So we took the dogs to the vet yesterday. This post is not about how much money we spent ($488). The one good thing about tax return time is the extra money! It is about how much I miss it! Every time I am in that environment, I miss the one thing I love that I am not doing at this stage in life.
Animals, medicine, an income, adult interaction, different animal cases.
Now that I have been staying home 5 years exactly, I have learned that their are many things I would have loved to pick as my career; ultrasound tech, ER nurse, labor and delivery nurse, Kindergarten teacher (big difference between one and four, right?!), opening my own kids' clothing store and I could go on! I love lots of things. But the one thing I love most and am most dedicated to is my kids.
The day I quit my career as a veterinarian assistant, I cried like a baby. I was nervous, excited, and really going to miss what I was best at, what I had been doing for 5 years.
Now, when I go the vet, as a dog owner and not an employee (I don't take my dogs to either of the vets I worked for), I look at things. How clean do they keep it, how up to date is there equipment, what are their medical policies, how friendly are the people and so on. Yesterday, I went back to the back with the vet so he could type my info into the bloodwork machine (Patches bldwk came back perfect, btw) and was admiring it. He didn't have to spin down the blood, pick out all the different slides of all the different organ functions he wanted to check (I can't think of the word), spend 10 minutes entering it all and dropping serum into the machine. That was the process when I was surgery assistant 5 years ago. It took him like 2 minutes to do the new procedure of filling one small disk that already had all those slides already in it with whole blood, and type in a few lines on info.
I am missing my job as vet assistant again. Altho I think of all the other things I would like to do, I always go back to vet assistant. I do think I will return one day, Lord willing. Right now, I am raising my kids. I would love to be able to just go to work once or twice a week to get out of the house. Living in WV, I am 20-30 minutes drive away from any vet so I almost have to work full time, or close to it, to even pay for my gas getting there and home a couple times a week!
This may sound like I can't wait to get away from my kids and I have to keep reminding myself that they are most important. That is so not true! I would cry if I had to go back to work tomorrow and send Abigail to a babysitter or Mamaw. When I was working and Hannah was little, I missed a lot of the first 3 years. I wanted to be the one raising her and I was so upset that I wasn't. Now that I look back, we could have made it work but neither of us had the faith for me to quit. But I know that everything happens for a reason. I love where I am now! I want to always be able to say that!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
change of plans
Most of you know by now that we had a stomach bug make a run thru our house. It started with me on Wed afternoon. (What happened to the days that my stomach was affected by nothing?!) I cancelled bible club and laid in bed until Brad got home at almost 6pm. Hannah was amazing at taking care of Abigail, who has not been on her best behavior as of late, and feeding the dogs and taking them outside. I only threw up a handful of times and was feeling well enough to eat some ice chips by the late evening.
I guess Hannah went to bed with a trash can beside her bc her stomach was feeling sick. I was asleep so I didn't know. Come 2:30, she was barfing and within an hour, so was Ryan.
The difference between the two is that Hannah never goes a winter without getting at least one stomach bug. When she was 4 and went off to preschool, she had probably 4 or 5 and spent the night in the hospital one of those times. By now she is pro. She can read her body very well, wakes up and makes it to the bathroom if needed. But, the down side is that they hit her a lot harder than they do most people, which is why she ended up in the hospital once. It takes her a long time to be able to hold food down. She is doing better today. She has eaten some crackers and has gotten off the couch a few times.
Ryan, my sweet boy, is a typical male. He cried like a baby and sat in the bathroom for hours because he didn't feel good. He took at least 4 showers yesterday bc they made him feel better and threw a major fit (like I haven't seen from him since he was a toddler) when I wouldn't let him back in the shower at 7pm. He has probably only had 3 or 4 stomach bugs in his life. Until yesterday, he never made it to the bathroom. But the good part is by today, he was his old self and has been begging to eat all day. He actually bounced back quicker than I thought or I would have sent him to school.
