Happy and Sad

In less than one month Jackie will be moving into her first apartment with her fiance Jason.  I'm happy for them both and yet at the very same time I'm sad to see my girl go.  Jackie has been a huge help to me while I was going to school to get my RN degree.  She was a tremendous help with her brother Brandon.  The last months since my graduation and her getting her first job and getting more independence has been bitter sweet for me.

I'm happy that she is no longer afraid of the world and has in the last year gotten her driver's license, gotten a job and had Jason move in here with us.  Though I know she is ready for this next step and I truly thought I would be ready as well, I'm learning I'm much more worried about her move and her future than she is.  She will be moving to Richmond a full 1.5 hours from home.  I know that isn't so far yet it seems like a million miles away.

Shaun moved out years ago and somehow that wasn't difficult at all.  He never was a Momma's boy, he was always such an independent young man.  I'm not sure Jackie knows just how much I'm going to miss her or if she will even miss us at all.  As much as it shames me to say this, I was so happy to leave home when I did I didn't miss home, mom or dad at all.  Granted I was only a few minutes from home when Bob and I married and moved to our first apartment.  Looking back now I'm not sure how I handled the sudden change.  I'd never been away from home before and yet from the first day Bob and I began our lives together it never felt uncomfortable.  Honestly it was as if we had been living together forever.  It was the most natural experience.  I'm sure it is just like that for Jackie and Jason.  They do seem perfect for one another and I could not have picked a nicer young man for Jackie.

This change may be harder on me than anyone but I do wish them the very best and pray that God gives them the strength, knowledge and where-with-all to handle everything that comes their way. I also pray He gives me the strength to get through this change and the poise, knowledge and support that they will need from me.  Yes as I type this tears are welling up into my eyes (sniffle, sniffle)  thinking of how quickly the years have gone by and how my beautiful baby girl has grown into a beautiful young woman.

Aren't they a beautiful couple!

The above photo is one of my father with Jackie in his arms and Shaun by his side.  I can't believe how long ago that was.

And here I am with my girl.  I'm so proud of her!  Jackie, I love you more than you will ever know!  I wish you and Jason the best the world has to offer!


UPDATE:  Change in plans Jackie and Jason will continue to live here at home until they both find jobs in the Richmond area.  

Celebrations continue!

In January Bob and I celebrated 27 years of marriage.  We had an awesome weekend in Williamsburg!  Time alone with the man I love, walking in the brisk night air after a romantic dinner at Captain Georges.  Last weekend was my birthday and my entire family was here celebrating with me.  I have been so blessed.  Bob and I are looking forward to several getaway weekends with Brandon and Nickie this year.  So we are going later today to the RV expo to see if we can find an RV that works with a wheelchair.  We think the "toy" carrying type might fit the bill.  We may however decide to continue using hotels, condos or looking into time shares.  Not sure just yet what is the best fit for us.  We only know we want to enjoy as many weekends and vacation time that we have together. Making that happen when you have a wheelchair is complicated to say the least.  I'd love feed back from those of you that have experience traveling with a motorized wheelchair.  If you have done it with an RV tell me what you did to make it work. 

Happy Veteran's Day

I'd like to thank our veteran's for all that they do to secure our freedom and keep us safe.  I also wanted to share the Red Skelton piece on the Pledge of Allegiance.  He explains it so well.

Nursing Is Not For Wimps!

I've known for many years that I wanted to become a nurse, twenty years, to be exact.  When everyone else in my family was afraid to learn what was needed to care for Nickie, there I was.  I had many fears but I knew I had to overcome them to give my baby girl a chance to survive.  In a few short weeks I became an expert on her care.  Over the years I let my insecurities and the ups and downs of everyday life keep me from getting back on the road to nursing school.  I must give thanks to God, my family and friends who reminded me daily that I could do it. 

Today I know without a doubt that nursing is my calling in life.  I know I make a difference to my patients.  I know that it won't be peaches and cream and I will have far more frustrations in this profession than not.  I also know that one moment can erase all those frustrations.  One hug from a patient, one smile, one gentle hand squeeze.  When you can turn the light bulb on for a patient through education, those are the moments that make up for all the back breaking, every muscle aching, days. 

