Hi all, Im muddling through life these days. I beam when I think of how far I have come and all of the difficulties I have overcome this past 3 months--it HAS only been 3 and a half months, oh my. I stress when I realize what is missing and what I cant do or accomplish. Its a struggle for me to deal with not being able to do anything. I am so used to taking the world on and accomplishing anything--earning my masters degree with a 2 year old and a newborn, moving a few times and being all put away and settled in by the next day, dealing with a broken water heater by boiling water to bathe two little boys in every day, earning my National Board Certification at the same time I had 3 knee surgeries and a broken foot all on my own power--reaching out to a great new friend Maggie who helped me to read my work and make it better, some 30 odd surgeries in about ten years and my own 8 children and all of the life that they bring to you. CANT has never been in my vocabulary. In any case, I promised Dr. Mendoza that I wouldnt drive given the pain meds I still need for my awakening upper legs and he said I can return to work on August 11, which is 10 days after the other teachers start back in Rock Island. I learned today that I wont get to use my sick days because although they will give them to me when I come back, I do not have any until I get back to work. This seems a bit sneaky right now. I am going to see if he would give me permission to work a half a day on Friday and attend the big meeting at the high school on Friday. I wont be walking, bending, lifting that day if I am only at the meeting and then maybe my sick leave will be there for the coming week. My PTs are working hard to teach me a number of strategies to use at work. The big one I have heard is that I must take a lunch and a prep this year, no matter what. OK, I will---at least right now I can live with this. It will be hard when I get to school and we have so many children who need reading help that I cannot possibly get to them all. I will need to be strong and put my bodys needs first. I have done this for a very long time and it has helped me to see kindergarteners and a group of 3rd and 4th graders. That has been my gift to children who need help as readers--the ticket to their future. Oh my--you all may have to help me be strong when I get to August 11 and I am working on my schedule and student selection. Many of you dont know that my husband, Floyd Elliott, is having a knee replacement next week. I wont be able to help him much, but he is going to get me every minute I can give him when I am not at therapy, my many doctors offices, the hospital lab, work, or the necessary shopping we must do to care for our family. It is going to be a tricky time. Marshall Elliott has promised to drive for us and help out with his second shift work schedule and Mason Elliott and Megan Elliott will be helping during the evening. Miles Elliott has a varying work schedule which will relieve the others and we have Marissa Kay Elliott for a couple of more weeks until she goes back to Kirksville to attend her sophomore year at Truman State University. Micah Elliott will be starting summer band camp at the end of net week, so he will be tired and in need of a rest for a week, but he is an amazing youngest child and will do whatever he can for the most part. We are blessed and have so much--all of this help while both Floyd and I are limited in our mobility. Floyd has put this off and waited while the doctors have done surgery after surgery to put me back together. He can barely get out of a chair or climb stairs these days--he will be so glad to be fixed up!! TKRs hurt for a while, but then, it is so amazing how well you are!! Finally, I need to give a big thank you and a two thumbs up to my very good friend, Shirley Gunsolley for a wonderful lunch together at Pizza and Subs today where we talked and laughed for 2 and a half hours. Thats what real friends do--and I had a great time. I am already looking forward to the next one, my friend. If you dont know Shirley, she has been a school nurse for a long time and retired this past spring. I am going to miss her so much, but I am nothing but happy for her to have her time to herself. She has earned it in spades!! She is a great gal and deserves some play time. I get to be proud because even though Floyd drove me, I walked in on my own power. (yay) I started out my day at physical therapy, then we dropped off some clothes and videos at Goodwill before we went to the bank and then did some quick shopping in the Garden Shop at KMart. I am still working on my yard to create some later in summer flower gardens. Tomorrow, I get to supervise the plants going in the yard. My other job tomorrow is to finish getting this new printer hooked up to my computer so I can print up that wedding announcement for Mitch Elliott and Laura McCully for their big day on September 20. It is getting closer and closer. I still need shoes, arghhhhh and to get our youngest son a new dress outfit for the day. Our family needs to have a celebration and this will be the party of the decade for us!! Im sure I have more on my mind, but it is time to harass this new printer again. Its got to work or Im going to harass HP for the rest of their companys life, ha ha. Take care all... Sending gentle hugs to each of you!!
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 02:02:48 +0000
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