Soooo, tonight is soccer practice, followed by pictures and a game tomorrow. I keep reminding him that he isn't quitting so not to start crying and want to come sit with us like last week. He needs to ask if he has a question or doesn't understand what he is supposed to do.
We also made reservations for a week of camping in Gatlinburg, TN during spring break. Can't wait! I just hope it is dramatically warmer and dry. That's not asking for too much, right?!
Also, church VBS planning has already started. We usually start way later than we should so this year I got the ball rolling early. I'm glad. We have a lot of great ideas. What did we ever do without pinterest?!
I guess Hannah went to bed with a trash can beside her bc her stomach was feeling sick. I was asleep so I didn't know. Come 2:30, she was barfing and within an hour, so was Ryan.
The difference between the two is that Hannah never goes a winter without getting at least one stomach bug. When she was 4 and went off to preschool, she had probably 4 or 5 and spent the night in the hospital one of those times. By now she is pro. She can read her body very well, wakes up and makes it to the bathroom if needed. But, the down side is that they hit her a lot harder than they do most people, which is why she ended up in the hospital once. It takes her a long time to be able to hold food down. She is doing better today. She has eaten some crackers and has gotten off the couch a few times.
Ryan, my sweet boy, is a typical male. He cried like a baby and sat in the bathroom for hours because he didn't feel good. He took at least 4 showers yesterday bc they made him feel better and threw a major fit (like I haven't seen from him since he was a toddler) when I wouldn't let him back in the shower at 7pm. He has probably only had 3 or 4 stomach bugs in his life. Until yesterday, he never made it to the bathroom. But the good part is by today, he was his old self and has been begging to eat all day. He actually bounced back quicker than I thought or I would have sent him to school.
Soooo, tonight is soccer practice, followed by pictures and a game tomorrow. I keep reminding him that he isn't quitting so not to start crying and want to come sit with us like last week. He needs to ask if he has a question or doesn't understand what he is supposed to do.
We also made reservations for a week of camping in Gatlinburg, TN during spring break. Can't wait! I just hope it is dramatically warmer and dry. That's not asking for too much, right?!
Also, church VBS planning has already started. We usually start way later than we should so this year I got the ball rolling early. I'm glad. We have a lot of great ideas. What did we ever do without pinterest?!
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
slow down!
It's been another busy week, since I last posted. I think things may be slowing down finally!
Over the weekend, Brad apparently got tired of the house being a wreck so when the kids asked if they could go outside, his answer was, "we are going home and cleaning the house up." And that's just what we did. I think that was Sunday after church. We ate and spent a couple hours getting the house in order. I told the kids that from now on whatever they leave out, I will pick up after they go to bed and then they will have to do a chore for me in order to get it back. So far that is working! And their bathroom has been spotless for 2 weeks now, if not longer! If only I could get Abigail to do the same. =)
Her and I have spent the last few days with a cold. And she is teething. SO she has been a beautiful, slobbering, snotty mess! This back and forth weather is killing us!
I had parent/teacher conferences with both Hannah and Ryan's teachers. They both are continuing to do well. I had a messed up vision of how Ryan was going to do in school, being a boy, and all. I have always heard school isn't geared towards boys and they usually struggle with sitting still and things. Seams it is the opposite in our house! But I am so thankful that I decided to hold Hannah back. I haven't regretted it once. I have already talked with her teacher and the principal about what should happen next year and he let me request the teacher that her current teacher said would probably be best for her.
I have had children's church this month and in honor of Valentines Day, we have been talking about Love. What does the Bible say love is, God is love (I enjoyed writing "love letters from God" or verses about love on hearts and hiding them around the room for the kids to find. I think this was the week we made valentine cards for God too.), Loving our neighbor, and this week will be loving God. I can't wait to go over the manners we should have in church. None of the 6 kids we bring with us have grown up in any setting like church so they don't understand close your eyes and be quiet while we are praying, not standing on the pews, why we tithe and so much more! So I'm making that all part of showing we love God, because that is one thing they generally want to do.
