Revelations...Day 13

Test results are in

ALL revelation

Moved to Johns Hopkins

A year ago today this was our revelation after many ER visits, several doctors, and a long, long weekend of test after test after test.  The transition to JH was seamless and we will be forever grateful to the staff that worked with us at both St. Agnes and at JH, they literally are saving one of our children's life.  Don't ever be afraid to question doctors and ask for more answers, you are your child's advocate.  Peace xo.

"Something Blue"- Day 12

 

Keeping it simple...UHS colors...all of the schools in this district have been the best for my kids and I am so proud to see them get involved, cheer each other on, and feel part of the community.  This year the motto "One Team, One Urbana" was adopted, and the kids really try to live up to it.   

Day 11- "Life Is..."

...a day late and a dollar short?  Ok, this time I am just a day late, but I will be a dollar short soon because I am getting ready to pay for college- so busy with that financial stuff then chilling with "him" that I forgot to update here.  Ok...so life is...

meant to be slowed down and enjoyed.  There will never be enough hours in the day.  There will never be enough time with those you love.  There will rarely be things that can't wait until tomorrow.    I am going back to a book I read a while ago...it really is so true!  Sometimes I forget, and it is something I am trying to be more true to; I do well with the fourth one; the third one I try hard to do, especially at home, but I am not sure they see it, but that is ok- I have confidence the kids will look back and think that is just what you are supposed to do as a parent because it is what they saw.  I've gotten better with number one- hard at work because I am a 1:50ish ratio, and everyone's needs are usually of the moment and important, but I am trying; have definitely gotten better at home.  We work hard to meet each of the six where they are, so if it means devour NFL to spend time and have something to talk about with one, I do it.  If it means, "Can you help unload the dishwasher?"  while I happen to be in the kitchen, just so we can chit chat, I do it.  Two hour texting sessions?  Do those too.  Arranging family afternoons then cooking my brains out so it is choreographed in such a way they can all just hang out- done!  Where am I lacking?  That #2- PLAY.  Fabulous at home with it, but am gonna have to ponder how to make it work at home.  My BFF in the picture above doesn't know it but she is a master of all in her personal life, and I am pretty sure she is at work as well.  

What is The FISH! Philosophy?

The FISH! Philosophy includes four simple, interconnected practices:

Be There: When people need you, they need all of you. Setting aside distractions and judgments to be fully present is a sign of respect. It improves communication and strengthens relationships.

Play: You can be serious about your work without taking yourself so seriously. Play is a mindset more than a specific activity. It allows you to throw yourself with enthusiasm and creativity into whatever you are doing, in a way that is natural, not forced. "Playing” with ideas helps you find solutions to everyday challenges.

Make Their Day: Simple gestures of thoughtfulness, thanks and recognition make people feel appreciated and valued. When you make someone else feel good, you feel good too.

Choose Your Attitude: To actually choose how you respond to life, not just react, you must be intentional. When you get up, decide who you want to "be" today. Moment-to-moment awareness is key. Ask yourself throughout the day, "What is my attitude right now? Is it helping the people who depend on me? Is it helping me to be most effective?"

Through The FISH! Philosophy, we build stronger relationships with the team members we work with, the customers we serve, the students we teach and the people we love.

http://www.charthouse.com/content.aspx?nodeid=22610

I hope at the end of 2014 that I can say life is simplified, for many reasons, from clutter to navigating college to sending  my baby off on her own to cancer being that much closer to gone...peace xoxo.

