Nursapalooza

Eight Months In...

2011-06-15T20:16:00.000-07:00

Well I have been with Hospice for 8 months now, and still learning every day. I think I will be for the next 10 or so years. I feel more comfortable with the routine, and the paper work is finally becoming second nature. I've gained the obligatory 10 lbs.

No, I'm not happy about that, dang it. Every nurse kept telling me during training how they had put on the weight, but I thought it was only the office gals. Well no, it's pretty much the emotional stress. You know, I always think I'm doing fine with the emotional aspect of this job, but after some months, I see how it effects me. I really need to hold myself back a bit from my pt's. I give too much of myself, and then find myself pretty darned empty when I get home. I always knew that the whole "boundaries" thing

would be my personal challenge, and it is!

On the home front, we are doing well. The dtr just finished her first year in college, and a short mission trip to Haiti. She has had a very growing year. She continued to help the homeless in Long Beach, and lead the Jr. High girls of her core group. So...as you can see, she hasn't had much time for a job. She's gotten by with babysitting jobs, and house cleaning once a wk for me. My dear boy is finishing 10th grade. He's had his struggles, but he is really working hard to try to fix some low grades. For fun, he is riding his road and street bike, selling tomatoes (he made over $100!!), making water rockets and working on the farm. The hubby is riding his bike, doing well on his races and rides.

For fun, I've started riding my new bike

that is a much faster one than my old Huffy. It's actually fun because I go zooooom, zoooom, zooooom. I scrap with my friends usually once a month all day instead of each wk since our scrap store closed.

Well I guess that's about it for now. I'm sorry for not being on more, though I'm sure no one has reeeeally missed me. Have a great week, y'all!

Love, LOve, LOVE...

2011-02-06T19:17:00.000-08:00

It seems only right...you know, being the love month and all, to speak of love. I absolutely love my job. It seems everyday I am working, I am just in awe, that I love just about everything about it. Since I've started having all my own pt's, I've had approximately 6 of my pt's pass. It has been such a privilege to walk with families through this hard time of their lives. One of the pt's died as the wife and myself were taking care of him. That was quite strange, and yet somehow also amazing. God is so good. The families that know Him, have His hope and His comfort, and even a small taste of His joy to come. I am still trying to figure out how to share Him and His hope while being respectful of those with other beliefs. Sometimes it's tricky.

The kids are doing pretty good. The daughter is still really liking Jr college, and at least this semester got some general ed classes. She continues to help with Jr high ministries, and homeless people in long beach. She is still really trying to find out what to major in, what to do as a job. She loves the idea of working with non-profit organizations that help third world countries, but she also loves art...so, yeah, she's confused and searching.

The boy passed his classes this last semester, yay! He is plugging in to the high school ministries. He has some great guy friends that get together to watch movies, play X-box, dance somethin, and hang out.

The hubby has been cycling as usual, and doing great at it. He's had some changes at work that have been EXTREMELY challenging. He's literally counting down to each weekend, summer, and retirement. Ummm, yeah, retirement is YEeeeears away, but he knows the count, believe me.

We took a long wknd up in Mammoth. The kids and dad went skiing, while I relaxed at the cabin. And of course, we all frolicked in the snow.

January 1st, 2011, Welcome!

2011-01-01T20:01:00.000-08:00

I haven't been on for so long, mostly because I am trying to get the hang of my new job as a hospice nurse. I am still absolutely LOVING my job. There is not a day that goes by, that I can believe how happy I am. It just seems to be such a perfect fit for me. I was thinking last night, that one of my prayer requests concerning a nursing job was answered. Before my hospital job, I prayed that #1 that God would use me for His glory, and #2, that I would have joy in my job, and lastly #3, that my coworkers would be my friends, and an extension of my family. I am happy to say, all 3 are true in this new nursing job. On Thursday, while visiting a patient, the wife and myself were cleaning him up...and he passed away. We were both VERY surprised. After the shock wore off, all went very well. The family was amazing and so thankful for me being there for the process of getting him ready to leave with mortuary assts. I sometimes feel guilty for all the appreciation I get from families.

The daughter is doing well in Jr. College and finished her first semester. The son is doing pretty well in high school, but still struggles in his English class. He is working hard now attempting to fix his bad grade. The hubby is still plugging along at the Jr hi, trying to teach even though there's a whole lot of pressure from the "clipboards" to teach to the tests. It's different, and he definitely is not feeling the joy that he's had for all these years. I'm sad for him.

Well a big Happy New Year, folks! I hope you are knowing God's closeness in your life. If not, I hope you are knowing your faith is not dependent on what you are feeling, but who God is. Have a great 2011.

Freedom don't come free...

2010-11-11T19:46:00.000-08:00

It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier,
Who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.- Father D. E. O'Brian, USMC

Hospice Nursing...

2010-10-26T18:45:00.000-07:00

I have gotten a new job, finally, and I have to say that it is not just a job, but a very definite love. I have planned on going into hospice nursing in the future, but after loosing my last job at large hospital, I had one darned of a time getting a new job. I was practically offered a RN job giving testosterone to all male clients 5 days a wk, 8 hrs a day, with an hour or more commute each way. Even though the wknds and holidays off thing was tempting, along with the pay, I just had to say no. It just didn't feeling my "caring" quota that I needed. So, after months of no hospital offers, I figured I would start looking into hospice jobs. When I called 8 hospices, all but 2 said they were hiring. I did not hear from any of them, but one that was not hiring. Within a day I had an interview, and the following day I had a "ride-along", and within 3 days of that, an interview with the CEO! I absolutely LOVED this godly woman, and we both had hearts of mercy for the dieing. This company was just so amazing. During the interview, she hired me on the spot! Wow....that has never happened in all my life! When she asked when I could start, I told her yesterday. Since it was Friday, she told me to come in on Monday to begin. And wham-bam, I started my training! It is strange compared to hospital nursing bc you work M-F, wknds and holidays off, and it pays the same as a hospital, with only 1/5 the stress!! I will work one big, and one little holiday each year, but I can live with that!! I have been going on four weeks, and I am loving it. I still have sooo much to learn, but I just feel like I have found my niche. I feel like this is where I want to be for the next 20 yrs.

And you know what they say....how time flies when you're having a good time???

Well it has zoomed by.

The fam are doing well. My hubby is much relieved to see some checks coming in...even though we're being crazy taxed bc of two incomes! The daughter has transitioned very smoothly into college, and she's still very busy helping with the homeless and being a jr high leader at our church. My boy is plugging along his sophomore yr of high school. He still works on the farm (at school) twice a wk, and getting more into biking like his dear 'ole pa. He rode his unicycle at the Halloween cyclo-cross, and was a big deal! People were darned impressed, especially since the track was muddy, and had obstacles to hop. He was dressed as an 80's DJ, and my hubby was a lumberjack.

That's it for now, though I do have a very serious prayer request. A friend from high school, wife was accidentally shot, and appears to be paralyzed from the shoulders down. Please pray for her that God will knit together the nerves and will heal this family which is devastated. Thanks so much.

"Father, hear our prayer."

cool and crispy fall leaves..

2010-09-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

I absolutely LOVE Fall, it is my fave season of all. So yesterday was the official first day of fall. I love the cool nights, but dang there is some mean pollen attacking at night bc I am still waking up or going to bed with a terrible headache. Ya know...the older I get, the more allergies I get.

Nothing too new with me. I've been on the hunt of course, the wonderful world of the job hunt. Tomorrow I have an interview for a hospice nurse position. I am so darned excited, I could spit. It's for a full time position, and I'd have my own territory and 'team'. It sounds perfect. I've worked with hospice in the hospital and with my sister of course. It is an amazing honor and privilege to be there and help families and patients at the end. Please pray for me. I am also applying for some ICU positions as well, and will probably have a few interviews coming up for those.

Aaaaand along with that I've put on some pounds that I need to lose, which have been piling up as I try to comfort myself bc of the unemployment issue. I know a big sin for me weight-wise is the eating at night time. I have been over doing the carbs at night. So, I came up with a little plan for myself. If I am going to eat, I have to weigh myself first. It will keep me honest. So last night, I didn't do it. I need to keep doing this.... probably forever. ;0

I've also changed up my workouts at the gym. I am now doing interval training on the treadmill which is really helping me to keeping my heart rate up, and I'm adding the elliptical machine. Although....just between you and me, I suck at that thing, and I can only last about 5 min.! My friends tell me to keep with it, and I will be able to stay on it longer and longer if I just keep it up.

I don't know if I've told you before, but I am a total addict of Korean Soaps. Not soup. Not suds, but Soaps, as in day-time dramas. The one I am watching now is adorable, it is called 'The Jewel Family'. I watch it on channel 18-3 on the digital stations. It is so cute.

My family is doing fine, plugging away at various school work and activities. Have a lovely week, and again...Happy Fall!!

hello again

2010-07-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

I know it's been way too long since I've posted, so here goes. We were busy with the end of school, and graduation. Here's my daughter in her cap n gown. Uncle Tim, Eric's brother flew in from Maryland to be here on her big day. Isn't he the best??!! The week before her graduation, we had a little grad party with her friends and some of our friends. It was so fun. Loud...but fun! That's her waving, after the big deal!

Let's see, while Uncle Tim was here, Eric took him and my boy camping. That was nice and relaxing for all. We (uncle Tim, hubby, myself, daughter and her boy friend) went and rode the big balloon at Irvine's Great Park. And of course the regular trip to Ruby's on the Pier. We were lucky enough too, for Uncle Tim to take all of us to Rainforest Cafe for a great meal. Thanks, Uncle Tim!

We took a little vacation too, but I'll expound upon that at a later date, since I've blathered on enough for today.

P.S. GOOD LUCK Kirsten, I KNOW you passed!!!

End of the school year

2010-06-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

First of all, congrats to all my nurse friends who just graduated from nursing school!! Whooo Hoooo! Time to take some over needed naps, and actually watch TV on occasion!

(I have NO idea what this says, but I just loved those little toes!)

We've been busy around here with end of school year activities. I finally finished making daughters sr pics and announcements and mailed them out. I was very happy with them, and saved around $400.00. Can you believe it? Yeah, it's ridiculous what these company's charge, but especially that the schools endorse them. We had her award assembly, where she received that WONDERFUL scholarship! And then the senior banquet at church. Even though the tickets were $20.00 each, I am so glad we went, it was an excellent night and really marked the changes in their lives to come. (why couldn't we just do a free potluck???) Anyhoo, it was really excellent. Then on Saturday was her prom.
They had a great time at the Peterson Automotive Museum in L.A. This wk I'm getting ready for a little grad party on Saturday. It will be a simple BBQ type of party, it will be fun. I bought bubbles, water guns, Frisbees and colored chalk so the teens don't get too bored.

I am still unemployed, and haven't been searching like I should. I guess I am kind of stuck with how to phrase why I left my last job. Yeah....what the heck to say. I think I've been down since I've been carb loading like there's no tomorrow. I have really got to get myself moving on. All prayers/good thoughts are appreciated. Where the heck to go/do next? Eeeesh.

The boy has brought up his 4 D's so he doesn't lose his sheep. I am so proud of him. It is great to see him working so hard. Good job honey. He also has a new gal on his arm. Haven't met her yet, but I hear she's nice.

The hubby has been cycling as usual. Yesterday he came home full of mud bc he had crashed twice. He's so cute. He just found out that he's going to be teaching History next year after teaching 20 yrs of English! He's nervous, but also kind of excited about it. He does have a double major in History, so I think he'll end up loving it. But he has TONS of stuff from all his yrs teaching English, and nothing for History, so he'll have to start gathering new stuff. I think this may actually be an answer to prayers over the last 2 yrs concerning some really stressful stuff at work.

So...how are you?? Have a great end of spring time, and summer starts!

Crafting

2010-05-24T11:48:00.001-07:00

So, I finally finished making my Jewelery Frame. Yes, I invented this months ago, when I was on the hunt for something to hold my jewelery. I have never really like the jewelery box idea, so I've kept them in a bunch of separate dishes, and I would just plum forget what I had. So I wanted something that displayed it all. Don't get me wrong, most of my stuff is junk jewelery, but some of it is nice. I saw someone display it all on a wall with a bunch of nails. I liked that idea, but I didn't have that much room. Somehow, I thought of a frame, where I could put a bunch of hooks, nails and wire/chain to display it all. The effort paid off. I LOVE how it turned out! What do you think? Be honest with me, I can take it! My daughter loved it and wants one, so I will make her one too. I was going for whimsical. I think I still may end up putting on some sparkly stars and a few words here and there on the wood, but mostly, it's done!

I also decided to take my daughter's senior pictures, to save @ $300 from school. They came out so well. I've picked out my two fave for you to see.

Just for fun...

2010-05-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

Jenny, over at Everyday is a Holiday is hostesing a fun vintage swap if anyone is interested. I've already signed up, I'm so darned excited.

One great weekend...

2010-05-17T11:52:00.000-07:00

Hi y'all, just wanted to check in to let you know that I am plugging away. I am back to the job search, this time with a better idea of what I want/don't want. I am still trying to find out where to find the geriatric jobs. I think I would love to work in one of the smaller care facilities, but they are harder to find. I am still applying for regular nursing jobs as well. In the meantime, I will sign up for flu shot nurse. It's not a career move, but it pays well enough while I'm on the hunt. I may sign up for home health also on a part-time schedule for the same reasons, plus it will keep some of my skills fresh.

This weekend was nice. I took the weekend to just breathe. I finished my embroidery project (T-towels)

for my friends birthday. It was so fun.

I made Fat Tuesday Noodles with Smoked Sausage & Shrimp yesterday. It was spicy, and absolutely yummy. My fam went to see Ironman 2 which was so much fun. So overall, a wknd to just relax, and get used to the new "place" in which I find myself.

Also this wknd our church "Left the Building". Which means, our church of a few thousand went out into the community to help with different activities/chores instead of church. They had something for every age to do. It was in the works for months, so it was well organized. So Saturday, I went to a convalescent hospital to entertain some lovelies there. We played Bingo, and sang some old songs. It was so much fun, you know I love these folks. My hubby helped clear some trails nearby, and my boy helped at a home that was falling apart. I love this concept, and would love it if they organized it twice a year.

That's it for now, how are you??

not to be a Debbie Downer, but....

2010-05-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

I am not working at the same hospital at this time. So frustrating. I just felt like I was "getting" the time management down. I know I still have far to go, but I just felt like it will come with time. Now I will not have that opportunity.
Everyone keeps telling me that God has a plan, something better. I just want to care for others. This is what I do know, as I've been trying to sort through this:

Must work with geriatric pts. LOVE them.
Must be physical job. I can't stand a butt job.

Would prefer a steady schedule. I was off kilter with the constantly changing schedule.

Would like to work within team, not isolated.

So I am walking on. All prayers are appreciated, really. God is my rock, and I will still praise Him.

long time no hear...

2010-04-30T09:53:00.001-07:00

to say I've been in the weeds is an understatement my friends.

