Sister Love!

As soon as Micah's eight-year-old sister heard about Annie, she wanted to call Micah.  That call finally happened on Thursday night.  We were zooming, and Kingsley said, "I want to show you what I made".  This is it:

Don't you just absolutely love it?  We both cried.

Best Halloween EVER!

Ever since Halloween costumes ceased to be cute and fun and became gross and gorey, we've turned off our lights and stayed in the basement.  This year, however, we came up with a game plan.

There are only eight children in the neighborhood that we really know well.  Anytime they were outside and we were walking Annie, Annie got some love.  So this morning, Micah baked Halloweenish cupcakes:

First stop:  Rosie's house.  Her girls were so excited!  Rosie got one, too. 

Next stop:  Kayla's house.  Her mom was babysitting and she was excited!  We left her a cupcake along with one for everyone in the family.

Third stop:  Jodi's house.  No one home.

Fourth stop:  Jill's house.  Her kids are definitely too old for trick or treating, but when your dad is battling Stage 4 cancer and has been in Rochester all week, you need a treat!  They loved them!

Fifth stop:  Deb's house.  We had three cupcakes left, so Micah's oldest-brother-by-another-mother (also known as Matt's best friend!) and his family each got a cup cake.  

I was positive the joy was in the giving until I got this picture back:
 

 

It's always a choice . . .

When something doesn't go the way you want it to, you can either laugh or you can cry.  I'm fluctuating on my choices here and I'm not which way I'm going to go.

I noticed this weekend, that I wasn't feeling quite "right".  I was finally down to 1 mg of Prednisone and looking forward to my final pill on Election Day.  No matter who won, I was going to be oh, so happy that day!  No more Prednisone.

Except, I was having problems rolling over and getting out of bed.  I lifted a gallon of milk yesterday and thought I was going to die.  Swimming was a challenge this morning.  Something was wrong.  

My PMR (polymyalgial rhuematica) has decided to rear it's ugly head.  Starting tomorrow, I'll be taking 5 mg of Prednisone once again which means I won't be celebrating on Election Day.  My internist thinks I'll be on it for the long haul now.  I hope he's wrong.  Maybe I will go cry . . .     

Thankful Thursday!

Today, I can honestly say, without a doubt, that I am so thankful I'm not the chief custodian at Oak Hills Elementary.  Rob started just before MEA so he's been on the job almost three full weeks.  Tomorrow we're having two fire drills.  In order to get ready for them, today he checked out the fire alarm.  And . . . IT.WENT.OFF. . .

. . . During the first lunch period causing chaos and disruption.  Like no one thought it was for real because we all knew the drills were scheduled for tomorrow.  But we got our first graders and took them outside.  We waited for the fire department to come and give us the all clear so they could literally go in have COLD.LUNCH.

Poor Rob felt absolutely miserable.  He sent out a building wide apology e-mail.  And me?  I was just thankful I wasn't him!

The Joy of the Face Mask

To all of those out there who are just not thinking positive thoughts about wearing face masks - okay, you hate them! - here are some of my favorite reasons for wearing them:

• No one can tell if you have food stuck in your teeth;
• No one can tell if your nose is running or if there's a booger hiding out up there;
• Got a zit?  No one knows if it's hidden behind a mask!
• Don't like what someone says?  Stick out your tongue.  They'll never know.
• We're saving money on make-up and lipstick (not that I ever wear any anyway!); 
• They're fun, especially when you work in an elementary school.  They come in an amazing variety of colors, styles, sizes and shapes.  I gave a Fastbridge test to a fox the other day.  If that wasn't a hoot and a half.  The animals are great!  I've seen any and every sports team celebrated on the mask.
• Most of all, the kids are proud of them and actually like to show them off.  They are good.    
  

  

Thankful Thursday!

When you're the "new kid on the block" like I am at work right now (I mean, Danette, Stacy and Jen have over thirty years in as tutors with the Lakeville School District!), you're not always quite sure how what you say or do will be taken.  When Mo gave out "The Ultimate Oak Hills Tutor" sheets yesterday and said I'd made them, everyone took them home.  I thought to myself, "They're going to bring them home and recycle them.  They just don't want me to know." Sense some insecurity here?

