My friends have asked me specifically for more stories about my charming son, who, for the purposes of this public medium we shall call Drew*.  Drew is an awesome little guy. He is mostly unconcerned about stereotypes and likes what he likes, including fishing, fart-jokes, and various artsy-crafts.  Stores forthcoming….

Tuesday morning… less than 72 hours ago.

My morning filled with mundane tasks. I walked dogs, ate breakfast, and made a dent in the household chores. I helped my son (who was home from school that day) with homework. I completed a bit of job-related paperwork.  I then dragged my boy with me to my neurologist, armed with books and Legos.

The results included several abnormalities I have known about for years.  I repeatedly heard the beautiful phrase, “no significant change.”

And yet, there was something…  “New nonenhancing lesion of the right amygdala. “

Translation: (in my mind at least) here it is, a brain tumor.

I walked out with my eyes glazed over, 10 pages of MRI results in hand, and an appointment for more MRI’s and neurology appointments in 6 months.

What did I do next?  I fixed lunch, took my son to his pediatrician and then dropped him off with my husband so I could go to work for a few hours. I picked my son up again later to drive him to karate and to gossip with other moms about school fundraisers and everyone’s plans for summer.

So how do I live day to day with this chronic disorder, and every-impending scary  news? I simply live. I wash dishes, fold laundry, do yardwork, sort garbage from recycling, listen to my favorite music, and watch the evening news. I take my son to birthday parties.  I groan when weather ruins weekend plans. I go to church, read novels by my favorite authors.  I call my parents, visit my grandmother, and meet friends for coffee. Life can be remarkably normal.  And some days it simply is not.  MRI’s and CAT-Scans are nearly as routine as cholesterol and blood pressure checks.  Conversations with friends, family, and complete strangers can include, “by the way, if you see me have motor tics or a seizure, I need you to tell me, because I won’t be aware of it.”  I push through chronic pain, leaning heavily on my husband, family, and friends. I pray with sometimes-shaky faith to a loving and merciful God.  I weigh the advice of medical professionals. I practice yoga and go to bed early. I update my will, insurance, and funeral arrangements. And then I make travel arrangements, plant tomatoes, and purchase green bananas.  

No Science in 2nd Grade.

Recently, I was telling my parents about how my child is doing in school, how I love the small classes and curriculum pace, and about the science project his class is doing. He very emphatically interjected:

We don’t do science!

Hmmm.   Well, the rest of the conversation went something like this…

But, doesn’t your class have a garden? 

Yes. 

Okay.   Don’t you make predictions, take measurements, and record observations? 

Yes. 

Aren’t you learning about plants?

Yes?

Tell me, what do the plants need?

Sun, earth, air, and soil. 

Really? What would happen if a plant didn’t have sun?

It wouldn’t grow.

Why not?

Well, that is one of the things that it needs! (insert eye-roll). 

Don’t you guys have a cistern that collects rain so you can water the garden? 

Yes. 

What about compost? 

We are making posters to teach the other grades about compost.

Really? 

Yes. 

Tell me, can I put egg shells in the compost?

Yes! 

What about left over barbecue ribs?

No, that’s not good for it.

Tell me again what you can compost so I can know for our compost at home.

Dead leaves, grass, horse poo (insert 7 year old snicker).
How about tea bags or paper?
paper with no ink on it like paper towels, banana peels, potato peels, water melon rinds, orange peels and other fruits and vegetables. 

Very interesting.  So you are gardening, but you are not doing science. 

Nope, we don’t do science in 2^nd grade. 

(Fernandina Beach Christian Academy, Fernandina Beach, Florida).  

Drew gets an MRI

Many, many thanks to Laura McCalvin (at Wolfson's in Jacksonville, Florida) for the "MR-I AM READY" program.  We were able to complete a long test without medication. 


Slowly, the bed moved backwards into the machine.  It looked just like the pictures from his practice! Drew pretended he was a mummy, like King Tut, and lay very, very still. His Mommy rubbed his toes. The machine was loud.  It was loud, but it didn’t hurt at all.    It made lots of funny noises.  Drew imagined a woodpecker playing drums inside a submarine.  This almost made him giggle, but then he remembered he wasn’t supposed to move.  He could feel his mommy's hand on his feet.  That helped him to feel a whole lot better. 

(note: I'm developing this into a book, more coming soon...) 

Each evening, it is a short walk from my front door to an amazing sunset.   I have an open invitation from my neighbor to meander through his yard and watch the sky over the marsh light up like a rainbow of cotton candy.    I like to end my day there. I drink in the beauty of the view, briny smell of the water, and the sound of the birds, crickets, and rustling trees.  My husband teases me that I’m going out to feed the mosquitoes– but is well worth it.  Sometimes my son will ride his bike, racing circles around me up and down this quiet street. The sun sets in this spot every day. I do not get there as often as would like. Some evenings other obligations pull me away. And, other times clouds obscure the view.  But, it is always there.  

