Finally done!

I honestly can't believe that I'm done with nursing school.  I dreamed about this day for quite awhile (and frequently cursed along the way) but I'm not sure I REALLY thought it would get here.

It's been an amazing ride.  One that I might actually miss a little tiny bit.  I've had my friends and family put up with me, support me, make me laugh, and let me cry.  Without them I know I wouldn't have been able to do this on my own.  I owe them a big huge thank you! 

ADN Pinning December 2013

Pinning was amazing, I admit I'm a sap (as if you didn't know that already).  I didn't really flat out cry but I did get teary eyed plenty of times.  Sitting there listening to speeches and looking around me at my classmates all dressed up and in graduation gowns was very important to me.  I think ceremony is an important part of beginning and ending things.  I don't know that I'll ever feel that way again, filled with joy, pride, excitement and trepidation for the future. 

I know I've said this before but I'll say it again: at 18 I never would have picked nursing as a career, now I can't imagine being anything else.  I know that this is my calling and it will never just be a job but be part of who I am and what I am. 

I've been so lucky to find this fairly early in life.  I never thought I'd be that person.  It is proof that things do fall into place if you are ready for them when they are ready for you.  Thank you to everyone, but especially my husband.  He never gave up on me, he always believed in me (even when I didn't believe in myself), and he has been my rock, my best friend and so much more.  Thank you for letting me use you as a guinea pig and teach you all kinds of gross diseases so that I could learn them too.  Thank you for everything.  Gabe doesn't realize it yet but he deserves a big thank you from me too, for putting up with an exhausted mom, and one who was maybe a little short sometimes, and didn't always feel like playing or reading one more story.  He's an awesome kid and I know that he's proud of me too.  He talked about my graduation the entire week beforehand, and even though the ceremony part was boring (he's almost 7 after all) I know he will understand someday.  I love you both so much. 

Almost there!

Nothing like posting in August and then not again til December right?!  Geez!

This semester has been amazing and crazy! I've been lucky enough to do a rotation in a major regional burn center and have found that I love it there!  I'm just 16 days from graduation (EEK!) and I'm really hoping that a job opens up there and I can stay.  The nurses and patients have all been simply spectacular.  The things I have learned there can't be quantified.  I never thought I'd be the kind of person that would find a job that I really really really loved and if I won the lottery I'd do this job for free. 

Right now the schedule looks pretty awesome, this week is my last clinical day, then the HESI.  Next week is my last exam and then just a presentation after that.  Pinning is coming quick and I have a dress and presents for my friends all set! It is going to be amazing.  I simply can not believe how far we've all come since starting this program.  I feel like a nurse now, I feel like I can do this, I feel like this is what I'm meant to be here doing. 

I want to take my NCLEX ASAP after graduation so I can really start working too.  I'm hoping by the second week in January at the latest, it depends on quickly school gets my info in to the state. 

Here's to the next chapter and starting out as a brand new nurse and being the new kid on the block and terrified all over again.  I know I can do this!

Bring it on!

It's taken a long time to get here.  To this place where I can say that I'm starting my final semester of school (for now).  To say that this is the one that matters.  It's been a long time coming, and the road hasn't always been easy but I have to say that in a way I've really loved every minute of it. 

This semester I know I will be challenged, AGAIN, in ways I can't see coming.  I will stretch the limits of my brain, the amount of sleep, the stress, and the fun and joy of this journey.  I will spend time with women that I call friends, women I couldn't even fathom having like them in my life.  Without them I wouldn't be here either. 

My family has given so much, sacrificed so much and been there when I need them.  They will not really ever know how much I am thankful for that.  My husband has been especially important and he's put his things on hold just so that I (we) could do this too.  He's a pretty amazing person, my best friend and the one person I know I can't live without.  I love you hon! 

I hope that I can be the kind of nurse that I would want to work with, the kind I would want as a patient and the kind that continues to learn and grow and never becomes jaded.  I hope that I have a job I love (or at least like) and it happens soon LOL! 

