The Weekend

Oy.

I worked all night Thursday. One of my favorite parts of working night shifts is I get to drive home while the sun is rising. Seriously, it is gorgeous. All the green leaves are all glowy and the mountains look even more radiant. I used to think I was a sunset person. Now I don't know.

Anyway, after working all night two nights in a row I fell asleep and didn't wake up until really late (read previous post). And when I did awaken (I look for every opportunity to use that word) my house was empty. So I ran off to Bluffdale to visit my loves from this past school year. Miss them.

Then, Saturday morning, woke up at 5 to go to American Fork to do Mrs. Kaitlyn Livingston Swain's hair for her wedding. She looked beautiful. It was a beautiful day and I am so thankful to have been such a part of it. I'm a firm believer that weddings should be celebrations and a happy day, not a stress pit of anxiety and perfection. Hers was a happy day and I loved it.

Then Sunday I had to work again, 12L (12 for the hour I begin, and L because it is the 12th letter of the alphabet, meaning I will work 12 hours.) I went to work early so I could go to the Primary Children's ward which meets at 10:30 for a 1/2 hour Sacrament meeting. I love going to church there because you see nurses and doctors dashing in with their scrubs on to hurry and take the Sacrament and then dash back out to see to their patients'. I love going to church there because everyone values each other so much, and you can feel that. I love going to church there because you see families wheel their sick ones in with their healthy ones on either side and they all sit down together, and even though they are in great pain and sorrow they love the Savior and they are having faith. My mom always told us that Andrew's cancer and Abby's heart and everything else that we've been blessed to go through was our Handcart that we had to keep pulling. You see a lot of Handcarts being pulled at Primary Children's.

When you work a 12L, you're often not assigned to any specific patients, and instead you roam around helping with anyone who is overwhelmed. It was pretty slow yesterday so I spent a great deal of time making hair bows for baby girls and then I went around and glued them to all the baby girl heads in the unit. My mom says when I was born she wanted a daughter very badly but they were never able to see in the ultrasound what I was, and after recovering from her c-section she saw me with a bow in my hair and she knew she had a girl. I wanted all the parents in my unit last night to feel something like that, that we hadn't forgotten that these patients are beloved children with personalities, so I stuck some bows on 'em. It was fun.

Later, I was assigned to a pod of patients and I had a very tender opportunity. There was a family of two little girls, and the younger sister was the sick one. When it was time for the father and older daughter to leave, the big sister started crying saying she didn't want to leave her sister behind and she wanted to stay all night. I got down on my knees so I would be face to face with her and I said "I'm a big sister too. One time my little sister had to stay in the hospital, and I couldn't stay with her every night. But I promise I will take care of yours tonight, okay? And you can come back tomorrow." She looked at me with these big, brave, trusting eyes and gave me a hug and went home.

Sometimes work gets crazy and hard and I'm tired and worried about messing up. But sometimes things like that happen and I remember why I want to be there and why it's worth it. And that, ladies and (gentlemen? do gentlemen even read my blog?) was my weekend.

Nonsensin'

I think Seattle would be such a fun place to live. I don't have any clue why I feel this way. I have never even been to that part of the country, I've just always wanted to live there. Other places I want to live at some point in my life: Georgia, Chicago, Maryland, New England, and probably Texas.

BYU gave me a scholarship again. I feel so very grateful. Besides the fact that it helps me pay for school, it has helped me find more answers and direction in my life.

I have a heated blanket my Daddy bought me that I have slept with since the frozen days of Heritage Halls my freshman year. Now I am simply addicted to it. Last night I was using fingernail polish remover and spilled some on my bed. Now I'm afraid to use my heated blanket because the remover is flammable. Any thoughts??

Night shifts: ooooooh night shifts. I have yet to figure out my rhythm with those things. Today I got home at 7 a.m. and slept until 3:19 p.m, that's 1519 if I'm at work. What is an appropriate amount of time to sleep after one of those things?? However, I had a baby last night who was so new he was still fuzzy. Instant love. His mom was my age and she was more than okay with letting me hold him if she could talk to me the entire time. So I rocked and she talked. It was a blessed arrangement.

Speaking of my bed and night shifts: I am so very grateful for my bedroom. My parents have gone to great lengths to make sure I could have a quiet room to sleep in after work. I love it. I should take pictures and post because it is so safe and cozy feeling. It almost feels like a very small flat. I have a love seat, you're all welcome to come and visit :)

One of my dearest darlingest friends is getting married tomorrow. I am so stoked.

Nonsensin', over and out.

Just Another Day In Paradise

My mom had a bunch of different appointments today, so I got to spend the day with my Nate. I gave him an option: colorful cupcakes or colorful pancakes. After telling him No, we can't do both, he picked the cupcakes.

