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Apr 3, 2009

Haiku Friday: Test Stress

April 3, 2009 By
Haiku Friday
I’ve been MIA
these past few days because of
major test stress

Today at noon I
will take a comprehensive
graduation test.

If I pass, I will
be able to graduate
nursing school in June.

(That is assuming
I pass my class this quarter
also – not a prob.)

Please wish me luck – I’m
a little stressed, and hope I
can pass the first time.

The test I’m taking at noon is called the HESI, and it’s a comprehensive nursing exam that is required for graduation. I also have a class this quarter, too, but I’m not all that worried about passing it, because this exam is far more threatening. Imagine needing to have two full years of medical information crammed into your head, with the possibility of any detail being brought up on an exam question. Yeah, you can see how I’m a little nervous.

Of course, one reason we have to take this exam is to prepare for taking the NCLEX exam after graduation. (The NCLEX is also known as “boards” or the licensure exam so we can officially be RNs.) The two tests are very similar, and passing this with a high score generally implies you’ll do well on the NCLEX, too. I have three tries to pass it, but I’d rather pass it on the first try and then focus on other concerns for the next 10 weeks.

Hopefully I’ll pass this exam, and be less neurotic and more capable of writing interesting sentences next week. If you don’t hear from me by Monday, well…send chocolate and good alcohol.

To play along for Haiku Friday, follow these steps:

1. Write your own haiku on your blog. You can do one or many, all following a theme or just random. What’s a haiku, you ask? Click here.

2. Sign the Mister Linky below with your name and the link to your haiku post (the specific post URL, not your main blog URL). DON’T sign unless you have a haiku this week. If you need help with this, please let me know.

3. Pick up a Haiku Friday button to display on the post or in your sidebar by clicking the button at the top.

REMEMBER: Do not post your link unless you have a haiku this week! I will delete any links without haiku!

Filed Under: Haiku Fridays, me me me, school


Apr 1, 2009

Crossing Interests

April 1, 2009 By

If you’ve been following along on Hot by Blogher, you know that I’m starting to see some real progress in my fitness goals. Muscles are getting stronger, weight is coming off, and I’m feeling pretty good.

Years ago, when I was in better shape, I walked in a 2 mile charity event. Even with being in good shape, my legs ached from the fast paced walking. I was expecting to do the same with the Autism Walk back in October, but it was more like a leisurely 1 mile stroll – not very challenging.

So when I saw Heather’s March for Babies widget the other day while I was also thinking about new ways to work out, it clicked in my head: combine two of my interests into one!

The Columbus March for Babies is April 26, a little less than a month from now. It’s a 5 mile walk and the money raised goes to support the March of Dimes in their goals of reducing the number of premature births and birth defects, and finding new ways to improve the outcomes of preemies.

Now, I don’t think I’ve ever walked 5 miles without stopping. I can barely make it through Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred, and that’s only 20 minutes. But I’m excited to do this walk, and while it’s not a race I still want to push myself to get the best time I can get. My legs are going to ache, but it’ll be a good ache. I think I’m going to love doing this. (I’m excited about exercise? What strange being has possessed me?)

If you’re interested in being a participant in the March for Babies, there are walks going on in hundreds of locations across the US. And if you want to donate, I’m taking donations on my March for Babies page. (I set a low $$ goal due to having less than a month to get going on this!)

Filed Under: big issues, me me me


Mar 31, 2009

Beetle-Mania

March 31, 2009 By

You’d think we time-warped back to the 1960s in my house.

Cordy’s newest obsession is the Beatles. This happens every few months. She’ll find something new to fixate on, and it will become her go-to conversation starter, or excuse, or comfort phrase when she’s over-stimulated.

And while an obsession with John, Paul, Ringo and George wouldn’t be so bad, the truth is they aren’t the Beatles that have infested her imagination.

It’s these:

This obsession was triggered over one friggin’ commercial. She happened to see a commercial for The Wonder Pets Save the Beetles while watching Noggin, and suddenly her world revolved around four bugs with bowl cuts.

Do you think the beetles will come to my house?

Will I see the beetles soon?

Mommy, the beetles are trapped!

Are the beetles stuck in a cave?

Don’t forget lunch for the beetles, too!

After days of this, I searched to find when the damn show would be on and Tivo’d it, thinking that she would watch it and then lose interest.

Nope.

They’ve now gone beyond the show to their own world. She has names for them, she draws them, she creates wild stories about them. They appear in her dreams, they keep her safe, they apparently like PB&J sandwiches and they get trapped in caves a lot. I hear something about the beetles at least once every half hour.

