Mel

I'd lose my head if it wasn't attached

2012-01-18T13:56:00.000-06:00

I better write all this down RIGHT NOW while I'm thinking about it.

Today was my first day of core nursing classes (the ones that really count!). It was also Gabe's first day of daycare!! Turns out Mother Nature has a sense of humor and the wind chill was below zero when we left the house, oh so early, in the morning.

We did get out the door only to forget Gabe's boots, which didn't matter because it was too cold to play outside at daycare but still bugged me. We got Mike dropped off at work and headed to campus. I got a good parking spot (benefit of being there at 7:30). I hauled my backpack, laptop bag, Gabe, his snowsuit, and his backpack all inside the school.

I dropped him off and he barely said bye to me! He was the first one there so he went off and was busy playing right away with all the cool toys.

Then I skedaddled to my first class, Pharmacology, which was at 8am. I get there and we sit around for awhile and at about 8:15 another instructor comes in and apologizes that we were supposed to get an email that there was no class today, that it starts NEXT Wed. Grrr!! So now I have 2 hours to kill on campus while I wait for my next class to start. It was a long two hours.

The next class is Nursing Fundamentals, we get settled in, do the obligatory paperwork, and jump right in. It was an alright intro and seems like it could be interesting. It is basically a theory class about the profession of nursing (subtitled "How not to get sued" by me).

I am done at noon and head over to the daycare to pick Gabe up. When he sees me he immediately bursts in to tears because they were just starting lunch and I interrupted him LOL!! There were three other kids there at that point, two girls and a boy. They all waved and said hi. I did finally get Gabe to calm down and we took his lunch to go.

At home he tells me that it was a boring morning because he was by himself for most of it (I think the other kids came around 10). He did enjoy playing in the muscle room, where they play when it is too cold outside. He waffles between telling me he's glad he went and wanting to never go back again!

Monday we do it all over again, but only for the afternoon since there was a last minute schedule change by one of my instructors :/ So we'll be on campus together from 12:30-4 and then head right to pick up Mike.

I have about 115 pages to read this week for Fundamentals, my online Psych class will probably start posting things tomorrow or Friday. So I'm off and running! Although I won't really be running because my backpack weighs a ton and is already stuffed to the max!

(not)refried bean burritos

2012-01-09T12:54:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I posted the (not)refried beans and today I am posting to show what I made with them!

I made little freezer packs to take to class with me for lunch. The tortillas I used are quite small so I put 4 into a package.

Ingredients, I didn't take pictures of the package of beans full, sorry. There are also other ingredients in the recipe which I linked back to yesterday too! They are DELICIOUS!

Then I set up a little assembly line and put 1/4 cup of beans into each burrito

I added a dash of cheese (less than 1/4 of a cup, just a sprinkle really), and 1/4 cup of beans was a LOT in this size tortilla. I might go up a size next time but I like the idea of eating a lot at lunch (4) and feeling like I splurged instead of eating one big burrito LOL.

Then I rolled them up and put them into Ziploc bags. I labelled each bag with the contents, date, and nutrition info I like to keep track of. Each pack of 4 burritos is 350 calories and 20g of protein (for ALL 4 combined!!)

I only had one package of tortillas, and I made a double batch of beans so I had leftovers. I took them and put them into ziploc bags, wrote the date, the size of the package (2 cups) and nutrition info for 1/2 cup of beans (60 calories):

I lay them nice and flat (helps to keep the air out too) and then freeze them like that. After they are frozen you can stand them up if you need to in the door of the freezer. I did have another cup and a half left over but I put them in a bowl in the fridge for lunch tomorrow ;) I couldn't resist!

These beans are super tasty and WAAAAAY better than anything you're going to eat canned, and better for you. Total time I put in today to portion and package everything up was about half an hour. I'm not going to say my calorie counts are perfect but they should be close, and everyone's recipes will vary depending on exactly what you put into your beans and what burritos you use. So make sure you figure it out if you need to be counting calories.

I will definitely be making these beans and the burritos again! Thank you so much to Budget Bytes for paving the way for these recipes!!

Food I made!

2012-01-08T21:16:00.000-06:00

I got all crafty (can you be crafty with food?) this week. I've found some recipes I just must try this week before I go back to class next week. So today I made (Not)Refried Beans. They turned out marvelous! They are tasty, I had to taste test to make sure, and look delicious too.

Tomorrow they are going to go into some tortilla shells with a little cheese and then get frozen in two packs for my lunches for at school where I can pop them in the microwave. I actually got the idea from another post by Budget Bytes where she made freezer burritos with store bought ingredients, so I figured I'd do it with homemade beans (which are SOO much yummier!) and next time I might even make the tortillas myself from one of her recipes too.

Freezer Burritos and the Low Fat Flour Tortillas for next time. So tomorrow I'll make my burritos and have tasty healthy lunches. The tortillas I'm using are only 80 calories for 2 of them and they are whole wheat. I'll add a little sprinkle of Mexican Style Cheese and be good to go for only about 300 calories for two of them.

This week I'm also going to make my own English Muffins for breakfast sandwiches too. I need to be prepared with foods for the weeks ahead when I'm going to be busy, lazy, frazzled and unable to think ahead well enough to make healthy tasty meals!

I admit I go in spurts with trying new foods and recipes but since I'm on an upswing I figure I better take advantage of it and make as many things as I can to stuff in the freezer! If you have any great recipes or blogs about food shoot them my way and I'll see what I can do. I've already sampled Skinny Taste and she's fabulous, OBB is another one that I've tried a few but not many from, so spam me!

Gabriel Micheal turns 5!

2011-12-27T15:55:00.000-06:00

This is the first birthday that has made me teary. He's a BIG kid now, not a baby, not a toddler.

Because of Christmas craziness I didn't get this up and posted on his birthday but I want to make sure it's safe somewhere.

He loves Cars the Movie stuff, Transformers, puzzles, drawing and he would eat cheese in a tortilla or on bread forever if I let him. He loves to rough house with Mike. He loves to play with trains on the floor and make up stories and carry around baby animals with names like "punkin" and "batty" (both are beanie baby bats) those bats only eat ham and candy (only if they are good of course!)

He is a funny and smart little boy. He learns something new every day and he still wants to snuggle and give hugs and kisses to both Mike and me. He's just an amazing kid. He's as stubborn as the day is long, but he's also so sweet and still wants me to kiss boo-boos.

I just can not believe that he's five already. I swear it feels like we just brought him home from the hospital. I just can not believe he's so big, he's such a tall kid, and such a handsome kid. I am really proud to call myself his mom.

He loves his new Leap Pad Explorer Tablet that he got for Christmas and Mike and I love seeing what he's taking pictures of and making videos of each day too!!

Things come back around

2011-12-15T14:35:00.000-06:00

Today I'm watching a Greys Anatomy rerun after painting ornaments with Gabe and its the episode with the quote "If today you become frightened instead become inspired", and I thought I LOVE this quote. I have loved it since I heard it the first time.

So I thought about it again and I thought that quote is important. That plus a post about arriving in Holland made me want to write about it again.

Here is the Holland piece:

c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

I find that quotes tend to pop up right about the time I need them, just like Mish had happen to her recently too! So while this quote is about having a child that's different than the one you envisioned I find it works for most things in life that come up and DRASTICALLY change your destination ideas. I know that I've posted about the Greys Anatomy post before, here, among other quotes that inspire me. So sometimes we don't end up where we expect to, and sometimes the road is tough, and sometimes we don't even get to the destination we expected to, but what I have learned is that most places are nice places even if they aren't what we expect. I can find a way to live in many places, I can find ways to THRIVE in places I didn't expect. When I am scared, tired, unsure, or just plan done I remember many of these quotes and I keep going. I just keep going. JUST KEEP GOING!

I think that quotes showing up when you need them, be them bible verses, from a movie or a show, or a story from someone, or a post on a forum, they come up when you need them most.

Done with the fall semester!

2011-12-12T09:46:00.000-06:00

I made it through one more semester! I am officially done with the fall 2011 semester. A semester of intro psych (which sucked and I'll avoid that instructor like the plague) but I got a B-, Health psychology (which I love that instructor) and I got an A, Medical Terminology which was easy peasy and I got a 97% in LOL, also Modern Cinema which I'm still waiting for a final grade, I'm thinking B+ or A- depending on the paper grade.

The REALLY good news is that I have registered for all my core RN classes. I am all set to take the really hard ones and the ones that really matter starting in the Spring 2012 semester. I have all my classes at Mequon campus and New Castle as my first clinical location. YAY! Everything is close-ish to home!

I am still working out childcare for Gabe (EEK!!!!) but I'm hoping things are going to fall into place and we won't have to worry about it too much. I will be at class/clinical 4 days a week and my Dad will watch Gabe on Weds so at least that day is taken care of.

I am excited, nervous and terrified right now of the future 4 semesters but I also know this is what I want and I can do this. It will be hard, there will be days (weeks) that suck but I can do this!! This is not a punishment, I want to do this. I want to be a nurse!

Christmas is around the corner which means so is Gabe's birthday. Hopefully I'll have a few posts between now and then, and you'll see me in early January before I disappear again too. I'm going to attempt to be better here even during the spring because I know I won't remember this journey if I don't write stuff down!

School decision

2011-11-01T13:12:00.000-05:00

After I received the acceptance letter to Cardinal Stritch I also received an acceptance to MATC. I was thinking "CRAP! now I really have to decide what to do?!"

Mike and I really sat down and talked things through and he is the most wonderful, amazing husband ever, and assured me that we would do what needed to be done no matter which school I chose. Knowing that he supported my decision really did help me and make it easier to decide. After lots of thought and consideration I've decided to stay at MATC. The price tag is definitely a big deciding factor, plus I've been receiving more grants which makes it even better. I know that I don't have to work full time while in school and end up having some left over money to pay bills and things while in school. Plus leaving school with less debt is something that I really need to consider. Both programs are good and both give me my ADN which allows me to take the NCLEX and become an RN. I'll worry about my BSN later if and when that matters. MATC's program is 4 semesters long meaning I will finish in the December of 2013!

I am excited to have made a final decision! I am still nervous and worried and everything else. There are still some things that I need to do before I start with those classes in January but I'm on my way. Now I'm on a mission to find even more scholarships and grants to pay for school!

Wish me luck, remind me that I'm not crazy, that I can do this with a child and a husband and a life. Remind me that I WANT this when I complain and I think it's too hard and I'm too overworked. Remind me that being a nurse is something that I KNOW I want. Remind me that I can do this, please. I'm going to stumble and I'm going to need my family and friends to keep me standing!

I'm the worst blogger ever!!

2011-10-27T10:53:00.002-05:00

This is me updating all the stuff I apparently forgot in our reno, I said I was a horrible blogger. But I want to make sure it makes it here now. So this is a HIGHLY condensed time frame. We really do love this space!!!
Here is the space with curtains, some art and bookcases too.

Also adding in here that I did finally paint the funny wall in between the bedroom and the bathroom.
August 2011:Here is the wall, there are a few touch ups to be made still (hence the blue tape on one square still) but it's 90% done! I'm VERY pleased with it!! The touch ups there are I expected and will be super easy for me to do with a small craft brush tomorrow!

And I promise it's not crooked in real life!

Taped and painted:

tape pulled off!

Originally done 3/22/2011
Lookie I have furniture in my living room, I LOVE this room.

second angle:

another:

I should take another picture of the chair closest to me in the picture it's an odd angle swoop thing to it and it's super comfy to sit in and really the special piece in the room. I'm thinking curtains with a thin stripe in them with red somehow.

Originally done 3/20/2011
Ignore my missing tile, that's the part of the bathroom we couldn't decide on (we're still "arguing" about it lol). Thankfully that's just over my tub that heats and circulates the water so it can go in when we agree. I also hope to add a glass door to the shower someday.

I'll be glad when all the little things are done but I'm just so glad that it's livable that I'm willing to work on stuff once I'm using it (and I swear what house is ever REALLY done?)

Originally done 3/20/2011, and I just realized there was never completion posts. So they are all going in one if I can figure it out!
We finshed the floor (baseboards still have to go on but that's no biggie). The floor is DOWN!

SO tonight I still have some cleaning up to do and outlet plates to put on and tomorrow we're going to be moving stuff in to the basement. We will FINALLY have privacy again! DH and I really need it and I know my mom wants a little extra room upstairs to hang out too.

I don't have any bedroom pics or bathroom ones uploaded yet but here is the living room

Yesterday, from the window back towards the stairs (you can seen on the right hand side we weren't done):

And today from the stairs towards the window:

We started this project in June :faint: So it's been a lot of weekend work and a lot of help from family and friends but we are finally there!!!

Here's from the stairs to the windows, before we started (the left window is now in the bedroom and both are the same 4 foot by 3 foot that you see in the later pics):

officially have a school for the rest of school

2011-10-24T21:23:00.000-05:00

So the letter and packet actually came Saturday when we were gone and I opened it (well Mike opened it for me) on Sunday but I didn't post about it right away because we had to really sit down and talk it over. It's not a cheap school so we had to decide if it's even possible. Of course I still need to sit down with the school but it SEEMS feasible. So I'm calling it accepted.

