Quotes from a Calendar

I got one of those quote a day calendars for Christmas one year and hung up some of my favorites around our computer area.  We are getting ready to move, so I figured I would just type them on my blog.

“So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”  -Morrie Schwartz from Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

"My darling girl, when are you going to realize that being normal is not necessarily a virtue? It rather denotes a lack of courage!"  Stockard Channing as Frances Owens in Practical Magic

“Each difficult moment has the potential to open my eyes and open my heart” ~Myla Kabat-Zinn

“I think you should learn, of course, and some days you must learn a great deal. But you should also have days when you allow what is already in you to swell up inside of you until it touches everything. And you can feel it inside of you. If you never take time out to let that happen, then you accumulate facts, and they begin to rattle around inside of you. You can make noise with them, but never really feel anything with them. It's hollow.” 
― E.L. Konigsburg, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler

“To waken interest and kindle enthusiasm is the sure way to teach easily and successfully.” - Tyron Edwards

BAHA Surgery

It's been about a month since my bone-anchored hearing aid surgery, so I thought I would finally post my pictures and information about the surgery.

When I was first called back in the office, they did a  hearing test.  From there, a nurse practitioner described the surgery, showed us pictures, and described the aftercare.  After that I went over to the surgery center.

At the surgery center, I got into the hospital gown and got ready for the surgery.  I had to smile, when they had to take my blood pressure manually - the machine didn't work since my blood pressure is/was so low.  The IV came next.  Ugh!  I hate IVs.

The surgery was done under local anesthetic and sedation.  I don't remember much of anything once they started the drugs.  Towards the end I remember the doctor asking if I could hear them and telling me that the the surgery was almost done.  They lifted my head to wrap the bandages around.

So, here's what happened while I was sedated.  They shaved an area of my head behind my left ear.  (The nurse practitioner marked a big black X on my ear earlier.  It's always good to operate on the body parts that need the help!)  They cut a flap of skin and then took out the fat and tissue between my skin and skull.  They drilled the titanium piece into my skull about 3-4mm.  They used a scalpel to remove hair follicles from the flap of skin.  They used a skin punch to make a hole, so the titanium piece would show through.  Next the skin flap was sewed back down.  Of course, I was sedated, so I think this is how they did it!

Now for the good part... the gross pictures.

This is how it was covered right after surgery. 

This dressing was taken off 24 hours later.

The brown piece is the healing cap.  Underneath it is gauze soaked in medication. 

This was taken off a week after surgery.

At my one week post-op visit, the nurse practitioner took off the gauze and healing cap.

It was healing well.

This picture was taken 2 weeks after surgery.

This one shows Neosporin on the wound.

Next week I go back for my 1 month post-op appointment.  I am hoping that it has healed well enough that I will be able to submerse my head under water.  Hair washing has been a chore since the surgery.  In another month or two, I will get the sound processor that attaches.  I'm quite excited for that day!

Bone Anchored Hearing Device

I have now been living with single-sided deafness for over 10 months.  With spring coming and our schedule getting busier, I decided it was time to check on the possibility of getting a Bone Anchored Hearing Device.  It is a titanium piece that is drilled in to the skull bone.  When it heals, about 2-4 months later, a sound processor is snapped on to it.  The sound travels through the skull, so it can be heard.

I called and left a message on the answering machine of the Lippy Group, explaining that I was ready for them to check my insurance to see if it was a covered procedure.  They quickly got back to me that it is a covered procedure.  From there, the insurance had to approve the prodedure.  They deemed that it was "medically necessary."

Scheduling came next.  I was surprised that they had a time available on March 17th.  So that's when it is.  I am very excited.  They called today to ask me what color a want my processor to be.  I will also be getting a packet of papers to fill out, including some papers for my regular doctor to fill out to make sure I'm in good health for the surgery.

This will be a busy two weeks.  I am tired, rather complacent, and have an underlying anxiousness all at the same time.  There's a lot I should do before surgery.  Now I just have to convince myself to do at least some of it.

Strength Will Rise

There are times that we can anticipate when life may get a little hairy.

I think being able to anticipate possible difficulties benefits us.  It gives us time to prepare and be strengthened... to put on the full armor of God.  (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Yesterday, I was anticipating one of these hairy times.  I don't know what to expect from the situation, but I know that whatever happens it will work out.  Thinking about the situation, one of our praise choruses came to my mind as I left for work in the morning.  "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord."  Of course, my memory for songs is not a good one, so the only other lines I remembered were the next two which say, "We will wait upon the Lord.  We will wait upon the Lord."

