bittersweet redemption

re-demp-tion
an act of redeeming or the state of being redeemed; deliverance.

There comes a point when your son starts playing baseball at the age of four or five that you start dreaming of him playing for high school someday. As the years go on you see a natural athlete blossom and you're almost assured that your dreams will be fulfilled his freshman year. He not only plays baseball proving his athletic abilities, but also basketball, soccer and flag football. Soccer would be his next favorite sport to play, and if baseball didn't seem to be a calling than soccer would surely fit the bill for his needs. Baseball is in his heart. He loves the Dodgers. He loves the game.

In 1998 LB started playing baseball. He never played teeball, as it wasn't an option on the base where we were living at the time. They offered coach pitch, so Big B took the reins and started up a team with me in tow as the team mom. Even though I often dreamed that LB would play high school ball someday there were often times that I didn't think he'd ever play again. If you have small children you might know how stubborn they can be when they do not want to do something! No way, no how...nu uh! I guess that's a memory I can look back on with some pride in our parenting abilities knowing we made him stick it out, not letting him quit.

Last year, his freshman year in high school, my dreams were shattered in an instant as we refreshed the school website page the team roster was being uploaded onto. Tryouts had been extended because weather last year around this time was bad, so we were already exhausted. That last night after we picked LB up we headed over to Subway for a quick bite to eat and then headed home. We knew that in the time we'd taken to eat and go home that they might have started to enter the roster online so we checked. The varsity team had already been picked and there was no chance he was going to be on it anyway so we went directly to the JV page. Sure enough, there were a couple of names. We kept refreshing and as we got closer to our name alphabetically, the anticipation grew. If you haven't figured it out by now I am a pretty emotional person. At this point I'm pretty much in panic mode. Then it happens. The kids name who would be after ours shows up and I immediately burst into tears. Yeah, not good. Not good for LB, the kid who's trying to put up a brave front, and not let this utter disappointment get to him. But of course his freak of a mother is well, freaking out. Oopsy. I sorry.

We can look back and laugh about it now. Wholeheartedly.

Cuz, guess what!? Tryouts ended yesterday, after the regularly scheduled three days of cold, but sunny weather. I went and picked him up and we came home. This year we're exhausted, but for other reasons. Me? Well...because I'm a nursing student for gosh sakes! The guys? Well, because they're...well, guys. So we ordered Dominos.

Big B and AW were upstairs rearranging AW's room to accomodate the larger than life drum set, and LB and I were cruising Facebook as we were awaiting our gourmet cuisine.

While on Facebook I had updated my status and commentary ensued:
status: ...is waiting on pins and needles
friend: It's more comfortable to wait on the couch
me: Baseball tryouts were the past three days and we're waiting on the roster
other friend: They're posting them right now!
me: ..., you made me scream, no lie!

I did. I screamed. Sad, sad, woman. Of course LB and I are rushing to get on the school website, he on one computer and I on the other. This time we go straight for varsity, since it's the first list anyway. And wouldn't you know it there was his name!

HE MADE VARSITY!!!

So we keep refreshing since the list was somewhat short and although it's alphabetical, it's not being entered as such. The names were being entered any whichaway, ending up alphabetized. He is one of 14 players on the team, and the only sophomore!

Once again I will say it, hard work pays off!

Last year after he didn't make the team, along with his friends who also didn't, we were able to get them all on the same county recreational team. They won the championships! LB also played for our local American Legion post, went to the University of VA summer camp, and played for the non-sanctioned school fall ball team. Basically, he played baseball all year long last year. He really must have improved in his skills, more than he would admit. In fact before yesterday, if you asked him he probably would've said he sucks at baseball. Go figure.

