Work

Today was my first day on my own at work.  I ended up getting a couple extra days of training on Thursday and Friday, then today I was alone.  Things have gone pretty smoothly on every one of my training days and wouldn't you know that today, it was one thing after another! I was told I wouldn't be given a new admission for a long time because of how detailed the process is and the massive amounts of paperwork involved.  Well, guess who got an admission today...  :(  On top of that I ended up having to send a patient out by squad to the hospital and had a resident in the independent living fall and bust her lip open and I had to go to her apartment and check her out. Those, along with several other things, made it a long, non-stop 13 hour day.  Ughh!  I hope and pray that tomorrow is a much, MUCH better day!  This work thing is not all it's cracked up to be. ;)

Uggh

Working three 12's in a row is no fun.  One day off tomorrow, then back for two more.  I am SO glad I'll only be working every other weekend.  Actually, I'd be happier if I was just working the same amount of hours on weekdays because I'm kind of sad that I'll be missing half of my weekends.  But, it is still much better than having to work schedules like this week all the time.

My shoes didn't come in until yesterday, so I wore them for the first time today.  They're not bad.  Aside from a little red, sore spot on the top of one foot (which, I assume is just from the mere fact that I'm just breaking them in) they were pretty comfortable.  And, my back did not hurt at the end of today like it did after yesterday.  Probably due to the fact that I'm on my feet for a good 75% of my day, at least.  So hopefully this will mean they were worth the price! ;)

I'm excited to get to sleep in a little tomorrow and spend the day with my babies.  I couldn't work like this all the time.  It's hard going back to work after being a stay-at-home mom for 8 years! Knowing it's just this week is making it bearable (especially after this morning when the fire alarms kept going off during my morning med pass - which means stopping what I'm doing, and going through the unit closing all doors, moving patients to their rooms, etc.  Not.  Fun.).

A little nervous...

Tomorrow is my first day at my new job! Tomorrow, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, I will be training.  Then the following weekend, I will be on my own!  As in, the only nurse in my department on duty with 3-4 STNA's that I will basically be in charge of.  I'll be the one that, if something goes wrong, is supposed to know what to do!  That is an incredible amount of responsibility.  Thirty patients' lives will be in my hands.  I really hope I can do this!  AHHHHHH!!

On a side note, I had to go out and buy some new scrubs because all of the scrubs I had were way too big.  (I'm not complaining though.)  I also bought some Dansko shoes that I have heard so much about.  If you look around, you'll probably notice about 90% of nurses wearing this type of shoe:  

Image retrieved from http://www.lydiasuniforms.com/scrubs/products.asp?sku=406&cat=613&t=nursing_shoes_-_dansko_professional_patent_clog

They are apparently awesome.  I tried some on yesterday while I was out shopping and then ordered them online.  They should be here tomorrow.  Hope they're as good as I've heard!

'boutsta bussa cap!

I am in such a pissy mood right now!  It is difficult enough trying to wrap my tiny little brain around the concepts of chemistry without the neighbor kids repeatedly knocking and ringing the doorbell continuously until somebody answers the door resulting in the dogs barking and going crazy each time. Seriously?  What ever happened to knocking or ringing once and waiting?  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Two more days.  Just two more days....

Not again!

For the past week, my son has been sick.  It started with just pink eye, which is bad enough, but then he started running 103 degree fevers and vomiting. Usually, when this happens with him, it is either strep throat or an ear infection. I took him to the doctor last Friday and the strep test was negative and his ears looked fine.  He got eye drops for the pink eye and I was told just to watch him over the weekend and if he got worse or was still running fevers Monday to take him back in.  Well, he was spiking fevers all last weekend so, I took him back in Monday.  Strep test was still negative, but his ears were starting to look like they could be infected.  She gave him meds.

