New news...

Okay, first things first: Tiny has been home for about a week and a half, and is doing wonderfully well! He's gaining almost an ounce a day. Tree says that when he eats, you can almost see him getting fatter! lol I promise to get some pics on here soon! He does still have the oxygen and monitor, but doesn't need very much oxygen, which is good. He gets lots of cuddles from everyone around. Rachele says he's still pretty quiet, except when he's wet--then he lets EVERYONE know about it! lol (One of the best parts about being a grandma--I don't have to change diapers if I don't want to!)

My son Jake is going to be graduating from Basic training on the 13th of this month. I'm really proud of him. He wasn't sure he would make it through, or that he would give up on it. I think it's been good for him, though. I hear the same maturity in his voice that I heard in my brother's when he was in, and also in my son Daniel's when he was in it. It may be hard, but they have to be. They have to make sure that their soldiers aren't going to break at a crucial moment. The only thing that scares me is Jake's MOS, which is forward observer--which is another way of saying scout. That means that Jake has more likelihood of being called into active duty (he's Nat'l Guard) sooner rather than later. I've already had one son in Iraq, and I worried about him the whole time. It was pretty much God watching out for him that kept him alive over there. I can only pray that He'll do the same for Jake. One thing I do NOT want is a couple of soldiers presenting me with a flag.

Ooookay, that was a little more serious than I expected to get.

On the subject of being a radiology tech: Not sure I'll be able to do that. The school itself wouldn't be much of a problem, but the time factor might. I'd have to do regular classes (prerequisites) for a year first, then apply for the radiology program. They only take 16 applicants every year, so you have to have VERY good grades. Then it's two years (solid, no summer break) of classes and working at the hospital to get the hands-on training. I don't think I'd be able to do that and still work even part-time. Unfortunately, we don't have a place here that would pay me to go to school and learn this stuff. So I'm going to look into some other options. I'll keep y'all posted.

And now for the fun thing: If you look to your right, under my profile, you'll see some cute little dragon eggs. If you click on them, you can help them hatch. And if you would like dragons of your own, you can go here: http://dragcave.ath.cx/ You'll have to start an account, but boy, it's a lot of fun!

Okay, I'm off for now. Have a good evening...or something, since it's midnight!

Counting down...

Tiny gets to come home on Friday! He's up to 5 lbs., 9 oz. as of yesterday evening, but I didn't ask Rachele what he's at today. Probably not more than an ounce or two more than that. He will have to have oxygen at least for a while when he comes home, but hopefully it won't be for too long. Rachele and Tree are, of course, VERY excited! Rachele's been having a bit of a hard time reconciling not being pregnant and not having the baby here with her. And only seeing him a couple of times a day for an hour or so each time just doesn't quite cut it.

Anyhow, that's all for now, just wanted to post that quick update. On an unrelated note, I'm planning to make some phone calls tomorrow to see what all I need to do to get started on a radiology degree. It's a major change from working retail, but I think it'll be a good one. Wish me luck, folks!

Just to check in....

Haven't posted in a while, so I guess I should catch you all up.
A couple of weeks ago, I got to hold Tiny for the first time--I was almost afraid of breaking him, he seems so fragile. He's gaining weight fast now, he's up to 4 lbs, 10 oz! He's also been moved out of the incubator and into a regular bassinet, which means that he can regulate his own body temperature. Oh, and apparently he has a "super-power"--the ability to produce really smelly (the kind that can knock you over) diapers! lol

I'm looking forward to spring making its full appearance here, because I want to do some work in our yard and make it look nice. I've got some hostas and a bleeding heart that I want to plant, and I want to pick up at least one rose bush, as well as a raspberry bush and a blackberry bush. I've got some shrubs I need to trim before they try to take over the yard, and I want to get more stepping stones--right now the path only goes about four feet from the front gate! : )

A while back I posted that I was thinking about getting a different job. Well, I'm less stressed about my job now--it seems that either less stuff is getting stolen (which was my main frustration), or else I'm just more relaxed about it. But I still need to be making about twice what I am, which isn't going to happen in retail. Not here, anyhow--by the way, I'm only making $8 an hour, which is sad, considering that I could go to work at just about any fast-food place (eww--been there, done that, don't want to anymore) and make $8.50 to start. Bleah. So I'm toying with the idea of learning to be an ultrasound tech. Just have to figure out how to pay for it...

On a more fun note, last weekend, Dave, Heather, Tex, and I went to Riverfront Park. That's an undeveloped park just a couple of miles from our house. There are a couple of lakes there, and always a bunch of Canada geese and some ducks there. Heather and I fed the ducks and geese, and then I wanted to go for a walk on some of the trails. She didn't want to, though--she just wanted to wander around by the main lake with Tex, so off I went by myself.

I saw (and heard!) a bunch of red-winged blackbirds, a muskrat swimming in the smaller lake, and a beaver's lodge (but no beaver). There was a HUGE cottonwood that the beavers had tried to chew down, but apparently gave up on. It looked like an axe had been taken to it, and it leaned a bit, but didn't seem to be in any danger of falling down. Also there were a couple of places where tree branches came all the way to the ground and made "caves." I can't remember now if the trees were dead or not, but hopefully not, because those would look cool all leafy and green! I wish I'd had more time to go walking around, but we had to get home and finish cooking dinner. Next time I'll try to make sure I've got a camera so that I can put some pictures up.

Okay, I think that's all for now. I've really got to get out and do some stuff so this blog isn't so boring...lol Have a good one, folks!

