The new job!

After 25 years of non-paying employment (taking care of kids, taking care of hubby, and occasionally taking care of the house..haha) I have a real job! I am working in Blackfoot at Blackfoot Medical Center. I work for a new pediatrician that just finished up her residency at Primary Children's in SLC. Her name is Christie Julian. I'm working Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9-5 (ish). It's a little more than a half hour drive from our house to work; it's just enough time to unwind after work before I get home. Perfect!
The other day, the receptionist sent a phone call over to my desk and told the caller, "I will transfer you to the nurse and she can answer your question." I had a momentary panic, as there was no nurse there! I AM the nurse! LOL I kind of feel like I'm playing dress-up!
I have an official license now...it came in the mail a couple of weeks ago! I'm really, and truly, a nurse now! :D
Now, the challenge will be figuring out how to get dinner on the table before midnight sometime. How have working moms done it all of these years?

The three graduates

We had three, count them, three graduations last month! I graduated from EITC, then Heath graduated from White Pine, and last (but not least) Jeff graduated from Hillcrest. A fun time was had by all....all month long! :D

He's in the Army now!

Today we took Jeff to the airport. He's on his way to bootcamp at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. First stop is a stay in Salt Lake City, then he's off tomorrow to Missouri! Poor kid had never even been on an airplane until today. I tried to hold it together, but I wasn't very successful. I shed some tears in the airport, but most of them came in the car and at home afterward. He has texted me to let me know that he landed safely in SLC, and that the flight offered him a new view of his world. Now, we just have to wait until he's done in about 11 weeks for graduation. He won't get to come home then, however. After boot camp, he has AIT (Advanced Individual Training) for another 4 weeks. Maybe I'll be done crying by the time he gets back? Dang these independent kids that think they can have a life of their own! I wonder if they allow moms at bootcamp.... :s

The graduate Gran

I can't believe it! I finally graduated! It was a wonderful day/evening. We had a pinning ceremony first. Long ago, thankfully before me, nurses had a capping/pinning ceremony where they received one of those "lovely" nurses caps and a pin. Now, we just receive pins. I had to speak, which was a little nerve wracking! My family tells me that I did okay, but I did choke up. I wish that I didn't have such a high water table; crying just comes way too easy for me, especially when it's an emotional time/event, etc. After we had all received our pins, we stated the "Florence Nightingale" pledge together; it's an adaptation of the the Hippocratic Oath that doctors take. After the pinning ceremony, we went to Heather's house for a "picnic". Idaho weather being what it was/is, we decided to beat the chill and wind and cram into her apartment. It was a wise choice, by the way. Then, we headed back for the actual graduation ceremony. The best part of graduation was as I was walking across the stage. Suddenly, from the balcony, we heard (clear as a bell) "That's my mom!" It was Heath. How awesome he made me feel! :D With graduation over, we headed back to our house for cake and visiting long into the night. I can't stop wondering how we all survived. My family has been amazingly supportive through this whole thing. The boys say that they are glad to have their mom back. I must say, that I'm just as glad to be back!