Coming home from work, still thinking about the hairiness that may come, I started to hum the song again.  Since I couldn't remember the rest of the song, I thought, "I would love to hear this song on the radio."  The radio was already tuned to my favorite station, 95.5 The Fish, so I pushed the button to turn it on.  This is what I heard...

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord (repeat)

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

God is absolutely amazing!

Making Room

When we started out married, we would talk about how many kids we wanted.  I believe 4 was the magic number.  As Mikayla was growing in my tummy, (although we didn't know if she was a she or a he), I would lay on the couch feeling her punch and kick and roll and the words that came to my mouth were, "We've got to do this again!"  Every moment since then my thoughts and feelings have been the same.

Except it hasn't happened again.  We now have heaps of clothing from birth to size 10 at our house, in one particular room.  I've watched the show "Hoarders" and can see how hoarding can happen to nice normal people.  I'm not saying that we are to that extent, but how a circumstance or something that doesn't happen can shape the mind to save.

We are getting ready to sell some of the baby furniture to someone who wants it.  To get it out of the room, we need to get rid of some of the stuff we have.  That's not the only reason though.  We can no longer use the clothing, but could use the room if it were empty of things we don't use.  If we decide to move in the future, we're not going to want to go through all of that either.

This morning, going through the clothes and getting them ready to go to Goodwill became a bit difficult.  Thinking about how we wanted to use the clothes again, the room again... 

Making room.  That's what it's all about.  We need to get rid of the old stuff to make room for the new stuff.  I think that getting that space empty is harder when you don't know what the new "stuff" is.  As followers of God, that new "stuff" could be anything and the empty space and waiting time is important.  One of my life theme verses is Ephesians 3:20.  "God, by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of, infinately beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes."  Now is the time to make room for that to happen.

Potter's Hand

I like to write an end of the year post, summing up the year gone by, especially if I am inspired.  Thinking back over the songs from church today I thought that using one of them to help me sum up my year would be a good idea.  We sang many of my favorites today, but "Potter's Hand" is the one I decided to use.

2010 was a good, solid year.  In the summer/fall of 2009 in knew that my incoming second grade class was going to be a challenge.  In October 2009, I broke down and prayed for something I've always been afraid to ask for... patience.  (They say that if you pray for patience, God will give you circumstances where you will have to practice patience.  I was already smack dab in the middle of those circumstances, so I had faith it would all work out!)

God answered those prayers.  I was able to deal with my class with patience and love.  They taught me lots about God, not even knowing that they did.  I hope I did the same for them.  The winter and spring of 2010 was a time of strengthening.  I knew God put me here for a purpose and I knew I was doing what he wanted done.

In April, I lost my hearing in my left ear.  What I thought was seasonal allergies, turned out to be sudden deafness.  Losing my hearing was scary, but the questions that came along with it were scary too - the main question being, "What if I pray for God to heal me and he doesn't?"

I went to one of our ministers to discuss the matter.  I told him I didn't know if I should pray for it to come back or not. I told him that maybe God had something else for me, involving the hearing loss. He asked if I wanted my hearing back and of course I said yes. He told me to pray for it.  Of course that's when I needed to know, "What if?"
That's when he reminded me of the story about the three in the firey furnace.
Daniel 3:17" If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 BUT EVEN IF HE DOES NOT, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

That was my answer.  God will give me back my hearing, BUT IF NOT, he will still be my God.  He will give me what I need to serve Him.

That's my 2010.  I feel stronger and so grateful to God for all that he has given me.  My hearing has not returned, but God has showed me the strength He can give.  I did not throw my hands up and say, "I can't do my job."  "I can't go out in public because I misunderstand people or can't hear with background noise."  I returned for the 2010 school year and have made appropriate adaptations for my hearing loss.  I have continued to live, hopefully with the zeal and spiritual fervor mentioned in Romans 12:11.

Here are the words to "Potter's Hand."  I hope you can see how this song applies to my 2010 and how it applies to your life as well.
 
