On my own

I've been told that I will officially be off orientation at the end of this month. I'm scared and don't feel nearly prepared enough. I'm told by my peers that this is an expected reaction. I've had a great preceptor. Essentially she has allowed me to be going it on my own but she is always an ear shot away if I need her. I am beginging to know and build a rapport with the Sr Attendings and some of the Interns that have been with us for the last rotation. Jan marks a new rotation, time for all the new interns to come in so time to learn new names and new faces. So, as of Feb 2011 I will be on my own, an official ICU RN! I plan to keep a similiar schedule, 84 hrs, NOC and weekends. I really enjoy the team I currently work with. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my Supervisor will be able to accomodate. I thought I would add a little nursing humor; a great tool I learned to use in times of uncertainty or stress.

 So, wish me luck and keep me in your thoughts come the first of Feb.

Happy New Year!

New Years was uneventful this year. I fell ill end of my last shift and it lasted through New Years. I had to call in sick New Years day, which is rarity. Morgan, bless her heart woke me up 15 seconds before the ball dropped. We watched the ball drop then brought in the New Year together by watching some TV before going back to bed. Hope that isn't a sign of how the rest of the year will be. I have many plans.


With 2010 now considered past events I’d like to review my top 5 accomplishments I achieved during the year.

1) Had the time of my life skiing in the White Mtns! Made it back alive with great memories and few funny stories. Most importantly no fractures, sprains or injuies of any kind. How I managed that is beyond me for I haven't been on a pair of skies since I was 10 years old.

2) Graduated Nursing school, with Honors! Who'd have thunk it?

3) Passed my nursing boards! The morning I sat for my boards could very possibly be the worst day of my life. Or at least the most emotional. So glad that is all done and over with.

4) Got my dream job in ICU! YEAH!!!

5) Moved out of Prescott area (finally) to Lubbock some 800+miles away from family and friends (sadly!)

So now we move into 2011…what now? Great things? Possibly? I am already preparing for my CCRN (critical care RN cert) and will most likely begin my BSN via Texas Tech in the fall. I have a few prereq's to complete first but then I will be on my way once again.

Merry Christmas

Sorry it took so long to get back on with updates. Work has been exhausting! Learning so much, so fast. I must admit that the with Holidays upon us, witnessing first hand the end of life has had a huge impact on me. I find myself growing with every experience, every new procedure, every encounter and with every death. With every moment I'm on the Unit I find myself loving my job more and more everyday!

Christmas break wasn’t exactly a break. Nonetheless it was filled with family and love. Mom and Dad came to visit and brought Nathan and David with them. It was such a wonderful gift to see my son after 4 months. We all managed to finding sleeping space in our two bedroom apartment. We did a little of this and a little of that. I took everyone on a small tour of UMC. We took a drive by Morgan's school and the kids chased the Wild Geese. Christmas was a blast. Christmas came a day early for us for I worked Christmas evening. Lambeau, our beloved four legged family member managed to tear through his gifts within minutes. It was smiles and laughter as the morning moved on. I must admit I felt a bit spoiled. I was just enjoying the amazing way Holidays seem to bring families together. Cherished times! The kids Grandma Diane (David's Mother) came to visit for an evening which was a treat as well. Before long it was time for us to part. Sad as always but I’m always assured they are only a phone call or plane trip away. Thank goodness for technology!

Pictures sent by Chrissy of her and Lil' G modeling their Christmas gifts. They were missed during our festivities but we are hoping to see them soon.

Morgan turned 12 years old during the Christmas Holiday. Twelve? Really? Already? I ask myself, where has the time gone? They just grow up so darn fast and right before your eyes. She is a good kid as is her brother and I’m both excited and a little anxious for the upcoming year full of hormones.

Finding myself blessed, loved and oh so fortunate :) I hope everyone else was as blessed this Holiday season as we were!

