Christmas '07

Christmas came and went so fast this year! I definitely think the days are getting shorter...
Or maybe it's that I haven't made time to smell the warm chocolate chip cookies lately(I like chocolate much better than roses) Just enjoying a nice evening by the fire with a cup of hot tea would take up too much time! So, I guess my 2008 resolution will be to make more cookies, and drink more sleepy time tea...maybe even read a book that has nothing to do with nursing? Can't promise, but I can always hope. We hope this year will be slow for you too...although we are almost finished with January!

Papa John's Bowl

Brent took Jared to his first football game...and boy did they get the royal treatment!

Brent was able to get some tickets to the Cincinnati Bearcats bowl game down in Alabama. Brent, Jared and Christian, a friend from work, drove down in 10 hrs for a weekend of fun! Christian is an alumni who was able to hook them up with a great time! When they first got there they were able to go hang out with the band, Bearcat's mascot & cheerleaders, eat dinner and get lots of free stuff! Jared waited for the bus to arrive and the players came off one-by-one and high-fived Jared as they walked by. The morning of the game, Jared got to meet the players and listen to the head coach give a speech. He was so excited! Brent said he was smiling the whole time! He got to play games and they both got their faces painted. Bearcats 31-21 victory over Southern Mississippi!

Go Buckeyes!

So even though Ohio State didn't win the National Championship this year, Jared still made out with his new official team jersey for his birthday! (Here he is showing off his moves!)

Yea! 25 weeks to go!

My 1st quarter is over and before you know it I am already into my 2nd! By the way I passed with flying colors, 3 A's & 3 B+'s (had to add the + sign) Here I am with some of the other students, just after our grades were posted! As you can see the smiling faces tells alot about how everyone did! Although, I have to report since we have started this quarter, we are down to 64/85 students to begin with.
Since we passed Pharmacology, we are able to give shots and pass meds to patients. I gave my first flu shots just a few weeks ago! Woohoo! Man it was fun! None of my clients made a wince. The key is to stick and stick it fast! Don't push the needle in a mm at a time. (Which is what I did witness from some of the students, they were nervous.) Our next clinical rotations will begin next week. We are going into OB, Rehab and the OR. Those should be some good times. Right now we are studying the fetal development & birthing process in OB, Cancer & HIV/AIDS in Med Surg, Anti-hypertensives in Pharmacology and Charting Documentation in Nursing Principles. My load is only 4 classes this quarter, but the exams are covering diseases more in depth, so I still have late nights of studying.
You would think with having 3 babies, I would know what the heck a woman's body actually had to go through just for the baby to come out safe & sound. But, man I am telling you there is alot more too it than you think. There is definitely a miracle happening every moment! With all the complications I had with each boy, I can't believe they don't have 2 heads or something crazy! Another issue that has impacted me is the HIV/AIDS patients. These folks suffer some great ordeals from the moment they are infected. In the U.S., most of the patients are men (from male to male sexual contact) which has given me a whole new outlook at homosexuals. It is hard as a Christian to not look at their activities with disgust, because I do not agree with them. I think I am starting to feel more of a sense of compassion and sorrow for them rather than being appalled by their choices. Which is what I am being taught as a nursing student, that although, I may not agree with the choices that a patient is making, I still have to accept that they are a person. And every person to me is a child from God, that is what makes each one of us special.

Can you believe it? Eric is a teenager!

OK, so the fact that I have a son who is 5ft 1in tall, weighs 100lbs and is 13 years old shouldn't be a big deal right? Wrong! The fact that I have a son that is so great, smart, good looking and people think I am his big sister, is fantastic! But, the teenager part I am having a little trouble with.
Some of you may not know this...Eric came into this world after just 32 weeks in the womb. At about 12 weeks along during my pregnancy a doctor said to me, the baby "is trying to abort itself". With many complications including bleeding, early labor, ruptured torn membranes (fetus still in amniotic sac, with little or no fluid), where I could place my hands on my belly and see the outline of the baby, 2 weeks hospital stay bed rest and pneumonia. At just 3 lbs 15 oz, Eric came into the world as a Little Old Man. No hair, eyelashes or nails. Wrinkly skin, with just enough strength in him to breath.
For some reason or another, Brent & I were so worried about Eric when he was little! I would almost say overprotective. (Not psycho, just wanted everything to go right for him!) God's plan is big for Eric, I have always known this. (I just wish God would have included me in on what it is) I can see Eric inventing something to save people's lives. I can see Eric creating a masterpiece for all the world to see. I can see Eric as a person that people come to when the world is ending and there is no hope, just so he can tell them about Jesus. Man is this guy great or what? I am a bit biased of course. But, the point is this kid amazes me just with the words that come out of his mouth. You can tell by the sparkle in his beautiful green eyes, when he has an idea or thought. He wants to read & learn about everything.
So, when I think about that fact that Eric is only 13, already knows that he wants to go to the Air Force Academy, is teaching himself to speak Russian and play several instruments so he can teach other kids when he grows up, blows me away! I think to myself, here I am just starting school and this guy has already planned his future. As you can see I am having a hard time with the whole teenager thing. I remember being a teenager, I'll admit, I was bad. Talking back, giving attitude, arguing with my brother Nathan, and knowing it all were a few examples that I would rather not have to endure with Eric. Although, I would have to say a few are starting to creep out of him. I have to accept the idea that he is going to be one. It's not that I don't want all those things to happen, I just don't want them to happen so quickly. Especially when he says things like, "How old do I have to be when I get to move out?" And "What is an STP?" (He meant to say STD) So, I have to talk to him about STDs (because he read about them while at the doctor's office!) and of course this is why he is staying a virgin until he is 35.
But, what I was glad to find out when I had his friends over for his B-day party and Laser Tag, they were all as big of Nerds as he is! Yea, for me! I was rather impressed with the guys he has chosen to hang out with.
I know Eric will turn out great in the end, God willing. It's just watching him get there that is the tough part for me. Happy Birthday, Eric.