Hump Day Happenings

The halls are hauntingly empty.

At our staff meeting this morning they said we are a go until Thursday 3:30. Then, according to the province, we will have Friday, and next week as Pause, as they are calling it. Time to be at home and figure out this new world for our family as well as for teaching.

The govt stated in that initial announcement that online learning is optional and everyone passes.

NOT well thought out to say the least. So many what ifs and our hands are tied. Really wish they would include us in conversations.

I finished my marks and updated my report cards for Term 3. My EA and I began cleaning around the classroom. Wiping desks and computers. Finding library books and returning them. Making lists of students to contact that they had belongings in my room.

We as a staff have planned a nerf gun war for our noon tomorrow. Tensions are high and everyone is shell shocked. We need a bit of levity and togetherness before we say goodbye to each other and the building.

After work, DH and I went for a big grocery shop. Unsure of how this is going to go, we are just making sure we have what we need for at least  couple weeks. The stores were crazy. Jammed. Panicy. Like right before Christmas but more stressful.

Carts are piled high. Shelves are bare. Almost no canned goods. No milk or bread. Surprisingly, the ice-cream bins are empty. This, in addition to the now usual - no cleaning products, flour, TP etc.

We didn't hoard but just made sure we had a few of each item we would want. It was one of the biggest bills I have had grocery shopping. Took forever to put away.

DS phoned tonight. Their league is suspended. He is doing his close out interview tomorrow (Thursday), taking care of his banking, and cleaning their condo.  One of the boys on the team is from SK. He had planned to fly home but was more than a little nervous about it. That, and last minute flights were exorbitantly expensive. DS decided they would come home together. How they will get 2 sets of equipment (the buddy is a goalie), and all their belongings in DS's Jeep Compass, is beyond me.

so much for their big plan of "many of the boys are going to caravan together, stop in Nashville for the night, etc)

DS2 is cleaning up our old house and getting his things ready to clear out before DS1 gets home.

And so it begins

Infusion day in Stoon

Hearing rumors that stores are running out of items - flour, yeast, cleaning products, toilet paper.

None of any of the above here in town.


So off I go to Stoon and the first thing I usually do is head to Costco. It's always busy there. I mean do people work??? I know why I am not at work but everyone else???

Busier than normal.

I head to the back where I always do. No Kirkland TP. I see a few people with it in their carts so there was some. Was.

I grab the permitted 2 of Purex TP. Not my favourite but...well. As a girl with colitis, I go to the bathroom a LOT. I need it. Running out would be all kinds of awkward.

There is also no cleaning products, no flour or yeast, and very low amounts of pasta, pasta sauce. It's eerie. I have to say.

At my appointment the nurses seem unconcerned. Our conversation was more of the 'why are people stockpiling' focus.

It was an odd day for sure. Only took 3 tries to get my IV in this time.

Catching up - My health

I have to say that since I started a new oral pill last September, things have been much better colitis-wise in my world. I am still hyper vigilant about what could happen when I am out and about but I have actually been able to go eat at a couple restaurants without having to drive home in a mad dash to get to the bathroom.

I hope this trend continues. It would be so nice to live a more normal life and not have the burden of this disease the major factor in all my trips outside of the house.

The time spent with dad however uses up all my free time. I am feeling overwhelmed and like I don't have a life of my own anymore. I try to frame it as positive as I can but it  isn't easy.

I am behind  at school because I can't be there after schools or weekends to get caught up or, gasp, plan ahead.

It uses up all my brain energy so that when I get home from dad's I am often in a zombie state, without the ability to make big decisions, or organize, or remember where I put things.

My second mammogram shows the abnormalities are still there but haven't changed in size or shape. They don't feel it is something to be concerned about but I still think I should get a biopsy. Maybe paranoid, but I don't want to be surprised and find out that it is too late.

My filling in January broke in mid Feb. I had it refilled and it broke again a few days later.

I ended up having to go get the tooth pulled. I felt instantly old, with this weird gap on my lower jaw. A bridge or a crown were not viable possibilities. Add to that the tooth was a hot mess and roots were crooked and I had to pay $700 for sedation and it was NOT covered by any health plan. Boo!!

January Change

I am off this morning to the city for an appointment with my specialist.  It's a 3 hour round trip, plus $60 in gas,  plus 20 min of parking and another ---- minutes of waiting, for a 10 min appointment.

