Miscellany Monday

1.  I had no clue how much stuff I had stuffed in the apartment (ok, maybe I knew it was a lot but seeing it all strung out everywhere made me realize it!)  I hope I don't have to bring any of it back after the garage sale this weekend!

2.  I made it through my first week of night shift.  I've done well with it so far, let's hope it stays that way!

3.  I wanted to get some sun yesterday so I went to my friends pool to lay out....I kind of turned into a lobster.  Woops!  Feeling much better today, just a little red still.

4.  I'll be so happy when I have a bigger place with a garage and a washer and dryer!

5.  I finished the first season of 90210 and can't wait to start the 2nd season!  I need to buy that today!

6.  Until then, it's back to One Tree Hill!!

7.  It's amazing the amount of pens, pencils, high lighters and sharpies I've found while I'm cleaning out everything!  I've always been a little obsessed with pens and such!

8.  Not really needing a huge change in life but a little one would be nice!

9.  While cleaning out, I've found several of the bouquets I've caught at weddings....5 (and those are just the ones I've kept because the flowers are fake)

10.  I loved that I found a Coach purse that I totally forgot I had!!

WILW

I'm linking up with Jamie this week for What I Love Wednesday. 

i'm loving...that I got to meet my BFF Niki for lunch today at O'Charley's.   Soup & salad....YUM!

i'm loving...that I got lots of things accomplished today like organizing the pictures and stuff on my fridge door, cleaned my bathroom, put away dishes and ironed my scrubs for work.

i'm loving...that I got the spring/summer 31 catalog today.

i'm loving...that I've pretty much finalized my sisters bridal shower invitation and will have it ordered by Saturday.

i'm loving...that I have this weekend off and get to celebrate my friend's 30th birthday at her 80's themed party....plenty of pictures to come:)

i'm loving...my job still

i'm loving...that Verizon is getting the iphone in February!!  So excited!!

i'm loving...Season 6 of One Tree Hill.....well, actually all the seasons!



Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday
I spent all day on the couch because of this nasty stomach flu bug that has been going around.  It was awful and I hope I never get it again.....awful!  I managed to watch the entire 5th season of One Tree Hill and then watched Julie & Julia then went to bed. 

Saturday
This was the my first weekend to work at my new job.  I don't think I have worked a weekend since April....I've been a little spoiled!  I knew it was going to a rough day because of being sick, not because I felt bad but because I had absolutely no energy and I was worried about what I could eat.  I stuck with applesauce and saltines and did fine.  I ended up feeling a lot better towards the end of the day because of course 5 o'clock hit and we got busy!  I got to do the coolest thing yet though, I delivered a baby!!  Yes, it was my 2nd day and it would only be my 3rd delivery I was even in on!!  Of course, the doctor was right there with his hands right on top of mine but it was amazing!!!  As I'm on my way home it hits me how awesome it was!!  I had to call my mom and friends to tell them of course!!  Then I stopped by Deana's because she made chicken and dumplings and gave me some and also gave me this....

I have been looking for this since before Christmas!!  Walmart had it for $15 but has been sold out forever!!  I was so excited!!  Love her!!!  Thanks Deana, you didn't have to do that but I think I'll wait to volunteer my babysitting services till we know for sure the plague is gone!!  HAHA!!

Sunday
I pretty much felt back to my normal self this morning and I was so glad about that.  It was a very calm day at work.  I got to do 2 babies and feel like I'm finally starting to get the hang of some of those things.  On my way home tonight I was talking to my friend and it just kind of hit me how much I love my new job and how I really believe this is what I was made to do!!

Bullets

• I love love love my new job!!  As much as I hate getting up at 4:40 it's great once I get there!
• I am so looking forward to this new year.....I see good things, good things.
• I really have to get serious about losing this weight I've put on and get in shape.  I mean seriously, Lindsay's wedding is in less than 5 months and the dress is going to not look as fabulous as I want unless I lose this weight and get some toned arms!
• I'm ready for spring, or at least not so cold weather.
• I'm so addicted to One Tree Hill!
• I didn't go to the gym today.....crap
• Even though taxes suck throughout the year, I'm really looking forward to my tax refund and the sooner the better!
• I'm so ready to have my own washer & dryer again.
• I miss my friends....I really have to call them more often.
• My (& Michelle's) maid of honor speech really needs to be started.
• After typing this out I realized I need to make a gigantic to-do list!

