A trip to the apple orchard

Last Sunday, my mom, sister, Isaac and I headed to Cambridge to the apple Orchard. It's quite the orchard-they even charge admission, but I think it's well worth it!

There are animals (ducks, chickens, goats, turkeys), a giant corn pit to play in, a giant slide, a big jumping pillow, rides to the pumpkin patch.....

It was a cool day, but perfect weather for the orchard. We wandered around, had lunch, went to the pumpkin patch (and came home with 2 more...bringing us to 10!) and did some shopping. I picked up the most delicious caramel apple ever. It was coated in caramel, dipped in white chocolate, rolled in oreos and drizzled with caramel. Oh. My. Goodness.

The trip came at a perfect time, as last Friday Isaac and I used up all the apples we had to make 2 apple crisps and 2 mini-crisps. I picked up a small bag of honey crisp apples that I am undecided what to do with. Probably eat since they are delicious!

The corn pit

Isaac and his beloved Aunt Kate sling-shotting apples

The giant jumping pillow

So close!

The first part of my final semester is quickly approaching! 9 November is the end...

3 more clinical days remain...one is a makeup since I didn't feel well at all yesterday. Having 2 patients isn't much more difficult that 1. This week, I had a total of 25 meds...for 2 patients! That's a lot of meds! The majority went to one patient. Last week was a light week, med wise. Have had no iv meds since leaving oncology.
This past Tuesday was a half day at clinical. We got to go down to the simulation lab at DMU and do a simulation! It was an ER, another student and I were the nurses and we had 5 med students as the doctors. Pretty cool scenario! The manequin had vital signs, "breathed" and even talked (the sim person).
 
We are still waiting on preceptor assignments. I'm getting anxious to know where i end up! I think I've mentioned that I want oncology. Fingers crossed!

3 weeks of clinical left!!

WOW! I can hardly believe that there is only 3 weeks of clinical left! I believe this past week marked the mid-term for us!

Had our first week on the telemetry (cardiac) floor this week. It's quite different than oncology. Next week, we will have 2 patients/week.

On Wednesday, after discharging my patient, I got to go to the cardiac catherization (cardiac cath) lab to watch a procedure. It's pretty amazing what doctors can do!

Had another test this past Monday and grades came in last night. Another decent grade, a little less than than the first, but enough to bring me up 5% overall! Test #3 is this coming Monday!

Another week down! It seems to go quickly at times and other times, it feels like the semester just started! Only one more week on oncology then the switch to telemetry. I'll learn a lot there, but I'm nervous!
The other day, I hung 6 IVPB and did another IV push. Good experience!

The other night during class, we went down and got to tour the cardiac cath lab. Pretty neat to see!

Last weekend, Isaac, my sister and I headed to my parents house. We spent Friday night there and then Saturday morning, the three of us along with mom, headed up to Spencer, home of the Clay County Fair.
My sister and i have some great memories from there and we decided to take Isaac too!

It was cold and chilly that day! My sister wearing Isaac's new Perry the Platypus hat.( lots of looks and comments)
We went through the buildings and shopped. I picked up some fantastic apple cinnamon jam and apple butter. Isaac got a new mini pillow pet-a triceratops.

Isaac rode some rides and had a lot of fun!

Today, 23 September, I picked him up from school like I do on Fridays. He said he wanted to go home, but I told him we had one place to go first......

This is the 3rd year we've rode Thomas the Tank Engine. I've found by going on a Friday, you save $3/person! He had fun AND I got out of there without spending a bunch of money on overpriced Thomas stuff.

Week 3 is in the bag!

Wow!
It's hard to believe that I'm already 3 weeks into 5th term! I've been busy, busy, busy!!

I'm currently doing clinical on oncology. I'd been looking forward to this particular rotation. 

I LOVE IT!

The people are fantastic and I'm learning new things and getting to do new skills.

I finally hung 2 IVPB (IV piggyback meds) this week! I did an IV push! I've now d/c'd a picc line! I've flushed ports.

I like oncology so much that I when I requested my preceptor assignment, oncology was my #1 choice!
One of my patients from last week told my primary nurse that I was doing a great job, was a great nurse and he was pleased to have me! NICE!

As for class.......Class is Monday mornings 830-1130 and then Wednesday nights 4-7 (after clinical). Wednesdays are super long days but only about 5ish more weeks of clinical.

We had our first test this past Monday. I felt pretty confident going in and walked out not feeling like I failed. Grades came back yesterday and I did fantastic!

Preceptor starts in November so I'm anxious to find out if I get my top choice or if I am placed somewhere else.

First week complete!

Isaac LOVES school! He's come home every day excited about what he's done and the adventures he's had.

The bus came for him on Wednesday and I was there as well. I wanted to make sure he got on the bus and got to daycare all right. He loves riding the bus! On Thursday, he forgot to give the driver his ticket so he needs to remember to give 2 on Monday (they are pre-paid so it's not like we didn't pay for the ride!)

He had his first school breakfast on Thursday, with me taking him into the gym and seeing how it goes. I left him there to eat his breakfast. On Friday, I dropped him off at the gate and made sure he told the teacher on duty that he was going to eat breakfast. I was so proud to see my little pre-k'er walk into school by himself. He told me later that breakfast went great.

Friday, he had music class. He thought the teacher's guitar was pretty neat.  I picked him up from school and we went to the library, had lunch and he accompanied me to get a pedicure. He thought it was pretty cool. Friday afternoons will be our fun time together: library, lunch, park, etc.

It appears that my boy is going to love school! I am thankful for that, as I believe a solid education is a needed attribute!

a new beginning...

Today is the day!

Isaac starts school! We decided with his birthday being in July to send him to Optional (pre, prep, whatever you want to call it) kindergarten.  This means he goes every day from 8-11.

We met his teacher this past Monday night (Mrs. "Hansom" as Isaac pronounces it) and saw his locker, classroom and school. He said he was going to be shy but he was totally the opposite, as usual! His teacher seems extremely nice and is very eager for her students to learn.

**Just got home from dropping Isaac off at school. It was good to see the routine. I walked him to the playground, where they wait with their class until 8 (unless the student is eating breakfast. Isaac will start that tomorrow). The principal spoke a little bit, I got teary eyed (but didn't cry!) and then we went inside. I walked with him to his classroom, he put his backpack (Cars 2), hat and sunglasses in his locker and went on in. He sat down to write his name (check in) then like an after thought, got up and gave me a hug, told me good-bye.

I am excited for him to start school. He seems to love to learn new things and he's so eager!

I'll meet him at school at 11 to make sure he gets on the bus to get to daycare. Even though I'm still home for a few days, we are going to get him started on the bus routine so he knows what's going on.