All my final grades are in.
This is one of those times during the year when I think to myself...Jami, you're a smarty-pants. Before the start of each semester (well...almost every) I think, I should take the semester off...I'm too busy, I need a break...blah blah blah, and then somehow I register for classes, pay tuition, and come week 5 of school each semester, I think, "I guess I'm doing it"...and then comes FINAL GRADES!
This just in:
LIBR 256 Archives and Manuscripts: A
LIBR 283: Nonprofit Marketing: A-
LIBR 286: Interpersonal Communication: B+
Next semester will be the last. I am doing a really neat peer mentor special project, taking a government information sources class, and my culminating project...the e-Portfolio, where I have to prove all my compentencies. I really wish I could just say...I know the stuff, I've been in this program for almost 4 years, and I've spend thousands of dollars, can I just get my degree already!
Anyway...wish me luck...I'll need it!
Here are a few of my favorite quotes. I don't know who all these people are...and am not making the time to research them all. My next tattoo will be words, still in the thinking process...but something like the title for this post.
For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way. Something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. ~Fr. Alfred D'Souza
You will never find time for anything. If you want time you must make it. ~Charles Buxton
You live longer once you realize that any time spent being unhappy is wasted. ~Ruth E. Renkl
Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending. ~Author Unknown
Waste not the smallest thing created, for grains of sand make mountains, and atomies infinity. Waste not the smallest time in imbecile infirmity, for well thou knowest that seconds form eternity. ~E. Knight
Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion. ~Author Unknown
I kept MSJ in cribs as long as I possibly could. I loved knowing they were safe in their little caves and they never tried to get out. Sigh, but last month they turned 3 1/2 and I knew my time had run out.
So, Mom and I spent a day buying all the needed items for the re-do and Dad converted Maya and Sydney cribs to toddler beds. I got Jonah's bed from another triplet mom and poof! big kid Dora and Diego room was made!
Here are pictures from their first nite. So far it's been great, they were really ready and so excited to have their big kid room! Naps aren't quite so good anymore, but we're still trying!
I figure they can stay in toddler beds until they are 5 and then before they start kindergarten I'll buy bunk beds.
I can't remember why Maya and Sydney are giving me the finger, but I'm pretty sure it was part of their pose.
Many of you have been asking to see a picture of my new tattoo, so this post is for you (ok, it's just Karen that was asking).
I've been wanting to get a tattoo for all the kids since before they were born, as you all know I have Nyomi's name in written on my ankle. I knew that I wanted a lotus and butterflies representing each child, but it wasn't until I told Karl at Tattoo 13 my idea did it really come to fruition.
Each butterfly has the child's first initial in it and the color represents them as well. I love it!
It's on the side of my right calf and it's about 7 inches tall and 3 1/2 inches wide.
Surprise!
Turn to page 20 and read about our miracle story.
It's out today. Here are some places it should be:
Last Thursday Maya had her 3 month check-up with our favorite cardiologist, Dr. Saba. Sydney, Maya, and I went.
After an EKG, her echocardiogram, and a consultation, Dr. Saba told me that he didn't have to see Maya again until...
November 5, 2009
Yes, you read that right, 2 whole years!!! And, I've already got the appointment confirmation card from Children's Hospital, aren't they efficient.
Maya is obviously doing awesome and her scar has been healing so well. It's pretty much flat now, thanks to Mederma for Kids (yes, it works), and though very long, I'm confident it will continue to fade over time. Maya's line will always be a reminder of her surgery, and also a badge of her strength.
Yay, Maya!!!
Here are some pictures of the kids Halloween costumes and of our pumpkins. We had a great time this year!
Maya is the Monkey, Sydney is the Lion, Jonah is the Dragon, and Nyomi is Jasmine. This year everyone picked their costumes and their pumpkins.
This month has flown by and I must not wait any longer to blog.
First things first...the kids are awesome.