Like I said, he's the only sophomore that made the varsity team. So after the elation (instead of instant tears it was instant delirious laughter from me of which the guys had to tell me to shut up) wore off we kept refreshing the varsity page and once we knew the roster was complete we went to the JV page. We saw the names added, at random as the varsity had been, yet still alphabetically. As your kids grow and bring friends home you come to care for some of their friends. They become like surrogate children. All but two of the boys who didn't make the team last year, did make the team(s)this year. It's sad for both, but one especially and anyone's heart would break knowing the heart this kid has for the game.

Redemption is bittersweet.

I feel the greatest pride for my own son. I did give him the speech about going in to school today just like anyday, and to not let his head swell, but to remain humble. I can't help but feel sad for the other boy, who is like a son to me, who has to go in to school today with a broken heart and shattered dreams.

freebirthing

Last night before turning over and falling into a deep slumber for the night I watched a show on Discovery Health entitled "Freebirthing". As I've mentioned before I'm drawn to women's health and mother/baby, so I spend some time watching birth related television shows.

This particular show was about the movement spanning across the big pond known as the Atlantic Ocean, from the US to the UK, of women choosing to give birth without any medical interventions whatsoever. I will admit it was fascinating watching the women give birth and take their babies right up into their own arms. That being said the near medical professional in me shuddered to think of the possible complications that could ensue and where would mom and baby be left, but in some instances but to die? Really! In the case of one of the moms it was said that she lived at a bit of a distance from any hospital. A couple of the moms did take the initiative and learned about infant resuscitation measures.

I've pondered the idea, when thinking of one of the externships that I'm applying for where there is a possibility of working in labor and delivery, of specifying my desire to work there. Do I really want to go that far? I don't know if I want to limit myself. But it would be a good way to find out if I truly want to go that route. It is for a limited amount of time, so there is not a definite obligation. If I do in fact love it, it would be a step in the right direction. Hmm, decisions, decisions.



As for today, my lab partner and I are headed in to do our skills check-off. This semester we're doing things a bit differently. Instead of learning a skill one week, and testing the next, we've been learning all along and this week is the final week and we'll be testing scenario-style. It's exciting, because it should be more fun this way, but also more nerve-wracking! I'm hoping they'll have it set up to where we're working on mutiple patients and not just our one and only SimMan. We shall see.

In family news, I've possibly gone and done something that many might consider my last breach of sanity. First, let me explain. As many of you know we've had our difficulties recently with AW. You really don't even know the half of it. Big B asked me not to tell anyone about some of the stuff we've been through and I've honored his wishes. What it's come down to is AW's admission that he feels that he's been acting out because he wants our attention, that he's not getting enough between daddy vegging out on the couch at night watching sports and regular TV shows, and mommy always studying. Sigh...

We're firm believers in the ideology that active children stay out of trouble. AW has not been "active" since giving up soccer. Since these recent incidences Big B and I came to the conclusion that he needs to get back into the groove. We gave him several options from boy scouts to karate to going back to soccer, but being as musically interested and inclined as he is he has chosen .....drum roll....no seriously....don't just think the sound of the drum roll as far as impending suspension of upcoming news, because that's the news.

we now live with drums

A friend who went through a music phase owns many instruments and has decided to sell off some of them, so now we're the lucky owner of a larger than life drum set that is sitting in a smaller than small bedroom. Now I just need to find a good place for lessons. That and a good set of noise cancelling headphones, you know the kind...envision ground crews on airfields or Nascar raceways.

the big parts crammed into the back of the car



more in the back seat



the best part up front by me
...the smile on his face

perseverance

It only took me seven years, traveling across two countries and several continents, dealing with small children growing into wild teens, deployments and many other obstacles to accomplish my degree. Hard work really does pay off, don't let anyone tell you otherwise! Don't let anyone get in your way!

Now if I may make it through the current educational endeavor...

On that note I made a 92 on my perioperative nursing and medications exam today! Much better than the last (first) test in that class (Nur108).

the sweetest thing

Big B just returned from his trip to New Mexico. He had a lay-over in the Denver airport and he returned home with a little bit of heaven. These caramel apples are not only scrumptious to the palate, but they hold sentimental value for me. I was born in Colorado, and went to high school in Colorado. I used to love to have a treat once in a while, and when friends and I would go to the mall we would every-so-often indulge in a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Caramel Apple. If you ever have the chance, indulge yourself in a little sinful pleasure!



