Farewell Spring Semester

Wow. It's really here. The end of the semester. Spring has officially sprung, flowers are blooming, and classes are almost over. It has been a hectic five months, but I don't regret it one bit! I got my final grade in math--A! Now I just wait and see what English has in store for me. I am looking forward to the summer and spending some quality time with my lovely little family. We move to our new home in just eight short days. The next few days will be spent packing up the remainder of the house, cleaning, and tying up up any loose ends in my classes.

This semester, we were introduced to the amazing and addicting world of blogging. I thoroughly enjoyed starting my first ever blog and am planning on continuing to do so after the class has ended. Being the crazy crafter I am, I think I will start up my very own DIY blog. I have had several friends and acquaintances ask me to show them some how to do some of the crafting projects I do, so I believe this will be a wonderful opportunity. I would like to thank my instructor, Nikka, for finding fun, and creative ways to teach us. I truly have enjoyed the freedom and choices we have had in this class for writing assignments. It makes a huge difference in how you view writing when you can write about something you care about.

Here is a glimpse at what will be my first "non-school" related blog. I am redoing Kylee's bedroom when we move into the new house, and I was lusting over a rose covered lamp I seen on Pottery Barn Kids. Since I shuttered at the thought of spending $99 on a lamp shade (yes, the shade alone costs $99), I decided I would make it a project and try to duplicate it. I am very happy with the final product. Anyone, and I mean ANYONE could make this lamp. I purchased the lamp (shade and base) at the Children's Exchange Store for $4. Any lamp will do. Next, I went to Micheal's and found some small artificial roses. I used about eight bundles and each bundle had approximately 15-17 roses. From there, I just glued each rose individually with a hot glue gun onto the shade (do this in rows and it will make your life a lot easier). Tada. That's it! I had some leftover flowers and decided to glue them onto a wooden K I already had. You can find those at Hobby Lobby. This entire project cost me about $23. Hopefully I will spark some creativity in each of you. Stay posted for my next DIY blog. :)

Here is the link to the original Pottery Barn Kids lamp: http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/butterfly-shade-and-chloe-base/?pkey=e|rose%2Blamp|1|best|0|1|24||1&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_-NoMerchRules-_-

Here is my version:

College, College, College...

This week, we were to reflect back on our decision on why we decided to attend college. Although I blogged about this at the beginning of the term, I will try to find new things to talk about so I don't bore you all to death.

When I decided to enroll in college (for the second time), I knew exactly what I was getting myself involved in. I had been through it once before when I got my diploma to be a Medical Secretary. Although I do not think those two years were a complete waste of time, (after all, I am going to school for Nursing and I learned a lot about medical procedures in that program) I do feel as though I was not fully ready. I was physically and emotionally ready and took it very seriously, but I did it, at the time, to get a degree. I did not yet know what I wanted to do, so I picked something that sounded ok to me. This time around, I knew exactly what I wanted to become. I have reasons behind my decision and I know nursing is something I will be very passionate about.

Before I enrolled at RCTC, I had thought of many options, other than college, that would work for our family. I could become a Medical Secretary, which is what I originally went to school for,  I could continue to do daycare, or I could find some other job that sounded decent to me. The first option was not really an option at all. There was a reason I never got a job as a Medical Secretary in the first place. I didn't enjoy it. I have had several office jobs, but sitting behind a desk for nine hours a day transcribing words I could hardly understand wasn't something I was interested in doing. Daycare was a good option, but not physically possible. I enjoy doing daycare and am very blessed to be a part of all of my daycare kids lives; however, it is EXHAUSTING. By the end of the week I am so tired I want to spend most of my weekends sleeping or sitting on the couch. There is no way I could do childcare for forty more years. The only other option would be to find another job. I choose college because I want to make a difference in people's lives. I want to be remembered as someone who helped people. Besides, nurses make a pretty decent income.

