Carpe nappum

Seize the Day? More like nap it away.....

Some one woke up way too early on Christmas morning and had one too many slices of butterbraids at the inlaws....a big thanks to my brother-in-law for forwarding...not sure Jason's gonna be too happy with Glenn....but oh well.

Teenagers with attitude should NOT be working at Wallmart

OMG.....
So I go to Wallmart tonight to get some sterno for our new Smores making machine and some olive oil, I'm making a tortilla (Spanish Omelet, not a Mexican flour tortilla). While I was there I picked up all sorts of, "oh I need those items, I didn't know I needed", a cast iron crepe pan, a folding cutting board (how cool is that, you cut your stuff, then fold it and pour the cut up stuff in the pan, or whatever), a DVD for walking with these arm bands....this was because I went to open my new Yoga DVD only to realize Overstock sent me Grandes heroes Y Leyendas de la Biblia, instead....and I do feel sorry for the Spanish speaking family who got a Yoga DVD instead of their bible lesson but I'm feeling more sorry for myself, thus the impulse buy at Wallmart. I was even able to pass on some sale info on some really nice TV's on to Martha (trying to pay it forward for the awesome Wii deal she found me a couple months ago)....So all in all I was feeling pretty good when I got to the check stand...oh, and I was second in line....I mean, really, how often does that happen at a Wallmart....The teenage boy (Joel) starts ringing me up (um...no hello by the way), I swipe my card and I paused for a minute before pushing the 'no cash' button and it asks for my card again...I say, "oh, look at that it needs my card again", I swipe it, he says "Yeah, it's time sensitive" As I'm swiping my card again. A message flashes that I'm supposed to tell the cashier that he needs to push debit, so I tell him. (And by his attitude, I'm thinking I really wasn't supposed to tell him....but how am I supposed to know that? The machine flashed, I complied). He says, "I do that at the end of the order" so I ask, "Oh, ok, will I need to swipe my card again?"

Him: Sigh...do you want me to ring you out right now?
Me: Ah...no, I just want to know If I can put my card away.
Him: It's time sensitive (referring to the machine)
Me: So, I may have to swipe it again?
Him: Do you want me to just total you up right now? (most of my purchases still on the conveyor belt)
Me: No?
Him: Ok, then.

apparently my question was answered? Did you see the answer above? Oh and his tone of voice was one you use with really stupid people with whom you are frustrated (I know because I've used that tone before) I kept my credit card out (got to hear him sigh when it took me the whole 10 seconds it takes to put it back in the wallet and the wallet back in my purse)....

This isn't the most egregious part....
He gets to my impulse buy....the DVD with the hand thingies that are supposed to increase the workout somehow. He opens the box and looks through it, takes the video out and really looks deeply into the box and then reads the box to see what's included.....it then dawned on me HE THOUGHT I WAS STEALING SOMETHING.....

I so wish I was the kind of person who could say something in a case like this. My mouth did gape a bit (just looking at me, open mouthed, probably justified his talking way down to me). I paid for my items and walked out....seething, because I really really wish I could have asked, why me....Was it the dark hair, olive skin that just shouted thief? The Crepe pan? The frozen chicken breasts? What the hell?

It's too bad I'm a wuss....but you know, I REFUSED to return my cart to the cart station in the parking lot....that'll show them!

Guys are so weird....

I'll get to why my title is what it is in a few seconds...but first, my ornament exchange party was a blast. Should you like to see pictures (and I wish mine was never taken) you can see them on Aimee's blog and most likely in a couple of days or so (she has had a sick one at home and isn't as Martha as she normally is) you can catch some more pictures on Martha's blog I didn't have my camera on hand and didn't take any pictures....thank goodness I have friends who take lots of pictures and who blog so I can safely be LAZY.

This morning, Jake wakes up and declares that he is 'done dressing cool' he explains that it's just so much work planning his outfits each day. He goes on to explain that I couldn't possibly understand the stress he's been under to make sure he looks so cool. It's just been too much for him so he's just gonna put on any ol' thing he has in his drawer without much thought at all because it's just so much easier that way.

Bwahahahahah, that kid cracks me up!

One of Jason's co-workers came back from China recently and told Jason this really funny story (thus my title)....
Apparently in the Shanghai Hooters (I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and hope they were at a Hooters for some American food???) the men's bathroom attendant massages the guy's back as he is using the urinal (I wonder if that's in the travel brochures?). Well this buddy of Jason's offered the guy double his tip to STOP (Jason, bless his soul, would have most likely stopped peeing and then would not have been able to pee again for a few days). Then his direct report came in and so he offered the attendant an extra 10$ to go up to the direct report and start on him. Direct report called Jason's buddy some name when he came back to the table.....

And yes this was funny--in that weird practical joke way that always gives me the giggles....but what I really find amusing is that women don't do things like this to each other. I swear guys play the most gay jokes on each other. Guys are just weird!

AHHHHHHHH

I have so much to do....so I'm blogging instead. First, I'm so over Hotmail right now...I can't seem to get the 150 junk mails deleted so I can sort through the real mail (mail I haven't gotten to in a few days) It takes me three tries to send out an email and sometimes people get three emails or sometimes they get none. But the pain it would be to transfer everything over to another provider fills me with dread!

Oh, done whining....so, I'm giving a party on Wednesday, it's an ornament exchange party and it's lots of fun....I'm trying to make it easier on myself and I bought premade appetizers from Sam's Club. I'm almost done with my baking but now I have to clean clean clean, but I don't even want to attempt it because it feels like once a room is done the kids gravitate to that very room and mess it all up again....it makes me want to crawl out of my skin!!!!! Under my breath, I remind myself it's their house too, blah blah blah, BUT GIVE ME A BREAK....PLEASE.
Oh, I guess I'm not done whining...

I bet, if I lived in this one house on the north side of B street my life would be perfect. This house has the third car garage, it's the end of a cul-de-sac in the MIDDLE of the subdivision, four bedrooms and a main floor study (with a bay window) and a porch the length of the house. How more perfect can you get then that? I drove Jason by last night and said, "if that house goes on sale honey, we're buying it" He said okay, but only because he doesn't think it's going to happen.....I know, I know moving to a house in the same neighborhood may sound funny, but it's a great neighborhood (and it's been done before, wink wink nudge nudge, MARTHA). Jason and I were joking that we should put speakers around the house that whispers ghost noises 'get out now'; 'sell to the Zimmers'; 'sell for $200.00' ....I don't know why that' s funny but we were giggling...

ok, ok, we don't live in a great house, just one with potential (although we don't have that third car garage and wouldn't be able to add that on). But it still needs to be cleaned...after I make the lemon bars and raspberry linzer bars...ok ok, I'll go now and work!

oh and if it passes the neighborhood taste test, I'll post the recipe for Velveeta peanut butter fudge....

Something Accomplished, Not on my list....

