2011 So Far

• I have been neglecting the blog. . . .obviously.
• We're over 2 months into finding our new normal with Scott being home. We are certain this change in employment status is part of God's plan for us. We share the office now, which is strange. I am a bit territorial. I am also easily distracted. This combo does not work so well - but we're making a go of it.
• I love teaching in the classroom! My practicum this semester includes teaching OB at Bellin College. It has been amazing thus far. It's good to know that I LOVE what I do!


• This year's birthday brought me into the later 30's bracket. That is okay. . . really, it is.


• Along with the birthday, I realized that I added 14 pounds to my small frame since Thanksgiving. That is not a good thing. When scrubs start being too tight, it is time to take action.


• Jillian Michaels is now in charge of kicking my butt into shape. And let me tell you, it's working! OUCH! But the added energy has been welcomed graciously.


• I signed up for a course to become a Certified Nutrition Specialist. Excited for this!


• Starting to plan the veggetable garden for this year. Big plans . ..


• All 3 boys are registered for soccer this summer. Pretty exciting stuff! 4 nights a week of crazy coming right up!


• Spencer & Parker will be playing Pop Warner Football this fall. Not sure we're ready for this tackle football stuff - but it can't be any worse than what they already do in the yard without pads, right?


• Heading to Washington state in July for my graduate school residency. Hopefully the weather will cooperate while we're there.


• All done with grad school come August! The light at the end of the tunnel is approaching. . . until I decide to pile it higher & deeper.

Guess who learned how to ride his bicycle without training wheels? And guess who taught him? These proud little guys were SO excited! And so were we:)

We no longer have any babies in our house. Awww!

Jennifer B

W here Did Summer Go?

Yes, MIA is what I have been in Bloggy World this summer. . . sorry. Much has been going on in Borleyville. Here's the run down:

• Disney World in June - wow! HOT! Fun! Went too fast but was happy to get home. Discovered that the big amusement parks are probably better suited for older kids. Ours would have preferred to stay at the condo & swim in the pool. Totally awesome condo!
• Grad school is full speed ahead! I started a summer session while we were in Florida. . . so that was a bit taxing. . . but I made it through that class, had a couple weeks off & now am busting my butt with 8 credits this semester. That is BUSY in grad school terms. I will survive (right?).
• Spencer & Parker played soccer this summer. They were on the same team (yay!) so that made it a little less hectic. They had a blast! It is so fun to see them working as a team.
• Carter broke his left arm this summer. He fell from the top of a slide while on a fieldtrip for daycare. He recovered very well. Nothing slows him down. . . .seriously, nothing. . .
• I am a Godmother again! My younger brother, Rob, and his wife, Lindsay, had little Eli Thomas baptized this summer. He is so stinkin' cute. My boys cannot wait for Eli to be big enough to rough house with. (Paybacks Rob - that is all I have to say!)
• My boys started school on September 1st. ALL 3 OF THEM! My baby got on the school bus for the first time - he is in 4K half days. I teared up quite a bit. . . yeah, okay, I bawled like a baby as I followed the bus to school. Hey, the other boys didn't start school until kindergarten! This was a big event. He did very well. Spencer is in 4th grade already. Parker is in 3rd. I just can't believe how quickly they are growing up (tear, tear).
• I GOT MY BRACES OFF!!! Break out the corn on the cob, taffy, caramel, nuts & everything else you are not supposed to eat while wearing braces!!! Just kidding - well, kind of. Right after the bus following mentioned above, I drove to the orthodontist & endured the wrenching & prying involved in the removal process. Then I went to the chiropractor:) It feels great to not be ripping my mouth to shreds.
• I got another job. . . note "another." I still work casual as a labor & delivery nurse (by casual, I mean that I try to squeeze a short shift in here & there. . .sometimes praying I do get low censused so I can sleep or eat). I still pick up nursing clinical through NWTC - next one begins in a couple of weeks. My newest job is teaching online for Rasmussen College. I am scheduled to teach Medical Law & Ethics this fall term. This should be interesting. I'm looking forward to it.

That is the quick update. I hope to get some pics posted eventually. . . I'm on Facebook - so you can check them out there too:)

God Bless!

Jennifer

Welcome Summer 2010

Time flies when you're living. . . not all is fun all of the time. Here is a glimpse of my life over the past few months:

Taught clinical all semester long for LPN students on a cardiac/med-surg unit. Interesting stuff. I learned a lot as did the students.

Decided that I would transfer back to Gonzaga University to finish my Masters degree. The focused educator track at Gonzaga vs the general MSN offered by Benedictine University fits me so much better. So I'm waiting to find out what course I can take at GU starting on June 14th.

After 86 years on this good earth, Grandpa Eckes passed away last Wednesday. He was ill and suffering so it was a blessing that he did not linger. It is never easy to let someone go though. We hold onto this life so much - but we know we have something far better with Christ.

