The week(s) in review

First off, as I type this I am listening to the most delightful sound of "my" girls laughing. I love the sound of little girls giggling...although I am partial to Andrew giggles as well. It just makes your heart swell to hear that carefree laughter that only children seem to have. That complete abandon. Alexa and Hayley are giggling away...even though they are supposed to be going to sleep. But, what are sleepovers for? Definitely not for sleeping. So, for now, I will let them giggle. We don't have to be anywhere in the morning and they are on Christmas break. And I want them to have as many good memories as they can make.

My hope is that they will always remain sister close. They have known each other their entire lives...Hayley was just 2 months old when they met, Alexa was 8 months old. I am going to do everything I can to help them remain close. I want to watch them grow up together....after all, Hayley is my other daughter. They are, as Alexa called them earlier, the "cute twins".

Christmas went well. The kids went to my in-laws Christmas Eve day to play with their cousins and make cookies for Santa. They had a lot of fun. Then my mother-in-law broke a few laws as she transported all the kids in her car that wasn't quite big enough for all of them....ahem....but all ended well and they got here safely. And, as my very own Christmas miracle, Mike took me out to lunch while the kids were gone. It was even his idea.

On Christmas, after opening gifts at home, we went over to my parents for lunch. It was all very nice. My sister-in-law, niece, and nephew didn't show up, but both of my grandmas were there, as was my aunt, another aunt for a short time, brother, and us. It was small, but pleasant. The kids did pretty well for themselves, present wise. We weren't supposed to buy for adults, but my dad ignored that rule. I did buy my brother a pooping reindeer, but that was just for fun. I will post pictures later, if I remember....of the kids, not the reindeer.

When we came home, we played the Wii....for way too long. Mike and I were a bit sore the next morning from all of the tennis. All in all...a very nice Christmas.

Today I had my Nationals test. It was hard. I can't even stress how extremely difficult it was. I walked out wanting to cry. But, being me, I don't cry in public. I told Mike if it weren't for the fact that I had to go get Alexa from the sitter and meet Sandy to get Hayley, I would have been bawling. I didn't know but maybe 5 answers. I don't know where they got those questions from, but I had certainly never seen that information before...and I am a study geek. My friend that I have been taking class with doesn't call me Anal Annie for nothing. (although I think it is a trifle rude....lol....she has just shortened it to Annie) I took all the practice tests...a couple of times....and these questions weren't in the "it's like having the test in advance" book. We never covered it in class. And it wasn't just me, my friend said the same thing.

However. At 2p.m. I got an email stating that my test results had been posted. Hesitantly I went to the website....and....another Christmas miracle....I passed. I am now a state and nationally certified EMT-B. Now, I just have to find a job. Hopefully the application I mailed today to Galichia will land me a job. I would really like to work there. I have one friend already employed there and another about to be. Plus, if I can get a job there as an Emergency Care Technician, I am hoping they will pay for my nursing school. Prayers are appreciated! I will probably apply at the Valley of Death (Susan B. Anthony in El D) too. I don't know if they hire EMT's, but I know they pay for school, so it is worth a shot. Probably I shouldn't address the envelope to "Valley of Death".

It is all quiet now, here at the Ponderosa. I am going to read for a bit. I am reading a book by this wonderful author I just happen to know.....Where The Heart Leads by Kim Vogel Sawyer. It is a sequel to Waiting For Summer's Return. Very good books....and I'm not just saying that cuz Kim's my "big sister". If you haven't picked up one of her books, why not? Her new one is even available at Wal-Mart....which surprised me to no end when I walked in and there it was right in front of the door! I'm just a simple country girl, to me, that's like hitting the Best Seller's list!

Christmas in Heaven

I found this the year Amber died, and came across it today.

I see the countless Christmas trees
around the world below.
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars,
reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular,
please wipe away a tear.
For I'm spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs,
that people hold so dear.
But the sounds of music can't compare
with the Christmas choir up here.

For I have no words to tell you
the joy their voices bring.
For it is beyond description
to hear an angel sing.

I know how much you miss me,
for I feel your breaking heart.
But through our memories so dear,
we're never far apart.

I can't tell you of the splendor
or the peace here in this place.
Can you just imagine Christmas
with our Savior face to face?

I'll ask Him to light your spirit
as I tell Him of your love.
So then, pray for one another
as you lift your eyes above.

So please let your hearts be joyful
and let your spirits sing.
For I'm spending Christmas in Heaven
and I'm walking with the King.

State Boards

Just a quick little note....I passed State boards!! Now I just have National. I am hoping to do that before the end of the year. I was nervous, but I knew that I knew my stuff, I studied, memorized and prayed like crazy. I wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be, although by the time we actually started testing (I got there at 7:15 and we didn't start until after 9), the butterflies in my stomach had started mutating. But the examiner was super nice and helpful. My instructor - not so much. He said Thursday night that he thought my friend and I would bomb the test - he said this in front of the whole class! And then Saturday after I told him that contrary to his belief, my friend and I both passed the test, he said, "I was betting against you." Can you believe that? I still get angry thinking about it. But, it is over and I passed and that is all that counts.

Snow, the bus, and more.....

First of all, no, I didn't wreck or get stuck - sorry to disappoint. BUT, I went out this morning and my bus had a radiator leak - there was antifreeze all over the snow under the bus. This was at 6:20...so I had to hurry and call Becky, the bus barn boss, and ask if there was a bus available. They started one for me and I was able to drive my bus up there - it had enough fluid to get that far. But, the bus they started for me is one I absolutely hate. The seat is too tall, I can't reach the pedals (you have to unscrew stuff to move the seat) and can't see out of the mirrors. You use mirrors ALOT when you drive a bus. But worse than all of that, it doesn't have heat.

I was doing okay, my wipers were keeping the stuff that was blown on my windshield off, until it started drizzling and then snowing. By the time I was about halfway through my route, I could no longer see out of my window. And the side windows had iced over on the inside. I called the mechanic and he met me at the high school and sprayed de-icer on the windshield (and the driver window on the inside). We couldn't scrape the windshield because the driver side wiper wouldn't shut off!

That was enough, though, to get me to the middle school and then I inched my way back to town and to the bus barn. I parked that piece of junk bus and my boss was able to get the wiper to stop by taking the knob off and messing with the metal thing under it.

I took yet another bus home - but first I had to scrap the ice off of the steps because you know I would have fallen!

I really, really do not like winter. Turns out, Ericca is staying in Texas....up until this weekend, we thought she was moving back, so....it's back to talking Mike into moving to the Corpus Christi area! It was like 77 degrees there the other day.

On a side note - I am reading Just Beyond the Clouds by Karen Kingsbury....it is #2 in a series that will make you cry, smile, then cry some more. The first one made me cry like a baby....one of the main characters had cystic fibrosis (you don't see that a lot in books). I started last night, am on Chapter 6 and have had either tears pooled in my eyes or flat out running down my face a good portion of the time. I am going to try to finish it tonight.

And I have been sick since Friday night....I stopped throwing up before the morning on Saturday, but didn't feel well enough to go to the movies with Mike and the kids (they saw Bolt, in 3D), and slept almost all day Saturday and Sunday. I still haven't eaten because even a little bit of soup made my stomach cramp really bad...I have just consumed more sprite than I think I have in the last 10 years put together!

Mike and the kids say that Bolt is a great movie if you need a movie suggestion. Saturday, while I was sick, they saw that, then Mike's geek friends came over to play. Alexa and I hung out in her room...she strung candy necklaces and watched movies, I slept and watched movies.

Off to fix lunch for the young'uns now.....

EMT CLASS

IT'S OVER!!! Well-l-l-l.....except for 2 more classes to work on our practicals for state boards....and then the actual boards on the 20th and then the National test whenever I schedule it (hopefully soon). I did okay on the final....98%! My friend got 100%, but then I got the overall highest grade in the class. My instructor had said at the beginning of the year that he didn't want any EMT's to work on him that got a C in the class. A boy brought that up today and he said that he didn't want ANYONE in the class to work on him except for ME!! Yay ME! I am so psyched! As is evident by all the exclamation marks!!!!!

I am so glad that this class is over, it has really been tough and has required a lot of time being spent studying...ugh.

Quickies....

