Yucky Monday

I just hate a yucky Monday, it seems to make the week go by even slower than it usually does!

I took my first test of Nursing School today. The results were not as great as I had hoped.... A 35/50 which is a 70. And although I am not very proud of that grade, at least I didn't fail, right? Ha, I guess I'll just keep telling myself that!

I'm done talking about school for now, so I'm going to vent. I have always been a beach bum. Ever since I was a little girl family trips to the beach are something that I have always held close to my heart.

"When my soul grows weary, I go down to the sea"

 And with being in school this year through the summer (so that I can graduate on time) I am not going to be able to go on my summer beach trip with my family. This will be the first year that I have ever missed it and it is going to be hard for me to be a big girl and stay at home alone while my parents, sister, grandmothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins from both sides are going to basking in the sun! Awe, Mann!

I just keep telling myself that it will all be worth it in the end, that I will have reached my goal and I will be proud of myself and glad that I suffered through the hard part because the reward will be great! (I hope!)

I guess its just hard to be a big girl sometimes!

Beach 2010

Beach 2009

Beach 2008

Cancun 2009

(I threw this one in because I like it!)

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Low Man on the Totum Pole

This week was my first week in the hospital actually working and putting to use all the skills that I have learned over the past few weeks. For anyone I did not already tell I am doing my rounds this semester on the Vascular Surgery floor. It has been very interesting but I can definitely tell that I am the lowest ranked gal on the floor. Lets just say they have me doing all the "fun" stuff. Ha! Bedpans, bed changes, dressing changes; you name it. But I'm not going to complain because I am getting closer and closer to my dream and being at the hospital seemed to make time fly and that's awesome!

I haven't done much else lately except study and go to school. I am starting to feel like nursing is going to consume my life for a while but I know it will be worth it in the end.

Going out to eat with Aaron tonight and I am so excited! I need a good break, I can't wait to find out where we're going, we never seem to decide where to go until we're already on the way! ha

I thought I would upload a few pictures from this week. This is me after my second day of clinicals when I got home. Can we say a little tired? Okay maybe alot tired!

And you know I had to have one with Jammer :) hehe



To-Do List..

Well, I am finally getting back into the swing of being in school again. And adjusting to a new school. I still don't know where everything is on campus but I do know where to park and where my classes are and that's about all that counts. Ha, oh and the food. I know where the food is FOR SURE!

Even though I am getting back into doing homework every night and not sitting around watching TV, that doesn't make my to-do list any shorter. It seems like every time I go to a class they add more and more to my list. But I know the more assignments they make me do the more grades I will have and I like to have lots of grades and not having to rely on a midterm and final to make or break me. That is wayyyyy too much pressure!

But like I said, I am falling back into the groove of things and things are not seeming quite as hard. And I have some great people behind me pushing me to do my best and telling me that they know I can do it. What would I do without them? Fail. That's what.. haha.

Now I am going to go beg one of those great people to accompany me at Habaneros! I really need a break :)

One Down...

Well, I made it through the first week of nursing school, and to be very honest I wasn't sure that I was going to. This first week has been harder on me mentally and physically than any other semester of college so far. Probably in part because I was so nervous. I had no idea what to expect and I had no idea how hard the FIRST week would be. But if it makes any sense at all I think it may be a little easier in the weeks to come because I know what to expect and I know what is expected of me. It is structure and any one who knows me know that I love structure. haha, I now know how to change bedpans, take vital signs, make an occupied and unoccupied bed, and provide alert patients and comatose patients with proper mouth care. I am learning more and more and I will keep everyone posted.

Although my week was a little stressful my weekend made it worth while. I got to enjoy time with Aaron on Friday, he took me out to eat at one of our favorite places to eat, Texas Roadhouse. The rolls are delicious! Along with everything else there!

Saturday I woke up early to go watch my cousin Will play in his first basketball game! He had a blast and we all loved watching him. And Saturday afternoon got to visit my other cousin Brittany in her new dorm room at Montevallo. Very nice! :) Later that night I had a lazy night with Aaron and we got take out and played with Jammer.

