Swine Flu Epidemic

I just came home from school after many e-mails to teachers about the Swine Flu. We sent out fliers to all the parents regarding the virus. I heard that they closed down a Park City school because of probable cases with five students. Even with all this media scare I've been thinking that everything will just be fine. I mean the child that died in Texas was from Mexico and just came here a month or so ago, right?

Well I went to pick up Zander and Dresden at Debbie's. She greeted me with a sickly daughter. She has a temperature and a runny nose. She just wants to be held. I try not to get too worked up about things in the media, but with Dresden just being sick, I get a little paranoid.

I thought this would be a good time for me to share an e-mail sent to me today from the Health Department on what teachers are to watch for:

Recommendations for Teachers and School Personnel

How do I know if a child might have swine flu?
A person can spread the swine influenza before symptoms begin. A person may be able to infect another person one day before symptoms start and up to seven or more days after becoming sick. People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered contagious as long as they show symptoms. Children, especially younger children, may be contagious for longer periods.

Symptoms of swine influenza are similar to those of the common flu.
o Fever and chills
o Sore throat
o Cough
o Headache, body aches, and fatigue
o Diarrhea and vomiting can also be present

Watch for these symptoms in children:
o Fever with a rash
o Dehydration
o Fast breathing
o Bluish skin coloration
o Slow to wake or sluggish interaction
o Flu-like symptoms improve, but then return and cough worsens
o Severe irritability
If a child in your class shows these symptoms, remove them from the classroom and take them to the school nurse or school office. The school nurse should refer the child for medical treatment with their primary care provider, or emergency room.

How can I help prevent the spread of swine flu in the classroom?
To prevent exposure to the flu virus in the classroom, teach the same precautions as those to prevent the regular influenza (commonly known as seasonal influenza):
o Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and discard the tissue.
o Wash hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when hand washing is not possible.
o Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, as germs can more easily gain entrance into your body through those areas.
o Remind parents that if children are sick, they should remain at home.

Other Resources
For more information, please visit: www.health.utah.gov/swineflu

Dresden, starting early

I just came back from Smiths. I needed to pick up a few things at the store. Zander, Dresden, and I all went. Zander wanted the little shopping cart and so that is what we used. After we paid, Zander was tired of pushing the cart. I let Dresden push just to see if it was something she might want to do. Not only did she want to push it, but she insisted on pushing the shopping cart all the way to the car. I just kept thinking, here we go...

I believe in miracles

Do you believe in miracles?

I don't know how to start this blog except to say that there might be an opening for an assistant recorder at another temple. Don has wanted to be an assistant recorder since he first started working at Jordan River Temple as a clerk over five years ago. The position requires a degree and it is extremely difficult to get such a position in the church. Don spoke with HR about such a position a year ago and they let him know that he wouldn't be a candidate until he had his bachelors degree.

Now let me tell you why I still think he deserves it. Don has over five years experience of working in the temple office. He knows the policies and the procedures. He knows the rolls that volunteers and staff members play and how to keep both happy. He has the experience that a degree cannot give him. He has the social skills and the understanding needed to be an assistant recorder.

I think it takes more than all of that though to work in the temple. Don has the spirit needed to work in such a position. He works hard all of the time to keep his spirit pure. He listens to good music. He reads his scriptures daily. He holds Family Home Evening every Sunday. He doesn't watch very much T.V. and when he does, he turns it right off when there is something offensive. He is the only person I know of that has cried many nights because he had the desire to get set apart as a High Priest. Ky's primary teacher has told us many times that Ky is the one in his primary class that knows all the answers and that is because Don spends time daily teaching his children principles of the gospel.

It would be a miracle if Don were to actually be considered for the position. But I believe in miracles. I know that it was a miracle that my companion and I were protected in the park when that man was following us. It was a miracle when we sold our last house. It was a miracle that Don turned out great after being orphaned at 11 and growing up in group homes with rebellious teenagers. It was a miracle that Kyath's eyesight went from blind to not needing any glasses. It was a miracle that when Porter fell down the stairs and got a cut near his eye, that it was just near and did not effect his eyesight. It was a miracle that when Porter was doused in gasoline, he did not catch on fire. It was a miracle that Kyath did not cross that busy street when he wandered away from home at two years old. It was a miracle that Kyath didn't fall out of the car when he opened the door on the freeway. It was a miracle when Porter didn't drown when he fell into that pond at Fermont Park.

I believe that my family has experienced more miracles than I can number. I know that God loves everyone and is there to help anyone that reaches out to him. He is working miracles everyday. I cannot deny God's hand in me and my family's life. He has been leading the way and we have tried to follow. I am hoping that maybe, just maybe, he has been preparing a way for Don to get a position as an assistant recorder.

I found it

It's not like anyone really care, but I found the IPOD. I am so happy. I could not get anything else done until I found it. The good news is that I cleaned my bedroom in the process.

Where is it?

You know how you lose something and you just keep looking until you find it. I actually get anxiety until whatever I am looking for is found. I can not feel comfortable again until I know where it is.

Well right now I am looking for my class IPOD. I use it for all the transitions in class. We even listen to YMCA at the end of the day. I cannot, however, find it and I feel lost.

The last I saw it was when I was getting ready for work on Wednesday or Thursday. I had it in my hand when I was getting all my things together to go out the door. But somehow, I ended up at school without it. I thought I would find it at school. I thought I would find it at school. I thought I would find it in my car. So far, nothing. I am so frustrated.

I never knew how attached to that thing I would be. I put all the versus of the Book of Mormon on it. I listen to a chapter or two a day. Then I listen to Enya as I prepare my room for school. I use Mozart as "brain food" when they are working on test that really requires concentration. Then at the end of the day we use party music to get ready to go home. It really sets an amazing atmosphere in my class. I really hope that I find it before Monday.

