Monday, December 27, 2010

My 2010 (Part 1)

As 2011 is just about upon us, I've decided to follow suit of several friends of mine who are doing a quick "2010 recap". Because, as always, how can we know where we're going, without occasionally reflecting upon where we've been.

So, here is Part one of my 2010:

January

It's hard to believe that, just a year ago, I was still in nursing school. I was just starting my "practicum" (our final semester internship really) and had found out that I had gotten my first choice...a pediatric step-down unit! I was super nervous, but really excited to get my first experience working real nursing shifts and functioning as a real nurse.













Still working at the special needs school, I kept very busy working in times for "real work" and my "unpaid work" aka 3 12-hour practicums a week! Of course leaving time for fun, like field trips to the zoo with the kiddos I love so much!








February

I continued on through nursing school, now throwing in my community clinical (teaching nutrition classes for kids downtown) to add to the chaos that had become my schooling.










March

As the end of school approached, we stayed crazy busy as the weeks flew by. We even added in some extra "work" as we took it upon ourselves to practice useful skills like IVs on our classmates :-)










April

We were plagued with final exams, papers, and clinicals to finish as graduation approached. We made it a tri-weekly tradition to get free scantrons from the union to keep up with all the end of year testing we had to do.










May

At last, graduation was upon us! In the midst of final exams and job searching, the day really seemed to sneak up on me. At the end of the month, after much anxiety, I was offered a job on the floor where I did my practicum! Now was only left to study study study for my licensure exam in june!






Also at the end of May, was the end of the school year at work as well. This meant parties, crafts, and, unfortunately, tearful goodbyes to the students who would not be attending summer camp. Still miss those kiddos!!
And finally I made the trip to the ophthalmologist and got what was inevitable...glasses!











June

June was crazy! I started with, and continued to study study study! The exam was just around the corner, determining my ability to start my career or not. In there, I found time to celebrate my birthday with some good friends.









I chopped my hair off and got bangs, a HUGE difference for me! I hadn't really cut my hair in years and years!












And in a joyful ending....I passed my exam!!! Now an official Registered nurse, I was ready to start practicing!!













...The rest of 2010 to come...

Thursday, December 16, 2010

I Celebrate The Day...


"And the first time
That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever



And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pry for You to save my life


Pry for You to save my life..."

Monday, November 29, 2010

Airboats, Alligators, Bulls, Turkey, Disney, and a Christmas Tree


Airboats


Alligators

Bull riding

Turkey




Disney


and A Christmas Tree

=

A Thanksgiving to remember!!


Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Pumpkins and Crayons

Pumpkin carving in the garage...


...Scary face, cat in a boot, and silly face...


...a pair of crayons and a geisha...



...coloring cars...


Sounds like a fun weekend to me :-)

Monday, September 13, 2010

Kids...

So, I'm a critical care nurse, right? For kids. Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking...

You hear all the time about how resilient kids are, how positive they stay when they're sick or hurt...and it's true. I find that kids are kids, they play, they smile, they laugh, they, more often than not, make the best out of what they're given. But what has been striking me this week especially is the parents.

How in the world do these parents do it? How do they hang out in the same room all day or all week or all month waiting for someone to come tell them what's hurting and possibly killing their child? How do they stand at the foot of the bed while their child stops breathing, relying on some nurse they just met to save them? How do they keep up with the tests and procedures and the scans and the craziness some days put them through? How do they take it?

It's given new meaning to the word "hurting". Physically, emotionally, spiritually. And it's given new depth to the act of caring.


And sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it's exhausting. Sometimes it's invigorating. And sometimes it's heart-wrenching. Sometimes I feel completely lost. Sometimes I wonder if it makes any difference. Sometimes I know it makes all the difference. And I wouldn't trade a minute of it...well maybe one or two...every now and then...

Kids are resilient. Parents can be inspiring. It's all humbling, and it's so totally worth it.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

An Official Farewell to Nursing School

So, now that my nursing friends and I are officially graduated and successfully employed, we decided that it was time to officially say goodbye to nursing school. And what better way than to say goodbye to our lovely and very practical *cough cough all white nursing school scrubs.

So we took them on a little ride...


The "before" pictures



Proud to finally be RNs!


Goodbye school scrubs!!






My nursing besties...how would I have made it without these ladies?

:-)

Monday, August 23, 2010

Moved in!

I've finished moving in! Well, mostly. My new place is still missing a few things. Things that will come paycheck to paycheck, but, for the most part, we've settled in and are starting to feel at home.