But some variation of When will I see the beetles? is now her verbal filler. She uses it whenever she has nothing else to say, or doesn’t know how to respond in a conversation. And Aaron and I have reached our point of frustration most days. You can only take so many questions about the beetles until you want to throw yourself into a pit of flesh-eating beetles just to end the auditory assault. I’m not kidding – it’s worse than the preschooler Why? question.

So until this obsession ends, we tell her she’ll see the beetles in her dreams and we let her watch Wonder Pets Save the Beetles every other day. I’m hoping her love for the beetles will fade like boy-bands from the 90s and I’ll gladly delete the show from Tivo.

Although the past two days, I think I’m seeing a hint of the next obsession coming soon:

Mommy, how does the TV work?

I think I’m going to call up Time Warner and let them explain that one. For what I pay for cable, their customer support from India can satisfy my four year old’s curiosity over and over again.

Filed Under: Autism, Cordy, daily life, kid logic Tagged With:


Mar 25, 2009

What Are The Odds of Two Children Looking Towards The Camera At The Same Time?

March 25, 2009 By

Answer: pretty slim. (WHY? Why will they never look in the same direction at the same time?)

Which is why I give you two carousel photos today instead of one.



These were taken before the carousel started. What you don’t see are the photos of Mira attempting to strangle me as she tried to get off the horse while it was moving. I’d like to state for the record that it was her idea to ride.

Filed Under: being a mom, Cordy, family time, kid logic, Mira, sisterhood


Mar 24, 2009

Trust vs. Mistrust

March 24, 2009 By

In our couples counseling yesterday, our therapist diverted away from the primary topic and asked me, “You don’t have a lot of faith in people, do you?” That was an easy answer: no, I don’t. The harder question to answer is, “What has happened to you over your life to make you not trust others?”

I’m a mistrustful person by heart, sadly. Being burned many times over throughout my life, especially by those I thought to be loved ones, has taught me to hold myself at arms reach from others, questioning all motives and locking my gaze of inquisition on people until they are proven trustworthy.

Even when I was a child I learned not to expect anyone’s trust. Family members and friends let me down, or used words against me, or broke their word to keep secrets. Others forced me to keep secrets that I didn’t want to know in the first place. Several people were repeat offenders, and yet because they were close to me I continued to try trusting them, thinking that maybe this time would be different, although it never was. I only wish I could share those stories.

As a teenager, I was already more wary of people. I kept my thoughts to myself at first, waiting until friendships were well-formed before truly placing any trust in the person. But more often than not, those “friends” would quickly sell me out if something – or someone – better came along. During my high school graduation all I could think about was how happy I would be to get out of that town.

One friend borrowed things from me all the time, and then the one time I asked for something back, taking it off her nightstand, she said it was hers and accused me of trying to steal something that wasn’t mine. (Wha??) The guys I dated in high school and college? Nearly all cheated on me.

I’m not saying that everyone I’ve ever met has been untrustworthy. There were some nice people in high school. I have some very good friends who I could turn to for anything, as well as some family members who are the first I call when I need an ear.

As usual, the bad stands out more than the good, and those first reactions I learned from years of conditioning have taught me that most people will smile to your face and then laugh at you behind your back. I don’t like to immediately think that, but I was bitten far more than once to make me shy.

Which then leads me to ask: why do I blog? Why should I put myself out there for all to see, sharing thoughts I never say out loud, when I would never do it in person?

Well, at first I didn’t share too much about myself. The blog was mainly about the frustrations and joys of being a new parent – something anyone could relate to. But slowly I began sharing more of myself, and those teasing glimpses have led to my desire to run streaking through my blog, my thoughts naked for all to see.

You could say that blogging is my personal social experiment. Anyone could be reading this blog, but on the other hand, no one could be reading. I’m opening up before entirely trusting the reader partially because it is impossible to trust everyone passing through. I guess I’m teaching myself to be more of an open book, letting everything that has been trapped inside me out. It feels good.

And I’m learning that there are even more great people out there. Sure, trolls still exist and they’re a minor annoyance, but I can’t imagine not sharing most of me with many of you.

Hey, it’s far cheaper than even more therapy, right?

————–
And speaking of sharing most of me, please click over to Hot by Blogher and see how much my figure has changed in 22 days thanks to the 30 Day Shred and diet. I’ve lost only 5 pounds, and didn’t think I’d see much of a change until the photo proof was in front of me!

Family members are once again reminded that they should probably not follow that link, because there are photos of me in a sports bra, and you have to see me in person again someday. It’s better for all of us.

Filed Under: me me me, memories Tagged With: