5 Question Friday 21/10/2010

1. Do you open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? We do a little of both.

2. What is your favorite Christmas cookie or candy? I would have to say Peppermint Bark. That is my all time favorite candy.

3. What is the worst Christmas gift you have ever recieved?
I dont think that it was necessarily a bad gift.....I just hate it when you put all this effort into someone's gift and they buy you the first thing that they could grab off the gas station shelf. I don't want to sound like I don't appreciate things because believe me I do. It just stinks when you think so much of someone and work really hard to get them something fantastic and they are just like they did it so you wouldnt cry or they forgot.

4. What is the Christmas song you love? The "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas" Silly I know but I love this song.

5. How many Christmas trees do you put up? One

On the menu Monday

Tater Tot Casserole

1-2lbs of lean hamburger
1 lg size bag of frozen tater tots
3-4 cans of mushroom soup
4-8 cups of shredded cheese

First you cook the hamburger meat. Then you mix the hamburger meat with the mushroom soup. You spread the mixture in the bottom of a baking pan then put half of your cheese sprinkled over the mushroom soup hamburger meat mixure. Then spread the tater tots out evenly over the mixture. Then put the rest of the cheese over that and bake approximately 30 minutes or til the cheese bubbles. Let cool 10 minutes and serve. My kids love it. All of them. They usually cover with ketchup but all 4 eat it and ask for seconds.

Songful Sunday 12/5/2010 reading the lyrics explains it all

Forgiven by Sanctus Real

Well the past keeps playing with my head
and failure knocks me down again
I'm reminded of the wrong
That I have said and done
And that devil just won't let me forget

In this life
I know what I've been
but in your arms
I know what I am

(chorus)
I'm forgiven, I'm forgiven
I don't have to carry the weight of who I've been
Cause I'm forgiven

My mistakes are running through my mind
And I'll relive my days, in the middle of the night
When I struggle with my pain, wrestle with my pride
Sometimes I feel alone and I cry

In this life
I know what I've been
but in your arms
I know what I am

(chorus)
I'm forgiven, I'm forgiven
I don't have to carry the weight of who I've been
Cause I'm forgiven

When I don't fit in and I don't feel like I belong anywhere
when I don't measure up to much in this life
I'm a treasure in the arms of Christ cause

(chorus)
I'm forgiven, I'm forgiven
I don't have to carry the weight of who I've been
Cause I'm Forgiven

6 word Saturday

****4 tests, sick boys= utterly exhausted.******

This week was so busy and tiring. I am so glad that it is over.

5 Question Friday 12/3/2010

1.What is at the top of your holiday wish list and why? I would like some new clothes. I don't get to get them very often and I really need them badly. I spend most of my time making sure that the kids have everything they need, that I often forget about myself.

2. What is your favorite Christmas gift from the past and why? My favorite would be my engagement ring from my husband for obvious reasons. :)

3. If you had to do life over, what would you be and why? If I had to do it over I would be doing what I am now only I would have done all this before I had kids. I would be an instructor right now so that I would have a 8-5 job and still have plenty of time with my kids. Those of you that know me know that right now I am working on being a nurse right now.

4. When do you put up your tree? We don't really have a tradition. We just put it up when we feel in the mood.

5. What is your favorite holiday? Mine would have to be Valentines Day. I love Christmas but there is always so much stress around the holidays and people that aren't nice to you fake it. People have lost touch of what Christmas is about. Its not about presents. Its about Jesus!
Valentines is special because I had my oldest daughter around then and my anniversary is right around there also. There is not as much stress and more genuine feelings around that holiday.

Thankful Thursday 12/2/2010

I am very thankful for my husband. I don't know what I would do without him.

He has made me his priority. I sometimes forget to do that. He takes care of me and does it without complaint. We have been together for almost 6 years now. We have been married for almost 3 years. I don't know where I would be without him. He also gave me my boys. I don't know where I would without them either. To him no matter how small my dreams have been or expensive he has managed to help me complete them all. I love this man.

Wordless Wednesday of Christmas Past.....

This was the year Taylor was a reindeer for a School Program. She looks so young there.

5 Question Friday 11/26/2010

1. What is your favorite part of a Thanksgiving meal? My favorite part of the meal is the brocoli cheese casserole.

2. Are you a host or a guest for Thanksgiving this year? I was a guest. I love having that role.

3. When you think of one Thanksgiving tradition, what comes to mind? Doing the dishes after eating dinner at my grandma's. Ever since we were old enough to reach the sink and load the dishwasher it was our job. For some reason it doesn't bother me to do it there but I hate doing dishes at home.

