Gabriel update
Well it’s been quite a while since I updated on Gabriel. I’ve gotten busy going back to school and have just graduated with a bachelor’s in nursing.
Gabriel is doing well in most areas. He is now 8 years old and in the 2nd grade. In school, he’s very good at reading and spelling and is reading 60+ page chapter books up to the 4th grade level by himself. He is doing somewhat OK on math, unless the test is timed. Addition/subtraction drills shut him down. He’s come home recently with 20s and 40s for grades on math drills. He is very perfectionistic and slow-moving in every area and no matter what you CANNOT get him to hurry. Naturally, this doesn’t lend itself to stellar grades on timed math drills (100 questions in 5 minutes). I want him to learn what he needs to but I honestly don’t know what the point of these timed drills are. Have you ever, in the real world, had to answer 100 math questions in 5 minutes? I didn’t think so. I broached this subject with his teacher and asked if he couldn’t do the test without time constraints, especially given his individual education plan (IEP) in place. The teacher said no, that this test checks for fluency. Hmph.
With reading comprehension, his work is really hit or miss. I see 100s and I see 70s. I know he is trying hard, so that makes me feel good. His teacher tells me that he’s the hardest worker in the class. I still sometimes get the feeling that his public school minimizes his problems so they don’t have to provide him extra services on their dime, but THAT’S another post for another day.
Socially he is doing better, at least as far as I know. His teacher has mentioned that he “helps her” keep track of when the other students are out of line. I rolled my eyes and told Gabriel that no one likes a tattle tale. He retorted that his teacher does. Good grief. He may not be Mr. Popular at school, but he has a good group of church friends that I can more readily see him interacting with, and he seems to get along nicely with them. He has developed a tendency to act like a clown to make people laugh, which I’m trying to quash. Case in point: last week in Sunday school, he sucked on a candy cane until it was nice and wet and sticky, and then painted his take-home coloring page with it. The kids thought it was funny but I’m sure the teacher wasn’t amused. Oh, brother.
Gabriel is still a rigid rule-follower (hello, perfectionism) and tries to make sure the rules are enforced, even if he has to do the enforcing (when an adult is out of the room or not paying attention). His mischievous little sister is his prime target. Afternoons in my house consist of Gabriel telling Mikaela what to do and Mikaela screaming at him. I’ve honestly been preoccupied for the last year with an accelerated nursing program so I’ve been letting them “solve” a lot of their own problems. Not sure how well that’s worked out, really. But I take my board exam Monday so I will soon be able to give them my attention again. I’ll have them whipped back into shape in no time. LOL. 
I digress.
Re: Gabriel’s other issues and where we’re at with them:
- Fine motor: vastly improved but still working on it. He can’t get the hang of tying his shoes or holding a taco correctly. His handwriting is beautiful, though – and he’s very good at building with Legos.
- Gross motor: he still can’t mimic an action when you demonstrate it very well. He’s not very athletic but has gotten very tech-savvy. I would like him to be involved in sports at some point, but I don’t want to subject him to mockery by his peers if he’s not good at it. Sigh.
- Sensory integration disorder: The latest thing is his hair. Well, I guess he’s had that one for a while. But if you touch his hair or brush it – even very gently – back out of his eyes, his eyes will water and he says you’re hurting his eyes by touching his hair. I’m trying to think – I know there are other little things, but when you live with someone for so long you just get used to overlooking the small eccentricities. Food is still an issue, and if you try to press him to eat certain foods, he will gag. It’s a texture thing for him.
- OCD tendencies: Gabriel still tries to straighten items on grocery store shelves when we’re there, or will touch all the tags lining the shelves. He is very thorough in his hand washing to the point of making them bleed, and takes a very long time brushing his teeth. I know there are other things, but like I said above, you eventually get used to things and don’t even think about them as being abnormal. I haven’t seen the spinning in circles on his knees nearly as much lately. Thank God … he was blowing through jeans like there was no tomorrow.
- Auditory processing: this is still an ongoing issue. We’ve learned coping mechanisms, though, and we have it in Gabriel’s IEP at school for the teacher to check with him to make sure he understands verbal instructions. Now that he’s reading well, this is another good way for him to cope with this problem. We’ve learned that if the TV is on, you can forget talking to him. You have to tell him to turn it off or on mute. We limit all media time to one hour a day, so that’s helped. One of the biggest things with him, and this may be more along the line of ADD than auditory processing: we have to call his name and get his attention, making eye contact with him before starting to talk to him.
Gabriel has an interest in art, technology and filmmaking. He’s obsessed with Star Wars and George Lucas. He’s also gotten very tech-savvy and is good at computer and wii games. I am encouraging his interests wholeheartedly. It thrills me to see him so excited about things. He has shown promise as an artist, and already knows how to draw a picture with the proper perspective (ie, some things look near and others far away).
The best thing about Gabriel is his love for God. His spiritual depth and knowledge astounds me. I love to hear him pray. I have my husband to thank for my childrens’ spiritual development – not that I haven’t had a hand in it at all – but my husband has really done a great thing by praying with them nightly and reading them scripture and answering their questions.
Gabriel has a sweet, kind, empathetic heart and thinks of others first (as long as we’re not talking about his sister …. LOL). I’m excited about his future and I know God has big plans for him.
Oh, my poor sad, little neglected blog …
I have a good excuse for being away, really I do. I’ve been eating, breathing & sleeping all things nursing for the last year … but now I’m 3 weeks away from graduating!!! I’m ever so slightly a little bit excited.
I’m pretty sure this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. This year I’ve done 3 semesters of 22-24 hours of nursing classes, plus 24 hours a week in our “main” clinical PLUS specialty clinical rotations on top of that. I think I squeezed a couple of hours of sleep in there somewhere.
But now that I’m within spitting distance of the finish line … I’m SO glad I went this route. And I’ll have a BSN to boot. I plan to get my master’s degree at some point, but I have to find my nursing specialty niche first.
I would have never done it without major, major support from my husband, kids and extended family. My husband … God bless him. He’s done a lot of dishes, laundry, house cleaning, homework, cooking and general tending of the kids. And he’s done a really good job at it.
My kids are ready for me to be done, especially Mikaela. It breaks my heart every time she tells me she misses me or asks me to play (and I have to say, “no, I have to study.”). I want to take them to Disney next year to say “thank you” for sacrificing Mommy for a year. Or maybe to make up for my guilt. I still think it (going to nursing school) was the right thing to do, and I know we’ll all be better for it in the long run, but God, was it ever hard.
People that went through this accelerated program last year told me that everyone has a breakdown at some point. Mine hasn’t come yet, but I have a tendency to have a level head in a crisis and fall apart later. I may just take my NCLEX (the nursing board licensure exam I have to pass to earn my license), then go sit in my car and cry. 
If you are considering attending an accelerated nursing program, especially if you have kids, feel free to email me and ask questions. I can give you info on Texas Tech’s one-year, web-based, BS-to-BSN program as well, if you’re interested in that. You can reach me at jayandmelanie AT hotmail D0T com.
A Record of ‘Rights’
“4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails…. “
(I Cor 13:4-8a, NIV).
Love. Has there ever been a word like it? It evokes so many feelings and holds so many different meanings. Love is a mother tenderly kissing her newborn. Love is the elderly couple strolling through the park hand-in-hand.
Love keeps no record of wrongs. But it occured to me today that it should probably keep a record of ‘rights.’
If we can choose to love, we can choose to remember the good or bad about the one we love. Which one is more productive?
It’s easy to choose to find things wrong with someone. We’re flawed humans; you shouldn’t have to look very long to find a fault. We’re full of them.
But to find the good in someone – those gems, even if unpolished – that takes a little more effort. The rewards of that effort will grow your character, build your loved one’s confidence, and encourage those around you.
Reflections on nursing school (first semester)
So, here’s a disclaimer before I even start: I will not EVER use identifying information. If I post about a patient here, details have been changed. So don’t bother suing me. Even when I DO eventually have two nickels to rub together, I’ll owe them to Uncle Sam (student loans).
Oh, and if you’re grossed out easily … go and find some nice fluff to read.
Anybody left? Okay, then.
So, nursing school. How do I even start? I’m in an accelerated program and took 21 hours this semester. It was as hard as hell, beyond exhausting, and I feel like I only made it through by God’s grace and an amazing husband. At the same time … I’ve fallen in love. Part of me wishes I’d done this years ago, but honestly – I think I wouldn’t have been ready yet. It’s taken me a few years to grow a spine.
My major disappointment so far with nursing is the hospitals’ constant preoccupation with the bottom line. I know that sound naive. But for crying out loud, unless people KNOW that they have to advocate for themselves … I feel like more often than not, they’re getting screwed out of the best care they could get. Maybe that’s not everywhere. But it’s disheartening. An example was the manager of a labor & delivery unit telling a nurse to “turn up the G-D pitocin and get that baby out” so they could turn the room over. That may be an extreme example, but it made me nauseous to hear it. For God’s sake, if I’m ever to that point, where patient care is expected to be compromised due to the business model I’m going to find myself another place to work. Sheesh.