I sprained my foot climbing a bunch of rocks at the beach (loooooong story) and missed a whole wk of work. Following that, my mom passed away, so I took another wk off. For those of you who don't know, my mom has been in and out of hospitals for the last 2 yrs with respiratory issues from her COPD and very probable emphysema. Along with that, she had alzheimers which effected her memory/mind to forget how to walk, so she ended up in bed almost 24/7 except brief times in a cardiac chair. Her days were spent staring off. On a good day we could get some responses. It was so heartbreaking. Anyway, we decided to remove her from the ventilator, and she passed a few hours later with my brother, myself and our spouses at her side.

So, it has been an extremely challenging last month. When I finally got back to work I was given two more wks of preceptoring. I know this is done, only to help me, but it is extremely challenging working with so many different preceptors, FIVE of them! They each want me to nurse in "their" way, so I have to constantly try to figure out what is wanted. I have 4 more days. My final 3 should be with a preceptor I have previously worked well with. If that all goes well, I will be on my own. So I am feeling darned overwhelmed, stressed out, and damned emotional to say the least. See why I haven't been blogging???

So..that is where I'm at. I work again tomorrow. Thank God it is the weekend which is a bit less stressful. Wish me luck!

almost Easter

2010-03-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

and i'm going to be working. You know when you want to be a nurse that it's going to happen. Missing family holidays. Dang, it is harder than I thought it would be. Well, luckily, someone is organizing a big Easter potluck for all of us working. I am bringing a dessert. What should I bring?

Work has been tough, and I have been struggling. I have asked for the optional extra preceptor days and got them, so I have 2 extra wks to get myself more efficient. I am absolutely LOVING my patients, and the nursing process,

The charge nurses are great, and so encouraging and the preceptors have been so patient with me and my fumblings.

The kids and hubby are doing well, getting used to my new schedule as well. The boy is unicycling like crazy. The other day, he went 8 miles! The daughter is working a lot and being trained as a lead hostess. She loves her job, and has senioritis. She will graduate in just 2 months! Hubby is still riding every Saturday, and loves it.

That's it for now, nothing new to report. How are you? What are you doing on Easter??

Are you kidding??!

2010-03-15T19:48:00.000-07:00

I thought it so funny that everyone that responded thought I was doing so well! Boy are you all wrong! I swear, I looked more "together" as a student! I am sinking! Help!!! That being said, I thank you all for supporting me. And...I know...every new nurse has told me, that they are feeling/doing the same as I. As I mentioned before, still DIEING.

Die...........eeeeen..

2010-03-13T09:22:00.000-08:00

I have NEVER worked so hard in my life, and continue to be behind. One step forward, 3 steps back! On Friday, I worked until 10! I cannot believe I worked a 15 hr day! It's all that damn charting! It is absurd! Okay, I know it's important, but couldn't they break it down so it's one linear document, so you don't have to bounce around here then there, etc! My new preceptor is great, and VERY patient with me. I went to a full load (4) of patients and it went okay, but I was always behind, and my preceptor was picking up my slack. I was lucky too, that I didn't have any discharges or admits, or i reeeeeeally would've been behind. I am loving being with these older people, they are wonderful (well, you know, mostly), but I still have SOOOooooo much to learn.

On the other hand, it's still sooo strange to get a paycheck. I mean, I EARNED that baby, but it's still so strange. We are paying off a bunch of debt bit by bit, so I am totally thankful. As of right now, I'm working on Easter which is a drag, since I've ALWAYS been here for holidays. I knew this was coming but it is still very hard. At least I'll be home for St. Patty's Day which is big around here. Irish stew? Bread pudding? I absolutely can't stand corned beef.

Hubby and kids are doing well. K is gearing up for graduation and definitely struggling with this transition of more responsibility and the unknown. The boy is doing well and enjoying high school, and will soon be getting his goat...or sheep I can't remember. That will be loads of fun.

So...how is everyone else out there in blog land?? I am lurking at least. Have a great week, and good luck to those of you who are readying for nursing school graduation!

Finished Second week of Orientation

2010-02-14T19:22:00.000-08:00

It was another long week, but much more hands on. My head is absolutely swimming from all the information handed to us in a packet, and competencies! I am completely OVERWHELMED! This week I will actually begin my preceptoring on the Stroke Unit. I am so impressed with the knowledge and manpower on this floor. We have a Stroke Director, Department Director, Nurse Educator, NP, PT, OT, ST, Social worker, case worker, and 2 stroke MD's who absolutely specialize, all for our little 19 bed unit! We will be moving to 35-40 beds in Aug/Sept, but still! I am feeling so nervous about starting since it's been NINE months since I've done any nursing! The other 3 new grad nurses in our unit all graduated just in December, and precepted at this hospital, so I feel like I'm the only one behind. But God is big, and will get me through!

That's it for now. It will be nice to go to nursing hours and miss the traffic a bit, but I'm not used to those 12 hr shifts that I used to do. Ah well, time to buck up! I will have one orientation day (through new grad ed) and two preceptoring days from here on out. Please pray for me, I'm so darned nervous...! I am definitely feeling rusty!

My first week as an RN...

2010-02-07T17:07:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite moments this week was getting a work badge that said RN! Wow, so amazing! All week long we've been in orientation. A lot of useful information but driving me crazy sitting so much!! This next week, we'll get 3 days of lectures, and then 2 days at the end on our unit. Not nursing preceptoring but learning our floor, and all the other roles that make up our unit (secretary, tele tech, nursing ed, PT, OT, RT, NP etc) The only negative has been driving in horrible traffic. I am not on nursing hours so it usually takes me 45-1 hr on the way to the hospital and 1.5-2 hrs on the way home (all depending on how bad the traffic/accidents are). It's still so weird to me when I leave the hospital, that if I turn right, and drive a few blocks, there's the ocean. It shouldn't blow me away, I've grown up going to the beach, but it just being there is still so strange. Our new grad group is 14, and what a bunch of nice women...and one guy it is. That's all for now. It will be so strange to get a pay check on Thursday. How bizarre. Although NICELY bizarre.

.....my hero.

my ducks are lined up...

2010-01-26T09:33:00.001-08:00

Well, I passed my second test yesterday that I needed to pass for Hoag...surprisingly! Dang it was a hard Pharm test. You could miss 12 questions to pass, and I missed 11, *blush* close, wasn't I?? So, I have completed the tests, took my drug screen test, and other health tests yesterday. I'm assuming I've passed all. So, I do believe they're stuck with me. Now I have to find somewhere to get a flu shot, or I have to wear a mask when caring for my bloody patients! Egad. I'll get the H1N1 tomorrow, even though I swear, I had that flu! So I have a bunch of last minute errands to get done before I start work on Monday. It will be orientation classes all next week, and start my preceptoring the following week. I am excited, and also scared *%^%$*less. Ah well, me of little faith. I'm working on it.

That's it for now, other than my 18 y.o. getting her drivers licence. And still worrying when she drives off. Though I know she's being careful, she is also easily distracted. Such a strange year this is going to be. Me, working full time for the first time in a hundred years (though nursing school totally had the same or more hours!), my daughter graduating high school, and starting college, and my baby in high school. Yup, strange year.

always the sloooooow way through...

2010-01-23T09:39:00.000-08:00

Okay, I definitely think I should start a Dear Abby kind of column for nurses/students like myself. I swear, I always have to go the loooooooooooooong, sloooooooooooooow way around to get anywhere I'm going. And yes, I am able to totally laugh at myself....when my stomach stops cramping with stress. I do believe God is wanting to get my attention, slow me down, and make sure I'm relying on Him, and not myself. So the first time I took the EKG test, I failed one of the critical arrhythmia's. Only one. BUT....that being said, you could fail if you didn't recognize ANY of the 7 critical rhythms. Well, they are called critical because...well...well, okay, they are deadly, and if your patient had one of these, well, they could be a minute away from death. So yeah, it is RATHER important. Now I do know how important this is, it's not just a theory in a class, these are actual patients I will be taking care of so I do agree with this policy. But these EKG's on the test are REAL EKG's not text book, so I missed it. I retook it yesterday, and passed it. WHEW! I still have one more test to take, Pharm, on Monday, then I am set.

I also got a call from the other hospital that I had an interview with, that I got a second interview for the ICU job I wanted. Only 4 people from 200 were chosen to have this second interview, and 2 will get it. Yeah, the odds were pretty good. Huh. Eight months without job offers, and now, two at one time. Of course this has totally stressed me out because I have wanted an ICU job, and it's an excellent new grad program. However, I am choosing the first hospital because I LOVE the nurses there, and I LOVE patients with neuro issues, especially older folks, and I think that I will learn sooo much from these women. (there may be some guy nurses there too, but I haven't met any yet) I cannot wait to start back in patient care, I miss them! This unit is a small one, and I totally love that. What a great way to start a new career, I can't wait.

And it only took.....EIGHT bloody months! heeheee.

I have totally loved all of this torrential down pour in S CA here. The only problem is that I've had a head cold from hell, and haven't gotten to the gym in a week, and my back is sooo achy from all the inactivity. I am gonna try to go today, sick or not.

Have a lovely weekend, I hope things are blue skies and sunshine on this Saturday for you.

Thanks...

2010-01-19T08:58:00.000-08:00

for all of your encouragement. Did you see the comment left by Stacye on the last blog? She was the one who is responsible for getting me hired! That was the nicest comment, I actually teared up. And thanks everyone for all of your support. I still have to pass two tests before I can work. I wonder what would happen if I failed it twice? Would they toss me back out into the cold hard world of unemployment??? I don't know, so I've been studying EKG's until my eyes are crossed, and I'm getting it, actually getting it! I will take the EKG test tomorrow, and then a Pharm test (that's the one that's really got me sweating!) on Friday or Monday and a health exam by a nurse. Feb. 1st I will start orientation as long as I pass those 2 tests. So I am excited, and still quite nervous until I get those tests over with.

In other news, I have a nasty, horrible, terrible, no good, very bad head cold. Yes, I am whining! And my dear daughter is taking her driving test tomorrow. She is very nervous, but I think she'll do okay. I wonder if they'll test her on the 3pt turn. We forgot to teach her that one. She's 18 so she won't have to go through the graduated (?) drivers licence. We put it off as long as we could folks. I think it was a good move, and she has never been in a big rush to get it anyway. My boy continues to grow like a weed, and is putting food away like there's no tomorrow.

How are you, fill me in!

I GOT A JOB!!!

2010-01-13T21:45:00.000-08:00

WHOOO HOOOO!!! YAY! After just a very short 6 months, I got a call for a job offer today, and I am so derned happy I could spit!!! Not for the job I interviewed for yesterday, but the one I interviewed for a few weeks ago. The one that looked sooo promising, but didn't get. Well happily they got another opening and thought of me! These are the two women that interviewed me, where I had just too much fun. That is HIGHLY unusual for an interview, and I will need to be careful not to be toooo relaxed with them. I will be working at Hoag Hospital in the Stroke Unit. I will be starting Feb. 1st. I am a little nervous though since I have to take an EKG/Pharm test before I'm official in that department. I will sign some forms tomorrow. I am sooo happy.

P.S. I had a lovely bday, when we weren't battling our now 18 yr old. She went off and got a tattoo, KNOWING how we felt, and the consequences that would follow! So sad. That's all I can say. Parenting teens....not for the weak hearted.

Welcome 2010...plus a new P.S.

2010-01-04T08:07:00.000-08:00

..and just let me say, it is so much easier saying twenty-ten, than two thousand and nine. Don't cha think? I never could get into the "ots", could you?

Well last you heard from me, I was crying in my non-existent beer. So what's happening these days? Of course the job hunt continues. In the mean time, I will be starting a new Home Health assignment that I am thankful for, with a little 16 mo old child with a genetic disorder. He is a beautiful baby, and I look forward to it. I have also applied to another "new-grad" nursing job. On the recording he said that if we didn't get a call it was because he was expecting around 1000 calls for these jobs. Geez, worst than cheerleading try outs in high school! But of course I applied, I like the challenge! heeeheee.

Our Christmas was a relaxed holiday for us. We stayed home and had a great day. The kids and hubby's vacay has ended, and they've gone back to school today. ahhhhh... :)

Here's a little painting I tried. It didn't scan very well though. The writing was much less noticeable in the painting. I liked how it turned out.

Went and visited my mom a few times. It kills me each time. She is so lost, and often crying out with some kind of phantom pain that we can't locate or help her with. It is so sad. Lord, hear my prayer. All your prayers are so appreciated.

My birthday is Saturday, yay. And my daughters is as well, of course. She will be turning 18! I cannot believe it. I am in total denial! And of course...those of you who have older teens...she believes on and after that "magical" day, that there are no longer any rules for her, she can do anything her little heart desires. We have been attempting to disabuse her of these lofty ideas, so she doesn't come home with frightening tattoo's and piercings, and a biker man named "Sweetums". I do believe we have some new battles coming our way. Although...honestly she's a good girl and really is seeking God daily. (but she is still battling us for the above...)

My boy is doing well, though some of his grades have dipped because of his skipping homework that doesn't interest him (poor thing), and not studying for exams ("they're easy, I don't need to!") so we are trying to "motivate" him by removing computers, etc.

That's it for now. My watercolors class ended before Christmas, and I've signed up for drawing, since I really feel like I was missing a good understanding of seeing/drawing depth, perception etc. But it doesn't start until February, so I'll work on my watercolors in the meantime. It is still ever so fun.

Have a great wintery day.

P.S. THIS JUST IN....I got a call today.... I just found out I got an interview for that new grad position, Whoooo Hoooo! Pray for me, it's on the 12th!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-21T11:57:00.000-08:00

Well it's a good thing I didn't blog yesterday...because I was crying in my beer. Okay, so I can't stand beer, but if I could, I would've been filling it with salty tears. On a side note, that might improve the taste... Anyhoo, the last week was a difficult one. I met my patient for the HH (Home Health) job. She was a wonderful 5 yr old. But the problem was, was that she was 41 lbs, and unable to even support her weight, and as the nurse, I'd have to carry her up and down stairs, carry her to shower, etc. Her room is on the second floor, and unless, I planned on forever keeping her in one little room, I'd have to carry her. They have not gotten to the point of placing all the lifts and contraptions for lifting, carrying, and etc. She is just on the cusp, and I know it will not be long. But sadly, I could not do it. I knew my back would totally blow out in the first day. So I had to withdraw from that job. I was so sad, and I felt like such a loser. Then...within a few days of that disappointment, my hubby calls to let me know that we are getting ANOTHER frick'n pay cut of $400 a month! Yes, on top of the $700 previous! So, let it be known, I had a total crying jag that day. Yup, the full on heaving kind of crying. I only cry 3 or 4 times a year, so I let it go! My poor hubby got most of it on the phone. The next day, I got THE call from the job I wanted so badly...yup, I did NOT get it. They were completely wonderful and nice about it, but it was cheerleader tryouts all over again! (except that in for the cheer tryouts, I NEVER got this close!) So, needless to say, it's been a rather crappy week. I am trying to pick myself up, and learn what I need to learn, trust in Him who knows all, etc. And I love what a friend of mine said after my full on pity party (with balloons and party hats) said:
"I am all about embracing the sh*%! Enjoy it, eat chocolate, get mad and you will get to a higher place one bon-bon and a few trips to the mall at a time..." Don't you love it?! So I am embracing it, and going to God to help me, while I carb load as well!