Choosing to go back to college for the second time was pretty emotional for me. I thought about it for at least six months before telling my husband what I wanted to do. I was scared that he would be angry, I was afraid that he might not support the idea, and I wondered if he would think we could actually afford it. I don't know why I ever would have thought those things. I have the most amazing and supportive husband a girl could ever ask for and as soon as I told him, he was on board. It has been a bit of a struggle trying to juggle life, fitting in homework, and attending night classes, but I know it will be worth it in the end. I just have to keep on truckin'. Getting into my program is an entire separate ball game. The nursing program is extremely sought after and getting in can prove to be a challenge (so I have heard). I have been working so hard though, and am hoping that once I apply, the college will see how much effort I am willing to put into my schooling and will accept me with open arms. I can only hope.

Research Paper: My Views on Breastfeeding In Public

Well folks, the time has come in the semester to write my very last paper. As much as I love writing, I am so glad this moment has finally arrived.

Looking back on my writing and my time spent in English 1117, I am actually quite proud of my accomplishments in writing. Not only have a drastically (in my opinion), grown as a writer, I also was able to write about many things which I am very passionate about. My first essay assignment was to write about something that was sentimental to me. I, being a great wife (laughs out loud), wrote about my wedding ring and what it means to me. This essay forced me to really think about the things I value most in my life: My beautiful family. I actually cried when I read my essay to my husband, and it brought us closer. Between you and I, I have secretly gone back and reread that essay to myself after my husband and I have an argument. I feel that it improved my relationship a great deal.

Our assignment for our very last essay was to write about a topic in which we care about that is controversial. I knew almost immediately what I wanted to write about: Breastfeeding in Public. As a breastfeeding mother, I have dealt with the glares, stares, and un-fairs of the public eye when I take my baby girl out in public, and to be quite honest, I am sick of it. God gave women breasts to feed their babies (although this is a fallacy and I will NOT be using it in my essay-see I learned something!), and I do not feel it is fair to judge a women who is doing something so natural as breastfeeding her infant. I have taken Kendall into the restroom to feed her--that sucks. I have taken her out to our car to feed her, and I have made her wait until we got home to eat because of the downright nasty looks people give when they see mother's breastfeeding in public. It is so cruel and after doing my research, I have decided I will no longer give into the public. I will breastfeed my baby wherever I want to--fully covered of course. I can't wait to finish my essay. I am also thinking about volunteering for the National La Leche League in Rochester. I really want to do something to promote public awareness on this issue. Besides, my dream job is to work in OB or Labor and Delivery and I don't think it will look too shabby on my resume. What do you think about public breastfeeding?

Here is my little porker. Exclusively breastfed since day one. She looks pretty healthy huh?

Logical Fallacies In Advertisements

This week in my college English class, we learned about something called logical fallacies. If you are like me, you probably have never heard of the word fallacies. Logical fallacies are basically incorrect or assumptions people use to try to argue a point. They are seen everywhere, and used everyday. Some of the most memorable ones are seen on everyday advertisements. We all use them and are probably not even aware we are doing so.

Advertisements promising weight tremendous weight loss if you take their products, ads with a supermodel drinking a Pepsi, and ads with food stating "The Best"... are all common examples of logical fallacies. Companies use these to trick people into buying their products, and the sad part is many of us fall for them everyday! Here are the questions you should be asking yourself if you see ads like these.Will you become a size zero by popping a few diet pills? Will you become a supermodel or a celebrity by drinking a Pepsi? Is that 2,000 calorie pre-frozen hamburger REALLY going to be the best thing you have ever ate? The answers to these questions is most likely always going to be no. If you still believe the ads after asking those questions, perhaps you should then ask yourself this: "Have they backed this up with any evidence"? Logical fallacies are not a crime, but one should be skeptical about believing everything they see in advertisements and everyday life.

Here are a few of my favorite fallacies that I came across when searching the web. Good stuff. Enjoy! :)

Infant Co-Sleeping

There is a huge debate on whether co-sleeping with an infant is good or bad. The views that most people have on it are so far from the truth it almost pains me to even listen to most of the non-sense that comes out of people's mouths. I co-slept with our first daughter, Kylee, until she was almost 2 years old. Kendall, our newest addition, is 7 months old and has been co-sleeping with us since the day we brought her home. Are their dangers to co-sleeping? Yes. I am not going to sit here and tell you that co-sleeping doesn't pose possible risks to the baby, but with proper safety measures, it can be an amazing bonding experience that also carries many benefits for you wee one. I recently came across a website on Dr James McKenna, a college professor (and Dr.) at Notre Dame who fully supports co-sleeping and has done many studies on both the short and long term  benefits for a baby. I was so happy to read about all of the positive things co-sleeping can do for a young children and it reinforced my reasons on why I have co-slept with both of my children.

