Another Game Another Loss

No pictures since I was not able to attend the game tonight.  We had our annual open house at school...the one that no one attends and we all stand around.  Well, people come for the pre-school and kindergarten and maybe some at the middle/high school level.  But the elementary - forget about it.  At least I was able to get a lot of work done in the classroom.

Now... on to the game.  I don't know much about it other than they lost 40-28, they turned the ball over quite a bit, and the "refs were mean", telling one boy on the team to "take his foul like a man" when he was holding onto his arm.  

Zack scored 10 points.

They have another tournament this weekend and are in quite a slump.  Winning is not the top priority and should not be the most important thing...but in this case, if they lose tomorrow night they have to play at 9:00 Saturday morning - and I don't want to get up that early on a Saturday!

Winter Storm

So...there was no snow day.  But there certainly should have been!!! I will not commence my rantings about school closings (or lack thereof) and why small private schools feel they need to follow the district in calling snow days when they have students who travel for much greater distances.

Anyway...it was a beautiful snow that I watched this morning from my window at school.

As one of the third graders aptly put it, "It looks like Narnia out there."

But finally, at noon I had had enough and decided to have a sub called in and go home.  You know, living in the country on a county road that never gets plowed or salted.  

the view from my car on the way home

The county road was as bad as I thought it would be.

Now we're home for the evening, Winter Storm Denise is winding down, and we're left with this ugly white stuff.

and I don't mean the dog.

Changes

 I'm not just talking about the weather...which has gone from snow...to melting...more snow...more melting...and more snow...all in the month of January. We've also had rain, thunder,lightening, and dense fog all in the past three days.Today was 55* with massive wet puddles of melted snow everywhere - tonight we'll have falling temps, rain turning into snow with freezing rain, fog, and 4-8" of blowing snow tomorrow. I smell a snow day!!!

Other changes this month: Zack turned 14.

We celebrated with a Friday night birthday dinner at Tortilla Flats.  All that was missing was C.J.  Sometimes I really miss our monthly Tortilla Flats Friday night dinners.

He decided to bring a cake at lunch to share with his buddies (and possibly one certain girl)

But quite possibly the biggest change has to do with work.  I am in the second week of a seven week stint in the third grade classroom full time - while someone else teaches computer.  The teacher is on maternity leave and while they had a sub lined up to fill in...she backed out at the last minute- to be fair, she got a full time job - so...since it was crucial to have a certified teacher in there - and most anyone can get by with teaching computer (makes me feel so worthless) this was the arrangement they came up with.

I was not too thrilled last week.  It meant going back to full time, going back to recess duties and after school duties, having to be to school earlier (and later sometimes) than I normally do - really I have become quite spoiled!  Also, the class was how-shall-I-say really testing their boundaries last week...and they got to see how mean I can really be!!!  I was so exhausted last week that I was in bed an hour early every night!

This week, so far, has gone much better!  And, knowing me, at the end of this seven weeks I am sure I will go back to the computer room kicking and screaming. 

As a side note: Now that I am completely weaned from my medication, I have had four seriously bad coughing fits this week.  Gagging, eyes watering, gasping-for-breath coughing attacks.  Pray there is some answer for this like there was for the pain! Please!!!!!

Christmas Leftover

Rough Day on the Court

Zack (a.k.a. Mr. Excited) was up and in his uniform by 8:00 this morning...about an hour earlier than needed. 

After Thursday night's game hopes were pretty high for their first game.  The game before theirs went into overtime so we had to wait...

The game spiraled out of control quickly as the other team pressed the whole first quarter...and we could not score the whole first quarter.

Believe me when I say this was one ugly game.  It is not worthy of much commentary.  This was the halftime score.

The game got so ugly that the coach ended up sitting the starters for the entire fourth quarter.  The game was sooooo out of reach and he figured he'd give the others some playing time and some playing experience.  

Anyway, Zack scored 4 points in the 3 quarters he played.

Their second game was later in the afternoon...and just as ugly.

Hard to explain since this was the same team they just beat by two points last week.  But, as a team, they were just off today...their shots weren't falling, they were not rebounding well, and their passes were sloppy. (the officiating was horrid but even poor officiating cannot contribute to a loss by THAT much)

Zack had 11 points in this game and quite a few blocks.

