the modern woman: wife, mother and student

I am doing it

2011-03-12T21:07:00.001-08:00

Well, I decided to go with Eastern Gateway to get my RN. I met with my advisor on Thursday and I just need to get my transcripts sent in to see where I stand with my pre reqs. I am hoping I have a lot taken care of already. Have to fill out my fafsa verification papers and get those into the school as well. I am hoping to have everything taken care of and start going this May!!!! I am stoked!!

wow what a week!!

2011-01-24T10:52:00.001-08:00

Work was CRAZY!!!!! Lets just say it wasnt the best week....

I kinda fell off the diet bandwagon last week as well, but back at it this week with full force ahead!!!

Pittsburgh is going to the Super Bowl!!! How awesome...'cept I'll be at work and will have to watch in snipits

wow can you say jacked up??

2011-01-13T04:48:00.000-08:00

The last 2 nights have been jacked up at work......Craziness, craziness and yes even more craziness!!!

Lets see, there has been a fight breaking out between Residents, Residents being off the wall crazy, admissions to hospital, being followed on med pass ( in preperation for upcoming state survey) (and that added like 40 minutes to my pass) and all around craziness!!!

I need to have a nice quiet uneventful night today

On a side note however, I did really well on my med pass, and my supervisor said she hopes state follows me when they come in.....well thnks for the vote of confidence but I dont want to be followed!!!

welcome 2011

2011-01-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

With the New Year comes new opportunities, a fresh start!!

What are YOUR resolutions?!

I have several resolutions, and I resolve to not let them go by the wayside

First and most importantly, I resolve to get closer to God in 2011....to have HIM be more of a presence.....for Him to be MORE and me to be LESS......I need to get more involved in church and get my family more involved....to that end I am going to try to request off work the first Wed of every month starting in Feb so that I can go to First Wed......I have never yet been able to attend but am looking forward to going!! Also I want my kids to be able to attend youth services at least 1 wed night each month

Secondly, I resolve to lose weight....I want to get rid of this excess 45-50 lbs I have been carrying around for far too long! I have signed up for Zumba classes 3 mornings a week.....I have a feeling it will kick my butt, but in a good way!!! I also resolve to eat right, pay attention to portion sizes and eat in MODERATION!!!

Thirdly, I need to really learn to not sweat the small stuff.....and guess what folks, it really is all small stuff!!!

OK well off my soapbox!!! Wishing all a happy and prosperous 2011.....Let it be your best one yet

have made my decision

2010-11-09T09:38:00.000-08:00

As I previously stated, I was struggling between 2 schools to apply to in order to get my RN. I have made my decision to go with Eastern Gateway Community College.....the reasons being, 1) they will take several of my credits from YSU many many moons ago, 2) they offer many courses online, 3) they are only $99 per credit hour and 4) from what I hear they make transferring to other institutions very easy

So, tomorrow I will fill out the application and mail it in along with the application fee and start filling out financial aid paperwork..... hopefully come spring I will once again be a college student

manic monday

2010-11-08T04:06:00.000-08:00

hello world....boy do I wish that I were still in bed.....but no

Busy day and week ahead......lots to do......

For today, the usual of cooking dinner before I go to work, some cleaning and of course laundry. Then work, I dont mind the work its self but I do really wish that I was able to work a normal person dayshift job and actually be able to see my family more than just a day or so per week.....that gets REALLY old after a bit

Have been talking and thinking of going back to get my RN for a while now, but I am really seriously looking into going somewhere spring semester......I really need to get this ball rolling....I figure if I go now I can get good funding thru a pell grant and also of course student loans...I just need to decide on a school, tossing back and forth between 2 of them, both offer online courses I believe but for 1 I would need to transfer after completing the pre reqs because the actual nursing courses are at the main campus which is 2 hours away; the pro to that school is the fact that a lot of classes that I took in high school might possibly transfer to them, thus eliminating a LOT of classes (and of course, $$$$)

A LOT to think about

Nice weekend off work

2010-11-07T14:31:00.000-08:00

Oh boy, it is sooooo nice to have the weekend off....esp after working til 3 am on Friday night.....

