Monthly Archives: January 2015

Up at 7:22, breakfast and a phone call to my favorite recruiter. Starbucks in downtown Disney before the park opened.

We have not seen near as many characters as we saw last time we were hear. This morning however the kids got several autographs.

The parade was fun, Eve asked the man sitting next to us for his autograph in her autograph book which he gave her then in turn she gave him her autograph (a drawing) and then another and another. After four we made her stop, but in the mean time she made a new friend. The guys’ two teenage daughters bought Eve a purple Mickey Mouse balloon and he shook our hands. That girl is just so social and makes new friends everywhere we go. It makes me smile and wonder how God will use her through her lifetime.

The Gadget’s Gogo coaster was the favorite ride of the day that and Thunder Mountain.

Off work at 6:30, I soaked in the sunrise as I drove home to pick up Chad.
A quick shower and some toast and we were ready to go. We stopped at Starbucks for caffein. The kids were already in Anaheim with grandma and grandpa. Chad and I talked for a bit but eventually I fell asleep. Getting a half hour to an hour of sleep. I didn’t really know if I would stay at the hotel and rest or go for a while and then take a nap. I decided that I didn’t really want to mis Eve’s initial reaction to the park so I joined the family as the park opened. The kids were so cute! They loved the Characters although we didn’t see too many of them and didn’t get too many autographs. Eve didn’t like the dark scary things and loud sounds on a lot of the inside rides but all the outside ones were a hit. With the Tiki room, the tea cups and it’s a small world coming into first place. Casey’s train was up on the list too with lots of monkey sounds and lion roars. It has been fun and I made it all day until closing the. We had dinner at the rainforest cafe. Everyone was asleep with in minutes of getting back to the room except Chad and Chuck who apparently had a repair man to the room to fix the tub that was bubbling up all kinds of crazy gross stuff. But, after 30 hours of being awake, I slept through all of it.

Funny moment of the day was when Donna, Hannah and I got on the tea cups (right after lunch mind you) we noticed brown chunks. Donna asked me what I thought they were and half out if the side of my mouth I told her they were “chunks.” You know the kid you feel like blowing after the tea cup ride. We were completely busted up from laughing. We noticed they were on the ground outside of the tea cups and in the other tea cups so we assume they came from the trees above but they looked like chunks. So fun to have belly laughs with my family and favorite (only but still) MIL.

It is an exciting morning.
1. I’m off for a few days
2. Another AMAZING sunrise
3. We are on our way to Disneyland!

This assignment had me working predominately weekends. So I have had one weekend off so far in the month and a half we have been here and that is because they had me working Sunday, Monday, Tuesday one week and Thursday, Friday, Saturday the next week. We took the opportunity to take a long trip up to the North and even though I was off I missed getting to attend the church my family has been attending here in Victorville. The weekend I work the weekend still but it was Friday night, Sunday, and Monday. So with Saturday night off I was awake and coherent Sunday morning and was able to attend church! Yay, it was fun to meet all the people the kids have been talking about for the last month and a half.
After church we had Caleb’s birthday lunch at In-N-Out. Caleb decided to save his birthday money from grandma and when he counted his money with what he had saved so far he finally had enough for the Kindle Fire he had been saving up for so he and daddy went back out and purchased the tablet. He was in heaven.

The sunsets and rises here aware amazing!!!

We have been counting down the weeks, days, and hours until Grandma and Grandpa Owens would arrive. As I slept off my tornado of a headache I kept one ear tuned for those familiar voices that I (just as eagerly as the kids) was awaiting. At 3:30 I woke up and showered, still there were no voices. I dressed, combed my hair, brushed my teeth, still neither of the familiar voices floated from the living room where I had had one ear tuned all day. The kids did a little straightening of the house then went out to play with the other kids in the front yard. It was getting close to dinner time and we had received report that Grandma and Grandpa were 15 minutes out so we got the enchiladas in the oven and eagerly waited. A we’re hear text soon followed and we all poured out of the apartment, checked the side lot then ran back around to the front lot. The kids were all doing the happy dance as they ran. They are so darn cute! There’s nothing like having your car mobbed by little ones who just can’t wait to get their little arms around your neck for a hug. All jumping up and down in anticipation as you pull into your parking spot.

the kids eagerly each took a wheely bag and showed us the way back to our home away from home. We all almost got trampled by the crowd of kids racing around on scooters and running together playing a game. It was a good way to experience our new place and all the life here. Our guests were gracious as the kids just couldn’t stop hugging and kissing them, telling them all kinds of things that they had been waiting to share and showing them their Christmas gifts. Banking some personal touch to hold them over for part of this adventure requires us to spend so much time away from each other. By the time dinner was ready I think grandma may have been a little relieved by a mandated time out to eat some dinner and breath her own air. After dinner Chad and Chuck ran to the store for dessert and as promised we got to do Donna’s makeup and nails. I joined in on the fun. Caleb painted her toenails with Eve’s help, I painted her fingernails and Hannah did her makeup.

