A New Beginning

I dropped my child off at her freshman orientation yesterday morning. As she was getting ready, I stood in the hall and watched her move from her room to the bathroom and then back again. I just stared and reflected at how in a blink of an eye, my little baby had grown into this beautiful young lady.

She’s getting ready to embark on a new beginning. She’s getting ready to experience things she’s never seen and feelings she’s never felt. I know there are going to be tears of pain and sorrow but I’m hoping there will be many more tears of joy and happiness.

When I picked her up, she had mixed feelings. She was ready for school to begin because of the new beginning and the excitement but she’s also a little scared. It is a NEW beginning with NEW experiences and she’s not sure if she’s ready or even if she can handle it. My advice to her, take it one day at a time.

I’m so excited for her. These are going to be GREAT years but they’re going to go by so fast.

 WOW!! Where does the time go?

Time Flies By

A lot has gone on since the last time. I’ve been continually on the go and it seems like there will be no slowing down any time soon.

Let’s see, where do I begin.

Last week Pumpkins got two acceptance letters: Cathedral and Brebeuf. It’s kind of amazing that my oldest is old enough already to be going to high school. She really wants to go to Cathedral and I think that’s where we will be sending her. The road to getting these letters was a long and tiring one. There were the placement tests, the applications, the essays, the application fees, the recommendations, the I-STEP scores, the 7th and 8th grade report cards,…it seemed like the list went on and on. And then just after all that was done and I thought I could breathe, at least for a little while, I had student aid application deadlines to meet. Now, we have to decide which school we will be enrolling her in, and then have to put down a huge deposit (as our commitment to have her attend the school in the fall).

Then, shortly after getting her letters, she had to be rushed to the emergency room. She was having an asthma attack. My child, who hasn’t been diagnosed with asthma, had an asthma attack. A tube to one of her lungs had closed. She was stuck three times before they could even get a vein to put an IV into her. She was pushed full of meds and was given several breathing treatments. About 6 hours later, she and her daddy were walking back through the door. I was so relieved to find out that she was okay. It all started after her volleyball game the night before. So, I haven’t allowed her to do any physical activity all week. I haven’t even allowed her to attend any of her volleyball practices. I wanted her to rest of and make sure she’s okay. She has a game this Sunday and I’m so nervous. I know I can’t hold her back all her life. But I still haven’t been able to get her to understand the seriousness of her condition.

The last thing I’m going to talk about is my hubby. He’s gone. He’s out of town for the next 5 days for training and I’m missing him like crazy. He hasn’t even been gone for 24 hours and I’m already missing him. I’m sitting up now like he’ll be walking through the door any moment from work. Every time I think about him I see his big cheesy smile and I can’t wait to see the real thing again in a couple of days. The girls are missing him also. As a matter of fact, they both are in my room right now snoring. Pudds in lying in the bed next to me and Pumpkins is on the floor. I have to find ways to keep them busy to keep their minds off their Daddy being gone for the next couple of days. Tomorrow after school I’m going to take them shopping and maybe to a movie. Sunday, they both have a volleyball game. It’s sort of like he’s working, the don’t get to see him when they get home from school because that’s the time that he’s working. And then when he gets off, they are already sleep. The only difference is that (1) they can’t come down and give him a kiss good-bye in the mornings like they usually do and (2) they know that he’s not just at work here in the city, but at work in another state.

School seems likes it’s been going on for weeks but it’s only been 3. I have completed 2 assignments in History, 3 in Advanced Creative Writing and only 1 in Math Modeling. I really need to buckle down in Math Modeling. But the thing is, I don’t understand any of it. But I better get started because I have 12 more assignments to complete and only 13 more weeks to get it done.

The final thing is that our church’s Corporate Fast has begun. Today is day 2. But the first 2 days are easy. Actually day 3 & 4 will probably be easy also. But it’s when my body really starts to miss the foods that I usually eat. Having to still watch my family eat chicken is going to be hard. But I’ll make it through. I’ve done it before and I know I can do it again. This time of fasting is to get closer to God. To be stronger and grow spiritually.

