Weekly B-Ball Update

OK. I was bad this week. Although I did attend all the kids games, I didn't write down the final scores. I promise, it won't happen again, but for this week a broad overview will just have to do.

Lindsay continues to show improvement and actual interest in the game. She took a shot during the game this week (VERY big deal!) and actually HIT THE RIM! (even BIGGER deal!) If she would just get her feet off the ground when she shoots she might make her first basket!

Garrett had a somewhat disappointing week. Both his teams lost. Then he was asked to fill in on a 5th-6th grade team (at church) due to player being injured (and apparently out for the rest of the season). He jumped at the chance and I am all for anything that helps him burn some of that energy he never seems to run out of, so he played his third game in two days. Unfortunately that team lost too. Even though he is getting pretty frustrated with his losses, he is learning a great deal about basketball and teamwork.

Kimberly's team won, again. Apparently they have become the team to beat. With only one loss they have one of the winningest records in the league right now. The test will be next week when they play the only team they have lost to.

And finally. It's not really fair to leave Cynthia out of my weekly update simply because she isn't playing basketball. She has been working hard (or is it hardly working??) at the concession stand each week. She also deserves the credit for clean uniforms for her brother and sisters since she helps me try to keep up with the mountain of laundry that a family of 6 creates. She has been a huge help to me these past few weeks in more ways than I could list here.

Bedbugs ?

Last night when I went to bed I actually had to pull the covers down to get in. Usually my bed doesn't get made and the covers sit all day in a heap in the center of the bed. I was surprised that the bed was made and actually felt grateful believing that one of my wonderful children had made my bed out of the kindness of their little heart. I smiled at that thought as I pulled the covers back to climb into bed. I had already taken my contact lenses out (so I was nearly blind!) but I could still see the tiny spots all over my sheets. I looked closer and squinted while I poked at the little dots trying to figure out what kind of animals had infested my bed. They looked like ticks, but I couldn't imagine where we would have picked them up. Robby came over to look and said "Maybe we have bedbugs." While I was trying to decide where I would sleep for the night I noticed the zipper on my "eye pillow" was opened. Apparently Lindsay discovered the zipper and opened it up to investigate it's contents. The "bugs" all over my bed were nothing but flax seeds.

Ball Girl

Kimberly had her first experience as a ball girl for the UofL women's basketball team today. Although she didn't complete all of her duties (she wouldn't towel the sweat off the court) she did have a court side seat. She actually sat on the floor next to the player's bench (and probably learned some new words from the frustrated coach during time-outs!). UofL beat Marquette and Kimberly was able to get some autographs for her basketball.

She obviously didn't want me to take her picture!

Weekly B-Ball Update

Lindsay played well again this week. She is really trying to learn the rules of the game. She is pretty aggressive on defense (as long as she doesn't have to actually touch the ball!) and has worked hard on her dribbling. She has come a long way since last year's "hair twirling" competitions with her teammates!

Kimberly's team won their game 31-23. She must have proven herself to the boys because they don't seem to mind passing to her anymore. She took some good shots that just refused to drop, but she also scored her share of points for the team. She is getting better every day and has shaken last years nickname "Foul Trouble".

Garrett's school team got beat 33-13, but now they know where their weaknesses are so hopefully they can improve before next week's game. His church team won 10-9 in another nail-biter and I realized that I am one of those embarrassing moms. When Garrett bumped heads with another boy and went down I really wanted to rush out on the court and make sure he was okay. I stood by the team bench with my hands in my pockets (and he was fine), but it wasn't easy. Garrett has really matured on the court and he is realizing that his big sister (Kimberly) is actually good for something!

Peeping Tom

While on our way home a few minutes ago we found ourselves "peeping" at some friends. See, they live on a main road in our part of town and it seems no matter where we are headed (or returning from) we pass their house. I find myself looking over to see if they are home almost every time we pass. (Maybe I'm subconsciously checking to see if they are having a big party without inviting us?!)

So, tonight while sitting at the traffic light I looked over as usual. Not only where they home, but they were sitting in the kitchen on the computer! I looked long enough (and could see clear enough) to tell that the wife was at the computer and the husband was sitting close by. When we got home I immediately pulled up the blog expecting to see a new post from one of them, but I was sadly disappointed. They must have found something better to do on the computer tonight.

