I'm back!!!

Wow!!! It's been a few years since I have been on our blog but life happens and we get busy. Lots of things have changed in our lives and we are having so much fun. I decided to come back to our blog to help myself be accountable for my actions. I'm trying to loose weight and be healthier so I need some way to be accountable and I am hoping this will help. My goal is to loose about 35 pounds. I started working with a trainer at the gym yesterday and we are going to meet once a week and the rest of the week she tells me what I have to do. This is great for me and my sister in law is joining me. We are both super excited to start this journey. Hoping to be a more fit and skinnier me by next year!!!

Time...it sure does fly by...

I can not believe it is already almost the middle of August. Logan's birthday is this coming Monday, but we are having his party this Friday night. Lots of exciting things going on with us right now but you will have to wait a little while longer to find out what that is.

School will be starting back in the next couple of weeks and then things will probably be even more busy because Cub Scouts will start back as well. Hopefully, we can get Laney in gymnastics soon and get Logan some guitar lessons as he is obsessed with playing his guitar that one of his grandpas gave him.

I will post more in a couple of weeks but now I must go and prepare for the upcoming surprises for our family...

Summertime is here...

Since school is out now, we have been staying just as busy as usual if not more so. We have been preparing for our fundraiser yard sale/hot dog sale we have started having each year to raise money for the Buddy Walk and then also trying to keep the kids entertained so they don't drive us crazy. It has been unusually hot here in the South; it usually isn't this hot until around the end of July or August but man has it been scorching. The humidity is wild and the temperatures are soaring. Thank goodness my in-laws live two houses down from us and have a pool we can relax in (when we have time).

Not only have we been collecting donations for the fundraiser and trying to sort through them and price the items so I do not have to do it all this Saturday morning before the sale starts, but we have been trying to keep up with the daily routines we have as well. Throwing Logan into our daytime routine has been a bit difficult since school let out because Laney just is not used to him being home all day yet. He is such a wonderful big brother but man it can get aggravating having to tell him to leave her alone all the time. He wants to help her so much but she is so independent it is proving difficult to teach him how to balance assisting her and teaching her. I am so grateful he is so loving and caring with her, sometimes he is jealous but after all, he is only 6 years old (almost 7).

I have also been trying to figure out the best options for me as far as school goes. I am having some trouble deciding the best place for me to try to go for my Nursing degree. Each school has different requirements and it is so frustrating trying to meet all of them so as not to waste a lot of time before I can apply to the program. At least I passed my state certification exam for Nursing Assistant earlier this month. I was very nervous about that but thankful it was not as bad as I anticipated. In North Carolina, you must be on the NA registry before you can be eligible to begin Nursing classes even if you are accepted in the RN program so I do at least have that requirement out of the way. These decisions are really hard when you have a family to think about...sometimes I wish I had went on to RN right out of high school but I would not change things if I could because I have a wonderful husband and children...hind sight is always 20/20 though...

Laney is becoming quite the stubborn little princess. She is very head strong and will tell you NO in a minute. She despises having her diaper changed but is completely not ready to potty train yet...very frustrating. She is very independent too. She will eat just about anything usually. She had her first dentist appointment last week and it went pretty well other than her screaming to the top of her lungs because they wanted her to lay down and she hates that because she thinks she must go to sleep if she is laying down. It will get better each time I hope though. Developmentally she is doing pretty well...her fine motor skills are more delayed than her gross motor skills and speech is doing somewhat better now. She likes to sign "apple" and "banana" now and she LOVES to perform the chicken dance...too cute.

Well, I suppose that brings you up to date for now...hopefully I can be better at posting this summer since I am not in school...hopefully...until next time...

Preschool, ending of the school year...etc...

Things have been a bit wild around our house lately. Logan's school and scouts, my school and clinicals, Laney's therapy and now a preschool meeting. I wonder sometimes how I manage to get it all completed and still have the time to shower and eat...lol. Let's get the updates going...

