Hi Everyone~

Wow, it seems like it has been forever since I last posted.  Usually, I am so up on this--it is so easy to do and fun to share the stories of my life!  This last 11 days has proved to be CRAZY!  I feel like the only hours I have spent at home have been those that are sleeping hours.  With going to clinical, picking up or dropping off kids at daycare, grocery shopping, throwing Kerry's baby shower, and going to regular class life has passed me by!!! 

When I am home, I spend so much time just being mommy and loving the kids because I miss them so much.  I don't know how the mommies that work full time do it!  I give you all major props!  I am gone around 30 hours from them and I miss them to pieces!

Derek has been gone an awful lot the last week.  He has been coming home at 1 to 2 in the morning and leaves at 5.  I have been telling him, "What is the point?"  He should just sleep in a hotel so he isn't sleep deprived but apparently he doesn't sleep well when he is not in "our" bed.  But I think he just likes me!  hehehe

Skyler and Brett are growing so fast (Ayden as well)....but Skyler has started to write her own name out, and she actually does really well.  She has been spelling it for a while now and I am really getting sick of hearing S-K-Y-L-E-R.  I don't know how many times she does that a day!  Brett is talking up a storm now.  I almost cannot get him to be quiet.  It is always mommy? mommy?  and then blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!!  It is so endearing.  I love his little voice it is so cute.  And he just loves Ayden to pieces.  Lately he will bring a little toy over to Ayden and say "here you go baby."  And then he will play right next to Ayden, just like they are playing together, it melts your heart!  Then his next new thing is that he calls daddy his best friend.  He tells Derek, Beffs Fren, I ove ooo.  Translation:  Best Friend I love you.  Again melts you in an instant.  I love the 15 month to about 30 month age range.  They are so much fun.  Brett is probably one of the stinkiest boys you have ever met, so when I change a poopy diaper of his I tell him you stink, then he says I tink.  Funny, funny, funny.  Skyler continues to crack me up.  She always has these stories to tell and she is such a big helper.  Ayders is growing like a weed.  He is already wearing 3 to 6 month clothing!  He is smiling and cooing all the time.  We are even able to get him to giggle.  He really is a good baby.  I love it!  Maybe we could have three hundred more.....or not so many. 

So now we are on count down to baby for four of my good friends, Kerry Draxler, Jeunese McCoy, Colleen Vanier, and Lindsay Stutzman.  So congrats and keep up the hard work ladies, until D day (that is delivery day to all of you who are thinking what in the heck is she talking about)!

Congrats to our very good friends Kathy and Scott Johnson who just celebrated their 20 year wedding anniversary yesterday!!!  God Bless you and here's to 20 more!

I feel like I have really grown this last week as a nurse.  I have had some challenging patients and one in particular that really showed me a lot.  He is one of those that you hear about having faced such challenges but still looks on the bright side of life and still treats people with great respect and joy.  I hope days start looking up for him, for he really taught me to count my blessings and enjoy the small things in life, plus he said I was the best he ever had.....then I had to remind him that I'm married and he probably shouldn't talk like that! 

I hope all is well with all of you, and that you have more health than sickness, more money than debt, and more love than you know what to do with!

Love--Derek, Nikki, Skyler, Brett & Ayder Alligator