Tired

I.  am.  tired.

And I know why.

This is the longest stretch of weeks in a row that I've ever had to teach in my ten years of teaching.  Every year, we seem to be the first district to report back (around the 20-something of July) but we get the benefit of having a full week of fall break.  This break has always been the first week of October.  This year, they bumped it back 2 weeks.  After this break (which was 12 weeks in the making), we get weeks off every 6-7 weeks.  So, I'm not used to this!  (I can hear my non-teacher friends saying- waah, wahh, poor thing doesn't get a break).  But... trust me... it is NEEDED!

Ok, next.  I am getting old.  I have had back pain for 5 months now, and I finally got it checked out.  Luckily it's nothing terrible, but I do have degenerated discs and compressed vertebrae.  I've been on 3 different types of medications (steroids/anti-histamines/pain killers + antibiotics for a sinus infection) for 2 weeks.  And ohhhh the side effects.  The steroids blew me up.  I couldn't button my pants.  It was terrible.  I was retaining so much water, I felt like I was pregnant!  The anti-histamines upset my stomach.  Together, I was just feeling bleh.  And tired.  Luckily, my back is feeling much better now.  But I'm still tired.

My students this year are a big challenge.  It is exhausting to teach and manage behavior.  Plus have the energy to do the other 1,000 things we have to do on a daily basis as teachers.

I'm taking a 4-hour Saturday class for an endorsement onto my certificate.  It's only 2 Saturdays a month, but there is also required homework.  It lasts until March.  My weekend time is really precious now.

Then, there's caring for, entertaining, and working with the kiddos.  I have literally fallen asleep on Sydney's bed as she's reading an AR book to me.  Isn't that terrible?

I know this will pass.  I am looking forward so much to next week, just sleeping in a bit and getting things accomplished.  And, most of all, not having to work. :)

I'll leave you with recent pictures.  Good night!

Visiting Sydney for lunch!

Sick day with Taylor.  Poor thing.  

Feeling better, we walked at the park.  She got to see her classmates!