For the past few days, he has not had fevers and has been feeling much better.  This morning, however, he woke up vomiting again and feeling achy.  He hasn't even been able to keep ibuprofen down.  :(  Poor little man!  My younger daughter is also pitching in her softball tournament today, but I'm missing that because I'm at home taking care of a sick boy.  I hate when my babies are sick!  I hope he's feeling better soon!

On a side note, I have been able to avoid the sickness (and pink eye) so far.  I hope I don't get sick this week or next.  I don't want to be sick and have to try to learn this chemistry crap or take a final on it while sick.  I also don't want to be sick for my first days of training the following week!

What?!

I know already mentioned this, but I really, really hate chemistry!  I am taking an accelerated course right now (8 weeks of material in 3 weeks) and it sucks!  I was no good at this subject when I took it in high school, but I do think I am picking up on a  few things better now than I did then.  Probably because I am actually trying...

The course is completely online, including labs, which is awesome!  I just have go to a testing center for a proctored midterm and final.  Today was the mid-term, and somehow, I manged to pull of a 92%. What?! I was supposed to start in on the next chapter yesterday (according to the professor's proposed schedule), but I spent my time studying for today's test instead.  This morning, I studied more, then took the test, and the rest of the day has been spent working out and making and eating dinner (and now blogging, of course).  

I am still waiting for the class I originally had scheduled to start next Monday to be dropped.  I decided after this chem class, I want to take the rest of the summer off of school.  Well, that, and I finally got a job!  It isn't my first choice, but I think it will actually work out well.  It is in the skilled nursing unit of a local senior community where they also have condos as well as assisted living.  I will be in the portion that is basically a nursing home.  The pluses include the fact that it is VERY clean (I have been in a lot of nursing homes that have turned me waaaay off wanting to even step foot in them.  This one doesn't have the typical urine smell, but rather looks and smells more like a decent hotel), it is only about 10 minutes from my house, and once I get passed training, will only be every other weekend 7a-7p.  And...it is a start.  With some experience under my belt, it should be much easier to find another job in the future.  

Starting off will suck a bit, as I will have to work five 12 hour shifts in 6 days for training, then work again the following weekend, but once I get past that, I'm hoping it will be all good.

Well, I suppose I should stop blogging now and get back to studying!  Here's hoping I can do as well on the final next Friday as I did today (though I'm not terribly confident because the material is only getting more and more difficult)!  Ugh!

I. HATE. Chemistry!

That is all.

Date night

I went on a date last night with a super cute guy!  My little man and I went to see the new Pixar movie, Brave.  From seeing the previews, I wasn't sure if I would really like it, but I did.  It was much better than I was expecting.  It was fun hanging out, just me and my boy! :)

My weekend

Saturday my younger daughter's game went very well. They actually had to forfeit because they only had 6 players show up, so they scrimmaged. That being said, they played extremely well and ended up tying the other team. In actuality, they should have won, but near the end of the game, a girl on the other team foul tipped the ball and the ump "missed" it and 2 of their players stole home. So, they got ripped off, but I was crazy impressed with their game. :)

My aunt, uncle, and 2 youngest cousin's are in town this week, so yesterday, we spent the afternoon at my grandma's house for father's day and had a cook-out. Then, it started raining, so my brother, cousins, and oldest daughter started playing music on my daughter's guitar. She got it for her birthday last year and she played around with it some, but then it mostly sat in her room for most of the past year. Recently though, she started looking up how to play and has started learning a little bit. Here's a little video I took of her yesterday:

Well, that's nice...

My son, grandma, and I went to Olive Garden for lunch today.  My son has been begging to go there for at least a week, so I figured today would be a good day to go.  Free salad comes with every meal and I always order my salad with their light Italian dressing on the side.  Well, today, the waiter came back to the table a few minutes after ordering saying that they were out of the light dressing.  What?! Ugghhh!  He rattled off the other options, including squirting lemon on it.  Huh?  Ew!  I said it was okay, I just wouldn't have salad.  Well, the guy disappeared for a few minutes, and came back with 2 side cups of dressing saying "I don't know if you'll like it or not, but I walked next door to Red Lobster and got some of their reduced fat raspberry vinaigrette dressing for you because I felt bad".  That was certainly nice of him.  He didn't have to do that.  I ended up going ahead and using it (even though I couldn't find the nutritional information for it - I just found a generic version of it to go by) and it was decent.