Red velvet, which Nate quickly relabeled "blood"

 It's supposed to kind of be Pac-man

They look like the food from Hook. 

After the cupcakes, I made him eat scrambled eggs. (you know, protein.) Then my mom called and asked if we would go to Emily's school and get forms that need to be taken to Chloe's school which is Emily's future school so that Emily can register for classes. So. Went to Emily's school. Got said papers. Went to my former school which is Chloe's present school which is Emily's future school and negotiated world peace took care of getting her registered.
    While putting Nate in the car, I reminded him that he is my favorite boy. His reply: "I know. I remember from the last time you told me." <3

Upon getting home we suited up and ran outside to run in the sprinklers. I.E., we suited up and I watched Nate run through the sprinklers. While lounging on the towel and enjoying the sunshine with my eyes closed, I heard Nate shout from across the yard "I found a snail!"
"Gross!" I said back
Then, right in my ear, the little boy said "See?"
And let me tell you, if there is a world record speed for getting up and off that towel, I now hold it.

We also found a ladybug whom Nate affectionately named Chutbirt, and then reconsidered and named Lazy Chutbirt, the Ladybug. We waved goodbye to Lazy Chutbirt while she flew away.

By this time, the girls needed to be picked up from school and we decided clothes on top of our bathing suits were unnecessary while riding in the car. I almost sort of wish I would've been pulled over just so I could have experienced that awkward situation.

Chloe then needed to have dinner brought to her at the Region Choir competition, so I took her dinner and then sat. there. for. two. hours. listening. to. country. music. while. waiting. for. her. to. come. flying. out. The original plan was wait 20 minutes for her to come flying out and then madly drive her to Ballroom practice (busy girl, yes??) but.....region choir schedule got behind. Also, prayer is real, because when I was about ready to melt into a blubbering puddle of impatience I prayed and asked that she would please come out now. Voila, she came running out. Should've prayed an hour and 40 minutes earlier.

Now I've just returned back from a pitiful, panting, pathetic run. Needless to say I need to build up my stamina. Real bad.

Also, for those interested, work gets better every shift. My biggest complaint is that I am so in love with all these babies, and they aren't mine. I worry about them when they go home. Who is going to weigh and analyze the color and consistency of their poop???

I am seriously so blessed. (reference, for kicks and major giggles: Click me!)

AND FINALLY, because this is just awesome:

On this Journey

I'm like a burned piece of steak.

Very. Well. Done. With school! yessssssss


(until August. Or if I really truly do take online summer classes....haven't quite figured that out yet)

This is how my past 36 hours have been:

Went back to Primary for my last day of orientation (I told you they orient you A LOT). Also, I love it there. There is something wrong with how much I enjoy being in a hospital. In fact, I enjoy it so much that after leaving Primary I drove over to IMC in Murray to surprise a dear friend. She was surprised.
 
   Then, I went home and studied nutrition then New Testament then nutrition nutrition nutrition then New Testament then nutrition. Then I went to sleep. And woke up this morning. And studied more. And then I went to Provo and took my last two finals. And bought some more yellow envelopes. And some chocolate covered cinnamon bears, because they are my mom's favorite. Then I went to my apartment for the last time. And all my roommates were gone. So I packed up the last of my stuff, scrubbed the bathroom, vacuumed the floor, and checked the mail (my new swim suit had arrived, hallelujah!). Then I closed the door and said goodbye quietly to myself, since no one else was around to say goodbye to.

After tossing the box with my new suit on the passenger seat atop a million odd things from my apartment (such as several pots, a throw pillow, a jar of apricot jam, and two hand weights), I got in my car and happened to glance over at the package. This is what it looked like:

It says "This part of my journey is complete."

Whaaaaat???? If that isn't the most ironic thing I ever did see, I don't understand irony very well. From this I felt three things:

1. ModCloth sends things in awesome boxes.

2. ModCloth should write all the fortunes for fortune cookies. 

3. I am going to be okay. 

Regardless of where I end up for school, or in life, or what decisions I make, I am going to be okay. All the hurt and the worry and the stress and the tears of this past year are done. Complete. But my journey is still going, stretching out in front of me like a yellow brick road of potential. And with a click of my ruby red slippers, I am at home again. 

Arthur's Pet Business

I've never been a big "pet person". Of course when I was little I wanted a puppy and a kitty and a horse. But then we actually got a dog and she and I were not pals and I was cured of that desire for a while.

But, there are three animals I will gladly love and care for at any time.
First and most desired:

Second, because the babies I take care of remind me of them:

And third, because I can't look at this picture without laughing:

I promise to walk it and bathe it and feed it and take care of it all by myself. 

