Bachelor Blog

I would normally leave this kind of thing to my resident Bachelor blogging friend Jenna, but this is just a must. I feel like it is my moral responsibility to bring this to everyone's attention. I have great news! My reality TV husband, Cape Cod Chris, from The Ali Bachelorette or as I like to refer to it as, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", is now happily in love with my other fav Bachelor contestant Peyton. Oh happy day! If I had to pick anyone for him, I guess Peyton is the ideal choice. Good thing Texas doesn't recognize polygamy because if they did...oh boy! (Don't worry blog readers. Austin knows all about this. I think he might be relieved that Chris is no longer available.) Congrats to the happy couple, for now. I'm sure they'll break up due to her disgust for burping and his love of rainbows. RIP Mama Cape Cod.

The Things We Do for Peanut Butter

While I was at bible study on Tuesday, Austin decided to make himself PB & J. The peanut butter fell out of our cabinet and he dove to get it and cut his face on the corner of the cabinet. He later realized our peanut butter is in a plastic tub not glass so he was a little mad that he risked that for nothing. What can I say, the guy loves PB. I honestly think he was just so jealous of my super awesome stitches and scar, he just HAD to have one for himself. I mean, the wife can't get all the attention around here. :)

The funny thing is while we were in the ER room, Austin's back was hurting so he sat in the regular chair and I sat on the guerny. When the doctor came in, he was so confused. Do I help the girl on the guerny with the broken arm or the dude in the corner with a bloody face? The Tengs are a HOT MESS!!! We just need to restrict ourselves to our house until our luck gets a little better. I think the peanut butter sandwich is a bit of foreshadowing for our future meals since we are now poor from all the ER visits...3 in 30 days. That's a record!

You're going to AU-STRAL-IA!!!

Have to squeeze in my best Oprah impression while the timing is right.

My brother and sister in law, Evan and Courtney, found out last week that Evan's job is sending them to Australia for 3 months of work. We celebrated with them and little Campbell at brunch with our family and best family friends. Have fun in Australia! Cheerio mates!

Loving that red fuzzy thing on Bobby's face

She'll be so big when she comes back

Bob and Megan

Solange and Josh

Campbell loving some sweet potatoes

The gang

My Crazy Life: Part 2

This seems like forever ago, but I wanted to share this story with you to A) prove that when I tell stories about my school day that even though they sound like a made-for-tv movie, they are not and B) encourage everyone to learn CPR.

My first day back to school after the holidays and my accident was actually a Wednesday since I was sick that Monday and had my first ortho appt Tuesday. I wasn't feeling great but convinced myself to go to school and just "take it easy". Words I would eat later.

At 10:35am, 3 kids knocked, no banged, on my door screaming that the sub next door had passed out. I ran next door to find her face down, moaning, with her eyes in the back of her head. While other teachers were calling the school nurse or 911, another teacher and I were asking the lady questions trying to get her to talk. All of a sudden, she stopped breathing! My heart sank. The only thing that I could think to do was roll her over. I had first decided against this b/c when the kids said she fell I didn't know if she had a neck injury but that all changed when she stopped breathing. Not even remembering about my broken, casted arm, I rolled her over and she then took a big gasp but then stopped breathing again. The worst part was as this woman lay there basically dying, all the teachers that were now in the room looked at each other and realized that NONE of us knew CPR. 4 or 5 minutes later (but what seemed like an eternity), the school nurse ran down and immediately gave the woman CPR and got her breathing again. About 20 minutes after the paramedics took her away, all of the adrenaline wore off and my arm was in so much pain! Not exactly what the doctor meant by "taking it easy". Thank the good Lord, the woman survived and we later found out she had a heart attack due to a leaky valve.

I only tell this story because that was my wake up call. In this season of a new year and new beginnings, people set resolutions. I always struggle with resolutions (who doesn't) and never seem to come up with anything creative or able to stick with. (My 2008 resolution was to start recycling and when people come over and ask if we recycle I always have to say "No, but that was my 2008 new year's resolution. Does that count?") What I realized that day, was that God encouraged me to be at school so that I, along with my amazing co-workers, could save this woman's life. But also, a wake-up call that my 2011 New Year's Resolution is to learn CPR and learn it well. I never want to feel that helpless and scared again.

