News at Home: Happy May
Y’all, I am SO HAPPY it’s May. I am ready for the school year to be over. It hasn’t been bad, per say, it’s just time for it to be over. My kids finished their MAP testing this week – yes, we test kindergartners and I think it’s bullshit! – and they did great. 19/21 met their growth goals for Math and 15/21 met their growth goals for Reading. Those that didn’t came really close. And honestly, part of the problem isn’t what they know, but the way we asses it. We have a society that is driven by testing and it’s got to stop! But I’ve been working on my application essay for Grad School tonight and I think it’s starting to bleed into my Sunday Post… sorry!
I did have one particularly bad bit of news on Friday… remember that student that was removed from my class about two months ago and about a month ago was admitted into a children’s hospital for psychiatric treatment? Well, we were told it was a six week program but apparently he’ll be back on Monday. Best part? If I hadn’t happened to hear about his dad being at the school to register him, my administration wouldn’t have told me until he showed up at my door Monday morning!!! I had to stay at the school a good hour after my work was done Friday, waiting for them to be available so that I could confront them about it and INSIST that he not be brought into my classroom until we had a sit-down meeting with mom or dad going over his treatment, diagnosis, medications, etc. Not to mention my expectations and the fact that this is not a fresh start, clean slate situation. He assaulted and victimized my class and he will NOT be given the opportunity to do so again. He puts one foot out of line and I will have him in the office. I truly hope the medication is working and that he is doing better. I want him to be successful, but not at the expense of 21 other kids… who have NOTABLY flourished in his absence. I also need time to prepare my kids for the fact he will be back. Need to talk to them about how they feel about it, how things will be, etc. I can’t believe my principals didn’t recognize that and thought they could just drop him off Monday morning! Ugh! I’m so not looking forward to Monday and I’m anxious about how this will impact the end of our school year.
I found on this week that my surgeon is retiring at the end of the month. I don’t know why, but it seems pretty sudden, so I’m thinking there must be a rapid decline in health happening. I hope I’m wrong, but that seems most likely considering his age and the fact that I wasn’t prepped for it in previous visits. So I don’t miss my chance to get a turnover visit – he moving us to different surgeons – I’m taking off on Tuesday. I could have taken a half day, but I figured I have only missed 2 days of work all year, might as well take a day. Plus that gives me time to really discuss some things with him. I’m concerned about my frequent, long-lasting plateaus, for one. I’m also concerned about my uneven weight loss. I realize there’s no such thing as spot reduction, but I’m getting ridiculously thin above the waist and not at all below. My husband and I actually had a long talk on Friday night because he’s worried about me – I’m working out 6 days a week for a minimum of 2 hours, eating about 700 calories a day, plus yoga daily and running on Sundays. I don’t think it’s excessive because I still have 80 pounds to lose, he worries that I don’t see myself clearly and am over doing it. So I’ll talk to the surgeon about that too. I also need to talk to him about when I can start making arrangements for removing excess skin. Even though I still have weight to lose, above the waist, I think I’m where I want to be for the most part – at least once the skin is gone. So I’m wondering if I can start there and do below the waist after I’ve lost that weight. So lots to talk about.
I’ve had a really relaxing weekend. Friday night we went to dinner and then came home and watched Girls Trip. OMG, so funny. Right up there with Bridesmaids. And then Saturday, after a triple at the gym, we went to IHOP (we ate out a lot, but I still ate very little. I had a kids rooty tooty and didn’t have more than one bit of the pancake. Just ate the 1 egg, 1 bacon, and 2 bites of sausage), and then spent some time outside enjoying our beautiful spring *knocks on wood* weather with Franky. Then we came home and I did some work on my SMU application essays and then we watched Kidnapped… also a really good movie!
Today I have some errands to run after the gym, groceries, and getting ready for the work week. Plus Sunday Buffy and I do our C25K on Sundays, and I’m hoping to see our time improve again!
Blog News
I didn’t do as great with blogging ahead and visiting this week, because I used a lot of my blogging time to start setting up a Blogging insert for my bujo. I think it’s going to be a great asset overall, but it is taking some time at the moment. I did try to keep up to some extent though and that will be my plan this week as well.
#FitReaders Update
It’s a new month, which means it’s time to recommit and reassess goals. Here are my goals for May and how I did this week.
- Do yoga every morning for 10 minutes (minimum): Been on a role with this! Feeling good too 🙂
- Drink 64 oz of water daily: I’m keeping this goal because every time I stop focusing on it, I stop drinking enough water! Did okay this week, but need to do better tracking. #sameoldstory
- Liquid Diet Monday – Thursday each week (except book club Tuesday):I know this sounds drastic, but it’s also the only thing that seems to keep me out of plateaus. And honestly, it’s easier anyway – during the week I’m too busy to eat well. I’ll confirm that it’s okay with my surgeon, but that’s my plan. Didn’t do it this week, but will start tomorrow.
