I officially declare:

I HATE MOVING.

We've been here since the 12th. Got into the house on the 20th. And we are STILL moving everything out of storage, and living with boxes all around. BUT... There's only 4 pieces of furniture left in the storage unit!!! And a lot of boxes. :)

I had to leave my job, that I LOVED, to move here. No regrets, I LOVE living here!! But, I have no job yet! I have put out close to 40 applications. Been turned down already for 4 jobs. That's okay. :) I WILL find a job.

I am starting a phlebotomist training course tomorrow night. In 4 weeks I will be able to sit for the national certification test, a necessary step before seeking employment as a phlebotomist. I am hoping to be able to start applying for phlebotomist positions within 6 weeks. :)

And then I am planning to take the CNA course (Certified Nurse's Assistant) and it's cooresponding national certification test as well. Maybe in 6-12 months. I'm not in a huge rush to take it, for me, it's not for employment, but to be able to apply to the RN program.

Speaking of which, I need to go do my car's emissions test this week so I can register it, and also get my driver's license here in Utah. Also on the list is getting my library card. All are steps towards proving my Utah residency. I'm HOPING to be able to get in-state tuition in the spring, but it may have to be summer. Then I can apply to Weber State University and start taking the pre-req's for the RN program. Especially all those pesky Science and Math classes. I have a history of "difficulty" with Anatomy and Physiology. A history of failing it!!! LOL But that was close to ten years ago, so let's hope I have a better shot at it now!

Read more...

Homeschool

Started the girls homeschool pre-school today. They just seemed ready. Just about 25 minutes today. That was about all they could handle for the moment.

Read more...

Some updates

I have spent a good portion of this morning going through old blogs and putting labels on all the old posts. As BFF lost a piece of information yesterday and had to search through her blog the HARD way because she had done SOME labeling but as many of us do, had not totally labeled her blogs. So she had to go through and find the blog in question. She mentioned that she needs to go through and label her blogs so this doesn't happen again. It made me think, most of my blogs are unlabeled as well. So that is what I have spent probably 2 hours doing this morning. (In between breaking up little fights with the kids, taking care of them, getting coffee, etc. LOL)

I also wrote one update during this, it is the post immediately prior (I suppose following this LOL) to this one about Bug's speech/hearing. I felt it was very pertinent as I read that prior post. I did also post one embedded edit into a prior post, it's one that I felt was better to put as a retrospective edit that looking back that was a powerful day.

But most importantly there were some little things that I jotted down to write about in a new post.

One post I wrote some months back What do you want to do with your life? needs a bit of an update. In it I was excited to move on to learning to do cakes and possibly turn this into something more. I did begin the Wilton courses as you can see from several of my subsequent posts over the following months. I completed courses 1 and 2. I did quite well. I enjoyed it quite a bit. And I discovered that although I enjoy doing it as a hobby and enjoy having the more advanced skills of having taken the classes, I do NOT want it as a career.

I ended up spending SIGNIFICANTLY more money for the classes than anticipated. And although it WAS fun, it was also frustrating. My work schedule made it quite difficult at times to concentrate because I'd end up going straight from work to class. I'd be tired, sometimes aching from scanning groceries all day. I just realized toward the end of the second class it was NOT for me. I did not sign up for class three, and I've had no regrets about it.

I enjoy baking cakes for church, our family, and when asked, for friends. BFF and I still do mostly vegan cakes, it has become our specialty sort of. People at church who are having parties for their children who are NOT vegan and are ordering a big non-vegan cake and are inviting us and any vegan guests will ask us to do a smaller cake for BFF's children (due to the allergies, not because we are vegan. Most store cakes involve a LOT of soy) and any vegan's in attendance.

Another factor in that post was why I did NOT want to go back into the medical field. The fact is, the more I think about the more I realized how much I miss it. I really enjoyed being an EMT, and I really wanted to go on and be a Paramedic. So I am now planning to go back. I really WANT to go back this spring, but for personal and financial reasons I don't think it's going to happen. But hopefully by summer the financial side will be worked out, as well as the personal.

