Goodbye week 1, hello week 2....

So... the first week went well I think. And tomorrow is my first clinical of the semester. I think I'm ready. It seems like the night before these things are about the same: gather stuff up and relax, after doing whatever work first. I don't obsess about things, like I could be going over the head to touch like crazy and doing a couple dry runs with the husband but i'm just trying to be as calm as I can. Does that make any sense? Not that I have reason to panic but let's be clear- anything can happen in clinical. You don't know what you'll have to deal with or what questions you'll be asked.
So I'll spend the first 2 weeks a nursing home- mainly doing head to toes and dealing with the "final" phase of life... not exactly my highlight and may pose some personal challenages for me but hopefully I'll be the bestest nurse I can be (including control of my reactions & emotions).
Then the until Turkey day it's an oncology unit with some mental health throw in. Cancer- I should be good at that, huh? I've had lots of exposure and actually seen an oncologist but will this dig up fears and sadness? I think I'll be ok, I should fine tune my communication skills, wonder if I can discuss my experiences... hmm... only if it comes up like "I can relate... my blank had blank cancer too"... ?
LOL so what is my strategy for dealing with stress (other than doing all i can to prepare) sew!
I bought 2 yards and cut them into 3 1/2 inch squares. I just sew a few together at a time. Don't know what it will end up, just making square blocks for now.... So wish me some luck or send me some prayers or kind words! Nursing school is not for the weak & I know God choose this for me.
Goodnight & God Bless
Tomorrow is going to be an awesome day...

Last Weekend of Freedom..

So I figure (on my next to last day of freedom before school starts) I should post something. I'd say I've neglected my blog a bit but honestly I've either had not much to say or been living it up. Just to recap quickly: My trip to TN was great, got see a high school football game and my niece preform with her color guard team, I even got to see my dad (been 3 years). 4 1/2 days go by fast. So I'm planning one last hoorah trip to TN (last because I plan to be moving there by next summer- fingers crossed I pass all my stuff so I can be a licensed nurse). And one last thing to mention my baby Max is currently under the 20 pound marker (has been as much as 22 or 23) just a few more to go! So here are my tidbits:

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  Article of the day: 10 states where no one wants to buy a new home ... (scroll down to the "Gallery" to see this list & skip the article) Sadly my home state Ohio is one the list (& much of the northeast/midwest). Guess selling anything (cough cough my dad's inherited over 100 acre farm) would not be smart at this time.... At least I basically have a house there...


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  Have you heard of Zulily.com? It offers sales for cool shops for moms and kids and all the in between. They have some cute baby clothes that would maybe cost more than I'd want to spend but I'm sure whenever a kid comes into my life I'll use this site a few times...

As usual my intention of flooding you with links fails! I guess there ain't much going on in the world. Congrats to my niece Holly & Mo-West for beating Greenville! Go Trojans! Now into.. some chapter reading for school.... Monday is fast approaching (hopefully so will May when I get pinned - prayers)....

Healthy Veggie Soup

1st picture is most of the ingredients (not including some spices)

2nd is the soup

It made a huge pot full so I'm going to have it for lunch a couple days then freeze the rest in single servings for quick meals (I made it before and it freezes well).

Get the recipe here...

Tuesday Tidbits....

As I watch the today show they pose this theory or idea: The End of Civility. I've learned in life that some things Ill never understand because I'll never be or do what the action is, therefore I can't understand others would. Don't misunderstand me: I am not 100% right, I am not perfect. But I do give it my best effort to be kind & polite, to give in some form and to help. I really hope the Today Show is wrong but all I can is my part....

Now my Tidbits...

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  First I just want to say I was blessed yesterday with a monday paper & another Sunday paper (FYI: I only subscribe to double papers wed-Sun)... No clue what was going on but thanked the Lord for added coupons anyways...


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  I also ordered the Smart Money magazine from Amazon, they had a sale for $5 so I thought why not, I'm trying to get my finances in tip top shape & hopefully in less than a year I'll have my first Nursing job and making more money than I ever have.


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  Taco Bell has there nacho surpreme for 99 cents- awesome. It's normally like $2.?? i think. Just for a couple weeks though....


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  Also my 2nd cousin Addie Dixon won the 2011 Champaign County Fair Queen! Yay!

I guess that's it for now... Next week I'm heading north to TN (big surprise huh?) I'll be there 4 whole days. My dad may be coming for a day and my brother's in-laws maybe coming too, and my oldest niece Heidi! Going to watch a high school football game (my niece is in the color guard). Should be so much fun that if flies by so fast that I'll be wishing I had more time but gotta get back to FL because it then be less than 1 week until school starts. Although I wish my break was longer than 3 weeks, I know I can do this- with lots of hard work I can do this! (& God too)

My first weekend-school free!

