Life is going pretty great around here. Mom is recovering from her leg infection. The doctor told her to stay home so that's what we've been trying to do. A nurse comes in twice a week to rewrap her legs. The bandages are supposed to be tight so they aren't very comfortable. Mom says they feel like they are chocking her to death. She was in a lot of pain when she first came home. The pain is better, but the legs still hurt she says. She doesn't mention any burning or sharp pains so I think the pain is primarily from having the legs wrapped so tight. She gets up a lot more now and she seems a lot happier than she did at first. she helps around the house more so that's helpful for me too. I think her legs look much better. She likes her nurse and she's glad that a nurse will come to the house to help her. She wishes she didn't have to stay home. She misses the chance to just leave the house whenever she wants to. She feels very stir crazy. The ward brought dinner twice a week for two weeks and she thought that was really sweet of them. It made her feel very loved. Thank you ward members! We had a few visitors and dad's walking buddies still come to go on walks with him.

Dad is really progressing. His therapists still come as well to work on strengthening his right hand and improving his speech. He likes his therapists. I've noticed that he's taking a lot more lately and he's struggling for words less and less. He still struggles to communicate, but he's working really hard to improve. I think there may come a day when people won't realize that he is struggling with his speech. He's making such a wonderful recovery. Dad feels stir crazy too. He jumps at the opportunity to go to Walmart with me, when I am going on short trips. He seems very happy and at peace with his life. He doesn't seemed stressed at all, which is a big change. He seemed to be stressed a lot before the stroke. He gives me a hug and/or tells me that he loves me almost every day.

I am busy with work...as usual. I got evaluated a few days ago and things went well. I always feel I have so much to imrove on and yet feel I am working very hard and hope that my efforts won't go unnoticed by my boss. Before I had cancer I didn't feel like it mattered where I taught, be it in one city or another. My feelings have dramatically changed. I really, really want to continue to work here in this city until I retire. I just hope I can keep my job. They've passed new rule within my district that make it so that tenure is no longer a consideration when deciding who to eliminate or relocate when a position no longer is needed. A charter school is being built nearby and the district is expecting that some of our teachers will either lose their job or have to be relocated to make up for the loss of students. This may effect my city the most since it is being built so close to my school. So.....I have a new stress. I am hoping that I still have a job next year and I hope I can stay at my current school. I guess it all depends on performance...how well my class does compared to another and on the principal's judgement and whether he likes me enough to keep me. I never thought that getting a charter school would be so stressful. I hope there aren't a lot of jobs lost on everyone's account. That would be sad for a lot of families. Despite the stress, I feel very happy. My class is still pretty awesome and very loving. We're having parent teacher conferences soon so I'm working hard to prepare for that. Life will calm down a lot when that is over.

I experienced a new first this weekend. I went to town and to Hardware Ranch as well as a few other places WITHOUT a hat!!! Since my hair is regrowing it looks pretty funny...to me anyways, so I have been wearing a hat all the time. This weekend I decided it was time to not wear it, even idf it looked funny. I hope I can continue! I guess we will see. One of my students named Brockston gave me a gift a little while ago by the way and it is the cutesy hat ever! I loved seeing his face smiling when he gave it to me. He is adorable anyways, but he was even more adorable at that time. I just love kids!!!! I am glad I have the job I have. They sure mean a lot to me.

Well, on to another week! May we all have very good ones!!!!!!!! :)