Beautiful Lord, Wonderful savior
I know for sure all of my days are held in your hands
Crafted into your perfect plans

You gently called me into your presence
Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord to live all of my life
Through your eyes

I'm captured by your holy calling
Set me apart. I know you're drawing me to yourself
lead me, Lord. I pray

Oh Take me, mold me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the potter's hand

Oh Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the potter's hand



If You Give a Mouse a Cookie... (The Lost Hamster Version)

I had one of those "sure to happen at least once in a lifetime" adventures the other day and decided to share it on my facebook status.  I enjoyed writing it and I could tell that my friends enjoyed reading it.  Thought I'd share it here too!


If you give a mouse a cookie, he'll drop it under your oven, so when your hamster gets loose, the hamster will go under the oven to eat it.


Then the kids will start crying because the hamster is under the oven. So you move the oven.


When you move the oven you realize how nasty it is under there and so you sweep it.


After you sweep it you realize you also need to mop. And clean the sides of the oven. And the counter that you never see.


Moral of the story: Don't give the mouse a cookie and don't let the kids take the hamster out of its cage unless you feel like cleaning your entire kitchen!

October and November '10

I should be going to bed, but I've decided to post an update about the last couple of months.

October was extremely busy.  It included a one day trip to Pittsburgh, a camp-out with Girl Scouts, lots of soccer, report cards, parent teacher conferences, and a weekend women's retreat.  The retreat was wonderful, but the busyness of life hit me square in the face as soon as I got home.  By the end of the month, I desperately needed a weekend at home.

November has been slower and easier to deal with.  That even includes our weekend away in New York City.  What an adventure that was!  We got on a bus at 9:00 on a Friday night and were driven to NYC.  By 8:30 in the morning we were looking at the Statue of Liberty and had a full day of experiences very unlike those we have at home.  We got back on the bus at 9:00 pm and were driven back to Ohio.  We were home by 6:00 Sunday morning.

So, how am I dealing with my hearing loss?  Well, basically I'm so busy I don't think about it much.  I adapt when I need to adapt.  I get frustrated once in a while, but not a lot.  I see that I am capable of just about anything still.  I know that I do miss my hearing and wish that it was easier.  One of my most difficult days was at my last ENT appointment.  Because of a scheduling mix up, I did not have a hearing test.  The doctor asked how I was doing and if I thought that I would want something to help me with my hearing loss.  I feel like I'm adapting well, but really think life would be easier, especially in the classroom with some hearing help.  Being the pleaser that I am, I wanted to do what the doctor thinks I should do.  If he thinks I can live without hearing aids or surgery, then I wanted to live without those things.  But here's the thing... the doctor is not hard of hearing and I am an... adult.  This is MY decision to make.  He can't know how easy or difficult things are for me.  He can't make this decision for me.  I was quite anxious for a day or so, while I worked through these issues.

Well, that sums up the last couple of months.  On to the last month and a half of 2010!

Vintage Post #7 - Don't Underestimate...

Dec 18, 2008


Current mood:good

Don't underestimate...

I have some sermon notes from the most current series of sermons - Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader. I thought I would write a couple of blogs with the material that popped out at me.

November 16th, the sermon was on Elijah - 1 Kings 18. The class lessons included...

1. Don't be afraid. Sometimes you will need to stand alone.

2. Don't be divided.

3. Don't underestimate the power of one totally dedicated life.

Number 3 really popped out at me. I try to be dedicated, but sometimes I just really mess up. I pray that my life will still have a positive effect on others. During this sermon, the preacher also talked about blame displacement and how we should take responsibility for our actions. Its not always easy to do that, but I do believe it is important.

Of Friends and Fairies

Well, my baby is now 10 years old.  Within the next few years we'll need to have many "talks."  Last week was one of them. 

I was tipped off by grandma that it was time to have one of those talks.  Mikayla came home from school and said that her friends said that the tooth fairy is... get this... your parents!

Sitting close together on the couch later that evening, the talk went like this...

Me: Your grandma said you were talking about the tooth fairy today.  What were you saying?
Mikayla: My friends say that the tooth fairy is your parents.
Me: Well what do you think?

With a twinkle in her eyes and a smile across her lips to match the twinkle in her eyes, she took her index finger and gently tapped my nose as she said these words in a hushed voice...

"That YOU'RE a LIAR."

I laughed so hard that I cried and then continued the conversation.