4. You have two pieces in front of you and you had to eat one, which one would you choose...Pumpkin or Pecan pie? I would definitely chose Pecan.

5. Are you a Black Friday shopper?
I most certainly am now that I have kids. I have 4 and to get them decent gifts, I have to be. This year was my favorite. Not because of the people pushing me over or tearing my jeans, it was the people that I went with.

Thankful Thursday on Thanksgiving

I know that this one will be kinda cheesey so if that bothers you don't read it. I am truly thankful for the life and opportunities that I have been given. I have the perfect marriage. My husband and I are exact opposites and when they said that opposites attract they were right. We fight just like everyone else does but that is healthy. He is the one person that I can't imagine living without.
I am thankful for my best friend and her family. They have embraced us as their own. In fact they call me sister and my kids call them nana and papa. She and her family have been in my life for 17 years now. I don't know what I would do without her and her family.
I am thankful that my kids are happy. They do not require much to make them happy. It doesn't require a penny to make them happy. Almost everything they love doesn't require a thing.
I am also thankful that I am getting to pursue my dream. I have wanted to be a nurse for a while now and I am doing it. I can't believe that I am in college and am on my way to becoming a nurse. My dream is to one day become an instructor. I can't waite. I am thankful for so many things that I could go on and on forever but these are some of the most important things. I hope that you all have a Happy Thanksgiving.

5 question Friday

1. What Christmas song do you loathe? Grandma got ran over by a reindeer. I don't really loathe this song but out of all the songs this is my least favorite. I love Christmas song. One of my favorites is "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas" I know I am a big kid.

2. Do you and your significant other snuggle at night or sleep on opposite sides of the bed? We start out cuddling but since we both toss and turn so much we end up on the opposite sides of the bed fighting over the blankets and pillows. I have to have 4 pillows to sleep with.

3. Have you ever had surgery? Only if you count my E-sure procedure. Not any major surgeries where they are removing organs.

4. When do you typically have your holiday shopping done? When I run out of money, if the money didnt run out I would probably continue to spoil the ones I love. I love to give presents.

5. If money were not an issue (and you HAD to pick one), what would your ultimate luxury be?
I would love a maid/chef. It would be nice to never have to cook or clean anymore.

Thankful Thursday....yet again a day late.

I am thankful for my children. I am very luck to have them. There are so many people that can't have children and I think that sometimes we may take that ability for granted. Even though I may get frustrated with them some times, all in all they are actually pretty well behaved. Just when I thought that they were getting at their worse in my eyes a stranger comes up to me and tells me that I have some well behaved children. I have learned so much from them and am sure will continue to do so. They are a perfect example of unconditional love. No matter how many times they get in trouble or how many times other people make them promises and forget, they love and forgive them without a question asked. I could learn from them. My kids are my world. Look around my house and you can tell. My house is what you would call a kid friendly home. I am not worried about anything getting broken, there is a toybox in my living room, the kids have a whole section of the cabinet that is just theirs i.e. it has art stuff in it and they are definitely not going without. I am very thankful for my kiddos. :)

Thankful Thursday...I know a day late but what can I say?

I am thankful for several things so let me get started....

I am thankful for my husband. I don't know what I would do without him in my life. He is right now working two sometimes three jobs so that I can fulfill my dream of becoming a nurse. I go to school full time and I don't have to work. I am very grateful for that. He never complains either.

I am thankful for my kiddos. They never cease to amaze me. I get a little frustrated with them from time to time just like any other parent does. I do have to admit that I have pretty good kids. My girls are honor roll students ( like their momma tee hee) They help me around the house when I ask them too and some time when I don't. Then my boys. I get to laugh so much with them. Nathaniel has a personality and he loves to entertain. If he knows it will make you laugh then he will do it again and again. He is my little jokester. Landon is just getting to do things. He is very active. He reminds me that if you are strong and keep trying your begining has nothing to do with your future. He had a rough start and you would not know it too look at him now.

I am also thankful for my extended "family". They have been with me since I was 12 years old. If I didn't have them in my life I don't know where I would be right now. They have watched out for me and accepted my kids for their family as well. They offer words of encouragement when they are needed. They also do things that are not necessary but we are always and will for ever be eternally grateful. I love them with all my heart and my kids do to.

