AAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!

OK! ENOUGH FOR THIS WEEK!!! As everyone knows (or maybe you don't...) I had back surgery last Thursday. The recovery is actually going really well and I haven't had much pain. I had a few blissful days right afterward when my mom and Keith's mom kept Colin for the weekend. Let me just say, SO nice. Such a help. I love my son, but sometimes...to the moon (*imagine fist pumping action*).

THEN, Saturday night, it started to get crazy. First of all, my left eye was hurting, like I had gotten something in it. I washed it out, put some eye drops in, and thought that took care of the problem. I woke up on Sunday morning with a beet-red bloodshot eye ball. Ok, I thought, I must not have gotten whatever out of my eye. By Monday morning, it was no better, in fact, now I had a little blister, that's right a BLISTER, on my lower eyelid! It was time to go to the doctor. On top of back surgery, it turns out that I have an infection of my sclera (or the white part of your eye). This type of infection is most common in people who have immune disorders, so I have to put steroid drops in my eye for two weeks. If it clears up, yay. If not, I have to be tested for immune disorders.

Also on Monday, I got calls from two schools for interviews. One was for a full-time Language Arts position and the other was for a part-time Associate Teacher position. I thought to myself, things are lookin' up. Little did I know. I went to the interviews today and got a call back already from the full-time job. Nope, not wanted. The other job, the part-time one, sounds like a crappy deal. You don't get your own classroom. You may or may not be required to teach, create lesson plans, and grade (but you probably will). AND, you get paid less than HALF of the regular teacher, but get to share in her work. Hum. On top of that great prospect, I'd have to pay someone childcare costs to watch my son. I don't see how that could work out.

I know this is a blah, blah, poor me blog, but I just needed to vent. Oh, by the way, my son is being a real peach today. He has thrown two good tantrums today where he looks like he is going into an epileptic fit. Once because I wouldn't let him go outside until he put his hat on and the second because I wouldn't let him eat crayons or chapstick. I know. What a mean mom. I was so tired of his whining/screaming, I put him back in his crib. He isn't sleeping, but he isn't screaming anymore either. Maybe not the best tactic for dealing with him, but at least I didn't kill him, right?

Ok, I should add some upside for today. Let's see. Colin finally did put his hat on after a morning nap and got to have some outside time. I took some cute pictures that maybe I'll post tomorrow. I have had some good study time today since I keep putting Colin in his crib, so I am feeling a little better about my A&P II test tomorrow. My family is looking at a cabin in Helen, GA to stay at near Christmas-time, which should be fun. Um, I've read some really yummy looking recipes (even though I can't cook right now) that I want to try. I have ideas for making Christmas presents and want to start on them after my test tomorrow. Is that enough positive thoughts? Yeah, I thought so too.

Ok, one cute picture of my boy, cause I can't help myself.

Driving the car at Nanny's

50th Post!!

I am excited because I am posting for the 50th time today! Not that there is anything especially significant about it, but I do like the number! I am having a pretty good day today so far. Colin woke me up early, but it was fine since I needed to make sure pay bills anyway, so it worked out. He ate breakfast while I worked on the computer, so that was nice also because he doesn't usually like it when I am distracted and not playing with him. By the way, he is learning to eat by himself and today he fed himself a bowl full of yogurt and made hardly any mess! I just had to remind him to use his spoon instead of his fingers a couple of times.

Its nice to have a calm and peaceful morning after a bit of a stressful day yesterday. I went to the MOPs meet and greet yesterday morning with Colin. For those of you who don't know, MOPs stands for Mothers of Preschoolers, and is a church-based program for moms to get together and talk, learn new things, share food, etc. while the kids are babysat for a few hours. I think it will be nice, but since I didn't know anyone yesterday, going to a houseful of women and chatting was extremely exhausting for the somewhat-introverted person that I am.

From MOPs, I dropped Colin off at my mom's and headed to my doctor's appointment to get the results from my MRI on my back. Well, it was bad news (no real surprise there since my back and leg have been killing me). I have re-herniated my disc, but not only that, but it actually looks worse (bigger) than the first time! SO, Dr. Lee wants to preform another surgery. Keith and I are discussing the logistics.