Saga of the laundryroom counter

It all started innocently enough. I went into the laundry room and realized that I haven't seen the counter in there for, oh, about 5 semesters now. So, I decided to clean off the counter. I figured that way I could put the drink boxes and chips that we put in the boys' lunches on that counter and off of the kitchen floor. Sounds like a good idea. BUT, I couldn't really get to the counter. There was quite a bit of laundry...some clean, some dirty. Must first figure out what is clean and what is dirty. The clean laundry really needs to be folded and put away. Start washing dirty laundry and start folding what may end up amounting to 5 semesters worth of laundry. Finish the laundry (well, as finished as laundry can be. My family doesn't seem to like the idea of walking around naked...so there is always more laundry to do). By now, it is time for dinner. Make dinner. Eat dinner. Hubby finally comes home. Visit with hubby while he eats dinner. Wash dishes...okay, wash what will fit in the dishwasher. Plan to sort laundry into the proper bedrooms. Hubby realizes it's the last day of the month. Realizes also that two of his three Home Teaching families still need to be graced with his presence. Asks son to go with him. Son is going to a study group for a test. We want this son to graduate; living at home forever is not an option. Allow son to go to study group. Asks another son to go. This son is grounded until every speck of laundry has been discovered in his room and has been place in the proper laundry receptacle (aka: hamper). Allow son to finish the laundry hunt. Next son begins to whine before even being asked. Don't bother to ask this son. Hubby is now out of sons. Asks wife. Wife can't think of a good enough reason. Decides to go. Family number one, out-of-town. Family number two, not at home. No surprise on either one; that's why wife decided to go. Wife thinks she gets to go home and finish laundry room. Wife is crazy for thinking this. Home teaching families live within two blocks of mother-in-law. Go to mother-in-laws for a "minute". Leave 90 minutes later. Wife is now tired, and boys need to go to bed. Decides to finish in the morning. Great night's sleep.
Next morning. Get boys off to school. Decide to tackle laundry room. Find purple sheets on counter. Purple sheets that go on bed in master bedroom, that needs sheets changed. Hmmmm. Don't want to put the sheets away, since I'm going to use them. Go down the hall to make the bed. Hmmmm. Can't change the sheets yet. Bedroom needs dusting. Don't want to get dust on clean sheets. Bedroom hasn't been dusted for a while. Not 5 semesters, but looks that bad. Can't dust. Bedroom is a mess. Must clean surfaces off before dusting. Clean off surfaces in bedroom. Dust bedroom. Grandbaby comes for a visit. Hold baby while daughter puts clean sheets on bed (I highly recommend this method of changing the bed, by the way). Go back to laundry room. Decide to go on date with hubby instead. Laundry room counter, still unseen.

The light at the end of the tunnel

I didn't think it would ever happen! I can finally see the light at the end of the graduation tunnel. After 5 straight semesters I am finally seeing the day of graduation! As of now, I have one computer test (which is a comprehensive test for the last 3 semesters...a little bit of stress), one final, one more presentation, and two days of class! WOW! My poor family is so excited to "have Mom back". They have been troopers. And, the best part, they've learned to do dishes, clean bathrooms, do laundry (okay, not up to my standards, but clean is clean, right?), and even do some grocery shopping. Now comes the hard part....finding a job!
Graduation is May 11th. The only downside is that I have to speak at the pinning ceremony. Not so sure that's a great thing....
I'm so excited! My mom and Nana are coming for my graduation, and will be here for a week. We plan to do a 5 generation picture while they are here! Yay!
Then, on the 22nd of May, Heath will be graduating from middle school. On the 27th, Jeff will be graduating from high school. Big partying will be going on at the Hansen's house!
Cedar Badge will be filling the month of June, as usual. Then, Jeff goes off to boot camp. Maybe I should have quit while I was ahead! I can't see the light at the end of that tunnel yet! :(

The circle of life!

This Sunday evening we welcomed the newest member of the family! A little 7 pound 3 oz, 19 1/2 inch pink bundle of joy! Our little Hannah already has her numerous uncles and aunts wrapped around her beautifully perfect little fingers! And, her grandparents are even more excited than the uncles and aunts, if that is possible. It seems not so very long ago that Kerry and I were welcoming Hannah's mom into our family....I can't believe that our baby has had a baby. The memories that come rushing back are incredible. I have been remembering things that her mama did as a baby and young child that have made me laugh and cry for the last two days. I'm sure that our little Hannah will bring at least as much joy to her mom and dad as our perfectly beautiful children brought into our lives. It's so much fun to look forward to the next generation growing up! By the way, our little Hannah is to be the fifth generation in upcoming photo shoots. I wonder if my Nana had any idea what she was starting? Probably not. I know that I didn't have a clue about what the future would hold the first time that I held that sweet little hand of my first baby. I only knew that I loved her with all of my heart before she even arrived. Now, we look around and see our six children, two sons-in-law, and our first grandchild. The circle of life continues on! :D

I miss four seasons!

