Living with Lupus...School

This topic can be broken down into high school and college for me since I have been sick since I was 16 years old.  High school was hard for me because I was trying to get control and understand what I was facing....years of pain and well, (this is cliche but) heartache.

In high school, I missed a lot of days and still managed to successfully accomplish everything I wanted to.  I was lucky enough to have a school nurse who was so understanding and helpful.  I had what was called a 504 plan which is the equivalent for a person with a chronic illness to an Individualized Education Plan for a person with a learning disability, etc.  Basically, the 504 was a how to when I'm sick.  It told my teachers: how long I had to finish assignments, what to do if I had a stroke during class, and any other accommodations I would need.  But I missed out on a lot of my high school experience.  I stayed home most nights and didn't really have fun with friends until after graduation.  

When it came to college, I really wanted to attend a university that was a few hours from home.  Realistically, I couldn't have done it then.  My illness was too out of control and I wouldn't have made it without my family's help.  So I relented and went to a community college close to home.  I was dreading going to this school but I loved it and miss it!  The instructors were amazing and understanding and the sense of community was wonderful.  Luckily, we moved right before my sophomore year of college and I was right in the middle of the school I was going to and the school I planned to attend after graduating.  Driving wouldn't be an issue and I would live at home for the rest of my college experience.

The things that really helped my college experience was Vocational Rehabilitation and disability services.  Voc Rehab is a program that enables people with disabilities and illness go to school by paying for part of their tuition.  Because of the severity of my Lupus and APS, I was accepted right away and they have paid half my tuition throughout college.  This doesn't take a lot of work on my part.  Both colleges I've gone to have had Voc. Rehab counselors who I met with once per semester to touch base and make sure everything is going smoothly.

Disability services was an entire department in college #2.  In number #1, it was one woman who was so helpful!  The process at both schools was pretty much the same; the only real difference, at number #2, more paperwork...of course.  I would fill out papers for each of my classes that consisted of my need for extensions in some areas when I was sick.  In my four years of college, a dozen or so flares and countless bad, bad days, I missed one assignment!  This semester I didn't even fill out paperwork (cause I forgot...brain fog).  The bad part is that I have to talk to all my professors individually to explain the paperwork.  I had to start the semester with a new person telling them I might be gone for two weeks worth of class.  College professors don't like to hear that but they need to know right away so they can make accommodations for you! 

My advice to my Lupus peeps (and anyone with a chronic illness) in college is to get some reliable contacts...I will always be thankful for that nurse who told me about vocational rehabilitation!  Most likely your campus will have a disability service, make an appointment.  In my experience, they are so willing to help!  Be advised: they will likely require documentation of your illness.  I wrote a quick email to my hematologist who wrote a short letter and sent it to the college.

Good luck on your college journey!


Personal update:  School is done!  I finished everything without staying up til all hours of the night like my college counterparts who might need to learn to prioritize! Oh, and I'm going to be an aunt!  My sister and brother in law who have been trying for years to get pregnant just found out!

Check List Lovin'

So in the last few weeks of school...a check list is a necessity.  This year I have switched from my much loved planner to Google Calendar.  I've been slacking on filling out my planner over the last month or so.  In reality, I'm probably focusing on what needs to be done during the specific week and not much else.  Although I haven't been filling out my planner religiously like I normally do, I have been getting stuff done.  But it scares not to have things written down...so one day during a boring lecture in my law class I wrote a much needed check list (I never do other work in class.  I am still ashamed that I did this.).  

Here's a few of the items I found crucial:
Law and Politics
(15 page) Research Paper Draft
Review Essay #2
Review Essay #3
Revise Research Paper
Final-Take home (essay)

Methods
Field Experience #3 paper work
Unit Plan!!! (Big Deal)
Portfolio

Soviet Russia
"Fire" Quiz
Final-take home (essay) (Big, big deal)

Chinese History
Research Paper-Women in Communist China
Final Test

Ed. Class
Third Test
Read book 1
Read book 2
Final Exam

Being able to scratch things off my list is such a big relief!  The physical act of the check is a catharsis to my overwhelmed self.  As I was writing this I was thinking about check lists for the wedding.  Of course I will use them like crazy!  The Knot has a check list that is rather intimidating and I find generic and a form of the Wedding Industrial Complex telling me what kind of wedding I should have.
Here's a few things from their list:

Engagement photos (yeah right...) Here's our engagement picture.  Taken with my camera...self timer baby!

