The Busy Bee Is About Buzzed Out...

I don't know if I am reaching a burn out phase or what...
I am really tired too...
My job sucks... correction, it SUCKS...
Yes, I am grateful for employment. Yes I am glad to have insurance for the family at a great price (though the plan is no where near as good as it was before this last contract our union negotiated) and I am glad for some of my acquaintances at work. They make it bearable. But listening to people whine and trying to go above and beyond for a bunch of butt holes is just getting old.
I had a pretty good day today. I woke up and the little ones and I all worked with glue, construction paper and safety scissors. Princess created a couple of little people. The twins and Bruiser just created something. :) I made a frog for Bruiser out of an old tissue box. So cute. I was pleased with the results. I'd previously made a pig for Elliebear and a penguin for Princess. Cici wants a bunny so I guess I will work on that next.
Next we went to the lake near our house which also has a park. The kids played and had fun. I sat and crocheted. We went to Petsmart next and saw the cutest little kittens and cats up for adoption. Also the fish and hamsters were a real joy for the kids to see. They really love animals. Our little chihuahua is kind of lovable to us but he barks at anyone else and he sort of annoys me. I love him but he's more my husband's dog. My hubby is a dog man. I am a cat woman. I had cats before I married him. We got a huge dog before Princess was born but he was a big dumb goofy thing. He ran away and we never found him. He wasn't at the pound so I guess someone inherited that big lovable mutt. My hubby was really hurt but he replaced him with a smaller dog the kids would be able to play with better.
Last night, I took Cici and Elliebear to see a movie called Suckerpunch. It wasn't great but it was entertaining. Definitely holes in the story but the comic book nerd in me enjoyed it.
I am trying really hard to hang in. On to laundry and homework...

Aarrgghh!

I am so tired. I have so much to do. But it's ok. I will still consider it a blessing to be busy.
Maybe my wrists hurt because I am back at work and typing... But the left one, which I didn't have carpel tunnel surgery on is killing me. The right one, which I had the surgery on already, just has a slight twinge of pain. My ankle is better but still hurts a bit. I have this headache that won't quit. My lower back hurts. I am spotting. I need to go to the doc and have a head to toe physical done.
Class last night after an incredibly long work day. I so can't wait until this semester is over. I can't say the class is getting harder, but it's definitely not getting easier.
Hubby rearranged some furniture yesterday and cleaned so that the house was practically sterile. I did lots of laundry when I got home. Didn't get in bed til 1:30 AM. The sacrifices we make...
My aunt is doing well. She was moved to a private room yesterday. No more ICU! Her body seems to be accepting the heart. I hope to get back up to visit this weekend. I hope I can do a little shopping for spring clothes this weekend. I have to find a bday gift for one of my favorite Seabee sister's little girls too. She will be turning 4 and we are planning to go to her party on Sunday. I am hoping to get out with hubby again to see Suckerpunch and maybe to the Improv again this weekend.
Other than a few aches and pains here and there, I have no complaints. I am sleepy but I am in good spirits and thats the most I can ask for. Everything else is downhill.

Whew!

Back at work. Yesterday went surprisingly smooth for a Monday. My wrists are killing me because I have been crocheting my little heart out. I am still trying to finish the Cowboys colored blanket and I have started the second one for my coworker which she wanted in green, black and white. I am really mad at myself for underpricing them. I spent just over 20$ on the yarn to make the cowboys blanket and told her I'd sell it to her for 30$. I totally didn't factor in the time and effort. But since I already agreed to the price, I guess I can't renig. I just know better next time.
I was so sleepy this morning. Stayed up til midnight crocheting but I was glued to the TV with news on Libya. There are protests and revolts and they are trying to overthrow their current ruler. Crazy madness in that part of the world. There has been a "no fly zone" declaration. Man, I am glad to be an american so I can just worry about how much to sell my crocheted blankets for...
Family is great. Back to class tonight. I am not ready!

Everything good must come to an end...

