Pursuing your dreams ...

Well I did it.  I know I talked about it at the end of summer, but I'm now a full time college student, full time working Mom and Wife too.  Fun stuff!

After two ridiculous experiences trying to attend two different local county colleges, I finally settled on University of Phoenix.  It's awesome!  I get to finish my Bachelors in four years time and I'll be able to teach!  WOOHOO!!  Seems funny saying that, especially since I've been a teacher's aide for ten years and have pretty much been teaching anyway.

I've been a parent for 14 years now and isn't that a form of teaching too?  Being a parent is the most important teaching position anyone can hold, in my opinion.  You're teaching a person from the very beginning how to be a good person. It may seem that they have their own ideas about things and sometimes it's really hard, but eventually they learn something new and it's the most amazing feeling! Imagine, being responsible for the values and morals of another human being, wow ... when you really think about it, it's kind of mind blowing!

Anyway,  University of Phoenix is awesome.  They call you back (imagine that!), whether it's your enrollment advisor, academic advisor, or financial aid advisor.  EVERYONE CALLS YOU BACK! Imagine such a thing!  All my classes are online, I can work on things while I'm on break at work or from home at my own pace so long as everything is submitted on time.  The support of the online community at UoP is great too.  Mostly everyone is like me, adults returning to college after a long hiatus.  We all mostly work full time, have spouses and children to take care of before we can even think about class, but being able to "attend" class online means we don't have to worry about making sure someone else is taking up the slack.  I couldn't imagine doing this out of the house at night, no way could I stand being away from my family for a few hours a couple nights a week for four years!

As it goes, I have a class every five weeks.  Just one class at a time, more concentrated, than if I was taking four classes over a four month period with a two week break and the summers off.  I'll go year round for four years to complete my bachelors degree.  You're allowed up to 14 days off between classes although they don't recommend taking more than that, if there's a special circumstance you can request more time.  I can go on and do my Masters program through UoP too, and if I choose to go for my doctorate I can do it through there as well.  I will probably do up to the Masters through UoP, and if I do want my doctorate I'll go to Rowan or another college close by.  By then Mikaela will be 6 and a little more independent with things.

The only thing I wish was different is that UoP offered History as a major, right now I'm an English major, but I can always take some classes online through Gloucester County in History.  I think i'd really like to teach history and pursue my doctorate in something history related.

Anyway, if anyone who reads this wants more information about University of Phoenix, I can put you in touch with my enrollment advisor, he's great and so helpful!

The end result of all this schooling is so many things beneficial, better pay, more say in my work place position, brighter future for my husband and I to be able to enjoy our later years and actually retire with the ability to do what we want, and most important to me, it shows my daughters that it's never too late to pursue your dreams!

8 Months!

So much has happened the last few weeks.  I went back to work for the school year, Aislynn started as a freshman in high school, and Mikaela got FOUR teeth! However, today is her 8 month "birthday"! We can't believe how quickly the time is flying by.  Bob keeps saying that next thing we know it'll be Thanksgiving then Christmas then we'll be celebrating her first birthday.

Mikaela crawls all over and she thinks it's hysterical.  She giggles almost the entire time and occasionally stops to either sit up and smile and laugh up at one of us or she stops to push up to her knees on something.  I don't think the crawling will last long, she'll figure out how to walk sooner than we think, I'm quite sure. Earlier today I found her sitting up in her crib playing with the little dog she keeps in there.  Time to lower the mattress!  When Aislynn was about Mikaela's age, she pulled herself up, stepped on the bumper and flipped herself out of the crib.  I found her in her room crawling across the floor crying.  Scared the heck out of me! So hopefully, Mikaela won't do this to me, I don't know if I'm young enough to survive the scare at this point! haha

She "talks" a lot now.  Even gestures with her hands, palms up while she hollers.  I tell her "That's your Italian showing!" Sometimes it sounds like she's saying something specific so we answer in kind.  She just keeps on hollering and making her point known. We've had to stop our conversations sometimes because she gets so loud we can't hear what we are saying.  Someone better teach her some manners! haha

The one thing that has been a little frustrating until a few days ago when I decided not to worry about it anymore, is that she does not like baby food.  She won't even open her mouth for the spoon.  I've tried so many different foods, fruits, vegetables, cereals, everything to no avail.  The only time she opened her mouth for something willingly was chicken and gravy believe it or not.  Even then it was only a few times and that was it.  I think she may just not like the consistency.  So I bought her some finger foods and she does fine with them.  She's still sleeping through the night and gaining weight and growing so I'm not going to stress about it.  Since she has a few teeth now I may even start giving her little pieces of whatever we're having for dinner.