Another thing I’ve observed that’s given me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach is the staff’s general attitudes towards the homeless and indigent. They may be seeking drugs … but if you take the time and actually talk to them you can see WHY they’re in such sad shape – war vets, lost loved ones, etc. I hate stereotypes. I don’t ever want to be jaded like that. There but for the grace of God go I …
I’ve had lots of great experiences, though – from watching births to holding babies, teaching patients how to use an incentive spirometer to ambulating post-op patients around the halls. I’ve had over 200 hours of clinicals now and I’m starting to get more comfortable with the routine. I still need practice starting IV fluids (although I can hang a piggyback pretty quickly if primary fluids are already running). But I feel like I have most of the “basics” down.
The most unusual thing I saw this semester: an autopsy. It didn’t scare me or make me barf … it really just made me sad. Let’s just say: use your seatbelts, kids. :/
I guess I can’t really sum up my entire semester in a single post. I guess I’ll have to post more later.
Kids
My kids are at a funny age. I love their mispronounciations. Gabriel still calls cantaloupe “cameloupe” and sunscreen “suncream.”
He isn’t nearly as forthcoming with conversation as he was when he was younger. Getting a decent response to “tell me what you did at school today?” is like pulling teeth. He has gotten very good at video games on the computer, iPhone & Wii. His current favorite is Lego Star Wars (Wii). I have to limit his video game time, he’d do it all day if I let him. He cracks me up with his tech savviness. He can open Jay’s laptop, press Ctrl/Alt/Delete to bring up the logon, enter the password, and log on to the internet. We’ve had to ban Google (I shudder at the thought of where some of their misspelled search terms could take them) and make sure he only goes to the kid-friendly sites saved in the “favorites” bar.
Gabriel has had a good school year. He is a good speller, a great reader, and fairly good at math as well. He still likes to draw and enjoys making books and comic books. His speech has improved steadily, but I wonder if I wasn’t so consumed with this accelerated nursing program how much better he *could* have been. Sigh, cue the maternal self-imposed guilt trip.
Oh, and he’s now riding his bike without training wheels. He’s ALSO going through a crazy growth-spurt and eating me out of house and home! Recent meal examples: 13 chicken nuggets at one sitting, 1 whole medium pizza, 2 salami sandwiches (and then asked for more). And he’s skinny as a rail! I envy that metabolism!
Mikaela has had a good year, she’s doing well academically too. She’s recently perfected her cartwheel. She loves to color, loves to play school with her stuffed animals (I heard her address them today as “gentlemen and fellas” .. ha!), and likes playing with her Littlest Pet Shop figures. We’ve recently cut cable off, but she can still access some of her favorite shows on Netfilx (streaming through the Wii): Mortified, iCarly and Shaun the Sheep. She never was one for cartoons … she likes shows with “actual” people. Well, Shaun the Sheep is an exception. That show is so darn cute. And witty.
My favorite thing about the kids is that they love our church and love our nightly family prayer time. They remind us that it’s time to pray every night. Sometimes it’s been hard to pause (this year we have felt like everything is on fast-forward – there’s just not enough hours in the day) but it’s been a great discipline for all of us.
By the numbers
Ten years ago this week I graduated from MTSU with my BS in Communications. Today I finished my first (of three) semesters in nursing school. Fifteen years ago this week I graduated from high school (when did I get so old?!?)
Eleven years ago today (5/13) I married Jay. Twelve years ago next week, we met in a bowling class.
Eight years ago, I was pregnant with Gabriel. Seven years ago, I was pregnant with Mikaela.
It’s amazing what a difference a few years can make, huh?
TODAY, I have a 7 1/2-year-old boy and 6-year-old girl, a dog, and a cat – and one amazing husband. We have lived in our home for almost 4 years. After years in the publishing industry, I’m now headed down the path to a nursing degree.
I guess if I could go back and change anything about the past years, I would not worry so much about anything and everything. God has always taken care of us and continues to do so – no thanks to my nail-biting.
Still alive … I think!
Oh, man, it’s been a year. I seriously doubt anyone comes here anymore, but I guess I’ll update at least in the interest of preserving a record for posterity. Not that posterity will care to have a record saved for it!
So, all of last year (Jan.-Dec. 2010), I worked in a full-time clerical position in the neonatal intensive care (NICU) of a major regional hospital. I learned a lot about medical terminology, lab tests, HIPAA (privacy rules) and much more. At the same time, I finished up my prerequisites for nursing school and applied to Texas Tech’s Second-Degree web-based BS-to-BSN program. It’s a yearlong accelerated program with classes online, a one-on-one clinical coach here locally, and periodic clinical training sessions at a local hospital in Austin. I was fortunate (blessed!) enough to get in, and I started the program Jan. 2011.
It’s CRAZY. I am eating, sleeping & breathing nursing school, but I’ll have my BSN in a year (Lord willin’ and creek don’t rise!). It’s been hard on me emotionally, physically and spiritually. Jay has pretty much been doing all the cleaning and the lion’s share of the parenting. Thank God he’s such an amazing dad and husband … I could have NEVER done this program without him.
My typical week, if there is such a thing, is 3 days of 8-hour clinicals and 4 days of studying dawn ’till dusk. Rinse and repeat weekly until Dec. 17.
My kids are growing like weeds. Gabriel’s lost something like 8 baby teeth now and all but 1 of them have been replaced by permanent teeth. Gabriel is now 7 and doing very well in school. He’s a little behind on problem solving and abstract thought but doing exceptionally well in reading and math. His speech is coming along well. Just this week he learned to ride his bike with the training wheels off. He’s going through a bit of a difficult stage and can give us some attitude sometimes … but I’ve had to give him (and Mikaela as well) some grace considering how crazy busy we all are this year. It was inevitable that we’d frequently be stressed and grumpy.
Mikaela has recently lost a tooth of her own, and I think a second one is soon to follow. She just turned 6 a month ago. She’s still really small for her age. She’s doing really well in kindergarten; her teacher told me recently that she’s in her top reading group.
My kids are at a funny age. They say things that make us laugh every day. The sibling rivalry is about to drive us nuts, though. Oh, man … it’s constant! Gabriel got into trouble in the very short half-mile drive from school to home the other day, for telling Mikaela to “shut up.” Ugh! She’s the same way, though.
I’m having to remind myself frequently in all my craziness to stop and pray, to stop and listen to my kids, to stop and tell my husband how much I appreciate him. This is so hard for all of us, but I’m trusting that God wouldn’t have led me down this path if He wasn’t going to get me across the finish line.
Update
So, I got a job in Janurary. I’m working at a hospital, in the NICU. I work at the front desk and field phone calls, buzz people back through locked doors into the unit, fill doctor’s orders (by ordering xrays, drugs from the pharmacy, consultations, etc.), order ambulances and helicopters in emergency situations, and a million other little random things. It’s highly interactive with doctors and nurses, so it’s great experience for my planned future nursing career. It can be really fast-paced at times, but I’m getting the hang of it.
Balancing a job, a class (pathophysiology), being involved in our church and with my family – it’s been a real challenge. I’ve been switching back and forth between various shifts during my training and our newest employee’s training, so I’m pretty exhausted. But thank you Jesus, we can finally pay our bills. It’s still tight because we’re having to keep Mikaela in a private school this year (she’s still too young for public school). But that will change soon enough.
My babies sure are growing up. Mikaela is 5 now and growing like a weed (she’s still little, though). Gabriel has grown a TON – I’m pretty sure he’s tall for his age. He lost his second tooth last week. This one was on the bottom as well. Both kids are doing well in school, especially with reading. Gabriel has really surprised me at how he’s just taken off with it. But they are both definitely progressing well through the kindergarten material.
Our cat, Buttercup had kittens a few weeks ago. 3 gray ones and 2 orange ones; we don’t know the genders yet. I am planning on “selling” them (charging a rehoming fee) on craigslist, although Jay thinks I won’t have any success. I guess we’ll see.
In church news, Jay is really involved playing drums for the praise & worship team, and also teaching Bible study each week. I’ve had to miss multiple Bible studies because of my crazy hours at work, which has been a bummer. I wanted to partner with Jay in this effort – I know I called it Bible study (and it is), but it’s more of a ‘community group’ (aka “home group,” “kinship”, et al), where we’re actively being involved praying and caring for others in our group. I’m so proud of Jay … he’s grown and matured spiritually SO much. I could totally see him being in the ministry some day.
Here’s some photos to catch you up:
Deja Vu All Over Again
This is turning into an annual tradition: January day-in-the-park-with-the-kids photos! Gotta love central Texas!
