wow...it's been 4 months

So, I stink at this blogging thing. I know a lot of people who LOVE it, but those people must have the time to blog. So to bring everyone up to speed....Maddison is 8 months...Yes I know time flies!!!! Last night, she started to crawl!!!!!!!!! It's very exciting to see her accomplish these milestones. I tend to forget that she is a typical developing child. At the hospital I see some many children who are atypical and I have to remind myself that those children are not the norm. Sometimes my viewpoint is skewed. She's babbling and talking up a storm, we're all anticipating her first word- momma, dadda, or maybe another choice word she's heard....lol

The past few weeks, my schedule has been CRAZY busy with working full time at the hospital and I decided to take a manager's position at Bath and Body Works. I was working 60-80 hours a week. It was very draining and after an awful weekend at BBW and a wake up call from the dr., I decided to slow down my life. I adjusted my availability at BBW (which was approved, thankfully!) and I am taking a semester off from school. I'm gonna have time to spend with my family, visit friends, and have time to myself. No more rushing here and there. I already have some trips planned. In June I'm going to Boone, NC. July I'm going to Wilmington, NC for a weekend and also in August I'll be at Nags Head. Oh I can't wait until May 29th!!! That's when my new availability begins!!!!! :D

That was a quick recap....here are some pics of Ms. Maddi Grace to enjoy... :D

Moments of Opportunity

Hello there!!! Well it's been a very long time since I've "blogged". Maddison is growing and growing and growing. It's so cool to see her hit her milestones- head control and prop sitting!!! Before I know it, she'll be crawling, cruising, and walking. But I don't want to her grow up that fast! lol :-) She loves making raspberries and blowing bubbles. Check out his cute video of her.

Marissa is playing intramural basketball this year and I'm her coach. So far, so good. We won our first game last weekend!!! Go Sooners!!!!! :D

My classes this semester keep me busy. I'm taking a child nutrition course, which I thought would be easy. But not the case. Projects and presentations due and oh yeah 2 6 page papers!!! And that's just for 1 class! I've been so consumed by the nutrition class and also studying for the GRE (test for graduate school), I've haven't focused on my other 2 courses. My plan for the weekend is to catch up in ALL my homework. It's a daunting task, but I gotta do it.

So about the GRE, I decided to apply to COTA school and see what would happen. Well, I haven't heard from the school which is normal. I was told I might not hear anything until the spring. But I hate just waiting around and not doing anything (hence a full time job and part time and school). So, I decided to sign up to take the GRE and start studying for that. Well, after I committed to that decision and also with TONS of support and encouragement from girls at work, 2 AMAZING things happened. First- while shopping for my GRE study guide, I bumped into a complete stranger. To make a long story short, she works in Purdue University’s Engineering Department and before that she worked for ETS (educational testing service). That company produces the GRE!!!! I know, I almost died. She gave me some really great tips on how to take the test. Second- I found information concerning a scholarship to pay for grad school. If that works out, the scholarship would really change my life. But if it doesn't, I'm still gonna apply to VCU and see what happens. It's my first choice, and if it doesn't work out, I'll apply again the following year. It’s great to have direction and then things are happening that seem to back up that direction! Anyways, tonight I’ll post that video and pics of Maddi and the fam! Hope all is well with everyone!!!!! :D

changes

Hello everyone!!! So, it's been almost a month since my last blog. And Maddison is growing so quickly. I swear her looks change daily. Last night she had her first, rough night. Until now, she has been sleeping very well. She normally falls asleep around 9ish and wakes up at 2ish for a feeding and then for another one at 6ish. But last night, she woke up every hour and was very fussy, not a happy camper. Today after church, she slept for over 3 hours!! She was very tired. Hopefully tonight, she'll get back into the swing of things. lol Also, poor mom was so tired today, she was beat!

A few weeks ago, Maddi was struggling with baby acne which then was determined as infantile eczema. Her face was broken out, bumpy, and very red. But her dr. prescribed a cream, and it literally healed her face over night. Now, her skin still has some bumps and is very sensitive, but it looks GREAT! Oh yeah, another thing!Last night, she wiggled and squirmed from her belly to her back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know, craziness!!!!!!! She just amazing...lol

