Farewell, Senior Care

Tomorrow marks my last day at Senior Care in Nevada.

13 months. It seems as if I just started and now it's ending.

I'm glad to have gotten my nursing start there. I learned a lot about myself. I learned a lot about the elderly/geriatric population.

I truly will miss it. I will miss some really GREAT co-workers. CNA's work HARD and are so under-appreciated.  Never having worked as a CNA, it truly opened my eyes. Thanks to all the great ladies (and the few brave guys) that work so hard to take care of the residents. Thank you for helping me along my way.

We lost residents along the way. Some were there just a day or two, others for years. You get to know them, care about them, want them to do well. You know the family and grieve with them when their loved one passes away. You remember them fondly when flowers come from the funeral and the family drops off the funeral program.

I will miss the residents. Some have taught me more than I thought I could learn from a resident in a nursing home. I would like to say I have more patience with the general population based on my experience. Some residents absolutely drove me bonkers. But they worm themselves into your heart and makes you sad when they take a turn for the worse or pass away.

Relationships between married people is a different dynamic when one or both is placed in a nursing home. They drive each other crazy being confined to such a small space together, but it absolutely tears you apart to watch them grieve for a spouse of over 60 years. The smiles, the friendly name-calling, the ones that grab your hand just for a little more reassurance......

If I ever end up in a nursing home, I hope it's similar to Story County Senior Care. The CNA's and nurses truly care about each and every single resident.

Thank you, Story County Senior Care.
I'm glad to have known you.

I'm still here!!

Many days I thought I should write a post, but then never did. A lot has happened...

March 4, 2013 I started as an RN at Mary Greeley Medical Center here in Ames. I am working on the behavioral health unit. I was hired mostly for the adolescent side, but will be trained to work the adult side as well. It's so different than what I am used to at the nursing home. I am enjoying every minute of it so far! I'm working nights, 3-1130, which is a definite shock to my body! Once I am done with orientation, I will be part-time and work about 24-32 hours/week.
April 13 is my last day at the nursing home in Nevada. I'm sad, yet excited for this new opportunity where I can grow in my profession.

Isaac starts soccer tonight. He's been talking about it for a while so we took the plunge and here we go! They will have games on Saturdays and in 2 weeks, I can go!
He is still enjoying Tae Kwan Do. He now has 3 stripes on his white belt and we plan to let him test for his next belt at the end of the month. Last week, he was moved up to the older kids class, so that is encouraging!

The weather has been whacky lately. For like 3 weekends in a row, we had snow. This past weekend, rain. I am hoping spring comes soon since I am itching to be outside!

We went to Blue Man Group last week. My sister and I took Isaac and he loved it! He laughed a lot and was just amazed by the show.

Over spring break, Isaac and I went to the Science Center down in Des Moines. We saw the giant T-Rex and also went to an I-Max movie about dolphins. We also went to my parents for a day. And then I worked 2 of the days and was sick another.

I am still reading and trying to keep books out of Scout's mouth. He's eaten 2 movie cases and now a book from the public library. He also ate a book from Isaac's school library. Crazy dog is 11 months old today and so darn big!

Both Sophie and Scout have decided if you are going in the car, so are they. Only, Scout can't or won't jump up into a vehicle. You have to give him a boost and he is already 60+ pounds!

Today, I went and bought our summer pool pass. Can't wait for summer and lazier days!

Snow!!

It is snowing! And snowing! And snowing!
We were not even supposed to get anything out of this storm and so far, we have 6+ inches out there!
It's a wet, heavy snow and the dogs love it!
Isaac got out of school at 1230 today.

Last Thursday, we were supposed to get a "huge" storm, with up to 9" of snow. HAHAHA. What a joke that was. They let school out at 130 and the snow didn't start until almost 5!

My sister and I had concert tickets to see Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley in Ames on Thursday. 22nd row....on the FLOOR!!!

We were bummed at the thought thinking we wouldn't get to go. We hatched a plan-she leaves early from work and spends the night here. Well, it worked! We got to go to the show (AWESOME!) and had Great Plains Pizza before hand! A good night! And it was capped off by watching people walk down the ditches in the parking lot and then proceed to fall down since they couldn't get up! So funny!
We saw them together 6 years ago on their last stop in Ames. AND it was snowing that night too!! 

School went 2 hours late on Friday and the snow was melted later and by Saturday, it was 40*. 

Books!

I am hoping to keep track of the books I read throughout 2013. I want to see just how many I can/will/do read and blog them to reflect on them. Also, to share any I've read that others may enjoy.

This will include Kindle books, real books, E-books (ones you download from the 'net)...

I don't have a specific goal, but I know I can do 30 in 3 months if I set my my mind to it. So, on average 10/month would equal 120. 

So look here occasionally for a book recommendation, ok? 

Reflections...

Today is our 10 year anniversary! It's cold today, just like it was 10 years ago!