I can not tell you how thankful I am that when I looked into Karen's cubby this morning, I saw this:

 And there was another colored one in Danette's cubby and one on the door out of our room!  I am so thankful for my new coworkers!

Sadly Laughing

It was a rough day for the tutoring staff yesterday because it snowed.  Snow means mittens and hats and snow pants and winter coats for recess.  But when you're at a low income school, not every student has access to mittens and hats and snow pants and winter coats.  Our supervisor suggested to the principal on Monday that we "practice" in-door recess based on the weather reports.  He sent home an e-mail, "Dress appropriately.  We will be going outside."  

Sadly, not every parent in our building had the time or funds to run to Target or Walmart Monday night.  Our word yesterday became "fluid".  We would go with the flow.  We would put up hoods, zip up coats and encourage pockets.

The longer we were outside, the more we wanted a "mitten fairy", someone who could magically put gloves or mittens on every student without.

I came home from work last night and took my "Ultimate Eagle Lake Camp Counselor", circa 1984, and remade her into the "Ultimate Oak Hills Tutor".  I only have a copy of the ELC counselor and not my remake:

But trust me.  Not only was she fluid, but she was a "mitten fairy."  We all got a good chuckle out of it this morning!

  

Could it get any worse?

I had so been looking forward to this weekend - five amazing, glorious days off of work!  Then

• I had two doctor's appointments, 
• Annie had one,
• Sam had four, two of which I got to drive him to.
• I had to make a grocery list AND get groceries. 
• We cleaned the house.
  
• We put Annie down.
• I joking had bugs in my lettuce tonight!  And the sad thing was - I had eaten from that very same bag of lettuce for lunch yesterday!  I think I had bugs then!  So Sam went back to the store and brought home another bag of lettuce - and it had bugs, too.  I ate a spinach salad.
  

Tribute to the Anastasis

The summer of 2005 found us in East London, South Africa, serving with Mercy Ships aboard the m/v Anastasis.  While we were there, Sam's mom sent us an e-mail, saying they had had a stray dog show up on the farm, pregnant.  Would we be interested in a puppy?  No.  Absolutely not.

Somehow, by the time we got back to the States, we had a dog - or at least, soon would. As we tossed around a variety of names, one name came out on top - "Anastasis", "Annie" for short.  We had a little black puppy named after a big white ship that we loved.

This morning, Dr. Lindsey Knox from MN Pets arrived at our house around 10:45 a.m.  She kindly and graciously helped us let Annie go.  Annie now rests between two oak trees she used to sniff and run around in our back yard.

We were blessed with fifteen years, two months and ten days of a wonderful friend and we will miss her dearly.

Blessed to have had the

ANASTASIS

August 7, 2005 - October 17, 2020

 

 

 

  

Poor Prior Planning . . .

The advantage of having me work in another district/building means I get to see new/different classroom ideas.  I asked Aimee, one of our OHE fifth grade teachers if I could take pictures of her room so Sam could get ideas for his.  One of the ideas we both liked was a series of words she had put in the front of her classroom.  She told me how she'd made them, so I made the exact same words for Sam.   

Last Tuesday night, I stopped by Sam's classroom after my chiro appointment to help him finish up his room.  The kids had been in class for three weeks.  It was time.  I laid out the words on the floor in the front of the room, but they didn't fit where Sam wanted them.

We moved to the back of the room on our illegally painted wall.  I handed the letters up to Sam.  He stuck them on the wall.  We got to about the fourth word and we were like, "Woah, this isn't going to fit.  We have too much space."  Jokingly, I said, "Oh, let's just put in another word.  We can think of one."  

Here's the picture.  If you can find the word that is NOT on Mrs. Bakke's wall, we will send you a prize! 

