my very first

I had surgery yesterday morning - my first one ever.

Not a big deal, but I had to have a mass taken out of my back. First I went to my regular doctor. She said that it was a little too big to do in her office so she sent me to my surgeon who saw it and told me that he thinks it's even too big for his office and we need to schedule an appointment for an operating room. So it has been a process of a few months but my surgery was yesterday.

I got there at 5:45 a.m. EARLY. I got my blood tested all the good pre-surgery stuff. Kelsey took me to the hospital. But Michelle and grandma came too. It was a family affair.

Then I met up with my nurse who had me change and hooked me to the IV - the whole time I held on to Kelsey's hand. Ew needles. Ouch. Gross. While she was hooking me up, I was singing "Outside," a wonderful song from Signing Time that my kids always sing. I was humming and singing and trying to make noises to keep from squealing/screaming. It wasn't actually that bad and once it was in, it was in - and I was quickly out of it.

Michelle told me that we were all giggling, waiting for the surgery to actually happen. I guess I was fairly entertaining in my drugged up state, yet conscious enough to laugh at what was happening. I had Kelsey and Michelle laughing so hard that they were going to pee their pants. See, I AM the funny. We were all crying...must have been a good waiting room.

So next they were prepping me and this I do not remember. The nurse was putting my hair back and was commenting on how thick and beautiful my hair is and I said, "It's really good today, like a lion's mane." ha really? I would say something like that? Next I remember being in the actual operating room and them asking me to switch to another bed. I roll over and they lay a blanket over my head and put the nasal oxygen tube just in there with me. I was asleep instantly.

Then I was back in the waiting room and they were waking me up. I woke up to see the familiar face of the surgeon I had met a week earlier. "Dr. Petersen! A face a recognize. I haven't seen you at all yet." Michelle said he was just smiling the whole time. Then it was time for Michelle to go back to work. I kept asking her not to go and to stay with me. I was even reaching out for her to make her stay. Cute.

I was in and out of sleep for the next couple of hours and thus in an out of conversation with my nurses and poor Kelsey. I woke up with a pretty bad headache and got some good medicine for that. Kelsey and I went to Smith's after and I was really feeling ok, just my numb back. Mike came over after his class and even brought me some soup from Bajio's. The poor kid - I was all over the place. Ah my head hurts. Oh no, I am going to be sick. OHHH and the hiccups I got - on and off ALL day. That was the worst.

I am still on pain killers and I still have random thoughts from the few hours that I don't remember and I will laugh and laugh.

Sir Woodrow of Stone Abby

Mom just called to tell me that we had to put our Woody down. We all knew it was coming, he had huge tumors growing on his leg...but I thought I would get to see him when I came home for Easter. They buried him back in the corner of our lot and mom said that it was like heaven back there today, with the orange trees blossoming and the sun shining.

We got Woody the week we moved into our house, about 8 years ag0. He has been a part of life there and I cannot imagine home without him. He was always the first one to greet me when I would visit home.

Woody always seemed like a puppy to me. He was a happy dog who loved the water. On hot summer days, he would knock the water our of his bowl and flop in it. He looked like a seal. Watching him in the water was my favorite.

There was something majestic about Woody. He always looked like he was deep in thought. His eyes were endearing and you instantly fell in love with him. Plus, his hair was beautiful, so he fit right in with the Thorkelson clan :) He was a full bred Chocolate Lab with the longest tongue I had ever seen. I remember the first time I took Woody for a walk - he sure walked me. On the way back, our neighbor's two pit bulls attacked my puppy. I just remember screaming for someone to help. My poor Woody was a little scratched up, but it didn't keep him from dragging me home.

We walked a lot in the summers back when he was young, but any walk became this super long stop and go activity. Woody did not like walking in the heat and anytime he could find the shade of a tree, there he would lie until he decided to get up and go again. He was my type of dog.

One year for Christmas, I got a puppy. His name was Bubba. Woody instantly loved my Bubba. Woody and Bubba often got lost out exploring and it always scared us. One day Dad wanted me to wait for him after swim practice. He told me that Bubba and Woody had left our yard again, but this time Bubba had been hit. I remember crying in the garage with Woody for weeks after I lost Bubba. Poor Woody really understood what was going on because he had lost his best friend too. He was never really the same after that. I guess that is when he started seeming old to me.

