So much better to be a senior!

I really should be working on the overwhelming amount of homework and studying I have to do, but I wanted to make a quick post! Senior year is SO much better than jr year! My whole attitude has changed.. Instead of being so nervous about the stuff I'd see and scared to do things, I've realized I only have 8 months til I graduate and am on my own. I'd much rather experience lots now and practice as much as I can, so I don't get out of school and not have had that experience & not have my professor right behind me making sure I do things right! It's such a better feeling. I've already done so many things I thought I could never do in nursing school. It's a great feeling. Also, as I've gone through, it seems to me that every patient experience I get was really meant to be for some reason or another. I can't believe how close we are to being done. We have an insane amount of homework this semester, but that's because they want to make sure we really know our stuff before our last semester. While it's hard to find the time, I'm glad too because I also want to make sure I know my stuff! Then next semester, we have lots of clinicals and possibly no paperwork if we do well this semester. We're actually moving up to multiple patients in med surg. We also have OB and community this semester. My first OB clinical was not nearly as fun as I expected. It was very slow and uneventful! I'm not sure I could stand whole shifts like that.. I like more action! We'll have to see what the rest of the semester is like. The OB doctor gave some really great advice I thought, though. He said that once we're done, instead of going into our specialty, we should really work in ER or ICU first to really hone our skills. If we do that, we'll have them the rest of our life. If we don't and just go into our specialty, we may never develop all those skills and then not have them. We'll have to see what the future brings! We're getting some educator, ER, ICU, wound care, etc experience in med surg this semester too, so I like that we get a taste of everything!

Now an update on the kids.. Aeson started preschool this year! He's going MWF afternoons. He LOVES it. Westen always did too, and he's going the same place with the same teacher. It's nice to see him get out of the house and have fun. He says he hasn't really made any friends yet, but hopefully we can get some playdates going soon. My babies are getting so big! Westen's in second grade now, and he loves his teacher. She's young, and he says she never yells lol! He's really done fabulous this year too, getting 100% on all his math and spelling tests so far. We haven't even had to practice math, but I do work with him on a few of his spelling words each week. He's doing so great! He's friends with all the boys in his class, which is a huge relief after his kindergarten experience. I'm so glad he's happy where he's at. It's worth all the money in the world! Ms Auby is a year and a half and SO stinking smart. She talks all the time, knows all the parts of her body, puts two and three words together, and loves flowers, Minnie, & reading. She's really turning into a little girl! She's still nursing and when she asks for milk, she thinks she has to get right in my face and put her lips on mine while saying "milk" haha.. I'm not sure why she does that!

Alright, back to homework!

The countdown begins

Three weeks until school starts!!

We took the boys shopping for supplies yesterday. Aeson chose an Angry Birds backpack, while Westen chose plain of everything! No cartoon stuff anymore.. He's too young to be that old!! They both found shoes in town they liked too.. Now all we need is to find some for Sis!

Westen's going into second grade, Aeson will be attending preschool three afternoons a week, and I'll be starting my final year of nursing school! 

I'm reminded of how nervous I was last year starting nursing school! What a crazy year it was.. Auby was so little and now she's so big too! Much less worrying about her this year!

Speaking of Aubryn, she's such a smart little girl! She says soooo many words. Almost anything you ask her to say, she will! She's getting to be quite daring lately and also getting more of a toddler attitude! :) She finally slept all night for four or five nights in a row this week but then woke up a bunch last night. She's getting molars though, so no fun!

Last day of the Dells trip

A couple of cute things I'd forgotten - the first night we were there and laying in bed trying to get Aubryn to sleep, she kept asking for the kitty! She usually sleeps with us. :) Then last night, when we were at the Tommy Bartlett Show, there was a lady in front of us with hair similar to their Grandma Martha's and Aubryn kept pointing saying "grandma!"