I really appreciate having a specialist. Taking a day off of work and the cost and time it takes to do so is not a fun part.

Before I head out I will stop at the bank to deposit my coins for the month. This will go towards my Back to School goal of $500

I had:

• 1 roll of toonies - $50
• 1 roll of loonies - $25
• 1 roll of dimes - $5
• 2 rolls of quarters - $20

for a total of $100. 1/5th of my back to school goal.

A bit of an update

Mom's news was escalated last Thursday with C in both her lungs, her liver and her spleen. She had a couple very bad days. Weak. hard to breathe. couldn't keep anything down. We go see an oncologist tomorrow.

I am off work for the remainder of this week. The stress of it all has taken my colitis into flare. It is giving me the gift of time to be there for them....cooking, cleaning, talking.... organizing. All those sorts of things. It is most appreciated. I work hard on keeping it together at the house and just taking breaths to go out to the garage to let the emotions flow.

I have had all 3 of my children (the boys and the gf) in my house for 4 days now. What a rare gift. Usually one or the other is gone. It gives DS2 a chance to get to know the gf more. He even went out and bought her a present for Christmas.

DS2 is still waiting to hear about a job doing power lines with the company his friend works with. He would be on the road 10 days ish and then home again for a few. He may opt to move out of our house and in with a friend. We shall take that one step at a time.

DS1 got to see a lot of his hockey buddies at 2 games over the weekend but he's really been HERE a lot, which is unusual for him. I love it.

I am grateful I had brought and wrapped most of my presents back at the end of November. They have been under my little tree since then and it's been nice to enjoy it when I actually get to be here at home. The cat definitely loves sitting under it and on the presents.

We plan to have a pre- Christmas, Christmas supper at mom and dad's with appetizers as the focus. This will give DS1 a chance to have his family meal and see some family before he flies back on Christmas Day.

a Day of Rest

I took a sick day today. My colitis issues are increasing and increasing.

I have now had this disease for 5 years. One gets a good feel for that part of body function and the imperceptible ups and downs. Mine is definitely heading towards full flare.

I suspect it's a combination of lack of fresh air an natural Vitamin D, the business of work and the stress of work.

I took today to rest and putter quietly about the house and give myself a few colitis treatments (you don't want to know :-)

It felt amazing to be at home. I really enjoyed the luxury of this and appreciated the energy recharge. I hope the treatments will help slow or, dare I hope, reverse, some of the inflammation.

I think I can get make the last 2 weeks until Christmas. I hope.

September Goals

It's a gorgeous September long weekend here and I am savouring every minute of it. DS2 headed off to go whitewater canoeing on the Churchill River. He's been going every year since he was 14...first with adults to teach and guide, and now he and his buddies go on their own. I love that this time with nature is such an important part of his life.

I had an amazing 3.5K walk this morning. Between the amped up colitis meds and a wee bit of other treatment, I felt safe...ish. Loved the birds and the fresh air and the smells of different breakfasts as you go by.

The dollar is up so I am headed to the bank with the college portion of my August paycheque to convert those to US dollars. Every little bit counts. I hadn't realized that if I converted and kept it in the US dollar account I got a better rate than if I went in and got the US money in cash.

I am not quite ready in my classroom so I am off to the school as well to put in about 3 hours just to finish putting things away and get the papers ready for the first week of school. Being preplanned and preorganized is critical to first week survival.

I was hoping for a nice little fire in my back yard last night but most of the province is under a fireban due to the incredibly dry conditions. Totally understandable.

My goals for September are fairly basic, as heading back to work is a big change.

• continue with Weight Watchers and my new little blog documenting the journey. Sticking with the program, theoretically I could lose 4 lbs in the month ( 1 per week) so that would be nice to achieve
• pack lunches for school. Means preplanning but it will ensure I stick with WW. It also will keep me from venturing to the school cafeteria and eating more than I need to. Great food there. 
• Squeeze in at least 5 walks a week. Harder to do in the morning when I am at work before 7:30 and sunlight is getting less and less. Hard to do in the evening when I come home bagged from work. They make me feel so good so I had better find a way
• Plan suppers. DS2 is home for some and with friends for others. I have asked him to give me a general idea so that I can plan for the bigger meals when he is here. We eat lighter when he is not.
• Read 1 book. Have to find my bliss
• Try to use my evening time for more than collapse in bed early, exhausted and fall asleep watching Netlfix.
• Appreciate the outside time while it is nice enough to enjoy

Have  a great day everyone!

