I passed!

 I took my praxis exam Friday and passed.  

With G home this last month we have seen miracles with his ability to get to all the specialists and all the things.  Blood tests, ultrasounds, ENT, Audiology, deaf things, sleep things.  It has been awesome.  We got letters to support his petition for dropping classes from SF.  We'll find out in October if his petition is granted.

At the end of summer semester my professor mentioned that we should take the Praxis now so we knew what to expect.  I had a month between semesters and the kids were going back to school.  I scheduled my exam for the first day of my semester and purchased the reschedule option just in case life happened.  Life did happen and with all the appointments for G I pushed my test date back a week.  By Wednesday of this week my brain was ready to pop.  I couldn't learn anything else.  I just had to keep it all in.  It was such a relief to take the test and know that I can look things up going forward.

Today we had an RS conference and all the inspirational talks reminded me of hard times in my life.  Having gone through so much with G I just feel reminded/triggered rather than inspired listening to the courage of these women going through hard things.  I'm so grateful that he lives, that he can communicate, that he is a fun brother, and helpful son.  He's had an unfair share of life but he's so capable.

Falling flat

 

LP refuses to read lord of the rings so I came up with an evil plan to give her this awesome shirt, then she'd have to read it.  Nope.  She totally turned down my bid for attentions.  Teenagers are hard.  

I got the boys room reset today.  It's fun to see L diving in to playing the drum set and legos.  Yay!

We made a human pyramid.  We have good times yo.

G came home to go to school in town.  His petition to clear his school record has been denied twice and he has one last appeal.  Trying to get things figured out for the appeal has forced us to get his sleep issues diagnosed and it's severe.  So I'm glad that this crisis has led to hopefully life changing treatment.  

This song comes to mind.  We have certainly been blessed by the trials in our life. I'm grateful to have a husband who draws close to me in trial.  Whoooo!  So close.  He's awesome.

Busy summer

 This is a beautiful puzzle that I am not buying because I don't like 1000 piece puzzles.  If it were 500 I would definitely want to get it, even better if it was 300.

My clinic placement is going well.  I only get 6-8 hours a week which is pretty terrible since I drive 6 hours a week and spend over 20 between driving and canceled appointments etc...  But I'm learning a lot and I'm glad I got to work with my supervisor.

Recent events remind me that I don't win by complaining.  While in graduate school I am visiting someone else's house and they make the rules.  If they want me to succeed, they might make things easier for me.  If they don't want me to succeed, they will make things harder for me.  Focusing on the hard isn't going to change anything.  Looking for the good will help me be happier.

P is doing several AP trainings then we'll go pick up M and visit my dad.  The next week I take M to Auburn then continue on to pick up G.  I've got to finish up a few projects and take 2 more tests.  My semester is mostly over.  Phew!  Then I'll have a few weeks off as the kids get settled in school.

This summer has been busy but also really good.  The boys have a piano teacher again.  Hurray!  LP and L are doing a swallowing therapy to help with their teeth.  lP goes to cross country for fun a few mornings a week.  I've been able to do a few walking dates.  lP and B went to orchestra camp.  I'm really proud of P and me for making sure the kids still got to do nice things even though I've been doing a placement and P has had several weeks of AP things.

protagonist

 M is having a good summer.  I love her.  I so want for her to have a happy life.

Having gone through hard times it is so hard to relax and enjoy.

She is in a good time.  I will be grateful and breath.

She is amazing.

1 year down

M is home for a month before she flies to MD for the summer camp she works at.  We've been able to spend time together with kayak trips, Dr. visits, and family time.  I'm so glad we've had this chance to reconnect.  She is going to be an RA in the fall which will give her free room and board.  She'll get a lot of money back from her pell grant and scholarship.  This will allow her to save up for a car.  Way to go M! 

College

 M is having fun and trying new things.  She joined the rowing team and ran a half marathon!  

Adulting

 M got a job at a summer camp in Maryland.  She hustled, applied, interviewed, and did the training all on her own.  I'm really proud of her for making that goal and doing all the work to get achieve it.  She flew out a week after graduation and flew back barely(?) in time to check into the dorm.

While she was at camp she served as a camp counselor for different age groups, taught sessions in paddle sports, worked in the kitchen, and even drove the motor boat a few times, subbing for the regular person.  she had co-workers who lived in Maryland so she spent weekends with them rather than going on some of the big trips offered to most counselors.  

Getting her home was a crazy adventure.  She was stranded at BWI for 22 hours because of bad storms.  She changed flights 3 times, and was on a plane at midnight which got canceled!  Throughout she communicated with us.  When she was talking to dad after the canceled flight some other passengers heard her situation.  They adopted her, escorting her to the front of the ticket line, where a man gave up his ticket so she could fly home on the 9am flight to Nashville.  I picked her up and we drove straight to Auburn for the manditory 4pm meeting.  

She got moved in to the dorm with a friend from high school.  They were going to both be in the band but it looks like M decided to focus on work and school instead.  All good things come to an end.  I've enjoyed the years she was in band.   I hope she can remember it fondly.