phew!

Wow! What a week and I survived. I know I can do hard things, it's just not very fun at the time. Now looking back I can see it was good for me, I learned a lot and boy am I glad it's over. Here was my past week
Tuesday~ last class for Abnormal Psyc (LOVED the class but I will try to never do a 3 credit class in 8 weeks again, holy cow a ton of information in a VERY short period of time)
Wednesday night~Math mid-term
Thursday morning~Psyc Final
Thursday day~ Pathophysiology quiz
Thursday night~ class
Friday & Saturday~ I completed an entire online class. I don't recommend it. It was AWFUL! It was one of those filler classes that I needed the credit for. It was a self paced class which was great except I happen to be the worlds worst procrastinator with the easy stuff. That stuff can be done later, I don't have time right now. I can justify it any way I need to. So it was all due by midnight Saturday night. oops. Didn't quite mean to procrastinate that long. Oh well it's done.
Sunday~Day of rest. I struggled with this one. I went back and forth a million times in my head. I had a HUGE midterm in my pathophysiolgy test due by Monday afternoon. I knew there was no way I could take it on monday with kids running around playing, doing carpool to and from school, etc but I have NEVER done homework on Sundays. I know I am blessed because that's the choice I have made. I know I'm able to learn more and get more accomplished because I make that sacrifice. But I also had the dialog in my head of I can't do it on Monday, one Sunday won't hurt, most students study on Sunday and they do great in their classes. On top of the exam I also had 6 hours of lecture video still to watch and 38 assignments to hand in. So in my head I knew I couldn't accomplish all of it on Monday. I decided to stick to my promise I had made and rest on Sunday. My body needed it, my soul needed it and it was a great affirmation that by doing what I know is right I am blessed. I went to bed early Sunday night and woke up in the middle of the night Monday morning. For those of you that know me know that was NOT an easy thing. I need my sleep! I reviewed for a few hours, took my exam and did so much better than I could have asked for and turned in part of my assignments. I went back to bed until everyone had to be up for school and work, got everyone off and I started back in with the lecture and assignments. I know our home was blessed yesterday. I know the kids got along better, and everything went smoother because I had made the choice to do what I knew I needed to. I'm thankful for personal revelation and for a wonderful husband that supports and helps more than any husband should have to. I'm also thankful for new beginnings. That Sunday was my fresh start. I have a new calender and day plan set out for myself that will work better for our family and my school work. So here's to trying again, being better and doing better!

PS as a reward my boots came in the mail today. I LOVE them even more than I thought I would. They are brown so now I'm on the lookout for a black pair. I love this style so much I may order them in black to if I can find them in my size. PPS have you ordered from Piperlime? So nice, no shipping (free return if you need that too BONUS!) and my boots came wrapped so pretty with my invoice in a pretty little thank you card. It made me feel all special.

Physiology

I have 10 hours of these videos to watch by Friday. Try to contain your jealousy. While watching videos last night my dear husband was listening and turned to me and said "Seriously, what do doctors know that nurses don't. It sounds like you have to know more about these reactions and physiology of the body than they do." Yep, pretty much sums it up.

Makes me Happy 2

My babies crib. This makes me happy for many! reasons. This crib has been the safe comfy place I've placed all three of my beautiful babies. This crib symbolizes the miracles I have in my home. I don't walk by this crib without being grateful, humbled, amazed and Happy.

Makes me Happy

My sewing machine and cute new quilts being put together make me happy.
This is inspired from Miranda over at Narrating Life.

Diet Soda

Right now in my Consumer Nutrition class we are studying Carbohydrates!! (insert people running in fear now) Carbohydrates have gotten a very BAD rap with the fad diets that have gone around. Sure too much of anything is not a good thing and of course the way a lot of people get their carbs is not ideal but they are necessary and if done the right way are quite good for you and can help with weight loss, weight management and overall health.
The number one thing I see for people trying to cut out calories and carbs is Diet Soda. (This is where I run off screaming.)
The thing about Diet Soda I was surprised to learn was the Acceptable Daily intakes. I seriously thought there were major mistakes in my book. What do you think?
Diet Cola with aspartame~ Daily Acceptable Intake 18-19 12 ounce cans
Diet Cola with Sucralose (splenda)~ Daily Acceptable Intake 6 12 ounce cans
Lemon-lime with Acesulfame-K ~ Daily Acceptable Intake 30-32 12 ounce cans

