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Well, life has been going at break-neck speed around here. . .activities to and fro and otherwise. Last night Tony and I fell into bed at 10:50. Somewhere around 4:00-ish, I heard a crash. It came from Victoria’s room. Thad was on a palette on her floor since he didn’t have sheets on his bed. Somehow he had kicked her baker’s rack hard enough to send some things plummeting to the floor. By the time I got in there, he was trying to pick them up. He looked and me and said,
“Mommy? It was a accident.”
“I know, baby. It’s okay.”
“Mommy?”
“Yes?”
“I need to tell you about the Woad Wunnuh. . .”
I thought he was going to go into detail about how this was an accident, but upon awaking from a dead sleep he wanted to tell me about a Road Runner cartoon he had seen earlier in the evening. Y’all–when the boy wants to say somethin’ he says it. He continues to verbally plod along despite obstacles thrown in his path by other speakers until what he has to say has been said. And that is why, after several attempt to cut the story short, I finally just sat on the foot of Victoria’s bed and let him tell the story the way he wanted to.
I finally woke up 10:50 THIS MORNING. . .12 hours of glorious, nearly uniterrupted, sleep. As I stumbled downstairs, I was greeted by Thad’s request.
“Mommy. . .do ya wanna watch the Woad Wunnuh? Huh? Huh? It’s tons of funniness!!!”
If you need tons of funniness, here is the clip in it’s entirety.
JUST got the following update on Laura. Thankfulness. . .Mercy. . .Grace. I know you will join me in a prayer of thanksgiving.
“Staff,
The latest update on Laura is very good! She is doing well and they are trying to wean her off the ventilator a little at a time with hope that this will take place today! Kerrie, and her son Ethan, were able to visit Laura yesterday evening and the visit was wonderful for everyone!! Ethan had a session with the staff and they used a doll to describe to him what had happened to Laura in order to prepare him for his visit. Ethan did a marvelous job of cheering Laura up! What a miracle it is for Laura to be doing so well and I know you join me in the joy of celebrating her amazing recovery!! Laura and the family still need your prayers as the road to complete recovery will be long. Thank you all for your concern and compassion!! You are fabulous!!
Have a wonderful weekend!!”
I think their great weekend started last night.
So it’s very late. . .and the day has been very long. . .but I must tell you this story from The Gala. At the end there was an auction of some prizes–three pieces of jewelry–catered dinner for 50 from a favorite local barbecue place–dinner with the superintendent and his wife–25 yd. line front row tickets to a Texan’s game along with a signed helmet–an autographed jersey by Roger Clemens. Our tables were “bought” by benefactors, so there was plenty of money in the audience.
The 5th item up for bid was a custom made diamond ring with a matching necklace. I wasn’t even looking at the screen to tell you the truth. Just then my phone rang. I thought it was my in-laws who were sitting with the kids, but it was my VBS friend Suzy who was at another table. Her husband is a principal in the district, so they were there too. The phone rang JUST as the bidding started. . .it was her husband, Mike. He said, “Tell Tony to wave at me. . .” I immediately knew what he was trying to do, but Tony couldn’t hear the conversation. . .and I looked over to see him raise his hand and wave even though I hadn’t told him to.
All of his administrators at the table are aghast that he was bidding–meanwhile I KNOW what’s going on–and Tony is clueless. He is normally very aware of what is going on around him, but during the auction he had just checked completely out.
I immediately snatched his hand down and he said, “But Suzy was waving at me.” I said, “I know–I’m on the phone with Mike. He’s trying to make you bid.” Luckily no one saw him, but he was paranoid the rest of the night.
Hi-jinx and incredibly MATURE behavior at The Gala, y’all.
UPDATE PART:
Laura had surgery on her neck today. They had put a halo around it to do whatever it was supposed to do–but it didn’t do that in the alotted time, so they fused two of her vertabrae together and inserted some rods. My feeble non-medical understanding of this procedure is that she will never be able to turn her head again. She is still responding slightly when not on major pain meds–like she whacked her brother’s hand the other day because he couldn’t understand her. Her mom, Kerrie, went to the dr. yesterday and possibly has some broken ribs herself. She is still pretty banged up and not bouncing back quite as well as normal. We took them dinner tonight, and Ethan was very happy to see Thad and Victoria–even though he had seen them at school. They aren’t super friends (he’s 3 years older than Thad), but any school friend who comes to see you is a good one.
