Life happens. That's a phrase that the Brannans have become more and more aware of every day of the past month!
My first year teaching was off to a start- not many bumps in the road, a regular schedule... normal. Then, my wonderful hubby cut his hand open with a glass in our sink. It was the Saturday before Halloween. He placed it down too hard in the sink and the glass shattered, cutting his pinky in two different places and all the way down into this palm. To the Emergency Room we went at 11:30 PM. I was all but losing my mind. He was stitched up with 18 stitches, given good pain pills and some antibiotic, and we got back home at about 2:30 AM. It was quickly determined that he couldn't bend his pinky in and out and this meant that he lacerated both tendons. Upon further investigation, he couldn't feel his pinky either so he also lacerated the nerve. The day after seeing the orthopedic, he had surgery to repair his tendons and nerve (24 stitches). I've had to take off a day, leave early a few days, and generally disrupt my regular schedule to help him get to appointments, his surgery, and all that "fun" stuff. He's been in a splint to keep his hand always bent and pressure off of the tendons and he's healing really well and doing great with his occupational therapy.
The night of Halloween, after the ER and first stitches but before the appointment and surgery, we came home from visiting family to find that there was a leak from our upstairs guest bathroom and it was dripping into our bedroom and bathroom. The leak was fixed the following day, but the sheetrock, ceilings, subfloor and all were soaked. The heavy-duty fans sat in our house, 5 downstairs and 3 upstairs, for almost a full week before everything was dry enough. Then, the work began to fix everything. We lived in a hotel for almost two weeks. The entire time Rob was having surgery and beginning to heal.
What fun?! The dust finally began to settle from that caios- literally- when I got sick and had to leave work early last week.
My sweet, sweet students have been so very caring and understanding with all of this going on. Their lessons and work haven't changed because we have GREAT subs, but I've been in and out for the past several weeks. They've been so worried and have constantly asked about Rob (Mr. Brannan). Even if they are acting like they've lost their minds as the holidays approach, they have the sweetest hearts.
It's been one thing after another for a month now so I am probably the MOST excited person on the planet about having a FIVE day weekend!!! Much needed rest, relaxation, and family time is in the very near future! Three hours to be exact :)
This year, I'm thankful for-
-my sweet students that have been so caring
-my co-workers that have made it so easy for me to be with Rob when I needed to be and not be worried about my students
-my family that has been so loving and supportive
-my friends that have really stepped up to help us and just be there for us
-my Savior that has had to do a lot of saving me lately and for his constant reminding me that I have to trust him
and most of all,
-my wonderful husband that has been so great despite his temporary handicap
To sum up the lesson we've learned~
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances..." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
