Merry & Bright

The holidays are not always the most wonderful time of the year.

There, I said it. 

Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas time. I love all the lights and decorations. I love the buzz in the air, everything about the streets and the shops and the people just as Silver Bells describes them. I love listening to Christmas music (I mostly prefer the "old" versions--Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Burl Ives, Irving Berlin) and watching Christmas movies (Elf, The Santa Clause, Frosty, and Rudolph). I love drinking hot chocolate and not feeling bad about it. I love going to candlelight service on Christmas Eve, singing Silent Night in English, German, and Serbian; Joy to the World on Christmas morning. I love how, by and large, people seem to be just a little kinder, a little gentler, to their fellow humans. And I especially love spending time with family (tomorrow is celebration number two of four, not counting the one that we won't make.)

But, let me say it again: the holidays are not always the most wonderful time of the year. Not for everyone. Not every year.

Several years ago, I was working as a nursing assistant at the former West Allis Memorial Hospital. I was home from college on winter break and was pretty crabby, for who knows what reason. I started my shift and found out that I was taking care of a 47 year old man who was dying of cancer. 47 years old. That changed my whole perspective. I might have been having a bad day, but at least I wasn't 47 years old and dying of cancer. The terrible irony, of course, is that just a few years later, it was my own father who was 47 years old and dying of cancer. This year marks our eighth holiday season without him. The first one was the hardest, yes, but it wouldn't be truthful to say that they get easier. Anyone who has lost someone can tell you that.

Growing up, we spent Christmas Day by my dad's family. Now, we go by my wife's family in Evanston, so we don't make it to the Wilke celebration. There are some years where we could probably go, show up late as we swing back into town, and still be welcomed as if the party was just beginning. But the truth is, it's too hard. Because there is a hole there where my dad isn't. Surrounded by all his brothers and sisters, and my grandmother, something just seems to be missing. My dad isn't standing in the kitchen, having another cup of coffee and talking to his siblings. He's not down in the basement watching whoever is playing Santa this year hand out presents. He isn't sitting in the living room and talking about the books that he's been reading or the movies he's watched. Instead, there are ghosts of Christmases past: me, running around with my cousins, and stopping to check in with him every so often. Me curling up on his lap to show him the presents I got. Us getting ready to leave, and him reminding me to "Go give everyone a hug and kiss." I am surrounded by family, surrounded by love, and yet, I am most affected by the piece of the puzzle I can't have. A piece I no doubt took for granted for many years.

And this year there is whole other level that doesn't feel so wonderful. Those of you who have been following my journey, know that, had everything gone exactly right, I would have a tiny little baby that I would be taking to family gatherings this year. But that was an ending that I wrote for my story--not the one God had in mind. And after another failed attempt at getting pregnant last month, my anxiety is at an all time high when I think about getting together with well-meaning friends and family who, inevitably--and because they love us and care about us--will ask how it's going. And in light of everything, when someone asks that question, I don't know what exactly they want to know about. Do they read my blog, and know our journey? Are they blissfully unaware, and just want to know if I'm having a good year at school?  Once again, I find myself surrounded by family and friends, surrounded by love, and yet, I am most affected by the piece of the puzzle I can't have.  

It's been a rough couple of weeks. Emotionally I feel like I have been dragged through the mud. Not just dragged, but left there. Physically, my hip hasn't stopped hurting in months, despite lots of PT,  and all I want to do is run. I'm frustrated. Mentally, my overthinking brain has had plenty of fodder for overthinking. Oh and also, 

Walking bleary-eyed down the halls, seeing my colleagues like:

The thing is, while I've just lain my personal life bare in order to illustrate my point, I'm not an isolated case. Many of us are trudging and crawling through another holiday season without a parent, a grandparent, an aunt, an uncle, a sibling, a friend, a spouse. For some, it is the first time. Collectively, we've lost a lot of damn good people this year. I've heard more sad stories about infertility and pregnancy and infant loss than I ever thought possible, many of them hitting way too close to home, to our circle. There are people out there who are really struggling financially.  People who are taking care of aging parents, sick spouses, or 47 year olds dying of cancer. And so it goes, every year, just like that. Many of us are spending time thinking of good topics of conversation to derail the Spanish Inquisition we are bound to face at family gatherings, a barrage of questions about partners, marriage, and children. Topics that seem perfectly normal and appropriate...if only life were going in a perfectly normal and appropriate direction. 

