Christmas Whirlwind

I love my job. The reason for today is, if I plan my schedule right and maintain wonderful co-workers, I can do EVERYTHING I want to do when it comes to my personal life. 

Within the last month, I was able to work a full schedule and still have time to:

* Have Thanksgiving with my family + B.

* Enjoy the day after Thanksgiving due to low census at the hospital

* Conquer the stomach virus.

* Put up and decorate 14 trees for a dear friend. Needless to say, my house did not get decorated.

* Shop for good deals on the presents I wanted to buy, this takes time people!

* Spend my mom's birthday with her in Duncan.

* Get all the gifts I gave wrapped and delivered before 12/15. And put bows on all the family presents for my dear friend that has the 14 trees. 

* Take a trip to PA w/ B for 5 days. It was snowing for B's birthday when we landed, celebrated Jacoby Christmas, shopped, relaxed, ate, talked, laughed, it was fun.

* Spend Christmas Day in Duncan with my family.

And still to come:

*Next week my family + B and - Jenny will be going on a spontaneous (planned and booked within the last 5 days) ski trip to Breckenridge, CO. 

And that is why I am loving my job TODAY! The flexibility of my job has taught me SPONTANEITY. I may be busy at times but it's a wonderful feeling knowing the things I'm busy with, i've chosen. There's no one telling me when I will be study or testing and me having to plan around that. What I wonderful feeling!

 

Christmas Time Debates

1. Kindle or Nook?

2. Stick to the Christmas list or not while shopping for the loved ones?

3. Go ahead and pick out every outfit for the next two weeks  since it's going to be non-stop from 12/12-12/27? Wrapping and shopping will be done by 12/12.

4. How long can I go w/o doing laundry (normal & work clothes)?

5. Puppy chow or fun Christmas cookies?

6. Pro-duct-ivity vs. Christmas movies, cute pj's, and a hot drink?

7. What in the world do I get the soon-to-be mother? Baby-related goodness vs. enjoy the last Christmas when the world can still revolve around her?

So much debate, so little time. Give me your input on any or all the above debate. Hope you're enjoying the season, getting lots checked off the listS, and staying away from the upper respiratory junk/stomach nastiness.

It's TRUE!

I become AUNT AMY in April!

(please excuse the long face, freaky eyes, old pic, and close up... but I'M EXCITED!)

Feel free to share all "Aunting" tips and excitement.

Weekend Quotes from 5 year olds

Little boy, "Do germs say words?" "I'm going to marry YOUUUU!" as he hits me really hard.

Cutest girl during a painful dressing change, "I don't like you right now."

Same girl during the second enema, "i'm mad at you."

My heart broke as I explained that I didn't want to hurt her but I do want her to get better.

Later I asked her if we were friends again and she quietly said, "no."

I asked her if we could be friends later and she said, "probably."

Oh what a weekend!

Call me...

Chef Amy.  Really I am no chef at all, but I do cook for a family every week. I enjoy their beautiful kitchen that has ceiling to floor windows that overlook a pond with a fountain. I enjoy cooking for this precious family and daydreaming the whole 4-5 hrs a week. I'll post pictures of the place where I dream about life soon.

This precious family has 3 kids. I try to do a combo of kid and adult food. Alfredo Lasagna is the only thing that hasn't gone over well with the kiddos. You win some and you loose some...especially with kids. Did I mention that I have babysat these kiddos for 3 yrs. So I love them and care about what goes in their little bodies.

This weeks menu:
* Meat Loaf  (i'm not a meat loaf fan but this is GOOD)
* Chicken and Cheese Roll ups (1 can cream of mushroom soup, some milk, cut up chicken, and   chedder cheese rolled up in cresent rolls)
* Taco meat
* Frozen fruit cups for breakfast/snacks

This week I decided to hide cauliflour in the roll-ups.
1. I've never made or tasted these roll-ups. They were recommended by Ashley R.
2. I've never read or tried the "deceptivly delicious" way of cooking.
3. I didn't tell.
4. How would you feel if your personally chef was hiding healthy things in your dinners and not telling you?
5. I snatched a roll-up for myself and it was DELICIOUS. Thanks for the idea Ash!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my wonderful best friend and sister-in-law! Here are a few pics to sum up why you should want a best friend just like mine. Happy 24th Birthday seeeester!

