Week 24 Day 4

This week we were back from our Pittsburgh vacation.  I was finished with graduate school, and I was refreshed from vacation.  It was relaxing. 

Screws

I've had my laptop for just over 3 years now.  Keith had gotten it for me when I started graduate school back in 2011.  Twice in those 3 years the piece that holds the battery charger has sunk into the computer and I've been unable to plug my laptop in to charge.  Bummer right!?

Well, Keith fixed it no problems the first time.  The second time, I had all the confidence he could fix it again, but he was less confident.  He did fix it the second time, and I got a speech about how to plug in the charger so it doesn't happen again.  The catch, I noticed that there were some screws leftover that didn't make it back into my computer.  They all came out of it, but they didn't all go back in.  He says it's a minor detail...

Relief

Now that I'm finished with my graduate school work, I have this great sense of relief in the evenings at home.  I didn't realize how much it added until it was gone.  My evenings feel less rushed and less stressed because I'm home earlier, I'm not leaving for classes, and I don't have homework looming over my head.  It's an awesome feeling! 

I still question wether pursuing my degree was the right thing for my time over the last 3 years, but I'm glad to say it's done.

Motivation

Sometime in the past week, I convinced Keith to hang our degree frames on a wall in our bedroom.

With just under 3 weeks to go now until my last class and assignment are turned in, this is motivation hanging on my wall!

I'm ready to be done with grad school.

This is my view for the afternoon: two sleeping pets, a school binder and a technical statistical report to write. One of the boys is playing a video game, one is napping and the girl is napping too. Keith is off with his brother.

I am grateful for the opportunity to complete my work, but old be lying if I said I wasn't counting down until the end of July when I'm done with school! (Hopefully forever!)

Spirit Day 5K

For the third year in a row, I ran the Spirit Day 5K at work. 

Two years ago at this event I set my PR for the 5K!  At the time a friend and I were training for a half marathon.

Last year at the event I had my worst every 5K time.  At the time I was a day over 14 weeks postpartum. 

This year, I improved over last year, but still MUCH slower than before!

I came in at 36 minutes and 51 seconds, or just under that actually.  Since I'm not a top finished, I don't get official times at the small employee race.  There were about 50 participants.

I ran all but one little stretch, and it was a pretty warm day here for early October.  I think it was some in the high 70s or maybe 80. 

I'm pleased considering my workout schedule has adjusted significantly since I became a parent to 3 along with everything else going on.  My workout schedule now looks like running a couple miles on the treadmill in the basement in the mornings a couple times a week.  And even that isn't too regular.  I go in phases, earlier this summer my husband and I were doing some core work a few times a week and had some other things going on, but that usually happens when classes are in session for MBA.  So right now, that's what it looks like, but it changes often!

In other good news, I wasn't dead last in the race this year!  There were two people behind me.  One of which is a friend of mine. 

Another friend of mine, who sits across the aisle from me at work (for now anyway) won the race for the third year in a row!  This year after he finished he even came back out and finished the last roughly 1/4 mile with me to bring me in. 

I'm so thankful I can run. 

Teething

Elinore didn't nap well at all on Monday; I assumed it was from our being out and busy at the parades and her just not getting a good nap in.  I didn't think much of it.

Tuesday when Keith picked Elinore up though, the babysitter thought she was coming down with a fever. I was home when they arrived home after spending the afternoon with Caden and Caleb at their track and field day. 

I had to go to class that night and a social hour for our transitioning leadership at work, so I left her in Keith's capable hands and went off to class.  Keith said she was cranky and tired, so she had some tylenol and went to bed just after 5. 

Poor girl was still sleeping when I arrived home around 10.  She was up during the night around 1 though; she ate and went back to sleep.  Then around 3:30 she was up again and ate, but had little to not interest in going back to sleep, so we were up.  Keith stayed home with her for the day and said she was cranky, didn't eat much, but slept a lot.  He took her in to the pediatrician this afternoon. 

She is teething.  She's getting her top two teeth in. 

I feel silly sending her to the doctor for teething, but she wasn't this grumpy with her bottom two teeth and we took her in for those and she had an ear infection too.  So we were less experience parents, who weren't sure and didn't want her suffering!  So home they came.  She's sleeping now and we'll be continuing the Tylenol for her because she has a fever with it too.  (The Tylenol is really helping her out.)  Let's hope her teeth come through soon for her so we can have our happy baby back!

November Thankfullness - Installment 7

Well, I've fallen way behind in my posting. But, I'm back for another installment. 

 

Day 19:

I'm thankful for an afternoon without the hubby to do some Christmas shopping with the kids for him.  Let's hope they can keep the secrets!

 

Day 20:

I'm thankful for a relaxing day at home, with no where to go.

 

Day 21:

I'm thankful tonight is my last night of in-class for my 501 class.  Just a week of online class left for that class this semester!

 

Day 22:

I'm thankful my mom watches out boys one day a week.  I love that they're able to spend time with family instead of day care every day.

 

Day 23:

I'm thankful for a quiet day at work with everyone out for the holiday.

 

Day 24:  Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm thankful for our families and that we're able to celebrate the holidays with them.  It may be a challenge to schedule out holidays with or families, but at least we're able to spend them together and that is what matters.

 

Day 25:

I'm thankful for a clean house.  I required the house be cleaned before any decorations went up, and I'm so glad I did.  Now, I won't have to do any heavy cleaning again until after Christmas!  Don't worry, I'll still clean in the next month, just not nearly as throughly!

 

Day 26:

I'm thankful God has given my peace, or some sense of calmenss, as the boys spent their first two hours, unsupervised with their mother for the first time in over three  years.  It's been a long road, and while I was still uneasy.  We think we're doing the right thing. 

 

Day 27:

I'm thankful for trains and decorations and Elfie (our Elf on a Shelf) that make my boys happy.  Their happiness is so important and not to be taken for granted. 

 

Day 28:

I'm thankful my boys have the opportunity to take swim lessons.  I hope it builds their confidence, strength and ability as they learn to swim.  I'm also super thankful I have a hubby who takes them to handle the men's locker room with them!  

Graduate School

When I finished undergardaute, I knew I wanted to go back to school again someday.  At the time my plan was to work two years, and then start taking classes in the evenings a year ago with the financial support of my company. 

Then my life changed. 

I didn't give up on my dream, but I certainly put it on the backburning, not expecting to do it for many years as I was busy with my family and raising kids. 

Then a few months ago, I was in a slump.  I needed something more; I wanted something more. 

By chance, I had a meeting with someone from another department at our company, and she started me thinkging about it again.  She had recently completed her graduate degree and had young kids at home. 

My wheels started turning as I pondered the possibility of it.  Of course I talked it over with my hubby, and he was thrilled that I was thinking about it again.  I'm so blessed to have such a supporting husband.  Hopefully he thinks the same while I'm in school and he's got to pick up more of the work around the house!

I did my reserach.  I narrowed down my list.  I applied.

I waited.  I waited nervously.  I worried I wouldn't get in for fall semester becuase I was so late to the game this year.  I worried I'd have to wait to start until spring semester.

Then my acceptence letter came!

I'll be taking MBA classes starting in September at Ashland University!