Tests, Guests, and Dinners

Its been a while since I've last posted. Sorry about that! Things have been busy in the Mudd household this past couple of weeks. I have had a crazy whorl-wind couple of weeks at school, with tests in my Anatomy lecture class (I got a 90!), my Human Development class (I got an 83. Still a B, so ok), and a practical exam in my Anatomy Lab class (haven't got a grade back on that one yet). SO, I've been studying my head off, spending more time with my nose crammed in a book or making notecards then I usually like. Ha. Who likes studying?

However, I did get to take a nice break from studying last weekend when Keith, Duncan, and I took a trip to Orlando to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure! Yay! Even though I couldn't ride much (I think all I rode was Jurassic Park, Posiden, which isn't actually a ride,  and the Popeye water ride), I still had a great time, especially because the atmosphere is so cool and the company was so good! Plus, I had a mug full of butterbeer and got my very own Hermione Granger wand!!!

On our way home from Orlando, we stopped in the Villages (near Ocala) for church on Sunday, where my dear friend, Sam, was the missionary speaker for the day. The church service was very nice and we went out to lunch with some members of the congregation at the Villages Country Club. After lunch, Sam headed to Tallahassee with us to spend a few days visiting before heading back to Atlanta. It was so nice to see her, especially since she had been in Guinea, West Africa, for two years! I especially enjoyed introducing her to my son. Here is a picture of the two: (they quickly became fast friends after jumping on Sam's bed together!)

Colin and Sam

Since I had a friend visiting, I decided to make a special dinner for her! I thought, since the fall weather is FINALLY arriving, it would be a good night for a mixture of late summer vegetables and comfort-food, so I made stuffed shells with eggplant, zucchini, and yellow squash topped with marinara sauce and a mixture of Italian cheeses. Here are a few pictures of the meal. I couldn't resist taking one before the marinara sauce was on because it was so pretty, and then Sam took some of the completed meal when she, Keith, Colin, my mom, and my sister shared it while I was at class.

Yum! Plus, you get to see some of my fall decor!

Today, since I have FINISHED (round of applause, please) my tests for the time being, I am going to concentrate on house work and sewing! I have a lot to get done before Christmas, so I've gotta work hard. Good thing I enjoy it! Ok, one more picture of Colin and his cousin, Eli, for the road:

Grandma took this picture of my son sitting on his cousin!

See ya'll later!

Tuesday - Get Things Done Day!

I weirdly always look forward to Tuesday mornings after my long Mondays. I usually have homework to finish or things to study on Mondays, so I don't get much done. Then, I try to cram as much in from my to-do list that I can on Tuesdays. SO, what's on the schedule today, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Here are the things I want to do:

1. Make oatmeal butterscotch chip cookies - this already has to be put on hold because I only have one egg. Boo.
2. Fold laundry - I know, totally unfun, but needed and I get to watch a movie while folding, which makes it a little more fun.
3. Declutter the kitchen - will be sort of hard to accomplish because several of the things cluttering the kitchen actually go on the back porch, but the back porch isn't quite put back together yet, so there is nowhere to put the stuff.
4. Finish decorating for fall - totally fun. Totally has to be done while Colin is doing something else. He is NOT as helpful as he thinks he is.
5. Work some more on sewing Christmas projects - wait till you guys see what I am making. SO cool. I would post pictures, but some of my sneaky snooping family will peak.
6. Declutter under the bathroom sinks - will have to wait till Keith gets home and can get the stuff out for me, since I can't bend.
7. Get passports ready to mail - Yay! We're going to France in November! Yay!

Ok, probably a million more things, but that's enough for now.

Want to see some of the things I've finished sewing lately that aren't for Christmas?? Ok, here are a few pictures of the quilt tops that I have finished:

Here is a picture of a bulletin board that I made for the sewing room:

And no post would be complete without a few pictures of my 18 month old (can you believe it)! Colin had his 18 month doctor's appointment yesterday and go the thumbs up on his growth and development. He is 33 3/4 inches tall (85%), 24 lbs 15 oz (35%), and has a head circumference of 48.2 cm (60%)! Ok, here are the pictures:

Colin and Daddy on Game Day!

 

 

Wearing Mommy's Boots

Tantrum

Happy Outside (Wearing a Hat)

Exploring Leaves

OK, that's all folks!

AAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!

OK! ENOUGH FOR THIS WEEK!!! As everyone knows (or maybe you don't...) I had back surgery last Thursday. The recovery is actually going really well and I haven't had much pain. I had a few blissful days right afterward when my mom and Keith's mom kept Colin for the weekend. Let me just say, SO nice. Such a help. I love my son, but sometimes...to the moon (*imagine fist pumping action*).

THEN, Saturday night, it started to get crazy. First of all, my left eye was hurting, like I had gotten something in it. I washed it out, put some eye drops in, and thought that took care of the problem. I woke up on Sunday morning with a beet-red bloodshot eye ball. Ok, I thought, I must not have gotten whatever out of my eye. By Monday morning, it was no better, in fact, now I had a little blister, that's right a BLISTER, on my lower eyelid! It was time to go to the doctor. On top of back surgery, it turns out that I have an infection of my sclera (or the white part of your eye). This type of infection is most common in people who have immune disorders, so I have to put steroid drops in my eye for two weeks. If it clears up, yay. If not, I have to be tested for immune disorders.

