Sunday, May 15, 2016

The End of an Era...

Today marks the end of my time at home.  Yep, tomorrow is my first official day where I have to get up and go to work with the masses.  Gulp.  It was bound to happen eventually.

I was at home for almost two years.  The first six months I worked from home before I started nursing school.  After nursing school began, well, I was working a little from home and loving being with my hooligans.  

I am not going to lie, it was not always fun.  I am social.  I like to talk.  I crack jokes all of them time.  I need to be around people.  I really do.  All that being said, I am so incredibly grateful for the time I got to spend at home with my babies.  I will always be grateful for Oakwood allowing me to be at home, and most of all, Ken.  Without Ken, none of this would have been possible and I am forever grateful that he is such a wonderful husband and afforded me the time at home with my babies.

I am fully aware that to most people they are animals, but not to me.  The way that people feel about their children is the way I feel about Angel, Theodore, and Kya.  They are my world.  In my time at home I broke up disagreements between them, said, "we do not behave this way!" more times than I can count, and I spent many days cuddling and watching movies with my hoolies.  

On Thursday and Friday, the four of us felt a little nostalgic.  I was fully aware that many of things we were doing, were going to be for the last time before mama hits the real world.  Of course, we made each moment count and I took a few extra moments to enjoy the kitty fights, cat naps, mouse beatings, and the adorable husky sleeping in the backyard.  

My sweeties and me enjoying our Thursday night wine because when you have nowhere to be on Friday morning, you put on the PJ's and enjoy a glass or two!  Please excuse the frightening devil eyes from the hoolies.

Theodore really showed his personality while I was at home.  I know he is sleeping in this picture, but he really became my work and study buddy while I was at home.  He also mastered the need for a mid-morning nap.

These two really are the boss of me.  My life is run by two white cats.  Do they not look intimidating? 

I enjoyed watching Kya sleep in the most random places outside. We also really enjoyed our runs and walks during the day while other people were at work.

This girl and I did one of our most favorite things and walked to Starbucks together.  


The truth is, the next time Ken asks me what I have going on tomorrow, I cannot wait to reply with something more meaningful than walking to Starbucks for a latte.  I feel like I will have a purpose again, and that is something that is pretty important for this driven girl.  The biggest issue I am going to have is the reality that I have to hit the grocery store in the evenings or on the weekend.  First world problems, you know?

I am going to miss many things about being at home, but it is really time for me to take my next big girl step.  Starting tomorrow, I will be working in the operating room!  That is right, the OR right where I was hoping I would end up!  I still have one semester of school left, but after that and pending the passing of the NCLEX, I will be a Registered Nurse in the OR.  Eeeks!!!

Friday, May 13, 2016

Life Lately...

Here is a peek of what has been going on in our world.

We have had some storms lately, which means Kya is all about being close to her mom or dad.  This girl thinks she is super independent until she hears a clap of thunder.

Theodore has been studying for the NCLEX and looking quite handsome while doing it.

We have spent some time in the biergarten at KC Bier Co.

On a rainy evening, we enjoyed some time indoors at KC Bier Co.  His and Hers dunkels.

We played music bingo at one of our favorite bar and grills.  Thank goodness Mike and Katie know a lot of rock and roll.  

We have spent a lot of time in the back yard.  The three girls.

That is indeed a cat on a leash!  Ken was trying to get Angel's attention and she decided she would jump mid picture.  No cat was harmed in the taking of the picture, although Kya seems intrigued. 

March for Babies was a few weeks ago and it was a beautiful, chilly day.


That pretty much wraps up what we have been doing lately!  We are officially in vacation count down mode at this point.  :)






Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Nursing School Update...

Well, well, well, it is hard to believe that I am wrapping up my third semester and only have one more to go!  I guess that makes me 3/4 of a nurse.  Even with that, please oh please do not code in front of me.  I am still a CPR virgin.  I know at some point the band-aid will be ripped off and it will be done, but for the time I am just an innocent little nursing student.

This semester was not my favorite, not at all.  I will spare you all the reasons why, but the community content just did not align with my personal beliefs.  I will say this, I am all about empowering people instead of feeling sorry for them.  End of discussion.

I was not placed in the hospital for clinical this semester, since we were in the community.  Instead, I was at a middle school, with middle school children.  It was really not as bad as I was thinking it would be.  I learned that I like middle school children far more than elementary school children.  I was fortunate enough that the nurse at my middle school was amazing.  She was basically me.  She and I talked so much and I really enjoyed spending my days with her.  All of that being said, I cannot say that I will be rushing out to be a school nurse anytime soon.  If I wanted children to complain to me about their throats hurting, I would get pregnant.  :)

On my last day of clinical at the school, there was an abstinence speaker talking to the 8th graders.  I did the whole roll my eyes, I cannot believe they are still teaching abstinence in schools.  I am more of the "wrap that shit up, I know you are having sex" party.  As it turns out, the speaker was amazing.  She brought a perspective of if you have sex, you need to think about what is on the other side of yes.  I did almost laugh out loud when she was talking about the effectiveness of condoms.  I was instantly taken back to the Friends episode where Rachel tells Ross she is pregnant.  I was suddenly imagining Ross shouting, "3%, THEY SHOULD PUT THAT ON THE BOX!!!"



I always love relating life to Friends episodes.  Anyway, the speaker was better than I imagined.  I also found myself looking around the room swearing that these kids are not old enough to babysit Kya, let alone be having sex.  I guess I am officially an old lady when I think teenagers look like 10 year olds.  

Moving on...Last semester my Evidenced-Based Practice group won our group presentations.  This basically meant that I got to add a line to my resume and attend a few different EBP presentations with other schools.

EBPing it like a boss

Our research was napping during the night shift.  Apparently, nurses used to get fired if they dozed off during their shifts.  

I have my final tomorrow and then school is our for summer!