Oh Life...

The past few days have just been awesome! I LOVE BEING A MOM! There is really no way to explain how awesome it is to talk to Nolan and then have him grin at me. His smile just melts my heart. I have been off work the past few days and Nolan has just been full of energy. He has been so much fun. He is babbling so much. He really seems like he has so much to tell me and his daddy. He loves to play. He loves for us to sing to him. He is just the cutest thing. This past weekend warmed my heart so much and rejuvenated my soul. It was me, Brett, and Nolan all weekend long. We just hungout and spent time as a family. This was much needed. It was one of the best weekends I have had in awhile. Nolan was so close to rolling over this weekend. It made Brett and I so excited everytime Nolan got so close. All he needed to do was push off with his foot just a little bit more. I'm sure it will come soon enough. Nolan also started laughing this weekend. If you laugh around him, he tries so hard to laugh too! Sometimes it just sounds like a gasp, but I know it's a laugh. It's so cute. Nolan also got dedicated at church this weekend. I loved it. Nolan wore his Grandpa's baptism outfit from when he was a baby. It was so special to me. I loved being able to stand up before others and God and vow to raise my child in the Lord. So special.

I am so in love with my life at this moment. God has blessed me so much. I am so blessed to be the mom to Nolan and the wife to Brett. God sure does know what He's doing?

Thank you, Lord for all the blessings in my life. You truly are the Lord of all.

Blessings

God has really been teaching me a lot lately. Mainly, that He is the one in control and not anyone else. Sometimes I don't understand why He does certain things. Why does God bless us with something and then take it away? Why does God take people away from us? I don't have the exact answers to these questions, but I know that God has an awesome plan. He does things that are far greater than our plans. He is an all powerful God who is worthy of all praise, so much more than our limited human ability allows.

Being a mom has changed so much about my life. I don't know how people do it without God. I sure know that I couldn't have gotten through these past eight weeks without the help of God. It is so rewarding being the mother of Nolan. God has truly blessed me by allowing me to be Nolan's mom. It is such an incredible gift. It is awesome just to watch Nolan sleep or play around and to know that God made him. God took part of me and part of Brett and created this handsome little boy! WOW! God does some awesome work!

Nolan is really growing! He is almost 2 months old already! He is really developing. He lifts up his head a lot when we are holding him. He is doing better at keeping his head up when he is laying on his belly on the floor. He is starting to smile when we talk to him. Oh how I love those smiles!! It just melts my heart. Nolan has also spent the last 2 weeks sleeping through the night! He sleeps from 9 or 10 all the way until 6am! It is so great! He also just spent the first night in his crib in his room last night. He did so well!

I love being a mom!

The Tales of a New Mother

Wow, my life has changed so much since the last time I posted. I finished up my time at work with two very difficult assignments. Those last two nights were difficult but full of learning. I really enjoyed all the learning. So, I came home that Friday morning ready for Nolan to get here. On Saturday, I was 39 weeks. That evening Brett and I went to a surprise birthday party for a friend of ours. While we were there, I started having contractions. They were coming every 15 minutes or so. I, quietly, told Brett and we decided to head home. I talked to my parents about the situation. They decided it was best for them to just go ahead and make their way to Houston just in case this was the real thing. Little did we know, Nolan can be just as stubborn as his dad. My mom got on an airplane and my dad and Cosmo started their drive. My contractions were lasting through the night. I finally fell asleep around 4am. I woke up at 6am and my contractions stopped. We picked my mom up at the airport and we walked ALL day long. I was ready to get Nolan out! The next couple days were full of stronger and stronger contractions that would continue for hours and then stop completely. Ugh, it was so frustrating. Finally, that Wednesday I had my last doctor appointment. We decided that I would go into the hospital Thursday night to try a prostaglandin augmentation.

