Year in review

2008 has been a great year. I am surprized at how fast it has gone by. So many times this year I was in waiting which seemed like an eternity but yet here we are at the end and at the beginning at the same time.

I will start with Bill. He is doing just great. He has been at Clean Harbors for a year and a half now. As always he is making a name for himself. He is the hardest, most dedicated worker I know. In December Bill went hunting for the 2nd time and got his first kill. That was quite a moment for him. He has also tackled a more personal fight...his weight. He has lost over 40 lbs in just a few short months. A healthier Bill for 2009!!

For me this year has been one of great challenge and success. I went back to college in 2007 to be a nurse. This year I finished my AA degree and was accepted in to the nursing progam. I finished up my prerequisites this summer. I applied for the nursing program and did not get into the program the first time I applied. I was devastated. I started to doubt if this was God's plan. Was I following his plan or my own. This explains our 2 new additions! Taylor caught me in a weak moment. More about them later. I applied again to nursing and got in! All in God's time. It has been a year of transittion and balance. I have gone from a stay at home mom for the last 9 years to now a mom and student. It is a challenge that has pulled me out of my comfort zone but one I have trully enjoyed.

Taylor went from the 3rd grade to 4th. YEA!! We didn't know if that would happen. Taylor has ADD and after we tried everything else we decided it was time to try medication. It has been incredible to see her blossom and grow!!! It was always there she just couldn't get it out. She even made honor roll for the very first time. She passed the FCAT with flying colors. She is more confident and just the sweetest girl. Taylor had a great soccer season with her team going undefeated for the season and Judge's cup. They were a great group of girls that worked as a team and their efforts paid off. She also turned 10 this year!! Welcome to double digits. Taylor also spent the summer playing golf. She just loved it! Taylor loves to be on the go. She is always wanting a friend to come over or is ready to go to their house.

Ryan is 8 years old and healthy!! His health is still the biggest news of the year. God blessed us with another year out of the hospital. We have now enjoyed 3 years of no hospitalizations. God is good!! Ryan does well in school. He is an A/B student without trying. Yes it would be nice if he put as much effort into school as he does playing playstation 2!! Ryan played t ball in the spring and soccer in the fall. Running is such good exercise for him. This year Ryan will not be playing baseball because he has to move up to pitching machine. He wants nothing to do with that!! I can't say that I blame him. Ryan did have sinus surgery in December. He has recovered well and is thankful to be able to breath again. The poor child had 8 polyps in his nose.

Then there is Colin. He is growing up so fast. He is now in his last year of preschool. We will miss Beymer tremendously!! Colin also played soccer this year although I don't think he knew there was a game going on!! He was comic relief. At one point he was even playing with his eyes shut. Yes I am so proud! Everyone on the side lines were cracking up. At least he had fun. Colin is a wonderful child as long as he gets his way!! God bless him he has a temper. He is smart as a whip and remembers everything. You never know what is going to come out of his mouth. He also loves his brother. He follows Ryan everywhere. Yea, we do have to save Ry sometimes.

Our babies...aka Max, Zoey, Bo and Baby. Life is never dull with 4 pets. Bo, our sweet boy cat, loves to bring us his prize possessions. Such as snakes, birds, lizards and mice. We thank him so much!! Of course we could do with out them in our house and especially my bed. Yes I had a snake in my bed this year. Not one of the highlights. Baby is our orange devil cat. She loves us dearly and is 15 years old. Of course she doesn't like any one else and will leave proof with a quick swat and hiss. Last January we lost our sweet Prissy. Me and Bill have had Baby and Prissy since our first year of marriage. Prissy has been missed very much. During a weak moment we got 2 puppies. Yes, new dog owner is written across my forehead which is why we have 2 puppies at the same time. Max and Zoey are litter mates that we rescued for the SPCA. They really are a welcome addition to our crazy home.

We are looking forward to a blessed 2009 and hope yours is too.

