...simply life...

Holiday Open House

2011-12-08T17:19:00.000-08:00

Don't miss this fun shopping event! Bring a friend and enjoy some girl time, coffee and shopping! Hope to see you there!!

Surprise! My world is now BLUE!

2011-11-30T16:38:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, we are expecting baby #2 in April. Today I am 21 wks and 5 days...almost 22 weeks along!! For me, this is a little sad. I am not your text book pregnant woman and I LOVE being pregnant. Aside from the first trimester nausea and negative zero energy, I love the experience of growing a little person. I love the experience of trying to figure out the personality before he or she enters the world. I love the fact that I am the only one, for 9 months, who has the baby ALL to myself! I love the first kicks and movement that only I can feel. I love that I am the only one really getting to know this little person before I am obligated to share them with the world.

Monday was our ultrasound to measure the head, bones and make sure all is on track, and to find out BOY or GIRL! I wanted all 3 of us to find out together and we couldn't take Aubrey. So, my amazing friend Sarah, who does photography, and is signed to me for life to do our family photos until we die, came up with this awesome 'baby reveal' idea. I had the ultrasound and asked the tech to put the gender picture in an envelope because we wanted to know, but didn't want her to tell. So when we arrived at that point in the ultra sound she had me close my eyes. It was done and over. The verdict was in the gold envelope and I had to restrain myself with EVERY ounce of energy to NOT peek! I had two very important people waiting to be surprised with the news, and I wasn't about to ruin it!

So I drove to Sarah's house, handed her the envelope and off she went to the store to get pink or blue balloons. She then took the bundle and headed to the park to fill the 'surprise' box with the verdict of balloons. When she was all set up, Justin, Aubrey and I met her at the park. I can't begin to describe how nervous and excited we all were! And we pulled it off perfectly! Pulled the top off the box and our world was filled with blue balloons! For once in our lives we were speechless! Our world has been pink for 4 years, and now blue has entered the picture! What in the world do I do with blue?!

Aubrey's reaction? 'I told you it was a brother!' and she jumped up and down holding the bundle of balloons! Yes, she deemed him brother about 2 months ago.

Sarah captured the moment of surprise PERFECTLY! I am SO thankful I did NOT peak!
Now to plan for a world of blue!

Such is my life!

2011-10-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

Many of you know, some of you do not know, our house sits on 6 acres. We have plenty of woods, fence and room to run. Along with all of that space comes the ability to own multiple animals! My husband is in charge of the animals. Granted neither of us grew up on farms. He grew up on the South side of Springfield in a neighborhood, I grew up in a 'farm town', but only on 1 acre with a cat or a dog. Everything we have learned about 'farm' animals, we have learned from experience!

We have on our 6 acres; 2 goats, 1 miniature horse, 10 chickens, 1 cat and 1 calf. Yes, all very interesting and they all serve a purpose, or Justin would not allow them to take up residency on our land. He has been wanting a cow for years. I finally broke down and agreed. Now that he has a cow, he wanted a pig! I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH A PIG, NOR DO I WANT IT ON OUR PROPERTY! They stink, they root and they destroy. I don't care that a pig will eat all of your table scraps...I don't want one!

Conveniently, his brother bought 2 little pigs, but can only keep 1. Guess who has the one he just couldn't keep...that's right! US! So last week we drove to Niangua for our Nephew's birthday party, knowing that on the ride home we would have an extra passenger. Mind you we drive a Mazda Tribute, medium size SUV. While partying, my brother-in-law says to me 'sooo, the pig MIGHT have a friend riding home with him'. My reply - 'what kind of friend? Is it living and breathing?' B.-in-Law 'maybe....it's for Justin's birthday...it's a Turkey and it's big enough to eat as soon as you want!' WELL THAT'S CONSOLATION!

2 hours later packed in the back of our SUV is a large dog carrier and a plastic tote. Large dog carrier contains the turkey, plastic tote with holes contains the pig. We set off for home, a turkey, a pig, Aubrey, Justin and I. My nausea of pregnancy has let up, but probably not enough for a 45 minute ride with 2 farm animals in the back! We made it to Springfield, intermittently rolling windows up and down for a breath of fresh air now and then. I was feeling pretty good. 15 min from home I assured Justin I was feeling ok, but he didn't need to take any sweet time driving.

About that time this HORRENDOUS, PUNGENT, TERRIBLE, BREATH-TAKING odor OVER TOOK ALL OF US! I said 'but whatever THAT was, I CAN'T HANDLE!' Evidently, when birds get nervous, they poop... A LOT! Thus the turkey in the back POOPED something AWFUL! We needed a gas mask! But unfortunately, our car is NOT equipped for that! I WAS IRATE! Mad at the whole situation, mad that we actually have room for all of these ridiculous animals! (even though Justin does all of the work) And then, the situation just turned funny. All we could do was laugh! The mix of the smell and laughing ourselves to tears, brought Justin screeching to a halt on the side of the highway. He jumped out and lost everything he just ate at the birthday party! Upon witnessing this, Aubrey pipes up from the back seat 'mama, i think I'm going to throw up!' I said 'no honey, no one else is throwing up, pinch your nose shut and breath through your mouth!'. OF ALL PEOPLE I, THE ONE WITH CHILD SHOULD BE TOSSING MY COOKIES! But I think my adrenaline was running rampant and I didn't feel the need. SOMEONE had to stay strong!

Needless to say, we flew into the drive way, hands on the door handles and as soon as the car stopped, we all piled out like the car was filled with a nest of bees!

Yes, the Turkey and Pig are living happily at our home. Hopefully the Turkey will be Thanksgiving feast! And one day, the pig will be in my freezer! Do I think it will be hard and sad to eat these beasts? NO WAY!

Such is my life!

12 weeks

2011-09-27T10:28:00.000-07:00

12 weeks and THERE IS a bump! It may look small...but it's enough to make me winded walking to and from the car, I'm eating like food will be wiped off the face of the earth tomorrow and sleeping like I haven't slept in years! (I don't remember being like this with Aubrey at this stage...Justin disagrees.) Nausea? It has subsided for the most part. It only gets bad when I'm exhausted or EXTREMELY hungry. When this baby wants to eat...it wants to eat NOW!

Honestly, I'm not sure it has really hit me that there will be another BABY around! I have a job, a 4 year old, housework and a husband to keep up with. Not sure when it will hit, but for now I'm enjoying my bump. :)

BABY!

2011-09-23T09:29:00.000-07:00

Most of you have probably heard by now... we're having a BABY! April 9 is the estimated date of arrival!

I've had a rough few weeks of nausea and tiredness, but Sunday I will be 12 wks! I think I'm coming out of they 'yucky' feeling part....for a while that is!

Aubrey is excited to be a BIG SISTER! Every day she changes her mind as to whether or not she wants a brother or a sister! We're just hoping for a healthy baby! Makes no difference to us. The organized side of me wants a girl, b/c I already have all girl stuff and SO MUCH cute little girl clothes I want use all over again! But the unknown side of me wants a boy b/c I have NO IDEA what to do with a boy! We'll find out after Thanksgiving if it's a girl or boy.

a little jar of heaven

2011-06-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

That's right! These beautiful shiny jars are filled with SEEDLESS black raspberry jelly! HOME MADE by myself! Well, with a little help from a very good friend!

Let's just say it was a LOT of fun making it...and I will NEVER tell you how much sugar is in a batch of jelly! EVER. It's heavenly! Our berry bushes did not let us down this year!

Tomorrow and part of Tuesday I get to play 'camp nurse'. First time as camp nurse... with a bunch of Teenagers! YIKES! We'll see! I'll use this as a test run...to see if I EVER want to play camp nurse again! Wish me luck!

Decade?!

2011-06-20T11:26:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, June 16, was mine and Justin's ten year wedding anniversary! TEN YEARS! I remember thinking during the first year....'10 years is a long way off!' Boy was I WRONG! Time has FLOWN BY! Every year on our anniversary I want to get married all over again. Of course in a different location, different colors, different flowers, different dress each year. Just to mix it up!

Our wedding day was SO much fun! Surrounded by family and friends, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day! Complete with violin music, smiles, tears, hugs, bubbles, a hay ride with the wedding party and a little bit of boogy on the dance floor! The only thing that went wrong? All of the groomsmen, ushers, minister and groom decided to shine their shoes moments before the event. There were tea-light candles placed in tuhle across the stage to give a 'soft glow' to the set. I bet you have guessed by now something caught on fire....NOT the tuhle! But the toe of the ministers shoe! He stepped back and flipped the candle over, igniting the toe of his shoe. Justin, myself and a few attendants were the only ones who caught this mishap! And we paid for a new pair of shoes for him! Not because we had to....because we felt bad! ;)

Below are a few pics from the day. Taken from our wedding album by Justin's Iphone. Not the best quality....but 'back then', digital camera's weren't popular and were way to expensive if they were around! this would be the quiet moments AFTER the ignited shoe!

YES, that is a HAY wagon we rode off into the sunset on! The entire wedding party and significant other fit on that wagon! My best friends brother was sweet enough to drive it down mainstreet to the reception! Maybe a little bit 'country', but a TON of fun!

Ahhh the memories. Wonderful ones they are of that day! I love reminiscing about the event and wish we could do it all over again every year! It's been a busy, educational, wonderful decade....we're looking forward to what the next decade brings us! (Hopefully a little more relaxation!)

Friday Firsts

2011-06-02T19:52:00.001-07:00

It's almost Friday...so I'm getting my 'friday firsts' up and running early this week!

There have been a number of 'firsts' in the last couple of weeks:

First catheter placement....as a nurse NOT on orientation! I guess i should say, my first catheter success since third semester of school! OVER a year ago!

First 12 hour night shift. The first 10 hours were GREAT....the last two...way too long.

Tomorrow is Aubrey's FIRST trip to Silver Dollar City! It's going to be a hot day....it's 9:55 p.m. and she's still running around the hotel room. Tomorrow should be a fun day. (If you aren't familiar with SDC, check out www.silverdollarcity.com ) We're in for some fun!

Here's a cute quote from the Aubster herself:

Last Friday we spent a few hours in Urgent care to find out she had an ear infection. Memorial Day we took a family trip to the pool. On the way there I told her she couldn't get her ear wet because she has an ear infection. That night in the bathtub, I was rinsing the soap out of her hair and she informed me 'mama, you can't get my ear wet, I have an ear confection!'

Have a WONDERFUL Friday!

Happy Mama's Day!

2011-05-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

What does this red Geranium,

Plus this yummy cherry chip cake,

Plus this lovely floor lamp have in common?

Grandrich Torchiere Floor Lamp Grandrich Torchiere Floor Lamp

Online

Happy Mother's Day...to ME!

Justin put Aubrey in charge of shopping for my gift for mother's day. Or 'mama's day' as she calls it. While I was sleeping after my night shift, Justin and Aub packed up and went into town. While they were checking errands off the list, he asked her what she wanted to get mommy for mama's day? She confidently replied ' a lamp for papa's room'. Papa's room is our guest bedroom where my parents stay when they come to visit. He asked her if I told her that was what I wanted. Nope. After questioning her several times that the lamp was what she wanted, they walked out of the store with the above 3 items. Aubrey selected them herself.

I guess I needed a lamp for Papa's room! However, I do not recall EVER thinking that or saying anything of the sort. Perhaps we have a future interior designer on our hands!
I DO love cherry chip cake, she selected 'rainbow chip' frosting to complete it. And red Geraniums. These flowers were my grandmother's (my mom's mother) favorite flower! I remember summers as a kid with her car port covered in pots of red geraniums! Sweet memories!

HAPPY MAMA'S DAY!

Firsts...

2011-05-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

Today's post is named 'firsts'. It should be Friday Firsts, but I am writing it 2 days early due to the fact I WILL be sleeping all day Friday and probably won't be coherent enough to write anything that makes sense!

Below are a few 'firsts' which happened in the past week for our family:

- I have officially and successfully finished my FIRST week of working NIGHTS, 11p.m. - 7a.m.! (Hence the fact I will be asleep Friday) As a nursing school grad....it is rare to find a RN position on Days in the specific area you want. If you are a grad who landed a position on days...kudos to you! I am not that fortunate. HOWEVER, I don't mind nights. I am able to stay awake suprisingly well and make sense of my job. Good thing, right?! I am NOT a fan of my completely opposite schedule of my husband and daughter. But, this schedule isn't forever!
Oh yeah...and who ever thought it was OK to call the meal you eat or break you take at 2:00 a.m. 'LUNCH'?! It is NOT lunch....it is simply a break or a snack! Hello 4th meal.... :(

- First make-up disaster....Aubrey broke into my Mary Kay stash and opened up a brand new, off the shelf, ready for someone elses' face... cream blush. The color pictured above. Smeared it across her forehead, ran into the kitchen and said 'daddy look! I'm beautiful!' His reply? 'Aubrey....where did you find that? is that mommies make-up?!' Her reply...'DON'T TELL MAMA!'
Unfortunately I was in the shower, missed the entire show, but did get to hear 'DON'T TELL MAMA!'. Her face was blush free when I was done stalling and 'pretending' I didn't know what was happening. Justin didn't grab a picture of her either :(

- First screaming and kicking tantrum, courtesy of Aubrey. Yes, this past week has also brought with it a brand new form of misbehaving! Arguing to get your way and when you don't get your way, let's scream, kick and cry! Yes, we are trudging our way through parenthood and childhood dealing with this issue, like any normal family. We have discussed this matter with her, laid ground rules, talked about how it hurts mommy and daddy's feelings etc. etc. So after a few days of being exhausted by this action, Aubrey was being, for lack of better words, an ANGEL yesterday! ALL DAY! I felt like I should be walking on egg shells, wondering when the switch would flip?! IT DIDN'T FLIP! She was wonderful...and wonderful today as well! Since she was so good, we were in downtown Springfield and stopped at this adorable little cupcake shop, so cleverly named 'the Cup'. Delicious little treats awaited us inside. This was Aubrey's FIRST trip to 'the Cup'. I informed her this treat was special because she was being such a nice girl and making good choices etc. She ordered the cupcake with sprinkles and I indulged in the peanut butter and chocolate one. We sat in the chairs by the window and had a fun 15 minute mommy/daughter time eating cupcakes and watching people and cars. She had a LOT of fun! As we were getting in the car, she said to me in an almost 'bossy' type voice 'mama, I have something to tell you....' I thought 'here we go! Good bye SWEET Aubrey....what is she about to say!' I said almost reluctantly 'yes?....' Aubrey: 'You're a GOOD mama!'
Need I say more?!