Also on Monday, I got calls from two schools for interviews. One was for a full-time Language Arts position and the other was for a part-time Associate Teacher position. I thought to myself, things are lookin' up. Little did I know. I went to the interviews today and got a call back already from the full-time job. Nope, not wanted. The other job, the part-time one, sounds like a crappy deal. You don't get your own classroom. You may or may not be required to teach, create lesson plans, and grade (but you probably will). AND, you get paid less than HALF of the regular teacher, but get to share in her work. Hum. On top of that great prospect, I'd have to pay someone childcare costs to watch my son. I don't see how that could work out.

I know this is a blah, blah, poor me blog, but I just needed to vent. Oh, by the way, my son is being a real peach today. He has thrown two good tantrums today where he looks like he is going into an epileptic fit. Once because I wouldn't let him go outside until he put his hat on and the second because I wouldn't let him eat crayons or chapstick. I know. What a mean mom. I was so tired of his whining/screaming, I put him back in his crib. He isn't sleeping, but he isn't screaming anymore either. Maybe not the best tactic for dealing with him, but at least I didn't kill him, right?

Ok, I should add some upside for today. Let's see. Colin finally did put his hat on after a morning nap and got to have some outside time. I took some cute pictures that maybe I'll post tomorrow. I have had some good study time today since I keep putting Colin in his crib, so I am feeling a little better about my A&P II test tomorrow. My family is looking at a cabin in Helen, GA to stay at near Christmas-time, which should be fun. Um, I've read some really yummy looking recipes (even though I can't cook right now) that I want to try. I have ideas for making Christmas presents and want to start on them after my test tomorrow. Is that enough positive thoughts? Yeah, I thought so too.

Ok, one cute picture of my boy, cause I can't help myself.

Driving the car at Nanny's

Julie and Julia

I am watching Julie and Julia today while I fold laundry. I absolutely love that movie. I so relate with Julie who is struggling to find her purpose, who is sometimes selfish and has emotional breakdowns, and who has a fabulous husband who puts up with her. I also relate with Julia, who absolutely loves food, both the cooking and the eating. I wish I could go to cooking school in Paris. Anyway, no use dwelling on things I can't have. Instead, I just keep enjoying cooking and baking!

This weekend, I made the most delicious peanut butter sandwich cookies. They were so cute too. I was told more than once that they look professionally done. They were cute little ruffle-edged cookies with a creamy peanut butter filling. Keith said they tasted just like nutter butters. I would have posted a picture of them, but last night, Keith ate ALL of the remaining cookies! Sorry!

I won't be cooking or baking anything new for a few days - I am having a second back surgery on Thursday. Tonight I have to study for my Anatomy and Physiology class and tomorrow night I have class, so cooking will have to wait. Instead I have to concentrate on the housework that I won't be able to do for the next few weeks. Today, I cleaned the bathrooms, did laundry, and did the dishes. Tomorrow, I am going to tackle the floors, my most hated chore of all. Ok, the break is over...on with the work!

50th Post!!

I am excited because I am posting for the 50th time today! Not that there is anything especially significant about it, but I do like the number! I am having a pretty good day today so far. Colin woke me up early, but it was fine since I needed to make sure pay bills anyway, so it worked out. He ate breakfast while I worked on the computer, so that was nice also because he doesn't usually like it when I am distracted and not playing with him. By the way, he is learning to eat by himself and today he fed himself a bowl full of yogurt and made hardly any mess! I just had to remind him to use his spoon instead of his fingers a couple of times.

Its nice to have a calm and peaceful morning after a bit of a stressful day yesterday. I went to the MOPs meet and greet yesterday morning with Colin. For those of you who don't know, MOPs stands for Mothers of Preschoolers, and is a church-based program for moms to get together and talk, learn new things, share food, etc. while the kids are babysat for a few hours. I think it will be nice, but since I didn't know anyone yesterday, going to a houseful of women and chatting was extremely exhausting for the somewhat-introverted person that I am.

From MOPs, I dropped Colin off at my mom's and headed to my doctor's appointment to get the results from my MRI on my back. Well, it was bad news (no real surprise there since my back and leg have been killing me). I have re-herniated my disc, but not only that, but it actually looks worse (bigger) than the first time! SO, Dr. Lee wants to preform another surgery. Keith and I are discussing the logistics.

In the evening, I had my first Anatomy and Physiology II quiz. I had read my chapters, highlighted definitions, made notes, etc. Then, I printed the quiz, answered the questions on paper before submitting them on the computer.  When I was sure that I had answered them to the best of my knowledge, I submitted by answers on the computer and got...a 47%.  That's right people, I had FAILED my first A&P II Quiz!! I just about had a nervous breakdown. I was crying, telling Keith that was it, I couldn't do it, and wondering what I was going to do with myself. After all, I had not been able to get a teaching job and was banking my future on this nursing degree.  I started looking over my answers to see where I had gone wrong, how I had done so badly, when I noticed that the answers the computer had recorded for my quiz were NOT the ones that I had input! When I re-graded my written quiz - I had actually only missed 3 questions out of 35 - a 91%!!! Whew! Now to get my professor to understand and re-grade my quiz. I sure hope he does.

Ok, enough about yesterday. I'm ready to move on with today. I think we have playing on the new porch, maybe going to the park, and naps in our future! Enjoy Wednesday everyone!