No more tutor.

Lots of drama, yesterday, about the private tutor thing.

My friend went to the tutoring place, to take her diagnostic test like I did on Saturday. During the test, they interupted her, to let her know that the $$$ quoted for the price of the tutor was incorrect.

They wanted to up the cost to $500 each, original quoted $$$ was $300 each. She called me from the place upset and wanting to know what to do. I was leaving work and headed over there.

Bottom line, they don't have a tutor. They had this whole song and dance about how we really don't have enough time to get the whole impact of the tutor, but they really don't have anyone.

So, my friend spent $600 on their on-line tutor system. No way I can afford that (hello, 4 kids coming off of Christmas and December is when my tax, flood insurance and home owners insurance is all due). We are in the poor house and I refuse to add $600 to a credit card for a thing on the computer.

So, I'm out. I was upset last night... because now I feel like those extra 300 points are not mine to get, but I'm still gonna study and study.

I'll keep you posted.

More books...

Well, after scoring only 740 on a practice test, I decided to hire a private tutor to help get me over that hump of 1000 points on the GRE.

So, I go into the testing area to take another practice test so the tutor can know where I am and what they are dealing with... and my score was 1010!

Go figure.

I'm scheduled to meet with the tutor on Wed. and Thurs. of this week and next to get some coaching on this test.

The actual GRE is on the 27th and I'm scheduled for an interview on the 30th - all depending on my getting the high enough score.

I felt better after I took the second test. At least I know I'm capable of a 1000.

Meanwhile, Bryan is helping out around the house more than ever. I have to admit that he gets the house and kids whipped up and clean, rooms clean and dishes done, kids showered... all in about an hour's time. Show-off.

He's becoming a master at laundry... which is a big help alone. The biggest thing is that he has learned the trick of putting the clothes AWAY as soon as they come out of the dryer. That way I don't come home to two baskets full of clean clothes and him hearing me yell about how I never did that to him.

He is training nicely.

Gotta run... get back to the books - vocabulary, yuck!

study... study... study

OK, so the past few weeks have been filled with Christmas, New Years and books.

In whatever spare time I have, I have been tackling the books for this upcoming GRE exam.

If you are curious about the difficulty of this exam, just google 'GRE sample questions'... you'll see.

Anyway, I need to score at least 1000 out of 1600 to get an interview with the college for this anesthesia school.

After studying for a few weeks, I took a practice exam on the computer... just to see where I am.

I scored a 740! Not good. Took all the wind out of sails.

However, many people have told me that this is only the first time I tried to take the exam on the computer and, if I keep practicing, the score will only go up.

So I'll be doing it daily - I'll keep you posted on the progress.

Also, I started a Pharmacology class on Monday - actually the class will be switched to Friday, starting next week, so I actually have 2 weeks before we meet again.

More time to study for the GRE!!!

Starting school on Monday.

In anticipation of possibly getting in this anesthesia school this August, I let my friend talk me into starting school with her this week.

There are a few classes that we can take outside of the program and we have been advised to do as much as we can before the program starts.

My friend is already accepted. My application is ready (finally) and I'll be sending it out on Monday.

I was surprised at how long it took me to fill out all the paperwork needed for this application. It was 10 pages of questions and I needed to write out a letter of intent, plus a ciriculuum vitae, which is really just a very detailed resume.

When I wasn't typing this out, I've been studying for the GRE test.

I don't know for sure that I'm going to pass this test. It is super hard and loaded with stuff that I don't think I ever knew.

All I can hope for is that I'll guess write on the questions I don't know. I'm taking it on Jan27th.

I'll keep you posted, but after this weekend, I'll also have Pharmacology homework to be studying for, so I'll be busy.

Monday nights now will have me working from 8 - 4, then climbing into the car and heading down to Miami for this class 6-9. They do offer the same class on Fridays too, and we are hoping that the teacher will allow us to attend the Friday one.

We'll see... hope I remember how to be a good student.

Boys are so much different than girls

It is funny how throughout each day, I must think of a million of things to write about on this blog. Something the kids say or do will strike me funny and I make a mental note to write it here... and then I forget it.

So, I must share this...

Yesterday, after Wade took a bath (and was washed by both his sister, Meredith and myself) I was alone with him in his room getting him dressed.

As I'm bent over holding a pullup for him to place his feet in, he is busy looking at the tip of one of his fingers. I notice that there is a small, greenish ball on the end of his finger and he is rolling it around.