Besides the one you see, there are two others nestled inside the box. Tomorrow the guys and I will slice into these morsels of goodness...yummee!

wanting what you can't have

Yeah, so I have my annual girly appointment this morning at 0830, and because they're drawing labs I am fasting. What I wouldn't give for a cup o' joe right about now, especially considering I woke up at the lovely hour of 0420! One might think this would be a good time to study, but at this point that would not be a good idea as it would probably be the sleep aid I dont need right now! It's nearly 6 a.m., thus the point of no return. So here I sit, blogging.

I was checking out one of my new friends here in blogland, at The Adventures of a Single Mom/Nursing Student where she has the following video posted. I decided it's too funny to not hijack, so here it is for your viewing (and laughing) pleasure:


And if you can't get enough of those very talented Baylor Louis Herrington School of Nursing students than you're in for a treat with this video:


Just an update to yesterday's mention of the MH exam, I made a 33/35. Now it's time to focus on the next Nur108-Concepts and Principles exam we're taking this coming Monday. It's going to be on perioperative nursing and medications.

As for today, after my appointment I'll stop off and pick myself up something for breakfast and head to lab for the day. We'll be working on IV meds, and hopefully we'll have a chance to practice the skills we've learned in previous weeks, since our check off is next Wednesday.

eggs in one basket

Does anyone else feel like time is flying by way too quickly? I sure do!

The MH exam went okay today, meaning I think I did relatively well. It's so very frustrating because the instructor does not use NCLEX test bank questions, she makes her own questions up. As with every test there were a few that many of my classmates and I found troubling. Many of us left a little disgruntled, because many times we've found it's her way or no way. I will admit there have been a few questions we've argued for, for whatever reason, and she's seen the point, and dropped the question. Enough about that!

Prior to the test a human resources rep, and two nurses from our local hospital came to talk to us about their new and improved externship program. In years past nurse externs have been little more than CNAs. This new HR rep is revamping their program and it sounds awesome! First off, they will be selecting 5 candidates, and only 5. In the past they've hired more. They're emphasizing education in their new program and rather than having a large group that receive little attention they are going to focus on the chosen five. In the 10 week program, starting in late May, there will be time dedicated to education with a clinical instructor, time spent shadowing on other units, and a small portion of time shadowing a patient concierge, all aside from time spent with your preceptor. Of the 5 chosen two will go to the ortho/peds floor, 2 will go to med/surg/telemetry, and one will go to ICU. The drawback for me is the 10 week time period. I was hoping to start in early May, as soon as this semester is over, and go all summer.

Other area hospitals had posted their extern positions on their websites already and I've applied for one of them. Aside from the above hospital this is the next closest in relation to where I reside. I don't know many particulars about that program, other than what a second year student who externed there last year has told me. She externed in the ED, and gained invaluable experience. I do know they'll be placing in the ED,family birthing center, stepdown, med/surg and ICU.

There are two other hospitals, further out, but no more than 40 minutes away, where I will also be applying to their externships as well. Don't wanna put all my eggs in one basket!

Speaking of....I just set my first externship interview appointment up...just now!!! It's from the second hospital, and I did ask for some information. Unfortunately it also starts late May, and only runs 8 weeks. Of course, that doesn't mean I can't stay on as PRN!

drama free as of late

This past weekend pretty much went off without a hitch. It's either restrictions placed on AW keeping him from causing too much frustration or Murphy decided to visit someone else, maybe both. The weekend was also pleasant considering it was Valentine's Day on Saturday. I've eluded before to the fact that birthdays and romantic holidays have not received the attention desired by me, but so far this year has been a bit different. Maybe it's just my standards have lowered. Who knows? Bottom line I don't have any complaints from the past few days, even Saturday!