In the mean time... keep tabs on your family 'firsts' this week!

birthday party...toddler style

2011-04-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

Monday was my birthday and I had all day to myself! When Justin and Aubrey came home, they suprised me with a 'party'. This party was planned and designed by none other than Aubrey. Hence the decor! A Care Bear cake with Rapunzel plates/cups and noise makers. And to top it off a fancy ballerina kitty card! Hysterical!

While we were eating our cake Aubrey asked 'Mama, where's all the people?' My reply? 'Aubrey, when you get to be grown up like mommy and daddy, you don't always have a lot of people at your birthday party'. She wasn't too distraught by it, the cake/frosting soon set her free of her worry of not many people at our party! Fun times!

Birthday memories

2011-04-25T12:18:00.000-07:00

SO today is my BIRTHDAY! I know as we get older a lot of us don't like to necessarily celebrate our age. I will admit, I turned 31 today! And have spent much of today reminiscing the past. Past birthdays and the past year of being 30. 30 was VERY good to me! My biggest accomplishment in the year of 30 was graduating Nursing school and landing an RN position! I decided last year on my 30th birthday that I was going to SLOW DOWN in life and ENJOY! My 20's were definitely 'roaring 20's' and flew by faster than I wanted! So I am making it a priority to enjoy every moment, to enjoy friends, to enjoy family and take my time, to not commit to a million things and if it will take away family time or relaxation...perhaps I should re-valuate it!

I have chosen to take today to myself! I have stayed home and organized, cleaned, napped and just sat down to watch a little t.v. Maybe I should have rented a good classic movie...but for me, the peace and quiet, the stillness of the house, the cloudy rainy day outside made for an amazing pajama and nap day!

I have been reminiscing about past birthdays, primarily from my childhood. I wish I could post the pictures I have in my head for you to see from my childhood birthdays! Before I could invite friends, birthday parties were filled with family! It started early in the morning, or the night before. I remember my mom and grandmother sitting in the kitchen boiling potatoes and peeling and chopping pounds of them for home made potato salad! I can hear the sound of the ice cream churning while my parents made their famous home made ice cream recipe! I remember how embarrassed I was to sit in the middle of the room with my cake and candles and everyone singing 'happy birthday' to me! I HATED to be the center of attention! I hated unwrapping the gifts in front of everyone and loved it when someone struck up conversation so that for a split moment their attention would be on someone else. Yes, I am an only child, but my home was filled with 20-30 family members on my birthday. Mom and Dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and close family friends sharing laughs, stories, hugs and good times. It's days like today I wish so badly, so much so it makes my heart hurt, that I could go back to those birthday celebrations surrounded by the people who loved me most! Making memories and eating the best home made food on the planet!

Birthday memories as a child are amazing. And today I spend reminiscing all of them!

pretty toes!

2011-04-08T19:54:00.000-07:00

For the month of April I am looking for 3 people to have a 'pretty toes' pedicure party! Who ever has the most friends in attendance wins a free pedicure set. See below....

Limited Edition! Body Care/Fragrance Sets (while supplies last):

LTD. ED.! Pedicure Set (Includes relaxing foot soak, soothing foot balm, pedicure brush/pumice stone and coordinating zippered bag)

Fashionable feet. Fabulous value! the Pedicure Set helps your customers get sandal-worthy feet for spring. They can skip expensive spas and come straight to you for a beautiful bargain.

I have a couple of AWESOME spring/summer nail polish colors to go along with this awesome set!

Any MK orders from now until May 12, I will donate 20% to the Mary Kay foundation for cancer research.

Let's have a "pretty toes" party!!

Friday Firsts....on Saturday

2011-04-02T14:07:00.000-07:00

I know it's Saturday, but it STILL counts that I THINK OF and COME UP with what I'm going to say on my Friday Firsts...on Friday! This post is a post of EDUCATION! Be prepared to learn something today! :) This weeks firsts: #1 - Dropped my first NG tube. In the world of nursing, 'dropped' used in this context means 'inserted' - an NG tube is a naso (nose) gastric (stomach) tube inserted through the nose and down the throat to the stomach. In this case to suction any stomach juices that shouldn't be hanging around! Not too bad for a first time 'dropper'! It was successful! - #2 -Set up and ran my first 2 blood transfusions! Not for me...for someone else. - #3 - Shed my first tears over a patient (short hand for 'patient' is PT) Not that my PT passed away...they were in a LOT of pain. - #4 -This morning I downed my first Hazelnut latte...my first coffee of the week! (I'm trying not to rely on caffeine to keep me going...but today I HAD to have it!) It's been a busy work week. 5 days down, 1 to go and then a day off! Yes...A DAY...then it's time to hit the floor again! Hope you've learned at least ONE thing new off of here! Leave me a comment and tell me what you learned that you didn't know before! It's ok....you can be honest! ;)

and the winner is....

2011-03-27T17:07:00.000-07:00

Jill Williams! The name 'Margo' was selected by an unbiased person!

You will be happy to know little miss Margo is doing well. Getting fat and feisty!
Thanks for your participation in the name suggestion and selection for our new addition!

Stay tuned...you never know when there will be another contest! :)

a new addition needs a name

2011-03-19T13:07:00.000-07:00

That's right! We have a new addition to the family! A sweet little girl!

A little girl goat that is! And she needs a NAME! Our mama goat Gretel surprised us with a baby this morning! We went out to feed them and there in the middle of the pen was this sweet little baby goat! I am not a big fan of goats, my other half has them for some reason.... but I AM a fan of the babies!

So...I need help coming up with a name! I'll run a contest until Thursday, March 24. Leave a comment and a name suggestion. Winner will receive a $10 gift certificate for Mary Kay. To be used on my website or in person.

She's pretty cute!(sorry if you were looking for an announcement of my pregnancy.... no such thought of an announcement exists at this time.) :)

Friday Firsts

2011-03-19T12:44:00.000-07:00

And another Friday Firsts posted on Saturday. Oh well. I have GREAT intentions on getting them on here on Friday...just hasn't worked out thus far!

Thursday was my first day on the hospital floor...as a NURSE! The first 6 hours are a blur! It took me sitting down and eating lunch to kind of loosen me up and reassure myself all will be OK! I CAN DO THIS! Friday I was a lot more comfortable....yet nervous. Each day will get better and I will fall into my role a little more each day.

Friday was the first time I accessed a port. If you don't know what a 'port' is... here's a link that explains it! Pretty nerve wracking experience because you can't see through skin...but one that I will do millions of times in this career with my patients. Just open a new page and copy and paste the link into your address bar at the top.
http://www.allina.com/mdex/ND2301G.HTM

Finally, I came up with my first motto for why I do what I do.... plain and simple.

"I HATE cancer....but I LOVE my cancer patients!"

Friday Firsts

2011-03-12T08:06:00.000-08:00

I'm 24 hours late on this...but I didn't feel like staying up late to post the fun activities for Friday Firsts.

Here are a few activities which happened for the first time this week:

Tuesday I bought my first two pair of work scrubs and shoes! We have to wear navy or white. I can handle that! I look good in both! :)

Friday I rode Jake, my horse for the first time in a quite a few months. But this time was a little more relaxing...for the first time in 2 1/2 years I didn't have the constant reminder of school in the back of my brain. I wasn't constantly thinking 'get the ride over with because you have hours of studying to do!' I COULD RELAX AND ENJOY MY RIDE!

Friday night was the 'Father/Daughter banquet' at our church. It was the first one for Justin and Aubrey. My dad is visiting us for a week and just happened to be here, so I was able to take MY daddy to the banquet as well! It was a nice 'date' night for Aubrey and I with our daddies! Enjoy the pics! (My daddy isn't in the pic! He's the photographer...but we did get a 'professional' photo together at the banquet, no worries!)

Friday Firsts!

2011-03-04T11:43:00.000-08:00

And the winner is my friend Courtney, from back home in Indiana! If you missed out on my contest below, you should keep a close eye on the blog...I throw out a contest here and there for free MK loot! Courtney won herself a yummy Brown Sugar/Vanilla hand cream! Thanks for your input Courtney!

The new name for Friday's on my blog is 'Friday Firsts'. I won't have one EVERY week, but I know I will have a lot of 'firsts' coming up in the next few months and years! Between my new job and Aubrey growing up, there are a lot of 'firsts' to come!

So to kick this thing off, we actually had a 'first' this week! I decided since I am starting my new career on Monday, Aubrey and I needed a special day together. We went to the mall, Build-A-Bear and ate at Chick-Fil-A. This was the FIRST time either of us had ever been to Build-A-Bear! I told her we were going so she could make a teddy bear to sleep with and have with her when I was at work and she missed me. We came away with an expensive, yet well worth it bear named 'Sweetie'. And they ARE best pals! Enjoy the pics!

friday's contest

2011-02-25T12:12:00.000-08:00

Two posts in ONE day...CRAZY I know! But I need your help... some people have a 'Friday favorites', 'Friday's finds', 'Fridays ______' and they post fun things on Friday. Why Friday? I don't know, maybe it's because it's the last day of the week and Saturday gives us more time to look at the fun from Friday. Maybe we are SO excited Friday is here, we just putz around on the computer finding things. Whatever the reason....occasionally I would like to post something fun on Fridays. But I need a catchy title. This is where your help comes in. I have a yummy Satin Hands Hand cream or a flirty Lip gloss waiting for you if you can come up with the best catchy title for my Friday! Leave your comment/idea below and I will pick the winner by next Thursday, so it can appear Friday! :)

For the first 'nameless' friday _____ I want to highlight the book 'I Love You This Much' by Lynn Hodges and Sue Buchanan. It is one of Aubrey's favorite books I read to her almost every night at bedtime. We have memorized most of it and can quote it to each other, at least the main 'chorus' if you will. If you have a little one, will have a little one or know a little one, this book is great! The first year of Aubrey's life, when I sat and read it to her, I could hardly get through it without crying! Maybe it was the insane roller coaster of post pregnancy hormones, maybe it was the overwhelming love I have for her, whatever it was....it made this book my favorite to read with Aubrey.

deal is sealed!

2011-02-25T11:51:00.000-08:00

The deal is finally SEALED! March 7th is the official day of my new job as a nurse! I will be working at one of the largest Hospitals in the area as an Oncology (Cancer) nurse, part time, nights. Nights isn't my top pick of hours, but I'm a graduate...I'm bottom of the barrel. I have to start some where and maybe nights won't feel like being 'thrown to the wolves' in my new career!

I'm excited, scared, nervous, sad and in wonder of this next new chapter....

Excited - this is something I have worked insanely hard for the last few years. FINALLY all of my time, dedication to studies, paperwork, tears, exhaustion, stress and lost time is beginning to pay off! Excited to see what lies ahead!

Scared - I am scared to death to step out into this new avenue of a career! It's not like I'm sitting at a desk filing papers and taking phone calls. I am responsible for people's LIVES! AGH!
No pressure.

Nervous - there are always a good amount of nerves that accompany each of us in any new endeavor. If there weren't nerves involved, there would be a problem and we would be WAY too confidence in ourselves.

Sad - these are my last days as 'stay at home mom'. But really? Have I ever been considered 'stay at home mom'? I think being out of school and solely focusing on being a stay at home mom would drive me to the funny farm! I need things to do and scheduled time away. What better thing than to schedule my time away to take care of people and love on them?! But sad that this cherished time is over and will cherish even more, the time I get to spend with my family.

Wonder - I am in deep, anxious wonder as to what I will experience in the next few years! I am in awe that God has brought me this far and I am actually able to carry out His plan and feel peaceful about it. I wonder what kind of mistakes I will make and learn from? I wonder what my patients will be like? I wonder where this new status will take me in life...and possible around the world?

I am so excited to begin my new journey March 7th. So stay tuned for updates!
(No, this is not me, nor anyone I know in the picture...i just love the 'old school' style!)

from the mouths of babes

2011-02-17T11:54:00.000-08:00

I've been cooped up this week, both Justin and I have been sick. NO FUN! So far, so good for Aubrey. She's had run of the house, spent the night at Grammie's and received 2 vitamins for extra immunity boost! She would eat the entire bottle of vitamins if they weren't locked in the cabinet!

When you can't do anything other than move from the couch to the bed and the bed to the couch, with a frequent visit to the bathroom in between, one has a lot of time to think and reflect. I decided to reflect on the cute little phrases and conversations I have had in the past week with Aubrey.

#1 - I washed all of our sheets and towels and hung them out to dry on the clothesline...hence my previous post. I opened windows and aired out the house. At bedtime, all of the blankets and sheets on Aubrey's bed smelled like fresh air. I said 'Aubrey, smell your blankets, they smell sooo good....just like fresh air'. So she inhaled a large, dramatic sniff, smiled, hugged my leg and said 'YOU'RE THE BEST EVER!' If that doesn't make a mama's heart melt, I don't know what does.

#2 - One of her friends was in the day care office the other day waiting for her mommy to pick her up because she had a fever and needed to go home. I stopped in to say 'hi' to her and this is what was said....
Me: 'I'm so sorry you're sick'. Aubrey's friend: 'I'm 4 and I have a fever. Even when people get 4 they can still get sick and have a fever'. Me: 'Yes, even when we're as old as 4, unfortunately we can still get sick'.

#3 - and last but NOT least, living in the house with another girl can get rather dramatic at times. The latest saying out of Aubrey's mouth is 'UGH, you're dressing me out!' Otherwise known as 'stressing'. HM! I wonder who she's heard THAT from?!

Fresh air

2011-02-12T11:20:00.000-08:00

Today is Saturday...ahhhh...what a great Saturday it is!
Aubrey is at Grammie's for the weekend, Justin will be on his way home from an over night trip, I had a girls night with some of the best girls around town, and to top it off, I have had the house to MYSELF for almost 24 hours!

24 hours is like a glimpse of Heaven! The house is clean, dishes done, laundry on the line and windows open! Yes, there's still at least 6 inches of snow on the ground, but I think it's at least 40* outside!

Fresh air makes me HAPPY! Something about it that gives me comfort, makes me feel crisp and clean. After being cooped up in the house with subzero weather and over a foot of snow for the past 2 weeks.... fresh air is a WELCOME AROMA in my home!

Today is a great day!

New Chapter

2011-02-10T12:14:00.000-08:00

Yes! I know I know! This poor blog has sat and gathered dust since September! Sad, but true! The last 5 months of my life have been deeply, to say the LEAST, involved in finishing my ASN and graduating Nursing School as an RN! Did I accomplish that task? YES I DID! Does it feel absolutely amazing and surreal? YES IT DOES! At times I am completely SPEECHLESS as to how I feel about this accomplishment. Becoming a nurse doesn't happen over night or with a wiggle of your nose! It involves sweat, tears, serious tears, sleepless nights, possibly a little blood depending on the day, anger, excitement, frustration, thousands of practice questions, hours away from your family to study and quite possibly a Rx for anxiety! BUT when it's ALL SAID AND DONE and the assignments, tests, clinicals, 'pomp & circumstance' and state boards are OVER... I sit down and can actually BREATHE! I know being a nurse is what my heart has wanted since I was a little girl. I have always LOVED people, animals and nurturing both! I'm the girl who left her mother notes on how to take care of the hamster while I was away at church camp for the week!

