summer fun

I love shaking it up, that's all.

What have i been up to?

1. Well a lot of sleeping in 'till 8! Whooo Hoooo.
2. Reading some romances
3. Cleaning some house. Not too much mind you, I don't want to have an aneurysm for pity sakes!
4. Getting ready for K. sweet 16 birthday party. She chose her theme as Alice in Wonderland. Kind of a psychedelic version. It's actually very cool, and I'll post pics later. Actually it's her sweet 16.5, since she decided to have her party this summer instead of in January. Her and I share a birthday, and i think she loves that this will be just HER day. I can't blame her, I do suck all the attention from the room, and she just disappears. Okay, i hope you know i am being big time sarcastic.
5. Trying to reorganize my study/craft room.

My study group met this wk. Okay, not so much a group as a study pair. Me and one other devoted student. Still, it was totally worth it, and I am feeling more knowledgeable by the minute. Come on renal failure!


Gotta run to Costco, have a lovely day.

Summertime summertime, sum, sum summertime....

Yup, it summmmmmmmmmmmertime. I have truly been enjoying sleeping in everyday, and then taking a nap later, playing on the 'puter, hitting the gym, actually making a few dinners (gasp!), reading some romances, cleaning the house (double gasp!), buying some stuff I don't need!,
and then, trying to learn how to use the dern thing, and just plain relaxing. Of course I have a hard time doing a lot of nothing, so of course just like me, I have begun to make my summer goals. And here they are:
1. Lose 20 lbs (or try NOT to gain back the 15 i done lost)
2. Start a NCLEX study gp (already in the works)
3. Kill the blasted dustbunnies that have been mounting up a serious offense. (and their friends the hairy dustbunnies hiding against all the walls)
4. Make student nurse resume.
5. Do lots and lots of scrapbooking to try to catch up a little.... haha, i'm about 2.5 yrs behind right now.

Okay, so those are my major goals, I probably left out some i'll think of later. Outside of those goals i'll be lazing. Yup, lazing. What are you up to?

I MADE IT!!! WHOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!

Okay, that was just a little too close for comfort, but I did it, I know only with Gods help! Since that 50% I got back a couple exams ago, I have been killing myself with studying. This morning at 0530, I drove through to get protein and caffeine (went for the coke, FULL sugar), and then drove through AGAIN before I got to school, to get a starbucks! I wanted to make sure my caffeine needs were fully met! So, I loved this photo of an actual nursing students desk at school. No, it wasn't mine, but I wanted to show a visual. I have been living at school, kinda forgetting husband and kids names. But no worries, I see them now, and it's coming back to me!

The Final today was a real killer. But since I did very well on exam 5, I just needed a 66 to pass the class. And a B wasn't even an option. But you know what, at this point, I just did not want to get that phone call. You know, the one that says sorry... but.....

Well I didn't get it, and I'm on to my LAST semester! WHAAAAA HOOOOO!!! I am totally elated, and totally exhausted!



Todays celebratory plans included champagne and cranberry juice this morning, a pulled pork sandwich tonite, and frozen yogurt, with our very own home grown blackberries. So I am feeling pretty darned relaxed. I even slipped a nap in, ahhhhhh what bliss.



So.. this is me now, I'm cooking! Okay not literally, but I'll start. I just loved this photo. This is really how I look most of the time. Stop. I do. Stop the giggling.

Exam 5 done!

Whooooo Hooooo! YAY! It felt great today, feeling like I really new the material. I really had been hoping for a 95% (yeah, i know i never get those #'s, but still, I've been killing myself with studying!!!), but didn't get it. What I did get was a 86%! YAY me! Still, it only brought me up a mere 2% in class, so i now have a big ole' 77%. Okay, it's better than 75%, but still, not feeling particularly "safe". The final is next wk, a big 200 pts, so i must get back to the books for review. I just organized all my notes, and thought I'd show you what I need to review. About 4 inches of mostly power points double sided. Egad.


The other pic is of how diligent i was in studying, even as i made potato salad! I'm darned proud of me, goof that i am.


A week from thursday i will be done with 3rd semester, and then on to my LAST semester in the Fall! OMGosh, i think i'm gonna puke.

Here's a pic of our last day of clinicals at St. Jude. I'm in the middle at the back.


okay, here i am in the front row of our bus we have to take to the hospital since their parking lots are totally full.

It's only a flesh wound...

I haven't blogged in quite a while due to my new and improved intense study sessions. Last wks ATI pharm exam was extremely difficult and i didn't do so well. Luckily it was only worth 5%. Well that still means my % in the class is just too darn low, so I'm keeping up my studying intensity with exam #5 being next Thur. It will be on Neuro, and 4th semester says it is a VERY tough exam. So far, everything seems easier than Cardio, but that is because i prob didn't get the basics down, back in Anat/Physio. So I need to rewind a bit for that. I have gotten some tutoring which i think will help a bit.

