Ryan has been going into work a little later these days, so when Mayci wakes up and he's still home- she gets a lil' excited. I caught some cuddle time this morning....




Unfortunately, today is a day I have to be gone. I know it will probably never be 'easy' to drop Mayci off at Kim's (our sitter), only because I sometimes feel selfish- not sure if that's the right word- for going back to school. I have to stop and give myself a little pep talk that I'm doing this not only for myself and my family- but it's also I what I felt called to do at this point. I was truly blessed to be home for this long and only work part time. So each day is one day closer to me being done...July 27 to be exact... and although I will still work after being done with school- it just feels different. Anyway- it's all about choices right. I felt good about this choice from the beginning and still do... just somedays are easier than others. ;) So anyway- I had Mayci's stuff packed for the day- she brings a little backpack filled with her favorite things, her blankie and her monkey George. She has been doing really well on the potty and I thought it was appropriate to (first, bleach it) and take it to Kim's. She really doesn't like to go on the 'big one'- and so.. yep, whatever. I brought it. ;) WELLLL... Apparently while I was busy folding laundry- she had to go. So here she is, ever so sweet, using her potty- in the middle of the kitchen! LOL! She never said anything to me- just felt she had to do her business all by herself! ;)

Have a good day.

For you, Mom

Pictures you asked for, instead of my ramblings ;)... some of them are from Maddie's camera! Enjoy your warm week in Arizona!

Stayin' dry!

A few months back- I was working on potty training Mayci. I mean to the point where we were going places without a diaper b/c my hope was that she would catch on. Obviously, it ended up being way more work for ME b/c she did not catch on and I was always cleaning up the mess. But, I thought- no big deal, I'm just not going to push this. It was silly to push it, all kids eventually get it someday. Well, let me share that yesterday and today were that someday. It finally clicked. She has not had an accident in two whole days. Of course, I was gone last night but according to Ryan- she stayed dry or told him she had to go everytime. All day today- UNDIES! No accidents. Brought herself right to the bathroom and whoop, there she went. I am just amazed at how kids all of a sudden do this. She acts like she is SO done with diapers- she was very adament not to even put one on for her nap today- which she also stayed completely dry and went as soon as she got up! Crazy! Its almost too good to be true- I'm kind of waiting for her to wake up tomorrow and decide, well, she was just testing the water- just kidding mom! Go buy me some more size 6's! ;) Hopefully that's not the case and I can actually speak truth when I say I HAVE NO MORE IN DIAPERS!!!!

Van-tasy

I could almost count down the days until my lease is up. August 09. However many days it is- it's not too far. We've been van shopping for some time now- we almost opted early out of our lease to buy an Odyssey- but I'm glad we didn't fork over the little cash we have just because I'm impatient. So, I thought I had Ryan convinced that a van would be the next sweet thing sitting in our garage. He has refused to give in and I thought I had it this time... but he caught his eyes on something else- a crossover type SUV by either GMC/Saturn, they are very similar actually- almost identical just different makes. There are bucket seats and an opening to the back and tons of room. I think my luck just ran out! Apparently, he's had his eyes on these for a while and was thrilled to show me at the Auto Show. My vantasy is over. I can't argue with roomy, economical, and all wheel drive. I also can't say there will be another car seat back there anytime soon. I have to rest my case.

Sweets

As many of you already know, and probably don't need to hear about all the time, I have been working pretty hard hitting the books. This semester I am on a Cardiac Unit/Intermediate Care Unit (a step down from CCU)and have learned SO much in the past 4 weeks- I can't even think right now of all that I have learned and possibly not retained ;) Anyway- we are assigned patients and have to work up a care plan, assessments, nursing diagnoses, basic needs, all meds, just every stinkin detail you can think of. We also ask questions related to culture and religion. I had a pt last week who was a total sweetheart and very accepting of my interventions as a student nurse. However, when I got to the deeper questions as part of my assessment, I found this person was not a Christian. Or should I say- not anymore. I am just going to call this person 'Sweets' b/c I don't want to say if it was a man or a woman, or give away any details. So, 'Sweets' had said that he/she used to be a Christian, used to believe in Jesus Christ, and grew up going to church all his/her life. Sweets was just to the point where his/her Faith had deteriorated. The heart wasn't working the same and had multiple complications because of it. Sweets recently divorced and moved in with his/her youngest child. Sweets also lost his/her job due to the economic status. He/she went into much more details but I feel I have gotten my point across.... Sweets was in the dumps. Can you even imagine!?!?! To lose your health, your spouse, your job, and now depend on your child for emotional/physical/financial support. And to top it ALL off- to give up on God?? My heart was broken. Honestly. To hear what this person had gone through and to know that at this point, there was no faith nor hope. As a Christian, I wanted to get more in depth, but as a professional- I can not impose my own religious beliefs. Do you even KNOW how tough that is?? I'm sure you do- especially if you have strong beliefs. I did not know asking a religious background on this patient would open such a can of worms- but I needed to know from a professional stand point- some Jehovah's witnesses do not accept certain treatments and some Buddhists do not accept certain genders depending on the situation... so I had to ask. It was just very sad to me. How to be fishers of men then? Its all just complicated politics to not be able to sit at someones bedside and talk about the simple truth that 'Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible told me so.' I drove home that night thinking of Sweets and praying for his/her salvation, health, hope, faith. Sorry to blog about something SO depressing- but I tell ya what- it's going on. It's happening. And frankly, it stinks.