It looks as though I will be heading into the field my heart most desires in the VERY NEAR future...and that is Oncology (Cancer). My heart and hands can't wait to love on those cancer patients! Everyone says it takes a 'special, strong' person to be able to work in this field. I can't wait to meet and touch the lives of those in it! God opens and closes doors for a reason....His reason. A few doors have closed, but many are now opening...and I can't wait to see what's inside!

In the mean time, here is what's on my to do list with all of my new found free time!

Relax! No more school to keep me stressed 24/7, now it's just a job to stress me, and even then, it's not a job....it's what I love to do!

Read! I am looking for some amazing books to take me far far away from here into the exciting, romantic, action filled life of someone else. If you have suggestions, please post them!

Play! I am making it my goal for the year of 2011 to have more FUN this year! I want to be able to drop things and have a 'girls night'. Or just sit in the living room and play pretend with Aubrey.

Aubrey! Need I say more?

Cook! I have time to plan meals and experiment with new recipes. Cooking is relaxing for me...and my husband is NOT a picky eater, so I have a first hand taste tester in my house!

Enjoy! Enjoy life, enjoy this NEW chapter of my life! I turned 30 last April, soon to be 31. I can't WAIT to see what 30's bring to my life! 20's were insane, fast & furious! I want 30's to slow down and be classy!

Blog! Yes, I plan to fit into the 'relax & fun' time to keep up with this, so you can keep
up with me!

fun sunshades

2010-09-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I've been sharing Mary Kay for a few years now. But at the beginning of August, I took a road trip with a fun bunch of girls to Dallas Texas to attend the annual Mary Kay seminar. At first I was a little skeptical...I thought 'will I really be able to handle thousands of women for 4 days?!' I went with the expectation of GREAT things because when I pulled back into my driveway a week later, I knew I would either turn in all of my inventory and quit or I would buck up and DO something with the company.

Well, a tour through the Headquarters, tour through manufacturing and listening to endless stories of success and encouragement prompted me to move FORWARD with my business. I saw first hand that the Mary Kay company is FULL of compassion and GIVING! That's all they do from the top down! I saw how AMAZING the company is and how PRIVILEGED I am to be a small part of that!

So, these fancy sunshades are a result of me DOING something with my company! I facialed 30 faces in the month of August. Met a lot of new ladies and had SO much fun doing it! My director challenged me and set the reward as a pair of MK Sunglasses. AWESOME!

September...my goal is 50 faces! My inspiration is a wonderful lady from the middle of 'no-wheresville' Indiana. A four way stop town surrounded by cornfields. (Sounds like the same town in Indiana where I grew up...but it's not) In one year this amazing woman facialed over 1,000 women! She was front and center on stage at Seminar. I WANT to be front and center on stage! There are so many women for me to meet and share MK with. I love how wonderful and pampered they feel when they are done being 'facialed'!

And NO, I'm not throwing out my Nursing career. MK is my 'vacation', my 'relaxation'. Nursing is and will be at the forefront of my career!

Git 'er done!

2010-08-24T10:06:00.001-07:00

Well... yesterday was the FIRST day of my LAST semester of Nursing School. For the ASN program anyway. (I plan to do online courses to complete my BSN in about a year) But for now...ONLY 15 WEEKS LEFT OF THE SEMESTER! I could not be happier!

Mondays are spent from 8:30-3:30 in the classroom learning theory and how to do 'hands on'. Wednesdays are spent from 6:15a.m. - 5:00p.m. at the Hospital being a Nurse! Plus 1 1/2 hours after that with post conference/paperwork! Whew! My clinical days will be spent on the Cardiac floor. I am nervous as all get out about the heart, but it is intriguing to me at the same time. So, I am ready to learn a lot about it!

Sounds like I have a lot of time off during the week....but there is ALWAYS an Exam or Quiz to study for! Not much down time, but I'm ready to hit it hard and GIT 'ER DONE!

Graduation pictures are next week! It's all coming to a close and I will be official within 6 months! Surreal and EXCITING!

I'll keep you posted as I finish this little journey.

ahhhh summer time!

2010-07-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

No, this is NOT a picture of us on the lake in our boat. We have a fun little fishing boat, gets us where we need to go, but it's not the sail boat Justin dreams of! This picture just reminds me of what summer is about. FUN & SUN!

It is near the end of July, my summer is almost coming to a close.
I am very sad about that. School will start back up Aug. 23. It's my last semester, I am happy for that, but I love my summer schedule! In May I thought 'I have the ENTIRE summer to play with Aubrey and clean and sort and just relax'. Well, throw in 3 weeks of camps, 1 week of vacation & 4 days of a seminar...that kind of takes care of the fun and relaxation of the ENTIRE summer. But I am trying to enjoy EVERY moment with Aubrey.

She is getting more fun and more personality by the hour! Everyone told me I would LOVE being a parent. I love it more than I thought I would! Even the rough moments are worth loving.

Lately Justin has been getting Aubrey to call me 'chicky mama' and 'mama cita'. So the other day I asked him what EXACTLY 'mama cita' meant, since neither of us are fluent in Spanish, we figured we should figure out what we are telling our child to call me. We found out it means 'hot mama'. I'll take that! :)

Next week is our last week of kids camp. I feel like I'm 10 all over again, getting ready to pack, sneak in snacks and preparing to sweat my tale off!

I love summer. Maybe not the heat and humidity. But the fun, relaxed atmosphere that we all need some times in our life. I wish summer could last longer!

selling frenzy!

2010-07-05T09:19:00.000-07:00

It's been a few weeks since I've been on to blog. Summer is filled with activities to keep us busy! All fun stuff, but exhausting! As mentioned in a previous post, we had a week and a half of Extreme Zone Days (Day Camp) with the kids at our church. Once again, a TON of fun, but EXHAUSTING! So last week we took it easy. Aubrey and I went to the pool with a friend and her mommy, then had them over for mac-n-cheese and PBJ. Fancy I know! I've cleaned out more closets and storage totes than I know what to do with! Re-arranged furniture, SOLD furniture and BOUGHT furniture! It's been a productive week!

A friend of ours sparked a MONSTER in us a few weeks ago. She was having a garage sale and invited us to add some of our stuff to her sale. So we unloaded a TON of items at her house and sold most of it! Including furniture! We decided after 9 years of being married and having nice, but mix/match furniture that 'just' worked, it was time for us to find something we could really relax with and enjoy! So we sold both entertainment centers, both t.v.'s, trying to sell the glider rocker and couch...to obtain ONE t.v. and ONE comfortable couch! This has added so much space to other rooms in our house! IT'S FABULOUS! I want to CONTINUE to clean and sort and toss and sell and re-arrange to make more space! And it ALL began with a little garage sale! :)

my hat rack is full!

2010-06-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

When I attended CBC back in the day to acquire my Children's Ministry Degree, I had to take a music class! HA! If you know me, you KNOW I don't have an ounce of music intelligence! But our professor had us read a book about the 'many different hats you will wear in the ministry'. This week, my 'hatrack' was maxed out! Here is a list of the different hats I wore in a 5 day period:

1. mommy

2. wife (celebrating 9 years with my hubby!)

3. children's pastor's wife (this is separate than 'just' wife)

4. counselor for the green team (for day camp)

5. van driver

6. tour guide

7. nurse

8. mary kay consultant

9. dishwasher

10. launderer

11. teacher

12. secretary/receptionist

12! 12 hats this week! I AM EXHAUSTED! Loved every minute of it, but I would like a break next week please!

body guard please!

2010-06-09T12:55:00.000-07:00

I have been filling in at the retirement home I used to work part-time with. Just on an 'as needed' basis. I sit at the front receptionist desk taking phone calls, sorting mail, trouble shooting random questions, playing 'banker' for residents and just trying to keep people happy on the front lines.

Residents in the nursing home come down in their wheel chairs and walkers to see the birds or look around. One particular cute little lady with white hair, glasses and weighs not more than 100 lbs came down in her wheelchair the other day to say 'hi' and to look around. While she was down here, a gentleman came in to wait for someone he had an appt. with. He stood around for about 5-10 minutes before leaving for his appointment. I noticed the resident had stopped just on the other side of my desk and set there, not really doing anything, just sitting facing the gentleman and the door.

After he left she wheeled over to my desk and this is how the conversation went:

Resident: Did you know that man?

Me: No

Resident: I didn't think so. I could tell he's the kind who could cause trouble

Me: Oh yeah? Well he was just waiting to meet someone.

Resident: (not hearing what I said) I decided to kind of hang around up here just in case you needed anything. I can tell when someone is up to no good.

Me: Well, I am so glad you did! You could have run him over with you wheelchair if he tried anything huh?!

Resident: -Laughing- 'Yes I could!'

She wheeled past the desk on her way down the hall, looking over her shoulder in a very concerned and matter of fact tone stated:

"Now I'll be down the hall, just around the corner. If you need anything, you holler"

And she wheeled off down the hall, around the corner.

I was SO relieved I had a bodyguard at my beckon calling!

These people make me smile!

12 fun facts

2010-06-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

So one of my blogging friends inspired me to do a 'fun facts' list about myself...a random array of 12 facts you MIGHT NOT know about me! I always think these are fun to learn about different people...I like to see what I have in common with others...and what I don't!

Read....learn....and enjoy!

#1 - I am an only child. This is why I put it at #1....it's a lonely number. Now I wasn't lonely growing up, my parents had plenty of things packed into my schedule to do...plus I was very good at entertaining myself (as I have passed this gene to my child!)

#2 - I love to eat popcorn and dill pickles together! Salty + salty = thirsty...I know. But the juice from the pickle soothes your thirst for a while. TRY IT!

#3 - My favorite color is Red. I don't have a STITCH of red in my closet b/c I don't think I look good in the color! But my kitchen and hallway look beautiful and homey in red! I like the boldness of red!

#4 - My favorite store in the entire world? TARGET! If we lived closer, our bank account would be $0! And I would probably be living on my own....in a cardboard box on the street!

#5 - I used to CRY when school was cancelled! YES cry. Ask my mother! I LOVE SCHOOL! Have loved it since pre-school. I grew up in IN and if there was a snow storm forecasted, I ran downstairs to the kitchen window in the morning to look for the school buses parked across the street at the gas station. If they were there, I knew there was school. A few drivers ALWAYS went to this certain station for coffee every morning. I've been out of High School for 12 yrs....and a few buses STILL park there in the a.m. (I check when I visit home!)

#6 - Eyes, dirty teeth and toe nails give me the willies! I'm going to be a nurse, so I better shape up on this one! (This is why I am NOT an Opthamologist, Dentist or Podiatrist!)

#7 - I ENJOYED every second of my pregnancy with Aubrey! Even the times I was so tired I curled up under Justin's desk in his office, just to close my eyes and rest for 10 minutes! And for a year after Aubrey was born, whenever we drove past the Hospital, my eyes filled with tears!

#8 - I can't handle people who drive 5-10mph UNDER the speed limit! I have places to go and people to see, I want to get there in a timely fashion!

#9 - My favorite homecooked meal: Smoked sausage, mashed potatoes and creamed cabbage. Mmmmm....comfort food! If you've never had it, I'll cook it for you some time!

#10 - My favorite grade in school...ALL TIME... was 2nd grade! (And it's not just b/c I still keep in touch with my teacher) It is because OF the teacher! I tell kids that once in a while who are going into 2nd grade or who are 2nd graders.... you should see some of the looks I get. I say "Oh you're in second grade?! I'm still in school and THAT is my FAVORITE grade of all time!" Ramona Quimby and Ralph S. Mouse explains it all.

#11 - Grass, especially new spring grass hitting my bare feet for the first time of the season, TICKLES my feet like crazy! Has always tickled since I was little!

#12 - And last but not least.... I drive a big 4x4 Dodge Ram, quad cab truck! I have to be able to haul my horse and my child!

There you have it...12 fun facts about myself! Don't you feel like your day is complete?

fancy toes

2010-06-07T07:05:00.000-07:00

Summer is JUST around the corner! For the next 2 weeks, through June 21st, I am promoting 'Pedi Parties'! Mary Kay has come up with a CUTE CUTE YUMMY Pedicure set. The limited-edition Mary Kay® Pedicure Set gives you all the essentials in a rosemary mint scent. The Relaxing Foot Soak cleanses and refreshes tired feet. The Soothing Foot Balm provides intense moisturization and soothes dry skin. The Foot File/Brush exfoliates and smoothes rough areas on your feet. Mix all of this with satin lips and satin hands... you have yourself a refreshed lady with 'fancy toes'!

If you're interested in doing a 'Pedi Party' with me, you can e-mail at camikochs@hotmail.com or find me on Facebook!

Don't YOUR feet need a little attention?!

a new cell phone please!

2010-06-03T12:15:00.001-07:00

Having children is ALWAYS an adventure. In our house there is never a dull moment unless Aubrey is sleeping. But even then it is questionable!

We converted Aubrey's crib to a toddler bed over 2 weeks ago. So far, she's done WONDERFUL with it! She has a sticker chart, so each morning if she stays in her 'big girl bed' all night and doesn't have a potty accident during the night, she gets a sticker for her chart and a 'treat' (a.k.a 1 pc of candy). A week out we draw a picture of what she is working toward, ie. the zoo, camping with daddy in the back yard and this week she is working toward a new 'cell phone'.

Why a new 'cell phone'? Little miss decided to run around the house in her 'big girls' (a.k.a underwear) and nothing else. Well, big girls don't come equipped with pockets....so what is a girl to do with her cell phone? Carry it in her hands? Surely NOT! The best place to carry it is IN your big girls!

Next thing I knew Justin carried her around the corner of the kitchen, Aubrey crying with soaked 'big girls', Justin laughing and confused and the play cell phone....well, you can guess where it was! So needless to say she was not only upset about having a potty accident but also the fact mommy threw away her beloved cell phone! I tried explaining to her that she can't keep a cell phone that has been pottied all over and IN!

The next goal we are working toward by sleeping in our big girl bed all night for the next few days is a NEW TOY CELL PHONE! YAHOO!

back to blogland

2010-05-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

There's been a LOT going on at our house since I last wrote on here! GOOD GRIEF!
Below are pictures to show what has been happening in our world. School is out for the summer and we are ENJOYING the beautiful weather! I have one more semester, 16 weeks to endure before I graduate in December! YAHOO! Aubrey and Papa (my dad) were on their way to the Zoo! She's been sleeping like a big girl in her big girl bed and earned a trip to the Zoo!

