Keepin' It Real ANYTIME: "Sometimes Life Hands You a Lemon"

You know what?

It's pretty silly for me to have a "Keepin' it Real FRIDAY" post, when it's me. 
I ALWAYS "keep it real" anyway.
(should be demonstrated in tonight's post)

So, why just limit my "real-ness" to Fridays, right?

After all, that's why you haven't heard from me in so long. I get tired come Friday!!!! 
I mean, didn't you read my last post? 
"I'm tired!" 

I actually really enjoy writing, but not when I feel like I HAVE to do it. So now.... my "Keepin' It Real" posts will come any time I dang well please. 

And today????

"Sometimes Life Hands You a Lemon"

Yup... That's me stuck with the double stroller on a REALLY steep hill.
That was QUITE the predicament.

I really want to keep this short. Let's see if that's possible:

The Problem: 
Medical School is HARD!
STUDYING non-StOp!!! 
We hardly ever see Bryan.
This semester? 4th term? The dreaded term.
EVERYONE is scared of this term.
It's hard, it's PACKED with information, and it's time consuming.
His schedule? M-Sat, 7-8 am to 11pm at school, not even coming home for dinner! UGH!!! Shoot me now!!!! 

So... We decided we were going to take the bull by the horns. 
And according to a good friend of ours? 

"4th term is a beast, and you tamed the hell out of it."

Taming "The Beast."

Why, thank you.
I'm glad you noticed. :) And you know? We really were. 
We really thought we had it beat. 
And the weird thing is? I actually didn't mind 4th term. 
In fact, I kind of liked it. 
Our family was more unified than ever before-- 
Unified in the "Bryan effort." 
All hands on deck,  the perfect team.

Or so we thought...
Then came the LEMON.

Pucker up, Buttercup!!!! 

We got tired.
He got tired. 
Everyone was burnt out.
No light at the end of the tunnel - for you see, when he finished this set of exams, he still had six more weeks to go. BOOOO!!!!



Turn it into LEMONADE! 

Still rockin' the glasses. One lens in and all.

"You're almost done, Sweetheart."
"This is the hardest six weeks of the first two years." 
"We'll keep busy. You keep studying."
"Let's just get through this."
"You're almost there."



LEMON:
Exam week came. 
He was confident (not cocky), I was at peace.
I just knew everything was going to be fine.
And, you know what? Exam week didn't go as well as we planned.

Don't worry... I've got the green light from the 
"Man of the Hour" 

to post this.

I asked him what he thought was the best way to let people know about it was. Because we knew that eventually, people would start talking... they always do.

I mentioned the blog, and said that if people really wanted to know how we felt, they would read it or ask US questions. And if they didn't, well... they would talk about it with other people.

His response? "Yeah... go ahead. I've got nothing to hide."

HENCE, FOLKS... WHY I CLAIM WE 
"KEEP IT REAL."
(Have I mentioned I LOVE him?)

This is our "Kissing Under a Waterfall" shot. :)

It's true. We don't have anything to hide. He's not the only one who will have to retake a course, and he sure as heck won't be the last. 
What good is avoiding it going to do?
Make everyone feel awkward and unable to talk about it?
Continue with the social media folly of pretending that our life is perfect?
That may be for some people, but it's not for us.

So... "Life Handed Us a Lemon."

We will NOT be done in December.
We will be done in the following May (2014).
We are down. We are frustrated. We are angry. We are scared. We are nervous. We are sad. We are upset. We are tired. We are heartbroken. We are downtrodden and distraught. We've cried. We've (Okay... I'VE) punched things.
You name a negative feeling.
We've felt it.
It means we don't start clinicals until August instead of May. 
We have to swallow some pride.
We must postpone our arrival to our beautifully CONVENIENT American Country.
Longer without a temple.
Longer without Disneyland.
Longer without a dryer. More line drying.
Longer without a dishwasher. More hand washing (dishes).
No carpet. More tile.
 No A/C. More heat.
More mosquitos... UGH!!!! 

And worst of all? More studying.

BUT!!! 
That's my point. We got handed a LEMON! 

He makes the best "lemon" faces!!!

What are we gonna do about it?
BETTER MAKE SOME LEMONADE.
(and become Grenadian)

Yeah... That's me jumping in. I LOVE this place!

