It's Monday!

Monday's for me are usually good days, but I have a few that are hectic, and that was definitely today! I don't know if it is something in the air, just getting back from a great weekend away, or just me, but today was crazy!

So I haven't blogged in a while. Last Tuesday I took the Special Ed Content test. Shawn drove to Amarillo with me. Usually with tests I do not let myself second guess and I am usually done with in 2 hours. Tuesday it was 2 1/2 to 3 hours. I thought I would love taking the test on the computer, but I love my test taking strategies. You know mark out the answer choices, underline key words, and all that junk... Anyways, I went to find Shawn after the test and when I saw him he asked like anyone else, "How was the test?" Down came my tears lots of them. I was sick to my stomach. I knew I did the best I could, but the questions on there were tough. The practice test I had taken and the ones we did in my special education classes were mainly scenarios and over laws, the major disabilities, and assessment stuff. So that is what I was prepared for and my test was not like that at all. I maybe had a handful of scenarios and a few laws everything else was stuff I may have heard about or thought I could figure the answer out by common sense, but every answer looked right and their was just a difference in a word in the answers.

So I basically have been planning on retaking the test, but on paper. I had a date picked out and money set aside. Friday on the way to the airport I was checking my email on my phone and it said my results came in, but I couldn't look at them on my phone. So I told Courtney that the first thing we were going to do when we got to Houston was check my scores. We get to Houston and go straight to their apartment. We couldn't get my scores to come up fast enough, I really set myself up for failure. They finally come up (it is a pdf file) and I see PASS! I screamed and just started crying. I couldn't believe it. Then I looked at my actual score... I didn't just barely pass.... I really passed by a lot!! I think Shawn, Shane, and Courtney thought I was nuts for a few minutes. I think I may have even jumped up a couple of times. I called my mom with tears still in my eyes and told her the good news. It made the weekend even better to be there with such awesome friends to celebrate with! Even last night on the flight home, I was like Shawn I passed it, I can really be a teacher now. I know it may sound silly to some, but it is such an awesome feeling to have and know. I looked today and there is a job opening or two for a special ed in this district.

Tomorrow morning is my last scheduled test. It is the EC-4 generalist content test. I am pretty confident about it and think I will do just fine on it.

Well Shawn is home and we have to make a trip to Walmart. I will try and update sometime this week about our weekend in Houston.

I passed!

I passed the PPR. I did better than I thought. I only missed one question!
Only 2 more hours until I go see the doctor. Test 2 is tomorrow!

I survived!

Today the classroom teacher was gone so I was in charge and had to make all of the decisions. I wasn't too worried last night when I went to bed, but this morning I was hit with a load of anxiety. The anxiety quickly went away when I walked to into the cafeteria this morning and was greeted with smiles! I had one student that gave me some behavioral problems but before I left for lunch I sat down and talked with the student. Things were so much better after lunch. I also experienced my first staff meeting. It was over the upcoming TAKS test. Speaking of tests I have my PPR (Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities EC-12) tomorrow at 1. I am a little nervous, but I am feeling pretty confident about it.

So you are probably wondering why I am private for now... well really I just decided it is what I want to do right now. I only have a handful of readers I have invited to read my thoughts. So here is the thing... I feel happy, things are going good financially we are finally on a budget that is working for us, and I really am not all that stressed out...but something is wrong and I just can't pinpoint it. I have a doctors appointment on Monday and I am really hoping that it isn't just me or in my head... if that makes any type of sense. I was able to put on my rings today for the first time since Friday. So some of the things bugging me are that I am so exhausted all the time. I have been watching my dieting and have upped my exercising, but I am not dropping any weight. It is just like I know something is not right.

What a weekend...

Warning: I took Benadryl about an hour ago so please over look any typos!

Friday morning, a little while after I put on my rings, my left arm from my elbow to my wrist became itchy and covered with little red bumps. So I went to the bathroom and washed off that area and took the last of the Benadryl we had at the house. The redness and itchiness went away but my fingers remained very swollen. I got home a little after 4 and was probably asleep by 8. I was able to get one of my rings off before going to bed, but that was it.