Hope everybody's new year is off to a great start!

100th Post

It just so happens that my 100th post happens to be this one....I wish I had something great to post but it's just going to have to be my weekend wrap-up!
Friday
I started a new job this past Monday and spent everyday in an orientation doing classes.  I get to actually start doing my job on Tuesday and I'm so looking forward to that.  Ok, so Friday was hair day...love hair day!  Sonja did a wonderful job like always and then I went on to work to sit through 3 more classes.  After the day was done I headed to Evansville to do some Christmas stuff with my family.  I had to drive in the dark for most of the way and I really don't like driving in the dark...I made it though until I got to the driveway.  I go in with some things and my mom is in the kitchen so I tell her hi and go to get the rest of the stuff out of my trunk.  As soon as I get out to my car I see it sliding backwards....I'm about ready to freak out and I grab the hood and stop it and scream bloody murder yell for Mom....she comes out and I'm like "my car is sliding backwards, I've got ahold of it and stopped it"  HILARIOUS I'm sure....anyway, my mom gets in and moves it to safety off the ice in the driveway!  I checked on it several times before I went to bed and it was still safe. 
Saturday
We all got up early to go watch my niece's play basketball.  They both won the 1st games of the day which put both teams in the championship game later that afternoon.

Madison's team (7th grade team) won the championship game and Kelsey's team (8th grade team) did not.  They were so upset and made us all want to cry.  They are going to be an awesome team next year at Central!  After the games we went up to Boonville for Koester Christmas.  We got there just in time to eat!!  Then they did a cookie contest and Santa came. 

My cousin Justin & his family 

My cousins little girl Tori & Santa 

Jessi, Me & Jennifer 

My Grandma with Santa & Mrs. Clause 

My Grandpa & Santa 

All the grandkids singing the annual Koester Christmas song 

Me & my Dad 

My sister Lindsay & I 

My cousins little girl Zoe & I 

Tori & I 

Lindsay & I 

Lindsay, Me & Michelle

 Everybody started cleaning up but some of us stayed around and sat on the floor and talked for probably another hour or so.  I didn't get to go last year because I had to work, I'm glad I got to see everybody this year!  Lindsay & I went back to our parents house to stay the night and do cookies tomorrow. 

Sunday

COOKIE DAY!!  Every year my mom makes about a billion cookies on this day.  Lindsay & I were already there and when we woke up mom was already getting started on the chocolate chip which I'm pretty sure she made around 15 dozen of those.  Kelsey & Maddie both had ball games so they were gone for a little bit during the day and I don't think we got very many done at all while they were gone.  They always do way more than me and my sisters do!  I had to leave pretty early because I wanted to drive back before it got too dark.  I got to run by my friend Deana's house and get a plate of cookies from her too.....yummy!  I came home and put in a movie from my blockbuster in the mail...Killers with Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigel.  I'm excited to go to work these next 4 days then it's CHRISTMAS!!  I might not be blogging till after Christmas so 

Merry Christmas to all my blogging buddies!! 

On to BIGGER & Better Things

Well, today was my last day at Herrin.  My last day at my first nursing job.  My last day having to do EKG's all day long.  My last day doing an LPN job.

On to BIGGER & better things for sure!

I am so blessed to have had such great co-workers to work with.  They threw me a little going away party and gave me a wonderful card and gift.  Love them!!

Never have to sit here again 

Won't be sitting here anymore either 

That's a HUGE Italian cream cake!  Thanks Tarah! 

Mary & I ~ I hope to travel nurse with her one day

Tarah & I  ~ My workout buddy, although she's much better at going!  I'm gonna try harder Tarah I promise!!

Janet & I ~ She tried to play matchmaker for me a couple times, HAHA! 

