A New Record

I have just earned a new medal for the fastest ever catching of a cold since starting school. I made it Wednesday and Thursday...come Friday I was feeling the cold slowly but surely. By Sunday, I couldn't get outta bed. I actually ended up going to the doctor because a good friend of mine's child ended up with the Swine flu, and well, anyone who knows me knows that I like to catch everything there is to catch. Thankfully I do not have swine flu...but they say a MAJOR outbreak is going to be hitting our schools soon. I already know it has hit the middle school closest to us (but I'm not sure how badly), and now I'm just waiting for it to hit Oakdale. I doubt they'll have the vaccine in time......

In other news...I miss my Kindergarten babies!!!! I said I didn't think I'd go back...I lied! This 2nd Grade is tough business ya know?! There are just so many things to learn and do and I feel lost. I'm working on getting organized, but this stuff is tough. Add on to that my cold and I'm in pretty rough shape so it seems right now! But, I'll get it all figured out. I just hope sooner rather then later!

Let's see...what else is there?! Living the boat life is going good. We only got to go out on Saturday (and I was pretty drugged up). Sunday was a no go for sure. We are getting ready to enter "The Amazing Race Lake Wylie Style" which is a fundraiser for children with cancer. I'm super excited. Our team name is the absolute best...Three Girls and a Buoy (it's me, Michelle, LG, and Joseph). Isn't that great?! We are having a harder time deciding on a name for the boat. I think we've narrowed it down to two names, and what better way to decide then by letting my faithful blog readers vote?! Go check it out on the side.

That's about it for this time around. Believe it or not, I actually brought a bunch of work home-big surprise. I do have pre-test to grade...I never had to bring home test in kindergarten. Oh...and I'm going to ask that you lift Joseph and I up in prayer. We have decided to try one more time for a baby and have started back on medicine to help us get pregnant quicker. Now...since our experience last time, I will again be keeping all pregnancy news confidential until we know we are out of the clear of not only SMA, but heart defects, which was a major concern/issue with the last pregnancy. So, if you will please just continue to keep us in your prayers. And as always, please REMEMBER JACKSON!

While the Hubby is Away...

The wife (who's a teacher ya know?!) will spend lots of time labeling several things with her 21 student's names...GREAT FUN! Oh, and pay bills after that! Oh, and of course find some time to blog! It's been a pretty exciting night here all by myself, can't cha tell?!!

Anyway...things in the Hedgepeth House are going great. I started back to work this week (but I've really been in there pretty much every day since last week since I had to change grades and rooms). I think I've got everything set up (mostly) and now I've got to work on figuring out what the heck I'm suppose to teach. I can teach all the Kindergarten stuff with my eyes closed and my hands behind my back, but this 2nd grade stuff is all new. I'm super excited about the change though...I think it'll do me good and everyone I talk to says it's great, we shall see right?! And a quick shout out to a co-worker...Mrs. Julie Marshall was our teacher of the year and today she won the Rock Hill Schools Teacher of the Year...ROCK ON JULIE! Many of you aren't from around here, but Oakdale (my school) hasn't had the best publicity in local papers due to issues that we as teachers have nothing to do with, but today, finally maybe people will realize that no matter what, we are a team and we have the BEST teachers in Rock Hill!!! GO OAKDALE!!! Alright...enough school stuff right?!

Last weekend was our first full weekend on the boat. We had perfect Carolina Blue skies and 90+ degree weather and spent all day Saturday (11-6) on the boat and most of the day Sunday (1:30-6:30) on the boat. This weekend we only get to go out on Sunday because Joseph is helping his friend tomorrow (he's away tonight remember?) and I'm spending the day with my chicks doing stuff, most importantly going to see "The Time Traveler's Wife" which I'm super excited about! Sunday after working church nursery we are headed back out on the boat. We also just got all the new stereo stuff for it, so Joseph will be putting that in this week, then we will be 100% ready to go for good (well, until we find something else to fix-haha). I'm really excited for a fundraiser coming up the last weekend this month...it's like "The Amazing Race" Lake Wylie addition...I love the amazing race, I love to win too!

So...that's pretty much all for my life right now...school and boat. Oh...I did get that info about adoption, and well, I guess if you want to use the best you have to be willing to pay. They charge $750 for a 2 hour consultation, which is nothing really, just the good info that you want to know before you decide to start the whole adoption process. Joseph and I go back and forth a lot about what our next step is, right now we are enjoying each other and we'll see where God leads us. Right now we are just up in the air. We plan our starting to save for adoption and if we go that way great, and if not, we'll have extra cash for something!

Alright, for real that's all for now...well except a shout out to Aunt Connie who never misses anything and noticed my new hair cut...You rock Aunt Connie! And I'm giving a shout out to Jenny Jenny Jenny too...I haven't forgotten you, just been slammed! Ok Ok Ok...as always, thanks for checking in on us and praying for us and please please please always REMEMBER JACKSON!

