Getting to Know each other & Keeping Close

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

Many of us are friends and family members. This is just a thread to post about things that are happening in your life! Everyone needs to vent, and sometimes just writing our own thoughts is a great way to do it. Also having an unbiased ear can be welcome.

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

Keep my son Benjamyn is four years old. He is having surgery tomorrow morning at 6am to correct his condition known as Strabismus (basically lazy eyes). He never had it until about six months ago. It started out gradually and has gotten worse. Unfortunately, we have tried glasses and if he does not have it corrected eventually his brain will program that muscle to stop working all together. So it is important for him to have the surgery. I am more concerned with him getting anesthesia rather than the actual surgery. I have alot of faith in his doctor, but with children you never know how medicine will affect him. Please keep him in your prayers! I am totally freaking out about this... not to mention I have my midterms this week (due tues at midnight)!

Ok enough of that! Everyone stay safe and I wish everyone a safe early Merry Christmas.

[[deleted user]]

Jenn, I cannot even imagine what you are going through. I know many people would say that this is pretty minor, but as the mom you must be crazy! One of my favorite students passed out today in class and I was a wreck! And he is not even my son. And don't even get my started on when the dog is sick or injured . . .

How is Benjamyn now? Did the surgery go well? Will he have to have another (hope not)?

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

He did wonderful. When they gave him the sedation medicine orally so they could do an IV without freaking him out. He laughed so hard he couldn't stay still for them to stick him. OK now I know most kids have NO CLUE what an IV is, let alone what a needle looks like... but I am constantly in the hospital I have a IV Port in my chest, so believe me, my kids KNOW! So he gets the "Ohhh I feel so good medicine" cracks up the whole way to the O.R. the doc had the nurse call to say he was doing great through the surgery (total about 45 min) and he had a small smile while he was sleeping through it lol. So then he got out and he was pretty scared, his eyes burned a bit so he kept saying they hurt. So he got some Demerol, lol. Yeah he was happy again after that. The doctor was going to send me home with Tylenol and codeine but said I wouldn't need it, I almost took it thinking man, what this could do for my kids on cranky days-- ok I didnt think that, but now looking back, I should have (I am totally kidding)

So I just asked if the medicine was really necessary, he said no usually parents just over react. So I just took the plain Tylenol, and eye drops, went home, me and hubby stayed in bed with him till the next day. He woke up telling everyone "My eyes! I can See! Wow! Look, everyone!" then he proceeded to pester his sisters like normal.

SO I guess I was the only one really traumatized by the whole event lol. Thanks for everyone's support!

[Cici]

Poor little guy! His eyes look great! I cannot believe how good he looks after surgery!

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

Yeah he did great. Can barely tell. Doesnt he look like a little Einstein with his glasses lol.

[Cici]

yes! but ben is adorable no matter what!!!!

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

So the holidays were very busy, but cherished this year as we were able to travel and see family. I hope everyone enjoyed Christmas, we blew two tires during the holidays which made for an exciting time. Have you ever traveled with three kids, a dog, and a hubby? Umm yea, that is interesting in and of itself. My hubby was blasting music to block out the kids fighting, the dog was sitting on my feet... I was squished under boxes of kids toys, and rocking back and forth in a manner similar to someone in a psych ward... don't remember what I was babbling about, something about shock collars, duck tape, money, broken tires, my brain exploding... you get the point. LOL

You will be happy to know, since then, I have regained my sanity. Take care everyone!

Sincerely,
Jennifer

[Cici]

Haha, Jen! Sooo funny...yeah that would drive me mad too.

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

Soooo guess what I recieved after my crazy drive home? In the mail was a letter from Brent Weeks (my #1 favorite author right now) with three quotes from his three novels, each signed and written by him personally. Also, I received a book called "Oom" by D.J. Webber (whom if you havn't noticed has joined DBJ-- Please give him a warm welcome). He has graciously allowed me permission to pick his book apart and give him my review! I have also made a thread for any of you who want to read the book as well, and post your comments to him yourself.

So in spite of my Nightmare after Christmas adventure, I came to home-sweet-home to find two very special and unexpected gifts, from some of my most cherished authors! Maybe Karma is true?!

[Jess]

It would seem so with all you've been through!

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

So everyone, some of you know I have been trying to get my son into pre-k early because of his eye and speech issues. He was permitted to start, but because the darn military lost his immunization records, and I am a terrible mom for not keeping a copy (lol), he wasn't able to start. So we had to have his blood drawn to see what anti-bodies he has, and that will tell us what shots he has got, and what ones he needs. IT FINALLY came back. Today is Ben's third day in school! YAY! He only goes four days a week in the PM (afternoon) class, but hey it's a small break. His first day he wore his teachers out! lol but he is getting better, he has never been in daycare or any type of learning environment... and he is a mommy's boy.
Sooooo this week should be interesting! I'll keep you posted!
Anyone else going through some drama they would like to vent or whine about lol?