I will officially be a Cardinal Stritch nursing student in January if all goes well. I will have 5 semesters of school to do, I have many classes done already so I will have to fill out my schedule with a few other things. I will have my ADN and pass the NCLEX and be an RN by June 2014 (geez that's still a long way away!!!) Cardinal Stritch is set up to bridge to the BSN easily which is great because I do know that I want my BSN for sure, after I have a job though.

I'm still super nervous, and I haven't actually heard back from MATC yet but I figure that Stritch is what I really want and I should just jump in with both feet and do it, even though MATC is only a 4 semester program, at this point what's one extra semester right?!

I'm excited, anxious, TERRIFIED and thrilled to be reaching this point. I WANT THIS! I NEED THIS! I WILL DO THIS!

Where did the time go?

2011-10-21T13:35:00.000-05:00

Gabe at the pumpkin patch.

It's late October already. How did that even happen? Where has the year gone? I get so wrapped up in the day to day stuff that WOOOSH! it's over with and we're in October!

I love October though because Halloween is my favorite holiday! I love the pumpkin picking and carving and the decorations. I almost always have a costume for Trick or Treat so it's weird that this year I don't have anything, all my stuff is either way to big or doesn't fit because it's from high school (LOL).

Gabe is going as a Dinosaur, possibly the last of the costumes my Grandma made for the grand kids when I was younger. It's sort of a bitter sweet thing because I love those costumes and wish there were more reasons to wear them.

Last weekend we went to the pumpkin patch and picked pumpkins. Gabe of course picked the heaviest one he could find. Poor Mike had to carry Gabe's pumpkin and his own, I was lugging a pretty big one for myself too.

This weekend we're headed out to Spring Green Wisconsin for a wedding for our friends Wally and Lannia and I can't wait for the getaway with Mike. Gabe is staying home with my mom which he loves. They always do something fun together!

Then we'll be to the last weekend of October and Halloween and then I feel like the whirl wind starts for Thanksgiving, Christmas and smashing in Gabe's FIFTH(!!!!) birthday and the year will be over with. How does that happen again? Geez. I need to remember that even when a day or a week goes slow the year(s) go so fast.

This shouldn't surprise you

2011-10-05T21:53:00.000-05:00

It shouldn't surprise anyone that during school I fall off the blogging band wagon. So here's the general "oh shit I forgot I have this" update.

I've finished my Medical Terminology class, all 12 weeks of it in about 3 weeks with a 97%. I'm hating Intro to Psych because there is NO interaction with anyone in the class and the instructor doesn't get back to you either (a poor review will happen at the end of the semester). My Health Psych class is good, I've taken another class with this instructor and I like her style. My Intro to Modern Cinema class has been going well and I actually enjoy analyzing films.

I have three papers to write for the classes I'm not done with. I'm doing a PTSD treatment paper for Intro to Psych, no idea what the criteria is for the second psych class yet so don't have a topic but I have some ideas on what it might be, and my Modern Cinema class is comparing the 1951 Disney's Alice In Wonderland to the 2010 Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland. So that should be interesting.

Other than that lets see... I have applications into both MATC and Cardinal Stritch for the spring semester to figure out where I'm doing clinicals. I'm really hoping for MATC because it's just soooooo much cheaper and I don't have to panic about it. I should know about Halloween time for both of those.

I've been maintaining weight right now which is okay, I needed a break and to see if I could live with this weight which is an "okay" weight for me but I've decided that I'm really NOT okay with it yet and I need to kick it back up for another 8-10lbs so that I can give myself some flux room for this current weight to be my "high" weight. I really want to do some more core work too so I'm looking at some videos now because I need to have set goals to do well.

I have a job now, just Saturday nights, working for a private client doing home health aide stuff and some light house keeping. I don't mind it and he's a nice enough guy, older but sharp and funny. I think he's stating to warm up to me too.

I think that's it. I should have another post around Halloween about Trick or Treating and school and stuff!! Til them I promise I'm not dead just busy with school!

W9D3

2011-08-25T20:31:00.000-05:00

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far. It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." -John Bingham

Today I officially finished the C25K program. I know crazy! On June 18th I started this journey and I could barely do the run 60 seconds, walk 90 seconds enough times to finish the workout. Now sometimes I run extra just because I feel like it!

Most of my running has been on the treadmill which keeps my pace steady, so I'm not running too fast and wearing myself out, but I also can't slow down when I feel like maybe I can't do this anymore. My new goal is to run on the road. That way I can learn to self pace myself and be stronger.

I need to do a local race, There's one in Tosa the end of Sept that I'm thinking about. It's a fast downhill course so it's "easy" for a beginner :D I'm running about a 13:00-13:30 min/mile so I'm not the first one done but I'm not the last one either (I hope!)

This is just proof that even though I was never a runner before, I am now. I. AM. A. RUNNER. say it with me! I like it, I look forward to it and I miss it if I don't do it. I can't believe that I think about it, dream about it even LOL.

I have so far to go, and yet I have come so far. Thank you to everyone who didn't give up on me, who encouraged me and who believed in me. I'll need the encouragement now and forever too so keep it up!!!

For recording sake

2011-08-20T22:41:00.001-05:00

For the sake of recording things I need to put this down here so that I can find it at some point in the future that I'm not even thinking about yet ;) Since I did something that one year ago I never even considered doing, that I didn't think was possible. Something that 9 weeks ago was a pipe dream that I thought "what the heck give it a try"

HOLY COW!!! tonight felt good on the treadmill and ran a full 5k (including warmup and cool down time of course) Took me 43:41 to do the whole thing (I figure I wouldn't be the last person done right? :P) So I ran extra time just because I wanted to hit it so badly! Plus you can't quit when Christina Aguilera's "Stronger" comes on followed by Michael Jackson "Man in the Mirror"

I think I might officially be a real runner!!! I really did cry a little after I finished.

This was W9D1 of C25k (couch to 5k) There is not a smilie in the world for how amazing this feels.

Keep plugging along!

2011-08-17T15:54:00.000-05:00

I'm sure we've all had weeks where things didn't go quite right, where stress stacked up. It really started last week with my CNA exam and failing my practical. Really I promise to never pour urine in a sink ever again. I'm okay with laughing about it now really ;)

Then misc other things stacked up and it put me into this funk. I just couldn't shake it. I had a great time this weekend with a party at the house with all of our friends. I loved seeing everyone, but then I feel sad because we just don't get together like that very often anymore and I miss that type of hanging out. The kind where there are people in every room and you can just float around and join in whatever conversation is going on, or a game or whatever. That there are just people everywhere. I love that, really!

I learned something new about myself this week though, even when things suck and I feel in a funk I can push through and work out and that actually makes me feel better! Doing a hard run and coming in last night to marinate dinner for tonight afterward really made the difference. I didn't just cop out and stuff my face, I didn't just skip the workout because I didn't "feel" like doing it. I did it. And it helped! I'm still amazed at this sometimes.

So even though school will be starting and my financial aide is still a disaster but I have the paperwork to hopefully fix it, I need a CPR class done ASAP, and I need to retake my CNA practical, I know I'll get through it. I know that I can do it. I can push through, suck it up and do what I need to do.

Tonight dinner is Asian Chicken from Skinny Taste and corn on the cob. It will be wonderful and it will taste great (I hope) and I'll have another great recipe to add to my repertoire. So even if you're having a tough time just keep plugging along and things will get better, and you'll be glad you didn't stuff your face with crap you know you don't like and don't want.

29 years ago

2011-08-07T09:42:00.001-05:00

I was born 29 years ago (August 7, 1982) in Racine, Wisconsin. I'm a Leo and I'm bold like the lion too!

In the last 29 years I have lived in many houses/apartments. I attended several different school districts, but always lived in the state of Wisconsin. I never left the country until I was just shy of 19 years old (with Mike after we'd been dating only a very short time, my mom thought I was crazy).

There were the typical milestones of life, walking, talking, getting my ears pierced, driving, boys, dances, parties, friends, tattoos (lol), moving out, moving around, getting married, having a child. All those things that are part of many of our lives.

Some of them were significant and some of them not so much, but they are all apart of who I am.

Ten years ago I was moving in with Mike, getting engaged and living on my own for the first time. I was 19 years old (we moved in just after my birthday in August 2001) but it was planned and set up when I was just 18. I didn't even think I wanted kids at that time. I told Mike as much and he told me that he loved me more than any potential people and the wanted to spend his life with ME and if a child came then that was okay, if not that was okay too.

Five years ago I was pregnant with Gabe, miserable, hot and at the State Fair all I wanted was a Mike's Hard Lemonade for my birthday. Instead Mike found me a lemonade frozen concoction that was delicious! I was a miserable pregnant women so this was an accomplishment. Who would have thought that I would love a child as much as I love that rambunctious, loud, opinionated little boy? He's all I imagined and so much more! I can't believe in December he'll be FIVE!

Two years ago I was starting to SERIOUSLY start talking about going to school to do something important, and getting my things together to start in the Jan 2010 semester. How I chose nursing is sort of funny. I'd always thought I'd be a veterinarian as a kid, then I found out vet school is HARD. So I was a vet tech for awhile, and enjoyed it but left to try other things. I considered going back to school for that just after Gabe was born but realized I'd never make enough money or be able to carry the health insurance for the family. So I figured what's the difference between a nurse for an animal and one for a person? Turns out it was the GREATEST thing I could have ever thought. I know being a nurse is my calling now.

One year ago, I really woke up and decided that something in my life had to change. I was WAY too heavy, I didn't like the way I looked. I didn't like that I was invisible to other men and women. I WANT to be the woman who snaps necks when she walks into a room. So I got off my ass, stopped shoving so much damn food into my mouth and DID something about it FINALLY! I'm down 72lbs in one year. I'm running as much as 25 min (in a row) and biking 5:20 min miles (6/7 miles in a row) and I'm lifting weights. I've seen my body change, but more importantly I've seen my MIND change. My mind set is so different. I wish I had been a better planner and exerciser outside of high school sports so I knew how to keep it up once those weren't around. But the important thing is that I did find out how to do it.

Even just 7 weeks ago when I started the C25K (couch to 5k) program I never saw that I could REALLY run for 25 min in a row and LIKE it.

It's proof that I am continually changing and growing. I had an instructor in Anatomy tell us that if we were stagnant we died (cell growth and all) and it's true about myself as a whole too. I can't be stagnant, I need to do new things and move and change to stay alive.

I have an amazing husband, he's my best friend, and my biggest cheerleader in all things I choose to do. Even when my plans sound crazy he's behind me and never says "told you so" if I fail. He's the one that is always willing to listen to my crazy ideas and let me pick up new projects knowing full well that I probably won't complete most of them. I love you babe!

I want the next 29 years to be full of new adventures, ideas, places and friends. I want to remember that I'm not scared to try things, that as Lady Gaga has told us "I was born to be brave" and I can DO whatever I want to. That my family and friends will be there for me. I have been so blessed with tons of great friends close to home and across the country and even the world. Just because I can't hug them all doesn't mean they aren't true friends.

I have amazing friends and amazing family and I want to thank them all for allowing me to be the kind of person I am, loud, obnoxious, blunt, funny, a horrible singer, and so much more.

Best birthday idea yet!

2011-07-26T22:36:00.000-05:00

I have the best idea yet. I think that we should have a party. I like any reason to get people I love together is a good reason. Plus Jerry, and Jake apparently, volunteered the house for a party. I really don't mind but I'm going to give them a pretty hard time about it because I can ;)

Anyhow it so happens that we were volunteered for a party the weekend after my birthday. So Saturday August 13th I'm hoping to have lots of people at the house for some grilling, music and burning whatever stuff I can in the fire pit. There will be at least one tent available (someone always ends up in the tent) and plenty of floor/couch space to crash on too.

I am sort of hoping the cops don't make an appearance this time, and anyone who missed that Memorial Day party last year left too early, lol.

What better idea for a birthday party then to have those friends that you count as family with you?! Especially since this is the first time I'm turning 29. It's worth partying for!

Mental block?

2011-07-21T22:52:00.001-05:00

So tonight I did W5D3 and it felt REALLY hard. BUT I think most of it is in my head. My legs felt okay during the run, and my lungs felt okay. It was still hot but not as bad as it has been.

So now I have to push through the mental wall. I mean I ran for 1.25 miles all in one shot tonight! There's no way I could have done that 5 weeks ago so I know I'm making great progress. I just wish the mind part was keeping up with the body LOL.

Maybe new music would help me push through, having new tempos and songs that I don't know the exact time to?

Another one!

2011-07-17T22:16:00.000-05:00

Today it was about 95 degrees out and about that humid too. That made me think of a great idea for my birthday. You know what I need?!

A POOL!!! A big one, with a deck and a cool water slide too.