Here is this year’s picture:
And here is Jan. 2009′s picture and Dec. 31, 2007′s picture.
… or whatever
I often doodle while on the phone. Mikaela sat down at my computer desk today and discovered one, saying: “Woah, mama! This is a nice cookie! Or a table. Or a puffer fish.”
Conversations
While driving by a ranch:
Mikaela: Mama, can you roll the window down so I can talk to the cows?
Me: baby, I think those cows are too far away to hear you
Mikaela: I can just yell …
Gabriel: Kayla, where’s my toy?
Mikaela: ….
Gabriel: Kayla, hurry up and tell me, I gotta go to the bathroom weally bad!!
Mikaela is falling asleep on the couch …
Me: Mikaela, the couch is not your bed, get up and go to your own bed
Mikaela, sleepily: but the couch is soooooo comfortable!
Mikaela, walking outside into a stench:
Whoo, it’s dees-gusting out here!
Gabriel: Mama, how does God make the rain fall?
Gabriel, to Grandmother: do you know Jesus?
Done
Well, the longest semester ever is finally over. I finished my third semester (since starting on my second degree) on Wednesday and I’m thoroughly enjoying my break.
Mikaela has been at home with me this week. I pulled her out of her private school because we can’t afford to keep sending her until I get a job. I’m really enjoying spending time with her and teaching her again. This week we worked on fractions, reading and ending consonant sounds, among other things. She is one smart kid.
Gabriel is still in public school, and I’m wishing more than anything I could put him back in private school. He is being picked on again and he just generally doesn’t like it. He never had a single problem at his private school (the same one Mikaela went to) … oh, how I wish I had a job so I could send them both back there.
I actually just went on a second interview for an administrative job at a local hospital. The pay is decent, but probably not enough to put both kids back in private school. I guess I’ll have to see if and when I get my first paycheck….
I had a really good feeling about the interview. I felt like I really connected with the interviewer. I should hear back early this week … so please say a prayer!
So, in the meantime, it’s going to be Mikaela and I hanging out at home. With the fact that she will be old enough to attend the public school next year … this will probably be my last time at home with her. I’m trying to savor it. It’s already been hard watching them grow up so much this year – moving from the ABCs to reading, leaving Playhouse Disney and PBS Sprout behind for iCarly and Spongebob … making insightful – sometimes even witty – observations every day; oh, my babies aren’t babies anymore. (I think that last sentence wins the prize for ‘worst run-on ever,’ but I’m too tired to fix).
So, I really have no immediate agenda other than trying to find work and enjoying my time with my kids. I have an online class starting next January, then it’s time to wait until I start an online nursing program through TX Tech in early 2011 (or if I don’t make the cut, 2012). Of course, Lord willin’ and creek don’t rise.
Speaking of the Lord – I’m in a phase of trying to figure out where to plug in at our newish church. I’m really bad about over-committing and then disappointing (in the realm of church, anyway). I can’t believe I just admitted that … that was painful. I guess part of it stems from frequent past sickness, and also from saying “yes” to things that I was not at all interested in doing (usually after some arm-twisting by another party). Don’t get me wrong … the blame lies with me. But the bottom line is, what do I get involved in? What I’m good at? What the church needs most? I know I obviously need to seek God’s direction in the situation, but it often seems like it’s hard to hear Him on matters like that.
Jay has committed himself to this church more than any other church we’ve attended before – he is their percussionist/drummer. He has no backup, so he’s there for long hours during the week for practice and also on Sunday for both services. I’m so proud of him, though … he’s really putting his gifts to use!
Looking ahead
So, I’ve finally narrowed it down. I want to attend Texas Tech’s one-year, online BS-to-BSN. It was really my original idea, and after looking at lots of other options, I’ve come back to it. I need to take one more class, pathophysiology, which I will complete in the spring at Austin Community College. I also need to complete a medical terminology course and become a certified nursing assistant. I will apply in the fall of 2010 and hopefully get in for their 2011 program. And if I don’t get in, I will look at my options again. For now, unless God smacks me on the head and tells me to do something else, this is what I want to stick with. I’m so tired of being overwhelmed with all the options.
In the meantime, I need a job. I mean, really. Please Jesus let me get a good job. Anytime you think about it, please say a prayer about this. I’m trying to keep my head up and leave it at God’s feet, but month after month we’re not making ends meet. Still, God hasn’t let us starve, so I’m not worried per se … I’ll just be glad to finally be through this tunnel, let’s just put it that way.
One more month and I will be done with this semester. So, with this 2nd college career, I’ll have anatomy & physiology I and II, microbiology, science of nutrition, computers in health, statistics and lifespan/human growth & development under my belt. I’ve had A’s in everything but statistics, and that’s looking like it’ll be a B. I can’t wait to see what my cumulative GPA combining both degrees is.
Anyway, blah blah blah. The kids are doing well. Both are learning to read pretty well … I love to watch them progress. They crack me up every single day. And now that I’m finally getting a break away from them – they’re in school while I’m in school – it’s making our time together much better. Before, I NEVER got breaks. Pretty much just mommy-mode 24/7 for almost 6 years. I very rarely ever got a date night or girls’ night out. Not to say that Jay isn’t a big help … but still. I am definitely not feeling guilty about putting my kids in school vs. homeschooling them because we’re all thriving and our time together is much more quality time than it was before. I appreciate them a lot more now. Amazing what a little distance will do for you!
I still have nights when I’ve got homework and they’re playing together – but I love the fun times we do have together. This is a fun age for both of them. I love the questions they ask me and to see their creativity and sense of humor emerging. It makes my heart happy.
So …
Fall continues to fly by. My classes are going well, I’m still working a part-time job at the school and looking for other work, and the kids are enjoying their respective schools. I often feel like I’m in a day-in, day-out rut of laundry, dishes, homework and driving places (wash, rinse, repeat) … but I’ve been purposefully stopping more often lately to marvel at how much God has blessed us with.
Honestly, times look pretty bleak. We can’t make ends meet month in and month out, and my job search keeps coming up fruitless. But God keeps blessing us left and right, keeping us afloat. I know God has a plan for our family, and I’m not going to stop believing that. It’s hard not to get discouraged sometimes, though – but I always snap out of it by praying for peace and thinking of all the many good things we DO have.
The biggest blessing being our precious children (precious to US, anyway). They are at such a wonderful age. There are plenty of frustrations with sassing and sibling rivalry, but their wit and creativity keeps us smiling each day. I stop frequently and marvel at how much they’ve learned and grown. This past week, Gabriel sounded out and wrote down the word “Pokemon.” His teacher at school, as well as his speech therapist, say he is progressing well. He is in the category of “emergent reader” now – reading slowly and haltingly, still needing help – but giving it a really good effort! He’s actually ahead of Mikaela in this now (I thought she’d pick up reading quickly) – she too often tries to guess the word instead of sounding it out.
Also this week, Mikaela informed us that she wanted me to go to the grocery store and buy her some “Pink Lady” apples. All of a sudden, she knows all about apple varieties. They must’ve discussed them at school.
Fall has sprung
This fall here in central TX has been delightfully cool, and we’ve gotten plenty of much-needed rain for our parched region. My sinuses and lungs have already given me what-for, so hopefully I’ll be healthy the rest of the season. I often miss enjoying fall events because of bronchitis. Maybe the allergy meds are working this year. Or perhaps I’ve built up an immunity.
So, this weekend I think I’m taking the kids to a pumpkin patch. I’ve been wanting to go to one for … oh, ever since the kids were born?
Gabriel went to a semi-patch on a school field trip last year. It was actually more like a pile of pumpkins on a few crates outside of a church … not exactly a true pumpkin patch. And he was having trouble smiling that day, so my pictures aren’t the greatest.
Speaking of Gabriel, he likes his new school. The teacher seems truly concerned for him, but the jury’s still out on her in general. She seems very brusque and businesslike. I’d much prefer for my kids to have teachers with warm, friendly personalities … but if she turns out to be a great teacher, I guess I’ll get over it. I know I’m highly critical of my kids’ teachers … but they’re taking care of my precious children, can you blame me?
Mikaela is also doing well in kindergarten at her school. Her teacher says she’s doing just as well as the other students (and better than some), who are a year older than her. What stinks is that she’ll likely have to repeat kindergarten next year. It seems no other schools are keen on the idea of accepting a younger student early, and since the school she’s going to now is not accredited, in essence, this year doesn’t count. Bummer.
We’ll have the new elementary school built by next year, and it’s right down the street from us. I’m assuming, unless I have a fabulous, well-paying job by then, that the kids will both be there.
