What a week!! So good, so hard, so fun, and yet so bone-wearingly exhausting (both mentally and physically). On Monday, I went back to work. I set foot in my classroom for the first time since a week after my brain surgery when I was given permission to bring people to help set up my classroom. It felt like home, but wow, it was hard. Because of my medical leave, I wasn’t allowed to know anything about school, my classes, my students, etc, etc. And so it was a lot. But all the hugs from the staff, especially from my teammate Laura, helped me know that I was right where I belonged. And it sure didn’t hurt to come home to beautiful flowers from my sweet Kevin.

Besides the exhaustion of going back to work, this week had all the craziness of the week before Christmas break, which meant all the concerts and activities that go with it. On Monday night, after a very long day of work, Arthur had his choir concert. He did a fantastic job and looked so handsome. (Unfortunately, instead of an hour like last year, the concert lasted about 2.5 hours, and considering that we were in a middle school cafeteria, it was highly uncomfortable – and the poor choir kids were restless and loud, because they had been there since 5pm. I was completely done in by the time we finally got home.)

So yes, I was extra tired for day two back at work, but oh my goodness, I already love these sweet kids! Yes, some of them were like untrained puppies with all the crazy that goes with that, but it’s all good. I know how to work with that. All three of my classes are great, but my homeroom is especially sweet and kind. I can’t wait to get to know them better – and I can’t wait to finally memorize all of their names 😉.

On Tuesday, we had a special “Lions Leader Assembly” where we highlighted special kids in each class that demonstrated leadership skills during the month. As part of it, there was a grade level competition, and my teammate, Amanda, won it for the fourth grade! Wahoo!

After school that day, I stayed late, but for something fun – a cookie decorating class put on by our principal, Denise. She had all these cute kits and taught us how to decorate. I may have messed up a bit on the first two, but by the stocking, I finally did it right. The best part of the whole thing though, was getting to talk and laugh with friends. I sat with Jamie (my dear friend and the hero who was subbing for me while I was out), Kendall Brown (Arthur’s 3rd grade teacher whom I adore), and Laura Majors (the amazing second grade teacher that I used to sub for all the time and whom I dearly love). And they are just the ones that I got to hug and catch up with. I am so surrounded by people who love me and that I love. I am so truly blessed to have such great people in my life.

Tuesday night, after taking a nap once I got home, I went to our Christmas book club. I wish I had taken pictures, because Candice’s house is always spectacular at Christmas. We had so much fun and I even got a book that I haven’t read and is on my “to-read” list.

Wednesday was quite a day. It was a field trip for fourth grade, but blessedly, my principal had another teacher cover for me on the field trip so that I could stay behind and plan lessons. Part of this was because up until Monday morning, I was not allowed to access anything, and I wasn’t allowed to work on anything school related. The biggest reason, however, was because while I was out on medical leave, they had my sub teach Social Studies and Science (instead of the ELAR lessons I had planned and ready for them), and another teacher was tasked with teaching Language Arts. Sadly, this meant that because of my health situation, instead of teaching all the lessons I planned last year, I am starting from scratch and creating everything new.

It’s a long story, but I was stressed and I felt blindsided, and defeated. Something already difficult (me going back to work) suddenly got so much harder. But like I said, my principal arranged it so I could stay behind and plan while they were gone. I was also hugely blessed that because of a mutual friend, I was able to get in contact with the 4th grade Science/Social Studies teacher at another nearby school. She was AMAZING, and not only offered to help me, but got a sub and spent all of Wednesday afternoon helping me wrap my head around the science plans. By the time she left, I had the first week of January planned and hope in my heart.

Later that evening, it was time for Arthur’s voice recital. He was spectacular!! So good! I wish I had the energy to put in a video of his song, but you will just have to trust me 😉. His new voice teacher, Ms. Segovia, is fantastic. It was also so fun, because a few of my old students performed as well, and I got to see them and give them hugs.

Thursday was a fun day at school. We had an author visit in the morning with Jerry Pallotta, who has been publishing picture books forever. In fact, I have a book of his that I bought 24 years ago, The Butterfly Counting Book. Pretty fun! I wish I had thought to bring a few of them to have him sign for me.

After the assembly, we had special rotations where the kids worked on parent gifts and art projects. Since we had less time, I helped Laura Ureste do the project she had planned, so the kids had double the time. We split it up into my room and the empty room next door, and as they finished, we all ended up in my room and watched a Christmas movie. I think the favorite part for the kids was the visit from “Santa” who gave out candy canes to all the kids. So much fun!

Thursday, after school, I headed right to the Oncology office for my first round of “maintenance treatment.” It was a combo of chemo and immunotherapy, and I am really hoping that it doesn’t affect me as badly as my past treatments.

Friday was a fun day, and was maybe a bit of chaos and crazy. In the morning, first I was overwhelmed with all the generous gifts from so many of my students 🥹. I know I gave them a little something, but since they just met me, I was not expecting to have any gifts. I was very spoiled – especially with the sweet homemade cards some of the kids gave me.

We really started off the day with our sing-a-long and Mrs. Gonzalez reading Twas the Night Before Christmas. To say that the kids LOVE the sing-a-long is putting it lightly. They have such a blast. And I loved getting to see and hug even more staff that I hadn’t had a chance to see yet. And I had to get pictures with Laura and Amanda, my team. They had to deal with so much because I was out, and I am so grateful for them.

I also got to see my dear friend, Jamie, who was the true hero for sacrificing so much to be my long term sub from September on. (Anna, my amazing friend who subbed the first month wasn’t there, but she was also a hero in my story.)

When we came back to the classroom, I had the kids set up the room to watch a movie, and I showed the “The Muppet’s Christmas Carol,” one of my very favorites. While they watched, I wrote thank you cards, and then tried to pull together the chaos that had been my room all week. By lunchtime, I was feeling hot (from the chemo and steroids) and exhausted, as it had been quite a week. Luckily, Lily came in to volunteer and help with a few things, and then I was able to leave a little early and crash.

The day wasn’t over yet, because after dinner, Kevin set things up for us to have our viewing of “Elf” in the hottub. I stayed out of it this time, and instead cuddled with Kevin under a blanket on our outdoor couch. It was perfect, and the kids had a blast. And the weather was gorgeous.

Because of my not feeling well because of treatment, Kevin and I went on a lunch date. They just opened a La Panaderia five minutes from our house, and so we went there for lunch. It was fantastic (even if it was crazy busy), and I even brought home one of their Tres Leches croissants for dessert later on. Yum!

On Saturday evening, Lily went on a date with her boyfriend, Chris (to dinner and to a session at the San Antonio Temple), and Kevin took Derek to see the newest Avatar movie. That meant that Arthur and I were on our own. First, he decorated the cookies that I got in a cookie kit from Denise (when we did the class on Tuesday, we could sign up to get a kid kit). He loved it so much!

Then after we had some dinner, Arthur and I watched a Hallmark Christmas movie that was also a mystery while he put together my Lego Christmas tree. Very fun!

It was a very crazy and exhausting week, but it was also a wonderful week filled with blessings, especially all the extra time we got to spend focusing on the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.