The Gustafson's
Bill, Karen, Taylor, Ryan and Colin

Merry Christmas!!

On Monday we made cookies with the cousins. The kids had a great time. Especially the younger ones. The teens are pretty over it and just want to hang out with their friends. But the day was a success, we have dozens and dozens of cookies. I am sure Santa will enjoy them.
I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas! The kids are so excited! Today will be the longest day of their lives!! They are in a Christmas pageant at church tonight. Taylor is Mary, Ryan and Colin are Shepards. That should be staff less shepards!! Last thing we needed was a starwars fight breaking out!! My sisters.

375 steps

This was our trip to Daytona over Thanksgiving. We had a great time. I felt like the Grizwolds on our way there. It was me, Bill, my grandmother, 3 kids and 2 puppies!! I warned Grandma she would ride on the roof if she didn't behave and the dogs would be tied to the bumper!! Seriously every one did great.

On Friday we went to the Boardwalk. We walked around got cotton candy and saltwater taffy then...
took some great pictures of the kids. They had fun running around on the beach. Too cold for bathing suits but every one enjoyed.

The hit of the day was feeding the seagulls. Daddy got 3 huge bags of popcorn and the feeding frenzy began!

Colin was swarmed but was obviously loving it!

I love this picture!! To think one day he will be as big as Daddy.

On Saturday we went to Ponce Inlet. This is the light house. We climbed all 322 steps. I thought I was going to have a panic attack going up the steps. The kids started way before me and I couldn't see them. Mimi was with them and every one was safe. I am not usually scared of heights but this got to me. We went up a total of 375 steps that day. Ryan counted them!!

My favorite little piggies in the world!!

Colin's pirate ship!!

My beautiful 10 year old girl!! She is growing up too fast. Taylor liked climbing on all the rocks.

I did actually get our Christmas card picture. You will have to wait for that one!!

She did it!!!

Taylor made honor roll!! Go Taylor!! We are so proud of her. She has worked so hard. Taylor is in the 4th grade and has never made honor roll. She has struggled so much and worked so hard to get where she is. She has sat through honor roll assemblies for 3 years and watched her friends go up on that stage that she so badly wanted to go up on. It broke my heart to know that she was so disappointed.

Taylor has to work so much harder for the things that come so easy to others. It has been a long road and many frustrated home work filled evenings. By the middle of 2nd grade I knew things where not right. I know Bill has a learning disability that has gone undiagnosed. But what we did see was that Taylor was exactly like Bill. We didn't have a name for it but their brains are definitely the same. Before 3rd grade Taylor was evaluated and diagnosed with an auditory processing disorder. That is really a broad catch all diagnoses. By the middle of 3rd grade we were testing for ADD. Oh boy does she have ADD! Bless her heart I don't think she could focus on anything. She started on medication and WOW!!! There is no other way to put it. She was like a different child. I don't mean she can sit and be still she didn't have behavioral problems. She sat really well but her brain was miles away!!

So bless her heart!! Taylor you did it!!
Taylor

Pumpkin Patch

Our annual trip to the pumpkin patch. It is not Burt's market but at least there are pumpkins. Me and Bill lived in Georgia for 7 years and we found this wonderful pumpkin patch in Dahlonega across from Amicola falls. Me and Bill went there every year. We loved to see the leaves changing color at the falls and then we would go to Burt's. They have pumpkins that are as big as wheel barrels and a hay ride. We would get apple cider and boiled peanuts and of course the best pumpkin in the world. After we had Taylor we thought what a great tradition. Then of course we ended up back in Florida after we had Ryan. So no not Burt's but there are pumpkins and kids smiling.

Have I mentioned I don't like dogs. I like cats. I am a cat lover. I don't like to touch dogs. I love Max and Zoey. I am becoming a crazy dog person. I can't go into Walmart or Target with out looking at the dog stuff. I don't buy but I have to look. Yes a crazy dog lady.

