I was on call tonight, but there weren't very many patients on the unit so I was let off the hook. Michelle and I seized the evening!!!! We made schniekerpies first. We made these a few months ago and decided to name them that for no apparent reason, just because we were loopy that night. Now they are forever known as schniekerpies: deep fried tortillas with honey and cinnamon-sugar on top :). We sat down to carve pumpkins and watched the ridiculously awesome 80's movie, GHOSTBUSTERS!!!
SCHNIEKER PIES!!! yummmmm
Who you gonna call?!
THE FINAL PRODUCTS:
Michelle's masterpiece
We then proceeded to clean a very untidy apartment while having a awesome dance party :)
YAY FOR STRESS FREE NIGHTS!!!
...yep it's 4am, I'm not tired...night shifts this week, sheesh!!
The girls in this family that have blogs need to be better about updating them, Janelle and I. :) I'm sorry I haven't been better at keeping things posted here's what's happened in the last few weeks. I took a trip down to Zion's National Park with some friends. We have made this fun tradition of going down twice a year in April and August for the last couple years. Here are some pictures from this year's trip. It was a really fun group! We hiked Angel's Landing, watched a meteor shower and splashed around in the narrows :)
Michelle and Heidi and I have moved into a new apartment and it is ALMOST settled. It's going to be super awesome when it is all together and I will post pictures of it :)
My job is going well. I am still learning so much!! Sunday was my first day off of orientation, I had my own patients all by self (cue Huggies commercial, "I'm a big kid now!"). It was an interesting first day. So much happened and it was overwhelming. It brought a whole new meaning to the phrase: "throw them to the wolves" or "out of the pot and into the frying pan." Luckily I work with some super smart people that know a lot more than me and were a great help. I come into work nervous everyday, that I'm going to miss something and something will go wrong. But I work with some really good people that aren't going to leave me high and dry. I do really enjoy working right now and being out of school and on my own.
Other news, football season started!! Even though I'm not a student anymore, I still bought an All-Sports pass and am going to all the games. I'm working a lot of Friday nights so it will be sweet to always have Saturday's off so I won't miss the games. This past Saturday we has some sweet seats on the end-zone in rows 3 and 4. Here's some pics.
The half-time presentation was pretty cool. LaVell Edwards with all of his All-American QBs were there to present a new scholarship fund to BYU for their QBs. Jeffery R. Holland (not a QB but still awesome), Steve Young, Jim McMann, Ty Detmer, Robby Bosco, and a few others were all there. It was pretty neat.
I haven't updated the blog in 3 months. I don't know that anyone even reads it, but in those three months since I wrote, here's what's happened in a nutshell:
April --I finished up the end of my semester, completing my big research paper in capstone, finished my capstone hours at a grand total of 245 over the course of the semester. --I GRADUATED!!! I am now a BYU alumnus and it's totally awesome. Here is a link to pictures if you haven't already seen them on facebook, (click me). As a nursing class, we got together to have a banquet dinner and there was a fun slide show of pictures over the course of nursing school. Then we went up Provo Canyon to burn our old "student nurse" ugly white scrub tops. If you've never burned something "meaningful" before, I highly recommend it. It's very therapeutic. Homework, old scrubs, old pictures of people you would rather forget. May --I was home in Connecticut basically the whole month of May. What did I do you may ask? Sat around on my rear for 4 weeks :) It was so great to relax and just chill. My mom did have surgery while I was at home so helped a lot with that. And by help I did a lot of driving around. Which I don't mind, I like driving. --Janelle and Julie came to visit while I was home and it was so fun to see them. Julie is the funniest little girl ever! Love her :) --While I was home I also managed to land my self an awesome job. After much pestering and multiple emails a week (my mom always taught me, squeaky wheel gets the grease) I finally got the job offer for the place I did my capstone. June --I came back to Provo at the very end of May, study for the NCLEX for two weeks and PASSED!!! While I was home, my dad gave me a blessing that I would be calm and peaceful for the test and that I would pass. That blessing and lots of prayers were a huge comfort to me and I truly was calm going into the test. So much so that I surprised my self. I had no trouble sleeping the night before. I went into the testing center and just dug in. I got 75 questions, which was the minimum and it took me about an hour and half. It crazy how 4 1/2 years of education can come down to a simple 75 questions...well not so simple, but small. :) The next day after the test was really hard, and nerve racking waiting....but when I saw that Registered Nurse next to my name, it was wonderful!!! See my license here :) --I started in my new job on the Thoracic ICU. Wow. It is a crazy intense learning environment. I can feel my brain hurting at the end of the day with how much I learn, but I love it! Hearts are so cool!!!!...and I'm a total nerd but that's ok :) --Also, Wimbledon was on. And it was crazy this year. 11 hour matches, Roger losing so early, Roddick losing to #82?, Serena being the only top 20 left in the semis, Nadal sweeping the final (snore worthy)...hopefully the US Open will be more exciting :) July --I'm 4 weeks into my 12 week orientation. I am learning a ton. I am also enrolled in a Basic ICU class as part of my learning. I love this class because it's basic, but not too basic. Most of the people in the class have been nurses for 2-3 years and are only now starting in an ICU so they approach it in a way that we already know basic nursing, which is really good. Work is busy, but I am loving it. I do a lot of driving but hopefully I will be moving to the hospital sooner so that my 8 hours/week commute will get cut down.