We GET to be here six more months! 
We GET to live on this BEAUTIFUL island longer where the people are loving, warm, and beautiful.
We are at peace.
Things happen for a reason.
We are happy we're together.
There's more time for friends/family to visit. ;)
He gets to learn the information TWICE! 
All the better to pass his boards.
He has longer to study for the "Step."
He will still graduate the same time as before.
He will still begin his residency at the same time as before.


More waterfalls, less phone bills.
More beaches, less traffic.
More pools, less of a rush.
More of the island we have fallen in
 love with.
More of the people whom we
 love to serve.


And best of all?
He will still become A DOCTOR!!!! 



Don't get me wrong. I'm having my ups and downs. I'm still saying "Why me?" every once in awhile. 
However...

It's probably a blessing in disguise,
so I better grab some sugar and make some
LEMONADE.

Signing off... <3

Keepin' It Real Friday: "I'm TIRED!"

It has been a LOOOOOOONG day. 

And I'm 

Pooped!

It feels as though I'm like this every Friday night now. 

I can't even think straight in order to write my "Keepin' It Real" posts anymore. 

I always have so many brilliant ideas about what to write, and then I start writing and I can't ever seem to stay awake!

I can't even tell you how many times I've fallen asleep while trying to write tonight's post, not to mention how many times I've changed the topic.

This last week, I called myself 

"hot-headed" because I got VERY "worked up" about a few things (understatement of the century). My friend called me "passionate." I like that. I'm not cranky. I'm passionate. 

Because I'm so passionate; however, I ALways have something to say. It's just a matter of whether or not I choose to say it. And this blog? Well... that's where I get to let it all out! 

Trouble is, this last week, there were OH SO MANY things AND people who have gotten on my nerves, that I can't even put my thoughts together, nor can I pick just one thing to rant about.

But that's okay, because it brings it all back home and leads me to my next:

KEEPIN IT REAL FRIDAY: 

"I'm tired!!!"

Today I have:

• Worked out
• Wiped 6 poopy bums
• Fed 4 mouths breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Cleaned the bathrooms (all to find my baby trying to play in the toilet bowl)
• Cleaned the kitchen
• Kissed boo-boos
• Sung songs
• Played peek-a-boo
• Danced
• Hung laundry
• Swept the house (all to discover that our broom for SOME reason smells like pee... thus leading to me mopping that room). 
• Cleaned up toys
• Cleaned up vomit
• Gave my baby a bath
• Slipped in pee and cleaned that up
• Scolded and Disciplined a little
• Yelled a couple of times
• And smiled... a lot, A LOT A LOT!

ALL TO DO IT AGAIN TOMORROW AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT DAY........

Get the picture?

C'mon Moms all over the world. You know EXACTLY what I'm talkin' about.

So today? I'm tired. I should have been in bed a LOOOOOOONG time ago. My day tomorrow could suffer a great deal because I'm still up typing, yet I felt a sense of duty to "keep it real" and let you all know that my head is currently bobbing up and down as I finish this post. 

If that's not dedication, I don't know what is.

This is what I do. The reward, I'm told, is priceless.

And I go through a lot of this...

and this...

in order to simply catch a small glimpse of that reward.

And tomorrow... I am motivated by the hope that more will come.

Signing off... <3

Keepin' It Real Friday: "I'm the Wife of a Medical School Student"

My SWEET husband is home tonight!!!

AND he just informed me of this: 

He said,

"I'm caught up. I'm not going back to school tonight. I'd like to just cuddle up and watch a movie with you." 

WHAAAAAAAT????

"Oh! And give you an AMAZING head massage!" 

(Okay... he never said that.)

 For those of you who don't know? 

This is a biiiiiiig deal. MONUMENTAL!

And... :( Sadly, The most dreaded 4 months of medical school is 

inevitably. coming. our. way......

(beginning Monday) Wa-Wah-Wahhhhh....

So? What does that mean for my "Keepin' It Real" post?

I won't leave you hangin' like I have in the past when I've been busy. 
That's just plain rude.

I WILL post something! I have 3 whole readers who can actually still stand me after my last FB rant.

Here it is:

#8 "I'm the Wife of a Medical School Student"

He's My Everything.

