Student RN Tiffany

2009-09-07T12:18:00.000-07:00

But where did she go?

2009-07-07T10:01:00.001-07:00

Http:/studentrntiffany.wordpress.com

Public blog!! Ive moved! Come say "hi"

-- Post From My iPhone

New Blog

2009-07-06T05:09:00.000-07:00

So I did it...I moved. (Not everything has been moved over yet, but Im getting there!). This is a public blog. Some posts may be locked to preserve privacy. You can email me if you would like more info!

Come visit me here!!

I will also have a family blog, but I havent had a chance to get it going into full swing yet!

Stop by and say hi!!

Dear Suicide man,

2009-07-06T03:43:00.001-07:00

Dear Mr. Suicide,

I know that there must have been a reason for you to do what you did. You must have been suffering in some way that only you can really understand, but as I watch your wife try to console your young children I cant help but be angry at you for being so selfish.

You are released feom your suffering but now your wife will sleep alone in a bed, forever remembering your touch and the pattern of your breathing. She will suffer as a single parent and will always wonder if there was something he could have done. Your children will suffer without a father. No one to play catch, no one to walk them down the aisle. Your suffering is over, but at what cost.

So Mr. Suicide man i hope that you made the right choice. I hope that you really thought this through, because watching all the sobbing and all the grief over your death makes me think you were really very loved.

Rest in peace.

-- Post From My iPhone

Im sorry but youre an idiot

2009-07-05T21:59:00.001-07:00

How hard is it to name a child? Seriously? Dont you have the nine months of gestation to work out at least a list of names?

There is no excuse to have a 6+ week old with no first name.

Really.....

The reason for my decision

2009-07-04T15:32:00.000-07:00

Ive been asked a couple of times what the reason behind my decision to move location is. And it really is a long story. Basically I had been planning on moving for quite a while. I was trying out the different blogging websites. I tried Typepad.com and really hated it. Then one of my favorite bloggers moved to wordpress.com and I needed an account to view her private blog. So I created one and started playing around with the different blogging functions.

I feel like wordpress gives be a little more control of my blog. While I am still planning on having my public "Nursing school journey" blog, I wanted the ability to lock certain posts. This would give me the freedom to truly post everything I was thinking without worrying about it getting into the wrong hands.

Another big reason that I wanted to move is that Blogger has been painfully inconsistent. I have had many of my "draft" posts dissapear and have actually had all of my old posts dissapear for a period of 24 hours before the IT help desk could retrieve them.

Wordpress is FREE!! They have some options that you can pay to expand your page, but otherwise it is a free blogsite. And....I can still post from my iPhone!

The other less significant but more annoying reason is that I was contacted by an attorney about the use of a pictures of a certain minor child. I was informed that I was a pervert for posting his pictures and called a loser. I was accused of harrassing someone, and thus I have chosen to have the ability to post more freely and to monitor some of my posts.

On top of moving to wordpress, I have also decided to separate my posts about family. Seeing as I wont be a Student Nurse forever, I decided to start a family blog. Many of the posts will be duplicates, however I will avoid posting public pictures of my family, including Our son.

The new blog isnt finished yet....I will continue blogging here until I have all of my old posts published over there. Then I will announce the new blog.

Thank you to everyone for their support on this. I am looking forward to moving!!

Just trying a new function

2009-07-03T13:19:00.001-07:00

Lets see....

-- Post From My iPhone

The gym and thenew blog

2009-07-03T12:57:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a perfect day! I got up and met one of my closest friends at the gym. We ran and chatted!! Gotta love going to the gym! I did a fun 3.74 miles!

After the gym and getting cleaned up, I headed off to the massage appointment that my amazing hubby scheduled!!

Massages are like an hour of uninterrupted heaven! Kristen (the therapist) had the hands of an angel! I felt like million bucks!

After my massage I felt so good that I came home and worked on the yard work.

It was glorious!! Although today I zm having some massive low back pain, I suspect that is because of the rocks I was moving yesterday.

Now about the new blog. I have been contemplating a move for a few months. One of the blogs I read made the move over to wordpress.com and I have to say that it is pretty amazing. I am slowly moving everything over there. It should be fun!!

Ok...Happy 4th of July weekend!! Be safe and stay out of the ER because Im working all weekend!

-- Post From My iPhone

Must read

2009-07-02T16:15:00.001-07:00

Hello all my readers...Ive made the change to a new webpage that will be password protected.

Please leave a comment if you would like access.

Love,
Me

More baby

2009-07-01T21:13:00.001-07:00

Circa 1985

-- Post From My iPhone

Baby picture day....

2009-07-01T05:45:00.000-07:00

Ok all my blogger friends, its time to bare all. Im declaring a "baby picture post".

Here goes, this is me at about 6months old. Next to me in the blue is my Mom, and I dont know who the other lady is.

Wasnt I an adorable baby?

Now your turn, post a baby picture and comment here so I can see you all in your baby glory!!

Its the little things that make me smile.

2009-06-30T17:08:00.001-07:00

Today is my day off. And after pulling nearly 100 hours in two weeks, I needed a little pampering.

So on my way to visit my best gal pal, I saw a very promosing nail salon. I stopped and enjoyed nearly an hour of foot and calf massage! They even used parafin wax, it felt so good!!