On a happier note, we are all geared up for a simpler, gentler Christmas this year. God is good, He is in His heaven, and He loves us, sinners that we are. I mean, really, He has to, He sent His only son to help us out! So I am celebrating this holiday, and feeling His closeness, even as I struggle.

You all are the best, and I hope you have a great Christmas with loved ones. Merry Christmas!

Got a job interview!!

2009-12-11T08:04:00.001-08:00

You know how thin, and far between those babies are!! So, I got a call on Wednesday, from Hoag hospital asking if I was STILL interested in the Stroke unit??? Since neuro, and older folks are my fave, I was totally excited! And then she asked if I could come in THAT day. So I cleared away ALLLL my other interviews I had that day *wink, wink* and went in. I'm telling you, these two women were the kindest and funnest interviewers I have EVER met! (ok, so I've only had 3 interviews so far, but still...) It went very well. I feel like I did fine on the questions, though I was a bit slow on one of the scenario questions. All in all, I walked away very hopeful. We won't be called until "before Christmas", so I've got my waiting room clothes on in the meantime. The only bad thing is that I believe.... it won't begin until Feb, because it's part of a new grad program. But I also need to take a few classes (you know...those one day certification classes...aaaaand they are darned expensive!) and tests. It does scare me that I have to take an EKG test, but at least I have time to study for it, and my friend Shruti took it, and said she would help me.

So...here I go again...back in the waiting room! Thanks for any and all prayers!

The last sniff JABC...

2009-12-05T11:15:00.000-08:00

weep...openly... We met for our last Jane Austin Book Club. We lost our senior girls, as their semesters got busier, so it was just the three of us...the bestest part of our group of course! We discussed Persuasion. This had to be my least fave of the 3 we read. We met at Lupe's home, and she made us a proper tea. Scones with sour cherries, REAL clotted cream (omgosh, I want to weep, it was so amazing), some kind of amazing tea, I don't remember the name, Vinaigrette salad with Blue Stilton and roasted walnuts (sooo delish, I had to go buy some of that cheese 2 days later), diminutive sandwiches of jambon pate (ham that's been ground up), and cucumber and butter...gosh Lupe, what am I forgetting, I can't think, my mouth is dripping out of control! Okay, I know I'm blathering on about the food, but it was sooo goooood. Ummm...the discussion of course was sublime. I just wanted to use that word. We are hoping to round up a few more grown ups, so we can meet some more. It's been way too fun, to stop now. Have a good weekend.

Happy Ho Ho!

2009-12-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

Well happy December all, and how the heck are ya? I have been up to the same ole' stuff as before. The elusive job hunt, homemakering, and painting. The job hunt hasn't been successful, the same as before. It is hard not to get totally discouraged. The homemakering...has been fun, since it is still quite novel after all these years! And the painting? Totally fun, enjoying it more and more.

I made the Thanksgiving turkey, a 22 pounder! Which I defrosted the day before! Small note: when doing a speed thaw, make sure ALL water is removed before flipping turkey (part of the speed-thawing process). Yeah, you guessed it, while flipping it, that slippery sucker dropped back into bottom of bucket, hitting a few gallons of raw turkey water...that I thought I had gotten out....splashing all that oockie stuff all over my face, down my person, ALL over the clean dishes (the bloody hand washables!), and of course covering our little kitchen floor. I just froze. Dripping with the disgusting stuff, I look at my husband who is safely 5 or so feet away tapping away on the computer. He looks at me... that's it. No jumping up to help me, no "oooh pooor baby...", no nothing. TWO hours later...after I had showered, changed my clothes, mopped floor, RE-washed all dern hand washables, washed all of the turkey clothes, and towels from under the clean clothes, disinfected everything bc it was evil turkey water, I FINALLY finished the *%^()*^@%&*~#! turkey. Luckily, the turkey did turn out well, and now it's funny. So...will I get a gigantic frozen turkey again, or speed-thaw it again??? You know I will. That gigantic turkey was only $7!!! for pity sakes! The daughter made the stuffing and sweet potatoes, and my boy made home-made mashed potatoes, so everyone helped. We had a great time, and I even made some homemade pumpkin pie (and NOT the Libby recipe). It came out pretty good, but I still like Marie Callendars more.

Eric has been doing more of the Cross-racing, and loving it. He bought a new bike that fits him much better, and sold his old one, along with a bunch of other stuff on eBay, to help pay off some of his old bike debt.

The daughter has been enjoying her Sr year, with WAY too little homework, and way too much free time on her hands. So...she's doing well. :)

The boy is doing fine, and has taken to selling chips at school to make some $. I felt bad for him, bc he can't babysit or anything to make extra cash. I don't know how long it will last, but he's having lots of fun.

I got my first NOT WHITE scrub!! Can you believe it? I got it for free, so it was a great deal. It is from mynursinguniforms.com This is the one I got. Here's a photo, but it didn't come out very well. No one was around to take a pic of me in it. But the best thing about this one, is that the sides and sleeves are stretchy. No stiff whites that I've been bloody well been wearing for THREE years! It's soft, and I can't wait to wear it to my home health job. Isn't it cute? It's made by Baby Phat, I am sooo cool!

I haven't started my job yet, but I'm supposed to have my orientation, I believe, next wk, so I can start. I hope so, my hubby is so stressed out with our smaller paycheck and Christmas. Please forgive us for not sending out many Christmas cards this year, we are trimming where we can.

That's it for now. What are you asking for Santa to bring you?? I'm asking for a big cast iron skillet! See how easy I am? Some gals would be insulted for a hubby to get something for the "house". Not me, LOVE that stuff. And after totally LOVING my cast iron dutch oven...I wanted more!

REEEALLY??

2009-11-19T08:01:00.000-08:00

Surprisingly, I haven't received thousands of dollars towards my Paris birthday party. Whaaaat??? Hmmm...maybe Chuck E Cheese would be more in line.

I have been applying for every job I can get my greedy little hands on, which isn't much let me tell you. If you are a facebooker, you have heard all of my whining. My newest hunt has been at the smaller hospitals, but even there, pickins are slim to none. The good news? While scrapbooking one day, I was sharing with my friends the dismal job outlook, and a woman came up to me asking if I was looking for a nursing job! So...long story short, I was able to get a job at her home health company. Most of the jobs are LVN level, and do not pay what hospitals do, but it will be excellent training and experience for me, and will help me get a hospital job eventually. So I am very thankful for it, even though it is not exactly what I had been hoping for. As quite a few good friends have mentioned to me... it sounds as if it was a gift from God, and is probably right where He wants me. I have been praying to be wherever He wants me. So, at the end of the month, I will begin training. The patients are all children, most with neural issues. I hope to be a comfort and blessing to these families.

On the home front: Hubby continues to struggle with his job, but is really trying to have a better attitude. Meanwhile, we've just been told, that $200-$400 MORE will begin to be deducted from his ALREADY $700 pay cut to pay for benefits! So my little job does come at a good time.

My kids are enjoying school, the daughter is starting to gear up for the change over into college, and my boy is loving high school, and has his first girl friend. She seems very sweet, and he has been good about it so far.

We love Fall around here, and went to Oak Glen to enjoy the colors. It was too late to pick the apples, but we did buy a big bag of Honey Crisp apples, yum.

Our last Jane Austen book club meets this week. We will be discussing Persuasion. So far, my least fave. A tad slow, and what the heck, I'm 2/3 through, and NO romance! What the heck.

I think that's it for me. How are you doing? Leave a comment!

Taking donations...

2009-11-06T09:27:00.000-08:00

So, I've decided how I want to celebrate my 50th birthday, but it will demand a large commitment on your part. Send cash now, I only have 2 yrs, 2 months to save up. Really, it will be worth it to empty your coffers for me. I mean, really wouldn't it be worth it, just to put a smile on my face? I thought so.

Art Home at Palais de Tokyo for more photo's to seal the deal.

I think I'm totally worth it, so start sending me the cash. Euro's will also be accepted. Yes, it is in my favorite place in the world...Paris. Or as us natural french speakers say...."Par-eeeeee". Okay, not so natural. My french withers year by year, which isn't saying much since I only had a 4 yr old ability to begin with. But hey, I have 2 yrs to come up to par, and found another site, Alliance Francaise which has lessons, which I WILL TAKE as soon as I get me a job!

so...welcome to my dream.

Hookers green

2009-11-04T08:08:00.000-08:00

no, I'm not speaking about a nauseous prostitute, just a name of one of my watercolor paints. I just thought it might grab someones attention since I don't have anything life shaking going on here in my blog....

Well let's see what's new with me...

nada...nothin'....zilch etc...

I am applying still all over the place, and now I'm trying to hunt down the boutique hospitals (my term). You know the little hospitals with a couple hundred or less beds. These are wonderful little hospitals, but they are not easy to find. They usually don't have a website, a nurse recruiter, or any information you can find! So hunting is what you have to do to find them! I went to 4 of them on Friday, dropped off resume/ap, and now I wait. I took and passed the NRP class (Neonatal Resus. Program) so I can better try for those NICU jobs. CHOC finally opened their new grad jobs, so I applied there, and I'm waiting. They can take until Dec.15 to notify. I also applied for the local hospital for their new grad program, but I know they REALLY look for a BSN, so I would be surprised to hear from them. I will take an EKG class later this month, so I can better apply for all those Tele/ICU jobs.

I am still plugging away at watercolors. It is definitely more difficult now, but still just as enjoyable. My lemons came out so much better the other day. And we worked on more monochrome still-life's, but actual objects. So dang hard. But so dang fun. My homework is to make sunshiney clouds and stormy clouds. Remember when my homework was concept maps? Me too, it makes me laugh...and cry for those of you still making those horrid things.

Halloween was very fun. The daughter was Luke Skywalker, and the boy was batman. They both are regressing, because you know, nerdy is now cool. The hubby and I took turns handing out candy. Weird.... it was the first year we were both doing that. Usually one of us was with the kids. *warning, warning, sneak peak into empty next syndrome!!!*

I've started a new exercise regimen (that I am breaking at this moment...) to get up earlier, get exercise clothes on, and NOT to hit the computer until I have exercised. Well...I had a good two days before breaking it. I will still go though...really.

In home news, we found out we have a MAJOR termite infestation, Here's the mound in our backyard that we had thought was one of our kids mud pies.... All right, that wasn't in our yard, because if we did have one of those, we'd just rent a chimpanzee, give him a stick, and be done with them, right? No, we have the wood kind, in the whole bloody house! So THAT'S why our house has gotten more squeaks in the last few years! Oh good, hubby has a major pay cut, I don't have a job, and here, here's $1000 bucks! Urgh.

And yesterday, my hubby had a really stressful day, with a fellow cycler crashing, and dieing! to then be revived.... (thanks to some quick thinking CPR for over a half an hour, and Prayer!) and then he had to chase a mousy down that our sweet kitty brought in for him to cheer him up. Poor Eric, quite the day.

Well that's all the news I can think of. Have a lovely week.

a bit of a funk...

2009-10-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

Well not much new for me these days. Just continuing on the job hunt. Last week one of my best friends from college finally got a job after ten months, so I was sooo happy for her, and then I fell into a self-pitying funk for myself. Waaagh. She tells me about her interview, and she was amazing. They actually gave her strips to look at, define, and suggest what meds would go with which heart block! And she got all of them right but one! Well they all but offered her the job that night (her interview was at 10:30pm!), but called her first thing in the a.m. to get her back to sign all papers! What I learned from this was that I was definitely not prepared like I could be when going in for an interview. So... after my pity party, I got myself back to the bloody computer to research interview questions. I will be much MORE prepared next time. So today, I will call for status updates. I also signed up for an NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) certification class, so I can better prepare/apply for any NICU jobs. The prob...is that these classes are PRICEY!! And um... don't have a job... Well you get my meaning. So I will take this class on Halloween day, it was the only one I could find before Nov. 1st which is when I want to apply for a NICU residency job is. And I am still trying to get some of those flu vaccine jobs!

In other news, my watercolors class is still fun, and yes..I am not a natural! My oldest sister: drawing, brother and other sister: advanced ceramics, mother: oils, son:drawing, daughter: painting, husband: drawing, me: ummmm, I like to look at perty art. Disgusting, ain't it? Ah well. It is fun playing though. *These are what we've been doing this semester. color wheels etc, supplies, fruits (hey, the top right one was not done by me, but my teacher, but I did do the pear, dangit!), Learning shading, the orangish one was the first try, then the green.

Daughter is working, and dancing, and has a bit too much free time on her hands. Son is competing today for an FFA thingy, and is still growing taller. Hubby is cyclo-racing and enjoying it.

We all (family) went to a wonderful friends Oktoberfest party. We had so much fun, it shouldn't be legal. But it was, and we did.

That's it for now. If you are a pray-er, please remember me as I continue to look for a job, especially that I do not throw tooo many pity-parties. Have a great week!

just pluggin along...

2009-10-20T08:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am, albeit sloooowly.
Still looking for jobs. I have applied to probably about 10 more jobs, though I'm really hoping to hear back from Hoag for a couple of really great jobs there.
Meanwhile, we've been celebrating my hubby's birthday. He has finally caught up to me. We get to share this age for about 2.5 months before I pass him up again! We went into L.A. to the Peterson museum, and The Grove. We had such a fun day, I LOVE L.A.! On Sunday while the kids and I went to church, Eric was in another cyclo-cross race. He is loving his new bike race hobby.
Bryce was in his first FFA competition, the Greenhand comp. Their school got 3rd place. More importantly though says he...."I'm the only guy with 5 girls, it's great". So yeah, agriculture is very verrrrry important to the boy! haaahaaaa.

Kierstin has been laying low, not her busy season yet (in the spring, she'll have her animals, and plant sales), so she's been working on her hobby which is photography, and lately...watercolor painting.

That's it for us. I hope you are all doing well, have a great week!

Happy Fall, and Halloween!

with heat & pressure...

2009-10-08T08:40:00.001-07:00

just like with diamonds... something of value must come from pressure and heat. Well, it definitely feels like I am feeling both of those. I have had a few interviews, and MANY rejections for nursing jobs. In fact this morning I applied for a job, and about 15 minutes later, they had already rejected me! Part of the reason I've had so very many rejections is that I will apply for jobs that are not just for "New Grads". Why? Because there are sooo few jobs listed under new grad. In fact, the interviews I DID have were not listed for new grads. Anyway... it's been very depressing, and I really appreciate what all these folks have been going through after losing a job, and hunting for a new one. This last wk was particularly hard. My poor little ego. Well I am continuing to apply. Last night I applied for 3 more, this morning 2 more. I will do some more "drop-by's" since they seemed to help me the most.