I'm going to try to be better about updating, even though I'm not sure too many terribly exciting things are going to happen...except I am going to be getting the new iphone in a couple weeks. That's exciting :)
I am working on a big research paper right now. I have a lot of studies that I've been reading, and there is this one author that keeps popping up. He is the primary author for two of my studies and listed a couple other ones. His last name: Slaughter. "How are you doing today sir? I'm Dr. Slaughter and will be performing your heart surgery. Do you have any questions for me?" I wonder if that's why he went into research...patients couldn't handle his last name.
I can't imagine what I'm going to be like when my children play sports. I get so emotionally involved in sports games when I watch them. I lost my voice at the volleyball game tonight. Football, volleyball, tennis, soccer, the Olympics. I don't really care that much for basketball (I know, grew up in UCONN's backyard and I don't care about bball. I'm weird.) I love it! I'm not sure I'd ever be able to go to a game and sit in a nice box seat because I wouldn't be able to contain myself and be professional :)
So I've been pretty busy the last couple weeks, and I forgot I had a blog. I hadn't read any one's updates, or thought about updating my own even thought theirs lots to catch up on.
First, I'm not taking down my Olympic theme for a little more while because I'm still going through withdraws :(
Second, I have been a busy little clinical girl. I worked 6 shifts in the last 7 days, PHEW!! But I'm done with my required hours, so I don't have to worry about squeezing in hours. I got to see some pretty SWEET stuff this week at the hospital, I can't really tell you what it was because of HIPAA but it was totally awesome.
Third, I got new glasses.
Fourth, I got a job offer from my unit for after graduation!! WOOT, WOOT!!!!
Fifth, I decided this week that being a Nurse Anesthetist is a definite possibility for my future. I used to think it would boring, but after talking with my preceptor at the hospital who is going in April, I understand the appeal. Plus, I'd make bank.
Sixth, graduation is only 45 days away, oh my gosh that's totally awesome!
So yeah, I still a couple papers and tests, and an NCLEX away from living in the real world, but overall life is pretty sweet right now :)
...with the Olympics. Seriously! I can't get enough!
My favorite moments:
Evan Lysacek wins GOLD!! and beats the creeper Russian.
Stephen Colbert climbs into the fake fireplace during an interview with Bob Costas. Stephen humbly admitted that he single handedly saved the entire Vancouver Olympics by saving the US speed skating team. He also jabbed at NBC for ruining the Olympics for everyone with their delayed broadcasts (I'd have to agree).
Shen and Zhao won GOLD in pairs figure skating, the last thing they needed for their resume.
Alex Bilodeau was the first guy to win GOLD for Canada on home soil. The best part of the whole story was during the medals ceremony, the thousands of people that were there were all singing O Canada so loud and proud. I may have cried :)
Seth Wescott has won 2 GOLDS in a row in snowboard cross. But the best thing is he was in 4th the whole race, then came ahead and passed the guy in the lead in an AIR PASS!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE HIM! Shaun is pretty much my favorite person that I've never met :)
I got Olympic fever! I love it, all of it!!! I think it's really funny, but if you go to a movie with me, I won't cry. Movies never make me cry, doesn't matter what the story is. I frequently cry watching the Olympics, it's just so awesome!!!
You know how people say that you shouldn't have the attitude of "I'll be happy when I graduate or when I get married or when I have kids or when I'm an empty-nester..." Because if you live like that then you won't ever be happy. I'm pretty sure they're wrong.
Things are going really well right now. I am having a great time!
1) I LOVE LOVE LOVE capstone. Seriously it is so sweet on the Thoracic ICU, and my nurse mentor is awesome! He is really trustworthy and lets me do pretty much all the care, but still teaches and is just so great! 2) It snowed on the car last night so I don't have to go pay to get it washed! 3) Men's volleyball is back! 4) I did really good this week at keeping my room clean. You'd be so proud, dad! 5) I took a practice NCLEX exam and it told me I had a 95% chance of passing it on my first try!