She gave me a dog niece. 

She loves my brother and I love that.

Camp Lu-Jo

The Gregg girls love our girl time.

Self-portraits 

Water slide buddy!

Happy Birthday Jennifer Lauren Haller!

You know it's a good day when...

Sundays are hard days to go to work. I know i'm missing out on being with my big family worshipping God together. Sundays take an extra measure of "umph" and they, for the most part, end up being the best days of work.

You know it's a good day when...

*you knock on a patient's door and walk in to find 6 people surrounding the bed saying amen and unclasping hands with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes.

*the little people that make you smile no matter what, REALLY make you smile that day.

*you can laugh with your friends about THE DUMBEST stuff that has ever come out of anyone's mouth.

*pizza and a good talk leave you going to bed with a smile in your heart and a prayer of thanksgiving for the wonderful day and all the blessings.

Hope you had a great 10/10/10!

Looking Back

Looking back on the past few months, I remember the craft that made the favorites list.

You can add her to your favorites list too. Here's how she's done:

 

    

 

New York Food

My favorite New York foods

Cheesecake at Roxy's in Time Square was my favorite dessert place. No picture is needed b/c I still remember the taste... it's that good! Roxy's also has the most ginormous club sandwich.  Order it, split it between 4 people, and you'll be amazed. Loved me a good 'ol Nathan's baseball hot dog. Utz potato chips are an Eastern thing. The pizza is the closest to Italy's that i've tasted in the US. I suggest sharing a piece of pizza, dessert, sandwich, or whatever you want w/ whoever you are with every 2-3 hours while in New York. You are sure to stay satisfied, experience a wide variety of foods, and probably even save some money. 

Lord, I Offer My Life to YOU

Wake up.
Have some God time.
Turn off the turbo fan that should get paid for what a good job it does at drowning out noise.
Realize that God creates better noise, crickets. I don't want to see them but they make the perfect "thinking"music.
After some God and cricket time, I conclude with this simple, heart-felt song.

All that I am, all that I have
I lay them down before you, oh Lord
All my regrets, all my acclaims
The joy and the pain, I'm making them yours.

Lord I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice,
Lord I offer you my life.

Things in the past, things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my heart, all of my praise
My heart and my hands are lifted to you.

Lord I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice,
Lord I offer you my life.

Rug Love

When I moved a few months ago, I decided that pink could not be a main color in my room so a shade of blue won. I have now decided that my $20 blue paisley sheets from Wally World are getting on my nerves and pink will take over my room once again...i'm happy! Here are some rugs that I would enjoy resting my feet on:

Number 1:

Number 2:

Urban Outfitter's Beautimous Rug

Number 3:

Urban Outfitter's Beautimous Rug2

Only hold up: my bedspread is white, not true white, but white. Therefore, all of these rugs except my least fav of the three have too much tan/off/yellow color in them. 

Which is your favorite?

Renaming

"Blonde Moments" is just more fitting. I am a natural blonde (dreading the mousey brownish blonde color that awaits me). I love to laugh but a majority of the time I spend laughing is over something that is completely thoughtless, stupid, FUNNY, and random. I can get myself into some of the most random situations that make even me say "really Amy?!?!"(like the time I spent $100 dollars on gas at Sam's Club and created a gasoline lake all b/c I was talking on the phone to a boy, stupid boys). And... sometimes I'm a little on the immature side (like when I'm on the phone w/ a foreign Dr, can't understand what she's trying to tell me, try to clarify and be mature, but instead I start laughing and have to remove the phone from my face... grow up!) I can be smart and intelligent when I choose to be. I am sensitive. I cherish my friends, family, and health. I love a good chick flick and love story. Shopping for bargains is a favorite hobby. And so on and so forth... I'm blonde and I hope you enjoy it.