Okay, I really need to take my butt to bed. It’s late and I need to get up early. Tomorrow will be a long day.

Back To School!

Okay, so today was my return day. Today is the day that I drove down to campus to register for classes, get my syllabus, meet the instructors and pick up my books. It was cold out. No, it was FREEZING out today and I definitely do not miss walking around on a campus in the winter.

One thing that was a little bit of a stress reliever was that I sat down with my academic advisor and mapped out the rest of the classes that I have left to take so that I can make my goal of graduating in 2012. It is doable but that means starting in August, I’ll have to take at least 4 classes each semester and next summer I’ll have to take a class in the summer. I really don’t see too much where that’ll be a problem as long as life is going well. Who am I fooling? There’s alwasys something thrown in the path to get things going in a direction you hadn’t planned for. But, that’s still okay. I will press my way through for sure. `

So, this semester I’m taking Twentieth Century World History, Advanced  Creative Writing and Introduction to Mathematics Modeling. The thing that’s different with this semester compared to all the others is that I will have to read a chapter a week and turn in an assignmet every week for History. For Math Modeling, it’s basically the same thing. An exercise or a project is due every week. Also, for history, if you’re late for a due date, then you lose 1 letter grade. All my other classes previous to this semester, I could work at my own pace but that won’t be the case this semester. I’ll really need to be very disciplined to get everything done when it’s supposed to be done.

The fun thing about this semester is my Advanced Creative Writing class. Assignment #1: Make a list of 10 authors that I like and write a couple of sentences of why I like them. Assignmet #2: pick one of these authors, read one of their novels and submit a 3-4 page analysis of their work. Assignment #3: do the same as assignemtn #2 for another author.

How fun is that? I actually get to read books that I like for class. It also gives me a reason to buy at least two more books. Yay!!

Today was a long day and I’m exhausted. I’m going to do some more reading on a book I have to review “Big Girls Do Cry” by Carl Weber until I fall asleep.

Tomorrow is a big day. I have a 5 hour workshop for the newsletter ministry at the church and then I have to take some teens to the mall for their “social” time. Hate that I’ll be missing the first volleyball game for Pudds and Pumpkins tomorrow but I’ll definitely be there for the rest of them.

Going to be a busy semester but I’ll make it through. Until next time, God Bless!

Busy, Busy, Busy Bee

That’s me. The busy little bee. I have so much going on that I can’t figure out how I have time to do it all. Well, actually, there is a lot that doesn’t get done. Like my house for instance. I hate that it’s not cleaned the way I’d like it to be but there’s so little time to do everything. And I can’t be on the go 24/7. When would I ever get any rest?

Got the girls volleyball game schedule yesterday. Pudds has 7 games and Pumpkins has 6 games starting Jan. 30 and ending Feb. 23. Mixed in to that is still practice for both of them. Now I have to figure out which games to attend because on any one day, they both can have a game, close to the same time but in two different locations on opposite sides of the city. I’ll have to plan it out with them so that they are well aware of what’s going on in advance.

School is getting ready to start back up. Actually in only 5 more days. Last week I was excited and couldn’t wait. Now that it’s getting so close, I wish I had a couple of more weeks off. But, think of it this way: 16 weeks of school and then I’ll have 12 weeks off. That will be NICE!!!!!  Can’t believe that I’ve been in school for 2 years now (4 semesters). This will be semester #5. I want to graduate in 2012 so I need to map out the rest of my classes so that I can make sure that that happens.

Work. Man, I don’t even want to get started with work. It’s been crazy. I’ve been so busy. There is so much going on and so much to do. Not enough time to do it and definitely not enough help to get it done. I think if I had a part-time person who knew how to do some of this work and was reliable it would help out a lot. I have to try and not let work get the best of me though. When it does, I’m too tired to do any of the other million things I have to do. My school works gets behind, the house work gets behind, I don’t spend as much time with my kids and I don’t get any exercise done at all. So this semester, I’m determined to take a lunch every day even if it’s only for 1/2 hour. I need to make myself take a break.

