Liz tagged me with the letter “S” for 10 things I love that start with “S” so here goes:

1.  Sesame Street-seriously who doesnt love Sesame Street and sometimes its the only 60 minutes of peace and quiet a Mom can get!

2.  Sunshine-I dread the start of winter and cloudy days.  I crave sunshine and dont function well without it.

3.  Service-I truly have a servant’s heart and I enjoy showing my love for God and other people by acts of service.

4.  Sunday-Our day of worship-enough said!

5.  Sassafrass-my nickname for my little boy

6.  Saxophones-I am actually a very proficient tenor saxophone player (betchaya didnt know that did you?)

7.  Silas-  Silas was a very meaningful man in the New Testament and he is a wonderful person to study.  He is the one who, along with Paul, said “”Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, and your entire household” (Acts 16:31).”  One of the most powerful lessons in the bible!

8.  Sugar cookies- Sugar cookies will always hold such a special place in my heart.  I have so many memories of making sugar cookies with my Mom and its something I have definitely loved passing on to Helium.  Mom recently gave me some antique cookie cutters that were used when she was a child and its such a great heirloom!  We went antique shopping last weekend and I actually saw them in some shops!  That was cool!

9.  Shopping-Yeah I love shopping of any kind!  Online, in the mall, for kids, for other people. I love it!

10.  Sharing-Sharing anything.  Sharing food, sharing the Gospel, sharing my love for Christ with others, sharing recipes, sharing memories.  Nothing is sweeter than a moment shared with a friend!

I love this time of year except it begins with pumpkin cobbler and leads into Christmas cookies and that means I eat WAY too much sweet stuff!  I’m making pumpkin truffles with Helium tonight and if they turn out good, I’ll post the recipe.  I’m worried about my weight through the hibernation months and I’ve been gearing up to make a workout plan that doesnt involve being outside.  The cooler air REALLY sets my asthma off and even the cool evenings we’ve been having have made it really hard for me to be outside exercising.  I tried jump-roping last night and just about died.  I’m going to talk to my boss about it tomorrow and see if he has a stronger inhaler I can use for the winter.  I hate having to use my rescue inhaler everytime I do anything strenuous outside.  Its just not healthy.  So I’ve been doing jumping jacks inside and doing “stair” exercises on our staircase.  I’ve also been doing sit-ups to work on whats left of my baby donut.  Sadly I havent lost any weight for about a week and a half, so I am fasting today in order to give my body a shock back into weight loss.  I’ve read that its good to do that every so often. 

Antiquing yesterday was great fun.  I love looking at old stuff but it makes me very pensive about lives past and history.  I found this pair of old victorian boots and it just makes me wonder who wore them and what her life was about.  I actually didnt buy anything except for some sweets..haha.  I was going to buy some hand mirrors because I keep seeing cute deco stuff done with them, but I couldnt figure out how I would hand them.  I’m going to talk to a handyman and if it wouldnt be too hard, I’ll go back and get them.  Next weekend we are going back to Hilger’s for the Fall Festival so it would be easy to drive just a bit further back to the antique shop.

Work….hmm lets see.  Well everyone has quit now except me.  So I’ve been there just over 4 months and I have the most longevity.  My Christmas bonus better be good!! (Although I’ve heard that its a lot of money but it comes in the form of a Wal-mart gift card so we dont have to pay taxes on it).  I do have an interview at Parkview (finally!!!) on Tuesday, but its for the temp pool with no guarantee of hours.  It does have a $2.00 an hour incentive above what HR determines my wage should be, so it could be profitable providing I get enough hours to support us.  Regardless it would get my foot in the door at Parkview which I have been trying to do for years.  If I can get a job there, I am a set for life.  NO ONE leaves Parkview (ok some do, but few and far between).  In a freak coincidence, one my co-workers who just quit, took a job I had an interview set up for.  She kept telling me about how she went to her dermatologist and they were asking her if she wanted a job, yadda yadda and the whole time she is telling me this, I am thinking “crap, I have an interview there Wednesday”  Sure enough, Tuesday afternoon they called and cancelled my interview saying they gave the job to someone else.  Turned out it was my co-worker.  Small world, so her last day at my office was Friday.  Monday three new people start.  High turn-over is bad mmk?

Its freezing here.  We went to the zoo and I froze my behind off!!  It was fun though and we got to ride the rides for free because there were so few people visiting.

My class reunion was nice.  Sort of anti-climatic and not well attended.  It was fun going to the football game though!

This weekend we are going on a road trip to Pierceton Indiana which is filled with neat antique shops and supposedly the best nature reserve in Indiana for children under the age of 5.  I cant find a link for it online now.  But I read about it in a magazine and I am anxious to check it out.  I’m hoping to get some nice fall photos.  On our way home we will stop at Hilgers and eat some autumn goodies I’m sure!

I’m hoping to get the internet at home here shortly (providing I dont end up jobless soon) and then I will update more often, so keep checking on us!!!