Grabbed that last garbage bag from a last minute sweep of the upstairs and ran down the driveway, in the snow, in my flip flops to be able to catch the sanitation engineers (or whatever) before they left and fell and then fell again trying to get up. Yeah, guys hope you liked the laugh...that could be your Christmas tip...

OK, I'm not really a scrooge, I'll give them their tip.

I've been trying new recipes for my neighbor's cookie exchange party and so far everything's been dismal. Chocolate cookies, blah, sesame cookies looked promising but I think I put too much flour in them and they turned out too cake-like. A couple years ago I made these cookies and although not Christmasy, way yummy, I'll share the recipe...

Amaretto Chunk Cookies
From Oct 2005 Good Housekeeping and tweaked by Tracey Zimmer

Adjusted for high altitude…. reduce flour by ¼ cup and oven temp. to 375° should you leave Colorado for some unfathomable reason.

· 5¼ cup of flour
· 2 tsp of baking soda
· 2 tsp baking powder
· 1 tsp salt
· 4 sticks of butter, softened
· 2 C of brown sugar
· 1 C of sugar
· 4 eggs
· 2 Tbsp of Amaretto liqueur (and heck a glass of that stuff for the cook)
· 4 tsp of almond extract
· 2 C of semi-sweet chocolate chips
· 2 C of milk-chocolate chocolate chips
· 2 C of sweetened flaked coconut
· 2 C of sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 380°.

Beat butter and sugars until creamy. Beat in eggs, amaretto and extract. Throw in the soda, powder and salt and mix. Add the flour slowly (you know because if you do it too fast you get flour all over the place) until it’s all well blended. Add chocolate, coconut and almonds….and take a spoonful and try it….raw cookie dough - what could be better?

Drop dough on cookie sheet, to get the actual amount of cookies that the recipe says this will make you have to do teeny-weeny spoonfuls….yeah right, so what if you have less cookies you’ll get bigger ones so take a heapin’ spoonful and plop those puppies down on an ungreased sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes…more like 12 if you do the heapin’ amount. Cool on pan for a couple minutes ----only because you’ll burn your tongue if you eat them too quickly…then if any left, put on a rack to completely cool.

Enjoy
Makes about 8 dozen cookies…hahahaha, who are they kidding? Maybe 5 dozen if you’re really chintzy


Right now I'm trying a Paula Dean Peanut Butter Fudge recipe that calls for Velveta...hmmm, I just had to try it --for that reason only, I mean if it's good, can you imagine the looks on people's faces when you tell them there's Velveta in there? And in Paula Dean fashion, there's a stick a buttah (or two) in the recipe too.

fa la la la

I'm feeling a bit better, still have a low grade fever and it hurts to swallow, this is one stinker of a bug...So for now I'll catch up on pictures....The day after thanksgiving we go to a tree farm and cut down our own tree....it's sort of in between heading to the mountains and buying it prewrapped. Next year we decided to brave the real forest but for now, this is good.

My intrepid tree hunters (and how did the youngest end up with the saw? that's an accident waiting to happen)
It was really really cold, 19 degrees F (see below picture for proof) so this was the first year we didn't march all over the place looking for the perfect tree. We just drove around a bit, and from the car, saw this one and thought, good enough!
This morning the boys decorated their gingerbread houses. They talked about how much fun it'll be to eat them after Christmas, but I started this tradition where Santa takes the very best ones on Christmas Eve to be houses for the elves. The boys were very excited about that, once they were reminded, but Jason was kind of upset about it. I whisper to him, "Hey, Christmas Eve at midnight when we're cleaning up from our Christmas Eve bash and putting presents under the tree you can go to town on them....honey".
No, that's not a hearing aid in Jason's ear, it's his phone that is permanently lodged there.

I've been sick...and it really really sucks. Yesterday I had a fever of a 103 and barely made it out of bed, today the fever's down but everything I do takes such effort. At least I took a shower and brushed my teeth, then took a nap. I ventured downstairs for breakfast at 11, had ginger ale and toast and a sucked on a throat thingy...then took a nap,

Anyhow,
I'll catch up on funner stuff later, but I just wanted people to feel sorry for me! I'm feeling very pitiful!

I'm gonna check my email and take another nap, maybe make it to the store for some soup.

Cool know thyself test
I'm a benevolent creator...doesn't that just sound yummy?

Why I'm becoming a nurse

I'm up ridiculously early to write a paper for my clinicals today. We had to write about our 'journey' in becoming a nurse....so I figured I would blog it:

