3rd Grade

I'm back.  I will probably never be a consistent blogger on here.  Maybe just when MAJOR changes happen in my life and I want to "journal" about it.  Well, big news is I am now teaching 3rd grade and school starts TOMORROW!

Here's the deal in a nutshell...

On Monday morning, I was a kindergarten teacher.  By 1:00 that afternoon, I was a 3rd grade teacher.  The reason this happened was because there weren't enough students registered for kindergarten. Many people moved to a new charter school, and UDOT bought a bunch of houses and tore them down for a new road being built, so new ones weren't moving in.  This being the case, I would have had to wait until the middle of September, crossing my fingers more kids would move in, but most likely that wouldn't happen.  So the reality of it was I would have probably been surplussed to a new school the middle of Sept. not knowing what grade, where, etc.  My principal asked me if I wanted to teach 3rd.  I was a little hesitant since I didn't have any experience in 3rd.  (I was actually scared to death) but considering the options I had, moving now and knowing where I was going sounded like a better option than moving when school had already started.   I spent the entire week moving my classroom and organizing.  I have now officially changed schools once, and changed grades and classrooms every year I've taught.  Now, if you're a teacher, you know how exhausting this can be.  I got to work when the school opened and left when they kicked me out, and would come home and continue to work until my body couldn't function.  It has been hectic but I'm very excited to be teaching 3rd grade.

I have had so many people step in and help me this week.  It has truly been a blessing to receive all the help form friends, family, and other teachers.  It's been tough, but I'm extremely grateful to have a job right now in these hard times.  I love being a teacher and wouldn't have it any other way.

So...CHEERS to a new school year!   Pray for me. Actually, pray for the kids :)

Happy Earth Day!

Yesterday was the first day I got out of the house for a long period of time.  It felt so nice to be out on such a beautiful day.  It started out by going up to the U of U to hear my mom's organ recital at Libby Gardner hall.  Hearing the organ in that hall is absolutely amazing.  My mom was just this little person on a giant organ.  Some day I want to take organ lessons.  It really is such a cool instrument.  After the recital, we went down to City Creek and ate at the Blue Lemon.  It looked amazing, but since my sinuses are all messed up, I couldn't taste a thing! I'll have to go back when I'm feeling a little better.

Today, we went on a little picnic with Jake's family to this really cool little secret park downtown.  There weren't any people there and it's this perfect little park hidden behind some houses.  We went down to see the tulips at Temple Square and they are truly the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen in my life.  If you want to see the tulips, do it now!  They won't look this good in a few days!  You won't regret it.

As far as surgery goes, I am feeling a bit better.  Still really uncomfortable.  I stopped taking pain medication today so it's been a little rough but the pain is becoming more tolerable.  I'm just looking forward to Friday when I get the large plastic things out of my nose!

Here are a few pictures from tonight.  I look a little beat in the pics haha.  It's really hard to smile, but enjoy the pretty flowers!

Jake making "two lips" for the "tulips" 

Cool dude on a cool dude bike

Cabin Fever

I know I just wrote the other day, but I just wanted to write down a few things about my surgery so I don't forget.  This is my little journal of my surgery.  If you don't care, don't read it!

The night before my surgery, I think I slept an hour total I was so nervous.  The day I had my operation, I felt great and didn't have much pain, due to the anesthesia still being in my system.  I was planning on sleeping all day and didn't sleep at all.  The first night I was up about every half hour and I think slept a total of an hour and a half.  Yesterday I hardly slept at all either.  Needless to say, I was exhausted!  But I think all the drugs I am taking has made it hard to sleep too.  I just feel really loopy all the time.  I woke up yesterday in a lot of pain and my throat felt like knives were being swallowed.  This was because during the operation, they couldn't put an oxygen mask on my face so they had to stick a breathing tube down my throat so it got a little sore.  I slept a little during the day yesterday but not much.
Jake's aunt brought us an amazing dinner and my cute friend Erin brought us dinner for tonight. The whole time Erin was here I was a bit loopy.  Sorry Erin! haha  At about 9:00 I was out of it.  Slept for 15 minutes and was wide awake again.  Jake said ok, time to drug you up so you can sleep tonight.  He brought me a percocet, 800 ibuprofen, and a benadryl and I took all fo them at the same time. I've been feeling pretty good with all the pain meds because I have been eating every time I take it because I have a really weak stomach.  Well, I think I over did it on the meds last night.  About 45 min after I took all those I started shaking, sweating, and getting nauseated.  I told Jake I thought I was going to throw up.  So he brought me a garbage can and a Zofran for the nausea.  Next thing you know I ran into the bathroom and threw up.  I was so scared of hurting my nose but I'm fine and I felt a lot better after except for my throat.  It was KILLING.  But I slept until 4:00 am!  It felt so good!  I took some ibuprofen and went back to sleep.  I took a nice little shower this morning and it felt great.  The Dr. told me today will probably be the worst so I'm trying to keep up on the meds.  Hopefully by tomorrow I'll slowly get to stop taking stupid percocet.
My sister took me to lunch today to get me out of the house.  It was rough but good to get out for a min.

