Fall 2010

Here I am again at the start of another semester. I'm taking 15 hours this semester, with 2 supposedly "easy" classes. We will see . . .

First of all, I have a nursing seminar, Intro to Nursing with a clinical, and Nursing Skills with a lot of check-offs. There are a lot of extra things to do for these classes also, including community days, working at Focus on Health, and other shadowing type deals.

Other than my nursing classes I am taking an online detective literature mystery class and an Intro to Music Therapy class. As long as I do all of the reading on time for the mystery class I will be fine. As for the Music Therapy class, we do a lot of stuff in front of the class (usually in groups) so I will need to get more comfortable with this. Being more comfortable talking in front of people is actually one of my goals while I am in school so I won't be nervous about speaking up for my patients when I am working.

Other than my school, things have still been pretty full lately. We are helping Tony's mom get a house, so there have been a lot of showings and mortgage people meetings and a very long (but thorough!) inspection. We will see if the current owner fixes any of the major defects that were found. Tony is coaching Austin's flag football team this fall and I am looking forward to going to the games and cheering with Drew. Austin is doing well so far in ALPHA at school (but his teacher said they have been taking it easy on the kids so far). I think there will be some frustrating times but he will do well overall.

Both of our boys have birthdays this month and we are planning gifts and parties for each. Austin really wants to take a friend to Cedar Point for his bday but I am not willing to go on a weekend, so he will have to be happy with a sleepover with a bunch of crazy boys. Drew's party a family only dinosaur themed party. I'm sure he will have a lot of fun no matter what!

Last but certainly not least, my brother's son was born almost a week ago. He is precious and I could just sit and hold him for hours. Except if he poops, I am giving him to his mom and dad because I heard he has some blow outs! He is such a cutie and Drew has totally fallen in love with him. We try not to let him touch too much, but Drew likes to sing to him and kiss him on the head. Austin likes him also, but when there are other big kids to play with, he is good to go.

Oh and I would just like to say that I think it is time to decorate for fall! Please tell my husband I am right!

Ready or not, here I go!

I have finished my first two days of classes. I am feeling very overwhelmed right now. First of all, the walking!! I am not used to it, especially with a full backpack of stuff! And the parking is definitely not fun. I have gotten lucky most times and found a spot, but my sister and mom were right when they said it's a nightmare to find a spot. I drove around today for 20 minutes and finally lucked out and only had to walk across most of the main campus : )

I like all of my professors. My english prof is very punny - which I am used to, since I am married to a Hakel. It should keep me awake since this is an 8am class. All of my profs for my Tues/Thurs classes seems very nice, especially my nutrition and antatomy & phys classes. Some of the kids in my classes are annoying though, oh my I never would've thought I would be in class with people who were 8 when I first started college! It is very weird. I have found some nice gals to chat with before most of my classes, except english. I am lucky to have my eyes open for that one!

As of right now, having had one day of each class, that I am most looking forward to Nutrition and Anatomy & Physiology. Probably because I know each of these is very applicable to my major, and I will use the info a lot (esp. a&p)!

I'm not sure that I am ready to be away from Drew for so much of my days. I have been home with him since he was born and I know I will miss him a lot. Austin is going to public school this year, I was going to homeschool him but everyone persuaded me that might be too much to handle. He is riding the bus for the first time in his life and is very excited about it! Hopefully Tony will be here most mornings I am not (if not, his mom will be) and I will be here 3 days a week when Austin gets home (other 2 Tony's mom). I know Austin will makes friends quickly, but I hope us slowing down on math at the end of last year won't hurt him too much.

Is Tony ready for me to go back? Not sure about that one. The moms who had gone back were talking about family members taking over some of the housework, etc and I felt like he was not prepared to hear that! The cooking won't change much, he makes all the good food anyway :) but I will need some assistance with the cleaning.

We will see how the studying goes. So far I have nap times 5 days a week, so that's 10 hours. The rest will be after the boys are asleep. Gotta remember to have some fun too (that's what weekends are for right?)

Relaxing Nights

I love nights like this. We had dinner (without the TV! - big thing for Tony), I gave Drew his bath and now Tony and Austin are playing golf on the Wii and Drew is walking back and forth down our long hallway throwing balls as he goes. It is very cute to watch, especially since I put him in some of Austin's old pjs. I get very nostalgic when he is in his big brother's clothes.

It is so wonderful that Drew can entertain himself sometimes. I love it when I have to clean or cook, but I also love just watching him play. Most of the time he talks or whispers to himself as he is playing. I also find him in his room on his rocker reading books a lot. Now that I totally love!!

Austin has been reading through his Bible lately when we are in the car. He has one that is kind of comic book-y, so it is easier for him to get into some of the (Old Test.) stories. When I told him he could skip to the Jesus parts, he said his goal is to read straight through the entire Bible. I say go for it!

Off to play with Drew some before he goes to bed at 9.

Happy Easter!

Praise God for sending His only Son to die for my (and your) sins! Thank you Jesus!

Easter was good this year. This past week we (Austin and I) progressively read out of the gospels as the week went on.