5 Question Friday

1. What is the most physically painful thing that you have ever gone through???
It would have to be either the birth of my second son Nathaniel. The epidural didnt work right and the labor was a bit more intense with him. I didnt remember Taylors labor being that painful and my last child Landons labor wasnt as bad. Or when I had 2nd degree burns on my arm when I was 18. I had spilled a pot of boiling water on my arm at work. I have to admit I cried like a baby when that happened.

2. How much sleep do you get a night?
This is a tricky question....I go to be between 8-1130 depends if I have an exam to study for or have my early long clinical to do. If I have either of those I may lay in bed but wont sleep. I will lay there and stress over either knowing what is on the test or stress about not being on time for the clinicals. If you are late you dont get to stay.

3. How long did you believe in Santa Claus and how did you find out that he didn't exist?
I believed til I was about 9 years old. I found boxes to gifts that santa had left for us in my parents room. My sister got a bike that was neon green. It was my old bike painted and I saw the paint on the floor of my at the time step-dads garage.

4. What was the last movie you saw in the theater?
It was the Twilight movie Eclipse in June. It was a birthday present from my hubby :)

5. What do I wear to bed? Nothing......just kidding. I live in a house with 4 small kids that is not very appropriate. You never know when you are going to have to get up in a hurry and how could you possibly be in a hurry when you have to worry about putting clothes on. I wear Robbies boxers and one of his big t shirts usually. Sexy, I know tee hee :)

5 Question Friday

1. Who is the better cook you or your spouse? I cook better inside. He cooks better outside. If he was cooking I wouldn't complain, saves me from doing it.

2. How often do you talk to your mom? Hardly ever! Those of you that know me know why.

3. Are you adventurous in the kitchen or do you follow recipes? I have a couple of picky eaters so I tend to stick with the recipe.

4. Is your second toe bigger than your big toe? Yes

5. Do you dress up for Halloween? Occasionally but I am not going to this year.

Wordless Wednesday

From this to this God works miracles!

T minus 10 by 30

1. What was your biggest obstacle this week? Self discipline....I didn't do so hot this week. I do know where my weakness is this week. I plan to work on it. I have so much on my plate that it is getting hard to balance everything. I am not giving up because I have lost weight before and know that I can do it. I just have to apply myself more.

2. What has been my biggest help? I had an inspirational moment this week that sparked a new interest in my plans. I went to a Nursing graduation. We have to wear all white when we grad. I don't want to be up there in my current weight in all white scrubs. I will look like the Michelin tire man or stay puff marshmallow man. So now I am going to be more disciplined.

Nursing School Update October 2010

Well, as you know I have been in Nursing School full time since May 17th. We are on our second round of clinicals. We have started the Med Surge part of it. I am still in a Nursing Home but that is part of the rotation. We are now working similar hours of actual nurses. I am on a night rotation now. I have to say, I still love what I am doing. I have never felt better about a profession than I do right now. I love to help people and I love science and medicine. This is the perfect field for me. I have gotten to do actual skills on people that I thought wouldn't occur this early in the rotation. I have gotten to do a Foley Catheter, lots of injections although not enough. ( I love to give shots!) I have also gotten to do wound care which is also very interesting. If you can't stand blood and bone you shouldn't do this one. I have also done colostomy care but I could have lived without this experience. I have also messed with Peg Tubes which I liked. I have also got my first dose of the consequences of what happens if you are an advocate for the patients and doing what is right. Sometimes doing what is right is not very popular. I have experienced social isolation. This bothered me at first but I got over it. I didn't pay that much for school to make friends I am paying that to get an education. Someone did not do something they were supposed to and I had said something about it. Come to find out I was not the only one. None the less it was not popular with several people. I did the right thing and I am content with that but they weren't. I have learned to make my skin a little thicker. It comes with the territory. I am getting excited because we are almost at the half way point. Class work and studying for test is getting a little more difficult but it is mostly self discipline at this point. I need to study more but it is getting a little harder to want to do so. I have to say I am very grateful for my good grades. I have managed to stay on the Director's Honor Roll since I have started. I have also managed to keep my 100% attendance the last 4 months. I have missed 1 day since I have started. I am very proud of that. I hope you enjoyed reading this. There will be more to come.

5 Question Friday

1. What is your favorite Halloween candy? I don't like that candy that comes in the plain orange and black wrappers. I don't think that it has a brand name. Its gross.