Saturday we chillaxed, played some games with the kids and cuddled with the hubby and watched the movie Splice.......stupid, but he liked it....well at least next time I get to choose the movie

Today we went to the mall and I got lots of ideas for Christmas, at least for the girls....the boys went their own way....

Came home and had a yummy and low carb dinner, yes they can co exist....lol!!! We had marinated sirloin steak and green beens

Sad that tomorrow I have to venture back to work.....alas weekends are never long enough!!

So quiet

2010-09-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

I am not used to the house being this quiet!!! Hubby is at work, kids are at school and its me, the TV and the computer!!!

So much to get done, I need to clean my bedroom (watch out dust bunnies) work out, and do some laundry all before I venture to work in 3 1/2 hours...... as Tim Gunn would say "Make it work!!"

Happy Labor Day

2010-09-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone is having an enjoyable labor day. I have spent mine laboring!!! Ha Ha. I cleaned the living room top to bottom, even though I do this every week I am still surprised how much dust pops up after a week.

Think we are gonna BBQ tonight, some BBQ chicken, grilled corn on the cob and wild rice. Yummy!!

Have a great day

its been awhile

2010-09-04T22:01:00.000-07:00

Almost forgot about this blog!!!

Wow, a lot is going on. Summer is over and moving into fall. The kids are growing up so fast, Nick is in 8th grade, Morgan is in 6th and Carlie is in 1st....where did the time go? They started school Monday....

I started a new job, at a new facility. Actually its cool, I did my clinical hours for school at the facility. Making more $$$, getting more hours and actually get to use nursing skills!! LOL. Tonight was my 2nd night on my own and its going well. Just gotta watch a couple people who try to get out of working....but thats anywhere.

Keep knocking the idea around about going back for my RN....thinking of doing it next year when Nick is in 9th grade!! We can maybe graduate together...

Loving my life and family, cant ask for more than that

havent updated in some time

2010-04-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

Lets see.....a lot is going on right now

Work is going well....Had the last 3 days off and boy was that nice...I work Thurs, Fri and Sat....but its what I do!!! Had a great time on Monday going out to lunch with some dear classmates!

Am really contemplating going back to school shortly, just have to decide where to go...any place I go I can get tuition reimbursement from HMHP but dont know where I want to attend....decisions, decisions

well will promise to update more frequently

been a while

2010-01-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

since I updated this blog! I am now a working LPN, working at Humility House on the dementia unit. I am hired for 4 days a week, but am working 5 days right now, and loving getting Overtime!!! I really enjoy my job for the most part, I get irritated at times, but all in all its worth it. The pain and torture and tears at Choffin are paying off!!!

Lots has happened this year! Obviously graduating was a biggy, Nicholas is about to be a teenager in a month, Morgan is 11 and Carlie is 6. Carlie lost 2 teeth this year, Nicholas broke his wrist YET AGAIN!!! Morgan is in choir and loving it.

All 3 kids are in different school which makes life chaotic in the AMs, but we tough through it!!

God is great, beer is good and people are crazy

I DID IT!!!!!!

2009-11-25T08:29:00.000-08:00

I passed my boards!!! I was worried to be quite honest! It took 5 months to test, thru no fault of my own! I studied, but not like I should have. So when I got a test date I was nervous. But God was with me and I passed. Next day I had my results AND an interview where I currently work....HR was stalking the nursing website!!! LOL!! Landed the job and I start orientation week after next!!! I will mainly working with dementia patients and cant wait!!!

so close

2009-05-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

wow. I am so close I can taste it. So close to graduation. Yesterday at the end of the day we got our invites for graduation. Graduation is June 12.....thats ledd than 1 month away.

More and more every day I am beginning to feel like a nurse.....I am learning everyday. I enjoy the patient care, passing meds, yes even treatments. I feel like I am really truely helping these people.