When the guys came back from the store grandpa agreed to allow Hannah to try a mustache on him as she had been really wanting to try it on the condition that we promised it would wash off.

They sure do make a cute couple. After a game of chess and ice cream the kids headed to bed and us adults continued to talk. Donna had some pressing questions about my childhood, lol. I think they are still trying to understand me but, ask Chad, it might be a lost cause. I’m not sure what Chad and Chuck were talking about but eventually the conversation came around to future plans and we, valuing their wisdom and experience A LOT, talked about what we were thinking. We have certainly been blessed beyond measure with Godly, wise counsel who love us and have our best interest at heart. What a great day! Now time can slow down because we want to enjoy every moment we have of their visit.

I kind of feel like I have survived a tornado. Triage central, I had to decide that this night was a nursing workout. If I want to become a better nurse then I can’t complain about the nursing workouts that get sent my way. With each triage I could imagine myself doing repetitions of pushups, beefing up my endurance and efficiency. The only thing is now that it’s done I don’t have that refreshing feeling of accomplishment only a throbbing headache and sore throat. I better go sleep this off. I plan on enjoying as many moments as I can with my in-laws when they arrive in mere hours.

When I was a kid that meant that my cousin Elizabeth with her big round blush like pillow would push me in the face (the pillow was quite plush so it was fun) until I would fall backwards and land in my bum on the couch. She would go down the line up of us three girls all younger than her each taking a turn getting a “makeup seat.” Well today (Wednesday) I got to play my kid’s version of the game and it was a completely different version. They had me take a seat and get make up on. Now that does make for a more common sense version of the game but still whenever I hear the term I will think of Liz. This makeup session was the perfect activity for this tired momma. Six shifts in a row isn’t too bad until you try to switch back to days. It’s pretty much impossible. I slept half the day and came out to spend some time with the kids, so when our game included me laying on the floor with Myra as my pillow and my eyes shut I thought, “now this is a win win.” A perfect game for my current energy level. Don’t mind the messy house. It does get kind of crazy when I’m not home for a long stretch.

The salon continued as Eve and eventually Caleb got their makeup done, then it turned to nails. All in all it was a fun day.

I didn’t end up falling asleep until 5:30 am because my brain thought it was time to be awake so today was only a half dayer too. Oh well we got the house all clean and I hate to switch all the way to days anyway since it was only a two day break and I am back to nights tomorrow.

Where are you!?! Come to think of it where am I, in my head, I mean. There have been a lot of busy and interesting nights at work, but it is a small enough hospital and only one this time I worry that to truly spell out any one day would put me in danger of some HIPAA violation. Truly in the whole scheme of things there have been very few shifts that have been slow or even ideal staffing but the bunch of girls here have perfected the idea of zone defense. The triages keep coming all night we keep not only treading water but managing to keep our hands up and sometimes even holding bricks. I have to give all the credit to their team work and flexibility. No one is lazy, no one runs and hides when there is an emergency. So despite the less than ideal staffing this has been an awesome assignment. As I approach, very soon, the time to get a new assignment I am already grieving the loss of this positive bonded group of nurses. Ricky (the maker of the most awesome enchiladas) has offered to make me more if only I will stay and for the first time I am truly tempted by the offer. I hear the pay is good in California says the travel nurse community. All kinds of travel nurses are getting stuck in California, is it really travel nursing if you never get out of California, these things made me not ever want to come to California, and now here I am in California thinking about extending? I wish I could tell you we have a plan but so far we have no idea where we will be come March, but here or another state I am so glad that we came to Victorville (Victomville per my uncle) California.

Now I know Ricky’s enchiladas are worth it but darn it this has to be a family decision. The kids are rooting for Hawaii (it would take a miracle which I do believe in) and Chad just doesn’t want to go all the way to the east coast to come back in July for family camp.

I don’t know if anyone else needs reminders to feel thankful. Since just after Christmas I decided to continue on keeping notes in a thankful journal I started in 2013. I guess that at just two weeks in it is helping significantly because I’m feeling pretty grateful right now.

Don’t feel like you have to read all this but I felt like sharing it might help someone. Have a blessed day look around, you are truly blessed.

