WOW

Well, the room is almost done and I will be posting pictures. Jacob did an AMAZING job on the bunk beds. Levi is EXCITED to say the least and patiently waiting for everything to be done so he can finally sleep on the top. Benjamin is really good at getting up and down off of his bed too. We have made them wait to get into the room until all of the painting is done, I think that I am done. I have decided to do a little bit less than I had planned because Jacob was able to get some really neat "retired" fire gear. We have really transformed this room I am a bit jealous-it is a room that will be fun for them to grow in-no white walls!!!
Vacation Bible School started for Levi last night, and Jacob had a rough call while he was working. Levi is old enough to know to listen when the pager goes off and he understands most of the time that when daddy has to leave someone is sick or hurt. Well this time it was a water recovery and some of the rescue team came and got our diving trailer, so Levi "needed" to know what was going on (I had endless questions about why did they get my trailer, was daddy hurt...). In the same time Benjamin had found Jacob's cell phone and was having a FIT that daddy had left the phone. Knowing that there was nothing to see and that Benjamin was way too stressed about the stupid phone, I went and gave a police officer Jacob's phone Benjamin was pleased. However during vacation bible school everyone was talking about the accident and Levi, I guess, said that you have to be careful around water, because someone drowned today, and my dad is trying to help him. It is the life we live. Levi is amazing that he seems to understand, because the next thing he said was, God was ready for him, I guess. Living in a small town everyone knew more than I did and what happened and who was there... they even were telling me things that were not true-the victim was 17 and several of the people at the church are teachers so cell phones were non stop during VBS. It is very sad and I can't imagine anything more horrible, unfortunately things like this happen and all you can do is pray that accidents will stop happening.
On with other stuff. I had a sleep study and I will be the proud owner of a CPAP machine, which, in therory, will keep me from snoring (and will keep me breathing) so Jacob and I both sleep better and I wake up refreshed and full of energy! I am a bit leary and not sure that I really want this machine, but if it will help me sleep and wake up refreshed then I will try.
Jacob is great and working hard to get everything ready in the house. He is pulling down all of the old ceiling in the dining room so it can be repaired, soon we will start with the toy room and get that done.
Benjamin is talking a lot and loves being in a big boy bed. He has really started to be a little boy instead of a baby. Levi calls him the "B Boy" and he calls himself the "L man". It is so amazing to hear them talk. Benjamin has started to call Levi "Buddy", which is great, he was trying to call him brother and I don't know why it just annoyed me-Benjamin will say "Vivi" for Levi on occasion.
It's another busy week for me at work, and with me helping with VBS I can't stay too late this week, hopefully the end of month stuff will go smoothly!

Times they are a changin'

Wow, I haven't posted for such a while, and again I will promise pictures later! We have been undergoing a lot of changes.
1-My mother-in law M moved to Florida. So Grandma M, Grandpa M, Uncle T, and Uncle A are all gone. I guess I should explain for those of you who do not know--Jacob's dad died 30 years ago. His mom was young and re-married and had 3 sons D, M, and T, then several years later met M and had A. So Jacob has 4 1/2 brothers that are much younger than he is. They are not very good at staying in contact, which is hard for me, since my extended family always did keep in contact. D and M stayed in Iowa, they both have a child. So it is a bit odd to think that we won't be seeing Jacob's family much.
2-Benjamin is in a big bed. Jacob and I continue to work on the room and so now was a good time to switch him to to a twin. It has made me a bit sad, he is my baby and he is so small, but he does well in his new bed, which is currently on the floor in my bedroom.
3-Our dining room ceiling will be getting fixed soon! We have a dry waller and he will start soon.
4-Levi and Benjamin have both had some time away. Benjamin spent an extended weekend with my parents, when he came home, Levi left. I will be happy on Saturday to have everyone home. It has been so nice having just one, I thought I would have forgotten what it was like to just have one--I didn't it has been FABULOUS! Benjamin actually talks a lot. Levi is such a good helper. WOW I love my kiddos!

I am having a garage sale with my friend K tomorrow and I am not ready, but I will be!
Benjamin turns two soon and we are having a party-kind of... we have invited everyone that we would have invited to his birthday party to spend the weekend at Table Rock Lake. We have not been diving since our vacation and I need to get underwater again. I will be doing a cake and we are not expecting any gifts. If I have missed you let me know if you want to go... Jeff and Amber are going to learn to SCUBA (I hope)!
Well, I can't really think of anything else... I will try to get pictures next time...