I'm so proud of him.

He's come a LOOOOONG way to get here! 

(Just like every other medical school student all over the world.) My GOSH! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY DO!!!!!!

We thought getting IN was the hard part. Well, it was, but man... this ride is InTeNsE!

Bry continues to improve his study habits every semester, and he's figuring out what makes him tick 
(other than me, of course).

There is truly no way to explain what he does 

(nor what we do to support him)

until you've done it. 

HOLLA AT ME!

So? My post?

I'm "Keepin' It Real."

PEACE OUT SUCKAS!!!!

I've got myself a movie to watch!

Signing off... <3

Keepin' It Real Friday: "#7 "Uhhhh.... I Guess I'll Just Jump In Now?"

Alright, Alright, Alright...

First, you can call me a slacker all you want for not updating my awesomeness of a blog for the last month. 
Or, or, OR....
You can realize just how cool I am to have 2 months of STRAIGHT visitors. Did I get to tour a paradise Caribbean Island for two WHOLE months?
Why yes, Yes I did.

NOW.

Let me be clear on one thing before we get started on today's topic. Even though I admitted and confessed many of my downfalls and follies last month, I want you all to know, that I'm still pretty...

(yeah, you know)

"A" MAZING!

You know it, and I know it. 

Just thought cyberspace should know it, too. :D

Friday is here again, and I have SO many things I could write about! Today, I've got something on my mind because I SWEAR

I have been put in this situation too many times, and it's just so

Awkward!!!!

"Keepin' It Real Friday"

#7 "Uhhhh.... I Guess I'll Just Jump In Now?"

(Concord Falls, Grenada)

So... there's really not a TON to write about with this topic because it's pretty self-explanatory, BUT just in case you DON'T have normal social skills, I'm here to "keep it real" and help you out. 

Because, let's face it... you need help.

*No worries. I'll be here all day.*

So... awhile ago... I'm sittin' at the pool, LOVING life, and the 

Sunset!!!

And up swim a couple of people. Now just to clarify, they have encroached on MY space. I'm just "Keepin' It Real," and I was there first! No, it is not my pool, but I was by myself, doing my own thing.... FIRST!

Now, I'm a pretty easy person to talk to. I am a smiler, I am a conversationalist, and I sure as heck am not shy. 

All of these things work out in my favor to meet people.

But then... 

you have these people...

Those who come and interrupt MY SPACE, and THEN proceed to have the most lame conversation I've ever heard, talking loud enough for me to hear every word of their conversation, but never quite inviting me to join in.
Hmmmm.... Don't quite know what to do with that one!

Well, Introductions: I'm Jillian, and I WILL solve a problem. 
So? Here were my options. 

1) LEAVE?
LOL! Yeah right. Like that's gonna happen. 

I'd rather let Kent eat my shorts.

(Yeah... that's really what he's doing)

2) Ignore these sorry excuses of oxygen consumers? 
Mmmm.... nope!

I would NEVER give ANYONE that kind of satisfaction!

 Or?
#3)!!!!! Join in the conversation while resolving the cause of their discussion in the first place. Continue to talk while watching them look at each other uncomfortably and with eyes firing, 
"How DARE she invite herself into OUR conversation?" 

TICK THEM OFF!

WOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!

Of course, I chose #3.

Mission Accomplished.

Moral of the Story? Don't talk around me if you don't want me involved in the conversation. It is inevitable... 

I. WILL. JOIN.
(ask anyone)

See??? This is Jill. Just "Keepin' It Real."

Sometimes life in Grenada gets hard! 
You're FORCED to listen to conversations you don't ever want to be a part of. :D
"Well, that's ten minutes of my life I'll never get back."

Life's not roses.

But... Someone's Gotta Do It.
(might as well be me)

Signing off... <3

Keepin' It Real Friday: "Feel Good About Yourself!"

In CASE you actually enjoy reading my blog... 

In CASE you have noticed I have been a slacker...

In CASE you were wondering where my posts have been???

 I apologize for my absence.

I've been busy!

JK... I like to pretend that this is what I do every day, but it's not.

Honestly, with preparations for the holidays and with two family visits, I was actually as real as I could be by NOT writing on "Keep It Real Fridays". Man, was I was busy! 

