Photo Dump

Dax can efficiently open doors, now.  And is currently trying to figure out if these door knob covers will come off if he spins them around enough.

Ada and I have been watching lots of Shark Week- this episode had her a little spooked, but she really has enjoyed watching and learning about the killer fish!

Her new "school" starts in a few weeks (first week of September)- she needed a "regular" sized backpack, so we found the perfect one!

And embellished it just a bit with a big heart and her name. :)  She helped me do the monogramming.

I love this picture of Dax eating a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie.

I got my classroom officially packed up and cleaned out for my replacement- it was a little sad that day, but I will definitely keep in touch with my dear friends that I made during my time at Katy.  And it is so nice to wake up from the nightmares that plague me every August about rolling into school at noon or showing up naked or cussing out a student- and reminding myself that I don't have to go back this year!

Last loan paid off! And I quit my job...

We made our last payment towards my student loan last week!  I know it's rude to discuss numbers, but- can I just say that $70k of debt GONE after 5 years feels SO AMAZING!  (Casey's loan=$30k.  My loan= $18k.  Car = $22k.)

It's kind of ironic that all of Casey's loan and half of mine were from graduate school-
which each of us abandoned the summer of 2007.
Oh well, it was worth the extra couple of years in College Station, my favorite place on earth!  :)

Pearl the Altima- paid off! :)

So, what are we going to do with nearly $1000 less of bills to pay each month now?  

Nothing, because I quit my job.  :)

Dax's blood work came back last week, and his immune system 

(IgG, and Hib (common chest bacteria) resistance) didn't improve.  

He's been doing AMAZING this summer, and it was just made very clear that his 

improvements are because he's out of a daycare setting, 

not because his immunity is increasing.

So we made the VERY difficult decision that I resign as Chemistry and Anatomy teacher, and Student Council sponsor at Katy High School.  I do love my job (although this year was rough!), 

and we LOVE the kids' school- but this is just what is best for Dax for now.  

Ada will go to a Christian preschool a few days a week, 

for now she's on a waiting list and we three are having a blast at home 

(and around Houston).  :)  

Zoo trip on Friday- blog post coming soon! :)

The Cat Practical

We've been dissecting a cat for the last 1.5 weeks in Anatomy.  It's a difficult, exhausting, stinky time- and I was dreading the practical (the lab test- you leave 30+ cats out all day, with different organs, muscles, glands, etc pinned for them to name as they rotate about the room on a timer).  So I got lazy and just gave a paper-based Cat Practical (much easier to set up and grade). 

I haven't fully recovered from my all-nighter in the ER with Dax Monday night (will blog about soon)- so I was feeling a little loopy.  And I decided to give them a few "fluffy" questions to help their grade a bit.  These are a few pages from their practicals- I can still hear the intermittent giggles as they discovered these during the test!

The "That" Game

As you might remember from THAT post (4th video), Dax loves to play the "that" game.  He gets in moods where he just extends his hand in a permanent point and says "that" at anything and everything, waiting on me to name it.  His desire to accumulate nouns cannot be satiated!   

Tonight he woke himself up while being rocked for bed to point at the 100th "that"of the evening - his bedside lamp.

He pitched a fit when I finally decided to put him down awake because he noticed one more "that" that he HAD to have named.  It was his monkey blanket handing above his dresser.  That we name 10 times a day.

I've really noticed that his favorite "thats" are red.  He loves my red water bottle, his antibiotics container, any red clothing, and a few red pieces of art around the house.  If he's lucky, he'll be a Katy Tiger!

And good news- the tubes are officially going in on Thursday (granted he's not wheezy)- and insurance was cooperative!  Yay!

My Student Council Kiddos

Totally random, but this is a picture of my Student Council kids.  This is actually only about half of them- there was a big Calculus test today, so being the stellar students that they are, many of them utilized today's "Enrichment" period to prepare for that instead of coming for the Yearbook photo!  :)  Love them.

This is the actual photo I submitted for the yearbook...

... but THIS is the picture that does our club a bit better justice!