I was going to put "stress free" but there are always some minor stressers- ATM- Max isn't 100% yet but they did say could be 6 weeks (only been like 3), we are taking in the Geo today to finally get the oil leak fixed (& maybe some new lights & alignment), & just trying to get in all I can before the trip. God knows once we get back it's school school school!
So far I've done quite a bit: lots of laundry, cleaned up the bedroom, office, bathroom, & other room, washed the futon cover, started pulling clothes to pack, put up my N3 stuff, some other small things....
I still need to: schedule my shot, dye my hair, complete packing, clean up the living room (optional), print N4 stuff, buy my books, finishing burning/cleaning out my laptop, unload & charge my camera, prepare a package for mailing, some other things I'm forgetting, & probably study or do something for N4. I normally can't wait to get on the ball but after having only 1 week (really 1.5 wks) between the last 2 semesters I've just been not in the school mood. So I don't know what is better: A. take a complete break to recharge and get all my "other" things out of my system OR B. maintain a certain amount to studying/school so I don't get too relaxed and have a more difficult time getting back into the swing of things....

Update on date night

Harry Potter: OMG didn't really see the Snape thing coming....

Shopping: not that trilling. I was expecting to go to Old Navy and have to narrow down my purchases but 1. they didn't have much stuff in the store 2. Not much new fall stuff or clearanced summer... But I did find the one shirt I knew I wanted (sold out online) and ended up spending a few dollars more than I was going to because they had a sign marked wrong and I added a $1 things because I thought I wouldn't have spent enough for my coupon.. ugh but ok.

Food: ate at Ale House & like my splurgy husband- he has 2 "drinks", we shared an app, he got a meal & i got a bowl of soup, then we shared dessert= $49 (I was hoping more like $30 but what can say it was for is birthday..)

So I'm about to leave for the Chevy dealer to follow Rob in the honda so he can wait at home Vs at the dealer (who knows if it will even be done today). Hopefully it's reasonable, got a big vet bill coming Friday with Max's semi-annual stuff plus his $40 shot to help his bones/joints. I have no idea what I've spent on my doggie in the last 5 years and I don't care because he's here today & I love him so deeply. This dog has changed my life...

Praise Jesus I passed N3

So quick update: I passed my class and onto my 4th semester (aka nursing 4) at the end of the month. 2 semesters left until I graduate (take my boards) & become a nurse!!!!!!!!!!
On a shopping note: I spent under $20 on Kohls.com- got a couple xmas gifts for some kids (clearance sales) & a couple things I didn't really need but Im compelled! LOL
Last minute note: Watching Hoda & Kathy at the moment and they just read some study or poll that married couples (non-newly-weds) kiss once a week, Dude? WTF I kiss my husband a minimum of twice a day (i always kiss him goodnight unless he is working and we usually kiss before one of leaves, like this morning he kissed me goodbye even though I was 80% asleep & didn't open my eyes). Just thought that was kind of weird- kissing 1 time a week but hey I'm not a judger!
Thanks for the support & prayers- now lots to do with 13 days until TN vaca! Wonder if I should start packing/planning my outfits..?... Yes I'm a pinch crazy- I like to call it Spicy.
Big date & shopping tomorrow!!!!!

Tomorrow = Final

So I've tried my best to spend the day studying, I admit there were quite a few breaks and I feel nearly at the end of my rope with studying. I just hope not enough rope to hang myself hehe....
I'm not going to say how many points I need to pass this class because I don't want to just skim by, I don't want to aim for 1 more point higher than I need. I want to exceed and do so well that I a smile so big it hurts on Wednesday, when I find out my grade. Nursing 3 is easy some say... it's not easy just some of the content is a little familar (especially if you have kids) or some of the content is personally interesting. I hope the Lord will shine through me tomorrow and bless me as he has in the past. I know that whatever happens in life is his Will (with or without understanding). So as I round down my night with a little God time, I'm going to put it in his hands, give him my fears and the power over my life. Of course I'm going to wake up a little early and study more, just review some points. Always aiming for my best. & hopefully that equals success! Send some prayers for me if you like, I'd gladly do the same for anyone. I'd love to say on Wednesday I have 8-9 months left of school....

Update w/Links

(Farm Girl above)

So quick "Life" update...