Friday we sent the boys off to the skating rink that has reopened after closing several years ago. It's a great thing for our area considering there's not much to do around here, especially this time of year. Big B and I watched Pride and Glory with Ed Norton and Colin Ferrell. We gave it a thumbs up. Earlier in the day I was able to get in some worthwhile studying.

Saturday we spent being lazy, I did some studying and then we topped it all off with a great dinner. When we were in Italy we dined at several favorite restaurants, and I've tried to replicate some of the recipes we enjoyed. Big B loves the steak with arugula, parmesan and balsamic vinegar. We had that with a side of risotto with mushrooms. Our beverage of choice was Cabernet Sauvignon. I think I'm allergic to red wines. Everytime I drink one I end up with a massive headache that same night.

We'd rented two other movies for the weekend. Saturday night I ended up viewing one of them by myself as the guys gave it a thumbs down! I liked it though. Dorothy Mills,a psychological thriller set in Ireland is sure to give you goosebumps.

With our second Mental Health Nursing exam tomorrow I was able to squeeze in some studying for it, and medications and perioperative nursing for our other classes.

Sunday was yet another lazy day, the highlight being our viewing of Fireproof. Big B and LB watched it with me, even though they spent more time making fun of it than anything else. I swear sometimes I think I live with two fifteen year olds! It was a good movie, despite the poor acting. The theme was definitely something any couple could take something from. The guys were pretty irritated that there wasn't more firefighting in it. I think the movie left its mark, however temporary, on Big B as he was sweeter than he'd been all weekend. He bordered on syrupy, sickening sweet. I love that guy!

Nonetheless we all got along for the most part, there weren't any teen/preteen related incidents and I was able to get a moderate amount of studying in!

Besides our MH exam tomorrow we have our Pharm class and we'll be going over IV meds. I've got basic drug calculations down, but the IV meds are giving me a little more grief. I just need to practice more than I have been.

A classmate called me after class today and told me about an article concerning the turnover rate for new nurses and how some hospitals are dealing with the issue.

Today's another one of those days, after so many of feeling confident and sure of my decision to become a nurse, where I have repressed feelings come back to haunt me. Back when I was active duty confidence was not one of my vocabulary words, so I struggled with a lot. At 38 I'm more confident than I was at 18-19-20, however, like I said, it's insecurities that have been living at the back of my mind resurfacing. As the days press on my classmates and I are facing our first clinical rotation together and it's at a long term care facility. Actually two groups are going to one LTC and a third group is going to the other LTC. In many ways I'm so excited, but also extremely nervous. I feel like that 19 year old again! I look forward to the experience feeding into a heightened level of confidence for me.

to love someone

How do I love thee

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints!---I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!---and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

the hair saga

Aw is in for a big surprise this afternoon when he arrives home from school! Although it's nowhere near as bad as it was at first, there is still Vaseline in his hair. The 'net is a plentiful source of a plethora of information and didn't disappoint this time. I think I'm going to try a can of beer first though. Then it'll be the cornstarch.

to be continued...

the culprit

this is not a hair product!!!

torrential downpour

Last night as we laid in bed watching LOST we were surprised to hear the sound of the rain coming down outside. It was as if the floodgates had opened up and copious amounts of water came crashing down upon our house. AW had been watching TV with us, but when the rain started he went and looked out the window. Big B and I rushed to the window when he told us how bad the wind was blowing and how hard the rain was coming down. We just had to see for ourselves!

When I was little my mom used to tell me that different sorts of weather happened because of the angels in Heaven. If it was snowing the angels were having a pillow fight, if it was thundering God was yelling, and if it was raining the angels were crying. The storm that passed through last night dumped a torrential downpour on the area. We were spared any serious weather, such as what Oklahoma experienced when the tornadoes touched down on Tuesday.