The kids are at e-school this afternoon, they are having a Polar Express party. I am at home studying for my final. If you read this before 5:30 p.m. Thursday, say a quick prayer for me to not get test anxiety and freak out.

Alexa got stung by a wasp on Sunday morning, and this was the first time she has ever had problems. The child gets stung a lot, so I am a trifle concerned that she might be developing a sensitivity to their poison. Her leg was still a bit swollen today, but not as bad as it was. On Monday and Tuesday she had an area about as big as the palm of my hand that was so swollen you couldn't even indent it. By yesterday it was still swollen but was going down and was squishier (yes that is a medical term...haha). I have had her on Benadryl, ibuprofen and ice packs since it happened. And, given my new training, was occasionally testing her circulation and motor function and sensitivity to touch below the area. Everything still worked fine so I didn't take her to the doctor.

We are going to the movies on Saturday - I think we are going to see Madagascar 2. And then Mike's nerdy friends are coming over. I told him I needed to study for my state boards this weekend and if those boys come over they are going to be patients....we'll see how that goes!

Will let you know how I did on the test because I am sure everyone is going to be chomping at the bit to find out........

What makes it worth it.....

This week my children have slacked so much on the schoolwork. We are at about day 2 or 3 when we usually finish schoolwork on Thursday...we will probably still be doing work on Saturday at this rate. I desperately needed a reason why I do it....why I sound like a fishmonger's wife harping at them constantly. They have been driving me crazy. So I have to find that silver lining. Fortunately.....they also never cease to amuse me (maybe the times when they are driving me crazy, I'm not so amused).

Quotes from conversations from this week:
Andrew: I don't really believe in the Easter bunny, but I pretty much believe in Santa.
Andrew: We will know this year if there is a Santa or not, mom and dad don't have any money, so if we get presents, we'll know Santa brought them. (awww)
Andrew: So, Alexa, if dinosaurs were alive today, which would be your favorite to eat?
Alexa: T-Rex
(massive conversation after this revolving around DNA, cloning, the feasibility of bringing dinosaurs back, what our bodies will be like in heaven.............)

I would have hated to miss these conversations and the amazement at the way their brains work

Big sigh of relief!

Okay...It's almost over...I am breathing a sigh of relief right now. We took our Module III exam tonight and I got a 91%....I am so psyched. I walked out of the classroom praying for a C....seriously, it was that hard. There were quite a few people who didn't pass it. The final exam is supposed to be made up of questions from Modules I, II, III....so, I am not even stressing over the final since I have gotten an A on all of the tests. Once it is over, though, I will be stressing about the State practical exam....and being judged on my skills. Unfortunately I just found out I can't take the National Exam until after I have taken the state. Which means I will be studying over Christmas break. Dang. I was wanting to shut my brain off for a couple of weeks. Oh well. I probably wouldn't have gotten it restarted.

On another bright note....I have had the best evening....as I was going to class I drove past my neighbor and stopped and talked to him. He brought me over a big round bale of hay right then for $25!!! Score. The bad thing is I was just making arrangements with my s-i-l's boyfriend to go pick up hay from where he works. Sorry, Justin....I had to go with cheap and delivered!!

This is the great thing about living in the country (other than being able to see all the stars)...I handed Bob cash and had absolutely no worries that he wouldn't deliver the hay. He went right over to my house with a BRB - probably before I got to class. I love that. I might live on an Indian Burial Ground and might constantly be hounded by their spirits....but I can trust the farmers!

Shame on you Carleton University

First...it always saddens me that no one knows anything about CF unless they are personally affected by it. Second....this is beyond ignorance of the disease itself. To say that they aren't going to give any charitable donations to CF because it is a "white man's disease" is shameful. Why is it that white people are always getting the shaft? I have never been racist...have no plans of being racist...but yet it is okay for everyone to be racist against me because I am white. I am willing to bet that very few people have heard of this story, yet if they would have made the comment, "We aren't going to give to sickle cell charities because it is a black man's disease" there would have been 9 kinds of h*** to pay.

This is just another example of how CF isn't one of the popular diseases that celebs and companies bend over backward to help.....CFF needs help!

Carleton students may review charity decision

JOSH WINGROVE
Globe and Mail Update
November 26, 2008 at 10:46 AM EST
The Carleton University Students Association was left backpedalling Tuesday and Wedneedsay after voting to call off its Shinerama fundraiser for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, while implying in a formal motion that the charity and the disease weren't sufficiently “inclusive.”
In a meeting Monday night, CUSA members voted 17-2 to approve a motion to look at donating the frosh week fundraising money to other charities because “cystic fibrosis has been recently revealed to only affect white people, and primarily men” and “all orientees and volunteers should feel like their fundraising efforts will serve their diverse communities.”
That left the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which receives about $1-million a year from more than 60 postsecondary Shinerama fundraisers nationwide, scrambling to correct the information in a story that exploded across the country.
CUSA president Brittany Smyth sought to douse the flames of the controversy Tuesday night. Citing the motion's final line, she said the debate was over whether to consider directing money raised to various charities, not about whom CF affects.
But that final line concludes the union will “work to select a new broad-reaching charity for orientation week,” appearing to imply that the CCFF doesn't meet such a requirement, and failing to mention rotating charities. Ms. Smyth nevertheless insisted that CUSA has not closed the door on the CCFF.
Ms. Smyth said on Wednesday that the matter will be re-examined at its next meeting. She told Ottawa's CFRA radio that the intent of the vote was simply to look at whether to shift the association's fundraising efforts to other charities.
CF foundation CEO Cathleen Morrison said Tuesday that “I couldn't understand what could be behind this. Like, have we got the story [about Carleton's motion] right? Obviously, the information is incorrect.”
CF is a fatal genetic disease that affects males and females equally, because children whose parents both have the gene that causes the disease have a one-in-four chance of getting it, regardless of their sex.
While it affects Caucasians – a scientific term the foundation says doesn't mean whites, but rather all people of European, North African, Middle Eastern and South Asian descent – more than black or East Asian populations, the latter groups aren't immune, Ms. Morrison said.
Janet Mitchell, a black woman whose daughter has CF, said she wasn't aware that it was present in her community in Nova Scotia before her daughter was born. She and her husband, who is white, both carry the gene.
“People need to know, whether they like it or not, it's not just a white person's disease,” said Ms. Mitchell, 44. “For anyone to say that cystic fibrosis is just a white man's disease, they're just not doing their research,” she said.
“It's actually a fair amount of confusion surrounding it. Most of the discussion around the motion was actually interest in switching charities, and not just going for one charity,” Ms. Smyth said. “Most of the people wanted to switch charities from year to year, just the idea of mixing it up.”
The motion was written by student Donnie Northrup, an orientation volunteer. Ms. Smyth said the association's rules prohibit them from changing motions in the middle of a meeting, so his draft could only be voted on as-is. Mr. Northrup said the motion was an effort to expand the benefit of fundraising.
“This is not saying that cystic isn't a ‘good enough cause,' but acknowledging that others exist and we can be more representative of the desires of students if we rotate our charities,” Mr. Northrup said in an e-mail to The Globe and Mail. “In this system, there is also the possibility to return to Shinerama after a few cycles. I genuinely do not understand all the attention this has garnered.”
Two people voted against his motion, including third-year student Nick Bergamini.
“They're trying to score cheap points by playing politics with a disease,” Mr. Bergamini said Tuesday night. “What's important to note that this does not represent what Carleton students are about. If it's going to be a black mark on anybody, it should be the student union.”
This year's Shinerama, which is over and the proceeds of which the CCFF still expects to receive, raised about $20,000.
Ms. Morrison said she hopes Carleton will continue its own Shinerama in years to come. She believes support for CF, which affects young people and for which the median life expectancy is about age 37, is broad-reaching among students.
“Our doors are always open to anybody who'd like to help. Hopefully, we can overcome the current circumstances, and come out ahead,” Ms. Morrison said.

