Stress is my middle name.

Do you ever stop and think about all that one has to deal with in a given day?

I do. All the time.
I have a SUPER stressful job, not " busy" but stressful. I deal with peoples credit, finances, government rules, audits, red tape. Blah blah blah. Oh and let's throw in the whiny, needy, narcissistic bossman. Any who.

So here is a sample of what on my plate:

1. Husband in Afghanistan.
2. Child trying to graduate, but one false move and all he has worked for a year will be for nothing.Then he is off to Marine Boot Camp. I will have 2 kids in the military. If he doesn't graduate, the Marines will not take him. I really need them to TAKE HIM.
3. I have my first endurance ride coming up and feel so unprepared it's not funny. I have lists and lists and lists of my lists, and haven't started.THIS IS NOT LIKE ME, I HAVE PREP OCD.
Not sure what is going on with me about that.
4. I job that hate more and more everyday, but the hours allow me to take time off and we are slow enough that Bossman can survive while I am gone. The previous 10 years in the mortgage business this was NOT the case. So that is a blessing.
5. There are two surgeries I NEED to have, but I do not have the available time off from riding and working to get it done. Maybe November?
6.Pending military move, Shawn has put in for Alaska, Texas and Illinois. Paige would appreciate Illinois as then we could play together :) Texas however is FIRST on JP's list. I don't care where really, but ALASKA would NOT be my first choice, but SP promised Alaska would be a short stint ONLY , keep our house here and then move back in 4 years.
7. Still angry with the child that if he hadnt been such a screw up that I would have been able to do a massive career change, but that is now not an option and I have missed my window. I am still reeling from that disappointment, can't even talk about it.

a short list I know but man they are weighing in heavy these days.

I need to do these rides just to survive the next 8 months until Boot Camp.

The Best day EVER

Logen got accepted into the Oregon Youth Cahllenge program in Bend. He will be gone for 5 months and will get his life back on track.

I couldnt be more proud and excited for him. As Mom's we want the best for our kids and will do anything to help them succeed.

http://www.oycp.com/

This is an answer to many many prayers.

What a busy weekend!

Things are never dull at the Payne household. Saturday was shopping at Goodwill, Michael's and Safeway. Then Shawn and I went to Petsmart for a new poop scooper size XXL Very romantic Saturday evening !
Then that night was cupcake making for my contest winner. I like them to be fresh !
Logen was doing the frosting and decorating part. He wants to join the Army to go to culinary school.



We made a huge mess , but the end result was fantastic.

Do they not look fabulous? Well, since I wasn't able to hook up with my winner to give her these, these will have to be sacrificed. I will make her fresh ones when she has free time. Triple Dark Fudge with Cream Cheese Frosting. TO DIE FOR. Zero Calories. In between baking I was making jewelry/zipper pulls. I'm becoming so Martha these days. Now if I only had her money the things I could do and make!

So today was more laundry, go give Star her shots, clean the fish tank, go to spin class, pick up a million piles of poo in my yard and update the blog.. I'm exhausted !

I'm so grateful to GOD it's finally going to be Spring soon!

A long day and a long post !

Today was Logen's surgery day at Oregon Health and Science University Hospital. He broke his collar bone a year and a half ago and it healed poorly and crooked, so he had to have it broken, reset and screwed back in place. OUCH. The day started at 4:30 am and we were in his room by 6:30 am.

Here is our little patient, waiting for the happy drugs and night night time. He so nervous , I am afraid he suffers from anxiety like I do. Poor kid. !

Here we are in the waiting lobby area.. Nap anyone? We are both just so tired. This is now about 11 am and he is still in surgery. Right after I took this pic the surgeon came out and gave us an update.

I did hours of this and dozing with my iPod.
But, we did however take an hour to go exploring up at the main campus AKA PILL HILL.

Ready to come along?

I wanted to take the Tram. For those in the Portland Area you know what an expensive and logistical nightmare this was. They gave us a free pass because Logen was a patient in surgery.

cool. I am afraid of heights but this didn't phase me at all. Isn't that strange?

Here is a picture of the Tram going the other way. Aren't they funky looking pods? Made in Sweden I think. So imagine if Ikea made Trams :)

So we are just wandering around and went into the Doernbecher's Children's Hospital side of the Campus. Shawn called it the " bad place". This is one of the many sculptures and art spaces they have there. It is unlike any place you have ever seen. Its almost magical and entirely geared for children and not sterile , it's a cool place!

This is looking down from one of the top patios on the Children's side. The views were killer!
This turtle was much bigger than it looks !

This was a cool fountain in this Pink Courtyard, one of many courtyards. They had hidden places to have a quiet moment all over the campus. I am used to the Catholic hospitals, the only quiet place is a rose garden with statues of the Saints and a bench.

This was another fun Art Piece/Gazebo. I can just imagine kiddos running around and giggling and not really realizing they are sick, while parents are praying for a cure.

This is the sky walk over to the VA hospital side of the campus. We did that side first then over to the Children's side. Very modern and clean nothing like Walter Reed !

This is another picture of the view from that patio, Logen's surgery is being done and the big tall building on the right down below. It's the OHSU Center for Healing. But all in all it was a fun day with Sweetie and I hanging out together and finally getting Logen all fixed up.

Well, that was out day almost 9 hours from start to finish. whew.......

They had a SPA ! Wish I had known that in advance!! Massages for two!

Cinnamon Rolls and Love from my son

Logen gave me a break tonight about dinner because he knew I've been tired and stressed at work. I got home late so left over Pizza was on the menu. Logen is the " whats for dinner?" kid almost everyday, and super picky, tonight he just let me chill.. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

So, on Friday my day off, WELL earned from the workload I have had, Logen and I are making Cinnamon Rolls together. I am not a great baker, and Logen is good, I am an excellent cook and Logen needs some mad skills, so we trade off teaching each other. Then we are onto the lasagna rolls for dinner for Shawn when he gets home. WE are excited we will take photos of our very looooong time in the kitchen together. Flour will be everywhere I promise.
I want my boys to be able to make their OWN MEALS when they leave the house. Lucas is good but needs to learn the fine art of " less spice is more" technique. :)
Logen will eat anything Pasta and Cream Sauce, so I think he's good there.

So, pray for me tomorrow I'll need it, and then we'll celebrate with big fat yummy cinnamon rolls with oodels of glaze and fresh coffee..yum yum yum!!!
Oh and one more thing, AFTER my audit tomorrow I have a 2nd job interview at Norm Thompson @ 7pm.... will be a loooong day for the ol' JP'ster!