Lori & I ~ Pretty sure she took me to Teddy's for the first time 

Heidi & I ~ A huge inspiration for me.  She has prayed and prayed for me and I know she will continue as I will for her.  Love her!!

I just want to say the biggest THANK YOU to everyone for teaching me so much and being a great first nursing job!!  I promise I'll come back to visit but you can bet I won't come back to do EKG's!!  Carbondale, here I come!!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday

I drove to Evansville thursday night after work. I came home for the weekend b/c Lindsay got all her bridesmaids together and both mom's to go dress shopping Saturday. Friday I went with mom all day to do running with her. We ate lunch at Chick-fil-a! YUMMO!! I knew I would definitely be going by there this weekend!! After going to get groceries we went to Sonic. I got a vanilla Diet Coke and she got a chocolate milk shake!! We needed it and it was so HOT!! We got home then headed over to Michelle's to get the girls for Maddie's soccer game. I'm not a very good aunt, b/c I didn't take one single picture at her game....sorry! It was so hot in the beginning of the game and we faced right into the sun. By the end of the game it was really nice and the wind was actually cool.....can we say hello fall?!?!? It's coming, I know it!!



Saturday


We have been looking forward to this day for a couple of weeks now!! I have over 70 pictures from that day but I didn't want to post any of her in any of the dresses! So I picked just some random ones, funny ones! We all had a really good time. We went to 2 places and then had lunch and went to one more shop. She is still waiting on a dress to get shipped to the first store, so there will be at least one more dress shopping day! She still isn't sold on a bridesmaid dress either (maybe b/c I'm a teeny bit picky) so hopefully that will be chosen soon as well. Everybody had to get back home or other activites that were going on that day so we all parted ways about 3 or so. My niece's came back to mom & Gerry's so Michelle could go to work. We layed around for the rest of the afternoon and watched movies and maybe took a little nap. Mom made pancakes and turkey bacon for supper then the girls & I played cards. I'm pretty sure they were both asleep when Michelle came to get them.

Danielle & I

Funny!!! Michelle & I

The Beautiful bride Lindsay (in black) & Tonya

Sunday

I slept in!! YAY!! I started my laundry that I brought home with me then went out to wash my car. It was hot out there, but I was hoping to get some sun too! I think I need lessons on how to wash my car.....it seems to still look dirty when I look at it in certain light, I'm kind of obsessive about it! After that I tried to lay out and that lasted about 30 minutes, I was sweating like crazy!! I needed a pool! I needed to run to Michael's to get paper for some baby invitations I was making for a friend of mine who's shower is coming up in September. I came home, finished my laundry, Kelsey and Maddie were there so I sat down in the living room with them and realized that One Tree Hill was on.....for 4 hours straight!! Needless to say, we watched all 4 hours of it (except for the last 30 minutes of the 4th episode b/c mom made meatloaf and dinner was ready so TV off!) Lindsay got there a little after dinner was over. We were all playing Apples to Apples, Mom won. Lindsay & I took the girls home so they could get showers and be in bed at a decent time for school. Michelle got home a little after 9 and the 3 of us talked and looked at dress pictures from Saturday. I love spending time with my sisters!!

(I know monday isn't part of the regular weekend but it is for me)

Monday

Got up and got ready, packed up my car and headed back to So Ill. I went by Kathleen's bridal in Harrisburg and found a bridesmaid dress that we're gonna check out! YAY!! I had a dentist appointment then came home and got caught up on some stuff. I went to the gym and read some more from one of my NCLEX study books then came home and took a practice test. Exactly one week from right now it will be all behind me and I hope I'm feeling good about it!! It's definitely crunch time now!! I finished the last dvd in the 2nd season of Nip/Tuck and while I was working on the baby shower invites I had the movie "Adam" on. It was a good movie!! Now I need to get off here and get ready for my work week!

Hope everyone has a great week!!

P.S. I'm up to 5 followers!! YAY!!

