The Stapleton Family

As many of you know since her wreck in 2008 Jess has suffered from severe persistent migraines. Many of you may know people that suffer from migraines but let me put what Jess goes through in perspective.

This is a typical week for Jess

On average she has 4 migraines a week and it usually takes about 12 hours to kick one.
That’s 48 hours

She works about 45 hours a week (at school anyway)
That’s 93 hours

Then let’s say we let her sleep at least 7 hours a night
That’s 142 hours

With 169 hours in a week that leaves about 4 hours a day for family and other pursuits. However I can tell you there are some weeks we wish she felt well 4 hours a day.

Since the wreck she has been going through pain management treatment (3 1/2 years now). Her doctors have been great and really brought her a long way but we can’t accept that she is going to have to live the rest of her life this way.

That brings us to tonight we are in a hotel room waiting for her appointment at the Mayo clinic tomorrow. In reality we realize there may be nothing anyone can do but we just can’t accept that yet. If this is God’s will then we have to accept it but that doesn’t mean we can’t talk to a few people until we hear him clearly.

We are not ignorant of the fact that we are fortunate she can even function and work. Through everything she continues to work and use her gift for the Special Ed population she serves. That “job” is a blessing to her in so many ways but we just have to ask if there is anything else we can do for her.

So if you are the praying kind we would appreciate any stray prayer traffic you can send our way. As we feel appropriate we will relay the results of her visit.

For the time being prayer would be most greatly appreciated.

Greetings and Salutations Faithful Stapleton Blog Readers!

I know it has been a long time since a formal update.  To be honest we have so much interaction with our friends and family through Facebook and Twitter it’s like pulling teeth to update the blog.  But do not fear my troglodyte friends and family, here is another update to bring you up to speed.  Besides I need to keep the blog updated so that when my memoirs are written I can refer back.

Since I am so far in the arrears on this entry I am going to break it up by season and by spousal unit  (That way I channel my inner Sheldon.)

Summer

Jess had the summer off of course being a school teacher.  That however did not mean she got out of going to school.  As part of the pyramid scheme that is the education system she graduated with a 4.0 Masters in Special Education but needs to take more classes for a BD/LD/MI certificate.  (Behavioral Disorder/Learning Disability/Mental Impairment).  She took 6 hours during the summer to fulfill the requirement of her teaching certificate.  This summer she also tried out a new migraine medication.  This medicine is meant to be taken daily as a preventative.  After a disastrous first try during the school year, the second drug she tried worked!  It has reduced the frequency of the migraines considerably.   Don’t take me wrong, when she has a migraine the severity is not any less but they are happening far less frequently.  Over the summer she also accepted a new position in the school system.  She is now teaching a self-contained Autism/MI room at the new Huntington Middle School.

My summer was about par for the course with lots of projects and travel.  Wish it was more exciting but that was about it.  I am fortunate that the services my company provides to banks are non-discretionary and tied to long-term contracts.   This gives my job and company a position of stability even in economies like this one.  I am happy to report that we are still the largest data processor in WV and have resigned every customer thus far (even added a new one).  That’s not to say that we are fancy free and without difficulties in this economy, we just have a buffer.

During the summer Jess and I also celebrated out 11th anniversary and took a much too quick vacation.  While we are on the subject, my Hilton Diamond status allows me to throw people out of a hotel for room but not the waffle line.  I need to address this with the Hilton Honors program but I digress.

Fall

Jess started off her school year with a new class, in her new room, and in a new building.  Unfortunately for her, the support she has last year was sub par so she is getting another first year of teaching.  So far this school year has been much better in every way.  She is really getting her footing and using her gift to work with those who cannot help themselves.  She gives those kids everything she has and it makes me very proud.

In order to keep up with her pyramid scheme program she is also taking another 6 hours this fall.  Assuming we have the entire story this time, she should be able to take some time off from school until Fall 2011.

My fall has been pretty busy as well with projects and travel.  I have been included in a new program the company is offering and so far it has been pretty challenging. (more to come on this later)  I also have been blessed with sales again this year.  With 3 months left in our fiscal year I am sitting at 241% of my goal.  This continues my trend of making my goals every year since I have been employed my lowest year 103% my highest 263%. So with any luck, this should put me on the Top Ten sales list in the company for the 3rd year in a row.  You know it can be discouraging to be absolutely worn out at work, but it would be worse if everything I was doing didn’t show any results.  I am looking forward to some vacation time over Christmas to get rested up.

In other miscellaneous news:

• Mom had her surgery in October to have everything put back together.  She is doing very well and continues to heal and get stronger everyday
• I can now report that after my first 19,000 miles in my 2011 Avalon I would recommend it to anyone without reservation.  Since I only have the fleet model yours will be much nicer.
• Jess’s brother Ricky and his wife Megan are settled into their new life in Deridder, LA.  Ricky has signed a two-year contract to work with a dental firm in the area.  Megan is exploring graduate school and employment options in the area.
• I just finished week 3 of my couch to 5k .

That’s about all the exciting updates from the Stapleton household.  Like everyone else, we just do our little part everyday to make the country go around.

We have been blessed beyond all measure and have so much to be thankful for.

Until next time, that’s the news and I am outta here!