Back to School- Ready or Not

Today was the first official day of school. I have been back to work since last Tuesday but it was nice to have students there today. Mostly I was getting tired of long meetings! I think I'm going to have some fun classes. It's amazing how quickly you can tell which students are going to challenge you a little bit and which ones are going to be really fun. The classes were really short today so I guess we'll see how great my students really are when I have them for the full 90 minutes. The day ended with a fantastic Hello Assembly. After the typical performances by the Cheerleaders, Dance Company, and SBO's we had a great multi-media presentation that I found so inspiring, I seriously had tears in my eyes at least 3 different times. I hope the high school students really listened to the great messages that were being shared.

I stayed late at school last night trying to make sure that I had all the little things ready and when I finally left I felt pretty good about beginning a new year. I decided to snap a few photos of my classroom since I thought it looked nice, clean, and organized. We'll see if it looks the same way after the assignments start piling up in the in-baskets. Oh how I hate Grading!

Typically after the first day of school I am exhausted but tonight was different, I felt pretty energized actually. I was on a roll today I actually packed a lunch, something that I don't think has ever happened, I was home fairly early and made dinner (also a pretty rare occurrence) and to top the day off I even went to the gym tonight which is something I haven't done for way to long. Let's hope I'm off to a great start!

My classes started at Utah State yesterday as well. I am taking two Psychology classes online and it looks like they are going to be pretty interesting. It's weird to go back to school as a teacher and a student this year, I hope I can keep up with it all. Thank goodness I am not the official cheer coach anymore:)

Goodbye/Good Riddance to my Gallbladder

About 4 or 5 years ago I became really sick during the summer. After having several tests done I found out that I had Ulcers and Gallstones. By the time the test results came back I was feeling much better. I wasn't sure which problem had made me so sick but at least I found out something. I was given medication for the Ulcers which must have healed but the gallstones were still a mystery to me.

Apparently those gallstones were just hanging out in my gallbladder and from time to time decided to remind me that they were there. Every few months or so for the last several years I would have a gallbladder attack. Out of the blue, usually in the wee hours of the night/morning I would wake up with the worst pain. It felt like maybe I was having a heart attack. It was a shooting pain in the upper right region of my abdomen and it hurt straight through to my back. The pain was absolutely miserable during the attack and would generally subside after about 2 hours or so. The worst part was that they almost always occurred during the middle of the night when I would much rather be sleeping and of course came at some of the most inopportune times like Christmas Day or when I had something big to do the next day. (it's not like there is a good time to be in pain though right?) Usually I would try to just endure the pain because I was pretty certain it was a gallbladder attack. A couple times I ended up going to the E.R. and sure enough as soon as I would get to the hospital the pain would start to diminish and I felt stupid for going in. The doctors usually would say the same thing that some day I would most likely have to have my gallbladder removed. Last December after an attack I went into the doctor that afternoon and the doctor finally recommended that I meet with a surgeon to talk about possibly getting it done. But I never followed through. It was mid school year and I didn't have the time to have it done so I never made the appointment. I should have known it was only a matter of time before it would happen again. Sure enough in mid July I had another gallbladder attack and endured it early one morning but when it occured again just a couple days later I had my mom take me to the hospital at about 4 in the morning. Luckily I was at my parents home at the time so my mom could give me the sympathy I needed. Of course the doctor told me the same thing so I decided I better just get the blasted thing out so I could quit having these attacks.

So last Monday on August 10th I had the surgery. I had it done in Logan so that I could be at my parents house for the recovery and they could take care of me (there's nothing like a mom when you need some TLC). I went into the hospital at 10 am and left around 6:30 in the evening. I felt bad having my mom take a day off of work, especially since she had taken some days off the week before to help Jessica move. I told her she didn't need to and I could just have my dad pick me up when the surgery was over. Good thing she didn't listen to me and took the day off anyway because as I was coming out of the anesthetic it was pretty rough and it was so nice to have her there to hold my hand and give me the support and help I needed. I love my dad but he just wouldn't have treated me the same, I don't think he would have held up the bag for me while I was throwing up or helped me to the bathroom (that would be awkward). I took my Grandma Reese to the hospital with me that morning because she had an eye appointment and my mom was going to take her home after the appointment but she insisted on staying with me as well. She was a trooper and stayed the whole time with absolutely nothing to due but wait. It was nice having her there as well and she took good care of me that night and the next couple days at home. The surgeon told my mom when he was done that my gallbladder was really infected and there were several stones, one that was quite large that he had to work extra hard to break down so he could remove it. Luckily he didn't have to move to an open surgery. It made me feel good to know that the surgery was really necessary in the end. It was done laparoscopic and I have 4 different incisions but they're all quite small. Unfortunately I don't think there will be any wicked scars that I can show my children someday:) It took a good two days of rest but by the third day I was feeling much better. Good thing because I really only gave myself one week to recover before I have to head back to school. I'm still sore but I'm hoping that will go away soon. All in all it hasn't been too bad. Good Riddance Gallbladder!!!