The last few weeks I've felt like crying, and have, often. It's the stress of family and school. It's not so much the two combined, but separate factors inherent to both that test my strength almost daily.

It all goes to my order and chaos theory of my life. Order and chaos evolve through my life in sort of a cyclic manner, ebbing and flowing at different rates. Sometimes there's more order and others there seems to be extreme moments of chaos.

Our youngest son has tested us to no end over the past week. We've not only caught him after he's smoked cigarettes, but he also brought three Ds home on his report card, and to top it all off he snuck out of the house Saturday night. All in one week.

How did we find out he snuck out? Let me tell you. Sunday morning Big B went downstairs first, and I followed soon after. Once I arrived downstairs he informs me that he thinks AW had just gone to sleep. AW was on the couch in our great room, where the kids will often sleep on weekends. When Big B had checked on him he noticed that AW's hair looked wet.

Why would his hair be wet in the morning, at about 8 o'clock in the morning? Let me tell you. I went out and felt it and it didn't feel wet as if he'd just wet it with water. It felt wet with grease, and I don't mean a little oily scalp type of wet. I mean greasy as if he'd smoothed cooking oil through it. Yuck!

I immediately sent him upstairs to shower. No one lays on my pillows with grossly greasy hair!

While he was showering I went into his room and found the pants he'd been wearing the day before on his laundry basket. They were more soiled (he'd ran through a mud puddle earlier the day before and there were streaks of caked on mud on the pantlegs), than they had been when he'd changed into his PJs. There were smudges of what looked like caked on powder on them. Of course this clued me in to the fact that something was definitely up and I set out to find out exactly what.

What did he actually do to get his hair greasy like that? Or to soil his pants like they were? Let me tell you. At first we couldn't get a straight answer out of him. Long story, short, he had snuck out our side door, went to a "friend's" house, snuck in the window there, and then they both left from there and went to some 17 year old's house. AW is 12. At first he told us that they'd put mousse and gel in his hair, which I knew wasn't right because those products don't grease up like that! His final contention was he "couldn't remember" what it was they'd used.

Aw's hair was still greasy after showering, so I decided to wash it. I shampooed it twice to no avail. I had to go to Quantico that day(never again on a Sunday!!), so he went with me and we stopped at a Hair Cuttery on the way. The stylist washed his hair with their "most clarifying" shampoo and it barely did anything. She asked if I wanted her to do a special treatment. I agreed to have it done. He had to sit under one of those dryers for several minutes with some sort of chemical on his hair. It was a smidgen better. She cut his hair and we were on our way.

Taking a 12 year old grocery shopping is torture, but only for him. He didn't ask for anything. He really didn't have much to say.

Here it is Thursday and he's washed his hair daily since Sunday. It is still somewhat greasy. Bleck!!!

The school part of stress is well, never ending. Stress occurs, even in the best of nursing programs. It's the nature of the beast.

We as nursing students should not have to deal with inadequacies of a program though!

What's going on now, you ask? Well, I'm not going to get too far into it as it will enrage me, and since the sun is shining today I would like to have a good day. It's pretty much more of the same, along with frustration over a teacher who doesn't teach, just reads from PPTs and unfounded, bottomless accusations against my classmates. These problems aren't exclusive to my program, I'm sure, which is another reason I'm choosing not to blather on more about it. However, along with everything else it doesn't help. It hinders concentration and progression!

As with much in life you just have to press on. You have to push past frustrations and not let them consume you.

say a little prayer

for my sanity

Any mother who has sons knows why, especially the mothers of teenage sons. I highly recommend those of you with young sons place them up for adoption around the time they turn 11, and then reconnect with them when they're about 22-24. No, really I love my boys with all my heart, but boy oh boy are they ever giving my husband and I a ton of stress lately! No time to get into it right now, though.

Thanks Mom for the jinx you put on me when I was being a bit of an unruly teenager!