Now I have relaxed muscles, sexy pink toes and a renewed attitude....all for $30!

What a great day off! And tomorrow its back to the grind!

-- Post From My iPhone

Things that I will never understand....

2009-06-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

Parents who use their children as leverage. Wouldnt you want them to have a good relationship with their other parent(s)?
People who neglect their animals
People who think that remorse and grief have time limits
People who think that animals are like accesories, when one "expires" you just "replace" it.

Im taking a sociology class about Family dynamics. And although I am not learning a whole lot from the class, simply the topic of family dynamics has made me think a little bit more about my own "blended" family.

What is your family? Who do you consider to be your family? Dogs? Kids? parents? grandparents? Close friends?

Basically, tell me about your TRIBE.

Dr. Seuss

2009-06-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

"When you are in love you cant fall asleep because reality is better than your dreams"- The great Dr. Seuss

So thats why Ive been having trouble sleeping.......It must be love.

My introduction and yours!!

2009-06-27T21:27:00.000-07:00

My life started again almost one year ago. I became myself again. I could breathe again. Things made a turn for the better. And so I thought that I would take the chance to introduce myself to my newer readers (and please feel free to respond with a link! I will come visit!!)

I am Tiffany! (Waving to the crowd!). I am second year Nursing student pursuing my ADN. I hope to continue my education to get my BSN shortly after graduation. My goals are widespread, I like to be kept busy and I get bored quickly. I would love to work in OB/L&D or in the NICU/PICU or in the ED (like I said, I want to do everything!!)

I am married to the most amazing man (HI Honey!!). He is a member of the US Navy, the worlds greatest Navy and is currently deployed to Iraq and will be returning (hopefully) late this year. He has an amazing son (BigBoy C) and I cant wait to get to know him more.

The two of us are in love with adventure! Whether it is exploring places around the Sound, or around in different states. We tend to act on planned spontaneity and will plan impromptu trips while sitting at dinner. Together we have been able to visit Washington (we live here), Oregon, Idaho and Nevada. There is always a place to explore, and we aim to see it all! (So if you have some suggestions of great places, send them my way!!)

We have two fur-babies, Harley and Giada. Our oldest of the four-leggeds, Meyah, passed away in Mid June from complications of Diabetes.

I am looking forward to having some people delurk and send me links to their blogs! I would love to know who all is reading, so if you are reading this....take a second and say "hi"!!

Bittersweet....

2009-06-26T19:49:00.000-07:00

My baby sister signed up for college classes.

I guess she's not a baby anymore.

Wow.....

Summer reading book one

2009-06-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

I am determined to read as many non-school books as possible this summer. As reading is my guilty pleasure and I tend to devour books, I have greatly missed having the ability to just read at my leisure.

I started collecting a variety of books that I have been desperate to read since my crazy reading spree last winter (where I read all the Twilight books in two weeks). I started reading the first book last night and I am so impressed.

So far this book has been far from a fast read. The book is about the early history of the Mormon church focusing mainly on its roots in polygamy. It has a nice detailed history of the prophet Joseph Smith and also Brigham Young. The story revolves around Ann Eliza Young, Brigham Youngs 19th wife (atleast in the story, I cant validate the following other than from the book!) and how she fought to not only divorce the prophet (Something completley unheard of in those times) but also to single handedly denounce polygamy. She was the leading force in getting the Mormon religion to stop practicing polygamy.

What a great book!! A must read!!

One week later

2009-06-25T17:17:00.000-07:00

This last week has been filled with death.

Meyah passed one week ago almost to the minute. (Devastating)

Ed McMahan passed away yesterday. (Sad)

Farrah Fawcet passed on today. (Tremendously sad, but expected)

And now Michael Jackson. (Frighteningly sudden)

OK, we get it....Life is fragile. Can you please slow down with the lesson, I cant make tears fast enough to cry them out.

(Sadly I have this feeling in my gut that Patrick Swayze goes next.)

"Will I cry everyday?"

2009-06-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned before, I have a bad taste in my mouth from the show Nurse Jackie. But after watching the 4th episode today I wanted to answer a significant question:

The nursing student asks "Will it always be this hard? Will I cry every day?" and in my limited experience I can tell you that Yes, there is something almost every day to cry about.

The tears arent from mean nurses or angry instructors, they arent from the lack of sleep or the physical labor, they are from the reality of people. Peoples lives touch me in ways I never thought that I could be touched. I have never been shy about how nervous I am about my lack of compassion. I tend to be a little cold when things dont affect me personally, but as it turns out my hard outter shell melts in your hand (not your mouth like M&M's).

I have had a patient die shortly after I was blessed to work with him. I saw his obituary in the news paper and cried as though I had lost my own family. I have hugged more people than I though possible, cradled the daughter of an elderly man on pallative care only with a GI bleed, prayed with families from different religions than my own, and spent more time thinking about my patients after I leave than studying for school work. Yes, you cry every day.

I cried when I listened to my patient tell me about her pregnancy loss, I cried when I listened to the doctor tell my patients family that he didnt have much longer for this world, I cried when I got home because I knew my diabetic patient wasnt going to be able to afford her medication and therefore would be back in the hospital, and I cried when I got home after a patient told me that I would be a "great nurse".