In other parts of my life... I am enjoying being around home more, spending more time with kids, and relaxing in the evenings. I know! Isn't that weird? That was when I would ALWAYS be back to the books or writing those %@*# nursing maps! I feel a little giddy each and every night. I still have a hard time sitting through TV, but I find other things to do. My favorite activity EVERY day, is to make a tea, and sit in my front yard watching dusk. It's my absolute FAVORITE time of day, and I become nearly "gleeful". During these moments, I'm in shock that I don't have a heavy tome on my lap, or flashcards fluttering through my fingers. So weird after 8 years (give or take a semester here and there with no classes) of study and nursing school. I am still in total shock. My watercolor class is still absolutely delightful. I can't say I'm very good, but it's so fun to be doing something "left-brained".

My kids are doing well, and my boy has adjusted well to high school. I think he has found his niche, and is doing so much better than elementary and even Jr. High. He continues to make $ every day, getting lunches for those who don't want to battle the lunch lines. Cracks me up, what an entrepreneur, eh? He gets $1-2 from each person each day, and brings his own lunch so he loses none of it. So funny. The daughter is enjoying her last year of high school, and her first job. I think she is feeling a little melancholy too, with the changes she knows she's going through and what's to come. She has gotten back to art, which is great, because she can let some of that emotion flow through her brush/pen.

Hubby did his first cyclo-cross race, and did well. I believe he came in 20th? He may not have placed high, but he looked great out there! We all went to cheer him on, it was very fun. We celebrated with In & Out. (blaach :p) He's enjoying teaching Film and Journalism. This is the first time EVER that he's gotten to teach an elective course. It's hard work since he is making the curriculum, but he's loving the change of pace.

Well I do believe that's about it for me. How the heck are you? Thanks for stopping by, and please leave a comment when you do!

still in the waiting room...

2009-09-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

still waiting to hear from one hospital for the oncology position. I wanna call, but I already did on Friday...dare'st I do it again??? I don'tst knoweth. Oooops sorry, sometimes I slippeth into Shakespeare. I have another interview at UCI hospital, which sounds amazing and closer on Thursday, so we'll see. I am not so great at waiting.

So, I will head off to the gym, all this sitting around is driving me crazy. Have a great week all, and um...Happy Fall.

Girls just wanna have fun...

2009-09-25T08:31:00.000-07:00

Sense & Sensibility

So this has definitely been a fun month for me. On the 19th, we had the second Jane Austen Book Club, this time we discussed Sense & Sensibility, my new fave. I loooooved this one. And the PBS mini-series was wonderful, and stuck to the book completely. We met at a little coffee shop at Crystal Cove Beach for breakfast. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time. We even stopped at Rogers Gardens on the way home to look at Fall/Halloween stuff. We had so much fun, and all the teens made it this time.

Theeeeeeeen, the following weekend, we had our scrapping wknd. A big group of us went up to Big Bear to a scrapbook cabin. We had beautiful weather, not tooo hot which was lucky for us since the house has no AC. We celebrated a good friends birthday with Sprinkles cupcakes (the red velvet ones are to die for!) and we all came up with our very own Stripper names. How? What's the name of your first pet as a child? Mine was Tramp. And your first street name as a child, mine was Barbata. So... my Stripper/Porn name became Tramp Barbata. We did everyones, and it was sooo hilarious! It really does work, try it! In fact, tell me yours, they totally crack me up!

I had pre-planned my pages, imagine that! so I got about 5 layouts done, which is waaay more than I usually accomplish. The house was completely adorable, and we all got our own beds, so it was heaven.

My big news job-wise is I got a second interview with OCMMC, and I will be having another interview at UCI medical center next Thursday! I am sooo excited to have gotten that call! On Monday, I am supposed to find out if I get the 3rd and final interview for OCMMC, so we'll see! Butterflies!

Have a great weekend, and please do let me know your Stripper name.

Fall is coming...

2009-09-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

(The view from my Widow's Walk) (Okay, so maybe it's not, I live in Suburbia for pity sakes, but a girl can dream can't she? And my sky was almost this perty)

I absolutely LOVE Fall! And I know it's not officially Fall, but I can feel it in the air. Yesterday at dusk, the sky was amazing, with beautiful layers and colors, and there was a cool breeze. I was in heaven. So I sat out in my front yard with my hot tea, and just enjoyed it. My hubby joined me, it was so nice. Even though I keep whining for a porch or a viewing loft, I was darned happy with my plastic chair on the grass. (the viewing loft or widows walk is my GREAT idea. I just want Eric to build this on the roof so I get a better look at the sunsets. I don't know what the big deal is, just some wood, nails, and some plastic chairs. I think it is an amazing thought, don't you???) That's a widows walk. Of course my house is a really small little house from 1950, but I think my little house could pull it off. Sorta.

So, I haven't blogged in quite a while, and I do apologize, but there is less to chat about when someone is not holding the proverbial exam/paper/concept map gun at your head every other day! And let me tell you, it's WONDERFUL, and you will get here if you're not here yet {Kirsten especially, I know how darned antsy you are! :) }

The job hunt continues. I must have about 30 or more aps out there. And the exciting thing that happened last wk still baffles me. I went for a meet & greet, and ended up getting an interview for an opening that I did not know about! I was absolutely thrilled. Two days after that, I got a call for a second interview with the Director and Manager of Oncology of said job. So, yesterday I had that interview! It was so exciting and terrifying. It went well I believe, but they are interviewing hordes more in the next 2 wks, so I wait. I hope to still interview for some jobs that are closer, but we'll see.

My hubby is now training for Cyclocross (a bicycle race over a cross-country course, with steep hills, turns, and sometimes muddy terrain, that occasionally requires a rider to carry the bicycle over fences and up stairs) in place of triathlons. He is excited about it, and I like the idea because I can actually watch one, aaaaaaaaaand they are not as early as those absurd 6am races! These run at a respectable 9 or 10. Much more humane to my way of thinking don't you think? And they run during Fall & Winter, my FAVORITE seasons.

My boy is on the Cross Country team, and I guess I worry because he has issues with his knees. Today he limped to school, but not because of his knees but his ankle. Hmmmm. And the big news about him, is that he has officially passed me in height. He's so cute.

The daughter got her very first job at Togo's and she is loving it. She is pocketing away the dough saving for a car. She will get busier with FFA this year as it is their 50 yr anniversary at her school. She's got a bit of Senioritis, but she's been responsible so far about homework and such. She loves her classes this semester since she no longer has math or French, and she has Novels and Sociology.

Well that covers it all for me, how are you doing?? What's new with you?

....I'd like to thank my agent...

2009-09-01T20:10:00.000-07:00

So, I got this freakin fabulous award, cuz I'm so awesome from Kirsten over at Order & Chaos and believe me, she's awesome. She lives in a home of testosterone, poor thing with 2 teenaged boys and a hubby! ; ) aaaaand she's in the midst of nursing school!

Rules of the Award:List five current obsessions.Pass the award on to five more fabulous blogs.On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them.When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well.Don’t forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by leaving a comment on their blog.

5 of my obsessions:

1. Learning languages: signed up for french today, but the teacher was not up to my hiiiigh standards! Hmph!

2. Museums of Art: oooooh, can spend 6 hours easily staring at the stuff.

3. France and traveling in Europe: LOVE to be around other cultures, yet not third world discomfort.

4. Taking classes: I LOVE learning and will always find something new I want to learn. For example, over the years i have taken the following: french, sewing, baking (various) cooking, cake decorating, and today, watercolors.

5. Caring for ill and outsiders. aka nursing.

5 freakin' fabulous bloggers:

Living Dead Nurse she cracks me up with her dry, sarcastic humor, and she's darn smart.

Paris breakfasts beeeeeeyooootiful watercolors. Thus the watercolors class I began today.

N is for Nurse the most amazing L&D nurse. She has had amazingly crazy mothers, so she's got great stories. And now...to top it off, she's just moved so her hubby can be a priest with the Eastern Orthodox church. (I hope I said that right)

I AM (y) RN a gal after my own heart. I watched her go through nursing school, and now she is in her first job. I see what she goes through/feels, and know that I am just a few steps behind her. I learn from this yogi.

Adventures of Student RN Tiffany A student nurse shlepping through her now second year of nursing school aaaand newly married to a dude in the service. She is sassy, and full of fun!

Pics of August

2009-08-27T17:48:00.000-07:00

Hi Uncle Tim! Well I just found out my hubby's brother, my BIL reads this blog, to hear what's going on here (he lives in Maryland), and sadly, I am generally talking about myself! So! I wanted him to see what my man's been doing. He's keeping alive, the tradition in my family of giving your 18 yr old daughter a Hope chest/Cedar chest. It is beautiful, and he whipped that baby out in about a week.

Mammoth Lake

We also went to Bodie ghost town that was fun, on the way to the Mammoth area.

And we visited the beach of course, and frolicked there. Well Uncle Tim, I think that brings you up to speed! How are you? Do you have a facebook yet? Look us up, we all have one!

And of course hello to everyone else. I continue to job search. I have an ap in for about 15 or so jobs. My next step, other than watching and applying on line is to start job drop by's. I will first call, said drop bys to get names of recruiters before I go, so I at least APPEAR organized or semi professional. I have to tell you my mood swings have been monumental. My poor family. I HATE being in this "waiting-room". I hate not having my plans all lined up! All of the new grad programs will open in Oct-Dec. Yeah, you know 10 positions with 300 aps. Dreadful. But I will JUMP into the fray with Gusto! Or maybe just gusto.

To cheer myself up, I've signed up for a french or art class. "Or" because I am on a waitlist for them. Whichever one I can get in, I'll nab. My first choice of course would be French. I know, I know, Spanish would be more logical, but this is to cheer me, and that would do it, French or Art. I have to have something to look forward to, because the job hunt is just dreadful.

My mom has gone back into the hospital with some intestinal probs, so all prayers are really truly appreciated, thanks. I am on my way there now with a heavy heart.

Have a good weekend y'all. Let me know how the semester is for you who have jumped back into nursing school. What will you be clinicaling in? Yes, I just made up that word, and I think it's lovely. Clinicaling, or even shorter...clinicing. Yeah, I did it.

Zero

2009-08-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

yup, a big fat zero so far in the job market. I keep hearing, "we are not hiring new grads", or the "new job feeding frenzy will begin in Oct/Nov/Dec/Jan where we will have 10 positions open for 600 applications". Well...not those EXACT words, but close enough. The job fair on Tues wasn't very helpful, but the Thur interviews (mass) was a bit more encouraging with a recruiter promising to pass my resume on to someone who was hiring. Nothing may happen with it, but it was nice to talk to someone face to face instead of miles of tapppppping on the bloody keyboard aps.

My kids have a week more to enjoy/relax before heading back to school, so they are determinedly playing hard. The hubby as well, is cycling every day, enjoying his freedom before work hits. He will have 2 classes of journalism this year. The first time in 22 yrs that he will get to teach something that is not strictly "English". I am so happy that he got it, he really needs the encouragement.

We went to the beach one day this wk. Always hard for me to pull myself away from home when I have this cloud hanging over my head of "joblessness". But once I was there, I sooo enjoyed it. It was cloudy, cool and breezy at first (which is how I love the beach), then warmed up. Perfect.

Watched "Lost in Austen" on DVD. Pretty clever even if it was a bit long. Loved all the twists, and character changes. Fun, for us Pride & Prej. fans.

Well...that's it for me, hope you are having a lovely wknd, and a great week.

The Mighty Job Hunt

2009-08-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well....I've gone from living on my computer studying for the derned NCLEX, to living on it for the mighty job hunt. I finally have everything I need to fill out those bloody 4 hr aps at the ready so I can finish them in about an hr. My job experience is a joke except my teaching stint, but that was 17 yrs ago!! My last place of employment was bulldozed, so I have to say, I'm not looking so impressive on paper in that area. Oh well. I keep telling myself that if they really want me...and let's face it, who wouldn't want a nearly 50 yr old new grad????! Yep, I'm all that and a bag o chips.

So...on first impressions, there appears to be NO jobs for new grads, so....this is what I did: all the jobs I found that did not have a time frame of experience specified, I applied to. So, in the last 2 days, I've applied for about 10 jobs. I know that they'd prefer someone experienced, but I can hope & pray, right?

Well I am headed back to the gym. My back is in pain from all this butt sitting. Have a lovely wknd. And good luck to those of you who have gone back to school, have a killer semester!

Details, details on NCLEX

2009-08-08T21:35:00.000-07:00

Well...Lorie asked for details so I'll give a few. I tell ya now, that I will sound like almost all the other NCLEX test takers. I sat in that chair, feeling absolutely happy and nervous. And I could honestly say I felt like every question could've been wrong. When I got to question 75, and it did NOT turn off, I thought to myself, "Self! you've never been at the top of your class, what the heck were you expecting??" At 85 it did NOT turn off, and I thought, yes I do believe I'll take that break that popped up on the screen. I went outside the room, sat on a chair, wasn't hungry but ate half of my sandwich anyway, staring aimlessly, took a half of my Adderall, that i didn't take earlier, went pee, breathed in and out, and went back in. At 95 questions, choomp, off it went. Kinda surprised me, I figured I would be one of the 130's question folks. So 95 could've been really bad if I just failed or not bad. I had 2 full days of going absolute bananas, and then on the third day, we were up early to leave on our vacation, it was posted. I was absolutely shocked, first, I let out a little high pitch squeal, so my husband came running to see. I just kept repeating, "oh my gosh, oh my gosh..." I didn't necessarily feel like I had failed, but I was still totally shocked. There it was in black and white, my full name with an RN after it. Absolutely shocking. I cried a little, my hubby almost cried a little, we were so happy.
so there ya go, I posted quickly on here, and my facebook, and a couple texts, and then off we had to run because they were going to pave our street, and they were waiting for us to get our trailer off the street.

vacation has been a bit weird as it's sloooooooowly been sinking in. But thanks all for your comments of congrats, it's been so strange and wonderful being on this side of nursing school. So see?? All the school does eventually come to an end, and you do get the RN, and "Poof!" suddenly your life changes so totally, and voila, you're a nurse. So now on to the job hunt. Thanks everyone you've been so nice.

I PASSED! I am an RN!!!

2009-08-06T05:52:00.000-07:00

Praise God!!!! Thanks y'all who prayed, I'm sooo dang happy!!! Just found out this morning at 5:30am!!! Okay, gotta go help pac for a little trip!

Took the NCLEX today....

2009-08-03T13:18:00.000-07:00

Once again, I'm waaaaiting.

Took the NCLEX this morning, and I am sooooo relieved to be done. I have NO idea how the heck I did, it's the weirdest test. Really hard, but just like Kaplan tells ya. I have to wait 48 Looooooooooong hours before finding out. I will let y'all know as soon as I know. Thanks for all your well wishes and prayers!