I have started applying for jobs as an LPN.....hopefully I can take (and pass!!!) state boards end of July, beginning of August. Its all coming together. The past year has been difficult at times but oh so worth it

tri 3 so far

2009-04-21T17:55:00.000-07:00

Mental Health Assmnt test today. First test of the tri. Made some stupid mistakes......changed 3, yes, 3 correct answers, turned a regular question into a multiple multiple. I should have had a 95......got a 90.....boooo

Next week I have Repro, maternity and newborn A&P on Tuesday and Mental Health TM on Thursday....oh joy.

In 2 weeks we start clinicals and this week we start taking pravtice NCLEX exams .....NCLEX is the state boards. May 1 we have mock interviews. Gotta start job hunting in May

its been awhile

2009-04-14T14:11:00.000-07:00

since my last post. Am having fun on spring break with the kids, watching some great movies, Slumdog Millionaire was GREAT!!

School is going great, so far 2 As, 4 Bs, gpa of 3.15. This trimester we have Mental Health, Endocrine System and Reproductive system. No clinicals til May....but they will be fun I think, Labor and Delivery, peds, etc...

vent

2009-01-16T19:02:00.000-08:00

I get so upset at my hubby sometimes. I am in school 40 hours a week. I work 30 hours a week. I maintain the house to the best of my ability. I cook, clean, do the laundry and get the kids ready in the morning. I do the grocery shopping. I dont ask for anything in return. He works his 40 hours and comes home and watches tv.......when I sit down to watch tv with him its HIS shows. I dont complain. I ask him to work out with me.....no he has to go to his friend's house to work out with him.....fine whatever. The straw that broke the camel's back.......there is a UFC fight coming to town tomorrow night. His friend, the one he is working out with, got tickets for Christmas to go to the fight and invited Rex. Do I have a problem with that...normally no, BUT I work every Saturday for 12 hours.......he expected ME to find a babysitter for him so he could go out while I am at work.....oh yeah and did I mention WE havent been out as a couple for months.......I refused to find him a sitter, what is wrong with him picking up the phone to find someone to watch the kids. He even wanted me to take off work for him.....Um no........I feel like I am getting the short end of the stick.....he has all the time in the world for his friends and brothers but me, eh I get what is left over.......ARGH!!!!!!! I love him but he infuriates me so bad sometimes

Nuero A& P test and overall tri 2 update

2009-01-10T06:19:00.000-08:00

it was a doozy.....I "had" all Christmas break to study but truth be told I didnt crack open my book til last Thurs and I didnt study like I should have. Monday night Katie came over to study and thnk goodness Tues morning Dani flashed me nuero diagrams.......

so I ended up walking out of the test thinking I was lucky to pass with an 80%

BUT

I got a 94%....which is the lowest A.....YAY for me!!!!

so so far an 94% A in A&P and 90% B in Therapuetic

looking back on 2008

2008-12-31T10:14:00.000-08:00

So much happened.....Nicholas turned 11, Morgan turned 10 and my baby turned 5. Wahhhh!!!! I celebrated 12 years of wedded bliss, I started a new job and quit another. I also enbarked on a journey thru nursing school and now feel like a real life grown up who knows what she wants to do with her life......

2009 will bring many changes, but its nice to look back and reflect on what has been accomplished

once again

2008-12-31T08:07:00.001-08:00

I am getting back on the horse......it gets easier and easier to fall off.....but I have to do it.....I need to set a positive healthy example for my children and I want to be able to say I DID IT!!!! I want to be the woman I used to be, trim and self confident......New Year, New Me

Merry christmas

2008-12-24T19:55:00.000-08:00

I just want to tell everyone Merry Christmas.....hope the season is wonderful for you. Be happy, be merry, but above all be safe.....and remember the reason for the season

I hate eating on the run

2008-12-16T18:57:00.000-08:00

I dont know why I set myself up for disaster like this. I know I get out of school at 3pm, by the time I get Carlie and get home its 3:30, 3:45. So why do I schedule to go to work at 5pm??????? I basically have 45 minutes to throw the kids and myself and dh some food before I have to head out the door for work......and most times I have to run the kids to my moms.....so unless we want cereal or pbj its pretty much fast food.