I wanted to write, but literally had no time. And if I was going to write, what would I write about? 

You see... I always joke around with Bryan that I write my best work when I'm passionate. (That's normal, right?) Well, unfortunately, I'm most passionate when I'm...

TICKED OFF!!!!! 

(SUUUUUPER beautiful face, I know).

And you know what? 

You may want to sit down for this...

Nothing has really ticked me off in awhile!!!

Yay! 

I mean, stuff has ticked me off plenty (I guess) in the last few weeks, but nothing that is interesting enough to write about. :)

So... that leads me to my "Keepin It Real" post for today:

#6: Feel Good About Yourself! 

This post... instead of making OTHER people mad, just because I'm mad, I'm gonna make people feel good! 

Go figure, huh?

Here's the quick version, because

HOLY CRAP, I'M TIRED!!!! 

And I keep falling asleep!

(Yeah, she's totally passed out.)

I have had friends for the majority of my life tell me that my life seems perfect. Whether it's because I'm always happy, my clothes are always clean, my make-up is always on, my house is always clean, I always have snacks for my kids, etc....

So tonight, let me "keep it real." 

My life...

ROCKS!

It really does... but not for the reasons mentioned above.

Let me tell you, I get mad at the stupidest, smallest, most insignificant things, and my world comes crashing down!

*cough* (spilled milk, for example) *cough*

I really do cry over it.

I'm obsessive about things that don't matter (i.e. clothes being spotless, make-up always on, hair always done). I am SUPER vain.

It's not something I'm proud of. It's just a fact.

If I am having a bad hair day, no one will go anywhere until it is fixed. Why? Because if I don't like my hair, I will NOT be able to think of ANYTHING else until it is fixed. I won't hear your name if you introduce yourself. I won't hear what you're telling me. I won't want to talk to you. And I won't want to see you. All I will think about is... "Man, my hair looks like crap. I know it."

And you thought YOU had issues! Hahaha!

Going to the store without mascara on? Yeah, that RARELY happens! You fools, I don't always have my make-up on because I've got it together. 

I always have it on because I'm 

CRAZY!!!

So... Feel Good About Yourself!!!

• My kitchen is dirty (as always)
• My bathrooms need to be cleaned (But why today? When company is coming in 4 days? Might as well wait...)
• My desks needs to be organized
• CHRISTMAS CARDS NEED TO GET SENT OUT! (HELLO??? IT'S THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY!)
• Kent's Birth Announcement may be getting mailed out with the Christmas Cards!!! (HELLO??? He turns ONE in two weeks!)
• There's no food in our fridge.

I mean, SURELY 

my readers/friends have got most of this list checked off!

My life really does rock. I love it. 

But it's hard. I'm overwhelmed. I'm behind on EVERYTHING! I cannot catch up, and even when I can, I'm too tired to do so. You probably feel that way too!

I may always have my make-up on, but I guarantee you that something else on my to-do list is not getting done because I chose to put make-up on that day. It all comes down to priorities. 

And make-up to me? Well... that's one of them. 

NO... I'm not shallow at all!

(At the pool? ... mascara ON)

SO... FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF!

My life isn't perfect.

I'm not perfect.

I'm not a Super Mom.

I'm a "Keepin' It Real" Mom.

I'm a mom with issues of her own who isn't afraid to own up to them.

And I'm a mom who will scream it from the rooftops, JUST so I don't make anyone else feel inferior. :(

OH! As well as a mom who's going crazy because her toenail polish just chipped off today. 

So embarrassing (I really will obsess over it). 

I might as well be walking around naked... 

Signing off... <3

Keepin' It Real Friday: You Stick to Your Children, I'll stick to mine.

HEL-LO!

I'm ready today. 

 Ready to chat it up! (with a monkey, I suppose)

OKAY! 

Let's just get right down to it.

"KEEPIN' IT REAL FRIDAY":
#5: You Stick to Your Children, I'll Stick to Mine!

What's one thing you don't realize when you first become a mom?

You don't realize that this child comes with a sense of humor FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, and is also introducing you to the jungle of "Momhood!" 

Momhood is the place where every mom goes to tell the stories of her successes, woes, triumphs and trials. Many times... it's a good place to be. Many times... Well, "It's a jungle out there." 