I'm also excited for bible club tonight. We are talking about Job but this week we are focusing on mean ol' Satan. It really is eye-opening when you think about how all he wants to do is destroy us. We are going to talk about how to stand up to him as well. I am going to write "GOd's Word" really big on a piece of poster board. Give it to one person. The rest of us will be across the room with rolled up socks (different sins) and we have to be satan throwing sins at the person while the other person protects him/herself with the word of God. Then I will take away the word of God and see how well they can avoid the sins that Satan throws at them. =) They enjoy things like that and I think it gets the point across.
Ryan had a really bad week at soccer last week. He decided he wanted to quit because he is having a really hard time figuring out the different positions on the field. In the past, he has been in the youngest division where they don't teach the position and there is more just running around, chasing the ball. This season, since he turned 6 in Dec, he is with the older kids. I think everyone on his team has played in this division except him so he is the only one trying to figure out what to do in the position he is given. Anyway, we aren't letting him quit. We told him that if he doesn't want to play in the spring that is fine but we aren't quitting now. So we have been working really hard with him, drawing the soccer field on our dry erase board and showing the different positions and talking about them. We also scooted everything against the walls in the playroom and tried playing soccer on a much smaller scale. I think he might be finally getting it. I guess we will find out on Fri and Sat!
We also have an apt to take the dogs to the vet on Sat morning. That is a chore in itself! Brad is going with me for the first time ever. Since we have our tax return money, I;m hoping to get everything done now so we don't have to take them back until next year. That includes flea and hw meds! We have had a terrible time with fleas the past few years so I'm hoping to try something new. It won't be cheap...
Well, I think I have said enough!
Oh yeah, I got a new camera also. It is really nice and we got a great deal (about $100 off) because they were on sale but they didn't have anymore in stock so we bought the floor model. SO far I like it but I can't wait to get outside and take some good pictures with it!
Over the weekend, Brad apparently got tired of the house being a wreck so when the kids asked if they could go outside, his answer was, "we are going home and cleaning the house up." And that's just what we did. I think that was Sunday after church. We ate and spent a couple hours getting the house in order. I told the kids that from now on whatever they leave out, I will pick up after they go to bed and then they will have to do a chore for me in order to get it back. So far that is working! And their bathroom has been spotless for 2 weeks now, if not longer! If only I could get Abigail to do the same. =)
Her and I have spent the last few days with a cold. And she is teething. SO she has been a beautiful, slobbering, snotty mess! This back and forth weather is killing us!
I had parent/teacher conferences with both Hannah and Ryan's teachers. They both are continuing to do well. I had a messed up vision of how Ryan was going to do in school, being a boy, and all. I have always heard school isn't geared towards boys and they usually struggle with sitting still and things. Seams it is the opposite in our house! But I am so thankful that I decided to hold Hannah back. I haven't regretted it once. I have already talked with her teacher and the principal about what should happen next year and he let me request the teacher that her current teacher said would probably be best for her.
I have had children's church this month and in honor of Valentines Day, we have been talking about Love. What does the Bible say love is, God is love (I enjoyed writing "love letters from God" or verses about love on hearts and hiding them around the room for the kids to find. I think this was the week we made valentine cards for God too.), Loving our neighbor, and this week will be loving God. I can't wait to go over the manners we should have in church. None of the 6 kids we bring with us have grown up in any setting like church so they don't understand close your eyes and be quiet while we are praying, not standing on the pews, why we tithe and so much more! So I'm making that all part of showing we love God, because that is one thing they generally want to do.