Saturday night we made tomb cookies. I found them on this website: http://www.sugardoodle.net/Easter%20Ideas/Easter%20Story%20Cookies.shtml
This was pretty fun, as each step/ingredient has a significance about the death and resurrection of Jesus. Austin helped me make them and then we put them in the oven overnight and sealed the tomb - put pieces of tape on the door. He was confused about why we couldn't eat them Saturday night, but it was pretty cool this morning when he bit into it and it was hollow. A fun way to talk about Easter!

This morning we had our egg hunt. Austin probably asked me 10+ times before I was ready to wake Drew up if he could just "leave a few for him" and start on his own! I feel that if I don't have to wake Drew up early, I shouldn't. So around 9 I got Drew and he was not so much interested in the hunt, but he did like the candy in his basket. As expected, Austin got the majority of the eggs. Today I learned that Austin now eats cadbury eggs all in one bite!

After that, we went to my parents' house for brunch which turned into 4 hours of being there. The food was yummy and Drew got a small nap, but I was tired by the time we left to go to Tony's brother's house! Then we had lunner (as Austin calls it) and hung out for another 4 hours. Needless to say I am pooped! But it seems that if I stay up past 10pm I can't sleep until around 1am so here I am.

If this doesn't make much sense, just laugh and move on! It is about 12:30am here and I'm running on empty. I hope you had a great Easter!

Updates

Tony has already had one job interview and has two more this week.  Praying for the right job to come through.  I know he will do great in any of them.

ANDREW IS ONE!!! My baby is not so much a baby anymore!  We had a little family party on the weekend and then on his actual birthday made pizzas, since that is one of his favorite foods.  He seems to really like his new toys - so do his brother and cousin!

Tony and I went and got our new licenses today, so we officially live in Fort Wayne and we can vote in the election.  I am very glad about that, I didn't want to be someone who tells others how important it is to vote and then not do it!  

I pray that I either grow to like the church we have been attending or we find another great one up here.  So far, I haven't "felt it" while I have been at that church.  The people seem nice and the sermons seem right on with what I have been taught and believe, but for me I am not connecting how I feel I need to.  

I am going to work on getting a better schedule during the day.  With Tony being home, I have let myself be a little lazy and not do housework and/or go many places.  I am going to get my library card soon and check out the nearest branch and well I don't know what else.  I have told Austin's teacher that I will volunteer one morning a week at school, so that should help things. 

We are taking Austin to a Bishop Luers home football game this Friday.  He is excited and it should be a fun time for the three of us!  Hoping for no rain and chilly but not cold weather.  I am actually looking forward to it! 

Back home again. . . literally!

  I am now a Fort Wayne girl (again).  The little boys and I moved up here today, back in with my parents.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to stay with them until we find/fix up a place but it is really weird living with my parents again at the age of 27.  One perk is that until the end of the month I have my own bed! woohoo!  Tony works in Indy until the 29th and hopefully will pack up a lot of boxes before I go back down there.  He keeps saying he will be bored :)  

  Austin starts school next Monday.  I am excited for him but a little ~frustrated~ by the lack of communication from his school.   Still don't know his teacher or what room he is in.  I am going in tomorrow and I fell like I will be that "annoying" mother.  Oh well they want parental involvement right?  

   I've been watching Michael Phelps swim and wow that man is such an amazing swimmer!!  I hope he gets all his golds.  Go Team USA!

To Mississippi we will go

Tonight my mom, sister, her son (1), my two boys (Austin 7 , Drew 10 months) and I are traveling down to Mississippi. It's baby boy's first long trip! We are starting around his bedtime so hopefully he sleeps most of the trip and in the morning his brother and cousin can keep him entertained!

Are we crazy to assume we can do this? Tony has to work so he won't be with us and I am starting to freak out that there won't be enough room for all the stuff I need to take. It's only a four day trip but I need a bed, bathtub (blow up), I would like a high chair but I don't think any of us has one that folds up. It will work out, right?

I am excited though because I haven't seen a lot of my family in awhile. We're going down for my cousin's wedding on Saturday. Most of them haven't met Drew or seen Austin in years.
I'm a little nervous about seeing one of my uncles who reacted badly (massive understatement!) when I told him I was pregnant with my first. We have not really talked much since then but he has expressed regret to everyone else in my family. It will be interesting to see what if anything he has to say to me, or if he acts like everything is cool. I have done my best to forgive him but it hurt me badly at the time. I would love an apology but don't know what will happen.
We will see. . .
In the meantime I am very excited about seeing my cousin looking beautiful in her wedding dress and marrying her love.

Hello!

I thought I'd introduce myself first. I'm a 27 year old Christian wife and mom of two gorgeous boys. Right now I am homeschooling our oldest, next year is up in the air. I love to read and my oldest knows that the first thing we do at the library is go to the new book section! I also enjoy making cards and scrapbooking, but haven't made much time for that since my youngest was born in September. So now you know a little bit about me, here we go!
(fyi: not very experience with all this, just thought it would be fun)