Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
checking in
We laid Papa to rest yesterday. The service was nice and we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day.
Papa and I had a very special relationship. It is well known that I had him wrapped around my finger ever since I was a baby. I really hope he knew it was a mutual adoration.
The outpouring of support has been quite overwhelming. It's a true testament to the wonderful man Papa was. There was standing room only at the services and the florist actually ran out of flowers.
While it's comforting to know Papa is in Heaven, it still hurts so incredibly much to loose him. He will be greatly missed. I am devastated for my grandmother, his wife of 59 years. And I ache for Pierce and Harper who won't get to know him as I did.
We are absolutely crushed. The coming days will be very difficult for all of us. Please continue to uplift my grandmother, my mother, her siblings, and the rest of us who loved him dearly in prayer as we all try to return to some sense of normalcy. I'm struggling to pull myself together to help make Christmas special for my kids.
Papa and I had a very special relationship. It is well known that I had him wrapped around my finger ever since I was a baby. I really hope he knew it was a mutual adoration.
The outpouring of support has been quite overwhelming. It's a true testament to the wonderful man Papa was. There was standing room only at the services and the florist actually ran out of flowers.
While it's comforting to know Papa is in Heaven, it still hurts so incredibly much to loose him. He will be greatly missed. I am devastated for my grandmother, his wife of 59 years. And I ache for Pierce and Harper who won't get to know him as I did.
We are absolutely crushed. The coming days will be very difficult for all of us. Please continue to uplift my grandmother, my mother, her siblings, and the rest of us who loved him dearly in prayer as we all try to return to some sense of normalcy. I'm struggling to pull myself together to help make Christmas special for my kids.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Papa went home.....
He reunited with our Lord and Savior this evening. I was blessed with one last visit with him this afternoon to say goodbye. He's at peace in a better place with no pain. But it still feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces....... He was a great man and the world has suffered a great loss today. Please continue to hold our family, especially my grandmother, in your prayers.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Papa.....
Papa's physicians, my grandmother, our chaplain, my mother, and all her siblings met today to discuss further treatment and care for Papa. They are transferring him to a hospice facility tonight and think it's just a matter of time. They don't think he will get better....... We're absolutely devastated. I feel like everyone is giving up hope. I know you are but please, please continue to keep him and my grandmother in your prayers.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Praise be to God!
The doctors are planning to move Papa out of the ICU today as long as he continues to do well off the BiPAP breathing machine. He's fighting hard. Please keep praying!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
good visit
I had a wonderful visit with Papa this morning. He's alert and talking--and even cracked a joke. He's still incredibly sick but we're grateful for small improvements and every bit of time we have left with him. Thank you all so much for your continued thoughts and prayers for him, my grandmother, and our family.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
not looking good
Papa's doctors don't think further treatment would be helpful and are just trying to keep him comfortable. I'm about to leave for the hospital to see him. I'll put a mask on (and they require gloves and gowns) since I'm sick. Please think of him and my family during this time. Pray for his and my grandmother's peace and comfort.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Papa's in the ICU
I just talked with my mom and they (my grandmother and her) took my grandfather to the hospital last night for labored breathing. They admitted him to ICU and diagnosed him with C Diff, pneumonia, and a blood infection. He's really, really sick. My family would be most grateful for your prayers (yet again) for this amazing man!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
crap hit the fan
Yeah, so the 4 of us will be setting down together when we get back. His teacher said she has absolutely no problem with pierce not listening. I told her I wanted to make sure as Dr. H seems to think so. Assured her we are pleased with how she has handled everything and reminded her if she has any problems to please talk to us so we can address everything properly and are on the same page. Again, she reassured all is well with his behavior.
The director tackled me again as I was leaving. I've seen her more in the last few days than I've seen her the entire time P has been at their school. She told me she talked with the assistant teacher who was very upset about what had happened and explained that pierce was hitting other students, she asked him 3 times to stop, and physically removed him. She explained that it was her fault for not properly training her and asked if I was okay with physical removal. I told her I was only if she made sure (it's her job and responsibility) that is used as an absolute last measure AND only if the child is harming themselves or others. I told her how very upset Mark and I are how she handled the meeting yesterday, essentially shifting blame from the assistant teacher to pierce and bringing up a behavior issue when I raise a concern is not the proper time to address it. She agreed and said his head teacher should have expressed this to us before. To which I replied, MRS. L DOES NOT THINK HIS BEHAVIOR IS AN ISSUE (the one who is in the classroom with him day every single day). The root of the problem is this....they've violated our trust either way.
1. If his behavior is an issue, there communication system failed. We are ALWAYS notified in writing anytime there is a physical altercation. No letter.