Health/Nutrition Topics

So I've been trying to figure out a way to combine what I'm studying in school and this good ol blog. I can't do sewing tips Saturday or Organization Wednesday. Those things you will find on much better blogs than mine. Something I do love and feel like I can carry on a conversation about is Nutrition and Health. I LOVE my classes in school that actually apply to my program. I love some of the generals too but for different reasons. Nutrition and Health are my baby. I love to learn. If someone told me I had to choose between being a Nurse or studying Nutrition I would have a VERY hard time. They are both so important to me and my family and I think they play hand in hand to each other.
So I'm going to do this once a week for now and see how it goes. I would LOVE questions or topics you would like to know about or for us to discuss.

Breathe!

I keep thinking life is going to get easier. I'm going to get more organized. I'm going to fit all the things into one day that I want to accomplish.
My list
Blog More
Study More
Sew More
Scrapbook More
Spend more time with the kids
Craft More
Clean More
Organize More
Dejunk More
Exercise More
Play More
Eat Better (aka NOT more HA!)

This semester in school I am taking 18 credits (!!!! insert scream here, I know WHAT was I thinking!) and surprisingly it's going better than I could have ever imagined. Don't get me wrong it's still crazy especially since one of those 3 credit classes that is supposed to be over a 16 week semester I am taking in a "speed course" so it's done in 8 weeks. It is SO much information and work in a short 8 weeks. I'm just trying to stay afloat in the rest of my courses and will play major catch up when I take my final for this class next week.
It has been quite the balancing act, school and family. My trick, everything else, and when I say everything I mean EVERYTHING has been put on the back burner. I quit all my extracurricular activities (as a mom there weren't very many). I wanted my "extra" time to be good quality time with my family. If I'm not at school I am home with them. When I am home I am home and PRESENT. This has been really good for me, not so good for my blog, facebook, message boards. When I walk in the door after class I am home. My phone gets put on the counter, the laptop gets docked and I am a mom. We play games, we dress up, we color or do art, we go on walks to look for as many different rocks as we can find, it's been fabulous! After I tuck my little ones in bed (on the nights I don't have class) I spend some time talking and catching up with my wonderful supportive hubby and then it's off to study I go. I only have class two nights a week and my class starts at bedtime so I still get to have dinner, do homework and bath time with my kids. Dad gets to do bedtime stories and prayers those nights. The rest of my classes are online (except for my one that ends next week).
So while I have a huge list of things I would LIKE to be doing I know for right now I'm doing what I SHOULD be. So while I have the cutest stack of fabric sitting in a pile in my dining room ready for my next 3 quilts it will have to wait.
(This is where I would add in a cute picture of my three beautiful kids that I do this for or of the super cute fabric I just talked about but I'm blogging from my NEW laptop my sweet hubby bought for me for school and I don't have our camera software on here yet to upload pictures so I'll have to add those another day!)
PS Stay Tuned for baby's first birthday posts. The planning of this party started before she was born. I'm a little excited to have a October birthday in our little family. I figure I can either cry about my baby turning one or I can embrace it. I'll probably do a little of both ;)

For all the little Princesses

Miss Busy is really having fun with dressing up. She has had all our old Halloween costumes out and she changes costumes a million times a day. When I saw this giveaway I fell in love with the dresses. I want one for my size but since they don't have them I'll have to live through Miss Busy.

Boots

I am on the hunt for some cute (not a million dollars) boots for fall. I love these http://www.flickr.com/photos/pioneerwoman/4970656773/ that the Pioneer Woman has on. I also love the pairs my friend has posted on her blog here. Does anybody have any recommendations on stores or places online to look?

Go Figure

Me so glad to have my babies back in my arms after a long three days in the hospital without them.

