Oops...

Just realized my last post was a little bit of a repeat of the one before it! :) haha...well...in case you forgot... :)

School's out for...EVER! :)

Well...maybe not forever, but certainly for a while!! :) The graduation events were great, and it was fun to see the family and friends that could make it out. Here are a few pictures of the week and the various events...

Oh, and Lady had her first few swimming lessons! She did great, and she's a PRO now! :) All you have to do it show her the ball and open the pool gate, and she's in! We started with a kiddie pool to see how she'd do, and quickly graduated to the big pool!!

More exciting news...I GOT MY NCLEX DATE! :) This morning I received my "Authorization To Test" through email and got right to scheduling a date!! I thought about making it after my trip to California next week...then I decided that I want to do it as soon as possible...so I'm taking it during my trip to CA!! It's next Thursday, the 10th at 1pm in San Diego! :) I'll drive out there on Wednesday, take the test Thursday, then head up to Bakersfield to get ready for my interview there on Friday! Busy trip...but it'll get alot accomplished! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in Bako and San Diego...it's been a while since I've seen everyone and been able to relax and enjoy their company (without school, assignments, etc!). SO...I'll let you know how it all goes...and I'll post pictures for sure! Hope you're all well and ready for summer! I heard it might get up to 110* here on Sunday!! Eek! Not sure I'm ready for that yet...thank goodness for a pool and AC!! :) Lots of love from AZ!!

I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...For now! :) Actually, I should say "We're Done!" Jon definitely gets to share the credit with me! :) What a crazy, wonderful, growing, changing, learning, amazing last 16 months! It all started with the best day of my life to date...our wedding...WAY BACK last January, and ended with a fun celebration of my graduation from Nursing School, LAST WEEK!! It was bittersweet, but much more sweet than bitter, to take that last test and walk across the stage. I wasn't sure whether to laugh, cry, run in a circle... Here are a few pics from a couple of the graduation events...

(Threw in one of Lady so you could see how big she is now! :) ) I really can't believe how fast school has gone...and that I'm about to be a "real" nurse!! I am hoping to hear from NCLEX (the National Licensure Examination for Nurses) in the next 2 weeks about scheduling a date. Once I pass that, I'm officially a licensed RN! I'll keep you all posted on a date when I get one! For now, it's sending my resume to whomever will look, and hoping to get interviews! I have a couple scheduled, and I'll let you know how those go too! Other than that...hoping to spend some QT with my husband, and just enjoy spending time WITH him, not just sitting in the same room with him while I do homework! Hope all's well where you are! Lots of love from AZ!! :)

I'm GRADUATING!! :)

Well, Class of 2010...WE DID IT! All 40 of us, graduating together! Like a good friend described, we've bcome a 40 person family! We came a long way over the last 16 months together, and I'm am proud and honored to know all of you. Thank you for your help and support, and for some of the best memories of my life. My girls, you know who you are, let's always keep in touch no matter where life takes us! You've become a huge part of my life and my heart, and I love you all so much!

So...what's next for me? A week of graduation fun next week, the Kaplan NCLEX review the following week, job interviews, taking (and hopefully passing) the NCLEX, and a job...if it all works out as I plan! :) Today, my first day after my last final, felt weird...weird but great! One side of my mind is still spinning in school mode, and the other side is so ready to relax. I'm sure it'll hit me after next week...once everyone has left, I've gone through graduation, and I'm actually learning how to "do" life outside of school again! I can't wait to be a wife and enjoy my husband...not just sit in the same room with him while I do homework. Thank you, Jon, for your support and love through all of this! What a tail spin we started last January...but I wouldn't have it any other way! I love you, and I couldn't have done this without you! Mom, what a crazy year! Thanks for understanding and supporting me everytime we talked. To the rest of my friends and family...thank you for your encouragement, phone call, emails, and cards...I can't wait to catch up with you all! :)

Well...yesterday I was a college student...today I'm a nurse! Crazy how things can change in a day!! :) I'll post pictures of all the graduation festivities soon. Send good thoughts my way for a job...something that will work for Jon and I both! I'll keep you posted along the way...and let you know when I get my NCLEX date! For now...lots of love from AZ!!

Bittersweet days...