Recap time.
Friday I took the kids to a very crowded Dallas World Aquarium. The kids really enjoyed it. Lots of fish from all over, penguins, turtles, jellyfish. Really expensive but I'm sure it's costly to keep the place up. That night, hubby and I went to the Improv for some live comedy. It was a lot of fun.
Saturday, we went to a very crowded zoo. Hubby didn't accompany us on either of these trips. Only to the Palace of Wax. One of his cousins got married yesterday evening and I got to see mom-in-law. Love that woman to pieces. Hubby went to the wedding. Afterwards, we had bro & sis-in-law and their kids and MIL's husband over for a fish fry. Good food and family. Nice!
I haven't mentioned but my mom's sister was admitted into the ICU last week. She already had a pacemaker. Her heart was failing and they moved her up to the top of the donor list and at about midnight Friday night, they found a heart for her! The transplant surgery lasted from 3:30 AM til about 4 PM. Wow! I hope to get to see her today. Just with hubby's family here, the plans for spring break, stepson visiting for the week, and the fact that I don't want to encroach on her space or her immediate family's space, I didn't want to visit until afterwards. I would have hated to have missed visiting her if anything would have happened before she got the heart but on the other hand, I just am not good with visiting people who are practically on their deathbed since my Grandma passed away. I remember all these people surrounding her and not really having the privacy I wanted to say goodbye. I hope that makes sense.
I decided not to go to the birthday party. Its a long drive away, it was short notice, it's during the time we are supposed to have stepson home. And I'm tired. I think Chuck E. Cheese would wipe me out before getting back into my routine for tomorrow with work and school.
So spring break/vacation is at an end. I really enjoyed myself, got to spend time with my kids and my husband, and got a nice mental break from work. Kind of at peace right now.

Good Morning!

Ok. Yesterday got better. I was able to make it through the House Of Wax/Ripley's Believe It or Not and their Enchanted Mirror Maze with all the kids and hubby. And their military discount is like no other I've ever seen. I was more amazed at it than a lot of their displays!
My mood picked up. I read more books to the kids and propped up my foot. Crocheted a bit. Later that night, hubby and I went to see I Am Number 4. It was ok. But once again, I enjoyed the time out with hubby. Now, he has homework to finish so I think I will attempt the zoo or the Aquarium without him so he can have some quiet time.
I don't think we will make 6 flags this time. My husband's cousin is getting married tomorrow. I am staying home with the kids while he goes to the wedding. Hubby's mom will be in town for the wedding over the weekend. I'm sure she'll be glad to see all the kids. And Sunday we have been invited to another of hubby's cousin's little boy's 2nd birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. Wow! Really? The kids love that place. Me? Not so much.
I am truly saddened by what has been going on in Japan. They were hit on Friday with a major earthquake followed by a tsunami followed by another earthquake. Now nuclear reactors have been damaged and there is a radiation threat in addition to the damage nature has caused.
I know I have emotional issues. Its in my DNA. There is nothing I can do about it besides take my meds, which I haven't been because it requires talking to my shrink and she's a meanie. I haven't had time to seek out a new doctor. I should because I have days when I feel really off balance. Not to the point of hurting myself or others, just a very melancholy girl when most everything in my life should be celebrated.
It's events like what's happened in Japan that can sometimes put the blinders on you to your trivial issues and take a look at the world around you. I am today reminding myself that I am alive and blessed beyond belief with angels as children and a husband who would go to the ends of the earth to care for us, and he has.
Japan has always held a special place in my heart. I've never been. Always wanted to go. I took 2 semesters of Japanese and a class on Japanese culture in college. I had back then some really good friends who were from Japan and going to school here in the states. They are really hard working, genuine people. I pray for them and for their recovery. And I am truly thankful to be safe with my family.

WTH?

I didn't sleep very well last night. The pain in my ankle has worked its way up to my knee. And you know me. Assuming the worst. I'm thinking blod clots or something. Timing couldn't be worse. I missed out on the zoo and I wanted to try to hobble through Ripley's Believe It Or Not/House of Wax today, but was informed by my stepson he already went there 2 weeks ago. This vacation started off great. Now I just want to ball up and cry.
I have been given a couple of book suggestions so maybe I can at least go to the library again. I have been crocheting a little bit too. And I can thank my lucky stars I didn't have to work and got time to spend with my kids. Did that make me feel better? Not really... Maybe I have POST menstrual syndrome...
I found out about Great Wolf Lodge. It is only going to cost me about 350.00 for 2 rooms and indoor water park tickets if I book well in advance. I'm thinking July. I have vacation again then... If my leg hasn't been amputated or anything by then. :)
Oh and Happy St Patrick's Day!

