Frustrated, I'm so frustrated right now. I know I've mentioned before that I'm taking my A&P courses this semester. The two courses are 4 hours a piece and instead of taking each course over the spread of 16 weeks, I'm doing each course in 8. My scores in these two courses count 60% toward my application score to get into the nursing program. It is VERY important I do well. Anyhow, I've cancelled and turned down countless cake orders because I need to focus on school.

This week has been incredibly hard. Our normal reading and written assignments are do today instead of Sunday. This is because our mid-terms in the lecture and lab portion of the class are this weekend. So, the two days that Mattie & Caden go to Mother's Day Out have not been enough. My current grade in the class is right at 90%...which really irks me, because if I could have just a little more time it would be better. But it is what it is. Wesley has been out at work like effing crazy. I just completed a timed assignment because who even knows if Wesley will get home before it's due and I'm really tired. I figured, if I waited until the kids go to sleep, I would be worthless. So, I get a movie on the t.v. for Caden and change Mattie's diaper. Things are going smoothly until Mattie crawls in here and I smell her poopy diaper...great. She is not happy to have a poopy diaper. Then Caden points out that he has finished his milk and wants more. I beg him to please wait until I finish my work. My 3 year old has no concept of please wait and decides to pour his own milk. So, I have to really fly through my crap and make a few stooopid mistakes. Nothing like having a few minor distractions. Now it's time to study for the mid-terms. I HAVE to make an 'A' on both exams. I HAVE to. You should see the disaster area I call home. I haven't had time to do much. The mess is making me crazy, but if I have spare time it goes to the kids or just staring at the t.v. like an overloaded vegetable. Oh yeah, I've also had to do 3 lessons of Wesley's because he just hasn't been home to do them. This will also mean that I'll probably have to tutor him on what he missed. AND, I've been sick for the past two days...it's really hard to mean business with Caden when I sound like Micky Mouse. I feel poopy. My sister-in-law made chili for her parents, sister's family, and our family last night. That was nice, not having to scrounge for supper. It's 5:18 and Wesley is still not home. I really want to just break down and cry right now, but I don't dare. I'm just frustrated, not defeated. The timing for all of this shit is just off...but whatever. I'll get through. I think it's worth it. At least Wesley is supposed to be home this weekend, we'll see. I better go, Mattie is bawling about something and this pity party has got to stop. 

Well, my stinking camera has thrown me for another loop. I'm telling you it's biting the dust. Now it's doing this thing where the picture is repeated. So instead of one picture you get the same image duplicated. See below, this makes me very crazy. I've gone through the settings but I'm to stupid to figure out what's wrong. Blasted thing! I really liked these pictures, too!

Last weekend, a girl from my class emailed me. She noticed that I was from Seminole and so is she. Her name is Ruby. She told me that her text book has yet to arrive (some Internet school book sites are sketchy). Anyhow, it was an inconvenience but I said to myself, "pay it forward. You never know when you might find yourself in a jam." She was very nice and brought the book back on time. I learned she works in the Wal-Mart pharmacy. I wished Ruby luck in getting her book in, she thanked me, and that was that.

I didn't sleep much last night. Mattie was up with a fever, runny nose, and cough. I tried to get her fever to break all day. No luck. I called our FNP during the day but she was gone. I kept waiting for Wesley to get home from work so I could take Mattie to the ER and get her taken care of. (BTW, Wesley has been home for a total of 12-14 hours since Wednesday.) Finally, when 5:00 p.m. rolls around Wesley is no closer to coming home than he was hours before, I decided to make one last call to the FNP. She answered! She said she could call something into the Wal-Mart pharmacy but I wouldn't be able to pick it up until Monday because they take 24 hours to fill Rxs. So she called it in. And I got online and got Ruby's number and gave her a ringy dingy. She happened to be in Wal-Mart, but not at work. I told her what the deal was and she said she would call me back. Within minutes she called to tell me that the prescription for Mattie would be ready at 5:45.

How cool is that? If I would've been stingy, I wouldn't have had strings pulled for me. And my precious girl wouldn't have her meds, because the FNP said don't bother going to the ER because the pharmacy there would be closed, too. What's up with that? Anyhow, it doesn't matter because things worked out. Don't ya just love it when you're rewarded for being nice? I do.

Poor Wesley is in bed. He is WORN OUT. I have to mention that he was sure to be home during the Xgames telecasting. We loved every minute of it. The Hice household is incredibly proud of the Moore boys and their parents. I also love it when good things happen to good people.

The other day I realized that I'm a lot nicer when I drink coffee all day. I find myself brewing a pot at 4:00 p.m. these days. I always feel sort of funny doing it but hey you do what works, right?

Okay, I better get off of her and get a few extra Zs in. Goodnight all!

