So, it’s been almost four months since my last post. There has been tons of stuff happening here at the Green House. Summer has officially started and ended, then school started again — when did all that happen?

Here’s what happened so far. In order of appearance:

1. I finished my Phase 3 paperwork for the Portfolio Evaluation Process for NARM (North American Registry of Midwives). This has been a 4 year apprenticeship process for my family and I; and there is an end in sight. This paperwork is one of the main reasons that I had to take a break from the blog. I spent 5-6 hours a day on the computer and my nose in textbooks to finish the requirements to my satisfaction. Now, I just await an answer on when I can take my certifying exam. Exciting and scary.

2. School ended! Whew! I now have a rising 7th grader, a rising 3rd grader, and a rising 2nd grader. Where does the time go? The almost 7th grader also grew 4 inches since Christmas. Soon, I will be craning my neck to look him in the eyes.

3. I have read my first fun novel since Winter. Midwifery textbooks took over for about 6 months. It’s nice to let my brain relax and just read for fun.

4. Had to put away said fun novel and pick up the books again. I was notified that my Phase 3 was approved pending a small handful of corrections to make and return to NARM. During this time, NARM changed its testing protocols. They announced that testing could take place at anytime at approved testing sites instead of the 3 testing dates held each year. This announcement rocked my world! No longer did I have to wait until the conference in St. Louis October 23rd. This meant I could drive to Richmond, VA, and take it sooner. Egads! This also meant I needed to crack open the heavy midwifery tomes again.

5. Lots and lots of studying!

6. The youngest green boy made the Divisional and All-Stars Swim Team for the VBTCC Tarpons. Our family was so very proud of his achievements in freestyle, backstroke, and coed freestyle relay.

7. More studying…

8. I turned 39. That milestone birthday is right around the corner. Age and numbers are such an interesting concept. I don’t feel like what I imagined my  late 30’s to “feel like.” I can credit much of these young feelings to eating a clean diet (except for chocolate and wine), CrossFit-ting 3-5 per week, weekly yoga, and keeping up with 3 incredibly active boys.

9. Even more studying for the credentialing exam from NARM. {I will post more about this in a separate blog post.}

I look back at this summer and feel slightly sorry for my boys. There was a mountain of studying that I had to conquer which meant less fun activities with them.

Luckily, we spend a large amount of our summer at the beach on the Chesapeake Bay and at the local swimming hole for organized swim team. Both of these places allowed me to bring along the books and notecards, so that I could continue my review and reading.

All this really boils down to is… I am glad the studying is behind me, the summer is coming to an end, we have a successful start to the new school year, and I get to spend time working on the blog and being creative.