So yday I did really good with the eats and exercise, and today I went over calories by 300 and am still hungry.....all b/c instead of eating something good and nutritious I eat mcnuggets.......seriously why do I set myself up for disaster like that

early new years resolution

2008-12-15T17:00:00.000-08:00

I am never able to keep a new years resolution, so I am starting it a few weeks early, that way I am already in the game when new years rolls around. My goal is to lose 40 lbs by June.....Its only 7 lbs a month I can do it.

Tonight I worked out for 25 minutes, did my walk away the pounds dvd, 2 mile walk. I will start with that for the first month and next month kick it up to the walk/kick or something, got switch it up so I dont get bored......

Starting weight is 164......
goal weight is 120.....

I will hit it!!!!

Stay tuned!!

so good to reconnect

2008-12-03T14:21:00.000-08:00

My very good friend from childhood now lives in Fla and I dont get to see her very often, in fact I havent seen her for years. But its amazing how a phone call reconnects people. We were able to discuss our children, laugh about life and wonder how it is that little kids we used to babysit are grown with children.......I love to talk on the phone with her

trimester 1 is O-V-E-R

2008-12-02T19:05:00.000-08:00

whew!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a toughie and will only get harder, but I ended up with a B in both Foundations of Nursing and Therapeutic Management and an A in Nursing Assessment!!!!!!

this tri will be tough, its Anatomy and Physiology I, Nursing Assessment II and Therapeutic Management II.........wish me luck!!!!!

the decorations are up!!!!

2008-12-02T18:54:00.001-08:00

As is our tradition, the tree went up Thanksgiving weekend. I went into Martha Stewart mode, as always, but the kids survived it!!

Here ya go

The view from front door

the tree

the mantle

the snowman picture my talented brother made for my baby shower with Carlie!!!! Loves it!!!! Thnks John

My Santa table

my entry table with snowmen

misc photos from school today

2008-10-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

here are some of my classmates and the cultural diversity day committee

cultural diversity day

2008-10-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

Today was cultural diversity day at school. We had a chance to hear speakers from other cultures and then we ate together. It was a nice day

2 of the speakers were from Africa, 1 was from Croatia and 1 was from the Philipines, he is also in our class

sick of the sickies

2008-10-12T08:55:00.001-07:00

Boy I cant wait for the weather to turn already, we are all sick. I am on the tail end of what was either bronchitus or an upper resperitory illness, I pretty much self medicated myself.......Rex is now getting the same thing......Carlie has an infection in both ears and Morgan is hacking....Nick is pretty much the only healthy one of the bunch.....knocks on wood

ok more wedding pics

2008-10-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

since I am a dork and could only post one pic in the previous here are more

enjoy

Troy and Stephanie's wedding

2008-10-12T08:24:00.000-07:00

It was absolutely gorgeous fall themed. I could not attend the actual wedding due to having to take Carlie to the Dr but the reception was gorgeous and so much fun.

here are some pics, enjoy

wow what a great sermon

2008-10-05T09:51:00.001-07:00

This morning our worship pastor gave the sermon and of course it related to worship. Worship that costs nothing will gain us nothing......worship is our reasonable sacrifice to God for all He did to us..........we need to worship even when we do not feel like worshiping, in fact that is when it means the most to God, the sacrifice of worship......