Speaking of jobs (don’t you love my segues?), I’m still on the hunt. It’s brutal out there. I’m trying to write really catchy cover letters, but I can’t ever seem to get past the 2nd interview. Ugh. Say a prayer for me about that if you think of it …
Changes and ruts
So I’m midway through my fall semester at the college I go to. I’m taking microbiology, statistics and lifespan/human growth and development (a psychology course). I have A’s in micro and psych … let’s not talk about statistics. Well, I’m doing okay … just not quite at an “A” level. :/
I’ve been busy with that and my part-time anatomy lab aide job at the school; I’ve also been desperately looking for another job, to no avail. I can’t understand why I can’t seem to find work; I’ve been looking for a long, long time. I get an interview here or there, and even second interviews, but I can’t seem to close the deal. I think I interview really well, too … but I just apparently keep coming in second. Can I even tell you how frustrated I am?
I can’t even find work at Wal-mart or Target. I’ve applied all over the place. Please, if you’re the praying type, pray something turns up soon.
Anyway, unfortunately, my lack-of-a-job forced me to pull Gabriel out of the private school he was going to and put him back in public. At least he’ll get free speech therapy there, and I’ve heard really good things about his teacher. But it’s still a bit heartbreaking to have to make a decision like that.
After this first week, Gabriel really seems to like it, so I’m feeling somewhat better. Mikaela is still at a private school because she is still too young to attend public. She is doing really well and keeping up with her classmates, who are a year older than her.
We are wading into the homework years with both kids, so our afternoons and evenings are abuzz with their homework, my homework, and getting things ready for the next day. How do people fit in lessons and other activities?!?
Sorry I don’t have anything more interesting to say. My days are long and I’m tired and more than a little emotionally weary. Hopefully things will look up soon …
“Not Me” Monday, episode #2
I did NOT go to the ER the other night with a 103-degree fever, dressed in my pj’s, black non-skid footwarmers and brown suede clogs. And further I did NOT decide, after my chest x-ray, to return home sans bra because I was so tired. Nooooo … not me. Nope. Innocent, I swear.
There’s no reasoning with a sick child
Both kids have bronchitis and fevers. Today, sniffling through a 102-degree temperature and cough and looking quite pitiful, Mikaela asked: “Mama, can I go ride my tricycle?”
I replied, “No, baby, not today – you’re sick. Why don’t you go play in your room?”
Mikaela: “I don’t feel like it. I’m too sick.”
“Not Me!” Monday, episode #1
In the tradition of other bloggers, I will join in for “Not Me!” Monday.
“Not Me!” Monday is all about something that you did NOT do. Noooooo … not you. Get it?
So. Today, I was schlepping all around campus, trying to track down the person to whom I give my timesheet, when nature called. Must’ve been the liter of Coke. Anyway, before making my next stop, I popped into the restroom in the computer lab. It reminded me of my elementary school’s restroom, complete with the small tile with nasty-looking grout. I proceeded into a stall and was face-to-face with what was surely the nastiest toilet on campus. So, I proceeded to … um … hover. Let’s just say I did NOT somehow magically miss the toilet and pee on my flip-flop-shodden foot. NO, not me.
And further, this is NOT the very same toilet I accidentally fell onto once after attempting to hover while wearing a 35-pound backpack on my back (because, ugh, it wasn’t going on that nasty floor). No, not me.
And later upon returning home and recounting this tale that did NOT happen to my loving spouse, did he NOT chime in and exclaim that he’d peed on his foot today too!
Apparently the Plemons need target practice. Or, uh, NOT.
Kids’ school
So, the kids are both in kindergarten this year, I’m sure I’ve mentioned. They’re attending a private school and boy is my pocketbook hurting! But the kids seem to be doing great.
They’re using the ABeka Christian curriculum, the same that I grew up using. I love it. Right now they’re working on their handwriting and bringing home homework to practice. Oh, boy that’s like pulling teeth. Slowly but surely they’re getting it, though.
The teacher stopped me the other day when I was on my way out the door to tell me how well my kids were doing and that Mikaela was doing just fine in Kindergarten (she’s 4 but they allowed her to start on K early), and that Gabriel was doing a good job also. That made my heart happy. At least if I can’t teach them myself, they’re in a good, nurturing Christian school with a very small class size and a veteran teacher. I’d love to homeschool again sometime in the future, if only our finances would allow me to do so. I guess we’ll see how that pans out.
Wow
I am a lab aide in my school’s anatomy lab. My job is to make sure the students don’t steal our lab models and charts, as well as answer any questions the students may have. That is ALL. But some of the students don’t seem to get that. Here’s a conversation with a woman I had today:
mid-40s woman, heaving backpack onto floor in front of me: so-and-so said you were a tutor and that I could come see you and that you would tutor me.
Me: I’m a lab aide. I can answer any questions that you might have.
Woman: well, I was told that you would help me.
Me: I can’t help you until I know what you’re having issues with.
Woman: Well, I have an antatomy and physiology test Monday.
Me: ….
Woman: You know our professor, Mr. so-and-so? He told me to print off the power point and study it.
Me: I’m not familiar with that professor. What exactly is it you’re having problems with?
Woman: Well, I was told to come hear and you’d tutor me for this test.
Me: Have you studied at all?
Woman: I read it but I can’t understand it.
Me: Well, I can’t help you unless you have specific questions.
Woman: Well, I guess I’m unclear about what your role is here (didn’t I just tell her?!?).
In other words, the woman was coming in to the anatomy lab for the very first time 3 days before her test and wanting me to teach her everything she needed to know. Seriously? How about studying like everybody else? She acted all huffy with me the entire time. The gall of some people!
Love letter from a savior
Years ago, when Jay and I were living with his sister and brother-in-law in their apartment in Franklin, TN, I was growing very discontent. I was so tired of being so broke all the time. We applied for more jobs than you could count – and we did have jobs already, but they didn’t pay very well. I cried out to God, asking Him to speak to me clearly. I asked Him, specifically, to “draw me a picture” since I often have such a hard time knowing for sure if I’ve heard from Him or not. Over the next few days I found a certain Bible passage everywhere I looked – Jeremiah 29:11-13:
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
I mean, that verse was EVERYWHERE. I saw it on bumper stickers, hanging on my sister-in-law’s fridge, I opened my Bible right to it, my sister emailed it to me … again and again and again, I saw the same passage. Way too many times to be a coincidence.
Fast forward to today. I still see this verse often. But we are still struggling and I’ve gotten really frustrated again. I’ve grown tired of waiting for Jay’s employer to pay him what I think he deserves (and what we need to make ends meet). So instead of staying at home with the kids where I really want to be, I’ve decided to follow my ‘second’ dream – a nursing career.
I started taking classes this summer and have been working like a mad woman, earning A’s in all of my classes.
I’ve been really frustrated over the timing of getting my nursing degree, though. I finished my last pre-requisite for my current college’s nursing program in July, just after the cut-off for applying for this year’s nursing program. I tried to convince them to admit me, but they refused. I missed it by just a few weeks and just one class. The next opportunity to enter their nursing program won’t be until fall of 2010.
I was also looking at Texas Tech and the University of Texas as nursing schools. Texas Tech had told me earlier this year I could take pathophysiology after I entered their nursing program; when I talked to the director of Tech’s nursing program on the phone yesterday, she said that was not true – I have to have this class before applying. The application process runs from September to November; there’s no way I can take Pathophysiology before then. So, I found out yesterday Tech was out (for this year, anyway).
And UT’s alternate-entry master’s of science in nursing program – I was really interested in that, even moreso than the other schools. It’s a 3-year program, but I would graduate with a much better degree. Up until this last week or so, their web site said that you could work on your prerequisites until the time you actually started their program (next summer); when I went to their Web site yesterday, this had been changed. Now they want you to have all of your prereq’s by Jan. 5th.
As I read this final bit of bad news yesterday, I almost broke down and cried. And I am NOT a crier. WHY do I keep getting so close and then not making it? I am not getting any younger, and we have more bills than we do income, and I just want to hurry up and get my degree! This means I have to wait another year to even begin a 2- or 3-year program. I’ll be at least 34 when I graduate. And more importantly, that could mean 3-4 more years of living hand-to-mouth. It’s just more than I can handle. I’ve been working SO hard on my studies, and this just felt like a slap in the face.
So, I grumped around all last night and into today. I prayed and asked God what in the world He was trying to tell me, and said, “I really need to hear from you! (please)”
I sat down at the computer and brought this devotion up:
DEVOTION
Blessed Beings
By Gene Markland
CBN Staff Writer
CBN.com -- Move, get, go, and do! Life can be like a drill sergeant screaming in your ear. “Alright (insert your name here), go, go, go!” A man once said, “We’re human beings, not human doings.” So often we find ourselves in a never-ending frustrating rut of doing. We forget the importance of just being whom we are, the unique individual made by God. He made us first and foremost to be, not to do.
Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48 KJV).
We struggle to do things in order to get what we want in life. We push ourselves to do anything in order to please God, when what He really wants is not so much what we do for Him, but what we are to Him. One of the greatest lessons Lord Jesus ever taught me was just to be. This is more important to Him than anything I’ll ever do for Him.