Nyomi is flourishing as a first grader and last nite I taught her how to tally numbers. She has homework every nite (except Friday-Sunday) and thankfully really understands the importance of learning. She never fights me about doing homework and really respects her teacher. I get to pick her up every Thursday from school and we go for ice cream. We also are just getting into cycle 9 of America's Next Top Model, our shared favorite show. Nyomi's model walk is just fabulous and we are excited about tonites show, the make-over episode.
Jonah is just the apple of all the teachers eyes at Downer Elementary. They all just love him and he too is doing so well. He's talking so much and, I kid you not, knows the entire alphabet (speaks all letters super clearly) not just in order, but in any combination of letters. He can also count from 1-10. He's even starting to use short sentences!
Maya is about 2 1/2 months post her heart surgery and if it weren't for the *very* long scar on her chest, you'd never be able to tell. She doesn't even have to go to the cardiologist again until November 9th! We use Mederma for Kids on her *line* every day and it's getting to be quite flat already. She is enjoying preschool as well and is a perfect little girl.
Sydney has grown into being the most calm and understanding of all the kids. She is the number 1 listener and has picked up that being a *good girl* gets a lot of praise, so she continues to pride herself on being a good girl. If Maya isn't listening very well or being *bad*...Sydney definitely does the "look at me, I'm being a princess" act. And, you know what...it works!! Sydney just stopped crying when she goes to preschool.
I have switched my day at home to Thursday so I can take Maya and Sydney to preschool. I see Jonah on to the bus every morning and he's starting to finally not cry when Shirley comes to pick him up.
I am somehow managing three graduate classes this semester and am getting through it on the thought that Spring 2008 will be my last semester!! I declared candidacy and it was accepted by the Graduate Division at SJSU, sooo if I take the classses in the Spring I say I am and get at least a B, I will have my Master's degree in May.
Well, that's all for how. I am posting some pictures from our visit to the Smith Family Farm in Brentwood last Saturday. We now have 8 pumpkins for Halloween!
After a summer of organizing the master plan of 4 kids in 3 schools, it actually happened!
Nyomi started 1st grade at Stewart Elementary School last Tuesday. She is in Mrs. Lock's
class and just adores school. Switching from Ellerhorst was a great decision and the K-8 that she's
now in is just great and so far I am really impressed. The kids are all very friendly and on the first day
Nyomi told me she already had 4 girls in the BFF club! She goes to YMCA care in the morning before
school (on-site) and Aline picks her up each afternoon when school gets out.
Jonah started at Downer Elementary School and is in a Special Day Class every day from 8:30-11:30.
His teacher is named Carolyn and she is amazing! Jonah is doing really well in her class of 8 boys and
has a big smile every day for his teacher. He takes the bus to and from school and still cries every morning for
Shirley his bus driver. The bus only has 6 kids on it and Shirley takes good care of all the kids. Jonah also
has Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy 2x a week during school hours. He's already talking a lot more! Every Friday Carolyn sends home a newsletter including what the class did that week and a little paragraph about each kids in the class. Jonah is the Blue Train and last week he painted his symbol.
Maya got the a-ok from Dr. Saba, her cardiologist to start preschool at Pinole Tiny Tots on Tuesday and Thursday
mornings from 9-11:30. She started yesterday and loved school! We walked there with Sydney and Aline, and
had she had no problem saying bye to me. Upon picking her up she said preschool was "Awesome". Her "line" is
healing very well and we are now using Mederma for kids scar cream on her scar a few times a day. Coincidentally,
it goes on purple (her color) and dries clear. Her heart is all healed and we won't be seeing Dr. Saba again until November!
Sydney also started Pinole Tiny Tots yesterday and also loves school. It'll be interesting to see the friendships the girls
form at their new preschool; do they play mostly together, makes their own friends, different friends... The preschool class is 20 kids and they all live in Pinole.
I couldn't be happier with all of their classes! ( :
Here are pictures of everyone's first day of school.
There's just something about close up shots at off angles that creates some really good pictures!
I took these pictures at home one morning while we were all playing dress-up (hence the winter hats in August).
From left to right: Maya, Jonah, Sydney, Nyomi
Here's a few more dress-up pictures.
