Unexpected Changes

It has been way too long since I have last posted, so I'll be updating you about the past two months.

I finished up teaching at Atchison Middle School.

I was happy to pack up my classroom and move on to another school.  As my last day approached, I began to think about all the things I would miss.  Looking back, teaching there was a great experience; I learned many things and am a better teacher than I was when I began there.  The last day was a rough one, filled with tears and hugs from the staff.  I'll greatly miss the wonderful people who were more than just co-workers.

I moved out of my parents' house and to Randolph.

I couldn't believe how much stuff I had until I packed it all up to move.  Moving day went well.  Luckily I had lots of help including Riley, his parents, and my parents.  Once moved, Riley and I spent several weeks getting things put away and making our house a home.  It is still a work in progress and I have lots of projects in the works.

I started my new summer job.

My summer job started out at the end of May.  I am working as a preschool teacher which is a huge change after spending the last two years teaching middle school students.  I'll admit, the first week or two were rough.  The kiddos were a bit crazy, but now things are going smoothly and I'm really enjoying the job.  The little hugs, smiles, and I love yous from the kiddos make it all worth it.

I traveled to Ohio to visit the Cleveland Clinic.

After dealing with costochondritis for 3 years, a doctor suggest that I have an echo to make sure that it wasn't anything serious.  When the echo results came back, they were not normal so I was referred to a cardiologist.  I went to St. Francis in Topeka to have a transesophageal echo followed by a cardiac MRI.  These tests showed that I have anomalous pulmonary venous return which is rare.  Because of the rareness, I was sent to the Cleveland Clinic this week.  I had a couple echos, a cardiac catheterization, and met with a cardiologist.  While there, I found out that they would be able to schedule open heart surgery at the beginning of August.

This medical issue was totally unexpected and everything happened all at once.  However, I am relieved that I know what is going on and that it can be fixed.  The timing is pretty terrible as I just moved, am starting a new job, and am planning a wedding.  Oh well, there probably is no real good time to have surgery.  I'm hoping for the best and trying not to stress about it