Jackie's Story

In this gift bag is approximately $2300-

It is for one of the most beautiful, kind, intelligent, wonderful, DESERVING girls I have ever had the privilege to know.  I first met Jackeline Reyes at the beginning of last year in Chemistry- I knew immediately I was going to fall madly in love with her {which I did!}. She is so sweet and quiet, yet has this underlying spunk that you can't help but notice and adore.  She ended up being one of the smartest kids I've ever taught, and hands down the best student I had last year {possibly ever???} 

I was beyond thrilled to see her sweet face in my 2nd period Anatomy class the first day of school this year- although I could tell she was feeling... off.  I couldn't place it.  Was she sad?  Was is it her health?  A few days into school, Jackie stayed after class to let me know that she'd be missing a little school.  It was all of the above.  It was cancer.  It was Stage 3 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. 

She immediately began aggressive chemotherapy several times a week.  She lost her beautiful hair.  She underwent chemo treatments for months- feeling ill, feeling down, yet continuing her Senior year on the "homebound program."  Never ceasing to amaze me with her high As on Anatomy assignments, tests, and projects that she did 100% on her own.

I mean, this is bad enough, right!??!?!  It gets even more heartbreaking.  I ran into Jackie and her mother after school one day while they were at Katy HS ironing out some homebound details.  After questioning them a little with what was meant to be small-talk, I realized "struggling" was probably an understatement.  Gloria Reyes cleans homes for a living- yet Jackie's treatments are all downtown and take a huge chunk of time.  Add to that fighting Houston traffic to and from the med-center... ick. 

I found out that Jackie's father is not in the picture.  Not because they are divorced, or he ran off- because he passed away from Pancreatic cancer when Jackie was a toddler.  It is just Jackie and her mother, trying to survive this horrific tragedy, in the wake of their already-tragic-loss a decade ago.

So another teacher (Jen Blair) and I decided to take action.  We sent an email to the staff explaining her situation- hoping to raise a few hundred dollars to help the Reyes girls out during the holiday season- pay a bill, purchase a few Christmas gifts, etc.  The response was astounding.  Hundreds of dollars began pouring in.  People were writing checks for $100.  Putting wads of anonymous $20s and $50s in my box.  Teachers who I KNOW are also suffering from cancer and the treatment's effects donated.  People that I KNOW are struggling financially donated.  I reached out to Casey's company, Aerotek- and received an outrageous donation from them, too. 

I have to recognize two donors.  LizAnn Wheeler (who works with Casey) gave $250, and Hunter & Ashleigh Gaulke donated $350.  I.  Was. Floored.  The blessings that these people were giving was beyond my wildest dreams.

Jen and I met at Jackie's house at the beginning of the holiday break to give this generous gift to Jackie- only to find out that she and her mother were in a car accident the day before on their drive home from radiation.  Totaling their only car.  This gift couldn't have come at a better time for them.

Jackie occasionally blogs at My Cancer Journey.  Her reasoning behind sparse posts is that she gets "lazy" and "procrastinates" ... that shows you right there how little this girl complains.  She just amazes me, and I cannot wait until she returns this semester with a clean bill of health so I can love on her every day!

Sweetish Busy Baby

These are the orders we've received in the past week (the last 2 are just gifts- orders I've put in myself, if you will!)- and this is just via word of mouth, mostly from school!  (And we had 3 orders last week!  2 taggies and an Interchangeable Tie Onesie.) I'm so excited to see what will happen if/when I actually have the time to advertise.  As you can see- the "Baby-Shower-Gift-In-A-Bag" seems to be taking off-

Yay!

Untitled

This year is killing me.

A Random Weekday Post

I'm pumping at school as I write this!  (TMI?  Sorry.)  My friend helped me rig up a way to be able to pump at my desk so I'm not just wasting 45 minutes of my doing nothing but pump (she actually GAVE me her curtain to cover my window)!  So now I can enter grades, email parents, etc during my conference, lunch, and after school, just like every other normal human being!  :)

So, I thought I'd post a quick blog.  We had a NICE relaxing weekend at the Dowell house-nothing special to write about. Here are some cute pictures I've snapped recently with my phone:



My principal gave all of us preggos this Katy Tiger onesie last year as a gift- here's Dax sportin' his!