I asked Him to sanctify me by His blood, to plunge the depths of my inner being, and clean the deep recesses of my spirit, soul, and body. Though I had the assurance of my salvation, He showed me that my soul, like a room swept clean, still had some cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling. The Holy Spirit, who searches the deep things, shone a light in those dark corners exposing some lingering stuff. With the broom of the Holy Spirit we dealt with them and I became a clean pot, a vessel fit for the Lord’s use.
I learned to focus my efforts on being a clean pot, and then He could use me and perform the “doing” through me. I’m the being and He’s the doing. I knew a man who was constantly striving to push himself on people. He went overboard trying to impress the ladies. His focus was doing his best, not being his best. Ultimately he would push them away. The lesson he needed to learn was to be the best that you can be, then they will see and not flee.
Sure, it’s good to have goals in life, but do not fail to appreciate and enjoy who you are and what you have right now. Your life here and now is incredibly important! Don’t worry so much about tomorrow. “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow” (Matthew 6:34 TM). Tomorrow will take care of itself.
The Apostle Paul said to be content in whatever state you’re in. “I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am” (Philippians 4:11-14 TM).
Enjoy the incredible gift that is today. God wonderfully made you. In the Bible, He states that He knows the plans He has for you. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. He knows the desire of your heart. He had a part in putting it there. What He began in you He will fulfill. You might not be able to see it right now, but that doesn’t change His word. Be patient and stand. You will see the salvation of the Lord.
Whether you need deliverance from a bad situation or just want your dream of a happy life to come true, remember that our God is the biggest dreamer of all. He dreamed up everything that exists in the universe, including you. He wants His dream for you to come true as much as you do. When we embrace His dreams for us, and submit our dreams to his will, we find the contentment that the Apostle Paul wrote about, and God’s peace that passes understanding. Have faith in God for you are a blessed being.
Handling sibling rivalry
OK, dear readers … I’m up to my eyeballs in sibling rivalry. My kids argue frequently and it’s driving me NUTS.
I know it’s “normal” for kids to argue, but it’s severely disrupting the peace of our household and I’m getting really tired of it. Some (most) arguments start because one of them is trying to boss the other around. Others start when the kids deem a situation to be unfair or inequitable. For instance, a couple of weeks ago Gabriel inherited several boxes of nice toys from my husband’s boss, whose boys had outgrown them. Mikaela threw a fit that Gabriel got new toys. I explained the situation to her – that we didn’t buy them, that someone gave them to us, and she poutily replied, “well, Papa should have bought me some girl toys too.” Land sakes.
Anyway, it’ s getting old. I don’t necessarily want to punish them, I want to teach them how to work out their disagreements without losing my mind. Any insights or book suggestions?
iTunes
I like a fairly wide range of musical styles, including rock, alternative, electronic, blues, jazz, adult alternative, folk and some pop (mostly Britpop). I have Rage Against the Machine moods, John Mayer moods and Massive Attack moods. A sampling of the most recent songs on my iTunes:
Spinnerette: Ghetto Love
Snow Patrol: Shut Your Eyes
The Bravery: Believe
Foo Fighters: Let it Die
… which most of those songs aren’t all that new. They’re just newer than the bulk of my iTunes library, which dates to the late ’90s.
I really made a habit of seeking out good music when I was in college, but lately I just haven’t had the time or money. Well, honestly – it’s been quite a while since I’ve had the time or money! But the desire is still there. I hate most of the drivel on the radio, and alas, my car has a tape deck. I don’t even have a stereo that could make mix tapes anymore, so I’m out of luck until I can upgrade my sound system (currently, a low priority vs. other things).
But I digress … I love music and I love finding great new music. I just wish there wasn’t so much garbage to wade through before you find the gems. I need a personal music consulant. I wonder how much that would set me back? 
Interview with Mikaela
I interviewed the kids today for posterity. Some of their answers were hilarious. Here are Mikaela’s responses to my questions:
Interview with Gabriel
I decided to interview the kids today, to get a snapshot of where they are developmentally and to see what funny things they would say in response to our questions. Here is Gabriel’s interview: Read the rest of this entry »
Product review
Romano’s Macaroni Grill has boxed, you-add-the-meat dinners that you can buy at the grocery store – if you haven’t noticed. I’ve tried the Chicken Marsala and it is ridiculously good. I LOVE it, and I’m a somewhat picky eater.
I’m also a lazy, means-to-an-end cook, and this requires more steps than I’m usually used to, but boy, it’s worth it. Yum!
Bowling!
A couple of weeks ago, our family went to a birthday party for the little girl we used to babysit in the mornings – who is also a neighbor and who attends daycare with my kids. She had her party at a bowling alley, and the adults and kids all got to bowl.
It was the first time our family has done something like that – going somewhere we ALL enjoyed. It was a blast. This is a new era we’re entering into – we can actually go fun places with the kids and enjoy ourselves. Well, if I have to lose their baby sweetness as they get older, at least this is a nice silver lining. My sister told me that there were good and bad things about every phase of childhood – I guess this is a good example of that.
The Pineapple
My husband’s family has a three-tiered, wooden pineapple serving tray/party tray similar to the one above. It spins like a lazy susan and it has been in the family for years. A few months ago, Jay and I were at a antique store when we happened upon another, very similar one. It was worth the small price they were asking for it, especially since it’s both vintage and imported – not something you see every day.
I know my husband’s family has some interesting stories and memories to share about this piece of family history. Stay tuned and I’ll update as I learn more …
UPDATES:
Jay’s oldest sister, Melanie says:
The family pineapple, as we call it, has adorned many a holiday table setting. Every Christmas I can remember my grandmother putting together the 3 tiers getting ready to fill the bowls with nuts and olives signifying that the annual Christmas Eve party would begin soon.
It’s been passed around from grandmother to mom, to sister, to sister to now me. I’ll admit I have been hording it like a precious family jewel. It’s currently wrapped in a sheet nestled away in my attic waiting for to make its appearance at the next holiday party. Who knew something so silly as a Hawaiian wooden pineapple would stir such warm happy feelings.
Sharon, Jay’s mom says:
My parents owned a paint store that sold Bruning paint. The top Bruning paint sellers were rewarded with free trips, and one year in the 70s they got to go to Hawaii. While they were there, they bought this 3-tiered wooden hors d’oeuvre tray. They brought it back home, where it became a fixture at every Christmas party for 20 years.
Healthcare
Oh, my it’s been long since I’ve blogged about politics. I’ve gotten so jaded, I have just about given up on following politics altogether. It’s hard to avoid the health care issue though.
You know, universal healthcare is a lovely, noble goal. I’d love for everybody everywhere to have health insurance. I’d also love for the world’s hungry to be fed and clothed, for there to be no war or famine … but are any of those things necessarily feasible in real life? Unfortunately, probably not.
This is the thing: I’d love to have every single person covered. But not if it means rationing care for everyone (cutting services) or raising taxes enormously – the only two options when you look at the facts. You can only do so much with a given amount of money. If we want to add millions more to the healthcare rolls, there will be NO other choices than to either raise taxes a lot, or to ration the services. I wish this wasn’t so.
I personally think that we should reform healthcare instead of just giving it totally over to the government’s control. (Because when is the last time you’ve seen the government make something better or do something right? That’s what I thought.) I would expand medicare and medicaid but require that EVERY able body pay a monthly sliding-scale premium based on income but capped at a reasonale amount. I would also extend amnesty to the illegal aliens on the condition that they pay their fair share too.
On the other hand is the drug companies that supply drugs worldwide at a fraction of the cost we pay for drugs here in the U.S. – because we are tacking on research and development costs to our drugs. I say if the world needs our medicine, they should help pay for the R&D as well. That would decrease drug costs here for us at home significantly.
So who’s with me?
But that’s the thing – no one wants to hear a sensible solution. The government is corrupt. Both parties. Don’t make me email you examples of government corruption … I can give you plenty, from both sides of the aisle. So why do we think that they would get into this and not screw it up MASSIVELY? Seriously, people, do you think the government is in this because they care about you? That’s just naive. They want to get their grubby hands on more of your tax dollars. If you can’t see that, then you need to open your eyes up.
So the bottom line is, there absolutely needs to be some common-sense reform. It stinks that people don’t have healthcare. But don’t sign all your freedoms away and get us into an even bigger mess before we try other solutions first.
Summer summary – kids and pets
We now have 4 pets. FOUR. Yes, we are indeed insane.
We’ve had our sweet, lazy Daisy, a long-haired dachshund, for about a year now. She’s become a family member. This spring, we added two gray tabby kittens – buttercup and lilly – to the mix. And just this week, we were given a puppy by my husband’s boss. One of her parents is a mini dachshund, the other is a regular dachshund. But whether she winds up being mini or not, she is short-haired. We named her Violet.