This girl LOVES sunglasses, dresses and baby dolls! Just don't pay attention to the fact she probably wore this dress for 2 days because she loves it SO much!

Justin and Aubrey made a rainbow chip cake for my BIG 30 b-day! Below are the pics of the process. (It was one of the best cakes I've had!)

She tasted the frosting more than she helped frost the cake!

Getting ready to head to Joyland (daycare) for the day and wanted to show Grandma the pretty summer shirt she was wearing!

Happy Easter!

Dancing and dressed like a princess...or a fairy....

Happy Birthday Bunny!

Helping mama take care of Jake with her new blue horse brush.

hats off to mothers of twins!

2010-04-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

So this weekend, Justin and I had the privilege of hanging out with Josiah, Aubrey's boyfriend, while his parents went on a weekend getaway! We had him for a little over 24 hours and I said to myself a number of times "thank you Jesus for NOT blessing me with twins! I don't know what I would do with TWIN 2 1/2 YEAR OLD kids right now?!" They were nothing but NON-STOP energy the whole time, with the exception of sleeping through the night. They had a blast together. Moments of being sweet, moments of being not so nice to each other and moments of needing each other to be in a separate room for a while to gather their sanity, before running around playing again! It's TRULY entertaining to observe! They love each other and would be lost without one another!

Friday evening Justin pulled them along in the wagon to the park across the street. They were having fun playing and running all over the play equipment...until a nice 4th grade girl came to play....with Aubrey. That was it for Josiah. In a flash he 'caught on' that this OTHER girl was honing in on his woman to play with her and he wanted NO PART OF IT. So, it began with the 'stink eye' for a few moments, followed by a medium level of loud 'thas my Aurey!' Followed by another "thas my AUREY!' on a louder scale....next thing I knew Aubrey and this new friend began a chasing game. It was Josiah's agenda to get in the middle of them and STOP her from chasing Aubrey! At the top of his lungs 'THAS MY AUREY!" The girl stopped and looked at him, then back at me. What do you say? I just said "honey, he's only 2 and doesn't understand that you're just playing with her. He's VERY protective of his friend!" She shrugged it off but wanted so DESPERATELY to play with Aubrey. I decided it was probably time to close down the fun time of playing at the park and go home and cook hot dogs. So we did just that. Our new little 4th grade friend was sad, but Josiah was happy he got away with his woman!

Josiah and Aubrey are best buds....I'm just happy they both didn't come from me and that Josiah has his own mommy and daddy, and we just have ONE 2 1/2 year old to keep up with!

HATS OFF TO MOMS OF TWINS!

find YOUR way to beautiful

2010-04-10T06:57:00.000-07:00

Check out this 'youtube' commercial for MK.

If you haven't chatted with me about the benefits of Mary Kay, watch the video and let's chat!

http://www.youtube.com/marykay

looking for faces....

2010-04-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

Just wanting to throw out the idea.... If you know of any brides-to-be, bridesmaids or girls heading to Prom and are in need of low cost, local make-up... you can refer them to me! I've had a few years with my hands in the Mary Kay business and practicing the art of make-up on pretty faces, I'm ready to do more! If you know of anyone in the Springfield area, please feel free to refer them to me. The first 5 referrals will be free, after that I will charge $10/session to cover product cost. You never know, there MIGHT be goods in it for you if you refer and they book! (wink wink)
Thanks for spreading the word!

blessings

2010-03-26T12:31:00.000-07:00

Some days I am overwhelmed with the blessings I have in my life! I know we should be thankful and grateful EVERY day, but some days remind me more than others to really recognize it.

This past week was spring break, actually today is the final day of it, very sad. But Aubrey and I made a trip home to my parents in Indiana. It was a long drive of 11 hours. Aubrey is quite the little traveler. I packed her with books, toys and a portable DVD player. What on EARTH did we do without portable DVD players on long road trips?! Some day when I tell her mommy did not have any of that, she probably won't believe me!

Being back home where I grew up made me think about how far I have come in life. I am so thankful to have pursued the life God has laid before me. I cannot imagine my life any different! It is a little odd that back in IN, everyone knows me as Cami and knows me as how I grew up. Everyone down here in MO, knows me as Camille and only how I have been the past 12 years since I moved away from IN. I feel like I have two separate lives. The one in IN for 18 years and the one in MO for 12 years. Odd, but it all comes together and makes up who I am now. And everything mixed in makes for a LOT to be thankful for and blessed!

So if you are reading this and you live in IN, around my home town and knew me growing up, but did not have a chance to see me... I am sorry! There are always SO many people to see and when I go home I just want to relax. My life is on the go every day down here. Slowing it down up there is a WONDERFUL thing! It is hard to not see everyone...but know you are thought of often!

Dorothy couldn't have said it better when she closed her eyes, tapped her heels and said 'there's no place like home!' I have 2 homes to say that about! Each with a different meaning and multiple different blessings!

little Chef

2010-03-06T09:26:00.000-08:00

Saturday mornings are always my favorite mornings to cook breakfast! This morning Aubrey woke up a little earlier than usual. I think she could read mama's mind! So her and I hit the kitchen before 8 to whip up some blueberry muffins, scrambled eggs with cheese and cook some sausage patties. (I am NOT a fan of sausage, but my brother-in-law made the sausage patties and there wasn't an ounce of grease in the pan at the end!)

Aubrey put on her apron and hat and went to town!

Aubrey was quite the little Chef in the kitchen today! Very conscious of listening for the timer to 'beep' so we could pull out her handiwork and eat it! In the midst of being so excited to make and eat her muffins, she had a few bites of the paper it was baked in. So, I had to show her how to 'unwrap' the muffin before she ate it.

like mama, like daughter...

2010-03-02T11:42:00.001-08:00

2 years ago I took up the fun business of selling Mary Kay. I don't do it for the Cadillac and I don't pester you about the product. I do it simply because I love the product and have used it since I was about 16....thank you Mom! My view is 'you know I have it, if you love it and need, you will let me know', otherwise, I let it go. It's fun to meet new women and practice my love of art and color on their beautiful faces.

With that being said, Aubrey has seen her share of mommy and make-up. Below you will find her carrying out what she sees on her little friend Martha. Who by the way was her first client. Mommy and Daddy don't count! :)

Thanks Martha for being such a beautiful little model!

randomness

2010-02-27T09:13:00.000-08:00

I feel like I am ALWAYS saying "it has been FOREVER since I have written on here". But this time, it is entirely too true! In fact, now that I am typing away, I realize the therapy I have been missing out on and will aim to write more often than once a month or so!

Let's see, where to begin?

#1 - School is in full swing, almost to the middle of the semester. I am loving every minute of being on the hospital floor and taking care of patients. This week will be my last week on the oncology (cancer) floor. I am sad to leave it as I have enjoyed working with the patients so much! There is nothing more rewarding than knowing you cared for someone with the best of your ability! I am getting very anxious to graduate and do it for a career!

#2 - Last Sunday night was spent at the urgent care with Aubrey. Never fun with kiddos. She's had a cold/cough, no fever and did NOT slow down. But sunday afternoon, her fever spiked to 103 within an hour of giving her Tylenol. So to the Urgent Care we went. After x-rays, a look in the ear, we left with a diagnosis of Pneumonia, Bronchiolitis and a double ear infection. Talk about feeling like a horrible mom! I think the temperature spike was a sign from above to get her to the Dr.! Thank goodness! Now she's as good as new! Asks to take her medicine and her breathing treatment! Who is this kid?!

#3 - Events around our house never happen normally. Actually, life events and everyday events in general have not been normal for the past 11 years since I met Justin! Projects never take just 20 minutes, they turn into day events. Such as our insane water heater this weekend! Lately I have been blamed for the shortage of warm water, since I am the one who takes blazing hot showers for at least 15 minutes! (Do not believe a word of that, it's actually opposite) So I started keeping track and investigating this thing. When the hot water temp drops and you don't have the shampoo rinsed out of your hair....there's a problem with the water heater! SO, Justin was going to simply replace the heating element. SIMPLY being the key word. When I arrived home yesterday afternoon, everything was ready to go. He had the tank drained and was waiting for the part I was bringing. All is well. UNTIL he pulled out the bottom element and water POURED out of the hole! I'm not talking about a piddly little puddle...this thing is FLOODING the floor! So I grabbed every towel we own and 3 bowls and we started in. He filled the bowls, I threw down the towels, I took the filled bowls and tossed the nasty water outside! Back and forth like a relay race for about 30 minutes. Talk about a cardio work out! Aubrey grabbed napkins and tried helping soak up the water...soon got bored and sat down to watch T.V. while all of this chaos happened behind her!

After all the water had been drained, he discovered about 6 inches worth of sludge at the bottom of the tank that prevented the water to be drained out the first time! NASTY! Whew! That's all over with and the decision to buy a new water heater had been made!

But now we have to get the crazy thing out of the house! Most people have a normal, decent sized utility closet....NOT JUSTIN AND CAMILLE! Its crazily shaped and the furnace unit and the water heater are squeezed in it! Not much room even for a mouse! So he unhooked everything and began to pull. It would not fit between the doorway and this little electrical box sticking out from the side of the furnace. Well, we are both beyond FRUSTRATION, so what comes to mind? BEATING THE APPLIANCE! I said "why don't you get your mallet and beat in the side of the tank to make way for the electrical box to clear it!" I won WIFE OF THE YEAR SUGGESTION award! Within minutes he was beating the side of the water heater, mostly to be able to get it past the electrical box and partly to work out his frustration! It was quite a hysterical site! After 20 more minutes of re-shaping the side of the tank, we were able to pull it out and heft it onto the porch for disposal!

Needless to say, our new water heater is much thinner and fits nicely into the oddly shaped utility closet!

Ladies....Valentine Special

2010-01-16T10:51:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day? Thinking about it already?! YES I AM!

My photographer friend Sarah Carter and I are combining our talents of photography and make-up and offering a photo/make-up package for Valentine's day.

Running out of creative ideas for your sweetheart? Need something to make his heart melt all over again for you?

We've got the idea!

Where do you find this IDEA?

Go to http://www.carterphotos.com/ and click on the 'Valentine's Day' heading.

I promise if you sign up, you WILL NOT be disappointed!

Who doesn't want a little time to yourself, pampering AND a photoshoot?

You'll feel beautiful! Look beautiful! And melt your mans heart!

Hurry... V-Day is LESS than a month away!

winner is....

2010-01-14T11:06:00.000-08:00

JOEL! Congratulations on your win!
Thanks for listing the 4 most fun winter memories.
I will HAND deliver the prize myself! :)

contest!

2010-01-12T08:59:00.000-08:00

FINALLY! Here it is....the contest that was supposed to happen in December!
Below you will find what YOU might win! compliments of me :) It is a shower gel and lotion in 'ginger spice'. If you don't think you will like it, I also have a 'peppermint cream'.

What I need from you? List 4 of your favorite winter memories. They can be from childhood, adulthood, present or past. You have until Thursday noon! If you are not a blogger subscriber, you can post it on my Facebook wall.

Happy reminiscing!

i'm back!

2010-01-04T10:22:00.000-08:00

AGH! Well, it's been WAY too long since I have been on here to write ANYTHING at all! I completely missed giving you the December give-away, so I will do a January give-away.... soon.

First, an update on the Holiday season:
Our Christmas was wonderfully relaxing! Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were spent just myself, Aubrey and Justin at home. Justin and I had a blast playing 'Santa' and Aubrey had a lot of fun receiving from Santa! Christmas night we took Aubrey to the $ theater and watched 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs'. She loved it! She sat very well through the entire movie, until the end, she got a little wiggly. We shared a large popcorn and some Reeses pieces! Her little hand didn't MISS a pass of either one of them!

The following week, as part of my Christmas present, Justin took me to Branson to stay overnight in the Hilton at the Branson Landing. If you've never been to the Landing or don't know what it is, check it out at www.bransonlanding.com. Very fun! We ate some yummy Mexican food, went shopping at the outlets and toured the Titanic museum. After we returned to Spfd. from our 'get away' at Branson, N.Year's Eve was spent ringing in the new year with 4 wonderful friends!

This Holiday break of relaxation is exactly what I needed! A few more weeks until school starts back up again. Glad I still have more time!

Hope the Holidays were wonderful for you...shared with family and friends!

This is the horse daddy made for Aubrey - or should i say 'Santa' brought for her

oops...

2009-12-16T10:38:00.000-08:00

SO.... I am supposed to be doing a give-a-way this week on here! MIGHT not happen this week. Finals are over, I just have a few issues with the end result I am trying to work out. So I must prioritize my time and work quickly.

Therefore, I am not writing much and will have to put the give-a-away on the back burner. Maybe Monday? :)

I apologize for bursting the bubble of anticipation! :) Just know it will be soon!

wasting time!

2009-12-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

Well... here I sit, in my little study room at the Library Station. The employees probably think I should start paying rent for this room! I have been here more in the last 2 weeks than I ever have in my life! Why? FINALS!! This is IT! Today was the LAST day of class for 3my 3rd semester of Nursing school. I am sitting here drinking the largest cup of Panera Hazelnut coffee I could order, shoes off, books, papers, pens spread out all across the table. My name has reserved this room for the next 3 hours. I will be meeting classmates here for the next 3 days in preparation for Monday's FINAL test of the semester!
I am scared to death to take it, excited to tackle it, afraid I will make dumb decisions, yet know I will slide into my last semester. I knew Nursing school would be hard...but seriously?! I need some Xanax! Every semester I feel like my motto is "I just need to pass this semester!" When all I do is study!

This is it...down to the wire. All of my projects, papers and patients have been taken care of. My dad is here to help take care of Aubrey and Justin while I'm in this little study room for the next, what feels like, 72 hours. If you're reading this...PLEASE say a prayer for me at 7:30 on Monday morning. I know God has allowed me to come this far and he will carry me the rest of the way. I WILL rest in his peace and know that He will guide my decisions on test day. I just hate all of the anxiety that accompanies my studies!

And I sit here, wasting time writing about it! Back to the books!!!!

(Watch for my December give-away next week!!!)

holiday lights

2009-11-29T11:58:00.000-08:00

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. A day full of family, food and fun! A day where you can stuff yourself silly and not feel bad because, 'it's just the thing to do!' I LOVE this time of year. There is a joyful spirit common among people that isn't always there the rest of the year!

We are rapidly approaching the Christmas season. Or are we in full swing of it now? Shoppers, stores, sales, commercials, lights strung across homes, trees in the windows, ornaments decorating lawns. Yes, we are in fast motion, full speed ahead into the busiest time of year!