Hey not that many people in Wisconsin have pools because we get to use them for about 3 weeks a year (Okay more like 2 1/2-3 months). But I've decided I want one.

We have a plenty big enough yard, a lot of it doing nothing. We could put up a nice fence, and then put up a pool. It would be totally worth it (see me trying to convince myself!).

Instead we drive the 6 blocks to the city pool (when we walk it takes about 10 min) and enjoyed their pool, which does actually have a cool water slide. It was a fun evening for it.

So what do you think? A pool right? It's definitely on my list for things for the house after I'm done with school.

Milestone today

2011-07-14T12:54:00.001-05:00

Today I did something I really didn't believe I could REALLY do, I mean I hoped I could but I wasn't quite sure. It was so far out of my comfort zone and something I'd never done before. Now I know that this is the first of many of these milestones.

I am HALF WAY through the C25k program. Today I ran for 8 minutes (in a row!), walked 5 and then ran 8 more (in a row!) and I didn't die, I didn't collapse, and I didn't look like an idiot.

Of course I'm not feeling ready for the next one which is just to run for 20 minutes (in a row!) but that's really only 4 more minutes than I ran today, just cut out the random walking in the middle and I'd be almost there. So whether I go straight to that, or I modify it somehow, or repeat today even. I can do this! I am strong, I am brave and I was born to be this way (LOL okay I got carried away with some Gaga but can you blame me?!)

So for anyone out there that's thinking "I can't do this" or "I'll never get there" you will! You can! It's not going to happen over night and there are going to be rough patches, times you feel like giving up but if you don't give up and you get back up when you stumble you too can do it!! Every day is a new day and that means a fresh start.

I want to really say thank you to my husband for supporting me, and telling me that I was beautiful and sexy and smart and wonderful no matter how I felt, or how I looked. I know that's true love ;) I know that he's my biggest cheerleader (minus the skirt) and will always have my back. We're a team. I love you so much honey, infinity plus one <3

Birthday post 4

2011-07-13T21:30:00.000-05:00

My bathroom isn't completely done yet. I want tile around the tub and above the shower. I've been looking for awhile but I have found what I want.

Carrara and glass tiles together. I LOVE Carrara marble and I'd do a whole bathroom in it if I could (I saw that once on HGTV and it was like a 40k remodel!!)

This tile calls to me! I mean it's perfect! You know for my birthday getting tile for my bathroom would be pretty exciting. I think that is another sign that you're officially an adult. I would even be happy to install it myself just bring the tile and grout and leave it to me!

So if you're looking for something you can put tile on your list lol.

Birthday post 3

2011-07-11T15:00:00.000-05:00

There's something most people don't know about me. I'm a bra and panty whore. I LOVE to have things that are cute and match each other.

So birthday idea number 3 is new bras and panties. Also my corsets are now officially TOO big to get any tightness out of them! So I'll put those on the list too.

I just can not wait to walk into Victoria Secret and spend a small fortune on just me, on things that 99% of the world won't even see ;) Just knowing I'm wearing it makes me feel better, and we all know the proper undergarments make you look better too!

So here's to new lingerie!! Of course that might be a little bit of a gift for the hubby too ;)

Birthday post 2

2011-07-08T20:55:00.000-05:00

Today I was lucky enough to score some scrubs on sale. Which I actually need, both for when I'm working as a CNA and as a nursing student. Of course no fun cute things for the nursing students, we're all required to wear a specific color and that's it.

But what I also had fun looking at was the other things I need for school. I need my very own stethoscope, a bandage scissors, a gait belt and a blood pressure cuff. So all of these things would definitely make good gifts.

That's how I know I'm meant to do this because getting SUPPLIES makes me excited (LOL). When you're getting things that are meant to get dirty and that makes you happy you know you're on the right track. I'm totally digging the Kiwi Green color too! And those gait belts you need to watch or they wander off!

One month til my 29th birthday

2011-07-07T22:52:00.001-05:00

Why yes I am counting, just like another wonderful woman I know, Patty. The Leos gotta stick together.

So in honor of the Leo birthdays, and the little bit of self centered-ness that allows me let me share with you some things that I'd like for my birthday.

First and foremost I'm REALLY hoping to hit my original weight loss goal of 75lbs lost in one year. That's about your average German Sheperd Dog weight, or twice my 4.5 year old. I've since changed my goal but hitting the original one would still be a pretty nice victory. Of course now my goal is to lose two of your average Elephant penises (penii? I'm never sure what the plural is). That's 44lbs a piece, I'm actually only shooting for 83lbs lost but I couldn't resist throwing the Elephant penis in, I wonder what Google will think of THAT one?! And OMG my dad just read that, sorry Dad! Also there are about a zillion different measurements for that (I mean who gets that job?!) So take the weight with a grain of salt.

So from here out I'll have some things that I'm thinking about for my birthday. Who knows what I'll think of next?

It's hot...finally

2011-07-02T14:06:00.000-05:00

I'm weird, I like it hot. really! I do not like humidity but in Wisconsin one goes hand in hand with the other. Thankfully it's not TOO humid out (dew point is about 70 and humidity is 75% right now) but I'll take it over the 50 and 60 degree days we had all of June. This girl needs some sunshine!!

Yesterday I was supposed to do W3D1 of C25K and I chickened out. It was hot last night too and we'd been at the park for my Grandma's birthday party most of the afternoon. Lame excuse I know. So today I knew I HAD to do it no matter what because I'd had 2 days off already and if I go more then I won't want to keep doing it. No fun plans today, until a friend called us. Now I'm like "OHHH shoot, I need to do it now". Of course it's the warmest part of the day and it's sunny. So I decided to do the run on the treadmill, which is in the garage, so it's still HOT. I turned the fan on and went for it.

Uhh running on the treadmill is about a million times easier than running on the ground. I even went faster today than I normally do (since I covered more "ground" by the end it's easy to track). But I felt like I wasn't working as hard. So that's good and bad. Good because I was worried about this new week and this was a good confidence boost. Bad because I'll want to do the treadmill instead of the road but the only way to do a real race is on the road silly! So I'm looking forward to getting back to the road (sidewalk) tomorrow or Monday for the second day of this week.

For today though, friends, food, and fireworks! I can see fireworks 3 nights in a row if I really want, and I love fireworks so we just might! Happy Independence Day to everyone! Have a safe holiday and remember to thank those that have served our country!

Thoughts about running and walking

2011-06-29T14:43:00.002-05:00

So I'm still a very baby runner, honestly it's still more walking than running, but it's more running than I've done...oh ever. I finished W2D3 (week 2 day 3) of the C25k program (couch to 5k) yesterday. I feel like those 90 second runs are still super hard. Tonight I think I'm going to do a 4th day in Week 2 just for the extra workout of it.

Maybe each week I won't really feel ready to move on but how am I to know what's in my head and what's my body telling me I need to do an extra workout or an extra week? How do I get over my own mind games? It's super frustrating. I just want to feel confident about myself and my (baby) abilities. I don't like feeling like I'm floundering or unsure of what I'm doing.

I do know what my plan is. My plan is to keep plugging along and to keep running and keep progressing through the program. I know the program works for many people and I feel like it will for me. I think that sooner or later there will just be a day or a week were I'm suddenly like "oh hai I can do this better today". I'm looking forward to that day.

Until then I'm going to keep my head down and put one foot in front of the other and see where that takes me.

The thing about weight loss is

2011-06-24T12:48:00.000-05:00

that it is a long journey and day to day I don't always feel or see the differences. I'm so glad now that I forced myself to take those before pictures. I can NOT believe that's what I looked like. I didn't FEEL like I was quite that heavy but I really honestly was. Say it with me, I was obese :( Now I'm down 65lbs from my starting weight.

177lbs June 24, 2011

Starting weight 242lbs Aug 2010

I started this road last August just after I turned 28. When I realized that I was going to be a nurse in the near future and I could have patients that I would have to tell to lose weight. Uhh how could I do that and be obese myself? I just couldn't. It's like telling someone to quit smoking while puffing on one, people roll their eyes at you (Oh yeah I don't do that anymore either ;P).

I am still overweight, but I'm getting closer. BMI is a tool worth using. So many of us throw it out the window in part because we are lying to ourselves about weight. It is only part of the story of course but if you can get within one point of that healthy BMI I'd be okay with being in the "overweight" range, I mean I have huge knockers ;) It matters what your bone structure is like and there are actual ways to determine if you really are "big boned" or medium frame. There have even been studies that show that we're so overweight as a nation we don't even know what normal weight looks like anymore! That's horrible.

But more important than the number on the scale is the way I feel. I feel amazing! I'm not as tired as I was before, I don't feel like I need to nap every day. I enjoy the exercise and I'm always looking for new ways to exercise. I'm RUNNING! If you've known me for any length of time you'll know that the only way I would have run before was if zombies or a bear was chasing me, and then I'd trip you so that you'd get eaten first. Now I'm enjoying it. I'm a baby runner right now. I just finished W2D1 of the C25K program (translation Week 2 day 1 of the couch to 5k programs) and I've begun looking at 5k races to do when I'm officially done with the program.

I enjoy the fact that I can go into a clothing store and likely find several things in my size that I like, not just that aren't horrible looking on me. I enjoy the fact that if you told me I'd never lose the rest of the weight I wouldn't stop eating well and exercising. I enjoy that I do look better (come on be honest this is why most of us want to lose weight).

I have realistic expectations and know that this is my life I'm talking about. It's my future, and it is amazing! I know that I have 30 min most days to squeeze in SOME workout no matter how busy I am with life, family or school. It keeps me sane!

Now don't get me wrong I still enjoy a good "bad" meal now and then but I limit how many times a year that is and I still choose better options now than I would have before and I always still eat less (get the box right at the beginning of the meal, out of sight out of mind).

For anyone thinking "It's too hard" "I have too much to lose" "I can't do this" believe me you can, one small step at a time. Start by changing just ONE thing about your diet OR exercise and live with it for a couple weeks, then change another. Slowly all those little things add up. We don't give up addictions we just change their focus, so now my addiction will be exercise and healthy living!

ARGLEBARGLE!

2011-05-02T14:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I forget this is here. Then sometimes I remember and I figure no one really wants/needs to know what I'm thinking because, let's face it, it's usually fluff.

Well today I'm stressed out and you all are going to listen to me DARN IT! I have this exam at the end of the week that, well, basically decides if I get in to my clinical classes for nursing. That's right it's the most important test (currently) that I need to take. I've decided there are really only three important tests in my career.

This is the first one, the NLNPAX test. It's math, science and reading. It's timed and full of crap I haven't used in math since high school. So ya, that means I've forgotten about 100% of it. I had to look up my times tables people! It costs me money to take this test and you can only take it once every 6 months and never take it more than twice or something. Great! /end sarcasm

The next one will be my CNA certification which is required my the school I want to transfer to, to begin your clinical classes. I'm doing the clinical classes for that right now. It's not really going to be TOO difficult but still it costs me money to take it and if I fail then I'll cry and suck, and have to pay for it again. I'm not overly worried about it but it still matters.

The third test of course is my NCLEX, that's the one that makes me an official RN at the end of all this tortuous school work, clinical classes, sleepless nights and stress. Again you pay to take it and it sucks and everyone walks out thinking they failed. Even the really smart people.

I'm a smart cookie, really if I do say so myself. I'm an adept test taker and I know my shit 99% of the time but this one is just kind of getting to me that it's so important on Friday. Will I do well, probably but there's that small place of doubt inside my brain that tells me I'm not quite as smart as I think I am, and that I'm not good enough to do this. I need that voice to shut the hell up and let the smart Mel through!

After Friday though, there will be a small reprieve before taking the CNA exam so at least I can finish up my other classes for the semester. Then I can stress about getting a job (LOL FUN, or not).

I'm signed up for classes in the fall already so at least that's one worry out of the way. So expect similar freak outs as we go along the way.

Blarg! I just feel overwhelmed and stressed about the options and choices and finally having things go in the direction I want them to only to be terrified that I won't do well.

Someone remind me it will be okay pretty please

I haven't forgotten

2011-02-14T12:10:00.000-06:00

I haven't forgotten that I have a blog, I promise.

What I've been doing is school. Things are going well and this is my last semester of pre-reqs. So I'm hoping things keep going well and I can petition in Sept to start in Jan. I have a lot of other things swimming around in my head about if I should stay here and finish my ADN or go elsewhere spend more time and money and get my BSN. I'm hoping I get in the first semester where I am so I don't REALLY have to think about this. I WANT to work ASAP and I know that I can get a job with my ADN and go for the BSN slowly over time after I'm making some money ;P

Home has been good, we are almost ready to paint in the basement. My Dad and I sanded most of the place, all walls and some of the ceilings before our arms gave out. So next week we WILL finish sanding ;) I promise. Then I need to prime, and paint. Then floors go in and we can MOVE IN TO IT!!! It's kind of weird to think about it being done any time in the future since I feel like we've been working on it forever. We need to have a party when we are done.