So getting 3 kids to sit, look at the camera and smile was not challenging enough for me, I had to add 2 puppies into the mix. Yes the crazy dog lady!!

enough is enough...

Ok so mom is still finding mistakes!! I am not an english major!! Now you know why.

Karen

Making my mom laugh...

So apparently you can not go by just spell check. My mom brought to my attention that I used "ginny" pig instead of "Guinea" pig. I spelled it wrong to begin with and relied on spell check but I chose the wrong one. I am glad I gave her something to laugh about!! Love ya mom!!

I am in in in in in...

nursing!!! I am in!! I got my package from the nursing department today!! I am in!! That is the phase of the day. I started this path 8 years ago with the birth of a precious baby boy. A baby that was so sick. He changed my life forever. I would have never had the courage, strength or passion to go back to school. Ryan is my inspiration!! 4 months ago I recieved a letter rejecting me for the August start. I was crushed. But I reapplied for the January start and today I am reeping the benefits of my hard work. I can tell you before Ryan I would have most likely not gone back to school but I for sure would not have had the confidence and determination to reapply and keep on going.

Today my 8 year old son told me that I am already the best nurse. He should know!! I have been a nurse to him for the past 8 years. Of course I am a mother 1st but for him mothering and being a nurse to him are all mixed up together. Ryan has a port that I learned how to flush about 2 years ago. He has so much trust in me that he lets me stick him with a needle every month and then looks up at me and tells me what a good job I did. Bless his heart he has been my ginny pig for a long time.

If you can't tell nursing for me is enter twined with Ryan. My passion for it comes directly from the care I have done for him.

GOD is good and he laid this path out for me. He even put a red light in my path. Maybe he wanted to test me to see if I was faithful, maybe I had to pay the price for goofing off in school so many years ago or maybe this is just his timing. I am sure there is a lesson in there some where and I pray that he reveals it to me. Maybe he just wanted to show me that this is "his" plan and not mine. He is in charge and not me. God is good all the time!!

For Ryan...

Dear Family and Friends:

Ryan Gustafson has blessed so many people...and now it’s our chance to give back.

In an effort to help pay off Ryan’s mounting Pharmacy bill, I am having an Avon Fundraiser in Ryan’s honor. 100% of the profits will be given to Ryan’s Hope.

PLEASE help support Ryan...and help Ryan’s Hope!!

I have attached the Flier for your convenience. Please ask your friends and family to help support this worthy cause. We will take orders until September 30, 2008. All money and orders are due at that time.

Please make all check payable to Ryan’s Hope.If you have any questions...please contact me or Karen Gustafson.

Thank you for your support!

Barbie HumbertAvon Ind Sales Rep

863-287-2933

bhumbert@tampabay.rr.com

Mail payments to:
250 Waterview Cir
Auburndale, FL 33823"The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you."

9/11

7 years ago 2 planes crashed into the world trade center. Everyone was glued to their TVs for days. It was horrifying to watch. It is one of those moments in time that you remember exactly what you were doing and where you were. I am no different. I remember exactly what I was doing and were I was. So I thought I would share my experience. Ryan had surgery to close his ostomy in August 2001. This was Ryan's 8 intestinal surgery and somewhere around his 15 overall. I do not know how I sent my baby off to surgery that many times. Of course God knows because he had carried me for over 10 months already. Ryan was once again a very sick baby. I had spent weeks at the Ronald McDonald house, I missed Taylor terribly and my heart broke for Ryan. So the weekend before 9/11 I finally broke. Ryan was starting to improve and I just lost it. I did not tell the PICU nurses that I was leaving Orlando to go home, I just left. My mom, mother-in-law and Bill picked up the pieces and spent the weekend with Ryan. That was the longest I had gone with out seeing him. But for 10 months I had been the strong one, the one full of hope, I was a pillar. Bill had a complete break down in January and was now on medication and doing much better. On 9/11/01 I was ready to face the hospital once again. Bill and I drove to the hospital. On our way there the planes hit the towers. Bill's mom was the first to call and tell us. We then put the radio on and listened on the way to Arnold Palmer. This is Ryan on 9/11.

