Don't Let's Start...

I'm sitting here waiting for the washing machine to run through its cycle. My mind is full of a million thoughts and I don't know what to do with them! I thought I'd come type a few of them out.

I haven't had a chance to write in here lately, so you'll have to excuse the fragmented stories.

About 6 weeks ago a new "girl" started at work. I don't even know how to describe her. I have never had to deal with such a difficult personality conflict in my life! Well, one other comes to mind, but I don't even think that this compares - it's a little different situation. Catty, manipulative, fake, passive aggressive (although I have to own up to the fact that I have dealt with her in the same way, I am afraid to stand up to her). It's been so hard! My manager gave notice, her last day was the 22nd. It's amazing how much influence one person (or two people) can have on your attitude and performance at work! My manager had an awesome opportunity available to her, and I am jealous! I wish her the best. Unfortunately she left me with this "girl" that drives me insane and makes me dread going to work! Good news came this week, she found a job somewhere else. The potential sale and instability she feared came with it motivated her to find something else. Buh-bye. :) Her last day was supposed to be next Friday, but she called in this morning saying that her dad had bought her a plane ticket to go home for the weekend, so she wouldn't be in today or tomorrow...it looks like after that stunt she'll be leaving on Monday once they collect her keys. Darnit!

As I mentioned, the site I work at is up for sale, it's a stressful situation, we're all a little on edge. There is no certainty on our employment situation once the sale goes through, and no specific date to work towards. I'm not terribly worried about it, I think that the owners of the company I work for are motivated to find me a position elsewhere with the company. If that isn't an option, Aaron and I are fortunately in the position for me to go on unemployment for a while until I am able to find something. My salary is higher than my education level justifies, if that makes sense...it would be (has been in the past) difficult for me to find something that pays the same amount of money. We'll see what happens. I'm just riding it out!

Good news!!! I am passing physiology! I have one more exam on the 8th of August, and I think I'm going to pull it off! I am anxious, but excited! Wish me luck!

Maddie has been having a rough week because her bedtime hasn't been consistent. When Aaron's home she has such a hard time settling down for the night! The late nights have actually started a pattern of her sleeping in, and it's not good! We're back to a rigid schedule starting on the 29th of August when school starts again...ugh...Aaron just got his information packet from the department of nursing today, this last semester is going to be a challenge to get through. Maddie is also so excited to start preschool! I can't believe she's going this fall!

My best friend's husband moved out this week. She has survived a year of marital hell and is still so gracious and willing to work on it. I admire her strength. My heart aches for her, she is struggling so much with everything and I just hate to see her have to deal with all of this. She is a beautiful person, an awesome dedicated mom, a great friend...an all-around good person. I just don't understand it. Amy, I love you! I hope that the rainy days move out quickly and that the future is much brighter, no matter what happens with your marriage. I wish so badly that this didn't have to happen to you!

So, there's some of the thoughts going through my head. It's late...I have laundry to get to. Oh, my Friday nights are so exciting!!!

I know the secret

SunshineDaze

I got to sleep in until 11:00 a.m. this morning. This is a first in
years! Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it too much. I woke up early this morning knowing that I wasn't going to feel well today. When I finally got out of bed an hour later to shower for work, I could tell I wasn't going to be able to function. I called in sick, something I hate doing, and climbed back in bed. I'll spare the gross details, but I am ready to be over this!

I did have to get to school to take the midterm in my lab, that was fun. I don't know that I did too well, I was trying to focus on the test but was focusing harder on not passing out. Lovely. I'm missing my lecture right now, but couldn't find the strength to get myself and Maddie out the door. Aaron was sweet and missed out on his afternoon nap for his graveyard shift so that I could get more rest, and he made sure Maddie was fed before he left for work.

I feel horrible that I'm counting down the minutes until Maddie's bed time (1 hour 10 minutes). She's looking at me like I'm an alien today. We have plans to go to Lagoon on Saturday, I hope I'm feeling well enough!

One more thing and then I'm off to bed

I was reminded tonight of my sweet child's desire for independence as I put away dishes. This morning as I was working on some homework, Maddie announced that she was going to make herself a peanut butter sandwich. Amused at the thought, I kept my eye on her from the computer desk and watched her get a piece of bread out of the bag, her plastic knife out of the utensil drawer and open the jar of peanut butter that had been sitting on the counter. She took a plate off the counter and crouched down over her findings and worked diligently at spreading the peanut butter on the piece of bread. She put everything back on the counter (even put the lid back on the peanut butter!) and brought me a crumpled piece of peanut butter bread that she had wadded up. She was only frustrated when she couldn't get the bread folded nicely in half. That's when she asked for help. I obliged, of course, smiling at her sense of accomplishment. She ate her "sandwich" and the day went on...I didn't think of the sandwich again.

