Goodbye 2006, Hello 2007!

Wow, can you believe a whole year has flown by us like a blink of the eye?

I made it home safely from my Christmas travels. We had a great time, but it is sure good to be home. I've been busy at home today. I got everything unpacked, and started working on getting everything sorted and ready for next semester.

I'm not doing much tonight. I made spaghetti and garlic toast. It was delicious. I also started a fire in my fireplace. I'm just sitting here enjoying the 6th season of ER. It was one of my Christmas presents. Today and tomorrow will probably be the only days I have a chance to watch it for awhile. I work 9 days in the next two weeks from the 2nd to the 15th. Should prove to be interesting. I need the money and the time at work, but the time off has sure been nice.

I've set a few goals for myself this year, but I'm not going to share them here. I've got less than a year left until I graduate from nursing school. That is my biggest goal for the year ~ survive nursing school and pass the NCLEX.

I wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year. I know I'm looking forward to things 2007 has to bring. Hopefully most of it will be good. But whatever may come, be it good or bad, may you and I make the best of it. Until next year! cj

Hail, hail, the gang's all here. . .

Thought you might like to see a pic of the entire gang. I'll be posting more pics when I get home, but I didn't bring my USB cord, and you know how picky the makers of cameras and such are. Hope everyone had a great Christmas. We ate too much and laughed a lot. It was grand fun!! Enjoy the pics. . . cj

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Just a quick post to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. We did our Christmas presents last night (as per family tradition) because my brother's birthday is today. You see, this time of year is very busy for my family. My parents were married on the 22nd, and I was born on the 23rd (2 years later). We have Christmas on the 24th, and then my brother's birthday. It was a wonderful Christmas, as we were all together again (the first time since Easter of 04). It's going to be kinda laid back the rest of the time. I think we have a movie planned for later today, then my brother leaves tomorrow. The rest of us don't leave til Saturday. I hope the rest of you have had a wonderful day!! Enjoy your season, cj

I made it

Just wanted all my blogger friends to know that I made it to my folks safely. My plane was delayed a bit, but we arrived and that's all that matters. However, if I can help it, I would prefer not to fly when there are two low pressure systems pressing up against each other. It causes a great deal of turbulence and me to get airsick. Now, I knew I had a problem with motion sickness, but I have NEVER gotten literally sick on a plane. I guess there's a first time for everything. I was never so happy to be on the ground as I was yesterday. Oh well. It took me sleeping all night and well into this morning to get over the icky feeling, but I'm well rested today and ready to have some fun with my family. Everyone else gets here Friday and Saturday, so much fun is yet to be had!! I will be touching base soon!! Thanks for reading, cj

Busy, busy, busy

Well, I successfully completed my three days at work. I have to go back today at 3:00 until 7:00, but it shouldn't be too bad. At least I know I will have a little bit of money waiting for me when I get home. It was tough getting back into the routine, but I managed, only to get out of it again!! I'm busy packing, cleaning, and doing laundry (all those things you have to do before you embark on a massive trip). For some reason, my suitcase doesn't want to pack itself. I keep hoping that I'll go into my bedroom and all the clothes I've put on the bed will magically be folded and put away neatly in the suitcase. I'm really hoping that I can manage with the 2 bag limit. Sweaters are big and take up a lot of precious space. Oh well, I must get back to folding and such, since there are no elves in my home. (Unless, of course, you want to volunteer to pack for me while I lounge on the couch and catch a quick nap!!) Have a great day. I'll be posting while I'm out of town. Ahhhh, the glory of the internet ~ and wireless access on the laptop!! Take care, cj

Not too happy . . .

I finished the semester with a 3.0. One C and two A's. I know that's not bad, but that's not what I'm upset about. You see, among the few that my class is at risk for losing, is one of my best friends and study partners in the class. I can't tell you for sure how many we lost to grades, but I know of one for sure. I'm crushed. I only have one other person in class that I trust with my life. I have some friends, don't get me wrong, but not like that. I've been almost sick about it most of the day. What is my last year going to be like with that? I know I'll make, I'm not worried about that. It would just be so much easier with someone you really trust and get along with and study well with. I have to work all weekend, so probably won't be around much. I'll stop in when I can, cj

I'm half a nurse

Ok, so finals are over, I still don't know all my grades, but I know that I passed. I should know my final grades tomorrow or Monday at the latest. It's been a rough week for several of my classmates. There are several that are on the line and their wait is much worse than mine. I'm not sure how many we are going to lose due to grades, but I hope that it's not too many. We've developed friendships and it's hard to see those change.

