I have one particular class in the school where I work that is very busy and full of  medically fragile students. As a result I’m in and out of there quite often during the day. My co workers and the staff in that room joke that I should just move my desk there already haha!

Its nice to be trusted and respected by the staff . In the past 2 weeks the school was having a fundraiser where you could send a small bag of chocolate kisses to anyone you wanted for a couple of dollars. I was busy the other day and away from my desk. When I returned there was a small bag of chocolates from one of the staff of that very room I am always in and out of. The staff member of course denied sending it when I thanked her, but she was a terrible liar, lol! They spelled my name wrong but her’s correct.

Its funny how a small bag of chocolate can make you feel so good and it’s not the sugar rush. Yesterday I arrived to that classroom a bit later than usual due to a situation I was called for. The teacher of that class called my office to make sure I wasn’t out sick when I didn’t arrive there at my usual time. I was so honored that my presence is felt and acknowledged.

Another class that we are in and out of gave us all peppermint bark bars with cards signed by all the staff. Again chocolate…how can one go wrong with chocolate?

This is the first job that I’ve ever felt so appreciated. The class that I mentioned first in this post always thanks me for coming to them when they call; even when there isn’t much I can do for the situation but be there.

And then there’s those students you see everyday for medication needs or a nursing procedures. One mom actually bought me a gift, I was so touched by her thoughtfulness.

This is such a magical beautiful season. The birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ celebrated. It’s humbling. I’ve recently been blown away by one of the most well known bible verses, John 3:16. “For God so loved the world he gave his only son. That who so ever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”  Totally humbled and convicted I was. It hit me hard almost like being hit with a brick that God loves us that much. It truly is amazing love.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and I hope the season is magical for all.

 

Work. To quote a dear friend, “They don’t call it a ‘job’ for nothing…”. This past week has been quite eventful. I had to call 911 not once but twice. For two different students. It was the right decision I know that; but I feel for those kids. And I feel for those parents. The events that led to the 911 calls are in addition to the g tube feedings, daily meds and walk ins we see. I was more than ready for the weekend to be here. And believe it or not I’m okay with Monday looming ahead. I still like my job. I like going to work, I like the challenges these kids throw at me. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more at home at a job. I love that I have my own desk and space as do the 2 other nurses I work with. I think we work very well together. There is no such thing as sitting around watching another run around crazed with a situation. We help one another out whether it be doing a procedure for a student that’s not ours or consulting with each other when a challenge arises.

I’m starting to look into going back to school for my Bachelor’s degree. I graduated with my Associates way back when I graduated from Nursing school. I tried to go back when Thomas was a baby and I was also pregnant with Alyssa. I got 2 classes in when I decided that I wasn’t driven enough to continue, being a mom kept me busy enough especially when one of those children was Thomas. I’m researching colleges that have online classes. I don’t see myself going to sit in a classroom after working all day or on the weekends. I’m sure The Lord will lead the way in this venture and open the right doors at the right time. God is so good.

Thomas has arrived and settled in at the group home! His school moved him in yesterday, they offered last week and Tommy and I took advantage of their generosity. I also thought it was a great way for Thomas to transition and have his social worker and staff see his new home. After work I went right over with his new comforter, pillow, jacket and other things from his Macy’s shopping spree a couple of weeks ago. He was seemed comfortable there and I hung out for about an hour and a half. While I was there the nurse came over to sort out Thomas’ meds and ask me questions and give me recommendations for new doctors he’ll need now that he’s living here. I really liked the nurse, she was very confidant, caring and observant. Her experience caring for adults like Thomas was apparent and very comforting.

Thomas managed to talk himself into getting one of the staff to take him to the mall. He’s quite persuasive. I gave him money and he talked about getting slippers. It sounded like a good plan.

I’m so glad he’s here finally. It’s been such a long time from the beginning of this particular journey with Thomas. His school never seemed like a permanent option even though he was there for 5 years. It’s odd though because he went from teen to adult before our eyes; at a distance. He’s now a young man, not a kid anymore at all. I miss him as a kid. I don’t miss the chaos and unpredictability; I miss that I didn’t get to be a part of all of his life as a teen while he was away. But God has a reason for everything and He is good.

These kids…these students at my school that I care for…they have gripped my heart in a way I thought they would but not to this depth. These are the kids people turn away from at the mall so as not to stare, who look so very different than their typical peers or walk and talk  differently. The ones in wheelchairs. The ones who wear helmets so they won’t hurt themselves. Students who yell and hit themselves and every other disruptive behavior out of the “norm”.