The short term benefits co-sleeping has for a mother and baby are important to look at when deciding if it is a good option for you and your family. First of all, co-sleeping promotes breastfeeding and makes the bond between a mother and baby very strong. Speaking from personal experience, it is so much easier waking up for midnight feedings when your baby is right next to you. Kendall usually wakes up 2-3 times a night to nurse and because she is right next to me, I can feed her instantly instead of having her fully wake up. This helps both of us get a much better night's rest. There have also been studies done that have shown babies who co-sleep with their mothers (or in close proximity) to their mothers, actually have a much lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. As a mother, SIDS is my number one fear-although it cannot be prevented, I feel good knowing that co-sleeping lowers that risk and not raises it as so many people think. A mother can also arise more easily if something were to happen to the baby during sleep periods (choking, blanket suffocation, etc). This is actually the reason I started co-sleeping with Kylee. I had her in her bassinet one night when she was only a few weeks old and I woke up to her choking on milk she had spit up. I shutter to even think about what would have happened if I hadn't heard her. I wake up now with the smallest sound when either of the girls are in bed with me. I feel confident that if anything were to happen, I would awake immediately.

The long term benefits a baby has that co-sleeps with his/her mother are amazing. I heard from sevreal of my friends that I was making it impossible for Kylee (and now Kendall) to transition to their own bed/room. I am happy to say that it only took a week of me sleeping on Kylee's floor before she transitioned to her toddler bed in her own room. She sleeps wonderfully in there now and we have had no issues whatsoever. Another myth I heard quite frequently when co-sleeping, was that it would cause problems later in life with her being too attached to me. First of all, I am a mommy. There is no way you will ever convince me that my child is too attached to me-I love all of the cuddles and hugs. Secondly, that couldn't be further from the truth. Kylee is a very outgoing, friendly, and independent little three year old. She loves spending time with her mommy and daddy, but also is very active in gymnastics and plays very ell with other children. More importantly, studies have shown that children who co-slept with their parents when they were younger tend to be happier, have higher self-esteem,scored higher on evaluations, and had a general feeling of satisfaction on life. You can read more about these in the link I provided below.

It is important to read about safety when it comes to co-sleeping with your baby, but as stated above, there are many advantages and scientifically proven benefits to both a mother and baby. I urge every mother (and father) to research co-sleeping after having a child. Co-sleeping is definitely not for everyone; however, the benefits, in my opinion, outweigh the negatives and should be looked at as a positive way for parents to bond with their children.

Here is the link to Dr McKenna's website. He really has some amazing information on it!  http://www.nd.edu/~jmckenn1/lab/index.html

The Glass Castle--A Must Read

It has been quite a while since I have had time to sit down and read an entire book. Having children, working full time, and attending school has kept me busy. I have started a few books and have managed to get through a few chapters before something happens that required my full attention. One of my assignments in my English class was to read "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls. I am so glad it was part of our required readings for the course.

In the book, Jeanette Walls bravely wrote about her childhood and what it was like to grow up in a severely dysfunctional family. Her family moved all over the Country chasing her father's dream to get rich and build "The Glass Castle".  Jeanette and her siblings often went for days without eating and slept in cardboard boxes. The struggles they endured forced Jeanette to crave the taste of a normal life and she vowed to make her life as an adult "normal". Jeanette later went on to become a successful author living in New York City.

I couldn't help but feel sad as I read this book. It forced me to come to the realization that stories like Jeanette's are all too common in today's society and that poverty is a huge issue in America. Her amazing bravery and strength is so inspiring. It should show each of us that anything is possible and with hard work, dreams can be achieved no matter where we come from and what our lives were like growing up. It also made me very thankful for what I have in life. There are so many simple things in life that many of us take advantage of (having water to drink, having a bed to sleep in at night, having warm clothes to wear, having a meal on the table every night). Reading "The Glass Castle" made me realize those things are never promised and that we all need to be thankful for the simple things in life. This book was amazing and I highly recommend it to everyone. You will not be disappointed if you take the time to read it.