Logan is nearing the end of first grade and he is doing awesome. He has made the straight "A" honor roll twice this year and made the "AB" honor roll once. I have expressed my concerns about him being bored in class to his teacher but she seems unconcerned. I will be very glad when this year is over. When he is doing his homework, he wants to rush through it and makes careless mistakes so I think he is bored with his work because it isn't challenging enough for him. He is almost on a third grade reading level. He loves to read!!! His favorite thing to read right now is Junie B. Jones books. He is also becoming quite good at hitting the baseball. He will play tball again this year at the city park. He says it is baseball, not tball because he doesn't hit off the tee. He is so funny. You never know what he will say. He is very quick witted and very very curious and attentive (unless I am telling him to clean his room and then he can't seem to understand the words coming out of my mouth or the sign language I do for him since he acts like he can't hear me...lol).

Laney is doing wonderful. She continues to amaze us daily. She is still not talking much but our amazing ST "J" says she is beginning to make more sounds to combine for words. She has said some new words but won't really repeat them so it is still just random. She has learned to climb a ladder to a small slide and loves to try to climb the ladder to the slide on their swing set. (I help her of course) She had her eye surgery on April 5th and did great. Her eyes both appear straight now and the eye doctor said it looks like a success. She had no complications or troubles with her anesthesia or the surgery itself. We have scheduled her meeting for preschool admission for today. I wanted to go ahead and get things rolling with that since it is almost the end of the school year and then once school starts back, things are always hectic for the teachers. I know where I want her to go and I have already spoken to the teacher there to ask what I needed to know to get prepared for her to begin next January. I know I am way ahead of the game, but time really flies by so I wanted to get a head start.

We have also been busy redecorating our sunroom. We replaced the outdoor carpet so that it is more padded for the kids. It is awesome! Both the kids love playing out there. Laney will go to the sliding door and knock on it and say "knah knah det ouh" which I interpret as "knock knock get out" meaning she wants me to open the door so she can go in and out playing. We have also been doing her therapies out there since she loves it so much and so far it is going great. The weather has been pretty nice here, not too hot yet, but the mornings sure are chilly.

We went to the beach Easter weekend. That was the second time Laney or Logan had been. Of course, Logan remembers the last time and was so excited to go to the ocean. We are so very fortunate that my husband's stepdad's family owns a house down there so we can go pretty much anytime we want (as long as the date is available in the book....lol). The kids both loved the beach house and they both loved the ocean and playing in the sand. Laney loved it so much that she sat there, shoveling sand into her bucket for 45 minutes without moving or saying anything. That is an accomplishment for a 2 year old!

I have also been on a diet! This is month two and I have lost about ten pounds so far. I can really tell a difference in the way my clothes fit (most of them are too big now...woohoo). Also, I just finished my last day of clinicals for CNA on Monday and only have two more days of class in which we are going to be doing mock testing. After that, we can take the state exam. I have also taken the PSB for the LPN program but no one has heard anything yet on who gets to go back for the interviews. If I don't get in the LPN program, I plan to take CNA II in the Fall and then apply to the RN program in January for the following Fall. I still have to take Chemistry before I can apply. I have decided to take the summer off from school and spend it with the kids and Ricky. I may try to find a part-time job working as a CNA just so that I have my foot in the door somewhere once I do graduate.

Oh!!! Almost forgot...the week before we were going to the beach, Ricky totalled our van when he hit a huge deer. Thankfully he was not hurt at all and thankfully it was him and not me that did it. The insurance process was very quick thank goodness. He wrecked on Wednesday morning (I mean like 3:45am) and on Saturday, we had a new car. Thank goodness for GAP insurance...lol.

Who knows what our futures hold but right now, I am very happy with how ours is looking. I will try to post some pictures soon. I just haven't had the time to work on them lately with all my Anatomy homework...for some strange reason, I took that class online...not a good idea but I am passing so I guess it is okay.

Until next time...

It has sure been a long time since I have posted on my blog. We have been busy people around the Haskin house...