I'm not suggesting special treatment, or even censorship of celebrations, traditions, or conversation. But if we could reach a level of understanding about all of this (some of us are struggling), recognize that we are all human (we all struggle at some point), and just be kind to one another, perhaps we can make this time of year a little more wonderful, for those who aren't feeling it. 

We talk a lot about building relationships, in education. Any educator worth their salt knows that having strong relationships with kids is the most significant factor in learning. So too, having strong relationships with others is a pretty significant factor in handling what life throws at you--even if it's not so merry and bright. While it is not necessarily feeling like the most wonderful time of the year, when I can step back and look at all the good things I have, I know I have so much to be grateful for. 

I have friends who know me this well:

And I find this to be true:

And I have this beautiful gem of a human who would go to the ends of the Earth to see that I am happy:

I have a loving and supportive family. A solid group of friends I can rely on. I have a great class of kids, and a school full of coworkers who work together every day to make sure that we do the best job we can to take care of them, and of each other. I have a roof over my head and a warm

    place to sleep at night. And every morning I am blessed enough to get up out of that bed, and take care of myself and my loved ones to the fullest extent of my abilities. I've traveled. I've gone skydiving. I've had many opportunities to do interesting and exciting things. I live in a place where my vote and my voice matter.

So while it's not always the most wonderful time of year, there are some wonderful things in it. And while it's often hard to look at things from that place, I'm going to keep trying.

My Church

My favorite pastor, Carl H. Krueger Jr., once told us that church doesn't always mean sitting in the pew. We all worship in our own way.



Today, like many Sundays during a training cycle, running was my church. My sanctuary of choice was the Oak Leaf Trail. It was a perfect autumn day. I was blessed with cool weather, fall colors, beautiful views. I even got to see a skunk, a hawk, and a coyote. I ran an amazing 8 miles.

As Mayor Glowacki used to say,
God and Cudahy don't make junk!

I know it seems like a funny thing to say that running is my church. Seems like maybe a good excuse to get out of physically going to church. But we know that it's more than just a physical experience. I spend a lot of time on my long runs talking to God. Thanking Him for being alive. For putting air in my lungs. For giving me two good legs to run with. It can help me talk my way through the toughest parts of my run, when I want to just give up. I think about all the people who love and support me through these crazy runs, and thank God for them. I thank Him for showing me all the "natures" (like today's fall colors, and the animals that crossed my path). I thank Him for showing me that I am capable of way more than I can imagine. There used to be a time when I said there was no way in hell I'd run a marathon--or anything more than a 5K, for that matter! I thank Him for giving me the grit, stamina, and endurance to do all of those things.

So running is my church. It's spiritual. Mental. Emotional. Sometimes it happens on Sundays. Sometimes it happens on other days of the week. But I couldn't think of a better way to appreciate all the gifts God has given me.

And it turned out to be a nice tempo run on top of it!

National Coming Out Day, the Equality Act, and the Year 2019

Did you know...

The Equality Act is a bill that is currently before Congress. It would amend the law known as Title VII that currently prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of sex, to include sexual orientation and gender identity (which some people believe is covered under the current terminology, and some people do not.)

Did you also know that we’ve been trying to gain traction on the issue since 1974? 

This year I decided to be open about my sexual orientation with my students and their parents—not that I blast it everywhere, nor do I make a point to overtly state it. But I have given myself the permission to use the word “wife” instead of “spouse”, and replace the pronouns “they/their” with “she/her” when speaking about the person I am married to. 

Please think about that for a second. 

In my seven years of teaching, I have not had a single negative reaction when students find out that I am gay. My ten and eleven year olds have surrounded me with nothing but love. Most times, they ask me why I didn't just tell them in the first place. 

Let me say it loud for the people in back: Ten and eleven year olds don’t give a fuck. 

But in 2019, 52% of LGBTQ people live in states where they could be fired for their sexual orientation or gender identity (USAtoday.com).

A coworker has been encouraging me for years to just be open about my sexual orientation with my students. "It shouldn't matter,"  she has said. 

She's right. It shouldn't. 

While Wisconsin law prohibits workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity is not addressed.

From my understanding, the Equality Act has passed in the House, and its up to the Senate to pick it up.  It would still need presidential approval to become law (okay, we've all seen the Schoolhouse Rock video 🤣). The likelihood of that happening...well, it makes me want to seriously consider writing in Ellen DeGeneres in 2020.

