Happy Thanksgiving!

Just stopping by to wish all a wonderful Thanksgiving! We will be heading to my parents' for dinner. After a family crisis this week, we are all so thankful that my newphew, Austin, is home from the hospital and will ok.
Outcome for November's poll: 20 votes entered with PumPkiN piE winning (sorry Kelly), StuFFin' followed close behind in second place.
FYI: Do you want to take a nap after Thanksgiving Dinner?? Of course, you do! But it's not from the natural sedative in turkey (Tryptophan), the tiredness is your body's response to the energy needed to break this meal down. Sorry for the nerd fact, but until this year, I was blamming the turkey:)

A night to relax

After what seems to have been a very long week, it's nice to just relax this evening. Trying to fight off cold symptoms. Weekend plans include starting some Christmas knitting, doing very little cleaning, finishing The Shack, cooking & making crafts with Madison and repairing some torn wallpaper in the hallway. Tonight would be the perfect night to have a crackling fire in the fireplace..if I had one. I know it's not practical, but I want a real fireplace. For now, I'll be happy with the glow from my wine light that Kay made me:)

A few good reasons for a WOOHOO!
Janelle's husband made it through surgery and they are home this evening.
Today I met with a nurse recruiter for an informal meeting. It felt great!
~Enjoy your weekend, friends~

Please say a prayer for Gary & Janelle

I am asking anyone that reads this blog to say a prayer for my friend Janelle and her husband, Gary. They are at Geisinger Medical Center this evening and Gary is having an extremely risky surgery, tomorrow morning. Gary has a large aneurysm that is pulsating against his nasal cavity. Surgery is inevitable for this man, and he faces it Thursday morning, early. What makes the surgery extremely risky is that Gary has a clotting disorder which is modified with Heparin/Coumadin therapy..which makes him a bleeder. They have three young children.
They have strong faith and appreciate the prayers.
It takes a crisis like this to remind us that we shouldn't sweat the small stuff in our everyday lives.
Thank you

blizzard

So glad to finally get home this evening. Who was I to think that I might actually finish out this semester without having to drive in nasty weather! After class, I ran something over to Target to exchange for my sister, then right back on the road to get home. Route 17 turned treacherous, but the stretch of road between Nichols and Rome almost put me in the field..not because I was going too fast - only able to go about 10 mph, but I couldn't FIND THE ROAD! Of course, not a state plow truck to be seen. Someone was in a ditch, but I couldn't get stopped to see if they needed help, nor would I have been able to find a place to pull off. The driver was on a cell, so I assumed he was calling for help. Once I got through Rome, the roads were dry..weird.

I walked in the door to find this beautiful snowflake hanging in the kitchen. Miss Mads whipped it up while I was gone! I had brought one home from work that someone had made and I wanted to figure out how it was created, but Madison beat me to it. She promises to teach me, tomorrow night!

The Shack

After spending 16 hours of this weekend on the oncology floor, I am 120% sure that this is my purpose for becoming a nurse. I worked with amazing nurses and care partners and I definitely want to become part of their team. I was very excited to be called into the nurse manager's office, after she heard that myself and another student were interested in working at this hospital. Our group was very well received this weekend, and the staff were happy to have the extra help, as it was extremely busy. My best clinical experience thus far.

I decided that tonight would be the perfect time to start reading a book that was given to me, along with a hug, a few months ago. I have been eyeing this book on my bookshelf; however, knowing that I needed to keep up on my nursing lecture readings, I hadn't allowed myself to start it. The Shack has received so many excellent reviews, as you can tell from having it's own website. I have heard that the book is hard to put down, being so uplifting & powerful.