He also had a couple of "firsts" today.  First of all, he forced his first charging foul by planting his feet and holding his position.  Also, he suffered his first on court injury when he jumped to try and pick off a pass and landed on his side.  He lied motionless for a couple seconds and the refs stopped the game.  Surprisingly, he was able to shake it off and stay in the game...even though he grabbed his elbow several times the rest of the game.  I guess we'll see what his elbow looks like tomorrow.

Mounting a Comeback

This game was somewhat personal...not only was this team undefeated but...

This was the team that so frustrated Zack the last time they met that I ended up pulling him from the game at halftime... the game they ended up losing 47-13.

I was anxious to see how he would handle the same situation.  And, indeed, as the game began they quickly found themselves in a similar situation - losing by a bunch!

It really looked as if they were headed for the same outcome as last time...I mean they could only put together 3 points in the first quarter!

By halftime they had mustered up 11 points but were still down by 13...and, by all appearances, it was not going to get any better.

The boys were all handling things very well - including Zack - and their coach was able to make some halftime adjustments...and things started to click.  They mounted an amazing comeback.

But in the end...they simply ran out of time and lost by 5.  You can see how excited they were about it!

#14 hit two clutch 3 pointers down the stretch!

Zack scored 12 points and took over position as the team's leading scorer (the boy who was the leading scorer was sick yesterday and couldn't play...he also didn't score in the last game when Zack scored 17). 

What a great effort and another fun game to watch.

Tournament this weekend!

Happy Birthday Zack

Fourteen does not seem possible. 

But Zack completes our family and I am so thankful for his life!

He had a basketball game tonight so that update will be coming tomorrow.

Thinking of Warmer Days

Despite the very recent bitter cold temperatures - we have enjoyed some nice days this January.

Nice enough to go from this:

To this:

Here's hoping the temps bounce back quickly...below zero is an insane temperature.

Amazing Relief

So...right now we are in the below zero range for wind chill temps.  On tap for today is sitting in front of the fire and watching playoff football on the 55' T.V. which is now in HD. I don't have to remind you of my feelings about cold weather!!!

Instead, lets focus on something positive...something unbelievably positive!  The last entry about my lung and breathing issues revealed the lung scarring and I was beginning to wean off the high dose narcotic medication.  

The weaning is going very well...it was a long process but I am now at the lowest dose before being off them completely.  Unfortunately, withholding the narcotics also meant a return of the pain so at my visit the doctor last week we discussed other options for me.  

The conversation went like this

Doc: "tell me exactly where the pain in and what it feels like."
Me: "I had pleurisy when I was younger and it was awful.  Now, it feels like I have pleurisy constantly...every day...like, all.the.time."
Doc: "oh...I know what I can do for pleuritic pain."

And just.like.that. he prescribes an anti-inflammatory medication.

It is not a steroid but acts like one...so I can be on it for a longer period of time.

I have been taking it now for 7 days and for the first time in what seems like forever...I do NOT HAVE PAIN in my back or shoulder!!!! Praise God.  

For the first time in a long time I can look over my left shoulder without feeling a stabbing pain in my upper back!  

Sadly, it has done little so far to help me feel like I can breathe easier...but just being without constant pain is such an amazing feeling!  

Folks, I really never believed it would happen.  I accepted that prescription with such skepticism because, let's be honest, I had tried hundreds of medications with no relief what-so-ever.

I don't want to go on and on...but it feels so good to,well, feel good!

Anne of Green Gables Pt.2

More pictures from tonight's performance of Anne of Green Gables.

Matthew (Zack) meets Anne at the train station. Although he was expecting a boy to help with the chores around the farm, Anne immediately captivates Matthew.

He brings her home to meet his sister, Marilla, and Anne soon charms her too...so they adopt her.

Anne makes a best friend, Diana

And the rest of the story takes place over several years as Anne grows up in Avonlea.

At the end of the play, Matthew receives mail informing him he lost all his money when the bank fails. This leads to a heart attack and he dies.

Curtain Call

Anne of Green Gables

The opening night of Anne of Green Gables.

Everyone did such a fabulous job!

Especially the boy who played Matthew Cuthbert...aka Zack!