I am a full-time student, mommy, and wife so that is alot on me. I have been doing lots of homework and studying this semester. I actually dropped one of my classes because I took way too many hours. I am truly enjoying my CNA class and sign language class the most. I have completed the first 8 weeks of sign language and since I am taking a hybrid course, we pack into two 8 week sessions what you would normally do in 2 seperate semesters. It is fast paced and hard work but I love it! We went to a workshop about using clasifiers in the medical setting and I had a blast (right up my alley there). I start clinicals next week in my CNA class and hopefully I will find out soon if I get to take the test for placement in the LPN program. If I do not get in, I plan to apply for the CNA II class in the Fall and continue with my prerequisites for the RN program.

Laney is truly a 2 year old toddler now. She is sassy and can throw some temper tantrums. She is wild and free and lots of fun. She is really into messing in everything and we really have to watch her close. Since we have finally had some days of nice weather recently, we have been able to take her outside to play and she absolutely loves it. She loves to just walk around the yard and explore. The pure joy of discovery on her face is amazing. She is still pretty delayed in her speech and is becoming a little stubborn about using her signs so we have to really work with her in the speech department. She is getting quite good at removing her diaper and pants now. This is NOT cool!!! She was recently in a fashion show with The Arc of Gaston County. It was awesome. We always have so much fun doing that. They have lots of vendor booths and information for any person with special needs. It is awesome to go and interact with the other parents. Laney is also scheduled to have her eye surgery on April 5th. We were scheduled before but had to postpone once Laney was diagnosed with RSV. We have to wait 6 weeks after that before she could have anesthesia. So hopefully when we go next week for her pre-op she is still going to be able to go ahead with the surgery. I would have to have to reschedule again for any reason.

Logan is still Logan. He is becoming quite the little smarty pants and gets in trouble alot for talking back. Guess he is a typical year old huh. He is doing amazing in school and is almost on a 3rd grade reading level and he is only in 1st grade. We are so proud. He is amazing with Laney. He loves to take her outside and explore with her and race her on his bicycle (I am usually pushing her in her car). He is still doing really well in Scouts and has now completed everything to earn his Tiger Cub badge. Hopefully he gets it at the next pack meeting.

Here are a few pictures just to update you from the fashion show...

Laney after the show playing with her shoes

a proud big brother

see how much he loves her...

the diva on stage

before the show...

Another Year Older

Wow!!! I am another year older and so is Laney. I turned 27 on Jan. 7th and Laney turned 2 on Jan. 19th. What a whirlwind month this has been. I am still in school and will be for at least a couple more years. It is hard work being a full time student, mommy, and wife. But enough of that...Let's talk about Laney and Logan.

Laney had a wonderful birthday party at the hotel. It was a swimming party and everyone had a blast. She got some amazing presents and her favorite was money. I made her cakes and they turned out wonderful if I do say so myself...lol. Laney was also scheduled to have her eye surgery but because she had RSV the first week in January (I told you it was a whirlwind month), we had t post pone for at least six weeks. Now the surgery is set for April 5th. Today we return to the pediatrician for her 2 yr well check.

Logan had his first Pinewood Derby this past Saturday (I will post pics after I upload them...). He didn't win but we had lots of fun. Ricky helped run the computer part of the track and I helped with concessions and took lots of photos. Logan and Ricky did win a ribbon for the cupcakes we baked. They were blue and gold so they won "Most Scout Spirit". Last night, Logan recieved a patch for participating in the Christmas Parade and two certificates for participating in the Derby and "Dad & Lad" Bake Sale for their cupcakes. The next big thing coming up for Logan is the Blue & Gold Banquet on February 22nd. I am super excited about that as I am on the committee to help plan that. I really enjoy scouts with Logan and hate that I have to miss his meetings on Monday nights because I have Sign Language class at that time.

I will try to post more pics soon and also let you all know how Laney's well check goes this afternoon.