So, on Thursday night, Brett and I made our way to the hospital. We got little to no sleep that night. By the morning, the augmentation had not worked as well as we had hoped. We decided to try another round of a different type of prostaglandin. By 2pm, my doctor came in and decided that I was 2cm dilated. She felt comfortable enough to break my water. So, that's what we did. That is when the fun started. My contractions started full force. However, my body decided that I was not allowed to have a break. I would have four or so contractions without a break, followed by a minute break only to start up with four or so contractions again. It was very difficult to handle. My body was fading fast (especially with little sleep) because during the minute break I would fall asleep. It was such a weird feeling. After a few hours of this, I was in so much pain. I didn't know this at the time, but Nolan's heart rate started to drop. I decided to get an epidural (which I originally didn't want). I got the epidural, got put on my side, had an oxygen mask put on me, and got told that Nolan's heart rate was dropping all within about a 20 minute period. This was not good for my hormones. I was so scared! Eventually, the doctor decided that Nolan's heart rate just changed its baseline. That it was not that big of a deal as long as his heart rate stayed in the 110s. My epidural started to work and Nolan's heart rate got a little bit better. Things started to settle down a bit and it was just a waiting game. By 11:30pm, I was finally at 10 cm. I had to wait to start pushing until the doctor got to the hospital. By about 12:15, I began pushing. Brett did a great job staring at the wall behind me and holding my head up without looking. The doctor and nurses got a kick out of him. He kept joking around trying not to pass out. He did awesome! On August 20 at 1:21 am, Nolan, our 7lb 8oz 19 in baby boy was finally here! He was the cutest baby I had every seen. I could not control my tears. I was officially a mom. What a feeling!

That night Brett and I got no sleep either. We got to our room around 4am and tried to sleep. But between my nurse coming in and Nolan's nurse coming in, Brett and I got no sleep. By 9am, my parents were back at the hospital and visitors were on their way. We had so many friends and family come to see Nolan on his birthday! We are so blessed to have such great friends and family!

The next afternoon, after a night of no sleep again, we got to take Nolan home. It was such a weird feeling. Brett headed to his Fantasy Football draft and Nolan and I headed to my room to take a nap. It was heaven.

That next week was full of interesting things that happened. Nolan barely slept throughout the night. He was so fussy the whole night. It was quite an adjustment. On Wednesday, Brett got a surprise, his mom came in from PA. He had no idea! He was so surprised. She was here through the next Sunday. It was good to have her here to meet Nolan.

My parents were still in town. They stayed through September 3. It was great to have them here to help with our transition into parenthood. When they left, Brett and I were on our own. We were now a family of three. What a feeling!

Brett went back to work on Tuesday, after a long Labor Day weekend together. Nolan and I were on our own for the day. He had his two week doctor appointment. He is now 8lb 10oz and 20 inches long. Our boy is getting so big already!!! He is such a sweet little boy. He is getting more alert now. He will just lay there and stare at you. It is just so sweet. I love being a mom. After almost 3 weeks, I realize that it is full of ups and downs already. I look forward to what is to come. It is going to be such an adventure.

Enjoy some pictures of our new little one!

38 Weeks

Everything is done. Nursery is finished, clothes are ready, diapers and wipes are prepared, stroller is put together, and the carseat is in. Now all we need is our sweet little Nolan. Hopefully he will be here soon. I am having weekly doctor appointments at this point. On Wednesday during my appointment, my doctor checked me to see if I was dilated. I am 1cm dilated, 60% effaced, and he is at a -2 station. So, for all the non-medical people, it could still be a couple weeks. Nolan is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing. I can feel him dropping lower everyday. I am having a few contractions, but not really more than a few a day. At this point, I am still working. I have 5 more shifts within this next week. Then, I am hoping Nolan makes his appearance. Brett is so excited for Nolan to get here. He talks to him everyday, telling him that it is time to come out to meet us. He is even taking me on 2 mile walks every night that I am not working. I really think the walking helps. We went walking last night, and this morning I can feel Nolan lower than he was.

Each morning I wake up wondering if today will be the day. I am so excited for my little boy to get here. I can't wait to hold him and to see what he looks like. I know he is going to be just as handsome as his daddy is.

My mom was here a couple weeks ago to help me finish up the nursery and attend a wonderful baby shower that some great friends threw for me. The nursery turned out great! All the people who contributed, Suzie, Phyllis, Elizabeth, mom, and Candice, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Brett and I are very happy with how the nursery turned out. We love it! My baby shower was awesome too! I am so lucky to have such great friends here in Texas. Everything was perfect. I was so glad to be able to have my mom be here for the shower. She spent about 5 days here. It was awesome to spend some time with her. She helped me get everything ready for Nolan. Now, her and dad are just waiting at home for the call. Then, they will head out here as fast as they can. I can't wait!!

Here are some nursery pictures, baby shower pictures, and other fun pictures!

It Will Be Here Before We Know It!

I am 32 weeks and 4 days. I feel bigger than big! Take a look!