CLARIFICATION PART:
Remember WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY back last spring when I told you that Tony was selected as Spotlight Teacher of the Year for Arnold? Well, that is effective for THIS school year. So there was a little congratulatory faux board meeting in May, and the Big To-Do is this Thursday. That is the Gala of which I speak. It’s black tie optional–but since everyone there is at least 1/2 school teacher, most of us will be wearing slightly above average clothing. Although–if I had a resale shop AND figure like Sarah, I might have worn this–only with a different husband attached.
Had to cancel my hair appt. since we didn’t get home until 7:30 after having taken food to and visited with Kerrie and Ethan, AND on the way there the “check engine” light came on in the car after having just gotten it back yesterday following it’s extended TWO WEEK stay at the mechanic. The mechanic was as upset as we were. PLUS Victoria has Brownies tomorrow after school, and Thad missed his sports class tonight. . .so I will have to go with shaggy hair. I’m not happy about that. ALTHOUGH–now that I think about it–we will have to take TWO vehicles tomorrow so that Tony and Thad can get the car to the mechanic AS SOON AS school is over. . .and Victoria won’t be done with Girl Scouts until 5:00. . .so MAYBE I can squeeze that appt. in after all–even though I already cancelled it.
See? I WANT to slow down–really and for true–but life keeps on racing about. In the midst of the racing, I hug my kids–kiss my husband–and know that a nap awaits me Sunday afternoon–oh, wait, it doesn’t because that’s Trunk-or-Treat day. Oh well.
So things have been a little busy. . .I’m sure it is the same with you. I am dreaming of a week where I can come home from school, cook dinner, do laundry, grade papers, put the kids to bed, watch some PBS and go to sleep. This has not been happening without several other things lined up before it. This week is the same.
Kerrie’s daughter, Laura, is still the same. They finally got her fitted for a halo to hold her neck still during possible surgeries. They have started giving her larger doses of pain medication so they can remove her breathing tubes. They want her to breathe on her own–and she can–but to do that, she will have to take very deep breaths, and she has broken ribs. They are hoping by upping the pain meds, she will go ahead and breathe deeply on her own. They have not yet done any of the surgeries they need to do. Kerrie is still home in bed. The longer the days go by, the more bruising seems to show up. Ethan is going back to school tomorrow, but Kerrie said he is not doing well. I spoke to her earlier this evening, because we are taking food on Tuesday. She heard Ethan earlier today. He called his mother’s cell phone and left a message asking her to please come home. Right now, Ethan needs as many or more prayers as anyone else.
Tony’s big Gala is this Thursday. Victoria had a Build-A-Bear party to attend about a week ago, so I took advantage of my trip to the mall and went shopping. I am wearing a shirt and skirt that I already own–but I got some new (cheap) shoes
and and new (cheap) jewelry to wear–although mine is more of an antique silver than this shiny white silver
so I am good to go. I have a haircut scheduled for Wednesday, and if I can find even two seconds this week, I would dearly love to have a pedicure–even though you won’t see my toes.
While at the mall, I spent as much on this item as I did on the shoes alone or the jewelry alone
to keep this Smell of Christmas phenomena from happening again. I was looking for something in a red or a green, but this was THE scent–so gold it is. We will have appropriate seasonal smells, dadgummit.
I even threw caution to the wind and purchased one of these fancy schmancy gee-gaws to go atop it.
Bring on the holidays!!!!!
As of 2:27 this afternoon this was the latest word on Laura’s condition. I got it shortly after I updated the original post. It sounds VERY encouraging.
“Kerrie’s son said the doctors are calling Laura a miracle!! She is not out of the woods yet and she will have a long road ahead of her but she is a fighter. They are waiting to do an Open MRI before they start surgery to repair her neck. Her spine is cracked and her spinal cord is displaced but not severed. She has 8 fractures in her pelvis and they will do surgery after they stabilize her neck. Laura has movement on the left side but not on the right side currently. However, Brent, her brother, shared a story with me about Laura’s determination and he said he had to chuckle about what happened. He said that when he was with Laura that she would respond to his commands – squeeze his hand, lift her leg, etc. But he could not figure out why she kept opening her eyes wide and rolling them to the right. When he got home, he visited with their mother, Kerrie, and she told him that he should have remembered that Laura is profoundly deaf in her left ear and that she was trying to tell him to move over to her right side so she could hear him!!! It is wonderful that Laura is comprehending what is being said to her and is able to respond!! The doctors did caution Brent that Laura is still critical and the next 48 hours will be important as the blood dissipates from the brain the chances of swelling increase. So please keep Laura, the family, and the doctors in your thoughts and prayers as they work together through this difficult time.”
Update 10/17 We received this update from our principal this morning. “Lauren has multiple pelvic fractures and fractured ribs. Her brain has swelling and bleeding. Her 3rd vertebrae is broken. She is still on a ventilator. They reduced her pain medication in order to check her responses. When told Ethan was ok; she cried.” I am so glad she knows her little boy is okay as I’m sure it will speed her healing. But it breaks my heart to hear that story.
Yesterday a humdinger of a thunderstorm hit northwest Harris county right as school was letting out. We even kept the kids in class an extra 10 minutes after dismissal. The power kept going out in the building, etc. One of our teachers–an older woman named Kerrie has a daughter who teaches at the highschool and a grandson who attends the elementary with my kids. Tony stopped to let the daughter pull in front of him when he was leaving the parking lot. She had come to pick up her mom.
When they pulled out of the parking lot onto the main road, the light was flashing red, but a large cargo truck didn’t stop/ran the light/was speeding/was speeding, then saw the light, then hydroplaned/whatever ’cause he was going too fast and slammed into them on Laura’s (the daughter’s side) of the car. All three were transported to the hospital. Ethan, the 3rd grade grandson is fine, Kerrie has a broken collar bone, but Laura is in a critical condition–in a coma and on a ventilator. Things do not look good for her. She was wearing her seatbelt, but the force of the huge truck hitting them so hard threw them across the road and into a ditch. They were just pulling out of the parking lot when it happened.
Kerrie lost her husband to cancer just two years ago, and now her daughter is in very serious condition. They are originally from Australia and all family is there. Laura is not married. Please keep Kerrie, Laura, and Ethan in your prayers.
Moving to Arnold this year has been a wonderful thing. It has made our lives much, much easier–from getting to school each day and back home again–to running errands after school. We are able to spend just a little more time together as a family, but all of it adds up to a lot of time over the course of the year.
That being said, moving to a new campus means you have to start over. You have to get a new room settled and to your liking. You have to learn new names and faces. You have to learn how things are done there and bite your tongue when you want to say how things were done where you were before. You have to rebuild your reputation, because no matter how wonderful the interview, or references, or word of mouth, or how many years spent in education or the district, you are a newbie.
From Thursday, October 4th to Friday, October 12th these are the things that I did to make a lasting impression:
Thursday, 10/4-was late to previously scheduled meeting with the PRINCIPAL and DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION. . .was found by my department chair in the lounge eating a cookie. I have spent maybe 10 whole minutes of time in that lounge this entire school year. . .but there I sat on that rather important day with chocolate chips in my mouth.
Thursday, 10/4-completely SKIPPED a meeting after school that had been scheduled with the language arts and reading departments. This WAS the day of my doctor appt. for the whole cancer scare thing, so my department chair was understanding–especially since I didn’t even realize I’d missed it until sometime on Friday, 10/12.
Wednesday, 10/10-I missed my first period class due to locking my keys in my brother and sister-in-law’s car while dropping the kids off at Lamkin. Ours in the shop, so we are borrowing theirs. . .and it has weird locks. . .and I accidentally locked it rather than unlocking it but didn’t KNOW I’d locked it. . .while it was running. . .ON THE BUS RAMP. . .until it was too late. That was at 7:25. My sister-in-law finally arrived at 9:00 with another key. She had to leave work, go home, and then got stuck in traffic. All thirty odd busses had to drive AROUND the locked and idling car (WITH the a/c running and the cd player going and my diet Coke inside of it) to drop off their students. I had to face the principal of my children’s school–in half my mascara–to tell her what had happened, as well as listen to/answer/smile appropriately at all of the questions/stares/comments regarding the car that was on the bus ramp. Fun.
Wednesday, 10/10-my team leader begins asking if any of us have the economically disadvantaged (ED) list in our possession. It is a HIGHLY sensitive document that basically lists all of the poor kids in the building–which is a lot. We need to know this in case they don’t have supplies, are performing poorly, etc. There are NO copies allowed and it is to be kept in the highest confidentiality. I went through EVERY paper on my desk, but no list. I did not recall even having the list in my hands ever and assured her that it was not in my possession.
Friday, 10/12- Some time after our department meeting, I sent the following e-mail to my department chair
Point the first: I am assuming I missed the Lang./Rdng. meeting last Thurs. . .and I am so sorry. This was last Thurs. correct? Again–head TOTALLY somewhere else that day with the doctor and all. You were very sweet not to lower the boom–especially since I didn’t realize I’d missed it until today–a week and a day later.