2. Do you fold your socks? No just everyone elses

3. What is the one thing that you wished you worned about? The importance of getting your education before starting a family. Its possible but would have been alot easier.

4. What is the most significant difference between you and your significant other? Everything but they say opposites attract.

5. Use three words to discribe yourself. If your significant other is around ask him/her to describe you? loving caring and beautiful

T minus 10 by 30

1. Why do you want to live a healthier lifestyle? I don't want to end up like some of the patients that I am taking care of. I have all this information and I do have the ability so I need to take the initiative. I want to feel better. I'm tired of feeling like crap with no energy.

2. What do I hope to accomplish? I want to live a full productive life. I want to have the energy to play with my kids. I want to be able to shop anywhere for clothes.

3. How do I plan to accomplish this? I plan to make small changes here and there. I will drink more water. I am planning to take a multi vitamin. I will make better choices of what goes in my body.

5 Question Friday

1. What do you listen to while driving? I mostly listen to KXOJ 100.9. Its christian music. Once in a while i get in the mood for 80's and listen to 96.5. I even listen to classical when stressed. Weird combo, huh?

2. What does your dream house look like inside and out? My dream house would be in the country with enough rooms for all my kids and my and my husband to have a loft bedroom with a private balcony that has enough room for a couple of chairs to sit outside. I would also have an enormous porch with a porch swing. I would have a huge bathroom with a shower and a huge garden tub and one of those sinks that looks like a bowl sitting on a table. I would also have a huge living room with enough room for us to enjoy family activities together.

3. What is your least favorite thing about fall? That it has to end Fall and Spring are the perfect weather. I love the colors for both seasons.

4. Would you ever own a mini van? If you would have asked me a couple of years ago I would have said no but now YES!!!!!

5. Do you wash new clothes before wearing them? No

Five Question Friday

1. Did you have a pen pal when you were younger and where were they from???
I did have a pen pal it was a boy in New York.

2. If you could do one different job for a day what would it be? I am going to school to be a nurse but I would like to teach nursing one day.

3. Do you remember your biggest fear when you were a kid? I had a fear of the dark. Just being outside in the dark. It was alll those scary movies I watched when I was young.

4. What is the biggest waste of time? I think that the biggest waste is not getting all you can out of something that you paid for, like an education perhaps..

5. What is the oldest thing in your closet? I would have to say my winter coat. It is 8 years old.

Five Question Friday...answers

1. I think that I would want to have a French accent.
2. I have and can sleep anywhere as long as I'm comfortable and tired.
3. Being in the health care field you have to get over the fear of using a public bathroom otherwise your bladder would explode. I will not on the other hand use the bathroom at a public park. That is just straight up nasty.
4. I would want to be stuck in the elevator with....this one I think that I would have to pass. There are not many celebrities that I would want to spend time with.
5. I flew to Indiana for my first date with my husband. I would make that decision in a heartbeat. I love him!!!

Clinicals...nothing like how we practiced.

I promised that once I did a couple weeks of clinicals that I would give you an update of my progress. Right now I am currently Honors status with my grades. YEA ME!!!! Second of all dealing with real patients is nothing like we practiced or learned. Changing a colostomy bag on a dummy is a lot more pleasant than changing one that is full of poo and the patient wont quite playing with it making it a bigger mess for you too clean and putting them at risk for infection. Giving a bed bath to a plastic dummy is a lot easier than giving a bath to a 700 pound woman. You think when you are in school even though you know that it isn't like that in real life a part of you thinks that it will be similar to what you are doing in the lab skills part. It still will never prepare you for the first time you see someone butt naked that you didn't intentionally want to see. Or the first time that you have to give an injection and the patient screams because they didn't want to get a shot. Or when you are having to help hold up the 700 pound booty to get to a wound that is in the crevice of a fold in her butt. I really value my education and am very grateful that we were given a decent one but I am sooo glad that we do clinicals early on. I would hate to be a new nurse and to never have literally seen it all.

Answers to 5 question Friday.....

1. My first nightmare that I can remember happened shortly after we all watched Nightmare on Elm Street part 3. I had a dream about Freddy coming after me.

2. I really don't care for sports but I guess my favorite to watch would be Football.

3. I just wish I could pull off the entire ensemble. The costume jewelry boots and skinny jeans and the fashionable tops. Someday.....:0)

4. I made decent grades in high school. I wasn't valedictorian but now that I am in college I am making awesome grades now. I am currently honors status. We got our quarterly progress report today.