Day 10- "Persist"

I keep finding  myself back to my kids, but I cannot help it!  Neither of my children grew up playing sports...they grew up playing.  On the playground. In the dirt. In the creek.  At grandma's.  Dressing up in the basement.  Building blanket forts.  Meanwhile, most of their counterparts were in competitive sports from very young ages.  Fast forward to their freshman years; one decided to try out for JV Cheer, having never cheered a day in her life; the other went out for the freshman football team, having never played tackle football in his life, or been tackled for that matter.  I immediately thought, "Oh no, they are going to be disappointed, so many kids have so much more experience."  You know what?  I was so wrong.  She just had her senior cheer banquet last night, after four years of having fun, making friends, having something to look forward to and keep herself busy.  She will never be the flyer or the highest jumper or best tumbler, but she is constantly recognized for her spirit and kindness.  He stuck through a season where he had about 4 minutes total play time; while frustrated, he stuck with it and was in the weight room the day after the season ended, focused on growing stronger for next year; his attitude and sincerity blows away most kids his age.  These two showed persistence to a level that makes me so proud to be their mother and so happy that I didn't push them young and instead let them decide when they got older.  Don't be afraid to go against the crowd who spend Saturdays and Sundays at sports starting by age 4 or 5...I promise you your kids will find their fun, find their passion, and be successful, and they will learn to do it on their terms and will see the power of their persistence in controlling their destiny.

Day 9- "Guilty Pleasures"

Time is my guilty pleasure- I can spend hours with any and/or all of them, I get to sleep next to him 40+ hrs/wk, the kids give us time as a family, I get a lot of date night time, I can spend solo time reading or doing whatever, I was raised by parents who gave me their time, time has helped heal wounds & helped us build a family...it makes me wonder if time is the guilty pleasure or if freedom to choose how I spend it is? Peace xoxo.

Day 8- "Silent"

I think every mother knows that if you had known that it was the last time you would experience such a sweet silence you would have made it last longer.  I don't think I would have wanted to know, but there are days I would just love to make them small and and hold them so close again.  They are my heart and soul.

Day 7- "Life's Work..."

I was one of the few who yesterday advocated for going to school in cold temps as long as we had heat, because our kids were better off there since they would get two meals, and be safe and warm.  Well...we went.  And they got two meals, one served rapidly.  Why?  Because we were one of four schools in the county with no heat.  I can live with that error, even if they knew before our start time.  What is not ok is that our kids were there until 12:15 and we weren't told until 11:45 that is when it would happen.  IT. WAS. COLD.  Our students and teachers persevered and smiled and kept the best attitudes they could.  I watched a teacher walking a class down the hall ask if we had a coat that would fit one of her students, and that student had a coat before she got to her destination.  I question why it took that many hours- that wasn't fair to students or teachers, and falls on central office.  The kids were safe, and we did our best...not quite as planned but people in the building were part of the solution, not part of the problem. Behind the scenes people scurried to move materials and alter lessons so that students could keep going; everyone engaged in "other duties as assigned.  People kept a sense of humor.   As a teacher, this is our life's work...we do it all for our kids, on good days and hard days, planned and unplanned, whatever it takes.  

I have my other life's work though...my family.  Today, cold temps below zero or not, was a chemo day for my stepson.  Had there been no school that is where I would have gone.  His life literally depended on him going out in this weather, and we are grateful he has a hospital that is so phenomenal for his treatment.  

Then, there is my son- he came down in purple today, rare as a Redskins fan, a lone Ravens jersey I got on clearance a while back, and explained to me that his friend had asked them to wear purple today because his cousin had died, and it was in her honor.  I shortly found out that she was an Urbana student with a brother at UHS.  You can read more about her here:  http://www.keeneybasford.com/sitemaker/sites/KEENEY1/obit.cgi?page=services&user_id=1209643.


I realize more than ever how lucky we were today that our biggest problem was no heat and limited electricity- every one of our students made it home safely, and Liz's family would give anything for her to come home tonight.  My stepson got treatment he needed, and Liz's family would give anything to have had that opportunity to find something to save her life.  My life's work is far from over, and changing every day.  I am just so very proud to be a part of the team I am part of at work, and a part of this family we have grown.  We can't be 100% all of the time, but we can give 100% to what we are working with.  The compassion I saw today all around is humbling to say the least.

“You can't help respecting anybody who can spell TUESDAY, even if he doesn't spell it right; but spelling isn't everything. There are days when spelling Tuesday simply doesn't count.” - Winnie the Pooh