WAIT Summer stop going by so fast!!

Well, I am already down to my last week of school! I can't believe how fast it has gone by. I finished up my speech class, I did my last two very well and even managed a 100% on my last persuasive speech, yah! The class wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be, I guess I'm still good at speaking in front of people, but my nerves do get the best of me, more now then they ever have! I guess my 5th grade scare (it was 5th grade right??) of D.A.R.E Mr. deputy Cope making me read my essay of what I want to be when I grew up in front of the whole 5th grade + Family still gets under my skin :-)
As is, I have two more tests for Nursing, one being tomorrow and I'm ON HERE! The motivation for this class is lacking... I don't care for it, I just want to pass and move on to more exciting things! I did have a great time in clinical though. Being hands on is what I love the most, I always learn something new and I miss being the "busy body" that I'm used to. I'm in the process of trying to find out what classes I need for VCU (Virginia Common Wealth University) to continue my education after I get my ADN. I figured I need to get on board or I may never go back until my supervisor gives me a choice of going back to school or no job... therefore I better just do it. They have a RN-BSN program but they also have an RN-MSN program.. skip the bachelors and just get my Masters..?? Sounds interesting so we shall see what it consists of, it may not be possible since Brandon will be back on the ship at that time, but who knows!
Graysen is in a new day care! I got the phone call literally right after I posted the last blog. She still doesn't like "school" but this one is all because she doesn't want me to leave. She hasn't said that she doesn't have fun, or that she was bored, and she hasnt' told me once (yet) that she didn't do ANYTHING! So that's a plus as far as I stand! She will get used to "leaving" me soon enough, but it will take time. I just hope it's sooner then later, makes the mornings so tough!!
We have been enjoying the summer as much as possible. We've gotten to the beach a few times and this year I've actually gotten in the water woohooo, but I still have yet to get Graysen to liking the water. We've gotten her out there twice, but both times were against her will ha, so you can imagine how well that went!
Brandon is still waiting on results and in the mean time getting trimmed up, it's funny how we always seem to go on our "diets" and "work out" plans at different times therefore are never there to be support to one another. He's doing great though. I on the other hand have not been keeping up with anything due to school and everything else going on.. well... maybe just making excuses (haha) I decided to I need to get back on it but this time I'm going to try things a little differently. I did loose a lot of weight but then hit a wall and didn't even think about doing something to help out such as a cleanse... we all need that from time to time. I've done a colon cleanse before with a cabbage soup/diet thing basically eating raw fruits and veggies for a week. This time I'm going to switch it up, not only does my colon need it but my liver too so I've looked into this Fat Loss Factor diet.. which I'm really just interested in the whole cleansing factor of it. You are raw for two weeks then start a liver cleanse which is a salt flush + lemonade cleanse, for 10 days.. SINCE you don't eat anything on it I'm going to do 3 days on 3 days off 3 days on and see how I do. After that I will slowly start adding back food but am going to try to stay away from as much processed foods as possible. The "diet" doesnt' have you bring back meat for a while, they say to just have fish as your meat but I'm not sure I can depart from steak for that long :-) So I will see how I feel. I do have a friend who has made this a life change, doing only fresh, mostly raw but it seems very hard, but I'm up for the challenge (hopefully!)
That is what is going on in the SAUL household!!! Here are a few pictures but I did post more on Flickr. Also here are TWO links to TWO cute videos brought to you by Graysen :-) Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th!!

http://youtu.be/vro5xCbImg4
http://youtu.be/N1B--Zq31Yg

May & June 2012

I keep meaning to get to the blog, but it just hasn’t happened. I did posted pictures last week I know you aren't all on the flickr bandwagon but I have posted some pictures on Brandon's facebook as well as posting some with this blog. Here goes this update!

 This semester has been tough surprisingly more son on Graysen! She does NOT like going to the babysitter. She cries the night before and tells us she does not want to go to the babysitter she wants to stay home with me. Then the morning of is a cry fest. Brandon and I are not impressed with the provider we have but I know we just have to keep her in there. I’m not saying she would be doing better or even more in a day care center (even though I think she would be) she doesn’t seem to be doing ANYTHING at this ladies house. So far we’ve noticed she isn’t patient with Graysen at all when it comes to the morning crying fit, they have done a few “crafts” in the three weeks she’s been there one being a kite that I have yet to see and the others are coloring pages! That’s it! Graysen has helped her with her house work… YES! She mentioned to me that Graysen wanted to follow her around and be her helper so she “let” her go upstairs and help her clean (so normally you just leave the kids downstairs while you go do it??) She also can't get her name right... I've corrected her a few times but she calls her "Grayci" as well as spelling her name "Graycion" Alright, this is not a bash on babysitter blog but it’s tough on me to leave her with someone like that when she obviously hates going! Graysen's attitude has changed a lot and it seems like when we have her on the weekends she’s sitting in time out (which for some reason doesn't phase her anymore) more than actually getting to spend time with her. Breaks my heart to have to be “the bad guy” when all I want to do is make up the time missed with her! Again, I’m taking it hard, can you tell? She is still on the waiting list for a day care center, I keep harassing them to see when it will be that we get in but we will get in when there’s a spot I suppose. 

On a better side of Graysen she is going to be 3 (!!!!!!!!!!!) in a little over 2 months! Where has the time gone?!? She is officially FULLY potty trained. She was day potty trained right before her 2nd birthday, and then a few months ago she was Day and Nap time potty trained and now folks she's sleeping in her panties at night too! (I'm sure she wouldn't appreciate me telling the world that, but I'm one proud momma (and daddy too))!!! Our biggest problem with that is her water cup is her "safe haven" she doesn't have a blanket or stuffed animal it's her water cup and I wasn't about to make her dump that, but she would wake up and drink it at night causing her to not stay dry. She has finally grasped the understanding that water and milk and liquids we drink is what makes you have to go potty so she still takes her water to bed and if she has a little drink at night she will wake up and go potty and tell me "I drank some water so I need to go potty"! Or she will not drink anything and when she wakes up she tells me "Momma me not pee my bed, I don't drink any water so I don't go potty"! She's very proud of herself as well! She is a very smart cookie!!

These last few weekends have been filled with fun! We went down to North Carolina for Mother’s day weekend. We had a blast, Graysen LOVES going down there and spending time with everyone. She’s already asking when we get to go next. We also had a great Memorial Day weekend; we got down to the beach and hung out with some friends. Here is a video of Graysen and Mimi you can check it out it is on youtube and you don't need an account to see it! http://youtu.be/GWJLj_e4RfU

I’ve been trying to not slack in school but going through summer is a tough one! I still don’t love the unorganized part of this Nursing Program but I think I'm getting used to it. This class is very tough for me because I don’t care for medication. Simple as that! I understand taking antibiotics when needed, not everything can be treated in a natural way… A lot can be prevented but once you get something sometimes you have to take a medicine to get over or through it… but for people who choose medication over trying to change a lifestyle I don’t understand. Therefore it’s very hard for me to go into a hospital room to give medication and hand them the 12+ pills they need to take; when in all reality they only NEED 2 of them but have to take the other 10 because of the horrible side effects the 2 needed cause. My rant.. Why not get down to the root of the problem instead of continuing to mask the symptom. A few classmates have told me “you are in the wrong field then”… I guess not everyone gets my understanding! I know I will get to where I want to be one day! On another school note I had my first speech this last weekend, I was pretty nervous but I think I did alright. This speech class is on-line and I only go three times to present a speech, 1 down 2 more to go!

I did have one "dramatic" change. I cut my hair off and colored it, or should I say, Brandon colored it! Here is a before and after, it's not the greatest after picture couldn't snag a good one but I will put more up next time!!



Before


After

Brandon is doing well also. We are waiting to see how boards go as far as advancement. He’s still a “youngin” Navy wise so as I keep telling him, if he doesn’t make it this round he will next time! He finally applied to a few colleges so hopefully he will start school soon and get a degree to sit on!!!

This is a short “catch you up” blog so there you have it! I hope to write again soon! I will get back on the social networking sites as soon as I finish summer semester!!