Multicultural Day

A hispanic mom told me (in spanish) that my arms were pale and hairy while petting me. Sweet lady, just stating the facts. I laughed, tried to clarify, then she ended up laughing at me, ha!

I was amazing and motivated by a sign language communicating lady today. The newest word in my sign language vocabulary is "you're welcome."

Goodnight bloggers!

Strange Things are Happenin' Here

I get a call on my hospital phone, "this is Amy."
"Yes, my ______ just bit a hole in____ IV tubing."
"What?.... Ok, i'll be in there in a minute."
I walk down the hall expecting the bed to be wet and expect to change the IV tubing and bed sheets.
All my expectations were fulfilled except the IV fluid was blood. There was blood everywhere. I walked in and turned right back around to get the neccassary items to fix this strange happening. Really, who bits a hole in their IV tubing. You can fill in the blanks due to HIPPA. Only a cute little ______, hyped up on steroids and albuterol running on 3 hrs of sleep in the past 48 hrs. Man this patient was a cutie and _____ mom was the most patient woman. I want to have her patience one day! In the mom's defense, she was ordering dinner and this patient was waaaay ornery, sneaky, and fast. Moral to the story, next time you have an IV, keep it out of your mouth no matter how tempting the though of rubber tubing between your teeth might seem. I enjoy ending my day w/ these kinds of stories.

End of Summer Days

                                         

Bailey came to visit and B took us to the infamous Pho.

Snow cones w/ work friends and pup. The corner of Broadway and 2nd has the best snowcones.

B's first and long over due trip to Pops.

Our drinks. Sorry B for getting you Diet on your first experience.  Looks like we better go back tomorrow.

Table decoration/strawberry ball I made for soon-to-be Mrs. Kari Boyd's wedding shower. The idea is a keeper, simple, and takes 30-40 min to construct.

Celebrating the Smith's 22nd wedding anniversary on the Oklahoma River cruise. It was alot of fun and beautiful. Thank you Smith's for being an example to me!

The "cruise was very peaceful and showed the beautiful parts of the Oklahoma city area. Everything is still green! This pic is one of my favorites b/c of the trolley on the bridge. 

That's all for now. NYC here is come. Watch the Today Show on Friday. That's the only reason i'm going to the wonderful city and I want you to see me and sister sarah on TV. YAY! Later gaters. 

The Little Things

A few reasons why I love my job:

*Popsicles produce the most precious smiles.

*A simple game of "I see you" brings out the cutest giggle.

*The honesty and sincerity that comes from tweens.  

More to come.

Rule # 1

Don't argue w/ patients about non-health related issues.

Me: "I have your afternoon antibiotics. Can I see your arm? What are watching?"

Patient: "Alien vs Predator"

Me: "Oh, i've never seen this before. Tell me about it."

Patient: On and on saying thinks i've never heard of

Me: Agree and asking tons of questions to seem interested.

Me: "So since the two are combined then that makes the most awesome creature. He could destroy and conquer anything?!?!"

Patient: rolling eyes and letting out a huge breath of exasperation, "No, who are you nurses up here... it's like you all crawled out from under a rock and don't know anything. This creature is VERY BAD, he could kill all of us on earth."

Me: "Ohhh, thank you for telling me but I didn't just crawl out from under a rock. Alien movies just aren't my thing. Would you like me to tell you about some good chick flicks?

Patient: "Who watches chick flicks?!?!" roll of eye, condescending attitude... "everyone knows about Alien vs Predator."

Me: "Well...Call my phone if your pump starts beeping before I come in again."

Transition

After being MIA for over a month, I am successfully making the transition from being in school for 19 out of 23 years of my life into being a woman with hobbies, a full-time job, a very patient and supportive boyfriend, a license that scares me to death if I think about too hard, and family and friends that i'm rediscovering the value of.


