"love is a battlefield"

One year ago today, I had the worst scare of my life. I was at school, just sitting down to answer a few emails after finishing a long day of work, and something horrible happened. I was 11 1/2 weeks pregnant and I knew what was happening . . . I felt my whole world crash down. I made a few quick phone calls - one to the school nurse, then a friend to help, and the last was to Carl . . . to break him the bad news.

After a rush to the E.R., an overly emotional hour of tests and exams, many prayers, and lots of tears, we found out through an ultrasound . . . . that he was still with me! Heart rate, normal. Size, normal. We couldn't believe it, after what we had just witnessed. There he was on the screen - jumping all over the place! Not a care in the world :)

That day marked the first day of our "journey" to have our sweet baby boy. My little lovey put me through three weeks of strict bed rest and then on to modified bed rest for the next 20 weeks. We made trips to countless doctors and specialists to find out what we were truly dealing with . . . a journey we were not expecting. He put me through a hard pregnancy, an even harder birth and recovery, was stripped of my baby-making organs, had to learn how to care for a preemie and ultimately - - colic - - for 5 1/2 months. But the truth is, we have a deep and unbreakable bond because of all the hard times we have been through together. I could not imagine my life without this little miracle and would do all of it again in a heartbeat.

But . . . Sweet little Carter, I have three words for you . . . . You. Owe. Me.

That's right buddy boy. When mommy gets old and can't take care of herself anymore, guess who's gonna step in? You already sent me to a nursing home (four weeks before delivery), and I can assure you, I am not going back. You know the bladder surgery I had to have because of your renegade placenta? That may have some unfortunate ramifications for you to deal with in the future. Oh, my boy, we are going to have such a happy life together! I hope you marry well :)

Lovey Dovey

I love my family! Even when they drive me crazy. I still love them beyond words!

I wish I could further gush about my true loves, but at the moment, I am too upset that we actually have school today. The "weather terrorists" (AKA weather men and women of the Twin Cities) blew another "winter storm" out of proportion . . . my hopes were so so high that yesterday's storm was going to spill over in to today, that I am literally mad right now. Mad at mother nature for dumping all that awesome snow on a SUNDAY instead of a weekday. Mad at the false "snow is going to continue to fall throughout the night coupled with high winds" forecast. Mad at MNDOT for being so prepared for every storm and clearing the roads of every snowflake that falls in record time. Basically just mad at the world. I suppose you can say that I have, "a bad case of the Mondays".

If you're in a bad mood along with me, hopefully these Valentine's will brighten your Monday:

Happy Valentine's Week!

pros and cons

Being back to work isn't all bad (see what I'm doing there....trying to talk myself into it.) I wanted to share some of my favorite (and not so favorite) work related moments.

Pros:::
1. "Mrs. A, you're back! I missed you every day you were gone." - 1st grade student
2. "It's so great to see your smiling face back in the building" - coworker
3. "You are so beautiful" - Kindergartner and new favorite student
4. (being yelled through the hallway) "Did you see Mrs. A?!? She's back! She's back!!" - 3rd grade student

With everything good, must come the bad . . .

Cons:::
1. "Mrs. A, is that you in this picture? (referring to my school photo badge) You look waaaaaaay younger in this picture than you do now" - - this photo was taken only last year... - 2nd grade student (my new least favorite student)
2. Being judged for being a working mother - "I just don't know how you working mothers do it. I didn't go back to work until all my babies were in school.  I just didn't have the heart to leave them with someone else all day long!" - . . . . seriously?!?
3. Having a student wet their pants during class, not tell me about it, proceed to play until I see the puddle . . . then noticed all the tracks from the kids running through it . . . gross.

Oh the joys of working outside the home. At least I get to come home to this:

Happy Monday Everyone!