Alright, here is another shameless pic of myself.  There is a plastic splint in my nose that I have to keep in for 10 days.  It's more than uncomfortable.  My nostrils are permanently flared.  Jake was making fun of me today and it hurts so bad to smile.  Poor guy has to look at me haha

I am the scariest human alive, I know. But look at that giant thing up my nose!

Good thing I'm already married, or these pictures might do anything but get me a date!

Also, my amazing husband has had 5 shoulder surgeries.  He has spent the last several months writing a book about the recovery process of surgery.  Let me know if you want a copy.  You can get one here.  It's awesome.  He did all the illustrations too.

It's been a while...

I guess you could say I'm a bit bored tonight.  I haven't slept all day and I've tried.  Every time I try, someone calls or comes to visit, which is just fine, just hard to take a dang nap! I'm blaming it all on the percocet.  I haven't blogged here for a while so I decided to post a few things we've been up to lately.  And if I don't make sense, again, blame the percocet.

I had surgery on my nose today.  I have a perforated septum, meaning there was a hole in my nose that went straight through.  So they had to do a skin graft and cover it up.  So far I've felt great all day.  Just a lot of bleeding in my nose. It has finally slowed down quite a bit though.  I'm glad I'm on this end of it because waiting for this day has stressed me out for weeks now.  This was my first big surgery and I handled it like a pro.

Here are a few pics from the past few months.

I've already posted hideous pics of me on instragram today so I guess this pic says no shame.  This is why I got surgery.  If you get grossed out, don't look at this pic.  And I can't believe I'm posting this for the world to see.  Maybe it's the drugs I'm on.  I'll probably regret this later haha.

This is why I had to have surgery.  See that small hole? Disgusting.  They just went in and covered it up.  Now I have a splint up there for two weeks.  My biggest fear was not being able to breathe through my nose. To my biggest surprise,  I can breath pretty well, the splint is super uncomfortable though.

I just have to brag about my sweet husband for a minute.   That boy takes DANG good care of me.  I asked him to give me a Priesthood blessing last night because I was a little nervous for the surgery.  I am so thankful for a husband who is worthy to do this.  After he was done, I went in to brush my teeth and came out to this little bed he set up for me with my computer all plugged in and blanket laid out nicely on the couch.  I had to be at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. so he wanted to make sure it was all ready for when I got home.  He spoils me.  Not to mention he has been waiting on me hand and food all day long, and surprised me with Downton Abbey season 2!  He planned it so it would be delivered at our door form Amazon today.  Jake you are amazing!  Thank you for taking care of me today, and every day!
Ok, enough of my sappiness.

5:30 a.m. check-in time, only to play the waiting game until 7:30!

I had to wear this beautiful thing all day but it literally saved my life.  I had to change the gauze every 30 minutes it was bleeding so bad, but I'll take blood over the pain any day!  And no, I'm not posting this picture because I think I look good.  I look awful!

My ghetto hand-filled ice bag.  Middle finger.  Sorry inappropriate. I don't care.   I feel a little like this right now haha
Oh, and how could I forget!  I have to wear beautiful white compression socks that go all the way up to my thighs for two weeks.  They are so attractive! and hot!
Ok, enough surgery talk.  It's all that's on my mind today.

In March, we had a new addition to the family.  My brother Brad had his fourth girl.  Hattie.  She is a doll.

Last week, Jake had the awesome opportunity to go to San Francisco to the YouTube and Google headquarters.  He was definitely in his element.  He bought me this cute little Android shirt.  He said the girls at the Google store helped him pick it out.  He was quite proud, and I was quite happy.  Thanks Jakers!


Over Easter, Jake's family rented a condo for the week down in St. George.  I didn't have to work Friday so we went down Thursday night.  It was the perfect, much needed little getaway.

Thursday, we golfed.  Well I only golfed 9 holes and since I'm the only one with a road bike, I went on a little ride by myself while everyone golfed the other 9 holes.  I love biking down there.  So many fun little bike paths.

Saturday, long morning walk & pool time.

A pretty overlook in Snow Canyon

No, my zipper is not down.  My pants are just retarded.

Awesome Saturday night stroll on our bikes.

And last but not least, if you haven't read this book, GET IT! NOW!  It is really good and inspiring.  Such an amazing story.  You can check out her blog here too.  

Alright, enough out of me.  Good night!

Erased

So...I just spent the last 30 minutes writing a blog post on here and posting pictures because it has been FOUR months since I last blogged here.  For some reason, it erased it and I was back at the home page! Another reason why I like using Word Press now! Ahhh. Sorry but I'm not going to repost all of the pictures again.  Maybe one of these days I'll get around to it.  For now, visit my new blog here!
xo
Danielle

Lemonade 10 cents!