Maybe they were shopping for blinds!

That Stinks!

This morning while the kids were getting ready for school I was running through the checklist of things they needed to remember for the day. Garrett is staying after school and riding with his basketball team to the gym for their team pictures and subsequent game and he is EXTREMELY forgetful! We have put his lunch bag in his hand only to find it sitting on the table (or floor or couch or bathroom sink!) after he is on the bus. So we often check and double check that he has everything he needs. Garrett gets frustrated with my asking "silly questions" but I wasn't taking any chances today.

"Do you have your uniform?"
"Yes."
"Can I see it?"
"UGH!"
"Do you have your shoes?"
"I'm WEARING them! Duh!"

After a few more questions I asked him "Do you have your deodorant?" He looked at me like I had lost my mind and said "NO. Why would I take that?" Before I could say anything Lindsay busted out "If you wanna get a girlfriend you gotta wear deodorant!" Garrett just smiled and went to the bathroom to retrieve it.

Off to the Races

Today was our first official day of clinicals. Since this is our first interaction with real, live people we are usually assigned to complete tasks that cannot hurt anyone. There are 60 students total in our graduating class and that is broke down into groups of 10 for clinicals. All 5 of the other groups have local grade schools as their clinical site, but our group is unique. We are assigned to the backside health clinic at Churchill Downs. This clinic is run by a Nurse Practitioner employed by UofL and is fully funded by unclaimed winnings from track side betting. (I was surprised to learn that there are MILLIONS of dollars in unclaimed winnings each year.) We will have the opportunity to interact with the backside workers and provide for their health care needs as well as help them utilize other resources available to them and their families. We will have an opportunity to observe and assist in procedures that the other groups will have to wait at least another semester to take part in. Of course, we still have some requirements that will have to be completed in the grade school (Semple is our assigned site) such as screenings for head-lice and scoliosis, but we are aloud (and encouraged) to interact on a more personal level with our patients in the clinic.

I'm excited to be starting this next phase of my training. I'm nervous about all that is expected of me. But each day I am more sure that this is where I am supposed to be.

Basketball

This week was the start of basketball games for the kids. Everyone except Cynthia is playing and Garrett is playing on two teams (one at school and the other at the church we used to attend). Although the outcomes weren't all what they wanted, the kids truly enjoy the sport and it's nice for them to have an outlet for all that extra energy.

Lindsay's age group doesn't keep score. They are focusing on teaching the fundamentals and not the competition. She isn't too happy about being the only girl on her team.

Garrett's church team lost their game in a nail-biter. The team played great, but it's hard to get a 10 year old to see past the loss. His school team won their game, but Garrett didn't feel like he contributed much. He's pretty hard on himself sometimes.

Kimberly scored a bunch for her team, but they couldn't pull out the win. She is thrilled with her team color though- you guessed it. Bright ORANGE.

Between the three of them we have basketball practice/games Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. If only I could get them to put the time and effort into their homework and chores that they put into basketball. . .

Free Time ? What's That ? ?

I have waved goodbye to free time. I am halfway to my BSN and things are really heating up now. I have classes and/or clinicals 5 days a week and hours of reading and homework. I don't think they were kidding when they told us at orientation that we would have about 14.5 hours left each day for "free time". ("Free-time" = time away from school to sleep, eat, shower, drive, play, etc.) I am exhausted and my house is a mess and it's only Tuesday!

These are my books for this semester. Yes. All 11 of them are for this semester. Yesterday I fell asleep on the couch with my nose in one of them and I can tell you for sure--there is no such thing as learning by osmosis!

Our clinical uniforms aren't the greatest, but they beat the old solid white scrubs. If you've never seen those hideous things you don't know what you're missing! (Just ask my friend Jeff who recently enrolled in a different Nursing program in town.)

Twins?

The giant Dora that has taken over our house is now running around in her underwear! A certain little girl I know has decided that she looks better in the outfit than Dora does. I bet those plastic shoes are uncomfortable!