I feel fortunate that I get to work here. I’m even more thankful that I work 15 minutes from my house. It’s not a job for everybody. Things get messy,  I get messy. And it’s ok. I get to care for these kids in a way I would want my own child cared for. I get to talk to parents in a way I would want to be talked to and have been talked to when I’ve been on the other end of the phone.

I’m also fortunate to work with a couple of great nurses who think nothing of helping each other out. The para professionals are top notch and really know their students.  They accompany the students to the nurse’s office when necessary and I haven’t met one I didn’t like.

I never thought I’d like to go to work as much as I do. I like being here and interacting with such a diverse population  of students of differing levels of functioning. If you told me as little as 5 years ago I would be working at this school as a nurse I would have thought you were off your rocker and something was wrong with you. I spent so many years trying to convince myself that nursing wasn’t for me. I just never looked in the right direction, or rather I never surrendered to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and let Him have his way with my life. Once I let go and let God, everything changed and it has been indescribable.

I’m looking forward to this Christmas with Thomas being in his new home. It’s a new beginning for him and us as a family.

 

 

In my formative teen years I listened to heavy metal music. I absolutely adored Metallica, Iron Maiden, Dio, Sabbath, Ozzy, Slayer to name a few; and even dabbled in King Diamond although he scared the heck out of me. That music formed part of my identity back in the day. In high school I was a “rocker”, I dressed the part and we went to concerts or shows any way we could get to. Either by public transportation or getting a ride when some of us got our driver’s license. I had a great time with my friends back in the day. Thrashing out to metal and getting caught in a mosh (that part was scary though). At one concert (A band called Overkill) I came home with a black eye and no idea how I had gotten it. It sounds bad but it really was a great time.

These days my music taste is much, much tamer. I listen to Christian contemporary music. I sing to Jesus and to The Lord with the same fervent energy that I sang along to heavy metal of days past. I love praising the Lord with song. I’m not much of a singer but I don’t care and I know God doesn’t either. I recently purchased concert tickets to 3 Christian shows. One in December, one in March and the last one in May. My girls are coming with me to at least one show each and I’m also going with a couple of great friends I met at church. One friend named Claudia is amazing to go to concerts with. She worships and sings like nobodies business and loves the Lord. I know I’ll have a great time when she’s around. We will be attending all 3 concerts together and it’s to her credit that I’m even going to all 3. She encouraged me to buy the tickets and I’m glad I listened.  Each show will be different but all will praise God.

When I was younger I never thought my music taste would change so drastically. But when The Lord is involved anything is possible.

I’ve started my Christmas shopping early this year, meaning shopping before Thanksgiving. I used to wait until after Thanksgiving and then hurry like crazy  to be finished before Christmas. Maybe it’s working full time that changed me. Last year I remember shopping earlier than usual and being finished earlier than  in the past. It was a good feeling to be wrapping gifts when I would usually be shopping for them.

My son is particularly difficult to shop for. He’s always been. Even when he was younger. Toys never held his attention much, he was that kid who would play with he boxes the toys came in. This Christmas I’m excited to buy him things for his new home. He’ll officially be moved into the group home December 8. He’s happy about the move; probably a bit nervous and who could blame him. I know it will all work out. God didn’t get us this far for it not to.

So far I’ve finished shopping for my parents, my husband, extended family  and partially done with my kids. I don’t feel close to being done but that’s ok we’re still in November…

 

I love Christmas music I really do, but not before Thanksgiving. I spent most of November avoiding one of my favorite local Christian radio stations because they were playing Christmas music, it was just way too soon man…

But now, now it’s simply great!  It’s Thomas, tradition that we put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving. “We” being the operative word here. It’s really Tommy and I and Thomas going to pick out the tree, Tommy paying for it and me stringing the lights on said tree. All and all it’s actually nice to get the tree up and have that done.

So in the evening yesterday I was putting the lights on the tree and I had my local Christian radio station on, (the one with early Christmas music) and I really enjoyed having the music playing while faced with the task of putting lights on the tree, you know; lights that lit up when you test them then don’t light when you put them on the tree…those lights.

I let the music soak into my brain and just enjoy the real reason we celebrate Christmas. The birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Emmanuel; God with us. His birth is just an awesome time to celebrate. That God’s son came to save us from our sin. “Come to Bethlehem and see; him the birth the angels sing…” How glorious our Savior is that angels sang of his birth. Amazing.

