First post in 2021????

 I always try to update this blog when I have time off school!!!!  I realized I didn't update during Winter or Spring Break and now SUMMER BREAK is over in two days!!!!

A lot has happened since my last update!  

Christmas was just us - COVID Christmas wasn't much fun - but it was still nice!

  

This year's ornaments

Gifts for co-workers

Anyone who knows me - knows this is the best gift EVER!  

GIFT CARDS

My new office chair 

Ryan was excepted into the manager training program with Jewel and has been going full steam from department to department learning the ins and outs of the grocery business!  He was transferred to another store a few months ago and will be going into another store in about a week.  He's hoping to return to the store he is currently at because he enjoys working there!  Fingers crossed!

All three of us are fully vaccinated and hoping to stay healthy.  In February, Bill tested positive for the coronavirus!  Five days later I tested positive.  It was HORRIBLE!  With Bill's diaphragm condition it was scary!  He had to get chest x-rays every other day and was put on many antibiotics!  Thankfully he recovered.  I was off work most of February and experienced the typical symptoms: WORST HEADACHE EVER, loss of taste and smell for over a week (horrible), cough, and tired!  I was unable to even lift my head from my pillow with the COVID Headache! 

Bill continues to have many procedures, tests, and infusions in hope they will begin to see improvement with his diaphragm! We continue to hold out hope we will see some improvement, but at times it gets very discouraging considering it's been a year of treatment.

 

In May, we celebrated the lives of three of my uncles who passed away during the pandemic. It was great to see family who we haven't seen in a long time, however, the circumstances wasn't ideal!

These were the gifts I gave at the end of last school year.  

With most of the year remote and on zoom - I only worked with a small amount of people!

Retirement Gifts for another Teaching Assistant and for the person I am replacing in the LMC!

The first week out of school, I purchased a new car!  It doesn't LOOK any different than my former Impala - same body style and color - but a few years newer and only 1700 miles on it!

My niece is getting so BIG!  The last time I updated she was only a month old and now in a couple months will already be ONE!  Look at this sweet face!

The biggest news is that I was approached about making a change at work/school!  I was asked to be the LMC (Library Media Center) Assistant in the mornings and continue as a Special Education Teacher Assistant in the afternoons!

The library has not been updated or "cleaned up" in a very long time.  I've spent a good portion of my summer over at the school creating, cleaning and learning the new responsibilities of a LMC Assistant!

Here are some BEFORE and AFTER comparisons!

These are the signs I created for the displays

Here is the final results!

Here are some other projects I have been creating!

Back to school little gifts

Classroom signs

These gumball jars from Target were a hot commodity and hard to find!  Everyone was posting how to paint them to use them for displays!  Here's some of my creations: 

Now they have them in WHITE!  I hit the jackpot on a Saturday morning!

Lastly, I already ordered Ryan's ornament for this upcoming Christmas!

That's the latest!  Hope to update sooner next time! 

Still Dealing with the Pandemic -Who would have thought?!?

The "Safer at Home" quarantine order lasted forever.........and now IT HAS RETURNED once again!  We ended last school year 100% remote learning!  The school year started with remote learning - we piloted a couple grade levels for a couple weeks in October and right before Thanksgiving Break, the superintendent announced that NO STUDENTS will be coming into school until at least January 19th!  He also agreed to allow Teaching Assistants to work from home until that time. 

SO, HERE WE GO AGAIN!

Currently, stores remain open to 25% occupancy and 50% for grocery stores.  There is no eating in restaurants or bars and gatherings are back to no more than 10 people.  The virus is a lot worse than it was in the Spring - I think we all knew it was coming but it is getting OLD!

Thankfully, there is talk of a vaccine being available soon.  FINGERS CROSSED!

With the end of the school year being remote, the neighborhood arranged a parade for the students who attend the schools that Ryan attended.  People decorated their yards to recognize the graduates.  The first grade teachers came over to my house along with some teachers who no longer teach at Brookdale to watch the parade.  It was great seeing students current and past drive by!   

Then my friend's daughter had a birthday parade too!

Congratulations to Ryan for buying a "new to him" car!

His first "official" car payment!

Unfortunately, Bill health took a turn for the worse in July.  He is currently still ill and we are working with a team of doctors to try to correct his issues.