Journey Paper

How does one write a paper about the emotional path in a decision to become a nurse and describing experiences relating to that decision thus far? It’s been such a roller-coaster, kaleidoscope, mind blowing, confusing, focused, humbling and confidence growing experience, almost impossible to put into words, even for me, who can talk and talk and talk. As with most stories, good or bad, I’ll start at the beginning.
My husband lost his job during the whole dot-commer crash. My perfect housewife, stay at home mom, a position I loved, also was jeopardized by what happened to my husband’s job. It was at that moment I realized I needed some kind of career to rely on. I had no skills, my bachelor’s was in English, with a History minor, I was qualified to make great small talk at company meetings or flip burgers at McDonalds, neither of which was going to help our family in a financial crunch. I needed to get something lucrative that still fit into my role of being a mommy and wife, the two positions that are most important to me. I also wanted to be a good example for my children. This is what went into making my decision to even think about moving out of my cushy life into something else I don’t want to say “move forward” here, implying that being a mother and housewife is not fulfilling or enough, I just wanted another dimension to my life. The two career paths I thought of were nursing and teaching. Nursing, frankly, was the more terrifying of the two (see bachelor choice above). Having had good nurses who were inspirational and bad nurses who made me realize, ‘wow, if she can do it, I can” and having seen some of the women in my life give birth, other people in my life dying or being sick, I realized how wonderful it would be to be a part of someone’s life in a caretaker role, however briefly, in some of the most intense, precious, scary moments of his or her life. I called around, looked at programs and started taking prerequisite courses at Arapahoe Community College. I took some courses here and there starting about five and half years ago and three and a half years ago I got on the wait list. Toward the end of the wait list I waffled and even started investigating a master’s program in teaching and then, I got the letter. It was kind of a “God” moment. Here I was waffling between two decisions that would fit my criteria, I figured the letter was a prayer answered. I had to finish my pre-requisites in two semesters, meaning I took A&P II and Pathophysiology in the summer. If I could make it through those classes, I knew I could make it through nursing school. I’m still experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress from that summer.
Orientation was fantastic. I know we were supposed to be terrified, but I found it exciting and exhilarating. I was there; I was actually starting nursing school. I was bubbling up with emotions and some fears, but fears of the unknown, fears of not being good enough, but nothing at orientation indicated I was in the wrong place. The main lesson from that day is the nursing program owned us for the next two years. It spurred me to have a long talk with the husband about how our lives were going to change, how he needed to take a more active role in the daily lives of our children. My husband is a fantastic guy, he didn’t even blink an eye; we were going to make this happen together, as a team.
The schoolwork has been challenging. At times, I have questioned my intellectual ability to do this work. Here is where I get terrified. What if I kill someone, or make someone worse? It’s a daunting thought, especially because I’m doing this to help make people well, or at least make their journey less painful. I’m not sure how to overcome this hurdle. Most likely, I just need more practice and more learning. In small doses it can be very motivating to keep on top of things, but for now, it’s something I need to address. I have found that I’m a wee bit more competitive than I assumed. Competing in this program is no easy matter, there are some very talented, smart people in these classes and to even be in their midst and considered an equal of some of these people is a blessing. I’m learning to be okay with not being the best at all things and just knowing I studied and did well enough.
The clincals have been a great experience. I’m learning how the hospital functions, caring for actual patients and getting over the hurdle of trying a procedure for the first time on a real person and realizing it’s not as terrifying and impossible as it sounds. This is another hurdle I need to pass in my own personality. I get so scared of trying something new; it can paralyze me from continuing on. I’m learning to just do it, because once I do, it makes me realize that I can. I remember thinking that giving an IM injection seems easy enough, but when I saw the skin and realized I was about to poke it with a needle, I froze. With some prompting from my fellow classmates I stuck the needle in, took it out, capped it and was done…then I breathed. I’m learning that I can talk to so many different types of people. The sick just want to be heard and have some control over their lives. On the flip side, there are times when they have no control or very little control and that can be terrifying to them. I’m learning how to talk to patients, not only to put them at ease but to also ‘encourage’ them to do things that are in their best interest but not something they may like (for instance an enema). I’m also learning, I can’t share some of the details of my day over the dinner table (again, for instance, the enema). I’m learning to be comfortable with body parts, smells, and bodily fluids. I’m still not sure about puss, but so far have been able to deal with everything else.
There has been nothing yet that has made me think I’ve made the wrong decision. This past Thanksgiving my husband’s cousin, a nurse in the ICU and I swapped stories, people would wander over and quickly leave during more of the graphic stories, we barely noticed. She gave me advice, she listened, and she told me about her job and her school experiences. I felt part of the ‘club’. My children rarely complain about day care, they ask about what I’ve learned; they’re curious and supportive (in an eight and five year old way). My husband is proud of me and supportive and has enjoyed taking on a more active role in parenting (still doesn’t cook or clean a lot, but there’s a learning curve there too). All in all, my journey so far has been great. I’m learning so much about myself, my family, my husband as well as nursing. I am so blessed to have finally found a career choice that is suited to me personally as well as to my role in my family.

My family, why I’m doing this.

Enchanted...

Enchanted was such a cute movie...but what was cuter...my youngest, Isaac, crawled into Jason's lap during a fabulous costume ball dance scene where the hero and heroine were looking longingly into each other's eyes and said..."Dad, is that how you feel about mom?"Jason answered yes and Isaac sighed and said, "That's nice".

We had a fun weekend of family, tree-cutting (pictures to follow another time), decorating for the holidays, movies, friends over for dinner....but now I have a paper due tomorrow and two full days of clinicals.....I'm not ready for reality to rear her ugly head....I was having a fun time in denial.

Such is life.

We have the best conversations in the car sometimes...

Jake: How old to I have to be to start dating? (out of the blue and way too scary to even think about)
me: about 35
Jason: after you're married

silence

Jason: oh, that didn't come out right.
me: ya, think?

Doing What's Right

I got an email forward about Sears and how they are helping out their military reservists in their employ by paying the difference in their salaries at Sears and their salaries while on active duty. The story was verified in Snopes (one of my favorite websites).

Bravo Sears. Thank you for doing the right thing. It's a warm-hearted story when you hear about a company that takes care of their own -- our own.

I am thankful

I'm thankful that I got to volunteer in Isaac's class yesterday. They had a round about what the kiddos are thankful for and there were lots of toys, food, the Mountains, etc, and Isaac pops up his hand and says "I'm thankful for my Mom and Dad"

Love that kid!

I am so thankful for both my fantastically beautiful, funny, rambunctious kiddos. They are my heart!

I am thankful for my great, loving, wonderful husband....he is the BEST (and cute too).

I am thankful that my sister in law and brother in law are cooking Thanksgiving dinner and I just have bring the sweet potatoes and beans.

I am thankful to live in a great neighborhood where I've met and become friends with the most amazing women and families.

I am thankful to live in a country with amazing freedoms and opportunities.

I am thankful!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

wii is out of the bag

At lunch today...

The kids are rambling on and on about what they want for Christmas and the Wii thing comes up over and over and over again. They are absolutely CERTAIN Santa will bring them one. Frankly, in their young lives, Santa has been great at fulfilling a couple of their big wishes (see last Christmas time postings of me paying double the price for a spy car on EBAY). Hubby tells the kids not to get too excited about a Wii since we really don't know if Santa will bring us one or not. The kiddos aren't listening (or so I thought...I'll get to this later).

So I say to Jason:

M: Oh, I think Mrs. Santa may have already gotten one.
J: Shouldn't Mrs. Santa have talked to Mr. Santa first?
M: One of Santa's elves (Ms. Martha) found an awesome deal and got it for Mrs. Santa (we don't want a wait 'til the last minute and pay double on EBAY repeat)
J: Mrs. Santa's kinda turnin' me on right now

and that's when Jake yells: "Dad, that is so gross"

I have no idea how much he heard or what he understood about the Wii, but he will probably need therapy regarding the last comment...

On the other side of the money spectrum...one year we had a very lean, lean year(paying two mortgages and a super large pay cut) and I read an article about getting the kids sugar cereal for Christmas...what a great cheap idea, especially because that's a serious treat in our household. Each get a box of lucky charms and coco puffs from Santa...they will even stop opening presents to get a bowl down before opening more. Sounds so hokey, but they LOVE it, and yay for me a total cheap present! About this time of the year when we walk down the cereal aisle, the kids will look at all the cereals and try and decide which one to put on their list....

I get the strangest looks from the other grocery store patrons.

I am so NOT ready for Christmas.

Pictures, halloween and other stuff

Death, Annikan Sky-Walker (OK, probably misspelled his name..not too worried about it, but if I offended at Star Wars fans out there, I'm sorry) Our very own 'watch' dog...you can't see it but it's a clock on her back...and my favorite...the Enron Exec (he has a tie on underneath and he carried a brief case which was filled with candy, how cute that our neighborhood families give candy to adults dressed up as well as the kids) I'm not pictured (big freakin surprise) but I wore my scrubs, a lab coat and a witch's hat...I was a WITCH DOCTOR...get it, get it...no one else did and I thought it was so obvious!

Hannah playing with the kiddos
Sleep over with cousin Bridget, They bring cushions from the living room, blankets from the bedrooms and fill the family room with them and make one big bed and watch movies all night.
And this is why I sometimes can't sleep when hubby is away. The boys will 'snuggle' and then we all end up falling asleep and somehow they both end up with their feet in MY ribs. They're too heavy now for me to get them into their own beds so I end up on the couch.

