a little belated update

so, Natalie is finally 2! a month ago...:) I know, I'm terrible at updating. She's doing wonderfully though! The potty training is going slowly...she does really well for a day or two, and then decides she wants nothing to do with it, so I'm getting frustrated. But you cant rush a 2 year old, they do EVERYTHING on their own time! Besides that, she's getting more independent and mischevious every day-she must get that from Kevin! Kevin is working hard going to school and working full time. He still has a couple of quarters to go, but he'll be getting his associates in civil engineering soon, which he is looking forward to. I, however, am still on the hunt for a job. It has proved to be more difficult than I anticipated, and I have had to admit to Kevin that he was right. I swore I'd have lots of opportunities, and turns out, I dont! No one wants to hire new grads because they dont have experience, but we cant get experience without a JOB!! So if anyone knows of any nursing jobs, send em my way...

Natalie's 2! i know, a little late

Natalie being her amazing little self :)

Natalie was having a grand ole time banging on Nanna and Popop's piano. I guess I'll have to get her into piano lessons...along with gymnastics, dance, soccer, voice.....ok, not all at the same time :)

Natalie with Popop and Great-Grandma on July 4th















So cute! I love the faces she makes :)

















Playing in her new princess pool. I couldnt get her out of it!


















YAY! I'm a princess!


















This is my daughter in a nutshell....with a minnie hat on top.

In dinosaur world....yay...*note sarcasm*. it was pretty lame lol

She looks THRILLED, as usual :)

Goofy was the only character she would stand still for

aw, arent we cute?

vacay

the whole gang! from top left: john (mary's bf), mary, dad, grandma, me, natalie, kevin, drew, amanda (his gf), chris (katie's husband), katie, mom, patrick, anna (his fiance-as of last month). phew! the ENTIRE group went to disney world-minus grandma who was having surgery that week. we had a great time, although i wish we could have spent some more time with each other instead of splitting off into couples. but, atleast we all got to go.

The Happy Graduate

Well, here it is. I'm a college grad. I'm probably still in shock, because none of it seems real. I'm 25 years old, and except for a 'break' in Iraq, I've been in school my WHOLE LIFE! But now I'm done with nursing school, and I dont know what to do with myself! All I have left to do is take my boards this summer (exactly when, I have no idea). After that, I'm an RN! Wow, that's scary. Well, just intimidating really, it's a lot of pressure. You cant be a mediocre nurse...although I've definitely seen it, it aint pretty! All I want is to be effective, useful, thorough and caring. If I strive for that, I cant lose, right? I will miss all my friends though, many of them I havent known for that long because I switched from the evening program, but they've all been awesome, and I'm sad to be relocating. I wish I could work with you guys, we'd ROCK the hospital :) Good luck to all my fellow graduates, just be the amazing, funny people I know, and you'll be successful anywhere you go. Maybe we'll cross paths again someday! Class of 2009!

Counting Down til June 11th

I'm almost there, approximately 11 days until graduation!! My finals are on Wednesday, and then I'm gonna just pass out. Dont be surprised if I go into a coma-like state after that, possibly not waking until we leave for Disney World. I've got a lot of sleep to catch up on! I'm doing pretty good academically though, I've pretty much secured a passing grade, even if I flunk the final, so I'm feeling pretty good! All I need now is for everybody to just cheer me on :) Oh, and giftcards to a Spa would be great too, LOL! No, for real.....hehe j/k. I need to see a chiropractor in all reality, but I've heard once you start, you cant stop! So I think I'll suck it up for now. I'm just counting down the days, and so is Kevin, poor thing. I dont know if he can handle me like this much longer! I'm going crazy.....

My poor Nattie

I have to say, it's been a rough couple of weeks for Natalie! On top of Kevin been gone and having to be in daycare most of the week-while I'm at school and clinicals, the poor thing has been sick off and on since Kev left! First, it was an ear infection, which she got antibiotics for and it cleared up. Then, she stuck something in her ear, damaged the outside of her eardrum and it started bleeding, so I had to take her to the ER for that (it was past normal business hours-of course!). So, she had more medicine to take, just eardrops to prevent further infection. THEN this morning she woke up early, and I picked her up to cuddle in bed with me, and she was a little hot potato! Her temp was 103.8! I gave her Tylenol and took her to the Dr. later that day, only to find out that they dont know what's wrong with her. They tried to say it was Roseola (a harmless virus), but she had that when she was a baby and you cant get it again. So, I just have to watch her, give her Motrin to keep the temp under 101 and call again on Saturday if she's still hot. Hopefully she's not, because then they have to draw blood and possibly admit her. Kevin comes home on Saturday, and that's the last thing we need! This week is just gonna be nuts. Between my careplan, clinicals, studying for 3 tests this Wednesday, AND doting after a sick toddler (who's VERY clingy when she's sick) I just dont have the energy. HELP!

