Growing belly

Since I was so sick, I wasn't able to take any belly photos starting at 12 weeks (when I started showing) like I wanted to. I am now in my second trimester at 14 weeks (which seems absolutely crazy to me) and finally got around to taking one. I also took one at 5 weeks soon after we found out we were expecting so I am happy to have a "before" photo to compare to.

This last week I also started the Centering Pregnancy class at the hospital (where my doctors office is), and so instead of doing actual doctors visits, we go right in to the centering room (no need to check in) and have some healthy snacks layed out for us, do our appointment/check ups with a nurse practitioner, and a class about a new topic on pregnancy and/or being a new mom. Its with a group of women due in the same month as me along with their spouses or significant others. I loved the class. It was so informative. We even get a notebook where we record everything so the NP and I both have the same information. The book also has even more information for the topics we go over and is such a good resource.
It was the first class and we learned a lot about nutrition and some relaxation techniques. Its once a month for now, (until we all get in to our third trimesters and will be in much more often) right after our checkups. In one of the classes coming up, we are going to be taking a tour of Labor and Delivery and see where we will be having our babies. I am very excited for that.

Some highlights-

• I have lost weight instead of gained
• Baby's heart rate is 150 bpm

Now that I am in the second trimester, I have noticed a bit more energy (no more naps for me), and the gagging is rare too. I am very happy to say that I did not puke once. I hope all my pregnancies are the same way. I have cravings on a daily basis now but I try to stay as healthy as possible in my eating habits. Subway and Wawa subs have been a constant in our home since I have not had the energy to cook. But I do need to give my husband some credit and say he has picked up the slack. He has been cooking, cleaning and keeping me off my oh-so sore feet and back as much as possible. Just standing while doing a load of dishes will make my back really ache. I have read its from weak abs, and now a growing uterus. Steve has been wonderful and I am so blessed to have such an amazing husband. At the moment, he is on summer vacation from school and has been home 24/7 with me. He no longer works as a security guard because of an incident that happened where he was at the wrong place at the wrong time and got punished for protecting himself but that's all I can say about that.

Steve starts fall semester next week and I will be back to being by myself for most of the week since he goes full time. I am dreading it. I have been so needy. I no longer work from home either. We decided it was time to stop working and start transitioning to stay at home Mommy, but I love it and so excited to be just that for our baby. It was just too stressful on me and it was time to move on but it was such a good experience. I am so blessed and thankful to be able to stay home and just focus on Homemaking and being available to my husband and baby. Its a true gift from God.

Although it will be lonely again during the week, I am happy that he is excited for school. We just got him a new computer for school and did school supply shopping today. We took the photo above on our way out to go pick every thing up. It was such a fun beautiful day. Brings back memories of how excited I would get for back to school shopping as a kid. Although I don't remember it being this hot still so late in August. Mondays will be the worst since he has class all day.. literately- from 8 in the morning until 10 at night. His classes are spread out so he does have a few hours in between classes but since its a bit of a drive there, we decided to just have him stick around and catch up on homework or whatever at the school library. I sure will miss his constant presence, the way it feels it would make some people think he was leaving for a long time..like he was deploying again or something. ha. I feel like I will never see him anymore. But I will manage to keep busy. I actually just bought some books on the kindle store that I have been eagerly waiting to read. Two of them are The Good Wife's Guide by Darlene Schacht and Confessions of a Cloth Diaper Convert by Erin Odom. So, I have been spending a lot of time on my tablet since last night... but I have learned so much already. We are definitely doing cloth diapers for our baby. Once you see the price difference, the health benefits, and how easy they are to manage, its hard not to. Plus they are super cute.

I also got some cleaning to do so that will help Monday go by quicker too. My wonderful husband has pretty much taken over everything during the first trimester since I have been so exhausted and when he starts school, I am taking back over. I am cooking his breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same time since he will be gone all day. He said he has missed his wife and you can't fully appreciate how much someone does for you until you have to do it yourself.. How sweet, right? He is ready to hand the reigns back over to me. He does not like to cook or clean at all. But I am excited to have more energy and get back to my homemaking duties. I love cleaning and making sure he has healthy meals. We have eaten out so much lately (since he didn't want to cook and I don't blame him at all) that I am starting to get sick of subway.. which I didn't even think was possible.

