So many new things going on...

Well, for those of you that haven't heard, I got into the doctorate program that I applied for. I'm not sure what in the world I'm thinking. Since I have not been working, I just keep finding more and more things to do with myself. I'm excited about it though. I am signing up for classes tomorrow. We'll see...
As for other goings ons...I am getting into some other things that I'm not quite ready to blog about. Silly, I know, but I'm super excited about all of it. I am planning a Walk for the Fall of 2011 for the Hydrocephalus Association. I'm REALLY excited about that. So, for any of you out there that are reading this and have been involved with planning any kind of event like this...PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let me know and talk to me soon. I have an awesome girlfriend from church that is helping out, but we are doing this from scratch.
Anyways, I will let you all know about the other stuff when I figure them all out myself.
Just a quick update, Ema has gotten sick three times since Wednesday. Hunter and I are really nervous about it. She has a cold, so we are praying that it is from the drainage. I hope that is what is causing her to get sick. Please keep our little angel in your prayers.
Hunter and my Bible study is going great. I can't wait to talk more about it. David Platt is unbelievable to read. He really lets you have it. Everything he says is harsh truth, but all Christians need to hear it. OK, I keep saying I'll tell you later and keep rambling.
More to come.

Just catching up

I have had a fun-filled couple of weeks. The kids and I have been on the go every day. We've been to Pump It Up, Chick-Fil-A playground, My mom's work to visit Granny like 3 times. We fed the ducks at Island Cove (aka LoretMarina), the Warner Park Zoo and on and on...

Hunter and I have switched Sunday School classes at church. I had to give up my sweet angels and am teaching the senior girls this year. Hunter is teaching the Junior and Senior boys. He's so excited. This is the class he had our first year in the youth group and loved them. I, on the other hand, have a challenge before me.

I'm not real sure what to say. There are some really good girls in this class. They are eager to learn and are eager to go to college and be witnesses for the Lord. Then there are the girls who do nothing but stir up trouble. These are the girls who are mad at me because I told them on the first day that "I don't expect much from them. I'm very laid back. I do, however, expect at least 15-20 minutes of their time for the lesson." Apparently, these girls feel that I am just there to babysit while they socialize. I have to say that this year is going to be a challenge.

Now, when I say challenge, I don't neccessarily think that it's going to be a bad one. I'm just not sure where it's going to go. A few of the girls have made it clear they are going to be disrespectful, and I have made it clear that I'm still the adult. This is where being a Christian comes in...I stayed up for two nights unable to sleep over this. Then I realized what I was doing all over again.

Just because I gave my job situation to the Lord, doesn't give me the right to sit around and stress about all of the other stressful situations in my life. So, here and now, it is in His hands. Sunday morning is going to be interesting. I am praying for guidance as to where to take my lesson and what to do with the lecture that will follow the lesson. I haven't fully decided whether or not I'm going to say anything. At the same time, I was talking to Hunter last night about the whole thing. What he said makes complete since...It's just like with our children, if we let a behavior go on that we don't agree with and try to punish them for it 6 months after they've been doing it for, well, 6 months, it's a whole lot harder to make them understand why we are correcting them at that point as opposed to correcting them from the beginning.

So, just keep me in your prayers on Sunday. It's going to be interesting.

Until then, we are heading to a family reunion tomorrow then out with some friends tomorrow night.

PA-CERTIFIED!!!!

So, this started as a short blurb and apparently became a fill-in the blog where I left off for 6 months. I know I explained in my quick 6 month re-cap that I had to retake my boards. Let me just tell you how it went down...

I went to grad school for 2 1/2 years and scheduled my boards which are required to practice as a "board-certified PA" (go figure). Marie, my closest and dearest friend from PA school, and I took a certification/recertification review class about one month after graduation that was a 5 day, all day class. I then got home and banned my husband from our basement for another 10 days and studied my brains off. I took the test as scheduled and waited impatiently for 8 days to see my score. Marie did the same. We took the test a few days apart. Finally, after checking the NCCPA's (I guess you would call them the official board of the above mentioned "Boards" Tehehe) website approximately 30 times daily, I logged on one day and instead of there being no information about me, meaning I was nothing more than a student, there was an official number. I had an NCCPA number. What did that mean? I was board certified for 6 years as long as I kept up the appropriate requirements...CME, payments etc.

Sooooo, along came 2009. I am actually allowed to start retaking the test in my 5th year which would have given me 8 chances to take the test, if necessary. I am allowed to take it once every 90 days. I was a little busy having an Emalinn in 2009, so I kinda didn't even begin to think about taking it last year. Sometime in December 2008 I started getting things together to study. Note I said, "getting things together to study." I then forgot about it until the beginning of this year.