A couple of days ago, I took Mattie and Caden to Wally World to get Mattie's allergy meds. Caden rides in the basket because he screams for me to let go of his hand if he walks. Mattie rides in the front, where kids are supposed to ride. I'm sure you've seen other mothers like me out there. It's just what you do. We were in the parking lot and I ran into an old co-worker. The parking lot here is on a slope. Anyhow, I was exchanging pleasantries with this lady and Caden reached far out over the left side of the buggy to pull himself to the truck. When he did this, he caused the entire buggy to flip over. I was holding onto the handle and so it pulled me down with it. As the buggy landed on it's side, Caden skidded out on his hands and Mattie skidded out on her head. I tell you've I've never seen something so stomach churning as my baby girl slamming into the asphalt. I scrambled on my knees to her and my friend grabbed Caden up. I immediately said prayers for them both. Caden was fine, skinned his hands and hurt his feelers. Mattie is fine, too. Skinned her head up pretty good and bruised her. But now she is scared to fall. She pulls herself up to tables and couches and then hangs on for dear life. Her legs will get shaky and she'll squeeze until her fingers are white just trying to hang on. God bless her precious heart, it's so sad. I'm just thankful that it's just a little fear of falling and scratches and bruises that she has. It looked like it could've been so much worse. Anyhow, I think I'm going to petition Wal-Mart to stock their stores with the buggies they have at Sam's. The side by side kids in front kind. The other kind with the blue seats on the back don't work...Caden will unbuckle himself and his sister...which would cause another accident. I figure they should do this, because research has shown that the large the buggy is the more people will buy. Apparently, people like to see their basket full.

I've watched my cousins compete today. It's extremely stressful...I yell and cheer like they can hear me. At least my heart is there with them. They qualified to compete in the finals tonight. You should watch. I would also appreciate any prayers you have for their safety and for their confidence to use the talents that God has blessed them with.

Okay, that's it for now. I've got school work.Love!

Just a few things...

Mattie started pulling herself up this week. I can hardly stand how fast she is growing. She brings such joy to this house.

I can't remember if I posted that Caden is attending a Mother's Day Out program on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Mattie started this week, too. Both of them do really well. Caden especially, loves it. I really like Mattie's teacher and think it's a good thing for her.

Speech is an on-going issue with Caden. I really don't even want to get into it. I'm just frustrated. It's an articulation problem. I just wish he could say everything as well as he says "Asssss Hole." If he hears anyone curse at all he tags you on it. He does not use these words in his speech. He just picks up on it and tells you not to say it. But he makes it worse when he tells you. For example if the word "ass" is used he tells you "No, say Ass Hole!" Or the B word, "No say gumba bitch. (Gumba = Son of a)" Well, I admit he does say this when he has a screwdriver in hand. This comes from his deep desire to work like his Daddy. Caden picks up on everything. Anyhow, back to the scolding you for cussing. He was watching Disney the other day and screamed at me "Mom!!! Mickey Mouse said shit!" I replied, "noooo, he didn't." He insists, "Es he did! Mickey Mouse said shit." Again, I say "No, he didn't!" He doesn't give up, "Es, Mom, he said shit." I took the remote, hit rewind, and Mickey Mouse says "count with me! One, two, three, four, five, six!" Caden is delighted, "See! Mickey Mouse say shit, Mom" I try to stifle my laughter, "No baby, Mickey Mouse said six, you know the number six. Lets count..."

Caden is also hell-on-wheels. Sometimes, I wonder where I've gone so wrong with him. Seriously.

I'm taking my A&P courses this semester. Both of them, not simultaneously, just double-time. It's not easy, but I'm very much enjoying the content.

My cousins are competing in Winter XGames in Aspen. I really, really want to go. I have decided that I'm not going and that I'm going about twenty different times, now. At the moment, I'm not going. Don't ask me in the morning.

I feel like a very negative person these days. I'm happy, but I say and even worse, think negative things. That's just not like me. I think it's because I'm just tired, exhausted really. My nerves are shot and my temper is short. I could use a drink, but never do. What's up with that?

I saw some skinny horses today. I hate that, skinny horses...you know when you see their ribs? I can't remember having a horse, sheep, pig, or dog that was skinny. I know winter is hard when it comes to the feed bill. But seriously, if you can't keep some cover on your livestock during the winter sell them, give them away...something.

Wesley had one of his big toe nails removed today due to ingrown toenails. He has been laid up all afternoon. He isn't in too much pain, though.

I wish I had time to write. Really write. I used to tell stories on here. I used to watch my grammar and use the spell check. There has not been time for that. I have stories to finish and others to start. I really need to do it because the details are fading fast from my memory.

I guess that's it, really.

With Love,

Whit

Because Mom & Hat did it and I want to, too!

If I were…

If I were a month, I would be May

If I were a day of the week, I would be Monday

If I were a time of the day, I would be 5:00 p.m.