I am ready, I've been building to this for so long.  I had no idea that this is what it would feel like.  I can do this, I can be this, I am MEANT to be this. BRING IT ON!

RAWR!

I'm a horrible blogger, I know this (and so does anyone who actually checks this page) because I only post VERY sporadically but when I do it's because I've been thinking.

Today I was thinking that my birthday is in 2 weeks.  I was thinking that I'll be starting my last semester of school.  I went back and read some of the things I posted that first semester and HOLY COW! That was a pretty scared and stressed out woman.  I feel different now.  I feel like I might know where I fit, and if I don't that's okay I'll find it.  I can't believe that I'll be starting the last 16 weeks pretty darn quick here, and then the real work starts right?  My only regrets are that I didn't start this sooner and that my Grandpa won't be there to see me graduate. 

I've really begun to feel like I'm ME and that even with all the imperfections and things I'd like to change that I'm okay with me :D There's always work to be done and the best any of us can hope for is to have the time and desire to change things. 

Tomorrow I have a date with my hubby for Darius Rucker and I'm looking forward to that, then we have Miranda Lambert on Aug 11 and then I'll be gearing up for school pretty darn quick! Gabe will be starting FIRST grade in Sept! Here it comes! I'm going to really try and blog the last semester well so that when I'm an old haggard lady I'll remember what this one felt like too, because I sure wouldn't remember that 1st semester if I hadn't written it down too. 

Here's to the beginning of the end.... of this journey at least I'm looking forward to it, and to the beginning of the next journey too.

Three semesters down! One more to go!

Yesterday I finished my 3rd semester of nursing school.  That means I'm 3/4 of the way to being a nurse, for real!  I started with my pre-reqs in January 2010 and will graduate in December 2013.  Not too shabby for someone who never attended college and had no idea what she wanted to be when she grew up, after the veterinarian thing was out at least. 

Looking back on the last three semesters is a blur.  I have made some really awesome friendships that I hope last a lifetime.  I have met some amazing instructors and mentors that I know have made me a better person and will make me a better nurse.  I have learned so many things from text books, lectures, videos, discussion and most of all my patients. 

There were times that this has been fun, really!, there have been times where this was hard, A LOT!, and there have been times I wasn't sure I was going to get through the next day...but I have.  My family has been so wonderful and understanding about everything.  I really couldn't do this without my husband's support. 

This summer Gabe and I will be home having fun, and hopefully that new pool will go up easily! This summer will be the last time that I'm home full time like this.  So we're going to enjoy it doing as many free things as we possibly can. 

Here's to an amazing summer and just one more semester of school before I'm officially a nurse....and then the real hard work begins and I simply can not wait!!

48 days/260 days

It's spring break and right now there are 49 days til the end of this semester.  That also means that there are only 260 days til graduation. Of course that means spending the summer home again this year with my most favorite little human. 

I think about how I felt at this time last year, that I was drowning, that no one could possibly survive this thing called nursing school, that I would never finish, that I was never going to feel like a nurse, that I was terrified....so much more.  I feel different now.  I can see where I'm going and I can see how I'm going to get there (most of the time).  I know that I feel confident in some of the stuff I know and have learned.  Of course there is so much more to learn, there always will be, but I know stuff.  I know the answers, I just have to BELIEVE that I know them.

I enjoy clinical even when it means extra homework, because I like being on the floor.  I like spending time with patients.  I can see myself doing this job for the rest of my life.  I know this is what I'm supposed to do.  I may not always know what kind of nurse I'll be but I know that I'm supposed to be a nurse. 

In 260 days I'll be done with school.  I started this journey in January 2010 with my pre-reqs and I have met some amazing people along the way.  I have learned so much about myself, and I have been shown time and again how wonderful my family it (even when they drive me nuts).  I really can't imagine myself doing this without them.  I'm sure that I don't tell them that enough but I hope they know that. 