I'm going through my training for my new job in dialysis and there is so much to learn!  It is a little overwhelming, but we have some awesome patients that encourage me, that look forward to my being there and if I can bring a little laughter with the care and kindness and education then we all have a better day!  I hear dialysis is a tough specialty (I believe it!) and burn out occurs quickly (I can see that too!).  I hope I will be able to see that in myself and get out before it affects the care I provide my patients.  God willing it will be a place for me to hang my hat for a long while.  If it turns out that is not the case, then I will take with me some wonderful experiences to the next job.

Exciting weeks since last post!

     Praise God!  I passed the NCLEX-RN (state boards) with flying colors!  I'm now officially a registered nurse!  I have never been so scared of a test in all my life!  The computer cut off on the minimum number of questions which can mean either I failed it royally or I passed it really well!  It was the 3rd most agonizing 24 hours of my life.  The 1st and 2nd both being times Nickie was so very sick in an ICU that we didn't know if she would survive. I had 2 interviews within the five days after passing the state boards and again I praise God for two job offers!

     Bob and I spent hours going over the pros and cons of both offers and I'm happy to announce I accepted a job in dialysis.  I begin soon with five weeks of dialysis training in Roanoke.   I'm excited about today and the future!

Long summer, many trials

So much has happened since graduation.  Some wonderful, some very frightening. In May Nickie went to the prom with her boyfriend Ryan!  It was awesome!  The entire junior and senior class gave them a huge welcome to the prom! 

Ryan and Nickie dancing!

Ryan, Linda (Nickie's nurse) and Nickie!

Nickie gave us a big scare when she aspirated a feeding and had to go the ER via ambulance to the local hospital.  She was admitted to the ICU and long story short, they didn't listen to me or her nurse when we said that she needed to be on humidified air while ventilated.  This caused extensive damage to her lungs and honestly there was a time there that we almost lost her.  I wish I had requested a move to a more qualified hospital but I didn't and on the 4th day the Dr. suggested we move her to another better equipped ICU.  She went to MCV and by the grace of God she is now fully recuperated.  The staff at MCV was awesome!  It was difficult having her so far from home but she was in the best hands there.  I'm thankful she pulled through this and grateful for God's grace.  With all the weeks of hospitalization and continued recovery at home testing for state boards was placed on the back burner. 
I'm happy to say I was finally able to do that yesterday and again by God's grace I can now say I'm officially a registered nurse!  A job that was on the table at graduation may still be in sight.... more on that soon.

Vote for The Silver Star Families of America in the Pepsi Refresh Project!

whirlwind of excitement.

Pinning ceremony was the 11th and it was a fantastic night! We left the next morning for the Outer Banks and had a glorious mini-vacation to celebrate graduation.   Now my search continues for a J O B!  I'm so thankful to God for getting me through school and for my family, friends and all the experiences that have made me who I am today.  That includes all the bad things from my past, for without them I wouldn't be where I am today.  Those bad experiences which include people that pretended to be friends to my face, were placed in my life for a reason.  It wasn't fun at the time, I did indeed learn valuable lessons.  Fortunately I have not lost my trust in mankind and did find some of the best friends in nursing school, friends that I know will last a lifetime!

RN Class of 2010

Today I am an RN graduate.  It is official!  Pinning ceremony is Tuesday and I will post pictures.  I can hardly believe the journey to become an RN is over.  It is by the grace of God that I have been able to do this and it is in His honor that I will dedicate my work.  I want to thank also my wonderful instructors, Jackie Daniel and Lisa Bennett as well as my class for the encouragement and support that you all provided to me.  I must also thank my family for putting up with all the craziness that is nursing school and for not kicking me out when the stresses were so high.  Now the next stage begins.... finding a  JOB.

9 weeks

Even as I type that I'm in complete shock, 9 weeks till graduation.  These last 2/12 years have truly flown by.  There is so much to do to prepare.  So much work still to do.  So many tests, exams and NCLEX.  I've been applying everywhere and my head is spinning trying to figure out where to go and sort through what offers there are.  It's happening so very quickly.  Tick, tock, tick, tock.  For right now, its spring break and I am going to try to relax and enjoy.  Until next time!