Hey syn,
I just happened to come across your thread. I applaud you for your strive and dedication--despite all your responsibilities. ? Val006's suggestion is great when it comes to grants. Just to add, if you do end up having to take out some loans for your pHD, you could always follow up on online education platforms. I'm currently following up on SchoolLoans101.com for financial literacy help, but there might be some others out there.