Time to Breathe

Ahhhhh, things are starting to slow down......finally. End of the semester is almost here. Just one more week. How is that going, you ask? Well, I'll probably be repeating most of this semester over in the fall. It's ok. No pity. I've come to grips with it all. Nursing school is by far the hardest thing I've ever accomplished. It might take me longer to get the degree now, but no worries.......it'll be mine eventually.

My job. Well, I've been there almost 4 and 1/2 months. So far, I've remembered to remove all the staples. I'm a natural. Enough said.

The house guests are all gone. The Raging Hormone (a.k.a. my little brother) had a blast this time around. The Tiger took him to a gun show and shooting. Plus, mom let him bring the Playstation 3. So, he was happy. Oh, he taught me something new. Did you know that only female mosquitoes suck blood? There must be A LOT of female mosquitoes out there. Hmmmm, this I never knew.

I'm going to Colorado. Yep, that's right. My best friend Jaime had a baby (little girl Jacy) and I get to go and visit them! The Tiger bought tickets for me and Missy to go for my birthday. He said I needed a break after the semester was over and he knew I'd love to go see the baby and that I'd probably never spend the money on myself to take a trip (he's right). I am sooooooooo excited. Jaime and I have been best friends since we were 6. This is her first baby. So, you can imagine what it's going to be like. And it's hard now that she lives across the country these days. I'll be crying all week. When I had Missy, we were too young to get all emotional and stuff. You learn to appreciate different things as you get older. Where was I? Oh yeah. So, in 11 days I leave for VACATION!

Oh, and I need to CONGRATULATE Sheryl....she just had her first baby girl and she is GORGEOUS. I love her name. Just love it.

Other than that, I just truly miss blogging with everyone. It's so hard to find the time. I am hoping things will get a little caught up on my 3 week break from school. 3 WHOLE weeks. How awesome is that???

A pic of Missy, because it's been awhile. Here she is winning 1st place with her cheerleading team. She also took 1st place in the individual jump off.

Another Deadline Reached

Ahhhh, it's Monday, April 14th at about 10:30 p.m. The house is quiet. Not even a Tiger stirred throughout. And what did this girl do with all the peace and quiet? Well, she filed her taxes of course! Whew.......I really wasn't sure if I was going to make this deadline or not. But, I did. And my refund shall be here in a week or two. You gotta love technology. Sitting here in my pajamas and glasses, it all came as a touch of a button.

More Than A Single Mom is about to be the hostess of the month I think. Tomorrow, I get a house full of guests......for about 10 days. My brother is staying with us because my parents are on a cruise. Remember him from last year? Well he's back folks. He's now 14 and his hair is still long and gross. But, it's "Cool" I guess.

And do you remember this adorable little family? The Marine and his family are coming in tomorrow night. Ironically, in all 52 weeks of the year, they all planned their vacations in my home ........on the same week. Don't forget, the Tiger, Missy, and I are already occupying this space and we aren't used to 3 extra people and a baby!

It's going to be fun. It's going to be torture. I can't wait. But, I'll make sure to get pictures of it all..........

Uncle Sam

Dear Uncle Sam (aka The Government),

I am so sorry. Tax season snuck up on me again this year. Between studying, working, raising the cheerleader, and making dinners........I forgot all about you. Where did I put my W2? Oh yeah. In the "I'll get to it someday" pile on the kitchen table. I told myself I would be better this year. I said, "I'll have it done by the end of February next year." Where'd February go? Oh, and March? Wow this year is flying by. Sorry that it's almost April 11th and I haven't even begun to prepare my taxes. I'm only one woman over here.

Sincerely,

A busy taxpayer

P.S. Am I the ONLY one who hasn't filed their taxes yet?

Spring, Where Are You?

I am so fed up with the indoors. I am ready to be out and about. To go camping. To BBQ instead of baking or pan frying. To lay out and catch skin cancer because I think fat looks better tan. To study.....by a pool, not on the couch. Get my drift? I am so over being cold! Yeah, we've had a few good days where we thought spring was coming.........but come on! Sunshine, Sunshine Come Out Where Ever You Are!


Here is a picture of a day when we thought a bit of spring was going to come out and play with us. She dressed herself that day (hard to tell, but she is in all camouflage and cowboy boots.) And yes, the throat is healing up nicely. She's back to her normal little self.

And He Comes Home...........

Let's all Welcome Back........the Tiger's brother. We'll call him "The Marine." Here he is coming home from Iraq the day before Easter. It's the first time he's meeting his baby boy. He left the States last August. His son was born two months later.

A picture that just melts my heart.

VItamins Cut You

This morning was an odd morning to say the least. It was a normal Wednesday. We all get up and go to school Wednesday mornings. Like a bunch of kids. It's cute.

Missy gets up and says, "My throat hurts." Uh-oh. She's sick, I immediately think. She hasn't been sick all year. We don't get our new insurance until next week. So, of course she's sick.

So I am checking her all around. She feels cool. Hmmmmm. Then she says, "Mommy I have to tell you something." Uh-oh. I think again.

She says, "Last night when you gave me my vitamin I fell asleep with it in my mouth." I said, "Ok, no big deal. But, you must chew them completely so you don't choke."

Missy says, "No mommy. It's stuck to the inside of my cheek." WHAT? So I look. It sure was. Darn thing never dissolved. I gently pull it from her cheeck, and it took a small piece with it. Poor kid.

But, it gets worse. I take a flash light to her mouth and her poor little throat has tears and cuts all through it. Nope, didn't even remotely look like Strep to me. But, what was it?

I call the pediatrician on my break during school and it's from the vitamin! Did you know that certian food left in the back of your mouth for prolonged amounts of time can tear your esophagus? Well it can. Apparently, the chemicals in the vitamin were broken down and little chunks of the vitamin rested on her throat all night, tearing the inside of her mouth.

So, basically she can't eat anything other than soft foods. Dinner was quite fun in our house tonight. And trying to get her to gargle with salt water before bed will be even MORE fun!

Bet my Wednesday was weirder than yours.

100 Things To Say

HOLLA! It's More Than A Single Mom's 100th post. And believe it or not, I think there may be people that have read most of those posts! I miss you and love you all.

For now, let me leave you with this little story. Tiger is an environmentalist at heart. He's so anal about paper plates and walking and water and I could go on and on. We hate the Nipsco bill, especially in the winter. Feel my pain? Damn midwest winters. Anyhow, we decided forever ago to share the utility bills every month, alternating who pays it each month. So, this brings me to my little story.

We're in the bathroom one morning brushing our teeth and getting the crusts out of our eyes at 5:30 a.m.

The water is on.

Tiger turns the water off. Continues brushing.

I give him the early morning glare that says, "Don't mess with me."

Him not understanding that I haven't had caffeine yet, decides to smirk through his toothpaste and turn the water off. This went on a couple of more times.......

I hate when he turns the water off while I am brushing my teeth. Growing up, we just left the water on when we brushed our teeth.

He looks at me and says, "How many times must I tell you that it's wasteful to leave the water on?

My reply? "It's not my month to pay the water bil." Turned the water on one last time before I left the bathroom.

My point: Just don't annoy me before I've had some caffeine.

****My question to you. Do you turn the water off when you brush your teeth? Or do you leave the water running?****