I hate gravity!

I have been so very careful since my surgery! I've been feeling good, getting stronger every day, been walking on ice, driving in horrible, icy, snowy, foggy conditions, and I get taken down by a wet step! I was even going slow....I just don't get it!

This past Tuesday, I fell flat on my rear and proceeded to bump my way down to the bottom (6-7 stairs in all). Instant and severe pain! I immediately thought I had screwed up where I had surgery! Had to have my school Principal drive me to the emergency room, as my neurosurgeon was in the O.R. all day and his co-workers were fully scheduled.

I had a CT scan and it looks like the surgical site is okay. I have bone and soft tissue bruising of my tailbone and "dairy-air" and they found another fracture on my L1 vertebrae! However....they think the fracture is actually an old one that was not caused by this fall - when I go back for a check up they will look at it again.

In other words, I HURT! I am so very tired of pain that I can not escape. Yes, pain pills, ice packs, heating pads, etc. all help - but it never truly goes away. It makes me physically, emotionally tired, and I'm not really "living", but surviving. Add that to the stresses of my job situation, and well, to put it nicely, it stinks!

To make matters even worse, my Middle Schooler's musical is a week away and I have to be at school to get them ready! We have already missed 4 rehearsals due to poor weather and we can not afford to miss anymore. So there's no staying home and recouping for me. I have no assistant, just me.......and to ask for an extension is pretty futile - even given the circumstances.

So - I try and plaster a smile on my face and away I go - praying the entire day to have the strength to put "one toe in front of the other".

I know things could be much, much worse. I am still able to walk, I have a roof over my head, food in the pantry and clothes in the closet - that is more than millions of other people in the world have. So, I should get over my pity party, and be thankful for the things I do have (which I am), but sometimes a girl just needs to vent.

Well, as always, thanks for stopping and putting up with me :)

Please take care! Elizabeth

Haven't been snowed away...

......although it feels like it! I think I heard we're up to 26 inches of snow - that's a lot of snow!

I'm still here, plugging away.

This next week will be a busy one as I have a Middle School Concert tomorrow night, Musical rehearsals after school on Tues. and Fri. and Elementary Parent Teacher Conferences Thurs. night. Next Saturday, I probably will not be able to move!

Had a discussion with my Superintendent the other day. I still have a job next fall HOWEVER, it will be doing what I am now = Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade Vocal (not including every day teaching, that's 5 concerts a year, plus the musical, plus Honor Choirs, etc. )

WITH THE ADDITION of:

Teaching 5th - 8th grade Band. So add what I'm doing now to starting beginning band students, literally running all 5 concerts, prepare students to march at Homecoming Parade, do Honor Bands, and add another concert in there for the "Band Extravaganza"). In essence I would be doing a 2 person/2 full-time job that they are cutting down into one.

OR:

I could continue what I am doing now for 1/2 the pay.

I'm getting very tired of having the "rug pulled out from under me" every spring - this is year number 3 now. I don't know if this and past event's are God's way of saying it's time to move on to a different profession, or if I'm being tested.

Thankfully I have some time to search for another position if I choose to, or look into another career - either way, it just plain stinks.

And, someday - this will turn back into a crafty and happy blog :)

Thanks for stopping and take care! - Elizabeth

Snow, and Snow, and Snow, and......

Catch my drift...... (tee hee)

Yet another extremely snowy day in Iowa today.

We had school today, for a whopping 2 hours. I won't tell you how irritated I was - okay maybe I will :)

Warning: Venting ahead - I do apologize to those of you who come to see crafty pictures and news. Unfortunately it's just not in the works right now. For the moment my blog, is a way to journal - get things "off my chest, and out of my head". So if you care to move on to another blog - that's fine, I understand. If not, thanks for reading and stopping by! I do appreciate you!!

I knew that we were in for another big snow storm, and was sure we would not have school today.

But as of 6:00 am, there was no news. So, before leaving home to head to work (which takes 1 hr. in good weather), I called my Superintendent to make sure that we were on schedule. Yup, we were but it looked like we would be getting out early. As to when "early" was he didn't know.

Because I live an hour away, I said that I may turn around and come home if it was too bad. I then got the spiel about how I would have to take a full personal day if I did not make it to school (once you/students get to school and then are sent them home early, it is still counted as a full day). Which, I can understand.....however......

Due to my surgery, I have NO MORE personal, sick, you name it days! In other words, if I don't show, I don't get paid. Unless I'm really physically ill, I'm not in a position that I can afford to miss school.

So, I trodded along going between 25 and 40 mph on the interstate that was primarily one lane at best. If you were passed by a semi, and insane drivers, you couldn't see due to the kicked up snow. This will probably describe how bad it truly was - a snow plow had gone into the ditch! A SNOW PLOW!!

It took me 2 hrs. to get to school (I was only 15 min. late as I had left that early!) I was so tense and knotted up that I could hardly move when I got there. We had a short staff meeting, and then it was a mad dash to get some items printed off and handed out to my musical kids, and then it was get ready to dismiss the kids at 10:00 am.

I risked my life for 2 hours on dangers roads, to be at school for 2 hours! If I'm at home and this happens again, NO WAY. I'll take a day of no pay. It is simply not worth it.

Thankfully, my Dad only lives about 30 min. from where I work, and so I am now holed up with him. I had originally planned to stay with him this evening, as musical rehearsals were to start, so the plan was/is to stay with him on Mon., Tues. and Thurs. evenings.