So Long Statistics

I've finally decided that it is time to head back to school and work on a Masters Degree. It took me awhile to decide what kind of degree I wanted but I think I've decided to go for a Degree in School Counseling. I figure this way it will expand my horizons a little bit and if I get tired of the classroom, which hopefully won't be for awhile yet, then I will have another avenue. I was really hoping to start the program this fall but unfortunately a few pre-requisites have gotten in the way. So in May I started a Statistics 2000 Class. I was totally dreading this class and it could be one of the reasons I have put off starting a masters program for so long. I decided to take an online class through Utah State so that I could work it around my schedule a little easier. I have not had a math class since my senior year in high school when I took Math 1050 concurrent enrollment. I never was too bad at math but I knew that math would be a lot different in College than it was in High school. After the first assignment in the class I wondered what I had gotten myself into and was seriously contemplating dropping the class. Especially since it took me about 9 hours or more to do one assignment. I even had to work on an assignment while in Palm Springs with friends over Memorial weekend. This class really interfered with my social life but somehow I became committed. I kept plugging away and I actually was doing really well on the assignments which was boosting my confidence and helped me to endure. I don't think that I have ever read a textbook more thoroughly. I rarely read any textbooks while I was working on my bachelors and I somehow got through ok but it wouldn't slide in this class. The textbook for this statistics class was really my only source of information since there was no classroom lecture. Luckily there was a discussion board online so we could post questions and answer questions with other students. Needless to say I took my final on July 31st and I was so excited to have that Stats class over with and the best part was that I got an A- in the class. I needed at least a B so I was especially thrilled to do better than I expected. Yeah Me!

This fall I am taking 2 psychology classes and I am hoping that they will be a little bit easier. If any of you would like to contribute to my education fund donations are gladly being accepted! Unfortunately I think the Richard L. Nielsen Scholarship fund has run out:( I can't imagine why?

Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen

One of my favorite guy friends from high school got married on Thursday July 30th. It was so great to be a part of Grant and Nicolee's big day. They were married in the Mt. Timpanogos temple. Nicolee looked so beautiful and her dress was gorgeous. Grant looked very handsome as well. They had a wedding dinner at Cafe Sabor in Logan that night and then a reception on Friday night. It was nice to catch up with a lot of old friends at the dinner and reception. So many great memories with Grant and the gang.

It was also fun to see Dave at the temple ceremony, another one of my favorite guy friends from high school and his fiancee Lindsay. The number of my single friends from high school is really dwindling now, but I'm holding strong or should I be worried:)

MLS All Stars

On Wednesday July 29th I went to the MLS (major league soccer) All Stars game with Ramsey, Ashley, Griffin, and McKelle (Ashley's sister) at Rio Tinto Stadium. Ramsey and Ashley wanted to take Griffin to a game before he moves to Colorado so I decided to tag along.

The boys

The Girls

Of course we had to pose for a couple more shots after the game. Too bad the All Stars lost to Everton which is a European team. It ended in a shootout which is always exciting.

I'm sure going to miss Griff. He is my little buddy and we have a lot of fun hanging out together. Who else is going to bug me like he does?

Pioneer Day

For the 24th of July (Pioneer Day to us Utah Folks) I did a little swimming at the pool in my complex with Kara and her kids then went to the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo. It is one of my favorite rodeos. My family doesn't have any big Pioneer Day traditions but the last few years we have gone to the Ogden Rodeo. The best part about going to this Rodeo on the 24th is that they crown Miss Rodeo Utah. When I was young I loved watching the Rodeo Queens and secretly I have always wanted to be one. I would love to own a horse, there is definitely some cowgirl inside of me. I'm not sure if I could pull off the pants very well though. I think it would also be great to love a cowboy.

Here's Miss Ella in her rodeo queen hat, I definitely think she can win an award for being Miss Photogenic.

Taegan really wanted to give Griffin's cowboy hat a try.

At the end of the rodeo they had the Ogio Airforce showing off some awesome tricks on motorcycles. They are so thrilling to watch and Griffin's face was priceless. Definitely a highlight of the rodeo and of course the night ended with some fireworks.

Summer night with Kenny

Kenny Chesney is one of my favorite country singers. My brother Ramsey introduced me to his music many years ago and I have been a huge fan since. I have seen him in concert many, many times and he always puts on such a great show. My summer just wouldn't be the same without a Kenny Chesney concert. I was scheduled to have gallbladder surgery on July 23rd but when I realized it was the same day as the Kenny Chesney concert I decided to postpone the surgery a few weeks. The concert started at 5:30 with Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert also performing and we didn't leave the stadium until about 11:30. I was pretty bummed that Sugarland had to cancel because one of the singers lost her voice. I am pretty sure it was one of the hottest days in Utah. We were shaded from the sun and were still dripping wet. But as Kenny says in one of his songs "When the sun goes down everything gets hotter". During his encore he sang all cover songs which were all awesome but I was a little disappointed because he missed a few of his own hits.

Karlyn and I enjoying the show. The girls I was planning on going to the concert with backed out the day of so I was scrambling to find someone else to go with. (Seriously I had rescheduled my surgery, I had to go) I was so happy when Karlyn said she wanted to go. She has been living in NYC the last few months so it was so great to catch up with her and she is always so much fun. The best part was that we bought our tickets the day of and ended up getting seats that were normally $100 for $30. It was also really fun to run into my cousins at the concert and was impressed to see the whole Reese clan there. (Next time they better call me when they are coming to Utah for a concert, yes Raegan and Becky I'm talking to you!)

A fan in the crowd gave Kenny this U of U hat and he was nice enough to wear it during his encore. I lost a little bit of love for him during this moment but he was doing it for the fan. I took the picture for Karlyn since she is a Ute. (Boo) :)