Love you Forever

2008-09-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

Any parent better be familiar with this book.....its up there with the Rainbow Fish and Where the Wild Things Are. This book is now Carlie's bedtime book of choice and she will "read" the chorus with me

I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be

Its still hard for me not to get choked up at the end of the book

my grades

2008-09-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

this entry will be updated every time I receive a new grade

this is the grading scale that we follow
94-100 A
87-93 B
80-86 C
below 80 fail

Foundations of Nursing
test 1~~~~~90
test 2~~~~~100
test #3~~~~~~87
test #4~~~~~~94
average thus far~~~~92.75

Therapeutic Management
test 1~~~~90
test 2~~~~95
test #3~~~~~~92
average so far ~~~~~92.33

Nursing 1
test #1 97

need to take better care of myself

2008-09-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

my friends blog has inspired me to take better care of myself.....why put off what I can start doing now?? Seriously how hard is it to get up a few minutes earlier to put on makeup before school and clinicals and to wash my hair in the morning vs the night so that I can actually have it look nice. I need to start washing my face before bed AND in the morning......same with my teeth.....no excuses.....I dont allow it in my kids, why should I allow it in myself????

And Lordy, how can I complain about being overweight when I actively do NOTHING to improve my situation????? Gotta stop letting Rex talk me into fast food dinners

Im sure I will add to this later

hee hee gotta get these developed

2008-09-28T08:44:00.001-07:00

back in the day before my digital camera, I bought the throw away cameras.....well I have like 10-15 of them laying around in desperate need of being developed!!!! Guess every pay I should develop 1 and get a CD so I can show u the crazy old pics!!!

some more nice things about fall

2008-09-27T18:36:00.000-07:00

candy corn

apple cider

caramel and candied apples

I am sure I will think of more wonderful things but I have to get back to my studies now!!!!

Peace, Out!!

arghhhhhhhhhhhhh

2008-09-27T16:32:00.000-07:00

ok so why is it my fault that Rex decided to go out last night......he is being so mean today....I ask him to help me with my studying and its a hassle for him, but he is able to answer every phone call that comes thru......what an idiot

procrastination at its best

2008-09-27T13:41:00.001-07:00

ooooh this blog is sooooooooooooo bad for me......its such a good way to put off studying

driving me crazy

2008-09-27T12:41:00.000-07:00

I am about to kick my kids out of the house because they are being so rowdy and rambunctious....OMG are they LOUD!!!!! Let them run off energy outside

when I losed the weight

2008-09-27T12:40:00.001-07:00

here is what I want to do once I lose weight

I want to get my bellybutton pierced, even though Rex thinks its "young" I know a lot of people my age who have them

I also want to get a tattoo, either on my tummy or hip

fall

2008-09-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

fall is NOT my favorite season, that would be summer!!!!

But nontheless, a list of things I like about fall

1) sweater weather

2) falling leaves

3) pumpkin pie

4) kids going back to school

a little about my family

2008-09-27T08:53:00.001-07:00

I will take this opportunity to tell y'all about my family.

I will start with my hubby Rex. We met 14 years ago working together at my grandpa's grocery store and have been married 12 years. He worked many years in construction and recently got into the medical field as a laser tech....he runs the laser in procedures to help with enlarged prostates....so very exciting

Next is my son Nicholas. He is 11 years old and in the 6th grade. He is in his first year of middle school, quite a transition for him. He loves to play on the puter and his psp. He also is very good at baseball, and we are talking to the wrestling coaches at his school to see about him being a wrestling manager for the team (the team is made up of the 7-8th graders)

Next is Morgan, my bouncing 10 year old daughter. She is in the 4th grade and attends the intermediate school. She does not sit still, always cartwheeling from point A to point B. She also loves to practice her handstands. When I am done with school I will definatly re-enroll her in gymnastics

That brings us to Carlie, my 4 year old daughter. We like to say she cant walk or talk; she runs and yells. She has boundless energy and is always laughing and playing. She has quite the imagination and is forever cracking up the rest of the family.She is in her 2nd year of preschool and will attend Kindergarten next year

Lastly myself......I am 35 years old, work as a nurses aid at Humility House and attend Choffin for Practical Nursing. I am 1 month into the 10 mnth program. I have a wonderful life and family and couldnt ask for much else

playing hooky today

2008-09-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

I am so exhausted today......for the past 5 weeks I have been in school every day and then working every weekend....well it has finally caught up with me and I am feeling like crapola. I feel tired, no energy level, naseauted, all the lovely stuff. So I called off work tonight, I am in no shape to work today. I have 2 major tests (well they are ALL major tests) next week.....so I need to have this day to study. I am taking a break til 1pm then its off to study for me.