I'm also excited for bible club tonight. We are talking about Job but this week we are focusing on mean ol' Satan. It really is eye-opening when you think about how all he wants to do is destroy us. We are going to talk about how to stand up to him as well. I am going to write "GOd's Word" really big on a piece of poster board. Give it to one person. The rest of us will be across the room with rolled up socks (different sins) and we have to be satan throwing sins at the person while the other person protects him/herself with the word of God. Then I will take away the word of God and see how well they can avoid the sins that Satan throws at them. =) They enjoy things like that and I think it gets the point across.
Ryan had a really bad week at soccer last week. He decided he wanted to quit because he is having a really hard time figuring out the different positions on the field. In the past, he has been in the youngest division where they don't teach the position and there is more just running around, chasing the ball. This season, since he turned 6 in Dec, he is with the older kids. I think everyone on his team has played in this division except him so he is the only one trying to figure out what to do in the position he is given. Anyway, we aren't letting him quit. We told him that if he doesn't want to play in the spring that is fine but we aren't quitting now. So we have been working really hard with him, drawing the soccer field on our dry erase board and showing the different positions and talking about them. We also scooted everything against the walls in the playroom and tried playing soccer on a much smaller scale. I think he might be finally getting it. I guess we will find out on Fri and Sat!
We also have an apt to take the dogs to the vet on Sat morning. That is a chore in itself! Brad is going with me for the first time ever. Since we have our tax return money, I;m hoping to get everything done now so we don't have to take them back until next year. That includes flea and hw meds! We have had a terrible time with fleas the past few years so I'm hoping to try something new. It won't be cheap...
Well, I think I have said enough!
Oh yeah, I got a new camera also. It is really nice and we got a great deal (about $100 off) because they were on sale but they didn't have anymore in stock so we bought the floor model. SO far I like it but I can't wait to get outside and take some good pictures with it!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
busy week
One busy week down, another to go!
Last week was unusually busy for me. I had 3 different activities to plan for on top of my normal "jobs." Besides bible club and children's church reading and prep work, I also needed to prepare for our first kids game night at church, a sleepover, a Valentine craft for Ryan's class ( which is happening this week). Throw in there soccer practice Fri evening, soccer game Sat, church dinner Sat evening and I've got a lot on my plate!
This week is looking to be just as busy! Going to Ryan's class one day to do aforementioned craft, going back to days later for the actual Valentine party (I am homeroom mom), my regular church lessons, soccer twice, and Im not even sure what else!
We did have a scare at Ryan's soccer game Sat afternoon. It was the last quarter and he was after the ball when he got knocked flat on his back, slamming his head into the ground. I knew right away that it really hurt and he needed to come out of the game. Call it mother instinct or whatever, I could tell by the look in his eyes. I jumped up and asked him if he was ok. He said yes and tried to keep playing. I knew he was fighting back tears. I told brad to tell the coach he needed to come out but brad said he's ok! I kept insisting he wasn't. By this time he couldn't keep up with the other kids, he was just walking around. Then he started crying. The coach didn't see all that, he has to pay attention to a lot of things during the game. Brad yelled for him to get Someone in for Ryan and they carried him off the floor. He was crying. :( The paramedic followed them out and was checking his vision and stuff. He said he was dizzy so they told us what to watch for in case of a serious injury but he has been acting fine. We were really worried about him for the rest of the day, tho. We woke him up several times that night to make sure he came to alright and could see and recognize us. Thank God it was nothing serious!
He said he didn't want to play anymore until it was outside and the ground is softer but today he said he.was just kidding about that. :)
Last week was unusually busy for me. I had 3 different activities to plan for on top of my normal "jobs." Besides bible club and children's church reading and prep work, I also needed to prepare for our first kids game night at church, a sleepover, a Valentine craft for Ryan's class ( which is happening this week). Throw in there soccer practice Fri evening, soccer game Sat, church dinner Sat evening and I've got a lot on my plate!
This week is looking to be just as busy! Going to Ryan's class one day to do aforementioned craft, going back to days later for the actual Valentine party (I am homeroom mom), my regular church lessons, soccer twice, and Im not even sure what else!