OMG I am so nervous about my class reunion!!!!!!!!!!  What if i throw up?  What if I meet the man of my dreams?  OMG OMG OMG what should I wear?  Dress up?  Dress down?  OMG!

I’m down almost 20 pounds!!!  Wooofreaking hoo!  All my summer clothes are now huge on me…seriously, my capris look like those old hammer pants.  I love it!!!  I also bought new kick butt interview clothes and they are all two sizes smaller!  We’ve been biking just abound 10 miles a day and I have been eating so healthy, its amazing!!!!! I’m down to 203 which is the smallest I’ve been since having Helium.  180 is my pre-pregnancy weight and with the winter months coming up I know its going to be hard but darnit I am going into next summer at 175 at the smallest!!!  I’ve really been doign well.  Usually for breakfast I have a Special K bar (90 calories) then for lunch I have some sort of a Lean Cuisine/Smart One meal and a boiled egg.  I snack on either a Dannon Light and Fit or some sort of a 100 calorie pack of cookies.  Then I eat a normal dinner and for an evening snack I either have 100 calorie popcorn or Skinny Cow ice cream.  We’ve stopped eating out nearly 100% which is great on my waistline and my budget and I’ve also made changes at the dinner table.  Now as soon as I put our serving on our plates, I pack up the leftovers and freeze them immediately so I am not tempted to go back and pick (a huge problem for me).  I also dont eat the scraps leftover on Helium’s plate which is also a huge problem for me.  Lastly I actually measure out my serving size so I know exactly what I am putting into my body.  Its great!  I love the new me, I actually feel lighter and I love knowing my clothes are too big!!!  I need to work on some other exercises though to help with my belly fat (I call it my baby donut) because its bad!!  Any suggestions???

Work still sucks, I’ve been interviewing lots but having no takers.  At least I am building up some experience while I am stuck in misery! 

Helium s perfect as usual, having a blast learning and playing and just living it up as a 3.5 year old.  He is due to have a baby cousin this coming January and is just thrilled about it!  I cant wait to have more children and see him become a big brother!  Now that I’m done with school I have been focusing more on meeting someone to help out with that, but so far havent really done a lot other than make sure I look cute every time I leave the house…ahahaha. 

My 10 year class reunion is this coming weekend, I’m pretty excited about that!  Maybe I’ll meet a long lost crush there!!

 

I’ve been reading like crazy lately.  Here are my recommendations:  Escape by Carolyn Jessop (about a woman who left F.D.L.S), The World Without Us by Alan Weisman, Songs without Words by Ann Packer and my latest new fave How Starbucks Saved My Life and for the life of me I cant remember the author but its a great book!!

Its been forever since I’ve been able to post.  I just simply dont have the time.  How is it that I actually have LESS time even though I am done with school?  Something just didnt work out right for me..haha.  It would help if we had the internet at home, and I didnt have to find someplace to check email and such.  I’m hoping to have it back at home within the next month.  I’m just waiting for Comcast to have a good deal and then I’ll sign up.  Yeah I’m cheap!

Work is ok.  Nothing spectacular, but I can pretty much do everything and they did admit I am more than amazing at taking care of patients and said they would hire someone else for the front office.  So yah, go me.  I dont totally love the allergy and asthma part, but its ok.  New patients are fun because we get to do the testing and do lots of shots and I enjoy that:)  I also found out that I have asthma (although I’ve always suspected it) and the Dr is giving me good treatment.  I’ve been bikign about 10 miles a day here lately and its been killing me.  I brought it up to the doctor and he said my lungs should be functioning at about 120% and they are only at 78%.  So thats interesting. 

Helium is grand of course.  We’ve really had a great summer. 

My birthday sucked of course as usual, only 3 people remembered.  My mom obviously forgot that I dont have the internet and only sent some absolutely cheesey e-card.  I should be used to this from my family, but it still stings everytime. 

Anyways, we’re camping for the holiday this weekend which will be fun!    Hopefully I’ll have the internets at home soon and update more!!!

Lots of pics on Flickr, I redecorated my living room and painted a table myself!

Passed my phlebotomy board exams witha 90%!!!!!!  Want to let me draw your blood????

I dont know why I get the raw end of the deal on everything.  Seriously, I am a good person, I work hard, I love God, I love my family.  I dont swear *too* much.  I do good for others.  Do I suck that much?  Do I have this big sign on me that says walk all over me, hurt me and screw me?

My boss, on Friday, tells me that I wont be allowed to do but 3.5 hours a day for my externship, because the rest of the time I have to do my actual job (calling with appt reminders and pulling charts, yes thats all I freaking do).  The problem is, I have to have 160 clinical hours by August 28th.  So lets do the math….yeah NOT GONNA HAPPEN.  Basically they said they cant let me do it because no one else can do my job.  WHAT THE FUCK!?!!?  Seriously WHAT THE FUCK!  They have known about my externship (which they said I could do and they would even pay me for) since my interview in the beginning of JUNE!!!  Why only tell me this 3 days before I am supposed to start?!?!?!    So now I have to call the school tomorrow morning and I know they will tell me that I will have to go someplace else, and I will be out of a job.  Totally sucks, although since they screwed me like this, do I really want to work for them??

