I'm Ed-U-Muh-Cated!
It's been a busy day today. It started out beautifully by me being able to sleep late. I had to see a new doctor today, Dr. Jernigan. He's the resident foot specialist in the building with Dr. Lucas at Piedmont Orthopaedics. After seeing Dr. Washington a couple of weeks ago Dr. Lucas referred me to his colleague to see what we could find out about my poor pitiful feet. As I got ready to go this morning I got that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. In all honesty, as much as my feet bother me, I began to second guess myself. 90% of the time it seems like doctors think I overreact, which is SO far from the truth. Anyway, I went and it went well. I showed him my feet, I tried to explain my problems, the subtle differences I had noticed since the accident. I was pleasantly surprised when he said he was impressed with my accuracy and my precise attention to the differences in my gait, muscles, etc. I was relieved that he saw right away what my problem was, and he didn't act like I was crazy. It all boils down to: because of my lack of muscle control on my right foot (especially towards the ball of my foot) I am slamming down my heels. Our heels are padded with special fat that cushions our bones. However, because I am slamming my heels down so hard the fat is "squishing out to the side" and I am putting all my weight on my bones. Almost exactly how I described it to my family and friends! He wrote me a prescription and sent me to another office to have my feet fitted for custom arch suppports. That's definitely going to throw a cramp in my cute shoe efforts! He went on to tell me that he could tell by the curve in my big toe that I had nerve damage in the "perineum." I was shocked that he could tell that because it seems to be vastly unrelated. Come to find out, the nerves that control big toes are one nerve away from the nerves that control your bladder. So, by seeing that one nerve was damaged/bruised, it was safe for him to assume that others were damaged/bruised as well. Also, that nerve damage is causing my arch to deepen just as I suspected. I'm falling apart huh? On a good note: he did tell me that there's a surgery that is highly effective in correcting the problem with my curved toe. However, he wants to fit me with the arch supports and check back in six months. After a year if there is no change then we will discuss the surgery. He says that he feels in his gut that I won't have to go that route. He feels sure that in time it will heal. When I asked if he felt the same about the OTHER nerve damage he said yes. He said that "this type of injury is known for taking a year, year and a half, to recover. He thinks there is still a chance!! That's something even Drs. Lucas and Rice have quit saying. They're a bit disheartening so it was good to hear a fresh new perspective. I kinda dread this knowing that if it doesn't work there's another surgery in my future. The surgery won't repair the nerve damage, it'll just fix the curve of the toe by stiffening the toe. I wonder, will it even be worth it? For now I'll try to keep a positive outlook and NOT think of a possible surgery over a year away!
Going back to school today was annoying, just as I expected. I met my class at the doors to the cafeteria. She had them walking down the hall with one hand in the air. That's something new and I don't appreciate her trying to change the "routines" that are put in place. Anyway, we get to lunch and I go into the line to send the kids through. Immediately they all start complaining because they wanted pizza and the lunch ladies were giving them the jammers instead. At first I figured it was because they didn't line up the way they were told. I waved them off, told them to take it and that it was their own fault. Then farther down the line there were more complaints. I had no idea what was going on so I finally threw up my hands and told them I had no idea what they ordered because I hadn't been there! Finally Mrs. Adair came into the line and tried to explain to me that they were all supposed to have pizza except the two at the end. At that point there was nothing I could do; I was just helping them through the line the way SHE lined them up and according to what SHE wrote on the lunch choice card for the cafeteria. She walked out and then back in. SHE confused the lunch choices and told the cafeteria that all the kids wanted Choice A (jammers) thinking it was pizza. Um, who made the mistake there? She complained to the sub in my room that the cafeteria ladies should have KNOWN that the majority wanted pizza because all kids liked pizza, and that they should have checked. She went on to complain that "some people liked to please while others just didn't care." Um, I have to side with the cafeteria workers there! I feel bad for the kids but it's not their job to double check what the teachers write down! She made a mistake and couldn't even own up to it! We have a menu by the door (and SHE put it there!), so all she had to do was look at it. She didn't. She screwed up. Own up to it! I then found out that she moved the kids to different assigned seats on the carpet. She tried to tell them to get individual activities and take it back to their seats. Then she left for awhile and when she came back they were in centers. She said "The difference is amazing. From the minute you walked in they completely changed." I asked her to explain and she said "Well, they are just so much quieter and I just tell them what I want them to do and they do it! They must just be scared of me or something." I was pissed. I specifically remember her trying to read to them last week and she had to put the book up because no one was listening to her at all. In fact, they didn't even realize when she stopped. I simply said, "Well, they're doing what they were told to do. I told them to go to centers." She just said "oh" to that. She did most of what I asked (surprise surprise) but she mostly came up with her own shit. Whatever. She didn't do the calendar right. I was trying to get an idea of what was covered and what wasn't and she didn't do the days right after I specifically SHOWED her what to do on Friday. She then said that when she was in the back working while I was doing calendar she couldn't concentrate on the calendar because she had a one track mind. Whatever. I wish Mrs. Brewer was there all the time. **Sigh** So I think in the near future I'm going to make her stop what she's doing and WATCH me do calendar. Then she didn't "have time" to stuff folders yesterday so I had a parent call me to ask about why her child hadn't received a permission slip for our field trip yet. Then today I had a parent call to ask what homework was because her child got two helper papers and no newsletter. Then I got an e-mail this afternoon because her child didn't receive a newsletter either. I don't know what to do. This woman literally cannot handle her tasks. She's doubling my work, if not tripling it. I'm trying to do both of our jobs and then correct her mistakes whenever I DO delegate some of the work. It's really trying my patience!