--------------------------------------------------------

Nothing to do with pictures: The other day I was in the car with the kiddos and that song by Colbie Caillat, "Bubbly" came on the radio and I told Jake to be quiet because I like the song, it reminds me of his dad....so he listens for awhile and says, "oh she says, 'child' and dad acts like a child--that must be why it reminds you of him"

hahahahaha, that kid makes me laugh

here are the lyrics in case you haven't heard the song....and frankly, how lucky am I that my hubby of 15.5 years (together for 22 years) can still make me feel this way:

V1: I've been awake for a while nowyou've got me feelin like a child nowcause every time i see your bubbly facei get the tinglies in a silly place

C: It starts in my toesmakes me crinkle my nosewhere ever it goes i always knowthat you make me smile please stay for a while nowjust take your time where ever you go

V2: The rain is fallin on my window panebut we are hidin in a safer placeunder the covers stayin dry and warmyou give me feelins that i adore

C: It starts in my toesmakes me crinkle my nosewhere ever it goesi always knowthat you make me smile please stay for a while nowjust take your time where ever you go

B: What am i gonna saywhen you make me feel this wayI just........mmmmmmmmmmm

C: It starts in my toesmakes me crinkle my nosewhere ever it goesi always knowthat you make me smile please stay for a while nowjust take your time where ever you go

V3: I’ve been asleep for a while nowYou tucked me in just like a child nowCause every time you hold me in your armsIm comfortable enough to feel your warmth

C: It starts in my soulAnd I lose all control When you kiss my noseThe feelin showsCause you make me smileBaby just take your timeHoldin me tightWhere ever, where ever, where ever you goWhere ever, where ever, where ever you go…

Oh And thanks Ms Marfa

Yup, a same day posting even...
I just want to say, I live in the greatest neighborhood with the greatest sister-wives. I put an email out there that if anyone saw a Wii for a great price to buy it for my Christmas Stash (hubby doesn't read my blog so this is safe to post...and bad hubby by the way!) and Ms. Marfa (ok, Martha, but son #2 calls her Marfa) found one and called and brought it right over! Which is wonderful because I was shopped out (didn't actually know that could happen) after spending three hours at Home Depot. Did I mention we're remodeling our bathroom? We're doing most of it ourselves...hahaha, Ourselves? more like hubby is doing it most of himself). Mostly, because we're too cheap (OK, not we're, but he's too cheap)to hire it all out and frankly, we want a nice bathroom without overpricing our neighborhood....I hate it when we're practical and he's right.

Stop me before I continue rambling....It wasn't supposed to be about my cheap, handy husband and our remodel but what a great sister-wife Ms. Marfa is and how I lucked out to move into a great neighborhood!

Blogging Again?

I guess I'm on a blogging binge... and I didn't even agree to this whole nablopomo challenge I'm seeing on other people's blogs. Maybe I should? Maybe not, because as soon as I think someone, even myself, is telling me what to do, I stop doing it. I'm quirky like that.

This is why insomnia can be expensive. I've stopped keeping my credit card at the bedside table because at two in the morning, the idea of freshly grown herbs, lettuce and tomatoes in the middle of winter is too much to overcome! I should also remove my phone from the bedroom...but not the TV, it keeps me company when the hubby travels (which is why it's on at 2am. I can't hear house-sounds when the TV is on--yeah yeah, I'm a 'fraidy cat).

So here's what really excited me last night (and I KNOW I need a life). I hid pureed cauliflower into tomato soup. I saw Jessica Seinfeld on Oprah the other day and have been making an effort to get more veggies in our diets (my kids are actually pretty good at veggie eating, but hey, it's not going to hurt to get an extra helping). Because, I don't like people telling me what to do and that, sometimes, involves following a recipe, I've been doing my own thing. So far, I've put sweet potatoes into sloppy joes, cauliflower into boxed mac and cheese, spinach into chicken burritos (oh and sweet potatoes into the sauce). I've been having way too much fun! My niece is now asking what 'secret' ingredient I'm putting into my dishes. My own children are not quite as impressed with my amazing culinary creativity.

Another bad mom moment, I was helping son number one with his spelling words (2nd grade) I misspelled one of his words and taught him the wrong spelling....oooops, another dollar in the therapy fund.

This week of only one NCLEX review test, one math class and no clinicals has made me realize, I miss being a housewife and mom --- not that I'm not enjoying nursing school --- I'm just torn between both worlds because I love them both.

Conversations with the Kiddos

son #2: I'm going to marry Abi and we're only going to have one or two kids (in response to son #1 saying he wanted a million kids).
me: Well, don't you think Abi might have something to say about that? (son #2 has a way of declaring his love and insistence of return love and I'm trying to avoid a stalking charge later in his future).
son #2: Mom, we love each other.
Hubby: You haven't even been on a date with her.
son #2: (eyes rolling) Dad, we've been on a million PLAY DATES.

ok then.

And then...in the same car ride....

Son #1: When you guys die we want to live with Colleen
Me: Why not Aunt Shaina and Uncle Glenn, or Ya Ya
Son #1: nah
Me: Ok, what about Uncle Jose and Aunt Gina?
Son #1: Oh, do they have a trampoline?
Me: No, they don't have kids yet.
Son #1: Then no, I want to live with Colleen, she has a trampoline.
Me: Glad you've put a lot of thought into this.
Son #1: heh heh

....
Yesterday I took a standardized test on fundamentals, a precursor to the NCLEX and I did horribly. That just sucked big time! I hate standardized tests! It was a good kick in the rear though. I think because I was doing pretty well in class I started slacking a bit...time to push forward and kick it up a notch! After we remodel our bathroom, that is....

Hubby is in DC (oh, sorry G&J, he's working like 12 hour days and so decided not to call to tell you he was in town....it's not because you don't have a trampoline) and I can't figure out how to hook the camera up to the computer...so will have to procrastinate posting Halloween pictures, yet again.

Who are you voting for?

I really don't care who you are voting for. I live here in the burbs, chances are I'm not voting the same as most people here and I still get along with my highly conservative neighbors and fellow church goers....we have spirited, eye-opening and respectful debates about issues. I'm even in a 'mixed' marriage. When asked, he says, "I'm a republican and my wife is just wrong". OK, he makes me laugh even when he's dissing me (is that how you spell it, I'm so bad at gangsta rap).

That aside, I thought this LINK , to take a quiz to find out which candidate is the best fit for you, might be interesting. It was an eye opener for me. I actually haven't heard of the candidate I should choose. Which basically means that chances are the way I WANT THE COUNTRY RUN isn't going to happen until we most likely get a mom and housewife in there...one who can balance the check book AND get the kids to get along (oh oops, tangent). While I was taking the quiz I actually got scared that I might see more eye to eye with my neighbors, fellow church goers and hubby. But true to my form, the majority of issues I saw eye to eye with where the more conservative donkeys and the less conservative elephants. Which leads me to re-solidify my position that we should just start a new party called "The Common Sense" party.