It's school picture week, and the photographer requested the kids bring their favorite cap, headband, or bow... so we went out and purchased Dax one.  :)

OMG, so cute.  We got him a more "normal" one, too... but I didn't take a picture.  I can't wait to see which one the photographer goes with! (Ada just went in a big yellow bow to match her dress and Dax's shirt).



Ada's birthday party is this weekend!!!!  I sent this little sheet out with the invitations, and I thought it was just so adorable.  So I took a picture of it because I want to remember it forever.  (It's supposed to help guests in purchasing a gift for her- it includes her favorite colors, TV shows, pasttimes, etc.)



Here's my silly girl playing around yesterday afternoon with her cell phone. 

 Some recent Ada-isms:

• (see picture above): I'm calling somebody.    Someone's ringing ME!  Hello?  Hi.  I have 6... 8....11 soft animals.  (She kept rambling after this but I lost track of the conversation.)
• (when catching a whiff of a skunk on our drive to school): OOHH!!  My nose is grody!
• (in a pink blur whizzing past me): I LOVE RELAXING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Momma, I got a WEDGIE...
• She apparently saw a commercial for the movie "The Green Lantern", and constantly refers to it as "The Green Light Man."  HA!
• Stay still.  Don't move a muscle.  This is breakable.
• Stephen's shoes (at school) are so ugly.  They have SPIDERMAN on them.
• Tickly my feet.  Now this one.  Now this one.  Now this one.
• Whatcha making? (Me: a baby tie.)  Oh, for your business?
• Oh, Dax, you love me so much, don't you!?
• She thinks if she just tells me we're doing something, I'll just happily follow along:
• We're not going to school today.
• We're not washing hair today.
• We're not stopping at the grocery today.
• MOOOOOOOOOM, DAX IS LOOKING AT ME!!!!!

First Day of School!

Can you tell Mickey Mouse was on TV?  No one would look at the camera...

Welp, it's officially begun!  It's going to be an interesting (difficult?) year with the budget crisis- I'm teaching 6 maxed out classes of Chemistry and Anatomy.  Pumping twice a day (once on conference, once on my 25 minute lunch break).  My Anatomy and Chemistries pretty much alternate every period (Ideally you want them in clusters-poses the most difficulty on lab days). But so far my kids seem sweet enough.  And I have a job.  That I do enjoy, so that'll help!  :)

Quick comic relief.  Facebook convo from yesterday:
Alicia: What's the most awesome thing for me to open class with on the first day of school tomorrow?  Ready,Go:
Alicia: I'll start: "I'm Mrs. Dowell, and I have turettes.  Bleep bleep bleepity bleep bleepo bleeeep."
FB Friend 1: OK, line up, single file, and the beatings will commence.  I SAID SINGLE FILE!
FB Friend 2: Introduce them to duct tape.
FB Friend 3: Tell them to make their way to the carpet and sit criss cross applesauce.
Casey: Hi, I'm Mrs. Dowell, I need to let you know I have short term memory loss... Hi, I'm Mrs. Dowell, I need to let you know I have short term memory loss...
FB Friend 4: Good morning, I'm Mrs. Dowell.  First things, first: Safety.  Your bunsen burners are already on- place your hand in the flame.  Hurts right?  Never do that.  Next, take the vial marked "HCl Solution." Hold this in your left hand, and hold your eye open with your right...
Alicia: Can't forget my Anatomy classes!  "These are your dissection kits.  Remove the scalpel.  Now pull your hair taut at your forehead...."
FB Friend 5: It says Mrs. Blair on your schedule, but expect you all to address me as Supreme Commander.
FB Friend 6: Good morning, what do you all expect from me?  From this class?  Oh, wait- you think I want to hear?  No, no, no... post your answers to http://www.idon'tgiveacrap.com/.
Alicia: Here's a permanent marker.  Go play Tic-Tac-Toe on the Smart Board (that's a VERY expensive interactive white board, BTW)
FB Friend 7: We are SO not ready for tomorrow...