Free Printable Worksheets

Commercial:  I've added new free printable worksheets and other resources to my online store.  These can be downloaded at: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:korrin+johnsonhttp://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:korrin+johnson

A surprising solution

 

Ketchup, yes, ketchup, was the solution to one little household dilemma. I found it quite by accident, one morning when  I was doing some general cleaning.  A plate was still sitting on the my grandmothers antique brass plate, on a coffee table from the previous evening. I picked it up, and proceeded to wipe up an errant spot of barbecue sauce.  I was quite surprised to find that the spot where the barbecue sauce had been now shone like a new penny.   Off to the local dollar store I went, and, after consulting with one of the clerks, came home with 2 bottles of ketchup.  Wow.  It did better than that and expensive, smelly, and very poisonous metal polish.  Not surprisingly, a quick Google search confirmed my accidental discovery.  Who knew?  I, certainly was quite happy to find an easy and environmentally friendly solutions to one daily conundrum.  

Free Printable Worksheets

I have added more custom teaching resources to my store.  Many of these are teaching tools I created for my students and son, or close variations.  For now, most of these downloads are FREE printable worksheets, targeted at kindergarten through third grade.  Please take a look, try them out, and the post feedback.  Follow this link to check it out:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:korrin+hume

Teaching Resources

New "store":  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Korrin-Hume-Johnson
Guess What?  I'm published!  Not only here, but on another site where I can sell materials I have created for my students. Many thanks to my son's Principal (Gwen Milam, at Fernandina Beach Christian Academy) for pointing me in this direction.  Here is a direct link to my first (FREE) resource:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Multiplication-and-Skip-Counting-by-3s-and-4s

Hidden Treasures

About 2 weeks ago, I took a walk with my family through the campus of the Crealde School of Art and a couple of nearby neighborhoods.   I want to share with you a few of the treasures we discovered:

  

  

To learn more about Crealde, please visit:  http://www.crealde.org/

The Christmas Train

A few days ago a beloved toy came out of the attic.  My young son absolutely adores it.  It is only available about 3 months each year.  The rarity increases its value and magical appeal.   It’s his Christmas Train.  This particular train arrived one late December morning.  This glorious contraption has many pieces, that when fully assembled can circle easily circle a 7 foot pine and the wrapped packages beneath it.  The train is red and green, has lights, whistles, tooting and chugging sound.  There is even a flint that sends out a thin plume of smoke like a burnt match.  Ah, the wonder of it all!  We set it up with the tree sometime in mid-December, and it goes into the attic soon after my son’s birthday in early spring.   One of my favorite Christmas memories involves this toy train.  The morning it arrived, carols played while I cooked in the kitchen. Wrapping paper was all over the floor, with spilled contents of stockings.   I looked up over the counter to the family room, where three generations of  boys laid with their bellies on the ground.  No heads were visible, only three pairs of legs sticking out from under the tree, along with endless ooh’s, ah’s, and giggles.   Our dear Papa has gone, fallen just over a year ago to cancer than came on hard and strong.  Christmas will never be the same for either my son or my husband, having lost the giant of a man they both adored.  So, this year, as we put up the tree and the train, and we giggle and we sing, and we cry a little too.

Crock Pot Chicken Marsala:

• 1 small whole chicken (about 5 pounds)
• 1 cup white table wine, if you use “cooking wine” don’t add salt
• 1 cup water
• Several carrots, sliced into coins
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup

Put the veggies and garlic in the bottom of the crock pot, cover with water & wine, stir in the salt.  Set the chicken on top of the veggies, poke holes in the top with a knife, baste chicken about every half hour. Cook on high.   After chicken reaches an internal temp of 140 degrees F, add the lemon juice to the stock, then rub the still condensed soup over the top of the bird, then let stew for about another hour, until internal meat temp is about 160 degrees F.  Total cooking time is roughly 4 hours, longer if use use a low setting or start with frozen meat.  Serve with starch of choice, I used chicken flavor rice-a-roni.  

FBCA Christmas Extravaganza

On Saturday, December 1^st Fernandina Beach Christian Academy hosted their inaugural Christmas Extravaganza.  Children and families enjoyed more than a dozen activities including story-telling, games, crafts, food, sweet treats, a bouncy house, picture opportunities and festive decorations.  Live music was presented by local children’s choirs and soloists. The Santa Shop offered gifts and home goods, ranging in price from 50 cents to over $50.  This event is scheduled to occur first Saturday of each December.  FBCA thanks the many volunteers and businesses who supported the event. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit the school.  FBCA is currently enrolling new students for this academic year.  Scholarship applications are available. For more information about the school, call 904-491-5664 or look online at www.fernandinachristianacademy.com

If You Ask

If you ask for help, don’t be surprised if you get an answer. Also, don’t be surprised if the answer is not what you were looking for. This weekend I answered a post to a group on Facebook. A parent of a special needs child had asked for help with a particular issue. I answered, giving my professional advice, based on training, experience, and the limited information I had available to me at the time. I was shocked by the intense anger of her reaction. If you want a few suggestions from sympathizers, post to Facebook. If you need customized solutions, consult appropriate professionals who can examine your individual situation.