In the evening, I had my first Anatomy and Physiology II quiz. I had read my chapters, highlighted definitions, made notes, etc. Then, I printed the quiz, answered the questions on paper before submitting them on the computer.  When I was sure that I had answered them to the best of my knowledge, I submitted by answers on the computer and got...a 47%.  That's right people, I had FAILED my first A&P II Quiz!! I just about had a nervous breakdown. I was crying, telling Keith that was it, I couldn't do it, and wondering what I was going to do with myself. After all, I had not been able to get a teaching job and was banking my future on this nursing degree.  I started looking over my answers to see where I had gone wrong, how I had done so badly, when I noticed that the answers the computer had recorded for my quiz were NOT the ones that I had input! When I re-graded my written quiz - I had actually only missed 3 questions out of 35 - a 91%!!! Whew! Now to get my professor to understand and re-grade my quiz. I sure hope he does.

Ok, enough about yesterday. I'm ready to move on with today. I think we have playing on the new porch, maybe going to the park, and naps in our future! Enjoy Wednesday everyone!

Busy Thursday

I made a bacon cheeseburger meatloaf and a potato casserole for dinner tonight. I've never been a meatloaf fan and, because of this, I've never made it at home, but I decided to try out a Paula Dean recipe tonight. It actually turned out really good! Even Colin ate a whole plate of meatloaf and potatoes, although he took off the bacon from on top of the potatoes. WHO DOESN'T LIKE BACON??? Crazy kid.

In other news, I got a call from two schools today about jobs! One of the schools was a high school looking for a part-time position - 9th and 11th grade. They were going to call my references and check out my portfolio and then call me about an interview tomorrow. The other was from a middle school for a full-time position - 7th grade language arts and reading. They are going to call tomorrow about an interview also. SO, I'm trying not to get my hopes up, but it sure was nice to get those calls today.

Oh, and I had another MRI for my back today. Ashley was nice enough to come over and go with me to the MRI, both for moral support and to watch Colin. I was so appreciative. The MRI went ok, even though I freaked out a little bit at first because of the tight space and I had to have an IV, which was no fun. I go back to the orthopedic surgeon on the 31st to see what he has to say. Lets hope for no surgery!

Birthday Weekend and Back Pain

I am sorry that I have not blogged much in the past few days. It has been quite crazy around here lately. As of last Wednesday and Friday, I have a new nephew and niece! Elijah Asher Jobe and Arianna Naomi Hernandez were finally born and I spent much of the weekend running up to the hospital to see babies and mommies. And, although they stole time away from MY birth month, I guess I will forgive them because they are so darn cute. Just don't expect me to give up my day. I am selfish, I know, but I don't care. I like having a day that is all about me.

Here are pictures of the babies:

Eli:

Arianna:

And here is a picture of me holding Arianna:

When I wasn't traveling to and from the hospital, I was celebrating my birthday and visiting with old friends. Friday night, I had dinner at the mall and got to walk a round a bit. I haven't done that in a while. Saturday, I had lunch with my high school friends, Montse, her husband,  Justin, and their son, Xavier, and Kari. We went to Cabos and it was really yummy. It was nice to see my friends again, it had been almost two years. Here is a picture of the three of us and the babies:

Then, Saturday night,  I went to dinner at Friday's with Keith and our friends Rebecca and Mike. It was very nice and surprisingly quiet for a Saturday night. I had a really fun Pink Punk Martini, which was basically a cosmo poured over cotton candy! Sweetness profound!

Sunday night, my family (including my two sisters and the new babies but minus my sick son and sweet husband) took me out for dessert at Macaroni Grill. Boy, do I love that place! Plus, my mom made me chocolate cheesecake. Here's a picture:

And here is one of Duncan and I (for good measure):

On Monday, somehow I injured my back again. I was getting dishes out of the dishwasher and then, all of a sudden, I couldn't stand up straight. I called the surgeon and have an appointment on July 15th. Despite my back re-injury and because I am just fabulous, I was able to embellish two onesies for my new niece and nephew and make a new sling for myself! Wow, I am amazing. Did I mention that I also made chocolate chip cookies?? Oh yeah!!

Here is a picture of the cutie onesies:

It is now the Thursday before school gets out. My classroom is empty and my garage is full. I am spending lots of time looking for and applying for jobs. I am happy that it is going to be summer but I am also sad and worried about next year's prospects. Oh well, here's to the end of school!