So, I say to him...'Wade, what is that?'

He says...'It's a booger.'

Thinking that I hadn't seen him pick his nose I asked him where is was from.

He answered...'From my butt'

I was like - EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Girls would never have done that. I don't think they enjoy picking things out of their behinds.

Boys are just so different.

Last week of 2008!

Lot's to say today so I'll try to be brief...

An update on the neighbor's little girl with leukemia is that she is still dealing with an aggressive cancer. I guess they must draw blood levels on her before her chemo treatment each week and they have yet to draw one that is good. Before each chemo treatment, they need to transfuse blood and platelets. Then, she gets her chemo, which is only a quick infusion. But it takes her little body the week to feel better and then it is time for a new treatment.

The mother told me that this will be the pattern until mid-summer next year. She told me that the levels of immune antibodies are so low that she is at risk for getting really sick and not being able to fight it.

Then tell me why they are taking the child to Publix and the Sawgrass Mills mall? I'm thinking that the doctors are telling them to try to keep things as normal as possible and that they are choosing not to take her out in peak hours.

I think that if it were my child... I'd seal up my home and not let anyone in or out for a long time. They were willing to have Olivia and Meredith over to play this week - their older daughter got a game she wanted to play with my kids. Well, I wouldn't let mine go. I told the family that our home was dealing with a stomach virus and, even though mine haven't gotten sick, I didn't want to run the risk of getting Sofia sick. They were grateful and thanked me for thinking about her.

I'm like - you have no idea what anyone's kids will bring in. How guilty would I feel if I knew that one of mine landed that kid in the hospital? I told mine, they can't play there for a very long time. Maybe play OUTSIDE with the older sister... but that is it!

She still hasn't lost her hair. We saw her today... her father was walking her around the block for some fresh air. Again, trying to keep it all NORMAL, but did he really feel that the child could walk around the block? I guess he doesn't know how it feels to be ANEMIC! Men - they just don't get it, do they?

They also bought a new puppy for Christmas. I have to admit, it is a cute dog, called a MORKIE (maltese and yorkie mix) really cute and I'm thinking that the new puppy will add some joy to a home that is dealing with much sadness. I just wish this mother wasn't putting so much on her plate.

Speaking of plate...


I made a big pot of sauce today and shared half of it with them. She seems grateful and I think that she was going to give her family speghetti for dinner. I'm hoping they like my cooking... cause I'll be making much for them. Just double batching meals and splitting it.

I just wish that I could turn back the clock and take away all the past few weeks and make it all go away for them. That would be my wish.

I'll keep posting updates about her to let you know what is going on. It is just a simple awareness that it only takes one day to totally uproot your entire lives.

Be grateful each and every day for the mere fact that you got up and were able to hug your child or family today. Be grateful for the crazy normal that your life involves... tomorrow it could be all gone.

Christmas 2008

Today is Christmas! We are looking forward to a nice day up at my parent's home. Last night, Bryan's family came over to celebrate.

My father-in-law, Steve, became ill Tuesday nite, after having dinner at our home, and had to be put in the hospital. At first, they thought it was food poisoning (still could be), then they thought it was his pancreas (it wasn't) or it could just be a virus. But after having dinner at out house on Tuesday, he spent a few hours vomitting.

He already has a weak heart and any hours spent vomitting couldn't be good - so they admitted him. He is still in the hospital but is expected to go home today. Whether or not we'll see him is still up in the air. They may decide to just drive back to Ft. Myers.

During the questionable dinner, he was the only one who ate relish on a hot dog. So the joke is that Bryan and I tried to kill him with the SPICY relish. (it helps when you say it in an Italian accent.) We are having a laugh - at his expense. Too bad.

It is a rare thing when all 9 grandchildren are together - that is all of them in the photo.

Also, is the photo of Greatnana (age 92) and Paige (age 8 months). They are the oldest and youngest people in our family. I like photos like that!

The girls got motorscooters and Wade got a bike from Santa - but it is raining so they won't get too much riding in today.

Olivia and Meredith discovered a roll of Christmas wrapping paper under my bed. It was the same paper that Santa used. They can't believe that Santa snuck in our room and got the wrap without me knowing. (HE HE HE!!)

One extra photo of Grandpa and Paige - his buddy.

I hope that everyone's Christmas is special.