Tradition

I am all about tradition. Love them. I continued going to my grandma's house for Thanksgiving long after I realized how detrimental to my self-esteem it was...just because it was tradition. After Amber died, I decided I didn't have to listen to the rude comments, put downs and derogatory comments about other family members any longer. Several of my extended family members attempt to disguise insults as jokes; however, they are thinly veiled. I usually left there feeling terrible about myself. One, because of the comments directed to me, and two, because of participating in the whole sham. It's sad really because you would find yourself making comments just to try to detract the barbs away from yourself. The whole thing was awful. But, it was tradition. It really is sad that family has to behave that way toward each other.
This year changed my view of the last five years. We went to my parents' house along with my s-i-l, her boyfriend, my niece and nephew; my aunt and uncle, cousin, and her kids. There were a few comments made here and there, but they were in fun.....completely joking. Even though my brother made reference to some hocky puck biscuits I made 22 years ago! It was 22 years ago...let it go.

This is until my brother from Ohio showed up. We were hoping to have left before he got there, but he arrived sooner than expected. He was so rude to my nephew. And basically treated the rest of us like we were something he needed to scrape off his shoe....with total disdain. He has this "thing" about people having babies out of wedlock...apparently everyone who ever had a baby without a marriage license is going to burn forever in hell. And he has said this...the day my brother died to be exact. So, now, there is a chance Tommy might be a dad...so he bore the brunt of the holier-than-thou comments. It makes me so very angry. It was okay for he and his wife to have sex before they got married, because they didn't wind up pregnant. If you have sex and get pregnant - that's a sin. Whatever. Fortunately he doesn't come home very often. And even when he does, he mostly spends time with his in-laws, so we aren't subjected to his pious views.

Hopefully, the dinner we enjoyed prior to his holiness's arrival will be the start of a new tradition...one where we all get along and enjoy each other's company.

I'm back.....

I was informed today that it had been awhile since I posted and then my blog clarified that - it has been three weeks!!! I had no idea so much time has gone by. I could go on and on about what all has been going on out here on the Indian Burial Ground, but I think I will sum it up by telling you about yesterday (Friday, November 21)

As I was getting ready for the afternoon route, Alexa came to the stairs and hollered at me. I asked what she needed,
Alexa: The cat is peeing in that car that is in my closet (a Barbie car that belonged to Amber).
Me: Did you stop her?
Alexa: No, she is doing it now.
Me: Go get her out of the car, don't let he continue to do that. Then get the car, take it outside and clean up all the spills.
Alexa: Okay.
Me (later): Why didn't you just grab her out of the car instead of letting her do that?
Alexa: I didn't know I was supposed to.

ARRGGG!!

Then on the bus, my boss had to ride with me because of the way that the middle school boys were behaving. As we got back to the primary school to load up the regular route kids, she came back to my bus again and 2 of my big problem children started mouthing off to her. Big time. She was so mad she was going back to her office to write one of them up. She got off the bus and they started cussing at each other. She got back on and pulled both of them off and hauled them into the principle's office. Every kid on my bus, even those who had been laughing at these boys earlier, stopped talking and stared. There was more than one dropped jaw. It was wonderful. But all this drama had us leaving the school about 10 minutes late. So as we are driving to the first stop - haven't even left town yet - one of the boys informs everyone within earshot that he has just wet his pants! Then as various girls are being their normal drama queen selves, and gagging, I am informed that a girl in the back (totally unrelated incident) is about to throw up. Two kids ran up and grabbed a convenience bag. This girl filled up 2 bags! A very sweet boy, who was helping her by holding the bag, dropped it and vomit went everywhere. Then almost every kid in the back half of the bus started making rude comments embarrassing this poor girl further.

So then when I get home - very late - I rush to head out to dinner with April (one of Amber's BFFs), her friend Tina, and my friend Brenda, I tell Mike: When I get home I have to tell you about the drama on my bus today.
Mike: Do I care?
Me: No, probably not
Mike: Am I in any way connected to these kids?
Me: No, but you are connected to me!!! And then in a most mature fashion, I stomp up the stairs and slam the door when I leave.

He irritates me so much sometimes. He is so much like his parents in that he doesn't care about anyone but himself or the things that affect him - personally. And the things that affect his family, aren't things that affect him. So I went from having this day that was somewhat amusing, somewhat frustrating, to being extremely angry with my husband. He had been doing so much better...I should have known. That is when I always get sucked in and then he yanks the rug out from under me. Plus the other day he called Andrew weak. After a week, Andrew is still upset about it. Big time ARRGGG!

That is life in a nutshell right there. Today I spent 12 hours on an ambulance for my last clinical. I think I am going to do a couple of ride alongs after I finish my testing, just for the experience. From today until December 20th, it is going to be nose to book for me. I will be so happy for Christmas break. Next semester I am only taking Microbiology and Therapeutic Nutrition, so even though I will hate every minute of it and whine constantly about Micro.....it shouldn't be such a big load.....................hopefully.

One more thing. I read Twilight last Friday....I don't see the big appeal. If I am going to read a vampire book, I much more prefer Charlaine Harris. Her books are very witty (even though they have some naughty parts). I much more prefered Kansas Weddings, which I also read last weekend. (I was having a bit of trouble sleeping)

Janette....you can't yell at me until after the 20th for not posting.....hahahahaha

Trick or Treating

The kids went trick or treating for the first time ever tonight. They were so excited...especially Alexa. The plan had been to go by Grandpa and Grandma's and then go to the 'Trunk or Treat' at the Methodist church in town. Well, we did that, but then we went over to a friend's house and ended up walking their whole neighborhood (they live in the "new" housing addition in town). That was the place to be....we ran into a lot of friends....and the kids got a huge haul of candy. Alexa ended up with 2 Wal-Mart sacks full of candy, soda, and other snacks. Mike and Andrew tuckered out, so Dana and I took our girls to the fire station and a few streets in town. They went through 2 "haunted garages". I think I have started something that I am going to have a hard time getting out of next year.

Alexa had the best time. She was running around from house to house pumped up on the excitement of the whole deal. She was very polite throughout, though, so I was okay with they craziness.

"Trick or Treat, Grandpa"

Uncle Shaun takes the kids round to the neighbors

EMT test

Allow me to brag for a moment, if you will. Not that you have much of a choice, other than not reading this, but if you are still following along............

...last night was our Module II exam....and I got a 94%!!! I am so relieved and so happy. I think it was a tough module and I am glad it is over. I also think I now have the highest GPA in the class. My friend got a 91% - she did have the highest GPA - beating me by .1 (that is .1, not 1, note the ".") but since I did better on this test, I might have pulled ahead. (not that we are competitive or anything...lol) I am just happy that I did well on the test. Granted it is a bit lower percentage than my last test, but I am just happy for the A. I know a lot of people don't make it past this module because it is kind of hard. If you don't get a C on the test, you get another shot at the test and if you don't get a 70% you are outta there. This next module should be fairly easy (she says confidently) since it is about medical emergencies and I know my medical stuff better than trauma. Medical - lots of practice; Trauma - not so much.

What do I want to be when I grow up?

I am still asking this question! I thought I had made a decision last year and now I am questioning if that is what I am supposed to be doing. Seriously, I need a sign, God. And then I need a sign to tell me that was the sign! I have been talking to the kids, and a couple of adults, about following their passion for what they want to do with their lives. I'm not sure if medicine is my passion. It has come fairly easily to me - other than this ever-so-frustrating EMT class. And it has come easily, but I'm not sure I'm diggin' it. Ya know? It could be that I am just that smart that I can do the work. I'm just not smart enough to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

I really should have followed that whole "marry the first time for love, the second time for money" theory. LOL - I didn't do it right either time! Had I married for money the second time I could do anything I wanted and not have to worry about what will bring in the cash! I would probably just stay home with the kids and be a mama.....

I am perplexed. It simply isn't right that these decisions come so easily to some and the rest of us just can't figure it out. Such is life I suppose.

I came up with a pretty good analogy today - at least I think it's good - lol. Let me set the scene. I am supposed to be driving a pretty new bus; however, it continually breaks down so I have only driven it a total of 2 weeks this school year - that's accumulative, not straight time. So today, as I was washing one of the sub busses that I am returning (so I can drive another sub bus) it occured to me that sometimes in life we have to drive a sub bus for awhile because the one we really want to drive isn't quite ready for us. Eventually it will be, and when it is, we will be more appreciative of it. In the meantime, we are getting to experience a different ride with a different view. Pretty good, right?

