Spring Break

This week has been my Spring Break from school.  It began last Friday and ends on Sunday.  On Friday, I set off for home (Greenville).  I was able to sit and talk with my sister in the ICU.  She was making improvements daily!  On Tuesday, she was moved to a LTAC (Long Term Acute Care) facility.  She seems to enjoy being there (much more than the regular hospital anyway).  At this hospital, she will undergo agressive therapy (physical, occupational, and speech).  I was able to talk to her on the phone yesterday and she said she was doing better, but not good.  She has no idea how sick she really was, but we are so glad that she is getting back to her old self. 

On Wednesday, I woke up early to come back home.  I knew that Philip was off and that we could finally have a day together.  We have not been home all day on the same day since he began work.  We ran many errands (returned a dress, returned some sandals) and ate lunch at Moe's.  It was so nice to be able to spend time with each other without having to worry about what time we needed to be somewhere.  For supper, we met up with some UA friends at Wild Wings.  Because we still don't know many people here, it was so nice to go out to eat with some friends.  Even if they were all guys!  :) 

Yesterday, P took his second exam.  Boy will we be glad when this semester is over!  He has one on Monday and one on Tuesday and he is done.  After his exam, he was able to get a little more sleep before I woke him up for lunch.  Leftover wings and tater tots!  After we ate, he had to submit a paper and then go to work. 

Today, he is at work again.  I was able to enjoy some time out by our pool.  I realized after being there for a few minutes that I had forgotten a towel.  I got in the pool anyway.  It is still pretty chilly, but still felt refreshing.

Although this Spring Break may not have been what I imagined or planned, it has been pretty good.  I have been able to relax, spend time with P, visit the pool, knit, and read.  I can't believe that when I go back to school on Monday my students only have a month left.  I am not sure that I am ready to let them go.  I feel like there are so many more things that I can/should/need to teach them.  I am, however, ready for summer to be here.  It will probably be much like Spring Break.      

A Better Week

This has been a much better week than last.  My sister has continued to improve daily.  Although she developed pneumonia and now has a trach, she is doing much better.  I can not express how ready I am for her to be home and for everythign to be back to normal.  All the time I find myself thinking of something I need to tell her and picking up the phone, only to realize that I can't call or talk to her.  :( 

Next week is my Spring Break.  It seems like I have been waiting on it forever.  I can't wait to be able to go back and visit my sister and my family.  I also hope to get a lot of quilting and crafting done during this time.

Tank's picture face.  He always scrunches up his nose and pulls back his ears. 

Yesterday, I was able to spend a little "me" time.  First on the agenda was to find a bathing suit.  I thought this would be a horrible task and take me forever.  Luckily, I went to the new outlet and love the first suit I tried on.  I didn't mind paying more for a suit this year because since we are so close to the beack, I know we will have lots of visitors over the summer and it will be put to good use. 

Tucker and the "Plush Pig"

Also on the agenda was a visit to Barnes and Noble.  I have been waiting all week for this day!  This week was Teacher Appreciation Week and I got a good discount on things not only for my classroom, but also for me!  I bought two books about knitting as well as an older Pat Conroy book.  I can not wait to be able to go out to the pool and beach and just read (By the way....our pool opened yesterday!!!).




My books.  I can't wait to get started on them!


I am loving this time of year (Spring Break, the weather, the pool) and I can't wait until summer when I can relax and have "me" days much more frequently. 

Worst Week Ever

This has been the worst week ever.  My sister had a minor surgery Thursday before last.  When she went home she was in a lot of pain.  The next morning, she was having trouble breathing.  They thought they knew what happened, but when they took her in to have emergency surgery, her body went in to shock and shut down.  I had not left to go home because we thought that she would just have another small surgery and then return home within days.  However, after her body shut down, it was another story.

at my high school graduation

I called my dad to check in with him about Anna again and he said, "Your sister's pretty sick, kid."  That was when I knew something bad was wrong and that I needed to go home.  I quickly took out the dogs and threw the bag I had packed earlier just in case in the car.  I got about 10 mintues down the road only to discover that my wallet was not in my purse.  I freaked out, but turned around thinking it had to be inside the apartment on the table.  When I got back home, it was not there.  I looked in the backseat of the car, in the floorboard, and in the trunk.  I called Philip, who was at work, and he said to meet him at his work and he would give me a card to use until I got back.  On the way, I called Dad back and said that I would be on the way as soon as I could, but that I had lost my wallet.  When I arrived at UA, Philip said he had already talked to his boss and could go home with me if I wanted him to.  I was relieved because I hate driving myself that far and it would have been way worse because I was so worried.

We both set off for home.  When we got back to the apartment, I found my wallet under the backseat in the car.  Turns out it was never really lost.  I was again relieved.  

with Tucker when we first got him

We left for Simpsonville and arrived around 9:00.  By that time, it was too late to visit the hospital so we went to get some rest.  We stayed for the rest of the weekend, but had to come back home on Monday.  All week at school, she was all I thought about.  

I was able to go back on Friday and just came back to Bluffton today.  I was able to see her initiate her breaths and then get help for the respirator.  She did great!  She also opened her eyes and looked at me several times.  Her swelling was much better and she was beginning to look like herself again.  

I am still very worried about her and I know she still has a long way to go.  I also know that she is in good hands with the nurses and doctors at the hospital.  She has many people praying for her and I know that has helped her along.  It has been so nice to see all the visitors at the hospital and all the comments people have left for her online.  This has been a very difficult time for my family, but I know that we can make it through.  Anna is still fighting the infection and is able to do more each day.  I am proud of the fight she has put up so far and I know that she will continue to fight just as hard until she is back to her old self.  

at the MB one summer

I love you, Nan!  I know you can do it.   

Prayers Needed

Please pray for my sister. She is very sick and in ICU.  She is improving but still has a long way to go.  Please also pray for all of the doctors and nurses. Thank you!

Trying to become someone I've never been.....

I have decided that I want to become a runner/jogger.  At Under Armour, one of the questions they are suppose to ask you is, "What can we make you today?" (or something like that)  I have decided that since I can no longer swim here (and I haven't really been swimming in a while) that I will have to find something else to do.  I am excited about this because I really want to lose some weight.  I am hoping that this transformation can make me more healthy which can make me a better wife and a better teacher.  Getting new clothes and shoes makes this process even more fun.  Here are my new shoes!!!  I have been looking for pink shoes for months now, but hadn't found the right ones.  I also love these because they are not white.  I HATE WHITE SHOES!  They get (or look) so dirty so quickly.   

Anyway, the way that I am hoping to accomplish this goal is to use the program Couch to 5K.  I feel like it makes running and exercise doable, but not too difficult.  I had seen it somewhere else online, but here is the information that I found.  Also, I found an app for my phone that keeps up with the time for each section which is awesome.  If not, I would be so obsessed about looking at my watch and keeping up with the time I wouldn't be keeping up with the program.  This program can be done inside or outside.  For now, I think I will do it outside.  


This is one of my favorite shirts.  P said it is called Burnout.  It is very lightweight, but fairly see-through.  I can wear it over some other workout shirts or with a tank top under with jeans. 

   


This comes along with P's new job at Under Armour.  The store opened on Thursday and we were fortunate enough to be able to go and purchase a few goodies.  I am so excited about the possibilities this job brings to our family.  I can't wait to see where UA takes us and allows us to go!  But for now....I am trying to become a runner, someone I've never been.