First Test and First Simulator

Well, they didn't kick me out yet! I was a bit worried with our first test and first simulator this past week, that I might give them a chance to do so. Thanks to many prayers and some late night studying, I didn't give them the opportunity to kick me out of the program...yet!

The classes and sims have kept me busy during the day and the studying has been keeping me busy at night. The program is front loaded because you have to know how to fly the jet and handle emergencies, before they will let you fly it. And you have to fly it before they can teach you how to use it to do what it is intended to do. I have two more simulators this week (along with classes) and then we will break for Christmas and I will be flying the first week we get back.

Still a little nervous to fly the jet after only three sims, just because there is so much more in this jet. The actual flying won't be that difficult, it is just managing all the other things, which we call "face magnets." It is pretty fitting since you find yourself staring at these video screens when you are supposed to be flying the jet. They can be very helpful, but when you are not used to them, they take some starring at and poking buttons to make them work right. The worst part is there is not an "undo" button, so you have to figure out how to undo what you just did with fifty button pushes, just to start over and make the same mistake. It is about that time you decide to look up from one of the face magnets and realize the outside world is a lot bigger than it used to be and the brown is up and the blue is down...not the way it is supposed to, just in case you weren't tracking with me.

I have been trying to study and watch JJ a bit so Candi can get a nap, but it only seems to work when he sleeps. Otherwise, I don't get much studying done. Here my little buddy sleeps while I study. Who says you need a comfy place to sleep.

He still has his big brother watching over him.

Since not everybody checks out the pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/candijeremyp and we haven't had time to add new ones this week, I have decided to include a few that Candi took this past week. Candi continues her zombie walk through life without sleep. I can remember "back in the day" when JJ was first born, wishing he would just open his eyes and stay awake for a bit. Now, I am not wishing that so much! I wish he would sleep a bit more, especially at night so Candi could get some sleep. She is able to catch a nap every once in a while, but it is usually with JJ on her chest.

We have been very blessed to have some really great people in my class and a few of the wives and even one single student has helped by bring over meals to us. I never thought that trying to find enough time to fix dinner could be so difficult. When Candi is feeding JJ on average of once every two to three hours and by the time she feeds him, burps him, and changes him, an hour is gone and you have only one hour to two to even think about being able to get up and do something. Then he decides that during the hour to two hour break that he needs to cry and be held...you are starting the process all over again. I know most of you know this, BUT YOU NEVER TOLD US!!!!

We did find time to take JJ to an ugly sweater party with everyone from our class. You can't get a real good look at these because we didn't zoom in, but rest assured, THEY ARE UGLY and Candi did a great job adding eyes that moved, bells, and ribbon to help us look tacky.

Other than that, we haven't done too much. We did try to shop a bit, which ended with me taking JJ on a joy ride in the car because he wouldn't stop crying. And we did try to go out to eat, which ended up with Candi having to go out to the car to feed him and me boxing up our food so we could go home and eat it. Yes, life has changed. However, we are excited to come home for Christmas and pawn him off on grandparents so we can rest. Idaho, here we come!