So we have 4 female animals, all named after flowers. They’re all getting along amazingly well, and they have a grand time romping in the backyard together. Now if we could just get the newest addition housebroken!
Anyway, here are some pictures taken this summer of the kids and our pets. Enjoy!
The kids
Oh, my babies have grown this summer. Other than the 6-month stint at a newspaper when Gabriel was 2 and Mikaela was not quite 1, this summer was the first time I’ve been away from them for any length of time each day. In a way it was a welcome break from the monotony of dirty dishes, whining and sibling rivalry; in another way, I felt like a part of me withered as I know we are turning a page in my children’s lives and I can’t go back and edit the previous pages ever again. As much as I believe in homeschooling, I’m not sure it was the best choice for us for many different reasons, the biggest one being that we absolutely have to have a second income to make ends meet. I have nothing but respect for moms who do homeschool, though, and I have more than a little wistful feeling that I wish it had worked out.
The school the kids are at this year, they are already familar with: it’s the same place as the daycare they went to all summer. It’s a small, private (Christian) facility that provides pre-K through first grade – as well as after-school care. The class sizes are wonderfully small and their teacher has 30 years of experience and the sweetest disposition. I’m really excited and have a good feeling about this year.
I actually went up to the school to talk to the kids’ teacher yesterday, to give her a bit of background on both of my kids. I told her about Gabriel’s disabilities and diagnoses, but that he has come an awfully long way. I asked her to help me help her to help him. (got that?) I want her to tell me the things he needs extra help in throughout the year so he doesn’t fall behind.
And I told her about Mikaela: she catches on to things quickly but can be really lazy! I hate seeing that in her personality and want to know how to get rid of it. For instance, when I read a book to her, I stop to let her sound words out, for her to almost always say: “no, mama, YOU read it.” Of course, that’s one example of many. If she can con someone into doing almost any job for her, she will do it. I can’t tell you how often I ask her to do something, to have her try to delegate it to Gabriel. Or often she’ll tell someone who doesn’t know any better that she “can’t” do something or “doesn’t know how.” She pulls this with her dad pretty often. She was demanding that he buckle her into her carseat well after she knew how, saying, “Papa, I can’t do it!”
The conniving shows that she’s pretty smart, but it’s obviously not good! She has her good qualities, too, and she can be an absolute sweetheart when she wants to be. (We’re working on encouraging that. )
Both kids are sounding words out and trying to write. They need some help still but I love to see that they’re progressing. Both kids but especially Gabriel loves playing with those alphabet magnets, and he’ll spell out all kinds of words, asking us to see if he spelled it right. We were pleasantly surprised when Gabriel sounded “Puzzle” out correctly the other day. I’d put a lot of effort in trying to teach the kids to read, and teaching them phonics, this last year but it seemed like a lot wasn’t sticking. Well, maybe it just took a while to soak in.
My how summer flew by!
How is the summer over? I didn’t get a summer … I had my nose in a book!
I finished my two summer semesters wherein I took 4 classes; I made A’s in all of them. Anatomy & Physiology I and II nearly killed me, but somehow I survived it.
I met a lot of interesting people in my anatomy classes. We had an awful lot of study groups and we spent many, many hours together. The people I studied with included two 18-year-olds girls fresh out of high school, a 27-year-old single mom and a 38-year-old Iraq veteran. Quite an eclectic group. It’s amazing how well you can get to know people in a short period of time … but when you’re spending many hours a day most days studying together – it happens!
So here I am about to start my fall semester Monday, the same day both of my kids start KINDERGARTEN. Weren’t they just born? How is this possible?
So anyway, in addition to all 3 of us going to school on Monday, I’ve got several irons in the fire job-wise. Two different departments at the school are interested in me doing some work for them (through the work-study program, which I really know nothing about), and one other thing that I can’t really mention yet. Don’t want to be presumptuous.
This summer has been a hard one. Aside from my excruciatingly hard classes, we had a lot of sickness – from bronchitis to stomach bugs. I guess that’s to be expected, since this was Mikaela’s first-ever daycare experience. Come on, immunity … build yourself up!
The summer was also full of other stressors and impossible situations, so much so that I really feel like our family is under attack. Why, I don’t know … we’re not particularly doing a whole lot ‘for the kingdom’ at the moment. I guess the enemy is always seeking to harm, even when you wouldn’t expect it. So if you get a chance … please say a prayer this pattern will stop!
I would apologize again for being a blogging slacker, but honestly – I don’t need any more guilt. I feel guilty about things I shouldn’t feel guilty about, that’s just a negative part of my personality … so I’m not adding this blog to the list of things to fret over. No offense.
So, yeah … the summer is gone (well, in theory – it’s still as hot as hell here in TX) and we did pretty much nothing fun. I’m hoping I can sneak in a trip to the beach with Jay and the kids sometime in the next couple of months. I’m sure we’ll have to see how my job schedule works out first though.
Where it’s at
Well, I’ve turned into such a slacker of a blogger. Shame on me. I have been making straight A’s in school though so hopefully that suffices as an excuse!
I’m in the midst of anatomy & physiology II and the Science of Nutrition. Both really interesting classes. I’m really loving school.
I have to start working soon though. The kids are starting Kindergarten in late August .. and I don’t have enough loan money left to pay for it. So Melanie needs a job. I’m looking in the health care industry but if I have to start out somewhere like Wal-mart until I can find something better, I’ll do it.
It’s going to be a real challenge going to school, working and trying to make quality time with the kids. I’m going to have to be a lot more purposeful with my time, that’s for sure.
The kids are liking daycare and will be going to that same small Christian facility for their Kindergarten program. The ratio of kids to the teacher is very good and I think it will be a good thing for both of them. Plus it’s the only place that I found that agreed to bump Mikaela up a year to go ahead and start Kindergarten. I think she would be bored in the 4-year-old class, I definitely think she’s ready for K. Their kindergarten teacher has 30-plus years of teaching experience and has a really sweet personality. I’m really hoping this year is a good, fruitful one for both kids.
And me. I am still looking at all my nursing school options. The three on my radar right now are:
- Temple College’s 2-year associate degree in nursing, which I would start in the fall of 2010 (the earliest I could get in to that program) and finish in 2 years.
- Texas Tech University’s 1-year, online, BS-to-BSN degree. I would apply this fall and start in January 2010, finishing in December of 2010. It’s intense and I would wind up with a bachelor’s degree in nursing within that 1 year. It’s so intense, in fact, that they make you sign an agreement not to work that year. This option is seeming less likely for financial reasons.
- The University of Texas’ Alternate-Entry Masters of Science in Nursing. This 3-year-program would start next summer and end in 3 years – but I would have a masters degree when I finished. The application is due this December, and they let the applicants know their decision by the spring. That’s a long time to twiddle my thumbs and wonder! This is my dream option that I’d love to get into … but UT is very competitive and there’s no guarantees. I have straight A’s since re-starting college though … so I’m going for it.
So as you can see, I have a lot to mull over. There’s so many variables and options to think about its maddening. But I’m excitedly looking forward to it and I know God will open the right door at the right time.
Conversations with the kids
The kids are cracking me up lately. Some recent examples:
Mikaela: “mama, adults can do whatever they want?”
Me: “well … no, not exactly … if we break the law the police will arrest us.”
Mikaela: “no, not that kind of things, I mean can adults touch breakable things?”
Mikaela pointed out the car window, identifying a ‘cow’ we drove past, when Jay mentioned that it was actualy a ‘boy cow,’ a bull. Mikaela replied:
“Boy cows say (in a deep voice): moooooo! … girl cows say (in a high voice) mooo!”
Gabriel gets on obsessive cleaning jags, which to my neat-freak husband is a good thing. I hate that he feels compelled … but it really IS nice to have such a willing helper. He’s turned into a bit of a slave driver, though. Last night, he said he would clean his room and Mikaela’s room. Then he went into the kitchen with Jay, pointing to the sink full of dirty dishes. “Papa, can you clean those dishes for me?” Jay replied: “aw, do I have to right now?” I laughed and said maybe we could teach Gabriel how to wash the dishes. Gabriel, who was still standing there, exasperatedly said, “I got enough things to do around here!”
And don’t you forget it! :D
The kids were arguing recently as follows:
Gabriel: uh-huh!
Mikaela: unh-uh!
Gabriel: Mikaela, you don’t know everything. You not the boss.
Mikaela: you not the boss either, Gabriel
Gabriel: Mama’s the big boss!
And don’t you forget it
We were in the car on the way to the doctor (I’m sick again … shocker) today and Mikaela had just apparently noticed her beloved stuffed doggie’s spots. This is the conversation that followed:
Mikaela: my doggie has spots! he’s sick.
Gabriel: your doggie already had spots
M: did not
Gabriel: yes
M: did not
Gabriel: YES MIKAELA
M: you don’t know everything, Gabriel.