I can not wait to be done with this portion of school, to take my NCLEX and call myself a nurse.  On the flip side I'm terrified to be an official nurse that someone expects knows the answers.  It's going to be exciting.  Right now I'm focused on surviving this year, one day at a time.  Left foot, right foot, breathe.  Keep calm and nurse on!

3-5-13

My PN diploma came today!! More emotional about it than I thought I would be actually!!

Made it!

I made it, I finished the first semester of nursing school.  I did it with the help of my family and the friends I have made this semester!  Thank you all!  Thank you for the fun, for kicking my butt when I needed it, thank you for making flash cards, and letting me us your notes, thank you for the lunches, and the jokes, and picking on me when I really needed it, thank you for showing me how wonderful people really can be and I know some of us will be life long friends. 

 Thank you to my wonderful husband who never complained when I had to study late, or go to study group, when dinner wasn't made, when laundry wasn't done, when I went to bed at 8pm on a weekend because I was so beat.  Thank you honey, you'll never really know how much I appreciate you.

Of course there are three more semesters to go but I'm feeling great having the first one out of the way! 

This summer Gabe and I will hang out, play in the yard, go to the pool and just enjoy not having to be anywhere before 8 am.  Mike and I are signed up for an aquatic workout 2 nights a week starting Mid-June and I'm looking forward to some "us" time.

I'm looking forward to grilling out and burning stuff with my brother and Sarah now that they are next door.  I'm looking forward to just chilling out some!

I can't wait for the party in just a couple weeks! I'm worried its going to be 900 degrees, or 30, or raining LOL!  But it will be a blast no matter what. 

I'm looking forward to running and working out more! (I hope my hip agrees, its really sore after the first day of running on Saturday).

I just can't wait!!!

Just keep swimming....

I feel like I'm drowning.  I am starting to see some people start to lose it.  Just three weeks left of this semester.  I'm both shocked at how fast it is going and yet each day seems like an eternity.  Each morning my alarm goes off and I think I could sleep for days, maybe I will when I have that chance.  Gabe can fend for himself ;)  Tests, tests, studying, studying, clinicals and reading. 

Things just feel like they are all so far to the wayside that I can't even think about them much, laundry is a joke!  I mean I'm not great at keeping up on laundry normally but right now it is a complete and utter disaster!  Food....well I did gain 4 pounds during this semester.  That's pretty good I think considering the complete and total lack of working out I have done.  I am looking forward to having some time to work out soon.  I really do need the time to unwind but then I feel guilty for not hanging out with Mike or Gabe or studying, eating or even ...GASP!.... sleeping that I don't do it. 

I am glad I'm doing this.  I feel really drawn here to this point in my life.  I feel like something called me here.  The universe put a lot of things in front of me and I ended up here.  I'm loving the work and I love the theory, I can't wait to find my place and find MY people, the place where I'm comfortable as a nurse, the place where I belong, the place where I make a difference in even just one person's day.  I know its out there.  I have some ideas of where I think I might want to be but then I learn something new and get interested in that too, I'm like a crow going after things that are shiny right now.  Hopefully I'll just KNOW.

For now though one day at a time, one class at a time, and one test at a time.  

Spring break

Well spring break came and went.  I didn't do anything exciting really but it was nice...sort of.  I find spring break to be a double edged sword.  I NEEDED the break...but I'm really just now actually relaxed from school and have to go back tomorrow...and we have a TEST!  On the first day back, yuck.  Whomever scheduled that should be flogged. 

There are only five weeks left of school this semester though and that will go by fast.  So I'm keeping my head down, and going to power through it! 

Life in a nutshell

I'm halfway through my first semester of nursing classes.  I am stressed, overwhelmed, but I love it.  Really!  I love the information that is being crammed into my brain every day.  I love the stuff that I think is gross.  I especially love the people that I am meeting and becoming friends with. 

