Anneliese had another asthma attack yesterday so we have another round of steroids and breathing treatments. The doctor thought she might have a little pneumonia too. Yesterday she was miserable so I stayed home from school today. Today she is fine. She is absolutely crazy hyper. She did not nap. I tried even laying down with her on her bed. I feel asleep but was awaken by her jumping on me. She is laying on the floor now. I don't know if she is finally tired or if she is just mad because she put her nebulizer mask on Ludwig and I took it off.
Yesterday was the big day for pink slips in the school district. If you were reassigned you were notified earlier. I got a lovely letter stating that I was reassigned elementary vocal music at Sunnyside Elementary. I was less than thrilled. The school board had not voted on the cuts yet but for some reason the union decided to go ahead and reassign people. The board did vote on Monday night and 5th grade band was not eliminated. It was put to part time though. I had to apply for the job. No one else wants it so it isn't a big deal. I was just annoyed. 28 1/2 positions were cut Monday night as well as a one million dollar property tax increase. Of course the teacher's union is asking for a raise so they had to add that million dollars into the budget even though negotiations are not over. 20 of those positions cut could be saved if the union would have taken the districts offer of a salary freeze. Many districts in the area are getting a pay cut. I would have been very happy with a salary freeze. Now I will get only half my salary and no benefits. Thank you BEA! I complained to one the union heads about being the band director cut even though I am not the least senior and definitely not the weakest link. He told me, "I am sorry you are not getting your plum job back next year but be happy you have a job. You just need to learn to adapt." I haven't ever had to adapt before in the other 2 times I was reassigned because of some stupid union rule. (sarcasm) My plum job of traveling to 6 schools in the 5 days! What kind of fruit is my job now that I have to go to all those schools in 2.5 days?
I am at 33 weeks in my pregnancy and ready to have this baby! I don't sleep well already and am so tired. Speaking of tired, Anneliese is asleep on the living room floor. I guess she needed a nap after all. Of course it is time for a breathing treatment now. Back to the baby, everything is good there. With Anneliese I measured small at most appointments but with this one I am measuring big. I hope that just means this one will come earlier, not that it is going to be huge!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Crazy children and weird places to sleep
I had a doctor's appointment today and since we are on spring break I took Anne along. When the nurse found the heartbeat I told Anne that was the baby she was hearing. She said, "The baby is crazy!" The nurse got a kick out of that!
Everything was good at the appointment. I passed the glucose screening with flying colors and the baby is no longer in breech position. I measured exactly what I should. I am one pound lighter than I was the day I delivered Anneliese. That was the heaviest I have ever been in my life. Oh boy, I am afraid of how big I may be by June!
Anneliese has taken to sleeping on the floor since we took her binkies away. She gets out of bed and curls up on a tiny pillow on the floor. It is always in the same spot between her toy box and her play kitchen. She slept there all last night, for her nap today and is sleeping there again tonight. I just make sure she has plenty of blankets to keep her warm. I guess we didn't need to buy her a bed.
I am having trouble sleeping already. I just can't get comfortable or stay comfortable. All the extra weight is causing me hip and back pain. That is why I am blogging at 1 am. I have a little more than 2 months left too. I may try sleeping in the chair since I tend to fall asleep there when I don't want to.
Everything was good at the appointment. I passed the glucose screening with flying colors and the baby is no longer in breech position. I measured exactly what I should. I am one pound lighter than I was the day I delivered Anneliese. That was the heaviest I have ever been in my life. Oh boy, I am afraid of how big I may be by June!
Anneliese has taken to sleeping on the floor since we took her binkies away. She gets out of bed and curls up on a tiny pillow on the floor. It is always in the same spot between her toy box and her play kitchen. She slept there all last night, for her nap today and is sleeping there again tonight. I just make sure she has plenty of blankets to keep her warm. I guess we didn't need to buy her a bed.
I am having trouble sleeping already. I just can't get comfortable or stay comfortable. All the extra weight is causing me hip and back pain. That is why I am blogging at 1 am. I have a little more than 2 months left too. I may try sleeping in the chair since I tend to fall asleep there when I don't want to.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Aquaphilic Ointment
We put Aquaphilic Ointment on Anne every night before bed for her Ezcema. I leave the jar by the bed. We call putting the ointment on "getting goopy". Friday night she must have been bored. About an hour after she went to bed I heard crying. I went in her room to she a little girl covered in "goopy". She was saying, "I made a big mess!" At first I was horrified by the mess but then had to laugh. I let the child sit and cry while I looked for the camera because it was hilarious. The entire left side of her face was caked with white ointment. Her binky was even covered. It was all over her jammes, sheets and pillow. Of course there was some on the floor too. Unfortunately I could not find the camera but got the girl cleaned up. She managed to empty most of an almost full jar or ointment. Now that is no longer stored by her bed.