Well, we have our second ultrasound coming up soon and apparently, its with a new high-tech machine so expect some good pictures of Baby Cox soon.. and hopefully a gender reveal soon as well.
We both think its a boy. My mom had boys first as well as Steve's mom. We also think it could be a boy because Steve's mom didn't puke in any of her pregnancies with her boys but she did with her girls... but my mom didn't puke with any of her pregnancies at all so its really hard to tell. Oh, and sure its just for fun but it has known to be true, but the Chinese gender predictor says its a boy. Its going to be real interesting to find out. When I picture the baby, I see a boy.

Clicker Training

At 15 weeks, we started clicker training Gunyr. He has really taken to it and we have made some good progress in his obedience. He now knows how to sit, lay down, back to sit from lay down, shake (his paw), come, stay until recalled, and fetch! We got one of the Chuck It fetch toys that make the ball go farther and he just loves it. We are now working on standing on command, catch (a treat), and of course, heel. There is a you-tuber that I follow that teaches how to do cool dog tricks like fetching a drink from the fridge, that Gunyr will be working on soon. The page is called tab289. Check him out. I will soon post a video of Gunyr's progress on our you tube, maybe around his 20 weeks so he has some time to practice more for the camera.

14 weeks (with his baby teeth still in)

15 weeks

16 weeks

big boy teeth coming in (16 weeks here)

A bit has happened since I blogged last. Tubbles had her yearly vet check up and vaccinations. I am worried about her weight gain. She is now 9 1/2 lbs. Her vet said she has had some significant weight gain since her last check up and gave me a recommendation for feedings. I still haven't started it because I am so scared of her being hungry. She has always been on free feedings; there's always food in the bowl. Now Bunker is getting a belly and I know I need to do something.


my sleepy boy. He is nine months old this month!

..and sleepy girl. She turns seven years old this month!

Got the carrier out for Bub to go to the vet and since Bunker has not yet had a yearly vet visit, he doesn't know he will soon hate carriers. Haha.

sun bathing

Play time! I love the look in Bub's face.

working while hanging with my wonderful husband.

Todays is actually a big day for my husband! He applied for a position in the company he works for about a month ago and has done about four interviews for it within that time. It would be a wonderful promotion for him and would almost double his salary. Today is that last interviews he has with the company righter-ups (without a better term for them). Hopefully he learns if he gets the promotion today but there are other candidates so who knows when we find out. If he doesn't get selected, he has decided to leave the company to join me in working from home but he will be doing it full time. Its near the same pay as the promotion he is working towards so either way, he will be moving on from what he is doing now. We prayed together before he left for work this morning and what happens next is all in God's hands.

Later that day: My husband called and he nailed his interviews! He got his promotion and is going to be the "Boss Man"! After a few weeks of training in Pennsylvania, he will be the boss! Wow, words go beyond how proud of him I am. He has only worked there a year and is going to be above those who trained him. He is such a hard working man, there is no better hands for this sort of responsibility to be in. I am just so proud of him, I am beaming!

The Dream Job

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  "  Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV)

Thank you, Lord! I prayed and prayed and asked for this job and lifestyle. It is my dream to work from home so I can help my little family out financially while still being a home maker. It has come true. My credit and background check came back and I have been approved to work as an independent contractor. I almost started crying when I got that email confirming it. I pretty much danced in to the bedroom to show my husband the email on my iphone since he was still in bed. We are both just so happy and I can not wait to start. I am going to finish deep cleaning the house and so I can get started on my new job right with no distractions as I learn the ropes.
No commuting to work, no wearing uncomfortable suits, lunch meetings will involve lunch with my family, no bosses looking over my shoulder, will be considered a business owner, making my own hours and yet, I will work in the business world and put my Business Technology (Office Admin) Cert to use. Thank you, God. This truly is a dream come true.

via

When one door closes..

..Another one opens.

That is what has happened. You don't realize it but it happens all the time. Being a Homemaker while working from home is my dream. Even though my last attempt of working as a Contractor failed, I didn't quit trying altogether. I have finally been offered a position as a Contractor. I finished the paper work and now just need to do the back ground and credit check. I have to pay for it myself but I think of it as an investment. I get to set my own hours and have my own home office. DREAM. COME. TRUE.

