Hi everyone,

I want to share the blessings in my life and how I have come to realize that they are even there. I am giving thanks for so much right now!!

I have had a hectic, crazy few weeks, but I finally got all of my writing edited--and then I had to rewrite and delete things to fit the page requirements of the National Boards. I got those videos completed--and I got my daughter to help me and pack my box. That took about 2.5 hours to arrange everything and ti put all of the stickers and barcodes in the appropriate places. We got everything in the proper envelopes with the proper labels and stickers and we taped that box securely. I put it in the mail and we saw the postmark to make sure it meets the requirements. I insured it for the $1350.00 is cost to do the recertification and let the US Postal service have it. I will hear if they got it by a receipt from them--and I believe that NBPTS will also send me a notice. Then, the waiting game begins because they don't get the results to people until sometime in late November. At this point, I know that I did my best and from what I realized, I am a very good teacher doing good work every minute of every day. I want to get my recertification, but if I don't because something in my writing or videos wasn't clear and convincing to them--well, I am clearly convinced.

I survived the injections in my back on Thursday. I either had 8 or 9--they hurt quite a bit more this week than last week--and one in particular got a "yelp" out of me. My doctor said that she had hit a hot spot and she needed to put more medicine in there to help it. (Hmm, I yelped and needed another shot--doesn't seem fair, lol.) Anyway, I am in the midst of a steroid attack and seem to need a lot of food, as I generally do when steroids are inside of me. I have had either 14 or 15 injections in a week and am getting a big dose on Tuesday for the bursitis in my hip. It's a hard week for me to get focused on healthy eating, but it is my plan and I can do this.

As for my back, I am telling the world that it is a bit better than it has been in years. I don't know which of the 6 new things going on is helping me, but I am not dealing with all of the fatigue from dragging my body from place to place. I don't think even I understand the fog of all of the pain my body gives me anymore. However, a layer or more of that pain is lifting and I am amazed. I feel more energy and well, simply different than I have in so long. I don't know what is doing it and I am back on a large quantity of meds, but this time they aren't shadowing my brain, they are working with me. I am giving thanks for my new doctor. She is a physiatrist and she is really working for me. Hooray!!

Finally, I have avoided my weekly appointment with the scale for almost a month--I missed 3 weigh ins. That happened because I was running on adrenaline and focused on my writing. It turns out that I lost 2.1 pounds in this past 3 weeks. I can't believe it and don't know how that happened, but hooray. I think it means that I have enough good habits built that they take over when I am not paying attention any more. That is another blessing!! I have a lot to do better--no more bites of things that I don't need and the fast food meals of the past couple of weeks have to go. However, I went grocery shopping for the first time in the past 4 weeks yesterday and spent over $400 on good healthy food--When I got home, my kids complained that there wasn't "anything to eat" WooHoo, that means I did what I set out to do and buy healthy foods!!

I am celebrating several personal accomplishments--I completed my National Boards Renewal, I exercised every day and all at the pool except Easter, I started physical therapy for my back, I am feeling a bit better and I am making slow steady progress in all of the right ways. This weight loss is just a little proof that I have built some good habits.

I am giving thanks for all of my Spark Friends who send me little notes and goodies and have stuck with me, even when I have been wildly busy and not returned the favors consistently. I also thank Spark People for being here just when I was ready for making healthy changes for my life.


Gentle hugs,
Sylvia