Star Wars party

Andrew putting a choke hold on Alexa using the force

Queen Amidalah

Jedi, Sith, future Darth Maul

The same day that I had lunch with Kim, we went to a Star Wars themed party for Mike's friend, Joe. I had fun because my "peeps" were there...as Mike calls them. Alexa had fun because she is a social butterfly. Andrew...not so much. There were zero boys in attendance, other than my poor son. I know, right? And since he "doesn't like girls" (at least to play with), he refused to play with the girls who were there.

Andrew went as some guy that was a Jedi, became a Sith and then became Darth Maul. I don't remember the guy's actual name, but I am sure no one but Andrew cares anyway (bad mom). Alexa went as Queen Amidalah in her rogue fighting costume, not the elaborate "queen" costume. They looked so cute.

Old friends are definitely gold

Last Friday I had lunch with my "big sis". It was so fabulous. Of course, me being me, there has to be "more to the story" than just going and meeting her for lunch. I got lost. Not lost lost, but 'temporarily unable to find my location' lost. I thought I knew exactly where I was going - that should have been clue number one! I "knew" where the Applebee's was...except I was a town off. I was thinking of the one in Park City and when I got there, I realized I wasn't in NEWTON! Needless to say, I was 30 minutes late because once I got to Newton, I had no clue where the Applebee's was. I do now, if anyone is going and needs directions. Turns out, had I not gotten off on the first exit, I would have been fine - it was at the second exit.



Bless Kim's heart, she was still there...patiently waiting. We had a fabulous lunch...for 4 hours. It is hard to catch up in one sitting, but we gave it a whirl. I am so glad that we have gotten back in touch. I have missed her and thought of her a lot over the years.



I don't know if I mentioned this before, but she named not one, but two, characters after me in a trilogy that she wrote! I guess technically she named one, and then the other character was named for the first character. And, yes, that's why I will never be a published author - I write convoluted sentences.

Here we are in the restaurant...I am so unphotogenic it isn't even funny. My hair had looked pretty good earlier, and apparently I need to wear more makeup because you can't see it at all, but you sure can't tell from this photo...But Kim looks great!

Check out her blogspot...she is posting there along with Tracie Peterson, Lori Copeland, Robin Lee Hatcher and Tamera Alexander. They each post one day a week. An "inside look" at 5 Christian authors...pretty fun. I am linking her over in my friends column....it is Writes of Passage

The things that happen to me!!

It has been a while since I posted one of those embarrasing stories about myself...so here goes. It isn't too bad - just those things that always seem to happen to me. The first one is more Mike's fault - I think we all can agree on that.

A week ago from last Friday (did that make sense?) I decided it was a good day to take pictures of the kids so off we go on our merry little way. We got about 2 miles from home when I realized that the road wasn't completely messed up, I had a flat tire. When you live on a bad dirt road sometimes it is hard to tell the difference. Well..... I went to change the flat - and shredded - tire, but couldn't find how to lower the spare from under the car. I finally got the owner's manual out and discovered that the jack handle was under the rear passenger seat and you were supposed to use that to get the spare down. WHAT THE HECK?? You were supposed to shove the handle into this little tiny hole on the bumper behind the rear door, engage some little turn-y thing and lower the tire. Problem was ---- the jack handle was MIA. Of course, Mike was at training in Western Kansas and couldn't be reached.

The kids and I start hoofing it back home. About that time Mike called me back and told me to limp the car home at 5 mph....so I did. I periodically stopped the car, looked out to make sure that I wasn't riding on the wheel yet, then continued another 100 feet or so. It took forever to get home.

Here is how it isn't my fault. First, I had a bulge in the sidewall from the edge of the tire to the wheel...so it was irreperable to begin with. I had told Mike about said bulge. Second, he saw that the tire was flat that morning but didn't bother to tell me. He says he didn't have time, but he had a 45 minute drive out to the police shooting range, so had plenty of time to leave me a message! Also, I had been cursed the night before when my lab instructor (Matt) said, "hey, you have a bulge in your tire...you better get that fixed before it blows out on the highway".
I will upload a picture of the tire - I totally shredded it...

The second thing that I did was at the wedding we went to on Saturday. As Mike and I were walking through the lovely arboretum, I started feeling a weird "flapping" on my shoe. I looked down and my left shoe sole had come almost completely off and was flapping with each step. So...we stop....I pull out a couple of pieces of gum, chew them up to get them sticky and stick them between the layers of my shoe. Needless to say --- it doesn't hold. Nice. THEN as if that isn't bad enough, after the wedding, as we are walking back through the whole stinkin' arboretum, the right shoe starts flapping!!! Now both shoes are flapping in the wind. And I have no more gum. But that's okay, I didn't need it. As we were almost exiting, the entire sole came off of my right shoe. When we got to the car, I ripped the left one off and then prayed like crazy that the bottom of my shoes would hold out until we got home from the reception. Fortunately for me, they did. No photo of the shoes - they went immediately into the trash can!

Saturdays

Saturdays are my favorite day of the week. Last Saturday we went Butterfly tagging and then the kids went to their friend Hayley's house while Hayley's mom and I went to an agro-guard meeting. This Saturday we went to the Rushing Water festival in town. I wish we would have gone sooner, but we were waiting for Mike to finish working on the truck - and even ended up going without him (although he joined us later). So we missed the parade, and the carriage rides. Alexa and I are planning for next year so that we can go early and hit the pancake breakfast and see the parade - although I hate parades. Alexa had a blast! She was running around like a crazy person, buying everything she could. She took all of the cash she has saved - almost $22 and spent ALL of it. Crazy kid.

Monday I go to Wesley ER for my next clinicals....pretty excited about that. I am really glad to have the nursing home over and done with. I am a little nervous about the ambulance clinicals....I might have to see if I can pull some strings and make sure I get a good paramedic to ride with.

I totally took today off - no school work at all today - which is very bizarre for me. I tried to get everything ready for Crop Camp in a few weeks, but I have absolutely got to go shopping. I did watch 3 movies between last night and today - Sex in the City, the movie; Forgetting Sarah Marshall (very naughty); and The Ultimate Gift (very good movie, but have lots of tissues). Tomorrow it is back to the grindstone. I think we will have a pop quiz on Tuesday about lifting and packaging patients - so I must be prepared!

My friend Kim, who is a writer, sent me a copy of her trilogy that is all bound together! I am so excited to have received it. She has 10 books that she has written so I have a collection to acquire. I just found out that she had written all these books a couple of months ago, so I have only read a few of them so far. She was my big sister when I was a kid (not a Big Brothers/Big Sister)....but we lost contact and now we are back in touch. I am thrilled about that.

And speaking of Saturdays - next Saturday we have more big plans as Mike's office partner is getting married and we are going to her wedding....and by the way, Satin, if you are reading this....they took the rain out of the forecast for next weekend...so stop worrying!!!

Saturday and Sunday

We have been extremely busy this week, but there hasn't been anything exciting going on. School and work for everyone.
Saturday morning I worked in the emergency room at the hospital - it was pretty boring - which was great for the nurses and doctor, but bad for us who wanted to see some action. Then after a few hours of sleep the kids and I went to tag butterflies. It wasn't as much fun as normal - it was just too crowded and there were a ton of rowdy kids there. Then I went to an agro-guard meeting. It wa pretty interesting....things I had never thought about in regard to terrorism and agro-theft.
Today I worked at the nursing home. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be, but I am glad that it is over. I do not like nursing homes.
Hopefully tomorrow I can get the house cleaned and then Alexa and I are going to hang out.

September 18

I wrote this for a CF fundraiser that a friend of mine in Australia was doing. Of course, we cut most of this out, as it is very long. Please do not feel that you have to read it. I figured now would be a good time to post it. Of course this is just a brief glimpse into Amber's life as a CF patient - it is hard to put all of the day to day into words. Even harder to put that last month into words. There isn't a day I don't think of Amber. She was the best daughter a mom could ever ask for.

Amber was just like any other high school girl. She loved shopping, boys, clothes, makeup, hanging out with her friends. Her concerns were mainly grades, getting a special boyfriend, preparing for college, and her job. She also was concerned about making sure no one looked at her differently, that no one pitied her, or worse, avoided her. You see, Amber had Cystic Fibrosis. That made her different from all of the other girls in her high school.