An Unexpected Text

One of my co-worker from Sand Creek sent me the following text today:

 "It's been a bit since we chatted or worked together, so I hope that doesn't cause issues with this request.  I'm applying for a firefighter/paramedic position and would like to list you as a reference as I believe you can speak well to my planning skills, my group interactions skills, my risk mitigation thought process, and my calmness under pressure.  If you feel you can be a positive reference, may I list your number and share you as a reference?"

My response?  "I honestly trust you with my life and I would be honored to give you a glowing reference."

He's not a believer - yet.  I'm glad he's keeping this door open.  I would always welcome the opportunity to work with him again.  And when I'm anywhere on the course, I truly do trust him with my life.

 

Thankful Thursday!

Today, I'm most thankful that, due to a cancellation, Sam was able to get in for his colonoscopy at 9:15 a.m. this morning and have his upper GI at the same time.  The doctor found nothing that would explain his stomach pains which is both good and bad.  Lucky Sam!  He has more tests tomorrow . . .

I am also so very thankful that while Sam was in being tested, (compliments of COVID) I was able to spend some time with my friend who has early on-set Alzheimer's.  For the first time in the year and a half I've known her diagnosis, she was very candid and real and it was good.  Sad.  Hard.  But good.

And lastly, I am thankful that for the first time since the car accident, I was able to swim two miles without any chest pains.  I am not thankful that I jumped into the pool at 5:45 a.m. to begin accomplishing that fete, but it did feel good!

  

That Partially Painted House . . .

 On Upper 178th Street West is officially OURS!  As of Tuesday, we own our house.  Paid.  In.  Full.  As far as the painting goes, it can always be done next year - as long as the weather warms and there are no more automobile accidents!  (Translation:  two weekends were unexpectedly taken up with looking for a new vehicle rather than painting which we had really hoped to be done with!)    

A Day in the Cafeteria

With my new job as a tutor, I spend thirty minutes a day in the lunchroom, helping students, clearing tables, maintaining order.  Yesterday was a hoot and a half!

Child One:  "Guess what happened to me?"  I had absolutely no idea.  "I got my braces off!"  I shared her joy!

Child Two:  "Guess what happened to me?"  Once again, I had absolutely no idea.  "I got three stitches in my finger!"  We discussed getting stitches.

Child Three:  I knew what happened to her!  "How'd you break your arm?  Can I help you open your milk?"

I'm always having fun!

 

 

 

 

A Talk with the Vet

Annie is having a very rough allergic fall where she is getting little scabs (we call them "scabie babies") on her ears, her back, her forehead, her legs - absolutely everywhere!  The vet has been so gracious to us, letting us send her pictures of Annie and then calling us back.  

Dr. Paula was willing to put Annie on three weeks of antibiotics to see if that, along with prednisilone, would help us get a jump start on her "scabies" until we started to discuss how Annie really is doing.

We no longer go for walks.  We go for very slow meanders because Annie can barely walk.  Annie has fallen down the steps.  Annie now falls with almost every meander.  That hip she had surgically repaired in 2013 is just not holding her up.  The vet agreed.  It is probably time.  

We are crying over here now.  No one wants to put Annie down, but again, it is probably time.  

   

Brain Wave!

I was sitting at a stoplight on my way home from the Y yesterday and I noticed the car in front of me had a bumper sticker that said, "SHIPWITHPRIDE.COM".  I thought, "How cool!  I wonder who's ship it is?  Maybe it was one of OM's ships.  Maybe it's a Mercy Ship . . ."  

Or, gee whiz, maybe it's a shipping company . . .  

Protein Packed Apples!

One of Sam's new coworkers offered us apples this fall.  Every year she got EIGHT FREE BUSHELS from her relatives and she would be ever so glad to share with us!  Naturally, we said yes, not realizing that these were protein packed apples!  Micah let me deal with the worm holes and she made the toppings.  Yup, not at all what we expected, but still delicious!

Apple Pizza

Homework Hotline!

One of Micah's assignments in her "Principals of Marketing" class this fall was to meet with someone who had worked in marketing.  Sam and I were at a total loss.  We knew no one except . . .