Of course today I'm home sick with a little boy who's running a temp and worrying that I am missing a clinical day but overall everyone has been doing well during my "absence".  Sometimes I feel like I'm missing out on things and Gabe and Mike are being neglected.  I know its only a short amount of time, and half way through the semester, means only 8 more weeks until summer anyhow.  Oh how I love that count down!!  Then I realize how short of a time that it really takes and it will be over.  How fast time goes!!

Ten years ago (on Tuesday) Mike and I got married.  Then I was a boisterous, funny, skinnier ;), very young woman and at 19 that girl would have never considered being a nurse.  She would have balked at the work, thought it gross, dirty, lowly and not fun at all.  Mike and I got married and had no plans to have kids, heck we were lucky to keep our cat fed then.  Now of course Gabe is 5 years old, I'm in school full time, Mike is still/again at FIS (or whatever you want to call it).  We're living in a great house and doing okay no matter the ups and downs we've had.  This 29 year old woman feels light years older (in a good way) than that 19 year old girl and yet I still feel the same deep down.  I'm glad that we've come this far together and I can't wait for the road ahead for life, school and family. 

To those that have been on this ride from the beginning I'm so happy to have had you there through it all, to those just joining us HANG ON! I hope you stick around for the next chapter(s). 

I'd lose my head if it wasn't attached

I better write all this down RIGHT NOW while I'm thinking about it.

Today was my first day of core nursing classes (the ones that really count!).  It was also Gabe's first day of daycare!!  Turns out Mother Nature has a sense of humor and the wind chill was below zero when we left the house, oh so early, in the morning. 

We did get out the door only to forget Gabe's boots, which didn't matter because it was too cold to play outside at daycare but still bugged me.  We got Mike dropped off at work and headed to campus.  I got a good parking spot (benefit of being there at 7:30).  I hauled my backpack, laptop bag, Gabe, his snowsuit, and his backpack all inside the school. 

I dropped him off and he barely said bye to me!  He was the first one there so he went off and was busy playing right away with all the cool toys.

Then I skedaddled to my first class, Pharmacology, which was at 8am.  I get there and we sit around for awhile and at about 8:15 another instructor comes in and apologizes that we were supposed to get an email that there was no class today, that it starts NEXT Wed.  Grrr!!  So now I have 2 hours to kill on campus while I wait for my next class to start.  It was a long two hours.

The next class is Nursing Fundamentals, we get settled in, do the obligatory paperwork, and jump right in.  It was an alright intro and seems like it could be interesting.  It is basically a theory class about the profession of nursing (subtitled "How not to get sued" by me). 

I am done at noon and head over to the daycare to pick Gabe up.  When he sees me he immediately bursts in to tears because they were just starting lunch and I interrupted him LOL!!  There were three other kids there at that point, two girls and a boy.  They all waved and said hi.  I did finally get Gabe to calm down and we took his lunch to go. 

At home he tells me that it was a boring morning because he was by himself for most of it (I think the other kids came around 10).  He did enjoy playing in the muscle room, where they play when it is too cold outside.   He waffles between telling me he's glad he went and wanting to never go back again!

Monday we do it all over again, but only for the afternoon since there was a last minute schedule change by one of my instructors :/ So we'll be on campus together from 12:30-4 and then head right to pick up Mike. 

I have about 115 pages to read this week for Fundamentals, my online Psych class will probably start posting things tomorrow or Friday.  So I'm off and running! Although I won't really be running because my backpack weighs a ton and is already stuffed to the max!

Done with the fall semester!

I made it through one more semester!  I am officially done with the fall 2011 semester.  A semester of intro psych (which sucked and I'll avoid that instructor like the plague) but I got a B-, Health psychology (which I love that instructor) and I got an A, Medical Terminology which was easy peasy and I got a 97% in LOL, also Modern Cinema which I'm still waiting for a final grade, I'm thinking B+ or A- depending on the paper grade.

The REALLY good news is that I have registered for all my core RN classes.  I am all set to take the really hard ones and the ones that really matter starting in the Spring 2012 semester.  I have all my classes at Mequon campus and New Castle as my first clinical location.  YAY!  Everything is close-ish to home!

