Sick Day

Battle Within.

Groan. Fight.

Feet meet the floor. Followed by my body hunched over.  And with another groan, my knees quickly find their way to the cool bathroom floor.  Still fighting. Still hoping that the burning and gut twisting ache will pass.

It does not.

Cold nose pressed to my face as if to ask if I am okay.

Reassuringly pat the dog on the head. Think about camping out on the floor. Meekly make my way to my phone. No alarms for me tonight.

Back to the bathroom floor.

Slowly make my way to the sofa. Four paws curled against me warming my cold feet.  Cozy blanket.

Netflix. Sleep. Rest. Heal.

also, weird poetry.

21 Day Fix: Day 1

 

I'm starting the 21 day fix this last free week of summer. This blog is mostly for myself to write different things I've tried and lessons learned.  Like clearly there is a different between a teaspoon and tablespoon. So when the 3 day quick fix calls for a spoon of coconut oil, don't force a whole tablespoon down my throat, when a simple teaspoon amount will do.

Speaking of, I did not know you could eat coconut oil like straight out of the jar. I heated my rather large tablespoon amount in the microwave and downed it. Made me gag slightly, not because it taste bad but the consistency. It actually tasted really good. So I think my head was making me....a drama queen.

I'm trying the 3 day jump start fix since I actually have the time this week. I'm hoping that this week can kinda help me learn some meal prep skills for the following two weeks. Once nursing school officially starts back, there is no telling what my time frame is going to look like.   Plus, eating every two hours has been a lot more challenging then I thought it would be. Even shopping for three days worth of food (that will hopefully last me more than three days cause it was a bit pricey) wasn't as bad as I thought. Planning ahead though. That will be the kicker.

That was the most weights I have used in a cardio workout, maybe ever. That being said, I really enjoy the workout and the addition of weight. I had to modify some or drop the weight at points, but worked up a good sweat. And since it was total body, I really did feel like I was getting a good all over workout. The rest breaks were needed and appreciated, especially since it has been a while since really working out. And it was nice that the ending stretch was included as part of the 30 minute total.

What I Wore: Clinical Orientation + lack of photo skills + coffee

 

 

 

What can I say, except huge fashion blogger fail. AND trust me when I say that they ALL look like this. I finally just set in a chair with my chic-fil-a coffee (yes, you read that right) and gave up. But you can still get the general idea behind the outfit that I wore to clinical orientation...so here they are in all my photo lacking skills glory.

We were required to dress nice and wear our lab coats. Which my white lab coat actually makes me feel like a doctor, instead of a nurse /-ing student/. And even other nursing students that we met there thought we were doctors too. Anyway, I ended up borrowing her sweater too. It was extremely soft. I paired that with my favorite pair of kakhi pants from Old Navy. Seriously these pants are so stretchy and comfortable (and hit at the perfect place on my short legs), that they are now my go to on dress pants. I also added in these pointy toed flats that I really like. They're actually a size too big for me, but I crammed toliet paper into the toe of them -- problem solved. Well sorta.

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almost Overgramming

The other day Bouncer was being super cute in my opinion. I mean, he is my fur baby. In my post-christmas happiness, I almost posted a huge handful of pictures of his cuteness on instagram. I managed to catch myself after the 2nd one was posted. I realized I did not need to photo dump random pictures of my dog chewing a bone on instagram -- cause nobody would apreciate that, but maybe my mother. But mainly becasue I decided that's what my blog is for. Sorry, well sorta.

What I Wore: Early Family Christmas

Channeling my inner wannabe fashion blogger again. Complete with super close up at the end to show off the jewelry (that I am not wearing). The makings of any great outfit, in my opinion, is that it is wearable to multiple functions. Like this that I wore to family christmas event and a high school basketball game. Super cozy for eating lots of turkey but still awesome for bleacher sitting. Plus I got the ultimate compliment while wearing this: "you look like a hippie." Style mission accomplished.

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Nursing School: Not Really Finals Week

 

Basically that Nursing Diagnosis was me all of last week. Last week felt like finals week. Two simulation labs, one simulation final practice with 2nd years, and an exam in all three classes. It was literally crazy. And I was about to my breaking point. Tears were shed. Massive amounts of caffeine were consumed. Getting two hours of sleep a night was a norm. And, in moments of fatigue, there was singing and dancing.

But the important thing is I survived.  And I was eligible to sit for finals. Finals are actually spread out over the next week and a half.  You have to have a 77 to be able to even try for the finals, which after my 5th exam I more than exceeded in my classes. I did not realize it at the time, but last week was the most important (along with stressful) week of my nursing student career this far. 

I had the weekend to try and recoup some, and gear up for finals. I have already had one comprehensive final today and made a 94. An A! YESSS! On my Nursing Theory final?!