I had no idea that from the moment I became a mom I would be BOMBARDED
 with mom tips, tricks, pointers, ideas, YOU NAME IT!

Now, don't get me wrong. I needed it. I mean, please... 
Does this look like the face of a girl who knows what she's doing?

NOPE! 

Cute? I know. ;) But completely exhausted and oblivious. There will be plenty of women who will say it was no big deal, no big adjustment. And it's true. I really didn't feel like it was either. HOWEVER, when I look back now at myself with my first baby, I realize that I literally had no freakin' idea WHAT I was doing. 

And I'm sorry. Anyone who tells you otherwise, is full of it. Your first baby is full of surprises for (what I'm assuming) will be for the rest of your life! James was my first baby, my first toddler, and he will be my first teenager. So let's be honest, I have NO clue what to expect, and parenting is ALL about trial and error.

(well... and picking battles, but that's for another time). 
 

So really, you feel more like this...

HAHAHAHA! 

That's how moms feel once the meds have worn off.

So, yes... I needed the help from my precious momhood peers. But, sometimes, TOO many times, it was unsolicited. It was a myriad of different examples of "Don't do that, and don't do this. But do do this, and do do that." AAAAUUUGGGHHH!!!  

Forget it. Just run for the hills! This parenting stuff is for the birds.

BUT SERIOUSLY,

I needed the help then and I need it now. However, I have my people I go to for help. And most people are that way! So... if people aren't asking your opinion... maybe you shouldn't offer it.

Jus' sayin'... 

 And at least if you're going to offer it, ask the person if that's okay. 

Can't we all just be a little more self-aware? PA-LEEZE!!!!

I have a feeling that another "Keepin' It Real" post will be coming about this shortly.... But what I'm saying is this: Maybe we can remember that we're not all at the same stage in life? 

I mean, is that mom with ONE two year-old child REALLY giving me advice on my two year-old who is sandwiched in between a four year-old and a 10 month-old. IS SHE???? Oh... but she is. 

Did she really just tell me how to get my baby to hold still while nursing when she doesn't have two hoodlums climbing on her back while SHE'S nursing?

And the same thing goes for me. I can't tell a mom how to parent a teenager. Heck, I can't tell a mom how to parent a six year-old. Why? 'CAUSE I'M NOT THERE!!!!
 
GET THE POINT? 

Unsolicited advice = BAD
(And it really only makes the advice giver look like an idiot) 
 

I know, I know. Some of you are thinking, "Well look at you offering unsolicited advice." Once again...

  
IT'S MY BLOG!!!!

Honestly though, those of you who really know me, know that I don't ever tell you what to do with your lives, children, careers, etc. Everyone is free to make their own choices. Some choices will make you happy, some... not so much. I care deeply about my friends, and when I am asked for my opinion, I GLADLY share my HONEST opinion, but otherwise... I keep my mouth shut, and I show my support.

 

So... my question.

Why, WHY when we become mothers do we think we know what's best for every other child out there? 

Are you their mom? Do you know their personalities like I do? Do you know the conversation he/she and I had before we got to the party? Did you know they had a fever before we arrived at the grocery store? Did you know that I promised them a movie even though (HEAVEN FORBID) they are losing brain cells (no doubt)? Did you know they earned that money that you thought I just "freely gave them" as I'm spoiling my children? And what if I am spoiling my children? What's it to you? 

WHY DO YOU CARE????!!!!  
 

This is a major pet peeve of mine, IF you couldn't tell. So... How 'bout you just stick to parenting your children, and I'll stick to parenting mine? If they are not infringing on each other's rights to be happy, I think we're okay. 

If YOU wouldn't do that with YOUR child... GOOD FOR YOU!

I guess you're lucky you don't have my child then... 

Oh wait... they're lucky they don't have you, I guess.

Let's face it... 

 

NO ONE knows what the heck they are doing! 

NOT UNTIL THEY ARE DOING IT! 

(And even then, that's questionable). So let's not act like we do.  

    

Seriously though!!! OUR children have been sent to US for a reason. Whether that's for us to learn the lesson, or for them, I can't really say. But I can say this much. 

I NEED James, Alexis and Kent 

just as much (if not more) than they need me. 

Signing off... <3