Here's a prayer for us nursing students. I have no idea where I acquired it from, but just came across it in my "Keepers" file here on my PC. Enjoy!

THE STUDENT NURSE'S PRAYER

Lord, I know we go through this every day but please give me the knowledge as to why I actually wanted to go to nursing school.
Lord, give me the strength to make it through those boring three hour lectures without falling asleep.
Lord, please give me the patience to make it through twelve hour clinicals with instructors that can't just give you the right answer and on the same note, give the nurses the ability to remember what it was like to be a student and give us just a little more respect.
Lord, give me the endurance to read all the assigned readings and be able to remember it when I am taking a test with four right answers.
Lord, give my family and friends the ability to realize I really am on the edge of insanity.
Finally, Lord, give me the vision to see that one day I will be a real nurse and I will never have to wear this ugly uniform again.
~auther unknown

Now I must read the rest of my pharmacology and mental health chapters, and complete my pharm homework, all for tomorrow.

ché bello giorno!

It was a beautiful day! As dusk ascends upon us here on the East Coast I look back on the day. The sun was shining and I believe it at least reached the high 60s! It felt nice after the frigid temps we've been experiencing lately!

Reminds me of one of my passions, and that is my gardens. I don't know how much time I'll have to work in them this year, and may have to enlist the help of my sons and their friends to help throw mulch and open up the gardens for spring.

This is a photo of my petunias from the year before last


The day was also much enjoyed because I went and took in some much needed self-care/pampering. I got my hair cut, and had a pedicure.

The guys have all been pleasant to be around, when they've been around. We're down by one for the eveing as LB is off at a friend's house for a sleepover.

The evening will be spent finishing up a movie I started with Big B, eating dinner and then reading the two chapters I need to read for Monday.

Buona Sera!

PDAs

Some nursing programs require the use of PDAs, but mine is not one of them. It is my understanding that it is because of cost. Whatever.

They do allow us to use them if we have one...


I'm looking into purchasing a Blackberry (seems like the smart option when one also needs a cell phone), but would like to hear consumer reports from others who have PDA experience! So chime in! Please!

gone and done it

Ok, for some odd reason we were required to have our uniforms ordered by February 2nd. I haven't been able to make the trip to the store we just had to order from, since it is an hour away. It's in a town that I have no other reason to go to, and usually don't even go near. I made half a day of it. There were other tasks that needed to be accomplished, such as purchasing pet supplies, shoe shopping and I wanted to stop by Books-A-Million to see if they had a book I was looking into. My first stop was the uniform store and I took the ten minutes to try on the size the woman predicted I would need and place my order for the uniforms. I even paid a little extra for her to ship them to me, rather than me having to make another trip across Virginia.

Come to find out the reason behind the February 2nd deadline was because the store places the order every other week and that would allow enough time to place orders and receive them, and then have our patches sewn on all before we start our clinicals March 11th. If I'd have been comfortable in knowing what size I actually needed I would have gone ahead and ordered the stuff online, but was so unsure I decided it was in my best interest to just tke the road trip. As it is they should arrive on my doorstep sometime at the end of this month.

I've also placed an order for my shoes. I did that just a few minutes ago from here at home. I'd already tried them on, and after exhausting hours searching for a perfect pair, decided upon Grasshopper's Stretch Plus Sneaker, shown here

They are incredibly comfortable. It feels like you're stepping on pillows, and in a way you are since they are padded that well. I wanted to find a certain pair of New Balance shoes that came highly reviewed but wasn't able to find them in stores.

Our pants taper down the calf somewhat and I think these more slimlined shoes will look better. Do the people who picked these ugly pants out not understand that they are not flattering to anyone!? Let alone those of us who already hippy???

I'd mentioned that there was a rumor going around that our program is under the proverbial microscope. Come to find out it is a fact.

A classmate encountered a graduate from our program, from this past year, and this person told her of the 20 who took the NCLEX only 4 passed. Lovely. So yes, I will definitely be applying for a transfer. If for some reason I do not get to transfer I will invest in a NCLEX prep class!