Choose Bridesmaids' dresses, accessories, and shoes.  Well, they are grownups and can pick out their own clothes.  Originally I told them they needed black dresses (of their choosing) but now I'm open to whatever they feel comfortable in. 

Send out rehearsal dinner invites...puhlease!
#1-no rehearsal dinner. Intimate breakfast on the day of for our wedding party.   
#2- Invites?  How about a phone call? 

Ok so I've totally bashed The Knot which is very nice of me.  So here's a few of the items on their check list which are actually important things

Head start on thank yous! (I will need to do this.  I hate thank you cards...and need motivation)

On the day of -"Relax, smile, and enjoy the day!"

Start paperwork on insurance!

So The Knot isn't completely worthless but I will probably stick with my own check list!  Here are a few of my favorite (or most looking forward to) tasks.

Try making vegan cheesecake (with K. Hull!)

Plant Tulips this fall for centerpieces

Continue making felt flowers for bouquets and boutonnieres.

Make banners for Popcorn, photo and food stations

1:1 Initiative

I mentioned last time that I would find out my student teaching placement at the end of the week.  Well, I found out...and low and behold, I got the city I wanted.  It was more the closeness than for the school district itself...although I am looking forward to teaching in a larger district.  So my week ended on a high note!

In the meeting, I found out a few of the districts (not my district) in my center are in the process of going to the 1:1 initiative.  For those who don't know, the 1:1 initiative is the program where the district, usually by some kind of grant, supplies each student with a laptop.  Usually, this is for middle school and high school students.  This is where education is going in the 21st century.  The possibilities for teaching are limitless!  I can't tell you how much stress it causes for teachers to worry about their students who don't have internet access.

But the 1:1  causes some problems...how do you regulate what students can look at?  Do you get macs in order to save the computer from viruses?  Are they insured?  In the end as with most programs in education, it all comes down to money, money, money! 

Can you think of any other issues(or benefits) that are caused by the 1:1 initiative?

The Home Stretch...kind of

 I have less than one month of school left and it is going to be a wild ride.  I have been trying to cram everything into this last few weeks.  Last week was so stressful, it felt like finals!  Between law papers and lesson plans, I've had NO time for crafting which is quite depressing because it has become my catharsis from craziness.  Nick and I have had no thousand mile date nights since he left.  And Kelsey and I couldn't have our local restaurant tour last week.   

Even though this is my last semester of classes....I'm not really done.  I have student teaching in the fall.  All the responsibilities of a teacher, none of the (still crappy) perks (aka salary).  I find out tomorrow where I will be student teaching.  Hoping for close by so I don't have to move....that would be horribly stressful and mama don't need that right now!  Student teaching is a limbo...not truly a student yet still paying tuition.  I enjoyed my last field experience so much though I am really looking forward to student teaching. 

As for my summer plans, I would like to really give angelala a decent try before I become a grown-up.  Still waiting to hear back from med school with Nick.  So I am hoping to go out to Philly (for the last time) to help him move home!!  Plus I would like to get my butt in gear and blog more.

Deserves an "eek"

So I should be studying...for midterms but I have to share this wonderful news.

Nick has his masters in forensic medicine...I say yuck! but whatever.  He doesn't really want to do anything with that degree which is cool with me.  Don't do it if you don't love it!  So he applied to medical school.  At last count, it was five ranging from Maine to Kansas.  I told him I would follow him wherever he ended up.  Very Scarlett O'Hara of me, I know but we've spent almost two years in a long distance relationship and I'm sick of it!  So I have researched teaching requirements in all five states.

The school he really wanted is in Des Moines.  He has a sister and brother who are/have been in med school there so he knows the ropes.  We were starting to lose hope because he hadn't gotten an interview from anyone...until today.

Des Moines wants an interview next week.  So he will be coming home last minute during my spring break...oh so perfect timing...and I will get to see my fiance!  We have both been super stressed recently with the wedding, money and school that we really needed this pick-me-up.