I WILL be successful at this! I honestly can't believe that as a public school teacher I don't already know CPR. The funny part of this is that when I called the hospital about taking classes and told them that I currently have a broken arm and asked if that would be a problem, the lady responded in the sweetest southern accent ever, "Well dear, since you are disabled you are probably not going to be successful in the class at this time because you will fail your compression tests. Call us in a few months." HA! Awesome. Thanks for the confidence.

If anyone wants to take CPR with me, give me a shout!

My Crazy Life: Part 1-All I want for Christmas is some Vicodin

I wanted to update my blog earlier but it takes me FOREVER to type. So here's my Christmas Story. Insert my picture here...

We decided to change things up this year and spend Christmas with my best friend Emily and her husband Jeremiah in Avon, CO. We also did the unthinkable and brought crazy Harley dog along for the ride. We skied on the 23rd and decided to snowmobile Christmas Eve. Well, things did not go as planned.

We rode about an hour down the mountain and then stopped for hot chocolate with our tour guide and group. As we were taking off, my snowmobile slid on ice and took me over the snow embankment and crashed into a snow plow (see pic below). I knew I hurt myself badly but I had so many layers on I didn't realize how bad it was. Because Piney River Lake is naturally protected, I was not able to be airlifted out so my amazing snowmobile guide, Gregg, wrapped me up, gave me oxygen shots, and stuck me on the back of his snowmobile. Worst part...holding my arm in place for 40 minutes on the bumpy ride back up the mountain.

Let's just say I DO NOT handle injuries or stress well so I was a hot mess at the hospital. The doctor's verdict: a compound fracture in my arm and 5 stitches in my knee. My ulna broke out of my arm, and my radius broke up and jammed up into my elbow dislocating that. Not cool and not the way I planned on spending my Christmas but I thank my God that I am alive. I guess I really shouldn't complain. I immediately went in to surgery and had a plate and 10 screws put into my arm.

Fast forward to 2 1/2 weeks later. I am doing lots of physical therapy and trying to get movement back in my arm. My PT goal is to be able to touch my nose with my thumb by Monday. Sounds ridiculous, right? It is so frustrating to not be able to fix my hair, put on eye liner, not cook (that is killing me), and so many other things I just never really thought about. Austin has been so amazing and fixed my hair everyday for school. Don't tell him I told you! My mom bought me a TON of sweater vest since my arm won't really fit into much. HAHA! So cool. She's really been a lifesaver to have so close. My students have been so sweet to help pass out papers and let me relax when I need to. I get the cast off in 4 more weeks but PT will probably be for a few more months. This has not been fun but it has been a very unique growing experience for me. I guess everyone has to go to the hospital at least once in their life. :)

And we're off!

Just made spinach lasagna, wedge salad, and oatmeal cookies for dinner. YUM! Relaxing w/ our pups.

Our first, and only, day of skiing/snowboarding.

Emily and I have been dressing alike since we've known each other, over 25 years! We would always buy matching clothes, be a pair for Halloween, or do Twin Day together at school. We just happened to get ready for bed and had the EXACT same outfit on. Too funny! BF's think alike.

Starting our snowmobile "adventure"

Still have two good arms

Merry Christmas from the Tengs

This picture is hard to look at. Austin happened to take this picture about 10 minutes before my accident. I flew into the left side of the snow claw.

About to take off to go back up the mountain.

Right after surgery.

Christmas day with the boys. They took such good care of me.

On our way home. Harley insisted on riding in the front. Oh Harley!

Went out for New Year's with my favorite "brothers and sisters" and Cami-bell to Royal China.

Queen, Courtney, and Campbell came over to help me get dressed. I had to get my hair did!

Let me explain. I can't really cook dinner. I can't grip much so I asked Austin to cut onions. I left the room and when I came back, he was wearing ridiculous Oakley sunglasses, crying because the onion was so strong. HA! He doesn't get in the kitchen much :)

My first week back. T-shirt day (gotta represent), Tie Up TAKS bow day (Austin did the bow and ponytail all by himself), and my new robo-cast I got that day.

Be on the look out for My Crazy Life: Part 2. It is a doozy! I really need my own reality TV show.