GED news

The results are finally in for my GED

I was nervous by the way...why...not sure... Maybe because going back to school depended on these scores.

I passed.

With flying colors.

I'm really excited.

This is just one more thing under my belt.

Foot Surgery {1}

I'm not really sure if all of you knew this but I had surgery November 2010 on my left foot. The procedure (medical terms) was a bunionectomy. I seriously thought that only only old people had bunions lol. No offense.

Well...as much as I hate to admit...I was so wrong. I had a bunion on (in) my left foot. 

Terrible pain. Right before I had surgery I had to stop wearing closed shoes. All I could wear where flip flops. It was terrible.

Here are some photos:

{they aren't that gruesome}

the x-ray that determined my fate... my bone shifted quite a bit to the right causing the pain

My poor foot!

They went in and surgically broke 3 bones and put in 2 pins. All better...NOT.

The pain from this surgery was so much worse than my c-sections.

The doctor told me it was normal for my foot to swell through the first year after surgery. Well..It's been more than a year. My foot is a little swollen everyday. Not noticeable but I can feel it throughout the bottom of my foot. This gets worse especially if I go running. I can only run a few miles right now. I fear any longer of a distance right now.

This morning I noticed it was swollen throughout the top of my foot. Which is no good. I went for an 8 mile bike ride today and came home to an even more swollen foot. I figured if I wasn't running it would be alright. Wrong again.

I called the doctor and they want to see me on Friday.

Please pray for my foot as weird as that sounds. I seriously just had two major surgeries in two years!

Well. I am crossing my fingers that this will be an easy fix.

Love you all!

My Beautiful Babes

I love Photography and I love my kids!

So I took some photos of them today just because. I love Morgan's cute little face...and I love Tyler's blue eyes! 

They are getting so big and so close. Especially Morgan and Colten. They have that 'you can't break us apart' sibling love. Tyler loves playing with Morgan. He loves kissing her!

The greatest gift ever...my children!

SS Photography

PHOTOGRAPHY

& ME

One of my passions is photography. I believe everyone I know...knows this about me. It's sort of like this...

My camera would definitely be something I rescued if my house was burning down! Enough said!

So...while being a daycare provider...there are times when we are outside lying on a blanket, the sun shining, all the kids smiling...this does happen! Not always. But fortunately it happened today.

AND...I grabbed my camera. I'm really glad I did.

I got some awesome photos of two of my daycare kids. I have permission to photograph by the way. BUT again...please do not download or share these. I have to say that :)

I am so please to present to you some of my work!

And while I was at it... I got a snapshot of Tyler and his favorite bud. Hunter.

I have been asked by a few of my closest friends if I would take some family portraits for them. I was so excited to hear this! I jumped on it immediately! One of my friends said they were going to pay me. I thought...pay me? NO! Your a dear friend. But they insisted and it's not like I could refuse. I am so blessed right now. I can't wait to show off these images!

Goodbye for the Summer

We said goodbye to Colten yesterday before he boarded a plane to Texas.

He will be enjoying time with his dad for the whole summer :)

We will miss him!!

{he desperately wanted to wear his baseball uniform... I said ok what could it hurt. So our little slugger looked cute for his arrival }

Being Honest gets me

A GED

Yep. Your vision is still ok 

Some of you may not know but I only made it to my junior year of high school. I was forced to drop-out by the school because of my attendance record. 

But that didn't stop me...

2005 Mankato Minnesota... 

I entered South Central College's nursing program. I wanted to become a nurse. Really bad! Upon entering I was asked tons of questions on the application such as my age, address of residency, etc. I was also asked about my level of education. 

I told them I never completed high school. They went ahead and let me begin college pending that I passed a GED. I took 3 of 5 tests. I passed the 3 I took but never took the other 2 tests.

Before starting college I took the placement test. I passed with flying colors. Colors good enough they never questioned or asked for the results of my GED testing. I decided at the time NOT to tell them.

 They allowed me to enroll in another semester without the proof. It's as if they put in that I had a GED but I didn't. 

Then I transferred these credits to Ivy Tech Community College in 2009 to start college in 2010. Again I was asked tons of questions about my personal history and again I marked down that I had already achieved a GED.

Without question I placed {assessment testing} into taking the rest of my general education courses and pre-requisites for nursing. I completed ALL of my general education courses and all of my pre-requistite courses for nursing by Spring of 2011.

THEN>>>> I decided I didn't want to be a nurse.

So the college hunt began. I found a school. And was able to soul search for the degree I desired ~ to become a Web Designer. 

Again I was asked my level of education. This time I was on the phone with my student advisor while filling out the forms. When answering...not sure if it was the changes I've made to my life and self...but I was actually honest. I said...I don't have any of these {listed}. She said excuse me? No... Just mark the one that you have. I again repeated...I don't have any of these. She asked how I managed to put years of college under my belt without a high school diploma or GED? I told her the truth. She thanked me for being honest and advised me to get it done. It wouldn't have kept me from going to school {with my credits transferring in } had she not known... but because I told her... the truth... it was definitely something I needed to think about.

My GED scores from South Central transferred as Incomplete. Obviously. So retesting on all 5 subjects was a must for me.

Since last Friday I have been studying and studying. Worrying and worrying. Studying some more. Beginning to feel ashamed and stupid. Then a LONG talk with my hubs made everything better.

So... I put on my big girl pants and paid the test fees. Registered. And sat through hours of testing this past Monday and Wednesday.