Fun stuff: I’ve been engrossed in Café World on Facebook for about two weeks now. I don’t even know what got me started but I’m hooked. I’ve gotten Pumpkins hooked on it too. Now Pudds wants to get a facebook page so that she can play. We’ll have to see about that.

I asked Pudds last night what she wanted for her 10th birthday which is next week. She said a cell phone. I love it when I get them something that they want. Already ordered the cell phone and should be in any day now. She has no clue and I’m sure she’ll cry like she did when she got her video recorder and her laptop. My children are so spoiled. They have more as children than I ever had. And I’m not just talking material things. They have much love from their mother and father. They have much time with they mother and their father. That’s a lot more than I can say for my childhood.

Oh well, need to get back to work. Have a lot of projects to complete by Wednesday. I’m taking a “me day” on Thursday. If I’m not going to lunch with a friend, then I’m going to treat myself to a movie and lunch. Can’t wait!!

A Great Holiday

This turned out to be a great holiday. There were no big problems. No big disagreements. Everyone got along well. It was very peaceful and really stress free. I’m so thankful to God for bringing about so much peace in my life. We spent Thanksgiving Day at my parents house and then at my in-laws. It was a really good time and there was really great food. I hate that I missed seeing 2 of my sisters and 2 nephews and 2 nieces but hopefully I’ll get to see them for Christmas.

Friday we had breakfast and lunch at our house for my in-laws. It went very well. I think everyone had a good time and great food. We watched some movies, laughed and even napped.

Saturday morning was family day. We went to see A Christmas Carol in 3-D. Had never seen a movie in 3-D at a movie theater before and it was a cool experience. I hate that it cost an additional $3 because the movie was 3-D but that was okay. The movie itself was kind of boring and I was dozing off through most of it. I guess once you’ve seen one A Christmas Carol re-make, you’ve seen them all. Will be going with the 3rd-4th-5th graders on Tuesday to see A Christmal Carol at the IRT. I don’t ever remember going to the IRT before but the little one insisted that I chaperone so I’m going. Hopefully I’ll be able to stay awake.

The rest of the day, after the movie, I’ve been working on Calc 2. This is my last chapter and there are 9 sections in this chapter. I’ve only gotten through 4 sections and the 4th section I don’t understand.

I’ve had so much problems getting tutoring for this class. I didn’t realize that getting a distance Math degree would be so difficult. I think if I was doing something else there wouldn’t be such a big problem but it’s kind of hard to teach yourself Math. If I could teach myself Math, I would have done it a long time ago and not paid so much to go to school. I could have tested out of a lot of these courses. I’ll be bugging my instructor next week again trying to get some tutoring done. It’ll have to be over the phone. Although I’d rather for it to be face to face or via web cam, I’ll take it any way I can right about now.

The writing class is going well. I’ve just got to do my short story/1st chapter and then 2 more reading assignments. Actually 1 1/2 reading assignments. I’ve done most of one, just need to do dialogue exercise.

Geometry is difficult but I think that’s only because I don’t know how the instructor wants me to answer the exercises. And when I ask, she gives such vague answers in her email. I really need to talk to her via phone but she’s not letting me know when a good time to call her would be.

Tomorrow, the kids plan on putting up the christmas tree. I ordered some more candles (Ginger Pumpkin, Pepperment Bark, Homemade Cookies, Apple Orchard). Going to have the house smelling real good for this holiday season. I’m so looking forward to now up until Christmas. I’m in a baking mood and want the house smelling good will all kinds of yummys. Not sure yet what all I’ll be making. My brother wants me to make him a pecan pie. I’d love to find a good recipe for chess pie but I guess I’ll settle for buttermilk pie since hubby likes that just as much.