G: I played soccer and I have a trophy.
Done, Done and I’m on to the Next One
I am done with my first semester of this summer session. What an incredibly intense 5 weeks. I took “computers for healthcare providers” and Anatomy & Physiology I. The computer class was a (relatively) easy “A” – the A&P I was an “A” earned by 5 weeks of the hardest studying I’ve ever done. The A&P class was from 8 am-12:15 pm Mon.-Thurs.; all other hours were pretty much occupied in the lab poring over the plastic body models, organ models and skeletons – or at home studying ’till the wee hours. I seriously spent 50+ hours per week outside of class studying. Thank God for my husband – he played Mr. mom. He’s done all the cooking and cleaning, most of the kid-tending (they were in daycare during the day) and also helped me study. Remind me to buy him a nice present when I get my first “big” paycheck as an RN …
Anyway, that A&P I class was seriously, ridiculously hard work. But I would up with a final grade of 96. The class average was 68. But honestly … almost no one (other than the very few of us that made A’s) put in the long hours that it required. Can I even tell you how glad I am to be done?
Nevertheless, here I go again. Tuesday I start an online class – Science of Nutrition, and the following Monday I start Anatomy & Physiology II. Same instructor, same time-slot, hopefully same grade!
So, that leaves me three classes to take in the fall: Microbiology, Human Lifespan/Growth and Development (a Psychology class), and Statistics (UGH! math). I am applying to Texas Tech’s school of nursing this fall. They have a one-year, online, bachelor’s-of-science to bachelor’s-of-science-in-nursing degree. It starts Jan. 2010 and ends in December. I really want it. I double-checked with them today that it was OK that I was taking some classes in the fall when I applied; they said it was.
Also before I apply I have to shove in a medical terminology class and a certified nursing assistant (CNA) class. The terminology course I can get online; the CNA course takes a month and I need to start it soon.
We’re sweating bullets about the finances … student loans only go so far. But I know if God wants this to be, He will help us out. And so many doors have been open so far, I can’t imagine things falling apart now. Your prayers for us during this challenging but exciting time are very welcome!
Your Mom Goes to College
As my dad would say … I resemble that remark.
So I’m two weeks in to my five-week semester. Anatomy & Physiology I is just as hard or harder than I expected. Computer is ridiculously easy. Well, for me anyway … I’ve been using computers long enough to know what I’m doing. I have barely cracked my book in that class and I made a 102 on my first test. Thank God that class is easy because I’m expending so many of my brain cells in A&P I …
Our first exam in A&P I was today. It was 180 questions. 75 fill-in-the-blank questions were over various body parts from each of the 11 body systems. Now I know how to spell latissimus dorsi and orbicularus oculi. Not that I particularly wanted to. Anyway, the test – there were also about 70 multiple-choice questions, maybe 15 short-answer, an essay on homeostasis (I wrote 3 pages and used two examples when he asked for one … he darn well better give me the full 20 points!), and the rest was matching. It covered an overview of the body’s organ systems and functions, a chapter on chemistry, and looots of body parts. Oh, and a bunch of (mostly) Latin prefixes and suffixes that we also had to learn. My typed-out study guide was 21 pages long. I spent dozens of hours studying. And I think I did pretty well. But all the same – I can’t wait until this class is over.
The kids seem to be enjoying daycare. They both came home with heat exhaustion last week (with high fevers, hot and dry and dehydrated), compelling me to have several very pointed discussions with the daycare staff, finally resulting in me telling them they have to keep my kids inside during the afternoon. They are complying but I am irked that they would have kids playing outside for any length of time on days with 100-degree heat indices.
Jay is the best husband ever. He has been cleaning and tending to the kids while I’ve been burning the midnight oil studying for A&P. He’s also helped me study – probably for hours total over the last few days. He’s good with helping me to come up with mnemonic devices. Like when I had to remember that nitric acid has Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Oxygen (HNO) … he said “Heck NO I’m not drinking that nitric acid!” … silly but it stuck.
School time is almost here …
I start going back to college in 10 DAYS. It’s hard to prepare myself for what that’s going to do to my life … turn it on its head, I’m sure!
The last time I was in college I was a svelte, boy-crazed, naive girl barely out of my teens. Let’s just say my studies weren’t the top priority on my list.
Fast forward 10 years and add one husband, two kids and (censored) pounds. Here I am, ready to start again. And while school will not be my top priority this time either (my family is), I am much more serious about it. I am HELLBENT on making A’s. But the material is sure to be really challenging, so I’m more than a little nervous!
I will be in school Monday-Thursday, 8 am – 2:30 pm for the month of June (I’m taking Anatomy & Physiology and a computer class); July-Aug., I’ll take speech Mon.-Thurs. 12:30-2:30 pm. The kids will be in child care near our home, and they’re really excited about it. The people seem really nice and they’ve advertised themselves as Christian; plus I know someone who sent their child there and loved it … so at least I feel good about the childcare situation.
Say a prayer I make the highest grade in the class. It will help my ranking for getting into nursing school!
Update on the kids (‘baby book’ post)
It’s been a while since I’ve updated on the kids!
Gabriel is now 5 years and 7 months old. He can write his letters, although he often gets a few of them backwards (especially “N” and “S”). He has taken quite an interest in writing things and spelling lately – just yesterday he tried to write “please” in chalk on the driveway. He spelled it “Pes,” and when I showed him how to spell it correctly, Mikaela looked at the word and told me it needed a “Z” on the end. Smarty pants. 
Anyway, Gabriel loves playing with our alphabet magnets and is getting pretty good spelling simple words by himself. I wish I could say the same on the reading and math fronts … he still struggles to count to 20 without mistakes, and his reading is going VERY slowly. He knows the letter sounds, he just has a hard time putting them together. I am giving him some room on this, though .. it could really be part of his processing issues.
His speech continues to get clearer. He is understood about 90% of the time by others … a day I thought would never come! We’re still working on proper sentence structure, i.e. saying “I need to go to the bathroom please” instead of “I hafta go bathroom.”
His curiosity and sense of wonderment thrill me. I have a lot of hope for his future. He asks a lot of questions lately about where things come from, what things are made of and what the purpose of things are (what are eyebrows for? where does (tap) water come from? what’s this made of?)
His sensory integration/hydrocephaly/speech/add/ocd issues … I’m really beginning to think he may just be a bit of an odd duck, but not to a severe degree. I mean that I don’t think he has nearly as many issues, and nearly as severe issues as I thought he did. Thank God. That really did not come out well … but do you know what I mean? He is a sensitive child, and almost all of his lingering issues revolve around that. So I guess I’d say his problems are now emotional, and even then not really out of the range of “normal.”
He does have a few hangups. He hates having his hair changed. If it’s spiky he gets upset and sometimes cries. He HATES getting water in his ears and often fights me in the shower if that happens. And he still has some mildly “OCD” tendencies, but I think they’re really more in the range of someone who is a perfectionist, just like his dad.
Mikaela has more good days than bad. She sure can cop a major attitude though. I shudder to think of her teen or even her tween years. You woudn’t think my tiny 25-pound 4-year-old could slam a door with such ferocity. I swear one of these days it’s going to fall off its hinges. And of course she gets punished for it … but she does it anyway.
Mikaela is now 4 years and 3 months old. She is still tiny … but she’s finally in a size 3, so I know she’s growing! Honestly, I need to re-weigh her. She must be going through a growth spurt, because she eats all the time right now. I mean, seriously. She eats 3 meals and possibly even up to 5 snacks a day. Maybe more .. I guess I should count! I have to struggle to make sure she’s eating healthy snacks, though … at least for most of the snack times. She sure does love junk food!
Mikaela is smart. She’s definitely reading, although I would still call her a beginner. She is bad about guessing instead of reading the word. She is trying to write and spell just like Gabriel, although I think Gabriel has her beaten in that area so far… and I guess he should since he’s older.
Mikaela loves going onto starfall.com and playing their beginning-reader games. She knows how to get to the site, click around to where she wants to go, and close the page down afterwards. Gabriel enjoys playing on that site as well.
Mikaela is super cute. Pictures never do her justice. She’s just so petite and adorable (OK, I’m biased, I know) … but seriously we get comments from strangers everywhere we go. It really honestly makes me nervous that she attracts so much attention. I don’t take my eye off of her in public for a millisecond … and I’m sure I won’t until she’s much, much older. But anyway back to her cute-ness … she also has this very girly high-pitched voice that my mom always says sounds so cute every time she calls. My mom got a shock when we were in TN for the wedding though!
My parents, kids and I had to stop off at Wal-mart so I could get some camera memory the day before the wedding. I decided to leave the kids in the van with my mom while my dad and I went in. Well, I don’t know if the kids forgot my mom was there (she was sitting behind them) or what .. but they pulled out their rudest, crudest potty humor. In front of my very proper mother. Thankfully, she thought it was somewhat funny (or so she says), but I was mortified.
