Getting better...somewhat...

Well, I thought it might be time to at least let you all know that I'm still around! I am not over this head cold thing, but I am much better that I was just prior to Thanksgiving. It's kind of difficult to get rid of something when you can't take any antibiotics, so hopefully my body will keep on fighting any infection.

I had a great time in AL with my sister and family! The boys were tons of fun and it was great to see Mel and Brian again. Now it will only be a little over 3 weeks until I see them all again since they are driving here for Christmas. i included a couple pics: 1)Brian took Koen and I to the airfield to see the Huey he flies for the Army. Koen was really more interested in the huge puddles of water that Brian let him jump in. 2)Griffin climbed up on my belly and we developed a little game where he zooms in to my face! He just giggles like crazy!

Scrapbook Club went well today after school. We did two single page layouts. I hung up the next layout, a double page spread, and already have 8 signed up. It sure it fun to share my hobby with my students! This Saturday, I am meeting my Science Club at the Discovery Center to ride the highwire bike and an Immersion Cinema. I'll try to get some pics of that, but I probably shouldn't get on the bike!

On that note, the pregnancy is going OK so far, but then again, I'm not THAT far along. Honestly, it hasn't been that enjoyable so far! lol I feel nauseated pretty often and actually threw up today for the first time. Eating healthy has been a chore for me and definitely has to be a conscious effort so I don't grow to be a big as a barn. Dec. 4th is my next appt. Don't get me wrong, we are still excited. Tobin seems to be more excited since I threw up, like that confirms the reality of it all in his head!

I had to teach my Principal's daughter how to keep the basketball books tonight at the 7th and 8th grade games. I did it for 10 years, but the money isn't really worth the long day anymore. We had fun laughing and learning tonight though. I put in a 12 hour day, so I'm headed to bed now. Hope everyone is doing well!

Alabama bound!

I started feeling a cold coming on Friday morning. That is no big shock since I am surrounded by kids all day long and 8 kids had left school by 2nd hour on Thursday. It has progressively gotten worse everyday, even though all I have done is lie around and rest. I am halfway through the new James Patterson book, Double Cross, and really liking it so far. I also like to watch Ellen dance at the beginning of her talk show. She's pretty darn funny. I honestly haven't even felt like scrapbooking or even going through scrapbook magazines. The Tylenol is masking the symptoms, somewhat, but since it is viral, I get to wait it out with no antibiotics. The downtime has been nice, but it is not like me to have this much downtime and no productivity!! I need to find out if I am contagious because I leave at 5am to go see these cute lil' boys and my sister and brother-in-law! Not looking forward to a 12 hour drive, hacking and coughing my way to Alabama, but maybe things will improve here soon! I sure don't wanna get those sweet lil' boys sick! I really can't wait to see them even though I don't have enough energy to act like it. I'm sure that will change when I see them. I'm sure we'll play hard, and then I'll sleep like the dead. Going to bed early tonight for sure! Mel, we'll text or call every few hours on the drive down.....buy some Lysol spray so you can follow me around. LOL just kidding, I think.....

Saturday~

I have been trying to figure out how to tell the story and scrapbook the details for future reference. I know you probably can't read the story on Blogger. It took me 18 pics to get this one! Things just wouldn't cooperate for me. I blurred out the address in case you wondered what is up with the appt. card....

I think I'll take a long walk. It is beautiful outside!

New OB nurse appt~

Tobin attended the appointment with me and we were there for about an hour including the blood draw. They did not let him go with me when they took my blood. Liability reasons, I presume. We then confirmed some medical history info, signed papers, and talked insurance. We were signed up for a gift basket and received a bag of Simulac and Enfamil stuff with several give-aways inside. I was able to ask some of my quirky questions about aspartame, water quality with tap vs. bottled, and regular milk vs. organic. Our new OB nurse was maybe 23 and had never had a child, so she just knew technical info. I can relate to that, so I wasn't irritated with her, but left my questions for the doctor nevertheless.
Results:
The dr. recommended aspartame products are OK, but at a minimum and had no preference with what kind of water or milk I drink, just drink lots of it. I DO have an opinion though.
I plan to ONLY drink organic milk because the hormone levels in regular milk are alarming, to say the least. Check out http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/general/milk.htm
I think it says a lot when American milk is BANNED in Europe due to hormone levels. Yet, farmer's need more production! UGH! Have you thought about why young American girls are maturing and developing at such a young age in this country in the last 10-15 years?????