what a holiday

What a time! The 4th of July has never been one of my BIG holidays, as a matter of fact I really think of it more of a day off than a holiday. This year, however, Levi remembered the fireworks from last year and was EXCITED to do them. We bought some and started lighting them on July 2nd, then he wanted to save some for when his Grandma M came. We went to a friend's house and watched their display on the 4th. I discovered that the noise hurt Benjamin's ears-duh tubes! (yeah, a proud mom moment) Saturday was R's birthday party and we all went, then the city's fireworks Saturday night. Then both boys started running fevers and got sinus sick. It was so cold here in during the evenings and even not hot during the days. The 4th of July is supposed to be HOT weather not HOT CHOCOLATE weather. So they both went to the doctor on Monday...
We have started on their room, it is currently a wonderful nursery-walls painted like the sky. It will be transforming to an inside out firetruck! Jacob is making fire station like bunkbeds, I am painting the walls and ceiling to be like a fire truck. I am so excited, this will be such a fun project. I will post pictures.
The other day I was dusting my pictures and we have one of our dog, Sadie, and my parent's dog Tasha. Levi asked me for it, he then showed it to Benjamin and said "Benji, this is Tasha, Mimi and Papa's dog, we loved her so much, but she is dead now, you know Benji everything dies" It amazed me how matter of fact he was. With both of our jobs we tend to be very direct with the whole sickness and death thing. I know that when Levi actually gets to Mimi and Papa's and there is no Tasha, he will realize that she is really gone and pictures are all we have of her. He also said to me "you know mom, Tasha was never the same after she broke herself" (Tasha had broken her pelvis not long before she died). I told him that that is what happens and he wanted to make sure she went to heaven and daddy's daddy could play with her. What else do you say but I bet they are playing right now...
Benjamin has gotten really good at running, and he has peed on the big boy potty twice. Yes, I'm still buying diapers and I am not hopeful that that will stop for a while. He gets so excited when he sits there, and to flush the toilet, what a pleasure. Benjamin has become Levi's little protector. If you cross Levi soon Benjamin will be in to tell you all about it-and he gets his finger going and points and just gives you his opinion.

WORK

Wow, it's a good thing that I enjoy vacationing so much, otherwise I would probably quit my job. It is not that I do not like my job, it's just that there are far too many people that are unhappy with life that take care of others. Mind you those nurses, CNAs, and everyone else do a wonderful job in taking care of their residents, but cannot seem to get a good mood at Wal Mart (so a good mood must not be necessary). The pressure of being an administrative nurse (that's what I am) is that your success and your failure has nothing to do with how you do your job, it all rests on those around you and how they do their job. I am incharge of education of the entire staff (200+). I cannot do this. I cannot do this alone, and I do not try. I realized a long time ago that everyone does not have the same take on things as I do, they don't think I'm right, and I know they are not right. I have learned and my friend Shelly has taught me that sometimes it takes people a while to figure stuff out and I need to just give them time. I have a lot of respect for Shelly-she is the BOSS of the entire nursing department (100++) and she WORKS all of the time (my perception). Shelly and I live 30 miles away and sometimes she gives me rides to work. Work for both of us goes very well when we ride together. She and I are very opposite, she is a small town girl, I am not (although I currently live and work in small towns). I love change, Shelly not so much. We took on a HUGE project and we accomplished it as best we could. We still have lots of work to do, but that was expected. If I had to choose a nurse friend to go and do it would be Shelly, the problem is that neither of us do that. It is very odd, we have both been bosses for so long we have really lost the ablity to have nurse friends that we work with. It just does not work to supervise and go to movies or chat with someone. The lines get blurry, and the preception gets bad, it is just not good practice. So Shelly and I are in an odd spot. We work together, but she does not supervise me, I don't supervise her, but both of our jobs depend on the success and failure of how we do our jobs. It took Shelly and I a long time to stop working against each other and start working with each other. Shelly makes my job easier, she does anything I ask of her AND she has the BALLS to stand up to me and tell me that I'm wrong. I take it from Shelly, but I also give it to her. I have the patience to teach her how to do stuff and help her in transition. I will not ever say that she and I do not ever get irate with the other. This morning Shelly was snappy, I took it personally. I did not leave her alone until I realized that it was not me. I forgot a meeting, she did not take it personally, but had to feild question for me. Shelly is one of the hardest working people I know. She works all the time. I will MAKE her go do something one of these days. Oh, another thing, for some of you that really have made it this far and are thinking, why do I care. Shelly cares. She has just started reading and noticed that I don't mention her. It is not because I do not cherish her, it's because when I started this blog I really thought it would be more about the kiddos, not me and honestly there are times my kiddos are not really what happenin' with me. Oh, Shelly is Aunt Shelly and Levi LOVES her, he will not leave my work without saying good-bye and giving her a hug and a kiss. She does consider him OURs, not mine...

I have to say a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to R Levi's best friend turns 5 today!

I also want to ask everyone keep my friend Amber in their prayers, if that's your thing. I have never thought this about anyone, she needs a baby. I have never had a childless friend (or been one) that was willing to change diapers, hold a screaming kid, play beyond the point of tired, and be willing to eat kid food just to be kind.

Levi and Benjamin are good. They both have been pretty special and I think that in the evenings I need Lipo-suction to go to the bathroom, because both are on my hip so close. I have been working a lot, so I am reeping the benefits. I have started a little treat for them, we have been eating outside and they both LOVE it. Benjamin has started walking on his tip toes and thinks he a big deal because of it. I had forgotten how great Levi's 2 year old laugh was, now Benjamin has that same laugh, really is there anything better? I think that I should record it and listen to it when I need a pick me up. Levi has gotten so big and has really learned a lot in summer school. I cannot believe that he will be in school. Benjamin is now so big, wow he will be 2.
I'm getting sappy-Shelly should be proud!