I am excited to go shopping tomorrow to buy my headset and all the office supplies I will need. I will also need a land line and Comcast has a pretty great bundle to add to our Internet plan. Of course I am not going to open anything and make sure I have a 30 day money back guarantee for the land line so if for some reason I get denied on my credit check, I can return everything and the only money wasted would be the credit and back ground check. Gotta be smart because anything could happen.

I just wanted to share the exciting news. Its a dream come true. I pray the lord looks over me as I start this new endeavor. Its so new and I am excited to see where this brings me in my career goals.

Cat Beds

I went through some unpacked boxes and finally found my sewing machine. Part of our bedroom has become our storage area since we are trying to fit a pretty large two bedroom home (from Germany) into this one bedroom smaller apartment. We still have quite a few boxes to go through. Another thing I found in the boxes was a bag of trash. The Army Housing Dept was not kidding when they said "the movers will pack EVERYTHING!"
But I did find my sewing machine. I love to sew although I am still learning. I have been practicing a lot since I got it set up again and I wanted to share my progress. Here is the bed I made for Tubbles. She loves it. After seven months of living in our new city, I just learned where Joann Fabrics was. How sad is that?

An ACU Dog Bone ornament I made for practice. I am selling it on Etsy. It not perfect but it was good practice.

I decided sewing is definitely something I want to do to take up as a business. But it will take money so until I take the plunge, I am just practicing and learning new techniques. I am looking for a part time job so I can work and slowly start my sewing business at the same time as well as being a homemaker. I think I have too many ambitions and trying to do it all at once has been pretty overwhelming.

First Phone Interview

Talk about STRESSFUL! I had my first phone interview this morning. I applied to an agency as a Independent Contractor where I could work from home. There was a whole screening process where I had to call in and read from a script. I guess I passed since I got an email where they had to scan my computer to make sure it had all the requirements to the work I would be doing. Once I passed that, I got a phone interview this morning and we got to play the "what if" scenario game. I find out if I was selected in about a week. I won't be "employed" by them and I can set my own hours. Perfect for me. I am going to be, and have been, a busy lady.
I will let you know if I was selected, I hope my good luck with interviews holds up with this one as well. I have never in my life had an interview and not been hired. Even this last time with the Animal Hospital, I didn't get hired right away but I was called back and offered a job. I didn't take it since I was no longer a Vet Tech student and I was going to Job Corps for a whole different field and didn't have the time.

I sure hope I get it because working from home would be a dream come true.. Every step you take should be a step in the direction of your goals.

Update: Unfortunately, I didn't get the job. But having that phone interview was sure an experience and it will help me for if there is ever a next time I have a phone interview. There is a lot of other opportunities for me to work at home and I won't stop until I am happy with it.

Entrepreneur in the making

The thing about Steve and I is that we are both Entrepreneurs, and when we put our heads together, our ideas always turns out beautiful. We have a few work at home ideas and some are pretty successful so far.
Steve is preparing for a few business endeavors. Since he is going to school for Programing, he knows how to do a few things now and is working on a few projects. We are both so excited.
Since we are making this more of a business instead of a hobby, we needed to buy a monitor instead of doing everything from my laptop that is on its way out. I do not like my Acer at all. I can not wait to get a new one. But we went shopping at Staples and found what we have been looking for. We got a new Hp Tower and Modem. It has the new Windows 8 and although I like the look of Windows 7 better, its been okay. Check out our new Office.

At Staples deciding which ones to get

Happy as a clown to get home and set it up

Already customizing it

I am also looking in to maybe getting in to the animal business. Trying to start small so maybe selling dog biscuits? Or a dog walking service? Maybe get my sewing machine back up and running and make collars? There is so many options, I am still trying to sort them all out and see what I end up with. As I have said before, I am not the sort of person that is happy with a 9-5 job. Its just not for me. I work best as my own boss. I am excited to see what the future holds.

Job Corps Graduate

I FINALLY passed my Microsoft Office Excel 2010 certification. That was the last assignment, so what does that mean..? I am DONE! There were a lot of "Congratulations". I was so nervous and had to calm my breathing constantly. It was a pretty nerve wrecking day. After a pep talk from my husband and what seemed like the longest exam ever, I did a lot of running around to get my file completed and considered "graduated".