1 Down, 3 To Go!

I have 3 friends pregnant with boys and due between March and May right now.... and the first one went on Thursday 3/3! Ashleigh (my Chemistry co-worker) and Asher Gaulke are doing well!! I'm missing her at work, but am so happy for her! I'm next (3.5 weeks!), then Katy Schilhab (4/21), then Megan (5/4)! We'll be halfway to a baseball team!

He's so cute!!!

Ada's High School Experience

It's 6:20 in the morning- we are 10 minutes from Ada's school where we will dress in the parking lot, then happily go in to eat breakfast with friends. My phone rings and Caitlin Atlee informs me that Kids-R-Kids is CLOSED because their pipes burst in the sub-20 degree temperatures last night! It's too late to call in for a sub, too late to turn around and take her home, too late for Casey to cancel his meetings, too late for ANYTHING except to bring Ada to school with me....
And she had a BLAST! She participated in 1st period Chemistry's Limiting Reagent lab (they made S'Mores!) and helped me work a few example problems on the board, then watched Dora the Explorer projected on the Smart board with Anatomy during 2nd period (during which they were supposed to work on their Eye Packet... but I'm pretty sure they all just watched Dora, too!). She had such a fabulous time, in fact, that she CRIED when first period left!

Then, MorMor the Saint met me at home during my conference and snuggled with Ada the rest of the day!

Daycare is supposed to be back open tomorrow, but we'll see! Ada might be teaching Percent Yield, too....

31 Weeks!

I'm 31 weeks and some days pregnant with Dax! I had Ada at 37 weeks- which is full term... which is only 5.5 weeks away!! ACK! Here I am with my Chemistry girls who are ALSO pregnant with BOYS- Megan (far left) is due May 5th, I am due April 1st, and Ashleigh (far right) is due March 1st! Something is in the water in the Chemistry hall!
I think I'm standing weird in this picture, because I'm actually much bigger than I look here, ha!

Name Decision

Well, we've made a final decision on the baby boy's name... and it will NOT be Noah. EVER. I never ever ever want to think of him as Noah again- I'll tell you why, but you're going to be appalled!

Yesterday at lunch duty, there was a Mom volunteering for a fundraiser by my entrance and struck up a conversation.
-Random Mom: "How many weeks are you!? You're adorable!"
-Me: "31 weeks! Only 9 weeks max until I get to meet this baby!"
-Random Mom: "Awww. My sister-in-law was 31 weeks last week. That's when the cord got wrapped around the baby's neck and he died."
-Me (a little shocked at the major no-no that she'd just committed, but still trying to be pleasant): "Oh my gosh, that's terrible. I'm so sorry- I cannot even imagine how hard that is for your family."
-Random Mom: continues to tell me the gory details and physiology of this baby's death. That happens to be at the exact same point in pregnancy as I am. By this point, I'm brainstorming ways to change the conversation to something lighter-
-Random Mom: pulls out a picture of the DEAD BABY in his CASKET and SHOVES IT IN MY FACE.-
-Me: can't tear my eyes away from the picture. Image being burned into my memory.-
-Random Mom: "Isn't he just the most precious baby you've ever seen?"
-Me: "That's the saddest thing I've ever seen. I'm so sorry for your loss. What was his name?"
-Random Mom: "Noah."

NOW- if this were the baby's mother, I might have given her a pass for her socially incompetent behavior... but this was the baby's mother's husband sister.... WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS WOMAN? Now she's ruined the name Noah for me, as well as successfully freaked the heck out!

Anywho- Dax it is! We were going to end up naming him Dax regardless of a psychotic stay-at-home Mom's screw up, I'm sure, but it's nice to know now instead of later, I suppose! :)

Better news: Ada's bed is arriving today AND I finished Dax's room! Pictures of both to come SOON!!! :)

Party at Ada's House!