There is always something to be thankful for!
12/27/14
Christmas cards from friends and family, a beautiful birth of a healthy baby girl to loving parents, Starbucks frappe that did not give me stomach pains and was a surprise gift from Chad, the love that I feel from my Heavenly Father, Gods provisions in family. The chance to be so close to Grandma and Grandpa Lawhead.
12/28/14
Dave Ramsey and his study of the Bible as it relates to finance and being a good steward, this position at Victorville and the fact that this assignment is going by quickly, the opportunity to hug Samantha and maybe show her the joy of having priorities besides the obtaining of positions and entertainment, a husband that values family and family time, Mary Beth and her friendship over this last year.
12/29/14
Colorful pens, actually colors in general! I have been using them to make my notebook/notes more beautiful and fun, Maryam the midwife made corn enchiladas instead of flour with me being able to eat them in mind, someone at work telling me that they can tell I enjoy my job, Conversations with new friends that allow me not only to learn more about them but also about myself and cause me to desire a greater understanding of other cultures and belief systems so that I can be a better friend and witness, Jokes that are warm and well meant that make everyone smile and laugh, and the occasional awesome reaction that provides random smiles and laughter as you continue on through your day but remember back.
12/30
Dr. Z specifically requested that I take her labor, the Charge nurse said, “she must like you, she’s already requesting you take her patients.”, a tiny box of conversation hearts in my lunch from my sweet husband, so thankful for coffee and it’s wonderful taste and gum to freshen my breath afterwards. A car who’s doors all open and windows roll down so I can get into staff parking.
12/31
Survived my 4th shift with only three nurses, Christmas chocolate bucket, dry roads for travel, seeing Manzanar and the Carson City capitol building, made it to Susanville, beautiful mountains, making it to Nevada as a family.
1/1
Ringing in the new year with Rae and the girls, a dad that loves me to celebrate, resolutions and goals that push me to be a better person, a long talk with Mary Beth.
1/2
A chance to sleep in and catch up on my deprivation, ibuprofen, a ride along with Boyd that brought 10 hours of good conversation, delicious enchiladas, and a beautiful look at lake Almanor.
1/3/15
Susan and Cliff visiting, special family breakfast, warmth from the fire, tea, the time that I had living with Susan and Cliff in the summers growing up.
1/4/15
Finally making it to church, a chance to participate in goat butchering, tasting fresh goat ribs, another chance to visit with aunt Susan, hot chocolate.
1/5/15
Getting to see the Nevada capitol all set up for the inauguration, lunch with Jon and Shawna, driving the path of our 2011 bike ride and reliving some of those meaningful growing moments, the beauty of the 50 route across the mountains, meeting Kadence.
1/6/15
Getting to stay the night with William, visiting for the whole day with Gerrit, touring the Jelly Belly factory, the kids getting to meet their cousins, baby Justin cuddles, watching Aladdin, seeing Terri and the kids.
1/7/15
Getting to stay at Will’s a second night, clear roads, beautiful sunshine, a warm 70 degrees in Victorville, a fiery sunset, a dinner date with the kids at Olive Garden.
1/8/15
Sleep, glorious sleep, clean uniforms for work, the kids getting their math done, God being with me as I made my way to work where I did not want to be. A beautiful primip delivery where she pushed once, and coffee frappe brought to work for me.
1/9/15
My mom’s calendar is finally done!!! A chance to have post partum couplets, an opportunity to feel like I do do a good job at work, a chance to read some more in the duck commander book, and a frap on the way to work.
1/10/15
Thankful for two good shifts, for getting to work with Anne, for getting to work with Margarita, for finishing my first book of the new year, “Happy Happy Happy” by Phil Robertson, for Chad being in a good mood, for a chance to stay hydrated and for getting my first ever attempt at an AC IV I always go for the forearm, wrist or hand…don’t be thinking this is my first IV ;0) ). Also I’m so thankful for my Bible verse a day app.
1/11/15
Thankful for paychecks, a beautiful, fragrant and delicious orange from Dr. Z, being able to care for an NF mommy, when babies latch on flat nipples and feed well, knowing a lot of Spanish words, the coffee lady.
1/12/15
Getting out of work on time, nursing teamwork, an awesome delivery, cinnamon rice, my sweet girl who always has to jump in the shower with me every time she hears the water running, and a special package from my parents.
1/13/15
Such an awesome daily verse today…Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”, getting out of work on time after a nonstop shift, making it through 5/6 shifts and still smiling, for getting to have the very best job in the whole world for me, assisting in the delivery of happy, healthy, beautiful babies and daily watching the amazing transformation from self focused adults to parenthood and I can’t forget (because it definitely helped get me through the shift) the Charge nurse bought me coffee last night!

I’m talking about picking up extra shifts. Didn’t think I would even have considered it a few days ago and in two more days I might be regretting it but I have been so blessed with three good shifts I can work an extra shift and make it better for others because it is adequately staffed, right!? Besides that we have reservations for family camp coming up. It will definitely help with that. Now I had to park so far away from our apartment and it’s raining. Time to make a run for it. Happy eleventh of January and happy birthday party to Great Grandma Brown we wish we could be there celebrating with you.