Yes, you will cry every day. And most days those tears feel pretty darn good. There is humanity in the world, and we can do good.

You will cry. Everyday. And when you dont cry anymore, its time to find a new job.

My flowers...

2009-06-24T17:03:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned, my love sent me lillies! I absolutely love lillies!!

-- Post From My iPhone

*My amazing day off

2009-06-23T22:04:00.000-07:00

I was blessed to have today off of work. I spent the day lounging around...yeah sure, now back to reality! I did have the day off but I spent the first half of the day getting recertified for CPR. It a strange twist of fate it was going to cost me the same amount of money to change my name on my CPR card as it would to recertify.

Also my school requires you to be recertified every year!! I guess I should just be glad I was able to get it done with so early on in the summer.

Then I had lunch with a gal pal! So fun! Two hours later we finally left. It was so nice to get to just catch up.

I got home to a delivery of Flowers from my wonderful Hubby!! What an amazing guy!! He sent me gorgeous orange lillies!! And they smell oh so good!!

I know summer just started but after working over 50 hours last week and then losing my Meyah, I feel like it should be time to go back to nursing school already.

How is your summer going so far?

Some happy thoughts

2009-06-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

The sun glasses gang!

My hubby getting a pedicure!

More love!

Happy Daddy's Day to the worlds best Dad.

2009-06-21T01:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Dad,

Thank you for always being the shoulder I can cry on, the hug I can run to, and my never ending cheer leader! I love you more than words can say!!

As far back as I can remember you have been there encouraging me to be better, follow my dreams, and to achieve my goals.

Even when Ive screwed up (and I know I have!) you made sure that I knew how much you loved me.

Not a day goes by that I dont talk to you. Thank you for being not only my Dad but my friend.

I love you,

Your Oldest

-------------------------------

Also A happy Fathers Day to my Wonderful Husband, All the Uncles(You too Tio Todd!), Grandfathers(Both on the groud and in Heaven), and to my Father-in-law (Who I know is looking down at his son with pride).

We love you all!

-------------------------------

And a final Happy Fathers Day to all the soon to be Dads, Dads of furbabies, and oneday Dads!

Happy Fathers Day everyone!

Serenity

2009-06-20T20:51:00.001-07:00

Now let me set the scene... Hubby and I took a spontaneous road trip along the water late in the evening. With starbucks coffee in hand we strolled along the beach.

I miss him.

When it rains, it pours.

2009-06-20T04:24:00.000-07:00

Nursing school is on a break for the summer, but because I am a glutten for punishment I signed up for a "non" nursing related online class. I figured that spending the summer letting my brain go to mush wouldnt help my any in the fall. My class starts next week, it is all online and should be pretty interesting, I hope.

Its been almost 36 hours since I watched my Meyah Amore get her wings. And in that 36 hours I can tell you that I have been through so many emotions. Some minutes I am at peace with the decision, and I know that I made the right choice. Others I sob because I wonder if there was something else I could have done, some other option.

I try not to be a selfish person. But selfishly I want her back. I want to change my decision and have her to snuggle next to me, cuddle under the blankets with. I want her to give me stinky dog breath kisses. I want....HER.

Im fighting these thoughts, these regrets. There are so many of them. Maybe if we had found her Diabetes earlier we could have managed it. Maybe if I had of taken her to a different Vet we could have known about her condition earlier. Maybe. So many maybes. So many IFs.

I trying to go through the motions of my normal day. Wake, work, sleep, etc. But inside my heart is torn. I feel guilty loving on the other dogs, I feel horrible that I was on vacation the week before she passed on, I hate that this last year I was so busy.

Now its just a matter of continuing to go through the motions.

Meyahs information and a guest post

2009-06-19T03:12:00.000-07:00

This letter was nicely written by my Father in the comments of one of my posts yesterday. It was filled with so many details that I chose to post it as a post all its own.

"For those that don't know, Momma Meyah passed away this evening at 5:17 PM.

Meyah (which means "Mine") was our first Minature Pinscher (see Tiffany's photo).

Meyah started out life hard, with mutant alopecia (or Blue Doberman syndrome). She was the runt of the litter, and as such, was not very healthy.

Meyah was a Doberman at heart and a Tasmanian Devil in temperment. If she didn't like you, you knew it. For those few that she accepted, you were showered with her endless adoration. As Meyah aged we found that she had a form of epilepsy, and later in life (her last couple months) became diabetic.

Meyah was my dog Ebi's baby, and a BIG part of our family. We have told, and will, for the rest of our lives, continue to tell stories of the little dog who:
1. Found a bag of chocolate candy, managed to delicately unwrap the chocolate, and then eat it all
2. Somehow got into a 2lb container of Borax
3. Ate her weight in Dark Chocolate (Ghirardelli's chocolate of course)
4. Took a flying leap off a 10 foot porch
5. Loved to chase laser lights
6. Took on two full grown Dobermans at the dog park and made them run for their lives
7. Stole our hearts with her spunk, affection, and love

Meyah left us with chocolate on her breath (we indulged her with her favorite temptation), surrounded by tears, voices and the arms of those who loved her most.

It's only a couple hours, and her bark is missed. When you look in the backyard, there is a vacancy where she should be at the gate.

Time heals all wounds, but the heart never forgets, and neither shall we.

