The kittens

Okay, we met the kittens and we did not pass. Are you surprised? They were so adorable and so innocent and so loving that we could not resist. They need a home and we have a home to share. The tricky part was deciding which ones to bring home. There were 5 of them - 2 white males, 2 black females, and 1 black male. We spent nearly an hour holding them and playing with them. We finally chose a longer-haired black female who is spunky and playful and a sweet shorter-haired white male who is sweet and cuddly. We are still debating names, but we're leaning towards literary names from To Kill a Mockingbird. The girl is spunky like Scout and the boy is timid like Boo. That's what we're thinking right now. If you have suggestions, send them our way.
We can't bring them home just yet. They still need their shots and we still have a Disney vacation to go on, but we're picking them up the day after we return. In the meantime, they are with a very loving family who just adores animals. These are the folks who rescued them from an abandoned house and they questioned us some about our intentions for the kittens. They want to make sure the babies are going to the right home, not just a home. That makes me feel that this is indeed the nudge from God (and Lucy) to move on.

Moving on

It has been six months since our beloved Lucy passed away. We've all managed to adjust. Her kitty things were put away, the grass has grown over the spot in the backyard where she is buried, and I finally let the bedroom window blind down all the way. It was lifted up just enough so she could look outside whenever she wanted without waking me up by pawing at it.
We've all started to feel longings for another furry friend. The kids started asking for another cat a few months ago, but Daniel and I have been holding out. I've been saying that we should wait until after vacation so it will be easier, but really I still have my uncertainties. Lucy was ours for such a long time that it's hard to imagine someone else living in her place.
But God has a way of letting you know when it's time and this week I think he did just that. Someone at Daniel's office received an e-mail from his wife about a lady who had some kittens to give to a good home. Daniel looked at the pictures and forwarded them to me. 5 precious little kittens who need a family eased my doubts. It has been so long since we had a kitten in the house. The kids never knew Lucy as a kitten. This would be so rewarding for them and good for us too. We've started debating about getting two - companionship for each other and two cats wouldn't seem so much like taking Lucy's place. We're going to "look" at them tomorrow night. Does anyone ever "look" at kittens and say "Nah, I think I'll pass"?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OWEN!

Today is Owen's 11th birthday. How did that happen? He has grown so fast. Last night I was thinking about the night/early morning he came into the world.
The very first signs of labor started while I was at work that day with a few random but strong pains. I kept my mouth shut for fear they'd send me home right away. I knew it wasn't close enough to worry so I busied myself getting all the plans set out for the substitute.
Daniel had a business dinner that night for some out-of-town folks and I was invited to come along. We went to Kanpai and still I hadn't said anything to anyone about what was going on. The pains were still far apart, but during dinner Daniel noticed me looking at my watch and breathing deeply. He asked if I was okay and I said I think we're having a baby sometime tonight. He was a little nervous after that.
It was finally time to go to the hospital around 9 or 10. The pains were close and strong, very strong. With Sara, I wasn't sure it was time when we left for the hospital, but with Owen, I knew for sure. At the hospital, I was given an epidural immediately and that's when things stopped progressing. All the epidural did was numb my feet and slow Owen's progress.
We were basically in a holding pattern from 11pm until about 5 am. It was not a pleasant few hours. At one point a nurse came in and put me on oxygen WITHOUT EXPLAINING WHY. I was freaking out. What was wrong? Finally Daniel or one of the moms spoke up and said that she was scaring me and to stop it. She finally said there was no need for panic. It was precaution because I was so tired.
About 5 am a different nurse took over my care. She was an older, more experienced nurse and she was very calming. She wedged a small pillow under my back on one side and that's when the action started. Owen had been stuck and this shift was just enough to get him moving. He was born about 20 minutes later!
I think it is so incredible that we forget so many of the moments of our lives, but a mother doesn't forget the details of when her children were born.

If it's spring, it must be testing season

OMG!!! It's testing season! Those of you in school or with children in school understand what this means or maybe you remember #2 pencils, scantron sheets, multiple choice questions... At our house testing season is particularly long and stressful.

First up is the HSAP for my sophomores in late April. Three days of writing, reading, and mathematics that serve as a gateway to graduation. Three days of being with unfamiliar students in an unfamiliar classroom for hours on end, reading from a script and watching the clock for me.

Then there is THE TEST that stresses me beyond all others - the AP Literature and Composition exam for my seniors on May 6. This test determines if they receive college credit for the work we've done all year. Normally, we prep from Spring Break to the exam with practice tests and exercises. This year I'm adding the ever-helpful banging my head against a wall to our pre-testing activities. (This comment will require you to infer for full meaning.) For this one, they are on their own on test day. I'm not allowed anywhere near them for the three hours of the test so I sit and worry.

Next, Sara and Owen will have PASS testing in mid-May. It is similar to our HSAP, but on their grade levels. Here, there's not much I can do except make sure they rest, eat well, and get to school on time. Funny, I never worry about them during testing. I guess it is because I know their teachers are worried enough for us all and I trust my own children to take these things seriously.

