Yes I know the blog is nearly dead. I would like to have more time to update it, but I never seem too. Or I do and then I stress out about what I should say or if anyone out there cares about this or that. : ) So I'm going to commit to updating every week for the next six weeks. I'll even put it on my calendar/list of things to do, because if I write it down then I'm going to do it. And if I don't then I scribble it out (not cross it out or check it off as if I did it) and seeing the scribbles in my calendar reminds me that I didn't get everything done. Yeah I'm not anal or anything. I get separation anxiety if I'm away from my day planner too long. Bad.
So what have I been up too??? LOTS! Nursing school is great, but I feel like I've been going non stop since December. I was getting things ready for school, then quitting my job, then the holidays, and then school started. I had a week off for spring break and then a week between spring semester ending and summer session starting. During spring semester I went to school (obviously), babysat regularly for my boys, trained for a triathlon (failed to take notice that a tri entailed swimming, running, AND biking), did not do the tri due to failed bike training (road biking is scary!), but was glad I started swimming regularly. Fear of the pool is long gone. One weekend in April I went to three baby showers (one of which I was a hostess) and gave all girls homemade sewn or knitted gifts. I also went on three different girls weekends. The beach with the high school girls, the lake with the college girls, and the mountains with the church girls. Also during this entire time I had no couch. Long story. But I felt like I was 20 not 29, with a bike (collecting dust) and a chair in my den. No couch, just one big empty wall and me and the pug fighting over the tiniest little upholstered chair that was my great grandmothers and has been with me since my days in college. It's hard to knit with a pug on your lap. We had more than a few issues with her jumping off my lap and pulling out stitches. Oh and I went to one baby shower with the blanket only a fourth of the way knitted. Yep I wrapped it up still on the needles. The mommie to be was pretty relieved when she found out she wasn't the one required to finish it. ha! Of course she understood my craziness but I was mortified (even more so that it's still not done and the baby will be here in two weeks!) But I've made it. 101 is behind me and I learned more than I ever imagined, but most days still feel like I know nothing. I have learned to quit taking on so much. SLOW DOWN MERE! I'm listening to myself...sort of.
This summer I am in my 7 week pediatrics rotation. It's going great and is a nice change from being in the "regular" hospital. I'm on the pediatrics hematology/oncology floor. It's kids with cancer and sickle cell disease. The first week in clinical was tough. Yes, there have been tears because of this class. I wish I could say it was just because the patients, but the math is really hard too! Lots of IV meds and calculations for little people! You can't mess it up. Follow the rounding rules (believe me after some mistakes on test one I sure won't forget!) Don't worry we have to do medication math sheets for every patient with every med they get. There are multiple checks and balances. This isn't just for students. People make mistakes. Pharmacy makes mistakes, nurses, doctors, etc. I'm seeing how important it is to CYA (cover your a**). My schedule is crazy with that class and my psychology, human growth and development class, but the Peds class will be over July 8th and the Psy class July 29th. The class that takes up so much time is Peds. We have clinicals Tues/Wed from 6:30-3:30. LONG day! On those days I get up at 5:15. Geesh! Also we have lecture two days a week. Luckily I am really enjoying the material, the kids in my clinical group, and the instructors. It's almost night and day compared to 101. I didn't love 101 but now I see how much more I like the detailed information and more 1:1 time with the instructors. Hopefully this trend continues in my other intermediates.
Things coming up....There are four saturdays in June....I have some sort of shower 3 of the 4. Two wedding, one baby. I am only a hostess for one of the wedding ones (I'm a bridesmaid in August!). Luckily they are all here in town. Also expecting a visit from the brother as he is coming to one of said showers. Honestly I love showers. I guess thats a good thing since I go to so many. My nursing school friends jokingly ask when my next girls weekend or shower is coming up. Typically I can throw out a few dates at them. : ) But honestly I've been putting on a dress and going to showers with my mom since I was 2 or 3. Cake, presents, punch, what's not to like????
The pictures below are from my friend Becky's shower that I helped host. I knitted the blanket for her baby girl Samantha who got here just over a week ago. Also pics of the new couch. With and without pug.