Awesome Weekend

Joseph and I had such a great weekend...I'm so sad it's over, but look forward to many more awesome weekends on our boat! It's in the water and running great-yay! There was a minor mishap on Saturday...Joseph took it for a test drive and ended up broke down (in my parent's cove thankfully) and got a tow from my dad. Worked on it some more and it's good to go. Yesterday was so nasty out that I didn't think we'd get to put it in, but the rain thankfully stopped and in the water we went. Here's a pic of me and Joe on our "new" boat...

A BIG thank you to my Mom and Dad for 1-being here to buy the boat for us when we were out of town, 2-helping Joseph when the boat broke down yesterday (even though he got you out of bed), 3-following us around the lake yesterday in case we broke down again, and finally, 4-for letting us store the boat in their extra slip in the boat house. Now we have many great weekends ahead of us!

This weekend we also went to see Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker. It was an awesome concert and we had a great time. We did some tailgating beforehand...we just had a great time with our friends. Hopefully we'll get to do it again soon, or at least the tailgating party in someones backyard. Here's me and Joe at the concert (notice anything?!)...

And finally for today (before I go to my fav place for lunch with the girls-yummy). We have kinda started the adoption process. Neither one of us is really "there" at the moment, but I'm more there then Joseph. It's going to take some time, so we decided to go ahead and get the info and see what we need to do. There is an awesome adoption attorney in SC that we are looking into. The word on the adoption street is he can get you a newborn baby in 6 months. That's very appealing to Joseph and I right now. Anyway, it's going to be a longish kinda project and we are just in the beginning stages but I'm really excited. We've also talked about getting an "older" child (between 1 and 2 years old) which could happen even faster (I think). I've also been looking into the money part of it, because let's face it, it's not cheap (I was even blown away by the average cost) and there are many places out there that we can apply to for grants and stuff like that.

So...that's our life lately in a nutshell. We are just having a great time being with our family and friends and enjoying each other. Please do keep us in your prayers and we begin looking into adoption and stuff like that. And as always, please REMEMBER JACKSON!

Overwhelmed, to say the least

So...since I'm now addicted to Facebook I joined a SMA Awareness group and got a link to the following article. I hope you can take a minute to read it, it's really not that long, and you might have to copy and paste...

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2009/07/27/isu.researchers.find.possible.treatment.spinal.muscular.atrophy

I'm not sure what has been going on with me lately, but I have had Jackson on my mind more then usual. That should have been one of my truths in the previous post...there's not a day that goes by that he does not enter my mind. I miss him so, SO much it's unreal. I just wonder if that emptiness will ever go away.....I wonder if other people think about him as much as I do....I wonder if I'm going to be alive to see them find a cure for this horrible disorder.....I wonder a lot of things!

Anyway...so researchers seem to have found a way to treat SMA, how unbelievable is that?!?!! I'm just overwhelmed-hence the post title. I know we are years away from anything really happening, but think how much this is going to change so many people's lives. So, that's all for this time around, that's kinda a short and sweet post (like me!). As always, please, PLEASE, always REMEMBER JACKSON!

The Ugly Truth

So, I was super excited about this movie coming out on Friday night and gathered some of my peeps together to go see it. Well, I was a little bit disappointed in the movie...I had very high expectations, and they just weren't met. Don't get me wrong, the movie was funny, but it was actually a bit dirty with lots of f-words too. It reminded me a lot of "Knocked Up", which I also wasn't super excited about. It is not my fav movie of the summer that's for sure. Now, if you are looking for a GREAT movie...I say go see "The Proposal" which was probably the best movie I've seen in awhile. I will own it on Blu-Ray when it comes out because it was just a great movie. Joseph didn't see that movie, and I might just go back with him to see it again! I've turned into a bit of a movie buff this summer...there's one more movie I'm excited to see-"The Time Traveler's Wife" which comes out in a few weeks. I read the book, which is always better, but I'm willing to give it a chance. And in November "New Moon" comes out, and I never thought I'd be a big "Twilight" fan, but I'm addicted. Me and Grace even talked about being pshyco "Twilight" fans and going to the midnight showing of "New Moon" but that' pretty late for me you know!

Anyway...the title "The Ugly Truth" got me to thinking of some of the ugly but true aspects of my life, and I thought it'd make a great post. So...here's my list-

***Buying a boat that is 16 years old is gonna require a good bit of work, and money. But, after Joseph has put much time, sweat, blood and tears into the boat the motor is running. Now I have to get it registered-tomorrow in Columbia- and we have to get the right prop on it and we will be cruising the lake in our new boat-hopefully next weekend!

***I had some good success with Weight Watchers and actually lost 16 pounds before getting pregnant, never really gained any weight while pregnant (thank you morning/noon/night sickness)! I'm stuck on losing these last 4-6 pounds that I want to lose-arrgghh! And then I have to learn to maintain. And truthfully, I'd love to lose 10 more and be back to my before Jackson "fighting weight." It's time to get dedicated, again...