So, not much more to report here. Just about 3 wks left. Oh yeah, I passed clinicals with really high scores. I just about cried. Too bad they don't combine the 2 parts.

Aaaaaaaaaaaand how are you???

"...how 'bout some cheese with that

...whine?" Well, i finally took that derned respiratory test today. And sad to say I only got a 80% Now generally that wouldn't be so terrible, but after my last 50%, i really was hoping for upper 80's, even lower 90's. As most of you know, you have to have a 75% to pass this class (most nursing programs are the same), and because of that one horrendous flop, I am only at a 76% in the class. Yeah, not very comfortable for me right now, dang it. So I have canceled yet another scrapbooking night, as i will need to make love to my pharmacology book. ah well, crap. I swear i was putting in the hours to study, but well, what do you do. For me, i really, REALLY wanted to go to Yogurtland, but could not find anyone nearly as obsessed about the place as i am. But I swear, by all that is holy, I will make my pilgrimage by the end of the week... damnit. So as you might sense, i am feeling a bit down in the mouth, wanna curl up in a ball kinda day. But "tamarraw IS another day!" . How'd I do? Scarlet enough?
Quite frankly, I don't give a damn. okay, I'm lying, i do give a damn, a whole big lot of damn in my instance. It occurs to me, that i'm quite funny for someone feeling so dang pissy. Well, we all handle our disappointments differently don't we? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand to rub salt in my wound, I received a nursing school graduation invitation. Don't get me wrong, I am totally happy for my friend, but daaaamn, it made me feel like quite the loser since she was in my original first semester.

alright, you're getting tired of the wallow, and so am i. I must go, get some studying done before i knock out. All prayers are greatly appreciated.

so what's new?

Nothing much, i have been studying almost every day for at least 3 hrs like my goal i listed earlier. I turned in another concept map, and have one more to make this wknd..........grrrrrrrrrrrr. I really don't have time for that silliness! I worked 2 12 hr clinicals last wk instead of the normal one. I proudly went up to taking 3 patients, wahooooooo for me! So, i've been studying so much that i'm not scrapping, so that i can spend some time with my lovely family, cuz i'm not around much. The next exam will be a wk from today (Thur), and then the following wk, another ATI exam on Pharm. So i have tons to do. Once my last concept map is turned in, i can breath a little at least clinically.

so that's it, my whole life in a bubble!

Here's the casserole i made from my new favorite web site, Pioneer Woman. It was soooooooooooooooo yummy and so dang fattening, that i froze half of it, and i'm trying to find someone to take it since i'm dieting!!! It's called Chicken Spaghetti
Thanks for your support all. Since meeting with our teacher, I've been pretty upset, but there's nothing like an F to motivate you right? I joined a study group, and i think it will help. I am trying to put in at least 3 hours of study most days, and respiratory i think is a little easier. NOT EASY THOUGH. Anyhoo, i have pulled out of all fun and games until that next test is done with to see if I can get my class % up. I'm okay, but a little too close to "not okay" for my comfort. So i will be dull as dirt for a while as i attempt to ace this next exam. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.

i didn't feel like hunting for a better photo, and i thought, hey, i've never put up a pic of food, that'll be weird!

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

(is this pic perhaps....a little dramatic???)

flippin'
frickin'
frackin'
F.

yup, my first F. I am totally crushed.
I don't think i've ever seen a grade this low. On occasion i will see a D+ at the worse. I just felt so dang overwhelmed. We had about 100 pgs of power points, (with 2 slides per page) and I felt like i needed to MEMORIZE every one of them! The types of heart problems, the physio results thereof, every drug for each indiv problem, it's side effects and class... i can go on and on and on. I could not figure what to work on more, so the result was trying to study in a gunshot method as opposed to an archery method of aiming at the center, and knowing it's concentric areas.

but i can't allow myself to wallow, or it will hurt me for the next exam, so i need to shake it off and do a lot better for his (our prof) next exam. Today i've got to get another concept map done, pick out one of my old concept maps to orally present, and start studying for the next exam. I guess this is my wake up call huh?

So when i'm not cussing like a soldier, i am praying quite a bit. I'd appreciate yours, thanks!

