Assume the Position

I can't believe that I'm starting week 4 of my second semester.

On-line learning has become the norm for me.

I absolutely love the convenience, accessibility, and the "no driving."

It's been hard to get motivated this semester.

I think because I thought it was going to be cake

only taking three courses, but I'm wrong!

There is a lot of reading and discussion!

Classes:

Policy

Curriculum Development

Professional Roles

My favorite class is curriculum development because I will

be applying this to my future profession.

Policy, is intriguing but I'm required to be interactive instead of passive

in this class and let me say, I'd rather be passive.

However, I'm working on getting out of my comfort zone and

stating my views/opinions on politics, health care, organizations, etc.

Professional Roles is interesting and reinforces the fact that

Advanced Practice Nurses are professionals, but the

roles are diverse as the profession.

So here is the position I assume when taking my classes.

The environment changes from Library, Panera Bread, couch, dining room table or bed.

But the screen pretty much is always in front of me.

A closer look of my "virtual" classroom.

SO, I think I've found my rhythm in balancing school, teaching clinical, and part-time work.

I love how I can integrate all of my experiences and learn and disseminate my knowledge and experiences to others.

Week 4, only 12 more weeks to go!

Imaginations Flowing

The kids have been busy playing. They have been working hard this weekend. Yesterday, the floor was scattered with "Fisher Price" little people and a miniature city. The next plan was bringing up Connor's box cars and shooting them across the wooden floors. Olivia and Connor played so well together; of course they had their conflicts and little spats, but the outcome was staying together and playing.

Today, the main toy was "Legos." Connor has longer concentration and interest in playing "Legos" and soon Olivia wanders off to dress-up, play with her stuffed animals, or get out her crafty items. She did manage to color Indy with a pink marker in three different areas, not sure if this was from the new stamps she got or just a plain marker...she won't confess.

Connor and his Hotel: it includes a vending machine, escalator, bedroom with a lamp and an alarm clock, parking lot, and shiny floors.
Olivia decided she needed to wear her winter boots while scooting boxcars along the floors.

Celebrations

Celebrating Grandma Roberts' birthday

@ "On the Border"

YUM!

Celebrating free birthday desserts

Marin likes to lick the "salt" off dessert (aka: cinnamon and sugar)
Celebrating girlhood

Celebrating tasty tootsies!
Evan's favorite!

Celebrating free spirit.

Olivia and Marin eating Whoopie pies in their own unique ways.

Celebrating Grandma

Celebrating Grandkids

Celebrating boyhood

Tattle

Olivia: "MOom," she said in that tattle-taling voice, I was thinking she was going to be tattling on her brother.
Me: "Yes, Olivia."
Olivia: "My brain just told me a naughty word." sing-songing the tattle.
Me, holding in my laugh and attempting to be serious, "Oh, what did your brain tell you?"
Olivia whispers, "dumb"
Me: "Oh my, you must tell your brain not to tell you such naughty words anymore."

Bakugan Battles n' Easy Bake Ovens

The kids and I filled our afternoon with games and food. Connor and I battled Bakugans, we both one a battle. Olivia, Connor, and I made a chocolate cake in the "Easy Bake" oven. They took turns stirring the batter and frosting and decorating it with sprinkles. It was very tastey!



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This evening Daddy was chest-pressing Olivia up in the air and Olivia says, " Thanks, because I really need to exercise." hmmm...I guess she has to balance in the air and use her core muscles that could be considered exercise?

Goofball is wearing halloween jammies and a Santa hat!

Road Trip!

Saturday was a busy day for us: Connor had his Pinewood Derby in the morning and his first confession in the afternoon. Then right after his reconciliation service we headed on the road up north to visit some good friends of mine.

The three of us go WAY back. Char and I have been friends since third or fourth grade, we rode the bus together. Jeanne and I have been friends since fifth grade. We've been together for the awkward Jr. High years, sports, High School years, band, chorus, plays, classes, boyfriends, college, and weddings. Then we transplanted ourselves in three different corners of the state.