Social Networking: Good or Bad?

It seems that Social Networking has taken over our world--literally. Almost every website you go to has an option to "post to Facebook", "Twitter", or "Pin to Pinterst". Nothing is sacred or private anymore.

I will  be the first to admit that I love Facebook. I love being able to keep in touch with old friends, post the important events happening in my life, and doing a little "spying" here and there when I feel the need. It has become a part of my everyday life. In fact, in the morning before I even eat breakfast, I will log into my Facebook (I do not have a Twitter--yet) and check to see what's going on in all of my "friends" lives. It often causes for some entertaining reading if nothing else. Do any of you have those "friends" on your page who only post their most drama filled issues in life? I have a few, and trust me, I have hovered my mouse over the "remove from friends" button several times, but I never actually do it. Why? Because it's entertaining of course. No longer do people have to be the nosy neighbor, peeking out their front window searching for something crazy to happen. All we have to do, is log in to Facebook and the entertainment never stops.

Social Networking definitely has it's downfalls as well. One of the biggest problems comes from young children signing up for accounts. With no real age limits, high school, middle school, and even elementary students are getting Facebook and Twitter pages and it is causing astronomical problems. Young children do not know what is appropriate and not appropriate to post on their pages. There have been multiple issues, both local and not, where young girls are posting near naked photos of themselves on their pages. You can obviously see where this would cause problems. Predators are everywhere when it comes to Social Networking sites. They seek out these young girls and basically have full access to their personal information. Facebook even recently added an app that allows people to check-in to places from there mobile phone. There is no better way to tell a stalker where to find you than posting on your social networking site that you just checked-in at Applebees.

Bullying has also been taken to the extreme since young children started using Facebook. Young children are posting embarrassing photos of each other to their walls and publicly bashing each other through messages and posts. I can think of several cases I have read about within the last two years when young children have committed suicide because of bullying through Facebook. Something needs to be done to stop this. In my opinion, Facebook needs to have better regulations to monitor the age restrictions for acquiring accounts. Parents also need to be taking some responsibility in making sure their children are using Social Networking in a responsible way.

The thought of Social Networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook are ingenious. If properly used, it can be a fun way to keep in touch with friends and family. It is important however, to be aware of the problems it can cause if abused. Young children need to be monitored and we ALL must use common sense with what we post on a daily basis.

Family Dyfunctions

What exactly does make a dysfunctional family? In my opinion, all families have their own dysfunctions and "strangeness" about them. The same goes for a functional family. When I look at the families I know now, and think back on the ones I knew growing up, I can remember very distinct traits about each of them.

Growing up, my family did not have a lot of money. We grew up in a trailer, we never had the best clothing, toys, or other material items. My dad yelled a lot and family fights were an everyday occurrence. I am certain the neighbors to either side of us thought of us (and probably still do) as a dysfunctional family. We definitely had our quirks about us, but overall, I had a very happy childhood. What made us a "functional" family? Well, we ate together, went to church together, had curfews, chores, and most importantly, we loved each other. Those looking in on our family could have never been able to tell, but that doesn't matter.

I had a friend in high school who seemed to have it all. Her family lived in a beautiful 2 story home, her and her parents had the looks of a typical family you would find in an issue of Parenting magazine, they spent their Sunday nights playing games, and she was one of the most popular girls in our school. They seemed like the perfect, functional family. Little did I know there were issues much deeper than they would allow anyone to see. The mother and father fought almost constantly (as long as they were not in view of the public eye), on the verge of divorce, and were anything but the happy, healthy family I thought they were.

The point is, no person or family is perfect. There will always be dysfunctions and issues within a family. Some are more bluntly obvious and others are hidden away, like secret gems. The fact of the matter is that no one should ever be judged by the way there family acts. Afterall, we all have our skeletons...

Effects Of Early Learning

I have always been big on "teach your children as much as you can at an early age", but how much does it really help them in the future? Are they getting an early start to a successful life? I like to think so.

I started reading to Kylee before she was born. I would sing to her and read bedtime stories while she was still in the womb. Today, she is a happy,curious little reader who has her own personal at-home library. I started pointing out colors and shapes everywhere we went once she turned about 18 months. I would ask her everyday what colors things were and until a few months ago, she really wasn't sure. That means that it took 1 year (or close to it) before she remembered and could recite all of them by name, I feel as though this happens to a lot of parents and they give up thinking it is not helping. I believe young children absorb all of the information they are told, and when they are ready, they will share it with you.

