Day 2

I started my morning off in the usual way.  I don't think I need to explain that routine anymore.  All that's necessary is the beautiful morning snap shot.

Today, we learned about ambulation and mobility.  A physical therapist joined us for lab and demostrated how to move patients, get them out of bed, how to use a wheelchair, etc.  For me, this was torture.  I have been doing it for nine years now while working at the hospital.  I understand, some people have little to no healthcare experience, and they do need to learn this stuff.  My level of frustration is increasing already.  I know I will regret saying this, but, I am ready for a challenge.  Possibly due to my eagerness to learn or my determination to succeed?  Whatever the case may be, I am ready for new knowledge.
As far as the reading assignment.. it's brutal.  I have been reading my textbook outloud to the dogs.  I have even used different voices in an attempt to make it a little more interesting.  However, all three dogs fell asleep despite my attempts at being their comedic relief.

I'm starting to remind myself of my father.  Back in the day, when my sister and I were very young, my dad's idea of a bedtime story was reading his civil engineering books to us.  I'm already going crazy and it's only day two.  Sigh.

Day 1

Day one of my journey through nursing school and I lived through it.  The most difficult task today was surviving the boredom of going over the course introduction and syllabus.  Which is really all that ever occurs on the first day of a new class.  It's painful, yet I know it has to be done.  We all got little gift bags from the senior nursing students, which was very kind and thoughtful of them.  At the end of the class, the instructors handed out our clinical totes.  Most of us found it to be the most exciting part of the day.  However, my tracheostomy kit was damaged during shipping, causing something inside to start leaking.  Luckily we won't need that until our second year, so the instructors have plenty of time to send it back and get me a new one.
We've already been given our first reading assignment of about seven or eight chapters.  Bleh!  It's like having to make an appointment with the dentist.  Unless, of course, you enjoy going to the dentist.  If that's the case then please feel free to do all of my reading for me.  Any takers? 

Life is beautiful

Today is beautiful.  Since the storm yesterday, things have returned to normal, atleast in my neck of the woods.  As I stepped outside, coffee in hand, I looked around.  No houses were damaged, no trees down, and no flooding.  The guy who lives across the street is carrying on with his self owned business, the flowers along the driveway are soaking in the sun, the cars are once again flying relentlessly up and down the street, the once colorless sky is as blue as blue can be, and the beautiful American flag in the neighbor's yard continues to fly with pride.  It's kind of crazy.  I sit down here every morning and all I ever notice is the sunrise and how spectacular it is.. or isn't.  This morning is different.  I am noticing everything around me that is beautiful.  And I am realizing that everything around me, simply put, is life.  I get it now.  Life is beautiful.  Maybe it took the threat of a hurricane to teach me this.  But at the same time, the words of a life long friend from down south, Miss Julie, keep ringing in the back of my mind.  She has been keeping up with me, and my hectic life, by reading my blog.  (I guess more people read this darn thing than I thought).  She sent me a message a few days ago.  I haven't replied to her yet because every time I try to, I end up reading her words over and over again.  And every time I attempt a reply, I can't find the words.  She has inspired me and I feel as though my words won't have the same affect on her.  I hope she won't mind, but I feel compelled to share her words.  I hope that they can bring you the same inspiration that they brought me.

"Hello Stacie

Sounds like you are stressing out to the max hon. Nursing school is a great choice for you as it will allow you to share some of that love in your big heart with many people who need it. It is ALOT of work! It may seem overwhelming right now. Take one thing at a time and trust that it will get you through.
I am very proud of the young woman I have seen you become...if even from a distance. I have Faith that you will make it through nursing school and become an amazing nurse. Stacie....someday ...when life slows down a bit....I think you may want to consider writting as well. You have a beautiful way with words! Your Blog speaks from heart to heart!
I am going to ask you a favor....one more thing to add to your already full days. I would like you to take a few extra moments each day to remember that getting to your goals is actually as important as reaching them. The journey and how we make it there and what we learn from it make up our memories. Enjoy the friends you meet, the support from Tony, the cuddles from the pups and each of those morning sunrises with coffee. Know these are all gifts in your life....so open them with relish! Ask God to help with the stress....the workload....and just do the best you can!
It will be enough and will be your thankyou gift each day to God!
Don't worry....Be Happy girl!
Love you
Miss Julie"

Irene has arrived.

There is quite the disturbance, this morning, in my usual routine.  Instead of sipping my coffee and watching the sunrise, I am sipping my coffee, staring at the colorless sky, and watching as we get nailed with the outer bands of hurricane Irene. 