Today, I went in for half a day and I just hung out in the records department with my work based staff, ate Doritos, and did some filing. I am not going to school tomorrow since there is nothing for me to do. I am going in on Friday for my final last day to get my check and say good bye to everyone. I had my exiting interview today to see where I wanted to go in life now. They tried to focus on college but I have been a student for the last two years with Penn Foster Career School, Penn Foster College and then Job Corps.. I just don't want to have that sort of commitment for awhile. I just want to work, make money, save up for a car and other things that I want. You know, normal things 22 year old girls want. Enough with the learning. Guh! In a few years I will maybe think about finally getting that degree in whatever interests me at the time but right now, I am just getting a taste of freedom and not willing to give that up. Plus once we start having kids, I am going to be a full time homemaker (maybe open a home business) so I think I will just see what the professional business world has in store for me for while and see where life take me next.

Just had to share the good news!! Life is good. Celebrating this weekend with a fancy dinner with my wonderful supportive husband.

Operation: Housewife Status

I seriously just miss being home all the time. I remember being a homemaker in Germany and I just could not wait until we moved back to America so I could get a job and be more independent. When we did finally make it back here and I started Job Corps, I was pretty happy to have something to do during the day. Well now I know how the other side lives and I want to go back to being a Homemaker.. the problem?? The problem is that my husband is no longer in the Military and he doesn't have that stable job and steady paycheck. He has an hourly salary now as well and going to college. Its scary to think about, especially in this economy, when we are so used to having that stability of the Military lifestyle. Our rent, electricity, and water is no longer paid by the Military. We no longer live on a Military base and have a Commissary to buy cheap food from. Sometimes its scary to think how on our own we are when all we really know is the Military lifestyle.
When I graduate from Job Corps, I will need to contribute to our family income and that scares me. Working a 9-5 job is just not for me. My husband has said how much he misses me being at home cooking and cleaning and knowing I will be here when he comes home at night. Having a home cooked meal ready for him at night like I used to when in Germany is few and far between. I sure miss it too and we are both putting our heads together on ideas for me being a stay-at-home wife (and eventually Mommy, hopefully one day) as well as bringing in extra income.
With all this weighing on my mind, I am determined to get an at-home career. I was set on only starting a Virtual Assistant business but I have broadened my horizons a bit and now see what else I could be doing to bring in income that does not require me to have a job outside the home. I have been doing a lot of research on all of my options and I am very excited. There are a lot of opportunities out there.
I will be done with my studies with Job Corps in a month or so. I have to be successful in my plans of working from home because I absolutely love being a housewife. I know it wont be right away and I am planning on getting a Office Admin job when I am done, maybe in a Government building. I think it will do me some good to be in the professional business world for awhile and get that experience.. But working from home is definitely a goal of mine. By the time we move to Idaho, I want to be back on Housewife status but we will see what life throws at us.

I don't think I have mentioned this yet but Steve has switched majors. He is no longer doing the Paramedic degree because has realized that if he wants to walk when he is 30, he needs to ease up on his knees. Being Airborne has done quite a toll on his legs. Paramedics are on their feet a lot so he decided to do something else he is really interested in that is a more of a sit down job. Computer Programming. I am always behind him in whatever he does. He once sat me down and made a calculator on the computer. It was really neat. He really loves it and we are both so happy he switched. I am so proud of him.

Working and Volunteering

Yep, I am a working girl now slash homemaker. I have been so busy. Steve has been even busier. I can't imagine going to school full time and working full time. He is getting things done and I am very proud of him. I am happy to be the one that takes care of the home and make a little extra cash. I tried to get a full time job since I dropped out of school (weird to think of myself as a drop out) but my new employers were only hiring for part time. I work in customer service.
  We also have became volunteers at the local Delaware SPCA. The SPCA is the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Its a no-kill shelter. Its a beautifully wonderful cause for those animals that lost their way in this world. We walk, feed, bath, cuddle and love these animals until we can find homes for them. So before going to buy a dog or cat, go rescue one from your SPCA.

