Hello Monday :-)

Hello Monday...One day closer to the beach for me :-) 

A little recap from the weekend since I failed to blog.  Spencer played in a coach pitch tournament....and the other teams really meant business.  The team he played for was a pick-up team and they only practiced two times before playing together.  It was an interesting day to see how determined all the kids played ball.  At first Spencer got really upset because they were loosing.  I explained to him that there was no reason to get upset.  "You win some & you loose some."  That's just part of life.  I tried to explain to him that the other teams had played together all year.  After a while he was OK with it all.  I told him to just get out there and have fun & enjoy his "last" coach pitch games. 

The kids are spending some time with their daddy.  They have been there since Thursday night & plan on staying for a week.  WOW...They have NEVER been gone this long before. 

This is my last week of nursing classroom orientation.  I am ready to be out of the classroom and providing patient care.  Thursday will be my first day on the floor as a RNA.  I am ready to start this NEW journey in my life. :-)

Flashback Friday...Summer Fun 2007

Flashback Friday this week will go back to Summer 2007.  Summer has always been my favorite season and we are always looking for fun, exciting things to do.

Most activities contain some type of water.
Here the kids are playing in the pool...

Morgan & Spencer

Spencer

Morgan

attending area county fairs...

Spencer & Morgan watching the Demolition Derby

Morgan

Spencer

 trips to Holiday World....

one of my favorite pictures of Morgan

Spencer

Morgan

Tori, Morgan, Spencer & Ransome

water park fun...




The kids & I

Spencer sliding

Morgan & the girls

water balloon fights...

all the balloon's filled up

the kids getting ready to play :-)

and other activities

Spencer feeding the ducks

Slip-n-Slide action

pool time

 This summer we haven't got to do to many activities since I have starting working.  Classroom orientation is over next week & I will go to a three day work week...so hopefully we can pack July with lots of fun activities...one including the beach :-)

It was WORTH IT!!!!

After seeing my first pay stub as a RNA I can definitely say the two years of nursing school along with all the torture, stress & tears I put myself through...was ALL definitely worth it. Payday is actually Friday, but to know that money is sitting there waiting is an unbelievable feeling. Everything I have worked so hard for is starting to fall into place...now to pass NCLEX & complete my 120 hours so I can get my RN license.

Remind Me :-)

A good friend said I should listen to this song...LOVE IT! 

Today I swear I felt like I was running a race without a finish line.  It seems you always take two steps forward and three steps back.  I guess that is just life!  Trying not to stress about the "small" stuff anymore.  Life goes on...with or without us & personally I want to live my life for ME and my kids, so I will take each day as it is thrown at me.

First Week as an RNA

I survived my first week as a RNA (register nurse applicant).  Monday & Tuesday was hospital orientation.  We learn about a lot of policies/procedures and had a lot of people come in to talk to us.  We had lots of paperwork to fill out and information to learn. 

On Wednesday we started our Nursing Orientation which I blogged about HERE.  On Thursday & Friday we were also on the floor observing ONLY....Joint Commissions was there so we weren't allowed to do any patient care because we haven't finished orientation.

We go back to the classroom this week for 7 days...hopefully we will learn a lot and be ready to start working on the floor June 30.

Flashback Friday...on Saturday

I promised HERE that Flashback Friday this week would be about the kids first year playing ball.  Flashback Friday got pushed to Saturday this week because I was wore out after a LONG week of orientation (which will be another post)....so here is Flashback Friday...on Saturday :-)

Morgan's first year playing ball was 2006.  She started in T-ball, but at the time they were thrown five pitches by the coach and if they didn't hit any of them they got to hit off the tee.  She played for the Pirates her first year. Here are a few pictures of her first year of "Tee-Ball/Coach Pitch"

Morgan playing pitcher

Morgan made it 1st base

Morgan crossing home plate

Morgan's 1st baseball picture

Spencer's first year playing ball was 2007.  Him & Morgan were on the same team this year (so you will see Morgan in a few of the pictures).  He played on the "Peanuts"  It was strictly T-ball.   Here are a few pictures of Spencer's first year of baseball.

Morgan, Spencer, Madi & Audi

Spencer made it to 1st base

Spencer got his trophy

Morgan & Spencer

Spencer's 1st team picture

While doing this post I was amazed at how much all the kids have grown.  I will have to find Morgan's first year team picture & Spencer's first year individual pictures and post them in a later post.  Stay tune for my first week as a RNA...will blog about it soon (maybe tomorrow)

Happy Birthday to ME

Yep I'm getting old. 31 I ask you a few weeks ago to play nice...did you not get the memo??? I'm not letting the "small" stuff bother me this year...so go ahead & try to knock me down...it won't be that easy!!!!!