Happy Thanksgiving

Our first year away from family :(  We managed well. I cooked and didn't burn the house down. There's something to be thankful for. Morgan and I decided to have a non-traditional Turkey day. I am not a big fan of touching the turkey, ask Mom and Chrissy. I've learned from a few past experiences that it is just not my forte'. So instead we settled on shepards pie. Just to keep in spirit with the day we did have mashed potatos and stuffing. Mom sent a sponge cake our way via snail mail which we enjoyed as dessert. Thanks Mom! Morgan thought our dinner was great and I'd have to agree. We may even have a guest show up post-shift for a little turkey day food. So all in all, I'd have to say our first Thanksgiving away from home was a success. It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without pondering about what we are thankful for. Every year as we sat around the table prior to our feasting Dad goes around the table and one by one asks each person to state one thing they are thankful for. This year I cannot state just one thing. So Morgan and I have concocted a small list. Things to be grateful/ thankful for in the year of 2010:

1) I am surrounded/ supported by loving Family and Friends

2) The fact the my family, children and friends are healthy

3) My new career and my Texas RN license

4) Our new begining in Texas

5) I'm no longer in the RN program and I can enjoy life again :)

Morgan's list;

1) Family and my Friends

2)Social Networking

3) Make-up and Awesome clothes

4) Food, water, shelter, etc...

5) School

I begin my first shift back in the ICU tomorrow night, night shift at that. I'm very excited! I have completed all 8weeks of critical care classes and am now twice over ACLS (advanced cardiac life support) certified. I will have six more weeks with a mentor then they let me go and I will be on my own. That is a terrifying thought to me today but in six weeks I know I will be ready for whatever comes my way. I will keep everyone posted along the way.              
                                                     Just a little more Thanksgiving humor:

For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Halloween fun

Halloween 2010 may very well be Morgan's last trick-or-treating experience. As she and her friend went door to door in search of the best sugar in town. I sat pondering to myself...where has all the time gone? It feels as though it was just yesterday that I had one stroller and the other in my arms. Watching Morgan with her friend this year had made me realized how grown up she really has become. It saddens me to watch her both grow and yet at the same time I'm excited to see what lies ahead as she matures. By the way she was the most beautiful hippie Princess in all of Lubbock.

A beautiful girl...a beautiful performance

Morgan's first Choir performance of the year. Ed Irons has a girls' and boys' choir groups all of which are separated by experience going as far as the Varsity level. This is her first year along with the other young woman she is singing with. Morgan did great and like her name she shown "bright!"  I am so proud of her :)

Little Treasures

We have discovered much in our short time here in Lubbock. Something tells me we have only begun to open the box of many treasures this town holds. A few blocks from the house we stumbled upon this memorial to local fallen Soldiers. Every brick holds a Soldiers name, branch served, sevice dates and town where each young man came from. It is amazing! A bit breathtaking as well!

 

Another little gem we have found a few blocks from the house. Memorial to Commander McCool. He was a Lubbock boy who became an Astronaut and was tragically killed the Columbia Shuttle disaster.

That is all she wrote for now. More to come soon...

Girls Day Out

McKenzie Park in Lubbock is the place to go to hike and fish; mostly just to get away from it all I guess. My friend Niki and I started out on the only trail head we could find and just started walking. I thought I would share with everyone some of the sights I experienced during our journey through the wilds of  Lubbock.We came across a hole that I imagine belonged to a tartantula, wicked trees, cacti and unidentified gord-like objects. A most pleasant spotted ground squirrel and the not so pleasant and apparently annoyed Praire Dogs. Neither of us had ever seen so many Praire Dogs in our lifetimes. As we continue to walk through the open field very aware of the surrounding vermin hositlity my friend calmly states "I'm begining to fear for our safety". I laugh it off and reply "remember they are more afraid of us, then we are of them". Then she adds, "yes, but there is power in numbers!" Enough said, one cannot argue with that and we walked briskfully through Verminville. Near the Park is this wonderful place with a large variety of windmills. I haven't figured out why I have such an infinity for them but I find them facsinating and for now it is all I need. I plan on visiting McKenzie Park often, next visit I will bring Morgan and maybe be so brave as to invite the canine.