When I moved to Idaho all those years ago, from a warmer place in the south, I kept hearing how much I was going to love the beauty and the four seasons (which, presumably, I had never seen). Well, I've lived here for going on 11 years (gasp! I can't believe it has really been that long!). So far, I've only really seen two seasons, winter and road construction. You see, it's so blasted cold here at the north pole, that they cannot fix potholes or do any other kind of road construction without a certain temperature. That is usually found during the month of July. Last year, it snowed on June 16th. I think that was the last snow that we had. Today (well into what should be spring) I shoveled 4 inches of snow off of the walks and driveway when I got home from the hospital. I had a patient that really wanted to go home today. I opened the shade in her window, and told her to have a look. She is staying an extra day. I don't blame her. Seems we go straight from Winter to summer here...I really wish I could see these four seasons the locals keep telling me about!

Posted due to requests

This blog was previously printed on the family blog site. You must know that Kerry accidentally sprayed "room spray" on his body one evening, mistaking it for "men's spray". This will clarify a comment near the end! :D

Monday, February 23, 2009

The joys of dinner in the Hansen house

So here we sat on a Sunday night eating our dinner. It wasn't that big or exciting. Just breakfast burritos (quick and easy). Well, the "little boys" were done eating, so they were visiting (hadn't yet been "excused" by Dad). Dad, Jeff, and I were visiting at OUR end of the table. Then, it started. I heard Heath sound like he was hawking up a loogie. Gross. Jared was laughing his butt off, which just encouraged Heath. Jared is drinking his grape juice at the time.
Suddenly, Jared jumps out of his seat and starts running to the bathroom. Running. Throwing up. Running and throwing up at the same time. Running and throwing up on the way. Throwing up on the carpet, the chair, etc. Apparently not running fast enough.
Heath begins to laugh. Laughing because Jared is puking. Mother is NOT laughing. Father is NOT laughing. Jeff is eating. Mother tells Heath that he'd best get in there and make sure Jared is okay, and Heath can clean up the mess....since he created it with his stupid antics.
Heath runs into the bathroom. Heath takes a whiff. Heath runs out of the bathroom faster than he ran in. Heath pukes on the kitchen floor. Repeatedly. Out of his nose. Then, he flings his hands. His hands that are filled with puke. Great. Mother leaves. She tells Father to enjoy himself. She is not responsible for cleaning this mess. Father goes into the bathroom. Father takes a whiff. Father nearly pukes himself. Heath is still puking. Jeff is still eating. Three feet away from the brother with the cast iron stomach, Heath is puking and flinging. Jeff is still eating. Jeff finishes all of his dinner before reacting to anything. Then, he declares that Heath is an idiot. Jeff's dinner stays in his stomach. He doesn't ever throw anything up; that would be a waste of food.
Mother, hiding out in the bedroom, is interrupted by Father, who is going to change his clothes before cleaning the mess. She will not help him. He goes to clean the mess. Jeff is still eating. Heath has flung puke all over not just the kitchen, but into the living room. Lovely. The "little boys" shower, while Dad and Jeff clean the mess. Mother is happily not involved. The house stinks. But, Mother didn't have to clean it up, so she is okay with spraying "men's spray".
Anybody want a dinner invitation?

Random thoughts

I have a few questions in life. None of them are of great importance, they just make me wonder.
1. Why are football pants white, when the football fields are covered in mud/grass?
2. If boys can write their names in the snow (use your imagination as to the writing utensil), then why can't they hit a toilet bowl?
3.Why do doctors wear white jackets, and nurses are traditionally in white (thank heavens that has changed) when they are very likely to come into contact with blood and other less lovely bodily fluids?
4. If a man know that Christmas will be here EVERY December 25th, why does he wait until the 24th to go shopping?
5. If a mom knows that EVERY day her family will be hungry during the dinner hour, why does she wait until 5pm to decide what to make/thaw for dinner?
6. How do three boys and a man generate so much laundry?!
7. Why doesn't pop from a can taste as good as pop from the fountain?
8. If you only eat 8oz of chocolate, why do you gain 2 lbs?
HMMMMMM.....life is just full of mysteries!