Alright... This is the FIRST full day of no facebook for me! I have to say it's tough, haha or maybe I should say; sad to say it's tough! I appreciate anyone reading our updates, and looking at pictures via flickr. I KNOW how convenient facebook is but here is the reason or a watered down version of why I have faded it out...It's my addiction! It's always at my finger and I am constantly getting on it just to see "what's new" even if it's someone who I don't even really know but hey, we are facebook friends right! Well, it's a distraction between school, and just getting chores done since I stop every 15 minutes to check it. Also with some recent family issues I have been having I didn't want to deal with any drama, so there is another reason. I'm not sure how long I will last... or if I will, but I really need to kick the constant login. How in the WORLD do people go days without logging in? Haha << see addict!!

On the home front we have all been doing great. We have had some hurdles to get over, but thankfully my little family is very strong and we can take on anything! Right now it's back to just Graysen, Brandon and I. I am on break from school after doing pretty well in my first semester of nursing. We are trying to get a day care in order for Graysen, although we are on a waiting list for one and have been putting off finding a back up. I'm sure all will work out in the end!

Brandon and I just ran (or tried to run) a 5K called Color Me Rad. My nursing (some) gals wanted to do it as a group since it was right after our first nursing final. It was a lot of fun but the reason I say try to run is because we've never seen so many people WALK a 5k! We were all trying to jump/dodge/hurdle over people, which made it fairly annoying. It wasn't a timed run, more of a fun run to support the YMCA. The point is you where as much white as possible going into the run and they have "color" stations where they throw this colored corn starch (crap) at you, or in some stations they actually have pain they spray at you as you run through. Other then the one guy shoving the corn starch down my mouth, it was a lot of fun!

Here is Before

 Getting ready to start

 After! So much fun!

 Very messy!

The guys!

We also had a great family weekend! The three of us had a little dinner and Nana Sushi to celebrate my first semester done, Brandon getting Instructor of the quarter and all the other good things that have come about our way these last few months! Then we also went out with our friends and had a nice Italian dinner along with some Ice cream. Overall it's been a wonderful weekend and time off, although it's going by extremely fast!

Last but NOT least, Graysen had a little photo shoot with Galia who did our family pictures last year. We really do like her she's very sweet. We do recommend her to anyone out here. This was a free shoot, she's wanting to start doing kids and is working up her portfolio, so that was fun to be apart of. The beach was FREEEZING, so considering the circumstances Graysen did great! Here is a preview:

Well, that wraps this blog up! I will try to update as much as possible!!!

Reflecting on 2011, and outlook on 2012!

As this last year finally closed in on me, it made me ponder “Where in the world did it go?” Years used to drift by, but now that I have an overwhelming amount of things going on in life it seems to speed by in the blink of an eye; that can be nice… in all parts besides the kids’ part, another year goes by and Graysen has grown a ton!

2011 was brought in with my husband, Graysen and my mom. She was here visiting and actually left on New Year’s Day. Brandon and I went to Ruth’s Chris for dinner to celebrate our Anniversary (a few days early) and New Year’s. Then we went over to a friend’s house to enjoy the ball drop! This last year has defiantly had it’s up and downs; but the ups have taken over as they usually do! A few highlights of the year…

Spring semester was a very hard semester for me, but I kept my 4.0. That semester was more about me learning how to….learn! I have a tough time in school because reading something doesn’t do anything for me… I’m more of a visual/hands on learner so when it comes to Labs I’m GREAT, but when it comes to lecture classes…. Forget it! It can take me 4 hours just to read one 20 page chapter and take notes on it, and even then I can’t tell you what I just read. Thankfully I’ve finally gotten in a groove and it has helped me with the rest of the semesters!

In March I joined a VERY good friend of mine, Laycie in Hawaii. We had a blast, but really it was a great time just catching up with her. I’m very bad about keeping in touch with people, and with her busy schedule as mine, it’s almost impossible but we make do, and I’m very thankful for the friendship I have with her! We got to enjoy the island of Kauai, and also be in another Tsunami; thankful for us, nothing drastic happened to Hawaii but those in Japan will forever be in our thoughts, we ended our vacation tossing our lei’s  to the sea in remembrance of those lost.

March was also the month Brandon had his ACL surgery. It wasn’t as crazy as we had planned, he was a trouper and was able to walk out of the hospital, and still take care of Graysen while I was in school! It healed great, and has little problems with it!

