Thursday 13...

OK, so another blogger that I read does this on Thursdays and I know it is Friday, but I am running a day behind since I had food poisining yesterday. That was a blessing...NOT! So here is my Thursday 13 (a day late)

1. Nursing school is busy but great
2. My kids are having a great time at VBS
3. We got to see cousins this week at the pool
4. I love my husband
5. We are going to the beach at the end of July
6. I am going to be an aunt in January
7. I am going to dinner with one of my BFF Saturday night
8. I can't wait to get home to my husband
9. I can't wait to get done with nursing school
10. I love my paramedic transition classmates
11. I love my dog
12. I love that my friends call me for no reason at all (I need mindless conversations HAHAHA)
13. We are going to see Wall-E tonight as a family

Well there it is. If you are reading this you should also post your 13 either on your blog or leave them in my comment section. It is an easy way to keep up with everyone.

Have a great day and Hopefully you will get more from me next week.

Running Behind

Sorry I haven't posted anything new in over a week. This past week was UNBELIEVABLE. My nursing class has 2 different clinicals this week; it was our final nursing home clinical (thank goodness) and our first pediatrics clinical. We have to make care plans for the pediatric clinicals and for the Med/Surg clinicals. For those who don't know care plans are approximately 20 pieces of paper that has to be filled out prior to showing up at 6:30 am. Well, I started at 6 pm and finally got finished at 12:30 am; then up at 5 am to be at the hospital at 6:30. I fail to see where the fun is. HA HA HA. Actally other than the lack of sleep (which I have been informed is over rated anyway) I had a really great time. I had a great nurse to work with and our teacher, who was a great help, I think I did OK. I really enjoyed working with a pediatric patient and their family. I was only there for 5 hours, but I learned a lot. Anyway, I will try to do better next week. If all else fails you can check out another blog that is listed. It should say the title "Fruit Loops" or "As our World Twirls". I don't know what is listed in the blog list. This is the blog that is posted for the class. There are postings from me along with the other students. Hopefully, it will help with our feelings and you if you want to keep up with us. Have a great Sunday.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!!

YEA ME!!!!

Well, as I told you last night I had two tests today. I did REALLY well on my nursing exam. I only missed 2 and the teacher threw out one of the two that I missed. I was so excited. I really needed that boost in my test percentage for some breathing room. That doesn't mean I can slack off or anything, but it does mean that I don't feel so cornered anymore. I now feel like I can take a deep breath and am FINALLY out of the testing slump.

I had a meeting with my advisor for this semester and we discussed several things. I think I need to have an established routine for studying. I don't....but yet, I don't know what the best thing to do is. This time I listened to music, reviewed my slides from my notes, and I wrote out some important points. I don't know if the test was easier or if I was just better prepared. I guess I will know in 2 weeks when we have another test.

Well, I am off to bed for tonight. Have a great weekend. I probably won't blog anymore until after the weekend.

Late night thoughts...

As I am reading through my notes and having some reflection time I am thinking. Yes, sometimes that is very dangerous for me, but I do have some very intense thoughts at times. Tonight I am relfecting on the whole nursing school process and what it means in my life. Right now, it means that I am away from my husband for most of the week with our children. It means that I am spending long hours studying, reviewing, and talking with classmates trying to figure out what exactly is due next. It means that I am learning how to switch my thinking process from right now to sometime down the line. Is it hard?-----Absolutely. It is rewarding?----Absolutely. I know that the end justifies the means in this process. I pray daily that God will show me that this is really all worth it. That truly the end justifies the means. There are so many opportunities as a nurse for anyone. At some point I have to think about where I want to spend my 12 hour shifts. I thought I knew where I wanted to go and for those of you who know me well...you know where that is, but I am not so sure about that anymore. I don't feel that same tug as strong as I once did. I don't know where I belong in this whole process. Right now I guess it is just figuring out where God wants me and I need to be content in that.

HA HA...me be content in a situation. Well, for now, I don't have a choice. I should rejoice that I have the chance to bless patient's as a student and then as a nurse. I have to be a student to be a teacher. I am very excited that next week we go on pediatrics rotations. That will give me a chance to see if I can see children as patient's and not bring home the emotions that go with that. Hopefully, I can with God's help.

This probably doesn't make sense to anyone, but it is very therapeutic for me to write out my thoughts and that is the purpose of blogging anyway.

It is late and I have 2 tests tomorrow. Again, more of the "What this means" category.

Love to all.

Ever wonder how nurses are trained?

Well if you see the slideshow below you will see how some nurses are trained!!! HA HA HA

Here is your paramedic to RN transition students. All 9 of us.

We had extended care clinical today and when we were finished we talked our instructor into going to IHOP for our sensory/perception assignment. I thought it was a good idea to test our taste perception. We put on the "glasses" to see what it would be like to have certain vision disturbances like cataracts, macular degeneration, and others. One of us even had to put in ear plugs to see what it would be like to not see or hear. It was a great learning experience. We had a great time.

