5 Years Back to Normal

Idaho State University Dental Hygiene program will change you. 

 One day, while still in dental hygiene school, my friend Kylee asked one of the favorite professors, Anna Marie... "Will I ever go back to normal?" She said, "Give it about 5 years."

Well, this Saturday it will be my 5 year graduation anniversary.

I remember wanting to be a dental hygienist since my Junior year in high school.

When I would go visit my dad in Arkansas he would have long conversations with me about my future including, but not limited to: high school, ACT's, preparing for college, choosing a college, scholarships, choosing a career, a 4 year college plan, study skills, financial planning, 401 K, investments, etc.

I was a well-prepared young lady and with his help and the help of my mother I knew exactly what I needed to do to achieve my goal of becoming a dental hygienist. I was lucky enough to live in a city where one of the country's top hygiene schools was as well. 

I was always confident I would get in though I heard a lot of "Wow, that is a competitive program". 

I remember when I got the acceptance or declination letter in the mail I was so nervous to open it. I turned around and couldn't let any one see me open it. I immediately saw I had been accepted and began sobbing. My mom thought I had been rejected and gave me a big hug and said, "It's ok... it's ok..." I had to try and tell her through choking sobs, "No, I've been accepted!" I remember it being one of the happiest days of my life! I felt like I had worked so hard and here was proof of my dedication and that I was part-way to my end goal.

I was not prepared for ISU Dental Hygiene school. I blame my parents. I always lived in an environment where I was buoyed up and was made to feel like I could do anything. In dental hygiene school I began to feel overwhelmed and incapable of all that was required of me. I was never good enough. It really played a toll on my emotions. Hence the question posed by a hygiene bestie, "Will I ever go back to normal?"

One awesome thing about hygiene school were the wonderful people I got to associate with 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Some great friendships were made. 

 Look at all that white! We had to wear those white lab coats whenever we were in the clinic working on each other or seeing patients. They are just about the most unattractive lab coats.

Katie Jo and Heidi Jo (we also had a Kelly Jo and Shantell Jo)

These friends and I had some good parties. Our first Halloween together we had a mystery murder dinner and I went as Greta Garbo!

We also had the opportunity to celebrate some babies and weddings, including my own wedding! Here are some fun pictures from the joint bridal shower of Heidi, M'Lisa, and I.

The 25 of us suffered through the ISU Dental Hygiene program together. We would cry with each other when we would fail our CBE's (competency based evaluations). We would tell competing stories about how unfair the professors were to us- "Well, you wouldn't believe what she wrote on my paper!" We would be frustrated for each other when the radiograph processor destroyed all of the films from our FMX (full mouth set of xrays). 

We also made it through the rough times by being silly, like writing songs such as- "I'm Not Gonna Write You a Care Plan!" (Instead of, "I'm Not Gonna Write You a Love Song")

Hooray for when graduation finally came! We decorated those ugly and much hated white lab coats for the last day of clinic.

I couldn't believe it when graduation day finally arrived.

Katie Jo Chambers, BSDH, RDH

And now I can't believe that five years has passed. 

Am I back to normal? Well, not exactly. In all honesty, dental hygiene school really did do a number on me emotionally. During that time I began dealing with depression and anxiety which still occasionally I need to deal with. 

But do I love being a dental hygienist? Absolutely. 

I totally love my career of dental hygienist and I would not change it for anything. I never imagined I would work for this long and at some points I have had a hard time dealing with that. But I have realized it was because of who I was working for. That can make a big difference. I am so happy with my new employer which will be a 1 year anniversary in 2 months. 

Being a hygienist has blessed my family more than I can ever say, so I don't think I will even try in this post. But I can give the credit to my Father in heaven for guiding me to choose this career which has blessed me personally (despite the emotional instability that has occurred) and my family. 

Dental Hygiene is amazing!

Egg-stra Fun Easter 2014

We celebrated the day before Easter with a ham dinner and an egg hunt at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Creighton and Macey Jo both got cameras in their hunt and eggs with lots of candy. Macey Jo has no self control when it comes to eating chocolate and began eating whatever she found, as soon as she found it, even with the wrapper on it!

Of course we are always happy to see our baby cousin, Renner. He gets lots of love and attention from us.

 

Creighton and Macey Jo also have an adopted grandma, Sister Allen (Sister Grandma Allen), who lives in our ward. She always remembers them on holidays and brought over their Easter baskets Saturday.