Fairwell Meyah. Go snuggle up with Ebi.

'til we meet again, and as they say in the Navy:
Fair winds and following seas.

Dad"

I have to say that letter pretty much sums up the details. As for everything else, I am still struggling with my own thoughts and feelings. I miss her tremendously. The "Lil Porkchop" as my dear friend calls her is on my mind and consuming my thoughts. I have so many memories of her and I am terrified I will forget the smallest thing.

The hardest decision was to have to chose to not let her suffer. And my dear readers to make the choice to end her life is a desicion I was faced with for many years and I could not make. Yesterday Meyah made that choice for me, in her own way she gave me the strength to make the right choice.

We arrived at the clinic at 5pm. The family snuggled and loved on her, and I held her in my arms the entire time. The Vet Tech (who was so sweet) took her from my arms for a mere moment to place an IV. She returned and we fed her chocolate, much to Meyahs delite! At about 5:10pm the Vet came in and explained what they were going to do. She asked if I wanted more time, but all I could think is that there is never enough time and I wanted another 8 years so 5 more minutes just wouldnt help. I told her I was as ready as I could be. I sat down with Meyah and snuggled her against me.

Always a brave girl she watched as the Vet inserted the syringe into her IV. The family and I continued to love on her and kiss her and talk to her. The medication began and Meyah got a little dizzy, then she looked me in the face, our eyes met, she gave me the softest kiss (almost as if to tell me it was all going to be ok) and then she laid her head on my chest.

Seconds, minutes, years might have passed now. Everything from here on out is a blur. The Vet listened to her heart and told me she was gone. I asked the time. 5:17pm.

In seven minutes my baby left this earth and gained her wings. I spent the next dozen or so minutes smelling her fur and loving on her. Trying to memorize everything so that I would never forget.

Finally it was time to let her body go. The Vet Tech took her to gently, wrapped in that little blanket. There I said goodbye for the last time. Goodbye to her pain, goodbye to her suffering, and goodbye to the best friend anyone could ask for.

I chose to have her body cremated and returned to me. I couldnt bare the thought of burying her somewhere and then leaving her again in the future. For the time being I will carry her in an Urn from home to home until I can find the perfect location for her.

"...love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."
(Kabil Gibran)

And the Angels wept

2009-06-18T21:37:00.001-07:00

Isnt it strange how when you are at your saddest the world cries with you.

There is such a gentle rain falling, almost as if she is telling me that she misses me too.

-- Post From My iPhone

My own angel Meyah

2009-06-18T17:37:00.001-07:00

11/25/01-06/18/09

I love her so much. I hope she knows. My heart is heavy with missing her, but I know she got her wings today.

Cross the rainbow bridge little one and know that you will never be forgotten, you will always be loved, and that you were the best good girl ever. I love you. Your family loves you. And till we meet again, i carry you in my heart.

Mexican Riveria Cruise

2009-06-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

I have not been shy about my love for vacationing. The Hubs and I finally decided on a cruise! We are planning on doing the Mexican Riveria in the Winter after he returns from his deployment.

I have wanted to take this cruise forever! And my loving Husband willingly obliged! Afterall he has been on many ships but has always been forced to work on them (A sailors life afterall!) So we are going.....sailing away somewhere warm!

I cant wait. Only 171 days (give or take) until he comes home and a few short weeks after that we will be snuggled down in our cabin heading out to sea!! Im so super excited!!

Ok...Have any of you been on cruises? What was your favorite?

Nurse Jackie was mildly disapointing

2009-06-16T23:53:00.000-07:00

Like most Nurses and/or future nurses I was thrilled to see that there are not one, but two new Dramas about Nurses coming out. Sadly I think that Hawthorne will fail miserably because the previews show her acting like a physician and not a nurse.

But about Nurse Jackie.....I have OnDemand and pormptly watched the first three episodes. Nurse Jackie reminds me of a Burned out ER nurse meets Dr. House. Not to give too much away but her alarming drug addiction turned me off. I love watching Dr. House, and frankly I couldnt care less about his Vicodin habits, but its been done already....Do to have a nurse crushing percocets and putting it in her coffee seems a little tired.

Although Nurse Jackie didnt live up to my expectation I will probably be watching her all summer....I mean school is out, bring on the drama!

Day 2, grades and back to the gym!

2009-06-15T16:01:00.001-07:00

Today was the hardest. I woke up in our bed and missed him so much my heart ached. I was lucky to hear from him!! But his voice makes me miss him that much more.

To fill the time I decided that it is time to get my butt in gear and go back to the gym.

Running day 1: 1.25 miles
Total: 1.25 miles

I started out slow since it has been waaaaaay too long! But this girl is gonna get her butt in shape!

And now for grades!! I rocked it baby!! Im gonna make deans list again! Yipppeee!

Its official, my grades are posted and the first year of nursing school is over!

Tomorrow I start back to work. I picked up a few shifts for the summer!

What are your Summer plans?

-- Post From My iPhone

Day one and plans

2009-06-14T23:52:00.000-07:00

Today marks the first day of the last leg of the Hubs deployment. Rather than going home and missing him like crazy, my good friend invited me over to play!

We saw Star Trek in IMAX! Ok, IMAX is cool but very very loud! I am still having a hard time hearing.

