Shots (not the inebriating kind)

In our nursing skills lab Monday it was shot day, (not the day when we all kick back and reminisce about our youth over a couple of shot glasses.) The result of this? We were all hyperventilating and pre-hypertensive watching our instructor brandish the inch and a half needle like it was a spear. We all put on our brave faces, acting like it didn't matter to get punctured but it showed when she asked for a volunteer. Suddenly the tiled floor became much more interesting and all eye-contact was abandoned. When one of us poor suckers submitted ourselves to be the dummy, she stepped forward as a soldier to battle while we all looked at her in awe. The most interesting part was the deltoid shot. Our instructor jammed that needle in with such gusto I was sure that it would never be removed from her arm and the dummy would forever been stricken with the disability of dreaded "permanent-needle-in-the-arm". As we partnered off and I looked at my partner nervously, hoping she had practiced proper sterile technique on the solution prepared, I couldn't help but chuckle to think of what an anesthetist's school was like and what they had to practice. Can you imagine giving a shot in the femoral vein...which is located RIGHT next to the groin? I guess that's how friends are made in any health care profession. Therefore, I will always look back on Jessica Gibbs, my friend, who gave me a shaky but powerful shot right in my backside.

Nursing (not the kind with a baby)

Well folks I did it. I got into the nursing program and am in my second semester which is focused on Gerontology (the older population). I have learned mounds of information about the human body and continue to compile an inhumane amount in my brain. A few experiences that I have had:

Being the "dummy" for one of my labs and having my nursing instructor percuss (tap) over my abdomen to find that I was full of gas. Big shocker there.

Buying my scrubs and sewing my patch on myself to save about $3. Of course one sleeve is now shorter than the other but who ever said adding a personal touch was bad.

Taking blood pressures and heart rates of boys and feeling their pulse quicken once I touched them, making them all pre-hypertensive and tachycardic.

Listening for, no joke, five minutes straight to my partners heart and blood pressure trying to figure out why I couldn't hear a darn thing and then realizing the end of my stethoscope was in the "no sound" position.

On a more serious note: Wiping away the thick, discolored mucus from my patients mouth while stifling the urge to vomit, telling myself to remember that this woman had been a teacher for 30 years and loves her sister as much as I love mine. Trying desperately to remember that just because her Alzheimer's causes her to not remember me in 5 minutes doesn't mean I should treat her like she doesn't matter. Each time I visit her I am reminded of how quick and emotionally draining it is to watch, and I'm sure experience, human deterioration when the end of a long life approaches.

Sometimes I wonder if in 50 or 60 years I won't remember who my children are and there will be some student nurse wiping my face, dressing me and telling herself over and over again that this woman was once a nurse herself.

San Diego

It was interesting, as I was sitting there listen to the Flight Attendant repeatedly squeak out "You are on the flight for Saaaaaaaannnnnn Diiiiieeeego" I had a momentary panic attack as to the amount of money that I was spending to go down and visit my friend in San Diego. Was this worth it? But then I though, don't people do this kind of stuff everyday? As they are strolling through the grocery store they throw in a box of Twinkies here, a bag of "fat free"-dipped-in-sugar-but-who-cares-because-it's-fat-free high calorie nougats. So I justified myself and got ready to go to my big box of twinkies aka San Diego.

I seem to have issues with airports, only my strong determination to get on that plane allowed me to shove aside man, woman and child and arrive on time. The first plane I was the last one on and had about 3 minutes until take off because I arrived late and forgot to take my liquids out of the bag which made them think I was hiding something so I had to go through another, "more extensive" part of security. The second time I went through security twice because I went through the wrong portal and then when I ran over to the correct one there was a long line and it was being backed up by some latino man who had passport issues. After tapping my foot and sighing loudly so everyone knew that I was impatiently waiting the line finally started to move and I made it to my gate just in time for boarding.

San Diego was filled with all of the diversions that anyone would enjoy. I read Harry Potter, went to the beach everyday and ate enough sushi to make anyone shudder, (I even got to the point where the woman working at "Su

shi Man" recognized me.) Kelsey and I cooked dinner together and suffered the consequences what spicy food can do to the digestive system.

Here are a few pictures that evidence the amazing time I had:

I stayed at the Barker's house with Kelsey while in San Diego and they are currently under construction. There house has an uncanny resemblance to my idea of a drug dealers home.

The Chicken Pigeon that we befriended on our many trips to the beach.

A new way to be modest

Kelsey and I at Coronado Beach

BYU

Well, my official second blog about a year after my first. I have started school at BYU. I am an Anatomy Lab T.A. which I love! Though I'm having some issues with teaching, it seems that my flaws with certain terms as a student have become flaws as a T.A. I'm working on it though. I am also working and taking chemistry. Chemistry is extremely hard for me, hopefully God is listening to my many prayers of pleading for undestanding. I know I can get through this if I put in the time and faith. I'm starting to feel like a raindrop, hurtling through space with my core going every which way possible. I'm holding on to the thought that I will soon evaporate back to a place that I am more comfortable in.
I'm grateful to be attending BYU and I know this environment is good for me. As much as I would love to be backpacking right now I know that my education is not just for me but for those I will influence later on.

Dedicated to Rachel Olsen

Well it's springbreak and I'm loving it. I love having a break from the frantic and stessed college life. I was able to go to Zion's National Park for a couple of days for some hiking. It's truly breathtaking, the view is so large and overwhelming I felt like my conciousness was being crushed under the weight of the great red canyon walls.

Our first attempt at a campfire was dismal at best but we got it going after some neighboring campers took pity on us and gave us firewood, (we were using weeds, twigs and dried leaves.)

We, a bunch of friends from USU, had fun despite our challenge with camping on our own. Though I will attest that I had the most experience all thanks to Dad and Papaw.

We all left Zion's burnt (my arms are fried), worn out and happy that our taste of independence was over. My mom's cooking tastes all the better when I eat freeze dried food for a couple of days.

Finals, like the sun rising each day, CANNOT be prevented. So I am starting the mental preparation now. I look foreward to summer, these thoughts get me through the final weeks of my first year in college. Though nothing brings me more comfort than a loving family, a true gospel to believe in and delicious food from my mom's kitchen.