Amber had to have breathing treatments several times a day. She used a PEP valve once she got old enough. It vibrated the inside of her lungs to help her get the mucus out, because her body didn=t thin it enough to get it out on its own. The mucus threatened to scar and clog all of her bronchiole tubes, so it was a constant effort to keep it cleared out. When she wasn't strong enough to use a PEP, she had to have someone, usually mom, pound on her lungs to get the mucus out. She coughed a lot at school, but just told everyone she had allergies, which was true. The medicine for allergies is counterproductive to the medicine for CF, so it was a balancing act.
At home, taking medication was no big deal, but at school it was a completely different story. First, students aren't allowed to carry medication with them so she had to go to the office prior to lunch to take her meds. (That lasted about nine weeks before she just started carrying them and mom dealt with the principle) Second, it is hard to explain to everyone why you are carrying medication and taking it every day when you eat. But, she was able to explain it away. It was extremely important to her that no one knew.

Because Amber was a strong girl, and loved school, she went to school even when she was on I.V. antibiotics. Her veins had been used up by the time she entered high school and so she had a port-a-catheter in her chest. When she was sick enough for I.V. meds, her port was accessed and she got them that way. The bad thing about the port was it's placement. The doctor had placed it slightly above her right breast. This was at a time when she was at her heaviest weight, 105 lbs (47.7 kg). So the placement appeared to be good and well concealed. But then she lost weight and the port stuck out pretty far. She had to work hard sometimes at keeping it hidden, especially when it was accessed since then it had a needle, tubing, and bandages. But she did it...and she went to school as long as she was well enough.

During 10th grade, she had a sinus surgery, her gallbladder removed, a fundalplication (a portion of the stomach is wrapped around the esophagus to help control acid reflux). Her port-a-cath became infected with yeast and had to be removed. She was put on a medication that the doctors and nurses refer to as the Shake and Bake drug because it causes fevers and shaking. She was in the hospital for several weeks over her 16th birthday and once she was released, had to finish the school year at home because of the yeast infection.

Even with everything she went through, she was a fierce little fighter. She never gave up hope that she would be cured. She was planning on a career in nursing and wanted to adopt a baby with Downs Syndrome (having her own baby would have been incredibly risky to her health). Amber had five college credit hours when she completed the 11th grade. She had taken a Certified Nursing Assistant class so she could begin working in her chosen field. She could have graduated as a junior, but for the two required senior year classes. She was planning on taking all college classes her senior year, except for those two classes, and graduating midterm, with more credits than required.

Two days before Amber started her senior year of high school, she got very ill. Prior to that she was working at a video store, practicing cheerleading, and hanging out with her friends. That illness was her last. She had contracted C-Diff. C-Diff is basically harmless to those who don't have compromised immune systems, but for someone weakened by illness, or on long-term antibiotics it is quite serious. Very rarely fatal, unless you are like Amber and it causes your stomach to swell so much that your lungs are squashed. Amber went from having a lungs that worked in the 90% range, to lungs that functioned at 28%. Her infectious disease doctor was able to, finally, get the C-Diff under control, but her lung function never increased.
Unfortunately the damage had been done at that point. She was very weak and her lung capacity was down to 28% still. Her nurse practioner (Ericca - a most wonderful person), started pushing the CF doctor to get Amber started on the lung transplant process, but the CF doc stalled and wouldn't make the decision. Her regular pediatrician released her on September 6 against my better judgment. On September 8th, on our way to the pediatrician (Dee Spade, another wonderful person), because she wasn't doing well, her oxygen saturation rate dropped to 20%. She was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance and we were told she wouldn't make it through the night. She did, and started improving over the next two weeks. Her CF doctor finally started planning for the living donor lung transplant and I thought everything was going to be okay.

On September 17, she got ICU psychosis, and a couple of psychiatrists came in to talk with us, but we didn't realize that it meant anything. They never really expressed to us that ICU psychosis was a sign of impending death. They made it sound like it was just something people got sometimes in the ICU. She seemed fine, just occasionally didn't make sense. For a couple of days prior to that, her infection kept mutating. The infectious disease doctor kept changing her antibiotics and her care, but eventually he said there was nothing left to give her because it was mutating into strands that he didn't have antibiotics for. In the evening of the 17th she really started going downhill. She had a C-Pap (Continuous Positive Air Pressure - it forces oxygen into the lungs) on throughout her ICU stay, but she could take it off prior to that night. She had even gotten to where she only had to have it on when she was sleeping. But that night she got to where it was doing all of her breathing. Her kidneys started to shut down. At one point in the middle of the night she pulled her mask off and said, "mom". I leaned over and told her that it was okay she had fought hard and she didn't have to fight any more. I think that was what she needed to hear because after that she went into a sort of coma. The doctors said that her blood gases wouldn't allow her to wake up and that at that point she didn't know what was going on. (She had way more carbon dioxide in her blood than oxygen). Her pediatrician came in and told me that she wouldn't make it much longer. We could have intubated her, but apparently CF kids who are intubated never come off of it. I made the decision to pull the plug. I had the nurse drug her up with morphine. Even though the doctors said that she didn't know what was going on, I wanted her pain free. After that I took all of the monitors off of her because I didn't want to see or hear that flat line signal. Then I turned off the oxygen. She took a couple of breaths and then she was gone. It was the hardest thing to do, but there was no way I was going to have her stay alive for my own selfish reasons, it wasn't fair to her.

Amber had wondered what her funeral would be like. Her uncle had died a few years before and had a huge attendance. I would say that hers surpassed his. Her high school closed for the afternoon so that the teachers and students could attend. Her brother's teachers attended (he was in first grade). Kids from her previous school attended. All of her doctors attended, which is unheard of, as well as all of the nurses who took care of her in the hospital. I don't know how many people were at the church, but the people who ran the funeral home said it was one of the largest funerals they had ever witnessed. There were more than 200 at the grave site. Amber left an impression on everyone she touched. She was a sweet child, an angel on earth, and everyone loved her.

Cystic Fibrosis is a terrible disease and no child should have to suffer what Amber suffered. Although CF affects thousands of children yearly, very little is known about it. One doesn't hear the term unless they know someone affected, and then they have to search to find out about it. For a disease that affects so many, it is not popular. There are no televised fund raisers; no celebrities are out fighting for the cause; a portion of the proceeds of products doesn't go for research. It is an ignored disease and awareness needs to be raised. These kids need our help.

Shark teeth no more

It seemed I had an "S" theme going with the titles so I had to continue. It was purely unintentional until today.
Poor Alexa has had shark teeth - that is what her loving father has called them. Her father who apparently wants her to have low self-esteem. Anyway, she has only lost one tooth the "normal" way...you know, where it gets loose and falls out. The others have been pulled. And all of them have been within the last 6 months. She's 9. The dentist even took a panoramic photo last October to make sure she had adult teeth.
No, I can never just give the facts without some background information first. So, anyway, two of her bottom adult teeth grew in quite some distance behind her baby teeth and she has had two rows of teeth. Thus the shark teeth comments from her father. She has been working very hard to get that last tooth out....it really wasn't even loose. Last night she busted the root and Mike was able to pull the rest of it out with some little pliers. It pulled the root out, too, and I bet that thing was almost a half an inch long. I took a picture of it, but it didn't show up very well. I will have to upload them.
So now, Alexa has a gaping hole in her gum where her tooth used to be and a tooth behind it. We are so sending an orthodontist on a lovely European Vacation.

September 6

So today is our 12 year anniversary and we went out to dinner which was nice. We don't get to do that very often - and less often without the kids. Mike kept joking about taking me to Taco Tico or Subway or something and of course I kept yelling no at him, but I guess actually it would have been okay (not really) because it is about the time together. And kind of like a last supper for him if he would have taken me to one of those places.

What's bad about today is 5 years ago we brought Amber home from the hospital for the last time. I knew it was a bad decision when the decision was made for her to leave the hospital. I was always the one asking the doctors if she could go home, but that day, I didn't think she was ready. On the other hand, I also feel if she hadn't gotten to come home, she might not have gotten to see her room that Mike painted for her. Mike never paints. Not before. Not since. He painted her room pink with black accents because that was what she was wanting and we wanted to surprise her. She was surprised. It was really sweet because it was the first time she called him "dad" to his face. She would do it jokingly or in a card or to her friends...but not to him. So, even though she probably should have stayed in the hospital, I'm glad she came home.