Today was a wonderful day besides a minor issue. I had another wonderful day on the floor. I am loving the nursing field. On my break I had a voice mail so I called to check it & I had won a free birthday cake from DQ. My grandparents had put my name on the radio & I was chosen as the daily winner :)

This morning on the way to work my car started missing. I only had to drive to Glasgow because me & another girl have been car pooling & today was her day to drive. I wasn't sure I would make it to Glasgow, but thankfully I did. I was hoping when I got back this afternoon it wouldn't act the same way. My car has been acting up for a long time & I knew I would have to buy one soon after starting work. On the way home this afternoon my car didn't get any better...actually got worse. There was a couple of times I wondered if I was going to make it home. I did finally make it home though. My car was jerking, missing & knocking. I was very proud that I didn't stress out & break down in tears. I REFUSE to let stuff get to me this year like I have in the past. I am at a point in my life that everything will work out the way it is supposed to. My grandparents let me borrow one of their vehicles so I would have a way to get back & forth to work. I now have an awesome job...with awesome pay (which is a huge plus). Therefore I am just going with the flow & taking it day by day. This is a HUGE accomplishment for me. :-)

After getting all the vehicle issues figured out the kids & I headed to BG for the night. My mom & stepdad took us to Cracker Barrel to eat supper for my birthday :) When we got back the kids played the Wii for a little while before bed. We are spending the night at moms so we all don't have to roll out of bed at 4:30 in the morning....6:00 will look good in the morning :)

We didn't eat the DQ birthday cake yet because we were all stiffed from supper, but it will be here tomorrow.

Thanks for all the text, phone calls & FB comments/messages. I appreciate each & every one of them!! It has been a great, super, wonderful day!!!!!!!! Thanks again :-)

First day of Nursing Orientation

I SURVIVED my first day of nursing orientation. None of us wanted to crawl out of bed @ 4:30 this morning, but after we got moving everyone was fine. It is nice to have a job you love. It was only my first day & I was very excited! I am excited about all the exciting & interesting opportunities that are still to come. I have been blessed with a lot of support & encouragement along the way. Thank you to everyone for helping me make my dreams come true!!!!

Morgan had to take a picture of me in my blue scrubs this morning. She said, "Mom, now you are a nurse now". That was enough to make everything throughout this journey worth it!!!!!!!

Baseball is OVER...till next year :'(

The last few days have been CRAZY, BUSY....I started my new job on Monday and have been in orientation the last two days.  There is SO much to learn and we have had speakers come talk to us the last two days non-stop.  Last night Spencer had a ballgame so we didn't get home until almost 9:30pm.  We had to be up at 5:30 this morning so I could get to orientation on time.  The kids had swimming lessons again today....I am still sad that I am missing them :'(  I am hoping to have pictures soon to post the Susie has took.  Tonight Spencer had his LAST pitching machine baseball game.  He has to move up to live arm next year.  It seems like yesterday he was in t-ball (watch for Flashback Friday this week...it will be of the kids first year in ball).  The Reds had an AWESOME season.....they only lost ONE game!  GREAT JOB BOYS!!!  Here are a few pictures from the game tonight.

Morgan got to call the toss

She lost the toss but....

...she got to keep the quarter :-)

Spencer being silly

Spencer

Spencer getting his trophy

Reds 2011

Tomorrow we start nursing orientation on the floor.  My FIRST day wearing my NEW scrubs....I am excited we get to wear something besides white!  The kids are not liking the idea that we have to get up at 4:30 so I can be at work on time.  I have to get up and get ready then wake them up so they can get ready...then take them to Teresa's so she can take them to Susie so she can take them to swimming lessons.....I know a lot of taking and going...but we had to do what we had to in order for them to get to swimming lessons and for me to get to work.  Hopefully next week won't be so hectic!  Ball will be OVER....swimming lessons will be OVER!

Guess that is it for now...gotta catch some ZZZZZ's :-)

Just need to vent

What a day it has been.  I should have know first thing this morning that it was going to be a BAD day!  For those that are not on my FB here is my status for the day....

People don't change...they just learn to LIE better. The TRUTH will come out eventually...Just remember KARMA is a B!TCH :)

I CAN NOT stand for someone to lie to me...especially when I know they are.  I would rather someone smack my in the face with the truth instead of stabbing me in the heart with lies.  I don't understand why people don't think I am "worth" the truth.  It really aggravates me!