We did have a scare at Ryan's soccer game Sat afternoon. It was the last quarter and he was after the ball when he got knocked flat on his back, slamming his head into the ground. I knew right away that it really hurt and he needed to come out of the game. Call it mother instinct or whatever, I could tell by the look in his eyes. I jumped up and asked him if he was ok. He said yes and tried to keep playing. I knew he was fighting back tears. I told brad to tell the coach he needed to come out but brad said he's ok! I kept insisting he wasn't. By this time he couldn't keep up with the other kids, he was just walking around. Then he started crying. The coach didn't see all that, he has to pay attention to a lot of things during the game. Brad yelled for him to get Someone in for Ryan and they carried him off the floor. He was crying. :( The paramedic followed them out and was checking his vision and stuff. He said he was dizzy so they told us what to watch for in case of a serious injury but he has been acting fine. We were really worried about him for the rest of the day, tho. We woke him up several times that night to make sure he came to alright and could see and recognize us. Thank God it was nothing serious!
He said he didn't want to play anymore until it was outside and the ground is softer but today he said he.was just kidding about that. :)
Monday, February 4, 2013
disgusting!
No judging please! Today's post is getting personal!
There is a reason why I go in the kids' bathroom as little as possible. I can clean it and an hour later, it is a disaster again! That is the way it is in every room of the house. Well, the other day I went in and just went crazy; organizing, throwing stuff away and cleaning.
The sink started like this. There was toothpaste smeared on just about every surface. Trash all over the floor. And every hole was a jumbled mess. Water bottles, band aids and even dog shampoo on the counter. This picture makes the sink look relatively clean. I would not dare put a picture of the inside of the sink on here!
I got an idea off pinterest that only cost $2 for each bathroom.
I stuck those little baskets to the inside of the cabinet door for them to put their toothbrushes and other things. For the record, there were 6 toothbrushes on the counter supposedly being used and 5 open bottles of toothpaste!! Normally we don't have that much extra teeth cleaning supplies around but I think everyone in the family buys them a toothbrush and tube of paste for Christmas!
Finished product looks so much better and I am happy to report that is STILL looks this great! I told them that every morning if I go in there and the room is clean, they get a quarter. Every time I go in and there is one thing out of place, they lose a quarter. So far it is working! I'm going to start carrying that over into some other areas. Also, I am working on making the kids do more of the housework; simple things like cleaning up after themselves more. I have a feeling it will always be a work in progress but at least if you show up unexpected to my house, the main bathroom will be clean! =)
There is a reason why I go in the kids' bathroom as little as possible. I can clean it and an hour later, it is a disaster again! That is the way it is in every room of the house. Well, the other day I went in and just went crazy; organizing, throwing stuff away and cleaning.
The sink started like this. There was toothpaste smeared on just about every surface. Trash all over the floor. And every hole was a jumbled mess. Water bottles, band aids and even dog shampoo on the counter. This picture makes the sink look relatively clean. I would not dare put a picture of the inside of the sink on here!
I got an idea off pinterest that only cost $2 for each bathroom.
I stuck those little baskets to the inside of the cabinet door for them to put their toothbrushes and other things. For the record, there were 6 toothbrushes on the counter supposedly being used and 5 open bottles of toothpaste!! Normally we don't have that much extra teeth cleaning supplies around but I think everyone in the family buys them a toothbrush and tube of paste for Christmas!
Finished product looks so much better and I am happy to report that is STILL looks this great! I told them that every morning if I go in there and the room is clean, they get a quarter. Every time I go in and there is one thing out of place, they lose a quarter. So far it is working! I'm going to start carrying that over into some other areas. Also, I am working on making the kids do more of the housework; simple things like cleaning up after themselves more. I have a feeling it will always be a work in progress but at least if you show up unexpected to my house, the main bathroom will be clean! =)
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