THEN…..I finally decided I am ready to chop my long hair.  I buy a magazine, find a style I like and work up the courage. And it isnt want the picture looks like.  It basially is my same hair, just shorter.  I’m pissed.  If I was going to cut all my hair off, and go with a different style, wouldnt I want something a bit more drastic???  Uh yeah.  So I’m totally disappointed and wishing I hadnt cut it.  You can see the pics on our Flickr.

Helium is a doll as always.  I dont understand how love happens or why, but I am so in love with this boy its insane.

Well we finished up my summer break nicely.  We went to Ohio (gas is so much cheaper there its ridiculous!!!)  We visited family, had a surprise(ok it wasnt really a surprise since I knew he was coming) visit from my father, went fishing, ate lots of food, went swimming and went to the African Safari Wildlife Park.  That was cool, but not as cool as when I was a kid.  Its this great park that you can drive through and the animals come right up to your car.  Big buffalo, long horns, giraffes, deer, antelope and zebras. It was cool, but when I was little there were elephants, ostriches and other cool things.  I was a tad disappointed but Helium had a great time.  He had fun fishing with his cousins, although he still has not caught one single thing!!!!  He had a WONDERFUL time swimming and even went in the pool with no assistance except for his arm floaties!  It was bittersweet seeing him do that.  He loves the water.  You can see pictures of our entire vacation on Flickr.

We got back home Sunday night at 11:30 and first thing Monday it was back to work and school.  I’m in my last class with just 9 nights to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This is a urinalysis and microbiology class and its definitely hard, but I got a 100% on the first test.  We did get to pick some random things to culture and I found some nasty stuff.  I did my steering wheel, the lid of my mailbox and the fingerprint scanner we use to clock in with at work.  We found E.coli on all of them and on the fingerprint scanner we found a urine crystal which means someone went potty and didnt wash their hands!!!  Ewwwwww!  I start my externship in a few weeks and what a project that has been.  I’ve had to get a physical, drug testing, background checks, driving records, update my CPR (which I still havent done!)  Its been a lot to do right at the end.  Sort of overwhelming.  I’ve also been spending a lot of time reading up for my boards.  I’m getting really nervous about taking them. 

The new job still sucks. I’m hoping once I do my externship it will get better.  I know this isnt going to be long term though.  I really dont like the office manager.  Seriously the other day she looked at me and said, “I know this is being picky, but I really dont like your handwriting”  Ok well I guess if thats the worst she can find to complain about I should be happy right?  Anyways I’m really just praying about it, not just for a new job, but for contentment.  I know I need to be more grateful, but its hard.

I’ve really been enjoying my two weeks off from school.  I’ve read more books than I can count, and so has Helium.  Its so good to read stuff that ISNT for school.  It sucks that I ordered my study guides for my board exams yesterday and now I’m going to have to start reading those!!  I’ve also taken up sewing, but I’m not that good.  Here is a purse I made   If you have access to my Flickr photos you can see the blanket I made for Helium.  I love it!!!

Job stuff is not too exciting. Dr. is getting ready to go on vacation for nearly a month!!  Yes a month!  Crazy.  Then as soon as he comes back I start my clinical externship.  The thing I hate most about my job is that I REALLY like the girls I work with, so when I leave (which I probably will soon since all I do is file) I will be sad to leave the girls. 

Next week we are heading to Ohio.  Going to the African Wildlife Safari, Cedar Point and lots of swimming in my mom’s pool!  A great way to end my vacation!

We’ve really had a pretty awesome weekend.  Honestly it started with Thursday which was Helium’s last Tball game.  At first I was feeling sort of down about it, wishing he had a male influence there, but he really had fun and you know, he is three, who cares if he doesnt know how to catch a ball yet.  The funniest part was when he hit the ball, ran to first base and then put the cone (they use cones to mark the bases to make it easier) on his head and danced around with the cone on his head.  Too funny!!!  Check out my Flickr for pictures. 

Friday we spent a nice evening with my sister, just hanging out at her house.  Saturday we did some chores and then went to play putt-putt.  It was Helium’s first time playing and it was sooooo hilarious!!!!  He picked up on the purpose pretty fast and he would hit the ball the first time and when it stopped he would go pick it up, set it back down right next to the hole and then gently tap it in!  And he was so proud of himself!  He thought he was Tiger Woods.  It was hilarious!!!!!!!!  Oh my goodness I love this kid!!!

I also did a little sewing for the first time ever (also see pics on Flickr).  I made a little bag for my cell phone and I’m working on a purse!  Next I’m making a blanket for Helium and my new niece/nephew due in January!!!!!!

Today we are hitting the bike trails if it doesnt rain!!!