I'm ready for winter to be over, we've had two nice days in the 40s and I wish the whole winter was like this. So maybe that desert dream will keep me dreaming about warm winters.

Gabe has been good and keeping busy. He's always got a story or a joke for us now and his best friend is Maddy (Dave and La's daughter). They are super adorable together too! If we could marry them off we would since we already like the In-laws ;)

Good Bye 200s!

2010-12-31T10:48:00.000-06:00

I need to brag for a moment.

I officially weigh 199lbs as of today and hit my goal of being below 200lbs before 2011 started

It took me almost 5 months (Jan 8th will be 5 months) but I have lost 43lbs and TWO pant sizes so far.

I started out by just watching my food and using www.myfitnesspal.com to log EVERYTHING I put into my mouth. No one was forcing me to eat an extra portion or a cupcake only *I* decide what goes into my body. I had just finally reached a point that I was done feeling fat, lazy and unable to do what I want and wear what I want.

I could only do 5 min on the elliptical machine I was so out of shape and a 30 min walk was only a mile walk I was so slow (LOL) BUT I did it. I now spend between 3-40 min on the elliptical machine 4-6 days a week. I FEEL better. It's amazing.

I have about 35lbs more to go to my "ultimate" goal. I'll see when I get there if I want to go another 10-15lbs or not. It will depend on how toned I am.

I just wanted to post to brag but to also let anyone else out there who wants to start and thinks that 5 min of exercise won't make a difference or just cutting out dessert etc won't help. I want to tell you it DOES. One small change can lead to more. I splurged on Christmas Day, and two nights ago friend were over and we had custard (which I HIGHLY regretted the next day and won't do again). So I'm not perfect and I always give myself one freebie day a month to eat something SUPER yummy, special and totally outside my calories.

I will NEVER weigh 200lbs again. I WILL spend 2011 continuing to lose weight and get in shape. And by this time in 2011 I'll have to come up with a new goal for 2012

Christmas and a fish "lava" lamp

2010-12-25T20:25:00.000-06:00

So on this wonderful Christmas in the year 2010 Gabe, a newly four year old, told his mom and dad he was really thirsty at bed time. This is a usual stall tactic and mom and dad know this. He got one small drink of water and that was it.

An hour later when Mommy wrongly assumed that Gabe was asleep he comes out of his room and tells mom he's STILL thirsty. After taking him back in his room he divulges that he DRANK the water from the fish "lava" lamp. Mom didn't even have a mom face to keep and blurted out "Seriously!?" While thinking WTF mate?! This lamp has distilled water, yuck!

I mean really? This has to rank up there with the weirdest thing kids have done right? I'm completely baffled by this. He'd had plenty to eat and drink. I explained why this is a bad idea (small bits of fake fish, distilled water, electricity!)

So here is the lamp, half empty of water. Crazy kid!

So he promises he's going to sleep now. I sure hope so because after a whirlwind of birthday parties, potty training and Christmas presents it's been one really long week.

Gabe has been doing really well with the potty training, he won't poop yet but that will come eventually. He's still hiding in his room and doing it in his underwear.

He loves all the presents especially having a ton of new Lightning McQueen and Mater trucks!

Gabriel Michael is four

2010-12-23T11:31:00.000-06:00

Today my little guy is FOUR

At 5:15pm on December 23, 2006 our little guy came into the world at 7lbs11oz and 21 1/2 inches long. We got to come home on Christmas

He's not a very precocious kid who has an opinion about everything. He's woken up two days in a row dry and had very minimal accidents so far. (crosses fingers). He loves Diego, chocolate milk and telling jokes (mostly Why did the chicken cross the road a thousand times ;) ).

I couldn't be more in love with another little boy in the world. I'm so happy to have him even when he's driving me crazy.

Here are LOTS of pics :D

"lava lamp" with fish for his room

Aquadoodle from Papa

Games for the Leapster

More trucks!

Cake!

Opening presents

We have a tradition in our family that everyone has a birthday plate. A plate that you MUST eat off of on your birthday for at least one meal. As I got older my mom even brought it to restaurants and made me use it, even when we hated it. So we made Gabe one when he was born. I didn't get a shot before he had stuff on it but here he is having his breakfast of choice pancakes!

There are walls, sort of.

2010-12-14T11:26:00.000-06:00

Some walls at least, and lots more dry wall hanging out ready to be put up.

Dry wall hanging out against the long living room wall

Bedroom (taken from inside what will be the closet)

Bedroom (wall is to the living room)

Some walls at least, and lots more dry wall hanging out ready to be put up.

We have some of the best friends and family around, everyone came out on Sunday to help us even though there had been a pretty big snow storm the night before. Hey this is Wisconsin, if ya can't go out when it snows you'd be stuck inside from December to March.

So the guys (and me some but mostly them) carried down ALL the dry wall that was in our garage, somewhere about 100 pieces. Let me tell you it is a pain in the butt! We had to come into the back and sort of make a Y and then go down the stairs. It works best with a tall person going down backward and the shorter person going down forward from the top.

After we got it all down there we had to determine what the heck we were doing (LOL). Randy, Jason and my dad set up in the bathroom and went to work. Randy and Jason really did a great job measuring (after the first one) and cutting out for the pipes and junk that comes out of the wall.

From the bedroom closet into bathroom

Sink and toilet (shower is to left)

Tub (that heats and circulates water) and shower.

Jerry, Shawn and I got to work in the living room area hanging the outside wall to the bedroom and bathroom. Of course there were a few snafus but we got it up and drilled on tightly! Mike helped out tons too, he's more handy than he wants me to think ;) I think he's been faking to get out of "Honey Do" lists. Once Jason had to leave it was him and Randy that figured out some issues in the bathroom.

I love that there is progress but on the other hand I keep thinking that there is still so much more to do and everything is so time consuming. With only one day a week to work on it, it takes FOREVER. So I'm hoping we'll get some extra help from a few people now (I think I'm using up all my favors and going to be owing a few more). We really really need this to be done. We need the space and privacy. Did I mention space?

Looking down towards windows, into bedroom

Straight down to the windows, bedroom can be seen through the door

Living room wall/bed room wall, looking into bathroom.

The end is near!

2010-12-09T10:01:00.000-06:00

Insert ominous music here....

The end of the semester is near, just one more week left! PUSH THROUGH! Then a month off before it starts all over again.

The end of the year is also near. That means Gabe will be FOUR!!!!! in just 14 days. I simply can not believe that he's four already. Where has the time gone?

The end of the basement is getting near, we're drywalling on Sunday, please don't snow, please don't snow. Then just floor to put in and we'll be moving stuff downstairs :D

The end of the year is always a little odd for me now. I think part of it is Gabe's birthday. I hate that his birthday is so wrapped up with Christmas. I hate that people will combine gifts for him and they wouldn't for a kid who's birthday was, oh in any other month. I hate that the kid thinks the whole week is about him. I hate the cold and the snow. I'm seriously dreaming of Vegas. I hear it call to me every time I have to scrape a car, or freeze my fingers driving or walking. Someday, someday we will go and we will love it.

For now I need to focus on school and finishing up this semester, then I can start looking at the next one, my final pre-requisite semester! I am dreaming of the day that I finish school and can start working so that Mike can work less. I dream of being a nurse and helping people and loving my job. I never dreamed I'd say that either. I didn't grow up wanting to be a nurse, it just happened. Sometimes things happen for a reason. I know now that it is what I'm meant to do and be.

I am nearing a new year, a new me, skinnier me ;) I'm already down 37lbs which is my HALF WAY MARK! I'm feeling better than ever and really enjoying working out (most days). I have some new plans for weight training and some different things as soon as we're in the basement. I also have somehow agreed to the Warrior Dash which is something I wouldn't have even considered before I started this journey. Now I think it might be fun. It will be something to give me a new training reason come spring too.

I think I've rambled enough and I still have two papers to finish for microbiology so I better get cracking, oh yeah and I MUST install insulation in my basement today whether anyone helps me or not.

Day 29

2010-11-18T09:36:00.000-06:00

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

This picture was taken at the top of the CN Tower in Toronto. Mike and I had been dating only a short while and my mom thought I was nuts for going to Canada with three guys. We had an absolute blast and it's still one of my all time favorite trips!

I was about 2 months shy of my 19th birthday here, I can't believe how young we all were.

Day 28

2010-11-16T09:37:00.002-06:00

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of

Why would I post a picture of the scariest thing in the entire world.... a spider. No way no how not happening!!

Day 27

2010-11-15T21:56:00.000-06:00

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member

Gabe and me, an oldie but a goodie!

Day 26

2010-11-14T11:18:00.000-06:00

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you

This is most of my family at my Grandparents' 60th anniversary. They might be crazy but their mine :D

Day 25

2010-11-13T18:46:00.000-06:00

Day 25 - A picture of your day

Here's us working in the basement again. The bathroom is getting there! We have doors now for both bedroom and bathroom. The electrician will be done Monday. The plumbers are done, we'll set our own sink (seen in the middle of the room right now) and toilet. There's our nice new water heater in the background too! That's my big soaking tub which heats the water so I never have to get out, just to the right of that is the shower. I took the picture standing in what will be my bedroom closet LOL.

Day 24

2010-11-12T10:40:00.000-06:00

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change

My location. We do dream about the desert someday though so it may happen eventually.

Day 23

2010-11-11T11:08:00.000-06:00

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book

My favorite book is now my library of books since they fit right inside my Nook. It really is the best thing I've ever received. I think I read faster now which is impressive since I read a LOT as it is.

Day 22

2010-11-10T09:20:00.000-06:00

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at *as for day 21 I just flaked out and really even if there are things I regret I don't want to forget any of them*

I like to sing, don't get me wrong but I am NOT good at it. I know my hubby loves me because he lets me sing in the car when he's with me.

Day 20

2010-11-08T22:14:00.000-06:00

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

Today I couldn't just post one picture, I just couldn't resist more!

Kyoto Japan is a place I'd like to see. A place I'd like to walk in the footsteps of so many people who came before me knowing just as many will come after.

Day 19

2010-11-07T17:40:00.000-06:00

Day 19 - A picture and a letter.

A long time ago in a place far far away.... wait that's not quite right. It does seem like a long time ago though that this happened.

Mike used to write me letters. He'd email them or jot down notes for me in books he loaned me. I never knew when one would show up. I've come to love this part of him but way at the beginning of our relationship I had no idea that this was a regular thing for him.

So in mid April 2001 I received this letter:

It was written late one night while he sat in a park near his parents' house and froze. It was also the first time he said I love you to me. He proposed in a letter even ;) So today this is my letter AND picture. I love you honey. Now and forever and I am so lucky to have found you and to have made it this far together. I can't wait for the next 41 plus years.

Infinity plus one <3

Day 18

2010-11-06T22:15:00.000-05:00

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.

I think this one is hard for me. I would have said body parts like many of us before now but believe it or not right at my heaviest I FINALLY felt okay with my body, which is part of why I think I'm finally able to work out more, eat better and lose that baby (and then some) weight.

Believe it or not I think at this point my biggest insecurity is my mind. It's the part of me that tells me I'm not smart enough or organized enough to do this school thing LOOOONG term. It's the part of me that is afraid of failing so I often don't start things because that's easier.

Of course I have found ways to over come this. I KNOW that I'm smart and can do this. I know that when I do finally decide to do something I don't ever half ass it. I do it ALL the way. Just like I clean ALL the things sometimes ;)

Day 17

2010-11-05T09:38:00.000-05:00

Ok I admit to skipping yesterday. Not because I forgot but because I got stumped.

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.

I'm going boring and stating the obvious that my school has made an impact on my life recently ;)

Day 15

2010-11-03T19:04:00.000-05:00

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die

I'm planning on this for my 30th birthday!

Day 14

2010-11-02T12:16:00.000-05:00

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without (or live without).

This is a funny in joke but Mike and I can NOT live without a Jiggly Puff in our vehicle. It has traveled with us many a places and from car to car. So I'm counting Jiggly as a someone :D

Trick or Treat!

2010-11-01T21:41:00.000-05:00

Halloween is one of my absolute favorite holidays. I love the decorations and the kids in the neighborhood trick or treating. We're pretty conservative on candy and sugar for Gabe but this is the one day I just don't care. He ate way too much candy and had a blast.

It took us awhile to convince him to actually put on the costume for it. He didn't want to wear pants (men!) But when we did get him into it he was Adorable!

This costume was made by my Grandma about 20 some years ago for one of my cousins for Halloween and I'm thrilled it was saved and passed down. Everyone in town thought Gabe made a great little skunk, even after the head piece got "too scratchy!" and had to be taken off. He filled TWO buckets with candy and thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. He's already asking when we can do it again.

I can't pass up posting this one of Daddy with Gabe too.

Now it's on to Christmas, where my poor kid gets shafted because his birthday is December 23. I'm voting to skip the whole thing and have Halloween again. Christmas just stresses me out anyhow, lol. He's already asking for a truck cake!