OK, my, very fence-sitting, middle of the road, don't want to make anyone mad, rant about politics is now over. Happy End of Day Light Saving everyone! An extra hour...woo hoo. What are you all doing with it? I'm apparently blogging. Did you know it's Saving, not savingS. I didn't. If you're looking for something to do check out this right/left brain test. I am so right brain and hubby soooo left brain, anyone surprised?

And by the way, I know I ended a few sentences in prepositions...but really who says, "For whom are you voting?"

flu shot anyone?

This is an email forward I got from my cousin in Naples, Fl. I thought it was pretty darn funny so added it here in case any of you needed a laugh.

I gave about 100 flu shots today. After my first initial, 'Holy Cow, I'm about to stick someone with a needle" I had a great time. Following is a conversation with one of the patients:

Patient: Great Job, I hardly felt it.
Me: (glowing....) I guess this is a good time to tell you I'm a student.
Patient: Yeah, and I guess this is a good time to tell you I'm a nurse.

hahahaha, I would have been so scared if she had mentioned she was a nurse before the shot! But a compliment from a nurse about a shot on your first day...not bad!

Did not have one unhappy person today, it was fantastic. Oh and even got a little strip show by a very over eager well built (I might add) guy. It's funny how some people hear rip off your clothes when you actually say, pull up your sleeve -- go figure.

6th Truths

OK, I've been tagged by Ms. Martha

Here's the plan for this type of tag: A. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves. B. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names (OK, I'm not going to do this because no one ever does my meme's...whine whine whine)

1. I'm competitive....I actually did not know this about myself until recently because I always thought it a bit negative. Here's the deal, I am so happy for those who do better then I do (especially if I like them). I just want to do well for myself and I want to be comparatively high on the whole grade thing in school....whatever, it's just who I am.

2. If I had to do it all over again, I'd be an interior designer and would so have tried out for Design Star

3. Even though I should have done the whole other career thing before and really, designing rooms and stuff is my first love, I am loving nursing school and I do believe I will be a good nurse.

4. I ADORE my husband and children. Even when I'm mad at my hubby I know he is the only man out there for me. I really do think my children are amazing even when or maybe particularly when they are messy, dirty, talking back and wrestling...they're just great!

5. I am addicted to television. Are there any 12 step programs for that? It's what keeps me from getting tevo.

6. I HATE CLEANING THE HOUSE. I want a maid. I will eventually get one, but my house is in between fixer-upper and demolition mode and it's hard to know what to even ask someone to clean.

OK....if you like this tag and plan on doing it, just let me know so I can read it!

and a note on real life...
finished fundamentals (most likely a B----booo hooo, see number one above), pharmacology an A (woo hoo---again, see number 1 above). And a thank you to Ms. Martha for putting things in perspective. I was able to get a B in a really hard class and still be a mom (soccer practice, some volunteering in the school, a couple of play dates), a wife and a friend.

Halloween shenanigans to follow in a couple hours? few days?

ooooh, scary

Well we've reached that age...gone are the cutsie Halloween decorations. I'm pretty sure Jake may have a future in set design. Last night I took a break from studying and we carved pumpkins, roasted pumpkin seeds and all around had a nice family night. Small confession though....it was so hard for me to let son #1 'design' his own pumpkin....I so wanted to take over and make everything just 'right'....I really need to get over that or he's going to be one stifled little kid (bad mommy---add it to my tater tot serving, tooth fairy forgetting list!)

Wish me luck on my test and my check-off's tomorrow!

whine whine whine

OK, I know I said I wasn't going to blog for awhile and I do have a Pharm test tomorrow on vitamins, anticoagulants and blood transfusions, but I just need to UNLOAD....

My day starts like this...
ok, well let me first back track....I amazed myself with organizational bliss earlier this week when I, not only, made a menu of fabulously healthy dinners (okay not yesterday, but the rest of the week), I even did the shopping for said dinners and pre-pureed some veggies to 'hide' in said dinners (an aside here, did you see Mrs. Jerry Seinfeld talk about her sneaking veggies into her kids food....can I just say, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR AWHILE NOW, but ok, I'll give her she did give me some good ideas about how to sneak veggies in other areas other then spaghetti sauce and chili)

Anyhow, this morning, woke up at five, put away some dishes, made some coffee, watched the weather (78--woo hoo) and started prepping the crock pot for tonight's meal and I had a half a head of lettuce in my crisper rather then 1/2 a head of cabbage AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. So I had to make a 630am run to the grocery store for some cabbage.....I was in a line of people buying donuts and bagels and me with my head of cabbage (rolling eyes right now).

Get kids to school, put dog into dog run....and by the way, it's muddy and hubby, nicely put stepping stones from patio to dog run, but to fit his gait not mine...so I ended up slipping and sliding in the mud....fun fun....changed shoes, got in the car and realized forgot my notes. Went back home, got my notes, got back in the car and headed to school (40 minute drive for me).

The lecture today...Grieving. I held it together during hospice care, during helping a young dying mother choose the caregiver for her children and then totally and completely lost it when we started talking about the death of a baby and miscarriage (ummm, yes, part of the club no woman wants to be a part of). I think the teacher said something about the first time you DON'T hear the heart beat and I pretty much put my head on the desk for the rest of that lecture and sniffled through a mini package of kleenix...hope there's not much on our test about that. I wasn't alone. Come on a group of women going into nursing, probably the most concentrated gathering of empathetic people in the school during a lecture on grieving, there really isn't going to be many dry eyes.

Hubby offers to take son #1 to his soccer game (thank you hubby) I get home, only to find out the kids haven't even been picked up yet and soccer game starts in 5 minutes. I go pick up kids, get soccer stuff ready, snack made, hubby shows up....kids in room, I kept my mouth shut (one point for me). Again...AHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I am going to take an advil, watch Ugly Betty and Gray's Anatomy (if I can stay up long enough). Then I will wake up ridiculously early and study for my 8:15 test on anticoagulants and hope to heaven tomorrow is a better day.

Fabio, Eat your Heart Out....

You ain't got nothin' on Jason.....

I'm overwhelmed and can't even seem to blog....ahhhhhh

so I will leave you with the picture I am trying to get next to my name....and thank you scott for the directions..when I finish my next three tests, my check-offs on catheters and NG tubes oh and tracheotomy care...I'll try it out...did I mention I was overwhelmed

and speaking of catheters....our class has decided that the woman who volunteered for the skills movie had to have been a porn star....everything was a bit too purty, if you know what I mean.

ok...here's the picture...and stay tuned in about a week I will start posting again...but I'll always have time to procrastinate enough to check out all of your blogs...