I am trying to break her of her binky this week. She doesn't need it. If we have a babysitter she goes to sleep without it. She hasn't used one at daycare most of the school year but demands one at home. I told her the binky fairy came and took the binkies to a little baby who needed them because big girls like her don't need binkies anymore. I don't think she bought it. She cries for a while but then goes to sleep so I am hoping she will be over it by the time my Spring Break is over. She had been driving me nuts because she loses it in the night and then cries until I come find it. She has woken me up more in the last month then she did as a tiny baby so I decided that was enough of the binky!
Today, Anne went with Gerhardt's Aunts to Cedar Rapids. She had fun. I asked her what she did and who she saw. She said she saw cows and a farm house. I think that was on the way home. She did eventually tell me she saw Ethan and Ali, popped bubbles, went on the swings and slides with Emily, and then something about dancing that didn't make any sense. I had a list of things I wanted to get done while the child was not here to bother me. I only got one of those things done which was make reeds but at least I got that done. Next time someone offeres to take Anneliese, I need to send the cats along too. They kept trying to help the process along.
This week I have to get the baby's room ready and get some serious cleaning done. Wish me luck!
I am trying to break her of her binky this week. She doesn't need it. If we have a babysitter she goes to sleep without it. She hasn't used one at daycare most of the school year but demands one at home. I told her the binky fairy came and took the binkies to a little baby who needed them because big girls like her don't need binkies anymore. I don't think she bought it. She cries for a while but then goes to sleep so I am hoping she will be over it by the time my Spring Break is over. She had been driving me nuts because she loses it in the night and then cries until I come find it. She has woken me up more in the last month then she did as a tiny baby so I decided that was enough of the binky!
Today, Anne went with Gerhardt's Aunts to Cedar Rapids. She had fun. I asked her what she did and who she saw. She said she saw cows and a farm house. I think that was on the way home. She did eventually tell me she saw Ethan and Ali, popped bubbles, went on the swings and slides with Emily, and then something about dancing that didn't make any sense. I had a list of things I wanted to get done while the child was not here to bother me. I only got one of those things done which was make reeds but at least I got that done. Next time someone offeres to take Anneliese, I need to send the cats along too. They kept trying to help the process along.
This week I have to get the baby's room ready and get some serious cleaning done. Wish me luck!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Sheet tent
Anneliese and Daddy are having a great time with their sheet tent. Anne gets in it and goes crazy. She gets even more excited when the kitties get in it too. She now says that she is a kitty too.
She told our daycare provider yesterday she was having a little sister. She has said that before but then says her little sister will be a baby boy. Yesterday she said it will be a baby girl. We don't know and won't find out until the baby is bo
My job is on the final cut list for budget cuts. The superintendent is considering letting me keep my job part time though. I have not heard back from him and it has been almost a week so I don't know. They are not eliminating 5th grade band however just a teacher. As it is worded now that teacher is me but if they change the wording to a band director it will not be me. The high school director is pushing for them to do that. Then I will teach at Aldo Leopold, the new middle school that I helped design and do half of my current job. That will be a lot so I don't think they could possibly give me lunch duty but who knows.
She told our daycare provider yesterday she was having a little sister. She has said that before but then says her little sister will be a baby boy. Yesterday she said it will be a baby girl. We don't know and won't find out until the baby is bo
My job is on the final cut list for budget cuts. The superintendent is considering letting me keep my job part time though. I have not heard back from him and it has been almost a week so I don't know. They are not eliminating 5th grade band however just a teacher. As it is worded now that teacher is me but if they change the wording to a band director it will not be me. The high school director is pushing for them to do that. Then I will teach at Aldo Leopold, the new middle school that I helped design and do half of my current job. That will be a lot so I don't think they could possibly give me lunch duty but who knows.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
My sweet girl
Tonight I was having a bit of a pity party for myself because I am losing my job. I was crying and Anneliese brought in a plastic ice cream cone and said, "Mommy you need some ice cream." Then she hugged me, patted my back and said, "it will be okay, Mommy." That actually made me cry more but a different kind of tears.
Anne being girly
Anneliese would not stand for barrettes or ponytails in her hair as a younger child. None of that for her! She would rip them right out. She also hates dresses and I only put one on her once in a while for Church. She will tolerate it for Church but demands it be taken off as soon as we get home. There are 5 girls and 3 boys at daycare and Anne plays with the boys but that is all fine. She loves to roll in dirt and little kids should do that. She has suddenly taken to wanting barrettes in her hair. I had some I bought when she was really little but they didn't do much because they were small. She wants them in all the time. I bought her some new ones at the store with flowers. Gerhardt almost puked at how girly they were. We did need another set of sheets for her bed though. I gave her the choice between flowers and airplanes and she looked at me like I was crazy for asking and said, "Airplanes!" Today she wore a dress Georgia bought her and her flower barrette and was very cute and girly all day.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Update
Wow, I haven't blogged in a while. There is a lot to say. Not much of it is good though. First of all we do have a new car. Gerhardt found a 2008 Ford Fusion with only 14,000 miles on it in Maquoketa and we paid only $12,000 for it. I think we got a good deal. It is a manual transmission but that I what I learned to drive on and it came back pretty quickly. Gerhardt doesn't have as much experience with a manual but it is picking it up pretty fast too. I am now wondering if we should have waited though and not spent the money. We may not need 2 cars next year.