Saturday morning, my whole body ached and every thing was swollen. Shawn noticed my feet and my lips in fact one of the first things he said to me was that my lips looked like Angelina Jolie. He went to the store, talked to the pharmacist, and picked me up some more Benadryl. The swelling went down a little bit but I was still unable to get the ring off. I also took a nap before we headed to Atown. At 2 I met up with some girls from school to talk about our first week of student teaching. I felt so bad because I was so groggy. Afterwards Shawn and I met my parents to see my mom's very cute, hip, and new hair style. I went to a few stores with my mom. While out, Courtney called to see if we wanted to go to dinner with her, Shane, and her parents. I wasn't too sure about it at that time, but after about an hour or so the groggy cloud had lifted from my head and other than the swelling and a little itching I felt fine. So we met them at Johnny Corinos for dinner (see her future blog update for pictures ). Afterwards the four of us went to visit Tifanie and Fabian's house for a couple of hours. When we got home I took some more Benadryl and crashed.

This morning I once again woke up very sore with huge lips, feet, and hands. So I have been taking it easy all day. I did finally and painfully got the other ring off this afternoon. I am going to call the doctor first thing in the morning to make an appointment.

I have never ever that I can recall had an allergic reaction like this before in my life. I don't know what I could have touched while getting ready on Friday that I wouldn't have touched any other time or ate. Things with my body have just been very weird lately and it just seems out of whack. It is a very weird and puzzling feeling and I am hoping the doctor can give me some answers. Anyway it hasn't been a horrible weekend, but it could have been a much better one with out all of this going on!

Hope you all have a terrific week!

Blah

 I am so irritated with a couple of people. I am trying to figure out if it is just my attitude or if they are really doing what I think they are doing…. Ugh I don’t know. This has just been a weird week for me, I am fine in the mornings, happy during the day, and then I come home and I am just blah. Monday I was in bed before the Bachelor even started. Last night I was a sleep by 8 and it is already looking like I will be there around that time tonight. I guess I should add that I have also had a horrible headache both nights and the one from last night has carried on over to today. Anyway, I need to get back to my unpaid work. The kids are keeping me on my toes today!

First Day, tests, something new, and whatever else

Okay, this semester is already 10 times better than last!!! I love my cooperating teacher and I feel like I am already learning a ton from her! There are 7 students in life skills, but boy do they keep you busy!

I have signed up and paid to take my three "real" tests. I will take the PPR on Feb 12, Special Ed Content on Feb 17, and the EC-4 Generalist content on Feb 24. I will take the ELL and possibly the 4-8 content in May.

On to the something new...

It was time for me to get a new phone so I picked out the Blackberry Curve 8330. It is so pretty! I love it and I am having fun figuring out all of its features! My upgrade was effective Feb 1st but I wasn't feeling very good yesterday to make the drive to go get it, so Shawn went for me today!

We really didn't do much this weekend. Shawn worked and I was not feeling good so I stayed in bed most of it. Friday night, Meghan and LaDez came up to eat dinner and play her new Harry Potter Clue game. Can you believe it I actually thought to take a picture. I would have taken more but my camera needed to be charged.

Ignore the Scattagories (sp?) things, we needed something to hide our answers so I got those out.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and a great start to an awesome week!

Picture Tag

The rules are:
1. Go to the 4th folder where you keep your pictures on your computer.
2. Post the 4th picture in the folder
3. Explain the photo.
4. Tag 4 fellow bloggers to join in the fun!

Minnie and Miss B. This was taken over the break while I was watching the girls. B loves to sit and tell Minnie all about her problems. If she was ever upset and Minnie was inside B would go find her and cry to her. Minnie is patient and lets B sit and lay on her, put her babies on her, play with her ears, and hug all over her.

I tag who ever wants to play along!