Do I have to put a title in? I can't think of anything clever....not that any of my other titles are very clever....it's there looking at me, this blank box that MUST be filled in.... Don't I sound OCD.

ok, I digress, but can I digress when I haven't even started writing about anything?

Really, the point of my post is DO NOT watch Premonition on the day your husband leaves for a business trip. I tried so hard not to dissolve into a gooey mess, but no such luck...I ended up crying in that big gulping sob ugly way (umm, how do starlets just tear up and look ever so delicate, and I look, well like a drag queen from a very bad docudrama). I tried to call hubby but got his voice mail. Made me cry more! Thankfully, had a brief moment of sanity and decided NOT to leave a message because really who is not going to freak when they hear their wife crying on the other end and who isn't going to get mad when they find out it's because the wife just watched a movie that was really really sad because it involved a dead husband.

By the way, the movie wasn't even that great! Maybe I'm hormonal...I better go check the calender and hide the chocolate.

Two very cute blogs that I just added to my blog roll...thanks Dodi for turning me on to the QC report She's even writing a real book and everything. And This gal won a contest on Chased By Children and I can see why, she's very funny. If I lived in her area I would throw jelly beans at the powerful bald gay guy (oh you so want to read her post now don't you).

So happy this week is over!!!! And sorry oh goddesses of motherhood, I will be serving hot dogs and tator tots in front of the TV this evening....I'm that tired. Last Wednesday I was explaining to my friend, Katy, that I was taking the Scarlett O'Hara approach to school "I'll think about it tomorrow" and the Thursday lecture we were learning about anxiety...blah blah blah, really do they need to 'teach' nursing students about anxiety...aren't we living it.... any how, one very effective coping device is to break things down and not look at the whole picture, just get through today and then think about tomorrow tomorrow...and the teacher even referenced Scarlett O'Hara....I MUST be brilliant (bwahahaha, so laughing at myself right now)....anyway, to all those nay-sayers who insist denial is a bad thing I still disagree, it's the only way I'm getting through life right now!

Amazing Maize Maze

After church today we went to the Botanic Gardens' corn maze at Chatlfield. We had a pretty good time. This year Jason didn't take charge in boss-like fashion and insist we follow the map. The kids, instead, took turns deciding which way we would go.

Which way????? This year's maze was soooo much easier then last year's. Sheesh, you'd think the kids could cook up some more enthusiasm about the obviously posed candid shot...
Typical Colorado day, started out nice and sunny and a cold rain storm moved in and I'm about to hunker down under a down comforter for the night....I'm refusing to turn on the heat because I'm not ready to admit that winter is around the corner. It doesn't feel like we got much of an autumn!

Holy cow, look how tall son #1 is...he's only eight and almost to his dad's shoulder.

Oh...came across a fun blog...you know from another blog, linked to another one and then there I was laughing away---not knowing how I got there, hmmmm, a bit like life..okay, rambling and seriously making use of run on sentences.... okay okay, here she is...enjoy...Rocks in My Dryer

my neighborhood, my son, my friend

I love my neighborhood. I've been getting together with a group of women periodically to watch "Big Love" on HBO. We sometimes drink, sometimes don't, sometimes partake in baked goods and we get a bit of a chance to chat it up. Last night, even though the season is over for Big Love, we got together and just chatted. Most of our group blogs (see links below) so we talked a lot of our favorite blogs, we talked about who is doing what to their homes, we talked about our kids. There wasn't a lot of gossip, and certainly not mean gossip. It was pleasant and enjoyable. This is one great group of women. I love them. I can count on them.

Son #1 loved that we were having people over, he organized the kid cookie plate, placed the cookies ever so nicely. He even unloaded the dishwasher, WITHOUT PROMPTING, he pre poured cups of water for the guests and even measured out the water and coffee in my coffee maker for my coffee the next morning. He was adorable. I love him. He and son #2 are my life.

If you've been reading awhile, you know I have these mutant cat tails...THAT I DID NOT MEAN TO PLANT, I BOUGHT LILIES....so the other day there's a package on my door step, I open it up and there's a copper, cat tail torch in there....my first thought was 'Kim" don't know why her name popped into my brain, maybe it's because of her warped sense of humor...(hmm, maybe that's why we've been friends since JR High)...sure enough, I finally found the note, claiming that it would be nice to have a cat tail all year long....ending with a 'hee hee'. So Kim, be glad I don't have time to go find a picture of you from Jr. High, scan it in and post it.....I love her. She makes me laugh.

I am a lucky woman!

William Tell Overture for Moms

Enjoy! and thanks Colleen for emailing it, very entertaining! I'm off to a scrapbooking weekend....woo hoo! I'll catch up with all 2 or so of you when I get back! And Martha, please do crash, it's always fun when you do.

hook line and sinker

He bought it! We were at the dinner table and I told son # 1 that while I was dusting I found something in the living room and he should go look...(puhlease, like I dust, but he didn't find that hard to believe---which is most likely why, at eight, he still believes in the tooth fairy. I did get an eye-roll from hubby though). He came, bouncing,skipping, running back into the kitchen and showed us the note and the 2$ (and, by the way, what's the deal with THAT? I got quarters). He read the note, which I wrote with my left hand so he wouldn't recognize the handwriting, and felt so relieved. Hubby even said, "Come to think of it, I did hear Hannah bark" and I said, "We should leave a note for the tooth fairy the next time she comes and tell her that Hannah is a nice dog and won't bite".

Potential future psychiatrist couch moment diverted...whew.

Thanks Hannah, you really helped us out of a jam!

A Confession

Son number 1 lost a tooth and both J and I fell asleep and didn't perform our tooth fairy duties and Eldest Son was pretty despondent when he woke up to find out that the tooth fairy did not visit him.....

AHHHHHHHHH
I AM A HORRIBLE MOTHER.

So. Putting another dollar into the therapy fund then will go and put glitter on the DOWNSTAIRS window with some money (I usually do glitter from the boys window and all over their pillows -- so they see the fairy dust that the tooth fairy left behind...ok so sometimes I am a good mother) any way, I will also leave a note from the tooth fairy that the dog barked and scared her so she left his stuff there instead of under his pillow and she had gotten enough teeth that night so didn't need anymore and he could keep his.

I hope that works?
I could do it tomorrow, but I don't want him to think he was forgotten.
sigh....parenting is hard, especially when you flake on stuff like this!

Estes Park

Last Sunday we went up to Rocky Mountain National Park, just outside Estes Park. It was beautiful, the weather was perfect, a little overcast, not too hot and the aspen leaves were just turning their brilliant yellow.

goof-balls wouldn't cooperate, so will still have to come up with a Christmas picture.
Ute Trail, above Timberline....it was 40 degrees (74 degrees where we live in the Plains)

We saw some some elk cows hanging out.