I feel sometimes like don't have enough time with her during the week because she wakes up around 5 or so and I get about 45 minutes to an hour with her before I have to get ready for work then drop her off at the babysitters before work.  By the time I get home it's after 4 and between getting her fed and bathed and cooking dinner, then it's around 7 and she's ready for bed.  This is the schedule she put herself on with bedtime.  I'm sure it'll change at some point, but this is fine for her for now.

8 Months <3

Ten years ago I was standing in the back of a classroom at Oakcrest High School, my second week as a teacher's aide, when suddenly the classroom door burst open to a colleague telling us we are under attack.  I had no idea what she meant, then she turned the classroom television on, raced out of the room to let the rest of those in the hallway know.  I stood there, watching and not truly understanding what was happening.  I saw the second plane fly into the second tower and the gravity of what was actually happening in New York City came to me.  I watched as the news casters tried to explain what was happening in trickling amounts of information.  I watched in horror, covering my mouth in shock, as the towers came crashing down, first one then the second, realizing that there were people in there still.  Workers, firefighters, emergency workers, police officers .... people with parents, spouses, children, grandchildren, friends just like me. When I got home from work that day, I let Aislynn play in the living room with her toys, some cartoons on, while I sat on the edge of the bed watching the news still going on, and I called to ask my husband if he heard what had happened. I remember just thinking this is so surreal.  For a few days we watched as they pulled survivors out, then it became bodies.  I found out that my cousins husband, a firefighter in North Jersey, had decided to go to Ground Zero to help.  To this day he won't speak of what he witnessed, only saying it was more horrible than anyone can imagine and that seeing it on television is nothing compared to seeing it in front of your eyes.  I lived with a fear that my own husband, a volunteer firefighter who had been put on stand by for possible request for help, might have to go there. Thankfully, he never had to go.  Three hundred forty three firefighters lost their lives that day, along with police officers, emergency workers, and thousands of people who worked in those buildings as well as the Pentagon, and that field in Shanksville, PA.  Today I'd just like to say Thank You to those people who willingly went into those buildings and saved lives ultimately losing their own.  Thank you for being the kind of person you were and watching your families speak is an honor.  May you all rest in peace and know you are not, and never will be, forgotten.

13 Years

Today at 12:30 pm was officially our 13th wedding anniversary.  Even though we've had our ups and downs, the one thing that has always sustained my relationship with my husband is that underneath it all, we love each other very much.  Sometimes it's so easy to pack it in and say I give up, but if you do the best you can to work through your problems and issues, most of the time, you will come out on the good side still together.  Too many people give up too easily.

So today I raise a glass to my husband and I.  We have a beautiful home, we work hard, we have two beautiful kids and at the end of the day we go to bed together (sometimes earlier than he claims he wants to go in lol) and we wake up together to face another day.

I love you honey, thank you for being my husband, lover, partner, best friend, biggest supporter, wonderful father and hardest working man I know. I don't know what I would do without you in my life.  I'm very proud to share my life with you.

August 8, 1998

6 Months

Dear Mikaela,

You are 6 months and one week now ... I can hardly believe it!  You're growing so fast and have a tooth finally popping out of your little gums.  So far teething is going alright, no fever, no real stuffiness or crankiness to speak of (thank goodnss!).

This weekend is your last weekend sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's room, you're moving on up to your bedroom tomorrow night.  I got clean sheets on your crib and went through your dresser (AGAIN!) to clean out the clothes that don't fit you anymore (growing like a weed!) so I know what I'm going to need to get you in the fall.

You are going to crawl any day now.  You push up to your hands and knees, rock a bit then fall forward (haha) so we haven't quite mastered how to move your legs and hands to move forward.  The first few times you did this you thought it was hysterical and just laughed and laughed.

You talk and sing all the time, of course none of it makes sense, but we have some great conversations with you. :)

A few weeks ago you started going to a new babysitter and Daddy and I are very happy with it.  She's got a few kids and the house is always in motion, so of course napping doesn't happen as much as it used to in the morning, but that's alright because you take a nice one when we get home and still go to bed around 8 or 8:30.  You seem to love Carolyn and the kids entertain you, that much is for sure!

You are still such a good baby, I can't believe the luck we have with both our kids, Aislynn was such a good baby and so are you!

Speaking of Aislynn, Daddy and I were looking at some of her baby pictures the other day and we are just amazed at the resemblance you have to her.  It's like you are the same baby.  Although your hair is a little darker than Aislynns, otherwise it's just uncanny.

This is Aislynn at around 10 months ... 

Mikaela at 5 1/2 months ... 

It's amazing to us how much you look alike!

One of the things that we remark on and many others is how your hands and feet are constantly in motion.  When you really start moving there will be no stopping you!  

We love you so much and are enjoying every second of you! 

xoxoxoxox

Mommy and Daddy