A Crashing Halt

*sigh* Where to begin....

It's been a less than happy weekend around my home. You know the saying, "When Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy?" Well, that pretty much sums it up.

I received the grade for part III of my CPA exam. The good news is that I bettered by grade by 12 points. The crappy part is that I got a 74 (passing is 75). My nightmare came true...I failed by one miserable lousy #@!*&#@* point!!! Bad part is that this section was all multiple choice (no essays, etc.), so the score is what it is. An appeal wouldn't result in a grade change...I know, I just called the state board to see about it.

What's this all mean? Well, basically I can continue on with taking and passing the exam. BUT I cannot apply for my CPA license until I meet the "150 hour rule" (aka, get a MASTERS DEGREE). So basically, I'm going to have to spend about $20,000 over ONE FREAKIN' POINT!! Yes, I'm peeved. Royally.

I proceeded to cry all weekend long. My kids thought I had went over the deep end, I'm sure. They just kept standing in front of me staring at me. Maddie said nothing. Mackenzie said, "Mommy sad." That just about summed it up, too. I did, however, get lots of hugs, and that's all that really mattered.

So, I have some pretty big decisions to make right now. It seems logical and "helpful" that I would get my Master's degree, but on the other hand, I'm thinking that I've already lost lots of valuable time with my girls over this. Do I really want to lose another 18-24 months with them? I mean...it's not as if I'm completely ignoring them or anything, but it does break my heart when they ask me to play with them, and I have to say, "I'm sorry, but Mommy has to study right now."

Oh, and the only way - the ONLY way - I'd even consider getting my Masters is to do it at home via online classes. It still fills the requirement, and I would at *least* be in the same building with my kiddos.

I just honestly don't know if I'm up for it or not. I really don't know. I'm already so tired and beat and whatever else. Who knows if I will be getting a diagnosis in March or not (NOT), but if I'm having to start on new medications on top of starting classes, etc.....I just don't know.

If you're reading this, and you're a praying person, will you PLEASE pray for guidance through all of this for me? Someone sent me a simple quote one time that said, "If God brings you to it, He'll see you through it." God definitely brought me to this point, and I'm certainly looking to Him to see me through it. I just need strength and wisdom and the ability to stay awake for 2 or more hours at a time.

Sorry this is such a downer of an entry...I'll be back to my normal, "chipper" self again soon, I think. After all, my husband has a job, and we just got new furniture!!! WOOHOO! ; ) (See, there ARE more important things than worrying about a silly old test that just happens to dictate my future.....Hmmmm...who'da thunk it?)

And Jobs For $100, It IS!

Yeh, OK...so I'm bad at keep up with this thing. Sorry! *blushing* I'll be happy when this exam and tax season is over with so I can get back to my INTERNET!!! : )

Big news for this entry is YES, Phil got his job. I'm uber-geeked about it...don't take this the wrong way, but it's nice to come home from working, and he's not there - because he's working!!! Anyway, he is working for Action Business Suppliers...a family-owned company that has been in business for over 60 years. He wears a lot of hats in this job from administrative duties to overseeing their entire printing area. He likes it pretty well, so far, but it's a lot more strict than he's used to. It doesn't matter...HE'S WORKING!!!!

In other news...I *finally* had my repeat MRI's and my VEP test on Friday...after they called to tell me about my appointments only a mere 24 hours beforehand. (What in the HELL is wrong with doctors' offices these days anyway??? They take almost 2 full months to call me with the appointments, and they when they DO call me, it's 24 hours before they have me scheduled!!!)

MRI's went about as they have any other time...loud, clangy and LONG. The VEP was interesting, to say the very least. I had 6 electrodes on my head (that gel they connected them with did WONDERS for my hair, let me tell ya.....(*not*)), and they would cover up one eye at a time. I had to stare with my one uncovered eye at a red dot in the center of a TV. There were black and white checkerboard patterns that swirled all around the red dot. Repeat with other eye. Fun. It took them more time to put the electrodes on my head than it did for the test to take place. I, personally, do not see how something that simple can give off so much information, but apparently, it can.

Anyway, I will not have any answers on these tests until March 13th when I see my Neurologist again. That's kind of a running theme these days...waiting on exam scores. I'm STILL waiting on the results to the 3rd part of my CPA exam, too. Hmpf!

***Oh, the waiting...is the hardest part....*** (Excuse me while I channel Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for a moment...)

That's about all of the excitement that's going on around here right now...

OH, and HAPPY VALENTINES DAY to you all!! I truly hope that you are able to spend wonderful time surrounded by those you love today.

(I AM proud of myself because I cooked a nice Valentine's dinner for myself, Phil and the girls last night - filet mignon, baked potatoes, steamed broccoli and tomato and mozzerella salad - and it was ALL EDIBLE!!! WOOHOOO!!!)

I'll Take New Jobs for $100, Alex.....

I *THINK* that Phil might have a new job. *Fingers crossed, fingers crossed* He interviewed today with a locally-owned office supply company to join their administrative team. The owner was impressed and told Phil that he was his top choice on the list so far. He has one more candidate to interview. Please pray...he really needs to have a job!

In the meantime, he is also working on getting his photography business up and running. We are really excited about that possibility. He's very good at what he does (if I might say so).

Otherwise, there hasn't been anything exciting going on in my neck of the woods - yeh, nothing. If you count studying as a form of excitement, then oh yes, it's a hoot. My days go like this these days:

1. Hear alarm clock and ignore it, only that doesn't work because the stinking thing is so daggone annoying that I have to turn it off. Then I sleep over because I forgot that I turned it off and fell back to sleep.

2. Get up and dressed. Nag myself to death over why I insist on NOT calling my hair stylist and making an appointment. Remind myself that it's because I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR SILLY THINGS SUCH AS HAIRCUTS.

3. Do some work and/or study...sit and frequent OvuSoft or some other message board throughout that time so that things begin to pile up. Procrastination is my middle name. (Bet you didn't know that, huh?)

4. Try to cook dinner...only I don't feel like thawing anything, so it's carry-out for the umpteenth time in a row. My kids are horribly malnourished and are tired of grilled cheese and hot dogs. (OK, so it's not really that bad...they are VERY WELL fed and are tired of eating grilled cheese and hot dogs anyway...truth be told, they don't like anything at all, so what's a Mom to do??? Give me a break - they're 2 and 4 for goodness sake!) :)

5. Play with kids and talk to hubby all at once, all while complaining of my many ailments and botherances (is botherances a word??). It's good quality for them AND me.

6. Put kids to bed and attempt to study. Get up to make a Mochaccino on my cool new Flavia coffee station. Study a bit more. Put 4 year old BACK in bed after she comes down for some milk. Make another Mochaccino. Study. Put 4 year old back in bed. Make another...ah, forget it. Just get a Mt. Dew - it makes me stay awake for at *least* 10 minutes longer than normal. (Geez...no wonder I'm gaining weight again.)

7. Fall into bed only to remember that I forgot my whole nightly medicine regimine. Get up, walk downstairs, get a drink of water, walk back upstairs, fall into bed, remember that I forgot that I had forgotten to take my medicine, go back downstairs, yes I do take the medicine this time, go back upstairs and fall into bed never even realizing that I was literally asleep before my head hit the pillow. (And yes, this is a VERY accurate account of many of my evenings.)

Now do you see why I'm tired????? Now excuse me while I take a break from procrastinating to take a little nap....