My garden is planted. Lesson learned this year: wear sunscreen on my lower back or get a 2nd degree sunburn when my shirt rides up while bending over. Yup, not pleasant. Day 9 & still peeling & uncomfortable. Nice. . . (discovered aloe with lidocaine)

Landscaping underway - this is a work in process. We'll see how it all works out. I love sharing perennials!!! Great way to build a diverse environment.

We are psyched for our trip to DisneyWorld! Will share pics once we're back. Can't wait. Will be the first time flying for the boys.

New nephew, Eli Thomas Vander Heiden, was born on May 14th. He IS a CUTIE! I got to be part of the birth. How cool is that? So excited for my younger brother, Rob, and his wife, Lindsay. Congrats you guys! He is a keeper!

Started painting Spencer's room. . . one coat of light blue paint applied. . .then we got a little busy. . .so now we need to go get the paint super shaken again (is that what you call it?). Maybe we will get that done before our trip??? Hmmm, we will see.

Spencer & Parker started soccer for the summer. Their first game is this week. Carter gets to be a watcher again this year. Next year we will get him started in organized sports. Is it terrible that we didn't get him into some this summer? I guess this is a situation where we are trying to maintain some sanity. . . next year we will don the taxi driver hats & invest in some roller blades so we can keep up with the boys' schedules. Gotta love it!

I am sure I am missing something. . . but that is what I can think of right now. Evidently, my computer, or one that hooked up to my network, sent out some spam emails. We got a nasty gram from Time Warner Road Runner. . . so now I need to go run a bunch of malware remover applications. Oh the joys! I bet it was from turning on the PC the other day. My laptop would never do such a thing. . . right? Nothing is showing up as of yet. . .guess I will have to turn the dinosaur on again to run some checks on that beast. So, if you get anything strange from me, it probably wasn't really me. . . just saying:)


Jennifer B

LOVE this Duet!

Lee Crystal 4 @ Yahoo! Video

Sanctus Real

Air 1 - Sanctus Real "Lead Me" LIVE from Air 1 Radio on Vimeo.

Really cute giveaway!!! What talent!!!

Rachel is SO VERY talented! And I am going to win what she is giving away. . . seriously. . . I am:) So don't even think about checking it out. . . don't even go there. . . I am going to win it anyway. Just saying. . .

Jennifer B

MckMamma is at it again - Giveaway Alert!

You just can't blink & there are more fabulous giveaways going on. . . check this one out!

Changes

I announced a while back that big changes were coming. I am ready to spill the beans, so to speak. It is probably not as exciting as the anticipation has made it out to be . . . but for me, it is, well, pretty exciting.

o WORK - some may already know this part . . . I cut back to a casual position at Aurora Baycare Medical Center. This was an incredibly difficult decision for me to make as I LOVE my job helping families welcome new babies. My coworkers are top notch! At first, I believed simply pulling back from the prenatal classes & hospital orientation classes would be enough. After further evaluation, Scott & I discovered that the 12 hour shifts proved very challenging given my grad school commitments & my family obligations. I contemplated this move way too long. I was worried that I’d be letting people down. By being so afraid of letting others down, I was basically letting down the little ones who mean WAY more to me than anyone else of this world. {sorry fellow coworkers – but I grew these little guys!}

o SCHOOL – I am transferring from Gonzaga University to Benedictine University. I will remain in the Masters of Science of Nursing program in the educator track & will graduate in the same time frame. It is entirely online with no residency requirement. This decision is mostly financial. It will allow me to make the work change described above. Most of my completed courses will transfer.

o FAMILY – No, we are not expanding our family by any way! Let us just squash that rumor before it gets started! The changes in my work commitments will allow us to have more quality time together as a family. Taking classes online does allow me to be physically present at home, but I’ve been absent in every other way. It is over due time for me to be truly present for my family. I am starting NOW by taking 2 weeks OFF of work (okay, actually starting after teaching on Saturday, but you get the point). Christmas is stressful enough with get togethers & what not.

o HEALTH – Another area of speculation lately. While it is true that I became fairly ill with a probable case of influenza in October, I have recovered completely from that. Other interesting issues emerged around that same time, coincidental or otherwise. It seems I may have a latex allergy. My lovely bands for my braces {the ones I had been wearing for 3 MONTHS!} may have been the culprit to my swollen, itchy, scaly eyelids & wheezing. I finally figured it out & most of the issues have subsided. I am attempting to reclaim a healthy balance, but this has proven very difficult with the work/school/family schedule conflicts. Sleep had gone by the wayside. Stress took over. Running on reserve is no path to wellness. I consulted with my chiropractor & my naturopath. I am on a supplement regimen to fight adrenal fatigue. Some inflammatory processes have been sprouting up here & there. Again, I believe these are symptoms of severe stress & fatigue. I just need a real break.