I am VERY excited this year, more than last. It is SO much fun to be a parent during the holidays, but even more fun the older your child gets. Last year Aubrey had fun unwrapping presents and seeing the tree up. But already she is SO excited to see christmas lights on houses when we drive past. 'CWIS-MAS LIGHTS!!!!! BLUE ONES....AND AND....WHITE ONES. OOOOOH THERE'S MORE!' are words SCREAMED from the back seat every time she sees them! Once in a while I will take a detour on the way home to drive past her favorite blue lights. Since the weather was so warm this weekend, I took advantage and hung our icicle lights on the deck. Aubrey makes CERTAIN they are on when it gets dark outside!

She runs to the window saying "Lights Mama....lights!"

Aubrey has two Christmas programs to be in this year! And we are practicing the songs like crazy! I can't believe within the next 2 weeks, I'll be one of 'those' parents with the video camera in the front row and my little girl all decked out for the holidays. She'll probably be really shy and won't want to sing...or she might be out of control with energy and eat up the attention! Either way, you will probably be seeing pictures!

reflecting....

2009-11-20T15:25:00.000-08:00

This has been a big week for me. Sort of. You reading this may not think so. This was a week of 'reflection' for me. Reflecting and evaluating EVERYTHING I have on my plate and remembering to be so thankful and blessed for everything and everyone in my life.

I stepped down from my job as part time receptionist at the retirement village I have worked at for almost 2 years. I have never quit a job before, so this was NEW territory! No, it's not a hard job, but it does take up 2-4 days/evenings of my week. The other 3 days of my week are consumed with school. So where do Aubrey and Justin fit in? Hm. In the spare moments I have that I'm not washing clothes/dishes, showering or sleeping. So...something had to give. It couldn't be school or family or ministry...so I gave up my job.

This week was my 2nd and last week on the Oncology (cancer) floor at the hospital for clinicals. Last week I witnessed the joy and excitement of a patient being discharged to go home and spend time with his wife and 5 year old daughter. I had the privilege of being able to hear his plans for them as a family in the coming weeks. Despite his diagnosis, pain and sickness, he was still VERY hopeful and positive for the future. This week I had the privilege of caring for a gentleman with terminal cancer, in his last days. It is amazing to me that these cancer patients are the most sick and have the most to be sad and grumpy about and yet they are the most joyful, fun spirited people! I don't know if my patient is still with us or if he has passed on. But I do know that for 4 1/5 hours yesterday, I focused all of my attention, care and nursing skills on him. I was there when he needed a hand to hold because he felt lonely, I was able to joke with him about our favorite football teams, I was there when his toes needed tucked under the covers to keep them warm and I was there to get him ice chips with 'flavor' b/c he was not able to swallow anything. It took every ounce of energy for him to be able to speak 2 words. But the warm smile he was able to give spoke volumes. And probably vice versa.

After caring for these two patients, I began to reflect upon my life. Yes, school is only for a season. Yes this schedule is only for a season...but why make it more hectic and stressful than necessary?! I will now be able to focus more on school, which I only have one semester left! I can focus on being a mommy and a wife a little more now! Enjoying family and life....simply life.... that's what it's all about!

AND THE WINNER IS......

2009-11-15T07:28:00.000-08:00

You guys made this SO INSANELY HARD! Of course I LOVED all the comments about ME! Megan's comment about her 'hot' husband is hysterical! Jason being held at GUNPOINT by his wife to comment on it. Sarah saying I'm the 'bestest' friend ever! And Teara, your husband 'bringing a smile to your face every night...well not EVERY night', LOVE IT!

SO...THIS IS HOW IT WENT DOWN.....4 names on a list, 'eenie, meenie, miney, moe', 5 different times, 5 different patterns, marked an 'x' by the name who showed up the most....

The prize goes to: JASON RHODE! Keep it for yourself, even though PUBLICLY you DENY using MK, or you can give it to the hostess of your Thanksgiving dinner! :) (I will e-mail for your address)

Before you stop following my blog because you DIDN'T WIN....KEEP IN MIND, there is ANOTHER giveaway in DECEMBER!!!!!! And I promise you won't want to miss out.

CONTEST!!

2009-11-12T14:32:00.001-08:00

It's that time of year...HOLIDAY time! In exactly 2 weeks we will be celebrating Thanksgiving! YAY! I LOVE the smell of the Thanksgiving meal cooking, getting together with family, talking, laughing, reminiscing and lining the countertops with food and then not knowing what to do with it when we're all stuffed silly! My favorite time of year are the months of November and December. There seems to be a 'joy' among people that isn't always there.

So, in the spirit of being 'thankful', I am giving away a GIFT!

It includes: an oven mitt, kitchen towel and a Mary Kay

'Satin Hands' Hand lotion !!!

You can keep it for yourself, or give it to your Thanksgiving dinner Hostess!

How can you be eligible to win?!

List 5 reasons you are 'thankful'

this Thanksgiving.

You have until Saturday, midnight (11/14/09) to post your list!

(This gives me time to mail it to you if needed, BEFORE turkey day!)

(If you don't happen to win and you want one, I make/sell them for $12, shipping is free)

Don't forget to look for a December giveaway!

GOOD LUCK!

down to the wire

2009-11-06T13:46:00.000-08:00

'Getting down to the wire' as people say...my semester and school career are 'getting down to the wire', sort of. I have about 5 weeks left of this semester! YIKES! And am registered for next semester and applied for GRADUATION!!! AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!!

It makes me nervous that in May, after I have my Diploma and pass the State Boards, I will be a Registered Nurse! I will be legally allowed to take care of and administer medical attention to people! Give them IV medication, teach them how to live a healthier life, be there for a mommy who just had her first baby and doesn't know what to do with herself, be there with the family when a loved one has passed on. All of these things propel me further into pursuing my dream of being a Nurse...all of these things frighten me in pursuing my dream of being a Nurse.

I know God has opened the doors and brought me this far for a reason, so I will honor His will by doing my best, especially when it 'gets down to the wire' in May! But I'm still nervous! :)

Yesterday I had the opportunity to help with the care of a patient who had both legs amputated mid thigh. It was surreal to see a person with a fully functioning upper body, but nothing past the mid thigh. The patient had a VERY positive attitude and motivation for life. Something I would not expect from someone who does not have the use of their legs, or legs at all for that matter. This positive attitude was encouraging. It just made me stop and think about how THANKFUL and BLESSED we should be to have our health. Sure we have problems along the way, but at least I haven't had to give up any limbs and massively adjust my way of living!

picture update

2009-11-01T08:09:00.003-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted pics of Aubrey. Here is a collection of a few over the last month or so....

She selected the LARGEST chocolate chip cookie to 'snack' on!

Tea for Two with Bella!

Little fairy princess for the Harvest Party!

This is the result of a campfire cook out with mama and daddy! A little bit of hotdog, a LOT of ketchup, a few chips and a marshmallow or two are all beautifully displayed across her precious face!

little mockingbird

2009-10-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

As a mother, I am learning something new from Aubrey EVERY day. Each day brings more independence than the day before, more imagination and creativity and more words that some times come with surprise.

A few weeks ago Aubrey and I were driving home from Springfield. We were about 1/2 mile from our house and I hear a little impatient voice from the back seat say "GO CARS GO...I GO HOME!!!" Once I heard that, I remembered just a few days before that, her and I were on our way home and I was so exhausted, I just wanted to be home! I said "COME ON CARS! GO! I want to go home!"

A mockingbird with the memory of an Elephant is my daughter!

flashing lights

2009-10-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

If you've followed my blog at all... you know it has been quite some time since I have written anything NEW! School has swamped my schedule! If I'm not sitting in class, I'm running through the halls of the hospital, or doing mass amounts of paperwork in order to run through the halls of the hospital.... at my part time job or trying to catch up on some laundry and time with Justin and Aubrey! How i do it all.... I have NO IDEA except to say....ONLY BY GOD'S HELP!!!

Anyhow, this past Thursday-Sunday was 'Fall Break' for school. SO, myself, Aubrey and my very good friend Sarah and her little boy Josiah packed up and headed to IN and OH. Aubrey and I stayed at my parents house in IN and Sarah and Josiah stayed at her parents house in OH. She was able to fit in a couple of photoshoots, check out her site at http://www.carterphotos.com/ . We were able to get a little 'home' time, which I have DESPERATELY been in need of. Just a break to get out of good old Springfield. I don't make it home much these days...lucky to get once a year in!

BUT BEFORE WE HIT THE INDIANA STATE LINE...actually before we hit the middle of Springfield, not even making it OUT of the city.... I looked in my review mirror and there was a nice policeman with his LIGHTS ON, pulling ME over! My heart sank! I saw Justin rambling on at me for draining our bank acct on a ticket! I asked Sarah " What did i do back there? Did I run a red light? What's the speed limit? We're fastened in....the kids are fastened in..." I was VERY confused and so was she! I pulled into a parking lot and he came up to my window. My heart was NOT racing because I knew for a FACT I did NOTHING wrong! I was ready to wheel and deal with this guy! Here's how the conversation went:
Policeman: Good afternoon ma'am....is this your car?
Me: yes. (confused and stunned he would ask this question! do I REALLY look like a THIEF?!)
Policeman: Do you have insurance on it?
Me: yes sir - (what kind of crazy question is that?!)
Policeman: Did you know your plates are expired?
Me: (my mind racing through the past few months, and flipping through any notices...the car plates are due in JUNE...how can they be expired?!!! I RENEWED THEM!) Uh, nooo....
Policeman: Ma'am, may I see you license and insurance ?
Me: Sure (and i hand him my license....well this guy is pretty bent on the fact Sarah and I and two 2 year olds just STOLE this car! So he walks back to his car to run my license and didn't stick around to check the insurance)
While he's in the car running my license.... as I rummage through the nice little car manual folder in the glove box....there in the front pocket is my receipt of renewal in June of 2009 AND the 'june 10' RENEWAL STICKERS! I WAS SO RELIEVED! It ALL came back! It was raining the day i renewed, and who wants to put stickers on in the rain? NOT ME! So I safely put them in with the receipt...and FORGOT to put them on the plates.
2 minutes later.....
Policeman: Here's your license back....it says you renewed
Me: ha...yes, here's something I believe may be important! (showing him my brilliant discovery! trying to lighten up the guy!)
Policeman: Well you need to put those on .... I guess I will let you go
Me: Thank you, I will put them on RIGHT now! (thinking 'GUESS?!'......GUESS NOTHING!....YES YOU WILL LET ME GO! I MADE AN INNOCENT MISTAKE!)

And I jumped out after he got in his car and put them both on for him to observe!
I WAS DRIVING AROUND WITH EXPIRED PLATES SINCE JULY 1ST!!!!!!!! AGH!

would you like a little morphine?

2009-09-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

I just realized it's been AT LEAST 2 weeks since I posted something on here! YIKES!

You know what that means? SCHOOL has begun! And the STORIES will begin...actually right now in this post.

This week was my first week of clinical rotations at the Hospital. I have to be honest, I was NOT looking forward to this semester of school. Due to the fact they 'release' you a little more on the floors, don't hold your hand QUITE so much. Pretty much you are responsible for your patient, the instructor and nurse is around for guidance, but you're on your own for charting procedures performed, vital signs checked...etc etc.

So what did I do this week besides take temperatures, blood pressures, pulses and respirations?
#1 - Pushed some IV medication. If that isn't intimidating and scary I don't know what is! Knowing you are responsible for anything that happens with the liquid running through the line of the IV into the person's veins!!! YIKES!

#2 - Removed a drain tube from someone's back! Yes...REMOVED it. Pulled it out!
People think I'm crazy when I say it was 'fun'. Not sure if I would survive in the nursing field if I didn't get excited about this stuff! :)

I was an absolute NERVOUS WRECK the first day and a little today. But the more stuff I had to do, the better I felt. I hope I get a lot of experience this semester...it's going to be a fun one!

doll in daycare part #2

2009-08-23T10:39:00.001-07:00

Well, Aubrey has had 2 days in Joyland and really likes it thus far! Only one potty accident, takes a great nap at naptime, has had fun in craft time and working on successfullly getting her pants up and down at bathroom break!

I rushed home from work on Thursday to find out what Aubrey's teacher had to say about her first day... this is how it went:

Justin: "Aubrey had a great first day! Her and Jaeydin were buddies all day. At one point on the playground, Aubrey went on her own to play and Jaeydin couldn't find her. Jaeydin went to the teacher crying because she couldn't find Aubrey. They found Aubrey and the girls played together for a while longer. Aubrey DID get in trouble though"
At this point my heart stopped!! WHAT? MY DAUGHTER IS CAUSING TROUBLE ALREADY?!! "For what?!" I asked. Justin: " Well, it seems like at naptime Jaeydin and Aubrey were on cots next to each other, and they wouldn't stop talking. So the teacher moved them and they had to nap on opposite sides of the room!"

WHEW! I thought.... "at least she only got in trouble for talking at nap time!"
Ha! It just shows she's a TRUE girl! Chatty chatty!

a doll in daycare

2009-08-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

As promised in my previous blog...pictures and an update on day care!

Let's start with the most difficult: Daycare! Who was it more difficult for today, Aubrey or myself? MYSELF! I felt like my child was starting Kindergarten! Once everything was labeled with her name, I packed her back pack with an extra change of clothes, a portable fold up potty seat (b/c her rear is tiny even for the 'toddler' size toilets), packed a Wal-Mart bag with a box of Kleenex and wipes to share with the class, her blanket and pillow. Out the door we went! We've been telling her for about a week now that she would be going to a place called 'Joyland' and she would meet new friends, have a teacher, eat a snack, play games, take a nap and have fun. I'm at work right now, so I'm anxious to see how she did for her first day.

Us leaving didn't seem to phase her. There was another little girl in there that she knows, so she sat by her and waved 'bye'. That made mama feel better. But when we walked away I felt like the most horrible mother! Thoughts raced through my head "I can't believe I'm leaving my child for someone else to take care of and teach...is she going to listen to her teacher? Will they help her get her pants up and down? What if they get impatient with how particular she is with everything?! What if she thinks I've abandoned her?!" Ugh. I KNOW it's best, she's ready for more structure and socialization and I NEED her to be there while I'm in school. It's only for a season and she'll benefit well from it I know!

On to the more fun subject: PICTURES! Here is a collection of recent pictures of the princess!

modeling mama's shoes

we have goats, a horse, chickens and turkeys....and this is what she does around the animals at the fair!

a true artist is very messy!

playing with a few of her cousins on her new swingset!

being silly in a pair of p.j's she received for her birthday

wearing a hairbow she got for her birthday
from Kelli

miscellaneous

2009-08-17T15:21:00.000-07:00

This post is just a ramble of miscellaneous items...i think you MIGHT find them entertaining.