Nolan moves around so much. I really think he is going to be a great soccer player! Just like his mommy and daddy! Everything is going well with the pregnancy. My blood pressure is great and I am measuring right around my gestation age. I am now going to the doctor every other week for a check-up.

We have been preparing for Nolan. It is so much fun. We got a stroller the other day and Brett couldn't wait to put it together!

We have also been adding things to his room. It is not quite finished yet, but here is what we have.



My mom is coming in a few weeks to help me get a few things done before Nolan arrives! I'm excited for her to be here. She is going to bring the curtains for Nolan's room and a few other things. She is also going to be here to help cook and freeze food for when Nolan arrives. We need some good ideas of food to freeze. Feel free to give your suggestions!

While we are waiting for Nolan to get here, we are both busy with work. I started my new job a few weeks ago. I love it so much. I have learned so much in a short amount of time. It is a little rough working night shift, but not as bad as I thought it would be. I am pretty busy the whole time making the night go by quicker. The only hard thing is trying to sleep during the day. Brett has been busy with his work as well. He is doing so great. He finishes up his schoolwork this weekend. So, next week he officially graduates again! I am so proud of my hubby for going to school for his Accounting degree! He worked so hard working full time and going to school full time. He is great!!!

On my days off I have been relaxing and doing some fun things. I like to go lay out by the pool. I have even tried my hand at baking. I want to be a good cake and cupcake maker, but I have to start somewhere. Here is a picture of a Strawberry and Cream Cheese Cake I made.

It's Official!

Wow. Such an awesome day. I took my NCLEX on Wednesday. This is the state board test that I have to pass in order to become a registered nurse. This morning I found out that I passed! I am incredibly excited! I now have initials after my name, Catherine Gates, RN BSN. Wow. I have worked so hard this past year to get to this point. I honestly could not have done this without the love and support of my husband, family, and friends. I love you all!

A lot has happened in the past month. My parents came into town for about a week. They helped Brett and I move into a new apartment. We love the new apartment. It's two bedroom and two bathroom place. It is very nice. I graduated from nursing school. What an accomplishment. It was a great time. I was so glad to have my family and friends there with me. I also had a surprise graduation party a couple days later. I was so surprised to have my friends come to celebrate with me. It was so much fun. The next day I drove back with my parents to Charlotte for about nine days. It was such a good vacation. I had a very nice baby shower while I was there. It was so nice to see some people that I have not seen in awhile. Nolan got so many cute new things. He is so spoiled already. I also found out while I was home that I got a nursing job. I will be working in the Level 3 NICU at The Woman's Hospital of Texas. I am very excited! I cannot wait to start my career as a nurse. Brett and I celebrated our two year wedding anniversary this past weekend. He took me on a surprise trip to San Antonio. We had so much fun spending the weekend together and celebrating. I love being around him.

We are very excited for Nolan to get here. We are enjoying watching him kick me. He moves all the time. I love feeling him move. He is going to be a little wild man like his daddy. I am 29 weeks along tomorrow. I can't believe how fast it has gone already. I feel like I am huge already, but I know that I am only going to get bigger. Oh joy. We are both just so excited to meet him. He is going to be the cutest little boy ever. We are in the process of working on his nursery. We have all the furniture in his room. We are just working on the decor. His quilt for his crib is finished. I love it! The letters for above his crib are finished, but I have yet to put them up. His room is coming together so well. I love it.

I am so excited about this new chapter in my life that is beginning. I start my new job on Monday and Nolan is only about 11 weeks away from being here. I can't wait to be a mommy!!!

Here are some pictures from the last month:






This my creation! I love it!


Baby Shower tree!


Letters for above Nolan's crib.

Coming to an End

I am 9 days away from being finished with my second Bachelor's degree. Nursing school is almost over! I cannot be more excited. This has been quite a year. I have learned so much throughout this year. I am so prepared to be a nurse. I am not sure yet what God has in store for me job-wise yet, but I know He is in charge.

With school ending, I'm going to kind of change this blog around a little bit. It's just going to be more about what is going on in our lives. Brett and I are going through lots of changes. I finish school in a few days, and Brett finishes up his Accounting degree the beginning of July. We are moving to a new apartment in two weeks. We are really excited. It is a two bedroom/two bathroom apartment. I can't wait to decorate and organize! My parents are coming into town for my graduation, and they are going to help us move into our new place. Then, I am going to ride back with them to Charlotte to visit for a week and a half. I am really looking forward to seeing the people I love and relaxing. Oh how I need a vacation!