Reflections on 2016

The year of 'meh'

I seem so many posts on 2016 about people saying that 2016 was awful in so many ways. Politics. Economics. Deaths.

I don't dispute those at all.

For me 2016 was a year of  'meh', which is a great word to describe that indolent shoulder shrug. Sure there have been lots of bright moments, but I didn't feel like I accomplished much. Worse yet, I didn't have the physical or brain energy to do much. Or to care.

I mean when a girl who loves notepads and lists sits down with a brand new shiny notepad and can't summon up enough brain cells to make a list - any list - we know that things are truly off.

My health has been shitty. Literally and figuratively. 2016 was the year of colitis 'accidents'. Humbling and degrading all in one.

My energy simply didn't exist. I got things done. mostly. but bare minimum seemed to be the standard of 2016. Exhaustion and I were BFFs

There were good things. I made it through my first year at a new school. A new baby in the family. My dad's 80th. A wonderful visit to DS at the end of September.

I met all my planned spending goals. There weren't too many Murphy moments. I didn't meet my goal to pay down my LOC to under $10 000.

I didn't read much. Correction - I didn't read anything new. Didn't have the brain cells to commit to anything new.  I reread a lot of things. Rewatched things on Netflix. Zoned out on computer games.

I honestly feel like an old lady sitting in her chair, passing time with trivialities. Not living. Just waiting to die.

I want to LIVE. I don't know what that looks like in my health limitations, but I want to live. I want spark. energy. zest for experiences.

What works?

Well mini goals work for me.

Something different but not too different to activate my mind.

What didn't work for me... doesn't take a genius to see that nothing I am doing is improving my health. When I did little spurts of WW or walking. It worked. I felt better.

I know...jaw dropping revelations.

I am not sure what new things or different things I need to do, but it's either that or roll over and wait for it all to be done.

Not exactly going to win cheerleader of the year with this post. Not looking for pity. Just ............ saying 'outloud' all the things I have been feeling lately.

And there has been a spark the past few days. The post Christmas, new budget, new goals, tabula rasa kind of spark.

I'll take that :-)

Home from the US

It was amazing. It really was. Probably the best of the trips I have done to see DS.

First - the drive. 17 hours there. 17 hours home. DH and I actually got along. Miracle. I don't think we have spent that much one on one time together in years. We were going to take my SUV but the night before when DH was checking the air, the valve literally blew out of the tire. So we had to take the truck.

The colitis - I was terrified I would have an accident on the drive. I mean, I have a block from my house, so that long a drive....... eek. I threw myself back on a high dose of steroids 2 weeks before we left to try to calm down the flare. I cut myself off food at noon the day before we left. For the drive there, and for the return, I had nothing to eat or drink. zero. nada. not a sip of water. not a mint. not gum. Any one of those things can trigger urgency.  Surprisingly, I wasn't dying of starvation. I didn't get the 'I'm hungry' dizziness or headaches.  I survived.  DH was amazingly supportive, which was a first as well.  It was greatly appreciative.

Funny, as we were driving, hour 12 ish, we went by a farmyard super close to the highway. I KNOW I smelled fresh brewed coffee wafting from the yard. It smelled SO good. We laughed as my senses must have been heightened.

The city - oh the weather was glorious. About 24 C. Amazing for end of October. We walked along a few of the scenic trails. We played in the huge waves coming in off the lake. Enjoyed all the sights. Hit a couple local breweries for a taste. Not really beer drinkers but it is very popular there. I learned I am not really an ale person.

The people - I found the parents group friendlier this year. Or maybe I am three years in and more comfortable. It was much more relaxed and chatty. There was a bonfire the first night we got intot he city but we were wiped from driving so far. We just met with our BFF parents and our boys and did supper together. Amazing pasta.

The parents did a brunch together, met for drinks before the first game, and again before the second at an outdoor patio down by the water. I still didn't get to meet all of them. Some are harder to approach - or maybe it' s my shyness. I have trouble around people who .........how shall I put this........are wealthier, have had more success, have all the fancy clothes. I feel .....lesser. They are probably wonderful people but it just feels different. Probably all in my head.