There is certainly more I could say here. It felt important to acknowledge today, on National Coming Out Day. But the truth is that it matters every day. 

As Easy As Riding a Bike

Half marathon training has begun again. Tyrenena  Beer Run, here I come! Getting back into the swing of things has been like coming home, or getting reacquainted with an old friend.

Started my first day of training bright an early with this sweet gem.
I don't get up early for many people...but she made every second worth it! 

This training, I have promised to be SHOW UP in every way I can.
That includes lots of stretching!

Day two of training...I woke up with a fever. It was kind of awful.
Temperature. Sweats. Chills. A run would have to wait. 

This little love bug was right there to take care of me :)

Determined to get back on track with a Monday run. Shared
this work out with a friend from school. Accountability!
Usually a rest day, but things needed to be altered on
account of a little road trip...

...to Nashville! So excited that I actually made it to the gym.
And these PF employees were super supportive!

Decided to try out a new spot for my Saturday long run. Loved stretching next to the water!
Long run ended up not being so long, on account of my hip being super sore. But it was a good run, nonetheless.

Part of being really on top of things for this round of training is
making sure to cross train. Haven't ridden my bike in nearly 3 years!
Great way to get my muscles moving in new ways! Also pretty cool to
ride a trail I usually run. 

School starting means some changes to my schedule to make sure I
get my runs in. Hello, early morning run.

This sign felt like kind of a great sign on the morning of open house. After
a rough year, I've been having trouble getting into a good mindset about
the upcoming school year. This was a good reminder.

Moon to start out my run, sun to end it. Early morning runs aren't so terrible :)

Thursday night I went to Athletico to get my hip checked out. I'm signed on for
4-6 weeks of PT. I was told that I can keep running, but I need to decrease my distance.
Not what I wanted to hear. But my Friday morning run came with another sign: be awesome today.
And sometimes being awesome means being backwards. Seemed fitting!

Saturday's run took me to new places. Lakeshore Park. Super  beautiful
and I can't believe I've never been before. Definitely going back!

Found along the path.

Sunday's cross train brought another bike ride, and another great message.

Today is rest day, which means yoga in my living room. And tomorrow, we will see about those new beginnings 😼

Long Awaited News

^It's not untrue. Today was my last official day of summer work. And my first day back to my classroom to start getting it ready for a new class. 

Huck had to inspect the things
I was taking back to school. 

As much as it seems like the summer was way too short, I always get a little excited about going back once I start setting up my room. This year I am especially excited to meet a new class. Last year was really rough, and after much reflecting this summer, I've come to a realization. You see, I don't believe that last year was as bad as it could have been--not nearly as bad as I was anticipating. Not that that made it easy. I had some tough kiddos. And watching them interact with each other and with the world, I started asking some big questions. But here's what sticks with me, two months later. Here's what made it hard: I had kids who didn't want to be there, and there was nothing I could do about it. At conferences, I had parents tell me their kids didn't want to come to school, because the other kids were so mean. Because they never stopped teasing. And saying inappropriate things. And being disrespectful. I tried really hard to make my classroom a safe, comfortable, loving haven that my kids couldn't wait to come to every day. And I believe I did that for many of them. But for some, I just couldn't. 

That is a feeling I carried with me all year long, on top of everything else I had going on. So as I move forward, I'm really trying to think about how this year will be different--how I can make it different. 

And, on the bright side, things seem to be heading in the right direction...I whisper cautiously, with all my toes and fingers crossed.

Lots of good vibes from things that have happened lately. 

My Donors Choose project got funded in a matter of a few days--shout out to all my amazing donors! Due to district restrictions, I had to keep it under $500. This is only a third of the unfinished list I have in mind. Going to approach with caution and see if I can get approval for a second one from my principal. Unsure how that will go over, but excited that I have a place to start for giving my kids options for flexible seating.

Salary negotiations for 2018-2019 are finally done. This has had some positive effects for me, and makes me feel much better about the year ahead(starting with my upcoming road trip!)We've been able to keep money in savings this summer, which is a big plus, since my summer paychecks usually just get us through to my first August check. Working Rec and Shipt has also been super helpful. Being able to do things without feeling such a "squeeze" has been freeing. We are on the road to where we want to be--perhaps it's adulting?!