Check out my other blogs...

Yeah, that's a pretty shameless plug.  But seriously, go check them out! :  )  I have pictures up on #2, and the beginning of a story on #3 (it's Chapter one of a multi-chaptered story, you might want to catch the beginning so you know what's going on! lol)

Oh, and there are new pictures of Tiny, with clothes on!  He looks, as Rachele put it, like a proper baby now!

Look at the size of those feet!  He's going to be one tall kid!

Aww, so sweet.... : )

Can't wait for him to come home!  He's gaining about an ounce a day right now, but he needs to be able to maintain his body temperature, which should be easier once he's got some fat on those bones of his.  I'm kind of jealous, since I can't hold him yet.  But since he only gets to be held once a day, I guess I'll leave that for his mom and dad...lol

In other news...not much new to report, actually.  My daughter Kaila is moving back up here in about a month.  Tuition is being raised in NC, where she is currently attending college, to a point where she won't be able to afford it unless she gets a full time job, which doesn't exactly leave much time for school and studying.  So she's transferring to the local college here.  I told her she can't have her room back, since we already gave it to her youngest brother...lol   Actually, she's going to move in with her grandparents for a while, I think, to give her a chance to save for an apartment of her own, and to continue easing her out of living with family.  None of the kids really like the quiet of their own places, they like the chaos that is our house.  They seem to thrive on it.  Me, I am looking forward to the day when the house has only Dave and I in it.  Then, the next day, it will be all crazy and hectic again! : )  Ah, well, I love my family!

My middle son, Jake, is in boot camp and pretty homesick.  He's nervous about the fact that his hands are shaky and they're learning advanced lifesaving techniques and how to put IVs in each other.  He's worried that he'll miss the vein.  Dave had a pretty good talk with him, he said.  I just want to hug him and tell him it'll be okay.  And this isn't even the hardest stuff yet!  *sigh*  It's hard to watch your kids grow up.  Especially when you can't be right there with them.

Okay, that's all for now.  Have a good evening!  

A new blog?...or two?....

I'm thinking of starting a second (and maybe a third) blog. I was thinking maybe I would start one for my jewelry and crochet projects, that way folks who are reading this one don't have to look at my stuff if they don't want to, and folks who just want to check out my projects could just go to that one and not read my ramblings if they weren't so inclined.

I was also thinking that maybe the third blog might be sort of a "story corner." Back when I first started crocheting, I found a pattern for a crocheted dragon (so cute!) and a pattern for a doll. I thought, "Wouldn't it be great if I made the dragon, (and named him Dennis), and made the doll to look like a knight (and named him Norman), and wrote a story about their adventures together?" Well, I never did make the toys, but I did start writing their story. I think it would be kind of neat to try and finish it. Also, Dave used to tell the kids "Carrot Queen stories," which he had made up for them when they were little. I may have to get him to tell them to me so I can post them somewhere. : )

Anyway, so that's my pondering for today. I'll probably go and dig out my Dennis and Norman story tomorrow and start that blog, at least. Geez, like I need yet another thing to occupy my time...lol

Oh, before I forget, Tiny is up to 3 lbs., 2 oz.! That's half a pound over his birthweight! Woohoo!

Okay, bye for now! Have a good....whatever time of day it is for you! : )

This is only a test...

While necro-surfing over at the MoH forum, I found a link to a pretty neat personality test. It's called a "Kingdomality Test," and checks your personality to see how you would fit into a medieval kingdom, and how it would compare to a corporate kingdom today. Here is the link:

http://www.cmi-lmi.com/kingdomality.html

That takes you to the front page, and you click on the image and go from there. I got the Dreamer-Minstrel. I think that's pretty close to how I am, but I may go back and re-take the test later and see if it comes up with anything different.

I think the main reason I'm looking for something different, job-wise, is that I really would like to have a job that would actually mean something. I would most love to own my own craft store, but I don't want it to be a huge business, because I really don't want to be a manager. Unfortunately, I have no business-running skills. I'm going to see if our local adult education center has classes on business management, or business ownership. And while I know that's also retail, it would be my retail business. Mostly I want to get out of debt, be able to save money for when I retire (no, I don't want to still be working at 70 or so, thanks all the same), possibly own a home, and maybe do some travelling. There are lots of places in this world I'd like to see someday. And if I could save money to pass on to my kids, that would be cool, too. The two most important things in that list are getting out of debt and saving for retirement.

Ah, well. Deep thoughts in such a shallow pond...lol Take the test if you want, and have a great evening, day, whatever! : )

Update on Tiny, and maybe a decision to make...

Just to let you guys know, Tiny is almost back to his birth weight (about half an ounce shy, is all) and is doing pretty well. He is eating pretty well, which is a good sign. I think I have some new pics of him hiding in the puter somewhere, let me take a look...

Yup, there he is! Eyes open and everything! The best part is that when Rachele and Tree hold him, Tiny doesn't even need his oxygen--it literally gets so high, they have to shut it off! Way to go, Tiny!

Okay, now for the decision I may be making...

I think I may need to find another job. : ( I want to find a job that will actually go somewhere. Plus, the local high school kids come in and rob us blind. It's depressing, especially since I can't do anything about it unless I actually catch them at it. A couple of weeks ago, someone made off with several hundred dollars' worth of sterling silver jewelry findings. I know this isn't my stuff, and I'm not responsible for the losses, but still....*sigh*

So, I think I need to find a new job that isn't related to retail. And I need to get some job skills, so I can acquire said new job. Any ideas?