Milestones

OMG!!! Well, my first big brag is that Sweet Pea lost her first tooth and isn't even 5 yet!!!! She went into to get her permanent molars sealed. She's got 3 in already, one more to go. The hygienist bumped the already extremely loose teeth and suggested I pull them tonight. They were so loose while I was buckling her up, I asked her if she wanted me to pull one out. I was shocked when she said yes! It came out so fast and a little blood with some gauze to catch it and it was done! I was weepy in the car and now writing this. O M G...... she's growing up so, so fast! Happy and sad at the same time! We're waiting for Daddy to get home for the surprise! Yes, I've already taken pictures but I don't have my downloading thingamajig.....I think for some reason, it's at work.....arrrghhhh! So I'll be posting pictures tomorrow....sometime.

I've got to work again tomorrow, I've got two projects to work on. This hasn't happened in a while so I'm a little motivated and happy!!

This morning I applied to a school for a Masters of Arts Degree to teach Secondary Schools (grades 6-12), or something like that. I ordered my transcripts to be sent to both the school and myself. After hearing and reading what is what was needed to obtain my teaching certificate, I have this quiver in my stomach that I won't even come close to what would be necessary and I'll have to take a ton of make up courses. Let's just say that I am NOT a good test taker. I attended EVERY college class sober, none hung over, none sick. I believed I missed one day of school, which was one class, the entire four years of college. It was always such a challenge for me, school that is. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Geography and Environmental Planning. If I ever wanted to improve my grades in school, I always took a math or art class. Geography intrigues me. I found it interesting, the locations, the cultures, the everything.....I loved social studies in school and subscribed to National Geographic. I had researched into this once before. A couple of years ago, maybe even three before Handsome was born. I didn't have much spousal support then and not too much now, but I think I owe it to myself to do a little research to see what it would take.

Today my brother is going on a hiking/rafting adventure on the Nile River in New Zealand. I find it ironic that one Brother is currently on a National Geographic trip to New Zealand and his twin Brother thought it was awesome to go on an Alaskan cruise including a helicopter trip to a glacier. I heard all about what I had learned in school, but no one wanted to hear about it then......ironic isn't it? Guess I'll just have to dream about trips like that........for now.....

New Zealand

Remind me to tell you about lucky people and New Zealand. Long story short, my Brother and Sister in Law won a National Geographic Trip to New Zealand. This is where they are today the Abel Tasman National Park!

(Photo taken by Steffen Hillebrand, near Totaranui, Abel Tasman National Park, NZ)

Information Night

Tonight I'm heading to a local college to see what it will take to be a teacher. I'd like to teach High School, would love art, but will settle for earth science. I've had enough goings on with work, and this afternoon again I've been told there's a 'big board meeting'. My brain hurts with all the meetings that have occurred already. The aftermath of these meetings, usually 1-2 months later, there are lay-offs. My luck they'll let me go and I'll have begun my schooling. There's a program that I can attend that'll take 18 months (or so) and $20K.....got that in my back pocket.....right! I'm a big believer in signs so perhaps this IS the best time to do this. The very least I can do is get my transcripts and go over them with a counselor.

I wasn't that fantastic of a student. My grades kind of blew in college and if I needed to pick up my grades, I took an Art class or a Math class. Studying for tests and stress wipes me out mentally and I usually end up with stress headaches after tests and long days. I'm having one right now, but I'm not sure why THAT is....

So here's a picture of the kids from Halloween.




The picture was taken BEFORE Handsome took a header into the neighbor's driveway. He slipped on his trick-or-treat bag and face-planted in the driveway. Nothing makes you feel crappier than hearing that echo of a thud when your child's head hits something so hard. He didn't even get to say trick-or-treat. My poor sweet boy! Sweet Pea and I traveled the neighborhood, but I was anxious the entire time just wanting to get home. Thankfully, the weather was cold and it went fast. His badge of courage is road rash next to his mouth and a little on his lip. I have no idea how he missed falling on his nose, chin, and not hurting himself more than he did.

I'm Done with My Break

Yes, I know dear sweet blog that I've avoided you for too long!
Perhaps my funk is over. Perhaps I'm on a new mission. Perhaps I'm super jealous of my brother and sister-in-law who are on a trip to New Zealand through National GEographic that they won last year! Today they are adventuring in a Winery! Man, oh man. A lot is going on in others lives, but not so much my own. Guess I have to creat drama. Although I can't complain as I love, love, love being at home with the kids!

I'm going to start researching going back to school for teaching.....High School. Who wants to try and talk me out of it? Stand in line, right behind Husband.....
The only other news I've got going on is that I'm on week 4 of "from couch potato to 5k". I have no races that I'm signed up for as of yet, but I'd love to be down to pre-pregnancy BEFORE Sweet Pea turns 5! That means about 6 more weeks! Whoah!

So my decision today has been to make the call to see what would be involved for me to get my teaching certificate..... If i do this, I had researched it would take $20K and a year and a half of night school.......here we go...

Susie Homemaker?

