New Year!

Can't believe it's 2013 already. I'm gearing up for another semester of school, or rather three since I don't have another significant school break until next December...

This semester I've got an Intro to Theology class, in spite of the fact that I have a religion minor from my first degree and have taken 8 religion or philosophy classes in my undergrad career... sigh. Anyway this class is only online so at least I don't have to go anywhere to take proctored tests.

Then I've got Care of the Adult Client I and two days of clinicals for this class.
The second 8 weeks of the semester I've got Care of the Adult Client II and one 12 hour clinical day. Bleh... I'm just hoping this semester is less work than last semester, which it surely has to be. I don't know how it could be more!

I'm set up to take photos for friends of the family this weekend downtown which is pretty exciting, although also nerve wracking. I've never down photos downtown so it might be interesting.. We'll see.

Otherwise I'm still just trying to sleep, read, watch TV and generally do as little as possible before this semester starts. The worst part is going to be getting up early again! I can't stand getting up at 4:30 am to get to clincals on time..

I've been working on my website for my postpartum doula work, but I haven't published it yet because then I may start getting emails about it and for some reason I'm feeling like I'm not ready to start taking clients... I don't know..

Anyway, off to read!

My to do list for winter break

Oh man.. I finished my first semester of nursing school. Most days I was sure I wouldn't make it to the evening.. but somehow I managed to get through all 8 of my classes this semester. I don't have all of my official grades but I passed all my classes so I will be continuing on. Only three more semesters to go and I'll be graduating next December!!

After being completely consumed by school since August and finishing only 2 books the entire time my greatest desire is to read a million books over break. We'll see how many I get done. My goodreads goal this year was 50 and I'm waayyyy behind now thanks to school. I think I've got to finish 13 by dec 31st and I doubt that that will happen.

I've been in a workshop for my job this weekend and I've got another day of it tomorrow. If I didn't have to drive an hour each way I would be enjoying it a lot more. The workshop is lots of good info, I just hate being up early and driving! I've got to get recertified in CPR on wednesday for school and then I'm helping out in the office at work on thursday... We're set to leave the day after Christmas for Florida to stay for a week. Super excited about that!

My to do list for break:
- order my school books for next semester
- get my drug screen for school
- work on my website for my postpartum doula business I'm setting up for myself
- get business cards ordered
- actually update my many blogs!!
- read the bazillion books I've got checked out from the library and on my to read list
- sleeepppp
- watch tv and dvds that I haven't been able to all semester

I'm hoping next semester will be a quieter one at school (its waayyy less credit hours so that should be good) so I won't feel like I get so behind on everything else in my life. Living and breathing nursing school for 4 months is ridiculous and exhausting.

Happy winter break to all of you college students out there!!

Friday Photo Dump a day late

and i even passed the final!

the family bonding over some grey goose vodka.

My "I haven't left the house all day or gotten dressed" face

I call this color "black like my soul"

 front porch

 so many books to read this break!

 after a workout.. couldn't seem to get off the floor

 the sky the other morning

blood loss estimation for work (its jello and food coloring and karo syrup)

cookie cake for finishing my first semester of nursing school. oh yeaaahh

Friday Photo Dump

T-minus 2 days until finals week begins.. DUN DUN DUN

Gigi was downstairs barking, so Theodore runs down from upstairs. He didn't have time to take his sports bra off. It was originally around his neck but I was laughing too hard to get a picture of that.

My grandparents from 1949.

Had to pull over and take this picture Monday night.

Tuesday morning. I was already done with the day at 620

But then my patient's board in his room had my name on it.. that sort of made it better!

Christmas girl

Hospital artwork I entitled "Lone Commode"

Went out thrusday for a friends birthday (and to avoid studing for finals). The drink was called "the sunshine state" I had to get it! 

Friday Photo Dump on Monday

Whoops. Didn't get around to this post on friday...

I left for Birmingham on Saturday morning. SUPER EARLY. Like woke up at 4:15 early... 

 Visited Detroit's airport.

 Got two seats to myself! SCORE.

 Out at dinner on Saturday night with Heather.

Mmmm.. 

Bagel! I was super excited for this... 

Crab and corn chowder from whole food. Nom nom. 

The studying follows me no matter where I go.

 Peanut butter pancakes. Sound gross but they are AWESOME.

 Trusty traveling buddies. Gotta get one with wheels for the next trip though.

 Wednesday when I got home..

 Gigi missed me while I was gone.

E out for lunch.

 Friday morning mist.

Saturday went up to watch the boys for a bit while their parents painted and hung curtains

 Their windows are so big!

 Naked boy helps them hang curtains.

 Sunday morning church hair.

 Sunday afternoon studying on the porch.

Friday Photo Dump

 Some fun in the crick last saturday.

 Reading on Sunday

 View from my blanket in the front yard

 French braid on tuesday

 When did my hair get so long? (wednesday)

 Found an old scrapbook my lovely friends made for me

 Midnight pickup of E

The goofy grin she does when she sees herself on my phone

 Clippy in her hair. It makes her look so grown up!

My friday has consisted of preparing for all of these.

July blues

I can't believe that it's more than halfway through July!! Where did my summer go? I still have a month left before fall classes start. But I've only got 2 more weeks left of my summer classes! Then a two week break before fall classes start. My schedule for the fall is sort of ridiculous.. although I did it all to myself... I'm sure I'll be angry at myself by midterms..

(You can click to make it larger if you're really curious.)

And yes, I have class on sunday mornings.. this school is weird. hahah.

I'm getting about half of my nursing pre-reqs out of the way this fall. I'm taking Logic and Lifespan Development right now, then these classes in the fall. That leaves Physiology, Microbio and Immunology and Chem for the spring. Eek..

Did I mention I have to attain the highest grades possible in all of these classes?? Specifically... straight A's. Yes, I'm going to be in serious pain. Especially considering I haven't taken a real science class in.. oh... 3 years? Brillant... Brillant. Also, the realization that I don't drink coffee and I'm not supposed to drink soda... makes me feel like this is going to be a LOOONGG couple of years.

The blue on there is my volunteer times at the hospital here. I got my TB test read yesterday and I've got orientation and shadowing next week. I'm excited cause I'm going to work in the Emergency Dept! Hopefully it will be interesting and maybe even lead to a job in the hospital! We'll see.

Anyway.. current plan is nursing pre-reqs the next two semesters. I'm applying for nursing school at a couple of different school. One with a start date of Summer '12 and two with fall '12 start dates. Whichever one I get into that is cheapest is the one I'll be going to. (Assuming I get in anywhere.. YIKES)

If I don't get into any of them... I'm probably going to Africa. You think I'm kidding? I've looked at a couple of volunteer/mission programs. So if I don't get into nursing school I'll hopefully be spending some time somewhere outside the US to nurse my broken spirit. (hahah.. sort of.)

Anyway.. there's my update on school for the rest of this year. I'm sure I'll be complaining about it soon.

Until next time...