We also saw Angels and Demons. The movie was ok but I couldnt stay awake!

What a great weekend!

Thanks G!

-- Post From My iPhone

Saying goodbye

2009-06-13T12:34:00.001-07:00

Time to step back into the life of a Navy wife. He deployed again. Im trying to be strong and supportive but on the first day after he leaves all I want to do is be sad.

Im really trying hard to think of all the good times and smiles. Im sure I will be better in a couple days, but for now......

I miss him.

Hi Big Boy C!

2009-06-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

Since your Mama is reading my blog....

We Love you Kiddo!!

-- Post From My iPhone

Loving you

2009-06-12T12:09:00.000-07:00

-- Post From My iPhone

Guess who got carded for an R rated movie?

2009-06-11T18:45:00.000-07:00

Me! Wtf?!

-- Post From My iPhone

Rollercoasters!!

2009-06-10T18:31:00.001-07:00

--

Post From My iPhone

Sibling vacation

2009-06-09T16:39:00.000-07:00

Us kids are in sunny Idaho! What a fun road trip!!

-- Post From My iPhone

1/2 of a Nurse.....

2009-06-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the last day of my first year of nursing school. I am one half of a nurse now!

What a long and trying quarter. I cant believe its done!

To celebrate the Hubs and I are heading out.....off on another mini-vacay before he leaves.

I will post from the road....

Finals are over

2009-06-08T12:39:00.001-07:00

Can you see the relief?

Twinkle twinkle

2009-06-07T13:56:00.000-07:00

Little star fish!

-- Post From My iPhone

My husband gave me crabs

2009-06-06T00:45:00.000-07:00

Yum!

Studying...

2009-06-05T19:22:00.000-07:00

Yes, i am at the beach studying for finals!

And he is forcing me to study for med/surg.

But this is where i am studying

Thats our rental.... Beautiful, right?

Seabrook cottages

2009-06-04T19:53:00.001-07:00

View from the front balcony

View from the bedroom balcony

The park

Seaside bedroom

Us enjoying the time together!

Have I told you lately that I love you?

2009-06-04T14:44:00.001-07:00

My hubby is kidnapping me...we are heading to the beach for the weekend!!

Just because we love roadtripping!! Doesnt he look excited?!

Im trying not to be a passenger seat driver!

I will be posting more pics!

Last med/surg clinical

2009-06-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

Today I donned the ugly white scrubs for the last time as a first year student. I cant believe how fast this quarter has gone.

I have one lecture, one quiz and two finals left. Im almost sad to see it end.

Next quarter is the most exciting OB/PEDS!

-- Post From My iPhone

We may be weird....

2009-06-02T12:57:00.001-07:00

But we're weird together!

-- Post From My iPhone

Pic from my bday

2009-06-01T07:52:00.001-07:00

We also saw this family:

It couldnt have been more amazing!

-- Post From My iPhone

Surprise, syke

2009-05-31T21:24:00.000-07:00

My dear hubby thought we were going to be surprising his Aunt. What a shock for him that I had it planned out differently!

I dropped him off about 1/4 of a mile from her house and showed up without him. She and I quickly got ready and when he rang the door bell he was shocked to hear all of us yell "surprise!"

What a great afternoon!!

-- Post From My iPhone

1/4 of a century old

2009-05-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

I turned 25 on Friday, and I got the best present ever.....

He came home for my bday!!-- Post From My iPhone

Ugly?

2009-05-29T14:29:00.000-07:00

Hey lady you suck...

2009-05-28T13:48:00.000-07:00

Dear stupid Goth Lady in front of me,

Your conversation is incredibly inappropriate. There are small children around and everyone is listening to you spew your hatred and nastiness.

People like you are ruining our country. People like you disgust me.

And just so you know, your tanned ass isnt "pure White" either so slamming racial slurs at the nice Indian couple is absurd. And in case you didnt notice, they spoke English too.

And you racist bitch, it wasnt Indians who attacked the Twin Towers. If you are going to spout out nastiness at least have your fact straight.

With all the disgust I can choke down,

Me

-- Post From My iPhone

Tom Tom I love you

2009-05-28T13:44:00.001-07:00

Dear Tom-Tom,

I love hearing your sweet voice while I am driving! I love it when you "recalculate" the directions to my destination.

And I love that I NEVER get lost when I am with you!

Thank you TOM!

-- Post From My iPhone

Striker, striker drains everywhere!

2009-05-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

It turns out that although I have posted quite regularly, my phone has not been sending them to the Ole Blog. Annoying, but it appears to have fixed itself.

This was week three of Med/surg clinicals. It went by fast, and I am so impressed with my instructor! For once I feel like I hit the jackpot of adjunct faculty!

I saw an EP study today, visited the hemodialysis lab, saw a Femoral Cathter placed and watched a central line be removed. And that friends was just today!

Ive done catheters, IV's, assessments galore, drain d/c'ing, played with a nifty striker drain and kearned how to do transfusions!

I finally feel like some of what we are learnibg can be applied, maybe this road really does lead somewhere!

Im currently playing around with ideas for what to do after graduation next year. I might be applying for an Associates to Masters program, it takes 4 years and its all done. I dont know.....

What are your plans to further your education?