Another thing I wanted to update on... In this post: So much to update on I had said I wanted to be more minimalist. NOT that I wanted to get rid of everything, or be one of those people with only 100 personal possessions. Just that I wanted to purchase less, be more cautious about WHAT I purchased so that I could purchase NICER things, etc. Well, I have been trying to do that to an extent. Although I am still sticking for the most part to my rules about shopping (most items on sale, etc.). But due to my weight loss, I've had to buy a LOT of clothes lately, especially pants. I've actually been able to get BACK into some pants I haven't been able to wear in YEARS, so that is great. But the fact is, the time has come for a purge. I have GOT to go through the closet, the drawers, etc. Sort out what fits, what doesn't, and what has no hope of ever fitting. Some of my things that don't fit, BFF will fit now or soon. (I'm only a size or 2 smaller than her and we've both been losing weight). But there are distinct body differences between us, so some things will NEVER fit her. Those things need to go.

I need to do this same purge with the girls toys. I have multiple boxes of toys and animals in the garage that they haven't played with in MONTHS. MOST of them can be sold. They have plenty of toys inside. Most of the toys in the boxes in the garage they have "aged" out of anyway, since they are primarily rated for 18-24 months!! So, I think that in the near future I will be doing a MASSIVE toy purge. Fortunately I do have a great twin club that I can sell many of the toys to.

I am in the process of setting some goals for 2010. I will make a separate post for them, one that will post on January 1st. So yes, you will have to wait!! LOL I don't believe in setting resolutions for the year. I don't like them, I think that it sets me up for disappointment. I prefer to have goals. Because I do not feel as much sense of failure or disappointment in myself if I do not succeed. I know to most people it is a matter of semantics. But it matters to me.

So what sort of goals can you expect to see on my list?? No, I won't be totally mean and make you wait. What you will NOT see is "I will lose 20 pounds" or "I will work out 2 hours every day" or anything like that. I have in mind some spiritual goals, some physical/fitness goals, educational goals, employment goals, financial goals, and parenting goals. None are set in stone, none are make it or break it, none will make me feel like a failure if by December 31, 2010 I have NOT completed them. A goal is just a guideline, something to aim for. I will NOT tie my self esteem or self worth to it!

I will try to blog a bit in the next few days if time permits, otherwise, look for my 2010 Goals on January 1, 2010!!! :)

Read more...

School, Saints, and parents on the road...

I am trying to figure out what my best course of action is for school... I had found a GREAT program that would allow me to complete my EMT program in just 3 weeks. Now, as a former EMT I NORMALLY would NOT recommend this to ANYONE. However, I don't consider myself normal. I worked as an EMT in a civilian setting for 5 years, and then another year in the Army. I have taken this EXACT course (EMT-B) THREE TIMES already, and never scored less than an A in the class. So, I spoke to my EMT and paramedic friends and asked for their opinions and all of them told me the same thing, go for it, it'll be nothing but review for you. Only one minor problem. I need pretty much $1000 before Christmas to attend that program. As of right now, I have a grand total of $125. I could sacrifice my entire January child support, but I won't receive it until December 31st. It may be too late. And it will still leave me a little short.

Then there is a bigger concern. Sometimes I forget that I am NOT a 20 something, single woman anymore. I am a 31 year old single MOTHER. I HAVE to factor my children into this. Much as I want to do the extremely short class, it may not be the best option for my daughters. I would be in school a little over 40 hours a week for three weeks straight, and on top of that there would be at home studying, and at least one shift a week at work. When would I see my babies??? A part of me REALLY thinks the short class would be best for me, BUT, I don't know that it would be best for THEM.

The same school that has that class has some 12 week options as well, they actually cost a little less, just under $900. And are partial day classes just three days a week as opposed to all day five days a week. The downside to those classes is they are at facilities farther away, but not too much farther. There are also some tuition payment plan options with those, so if I REALLY wanted to, I could spread the payments out, basically to $100 a week.

Overall, I really like this program because their cost IS pretty much as all inclusive as it can be for the area. It covers the text, and this one even covers PART of the state testing expenses. I'll need to come up with another $225 for testing expenses by the end of the course, but that would be March. But it's okay.