On another note, I got the batteries changed in my heart rate monitor today and when I went to use it for a jog this afternoon, it was still acting stupid, so it must not have been the batteries. Sigh. :(

Busy week!

Between my younger daughter and my son, we have 7 softball/baseball games this week.  Two were tonight.  At the same time, of course.  I took my son to his game, but had to miss my daughter's game.  Next games are back to back on Wednesday, so I'll get to see them both.  Then Friday, they're at the same time again, so I'll have to miss one.  Then Saturday just my daughter plays.  On top of that, my oldest had color guard tonight, and another practice on Thursday.  Sheesh!  I guess it's a good thing I haven't been able to find a job yet!

My grandma is also here to visit for the week.  She got here today and is leaving Friday.  It will be nice to spend some time with her since I don't see her very often anymore.

Fortunately, I finished up spring classes on Friday and am off for 2 weeks!  I don't even want to think about the accelerated chemistry class I have to take this summer! :(

Fried

Yesterday, I took my younger 2 kiddos to the pool for the first time this summer.  Unfortunately, I forgot to put sunscreen on my legs and they got completely fried!  Ouch!  Even though it kind of hurts to move my legs, I was signed up for another 5k this morning, so I sucked it up and ran.  I, once again, felt like I wasn't going to make it, but I did.  I ran the whole time, sunburned legs (and one ear bud not working) and all!  When I crossed the finish line, the official clock said 33:41, which is a minute and 10 seconds faster than my 5k last month.  The people standing at the finish line asked me how old I am, I said 32, they said "well look at you, you're first place in your age group" and handed me this:

Pretty decent!  There must not have been many others competing in my group. ;)

Today is also my oldest daughter's 15th birthday!  Unbelievable!  Here is me and my "baby" girl tonight after her birthday dinner:

HRM

I have become a little obsessed with the whole calorie thing.  I want to know the exact number of calories in the food I'm eating and the exact number of calories I burn.  I know it's pretty much impossible to get exact numbers for both, but a close-enough estimate is good.  The way I have been tracking the calories I burn is by using a heart rate monitor that I wear during exercise.  However, after a month or so of using it, it started acting really dumb.  It would say my HR was 00, would say I needed to check the HR transmitter, or would just get stuck.  For example, it would monitor my HR as 140, but then there would be no fluctuation in the number and would even stay at 140 when I stopped.  Sometimes it will even throw a number at me like 275 when obviously, my HR was nowhere near that.

My point is, it thoroughly pisses me off when these things happen. I know it shouldn't, and I can get a fairly good estimate of how much I burned other ways, but I've really come to rely on this, perhaps a little too much. It actually went quite a while where it seemed to be working as it should.  However, as of the past week or so, it has started acting up again.  I'm going to take it to get the batteries replaced and see if that helps.  If not, it is time for a new one!

Got the leash!

I finally decided on a hands-free leash. I got the khaki color, which looks kind of green to me in the picture, but it is more of a khaki color. I've been able to use it a couple of times now and I've found that I actually prefer it when Bella runs ahead of me and pulls me a little bit.  Makes it easier on me! ;)

I also got some new running shoes:

Image retrieved from: http://www.sport-seasons.com/Womens-Nike-Dual-Fusion-ST-2/PAMIABKDMFOBFCKB/product

They are Nike Dual Fusion ST2.  I love the color and they're really comfortable too!

What?!

One of the benefits of facebook is reconnecting with old friends.  Oh, and having those friends remind you that it was 14 years ago today that you graduated from high school.  Ouch. 

