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!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
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!
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!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
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!
Monday, February 16, 2009
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.
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.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
to love someone
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
Friday, February 13, 2009
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...
to be continued...
Thursday, February 12, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, February 9, 2009
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.
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!
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.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
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!
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!
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