It was great to together with all of our kids--a total of seven (9, 8, 7, 6, 4, 4, 2!). Char got two babysitters and we set out for a dinner and great conversation. We grabbed every chance we could get to talk, even if this meant all three of us driving the babysitters home! The three of us stayed up until 2:30 am talking and reminiscing. I definitely got my fill of my two good friends and we started where we left off, like we didn't skip a beat. Those kinds of friendships are very precious to me.

Then the next day, we decided to pull a surprise visit at G&G Mehmen's. With only being 2.5 miles away, it's hard not too! Boy, were they surprised! Connor and his cousin Austin had fun playing together and we chatted away with Mom and Dad.

A great weekend and good weather to drive in (which is not so much the case now!). Must get together with my friends and family soon. It's funny how time really flies by the older I get and that time must be treasured.

Olivia's entertainment on the drive: Barbie Laptop and stuffed animals.

silly girl posing with her hat!
Connor decided to pose chugging his root beer for the pic.

Pinewood Winner

Connor's second year in the Pinewood Derby.

He designed his car and painted it forest green.

Added some embellishments and voila'!

He came out a winner!
First place in the pack's silver division.

Second place in den.

Delivered!

I know that all of you were probably biting your nails, like I was, at the suspense of my textbook making it on time. After this pleasant post and a superficial prayer, I received my textbook on time. I read my assignment and completed the discussion last night. Woohoo! Kinda crazy how things work out!



Things have been a little hectic trying to get used to my new schedule of juggling school, work, and teaching; but I've got one week tucked in my belt and 9 good hectic weeks to come. . . then it will be just busy. But it's all good hectic and busy and I'll survive and thrive.


Hmm...this is a pretty stale post, no insight just the facts folks. No pictures. No more to be documented. But a fun weekend to look forward to so, there may be hope that the next post will be more thrilling.

Dear UPS delivery personnel,

I'm officially writing to admit that yes, I did procrastinate in buying my textbooks on-line. However, would you ever be so grateful to hurry the process in delivering them. I really need my Curriculum Development books, so I can read my assignment and post a discussion by Friday, noon. Thank you so much for my Policy book, but the professor hasn't even provided me a syllabus for the class. In conclusion, I would be ever so happy if you could deliver the books today or tomorrow (no pressure!).
Sincerely,
Me--confiding procrastinator-but-wanted-to-wait-for-post-holiday-deals-and-got-them (or did I?)

p.s. I know you could blame snow in delaying the process, but snow will not be a great excuse in delaying my post on-line.

Have a Cuppa..

I'm resting and emailing and other computer-related tasks and here comes Connor, into the bedroom with a cup and a BIG smile on his face.
Me: "Whatcha got there, some hot chocolate?"
Him: "No, it's coffee."
Me: "WHAT?!?"
Him: "Dad wouldn't let me have the regular kind, so I'm drinking decaf." sipping at his cup.


Oh MY goodness...I had to grab a picture of him and his first cuppa. But seriously! A little TOO young for coffee. He confided in me later that he would rather have a flavored kind but Dad didn't let him (that's because of the caffeine content! not to mention the caffeine content in decaf!). But for this one moment he's got the grin like he's a 7 year old going on 24 years. The old soul emerging out of him.
p.s. he didn't finish his cup of coffee!

Desperate?

Livie and I went to Target today after my chiropractor appointment and this is what I bought--along with a My Little Pony coloring book--wonder what the cashier was thinking . . . "desperate?"

IF she was thinking that, she is SPOT-ON!

This whole back thing that I've been dealing with for 10+ years is not fun. Period. It's not continuous but intermittent. At times it is chronic nagging, burning down the leg pain and other times it is sharp, can't-stand-straight-up, spastic pain.

I never know when it will be triggered.

This summer, I helped with the tree by lifting branches continuously and nothing. Another day I can lace my shoe and it will go out. What up?!!? No, seriously it has gone out while puttin' on undies, making my bed, and belting in my daughter in the car.

