Statistics Update

I'm happy to report that I have self-taught myself--using many resources--statistical procedures and the interpretive meaning of cryptic results. Can I hear a whoot, whoot ?!

Only took me ALL month...but I can confidently say that I statistically rocked my paper. I'm taking a big sigh as I electronically "hand" in my paper....and await the results.

Now, it's time to switch gears and use this week to work on a 100 pt. paper on a nursing mid-range theory and design a power point presentation on heart failure readmissions....anyone care to join me?

Gobble til' Ya Wobble!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a different Thanksgiving celebration than expected. We were planning to go to G&G Mehmen's Farm for a retreat and Thanksgiving Feast, along with Austin's Birthday celebration and some Black Friday Shopping.

However, the fever consumed Connor too long and we had to go to plan B: Thanksgiving at our house! It was too late to prepare the turkey that Paul got for free from his hospital. I looked in my "mother-hubbard" pantry and noticed I had enough to make green bean casserole. I was thinking we'd head to Hy-vee and do a Styrofoam Thanksgiving meal.

BUT, we got something different and better and with LOTS O' LOVE! Grandma Roberts came to the rescue and boxed us some fixin's: Sweet Potato casserole, a can of cranberry sauce, frozen package of corn, pies, stuffing, rolls, even turkey napkins! Later, Paul went over to bring home some turkey while I cooked all the sides.

It was starting to feel like Thanksgiving; the kids were in the living room watching glimpses of the Macy's Parade (Olivia insisted that we were going there that minute!), Connor and Olivia played Nintendo DS and Barbies, the house was smelling the yummy, warm, nutty smells of Thanksgiving, and Indy's nose was going crazy taking in all the smells!

I decided we'd have a fancy place setting (well, as fancy as I could get it). I set water glasses, drink glasses, daiquiri glasses for the jello salad, used our center piece, fall runner, and Christmas place mats (you can't really tell). The kids asked why they had so many glasses!

Olivia started our prayer, "Inda name of da Fader, and da Son, and da Holy Spiwit!" Connor insisted on a "cheers," we had to raise our glasses and tell what we are thankful for: Connor was thankful for friends, I was thankful for family, Dad was thankful for our house, jobs, family, and Olivia was thankful for the dogs.

It was quiet but quaint. We finished our feast and talked about our favorites: Connor loved the turkey, I loved the sweet potato casserole, Paul loved the stuffing, and Olivia loved the cranberry sauce (even though she had three helpings of turkey!).

So thankful for Plan B!
Our first Thanksgiving at home...



Hopefully next year, we'll be well and can see more of our family.
This will be a Thanksgiving we'll never forget.
BTW, Connor went without a fever all day yesterday and fever-free today.....so it must be a virus and not mono. (thankful for that too!)

Consumed

We're consumed with illness in our house. Connor has had cold symptoms for a week and Saturday started high-grade fevers and sore-throat. We went to urgent care and the rapid strep test came back negative, mono test came back negative (yes, I said mono, his classmate and recess friend has it). We're waiting for the culture, but I've decided to just go back to his real doctors and get this nipped now before the holidays start. Probably do another strep test and mono test.
Olivia has the sniffles and I pray that's all that she'll get through this journey of illness.
Paul is as healthy as a horse and has been a stud at cleaning up the house.
I've been combatting headache, stiff neck, cold sypmtoms, fatigue, and allergies for the last 2 and half weeks

So we've been doing a lot of this....
While Olivia searches for Woody from Toy Story 3.
I found her yelling, "Woody! Woody!"
and whistling for him to come to her!

This too shall pass.

What a Difference in Just Three Years...

Olivia & Connor

2010
Olivia & Connor
2007

Our Little Beggars

Lean to the left, Lean to the right and read on.......(sorry about duplicate photos, I can't delete)

Our little black cat and our mad scientist did some tricking and treating at the local grocery store. It was great when our little beggars came to visit me at work!

Acrostic Poetry

This is a feature post from the poet in our family: Connor.

Helpful

Outstanding

Useful

Special

Easy

Legos are cool

Edgeicational

Games

On lego highways lego trucks pass by

Super cool

Very populuar

I like video games

Dare to have fun

Easy to plug in

Out of this world

Goofy games

Awesome

Mischief

Easy to play

Sonic games are the best

Cool

Heart warming

Respectful

I like Christmas

So awesome

Tree is brightly decorated

My mom got me a cool toy

A special someone's birthday

Sweet treats

Mean, Median, Mode...

HELP!
I've been inundated by statistical terms!
They are coming from every which way and I can't make any rhyme or reason out of them.
Can anyone help me with T-tests, Z-scores, and Chi-Squares?
Does anyone know how to dummy it down so I can understand it?
When I read the textbook, it goes in one ear and out the other.....
no analyzing or synthesizing in my brain!
I'll guess I'll try and wing it and if anyone could help me (Jeremey?)
I'll be waiting at the computer for an email!

Statistically yours,