Big News!!

I passed!!!!!
I am now a National Board Certified Teacher!!!!!
I am SO excited :)
It's time to celebrate!!!

It's almost time...

So, I got this email today from the National Board people:

November 20, 2008
We are pleased to inform you that you will be able to access and view your score results on Friday, November 21, 2008.

Oh. My. Gosh. I'll know tomorrow. I'm nervously excited!!!

Waiting Game

Taken from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standard's website:

Score Release

Score results for 2007-2008 candidates will be released on or before December 31, 2008. Continue to watch the NBPTS website for updates and information.

COME ON! I'm ready to know if I passed or not!

House Update and Pregnancy Update

We met with our realtor today and decided we're going to go to the Greivance Committee and Ethics Committee to try and get back some of our $750. These come before mediation and don't cost. Hopefully things can be settled through the committees so we don't have to do mediation. We're going to sign the release on the house when we get that paperwork back from our realtor to sign.
Last night Andy and I spent a lot of time on the realty website. I look at it a lot so I had written down 8 different houses to show him. We looked at all of them and crossed 2 off the list. So good news, there are 5 homes we're at least interested in seeing! We're hopefully going to go look at them with our realtor sometime this week. If we see one we're fairly interested in then we'll work at getting our house up on the market. We are going ahead and scheduling our soffit/fascia and gutter replacement which we had intended to do prior to the whole house trading possibility so that the outside looks good. The roof is new as of last summer. I'll keep you posted on our new home search!

My OB office called today to tell me the results of my blood work after the glucose test. My sugar was high so now I go back and do a 3 hour glucose test to see if I have gestational diabetes or not. I had to do this with Luke and it came back negative so I'm not worried yet. Just really dreading the blood being drawn from the same arm 4 times. That hurt so badly. I remember asking them if they would please use the other arm on the 3rd blood drawing and they told me they couldn't. I hate that part. I have to fast from midnight until I get there at 8:30. Then I have my blood drawn. Drink a glucose drink, and 1 hour after I finish I have my blood drawn again. Blood drawn again after 2 hours and 3 hours after drinking the nasty drink. So I sit and sit and sit there! No food for almost 12 hours. Not gonna be very fun.

Andy and I are going to the Melting Pot tonight to celebrate my completion of my National Board portfolio and test! I'm super excited. My mom is watching the boys and we have reservations for dinner. I have wanted to eat at TMP for YEARS and we are finally going tonight! I'll post about our evening later!

Done!

The NB certification process is done!! At least until November when I find out if I passed or not! I feel very good about the test I took yesterday. I think I did well. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!

We had a great rest of the day. I came home and ran down the street to a birthday party of one of my students for about 1/2 an hour. My mom came and took the boys to see the racetrack, horses, and all kinds of stuff. They ended up having so much fun they were gone for a long time!
During that time Andy and I had a lunch date and went to eat Chinese food. That spur of the moment, just the two of us stuff doesn't happen much anymore so that was really nice! Then we came home and relaxed and I started getting ready for my Mary Kay Debut. Which is this afternoon. Andy went to Lowe's and bought a shelf for my inventory and I unpacked the boxes and cleared them out of the foyer! Much better. Hopefully there will be at least 10 people at Cara's today for the debut.

Yesterday early evening Wilson had a t-ball game. He did great! Ran after several balls in the outfield and was up to bat twice. He hit the ball and made it to first base both times! He even scored his first run. At the end he walked across the field with his team to give high five's to the other team. That was the first time he participated in that. He is really enjoying t-ball now!

Last night Andy and Wilson mowed the front yard while Luke and I picked up sticks. It was a great day!

Test Day

So, I'm up getting ready to go take my National Board test. Wish me luck and PRAY! I'm feeling pretty good. I know I can do this. I have to be there at 8:30 and should be done by 12:30 or 1 according to the info I've read. In just a few hours, this whole NB thing will be DONE! Then we'll just waiting until Novemberish to see if I passed this year or not! (It takes many people 2 years to receive certification). Off to get ready!