If I were a planet, I would be Earth

If I were a sea animal, I would be a whale

If I were a direction, I would be south

If I were a piece of furniture, I would be an old, metal kitchen stool 

If I were a liquid, I would be iced tea

If I were a gemstone, I would be an emerald

If I were a tree, I would be a magnolia tree

If I were a tool, I would be a floor jack

If I were a flower, I would be a magnolia

If I were a kind of weather, I would be a thunderstorm

If I were a musical instrument, I would be the voice of Patsy Cline

If I were a color, I would be white or blue or white or blue...I don't know which

If I were an emotion, I would be happiness

If I were a fruit, I would be a strawberry

If I were a sound, I would be the sound of water lapping on a shore

If I were an element, I would be wind

If I were a car, I would be a 1970 Chevelle SS with a 454, blue with white racing stripes

If I were a food, I would be banana pudding

If I were a place, I would be Wheeler County

If I were a material, I would be high thread count cotton

If I were a taste, I would be tangy

If I were a scent, I would be the smell of the ocean

If I were an animal, I would be a bird

If I were an object, I would be a seashell that sits in a kitchen window sill

If I were a body part, I would be eyes

If I were a facial expression, I would be a smile of contentment

If I were a pair of shoes, I would be flip flops

It's a weird day here. I feel weird. Things are just weird. There is snow on the ground here in West Texas. The sun is shining, but it's cold enough that it doesn't melt the snow. That's just weird. I've put forth effort into straightening up, but it doesn't even look like I have. I don't really feel like doing anything but reading a book, watching a movie, and taking a nap. All three will not happen with these kids. Just typing this requires more patience and time that it's worth. It's a decent distraction, though.

After being on the waiting list, we finally got Caden into the Mother's Day Out program here. It's twice a week. He enjoyed going last week. He is so very independent. I dropped him off the first day and he walked into his room and just started playing. I visited with his teacher for a minute, then asked Caden if I could have a hug before I left. He said "Oh sure, Mom, sorry about that Mom. Love you, Mom. Bye, Mom, Bye!" It was like he had forgot to shut the backdoor or something...like oh how silly of me. Now that  I've hugged you get moving. I'm the only one that had a hard time with it. He is adjusting very well. This is a good break for both of us. Mattie is going to start going this Tuesday. I'm really shaky about it, but I know it will be best considering this is going to be a really tough semester for me. School starts Monday.

I also just need the time. I've yet to spend a night away from both the kids since Mattie's been born. I'm far past ready for it. I don't think it would be so bad if Wesley didn't work insane hours. It's so rare for him to be home before 5:00. He is supposed to be off at 4:00...and honestly, I think 6:00 is a good average. So on days like this, when I'm tired and cranky, I wonder how it is that I don't go insane. It's a good thing Wesley is off tomorrow. He's so good to help. But things are 10 times noisier when he is home, too. I yearn for quiet. I know that one of these days, I'll miss all of this noise, but at this moment I yearn for quiet. I would love a place to curl up and study and be left alone...just for a little while. I'm going to make it happen, too. Sooner rather than later.

I need to go to the chiropractor. My hip is really out of alignment...and it's pinching things. My neck is doing funny stuff, too.

Have I mentioned that Mattie is crawling? She just gets it everywhere she goes. I can't remember Caden crawling so fast and furious. Of course, he didn't really have the room to. Mattie is also just doing everything she can to keep up with her brother.

Gophers. We have gophers in our yard and backyard. Not prarie dogs...gophers. This is weird to me. Their holes are starting to piss me off. I can't wait for Wesley to be home this weekend to shoot them. If he doesn't take the time, I'm off to find poison. Caden plays in their dirt mounds and this really grosses me out. It's weird that it bothers me, but it does. If you have had gophers and were successful in their removal, please feel free to share any tips you have.

Well, I better get off now. It's taken a bit just to write this. There are diapers to change, sippy cups to refill, snacks to prepare. Make it a great weekend, everybody. I'm going to! I'm going to get over this weird mood and make the most of this weekend.

Con Mucho Amor!

Remember when people posted on Xanga? When they wrote more than a one-liner on Facebook? Me, too. I miss it.

This is my notice that I'm doing another purge. If you have not posted something in the last 6 months, I'm blocking you. That is unless, you post something in the next week or so.

Share and share alike, I say.

Love to all!

Whit

I found a small nativity that I liked enough to buy. When I explained to Caden who it was...he would break out in song when he looked at the nativity. Good stuff. I wish he didn't get so side tracked when the camera is on...

Snow Day!

We used this small hill towards the neighbors house.

Next year we'll shred all of the way back...so if it snows we can slide down the draw!

Hot chocolate break!

Caden's first snowman. This is his very own handy work. His Dad got him started and he said "NO! Me do it, me do it." And so he did...

Finally, this is what I'm hoping will be my last cake until April!