Life is too short

I have a dear friend, Steve. He was diagnosed last Tuesday with acute leukemia. He passed away on Friday. He was given just two week to live, but didn't make it a week. He was only 65 years old. What a wonderful man he was. He was a professional scouter (dear to my heart) and he had been the council representative over Cedar Badge for the last few years. His first year on staff was my first year on staff! Always one with a smile, he could lift the spirits of some very tired commissary staff people.
When I was much younger, Billy Joel sang a song that I loved..."Only the Good Die Young". I don't think (well, I'm sure of it) that I appreciated the meanings behind that phrase as a teenager. Now that I'm getting older, and I'm losing people that I love (at much too young of an age), I think that I'm beginning to realize what it really is all about.
We are better for having known you, Steve. Heaven is a little bit richer today, because they have you in their midst. Till we meet again.

We have a flush toilet!

Okay. We've always had a flush toilet. But, now we have one downstairs! Kerry built a bathroom in the basement. It comes complete with bathtub, sink, toilet, and even a mirror and lights! We have lived in our house for the last 8+ years, but have never finished the basement (with the exception of two bedrooms necessary for our fairly large family). It's soooo exciting! It took him (and Jeff, who was quite the trooper) several weeks, and numerous trips to the local hardware store, but it's done! AND, the most exciting part, is that it's painted tan! Yes, that's right! It's an actual color! (for those of you who are unaware, Kerry has told me numerous times that I may paint the house any shade of white that I'd like) Here's the real shocker....he likes it! LOL I've always wondered what it would be like to have a visitor to our home use the bathroom without one of us running into the bathroom before them to make sure that it's presentable (I will never understand how a boy can write his name in the snow, but he can't hit a toilet bowl....). Now we will have a bathroom that is always clean! This does however bring to mind that I will have to clean yet another room. Not so sure I'm fond of that. Maybe I will make enough money after graduation to pay someone else to do it for me! :D

An interesting month...

December was quite the interesting month in our home. I have known my hubby for 27 years, and in that time he has never been without a job. That came to an abrupt end on December 3rd. Construction isn't what it once was, or even was a few months ago. Everything has come to a standstill in Idaho, as in the rest of the nation. As a result, his company decided to do a little "down-sizing". We all thought his job was fairly secure. He began working Eastern Idaho about 31/2 years ago. He was a lone salesman. Since then, they decided to open a warehouse to better service their customers. Then, a year ago, he split his route. So, where there was once a lone salesman, now there were two salesman, a man to run the warehouse, and a truck driver. Unfortunately, Kerry is the one that made the most money. That seems to be the driving influence in letting him go. "Merry Christmas. You're fired". It happened the morning of my last final for the semester. He was my hero, and didn't tell me until I got home from school, so as not to upset my last test! :D Two long weeks of pounding the pavement, he aquired new employment. He will now be selling lumber instead of hardware. Still construction. Still uncertain. But, still a job! :D He began his new training today. In Salt Lake City, so I don't know how he's doing...but I'm sure he's doing wonderfully!

We had to learn little humility this month. Something that neither of us is very good at. You see, we are the ones that try to help others when things aren't going so well for them. We found ourselves on the receiving end of help, and we didn't like it very much. My sweet Nana and Mother saw to it that my tuition and books for this semester are paid...after making me promise that this wouldn't make me quit school. We received an anonymous few bags of groceries. In those bags of groceries was a fat envelope that contained enough to buy some more groceries, and finish up that last little bit of Christmas shopping that was needing to be done. I have a dear friend who is involved with elections. When an election for a school bond issue came up, she made sure to call me for help...paid help, don't ya' know. Kerry's mother offered time and time again to help us out until we can get back on our feet. A neighbor called to tell me of a job in the CNA field, and assured me that they would work around my school schedule. And, numerous prayers have been offered in our behalf. It is amazing to me that so very many people care about our little family, and our welfare. It is also humbling to accept their kindness and support.