New to us Van coming 7.10.09

Colby and I recently learned that we couldn't keep our Dodge Stratus.  After Devon upgraded car seats, the back seat had no room for Victoria to sit.  We decided to sell it, and look for a Van.  If you are keeping score, yes we sold our beloved Honda Odyssey last year.  It was too much money for us and we had no business buying it.  We sold it to help get out of debt.  I also think that not getting another van then was Gods way to help me accept not having another Odyssey.  I was very pissy about selling our Odyssey, and didn't want any other van then.  I hated all vans but ours.  I just spent almost a whole year in a 4 door sedan with 3 kids.  Needless to say I am open to a few other vans now.  Colby and I decided to start looking for vans on craigslist(I narrowed them down by vetoing the ones I think are ugly) and found that we were most likely going to have to settle for a 2002-2003 with 120k or higher miles for around $7000-7500 dollars. One of my friends told me of a van for sale here in Gardner and gave us the info to call.  It is a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan with only 49,500 miles on it for $8595! Since we are going to pay cash for this van (no new debt for us) we figured that we would save and have enough money around the first of July if we get what we need from our car. Well, we sold our car this week, and got what we need.  However, we sold our car this week.  We still won't have enough money until the first of July, so we will have only one car for three more weeks.  We drove the van from Gardner and the woman selling it is taking our $8000 offer and is going to keep the car for us until July 10th so we can save up to pay for it in cash. I have never bought a car and NOT had buyers remorse...until now.  We may have just put a car on lay a way, but we will be driving it home for the first time with it paid for!

Thanks Carrie!

I got to leave work early today.  This is very unusual, I haven't left early since October 18th when my Dr told me that I could only work 8 hours. Those of us who work Weekend Option, know how precious even a few weekend hours off can be, and we tend to cherish them.  I have to give a big shout out to my friend Carrie Fiske for getting me out of work for the last few hours today.  

Carrie and I used to Car-Pool quite often, but haven't in over a year.  Yesterday we decided that we would Car-Pool today.  We had a fun drive into work, and each went to our own floors to work.  I hadn't talked to her the rest of the day until around 3:30.  I was pumping in the NICU Lactation room (a normally quiet place) when I hear the door open and a frantic/laughing Carrie saying "Jol, guess who got off work early, but didn't remember she didn't drive until she got to the parking garage?"  I chuckle out loud, this is classic Carrie.  Well, she was in luck.  I had only 2 patients at this time, and one of them was getting ready to be discharged.  The other nurse in my Pod only had 1 patient.  After explaining my conundrum to the charge nurse(and discharging my patient), we both were able to have a few extra hours at home.  Thanks Carrie, I owe  ya one.

What is wrong with people?

I have a hard time understanding the huge battle that surrounds the abortion debate.  I understand why it is a hot topic, I don't understand why people think it is ok to kill someone in his church because they disagree with his career choice.  This weekend a controversial abortion Dr. was gunned down in opposition of abortion, I still can't understand these severe emotions.

  Abortion, no matter what your position, brings out a very distinct opinion for each of us.  

I am a Christian.  I have a relationship with GOD and am very grateful for the grace that he has extended to me.  Having said this, I am also reminded that he has given us free will.  An ability to choose the path we take.  This doesn't mean that we will always pick the right path, but we will always have open arms to come back to when we realize we didn't.  I could never choose to have an abortion.  I had an unplanned pregnancy, and that thought never even occurred to me, because that is who I am.  I have a great support system, my parents would support me no matter what.  I am one of the lucky ones.  Many women/girls find themselves in unplanned pregnancies and have no one.  Not even someone to remind them of all of their options.  While adoption is a viable option to abortion, it isn't feasible for everyone.  There are families out there that will physically abuse their children for their mistakes.  When you are a girl who is already abused, and find yourself with an unplanned pregnancy, carrying a baby to term for adoption isn't always an option.  There are a lot of reasons that women have abortions, many of them reasons that we can't even begin to understand unless we have already walked a mile in their shoes. I can't image the emotional pain they go through.  Most women dream of having a family, it kills them to make a decision like this. 

