A day late and a dollar short

That's how I feel about my blog lately. I'm sure you know what I mean... THE phase, the one where you are busy and you let your blog fall behind, so then when you get time to update it you think, "Well gee, it's so far behind anyway. I don't even know what to write about." Well, I'm stopping the nonsense and bringing you an update. (like you really care) School has been crazy. I mean pull my hair out, cry hysterically, feel inferior kind of crazy. Which brings me to the best thing ever: fall break. As you already know, I was able to go back to Idaho for the first time in 5 months! I just happened to be so lucky that spud harvest was going on... and even luckier that my in-laws wanted to come up and see what this "harvest" business was all about.

We had a blast while we were there. We stayed with my grandma most of the time in her bed and breakfast and she was a great host. She fed us breakfast every morning and kept everyone laughing with her witty, little personality. This woman is amazing. Super. Star. Grandma. Someday I want to be just like her.

We had a Big J's feast and Spades tournament one night. The teams? Neil and Cortney. Sid and Di-izzle, Judd and Susan and yours and mine truly. Need I really tell you the results? I don't think so. Let the best couple win. Which we did.

My girls

Thanks Fullmers for coming up to visit! We had a blast and I loved showing you around my old stompin' ground. I'm so lucky to have you... don't think I don't know it.

And best of all..... that's right. Rotten potato flinging, dirt clod stompin', truck backer upper Che'. That's the part I got to play all week and I absolutely loved it. It was good to connect with my roots.

Back to reality... It was my "lamp of learning" last night where they pin all of the new inductees into the college of nursing. My parents drove up to it and it was fun to show them around the school and introduce them to my classmates.

The dean and president of the alumni association

This is my good friend Carly, her and I completed our prerequisites together in Orem and were lucky enough to both be accepted at the U. Her friendship has gotten me through many an exam, cram session or hysterical moment. She's my little academic rock.

Last but most certainly not least, thank you Mom and Dad for driving down to support me. While I'm at it, thanks for the constant reassurance and pushing in the right direction. It's so nice to always have people in my corner. I appreciate you more than you will ever know, and that I mean. (and of course... there is Landon in the background, it just goes without saying that he frequented the occasion. Where would I be w/out him? I shudder to think.)

Melancholy

Somethings just make no sense. Like how I love the smell of potatoes and dirt, or how a nose full of brown boogers make me smile. Why on earth would the feeling of freezing fingers warm my heart? I love the convenience of the city: with the stores, restaurants and entertainment a street away. But no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise: there really is nothing quite like spud harvest.

Side Effects=no motivation

Pathophysiology....fine. Fundamentals.... fine. Clinicals.... super. Pharmacology.... shoot myself in the arm. I have never been so overwhelmed with information in my life. First pharm test tomorrow=stress overload for me. Hats off to all you pharmacists out there. I have new found respect.

Cheap Shots

I am finding in nursing school that things which we normally assess as "not normal" are completely normal. For instance, catheters.... not normal, or normal? Bed baths, normal... or not so much? Enemas? My list could go on and on... but rather than disgust you and discourage you from coming back to my blog until I graduate I will elaborate on my favorite of "not normal" tasks.... poking people with a long, sharp object.

Yesterday my clinical group was assigned the flu clinic rotation at TOSH hospital. While it was terrifying and intimidating at some level, the experience was funnier than most. Brand new nurses are awesome, we are scared and clueless, yet trying to act professional while we roll up your sleeve and prepare our syringe.

Take this shot for example... meet Anna (the shotter) and Katherine (the shotee). While Anna did a swell job at inserting the needle, she let the trauma get the best of her and started shaking profusely right after I took this picture. As a result, Katherine's arm (and the vaccine) were flying all over the place and Anna frantically yelled, "What should I do?!" while the group laughed hysterically at the twosome's unusual dilemma.

Or how about this shot? This is me... and that little pregnant villain holding her needle like a dart is Hailey. We were warned in advance against two common, anxious shot giving techniques: shaking and performing morse code on someone's arm with the tip of your needle, or lunging into position... with one foot forward for leverage as your hurl your dart/syringe into the unsuspecting victim's arm. Hailey performed the second:

and I performed the first....

All in all it was a great experience and we each probably terrorized about 50 people. I am loving my clinical group and the experience of school as a whole. I am meeting so many new friends and learning so much. Need a technique performed that is a little "not normal?" Give me a call... I'm a professional. Disclaimer: Whatever may happen to you during said procedure is not my responsibility. It is yours... I clearly can't back up my practice

Freedo

Landon's adorable grandpa, "Freedo" passed away last week and we were able to go to Circleville to attend his funeral. Freed was such a sweet man and meant so much to Landon. I have heard countless stories from his childhood of hunting and camping with his Grandpa. When Freed was younger he was in the Navy and has always been so proud of Landon's military service. While Landon was in Iraq he hung a yellow ribbon on his flag pole and would not take it down until Landon was home safe to help him. He specifically requested that Landon wear his uniform to the funeral and guide the casket. I wish Landon were writing this so he could more accurately portray his feelings but I know that he loved his grandparents so much and will hold a special place in his heart for them until he can see them again. We will miss you Grandma and Grandpa, thanks for all you did for my Lanny! Love, that Idaho kid.

Life's Accumulated Treasures

Do you ever look around your surroundings and think to yourself, " Wow, I have accumulated a lot of junk in these last few years?" Well, imagine being married for 62 years! That would be a lot of stuff.... well this weekend we went to help clean out Landon's grandparent's home and we came across these great finds....

P.S. Isn't my Mother-in-law adorable? She and I were causing more havoc than help. Every time something colorful, oversized or altogether laughable came out of the closet we would throw it over our clothes and jump around in hysterics. It was quite the time.

For my future posterity: Don't make fun of my clothes.... they were probably awesome at the time.

Remember Me?

I don't know where to begin. ( I just said that to Landon, so I thought I would just be honest.) I will begin back in Fairfax, where the beginning of the craziest weeks of my life began... Packing up to come home from summer sales is always a funny thing, we usually decide to go home on a whim, and pack up in a few hours. This summer was no exception. I must take a second and brag on my husband, he is the most amazing packer you will ever find. (Sorry Mariann, but it's the truth) Take a look at our car.

When we got back to Salt Lake, my parents came up to go to the Toby Keith concert with us. It was SO MUCH FUN! I don't know if it was so great because of the music and show, or because I was just so glad to be back with my family... by the way, my Dad fit right in with the handlebar mustache and Wranglers.

This was the opening band, now I know what you are thinking, but before you judge him... Don't. In spite of, or maybe because of his weight, this guy had some serious moves! I am wishing now that I had recorded if for verifiable proof. Ask my Mom... she couldn't stop staring.

Yum

And the best part of all! School has officially started. It is a lot different than I thought it would be. My classes are not like they used to be where you go to a different class for 50 minutes and then move on to your next. Instead, I go to each class for about 4 hours and work in groups of 6 with an instructor, everything is really hands on and we will be working with mannequins that have babies and throw up. So that will be fun!
Had to show you my PPE. (Personal Protective Equipment) Hopefully none of you run into me any time soon because I will only be speaking in medical abbreviations. There will be no exceptions to this, don't even ask.
Here's my super fancy uniform that I have to wear all the time. You would be surprised how many people ask me "what I do for work" in this thing. (as if the giant University of Utah College of Nursing badge AND Che'Lyn Student Nurse name tag did not do the trick).

We are so glad to be back in Utah and in our apartment in Salt Lake. It's nice to be back into a regular routine again. Don't give up on my useless blog because of my shameless neglect... I'm back for good!