My Class Blog

I wanted to share my other blogger site with you. This is one that I made up for my class. I try to blog daily just to give parents something to talk to their kids about and to let them know what is happening in class. I want my class to feel like a communinty and I hope this will help. I would appreciate it if you don't comment on this blog just because they don't know about my personal blog. I don't want them to follow your comment to your blog and then find my blog, if you know what I mean. But feel free to comment here or through e-mail. Here is the site-
www.wantingmoore.blogspot.com

Enjoy.

Praise, Praise

I cannot give enough praise to the people that donated toward a document camera for my classroom. It was neat to see donations come in. It was fun thinking of the people as they donated. I don't know if they want to be mentioned here, but I just have to thank them. My cousin and friend Melanie, my childhood friend Rachael, my friend and neighbor Maria, and anonymous donor and my friend from when Don and I were newlyweds, Dayna were all donors. Wells Fargo and The Eccles Foundation selected my project and matched all donations.

The document camera has been purchased and is on its way. I can't wait to see what a difference it makes in the classroom. I already know it is going to help in so many ways. It will be fun to see the impact that it has. I had already started typing out assignments so that I could project them on the board. My students learn so much better that way. Now I can save so much time in that I won't have to type anything out anymore.

I just wanted to share a story about one of the donors, Dayna. Dayna and Adam were our neighbors in the downtown ward. We lived in an apartment complex with a cross-dresser, a thief and a bunch of newly weds. There are so many stories from that time, I could write a book. Adam and Dayna were our "Phase 10" friends. I would knock on their door and tell them that we had corn or chicken or whatever and ask what they could make to complete the meal. We would get together to play games and listen to Don play the guitar.

We moved and they moved, but we still remained friends. They seemed to "get us" which is hard with our weirdness. We started having kids and Adam joined the army. They moved with the army. Adam was even deployed to Iraq a few times.

When he was deployed to Iraq I had a hard time staying in contact with Dayna. I was so afraid he had been killed in the war and I wouldn't know what to say. I don't think Dayna knew that. I would check on the military website that listed the deceased from the Iraq war and I never found his name. Then Dayna started a blog and I was happy to see that he was home and alright. Just recently he was released from the military because of a war injury and post traumatic stress disorder. We are just glad he was released! He was about to go to Iraq for a third time. So I was so touched when Dayna donated towards the camera. I was even more touched when I found out she donated again to cover the last $203.

I could mention stories about all of the amazing women that donated. I hope they don't feel left out in any way. They each mean so much to me. I remember all the family reunions with Melanie, camping in a tent and talking till the wee hours. I remember growing up with Rachael and playing Strawberry Shortcake and Barbies. I remember going to "Twilight" with Maria for the midnight showing when it first came out. I have some great memories.

These are hard times. There are so many people struggling. I had to get a full-time job to help us get back on our feet. I thought that the parents from my classroom would have been the ones to get this project funded. Instead, it was some of my friends. That means a lot to me.

I also want to thank everyone for spreading the word. Katrina put in a great plug for the project on her blog. Many people were reached because of everyones' efforts. Thank you. I even had people call after it was funded to ask how to donate, not knowing that we had the full amount. I am sure there are many people that planned on donating but hadn't had a chance yet.

I don't want to become one giant cause, always asking for help. I just wanted to let you know that anytime you are getting rid of games because they are missing pieces or other things that you think we could use, I will gladly accept them. Thanks for always supporting me. But above all, thanks for your friendship.

This is the Life!

I know on Monday I complained about being home all day and not having the "break" by teaching all day. But boy, this is the life. Yesterday, my neighbor had a luncheon with some of the women and their children. We sat and talked while the kids played. I didn't get anything done. It was such a great day. We sat out in the sun and just enjoyed the company.

Today I went in for a couple of hours and prepared for my unit on insects and my unit on Charlotte's Web. I made all my copies for the next four weeks. The children came with me. They insisted on bringing the dogs, so it was a little crazy.

Later in the day we went to my mom's. We had a nice visit. I wanted to go to Utah/Idaho Supply while I was in S.L.C. My parents offered to watch the kids while I went. Ky ended up coming. It was still nice to get some shopping done.

In short, I have forgotten how nice it is to have days like yesterday and today. I love those days when I have free time and the freedom to plan out my day.

Meet Sammy

I would like to introduce you to a new member of our family. This is Sammy. Many people are wondering what would make us get a second dog. The truth of the matter is that Lexi really is just Porter's dog. We gave her to Porter on his birthday years ago and they have a special relationship.

Kyath has been struggling with so things lately. We fight to get him to school. We fight to get him to church. We fight to get him to do his homework. Many would say it is because we are bad parents. Kyath has always been hard. He is struggling with his emotions.

He has been asking for a dog ever since we got rid of Sammy (the miniature pincher). I just felt like we had enough with one dog. Kyath was looking for free dogs on KSL. I started to think how much having his own dog would help him. I felt like we should look into it.

Then Ky found a lab mix on KSL that was already neutered, potty trained, kennel trained and one and a half years old. We looked at his picture and saw that he was not a full sized lab even though he was full grown. We just felt like he was the dog. Oddly enough, his name is Sammy.

So we picked him up last night. He fits in perfectly with our family. Lexi isn't all that excited. But she will just have to get used to the idea.

Spring Break

This week is spring break for all of us here at the Moore household. You would think I would be excited. But I am going nuts! It is so hard staying home, doing laundry, cleaning and all that other stuff.

I feel bad for Don because I have spent a lot of time just taking a break.

Yes, teaching full-time is hard. It is exhausting to work all day and then take care of my family and house at night. It is hard to burn my candle at both ends. But I think it is harder being home. Psychologically I start going insane. What am I going to do over summer break?