Take me out to the baallll gaaaame...

 It was a good night for some baseball.  My son is doing much better this year and is actually getting pretty good at batting.  He still has some work to do with paying attention in the outfield, but compared to how he played last year (he wasn't really interested) he's doing 100 times better this year already!  Here is a short video of him hitting tonight:


My younger daughter is playing softball again this year, too.  She expressed interest in pitching and has been working on it.  Tonight, she got to pitch in a game for the first time.  She did very well.  She struck out 2 players, and didn't walk anyone!  She also fielded a ball hit back to her to get the girl out at first.  Here are a couple of pics from her game tonight:


On Base

I wasn't able to get a clear picture of her pitching.  This was the best I could get:

Summer is almost here!

Last night was the last high school choir concert of the year for my oldest.  My younger daughter is on her way to 6th grade camp this morning, and tonight is the first baseball game of the season for my son.  The kids have 10 school days left this year, including today. 

In a way, I'm really bummed that I can't find a friggin' job to save my life, but on the other hand, I am glad to be able to stay home with my babies.  It comes in handy on days like today, when my daughter called to say she forgot her water bottle for camp, and I had to take it to her.  Even if I felt a little annoyed that I had to get dressed and leave my coffee...I'm glad I was available to take it to her. 

Race Day

Today was the Race for the Cure 5K.  The serious runners (with chips for timing) started first.  Once they were all on their way, they brought up the people running for fun (my group), then the walkers.  The official time started with the serious runners, so my time is based off my heart rate monitor, which I pressed start on as I crossed the starting line.  I ended up jogging the entire time.  I never expected to be able to do that!  Honestly, even this morning, I assumed I would be stopping to take at least a few short walk breaks.

My oldest daughter stayed with me for the first 15 minutes or so, then she walked for a few and I didn't see her again until the end. She came in about 5 minutes behind me.  My time on the "official" time clock was 40:17 as I crossed the finish line, however as I said, that clock started with the first group of runners.  My time, according to my HRM was 34:51.  What?!  That was not only my fastest 5K to date (AND outside, at that!) but my run keeper app on my phone said the distance I went was 3.4 miles.  So, something wasn't 100% accurate there, but close enough, I guess. 

All in all, I'm feeling really good about this race! :)

Screw it

I have attempted to blog numerous times this week without success.  Just tonight, I have spent the past 15 minutes attempting to formulate a complete thought.  My brain just does not seem to be working this week for some reason.  So, I'm giving up.  This is my post. Goodnight!

Dog stuff

I am in search of a new dog food.  Currently, I feed them the Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Formula.  Recently, however, they have both become seemingly very uninterested in eating it.  When it comes time for them to eat, they will just kind of stare at it, especially Bella.  For the past 3 days, she has only eaten a little bit of her food, even leaving it down all evening.  She will repeatedly go to her bowl like she is looking for food, sniff at it, then turn and walk away from it.  She eventually will eat it the next morning, probably because she's just so hungry.  (However, there is a fairly obvious reason I feed them in the evenings and not in the mornings. Food = poop, and I don't always have time to stick around long enough for them to go before I have to leave.)  I think maybe they're just getting tired of eating the same thing all the time??  I don't know.

So this, combined with the big Diamond recall (I have verified that the bag I have is not included in this), I think it may be time to search for something different.  I like the idea of  grain-free and not loaded with fillers for them.  Foods with fillers require them to eat more (and poop more - which they do enough of already).  It kind of saddens me, as it took me quite a while to decide on TOTW in the first place.  Now, it's back to researching dog foods. :(

I also decided that I really need something like this:


picture retrieved from: http://www.maxandzoey.com/all-products/nylon-hands-free-leash.html

I have seen people in my neighborhood using these and I really think it would be helpful to not have to hold on to her big retractable leash handle while jogging.  I just hope that it would not make it easier for her to pull me. :)