Nope, not Susie Homemaker, nor Martha Stewart nor Betty Crocker could create this kind of crap. I have to make mini-cupcakes for Sweet Pea's Tea Party for her Preschool......My first attempt at the mini cupcakes included under cooking just enough for the muffins to be cooked, but NOT to come out of the tin. My second attempt even got more creative as I went in the direction of new and unusual. I had tried to make cupcake filled mini ice cream cones. The result was what looked like a melted ice-cream cone, which I thought was pretty funny, but not to send to preschool with my Mom and daughter tomorrow.

It's been pouring all day the house was a wreck and now it's a semi-wreck. I still have to cook dinner, work for work (because I've become sort of a slacker - it happens when there isn't any work) AND attempt to cook mini-muffins again.......I've got nothing but time on my hands.

I'd love to post more, but I've avoided work far too long!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Well, for the past two weeks I've been healing and so has Handsome. My recovery from vericose vein surgery went relatively smoothly. I'm still bruised and I think two areas of stitching were rather deep and will probably scar, but what can you do? I feel as if I have aged, only because who, before they are 40, gets vericose veins removed in their leg?!?!?!? The awesome news is that even though there's been some wicked weather, hot, cool, cold, raininy, snowy, my leg has never felt better! Weee! I was shocked when insurance said yes, I was just preparing for a long battle after they said 'no' to the surgery, but they didn't! I and the ladies in the Dr.s office were shocked. Hooray for Husband's Insurance coverage!

Handsome's surgery is another delicate matter, literally. Regarding that surgery I will only say, I'm so glad we did it now that he's so young and not do it when he's older.......The recovery is very difficult in such a sensitive area, but he's such a sweet little boy, most of the day you'd never know he had surgery a week ago!
You know, they say kids heal faster, but I can't imagine how long it would take to heal if he were older! He shivers at every diaper change.....my poor sweet strong little man! I'm still nervous about everything healing appropriately and avoiding infection, they say the percentage of the area becoming infected is remote....but as a Momma, you still worry! By the way, I wouldn't recommend having ANY parents remove the 'bandage' as it comes off after surgery, it was heart-wrenching......the nurses prepared us well and said to just keep going and get it over with.....we did it, or Husband did it.....

I'm guessing he'll be able to handle a drive down to St. Louis for Easter. I'm looking orward to happy posts!

An aroma from a certain diaper is calling, I bid you farewell for today!

Don't Ask Don't Tell

Just forget about the weight thing for now.....it just seems like I have no time for exercise and with a 'procedure' coming up later this month, I have no desire. I am trying to eat right and I've given up candy for the Lenten season.....It's everywhere at work, many of my favorites.....it's my downfall to my diet......Jolly Rancher's, little Snicker snack thingys, and I even eyed some Twizzlers at my Brother In Law's this past Sunday. It's everywhere and they are all against me!

In the realm of good news, we got our taxes done. The bad part being Husband wants to shove it all in savings where I'd love to pay off some credit card debt. Not that it's bad mind you, but I'm at the highest I've ever been. I did talk him into contributing to the kid's savings. They deserve it!

I've banished myself to a torture budget, which I unknowingly kicked to the curb last week and went $57 OVER budget. I only get $93 this week to make up for last week's insane purchase frenzy. That probably sounds like a lot, but with diapers, dog food, etc. last week was a crazy spending fiasco. Husband insists he'll be paying for the food for Handsome's birthday party....we'll see.

Husband is on my poop list. We, when I say we, I mean HE, had a company come out two weeks ago to measure our basement windows for covers so that skunks will no longer spray in our window wells. I received what I thought was a quote for the covers, $710 for 3 window covers with metal grates. Husband went out to look at the windows as I had pleaded with him to check out the local hardware store as they were $80 each , but were only the plastic part.......he comes back inside and asks if my father installed covers. I say no. Apparently I didn't read a quote, I read an INVOICE!!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Holy $hit! We just spent $400 more than we should have!!??!!? We never authorized the work, but conveniently, they are EXACTLY what Husband wanted......... I so would've rather paid off more of my credit card bill!!!!!! I'm not letting Husband off too easily as I told him to give them a call and tell them we NEVER authorized the work......::Note to self, NEVER LET HUSBAND SET ANYTHING UP IN THE FUTURE!!!!::

In the children department, if someone would tell me what I can do to make my child eat normal food, it would be much appreciated. Handsome is still on a refusal to eat anything that will make me gag diet(perhaps I should try this), which includes any solid food that involves chewing. Pasta is alright, hot dogs are alright, yogurt, ice cream, puffs, my choices are limited. I think it's time to break out the blender and start pureeing some chicken so at least he'll eat it......

Sweet Pea has had an attitude lately. I can't seem to find the right method to counteract it. I can't get her in time out to save the life of me and I've threatened spankings. I won't spank her as now that seems to be the easy way out. How do you reason with a four year old? I'm not giving up......I know 50% is my fault.......Not that she's terrible mind you, I get compliments on how wonderful she is......just not in the safety of her own home where she can be herself! ::wink:: Oh, she's also a crappy eater. I could give both of my children ice cream and cake for dinner and they would both still eat horribly.