For Your Informaton

Since working at Primary Children's, I have already noticed some things. Thought I'd share.

If you want to do a service project, do one to collect baby clothes, especially for boys. For some reason we always have babies that have no clothes to wear home, and when we go to our lockers to get them some, all we have is baby girl clothes. So if you need a service project, collect baby clothes.
    Next, I learned that I need to learn Spanish real bad.
    Next, we often need people to just hold the babies until they fall asleep. Volunteer to be on the Kids Crew! We call the Kids Crew when we need someone to just sit and hold the sweet little burritos. You can find out how to volunteer at intermountainhealthcare.org
    Next, for everyone that was wondering, I am still fighting and working towards becoming an RN. Somehow I'll get there. I'm learning a lot about faith and trusting and being patient. It isn't easy. But this is what I really want with all of my heart, so I'm still trying.
    My fiddle concert is tomorrow night. I will be rockin' some red cowgirl boots, courtesy of my sweet mom. You're all invited.

An Easter Post

This painting has hung in my family room since I was about 8 years old. For a long time I didn't understand what it was.
    This is John the Beloved and Simon Peter running. They have just heard that maybe, just maybe, Jesus has risen from the dead. Look at John's hands: so tightly hoping that it is true, but hardly daring to believe. Look at Peter's eyes: again, desperately hoping that his Lord is alive, but also probably sorrowful for his betrayal three days before. Both of them running and running, and then finding the stone rolled away and the linens folded and empty. I can only imagine their joy.
     I didn't see the linens. I didn't see the empty tomb, or the scars in His hands, feet, and side that stand as an eternal reminder of what He did for me. I didn't see Him. But I can witness of Him, and I know that He lives. He is alive to this very day. And someday soon, I will be running. I will be running to meet Him. And I will finally see the reminders in His hands and feet. But I testify that I will not know better then, when I am kneeling at His feet, than I know today, that He Lives.
     Happy Easter

Lasso One

This song:



Plus preparing for my Fiddle concert next week (7:00 p.m. April 10th, JSB auditorium on BYU Campus, free admission if you wanna come)

Is giving me a country hankerin'. I think a trip to the Cabin is in order.

I15 is My New Pal

Henceforth is the promised post about my rockin on strong awesome new job:

I. Love. It.

It is hard.

But I love it.

This is what I do all day:

 Except they each have their own beds. Although I would love to put them all in one place like that... and yes we do wrap them up like little burritos and I LOVE it.

 Oh, I do this too. Love. So much. 

Oh, and this is me. For real.

Kidding, this one really is me. 

It's PINK because I handle BABIES

BUT REALLY. Everyone is jealous. You should be, as well. 

Except for the working 6pm to 6am thing

Or the working 6am to 6pm thing.

And the "I-live-in-Provo-and-work-in-Salt-Lake" thing

(for two more weeks, then I'm HOME!)

My day today:

I had (more) orientation at PCMC that started at 7 a.m. 0700 (I'm trying to adjust to thinking of time that way). So I spent the night in Sandy with my family whom I adore. Except I stayed up too late researching nursing programs and then woke up at 6:34 a.m. 0634, and knowing that it takes me about 37 minutes to get to Primary from my house....I was in a bit of a pickle. Luckily I had slept in scrubs, so I pulled out my french braid and jumped in Jiffy and said some prayers.

Like please help me not to speed.

And please help me not have an anxiety attack about running late.

And please help me get there as fast as I can without speeding. 

And thank thee for waking me up.

I arrived at 0716 (traffic. rude) and then sat for approximately 20 years while they gave me more orientation (have I mentioned they make you go to LOTS of orientation?). And I had to practice wearing one of these, in case of H1N1 or Tuberculosis and such:

Who ya gonna call??

And then I had to give them yet another urine sample (I am so pro at those things now) (that's probably TMI, sorry)(if you ever need help with one, I'm your girl)(TMI again, sorry).

And then I faced my ultimate worst fear again (seriously, I'm going to have to find a new worst fear, they have almost made me conquer it completely) and have my blood drawn to make sure I'm not on drugs and such.

Look, a picture I drew of blood. Get it. Drawn blood. Nevermind.

     And then, because I hadn't eaten a thing all day, I bought myself Cafe Rio on the way home. (Shout out to Heather, I ordered my burrito on a whole wheat tortilla. Don't forget they offer that next time we go :) )

Oh, and yesterday was great:

I have two weeks left of the semester. Somehow I will figure out how to deal with all the school I've missed going to orientation/driving on I-15/making up for lost sleep.

Life is so good.