Making memories

2009-05-26T23:22:00.000-07:00

*warning this post may have inside jokes that you wont understand unless you were there!*

A very close friend of my family came all the way out from Mass. to visit (not VA!! Hehe). We all went out and had a wonderful dinner at The Space Needle.

We sat and laughed and talked about one legged nuns walking goats. It was so nice to get to see Geez and L. I cant believe how long its been!!

I will most more pictures, including ones ig Geez being "mugged" by my sister and I!

Im in a mood

2009-05-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

The cardiac exam sucked way worse than I thought it would. Im so tired and I keep dreaming about bundle branch blocks. All my dreams have tele strips in them.

I cant wait for this quarter to be over.

-- Post From My iPhone

Meyah's photo shoot

2009-05-24T18:17:00.001-07:00

A snuggly moment with my favorite girl.....

My first, my oldest, the one who holds all my secrets

I could love on you every minute of every day

I love how you lean into my kisses.....savoring them.

And those big blue eyes staring up at me, looking straight into my soul

Hope you all enjoyed the pictures!

(** Coming next week...awards!!)

I look like Shrek...

2009-05-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

But atleast I can pretend I have a life....I spent the "Spa" night snuggled down with Prentice and Hall and my Cardiac notes....Dont be jealous, I know I live on the edge!

I got my hair did!

2009-05-22T15:08:00.001-07:00

Before.....

During....

The color and cut....

And now...im ready to face the cardiac notes!!

Tricare mistakes

2009-05-22T14:04:00.001-07:00

I am no novice in navigating the world of military health care, yet it never fails to amaze me when Tricare screws up.

Ive been married almost 4 months, and in 4 months tricare has managed to: assign me to the wrong sponsor, change my husbands status to retired, assigned me a baby, and put me as a child instead of a spouse.

But today was enough to push me over the edge. I was supposed to have an appointment to get a new script for OCPs. The schefuler told me my appt is on Friday, May 22 @ 0900. I show up and there are no appts for my pcp today....wtf? The scheduler somehow accidentally put me in for 6/12 @0900 instead. I was so mad!!

After bitching and complaining... They finally gave me a script.

But who knew getting birthcontrol was so difficult!!

2009-05-21T08:45:00.001-07:00

A new favorite: carmel frap light with banana!

400th posts...and other random things

2009-05-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

A very bulleted post.....

As of today I have posted 400 times on this blog!
I have been posting here for 314 days (Since 7/9/08)
I have posted every single day for 288 days
I have been in Nursing school for 239 days
I have 387 days until I graduate from school
I have 200 days until my Hubby comes home for good
And in 9 days I am a quarter of a century old

Numbers are surprising......

PPD gone wild

2009-05-19T21:41:00.000-07:00

I find it mildly amusing when old school nurses mess things up.

I went in for my yearly employee wellness visit, since it is my Birthday month I was blessed to recieve my annual ppd.

The nurse starts out by wiping the area with alcohol (WRONG!) and then while its still wet inserts the needle (OUCH)! After she takes a cotton swab and procedes to rub away the droplet of blood (WRONG again) and finishes by putting a secure Donald Duck bandage over the wound (can you guess if this is wrong?)

The result is:

Which looks like this upclose:

I didnt say anything.... But I should have!

Whats the worst medical mistake you've witnessed?

Dear Tia Lupi,

2009-05-18T13:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Tia Lupi,

I just wanted to tell you how much fun I had this weekend. You really dont know how much it meant to me. You remind me so much of your wonderful Nephew (My Hubby) that it brought tears to my eyes.

I have not laughed so hard, tried on so many sandals, or eat something so chewy all in one date! Among the many things I love about you, is your radiance.

Thank you for letting me have some of your time! And for being part of my Family.

Love,
The Toe Cleavage lover!

Telemetry is confusing

2009-05-18T11:17:00.001-07:00

How did you learn to read tele strips? I cant tell a Wenckebach from a Mobitz type II.

Test next week and im starting to panic!

Any supplementary books you can suggest?

-- Post From My iPhone

Sadly speaking

2009-05-17T18:21:00.001-07:00

Canine Diabetes sucks. Poor Meyah

Random bits of happiness

2009-05-16T22:15:00.001-07:00

The Harley Bug

My Mama Meyah

Smiling Baby Giada

Harley playing dead

Giada and Mama loving each other!

Luckiest girl in the world

2009-05-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me at how wonderful my husband is. I mentioned in a long and whining post about my miserable moment from the other day, well I of course told him about it. And what did he say....

"Ive got your back, I love you, Im in this with you"

Isnt that the sweetest thing? I cried. And then I stopped and thanked God for my wonderful Hubby, and then I cried again.

Gosh I miss him so much......how much longer until its December?

A really hard day

2009-05-14T23:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was horrible....Clinical was amazing though. I ran my butt off! 7 hours of doing everything that we were taught. IV's, catheters, removing caths, tube feedings, helping prepare blood products, etc.....

Seriously it makes me almost cry thinking about it. It was an amazing day. (I will get to the worst part in a second) I started clinical off with only 3 hours of sleep. And that was fine, I was functional. Everything went perfect at clinical, and I think I love ORTHO!!