#1 - Pulled off Aubrey's 2nd birthday party on Saturday w/o a hitch! I was stressing about the color coordination...but in the end, it all looked great and everyone had a nice, relaxing time. Even I had a relaxing time...once I was finished being in the spotlight w/ Aubrey opening presents and blowing out the candle. I HATED when it was time for 'Happy Birthday' to be sung and opening of presents. The two main events at a birthday party and I HATED them both when I was a child. Why? Because it meant I was the center of attention and had to sit there and endure it. My next post will be ALL pictures of her birthday.

#2 - Aubrey starts day care on Thursday. I feel like she's going to Kindergarten. I'm having a hard time dealing with this issue and will expand on it more Thursday!

#3 - Today I pulled into a parking spot, the hood of my car was white like it should be, went into the store, walked out of the store 20 minutes later and the hood was half brown/green/textured!!! What ever bird it was had some GI UPSET to say the least and decided to leave it ALL on the hood of my white car! Usually bird droppings are maybe 1/2 inch in diameter....each of the 10 drops were probably 2 inches in diameter, not to mention a lovely green/brown! But then a nice washout of a rainstorm came through and cleaned the hood of the car for me!

# 4 - Looking for faces in the Springfield area who want a facial! I sell Mary Kay on the side for fun and my goal this month is to facial 15 faces! The month is more than half over and I've only done 2! If you know anyone in the area or if you are in the area and want a little pampering, let me know! I need to meet my goal this month! AND I need a little bit of 'girl' time!

back to reality

2009-08-13T11:51:00.001-07:00

AGH! I am back!! Our hectic gone a week, home a week, pack, un-pack, re-pack, jet-outta-here schedule is OVER!!! It's been a great summer, but I'm exhausted!

The past week and a half was spent in Orlando Florida. We spent 4 days working with 600 kids at 'Kids Council' along with a number of other Children's Pastors/Workers from around the country. Once our 8a.m. - 11:00p.m. running crazy was over on Friday, we met up w/ Justin's brother and his girlfriend to spend some relaxing time at Epcot and Typhoon Lagoon. We were water logged at the water park and walked our feet off at Epcot. We spent two nights at the Animal Kingdom Lodge...if you EVER have a chance to go...GO! It is so nice and they have the BEST South African Buffet for dinner. Expensive? YES! Worth it? Let's just say if Justin would pay for it, it's WORTH every penny! We stuffed ourselves SILLY with the best food I've ever eaten! One of my favorites on the buffet was the 'watermelon/tomatoe salad'. Sounds weird, it was watermelon/cherry tomatoes in a vinegar dressing with bleu cheese. AMAZING!

Aubrey stayed home and split her time between Justin's mom and my parents. She handled the time away from us very well...until we arrived back home. Now she won't let mama OUT OF HER SIGHT! This mama isn't going ANYWHERE again without her. I enjoyed the break from mommyhood for a short time...but her reaction is enough to keep me home forever! It was SO nice to walk around Epcot, listening to OTHER people's children throw fits and have meltdowns because they were too little to be there, too hot and missed naptime! I think I said 'glad that's not me!' 20 times! Some day we'll take Aubrey to Disney.

She turned '2' while we were gone!!! The party is this Saturday. It's a rather big birthday for her. She's entering the stage where she's outgrowing so many toys and on the small side for BIG toys....but between mama/daddy, papa/grandma, grammie, and aunt/uncles.... she's getting a swing set for the back yard and a kitchen set for her playhouse we're in the works of building. So much fun stuff going on!!!

I'll post pictures!

potty training?!!!

2009-07-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

WELL!!! I must say July has been THE BUSIEST month of the year thus far! First week we spent in St. Louis, came home began potty training. The next week we packed up and went to kids camp, came home, unpacked, kept up with potty training. We're now at home for a week and then Justin and I are OFF yet AGAIN for a trip to Orlando. Partial business, partial vacation. Miss Aubrey will be staying here in Springfield, dividing her time between Grammie (Justin's mom) and Grandma and Papa (my parents). All of these activities are VERY fun, but I'm ready for school to start up! I am ready for a SET SCHEDULE and STRESS!

As far as potty training goes.... I keep looking for the day it's going to back fire on us! But we're heading into week #3 and have had maybe 4 accidents! Mornings and naptimes are dry, she's excited for stickers on her chart for potty and bracelets on her arm for poopy! I was dreading the whole potty training time, but it's actually been fun. She's picking up on it quickly and can hold it longer than a camel! This just means we're crossing another milestone in her life.... makes me happy and sad! Once again, the heartstrings of a mama are being tugged at tightly!!

long time no write

2009-07-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

I just realized it has been A LONG TIME since i've written on here. Give me a little bit and I'll catch you up on the happenings! :)

Miss Independence

2009-07-04T07:02:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July! I hope you have a wonderful day filled with food, family and fun!!

We celebrated last night with a cookout and the company of good friends!
Aubrey had a special '4th of July celebration' dress courtesy of Shelly Stout (etsy.com)
Here are a few pics of her in it courtesy of Sarah Carter (carterphotos.com) So cute and summery and will continue to fit her as she grows!

"AIRPLANE!"

And the Winner is....

2009-07-02T13:22:00.000-07:00

Well, there are TWO winners! I just couldn't have ONE winner. So kitty has a 'first' and 'middle' name. Some people could post on my blog, others went to my Facebook. SO the name of the kitty is 'Bella Buttons'. Congratulations to Meghan Musy and Kayla Waggoner!

Thanks to everyone for your vote! I had a lot of fun reading your suggestions and through it finding new blogs to follow! I wish i could send ALL of you a free lipgloss...really I do! Maybe I can send you all samples! :)

I will have more giveaways to come....stay tuned!!

luscious lips

2009-06-27T11:01:00.001-07:00

Never attempted this before... a CONTEST! Who ever can come up with the BEST name for 'kitty' (pictured below in previous post)...i'll send you a lipgloss out of my Mary Kay stash!! And 'kitty' will walk around proudly sporting the name you picked for her!

Who can't use a new, free lipgloss?! I'll end this little contest on Thursday, July 2nd. You've got plenty of time!

new addition

2009-06-27T07:10:00.000-07:00

I bet you thought you could scroll down and read that our 'new addition' is another baby on the way... ha! Not even a consideration until I have my RN license IN HAND!

But our newest addition to the 'farm' as people like to call it, is a kitty! She was hanging around one of my co-workers homes and they couldn't keep her, so I brought her to our house. I said 'survival of the fittest...if she stays...good. If not, life goes on'. She decided to adopt our home.

Aubrey LOVES the kitty! She always wants to feed, pet and find her! The kitty hides from Aubrey. I think Aubrey is a little too loud for kitty's liking. But she loves me and is warming up to Justin...of all people!

Right now we just call her 'kitty'. I had a name picked out for her, but it's too long for Aubrey to pronounce and Justin hated the name. So 'kitty' will have to do!

ironies of motherhood

2009-06-25T16:16:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've written. And not that anything fun HASN'T happened, I just haven't had the time to sit down and write! Or should I say I haven't TAKEN the time to sit and write!

Justin and I were out of town for a few days this week. Aubrey stayed at my sister-in-laws house for those 3 days. She was able to hang out with her Aunt/Uncle and 5 cousins! The story I received was that she never had to lift a finger and never slept in the room by herself. Everyone fought over who would get to play with Aubrey next! The car ride home, her eyes were glazed. She played so hard wtih all of them and had a wonderful time! Thanks to Jeff and Angelia for watching her!

I was reading in my 'Parenting' magazine today and the very last page caught my eye...it read:
"Top Ten Ironies of motherhood". Usually I don't pay attention to these things because I'm not interested in what it has to say...but today, I was interested. Here are a few of my favorites:

#10. Tough as it was when your child clung to you at the entrance of her pre-K. It's worse when she hisses, 'don't kiss me!' as you drop her off in fourth grade.

#8. You spent years begging your child to eat veggies, then last night she called you a murderer for serving steak.

#3. How your son is his basketball team's MVP - but heaven forbid he could get a pair of socks in the hamper.

#2 You ask your child to share toys and she won't, but if Dora the Explorer asked her to remove somone's pancreas, she'd grab a scalpel.

#1. That you could miss your little one so much all day at work, but be unbelievably relieved when he falls asleep an hour after you get home.

All of these are too true! What ironies! What enjoyment in life that children bring us as mothers!

Big girls sleep with teddy bears....

2009-06-14T07:38:00.000-07:00

Well, this day has been coming for 22 months now...the day I say 'we are free from the paci'!! Letting those words out makes me cringe a little. The precious piece of plastic and rubber, in all sorts of pretty colors, has been such a symbol of security for both Aubrey and myself, to KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt Aubrey will sleep peacefully through the night...is now gone.

BUT... according to her Dr. we should have been rid of the paci 4 months ago. My goal was to be rid of it by this August. Aubrey met in the middle, compromised and got rid of it at 22 months.

So, 2 weeks ago tonight, I took the paci from her crib, put it in my pocket and snuggled with Aubrey. I handed her the teddy bear she likes to sleep with. She asked for the paci and I said, "Big girls sleep with teddy bears and babies sleep with paci's... you're a big girl, so you get to sleep with your teddy bear. No more paci." I'm not sure she knew what to think about that. But it worked! The paci is safely hidden in her sock drawer, so when the day comes for MOMMY to give it up, I will toss it in the trash.

My mom always said 'when she's ready, she'll give it up...' I guess the timing was right...and I can officially say WE'RE RID OF THE PACI! Thank you for your service and full nights sleep for myself and Aubrey! :)

ketchup and broccoli please

2009-06-09T14:50:00.000-07:00

These two pictures represent a 22 month old little girl who ate ALL of the steamed broccoli on her plate! I didn't drown her broccoli in ketchup, just lightly dipped it in and gave it to her. Not really enough to taste on there. But she ate it... and THAT'S the important thing!

Looked gross, but whtever it takes!

Summer fun!

2009-06-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

Today was family pool day! Willard, the town we live in, built a brand new pool this year! Aubrey would live there if we would let her! Once she was layered in SPF 55, sporting her sun hat and big belly, we hit the water! Here are a few pics of today's fun in the sun.

Miss 'Impatient' - waiting in line to pay so we can swim! She wanted to cut in front of everyone!

SO excited to actually be IN the water!!!

Daddy flying her around the water

Snack time!

All swam out... ready to go home!

2009-05-26T16:03:00.000-07:00

Blue mouth mama! yummy yogurt

first ALL white dress! yikes. Stayed white the first sunday worn!

getting ready to play at the park....had to have the babies bottle for whatever reason!

pushing the wagon with grandpa...easier on grandpa than pulling it with her in it! :)

someone wanted to play 'ghost'

I decided today I needed to post some pictures of Aubrey. Her picture hasn't been on here in a while. If you wonder why Justin and I are not plastered on here, it's because no one really cares what we look like, an update now and then is great, but all of you are interested in the one little person who consumes every part of our heart, mind, daily life and everything we are! We would be LOST with out Aubrey!

so weird...

2009-05-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

My friend Sarah reminded me that Aubrey can say 'so weird' as well. Myself, Aubrey and Sarah were shopping the other day and Aubrey did something silly...I said 'Aubrey, you're so weird...' and she replied 'soo weirrrdd'.

Hysterical!

Joys of growing up!

2009-05-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

With each new day, Aubrey does something new and different to surprise me. She is growing fast, too fast for my liking. So much has happened this week involving her 'advancement' of age and development, makes me excited and sad at the same time!

First off, we had to fit her for new shoes, the next size up...and found out that she has indeed inherited her mothers NARROW feet! Ugh! I remember my parents putting out the $ for NARROW shoes! So annoying and hard to find anything 'cute' to fit. So far so good w/ Aubrey, but no more running to Wal Mart for a pair of 'kickers'...they will fall off her feet!

Second, she's beginning to put two words together. So far we have 'bye- bye', 'golf course' and 'two flies'. Random words I know...but they are still two words together and her Dr. will be impressed come August for her next check-up.

Third, she gave her baby doll a VOICE last night! She will be 2 in August and I'm pretty impressed with this one! We were in Justin's office and she was carrying her baby around, talking to her and kissing her, like any good mommy. Then Aubrey stood by the door, waved and said 'bye bye', in role play, I said 'bye bye', she then lifted the babies arm, waved it and in a voice different than her normal voice said 'bye bye'. I ERRUPTED IN LAUGHTER! It was the funniest moment of gold! Where was the video camera? Not available! Oh, it was SO cute!

Fourthly, this morning I was in the kitchen and Justin was walking down the hallway, when we heard a huge 'THUD' from Aubrey's room. She had proceeded to climb out of her crib, only to fall and land flat on her back! It knocked the wind out of her and scared her for a life time! She's fine, but I bet it won't happen again!

The joys of growing up!

missing mom

2009-05-17T08:06:00.000-07:00

I'm a little sad today. It's a BEAUTIFUL sunny spring day and I am wearing pink to support the beautiful weather. But I am sad because I miss my mom! She stayed with us for the past 3 weeks, taking care of Aubrey, the laundry, dishes and cooking, so I could completely focus on my last few weeks of school and pass! This morning I felt a little out of sorts, waking up and her not being there getting Aubrey's breakfast ready. The room she stayed in is unoccupied and I don't have the weekly task of writing out my schedule so she knows roughly where I will be when, in case she needs to get a hold of me.

Justin and I are both SO grateful she offered and stayed with us. Gave up her own schedule to do what she felt needed to be done. In her words 'that's what mother's are for!' I don't know how to EVER thank her enough! She wins mom of the century award!

You don't realize how much you value family until you live 10 hours away!

I'M FREE!!!

2009-05-14T15:52:00.000-07:00

I am free from 4:30a.m alarm clock every wednesday, sitting for 8 hours straight in a classroom on tuesdays, learning medications i can't pronounce on mondays, denying friend inviations to do 'something fun' because i have to study. FREE until August 24th to do whatever I want, whenever I want, wherever I want! Second semester nursing school is over and i get to spend my summer with Aubrey! Nothing else I would rather do!

Passed the finals, not solely on my own...that's for sure!

My mom has been here the past few weeks taking care of Aubrey, cooking and laundry. I am SO blessed to have such a thoughtful and wonderful mom! I loved that we were able to spend mother's day together. I think it is the first mother's day together since I've been married... that's EIGHT mother's days I have not shared with her! It was time for at least one!

I am ONE year away from graduating Nursing school! yikes!

But for now...i will focus on being 'free'! :)

complete trust?

2009-05-09T17:37:00.000-07:00

the countdown is on... less than 48 hours until my first final and somewhere between 48 and 60 hours before my second final!

Nervous? Yes!
Studying? Like crazy!
Depending on myself to make it through these tests? NO!