I need to get some feelings out.  I normally don't 'vent' or 'rant' on my blog, but I just wanted to write about something that has happened to me lately.  I am not going to 'vent' right now, just express some feelings I've had the past several days.  Last week, I guess you could say I was handed a few lemons.  Maybe even the whole tree?  Jake and I were down in California last week.  We were driving back to my aunts house after going to the San Diego temple that day.  I received a phone call.  My caller I.D. said 'Hillside' (that's the name of my elementary).  The first thought that went through my head was "oh it's probably just someone needing a sub and they called me since I'm off track. Well joke's on them, I'm partying in Cali with my husband!  Well, I really wish that was the case, but it wasn't.  Joke was on me actually.  It was my principal calling to tell me I was going to be surplussed to another school because our enrollment was too low.  I think my heart skipped a few beets.  It was like my worst nightmare called me up on the phone and said, "Hey, I know you're already well into the school year and have worked countless hours on work and setting up your classroom, but we don't care.  You have to switch jobs.  We have no idea where you'll be going, but you'll have a job.  Good luck!"  I was devastated.  Mostly for the kids I have become attached to in the past few months.  It was like someone was taking my kids away from me.  I started crying, was this actually happening?  So my principal said "I talked to another principal and I put in a really good word for you".  Well to make a long story short, I don't have to switch schools and I will be staying at my same school as a reading specialist in K and 1st in the morning and teaching a half day of kindergarten in the afternoon.  My principal didn't know I was certified to teach kindergarten.  This changed a few things.  After some discussion, it was decided that the current kindergarten teacher would be moved to a different school.  I'm sure this happened because a new charter school opened up down the street.  So, I'm not really a big fan of charter schools.  I'll just put that out there. The charter school isn't even done and the kids have to pack their own lunch because there is no cafeteria.  I thought, do you think parents will pack lunches?  No. They won't even pay lunch money!  And they have to walk down the street for recess because they have no playground.  Charter schools also don't have a basal reading program, you don't have to be a certified teacher to teach there, they have no common assessments and most of the kids that start off there end up back in the public schools anyway because they aren't getting the experience they had hoped for.  (This is my two cents on that.  I'm sorry if you disagree)  I felt so horrible about this whole situation that the kindergarten teacher had to move all her stuff to a different school, but in this I'm sure there is a silver lining somewhere?  I am off track right now and still had one more week of my break.  I had to go in to work yesterday to start planning and moving my stuff.  I was there ALL day until 6 doing more planning and moving my room again-still not done.  Good thing our trip was planned the first part of my break!  I still have a lot more to do, but at least I'm making lemonade now.  By Monday, my lemonade stand will be open for business!  I have tried to stay positive in this whole thing.  I was so sad to be leaving the most incredible 1st grade team that ever walked this planet but lucky to have a great kindergarten team as well.  I observed the kindergarten class yesterday and they are very well behaved and as adorable as ever!  I'm excited for this new chapter in my life.  This quote by Elder Wirthlin has been running through my head a lot, 'Come what may and love it'.  What good words to live by because you never know when you'll get a few lemons thrown your way!

caliFUNia

We just got back from being in California for a whole week!  It was such a blast.  Here are a bunch of pictures from our lovely week.  All the way from L.A. to La Jolla.  I want to go back!!  I know this is a major picture over load, but I love to and take pictures!  

At the Utah USC game in the Coliseum.  Major disappointment but awesome stadium! 

Jake's 26th Birthday! 

We spend some of Jake's Birthday at The Getty Museum 

Weird statue behind me that looks like I have a red thing on my head.  Just doing some model poses haha

The Getty 

It was freezing at night and I only had this sweatshirt.  In Jake's words "Don't worry honey, you can't tell that your sweatshirt doesn't match your dress". 

Muscle Beach

I bout this guy's CD and made him sing Happy Birthday to Jake

Santa Monica

We got to go on the set of modern family.  It was so awesome! 

We got lucky and met Ty and Julie.  They were sooo nice! 

Venice Beach

Beach of 1,000 steps. New favorite beach.  It's in a cove so there is no wind! So beautiful, good work out too!

I wouldn't mind living here!

My Baywatch Babe! 

Best pic of the whole trip

look at that hottie in his little shorty shorts

San Diego Temple. I've waited outside for many weddings in my life and finally got to go inside! Very beautiful

La Jolla

I had to take a pic of the bridge club because it reminded me of 'The Help"

Jake likes to do model poses too

Riding the ferry in Balboa

I think we had 20 too many donuts on this trip! 

Newport Beach Elementary School.  I wouldn't mind working there! Recess on the beach? 

Just doing some more model posing haha

Thanks Aunt Penny and Uncle Howard for letting us crash at your house!  We love you guys! We had such a blast!