THE box.

Okay, it is official. I am done with my National Board portfolio. I revised my final entry tonight. I just need to copy it tomorrow before mailing it to NBPTS. It is all checked...and double checked...and triple checked. As I put the last envelope in and closed the box I got panicky again. Why?? I'm done? I don't know !!I couldn't breathe*. I kept thinking "I need to check this again. But I know it is all in there. I need to check it again. But I know I am done. But I need to check it, this is the last time I can." Andy worked me down, out of my state. I'll just blame this on the pregnancy. Yep, that sounds good. Crazy talk. Crazy National Board. Crazy DONE!!!!!!!! Wooooo-hooooooo!!!!!! I think it is starting to sink in. Just the test to complete on May 3rd.

*It has been a VERY busy day. I am super worn out and tired.

Organized Jenn's school baby shower which was after school today - a huge success thanks to all the wonderful people that helped! Andy's parents are in town and I stayed up late visiting last night because we don't get to see them enough! Big Organism Extravaganza at school tomorrow. Oh, and KTIP mentoring is done as well!!! One more day until spring break :) :) :)

Update

We told the boys about the baby last night and both are very excited! Wilson had LOTS of questions and went back and forth between hoping for a sister or another brother. He said the baby can sleep in his room. He really wanted to know how the baby would come out! He asked Daddy if it would hatch from an egg! This morning he asked me if my belly had grown more overnight. Thankfully, I could say no! I showed them pictures of what the baby looks like now and how small it is etc. Then we looked at ultra sound pictures from each of them. They were very interested and this morning Luke wanted to look at more baby stuff.

Today is my SIL's birthday, Happy Birthday Stephanie! We went to a surprise party for her last night which was lots of fun.

Yesterday, Andy and the boys went sledding with Uncle Mac, Aunt Stephanie, and their cousins. We'll get some pics posted soon. They had a great time! I stayed home and worked diligently on my National Board entry (#3) which is completely drafted! I emailed it to my mentor and to Jenn so they can help me revise. One more to go!

Why??

(Andy you may want to skip this one! A little hostility. I only say this because you didn't like the picture post.)

Written post panic attack after today's meeting.

Questions:

Why does the National Board process have to be so HUGE??
Why does it cause undue stress?
Why are some people ALREADY done with their portfolios??
Why has it caused me to have 2 panic attacks?

Answers:

1. So you can work your butt off, yet again, to prove that you are good at what you do. It's the teaching profession, people.
2. The people at National Board want to make the process so overwhelming and specific just so you can be stressed. "NO, you idiot, don't paper clip pages 1, 2 and 3 in order. Paper clip pages 3, 45, 32, 1 in order. Duh!"
3. Because they have been totally committed since last January to get done way ahead of time. Or because they don't have two small children, a husband, an intern, a student teacher, a team in training, an EDC student, a small group, any friends, or maybe, just maybe, no life.
4. Because I get easily overwhelmed. Because there seemed to be a lot of people at the meeting DONE with the portfolio. Because one of the men in charge said "Everyone is done videotaping by now, right?" UHH NOOOOOOOOOOOO.

DISCLAIMER: Yes, I know this was voluntary. I'll be glad in the end, when it is done and I can take a deep breath. The National Board people on the hotline are really nice and helpful. I have a great mentor and a wonderful NB certified team teacher helping me (Thanks, Jenn!). I'm the one who didn't start writing entries until October. I work better under some pressure. But not this much pressure. Everyone I have met seeking NB Certification is nice and they have a life. Last one: I have issues. Honestly. I was fine during the meeting. I walked out of there and my eyes filled up with tears. I tried to call Jenn, since she's been through this whole thing before. Then I ended up talking to my mom who answered the phone to me hyperventilating (practically). As soon as she answered I said "mom, it's me. I'm ok, I'm just really upset." So she talked to me and calmed me down so when I got home and walked into my house I was smiling and happy for my sweet boys. Thanks, mom!

Maybe Spring IS around the corner!

It is such a beautiful day! The sun is shining and it isn't too cold! We took the boys to get a haircut today. Luke is napping and Wilson is watching Lightning McQueen. I'm about to work on my NB entry. I did get a 2nd entry completely revised and in the envelope ready to mail by Tuesday of this week. I've started my 3rd entry and am about 4 pages into it. I'm hoping to write 4 more this weekend. This entry is a bit harder for me than the other two.
My student teacher's solo week will finish on Monday (due to the snow day) so I have one more flexible day at school. I didn't get as much NB stuff done this week as I thought I could. There was a lot of other stuff to do. I'm mentoring several people this year and it just takes time. So I had quite a bit of catching up to do there. It all keeps me busy but is also helping me to earn some extra money for the family. We have a couple big projects we need to do on the house plus we need to replace our heating unit by next winter.
Come March 31st my grade level will have some celebrating to do because KTIP will be over for Gayla and Abby and I will have mailed in my NB portfolio. Last night I went out to dinner with several friends from school to celebrate Maria's birthday, yes, her b-day is on February 29th! We had a great time. I came home and got Andy and we joined the group for bowling after we got the boys tucked into bed. It worked out nicely! I actually beat Andy on our first game. But he won the other two!
Tonight Andy is teaching a seminar along with our Children's Pastor at church about Parenting for Faith. I've read his outline and it all looks great. I'm so proud of him. I don't think I'm going to go because I want to stay home and hang out with the boys since I was gone last night. Good luck, baby!

**Keep your fingers crossed for NO MORE SNOW DAYS!!!**

Snow Day #5/Weekend Update

Well we got out of school early on Thursday due to ice and had a snow day on Friday. Not sure why, it seemed all the ice had already melted to me. Anyway, I enjoyed my day at home with the boys because I was leaving Friday night for a small group retreat. So, on Friday we just hung out around the house and went to eat lunch at CFA. After eating we let the boys play. Wilson was being very brave, climbing all the way up the playland and sliding down, so Luke wanted to go up too. He couldn't climb the tower to get up so Wilson would put his hands on Luke's bottom and push him up. Sometimes one-handed! It was so sweet to see Wilson taking care of Luke. They probably climbed up together 5 times or so. It was cute.
Friday night I left with my small group for a 1 night retreat. It was hard to leave, Wilson was screaming, but easier since I had been home all day. The retreat was wonderful. We sang praise songs, had quiet time, roasted marshmallows in the fireplace, talked, and played games. It was great! A much needed re-centering. Then I was home Saturday by mid afternoon to hang with the fam.
About to start another week, hopefully a 5-day week. It will be easy for me, it is my student teacher's solo week. I will be stationed in the hallway, writing my next National Board entry. I have a little revising on the 2nd one to finish up as well. I want to have the 3rd one written, revised, and packed for shipping by the end of next weekend. Then I'll only have one more entry. I have 37 days until it must be postmarked...PRAY!

Clueless

So did you know we had a lot of storms last night? I sure didn't! I know it rained all day yesterday and there were tornado warnings (or watches, I can never keep those straight). But I put the boys to bed, worked on my national board video with Andy, watched Friends, and went to bed. Didn't become conscious again until by alarm went off at 6:30. I'm taking a National Board Day so I got to sleep in a little bit. (Hard to call that sleeping in, I know). And yes, I'm at the library working on a portfolio entry, just needed a short break. Andy might give me grief for posting during my NB work day! But it's going to be quick and short. So anyway, I just had to tell you that I slept hard and my dear sweet protector husband was staying awake, watching the weather, to make sure that everything was ok. He was ready to get me and the boys up if a tornado came through or anything. That just made me feel so good. Here, I was clueless to the world, in a dead sleep and he was up to make sure we were all okay. I love him! Thanks, baby. So anyway, I got up and started working on NB. Jenn called to tell me that our school had no electricity. So the kids that were coming in were in the cafeteria, some kids were going straight back home, and some who rode the bus ended up at the nearby high school! Crazy! Here I didn't even know it had stormed yet because I hadn't talked to Andy. I'm glad he let me be clueless last night because I was SO tired!

Still no internet...

Well, I guess I'm learning what life is like without the internet! I'm secretly logged into my neighbor's wireless right now. Andy and I became desperate. I guess I need to call Windstream AGAIN. For the 3rd time. Little frustrated with all that.
Tomorrow is my third National Board Day. I'm really hoping to finish entry #2. Then I'd only have two more. I put the one I've been working on in the official envelope for it today and sealed it closed so I won't revise or change it anymore.
Wish me luck and pray that I don't get overwhelmed and that the writing comes easily for me tomorrow. Thanks!

My Motivation!

We went to get the boys haircut on Saturday morning. On our way we drove past a newish set of store fronts and inside the window of one section was signs for ...The Melting Pot! It is a restaurant I've always wanted to try! Everything served is about fondue. It sounds different and fun! The signs says it's supposed to open in Spring 2008. So, I told Andy that is where we can go when National Board is done- the portfolio and the testing exercises. Looking forward to it!

I went to a back doctor today for an evaluation. They came to our school last week and did scans on our backs along with a free chair massage. Out of the 12 areas checked, I had 1 ok (green area). The rest were purple and red. So I had many areas that were almost spasm areas because they were red. Green is good, then yellow, then purple and finally red. So needless to say I'm stressed and tense! At the evaluation today I had to fill out lots of paperwork and they checked along my spine for tender areas. Then lots of x-rays. Apparently my back is full of knots. (I guess that is why I'm always asking for back massages, Andy!). The doctor said I needed some relief TODAY so they did this electric stimulus thing by attaching two patch things on my upper back. Then they turned it on and it felt tingly. After a few minutes some of my muscle felt like they were rolling the knots out. I don't know if that is a spasm or what. They also had a moist heat pack on my upper back/shoulder area. It did give me some relief but it is back to hurting. I'll return this week to hear their recommendation for me and see the results of the x-rays. It would be great if my neck and shoulders didn't hurt and always feel so tense!

National Board Day

I'm at Panera, working on my National Board portfolio.
I'm feeling panicky.
I have a lot to do.
I'm overwhelmed.
I still have a list of things to do for the entry I started in November.
I have 3 other entries to write.
It is due March 31.
I don't know how I will get it all done.
I could go on and on but I have to get back to work.
Breathe in, breathe out, repeat.

A Day to Breathe

Wow. I didn't realize what a day was like without stress! I am working towards my National Board Certification this year. I have to complete 4 rather large portfolio entries that reflect and analyze my teaching and accomplishments, take two video tapes of myself teaching, and a written test. They estimate it to be a 200-400 HOUR commitment. Anyway my school district gives 5 paid days to work on your portfolio. Which is really nice! So today I took a NB day. I woke up at my usual time and got ready. Then I went to Panera with my laptop and began writing. I started around 7:30 am. I got home this afternoon around 3:15. I had written a little more than 10 pages today, almost the whole draft of Entry 4 - Documented Accomplishments. It was so NOT stressfull of a day for me! I didn't have to repeat myself 10 times for anything! I didn't even talk to anyone until after lunch when I was getting rather lonely so I decided to call Andy and check in on the boys. It was a really quiet day. Around 10ish this morning I moved over to the public library to keep writing. It was quieter there and I focused a little easier. By 3 though my brain was shot. So for Entry 4 I only have a 2pg reflection left to draft. I'm going to have Andy proof it tonight (he was thrilled when I asked!) and then have Jenn proof it (she just found out last week that she is National Board Certified!) and then my NB Mentor proof it. During all the proofing I'll be gathering my evidence- I can have 16 pages of evidence to prove my documented accomplishments. The whole process is very detailed and specific all the way down to which pages you can paper clip together. I really hope I can keep on top of this process- next I'll be working on the reading entry. I'm sure you'll be hearing about this off and on from now till March 31st- that is the day my portfolio is due. If (I mean when) I pass, I'll be Rank I certified!!