So exhausted

I have come to terms that I am getting older.  I am by no means one of the most "seasoned" women out there, but at times I tend to relate most to those that are my senior.  I say this because of just another example of my day today at work (should blog every day because no one would ever believe me).  Today I get up and get ready to go to work like normal, grab Dietrich, strap him in and head on out the door.  Everything is going great.  I even see gas prices are falling a bit because in this day $3.28 is considered cheap.  Side note--I remember filling up gas tanks for 97 cents a gallon when I was 16 back in 2000.  Wow that was 11 years ago! My routine is to drop Dietrich off and pray the 30 minutes it takes for me to get to work.  I am able to have an out-loud uninterrupted conversation with God during this time.  I am determined to have a positive day.  So I get to work and put my lunch in the faculty lounge and head to my room to prepare for my students.  With the positive attitude I pray again for my students that have been troublesome in my classes so that maybe I would have a smooth day.  

Academic Success (30 minute reteach) starts and the students are quite talkative.  I'm a bit nervous because the students are usually still asleep at 7:30 at that time so I should have known what was coming.  A few minutes after the first period bell rings, I have two girls going at it in my classroom.  It was verbally and then they started to get out of their seats and head toward one another.  I then had another student refuse to work and then grabbed a notebook out of my hands and continue drawing.  That was just my first period.  Second period is eaten up by a meanlingless meeting that we must attend every 3-4 weeks, only this time I had to be on my game because Elkhart West middle school came to visit us.  

Third period rolls around and it is the same students from period 1.  The rest of the period goes pretty smoothly.  Go to lunch, things sound fine, get back from lunch and the students I have are just plain talkative and loud.  I couldn't do anything but stand next to students and continue walking around to ensure they were working and not disrupting others.  Sixth and seventh period come and the students are just okay. 

I was just plain exhausted today.  My 4th/5th hour class (I have them 100 minutes) just plain wear me out.  I'm so ready for a change.  That's where the "seasoned" relationships come into play.  My mentors and close work friends is the generation that is retiring  I've lost many mentors so far and am losing another two this year.  I know I am not going back to work as of now and I feel as though I'm retiring too.  I know I'm going to miss teaching and reaching inner city students.  But if I were to stay, it could be harmful to my health, I'd miss Dietrich growing up, and I'd miss many other opportunities to serve God.  

On another note:  Dietrich was at Riley the weekend before last.  This week he is starting to get a bad deep cough again even though we have continued the breathing treatments as needed.  He has an appointment with his pediatrician tomorrow, March 17th at 5:45.  Hopefully we can figure out what's up with the poor little boy!

Here is a pic of him from last Friday-- just exhausted from being sick!

It's been awhile

Hello, from a long time ago!  It's been a very long time since I've posted anything!  I'm going to try to use this blog as more of a positive outlet and some pondering thoughts.   

A lot has happened since July 29, 2010 and much of it has been nothing but bliss.  January rolls around and I decide to head back to work.  Dustin, being as supportive as he always is, just makes it known that he will support me in any decision I make, but he would have liked me to stay home.  Me being me and the "I can do all" thinking leads me back to work.  The second day back to school I am called an "F-ing B" but of course it was said completely full out.  The week goes on and I was just exhausted.  There have been fights every day since I've been back.  There have been arrests, suspensions, heart breaks, etc.  I found out a former student of mine is pregnant at 17.  Nothing but just major blows.  Sometimes it seems as though my career isn't worth it anymore.  Our school was redistricted and we ended up with some harder students.  By harder I mean: They raise themselves.  They act like animals at times because they are in survival mode.  My classroom is well managed, the students do what they are supposed to, but as soon as they leave my room it's as though nothing I do sticks.  Are they too far gone by the 8th grade?  It also makes me wonder how they got this far without someone telling them how it is?  I'm just not sure.  

Something else that makes me wonder if my career is as important is that I am now a mother.  I want to be the one that raises my child, not a baby sitter, though we are blessed with the BEST baby sitter we could ever ask for!  My best friend Amy is watching Dietrich.  She is just such a blessing in our lives that we cannot ever thank her enough.  God has definitely been a part of everything we've done with Dietrich.  I have learned to trust in God fully.  Along with that trust comes all of the blessings and we sure are blessed.  

My schedule was getting up at 4:45, pumping, getting Dietrich ready to go to Amy's for the day, work a full schedule, and then go home to spend the 3 hours I had that evening with my family.  

Fast forward to March.  Dietrich finally catches a virus that I inevitably brought home.  It landed him in Riley's emergency room and then admitted over night for monitoring.  He was sent home with a nebulizer and steroids. 