I remember we were excited because that was a bad hospital stay all around. With the C-Diff, and talks of a "poop transplant" (I am being serious); the blood transfusion; the extremely decreased lung function........it was just bad. So when she came home on our anniversary, even though I thought it was a bad idea, I was still excited. It was the best anniversary present.

Now every anniversary has that lingering in the background - or foreground as it is tonight. I think today it is made worse by the fact that this year all the dates are the same as they were 5 years ago. Five years ago the 6th was on a Saturday....the 18th was on a Thursday. Just like this year. I hate that. For some reason it seems to make it worse. So does the five years. It can't possibly be 5 years. How have I even lived this long without Amber here? It just doesn't seem possible. I never thought I would last 5 minutes. How in the world have I made it 5 years?

Sometimes I think Mike and I should get married again - but on a different date so we could have a different anniversary date. But, I know that it wouldn't change anything....and people would just think I am stranger than they already do.

Short, Sweet and....Soapy

Okay, so this morning Andrew comes out of the bathroom with soap bubbles running down his chin.
Andrew: Alexa, did you put soap on my toothbrush, again?
Me: (thinking, again?)
Alexa: No. I only did it once.
Me: You put soap on your brother's toothbrush
Alexa: Only once
Andrew: gurgle
Me: Don't you know that the soap has antibacterial agents in it and can kill him? There have literally been children who have died because their parents have made them eat soap because they were naughty. And you put it on your brother's toothbrush? Are you trying to kill him?
Alexa: (all teary-eyed - like anyone is buying that) No. I just did it once as a joke.
Me: A joke? You think it's funny to kill your brother?
Andrew: (laughing and bubbling)
Alexa: I'm sorry. I won't do it again. I only did it once.

Holy cow! What is wrong with Mike's children? If it isn't one thing it is 50.

Safety Scissors Only, Please

Okay - so last week I went to the doctor a week early for my Hep B shot, right? And the very understanding nurse, Alli, told me to leave and not come back until the 4th. She said it had to be a month and it had only been 3 weeks. Okay, so I had just miscounted, it happens, right? So, I went back today. I rush the kids around we run in to town. I walk in. The receptionist looks at me weird. I thought, well this is odd - one would think she would know me by now. So I proceed to tell her my name. She is like, yeah, I know your name, you're not on here. I said, right, I'm not on your list because I'm just getting shot. She said, no, you're not on my list because you're not supposed to be here until tomorrow. No, I'm supposed to be here today. No, you are supposed to be here on the 4th. Yes, that is tomorrow. No. Is it?
I swear, they must think I am an absoloute moron. I asked nicely if I could go ahead and get my shot. I think they did just so I wouldn't come back. Alli gave me very strict orders to make my appointment for my last shot for 5 months and to wait for the phone call telling me to come in the next day. Should I take it personally? She did say that she would come and visit me in the hospital. I'm sure that my involuntary hospitalization is imminent.
I don't know whether to blame the alien tick bite or kryptonite. It was after all, an alien tick and I am now a host and will soon have some alien tick baby bursting out of my abdomen at an inconvenient time.Or maybe it has morphed into my brain and is affecting my thinking skills. Which is probably what is going on because I am quite fortunate each day if I make it out of the house with all of my clothes on - in the correct order.
On the other hand - I think I have been kryptonited. Which I know isn't a word, but how do you turn kryptonite into a verb? This is what has happened to me. I have always - repeat always - been a Superwoman. At somepoint in the last week or two, I have been hit with kryptonite (pehaps the tick was infested with kryptonite?). And you know how kryptonite affected Superman, so just imagine how it affects Superwoman - because women are stronger than men. And we know the bigger/stronger they are the harder they fall. So, know I have been kryptonited. And I can no longer do it all. It is a sad day in my life. Perhaps once the alien tick baby explodes out of my brain or wherever, it will take the kryptonite with it and I will be back to normal.
Yesterday I had a bit of a break and threatened to make Mike support me forever if I didn't get some help around here. Apparently he had a long talk with the kids last night while I was at school. I guess "help around here" means the kids doing more work. I was kinda meaning him not sitting in front of his computer so much, but I guess my point was missed.
As far as school, this guy that took the EMT program last year assures me that once we get past patient assessment it is all easy. I threatened him with bodily damage and he still assured me it got easier, so we'll see.......

Like Amityville Horror

but without the cool poltergeists. I think we have had more freaky things that happen to us.... things that go wrong....continuously. It just isn't normal. I joke about living on an Indian burial ground...but I really think it has to be something like that. Either that or one of us has some really bad karma. Mike. Maybe one of us was someone really bad in history - too bad I don't believe in reincarnation - or could think of someone really evil off the top of my head that Mike could have been that I am suffering the consequences of now. Like Hitler or something. But Hitler wouldn't have had time to work himself up to a human yet. Wouldn't he still be a cockroach or something? Don't really know about those reincarnation beliefs.

Last Thursday I had this weevil looking tick in my hip. It must have been there since the previous Saturday (that's when I was out in the pasture looking at the apples and sand plums). It isn't that I don't bathe or anything, I just didn't notice. It was pretty small still when Mike pulled it out, so it must have been pretty tiny to start with. It was like an alien tick. I can't find anything like it on the internet. I had this area on my hip that was about 2/3 the size of a dime that was swollen like a blood blister, with a bruise all around that, then with a hard spot in the middle. It hurt for about a week.

I asked my doctor's nurse about it on Monday - when I went in one week early for my Hep B shot - and she said unless there were red streaks coming from it I would be okay. I hope she is right. Apparently I haven't told her about the Indian burial ground. Must remedy that. That whole day was a waste of time. There was that wasted trip, then I went to Wal-Mart to get a battery in my watch and they couldn't get the back off, so another wasted trip; then I went to Life Uniform to get a name tag for my $117 stethoscope - way across town - they were out. I stopped off at Quik Trip for a forbidden soda and went home. I shouldn't have it, but dang it, I deserved it.

This week has been a whirlwind. Between school for the kids, school for me, work for Mike, work for me, chores for everyone....we have just been busy. Oh yeah, and stupid Maggie killed one of our ducks. Mike is putting a fence in under our deck and we are moving the remaining duck up under the deck so that hopefully he can make friends with the remaining rabbit - it can happen. We are going to electrify the fence and then put an electric collar on Maggie. I rue, rue, I say, the day we got her. Meanwhile, Mike has spent EVERY STINKING MOMENT on his computer. He bought a new one. Oops. He bought parts to make a new one...and can't seem to get it working. Wouldn't it have been smarter to just buy a computer that was already together so you wouldn't spend a week trying to make it work? But that's just me.
I underestimated the amount of studying and how much information and work was involved in the EMT class. My apologies to everyone who has gone through the EMT class before. I really assumed with my superior intelligence (lol) that it would be easy. It is not easy. It is a lot of work. And right now I am not feeling smart. I feel old and stupid. I know I'm not, okay, maybe old, but not stupid. But, man I am feeling it.

I can't remember what else happened this week - it has been a long week and I have had a splitting headache through all of it. I hope next week is better. Hopefully the fact that it is a short one will help.

My parents came out today and Alexa talked us all into playing Attack Uno. We probably all needed the stress relief. We always laugh a lot when we play. It is a vicious little game. And we are all pretty mean to each other when we play...but in a fun, nice way.

Kids first day

Monday the kids started school. So far so good. As you can tell by the photos - you don't have to dress up for the first day when it's at home! I practically had to drag them outside to take their photo! It was a bit overcast. Can you believe this August weather? It is like September, but with no wind - which is weird.

Anyway - the kids' attitude so far has been great. Alexa's is always good, but of course, I was worried about Andrew. He has been great so far. And he has had some tough stuff for the first couple of days. Some stuff that has made him think. Thinking? On the first days? Who knew? They are even brushing their teeth without lying that it has already been done!

Today we we went for a very long bike ride - like 6 miles. Then we came home and I made this fabulous yogurt mix thing - yogurt, sliced strawberries, flax seed, bran flakes, crushed peanuts. Very healthy - totally delicious. I was quite surprised but the kids loved it. They even want to eat bran flakes for breakfast. What's up with that?