Do I look 25?

So, I guess my week didnt turn out THAT bad. Even though it was supposed to rain all day, it actually didnt rain at all on my birthday-stupid weather man, I coulda taken Natalie to the zoo! Instead we had dinner with my mother-in-law, which was nice. She's very supportive, especially when Kevin has to be gone for something. We went to Olive Garden, and I had tiaramisu for my birthday cake...yum! And Shawna's family sang to me, so my birthday was fulfilled. Except for candles, I didnt get to blow out 25 candles. Oh well...I probably would have fallen over anyway, and it never would have fit on my little tiaramisu....I'm getting old! Do I look it? Lol, you dont have to answer that. So anyway, I got a lot of phone calls and text messages from my friends and family, which was nice. The technological age has made it very easy to remember birthdays, but I dont mind! So, now the weekend is over, and I have lots of studying to do. I'm a little apprehensive for a big cardiac test this week, but I should be fine. However, it doesnt help when our instructor doesnt know how to run a scantron, or add. She's changed our grades 3 times, and we still havent seen our tests. Frustrating! I seriously doubt if anyone fails this quarter, because they wont REALLY know what their grade is! I hope it doesnt effect me, because I have an A, and I plan on keeping it that way! Oh, and I've lost 5 lbs, yay!

Feeling sorry for myself

I think that God knows just how I'm feeling this week, because He's making it rain.....a lot. Wednesday was my anniversary, which I spent alone, because Kevin's in Germany-not his fault. Although out of the 3 years we've been married, we've spent one anniversary together. And it just so happens my birthday falls right after, so he'll be gone for that too. And then Mother's day is coming up, and I've NEVER spent a mother's day with him! I dont blame him, I blame my rotten luck (and the military). So I'll be moping by myself, attempting to find something to do. I had plans with my friends for my birthday, but that fell through, so I was going to take Natalie to the zoo, but as I said earlier it's going to rain...all....week! I'm just feeling sorry for myself, and wishing my best friend lived nearby :(

Day 1 of the detox

Ok, dont judge. I'm starting a detox cleanse, and I know what you're thinking-that's stupid! But if you've never done it, that's what your first impression would be. I'm not doing it to lose weight, although I cant say I wont enjoy that part! I've just been feeling sluggish, irregular-if you know what I mean, and in need of a fresh start. I've read everything there is to read, and while it's not recommended by physicians (they're not gonna hand you a flyer and say 'here! starve yourself!') it's the safest one out there. I'm still gonna be getting 1600 calories a day, and plenty of electrolytes. It mainly consists of water, lemons, maple syrup and cayenne pepper (that part was difficult to swallow-literally) and salt water in the morning. It doesnt taste BAD, but the cayenne pepper gives it a kick that I'm not used to. People used to tell me I thought ketchup was spicey. But it's supposed to boost my metabolism, and Lord knows I need that! So anyway, it's only the first day, and we'll see how this goes. I'm already planning to cheat a little on my birthday, but that's only fair :)

Kevin's leaving :(

Kevin's leaving on Saturday for 3 weeks! He has to go to Germany for our annual training with the unit. I managed to skate out of it because it would prevent me from graduating. I would have liked to go, but I didnt want us both to be away from Natalie that long anyway, so I'm not that disappointed. But I will miss him, especially because our anniversary is next week, and my birthday the week after that :( That's the army for you, they pick the WORST 3 weeks out of the entire year! So, I'll either be moping at home alone with Nat, or doing homework. Chances are I'll probably be working a 12 hour shift on my birthday anyway. It's just become another day! Grr. I'm not looking forward to this weekend...not only is Kevin leaving, but I'm working 36 hours in a matter of 3 days, so poor Nat is going to be parentless for a while. I always feel terrible when I have to leave her in day care-granted, it's her Aunt (on Kevin's side), but I still dont like to leave her that long. I hope I dont have to work full-time.....bleh.

My little drama queen....she picked out everything herself, I just helped her get dressed!

She's so happy to be on the potty!

