A lot can happen in three months

In the last three months since I've blogged...

I've taken and completed three college hours of Medical Terminology and received an "A". So very excited about that, cause I worked my stinkin' butt off for it!

I've observed 8.5 hours at an amazing pediatric clinic and loved every. single. minute. of it. (My next setting will be inpatient, only because I want the experience. I can tell you right now that that's not where I want to be.)

I've registered for seven hours to take in the fall (starting Monday!!), and I'm very excited about everything that goes along with that. Though that last summer course was tough, I liked working hard and seeing good results. I know it's going to be a great semester.

I've visited my dad a couple more times. I wish I could go see him weekly, but life does not permit at this moment. He's doing great, making progress and doing better each day. I'm still waiting for him to pick up the phone to call me. Soon, I pray.

I went on vacation with my family and five of my favorite people in the whole world. We went to Orlando for ten days and had a wonderful time. Lots of sun, coffee on the patio, Disneyworld, Phase 10, good food, and laughter!!

I overcame my fear of elevators. Looong story saved for another post, but I promise-- this was a HUGE thing for me. Just to put it into perspective... At one point in an elevator on vacation, my 16 year old said to me, "Wow Mom, this is the first time I've been in an elevator with you." And he was right!

I resistered my youngest son for public school and watched him have an amazing first week. He jumped right in without grumbling or complaining, and his teacher said that he is "a breath of fresh air" in their classroom. What a blessing for this mama to hear!!

I stood in the driveway as my daughter drove off to college. She came back that afternoon (since she's living at home), but I was still very sad that day. It was the first day all three of my kids were gone, two of them taking big steps in school this year, and it was rough on me. But I'm so very proud of both of them!

I turned 36. I celebrated at my favorite restaurant, and I had family and close friends with me to celebrate. It was an amazing night!

I went to a Rangers game, got a great tan, went to a Beauti Control spa party (where I signed up to sell the products though that's just not gonna work out for me- though if you wanna buy some of their products I have a bunch of stuff I need to sell), and I went to my home town to visit my grandmother and a friend that I've had since I was about 13. It was an awesome trip!

Oh... and I got a brand new car! First new car I've ever had. It had 9 miles on it when I drove it off the lot and I loooove it. It still smells new and is shiny and rides great and is so beautiful. It's a 2011 Camry, and I wanted one of those because my daughter is driving our 2001 Camry that still runs great and most importantly-- is paid for. I plan on having this car for a very long time.

I plan on getting back into the routine of blogging again. I should probably notify the three people that used to read this blog...

Have a happy Sunday!!

Never say never

So. When my kids were little, I said I would never homeschool them. It was way too much work, and I didn't want to be responsible for them getting several grades behind other kids their age.

And then one son begged me to take him out of school and the other one was miserable there and not getting what he needed. So I did.

Then I said my youngest son would never go back to public school because of the tough time he had when he was in before.

And then the Lord said, "Yes he will." So this year he will be starting high school in a public school. HIGH SCHOOL. He's been home with me since the second half of fourth grade.

I also have said - many, many times- that I will never, ever go back to college because there's really nothing that I want to do that requires a degree and I really like being home, blah, blah, blah.

So I bet you'll never guess what I did this week.

Yes, I registered for college. My ultimate goal is to become a COTA (certified occupational therapy assistant), but I will start out at our local community college for my basics.

Why a COTA? Well, thanks for asking.

As a mother of a child with special needs and a friend of many mothers of children who have gone through all different forms of therapy, I know what it's like to have a child who needs help. I know what it's like to look to therapists (or teachers or aides) who can offer that assistance with compassion and I know what a blessing they are.

I want to be a blessing.

Plus my husband has been a physical therapist for eleven years, and I'm pretty familiar with the inside of a therapy gym. :)

I don't know for sure, but I feel pretty certain that I will end up in pediatrics. I want to help, to encourage, to love on those kids, and to see their progress.

I know it's going to be a long road, but I am getting very excited about it.

And I was even more excited when I went to talk to an advisor the other day and found out that I don't have to take the THEA because my ancient TASP still counts aaaaand I have 35 hours of usable college credit. Woo hoo!!

I know life is going to change around here, but it's gonna be good changes. My daughter will be commuting to college for a semester. My 16 year-old will be a junior and will be driving himself to school. My youngest will start school for the first time in 4.5 years, and I will be reading books that you can't actually use in a book club at church.

It's a whole new season for everyone!

Updates

I think I've said this before recently, but it's been a very long few weeks. I have lots going on in my head and my heart right now, so I am thanking you in advance for letting me vent and apologizing if this doesn't make any sense.

My dad is doing better every day. He's in therapy five times a day, and I was able to see firsthand how hard he is working last week. I know he's better today than he was a few weeks ago, but it's still very difficult for this 35 year-old to see her daddy in the condition he's in. It just is.

I cry often, out-of-the-blue and at weird moments, because I just miss him. My sweet husband has been very supportive, though sometimes he doesn't understand the tears. Well, ok, most of the time he doesn't understand.

Friday night he and I went on a much-needed date, and I finally satisfied my craving for boiled crawfish. They were sooooo good, and I will be going back soon. Then we went to the outlet mall and landed a 40% off sale at Gap. I got lots of goodies, which I don't get to do often. And to end the evening off on a wonderful note, I decided to show him how much I loved my iTrip and played him two songs that made me sob harder than I had in months.

One was this song by Taylor Swift. She wrote it for her mom, and every time I hear it I weep. Did I mention that Friday was also the day before my daughter's high school graduation? Yeah.

I think my exact words when plugging in my iphone were, "Let's cry, shall we?"

Then I played this song by Paul Simon. My dad bought me his greatest hits cd a few years ago specifically for that song, and considering what's going on, that song pushed me directly into the ugly-nobodyshouldeverseemelikethis cry.

The line from the song that sent me over the edge.... "As long as one and one make two, there will never be a father love his daughter more than I love you."

One day he'll be able to say those words to me again.

Saturday was my daughter's high school graduation, party at my SIL and BIL's restaurant, and project graduation. That's for a whole other post.

Right now I'm going to finish my glass of wine on the deck and pray that my 16 year-old that's learning to drive comes home from the gas station safely.

Have a great night!