These posters crack me up, 'cuz i've gotta lighten up a bit!

test day HELL

Okay, i have NEVER felt this down about an exam. I swear i died in there. He (the teacher) gave us a 10 min. warning at end, and i still had 10 questions left, and i had to still fill in my whole bloody scantron! That has never happened to me before. I felt so danged muddled through most of it. I am honestly just hoping for a C- at this point! I'll let you all know when i do. waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa i am feeling stressed!

studystudystudystudystudy

yeah, what do you do after spring break? Yup, study. I've got a big exam tomorrow on cardiac blocks, attacks, angina, EKG's, MI's, drugs thereof, treatments thereof etc. I AM GOING TO DIE. Literally fall over from a WENCKEBACH. And no, no amount of atropine sulfate orisoproterenol is gonna save me! Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp!

alright, i feel a tad bit better losing it. Now i must get back and stuff some more of this chatter into my lil' brain!

Hope you are all doing better than my whiney self!

As soon as i finish this exam, i am gonna treat myself to the Pioneer Woman's love story. Have you visited her site yet? What a gal. Her addy is in my list of places I like to visit to the right, there.

Have a lovely wknd, i will be making another concept map. Am I whining again??? Someone, quick give me some cheese.

sleeeeeeeeepin'!

first, a few pics of the Gaylord where I stayed for the convention a wk and a half ago.

I'm on break this wk, so I am sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepin in! Yeehaw! I did work yesterday for part of my service hours at the MHA, the mental health association shelter. I had a great day, with a fellow classmate is so wonderful, we had fun, and saw a lot of patients. And I did my first accucheck correctly! I know, i know, a third semester student doing her first accu, it's a long story why, and i must say not very interesting, so i won't bore you. None the less it was fun. Somethings wrong w/me, I love poking a needle into people! Sick i know! I got to give some shots last wk, and a couple IV attempts, and just love the way it feels to put that needle in! okay, i'm scaring you now so i'll stop! hee hee

Our family did take a little trip to palm springs area hot springs camping. It was very relaxing, I loved every minute of it. Even with the VERY WINDY gusts that just about knocked our trailor over! it was still lots of fun.

I am also studying this break, of course, because i will have a big mother of a test next thursday. But don't worry, i'm still having fun, i will do a 12 hr crop on saturday. I feel a little guilty, but i will study before and after, honest injun.

okay so i'm back

The convention was excellent, I mean reeeeeeeeeeealy amazing. My favorite thing was the focus sessions. Lets see I went to: Easy ABG's, Oncology nursing, and ummmmm, 2 others i can't quite remember at the moment. You can see which ones were my favorite. And then of course, there's the booths. I have to tell you, i loved that too. You just feel so dang needed everywhere, I love that. And unlike hospitals that i search online, they would tell you, EVERYWHERE, what the pay per hour is. From CA, we saw UCLA, a children's hospital, a couple hosp's up north, and um.... oh yeah, City of Hope. I have really been trying to figure out where I want to go after graduation, and I'm feeling drawn a little to Oncology. I know that I am particularly interested in hospice...eventually, but I know I need a lot of experience before then. My CI says that cancer nursing is very unique, in that it has to deal with death and dying on a fairly regular basis. That sounds like a good preceptorship for hospice don't cha think? So, I am going to try to do some extra clin days there. We'll see.

And I decided to get a little tattoo to commemorate Texas. Isn't it cute? I look JUST like her! Okay, it's not my tattoo, I didn't get one, but wouldn't it be a hoot to get it! hee hee.

On to this wks clinicals. I had the sweetest pt, ever. I just about cried when he started singing little hymns and I got to join in. Before I left we and his wife prayed together. I am finally getting the hang of the computer at the hospital, so I will move up to 2 pt's next wk. My nurse (again) did not think highly of me, taking only ONE! But my CI, was great, and understanding since we had NOOOO training on their computer system, just a damn video for 1 1/2 hrs. And I am getting back in the swing of things, since we haven't been in med'surg for so long. I feel so dang inadequate, and the nurses haven't been that encouraging or helpful for us, especially myself. Next wk i'll be back in oncology, so I will really try to do better. Anyone out there in Oncology? Ped's oncology?

Back in class we are back to heart issues, and reading EKG's. We had a great lecture, but then i rather flunked a quiz after the conference, since i hadn't studied. Soooooooooo... my spring break begins today, and so does my studying. But alas I am sitting here blogging. ah well. After I blog.
(CLICK on the photo below)
We will be going to palm springs this wknd for a little R & R, thank goodness. (don't worry i won't go topless....) But I promise to bring my dern notes to study. We have a big mother exam when we get back on Rside, Lside etc blockage, and every other bloody heart issue.

okay, back to my studies, dang it.

I'm headed out!