I also understand the importance of that little life that is at the center of all of this fuss.  I can't imagine my life without any of my kids, I love being a mom.  I love my kids enough that I will support them unconditionally, I will always be there for them.  Just like my Heavenly Father will always be there to support the children of his that have made bad choices.  He is the one who we have to face for the CHOICES we make as a result of the free will we have been given.  If Jesus were here today, don't you think that instead of shooting someone at their place of worship, he would be forming a relationship with them so they could have a support system that promotes the best choices?  

Too much knowledge

Every year Jake can't wait to go to the pool.  When it is snowing outside and we drive by the pool, Jake wants to go.  Today was our first trip to the Gardner pool this year as a family (Victoria has gone about 7 times already).  As soon as we got to the pool, Jake put on his floaties and took off.  He loves the playground in the pool, the water slides, swimming around in the deeper area, he loves it all.  Jake is a very good swimmer...with floaties on.  He is starting to feel a comfort level that leads him to venture out on his own, or at least without us right next to him.  This scares the crap out of me!  The nurse in me keeps screaming "don't let him out of your sight, you don't know when it could be too much for him" or "what if he takes those floaties off, he can't swim well without them".  I have a really hard time putting that part of me out of my mind.  I work at a place that sees accidents from swimming a lot during the summer.  I have to remember that those cases are the few and far between, most of the time, things are fine.  I have to learn to parent stealthily from afar, and remember that I am not even in control...God is.  Hmmmm...as I write this, I see an area that I am being worked on...submission.  Who know blogging would be such a spiritual media?

PB&J is a food group

Most pediatricians and nutritionists will tell you how important it is to get your toddlers a perfectly balanced diet.  They emphasise the importance of limiting sugar unless it is in its pure form (ie fruit).  In nursing school, we even had to make presentations to educate the parents of our patients about balanced diets.  

Well, as a mom, here is how wonderful I follow that food pyramid.

breakfast we have fruit...Fruitloops

Lunch: a protein and a fruit...Peanut butter and Strawberry jelly

Snack: fruit...fruit snack or "red bar" (Jake for nutrigrain bar)

Dinner: whatever I can get him to put in his mouth...

So much for the thousands of dollars spent in nursing school.  The school of motherhood has it's own education.

Fun at the Royals

Yesterday, Colby and I took all the kids to the Royals game.  It was Devon's first game.  I am a bad mom though, because I didn't take ANY pictures.  No, not because we didn't bring the camera. It was because we were just too busy balancing everything.  Everyone did great, even though it was cold and windy.  I just didn't want to upset the balance.... Ok, to be honest, I didn't remember until it was too late, and then it was time to go and everyone was upset.  We did have a great time though, Devon flirted with the girls 2 rows behind us.  He would even do his roaring thing to get their attention when they weren't paying attention to him.  Jake was way into the game, every time he heard a crack of the bat, he yelled in excitement (KC got their butts beat, so Jake was mostly yelling for Detroit) , he also wanted to go down and play with them on the field.  He just knew they would want him too. Victoria was happy just texting away, and glancing back at the row of cute college boys behind us.  Colby and I were happy that it was "Buck Night".  Everyone wins!  I was pleasantly surprised, so we will be trying this outing again...and will take some pics : )

Nothing is more fun than playing in the mud

This afternoon, I finished putting flowers in my flowerbed (late, I know, but I finally feel good).  Jake played outside while I worked. I knew that he was telling me that his toys were dirty, and needed cleaned.  I just didn't think to pay attention to what he meant.  I also knew that he wanted to clean them in the dogs water bowl.  I guess my attention to my flowers dulled my mom detective sense.  When I was putting things away and getting ready for lunch, I noticed the giant puddle of mud(blocked by the bucket in the pic) and the side area where Jake was "getting his toys dirty".  When they were dirty enough, he then would clean them in the dog's water bowl.  Needless to say Jake was a bit dirty himself, and very difficult to coax inside.  At least he found something to occupy his time : )