[[deleted user]]

I have another part time job to add to my repertoire! I just got a job at Baker College teaching Earth Science, Physics, and Astronomy. I haven't had that stuff in 15 years!!! I have a chemistry degree - what was I thinking taking that job??? What were they thinking hiring me?? It's only 10 weeks long, so I am sure I will make it, but right now I should be creating my syllabus and I am procrastinating on Goodreads instead! They really hired a good one, huh?

[Jess]

:) Good luck to your son, Jen! Is he excited at all?

Baker? My boyfriend went to Baker in Owosso, MI for a few years before we both went to Northern Michigan. I hear they're a pretty good college. Good luck teaching all that stuff. The students probably don't know much about it either, so fake it until you make it, right? Worse comes to worse, just make them read a lot. ;)

I've been looking at graduate schools myself. Not really sure what I want to go for exactly in the realm of English, but... eh... better to look early. Brown's PhD program looks amazing, but it's Brown so it would. Uggghhhhhhh....

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

Jenn- I am sure you will do fine! Just make sure to get on the Internet, and figure out all the lesson plans from there, that way you already have the answers. Hmmm, but then I guess your sneaky students will too. Shit, your screwed lol. Don't BE SILLY, you are going to do great! I just hope you don't have to much on your plate, we would miss you if you were gone, and then I'd be talking to myself most the time, or driving cici and Jessica crazy!

Jessica, I am currently doing classes online. Five more courses and I will have my BA in legal studies.

[Jess]

^_^ Awesome!!! Congrats in advance :) Are you excited for your last semester (or are you taking less than five a semester?) Either way, you're almost done!!!

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

I wish I could take five courses. In law (I don't know about other courses) every course is six-eight credits, and a huge case load of work. Especially now that I am at the end of my schooling. So right now I usually take between one and two classes... This past term I only took one course, because I had advanced legal writing. That ends in a week. Then I start my last "legal" course which is real estate law (which I have put off till the end, I hate real estate lol). But after that I will probably do two courses, to get em done! Ugh, not to mention I am taking two classes for my hubby (shhh) lol

[[deleted user]]

Law school on line? You are so brave - I have a minor in criminal justice and I remember having to read all those cases and do briefs - it was so hard, and that was with a real live professor to guide me! I cannot imagine what you are going through!

What kind of law do you want to practice? I need a new will :-)

[[deleted user]]

Jessica, what are you getting your PhD in? What do you do for a living now?

[Jess]

Good luck Jennifer! That sounds HARD. Do you have an exam for your advanced legal writing class? If so, good luck with that, also. :)

I'm not getting my PhD yet, I'm still plugging away at my undergrad. I can't tell you EXACTLY what I want my PhD in, but right now Literary Theory interests me. ^_^

For a living I'm a student now, but I also work at The Writing Center on campus where I help people write papers.

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

Jessica,

PhD is hard too! I wanted to be a doctor, but I cannot handle blood. I mean I can get my blood drawn no problem, needles don't bother me, I even have a medi port in my chest for IV access that goes straight to my heart, but for some reason, sticking OTHER people or watching the tubes fill with someone else's blood makes me queasy. lol
My hubby works in an emergency room as a trauma medic and suture specialist, he loves that stuff. Me I am much better at words, arguing and such, so that is why Law is kinda easy for me. Thankfully! Otherwise I'd be a sahm forever!
I am a full-time student and mother of three! Yes I have a final exam and a final essay. Lucky me, this week is also my hubbies midterm exams (two of them). So I am busy busy busy!

PS- To all my bookjunkie friends, on my goodreads profile if you scroll towards the bottom, you can view "my writings" where I had a poem published titled "Open Arms" by the Internation Library of Poetry. If you are interested in reading it, please do! And also vote if you want, I would appreciate it!

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

Jenn, Interesting! I didn't know you had a minor in criminal justice! Actually after I finish these last few classes I will have my BA in legal studies as a Paralegal from Kaplan University online (Kaplan is Wall Street Journal's school). I still have to go through "law school" online at Concord University, Kaplan's sister school. So I won't have a legal degree for another three or so years, but I will have my BA degree in law, which is EXTREMELY helpful to complete my Juris Doctorates (law degree). Most people just get a BA degree in something easy, but then they get to law school and are lost... that is why I made sure to take courses at a school that was preparatory for law school.
It is HARD for sure, and takes alot of time. But I am stubborn and when I get hospitalized I only goto hospitals that have wireless internet that I can use, and do classes right from there. I take it very seriously, most classes I get A's, Ive had two B's... and I failed math, but I can retake it (I failed because I was admitted to a hospital that didn't have internet connection, it is my hardest subject, I hate Math! So it was to difficult to catch up). But Ill fix that and should graduate with a 3.9-4.0 gpa when I am done, and I hope that is going to get me a scholarship to Concord to finish up!

