Coffee Pot 1 - Ethan 0

Tuesday began like many other Tuesdays have at our house. Josh was home from work and we were planning on having some friends visit in the afternoon. I sent Emma up to wake Josh up around 8:30 to help me straighten up the house for our guests.

Josh came down and we got into our routine to feed everyone and start our day. I turned the oven on to start making cinnamon buns for breakfast. Josh started his little one cup coffee pot. I do not like coffee so Josh has this little coffee maker that makes coffee directly into a travel mug.

Josh went back into the living room to wait for his coffee to brew and Emma asked me for some juice. I went back into the kitchen and Ethan followed me in. I turned away from him to get the juice out of the frig and then I heard him scream. I turned and I don't really remember what I saw or what I said. Then next thing I remember was scooping him up, feeling him hot, putting him into the sink and turning the water on. Josh was then next to me ripping off his clothes.

Ethan had pushed Emma's step stool over to the counter and climbed up on it to reach the counter. He pulled the coffee cup over and it spilled over the counter and then down the front of him.

His skin looked like he had a terrible, peeling sunburn. Ethan was just inconsolable and just wanted to be held. Josh tried to call the doctor but it was busy. We decided it was best to have him checked and got everyone into the car and take him to Hasbro Children's Hospital. Emma was wonderful through this whole time. She is three and acts like a three year old quite often. Not on this day though, she did everything we asked and listened really well.

We got to the hospital within about 30 minutes of the accident and they rushed us right in. I really did not think it was all that bad at this point. I thought that they might give him a shot and dress it and send us home.

The nurses came in to start his I.V. then he would have some Morphine to help with the pain. The burn doctor came in and examined him and they began to wrap his wounds. He felt much better already and this is what he looked like after:

It's tough to see your little man hurting so bad but he was so brave and strong the whole time. The doctors told us that he would have to be admitted to the hospital to help with is pain management and the changing of his dressings. It was hard to hear that but it was what was best for him. Soon we were heading up to the 4th floor to Ethan's room.

For the rest of the day they monitored Ethan and made sure he was comfortable. Everyone there was so wonderful to us and really took wonderful care of little man.
Soon Ethan was moving around and walking the halls. He ended up finding the toy room, it really didn't take him all that long. I had to chase him around with his I.V. pole while he tried everything out. He was naming everything he knew and it was great to see him feeling so much better already.

One of the nurses, that wasn't even Ethan's nurse, nicknamed him "the mayor". He would just walk around saying, "Hi"to all the babies and anyone else he bumped into.

I stayed with him that night and he slept fantastically. When he woke up the next morning we began the wait to for the dressing change. Josh and I were really nervous about it. We knew that it would hurt Ethan and we were scared to see what it looked like.

Just after lunch it was time and we went into the treatment room. Ethan didn't like it at all but soon it was over. We were so relieved to see that the doctors were able use a new product on Ethan. It looked like a large sheet of felt and it had silver embedded in it. Keith, the Physician's Assistant, and Dr. Harrington explained to us that bacteria cannot grow where ever there is silver. Once they applied the sheet to Ethan's burn it would stick and harden. He can keep this bandage on for 10 days to 2 weeks.

This was great news. Before we were going to have to go through that painful dressing change everyday and a visiting nurse was going to have to come to do it. Now we could just take care of him on our own and he could be discharged that day.

Before we knew it we were on our way home with our little man.
It was the best feeling. Our little family could be back together and Ethan could heal at home. Ethan adores Emma and could not wait to be with her. The next morning, he tried to cuddle his sister while they ate their breakfast.
Luckily, Ethan should recover just fine from this. The doctor said that when we go to see him in 2 weeks most of the burn should be healed. Their might be one spot on his side that might take a little longer but he will be well very soon.

Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers for our little man. He is a well loved, special little guy.

What a difference a week makes...

Last week at this time I was thinking that I had two more weeks of summer school and then I would have to start my new job at the preschool.

Last week at this time I was still worrying how we would afford Emma's preschool, ballet, and Ethan's gymboree classes.

Last week at this time I was sad that I had to spend most of my summer working. (I went to school to teach after all)

Then Tuesday came....

I received an email from the president of union explaining that their *may* be a position for me after the job fair on Thursday. I could NOT believe it! This past February at a union meeting I was told that if Oak Haven closed there was no way I would be working. Oak Haven did close so I thought there was no possible way I would work. I have been on layoff since 2005. I was starting to think I would never get a full time job again. I spent the next two days trying to think of every possible scenario as to what might happen once job fair came.

I really wanted to get the first grade position at Washington Oak. There are a few reasons for this....I really like working at Washington Oak and feel like it's my home school since I have worked there the most. Also, it is a late starting school so I would be able to be a mommy each morning and drop Emma off at preschool. The last reason is because at the end of last year I finished teaching first grade so it would be a wonderful first to teach the same grade level twice in a row.


Then Thursday finally came...

I sat in the auditorium of Coventry High School nervous as can be. I kept texting Josh updates every few minutes. There were 9 positions on the list that I was eligible to teach. They went though High School positions, Middle School positions, and finally Elementary positions.

As they called out each position I held my breathe. I figured I needed about 5 to stay open in order to get called back. It was amazing to see positions remaining open. Then there were five open, then six, then seven! I could not believe it. After the job fair was finished the president of our union announced that there were 8 elementary teachers on layoff and 7 positions. I started to get real nervous. All of the teachers on lay off were asked to go to the front of the auditorium and we would be able to pick positions by seniority.

I rushed up to the front knowing that I was really low in seniority and asked whether I was number 7 or 8. No one would answer me, I had to be patient. I had been patient since Tuesday when I received the email. I had been patient for the past 90 minutes watching others get jobs. I just wanted to know now.

They then told us the order that we would get to pick. I was number 5 (I was quite proud of myself for estimating correctly in the first place). I would get to pick from 3 positions! When it was my turn I looked at the list and was so happy to see: Grade 1 Washington Oak School (1 year only). One year is better than nothing and I scooped it right up! I think I floated out of the auditorium. I was so happy!

Now this is my last week of work until school starts. I get almost 3 weeks off!

Now we can afford Emma's preschool, ballet, and Ethan's Gymboree classes.

Now I don't have to start at the preschool making peanuts.

There were some positions left after the job fair so we actually will be having an additional job fair on the 17th of August. I plan on staying in my grade one position unless I can get a position that isn't one year only. I don't see that happening but you never know what can happen.

It's been a long 4 years for my family and I but we got through it, maybe a little stronger and a little more appreciative of all that we have.