Another night of restless sleep for me. This time there were no thoughts spinning in my head, I just woke up at 3am, WIDE AWAKE, tossing and turning for about 20 minutes before I finally gave in, grabbed my pillow, and sat on the couch watching TV. There isn't shit on TV at that time! I found myself watching QVC for over a half hour. Just as I was getting sleepy, Joshie woke up crying--figures, right as I was going to fall asleep--so I brought him with me back to bed. We need a bigger bed.......

At 7am Josh & I sat in on the couch & watched the otter as we drank our coffee. Okay, so Josh wasn't drinking coffee, he was drinking his usual morning "bubba with chocolate milk in it" (Yep, call me bad Mommy as he is 2.5 and still with his bottle.) But back to the otter....He/She is not scared of us humans at all. As it was just starting to get light outside, he/she was on the watch for predators though. Aaron was next to wake up & then Brendan. So the 4 of us were sitting and watching the otter, he looking at us, a good time was had by all, I'm sure.

I think most of my Christmas shopping for our boys is done. There are a few items and then stockings to consider, but those are easily filled with underwear ;) Other than that, I have nothing bought. Yippee. Oh wait, I have Ryan's Mom's gift all set, but we are hoping to give her that when we go down for Thanksgiving.

Speaking of Thanksgiving........I can't say that I am really looking forward to going downstate. I do enjoy seeing everyone, but in all honesty, I would love to use my break for relaxing (selfish on my part, I know that). And then there is the situation with Ryan's Dad. He has been diagnosed with cancer. I haven't blogged about it cause I really don't know that much about what is going on. I hear something from one person, and something different from another. There are issues and its a complicated topic. But I do know this: cancer at the base of the tongue and lymph node on one side. I'm thinking it started in the tongue and has metastasized to the lymph node (bad thing), but again, I don't have that confirmed, just my thinking. I've been told he's at stage 3-yikes! Treatments are to start Monday. Chemo & radiation. They are going to pre-medicate him for several things, but the big ones (hopefully) are pain management and to prevent nausea & vomiting. I'm hoping to have all the gaps in my knowledge filled in while I am down there. I hate not knowing details about his case. Really. But I am here and they are there. And then there is the issue of explaining things to our boys--they should at least know Grandpa is sick, but how sick will he be by Wednesday/Thursday when we will see him? Will the chemo effect him right away? These are things I don't know.

I still have one more day of classes before my break starts. Monday I have the intense "Walking/Jogging for Fitness" at 8am. After that though, nothing. You could say that I should just skip that class but I enjoy it, so no. And as my fellow nursing student Renee likes to say, "That class is my only A! I don't wanna miss and screw that up!" For med/surg, the prof is going to post a 'take-home' exam that is due when we get back from break. You'd think that would make me happy, but it doesn't. Take home exams are historically MUCH harder than an in-class exam. I, however, was clearly outvoted in that thought, so a take-home exam it is. Also due when we get back from break is that damn 8-10 page paper. The goal is to get some of that done before I leave to go downstate. (I can dream, right?) But really, my folks are coming back home most likely today. I haven't seen my Dad since early September so I will want to spend some time with him. And then Norm & Dominique are supposed to come up Sunday. I can't even tell you how long its been since I've seen my brother...........for sure its been over 2 years, closer to 2 1/2. That pretty much gives me this morning to work on that paper. Do I see that happening? Nope. (And this is where my time-management skills are shining......I'm blogging when I should be writing that damn paper!) Let's not forget the planning & packing for the trip downstate!!

Hot damn! I think blogging just gave me a clue why I couldn't sleep! See, it is good for something!