I have one more day off this week before I head off to work. I have an action packed day planned. Pinning for the 4th semester students and lots and lots of cleaning and organizing should be taking place. I work Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Then Tuesday, I pack for my trip for Christmas. I'm looking forward to having some time off. As soon as I get back, it's back to the grindstone with work.

3rd semester sounds so much less stressful right now. For starters, we are done with skills lab. That gives us an entire extra day of the week to study, work, or do with as we see fit. I am taking the opportunity to go part-time at the hospital. I have my pediatric and OB rotation next semester. It should be good. I'm really looking forward to it.

But, first things first. I have four weeks of no classes and I am half-way done with nursing school. Good luck to the rest of my fellow nursing students who still have finals to take. I'll be in touch throughout my break!! cj

One down, two to go

Well, I'm officially finished with 2nd semester theory. I pulled an 82 off, which is quite shy of the 91 I needed for my B. I'm ok with it. I did the best I could. I have to retake the ATI test tomorrow and hopefully get at least 82 on that, and then my lab final on Thursday.

This afternoon is being spent relaxing with Jen at her house. I needed to run away from home for a bit. I've been sick all weekend at home, that it was time to be sick somewhere else. Oh, yeah, that's the other thing, I woke up without a voice today. Gotta love it. I'm just glad our final wasn't a verbal one. I don't have to go to work until Saturday, so hopefully I'll be all better by then.

That's all the news for now ~ until later, cj

Notice my counter?

I'm taking a quick break from studying and just realized that my counter says "12 months"!! WOO HOO!! It's officially 369 days, but I'll take 12 months! Only a year left of nursing school. Finals, care plans, clinicals, paperwork, etc. I know that working as a nurse will entail paperwork and such, but at least I'll feel like it has a purpose (other than to give me a grade!!) Ok, I'm back to the books. Have to pass the final, have to pass the final, have to pass the . . .

Slowly getting through

Today was a semi-successful day. I passed my final scenario of the semester. It was on trach care. After scenario, we had to take ATI testing. We had to pass psych at 82% in order not to remediate. Well, leave it to me, I came in at 81.7%. Oh well, I have a horrendous cold starting, so I wasn't all there. I'm going back to my couch and resting some more. I have to get over this cold before Monday. Lots of studying to do this weekend. Later ~ cj

BRRRRRRRRR

Ok, so I've been gone for a little while. It has been an eventful few days (as well as cold ~ in Texas standards). I worked Friday (it's always chaotic there!!) And then somehow managed to spill my freshly boiled hot tea all over me. I have two second degree burns on my abdomen and a first degree burn on my right thigh. (Sorry, Mom, for giving you a heart attack by calling you all freaked out). I don't know if this has ever happened to you or not, but when you do something to hurt yourself in some way, you react instictively at first and get the pain down somewhat and then lose all practical sense. I did ~ I called my mom, who lives many, many states away trying to get my bearing straight again. Her first question was what do you do for burns? I told her that we haven't covered them yet. Then she wanted me to call 911. I didn't think it was serious enough to do that. Finally, she suggested I call one of my classmates. I happen to have one who lives close whose husband is an EMT. She was here within 10 minutes. Enough of my sob story. I'm much better now. The bad ones on my abdomen are slowly healing. I got an RX for silvadene and am keeping them dressed while I'm out and about.

Saturday mid-morning was spent in the lab practing for my final scenario ~ trach care. I came home and napped, then had to work on my Psych Major Care Plan that was due today. I got it finished around 9 and headed off to bed.

Worked Sunday. It was rather interesting given my leg was wrapped and I had a dressing on my abdomen. Have you ever tried to empty a foley without bending over? You ought to try ~ it's not easy. Every time I tried to bed over my two burns on my abdomen would rub together (OUCH!!). I made it until 3:00 when I was pulled to the desk to be unit secretary for the rest of the shift. I was very thankful to be off the floor for a while.

Today I had the last theory lecture class of 2nd semester. It was long and tiring, but we made it through. I finished my paperwork for psych after class and am ready for my court experience tomorrow. Should prove interesting. Wednesday is back to med-surg for one day before the semester is over. Thursday is the last scenario and ATI testing. Monday is my theory final, and then the following Thursday is my lab final. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

If you don't hear much from me, you know why. I will get back into blogging after finals. I have to focus. I found out today that I have to make a 93 on my theory final in order to pull a B in theory. I don't know that it will happen. That means I can only miss 7 questions. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. Gotta hit the books. Until later ~ cj