May, I finished my fall semester and decided to take summer classes so I could keep getting credits, and not slack! I only had one on-line class and one class that I attended, overall a pretty easy semester! In between semesters we went down to NC to visit family, always a fun trip!

July I went down to Myrtle Beach for the first time. I was helping a friend by getting her daughter down there for a competition and decided to stay and enjoy some time at the beach. I didn’t explore too much but I do hope that I can go back down there with Brandon and enjoy some time together there! I made it home by July 4^th to spend time with the family.. even though we didn’t end up doing anything since it was rainy and Graysen is still a little young for all of that! That month was also when I got a letter saying I was not accepted into the nursing program, with no reason given. Instead of trying to figure out why I just let it go.

August was our trip to Missouri and Colorado. Since I lived in Hawaii I had been saying I needed to go to MO to visit my grandmother and it kept getting put off… time after time! I finally decided that it needed to happen, and we made the arrangements and I am SO happy that I did! Graysen loved her GG, and we had a great visit. We headed to CO with limited time in Denver. Since CO is where I grew up it’s always nice to go back, but each year you see those who care to see you and those who don’t. Ever since I lived in HI I truly found out those who care, and yet again, those who don’t. I’ve learned to respect that, and move on with it, therefore I hold little conversation with those I was once so close with. While in Denver I did see my closest friend Jennifer, we stayed with her and her family. We also saw a few people at the Denver zoo. I was hoping for a nice big turnout, to reconnect and see the new generation (and the almost new generation!) but it didn’t happen that way.  It still turned out wonderful! I got to see my Byers crew J I’m so happy I got to see them again and meet (some for the first time) their kiddos! We also got to spend time with my good friend Liz. She helped us get up the mountain and stayed for a day so we could spend time with her and Trevor!  We had a great time up in Maybell with my mom, Graysen enjoyed herself, and did great with the traveling and still working on her potty training! When we got home it was time for Graysen to turn 2!!! I had planned a big party at our house for a certain weekend. With school and everything going on it was the only weekend I could get it done, not knowing we were going to have a bit ole’ Hurricane that weekend! Brandon’s Dad and step mom had made it up here the day before so we decided no matter what we were still going to have her birthday party, even if no one could come, just the way it had to be. Because of the wind and the strong rain very little people made it but it was best that way, she had a wonderful birthday! Brandon’s Mom and step dad made it, our wonderful friends Steve and Melissa and our close neighbors came. We had MORE than enough food to feed everyone and Graysen had more than enough attention given to her!

GG and Graysen!

Being super lazy at the zoo!

My family

Elizabeth and I with our little ones

September Brandon and I did our first 5k run with each other!  It was in honor of those lost during September 11^th, so it was a wonderful run! I didn’t walk and that was basically by goal! It was a great time and a great weekend with our friends. Angie, Pat and Johnny watched Graysen for us and we all went to breakfast afterward! The Jardina’s also spent that weekend with us at the carnival and concert/fireworks!  I believe September was the month I talked to a counselor and found out why I didn’t get excepted into the nursing program, and with a few corrections and it taken up to the nursing board I was accepted into the March program! That was a wonderful Birthday present! The entire fall semester my focus was to learn how to prioritize. I was doing great in school but I was leaving my family on the side burner!  That being the first full time semester I’ve had it was a good way to learn to still have fun and still get my work done, and I did just that!

November and December were full of house projects and seeing family. They were both great months!!

The whole year is almost a blur! Graysen has gotten so big and has come so far with her personality and learning. She impresses me every day! I’ve had a few “family drama’s”… but that is life, I am proud of my mom for the hard decisions she’s been having to make, but I think she is improving her life and I can’t wait to see her happy and better off this next year!



Start of 2011




End of 2011 What a difference in Graysen!



As that is said this next year is going to be a tough one. I start the nursing program, but we are very lucky and thankful to have my mom come move in with us. She is going to help us with Graysen and the house while I’m in school full time during the days. I’ve already started school for the semester but I’m taking two extra classes while in the nursing program. I’m slowly trying to get all my prereqs done to be able to transfer to a university once I get my Associate degree and my RN license to get my bachelors. That is my short term goal for now, so we’ll see how this next year goes for me and my family. I’m looking forward to this year, and the next ones! I will try to do a little better with the updates as well!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!