I stayed up until 2 AM watching the weather channel so I decided to not set my alarm for 5am.  I woke up on my own around 8 this morning.  The rain was barely coming down at that time which allowed me to wander outside and snap a quick picture of my biggest concern during this storm.

The tall trees, up on the hill, behind our home.  Tony and I get worried, sometimes, even during a nasty routine thurnderstorm.  So, with winds from a hurricane/tropical storm, my concerns are justified.  I still have my doubts about exactly how bad this storm is going to be and the damage it may bring.  However, we still developed a plan incase one of those trees does happen to come down on our home.  We parked my car in the garage, and if things start getting really ugly around here, we will put the dogs in their kennel and camp out in my car.  I know, it sounds a little silly even to me.  But I suppose it beats hanging out in the living room, which is where the damage will occur by one of those trees if it falls.  I guess what's even more silly are the things that Tony and I packed away in the car.  Our school books.  We're ridiculous, right?  But those books were not cheap at all.  If a tree falls through our roof, things are going to get soaked in here.  School may be canceled for tomorrow, but not for the rest of the semester.  We don't have the $800+ to replace books.
So far, atleast ten deaths have been reported, due to hurricane Irene.  My heart aches for the family and friends of those people.  One death was a little eleven year old boy, a tree fell on his home and killed him.  Also, a woman was killed when a tree came down her car.  This means that despite my doubts and reservations, regarding this storm, I am still cautious.  So, as for me and my family, there will be no driving around to sight see and take pictures.  We will continue snuggling on the couch unless things get bad.

(Simba is always there to love and comfort Bam)

(Little brother watching over his big brother)

(And of course, Sadie girl snuggles with her daddy)



I hate you, Irene.

The first day of school is already canceled!!  All because of a hurricane that may, or may not, hit us.  We survived an earthquake the day of orientation, we can survive a hurricane the first day of school!  In my opinion, everyone is overreacting.  I don't doubt that hurricane Irene is a nasty storm, however, as of this morning it is still way south of us and a category one.  Yesterday, they were saying that by the time it hits us way up here it will be a category 1 or a even just a tropical storm.  It's not even supposed to reach us until tomorrow night!  The winter snow storms are always bad enough to cause cancelations.  Now we already have a day to make up and school hasn't even started yet!  I think that the decision to cancel school was made way too early and I am kind of pissed off about it.

Follow up appointment and my LAST appointment

In a couple of hours I have my follow up colposcopy.  I still don't understand why I need it considering the last one I had was completely normal.  After this appointment I will also be done with this doctor.  I have been less than impressed with him.  Throughout the summer I have also decided to not have the laparoscopy done.  If I do have endometriosis, I'm already on birth control which the treatment for it.  So I'm not going to put my body through the stress of surgery or the chance of infection.  And if it is something serious, hopefully my symptoms will change or get worse before it's too late.  Or maybe the new doctor, I'm hoping to get in with, will know what's going on with me.  I recently took care of a very sweet nurse who works in the special care nursery at the hospital and she had wonderful things to say about the new doc that I want to go see.  When I asked her what she thinks about the doctor I have now her response was, "He's..umm... he's nice."  That comment alone makes me not want to go to my appointment this morning.  Actually, I haven't wanted to go to it all summer long.  I wanted to change to a different doctor after the first colposcopy.  However, I didn't want to walk away and dump my crisis on a new doctor.  I figured it would be in my own best interest to stay with the same doctor until the issue is resolved so that none of my results or paper work would get lost in the shuffle of switching to a different office.  I have decided that if, for some crazy reason, this follow up test does come back abnormal and I need even more testing.. I'm still removing myself from his care and going elsewhere.  "Nice" will get a doctor only so far.  I want a great doctor, nice or not. 

Shake things up a little

So, yesterday was orientation.  I'm happy that it's done and over with.  Like most orientations it was boring. 

Until mother nature decided to shake things up a little bit.  As my classmates and I sat and listened to our nursing instructor, the tables began to rattle and the building shook.  We felt the 5.8 Virginia earthquake.  It wasn't the most comforting feeling especially being up on the third floor of the building.  But we survived it all.  However, the survival of school will be a whole different story.  Course material will be up on blackboard as soon as Saturday, and I have already started studying.  Maybe because I've morphed into a nerd over the last couple years or maybe it's my drive and desire to succeed.  Whatever the case may be, I'm already exhausted and I am sure that it's not a good way to start my first semester of nursing school.  I want nothing more than to sleep as much as I can this weekend, but if I'm busy sleeping then I am missing opportunities to be studying.  I am already pushing myself way too much.  Apparently, the earthquake neglected to shake any common sense into me.  Go figure.