Half Done

The end of this term marks the halfway point through the nursing program in total number of months. I got an A in this term, and my clinical instructor said I was the best in the clinical group. This is the second time a clinical instructor has told me that so I am very hopeful this bodes well for my chances of getting into the clinical specialty when they are chosen for senior year. Only 25% of our class will have that opportunity. I had a wonderful term and I learned so much.

Now it's time to celebrate before tackling mental health next term! I plan to clean my house, have our annual gingerbread house decorating party, listen to christmas music, bake cookies and sleep in a lot. Oh and watch movies and play games with my kids. It will be so nice to relax.

Thanksgiving

This year more than most I have so much to be thankful for. I am happier than I have been in my entire life. I have a wonderful family, a loving husband, fantastic loving friends, a warm roof over my head, plenty of food to eat, the opportunity to go to school and learn what I love. And above all I have my health. Last week I successfully weaned off the Prednisone and I have been med free for one week! We will see if I am in remission in six months. So far not a hint of a blister of itchy spot so it's looking good!

Birthday Season

November is birthday season at our house, with all 3 of my son's birthdays. Jake invited friends to go see a movie. I took them to see Astro Boy. It was cute. Nick chose to have a bowling party and that was a big hit as always. Max has decided not to have a party with friends, but we will celebrate on tuesday as a family. It's hard to believe I now have a 17 yr old, almost 15 yr old, 12 yr old and 8 yr old! No more littles at my house :)

School has been keeping me busy as well. I have a major paper due on Tuesday, and then Wednesday I have clinical and a class I'm helping teach for my nutrition class. After that it's smooth sailing until my final. I will appreciate the break as it has been almost non stop for two weeks. Overall this term has been easier than last year since I only have two classes instead of 3 hard ones.

Easy Peasy

I have been slacking on my journal. The fall term is in full swing and so far it has been a breeze. I am really feeling relaxed and enjoying myself. I really like my clinical instructor and I am taking every opportunity I have to learn. Wednesday I got to do my clinical in OB. I watched a fetal monitor strip, and understand better what is good and what isn't. I saw a non-stress test on twins, and best of all I got to help support a laboring mom while she was pushing. We almost got to see the baby born, but our time in clinical was over and we had to leave before the baby was born. It really felt right for me. It confirmed my inner feelings that OB is the right area of nursing for me.

In other news, our town has been hit pretty hard by H1N1. 25% of the middle school is out with the flu, and a good 1/5 of the high school. I am going to get the vaccine as soon as there is some available at my Dr's office (I have to have the shot and the student clinic only has the inhaled version which I can't have) There were a lot of people at the hospital too with the flu so I really want to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Fortunately our school is prepared to be flexible about making up clinical days in case we get it.

Summer Bliss

I've been on summer break for two weeks. Enjoying the sleeping in, reading fiction and cleaning my house. We are going on vacation for a week to visit Lane's family. I am looking forward to it!

Week 3

Getting into the meat of this term. The kids are doing well, and everything is going as smoothly as I could hope for. My schedule is Mon, Tues, Wed packed full from 8-5, and Wed 6-5. Then Sim 3 times on Thursday. I have every Friday "off" to study and do other homework. This week I had to stay up late to prep for Clinical, my first day of full patient care at the hospital. So I was pretty tired and took a nap today. I had a great clinical on Wed. I picked a patient that was complex, but stable so I learned a lot without being too stressed. Next week I get to observe in the OR. We have two tests on Monday so I am going to have to study a lot over the next three days!

Spring Break

My finals are over and I did very well. I got a chance to visit with my family and it was so nice to see them. My brother came from Japan with his wife and my nephew. Boy 2 yr olds are busy :) He is just darling and so smart! My mom and stepdad came as well and we had a mini family reunion. I will post pics at a later time when I get around to getting them off my camera.

Mostly I am reading and watching movies and sleeping. It feels SOOOO good to just decompress!

It's been awhile

Almost done with winter term, but there is still a bit to go. I have to start studying for finals. Just two and a half weeks to go.

My grandmother fell and broke both of her ankles so I've been spending quite a bit of time visiting her. She will be going home on friday from the nursing home so we are all happy about that. They think she will fully recover.

I am really looking forward to spring break. My brother and mother are both coming to visit so I am happy.

23 yrs Challenger Remembered

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

— John Gillespie Magee, Jr

You are not forgotten Christa and the rest of the Challenger Crew!

Week 3 update

So far everything is going smoothly this term. I have taken two exams and aced them. No time for anything except school but I'm a good kind of busy! I did take a break yesterday to go for a walk with Nick. It was cold but nice to be outside in nature for a bit!

Winter Term

We're all back to school. I had an apt with my specialist in Portland on Monday. Everything is fine, it was just a required check in and refill prescription type apt. If everything continues to go like it is then I will be able to start tapering my other meds once I pass the one year mark on them. My labs look excellent. She was really happy with my progress.
I am taking Nursing Genetics, Pathology, Pharmacology and Nursing classes this term. I am going to be up to the tip of my head in schoolwork so may be a bit slow on the blogging. So far everything is going well. However my Patho and Pharm teacher is the same person who wrote our Contemporary Med Surg textbook that is 6 inches thick. A little intimidating LOL. He's really nice though but I can tell he really expects us to know a lot already and we have just started! Jumping in on the second day I felt a bit behind. Hopefully that won't last long. I have already read 5 chapters plus additional readings. I am excited about the new term though. I love learning so I'm going to dive right in and do it!