Next step, I talked with my boss and set up my CME for the year. Exciting trip to Chicago. IF you have not heard about it. It goes like this. It was originally supposed to be earlier in the year and in Dallas. I was still nursing Ema when that trip was scheduled. So, my mom offered to go and help with her while I was in class. We decided to invite my aunt, her sister, so that she could have company as well. Unfortunately, it fell at the same time that Ema was at Vanderbilt the first time this year. Through many phone calls, letters from doctors and other favors, we managed to get our trip changed to June to Chicago. We left out on a Sunday afternoon. My classes started on Monday at 7 am and went until 6pm. This went on for 4 days!!! They were nice enough on Friday to make it only be from 7 am to 2pm so that people could get out of that joint! Every night consisted of a 2 - 3 hour take-home test as well. FUN IT WAS NOT!!! To top it all off. On day three, I convinced Mom and Judy to go to a Sushi/Japanese restaurant...not a good idea. Approximately two or three hours after we got back, I woke up and proceeded to start barfing and then the diarrhea started. It lasted for over 12 hours. I had FOOD POISONING. If you have never had it, there is no way to describe it. I won't just because it was disgusting. I could not hold my head up the next day. I missed the entire day of classes. I was barely able to get up on Friday to go to class PLUS we had to pack up and fly home. All of this with a 13-month-old. It was brutal to say the least.

Even though the food poisoning happened, I still managed to get a really good review. I mean, I haven't studied about Cardiology and Nephrology and blah, blah, blah-ologies in forever. I had planned to come home and work for a couple of days, take off two days to review, then take my test. Unfortunately, my boss did not have a concept of what this test entailed; therefore, I believe her official quote was "we can't shut the office down for you to take some test." (Don't get me wrong, she has always been extremely giving and generous. I just don't think she understood.) So, I kept putting it off and putting it off because I couldn't get a few days off in a row to study.

THEN came the lay off. I was laid off on July 1st and given a month to "find a job." I decided to take it in the beginning of August since I was getting on into July and didn't have a job. I scheduled it for August 11. I started studying every day as many hours as I could. On days that I had babysitters, I left the house and studied all day. I even went to UTC and studied in an empty office down there. (I have an awesome cousin that works down there and is always helping me out, so she let me use one of the empty offices their department). Marie took the test about two weeks before I did. She was so depressed after taking it that she couldn't hold back from telling me that it was unbelievably hard. She was certain there was no way she passed. She then got her email three days later that told her to go to the NCCPA website to see if she passed or failed. SHE PASSED!!! She didn't take a review class but studied a review classes' live CD, so she was for sure I would pass.

AUGUST 11...I felt good about it. After practicing for 6 years, the review class seemed to make so much more sense. I knew that I didn't know everything that I need to know about medicine, but I felt confident that I could pass the test...until I actually took it. I sat in this testing center for 5 sections that were each an hour long and consisted of 60 questions. There was also a 45 minute break that I could use however I wanted throughout the sessions. It was insane. There were questions on the test about stuff I've never heard of in my life. I walked out of there exhausted and extremely depressed about it. I, of course, called and vented to Marie. I then went home to wait the "up to 2 - 3 weeks" to receive my scores.

Yesterday, I happened to get online on the actual computer and not my cell phone...never happens these days. There it was. An email from the NCCPA. Dear Ms. McLaughen, Your exam scores are available for review. My favorite part was the two seperate paragraphs. One with instructions that started "If you have passed" and the "If you have not passed." I was in tears before I could open the, oh by the way already extremely slow website!!!!! My hands could literally barely type in that NCCPA board certification number that I memorized 6 years ago. There it was in black and white...PASSED.

THANK YOU LORD FOR ALL OF YOUR BLESSINGS!

P.S. SIDE NOTE for those who have not had food poisoning. I have eaten sushi for over 10 years. My most favoritist food is sushi. My most favoritist sushi is Tuna. I got sick on sushi. I got sick on Tuna! As tradition for our anniversary, Hunter and I go to Hiroshi's and splurge on a fabulous sushi dinner. This was the first time I had it since the episode. I couldn't do it. I wasn't able to eat it. It literally was like stuck in my throat. It's going to take some time. I don't even know if I'll ever be able to do it. It really is no fun!!!