  I started back up with my fitness and eating healthy. Glad to be back in that mindset. My Fitness Pal (Iphone app) is amazing and so glad to have that on my side.
  Not much as changed. We are saving up to move back to IDAHO!!! Yep, we are moving back as soon as Steve graduates college in 2014. We are going to be driving a Uhaul across country. Sounds like a fun adventure. Can't wait to be back in my home state buying a home and settling down. No more moving. I am very excited. Its a ways off but I just wanted to tell you our plans for those of you wondering when we will be moving back over to that side of the country. Hope you all had a good Independence Day. I spent mine working a 10 hour shift. Fun!

Long overdue update

So much has happened and I feel silly for cramming it all into one blog post. I feel like if I wait and wait and let all these events happen without blogging about them, I lose some of the excitement of everything and I am pretty much just listing off things that have happened instead of telling a story. So I will do my best to record what I can. Also, my Iphone's camera is so not as good as my Fujifilm so the photos can be better. I need to start taking my camera with me more but its just so much more easier to grab my phone and go.

We made it up to Maryland to pick up the Honda. We took a Greyhound bus there and it was exciting to see what other places out here on the East coast look like besides this part of Delaware. While waiting for the Greyhound to take us, we sort of explored downtown Wilmington a bit and walked along the River Front park. It looks so much like the River Front park in Spokane Washington. That is where we are from, the Washington-Idaho area. But it really felt like we were back in Spokane. I felt at home for the first time in a long time. Here are a few photos of our day-

Downtown Wilmington

Riverfront Park in Wilmington

Pretty view of the river from the dock

Bird houses lining the river. They are so cute and creative.

Wilmington from Riverfront

A little friend we made

Dreaming of New York

The first toll we have ever been through. Pretty exciting and a little expensive.

Steve putting on our new plate.

Once we got back to Delaware, we went and got our Delaware licenses so we could become residents. The DMV here is pretty big. Steve and I both has a funny story from there. Since we are.. well, were Washington residents, we had to renew our drivers licenses through the mail so our photos were not on the license. Since Steve had no photo ID except his Military ID, they accused him of identity theft. Then the lady who was doing mine straight out told me I was too young to be married. Wow. I know marrying young is not a new concept to people because my own mother was married at 16. As for Steve, it was all worked out and they finally gave him his license.

So we decided to get a Costco membership and it actually has some good savings. Since we got the membership, we have not yet ran out of toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies.. nothing. But maybe I did go a little over board. I had never really shopped at a Costco before and I was expecting to get everything on my list there. I spent a total of $400.00 and didn't get half of what I needed. I realize now that is only good to buy stuff you use the most of. I guess I had to learn the hard way. But the endless samples is a huge plus. We went to Walmart after that and got the rest. Oh and another thing we got at Costco a few weeks ago is a Vitamix. Has anyone ever heard of one of those. It is a really neat blender. Sure, it was $500.00.. yes, we spent that much on a blender and Steve had to beg me and I had to have lots of samples of everything it could do but we did get it and it was such a great investment. Its seriously so much more then a blender. I helps me eat so much more healthier which I have been slacking on. My dieting it on a total halt right now but that has been helping a lot. I am a horrible yo-yo dieter and I get completely burnt out really easily. I feel like I will never get results.

Steve started school a few weeks ago and he is going full time. He leaves in the morning and doesn't return until 4 or so and then he is home just long enough to change into his work clothes and then is at work for 8 hours, yes he works full time as well, and does not come home until I am long gone asleep. It has put a real strain on us and I feel just horrible that he is having to go through all this so the bills can get paid. I have been searching and searching for a position in a clinic and even had an interview but nothing is working out for me. I am just about to give up and start applying to restaurants and things like that. I also have dropped out of my Veterinary Technology program at Penn Foster College. I didn't like the program at all and the school just wasn't for me. Medical math is just too much and knowing I will have to be doing that everyday is just not for me. I am horrible at it and I realize now that I am not a good fit. As much as I love animals and the medical field, I decided to go on another path. I was in my first semester so it wasn't a huge blow. I feel really stuck right now. Not in school and don't have a job. I need to get my own life started and I just don't know how. I have thought about maybe talking with a life coach but I really have no idea how to do that nor have the money.

My sweet girl having a cat nap on me

Steve got his new security uniform.

A sign by Steve's school. I just love visiting the Geese.