I also got to meet an internet friend..... a big longtime fan of the team whom I follow on twitter. We've chatted a bit on there. There was a jersey auction and she bid on DS's and won. She was so excited to get to meet DS and get a picture with him. She's met a lot of the players over the years and blogged that it was her #1 interaction with one of the boys from the team. The mama in me was 'awwww'. In their picture they are both laughing as he is 6 foot 4 and she is 5 foot 4 and he had to squat so they both could be in the picture.

The hockey. They won both their games. DS got to play in both games (which is less common - there are NHL draft picks here and DS is not on the top 2 lines). I even got to see DS score a goal and get an assist. I realized how much I miss when I don't get to see his games.

I need to tally up the costs for gas to see how much it came to. Certainly less than the cost of 2 flights at the current prices.

It was a phenomenal trip. We drove in thick rain from the border up and it snowed the night after we got home. I am so glad we didn't have to drive in that.

Definitely not flying

It's getting close to family weekend down for DS's hockey team. This will be our third trip down.

The past two years we have flown. Last year, I bought our tickets on August 16th for $547 each. Family weekend was at the end of October.

This year, it's at the end of September and what a dif the price is. I have been tracking prices since May and they are astonishing. They started out at just under $1000 each, which I was significantly more than last year. I thought they would drop. Nope. They maxed out at $1800 each for the same flight (about 6 weeks ago)  at the same time of day with the same airline. Over 3 x the price per ticket compared to last year.

The one month earlier is part of it. But should it be THAT much different?

We are even leaving on a Thurs and returning on a Monday. No Fri, Sat or Sun flights.

As of this morning, the best flight time is not listed anymore. The less optimal time is $1100 per ticket with 2 stops and crazy lay overs.

So drive we shall. 17 hours. x 2

I am very concerned about colitis needs across the long stretches without a small town (bathroom). It pretty much means I can't eat or drink during the journey.

We will add one extra  hotel night on the way down but will be powering home the last day. I will be exhausted going back to work the next day.

It will be interesting to see what gas costs for the journey. Certainly less than the $2000+ the tickets would be.  But we did have to take an extra day off work.

Health

I am sitting here with a great big smile on my face.   I just got back from a 4K walk. 4K

I haven't been able to do a 4K since last summer.   You really don't appreciate good long walks until.....you can't anymore.

Colitis has been bad.  My walks are restricted to a 5 or 6 block square around my house. Even then, I have come home in tears because colitis....didn''t want to wait for me to get home.

I also had something else develop this spring/summer. I have muscle strength loss and control on my left side. Stumbling when walking....like tripping over nothing. I have to be very conscious of making sure my left foot lifts properly.   Added to that, whatever muscle/tendon goes from the outside anklebone across the top of the foot, is unhappy. It goes tight and achy and by lunch at work it starts to hurt to walk. By 3:30 I am limping. Volleyball practice is rough. I get home and I can't even walk.

I ended up having an emergency MRI in late August and all I know is that there is an 'anomaly'.  I am waiting for an appointment with the neuro to find out the details.  My gut tells me MS but who knows.

If things don't improve, this will be my last year teaching and I will end up on disability I suspect. That should be an interesting paperwork journey.

Despite this doom and gloom  post, I go back to the first line. I got to walk 4K. It felt amazing to be outside in the fresh air and a few leaves starting on the ground, and walk.

Whatever else health  brings this weekend....I got to experience  a 'walker's high'

Have a wonderful Saturday, everyone.

First week of holidays...

...went so fast.

I wish a work week went that fast :-)

It was a quiet week off. To many, a boring week off.

For me, it was restful. I did baby walks outside (10 min ones seem to be the 'safe' distance before colitis wants to play). I dusted off treadmill and walked there too. I realize how sick I was. How weak. (and even more overweight). I think of the hour or more walks I used to do and feel sad that those are not currently in my wheelhouse.

I cleaned out many of those clutter collector spots: top of fridge, junk drawer, top of my dresser. Amazing how much crap collects there.

I had to send off copies of my tax form to my colitis med provider so they will (hopefully) continue to pay for the almost $4000 a shot med.

I sat out and had coffee at my little patio and felt the breeze and heard the birds.

I got to catch up on my blog reading.

