Awwwww moment

It has been a long time since I blogged, so forgive me! This semester at school was just overwhelming! I just could not let the day pass without writing about the awww moment I had this morning. So, today was an early day for my son, which means that he starts school at the same time as my daughter. We missed the bus at the bus stop (by like one minute), so I drove them all the way to school. As I dropped them off, I gave them the usually last minute instructions, go to this bus stop, have a good day, blah, blah, blah. So as I watch them walk towards the entrance of the school together, they put their arms around each other. It was the most prescious thing. If I had had a camera, I would have taken a picture. It really warms my heart that my children love and care for each other enough that they would walk side by side embracing each other into school, where kids can be so critical of gestures of affection such as this.

Life at this time

Well, vacation is officially over. Classes started in earnest today. I am really excited to be back. I will be back at El Camino Hospital, though not on the Oncology floor. I will find out next week where and get my groove on regardless of where I am! Again, I am on the bus (hurrah for WiFi!) It feels weird to think that at the end of this semester I will have completed half of my nursing school courses! It looks like this semester is going to be a lot of work again, but I feel more than up to the task. I have a new computer to keep me up to date and on task. I ended up purchasing a Lenovo (IBM) which is working out fantastically. I didn't get any of my projects completed over winter, but hopefully I can get on them now that I have the computer.

The kids are happy to be back in school. My daughter just completed a project for school where she had to take fifty hypothetical dollars and create a menu for a day (breakfast, lunch, & dinner). She could not go over the $50.00. She had to do a poster with pictures, description of the meals, shopping lists, and all math calculations. It was fabulous! And, of course, her menu choices were healthy! Breakfast was bean & soy cheese omelet with berry salad (blueberry, blackberry, & raspberry), lunch was tofurkey sandwich on whole wheat with lettuce and peas, corn, and orange slices, dinner was tofu vegetable stir fry. What a girl! In addition she had to ask four people what their dream was for the new year and also express what her dream for the year is. Her dream is that all gay/lesbian people be allowed to marry because she says that people are equal and should be able to be with the person they love.

My son, on the other hand, just gets funnier by the day. I introduced him to the Karate Kid movies and he just loves them! He goes around imitating Mr. Miyagi and Daniel! It is so cute. When he tries to do the crane, he stands on one foot and hops!!! He was sad when basketball season ended a few weeks ago, but his team remained undefeated for the season!!! He played defense really well. He seems to have a natural ability for athletics just like his father and most of my family (myself excluded). He wants to start Karate as soon as he turns 6 this summer - they don't accept 5 year olds. Other than that, both kids are swimming four days a week and coming along beautifully. They really enjoy being in the water.

Well, that is about all for now! Hopefully I will have time to update, but I won't bet on it!!!

Recent Adventures

Well, November has been an exciting month for us. A few weeks ago my kids & I were lucky enough to visit my grandparents at their home in Sacramento. My aunt was also there and we were able to take some very nice walks down by the river and around the neighborhood. The kids enjoyed playing with my aunt's dog Rosie. We were able to stay for a few days and can't wait for school to be over so we can go back to visit again.

In addition, my family is setting out on a new odyssey - to purchase of our very first house! The picture below is us house-hunting! Finally there is a chance for us to do it, so we are jumping on the bandwagon. (Updates will be forthcoming.)

Thanksgiving was awesome. I spent all day cooking, which was excellent. I really love cooking, which is always amazing to me. The kids helped too. Lolys made cranberry orange sauce and stuffing. Evan made the mashed potatoes. They did a really great job too! It is always great to include them in the experience. They are really great cooks! My sister-in-law and her kids came over and my dad stopped by too! We chatted, watched the movie "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (an incredibly silly, but entertaining flick), and ate more than we should have! Dessert was the best part - apple & pumpkin pie and decaf coffee. We have so much food left over, I wish we could have Thanksgiving all over again just to finish some of it off!

I really love Thanksgiving for three reasons - 1. the main focus is food, 2. it is about celebrating how awesome being here today is, and 3. it is an entirely American and secular holiday! I was even happier (and thankful) for myself today after a knock on my door revealed my next door neighbor peddling her Jehovas Witness books. It has been about 2 years since the last time she gave one of these rediculous pamphlets to me. The front cover is bright red and asks the question "is the devil a real person". Luckily, I was able to excuse myself without being rude or laughing because I really did not want to hurt her feelings. I used to have a sign up in my front window that stated that we accept no soliciting (religious or otherwise), but the paper had gotten wet and the ink had run. I suppose I will have to reprint it and get it laminated so I can post it again.

At any rate, I am off to do something useful and finish writing my paper about kidney disease. With only about three weeks left in the semester, the crunch is on for me. I am glad to have a break from school and homework, I am sad that my semester in clinical is over. I am so grateful to have been working on the Oncology floor this semester. Each patient I have cared for has inspired and healed me and I can only hope that I have done the same for them.

Until next time!

Why kids & politics DO mix!!!

So today my daughter (age 9) asked me why we need a President. Since I never give the short "just because" answer, I proceeded to explain systems of government to her. We talked a bit about democracy (rule by the many), aristocracy (rule by the few), & theocracy (rule by the church). Then I asked her what she thought a monarchy was . .. to which she replied: rule by butterflies!

After much laughter, we decided to read the Constitution as a bedtime story!

Starting a Blog

Okay, so I have finally cracked! I am staring a blog! I think that this will be a good way to update people who care on what is going in my life. I am currently at home with the kids. My sister-in-law is over visiting and informing us all of her current persecution. At least it serves for a good laugh later. Other than that, I am studying for next week and watching "Becoming Jane."

Yesterday my kids and I attended Ohlone Day at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. It was great. We saw the dancers, made miniature Tule Boats, and met many interesting and generous people. Lolys was given a lovely hand-made Ohlone Regalia by the woman seated second from the right in the picture below. Lolys was very touched and has been inspired to join the local Azteca dancers as soon as her swimming schedule changes. Evan may follow along and become a dancer too! Until then, they will continue to concentrate on becoming the future Michael Phelpses!!!






As for me, school continues to kick my ass, but I am fighting back!!! I think that I may actually make it through this semester without a nervous breakdown (which would be a welcome change)! I have many events I am hoping to be able to attend this fall, including a seminar in October. I am also attempting to organize community outreach events for the Latino Student Nurses Association, since I have been elected their PR officer. Well, I am off to hit the books!