7 Months??

Has it really been seven months since I have been in the classroom?  If you have been wondering where I've been, I have taken a leave of absence for health reasons.  Never in my 12 year teaching career would I have expected to have used up all of my precious sick days in one swoop!  Luckily for me, I have the support of an amazing principal and associate superintendent who encouraged me to take care of myself so I can take care of my children.  Because without being healthy, I can't be a good mom, and that's my number one goal.  {And speaking of moms, I couldn't have gotten so healthy without the support of my mom, so shout out to my mommy!}

WELL, yesterday was the first day back in my classroom after not setting foot in it since August.  To say freak-out and frustration would not begin to describe my mood.  After three substitutes, all of which I'm sure did things to the best of their ability and seemed like great teachers, my room was. a. complete. mess.  Luckily my mom was there to calm me down and direct me to focus on one thing at a time.

FIRST thing to do was move my furniture back the way it is supposed to go.  Have you ever had someone come into your classroom and move your furniture?  I'm a little bit controlling (just a little, maybe?) and I have been itching to move it back since August. That was major.  After that, the nerves were calming down.  I found my things, put my bins back at the correct tables, cut down the table signs.  It was quite exhilarating.

The last thing I did was decorate my office.  I have never done that before.  After having five months of my kids being in school and being a part of their school lives like a stay-at-home mom, it's sad for me to go back to work and leave that routine we have become accustomed to.  SO, I decided maybe if I made my office lovely and inviting with pictures and fun new officey decorations it would make me happy when I walked in each morning.  I bought a few organizational things from Target that are called OrganizeHer and some picture things that I hung on the wall.  Once I get everything all cleaned up this week I will post pictures.  I plan on going to JoAnn's and buying some cute material and making short café curtains for the windows.  I am hoping to find a pretty, bright, floral print.  The hubs even bought me a mini-Keurig for Christmas so I can have my coffee whenever I want.  Now I must find a mug or two that match my office.  ;)

That's it for now.  Wish me luck as I go back to work after so many months of being off.  Pray that my migraines and pain don't come back, and I can teach with renewed spunk!  I will post pictures of my class and office once they're fixed up this week.  Thanks for reading this long post!!