I finally decided it would be best to let God run with this one. I have been making myself SICK just thinking about finals. Weighing every option, panic stricken with fingers flying back and forth across the number pad on the calculator...trying to figure out to the 10th of a percent what i absolutely HAVE to have on the final to pass each class!

So today I decided, why give myself ulcers, headaches, nausea, sleep deprivation and no appetite?! Why am I killing myself over this stuff...this is NOT what was originally planned.

Why not just hand it over to God and say 'here you go...my school is in your hands...you guided my steps to get me here, I'm here for a reason, being a Nurse is my passion, you won't lead me astray. I place it all in your hands, guide me the day of finals, bring back to remembrance what I have studied, I put my faith and trust in you...'

If that isn't the hardest thing to do! Giving up our own control and desires to be independent and 'fend for ourselves'. The way God created us...but He also created us to love and trust Him. HE guides us through life, if we'll ONLY LET HIM...this is one of those times!!

Here we go! The clock is ticking!

XANAX STAT!

2009-05-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

This is what I want to say to my Dr. today... "XANAX PRESCRIPTION!! STAT!" (that's nurse code for NOW!)

3 days of class this week (Mon 9-12:00, Tuesday 7-3 and Wed 6:00-4:30) = 2 tests, 2 quizzes, 1 ten page paper and MORE lecture to add to our lovely and ever expanding PILE of notes to 'review for finals'

Next week...Finals.. Monday @ 9 a.m. and Tuesday @ 8 a.m.

What happens this Thurs through next Monday at 9 a.m.?!

= PANIC ATTACK!

How will I EVER remember everything? Already invested in a little $9 bottle of Gingko...thought to increase memory by increasing blood flow to the brain...I think I need more than just a little blood flow to the brain! :)

But, with a little prayer and faith...God will be my guide and I will trust Him to guide my pencil to mark the CORRECT box! I just have to stick with the plan and not argue with myself come test time!

...Sounds simple....

SOOO-IE

2009-04-30T16:49:00.000-07:00

I am taking a break from typing a paper... only to do MORE typing! THIS is therapeutic typing.

So this weeks highlight = The Pig Auction

Yes, a PIG auction. It all started when my sis-in-law decided to be on the mission of buying a pig...not just any pig, she wants a PINK pig! Not sure if she will find a PINK one, but whatever she wants is fine with me. Her kids will have fun with it. SO, my dear husband has taken it upon himself to find his nieces/nephews a pig! This in return means scowering the internet, penny power and wooden nickel papers for auctions and sales.

Sunday night he flies in the door and says ' What are you doing Tuesday night?!' Since it is my last 2 weeks of school, my soul is SOLD to studying and completely focusing on school. Doing anything socially is OUT OF THE question! I replied 'studying...why?' He informed me WE were going to a PIG auction at the same auction place I bought Jake's saddle/tack. I just sank in my chair at the disgust of another insane idea from my husband! I said 'WHAT?! I AM NOT GOING TO A PIG AUCTION!!' His reply ' you have to go with me, there will be scary people in tight wranglers there...I need you for protection!' Once again, I denied his invitation. The more he asked, the more IRRATE I became. I just COULD NOT understand WHY he was placing a stupid pig auction at a level more important than MY NURSING CAREER?!!

I slept on it and finally after begging and pleading on Monday afternoon, I succumbed. I thought 'We hardly done anything together all semester, I can study all the way there, which was a 45 minute ride, and all the way back'...so ... reluctantly I told him 'yes, I will go to the crazy pig auction with you!'. I sat through school from 7-3 on Tuesday thinking the whole time 'I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO THIS CRAZY AUCTION!'. We met up at the appointed time, dropped Aubrey off at Grammie's (Justin's mom) so Grandma (my mom is staying with us until I am finished with school in 2 weeks) and Grammie could visit. We jumped in the truck and took off for the Auction barn! Yahoo!

On the way there he pulls into this pizza joint we've eaten at before, but it's always been with our 'groupies' and never just 'us'. He said we needed to eat, but didn't want to eat Auction barn food. Sounds good to me! We walked in and there was a big group of our friends.. 'SURPRISE!'

It was a surprise birthday party for me! THERE WAS NO PIG AUCTION!!! It was his smooth ploy to get me to go!! I seriously had NO idea! Usually I can find holes and strings to his lies... but not this time! He kept a GREAT secret!

It was a nice evening, away from the books and in a little bit of socialization with some of my favorite people!

perfect + perfect = PERFECT!

2009-04-27T16:14:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was my birthday as mentioned previously in my last entry. I had a wonderful day, made a little $ at a rummage sale, then grilled 2 perfect NY strip steaks and 2 bacon wrapped filet mignons on my birthday present... a new grill! The evening was spent with Justin, Aubrey and my mom/dad. PERFECT!

To make it even MORE perfect, my mom CLEANED my house! If you know me, I am a clean freak. But with the heavy load of school this semester, some things have to be left until after the semester...my floors and dusting were just a few to name. You know I'm swamped when I can just 'let' the cleaning go!

And to ADD to the above 2 perfects... my mom is staying down here with us until after my finals! To take care of Aubrey and the bare necessities that take up precious study time! What an amazing mom! What amazing parents I have!

reflection

2009-04-23T16:29:00.001-07:00

3 weeks left of the semester and i'm done w/ school for the summer! So exciting, but it's crunch time! Time to omit my social life and buckle down for the home stretch! My parents are down this weekend. Grandpa is driving back to IN on Sunday and leaving Grandma to babysit Aubrey while I dig in the trenches for school. I'm so RELIEVED to have them here and to have her for the last few weeks! I'm so excited to one day be a nurse! Excited that I wish i didn't have another year of school, but scared to death I ONLY have one year of school!

Well, this Saturday is my birthday. Excited? Maybe, who doesn't like to be acknowledged at least once a year? One year shy of 30... people say turning 30 was the hardest year for them. Hm...I'm not sure I will feel the same. I think I will look back and reflect on ALL I have done in my 20's! I think the older you get, the more educated, dignified and classy you get! I think it's called 'being seasoned'. Because we should continuously learn, so each year, we know more than the year before, have experienced new and different experiences than in the past and get to deal with whatever life brings our way.

A gas grill is on my birthday list this year. Usually it's just a gift card for a massage or a salon. But this year, I want to be able to grill out!!! And not have to rely on Justin's charcoal grill he got free from the church campground that doesn't cook any type of food thoroughly, even after 30 minutes! :)

Reflecting on my upcoming birthday, I sat at my desk here in the nursing home tonight, observing couples where one partner lives here in the home and the other lives at 'their' home. The ones who struck me tonight were a couple who look fairly young, maybe 60 if that, I believe his wife has suffered a stroke. She understands what is going on and what you are saying, but she can't talk. She is in a wheel chair. Her husband is faithful to come everyday when he gets off of work. Today, I think was a hard day for him to handle. He brought her down to see the birds and look out the windows. He is a quiet man, but cordial. Probably works in a factory. I always tell visitors 'goodnight' or 'have a nice evening'. Tonight when I told him to 'have a nice evening', I didn't get a smile and a 'same to you'. His eyes looked sad, he just nodded and walked out. I thought 'how difficult a situation like that must be! what will it be like in 40 years? Will I be in a nursing home and Justin at our home or will it be the opposite? Please Lord, let it be the opposite!' But whatever situation it is, I hope we will always have the strong committment and dedication these husbands and wives have to whom ever is a resident in this nursing home!

randomness

2009-04-16T16:27:00.000-07:00

Here it is again! Thursday! Time for me to blog... but I don't really know what to say! I guess i could just say a lot of randomness:

It's been a good week.
Nothing exciting happened on the Pediatric floor. And if it did, I missed it!!
I met with my instructor about needing motivation for the last 4 wks of the semester.
Motivation = NOT wanting to re-take this semester (a.k.a. May 15th, 2010 IS GRADUATION DAY!)
She told me I will make a great nurse!
The weather is beautiful today, sunny and 68, the heat is off at our house and windows OPEN!
I am wearing teal, spring green and strappy black dress sandals to celebrate the warmth!
My mom made it home safely from a wonderful week of staying with us.
I miss my mom & dad. But mom/dad will be back next week for my birthday.
My birthday wish = a gas grill!
I love my husband and little girl!

And that's that!

exhausted

2009-04-09T17:14:00.000-07:00

It is day 4 of my mom being down here... and it is going by too extremely fast! The time she is spending with Aubrey is priceless! She keeps telling me that Aubrey is leaving her 'with so many wonderful memories'. I appreciate so much that she came to spend a week more less with Aubrey, b/c Justin and I certainly have not been around to be much company! I didn't realize until this week just HOW busy we REALLY are!! And to that I say 'I AM EXHAUSTED!' I am exhausted with laundry, dishes, picking up around the house, feeding animals, being mommy, being wife, being a nursing student! I just want one day to sleep! One day to not have to think about the hustle bustle of life! My header may read 'simply life' but what you don't read that is 'between the lines' is 'Simply CRAZY HECTIC BUSY Life'. And yet, I would be bored to tears if I didn't have all that I have on my plate. I keep telling myself, 'this too shall pass...it's only for a season!' I think I need to engrave it on my forehead!

This week I was on the Pediatric floor for clinicals. Not quite sure how I feel about being with sick little kiddos. I stand on neutral ground. I was so NERVOUS to do ANYTHING...and we're CHILDREN'S PASTORS, in charge of over 300 Nursery - 5th grade children at our church. I stand in front of the kids and teach lessons and act silly weekly...and yet I couldn't walk into a sick 2 week old babies room w/o my Instructor for the first time yesterday. Sick kids make me nervous! Maybe it's not the kids I'm afraid of, I think it's the parents. I am excited though to go back next week... maybe I can play some catch or blow a bunch of bubbles with a sweet child who needs to have a few minutes to NOT think about his or her exhaustive, hectic, sick schedule!

it could be worse

2009-04-02T17:18:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is Thursday evening! Upon reflecting on my week, all I can see is SICKNESS! I've been so sick all week, head, nose, throat, congestion, stomach, grumpy intestines, no voice... you name it, I've had it! At least that's what it feels like! But my voice is slowly making a come back and I'm on the road to recovery! In the words of my mom ''it could be worse!''

I managed to survive my clinical day yesterday up on the Post Partum floor with all of the new mom's and babies. I have to say right now, if I HAD to choose somewhere to work as a Nurse, this might just be the highest ranking pick! I enjoyed the OR, but I am really enjoying taking care of the moms and babies. For some mom's just the most simple suggestion on how to hold the baby while she feeds him or her makes me the heroin! She acts as though I am a sight for sore eyes and just gave her the BEST advice she's ever heard in her life! I love taking care of them!
Next week I start my 4 week rotation on the Pediatric floor. I'm a little nervous, I don't know how I'll handle really sick little kiddos. My mom thinks I will do wonderfully because I am already in the 'kid' field at Church, plus she says I 'just have a way' with the kids. We'll see how much of a 'way' I have with them next week!

Speaking of my mom, she's coming to visit!!!! Sunday she will fly down to stay with us for the entire week. Sunday Aubrey and I will road trip to Kansas City to pick her up at the airport! I'm so excited. For future reference, in our house and our speech we refer to my parents as Grandma & Papa (what Aubrey calls him, still waiting on a creative name for Grandma from her) so I am not speaking of MY grandma/grandpa. Anyhow, we love it when Grandma & Papa visit. This time though, Papa has to stay home (don't start feeling bad for him, he lived down here the summer I had Aubrey, it was great! Now it's Grandma's turn) It's hard living 10 hours from home, especially the older I get and now that we have Aubrey, I just want to be closer to family. If only we could cut out our 6 acres and move it to Indiana on a spatula! Oh well, at least there are trains, planes and cars to get us to our loved ones! In the words of my mom '' it could be worse'' :)

heart ache

2009-03-26T16:40:00.000-07:00

Here are a FEW of Aubrey's 18 month pictures. She is getting so big! I cannot believe how grown up she is. Time flies by... at every stage I want her to stay that age, but she continues to be more fun the older she becomes! Parenting is SUCH a heart ache!

By the way check out www.carterphotos.wordpress.com Sarah Carter is the one who did Aub's pictures, if you like them and want her to do some for you... let her know!

special delivery

2009-03-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

The day I have been waiting for ALL semester... a clinical day spent in Labor & Delivery (L & D)!! Yesterday was it... 5:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. I shadowed two nurses and observed 3 deliveries and assisted in the measurements/care of one of the newborns! The first delivery was at 7:09a.m., they came into the hospital at 6:05 a.m. and baby girl was born at 7:09a.m.!! Mom was, in her husband's words 'Sheera'! She had no pain medicine until afterwards, wasn't enough time for it to take effect beforehand. All I heard out of her were a few grunts and a squeek. About 20 minutes of pushing, baby was here!

Now all semester every girl in the class has been concerned about the only GUY in our class rotating through L & D. He puts up w/ a lot from us in class, but a woman in labor? Him and I were in the first delivery yesterday morning and i'll have to say he did a GREAT job! He was really interested in helping take care of the baby, which is the 'Star' Nurses job. I placed him behind me against the wall, JUST in case he should pass out, the wall could catch him, and I wouldn't have to! I told him to 'watch his facial expressions'...i didn't want him making a 'grossed out' face so mom in labor could see! As the baby is coming, I look over and he's bent down trying to find a better view around the Dr so he can watch the birth! Then he was right up at the warming table with the star nurse taking care of the baby! He did wonderful! And later admitted he thought it was cool, but will stick to his original plans of becoming a Nurse Anesthesist and just give these ladies their epidural!

HE did fine....everything is over, Dr. is taking care of mom, nurse is taking care of baby, mom and dad are overjoyed, I have tears in my eyes b/c it is SUCH an amazing experience and priviledge to be in the delivery room! And then it hit me! All of the sudden my skin went ghost white, I felt like it was 100 degrees in the room, I was seeing stars, everything was looking darker and my legs were getting weak.... I was on the road to passing out! WHY? I HAVE NO IDEA! Nothing grossed me out, I kept moving my legs and didn't lock my knees....I just knew i HAD to get OUT OF THE ROOM! But how was I going to do that with weak legs...I don't know, I just DID! I slipped out quietly and made my way to the nurses desk and sat down, took some deep breaths, looked at the floor and kept telling myself 'DO NOT PASS OUT...DO NOT PASS OUT!!' I went and sat in the bathroom for a while and ran cold water over my hands/wrists. Once back out at the desk one of the other nurses saw me, my color being more white than a ghost, and took me back to get some orange juice and crackers. She asked me if I ate breakfast. What kind of a question is that?! OF COURSE I ATE BREAKFAST! I don't LEAVE the house w/o food! It had only been 2 1/2 hours since I ate, but she said that was just enough time for my blood sugar to start to drop. So my instructor found me and said that with some people, it just happens. Even though I wasn't conscioulsy thinking anything, chemically and subconsciously my body PROBABLY couldn't handle the situation of another human in so much pain.