My belly is growing bigger everyday. I am 23 weeks along. I feel massive, but I know I'm only going to get bigger. The Texas heat is coming in and making me hotter everyday. Brett and I ended up finding out that we are having a baby boy! We are so excited! His name is Nolan Thomas. I love his name. He is expected to arrive on or around August 20. I cannot wait to start on his nursery. Our sports theme is going to be great! I'm sure there will be more details and pictures to come.

The Final Semester!

I am now officially knee-deep in my last semester of nursing school! I am so excited! I am taking High Acuity, Community Healthcare, Pediatrics, and Critical Synthesis. Let's start with High Acuity. I really enjoy this class. My favorite part about it is the clinical. I am doing my clinical in the Shock Trauma ICU in downtown Houston. I have done a total of two night shifts and I really enjoy it. It is really hard to stay awake all night but I think I am getting used to it to some extent. It is really hard without caffeine.
Community Healthcare is interesting. I am not too fond of it, but hopefully it will get interesting. We are doing this huge project for a small school district in north Houston. We are making a presentation for a group of preschool teachers about health and exercise. So, that should be fun.
I am really apprehensive about my Pediatric clinical. Our orientation starts Saturday. From then on, every Saturday I will be at one of the Children's Hospitals downtown. I am not quite sure how I am going to feel working with really sick children. I think that it might be hard for me.
Critical Synthesis is a breeze. Basically, we just have to take a giant test at the end of the semester in order to pass nursing school.
I am so freaking excited to graduate! Right now I am trying to find a job for once school ends. I never realized how hard it is for nursing school graduates. But God is good, and He will provide. Oh, and Brett and I are really looking forward to the newest member of our family!! Take a look!

It's been awhile....

I know I haven't posted much this semester. It has gone by quickly. I feel like I just began this semester, and yet it is already almost over. I have one more final to go on the 16. This semester has been really rough. September wasn't too bad. Our Gerontology class ended then and our Psychiatric Nursing class started. This was very interesting. We had clinicals every Friday at a Psych hospital. Honestly, I was terrified. I was unsure of how the patients would act. My first couple clinicals consisted of being on the adolescent unit. This just hurt my heart. In talking with some of these kids, I realized that they were going through some of the same things that I went through as a teenager. I kept wondering, what is so different that they ended up here? I realized that coping skills had a lot to do with it. These teenagers had no idea how to cope with life, so they turned to running away or cutting themselves. I think that part of the reason some teenagers didn't know how to cope was because of their lack of good parents. A lot of these kids came from broken homes and such. It was tough. The other weeks of Pysch clinicals got more and more interesting. But, overall, I feel that it was a good experience. And my clinical instructor ROCKED!
October was very hectic. I was at clinicals 3-4 times a week. This was such a stressful month. Care II was ending the end of October and OB began the middle of October. This month brought a lot of stress and tears, but I got through it. I loved my Care II clinicals. I had the best preceptor. I got to do so many things. I knew I was going to love being a nurse. Once OB clinicals started, I feel in love again. Despite my clinical instructor, I love OB clinicals. It is such a happy place. Labor and Delivery is so much fun. I LOVE seeing the joy on parents faces as they become parents and see their child for the first time. I cry every time. I forgot just how much I loved seeing that back from my days at CMC L&D. My last OB clinical is tomorrow. I am sad about that, but I am looking forward to my break. My psych class ended on November 30. So, now all I have is OB. It is a very tough class. But, overall, I enjoy it. Break is just 8 days away now. In 10 days, I head to Charlotte, NC for Christmas. I am more excited than I can express in words. I am really looking forward to the time with my family. That is something I really need.
God is doing some great things in my life. Once I realized that I am doing all of this for Him and not for anyone else, my confidence came back. God has been so good to me. He has blessed me. I was too full of doubt. Once I got rid of my doubt, my weight was lifted. God will see me through this rough year of school. I have already come so far. I have 5 months until I graduate. He will see me through!

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. ~Galatians 1:10

I have found my passion!

I am now in the full swing of my second semester of nursing school and loving every minute of it! I have truly found my passion in life. Right now I am in the middle of 2 out of my 4 classes, Adult Care 2 and Gerontology. We just had our first test today in Care 2, and I did great! I am absolutely loving learning everything that we are now! I have learned how to read ABGs, start an IV, give injections, take blood, and all sorts of other things. I start clinicals this week in the Woodlands on a Med-Surg floor. I cannot wait to try out my awesome IV starting skills on a real person! I also am doing a service learning day at an assisted living home. I should have some great stories coming up soon! More to come!

Vacation, all I ever wanted! Vacation, have to get away!

I had full intentions of posting quite a bit during my break, but I guess time just got away from me. I can't believe my break is basically over.

My finals days were very stressful. 6 tests in 2 days is not ideal at all. But with God's help, I got through it. After finding out that I passed all my classes, I really knew that being in this program is really what God wanted me to do. For that, I am truly blessed.

Brett and I have been quite the travelers. Early last Wednesday morning we left to go to Harrisburg, PA for a week. We had not been back to Brett's parents house since a month or two before our wedding. Our time there was way overdue. We did a lot of visiting with many family members. We even helped take Brett's sister up to college. Tuesday, we went with Brett's parents to NYC. Oh, how I have missed the city! We went to the Central Park Zoo, ate pizza in Little Italy, went shopping, saw the new Highline Park, and ventured into Times Square. I loved it! On Wednesday night our flight was delayed out of Harrisburg. By the time we reached Charlotte, NC, we had missed our connection flight to Houston that night. Charlotte was the best place to be stuck in overnight! The only thing that bummed me out was that my parents weren't even at their house! They have been overseas for the past couple weeks! But one of my best friends, Candice, came to pick us up to take us to my parent's house. It was so good to be able to visit with her a little bit. We slept at my parent's house that night and my wonderful neighbors took us to the airport early the next morning. It was so great to see them too! We sure do miss all our friends in Charlotte! We finally got back to Houston Thursday morning around 930. We jetted over to the apartment, pick up a few things, and we were off! We headed 5 1/2 hours south to Mission, TX to visit my cousin Adrienne and her family for the weekend. Today, we went over into Mexico and had the best tacos I have had, probably ever. It was fun! Tomorrow the plans are to go to South Padre Island for a little bit to soak up the last part of my "summer vacation."

It has been a busy vacation but a much needed one. I am very anxious to start back on Monday! Up next for this semester is Adult Healthcare II, Maternal/Newborn, Gerontology, and Mental Health Nursing. Every class has some sort of clinical! Can't wait!!!

Here are a few pictures from our trip:

Just about done...

I am in the mist of finals. I had one last Tuesday. Next, I have 4 on Monday and 2 on Tuesday. Then, that is it. I am done with my first semester! The past 12 weeks have really flown by. As I am studying for my finals, I realize how much I really have learned and how much I have grown through this experience. I still love the idea of being a nurse. However, there are some nursing floors that are not for me. Med-Surg floors are what I am talking about. I do not want to do that!

The next couple of days are going to be really tough. I can see the end in sight, yet I am finding it hard to focus on the task at hand. Pharmacology, Health Assessment, Professional Practice & Leadership, and Pathophysiology are the only things holding me back from my much needed vacation. These are the thoughts that are consuming my mind each day, hour, and minute. I actually think I had a dream about one of these subjects last night. I think it was Patho...I think there is a reason for that.

Pray for me as I study and take these last finals. They are going to be mentally draining. But Wednesday at 6am we will be on our way to Pennsylvania!

The New Me

The past few weeks have really been a turning point for me. I was so stressed and just so broken that I could barely remember what I was doing this for. Everything really turned around the beginning of last week. After a talk with my parents, some really great encouraging friends, and a little support from my teacher, I felt I was coming around. After the last little talk with my teacher, I began walking toward my car. At this point, it began to rain. It was the kind of rain that washed away all the bad things and gave me time to think. This was the point when I decided that it was me that was tearing myself down. From that point on, I feel like I am a different person. Well, actually, it's just me coming back from a huge funk. I have been so much more positive, which has helped my stress level tremendously! God really has a way of bringing you back from your breaking point. I realized this past Sunday that it has really just been a lack of faith and trust on my part. I have not had enough faith and trust in what God is doing in my life. I was trying so hard to do it all on my own. Just so everyone knows out there, THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE. Knowing that God is in control of my life and the day-to-day aspects of it is so refreshing. I can just focus on doing what He wants me to do and praising Him for it. God really is so good for showing this to me!

Meanwhile, I have done quite a few shifts at MD Anderson. It's pretty awesome learning how to be a nurse. It is so much better than my nursing assistant days. I am working on the Neuro/Rehab floor. I really enjoy it. I have had some amazing patients. It is so different for me because I have never really been around cancer patients in the hospital before. It is such an eye opening experience. I have to constantly remind myself that some of the actions of the patients are not a reflection of the patient himself, but rather the effect that the cancer is having on the patient. I am realizing how hard it can be for the patient to not be able to control his or her own body. Sometimes the cancer just takes over parts of the body. It is also making me aware that this is extremely difficult for the patient's family as well. It is actually very refreshing to hear more families get involved with care and ask more questions about the type of care their loved one is being given. I commend them for that.

Overall, I am learning so much in such a short amount of time. I praise God for every day that I make it through. I have 3 rough weeks left. Then, it's off to PA to see Brett's side of the family! I CANNOT WAIT! I am in such need of sun, fun, relaxation, and family! 3 weeks!!!!!!!

MD Anderson, Here I Come!

At this very moment, I am multi-tasking. I am currently listening to a Tegrity lecture on "pain." It is actually causing me pain listening to it. Not really, but I am learning lots about making sure that patients have their pain medicines. As a nurse, I am supposed to educate. So here it is; I am about to educate you... DO NOT take more than 4g of Tylenol a day or you could die. I just want everyone to be safe out there.

Any-who, I have had a lot going on, which I am sure you can imagine. I think it has been about 2 weeks since I have posted something new. I have had some really crazy tests in the last 2 weeks. I have had a total of 6 tests the past 2 weeks! CRAZY! I am really starting to get the hang of taking these tests and managing my time. I have actually managed to do quite well. I am proud of myself. I feel that I have come a long way since May 24. I actually just realized that I am halfway through my summer semester! HORRAY! August 18 here I come!

The past couple weeks have been full of change. Brett got a new job in a different department at Enterprise. He is now working in the Accounting Department as an Accounting Coordinator. He just started today, and he is really glad that he is not selling anymore. He also decided to go back to school. Come August 23, he will be a full time student and working full time. He is going back to Liberty University Online to get an Accounting degree. He is so excited about starting, but it will be crazy with 2 full time students. Needless to say, we had to get another computer. So I am now typing from our new iMac! We love it!

Tomorrow I start my clinical rotation. I am doing it at MD Anderson Cancer Center! I am so excited! I can't wait to get back into the hospital again and get my hands dirty! I am not sure yet exactly what floorI am on yet. I will find out at 630am tomorrow morning though.

Hopefully, I will be back soon to tell you about my clinical days!

Week 4 already?!?!

WOW! I can't believe that it is already June 14th. I feel like this all just started. A lot has happened since I last posted. We are nowhere near getting to the fun part. That starts next month with the start of clinicals. Anyway, we have had a couple of labs. I really enjoy them. It is great getting to actually do things. The first lab we learned basic things like bed-making, bedpans, and giving baths. I am an expert at this already because of my years of being a nursing assistant. But I have learned how to proficiently perform vital signs AND how to perform a catheter insertion. Don't worry...we use dummies for practice. This has been fun getting to do hands-on things.

We had our first test last Tuesday in Pharmacology. I felt really prepared going into the test, however, my outcome was definitely NOT what I wanted. After a little breakdown and some really good encouraging from family and friends, I put it behind me. I am going to ace the next one!

My days are filled with reading and listening to lectures. Occasionally, I plan some fun. I did get to go to Shreveport, LA to watch my brother, Payton, play baseball. It was great because my family was there. This time was much needed but not long enough.

This week is a really rough week. I have an Adult Health Care test tomorrow. Then, I have to start studying for my 4...yes FOUR, tests next week. It is crazy! My schedule for this week is no fun, only study. Actually, I think I did plan about four hours of rest for Saturday night. Other than that, my face will be in those books. With that said, it seems as though it is time for me to start studying again. I am going to rock that test tomorrow...ha, let's hope!

"I will study and get ready, and perhaps my chance will come." - Abraham Lincoln

First Clinical Lab tomorrow!

I'm just getting prepared for tomorrow's skills lab!

Nursing School...where have you been all my life?!?

So I have almost made it through my first week of nursing school! I am ecstatic! I actually am really enjoying it. I am not going to lie, there is a lot of work for me to do. But I feel that I am managing my time pretty well. I have my iCal all set-up with my day-to-day activities. I have a different color for each class and a black for personal things. Needless to say, the colors overtake the black. I am ok with that though. As long as I get to workout, cook dinner, spend at least 30 minutes with Brett, and read my Bible, I can make it through the day.

