Love it!

I'm still alive! Started the new position on the med/surg unit Monday, I worked 3p to 3a..most of the night flew by..very busy. Second shift definetly isn't the shift for me, since I don't get to see the kids before they go to bed, but it will only be for a few weeks, for the experience. I will be rotating around shifts through my preceptor program, to be sure to get all experiences. As of last night, I had two patients and getting the hang of using the computer system to deliver meds. Within two days, I have gotten to insert a catheter, ng tube, try my hand at an IV start, dress a wound, etc! Definetly can see why med surg is a good place for a new nurse to get experience. LOVE wearing scrubs..comfy!
Have Friday and the weekend off. Plan to pick the kids up after school and head up to the unit to pick up my first paycheck. Thought they would enjoy seeing where mom works.

Finished another pair of Evangaline mitts for a friend. Currently working on a pair of fisherman's wool mittens..just plain..my first mittens.

A mid-week update

Well, three days into the new position and I'm loving it so far! Of course, I have only hit orientation (classroom), and will continue this for the remainder of the week and next Monday. Will finally "hit the floor" next Tuesday. I went up to visit the 8th floor, med/surg, where I will be working......let's just say that I will definetly be getting my exercise! So far, I have met an array of very enthusiastic nurses, confirming that the pathways in nursing are endless. I hope to be taking my boards by mid-March, and then will decide on which college to continue the education trek.

Enjoying spending time with Madison..back to being "dance mom", as I shuffle her to her back-to-back Wed. night lessons and children's choir.

Knitting another pair of Evangalines..love those things!

Baby it's cold outside!

It's actually 27 degrees today..much warmer than the previous days! Finished a couple of knitting projects, including the wrist warmers, toast, which went to my friend Kay, for her birthday. ..I made her model them for a picture, when all of us got together at Applebees for dinner the other night.

Finished the Evangaline mitts and had Melissa model them for a pic, as she enjoys a glass of "Fran Cat" from Pickering Winery.

Today is the last day off, before the new job, tomorrow. The last 10 days have flown by, but I'm really excited to finally start my new career. I was able to get on the road to being "organized" while I was off.

50 questions...

Fifty questions per day, as of today. Hopefully, I can increase that to 75/day. Starting to prepare for my boards. ..I have definitely been on a "honeymoon" since the final exam..time to get back to the grind and tackle these questions! I have sent for my temporary practice permit, but have a goal to take my boards by mid-March. Using a calendar to mark the number of questions being studied, each day.

A full week off and it's flying by quickly. Managed to clean out and organize the hall closet and bathroom closet, today.

Knitting: Met a friend last evening for a glass of wine and some knitting lessons. I'm sure she will get the hang of it quickly, as she was taught as a child. I finished my friend's birthday gift and will give it to her this evening. Meeting the girls for dinner:)

On the needles now, is the second Evangaline. I knit one several semesters ago and was so proud to show my classmates my first cable pattern, however...I never got around to knitting the second one..so here we go:)

Lucy's finally done:)

With a winter blizzard that hit yesterday morning, it seemed the perfect opportunity to "cozy in" and finish my mother's Lucy bag. Using almost two skeins of Nature Spun wool in "pepper", I really like how she turned out. I have made several of these bags, and no two are the same. I love how the Lucy bag fits so nice on the arm. My project for today is going to be a "wristlet" version of a Lucy...probably using 1/2 skein of wool.

The girls and I spent some time at "Brewed Awakenings" coffee shop yesterday. Madison's friend, Katie brought her knitting along and I taught her to bind off. The owner of the shop came over to our table and said, "this is great, more kids need to be doing stuff like this, rather than always texting or playing videos." I told her that she had the perfect little shop to have a "knitting night" and she thought that was a great idea! Notice in the picture that MY daughter takes no interest in knitting..she knows how, but at the moment is not interested:(. Katie, on the other hand, spent another night with us and started another scarf!


Everything is white and the snow is still lightly coming down. I have a feeling that today's agenda will include sled riding

Do you remember when...

Remember when..you were 11 and the funnest thing was to have your friend ride the bus home and spend the night! It's Friday night and I have 2 eleven year olds that are having a ball..so far it's been a dinner of Chinese take-out, karaoke and when I just peaked in her room they had a pedicure center set up, complete with my bubbling foot mas sager!

The last time Madison's friend was here, I taught her to knit...I was so impressed when she returned this weekend with a very long knitted scarf, ready to learn how to bind off!

Tomorrow morning holds a trip to a quaint little coffee shop with the girls, a hair apt for Mads and then roller skating in the afternoon.