Then I was just mad at myself! How rediculous is this?! A NURSE who ALMOST passes out....I can't be doing that?! So I made it a goal to observe as MANY deliveries as possible and overcome this crazy thing! And I watched 2 more births! NOT a problem with either of them! Watched the whole thing and felt fine!

The sight of a baby being born is unlike anything I've ever experienced! My baby being born was an amazing experience, she was a c-section, but it's different when you're JUST observing! I had tears in my eyes with each delivery, performed deep breathing techniques and even held my breath and 'pushed' when the mom's did! The human body is so intricate and detailed! God is AMAZING for creating us the way He did! How it all works blows my mind! As much as I liked being in L & D, I don't think I want to make it my occupation. I would rather work on the new mom and baby floor, after all of the most critical stuff is over! :) If someone asked me to be a part of her labor and delivery, I would be there in a HEART BEAT...but for it to be my profession, no thanks! Maybe at a later time.

self centered

2009-03-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

If you happen to notice that I am 'following' myself, in the box to the right under 'followers'... some how i clicked on the 'follow' button and added myself to the list. No, I don't have a large ego...nor am I so obsessed with myself that I have to follow my own blog. I don't know if i can get myself off the list! ha! silly me! This is the result of a non-regimented spring break schedule! My mind is making my hands do crazy things!

eruption

2009-03-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

I was so impressed with myself this morning. I made a 'coffee volcano' and it wasn't even for an object lesson in KidZone! I swung by McDonald's to grab a McCafe on the way to work, and it was nice and hot, but by the time I reached my desk, it was NOT so hot. So I ran to the kitchen and popped it in the microwave. The lid was still on, but i tucked the little flap back so steam could escape. I kept thinking, 'just a little longer, I want it good and hot, once I sit down at my desk, I won't be getting up'. A minute and a half later I watched the 'volcano' erupt all over the recently cleaned microwave!. Half my coffe was flooding the bottom of the microwave. Luckily I ordered a 'medium', so I still had plenty left. What a sight!

spring is in the air

2009-03-19T14:14:00.000-07:00

Well it is a BEAUTIFUL day in SW Missouri. Almost officially spring. It looks like it around here. Spring is one of my favorite seasons! Our property looks beautiful with the apple and plum trees budding pink and white flowers, the bright green grass coming in that Jake grazes as fast as it grows, and this year Aubrey is big enough to run around outside and enjoy it as well! We have been outside a lot this week. My Spring break is almost coming to an end, what a nice, relaxing, no alarm clock, much needed week it has been! Aubrey and I have spent a lot of time outside, feeding the chickens, petting and feeding Jake, walking all around our 6 acres, looking at worms, blowing bubbles and riding in her wagon. She DOES NOT like to hear the words, 'we're going inside to eat lunch now'. She loves food, but more than food, she LOVES being outside! This summer I will have the tan of my life, because her and I will practically LIVE outside! Plus the city of Willard is getting a new pool that will be open this summer, so we MIGHT have to visit a time or two...and invite her best friend Josiah to come, he's been taking swimming lessons!

I know it is easiest and best to be going through Nursing school right now while Aubrey is so little. But days like this week, it is so HARD to get back into the grind of the routine! I just keep telling myself "8 more weeks of this semester, one more year of school and it will ALL be worth it...I have ALL summer to spend with Aubrey".

what to do?!

2009-03-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

Spring break is next week!! I consider myself on spring break as of yesterday at 4:30. That was my last day of class for a week and a half! I've been pondering and planning my week 'off'. "What should I do? What should I do? Go home to IN and see my family, where it's still cold? Travel to AL to see Megan, where it's warm? Select a destination which is warm and I don't know anyone? Stay home, clean, organize, run errands that have been kept off b/c of such a busy schedule? Shopping trip to Kansas City? Branson Outlets? Stay home, sleep in every day and stay in my p.j.'s all day playing with Aubrey?" The list can go on and on and on! All of the above I would LOVE to do, but i really only have 3 'free' days of my spring break! So I have them filled with dentist, dr's, photographers (hopefully Sarah) and one day of 'undecided'. I do however have a test the Tuesday I return to school. What sort of teacher schedules a test so you have to study over break? A Nursing School Teacher!

I know I will thoroughly enjoy my extra time w/ Aubrey. With my busy schedule, I don't get as much time with her, which I don't like at all, but I know once she's in school, she will need my attention more than ever! SO, I will stay home, b/c now the thought of traveling anywhere not only costs money, but exhausts me more than I am already exhausted! But in the back of my mind I will dream of sunny, warm Hawaii! (or somewhere warm with an ocean)

miscellaneous

2009-03-06T16:53:00.001-08:00

Happy Friday to everyone! Today was a beautiful day in SW Missouri! We hit the 80 degree mark! Every window in my house was open, clothes were outside drying in the sunshine and I spent a good hour giving Jake, my horse, a workout! He was sweaty and tired of me telling him what to do by the time we were finished. It felt so good to get out, soak up some sun and enjoy the day! I even came away with a little pinkness to my porcelain white skin!

My clinical day on Wednesday was spent with 4 new mom's and their new babies. It's amazing to me how each mom is completely different from the next. Obviously no two individual's are alike, but they all went through a similar experience and they are all completely different situations and outlooks! One mom had baby #4 Tuesday morning and was dressed in her clothes Wednesday morning, searching for her nurse to let her know the Dr. told her she could go home and she needed to be home in time to go to class that night! She was a professional mom! I guess after 4 you would have the routine down...just a little! The other 3 mom's weren't so energetic, they all had c-sections...so just moving around was a task to be checked off the 'to do' list! And going home? That just sounded like too much pain and work!

I had a lot of fun in the nursery playing with babies. Taking temperatures, washing their little faces, listening to the speedy little heart rates, checking reflexes, changing diapers and listening to the wave of cries. Once one baby starts, it's only a matter of seconds before the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and entire nursery of babies practice their vocal skills!

I enjoy the post partum (new moms/babies) floor very much! For the most part everyone on that floor is very healthy! Pregnancy is probably one of the healthiest times in a woman's life! It was nice not to have a lot of medications to keep up with. A prenatal vitamin here, a glass of ice water there and a look at some swollen ankles/feet was all I had to keep up with! Kind of makes me get the baby itch again....but don't be asking, because there won't be any news! Just remember who I'm married to...he's enough to equal the energy of 2 children!

Ragu anyone?

2009-03-05T13:56:00.000-08:00

It seems as though Thursdays are my 'blog' days. These are the days when I work 7 hours and have time to sit, take a breather and reflect on my week! This week it looks as though instead of highlighting Nursing school, I am highlighting my daughter! Not a bad trade off! I'll fill you in on my clinical day for school later.

Something EVERY child in the United States and probably at least Italy has in his or her or mom and dad's posession is a 'first spaghetti' picture! Aubrey has eaten spaghetti before, but this time mommy let her eat it all on her own! She had a lot of fun with it and LOVES spaghetti and garlic bread. She ate it at least 3 days in a row for about 2 meals each day! And she would still be eating it if we had any left.

So here are the famous 'first spaghetti' pictures! :) We made a b-line for the bathtub after this one for sure!

1...2...3...smile!

2009-03-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share a fun picture of Aubrey! Two things suprising with this picture... #1- being she actually had enough time in her day to STOP for the camera, #2 - she actually smiled in the fact that she was sick with a cold!

One of them

2009-02-26T15:08:00.000-08:00

"To perform to the best of my ability and knowledge, life saving actions". In about a year from now, those words will be my motto and part of my code of ethics as a Nurse. Every day I will be held to the standard to provide to the best of my ability and knowledge, care to my patients.

Yesterday, my schedule for clinical was switched from Labor and Delivery (L & D) to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). Being a 'graduate' of the NICU personally, I spent the first 7 weeks of my life in a NICU in IN. My mom had 'preeclampsia' which is basically extremely high blood pressure, so much that the stress of pregnancy/delivery could possibly take the life of the mother and or the baby. They delivered me at 33 wks, weighing in at 2lbs 14oz. That was almost 29 yrs. ago! Technology has come a LONG way since then!

Myself and one other classmate were in the NICU from 5:45a.m.-2:30p.m., assigned each to one nurse. I was and still am a little nervous to be in that area, to be with the little babies who range in weight from 1 lb to 5lbs and from 25 weeks to term. What those numbers mean is this: 22 weeks gestation (pregnant) a baby is considered 'viable', meaning if it were to be born, he or she would have a slim chance, but a chance at survival. 38-40 weeks is considered 'term', meaning the baby will be fine to deliver, probably no complications w/ his/her development. Some of these babies in the NICU were born almost 4 months too early! Time is against them and every second counts toward their development. Everything is so tiny, from the baby, to the stethoscope we listen to their heart with, to socks, hats, diapers, wires that keep track of heart rhythm and lungs, needles, IV's, bottles and even CPAP masks. CPAP machines are breathing machines for apnea (absence of breathing). Some times these tiny little babies forget to breath because their lungs/lung capacity is not mature yet! The CPAP machine reminds them and fills their little lungs w/ pressure. The mask on them is probably no bigger round than a nickel, IF that!

My nurse was assigned to two little girls. One was a twin 31 wks, not quite weighing in at 2 lbs, whose sister is doing much better and will probably get to go home in the next two weeks. The other girl was 33 wks, probably about 2 1/2 lbs, doing very well, bottle fed for the first time and I was able to witness it! It takes so much energy for these babies to even survive, let alone drink half an ounce from a bottle...they get exhausted SO easily! Many of them get cranky when they are hungry or have a dirty diaper and when you mess w/ them, b/c for some, it hurts to be touched. Their skin is so sensitive. They like to be left in their warm, quiet, dark incubator! If they are fed, clean and warm, they will leave their nurse alone. But get them worked up and it creates a job!

Our day was going along smoothly, I had changed a diaper, listened to hearts and lungs, calmed one of them down who was cranky and followed my nurse like a shadow! Out of the blue our 33 wk girl set off her heart monitor. Her heart rate was rapidly climbing past 290! Normal heart rate for adults range around 60 beats/minute, babies range from 120-160/minute. Hers was NOT stopping at 290, the highest number recorded was 313! DANGEROUSLY high! The longer the heart beats uncontrollably, the more chance of failure, the more often it happens, the weaker the heart gets. But to look at her in the incubator, she was asleep, calm as could be! Her hearts rhythm had gotten itself out of whack 3 times, all 3 times the number climbed higher. The nurse was so quick at hitting the 'record' button to print out the heart rate, listen to the little heart and confirm 'tachycardia' (rapid heart rate) and instruct someone to get a bag of ice, while she started an IV in the tiny little hand to administer medicine. I wondered what in the world she was going to do with a bag of ice and a 2 lb baby! I soon found out that for them, when their heart is racing, you want them to hold their breath so they will instantly slow their heart. The nurse placed a bag of ice over the babies face, she held her breath and dropped her heart rate, then screamed her little, but strong scream! After twice w/ an ice bag on her face, her heart decided to act appropriately.

As a former NICU patient, I stood and watched the entire event begin and end... stunned, humbled, grateful for the knowledge and care from my own nurses 29 yrs. ago, and thankful over and over again for the health of my own baby...constantly asking myself...."am i READY to perform to the best of my ability and knowledge, life saving actions?!" I'm ready but I need more knowledge! If you know a nurse, thank her for ALL that he or she does! It's sleep depriving, energy extracting, amazing and some times heroic work!

flashy wheels

2009-02-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Notice in picture we found our car, an '08 Grand Prix....*sigh*... our life is back on track, on our way to the 'normal' craze! Yes, we opted for another G.Prix...

trying times

2009-02-22T08:34:00.000-08:00

two posts in one day?! i can hardly believe it myself! but i have the time, no distractions and my mind is RACING!

the past two weeks have been pretty stressful for us, trying times, i think more for me in a sense. 2 weeks ago a lady rearended justin/aubrey and totalled our car. justin/aubrey were not hurt, his back is still bothering him. although i have been praying for the car to be totalled due to the fact it is an ACCIDENT MAGNET, i didn't want it to happen with aubrey in the car. but it did. the crazy twist to the story? this same lady hit us in the front end 2 years ago in february! SERIOUSLY! her insurance gave us a rental car for a week, so we've spent the last week or so with one vehicle. if any of you are remotely familiar with our schedule...it is NOT conducive to ONE vehicle. we are making it work, but i am ONE stressed monkey! keeping everything streamlined and on time btwn. the babysitter, school, justin's work and my work schedule...NUTSO! no one is allowed to enter our house except us. i, in my 7 1/2 yrs of being married have never had a house in such disarray...but i am picking and choosing my battles right now. as long as we all have clean socks and underwear, life is grand!

we've been searching for a car and trying to find one somewhere in the middle ground btwn. mine and justin's expectations. he wants a cheap, fairly new, low mile car... i want a tank that can't be scratched by a semi! we're meeting in the middle and i believe on the brink of actually purchasing one hopefully monday.

to add to our week, our pastor announced this week he will be stepping down from his position at our church. he is a wonderful, brilliant man of god! we love him dearly and HATE to see him go. he is taking a different position at our assemblies of god headquarters building... we're excited for his new adventure. but i need to fix my sad attitude toward the situation and know that god is in control. but when you're a pastor on staff and your boss leaves...it makes for an uneasy feeling!
i know there are ups and downs in life and you take them as they come. this month is one of the 'downs'. we'll take it with our head held high and know, once again, god is in control, he allows for situations that arise to shape us into who we are...to stretch us and make us grow.

on a brighter note, this week in school, my clinical day is wednesday, which means i am AT the hospital from 5:30a.m. - 4:30p.m.! it does feel good to get my day started before the sunrise, i feel more accomplished, but it is a KILLER once 6:00p.m. hits! my body longs for the blanket and pillow. this week i will be in labor and delivery. i have heard horror stories from students, my last instructor for clinicals says she can't work in labor/delivery b/c the one and only time she was in a labor room, the sight of the baby being born made her hit the floor and she doesn't remember anything else, i have also heard students who have cried at the sight of a child being born! it's an amazing happening.... i hope i witness a birth this week!

up with the times?

2009-02-22T07:59:00.000-08:00

as of today, 02/22/09 i have entered the world of bloggers! welcome! my plans for this are to do weekly posts, possibly more depending on the week. we'll see how long it lasts....this will be easy for family and friends to keep up with me as well. and just add another thing to my plate...but it's fun and lets my mind run! if you keep up with me you will join the journey of life not only w/ me, but also my wonderful husband, daughter and possibly my horse! i'm excited to write and write and write about ME!