Just a quick update to let everyone know I PASSED the Family Nurse Practitioner Exam!! Now I will be able to focus on getting the move to Arkansas started. I have a lot of packing to do!
We are currently in Dothan, AL with Ryan's family. Today is his little sister's 20th birthday. We also just got news that his brother got a great job offer for his first "real" job since graduating from Auburn in May. We have a lot to be thankful for and a lot to celebrate!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Duke's New Trick
Here is a new trick I just taught Duke. He learned it in less than 5 minutes..He's so smart ;). I love it!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Susie Homemake-what?
Normally, I take some pride in my domestic skills. I keep my house as clean as possible, minus the organized chaos of an office. I enjoy cooking and baking and don't even mind helping with yardwork. But lately...
So, most of you know that I am frantically preparing for the biggest exam OF MY LIFE, and since I finally scheduled the exam about 2 and a half weeks ago, my role as domestic diva has gone by the wayside. Thankfully, I have a husband that has helped pick up my slack and not only helped with the everyday chores, but also has gotten a ton of home improvement projects done around the house as we are trying to get it ready to put on the market.
Let me take a moment to credit Ryan for all his hard work...
-Two bedrooms painted neutral colors (instead of their original baby blue and canary yellow): check
-Spare bathroom from ugly striped wallpaper to beautiful golden tan: check
-Ugly white/off white/yellowed kitchen cabinets painted a crisp, clean white: check
-Driving me all over town to help me run errands: check
-Fixing the air conditioner in my Corolla (broken since last fall): check
-Scheduling meetings with 3 potential Realtors to help us sell the house: check
-Making sure I have breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday: check
-And more importantly, chocolate when I'm stressed: check
-Being a shoulder to cry on when I'm absolutely positive I'm going to fail my test: check
-Being the incurable optimist that keeps my pessimism at bay (no matter how often it tries to bring us both down): check
These are only a few of the reasons Ryan is my rock during my most challenging moments. So for a few more days Ryan can continue to flex his domestic muscles while I continue to cram as much study time into my schedule as possible.
This may be my last post before the big test on Saturday, so please say some prayers...I will need all the help I can get!
-Melissa
So, most of you know that I am frantically preparing for the biggest exam OF MY LIFE, and since I finally scheduled the exam about 2 and a half weeks ago, my role as domestic diva has gone by the wayside. Thankfully, I have a husband that has helped pick up my slack and not only helped with the everyday chores, but also has gotten a ton of home improvement projects done around the house as we are trying to get it ready to put on the market.
Let me take a moment to credit Ryan for all his hard work...
-Two bedrooms painted neutral colors (instead of their original baby blue and canary yellow): check
-Spare bathroom from ugly striped wallpaper to beautiful golden tan: check
-Ugly white/off white/yellowed kitchen cabinets painted a crisp, clean white: check
-Driving me all over town to help me run errands: check
-Fixing the air conditioner in my Corolla (broken since last fall): check
-Scheduling meetings with 3 potential Realtors to help us sell the house: check
-Making sure I have breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday: check
-And more importantly, chocolate when I'm stressed: check
-Being a shoulder to cry on when I'm absolutely positive I'm going to fail my test: check
-Being the incurable optimist that keeps my pessimism at bay (no matter how often it tries to bring us both down): check
These are only a few of the reasons Ryan is my rock during my most challenging moments. So for a few more days Ryan can continue to flex his domestic muscles while I continue to cram as much study time into my schedule as possible.
This may be my last post before the big test on Saturday, so please say some prayers...I will need all the help I can get!
-Melissa
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Some big news!
On our recent trip to Arkansas (see pics, etc. in posts below), I had the opportunity to interview at a clinic in my hometown, Mountain Home. The interview went really well and I was offered the job! Ryan and I have been talking about possibly moving to Mountain Home in the next couple years, but when this opportunity presented itself, we had a huge decision to make...
...and we decided to move! We will be leaving much behind...friends, Ryan's family, jobs, a house, the city...but we will be greeted with a town surrounded by lakes, rivers, and mountains where people still "go to town," where you can't go to Wal-mart without makeup because you'll end up seeing someone you know, where an entire town gathers together on a Friday night to watch the Bombers and their biggest rival play football, even if they've been on a losing streak (...for the past 15 years, or whatever it is now), where you can still let the kids play outside, where the best thing to do for teenagers on a Saturday night is to hang out in parking lots, where even if everyone doesn't know your name, they probably recognize your face or know someone who does. It may sound far from charming, but anyone who knows Mountain Home knows that it is...if it isn't charm, what else keeps us coming back for more?