Would someone like to take Murphy off my hands for a while!?

as if i don't have enough to worry about!

This morning as I was dining on my oatmeal I decided to go to a few of the local hospital websites to see what positions they have open, and low and behold a couple of them have externships posted already!

My resume is a mess. Any tips? Anyone good at writing resumes? If you'd prefer to contact me by email concerning this, go to my profile and there is a link to my email under the picture.

On a side note, as I walked my weary behind into the house and rounded the corner into the kitchen this is what greeted me:

In the left hand corner of the photo you can see our garbage can. It is made of stainless steel, and can only be opened by stepping on the lever down in the front of it.

This would be the guilty party:

I'm convinced Sandi knows how to step on that lever. She succeeded and was able to plow her way through the remnants of our Dairy Queen dinner from last night.

run around the mill

Heard something yesterday that may be nothing more than a rumor. A classmate told me that a nurse, who works at the hospital attached to our program, had told her that our program is being investigated. Our class along with the second year class are basically the guinea pigs being investigated and if we don't show the improvements necessary our program would be cut. Really now?

This subject may have to come up during lab today. This rumor does need to be dispelled.



Today in lab we'll be playing catch up after not being able to attend last week because of the weather. I have ot go in early to print off more skills checklists. I already have about 8 that I printed off last week. We'll be doing such skills as urinary catheterization, stoma care, perioperative care, GI suction, along with a ton of other fun stuff.

Today's going to be a picture day. I haven't taken any photos of our time in school, and it would be nice to have some to look back on!

bursting with elation

Today's exam went much better than yesterday's! We took our Mental Health Nursing exam.......drum roll......I got a 100!!! A lot of people were pretty disappointed after yesterday's exam, after realizing they'd also done worse than they'd originally thought.

I am pretty tired right now. Big B's alarm goes off at 4:50 a.m., and wouldn't ya know I woke up with it. There was no sense in just lying there as the girls would never allow it, so we made our way down the stairs. That's usually pretty scarey considering how excited Labrador Retriever's become when food is in their near future!

Minnie runs down the stairs at the speed of light, rips around the house since there's a perfect track around where my staircase and water closet are located. By the time she's blazing past the foot of the stairs going into her second lap I've made my way down. Sandi, being the older of the two, usually follows close by or behind. That's pretty dangerous considering I'm accident prone. She's no less excited than Minnie, just more mature.

I'm headed out pretty soon to play financier to the teenager. He wants to go to the high school basketball games this evening and needs some dough to get in. Can you believe they charge $5 for sporting events around here!!! And if you leave you have to pay to get back in! Where does the money go???

third letter of the alphabet does the job

Humphh...so much for the A and B(almost an A at 91.4) I ended up with last semester. That's ok though. I did study really hard and I feel comfortable with my gained knowledge. A couple of the questions I got wrong were stupid mistakes. What can ya do?

Live and Learn!

Thanks to those who wish(ed) me luck and stand in my corner!

Now, as long as the weather holds up, and it doesn't look promising, we'll be taking our first Mental Health exam tomorrow. It's the one we were supposed to take last week, but didn't because we had a snow day.

Isn't it ironic?

We also missed lab last week due to the weather and will have to play make-up this week...as long as we're able to go to school!

Such a great time of year!

send me into respiratory alkalosis

Yeah, cuz I'm about to start hyperventilating!

Big exam this morning, huge!

All I know is I've done some strong studying, and now can only hope for that C which equals RN!

sound off sunday

Never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. Original quote by Winston Churchill, October 29, 1941.















I attempted this last week and got one response. Thanks Lorie! You're the best!

So here we go again, giving it another try and I wont give up.

I'd really, really like to know who some of you lurkers are....especially the one(s) from Italy!







I'd also like to take this time to acknowledge the suffering of Christy, her family and the other people in Kentucky who have been without power for days.