a sweet friend

my heart is heavy today for a dear sweet friend. her mom is on life support and not improving. she is faced with a very hard decision. and they are not in a hospital in the same town she lives, so she is away from her kids. as if that isn't enough, she's got more heartache coming, she knows about this one, but its not any easier.  I talked to her today for a while and we both cried. I absolutely hate this for her. she's the kind of friend you don't have to see or even talk to for a long, long time but you just pick up right where you left off like it was yesterday. she is one of the sweetest people I know. she needs some prayers today, tomorrow, and probably for a while to come. 

arguing with myself

Today has been a yuck day. Nothing really bad, just a yuck day. Especially for a Friday. This whole building a house thing is making me crazy (when really I should just be thankful we are being given the opportunity) I took a test and got a B (I should be glad I passed) Sis has an ear infection (she could have the flu) I have LOTS of paperwork piled up that I need to be doing but the kids won't let me (we are all together, relatively healthy & happy) My grandpa is home from the hospital and doing better. My grandmother, however is not. (we still have both of them with us) I know in my heart that all is good. My head just keeps arguing :/

holding pattern

My monday morning plans of sleeping in didn't quite go as expected. My phone rang at 6:30 am. Never a good thing when you aren't expecting it. My grandpa was on his way to the ER. That was a little over 9 hours ago and he is still in the ER. They are admitting him for pneumonia but there aren't any rooms so he's just hanging out. When they did the x rays & the dr. came in to talk to them he said his lung cancer is now stage 4 & has spread to his stomach. He isn't in any pain but his heart rate is really high and his pulse ox is staying about as low as they will "let" it without intervention. I can't go up there with all the kiddos this time of year so I'm having to hang out & wait too. I feel guilty for not visiting with him more often. We had plans to go out there today.
We have been waiting to put a hole in the gorund for a few weeks now but because of all the new paperwork that is required its taking a little longer than we were told. So, we are just hanging out & waiting. In the mean time I have started back to school for the spring semester. I have 2 classes but one of them is only until March 3. Can you say ExCiTeD??!! I won't know what to do if I only have to keep up with one set of assignments :) It does however require clinical hours so that will be an adjustment, and it is in an area that I'm not so crazy about, but still, only a little bit compared to what I've been doing. Kiddos are all good, tired of being confined, but good. Little man takes 2 steps forward and 1 step back but overall going in the right direction. Sis is 4 going on 14! Speck got his braces today. We go Thurs for a consult with the ear surgeon to schedule #3. And he has to go see the oral surgeon about getting his wisdom teeth out.

already behind

I have lots of pics but for some unknown reason both of my cameras are on the blilnk. One is currently in line to be repaired and the other is still sitting on the shelf while I decide whether to fix it or replace it. Anyway, pics are locked up at the moment :(
We celebrated Christmas at my grandparents house Christmas Eve and Christmas morning then headed to LR to see the inlaws. We made it just in time before the snow hit and to enjoy the power outage! We hung out Wed then headed home Thurs afternoon. The kiddos stayed to visit while hubby and I went to CO with some friends. We skiied and ate really good food and it was SUPER DUPER COLD (-12). We came home and sis turned 4. WHAT?! How.Did.That.Happen??? One sad mommy. This is the first time I've had a 4 year old without being pregnant or having a new baby. So far no sympathy from anybody around here ;)
I start back to school 1/14. Not ready for that yet either but don't think I have a choice. I'm spending this week working on a to do list hubby gave me a while ago. I thought mabye if I igorned him he would go away. No such luck. Knock on wood, nobody has been very sick. Just coughing and runny noses. Thank goodness. There are lots of people who are though, work has called a minimum of 2 times every day trying to get me to come in. Not nice, I know, but I really don't want to spend any extra time at the hospital right now.
We are still struggling with Little Man and his lack of self control. We've tried all suggestions and so far no luck. This too shall pass. It just doesn't feel like it right now.
Speck's mouth is just about to run away with itself. I'm sure its a combination of age and being so confined. I love them anyway.
We started the new year off with a big bang, trying to make a dent in our deductibles. Between the three of them they had 7 cavities and 3 crowns. It wasn't a fun last few days of break! & Speck gets his braces Monday then to the oral surgeon for a consult on wisdom teeth. Never a dull day around here, just gotta remember to slow down and enjoy ALL of it, even the yuck stuff.

4.0

I have NEVER EVER been able to say that I was a straight A student. Guess being 36 instead of 18,  responsible for the bill yourself and a role model to 3 kids makes you push a little harder. Whatever the reason, I made all A's this semseter!!! I am just a little bit excited since I was ready to quit about 6 weeks ago. Merry Christmas to me a couple of weeks early ;)

only one

thats it. thats all thats left. 1 more exam.  I have an A in both of my classes. I feel confident one will remain that way but the other, probably not. I have an 800 point cumulative final.  O well, After this week I am not going to know what to do with myself.  Thats a good thought anyway. We closed on our land last week and hubby says he's starting ASAP. I go back to school Jan 14 so he says I have 5 weeks to get it all together. No pressure. Lets just throw Christmas in there... and I have absolutely nothing to do ;) And we were invited to go on a last minute trip with some friends of ours and that kind of has me a little wound up. I want to go, but I am a planner. I don't do well getting 25 days notice, guess I have to learn to just go with it. Really, in the scheme of it all, those are minor details. Ones that I am thankful to have the chance to deal with.
My grandpa went back to the oncologist. His original cancer is the same. No bigger, no smaller. But there are 2 new tumors. One in his sinus cavity and one on his kidney. They had to put their (my cat that they inherited) to sleep this week. Its about to be more than they can take.
Little man is still having a hard time. We put him in wrestling with hopes that it will be a good outlet for him.
Speck gets his braces any day now. And some orthotics in his shoes on Thurs. He is super duper flat footed and has a lot of pain.
Sis just gets sassier by the day!
Hubby leaves for the last of his big hunting trips this week. And I work dayshift tomorrow, then I'm off til Jan 10.
Nothing too extraordinary around here.

36 days & NOT mom of the year

Yep, I'm not getting any kind of award anytime soon. I missed Sisters first field trip. Not because I didn't know about it but because I just couldn't make it with all that I have at school right now. Little man has had a hard time adjusting to the move so we planned a skip day for just us. He ended up with my mom because I had to work on school. I missed his Halloween party because I didn't know about it. Ends up my oldest one wanted to dress up and didn't  tell me till about 5:30 the night of trick or treat. I havent talked to anyone much less seen anyone since, um,  I don't know how long.  I'm pretty sure its going to be the death of me. This is one of those classes that you have to have before you can move on. A specific "order" to things I guess you could say. My issue with it, besides the fact I just cannot do it, is that its stupid. I will NEVER EVER use it again. If it had something to directly do with patient care I would understand the necessity. But its not. even. close. and to make it even better, my instructor is one of those really really book smart people without any common sense. I spent 2 hours talking to him yesterday and I am no better off than I was before. I've had 3 tutors that couldn't even begin to do it. I have finally found one that is pretty good. The problem is making our schedules fit.  I have quizzes due Fri, Sat, Sun, a 100 point test Mon and a 400 point test Thurs. I was supposed to work today but instead I am sitting in front of the computer without a clue.  And this will be my routine for the next 36 days.