I am still working out childcare for Gabe (EEK!!!!) but I'm hoping things are going to fall into place and we won't have to worry about it too much.  I will be at class/clinical 4 days a week and my Dad will watch Gabe on Weds so at least that day is taken care of. 

I am excited, nervous and terrified right now of the future 4 semesters but I also know this is what I want and I can do this.  It will be hard, there will be days (weeks) that suck but I can do this!! This is not a punishment, I want to do this.  I want to be a nurse! 

Christmas is around the corner which means so is Gabe's birthday.  Hopefully I'll have a few posts between now and then, and you'll see me in early January before I disappear again too.  I'm going to attempt to be better here even during the spring because I know I won't remember this journey if I don't write stuff down!

School decision

After I received the acceptance letter to Cardinal Stritch I also received an acceptance to MATC.  I was thinking "CRAP! now I really have to decide what to do?!" 

Mike and I really sat down and talked things through and he is the most wonderful, amazing husband ever, and assured me that we would do what needed to be done no matter which school I chose.  Knowing that he supported my decision really did help me and make it easier to decide.  After lots of thought and consideration I've decided to stay at MATC.  The price tag is definitely a big deciding factor, plus I've been receiving more grants which makes it even better.  I know that I don't have to work full time while in school and end up having some left over money to pay bills and things while in school.  Plus leaving school with less debt is something that I really need to consider.  Both programs are good and both give me my ADN which allows me to take the NCLEX and become an RN.  I'll worry about my BSN later if and when that matters.  MATC's program is 4 semesters long meaning I will finish in the December of 2013!

I am excited to have made a final decision! I am still nervous and worried and everything else.  There are still some things that I need to do before I start with those classes in January but I'm on my way.  Now I'm on a mission to find even more scholarships and grants to pay for school! 

Wish me luck, remind me that I'm not crazy, that I can do this with a child and a husband and a life.  Remind me that I WANT this when I complain and I think it's too hard and I'm too overworked.  Remind me that being a nurse is something that I KNOW I want.  Remind me that I can do this, please.  I'm going to stumble and I'm going to need my family and friends to keep me standing! 

officially have a school for the rest of school

So the letter and packet actually came Saturday when we were gone and I opened it (well Mike opened it for me) on Sunday but I didn't post about it right away because we had to really sit down and talk it over.  It's not a cheap school so we had to decide if it's even possible.  Of course I still need to sit down with the school but it SEEMS feasible.  So I'm calling it accepted.

I will officially be a Cardinal Stritch nursing student in January if all goes well.  I will have 5 semesters of school to do, I have many classes done already so I will have to fill out my schedule with a few other things.  I will have my ADN and pass the NCLEX and be an RN by June 2014 (geez that's still a long way away!!!)  Cardinal Stritch is set up to bridge to the BSN easily which is great because I do know that I want my BSN for sure, after I have a job though. 

I'm still super nervous, and I haven't actually heard back from MATC yet but I figure that Stritch is what I really want and I should just jump in with both feet and do it, even though MATC is only a 4 semester program, at this point what's one extra semester right?! 

I'm excited, anxious, TERRIFIED and thrilled to be reaching this point.  I WANT THIS!  I NEED THIS!  I WILL DO THIS!

This shouldn't surprise you

It shouldn't surprise anyone that during school I fall off the blogging band wagon.  So here's the general "oh shit I forgot I have this" update.

I've finished my Medical Terminology class, all 12 weeks of it in about 3 weeks with a 97%.  I'm hating Intro to Psych because there is NO interaction with anyone in the class and the instructor doesn't get back to you either (a poor review will happen at the end of the semester).  My Health Psych class is good, I've taken another class with this instructor and I like her style.  My Intro to Modern Cinema class has been going well and I actually enjoy analyzing films. 

I have three papers to write for the classes I'm not done with.  I'm doing a PTSD treatment paper for Intro to Psych, no idea what the criteria is for the second psych class yet so don't have a topic but I have some ideas on what it might be, and my Modern Cinema class is comparing the 1951 Disney's Alice In Wonderland to the 2010 Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland.  So that should be interesting. 