Hobbies:
I know what i've always wanted to have time to do but what will I actually do now that I have the time?
Cook at least 3 well-rounded meals a week? Bake lots of goodies? Dig deep into the Word on a regular basis? Work on my sewing skills? Fix up my newly inherited bakers rack, table, and chairs? Clean on a regular basis? RUN? Recreate muscle? Learn to golf? Keep my finger nails painted? The possibilities are endless.


Full-time Job:
I am working at the Children's Hospital and L-O-V-E it. I've never understood the real concept of a job b/c my jobs have always been here and there and nothing permanent. I've also never wanted a job where I "have to go to work". Well, I now have a permanent job that I will work 3 days a week which includes every-other-weekend, 12 hr days. Not excited about working Sundays but it will due for now.
Now for the big new: GOD IS SO GOOD! I've always wanted to be a nurse. There were times in nursing school where that dream became very cloudy but God provided and here I am today. I was as prepared as you can be to work night shift... that's what most new nurses have to do. I would get to work with my 2 best friends from nursing school, get to go to church at least once every Sunday, more money...that's it. Due to the amount of new nurses on nights, I needed to be put on days! Woohoo! I'm working days and can sleep every night. It's bitter/sweet but mostly sweet.


Boyfriend B:
Our days together have been wonderful and memorable. They've been spent going, doing, discovering, and... me studying.
No more of this B (unless this is what we decide to do):

All of this:

B's been supportive, encouraging, and patient. He snapped me back into it (nursing) when i was totally out of it. Now I can really focus on what God wants me and us to be.

RN (a license that scares me to death):

I spent 3 weeks studying for boards. It was the most focused i've ever been. Hurst Review became my best friend. I would get frustrated when I didn't understand and happy/annoyed when I laid in bed reading the pages in my head. 

Boards made me nervous. I took 260 question in a little over 5 hrs. The test was stupid. I was prepared to retake it again and be proud. But...

                                            

I passed and have that giant behind me... on with LIFE!

R-N scares me to death b/c now I have proven my self responsible for other people's lives. Stink, no more sitting back and using the excuse "this is my first time, show me". I have learned and have SO MUCH MORE to learn but when it comes to finding an old lady passed out in the mall, it's my responsibility to take care of her. No this hasn't happened to me yet and hopefully never will for the person's sake. It's an honor to be able to take care of someone in a vulnerable time of need but it frightens me a little. What is not a little scary about taking care of someone's child, love of their life, that is sick, scared, and hurting. Forget about me, I will allow God to take care of those I come in contact by using my hands an my words. Knowing that God is doing the "taking care of" takes away the fright and gives me confidence. Thank you God for knowing how to heal! Here WE go.

Values of Family and Friends:

I am relearning how to enjoy dinner and fun outings with family and friends w/o the anxiety of "I should be studying". Thank you to those that have been patient through my school journey and still want to be in my life after I haven't pulled my weight in the friendship. Being a friend again, here I come. 

If you haven't noticed, there is life after 19 straight years of school and it's being rediscovered. 

                                    

Why didn't God make 2 separate animals: puppies and dogs?

I would consider myself a dog girl if

 puppies stayed their small, wrinkley, clumsy, smell-good selves forever.

NCLEX

Graduation: Check (pics to come)

BSN: Check (came with graduation)

RN: Board date set (to remain unknown to cyber space)

Prayers needed. Thanks!

Aunt Amy

Meet my new niece LUCY!

Age: 6 weeks

Description: pure bred cute boxer

Arrival: May 18, 2010 @ 6:00 pm

Location: Stillwater, OK

Pictures of the proud parents and the new addition to come.

Disclaimer: I'm not a dog kind of girl but i'm trying to convince myself that I want to be.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow

Tomorrow:

I graduate!

I say goodbye to my friend. I don't do goodbye's. I avoid them. But I love my friend; therefore, I will say goodbye.

I will have a wonderful day with my patient, loving, and supportive parents, my fun and loving siblings, and B who has been by my side being strong for me through the rough part of the nursing school journey.

