It Was A Good Week

I went to the neurosurgeon last week and I’m all set for my lumbar fusion surgery. May 31^st. I feel a lot more at ease after talking with the doctor this time and I’m ready. I’ve also found a few people on Instagram that have documented their experiences which has given me some insight on what to expect. They also give me hope that it will work and I will be okay.

One goal I have before surgery is to once and for all lose some of this weight. I weighed the day of my appointment and I’ve lost 8.4 pounds. I was pleasantly surprised I must say. My goal by surgery is another 15 pounds. 

This was after a 10 day stretch that included 5 days of pretty low carb, no more than 100 carbs a day and around 1500 calories. The remainder of the 10 days I focused primarily on calories. I have to say I feel better the less carbs I eat. I have decided to try carb cycling or a form of it. Of course I’ll tweak it to my liking and see how it works. This week I’m going to do low carb Monday through Friday and higher carb on Saturday and Sunday. I will still keep my calorie intake around 1500 or so. Sunday might end up being a Cheat Day though because, it is Easter Sunday. We’ll see how it goes.

Sky had Hawaiian Day at school! He is such a goof ball right now but he’s still so cute and I just love him! Lisa’s mom found this shirt at the thrift store. I thought it was perfect.

We finally decorated for Easter a teeny tiny bit. I know, Easter is only a week away but I just don’t have the stamina that I used to have. I think some of it is the pain and some of it is the medicine for the pain. But we are hosting Easter this year so I wanted to get in the spirit.

In my 20’s and 30’s and while Sky was younger I would go all out for the holidays. I'd decorate every room and every table top. However, in the last couple of years I've started to scale back. My goal is to decorate the porch, the fireplace and the table. Oh and to put something on my chalkboards! 

Sky really could care less about the stuff sitting around. He cares more about the experiences of the holidays, as it should be. If it were up to him all we'd do is decorate and hide eggs, shoot fireworks, carve pumpkins and decorate the tree and hang some lights on the house! Sounds good to me kid because this mama is tired of all the stuff. It's enough already.  

We also got the plaques and canvas hung up from our wedding! Oh happy day! This picture does not do them justice but it was hard to get a good shot in the hallway. I also can't wait to order and hang pictures from our wedding on the opposite wall. 

These were the highlights of the week. Mixed in was homework, reading, monopoly, poker and we also went and saw Boss Baby. It was pretty cute. 

I hope you had a great week! :) 

Teacher Tuesday-Testing

Testing.

If you are teacher and particularly a teacher in a grade higher than 2nd grade, you most likely dread that word.

I know, I know. Testing is important. Data is important. We have to know what the kids know but I hate that it has put so much pressure on them. It really makes me sad sometimes. I never want my students to base the entire worth of their education on testing. Ever. Even in college. Nope. 

Photo credit: Teach Outside the Box

We started state testing today and of course we had server problems, because why wouldn't we. Right out of the gate. Grrrrr.

Although I don't have to do an entire class this year, because I'm a special education teacher, it's still rough even with only six kids.

I love technology but man do I wish sometimes we did this the old school way, on paper with a freakin' pencil. Those don't have to reboot. Those don't have server problems. And they for damn sure don't "time out". Ugh.

The kids are troopers though and this year I wanted to give them a little treat because they deserve it. 

Testing is hard on them. 

Of course now I can't find the website where I found these! If you know or come across  it please comment on this post, I'd love to give them credit! 

However, one good thing about it being testing time is how close we are to summer break! :)

Thank the Lord! 

Have a great rest of the week! 

~Ashli