Tomorrow Mrs. Strickland is coming to interview me. **Dread** I get the feeling this will not be a breeze like my first. She'll probably come bearing tape recorder and specific questions. I didn't bring my TEAM notebook home with me. Let's pray and keep our fingers crossed that I don't fall flat on my ass while doing this!
After school today I had time to run home, take the dogs out, lay down for twenty minutes, and then stop for cappucino before arriving at the Greenville SWU campus! Today I started my MED program. Yup: getting my Masters of Education. Should be interesting. It's going to be a LOT of work but I have faith in my ability to pull it all together and get it done. If all goes according to plan I will complete the program on December 18, 2007. Graduation won't be until May 2008 because graduation credit deadline is in November. At any rate, I'll have a masters in a little over a year!! I'm so ridiculously stoked I can't begin to express my excitement. :) Coggins and I are in a small group together (duh) along with two new friends: Kim and Natalie. Kim is older and a technology/engineering teacher. Natalie is definitely my kinda group member. She's all about doing the work but she's also about convenience and NOT being a goody goody stickler. For instance: We are supposed to meet once a week for a minimum of four hours. We had to have at least three, no more than five members. We agreed on Sunday from 1-5 at the Greenville Library. We agreed to work together becauses none of us really want to waste time if we don't have to do so. Two other girls wanted to work with us. One we just kinda avoided. The second we had to tell her TWICE that we were meeting on Sunday afternoons and if it didn't work with HER schedule then we were sorry but we were already set. She ended up changing at the last minute. GOOD! Some of the groups were going to meet for two hours twice a week. WHAT? Glad to know that some people have lots of time on their hands! Natalie is also a part-time bartender at Connollys. I bet Rebeclynne knows her! Apparently she plans to go after class on Tuesdays. I believe that Coggins and I may have to join her . . . .
Tomorrow after school I have to go straight to the East Side office for my nerve study. Mommy is going with me. After the nerve study Susie should be arriving and we are going to Timmons Arena to see the live performance of So You Think You Can Dance! I can't wait to see Ivan and Benji!!! Yay! Hopefully she'll get here in time to go eat first . . . maybe a lil sushi or some bubble tea? We shall see!