OUCH!

I don't know how I did it! My ankle is swollen and the muscle hurts all the way up to my knee. I forgot to mention in my lists that the weekend before the ball, at my request, hubby removed all the junk off the treadmill and I began to use it. I don't know if that was a shock to my body and it didn't hit me until Monday or so or if it was those high heels or the dancing at the ball. But I'm screwed up either way!
I wanted to take the kids to the zoo today. No way on this ankle. My stepson came over this morning. He will be spending the remainder of spring break with us. Which is a pleasure. My kids love it when he visits and we haven't seen him since last summer because he and his mom temporarily moved to GA. Hubby was glad to see him. With the added child and my ankle, I'm totally playing the rest of this vacation by ear.
We went to the library yesterday and I read books to the little ones this afternoon. I also did some extra credit for chemistry. I took a 2 hour nap yesterday but I think it was because I took a pain pill and a muscle relaxer that knocked me out. I got to take a long quiet bubble bath last night. So the vacation is going well. The kids want to go to Six Flags. We shall see.
That is all for now. I always laughed to myself about how crazy my hubby's 2 ex-wives are and I wonder if he is attracted to loonies, does that make me bat shit too? :)
Oh. I didn't get the scholarship.

I'M ON SPRING BREAK VACATION!!!

The 69th birthday of the Seabees. The 2011 Seabee Ball. Wow. That was so much fun. I was able to make it to the salon on Saturday morning. A treat for me cause I always put my kids first on the weekends. I don't ask my husband to watch them for that long cause I know he is with them all week for the most part. I had an updo and it came out really nice. I went to the nail salon and got a manicure and pedicure and my eyebrows waxed. I was the only person there so it was all about me for like an hour and a half! Maybe that will change now that they are in daycare part time.
We headed out to the ball. My beautiful shoes were killing my feet, so I danced barefoot. They served a decent dinner. Made some really nice speaches. And most importantly, I got to see some of my Seabee sisters. I never would have imagined myself before marrying hubby going to balls and having a bond with such beautiful women like the one we have. Though a lot of us never talked about our deep down frustrations and tears to each other, it is just kind of known to me what the others were going through when our husbands were deployed. I will always love them. It was so nice to see them cutting loose WITH their husbands. I can't wait for the next one. It was such a good time. We did end up cancelling our hotel room reservation. But it's ok.
Let's just make a list for the rest again... When I have a lot on my mind like this and try to pound it out, there's already no organization and even though I'm on vacation. My time is limited... If that makes sense. There's so much I want to do!
1. My cycle came, just in time for the ball. Too funny! No worries about new little ones though. Just as I suspected... stress. I only worry because my last two pregnancies were accomplished while I was on birth control. So I am not a crazy lady... well, not because of that.
2. I finished an excellent book. It is called Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. I had lots of time to read at the salon. It was a really good story.
3. My Princess turned 6. I took her to the mall to get her ears pierced... it's what she wanted. We went out to eat at a Chinese buffet. It's what she wanted. She picked out a delicious chocolate cake from a local grocer. We came home and she opened her gifts. Books, a copy of Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 on DVD, a Cinderella dream carriage toy (which the parts are all over the house now) and her guitar. She doesn't like to use the pick. She has taken it out a couple times to pluck it. I want her to get used to it. Lessons start in about a month. I am overjoyed at her interest in a musical instrument. I hope she loves it and sticks to it. It's going to be some work but I think she will learn easily.
4. CiCi gets her braces off on April 5. I can't remember what she looks like without them! She is excited.
5. I finally understand how to balance a chemical formula!
6. Yesterday, to complete Princess' birthday wishes we went to see Rango. I think it is a bit mature for her after seeing it. But she and Bruiser liked the animation so I guess it was worth it. The movie was ok.
7. Friday night, hubby and I went to see Battle LA. What a great movie. Not like it will win an Oscar, it was just a really good movie.
I guess that's all I can think of for now. Oh, one last thing. My stepson called and asked if he could come spend the week with us...