I also ordered myself some books:
Secrets and Lies – Rhonda McKnight
The Ideal Wife – Jacquelin Thomas
Double Crossed – Darrien Lee
A Deep Dark Secret – Kimberla Lawson Roby
Forsaken – Vanessa Miller

I can’t wait to read them. I’m going to try and get them all read during my semester break. It’s supposed to start Dec 15th but they are allowing us a 3-week extension if we need it because of book and financial aid delays at the beginning of this semester. I’d really like to be done by Dec 15th instead of Jan 4th so I’m really going to be shooting for it. I want my 4-weeks in between semesters to recooperate and to enjoy some leisurly reading.

I tried to do NaNoWrimo this year but it didn’t work. I just had too much school work to do that I really couldn’t fit in leisure writing time. But I was able to get 5000 words down this year which is a huge step from last year. Last year I didn’t even log on to the website for the entire month. So mabye next year, I’ll be able to crank out more words. Every semester I get better at handling the work load.

Well, break time is over so I’d better get back to this Calc 2 stuff.

Until next time,
God Bless

And Life Goes On

So much has been going on. I don’t even know where to begin.

Let’s first start off with Pudds getting her flu shot. It was the funniest thing. I had talked to her about it on the weekend. She had said that she didn’t want to get a shot. I explained to both of them that they either got a shot or they could die. So, she yelled out “Shot!”.

On the morning of the shot, I didn’t say anything to her. I knew that if I did, she would freak out. When we arrived at her school, she asked why was I getting out of the car and coming in. When we entered the gym I told her that she was getting her flu shot. She started backing away and saying she didn’t want a shot. I told her that we had discussed this already and that she was getting a shot. But she said that I had not discussed it with her.

I told her to look at the nurse and told her that the nurse was an expert. The nurse said that she worked at the local children’s hospital and that she did this every day. I told Pudds that she could sit on my lap if she wanted and she said she did. So while sitting in my lap, I held her elbow and told her to look at her friends sitting at the other end of the gym. She didn’t want to look because she was trying to see the nurse with the needle. She did glance and by the time she looked back at the nurse, the shot was completed and the nurse was putting a bandaid on her arm. But Pudds didn’t even know that the shot was done. She was starting to get worked up again and didn’t believe me when I told her that the shot was done.

I thought it was the funniest thing. She was so worked up and afraid of the shot that she didn’t even realize that the nurse had given her the shot.

The other thing that’s fun to talk about is that we purchased a Nintendo Wii about 3 weeks ago. The girls actually keep their chores done now because they know that if they don’t, they don’t get to play the Wii. And I have been having a ball on it. I purchased the Wii Fit Plus and am loving it. Who would have known that you could break a sweat working out to a video game?

The girls and I are the only ones that are playing the Wii sport and work out games. Hubby got on the shopping channel and purchased old Nintendo games like Punch Out and Gradius. So you mean to tell me that I spent $200 on a Wii and another $150 on Wii Fit Plus and Wii Resort and you’d rather play Punch Out? LOL

School is going okay. Let’s just say that I’m not freaking out about it – yet. I’ve only done 2 out of the 3 assignments for Geometry. But it’s because I have no idea what I’m doing. The book is no help at all and for that matter, neither is the instructor. If I’m going to have to teach myself, at least provide me with the correct tools needed to do that.

I have decided that Calculus is not my subject. Well, I already knew it but now I really know it. It is kicking my butt. I study so hard and think I’ve got it once I’ve gone through the exercises and the practice test. And then I take the test and fail it. I just don’t understand what the problem is. I’ll be so glad when I’m done with all this Calculus stuff. I still have one more class of it to take and them I’m done.

Writing is going okay. I don’t like writing for young audiences. However, I have to take the class because it’s part of the minor. Also, I’m noticing that every teacher is different in how they grade. I put commas in places where I thought they should go for one teacher and they marked it wrong, then I left them out for my current teacher, and she marked it wrong. So…which way is it I wonder? I still have 2 more creative writing assignments, 3 journal assignments and 2 more reading assignments left and I’ll be done with that class.

