Here we go...

Tis the season for many activities, parties, events, and not enough time/money to do it all. So far our agenda has:
1. A dance recital
2. A social studies department xmas party (this is NOT one to miss)
3. A detective xmas party
4. L.B.'s annual xmas party
5. Ryan's birthday (born 12.5)
6. My nephew Grant's birthday (born 12.25)
7. My sister's birthday (born 12.25)
8. The impending birth of a new niece or nephew (due right around xmas)
I know I am forgetting things too.

Meet Ruth

Meet Grandpa and Grandma's new baby bulldog! The kids, Grandma Jeanne, and I drove to Bemidji bright and early this morning to collect the little bundle. Miss Ruthie is only seven and a half weeks old. The trip was fun, especially since the kids didn't know where we were going or why.
Kate is especially happy, because she has been asking Grandpa for a bulldog puppy for months now. If she isn't holding Ruth, she is snuggling with her, petting her, or just keeping her wrapped up in a blanket.
This has been a happy ending to a lousy October & early November. Between my broken ear drum, death of two people who were too young to pass, and some other stuff, we need a happy ending!

Sleep tight

This is how we found Olivia tonight after she was asleep. She was tucked in & covered up....

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from our Police Officer, Tiger, and Devilette!

Sad news

Update: this is a picture of Giggy (on the left) and Chad Olson (another teacher). They brought a box of pink cigars, roses, and balloons. Some of his comments about me:
1. Stafford retains more water than the Devil's Lake basin when she's pregnant.
2. Give Stafford a baby to hold, and she has a baby nine months later.
3. You look like a human speed bump.
4. I am going to call social services since O.G. isn't enrolled in violin lessons yet.
5. Next year Olivia Grace gets a pony.
6. I just feel bad for Thad.....for having to put up with you
Don't worry, the banter between us went both ways. There is a facebook group about him already. 600 kids and counting have signed up to be a part of it.

My colleague & possibly a former teacher to you or a spouse, Kurt Gigstad, passed away this morning. It was not expected. For those of you who remember him (AJ do you remember always talking to him by our locker?) he was the funniest guy. He was also the most caring guy I know. He visited me just two hours after Olivia was born. He brought her a gift when she turned two. We were so thrilled to watch him become a grandpa in February. I could go on and on about the Gigster, but the theme is the same: He genuinely cared for others, and in turn, we all loved him. Our department will never be the same.
Please go to the Wright Funeral Home website and leave any kind thoughts or memories to share with his family.

Things I have learned

1. That I am a total wuss when it comes to pain in my ear. I was shedding tears yesterday at the ENT. Maybe it is because I thought that the doctor was just going to look in my ear. Instead he did a surgical procedure to put together my broken ear drum. It was very scary, painful, and did I say scary!?!?!?
2. If you have a damaged ear canal on top of a broken ear drum, it is very, very painful. Enough said.
3. Hydrocodone is very helpful!
4. Homeade cards from your kids makes any dreary day brighter.
5. When you call a colleague to tell her you can't come back to work but instead a student answers the phone, you will look like an idiot because you can't stop crying.
**EM vacation has come at the right time!

What?

Last night the girls and I were playing beauty shop while Thad and Ryan were at hockey. All of the sudden Olivia put a qtip in my ear so far that I was in severe pain. I jumped up and was running around freaking out. Then I felt blood coming out. I called ask a nurse, and she told me to go right to the ER. By now Olivia is crying, Kate is scared, and I am freaking out.
To make a long story short, I likely have a perforated ear drum. The ER doctor couldn't tell for sure because there is so much blood in there. He said flushing it out would have put me through the roof with pain, so I get to go to the ENT on Monday. Currently, I can't hear out of my left ear, it's ringing like crazy, and at times it's very painful.
This is one for the scrapbooks!