****P.S. I got 95 questions before it turned off. That doesn't say a whole heck of a lot though, since you can fail or pass either way. I responded to everyones comments in the comment section. Thanks y'all!******

studying for NCLEX

2009-07-28T22:49:00.000-07:00

just stopping by to say, I am crazy studying. NCLEX is MONDAY Aug. 3rd!!! Please remember to shout out a prayer for me pleeeeeeeeeease!

Still getting over worst flu i've ever had!

Thanks!

what's new......

2009-07-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

I do apologize for being away for so long. I know, 100's of you have come here looking for my wisdom...HA! After my hubby and my get away, I got an odd flu, where I became very well acquainted with the four walls of my bathroom. As it began to improve, I then got some kind of weird head/chest flu. I've been on antibiotics and Tylenol/ibuprofen for days, and it does not TOUCH it! I feel horrible and my head is all but splitting. So today I am heading into Dr. to check for H191. I almost hope it is bc there is drugs for it that should help!

In the meantime, I have been trying to study for the NCLEX. This is not easy when you can't think straight, let me tell you! I studied for one of the taxonomies for 1.5 days then took a test and got 72%! WHOOO HOOO! Even w/a 101 temperature! A 65% means you have a 97% chance of passing that area of the NCLEX. I know it's confusing, but it's the Kaplan program. I will start the 2nd taxonomy today after my brains stop from trying to escape my scalp.

For those of you who liked the idea of the Jane Austin book club, our next book is Sense & Sensibility (S&S). We will be getting together to discuss it in a week or two. So...any of you who'd like to read it and discuss later, I'm all for it. Our very own cyber-book-club if you will.

B (the boy)came home from church camp loving it. He made some new friends and a new view of God. It was pretty cool, he was so excited. K (the daughter) came home too with great stories of Gods power in Trinidad. I think it's the first time she's really seen the results of deep poverty and a place where not many have heard of God's saving grace. She has come home stronger, more self-confident, and ready to take on the world. But first...she'll have to get through her Sr. year.

E continues to train for his triathlon coming up next Sunday. I think he's ready, though he says he struggles in the swimming.

That's all for now. I will go try to catch up on your blogs. And if you're just lurking, WELCOME! Leave a comment, it just makes my hour!

empty nesters...sorta

2009-07-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

So, as you know, the dd went off to Trinidad, and I am missing her so much. Then...my boy has the audacity to go off to camp for a week at the same time! I KNOW! He's so insensitive! :)So, we have had a small taste of empty nesters. And... I don't like it! Oh, I know, it's just a taste, but I can see where it will be a tough transition.

So that leaves me and the He-man home alone for a whole week just crying...NOT. So, we decided to go off to grieve...at a resort that USED TO BE Marineland! Called Taranea Resort.There was a great deal so we went for it. One night and 2 days! It was beautiful, and we saw the most amazing full moon rise over the ocean. I took pics, but sadly it did not do it justice. During the days we walked the perimeter, and swam and frolicked. We had a great time

The boy is coming home today, and I am really looking forward to seeing the lil' brat. I missed his sassy little self. The daughter comes home next Friday. She is having an excellent time, and I am looking forward to hearing all of her adventures.

As for me, I have had some strange bacterial problem with my stomach for the rest of the week after our "resort-living" ; ) so I have been under the weather, running to the bathroom and studying. Aren't you glad you asked? Okay, so you didn't ask, but as always I am into "full-disclosure".

I am having a hard time with my Kaplan studying, so I think I need to re-visit the question tree thingy (for those of you who know kaplan, that's their technique). I take the test in 3 weeks, so I really need to stay focused. But it is so easy to become so passive sitting on the computer for hours taking tests. Blah, I have been tearing up the gel wrist pad, because my ADD is kicking in. I need to find something mindless for my hands to do while I'm taking these darned tests! Any ideas?? I've thought of crocheting, but i think that would pull me away from the test too much. It has to be something I don't have to look at or really think about.

that's it for now, how ya all doing???

Happy July!

2009-07-03T08:54:00.000-07:00

Yep, Fourth of July is a day away, and I have no plans. My poor hubby keeps trying to get me to commit to something, and I come up with the same ole thing, "Let's hang out at home, then drive over to ____ to watch the fireworks". Simple huh? That's what I want. Then he's like, wanna call someone to come over? Oh my, I'd have to clean...although...I did just clean the toilets for NO reason at all, hmmmm. Anyhoo, each day is full, though not with too much fun. I study, clean house (a little, I don't go crazy for pity sake), study and that's about it. I am supposed to do 100 questions a day, but the 75 on Kaplan takes me HOURS, and then I don't wanna! And I also need to review materials that I'm weak on. My testing day is Aug. 3rd..did I already mention that in previous post? Anyway, I've got MAJOR butterflies, and LOTS of studying to do before then.

On the upside, I bought tickets for Spamalot last night! WHOOO HOOOO! I am sooo danged excited! They had a $49 ticket deal for really good seats, so I had to grab it! And at that price my hubby wants to go too, so we'll take our whole little family. The seats look good, I hope so. I LOVE Broadway musicals, but I am pretty picky. This one is based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which is a completely silly classic. When I saw a piece of the musical on the Tony's years ago, I've wanted to see it, but it took forever to get here (L.A. area)

My daughter is still in Trinidad, and from what I hear of the team news, she/they are all doing well, and adjusting to the severe humidity. They have been very busy with a VBS, and doing outreaches at public schools and at church a few nights a week. As of today, she's been there one full week, and will be coming home in only TWO weeks! I'm so proud of her, and I'm really glad she is there, but I miss her like crazy. The rest of us are doing well. We went and saw Wolverine at the dollar theater, it was sooo good. Next wk, the boy will be gone so me and the hubby are trying to come up with a plan of fun for us. Suggestions anyone? (keeping it on the inexpensive side please) Okay, I really should get back to studying, see ya.

D day!! She's leavin' on a jet plane...

2009-06-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

OMGosh, I'm a mess. I'm gonna miss my little baby girl so much. I know, I know, she's 17, but still. We say our farewells tonight at 8. Please pray for me and her safety. I'm gonna try to hold it together, so she doesn't worry!

gettin' ready

2009-06-23T00:11:00.000-07:00

So we've been shopping and preparing for K to take off to Trinidad. And I have to say, the closer I get to Thur, the sadder I am feeling. I mean, I'm totally proud of her, and I know she'll have a great time, and growth, but dang, she's my little girl too. Okay, so I'm gonna have to buck up, bc she is darned excited, and I will NOT bring her down with me!

I'm going to finish Kaplan on Wed. It has been excellent, and well worth the expense. I am still waiting for an email or letter saying I can schedule my NCLEX. So in the mean time I am studying. Not enough, but about 2 hrs a day. Once the class ends, I will add even more study time. It is hard with my whole darned family home. But I will buckle down. Most of my study is on the computer, so I can't just take off elsewhere to study.

I visited my mom a few days ago. It is so hard to see her in that bed, but her mood was up, and I am thankful for what I do have with her. But dang, Alzheimer's is just so horrible.

I hope I didn't bring y'all down, just a little hard, but I'll be good. God bless, all.

Trini, shots and whats not..

2009-06-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

So we are trying to get my daughter her shots for Trinidad. You'd think that would be easy enough, but noooooooooooo. Everyone is out of Yellow Fever, and it is on back order like an ice cream maker at Walmart. Aaaaaaaaaaand I just found out that Hep A is given in 3 shots... 6 MONTHS APART. Hmmmmmmmmmm so I'm a little stressed here since daughter is leaving in less than 2 wks.

Aaaand, very exciting as well, as my baby...er I mean my son graduated from 8th grade, and we are all so darned proud of him. And he is practically a giant these days, I swear he's grown a foot in the last year. Look how cute he is...

On other fronts, both my kids are home for summer, so it is nice to have them around.

Yesterday, I had my first Jane Austen Literary Association for the Advancement of Fine Literature meeting ie: jane austen book club. I just felt like it needed a longer title. Lets see what it comes out to.... JALAAFL hmmmmm kind of....... "ja!l'awful"! Kinda funny. We all had sooo much fun. Two teenagers, and 3 adult women (one of the teen gals was a no-show). We laughed and laughed it was so much fun. My daughter was the decorator, she turned our back yard into a delightful and elegant picnic area. I could never think of all that! I made the Leek & Goat cheese quiche (Yummy, but too rich for me), cream cheese & art heart dip (Yum), and hummus w/greek olives dip and crackers. Catherine brought a salad , Lupe brought a basil and fresh mozzarella pasta salad (very yummy), and Alex brought her homemade choc chip cookies (again...Yum). So we blathered on, ate and ate, talked some more, laughed and laughed and ate some more. It was absolutely lovely. Oh yeah, we were discussing Pride & Prejudice, a great book. Our next book will be Sense & Sensibility, and we'll meet in a month or so on the beach cliffs of Laguna to discuss it. Here's some pics.............

P.S. Oooooh just found a place for all daughter's shots AND it's cheaper! Whooo Hooooo, thank you God! 'Course, I have to drive to Pasadena, but what the heck, we'll make a day of it!

studying for NCLEX

2009-06-10T21:16:00.000-07:00

Well I've got to worry now, that I'll have ANYTHING interesting to say because all I'm doing is studying for the NCLEX, reading, and cooking. Yup, the other day I made a roast chicken and then tonight I made chicken pot pie with the leftovers. It came out darn good at that. The crust from test kitchen was perfect, even if I did just a squoosh crust. (you know, ya don't roll it, you just squoosh it in the pan) It tastes like a rolled, it's just not as perty.
Hey, thanks to Lori for the award, and here are my 8.... though 8 is just too much for me, so I'll give 4.
"This award is bestowed on to blogs that are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."
N is for Nurse The MOST amazing L&D nurse! LOVE her posts, what a woman!
Hope to B RN Actually IS an RN. Has such a great heart for her patients. Happy to see how a new nurse progresses.
Candice to think NOT on nursing, she is grandiosolly creative. Yes I made up that word myself.
Living Dead Nurse Love her sarcasm, and absolutely insane crazy busy life. And her pics are just so darn cool to look at.
OK, so i have got to get back to my 100 questions per day. Have a lovely day.

Pinning

2009-06-05T08:33:00.000-07:00

Derned if auditorium pics are just so dang horrible. Ah well, here's some pics from yesterdays pinning. It went great, and I got choked up a few times, but no tears, just joy. It's been a bumpy road, but I still got there, thank you God, family and friends!

You can see how happy I am coming down that auditorium aisle!

On stage, second from right, front row.

my proud lil' family. I love this pic of all of us.

me, and my clinical instructor....remember, the one who wanted a "STELLAR" second concept map??? Too bad, the photo didn't catch him with his big smile. He's got a great one. I was his fave. No, really, I was. Honest. Stop arguing with me! :0

The actual pinning pic was sooo dark, I'm going to try to fix it before I put it up.

In other news, I paid for the NCLEX today. *biting fingernails here...*

FINI! DONE! FINITO!

2009-05-29T09:31:00.000-07:00

Ummmm....yes, I am done with nursing school. Completely and totally. I am absolutely floating today I am telling you. It's been 7 years. You know... a couple years of prerequisites, and the long wait to get in, then three years of actual nursing school. Yeah, it should've been 2 years, but SOME of us like to reeeeeeeeeeeaaly study certain subjects/semesters twice, so there you have it, THREE years. But that is OK, I made it through, and I cannot believe the difference in myself from my first day in a patients room...to yesterday's. I am so comfortable, and happy when I'm with a patient. God has certainly gotten me through this whole process, giving me courage and fortitude. And of course my hubby. I don't think i could've done it without him! Or if I did, my kids would be bitter angry adolescents today. He has been driving them and making dinner on MANY MANY nights!

So I am darned happy. I will relax until next Thursdays pinning. Then you know what begins...NCLEX study. I will take it in July if all the paperwork gets there in time from my school.

Two preceptor days to go...

2009-05-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

Yep, tomorrow, then Thursday, then DONE ta DONE DONE..........DOOOOOOOOONE!

CANNOT wait! I'm telling you, I'm feeling darned giddy. A week from Thursday is our pinning. Again...cannot wait. And then? My focus will change again, hitting the books and studying like heck for NCLEX.

My preceptoring has gone pretty well in mother baby. It has been a drastic change from med/surg. Not just the medications or patients, but the PAPERWORK! OY!!! There's a big book and small book for the mom, then a big book and a small book for the babe. And yes, you do charting in all of them! That has been the hardest thing to keep straight and to keep up on. And you don't have CNA's to do a lot of the work they do in med/surg. We do all the bed changes, all the vitals but the 8am's, removing trays, getting towels, supplies etc. And the vitals? You can have to check them every hour for one patient, every four, for another, every 8 for another. And then the same variety for your baby's! It has been tricky to keep straight, let me tell you! Thennnnn, if the mother is nursing, or sleeping you can't bother them, if the baby's nursing, can't bother them so then all those vitals hours gets screwed up, I forget, I get behind, then it all piles up, urgh! Whew! Thanks for letting me vent, I feel a tad better. It's not difficult nursing just busy. I made up a new report sheet to help me stay better organized, and I think it's helping a bit. So that's what I've been up to.

How 'bout you? How's school, work or your family??? Do tell!

So, I've got a plan...

2009-05-20T19:24:00.000-07:00

You know I can't just sit around feeling sorry for myself, right? So I am making my own OB report sheet, that I do believe will help me be/stay more organized. I also want to do some things more med/surg style, but my preceptor will have to okay it. My next 2 days will be with a sweet preceptor, and my last 2 will be with the tougher one. I just have to finish, and not worry about doing it "their" way. I'll let you know how it goes, thanks for all the nice comments, I soooo needed them!

And about my back? It is a bit better each day, thanks for your support. Around 3pm it really starts hurting, but then I get really careful about taking care. That's it for now. Hope your week is going wonderfully.

Four preceptor days to go...

2009-05-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday started out well, but half way through everything got crazy, and it seems I kept forgetting things, going back later, just getting more and more and more behind. By the end of the day, I felt like a total failure. Ugh, I hope my next 4 goes better. So I put up a lil' cartoon to make me cheer up.

a back update

2009-05-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of you who sent up a prayer for me. Yesterdays preceptoring went SO much better. I wasn't totally pain-free, but it was completely manageable. I talked with teacher, who gave me some good ideas, and I brought back support just in case. Also I worked with a different nurse who took a few breaks and sat when she could. I was much more mindful of sitting when I could or putting my foot up while standing etc. So thanks guys, only 6 more days to go! And I have 3 days off to recoup. Yesterdays nurse preceptor actually let me do some full assessments on mom, so it was much more fun. If the nurse is not in the room, I am so much more confidant, and the patients relax more with me. Tough but good day.

(this pic reminded me of a shot I had to give yesterday to a little 22 hr old baby. Boy was he mad, he was just shaking with anger and screaming his little head off, poor thing. The mommy said he got so mad, that the only think that calmed him down 10 minutes later was taking off all his blankets and laying him on his mommy, skin to skin. Gee, I feel kinda bad now, if I wasn't sorta smiling. But he was just so cute when he was sooo mad.)