Hopefully I have more energy tomorrow, I sure cant afford to take the whole weekend off.

so flipping mad

2008-09-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

ok so today at clinicals our instructor gives us our assignments and I was not paired up with anyone and had a pt to do...no biggie. Well another lady was also by herself and had a pt. Well she had never worked in a facility before and was nervous. So the instructor paired us up....................BUT LEFT US WITH BOTH PTS. Not cool. All the other pairs had 1 patient to do...............so we start on her patient and were told that we needed to do mine 1st per occupational therapy needed him. So in order to get marked off on items we do we need the instructor to watch us, so basically it takes FOREVER. So being as the instructor has to see everything we do it took almost 1 hour to get him done.............meanwhile per family instructions the other patient had to be gotten up by staff....she was already done when we were ready for her......................our instructor marked us as having an incomplete assignment due to the fact she may have staffed inapproprately................OMG I could have killed her

My new obsession

2008-09-25T13:35:00.001-07:00

OMG.....Pringles Baked Wheat Stix in honey butter are YUMMO!!!!!! I dont even know how to describe them except for delicious!!!! You have got to try them

Holy Crappola

2008-09-24T15:00:00.001-07:00

I tell you what, God is sure looking out for us. Back in August when I didnt know how I was gonna pay for school, Rex got his 401K check which was just the amount we needed. Today when we saw the bank account was nearing negative figures, we got another check from Rex's old job, his profit sharing check......so I am able to take and pay almost 3 months worth of daycare expenses.....tell me how awesome that is!!!!!

On another note, I met with the lady from MCTA today, thats the agency that I am still trying to get funding for school thru.....I did my intake interview with her today. I need to write a letter to her stating how I was told to not start the process until July, which pushed me over the cut off date to get funding....I just may have a case. But if that doesnt totally work, at least trimesters 2 and 3 should get paid for.

So a good day. We went out for dinner tonight and I am completely stuffed. Off to Nick's open house here in a few

Peace, out

Nare

2008-09-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

I dont know why I keep buying it....it does not work on me.....all it does for me is soften the hair slightly so it can be shaved off...........basically the same principle as shaving cream.....yet I keep buying it.............go figure

OMG

2008-09-23T12:43:00.000-07:00

I seriously can not stand the one teacher we have.....the way my school is set up, all the LPN students stay in the same class all day and we have 2 teachers, 1 in the am, 1 in the pm.....the p, teacher sucks BIG TIME!!!! She seriously does NOT have a clue as to how to lecture. She reads....fast....and does not allow time for us to write notes down. Its seriously getting to me. We as a whole have stopped listening to her and started basically trying to keep up with her in the textbooks and hilite as she talks......well in order to do so we need to know where we are at. When students were trying to help each other get to the right pages today she flipped out and told us to stop talking and we could hear what she had to say................ummmm what is the point since we cant follow her

On a good note, kinda, the whole class got 2 extra points on our test, which raised me to a 90, which is still a B but a higher B......but I contested a question and she didnt give me the points for that one.

Oh well, what are we do to????

We start material for Test #3 in Therapuetic Management tomorrow and have 2 tests next week, Monday is Documentation (the good teachers test!!!!) which is also in Ther Mngmnt
and Wed we have our chemistry/A and P test (bad teacher!!!) which is in Foundations of Nursing......good luck to me

the struggles of doing it all

2008-09-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

By nature I am a perfectionist. This is not good when you are a wife, mother of 3 youngish children, and a nursing student. Something will have to give.....will the house be a constant mess, will my children not get the attention they need/want, will my studies fall to the wayside, will I have a life outside of my children, husband, home and schoolwork??? I struggle to balance it all, some days are better than others. Oh and yes I almost forgot I work also.........yes I am insane. I do not know how all of this will balance, only time will tell.