The Last Day =(

Wow! I can hardly believe that school is finally over! I'm still not sure if I want to smile and relax or sit down and cry. I think I'm as bad as the kids are...I dream of summer vacation and when it comes I wish school was in session.

The hardest part is saying goodbye to the people that I see everyday and know I won't be seeing them like this again. Those students and teachers who won't be wearing their 'first day of school outfit' with me next year. All of the fifth graders will be moving on to new buildings. Several teachers moving to different positions in different places. While I'll see these guys again, it's sad to know that our chapter together (at school, anyway) is finished.

In this picture, you'll see one of my favorite 'teaching co-horts' or my educational partner in crime. Joni has accepted a promotion and will be working at the district level in the technology department. Bella, one of my many wonderful 5th graders (picture published with mom's permission), will be moving on to the 6th Grade Center. Since she is the youngest in her family, I will also lose her mother...who just happens to be one of the 'most fun peoples'.

It is also exciting. The library shelves are neat for the first time since last August. The overheads and TV's are cleaned and ready for a new year. And I'm waiting for my new books that have that 'new book' smell.

Of course, there are also the perks of making a low wage...my six weeks of vacation where I won't do any school work, workshop, or professional development. During that time I plan to...

• Go to more little league games
• Spends days at Big Splash & our pool
• Not go to the Y at 6:00 in the morning
• Go out late on a school night
• Use a computer for fun things
• Stay up all night reading a book
• Watch late night television
• Do my laundry one load at a time (rather than 14 loads on the first free Sunday afternoon I had in a month) AND FINALLY,
• Play with my niece and nephews

Reality check though - students finished up yesterday. I still have to work contractually until June 6th. But my play date calendar is out and my pencil is sharpened.

Yeah Summer!

Cooper - The Flying Puppy

This weekend my nephews, Austin & Brenden, picked out their first pet. They chose a cute Jack Russel/Rat Terrier mix from the Pet Stop in Owasso. At the pet store, they called him Jack-Jack from the movie The Incredibles, because he moves at the same speed as Dash did in the movie.

Naming the dog was a huge decision. Austin really liked Buster and Wishbone. Brenden liked Brownie or Fudge. Denetta liked Jack-Jack, Happy or Dash. Tony liked Roscoe. And Sophi didn't really like the dog. After a long debate and no decision made, Denetta suggested that the boys choose the name the same way she & Tony did when they named Tara and couldn't agree on a name. (They lived on Tara Lane.) Since they live on 41st East street Tony thought it would be kind of fun to joke around calling the dog "Hey 4-1 East!" Eventually, the boys chose Cooper since they live in Cooper Landing.

Cooper loves to play tag, wrestle, fetch & keep away. The boys are in love & Sophi still pretty much hates him. =)

Test Results

Let me start with a short explanation for those of you who don't know. In November of 2006 I was diagnosed with cancer. Without boring you with details, it is an extremely rare kind, is typically found in people in their 70's & 80's and has a very low survival rate. I'm considered Stage IV metastatic...if that means anything to you.I have had several surgeries and visits with the transplant team from Baylor (Go Bears!).

We have tried all of the FDA approved treatments and several that were not. My latest treatment, combined with lots of prayer and fasting, appears to be working. My oncologist (who is an awesome guy) found an article where someone with my cancer was taking this treatment for another cancer and it positively impacted both. So I decided to go for it.

There is a blood test (CA-19-9) that is a tumor marker test which I take periodically. Normal is 0 to 37. On March 24th my results were 795 and on May 12th it had dropped to 106. That is a decrease of 689 in six weeks. And for the first time in 18 months, my oncologist smiled at me while talking about my treatment/symptoms/outcome.

So we are continuing with my treatment and will find out new information at my next appointment in (yeah, a whole month away) on June 17th.

Blessings!

As many of you know, I tell everyone that Sophi looks just like me.
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However, let's be perfectly honest and say that my nephew Brenden probably has a closer resemblence. Check him out wearing one of my wigs. It's not really amazing that I am often mistaken for his mama.

Skydiving

On Saturday, May 3rd the most wonderful friends in the world made one of my dreams come true...I went skydiving! It's still hard to believe. For the story to make sense, we have to travel back in time to September 2006 when I made plans with my brother-in-law & cousin to go to Dallas to a jump school. In November, I was diagnosed with cancer and the Dr's nixed the idea -- or I should say the oncollogy nurse explaining what to expect with chemo nixed the idea. Needless to say - there was no jumping out of planes for me!

Recently, Moe asked me to double check with the doctor (since my treatment has changed). She jokingly said, "If he says yes, I'll pay for it." To which I responded -- "If he says yes, I'll let you." Much to both of our surprise, he said yes. So Moe & Joni, attempting to be sneaky, contacted my friends and created the "Make a Wish Foundation for old People" and collected $$ for my dive.

When I arrived at the Hanger (www.skydiveairtight.com) on Sat. AM I was greeted by the most amazing photographer (www.ashleyhopper.com) who created a photo journal of the day. After a 20 minute video (where I learned that I could be killed or seriously injured - as if any sane person wouldn't have realized that jumping out of a plane carries risk) Walt & I practiced arching, flairing & turning.

The next phase included checking out the layout of the single engine plane, walking through the entire thing for a practice run, and suiting up in my 'pickachu' yellow flight suit. (The pokemon reference was first identified by Cinda -- Thank you Mrs. Lewis.) Then I met Jill, the videographer, who is a first grade teacher in Tulsa. Then we loaded up in the plane and took off.

At 2,500 feet, we unbuckled the floor seat belts. At 9,000 feet, I turned around and my tandom instructor 'zip tied' us together. At 10,000 feet the door was opened and we scooted up to the edge of the plan and I heard the words gentley screamed in my ear "Ready, Set..." and then we slid off into the sky. After a 360 & a view of the bottom of the air plane we had our picture take and enjoyed a 45 second free fall and then a 7 minute 'canopy' ride to the ground.

After I received my wonderful certificate several of us went into Skiatook to celebrate with a 'dry' lunch at Senor Salsa's.

Thanks to everyone who helped make my day. You Rock!!