First day of preceptoring...

2009-05-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

was sooo horrible. Not because of the babies (they are amazingly adorable), not because of my preceptor, she is wonderful. But because of massive pain.
I don't know if I've mentioned that I have ongoing back pain, (I probably have...) that is only managed by exercise and stretching, and that's pretty limited. I am okay if I'm moving, walking or sitting (unless it's for hours upon hours...you know like studying!), but the WORST thing for my back is standing still, and standing and leaning. Guess what you do alll day in mother/baby? A whooooooole lot of standing and leaning. There is a lot of teaching, coaching (w/nursing etc.) and you stand for 20 min. at a time. I felt like crying most of the day, the pain was so bad. I had a reeeally hard time concentrating, and learning everything I needed to learn, it was all so new. So I call my clinical teacher, but my phone won't work, so I send him a text. Then my phone dies, great. Well this morning I received his voicemail to me saying I'm pretty much stuck there. So I will call him this morning, I will work out my back, but I could reeeeally use your prayers pleeeeease! I go back tomorrow. It really would be a great rotation if I wasn't in pain. Thanks so much everyone.

P.S. Just talked to my clinical instructor, and I am stuck there. I will modify my day and talk to my preceptors, I may even bring a stool for my foot (helps relieve some pressure) and buy a back support today, just in case. Urgh. Please pray for me, thanks.

PASS!

2009-05-08T16:08:00.000-07:00

We finally found out at 3:00! Yep they made us wait FOREVER!!! But I passed and that's all that matters at this point! (unless I kill someone in preceptorship....which I'm not really plaaaanning on doing).

Yay God for getting me through! Yay all of you for your support! YAY me.

Whew!

2009-05-07T21:57:00.000-07:00

am told that WE will be told tomorrow after GN Predictor exam. This exam is not for our grade, but will give us a rough idea, how we'd stack up RIGHT NOW if we were to take the NCLEX. Kind of a practice, if you will. So, it has always been their policy preeeeeeeviously to call you if you did NOT pass. Well not this time, you have to go and take a group picture in your gown, and take an NCLEX predictor and theeeeeeen they'll tell you. All rather stressful, would'nt you say? I think so. I think I passed, but I just can't really start to celebrate until I know for sure, ya know? I mean, I would have to miss 40 of them, but still. I didn't pass last semester, so I don't take anything for granted. So, that being said, I'll let you know as soon as I do! Thanks for all the positive thoughts, you guys are so great.

One...

2009-05-06T18:47:00.001-07:00

Imagine my excitement..totally in the weeds.. studying. Gotta go, please pray for me, my LAST Final tomorrow!

Watch out...ready to blow!

P.S. HAPPY NURSES DAY EVERYONE!!!

Two....

2009-05-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

Kinda how I'm feeling today... Kinda stormy, and stressed, but also knowing that I need to stop, slow down and breeeeeathe!

okay, so yesterday I reeeeally studied "leadership" with a group that was great. I felt like I not only read all the stuff, but it became "cemented" in my understanding. Today, I must tackle cardiac. Yes, my weakest area. I'd like to join the group again, but I'm not sure if one of the gals wants me there...because I can get off topic, or babble on and on. Either way, I've got to get it down. I want to finish reviewing all notes today, because tomorrow I plan on just practicing questions in the subject areas. I only need a 58% to pass so I shouldn't sweat it, but after not passing last semester, I take nothing for granted.

Yesterday I picked up my gown for graduation/pinning. That was weird. On Friday, we are taking a group picture.

I met my preceptors on Sunday. They are very nice, and it should be a really positive experience.

That's it for now, everyone have a good week.

Three days...

2009-05-04T09:16:00.001-07:00

a....n...d.... counting.....

P.S. How the whole swine flu began.....

isn't she just so cute?

SIX days to go...

2009-05-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterdays ATI test went fine. Of course I didn't pass, but I didn't care as long as I got my 3 pts, (3%%) which I did. I've never passed an ATI, except for the Obs/Peds one. But luckily, they are a VERY small part of grade. Since I got my 3%, I only need 15% which is 60% (are these #'s confusing you??) for my Final to pass my LAST semester in nursing school, WHOOO HOOO! I do believe I can get a 60% on my Final, don't you? Sunday is our last clinical, but it's only a half day, then we go out and celebrate, yay! So, I'm telling you, I am finding it VERY difficult to stay focused right now. (See...I'm like Barbie, I just wanna go a little wild..)

I want to go into goof off mode. BUT I MUSTN'T MUST I??? Nay, I say! So, today, I am trying to batten down the hatches,

and all that....ummm.... after I blog.

I have been goofing off last night and this morning, so I really must get going to hit those stupid books. Okay, I mean it, I'm getting off this silly computer, bye. Hope your last weeks are going well.

TWO weeks to go!!

2009-04-24T10:06:00.001-07:00

(for classes to end, not graduation..)

The Pinning ceremony is getting closer.... (it's kind of a haunted-nurse look, don't cha think? Like maybe, she's a zombie or something.)

Finished my last regular exam on Thursday, wow what a relief. It was one hard mother, but I think I did okay. Haven't gotten results yet. Got an ATI next week, then the Final the following... and then I am ALLLLL done with classes!! YAY! Of course I'm not completely done until after the preceptoring. That's why you see the box with "days left until pinning" being different. I'm going to totally goof off today, and maybe go to a gigantic garage sale tomorrow, but then, it's back to the books. The Final is a killer. Believe me I know. Been there, D'd that.

In other news, my daughter is soooo excited. She got asked to her first prom. I thought this dress might be nice. What do you think? Of course it would only give the true feel if she put in a fake belly. Aaaaaaaand it might remind her date to keep his hands to himself. I think it would be effective, and yet stylish.

hmmm... she doesn't look very happy, does she?

Or maybe this one? Colorful, wouldn't you say? Hard to pick.

3 wks to go!!!!

2009-04-19T21:49:00.000-07:00

just checking in to say hello. I am ecstatic that I have 3 wks left before my preceptorship! But I also have one exam each wk, with the last being a killer comprehensive. So... if you barely see/hear from me, you'll know that I am in the weeds. I did find out where/what I'll be doing for preceptoring. I will be in mother/baby. Though it is not my absolute first choice, I still think it will be a good learning experience. Aaaaaaaaaand I get to hold/see/teach with little newborns! That can't be sooo bad! I'm just a little nervous that I'll lose my hard earned med/surg mojo!

I have my last normal exam this wk

An ATI exam next wk

Final on the last wk

Then DONE with school, WHOOO HOOOO! OMGosh, has this been a looooooong road! Thanks for your well wishes everyone, I have been studying my eyeballs out!.......see...i don't exaggerate.

The most important day of the year...

2009-04-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

He is risen, He is risen, indeed! Easter day, the very reason I am who I am. He took my sins on the cross, and I am forgiven. So, it is with full joy in my heart, that I say, Happy Easter! I hope you all have a great Easter.

Four weeks...

2009-04-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

and counting! I'm on Spring break, PTL! and am so far, very much enjoying it. I have FOUR bloody wks of classes, then 3-4 wks of preceptoring. I just want to get through the classes!! I got my LAST map (pure art) back with a big ole' fat

on it, whooo hooo. NEVER will I make another concept map!!! YAYAYAYAYAY!!!!! And got a B on my exam on Monday. So as you see, I have been in the weeds, so to speak. and now? Reeeeeeeeeeeeelaxing. I know I should study some too, but I'm waiting until the end of the wk to do that. For now, I'm doing some cleaning, scrapping, reading some fluff, crafting, sleeping, and some camping. (But not in that order.) We will go to Palm Springs for a few days. There's a great little campground nearby with natural hot springs. I am sooo ready for some relaxing. And dusk is my favorite time there, it totally looks like this. Aaand this is the season for WIND. I LOVE wind. I am one of the few girls I know, who absolutely loves to be blown around, getting my hair ALL a mess.

So that's all for now, sorry I've been so lame about writing, I've just been tooo stressed and busy studying. Oh yeah, on top of those school things my mom went back into the hospital with a lung infection, and the Dr. says her heart is a bit weak. So of course I'm a mess, every time I see her. So those of you who believe please pray for her. As my daughter reminded me, He can take better care of her than I can. Thanks.

st patty's pics..

2009-03-25T23:02:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to show you proof of the lil' leprechauns hitting the day after St Patty's.

They left my daughters room "greened"

since she was coming home late after school. She had to discover her "gold" there. Bryce had to discover his "gold" where all the furniture was.

Yes the furniture was piled, toilets and milk were green. We all had a lovely time. And Yes, I gave the little jacke t back!

And there's the corned beef & veggies. Well...the veggies were good. (the boys of our family LOVED the corned beef. Go figure.)

And THAT is how an Irish American does St. Patty's day. (No green beer, can't stand the smell or taste of it!)

And here, just some lovely memories...yes I said MEMORIES from my concept map hell. LAST one...did I mention that??? Okay, I thought I did.

And I forgot to post this pic in January, and it was on the same roll. These lovely ladies are my scrapping buddies. We scrap nearly every Friday night, so I keep my sanity. Of course, I am the one in maroon, or is it fuchsia? The cupcakes that Lupe brought were great fun. If you had a red one, it would dye your lips and teeth for days! And of course she had one 'cuz she didn't know. (she's on my right, making SURE not to show her red teeth, dang it.)

Je suis fini!

2009-03-23T00:15:00.000-07:00

at least with the bloody map. Ugh. And all the while....knowing that my teacher will still see it as a piece of crap. Oh well. I will do linking lines and circle some stuff on a form tomorrow. But the biggest mess is done! Yahoo. Time to partay...where is everyone? Hmph, 12:16 and everyone's in bed?? Ah well, I guess I'll follow. 6 wks left. Or even better, 5 wks 4 days!

And some of my non-nursing friends have NOOO idea what the heck a concept map is, so here's a pic. They are horrible, and take FOREVER to make. For you nursing students...you'll notice I haven't done my connecting lines. I will do those today.

LAST concept map

2009-03-21T23:02:00.001-07:00

i am sooo danged sick of these. So far, I've been working on this bloody piece of art for oh @ 12 hours! (mind you, I do interrupt myself quite a bit here and there!) So I've gotten all of it done but the worst part of it the nsg dx/goal nsg interventions/rationales. Ick. Hope you are having a more funererer wknd than I am. Bah. Even my Twilight didn't show up! Urgh. It's just as well, it might've pulled me from this blasted computer.

urgh. My brain hurts.

Moving St. Patty's to today. So what.

2009-03-18T08:17:00.000-07:00

So... Monday was the killer cardiac exam that I have been sooo stressed about, then we started on renal. Oh so much more comfortable than that dang preloadafterloadsanodemitralvalvetearthirddegreeblockwithpvcheart... ugh. I am still waiting for results. It was a frightening exam. I also turned in that first bloody map with all the fixes, and will begin the second, LAST map today. Although...like before, I need to head BACK to the hospital for missing info. I tried to get it yesterday at clinicals, but never had the time. Ah well.

I was told by my CI that my next map better be "stellar", so stellar it will be. crap.

In other news, we totally ignored/skipped st patty's day yesterday since I had clinicals, so the leprechauns will come today. I left a letter explaining to my kids (14 & 17 yo) that since I was up so early for clinicals that I had run into them (the leprechauns silly), and they were so mad that I saw them, that they were leaving in a huff without "the goods", but luckily as they were leaving I grabbed one of them, and got his little green jacket. I told him if he wanted it back, they'd have to come back today for it. They agreed, but said they would be double trouble! So... they are indeed coming today. I'll put up some pics tomorrow.

That's it for me now. Sorry I haven't been visiting. You know how crazy it is. But read some fast blips about Tiffany running. Egad, you stud! How did you start at such a high mileage? I keep thinking I want to get a running coach bc when I have attempted it, I am in such horrible pain during and after that I quit. I start at small amounts, but I just hate it. But I do believe it's the fastest way to get in shape. Do tell your secret, you stud you. I'll hit the gym today, just to feel better though. hmph.

Have a good day all.

St. Patty's Day is coming...

2009-03-12T08:54:00.000-07:00

so dance a jig!

makin' it fast

2009-03-11T22:34:00.000-07:00

'cuz I'm trying to fix my bloody concept map that got returned to me, aaaaaaaaaaand I dang well need to be studying for that %@#&! cardiac test on Monday! I forgot to mention, that I got a B on my first exam, finished both "mystery" assignments, geriatric simulation & papers, and 5 quizzes! Whew! So, this is how they shove a 16 wk course into 12! I'm stressing out, so thanks y'all for your support and prayers. And thanks KLS for the nomination, that is very nice of you, especially what you said! garsh, and blush.
I hope you are all having a lovely week. And can we all say, "Can't WAIT for Easter week!" I thought we could.

8 wks to go!

2009-03-06T08:39:00.000-08:00

The last 2 wks have been sooo insane with exams, concept maps, and quizzes. Part of me just wants to goof off, but after next week, it will be another insane 2 wks, so I know I SHOULD plan ahead and start my next map. I actually gathered map "stuff" on my last shift. But I'm also feeling a bit stressed because we are doing the cardiac unit. And if you've followed my blog, or FB, you'll know that this is my BIGGEST weakness. So...I am trying to be good and keep studying, starting my map early. It's due in 2 wks, but the wknd I usually do the map, I will ALSO be studying for the dang cardiac exam. So, if you are a pray-er, please do! I have got to stay disciplined, which is really not my strength. But give it a try, I will! (oooh i'm yoda)

Ooooooooooooooooooh, and here's a MAJOR shout out to Hope2bRN, who sent me her NCLEX and cardiac study books! She is a total Saint. Here's a picture of her.

I will be using them TODAY.

On a COMPLETELY different note, it was my baby's birthday yesterday. My boy turned 14! If you visit FB, I have a whole album of him in his honor, but I'll put a few here, and a few notes, so you can get to know him a little.

The boy, LOVES St. Patty's Day. It is his second favorite holiday. We do it up big here at our house. Except the corned beef, we can't stand it.

He LOVES art, and wants to be an artist, go to art school. Here he is with one of his absolute faves, Feininger. Really cool art.

The boy LOVES sugar. Not just candy, but sugar. Powdered sugar, syrup, and anything in it's purest form. Frightening ain't it?

And he loves to travel with us, see new places. (Much more so than our other kids who complains whenever we mention going anywhere! hmph! : O )

That's it for now. I have procrastinated long enough, and really should be getting to my books. Have a lovely wknd.

In the thick of it...

2009-02-28T23:14:00.000-08:00

(this is where I wish I was...)

Well this wk, I had my first clinicals, where I was back to patient care. It is sooo nice to be working with patients again. Aaaaaaaaand,I had the best nurse. She was so patient with all my fumbling with the dang pyxes. I am soo slow at that machine. But other than that the day went well. My CI observed me hanging a PB, and I got his okay to do the rest without him for the rest of the semester, with my own nurse.

