Checking In

Hey Y'all.
I. slept. 11. hours. last. night.

Amazing. That is what working third shift has done to me! Made me exhausted, because it is so very difficult to sleep in daylight for me. I work 10:30p-6:30a. I work in a new rehabilitation facility. There is potential for 15 patients on my wing, but because it is so new, there has only been 7-10. So, I have actually been BORED at work! I have been getting paid for 50% of my shift to READ! How cool is that? Although, it is difficult for me to focus at 3am.

Of course, with new work comes new fellow employees, with included new questions about myself. Including, "Do you have children?" This stinks sometimes, especially when people go beyond just accepting a "Nope, not yet." Unfortunately I often get some naive/inconsiderate questions/comments back:

~Are you and Colin okay with your situation?
~My youngest was an 'oops' baby.
~I wanted another (third, fourth, fifth) baby, but my husband just didn't want another.
~I have a young relative that is a alcohol/drug addict and on welfare and keeps popping out kids.

I'm sure there are more, I just can't recollect them. I didn't get sad or angry. I just wonder why people don't think before they comment on something that can be so heartbreaking at times.

I have one leftover ovulation kit (to test if I ovulated for the cycle). I think it is too late to test this month, since it is CD 14, but I will surely try to remember to test next month.

Other than that, no real news. Colin and I were real funny today and decided to drive about 35 miles for Starbucks! Ha! All 3 espresso cafes in our tiny town close around 3p, and it was almost 4. Oh, what we do for espresso. Speaking of espresso, do any of y'all have an espresso machine you would recommend? I am hoping to buy one soon to save money on elsewhere, and, well, to have it on hand 24/7!

Warning: Cute Baby Video

You have just GOT to watch this video! Amazing.

Valentine's Week

To know God, is to know love.

To give love,

Even when it hurts and costs us something,

is to give God.

Happy Valentine's week everyone!

I have been so busy lately and have a lot of catching up to do reading all of your posts. What have I been up to? Let's see....

Friday: Got my hair cut. I got about 4 inches cut off, but it is still long. If I had a digital camera, I would post pictures. I drove to Spring Valley to see my parents. It was about a 3 hour drive. Colin worked, so I went alone and spent the night. They took me out to a 'fish fry', very popular in the midwest, especially on Friday's during Lent.

Saturday: Went shopping with my mother in Maplewood, MN. I got some cute stuff, but was hoping to see more color in the stores for spring. Was a bit disappointed, but will just have to go shopping again in a month or two! I drove back to Waupaca in the evening on some ICY roads. In a 90 mile span of highway I passed 19 car accidents/cars in the ditch. Scary. I drove slow and prayed.

Sunday: My 26th  birthday! Colin and I went to church. In the afternoon, he took me out to eat in Appleton and then he took me to see....WICKED! This is a musical about the life of the wicked witch before the Wizard of Oz story. It was awesome. Very interesting take on the musical, funny, and great vocals.

Monday: Valentine's Day. We just had a quiet day in. Watched movies. Chilled. That's really all I need.

Today: Had orientation at Eden Meadows, the rehabilitation facility I just got hired at. I start shift training Wednesday-Friday.

I look forward to catching up with you all. Hope you had an amazing v-day/anti v-day if that's your style. Back to the quote at the top; It particularly struck me when I read it the first time. I think I need to be doing more of 'serving' my husband, especially when I am tired, busy, or cranky. Just little things, like back rubs, cooking him a favorite food, baking a pie, watching a 'boy' movie, going to a sports game, etc. Is there anything special you like to do for your significant other that just makes him melt?

Things You May Not Know About Me

I thought it would be fun to share with you all some things you may not know about me through pictures. Enjoy!

1. I have an older brother, Ryan. He is 27 and I am 25.

2. I grew up on a 550 acre dairy farm in Spring Valley, WI, a town of 1,000 people.

3. I am very musical. I play piano, percussion, guitar, harp, and dabble on other instruments. This is me in high school marching band on the snare drum.

I am the one in the red tank. This was high school 'Junk-A-Stra', our trash can ensemble.

4. I have a degree in music therapy. I have played harp for relaxation purposes for hundreds of hospital patients. I have been called an angel more times than I can count-ha!