Saturday evening we had a special lesson on the Savior and his resurrection. We read the story in the scriptures and used cut-out pictures to tell the story. Then we watched some videos on lds.org. Creighton is very sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit and gets emotional when we talk about Jesus and baby Jesus or people who hurt Jesus. I realized last night what a special child of God he is. I am blessed to have him in my home and to be his mother. I said a special prayer thanking Heavenly Father for him. What a precious son he is.

 

The Easter Bunny came this morning. I should have sent him a message letting him know we already had enough candy, but by the time I thought about it, it was too late!

Creighton's loot- what a haul!!

 

Macey's treasures- how fun!!

 

Of course the morning was fun as we explored our new toys.

 

Then off to meetings went Cason while the kids and I got ready for church! I was wise enough to let Macey run around the house in a diaper and planned on putting her church dress on just before leaving the house. She did, as I suspected she might, get into the candy and had a constant dribble of chocolate down her chin. It didn't matter that I thought each time I had finally hidden it all or put it out of her reach!

What a handsome family I have!

Mommy got Mary Poppins in her Easter basket and is going to watch and relax and enjoy...



All the Latest

The title connotes that something BIG has happened in the lives of the Chambers family. Not true. Just everyday "stuff", but exciting to us!

Good morning bloggers! Here at our home mommy and Macey have been waking up quite early in the morning. It isn't so bad to get a few things done before Creighton wakes up and to feel like by 8:00 am I have been super productive! But it does mean that we take early naps and are ready for bed earlier than usual. Macey Jo doesn't care much for sleep in general which is really sad for her mommy.

Last week we made a very quick trip to Bountiful for dinner. We were able to meet up with our entire Chambers family (minus 1 brother in law). We made the special trip because Cason's sister was visiting all the way from Kansas. What a treat to see everyone and a treasure to finally get a picture of Grandma and Papa with all of the grandkids! (Creighton, Tyler, Macey Jo, Lucy, Eliza, Jarah, Kyle- from left to right then to the front.)

Papa with the 3 youngest grandkids. These 3 are only 3 1/2 months apart! Macey Jo- January, Lucy- March, Tyler- April. I am guessing they will have a lot of fun in the future...

Creighton and Kyle were able to have a good time together! Sometimes it is hard for Creighton because the cousins he is around most often are so young. At Thanksgiving he really wanted to play with Kyle, but Kyle being 21 months, the age difference seemed huge! He had a hard time figuring out what that Creighton was about... Now that Kyle is two, he really enjoyed playing Ring-Around-the-Rosie with his older cousin! In fact we have a play date next week for the "star dinner place" (AKA Carl's Jr.) I am so glad to see all of the cousins play together. Thank goodness we had a large room for the cousins to play chase in.

This is "baby":

Macey Jo is usually found carrying her around the house. She loves Miss Baby and makes her do what Macey Jo does. Meaning that recently she has been putting Baby on the potty...

I'm not trying to potty train my 15 month old. Cason is!! But she is clearly not interested in diapers. She brings us a diaper when she is wet or poopy and does love to sit on the froggy potty daddy brought upstairs for her. Whatever happens, happens. I learned enough about the frustrations of potty training with Creighton. I am going to let Cason do whatever he wants with potty training Macey Jo. It may be beneficial, her love for Baby, and that she is already putting Baby on the potty. It may be a great teaching tool!

We have already colored a batch of Easter eggs!

How fun (and so messy) for the kids.

Creighton's favorite thing is to dip the eggs in each color and see what happens!

Creighton told daddy the day after we colored the eggs... "Mommy let us color Easter eggs so we could have a good Easter!" I (STILL) love that guy!!

We watched an Easter video on LDS.org and I wondered if it would be too "mature" for Creighton and if it would help him understand Easter. (I couldn't find any geared for children). But it ended up being perfect. He asked questions about the cross and nails and tomb... I have learned I underestimate his capacity for learning and understanding. He is smarter than I give him credit for and does understand so much. In fact, he started to tear up as he watched the video when he knew Jesus was being hurt. The spirit is strong with children and does teach them. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and that I know what to teach my children about where they came from, why they are here, and where they are going- what a great blessing.



I Love This Guy

I love this guy.

And he loves his Uncle Sam.

Uncle Sam sent us a school picture several months ago and Creighton likes to take it with him to places. A few weeks ago we were headed to the store and he asked if he could take Uncle Sam's picture with him. I had to snap a photo of him with his uncle's picture so Sam would believe us. Creighton really loves the picture!!