When had I lived out at the Glen (The Navigators Glen Eyrie), my roommate Dana had worked in marketing.  I sent her an e-mail asking her if she'd like to help Micah out and she politely declined.  It had been over thirty years since she had worked in marketing.  I told Micah, "Don't give up."

She e-mailed Dana and got a "Yes."  Dana now lives in San Diego, so she and Micah met via Google Meet this morning.  Micah said they had a great time.  She could see why Dana and I had fun as roommates.  And they exchanged recipes - always a winner in Micah's book!

Here's the living proof that Micah needed for her prof:

Dana live from San Diego!

 

Thankful Thursday!

There was just so much to be thankful for yesterday - from the weather to work!  I was one-on-one with one of the fifth grade boys during MAP testing yesterday.  He was so excited when he passed the math portion.  He was equally excited today when he passed the reading portion.  So much to be thankful for!

The Wrong Micah

Sunday night Micah was in a google meet for her on-line class.  This was their last meeting as this particular class was ending half-way through the semester.  Note: she was the only girl in the group.

"Hey, guys, it was really great working with you."

"Yeah, when I saw the group names I was pretty worried.  I had had Micah in one of my groups last year and he did nothing."

"What?"

"It was Micah, the basketball player.  I'm so glad we got you, Micah, the girl.  You don't want to be in a group with the basketball player."

  

Welcoming the Global Mercy!

 

The dream was born long ago. What if we could design a new hospital ship and build a fleet to serve Africa? A new ship that could hold more patients, house more volunteer crewmembers, and deliver more medical training? What if we build a vessel that could provide even more hope and more healing?  Well, the wait is over and our dream is realized.  It’s with joy and gratitude that today we announce the Global Mercy.  Our new 174-meter, 37,000-ton hospital ship is outfitted with state-of-the-art technology and instrumentation, 6 operating theaters and 199 hospital beds. The world’s largest civilian hospital ship. To help a world in need. More than 16.9 million people die every year because they cannot access safe, affordable surgery. Many of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa, where fragile and limited healthcare systems cannot support the overwhelming need for safe surgical care. In close collaboration with the host nations we serve, we're ready to more than double the impact of our work.  And you can help.

Transracial Parenting Pannel

 Today, Micah and I were invited to participate in a "Transracial Parenting Panel" via Zoom for our adoption agency, New Life Family Services.  We spent an hour sharing with prospective adoptive parents our experiences, along with the joys and challenges we faced, adopting children of a different race.  We agreed - we had an excellent time!

How wet I am!

The first graders have first recess at school.  I happened to glance outside while I was in the lunchroom today and said to Stacy, "It's raining out, isn't it?  Are they going to call recess?"

It was one of those Murphy Law Moments.  If you call it, the rain stops and the sun comes out.  If you keep the kids outside, it rains even harder.  

We decided to call it.  We brought all those drenched little first graders inside and had indoor recess for the rest of the day while the sun shone.  The kindergartners never noticed, but those fourth and fifth graders were irate!  Oh, well . . . 

 

Thankful Thursday!

I love days like today!  

I swam a mile and a half at the Y this morning - my longest swim since the car accident.  The best news of all?  It was pain free!  For that I am thankful.

For the past two weeks, every morning when I've gotten to work, I've done FastBridge Training, learning how to test kindergarteners and first graders in all the different aspects of reading - from phonics to sight words to nonsense words to blended sounds and more.  Today, I completed the training.  For that I am so very thankful!

I had left the kids a list of things to do today while I was at work.  Micah completed everything on the list but one thing.  For that I am thankful!  I know I have two children, but today I'm going to take what I can get!    

Donation Day!

Micah picked me up right after last bell at school today so we could donate blood together.  In the midst of my saying good-bye to students, my cell phone rang.  It was Micah.  "I'm stuck in the parent pick up lane.  What should I do?"  "Exit as fast you can!"  That's a very dangerous place to be at 3:20 p.m.  Fortunately, she escaped.  We had a good laugh.  And we were on our way to the Farmington Fire Station.

Once again, I donated.  She did not.