5. I am tall. I am almost 5'11". This is me in the middle on high school graduation day.

6. I LOVE the outdoors! This picture is from college spring break when I went to Pensacola, FL. I mostly enjoy warm, sunny weather, but I also enjoy the changing seasons we get in WI.

7. I was a resident assistant (RA) for 2 years in college. Here is me with Indira and Lia, two fellow RAs during training. Lia is one of my bestest friends and was my maid-of-honor.

8. I met my husband online in 2003. He is from Washington state.

9. I LOVE the ocean. I could just sit and stare all day at the waves and vastness of it.

10. I am a Packers fan! There is no better time to be one than now. They just won the superbowl last night!

11. I am Norwegian! A little polish, irish, and german mixed in as well.

12. Sometimes I laugh so hard I can't stop!

13. Living in the country, I grew up being a tomboy. I played in dirt, played sports, begged my brother to wear his football and basketball jerseys, drove four-wheeler, and rode snowmobile!

14. I have two himalayan cats, Mercedes...

and Dahlia. Spoiled and entitled.

15. I love BIG cats, too!

16. I really enjoy going to the zoo in the summer. I especially love the primates. I think this one looks like she should be on America's Next Top Model.

17. My husband is a police officer. Here he is 'arresting' me on his graduation day. 

Really, I am just a sunshiny person who loves her husband and family. Sometimes quiet, sometimes cranky (hey, aren't we all?), but I am learning about what is most important in my life, and that is God, the people I surround myself with, and the people I can inspire or comfort.

Molten Chocolate Cakes

*These cakes are slightly underbaked so that the chocolate center oozes when cut into. A girl's best friend.

Makes 6
5 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
10 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 large eggs
3 large egg yolks
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup all purpose flour

Preheat oven to 450°F. Butter six 3/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups. Stir chocolate and butter in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until melted. Cool slightly. Whisk eggs and egg yolks in large bowl to blend. Whisk in sugar, then chocolate mixture and flour. Pour batter into dishes, dividing equally. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill in the refrigerator until ready to bake.) *I usually make this batch of 6, bake 2 and refrigerate 4 if it is just my husband and me eating them.

Bake cakes until sides are set but center remains soft and runny, about 11 minutes or up to 14 minutes for batter that was refrigerated. Run small knife around cakes to loosen. Immediately turn cakes out onto plates. Serve with ice cream. *I usually just serve these right in the dishes. The cups will be hot, but it is less messy to eat.

Enjoy!

BFN

No luck on the TTC front this month. Boo. BUT, now I can indulge in a glass or two of vino tonight without worries. I love wine. Someday, I would love to make my own wine. I have had it homemade and it is so much better (and stronger!). The flavors just comes alive. Just give me some wine, cheese, and chocolate, and I'm in Heaven! Too bad y'all don't live in Wisconsin or we could have a tasting party.

Colin asked me the other day if I hope to meet up with any of you someday. I sure wish we all lived closer together. It would be nice to have my supportive network nearby so we could have coffee dates. Maybe someday.

Colin has the day off today, so we are planning on lounging around in our pjs, watching Off the Map, Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice online. I love these medical dramas.

Anyways, this is such a random post. Make sure you check out my next post of a recipe for molten chocolate cakes. They are really simple to make and SO delicious.

Have a great day!

Praise God

Guess what?? I just got a job offer! I went on an interview this Tuesday at Eden Meadows Rehabilitation Suites in Oshkosh, WI and got the job. I am so thankful to God. I have been unemployed for 3 months due to a move across state for a job my husband accepted. I am going to miss all of this extra time I have had to myself, but I welcome the income and work! Eden Meadows is a brand new rehab facility. I am so excited!

Other news. Packers are going to the superbowl! Watch it on Sunday. I grew up here in Wisconsin and have always been a cheesehead fan. Go Pack GO!

It is CD30. I want to take a pregnancy test but am too afraid. I don't want there to be a negative. I have seen that too many times. For those TTC, have you ever been too afraid?? I used to be so eager and went through boxes upon boxes of tests. Now, I just want to live in the hope that it could be different this month. I just came off 3 months of birth control pills 2 months ago. Could my cycle just be slow to readjust? Hmph. What to do, what to do.