Going back to school today was annoying, just as I expected. I met my class at the doors to the cafeteria. She had them walking down the hall with one hand in the air. That's something new and I don't appreciate her trying to change the "routines" that are put in place. Anyway, we get to lunch and I go into the line to send the kids through. Immediately they all start complaining because they wanted pizza and the lunch ladies were giving them the jammers instead. At first I figured it was because they didn't line up the way they were told. I waved them off, told them to take it and that it was their own fault. Then farther down the line there were more complaints. I had no idea what was going on so I finally threw up my hands and told them I had no idea what they ordered because I hadn't been there! Finally Mrs. Adair came into the line and tried to explain to me that they were all supposed to have pizza except the two at the end. At that point there was nothing I could do; I was just helping them through the line the way SHE lined them up and according to what SHE wrote on the lunch choice card for the cafeteria. She walked out and then back in. SHE confused the lunch choices and told the cafeteria that all the kids wanted Choice A (jammers) thinking it was pizza. Um, who made the mistake there? She complained to the sub in my room that the cafeteria ladies should have KNOWN that the majority wanted pizza because all kids liked pizza, and that they should have checked. She went on to complain that "some people liked to please while others just didn't care." Um, I have to side with the cafeteria workers there! I feel bad for the kids but it's not their job to double check what the teachers write down! She made a mistake and couldn't even own up to it! We have a menu by the door (and SHE put it there!), so all she had to do was look at it. She didn't. She screwed up. Own up to it! I then found out that she moved the kids to different assigned seats on the carpet. She tried to tell them to get individual activities and take it back to their seats. Then she left for awhile and when she came back they were in centers. She said "The difference is amazing. From the minute you walked in they completely changed." I asked her to explain and she said "Well, they are just so much quieter and I just tell them what I want them to do and they do it! They must just be scared of me or something." I was pissed. I specifically remember her trying to read to them last week and she had to put the book up because no one was listening to her at all. In fact, they didn't even realize when she stopped. I simply said, "Well, they're doing what they were told to do. I told them to go to centers." She just said "oh" to that. She did most of what I asked (surprise surprise) but she mostly came up with her own shit. Whatever. She didn't do the calendar right. I was trying to get an idea of what was covered and what wasn't and she didn't do the days right after I specifically SHOWED her what to do on Friday. She then said that when she was in the back working while I was doing calendar she couldn't concentrate on the calendar because she had a one track mind. Whatever. I wish Mrs. Brewer was there all the time. **Sigh** So I think in the near future I'm going to make her stop what she's doing and WATCH me do calendar. Then she didn't "have time" to stuff folders yesterday so I had a parent call me to ask about why her child hadn't received a permission slip for our field trip yet. Then today I had a parent call to ask what homework was because her child got two helper papers and no newsletter. Then I got an e-mail this afternoon because her child didn't receive a newsletter either. I don't know what to do. This woman literally cannot handle her tasks. She's doubling my work, if not tripling it. I'm trying to do both of our jobs and then correct her mistakes whenever I DO delegate some of the work. It's really trying my patience!
Tomorrow Mrs. Strickland is coming to interview me. **Dread** I get the feeling this will not be a breeze like my first. She'll probably come bearing tape recorder and specific questions. I didn't bring my TEAM notebook home with me. Let's pray and keep our fingers crossed that I don't fall flat on my ass while doing this!
After school today I had time to run home, take the dogs out, lay down for twenty minutes, and then stop for cappucino before arriving at the Greenville SWU campus! Today I started my MED program. Yup: getting my Masters of Education. Should be interesting. It's going to be a LOT of work but I have faith in my ability to pull it all together and get it done. If all goes according to plan I will complete the program on December 18, 2007. Graduation won't be until May 2008 because graduation credit deadline is in November. At any rate, I'll have a masters in a little over a year!! I'm so ridiculously stoked I can't begin to express my excitement. :) Coggins and I are in a small group together (duh) along with two new friends: Kim and Natalie. Kim is older and a technology/engineering teacher. Natalie is definitely my kinda group member. She's all about doing the work but she's also about convenience and NOT being a goody goody stickler. For instance: We are supposed to meet once a week for a minimum of four hours. We had to have at least three, no more than five members. We agreed on Sunday from 1-5 at the Greenville Library. We agreed to work together becauses none of us really want to waste time if we don't have to do so. Two other girls wanted to work with us. One we just kinda avoided. The second we had to tell her TWICE that we were meeting on Sunday afternoons and if it didn't work with HER schedule then we were sorry but we were already set. She ended up changing at the last minute. GOOD! Some of the groups were going to meet for two hours twice a week. WHAT? Glad to know that some people have lots of time on their hands! Natalie is also a part-time bartender at Connollys. I bet Rebeclynne knows her! Apparently she plans to go after class on Tuesdays. I believe that Coggins and I may have to join her . . . .
Tomorrow after school I have to go straight to the East Side office for my nerve study. Mommy is going with me. After the nerve study Susie should be arriving and we are going to Timmons Arena to see the live performance of So You Think You Can Dance! I can't wait to see Ivan and Benji!!! Yay! Hopefully she'll get here in time to go eat first . . . maybe a lil sushi or some bubble tea? We shall see!