It's Been a While

Well, a million and one things have happened in our lives since the last time I blogged. I had started some posts about Ema and our hospital experiences. Those never got finished and were left in the saved part of my blog. Everyone knows what happened with her so, I guess it's fair to say I'll leave those where they are.
Unfortunately, 2010 has continued to be a whale of a year for us! I was laid off from my job in July. My boss had to file bankruptcy and was unable to keep me on. I'm kind floundering right now. I've had a couple of interviews which have just been, eh! I haven't heard back from either one of them, so I don't guess it matters...
SOOOOO, I've decided that all I can do is turn EVERYTHING over to God. I can worry and stress and everything else all I want, but it will not do me any good and it won't change a thing. God has a plan for our family, and I'm going to be patient and wait for him to show me that plan. Hunter has gone back to work and is actually enjoying it! That's a good thing. I have gotten to spend a lot of time with the kiddos lately and that has been wonderful.
As for Ema, she has started walking. Cannot believe it! Her neurosurgeon had kinda tried to prepare us that she may not walk well, blah, blah, blah and that it may not be for a while, blah, blah, blah. Hunter says he was just trying to keep us from getting our hopes up. Whatever he was doing it doesn't matter. She's fattened up and is walking like she owns the world these days. To us, these things are not little victories. They are huge, and she is doing it because she is God's special little girl! We are so excited to see her doing so well.
On another note...I had to take my boards again this past week. As a PA, I have to do this every six years. I studied and studied and am not real certain I passed, but I can at least say I tried. I have another chance to take it in November if I didn't pass it.
Also, Hunter's grandmother is in the hospital after having had hip surgery. She is doing well, but it will be a long road to recovery. I just ask that everyone keep her in your prayers. She's an amazing woman and has the strength of ten women and an amazing faith in God. I know she will do well.
Well, that's all I can think of for now. I'm going to have to do better about keeping everyone updated. It seems I may have some time on my hands...........................

Not the Boudreaux's Again!!

Well, not too long ago (during the summer, I think) the boys were supposed to be napping while I was gone to get my hair done and Hunter was downstairs napping. Unfortunately, that's not what they were doing. See above pictures!

They had gotten a hold of the "Vat" of Buttpaste that we keep in their room for diaper changes and managed to put it on every inch of each other's bodies. This mishap ultimately resulted in their first haircut!

Well, today was a new day. Hunter called me late in the day when I had to stay late at work to let me know that I was going to have a little work to do when I got home. He had to referee his first soccer game of the Spring season tonight, and the boys had a second mishap with the diaper rash medicine (we had Desitin this time instead of Boudreaux's because, according to Hunter, it was way cheaper). It was much more of a disaster this time.

There was Desitin in the carpet, on their beds on every piece of stuffed animal, blanket, sheet, etc in their beds. It was great! Lesson learned for the second time...Put the Boudreaux's out of reach!

EMA IS DOING GREAT!!!!!!!!!

OK, so we went to Vanderbilt on Monday, February 22. It was her first 3 month follow up appointment since her surgery in October.

Just to update those of you who didn't know...Ema started crawling at 6 months old. Yes, for those of you who don't have kids, that's early! She started pulling up at 7 months old and cruising shortly thereafter. Again, for those of you who don't know, that's early! She isn't walking yet, but that's next. She has started letting go and holding onto things with one hand. She is daredevil Ema!

So, back to all of her doctor's appointments. She went to see Dr. Tulipan, the neurosurgeon at Vanderbilt. It's hard to describe how nervous you get going to one of these appointments. I was "acting out" prior to her appointment (yes, that is my term, b/c I think it describes things quite well). In other words, I was just in a bad mood. It was because I was stressed out. I don't mean to get that way, but I did. It's so hard not to get nervous about going. No matter how well we think she's doing, there is always the possibility that there is something going on that we don't realize. So, anyways, Dr. Tulipan initially asked what she was doing, what milestones she had reached, etc. One of his questions was, well, I guess she's too young to be doing... Our answer was of course, well maybe she's too young but she's doing...It felt very good to say all of these things. I can't tell you how proud it made us and how relieved it made us. He seemed quite impressed with all of the things she is doing. That being said, there is still always the possibiity of the shunt malfunctioning, so we have to continue to see him. He wants to see us back in three months when she is a year old (THAT is a whole other blog...how can my little baby girl be turning 1!!!!). After her 1 year appointment, he will see her once a year. That is such a relief to us. We are totally out of the woods with infection of her shunt. Now we just watch for malfunctioning or for her to outgrow it. I can't help but to continue to worry, but Hunter and I did get some relief out of her good visit. While we were in the car in Nashville longer than we were in his office, it was nice to get good news.

Next stop...Ema's 9 month check-up with Dr. Stephanie...the regular pediatrician. A mere 4 days later.

OOPS...I meant to blog about this past weekend.

Well, this past weekend we had a good weekend. We had a Friday night with my parents which was fun.

So....get this...Hunter went with my dad and his friend Justin to do some "fun, manual labor," and my mom and I decided to take the kiddos with us all day. We went to McKay's and dug through the children's DVDs for whatever it was that the boys wanted us to get for them. We then decided it would be a good idea to take them to the mall to finish running our errands...that was fun. (With that period at the end of that the sentence I need you all to read some sarcasm). We finally drug them out of The Children's Place and my mom proceeded to sit in the car with them and watch a DVD (that we just bought) while I finished running my errands.

Sunday, after we had an awesomely disasterous lunch with the kiddos at P.F. Changs...no, chopsticks are not the same as drumsticks....we headed to a birthday party at The Little Gym. It was a blast. The kids had a ball and we all had fun. Coming soon..update on Ema and her doctor's appointment at Vanderbilt.