Social Worker yes, nurse no...

My sonshine had surgery on Thursday...I discovered when we got there that I forgot to warn him about the IV part. "What? They're gonna stick that in my hand?" Oh, uh, well, yes, sorry to have forgotten to mention that one little thing. So far, the IV has been the most traumatic part of it all for him. Being the recovery nurse has been the most traumatic part for me. Having foot surgery and living in a tri level can be especially challenging. For the most part he stays in the family room, but for some time each day I move him to my room for a change of scenery. It's more sunny in my room, and I am a 'sun proponent' firmly believing one needs a bit of sun every day to thrive. Whenever we change floors, a few things must come with him...cell phone, bakugan, Nintendo DSI, cough drops, medicine, pillows, crutches...well let's just say it's a lot! Once he's settled into his new spot and I'm trying to get something done...the texts begin...can you bring me? I'm hungry (This seems to be the most popular), my foot hurts, I can't feel my leg, can we go to Toys R Us?, please be quiet, my sister is bothering me, can you make Dad go away...and on and on they go. Today is day 4...I'm hoping he will maybe be able to get out of the house today...for a while to go to Toys R Us. I am supposed to go back to work tomorrow, but it seems as if my nursing days will not yet be over, so perhaps a shortened schedule will be in order. In two weeks I leave for Arizona to be a nurse to my Mama for 5 days...then...maybe then...it'll be time for a break...

Now...let's talk about my favorite subject...fall. Can you feel it? Since it is 46 lovely degrees here in Northern Illinois in August, I know too well that fall is just around the corner. The apple orchard opened yesterday. I stopped in Michaels for a short moment yesterday to pick up one thing and had to run...I kid you not...run from the store for fear of incurring the national debt. The miriad of beautiful things they had there were quite honestly beyond my comprehension, and I found myself totally unprepared for the arrival of fall. I love fall: the smells, the colors, the cool crisp air, craft shows, the food...it is by FAAAAAAR my favorite time of the year. It's also the big girl's and my birthday...did I mention she'll be 17 this year? Who on Earth said that was ok? 17 sounds very old and makes it virtually impossible for me to continue telling people I'm 29. Oh wait, I digressed...this year, I am challenging myself and you too...after such a busy summer, to take a break and take it all in. If you live in a part of the country where fall is not the most beautiful time of the year...travel somewhere. Smell the smells, eat the apple crisp, wonder over the splendor...and give yourself a break. I know I intend to =)

Day 1, Day 2

The first part of this post has to do with Day 1...of school that is. The second part has to do with Day 2...of Ashlyn's life.

This is the big girl and the sonshine on their first day... Do not ask me why Blogger is making this photo so small...then there's the precious one on her first day...
Do not ask me why blogger made this photo so big?!! I'm sure somewhere down the road there'll be a comment like..."You always liked her better!" Kidding! I'm kidding!

Ok, and finally for my family far and wide...here is day two of baby Ashlyn's life...what a miracle.

The anticipation is killing me, and we ain't talkin ketchup here...

Today, my two oldest started school. The precious one starts tomorrow. Since I have always been a working mom, the first day of school has always been special to me. I've always taken the first day of school off work and this year is no different. (Actually this year I have the first week of school off ) -- In the past I've always had a special treat waiting for the kids when they got home. This year however in our quest to keep food on the table, there will be no special treat, but the mama will be here...waiting anxiously and ever so patiently for them to get home and for the stories to flow...guess who's in this class, guess who's in that class, this happened and that happened and you know how it goes...that is, if you're lucky enough to have the first day of school off work =) I'm trying hard not to crane my head out the front door and look really obvious, but anytime a car goes by I'm hoping it's the big girl pulling in the driveway. The clock tells that in 6 minutes, the sonshine should be home...Although I'm sad to see the summer end way too soon, I'm very anxious to hear all the stories...and to welcome them home on from their first day of school.

What a difference a year makes...

I've had a pretty rough go of it lately...sometimes it seems like no matter how hard you try you just don't seem to get ahead you know? The analysts say the economy is turning around and we see it ever so slightly at my husband's business, but it is slooooow going at best. Add to that, that one year ago today, I buried my dad...my children's Poppy. The approach and apprehension leading up to this day has been challenging at best. I used to go to church to take comfort in the fact that my pastor could usually say the right thing to help me get through the pain a little easier. He passed away earlier this year and I think I've said before that his passing is the toughest loss I've endured to date. Along this path there has been a glimmer of hope...a new baby...due any day.

When my niece texted me last night at 8:40 that the baby still wasn't here, I texted her back saying I was secretly hoping the baby wouldn't arrive until today...August 23rd. (not that I wished for 4 more hours of labor for her or anything) -- Last night when I went to bed, I had gotten the last text that it would soon be time...shortly after that my cell phone battery died. When I got up this morning, I ran and plugged in my phone to see if the baby had arrived....here was the text...Ashlyn Rose arrived at 4:20 AM 10 lbs. 4 oz., 21 3/4 inches.

Today...August 23rd, no longer a dark day...now this day is shared with a bright glimmer of hope...sweet Ashlyn Rose...

I have been blessed over the past day to have my niece Aubrey with me who is Ashlyn's big sister...we have waited patiently for her new baby sister to arrive. We have talked about it, processed it, missed Mommy and Daddy, wondered why Daddy is at Mommy's work (Aubrey's Mommy works at the hospital) and played a lot along the way...today Aubrey got to meet her new baby sister... for the first time...

I can only say...what a difference a year makes.