Ada had some girlfriends over today! Actually, Mommy had some girlfriends over who happen to have daughters all within 4 months of Ada... so it worked out perfectly! Here are some adorable pictures of the babes playing their hearts out!

Starting the day with Ada's favorite lunch: chicken nuggets, homemade sweet potato fries, and fruit. In fact, she loves it so much she stayed back after the other two went to the pool and polished off their leftovers..... classy! (From left to right: Ada, Olivia Atlee, and Rory Klemach's arm!)
Swimming in the whale pool! Check out Rory's form on the slide!
Olivia and Rory had more fun in the pool than Ada. She was more interested in dancing to the children's music in the shade (and eating more of their nuggets) than swimming...

Olivia was really into the bubble machine!

Playing with Play-Doh and cookie cutters!

Chubby hands.

Ada made a green star. (Olivia made a hot pink apple, and Rory made a blue elephant.)

Olivia ALSO was really into the undiluted juice...

She thought she was sipping on this one on the sly- she kept looking at Caitlin out of the corner of her eyes to be sure she wasn't catching her! Even though we were all watching her and cracking up....

Olivia went home to take her nap, and Rory came inside to read a few (understatement) books.

...and watch a little Elmo! (Ada on the floor with Beazy, Rory in the chair)

Sara is loading up the car, and Ada was babysitting Reece.

Ada and Rory keeping Reece company!

And, can I just say, that I was a little concerned about this whole sharing thing for Ada... she does GREAT at other's homes, but she can be a little possessive of her own toys, and learned the word "mine" last week (which I DESPISE... trying to break that habit pronto. Might be impossible, but I will die trying.)... and she did SUCH a good job sharing! I was so proud of her and told her so a million times. I was probably really obnoxious about it, but I need to keep reinforcing the GOOD things!!!

So, now Ada is zonked out- and I am already looking forward to next week's play date with these adorable girls!

Mad Scientists

So, teaching Chemistry, I spend a LOT of time with these people planning, discussing, experimenting, setting our hands on fire, almost setting our faces on fire, eating lunch, acting like idiots, and laughing about it all. I don't have any good team pictures, but this is us at a Retirement party in the library, acting goofy as usual!

This picture is our team in a nutshell. Starting at the right corner on the opposite side of the table: Ashleigh Gaulke (making a goofy face, and probably a goofy noise, as usual); Me (making a sarcastic comment, as usual), Rhonda Burrough (probably thinking about how psychotic her classes are), Amiee Modic (making an even more sarcastic comment than me), and Colleen Dale (KHS Instructional Coach- asking herself how THESE lunatics had such amazing Science TAKS scores!)

Missing: Leslie Stiles and Darla Hall- sad face!!

Park Play Date

I have a Special Education co-teacher first period- Caitlin Atlee... and I LOVE her!! The kids think its hilarious because we act like "BFFs." We have a great time in class, we love the kids, and we all make each other laugh by acting like idiots, poking fun at each other, and playing practical jokes on people. ("We" inlcudes myself, Caitlin, and all 30 of the students. You would not believe it was a functional learning environment if you were a fly on the wall. But it works!)

Anywho, she has a daughter- Olivia- just a few months younger than Ada. (I think I blogged about going to her birthday party back in December?) We always intend to get the girls together but never make it happen- so today we spontaneously met up at a park in Old Town Katy (on a weekday- gasp!) and the girls had a great time! These were the only decent shots I got, but you get the gist. Hopefully more playdates to come with Olivia (and Caitlin) Atlee!