Ryan was in a battle for his life. Thanks to God it was a fight that he won. We spent the day with Ryan and watched the news all day. The doctors and nurses would come in and spend time watching it with us. Since we were in the PICU most of the patients where kids so they had cartoons on.

7 years later, I sat at the soccer fields watching Ryan run up and down the field like anyother little boy. Ryan is healthy and strong!! You wouldn't even know he had gone through any of this. Of course Ryan wears the battle scars across his stomach and I wear mine across my heart!!

I love you Ry!!

Mommy

Puppy Love

What can I say....

First day of school...

The school years are just clicking away!! It seems like yesterday Taylor was starting kindergarten now she is starting 4th!! We are looking foward to a great year. Last year was a struggle. Taylor was diagnoses with ADD and was started on medication. The changes came immeditialy after starting the meds. Her test scores rose 30%. We are looking forward to a great year. She is determined and extremely focused.

Ryan is a big 2nd grader. He has a wonderful teacher this year....that would be Aunt Kelly. He is doing a great job calling her Mrs. Burgess. He is really having a good time. He did have to get used to having more homework. I hate to tell him it only goes down hill from here!!

And then there is Colin...this is his last year at Beymer. We LOVE Beymer. As far as we are concerned it is the best preschool. Colin is going 5 days a week (only 3 hours a day) so I can go to school. This is a major adjustment for me!! I am not used to having any time to myself. I miss him dearly but he is having so much fun.

try, try again...

i did it!! i put my nursing application in once again! so the hurry up and wait is here again. i will not know till the end of october if i made it in this time. patients once again.

school is going good. i am really enjoying my algebra class. who knew!! chemistry is another story. the professor is really out there. but i will make it through!

this is such a strange time for me. i feel like i am getting further and further away from getting into nursing. this is the first time since i went back to school that i am not in classes for the nursing program. i have been surrounded by other students wanting to be nurses or in other allied health care fields. it is so hard to keep my focus. i am still feeling a little lost and confused.

i have found comfort in God's word. i was having bouts of insomnia for the first time in my life. i am usually out in minutes of laying down so i find it unsettling to lay down and my head just won't stop. here are some verses that have really made a huge difference in my nights.

psalm 32:8 i will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. i will counsel you and watch over you.

psalm 25:4 show me your paths and teach me to follow.

psalm 25:2 in you i trust, o my God. do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.

psalm 37:5 open up before God, keep nothing back, he'll do what ever needs to be done.

psalm 4:8 i will lie down and sheep in peace, for you alone, o Lord, make me dwell in safety.

psalm 5:3 each morning i will look to you in heaven and lay my requests before you, praying earnestly.

i pray God's will be done!!!

Mother daughter day...

Today Taylor had her first pedicure. She thought it was so much fun. Of course she has very ticklish feet so she cracked up half the time. Taylor has been wanting to do this for a long time, thank you Jazlyn and Jackie for the idea. The boys are doing VBS in the mornings and she did not have golf camp so we seized the day!! Now she is hooked.

Taylor got cute flowers with jems on her toes. Now we are ready for a day at the beach to show off our cute piggies.

The Bridal Shower

My oldest nephew is getting married in September to Megan. Megan's bridal shower was last Saturday. Kyle is in the Air Force and they are going to Alaska!! I know they are both excited and nervous. It will be a great adventure for 2 Floridians. Ryan is so excited to be the ring barrier.

Kim made these cute clothes pins for one of the games.


A couple of years ago I started making cookie bouquets. I really enjoy making them it gets my creative juices flowing. I am always surprised when they come out so cute.

Megan in the yellow shirt and her brides maids.

From left to right...Megan's mom, Megan and my sister Kelly and future mother-in-law