Bedroom :-)


Also, we had roomie's bridal shower back in her hometown. I got to perform the maid of honor's duty and collect card and make out the thank you list for the gifts.


Other than that, just trying to fall into a routine, with my ever changing schedule, staying thankful every day at my new job that I don't do anything stupid ;-), trying my hand at cooking different things now that there's no one to feed me, and seeking Him as to where this new life is taking me. :-)

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

New


Sometimes...change terrifies me. Don't get me wrong, I love new things. Love new experiences, new people, excitement and spontaneity of all kinds! But... sometimes life changes, especially the ones that I can't control/can't slow down can cause a, well...the best way to put it is a freak out/break down.

Which is why I have been waiting for myself to freak over the crazy changes in my life lately, but, very much unlike myself, I have been really cool with them. The only reasons I can figure for these things are 1.) I'm choosing/setting the timing for most of these "new" things and 2.) these are some of the things I've been working towards and dreaming about for quite a while (if not most of my life) now.

So what's "new" here?

1. The look
-If you haven't noticed in the previous pictures, I got glasses. Many people have been telling me that they look normal on me and already can't picture me without them. however, I didn't like them at all at first, which is why I never mentioned them. They're growing on me though :-)
-Also, I cut my hair off and got a completely new style. This was a while ago but, like w/the glasses, I hated my hair at first, and chose not to post about it. Again, however, I really like it now :-)
Not the best picture, but you can see the changes here:

2. The job
I've mentioned this before too, but the job has created a very different lifestyle for me. Working as a pediatric critical care nurse has been wonderful in the few short weeks since I've started. It's a little different though. I work 3 twelve hour sifts a week...that means 4 days off...so it's been great, but a little weird getting into my ever changing schedule...did I mention that it's never the same 3 days in a week?

3. The move
I'm moving! I've been living at home all through school, and, now that I'm a fully functioning member of society, It's time to get my own place. This hasn't happened just yet, the move is this Friday, but the paper work's signed, the apartment picked, and the roommate chosen! I'm a little sad about this one, leaving my family and not seeing them quite as much, but I know we'll stay close. Still, I'm looking forward to this "new" but exciting change in life. :-)

This is roomie! We're excited about living together! She's an adult nurse at the hospital next to mine and a great friend!


Monday, July 26, 2010

A surprise in the morning

And what may this surprise be, you may ask? See for yourself...



Yes, our own not-so-little friend chilling in the convenient little "pond" he found for himself. Unfortunately, we could not be as welcoming as he would have liked and I did what any logical girl would do...called her daddy to rescue him (note, I say rescue, not squish).

He made several leaps for freedom during the process, but was eventually cornered and set free outside :-)


Monday, July 12, 2010

Something Old and Something New

My last day at the school I (used to) work at has come and gone...
It was lots of fun...we dressed up as cows for a special event :-)

And, though I knew it was coming...and knew it was time to move on...

Saying goodbye to those kids was one of the hardest things I've had to do!


But, a time for every season, right? And today, I've officially opened a new and exciting chapter in my life!!



Yeah...that's me!!

Saturday, June 26, 2010

RN Stands for...?

In case you don't know the answer to the above question... RN stands for...

REGISTERED NURSE!!!

Which, if you have not guessed yet, is what I now am! That's right, as of Thursday, I am an official nurse. Yep, graduated, hired, and officially licensed!



Yes, I took a picture of it...I'm that girl.

I start my new job in two weeks. Which will be a very sad goodbye to my current job of 3 years :-( full of sweet memories, great experience, and awesome friends, and a joyful and slightly anxious hello to the career I've been anticipating for so long.

Stay tuned for pictures of my last couple weeks of special needs summer camp and stories of my new world of nursing ;-)

Monday, June 14, 2010

Family





Hanging out by the pool after a day of parties
(graduation and engagement)



On a roller coaster at one of the parks
(don't think I was supposed to have my camera out...)



Climbing one of the semi-local lighthouses...



On our "sunset cruise" catermaran



Last dinner before they headed back north
(and no, we were not actually in Key West ;-)

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Graduation

Little Brother Graduated!!!



We are all so proud!




We also had our graduation/end-of-the-year party at my work



We made shirts for those of us who are leaving (that's me :-( ) That had the handprints of all the kids on them


And then we went to a giant bounce-house building and did slides and bouncing with the kids! It was so much fun!!



And...family from the mid-west just got here yesterday so stay tuned for pix from our week on the beach, boating, the parks, and parties!


P.S. did you notice the new glasses? ;-)