Stressed with a capitol S

I really thought that when I finally finished nursing school I would have a lot less stress in my life...........but I was wrong, very wrong!! I know all of this stress is just the fact that I failed my boards the first time and I have to retake them, which is definitely more nerve racking than it was the first time. I'm not looking forward to it at all......hence the stress!!! And I'm sure that is where my headaches have been coming from day after day after day. I have headaches practically everyday anyways but these have been horrible and I'm hoping when the stress of taking boards is done the headaches will go as well!

I'll keep you updated....

The Number 3

As I'm sitting here watching TV, I all of a sudden realize how much the number 3 has shown up today (and pretty much everyday for some things) so I decided to blog about the craziness of it!!

1. This is my 30th post
2. I now have 3 followers! YAY!! HAHA!
3. Channel 3 is the only channel that actually comes in.....I'm too cheap to get satellite right now
4. I have 3 sisters
5. I work at least 3 days a week
6. I just finished 3 years of nursing school
7. I have had 3 cars so far in life
8. I always take 3 drinks to work with me (2 bottles of water and 1 diet mt dew)
9. I have my ears pierced 3 times
10. I have 3 remotes sitting next to me

SEE what I mean?!?! Things just kept popping into my mind about 3's!! This is definitely random but it just all of a sudden popped in my head and I thought......blog about it!!

Yes, I lead a rather boring life and this is what I think about. You gotta remember though, I only have one TV channel! It's at least ABC so it has good shows. I watch a lot of movies and tv on dvd now....thanks to blockbuster in the mail!! I read a lot too!! That is one thing I have gotten to do a lot of now that school is over. I really need to be reading books from school though because I will be scheduling my NCLEX (RN boards) soon so I can start my new job!!

Ok, enought randomness! Tomorrow is FRIDAY!! YAY!!! I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

No more pity party

Ok, so the last post was definitely a pity party (as my mom says) so I deleted it and I'm over it!

Just because I failed boards doesn't mean I'm never going to be an RN, it just means I have to wait longer. Story of my life, ya know?!?! But like everybody has said, I'm going to blink and it's going to be time to take them again so that's what I'm looking forward to. Not actually looking forward to taking the test, just passing it!!

Birthday yesterday was a good day! Myself and some friends went out saturday night and had a good time. I got to hang out with Brooke & Josey's kids friday and Brooke made me cupcakes and gave me flowers and a card. I went to Joni's house sunday for family fun day. It was super hot but so much fun! Yesterday Niki & I went to lunch and did some shopping, well we went to Target and Wal-Mart.....haha, still shopping!! I got a ton of facebook messages and text messages and phone calls and cards wishing me a happy birthday!! It was very much appreciated!!

Janelle, Me & Lori out saturday night

I definitely should have blogged before this because I had a job interview on June 18th for a position that I have been wanting since I started nursing school back in 2007, well actually my entire life!! I interviewed and they called me about 20 minutes after I got home and offered me the job, of course I accepted!! It's a full time postion as a labor and delivery nurse at Carbondale!! I couldn't believe it!! I was very excited to say the least.

GRADUATE 2010

YAY!!!! As of last friday, I am a 2010 graduate with an Associate degree in Nursing!! YAY!!! I only had one final to take and was studying my butt off so I could get an 81% on the final. I was like a hermit for a good week or so before that tuesday I had the final. I still didn't feel prepared that morning when we were all sitting in the hallway going over the notes one more time. To make things worse, our teacher was late. I am a nervous wreck and she is LATE!! I was freaking out even more! So she gets there, we all spread out, she goes over some things to finish up school and then finally passes out the test. I read the first question and know it, so on and so on......out of 58 questions I had 9 that I went back to and had to reread to pick my answer. I figured out that even if I missed those 9 questions I would still get an 83% on the final and pass. I finally turn it in, my teacher asks me how I think I did and I walk out. I head to work, totally freaking out still and pray that I did ok. I sat at work for a while and decide to check to see if grades were up even though she said it would probably be late afternoon or early evening. Of course, they weren't. So, I wait about an hour and figure I'll check again, this time it says I have a new grade, I click, it opens up and

95%.....I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT!!!!!!!

