Re-Focusing

This week has been very interesting. Just about as interesting as last week. We were off mutiple days last week, or on a delay last week. This week we were off multiple days,no delays. The kids were off quite a bit which has made it all very interesting. Alexis has now gone over the number of days allowed for snow, so she might end up going one extra day at the end of the year. I think they can suck it up. Being off full days this week has been a little rough for me, since I am in a military training course. The course is based on 80 hours of instruction, so to make up for the off days, we had homework. That was somewhat painful. I have to take the end of course test tomorrow, and hopefully, I will pass.

The downtime has been a little rough for Derek as well. He has gotten a bit behind in his classes due to not being able to go to school to work on projects or having to miss class to stay home with the kids. I expect it won't hurt him too much, but it's a bit frustrating, I know.

Derek is getting ready to register for next terms classes. One of the options he has is to take all of his classes on Tuesday and Thursday during the day. That would be ideal from a family standpoint, but one of the instructors is not someone he cares for. He's got to take three classes this next term, then three classes for the summer, so he's somewaht limited as to what classes he can take and with whom. I am hoping he goes with the schedule that is more family-friendly, but I do want him to get through these next few terms.

I am taking my final for my first class next week. I currently have an overall 95% in the class and the test is open-book so I expect to do well. The other class is taking some time to get used too. The instructor is harder to read, so I am not sure I am doing what I need to. So far, I have turned in two sets of discussion questions, one graded (not great), and my biography and research paper topic. Might I just add, I do NOT like APA style formatting.

I got in to see the doctor yesterday, despite the snow day. The clinic called and asked me to come in, even though the base was closed down until 1200. We didn't get anything new or enlightening out of it, but Micah is doing fine. The heartbeat was strong and the test results from the series of bloodwork all came back negative, so that's good. Basically, this is a normal pregnancy in all respects so far. Granted, I feel awful, and I think I had the stomach flu earlier this week, but other than that, nothing major. We are now getting diapers at the store in preparation for Michah's arrival, and we plan to get his co-sleeper next month. I think the only other things I am going to get are some more towels so I have enough for both him and Mason.

Not much else going on. Just trying to keep up with the kids and the snow.

As always, we live in chaos

Wow, this last week was crazy! With Mercedes birrthday, and martial arts, and grocery shopping, not to mention hair cuts, oil changes, and tax appts, we were going non-stop. That seems to be how our life is perpetually. And we do it to ourselves : )

Mercedes birthday went well, and the party on Saturday made the kids happy (though we were a little frustrated with McDonalds for "forgetting" we were coming - they had to call some poor girl in who had already worked a full shift, but she had a great attitude about it). 9 munchkins (and two almost-teens) running wild for almost two hours in McDonalds Playland. I didn't have to cook, bake, or clean up. It turned out well overall. Alexis had someone her age there that she knew and they talked and "played" the whole time, so even she had fun. Our oldest "adopted" child was there and she didn't have to monitor little ones so I think it went well.

Mercedes had a friend spend the night after the party too, so she has been in heaven. Mouthy little person that she is, she's been getting away with a little more than usual becuase of her birthday, but we'll get back to normal.

Derek and I are keeping up with classes, and Derek is officially two terms away from graduation (woo hoo). He's starting to focus more on post-graduation employment and everything, which is almost as stressful as class. I am having problems with my financial aid, so I am not sure I will be starting my next class on time. I hope that's not the case, but I have been working onthis for over two weeks and it's not gotten me anywhere. The class I am taking now is over halfway finished, and so far all of my grades are A's, so I feel good about it.

I am looking forward to the Super Bowl today, though I am concerned that the Colts will lose. I really HOPE not. I am not going to cry if they lose, but I will be a little sad. They are a good team, and I really like Peyton Manning.

The pregnancy is going well. I am going on 7 months now, just a few more (or so I keep telling myself). Micah was wide awake last night and being quite active. He was turning over and rolling all around in my tummy. He's going to be a handful, I am sure. Hopefully he will be as wonderful as Mercedes and Mason. : )