In July, I had to rush him to the Emergency Room, as he couldn't breathe.  Of course, we were almost certain he had COVID-19.  He was quickly diagnosed with bronchitis and given an inhaler and sent home.  After three days he had gotten worse and went to see our primary care doctor.  He was out of town and saw his partner and was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia.  Weeks past with symptoms not improving and trials of several treatments.  Until he finally agreed to get a Echocardiogram and CT Scan,  Unfortunately, he was (and still) couldn't lay on his back for the procedures.  He was again taken to the ER - where they tried sending him home! The doctor insisted he be admitted for testing - thinking his stay would be two days tops!  He ended up on the pulmonary ICU which is also the COVID floor!

He was diagnosed with a Diaphragm Disorder.  His Phrenic Nerve has neuropathy which makes it extremely hard to breathe.  He was given infusions of IVIG in hopes it would strengthen the nerve.  When entering the hospital his lungs were working at 24% - when we left he was at a 38%.  The treatment takes months to work (if they work).  He is still struggling to breathe and still can't lay on his right side, his back or bend down without loosing his breathe.

Edward Hospital 

Emergency Room prior to being admitted

Pulmonary Unit - his home for 5 days

$50,000.00 infusions x FIVE!

During one of the infusions

Getting his strength back so we could go home!

Walking around the COVID wing was interesting!

We are out of here!

This all took place during my first week back at school after being off for FIVE MONTHS!  The new principal was understanding and I was able to spend time at the hospital with Bill keeping him company.  Thank Goodness for insurance because this bill was close to $300,000.00!

We JUST got notification that we won the appeal for more infusions!  We hope and pray this will help him breathe better.  Last test shows his lungs are at 43% - The doctors were hoping for a better recovery.  We received approval for Xeljanz (6000.00 a month drug), along with a C-Pap machine.  The dilemma we face now is that we are switching insurance carriers January 1st!  I've worked for the school district for 19 years and this is the year they decide to switch carriers!!!!!

Amongst everything we've been facing - we had something (someone) to celebrate!

Meet my niece, Ellie Leah!

Born October 26th!

Of course, I couldn't miss the opportunity to bring my camera when I met her!

Everyone fell in love with this picture and it became the picture on the birth announcement!

Some of my favorite pictures I took!

My Rae Dunn Halloween decorations

Of course, Ellie needed a costume for her first Halloween

even at 5 days old!

SOOOO CUTE!!!!!

Rae Dunn Fall - Thanksgiving Day Decor

Jacob's 21st Birthday Gift!

Here are some of the projects I've been creating lately:

Faux Taffy Apples

Faux Whipped Cream Toppers for my Rae Dunn Mugs

This is the gifts I gave fellow teachers on the first day of school

EMERGENCY FACE MASKS!

Two of my friends had birthdays right before mine!

Here's their gifts

My first day back at school after FIVE MONTHS away was on my birthday!

Not a fun way to celebrate!

We finished out the summer taking some pictures at Fabyan Forest Preserve. Due to the pandemic, part of the park was closed (The Japanese Gardens) - but we still managed to get some nice photos for our Christmas Card!

These are my latest faux whipped topping!

TURKEY WHIPPED CREAM!

I also made this ornament for my nephew

Speaking of ornaments!  These are the ornaments for Ryan this year

since he is an ESSENTIAL WORKER!

and in recognition of his new car

I've been working on a TON of projects for school!

Kindergarten Welcome Posters, Lottery Tickets, Signs, and more
Here's a peek at some of my creations!

 

and in  recognition of the next two months at home ZOOMING!

Of course, I need to post my latest sketchers (boot) purchases!

Couldn't pass up this deal on these boots from Kohls.  Actually most of the skechers were purchased at Kohls on markdown and additional savings!

Spring Step Kathie B 100.00 for 25.00!!!!

That's the past six months - still quarantining for the most part.  Today is the first Thanksgiving we didn't spend with family - as no one wants to jeopardize spreading or getting the Coronavirus!  

With Bill's condition it could be a real set back if not worse!

The three of us enjoyed a big feast alone.......rearranging the attic above the garage and making wintery faux whipped toppers and catching up on the blog!