NOTICE the cake?? Well..how about cake without the fatty calories..2 ingredients, my friends. A friend informed me about making this cake and raved about it...with good reason! A cake mix and a 15 oz can of pumpkin..nothing else - mix the two ingredients together and add to a 9x13 cake pan, bake at 350 until done. No eggs, no oil! I served it to my family for dessert, tonight...they loved it! My friend said that you can use any flavor cake mix. This is a must try recipe! I chose a spice cake, but I hear chocolate is great, also. I did add a thin layer of frosting, but a light dusting of powdered sugar would be less calories.

WooWHooooo!

That's how I am feeling this late Wednesday evening:) Sailed through my med pass test with no problems and I stayed calm through the entire pass... I almost forgot to flush my saline lock before hooking up my line, but caught myself. Prior to going in to the med pass, I found out that I got my highest grade ever, on Monday night's exam! I'm elated!

This has been a tough week, with one more late night, tomorrow. Feel like I haven't seen my family much this week. Friday night is going to be movie night & making homemade ice cream. Madison is itching to use her new ice cream maker. I just want to relax with my family.

I'm blessed with so many supportive, loving people in my life..truly blessed. My Mom made my family a beautiful dinner this evening and even sent a plate home for me. One of my classmates insisted on waiting for me to finish my med pass this evening. When I came out of the lab, there she was sitting in the hall, crocheting up a storm..waiting to hear my results. When I turned on my phone, I had an encouraging message from my friend & co-worker, Kay. Instead of playing my music loud and singing like a crazy woman this evening, I found myself driving down 17 at 9:30, in silence..feeling humbled by the support & kindness of so many people.

A little knitting before the test tonight

Nursing exam #3 this evening. For the past few tests, I was reviewing right up to five minutes before the exam..not this one. Karen could be seen knitting up a storm in the back corner. Didn't put the yarn away until the bubble sheet him my desk. Got a few more inches added on Madison's scarf. This technique really chilled me out. Date with the Simms man Wed. night for my med demo...wonder if Mr. Simms would care if I brought my string & sticks along?

Home by 7:30. Just in time to help Mads whip up chocolate chip cookies.

Earlier this month, I finally took some time and taught my niece, Emily, to knit-she's been patiently waiting. I created a little knitting monster..she was exhausted that evening, but didn't want to put her knitting down..so cute! She had about 6 inches of scarf done before she went to bed that evening.

And here is a picture of Jay's fingerless gloves. The next pair need to be a little bigger.

I'll miss those games...

Last evening ended the football season with Towanda having 28 and Montoursville having a lot more at this district playoff game.. We had heard that the opponents were huge - that wasn't a rumor. Logan is 6 foot & 200 pounds and many were bigger than him. A lot of tear-filled eyes and hanging heads as they made their way from the locker room..Those boys definetly wanted to keep playing. What saddened me was the fact that we have been watching several of those boys, including our own, play organized football since they were in 3rd grade..where did the time go? Logan has his mind set that he wants to play college ball. Who knows, he may have a chance at it. He's scheduled to take his SAT's in early December, then he can start applying to the colleges that he is looking at. In the next few weeks, we will be getting copies of all the taped games and get them edited and ready to send out. One thing is sure, he will have to become very familiar with two words..self discipline.

At the kitchen table

In the beauty seat this morning by 7:15 am for color & highlights, (thank you Mia!), then to the grocery store & back home by 11:00. In the mood for soup making. Decided on corn chowder & homemade beer bread, (used Jay's last can of brewsky). Since most of the day is devoted to studying for Monday's exam, I thought soup & bread would be the way to go.
I like to have several candles lit, when I study..not sure why..just do. Kitchen is smelling of soup, bread, & chardonnay scented candles. Table is covered with notes, books & Madison's art supplies & lit candles. Jay has been enjoying the day, as well..doing the "puttering" things that guys do, (washing vehicles, organizing stuff, admiring his work while drinking a beer, winterizing things).
Logan is on his way to Montoursville, for a district playoff game. Jay and I will leave around 5:00, to get down there for the 7:00 kickoff..should be exciting!