This week began with a couple of class orientations that I had to go into school for. Those were fun because I got to meet the professors. They are all so nice. They really want to help you succeed. I like that. But most of my days have been me at home sitting in front of my computer. I listen/watch lectures, read textbooks, and just try to figure out what I am doing. I am learning so many new things. I love my Pharmacology class already. It is difficult, as I knew it would be. But it is so interested how drugs can make the body do so many different things. I definitely see God's hand in that. And I already learned that nausea and vomiting is basically a side affect for any and every drug! ha.

Next week more fun begins! My first clinical lab! I love hands-on things!

"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence." ~Abigail Adams

Are you kidding me?!

Nursing school has a lot more preparation then I thought it would. Since I found out I was accepted, I have been busy doing so many things to get ready to start on May 24. I am still so freaking excited!!!!!!

A packet of information was delivered about a week and a half ago. Brett and I were on our way to church as I was looking through the information. I got a huge surprise on the second page. This letter stated that I was being given a scholarship because of my grades thus far! I am ecstatic! Every little bit helps big time because I am not going to work while I am in school. I was so thrilled that God blessed me with this reward for my hard work. Along with that scholarship was a long list of things I need to get done. So far I have gotten a drug test, had a physical, filled out a residency questionnaire, filled out more scholarship information, and bought a lot of my supplies. The supplies have thus far been my favorite part. I finally get to wear a lab coat! It is so cute on me, at least Brett thinks so. I also got these really nice navy blue scrubs and new white Sanitas. Oh and Brett bought me an orange stethoscope! I absolutely LOVE it! Orange is by far my favorite color! But the books...Oh the books. I went to the school bookstore and suddenly became overwhelmed. I was required to buy 18 books for the Summer semester. Yes, I said EIGHTEEN! I mean, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I just kept thinking about how I was going to get all of them to my car parked a block away in a parking garage. Wow! 18 books. I have never had to have that many books. Just think of the cost. I am going to pay a total of $1100 for my first semester of books. R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S! But honestly, some of the books really scare me. I am so nervous about my new classes.

These are the books that scare me the most...








Proverbs 2:6 - For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.


2 Corinthians 12:9 - But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Zephaniah 3:17 - The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.

Here is the start of it all...

It all began yesterday afternoon. I have been following a forum for people who have applied to the UT Houston Bacc2 Nursing Program. On this particular day, people began to exclaim that they got accepted into the program. See, these people have been stalking UTLink (online admissions center) daily to see if they have been accepted, unlike me who remained perfectly calm (NOT). When I saw the acceptances roll in, I decided I would check my UTLink to try my luck. It was not my lucky day. My status continued to say that my acceptance was pending the approval of the admissions committee. Bummer. This is what it has been saying since May 2009 when I prematurely submitted my application. At that moment, I needed a little confidence booster from my husband. I called Brett at work to tell him all that I had just gone through. He proceeded to tell me to continue checking and that I should not worry. "Ok, sounds good. I will just check online every 10 minutes until you get home." I drove myself crazy last night searching the Internet for my acceptance. I finally gave up around 7pm when my thoughts turned to my hungry belly. I thought I wouldn't sleep last night; however, I was out like a light when my head hit the feather pillow. I woke up at 4:30am ready to workout. I continued to think about my fate as I ran those miles. I arrived at work around 6:30 ready to start my workday. I was pretty busy through the first hour and a half. Then, I realized it was 8am! UTLink was up and running for the day! I decided to try my fate once more. I logged in pretty quickly. I then saw those words across the screen. "You have been granted provisional admission. Admission letter in the mail." My heart jumped as I quickly walked into my supply room to call Brett. After three tries, Brett finally answered. I GOT IN!!!! Our lives are continuing as planned. I proceeded to call my mom. And as I am sure you will learn in my stories, she hardly answers her phone. So, I go to dad. Dad, I got in! YES!! Tears are streaming down my face in happiness and excitement. Finally, mom was buzzing in. Mom, I got in! Tears are now on both sides of the phone! I loved this moment. Telling my family was the best.
I have been so happy today, as you can imagine. I am so excited for this new chapter in my life to begin. For now, I continue on with the 5 more prereqs that I am required to have to start this program, along with working 36 hours a week. Life is good. God has blessed me with a great opportunity to advance my career. God is so good!!!!