OH, the doctor was one day later on his predictions for my own prediction of the due date. His estimate is July 11th.

Spirit Days

Just a couple of things...my HCG levels have been increasing "quite nicely" as the doctor put it. I go back this Friday for my new OB nurse appt. Tobin is going with me! :) I imagine we'll learn A LOT!

Recently, it seems that we have had several school spirit days. I try to participate for several reasons other than the obvious. One, I try to wear jeans or a hat whenever possible. Secondly, I'll do just about anything to not dress up to school and be uncomfortable all day. "Camo day" was either last week or the week before and crazy hat day was the day after that. I look kinda silly, so I thought this may provide a smile to brighten someone's day! :)

Tired, but busy

Well, I have spent the weekend scrapbooking or hanging with family, so no complaints! I even managed to go to a nice dinner Saturday night with Sonja, my sister-in-law and friend. We ate at UMI, one of my favorite sushi places. I even ran into my sister, Tricia, and her husband there! In case you were wondering, the waitress circled all of the rolls I could choose from that would be safe and fully cooked. We ordered the Kissy Kissy, the King Caterpillar, and the Touchdown. All 3 were amazing and I'd eat them again for dinner every night this week if possible! LOL

Church was nice this morning. Hunter sat on my lap through most of the service. That was pretty darn sweet. Tobin's parents treated us to lunch at
and I included a pic of Hunter enjoying his ice cream cone!

I even made it to the gym over the weekend.
I'm pretty tired, but finished a quick page of the Hays girls tonight, daughters of some good friends of mine. This is such a sweet pic that I made the page fairly simple to not take away from the adorable picture. The circle idea is a scraplift from Heather. Heather, did you recognize it? Have a great week everyone!

You may want to sit down for this, but....

Although this news may come as a shock to some, many already know what a miracle and blessing this really is for us. It's awfully early(development-wise only!! kinda late in life~), but I can't contain my excitement!!!!!!!!! We need all the prayer we can get, so please pray that all goes well for us! It's strange to be nervous and scared, yet excited with anticipation all at the same time! I have taught this topic to students for 13 years, but never experienced it first-hand! I know I couldn't ask for better friends and family to share this with, not to mention being able to experience this (FINALLY)with the love of my life! We are sooooo happy!

An evening with great friends~

REUNITED!!! Friends in high school and through college, we haven't done a great job of keeping in touch in our adult life. Soooo many memories! Graduation does that to you....You go from talking every day to "catching up" when you can! Lives get busy....but, when they are REAL friends, you know it immediately because you pick up like you haven't lost a day! I have been friends with Tara and Hollie for 20 years and they have been friends for 30 years!!!!! I love that!!

My students~

As many of you know, I am having to teach Earth Science this year, which is NOT my specialty! Two degrees in life science and biology, but only one class in geology. Well, after much research and a seminar on using music in the classroom, this is part of the result. As people, we use more areas of the brain when we musically learn the content and we remember it WAY longer. That's why we never forget the ABCs and can recite many commercials and songs we don't even like. These kids have memorized the lyrics to the "rock song" that covers sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rock types! All of my classes have done a wonderful job of playing along and learning the song. I doubt any of them forget the words any time soon! ENJOY!

Sing Along:

Sedimentary rock has been formed in layers

Often found near water sources with fossils from decayers~

Then there's igneous rock, here since Earth was born

Molten lava cooled and hardened, that's how it was formed~

These two types of rocks can also be transformed

With pressure, heat, and chemicals, metamorphic they become!