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

Jenn, I had to take a few criminal justice courses although I cant remember specifically which ones lol, its been so long!

[Jess]

Bleh. My boyfriend just got test results back from his doctor's office and it looks like he's been diagnosed with diabetes and high cholesterol. Looks like I'll be dieting along with him!

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

Jessica, I am sorry to hear it! Diabetes is so rough, I don't know what I would do if I had to watch my sugar intake, I live off Mt. Dew and Jolly Ranchers! lol

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

I'd also like to let everyone know that author D.J. Webber, just informed me, that as of the 4th, he was blessed with a little baby girl. He also says she still doesn't have a name, so any suggestions would be appreciated! If you havn't added him as a friend, please do, and also send him a note of congratulations :)

PS- I am halfway through "Oom" his book, and it is really wonderful! I promise I am not saying that because I "know" David, I will write my final review when I am finished :)

[Cici]

Jessica wrote: "Bleh. My boyfriend just got test results back from his doctor's office and it looks like he's been diagnosed with diabetes and high cholesterol. Looks like I'll be dieting along with him! "

Poor guy, I actually had the diabetes while i was pregnant and it went away after I had the baby and I hated it! I was so scared what to eat, because you feel funny if you eat too much sugar or not enough sugar, i was miserable.
What were his symptoms?

[Jess]

His mom had it, he's been trying to lose weight and can't, and he's been getting really tired lately so he thought he'd go get checked. I told him at least it's type 2 and that I've heard if you treat it seriously and work at eating/living right that it can go away. He's really bummed, but trying to look at the silver lining. This way he HAS to eat better, you know?

I'm excited to read "Oom"! When I get extra mula it will be one of my first purchases.

[Cici]

yes,it can go away, type 2!Did he gain a lot of weight? He does or doesnt have to be on insulin? Try to stay positive for him, you sound like your doing a good job, though!

[Jess]

Yeah he gained quite a bit of weight, so maybe this will be good for him. It sounds like he doesn't have to take insulin, but that he's going to be on some sort of pill? I'm not sure. He's got an appointment with a doctor on Monday. :) Thanks, guys.

[Cici]

no problem!!!

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

I hope the doctor will have good news, and that the process of eating healthy and taking pills wont be to difficult! He just needs to stay on-focus to remember that he can beat diabetes!

Jessica, I posted my review of "Oom" in the thread "Oom" by D.J Webber under the authors forum.

[Jess]

:) I read it. Sounds like a great book.

Apparently Trevor doesn't actually have diabetes. The doctor retested him and said he was fine. I'm a bit skeptical, but... yeah. Good news, I guess!

I've also bitten off more than I can chew, I think. I'm a member of Sigma Tau Delta (English Honors Fraternity) and we're going to do a Haiti Relief Read-a-Thon. Unfortunately, there's about five active members and we're planning on getting it done in the next three weeks.... AHHHHH!!!! I'm in charge of advertising. Wish me luck!

I also work at the Writing Center here and my group and I got accepted to present our proposal for incorporating Problem Based Learning and creating a NMU Wiki for the Writing Center Tutors at a conference in East Lansing.

This means we actually have to make the database.

Hopefully I won't be too overwhelmed.

[[deleted user]]

Way too much work to do. This part time position at Baker is killing me! I have no free time and a am darn cranky about it! I am going to have to think seriously about quitting after this quarter. I just cannot devote the time to both teaching positions if I want to have any personal relationships or even have time to see a movie! Ugh! I don't want to look back on my life and see that I worked it away and didn't spend time with my family and friends because I was writing tests or checking lab reports. I haven't even STARTED the January read, and February is staring me down . . .

[[deleted user]]

Jessica wrote: ":) I read it. Sounds like a great book.

Apparently Trevor doesn't actually have diabetes. The doctor retested him and said he was fine. I'm a bit skeptical, but... yeah. Good news, I guess!

I've ..."

Hang in there, Jess! You are doing important work for Haiti, something you can really be proud of.

Glad to hear about Trevor, but what is the problem, then? There must have been a reason that the test was done in the first place - is he feeling bad?

Jenn wrote: "Way too much work to do. This part time position at Baker is killing me! I have no free time and a am darn cranky about it! I am going to have to think seriously about quitting after this quarte..."

Hang in there, Jess! You are doing important work for Haiti - something to really be proud of.