***I really hate thyroid disease. Which lead to several (about 10) pounds after losing Jackson (probably added with some stress). I'm thankful we did IVF because Dr. Crain found the thyroid issue, but then the other 10-15 pounds came on thanks to IVF. Oh well...again, it's just time to get dedicated!

***I'm super excited about graduating (as Joseph calls it) to 2nd Grade. After the initial shock I think it's going to be a great move for me. I've already begun working in my room and have my desks set up, but I'm lost at what kinds of centers, which aren't centers in 2nd grade I'm sure, I need to have set up. Lucky for me, I'm going out to dinner with my new team on Tuesday night, so I can grill them then!

***I'm really nervous to take my three boys to the vet. They are due for their shots, which of course they'll get, but I think I'm going to get yelled at. Rocky (the name fits) weighs 15 pounds (according to the Wii Fit) and that's way too much. I swear he's active and eats the same, if not less, then his skinny brothers, who weigh 11 pounds (Tripp) and 12.5 pounds (Charlie). Maybe I can just say he's a "big boned" cat?!!!

***After months of making fun of my friends I am now a "Facebook" addict. I don't know what it is...I don't even "talk" that much with people. But I do love the games and looking at everyone's pictures. I got to see great pics of the family reunion on there, which I wouldn't see other wise. Are you my Facebook friend?

Alright...those are some of the "ugly truths" about me. Wanna join in and confess an ugly truth? Come on...it makes you feel better. I feel so much better then I'm going to get off this computer and do something about dinner...ok, well drive somewhere and order dinner! As always, thanks for checking in on us. The real pretty truth in my life...I'm so thankful to have such wonderful family and friends who can deal with me, ugly parts included! And also, please REMEMBER JACKSON!

The Story of the Boat...

In my previous post I told you we were looking into buying a boat. We got all excited and found out the boat had been sold. Yuck! We aren't really in need of a boat, so it we were ok with not buying the boat. And then the guy who was going to buy the boat didn't show up, so the boat is for sale again. This time we got it! World meet our boat...



And this is the hunky captain of the boat...



Now...the boat isn't exactly "water ready" at the moment. So now Joseph has a bit of a project on his hands. We did find that the motor will "turn over" (what ever the heck that means), something about the motor not being locked. It's an older boat ('93) that has been out of the water for 3 years. It was stored outdoors for those 3 years, not covered, so you can imagine the shape that it's in cosmetically. We are lucky to have a great friend who can fix any motor imaginable. I am lucky to have a great husband who likes to make things look really nice. So, first we get the boat running. Second, this winter we will begin working on all the other stuff. We are super excited about our latest purchase and look forward to many fun times on our new boat. The biggest issue now...what are we going to name the boat?! Any suggestions? Let me here from you!

That's all this time around. I'm now off to finish wifey stuff. I love going on vacation, and I love coming home too, but I really hate all the unpacking, washing clothes and getting all settled again. Oh well...I guess since I'm not working I can take care of those things-yuck! Anyway...thanks for checking in and as always, Please REMEMBER JACKSON!

Moving On Up, and Out

So...last night I learned that I'm going to be moving on up. Up where you ask? Well, I'm leaving my comfort zone, my home, my first love-Kindergarten, and moving up to 2nd Grade. My emotions are all over the place right now, excitement, nervousness, scared to death because this is something very new, but it's a move that I think is going to be great for me, and that's what it's all about right...me?!!! The numbers at our school for Kindergarten this year are way down, so we had to lose a teacher either to another school or going up to 2nd. My principal called and asked (ok, really told) me that he wants me to go to 2nd grade. After the initial shock, I'm really ok with that decision. I'm VERY sad to leave my kindergarten team...we've been a solid team for the past 5 years, but I'm also excited to try something new. My biggest concern at the news was about my BFF, my assistant, my partner in crime Pam, but she's been giving a instructional assistant job still at Oakdale...and I'm hoping to work my magic and at least get her in my room! We are both sad but excited, and actually thankful to still have a job. So...that's my big news on moving on up, well that, and that we are looking into buying our own boat! That's still in the works, but we've found an older boat at a descent price and we are looking into buying it, that way we don't have to use my parents all the time for their boat! I'll let you know how it goes.

Now...moving on out. In a couple of hours we are headed down to the beach for our second get away with our friends. I think I'm going to be leaving the laptop at home this go around and enjoy the time with my hot hubby and fantastic friends. Thanks for sharing in our journey. It's always interesting that's for sure. Pray for me as I begin this new chapter in my life...I'm not going to know what to do with these older students-PRAY! As always, please REMEMBER JACKSON!



PS...Joseph says he's still waiting on some apologizes from 8 people. Whose going to be the first to say sorry in a comment and maybe win a prize?!....