Allergy testing done

I went on Tuesday for my allergy testing, and as I thought, I'll be on shots.  Again. 

The last time I was tested was probably eight or nine years ago, so things are done a little differently now.  Now, before the skin prick testing begins, a sensitivity screen is done to help determine the strength that the skin pricks need be.  A plastic "instrument" is placed into the allergen solution and then placed on the arm.  After twenty minutes, the welts are measured.  During that twenty minutes, you can't scratch.  OH MY GOSH!!  I have discovered how prisoners need to be tortured.  I thought I was going to cry, and that was when I was only about five minutes in.

This was how my arm looked at about five minutes.  I wish I had thought to take a picture at the twenty minute mark.  My arm by that time was soooo red, and some of the welts were quite large.  You can probably tell that the area closest to my wrist was the worst.

After Mickie took the measurements, she wiped off the solution and rubbed my arms down.  Yeah, ARMS.  Fortunately, the other arm only had one half of one set (so four areas). 

Then the testing got started. 

This was about five minutes into the fifteen minute waiting period.  The ones on the top left were the grasses.  They started itching and popping up almost immediately.  Trees got pretty bad, too.  I was showing positive for nine allergens on the first set.  I only had to have one more set on five or six other areas.  Maple was my worst, with pecan and pine coming in right behind it.  Household dust and dust mites were pretty high as well.  I told John that meant he needs to hire somebody to clean my house for me, and I can't do ANY yard work.  He didn't buy it.  Oh well...it nevers hurts to try.

I go back Wednesday to meet with the PA for the results and to get started on my shots.  I can't wait to get the started so some of this crappy allergy stuff under control.  Time to go, so I can get ready to go to the lake and enjoy all of the maple and pine trees we have on our lot.  LOL

Have a GREAT day!

Heavy heart today

Today was one of those Mondays.  It started off well enough.  I did get up a tad later than I needed to, and then I had to rush because I thought we had a faculty meeting today.  Turns out that is tomorrow.  About the time I got to school, we got an email from JR saying that one of our assistant principal's mother had been admitted to the hospital about midnight, and then she passed away about 4 AM.  At coffee, one of my dear friends told us that her sister (also a dear friend) is having surgery Wednesday because during a checkup, her blood count was low.  Further testing was done, including a colonscopy.  The doctor could not complete the colonscopy because of a mass.  A biopsy was done, and the mass is malignant.  However, the doctor feels certain that he can remove it and do a colon resection, and all will be good.  Still, it's a scary situation.  During 2nd block, our basketball coach came to my room to see his daughter.  I couldn't imagine it was anything serious.  She is a great kid.  A minute or so later, one of the other teachers stuck her head in my room to ask if she could take the student with her, and then she motioned for me to come over to the door.  I did, and she told me that another of my student's dad had died of a massive heart attack this morning.  The two girls are good friends and have been on dance team together for years. 

So yeah, Monday, you suck!

My heart has been so broken from my sweet student.  It is broken for my administrator, and it is scared for my friend, but the hurt I feel for AK goes deep.  She will graduate in seventeen days, and her daddy won't be there to watch.  She will get married someday, and her daddy won't be able to walk her down the aisle.   She left home this morning thinking that she'd be able to see him when she got home.  Life can be so damn unfair sometimes.

One of her other friends came by during my planning because AK wanted to know what she needed to do for English.  My answer:  NOTHING.  She doesn't need to worry about Macbeth.  (He dies.)  She doesn't need to worry about the next set of vocabulary words.  She needs to take time to grieve.  I told Brooke to tell AK that IF she just needs something to occupy her mind, I will be glad to give her what she will miss, but honestly, as far as I am concerned, if she doesn't do one thing more, she will pass my class.  I always tell my students at the beginning of the semester that I have expectations.  They will be expected to do their work, but I also tell them that I am an understanding person, and I will work with them when life throws them curves.  The loss of a parent is more than just a curve.

AK is a strong young lady, and she has an amazing set of friends who will be there for her.  I know she will be okay...eventually...but her heart will always have that spot that misses her daddy.  I pray that God will comfort her.

Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you.  You never know when they'll be gone.