tribute to the Norton Grandparents

Last Sunday we celebrated the Norton Birthdays for the 1st Quarter, Jan-March.  So, I even got to celebrate.  Then we went to dinner with Brion and Geneva on Wednesday night to celebrate Brion's actual 78th birthday.  I have been reflecting on just how thankful I am to have them in our lives.  We literally could not have made it through the last few month without them.

Brion drove Libby to Vision Therapy every week for 22 weeks.

Brion drove the kids to choir practice several times so that I could have doctors appointments or meetings.

Brion (and then Geneva too) took Derek for his surgery, waiting until 9:00 pm for the surgery to end so that they could drive him home.

Geneva has done the dance class run so I could go to a meeting (this is more complicated than it sounds because the girls have different class & dinner times).

I realized last week on Wed. that I had conferences until 7 pm on Thurs. and Libby had an eye doctor appt. at 5:30 pm.  Geneva handled the eye appt. and dinner so that I could focus on conferences.

This is just a small small number of the things they do for us.  

What a blessing to have them so close and so willing to help.  We wouldn't be surviving without all the help they have given this past 6 months. 

Bonus after dinner at Anthony's in Kirkland.  This beaver was chilling on the beach outside the restaurant.  It was amazing. 

Pinewood Derby 2018

My favorite podcaster, Gretchen Rubin (and her sister Elizabeth Craft) did an episode about how some things are worth doing, and we should just do them badly rather than not do them at all.  The next week was the Pinewood Derby at church.  Seriously, I am bad at the Pinewood Derby. Last year I had a girl from church help the kids.  This year I had literally nothing to give.  So I let the kids repaint their old cars.
They were no faster, possibly slower than before.  But we went and participated.  We helped the winners feel good about themselves.  And we did it, even if we did it badly.  My friend Cody reminded me about the Gretchen Rubin podcast and suddenly I felt better about the whole thing.  Would I like to do it better next year?  Yes.  This year we didn't have the bandwidth.  And that's okay.  The kids had fun just being there.

2 Crazy Weeks

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!

Splish Splash, Seattle Children's Choir Spring Concert

We love being a part of Seattle Children's Chorus.  It has been such a great learning experience for the girls.  My favorite moment was a few weeks ago when I heard them singing and harmonizing together.  They were experimenting with different harmonies to "As I have Loved You."  The concerts have been fabulous.  Libby's solo was a surprise bonus at the spring concert.  

You can also see Sarah up in the top left of the picture.  Smiling and singing.  

Libby's love of crooning paid off!  She sounded amazing.  I also love this picture of Chris the director in the background.  She loves music, loves kids, and is such a great role model!  I love hearing her sing! 

Here is Sarah again, she is so fun and expressive to watch. 

A Long Road Ahead

On February 9th, Derek texted me this picture of his bicep.  This is the aftermath from being injured while wrestling with the son of one of his coworkers.  He said when the injury happened, everyone in the room heard the tearing.  We both kind of hoped that this would just be another "owie."  He went to the doctor after Regionals (several days after the incident), and then another doctor, and then got an MRI.  It turns out that he tore the tendon to his pec out of the bone.  We found out on the last day in Seaside that he needed surgery.  And fast.
After his pre-op on Monday, we both felt like we'd been hit by a ton of bricks.  This was a pretty big deal.  4 weeks in a sling with no driving.  Then 6-8 months before he can go back to his normal work as a police officer.  THIS IS BIG.  He is about to miss the most important 6-8 months of overtime of the year.  He will get a "light duty" job on the department.  He does have 4 weeks of saved up sick time.  But wow.  This is potentially devastating.
But, we actually couldn't feel more blessed.  We felt like my opportunity to go back to work was going to put us way ahead.  We could finally do all the home projects we have been dying to do.  But now, my income will save us.  We won't have to dip into savings.  He can heal and get back to health while I work.
The surgery was on Friday.  He is doing as well as could be...on pain meds for now.
The thing I am reflecting on this morning is how blessed I am to have such an amazing husband.  There isn't anything I have needed moved in our marriage that he hasn't been able to move (sometimes with a little help).  He cooks, shops, puts his laundry away, makes the bed.  He is the driver when we go places.  He works long and hard for our family.  And, for a little while he won't be able to do any of those things.  This has encouraged me to reflect on what I love about him.  I couldn't be there for the surgery (I was running a Wrestling Rhino banquet), but nothing made me happier than to hear his voice when he came in the door.  These months may get long for both of us, but right now I am filled with gratitude for my husband.

 He is an amazing husband, father and friend.  He and his squad were also awarded Officer of the Month this week for the incident on Martin Luther King Day.  I am one lucky lady.
Prayers for quick and seamless healing appreciated.

He did make it to the choir concert yesterday!