5. I like the gossip magazines like Life and Style and if I had the money I would subscribe to that one.

Nursing school update

Nursing school boot camp is almost over. We have two more weeks and then we start our clinicals. I am so excited. I have made it this far! I have been able to keep myself on directors honor roll and with 100 percent attendance this month. We have had some busy classes here lately. We have done catheters injections Peg tubes-giving meds in them. We have also pulled staples and stitches and of course the basic vitals. I have maintained a 97.5 in my skills. I am very proud of that. It shows I have the action behind my smarts. I am so excited. I have survived so many of the cuts. Our class started off with 41 and we are down to 23. I will keep you updated when we start clinicals.

Splash Pad

Somehow going to the splash pad seems to make everything seem ok in my kids eyes. Its amazing how a lot of water coming from some colorful pipes could make four kids so happy. This summer we have been taking the kids to the park and the splash pad a lot. Mostly because both of them are free but mostly because my kids enjoy it so much. I like the splash pad mostly because I can play with my kids in the water and no one will think differently about me. I must admit I enjoy the splash pad as much as they do. I also enjoy getting to see their smiling faces running around soaking wet but they are soooo happy. This melts my heart. I know that they are happy. They have had a blast there all summer. This summer there hasn't been as much free time since I have been in school but we are trying to keep them entertained while they are out of school but I am in. I have been a little selfish. I have also utilized the splash pad for some adult conversation. My best friend and I have been meeting at the splash pad to let our kids play and we also get to visit while they play. See who said a mom couldn't multi task? I have also made some new friends and my kids have also made some new friends this summer.

Nursing School

When they tell you that going to nursing school is hard they werent kidding. I am half way thru what they call nursing bootcamp. I have managed to make it this far and it has been quite a ride. I have had to do at least 2 hours a night if not more of homework or research or a project. I have managed to keep my grades up with an A average so far. I am very proud of that considering I have four kids and my husband isn't home at night because he works two jobs so that I dint have to work while I am in school. We had started our practicals in the lab learning the art of bedside care. This includes bed baths and changing the linens while the patient is in the bed and SRD's and transferring a patient for their bed to wheelchair and some others. I could go on forever about all this. I am learning that in Nursing school that you definitely have to learn to manage your time effectively. If you don't you will fail. Our class had a start of 41. We are now down to 28 or 29. We have lost quite a bit. We have also learned that if you don't show up you will fail too. There are several in our class that don't come to every class and or sleep in class and I am thinking why would you want to sleep when your education is right here in front of you and not to mention that it is very expensive and all you have to do is pay attention. You will learn a lot from the instructors. We have a wide variety of experience from the instructors. We have one that was in charge of the St. Francis Children's Hospital and one that did Labor and Delivery and one that did ICU. I am very excited about this career and life path that I was led to. God works in mysterious ways that is for sure. I am so glad that He intervened in our life when he did. Did I mention that my favorite subject so far is Anatomy and Physiology. Weird, HUH??? I did not do so well in high school in this subject but that is because I was more concerned about my social life than I was my education. Its not like that this time around. Its funny when you go to college and their will always be those people that act like they are still in high school. I made it clear from the very beginning...I am not here to make friends I am here to get an education, If I make some along the way great but I am not letting that be the focus of my life. I am doing this to help people and to provide a better choice of opportunities to my kids. I will try to keep you updated on my journey to becoming a nurse....

One year ago.....

One year ago at this time I was laying in my hospital bed with IVs everywhere and my kids with my mom and my husband sitting in the corner scared to death. It was about this time that we found out I had severe Pre Eclampsia and was experiencing all the symptoms (vision changes head aches...you get the point) As I lay there in my bed knowing what was going to transpire in 24 hours I was becoming nervous. I was in the hospital to deliver my last baby. Normally this would be a joyous occasion and it still was but the overwhelming fear in the pit of my stomach was growing. I was delivering him 5 weeks early. That is a scary thing. I have never had to deliver that early and I knew of the complications that were to come if things didn't go well. Just a couple days before I had an ultrasound and he looked normal and no cord around his neck. As the labor progressed I was becoming a little more calm probably because of the drugs and the wonderful nurse and husband that I had in the room. I wasn't worried until he came out. Landon was born at 4:05pm on June 3, 2009. He wasn't crying at first there was complete silence. The cord was around his neck. He was on the side of the fence that required him to be in the NICU and have his own support team. I got to see my son for 5 minutes at the most after all that pain and labor. His lungs were not developed like they should have been and he needed a lot of help. Almost two weeks later our little boy got to go home after proving he was a fighter and didn't want to be away from us. This is where I decided on what kind of nurse I want to be. I want to work on the Maternity floor or in the NICU. I am now enrolled in college to become an RN and to help people like they helped us. I am so grateful for everything and everyone at the NICU @ St. Johns. Its amazing how much can change in a year. You go from a really bad situation to now. I am so blessed to be here with a pretty healthy little one year old red headed boy. Things could have been so much worse.