-I met my precious niece Julie for the first time last Christmas break and I absolutely fell in love with her!! She was 8 months then. -I started a new semester of Pediatrics and Labor & Delivery.
February
-I found out I was going to England for a study abroad. -I decided I was going to be a pediatric ER nurse.
March
-I saw my first live birth. It was gross and beautiful at the same time. I cried the first delivery I watched because there was a certain amount of spirituality to it, being present for the first seconds of a person's life. But I also decided during this time to never be a labor and delivery nurse. It's too gross and smelly. -I got hired to be the TA for labor and delivery, even though I knew I wouldn't go into l&d. I said I would do it because I love the instructors and look up to the women a lot. I wanted to spend more time with them.
April
-I had a scary few weeks at the end of the semester when I thought I was legitimately going to have to repeat the semester, due to a failed Peds test. That would have meant no England, and a postponed graduation date of December 2010. A few emotional breakdowns later, including one on my birthday :(, I made it, and passed just fine. -I finished off the semester and my mom came out to Utah to help me pack up my room and get ready for England because I act like a 4 year old with ADHD when it comes to packing. I hate it, and I need my mommy's help :) -I left for England the last day in April, with a tearful goodbye to roommate Cha because we weren't sure the next time we were going to see each other since she was leaving for China for a year and not coming back to Provo till after I graduate.
May
-The adventures of England begin! We spent about 7 days total in the hospital, before we get kicked out of the hospitals due to visa and registration mix-ups. We were basically on vacation after that. BYU's mistake. -I learned the horrors of universal health care. -I traveled to Scotland and fell completely in love. I loved the country and hope to return for an extended period of time some day. I love it there.
June
-Heidi, Michelle and I set off for Paris, then Rome, then Athens, then Santorini. -We traveled back to London and Michelle and I went to WIMBLEDON and saw all the biggest names in tennis on Centre Court with totally FAB ACE SEATS!! (English lingo (; ) -I return to home sweet home after seeing the world.
July
-I spend time at home with the family. -Attended the pioneer trek as the nurse. -I got to see Julie and Janelle while they visited us for a couple weeks. It was so good to be home with family. I love them so much! -I went to the Palmyra Hill Cummorah Pageant, the midnight showing of Harry Potter 6, and went to Cleveland to see Janelle, Julie and Ben.
August
-I went back to Utah and went to Zion's National Park on an overnight trip with some friends. So much fun! -I went to education week on campus to get a spiritual fill up before school started.
September
-We have a joy filled reunion the first day of classes to see everyone that we missed so much over the summer. Our nursing class is such a close knit family. I don't know what I'm going to do without all of them after we graduate! -I start rotations in the ICU and immediately fall in love. My previous desire from February of becoming a peds ER nurse is out the door.
October
-Football season is in full swing. After the victory over Oklahoma it looked like the Cougars were in it for the BCS bust. But I watched as we choked against Florida State at home, the first game I ever saw BYU lose at home.
November
-I went to Cleveland for Thanksgiving break to be with the family because I was so homesick after being home for so long in the summertime. -I started my psych rotations, and went a little nuts in the process. -I come back to Provo early from Thanksgiving to go to the Utah game. It was the BEST football ever. It was my last football game, as a student, and maybe ever :(
December
-I bought a fake tree for the apartment. I didn't think I would ever do that. I am a firm believer in real trees but it seemed like the more practical choice for the college apartment. -The semester ended and I got my assignment for the Thoracic ICU for capstone, my first choice. I couldn't be happier!
It was an INCREDIBLE year! One that is so full of memories and good times! Right now I am uncertain of what the future holds, but it is exciting at the same time. I will graduate in April, and enter the real world. I have the biggest test of my life in the near future, the NCLEX. I'm going to have jury duty for the first time in May. I don't know geographically where I am going to live 5 months from now. I plan on buying an iphone next month, and am not looking forward to saying goodbye to my closest nursing buddies. That's the preview for 2010.
1) I love her because she is the most thoughtful and giving person I know. 2) She wants what is best for me in life. 3) I love my mom's cooking!!! 4) She hablas espanol muy bueno...her sense of humor :) 5) She is the best present-giver. She always knows exactly what to get someone. 6) She's a perfectionist, but is always does her well because the creations that come out of it are amazing. 7) She has seen me through the highest and lowest times always being there and knowing what to say. 8) She's a no-techno mama, but she tries :) 9) One of the funniest things about my mom is her memory about movies, first of all she pretty much always sleeps through any movie she watches, but then will buy it later and say, "it was great! We went to see it, remember?" Even if it was a terrible movie, haha. We've got some pretty weird movies from the 80's that she's bought "remembering" them to be great! HAHA!! 10) She loves her family. All of us, the same despite our flaws.