Day 13

2010-11-01T10:19:00.000-05:00

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist

It was a toss up between BNL and Reel Big Fish two of my faves but I'm going old school!

Reel Big Fish, I have a great memory of going to this concert with Mike, Davey Boom, Peto. It really was an awesome thing. We've seen them several times since then. And I am aware this is an album cover and not really the whole band but I like it anyhow ;)

Day 12

2010-10-31T15:07:00.000-05:00

Day 12- A picture of something you love:

I'm hoping to one day have a couple more but for now it is by far my favorite one and I find excuses to show it off! I've had it just over 3 years now and it's as brilliant and vibrant as the day I got it!

Day 11

2010-10-30T08:40:00.000-05:00

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate

Snow. I hate snow, and the cold. Really, even the first one isn't fun and pretty anymore because all I think about is how there are many many more to come.

Day 10

2010-10-29T10:53:00.000-05:00

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most screwed up things with

Sarah and I have been known to be a little crazy so I choose her! :D

Day 09

2010-10-28T14:10:00.000-05:00

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

This one is probably obvious but no one has been there for me like my hubby. He's my very best friend and knows when to kick me in the ass and when to just give me a hug and tell me it's going to be okay.

Day 08

2010-10-27T10:22:00.000-05:00

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh

Gabe thinks he's a mechanic, a carpenter and Mr. Fix It most of the time. This one always makes me giggle. He told me he was fixing his bike. He's got a screwdriver out and was laying under it like a mechanic. I have no idea where he even knew to lay like that since no one around here works on cars.

Day 07

2010-10-26T10:50:00.000-05:00

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item. This one took me awhile. I knew there would be pictures of our families and loved one but that seemed a little clique for me and they aren't really items. So I started to wrack my brain. The bracelet my hubby gave me on our wedding day? Nah too easy. My cat with 6 toes on each foot who's currently on my lap? hmm could be kind of funny. Well I settled on it finally.

My most treasured item:

This is my backpack. In it I carry books and notes and pens and pencils. What it really carries is my future. It carries the promise of a degree, of my future of helping people. It carries for me all those things that I need to become an RN. So right now this is my most treasured item

Day 06

2010-10-25T09:42:00.000-05:00

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

I vote Barbara Walters since she gets to meet and talk to everyone else. She's lived a pretty interesting life too so there would be all kinds of things you could find out about people that no one else really knows.

Day 05

2010-10-24T14:30:00.000-05:00

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory. This was hard how do you pick just one thing?! There are so many awesome things that I could post.

March 20, 2002- the day I married my best friend. Of course all the great memories that have come since then couldn't have happened without this first one.

Day 04

2010-10-23T21:57:00.002-05:00

A picture of your night!

Day 03

2010-10-22T10:11:00.000-05:00

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show

We're huge Gleeks here! I did pick the controversial pic on purpose. They are ALL plenty old enough to pose how they want in what they want. The spread was for GQ a MEN'S magazine, not Seventeen or other "teen" magazine.

Plus Lea Michele is HOT!

Day 2

2010-10-21T20:56:00.004-05:00

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

I completely conned my brother into this picture taken by Mike.
Blogger is being a pain in the neck so I'll link it for now and try and edit it tomorrow but this way I officially did this on day 2 :D Of course it doesn't want to link properly anyhow GRRRR

30 Day picture challenge

2010-10-20T10:19:00.001-05:00

I realize I posted this on Facebook first but realized this is a better spot for it. So this is a repost, the rest will all just be here. Oh and I already don't like this picture, geez my hair is worse than I thought :P But I promise to not remove it or change it just because I'm critical of myself.

This is the 30 day picture challenge!

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with ten facts
Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest
Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show
Day 04 - A picture of your night
Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory
Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day
Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item
Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh
Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most
Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most screwed up things with
Day 11 - A picture of something you hate
Day 12 - A picture of something you love
Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist
Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without
Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die
Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you
Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently
Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity
Day 19 - A picture and a letter
Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel
Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget
Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at
Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book
Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change
Day 25 - A picture of your day
Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you
Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member
Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of
Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile
Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

Day 1:
1. I hate taking pictures of myself so this is an accomplishment
2. I'm a lefty and I love that
3. I love to take baths and can't wait til I can soak in my own tub
4. I could eat pizza every day if I could get away with it (and cheese fries)
5. I actually enjoy working out now and that's something I never thought I'd say
6. I'm lucky to have married my best friend
7. I love to read and really enjoy the Nook
8. I hate coming up with 10 facts this is all Krystle's fault
9. I rarely complete these type of things when I start so remind me please
10. I have no idea what's for dinner.

The mirror vs my mind

2010-10-19T15:40:00.000-05:00

I found it odd that today I looked in the mirror naked (EEK!) and thought, when did that happen? I've been wearing pants that are definitely too big for me because I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that I really am losing weight. Sure things are flabby and stretched out (thanks kid) but there's just LESS of me.

I need to start wearing pants that actually fit my current size so that my brain can catch up to what is really there vs what my mind thinks is still there. So I'm wearing a pair of pants that is the correct size today, even though I think the cut is like a mom jean (eww) but at least it is a step in the correct direction. I'm wearing a sweater I haven't fit into in I don't even know how long. Now if I could find tops that were long enough I'd be even happier. No one needs to be seeing those stretch marks. I have been taking pictures as I go along so we'll see how brave I get if they ever get posted (tank top and jeans).

I feel so much different now. I'm actually more okay with my body now than I ever was even when I was a size 8 and Playboy material. I'm happier with myself. I'm more confident in myself and I actually like the workouts sometimes. Who would have thunk?

I've tried new foods and new recipes that I never thought I would enjoy. I've tried new exercises and look forward to trying more of them. Of course I'm looking forward to some REALLY hot clothes but more than that I'm looking forward to not huffing and puffing if I have to climb some stairs (I already can do two flights without dying now). I'm looking forward to being HEALTHY, the hot part is a bonus. The best part? My hubby has always thought I was hot and that is the best motivator of all!

One of those days

2010-10-17T22:01:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia
We've all had one of those days. The kind of days where your child(ren) drive you crazy and make you want to pull your hair out and make you realize why lions eat their young? Yeah that kind of day.

Gabe is a smart alek, he thinks he's funny and knows everything. He thinks he's a BIG boy and can do what he wants when he wants. He fights us tooth and nail on everything some days.

Today though, geez kid did you have to scare your poor mom half to death TWICE (which I think means I'm dead anyhow?). First we are checking out furniture and he decides to run out the front door of the store IN TO THE PARKING LOT! I ran screaming like a crazy woman to him and grabbed him up pretty darn quick. We had a (semi)calm conversation about why mommy was upset and why it was something he shouldn't do.

Then later I'm making dinner and my mom is in and out into the attached garage. She comes in to use the bathroom and Gabe is still outside in the garage, no biggie he does this a lot. Then Mike goes out and doesn't see him. So Mike goes looking around the house, STILL doesn't see him. Now I go out and start yelling for him and he STILL doesn't answer us. The next yell of his name came out sounding like a banshee screaming his name because now I am worried. I then hear BOO from the garage. He was HIDING UNDER THE SHELVES!!!! I admit I yelled at him, A LOT. Made him come out and look at me and gave him a huge hug and told him again why listening was so important. I think he was pretty upset too at this point. I just want him to get it, I know he's not even 4 yet but geez kid.

If I wake up with a head full of grey hair tomorrow now you know why. Tomorrow will be better right?

October

2010-10-01T13:47:00.001-05:00

You know what I like about October? The fall colors, pumpkins to be carved and TRICK OR TREAT! Gabe has been asking about it lately. I'm hoping he fits into the skunk costume my Grandma made for one of the grandkids many years ago. Otherwise I'll have to think of something.

For me I'm figuring the vampire get up will come in handy again. I do need to look for a black peasant skirt for myself once and for all though since I'm always in need/want of one.

I'm hoping October lasts forever. I'm hoping that it doesn't snow for Halloween. I'm hoping that it's not freezing either. A real fall that lasts a long time would be super nice.

I'm horrible at this game...

2010-09-28T11:26:00.006-05:00

Sorry I have been slacking badly about updating. I promise I'm still alive.

The basement! Here are some pics of the windows:

1. The Basement is coming along nicely. My dad and brother helped get both the windows in and there is a ton of sunlight down there now. There are two windows, one in the bedroom and one in the living room. They are both 4 feet wide by 5 feet tall.

2. The plumber has done step one and we need to finish two walls for them to get the rest done. I'm dying to get into my heated bathtub!!

3. We're almost done with studs so anyone who wants to help (read PLEASE HELP US!) we will need to set up a weekend for doing drywall. I'm hoping to have the electrical stuff done in the next two or three weekends, so it looks like the end of Oct or early Nov will be drywall.

Me:

School is going well this semester. I'm taking Microbiology, Economics, English, and a health study course. Everything but Microbiology is online and I really enjoy the online options because it saves me a ton of time.

I've been eating well and exercising my butt off (literally). I'm down 18lbs so far and up to 30 min on the elliptical machine 5-6 days a week. I REALLY need to up the weight training but I only have teeny tiny weights and no place to do them all by myself right now.

Gabe:
He's a stinker lately and thinks he's so funny. He's learned some one liner jokes but half the time they come out crazy. "Why did the chicken cross the street" "Get to the other side" But sometimes it's about a car, a duck, a block anything and the answer is still the same. Then we were at dinner the other night and he's wearing bib overalls and my mom tells him that she likes them. He says "I have little bibs and mom has big bibs" Then proceeds to show us his nipples and smack me in the chest. MEN ;)

He has been going sporadically on the potty, mostly right before bed and waking up dry fairly often. Slow going but we're making progress.

Mike:
Uhh he has his own blog but never updates (hint hint) and he should tell you if there is anything exciting going on but he's still kicking.

So I started

2010-08-14T08:57:00.006-05:00

I started a change. I wasn't going to post about it here but I think I should. I started walking every evening. I started actually paying attention to what I put into my body. I started losing weight. This is going to be a marathon and not a sprint people but I'm doing it. I have disclosed my weight for several people but I won't here ;) I will tell you that in just 5 days I lost 6lbs. I know that's mostly water weight but I'll take it. I'm going to TRY and only weigh in once a week but we'll see if I can hold out next week since I didn't this week.

I'm using www.myfitnesspal.com to track my food and exercise progress and its super easy to use and has an iPhone app to use when I'm out.

I will say that I have about 75lbs I want to lose. HOLY COW! That's a lot. So I'm breaking it down into pieces. My first goal is for Maurice's Modeling thingy that I'm doing. The next one is my 10 year reunion. After that I'll have to think of something fun.

My goal is 2lbs a week which means I'll be down to my goal by mid May next year. Not too shabby really.

I FEEL different this time. I feel ready. I WANT to be smart and healthy. I'm trying new foods and finding a few that I like (who knew Tilapia was good?!) I'm on the hunt for some new healthy recipes and ideas for any meals from breakfast, lunch and dinner to new snacks. If you have any share them please :D

Also I'm going to need ideas for what to do in the winter when it's too cold to walk outside. I have an elliptical that I'm going to have to be friends with but no treadmill (BOO! I want one). Maybe I can get luck and get a free month gym membership somewhere too.

So turning 28 turned over a new leaf. A new ME leaf. A new journey in my life. It's not going to be easy and I'm sure I'll trip and fall along the way but I WILL get back up and keep going. I will do this for me, for my health and my vanity.

Here's to hot clothes and a cute swimming suit next summer!!!!

A day in the life...

2010-08-08T09:12:00.003-05:00

Image by Just Add Light via Flickr

Yesterday was my 28th birthday, go me! So we went to the Dells to see our friend Skip and his family and RT and his son Connor were there too. We spent the day at the Wilderness resort and had a blast in the water parks.

I had such a proud mommy moment too. Gabe is TERRIFIED of water on is face, it makes a bath a hellish experience when I need to wash his hair. Yesterday though he spent the day in the wave pool taking big waves in the face and laughing the whole time. We went down the Mammoth, a huge family tube slide where he ate water at the bottom. He wanted to do it again! So we did. He played, splashed, and swam the whole day. He says he really liked mommy's friends. He wants to go back sometime already.

We got home and he was sound asleep in the car the whole ride home (even with a stop for gas) and slept in til EIGHT this morning. I think that's the latest we've ever slept in.

Today it's raining but we're going to my Grandparents for the collective birthday cake eating for Steve, Kori and me.

It was a good day yesterday!

A lot of things have changed this last year. My birthday last year was not so great with the housing fiasco we were still in the middle of, we were homeless for awhile, and Mike was switching to first shift then too. I didn't even know that I would start school in the Spring at this point last year and now I'm itching to get back to class in 3 weeks. I'm going to be a nurse someday and that makes me so excited to think about. So while I don't feel older (other than the muscles) I do feel a little wiser and more prepared. I feel like things are moving along well and I can't believe how fast this last year went.

