Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Yup!  I'm going back under the knife.  I've tried several times to write this new post.  It just makes me so darned nervous and anxious that I can never finish it.  So, here goes...again.

After my cystoscopy last Friday, I was told that my right kidney went from 30% function to (ready?) 0% in just six weeks.  For a refresher on the visit to Dr. Platt where I still had some kidney function, see my January post called "I'm So Done".  Little did I know eh?

Dr. Platt told me he wanted to do a procedure where they use an ultrasound to shoot a needle in my back and drain the kidney.  This results in a lovely little sack strapped to my back to catch my golden pee.  After thinking, and stressing, about it all weekend, I called Dr. Soissen's office and basically insisted that they see me that day. (Dr. Soissen only comes to Provo on Mondays).  They said to come on down.

After visiting with Dr. Soissen, we decided that it would be best to skip the nephrostomy tube (for a more detailed description of what that is, just go on and google)  and go straight to surgery to remove the blocked part of the ureter and reattach it to my kidney.  This requires full on abdominal surgery.  Which means another six week recovery.  Which means six weeks of pain.  Which means six weeks away from my darling, darling, first graders.  Which means...this sucks big time.

So, it's surgery for me this Monday.  I'm not sure what time.  But I know it's Monday.  I have so much to do before then.  Cleaning my house, planning six weeks of substitute teacher plans, laundry, getting Terry well (he's been very sick for the last three days), tying up loose ends at school with my literacy job, grocery shopping, two more shifts at Bath and Body Works, and probably things I haven't even thought of yet.  (am I boring you?)  I'm mostly worried about how Emily and Lizzy are going to get my Girl Scout Cookies to me when I'm not going to be at school!  :)

I hope to post again when I have a better attitude, and when I can give you the good new that everything went well.

Meanwhile...here are some "lovely" pictures from my cystoscopy last Friday.  Personally, I don't think they look anything like a kidney.  More like Jupiter and Utah's Goblin Valley caves.

Just So You Know...

I got every single Oscar prediction correct!

(See yesterday's post)

Brag!

Brag!

Brag!

Brag!

My Boyfriend Oscar!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Oscars.  Every year, no matter how long it lasts, I watch every single minute.  I don't know why I love it so much.  I just do.  I always have and I always will.  I even watch the all the pre oscar programming. 

So, with my very best armchair intuition, I will make a list of my predictions for the winners this year.  Ready?  Here we go:

Best Actor:  Sean Penn for "Milk".  I haven't seen this movie but given that it is about a very

popular topic in the "world" right now and that the Academy loves Sean Penn and a controversial topic, I think he will conquer all.

Best Actress:  Kate Winslet for "The Reader".  Even though she is up against Meryl Streep (an amazing actress) I'm going with Kate.  I love her.  Whenever I see her in any interview, she is such a little lady.  Very sweet and ladylike.

Best Supporting Actor:  Heath Ledger for  "The Dark Knight"

.  This is a no brainer.  The academy wants to be on the cutting edge in shockdom.  Choosing a dead actor would fit that bill.  However, he really was an amazing actor in that movie.  

Best Supporting Actress:  I want it to be Viola Davis for 

"Doubt",  BUT I really think they will pick Penelope Cruz for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona".  I haven't seen this one but she always does such an amazing job.  PLUS...she is beautiful.  If you're beautiful, you always win.  Right?

AND for my final pick (yes, I do realize there are many more categories but, let's be honest, who really cares about them!)

Drum Roll Please....

Best Picture:  "Slumdog Millionaire"   I LOVED THIS MOVIE!  It was such an amazing film with a good message.  Having lived on that side of the planet, I was absolutely mesmerized at the clarity and authenticness (is that a word) of the entire film.  I felt like I had been to every spot they filmed.  I love the people of India/Sri Lanka.  I really need to go back someday.

I also think that "Slumdog Millionaire" will take home an Oscar for:  Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Cinematography, and Original Score (I loved it).

As you may have noticed,  I didn't pick anything for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons".  I really liked the movie but it was way too long.  I'm sure it will get some awards but none of the big ones.  If they don't win for make up I will eat my own hat (if I had one).  That one is a no brainer.  They could even win for visual effects.

NOTE:  I am not a professional at judging movies but I do enjoy movies.  I'm thinking that if I get all my predictions correct, someone should definitely buy me a Diet Coke.   Any takers???

The Literal Brains of Six Year Olds

The darlings I get to see every day.

(In case you're wondering...they only dress like this on Halloween!)

The best part (well, one of the best parts) of my job as a first grade teacher is telling a joke and having it bomb!  Most six year olds don't 'get' a great joke.  I can tell them the funniest joke in the world...

"Knock. Knock" "Who's there"  "Interrupting cow"  "Interrupting co" "MOOOOOO" 

(I still laugh hysterically at that one)  

...and those little faces will look up at me and want to know why the cow was even out of the barn in the first place.  Why didn't the farmer close the gate?  Did the chickens get out too?

 I love it.

If I'm feeling down, all I have to do is ask my students to tell me their favorite joke.  It's usually goes something like this...

Them: "Why did the chicken cross the road?"   

Me:  I don't know.  Why?  

Them:  Yellow.  

(This is always followed by belly laughing and rolling on the floor by those little first graders.  Pure silliness.)

So, today I thought I'd try another joke out.  It SHOULD have gone like this:

Why can't Cinderella play football very well?

Answer:  Because she has a pumpkin for a coach.

HA!

Funny, right?  Here's how it went down...

Me:  Why can't Cinderella play football very well?

Joseph:  Because girls can't play football.

Brielle:  Yes they can.  I play on a Jr. Jazz basketball team.

Yaremi:  So do I.  Girls can too play football.

Caleb:  I've seen girls playing tennis.

Joseph:  I just meant they can't play in those high heels they wear.

Me:  (Great big eyeroll!)

I HAVE THE BEST JOB EVER.

Brielle...she's so cute.

Yaremi is such a sweetie.

Caleb keeps me sane!

And, finally, Joseph who now agrees that girls can play football...but only if they change into running shoes!

Happy Valentine's Day!

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This Is My Valentine

Yup!  It's my dear husband Terry.

I could make a list a mile long about why I love him but, this ONE simple act of sweetness should be evidence enough.

The other day I came home from school with a thousand stories to tell Terry.  This child threw up.  That child said something hilarious.  Another told me a heart-breaking story.  And, yet another, called me "Mom".

Terry listened patiently (as always).  We went about our evening.

Later that night, as I went to bed, I found an envelope on my pillow 

(pictures to follow).

On the outside of the yellowed envelope with the dog-eared corners was my husband's name:  Terry J. Anderson

Inside the envelope was Terry's promotional certificate to first grade.  Clear back in 1961.

(For the record, that was two years before I was born!)

 

On the other side of the envelope he had written:

"I sure wish I would have had a hot 1st grade teacher like you.

Love you

T"

I ask you...how did I get so lucky?