Other than that lets see... I have applications into both MATC and Cardinal Stritch for the spring semester to figure out where I'm doing clinicals.  I'm really hoping for MATC because it's just soooooo much cheaper and I don't have to panic about it.  I should know about Halloween time for both of those.

I've been maintaining weight right now which is okay, I needed a break and to see if I could live with this weight which is an "okay" weight for me but I've decided that I'm really NOT okay with it yet and I need to kick it back up for another 8-10lbs so that I can give myself some flux room for this current weight to be my "high" weight.  I really want to do some more core work too so I'm looking at some videos now because I need to have set goals to do well.

I have a job now, just Saturday nights, working for a private client doing home health aide stuff and some light house keeping.  I don't mind it and he's a nice enough guy, older but sharp and funny.  I think he's stating to warm up to me too.

I think that's it.  I should have another post around Halloween about Trick or Treating and school and stuff!!  Til them I promise I'm not dead just busy with school!

Keep plugging along!

I'm sure we've all had weeks where things didn't go quite right, where stress stacked up.  It really started last week with my CNA exam and failing my practical.  Really I promise to never pour urine in a sink ever again.  I'm okay with laughing about it now really ;) 

Then misc other things stacked up and it put me into this funk.  I just couldn't shake it.  I had a great time this weekend with a party at the house with all of our friends.  I loved seeing everyone, but then I feel sad because we just don't get together like that very often anymore and I miss that type of hanging out.  The kind where there are people in every room and you can just float around and join in whatever conversation is going on, or a game or whatever.  That there are just people everywhere.  I love that, really! 

I learned something new about myself this week though, even when things suck and I feel in a funk I can push through and work out and that actually makes me feel better!  Doing a hard run and coming in last night to marinate dinner for tonight afterward really made the difference.  I didn't just cop out and stuff my face, I didn't just skip the workout because I didn't "feel" like doing it.  I did it.  And it helped!  I'm still amazed at this sometimes. 

So even though school will be starting and my financial aide is still a disaster but I have the paperwork to hopefully fix it, I need a CPR class done ASAP, and I need to retake my CNA practical, I know I'll get through it.  I know that I can do it.  I can push through, suck it up and do what I need to do. 

Tonight dinner is Asian Chicken from Skinny Taste and corn on the cob.  It will be wonderful and it will taste great (I hope) and I'll have another great recipe to add to my repertoire.   So even if you're having a tough time just keep plugging along and things will get better, and you'll be glad you didn't stuff your face with crap you know you don't like and don't want.

ARGLEBARGLE!

Sometimes I forget this is here.  Then sometimes I remember and I figure no one really wants/needs to know what I'm thinking because, let's face it, it's usually fluff. 

Well today I'm stressed out and you all are going to listen to me DARN IT!  I have this exam at the end of the week that, well, basically decides if I get in to my clinical classes for nursing.  That's right it's the most important test (currently) that I need to take.  I've decided there are really only three important tests in my career.

This is the first one, the NLNPAX test.  It's math, science and reading.  It's timed and full of crap I haven't used in math since high school.  So ya, that means I've forgotten about 100% of it.  I had to look up my times tables people!  It costs me money to take this test and you can only take it once every 6 months and never take it more than twice or something.  Great! /end sarcasm

The next one will be my CNA certification which is required my the school I want to transfer to, to begin your clinical classes.  I'm doing the clinical classes for that right now.  It's not really going to be TOO difficult but still it costs me money to take it and if I fail then I'll cry and suck, and have to pay for it again.  I'm not overly worried about it but it still matters.  

The third test of course is my NCLEX, that's the one that makes me an official RN at the end of all this tortuous school work, clinical classes, sleepless nights and stress.  Again you pay to take it and it sucks and everyone walks out thinking they failed.  Even the really smart people. 