Two years til the Skydiving birthday ;)

So when I'm old and grey

2010-07-27T23:49:00.000-05:00

I just need to make sure I put this out there so someday I don't forget. Gabe used his very own potty today! I'm hoping this is the beginning of potty training. I'm so proud of him. He picked out a potty that sings when you pee in it (LOL) and wants more water so he can keep peeing in it. I figure that's a good sign.

When the heck did he get so darn big?!

I have one feeling

2010-07-27T10:48:00.002-05:00

Have you ever had a day as a parent where you just were DONE. Your child doesn't listen, they cause problems all day, they whine, whatever. By the end of the day you're just glad that they are IN BED ALONE! (and you're in need of an adult beverage).

I had a day like that yesterday. I'm not proud of it but it happens. I think it happens to all parents we just don't talk about it like it's a dirty little secret.

So yesterday was a day that by the time bedtime came I was just glad the kid was alive and in one piece. We're doing the bedtime thing. Mike went in first and read a story and then Gabe asked for me. I go in and gave him a hug and kiss. He looks up at me and with those big green eyes and says "mommy you hurt my feeling (singular)" I gave him a hug and kiss and told him I was sorry and that he hurt my feeling too. I also told him sometimes we have bad days and tomorrow we would do better. Geez though. After he said that I left the room in tears. My sweet boy who can be a terror! definitely reminded me that sometimes it's just one bad day and our feeling can be hurt both ways.

Today is better..... so far.

Progress (Basement saga part 2)

2010-07-26T15:24:00.006-05:00

We made progress this weekend. We got a large backhoe (well small one really) and my Uncle and Dad finished up the holes. We could finish with this because we knew we were safe from the gas line. Mike did drive and dig a bit. Boy was my hubby was so sexy with that machinery!

The holes are HUGE. That's good. It means more sunlight into the basement so I don't really turn into a vampire. I can't believe how much dirt that thing moved and how quick it happened! We only had 4 hours of run time and we finished everything and moved all the dirt out of the way. We had some spots in the yard that needed it and it will enlarge our extra parking pad.

My dad also started the first stud wall in the basement. So I'm hoping to make some progress this week and get a few more up so that we can finish up stuff this weekend and order the concrete saw for the weekend after that. That's my birthday weekend so we'll see. I got two holes in the ground for my birthday how about some holes in the walls too!?!

I did remember to take at least one before pic of the basement so I'll show that off too. The window on the left will be in our bedroom, the window on the right will be in the living room (Larger of course). Closer to where I took the pic to the left of that lamp will be our bathroom.

When did that happen?!

2010-07-20T15:54:00.004-05:00

When did I become an adult? Was it when I was excited that I bought a fridge? Or how about when the new windows got installed last week? Oh wait I think it was today when I bought an entire bathroom worth of fixtures and was super excited BUT thought "Dang that was a lot of money". That's when it happened I'm sure of it.

We brought home a new vanity, sink, faucet, mirror and cabinet. Then we ordered the tub and shower and they will be here Thursday. We also went and got a new toilet. This toilet is kind of cool if you ask me (that adult thing again). There are two buttons. One you push for liquid waste which uses less water and the second button for the heavy duty poo (solid waste to be politically correct) which uses slightly more water. I can't wait to try that out...er I mean....

We picked a plumber today. We have a little work to do ourselves before he comes back though since doing some of this will save us some money. We need to sledgehammer through the concrete in the basement and find the pipes that tie into the whole system. We have a general idea of where it is but there's still some heavy duty sledge hammering that needs to be done. I think I need to ask a couple people for favors for this one for sure. Hopefully in the next week we can do that so we can get going on everything else.

This Sunday we're FINALLY finishing the holes for the egress windows as well. I promise to have pictures of that machine, mostly because the 3 year old boy that lives with me enjoys pictures of those things.

I am dreaming of soaking in my new HEATED bathtub, or taking long leisurely showers in the new large shower. It's so close yet so so so far away.

Our burdens

2010-07-14T19:52:00.004-05:00

Dawn's really wooping me in this blogging thing so I'm going to try and do better. I love that she's doing this because it really does make me think ALL DAY LONG about something to post. I'm hoping she doesn't mind me snitching from her :D

Today's post is a story that I've heard from my mom. I'm sure it didn't start with her though but it's a good one. It's probably going to be an odd one coming from me since I'm not an overly religious person but I don't think you have to be to understand the idea behind it. If anyone knows where it really came from let me know.

A man is carrying a cross and he decides that it's just too heavy. So one day he drags this huge thing down to the local cross maker and looks at the guy and says "Hey I need something else this is just too heavy" So the cross maker tells him go ahead look through the yard and pick up whatever you want.

The man looks through the this huge yard with all different kinds of crosses in it. He sees one he thinks he likes and picks it up. It's just too tall. So he puts it back. He walks a ways and sees another one and picks it up and it's just way too heavy. He starts to get discouraged but he figures he's going to keep looking. Finally he sees one that he thinks he might like. He picks it up and tests it, not bad he thinks. He walks to the cross maker and says "I'll take this one, it's perfect." The cross maker laughs at him and smiles and then says "that's the one you came in with."

The moral of the story? We all have our crosses (burdens) to bear but they are ours. Some people might seem like that have less than us but many people have more. We all carry ours and in most cases given the options of many of the worse things out there ours are still ours.

It's something that gets me through when things are tough. It's something that reminds me that even though we have things that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy they are still just one small part of our life and overall that life is good.

Writer's block

2010-07-09T12:04:00.004-05:00

Can one actually write about writer's block? Doesn't that by definition mean you do not have writer's block? Is there a minimum amount of time you must be stuck for before it's really a block and not a brain fart? I mean what's acceptable? 10 min, an hour, 2 days? Who decides these things anyway?

I started thinking that I'd like some fun blog prompts and of course I come up empty handed. So I start Googling and I find all kinds of sites dedicated to breaking writer's block, yet none of them are what I want.

I want something interesting, funny, or thought provoking. I've had a few ideas lately but then I think "that's silly" and talk myself out of it. Sometimes I just get side tracked and forget what it is I thought was so clever in the first place.

So all in all this is a post about writer's block. If you're writing about it do you still really have it? What are you ideas for breaking it? Do you have any really great places that lead you to think deep (or shallow) things? I'm trying to take a cue from Dawn and just WRITE more, even if it is silly or boring. So deal with it, and blame Dawn if I suck. It's all her fault anyway.

Shoot me some ideas and I'll try and write something up about it and post it with a link back to your blog too. We can all use more followers right?

First delivery

2010-07-07T13:50:00.007-05:00

The first delivery is now sitting in my garage. Of course they were supposed to be here before noon and rolled in more like 1:15pm but at least it's done. My garage is now a warehouse for building supplies.

We now have proof that we're actually starting some sort of renovation project. We have 165 10ft 2x4s, 2 windows which are 48 inches wide by 60 inches tall, and enough flooring for just under 800 sq feet. The bathroom flooring will be ordered later.

Of course we've been digging a hole thinking the windows were 60 inches wide and 48 inches tall so our hole(s) are still not big enough. Hopefully we'll get started on that second one this weekend... or not. Those nice big windows will be letting a lot of light into the basement though so I am glad we chose larger ones (yah yah people were right get over it).

So here are the next pictures of the project. Gabe was excited and terrified of the truck. He has a thing about loud noises so he kept his hands on his ears the whole time.

The semi front detached from the bed and became the fork lift. The studs and windows came first.

Then the flooring and padding for underneath.

I was quite impressed with that truck up our hill. Anyone who's been here knows that hill is pretty steep. The Uhaul bottomed out on it when we moved in, there's a dent in the driveway from that. I guess what we needed was a semi.

Now I really do need those volunteers that keep saying to call them but mysteriously aren't around when ya ask ;)

The Basement Saga part 1

2010-07-05T18:10:00.007-05:00

This really is a saga. It's going to take months and money and sweat, probably some blood too because we know how this works.

I'm hoping to be in my new bedroom after soaking in my new tub by October some time. Am I dreaming? Probably but a girl's gotta dream.

On the Fourth of July while the rest of the world was relaxing and watching fireworks or grilling out my dad and I decided that 90 was a good temperature to dig holes in. We were crazy. We did get almost all of the first hole dug. We didn't die either so that's good, if we had though we could have just rolled that person into the hole and back filled. It's definitely big enough.

There will be a pair of holes. They are for the egress windows that are required for living space in the basement. They'll let a lot of light in too so we don't turn into people that could be mistake for Powder.

I do have a picture of the plans and I'll have to post that later since I forgot to scan it. The dimensions though are as follows: Bedroom 18x14, bathroom 12x14, living space 40x13 (whole length of the house).

I really can't wait until we have a little more US space. The only downside is that we'll be as far away from Gabe as possible. So I'll need to get another monitor. My mom is in the room next to Gabe so he's not alone or anything but it will take some getting used to I think for me.

Without further ado here are the first pictures of the side of the house. The one on the right will be the bedroom, the one on the left is the living space.

The first hole, both will be about 65 inches side to side and from the top of the window to the bottom of the hole is about 52 inches, it's 36 inches out from the house.

The second window and where the next hole will be dug next weekend. That's the top of the umbrella laying on the side. We use it to keep the sun off of us.

Friends

2010-06-21T11:44:00.003-05:00

Sometimes I forget how much I love my friends. Sometimes I forget I have more friends than I think too.

We had a fabulous day Saturday with lots of friends, old and new, and I find each and every time we get to go and be geeks wonderful unexpected things happen and I always find new friends.

I remember why the gaming community is something that I love and I don't mind calling myself a gamer anymore. Ten years ago I would have avoided calling myself that at all costs, now not so much. The people are some of the nicest, sweetest, most giving and generous people I've ever had the privilege to meet. The few jerks can be ignored, every group has them.

Of course when we get home at 2:30 am and only get four hours of sleep the next morning I remember why I don't do it more but I do know I want to do it more anyhow. Although I think we need a bigger vehicle. Someone should have a van (other than Jenny :P)

I'm really looking forward to our "little" BBQ this Saturday and I'm hoping I have enough food/drinks/fun (EEK!) but no matter what I know that we'll have a blast.

If you're heading our way next weekend we can't wait to see you. Bring some beer (or whatever you drink) and anything else you think might be fun. Heck bring someONE you think might be fun too. Maybe we'll pitch more than one tent in the backyard. This is one of those events that reminds me why I love having a yard and a house.

OOOH in completely other news, we got the loan for the basement so we will be starting all of that work. I'm REALLY hoping to be in the finished product by October. That way we'll have even more room (privacy) for us and anyone who wants to come and stay. Then the parties can get even bigger ;)

1094 days

2010-05-17T17:25:00.005-05:00

Every once and awhile you surprise yourself. It sneaks up on you and suddenly you look at yourself and are all "huh did I do that?" It's usually something you talked yourself out of and when you finally make the leap you find out that you can do it.

Today I took a math final where I knew I was the most prepared student. I taught several other people things that they needed before class. I was the one people came to for help this semester. When did that happen? When I was in high school I used to be the one that needed help but most of the time I was too afraid to even ask for it. I was the one that never thought I was very good at math. Now I got a 100% on my final and have an A for the semester. When did I get so smart? Was I always good at math and just convinced myself that it wasn't cool for a girl to be good at it? I hope not.

I hope that as I've gotten older I've become better at focusing and concentrating on what is really important.

Henry Ford said "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal" I think he was right. I have my eyes on the goal now. I know what's important. I don't really care what other people think of me and I'm going to do the best job I can do because I'm the only one that matters.

I have one last test to take before I'm done for the semester and it's anatomy. I'm really working hard so that I end up with an A in this class too. It's definitely my hardest class but it's also the most fun.

I did my first college English paper this semester and I got 190/200 points on it and it was all about carseats, which is even more fun. I got to write about something I like and I got a good grade on it. I have an A for my final grade in that class as well. All my Psych work is in but the teacher hasn't given back grades, as far as I can figure I have a B+ or A- in that one too.

One more to go! Eye on the first goal. I am already on my way to achieving my goal of being a nurse. Only about 1094 days til I graduate.

Fog

2010-05-13T10:22:00.004-05:00

Noun- A cloudlike mass or layer of minute water droplets or ice crystals near the surface of the earth, appreciably reducing visibility.

In reality it means that we're cooped up inside and Gabe is laying on the floor wrapped in a blanket and with a pillow watching tv. He's awful melancholy for a 3 year old sometimes. Maybe he's part Eeyore? Such a funny boy sometimes. I just hope he's not getting sick. He says he's sad today. It's amazing how sensitive kids can be to things like the weather.

I'm really looking forward to some nice warm weather this anti-spring junk has to end. Yes we need the rain but geez can it be warmer than 50 out for it at least? My heat is still kicking in. I hate the cold and damp. It does horrible things for Mike as well. We want warm dry weather any day now, please?

I'm just about done with school. I have til next Friday but that's really only two meetings for one class left. There are no big or exciting plans for summer though. We are hoping to have a big BBQ at the end of June, so if you're local and haven't been invited check Facebook and send me a message. I promise I want you I just forgot :D

We interrupt this blog....