2. If his behavior isn't an issue, we were lied to. The director says it is, the teacher says it isn't.
3. Most importantly, the problem at hand is this has become a referendum against pierce when the concern is how to properly (and SAFELY) discipline a non-compliant child.
Mark's calling today to set up a meeting when we get back. Seeing how they've handled the situation and the breakdown in policy is infuriating and we aren't sure we can continue at this school.
The director tackled me again as I was leaving. I've seen her more in the last few days than I've seen her the entire time P has been at their school. She told me she talked with the assistant teacher who was very upset about what had happened and explained that pierce was hitting other students, she asked him 3 times to stop, and physically removed him. She explained that it was her fault for not properly training her and asked if I was okay with physical removal. I told her I was only if she made sure (it's her job and responsibility) that is used as an absolute last measure AND only if the child is harming themselves or others. I told her how very upset Mark and I are how she handled the meeting yesterday, essentially shifting blame from the assistant teacher to pierce and bringing up a behavior issue when I raise a concern is not the proper time to address it. She agreed and said his head teacher should have expressed this to us before. To which I replied, MRS. L DOES NOT THINK HIS BEHAVIOR IS AN ISSUE (the one who is in the classroom with him day every single day). The root of the problem is this....they've violated our trust either way.
1. If his behavior is an issue, there communication system failed. We are ALWAYS notified in writing anytime there is a physical altercation. No letter.
2. If his behavior isn't an issue, we were lied to. The director says it is, the teacher says it isn't.
3. Most importantly, the problem at hand is this has become a referendum against pierce when the concern is how to properly (and SAFELY) discipline a non-compliant child.
Mark's calling today to set up a meeting when we get back. Seeing how they've handled the situation and the breakdown in policy is infuriating and we aren't sure we can continue at this school.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Blarg!
So this morning when I took P to school, the director practically tackled me to talk. I told her exactly what I told his head teacher yesterday. I am NOT pleased at all with the result of the meeting.
She told me they have had the exact opposite complaints about assistant teachers not intervening in other situations recently and have subsequently encouraged them to get involved, even if it means physically removing a child if need be. She was barely apologetic and seemed to be making an excuse for the teacher. I understand the need for administration to be supportive of their teachers, but she was clearly in the wrong. There are ways to physically remove a child from a situation as a very LAST resort but pulling their arm is not one of them. She agreed..... I asked if there was a need to conference about pierce's behavior and she said that he does need reminders to listen (all kids do) and he is a very physical child. I asked if she felt like he needs more reminders than his classmates and she said yes.
First of all, she's not in the classroom. Second of all, we JUST had our parent teacher conference a few weeks back, in fact the same week the first incident occurred, and his teacher NEVER said any of the sorts nor did she yesterday when I met with her. He had a glowing review, as he always has. Again, it was almost like the director was excusing the assistant teacher's behavior.
I feel like I walked in with a concern and came out getting scolded. Why would she wait until I bring up a problem to address his "so-called" misbehavior? Mark and I talked (he's angry) and I am asking pierce's head teacher tomorrow if his behavior needs to be addressed w/o telling her what the director said today. We'd like to know if it's honestly an issue or if it is what we assume--the director not really knowing what is going on in the classroom and covering for her employees. I totally feel like our concerns were not handled appropriately at the administration level. My parting words with her were to be aware and to help my son feel like school is a safe place.
Are we off base?
She told me they have had the exact opposite complaints about assistant teachers not intervening in other situations recently and have subsequently encouraged them to get involved, even if it means physically removing a child if need be. She was barely apologetic and seemed to be making an excuse for the teacher. I understand the need for administration to be supportive of their teachers, but she was clearly in the wrong. There are ways to physically remove a child from a situation as a very LAST resort but pulling their arm is not one of them. She agreed..... I asked if there was a need to conference about pierce's behavior and she said that he does need reminders to listen (all kids do) and he is a very physical child. I asked if she felt like he needs more reminders than his classmates and she said yes.
First of all, she's not in the classroom. Second of all, we JUST had our parent teacher conference a few weeks back, in fact the same week the first incident occurred, and his teacher NEVER said any of the sorts nor did she yesterday when I met with her. He had a glowing review, as he always has. Again, it was almost like the director was excusing the assistant teacher's behavior.
I feel like I walked in with a concern and came out getting scolded. Why would she wait until I bring up a problem to address his "so-called" misbehavior? Mark and I talked (he's angry) and I am asking pierce's head teacher tomorrow if his behavior needs to be addressed w/o telling her what the director said today. We'd like to know if it's honestly an issue or if it is what we assume--the director not really knowing what is going on in the classroom and covering for her employees. I totally feel like our concerns were not handled appropriately at the administration level. My parting words with her were to be aware and to help my son feel like school is a safe place.
Are we off base?
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