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

Gosh seems like everyone is stressed now-a-days, so I have news as well... my husband asked me for a "seperation" after eight wonderful years of marriage. No its not another woman, its the military. It has come between us, has messed his head and mind up royally, and he is lost and therefore is pushing me away so he doesnt "hurt me"... stupid I know, but there it is, a separation, the first step to a divorce. So you can see why I havnt been online very much lately, my life is sucking hard core. Keep me in your prayers, especially my children, and my husband for him to see the truth and get help.

[Cici]

omigosh jenn!!!!!and how come u haven't called me! i know you and troy will work through this. Don't stress out too much, every relationship goes through its ups and downs. Troys not feeling great about himself and feels bad for dragging you guys down, just don't give up and help him through it. i love u!!! xoxox

[Jess]

:( I'm praying for all of you. I hope everything turns out okay. I'm not sure what else to say. :(


As far as Trevor goes, apparently he as the signs of pre-diabetes, so he still has to be healthy, but he doesn't have actual diabetes yet.

[[deleted user]]

Jennifer, you have friends here, and we are pulling for you and your kids. Don't forget to take a long hot shower and cry every once in a while. It helps.

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

Cynthia, Yes you have it exactly, he does feel like hes dragging us down, but I feel abandoned, hes such an ass hole for thinking by abandoning us, because he's hurting is the way to go about this. There's no convincing him, its official Im moving to Alabama the end of Feb. which is supposed to be our eight year anniversary, and instead it's the beginning of the end...

Jessica, I know I never knew what to tell people about stuff that is so intimate. It sucks.

Jenn, thanks for your kind words. It is just so damn hard, I truly am alone here. No family, no friends, no break. Also I apologize for being absent lately, with my family drama, and not to mention my latest "mental breakdown" episode which landed me strapped to a board, and an ambulance ride to the emergency room my hubby works at, and given a bunch of do-notkill-yourself meds... I was sent home... So today's the first day I have been able to drag myself to communicate with anyone...

I Love you guys though and appreciate all the support.

Love,
Jenn

[Cici]

come back home..

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

Cici I cant go to Michigan, I need help, I wont have anywhere to live, or help with the kids if I get sick and go to the hospital. I'm moving in with my mom...
Me and Troy are absolutely done. I cant take him anymore, and he feels the same way about me now too.
But I guess thats life...

[Jess]

Just keep trying to remember that after bad things come good things. It's like in the second Lion King movie where a fire takes out a bunch of wildlife and then Simba brushes aside the ash to show new plant-life growing. Good things are yet to come, you just need to go through the crappy stuff first. :) Disney movies are pretty much amazing.

I really hope everything works out for you Jenn. We're here when you need to rant/talk about it.

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

Jessica,
I know I am an addicted Disney Movie Collector. I just bought Special Disney Collection plastic sleeves to protect my movies. I counted them when I was finished an had 98 disney movies, and next week I have five more coming in the mail! That is just the main movies "classics" like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Wall-E, etc. not including all my daughters Hannah Montanah, etc. or Winnie the Pooh Dvds :)
I love Disney!

[Jennifer, Owner/Moderator]

Jessica,
I know I am an addicted Disney Movie Collector. I just bought Special Disney Collection plastic sleeves to protect my movies. I counted them when I was finished an had 98 disney movies, and next week I have five more coming in the mail! That is just the main movies "classics" like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Wall-E, etc. not including all my daughters Hannah Montanah, etc. or Winnie the Pooh Dvds :)
I love Disney!

[Cici]

i need more disney too, misty has them all too! I have barely any. i have most pixar/dreamworks, though.

[Jess]

I need get all mine on DVD. I have TON on VHS!

[Cici]

i do actually have a bunch of vhs,lol... but we don't ever watch vhs!!!

[[deleted user]]

I am the most horrible DVD collector on Earth! I have maybe 20 DVD's and I rarely watch them. I usually watch whatever is on my DVR (and that gets quite the hefty workout) and only TV shows on DVD. Right now I am on a Smallville kick - I never had time to watch it when it started and someone just gave me the Sopranos - I fear if I start that I may never stop watching TV. They will find me one day with the Sopranos running over and over on the DVD player, I will be dead and may be partially eaten by wild dogs. I tossed all my VHS a couple of years ago. I think the sad truth is I don't want to dust all that stuff.

[Jess]

Got your message, Jen! I'm here, I'm here!!! Sorry I haven't been around. It's getting near Spring Break and I'm a Maid of Honor in my friend's wedding, so I've been busy finding a dress, getting it resized and a bunch of other things(like the Haiti Read-a-Thon today.

Blessed Ash Wednesday, for those who celebrate it.

Also, I have recently become addicted to this show "Dexter" about the serial killer who only kills bad people. It sounds... bad, but there's just something awesome about it. I want to read the book.

How have you all been?