I fell asleep on the couch last night, woke up around 3:30am and for the most part have been awake since then. Don’t ask why because I have no idea.  I’m not a late  sleeper these days anyway but this is just rediculous. I’ll live, it’s a cloudy day anyway so I will soak up the rain when it comes later.

I’m waiting to go to church. I love my church and my church family. I am the leader of a small group for moms of special needs children. We meet twice a month and it’s nice. There’s no judgment, our kids are all different ages and these’s always information shared. With Thomas living in a group home I’m not always up on the latest news about services and Medicaid so I’m thankful to the women who attend and share new things they’ve learned. I’ve also learned a lot from the parents and parent coordinator at the school I work. Our parent coordinator, Zenaida is wonderful! She has a special needs son and she’s so real and is a straight shooter. I really like her. My small group is very small I try to recruit more moms to come but it’s not easy. Some don’t have child care or anyone who can look after the special needs son or daughter, some have scheduling conflicts, etc…

So tomorrow is back to work/reality. I’m ok with this. The time off has been great but it’s time to go back.  I find I miss a lot of the people I work with. Most of those that I like and get along with really like their jobs the way I do so it’s great when you find that common ground. I’m friendly with one of Thomas’ former teachers. Her name is Cheryl. She was cleaning out her room and came across a picture from a trip she took; Thomas’ class to the local newspaper. There was Thomas front and center! It was really cool.

Time for church so I’m off!  Enjoy your Sunday!

I was off from work this week. I’m not going to lie; it was glorious.  Alyssa and Samantha were also off from school so I was able to spend time with them I otherwise wouldn’t. I wrote about spending the day in Manhattan with Alyssa this past Tuesday, I love it. Adult children are awesome.

This morning Samantha and I hit the thrift and then Target. We had a really nice time together. Samantha is so excited because tonight one of the youth groups she attends at church is having a “lock in.” Which means she’ll be spending the night there…going midnight bowling and staying up all night. Tomorrow should be interesting to say the least.

I didn’t get a ton accomplished this past week, but that’s ok. I was able to rearrange some things in the house, post a few things to sell online, went to the dentist, did a little laundry and pretty much soaked up being home. Alyssa and I also rearranged our front entry. It looks so nice!

In a way I’m looking forward to getting back to work. I like my job so going back is not horrendous. I’m looking forward to working this summer again believe it or not. I do miss my co worker Tom who retired this past September. He had a awesome way about him and was easy to be with. And he was always one to teach you if there was something that you weren’t familiar with. This past school year has been one that has shown me I can handle a lot of different situations. And I’m proud of myself. I’m still in awe of the fact that I love what I’m doing and I love working where I do. God is so good.

I had an appointment in Manhattan yesterday and Alyssa asked to accompany me. I of course agreed. This week we are off from school/work because of spring break. Have I mentioned how much I love working for the department of education? I’m off when the kids are off, it’s awesome. The only thing we don’t get are half days when the kids have half day but I am not complaining.

So anyway Alyssa and I went to the city early to do some shopping. First was our favorite thrift haunt on the upper west side, then I went to my appointment and Alyssa hit up the Urban Outfitters store a couple of blocks away. I met her there when I was done and scored a 69.00 sweater for 6.00! Definitely a shopper’s sky as my dad would say.

I know I’ve said this before but I really do enjoy my kids now that they are older. Yes they were adorable as young children but everything was so freaking hard at the time. Thomas was a handful and a half, the girls were being “just girls” and I was trying so hard to hold it all together. Now we have Thomas settled, Alyssa and Lelly are in college and Samantha is bringing up the rear. Samantha is not a baby anymore and that’s cool. If she doesn’t want to go somewhere with us and stay home that’s fine too.

So getting back to Manhattan we both scored at the thrift store. It was nice walking around and talking with Alyssa. We stopped at a Starbucks for some rest and something to drink and chatted. I like that my girls talk to me, like really talk. About things that are going on in their lives. It’s really, really nice. In my experience with my kids, you try so hard to raise them “right” and keep your shit together you don’t really look too far into the future. I know I didn’t. I was just trying to get through the days as best as I could. I know I did something right because my kids want to be with me. And I’m honored and blessed for that.

 

District 75 is the classification of where I work. It’s  one of the most restrictive special education environments.  Thomas was in district 75 before he went to residential which is the most restrictive environment in special ed. When you have a child who receives special education services the child is supposed to be placed in the least restrictive environment. We tried that and it wasn’t appropriate for Thomas; as I’m sure it was for most of the students who attend the school where I work. It’s no secret that I love where I work. I’ve found my niche in nursing. Finding your “niche” is something everyone I knew who was a nurse would talk about and I never believed them. Well it’s true. You have to find your place in life and in your work.

So getting back to district 75. I read a great article today on Facebook that one of my friends from work posted. It was a wonderful description of what it’s like to work and teach our students. But they didn’t mention the nurses.  I was like, man!  It would have been nice if the writer included the nurses who work in district 75 as much as he did the other employees of the particular school he focused on. I don’t believe as a nurse I am anymore important than any one else in district 75, but we all work as a team. That’s my opinion at least. I work with amazing teachers and paras who know their students so well! When I’m called because someone “doesn’t seem right today” I believe their observation. It’s the paras who usually spot a seizure first and then either call us in the nursing office to come right away or literally run to our office to get us. I’ve seen the most beautiful outpouring of compassion from paras and teachers and administration where I work.

When I applied to work at district 75 I never thought I was applying for the best job ever. I never thought I would get to know the students as well as I do and I never thought I’d have the relationships with parents that I do. I recently had a birthday and “my class” (that I’m in and out of alllllll day) surprised me with a cake and they even sang happy birthday!  I was floored I did not expect that at all. That’s the kind of relationships you form at district 75.