I would have posted this with the pictures, but for some reason it won't work that way. I am still learning how to get all of this "stuff" together.

I hope everyone is having a great summer. Me, well...I will be with my crazy classmates learning how to be a GREAT nurse. Love to all.

Day with Cousins at the farm

More baby info...

I actually spoke to my brother tonight. He has been trying to call me for 2 days and everytime he has called I have been in class. The official word now is that baby and mom look great and they should know in about 10-12 weeks whether I am getting a neice or nephew. Also, everybody put them in your prayers...their house is on the market and they REALLY need to sell it prior to the arrival. It is a really cute house, but there isn't room for 3. It is a 2 bedroom/1 bath 900-1000 sq ft home in Knoxville. It is really cute for a couple who doesn't have kids or for someone who is single. They have put a whole new bathroom in and redone the kitchen. If I had a picture of it I could show you. They have found a house that is perfect for them and the new baby and by the grace of God have been allowed to put a 90 day contingency on it. I hope it all works out. Again pray for them.

On the notes of new children...one of my BFF told me tonight that she and her husband are in the process of adopting a child from India. This has been a work in progress for over 3 years for her. It has been a topic of discussion for her and I on several occasions, as I am adopted. I am so very excited for her. Her name is Ashley (yes same as my name) and her husband is Keith. They have two children ages 5 & 6. They are all very excited and are coveting our prayers for this new journey that they have embarked upon. I don't have a whole lot of details other than all of their homestudies have been completed and they have to wait on the Indian courts. I pray that God continues his speediness on their behalf and that they remain safe when they get the word and travel to receive the gift that God has provided.

Much love to Keith and Ashley. I will pray for you daily.

My birthday

I know Jeannette posted Happy Birthday to me on her blog and I am not here to say Happy Birthday to me, but I thought I would say thanks to all who gave me a gift and to Dad and Wanda who took me and the kids to dinner at the Japenese Steak House. It was SOOOOOO good. Jacob ate more than I have seen him eat in ages. He ate all of his shrimp, some of Cassie's shrimp, and whatever dad gave him off his plate. We had a great time spending the day with Dad and Wanda too. I don't get to see them as much as I would like. They are retired now and they are businer now than they were when they had a 40 hour week. HA HA HA. Hopefully, since I am in Chattanooga this summer I can catch up with them too.

Oh Yeah, by the way...CONGRATS to my brother Brad and his wife...They are expecting a baby in January. I now officially have a niece or nephew from my side of the family. I have 5 from Luke's side. I am so excited. When I get any new information on whether it is a niece or nephew I will let you know. They just had their first doctor appointment yesterday and the word is everything is A-OK.

YEA!!!
Have a great day.

Fun in the Sun

Jacob
Cassie (aka Miss Priss)
Taelynn (Hey how come I get all the good pics of her?) HA HA HA
The Kids

This past Monday the kids and I went to Jeannette's and hung out by the pool. We had such a great time. Jacob and Cassie don't get to play with Savannah that often, but they had fun in the sun. It is amazing to see how all of the kids play together. They have been friends and hanging out for about 5 years now. Wow, I can't believe it has been 5 years. It is amazing how time flies when you are having fun. Jeannette I love ya girl. Thanks for the pool invite. See you this Friday.

Never thought I would have this happen...

I was at my microbiology lab tonight and there was a fire at the college.

We were sitting in class learning about some type of microorganism and the air conditioner shut off and then the lights went out and the next thing the fire alarm starting going off. The class got up and down the stairs we went out into the HOT sun. We stood in the parking lot for over an hour. We watched about 6 fire trucks come in to "search" for the problem. Apparently, there was some type of electrical fire. I was told it was small. Well, needless to say it disruped the whole class which didn't break my heart. The thought of messing with a live virus in the dark wasn't appealing to me at all.

I had my second clinical today during my nursing hours...it was fun. I got the same patient I had last week. She was a lot more talkative today too. We gave out the medications today. I had a lot more fun. I have realized that geriatrics isn't my specialty, but I also like to see the smiles on the faces of the residents when you give them extra attention and how nice it is to bring that smile to their faces.

I had the opportunity to read to my patient today too. She had a daily devotion book. It was from like November/December, but she was excited that I was willing to read it to her. Mom has several of those free Upper Room books that she gets at church. I think I will take one of those next week. We have 2 more clinicals at that facility. Maybe I will get the same patient all of the days.

Have a great night.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEANNETTE!!! HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY AND GET ALL YOU WANTED.

LOVE YA!!!!! :-)

The Last Saturday of Ball...

I am sad to say that ball season is over. Jacob had his ball party yesterday. Cassie's will be Thursday, but we won't get to go since I have school. Jacob got a cool trophy and some real encouraging words from his coach. I hope he can stay on top of his game over the next year and he will be an even better ball player next year. I have included some pictures from the party. All of the boys played hard in the pool. They had a great time.