We are now officially on our way home! (Only a couple of hours left of the drive) We enjoyed the breakfast buffet again this morning, the water park for an hour or so again, and then packed up and headed out. We went to the zoo before leaving. It was pretty small, but the kids still enjoyed seeing the lions, tigers, and other animals. They got to feed the giraffes carrot sticks, and there was a whole room of exotic birds, one of which kept repeating their laugh which was pretty funny!

Overall, we had a great time! Westen said his favorite part was the water park, and Aeson said his was the theme park. I don't think I updated after that, but they'd also played mini golf, rode bumper boats, and played a few arcade games. I think the boat ride was mine and Eric's favorite. 

Now hopefully we'll get some better weather at home to enjoy the rest of the summer!

Dells Day 2

What a busy day! We woke up and went to the breakfast buffet that was included in our package here, and they had everything you could think of! It was very nice! After breakfast, we played at the water park for about 3 hours. We made it around to all the areas today. The boys LOVED the slides - I think they went down them 100 times! We found a better kiddie area (all the way at the back!) and Aubryn liked that a lot better. She really seemed to enjoy herself. There was a lily pad she sat on that had a frog on it, which she kissed all on her own! (We got a picture too :)) They even had a lazy river for the babies. Eric took her down a little slide, but I don't think she liked that much. 

After the water park, we came to our room to eat leftovers for lunch before heading out for ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery. It was the boys' first time (well, Aubryn too!). Aeson got cotton candy ice cream with chocolate chips, and Westen got chocolate ice cream with Butterfingers, Oreos, and sprinkles. 

After ice cream, we went to Wizard's Quest. It was the one thing not included in our package, but we thought the boys would like it. You enter a magical world where you have to find (save) four wizards in four different realms- earth, water, fire, and wind. We found the first two pretty quickly, the third not as quickly, and had to ask for a hint with the last one! There were mirrored rooms, revolving bookcases, walls that were doors, mazes, tunnels, a tree the kids could climb up, etc! It was pretty cool!

We then went on the Ducks boat tour, which was VERY cool. Wisconsin is absolutely beautiful, so it was nice to see it. The tour guide was funny, and there were lots of interesting things to hear about. Aeson and Aubryn both fell asleep! Aeson didn't until about halfway through, though, and he really liked why he saw. He mentioned after that it was "pretty awesome!" We saw several deer on the land part of the tour. 

After that, we went to the Tommy Bartlett Show, which included water ski tricks, clowns, boats, and jugglers. Westen really loved it, but it was kind of long (90 minutes) and we were all freezing! The looks on Westen's face when they did some of the tricks were priceless, though!

Finally, we stopped at Buffalo Phil's for dinner, where our food and drinks were delivered by train. All the kids loved it there too!

We didn't get back to the hotel until after 8, I think. Only left time for baths and some relaxation before bed!

Wisconsin Dells

Today was the first day of our vacation in the Dells. We drove almost 6 hours total! We only had to stop once because Sissy was being fussy, and both the boys did absolutely wonderful with the drive. I was very happy with them! We stopped to eat lunch at Culver's once we arrived, because we were still too early to check in. We're staying at the Kalahari and were very surprised by how huge it is! We spent the afternoon at the water park. The boys had SO much fun. Aubryn was a little unsure, but they had baby swings so they can sit in the water & she liked those! There was tons for the boys to do.. They both enjoyed the slides and the wave pool in particular. Westen even went down a couple of the big slides! Included in our package was a pizza meal, so it was nice to order that up to our room after a crazy day. The boys also both love the hotel, by the way. We've heard "the Kalahari is the best!" and "you guys are the best parents" today! :) After dinner, we headed to the theme park here, but there wasn't much for Aub to do and it was pretty busy so after a carousel ride, she and I came back up to the room. We're waiting on the boys to get back now. I know they've played laser tag, and I'm sure they're having lots of fun!

One fourth of the way there!

My blog has been totally neglected during my first semester of nursing school! I can hardly believe I have one semester done already.. a fourth of the way there!