Creighton also loves his baby-sitter, Marlee. This week is Spring Break so Marlee (16) came over to watch the kids while I went to 2 appointments. Well, Creighton fell asleep before she got here and wouldn't wake up when she got here. Unfortunately he napped the whole time she was here and he never got to see her. He later woke up from his nap and ran into the kitchen and said, "Is Marlee here yet?" He had remembered she was coming... he was so sad and started to cry when I let him know she had already come and left.

Marlee goes to church with us and usually sits behind us and he loves to talk to her and tell her stories.

Creighton is an inventor!

He puts all sorts of gadgets together, gives them names and says, "Do you like my invention?" Then he usually tells you he made it for you for your birthday! Recently he has been using the pull string from the sky-copter and making guitars.

Creighton loves the song, Happy! It makes him so HAPPY to hear it on the radio. Unfortunately he doesn't understand the concept of the radio so if we catch it just at the end he gets upset.

He likes to sit on the porch and wait for anybody he knows is coming over.

He likes to play outside. He also likes to work outside. He helped daddy clean up pine needles and leaves from the winter for spring clean-up. Then he planted the debris and said, "It's my tree!"

He pretends like he doesn't know how to put on his shoes, his pants, coat... etc. However he does seem to know about most everything else... like how to drive a car.

Creighton loves to watch movies.

Creighton must have his hair cut short due to two gnarly cow-licks.

Creighton likes to build with Legos. Just a few days ago he built "a fancy tower for my grandma and grandpa."

Creighton likes to play Wii with daddy.

He also plays Wii with Aunt Sidnie.

He also loves his Aunt Sidnie. He often calls her on the phone and asks her to come over and play. When we go to grandpa's house he is always excited to see "Aunt Sidnie's truck is here!"

Creighton is getting good at talking on the phone in general.

Creighton likes to boss the dogs around.

He has a new Disney Planes bedroom. For the last 4 years it has been construction trucks. For his birthday he got the bed set and we made art work for the walls and grandma helped make a curtain for his room.

He can't keep his room clean. Not even for 2 minutes.

He asks every Sunday morning to go to Nursery.

He enjoys his Sunbeam church class when he gets there but cries beforehand.

Creighton's daddy has been putting a sock on his hand to help him stop sucking his thumb. His thumb-sucking has caused his 2 front teeth to become prematurely loose.

Creighton bowled for the first time on Monday night and got a 96! (Ok- he used the bumpers AND the ramp) But he beat mommy and daddy!

He is a good cheerleader. If you ever need a boost to your self-confidence, all you need is Creighton around for a few minutes. We went bowling with some friends and their son Parker (9) Creighton adores and cheered for him the whole time!

He has a serious fear of the doctor ever since he had his ear wax cleaned out. Any mention of the doctor or a doctor and he insists on finding out if HE is going and WHY. Then he lets me know that his ears are FINE.

Creighton loves books.

He loves to make boy-neighbor cookies. (That is what he calls sugar cookies)

Creighton sings songs for his family, but not at church.

Creighton doesn't like to be called nicknames.

He loves to look at family pictures.

He likes to hide.

He also likes to build houses out of the couch pillows, they make good hideaways.

Creighton pays attention to those PBS commercials. He is well aware of portion-control and exercise. If anyone says their tummy hurts he says, "You must have ate too much, you should eat smaller portions." He was outside the other day with a basketball and I told him we should go inside and he said, "Would you stop me from exercising? I am exercising!"

Also, he likes "healthy and fresh" food, in his words.

He uses very descriptive words.

He uses big words but gets their meaning mixed up. He often says, "This food tastes grateful!"

I love my Creighton.



"Miss"ter [A]merica

This blog is overdue for a Macey Jo update!

Sometimes when I wake Macey Jo up in the morning I say, "Good morning Miss America!" Creighton has started saying it as well but he says, "Good morning Mister Merica!" She is always happy to see and hear from her brother, no matter what he is saying.

She is still referred to by Creighton as baby sister, though this girl is now almost 15 months. He tells everyone, "This is my baby." Or "This is my baby sister." He does call her Macey Jo, but only when he is screaming at her. "Macey Jo!! Give me back my toy!!"

She does adore that brother. A conversation that occurs almost daily in our home goes something like this: "Creighton- please share. Macey Jo loves you and wants to be just like you. That is why she wants to play with your toys. Let her have one please."

At night-time when Creighton is sleeping in his bed she likes to go in his room and stand at the edge of his bed and watch him sleep.

