Makenzi is headed to STATE

At practice last week the coach came and talked to me and another mom about sending our girls to the state meet on a relay team.  This would give Makenzi the chance to go to state this year (her goal) and give her the experience of what it is like.  Plus it gave me a week to get a hotel booked.  So Makenzi is going to state for 2 relays.  She is so excited to be headed to state. 

At this point Makenzi had 2 more chances to qualify for state time in her individual events.  She needed the time of 21.50 seconds to qualify for her 25 yard freestyle.  She also needed the time of 26.50 seconds in her 25 yard backstroke.  Well I have said since the beginning that if she were to qualify for state it would probably be in her backstroke.  So this Sunday we headed to SVSU to a meet.  I was hopeful she would qualify but figured if not no big deal since she was headed to state anyway. 

Well her 25 freestyle came up first.  She did great.  She ended up getting 14th place.  Her time came in at 24.59 seconds.  3 seconds off from state time but she was having fun.  Her second event was a 50 yard freestyle.  She placed 9th in this event which was awesome for her.  Then came the backstroke.  I was nervous for her, she wanted to make state time so bad and I wanted to watch her do it.  Well the whistle blew for them to enter the water and I could see her shaking.  The official hit the buzzer and they were off and swimming.  I was cheering and so was her coach...telling her what to do every stroke even though she can't hear a word we say.  Well she finished and climbed out of the pool.  Then we wait for the results.  I clocked her at 25.89 seconds on my cell phone but it isn't reliable at all because I can't see when she hits the wall at the other end.  We had to wait about 45 minutes for the results.  Makenzi and her coach went to check.  Absolutely no emotion came from Makenzi or the coach and I just knew she didn't make it after all.  Kenzi came back over and said she didn't know.  I supported her and told her well you have next week to still try.  Her coach jumped into the stands and I asked her for the time.  She just looked at Kenzi, finally Kenzi says my time was 26.44 seconds.  My jaw dropped and screamed...you made State!  She squealed in delight.  She was so excited and had no idea she had made it.  She placed 6th.  She is so excited.  So Proud of Makenzi Anne!! 

Now we are praying she stays healthy.  Braxton came down with the norovirus a week ago and then on Saturday night Arianna came down with.  So please pray for health for Makenzi and me (since I am taking her).  We need to stay healthy and strong for this busy weekend.  Swim meet on Saturday and State meet on Sunday.

Braxton is headed to regionals for wrestling!  He will have some tough matches ahead of him but as long as he tries his hardest he has won!  So proud of my little guy! 

8 years later

8 years ago my husband took a job that put us working opposite schedules.  I worked 830am to 530/6pm and he left for his job at 5pm and would come home at about 3am.  It was the greatest decision at the time...Makenzi our 8 week old baby at the time had mom or dad watching her at all times minus the hour and a half that she was at grandma and papa's house.  We did this until after Braxton was a year old.  At that point Scott decided he wanted to go for his CDL and drive the big trucks.

In April 2007 Scott started classes to earn his CDL.  This meant Scott would leave our house at 6am go to class and work his job that night (because we still need his income).  He would get home at 230am and leave again at 6am.  He went to class 6 days a week and still worked 5 days.  I was working full time as well.  Thankfully, we had an awesome daycare for the kiddos and the other 3 days grandma and papa watched them for us.  It was stressful and tiring but we survived.  In May 2007 it all paid off and he got a job at Werner.  We were told he could be gone for the next 8 weeks without ever coming home.  I was stressed and freaking out.  We set everything up that I could survive and keep the house up as well.  Well about 3 days later I got the call that he would be home every weekend because his trainer was living close by!  It was perfect.  Thankfully for that 6 weeks of training I got good and used to surviving on my own.   Well he stayed with Werner for 4 years.  We went through a lot of changes during those 4 years but it was a good steady job.

Well in August 2011 Scott changed companies.  The new company is nice and we are still adjusting to the changes that came with it.  It is turning out to be a good move that still has a few bugs to work out.  The health insurance is great and the home time is good.  Scott is home on the weekends and we have gotten blessed with him being home a night a week on occasion. 

After 8 years though I am ready for change.  Unfortunately that change will not come until I can get through my nursing schooling.  Only a few more years....ugh it sounds so far off.  I am just ready to have a "normal" family.  Yet at the same time I am so thankful for him having a job and being able to support our family.  Also blessed that he isn't gone overseas for months or a year at time fighting for our country....(thanks to all of you that do this).