School- I have just over a week or so, 1 final left that I need a 72 or better in order to pass, aiming for an A but know at the end of day whatever happens is God's will.

Max- injuried himself- his back leg has a ligament torn or something so we are hoping it will heal on it's own over the next few weeks. He has been seeming like himself the last few days with hoping around more & playing with the squeky toy. My little baby isn't a young pup but I love him so dearly- for all the 13 years he's been in my life.

Family- My aunt jan still has cancer but started treatment with radiation- if that fails then there is some kind of experimental thing that might help but still pretty if-y. My dad hasn't called in about a week so I don't have a health update. Hopefully he won't have cancer or any potentially fatal disease!

To say the least I have a lot of things to pray about.... on to the good stuff:

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  Saw this article on top hospitals- Cleveland Clinic number 4- yay! My uncle had spent some time there during his cancer battle, unfortunantly he passed in 2007.


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  I got an email from Snapfish.com about 2 deals- 50% off & 200 prints for $2 or 100 prints for $1. Awesomeness! May need a code but not sure.


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  Watching True Blood season 4? I am of course (fav show) check out this preview- looks like things get pretty wild & is sookie facing another near death experience? I suppose it would be TB without one close call each season lol!


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  I stumbled onto this new online shop- Farm Girl (or Boy) clothing & merch. Ok so yeah for several years I did have pink hair (miss you pinkness) but I'm a little bit country too, afterall my dad is a livestock dealing or for short story- a farmer, My RIP GMA's house does have a property name as something gardens, & there is a small 100 acre farm that my dad owns (& rents & shares profits with) in the dear sweet green farm land of OHIO!


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  I'm a sucker for Old Navy & Fall, and since ON has started releasing some fall clothing i'm super stoked. I just need a climate that actually has "Fall" weather lol...

2 weeks & counting...

So... test 2: 76.25. I can't complain but feel as though I should have (could have?) done better.. a well. I only have a smidge over 2 weeks left until the semester is donzo!
Monday: 12 hr lab day
Wed- Clinical
Thurs: 1 of 2 Finals
Fri: lecture....
Of course any test stirs up the jitters within but the 12 hour (so so long day) lab event, which seems to be a big mystery of what is occurring but you know it's a lot of Sims activity (simulation with group). Of course I'd rather take a written test or do a little one on one activity. People make me nervous, being put on spot makes me nervous, end of semester & in need of certain amount of points to pass - makes me nervous, the freaking final 2 days later that I've barely studied for- makes me nervous! Unfortunately I've had this terrible thing where I don't like to raise my hand or be put on spot for fear of being wrong (ie- failure). I can accept myself but I have a hard time with other people- the judgement thing i guess. Which i suppose stems from some unfortunate childhood experiences with kids being cruel. I know we aren't kids but we live in a nation of opinions- that most people have an opinion on everything. It's a get-through-it day for me (& I'm sure many other students too). So tomorrow I'm stepping away from test content & checking up on the areas they told us to look over (but still no precise directions of the day). Yes- many times I am my own worst enemy. And I'd easily not give a hoot about what they think but.... i am stuck there for 12 hours & more importantly will be spending at least 8 more months with these people. It's times like this I just need some magic pill to take away the excess unnecessary stress I cause myself, know what I mean?

So saying my prayers for school & my Daddy (& everything else- max). On August 2nd (final-final) I'm going to come home take a bubble bath & maybe read my Stackhouse book & just take a huge sigh of relief & most importantly thank the Lord , my Lord for giving me that day and allowing me to be right "here" (or there whatever).

story about kid with terminal cancer- fine, add a dog - tearing up...

Quick update.... Test 1= B thank you lord!
3 regular weeks left but they highly irregular... next week double clinical & test 2. Week after: 12 hr lab & (1st) final. Last week of month: last clinical so i have to have a peer review article to mention! (or fail course)....then the 2nd final.....
So yesterday was our children's cancer lecture & our teacher showed us a youtube video & that we might need some tissues... i didn't. But later on she told us the story of a 10 year old boy who had terminal cancer and how he wanted his dog in the hospital (she allowed it) and she said it was one of the 2 funerals she ever went to (patient funerals) and they had a little dog bed thing beside the casket & the dog laid there the whole time. I seriously just about lost it. Children dying is sad but that poor dog really made that boy's life better in the end & now he's heartbroken (the dog). Maybe it's just cause i have dogs and no kids but the pet aspect really gets to me. Pets do love back!
So send some prayers if you like, I'm sure gonna need all of God's glorious help! So close to completing another semester successfully!