Our baby girl 1st XC season

Our daughter decided that she was doing cross country reluctantly because we told that she needs to start thinking forward/to the future (i.e. college, trade school, etc) and those places will be looking for a well rounded person.  She started her amazing journey on the first day of 7th grade, the first Invitational was Wayne where she completed 1.5 miles in 15:38 (10:25/per mile).  It was good start and that's what we told her even though, she was walking at times and we/she knew that she could have ran the entire course but, didn't want to.  Throughout the season, we kept reminding her that she needed to run her own race and not worry about what her teammates were doing.  While they scored as a team, each of their times were individualize.  She learned that she liked wearing spikes for her races because it gave her a little extra.  As the season coming to close, she complained that she was coming down with a chest cold, her being stubborn as I am, refused to give in to it and able to keep it at bay until past Sunday (day after League Championships).  On Saturday, October 26, was her League Championship, she finally learned/accepted to the importance of running her own race and no one else's because she set goal to break 20 minutes for 2 miles, which wasn't unrealistic in that she ran 21:32 the weekend before.  Well, Saturday morning was cool fall morning, i.e. great race weather, well our baby girl "showed up" and finished in 19:02 (8:59/per mile), she finished 38th out of 72 modified girls.  Her team finished overall 3rd out of 7 teams that scored.  I'm beyond proud of her and all her accomplishments this season because while she competed in modified cross country, she maintain on her grades (i.e. honors), and was able of field band.  She gets to enjoy a few weeks before she starts indoor track starts as well as winter guard. 

Nutshell of 4 years

Wow life has really changed in 4 years in many ways but, has stayed the same in others. 

• So in December 2015, I went back to work as per diem Recreation Assistant/Personal Care Assistant at CDR, I worked there in July 2017.  In June 2017, I graduated with a certification as Nursing Assistant (i.e. CNA), began working full time for a LTC in July 2017 and stayed there for a year when I took a job as a PCT (patient care technician) at a hospital closer to home, I also just recently graduated from Nursing School (Practical Nursing), and now licensed as a LPN by NYS BON.  I just started running 3 days a week hoping to work back up to 5-6 days a weeks but, only time will tell on that.
• My husband and I celebrated 16 years of marriage in July, and 17 years of being together.
• My husband took a position as a substitute bus driver for our kids' school district last November, which works well for us because he is off when the kids and was able to be home with them while I was in PN school.  He now works full time for the school district.
• Our oldest son is now in 8th grade, which is so hard to believe because he has made a lot of stride this year as well as some major challenges, i.e. he's a TEENAGER!!!  He still is obsessed with trains and very knowledgeable about all things with locomotives.  He is still in a 6:1:1 classroom but no longer needs to have an aide/assistant assign to him, which we never thought we would see the day where there might be the possibly of him being mainstream into regular classroom (maybe in the next couple of years).
• Our daughter is now in 7th grade, she is developing into amazingly strong, intelligent, kind young woman who is going to participating in field band (as part of the color guard) as well as cross country team.  She has started wearing contacts that has definitely been a challenge for her to use to wearing them but, after almost month she is finally getting the hang of it.  She has been back in public school going on her 3rd year and has maintain being high honor roll.
• Our youngest son is now in 3rd grade, he has definitely met with a lot of challenges academically because he was diagnosed with severe ADHD with a strong possibly of learning disability.  He does enjoy going to school and is also in 6:1:1 program, it definitely is a good fit for his academic needs right now.  He continues to a very lovable boy that absolutely loves his dinosaurs and learning everything he can possibly learn about them.  In 2016, he had a T&A removal surgery (tonsils and adenoids), which helped his hearing abilities but, decreased his issues with snoring. 
• About 4 years ago we added a pit bull/lab mix (she was a rescue dog), she definitely fit right into our crazy crew because she is a spunky dog that loves the kids a lot.

We are still trying to the live life as natural as possible, which I know may sound odd considering I'm  a LPN and my husband a bus driver.

Receiving my license as a Practical Nurse

On September 5th, 2019 New York State Board of Nursing issued my license as a Practical Nurse.  While I already have a bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation with minor of Psychology and had a certification as CTRS as well as CNA, receiving my license was most proudest moments professionally in my life because I felt like I finally arrived.  I feel like I have always been drawn to healthcare and I choose to go into recreation therapy because I felt that I would NOT measure up to my grandmother (my nana) if I went into nursing.  While I enjoyed working in the recreation field and it helped me when we were faced with our oldest son being diagnosis with Autistic as well as a mood disorder, I never felt like it fulfill me because it didn't constantly challenged me.  Now, I have received my license and accepted as a position as a LPN, I feel like I be will challenged and I love that.

"Avocado Eggs"

I love making this dish especially if we need something quick or if we are doing a "breakfast for dinner" night.  It is a bit high in fat, not gonna lie but, avocados are considered "good fats" so, we go with it.


Ingredients:

• 2-4 avocados (depending on how many people you are servings)
• 4-8 large eggs

Optional Ingredients:

• bacon bits
• shredded cheese
• minced garlic
• salt & pepper

Directions:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
• Slice the avocados in half, lengthwise and twist to separate. Remove the pit & scoop out about 2 tablespoons of avocado, creating a larger hole for the egg to sit in. 
• Place the avocado halves into 12" cast iron pan or baking dish, to keep them upright, & then crack one egg on top of each half of the avocado. 
• Bake for 15-20 minutes (i.e. longer you bake them the less "runny" your eggs will be).