The other good thing about this class is that it will be a schedule that should allow me to continue to work a schedule of 25-30 hours a week. I NEED to continue to work that kind of schedule honestly. I NEED that income for now.

Now, on to my INCREDIBLE Saints. Oh did you SEE their awesome win last night??? And they are now 11-0!!!! :) :) :) How I love my Saints.

My parents hit the road yesterday. They are driving cross country to visit my sister and I for Christmas. They stopped last night in Kingman, AZ. For their own safety I will not post their next stop. They are expected to arrive at my sister's sometime this weekend. They will be there a week or so and then they will head up here to see us for a couple weeks. The original plan was actually 2 weeks at my sisters then 2 weeks here. But they realized the entire 2 weeks they'd be at my sister's house she and her husband would be in school still, including finals week!!! SO... instead they are leaving before finals to come here and going back after Christmas for another week with her when she is out of school and they can enjoy the time a little more. I think it's a good deal for them. And it works out well for us as my ex-husband is coming to visit our daughters. So now we'll have a week with just my parents, a week with my parents and my ex (please pray for me during that week!!!!!!!!!), and then a week with just my ex (continue to pray, though for different reasons!).

It should be a BUSY BUSY month, but a good month :) I'll do my best to keep everyone posted!!

Read more...

Forgive me?

Sorry for the unintentional blogging break, can you forgive me? LOL Life has just been so busy in the last 2 weeks.

A summary, if I can manage it.

I've been working like crazy. Most weeks lately I have 25 or more hours, this week is a slower week at only 23 hours but it's because I have 2 days off. I'll get to why soon. Last week I actually worked 33 hours and did 6 days straight!

A little over a week ago BFF's oldest DS got hurt on the trampoline and had to go to the ER for a nasty bump on the head. And then yesterday got hurt on the skateboard and broke his 2 front teeth and had to have emergency dental work done! *sigh*

ALL the kids have physicals in the next two weeks, that is why I have an extra day off this week. I asked to be off UNTIL 2 pm and my supervisor gave me the entire day off on Thursday, but that is fine, as I have PLENTY of other things to take care of that day! LOL

BFF's kids have dental appointments now for cleanings, and as soon as xDH gets my girls on the dental insurance (better text him about that), my girls will have appointments too).

The girls are growing like weeds and there is fear that our THREE year olds will not fit 3T clothing for long!!!!!! They are already wearing some 4T's and girls XS's!! But it is there FEET that seem to be giving us the most run for our money all of a sudden. BFF's DD, Duck, had been complaining about this ONE pair of shoes, now Duck has wider feet, so I looked at her feet. She has a cut on the toe. I showed BFF and said we needed to get her different shoes with more room (shoes didn't cause the cut but she needed some closed toe shoes to protect the toe while the cut heals). So we headed off to get Duck some shoes. She measures Duck, then Diva, her other DD, then she comes over to find me in the dresses and shoes me the SIZE NINE her Diva is wearing. OMG. The biggest shoes we had at home were EIGHTS!!! So out of fear, cuz I know MY girls aren't THAT much smaller than her's, we take Bug and Peanut to be sized, Bug is a solid 8, and Peanut is an 8 almost 8 1/2. So basically, NONE of the girls REALLY have shoes that will fit, or at least for very long. Some of BFF's girls shoes will fit MY girls for a LITTLE while because the brands run big, ya know?

So we run to Target, no shoes there, we go to Payless, she finds shoes, but I start to discover something. My poor Bug has NARROW feet, NOTHING fits her width wise. The evil words are uttered. Words that will cost me way too much money... Stride Rite. AHHHHHHHHH... Yes, My daughter is destined for expensive shoes. *sigh* She needs narrow shoes for now, and until this morning, there was only one place we could think of. But this morning I remembered another place, Preschoolians. I bought shoes from them before. They give a multiples discount. So I have sent off for the discount, and will be looking into both them and Stride Rite, but I HAVE to get poor Bug some properly fitting shoes quick!! LOL

