I am so thankful to work for such an amazing district. I am going back to work, but only 3/4 time. I am so thankful they are allowing me to do this and not just making me take time off. Being at work truly gives me purpose. I know my kids and family give me purpose as well, but it is not the same for me as going to work and being with all my co-workers and students.
I love reading about new teaching techniques or innovative lessons and then getting to go and try it out with 30 different kids. Yes, you read that right 30!! Well I think today I am down to 28. That first couple weeks back the numbers always seem to vary. This year has started kind of crazy we were not allowed in our building all summer because the district was doing a major overhaul of our building. The changes are truly wonderful! I never thought I would work in such an up to date building. The technology we have is fantastic, when it works. Still working out those kinks-it'll get there. The whole layout up of our room is great. There is no huge heater taking up the whole wall underneath the windows. And I actually have a door on my classroom that I can close!!! I used to be in the beginning of this long hall where the entire 5th grade would walk through my classroom everyday, many times a day. Now it's gone!! Yay!!!
My favorite part of the first day back was seeing the kids and parents expressions as they turned the corner to the new hall. It is an honor to work in a district where the community cares so much about education.
For the first time in two years I have had a fairly normal beginning of the school year. I was giving birth two years ago and last year I went to school for a day and then had three days off due to chemo. This year my chemo wasn't until the second week of school and it is not nearly as awful as last year's chemo. I had it yesterday and felt quite great today. People kept asking how I was feeling and I didn't understand why they were asking me. I had completely forgotten I had chemo. I guess that's a good thing. Although about 2:30 today it kind of hit me. I got pretty nauseous, but I took my mess and rubbed peppermint on my belly. I am feeling a bit better now.
It is just funny getting used to this new life. I keep going like I did before and I realize, usually too late, that I can't do it all. So usually the cleaning gets put off and generally house stuff gets put off. The last two weeks has been all about getting the classroom ready. This year was definitely more intense. It was like moving into a new home. We were trying to figure out where everything goes and what doesn't fit anymore. It's getting there though and I think it is a pretty welcoming room. Plus since the kids are helping so much, there is more ownership in the classroom.
Here is to an awesome new year and hoping this cancer goes away. I have a scam in one week. I pray it is gone or at least stays the same. Then we figure out where to go from there!