Right before going into Estes Park they have this great sign, lots of people stop and take their pictures here. One nice couple asked if I could take their picture, I said no problem and when he handed me their camera he had ARYAN tattood to his arm.....YIKES. I just smiled and took their pictures. I figured it would be a bad time to mention, I'm half Cuban and my husband's family is Jewish. What's weird is they seemed friendly enough. Just normal folk doing some sight seeing. The next couple that asked me to take their picture was Mexican-American couple. We live in a really diverse country. And I for one feel lucky about it.

J thought it pretty darn funny to do stuff that FREAKED me out. I'm not very fond of heights. And some of those mountain roads are SCARY.
After hiking a bit we had lunch in Estes Park at this pizza place who claimed to have Estes Park's #1 Pizza (surprisingly the pizza place down the block and across the street also laid claim to Estes Park's number one pizza). I joked with J and said, we should open a place that said: Estes Park's 6th best pizza, but shorter waiting lines
HAHAHAHA
ok, I am easily amused, particularly by myself.

So this is what we did on Sunday, that and then that evening went over to Colleenos' and celebrated the September birthdays (her oldest, my youngest and another friend's youngest). The kids enjoyed themselves tremendously (she has a trampoline).

J really wanted to take Bionce (his car) on a four wheel drive trail, but we couldn't find one...he'll have to break her in another time (Martha named his new FJ Cruiser Bionce, why? do you ask?...his initials JZ, his car black....get it, get it...I didn't, she actually had to explain it to me---I'm sometimes a dork)

What I should have been doing?

Studying.

But still got an 88, woo hoo and PASSED MY CHECK OFFS (albeit with some prompting from the professors...like forgetting to loop around the wrist restraint through the buckle....oops).

Colorado gold

This is it, the next two weekends are prime viewing of the Aspen leaves turning gold. I don't know if it's like this in other states that are blessed with four seasons? Or are we Coloradoans a bit obsessed? Who knows, who cares, it's spectacular. We're driving up (to the Mountains...we live in the Plains with a great view of the Mountains, but not quite in the mountains) tomorrow, camera and layers of clothing (prepared for 80 down to 40 degrees F....because we're in Colorado) in hand. I even have darling outfits picked out for the boys (I'm horrible, I know) I'm even willing to listen to a couple hours of whining about boredom...because, just maybe, a small chance, I might actually get a great Christmas Picture out of this....the last two years, the boys looked tortured (ok, so I had them only wear sweaters in the middle of the snow while they clutched each other---but the sweaters were cute AND it was sunny--yes, as I've mentioned before, I do have a therapy fund). So, hopefully, tomorrow I can catch them both smiling, both looking at me, and even have some fantastic glorious Rocky Mountain golden autumn foliage in the background....a girl can dream can't she. Check out the different areas for prime Aspen Viewing Driving/hiking if you're in the area: Channel 7's picks

Bragging: (whatever, it is my blog and I can brag if I want to) 5 year old scored a goal today and 8 year old last Saturday. The 5 year old didn't even remember he did it and the 8 year old was high for a few hours on the excitement...these two are two very different kids.

The funny things kids say: Son#2 and his Grandmother spent the afternoon together at the zoo for his birthday. DH told his mom that son#2 liked Mexican, when she suggested that to him, he said he didn't like Mexican food, the grandmother said that his dad said he did.....son #2 says to his grandmother, about his father...."Your son is a liar". The thing is, he likes Mexican food. He likes it home made, he likes it at 'real' Mexican places, he even likes Taco Bell? Oh well, but it was funny the way he said it to her...not 'my dad' but 'your son'.....

My youngest is 5 woo hoo or boo hoo???

I can't believe it, he's five, five, my baby is five and I'm not ready for it.
Five years ago today, I held him in my arms and looked into his eyes and knew him, I mean knew him down to his soul.....those first few moments when you look into your baby's eyes and see him, really see him, is one of the most glorious moments , EVER. If you could bottle that feeling you'd make millions! And now he's this really funny, loving, active absolutely beautiful little boy and we're so blessed to have him in our lives.

yikes

So Dodi had this cool rating thing on her blog (G) and was so amazed because she uses certain....ummm...language that doesn't, well, seem very G-like. I got on, assuming I would also be a G....and this is what I got...hahahaha, if you only knew me this would seem so damn (oh, not G) funny to you too. The reasoning they gave on the website (click on image to take you there) is because of my pregnant crack ho post.
sigh
In class today, I ask Jenn, fellow nursing student, when our check offs for lab are (we signed up for the same day). She answers, Monday. I nod.....then say, 'this coming Monday?' She nods yes. I sit a minute and to someone else entirely I exclaim 'check offs are next Monday!' Jenn laughed. I've been in such DENIAL. And get this...in TWO WEEKS I START MY CLINICAL ROTATION....they're actually going to let us loose with real patients and everything (supervised, of course).
excuse me while I go throw up now.

I've always wanted to be a Red Head

I love red hair, envious of those with red mops, particularly the thick curly long ones. I even like the freckles that so often accompany those fiery passionate red locks. So, I was just horrified, in mourning almost, when I read in National Geographic (September 2007 issue) that red heads are becoming extinct (supposedly by 2100)......GASP.

Interesting stats from the article...2% of the world's population are natural red heads, 13% of the population of Scotland are Redheads and in the US we spent 123 million$ on red hair dye in 2006. I am not one of them, because with my obvious Hispanic type looks I'd look like a freak! But my sister, who takes more after the WASPY side of the family, pale white skin and ice blue eyes, would look amazing with red, but she won't let me tell her what to do (and I'm older and everything...sheesh).

For now, I shall be satisfied that a red head married into the family (a purdy one too--see photos below) and maybe I'll get a red headed niece or nephew.

I'm not the only one interested in this little factoid of nonsensical information...I just happened along Chased by children via Dodi's blog and voila...more people blogging about this...who knew?

And just so no one thinks I'm so frivolous...HAHAHA, OK I AM, I KNOW....but there's also a fantastic article about Pakistan in this issue and worth the read.

a four year old's mind

We're in the car:
8 year old: Boy so and so is going to see Dr. so and so (the school psychologist) because he does weird things, he kind of scares me.

Me: Scare you because he's weird (prepared to give the, 'we are all God's creature's' lecture. )Or does he scare you because you're afraid he's going to hurt you? (Prepared to remind him he took Karate for 2 years and he's allowed to defend himself).

8 year old: He scares me because I'm afraid he's going to hurt me.

before I could respond, 4 year old boy: THEN YOU HURT HIM RIGHT BACK!

oh my.

Another conversation with the four year old:
I forgot his lunch (I know, I know, I have a fund for his therapy for later). The school gave him money for lunch and he was very excited that he got Tater Tots! School is a magical place, isn't it. I write a check the next day so that we can pay back the school and so he can have lunch money on hand on those busy days when lunch is beyond me.....I give him the check:

4 year old: mom, we don't pay for lunch.

me: yes, we do.