 *cue more singing and dancing*

Jenna Cooks: Potato Soup

 

I'm not a very good cook. Or should I say, I generally do not take the time to learn and become a good cook. But yesterday, I must have been bitten by the cooking/baking bug. 'Tis the season. I went to Ingles to pick up stuff for sausage balls and came back out with ingredients for fudge, soup, and cake. I had a craving for some potato soup due to a cold ('tis also the season) and gave this recipe a go. And was actually surprised how well it turned out. I skipped out on the onions though. Also, be sure to use a bigger pot to cook it in, because I defiantly boiled it over.  I found this recipe online here.

Ingredients

4 (6-ounce) red potatoes

2 teaspoons olive oil

1/2 cup prechopped onion

1 1/4 cups fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups 1% low-fat milk, divided

1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 bacon slices, halved

1.5 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1/3 cup)

4 teaspoons thinly sliced green onions

Preparation

Hands-On: 20 Minutes

Total: 20 Minutes

1. Pierce potatoes with a fork. Microwave on HIGH 13 minutes or until tender. Cut in half; cool slightly.
2. While potatoes cook, heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add broth. Combine flour and 1/2 cup milk; add to pan with 1 1/2 cups milk. Bring to a boil; stir often. Cook 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in sour cream, salt, and pepper.
3. Arrange bacon on a paper towel on a microwave-safe plate. Cover with a paper towel; microwave on HIGH for 4 minutes. Crumble bacon.
4. Discard potato skins. Coarsely mash potatoes into soup. Top with cheese, green onions, and bacon.

One Day at a Time: Nursing School (this far)

Nothing can really prepare you for the demands of nursing school or the amazing, challenging experiences that it will bring your way.  Studying hours upon hours for one exam, only to close that book to pick up a different one become you have three that week alone. Simulation lab -- seriously, enough said. And just learning to survive everything they sling at you one day at a time, one exam at a time, and one clinical at a time.  So, here's a quick look at my first four months of nursing school, where I might add I have officially passed every exam so far! *does happy dance*




What I Wore: First Day of Class Outfit
that changed pretty fast to either scrubs or hoodies

First Day of Class Outfit + my grandpa's birthday

After passing my first ever nursing school exam

When Clinicals Started

 

When Hardees coffee became a life saver and hoodies the new study norm

 Or any food really



the joy of soda anytime

and the joy of hamburgers cause it is Monday

of course accompanied by my pharm notes

 

 

 those random free days that are marvelous
where you get to see friends
or go on trips

or when one of your friend lets you crash at their house just to eat pizza and watch TV

(thanks, Nicole Ella)

 

Cannot believe that I am already halfway finished with this first semester of nursing school. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was freaking out about orientation and first day of classes. Now, I am freaking out about pharmacology exams and learning all of those drugs (I see you, cardio drugs), getting enough study hours in, understanding what the theory exam is going to cover (electrolytes!), IV check offs, any lab check offs, not oversleeping for 6:30 AM clinical in the next county over, doing well in clinical, and breathing deep in SIMs lab.  It has been an experience and it is just getting started.

 

extra points if you can find me :p

 

 

November, hi!

 

 

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Nursing Orientation Jitters

All summer long I've had this unshakeable feeling that I have forget something important. And from my complete lack of focus or organization, I'm going to be booted from the nursing program. Before it even starts! These jitters are mostly unjustified, seeing how I've been doing my best to keep up with e-mails, letters, packets and dates --- I even bought a kicking new planner -- but they're still there.

But tomorrow, I've orientation.

And it will be officially official again. I'm a nursing student.

Though tomorrow should easy these: "oh my gosh, they're going to kick me out any minute fears". Thank the Lord!  It will likely raise new ones.

Along with being fitted for our scrubs, tomorrow we also get the in depth scope. They invited our families just so they could be pre-warned that we now "belong" to the nursing program. 

I've dotted all my Is and crossed all my Ts. So I'll gladly switch from these remote jitters to the new challenges -- grades, time management, succeeding, etc -- that I can face head on.

Now...what does one wear to an all day nursing orientation?

Late Night Pizza Rambling

I'm currently having an internal battle of wills about the leftover (stuffed crust, I might add) pizza in my fridge. The reason? It's almost 3AM in the morning. That still doesn't negate the fact that I'm hungry. Or that I was hungry three hours ago and ignored the pizza slices then. Or that I'm not sleepy. Or all the pushups/squats I'll think I'll have to do after the fact.

Really it all boils down to this thought: life is meant to be lived to the fullest - eat the pizza.

 

 

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Flashback: Layover in France

This is me -- after spending eleven challenging and rewarding weeks in Kenya, spilling my hot coffee on the random guy sitting beside me on an 8 hour flight, hiking through the streets of Paris for miles because we misread the metro map (and are low on Euros), not understanding the French word for turn "left", having only four hours left before the next flight leaves, and feeling extremely grimy and tired -- at the Eiffel Tower.  And I wouldn't change a thing except for maybe spilling my coffee on that poor guy, who I tried to apologize to in three languages while he just looked at me blankly.