Climbing Mountains

On Thursday I made the very long, stressful drive to a little company called Pearson Vue. I walked into the office and waited in line, listened to their little spill about confidentiality at least 4 times, had my right index fingerprint taken 4 times, was given a white board and pen, had to turn my pockets inside out to prove they were empty, was again fingerprinted and told about confidentiality and finally told I could begin.

Sitting in front of that computer again was a little daunting. We had worked for two years so that I could take this one test. No pressure, right! For those that are not familiar with the Nclex test, it is a computerized adaptive test. It is smart enough to judge how "safe" of a nurse you will be. The test can have anywhere from 75-265 questions- all dependent upon how you answered your previous questions. Once it has determined that you will or won't be a good nurse, the computer simply turns off. When I took my LPN boards- the computer turning off made me want to cry- "I wasn't finished, please let me keep answering these awful questions!" This time when I hit question 75 all I could think was, "please turn off, please turn off, please turn off" Magically, it did!

However, then comes the 48 hours of absolute agony! I am not a patient person and waiting for test results like this is horrible. Especially since the people at Pearson Vue know how you did the minute the computer flips off- probably even before that! Ryan was, of course, confident of my success and told me numerous times that I had nothing to worry about.

Yesterday morning, the 48 hours were over and I even left work to go to my parents house and check my results. After listening to the spill about this not "being official until the license comes in the mail" and I "am not allowed to practice as a Registered Nurse until that time" the funny voice on the phone said, "Congratulations, you passed!" Whew- 2 years and the 48 hour wait is really over. I am a Registered Nurse! Our life can go on- we have climbed this huge difficult mountain and the view from the top is incredible!

Graduation Day

After 2 long years of blood, sweat and tears... graduation finally arrived. It was a nice ceremony at the Provo Tabernacle. But, it was even better to feel that sense of accomplishment and know that we were officially finished.

As I look back, it is amazing to realize that our life has really been in a holding pattern for the last two years. Taylor was 4 months old when I started school- he is now 2 1/2. Jessica was still in preschool- she is now going into the 2nd grade. And Kelsi, due to being the oldest, has been the one that really missed having a full time mom around. Thankfully, we have been able to pull together as a family and get through all that nursing school has entailed.

I really have to give credit where it is due though... Ryan has been my rock through all of this. He has laughed with me, cried with me, listened to me vent, helped me to study, cleaned the house and taken care of the kids alone for numerous hours- I think that he has seen what it would be like to be single. Thankfully, after all that, he is still here and together we are stronger then we were before we began.

It has been a long two years that went by quickly. And as I approached that stand to gain my diploma it really hit me that we are closing this chapter in our lives only to open a new one. Like all chapters of our lives, the pages are blank and waiting for us to fill them. I am so thankful that I get to write them with my wonderful husband and children and that together we know we can accomplish anything... we made it through nursing school after all.

Outside the tabernacle

My incredible husband

My nursing school buddies- Never would have guessed that I would make lifelong friends during school- but these two have been a real blessing

Getting my diploma
(OK, so it's just a quote and the real thing comes in the mail but hey I'm done!)

Burn, Baby Burn!!

I have been required to wear these blue smurf scrubs at least three times a week for the last two years. I can distinctly remember just how excited I was the first day I wore them... I was finally going to Nursing school! Two years later and many, many hours in the smurf scrubs - I have to say that I took great enjoyment in watching my school scrubs burn!

Graduation Announcement

Here it is... after two years of hard work! I am FINALLY graduating. Today, I attended my last class, next week I have finals and the week after that I get to walk with my graduating class, receiving my Registered Nurse, Associates of Science degree. Words cannot express the excitement that I am feeling about this accomplishment. For those of you that want a "hard copy" of the announcement, leave your address and we'll send it to you.

An Update...

Those that are in the medical field will truly appreciate the significance of this update. Yesterday, the physical therapist had Drew standing, yes, standing. It is amazing to see what a priesthood blessing and a little faith can do. He is still pretty weak and it hurts to stand, but considering the fact that he had one of his vertebrae removed on Monday, this is incredible progress. The doctors are very encouraged by his progress and have even moved him to the rehab unit for physical therapy. I have to say that I am very encouraged that Drew will be home before we know it. I am also hoping that the long term effects will not be too serious and life can go on, like it always does.

A Ladder and a broken back...

Yesterday, while sitting in school, my mom tried to call me- but I didn't answer. I went out a few minutes later on a break and before I could call her back, my brother called and said, "how bad is he?" This, of course put me into immediately panic mode- "How is WHO? WHAT are you talking about?" He then told me that my youngest brother, Drew, had fallen off of a ladder, broke his back and was at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. I think, no, I know that was the fastest I have even driven from Draper to Provo- I made it in less than 15 minutes... thankfully, my guardian angel is able to fly quickly!
So, long story short...
Drew was helping my dad clean up some trees that had broken limbs from the last heavy snow fall. He climbed up on Grandma Dot's shed and had anchored a ladder to the taller tree. The ladder was all tied into the tree- he really was trying to be careful. Drew made it across, cut the branch 90% off and was climbing back across the ladder when the ladder failed and broke, sending Drew down about 20 feet onto his back. Thankfully my dad was near by and was able to call the ambulance and tend to Drew until they arrived.
At the hospital, it was seen that L1 in his spine was shattered and L2 was broken. The decision was made to perform surgery and remove the broken pieces, then fuse the upper two and lower two vertebrae together, placing rods throughout the area for strength.
Before going into surgery, Drew was given a blessing by my dad and Elder Hafen of the 70- he is my parent's neighbor and just happened to be at a doctor's appointment with the surgeon when the call came into the doctor that he was needed for emergency surgery.
As a family, we sat for over 6 hours while the doctors worked. Everything went well and the doctors are very encouraged. Thankfully, after the surgery, Drew was able to move both feet and the numbness is slowly going away.
As I type, Drew is in the ICU at UVRMC. He has a really long road ahead of him. The true extent of the injury will not be seen for days, weeks, or maybe even months. He will be fitted for a turtle shell cast- it goes around his chest and abdomen to help stabilize his back and is removable for sleeping. The cast will be worn for at least three months. At this point, all we can do is let the doctors and nurses take care of him and pray that he will have a full recovery.
I will keep this updated as things change. Any prayers in our family's behalf are greatly appreciated.

11 Wonderful Years and counting...

Today marks 11 years since Ryan and I were married. It always amazes me how quickly the time goes by. I really do not feel like I should be as old as I am. Recently, I have really been reflecting on just how much Ryan means to me. I am so thankful that I have such a wonderful man in my life. He takes care of the kids, cleans the house, does the laundry, and works full time without so much as a complaint.He has been my rock for the last eleven years. We have been through many of life's challenges together but they don't seem nearly as tough when facing them together. I love that even the thought of him makes me smile and it helps keep me going. I know that I never would have made it through nursing school without his constant and unwavering support. I can not even comprehend life without him. I know that I take him for granted most of the time and that I don't say thank you near enough. Thankfully we have these days to sit and reflect about the importance of each other. I truly hope that Ryan knows how very much I love him- my world would crumble without him. The thought of spending eternity with him makes me want to be a better person. After 11 years of marriage I can only say that I hope we have million more together.