Saturday, July 30, 2011

Hanging in there

Kyle is safe and sound in Va Beach. He took off Monday the 18th and headed toward KY, then TN, WVA, NC and finally VA Beach. He stopped and visited 2 grandma's, best friends, and a fav aunt! He's already busy, busy with books and assignments. He starts his prep program on Monday the 1st, then official classes on the 22nd.
Caleb and I are hanging in there. Staying busy with everyday life.
I wish I had more to add... I finished clinic last week however, I'll be going in for some eval hours next week. So I'll still be traveling to clinic mon-wed and class Mon and Tues nights. Next semester I'll be working at Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation (BIR) 3 days a week and have a research class on Tues night. So next semester I will be doing less (in theory).
Well my computer just shared with me that it's 9o'clock, so I best put our little man down.
Love,
Jenny

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Our sweet boy is growing!













                   "Mom what are you doing? I thought we were going on a walk??"

It's going to be a sad one...

I'm sorry, I know it's been months since I last posted. So I'll try and do a short catch up!
Since going to Regent in May...
-I finished my Spring semester, and started my last summer session of classes and clinic
-Kyle has gone and returned from his NOLs course (a month long adventure in WY)
-I found out that I passed my national board exam!!
-Caleb has started crawling, cruzing, eating stage three baby foods, and has two teeth now!

Now some details of all that include:
-My summer classes have been the hardest of the two years of grad school. And the schedule of three 14 hour days in a row have just about killed me. I can't tell you how many times I've almost fallen asleep at the wheel. But thankfully, I have two weeks left of clinic and class combined, then just two weeks of class! I drink a lot of coffee.
-With Kyle gone for a month, I was humbled into being a single mother and reminded everyday of what a great partner I have.
-I can't thank the good Lord for the national board, now all I have left is my comprehensive exams (that are tomorrow!! 4 hours=4essays!)
-And my sweet baby is still a joy in my crazy life! Even with all his growing and changing.

And now to the really sad part. Kyle leaves on Monday to start his adventure to Va. Monday... as in 4 days from now. Most of the time I just ignore the ache in my heart and try to convince myself that this season will go by quickly... but 152 days seems like a long time. Our daily life of three is about to change, and right now, that change just hurts.

So with all that said. I'm off to crash into bed because tomorrow I have 4 hours to write 4 essay!
I hope to share more exciting news next time,
Jenny

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Virginia Beach Regent University

It's officially out, Kyle is going to Law school this fall at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va.!!! We are SOO proud of him! He's finishing up this week at his job here in town. Then June 3rd he'll head out to his first NOLS (http://www.nols.edu/) course for the whole months of June. He'll be home for a quick 3 weeks then he'll move to Va. Caleb and I are going to stay here in Dallas till December when I'm done with classes and clinic. We thought about all of us moving this summer and decided that would be too much for this one family to take (to be honest, our stress level is at in all time high... and to try to add a major move, take distance classes, find Caleb care, find an apartment, etc. I started to cry... a lot).
Speaking of crying my sweet pea of a Caleb is very unhappy- gotta go, more later,
Love
Jenny

Friday, April 29, 2011

Oh No I forgot how to sign in!

It's been so long since I've posted about life that I forgot how to post... now thankfully my brain kicked in at some point so here I am....
Life is good at the Carter house. And I say it's good cause the Lord Jesus is still alive and active and giving out love and forgiveness. However, we have been struggling with some control issues and stress. I'll start with the hardest part of recent life, my grandfather died this past week. It was my dad's dad. He had been in the hospital for a couple of weeks. At some point "they," the doctors and family, thought this was just a close call, but it's turned out not to be the case. My dad did get to go home for a week to spend with him (while he was still going) and I am very grateful to the Lord for that. The family is planning a celebration of life in late May since so many will be traveling in from Peru and across the States. This is my first grandparent to die. And I think as a whole, our family is still in sock.
The more stressful part of life is my Praxis exam, aka... NESPA... my national board exam... the test a have to pass before I can officially practice as a SLP...
The test is tomorrow morning at 10:45. There's a slight hope I'll pass : ) If you think of it please pray to the good Lord that I'll pass. I just need a score of 601!
Well I'll end on a wonderful note, I love my baby and husband! AND I got to see a few minutes of the beautiful William and Cate wedding this morning! I would have baked scones and drank tea all day, but I had to keep my head focused on Brown's 14 grammatical morpheme markers, stuttering theories, Aphasia characteristics, etc.
Enjoy the pictures of my men, aren't they handsome!
Love
Jen