My Stress Level

Alright, I think nursing school was invented to decrease the overpopulation of the Ohio Valley, because I'm about to have a heart attack (myocardial infarcation for all you medical folk). Last week I was having a panic attack because I got a 76% on my first test of the quarter-77 is passing, and they DONT round up! Then, I almost threw up because we had another test on Wednesday that I studied 3 days for, and there was a lot of stuff I didnt recognize. Needless to say, I was worried. I checked my grade online every 5 minutes until they finally posted it the NEXT MORNING!! I didnt sleep that great. When I finally saw my grade, I was in shock at the 94% that stared me in the face. It was a HUGE relief, but I was also felt like I was on a roller coaster-and not the fun kind. Come to find out, the scantron machine was broken for the FIRST test, and didnt count a bunch of questions, so my real grade was an 80! Not perfect, but hey, it's passing. And the 94 on the second one really brought me up, so I'm happy. But the ulcer that I'm forming is not. They're trying to KILL ME! *Deep breath, and count to 10........*
It's just a lot of pressure, and my school is not making it easier for any of us. But I'll get through it, I dont have a choice!

Nattie's a big girl now

Natalie was a big girl this week, she went on the potty! Ok, it was probably a fluke, but all the same, she went. She has shown some peaking interest lately, and likes to just sit on it while she watches tv. Well, she also likes to take off her diaper and sit on it like a big girl, which worked in my favor, because before I could turn around, she pooped on the potty! Granted, she squatted above it and didnt exactly make it in the potty, but it was a good effort. Does this mean we've reached the potty training stage?? Yikes!

Easter

Well, Easter was nice, but I missed my family :( Natalie had a good time running from me as I tried to scoop out her mouthfull of jelly beans. One at a time is ok, but she puts them all in her mouth at the same time! She was really hyped up all day, and then crankier as the day went on. That kid does not need sugar! Next year I'm gonna try and find more fun things to fill eggs with that does not include much candy! But now Easter's over, and I've got to get back to school-mode. This week is going to be a little crazy, 3 tests and 2 assignments due, BY WEDNESDAY!! I'm going a little nutso just thinking about it. So if you need me, it'd better be important, or I'll call you back on Thursday :)

She wouldnt sit still for one minute to get a picture!!












She's too interested in her jelly beans....
















Sifting through her goodies














She's quite content eating her candy necklace, I'll pay for that later...

Natalie was quite the ornery toddler on Easter, but she did have fun. Soon after this picture she stole someone's tea and dumped it down her dress....

Update

So, in case we dont have enough time to call everyone and update our life story (which we dont!), this is just a means of informing you who want to know! Right now our lives are revolving around two things: Natalie, and me finishing nursing school. I have currently diagnosed myself as a crazy person. Or, as we would say in the nursing world: Ineffective tissue perfusion to the brain, related to long hours of studying, writing careplans, and endless frustrations at clincals, as evidenced by catatonic behavior, minimized reflexes and impaired level of consciousness. How's that for stressed? But the good thing is, I'll be done in two months! Then Ill be studying even more to pass the NCLEX exam, but thats another story.....Anyhow, Natalie is doing great-as great as a 19 month old can be ;) She's been sick the past week-which she so generously passed on to her mother (bleh)-so she's been a little more clingy, and slightly more obsessed with Elmo videos. I didnt think it was possible. Other than that, she's becoming VERY independent. Even wanting to put on her own clothes and shoes! The other day she walked out of her room with 3 pairs of pants on and one sandal. Silly girl. But she's been getting very good at her ABC's and 123's! She does the abc's in stages, she'll repeat a group of letters randomly for a few days, and then try something new! Right now, her favorite is QRSYZ, in that order! She'll go through all the numbers in order though, which amazes me, but Elmo DOES count on tv, so I have to give him some credit. I always swore I'd never be one of those parents that relies on the TV for entertainment, but how can I deny her?? She gets so excited about Elmo that she starts to stutter-"El, El, Elm, Elmo Elmo Elmoelmoelmoelmoelmo!" Its really rather funny, and the videos ARE educational, so I guess I should just be grateful that she enjoys a quiet activity for now. So, other than that, Kevin's been working hard at the hardware store as always. He leaves for Germany in a couple of weeks with our unit (NO it's not a deployment, just Annual Training) and he'll be gone for 3 weeks. I wasnt able to go because of school, but I'm glad we're not both going-what would Nattie do?? But unfortunately, our 3rd anniversary is coming up, as well as my birthday, and he'll be leaving right before :( I know he'll make it up to me though.....he'd better!! Well, I think that's all for now, I'll update again soon!