Me: So why do you think parents would lie about something like that?
Mikayla:  So kids can have fun.
Me: Yep.  That's pretty much it.  Do you want to keep pretending so you can still get money for your teeth?

I'm not sure I ever got a straight answer on that one.  Guess we'll find out the next time she loses a tooth!

The Power of "I"

Inservices - you've got to love them.  Okay, not really.  One particularly "fun" inservice was about the power of an "incomplete" over a "zero" grade in the grade book.  Without going into the entire six hour inservice, let's just say that I'm giving myself an "I" for this years mini-goal resolution thing I had going on from January through June.  That's so much better than giving myself an "F," right?  I know... I made goals for July too, but I completely and utterly failed at even getting remotely close to accomplishing either of them!

So I now have an "incomplete."  You know what?  I can live with that.  In fact, I HAVE to live with that.  Every day I will wake up with stuff to do and I will go to bed with stuff to do.  I will never be done.  Until I die.  Then I will have a "completed."

Of course I will still make goals.  Goals help drive us.  In fact, I do have a new goal.  It's a big, scary, and exciting goal.  And that's all I'm saying for now.

Vintage Post #6 - Blog, Blog, Blah!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Blog, Blog, Blah!
Current mood:  contemplative
Category: Blogging

If you want to read something funny or useful here, stop reading now.  You WILL be disappointed.
Blah.  That's how I feel.  There's more to it than that though.  It's not even really a blah feeling, but that's about the way I need to describe it right now.  Describing it more would not be useful.
So I blog about nothing.  Really it's not nothing though.  It is something.
That's the way it is.

July Mini-Goals

Okay, time for a couple of real goals this month.

My first goal is to walk for 20 minutes 3 times a week.  All the walking at the Minnesota Zoo, Science Center, and Mall of America count for July 1-10.  (I took a walk yesterday too!)

The second goal is to learn 31 American Sign Language signs.  I took a couple sign language classes at a church during college, but never stuck with it.

Sudden Deafness - Week 7

This is actually the beginning of week 9 of my sudden deafness, but I had a doctor's appointment in the middle of week 7.  A friend from work highly suggest that I see Dr. Lippy from the Lippy Group in Warren, OH to get a second opinion on my hearing loss.  I went through all the hearing tests again and his opinion was the same as my doctor in this area - sudden deafness, 50/50 chance of regaining hearing in my left ear.

My doctor in this area told me that if I didn't get my hearing back that hearing aids were not an option, but there were other things we could do to help me.  He didn't discuss it with me at that point because I'm pretty sure he wanted me to focus on the steroid treatments and having a positive attitude about all that.  Perhaps he didn't want to scare me.  Anyway, the chief of audiology at Dr. Lippy's told me what that option is - a bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA).

Simply put, a titanium piece would be drilled into my skull and then a sound processor would be attached to that.  The sounds from my right ear would be conducted through my skull to my left side.  I would still have problems telling where sound was coming from, but I could definitely hear better.  That way, when a waiter comes to my left side and starts talking to me, I don't have to have the person across the table tell me that someone is talking to me!  (That happened yesterday.  It was kind of funny.)

The chief of audiology also suggested that I may get used to just hearing from my right side.  I can see how that could happen, but with being a teacher I feel that the BAHA would help me out immensely.  At times with good hearing, it is difficult to understand students with speech problems and who like to talk softly.  I think a BAHA would help reduce frustration on my part, as well as for the students.

I know that it is possible for me to get my hearing back.  God is amazing and He will work in my life - if not in one way, then in another.  I appreciate the prayers that are being said for me!

June Mini-Goals

Half-way through June and I haven't posted my mini-goals yet.  Instead of making mini-goals, I'm going to make a list of things I've already accomplished.  I've been so busy and have lots of things I still need to do.  Making mini-goals seems pointless this month since I seem to be crossing things off my invisible to-do list everyday.

What I've accomplished in June so far...

1. Worked on decluttering my classroom for an extra day.
2. Helped at Mikayla's field day.
3. Met with someone to discuss hearing loss.
4. Planned and executed Mikayla's birthday party.
5. Took Girl Scouts to Haven of Rest and Children's Hospital to drop off donations.
6. Got a second opinion on my hearing loss.
7. Went to dentist appointments for myself and Mikayla.
8. Went for a medical check-up.
9. Volunteered for VBS snacks.
10. Scheduled and attended a ceramics class with the Girl Scouts.
11. Scheduled an overnighter at the zoo for the Girl Scouts.
12. Did some decluttering and preparation for a yard sale.
13. Started plans for our summer vacation.