I'm a smart cookie, really if I do say so myself.  I'm an adept test taker and I know my shit 99% of the time but this one is just kind of getting to me that it's so important on Friday.  Will I do well, probably but there's that small place of doubt inside my brain that tells me I'm not quite as smart as I think I am, and that I'm not good enough to do this.  I need that voice to shut the hell up and let the smart Mel through!

After Friday though, there will be a small reprieve before taking the CNA exam so at least I can finish up my other classes for the semester.  Then I can stress about getting a job (LOL FUN, or not). 

I'm signed up for classes in the fall already so at least that's one worry out of the way.  So expect similar freak outs as we go along the way.  

Blarg!  I just feel overwhelmed and stressed about the options and choices and finally having things go in the direction I want them to only to be terrified that I won't do well.   

Someone remind me it will be okay pretty please

I haven't forgotten

I haven't forgotten that I have a blog, I promise.

What I've been doing is school.  Things are going well and this is my last semester of pre-reqs.  So I'm hoping things keep going well and I can petition in Sept to start in Jan.  I have a lot of other things swimming around in my head about if I should stay here and finish my ADN or go elsewhere spend more time and money and get my BSN.  I'm hoping I get in the first semester where I am so I don't REALLY have to think about this.  I WANT to work ASAP and I know that I can get a job with my ADN and go for the BSN slowly over time after I'm making some money ;P

Home has been good, we are almost ready to paint in the basement.  My Dad and I sanded most of the place, all walls and some of the ceilings before our arms gave out.  So next week we WILL finish sanding ;) I promise.  Then I need to prime, and paint.  Then floors go in and we can MOVE IN TO IT!!!  It's kind of weird to think about it being done any time in the future since I feel like we've been working on it forever.  We need to have a party when we are done. 

I'm ready for winter to be over, we've had two nice days in the 40s and I wish the whole winter was like this.  So maybe that desert dream will keep me dreaming about warm winters. 

Gabe has been good and keeping busy.  He's always got a story or a joke for us now and his best friend is Maddy (Dave and La's daughter).  They are super adorable together too!  If we could marry them off we would since we already like the In-laws ;)

The end is near!

Insert ominous music here....

The end of the semester is near, just one more week left! PUSH THROUGH!  Then a month off before it starts all over again.

The end of the year is also near.  That means Gabe will be FOUR!!!!! in just 14 days.  I simply can not believe that he's four already.  Where has the time gone? 

The end of the basement is getting near, we're drywalling on Sunday, please don't snow, please don't snow.  Then just floor to put in and we'll be moving stuff downstairs :D

The end of the year is always a little odd for me now.  I think part of it is Gabe's birthday.  I hate that his birthday is so wrapped up with Christmas.  I hate that people will combine gifts for him and they wouldn't for a kid who's birthday was, oh in any other month.  I hate that the kid thinks the whole week is about him.  I hate the cold and the snow.  I'm seriously dreaming of Vegas.  I hear it call to me every time I have to scrape a car, or freeze my fingers driving or walking.  Someday, someday we will go and we will love it.

For now I need to focus on school and finishing up this semester, then I can start looking at the next one, my final pre-requisite semester!  I am dreaming of the day that I finish school and can start working so that Mike can work less.  I dream of being a nurse and helping people and loving my job.  I never dreamed I'd say that either.  I didn't grow up wanting to be a nurse, it just happened.  Sometimes things happen for a reason.  I know now that it is what I'm meant to do and be. 

I am nearing a new year, a new me, skinnier me ;)  I'm already down 37lbs which is my HALF WAY MARK! I'm feeling better than ever and really enjoying working out (most days).  I have some new plans for weight training and some different things as soon as we're in the basement.  I also have somehow agreed to the Warrior Dash which is something I wouldn't have even considered before I started this journey.  Now I think it might be fun.  It will be something to give me a new training reason come spring too. 

I think I've rambled enough and I still have two papers to finish for microbiology so I better get cracking, oh yeah and I MUST install insulation in my basement today whether anyone helps me or not.