I cut our lawn, twice. I cut my mom and dad's as well. Thought I was going to pass out (refer back to incredibly weak from illness and out of shape from.............yeah anyways).

I got the oil changed in my car.

I read and read and read.

I hung laundry on the line and watched it blow in the breeze.

I talked to two of my neighbours. Not much time for more than a wave during the school year.

I started watching Nashville on Netflix.

I did NOT crack a school book.  A record for me I think.

I ate fresh fruit and veggies. If I have to stay close to the bathroom I might as well enjoy!

I drank a  ton of water.

I lost weight.

I am very appreciative of this past week.

Off for my first infusion

So after my last colonoscopy it was decided that we needed to up our game med-wise. We did the steroids. We did the asacol. We did the...whatever level the drugs were that I couldn't handle the side effects of.

The next level are biological treatments. The standard Remicade and Humira are off my list as they are known to bring on MS symptoms. We didn't want to take the risk of that.

There is a newer biological on the market called Entyvio. It just finished it's clinical trial and was brought on the market in May of this year.

It is not covered under my drug plan. The drug company works with a provider and it looks like they will cover the costs of the meds. I never asked how much the drug was. I should do that.

I had to send in financials to prove our household income was at a level that we would be covered.

So off I go to the city. An hour and a half away.  There are only 2 places in SK where the infusions are given. I am told it lasts 30 min. In comparison, the Remicade one was a 3 hour procedure I am told ( at least for the first time)

I get to have my favourite- an IV.   Fingers crossed the side effects are minimal and I have no reactions. Oh, and that it works!!

Home

Well it's over and done with.

First..here is the view from my hotel window:

This is the University Bridge in Saskatoon. Across on the left is the hospital and the under construction Children's hospital.

IV -  I am kidnapping this nurse and taking her with me wherever I go. She did the IV on the inside of the elbow and I felt nothing. nothing! not even the little poke. She didn't do anything...no warming cloths, no numbing gel. Just skill.

Procedure. no pain or discomfort, but I was awake. I am guessing she was fairly generous with the drugs.

I was insanely sick to my stomach on the way home. After 20 min I had DH pull over and I laid down in the back seat. Being horizontal helped a great deal.

Results. Not good but not the worst.

We need to step up the drugs. The two I had spoken about...Remicade and Humira...are out. Apparently if you have MS and symptoms haven't developed yet, these drugs have been known to bring those symptoms on, fast. Since my sister has MS, she didn't want to take that risk.

She gave me the name of a new drug that is out of the clinical trial phase and was released in May for general use. I need to research it AND see if my drug plan covers it.

I need to get started ASAP so that I have the summer to 'see how it feels' after each IV infusion. I so want to be in remission.

I came home and slept and then moved to the couch and watched the Rider game slept.

Thank you so much to all those who commented with ideas and suggestions and good wishes. It really helped.

Costs:

Hotel $159
 Prep drink: $25
Juice, ginger ale, water $15
Cab: Hotel had a shuttle that went to the airport.
Fuel Costs Thurs: $48
Fuel Costs Fri: $60 (DH wanted to drive his truck, not my SUV)
Parking Costs Fri: $4.50

Total costs for this: $311.50

Bottoms up!

Very bad pun. and perhaps TMI to follow.

I am writing to you from my hotel room in the city.

I am alone.

I am nervous.

I am STARVING!

Last Friday I got the ominous envelope in my mail. Colonoscopy time!

I suppose having only a week's notice is better than knowing for a month or two. Less time to dread it.

I am nervous because the last time I had mine (Dec 2012), I learned that sedation in this hospital meant CONSCIOUS sedation (awake for the procedure with the video feed a foot from your face) as opposed to asleep sedation like I had the first time where I went night night.

Not knowing what conscious sedation really meant was a bit of a shock and I admit to crying in front of my specialist and her 14 year old (ok probably 24) intern/resident.

I feel more informed this time.

After the IV fiasco earlier this year (the bruising and sore hand lasted a month and they never got the IV in.  I am really anxious about the IV this time.  I know to ask for the O2 through the nasal hook up thingie as I had a bit of  a panic attack when they tried to smother me provide O2 through the face mask. I know I will be incredibly nauseous after the procedure and to ask for something ahead of time.

The cost is....pardon the pun....a pain in the ass.