I have been doing MotherGoose preschool curriculum with my daycare kids and it amazes me everyday at how much they are learning. We have this fun days of the week song and all but a few of my younger children I have can now recite the days of week-in the correct order. That is pretty impressive for 2-4 year olds! Kylee also has learned how to spell her name-I am one proud mommy!

So, do you believe teaching these basic concepts at an early age has a big impact in their future? I think if more parents took the time and were patient, they would be amazed with the results of their little learners!

Here is a photo I took of the President's Day masks my daycare kids did last week. They learned all about President Lincoln! I wish I would have got a picture of them holding them up to their faces-they all looked so cute. :)

Facing Our Facebook

Well, it saddens me that I wrote an entire blog last weekend and it has somehow disappeared! I will come back and finish this (again) tomorrow. Things that make you say, hmmmmm? MMMM

Has Casey Anthony Started An Epidemic?

Every day I see news strories that involve young children who go missing, are kidnapped, or murdered. It breaks my heart to know that the majority of these unthinkable tragedies happen at the hands of their own parents. What would ever cause a person to harm a child, ESPECIALLY their own child? Are the laws that cover these crimes not doing enough to protect our children? If you ask me, I would say no, they are not. Something needs to change-now.

Last summer, I sat (along with many others across the nation) and watched the trial of Casey Anthony. She was accused of killing her own 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, and throwing her into the woods like a piece of trash. Caylee was missing from June 2008 through December 2008 when her body was finally found. The evidence all pointed to her mother, yet somehow a panel of 12 jurors found her "not guilty". I remember staring at my computer, in complete disbelief as the verdict was read. I felt sick to my stomach. I never knew little Caylee, but I wanted so badly for her to get the justice she deserved. Instead, Casey walks free, patiently waiting for the first multi-million dollar interview deal to come her way. She will become wealthy, and worst of all, "famous" for murdering her innocent child. What influence has this made on other preditors and parents who want to "get rid" of their children?

After Casey Anthony was aquitted, I began to hear more and more stories with all too familiar similarities. Take a look at Nancy Grace's Facebook page. It seems like there is at least one child who goes missing every week. Many of the parents have the same story that Casey had: "I don't know what happened to him/her". Days, weeks, and months often go by with no clues to the events that led to the chlid's disappearance. We all know that as time passes, the opportunity to gather important evidence also passes. Without enough evidence, the murderers will walk free, just as Casey did.

So, what can we do? First off, I think the double jepardy law needs to be changed. Why can't a person, who was previously aquitted of murder, go back on trial if new evidence is found? I don't care how much money is spent of tax-payers money. Don't we want these monsters put away so they are never able to harm another child? I would hope so. Secondly, maybe the laws surrounding child abduction and murder need to be changed. There should be stiffer penalties put in place. In my opinion, automatic death penalty for a crime involving the death of a child might be just what this country needs.  Whatever it is, something needs to be done.

Here is a picture of beautiful little Caylee Anthony. Gone but never forgotten. Many people are still fighting for your rights every day, Caylee. You have created a movement. R.I.P baby girl.

What I Hope To Be

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie."  ~Tenneva Jordan

Even as a very young child, I recognized the selflessness my mother possessed. For almost 20 years, she put her dreams on the backburner to raise my five siblings and myself. My oldest sister is 37, and the youngest child is my 19 year old brother. I remember her coming home from her job at a local factory every day, greeting each of us with a hug and a warm smile. She never complained.  She attended every school play, was the family cook, and our personal "taxi" as she liked to call it.

After my grandmother passed away, my mother become the full time caregiver for my grandfather. There were 12 other siblings in her family, but without hesitation, my mother stepped up. She would bring him groceries, keep his bills in order, and make sure his health checks were always up to date.

During this time, my mother finally decided to do something for herself. She went back to college to pursue a career in Nursing. She never told us she had wanted to be a nurse, but I immediately knew she would be wonderful at it. After all, she had raised six children (practically on her own), been the caregiver for my grandmother while she was sick, and taken care of my grandfather when he no longer had my grandmother to do so. My brother, sister, and I were all still attending school when my mother started college.