Woody was in Christmas cards with us. He was the one to scare all the crazy youth who would attempt to TP our house (little did they know, the minute you said his name he would let you come and go as you please). Woody was always playing games and would even jump up on the trampoline where his nails would just slip and slide so that he couldn't even stand up. Woody loved riding in the back of the suburban. Those were the days...all the windows down or else you'd smell like dog, but having Woody there to lick at the wind was so worth it. He loved us and we really do love him.

The Puppy Song - by Harry Nilsson

If only I could have a puppy

I'd call myself so very lucky

Just to have some company

To share a cup of tea with me

I'd take my puppy everywhere

La la la la I wouldn't care

Then we'll stay away from crowds

With signs that say no dogs allowed

Oh we... I know he'd never bite me

We... I know he'd never bite me

just my luck

I picked up my car on Friday and it felt brand new! I loved driving it and it actually had some umph due to something he tightened. I guess my distributor went out - he fixed that too.

I didn't drive it at all on Friday and maybe a total of half an hour throughout the day yesterday. Last night after BYU lost in the tournament, Mel and I decided to go watch our boys volleyball team beat USC. We got to the volleyball game right as everyone was leaving. We walked in anyway to visit with a friend and to find out that we won in 3 sets. Last year, I was USC's locker kind of girl when they came for the NCAA Tournament and I might have fallen in love with one of their coaches, so, naturally, I have a soft spot for that little team.

But here is when my luck comes in. Mel and I are leaving, I pull out of my spot and...

My car is driving lopsided and it feels like I am on University. Definitely have a flat tire. Completely FLAT. We change it to my little spare (with the help of a few strangers). I slowly drive it the two blocks home and right as I am crossing the street, I can feel my spare has gone flat. I have to call SHANE HILL to come and help us push it to a spot. I am now parked facing traffic, but what can I do? I also have to get my tire fixed today so I can get to work tomorrow.

As much as I love my little car, he is sure giving me a hard time this week!

this is for REAL!

I woke up yesterday morning a little stressed - it was St. Patrick's Day and I had nothing cute prepared for my kids. Five blocks from my house my car stalls and it is dead, gone, not going to start again. As soon as my car died, I wished I had Robi with me. He was my go-to man when I needed saving and yesterday, I wanted to be saved. I don't think I have missed him so much.

But, to make a long story short - I didn't get to work until noon and my kids lovvveeeeddd seeing me :)

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Oh, and then, on the playground, I was talking to a few first grade girls that were drawing a map. I asked them about it and they told me that it was the treasure map that was going to take them to their boyfriends. "Because we like boys," one of them told me. "Oh I like boys too!" I said. She told me that my husband was lucky. Uhhh...when I told her I didn't have one, she informed me that I was old enough. Great.

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MARCH MADNESS has begun! and BYU won today. I can't lie, I was at work during the game...but I did have it playing on my computer. A few of my boys even watch the OTs with me. We were all rise and shouting the Cougars, but as quietly as possible. Loyd was on fire and Jimmer continued to shock the nation. I didn't make a bracket, in fact, I never have, but I LOVE watching these games!

my crazy weekend

The MWC basketball tournament was in Vegas this weekend - and like always, I was there. We (Me, Aubrey and Mel) left Friday night and got to Vegas around midnight. We stayed with a friend for the night and then thanks to Josh and Rosie, we went to the Planet Hollywood Towers and hung out by the pool. I got some sun for sure...

Then we ate In N Out (of course) followed by shopping at the Outlets. The game was fun, but definitely a little depressing. We watched SDSU beat UNM and then we played UNLV. All games this tournament have been really close. The UNLV fans got into a huge fight with each other at one point. That got crazy real fast. Cops came up and everything. Such an experience.

Bummed by the loss, we got in the car right after the game and drove to San Diego. I mean, why not? We were already half way there. We pulled up to my house around 4:00 am and I surprised my family. I ran upstairs to wake up mom who didn't know what was going on at all. She was shocked and the reaction I got from Port and Hannah was even better. They both jumped out of bed to get me. Oh how I love being loved.

Saturday we slept in, watched the classic Thorkelson tv shows (The Middle and Community) and then went for a walk on the pier. I never forget how beautiful home is but it always takes my breath away.