I feel like I am blessed to be so busy...

Because I could have nothing going on, right?
I have so much, too much happening. Not all bad, just a lot.
First thing, I hate I haven't put blogging at the top of my list. Its hard to remember everything that's happened by time I get to writing it down.
1. I am about half done with the blanket I am crocheting for my coworker. If I didn't have so much else I wanted to do, I'd be done by now I'm sure.
2. Chemistry is getting increasingly harder. I have an 88 average in the class so far but my brain obviously doesn't click with balancing chemical equations and whatnot.
3. I honestly think I am going to disown my mother... I will just leave it at that for number 3. There's a lot of history behind this decision from well before I even began this blog. It's not something I write about. She's not a part of my "inner circle", if you will... But it's important.
4. Last month, my cycle (yes, I know... TMI) lasted exactly one day, if you want to call it a cycle. And it is now 3 days late. I have been using my BC correctly and consistently, so I can only hope its stress that's causing this.
5. The little ones have started daycare for 2 days a week. I am so glad they are back in daycare. I really like their daycare. It's so good for them to interact with other kids and they are learning. I take them to the library about every other weekend and read to them and watch educational children's programming with them. PBS Kids Sprout is amazing. I count with them and sing the ABC's and do arts and crafts and color with them but there's only so much time I have to contribute to that. We can only afford 2 days a week right now so hopefully it will increase. But I'll take the 2 days gladly.
6. Hubby is taking History, English, Philosophy (I am loving the info he shares with me from this class and I want to take it for fun), and Chemistry with me. His work load is tremendous as he is also taking care of the household duties. He is still trying to find a job that is going to pay enough to cover daycare and also fit in with his goal of rolling it in to his retirement with the military. He want a government or state job. He has some interviews coming up soon. Fingers are crossed.
7. I am still working about 45 hours a week on top of school Tuesday and Thursday nights. It's a nightmare having to fix people's problems all day when they don't want to have anything to do with the solution half the time. I am so tired of listening to people complain... How's that for irony. I have days when I want to tell them all to shove it, but until I win the lottery, I have to grin and bear it.
8. I have my dress, shoes, purse, jewelry, tickets, hotel room reserved (*) and an appointment to get my hair done on Saturday morning for the ball this weekend. I am really excited. *This goes back to number 3. I may have to cancel the reservation if my babysitting situation doesn't work out. My mom was supposed to do it but it looks like it's not going to happen.
9. Hubby and I have really been keeping the flame going. In a good way. We are trying to have date nights each weekend. This past weekend, we went to shoot pool on Friday night and on Saturday we saw the movie, The Adjustment Bureau. It was a really good movie and the pool place has been my favorite to date. We also saw the Unknown 2 weekends ago and last weekend we saw Drive Angry.
10. I have gotten birthdays pretty much under control. Princess is first, next Sunday. She has an acoustic guitar. It's a parlor sized Gibson. Not a cheap one. Elliebear got the exact same kind. Cici has an electric Gibson. I picked it up 2 weeks ago. All the little ones have pillow pets and a couple of books and toys too. And I am taking all the girls to get their ears pierced (again for Cici, Elliebear and Princess, first time for Pinky. They all let their holes close.)
11. Elliebear made A/B honor roll. Cici has improved a bit but History is still throwing her for a loop. She has the TAKS test coming up soon. UGH. High school next year is dependent on her passing it. Praying about that and hoping all the extra tutoring helps. Her school is state recognized and they want to keep that status so all the teachers are contributing after hours to help the kids. Its awesome. I love their schools. Princess is so smart and doing really well. It just blows my mind to have her read to me!
12. I have been practicing my guitar from the instructional DVD that came with it. Learning the major chords and I can tune it now. Don't have as much time as I'd like to practice as often as I'd like but I'll take what I can get. I have also been painting. I suck at it so far but I know practice will help and it will take time, especially since I am teaching myself. I bought oil and acrylic paints and canvas paper. It's really a relaxer for me to paint or draw or play around with the guitar or crochet. Keeping busy keeps me sane!
In a nutshell, that's what's been going on with me and the family. I couldn't ask for anything more... and I probably shouldn't! LOL.