The school district needs to cut 2.8-3.8 million dollars from next year's budget. A committee of I don't know who gave the school board 4 different plans with different teachers on them. My job was listed on every list. They also had that cutting me would save the district $78,000. ?????? I don't think so, they don't pay me that much even with benefits and the 5th grade band does not cost the district much at all. One of the plans cuts 6 music positions, mine, another middle school band director, the entire orchestra program and 2 vocal teachers. It also cuts elementary art. Who wants to send their kids to our school now! I don't think that one will happen but it looks like my job will go. Unfortunately they would offer me another position but it would be elementary general music because of a retirement. One of the middle school band teachers is least in seniority and if life was fair I would get to take her job but it isn't so I am screwed. I would have to resign because me and kindergarten is just not going to happen. If I were cut and not reassigned then I could get unemployment benefits and call back rights for when an opening occurs. One of the other band teachers is going to retire in 2 years. I can take a year maternity leave but then would have to come back and teach general music for a year. I think I will do that anyway in case Ted decides to retire early. The superintendent has not put forth his plan yet though. He told the elementary art teacher there would be no cuts in art or music in his plan so who knows. The school board decides though. I am going to try to talk to the superintendent and tell him I would be willing to go to part time and not get benefits until Ted retires. Then I could take his job and go back to full time. By then Anneliese will be in kindergarten. Putting me to part time would save the district a lot of money too. I also could go teach at Notre Dame 5-12 band. I would get paid half what I am getting paid now and would be a lot more time. They do offer free daycare and free tuition for my kids though. There is a lot to think about and I have been very stressed about it. I know I need to calm down because worrying isn't going to change anything and it is not good for the baby but I just can't help it. I have liked my job this year and fear if I resign will never get another teaching job again. I don't know what else I would do.
Through all this stress I managed to catch another cold. Anne has it too. This morning she woke up at 6 screaming that she had made a mess. Her bed was covered in puke. I picked her up and said, "let's go take a bath." She said, "no, potty first." Okay, yes potty first. Then she wanted bear. I picked up bear and her face was covered with puke. Anne freaked out. "Bear is hurt." I told her bear just needed a bath like her. Everyone is cleaned up and she seems to be okay now. She is eating breakfast. I think she got to coughing and it made her throw up.
The school district needs to cut 2.8-3.8 million dollars from next year's budget. A committee of I don't know who gave the school board 4 different plans with different teachers on them. My job was listed on every list. They also had that cutting me would save the district $78,000. ?????? I don't think so, they don't pay me that much even with benefits and the 5th grade band does not cost the district much at all. One of the plans cuts 6 music positions, mine, another middle school band director, the entire orchestra program and 2 vocal teachers. It also cuts elementary art. Who wants to send their kids to our school now! I don't think that one will happen but it looks like my job will go. Unfortunately they would offer me another position but it would be elementary general music because of a retirement. One of the middle school band teachers is least in seniority and if life was fair I would get to take her job but it isn't so I am screwed. I would have to resign because me and kindergarten is just not going to happen. If I were cut and not reassigned then I could get unemployment benefits and call back rights for when an opening occurs. One of the other band teachers is going to retire in 2 years. I can take a year maternity leave but then would have to come back and teach general music for a year. I think I will do that anyway in case Ted decides to retire early. The superintendent has not put forth his plan yet though. He told the elementary art teacher there would be no cuts in art or music in his plan so who knows. The school board decides though. I am going to try to talk to the superintendent and tell him I would be willing to go to part time and not get benefits until Ted retires. Then I could take his job and go back to full time. By then Anneliese will be in kindergarten. Putting me to part time would save the district a lot of money too. I also could go teach at Notre Dame 5-12 band. I would get paid half what I am getting paid now and would be a lot more time. They do offer free daycare and free tuition for my kids though. There is a lot to think about and I have been very stressed about it. I know I need to calm down because worrying isn't going to change anything and it is not good for the baby but I just can't help it. I have liked my job this year and fear if I resign will never get another teaching job again. I don't know what else I would do.
Through all this stress I managed to catch another cold. Anne has it too. This morning she woke up at 6 screaming that she had made a mess. Her bed was covered in puke. I picked her up and said, "let's go take a bath." She said, "no, potty first." Okay, yes potty first. Then she wanted bear. I picked up bear and her face was covered with puke. Anne freaked out. "Bear is hurt." I told her bear just needed a bath like her. Everyone is cleaned up and she seems to be okay now. She is eating breakfast. I think she got to coughing and it made her throw up.
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