So, over the next month we will be wrapping up things in our lovely life in the Birmingham suburbs and preparing for our next adventure...as bittersweet as it may be.
-Melissa
...and we decided to move! We will be leaving much behind...friends, Ryan's family, jobs, a house, the city...but we will be greeted with a town surrounded by lakes, rivers, and mountains where people still "go to town," where you can't go to Wal-mart without makeup because you'll end up seeing someone you know, where an entire town gathers together on a Friday night to watch the Bombers and their biggest rival play football, even if they've been on a losing streak (...for the past 15 years, or whatever it is now), where you can still let the kids play outside, where the best thing to do for teenagers on a Saturday night is to hang out in parking lots, where even if everyone doesn't know your name, they probably recognize your face or know someone who does. It may sound far from charming, but anyone who knows Mountain Home knows that it is...if it isn't charm, what else keeps us coming back for more?
So, over the next month we will be wrapping up things in our lovely life in the Birmingham suburbs and preparing for our next adventure...as bittersweet as it may be.
-Melissa
Baseball Party!
Reece chose to have a baseball themed birthday party. It was held at Hickory Park...at the baseball field, of course. The kids had a blast playing baseball and I probably had just as much fun watching!
Here is the Birthday Boy with his custom-made, appropriately-themed birthday shirt (would we expect anything less of his mother/my sister?)
Grandpa, Ryan, and Grandma chatting and watching the game.
Here is the Birthday Boy with his custom-made, appropriately-themed birthday shirt (would we expect anything less of his mother/my sister?)
Grandpa, Ryan, and Grandma chatting and watching the game.
Ryan played catch with Kent for a bit...yeah his arm was sore the next day ;)
There was a HUGE turnout...I've never even had a birthday party that big!
Reece up at bat (his number was 5 since he is 5 years old..cute)
Some cute little baseball boys..and my dad as catcher.
The decorations
We had such a great time! I'm so glad I was able to be there since I had missed Reece's past two birthday parties. I'm pretty sure I won't be missing any more....
There was a HUGE turnout...I've never even had a birthday party that big!
Reece up at bat (his number was 5 since he is 5 years old..cute)
Some cute little baseball boys..and my dad as catcher.
The decorations
We had such a great time! I'm so glad I was able to be there since I had missed Reece's past two birthday parties. I'm pretty sure I won't be missing any more....
-Melissa
Reece's 5th Birthday!
Ok...I'm going to try to catch up on some of the events from our recent trip to Arkansas. Our first day there was Reece's 5th birthday, so we got together for some pizza and smores!
Here we are with the birthday boy!
Mom and Clara
Here is Grandma eating her first smore....ever!
Messy marshmellow face!
Gathering around the fire pit...believe it or not, it was actually pretty cool that evening. The fire felt great!
-Melissa
Here we are with the birthday boy!
Mom and Clara
Here is Grandma eating her first smore....ever!
Messy marshmellow face!
Gathering around the fire pit...believe it or not, it was actually pretty cool that evening. The fire felt great!
-MelissaSaturday, June 6, 2009
Expressions
Spending some time with my niece, Clara, this weekend made wonder...What if we continued to be as animated with our facial expressions as we were as infants. You know, those genuine whole-hearted, wide-mouthed smiles with raised eyebrows...the ones that make the person looking at you smile all big and crazy in return, just to see if they can get you to do it again. What if we never learned to be shy or conservative with our smiles and laughs? I think the world would be a happier, more easy-going place, don't you think?
At least we still have babies to give us those unrestrained expressions and happiness that is truly contagious.
At least we still have babies to give us those unrestrained expressions and happiness that is truly contagious.
-Melissa
Friday, June 5, 2009
Much better...
Ryan's arm is feeling much better. He refused the recommended I&D (incision and drainage) and opted for antibiotics only (even my begging didn't pay off this time). BUT he is getting much better despite his noncompliance.
This is his arm after just 2 days of antibiotics.
And here we are on day 4.
It looks so much better! He will be on antibiotics for 10 days, and at this rate it will probably be unnoticeable by then.
This is his arm after just 2 days of antibiotics.
And here we are on day 4.
It looks so much better! He will be on antibiotics for 10 days, and at this rate it will probably be unnoticeable by then.
We are currently in Mountain Home, enjoying some time with my family. I'll do an update soon with some pictures of our time here.
-Melissa
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