2010-05-03T19:32:00.003-05:00

With just three weeks left in the school year I've been a bit busy. I've just submitted the rough draft of my first real college paper for English. Of course it was about carseats ;) So that's mostly where I've been and what I've been doing.

I do exist I promise!

We're busy at the house as well. We're going to be painting the outside. We have actually bought paint so any day now we can start. We need to seal the deck too, bought that stuff already. My mom put up some lattice work around the deck so the cats don't decide to go hiding.

Lewis- He would and he's dumb enough to not find his way out of a paper bag. He's cute and has a lot of extra toes so we keep him.

Mango-I'm not sure she'll go outside at all. She's a big ball of fluff and teeth (no claws) and really is Mike's cat. Once she got into the hallway of our apartment complex and she was so scared she peed herself.

PJ- He's not that bright either but he's little so he can squeeze through a lot of little places. He likes being outside too though.

Moses- Well she's fat so she can't get into or out of much. I'm betting she'll just lay on the deck and bask in the sunshine.

Yes I admit to having four cats. We're not really crazy cat people, though I'm more of a cat person than a dog person. My mom had Lewis and PJ and we had Mango and Moses and now that we all live together we have four. It's quite amusing most of the time.

There will be a full fence going up this summer as well so the cats can roam the yard freely then.

I'm hoping to have some fun this summer and in just three weeks I'll be free of school til fall (I think).

Over a month?

2010-04-01T10:17:00.004-05:00

Image by aussiegall via Flickr

I haven't posted anything in over a month :( Wow I'm sad.

School is great, I'm on spring break now. I've got 2 A- and 2 A's so I'm happy! I really enjoy school. Of course these are the easy classes right? :D It's finally nice outside so I'm thrilled my spring break is later than most colleges too. We're actually seeing the sunshine and warm weather before the humidity kicks in an ruins it.

As for life, well we're FINALLY getting the plans together to do the basement renovation. I'm going to hope we'll be all settled by October in our own bedroom. The plans are in the baby stages and we have to have them approved by the city but we read through things pretty well so I don't think there is anything they wouldn't approve. We're putting bigger than needed windows and we've left enough space next to the furnace and we'll have good ceiling height too.

Anyone who is handy (or dumb enough to take orders from me) is welcome to help us on any part of it. We're going to need hands!

Gabe is getting huge and his vocabulary is EXPLODING so ya really gotta watch what you say around him or you'll be in trouble. We've had to explain that a dam is something beavers build already, oops.

Mike and I just celebrated our EIGHT! wedding anniversary on March 20th. I have such a hard time believing that I've been so incredibly lucky and blessed to have him in my life. He's truly my best friend, the first person I want to talk to every day and the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. I can't imagine being with anyone else. I love him so much! Infinity plus one ;)

Things get away from me

2010-02-13T09:11:00.003-06:00

Image by rosefirerising via Flickr

It seems that the busier I get the less I update even though I should have more interesting things to say right?

I've been uber busy with school, anatomy is definitely a time sink, but at least it's enjoyable. The other three classes are just annoying.

I've been actually keeping up with laundry and putting it away. It's a nice change to be able to find my clothes for once. I got a super cute hair cut which I'm in love with. I just wish that I could get it as flat as the stylist did. I'm sure it's because her flat iron is better than mine and she can see every spot on my head without contorting. I even bought all the products I'm supposed to and they definitely make a difference. I think the hubby is glad to see his wife not in a ponytail too.

Otherwise it's the big V day weekend, we have no romantic plans really but that's not a biggie. Mike brought home an orchid for me spur of the moment on Thursday which he knows I love. General running around and familial obligations to attend to should be fun too.

I just wanted to let everyone know I'm not dead just busy for once.

Good friends good times

2010-01-24T16:11:00.005-06:00

You know sometimes we forget what great friends we have. We take them for granted that we expect them to be there when we need them.

This weekend was a great reminder of my wonderful friends. We had a huge duel birthday party and a coming home party for some friends. I'm not even sure when I had that much fun last (and I'm sure it didn't hurt that much the next morning either). It was completely worth the headache the next day, which wasn't quite as bad as I thought it might be.

I knew I loved my friends but sometimes I need a reminder about the fact that even though we don't see each other nearly as much as we would like to we are always in each others hearts. It's okay that I'm sappy since I'm a girl, the guys don't have to admit it but I know they think the same way ;)

So here's to good friends and good times. Thank you for the wonderful weekend. Happy Birthday Mike and Adam and Welcome Home Jake.

I am a college student

2010-01-19T09:36:00.002-06:00

Image via Wikipedia

I start college for the first time ever tomorrow. I'm 27, married almost 8 years, have a 3 year old son and I'm now a college student. Woah!

I'm excited and nervous just like before any first day. This one has the feel of a long exciting journey though.

I feel ready for this. I feel that I can do this. I have my hubby behind me 110% even when he a pain in the neck I know he's my biggest cheerleader.

I'm going to be a nurse. I'm going to be somebody. I'm going to go somewhere. I'm going to have a job that can support my family. I'm going to finish something I start for the first time in a long time.

I start math first tomorrow, then Friday is anatomy and physiology part 1. English and psych start on Sunday since they are online classes.

If you have one piece of advice for me going back to school what would it be? What was the mistake you made? What made it easier? I have a pretty good schedule written down to self motivate myself especially for the online courses.

What helped you get through those classes?

When the student is ready, the master appears. ~Buddhist Proverb

Master I am ready, I hope.

Sometimes you're the bug, sometimes you're the windshield

2010-01-10T20:56:00.004-06:00

Well I think I was the bug but it's okay since I know things work out for the best, work didn't work out the way I expected and that's all I'm going to say about that right now.

I start school officially on January 20. I'm really quite excited (ask me after the first week though) and I think it's going to be good for me. I still need to get a few necessary supplies but I'm waiting on payday and hoping to scrimp up enough for the pens/pencils and paper I know I'm going to need, anything beyond that I'll wait until class starts to see what each class REALLY wants me to have.

I think I need a backpack too, it's a shame that a Harvey's Seatbelt Bag packpack isn't in the cards since that would be sweet.

2009 in pictures

2009-12-31T12:33:00.002-06:00

Thank you to Dooce for giving me the idea. This is 2009 in review by picture. This is the very first Imovie picture montage I've done and I think my music has a skip in it but otherwise I'm very proud of it!

2009 has brought us many changes. We moved the hellish nightmare that it was. We celebrated Gabe's 3rd birthday. I decided to go back to school. There have been so many things that I just can't believe another year has come and gone.

Not only is this a new year but a new decade. Ten years ago I was a senior in high school and I did attend the best NYE party ever. We still laugh about that party. Anyone that was there knows and those that weren't missed a good time. The changes that have happened in the last 10 years are amazing.

I got move in with Mike, we got married, move a zillion times, decided to try to have a baby, Mike was diagnosed with MS, we finally got pregnant, moved some more, had said baby, celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, deaths and births. Somewhere in that time I became a real adult. It sneaks up on your that's for sure but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Through everything my wonderful husband has been at my side and he really is my best friend. Thank you for always sticking by me. Things haven't always been easy but we've come out stronger than ever. I'm looking forward to many more years together with you!

Happy New Year everyone! Have fun and stay safe!

3 years old today

2009-12-23T16:06:00.002-06:00

Three years ago today we were quite busy. You're daddy and I were at the hospital being induced.

I know that I posted about your birth story originally on the Snowflake board for sure (I'm not sure if when it was an EC or a PG though I searched both) but I can't find it :( I'll love anyone that happens to find it because I KNOW I posted it.

I did find that the hospital you were born at STILL has your picture up, even though you're birth weight is wrong there.
http://www.communitymemorial.com/baby_gallery/baby.cfm?b=633

We found out we were pregnant on April 13, 2006. It was a Thursday and in the middle of Survivor. It was the day before Good Friday that year. I was completely shocked. Being pregnant was not fun for me, we're talking puking (I had HG) for five months, many days I couldn't leave the house. BUT I ended up with you and that made it all worth it.

We came home from the hospital on Christmas morning with our little angel. Getting you dressed at the hospital was the first of many parenting hurdles we'd face but we love you no matter how you try our patience ;)

Happy birthday my little boy. You can't imagine the ways you've changed my life and I'm looking forward to many more fun times.

Hello Nurse!!!

2009-12-08T13:03:00.003-06:00

I read somewhere that nurses hate that phrase from Animaniacs but since I'm not a nurse yet I figure it's okay still. Plus I know my husband is already having dirty fantasies about it.

I officially registered for school yesterday. It was exhilarating, terrifying, overwhelming and empowering. I am so ready to do this. I'm scheduled for 12 credits plus on the waiting list for one class that could bump me to 16 credits. I'm still not sure if I'll drop something to take that one if it's available or just go balls out and do it. I do have an amazing person lined up to watch Gabe (HI Auntie Sheri!) so no worries about that portion of it.

I'm hoping to really crank things out and petition for the official program for the Spring 2011 semester. That means I'll take courses in the summer semester and then in the fall again. I'm not really sure how a summer semester works for my financial aide though, if I have to take that out of one of my other semesters, or if its on it's own as a semester etc. I'll have to start looking that up after I'm working on stuff during this one.

I ended up taking two online courses (English and Psych) because there was no way to work a good schedule around them otherwise since I need to avoid Tuesdays for in the class room things right now. Then I'm taking a math class, biochem, and on the waitlist for anatomy and physiology part 1.

I'm probably driving my friends and family crazy because I'm quite literally bouncing off the walls about this. I don't think I've ever been quite so excited to start something before and I'm having a hard time containing myself. I'm all over the place about it.

I just can't wait to get started on this part of my life. I feel good about it. I feel like it's the right choice and the right time. I'll figure out what/where we'll go when I'm done when we get there. I've promised Mike that I'll only worry one step ahead of where we are right now to keep myself contained.

I want to give a big thank you to the people who have been very supportive of me even considering this path in life. I want to say thank you to the people who are going to continue to be my cheerleaders through this time. I especially want to tell my hubby that I love him very much because he puts up with me and he's going to have to hold my hand in math anyhow.

Oh the weather outside is frightful....

2009-12-04T12:25:00.004-06:00

Image via Wikipedia

It's not a ton of snow in our area but south of us they got more. Still I'm depressed about it.

I used to enjoy snow. I've never been a snow bunny. I don't ski, a couple trips down the sledding hill and I'm all for heading in and drinking hot chocolate, and the thought of riding a snowmobile makes me ill. I DID enjoy the snow though, the chill in the air (not the frigid temps later) but at least those first couple of REALLY white really crisp snows were enjoyable.

Now?

Meh.

All I can think now is that it's the beginning of a very long, very cold winter, I'll have to shovel, drive in it, get salt tracked onto anything and everything, get sick, be sad when the sun is shining because that means it's -20 out with the windchill. All I do is long for spring. I long for the warmth of the sun, not the teaser that it is in the winter. I long for things to move and live.

I'm not sure when this happened but really I often wonder now if someplace warmer isn't calling my name. Maybe when school is done we'll talk about a move someplace where owning a snowblower would make you a kook. Some place where Christmas comes with lights and caroling but NO snow. Some place where you can be outside on the patio on Christmas morning.

Until then I'm going to complain and drink tea, eat chili and count the days til it's warm enough to go outside without eleventy million layers on. Oh and I don't want to have to wear socks ALL the time. I hate wearing socks and shoes and having to sleep with socks on sucks.

So how to I wait out the winter without hibernating? I'm hoping that Gabe will help get me through that because he's at the age where he thinks it's very piddy (pretty) and everything is full of magic. I'm hoping he drags me kicking and screaming through it and I remember it fondly.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T17:33:00.004-06:00

Image by BarelyFitz via Flickr

It's Thanksgiving and we're full up on turkey and mashed potatoes. Some had pumpkin pie, but since I don't care for pumpkin pie I had none.

Instead of being thankful today though I'm annoyed. I'm annoyed with the F up and my back that leaves me short on money on a holiday weekend, short on gas because I have no money and rummaging though my son's piggy bank for change for the car.

Instead of being thankful I just wish at this point it was Saturday already so we could hang out with friends and play Rock Band and eat deep fried turkey.

It doesn't help that I woke up with a headache stabbing through my right eye. That Gabe was rather cranky today, but at least when he napped it was a good long nap.

The evening plans include a whole lot of nothing. I'm trying to not be annoyed for no reason for the rest of the evening but when you start the day in a funk it's hard to get yourself out of it in a snap too.

So even though it's Thanksgiving and I should be thankful for all the truly wonderful things I DO have I'm spending it annoyed. I'll be thankful tomorrow.

When you think of something write it down...

2009-11-24T11:22:00.003-06:00

Otherwise you end up like me. I'm laying in bed last night and I thought something really funny and thought "hey you should blog that in the morning". Of course this morning I have NO idea what it was.