My last day.........bittersweet

Although I am very excited to get my nursing career started, it was hard leaving the comforts of the past six years. I've made some amazing friends and we vow to stay connected. They were all so supportive during my trek through nursing school. I was thrown a wonderful "farewell" luncheon, yesterday. I wanted to leave them all with something for their desks, something "calming" for when the office gets hectic...I stayed up until 1:30 am making "tranquility stones". Each person got 4 stones: peace, rest, relax & calm. I think I may be addicted to making these!

Early Morning Bus Rides

The bus pulls up at 6:35 am, yes..6:35 am. Out the door they go with hot cocoa, protein drinks & toasted egg sandwiches wrapped in waxed paper. The last two mornings have been beautiful since we've been "practicing" getting organized. The big changes will come in a few weeks when I start my nursing career. The first two weeks will be day shift, going through trainings, HR stuff and then a week in the lab. After that, I think I want to try the night shift..major changes for this 8-4 office girl.

Notice they both have smiles as they head out to catch their Grandpa's bus, in the pitched dark. So far, all is running smooth:)

My first "real" stethoscope

Thanks to my Mom, I will be receiving a Littman Classic II SE Stethoscope, seal blue in color, with my name engraved. The stethoscope from nursing school was falling apart. Since performing assessments will be my major duty as a nurse, a good stethoscope is a must.

This week will be my last week at the counseling center. I'm going to need a lot of tissues, come Thursday. I've made some wonderful friends. Haven't even started to clean out my office.

Productive weekend for Jay and Mads - they put a 24 x 22 ceiling in our family room. Madison put many of the tiles in, as Jay handed them to her..little trooper! We are all very excited to get our downstairs completed, as we really need the added space.

This will be our first week to "practice" getting super organized for school mornings. I helped Madison pick out five outfits and put them on hangers, papers have been signed, bookbags, coats & gloves are ready to go. I've steamed five shirts for Logan..now to get him up 1/2 hour early, since he insists on showering in the a.m.

Mom's Lucy Bag...she's coming along and should be off the needles & felted by mid-week. Purchased a beautiful broach for the front. Can't wait to get it to her (a late Christmas present that she knows about)

We finished out the weekend by going to see a matinee of Disney's Bedtime Stories...Karen was very, very glad when the movie was over!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all! Wishing everyone a fresh new year, filled with happiness and health!
Thought it would be a good day to change the name of my blog. I will continue to blog, but can't promise that I will get a post on, every day. I'm still on the "honeymoon" of finishing nursing school, enjoying my family & friends. Will have some upcoming pictures of a few knitted items soon. Hoping to get a few more friends knitting this year. Gave a gift of knitting accessories to a friend the other evening and promised her an upcoming knitting lesson over a few glasses of wine. Still have one friend that is trying her damnedest to knit, but her knuckles turn white with tension...kinda defeats the r-e-l-a-x-a-t-i-o-n of knitting. Then there's my friend, Renee..who still patiently is waiting for me to show her how to knit the handles on her Lucy bag. This weekend, I promise!!

Feeling some anxiety of leaving my old job..last day being Jan. 8th. Mostly due to the fact that I just adore my co-workers and have made some great friends. I must admit the other anxiety is going from a job that I know everything about and could do it with my eyes closed...to a brand new job as a nurse. I guess it's a combination of anxiety/excitement.

To my nursing sistas - can't wait to hear how you all are doing!!! We must get together in a few months to tell our nursing stories. The PA girl will head to NY. Honestly, one night after getting out of work, I automatically started heading up Rt 17...it's hard to break old habits. Remember girls, if it gets too stressful, pick up some knitting needles and knit your a-- off, it's a great stress reliever:)
Dates~Jay and I went to the Grovedale Winery, (a very impressive place with some great cab), last weekend, and then out dancing. Looking forward to another hot date on January 10th.
Taking the kids to Barnes & Nobles on Saturday to let them spend their gift cards..I wish I had my own gift card to B&N..my fav store! While they are shopping, I'll have my own agenda of checking out the newest med/surg pocket references and knitting books.

Marbles~ remember the old fashioned marble board? We pulled that out New Year's Eve, (the one my Dad made in shop class), and played a few rounds. Forgot how fun it is. The only thing is that I'm impatient and am always telling someone "it's your turn..go". I got a joy out of knocking people back to home:) Marbles...the highlight of our New Year's Eve.

Something new that I'm starting ~ 365 days of flickr..which means I will take a picture every day and post in a flickr account, on this blog. By this time next year, it will be fun for me to reflect back on each day's pic.

Have a super weekend, everyone!