Last Friday my husband got a rejection letter from the paramedic program that he applied to. It was devastating for both of us. He has wanted to work as a paramedic since I first met him almost eight years ago.
Then two days ago, he got a call asking if he was still interested. Apparently someone dropped out, and he is now in!
The last few days have been a whirlwind of him running around getting copies of transcripts and making doctor's appointments.
His first class in next Thursday evening and I don't know who is more excited, me or him!
Friday, January 27, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Snow!
We had a really dry winter here in Chicago up until the last few days. Yesterday it snowed six inches. I was supposed to go into work but I took a mental health day instead. (Plus, I was exhausted from waking up every 90 minutes or so with Lucy). So I slept in until 10 am thanks to my awesome husband and didn't have to drive in the snow.
Of course, now that we have a house with a garage, the snow has become much easier to deal with. I used to have to shovel out parking spaces and parallel park my way into them skidding back and forth on the ice. Now, I just open my garage door and drive right in. Best part of owning a house!!
Maggie and her daddy went outside to shovel the sidewalk and play in the snow yesterday afternoon and Lucy and I stayed inside.
I was starting to worry that we wouldn't get any use out of Maggie's light-up princess snow boots, but I guess I shouldn't have worried. This is Chicago afterall!
Of course, now that we have a house with a garage, the snow has become much easier to deal with. I used to have to shovel out parking spaces and parallel park my way into them skidding back and forth on the ice. Now, I just open my garage door and drive right in. Best part of owning a house!!
Maggie and her daddy went outside to shovel the sidewalk and play in the snow yesterday afternoon and Lucy and I stayed inside.
I was starting to worry that we wouldn't get any use out of Maggie's light-up princess snow boots, but I guess I shouldn't have worried. This is Chicago afterall!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Lazy Days
A huge benefit of my job is that I work three 12 hour shifts a week. This allows me to work full time while still having four days off every week. I get to go to play groups and story times with the girls while still earning a full time income.
On the flip side, 12 hour shifts are loooong. I leave the house at 6:30 in the morning and I don't get home until 8pm. (Although I realize there are people who have hour-ish long commutes who do something similar to this Monday through Friday!)
So when I do have a day off (which means my husband is probably working), I like to take it easy. I always think about how productive I could be during naptime. But the reality is that I like to spend naptime watching TV, playing around on the computer, reading, or even napping.
There are few things nicer than waking up with your kids knowing that you don't have anywhere to go or anything to do all day. We play, we do crafts, we eat, we laugh. It's heaven!
On the flip side, 12 hour shifts are loooong. I leave the house at 6:30 in the morning and I don't get home until 8pm. (Although I realize there are people who have hour-ish long commutes who do something similar to this Monday through Friday!)
So when I do have a day off (which means my husband is probably working), I like to take it easy. I always think about how productive I could be during naptime. But the reality is that I like to spend naptime watching TV, playing around on the computer, reading, or even napping.
There are few things nicer than waking up with your kids knowing that you don't have anywhere to go or anything to do all day. We play, we do crafts, we eat, we laugh. It's heaven!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Things are looking up
My husband lost his (well-paying) job when I was about six months pregnant with Maggie. It took him almost two years before he found a new job. Part of the reason that it took him so long is that he is also going back to school to get a degree.
Last spring, he got his EMT certification. And last week, he took the admission test for paramedic school. The letters were mailed out today and we should know tomorrow or Thursday whether or not he gets in.
I got a new part-time job to help make ends meet, which I am excited about. It seems like finally we are going to be able to take a deep breath financially. Once he is finished with school (hopefully in November), we will both be able to work full time and make a good income.
What a relief!
Last spring, he got his EMT certification. And last week, he took the admission test for paramedic school. The letters were mailed out today and we should know tomorrow or Thursday whether or not he gets in.
I got a new part-time job to help make ends meet, which I am excited about. It seems like finally we are going to be able to take a deep breath financially. Once he is finished with school (hopefully in November), we will both be able to work full time and make a good income.
What a relief!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Whirlwind
What a crazy few weeks it's been!
Maggie's birthday was three days before Christmas. My parents came up from St. Louis to visit starting on her birthday. They were able to stay until Dec. 27 which was fun for everyone.
We celebrated Christmas with my dad's family on Christmas eve. My dad is one of seven kids and I have 18 cousins on that side alone. It's kind of like the family from My Big Fat Greek Wedding! We had a blast!
On Christmas day we celebrated Christmas with my mom's side of the family, although my husband and I both had to work. I was a little disappointed, but my cousins on that side can be a little crazy, so it was ok.
We had Maggie's birthday party the day after Christmas. My mom got her some giant helium balloons and she got tons of presents (of course!).
We opened some Christmas gifts at her party from people we were unable to catch up with in the previous weeks. (Although I think next year, we will just make her party about her and celebrate Christmas another time.)
We went to my parents house on Dec. 30 so that my husband and dad could go to the 49er/Rams game on Sunday. They had a blast and my mom and I had fun taking the girls to the park.
It was a busy few days but we all had a lot of fun!
