Graduation

Dear Jonah and Audrina,

Exactly one week ago, I graduated from nursing school. I am not an RN yet. I have to pass my boards before I am bestoyed that honor, but I have graduated nonetheless. So I have one month before I start working in the Neonatal ICU at Parkland. It was preety exciting because ya'll actually got to come on stage with me at my pinning ceremony. My friends from work were there and my family and ya'll got to pin me with my nurses pin and I got to tell everyone in my own words how thankful I was for their love and support. Here is what was said:

What is your favorite or personal quote?

“For truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” Matthew 17:20

What are the names’ of the people pining you, and how are they related to you?

Jonah Senior (my son) and Audrina Senior (my daughter)

Who/what are you thankful for?

I want to thank my coworkers or should I say my friends, who picked up my slack at work and were my biggest cheerleaders, my family for all their love and support during this rollercoaster of a ride. I want to thank my husband, my best friend, who had to act as both dad AND mom when my nose was in the books, and most of all my children who have given me the strength I have needed to get through the rough times. It is because of them that I have gotten to where I am today; they motivated me to become a better person and I am eternally grateful for them. Thank you, I love you all!

It was great that ya'll actually walked up on stage. I was fearful that because there were so many people there that ya'll would get shy, but ya'll did great and I was so very happy!!

Love you always and forever,
Mommy

Audrina's New School

Dear Audrina,

Well we have officially switched you to your brother's school after 10 months of having to drive to TWO schools every morning and every evening. We thought (key word being thought) you would transition fairly easy. You often come with us to pick your brother up or drop him off so you are familiar with the people and the classrooms. You loved it there (or did any how). You would come in everyday and go straight to the class rooms, which ever one was open and run straight for the toys. I knew it would be difficult for you, I just didn't realize how difficult it would be!! The first day was hard, but as the days go by (it's Wednesday today) it has gotten just worse and worse. The first day you went in fine and after realizing that I was indeed leaving you there this time you proceeded to scream at the top of your lungs. You reached for me as the teacher picked you up to take you to play and meet the other kids. I had to run out as fast as I could so that I wouldn't cry myself. My poor little girl, with tears streaming down her face. I called at lunch time and they told me you had clamed down after a while and then during mid morning you decided this wasn't for you and started to cry again. So much so that they had to call Jonah from his classroom to calm you down. (My big boy, going to calm his sister down. I wonder what he said to you? Did he kiss you and hug you to make you feel better? He told me he did, but he isn't the most reliable historian :) ) Anyways, you didn't eat a thing there all day long you were so upset. But the good news is that you didn't cry when I came to pick you up as Jonah often did when he was little. I remember his eyes being puffy and red from crying the whole day. You didn't have puffy eyes and you ran to me with the biggest smile and with open arms!! :)

Today was even worse then yesterday. As soon as we pulled up to the school you started to cry. Oh, no... We dropped you brother off and the entire time you said "I want to go back to car mommy, I want to go back to car." It broke my heart. How I wish I could keep you at home all day long. But you have to get used to this school. As I got closer to your room you literally started shaking, with tears running down your face. You wrapped your tiny little body around mine and squeezed as hard as you could. I could have let go of you and you would have been stuck to me like glue with the death grip you had on me. Why is this so hard??? I hate this. It hurts so much to see you cry so much. You're such a gappy go lucky girl who loves to smile and cries rarely. I have never seen this side of my poor little girl. I sit here now as I have left you at school, and with tears running down MY face now, I wonder how you are doing....

Love you always and forever,
Mommy

Jonah's first play

Dear Jonah,
Your first school play was on April 24, 2009. It was the greatest and cutest thing I have ever seen. I literally teared up while ya'll were singing and you said your lines. I tried to hide my face behind the camra so I wouldn't be "that" mom that cries at everything there child does! lol. But you were the absolute cutest little frog and I know that probably every mother thinks there child is the star of the show, but you were! You sung the songs the loudest and you were right in the front row. I could here your voice above everyone elses. You were so serious. I don't know if you were concentrating hard in not messing up or were trying to remember all the words and movements to all the songs but you were also the most serious little frog I've ever seen. It's amazing though what little four year olds can remember and do. Everyone did so great. Everyone remembered there lines and didn't get stage fright in the least bit. Ya'll all new the words and the movements to all the songs and it truly was the greatest thing. You kept telling me the night before that after the play ya'll were going to have a pizza party so you were more excited about that I think, but it was well worth me missing sleep to watch to you sing your little froggy heart out! :o)

Love always and forever,

Mommy