My History of Illness: A Zach Whaley Final's Story

As many of you may know, I rarely get sick. In fact I took care of Emily everyday when she had mono and never even developed a cough myself. I guess I just have a strong immune system. Ever since I can remember, the common cold would go around and everyone would be out of school for days...I would get sick and sleep it off in a night. That is just how things were for me. Except at finals time.

I am still tired and coughing from a cold/respiratory nightmare that I came down with last Thursday. But I think I know why...I am cursed. I always get sick at the end of the school year, which in grad school is called finals marathon week(s). I mean I ALWAYS get sick at the end of school. I remember having the chicken pox the first day of summer vacation in 1st grade. I remember getting the flu the 1st day of summer freshman year of high school. I had a cold on 3 of my 4 years during finals in undergrad. I have a cold now, right before finals of what the professors call..."the hardest set of tests you will take in the program".

Oh what luck I have with sickness. I just don't understand it. I guess it could be stress related, but I don't stress over tests. I think my body just knows I am going to enjoy myself soon, so it gets even for the rest of the winter months I was healthy.

I am happy to report that I made it through my week of practical finals with higher than expected scores, so the cold didn't effect my grades. I am also just now starting to feel better as written finals are next week. This year is "the same old finals week, just different tests".

Pictures from Minnesota Trip

I know this is a little overdue, but the last couple of weeks have been crazy! Here are some pics from my Minnesota trip...all pictures taken by Terry Gray.

Me and my newest and sweetest nephew in he world, Kaden!

Karter loves technology and especially Emmy's phone. And believe me, he knows how to use it and texted Zach quite often!

Giving Aunt Emmy smootches...the best smootches are from Karter!

Karter being silly!

Karter loves to read and I did a lot of reading with Karter

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Thanks Karter and Kaden (Kristoffer and Dana too) for a wonderful time up in Minnesota! Can't wait to see my nephews again soon in a couple of weeks. Love you Karter and Kaden, from your favorite Aunt Emmy!

I've Been Working on the Railroad

So over Spring Break, I was able to have the opportunity to go up and visit with my favorite older brother, my sister-in-law, and the two cutest boys in the world...my wonderful nephews Karter and Kaden! It was no surprise that the two boys were the main reason I went, but I always enjoy seeing Kristoffer and Dana too and catching up on their lives since they live so far away. I'll do a post sometime this week that includes details of what we did and pictures, but I thought I'd do my first video.

Karter loves to sing! Once you get him started he never wants to stop. The first night we were there, mom and I heard Kristoffer and Karter singing "I've Been Working on the Railroad" during Karter's bath time and it was so cute. Over the next couple of days, I sang it a lot with Karter because this is a song he can participate in with me (and also because I don't know that many childhood songs). I hope you enjoy the video and check back sometime midweek for a post on the rest of my trip with mom to the Minnesota Gray's!

Everyone Has Their Own Schedule

This past week I, Emily, have been on Spring Break. It was a much needed and enjoyable break but I am ready to get back into MY schedule. What do I mean by this?!? Well the older I get, the more I realize I like to do things on MY time and MY way and not other people's. To most of you, this probably isn't a surprise and you think I've liked things my own way for a LONG time!

I do love traveling but everyone does things differently and when you go somewhere you are on their schedule. Well the first schedules that had to accomodate each other were mine and mom's. It is no secret that mom goes to bed early and wakes up early. That wouldn't be an issue except when you're sleeping next to her for 5 days. Zach would much rather stay up later and sleep in until 8:00...yeah a lot different that mom's schedule! Also, mom doesn't like country music, mexican food, or chinese food....all three my favorites...so those are out of the picture on a trip with her! I love traveling with mom and we get along great but it's just adapting to someone else's ways! (And I'm sure she doesn't want to adapt to me either...I think we're a lot alike!)

Then there was Kristoffer, Dana, Karter, and Kaden. It is no surprise that when you are at their house you are on the kid's schedule. I never have to deal with figuring out nap time, bath time, feedings, etc on a daily basis...I just do what I want. Totally an adjustment at first! I'm not really on a schedule over break. I just eat when I'm hungry and do what I want to do when I want to do it. I don't think about how much of an ordeal it is to just go to a store or two. I guess I had a true insight into what having children is like...but I had a blast! Who couldn't love those two adorable boys?!? (I'll do posts later on my visit when I get photos, etc from mom)

After Minnesota, mom and I went to visit Kamaron and Anique in Kansas City. Now, in my opinion, they are the most easy going of all of us when it comes to a schedule. They just seem to go with the flow more and don't plan every detail out. That is great and I wish I could be more like that but I'm kind of a planner and like to know what lies ahead for the day and night at all times. It was great to see them and Anique's new workplace and just catch up on life!