Reflection

It is New Year's Eve and I am home with the kiddos while Ricky is working. As I sit here thinking back over the past year, reflecting over our accomplishments, I am amazed at how far we have come in such a short time. Let's break it down:

This past year, Laney: had her 1st birthday, started babbling and talking, started signing, started crawling, started walking, and is feeding herself, drinks from a straw, she has had 2 set of tubes in her ears, had her adenoids removed, had multiple hearing test (she finally passed the one under anesthesia), had multiple eye exams and has endured drops being put into her eyes to help strengthen the weak eye, became more of a mommy's girl, went to her first professional baseball game and first minor league hockey game, had the flu, and celebrated her 2nd Christmas....

In the coming year, Laney has to look forward to her 2nd birthday, beginning the transition from Early Intervention, hopefully she will begin to speak more words, get better at feeding herself, drink from an open cup, will start running and maybe jumping and do even more climbing. We have high hopes and expectations for our daughter and hope for nothing but the best for her in the coming year....

This past year, Logan: played soccer in the Spring, Tball in the summer, and Golf this fall, joined Cub Scouts, earned his Bobcat badge in Scouts, earned multiple other badges and awards in Scouts, was in the Christmas Parade, passed Kindergarten and started 1st grade, made the A honor roll for the first time ever (it was the first time he was able to earn letter grades, not just an "S" or "I" or whatever other letters the use for kinders), got his first loose tooth (although it has yet to come out), stayed in a hotel for the first time in his memory, went to his first professional baseball game and first minor league hockey game, learned to read so well he has now moved on to chapter books at age 6, became more independent...

In the coming year, hopefully, Logan will continue to read more and more, continue to want to play sports (golf is his love right now), continue to be an amazing big brother and help teach Laney the things she needs to learn. We high hopes and dreams for our son...he is an amazing child and so loving and caring. He is my baby and always will be.

I love both of my babies with all my heart and hope for the best for them and our family in the coming year...

Happy New Year everyone!!!!!!!

Gingerbread Lane

Last night, the hubby, kiddos, and I headed out to a local high school to make gingerbread houses. It was called Gingerbread Lane and was sponsored by the schools Early Childhood Education students. It was also completely free which made it even more awesome. The kiddos even got to see Santa while we were there. We had alot of fun....

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Winter

It is really feeling like winter here in the South although we have no snow (the kids are sad about that but not me because when we get snow, we loose power and that is no fun). The Christmas decor is up and the presents are wrapped and under the tree. Logan received a letter from Santa the other night and I am so glad because he has really improved with his behavior and listening.

Laney is walking everywhere now and still jabbering up a storm. She is signing more now and is getting better at it each day. She got the H1N1 vaccine last week when I went for my TB test and Tetanus shot (from which my arm is still sore and it has been a whole week now). I have to go back for more vaccines for the CNA program I was accepted into for next semester. I am super excited.

Logan is doing great in school...he was on the A honor roll and still is. He is super smart and loves reading; this makes me very happy. He loves to read books to Laney and is a superb big brother. He is really enjoying Cub Scouts and received his Bobcat badge a few weeks ago. We are so proud of him. Now they are working on their Pinewood Derby Cars...not my forte so Daddy has to handle that...lol.

I will try to post some pics throughout the holiday season but we will be a bit busy so I will just try my best.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

The Farm and Other Photos

Today, we went to a farm not far from our house with the DSAC we are involved with. We had a blast playing with the other children and also doing the fun things on the farm. Below, I have posted some photos from over the past month or so...enjoy!!!

Logan on the big slide at the farm
Logan and Laney on the pony

Laney...drinking through a straw (learned today)

Logan riding the pony ( I was so surprised and proud)

and again...

Laney on the big slide

Logan again

Laney in the hay maze

riding the car thing...

Daddy and Laney ( i love this pic)

Logan at golf lessons

Laney prior to her 2nd set of tubes

Laney again before her surgery

Laney-bug

Sheriff Logan