Then, the afternoon happened. I finished clinical, and headed to my lecture class. Seven hours of clinical never stopping, never sitting, never eating, never drinking....on three hours of sleep. Then to clinical where we sat in the hottest possible room, in the late part of the afternoon, and then it happened....I dozed off. It was only for a short time, maybe a few seconds. I just couldnt keep my eyes open anymore. We had our hourly break and I zonked out for the 10minutes and felt renewed. I was able to finish the class without any trouble.

And now the worst part....I find out that the professor publicly slammed me for dozing off. PUBLICLY. This was my favorite professor. I love her class. I have loved and idolized her. And now....I think she is incredibly unprofessional. I have lost respect for her.

I emailed her to apologize for dozing off, and she didnt respond. She didnt even bother to grace me with her response.

Im pissed. Im embarassed. I mean come on now, its not like we spent the morning picking our noses, I was working as a nurse. And my professor is a NURSE you would think she could have some freaking compassion for how hard it is!

AARGH!!

Overheard at starbucks

2009-05-13T06:12:00.001-07:00

Mom: "stop picking your nose...."
Little boy: "ok" then he looks at the booger on his finger, eyes it closely, and eats it.
Mom: "noooooo....dont eat that! That gross, use a tissue"
Little boy: "but it tastes like cheese!"

I was laughing so hard I almost spilled my coffee on my stark white scrubs!

-- Post From My iPhone

Ortho floor is busy

2009-05-12T22:07:00.000-07:00

Pain pain everywhere....I started IV's, did assessments, meds, and so much more! I felt like a real Nursing Student. I felt like this was actually something that I could do!

Im exhausted, my feet hurt, and Im smiling from ear to ear.

I love being a nurse (nursing student!!).

Happy Nurses week!

Preclinical for med/surg

2009-05-11T23:29:00.001-07:00

7 hrs....thats how long it took me to do a concept map for my patient. 7 f*ing hours!

Im on the ortho floor which should be interesting. At least everyone will have pain and immobility in common.

Time for sleep. Oh yeah and endocrine sucks. And I have a quiz on trach maint Wednesday.

This week is so busy, Im tired and its only Monday.

Other significant event...this marks my first official week as being a full time student/wife and an on-call employee. I no longer have gainful employment people....my Hubby is the only wage earner. Im trying not to hyperventilate about this. Its scary and uncharted territory. (its a relief too though)

Ok...now its time for sleep.

-- Post From My iPhone

A brain break

2009-05-10T18:44:00.000-07:00

Taking advantage of the nice weather, the family and I took the scooters for a joy ride. I missed riding so much!!

Bring on the nice weather! Cuz Im gonna be a scooter commuter!

-- Post From My iPhone

Mothers Day wishes

2009-05-10T10:27:00.001-07:00

My Mom and Dad sent me some gorgeous flowers for Mothers Day. The card they sent me had a message on it that sent tears flowing down my cheeks.

The message:

My flowers

In short, happy mothers day to all the Moms of earth babies, angel babies, and fur babies.
Happy Mothers Day-- Post From My iPhone

My First Mothers Day

2009-05-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

These were delivered to me yesterday from my wonderful Hubby. 3 dozen of the most beautiful and aromatic flowers I have ever seen!

Happy Mothers Day everyone!

Fun Fun...Dilaudid doesnt help Migraines

2009-05-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

I told you that I would share my ED experience, but as I sit here to type it I realize that it is not nearly as exciting as I thought it was.

In short, I had the worst headache of my life. Checked into the ED because I couldnt see out of my left eye. They tried Torodol IV, and it didnt help. They gave me two doses of Dilaudid IV and although it did help the headache a little, mostly it just knocked me out.

12 hours later my headache is back.....I think its stress......

No blog today

2009-05-07T22:40:00.000-07:00

Have a horrible migraine and have spent the entire day waking up only to drink fluid and take more medication.

I will write about my ED experience when i come back to the land of the living.

-- Post From My iPhone

I cheated on my Hubby

2009-05-06T07:49:00.000-07:00

With this man....

He's the perfect man, great smile, sweet and never argues.

Then the jerk ticked me off and....

I had to tear his head off!!

Hope this made you smile! Happy Wednesday!

--Post From My iPhone

Edited..Guess who has diabetes?

2009-05-06T02:15:00.000-07:00

If you guessed Meyah, you are correct. On top of all her other problems now she has diabetes. This is not good.

This is a death sentence for my poor baby girl. More info when I know more. Thank you to everyone who sent prayers and well wishes.

ETA...the doctor gives her maybe a 18months with insulin and 3-6months without. I have no intention of putting her down unless I have to. We are planning on treating her in whatever way will extend her life and also provide her the bedt quality of life. Also her limited life expectancy is due to her other health issues.... But those could take up an entire post.
-- Post From My iPhone

Fyi

2009-05-05T13:50:00.001-07:00

The line at the post office is longer than at Christmas time! And there are only two cashiers, and the person at cashier one is talking on her phone..... Breathe breathe.

-- Post From My iPhone

Happy Cinco de Mayo

2009-05-05T07:20:00.001-07:00

In my county May 5th is also known as "dont go to a Mexican restaurant unless you want to wait for 5 hours" day. Is this the same everywhere?

Today is my Mental Health final, Im trying to think positively.....do you think the cookie will help?