All in all, a great weekend!

Warming up before the game started!

Taking it to the hoop! (This is a little blurry but it was the only I had of him dribbling! ha)

Uncle Billy was very proud! :)

Stressed....

So, today was my first official day of nursing school and I am so completely overwhelmed with information; what I am expected to do, when I am expected to be there, and all the things I have to bring with me when I get there. Four books, two handbooks, one ipod touch with software, one lab kit, one stethoscope, and an empty brain to be filled with knowledge about nursing. OH. MY. GOODNESS. Can we say thankful for my planner?

I understood when I started this adventure that it was going to be hard and I fully ready to work harder than I've worked in the past and do my best possible, which I still intend to do. Its just that I am not so sure that my best will be good enough and that I can keep up my best in every single aspect of my classes. This career is all that I have ever wanted to do in my life and I have never felt so close to reaching my lifelong goal and yet so far at the same time. But through all this panic and stress I am still excited to begin my schooling and still thrilled that I was accepted at all. I know that there are other girls who would kill to be in my place so I don't intend to waste my spot. I am going to work hard, and do my best because I know it will pay off in the end. :)

Vital signs tomorrow, and ADL sheet Thursday, I'll let ya know how it goes!

Happy New Year!

Well, it is the beginning of a new year, and I couldn't more excited. I have a feeling that this year is going to be a great one. Nursing school should bring many new and exciting experiences and I can't wait to get started! Twenty-ten was full of ups and downs; I lost two family members this year who both meant a lot to me. But I rest easier knowing that neither one of them are in pain anymore. I miss them both but I know they are still here with me.

But, my family and I have still been very blessed this year; we have welcomed in a new family member this year and we've done a lot of really great things. Here is my list of 10 great things in twenty-ten!

1. I was accepted to Nursing School at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. If I follow all my correct coursework on schedule I will graduate in the Fall of 2012! I am one step closer to my nursing career!

2. Aaron and I celebrated being together for 2 years. It hasn't always been easy since we have both been away from each other a lot with school but we have made it through and I couldn't be happier!

3. Okay, so maybe this is cheating a little because Jammer actually came into my life in 2009 but I have spent all of 2010 falling more and more in love with him. He is my snuggle buddy, my walking buddy, and the cutest weenie in the entire world!

4. This year I got to do something that I will never get to do again while I was in Gulf Shores for vacation this year. I got to go to the zoo and have personal encounters with the animals. I got to play with baby lemurs, kangaroos, and 3 tiger cubs. It was so much fun and I can now say that I have played with tigers!

5. Like I said before in #2, Aaron and I have both been in school but this year he graduated from Nashville's Auto-Diesel College (NADC). I am so proud of him for accomplishing this and graduating with perfect attendance!

6. Having a new baby is the family is always lots of fun and we were blessed this year to be able to hold and love a new baby boy! My Aunt and Uncle, Krista and Phillip Langston had their second son, John Thomas this year in August and we all love his dearly.

7. I was very excited this summer to be able to participate in some preliminaries for the Miss Alabama pageant. I always have lots of fun and meet new great people at each pageant! But the really great news is that occasionally placing in the top has given me some scholarship money that I really needed!

8. When I was waiting to hear back from the University of Alabama and UAB about nursing school I had to take a semester off of school. At first this really upset me and I thought I was just getting farther and farther behind in my work but in the end this worked out okay for me. I got to spend a lot more time with my family and I enjoyed every minute of it.

9. I was also able to start a new job this year which has been great for me! I love my co-workers and I am learning a lot about Physical Therapy. And making some money is not bad either! :)

10. My birthday this year was an especially great one; I turned 21! We went and ate at my favorite restaurant, Habaneros, the day of my birthday and then that weekend I enjoyed a great party with all of my family!

Overall it has been a great year! I can't wait to make more new and exciting memories in 2011!

:)