The Weeknight Chronicles

Well, not much to report around here for the past week. Friday night we went to Aunt Kendra's house to celebrate Grandma's (Sandra!) 35th birthday. ;) Much to everyone's disappointment, Ada stayed home with MiMi- at this point in our lives, it is virtually impossible to take Ada ANYWHERE that is not bolted up and cushioned like an insane asylum. I honestly believe Ada is the most curious, interested, fast-paced, busiest 13 month old E-V-E-R. (I'm sure every mother of a toddler will say the same thing. It's a fact of life, I suppose!) Anyway, our house is not only a safe-haven for Ada, but for my sanity as well. (I'm already having mini-panic attacks just thinking about the Holidays. Although I consider myself an optimist- I also have a realist side and I am envisioning the headache, exhaustion, and frustration of staying on top of my little toot!)
Then Saturday we ventured to the Katy playoff game against Stratford- it was a blowout, of course. On to the 2nd round! Ada had a blast- she *loved* the mascot (a Tiger with a bow and big eyelashes!), and waved to her the entire time (I have Kelli in class- she waved back the entire time, too- My goal is to find a good opportunity to get a cute picture of the two together at some point). She also clapped along with the cheerleaders (who also spent a chunk of time waving to Ada- when they weren't trying to find people they knew in the crowd), and conducted the band whenever they would play a tune. We had to leave at half-time because Ada was over sitting still for an hour; and the score was 35-7. Katy won; but I don't know the final score. But I do know there was a cutie-patootie in the stands cheering on her future Alma Mater:

Since there are no other exciting things to fill you in on for the week; I thought I'd let you in on our weeknight routine! (Doesn't THAT sound enthralling!?) Last year, every day, we'd come home from school, take our baths/showers, get in our comfies (that's Mobley for comfortable clothes to lounge around the house in), then snuggle, watch a recorded Oprah, and read baby books the rest of the afternoon. That no longer flies with my extremely active Bug.... Here are some pictures of how we roll, now!

Immediately when we get home, Ada has her after school snack while I clean out our lunch boxes and then pack our necessities for the next day. (Can I just say how much I'm enjoying NOT having a pump to clean, re-assemble, and bottles to make anymore? I still can't get over how much time that took!) Ada typically has some sort of cracker (animal, graham, cheddar, you name it!), an easy fruit (bananas and avacados are her faves), and a glass of milk that ends up on her tray, hair, and the floor. Rarely makes it down her throat....

Immediately upon getting our chores done, we hurry up and change into our comfies. That is something that will never change! I also usually have a Route 44 Unsweet Tea with Extra Ice from Sonic Happy Hour. Not usually. Always. (Recognize my shirt, Katy!?)

Then, it's P-L-A-Y-T-I-M-E!!! And of the hundreds of fantastic, high tech, stimulating toys that inhabit the dining room- Ada relentlessly chooses the Tuppeware as her toy of choice. It is the one cabinet we left without baby locks- And Ada takes full advantage of that. Here she is making sure she hasn't missed one item!

I hope I don't accidentally use her as a container one day!

Tupperware can always be worn as hats and helmets. I've also witnessed them transform into a drum, a chair, a vehicle, a ball to throw, and once even a left shoe. Obviously, it is the perfect toy- someone should be making millions off of this.

Then, it is dinner time. We try to eat as a family; but sometimes Daddy doesn't get home until 7:30 if he works out after work, so those nights are girls only! Ada's favorite meals are pasta dishes- the more veggies and sauce the better. She also loves to steal my avacaodos and tomatoes from my salads- I'm so lucky she enjoys such healthy foods! (Don't get me wrong- she also loves chicken nuggets, french fries, pizza, and ice cream. She definitely has her culinary priorities straight!)

Then, it's walk time. We get the mail and stroll around the block. Sometimes Ada loves it and could last for hours; other times we barely make it to the mailbox!

Lastly, its bathtime with Daddy. She loves her Ducks (and will occasionally let you know that a Duck goes "Quack Quack" if you bombard her enough with the noise). The purple hippo is also among her favorite bath toys. She's getting bath crayons for Christmas, and I have a feeling she's going to LOVE them!

I don't have a picture of our last stop- Mom knocking her out with her magic powers in the rocking chair! She'll sometimes wake up in the middle of the night if she's teething, got an ear infection, or just needs some extra loving (sound like a lot? It is). But a good night is one where she sleeps 'til 4 or 5 then gets to snooze for another hour or so in bed with Mom and Dad! :) This post ended up being a novel; so much for not having a lot to write about this weekend!