-- Post From My iPhone

Mid Quarter switch week

2009-05-04T19:31:00.000-07:00

Today was the start of Med-Surg. We lectured for 4 hours on the Endocrine system. Im feeling incredibly unmotivated....and that seems to be a trend this quarter, not good! Tomorrow is my Mental Health final, and I am sure that the test will be ambiguous as usual. It doesnt seem to matter how hard you study for this professors exams you still cant get full scores. (Isnt it wrong if everyone gets an 80% or below?)

I learned alot about mental health this last few weeks, the most notable experience is my stent in restraints. I was beyond impressed at the facilities ability to do a "take-down" without injuring me. Im so thankful to be down with mental health. I am pretty sure that this is not the specialty for me.

Med-Surg Clinicals start next week. How exciting! I cant wait to get to start seeing some patients!!

Loving on the baby

2009-05-03T01:39:00.001-07:00

One of our family friends recently had a litter of Australian Cattle Dogs. He was nice enough to bring over one of the sweetest five week old boys for us to love on.

I love puppies! I remember when Giada was this small!

Starbucks puke plant

2009-05-02T06:02:00.000-07:00

Spring is here, everything is in bloom. This should make me incredibly happy...HOWEVER...the plant above is the in the planter box of my drive through Starbucks. I dont know what plant this is but it smells like vomit. Definitly not a nice way to wake up and "smell the coffee".

Does anyone know what this abomination is? Its nasty....

Overheard in the grocery store

2009-05-01T20:02:00.000-07:00

Sweet lil Girl:"Mama why are those balls covered up?"

Very tired Mama: "Because its their bedtime"

So cute....

Quilting gone bad....

2009-04-30T18:26:00.001-07:00

What happens when you are so busy quilting that you accidentally forget to remove the needle before you sit?

Some numbing(to remove said needle), 3 sutures and an xray to confirm.

Good job Mom!!
-- Post From My iPhone

Hello ipod...

2009-04-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

Always in my heart...and my purse!!

-- Post From My iPhone

Dear Hubby,

2009-04-29T01:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Hubby,

I want to thank you for being such a hero. Thank you for showing me what it means to be so patriotic! I adore you!

I love getting to talk to you and create so many wonderful memories. I love getting to plan for our future together!

I miss you like crazy!

Thank you for being so supportive of me through school. I cant wait to be done so we can start with all of our big plans!

We are almost done with the first year honey!! We've almost done it!!

5 weeks and we are half wsy throygh this adventure!

I love you,
Love,
The Wife

-- Post From My iPhone

Poor Kaylee

2009-04-28T07:30:00.000-07:00

She got spayed

-- Post From My iPhone

News flash

2009-04-28T07:09:00.001-07:00

Tullys coffee is gross....I would rather drink mud!

-- Post From My iPhone

Are you a twit?

2009-04-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

Twitterer?
Twittee?
I dont know what else to call it, but apparently everyone is on twitter. You can even follow Fox news on twitter. Im refusing to become a twit. Im already spending way too much time playing around online... Like I really need another excuse to avoid writing my therapeutic conversation.

Did anyone watch President Obama this morning? He was talking about the need for advancement in the science and technology departments of education. I thought "thats great Mr.President but our govenor is raising the cost of tuition to cover the budget defecit".

Does anyone else find this odd? Controversal?

And next thing you know Mr. President will be a twit too.

-- Post From My iPhone

My Meyah....

2009-04-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

We are waiting with baited breath for her lab work to come back.

Please, please, let them come back with something we can treat. My poor skinny girl.

A picture to make me smile....

2009-04-25T04:31:00.000-07:00

My love, My life, My bestfriend....I do.

Four point restraints, and the other options

2009-04-25T00:08:00.000-07:00

Lucky for me, we discussed my restraints before I was put in them. Other wise they could have used some of the alternatives from this wall.

And just in case there is a hand nozzle for assisstance in showering, and/or cleaning the room.

"Now Student Rn Tiffany, you arent supposed to smile while in restaints!"

-Oops!

"Go ahead Tiff, see if you can get out of them!"

"I give up...."

Next week is my last week in the Mental health setting, and then I move on to Med/Surg. I wonder what fun adventures I will find there?!

Adventures in low census mental health care....

2009-04-24T21:31:00.000-07:00

The census at the mental health clinic was incredibly low today...I got to listen to a debriefing from a take down that happened before my shift started...and then went and assisted the MHC with cleaning the seclusion room.

Here is is all nice and clean...

And here is what our boredom caused...

They were nice enough to let me out...but I did get to experience laying there for a couple of minutes! See...Im getting the "**first class" experience!

**At my clinical site they MHC's call clients who get put in restaints regularly "first classers".

Its gonna be a bad day

2009-04-23T06:35:00.001-07:00

It took the starbucks lady 15mins to make my latte. Now im running late and in a bad mood.

Oh, and she gave me a tepid latte.

What puts you in a bad mood?

-- Post From My iPhone

Central venous access devices

2009-04-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

Sooooo fun!!

New hair....

2009-04-21T22:52:00.000-07:00

They are so ugly....

2009-04-20T23:07:00.001-07:00

I love my UglyDolls! Hubby and i gotthem in Vegas at FAO Schwartz

I made Deans list again!!

2009-04-20T22:51:00.001-07:00

Im so excited! 2 for 2 baby!!