Tonight as I was unloading the dishwasher and putting the clean things in their place, I noticed a yellow plastic knife in the utensil drawer - with peanut butter smeared from the tip of it all the way down to the bottom of the handle. I just had to laugh.

I have found the compulsive mom in myself

"Do you need to go potty?" "Maddie, do you need to go potty?" "Let's go potty, Maddie." That is me the last three days. I need to give it a rest...Maddie finally said to me tonight "Mom, I already told you no!" To my credit, yesterday I asked her twice within 10 minutes, and she came to me about 2 minutes later with wet poopy underwear. Oh, this has been too much fun. We started on Sunday, had one accident. Monday we braved a trip to the mall and she did great. The accident happened after her naptime yesterday, shortly before we left for our friend's house for fireworks. Today I was off again and stuck with it and I think she's just about got it.

This all started on Saturday when we were at Costco and I said "Oh, I forgot to buy diapers." Aaron said "let's just not buy them anymore." Translate to "why don't you potty train her this weekend, Tandy." Yeah, it was all me, but that's okay...he's home with her tomorrow and I hope he's persistent.

So, that's my mommy brag for the day...Maddie seems to be potty trained. I'm sticking with the pull-ups at night, because I'm just not ready for the wet bedding. She's woken up with dry pull-ups for the past week, so I think we're probably safe, but I'm going to give it a little longer.

Now to brag about myself. I got the essay portion of my third first physiology exam back tonight. I got 10 points out of 10 points possible. That is a first for me in my college career...usually I am seriously lacking in essay writing ability. I cried tears of joy after I got over the shock of seeing 10/10 on my paper, the professor even wrote "GOOD!" on it. Wow!

Friday night

Aaron worked last night so I had a quiet house after Maddie went to bed. Our new selection of Netflix movies arrived yesterday so I decided to watch Finding Neverland. First of all, there is something amazingly wonderful about watching a movie in your pj's all snuggled up in bed with lots of pillows! The movie was great. I really enjoyed it. I found myself crying for reasons I still am not sure of. There is so much to be said for enjoying the innocence and imagination of youth, I think. There is also too much heartache that some children have to bare. So, I cried, and I didn't care - because no one was there to see it!

Speaking of children, I enjoyed another fun Friday with Maddie last night. Fun Friday has become somewhat of a tradition between Maddie and I, Aaron works most Friday nights. I try to find something different to do each week that keeps us away from the TV and other distractions at home. Last night we went to my mom's house. Mom bought Maddie some sidewalk chalk and we spent the evening on the driveway drawing everything Maddie could think of. She tried walking through the colors and jumping into the pictures, just like Mary Poppins. We didn't get anywhere though! She is so much fun to watch. Maddie was also thrilled because my little sister's boyfriend took a few minutes to paint her toenails. Maddie adores Brady and I think she has a crush. :) This morning she was admiring her pretty toes and she said "I love Brady, he's my bestfriend." Once again, the number of people in Maddie's life that she has to love is just incredible. She loves them all, too.

That reminds me, we went to Rite Aid to buy the sidewalk chalk. The clerk at the register said "Is that your favorite grandma?" as Maddie had her head resting on my mom's shoulder and was embracing her whole-heartedly. I was somewhat worried about the response she would have, but Maddie was very thoughtful before she spoke. My mom commented and said something about Maddie having several favorite grandmas. Maddie then said "I love my grandma Lisa, and I love my grandma Pam, and I love my grandma Nina." What a lucky kid to have so many wonderful grandmas. They are all wonderful in different ways, and Maddie has already figured that out!

I am sitting here at work with little to do, regretting that I didn't bring my physiology homework with me today. I guess no one is looking for an apartment over the holiday weekend. Only two and a half more hours to go.

We don't have any plans for this weekend. I'm off Sun-Tues and I'm excited about the long weekend. Aaron works the graveyard shift tomorrow night so Maddie and I will probably spend the first half of the 4th with my family. There's a celebration at the U of U tonight with a 40 minute firework show, we might try to find a good spot to watch them. I wish it weren't so hot, I'd consider buying tickets to the show at the U of U - we went several summers ago and felt like we were roasting in the stadium. The thought of it is not appealing!