Here's what I still need to do before the end of June...

1. Have a yard sale.
2. Take Mikayla to the orthodontist.
3. Have dental work done.
4. Finalize plans for the zoo trip.
5. Finalize vacation plans.

I have been so busy this month.  I wonder how I do everything I need to do during the school year when I'm working.  Somehow I get it done though.  Where's my summer vacation going already?!?!?

June Goals - Stick a fork in me... I'm done!

Peace and Frogs

Two of Mikayla's favorite things right now are peace signs and frogs.  In fact, she just chose a geocaching name and it is PeaceGreenFroggy.  That is also what she chose for the theme of her birthday party.

After making her a Barbie cake and a dog-shaped cake for two different birthdays, my first thought was, "Yeah!  Peace signs are round!

Here's what I came up with...

First I frosted the cake with white buttercream frosting.  Next I piped on the peace sign outline with store bought icing in a can that came with decorator tips.  That didn't go so well.  I like using the frosting bags and decorating tips a lot more.  Finally, I dropped drops of food coloring directly on the cake and used a fork to spread out the coloring.

Here's what I came up with for the frogs.  These were very easy!

Green frosting.  Cut marshmallow in half.  Put the sticky side of the marshmallows up and stick a chocolate chip to them.  (I think M&Ms would work better, but I used what we had.)  Pipe on red mouths.

I don't know what it is about decorating Mikayla's birthday cakes and cupcakes, but I really enjoy it.  It's turned out to be a nice tradition!

Bacon and Potato Pizza

One of the things I like about going on vacation is eating out and trying new foods.  While we were in Myrtle Beach for spring break, we found a pizza restaurant named Mellow Mushroom.  I coaxed my daughter and husband into trying the "Hot Potato Pie."  Hey, how can you go wrong with crust, potatoes, bacon, and sour cream?  We loved it!

When I got home, at some point, I thought, "Hey I can do that!  Basically it's just crust, potatoes, bacon, and sour cream!"  I tried it a few weeks ago and we all loved it again.  So I made it again last night and took a picture.

It's not exactly like the one at Mellow Mushroom, but still really good!  Of course I used all the best short cuts to make it and rolling out the dough in a perfect shape makes no sense when you're hungry!

I used a package of pizza crust mix and followed the directions to make it.

On top of that I put a sour cream and cream cheese mixture - probably about a cup of sour cream and 2 ounces of cream cheese.

Next I added about 3 slices of diced, microwaved bacon and a microwaved, diced potato.

Finally, I sprinkled on shredded colby and monteray jack cheeses and baked the pizza according to the crust mix directions.

I made two of these last night.  I refrigerated 5 slices.  They were gone before I woke up this morning.  That's how it works around our house if something is really good!

May Mini-Goal Report

Goal 1 was successful.  I posted scripture as my status on Facebook.  I think it was positive for me and it helped me keep my focus.  Goal 2 was not as successful.  I will give myself half credit.  I wrote out 16 verses and most of them are hanging around the house.  I need to post a few more still.

This week has been interesting since I am out of school and Mikayla is still going.  It has been busy and I can't believe it is going so fast.  I have been very tired in the afternoons and needing a nap.  It seems my body needs to adjust like this every summer.  Time to start thinking about June goals!

Adapting to Sensorineural Hearing Loss

I had a rough time at church this morning.  As I listened to the music the thought, "This isn't the way it's supposed to sound," came to mind.  Only hearing from one ear doesn't give the music the fullness I'm used to.  My voice sounds different to me when I sing and I can't hear the others around me as well.  Along with that, the vibrations of the music and the tinnitus (ringing in my ears) were difficult for me this morning.

As we sang, "Oh how he loves us," I know that is true.  He knows I'm going through a difficult time with this.  He cares for me and will carry me through this, no matter what the answer is.

Vintage Post #5 - The Democrats are Calling

Thursday, October 30, 2008

The Democrats are Calling
Current mood:  tired
Category: News and Politics

The phone rings.

Mikayla answers and says hello and then hangs up.  I asked who it was.

She replys, "It was about the election.  He said something about Democrats, so I hung up."