Approved

WE GOT THE APARTMENT! Ahh! We are so excited. William Penn Villiage called today and said everything came back exceptional and that our credit scores were so good that we don't even need to pay next months rent ahead of time like a lot of people have to. We move in two weeks from now. I am so glad we got it because that was the only place in our search that had everything we wanted. -balcony, walk in closet, dishwasher, garbage disposal, dog park, all electric, great location, right next to the malls and grocery stores, has a Pool,  yada yada. I could go on but in short, it is perfect for us. Here is the video on their website of a virtual walk through of the apartment. I can not wait to start decorating. 

William Penn Village Apartments

More good news! Steve and I went to Delaware Technical Community College and talked with an enrollment adviser about Steve getting his AS Paramedic degree. He takes his placement test tomorrow morning and gets his class schedule soon after. His first day of school is in May.

Delaware Tech Community College. So proud of my husband.

A trip to the Veterinarian

Since we have the big ETS right around the corner, the number one thing that we were worried about not getting done in time is Tubble's rabies shot and health certificate. By law, she has to be up to date with her rabies 30 days prior to flying. I wasn't sure if she had gotten it yet but I found out that she had at Fairchild Air Force Base Vet clinic when we lived in Spokane. So, she is set to fly. All we have to do now is have her taken in to the Vet once we are 10 days prior to flying to get her Health Certificate.
  Yesterday we went to the Vet to get her her rabies shot (then found out she already had her 3 year shot) and so I decided to get her ears checked. She has been scratching them a lot and it has been worrying me. They did a swab and checked to see if they were mites and I guess it was just dirt. The whole vet visit was $17.00! That is probably the cheapest Veterinary bill I have ever paid. Got to love Military Veterinary clinics.

The next worry on our list is where the heck we are moving to. We had three options I listed on the "whats next??" post. We have decided that joining the National Guard/Reserves is not what we want to do..and staying active duty is for sure a no-go. We are getting out of the Military 100%.  So that eliminates one option. We have also come to the conclusion that Steve will not be attending Penn State University. He is more interested in getting out of the Military and getting a job. He is still planning on attending school at maybe a local college or local university of where ever he finds a job at but it will be part time, he is thinking maybe night school or something.
  He isn't sure Nursing is right for him.. but still leaning towards it. Second guessing your career is normal. You all know I sure did. I have many posts about maybe switching my major. In the end I went with what my heart was telling me and I know that is what Steve will do as well. I mean, its your CAREER! That's a big decision.
  At this moment, we are waiting for a reply back from a job that Steve is trying to get. Its located in Canonsburg Pennsylvania. Once we know that he as the job, we are going to send HHG and the car. If he doesn't get the job, then we are going to send the HHG and car to where my cousin Nicole lives. We are wanting to maybe live close to her. We want to live next to a big city and she lives next to Philadelphia. Living next to family and a big city would be perfect for us. Nicole is more like a sister than a cousin to me. If Steve did end up getting the job in Canonsburg, we would live over six hours away from her. I am torn between wanting him to get the job and him not getting the job. That's so horrible of me, I know.  I also want to live closer to my Mom in Spokane Washington. I am just so torn between it all. I have been in Germany for so long and if we move to Pennsylvania, who knows when I would be able to make a trip to Spokane again. Steve says maybe a few months after we get to where ever we are going, I sure hope so. I just miss my Mom so much.

NAVTA

 I really want to share something with all of you. I am pretty excited. I am finally a [student] member of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). Its the professional Association for Veterinary Technicians just like Nurses and Doctors have their own associations and what not. I am starting to actually feel like a professional in a real profession.
  Being apart of a professional association sure has its benefits. There is discounted Medical, deals at Dell, Target, and other retail stores, discounts on Stethoscopes and pet insurance, discount car rentals and hotels, trips and vacations.. pretty exciting, right? I also receive the NAVTA journal every two months which is a magazine that updates all the professionals about new diseases, medications, specialties, and things of that sort. I received my first issue just a few days ago.. yep, definitly starting to feel like a professional.
  Since I am just a student, I hold a student membership until I graduate and get licensed. Every year NAVTA does a conference for CE (continuing education) where you go listen to people speak and get to interact in workshops where you learn new techniques and new things about the Veterinary field. Its always located in a vacation spot and usually a few days long. As a licensed Veterinary Technician, I have to obtain so many hours of CE to stay licensed. As a student, its very cheap and I am looking forward to going to the NAVTA conference this year. I really hope I am able to. Well that is my exciting news. Learn more about NAVTA at www.navta.net.