The Smell of Tea

The smell of tea is comforting to me. Classic English Breakfast is my favorite. I love the smell of the tea, the warmth of the mug in my hand, the creamy sweetness after I add milk and honey. Whether I’m in my office bent over the filing cabinet, navigating interstate traffic, or enjoying a meal in a restaurant, tea transports me. Part of me returns to the comfort of my favorite chair. Tea brings back sensations of safety, wellness, and family. I remember the Bible verses that promise life in a land of milk and honey. I feel prosperous, even if biting my nails because of unexpected bills. Milk and honey. Milk and honey. Milk requires cows, which each grain, which needs rain. Honey takes bees, flowers, and so forth. Richness, harvest, security. I hold my tea, pause for a moment, then go on with my day. In seasons of drought, the promise of milk and honey can give us the strength to put one foot in front of the other. In seasons of plenty, the same things should ignite gratitude and generosity. All of the comforts of home, and the promises of Heaven, are reflected in my twelve ounce mug.

B&B Cookie Tour

My little family took time this weekend to walk around our lovely historic hometown. Saturday was the Holiday Cookie Tour, put on by the Amelia Island Bed & Breakfast Association. We had fun gazing at the spectacular ornament-laden trees and richly upholstered rooms. Meanwhile, our son went on a quest to find Santa's and nutcrackers. We came home with sore feet, full of sugar and a festive Christmas Spirit. It was wonderful to be a tourist in my own town. For more information, to join a similar tour in the future, visit http://ameliaislandinns.com/cookie-tour/

Drew was sad...

A peek at a book I am writing. This one is a tough one, deals with children & grief. Drew was very, very, VERY sad. Drew remembered when Papa was strong! Why didn't Papa come home? Why couldn’t he walk and talk and smile and laugh? W So Drew sat on Daddy’s lap, and he cried, and Daddy cried, and Mommy held his hand. Drew didn’t want Papa to be in Heaven. Heaven seemed far, far, FAR away and like it would be a long, long, LONG wait.

Crock Pot: Ham & Veggie Soup

Into the crock pot on a rainy autumn night: From my deep freezer: About a pound of country ham and left over tomatoes & Okra with onions. From the pantry: Canned corn, green-beans, tomato paste. Drain the brine off the canned veggies, replace with fresh water, enough to make it thick but still a bit runny. Let cook on high until it gets all bubbly, the reduce heat and let simmer for a while. A few hours in a crock pot, much faster in a sauce pan. Use meat thermometer to make sure meat is safe temperature. After the meat is cooked, take it out of broth, dice it, return it to the soup. Stir well. No seasoning needed, since there was plenty of salt in the ham and canned veggies. Serve with warm bread, I used buttered toast because it was what we had. Be careful of bones. Not bad for a rainy night with no fresh groceries in the house. General Cooking Tips This is a very basic soup recipe. You can pretty much just use what you have on hand, fresh, frozen or canned. For canned veggies, I drain the brine they were packed in to reduce the sodium. In my opinion, simple is good. If you put in too much, the flavors can compete and cause it to have packaged aftertaste. I highly recommend everyone have meat thermometer. Safe cooking temperature will vary based on what meat you used, and whether that meat was raw or precooked (consult any major cookbook or google for meat temperatures).

Popcorn and Asian Take-Out

I finished listening to Gretchen Rubin's book, Happier at Home, and am now regularly checking her blog: http://happiness-project.com/. I enjoyed the anecdotes and useful recommendations. Lest I become overwhelmed, I remind myself to take what I want and leave the rest. She frequently repeated the paradox of how we sometimes need both less and more. Practical application, both simplify and enrich my life by slowing down some tasks, such as actual cooking. I am relearning how to make popcorn in a kettle, a task I was very good at when much younger, but stopped doing so when my parents bought our first microwave when I was in middle school. I am taking time to actually bake cookies in the oven, though I usually use frozen cookie dough so I can both control the portions and save precious prep and clean up time. At least once a week I use my crock pot, preparing supper in the morning, so I can come home to a hot meal and the house smelling wonderful. A little bit of planning can lead to a lot of satisfaction. Recently, I had worked a long day. I hadn't the forethought to throw some meat and veggies in my crock pot before I left. I wanted to stay home, hubby wanted to go out, and the simple solution (which rarely occurs to us) was, Asian takeout. Yummy. Our favorite spot is http://www.jadesbistro.com/

Just Vote

Research, read, vote. If you don't know, skip that one. Local newspapers, chambers of commerce, etc. There is lots of information. I found some from a group I disagree with, saw their recommendations, then went the opposite way.