I think all of my blog readers know that I am a social worker. They know that I have a passion for working with cancer patients and their families. What everyone may not know about is my academic journey and challenges to get here. I began my college education in 1997, when Joshua started first grade. I started out taking two classes at a time and working full time, as a single mom. In 2007 (yes, ten years later) I graduated with my Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. Medical social work is a Master's level career; so I applied to the Master's Degree program and began in the fall of 2007. It was a three year program. Things went well until my final year. In the fall, Nate was diagnosed with H1N1 (remember that flu?). Well, it knocked down my usually high energy little guy and I spent a lot of time taking care of him. Soon after that, I fell and injured my knee, badly. This put me behind in in my fall classes. Then the spring semester started with knee surgery (and vicodin) which was not conducive to my studies. However, I did finish my classes that semester and walked with my class.
These are a few of my favorite academic people. Far left is Dr. Montana; I am standing with Dr. Middleton, the social work department chair; and to the right is my mentor and friend, Dr Rondero Hernandez (aka Dr. V.).

BUT. I had not completed my Master's Degree. I had to take an extension. I thought I would be able to complete my final project over the summer and be done. Instead, in June my dad's cancer went rogue and he had 6-8 surgeries between June and November. Nate had a very rough start to second grade which ultimately led to our decision to pull him out of school and homeschool him. Then in December, my dad's doctor decided to do radiation treatment - 33 daily treatments, Monday through Friday. When that was finished in February. I still had not complete my degree.

I was working part time, homeschooling Nate and still managing my dad's medical care. The radiation did not stop the cancer and my dad again needed several surgeries. Then another, shorter round of radiation. This one seems to have done the trick (knock on wood) as he has not had another recurrence.

I began talking to Dr. V. about how to get back on track. She guided me back and as my project chair kept me on track to finish this. I have worked diligently for the past three months to finish this project that I started nearly two years ago. And here it is, all 79 pages.

And here is my degree clearance. Signed, sealed and delivered. I even walked with my chair to turn it in to the graduate studies department. After all this work, this part was disappointingly anti-climatic. I joked with Dr. V than I was going to wear my cap, gown and hood to campus to turn it in.
A couple months ago, our organization changed their logo and everything had to be ordered new. They ordered me this name tag, knowing that I was working on completing my degree. Now I can rightfully wear it.

Stay tuned to see how we celebrate this accomplishment!

Hi! Remember me? I'm the person who used to post here, frequently. I tend to do that, some times more often than other: summer vacation, spring break, Christmas vacation. I see a pattern here. Well, I just wanted to pop in and let you all know that I had not fallen off the face of the earth.

It has been a busy couple of months. Really, has it been almost two months since I last posted? Well then, I guess I should give you peek at what I have been up to. In a sense, my excuse for not posting more.

1. Well there's grad school. Two mornings per week I have class and one night every other I meet with a group of students on an independent study project. This is fun and educational and usually involves coffee or food, but it's still work. Two full days per week of internship. I love this too, but it's quite a time investment. Then there's homework. Well, that just squeezed in wherever an extra hour or two appears. Sometimes the time just has to be made. It feels like my waking hours are spent either in class or doing homework. But, that's not all I'm up to. I'm an overachiever...

2. My oldest son an I are volunteering for a program called Circle of friends. This one evening per week is spent in the company of a "special friend," a child who has lost a loved one. My special friend is the same age as my middle son and he witnessed his younger brother's tragic death (due to confidentiality I cannot give more detail). Each session we are given a topic to talk about while we play together. It is heartbreaking to hear some of these children's stories, but a gift to be able to be there for them to share with.

3. I am also involved in a couple of research projects. One taking about 10 hours a weeks, that I'm actually getting paid for. One, that will look good on a resume and gives me another opportunity to work with my favorite prof. These will both prepare for the grueling work of writing my thesis next year!

4. I am the PTA secretary at my children's school. This means I go to all the meetings and take meticulous notes (ha!) and in theory, I am supposed to prepare and print all the notes that go home regarding PTA meetings, movie nights, and other activities. I have been kind of slacking in this area this semester. It's a good thing I have a good team of officers I can count on to back me up.

5. I am on for the month of April to teach Sunday school. I love teaching Sunday school, but sometimes it gets overwhelming to plan lessons and activities. It's especially hard because my class ranges from Kindergarten to 6th grade, in about 15-20 kids. We do not have enough teachers currently to split the class. But, it's hard to find activities to engage all of the kids at the same time. Feel free to pray for more Sunday school teachers!

Then there are the little things like doctor, dentist, eye doctor appointments, teacher conferences, other random meetings that fill up my days. And I just haven't made time to blog (although, I have found Bejeweled on facebook).

Today, one of my classmates interviewed me for a paper she was writing. It was about the effects of grad school on my life. Questions like: How has grad school effected your social life? Um, what social life? How has grad school effected your time management? Um, I'm lousy at time management and I like to procrastinate. Grad school and procrastination do not go well together. And I need to learn to write everything in my planner. Finally, How do you practice self care? Ha ha ha ha... Seriously, I have a husband, four boys and I'm a grad student. You've got to be kidding me.

So, I'm looking for tips on self care. Help me out here, what do you do for yourself?

I have taken the day off today. Last night I had a melt down and decided that while I am very behind in my school work right now and anxious about the house stuff, I needed a break. So, I decided last night to give myself a break. I haven't done any homework or reading. I haven't done any laundry. I haven't called the real estate agent or the lender to check progress. The only productive thing I did today was taking the kids to school and picking them up. Oh, and I am not cooking dinner tonight either. Brian doesn't know this yet, but he's taking me to dinner.

If we do eventually get this house (or any house) we may never move again. I was thinking this is a nice starter house. We are planning to move out of this area when I get my MSW. But this thing has been a big ol' pain in the derriere. Not sure I want to do it again any time soon (or ever). Grrr. To those who made this happen NOW. This is really not a good time.

Then there is school. Well, school is ok. I really enjoy being a student, with the exception of homework. Not that I mind the homework, I just don't have time for it. I mean after school, I have four kids to chase, feed, bathe (well, maybe not the oldest two), supervision of homework. There is soccer practice and church. I have to put in hours in Nate's preschool class. Then there's the various school activities, open house, back to school, PTA, etc. Um, no I can't say NO. I've learned there is a technical name for this. It is called "Helium Hand." When someone asks for volunteers, my hand goes up by itself. I need to get control over that.

Lets see, what else. I'm kind of bored. I really haven't done anything today. It's kind of weird. I know I will be playing catch up this weekend. Luckily, the little ones are the grandparents. I guess it's time to get dinner. YUM! I might have to do this more often. I think I'll call it "self care."