Cause Chrissy said so. . .

Ok, so my goal picture is a bit unrealistic. That chic has no stretchmarks, her tatas are very perky, and I am sure she has been airbrushed. So at my favorite blogger Chrissy's insistance I will post a picture of me. It is from Easter 2004. I am pretty sure this dress is either a 10 or a 12 and I would be excited to wear either size again.

Goal Picture

Hey, I thought since everyone else was posting their goals I might as well share mine. I looked for a picture of me from when I was younger and skinnier but I just didn't find that "one". So I figured this one would do cause I think that suit is too darn cute, appropriate for a mommy but might turn Scott's head when I walk by. Plus I love black and red and it has underwire for support so it is my ultimate suit to wear on the beach next summer!

Much Better today!

Wanted to give everyone a quick update. Jackson is doing great, if it wasn't for that 24 hour on antibiotic thing I would have sent him to Ms. Cheryl's today. But that's ok, we are getting to spend the day together just hanging out. I have figured out he is a mess maker. He will dump a basket in two seconds just to see how big the pile will be on the floor. Oh well, good opportunity to teach him to clean up his messes. Hannah is back to normal. I have no signs of sickness. I am also feeling much better today about school. Scott and I had a good talk about it and I feel like I am doing what I need to for my family. My new hope is that when I am done in May I can maybe find a weekend only option at a hospital, maybe in St. Louis where I could work two weekends a month and then be home with the kids during the week. Plus I still want that third baby so that would work well for a new baby. We will see. I have been with St. John's for 5 years so hopefully they offer that kind of program in St. Louis. For those of you who don't realize my dad and stepmom live in St. Louis so I could easily stay with them overnight. So we will see, only God knows what I should do and when.

God has given each of you some special abilities: be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings.
1 Peter 4:10 TLB

The Lord will work out His plans for my life - for Your loving-kindness, Lord, continues forever.
Psalm 138:8 TLB

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good. . . to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11 TLB

Health Update and odd ??????

So here is our update: Hannah is doing much better, went to school today with no problems. Drum roll please. . . . . . . . . . . . . Now Jackson has strep!!!!!!!!!! I wonder when it will be my turn? So now would everyone please pray that Jack has a quick recovery like Hannah and that I don't get it! Which leads to my odd ?????? Do you guys believe that God tries to tell us things through events OR that he doesn't give us more than we can handle? Let me explain further - I am at a very difficult crossroad right now. In case you haven't heard my life is a little stressful right now with Scott being gone during the week, school, work, and two kids. So is God trying to tell me via my kids being sick that this plan of mine isn't what he has in mind for me OR is he trying to show me that I am superwoman and with his help I can do all kinds of things - similar to what an RN might do? If this was happening last year when I was just starting nursing school I would have dropped out a long time ago. Now of course I am not far from being done so do I just suck it up and plow on through or drop and return to my life before nursing school? You see at one point I felt a great calling to be an RN, that I could really help alot of people by treating them with dignity and respect and along the way put a little glimpse of Christ in their eyes. Currently I feel so discouraged I don't know what I am supposed to be doing. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, what is your opinion of fasting?

Vacation

I am so excited! We got the best news today! My Dad and Stepmom are renting a beach house next year in Destin, Fl for our entire family. With Scott's new job I wasn't sure we would be able to go because vacation is based on seniority. But Scott got word today that he got his vacation approved. So June 5-12 we will be in Destin! This is so awesome. I am so blessed to have parents that want to spend time with all the kids, and so blessed that we all love spending time with each other. Growing up that wasn't always the case, you know when you get steps and halfs involved it gets messy when you have all those teenage hormones going. But now we are a pretty close knit group, which I love! So Florida here we come! Hannah is so excited. She has never been to the beach. Jack of course hasn't either and I think I went when I was younger to see my grandparents but don't remember it at all. Yeah! So countdown starts now to save money and lose weight! I wanna be a hot beach momma!

Ok, a few other details to add. Hannah got diagnosed with Strep Throat today so pray for her and me and Jackson that we don't get it as well. Scott should be ok, he had his tonsils out when he was a kid. Also, pray for my brother, he has battled drug abuse for a long time. I think things may be changing this week so be praying for him.

Did I mention I am going to the beach next year? Oh yeah, and it will be just after RN graduation! So much to look forward to next year.

Family Update

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update on what is going on in our lives.

Jackson - oh my sweet little boy. He is doing awesome! He is really starting to say alot, hasn't bitten anyone in a couple of weeks (thank you Lord!), and growing so fast. It amazes me how raising a boy is soooo different from a girl.

Hannah - loves First Grade. Now we have had a few bumps in the road, but overall I think she is getting the hang of it. She goes to a special Reading Recovery program because she was a little behind the curve in her reading and she is doing so good. I am so proud every night when she brings home her little homework bag and has to read me and Jackson two books. She has made soooo much improvement. Kudos to Mrs. Stack her Reading Recovery teacher. She is amazing.

Scott - loves his new job for Mehlville Fire Protection District! He will be starting the St. Louis County Fire Academy Monday so everyone pray for him and us. He will be gone to it Monday - Friday and then will have to work a shift every other weekend. The academy lasts 11 weeks so we will miss him dearly and I know he is gonna miss us. Pray he has the strength to endure this 11 weeks of training and pray for us at home without him. The kids are gonna miss him and I am gonna miss him. Not to mention the fear issue, I know my in laws are down the road but I definately sleep better when he is home so having him gone 5-6 nights a week is gonna make me really tired.

Me - this has been a rough semester for me. I love the topics so far - mostly OB and newborns - but it has been interesting at times. We have new dynamics in the classroom with a new instructor and it has definately brought me out of my comfort zone. But that isn't always a bad thing. Plus last week we started clinicals so that is gonna make the time fly by. Hard to believe in a little over 8 months I will be graduating from RN school!

And in case anyone hadn't heard my sister had her baby! A little girl, Isabel Ann joined big sister Alexis in Ross & Jessica's family on 9/10/09. I got to be there for the whole thing and it was amazing. My sister is an amazing woman. Being their made me feel like I finally got to experience what childbirth is supposed to be like. I was so proud of her. (I love you Jess!) And I got to give Isabel her first bath with the awesome nursery nurse Gretchen! Yeah me! It was so cool. Anyway, I am sure she will be posting pictures on her blog soon. Be on the watch out for them!

A few more

Here are a few more pictures. My favorite picture is the one with Hannah and Jackson looking at each other. He is watching her so closely and she looks like she is "teaching" him something.