Well, I think that’s enough for tonight. Until next time, and I hope it’s not 3 months from now.

Life, Life, Life

I said I was going to try to do better. I actually tried to do a posting yesterday but wordpress wouldn’t come up on my computer. I needed a break yesterday. I had started working on Calculus II at 10:30 am and at 7 pm last night, I was still working on it. There were only 20 questions in the exercise but at the end of the night, there were still 5 that I could not figure out how to solve. I agree with hubby when he says that more than 5 hours is too much to spend on one lesson but we are talking about college level Calculus II.

 I emailed the professor last night and told her that I spent over 16 hours on this one lesson and that I was still having problems and that I needed her help because I have to take the test on Friday. She did respond and gave me the examples in the book to look at for those particular questions. She also gave me her home number to call her in the evenings to discuss the problems. That is SO helpful. I will try to work through the sections again on my own in the next 2 days and then give her a call on Thursday if I’m still having problems.

 I’ve put Geometry on hold until I can get to the library and find some books on theorems and proofs. The thing I hate about my Geometry class, which I’m sure I’ve already said, is that it goes under the assumption that I just got out of high school geometry last semester.

 The writing class is going okay. I have to read Charlotte’s Web for the class and dissect it. Glad that it’s a children’s book and that it doesn’t take long to read it. I’m almost finished with it. The second reading assignment for this class is a really long one. Only someone who doesn’t have a full time job and have a family can complete it in one week. I started it the last week of August and I’m still trying to get it completed. I haven’t even started on the other assignments for this class for week 2.

But I look at it like this, if I work on all classes a little bit and make sure I work on something every day, then I’ll be able to finish on time without any stress at the end because I procrastinated. I want to finish the majority before November because I really want to participate in NaNoWriMo this year. I didn’t do it last year but there was good reason for that. I had a lot of personal stress in my life back then. But this year, things are looking pretty good.

The home search has been put on hold. Need to get some things in order. Also, need to save up for a down payment. Just found out that they don’t do “no money down” loans any more. So we have to come up with at least 3.5% for a down payment. For the size house we’re looking for, that’s at least $10K. So things are going to be tight for us for a while so we can save up but it will be well worth it in the end.

Pudds is doing really well so far in the 4^th grade. She was a little worried about it in the beginning but I think things are turning out good for her. It makes it easier when you already know all the kids in the class and their teacher is excellent. I really like her and her style of teaching.

I’m not quite sure how Pumpkins is doing. It doesn’t seem like they’ve done any school work yet. LOL I’m sure they’ll start next week. They had a middle school leadership camping trip last week and this week they are only in school for 3 days. When you’re barely in school, it makes it difficult to do any class work.

I need to start looking into high school scholarships for her. They are having a high school information session at the end of the month. I also need to look into applying for NCHS. But the only thing with that is that I don’t want to pay for school. That’s the main purpose of us buying another house and moving.

Okay, I need to get back to work. I have a lot to accomplish today. Until next time, and I hope it’s not two weeks later.

I’m Doing Better

Okay, so it’s been a few days since the last time I posted. I was really stressing out on Wednesday but I’m doing better now.

I’ve actually already started on my assignments. I’ve read the first chapter in my Geometry book. I couldn’t do the homework assignment though because I have to know something about high school geometry to do this class. It was 19 years ago when I took high school geometry and I don’t remember any of it. I went to Half Price Books looking for a geometry book but they didn’t have any. I’ll have to go to another one tomorrow because I really need the book.

I’ve already completed my first assignment in my writing class and have read the first chpater of the next writing assignment.

I’ve completed section 5.1 in Calc 2 and started on section 5.2.

I started all this yesterday and have to say that I’m doing a pretty good job so far. But, it hasn’t been a week yet. I’m always like this in the very beginning. Can’t wait to get started and I always start off strong. But somewhere in there life starts to get crazy, I start to get lazy and then I don’t do it everyday like I need to be doing. But my plan is to make a schedule and stick to it so that I am not cramming at the end of the semester. I really don’t want to be donig that.

I’ve been at it all evening and I think I’ve called it quits for the day. I still need to find me a bag that I can carry all my books in but also to carry my computer.

I had a great time with Pudds in between church services. She gave me a rundown of a story she had been wanting to write. Her characters are Frankenstein Jr. and Pumpkin Jr. but she calls them Frank and Pump for short because she got tired of writing their whole name out every time. That girl is hilarious.

Pudds is supposed to be going over her multiplication facts. She’s supposed to do it everyday but instead she’s sitting up on the couch staring into space. Pumpkins is supposed to be cleaning up the kitchen. She was supposed to be cleaning it over an hour ago and she still hasn’t started on the dishes. I really don’t know what she’s up to walking around the house all slow like she’s an old woman.

I’ve got to go. I want to put all my school things away and get ready for work tomorrow.

Until next time,
PEACE!!!!

What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

I went to register for classes today. OMG! What have I done to myself? I’m taking “Writing for Young Audiences”, “Calculus II”, and “Geometry”.

I have to do different things for each one, of course, but it’s stuff that I didn’t know I’d be doing. For instance, for the writing class, I have to write and illustrate a children’s book and write a short story geard towards the preteen/teen age.

For Calc I have to do a project – calculus and baseball. Are you serious? Who cares about the calculus of a baseball? I sure as heck don’t. Even less so than the project I had last year about the calculus of a rainbow.

Geometry would be okay if the book looked like a geometry/math book. But it looks like a literature book. It’s paperback, thin, and there’s a lot of reading to do and hardly any problems with examples.

This is going to be a trying semester and I know that before I begin I have to change my attitude towards my studies. I can’t go into it thinking negatively. I have to be positive so that I can make it through and come out with good grades.

I’m glad hubby went with me today to register. When I asked him I wasn’t expecting him to say yes so I was surprised when he did. He was quiet most of the time but that’s okay. I do know that he’ll never go back with me again. But that’s okay, at least he did go one time.

Oh, and get this. I get to the school bookstore to purchase my books and find out that one of the books that I need for my writing class is sold out. How do you sell out of a book on the 2nd day of registration. They know in advance how many people are registered for the class. Why wouldn’t they at least have that number of books ready. So now they want to order the book and charge me to have it shipped to me. What kind of crap is that. I decided to order the book through Amazon.com. It was cheaper anyway.

Well, I’m going to get some recreation reading done. I want to get this book finished before I have to get started on my studies. I see that this semester there will be no time for any recreational reading.

I’m proud of myself, I’ve been doing a whole lot better with my blogging. I’ve only missed one day and for me that’s progress. I’m not sure how well I’ll do when I start studying but I’ll probably need to rant and this will be where I’ll do that. I know, I know, think POSITIVE.

Okay, I’m out for now,
God Bless

Glad for a Break

I’m so glad to be getting a break from school. Although it’s only going to be a 3-week break, I’m happy nonetheless. My plans for these 3 weeks is to sit back and enjoy them. I’m going to do a lot of reading. I started it off by reading Worth a Thousand Words by Stacy Hawkins Adams in one day. I started it this morning and was finished reading it by 5pm today. I’ve already started on my second book during this time off, The Devil is a Lie by Reshonda Tate Billingsley. I am on a roll. There are at least 2 more books I want to read during this time off. The other books that I read will be a matter of pulling something off my shelf or out of the many bags of books that I have.

The other thing I’m going to do in these 3 weeks is get my kids ready for the next school year. It’s going to be an exciting but also a busy school year. They are or will be involved with so many things. There is: volleyball (for both), basketball, girl scouts, church choir rehearsal (for both of them), track (for both of them), CLD classes. And all of this while I’m going to school taking 3 classes the first semester and probably 3 classes the second sememster. I’m still trying to figure out how I’m going to get 63 credits done by the spring of 2012. I guess they know something that I don’t know. But we’ll see.

Well, that’s really all I wanted to say today so I guess I’ll be getting off of here until next time.