First Couple of Days in School....

I am as many of you know enrolled in Nursing School full time. I also let you know that I have four kids to manage as well on my own while my husband works his second job so that I don't have to work. I have no idea how hard this is going to be but as of today I have a good idea. I got 16 books for the first three months and all I can say is WOW!!! We were informed that we will be getting more books as time goes on. I know that this will be hard and very time consuming. A lot of the ideas I had about nursing were not well informed but close. I now know why you charge a great deal for this education its not because you get an education but you are also paying for the experience that goes along with the education. I can say that finally I understand why nurses get paid the salary they do. It takes a lot to get that license and I am looking forward to the process and the experience that goes with it.

Tea Party for mom2

Today was a good day. I got to go and have a tea party with my daughter Taylor at school. Now this wasnt exactly like the ones we have at home. They actually had tea and not water and they served fruit, cake and cookies. This was a special treat from Taylor. I got to enjoy sometime with her at school. I got to meet other parents and talked to her teachers. It amazes me to what trouble that some teachers go through and how much of their own money is spent to help the kids do special things. I know that this could not have been cheap. I appreciate all the trouble that they went through to make us feel special. Thank you to all you teachers out there.

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Mommy the greatest Joy Ever!

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom

Big Build Fun

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Summer sounds...

Sitting on the grass just talking and I hear a faint sound that sounds like a music box and thought no not yet it hasnt gotten up to 90 degrees yet and the swimming pools arent open surely that cant be what I think it is.....nahhh. To my disbelief considering that I could barely hear it Nathan and Taylor come running up to me wanting to kow if I have cash they heard the ICE CREAM TRUCK. I cant believe it. The sound so faint to me was like a full marching band to my kids. They were so excited and believed that it was so close that it might as well be parked in my front yard. This is just one of my many trecks to chase the ice cream truck. I have taken the kids walking several blocks to find one because one of them heard it and said it was close by. My son has never gotten out of his Cozy Coupe Car so fast in his life. Now take this in mind that is his most prized posession and will go nuts if it ever broke, but he tore out of there like that car didnt matter. We have actually on purchased ice cream from the truck. They make a killing off these things. Oh how I am looking forward to the many suprises of the summer. I just thought that I would share just a glimps of what is to come this summer. Stay tuned to some of the many antics of the Goodins.

Nathaniel Logan Goodin

This is my son Nathaniel. Man has he been a trip. He was my first boy and let me tell you he has taught me a lot about boys. He has been a joy in my life since September 20, 2006. He is Robbie and I first son together. He helped bond us. He brought us closer to each other. He is very active. He has an imagination that you would not believe. He is very loving and already knows how to work his cuteness to his advantage. I have been a victim many times. I never knew that I could bond with a boy like you can a girl but I was wrong. I guess that is where the term Mommas boy comes from. He is not soft don't let me fool you. He is every inch a boy. The girls were playing barbies in their barbie house and Nathan was right behind them knocking it down and laughing. I am so looking forward to the adventures that he is going to take me on. He is getting big so fast. He will be 4 in September of this year. Man the time flies.

SummerRayne Michele Goodin

Summer is my beautiful step-daughter that has become a part of my life 5 years ago. I met Summer when she was 2 years old and have been helping raise her and lover her ever since. Summer was pretty much abandoned by her mother. Her mom gave her to my husband and rarely speaks to her ever. I have had my fun trying to turn her into a girl. She was raised like a boy to an extent. That is what guys know best. She is a happy medium. She is a tomboy. She loves dolls and animals but loves to wrestle and rough house with the best of them. She is now more on the girlie side. She loves clothes and shoes and isn't as tough as she used to be. My husband says that I turned her into a weenie and I said no now she is a girl. Summer when she wants to grow up she wants to be a veterinarian and help as many animals as she can. She is one of the sweetest girls you will ever meet. She is also one of the smartest girls you will meet. She will have you figured out way before you ever figure her out. I have confidence that no man will ever get the best of her when the time comes because she is strong. Hopefully that is many years to come.....