Anyway, so far their school is going well - wish us luck!!

School and Such

Okay...I had my first day of class last night. My friend, Tammy, and I were 5 minutes late to class. We were very close to the classroom and asked an instructor where the room was and she sent us clear back to the opposite end of the building. What was that?!? So we had to go clear back. You would think she would know - I mean, she had an office and everything. Fortunately, the instructor seems like he is pretty cool about stuff like that. I think I am going to like him. At least based on the 4 hours I spent with him last night. The class is going to be intensive, but should be fun. For those of you who aren't aware of this fact, I am rather anal about grades (okay and other things). I had read through chapter four...then Tammy told me she had read through chapter seven. So Sunday I read through chapter seven. I have issues.....help me. Turns out we are both so anal. I think we are the only ones who opened our books. That's okay. I am totally okay with having the best grade in the class. Not that I have that goal or anything...ahem..... Tammy didn't nickname me Annie for nothing (anal Annie - I call her Ossie (OCD) - although I am considering changing that to Bambi because I just found out she was a cheerleader).
Anyway...after the class, I have changed my course of action. I am now planning on taking the paramedic course after finishing the EMT-B. I guess that is providing I pass the EMT-B course and the certification. Not that I'm worried. It is my understanding that it is easier to "bridge" from a paramedic to a nurse, than from a nurse to a paramedic. Also, since I am wanting to be a flight nurse, it is best that I am a nurse-paramedic, so this is the way I need to go. Plus it will work well as far as being able to hold down a job. (the classes are two nights a week as opposed to 4 days a week 8 -12 hours a day) And the kids will be able to continue to home school - as long as they want (provided my sanity holds out). Plus - added bonus - I don't think I have to take the entrance exam to get into nursing school. Which is good, because I can't figure out the physics part.
So, on top of yesterday being all about me and my first day of classes....it was Mike's birthday. I fixed him "Western" Spaghetti. I have these bbq meatballs (they are yummy) and they have this fab-u-lous bbq sauce that I mixed in with my delicious spaghetti sauce. Mike loves Italian and BBQ, so this is like mixing is two faves in one dish. So this was all ready for him. Then I made his favorite cake that his grandma used to make. A lemon cake with holes poked in it that you pour jello in and allow to set up. I'm sure there is a name, but I don't know what it is.
The kids helped me make the lemon jello poke cake...they were in charge of the candles (although they were supposed to have Mike light them) and then they were supposed to sing happy birthday to Mike after supper. They were in charge of all of this and were totally excited. Weeellllll - Mike blew it. Not the candles - the whole deal. He ate too much spaghetti - even though he knew there was cake. And refused to let them do the cake thing. The poor little darlings begged and pleaded but nope. I griped at him when I got home and found out. Poor kids. We just did the cake thing tonight. I sang him a special day late song and told him his wish was not going to come true since it wasn't his birthday. Loving wife that I am! I did send some breakfast muffins to work yesterday along with my world famous chocolate chip cookies....so I'm not all bad.

Alexa and Hayley - rock climbers

Andrew (grey shirt) during the PE portion of his class - robot pictures to come

Alexa - climbing up that pole - doesn't look like her legs are long enough. But she did it.

There she is on the zip line.

Apparently she got to test it, too, since she knew the guy in charge.

This picture is out of order -
this is the step before climbing up further on the pole

Finally, pictures

I got the photos yesterday from Alexa's rock climbing class in July. I was beginning to fret that I wasn't going to get any. They wouldn't let me go take pictures, which I can understand - but was totally bummed about. But they promised they would take pictures of my girls. So they sent out a mass email with a link to about 639 pictures - and I was able to pick through and get pictures of Alexa - and there were a few from Andrew's class as well - I wasn't expecting those so that was a nice surprise. They woudln't let me go take pictures in there either - which I knew, but I was hoping with Alexa's since it was outside............
Anyway. I have the pictures uploaded. As I was leafing through them last night I spotted a couple of familiar faces. I asked Alexa if our friend, Mike, helped at her rock climbing class. She says, "huh?"....always a first response. I ask again, "was Aubrey's dad at your rock climbing class". "yeah," she says. Why didn't you tell me? "I don't know" - another standard answer. I wish I would have known he was going to be helping - I would have felt much more comfortable. I wasn't that worried, because I knew that they were going to be harnessed and they wouldn't have kids doing it if they didn't have all the bases covered. But, still, knowing Mike, and knowing how he operates - I would have not had the smallest inkling of worry. Oh well. I think it is really neat (yes, I said neat) that he was there - as well as his brother, Scott. I asked Alexa if she said anything to him and she said not really - she wasn't sure if he would remember her. Whatever. He just saw her like a month before at the EMS camp when he let my kids do the zip line there. That child is crazy.
These pictures are pretty good. The girl that took them was a trifle worried that she wouldn't do a good job - but I think she took some nice photos.

Back to school

Ugh. Back to school. I guess at least it wasn't that hot outside. I am so tired now.....I hate getting up early. I will never get used to it. I guess for the first day it didn't go too badly. Next week the kids and I go back to school. I have the kids' agenda ready to go for next week. I am feeling pretty on top of things. I am sure that will change quickly! I am ready to go back - get back into a routine.
I love to get organized in August. That whole start of the new school year. I have the upstairs good to go. I don't want to venture into the basement. It scares me! That's the kids' and Mike's domain.....so no organization there.
As I drove by the cemetery today, I looked at Amber's headstone, like I always do, but now the shepherd's hook and the plant holder that I had (that also held ornaments) is gone now. What is wrong with people. The last time stuff was stolen was in early June, now more stuff is gone in August. No one else has stuff taken, so I don't think it is the groundskeepers. My guess would be the worthless SD. Probably because I always throw out the stupid grave blanket they put down. BUT it is my "property", Amber didn't like him, and she didn't like grave blankets. I know, it is petty, but why would I leave something there that she wouldn't want?
I am planning on running up there tomorrow to see what else is gone. I guess I will take whatever might be left and put in her box so that it doesn't get stolen, too.

Andrew ready to bowl
Alexa, Andrew, Mom, Hayley...waiting for their turn
Alexa - with the run up and throw method of bowling
Dad - with the professional bowler's approach

The "world famous" Beaumont Water Tower - actually it is the last wooden water tower in the U.S. (according to the placard)
Andrew, Hayley, Alexa at the Historic Beaumont Hotel and Restaurant
Andrew and Alexa (with a rare photo of me - looking ever so lovely) at the wind towers
The wind towers

I can't believe it's August!

This last weekend I housesat for a friend while they were on vacation. She is spent time with her mother-in-law and The Wiggles and a gazillion children and I sat in her quiet house. I think I got the better end of the deal. I got a lot of scrapbooking done and have even gotten some studying in. I finished one book and started another. I wanted to get all caught up on my scrapbooking and I am almost there. It is weird to be in a quiet house. Even their cats are quiet.

Friday I signed the kids up for another year of eschool. I must be out of my ever-lovin' mind. This will be the last year for them if I get in to nursing school. If I start nursing school next fall, then they will have to go back to public school because I will be gone all day every day.

I have had my car in the shop again. HOWEVER - it is still stalling out when I stop. This is after the mechanic was 99.99% sure that the expensive part he replaced would fix the problem. Yeah right. I have now put $1100 in it to keep it running and it still isn't. I am not a happy person. I am going to call the mechanics on Monday and yell at them.

The kids went to Vacation Bible School last week and really enjoyed it. We had to ride our bikes up to the church since I didn't have my car, but it wasn't too bad. We were home before it hit 100 degrees every day. They stayed all night with Hayley Wednesday night because I had to take a training class Thursday morning.

After my training, we went to Beaumont and ate in the historic Beaumont Hotel and Restaurant and then went to see the wind towers. They are quite impressive to see.

I am hoping after my relaxing weekend that next week with the kids will be easier. They were pretty good last week. I started a new rule that if they argue with me or each other they have to go outside and pick up sticks. Very effective.

Here is a Scrapping For CF online fundraiser. The site is now ready for you to start purchasing classes right now!

