All growed up

Well, she made it to 14. It seems like yesterday I brought her home from the hospital and now she is just 5 years from leaving me. At least I have 5 and not 1 or none, I guess. I just can't believe that it's going by so fast. I don't have pictures from her being a baby because I don't have a scanner up and running. But I do have some pictures from a few years ago and looking at those helps me understand how much and fast she is changing.
Sydney last year on her 13th birthday. We went to IHOP before school for her birthday breakfast.
She is the pirate on the far left with the knife in her mouth.
Tea Party birthday when she turned 10 years old.

Sydney at the 4-H dance. I thought she was big then.

Gratitude

I just want to express my gratitude for all the wonderful people in my life. I feel sometimes like I just can't do all of this... you know, school, kids schedules, homework for everyone, food, tidying up, laundry, groceries, church assignments, showering, etc., etc., etc. And there are times when I whine like a big baby about all I have going on. I imagine most people would say, or should say "You chose this. Get over it". But they don't, not to my face anyway. They just send me kind words, ask about how I'm handling it all, offer to be my new housekeeper, allow my kids to stay at their house a couple of days a week while I'm trying to get home from school, fill in as a surrogate grandma on grandparents day when the real grandma's couldn't be there, volunteer to bring dinner, give endless rides home to the kids when I can't make it on time, hang out in jammies and watch mindless tv for the night because I just can't think anymore, study with me, and just show one kindness after another without complaint. My heart is so full. I don't deserve to have so many nice people in my life but I am indeed very, very grateful for all the support I get. It is sometimes so much easier to feel sorry for oneself, but it is not possible to feel that way for very long when you are grateful. I love all my dear family and friends!!!

Scat Jazz Lounge

The other night we decided to try something new with Lindsey and Les. We found a place downtown Fort Worth called the Scat Jazz Lounge. The place is kind of behind some buildings. You walk a little down the alley and then take an elevator to the basement. There is a jazz club at the bottom of the elevator. This night there was a trio on the piano, drums and cello and a woman singing. She was incredible. I can't remember what they were called but I would go back and see them again. The dance floor was small but many people were dancing throughout the evening. It was a very laid back environment and a nice place to just kick back and listen to good music for a few hours. I can't wait to go back again.

Our life so far

Well, I officially started my grad school classes last week. We have 3 classes this semester and they all meet on Tues. and Thurs. I am super excited about all the classes because we are really getting into the meat of what we are doing now. I have stuttering class, a language disorders class, and a neurological disorders class. For the neuro class we already have a test coming up next Tuesday and I am having to brush up on my knowledge of the parts of the brain because are playing pictionary on Thursday and the subject will of course be the brain. Luckily, I love learning about the brain so hopefully this won't be too bad. According to previous grad students this is a very difficult class so I am trying to stay on top of things by studying ahead of time for tests. I have three therapy clients so far. I have met with two of them and it's been great fun. I will meet my third client next week. My graduate assistant duties aren't too bad yet but I know I will eventually have a lot to do. It's in exchange for tuition so I can't complain about it. I feel like I am running around like a mad woman sometimes trying to get everything done. It's very different having multiple therapy clients. I can't imagine what it will be like in the real world when I work for someone. Of course, I won't have classes to manage at the same time so hopefully it will be easier on some levels.

Scheduling has been tricky to say the least. I have my first client at 8:45 so I have to drop kids off my 7:30 so I can allow for morning rush hour traffic. I like to have 30 minutes to set up the therapy room also. Then I don't meet with my next client until 2:30. It's a half hour session so I get done at 3:00 and I run out the door because I have to get back home because the kids get out at 3:10. I have made arrangements for them until I get there but I still have to rush because they are just with a friend. I hate to put anyone out. Tuesdays I won't be done until late in the day so that's going to be difficult with the kids but I think I will have it worked out. Really the only day that things are great are on Fridays. No school on Fridays, just occasional diagnostics.

Amy is helping out by trying to get home early on the days when I have to stay later. She also takes one night a week to cook dinner. That is a great load off.

The kids are adjusting well to all the scheduling conflicts and so far they are not greatly affected by mom's stress. It's much easier to get everything done with all three in school. I hope we can keep up once the homework assignments start coming home.

That's our life at the moment. You never know how things can change so I say at the moment. I love my busy life. It is a good life.