My first girls' road trip is really going to be happening! In just a few weeks, right before we go back to school, I am headed to Nashville with two of my besties. I could not be more excited! It's the first time I am doing a vacation with friends(how did I get to 31 years old before this happened?!)

My HCG is finally below two--undetectable! This was the best birthday present I could have asked for. Beyond excited to know that soon I will get to move to monthly blood work, and soon after that, maybe,, just maybe...

But until then...

Make plans, and God laughs. Find the joy in every day.

Numbers

So much of our lives revolve around numbers. Time. Money. Steps. 

Time is a social construct. Just as well, there’s never enough of it. 

Money can’t buy you happiness. Maybe if it grew on trees? 

Steps were being taken even before they were being counted—think about the women and children in developing countries that walk an average of 3.7 miles per day to get water. Step goal takes on a whole different meaning. 

I could go on. What I’ve been thinking about lately, though, is how certain numbers seem to control our lives. And ya’ll know which number has been controlling mine. 

So here’s what’s going on. My HCG level has been dropping painfully slowly. 6...5...4. Last week, at 5, I realized just how painful it is. The waiting is beginning to feel unbearable. I know where I need to be, and what happens next—more numbers. My HCG dropping a point a week extends my timeline nearly a month. 

But today I got some good news. At 4, I am basically within normal range. I will go again on Friday for a 🤞🏻last weekly blood draw. If the number continues to drop—or just doesn’t go up—we are going to discuss “spacing out the blood draws”. I don’t know entirely what that means, because it doesn’t line up with the timeline I’ve had in my head. But I suppose I’ll know more next week. 

Another number I’ve been following is my weight. I started my Weightwatchers journey in May. Generally I don’t care about the number on the scale. But I was at the point where I didn’t feel good in any of my clothes, and on top of everything else, it was really starting to bring me down. So I’ve been working on that journey, and am happy to say I’ve lost 15lbs. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m on my way.  

Time. Money. Steps. HCG. Weight. Trying very hard to focus on what I can control, and letting go of what I can’t. 

Sweet Summertime

Finally, it's summer!

The end of the school year is essentially a giant cluster. I feel as though I've lived a whole lifetime in the month since I've posted, the last three weeks of school stretching out as an eternity. It was a rough year and I took to affectionately referring to it as The School Year That Never Ends. It was a year that challenged me more than I anticipated, both personally and professionally. I found myself surrounded and supported and loved in more ways than I can count, and it has made all the difference 💕

So, some updates. Scroll and read what you'd like, skip what you don't.

Highlights from the end of the year at school 

Kids say the darnedest things. This year, I had a group who was very real, and very aware of the  way the world works around them. In general, I am pretty open with my kids. At some point it came up that I was on a diet (Weight Watchers...more on that later!) I don't remember how it came up--I think a sibling from another class brought me a birthday treat, and I slipped it to his sister, explaining that it was very thoughtful, but that I was watching what I eat. This was a great opportunity to have discussions about body image and self-esteem. 

So fast forward a few weeks, day before the last day of school. It was Field Day at school. For a coworker's birthday, I had gotten her a few different candies, which she was eating out of her sweatshirt pocket while she ran one of the events--seriously, she's my kind of people! So I convinced her to share a single Swedish Fish, which I promptly popped into my mouth. One of my kiddos said something like, "Cheating on your diet, Mrs. Wilke?" And, sensing her teasing tone, I pretended to be really flabbergasted, but then we had a good laugh. I think I responded with something like, "Hey, I've lost 10lbs!" Then the sweetest thing came out of her mouth: "You never needed to lose weight, Mrs. Wilke." 😍 I hugged her, hard. This kid had been made fun of during the year, about her appearance. It was clear that she was struggling between the frustration of being made fun of and trying to really, truly not care what they said and be confident in herself. So I loved that she was using her voice to lift me up, girl to girl. I loved that she recognized the importance of that. It made me feel like she's going to be okay 😊



My room theme this year was Harry Potter. So naturally, for the end of the year, I made each of my little wizards and witches their own personal wand. They were super excited about them, which made me happy. 

Now if you know me, you know that as much as I love making and giving gifts, I really hate opening gifts in front of people. In fact the only time I will do it without a fight is for my kiddos, because I know how excited they are to see me open what they got me. So after I gave the kiddos their wands, one of them was very insistent: "Mrs. Wilke, you HAVE to open my gift!"And I'm so glad I did. Because inside of his gift was...