Well...I'm officially done with clinical rotations for school! Yesterday was my last day in the NICU at Cardon Children's. It was a great day to end on...learned SO much and felt very confident. I was so flattered by all the well wishes and congratulations I got from those I've worked with over the last month there. I have truly enjoyed every second of working in the NICU, and though I did not want to leave, I know that graduation is right around the corner now, and I'll be getting payed to do this! :) I haven't nailed down a job yet, but am working on it. I met many great contacts at the hospital I was just at, and I'm applying to other open positions this week. Wish me luck...I'll keep you posted!

Other than that, not much has changed! Mom came out to visit me this last week. We got all of my announcements out (I only ordered 30, so please don't feel bad if you didn't get one...I barely had enough to cover family!), and started planning for graduation events. I can't believe it's only 26 days away! I have 2 exams and a presentation...and that's about it! Feels like I just walked in the door and learned how to take blood pressures! We've come a long way in 15 months!!!

I hope you're all well and enjoying Spring! It's starting to warm up around here, but the evenings are gorgeous! Sending lots of love from AZ!

The Countdown Continues!

Sorry it's taken me a while to post anything! This last few weeks has been fun, great, and VERY busy! All that to say...37 DAYS TIL GRADUATION! I have been having a blast in my preceptorship in the NICU. Each time I go, I feel a little more confident, and take on more responsibilities...and it helps that my preceptor nurse is awesome! She is kind and patient, and she is very supportive! I've seen some pretty amazing things in there too...and I can't wait to be a nurse and take care of these tiny babies for my job! I just found out that the hospital I'm at has a position open in the NICU, and I'm talking with the managers and HR to see if they would consider a new grad for the position! If not, I heard that another hospital (about 45 minutes away) is taking new grads, so I might try to get in there and try to come back to after I have some experience. We'll see!! Think happy thoughts for me though!!

Aside from school, things have been going pretty smoothly around here. Lady is growing fast, getting into everything she can, and being an adorable puppy. She drives me crazy sometimes, but I think that comes with the puppy territory! :) She's very smart too...too smart for her own good! Her and PoliAna (my cat) get along pretty well, but Poli lets Lady know when playtime is over. During Spring Break a couple weeks ago, Jon and I went to the "Hangar Cafe" at the Chandler Airport (a small, local airport) a few times to eat and watch the planes. He had the chance to talk to a few different flight instructors, and found one that he got along with well to help him finish up his private pilot's license. He's so close to being done, and he loves it...so I'm really glad he'll finally get it done! My mom is coming next week for a visit. We have some shopping to do (YES!), and we are going to plan my graduation party! It's going to be at my house on Friday evening, May 14th...for any of you who want to venture this way! It shouldn't be too hot yet! :)

Hope you all had a great Easter, and are enjoying Spring. Can't believe it's April already! I swear, the years go faster and faster... Lots of love from AZ!!

It's already 1/2 way through March?

Wow! Time flies when you're having fun...or in Nursing School! :) Haha...or both! I have been so lucky in my rotations through nursing school! I've gotten great nurses, and great hospitals, and I'm really loving it! On the other hand...I'm not sure it's humanly possible to be any more excited to graduate in 64 DAYS!!! :) I just finished up my Critical Care rotation. My group was lucky to be at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Scottsdale. It was a bit of a drive each morning, but what a cool experience to be there! I learned so much and really enjoyed my time there. The ICU is quite an intense place, and I saw things I may never see again. Next (and last) order of business for school...my preceptorship in the NICU at Banner Desert/Cardon Children's Medical Center. I'm SOOOOOO excited! I haven't talked to my preceptor yet (just got her name yesterday), but I can't wait to find out her schedule and get started! We'll be doing 9 shifts in 4 weeks, and I'm really excited about how much I know I'll learn. I'll keep you posted...on that and graduation!!

Today is Mom's brithday!! :) Happy Birthday Mom!! She turns ?? today! :) Haha...she'd kill me! Anyways, wish we could celebrate together, but we'll make up for it soon! Have a fun, special day today! Sending big hugs and kisses your way!

Friday is Jon's birthday! We don't have plans yet, but I'm sure it'll be a fun day...whatever we decide!

Lady went on her first trip to the snow last weekend! We packed her up and headed north to Greer (about 30 minutes East of Show Low/Pinetop for those of you who are familiar...) with some friends. We got a cabin and had a blast! The people we were staying with went skiing and snowboarding on Saturday, and Jon and I took Lady to a sledding hill to see if she would like the snow. She LOVED it! :) She was pouncing around, chasing snowballs, digging in the snow, eating the snow...it was so cute, and so much fun!! Here are a few picures...