Baseball and Fireworks

Ryan and I decided that we would spend the 24th of July at the ball game. The Orem Owlz play at UVU and they were having a game and firework night. The kids thought this was a great idea. They loved that we were able to sit so close to the field. Both Jessica and Kelsi caught baseballs- how do we rate?!? After the game, there was a great display of fireworks! Over all, it was a great night and we plan on doing it again soon. However, I think this time I will spend a little extra money and pay for seats- sliding down the general admission hill all night wasn't exactly comfortable! I took some cute pics. The first is of the kids watching the players warm up. Taylor kept telling us that they were "those guys", LOL. The second is of Taylor wearing Daddy's glove so that he could "catch it".

New Job!

Well, life is slowly getting back to pre-nursing school craziness. The kids are adjusting to having a mom again and have even started suggesting things for us to do this summer! I am also happy to report that I am now employed full-time as an RN. I took a job at the State Developmental Center working with mentally handicapped adults. This isn't my first choice of jobs but I took it for a couple of reasons-
1- the benefits are incredible! 24 paid days off a year and complete health, dental, and vision benefits for less than $100 a month
2- the patients here are really what inspired me to go into nursing in the first place. I worked here for 3 years before school and loved the interaction so much that I decided this was my lifelong calling- I feel I owe these patients something for their inspiration
3- there is something to be said for patients that- love me unconditionally, get excited when they see me, and in general are completely innocent of the world around them.
4- the schedule allows Ryan or I to be with the kids for all of about 4 hours each day. After two years of school, they really need and are enjoying having a parent around most of the time. And, I have Fri and Sat off which means lots of mini-vacations this summer!

I really do not see myself here for a very long time, maybe only a few months, but I am enjoying the slower paced environment, while earning RN wages. I look forward to when I can get back into the hospital but, for now, this really is the best place for me to be.

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.