Back to School, Back to School...

Sorry, couldn't help the Billy Madison reference:)

This is a Duane post.

This has been a really tough past 4 years that we have been married. We have experienced the recession first hand with lots of lay-offs and, the past 2 years, dealing with the work injury has been a particular challange. The last year has been the most challanging, stressful, emotional and trying year so far. Most of you know, Duane fell at work December 11, 2007 and has had 2 surgeries on his meniscus in the past year. He still has severe limiting pain and his orthopedic surgeon is positive he needs more surgery. With the lovely workman's compensation insurance not approving physical therapy or another MRI to see exactly what is causing the current pain, we have just been stuck in limbo. Knowing that we have this time off for Duane to get back to school has been really difficult given his phyical condition, he hasn't known what to go back to school for that is not physical or taxing on his body. For several months, we have been fighting with the insurance company to approve physical therapy and there is just no way that it is going to happen, so Duane decided to look at some different faster options on getting a degree doing something that would not depend on his phyical ability.

After looking at several options, Duane took a tour at Heald College and looked at the different programs and decided that he really wanted to get into the IT Networking Program. After 12-18 months, he will have his AA in Computer Networking, which is fabulous considering this occupation is something that will never become obsolete, because of our dependence on technology. Everyone keeps saying,"Aren't the private colleges so pricey?!" It is, its $12,000, but he's already received a $4000 scholarship, we qualify for the FAFSA and Duane's dad was injured in active duty and receives money through the VA and so he is eligible for the GI Bill, which will pay for the remainder of his tuition.

He is attending full-time and I am working part time to help out so our lives are a little like passing ships at the moment, but this has been so good for him and will be great for us and our family.

I am just so grateful for the opportunities that have risen for us recently and I never thought that I would EVER feel this way, but I am so very thankful for our current trials that we are struggling through and have still managed to remain best friends, very much in love, and co-partners in our marriage and parenting. That's not to say it hasn't been a struggle, because it has, but I am just exceedingly grateful for everything that makes us stronger at this point.

I have several pictures of the kids to post, but I don't have time right now, so a random post will happen as soon as I upload the photos:)