Tomorrow is a NEW day...and I am so ready for it to get here.  There will be LOTS of "NEW" in my life tomorrow...I am EXCTIED!  I start my NEW job!  I am going to STOP smoking (will needs lots of prayers & support).  There will be many decision made in the next few weeks...we will see what they bring.  There are still a lot of things up in the air!

Now I will leave you with some quotes :-)  Quotes always seem to make me feel better :-)

"Somethings you cross my mind and thing about how you were everything I ever wanted.  Then I smile and look at how my life turned out compared to yours."

"Dear God, I know you wouldn't give me anything I couldn't handle, but right now, I wish you didn't trust me so much...."

"Find the one who makes you life come to life"

"Knowing I made someone smile today makes it all worth while! :)"

"It's not arrogance, it's not pride...I just love myself because the only person who truly understnads me is ME!"

"Sometimes it's the only time I truly feel at peace so if you see me alone don't pity me.  Be proud that I am strong enough to stand alone when needed."

"In the wise words of Dr House "It's a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies.  The only variable is about what""

"You can hate me or you can love me, but in the end only God can judge me."

"Just because today was a terrible day, doesn't mean tomorrow won't be the best day of your life."

"A snake is a snake, no matter how many times it sheds its skin"

Hoping tomorrow is a better day!

Swimming Lessons Day 5

Today was the LAST day of swimming lessons this week.  They have four days of lessons next week...but I will be working....which means today was the last day I will get to see them at swimming lessons :'(  I am still amazed by how much improvement they continue to show.  Every time Spencer gets on the diving board, jumps in and swims to the edge by himself...I start thinking back to the first time he had swimming lessons.  He stood in the three foot section of the pool with his hands over his face like he was praying....he was so scared.  Morgan has amazed me this week too.  She has been in the twelve foot learning to tread water, learning the correct way to dive, floating on her front & back, practicing & tweaking her strokes....it is amazing how much both kids have grown in the last two years of lessons.  I hate that I am going to miss them next week...makes me really sad...but my NEW job is calling my name.  Here are a few pictures from today.



Morgan doing the "pencil dive"



Spencer

Morgan's feet :-)

Spencer doing the "pencil dive"

Spencer jumping off the diving board

SPLASH

Morgan

Morgan...what a hair do ;)

After swimming lessons the kids went to their daddy's for the weekend.  I had to go to BG for some more pre-employment screenings.  I went and met with my unit manager and got some of my paper work.  She briefly went over a few things, but told me not to worry they would go over them more in depth next week.  I think they are changing their RNA orientation....from what I gathered we will start working on the floor on Wednesday...WOW.  When they first came and talked to us they said we would have three weeks in the classroom orientation before starting on the floor....guess we will find all of this out for sure Monday.  I did go buy me two sets of seal blue scrubs just in case we are on the floor next week.  I am EXCITED, NERVOUS, ANXIOUS to see where this journey takes me!  Thanks to everyone for all your support and encouragement!

Next week will be a CRAZY, BUSY week....but really that is my life on a daily basis...so I am sure I will adjust just fine...back to very little sleep and RUN, RUN, RUN....No major decisions being made right now.  I am going to give everything a couple of weeks and see what happens before making any live changing decisions.  I did find out I will be on nights after orientation is over...so this may put a whole new perspective on things.  I also found out I WILL be able to take off to go to the beach & the weekend trip to see SUGARLAND. :-)

Flashback Friday

Today's Flashback is going to be all about tattoo's.  I have a total of three tattoo's...all of which I got during/after major life experiences.  I got my first tattoo in June 2006 while I was going through my divorce.

My 1st Tattoo

My second and third tattoo's are VERY special to me.  I have always said that NO matter how old my kids get the will always walk on my feet...therefore I have their baby footprints tattoo'ed on the top of my feet.  I also have their name and birthday.  They each wrote their own names at the end of their first grade year.  I got both of these done in May 2008 when I got accepted into the nursing program.  I went and had Morgan's done on a Saturday night & was going to get Spencer's done the next Saturday

...needless to say I couldn't stand just having one child's done so I went back Tuesday to have Spencer's done. 

Spencer's foot didn't have his name on it for a long time, because I wanted both the kids to be the same age when they wrote their names.  In May 2010 Spencer wrote his name. 

The reason I flashbacked to tattoo's is because I am fixing to get another one.  I have thrown a few things around, but I am not 100% sure what I want....that's why it isn't already done.  I have thought about getting something RN or I have thrown around getting something CF for my step-brother Eric who passed away in 2006.  Graduating College/Nursing School and becoming an RN are both major life events...so after I pass my NCLEX and get my RN license I will get my next tattoo....what will it be???