I remember smelling the coffee brewing at 5 am every day, hearing soft whispers  as she flipped through her medical terms before a big test, seeing her pace back and forth through the kitchen every night as she tried to correlate a plan how she was going to juggle work, kids, school, and life at home. She never let on that she was scared or worried and always made sure me and my siblings were taken care of before anything else. It took three years, but she graduated on the dean's list with top honors. I have never been so proud of her and never seen her so happy.

With her nursing degree, my mother went on to do what she was "meant" to do. She works for a nursing home taking care of elderly people in the last days, weeks, and months of their lives. I went to visit her the other day and seen her crying. One of the elderly women she took care of and became very close to, passed away . When I asked her why she does what she does she simply answered "Because I want to make their last days as wonderful as I can.". I hope someday I can be as selfless and caring as she is.

Dr Seuss is my all time favorite idol. It is very hard for me to pick just one quote that I am inspired by, but after 7 days of thinking it through, I believe I have finally narrowed it down.

“You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!”

I despise excuses. I have been around plenty of' "negative Nellie's" in my lifetime who constantly feel sorry for themselves and make up excuses as to why their lives are not the way they want them to be. Why is anyone else's fault? Why are you not the one to blame? There are certainly exceptions when it comes to why a person is not able to do something, but for the most part, I strongly believe that life is what YOU make it. Nothing in life is free, and most everything comes from hard work. Family, children, work, illness, depression, money, husbands, wives.... I could go on forever but I am sure you get the idea. These are all excuses. Excuses people use every single day to try to tell themselves or others that they cannot do something. Hurdles are everywhere. We must learn to overcome them. If you do, you can do anything!

Along with this quote, I have several other of Dr. Seuess's quotes up in my home. My entire daycare area is "Seussland". If you haven't read many of his books, you should. He has a simple way of writing that is actually very "deep". Here is a photo of a wall in my daycare area that is dedicated to some of my favotite quotes.

Photo Shoot

One of my 18 million hobbies I have picked up is photography. There is so much to learn. I have thought about taking a class, or getting private lessons.

Yesterday I got out my camera and shot some photos of Kendall. She is 4.5 months now. Where does the time go.... ? Here is my favorite shot <3

I'm Going Back....

Where to start? Hmmmm.

Well, first off, this is not my first time attending college. I graduated with a Diploma from Southeast Technical almost three years ago. I am now considered to be "trained" to be a Medical Secretary. The bad part... That is not what I want to do for a career. At the time, it seemed like a great choice. I was currently a Receptionist and the company I worked for would pay for my college courses since it would benefit my current position. Before I had even graduated I knew I had made a mistake, but once I start something, I always finish. So... I continued on.

By the time I had graduated, I had a beautiful 3 week old baby girl, Kylee. I could not even handle the thought of leaving her in a daycare. I would miss so many "firsts". Luckily, I have an amazingly supportive husband and he allowed me to start a daycare business. This was great! I could stay home with my new baby and still bring in a decent income. The bonus, I love children!

Fast forward 2 years. Kenny and I decide to have another child. After a LONG 9 months (actually 10), our newest little bundle of love, Kendall arrives. She is beautiful. :) I am still doing daycare, but I had been thinking about returning to school for about 6 months. Something in my life is "missing". I had the feeling like I was/am meant to do more.

I have always admired nurses. They are so caring and although many do not realize it, they have such a huge impact in so many people's lives. I remember the exact "moment" that I decided I wanted to become a nurse.  It was the day our second daughter was born. My nurse was amazing. She was by my side the entire day, talked me through the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. The moment Kendall came into the world, I remember looking up and her handing her to me with a big smile on here face saying "Congratulations, she is beautiful". Simple, but she was so genuine. She was part of one of the most magical moments in my life and probably doesn't even know it. That is what I wanted to do, become a nurse.

So, here I am. Starting another chapter. Taking on a huge challenge. I know it will not be easy, but I am ready. I want to better my life, but most of all, I want to better my children's lives. These two little girls are my reason for everything. They are my world. <3 Continuing my education is going to benefit my family. Bring it on. :)