I'm so relieved it's unbelievable - to be honest. And to get one more triumph under my belt since my days of addiction and destruction.

I'm so happy for myself right now ... of the accomplishments that {together} Kale and I have achieved over this last 3 years.

NOW.... I await for the results.

waiting...

waiting....

I hope to find out next week if I passed these tests for good.

Our God is an awesome GOD. I got the second chance at a great life and through HIM I will succeed.

”He had great success in everything he did because the Lord was with him.”

1 Samuel 18:14

SIX MONTHS

Morgan Elaine

* Six Months *

*****{ STATS }*****

                                                           

 14 pounds 7 oz

24 1/2 inches long

size: 6-9 months

You very quickly outgrew your 3-6 month clothing. As a matter of fact...you didn't even wear all the clothes we had for you. That's how fast you decided to grow this month. When I was looking for all of your 6-9 month clothing I found more 3-6 month clothing hanging in your closet. I thought to myself...why? Why didn't I see these? 

You are in size 2 diapers. Quickly approaching size 3

*****{ HEALTH & DIET }***** 

You are very healthy. You actually haven't been sick yet. {knocking on wood}. The eye goo deal went away on its own. Thank goodness. I wouldn't have wanted them to put a catheter in your tear duct!

You eat very very well my little girl. Right now you are eating {almost} on a regular schedule. Breakfast, lunch and dinner - baby food. Then you have juice and formula in between.

I decided at the beginning of the month to make you your baby food. It was actually really fun. I made you :

carrots

peas

sweet potatoes

rice cereal/apples

applesauce

oatmeal/bananas
mashed potatoes
beans

Homemade baby food is so much cheaper. BUT it's not as convenient. I have to defrost your food or set it out the night before. Sometimes I do wish I had a few extra Gerbers in the cabinet BUT I have been very good about not buying any lately. We've saved a ton making you your food at home.

A picture to remember my experience making homemade baby food :

You really really like food Morgan. Most babies do. You have definitely gotten chunky since you have been eating a full time diet of real FOOD!

Just the other day you had your taste of real scrambled eggs! You weren't too sure about them.

                                                           *****{ SCHEDULE }*****     

Your schedule is right on the money. You wake up when I wake you up. Usually around 8am. Then you take a morning nap, afternoon nap, late evening nap. After your last meal and bottle you go to bed around 8pm. Sometimes 9 if your lucky enough to snuggle with mommy and/or daddy before we hit the sack :)

It's been months since you have awaken in the middle of the night. I don't worry as much about you anymore. You are a sound sleeper!!

*****{ FIRSTS }*****

Your first attempt at sitting up unassisted:

almost Morgan...almost!

we tried a few more times and you ended up getting the hang of it. She you sit up alone (after being placed in position)

Your first time sitting up unassisted! 

*****{ MOMMY'S FAVORITE THINGS THIS MONTH }*****

I really love watching you rock back and forth on your knees. It's driving me absolutely crazy thinking that I am going to miss your first crawl. 

I love the way you smile at me. It's a special little smile you give ONLY me {lol} and your eyes sparkle and twinkle. I LOVE IT!

~mommy

                          *****{ DADDY'S FAVORITE THINGS THIS MONTH }*****                        

I enjoy watching your face when you see/try new things.  Everything around you is new and interesting but the best is when you try a new food.  Oh, by the way... you don't enjoy BBQ sauce.  YET, anyway.

*****{ WHAT WE MISS }*****

I don't miss a thing. O.K. I do. I miss you being so tiny! I think I already said that once.... 

~mommy

*****{ A LITTLE ABOUT YOU }*****

Goodness. You like to move. You are definitely on the go. This particular day you got yourself stuck underneath your swing. We have no idea how you got there either.

You play very well alone. You are so independent and I love that about you. I rarely HAVE to hold you. You sit on your play mat and play, play, play all day long. 

You love bath time. You lean over your little bath seat and watch me play with the water. Sometimes I try to imagine what you are thinking.

You love to eat. You love food. I'm glad you haven't spit any out at me yet.


You don't really enjoy snuggling all that much anymore. You would rather be left alone to play. You do like my sweet kisses still. Sometimes I have to sneak up on you and kiss you all over to get my kicks for the day!


You are starting to do the rock! We know that crawling is right around the corner.

You are also getting around pretty well. No crawling yet but soon...very soon

Your messy when you eat.  You are finally living up to your initials. MES!!!

*****{ A LITTLE ABOUT MOMMY }*****

Mommy is so full time that I couldn't go anymore full time than I am. 

I'm behind then I'm caught up. Then I'm behind and then I'm caught up. I don't mind one second of it either.

My hectic life...it's hard...it gets complicated...it gets stressful...and I wouldn't change it for the world.

*****{ A LITTLE ABOUT DADDY }*****

Daddy is on a new schedule at work. He works 8 days on and gets 6 straight days off! More time to spend with the family. It's like his little prayer was answered. I think I really like having daddy home knowing he isn't going anywhere!

*****{ YOUR BIG BROTHERS }*****

They absolutely love you Morgan. They still fight over you everyday. Colten is the oldest so he has more pull than Tyler when it comes to holding you and picking you up but eventually they will both be stealing you from me.

*****{  PHOTOS FROM THIS MONTH } *****

{ May 2 }

{ May 4 }

{ May 16 }

{ May 20 }

{ May 26 }

We Love you Morgan!