I'll be leaving for Texas tomorrow afternoon for the student nurses national convention. I am very excited about going! How fun, what a little adventure! If anyone is going, look for me!

basket case

or maybe a case of baskets? I am soooo nervous to be back in med/surg tomorrow! I practiced my IV's today, and got one on one tutoring on insulin injections, etc. Still I haven't been on a regular med/surg floor since almost a year ago! Egad, I'm nervous! Okay, I'm backing away from the edge, breeeeeeeeeeeathe.................. Ommmmmmmmmmm. Okay. I'll fill ya all in later.

the double whammy

Hi y'all, i have been outta commission because this week i had 2 big psych exams. After the regular psych exam i was talking to folks in the class, and dang i missed quite a few. I was just praying i passed with a C. Then we had to take the ATI psych exam. i know a lot of you take those... they are soo hard. I thought, dang i think i failed, i'm gonna have to remediate. As i was leaving the ATI exam, my teacher thumbs up me.... hmmm that sounds rude, anyhoo i had gotten 78%, so phewwwwwwww! i passed it. The fun part was that a really smart student was shouting how he was above the national average, and was generally dancing because he had done so well. Out in the hall, he asked how i did, i said fine, he said how great he had done with his 72%! I wasn't going to tell him my score, he was just so darn proud of himself, but he pushed and pushed so i told him. It was so funny, his face was in shock, he couldn't believe that I scored higher. It cracked me up. Well, my 78% translates to 85% in my class, don't ask me how, i have no idea, some odd formula. Then later on i got my exam grade with a 86%! Wow, was i surprised! So I thank God big time, I am sooo relieved.

I am much relieved. Now I have been working on my skills since we step back into med/surg this wk. dang, it's been a year since the last time i was in med/surg, I hope i remember stuff. So we learned IV starts, that was totally fun. I am sooo looking forward to my first stab. Now i need to review my catheter etc.

I hear the third exam is indeed "a killer". So i really want to get up on all the heart system stuff.

This wk i go to the national stu nurse convention in Texas. I am soooooooooo excited. If you're gonna be there, let me know, i'd love to meet you.

Happy St. Patty's Day!!

Just a quick note to say happy happy! The dern leprechauns have hit our house big time! The living room had tons of blockades, there were leprechauns hanging from the kids doorways ready to bonk them in the nose as they exited their rooms, milk, juice, and toilets all green! Of course the kids had to locate their "treasure" before it disapeared at noon (luckily they did), and shamrocks and leprechauns all over the house! We're having fun, hope you are too!

Psych rotation.....CHECK!

I finished my psych clinicals last wk, yay!!!! Okay, I DO NOT want to be a psych nurse, I DO NOT want to feel threatened on a semi-regular basis. I passed so far with flying colors. We have 2 psych exams this wk, so i must get on the ball and study some more.

I have played with my new toy, and it is sooo fun.

Will start back at med/surg this wk. Dang it's been a while, I hope i remember everything! I'll write more after thursday.

is anyone going to the national stu nurse convention in texas? I'll be there!

first sunday

wow it was sooo odd working at the hospital yesterday. I kept thinking it was tuesday, but then we'd step outside, and there was this wonderful quietness. I never noticed before how sunday feels, but it was amazing. Everything went smoothly, but then i started getting the feeling that one of the pts was getting a little too sweet on me. It's my fault, i kept hanging out at his puzzle. He was the only one around during the groups. He is mostly deaf and swedish, so has a really hard time understanding almost any english so he didn't go to groups. Well after i noticed that i kept away, and he seemed to get the pt. Don't worry he wasn't dangerous. He had been in for depression, so he was just a tad needy.

Tomorrow is our last psych day. I guess that's good and bad. Good because the days would go by soooooooooo slowly. Bad because we are headed back to med/surg which is soooo challenging for me to stay organized and on top of everything. Still, at least the 12 hr days zoom by. We will have a new CI, so that makes me a little nervous. But everyone has said she's a total honey, so i am trying not to freak. Psych was interesting, and I think i have a natural affinity for it, but i think it would be a lot like when i was teaching, a little too stressful in the "danger" area. I just don't think i want that. Aaaaand it's just a little too not physical for me since i have ants in my pants all the time.

On the personal front, I bought a new toy on ebay that i CANNOT wait to get. (see pic!) It cuts out any words that you print out from your computer. It was pricey, but i have been chewing on the idea for quite a while. For those of you who don't scrapbook, I use it to label my scrapbooking pages, you know titles etc. It can also cut out designs that you have on your puter as well. I have found some corners and swirls as well as some cool fonts on dafont all for free. Can't wait to play with it. I'm such a gadget sucker.

a prayer request for me please

Could y'all send out a little prayer for me this wk pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease? My back went out Saturday, and I have been in a lot of pain. And so today, i could not even go to clinicals. Walking is extremely painful. Tomorrow a.m. i have a class that i should not miss (notes and quiz), and Thurs is our first big exam. The stress i feel about those things compounds my back pain, bc stress really adds to it! Thanks all who can.