Maggie's birthday was three days before Christmas. My parents came up from St. Louis to visit starting on her birthday. They were able to stay until Dec. 27 which was fun for everyone.
We celebrated Christmas with my dad's family on Christmas eve. My dad is one of seven kids and I have 18 cousins on that side alone. It's kind of like the family from My Big Fat Greek Wedding! We had a blast!
On Christmas day we celebrated Christmas with my mom's side of the family, although my husband and I both had to work. I was a little disappointed, but my cousins on that side can be a little crazy, so it was ok.
We had Maggie's birthday party the day after Christmas. My mom got her some giant helium balloons and she got tons of presents (of course!).
We opened some Christmas gifts at her party from people we were unable to catch up with in the previous weeks. (Although I think next year, we will just make her party about her and celebrate Christmas another time.)
We went to my parents house on Dec. 30 so that my husband and dad could go to the 49er/Rams game on Sunday. They had a blast and my mom and I had fun taking the girls to the park.
It was a busy few days but we all had a lot of fun!
Christmas/ birthday
Maggie's birthday is two days before Christmas. Even though this is her third Christmas, it is still a little shocking to me that I have to plan (and make special) her birthday in the midst of all the Christmas craziness.
Of course, the first Christmas, we were just lucky to survive with a three day old- fresh from the hospital infant.
Last year, we went a little crazy with the toys and presents. I figured it was her one time a year to have everything special and we might as well celebrate. That turned out to be a good plan as five days before Christmas last year I found out I was pregnant with Lucy.
This year was a bit more work. I wanted to keep things even between the girls (they both got 4 presents and a book from Santa) but I still wanted her birthday to be special.
I think that this Christmas birthday will be something I will have to adjust to, but I hope that it turns out to be a lot of fun.
Of course, the first Christmas, we were just lucky to survive with a three day old- fresh from the hospital infant.
Last year, we went a little crazy with the toys and presents. I figured it was her one time a year to have everything special and we might as well celebrate. That turned out to be a good plan as five days before Christmas last year I found out I was pregnant with Lucy.
This year was a bit more work. I wanted to keep things even between the girls (they both got 4 presents and a book from Santa) but I still wanted her birthday to be special.
I think that this Christmas birthday will be something I will have to adjust to, but I hope that it turns out to be a lot of fun.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Raising Girls
I grew up with two younger brothers and spent the first ten years of my life wishing for a little sister. Then, I realized that I hated girl drama and I was glad that I didn't have any sisters so that I could avoid all of that at home.
When my first daughter was born almost two years ago, I was elated. We didn't know until she was born whether she would be a boy or a girl. I would have been happy either way, but I secretly wanted a girl.
When I got pregnant with my second daughter, the idea of having two girls so close in age terrified me. When I realized that they would be only a year apart in school, I cried. My friend who have sisters tried to tell me that having sisters was awesome and they wouldn't really fight, but I remember those same friends having terrible fights with their sisters growing up. Fights far worse than any I ever had with my brothers.
So now I have two little girls, nineteen months apart in age. For right now, things are good. Maggie can't get enough of her little sister. When Lucy cries, Maggie is the first one there to comfort her. I always find little toys or treasures in Lucy's swing or bouncer that Maggie leaves there for her.
I'm also worried that I'm not girly enough to have girls. I'm not a tomboy, but I am not into a lot of girly things. I hate getting my hair cut, I've only gotten one pedicure in my life and that was more than enough for the next ten years. I can't even put eyeliner on correctly. I know that I will be able to teach them to be strong, independent powerful women. It's the other things that worry me.
Tonight while I was sitting on the floor reading bedtime stories to Maggie while breastfeeding Lucy, Maggie stopped me and asked me to unzip the top of her pj's so that she could breastfeed her doll. Moments like that make me think that I am going to do just fine raising my little girls.
When my first daughter was born almost two years ago, I was elated. We didn't know until she was born whether she would be a boy or a girl. I would have been happy either way, but I secretly wanted a girl.
When I got pregnant with my second daughter, the idea of having two girls so close in age terrified me. When I realized that they would be only a year apart in school, I cried. My friend who have sisters tried to tell me that having sisters was awesome and they wouldn't really fight, but I remember those same friends having terrible fights with their sisters growing up. Fights far worse than any I ever had with my brothers.
So now I have two little girls, nineteen months apart in age. For right now, things are good. Maggie can't get enough of her little sister. When Lucy cries, Maggie is the first one there to comfort her. I always find little toys or treasures in Lucy's swing or bouncer that Maggie leaves there for her.
I'm also worried that I'm not girly enough to have girls. I'm not a tomboy, but I am not into a lot of girly things. I hate getting my hair cut, I've only gotten one pedicure in my life and that was more than enough for the next ten years. I can't even put eyeliner on correctly. I know that I will be able to teach them to be strong, independent powerful women. It's the other things that worry me.
Tonight while I was sitting on the floor reading bedtime stories to Maggie while breastfeeding Lucy, Maggie stopped me and asked me to unzip the top of her pj's so that she could breastfeed her doll. Moments like that make me think that I am going to do just fine raising my little girls.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)