God has been my strength and provided... once again.

Laffy Taffy

... jokes have made the 30 minutes after lunch break with a full tummy a little easier.  I've had an tiring informative NCLEX review class all week that will hopefully pay off in June with a little help from me and my studying skills.
Back to laffy taffy... these wrappers have some of the funniest and some of the worst jokes i know. So the girls on my row passed them back and forth the help wake us up and laugh at something else besides "nursing jokes".

Best jokes from the week:

Why do melons always have big weddings? 

* Because they cantaloupe

What's a sleep walking nun called?

* A roamin' catholic

What happened to the wind? (an uncommon Oklahoman questions)

* It blew away

What does a bee sit on?

* His bee-hind

Why did the skeleton go to the movies by himself?

* He had no body to go with him

Arts Festival

Fun atmosphere, lots of different art, music, and food. I recommend the Garlic Chicken Burrito and cinnamon roll with frosting... yum! If you go, eat some fried pickles for me.  I got too full.

2008

                                   

2009

2010

Notice I do not have any pictures of the art. We enjoy the art but we really enjoy the food, the outdoor, and... each other.

Good Company and Crafts

Good company and crafts do the heart good. 

Do you have a friend that thinks you can do far beyond what you really can? I have a few. And we end up figuring things out together.

He prayed for you too!

John 17:6-19
Amy Revised Edition

Jesus talking to God, His father:

"I have revealed you to Amy. She is yours; you gave her to me and she has obeyed your word. Now she knows that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave her the words you gave me and she accepted them. She knew with certainty that I came from you, and she believes that you sent me. I pray for her."  Jesus prayed for me. Really? Wow!

"I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but Amy is still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect Amy by the power of your name-the name you gave me-so that she may be one with others as we are one. While I was with her, I protected her and kept her safe by that name you gave me." Jesus asked God to protect me before I was born, before I knew that my God is my only true protection. 

"None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that Amy may have the full measure of my joy within her."

"I have given her your word and the world has hated her, for she is not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take Amy out of the world but that you protect her from the evil one. She is not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify her by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent Amy into the world. For her I sanctify myself, that she too may be truly sanctified."

I'm not going to pretend that i'm able to wrap my mind around this prayer but I do know from this prayer that I get the warm fuzzies, that I'm loved by God my Creator, and that he is by my side being my number one cheerleader through all of the traps Satan tries to get me to step through.

What a mighty God we serve.

Weekend rolled into Friday afternoon

Today is dedicated to...

My last nursing school test excluding Hesi and 1 final

Garage sale-ing and cupcakes with my friendsies

Enjoying the sunshine

Being crafty with Katie

Searching for the perfect graduation shoes

Beautifying my already beautiful sister for her first college banquet at OC

Making chocolate covered strawberries

Working on the SHOE puzzle that must be done by May 7th

Today is going to be fabulous!

If I were...

If I were a month, I’d be May.

If I were a day of the week, I’d be Sunday.

If I were a time of day, I’d be morning.

If I were a planet, I’d be Earth.

If I were a sea animal, I'd be a yellow tang.

If I were a direction, I’d be North.

If I were a piece of furniture, I’d be a comfortable couch.

If I were a liquid, I’d be water.

If I were a gemstone, I’d be a diamond.

If I were a tree, I’d be palm tree.

If I were a tool, I’d be scissors.

If I were a flower, I’d be a rose.

If I were a kind of weather, I’d be crisp yet warm air of Spring.

If I were a musical instrument, I’d be a piano.

If I were a color, I’d be pink.

If I were an emotion, I’d be hope.

If I were a fruit, I’d be a peach.

If I were an element, I’d be oxygen.

If I were a car, I'd be a Lexus IS 350.

If I were a food, I’d be a steak.

If I were a place, I’d be Belgium.

If I were a material, I’d be cotton.

If I were a scent, I’d be clean laundry.

If I were an animal, I'd be a golden retriever.

If I were a facial expression, I’d be a smile.

39 Days

... until I graduate.

