Last Registration before Graduation

Each semester, we have to register for classes, normally this would not be a big deal if you weren't in nursing school, however, due to the fact that instructors can only take 12 students per class, it becomes a big deal. Of course you always want to get the instructor you want, that is very important, but in your last semester of nursing, it's even more important to get the hospital you want to be at, because you'll be doing a 2 week preceptorship with a nurse from that hospital! Yesterday my class mates and I sat in front of our computers, with the government clock website up next to the registration website staring at our computer screens until the clock finally turns to 11:00am hoping we get the class we want. It's not fun and it's nerve racking but it's the last time we did it!!!! My friend Colleen sent me a text message the other night saying can you believe it's our last time? I really can't believe it's our last time registering for a nursing course....well for our ASN's anyway! The next will be our BSN's! I really can't picture myself as a nurse yet, but I'm sure I won't be truly comfortable until I've been able to get a few years of experience behind me. It's crazy to think that I've come this far! I can remember my first day like it was yesterday! I was so nervous and had no idea what to expect. By the end of the day my head was spinning with information. By the second week I was having a nervous breakdown, and by the first month I was finding my groove. It was just so much to take in at once, I often found myself questioning whether or not I could do this, but now when I think about it, all the doubt made me stronger! The times when I said to myself last semester when we had 3 clinical preps (which are really long patient clinical picture, a psychosocial nursing paper, and 5 exams within a span of 2 1/2 weeks, are they trying to kill us? I realize that I became stronger. I finished all of my work and did well on my last 5 exams. So here is how registration day really went. I woke up at 9:30 only to look at my phone and find text messages and phone calls since 7:30am from my friend Colleen, she couldn't figure out how to get the classes we wanted into her cart to save. So I call her back, and she doesn't answer. I get the computer out, set up my government clock and check to make sure my classes are saved. This is all so very interesting I can't stand it ha ha! Colleen and I have been in the same classes since semester 2. She's my Best Friend in nursing school, and I am so lucky to have met her. She's a smart wonderful amazing individual, and one day she is going to be a wonderful nurse. So I was thinking registration was at 11:30 don't ask me why, but at 11:04 i decided to take a look at the classes. When I checked they were open, and I about had a heart attack. I quickly pressed the buttons and somehow wound up with the class I wanted. I then tried to call Colleen, no answer, and then called a few other people who told me registration was at 11. I must have had God shining down on me, because any longer and I wouldn't have received my choice. After many attempts to get in touch with my friend, she finally called me back a few hours later because I sent her a text message saying that I was upset we weren't going to be in the same class. She informed me she had got into the same class. Not only was it important to me to finish out my last semester with a good friend, but we will be sitting together at graduation! That makes me so happy! Along with her a few other great individuals will be joining us at Mease Countryside Hospital for our last clinical experience. I know this is very long and probably boring to most, however to me at least it's an accomplishment to have come this far, and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for me as a nurse. It's my dream it's my passion, and finally seeing it come to fruition is more than I could have ever dreamed of!

A Beautiful Day!

When I was in my last few weeks of this past semester, I started thinking about a few things I'd like to do once the semester was over. Last year we rented a boat and took my mom, inlaws, grandpa and my hubby's two younger cousins out. It was so much fun! The day was jam packed with fun, we fished, and barbequed on a little island in the middle of the water, went swimming, snorkeling, and just enjoyed the beautiful day! I wanted to do it again, but this time just Jason and I. So before the semester ended I booked a smaller boat for the two of us. I packed up the cooler with breakfast and lunch, Jason got all of his fishing gear ready and we were off! I was nervous that it may rain that day because there was a 50% chance and the day before was gloomy, but it turned out to be such a beautiful day! I was so thankful for being able to go on our little boating adventure! We caught a few fish, one of which was big enough to keep, but in the end we decided to spare the little guys life, and released him back into the ocean with the rest of his fishy friends! Both of us look like lobsters today! Thank goodness we had sunscreen on because it could have been worse!

It's so peaceful when your on the water, no noise but the sound of the water and the birds, we picked a perfect day because there weren't a lot of other boats out there. Both of us enjoyed ourselves so much! It was just what we needed. Here are a few pictures from our beautiful day!

To all the Beautiful Moms

Motherhood is a serious gig! I can't wait until its my turn! I keep saying to myself must finish school.  Until then I love seeing mother's and their children interact. There is something special, a bond that cannot be broken. I have it with my mother, my husband has it with his mother, and my nephew with his mother and so on....

There is nothing like the love of a mother. The word mother means many things, some that I think about when I hear the word are kindness, warmth, compassion, strength, and above all love, but if you put a resume together for a mother, it would probably be 20 pages long. They are there to wipe your tears when your sad, hold you when your scared, believe in you when you've lost faith in yourself, encourage you to strive for the best, always non judgmental, always just wanting to see their children live their lives and be happy. These are the things I think about when I hear the word mother.

