Pleurisy

I neglected to mention the latest medical issue in our house...Catherine has pleurisy.  About five weeks ago she came home from a chilly band competition and mentioned that her friends had talked her into leaving her jacket on the bus.  Sure enough, she developed quite a cold.  Nothing that made her miss school, but enough to not feel great.  Her cough went away, then returned.  It's never been deep, but when she does cough, it's pretty strong and continuous.  Early last week, she mentioned that her side hurt right around the rib cage.  She came home from swim practice last Monday nearly in tears from the pain.  I suspected pleurisy, and after taking her to the doctor last Wednesday, it was confirmed.  He put her on an antibiotic, and although she does still have the cough, it has gotten better.  She feels today that the pain is better as well, although she tried to return to the pool Monday, and that went so poorly that she now is not allowed back until next Monday.  Of course being the anxious parent I am, I become terrified that something is seriously wrong, but hopefully it was just an upper respiratory infection, and all will be well soon!

Three years without my dad

It's been three years now since Dad passed away.  To say that it doesn't seem real is so very true on most days...even after all this time.  At the same time, I'm grateful for how much less it hurts  As my mom stated when Dad died, echoing the thoughts of her own mother when my grandfather died, this is just our "new normal."  I'm so grateful for the memories, for the man he was, and ultimately for the fact that he is no longer suffering.

Lost Christmas present

About a week ago, a Christmas gift I had ordered online for Robert arrived in the mail.  Catherine saw it and asked what it was.  I explained it was something I had ordered online and then left the room to put it out of sight.  The problem of course is that it is not only out of sight...it is out of my memory.  I can't find it anywhere.  I have absolutely no idea where I put it.  I've spent this week looking for it, and I was convinced it would show up yesterday when I cleaned out the closet where I put the gifts.  No such luck though.  I'm not even sure I know where else to look at this point!

An interesting start to my morning

This morning, before 7AM, was absolutely crazy.  I should've known it was a bad sign when I received a text at 6AM.  It was one of our local teacher friends.  She had read a facebook post about a teacher and was very concerned about the dark tone.  One might wonder why she would text me.  This happens to be one of Andrew's colleagues and is also someone I have worked with in my volunteer position.  I agreed it was concerning and we were discussing how to proceed, using Andrew's experience as a union rep as our guide.  At the same time, my friend with whom I work at my church job is also texting me because she can't get the donation statements to print correctly and is in a panic wanting to know when I can get to the church to help her.  I also learned that Thomas hadn't been taking care of the cat boxes all week because he "didn't want to", and when I am informed him very calmly but firmly that he could do the job next week again, he began to throw a temper tantrum.  He is entirely too old for that!  I get to work this morning and run into Robert's girlfriend.  She mentions that Robert sent her a text while he was taking a test yesterday.  This of course means that he has installed a texting app on his school laptop and this probably explains why his grades suddenly started tanking again.  I am a little sick to my stomach.  While I know it's just one little thing, I can't help but feel it will start leading to bigger poor decisions again...that tends to be his pattern.

I am so grateful that we are going to get to go out with friends this evening and again tomorrow evening.  It's been a rather grueling week, and we need some time to laugh and be distracted!

Very emotional ceremony

I am working again today at the high school.  I hadn't realized there was going to be an assembly for Veteran's Day until I got here.  I was a little intimidated, as I didn't know exactly what my role might be during such an event in terms of monitoring students, but I just followed the crowd and went with the flow.  The students filed into the gymnasium and I eventually made my way to the far side and up the steps.  The ceremony began with the principal reminding the students that although we were in the gym, it was a serious ceremony and not a sporting event.  The colors were presented by the county sheriff's office and I was so impressed by how silent the students were.  That was followed by the pledge of allegiance and the National Anthem, both so very well done.  After that some students read their winning essays, and then the veteran's were introduced.  The very first veteran was a 94-year-old WWII vet.  He stood, and the other veterans and students all stood as well in an ovation.  I was completely moved to tears.  The principal then recognized all of the other veterans, followed by current students who have already enlisted.  One of the enlistees is the brother of Robert's girlfriend, and I couldn't help but think about my own son and his plan to join the Navy.  In just another year that could be him being recognized, and tears filled my eyes again.  The program ended with a student singing "Proud to be an American", and even a few students became emotional.  I was so impressed with the students, and so grateful that I got to experience that today.  It was truly a blessing.

Marching band season has ended

Marching band always feels like the season that is never going to end...ever.  It began so early in July, and yesterday was finally the end of the season.  Catherine really enjoyed her season, although she struggled with the marching skills.  Yesterday was an all day band competition, and that officially ends the marching portion of the season.  There are so many good things that happen in band, and I'm grateful that Catherine enjoys it.  At the same time, I'm not sad that it has come to and end!

We really needed it

Last evening Thomas admitted he was drained and went to bed at his normal school bedtime.  Catherine was sent to bed even a little earlier than her school bedtime because she had such a long week, and by last evening some of her choices weren't the best.  She'd also had a very long day at a marching band competition, and just needed some sleep.  Robert worked until 9, then came home and ate a late dinner.  As soon as he was finished, he announced he was going to bed...before 10:00!  I was a little astounded, but it had been a long week for him as well, and he'd been up early to run in a local 5k race.  Andrew and I were a little astounded that it was that early and ALL of our children were in bed.  I decided to take advantage and go to bed around 11:00 myself.

And of course, last night was when everyone gained an extra hour.  Our family put that extra hour to good use by sleeping.  Today is remembrance Sunday at our church, and I had told Andrew during the week that I wasn't going.  I don't want to go to church and cry through it, which is exactly what happened last year.  So we all got to sleep in...and everyone did!  In fact  Thomas & Catherine slept nearly 12 hours, Robert slept over 12 hours, Andrew slept over 9 hours and I slept over 10 hours.  There is no question this household needed some sleep, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to get it!