Live in the Sunshine

Today was the best Thursday. I didn't know it when I woke up, but this day proved to be simply wonderful. 

First of all I got to sleep in because I don't have lab on Thursdays until 2. 

At 11 I met with my interim team that is planning on travelling to Ecuador in January. The director of Semester in Ecuador came to talk to us about what he has planned for us and really pumped us up for what God has done so far, what he's doing, and how he might choose to use us on our ten day trip!

After my meeting I got to redeem the little blue slip I found in my mailbox yesterday saying that I had a package. This was really unexpected so I was VERY excited to find out what it was all about. My mama spoiled me with a new Packers jersey and a new Brewers shirt. Both teams are a little in the dumps right now regarding their last games, but I still love to sport my Wisconsin pride down here in the Chicago suburbs. 

There were a bugzillion salsas and dips in the caf for lunch. If you've been to Trin, you probably think the food is pretty good. If you live here, your sick of the food. So that little change was special!

After lunch Kathy and I did a quick run through of our lung assessment skit for validation. I was really scared about validating today but I passed!  I was shaky, sweaty, and a nervous wreck, but now I can assess any one of your lungs. : )

The worst part of my day came after lab. Kathy, Alyssa, and I had to get flu shots in order to start clinicals next Wednesday, and of course waited until the last minute. Walgreens wouldn't take my insurance because it was from Wisconsin so that was a bummer. I flinched, got bandaided up and left with a sore left arm. 

There was no other way to celebrate than to get iced coffees at Dunkin.: )

Tonight I look forward to minimal homework because we don't have a test to study for-surprise!, and I finally get to go to outcry again after missing the last 2 weeks. 

I'm also looking forward to going home tomorrow! David and Nathanael came to visit me already, but I haven't been home since Labor Day. That's a long time! And my laundry has built up quite extensively, so it's time to watch the girls play volleyball, sleep in my bed, see my family, and my best friend.

It was a beautiful fall day, live in the sunshine!

Hit It

Ice cold water, my neck is being squeezed by my life jacket, I'm either sitting on my skis or wakeboard or laying on my kneeboard trying to avoid getting more wet than is actually necessary-I'm ready...

Some people yell various things: ready, go, okay, give er...etc.etc.etc. I prefer to yell hit it. Hit the gas and get me out of the chills of Green Lake and into the air; let me glide atop the water.

This week, the nursing majors are already preparing to hit it. We finished up our first med-surg test on Friday and braced ourselves for a weekend full of studying. The next week consists of:
Monday-Pharm Exam
Tuesday-Med Math Exam, this requires a 95%, that's only one wrong people...

Wednesday-oxygenation and suctioning validation

Thursday-lung assessment validation

We finally catch a little break on Friday as we look into October and clinical starting up. 

Please pray for all of us during this really important week, these first grades in the grade book really set a tone for the rest of the semester. 

Right now I can barely look that far ahead, just ready to hit the books-starting now.

One in the Books

Yesterday I had my very first test as a junior nursing student. Our prof had reminded us on the very first day of class that this test was coming up. I was nervous because this is a  intimidating prof and a really important class- Health Assessment. 

I studied (almost) all weekend for it and felt pretty prepared for the test on Monday. Now that I'm in the big league nursing program, I have to take all my tests on the computer to simulate what the NCLEX will be like. I'm reminded almost daily that it's never too early to begin preparation! We got our grades back last night and I am very happy with what I accomplished, though in the future I'm aiming for a little bit higher. It's so nice to have one test under my belt and have an idea of what the rest will bring. 

The tests don't stop. I'm in the process of getting ready for another validation tomorrow and a test on Friday for Adult Health and on Monday for Pharmacology.  

I haven't been all about studying. The boys made their first trip down to see me this past weekend. They picked me up on Saturday afternoon and we went to a Chicago Fire game. We made it just in time for tailgating and checking out Toyota Park. It was way cool and the Fire won!

I love when they come to visit me. :)

On Sunday we went to Palos CRC and then had our traditional brunch at Lumes. Joeli joined us for her very first experience at Lumes!

This year I am also experiencing living with two other nursing majors. Anna and Kathy have been life savers already in our adventure towards our BSN! However, we aren't together a whole lot as a suite due to different lab and clinical times and Justine is off at her own practices, labs, and cross meets. Last night our entire room was all together, so to celebrate our accomplishments and be together we made dunkaroo dip and watched The Lucky One. 

Here's hoping for a continuation of a good week!

Almost Perfect

After 3 very long days of classes I got to go home this past weekend and enjoy a long, holiday weekend.

Janelle and I endured some rough traffic to get home, but there was still a lot of time to enjoy at home. Friday night David, Rudith, and I went out to Leahy's for supper. Beef had a date and Mom and Dad are never home on Friday nights so we enjoyed our dinner and laughed at llama lady. 

Nathanael made it over after that and we got to watch the stars and the blue moon. It was a beautiful night! Saturday morning my mom and sisters and I went to the flea market one last time. We spent the rest of the day at the lake. It was so windy there that I had a blanket over me while I sat outside! I still managed to get a little sun on my face, somehow. That afternoon Nathanael picked me up and we drove to his uncle's cabin near Montello. A bunch of his aunts and uncles were staying there for the weekend and I finally got to enjoy the weekend there too- you would think that throughout our almost 4 years together I would have been there before! We enjoyed food fresh off the grill, pitching the tent, fourwheeling, volleyball, and more snacks all weekend long. The weather was so beautiful! 

Sunday night I went back home because I had strict orders to clean my car on Monday and ended up helping Dad sweep out the grain bin with Beanie and Squigs. We were SO hot in there! Our reward was to head to the lake for the afternoon. I packed my car and cleaned up like a mad woman so that I could get in one last time at the lake. Even though it clouded over a little when we were there we all got to ski once more.

skiing with my BFF

beef and beanie loving life

After getting home I met Nathanael for one last time together before going back to school. He bought us Culvers and I felt like we were in high school again! I hopped back on the highway and got back to school and unpacked-again!

School is going well. I finally got to sleep in today which was nice seeing as I picked up a cold from somewhere this past weekend and I needed some rest to help try fight that off. I wont be coming home until September 28 because my classes are on Mondays and Fridays, and a few of the big tests are falling on Mondays and I want to make sure to do well on them! 

xoxo