It did make me think of something else funny though. My mom got this clock awhile back for $40 at some consignment store. It's got a nice ticking sound to it, and you have to remember to wind it. It says it's a 31 day clock but really ya gotta wind it every two weeks. What's funny about this particular clock is that it's supposed to ring once for the half hour and then on the hour for the time it is. Well it doesn't quite work that way. It dings correctly once on any half hour but the hour marks are a dice roll. It does ding between 11 and 4 properly but the other hours are a crap shoot.

Mike and I were laying in bed a couple nights ago talking and we were talking about the clock. I said well at least it hasn't dinged 13 yet since we think that might be the third sign of the apocalypse. Of course suddenly the clock starts dinging and we're obsessed with counting the chimes now. I swear that it dinged 13 just that once. I haven't heard it before and I haven't heard it do that since.

So we have this quirky clock, and we could probably have it taken in and fixed but I kind of like the fact that you're never sure what time it will really ding. So I think we'll keep our quirky clock just the way it is. Not everything has to be perfect to be enjoyable.

When flour and child collide

2009-11-16T16:11:00.006-06:00

You all know that when they are quiet you're in trouble right? Well yesterday it was a doozy of one.

Yes he's wearing shorts, no it's not that warm here, he picked them out himself.

Now I have to say that it was pretty funny. I've heard this story about how I baby powdered my bedroom TWICE as a child so having my son flour the kitchen while I was in the next room was rather amusing.

So Mike grabs the shop vac and starts vacuuming. I strip the kid down and get him in the tub. Gabe used to hate the tub but now he thinks it's fun. That is unless we have to wash his hair.

Of course with that amount of flour he did need his hair washed. I have to hold him down and do it while the conversation goes like this:

Me: Honey it's okay it's just water

Gabe: No momma, no no no OWWWWWWW

Me: Gabe it doesn't hurt it's just water

Gabe: OWWWW NO NO NO NO (insert cringing down here as well)

Me: well silly if you hadn't put flour in your hair we wouldn't have to wash it again

Gabe: Flour? Hair? (giggling)

Me: Okay gotta rinse

Gabe: No momma no no no no no hair, no wet!

Me: Okay all done

Gabe: no more momma

I have no idea why he hates it. I don't even have to have soap for him to yell. I admit most of the time I just wipe it down with a damp cloth he hates it so much. I don't have any idea how to fix it either. I feel horrible because he really does seem TERRIFIED of the water on his head. It's not in his eyes even. I can get the back of his head wet and he screams like that. Anyone with ideas that can help him?

Other than the hair washing/screaming the afternoon was pretty funny though and I was amused because kids will be kids.

Thoughts to live by....

2009-10-30T11:56:00.002-05:00

"Today, if you become frightened, instead become inspired."

"Don't think about HOW you are going to do this, think about WHY you are going to do this"

‘I used to think it was a terrible thing that life was so unfair. Then I thought, 'what if life *were* fair, and all of the terrible things that happen to us came because we really deserved them?' Now I take great comfort in the general unfairness and hostility of the universe.’
- Marcus Cole, from Babylon 5 (1994-1998)

These quotes have been rambling around for me. The first one from last night's Grey's Anatomy, the second from someone when I was worried about how I was going to juggle things for school and the third about life in general.

The first quote reminds me that when we're scared we often become paralyzed by the fear instead of being inspired to find a way around the fear. Sometimes we just need to DO and not think so much.

The second one reminds me that sometimes the how sucks and it's hard but the why is the important part. The why is for me, for my family for my life. I know WHY I'm doing this and I have to keep that in mind each and every day that I feel stuck.

The third reminds me that sometimes things just happen and no one is to blame and nothing is fair.

So I vow to be inspired and remember the why in life even when things are tough and know that sometimes it's hard and that you just have to push through it.

This too shall pass, yet another of my thoughts to live by.

Life in a nutshell

2009-10-27T10:14:00.002-05:00

Things get busy and then I forget to write down the important things. The ones I really want to keep in my mind forever seem to happen when you least expect it.

We've had a lot of rain lately and Gabe misses the shiny (sun). So he told me that he was going to wake up shiny for the last two days. It was super cute.

We've had friends come over and we've actually been out and about too.

Yesterday I spent about a day and a half on hold with MATC getting my application straightened out. Seems they didn't get the whole maiden name/married name thing combined and my transcripts didn't get paired with my application correctly. We did get it straightened out and I should be getting a letter to take the accuplacer testing in the mail SOON. Hopefully I can take it on a Thursday so my mom can watch Gabe. I've looked at some of the practice tests and I really hope I don't have to write a 300-600 word "paper". That is just a pain in the ass if you ask me. Otherwise Mike is going to have to help me brush up on the math stuff ahead of time too since math is my worst subject.

Then I need to set up an appointment to see the daycare facilities, figure out car rides for Gabe and I to school and back. Set up appointments with the financial aide office too I think since I have no idea how this stuff really works either. It's getting a little overwhelming but I'm trying to not panic and push through it. I can do this!!

This weekend we had an issue with our bank acct from a store that over charged me for an item I bought one of, they charged me for SEVEN. So now I'm waiting on their refund to go back into my bank acct since missing over a hundred dollars for us is super tough :(

Phew I think that's it lately though I feel like I'm missing something. I wish I had more time to just sit and think sometimes.

I'm really doing it

2009-10-12T15:31:00.003-05:00

I'm going to school. I have applied to MATC to start their RN program. It's only a 2 year program which will probably take me 3 since I need some pre-reqs before starting the official program.

I've applied to the school online, stopped in at my high school to get my transcripts, filled out my FAFSA info. So now I'm in the waiting portion. I'm a little scared but mostly I'm excited. I'm thrilled that I know what I'm doing and there is a specific amount of time for that to happen in.

My EFC from FAFSA is zero so I should get the full amount for the Pell Grant and after that I'll hope for scholarships, grants, and loans to do the rest. I'll need to pay for school (and supplies, books etc), Gabe will hopefully be in on campus daycare so that will be an expense, and then if I can have enough money to "make" the $400 a month I make working I'll quit working. I don't want to over extend myself going to school full time for the first time in 10 years and I do want to be able to see my family occasionally (funny how I love them right?)

I have to say it was odd to be inside Nicolet as the current seniors will be graduating the same time as I have been out of high school TEN years. Where the heck does the time go? I did get to run into my former guidance counselor Mr. Artero who was glad to see me. I saw another teacher too who isn't there anymore but happened to be stopping in too. I could have done without seeing him though.

I need people's positive thoughts and any advice or help they have on how to get money for school. Wish me luck!!!

OCTOBER?!!?!!

2009-10-02T16:06:00.002-05:00

Yes I needed explination points AND question marks there. I simply can not believe it's October already. I've been a horrible mommy and taken hardly any pictures of Gabe lately. We do have a pumpkin carving party tomorrow though so I'll have new ones then.

On to other things. We got a new furnace today, YAY! It's now nice and toasty warm in the house and so quiet I can't even tell it's on.

Gabe has been in a phase where he's decided to lock himself in the bathroom. This wouldn't be so bad because I can pop the lock from the outside but he opens a drawer behind the door so I still can't open it. We've got new child locks for the drawers so he can't do this anymore because it makes mom VERY unhappy. While putting him in time out for this today he decides to yell at me "mommy go away!" Now this is the kid that doesn't say very many three words sentences so I have to say instead of being hurt by it I had to turn around and giggle because at least it's a three word sentence. He said it with SUCH inflection and the hand wave too.

I know one day I'll look back and think about this time fondly (LOL maybe) but I know in the end this stubborn kid will be labelled persistent and that will be a good thing, right?

The more things you do the more that are left

2009-09-19T10:32:00.003-05:00

I swear the more work we do organizing and cleaning in the new place the more that there is. You know how it is. Whenever you start cleaning you always end up with a bigger mess than before you started before it finally gets clean.

Of course everyone has their own time tables and priorities on what should get done first too. We have three adults now (me, Mike and Mom) so it's even harder sometimes to get everyone's wants and desires taken care of. I'm finding it's a game of compromise and just letting the little things go.

Today I have about a zillion things to do and of course not enough time, energy or money to take care of them all ;) I mean who does right?

We're going to buy some curtain rods, dig holes for a couple of trees we have to plant, remover for the wallpaper border in Gabe's room so I can get my butt in gear and paint that for him too.

I'm tired just thinking about it.

We're all working through who needs to do what, who needs to pay for what and who likes things where. We'll get there I know we will.

We have landed...

2009-09-10T14:28:00.003-05:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

We are finally in the new place. I'm typing from my living room with the sun shining in a huge picture window. It's great.

The place is a disaster, half the light fixtures don't work, switches do nothing, the tub is covered in mildew that I'm scrubbing out, it needs painting and organizing but it's ours and that's all that matters.

The move was horrific, no surprise right? The good thing is that we had AMAZING friends who helped us move. Sometimes family isn't blood related at all but found and that's what we had. Those guys moved and organized the truck like champs. I swear Shawn must be a Tetris champion with the way he got things into the truck.

My feet and back STILL hurt but I'll survive.

We did get some appliances this weekend from Home Depot. We got amazing deals on all of them too. A brand new front loading washer and dryer (tiny scratches on them), a wall oven in stainless steel that was a special order that someone else didn't want, and a trash compactor. I'm excited about the oven because it actually has a convection option on it for baking and anyone who likes to back knows convection is the way to go! They will all be delivered on Saturday.

Our garage is PACKED full of stuff though so I hope we can get them into it too. We have so much stuff out there I'm sure we need a rummage to pair down stuff. I'm hoping to get Gabe's room painted this weekend but I have to remove the wallpaper boarder off the wall first.

Gabe slept pretty well last night so I hope it continues and he hasn't asked to go home once. I think he has figured it out that we ARE home. It feels like home and I know in a short time it will really be organized and homey.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

2009-09-01T12:42:00.005-05:00

Now we all know this song right?

The itsy bitsy spider goes up the water spout and then the rain comes and washes him out and that dumb spider goes up the water spout again.

Gabe has taken a liking to this song. It's taken over bed time over Frere Jaques even. So instead of singing it all cute and up beat and doing hand motions we sing is slow and softly now at night.

I am putting Gabe to bed when I'm done Mike tells me that only I could make the Itsy Bitsy Spider sound like a dirge. A dirge? Really? That's a funeral procession song people?! How in the world can I sing that to my child at night to wish him sweet dreams and a peaceful night.

So I got back at Mike. The next time he sang Frere Jaques I asked him if he was part of a church choir because he oversings is so dramatically. Needless to say he didn't make it through the rest of the song he laughed so hard at me.

Point for Mel

Recent house going ons

2009-08-24T14:30:00.005-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

I've had a couple people ask what's going on with our house so I thought I'd drop a quick update.

See that picture over there ----->
That's supposedly the international symbol for a squatter. LOL I found it while looking for pictures for today's post. That's what I am though, a squatter.

This past week they have been "removing the lead". I put it in quotes because it's a guy with a scraper and a plastic tarp, no mask, no gloves. He's JUST scraping and painting the window sills because HUD told him it was a rush job and to NOT replace the windows (roll eyes here). Whatever it's not his fault the people we're dealing with are idiots.

Hopefully today or tomorrow he'll be done with that painting part. BUT then we have to wait 3-5 days for a final inspection. Why? I have no freakin' idea why. So there's no way we're closing this week. You know what that means? We're closing next week and moving LABOR DAY WEEKEND?! OMG great. I'm going to beg on my hands and knees for people to help us sat/sun that weekend because my mom's condo sold this week and they are closing September 10th or 11th so we HAVE to be outta here by then. Like completely 100% out because it's not ours.

I'm tired. I'm tired of sleeping on a mattress that isn't mine, in a house that isn't mine, with pillows that aren't mine. I'm tired of feeling like a squatter and not having a real address. I'm tired of not knowing what's going on. I'm tired of thinking about how moving is going to suck with no help because who in their right darn mind is going to help on Labor Day weekend? :(

I'm just ready for this to be over and done with. Please let it be over and done with so we can move on with our lives. I'm tired of the holding pattern.

Slinging burritos

2009-08-14T22:58:00.002-05:00

So I've been slinging burritos at Qdoba for almost 2 years now (since this location opened) and I'm getting promoted. What does that mean? Eh not much, a little more money and memorization of when things go bad, a liquor license and the free will to tell people what to do (lol ok only a little bit of free will). But it's nice to be appreciated for doing a good job :D

On the house front, there is lead on the window SILLS. Now it's important that you read that right, the sills, not anywhere else. So they are painting or replacing the sills and putting my crappy windows back in. I'm hoping they drop a few of them in the process and have to replace them anyhow.

No date on the move yet though I'll keep ya posted on that.

Tonight though we got to go out to dinner with a friend of ours which was nice. Since Mike is a first shifter now we can actually do those things. Gabe was super good at the restaurant and enjoyed Jerry's kitty cats at his apartment too. It was nice to be a family and see friends.