Mmmmm....

I found these at Meijer yesterday.  All I have to say is...YUM!  They are so gooood!  :)

My girls

Awww

Volleyball

Tonight was my daughter's first volleyball game of the season. Her team played really well and was up for a little while, but ended up losing the game. They are all still learning, so I was really impressed with them. In fact, the 8th grade team played after the 7th graders, and they were not nearly as good. My daughter said they have scrimmaged each other a couple of times and the 7th graders won both times. Doesn't make much sense to me since, presumably, most have them have played before. Anyway, here is a little video I was able to sneak in during the game. My girl is number 5.

Obviously not the most exciting part of the game, but it's something. :)

Really?

Yay, my weekend of torture is now complete!  It actually wasn't too bad this weekend, fortunately. No admissions this time, and no one tried to die, so that's a major plus!  Part of my job is to answer pages from residents who live independently in the apartments attached to my building.  Every apartment is equipped with alert buttons throughout that, when pushed, sends me a page.  If they fall or need assistance or whatever, I have to go to their apartment and check them out.  I am not allowed to pass them medications or anything like that, all I can do is take their vitals and call 911 if needed.

This service is supposed to be for emergencies, however a lot of older people seem to consider things to be emergencies that really aren't.  (I've actually seen charting on residents who have called because their toilet needed plunged or they needed help reaching something off a high shelf).  Today, I received three calls from the same residents (two of which times I was forced to go up to their apartment) because the wife was having diarrhea...  Yeeeeah.  Old people.

But, work is over for another 2 weeks. :)  However, I'm starting a new class online tomorrow.  :(

Aww

I love that my little boy still wants me around. I mentioned a couple of days ago that he should find out what time he eats lunch and maybe sometime I could come in and eat with him.  He decided that he really wanted me to come in the next day.  So, yesterday, I went in and visited him at lunch. When he got home, the girls were both at their after school practices, so he and I got on our bikes and rode to a little ice cream place for a cone.  All in all a little over 4 miles there and back.  He mentioned how much fun he was having at least 3 times during our ride.  Then, this morning, he asked if I could come to his school again today.  Aww, I love that he still wants me around and isn't embarrassed of me yet. ;)

Today I am trying to enjoy my last day off before going back to work for 24+ hours over the weekend. :(  I know it seems I shouldn't have much to complain about with only having to work 4 days a month, but I still dread it so much!  I think if I liked my job a little better (perhaps in a different environment) or if my shifts were shorter (or both!) I wouldn't hate it so much.  Sigh.

So, I guess I am going to do my best to enjoy today.  I'm going to go hit the Y, do a little Krogering, and be home to spend some fun time with my little man. And, dang it, I'm ordering pizza tonight! :)

Proud of my girly!

Today was the third, and final, day of volleyball tryouts for my younger daughter.  I'm proud to say she made the team!  So, yeah, another activity for me to play taxi for. ;)  But, I wouldn't have it any other way!

This is already getting REALLY old!

So, I have been at my new job for a couple of weeks now.  Already, I have had no less than 5 requests from two other nurses to switch shifts or pick up a shift for them.  Ummmm, no.  Sorry.  I did switch one day with a girl and am working this Friday in exchange for her working Sunday for me. However, I am not going to continuously switch my schedule around.  I took this job because the every-other-weekend schedule really appeals to me since I still have three kids that I have to taxi around to and from activities throughout the week as well as still being in school myself.

Ughhh!  I hate telling people no.  And I don't want to tell these people no so many times that if I ever need someone to switch a day with me that no one will. I, however, don't plan on making a habit of doing that as it seems these other people do. :(

Not for me

So, high protein/low carb = not for me.  I tried it in the past and I hated it.  I couldn't stick to it.  I tried it again, knowing I wouldn't stick with it forever, but thought maybe a couple weeks or a month.  Nope, I lasted 2 days.  I find it way too difficult to get enough fiber eating this way and by last night, I went to bed feeling like I swallowed a brick.  After each meal, my stomach hurt.  I felt like vomiting almost all weekend and I felt sad. This morning, the thought of eating sausage or eggs made me want to gag.  So, I'm back to doing less calories consumed than burned.  I feel more freedom this way.  I will, however, incorporate more high protein snacks into my diet.  Especially on workout days.

Other than that, I spent a good portion of my weekend back-to-school shopping for my kiddos.  They all still need shoes, supplies and haircuts, but we made good headway in the clothes department!  Just 2 more weeks from today until they go back.  This summer has flown by!

What to do...

I have been kind of stuck in my weight loss recently.  Once again.  I know that it is due to not eating as healthily. Mainly while at work.  (We get free employee meals, not to mention all the crap that residents' families bring in for us...chocolates, cookies, brownies, pizza, etc).  I have been trying really hard not to go overboard on junk.  Though running around all day will help me justify a little junk.  ;)  Anyway, I haven't so much been gaining any weight back, but I do fluctuate within a few pounds putting me anywhere between 68-70 lbs down since last September.  While I am glad I'm not gaining weight, I still have some I'd like to lose.

My problem now is that I'm wondering if I need to switch things up a little bit.  Up until now, I've mainly been concentrating on calories and making sure I burn more than I consume.  I'm seriously debating if I should attempt some sort of a higher protein, lower carb diet.  I know that this cannot be a permanent diet change for me as I like food too much. What I've done so far has been working because I know I can still eat whatever I want, as long as I'm making up for the extra calories in exercise.  I haven't really felt deprived and I think that is what has helped me to be successful.  So, because of this, I fear attempting something new knowing that it would be something that I will not be able to stick with for an extended period of time.

Lately, however, I've noticed that I have been lacking energy once again.  Not that I ever feel like I have an abundance of it, but it was better for a while.  Not only am I always tired again, I am always hungry.  Always. (Ok, that's not really new either, but it seems to be getting worse). Today, for instance, I ate breakfast and also had a snack before going to the gym, and my stomach was still growling something fierce during my workout.  I felt so tired and hungry that I didn't end up getting as good of a workout as I would have liked.  So, I am really going back and forth in my mind as to whether I want to temporarily try out a new type of diet and see if it helps with my energy level as well as help me to feel full longer.

Hmmmm......

Diving

As of this year, the community pool we go to is now owned by the same people who own the community YMCA.  As always, with new management comes new rules.  Well, this year, they implemented the rule that if you are under the age of 15, you must pass a swim test to be permitted in the 4 foot pool without an adult in arm's reach or to use the diving boards.  In the past, my son has not ventured over to the diving boards and I'm usually at least by the edge of the pool when he's in the 4 ft pool, but he has been wanting to take the test all summer because he finally became interested in the diving boards.  However, he has been afraid he wouldn't pass it so he's been putting it off. So, we practiced and practiced and today he took it.

The swim test consists of being able to swim 2 laps in the pool without stopping or touching the side of the pool, then going to the 13 ft pool and treading water for 45 seconds.  Well, he passed the test and finally got to go on the diving boards.  I took a video.  This is of his first time on the "high dive" which, frankly, isn't even all that high, but don't tell him that. ;)  After the first time, I had a hard time prying him away from them to leave.  He was having so much fun!  


I love this boy SO much!!

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. :(