When I got back home I had a day to do my own thing then it was on to celebrate Easter. And with extended family events comes with being on more different schedules and going with the flow. I had a wonderful time over my spring break but I'm glad to do things my way again for a few weeks. Don't get me wrong...I love traveling and spending time with everyone, but the older I get the more I realize I like things MY way!

Check back in the next week of so for more posts to come about my spring break with the Minnesota Gray's!

When The Wife Is Away, The Boys Will Play...

Sorry for the long awaited post. Our lives seem so uneventful these last few months, same ol' routine repeated day after day. So why post now? Emily is on spring break and I am home alone. Certainly a change of pace for me, but I can't lie...I would much rather be with her right now. She is in Minnesota visiting "The Growing Gray Family", and enjoying time with the nephews. I am stuck here in Indiana going to classes, doing homework, and working on projects (see below).

This has been my idea of fun for the weekend. I built a suspension bowling system for a mentally challenged adult center to help encourage physical activity. It is a project for a community outreach class. I created a simple design and with the help of my friend Brandon we engineered this amazing pin resetter.

All you have to do pull up on the strings and the pins realign and set for the next throw. It isn't all that impressive, but I am quite pleased at how it turned out. I don't do many random projects when Emily is home, so this was a fun "boy activity" for the weekend.

And just to prove it...it is level!!

Emily's Winter Life

Well to start this off, I am very thankful today that I chose to move to Shenandoah! I knew it was the right move but when I found out today that 13 teachers were getting laid off and I would have been one of them made me feel like I made the right decision even more. God is so good...all the time!

Okay...now onto the post. There will be no pictures but only descriptions of what has been going on in my life the past couple of months. I'm sure most of you aren't interested but for those of you that are, here goes nothing.

I agreed in early November to help coach 6th grade girls basketball. The season was short, they needed me to help out, and the pay was good for the time put into it so I was game. Needless to say the season was VERY interesting. I totally forgot how middle school girls act. All I remember from middle school was crying EVERYDAY because of my brothers and dad making any kind of remark (nice or mean). Well let me tell you after being around middle school girls, I felt really bad for my mom having to deal with me 24/7. It is rough putting up with drama, attitudes, and girls constantly caring about their looks.

However, I did really enjoy the job after getting used to middle school girls. The girls are so willing to soak up your knowledge of the sport and really looked up to me because I was a "state champion". We all know I wasn't the star but these girls have NO clue! It was kinda nice to be thought of as a "legend" to these girls...but also funny knowing the truth.

I've also been really involved with some school activities like being on the handbook committee and having to work on textbook adoption. Somehow I can't say no and I'm wanting to make the best impression possible with my superiors. That has taken the rest of my free time up until practice started about every day. I enjoyed seeing how the school ran and doing things I'm totally unknowledge about.

The weekends have been spent grading, planning, and spending as much quality time with Zach as possible. He has been a great supporter through all of my teaching, coaching, and other activities this winter! Thanks to the best husband in the world...love you Zach!

Well...now it is on to spring! I'm going to enjoy coming home before 5:00 everyday and actually getting "me" time. What an interesting winter to leave behind and I hope you enjoyed my boring recap. Only 14 work days until Spring Break!

Indiana Weather

Well anyone that knows Indiana knows the weather can change in an instant. A prime example was this past Friday. Thursday was absolutely beautiful. It was in the 30s, sun was out, and hardly any of the snow was left on the ground. If it wasn't for meteorologists, no one would have had a clue we were going to get 6-10 inches of snow in central Indiana.

Friday morning around 10 am, the snow started coming down and it didn't stop until about 6 am the next morning. I got out of school early but Zach was doing a clinical at Methodist hospital in Indianapolis, so he experienced the 'fun' drive home. Saturday morning, we made plans with our friends Brandon and Amy to play in the snow that afternoon. Amy was sick, but Brandon came outside with us. The snow was not packable, so we weren't able to have a snow fight or build a snowman but were did have a good time. Below are some pictures of our apartment complex along with some pictures of the fun we had.

My cute hubby dressed for the cold!

Brandon walking to meet us to go play!

The boys thought it would be fun to throw chunks of ice into the frozen pond.

While the boys played I made a snow angel...

and wrote in the snow!

Brandon with a little help from me thought it would be fun to bury Zach in the snow.

Overall, it was a good hour or so outside together. Who knows with about 5-8 inches of snow coming Monday night-Tuesday morning we might have more snow to play in! Indiana weather is just sooo unpredictable.