Driving

 Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Keeping with the theme of shaking up our traditions, this year we are celebrating a little differently. Scott is packing up the car and preparing to drive to Ohio. He has not been to Ohio for Thanksgiving for nearly 25 years. Surviving a heart attack has reshuffled some of his priorities and he wants to spend the week with his Mom. I think it is a fabulous idea.

While Scott is in Ohio, the boys and I will be heading to PA. My Mom has a doctor appointment tomorrow and hopefully we will have more good news concerning her leg. Because of her sudden mobility issues, we have scaled back our holiday celebration. Although my cousins are not coming for Thanksgiving, the OG Cousin Crew will be in attendance.  

Safe driving to all who are hitting the roads today! 

Happier

 Oh my goodness.  I had forgotten how crazy the school hallways become in the days leading up to an extended break. My students this week have been silly and excitedly counting down until Friday. I have to admit, I find myself looking longingly at the clock as well. I have off all next week!

It has been decades since I have been off on Thanksgiving week. Working from home meant working all days, including holidays. While I'm physically tired at the end of each day, I am finding it refreshing to leave work in the car and to turn off my brain. This is the first time I've had a work/life boundary and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

Scott is settling into his new position. He is happier and is no longer coming home looking like Eeyore on sedatives. Although he hasn't had a chance to really dive into the work (he still doesn't have complete file access), he is enjoying adult conversations and being treated like a professional educator with 30 years experience. 

Today is going to be crazy because it is the last day before the holiday break. I'm going to just embrace the chaos and play some silly cane games today. I'm looking forward to going into the holiday with a smile. 

Happier

 Thank you for all of the well wishes. Scott had a great first day at his new job. He came home with a smile on his face and an enthusiasm to share information about his day. Considering that we went 5 weeks before he mentioned the name of the student whom we shall never mention, his disclosures were a welcome change. As I suspected, he has found it difficult to be in a submissive role within the classroom. 

His new job allows him to stretch his professional wings and experience. I can already see him walking a little lighter, and holding his head up higher. I'm hoping that this trend continues. Since his heart attack his personality has morphed into one similar to Eeyore. I really miss my adventure loving, happy husband. Perhaps this new job will be the first step towards his return.

Lots of meetings for me today. Wish me luck!

 

Big Day

 Today is a big day!

Scott began his new position this morning and I am anxious to hear updates. I keep hoping with everything I have that he does not hate it, and that it meets his expectations. The previous position, which ended on Friday, was not accurately communicated and resulted 13 weeks of purgatory. It will take time for his bruises to heal, but I know we will never blindly trust again. 

Fingers crossed the position presents the opportunities to interact with and to directly assist students. Scott is chomping at the bit to get busy helping these kids!

My week is going to be busy with meetings, but other than that it will be uneventful. At this point, boredom will be welcome! Next week I have off and I'm really looking forward to just enjoying time without obligations.  I can't believe Thanksgiving is almost here!

Mom and Scott

 We received amazing news about my Mom.  Although she did indeed break her femur, the knee replacement is not compromised. The bone is aligned and the surgeon felt that operating is not necessary. She needs to remain in the immobilizer and continue to refrain from weighting her leg for the next several weeks/ months. She is uncomfortable and miserable, but she won't need surgery!

Unfortunately the prospect of hosting Thanksgiving while in an immobilizer was overwhelming so we have decided to scale back this year. My cousins won't be coming, but the Cousin Crew will be together. I've decided that this unfortunate situation may be the perfect opportunity to create a Cousin Crew Thanksgiving Extravaganza!  I'm thinking junk food, games, bowling and other adventures. Perhaps hearing all of the grandkids squealing with laughter will be the best medicine for my mom.

The countdown is on for Scott's new job. He starts on Monday and the excitement is palpable. Meeting with at-risk students to help break down their barriers to success, whatever they may be, is a perfect use of his skills and experience. He has always related well with teens and I know that these kids are going to benefit from him being there. 

While I'm delighted for his new professional adventure, I am probably more enthusiastic about his current role coming to an end. The position which shall never be discussed again (lol) has been a nightmare for him and for our entire family. I feel like we have been living under an umbrella of misery but forecasts are calling for sunny skies and smoother sailing.  

By this time tomorrow, he will be completing his final day, and we will be able to turn the page on an extremely difficult chapter in our lives. 

 

Happy Walking Day

 

Updates

 It was wonderful spending the weekend with my mom and sister. Although my mom remains relatively immobile and continues to experience the persistent pain from her break, her spirits are strong. Tomorrow she goes to the surgeon for answers and a plan. After reviewing all of the information from her initial hospital visit, we are gearing up for surgery. Hopefully we are wrong and she will emerge from the appointment with just a walking cast, but I suspect an OR is going to be in our future.

This is a weird week at work with everything being closed Tuesday for Veteran's Day, although I have to admit I am grateful for the respite. Spending the day in my jammies and watching Christmas movies all day might just be the perfect thing to lift my Grinch-like spirits. It is also an exciting week because this is Scott's final week as an autism aide. 

He finally received the paperwork over the weekend with his official offer and start date. He starts his new position on Monday and I don't think I could be more excited for him. Not only is he getting out of an inappropriate and uncomfortable working situation, he is stepping into something that will allow his unique experience and skill set to shine.  After today he only has 3 more days in the classroom and we are both seeing the light at the end of a very dark and depressing employment tunnel.