I went running over to one of the nurses I work with and told her, jumping up and down then proceeded to call everyone I needed to let know. I WAS SO EXCITED!!!!! It was a really great day and I'm so happy to be done with school. The next 4 days of this week is board review and then I'll schedule my boards!!

New Job

Well, as most of you all know I got a new job! I've been working for 3 weeks and I love it! I have seen lots of stuff and I only see it getting worse. There are so many people coming in with flu symptoms....it's crazy! I got my flu shot and I'm drinking plenty of juice, getting my vitamin C. Did you know cranberry grape juice has a 100% of your daily vitamin C? AND its so good!

I guess I don't have much to say.....woops! All well short blog! I'm sure there will be a longer one soon!

So it's been a whole month....

So school has started, had my first test, got a B!! Yeah! Went on a couple of interviews one at the ER in Herrin and one at the OB in Carbondale. I found out about the second week of September that I got the job at the ER in Herrin!! I was very very excited! It's a full time position working 7p to 7a. Kind of worried about that just because I have been working days full time at the restaurant and this is the complete opposite! I started orientation Tuesday the 22nd and will actually start my "job" next wednesday! I will keep you all updated!

Other than that.....the infamous "wedding day" was this past saturday. I got through it thanks to WONDERFUL family and friends and now I'm moving on.

Also, I got my furniture over the weekend so I now feel like this is actually my house now! It's so nice to get to come home and sit on a couch instead of the floor. I need to clean up then take pictures so I can post them on here. Everything that I wanted to do and get for the apartment I have, once again, thanks to my wonderful friends!

What would I ever do without all these people I have that care about me I will never know! I am very lucky and am now starting to feel like I can be happy again. I am also very excited about all the good things that are starting to happen in my life. I am going to feel normal again really soon!!!

Also....I went to hang out with Deana and baby Elly tonight and she was laughing and smiling so much! It made my day!! She is the sweetest baby! And her mom is pretty fabulous as well, I am so lucky that we are still so close!

Pictures coming soon...

House Sitting - Dog Sitting - Restaurant Sitting

So this week I am staying at Michelle and Kevin's house while they are on vacation. So far it has been great except for the fact that the dog barks at everything and also at all times of the day or night!!! I have been woken up both nights I have been here between 2 and 3 in the morning by her barking at something! Who knows what! Other than that it has been pretty nice.....definitely ready to find myself an apartment!! The restaurant part hasn't been too bad, I kinda like being the boss! haha!

I went to hang out with Brooke and the kids today for a little bit b/c it was my day off. I love hanging out with her but unfortunately it doesn't happen often enough anymore.

Tucker, Me & Kelley Jo

Also, the job interview I had last week, I found out today I didn't get the job. Try, try, try again!

It's July already....

I thought for sure by July I would have my own place to live! And there wouldn't be this much rain....it's crazy! I am on the waiting lists for the apartments that base your rent on your income but like I said, they're waiting lists. Hopefully one will open up soon...keep your fingers crossed please!

Some of us went to Blue Sky winery yesterday to get out and celebrate Niki's birthday, which is monday. It was beautiful and so much fun! I had never been there before. Then we went to Fujiyama to eat....amazing! Niki tried sushi for the first time....it was very good!

I came home today to see Heather Ann. She is still in a coma I guess you would say even though they have taken her off the medicine to keep her in one. She can take as long as she needs to come back to us just as long as she does! Her hair is already growing in, but she still looks like Heath when I look at her from her left side. Everybody has done so much and it is so appreciated. She is on so many prayer lists and so many people have joined her group on facebook, it is amazing! I am sure the bracelets will be gone in no time!

Like I said....it's july already, school will be starting soon. I'm not sure if I'm ready to go back. I'm gonna be "the girl who didn't pass" great huh?!?! I did have a job interview last week for an LPN job so hopefully that will work out. I think it would be good for me, it's a doctor's office so I think I would like it. Any experience is good experience! (I will try to post pictures from the weekend later on this week)