Taylor Renee Short

I actually stole this idea from someone else but decided that it was a good idea to introduce you to my children considering my blogs with talk about them quite a bit. This is Taylor Renee Short my first born. She has been a source of joy in my life since February 16, 2001. She is an amazing child. She has overcome so much. She was diagnosed with Autism when she was three years old. This was something new and we didn't know what to think. This diagnosis came around the same time that her father and I decided to get divorced. When she started therapy she would not talk to anyone, play with things normally, she had echolaic speech and many of the many signs. She enrolled in a wonderful program at Freedom Elementary and the miracles started coming in. She has come so far since she has started. If you met her today you might not know except when she get anxious or excited. My husband has been so good for her and helping me with her. He has helped her get over her fear of the vacuum and many other frightening things for her. He taught her to swim and she eats other things besides mac & cheese and chicken. If you know anyone with an Autistic child you know how picky they can be with the food and change. Robbie has helped Taylor with all that. She can ride a bike without the training wheels and has been for a long time now. She is also a wonderful student. She is pulling straight A's and hasn't gotten in trouble all year long. That is amazing!!! She is now in a regular class room for most of the day.

Time with my boys....

The last two months have flown by. The company that I worked for for two years was going to shut down so I decided that it was time to make a change since I wasn't happy. I decided to go back to school to be an RN which is something I have wanted to do for a long time. I was disappointed at first that I had to wait so long for it to start. What I didn't realize is that it was a blessing in disguise. I have some quality time to spend with my boys while they were so young. I am so glad that it worked out that way. I got to enjoy a lot of my sons first which when I was in school the first time I missed a lot of Nathaniel's first. My goal was to spend as much time with Landon his first year which I got to do. I did work after he was two months old til about two months ago. I have got to enjoy so many things that I didn't get to do when I was working so much. I have gotten to take my boys to the park and not have to worry about time limits because we had to be somewhere. I got to watch Scooby Do with Nathan in the mornings and I enjoyed every minute of it. I love ALL MY KIDS. The boys are special to me because they are our kids together. We have two beautiful daughters from previous relationships and we love them with all our hearts. All of these beautiful children make us a happy family which is something that I have always wanted. I know now that you should take advantage of every moment that you have with your children because they grow up fast. I am glad that I got to bond with the boys because we all know that when they get older they will not be my boys any longer. They will be daddy's buddies. I will be sad but glad when that day comes because I will miss the snuggles and love I used to get but glad that they are on their journey to being men and have one of the best role models to teach them.

Landons growing......

I know that I have blogged about several different things but I am going to talk about my baby Landon. As some of you know that he had a rough start. I was induced 5 weeks early due to severe preeclampsia. He was due on July 7 and was born June 3. He was born and literally I got to hold him for two minutes and he was gone. He spent two weeks in the NICU and I had to watch him from the tv in my room and that was when other families didnt ask for the camera. No matter how tired I was I would not sleep til they took the camera away. I was so excited to get to go to the nursery after 24 hours after delivery. I was not allowed to see him until I was off the magnesium. It was the hardest thing that I have ever had to do was leave the hospital without my baby. I couldnt imagine ever having to do that but I had to this time. Landon could not breath on his own. He could not eat more than just a couple of ml. I was so afraid that he would not make it. He was born with the cord around his neck and was blue and then taken immediately after I got to look at him and then I had to leave him hooked up to machines and in the care of someone else. That is the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. I was wondering how he would turn out since his beginning was so rough. He has turned out to be the happiest baby you have ever seen. He has had it a little rough but you could never tell by his attitude. He is all smiles. He does have respiratory issues. He has Reactive Airway Disease. It isnt as serious as it sound but it requires alot of breathing treatments when it is cold and flu season. He was up to 6 treatments a day at one point. He is turning out to be one of the best babies ever. He is the youngest kid of four and he cries the least. He hardly ever cries unless it comes to food. That is how you know he is a true Goodin. Food is important to him. Did I mention that he is a blue eyed red headed child. This is my last baby and in about 6 weeks he will be celebrating his first birthday. It will be my last first birthday.