Now onto our car seat dramas of late... *sigh*

We took the seats out of the car for cleaning, and read the manuals, and discovered our princesses are close to outgrowing them in HEIGHT!!! OMW!!!! Now in BFF's case this is less of an issue, as her seats are closer to their "age out" of 6 years too. But my seats are only 3 1/2 years old! *sigh* At least I know they have gotten used plenty!! So we started looking into seats that will accommodate taller children harnessed and convert into booster seats. We are looking at spending between $180-300 PER SEAT. *sigh*

On top of ALL of this other drama, Christmas is coming, and I have decided to go to EMT school and become an EMT again. That will happen in January. But I need at least $800 for the class. And then the money for the testing for MA, then the money for the testing for National Registry. Then I need to take Anatomy and Physiology and ACTUALLY PASS THE DANG CLASS for once in my life. Then take Paramedic and FINALLY become a Paramedic!!!!!! LOL At least once I am an EMT I will be working and making nearly double what I make now and have insurance!!

Well, I have a TON to do today!!!!

Read more...

What do you want to do with your life?

I was recently asked this question. It's a tough one in some ways.

I'm 31, divorced, single parent of 2 BEAUTIFUL little girls. I have an INCREDIBLE, wonderful support system now. I have good friends who truly only want the best for me.

I have an associates degree that was earned 11 years ago. I have not finished my Bachelor's degree, and I've come to the conclusion that I don't care if I do. If I finally find a field that it behooves to have the degree, then I'll find a way to finish it. Otherwise, I am not going to spend my time or money to get a piece of paper. It doesn't bother me that I don't have the degree, though it seems to bother a few people around me.

There's jobs I've previously done and enjoyed very much. I LOVED being an EMT. But I have reservations about going back into that field. Primarily because I have already burned out of it once. Also because I am not too certain that the work schedules would be very conducive to my children having their mother actually PRESENT in their lives. But if I do go back into that job, it's only a 1 semester training. If I choose later to continue on to paramedic it's another 1-2 years of schooling later.

I could try to go back to school for nursing. A career that is considered VERY "portable." Meaning it travels with you when you move. This is always a good thing. But, it's a minimum 2 years of training. And honestly, I'm not sure I want to be doing nursing.

I learned how to do IV's and blood draws in Army training, so I have considered being a Phlebotomist. Whether or not licensing is required varies from state to state. IF it is required, some schooling would be involved, probably no more than a single semester.

A large part of me leans toward the medical field. It's something I've done and enjoyed. And no matter HOW bad the economy is, this field WILL be there. But... I'm not sure I care to continue working in it. It is a rewarding thing to help people, but not everyone is nice to you. No, I'm not being "a big girl-butt" as a 6 year old recently called me. Some people are hostile toward medical professionals, some are just so unhappy that they make you miserable, the job isn't ALWAYS rewarding. It can be full of heartbreak too. SO... not sure it's where I want to be.

Other things I'm fairly good at (IMHO anyway)...

Shoot, I don't know anymore. But, I have been recently reminded of something I do enjoy. Cake decorating. I am an amateur at best. I've literally done two cakes before. No, 3 cakes. I've done my girls first birthday cake. It was by far the most elaborate. It was a beautiful crown cake fully covered in stars in the various colors. I did a baby shower cake for a friend, it had colored polka dots. And I did another cake for my girls 2nd birthday, also a polka dot cake.

I was watching BFF do a cake this weekend for our friend's twins party and was reminded how much I enjoy it. (and LOVE buttercream frosting!) She's taking all three of the Wilton Method classes. She's done some pretty impressive cakes. So I started picking her brain and doing some looking. I can take the classes through Micheal's craft store, the class tuition is about $45 per course (each course is 4 weeks long, 2 hour class per week). The required supply kit is $25-35 per course. Outside of that, there's other supplies that I will need, but BFF has MANY of the tips, etc that I'll need. As for food supplies, she says overall she doesn't believe she spent too much for her classes. SO... overall, it will not cost me too much to do. And it will give me skills that I can use anywhere, so it's portable.

I am hoping to sign up for the class for next month. The store wasn't originally scheduling course 1 for July, but they've had a great interest in it. So I will stop by tomorrow after work and probably be signing up for it. :) I'm excited!! :)

Read more...