After lunch at In N Out, the girls and I drove up to Long Beach to watch the BYU men's volleyball play in a tournament. I know - I sound like an obsessive crazy. I am only sort of that. They just happened to be nearby and it is my last year, so why not get it all in now? Doesn't sound so crazy after all huh? :)

I was home for exactly 27 hours - the next morning we woke up and drove back to Provo (stopping in St. George for, of course, In N Out). Back with the snow and mountains and everything. Pretty, but nothing like home.

So - - - - Friday in Vegas, Saturday in San Diego, Sunday driving back to Provo - stopping for In N Out all three days. What a weekend.

in case you were wondering...

...He is still alive! And I sure love him.

Cute story for today -

One of my super sweet kids brought his "my little prayer book" to school today. He showed me a picture and told me it was Jesus. Then he asked me if I would see him in heaven when he went back again. I said of course and the cute kid looked at me and said "THHHorkelson - you're smart." Actually, he is the smart one. He knows what is going on and he sure has the light of Christ in him.

it's so crazy right nowwwww

* Do you even know what is happening at the end of the week?!

MWC Tournament in VEGAS!

* Do you know who will be there?!

ME! and the rest of my fanatic friends.

This is my last year as a student (because I graduate next month!) and so this has to be the year we become tournament champs.

These pictures represent my life over the last semester - the basketball part of it has been wonderful (minus the UNM game).

Taking it on the road and winning :)

Party in the tent - morning of

Last night of camping for the season

inspiration

There are two girls that I would like to thank for helping me decide the path of special education. Their names are Sonia and Cerae and I love them. They are twins and I worked with them in high school. We still talk and they are both now out working and learning to become independent, just like me. They love that I want to teach special education and are some of my biggest supporters.

Sonia has been in a wheelchair her entire life. She called me last night to tell me about the surgery she had a few months ago. Because of it, she is now able to walk with some help. I definitely teared up when she told me this. I never imagined this being why she called and I have never been so happy for her. I cannot wait to help her walk.

The little things that we take for granted are miracles that we forget to recognize.

My DTR during recess

As I have said before - I love my kids. I love working with them and today was great.

We were outside for recess and I was just sitting in the field of dead grass watching my kids play. One of them decided to run at me and he just sat down next to me. We were talking and he made some mention to me being old. Old?! So I asked him if he thought I was old. He asked how old I was so I told him to guess. This is our conversation:

Boy - I don't know, 48?

Me - YOU THINK I AM 48?!

What, you're less?

Of course I am.

35?

Lower.

Are you in your 20's?

Yep

28?

Lower!

25, 24, 23, 22, 21.

Yep! 21.

Wow. You are practically a teenager. Do you have a baby?

No. I am not even married!

When can I get married?

Well, I guess when you're in love.

After I said this, he grabbed my arm, smiled, and sort of giggled then told me that he loved me. Ah! I laughed at him, not sure how to handle the situation. My first proposal, sort of, from my 3rd grade student! Can't blow this one, the next one might not come for a long time. Then, being the smart boy that he is, he told me that he didn't love me like that. Ouch...haha but that he loved me like a teacher. We joked about it the rest of the day. I guess I am pretty cool.

service - love - charity

Sunday was all about charity. Every meeting was built around loving others, loving God, and loving ourselves. It was perfect.

We have started a new goal with one of my students and it requires a lot of hands on, hard work from me and my techs. The one who helped me try and accomplish this goal with my student today warned me ahead of time that she was not happy about doing it and I totally understand where she is coming from. It is not an easy task but it is one that will ultimately be used through this specific student's entire life. After we finished, she (my tech) sat down with him and rubbed lotion into his dry skin. I could see the deep love that she had for him instantly. She had to humble herself to do this act of service, and it was not an easy one, but after we finished it, her attitude towards it quickly changed and was replaced by charity. I have no doubt that selfless service is the ultimate form of love and the quickest way to develop Christlike love for someone.

Also - I LOVE all of my students. I couldn't stop thinking it today. It wasn't even an easy day, but it was a good Monday. At the end of the day, a mom called and told me about an appointment she was taking her child to the next day. She mentioned that he was one of only 14 with this specific condition so they want to track his development. Amazing! I have such a great opportunity to work with these so unique children who are living miracles. I sure have the coolest job.