New Discovery

While trying to figure out how to video a class project and edit it, I realized that our home camcorder is a digital camcorder. We've had it for years and I don't know why I never realized this until now. I'm not tech saavy so please don't laugh. I researched video editing online and found that all I needed was a firewire cable to hook my camcorder to my computer to allow me to download. I didn't understand how that would work since I have tapes and not a memory stick but I guess having the mini DV tapes is best and it allows for better quality on the video download. So, for the past two nights, I have downloaded one tape each night. I can't believe how time has flown by. Katheryn in 1st grade on these videos ...wow! I can't wait to get everything downloaded and to make them into DVD's. It'll make sharing videos so much easier. I can't wait to share!

Day 1 of P90X

Okay, so here we go. It's the morning of Feb. 22. I have claimed this to be day 1 of P90X since I've had it in the house now for 2 weeks. It's so hard to find the time to get anything started with school going on. If it wasn't for Matt and his helping hands around the house, I don't think I would be organized. Matt has done so much to help. He has taken over making the kids lunches and he's even cleaning the house and doing laundry. Last night he made dinner. He's doing so much to help me achieve my goals. I am so thankful. For breakfast I am having an egg white omelet with mushroom, tomatoes, green onions and some cheddar cheese. I have lab in about an hour and when I return I will be doing the first workout. I will blog about it tomorrow I suppose...if I'm still alive. LOL! This is something I really want to do. My brother's wedding is in August and I want to at least have arms that have some definition to them. :) Deep breath in.....head held high. I can get through nursing school and I can get through P90X. Bring it!

First Day of Clinicals

Thursday was orientation at the hospital. I was excited to be going away from the school for learning but not looking forward to the long day of 8-4. We got a tour of the unit we would be working on and a quick class on the computer system and our badges. It turns out that my adjucnt didn't quite give us the tour we needed or the information we needed to start on Friday. Friday morning, clinicals start at 6:30am. Luckily I have friends here in the neighborhood and we decided to carpool. However, we are each on a different floor/unit. I am on the rehabilitation floor. I am thankful it's not trauma! I got my nurses' report at 7am about my patient and reported back to my adjunct with notes. My patient is a 72 year old female with R-CVA. I went to introduce myself and take her vital signs only realizing that there wasn't a blood pressure cuff in the room. I excused myself and came back with a machine. After I took her blood pressure, I noticed her RN was in the room waiting to take her assessment. So I stepped aside to allow her to take her assessment as I watched. I was very thankful because I really didn't have a clue as to what I was doing. I observed the nurse take her assessment and then it allowed me to fill in the gaps of what I needed for my report. My patient probably thought I was a nuissance but I was able to get everything done that I needed to. Phew! The hardest part of this whole experience was just getting in there and doing it. We didn't go over head to toe assessments in class other than just lecture. We didn't actually have to do one and get checked off so I wasn't quite sure what I was doing when I got in there. I felt like we were fed to a pack of wolves. However, I survived but I am now wondering what the heck I am doing in nursing. I'm not sure that this is something for me. I won't quit since I've started but it's going to be one rough road. I feel as though I am playing catch up all the time and that the kids may be suffering from my time away from them. Ethan spent the night with my parent's Wed and Thursday and when I went to pick him up, he told me to go away and that he didn't love me anymore. It broke my heart. At least he was able to change his tune before I left and said that he loved me forever and always. :) After clinicals, tensions and emotions were running high. Most of us had to report back to the school to get our sterile techniques checked off and donning sterile gloves. I hadn't slept the night before because I was busy preparing my prep card for clinicals. We get to the school and start to work. Everyone is just chaotic and confused. Overwhelmed. We all needed to relax somehow but it was just too much for one day. I made it home, went to my parents to pick up Ethan. I sat on their couch and about 30 minutes later I fell asleep. I didn't wake up until 9pm. Yikes. I made it home and immediately went to bed. I slept in until 12:30pm!!! I so needed it. Now I am studying for my quiz on Monday and exam on Tuesday. I'm no where near ready. This is soooo much!!! I would love for the semester to be over with already. Red Bull has become my friend.

Christmas Tree

On Thanksgiving weekend, we went out and spontaneously decided to cut down our own Christmas tree for 2009. We went to a tree farm at the base of the mountain nearby. Tree after tree....hundreds it seemed....we just couldn't find the perfect one. We would find a tree, get ready to pose for a picture and then we would spot another one off in the distance. We were all finally able to agree on tree.

Once we got the tree up, we couldn't find the lights. We searched everywhere. It wasn't until a day later when Matt realized that the reason we didn't have lights was because our artificial tree is a pre-lit tree. LOL! Once we figured that out, we were able to add lights and decorate.

We took the kids out to Hallmark again this year to continue a tradition we just started last year. Each one gets to pick out an ornament so that eventually when they are headed out on their own, they will each have a set of ornaments to take with them.

Brian setting his Polar Express Ornament.

Katheryn...we aren't sure what statement she was trying to make but she sure had us laughing.

Teresa's Birthday

I can't believe we don't have any pics from the girls' night out but that's okay. Teresa and her friend Wendi have birthday's just one day apart. Last year it was celebrated in New York. This year they decided to meet in the middle which turned out to be Gettysburg, PA. Gettysburg leaves much to be desired for a GNO but we made it work.

Then that Sunday, Matt and the kids took Teresa out for a late lunch at the Macaroni Grill. Afterwards, we stopped by Burlington Coat Factory. Matt did his best to get us all home in time because he had invited some friends over for cake and ice cream.

Ethan showing his meatball from Macaroni Grill

Brian enjoying his pizza.

Katheryn enjoying her meatball.

Matt wants to be Rod Rowdy from The Price is Right!

Thanksgiving 2009

Trying to remember back to Thanksgiving...it seems so long ago. The holidays got here so fast and went by even faster.

Matt's parents flew up from FL to join us this Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to be surrounded by family. My parents, brother and his fianace joined us as well as Matt's Aunt Lisa, cousin Ryan and daughter Ana. The table was full of wonderful foods and the turkey was delicious. We bought an oil-less turkey fryer that uses infrared heat. A 14 pound turkey was finished within 2 hours and tasted sooo yummy!

Notice there are no women in this pic! They're cleaning up.

Brian and Ana enjoying their pumpkin pie.

Matt passed out like he did all the cooking! Ana, Katheryn and Brian

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