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).

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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!