Yes, five fabulous classes by Marion Werren, Chris Millar, Janine Kaye, Jen Hall and Roz James.
(these are top Australian scrappers)

Please be aware, there are two options for buying classes –

You may purchase each individual class for $10 per class OR

You can purchase the Class Package for $30 – this includes the five classes, two bonus sketches with sample layouts and a chance to be in the draw to win some great prizes from our sponsors. The details are fully outlined in the Class Package information on the website.

As an incentive, if you purchase the Class Package before 10am Monday 4th August, you will be in the draw to win one of our Lucky Door Prizes –
** One of three $10 gift certificates donated by Kim Archer for her @Home site.
** A layout scrapped for you by the fabulous Yvette Adams as well as a packet of her own designed journal cards from her etsy store.

There are also some major prizes up for grabs if you purchase the Class Package before Midnight, Friday 15th August.

So hurry up and sign up now – the early bird who purchases the Class Package gets a chance to win the prizes!!

www.scrappingforcf.com.au

Okay - yesterday I took the kids bowling. Alexa bowled incredibly well. Last time she got a 22 and 45, yesterday she got 111 and 108. WOW! Andrew and I - well, we didn't do very well.

Today we went to the library and swimming. I happened to see a book out of the corner of my eye - and it was written by my "big sister" from when I was a kid. Not like Big Brother/Big Sister, but she was my big sis. I haven't talked to her in years and boom, there she is - a published author in a library. She writes books like Janette Oak and Karen Kingsbury. The library didn't have the first two books in her series, so I am going to go buy them. I emailed her, and she emailed me back. I am so excited!

I had to take my stupid car BACK to the shop today. It keeps dying when I take my foot off of the gas. It did the same thing a couple of months ago and the shop "fixed it" but now it is doing the same thing.

Tomorrow my parents are coming out and we are going bowling again. The kids get 2 free games every day and it is only $4.50 for me to bowl two games - and that includes shoes. Mike is going to stay home and cut firewood.

Alexa and Hayley on their way to rock climbing class at the college - they had so much fun!

Andrew, Tori, Alexa, Hayley in the jungle at the zoo

We had to pose on each of the metal statues around the zoo. That was the kids' idea, not mine (surprisingly). It was so hot at the zoo and the kids got a little cranky, but they still had to pose.

Another week gone speeding by

I always mean to blog more frequently than weekly, but it never seems to happen. I cannot believe that summer is almost over. Of course with this 100 degree weather, I am ready for it to be over temperature wise. But school starts in just a couple of weeks and I am not ready for that. I have to go get my hep A & B shots; tetanus booster; and a TB test prior to my school starting. Plus have a physical for work. blech.

This last week was pretty much the same ol' stuff. I did get a pen pal who lives in Australia, so that is fun. I went out to dinner and miniature golfing with friends Friday night, and then scrapbooking Saturday afternoon. The kids and Mike stayed home and played computer games. Whoo-hoo! They know how to par-taaay.

We went swimming almost every day. We had to take Hayley to a class at the college in Andover, so after we dropped her off, we went to a friend's apartment to swim. I think they had ice cream cones almost every day...so they were in heaven.

We went to the zoo yesterday. It was hot. There weren't a lot of people there (probably cuz it was incredibly hot) so that was nice. Of course, most of the animals weren't doing anything. (see the aforementioned HOT) We had picked up my niece before we went and she spent the night last night. I had told her our house was incredibly boring and I think now she believes me.

Mike brought home a new liner for the pool yesterday so we got to put that it and do all the work that it takes to get the wrinkles out. Which mostly means he had to do it. The kids "helped", but you know how that is. I just had to keep pulling the liner back on the frame of the pool because it kept getting pulled down. Good times. We had to replace the liner because on Sunday the kids were "just swimming" and managed to rip a huge hole in the liner.....hours after Mike had topped off the water because it was getting low. Needless to say he was not happy. He had been in a good mood - making fun of me all day while I was cleaning house - but that maneuver by the kids ruined it. He was okay by Monday afternoon though, so I was thankful for that.

I can't think of anything else that we did, so I am off to get today going! Fortunately, so far, the kids are all getting along and playing video games without fighting or being hateful.

On the 4th we shot off fireworks - most of them were legal. That's the great thing about where we live, you can shoot off the "ooh, aah" ones legally. The kids had a lot of fun. Andrew has never been one for fireworks, but this year he got into it. He didn't really care much for the pretty ones, he just wanted to blow stuff up, so he was sticking firecrackers in paper and plastic items and blowing them up....should I be scared? Then grandpa got in on it - way to set a good example grandpa!

On the 5th, one of Amber's friends, Chris, came over with his girlfriend and their baby (Madison Amber). She is so cute! She is just the happiest little baby. I didn't ask, but I wonder how Chris' girlfriend feels about having her baby named after Amber....but I would assume she is okay with it, since she had to sign the birth certificate. I think that is pretty cool of her, I don't know if at 20 I would have been that secure. They are supposed to come visit again before Chris goes back to Fort Bragg - I hope they do.

On Monday, Alexa started rock climbing class at BCC. They had so much fun. I was proud of Alexa for doing it - she is a go-getter and is adventurous, but she is scared of heights. The walls were 30 feet high, and there was also a telephone pole with those metal rods sticking out (to use to climb up) and then a wire that you walked across (think tightrope walking) to another pole. Then they also had a zipline. Yesterday they also had other things to climb on, but I didn't ever get that full story. (they wouldn't let me go take pictures, but said they would take some for me and email them to me - so I will post them when I get them)

Wednesday we went bowling after rock climbing class (okay and lunch, and the library). I never get the things that cover the gutters...I am so mean...so the girls had a rough time of it. But they improved so much by the 2nd game. I think Alexa had 22 the first game and 47 the second. Andrew, on the other hand, has some natural talent. He would walk up to the line, basically just drop the ball, and roll a strike or a spare. Very impressive. He is going to get on a bowling league in the fall. He is not athletic at all and I have been trying to talk him into bowling or golf (he has a fabulous swing) for a long time. He likes those sports that do not involve running. And, since you asked.....I bowled a 113 and a 127. That is an incredible score for me - I am not a bowler. I normally bowl in the 70-80 range. Maybe 90's if I am lucky.

Today I think we are just going to go swimming, if it doesn't rain. I will probably hit the treadmill as well as an exercise video before we go. I lost 15 pounds in 2 weeks, but this last week, it just doesn't want to budge. Of course, I went from eating nothing but avocados, lettuce and zucchini to adding in other foods. Nothing bad, just something not on the avocado diet. Barely even any bread - 3 slices in a week. I might have to go back on the very strict diet, so I can lose more.

Oh well....sorry for the long post - I just haven't had time to blog this week.

The week in review

On Monday, we went to the Museum of World Treasures with my parents. I enjoyed it...and I think the kids did as well. Of course, once we saw the dinosaurs and the Egyptian stuff, they were ready to go and went through the rest of the museum extremely fast. Grandpa forgot to put their wheelchair placard up on the rearview mirror, and when we came out there was a ticket. I called Mike, he called the PO and she came back and got the ticket from us. My dad's always done so much for me, I was glad I could help them out and get that ticket taken care of.
Afterward we went to Build-A-Bear (Alexa had a gift certificate) and to HobbyTown USA (Andrew bought an $80 model dinosaur with b-day money).

Wednesday was library day - we are doing two library programs this year. We ride bikes up to our library which is about a 5 or 6 mile round trip. The kids are learning about Egypt, when we aren't swimming, riding bikes, reading or doing math, so we made scarabs out of modeling clay. Unfortunately, when I baked them instead of getting hard, they melted. Oops - I guess I picked up the wrong box. I know I had read on a box about baking it, but then I guess I grabbed a different box. So, then the next day, they made sarcophagus models and other figures, out of cookie dough. They enjoyed that immensely. And when I baked them, they were like they were supposed to be, instead of a melted mess.

Almost every day we swim, which has been good. A friend of mine has a pool at her apartment building, so we have been going over there and usually we are the only ones in the pool, which is great.

I have been exercising since school got out, but hadn't seen any results. Eleven days ago I started a pretty strict diet and have lost 11 pounds. Of course, in addition to that, I increased my exercising - sometimes 3 hours a day. I am so glad to finally be seeing some results!