This year Sara will also have state End-of-Course (EOC) exams for her two high school courses, Algebra 1 and English 1, in late May. Hopefully, these will go well too.

Finally, we've have the teacher-created final exams for Sara and my sophomores on the last days of school. Yucky to create, yucky to take, yucky to grade. Owen isn't there yet, but his time is coming.

To prepare for all of this fun are endless reviews, studying, cramming, overeating, crankiness, and praying...that's just me. I'm not sure about the kids :-) Though I am not superstitious normally, there is one welcome sign that all will turn out just fine. It is the rose bush that my very first AP class bought for me. It has bloomed and prospered every year and so have my students. As I turned into the driveway yesterday afternoon, I saw the first blooms of the year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PEANUT!

Here's a big birthday shout-out to my favorite 14 year old, Sara Delaney Camp! She may not love this picture, but I do. It's from one of this year's winterguard competitions. As Tyra Banks says on one of Sara's favorite TV shows (America's Next Top Model), Sara is "smiling with her eyes." Happy Birthday to you, Princess Peanut. I'm looking forward to your birthday dinner at Moe's tonight.

The Birthday

Reader(s?), you have read about my apprehension concerning this week's milestone birthday so it just seems appropriate to follow-up with how it went.
Daniel had planned a nice quiet, family party for Sunday afternoon. He made sandwiches, cut up some fruit, bought a cake, and made my favorite dessert too (Brownie Delight - brownies with vanilla ice cream, Cool Whip, chopped peanuts, and chocolate syrup). Most of the family came bearing cards with cash and we had a fun time hanging out together. It was simple and fun. All of this was on Sunday seeing as how my birthday fell on a back-to-work Monday (how appropriate - Monday and 40 on the same day).
Monday morning I went to work as always and it wasn't a big deal, just another day at the schoolhouse or so I thought. The morning was quiet and uneventful. My sister came in and wrote HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY TRACY on my board (how sweet), but that was it.
Lunchtime arrived and I walked down the hall to the lounge with my lunchbag. I saw a couple of people in the hall that I don't normally see at that time, but it didn't really register as unusual until...I walked into the lounge and saw DANIEL standing there!! He and Jeri H. had been cooking up a plan with some others in my department to give me a surprise party for lunch. He brought Zaxby's and fruit and ANOTHER cake. What a sweet man to go to such lengths for me! There were cards and a couple of gag gifts too. Unfortunately, Kara got sick so Jeri was out that day and missed the whole thing! But, we had fun anyway.
Then, I went back to my classroom and in the middle of my To Kill a Mockingbird lesson, there was a knock on the door. Several of the Leadership students were there with inflatable flamingos to 'flock' my room in honor of my birthday. That thank you goes to my department chair who was also absent that day, but still very much 'in' on the festivities.
I ended my special day with Daniel and the kids having dinner at Olive Garden. This was followed by a dish of Brownie Delight and Daniel cleaning the kitchen for me (the BEST gift of all). However, it isn't completely over yet. There is one more birthday activity to come. This Saturday Daniel is taking me on an all-day shopping spree to spend all that birthday cash. I can't wait! 40 isn't bad...so far.

Lordy, Lordy...here comes forty

Victor Hugo once said, "Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age." Yikes!

No matter how hard I have tried to ignore it, that fortieth birthday is looming. (I can even hear the Darth Vader theme song whenever I pass a calendar...no joke) There are reminders everywhere - former students getting married and starting families, being called a "veteran" colleague at work, remembering things that happened in college -twenty years ago, seeing my daughter navigate the perils of adolescence.
So, how do I feel about 40? Well, I don't feel the way 40 is usually described. I don't feel old or like my time is running out. I don't necessarily feel any more mature or wise. I still don't think I've mastered a sense of personal style. I don't feel an urgent need to demonstrate how young I still am - sorry, no wild parties or sports cars or relationship-wrecking behaviors here.
I just feel settled. I'm not climbing any sort of career ladder. I'm doing exactly what I want to be doing there. I'm not struggling with small children and wishing they'd grow up so things would be easier. The road with the kids has been a bit bumpy lately, but it's nothing compared to sleepless nights with cranky toddlers. Daniel and I are in a good place. He's still my best friend and the love of my life.
I guess what I'm trying to say is I have nothing to prove. Is that what forty means? Not feeling compelled to live up to someone else's standards? Because I certainly don't feel that urge at all. I love my life. There's nothing that I need that I don't already have (well, maybe some new shoes...). I have a great job, a wonderful and loving family, a comfortable house, a solid relationship with my maker. What else is really important?
Maybe the first half of life is spent attaining the life you want and the second half is spent enjoying it. That sounds nice. I think I'll go with that. I'll try to remember it whenever I hear "dum, dum, dum, dum-da-dum, dum-da-dum."