6 Months

In 6 Months myself and my significant other will be traveling in the unknown. Shelly will be graduating by December off to brave the new world of working as a nurse. My hat is off to my wife. She has a practically guaranteed job right out of school, so no worrys there. I sometimes find myself thinking about everything we have had to deal with to get to this point and think "Good God how did we do it and why did we wait so long". I know she is anticipating it more than I am. With the close of one chapter in our lives another one will open. I will be going to school as she ends to be a Paramedic. I've finally found something that I truly enjoy in life and am going to take my life in my hands. Its not going to be that simple the next couple of months. We have many thoughts and plans going through well at least my mind on how we should go about things. If we should move or if we should stay. We know of a couple of things we are definetly going away on a trip when she graduates. Puerto Rico is a destination I think we have settled on. It looks like alot of fun and should be nice that time of year. Its funny I never really thought of being a Medic or anything gory or what have you. If you know me you know that I can't really stand throw up nor can I stand people defecating (pooping) on themselves. But I have handled that stuff pretty well and then some. Now I'm hooked not the adrenaline which most people would be but on being the best. I know I'm smart book and street. I like being the best at everything and someday I'm going to be the better medics I can feel it. I'm sure the wifey and me will have plenty of debates on how to treat patients and what I should and shouldn't have done in her eyes but I look forward to those days the playful banter that is going to ensue. Especially since I'll have a greater knowledge base on human life. Thats enough blubbering for now.

The wind began to pitch...

So the storm season has started and is in full swing. There are thunderstorms, hail storms, high winds, and my least favorite of all tornadoes!!

They have been popping up around here, none have hit on our side of Amarillo.. yet but you never know!!

Since moving to Texas I have developed an irrational fear of the storms here and tornadoes. Why? I have no clue, but I do know they are worse than anything I encountered back east, and well tornadoes just pop up and have a mind of their own. Not like a hurricane that you can plan for.

In my world when this happens....



I think this...

Always on the go!

Lately we are always on the go. Between work and school though we have managed to get away a little. At the end of Feburary we drove to Albuqurque for a 2 night stay for our anniversary. We got a room with a fireplace, had dinner planned out and even had dessert and champagne delivered to our room Saturday night. On Sunday we headed to the Aquarium and the Zoo. It was a good time. Once we found it we bought tickets and headed on in. We then headed up sandia peak, a large tramway that takes you to the top of a mountain. On one side it's trees, cliffs, and a pretty rocky terrain. Imagine our thoughts when people we taking their skis and snowboards up!! Well once we got up there we learned the otherside of the mountain was full of snow, and ski lifts. It was cold and there was plenty of snow! We walked around the top of the mountain, stopped in the restuarant for an appetizer and a couple of beers, which I might add costs more than dinner... :) Once we left there we grabbed some dinners and crashed at the hotel. On Monday morning we were headed home, but not before a quick stop off at a big mall on our way out of town. (Kevin really enjoyed that trip to the mall!!).

For spring break we made a quick trip back east. It was a whirlwind for sure! We were so busy it wasn't even funny. We were however able to enjoy some seafood (you know that didn't come from red lobster), enjoy some laid back nights with our friends. During the days we visited family, my mom, my stepmom, sister, lil Tony (who I just count as a brother), my stepdad, my cousin and her boyfriend, other aunts, and cousins. Don't worry though we included some of Kev's family too!! We were able to have lunch with his uncle that he hasn't seen in a couple of years! We then headed up the day before we left to ride with his Aunt Kitty and his cousins to see his Grandparents and for some famous spaghetti from Grandma! It was a good visit, as it had been quite some time since we had seen them as well! Kevin was hit with allergies pretty bad, and had a rough trip home! It took a little bit for him to get over it but is finally feeling better!

These days though we are back to work and school. Kevin is working from Tuesdays to Saturday mornings, I'm in school 3-4 days a week and working 1-2 days a week. Sure makes a busy schedule! We are keeping our fingers crossed that Kev's interview on Monday is a success so that he'll be working in town again! So well now know why we haven't posted! Life is busy busy busy.

"We were just trying to help..."

Normally I don't get too worked up over things. I am just laid back and unless it relates to me directly or something I am very passionate about. Then, I grow an opinion, and a strong one at that. Currently there are two things bothering. However one of those things is a silly school thing just frustrates me. The other.. That church group that went over to "save" Haitian children. Don't get me wrong, I do understand that they suffered a horrible natural disaster, and they do need help. I know many people felt obligated/the need to go over and help. A local man went originally to help rebuild. He met with a church group. This group visited orphans, were given children who didn't have parents. Some of them had parents but the parents agreed for their children to go. (I wonder if they all agreed...) They were stopped at the border with a van full of children. Arrested. Yesterday the local man returned home. The leader of this group has been accused of trying to make a profit from all of this. However the mayor and city felt it appropriate to hold a welcome home party for him, not to mention he was on Oprah today.