This week I checked on the status of my COTA application. Well, they did not receive it. I was surprised and the director informed me to re submit it. But I'm gonna wait on that application. This week I decided to make a very BIG change...I'm switching majors. Currently, I'm studying psychology and the classes are requiring more and more writing (which I’m not a fan of) and the material is just very repetitive and boring (also, I have 3 more "statistical/psychology" classes to take, which makes me ill when thinking about taking those courses). The past few months, I've been praying and asking God for discernment about school. And the past few weeks, He has definitely closed and opened doors and a recent convo with my academic advisor made making this decision easier. So, I’ve decided to major in education (and no I do not want to teach...no offense to the GREAT teachers out there). Having a degree in education will be much more resourceful when working with kids who have special needs. And the coolest thing of all....by changing majors, I only have 2 additional classes to take!!!! So, I’m only 15 classes away from graduation. There’s light at the end of the tunnel…YAY!!! :D

One last thing, I hope that everyone is voting for this upcoming election. It's very important and crucial to vote. If you don't like how the government runs or you disagree with certain policies then VOTE! Not voting leaves you no room to complain about America.

Here are some pics of Rissa and Dad at the Peanut Feast!

first blog

So, this is my first blog. I'm kinda excited! Just a quick update about our family. Maddison Grace has arrived. September 13 at 9:25 pm....weighing in at 7 pounds and 15 ounces. She's doing very well. Yesterday, she had her weight check up appointment and she now weighs 8 pounds and 2 ounces. She's so cute...and CUTE! My mom is doing great too! She's tired, but she's really enjoying staying home with Maddi. I'm kinda jealous that she gets to stay home (away from work!) and love on her all day long. :-( No fair!


Marissa is in 3rd grade. Crazy...she's 8 and will be 9 in January! She's growing up way too quickly. She's still energetic as ever and still a little dramatic, but that's why we LOVE her! In 3rd grade, apparently the load of homework increases greatly! They're memorizing the WHOLE chapter of Hebrews 11!!!! 40 verses! Very ambitious. I do remember that in 3rd grade, I wrote my first paper/report (the first of many...the never ending story of school). It was about raccoons (I don't why I picked that animal) and I made a little poster and talked about them for a few minutes. But anyways, 40 verses, I think that's a lot, but pretty awesome too!


Dad's lawn business is starting to slow down with the colder weather approaching. I think he only has a few more lawns left and then he's "closed" until Marchness. Although, some days he was pretty tired from the work, I think he really liked it a lot. When we lived in Ivor, he loved taking care of the yard. Although his business is a little slower, he's pretty busy with school this year. He's teaching ALL the p.e. classes. He's still the A.D. (for the non athletic crew- athletic director) and is looking forward to the upcoming basketball season. And of course, he is enjoying Maddison!!! "Bright eyes" and "lil sis" are his nicknames for her.


Mom, wow what a wonder woman. Ok, to all the moms out there...YALL ROCK! I don't know how yall carry a baby for 9 months. Those 9 months are so exciting and yall must burst with anticipation, but the morning sickness, stretch marks/weight gain, the odd cravings, fluctuating hormones/emotions, and forgetfulness (mom had a lot of that...lol) has got to be draining at times. And then it's time of labor and delivery. Holy cow!!!! Yeah, so moms pretty much rock! And I definitely appreciate her a lot more now. She's been doing a lot and doing a GREAT job! I give her total props and kuddos!


And now, an update about me. I'm still working at CHKD. The past few months have been a little crazy. I've been driving all over the Tidewater area working at different clinics, but finally things have settled now. Two days a week, I work in Norfolk in splint and serial casting clinic. There we cast for splints and also serial cast. I love the pace of that clinic. It's go go go! And it's great to see kids transform over the weeks in serial casts. I'm working with a very knowledgeable therapist, Karen.
Then on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I'm at Harbour View (3 minutes away from home!!). Kids we see there have a variety of disabilities- CP, austim, speech delays, and many more. Again, it's great to see kids improve! Even though some days I very tired- I'm gaining so much experience and I'm very thankful for the opportunity to work at KD!!!!



We cast the kiddos with fiberglass (the same material used when you break your foot) and then we use a slide (the blue thing) and a tool like a box cutter (but much safer) to take the cast off. Then we send the cast/mold to Cascade, where they fill the mold with plastic and then you have the finished product of a brace/splint.


This a pic of serial casts. Serial casting is a noninvasive procedure that helps kids improve their range of motion. The cast is well padded and immobilizes a joint that is lacking full range of motion. The cast is applied and removed on a weekly basis. Each cast gradually increases the range of motion in the affected joint. It's a really cool process! The kiddos can use pink, blue, or purple casting material. The casts do not create a hindrance for the kids- they can walk, run, and play!

Today, I'm officially a COTA (certified occupational therapy assistant) applicant!! My application is in the mail! It's very exciting and a little nerve racking. I have no clue about the wait time for acceptance. So, I sit and wait.


Well, until next time...