Another type of mother that amazes me are single mothers. I have a few friends that are single moms, and boy do they work hard. Living life constantly to make life better for their children. Making time for responsibilities as well as their children. It's tough to do it by yourself, but some of the most amazing mom's I know are single and their children are amazing! I just think they are special individuals!

So this blog is dedicated to all the beautiful mothers out there with us or in heaven (especially mine) who make the world a better place because of their love and compassion, who spend their entire life living, breathing, and existing for their children. Without you we would not be here, and we would definitely not be who we are without your love, support and guidance.

Hear are some pictures of mothers day and some beautiful mothers that I am blessed to know:

Me and my momma

 My Mother in Law and Father in Law

Landon and his harmonica from great grandpa! 

Landon was such a good boy during brunch! He continued to play with his harmonica the entire time and was perfectly content doing so. He was really good at it too! We truly had a blessed day! Unfortunately we were too busy taking pictures of Landon to take any of anyone else. I must remember there are other people to take pictures of...but it's so hard with a face like that! I hope everyone had a blessed mother's day!

My Nephew!

Can I just say I'm in love with my nephew. He is the cutest, most adorable, smiley little thing. He always finds a new way to make us laugh and smile. He brings joy to our lives like I've never known. Here are a few pictures of the most beautiful little boy!

Landon Sharing His ball! 

Hitting them together

 Landon in his pick up truck

 Landon with his Mommy

 Mr. Smiles!

Auntie Lisa, Landon and Mommy

 He's such a happy little boy

 I love that smile

 Here's one of him when he was smaller in his swing from grandma and grandpa

WOW time flies

I just realized that my last post was when I was entering level 3 nursing. That's what nursing school does, it makes you lose track of time, want to rip your hair out, cry, scream and throw tantrums like you are 2 years old again! However, in the end I can say it is so worth it! I am now proud to say that I have one more semester left I have finished level 3. It was a difficult semester. Level 3 incorporates MedSurg, Pediatrics and Psych in one semester. I can now say that I am probably not cut out for psych, however I fell in love with Pediatrics this semester. We did our clinical rotation at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL. I was able to finally spend time in several critical care units, and I think I found my passion. Pediatric Critical Care!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's sad, but it is so rewarding and all of the nurses I was blessed to shadow were amazing! I aspire to be as good as they are! So now it summer vacation, and I have lots of projects to do around the house. We are turning our guest bedroom into an office "for now". I say for now because I'm hoping one day it will be a nursery, but I'll start thinking about that after graduation. We have all the furniture and paint, we just need to get it done! Looking forward to a relaxing productive summer!

Our Last day of our clinical rotation we met for breakfast! I'm going to miss this group next semester!!!

Christmas Break and Onto Level 3!!!!

Wow 2nd semester was tough for me, but I made it and made it with a better grade than I thought I was going to have. I was happy that it was over though because I needed a break and I was so excited about the next 3 weeks. Christmas was great! We spent Christmas Eve at my mothers and then we had Christmas day at our house. This year was a year of celebration because Jason was in the hospital last year! My Aunt was down from NY, and it was so nice just being able to celebrate Christmas with family because last year we didn't really celebrate!

Christmas Day was at our house! We had a great time. Jason's mom made a Crown Roast of Pork and we made all of the sides...Dinner was yummy! We opened many presents among my favorite was the present my sister in law Deanna gave me. My husband and I collect Willows (I think they are beautiful!) and my sister in law got me one with the inscription "Sisters at heart" it was beautiful and it made me teary! I<3 her!!!!! We were excited because after tonight in a day and a half we were off to ROME!!!!!!

Leaving for Rome was a bit hectic. We were still packing right up until the last minute, we didn't get that much sleep, and we had our family over in the morning to say goodbye, however we weren't really saying goodbye we were all running around like nuts! Go figure that's us! We left for the airport at 12pm our flight was not until 3:30 but Lisa always has to be early for planes (I'm a nervous flyer I probably drive my Husband crazy! None the less we were at the airport...even though the security line was long, we got through very quickly, and relaxed in the terminal before our flight. We boarded our flight, and we were on our way to Charlotte, NC for our first leg of the trip. We got to Charlotte a bit early, and made it to our connecting flight just as it was boarding. We boarded the plane and as it took off i was filled with excitement that in a short 9 hours and 45 min (ha ha) we would be in another country. Well that was the longest flight I'd ever experienced in my life...we really didn't sleep, so when we got off the plane I wanted to kiss the ground! Rome was an amazing adventure, and I've decided that I'm absolutely in love with Europe, so our next vacation I think will be to London! See me dreaming already. Here are a few pictures of our amazing vacation. I feel blessed that I was able to experience all of this amazing history. I will never forget this trip!

Getting back was sad, but it was bound to come. Now we are both back to school, and I am excited for this semester. We are focusing mostly on Pediatrics and Psycho social nursing. Looking forward to see what the next 16 weeks brings, and I'm just going to take it a day at a time! Ciao!