That is pretty much it! Of course there are many things I plan to do with my family & my interests. We enjoy our church home, St. Mark, in De Pere. God is the center of our lives. We would love to get involved with a Bible study again. I am very passionate about natural health & wellness. I plan to continue studying this alongside my graduate schooling. I hope to fit a little crafting in with my boys. I will also squeeze some clinical teaching in here & there. So, as you can see, I have plenty to keep me occupied. I am so blessed to have these opportunities.

Jennifer B

Izzy & Ivy giveaway!!!!!

Izzy & Ivy totally ROCKS! The patterns are so cool & the BAG they are giving away made by LOLA!!!! Awesomeness!!! Like I need another bag, right? YUP, I DO!!!


Jennifer B

Touch Smart Giveaway!!!!

Oh MY! MckMamma is at it again!!! You can enter for your chance to win!!!!

Jennifer B

Social Darling Frock GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Social Darling Frock GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

I could use a dress for the holidays!

Jennifer B

Time for Change

It's been SO BUSY! Sometimes I want to scream, "STOP THE INSANITY!!!" Don't worry, you won't find me curled up in the fetal position or anything like that. Not yet. I've realized the error of my way & am going to stop & smell the proverbial roses. But how does one take a step back? How can I slow down without letting others down? That's not the right question to ask. . . I needed to ask myself this: How can I go on potentially letting those who are MOST IMPORTANT in my life down?

The light blinked for a while before I caught on to that one! Suddenly, TA DA! The light bulb is staying lit! I need to rearrange my commitments so I can spend more precious time with my little guys before they're not little anymore! Why didn't I see this sooner?

But what do I give up? Well, changes are underway & there are more to come. What? Yup, changes are coming. I need to finalize some things yet & won't reveal them quite yet. . .but we're excited! How can I not be? God has blessed me with SO MUCH! Look at these guys. . . gotta love 'em!

Jennifer B

Layla Grayce Blanket Set GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Layla Grayce Blanket Set GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!
Hmm. . .wonder who I'd give this to. . . . . . . .

My April Snow GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Check out Grosgrain's My April Snow GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

These are beautiful earrings. . . I think they'd look pretty spiffy on me:)

~Jennifer

The Pleated Poppy GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Pleated Poppy GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

So much cute stuff. .. . you just have to check it out!

Lisa Leonard Designs Jewelry GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Lisa Leonard Designs Jewelry GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Now this kind of laundry I wouldn't mind!

Check out the cute giveaway!!!

I LOVE these hats! Rachel rocks. . . go check it out!

I Can Can!!!

Yup - it's happened! I'm domesticated! I now can sew & I can can! Here's the proof of the latter: a little before & after. . .

And the picture of me with my boys is taken at Fonferek Glenn. . . a local waterfall (without so much water this summer) that we hiked around the week before last. I have to admit that my heart skipped a few beats with the boys running around there. There is such an abrupt drop off that I don't trust my spirited brood to be careful enough. . . but we all survived. . .

I hope to have more to add in the near future. . .maybe in Peekyboos though. . I want to sew!

~Jennifer B

I'm still alive

I'm the worst updater there is in blog land. I've been busy with all that life throws at me. . .and have pictures of things. . .but just have not made the time to update this thing. I don't have the pics on my laptop yet, but here's a list of what I've been doing:

finished my advanced pathophysiology class (and passed! Yay!)
teaching breastfeeding basics class
updated Preparing for Labor, Birth & Beyond class & teaching it
trying to enjoy what is left of summer with my boys
gardening
making pepper jelly
planning to make salsa & spaghetti sauce & then canning!!!
getting ready for school to start for the boys & for me again next week. . .UGH!
thinking of all of the sewing projects I'd love to get going. . .
trying to organize all that is disorganized (which is a LOT!) before school begins

Yup, that is just skimming the surface. . . so we've been busy. Oh, let's not forget working. . . and rocking these braces with newly added big old rubber bands to make me miserable. Hopefully I'll get pictures up on here to show you the fruits of my garden! Loving that! Just wish those tomatoes woudl all be ready so I could develop my spaghetti sauce & can it before next week. . .oh well! When life throws you tomatoes. . . yeah, never mind. .

I'll motivate soon!
Jen

PRAY for Stellan ~ Pray first, pray hard, pray often!

This little guy & his family have been through A LOT over the past year. Stellan is quite the little fighter. His family is QUITE amazing as well. Why? You may ask. .. ??? In my opinion, they have the faith that moves mountains. Many people in this situation would throw up their arms in despair and shout to God, "WHY ME???!!!" Not this family! (Kind of a Not Me, Monday theme here maybe?) Nope, not this family. . . they continue to PRAISE God instead of blame Him. They continue to HOLD STRONG in their hour of despair. I'm humbled by their strength.

Let's all PRAISE GOD! We don't know what He has planned, but He hears all prayers from those who believe. Pray first, pray hard & pray often!

Please pray for Stellan!

Jennifer B