Now it is March 13th at 17:21.  Not much has changed in my schedule, other than I have allowed myself to dry up this past week.  No more Bessie here.  Wouldn't you know it too, that cabbage of all things takes the pain away in two days and dries you up quickly and painlessly?!  Loved it!  

As I reflect upon my life just since January, a lot of change has occurred.  I gave up a lot of things just to go back to work.  It has been hitting me hard most recently.  I haven't given up things that are just fun.  I have given up my position of leading Bible study, being a part of a women's group at church, gave up many Sunday mornings just to rest because I was so overwhelmed, given up girls nights of just discussing how the Lord is working in our lives and how we're serving him.  So in essence, what I've given up is my healthy spiritual life.  

Lastly, I just want to give props to God.  I want to praise Him for every blessing that means the world to me:
1. Salvation through his Son
2. A loving husband
3. A beautiful, happy, healthy son
4. A home
5. A new vehicle
6. The financial position to pay off our bills so I can stay home with Dietrich after this semester.

Praise Him, He is worthy, He is Holy.  

video update

Dietrich's first Christmas gift--The Fisher Price toy that grows with him.



Dietrich's 2nd Christmas present his musical jumper activity center

The pride and joy of our life

Born on July 29, 2010, Dietrich Ray Hofer came into the world 6 and a half weeks early! He spent 13 days in the NICU and was able to come home healthy as can be. I have posted here some of the pics I took at home after about a week being home. We are so loving life and are blessed to have such a healthy and happy baby boy!

Many more pics are posted on FB.

Some recent u/s pics of the baby

28 Weeks, 4 days:

29 weeks 4 days:

Dustin took time yesterday to scan them in at a high resolution. I'm going to send them to snapfish and have them printed on photo paper so they last longer and can be placed in the scrap baby book!

We still can't tell whose nose he has, but the forehead and eyes look like Dustin so far. The mouth open can be either of us with how much we like to talk haha.

If this blog is emailed to you, you can go to the blog's website, click the pic and make it bigger and print them out if you wish!

New Family Toy :)

Dustin was given the opportunity to buy an M4. Dad helped Dustin get it oiled, fired, and ready to go. Here are some pics of the fun.










Also, there was a release of quail near Mom and Dad's house. Here are Mom and Dad's new pets... the like to eat bird seed.

Updates of end of May early June

We have been busy lately. May 14th was our 5 year wedding anniversary. We realized that we've been together happily for 8 years and cannot believe it's been that long. With that said, it'd been 8 years and I've never gone to the Dayton Hamfest with Dustin. I documented with pictures as to why I don't belong at such "fests."

You see that antenna on his helmet?! Wow!

Mary Kay and Rachael put on a very nice baby shower at work for me on May 20th. I got a lot of very nice things that are definitely going to be put to good use. I'm very excited to see the little man in order to use these things!


I told Dustin I wanted to raise our flowerbeds and update them because they have been settling for too long and there isn't much separation in the grass and the pavers. Here's the almost finished product. The Rose of Sharon has always been there, but we just outlined it and raised it a bit. The only thing I want to add are some annuals.
Here is the second to last day of school, June 2nd. These are my 7th graders I had for a 100 minute block periods 1 & 2. They are a very loyal group, and very well trained by me. I teased them and told them I don't like 7th graders (which is true), but they ended up to be pretty good kids.


Here is my 8th grade 100 minute block periods 3 & 4. This group challenged me the most because it was an ENL inclusion group, but also most of the Hispanic students are in either Sur 13 or Latin Kings. These students definitely are a tight group and very protective of me.
This was my 6th and 7th period block of 8th graders. I loved this group so very much. They were great kids and always knew how to make me smile and make class fun. They were very mature and loved to discuss major topics. I will miss this group big time! A great way to end the day, that's for sure!
June 2nd was the 8th grade celebration night. This is a night dedicated to 8th graders' achievement and a farewell to them. Here is a group of my boys that I adore.

I must have done something right, I had students come back to visit me that night. This was my first real class I let go to the high school. Very sad and they'll always have a place in my heart.


The last day of school I allowed students to take pics, but it ended up that they wanted individual pics with me. Here is Nikko, a fine young gentleman that started a rumor about me. Warren Central was playing football at the Lucas Oil Stadium. Dustin and I had a bottle of water walking around and he said it looked like we were sipping on some 40s. SO my nickname from this class was D-40. Cracks me up, but they said it only respectfully! This is also the student that stalked me and kept asking me if I was pregnant. Knew my bathroom routine, doctor's appointments, watched my stomach expand.... Gotta love middle school boys haha.
Students leaving!

The best sight on a daily basis, but even moreso on the last day of school: knowing I sent these students away with the best I could offer them since July.
And the teachers breathe a sigh of relief and ready to celebrate surviving another year!