Then, on Thur. we had our first exam. I think i did fine, but I won't rest until I see the grade. And this particular teacher can take up to a WEEK to post them, just to torture us! I'm doing better on the quizes than last semester..so far. On Friday, another student and myself parked ourselves in the lab, and practiced practiced practiced IVP's until we had the whole diluting, computing, and shooting down. Have you ever had one of those moments where the lightbulb finally flashes ON? Well, I had an "AHA!" moment, where it finally all came together, and made sense. I can honestly say, that I'm looking forward to getting an order for one now. I still need to get over my fear of giving IV's though. It's not the needle part, bc I LOVE giving shots. It's the finding the vein part! Egad.

This wknd I am making my concept map, blah. I hate these suckers, they are so dang time consuming, urgh. And, it needs to be a geriatric one, which takes MUCH longer! I also have to do some prep work for Monday's geriatric simulation. Another hoop to complete. So this wk has been rather stressful, but eventful. I tell ya, I just keep checking off those requirements. I know you are doing the same. Hey have a good weekend.

...just a drive by

2009-02-23T19:44:00.000-08:00

to say hello! I have clinicals tomorrow, and it's the first time I'll have pt's in the last 3 months! So I am always soooo nervous before I get my "sea legs" as it were. I hope I remember how to give an IV, IVPB, foley etc!

Thur. we will have our first exam, so pray for me!! It is on IV administration, TPN, blood products and central lines. Egad. Have a good week!

drum roll pleeeeeeeeease

2009-02-19T22:48:00.000-08:00

I passed! Yay! Not only did I pass, but was told that I got 100%, whooo hoooo! I am much relieved, or as I told my CI, I did goooder, or more gooder, or is it gooderest?Yeah I think that's it. I did well on the quiz as well. Ten wks to go. Not that I'm counting or anything.

Waiting...

2009-02-19T08:14:00.000-08:00

I retook the math competency last night, and now I am anxiously waiting to see if I passed. I checked, rechecked, and TRIPLE checked every answer, so I think I'm okay, but I won't relax until I know for sure.

This wk for clinicals I did my Mystery presentation so I did not do pt care. I'm glad I'm done with it for the semester, but I'm going to feel behind next wk when I jump back into pt care. But classes are going fine and I will have my first quiz today, so I think I'll go and study, eh. Hope you are all having a lovely day. I will post more this wknd. TTFN

Two days down....

2009-02-11T08:40:00.000-08:00

oh i don't know, about a hundred to go. The days, they ain't so bad, it's the mountains of forms, papers and assignments! As one of my friends often writes, GAAAAAAAAAAAH! So the first day, she was okay...but day 2...STRESSFUL. Yesterday, we went from 7-1930! Full of meetings, and explanations of what's due this semester in clinicals. Ya know, I've gone through this before, but now I have a different CI. Well let me tell you (say it as your mother would), sooooo different. Last semester, I had a CI who disliked the mountains of forms/paperwork, so we had very little. THIS semester, my CI wants every bloody frickin form. Now the forms ain't so bad, but it's what we must do to fill out said form. I won't go into details, because it would effect you more than an overdose of Valium. I am feeling completely overwhelmed..had you noticed? Well praise God, I've got today to detox. And praiser God that we have a 3 day wknd as well. Yes the praiser was intentional, you know, praise, praiser, praisest.

So today i will get my handy dandy calendar out, and fill out my life for the next...oh 100 days or so. And then I will attempt to breeeeeeeeeeeeeathe through it. I will tell myself, a time or two or 200, that I WILL MAKE IT.But I'm telling you yesterday, I kept hitting wall after wall. EVERY time I got in my car I went the wrong direction. Honest. On the freeway, on the off ramps, on every bloody street. I did U-turns yesterday at least 20 times. I am honestly not exaggerating. Not once, the whole day did I drive in the correct direction.

Oh and you know what? I failed the math competency yesterday too. Bad start to my day, I'm telling you. I buzzed through it. Thought it was easy. BUT the instructor at the beginning of the test said to round ALL ml to the tenth. NOT just the ml/hr! So I did as she instructed, and missed 3 of them! And then 2 others because of a stupid 0 mistake I made. So I will have to retake it, which is STRESSFUL because if I fail it a second time, I'm out of nursing school completely! Yeah, I'm about crying right now. I can't believe I failed, I was so damned ready for it! GAH.

So...I should just shut up, I know I'm bringing this party down. If you could, I would appreciate any and ALL encouragements you could send...and prayers of course. I will tell myself once again, 'God is in His heavens, and all is well'. "Ummmm....God, a little help here please."

I hope your day is completely wonderful. And please do forgive my overindulgence of angst.

Countdown

2009-02-02T08:38:00.000-08:00

(click on picture to read comments on pic.)
So this is my last wk of boredom...I mean freedom. You know, as far as free time goes, some of us love and utilize each minute. And then... there are people like me who KNOWS I should be slaying dust bunnies, smiting evil smudgy windows, making flash cards for the semester, and yet... I continually waste time. When I am busy with school or work, I am much more efficient in the use of my time. I get much more accomplished. Ah well. I did get a few things accomplished so I will have to be satisfied with that. I will start back to school a wk from today, and I will be in absolute shock. "What? What's this? A power pt? Huh? p o w e r p o i n t?" Oh, it'll come back to me, but the first 2 days, I'll be walking into walls with a dazed look. A wk from now, I'll be asking y'all, "what's a care plan again?" Dang, I've only made like 30 or 40 of them! (OKAY, I might've exaggerated here a bit...I've made about 15-20, but it feels like 30 or 40. But I have been in nursing school for 4.5 semesters, so it adds up.)

But this wk, my goal is to hit the gym 3 times, to get my back ready for those 12 hr days, that we will have on day 2. And I've gained 3lbs back (seeeee, I don't do well with too much free time!), so I hope to get that back on track as well. I also want to go see my mommy, which is always sooo hard. And I'll try to finish a few more romance books. Right now I'm reading, Lynsay Sands, Devil of the Highlands. Yup, per fluff.

Well off I go, I must put on some spandexy type leggings for the gym. Have a lovely Monday.

Ever have one of "those" days?

2009-01-28T19:19:00.000-08:00

Of course you have. Nothing interesting, just lots of lil' things. Vajayjay appt, dog appt, daughter appt, returning stuff.... Get home, eat dinner, breeeeeeeeeeathe, go pick up kids from across town. I'm tired. Well this made me smile, so there.

25 things...

2009-01-24T09:35:00.000-08:00

I know you didn't ask, but you must be DIEING, absolutely DIEING to know 25 random things about me. I am stealing this idea from Kirsten, so you can thank her.

After reading, TAG! You're it! You write 25 things on your blog, or email them!

1. I love the color orange, bright orange.

2. As a little girl I wanted to be a go-go dancer, with shiny boots.

3. I taught Jr. High History for a few years. Loved the kids, hated history.

4. I have Bachelors in Sociology. LOVED the major. I thought I’d never use it, but it’s coming in handy now.

5. I am ADD, and I talk a lot, and I do mean A LOT.

6. I love old music, big band, and country rock. I CANNOT tolerate ‘80’s music.

7. I have been to Europe 3 times, and would ABSOLUTELY LOVE to live a few years in France. Two of the times I went, I was on a summer mission.

8. A couple years back I wrote part of a book I hope to publish one day. It is a romance.

9. Foremost in my life, I want to love Christ more, and share His amazing grace.

10. Chocolate does NOT thrill me.

11. I love to read fiction.

12. I am 4 months away from finishing my RN program. Praise God!

13. I will go to school as long as I can breathe.

14. I LOVE to learn languages, new vocabulary, read dictionaries. French is my fave, next I want to learn Italian.

15. A day of bliss would include hitting old dusty bookstores and finding a really hot deal.

16. I don’t like to decorate my house. If it were up to me, once stuff is hung/placed etc. it will be there for the next 30 years.

17. I love sex.

18. I absolutely love getting together with my scrapping buddies and laughing till I cry.

19. My hubby is the best.

20. I pick up languages easily enough, just don't ask it to be grammatically correct. And don't ask me to write them. I could speak french well when I was there. Now? Dang, I've forgotten soooo much of it. I also speak Teacher and Waiter spanish.

21. I can’t stand to listen to perpetual victims.

22. I love museums, and the hunt for ever new artsy hobbies. Next? I want to learn glass blowing. Doesn’t that sound like sooo much fun??

23. I love teenagers. Mood swings and all. They crack me up, and I love the challenge of reaching them.

24. I love to cook when I’ve got time.

25. I hate, absolutely HATE talking on telephones, ANY type of phone. Can’t stand it. I turn all ringers off in our house, and only pick it up if I HAVE TO after listening to phone message. And derned if I can get off the dang thing when I do have to pick it up, because…. As I mentioned earlier…. I can blather on and on and on….

CERTIFIED

2009-01-22T13:03:00.000-08:00

Yup, I passed the exams for the ACLS class today, whooo hooo! I am now certified. Aaaaaaaaand... the best part? I can put it on my resume. Geeps, I hope I never have to use it, it was haaard!

ACLS

2009-01-21T18:58:00.000-08:00

So I've been in an ACLS class this week. Aaaaaaaaaand, as much as I've been dreading it, it has been an excellent class. For those of you in nursing, I totally encourage you to look into this certification. If for nothing else, it will absolutely help you with cardiac in nsg. school. Maybe you aren't like me, and you fairly whizzzzzzz through cardiac, then well, it should help you get a job.
This is one of the forms that we memorize. I hope I do okay.

Anyhoo, tomorrow is the testing, which seems really tough, but we'll see. Send up good wishes, prayers

homemaker monday

2009-01-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

because once a wk is about all i can do......
I stole this from Lorie

On my bedside table: clock, water and glasses..not so thrilling

On my TV: nothing, but my boy is listening to something cartooney

On the menu for tonight: Steak and baked potato, yum.

On my To Do List: sweep the fur from the bathroom floor. and um...no, it's not from animals.

New Recipe I tried last week: Goat cheese and Leek Quiche. It was very yummy, if I do say so myself. (Except I used low fat milk instead of whole milk)

In the craft basket: I'm finishing my Christmas album...you remember...

Looking forward to: reading for fun, a nice romance.
Tip for this week: I will cook a whole bag of frozen chicken breasts with salt pepper and garlic salt, tear it up and freeze it. Then I'll use it to pack my lunches for salads or roll ups. I try to stay away from lunch meats, and this is just as fast.

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other): Tiffany she is so honest, and just so happy with who she is. Love her, and her blog. (and she makes me laugh!)

Lesson learned the past few days: God wants to bless me, so I don't need to constantly try to bless me, myself. ?ya know?

On my Prayer List: Mary who has new lungs, and is having digestion problems, and my boy who is sick again with head/chest cold.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses: I've been reading the life of David. Right now I'm in Samuel, and I'm surprised and delighted to see that he wasn't ALWAYS so righteous. That he had periods of mediocrity in his faith. It's just amazing to me that the man that God loved made mistakes, was Luke warm and even blew it...More than once, and God continued to love him, teach him, admonish him, but He never forgot him...NEVER.

Scotland Teen Missions 1980

2009-01-14T19:10:00.000-08:00

egad, I just aged myself! Here ya go Matthew, which one are you???

And for those of you who visit, and are saying, "what the...huh?" I went on a summer mission back in 1980 to Scotland, and am attempting to visit with some of them hopefully...here. I was 18, I'm in the front row standing first on the right with long dark hair parted in the middle wearing a jumpsuit. Egad, I guess my nice clothes must've been dirty! It was an amazing summer, I learned so much and totally fell in love with Scotland.

2008 in review

2009-01-13T08:43:00.000-08:00

2008: A Year In Bulletpoints

Q: What did you do in 2008 that you had never done before?
A: Worked in an emergency room for one day.

Q: Did you keep your New Year's resolutions?
A: Yes, it’s easy… don’t make ‘em!

Q: What would you like to have in '09 that you didn't have in '08?
A: an RN after my name.

Q: What dates from '08 will remain etched upon your memory?
A: A couple days that God reminded me to just let go and trust Him alone.

Q: Did you suffer from any injury?
A: nope.

Q: Where did most of your money go?
A: Monte Carlo.
jk

Q: What did you get really excited about?
A: Getting BACK into school.

Q: What song will always remind you of 2008?
A: Love Story by Taylor Swift.

Q: Favorite TV shows of 2008?
A: Bones, Fringe and 30 Rock

Q: What was your greatest musical discovery?
A: Taylor Swift. (Qualifier here: I know she can sing terribly off key, but I am totally impressed with her writing ability.)

Q: Best book you read this year?
A: Twilight. Pathetic, aren’t I?

Q: Favorite film of the year?
A: Twilight

Q: Describe your fashion concept of '08:
A: “Will this chafe?”

Q: What celebrities did you fancy the most?
A: I know he’s just a boy….but I swear I’m 16… okay, I’ll admit it…Robert Pattinson and Tina Fey, but not in a baaad way.

Q: Who do you miss?
A: Most days are okay…but a question like this just knocks me for a loop again.. I miss my sister, Rene who died @ 5 yrs ago. She was so very joyful and tender hearted, and silly.

Q: Biggest achievement?
A: Failing without falling apart.

Q: Did you fall in love in 2008?
A: Absolutely. Over and over again with my hubby. It doesn’t happen just once.

Q: What's one thing that would have made your year more satisfying?
A: To have passed that darned semester the first time! But I know, I know, God can teach me so much more, when I’m forced to trust Him more.

Now you play!

finished it

2009-01-12T20:11:00.000-08:00

I am sad to say, I just completed the LAST book in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn. It was soooo good. And the fourth book is just about as good as the first in my opinion. The only thing that would improve it is more sex, more details thereof and maybe pics of Edward. But other than that it was perfect.

So...now what to do.... alright, alright I'm going to start studying. It is hard to be motivated with nearly a month to wait, but I'll try.

Other than that... I've been setting up appts for Dr, dentist, gyno, and well that covers it. not thrilling. do you hear crickets here too? I do.

I do have about 5 or 6 other romances i can read, but I dare not start one, or I will be sucked in, and get NOoooo studying done whatsoever.

As of right now, I have clinicals assigned at a great hospital where I might very well like to work. But at the same time, I am also the first one who can get bumped to another hospital, so I am holding my breath until after I've been there a few wks.

That's it for now, have a good wk.

mine meme

2009-01-11T11:35:00.000-08:00

Everything you never wanted to know:: This has been borrowed/stolen from Kristen and Tiffany.

