The Road to Abilene

We packed up the car one weekend and headed South to Abilene to spend the weekend with Eric's eldest daughter and have fun filled weekend. The skies were a bit intimadating yet beautiful. The girls were poolside within minutes of hitting the Hotel room. The Abilene Zoo was bright and early the next morning. The girls were excited and ran through the gates. Met by Mr Alligator then off to the Reptilian House. Monkeys, Jaquars, Flamingos, crazy Carp fish, hawks, owls and Giraffes are among the few animals we had the pleasure spending the day with. The following day was the Mall and Mini Fun Park.

The Crazy Carp...I think there must have been at least a hunderd of them all fighting over the fish mix being thrown into the water.

I loved this family of Monkey. It was a definate snuggle moment :)

The most active alligator I've ever seen. In captivity and up close and personal. He/she was really cool to watch.

Dart frogs, Rattlesnakes and a Cobra.

This Hawk was eating the Rat left for him. It was wild to watch the bird pick the Rat apart. The crowd gasps...ooooohhhhhhh aaaaahhhhhh!

♥The cutest and smallest Owls ♥

This is Eric's BFF. For some reason this bird took a liking to Eric. We still will tease him about it.

Flamingos are always pretty. Morgan tells me that they get their color from their diet. Boy, is she smart!

Haha...I don't think he wanted his picture taken.

The end of a very long day was finished at the races.

That was our trip... fun but no sun, seeing the sights of Abilene. Eric drove us by Dyess Air Force Base where he had been stationed for many years. The girls became prunes from spending so much time in the pool. They wandered around the Hotel halls and played with other kids who were also staying there over the weekend.

A Man in the House?

So, the story goes....I went on a blind date in begining of Feb on a cold and miserable day. I met him on one of those on-line dating services. I was extremely hesitant yet excited. We had a great time the first night. So far we have it hit it off and for the first time in 2 1/2 years I've begun dating again. I am happy :) Morgan seems to adore him and they have already begun to build their own relationship. He has two daughters of his own, one of them close to Morgan's age so he has some experience in dealing with estrogen. We are planning a trip back home to Arizona in June and he will be coming along. We are excited to show him where we have come from since he was born and raised here in Texas. He is excited to see Arizona and meet friends and family. More to come as this story develops....and more pics as well.

New Happs

My Nursing classmate, Kate has officially moved into the apartment with me and Morgan. She was yet another hire from Arizona at UMC. Her family came to visit shortly after the move in. It was nice everyone again. The kids especially had a great time and took full advantage of "catching up".  It is always nice to see familiar faces :) It will just us girls until the end of May. By then she will have found a home and her family will move to Texas to join her. We are excited to have them joining us here!

Oh my, its all to new to have a Code Blue!

So, I experienced first hand my own patient coding on me this week. Although I knew it was bound to happen at some point it caught me off guard. I've seen many other patients code on the unit and been a part of either bringing them back from the brink of death or being part of their passing over to the other side. I must admit I was a bit shocked to look up on the monitor to discover asystole. My team was able to bring him back but unfortunatly this young patient passed on earlier that morning. So, I wasn't for this particular evening able to what we say in nursing "keep em' alive until 645" but I truly believe they are in a better place. I go into work every evening with the best intention of keeping all my patients safe from harm and alive for at least the next 12 hours :)

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.