A hotel room is required because the prep drink from hell they make you take requires a bathroom immediately close by. Driving 90 min is just not going to work.  Hotels are expensive! And all I am doing is watching TV and running to the bathroom, and then hopefully sleeping.

I can't drive. Sedative prohibits it, so I can't drive myself down.  DH did. Fuel costs.

DH can't get all of tomorrow off work, so he had to drive home, work tomorrow morning, then drive back to get me. More fuel costs.

Since I am at the hotel alone I will have to take a cab in the morning to the hospital. No clue what that will cost. Haven't taken a cab in years. Added to that, the bridge which connects directly to where the hospital is, is under construction, so the cab will have to take a longer route.

DH will have to pay for parking when he arrives tomorrow afternoon. My how parking costs here! If there is even a spot available (They are under construction so at least half the parking spaces are out of commission).

I will have some answers tomorrow. How bad is my colon?  What is our next step for medication? She was talking Remicade or Humira since the steroids aren't getting me fully into remission.

So this is definitely unplanned, unfun, but necessary expenses.  I could think of better ways to spend my cash.

My expenses last time were $280.99. Click here for the whole sordid story.

This time:
Hotel (right now quoted at $159 plus tax and 'hospitality fees'. That is with the hospital discount.)
Prep drink: $25
Juice, ginger ale, water $15
Cab: TBA
Fuel Costs Thurs: $48
Fuel Costs Fri:
Parking Costs Fri:

Curious - For those outside of Canada.....what is the approximate cost of having a colonoscopy?

One third of the way through 2015

Hard to believe it's already May. It never ceases to amaze me how fast the months (or years) seem to fly by as one gets older.

The first third of the year has gone by and I would have to say that it has had a lot of rough patches. I thought I would do a quick glance at how things have gone.

Health

Well it could be worse, but it definitely hasn't been great. I finished off 2014 recovering from a big cold and flu and went pretty much straight into my neck being out and locked, which threw off about 2 weeks of my January.  Chiro visit and two ER visits.  I had about a month of decent health before my colitis symptoms started coming back until it hit full flare. This past week marked 2 months of my flare in all it's glory. I was off work for almost a month (including one week of non school over Easter). The steroids are reversing/keeping the symptoms at bay, but the side effects of the steroids are not fun: dry mouth, numb lips, chest pains, increasing bruising, tight joints and muscles, esp the knees, swollen /puffy face and feet and super dry skin. Oh and increased appetite. Good times :-)

I am hoping for a much better spring. It's finally nice outside and I want to be out walking and doing things.

Murphy and money

Murphy  has been a royal pain the ass this year, especially around vehicles. Oh the things I could have done with the cash I have had to put out for vehicles and mechanic inspections. At least I can say I am getting the value back on the warranty I was kicking myself for buying.

College costs continue to stress me out. Aside from going back in time and putting more money away, there isn't much that can be done but keep on keepin' on. I really wish DS1 had been eligible for Canada student loans, even to help out a bit. I have three years left with DS1 and 2-4 with DS2 so I need to find my stride and figure things out and keep myself as stress free as I can to avoid bringing Mr. Colitis back.

The backpay and income tax refund will definitely help. I appreciate those two amounts so much.

It could be worse. I could have never saw the light with budgeting and money and been up to my tonsils in stress and debt.

Family
Being sick has kept me from a few family functions. I don't like that, especially on missed moments with my great nieces and nephews. They are super fun and I would like to be doing things with them.

I am glad I gave DS2 that trip. I just see so much more maturity and confidence in him and that makes me smile to my soul. I miss DS1 so darn much. By the time he gets home in June, it will be 6 months since I've seen him. That is far far too long. I need to plan a trip down to him next Feb or March to break that up a bit. He needs it and so do I. He is really homesick at this point, especially with hockey done.

Goals

I have a couple of my 2015 goals in progress. My TFSA goal of $2000 is getting closer. I have the grad money saved and have started doling it out for a few things.  My summer planned spending money is close as well.  Still, a lot of goals not started.

It will be interesting to see what my second part of the year shows at the end of August.

First week back to work

Well I made it through my first week back to work.