I wish an amazing Christmas season for everyone, and that all who celebrate remember that the birth of Christ is the real reason for this holiday. I enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts as much as the next person, but; but…without the birth of Christ there would be no Christmas and no reason to celebrate that wondrous day in December we all hold so dear.

When we bought this house 16 years ago it needed a lot of work. New windows, a roof, new siding, plumbing work, an electric stove that after the closing only one burner worked…there’s more I just can’t think of it all at once. In the first few years of living here we were able to replace the windows, have the roof done and rip up all the God forsaken carpet that covered the whole first floor and stairs and master bedroom. We also bought a new much needed stove. We were able to update the kitchen a bit but everything we did just felt like a bandaid covering up and over things that needed to be torn down and done over again the right way. On the list of things we had done that were not bandaids are a new master bathroom, new 1/2 bath off the kitchen and new vinyl siding. I guess you could  say this house had been an on going project since we moved in.

Its all going to change this coming January! We are taking down all the room dividing walls on the first floor and going “open concept”. We’re also getting rid of all the painted over paneling and painted over fake plaster of Paris brick that is currently gracing the kitchen and living room. When all is said and done we’re going to have a center island, a new kitchen and a bigger dining/living room. I know when it’s finished I’ll be thrilled but I’m not looking forward to the actual reality of living through a renovation. I’ve already arranged for my mom to take one of our dogs for a while. She’s still a puppy of sorts and won’t know what to do with herself. Our other dog is older and will go upstairs to hide and that’s ok.

Stay tuned for January because that’s when this will all start, right after New Years. It should be interesting.

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Thanksgiving is a mere 5 days away. I’m hosting this year it will be my mother in law, my parents, brother, my niece and 2 nephews along with my family of 6. Sounds like a full enough house for me. I’m happy to host this holiday, I usually cook the turkey and a couple of sides and my mom does a few sides and apple pies. Alyssa wants to make pumpkin pie this year. It works for us and it’s stress free thank God.

The day after Thanksgiving is the day Thomas and I put the Christmas tree up. Tommy, Thomas and I go out and pick out a tree. We go to places that are local like a guy set up in a parking lot. Last year we bought the tree from Home Depot. Then Thomas and I trim it, string the lights and then Thomas perseverates over the ornaments and how many Christmas decorations and boxes I bring down from the attic. All in all I have a great time with him and I’d miss him terribly if I decided to change plans; not that I would do that to him.

Speaking of my Thomas, his group home move in date has been postponed until the first week in December. It’s fine we’ve waited this long what’s another 2 weeks or so? I told him about this last night on the phone and he was fine with it. I have to say deep down and aside from all his issues my son is very easy going and sweet. I love that about him and often wonder if he would’ve been that way if he were a typical child/young man.  I don’t suppose there’s any reason he wouldn’t have been, I mean he comes from a long line of sweet caring thoughtful men eg: his father (Tommy) and grandfather (Chick).

So I wish you all a Happy Healthy Stressfree Thanksgiving!

 

The ones I work with…these kids have stolen my heart. I’ve been at the job just over a month now and I like going to work. I like my co workers and the staff at the school. So far, with very few exceptions everyone has been great. We are all there for one common reason and that is the students we work with. Yesterday morning one of the secretaries told me she remembered my  Thomas. I was so happy to have my phone on me and I could show her a recent picture of him. She was thrilled to see him and told me she was glad I was placed at the school. It was a sweet way to start the day.

One unique way I start my day is one I mentioned in an earlier post. I talk with a student who speaks via an electronic board he controls with his eyes. You almost want to shout for joy for him that such technology is available. He’s a remarkable young man and I’m honored to have met him and play a small part in his life.

I have students I see on a daily basis that need various nursing procedures and/or medications. We all have an everyday schedule that rarely changes and in addition to that schedule we have “walk ins” meaning students who walk in/are wheeled in for any number of reasons.  The walk ins are what get me. Because you seriously never know who and for what are going to walk in the office. It could be a student who just had a seizure, someone who isn’t breathing well and needs an asthma medication treatment or something as simple a student who doesn’t feel right and wants their temperature taken or a paper cut even. You just don’t know and have to go with it whatever “it” may be.

One of the nurses I work with is a devout Catholic and prays for everyone; staff and students. She’s really nice and we talk often about prayer and God and church. I’ve invited her to my much loved church but she isn’t ready to take the plunge and try out something that is unfamiliar. That’s ok I’ll just keep inviting her.

God is so good!