Pain is a great motivator and a great bubble burster, simultaneously. I'm ready for change of habits, exercise regime, nutrition...but I need to take baby steps to just lay down a strong foundation.

The main bubble the pain has burst is my functioning in the world around me....I can hardly clean, bend over to pick up things, do dishes, laundry.....let alone work. This is not good for the soul. I keep on reminding myself that at least I have my brain...but I may be slowly losing it if I can't get on top of the pain.

So the pain and the agony that it has brought me emotionally has led me to purchase this:

A scale which will constantly remind me that I'm a fatty but also motivate me to lose it! Yoga, the foundation of youth and my rehab. Cylinder for alignment and massage...just to try it out (remember I'm desperate!) and exercise bands when I get to that point to add strength.

I'm going to the chiropractor to analyze my spine and innervation and manipulate. I'm going to the Nurse Practitioner to see if my medication regimen is up to par and if Physical Therapy is necessary. And in a few weeks, I'm going to the pain specialist and get a steroid shot (my 3rd one) to alleviate the nerve pain shooting down my legs.

Meanwhile, I'm taking an active approach my using my new stuff...because the other stuff is passive and I'm just as accountable and responsible for my body if not more than the others who are helping me....

Know what is worse than desperate? DENIAL! Which I'm afraid I'll go right into when starting all of this and start feeling better and decide I don't need to do it anymore...yikes!

There's No Place Like Home (x3)

I clicked my ruby red shoes and after a four hour ride (usually 2.5 hrs) of slippery roads, fog, and sleet...we made it home, back to the farm, back to Mom and Dad's house.

"Dashing through the snow"

The girls are sledding and singing "Jingle Bells."

Gwen is great at steering the girls on the sled.
Emma was so excited to meet Gwen.

Gwen was soaking up Aunt Brooke and Emma.

It's an Austin sandwich with a slice of Uncle John and Uncle Paul on the sides.

Olivia: "I LOVE Ollie SO much!"

Ollie: "Must. get. air. Hugging. too. tight."

Bryan and Austin; totally like Father like Son.

Miss O with Daddy....a picture of innocence.

Jaydin with her Daddy, Rob.

Another picture of innocence??

Alex!

Rob, Paula, Jaydin, and Jeremey.

Pretty excited about those Hawkeye seats.

John, Jolyn, Gwen, and Jackie

Alex, Jake, Brent, Emma, and Brooke

Olivia couldn't get enough of Ollie.

Same for Connor

Grandma and Grandpa with the grand kids.

Another Christmas has come and gone and it seems to get faster every year. All we can do is soak it in and enjoy all the family members, especially the kids...they grow up so fast! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a nice Christmas and New Year's, it was fun spending time with everyone, playing games, and catching up.

Bringing in the New Year...

We brought in the year 2011 at my parent's house.

We played card games and Monopoly and watched

Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year.

When the ball went down in New York, I called it a night,

as did much of the household--if not earlier.

Olivia & Jackie

(snack buddies)

These pics are my motivation for the new year.

Starting in 2011, I want to be free-spirited.
I want to laugh for no reason at all.
Snack without guilt.
Run, dance, and jump with delight.
I want to give hugs freely.
Speak my own mind.
Be proud and confident in what I say or do,
knowing someone has my back.
I want to soak up the world around me
and be in the moment--losing the concept of time.
And then let the world come to a spinning halt;
when my emotions need to be tended.
I want to remember the important things in life;
like sharing, playing nice, and using my manners.
And I want to easily forgive and get on with life.


We teach our children values, morals, and standards;
they teach us to live passionately, embrace simple pleasures,
and radiate a positive energy to those surrounding us.

Here's to moments, memories, and meaning in 2011.
Happy New Year!!

(Oh, to live vicariously through a 2 1/2 & 4 year old;
they hold the wisdom of life and we just need to crack their code)