Friday, March 11, 2011

Friday and 4am

Well with all good things a little sacrifice is needed right? This morning my brain/worry/stress about driving 6-9 hours with my 5 month old next week to visit our best friends in southeast AR took over... so I decided to sacrifice a little sleep.
We just took a 5 hour trip to Houston this past weekend and Caleb really did quite well, but the last two hours on the way home was too much and he cried. Not that he normally doesn't shed a tear or two during the week but I guess since I'm working most of the time with school and life, I don't get the opportunity to hear him much and two hours was a long time for this heart and pair of ears. So this morning I decided with the good Lord's help and my computer, I was/am finding a place to stay for all 6 adults, 1 kid, 2 toddlers and 1 baby, that's closer than the previously mentioned time. Oh and not to mention, gas is crazy expensive AKA I paid over $50 yesterday!!!

The convention season came to a close on Sat. A day earlier than expected because I came down with something that lasted till this past Wednesday. It was like the flu, body aches, head/nose pain and stuffiness, exhausted, etc. but no fever or throwing up. So I went to clinic and class this week with tissues up my nose and coating my hands in sanitizer. All that to say, if I have to take one for the Travi/Carter house once a season, that's fine with me because no one else in the house, including my mom or baby got "it" and that a hallejah from me!!

I have a practice/graded exam today at 10 and then my spring break officially begins!
Here are some pictures from this past weekend,
Jenny
P.s. if you are ever in Houston and need a warm, inviting, happy house to stay, we recommend Gma's. She was the best hostess!
One of the best smile pics of our guy!
My men at breakfast. Kyle surprised me for my birthday and reserved a swanky hotel room for my birthday and it came with a yummy breakfast! 

Caleb in the Swanky hotel room! 
Caleb and Lindsey on my birthday lunch!!

Lindz and I at the Praxia bowl where TWU got 2nd place!!! 


Tuesday, March 1, 2011

What I meant to say...

... is I'll post once a semester! I'm sorry it's been so long since I've written. Life in the Carter house has been  crazy as normal. What with the normal class/clinic responsibilities, a growing and happy baby, parents who are struggling with physical changes and pains, trips, graduating, applying for summer clinic, scholarships, doc appointments, conferences, papers, and presentations, etc. Did I mention we are NEVER bored?
February is the month of birthdays for us. Starting off with Kyle's dad on the 8th, Kyle's on the 13th, my mom's on the 16th, my dad's on the 19th, Kyle's mom on the 28th, but a few great friends (aka Kent and my friend Cami's little boy) and then I turn older on the 4th (which everyone counts as a "feb" since it's so close to Feb.) and to be honest, I almost get sick of cake, almost : ) 
Last weekend I attended a Laryngectomy conference and learned tons! And received 5 hours of class/clinic    credit. This weekend, the Carter's crew are traveling to Houston for the TSHA convention. We'll be staying with Gma and hoping to see some friends as well! 
I'll have one more week of class and clinic and then my much needed spring break will start! We'll be headed to AR to see the Ruples and Kellars, which we are really looking forward too. 
Well friends, our baby turned 5 months today, and I'm exhausted... off to bed for me (thankfully Caleb is already asleep!) 



This is one of Kyle's fav pics!



Carters in the snow

I want to eat that snowflake!

I'm adorable 

Me and daddy


                                                                                     I'm ok....



Ok I have my passy...