First time making the beer bread..so simple and very tasty! Check out the recipes, below.

Easy Beer Bread

• 3 cups of self-rising flour
• 3 T. sugar
• 1 12oz can of your favorite beer

Mix together just until blended. Drop mix into greased, 5x9 bread pan. Bake at 375 for 45-60 minutes..listen for "hollow" sound on bottom of pan. While warm, shine the top with melted butter.*I also added 1/2 c of oatmeal and 1 T of honey..might have been able to not use any sugar, and just use the honey.

Corn Chowder

• 3 cans of sweet corn
• 2 cans of cream of celery soup
• dices onion & carrots (to your liking)
• 3 or 4 potatoes, peeled & diced
• 4 or 5 pieces of bacon, fried & broken up
• 1 & 1/2 c whole milk or heavy cream
• 2 T flour (mix with enough hot water to be runny)
• salt & pepper
• cook in the crock pot on high for two hours, then simmer on low for a few more.

Enjoy your evening. Heading to Montoursville for an exciting football game!

VW Jetta..I think I want one

I've been buzzin up & down Rt 17 with this VW Jetta rental and it seems that the gas gage is hardly moving..I like this! Unlike the SUV that sucks up about $25 per trip. Since Logan wasn't old enough to have the rental, Mom gets the rental and Logan is driving my trailblazer. In & out of Mircro lab within 45 minutes tonight..not too shabby. Home by 8:00 pm..nice. Jay is currently taking on the task of cleaning out the fridge..I like that man.

Forgot to mention the results of last Friday's FB game..what a fun game that was! Towanda 35, Wyalusing 6. Here is Logan, after the game...I buy stock in Shout stain remover.

Goal is two chapters/day of readings for Nursing Today, Transitions & Trends. One chapter at 5:00 AM and one each evening..better get moving. I got my 5 am reading in this morning, now for this evenings..

Knitting update: working on the second of the wool fingerless gloves for Jay. Wanted to have had them done for our lunch date yesterday, but no chance..especially with all this reading.

My girlfriend sent me a picture of the "Lucy Evening Bag" that I made her for her 40th..she put it to good use on her recent trip to Mexico and I love that it is sittin' pretty between two glasses of Cabernet.

Happy Birthday Jay!

Awwh, honey..Cheer up..It's your birthday! You don't know it yet, but I took the day off from work to surprise you with a lunch date! Happy 43rd Birthday!

It has to be fate..

January, 2006, I sat by my Aunt as she fought her last week of ruthless cancer. I remember rubbing her hand and she said to me, "you are going to make a good nurse". I have never forgotten that moment. One week after my Aunt died, I started my first semester at BCC. More than once, I cried, recalling my Aunt's death experience to my classmates and Professor Jen. Several of my classmates cried with me. Just a few semester's ago, our lecture content covered death & dying, again, I broke down in my class when I told Instructor Barbara of my Aunt's final moments.
Today, I found out that I will spend my last clinical rotation of the BCC program on 5 main. The oncology/med surge unit where my Aunt was cared for. This has to be fate. From day one I have known that I wanted to be an oncology nurse, that hasn't changed - even with all the different clincal experiences that I have had. I wasn't even supposed to be in this last rotation at this hospital, I was supposed to be at Binghamton General. I asked to be switched, and was allowed. Until I arrived today, I thought I was just doing a straight med/surge rotation..I had no idea that I would get the opportunity to work in Oncology. We took a tour through the unit and I vividly remembered the last time that I had been there. I tried to tell my husband and parents of my experience, today..but found it hard to get the words out. The first person that I knew I wanted to tell of today's experience was my Aunt Maryann, but knowing that I would get emotional...it's easier to share my story here. It's fate. Life is amazing.

We are not having clinical on Sunday, so we had no patient contact today, just reviewing films, procedures, etc per hospital requirements. I look forward, when we return in two weeks, to giving the best care that I can give to my patient.