Like I said, don't get me wrong about helping, but really taking children? Across the border to another country to "help" them. What really gets me is that everyone sees him as a hero for this. I mean let's look at this another way. When hurricane Katrina happened many went to New Orleans to help wherever needed. So let's say this church group came, picked up some orphans, talked some parents into giving up their children and took them to an "makeshift" orphanage. I might add said orphanage was an old hotel that hasn't been used for years. Do you think people would be rejoicing and holding them in a high regard for helping?

Maybe I am looking at this wrong but I feel that it was wrong for them to take the children in the first place, let alone across country borders... I am so tired of hearing about it, and how great this man is for going to help!!!

Hey Hey You You

Show us who you are! We wanna know who is out there!

We triple dog dare you....

Most of you got our christmas cards, or saw it on facebook or twitter. Yes I posted it and sent it... what can I say? I was a dork, and pretty excited about my cleverness!! So here's the pic...



This year brought many ups and downs for us and our family. On New Year's Eve I presented Kev with tickets so see his first NBA game! Which he had a blast going to Oklahoma with some friends to watch the game. In February we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary, and 6th year together. We just did the dinner and movie thing and enjoyed each others company. March brought a massive snowstorm, I even got to miss a day of school!! Also our friends welcomed their baby Maddox into the world, we just adore him, and his parents are great friends too, the best actually. So naturally we visit their house often! Then came April, not too much excitement there. I started my second rotation of clinicals, and started becoming antsy for the semester to be over, which brings us to May. This brings the 6 years... SIX YEARS!! since I'd had my valve replaced! Kev spent a few hours in Jail and made a life changing decision (not really in jail... he's no criminal). In June Kev quit working for Hill-Rom and went to school to become an EMT-B. (okay I admit it, I had my doubts, but really he kinda has a weak stomach... guess not while on the job) I worked and he went to school (talk about role reversal) Things went south for a little bit, a miscarriage and a death in the family consumed most of August. The upside of August was my birthday and a new car from the inlaws! Then I started back to school. Kevin went to work as a photographer while looking for an EMT job. In October I started clinicals, and my mom came out to visit for a week. It was quite a week but we all survived and it turned out more fun than any of us thought. In December Kevin found a job as an EMT! Granted it's out of town and he works a lot but he likes it a lot. I'm glad he found a job he likes. I finally made it past the half way mark of school, only two semesters left! TWO! This time next year I'll be a nurse!! In the meantime while I am on break my dad came to visit for a couple of weeks, so I'm taking off and letting Kevin hold down the fort in the way of working :) I've done my fair share before my dad got here so it's a trade off. Tonight is Christmas Eve, and since Kevin is working tomorrow so we exchanged gifts this evening. We all got things we asked for, and a few things we did not ask for but were happy to get!

We hope everyone has a great Christmas!

Yes, well you know

Life has been super busy lately!! Between job hunting on Kev's end and finishing my semester, not to mention trying to some face time with each, friends, and family we are a pair of busy people!!

Last week Kev went to Lubbock to check out a few possible jobs. Ended up talking to a guy at a transport service who let him do a ride along the next day and well the rest is history. That afternoon he offered Kev a job there with his choice of schedule since he will be traveling to and from work 1-2 hours. It looks like he'll just get his four days out of the way and then head home for 3 days. We can handle that for a year. Kev is very excited and starts his job tomorrow. He will be the ambulance driver as an EMT-B!

Tuesday this week marked the end of my semester. I ended up 4 B's and 1 A this semester. I really thought differently about one of the B's but what can ya do? Atleast I passed this semester, and am headed on to Level 3! Two semesters left. This semester was the most unorganized/hardest so far thanks to all of the things that happened before the semester began and shortly thereafter.

A couple of weekends ago we went downtown with our friend Chris to get some pictures taken and get a picture for our christmas cards! Which you'll have to see if you sent us your address, otherwise you might have to wait because you know we'll probably post it somewhere :) Here's one of our favorites:



The others are posted on facebook (atleast mine at the moment, but he's tagged so if your only friends with one of us...)

My stepdad is coming in on the 23rd to spend two weeks here with us, I'm very excited!