It was one crazy semester. I'm not sure exactly when it was, but I'm thinking about halfway through, I was almost at the quitting point. I cried every week before that. I asked myself (and still continued to) almost daily why I was doing this. It was a HUGE adjustment. I wasn't really gone that much, but when I was home, ALL I did was study. I quickly realized I didn't have to read every chapter BEFORE class and also, if I did homework away from home, it went so much quicker. We worked out a schedule that worked well for us and made some little adjustments, like Westen eating hot lunch occasionally (one less little things to do). The rest of the semester wasn't as bad.. but still stressful, of course! Proficiencies were the most nerve wracking. I always passed and always did well, but it was stressful not knowing which one we would draw and knowing we've have every little thing we were doing critiqued.

We had clinicals at elementary schools, retirement centers, flu shot clinics (we gave flu shots to actual people! That was scary too! :)), we did blood pressure and glucose screenings, and finally, ended up in the OR! I was so nervous I was going to pass out. We had several people pass out in class and in the OR, and I'd read lots of stories online. I ended up doing okay, but I didn't care too much for surgery. I was glad when it was over!

One thing I wish I could get a handle on is my nerves. With constant big tests, proficiencies, and clinical experiences, there was always something to be nervous about. I wish I could just relax and do the best I can without all the nerves! If there is one word for nursing school, though, it is for sure STRESSFUL!

I ended up with all A's and one B+. I'm frustrated by the B+, but it is what it is. At the beginning of the semester, I wasn't even sure I could pass with a grade above 80. Ironically, this wasn't one of the classes I was worried about at all.

Aubryn was probably the least affected by my being gone! I had been most worried about her, with no need to be! (Seems like it always goes like that) She's 9 1/2 months now and still a super happy baby. She's so very sweet. She never cried when I left, was always happy to see her grandma or spend time with Daddy, and was always happy when I got back home. She LOVES my hair (or any hair, really!). It's the first thing she grabs when I pick her up. :) She plays with it when she goes to sleep or any other time she wants comfort. I'm almost positive she's going to marry a boy with long hair. :) She's growing up too fast.. currently crawling, starting to pull up to things, and saying several words (mama, dada, dog, no no, milk, meow, all done, night night, woof woof, bye bye).

***

Well, I started this entry three weeks ago and never got a chance to get back to it! Aubryn's now 10 months, pulling up on everything & cruising along it. She has seven teeth (four on top, three on bottom) and is eating the same foods we do. She hates wearing socks and is always pulling them off, just like her brother! Anyway, she remained happy the whole time I was in school.

Aeson and Westen had more trouble with it. Westen wanted me to quit.. I think he missed me picking him up from school, and it was difficult on the whole family with me studying the whole time I was home. Aeson cried several times when I had to leave for class, and I always felt so bad. It definitely helps that he was always with Daddy or his grandma, though.

Now I'm one semester in and close to starting the second. The semester really did go by quickly, so hopefully all of it will!

Christmas was wonderful, as usual. We're so lucky to have so many loved ones to spend it with. The boys loved having Timmy, our elf, here from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. Aeson watched the show about it a million times! Westen got very sick not long before Christmas but was luckily over it by the time Christmas came. He ended up having strep, ear infection, and pneumonia. I'd never seen the poor kid so sick. I absolutely hate it when my babies are sick. Westen's so strong and brave, though.. No matter how sick he was, he would still insist that he was "fine." He spent almost an entire week in his bed, with just about every symptom known to man. Thank goodness no one else got any of it.

He's still drawing like crazy and continues to get better. He's loving it at St. Paul, and I feel so much better knowing he's happy about school. It's such a different feeling when he is thriving and is excited about school than when you have to worry about what is happening to him all day long and have to convince him to go every morning.

Aeson's his usual busy self! Always thinking of new things to do.. things I swear no other kid would ever think of! They're all getting so big.

The day after Christmas, we adopted a kitten. She's a grey and calico six week old with white paws. The kids named her Sparky, and they absolutely love her. We, on the other hand, can't wait until she's out of her kitten stage!