- Complete Grit Buddy Challenge (20 classes, 4 with my May Buddy): Got a good start to this already – as of today I’ll have 7 classes down for the month, 1 with my buddy already.
- Hold a plank for 1 minute daily: This is a goal I’m working up to, but I’m getting there. This week I managed to go 45 seconds! I think 1 minute is not too far away.
- Do 1 C25k walk with Buffy each weekend: My goal is to eventually get to a 10 minute mile. I’m getting closer to a 17 minute mile right now, I’d like to end the month at a 15 minue mile or better.
- Lose 15 lbs: I’m so tired of plateau and stagnating. I’m determined this month I will see some real progress on the scale! So far I’m even for the month… so not the best start
Last Week on the Blog
- [30 Apr] Just a Few Innkeeper Chronicles #audioreview
- [30 Apr] Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews ★★★★
- [30 Apr] Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews ★★★★
- [30 Apr] One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews ★★★★
- [1 May] Task it Tuesday | Setting up my blog #bujo #taskittues
- [2 May] Bubbly Berls Babbles about Book Links
- [3 May] Clutch by J.A. Huss ★★★
- [5 May] Berls’s My TBR List Voting May 2018
- [5 May] My To-Be Read List ~ It’s May, Let’s Vote!!!
- [6 May] Sunday Post with Berls | Happy May!
- [6 May] I’m Back but taking it slow~ WIR & SP
Coming Next Week From Me
Sunday
Sunday Post with Berls| Happy May
Monday
Just a Few Misters | #audioreview
Wednesday
Fledge #audioreview
Saturday
Berls’s TBR List… May Winner!
As you can see, I’m way behind on visiting. I hope everything worked out well with the kid and his parents. I know that parents are one of the hardest parts of teaching. I hope you had a good week and got to talk with your surgeon.
I’m happy you found out about that kid returning prior to his return and I’m appalled the administration wasn’t going to warn you ahead of time. :/ Fingers crossed (and toes and everything else) that things go smoothly for everyone.
I hope your surgeon is/was able to answer your questions and give you some peace about things. I’m sorry that he’s retiring but hopefully he’s leaving you in good hands and things will continue to progress for you. You are gorgeous, Berls, both inside and out! Remember that!
Hope you’re having a great week! I can’t believe it’s Thursday already. Sky just finished her finals and comes home this weekend…for 16 days. Then she’s off to drum corps. Jax leaves sooner than that. *sigh* Anyway, miss you my friend!! {{{BIG HUGS}}}
As a parent I think I would have a stroke if I knew a child who had made my child’s life hell was going to be put back in the classroom. In my experience admin sometimes listens more to parents than teachers. Is there any parent you could give a subtle nudge to have them talk to the administration. It might help if there’s a problem. We’re almost at the end of school here and I’m excited! It’s been a great school year and I really liked my son’s teacher but it’ll be nice not having to pull him out of bed in the morning. We are not morning people! Hope you’re having a great week!
Wow! Sounds like a lot of “badish” news all came down at once. That must feel overwhelming, but it sounds like you have a good plan of attack. I hope everything goes smoothly with the return of your student. *crosses fingers* I also think you’ve got a smart plan to make questions and see the surgeon. I’m glad your husband is supporting you and talking with you about his concerns. xo
I swear admin has no clue. They should have given you time to meet with the parents and discuss things with your students. I do hope the child does well. Take care of yourself, Berls, and try not to over do things:)
I hope everything goes well with the returning student and with the surgeon. *fingers crossed*
My daughter was using an app to keep track of her water intake. It’s called Plant Nanny. Maybe it’ll help? 🙂 I wish my Fitbit would remind me to drink water as well as move. lol
I hope you have a fantastic week, Berls! XOXO
I am appalled that your admins would think its okay for that student to come back with no communication or expectations. Its mind blowing sometimes how much admins have NO CLUE what its like in an actual classroom. Hopefully, everything works out and the student’s treatment is effective. But, I don’t envy you having to handle this AND the general end of the year nuttiness. Even my normally well behaved HS students have straight up lost their minds.
I hope your doctors appointment goes well and you get some answers! Have a great week!
It’s funny your school year is ending and mine had just begun. I just started back to get my BSN and so this is all time consuming. I hope you have a great week!
I am glad the school is about over for you so you can have a nice break. I can’t believe they would think they could just drop that kid back in without talking to you about it so you could know what was going on!
Hope this week is a good one!! Happy reading!
Stormi
I hope the boy who is returning to class will have a good last part of the school year–that you all well. I can’t believe they were not planning on even mentioning it to you. I hope everything goes well with the surgeon as well! I hope you have a great May, Berls!
Busy week, sorry to hear about the little boy coming back. Once Ryan got out of the hospital he was a completely different kid. I hope it is the same experience for him.
I hope the surgeon is able to answer all your questions.
I will be able to help more now with posts, so I should be able to fill in some places. I hope to work on the calendar today or tomorrow. I have work to do for work so I might not have time. We need to chat soon! 🙂
Have a great week, Berls! Happy Reading! Miss you! ox