Night Owl

Because I have to study for A&P I can't really write a long drawn out thought. I just wanted to post that I am alive and well after my 2 back to back 12 hour night shifts Monday and last night. 7pm-7am sure is an odd time to be awake! So far I am really enjoying my job, for the most part! The nurses haven't all completely opened up to me yet...and I don't want to feel like "just a PCA" to them, so I'm hoping I feel more welcome soon. But my preceptor and unit secretary have been wonderful and I laugh A LOT while doing rounds! The kids are amazing. It's one of the biggest blessings I've ever received to actually take care of patients, or at least FEEL like I'm "taking care of them." Listening to the infants heartbeats, taking toddlers blood pressure...it's all very fascinating and making me feel more and more like I could love nursing for my career. I am tired! But I am surviving and holding on okay. I went straight from work to school at 8am until noon today... and it was around 11:30 I started to crash. I was able to sleep about 4 hours when I came home, and I am praying I can sleep well with Asa tonight! It will be SO good to be in bed with my husband again! 2 nights apart has been okay but I miss him so much! 

I am praying earnestly that I can finish school WELL, especially in A&P! Longing for a B- in the class and at least a B in Philosophy... 5 more weeks! :) God is so good. I have learned in the past 48 hours that He REALLY and truly is ALL of my strength! What a refreshing and humbling thought!

Springtime In the City

Welcome, Spring! I have officially finished my Kosair's Children Hospital (KCH) orientation! Yesterday I decided, "Why not get a flu shot?" [Just to be "safe" right?] The nurse warned me, because I've NEVER had one in my entire life, I may get a little sick and have some flu symptoms, but usually just a low-grade fever and some chills. By 9pm I was complaining that I felt awful. My neck was throbbing and my lower back was aching. I decided to lay down at 10pm and call my mom because I miss her and by 10:30 I couldn't even talk. I pleaded with Asa to go get a theromemeter because Elsa had destroyed ours [not a mercury filled glass one, people!] and when he came and felt my skin, which was on FIRE, he ran out to get one. My temperature when he got back was 101.8 and I was just whimpering and tears were streaming out of my eyes because I was so hot and so sore. I continued to take ibuprofen and aspirin, and nothing seemed to help. By midnight, Asa came in to check on me and take my temp again, and it was 103. . . I felt like my body was literally burning itself. I took a lukewarm bath and took one more tyelnol PM and 2 regular tylenols, and around 1:30 I was able to drift into a DEEP sleep until 8 this morning when I woke for more ibuprofen, but at that time, I was fever free! 
Last night was one of the most painful, horrendous, wimpiest nights of my life. My temperature is typically around 97 degrees, I have a low regular body temp! So 101-103 was MISERABLE. The one thing it did help me see though, was that when I am working with patients come Monday, LITTLE patients, LITTLE kids and even babies, who HAVE these fevers and are so sick and actually hospitilized? I am going to be so much more empathetic. Little sweet things! 
Also, I am one of the biggest babies ever when I get sick myself....so I definitely will not think that these little kids should act brave or strong, when I most certaintly don't myself! 

Today we are going shopping for hospital shoes and BLINDS AND DRAPES for my new 3rd shift job. I start on Monday. I work Mon, Tues, and Thursday [which will be my birthday!] I am so praying for strength. School starts again on Monday and I will have six weeks left...I already don't even want to go BACK after this week of spring break! But I am almost done! I just really and sincerely pray I can do WELL in A&P and finish strong with at least a B- in the class...otherwise I would have to take it ALL OVER AGAIN for nursing school at Bellarmine, if that's where God leads me! Ouch that would stink. 

So, prayers are appreciated as I make my way back into classes and working 40 hours a week at NIGHT! :) God is SO good and beautiful and merciful and KIND. Heis above all things and He IS all things! I miss my family and my brothers, as this spring time approaches. I have so many wonderful memories playing on the trampoline w/ Seany and us creating our own games! Baseball, go-carting, sprinklers, indoor pool... It's funny how we wish our lives away when we're young! I have been trying to soak in ALL the memories as they come, here in my adult life!!! Spring time is ALWAYS my favorite!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Blessed

I just needed to say I feel incredibly blessed tonight. Today was a bittersweet day. I spent all day in Richmond, KY with Asa's family, for his Uncle Buddy's funeral. Uncle Buddy was 59 years old and had spent many of his years institutionalized in a VA hospital for his schitzophrenia. I never met him...but I know he was very special and loved! 
I can't write because I'm in bed w my sleeping husband and our dogs who are hogging me and Manny who is trying to get comfortable on my face. 

But I feel incredibly blessed to be loved by my sweet, handsome, wonderful husband...and I am so humbled by his love. I am praying to wake up early in the morning before church to surprise him with some breakfast in bed!!!!!! :) 

 

Welcome March

Welcome, March! My arms and heart are wide open! The fact that it is March 3 blows my mind! My last day at the vet office will be next Thursday the 11th and Monday the 15th I start my new job orientation. The 22nd is my first 3rd hour shift! And on the 25th I will finally be 22 years old. [I feel like such a baby being married to a 26 year old and having most of my friends be around that age!]

I am doing really well in A&P! I got a B on the 2nd exam and a B+ on the 3rd. The 4th is on Monday the 8th and I am excited to take it, [It's over bones and the integumentary system.] The funny thing is, I am not doing very well in my philosophy class [which is my MAJOR,] and my professor hates me. Isn't it weird how things change and grow and we are given a new perspective? 


One of my best friend's Danielle got married this past Saturday. She looked so beautiful and happy and innocent! They had been dating almost three years (one month short,) and I am so excited to watch her grow as a wife. 

I am going home to MI next weekend Friday-Sunday. It will be the last time I am home until May, after I am GRADUATED, for my best friend and sister's wedding, Peggy O! 

My sister-in-law Sarah has popped by the way. She is absolutely adorable as a pregnant woman. She had an early ultrasound and they were pretty certain she is having a boy...but it was still a little early to tell. I am so excited! I cannot wait to watch her grow in the Lord during this time period and to give birth to a beautiful baby! I don't get to see her often...but I love and adore her so much.  


I am very excited to see God work. Asa and I have been praying about searching for a new church... which is incredibly hard on him as he has been attending our church for 26 years, and while I've been there for three... I do think God may be calling us elsewhere. We visited our friends the Boyds' in Georgetown this past Sunday and it was SUCH a blessing. It is so good to be around FRESH, NEW, REAL individuals who just LOVE the Lord and us. As soon as I hugged Myranda, I felt a huge sense of relief and love wash over me for the first time in a long time! 

Anyway, back to studying. 
Thank you, Lord for your love, your PATIENCE with me as your child...and your mercy. I love you :)