Point the second: The ED list was found by ME in my TAKS folder. Good news is that it has been in my TAKS folder and out of the eyes of everyone (including myself) since I got it. Bad news is that I am a doofus.
Point the third AND HOPEFULLY the last: Further proof of that is the fact that I JUST NOW realized that I did not use the “new” SFA score for my kids. . .I put their ACTUAL score in my gradebook so their 1st 6 weeks grades are wrong. I am in the process NOW of putting in their new score so I can have the grade changes done if they are significant.
I would try to convince you that I’m normally not this dumb, but there is, so far, no proof to the contrary.
The whole SFA score thing? Yeah, the grades are on a curve, so we get the actual score for each kid, but we have to use the curve when we enter them in the gradebook. I put them all in last Friday, 10/5–grades were due on Monday, 10/8–didn’t realize that I’d made this MONUMENTAL MISTAKE until this past Friday, 10/12. I now have to send home letters to the parents of about 70 kids whose averages changed–albeit by only a point or so for the better–as well as turning in grade change forms for each of those children to the counselor’s secretary who will then have to change each grade by hand.
I would say I’m making quite the indelible impression. Wouldn’t you?
If you’ve been here for awhile, you know that Sarah and I have been friends since 1st grade. Another long-time friend I’ve not mentioned before is MaryLinda. MaryLinda, Kim, and Stephanie began attending O.C.S. in 7th grade–our first year of Jr. High. I was not the most popular girl on campus–far from it–but for some reason, those three girls showed up and liked me. Kim left some time after our 8th or 9th grade year, but Mary Linda and Stephanie stayed–I have the photos and the bridesmaid’s dresses as documentation of our years together and the friendship that still exists. I truly cannot count the number of Friday nights spent at MaryLinda’s house.
I got an e-mail from MaryLinda earlier this week. Her dad, Mr. McCann, had been diagnosed with lung cancer. He was 88. Some quick math will tell you that Mr. McCann was 50 when MaryLinda was born. This isn’t so highly unusual today, but in 1969 it was. Just a few days after his diagnosis, he passed away. It was very fast–but that was the way he wanted to go. It would be remarkable to some–but not to those who knew him–that by the time his cancer was diagnosed, it had spread throughout his entire body. The man was still riding his bike 20+ miles per week this summer. He was made of stout stuff. MaryLinda, however, does a better job of explaining it all than I can. Here is an e-mail tribute she sent on Friday.
My Dad
I was–am–so proud of my daddy. He was of the Greatest Generation, which made him somewhat different than most of my friends’ fathers. He was a WWII veteran, made it across the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and participated in the Battle of the Bulge, among other campaigns. He volunteered for more organizations than we seem to be able to count. He was a fixture at ULM athletic events for over two decades beyond the 30 or so years he taught there. He traveled the world. He walked and rode his bicycle several miles daily, as well as maintained his yard, up until a couple of weeks ago. I’ve just learned he had a picture of his granddog on his dresser 
We had no idea when we took him to the hospital this past Sunday that the mystery illness that was bringing him down was actually cancer, nor that it would take him from us so fast. But that’s the way he wanted to go–quickly. He told us that. Spoke his mind, he did. There has never been another like him and there never will be. Tom McCann was a trooper–for 88 years–beginning to end.
My memories of Mr. McCann include–but are not limited to:
*his front yard being a field–I mean a FIELD of daffodils each spring.
*him chasing the O.C.S. pep bus down 165 because MaryLinda and I had missed it.
*being greeted at the door by him saying, “Well, if it isn’t the bull for our china shop.”
*he and Mrs. McCann attending my wedding. This wouldn’t be so uncommon, but they were at a family reunion in Georgia and got up at 4:00 a.m. to drive back to Louisiana for the event. It was a surprise to me AND to MaryLinda.
*HOURS of him putting up with two (or more) giggling high-school girls in his home.
MaryLinda’s arrival in the home of Tom and Rita McCann was a surprise after all of their years of no children. With it she eventually brought me. The first time I was in their home, I broke something. I can’t remember what, but that’s where the “bull in the china shop” reputation started. In all of the time I spent there, Mr. and Mrs. McCann were there too–doing what they did–and putting up with us. They never said it in so many words, but they loved me. They HAD to to put up with all of the noise I brought. I was always welcomed by them. It was an honor to know and be regarded as a friend by Tom McCann.
Today is Stephanie’s birthday. . .and it’s a special one. Happy Birthday, Stephanie!!!!
