WOW! Has it really been more than a year?!?!

I cannot believe I haven't posted in over a year! But I suppose that happens when life just gets in the way! (That and the ease of Facebook on my iPhone.) Hmmm. Where to begin???

I guess the biggest change came in January, when I started the Nursing Program at Georgia Highlands College. I had been working toward this for a few years and finally I had all my credits and applied for the accelerated entrance. I can't tell you how good it felt to get that big yellow envelope with my acceptance letter! I LOVE SCHOOL! And I know without a doubt that this is what I am meant to do. I have just started my 3rd semester and only have about 8 more months to go. I have met some amazing people that I know will be life long friends. I have found something that gives me back a little piece of Melissa and at the same time, I am giving back. And hopefully I'm making a difference in a few of the lives that I touch. I know I have had patients make an impact in my own life just in the few weeks of clinicals I've already completed the last two semesters.

Chris and I are doing amazing. My only complaint is that we have ZERO time as a couple. But I know one day the kids will be grown and then we'll have plenty of time to read the newspaper and drink coffee together in an empty house.

Neal is in 8th grade and is testing his limits on some days. But all in all he's a great kid. I know I've said it before but I must repeat myself, some days I don't know what I'd do without him. He's very smart, but is in that lazy-teenager stage and likes to sleep, text, and see how much he can accomplish and get by without having to do any more than necessary.

Jacob is in 4th grade and has recently become very affectionate. He's always been a sensitive and sincere child, but as he's maturing I can see that he is probably my most outwardly loving child. He's one smart cookie, too. He exceeded on everything on his CRCT Standardized testing and came pretty close to a perfect score in 3 of the categories. My only worry is that he wants to be a brewmaster when he grows up.

Zach is, well, Zach. He's in Gateway and is soooooooo smart, yet somehow common sense is not his most admirable quality. He is a very unique child though and always finds a way to make me smile in wonder. He wants to be an actor and/or model and is auditioning for his first play in October.

Mikey just started Pre-K. God where has the time gone??? He is by far my funniest kid. The things he does could not have been scripted better by the most comical of screen writers. He's very smart and has zero fear. We finally figured out that his tummy & asthma troubles stem from large consumption of milk & milk products. Not a true allergy, just quantity. So he's been pretty healthy, aside from a stint of Scarlett Fever in July.

Eli is the most stubborn 2 year old I have ever met. He started daycare due to my school schedule and is 3 times the size of the other kids his age. He's also very smart (see a trend here???) He has me wrapped around his finger with those gorgeous eyes and his little manicial laugh. He's such a stinker. But he's also a huggie-kissie kind of kid and no matter what's going on, one good squeeze from that kid and it all just melts away. He dealt with Coxsackie Virus in July (yes, while Mikey had Scarlett Fever -fun times at the Hughes Ranch) but other wise has been very healthy too. That virus was brutal, he was in so much pain, my heart just broke for him!

Mom and I took the boyz on a road trip to Indiana in July while I had a few weeks off from classes and then Neal went on over to Iowa and spent almost 4 weeks with Chris' brother, Matt. I took Jacob & Zach to Six Flags and Mikey to the movies to see Cars 2. We spent a few days at the pool and for the most part had a laid back summer due to my crazy school schedule. Oh, and for Spring Break mom and I took the older three on a fun filled day trip to Atlanta for the World of Coke and Centennial Park to Geocache (which is a new favorite hobby for me and the boyz).

I am very much looking forward to next summer, after graduation, to take them on a nice vacation somewhere beachy and then the following summer to Disney. We all look ahead to the future with lots of hopes and dreams based on my new career. I hope that this decision brings our family to place with some much needed financial peace and helps us move forward with all the wonderful plans we have for our amazing family of seven.