Update Overview

The last time I posted was in June of last year! A few big things have happened to me.

Work life: I have really settled into my position at work. The planner in me wants to keep planning for the future. Every other week I say to myself I'm going to go back to school, no I'm happy where I am...currently I am happy with things! I took on more responsibilities at work and joined the "Balloon Team" at the hospital. I don't carry balloons around to the patients, although sometimes I wish it was that stress-free! I am on a team of Thoracic ICU and Cardiac ICU nurses that are specialists in the function of a special pump called an "Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump" that decreases the workload of the heart after surgery or a heart attack. Part of the team responsibilities are to be a member of the LifeFlight team to transport patients to our hospital from other facilities.

Last week were my first shifts off of orientation. The team generally only does five or six transports a year. Two days back to back I did two transports! Both were ground transports, by ambulance but it was still a great learning experience. So far am really enjoying the balloon team, the people I work with, the patients I care for, and learning a TON!

Family life: Where do I start? I am a proud Aunty again! My sister Janelle had a another little girl back in November. Robyn Ruth Nutter joined the family and we all love her so much! Very close to Christmas, my family received some sad news that my Gra'ma (my mom's mother) had an advanced untreatable case of Leukemia. Part of the family gathered in California over Christmas to say goodbye. She passed away a few days after Christmas. In January, I went to Cleveland to see my favorite girls! I spent a week with Janelle, Julie and Robyn...and Ben :). Since I was so close to home I surprised my dad on his birthday and went to Connecticut for a weekend. It was a much needed trip to see the family! In other news, my brother Clayton has turned in his papers to receive his mission call! He should hear within the next 2-3 weeks! I am so excited for him and so happy that he has made the right choices in life to be able to serve a mission!

Future plans: I am going to California in March over Clayton's spring break to hang with my bro, will be so happy to get some sunshine! I am going to Florida in May to attend a HUGE national critical care nursing conference. I got a grant from the hospital to be able to attend, super pumped! Not going to lie...I really want see Harry Potter land at Universal! :) I haven't made any concrete plans yet but I have started looking into going to Peru, Machu Picchu sometime at the end of the year...we'll see!

I will make more detailed posts in the next few weeks about each of these.