 It feel very odd to have been gone for so long. The kids all seemed to be happy to see me so I take that as a good thing.   I spent most of the week trying to figure out where everyone was in their assignments and who needed extra encouragement to get their butt in gear. Professionally, it was WHAM back into the game with meetings as we make plans for all the documents and parent meetings I need to do before the end of the school year.

I was not 100% by any means. Two of the days I had chest pains that made it super hard to move and breathe....like an elephant and his family were having a sit down party in the middle of my chest. It's a side effect of the steroids. I still was grateful to be near the bathroom....in case.  At the end of the day I was tired...physically, mentally and my legs shook. When you are laying on the couch for weeks, your legs get week.

I definitely need to get my butt to the school this weekend and tackle the mountain of marking waiting for me.

And I need to work with DS2 on a few scholarship applications.

And we had trouble with his car...again.

TGIF

A quiet weekend

Perhaps it is an indicator of how things will be in the fall when the nest is empty. Perhaps it's just the feel of one of those weekends.

It has indeed been a quiet weekend.

Thursday I felt great. I made a road trip (one hour each way) to DS1's girlfriends' house. It is their one year anniversary this weekend and I went to deliver the "It's been a year but we are both broke and in college' gift, and visit with her family. Great people. I was VERY nervous about driving that far with no place to stop for bathroom emergencies. I stopped eating and drinking about 3 hours before I left and did not have anything while I was there.  I made it there and was fine. I made it home. Just.

It was great to visit with them and I felt semi normal for the first time in a long time.

Friday I felt awful. Just exhausted and in pain and a headache from the steroids. It started to clear up before supper.

DS2 headed up to his beloved Scout camp so it was just DH and I home.  Supper was....hmmm what is in the fridge to eat. Zero cost, but boring.  I know we will have to make plans of how to cook for two again this fall so it isn't a lot of days of 'why bother'.

DH wasn't feeling well so he went to bed by 7. Just me and the cats. Very quiet and very odd. I lit a couple of candles and made some tea and settled in to watch some playoff hockey. I watched the Chicago game (to feel close to DS1). They lost so he probably wasn't thrilled.

Today DH and I ventured out to Walmart. A big outing for me to see if I was able to. Success. I spent $140 on groceries (milk, juice, bananas, peanut butter, bread, coffee, cereal, cheese etc) and household items (cat food, litter, TP, Motrin etc). Probably 50% for each category

Supper tonight is beef stew from the freezer, some of my mom's homemade buns, and some cheese. I feel like having wine. It's been awhile. We shall see :-)

I am wondering if any Canadian readers out there can recommend a place to buy kitchen valances online. I am getting rid of the past their expiry date blinds in my tiny north facing kitchen and decided to go fabric this time. I don't want to spend a ton.  I checked out walmart and sears. I found the following ones below at bed bath and beyond online.

I only want a top valance and not the side panels

Any other suggestions??????

Not Back to Work, and a bit of a raise

Well today is the day  I was supposed to head back to work. Home still for a few more days.

 I realized I had forgotten to mention the raise we got. We have been without contract for 2 years and earlier this year it was settled. No vote by the members. Just settled.

Anyways, at the end of March we got our first cheque that reflected our raise over the past 2 years. I net approximately $100 more a month.  For the teacher next door to me, the raise bumped her into the next tax bracket and she now makes $70 LESS a month than she did before the raise.

We ended up getting less than 2% for each year.  Annual cost of living in our province is 1.2%

I will put this extra $100 towards the future college costs of DS2. I will obviously have to tweak the budget for the fall to accommodate two of them in college, but for now, I am just sending the 'raise' that way, and continue on with the rest of the budget as it is now.

We get our back pay at the end of April. I have no real clue what it will come to and how much will be left after taxes.

Lovely, lazy Sunday morning

It's a beautiful morning here in SK. Sun is shining  and the energy just feels great.

Bacon is cooking and I will make pancakes toute suite.  Just taking a moment with my coffee to.......... appreciate.

I made it to my friend's wedding last night for a few hours. What pure joy those two shared with each other. It was such an honour to be there.

My admin feel I should take another week off to continue to heal. I will go in today and organize and plan. Trouble is that subs (supply) teachers all seemed to be booked for the upcoming week, so I may have to work anyways.

I think I could do it, but another week of rest wouldn't be so bad either.

We shall see how things pan out

Edit : They managed to find someone for me for Mon - Wed. I went in for four hours and prepped for those three days.