I have been crazy busy this week with my first week of classes (16 credits! I know, seriously I don't know what I was thinking) and I had my Nursing School Entrance Test scheduled for today. So between class, studying, notes, homework, studying for the BIG TEST! I also still have to be a mom to my three beautiful babies. I try really hard for my school to not effect their lives. I want them to still get the one on one time with me and the craft time, puzzles, games. They know I'm in school but as far as they are concerned all that means is dad puts them to bed two nights a week. It's quite the juggling act but I feel so much better being a mom first.
This week has been more of a juggling act since I'm the only one that has started school. My whole routine and schedule I have planned out is for when Turbo and Miss Busy start.
So this week I've been rocking my crazy hair, no make up and comfy yoga pants. Well yesterday I decide we need to get the last of back to school shopping done and to make it fun I took the kids to their favorite lunch spot before we headed into the craziness. Why is it when you are all done up in the cutest outfit you don't see anybody but the second you walk out of the house rocking the messy bun and no makeup suddenly there's everyone from high school. Yeah yesterday at our lunch spot a girl that I blog stalk is there and she looks cuter than cute. NO way am I going to be like "hey remember me I'm the girl that emailed you about the local bakery". I just tried hiding in my little corner. Then I see at least 3 people I went to high school with. Totally awesome. That's life I guess.
PS SOO glad to have the test over with. Off to enjoy the weekend with my little family. Turbo starts school on Monday.

New

I just ordered one of these and I'm so excited. I've added it into my shopping cart numerous times the past few weeks but for whatever reason never checked out. I have something about the same size that I carry with me and write thoughts and journal in but it's mostly bigger/longer stuff so I'm excited to have a place to jot down my little things every day.

Looking Fierce

I just had to share this picture of my sister and I. We were hanging out at my Aunt & Uncle's 50th wedding anniversary party and both gave our fierce look. I'm also playing around with my watermark so you may see that changing around.

Lovin

Just really loving me some sunshine, a nice cold coke (no not diet), and kissing on my sweet baby. Oh how I wish I could bottle her up. I hope she never gets tired of her momma kissing those cheeks.

Anniversary~Part 1

I have spent a lot of time these past few weeks thinking about 14 years ago. It was exactly 14 years ago that I found out there was a reason to me always feeling sick. It would take 4 long months to give that reason a name and start treatment. I was a junior in High School and for one of my classes we went to the health fair in the gym. We had to go to each booth and get the information and have it signed off that we visited the booth. I remember making my way around and getting things signed but not paying attention. My friends and I were talking and enjoying not having to sit through class. It's amazing how moments of time are frozen into our brain. I couldn't tell you what class I was in or who my teacher was but I can tell you what the nurse looked like at the blood pressure station and what her face looked like after she took my blood pressure. I can remember word for word what she said to me. To this day I am thankful for that nurse. She did her job that day. (Which you would be AMAZED at how many don't) She saw a 16 year old girl with crazy high blood pressure and she made sure she said something about it. ***Side note, I have had my blood pressure taken a million times since that day and I can't tell you the number of times I've had a nurse tell my my blood pressure is 126/72. Which is fine for me because I know my blood pressure and I know that's not true, but what it does is piss me off for the rest of the people that might have a problem or not have the perfect blood pressure but think they do because a nurse is lazy and not doing her job.
The nurse that day took my blood pressure and looked at me and I could tell she was going over the numbers in her head. She wrote them down and looked a little puzzled. She asked me if my blood pressure was usually high and I being a 16 year old girl said "I don't know". So she took it again. Still high. She then sat in front of me and said, Your blood pressure is really high which is very uncommon for someone your age. It could be stress from school or something you ate but you must go home and tell your parents to make you an appointment with your doctor ASAP.
It's amazing I listened. I heard every word and I went home that day and told my mom what she said and asked for her to make me an appointment.

*This is a long story and I've wanted to get it into writing for 14 years. This experience and disease have made me who I am and has taught me many things. I'm going to split it up over the next few posts.

Neglected

Wow this poor neglected blog. I've been thinking for quite awhile now of posts. If only I could link the ones in my brain to blogger, it would save me so much time. I've been having fun going back and reading old posts on my blogs and I'm amazed at how much I've forgotten. It's really sad. So I've been promising myself I'm going to get back in the habit of blogging. It's mostly the time thing. Chasing after three kids, keeping up on house, errands, soccer, church, etc and then wanting time with my hubby and to relax I haven't found which thing to take time away from yet. It's a big balancing act so hopefully I can find the right balance. Isaac is 5 and just started soccer so I guess that officially makes me a soccer mom. Gracie is 3 going on 16 and makes me laugh every day. That girl keeps me on my toes. She is very much looking forward to her birthday in a few weeks. My sweet, sweet Lucie. She grounds me, she reminds me how beautiful life is and how very, very near we are to Heaven. I'm so thankful to be their mom.