1. Do you like blue cheese? Not often, but every now and then
2. Have you ever smoked? nope
3. Do you own a gun? nope
4. What flavor of Kool Aid is your favorite? Hawaiian punch
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? no
6. What do you think of hot dogs? On occasion, covered in chili and amer. cheese
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Christmas in Connecticut
8. Favorite thing to drink in the morning? Coffee w/sweet n low and coffee mate
9. Can you do push ups? only bras
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? my long gold chain, it kinda sparkles
11. Favorite hobby? Scrappin'
12. Do you have A.D.D.? Yup, I definitely do.
13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? fickle
14. Middle name? Duffy (it was my maiden name) and before that Marie.
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.
A) ummmm that tuna was good
B) do I have time to squeeze in a little nap before picking up kids...
C) I guess I'll need to brush my teeth again..
17. Current worry? Making it through last semester of nursing school
18. Current hate right now? People that blather on and on all their complaints, very negative people.
19. Favorite place to be? comfy chair with a good book
20. How did you bring in the new year? Me and my boy watching the ball drop on TV.
21. Where would you like to go? Italy
22. Name three people who will complete this:
A) Laurel
B) that's it
23. Do you own slippers? Yup, I got new ones for my anniversary with little hot pink dingaballs on them. Yes, I said dingaballs.
24. What shirt are you wearing? A soft brown long sleeved T with brown sweater that's stained.
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No, they're too derned slippery!
26. Can you whistle? Yes
27. Favorite color? Orange and yellow
28. Would you be a pirate? Is there a good retirement plan and dental?
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? none
30. Favorite Girl's Name: Fiona
31. Favorite boy's name: Jesse
32. What's in your pocket right now? A used tissue, and some fuzz.
33. Last thing that made you laugh? The movie, GhostTown. Sooooo funny.
34. What vehicle do you drive? Ford white mom van
35. Worst injury you've ever had? Knee contusion, owwww
36. Do you love where you live? Yup, usually.
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? Egad, 5.
38. Who is your loudest friend? Laurel, though I can't hear her anymore bc she's in GA!
39. Do you have any pets? yup, one shihtzu, one gray kittie, and a large 6 yr old goldfish
40. Does someone have a crush on you? Oh yeah, my hubby's got it bad...
41. Your favorite book? Oh so many. Um....Jane Eyre I guess.
42. Do you collect anything? coffee spoons
43. Favorite Sports Team? nada
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? Jaws

And noooo, I didn't misspell birtday

2009-01-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

it's just how I grew up saying it. You know, some people like to keep there birthday's quiet, unassuming. no, not me. I was the baby in my family, and so I was ridiculously spoiled on my birthday with stuff. I no longer have such high demands, but I do still love feeling just a tad wonderful. Think about it... I'm 47 now, and still get happy at birthdays. I ordered my birthday present yesterday, bc my dh just couldn't pick it out from the list I gave him. Don't worry, those little things don't matter at all to me, I'm extreeeeeeemely practical. So, I was looking for a Celtic cross since I was a Duffy before marriage, and love most things Irish. Well I discovered that most of those crosses looked just a tad too manly for me. I began looking at all these other crosses and the stories behind them, and came across this one. It had the neatest story with it, so I had to get it. Yup, this is my birthday present, and I can't wait to get it. If you are interested in her story, here it is: St. Brigid. Most of them (the stories) are fairly long, but in short, she was very caring to the poor, and shared Christ to those around her in ways that they could understand. That is my life's goal of course, more than nursing, wiving or even mothering. That I could be used by Him. So this cross seemed a perfect reminder for me.

So...what will I do on this momentous day? Cover my gray for one, and get hair trimmed. I'm fine with turning 47, but derned if I'll be completely gray by 50. I can't do a dang thing about the wrinkles and sagging b...... but cover the gray I will! Later dh and ds will take me for a little treat before I head out to scrap. As I've mentioned somewhere before, my daughter also shares my birthday, but she is gone on an Ag. convention until tomorrow night. So, we will go out as a family Sunday night. I still get to do my favorite thing tonight...well one of my favorite things....and then I still get to party Sunday.

so..you have a fun day too, K!

RE-registration..again

2009-01-07T19:10:00.000-08:00

So I went back to school today and RE-registered for my classes. With God's help, this will be my LAST nursing school semester! I will have clinicals at St. Josephs unless there are problems and I get switched to Hoag. Geeps, I hope not, it's so dang far, and the clin.instructor is sooo intimidating. Now, I just have to find all my paperwork to RE-submit, bc they don't have my files since they have been RElocated temporarily. Ah well. I'll have to head over to my Dr.'s to have him RE-fill out my physical. Luckily he is very easy going and will do it for me. I am very relieved to have gotten in, and sad too, for a few of my friends who did not get back in. I am still hoping that some of those who were called to get back in, don't so that they have a chance. Does that make sense??

Um...that's about all for now. Other than I finished Midnight Sun (at least what's published on her site) yesterday and am almost halfway done with Breaking Dawn of the Twilight series. I have to finish my joy reading since I'll be back in the real books soon.

I'M BACK IN!!!

2009-01-06T11:17:00.000-08:00

I am soooooooooo happy and relieved! I am crying I'm so dang happy! Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes!

I guess I need to start my pre-study for reals now....

Halleluja!!!

sooner or later

2009-01-03T11:36:00.000-08:00

It will be time to put the decorations away, throw out the tree, and gather up the school books. No boohooing... the fun must end. Hey... how's that for a depressing start to the new year?!! Of course I'm just kidding anyhoo. There's still plenty of vacation left for this girl. The new semester doesn't begin until February IF I get back in. BUT... I really must start my pre-study that I've put off. My hubby and kids are back to school on Monday, so I will begin then... after I get my new permanent crown put on. I've had a temp for a few weeks.

And new years resolutions? I don't believe in them. But.. I do love a good goal. My goal will be to grow in godly humility. (which seems funny to me, because I'm sooo silly, and humility seems so serious. But I do believe I can combine them with nooo problem.) I would love to do kindness without wanting any attention/accolades. I don't believe this goal to be an easy one, or a year's resolution, but just a lifetime goal. So there ya go, there's mine.

Yesterday I went scrapping for 10 hours. I got a good amount of my Christmas album done. I wasn't feeling great, so my brain seemed to be in second gear most of the time, or I might've been able to finish it. Yeah right. But I did get to see some friends that I hadn't seen in almost a month so that was very nice. My dd and her lil' friend came too, which is always nice to hear them chattering and giggling all night.

That's it for now. Everyone have a nice/fun/relaxing/exciting/catatonic weekend! (Circle the best answer)

Happy New Year's Eve!

2008-12-31T10:27:00.000-08:00

I hope you all enjoy your last day of 2008 today. Tonight my hubby, boy and self will be celebrating with some friends at our local downtown for a "First Night" celebration. It's a no-alcohol family night with lots of free entertainment, and food booths. We've never gone before though we only live less than a mile from it. So that should be fun...though me and hubby have been fighting allergies, and don't really feel like getting down....with our bad selves.

now, onto turkey talk:
So, I brined my turkey after defrosting for 3.5 days. I brined over night with this here Turkey Brine recipe that turned out AMAZING. Yup, my first turkey ever, and we all agreed, it was the best turkey ANY of us had ever tasted! Wow! How amazing am I??? Hee hee. Honest tho, it turned out good because I followed some great recipes. I kind of threw together 3 different ideas. First, I brined with that thar recipe, then when I cooked it, I did the Laurel method for the first 1/2 hr. Then I covered with foil TIGHTLY just like P.W. said too, and I baked and buttered according to her Roast turkey recipe. Maybe that sounds complicated, but here's the summarized version:

1. brine night before

2. first 1/2 hr 450, then 275

3. follow P.W.'s recipe completely
Is that easier?

Here's a pic of my beautiful turkey! That whole there on top was from where I had to fork it...and then of course i had to taste it, bc it tore off a little. (btw, it was a Zacky turkey)

And ummmm... a beautiful me...dang I'm looking pale.

And you can see here, the tryptophan was doing its job by successfully knocking out my BIL later that evening.
See, it had to be good.

In other news, my fam went up to the local mountains for some snow fun. This is me spinning down a snowy hill.

My boy racing down.....

Me and my honey at a little coffee shop we went for lunch...

My whole little family... I forget to tell my boy to take off his goggles dang it.

So, there ya go, I've updated you way MOOOOORE than you EVER really wanted! So.. How was your Christmas? Do tell me what you made. Probably something waaaaaay more exotic than the silly turkey I made. Anyone try for prime rib??? Yumm that sounds so good right now. Did anyone try making any new desserts?? Do tell....I'm waiting right here until you do.

I'm still waiting.....

brining and a turkey

2008-12-23T19:46:00.001-08:00

I have always been frightened out of my head to make a turkey, but I'm 46, and by-gum, it's time to try! The biggest fear is the defrosting. I started defrosting Sunday, and tomorrow night, hopefully, I will put it in a brining solution. Yup, two brand new things for me! Then...with many prayers, ashes and sack cloth..I will have a turkey look just like this: Dontcha think??

The rest of the meal will be pretty conventional. Pretty Thanksgivingy, more than Christmas I guess. But I hate ham, so I have to give this a whorl. Is that actually a word?? Ooooh, I just remembered I haven't planned dessert. Hmmmm, I'll have to pick up something. I hope you all have a great christmas!

Sunday before Christmas

2008-12-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

So...the last few days I've been mixing, cooking and finally yesterday baking. I LOVED the lemon cookies, and the whoopie pies..... were o....kaaay, (they are the chocolatey looking ones in the plastic wrap) but a way bit toooo sweet for me. On the other hand, those folks that LOVE sweets, went on and on about them, and how amazing they were. Of course I say that with all humility. My platter, trays, gifts came out darned cute if I do say so myself, as you can see here.

Got together for family gift exchange last night at my Auntie's. It was nice to see everyone. Some of these folks I only see once or twice a year, so that was nice. I'm always shocked at the little ones who sooo drastically change in one years time. And it's always nice to hear about new romances that have popped up, and sad to hear about a very possible break up of my niecey and long term boyfriend father of their child. (man it would be sooo much easier to just say hubby, but they aren't married...)

The hard part of the evening was explaining many times over, that NOOOOOOOOO I'm not a nurse yet, nooooooooooooo, i'm stiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiill not done with nursing school, yeeeeeeeeeeees, I failed and must repeat. So danged embarrassing, and humbling. Ah well, whatcha gonna do. They were all very nice and understanding, and hopeful for June. Dang I hope I get back in...

So I am not thrilled with this camera in which you see these pics. My daughter bought one less expensive with seemingly better outcomes. I am thinking of returning, though I've had it quite a while. And it got scratched up in my purse due to a file floating around with it. I wonder if Costco would take a return after over a month??? Just thinkin'. What do you think of these pics?

Well I do pray that ya'all are having a lovely Christmas season. That you are not toooo harried, and that you are eating something good and fattening. Other than that, praise God for sending Himself to this very imperfect world to save us VERY imperfect people. Merry Christmas.

rubber face...

2008-12-15T11:12:00.000-08:00

Yep, that's how it feels. Got a crown done today at the dentist. I am talking funny, and I feel like my tongue is 5 inches thick. Don't you just hate that feeling?? And I guess it's justice that I LOOOOOVE to give shots, but I'm a big ole baby when I get them.

About graduation? That day is passed, and I am feeling better. Lucky for us (those of us who didn't pass) it's the holiday season with lots to do, see and have fun with.

Today I am planning on a bake day. I like to make baked treats to give as some of my gifts. Here's what my semi-plan is:

Glazed Lemon Cookies,

Spiced Pecans,

Whoopee Pies (from a cookbook at home; America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook).

Or if you have any ideas concerning packable "salty" or "savory" ideas, I couldn't think of anything else.

graduation today

2008-12-12T08:39:00.000-08:00

So today is feeling much harder than I had hoped. Today my class is graduating. I wish I was there. So, any prayers, thoughts, sent out to me today would be greatly appreciated. My head knows this time can only be a benefit to me, my faith knows that God is using this "no stress" time to help with family stuff etc. My heart on the other hand is breaking today. No poor poor pitiful me, just some tough truths. God is in His heaven, and tomorrow will feel better. Thanks y'all.

scrappum frustrations...

2008-12-10T19:05:00.000-08:00

So I've been working on that Xmas scrapbook and you know what I've found out? As your kids get older ~remember, mine are 13 and almost 17~ you do less Christmas stuff. So I'm taking a picture a day like your 'spose to, and have discovered that my pics are like...the gym, Del taco (tonight), the farm, my daughter home sick, some tupperware of soup...you get the point. And as you can see, these really don't lend themselves to looking very "christmasy". Maybe this is a mistake.... um, maybe I shouldn't take a picture every day like you're supposed to, OOOOOOOOOR, I could just cut out some pictures from Martha's magazine and paste it in my little book. At best the book will be a lesson in what not to do. But I've already made the skeleton of the thing, so I will continue and finish dang it. Just don't expect much, I mean really, lower those expectations...

Well we have decorated our tree and house, so there have been that, but um.... that's about it. Most of the shopping is done, all I need to do is wrap. OOoooooh that'll be a good one eh? And I still need to some Christmas baking...there's another one, yipee.

I met w/dean of nsg, but didn't find out much more, other than we'll find out if we're back in, in January. So I will enjoy my time off in the meantime. The graduation for my class is Friday, and I'd like to see everyone and the slide show, but I have reserved the right to chicken out at the last minute. I don't know if I can actually handle it.

So what's new with you?

Nursapalooza

Eight Months In...

Love, LOve, LOVE...

January 1st, 2011, Welcome!

Freedom don't come free...

Hospice Nursing...

cool and crispy fall leaves..

hello again

End of the school year

Crafting

Just for fun...

One great weekend...

not to be a Debbie Downer, but....

long time no hear...

almost Easter

Are you kidding??!

Die...........eeeeen..

Finished Second week of Orientation

My first week as an RN...

my ducks are lined up...

always the sloooooow way through...

Thanks...

I GOT A JOB!!!

Welcome 2010...plus a new P.S.

Merry Christmas

Got a job interview!!

The last *sniff* JABC...

Happy Ho Ho!

REEEALLY??

Taking donations...

Hookers green

a bit of a funk...

just pluggin along...

with heat & pressure...

still in the waiting room...

Girls just wanna have fun...

Fall is coming...

....I'd like to thank my agent...

Pics of August

Zero

The Mighty Job Hunt

Details, details on NCLEX

I PASSED! I am an RN!!!

Took the NCLEX today....

studying for NCLEX

what's new......

empty nesters...sorta

Happy July!

D day!! She's leavin' on a jet plane...

gettin' ready

Trini, shots and whats not..

studying for NCLEX

Pinning

FINI! DONE! FINITO!

Two preceptor days to go...

So, I've got a plan...

Four preceptor days to go...

a back update

First day of preceptoring...

PASS!

One...

Two....

Three days...

SIX days to go...

TWO weeks to go!!

3 wks to go!!!!

The most important day of the year...

Four weeks...

st patty's pics..

Je suis fini!

LAST concept map

Moving St. Patty's to today. So what.

St. Patty's Day is coming...

makin' it fast

8 wks to go!

In the thick of it...

...just a drive by

drum roll pleeeeeeeeease

Waiting...

Two days down....

The last sniff JABC...