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Here's a quick update on my life since I've been noticeably absent in the last month -

• I went through the awful week of the state being in the building at work - I clung to God during that process and He was there. He helped me know the words to say and He was THERE. It was a difficult week. It was one of the worst weeks of my life so far. I am still not completely recovered from that experience - I will probably always remember it and HOPEFULLY become a better dietitian because of that. The longer that you are in the profession the more you learn. The more you learn about the responsibility that you have the more conscientious of a professional you can be...that's the way I see it. And that's what I hope comes out of the experience.
• The next week I tried to recover from the experience.
• I finally got some much needed time off this past weekend. We went camping at Ocean Lakes. We had a GREAT time. The weather was great. We found better seashells than I've ever found at Myrtle Beach. The kids LOVED the Halloween activities...we carved pumpkins, watched a pet costume show, participated in trick or treating throughout the campground, and had some great quality time together. We even got to spend 2 afternoons out on the beach. The water of course was TOO COLD but the beach was great. Nolan really enjoyed having someone his age there with him...he and Morgan and Elijah had great fun together (most of the time!) Oh, I almost forgot - my mom surprised us all and dressed up for the trick or treating. I don't have a picture yet...when I get one she probably won't let me post it! It was great!!! She is the best with dressing up for Halloween...it is related to a lot of memories that I have from my childhood. I'm sorry that I don't have pictures to post. I had numerous camera issues.
• My knee is still that - MY knee. I am trying to build up strength in it - going to physical therapy periodically. Pray about it. I personally think it's getting worse instead of better. I need more and more help getting up from a "crouched" position. I am thankful that I can walk and have as much ability as I do. Everytime my knee hurts, it reminds me of how amazing God created our bodies. It's amazing how well our bodies work. When one part doesn't work - it makes you think of the awesomeness of the way that we are created. All of our bones and muscles and tendons and organs work together to make us move and survive. How fascinating.... Another thing - surgeons can do some good things but I am convinced that they still can't make things back the way they were.
• Now I am returned from the trip - still recovering from this past month - at work.
• My house is a disaster - having worked so many days in a row and then going out of town it is a mess. So don't come over - or - if you do, don't think we live like this all of the time.
• This week has been the first week that I have entered in some of the bloggy giveaway carnival posts. I can't wait to find out if I win anything.
• November 9 will be Elijah's 3rd birthday. I am ashamed to say that I have not done anything for his party except to determine the day and reserve the fire department. If you are reading this - plan to come - November 9 around 2. Hopefully, I will do invitations very soon.
• I can't end this post without saying that this weekend will be the 1st anniversary of my brother's death. I had a dream about it last night - strange because I hadn't really thought about today being the equivalent of the last day that I saw him. It would be the day that Michael kept Nolan last year. There are things that I will always associate with that day - candy corn, forgetting to go get Nolan on the way home, having to get cigarettes for my brother on the way, not staying at my mom's house longer to talk to Michael that day, Nolan running around in the yard saying "I'm hyper", Michael standing in the yard laughing at Nolan and telling me that he had to hide the candy corn! Interestingly enough, the date of today - Oct 30th - is the last date that I spend any quality time at all with him. He was at my work; I bought his lunch - a taco salad from LA Murph's; he slept in my office while I finished up my work; I remember the patient that was admitted at work that day; we went to the gas station at the corner by Catawba and then he helped tell me when the coast was clear to pull into the intersection - there was something funny that happened and we laughed about it; I took him by Nathan and Erin's house site and he was amazed at the meticulous framing and also interested in some new product that they were using (can't remember what it was). I MISS HIM. NOLAN misses him too. I guess we ALL do.
• Brent went to Nolan's school conference yesterday and we got the update on his progress in school. Math - he's at a 2nd grade level. Reading - he's somewhere in the 3rd grade and soon will be in the 4th grade level. (I'm not bragging or anything!) She sent some of his writing home. Here are a sample (WARNING - the LAST one is SAD. I'm warning you.) I'm going to post these exactly as he wrote the sentences -

When I went camping I was sleeping and I fell off my bunck bed and I didt even wake up. (9-2-08)

One time my grandma's cat Stormy scrached me. It burned. I needed a bandaid. (9-14-08)

My brother loves to sleep in mommy and daddy's bed. He keep my daddy up. I don't much anymore. (9-15-08)

One time I had a toy volcano. I was playing with it in my liveing room. My mommy was walcking out my room and she tripped over it. She had to go to the hostpital. (this is when I broke my leg after I had surgery - I don't think I fell over the volcano toy but Nolan insists that I did. Amazing that this day is as fresh in his memory as it is in my own!)

I have never rode a rollercoaster. I do not want to ride one. I am scared of the loop-to-loop.

I have never been new york. i really want to go there. They have tvs on the biuldigs.

One day I was leaveing my grandmas house when all ov a sudden my papa found a snake. It was black. I thout it was cool. (10-8-08)

One day me and my grandma went the movie theter we wached Shrek the third. It was funny. I liked it. Shrek is green. Then we went back to her house. (10-9-08)

WARNING - NEXT IS THE SAD ONE

One time somebody shot my uncle. (the picture is the worst - it is a picture of the wanted poster - strikingly similar to the ones that we used to see all over town. He has quite a photographic memory).