We had to take these pictures for our nursing composite picture so I will be able to remember my whole nursing class forever and ever. 

Picture #1... not too bad. Gray, maroon, and white are not my colors. 

Picture #2... I got scared. I had high hopes for this pictures b/c it's the only time in my life I will put the Florence  Nightingale hat on my head. 

It seems like ever month becoming a nurse becomes more real to me.

Today was my first day of leadership clinical. God was watching over me when I was assigned to the children's hospital that I work at, on my floor I already work on, and to a preceptor (nurse) that knows how to teach.

During my leadership rotation I am to work my assigned preceptor's shifts for up to 90 hrs. My preceptor is suppose to let me do everything under her supervision. Since I have worked on this floor for the past 2 years, I was already familiar with how things go down. My preceptors and I clicked. She explained everything to me without making me feel dumb (a worry of mine). I never thought twice about any of the questions I asked and my preceptor never made me feel stupid which is saying a lot b/c I'm sure I came up with a bag full of stupid simple questions. For the first time, I could really see myself taking care of patients and being competent... what a wonderful feeling. God's blessings were huge today. I got to assess, chart, poke, feed, clean up, laugh, wonder, give meds, console, and be thankful today. 

During spring break last week, I got a call from one of the girls I give credit to helping me pass nursing school thus far. She told me that she and another on of the girls I give credit to got jobs working at the same place and same floor I will be after graduation! Hello! EXCITING! I get to carry my nursing school friends into my career. 

Wednesday I get attempt numero uno to pass the OC Nursing exit exam. To make a long story short, less than 10 people in the past 2 years have passed on the first try and I have studied and gone over practice ?'s 24+ hrs over the past week. It would be nice to pass so I can check it off my list.

God has a plan for my life and right now, I see that plan working out in front of my eyes.

God has a plan for your life too. No matter what stage you're in. How is He working out His plan in your life?

Last SB as a school girl

Got FLOWERS from B before leaving town. Still alive 10 days later!

Roamed the beautiful green Hill Country of Texas with my family

Dairy Queen x 4 (the best place for Blizzards, chicken tenders, and fries)

After undergoing shopper depression, finally found a GRADUATION DRESS (6 weeks from today)

1st sun burn of the year

1st time to see snow fall on blooming trees on the first day of spring

Discovered The Container Store and bought a nifty sandwich container

Saw the IRS building destroyed by an airplane in Austin

Studied, shopped, studied, shopped, studied, shopped

Made SMORES under the clear Texas night

Learned about different constellations from an 8th grade science teacher

Got some black Champion cotton TAPERED side pocket pants from my thoughtful gift giving dad.

Go to San Marcus for the best outlet shopping experience (pottery barn, banana, j.crew, crate & barrel, vs, gap, ann taylor, fossil, bath & body works, tons of name brand and out of my price range stores).

I had a wonderful last Spring Break as a school girl. Got to share many good memories with my family. I am one blessed woman.

Dirty Dancing vs. Brian & Amy

No, we didn't have a dance off. I can't dance. Brian and I took the picture on the left August '08 during Jacoby Family Vaca in North Carolina. Today while working on some assignments, Dirty Dancing was playing in the background and I just happen to look up when the scene dipicted on the right flashed across the screen. Uhhh! That WAS our original trick.

A few observations:

1. Jennifer Grey is more graceful than me.

2. Jennifer Gray is more modest than me.

3. Patrick Swayze has nothing on Brian.

4. One day I will to do this trick in a pretty place like it was done in Dirty Dancing.
5. I wonder what Patrick Swayze's face looks like... Brian looks like I might be on the verge of hefer-ish.
6. Jennifer Grey looks a little terrified while I sport the nervously excited smile.

I like the comparison.  

Puzzle

Today I got to relax with my nursing friends, Katie and Erin. They helped me with my puzzle project. "While You Were Sleeping" and "Raising Helen" helped us stay focus while making a dent in the "endless possibilities" monster.

Important update: the heater is fixed!