A wand for me! It couldn't have worked out any better if we had planned it 😊



Now another kiddo created a gift for me that really made me laugh. I use an app called Class Dojo on my phone--for those of you not familiar, I use it to award kiddos with points for positive behaviors, as well as deduct points for negative behaviors. There is a sound for each kind of point, so often I will have my ringer turned on so that kids can hear points being awarded. Sometimes when I am teaching at the carpet, my phone will ding with a text message from its spot on the table behind me, which I handle by turning towards it, saying, "Shh, I'm teaching!" and then turning back to the kids to continue teaching.

So I really had to giggle when I opened the gift bag from this kiddo, to find this: 

I got the back story from his mom later that day, the discussion they had about what they should get me, what I like (he knew I didn't like coffee), the decision to go with a water bottle, and the requirements: "Mom, it HAS TO say 'Shh, I'm teaching!'" 




From another kiddo, one who challenged me 
and helped grow me the most, these flowers →
along with some other sweet things.








One of the sweetest things by far, was not a gift at all, but this message from a parent: 

This kiddo was probably the quietest kid in my class. I wasn't sure if I had made an impact, and if I had--what kind of impact would that be? It was a tough year, where I struggled a lot and felt as though I was barely holding it together most days. But this kid was able to say that I had a smile on my face every day. I guess I'm doing better than I thought!

As the kids left on the last day of school, I got lots of hugs, many from kiddos I did not expect. Lots from my boys. I got one "I love you, I'm going to miss you so much," and one, "I know I have to work on my mouth. I'm sorry for everything. I'll do better for my teachers next year." I was exhausted, nearly to the point of tears, but it was a good way to end the year.

Health Update

Okay, so this one is probably the one you've been waiting for. After my May 24th appointment, I started the chemo pill immediately. 5 days, low-dose. The only thing I felt was tired, but again, it was also the end of the school year, so that'll happen. 
Bloodwork results for the following weeks were:

May 31st:   27
June 7th:    16
June 14th:  15

The one point drop was concerning to me. It had never been that little of a decrease. Did this mean it was going back up again? More appointments and tests? The doctor was also concerned, but was comfortable waiting another week to see what happened. If I wanted, I could have elected to do another round of chemo. But since doc was okay with waiting, I decided to trust her.  This week's number came in at 10! Doctor was very excited about this, and is anticipating another two weeks or so. Keep your fingers crossed! The waiting is really starting to wear on me.

Another thing that was discovered during my May 24th appointment was a 6cm pericardial cyst, found on my chest CT. It was something the doctor wanted to follow up on. Apparently, the cyst had been seen in a previous scan, several years ago, and had grown slightly. So about a week ago I had an MRI, which has been my least favorite test so far. But the results came back fine--nothing to worry about. The results were sent to my primary physician, and I'm sure there will be some kind of follow up to watch it. But for now, we are okay. 



So! After 11 days of summer (2 of which were spent in training) it's back to work today. I'm excited to spend time with 25 very special kiddos 😃 Stay tuned for details about our Tuesday lemonade stands!

Soaking up lots of snuggle time
with my kittens

Adventuring to Minneapolis and
visiting the sculpture garden.

It only took 9 years, but I finally made it
out to Winona to visit this special lady :)

One in a Million

Yesterday was A DAY. Morning doctor's appointment and test turned into an unexpected afternoon of doctor's appointments and tests. At least now we have some answers, and a plan. 

So let me back up. If you've been following, you know that I've been going for weekly blood work to watch my HCG levels. The actual draws have been going a lot better. The results, not so much. for two weeks in a row, my beta levels have gone up: 33 to 38, 38 to 44. So it was time for some tests. 

What we knew going in was that a rise in HCG levels most likely meant that there were cells left over from the d&c. Those cells are trophoblasts, which, in a successful fertilization, provide the baby with nourishment and form the placenta. After a molar pregnancy, if these cells persist, it is known as Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD). This can occasionally progress into Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia (GTN).

Let me break it down for you. 

1 in 1,000 women will experience a molar pregnancy. 

1 in 7 of those pregnancies will develop into GTN that requires chemo. 

By comparison, only 1 in 700 pregnancies that end with a live birth will have a GTD.

I've always been a one in a million kind of gal. But now I'm 1 in 7. One in a million is preferable; right now I'd settle for being one of the other 6.