We had a good weekend! Friday, we took Isaac up to meet friends for his sleepover. We flew home to let the dogs out and give them dinner and then headed to Des Moines. We had dinner at O'hana Steakhouse (one of our favorite places) and it was delicious! Mark had his scallops and I had chicken and filet mignon. SOOOOOO Good, but I was so full!

We got to sleep in a bit on Saturday-meaning at 730 I got up to let the dogs out and feed them. Then I went back to bed until 9. It was strange being home on a Saturday!! We didn't do much, but went out to lunch at Texas Roadhouse (I was still so full!) and watched ISU on tv.

The weather reports were not good so I ended up going to Fort Dodge to get Isaac so Mark wouldn't have to travel in the ice/rain/icky stuff. We had a quick supper then home again.

I worked Sunday as usual.

>>>>>
We honestly had people tell us "this marriage will never work". If I were a petty-type person, I'd stick my tongue out and go "ha haha. You were wrong". But I won't.

Looking back, as I say every year, it's been an adventure.

We've been through the threat of deployment, an actual 18 month deployment, me being a "single mom" for 14 months. What else....selling our Boone house, moving to Ogden and then moving to a different place in Ogden, we built a house from the ground up (without killing each other in the design process! Ha!), moving to Ames. I've been through nursing school and am now working as a nurse. Almost another deployment just at the end of my first semester of nursing school. Mark got out of the army and is now a student and working in Ames at the hospital. Our boy is in school full-time, we have 2 super cute dogs (who, by the way, have a new title: Beauty and the Beast). A couple drives to Texas. I could go on and on.

I know I'm not an easy person to get along with. That's not something that is new to me. I'm stubborn, sometimes I have a temper, I can be crabby. He loves me through it all.

We joke about our wedding because it was thrown together so quickly. I sometimes wish we had done things differently or were able to plan more, but the important thing was we got married, we're still married and moving forward!

I have never been one to look forward too far or be to excited about what's to come. I must say that I'm anxious and excited to see where the next years take us! Love you, Mark!

Here's a couple photos I found of us. I don't have many on my computer or phone of just the two of us. I should scan in our wedding pictures! 

HOMECOMING! One of the best days EVER!! 18 long months of separation.  September 2007

I was 6 months pregnant. This is the day that Mark left for Ft. Hood Texas for 6 months 

before heading to Iraq. April 2006

Anniversary celebration...upcoming!

I am very excited and happy!
This weekend, Mark and I are going to be celebrating our anniversary. 
 10 years!
It's hard to imagine! It's not technically our anniversary until 31 January but that's a Thursday and Mark has class. He doesn't work this Friday night and I have Saturday off. AND Isaac is going to a friend's for the weekend!(Thanks, Henry Family!) I have to work Sunday and Mark works Saturday night, but still!

Our plans aren't much but we are heading to Des Moines Friday night for dinner at O'hana Steakhouse. We haven't been there in forever and I'm excited!
It's a hibatchi style restaurant with the "show". There is so much food....mushrooms, rice, vegetables, soup or salad, your main dish.
Saturday, I hope to seep in (well until 2 puppies wake me up) and then be lazy!

I need to see if I can dig up the message that the pastor read that night. And the pictures!

another year

It's "that time of year" when one is supposed to write resolutions and expect themselves to stick to it for the coming year.

Last year, I made a resolution or goal, to give up Mountain Dew completely. I was doing really well until April-made a recipe that called for it. Drank the last 2 oz and thought it tasted disgusting. That was it until August when my dad got sick. Then I was back on it-not daily, not even weekly but enough to know that I wanted to stop.

Guess what? I am strengthening my resolve this year. NO recipes with it! No drinking it...no matter what! 10 days so far..... and even more, as I was thinking of this the last 2 or so weeks of 2012.

Another: lose weight. Always an ongoing thought/"I should...."/pain in my butt. I'm determined to become motivated and do it. I lost like 11 pounds last year and then basically gave up. I did well over the summer, walking the dogs 1-2+ miles almost daily. This winter isn't going to cooperate like last winter where I was able to walk nearly every day. Debating on the fitness club not to far from us. But...I don't want to go alone. I need to get the treadmill put back together from our move so I can start using that at least. I got on the scale a few weeks ago at work and was just appalled at the number. APPALLED. Wanting to throw up. No wonder my scrub pants hardly fit.

I need to make better food decisions too. It's hard to give up the stuff you like for the stuff to help keep/make you healthy. I cleaned and organized my pantry today so now I can see everything in there. I also need to become more focused on a correct serving size for stuff. That will help.

I'm making it my goal not to eat after 8 pm. (for now) Some nights I end up working past 7 so want to still have the option to eat supper.  As the year progresses, I intend to make this 7 pm. We normally eat between 530-6 so it should work out, except on the very rare occasion.

The never ending battle of water consumption. I will do really well drinking A LOT for a day or two, then the next few days I will not drink any. Always been my pattern and it's difficult to stop. Any ideas?

Here's to a healthy, happy 2013!