She craves attention and she will do anything to make you look at her. Usually that is finding some way to crawl up on you and put her face right on yours.

At night she gets especially silly. Her daddy tries to help her get to sleep but she just wants to have fun! She will giggle at anything and then in turn we begin to laugh and then she laughs, then tickle, then more giggles, then blowing on bellies... She gets us every time. Mommy and Daddy are softies when we tell Macey Jo it is time for bed!

During the day she always acts very busy. She keeps herself occupied with toys. She likes to take them out of the toy bins and then but them back in. She likes to spend time pushing all of the buttons to make sure they still work. She plays toys with Creighton- whatever he does she loves. She carries toys into the living room and kitchen.

Lately she has been talking into Creighton's Jake camera as though it were a phone and saying, "Da-da. Da-da." Creighton thinks she is so silly. Another favorite toy is still the Ariel carriage. You push Sebastian and it sings, Under the Sea. She loves it! She has also discovered her talking purse- lots of fun!

At her 1 year appointment 2 months ago she was 20 lbs. She has been that weight for several months. She seemed to grow quickly and was always ahead in sizes, but now she is not growing as much and the 18 month clothes are just about right.

She does have a good appetite and is not a picky eater. It is such a blessing! She eats everything that we do and is willing to try anything. Of course, her favorites are noodles and chicken nuggets.

Macey Jo is very observant. She recognizes the trash can and loves to throw things away. We have to watch her though... However if we ask her to go throw something away she happily does it.

She also recognizes the words and phrases like, "shoes and socks", "we are leaving" and "let's get our coat on." She will go find her coat if she thinks we are going somewhere. When I get her shoes and socks she immediately lays down on the floor to have them put on for her. Even without those words, I have noticed if I pick up my purse or open the side door or pick up another coat to put it away, she is ready to go and runs with whatever shoe she can find!

But she is not much for wearing shoes. When she does wear them, it is normally only one. She does get a lot of compliments on her pink and orange sparkly Skechers Bobs. We have almost lost them more than a handful of times due to her ripping them off!

Macey Jo is a "good communicator" according to my doctor. The kids have been coming with me to doctor appointments. I agree. Even though she doesn't say whole words, she does communicate well. Her and daddy have babbling conversations and I will miss those when she starts talking. Cason is so silly.

Macey Jo loves her grandpa who watches her on Tuesday and Wednesday. She will snuggle right into his chest. She also loves her mommy and daddy- I can feel how much she loves me and it is so sweet. It is amazing to feel her love even though she can't say, "I love you mommy."

Sweetie loves to dance! Creighton loves the "happy song" and when we hear it in the car we all start to boogie. Macey Jo is a bouncy-dancer and an arm-dancer.

She loves the bath and to look at the dogs (but not within touchable distance). She loves to be outside and walk around. She loves to be in only a diaper.

She is a dare-devil! Daddy took the kids to the park last night and Macey Jo went down the slide face first on her belly! Daddy was so scared! She does have no fear and climbs on all furniture to reach higher. Not even falls have deterred her, unfortunately.

Her pigtails are a must because she is always rubbing her meal or snack in her beautiful locks. She is cooperative while doing her hair if she can hold the baggie of ponytail holders

Still only 6 teeth for the babe though she eats like she already has all 20! She hates to have her teeth brushed.

She has entered her exploring/rambunxious stage at church and will not sit still for 3 seconds at church.

She is girly. Last night I was filing my finger nails and Macey Jo wanted hers done. She even sat still the whole time. Then she hoped off the bed and crawled to the side of the nightstand where she knew a nail polish bottle was hiding! Then I pretended to paint her toe nails and she loved it! (I can only REALLY paint them when she is sleeping!)

She likes to dig through the "junk drawer" in the kitchen and play in the dishwasher. She is starting to avoid the dog food and water more, but not completely... And she still has a strong desire to play in the potty!!

Macey Jo refuses to leave anyone alone in the bathroom so she comes in to keep you company!

She had her first ear infection 6 weeks ago and has had a continuous runny nose since her first birthday.

She can often be found with a toothbrush (or two or three) in hand. To bribe her to smile for her pictures with Big Daddy I brought a toothbrush! She loves to chew on them. Future dental hygienist?

She is so loveable and I can't get enough of my Miss America!



Happy Birthday Big Daddy

Today is Big Daddy's birthday!

When Big Daddy was here last week he was given an early birthday present, a photo shoot with his 3 Sanders grandchildren!