4 year old: no, mom you go to this lady at a desk and she gives you money and then you go buy lunch.

me: that's just because you didn't have your lunch yesterday, we have to pay her back and pay for our future lunches.

4 year old: no, mom, you don't understand, THE SCHOOL PAYS FOR THE LUNCH, IT'S FREE!

me: Nothing's free honey, we have to pay for the lunch.

4 year old: (stubborn little s*&t) well we don't pay and I'm not taking the check --- (arms crossed, mind you)

me: in my head......AHHHHHH

I took the check to the before school day care guy and he gave the cafeteria ladies the check for four year old's lunches....

Fall is in the AIR!

OOOH, I do believe I just got called a slacker by Colleeno ---it was directed at her blogger friends in general....but I figured I'd get a move on it. Fall is almost here...woo hoo, my favorite season is fall! And yesterday we had a nice taste of what's to come, a bit cloudy, crisply cool. I even had a nice roast (buy one get one free at KS) in the crock pot so when we got in after school yesterday it smelled like fall! Maybe soon I'll even be inspired to make some corn chowder with cheesy garlic bread....ooooh or some squash soup. Ok, so part of Autumn for me is all about the food---anyone surprised? Check out this book onAutumn that my good friend, Shannon, gave me for my birthday (in June, but hey she knows Fall is my favorite). Neat book, all cozy and warm and how to make your home all fallish -- makes me wish I had more time! And there is of course SOCCER....yup, I've joined the league of soccer moms.

The boys got haircuts after their first game.....I promised they could do what they wanted if they didn't complain about it being a bit longer for their Uncle and New Aunt's wedding.....arggg, I so much like it better longish and frumpled. Maybe because THEY HAVE MY EARS!

Alrighty, here are some pictures of some of the 'action' but I have a sucky camera and frankly, not that great of a photographer....Martha, Aimee? want to come to a soccer game...hey wait, Dodi, Colleen, aren't you in the area anyway with your soccer family....come by to one of our fields and take some action shots.....please please.

Ok, second shot I can't even tell if one of the blue guys is one of mine...haha.

DH and I in a Cartoon....

Found this on gravytrain and it so reminded me of Jason and I on our date nights. We'll whip out his Palm and play scrabble with each other over dinner (Martha has indeed witnessed this when she and her DH bumped into us in a neighborhood restaurant).

We are such GEEKS.

oh, first Pharm test...AN A...doing a cabbage patch dance right now.
fundamentals...a B and I'm trying to be okay about that.

Nursing Diagnosis

Hmmmm not the easiest concept to grasp...well for me, because it's not a medical diagnosis, you can't really say "this guy has diabetes", you can say "this guy has anxiety related to (r/t) to his diagnosis of diabetes, or has a knowledge deficit r/t the new nutritional plan for his newly diagnosed diabetes". Since this is on my test tomorrow I've decided to 'explore this'. Here's what it is definitely not and why:

Pt (patient) is a 26 weeks pregnant skinny crack addicted skank ho who doesn't care about the welfare of her baby.....

ok, here's why it's wrong:
pregnant....medical diagnosis, could read as: Ineffective Denial r/t diagnosis of pregnancy (26 weeks) AEB (as evidenced by) pt denying that she is pregnant and only presented to ER for stomach pain.

skank...a bit of a biased opinion of the nurse...maybe should read: hygiene deficit r/t lack of housing.

skinny...not a professionally nursing type description, it should read: Imbalanced nutrition: Less than body requirements

Ho....nurse has not seen pt exchange sexual favors for crack and/or money, nor has the pt claimed to be a Ho or a prostitute of any kind, again, nurse's biased coming through in the diagnosis.

Crack addicted...only if pt mentioned she partakes in drugs, and again addict is most likely a medical diagnosis, so should read more like: Defensive coping AEB the pt admitted to the use of illegal narcotics for relaxation purposes.

okay, so here how it should read:

Ineffective Denial r/t diagnosis of pregnancy (26 weeks) AEB pt denying that she is pregnant and only presented to ER for stomach pain. Hygiene deficit r/t lack of housing. Imbalanced nutrition: Less than body requirements. Defensive coping AEB the pt admitted to the use of illegal narcotics for relaxation purposes.

I can't decide which one sounds funnier and frankly can't imagine saying EITHER!

So far it's been fun, learned how to move patients today, rolling them, lifting them, transferring them....of course if this had been real I think we may have broken a neck or two....one person started moving before the other counted to three and such...but better learning here with healthy necks then in the hospital.

I have a test tomorrow (on the nursing process, including diagnosis) wish me luck, will need it. I was talking to DH about having a bit of anxiety r/t to knowledge deficit (hahaha) and he said I shouldn't worry about failing....I paused, "I'm not worried about failing, I'm worried about getting a C"

I was serious and he laughed!
the gall

okay, I laughed too as soon as I realized what I had said.
I'd like to say I'm going to go study now, but really since I was up at 4 this morning, I'm going to bed.
sweet dreams!

Mutant Cat Tails

All in all a pretty good weekend. Saturday I met with my study group and we studied the 'nursing process' and nursing diagnosis are so very strange...you can't just say this person has a cold but you can say how the person 'feels' about having a cold....more on this later when I have a better grasp. Friday night we got a reprieve -- the kiddos were with their aunt and uncle and we went to see stardust. A fantastic movie, particularly if you enjoyed Princess Bride a few years back.....and/or still enjoy Princess Bride. Loved Captain Shakespeare, he was hysterical and if I were younger I'd have a little crush on the main guy, Tristan....oh and pay attention to the names of the princes.....funny funny.....Saturday we took the boys to Mr. Bean's Holiday, they enjoyed it, it was cute, but not overly fond of slapstick kind of humor. Yesterday, we labored....we pulled out half of our mutant cat tails from the side yard...the other half in the front come out next weekend. I split some daisies, gave some away and replanted some others....will be splitting some more daisies next weekend, so any of you in the neighborhood who want some daisies and/or mutant cat tails let me know! The cat tails are almost like aspen with their intertwining connected root and bulb system....I wish my lilies would do that that quickly (which is, by the way, what I thought I was planting when I planted the stupidly mis-marked cat tails!)

Then we went to mom in law's house to celebrate DH's birthday...yup he's finally my age. 39....one more year in our 30's. WOW.

More pictures

Woke up at midnight in a panic....Bills haven't been paid, house is a mess and homework and reading no where near completed...so I'll post pictures of Brother and Sister-in-law's very pretty wedding.....oh and pictures of the boys, looking ever so adorable in their blazers.

Don't they look just so happy! They wrote their own vows and said beautiful words to each other, people cried and laughed and celebrated their commitment to each other.

Next is a series of my youngest dancing up a storm....he had a blast! John Travolta eat your heart out, you have some competition.

And some more pictures....

Nothing beats the whole military aspect for photo opportunities...well except the prettiness of the bride....

Father of the groom and highschool buddies of the groom.

Mami and Papi....they are so happy for my brother!