Wish me luck!

I have applied for a job as a Migrant Tutor at the school district and yesterday I got called to do an interview tomorrow! It's been forever since I've done a job interview and I have to say I am quite nervous! The job would be working with migrant students grades K-8, I believe, and is 15 hours a week. It sounds like a great job and I think I would really like it. With teaching and spanish-speaking experience, I think I am well-qualified for the job. Wish me luck!

Bitten by the Bug!

A week ago Kyle started running a fever. The next day Olivia did. We took them to the doctor and Kyle had to take one for the team and be tested for Influenza which came back positive. Wednesday Sage and I came down with it and now exactly a week since it started, Aubrey has come down with it. We are all ready to be healthy again!

Winter Storms Hit

I have no pictures but extrememly embedded memories of our day yesterday. Olivia has not been feeling well with an ear infection so I went home early from church with her so she could take a nap. It had been snowing all morning and was starting to blow. Now, for those who know, our road is AWFUL when it blows. We've been blown in twice so far (make that 3 times now). So as I was on the last leg to our house, I came upon a truck that was "running" three dogs and they kindly pulled over so I could pass. The windshield wipers were not clearing the window well and I could hardly see. Next thing I know, I am in the ditch. Stuck, stuck, stuck. Luckily there was that pickup coming along and they gave us a ride home. Sage came home and used my dad's truck to pull the little car out. As the day wore on, the road became more and more treacherous---blown in with snow drifts and continued snow. However, for some reason we decided to try to make it home aftering eating at my parents. BAD BAD BAD idea! We were bucking drifts left and right and couldn't see worth a darn with all the snow flying over the truck. And, you guessed it, we got stuck AGAIN. Two times in one day for Liv and I. A worker of our landlords came with his nice big tractor and pulled us out to safety and we drove home. I was SOOOOO glad to be in the warm confines of our house. They didn't plow the road until this morning and I was late for work (my one day to work) because they were so late getting out. I am ready for SPRING!

Ear Update:

Aubrey's ear continues to drain. We called the ENT yesterday and he called in some antibiotic drops we have to put in three times a day for the next week. She's being a real trooper and hopefully this will clear up soon. She has an appointment next week to make sure the perforation has closed up.

I'm All Ears!

One of our family defects (yes, we have a few) is chronic, nasty ear infections. However, for almost one year exactly, we have been ear infection-free and proud of it!

Today Aubrey started to complain of her left ear hurting. This was not alarming at all as all the kids have had colds and Kyle was complaining a few days ago of his ears hurting which resolved. However, she could not go to sleep for her nap because of the pain. So I rocked her and she slept a whole 30 minutes before being awakened in intense pain. So for the next few hours she just wanted to be held and rocked. And then, (trumpets blaring) her ear drained. At first it was "normal" ear fluid and it has now turned into blood which means her ear drum burst!! =0 =0 =0 My poor little girl. Oddly enough, ever since it started draining, she has felt much better. Now the question is.....do we take her to the doctor or not?

Extended Vacation Week #3

Now what happened to weeks #1 and #2 you might ask? Well, they didn't get written but no better time to start than now.

As you know we are on extended vacation right now and can I say that is has been nice having a live-in mother's helper (aka Sage, daddy, etc). I don't feel like a single mom which sometimes those long days and nights made me wonder. This is just one of the bonuses.

Another bonus is that we are able to spend some time with Sage's parents. Last time we can to visit (pre-vacation) we couldn't stay very long so we are taking some extra time. It is such a welcomed break and the kids love Grammy and Papa. It has been snowy and cool but it is such beautiful country here.

We also brought with us a little something of home. An oddly familiar yet peculiar smell......smoke. Not the gas station/casino variety but the outdoorsy sort of smell. Last week (Extended Vacation Week #2) we had a small problem with the woodstove downstairs which sent billows of smoke parading through our house into every possible crevice. I didn't realize that every article of clothing not washed since aforementioned incident, would reak of said smell. Although I love a good camping experience and especially roasting marshmallows to deserve such a stench, none of that occured. Just plain old stinky wood smoke. Guess I can't get away from my laundering duties but at least we should smell like we are not from the back country.....even though some may wonder.

Bad Ecomony Hits Home

Well, it looks like I've fallen off the blogging bandwagon yet again. Although to my credit, we don't have internet so it is a bit hard to keep it alive.

For those that don't know.....Sage is being laid off....technically last day is tomorrow. This also means all benefits, most importantly health insurance, are done, over, adios! This has been hard to process to try to grasp. I have been in so many offices this week filling out so many papers that I can't see straight anymore. Honestly, I never really thought I'd be in a situation where Sage would be unemployed...just never entered my mind....so I have had to learn alot and sign a lot of papers.

We knew that a lay off was a possibility starting in November but had become quite comfortable in the fact that they were doing all they could...aka reduced hours....to avoid it. So maybe that is why it has been so hard.

Sage has been very optimistic in spite of the news...keeps me going with his excitement for what lies ahead. He says he is glad he won't be bagging talc for the rest of his life.

For now we hold to our faith and our family to get us through. It is kind of exciting...in a scary sort of way...what our future holds. It also makes me appreciate the most important thing in my life and that is FAMILY. You can take the job but you can't take my family! =)