Feeling held back

Since I am going to school online, there are some things that are different with college life then a traditional college setting. For example, Penn Foster College (PFC) doesn't have its students active in all classes in a semester at one time. You do one class at a time, complete it then move on to the next class. Such as focus completely on Biology and then move on to A&P and so on. Its nice having one class at a time so I don't feel so overwhelmed but the down side is that the next class's books is not sent in the mail until the class you are currently in is complete 100% and class participation is also graded then you have to wait for USPS to get your mail to you and since we are in Germany, it takes forever! I have been waiting for my Biology books for a month because the books were returned to the school for some reason, so I have not been working on my classes for a month.. its really holding me back. I should be finishing my first semester in March which happens to be the same month we move back to the states. I had this plan set in my mind where we would move to a new place, start a new chapter in our lives, and I would start fresh on my second semester. I just don't know if I still see that happening and its very frustrating.
  Another thing I have been struggling with is the Webinars. Webinars are live classroom lectures where you interact with your professor and fellow students. They are in Eastern time. The Webinars are great and I love them, I learn so much more. The only downfall is that I have to wake up at all hours of the night to attend them. Thank goodness its only once a week but sometimes I am so tired that I don't focus like I should. Most of the time is just focusing on finishing it and going back to bed. I am really looking forward to living in America and being able to attend the Webinars during the day.
  Well I had to just get some frustrations out there. I love PFC and wouldn't transfer to any other school. College life will be much easier once we get back to America.
 On a happier note.. Check out my new book bag! I hate all my books and school work being sprawled out across the house. Nice having a tote bag to keep it all in, while supporting my school.

Veterinary Technology

 I have my student ID Card so...

ITS OFFICIAL

I am a college student

I loved my Veterinary Assistant program with Penn Foster Career School. I always was so excited to share with Steve something new I had learned. I enjoyed it so much that I am set on becoming a Animal Health Technician, also known as an Veterinary Technician which requires a two year associates degree. Its equivalent to a human Registered Nurse.. only for animals. I am going to be attending Penn Foster College.

People would think I am jumping right in to this but I have been thinking about getting my degree pretty much since I started my Veterinary Assistant program. I was really skeptical at first but I know this is right for me. But I am so nervous. I have no idea what to expect. College is so different then a Career School-Career diploma program. I have deadlines, lectures, Practicums (internships), Proctors ect. I am scared but so excited. I will be putting that Career Diploma to good use and be working as a Veterinary Assistant part time while I continue school.. once we get back to the States.

For those of you who are not familiar with what an Animal Health Technician is..

Veterinary technicians assist veterinarians in providing care to animals. They perform routine laboratory procedures and clinical procedures, such as taking blood, dispensing and giving medication, and performing medical tests. They are familiar with a range of high-tech diagnostic equipment and can provide specialized nursing care for injured or ill animals. They are also responsible for recording an animal's history, as well as information on its weight, food intake, diet, behavior, and other symptoms, which is a necessary tool in diagnosing an animal's illness and developing a treatment plan.

Another big thing about being a Veterinary Technician is the National and State exams I have to take. What has to happen is that I graduate from an AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) Accredited college (which Penn Foster is) then take and pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam and once I do that, I can then take the State exam (if required). Each state has its own exam so every time I move across a State line and want to work in that state as a Veterinary Technician, I have to take and pass that state's State exam. Sound a little nerve wracking? .. it is.

For school, I decided to get a new laptop. I have a 17" and it is just too heavy to carry around and too big to do anything with. It just stays in the Office. So my wonderful husband got me a 10" HP. Its perfect for what I need. It was also required for me to get Microsoft Office 2010 since I will be doing a lot of PowerPoint presentations and charts.  I am officially set for school. I start classes in a few days.  I went to the PX and got all my supplies such as notebooks, binders, pens ect yesterday... This is such an exciting experience. Wish me luck!

My classes for my first semester:
VET101 Orientation to Veterinary Technology
VET102 Introduction to Veterinary Technology
ENG103 Information Literacy
SCI120 Introduction to Biology
VET103 Animal Anatomy and Physiology 1
MAT102 Mathematical Applications
CSC104 Computer Applications
Proctored Exam (Finals)

Tubbles in the box my new laptop came in. She loves her boxes.