Neoplasia is the growth of abnormal cells. Neoplasms are only considered cancer if they are malignant. (Yes, I've been learning quite a bit.)So there's good news and bad news.My blood work confirms that there are abnormal cells growing, which we know by my HCG level. A rise of <10% is nothing to worry about, but my increase was 25%. The good news is that there were no masses found on my pelvic ultrasound, nor my pelvic/abdominal CT scan. So it fits half the definition of cancer. 

We talked to the gynecological oncologist (had no idea that was a thing until yesterday) about the possible treatments: another d&c to try and get the cells, and/or chemo to wipe them out completely. With a 99% cure rate, the hardest part of this conversation was hearing that we'd have to wait at least 12 months after treatment to try again. By our estimation, this meant nearly 2 more years until we would have a baby.

Around hour 8 of being at the hospital, we did get some good news: the beta level that was collected earlier in the morning (around hour 2) came back and showed that my HCG had dropped--back to 39. This (along with a thin and healthy uterine lining) took another d&c off the table. We were given two options:

1) Wait a few weeks, continue to watch my HCG. If it went back up, we come back and figure out a plan. If it continued to go down, keep waiting for it to go down to zero. Ugh. More waiting.

(Remember, we are looking for 3 weeks of 0's, followed by 3-6 months of 0's)

2) Proceed with the chemo--just wipe the cells out. Get to zero faster, get back on track.

Both options were favorable, as neither affects fertility, and it was completely up to us. The better news: whether it went down on its own or we chose to do chemo, once we are at zero, we proceed with the original 3 week, 3-6 month plan. 

We chose option 2. The short end to a long story is that the doctor prescribed an oral chemo med, to be taken for 5 days, at 15mg a day. I will go Friday for my next beta level.

Yesterday was A DAY. But some days are like that. And today has been a better one.

Controllable and Out of Control

One of my favorite street art finds from Tybee Island.

It's been an amazing week of vacation--mind, body, and soul are feeling refreshed and ready to take on the end of the school year. May will be busy as heck with field trips, testing, Girls on the Run, and other end of the year activities. June holds 5th grade graduation, a color run,  and packing up the room for the end of the year. It's been a long one, and I'm really looking forward to summer. It will be nice to be a different kind of busy with my summer job, and being able to work my second job more regularly.

I am also looking forward to starting a new journey as soon as next week: Weight Watchers. I think this will be the most difficult thing to blog about, as I am feeling incredibly self conscious about it. A brief history will show that I've struggled with myself self esteem throughout my life, with some high highs and low lows. 

I will forever be the person who looks back at old pictures and wishes to be the kind of fat she thought she was in college, high school, etc. 

I had hit a pretty good stride for a while in the last couple of years. I dropped 20lbs before we got married by counting calories, and another 10 came off when I went on a headache medication that also conveniently suppressed my appetite. Since then, nearly three years ago, I have put back on 40lbs. My clothes don't fit right, mirrors are the enemy, and I'm in one of those low lows. And I can't figure it out. I feel like I eat pretty well. Did it happen during marathon training when I was eating all the time to keep up with the demands on my body? I definitely didn't lose any weight like I thought I would. 

Regardless, I need help. I need something different. My self control isn't fantastic, so I'm hoping with some accountability and the sense of accomplishment as I start to see results, I'll be able to do it. I have to do it. I can't keep feeling like this. 

So those are the things I can control. And in other news...HCG continues to drop. As of last Thursday we went from 563 mUnits/ml to 73. But I think I'll have them rerun it...my nurse was probably playing cards.



Sense the sarcasm, watch the video: Senator Walsh's Comment About Nurses Playing Cards 

I don't think you have to have worked in healthcare to know what complete crap that statement is, but I have, and so, intimately, I do. There was a digital petition that went around to have Sen. Walsh shadow a nurse for a 12 hour shift, and per this video, it looks like she has agreed. Also in the video, it says that Sen. Walsh has apologized for her previous statement. Her mother was a nurse, she has the utmost respect for nurses. It seems to me that that actually makes it worse! Perhaps your mother didn't hug you enough as a child because she was too busy playing cards (see what I did there) but you can't make a statement like that and say you respect them. The two are mutually exclusive!

But I digress. keeping my fingers crossed that tomorrow's lab results show a nice fat zero, and we can start the clock on the 3-6 month countdown.

Vacation pictures are still coming on Facebook, but here are a few from the week.