Today I decided that I would take my kids for a picnic and a walk in the park at Woodward Park. As most of you know that this time of the year and about October this particular park is packed with people taking photos. Who could blame them the park is gorgeous. So I decided to take my kids along with my best friend and her family which is pretty close to my heart. It takes a big heart to accept and help and treat people like your family and this family has managed to treat me and my kids like I was apart of their family. Sometimes they are nicer to us than our own family. We all picniced together and all the kids played together. Then we decided that we would walk around the park and look at all the pretty flowers that were in bloom. This was a lovely idea in theory but I forget that kids dont always want to do what you want them to. I tried so hard all day to get some decent pics. I did get some but I think that I wore the kids out and I think that I was expecting too much out of them. I have to remember that they are just kids and not grown ups. I have a hard time with that because for the most part they are good kids. They are 9 times out of 10 well behaved. So I tend to forget that the 10 percent will show up every once in a while. I think that I get a little anxious when they act up in public but what mom doesnt. I was reminded by a wise woman "they are just kids and thats what kids do, nothing is going to happen, we wont let it" I am so fortunate to have such a great friend with such a wonderful family. I am so glad to have them back in my life. I know this blog started out about the park and it still is.....I was just reminded how kind people can be and how nice it is when it is unexpected. They helped our visit to the park not to be a bad experience. The park resulted in some really good pics. I was so fortunate.

Easter 2010...Landons first

As many of you know that this year was my son Landons first Easter. We did celebrate the true reason for the season. We started of the day with a wonderful service at church. I am glad that I found one that I am starting to feel comfortable with. It has been along time since I had been to church. My boys had never been to church. It makes me feel good that my oldest boy Nathaniel asks everyday if we can go to church. That is another subject. The girls got to both wear beautiful dresses and my boys looked handsome. Summer asked me after church if Jesus could really give you a present because she said that they learned that at church. I told her that it is true. Now I was driving so I didn't go into a great explanation because for obvious reasons I had to pay attention to the road. I am glad that their curiosity is sparked because that means that they will want to learn. We did go to lunch with a family that has been apart of my life for almost 16 years. My best friend Tracy's family has acted like that we have never lost touch as we did for a couple of years. I am so glad that we are back to "normal". Tracy and I have three kids that are close to the same to the same age. They act like they have know each other all there lives. I hope that they develop a bond like their mother and I have but back to the story..... The kids got to hunt Easter eggs and play til dark with their cousins. We barbecued at my moms and the kids wore their selves out. Landon had such a smile on his face all day long. All the kids did. Now I know that this may not be as exciting to some but I thought that this was the best day. My husband who has been working SO much got to be off and enjoy it with us. That just made the day. I got to spend the day with all the people that matter in my life. I hope that everyone else was just as fortunate.

Recovering from Spring Break 2010

Isn't it just weird that you have to recover from a "break"? I thought that was weird until this Spring Break. I had all four kids home this year for most of the Spring Break. I tried to make sure that they never got bored and always had something to do. That turned out to be more work than I thought. Imagine keeping four kids entertained. Its a lot! We went to the park with my best friend Tracy and her three kids Evan Payton and Addisyn. We also had some friends from high school Erin and her husband Matt and Jennifer and her three kids Gunner, Gus and Gabby. We had a blast. Now try to picture this between us all we had ten kids. This may not seem like a lot but one of the four girls hasn't had any yet. So imagine when she has hers there will be a lot. No back on track... These kids wanted to do something and then changed their minds again and again. They did not play the same thing for very long. The only thing that they did for longer than ten minutes was art. That is a good thing. I was very grateful for nap time each day so that I could relax for 10 seconds and then start to work on cleaning the house up again before they woke up. I am lucky that my girls are of the age that they can help pick up and also other things. I think that I now truly know why daycare cost as much as they do. Imagine multiplying this by 4 or 5. Not to mention all the food they go through. It is mind boggling. I understand and give praise to anyone that works at a daycare because I know that you have to have a ton of patience and a heart of gold.

Getting it Started.....

We are about to embark on another journey....I am going back to school to become a RN. This is going to be a long and difficult journey for us. I am going to go to school during the day and study at night. My wonderful husband is going to work on the weekends so that I dont have to work while I am going to school. I LOVE THIS MAN! He told me that if I go back to school I cant just go back I have to go back and be the best. He encourages and challenges me at the same time. He knows what it takes for me to push myself and challenging me is one way to do it. This is just a starter blog. There will be more to come...