Career Diploma

I am DONE!! I tried really hard to get a high lesson average because that's what employers look at but it just wasn't in the cards for me. I got an 86 which is a B average. Some of that stuff was really hard and I took the exams thinking I was ready and clearly wasn't. I passed and that is all that matters. Penn Foster does a lot of career development stuff so I will be taking advantage of that. They help you build a really nice resume and teach you what to do in interviews and things like that. It's nice to be done but in all reality, I don't feel like I accomplished much since its just a career diploma. I am really considering just continuing on to get my degree. I think I will talk with Steve about it and look more into where I want to go from here.

Joint checking

What do most married couples do? Do they have their own checking account or do they share and put both incomes in to one account?! I have always wondered this. Steve and I have joint checking but what do those people do that don't share.. Out of whose account do they pay for groceries with or who pays the internet bill?! Do people just pay half and half? Remember, I am talking about married couples here.. not just dating. I don't know why I am so interested in other peoples lives and how they do things but I am.. I guess you could say I am a 'people watcher'. But it is interesting to know how other people do things and how different they are to the way you do things in your own marriage.

Other then my curiosity on random subjects, things here in Europe have been pretty exciting! I am getting really close to being done with my Veterinary Assistant program.. I have about a little more then a month left until I receive my Career Diploma. At the moment I am learning about Veterinary Pharmacology and let me tell ya, I have always hated math and never really understood it but Penn Foster career School really knows how to teach and its actually coming very easily to me. Boy, do I sound like an advertisement or what?
  Steve is also working on getting in to college. He is just waiting on his approval for tuition assistance with GoArmyEd (where he gets assistance for his GI Bill) so he can start a few classes online while still in Germany and makes him look that much better for when he applies to colleges. He has been talking with a counselor from Penn State and they told him as long as he gets 3 online classes done by November (when applications are due) then he will have a VERY good change to get accepted in to that school.. He is really trying hard to get in to Penn State University. As soon as that tuition comes through, he can start those classes. We are just waiting for that and its sort of stressful since he has such a small amount of time to get it done.
  Whats funny is that the Scranton branch of Penn State (where Steve is focused on going to school at) is in Scranton Pennsylvania. My school (Penn Foster Career School) is also in Scranton! What a funny coincidence.

Penn Foster

I decided to go to a trade school, I guess you could say. I couldn't decide what to go to school for. I was considering Photography, Beauty school and many others but none of them was something I REALLY wanted to do or really interested me.  Well, I kept searching and exploring different careers and finally decided on Veterinary Assisting. I am a HUGE animal lover and I just knew this was perfect for me. I was a little weary about actually starting, it has been so long since High School and I'm way out of shape academically.
   I talked to Steve about it and got his input and he wanted me to do it..  he said "If you decide to go to school for anything else, you will always wonder 'what if'" and he is 100 percent right!! I've grew up always having a dream to work with animals.
  Once I decided to go for it, I started looking in to colleges and programs. A few wives here on post told me about a great online school that they go to. Its called Penn Foster Career School.

I went to the site and started reading about the course, tuition, what they offer ect. I decided on them. I called the enrollment office yesterday and got tuition, enrolled, and got my student ID number all over the phone. They are a Military friendly school and they make everything so convenient.
   About my program- I am enrolled in the Veterinary Assistant Diploma program with Penn Foster Career School.. Its a one year course so I won't be getting a degree from this one program. Penn Foster has an actual College side also. There is Penn Foster Career school and Penn Foster College.  I have always wanted to be a Veterinary Technician and Penn Foster College offers an Associates degree but I am worried I'm not ready for that yet and decided on the Veterinary Assistant program instead.

Tough decisions

I talked to my husband about what path I should take pertaining to my career. We agreed that being a house wife is priority number one but some extra income couldn't hurt.
   I think I am wanting to keep Photography as a hobby but if I feel comfortable enough, I may start up that as a business later but I doubt it.. Right now I am just learning.
  I'm going to start looking into different careers that maybe I can go to school for also.. But I just have no idea what I want to do.
  Whatever does happen with my career path, I know it will happen on the Lords time, what and when He feels it to be right.