I doubt we will have school tomorrowv (but then again who knows!) as the winds are to really pick up this evening. That means all this fresh snow, 8-10 inches, of it is going to go flying all over the place. Fun - Fun.

So, no matter were you are, I hope you are safe and comfortable!

As always, take care and thank you for stopping by! - Elizabeth

Sewing and Some Good News!

Went to a "Sit and Sew" yesterday and got the main part of a diaper bag made for an acquaintance. Sorry I haven't taken any pictures yet, but will when I get it finished. I must say it is turning out quite cute! This may sound shocking to some of you, but I sewed my first elastic casing yesterday - and it worked!! Oh, the little things in life that can make us giddy :)

The gals that attend this "Sit and Sew" are always fun! They are great women who share your passion, give helpful tips, and suggestions, and share in harmless, but fun banter = good times. So, if you've never attended a "Sit and Sew" try it out!!

On to school news:

A large part of my "school" weight has been lifted.

My Middle School concert had to be moved back due to scheduling conflicts with the High School. Normally, this would upset me, but we need the extra time!! And, my Middle School musical has been pushed back 2 weeks - again giving us more time! I was really stressing over how I was going to get everything done, the kids ready, and have the performances "sound" decent. Now with more time - we can get closer to that goal! Glory, Hallelujah and a big AMEN!

So now, we can continue on, and hopefully not have any more snow days. We are up to 7 now and winter is not quite half over!! I really do not want to got into June with school. Any teacher will tell you that the students' brains shut down come the beginning to mid May and to go any further, would not be pleasant for all involved!

Anywho, just had to share my good news, and hopefully I'll be able to get that diaper bag finished soon and a picture up!

Take Care and Thanks for Stopping By! - Elizabeth

Are we in Kansas yet?

My oh my has the weather been NASTY today!

We've been under a blizzard warning this afternoon and this evening and there have been times where it sounds like the house is just going to up and join the snow blowing around.

Due to this lovely weather, school was cancelled. We now have 5 days to add to the end of the school year. June - here we come! Uck. It doesn't break my heart that we didn't have school, however it puts me and my kids in a bind in trying to get ready for our concert Feb. 11th. We'll do the best we can, but Lord help us!

Since there was no school, I rescheduled my physical therapy appointment to this morning, and was able to get into my regular physician to get a neck adjustment and to check out my cold issue. I am feeling much better after taking a "Z Pack" of antibiotics last week, but the lungs still feel full. Dr. says there is some crud left, but not enough to warrant more antibiotics - just have to let it run it's course.

The roads were not bad when I went to my appointments (normally 20min. away) but I drove home in complete white-outs at times because of the new falling snow and the high winds. It is not pleasant to go from being able to see in front of you to seeing nothing but white snow - not cool!

Well, I'm really tired of seeing this: (photo courtesy of the web - not my area, but it does look a lot like this outside!!!)

I'm really ready to see this: (again - photo courtesy of the web, wish this was in my area!)



Thanks for stopping and Take Care! - Elizabeth

A Crafty Picture

I know - it's a miracle :)

Here is my finished scarf done on the Kniffty Knitter mentioned in the previous post, and one mitten. The mitten my mother made for me since she's all sorts of talented with the 4 needle knitting thing!! I'm still waiting for the second one.....but it will come (luv ya Mamma Bear!) And yes, the glove is a little large, but I think we plan on lining it as well so it will be extra warm and cozy! It may not seem like it but the colored yarn in the scarf, is the same yarn that was used for the mitten. Only I used two skeins of colored and one cream to give it more bulk. I think it turned out nice - yet I'm biased and it is for me after all :)

I have boycotted school work this weekend, which I will regret later, but this cold is truly kickin' my pa-tootie! The only things I have accomplished this weekend are: cleaning the cat pan, doing laundry, finishing my scarf, playing for the Jr. Choir at church and a whole lot of sleeping. I'm not feeling a whole lot better than Fri. so I may have to call the Dr. to see if what I have is viral or something antibiotics could annihilate!

Well, that's all for now. Thanks for stopping and Take Care! -Elizabeth

Thank you!

First off, thank you to all of you who have left such supportive comments regarding my school and health issues. It is nice to have affirmations that one is not truly making "mountains out of mole hills"!

So, here's a hug from me to you - Thank You!!

School is still very stressful, but I am trying to lay as low as possible, and just do my job to the best of my abilities.

This week was my first official full week back at school since my surgery in October. Let me tell you..... it was a very long week! Not only did my back feel it, but some little urchin decided to share their cold bug with me and I have felt rather punk all week. It's one of those colds that isn't bad enough to justify staying home, but bad enough that by the time you do get home-you collapse! Needless to say, I think all I did this last week was go to school, come home and go to bed. Hopefully, with some more bed rest, orange juice, and cold meds, I'll be feeling more up to snuff once Monday rolls around!

No real sewing news to report. I did make my dad a scarf (sorry no picture) with a Kniffty Knitter and am currently working on one myself. Mindless work with pretty outcomes - just what I need right now!

Here is the Kniffty Knitter loom I use to make the scarfs however I do not use the whole length - otherwise you'd have a VERY wide scarf.

Well, that about covers it. Again thank you so much for your support and words of encouragement.

Take Care - Elizabeth