Kristina and Aubrey on their way into the hospitalMy precious one, with the new precious oneAshlyn Rose

Is it too soon to start the countdown?

I started back to school today to complete my second Master's degree...Honestly, I was a bit sick to my stomach. It is really not what I had planned to do and just really happened to fall into my lap. I often wonder however if it's a fork in the road to my true destination. I think it's right...I just hope it's right in the end and that I didn't make a hasty decision. I know this additional degree will serve me well and give me a few more choices as I'm getting older. The promotion that goes along with this degree will be a great boost for my retirement plan, which sadly, I had neglected up until about 5 years ago. So, I have a lot of catch up to do.

In other news, both happy and sad...the kids start school Monday :) and :( mixed emotions about that. Where has the summer gone and why am I so not ready for it to be over?

The precious one started fall ball tonight and won her first game :)

My old great dane is now limping on his front leg :(

There was a baby persian kitten at work today :)

I have 11 days off, some of which I'll actually take off and get some work done at home :)

I have a great baby niece due anyday :)

I miss my dad :(

I miss my pastor :(

I miss my gramma bee :(

(Seems to be a whole lotta missing lately)

I'm glad summer weather finally arrived :)

I'm really grateful the hasbeen's shop was busy a few days this week :)

I'm glad to have a wonderful job that I love :)

Thanks for listening...

My thanks to my faithful blogger friends...

It seems with all the rage of facebook, twitter, and other such short time requirement amenities that some have lost the love of blogging. There are some however that I am SO glad have not fallen out of blogging love. My very favorites are Mrs. G at the Derfwad Manor, Wine on the Keyboard, Two times the fun, Jen at Dust Bunny Hostage, and Matt, Liz, and Madeline. I'm always grateful for a daily read and I just wanted to thank all my blogging friends for sharing their lives with lil' ole me! Blog On!

Can you say paid in full?

Today was school registration for the kids at the Ruchus household. Actually it started two days ago but I've been SO swamped at work that I just hadn't gotten around to it. I had planned to take the darlings tonight to register, but one had volleyball, one had a party, and the other had to work...(more on that later). So, I took time off of work today...three and a half hours to be exact...to get the darlings registered for school. I had decided to turn over a new leaf this year and pay all of the god awful registration fees up front. I nearly threw up on my way back to work, after reviewing what I had spent...but I got through it. Here's a brief synopsis...

2 activity passes $70
3 year books $105
1 parking permit $100
3 gym shirts $30
1 middle school spirit shirt $10
1 middle school hoodie $27
1 picture package $30
2 high school registrations $290
1 middle school registration$135

Would you like me to do the math for you? Drum roll please..... $797 school registration fees 1 hoodie, 1 tshirt. $800 I kid you not. That doesn't include sports fees that are now $150 per sport. Did I mention we haven't bought any school clothes, pack packs or supplies yet? I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure that back to school has surpassed Christmas as the biggest spending day for me. Ugh.....I'm still trying to get over the shock of it all. I took a lot of deep breaths on my way back to work. It all just seems a bit unreasonable to me.

On a lighter note...work has been CRAZY this week. Oh wait, that's not a lighter note...how about my big girl started her new J-O-B today. That's exciting no? I'm not sure how she'll be able to work much with her crazy schedule, but I'm encouraging her to begin saving for college which is two short years away. (Lord Help me)

I'm gonna share their classes and then...perhaps finish cooking dinner since it is 8:00--- perhaps then some laundry, then perhaps some sleep :)

The big girl is taking...

Honors accelerated English
Computer Art Illustrator
PE/Choraleers
Accelerated US History
Honors Chemistry
Honors Precalculus...what that means is that with a master's degree I can officially help her with 1 class. She has surpassed my level of knowledge...and she's a junior!

The Boy is taking...

directed study
physical science
algebra
keyboarding/computer concepts
contemporary world studies
English
PE

The precious one is taking

band
Choir
Language Arts
Algebra
Science
PE/Health
Social Studies

I think I can still help her with homework ;)

We spent an amazing weekend in Michigan...so amazing it's going to require a whole nother post,,,with lots of photos....

adios for now!

The funniest thing happened the other day at the cell phone store...

I finally took the plunge and bought myself a new cell phone. I'm not sure if I like it and I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it. But I'm giving it the good ole' college try. Here's the thing...my old phone was about 5 years old. It turned off when it felt like it, often in mid conversation. My battery died faithfully after 3 calls. It sent random text messages at will whether they were intended for the party they were sent to or not...usually not...but, despite it all I quite enjoyed that phone. I enjoyed the sameness. I enjoyed that I knew how to work it, even with all the things I didn't appreciate about it ;) Now I have this new fangled phone. It does everything but the dishes. It tells me how to get home when I'm lost (my very favorite feature) and I can facebook mobile from my phone. To be sure I could facebook mobile from my phone, I tried it out on the sample phone at the cell phone store. Trouble is...once I got on, I couldn't figure out how to log off and subsequently got distracted purchasing my new phone and never did log off. That was Saturday. Today, this appeared as a status on my facebook account...

"Jacque, of the Ruchus should really learn to log out of her acct bcuz here at the us cellular store people could mess up big time be smart"

oh...uh, wow...two days ago I was there and my facebook account is still logged in?!? Who knew? So, I had to meekly call the cell phone store and say...uh yes, this is anonymous calling and I have evidently left my facebook account logged in on that there LG Tritan phone in your store and now someone is updating my status, so would you kindly be a dear and LOG ME OUT!?! Oh the things that happen to me! Or that I cause to happen to me...or whatever. Being technologically challenged just isn't fun :)