When I started this blog nearly 5 years ago, I managed to write about more than just my kids. So, here’s a dose of my own trials and tribulations these days (but let’s be honest, some of them still relate to my kids, it’s just more about my point of view rather than their accomplishments):
*On Tuesday, when I was opening my car door in the parking deck, I smashed my finger on the mirror of the car next to me. I guess it’s good I was “protecting” the cars from hitting, but it’s still bruised and hurts.
*I got through 2 finals, a test, a quiz, a paper and notebook this past week and after my final on Thursday, I’ll be done with this semester! I have a nice little break until June 1st when the real work begins as I start the nursing program. I had wanted to try to go to the beach for a week as a family, because I know it will be a while before we have time again, but couldn’t get the timing to work out. And we don’t have the money anyway, so it’s for the best. I’ll just be in school from 8-5 everyday, so the kids will be adjusting to longer days AND longer weeks and I’m mourning the fact that I won’t be seeing them as much. Especially with Dellaina starting Kindergarten in the Fall, I’m sad I won’t be able to volunteer and help out with her class as much and get to know her friends and classmates and teachers.
*During my Chemistry test on Tuesday, I get distracted by the girl next to me punching buttons on her phone! It didn’t register at first and then I realized she was using her phone to look stuff up! I got so distracted trying to think about how to alert my professor. My heart was really racing and I couldn’t go back through my test to check my answers like I normally do. I decided to write a note on the back of my test and when I went up to turn it in, I showed my professor, “the girl in the tank top next to me (on my right) is using her cell phone. Please wait until after I leave.” Greg laughed at me that I was so nervous and asked her to wait until I left, but I didn’t want her to know I’d turned her in. Afterwards, I don’t really care as much, I’d own up to it if I needed to, but at the time, it felt so much like tattle-telling. My professor wrote me this note later that evening:
Andria,
Thank you. What you did today was extremely honorable and also extremely difficult. After I grade the tests I will photocopy your back copy onto colored paper, so that the writing is not on your exam. I will keep the original - and if you'd like it at a later time I will be happy to provide it.
For many, many reasons it has been such a pleasure to have you in class.
Thank you!
Dr. C
It made me feel really good and I thought was very sweet. I was still worked up about it and wanted to talk to someone – I told Greg briefly when I picked Dellaina up from his office and as we pulled out, she asked what we were talking about, so I explained to her that I’d seen someone cheating on the test I’d just taken, so I’d told my professor. Dellaina remarks, “you're not supposed to cheat; you're supposed to think!” Amen, little lady! (I know Mama Megan will be proud of that remark as well) “And you'd hurt those that wait.” I didn’t get this one and asked her more about it and she explains, “if you're a nurse and they are hurt and waiting.” So she was able to connect that cheating won’t help you learn and do what you’re supposed to do! rock on!
*I’ve been counting calories, trying to be more aware and conscious of what I eat and get back in better shape. It’s been about a month and I have lost 8 pounds, which is a great start, but really it’s hard to even tell much because I’d let myself go soooo much. Seriously, I was back up to my pregnancy weight with Wyatt (who I was already 15lbs heavier than I was with Dellaina) and well, obviously, wasn’t pregnant as an excuse. I can tell in places – my pants feel better around the waist, my face/neck area working out look better to me and my work out pants, which had gotten shorter as I expanded are slowly getting back down to the proper length. It’s been really eye-opening looking at calories. I’d been justifying a lot of things – “oh, I just took a few bites” snaking with the kids or “I got a salad instead of a burger” but the dressing is ridiculous! Zaxby’s is one of the most caloric! A salad is 900 calories!! One packet of honey mustard at Zaxby’s is 330 calories! That’s nearly a meal’s worth! And portions are critical. We have been measuring things out carefully and it’s an adjustment! It’s all about planning. I’ve been able to keep my Tuesday morning ritual of CFA before class, as long as I plan my lunch and dinner accordingly! I’ve been aiming for 1600-1800 calories/day and most days are on the lower end. It was just a simple way to start. Greg & I have a shared document spreadsheet where we each input our food and keep up with each other and talk about it regularly (which is helpful to have a dialog, rather than fights or accusations or ignoring it) Greg in no way needs to be trying to loose weight, but he likes to be healthy and aware and is doing it out of support for me (with, obviously, a much higher daily allowance) which is very thoughtful and helpful. We laugh about how much longer our food is lasting when we actually use the correct proportions!! Saving a little bit of money and going to the grocery store less often!
*My camera finally died tonight and I could just cry. It’s been on it’s last leg for a while, but finally just won’t close or zoom or turn on to take a picture anymore. It was at a BEAUTIFUL mountain wedding with, honestly one of the most beautiful brides – just happy and relaxed and gorgeous dress and just a simple, natural beauty. It was such a great setting, especially with kids in tow – golf cart rides from the parking area to the wedding area, a farm with lots of animals to pet on including dogs, miniature ponies and sheep. There were also animals not to pet, but just watch: ducks, chickens, pheasants?! regular horse and cows and even a llama! The ceremony was very short and sweet (and even forgot the “you may kiss the bride” part at the end, so as they go to walk down the aisle, we are all calling out, “kiss the bride!!” so they stopped and made up for it, sweetly a few times over) and just running around for the kids and yummy meal and delicious cake!!
These are my final pictures.