Back to Mikaela … I really want to get her involved in dance lessons or soccer or gymnastics soon. She’s never had the opportunity to do anything like that and I really think she would enjoy it. Anyone have any advice for activities for this age?
Medical stuff
I have been having some odd things over the course of the last 6 months or so … random dizziness and stumbling, mostly whenever I moved suddenly, so I mentioned it to my oncologist at my annual check-up last Thursday. She was concerned and said that my cancer COULD have spread to my brain (thanks for giving me a heart attack, doc) and ordered an MRI (brain scan) and abdominal ultrasound scheduled for this past Monday. I’m not sure what my stomach has to do with my head?
Anyway, I got the results back yesterday afternoon … both are clear. Whew.
Since then I’ve had several stabbing pains in my ear, so I’m thinking this is an inner-ear thing. It sure has been going on for a while though! Maybe part of it is just klutziness. I guess I should go see an ENT, but seriously, I’m so sick of doctors and tests right now I think I’ll hold off until I really have to.
You should see my arm from where they put the contrast in when they were doing the MRI. I showed the radiologist my ONE good vein, and he decided to use another one. After a few seconds, he pulled the needle back out and said, “well, THAT got ugly and blew up really fast.” After I left, I had a big lump in my arm where the fluid had failed to go into my vein. That’s mostly gone, but now in it’s place is an awful-looking bruise. The funny part? The radiologist had to wind up using the ONE good vein that I originally showed him to get the contrast in. I hope he felt like an ass.
The MRI was an interesting experience. Even though I had earplugs I could clearly hear all the rhythmic banging and knocking. I was mentally trying to compose a rock song based on one of the “beats” but now it’s flown out of my head.
Oh – another thing about that radiologist. I started to remove my wedding band before I got on the stretcher-bed thingy that rolled into the MRI machine and he stopped me, saying “that’s not necessary.” Well, the ring didn’t exactly fly off of my finger during the test, but it buzzed and vibrated very uncomfortably. If you’re ever in the same position, I would suggest taking if off.
Enough ranting for one day. I’m so glad to know I don’t have a brain tumor or something causing the problems.
Wedding photos
We recently got back from our trip to TN, where my oldest niece got married May 2nd. Gabriel was her ring-bearer and Mikaela was her flower girl. The wedding – and especially the bride – was just beautiful. Here are some photos I snapped:
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Mother’s Day Giveaway
5 Minutes for Mom is hosting a really great mother’s day giveaway … go check it out!!
Homeschooling
I have been homeschooling my kids “officially” since January. I’ve been doing a sort of “eclectic” format, piecing it all together myself. I don’t like that method, now that I’ve been doing it for awhile. I would rather have a set curriculum to pull from daily.
Since January, we’ve moved from preschool material to kindergarten material. Both kids know their shapes, colors, letters and letter sounds, can count to 20 (actually much higher with a little help), can do simple addition, and can write all their numbers and letters. We’ve moved on to phonics and beginning reading. I started out using “How to Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons” but for some reason, Gabriel just wasn’t getting it – so I’ve stepped back and I’m just doing a really phonics-heavy program now. We go over A Beka-style phonics ladders and charts (think sk in skate, thr in three, etc.). I’m a bit frustrated with how long it seems to be taking and the fact that sight words never seem to stick. I know I’m always expecting a bit too much. I am very ambitious, though and it’s just in my nature to push them to be the best they can be … and then some.
One favorite activity recently has been playing with alphabet magnets. Gabriel has been spelling up a storm .. although, he needs help on things that aren’t obvious, like words with a silent “e.”
I am going to school this summer to start working towards my nursing program … but then I’ll be out in August, not to return until the program officially starts up in fall of 2010. So, I have to decide what to do school-wise with the kids this next year. I *definitely* don’t want them going to public. Mikaela’s not even old enough. I had Gabriel at the public school last year and I didn’t like it for many reasons. I am considering getting a full-time job and finding a private school for the kids to go to. That decision is mostly because we consistently don’t have enough to make ends meet. My freelance work just doesn’t pay the bills. And as much as I believe in homeschooling … I don’t know if it’s for us or not. Maybe if I had a set curriculum to work from, things would go more smoothly. Either way, it’s a big decision to make and I’d appreciate your prayers.
Always dieting
I’ve been dieting since April the 1st. I was on low-carb, and now I’ve switched to low-calorie. I’m down 18 pounds. I get frustrated because I always lose quickly at first and then slow WAY down. I’m wondering if I switch back and forth between the two – like two weeks on low carb, two weeks on low calorie – if that will get the scale moving again. And it will break up the monotony of meat, meat, meat or rabbit food. God forbid I should have to actually exercise to lose weight. Ugh.
Update
Thanks to Mission Possible in Austin, I got a “new” car – a ’94 mitsubishi galant that needs a paint job and the front two window motors replaced (they slip) … but it’s absolutely beautiful to me! It only has 103K miles on it and it runs great. It passed inspection, hallelujah, and I’ve already taken care of getting it put on the insurance, registered in our name, etc. Back to Mission Possible – it’s a great charity in Austin that serves the needs of the poor. My friends’ dad runs it, and after my other car broke down, she told me that he’d recently gotten a car donated that was reliable but not pretty. They asked if I was interested. Heck yes! It’s SUCH a Godsend. And the best part is that they’re delaying my payment until I get my student loan this summer. I just can’t say enough about how much of a huge help this is – we could’ve never made it otherwise.
So now that I have wheels again … today I drove up to the college and got my student ID and parking sticker. It all feels so official now. This summer, I’m going to be taking anatomy & physiology, speech and a computer class for health students. Then, I’ll be sitting on my hands for all of this next year, until I can get into the nursing program in fall of 2010. Hopefully I can find a job in the interim (late this summer until fall of 2010) – at least a part-time one. Our bills keep going up but our income isn’t. The legislature didn’t vote for a cost-of-living increase to my husband’s meager salary (I’m not denigrating him; he is an amazingly hard worker … but they don’t compensate him like they should) – which is a slap in the face. I’m SO over not making ends meet. Of course, the kids factor into that decision big-time.
Wow, that was a long paragraph. My writing skills slip the later it gets.
So – that’s where we’re at. A little nervous and excited. And majorly blessed.
Newsy stuff … stream of consciousness
I’m going to look at a car today. One of my friends’ dad has a charity that was donated a car, and since I have no means to buy a new (or even used) car … they’re going to let me work with it and work with me on the payments. Pray it works out because I really need something that runs well by June 1st, when school starts!
So, I’m babysitting the little girl I watch in the mornings right now. She’s watching Blue’s Clues, and my kids and Jay are sleeping. After I see her off on the school bus, Jay and the kids and I are going to get ready and go into Austin together, where I’ll drop Jay off at work (he gets to go in late today) and take his car to putt around town for the day and go look at the car I hope I’m getting this afternoon. I’ve been wanting to spend a day in Austin with the kids forever, but I just haven’t had the opportunity or the means in a long time. Not that I really have the means now … so we’re going to be mostly going free places like the library, which I hear is great, and maybe Zilker park. I don’t even know what all Austin has for kids these days … guess I need to do a web search and refresh myself.
Yesterday was Easter, and I was sad. Jay was sick and it was storming and his tires are bald … so we didn’t go anywhere. We’re looking for a new church, so it felt awkward anyway. I hate this church-shopping process. It feels like the long slog of dating, which was not fun for me. I am a “means-to-an-end” person, so I just want to hurry up and get to the point. I’m desperately missing being connected with a church family. It’s so depressing. I have heard many people say we have no good non-denominational churches in our area. It’s tempting to try to get together with some people and start one ourselves … but that concept scares me. I don’t know the first thing about (being part of) running a church, but I am keenly aware that God holds people like that to a very high standard. Not that it’s a bad thing … I guess I always dread the thought of inviting testing by fire! Gosh, that last statement is very telling. I guess I just already feel like we’ve had a really hard time for a long time. Not that anything major has been wrong … just financial woes and health stuff for me. We have so many blessings, though, more than I can count.
Now “Franklin” is coming on, and A. (my charge) is reading a book. I’ll have to go outside to wait for her bus soon. I only have to do this for a couple more weeks, I keep telling myself. I really hate getting up at 6:30 am, especially when my kids sleep as late as 8:30. Sometimes after she gets on the school bus, I go back to sleep. Usually to be awakened by, “MAMA? I SAID CAN I HAVE POPTARTS?!?”
I got a great haircut this week. Way more than I usually pay at Great Clips … but way worth it. I wanted to get a good cut for my niece’s wedding, which we leave for on 4/29. A week before that is my 31st birthday. I’ve come not to really expect much of birthdays anymore, even though they mean a lot to me. Bummer. Why can’t adults have fun birthdays too?
Well … gotta go “catch” the bus … have a great day!
