lucky number thirteen

September 6th, 1996 Wichita Falls, Texas....in the heat of the summer I gave birth to my second child. It was love before first sight!













A year later we were living in Virginia and celebrating his first birthday. Daddy wasn't present since he was overseas in Kuwait. We were surrounded by friends who had become surrogate family and my mom and dad had come out for the occasion.









Today we celebrate AW's thirteenth birthday. When I asked him what he wanted to do, as I was willing to let him have 10-15 of his friends over for a small party, he declined and said he just wanted to have a couple of friends spend the night. That's exactly what he did. Last night he had two friends stay over, and this morning I made them, along with LB and two of his friends, a big breakfast. AW and his friends are spending the day relaxing and watching movies. This evening we'll take him to a restaurant of his choice for his birthday dinner. So far he hasn't told us of his choice. It's kind of funny how we've gone from the big Chuck E. Cheese parties to low key celebrations where he's happy just hanging out with his closest buds!

Happy 13th Birthday AW!

the end of mental health

Today I take my Mental Health exam and therefore I am thrilled to say that the class will be over. Big grins! I did pretty well on the final yesterday in Nur108 Nursing Principles and Concepts, coming away with a 93. The MH exam will most certainly give me a bigger run for my money. I may be crazy toward the end of it. With all the studying I did for ATIs it's been hard to not be burned out for finals. Sad, sad, sad...

The celebrations are plentiful today, not just being Cinco de Mayo, it's Big B's 40th birthday. We're supposed to have LB's double-header this afternoon, but the weather hasn't been very cooperative as of late. Go figure. It seems to be the norm this Spring. Winter in April, April showers in May. If the weather doesn't hold up I'm grabbing LB from practice (they have practice when games are cancelled) and he, AW and I are going to head up to Northern VA to take Daddy out to dinner. I suggested Cheesecake Factory, as I've never been, but of course it's up to the old guy!

Tomorrow's the big day of freedom and the day I, and many others, get to wake up and say we're second year nursing students. One down, one to go! I have a follow-up appointment with my FNP, and will take advantage of the location and go for a mani/pedi. I also need to get my hair's trimmed, but that'll wait for some other day. I haven't been to the commissary in eons and we're way overdue for some serious grocery shopping. That'll take up part of my day on Thursday. We also have landscaping to finish up, so I'm hoping the weather will give way to some sunshine....or at least dryness, for the weekend.

Next week I get to make the horrid trip to Maryland to pick up my cap and gown. I walk at commencement for my university degree on the 16th. They don't mail our regalia to us, so it's up to me to make two trips to the other side of the area, one for the pick up and one for the walk. It's no fun! I still have announcements sitting on my dining room table to be addressed and sent out. I'm not expecting anyone to be there except for my guys, so they truly are just announcements, not invites anyway.

Eh well...I better go grab a bite to eat and skim over the MH material once more. Wish me luck! I need it!

dude! sweet!

LB in his makeshift, portable bassinet we made out of a laundry basket.
Sixteen years ago I did the last thing I thought I would've done if you'd have asked me about two years before, I gave birth. Fortunately it was one of the best things I've done, as he is my sunshine and one of the reasons I have for living and breathing. He greets you with a warm smile, and is always willing to wrap you in a big bear hug. LB was born March 6, 1993 in Minot, ND. He works hard to do the right thing, always doing his chores when asked (even if it takes a few minutes to get started), maintains good grades and is just a nice kid to be around. He's the kind of kid that makes a mom and dad proud!




Happy Birthday LB!!

that much closer to forty

And it doesn't scare me! It intrigues me!

I was explaining last night that my friend and I had decided to cut our birthday date short, and just go to the movie. Her son had protested about her not being home for dinner, and quite frankly I need the time to study.

It's my birthday and I'll study if I want to!

brrrr....it's cold outside

It seems the whole country is experiencing frigid temps this week. Here in Virginia we haven't been spared of any chill, or precipitation for that matter.

The boys were off school Monday and Tuesday for teacher work days, and then we had a snow day yesterday, thus no school, no classes. Today we're all home because of ice. When I say "we're all home" that's actually not entirely true. What's meant is Big B, AW and I are home. But we're all off school or work because of the ice. LB just happens to have spent the past two nights at a friend's house.

I'm going to be spending the greater portion of the next few days studying for two tests. One is the Mental Health Nursing exam we were supposed to have taken yesterday, and the other is regularly scheduled for Monday.

The latter will cover oxygenation, circulation, fluids & electrolytes, acid-base balances, and urinary & bowel elimination. The instructor told us it would be fifty questions evenly distributed amongst the different chapters.

Today we're missing lab. I'm wondering how it will be handled considering the Thursday lab group will most likely have their time tomorrow as I don't think we're in for anymore weather this week.

Tomorrow a friend has asked me to take her to the airport as she's leaving for a few months. I'll drive her up and drop her off after we've had lunch. Then it'll be right back to the books upon my return home.

I know why I've been in a funk the past few days and why I let the negative message a friend sent get to me, even though I came out of it temporarily last night.

Friday's my birthday. I'm not upset like some people get, because they're getting older. What upsets me is, for years now I've been the one in our house who puts her heart into celebrations for everyone. I do it because I love seeing my sons and husband happy. I'm human though and it's nice to be appreciated and receive reciprocation in kind, and well when it doesn't happen it causes morale to take a nose-dive. It's become a pattern over the years.

The hubby's not one for Valentines Day either. Being the romantic I am, I love any opportunity to celebrate love, birthdays, and anything special.

Last week while at Quantico I made a new friend. Come to find out her birthday is also the 30th! How wild is that!? She's turning two years older, and for her this year it's the big 4-0.

We're planning to go see New in Town and go out to dinner after the movie.

Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands!