3 down...2 to go!

I don't think anyone actually reads this thing however I have successfully completed my third semester of nursing school! I have two semesters left and will graduate in December of 2011. I can't wait! Next semester I am taking med surg 3, pediatrics, leadership, and death and dying.

The wedding planning is going really good, we had our engagment pictures taken on December 4th. I can not wait to see how they turned out! Hopefully good! We ordered the invitations, which will go out in april sometime. We will get our registery done during christmas break at some point.

I had a good 26th birthday, despite taking two finals that day. My Mom, Andrew and I went to outback for dinner that night and then thursday night Regina met Andrew and I at the cheesecake factory for dinner. It was really nice...and yummy! Andrew got me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and the sweetest card. It was perfect :-) He's so incredible.

Carbs?

So...going on day 3 of the south beach diet I have hit was it known as carb withdrawal. I think its 100x worse than caffeine withdrawal, which I did in april of this year. I am so irritable, headache, severe nausea, stomach pain, weakness, fatigue. I want to sleep but my stomach hurts so much, I want to cry. It sucks!!!!!!! Sitting here typing this I want to go vomit, i'm hoping I do not because I hate throwing up. I am so nauseas, I took a phenergan which has not helped yet. I broke down and had a pack of oatmeal for breakfast, I am going to modify the SB diet a little bit. For breakfast I need something satisfactory, like oatmeal or banana or something. I can't do this veggies and the word that makes me currently want to vomit...eggs.

ahhhh im hoping this gets better because I feel like death.

Day 1

South Beach Day 1:

Breakfast:
2 vegetable quiche cups(spinach, green peppers and egg subsitute)
Decaff ice tea

Snack:
String cheese

Lunch:
Grilled chicken breast
on romaine lettuce with cucumbers
Balsamic Vinegrette dressing
sugar free jello cup

Snack:
Almonds

Dinner:
1 slice meatloaf
Greenbeans
(should have had a salad as well)

Dessert:
sugar free jello cup (the strawberry acai flavor is amazing)

35 days till xmas!

I can not believe there is only 35 days until christmas! There are three weeks left of this semester and an ATI exam, a huge theory paper due, and two skills checkoffs left, and then finals! This semester has gone by really fast!

I had my cholesterol checked at my dr's office and suprise its super high. Because of this and my dr doesn't want to put me on meds I have stared the South Beach diet. So far so good, today is Day 2.

The south beach diet has three phases, phase 1 being the strict part. No fruit, no carbs. The purpose of this is to resolve the insulin resistance that was brought on by eatng too many "bad carbs". I can eat pretty much unlimited veggies and salad and protein. You are supposed to stay on phase 1 for two weeks.

Phase 2 is where you gradually introduce healthy carbs back in such as fruits, whole grain bread, whole grain rice and sweet potates. You are to stay on phase 2 until you reach your goal weight, then go on to phase 3.

You are supposed to eat breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner and then dessert. The dessert listed is so gross so I will be skipping that, haha.


On another note, Andrew and I are getting our engagment pictures done on December 4th, i'm looking forward to it!

Fall

There are two seasons I love here in Maryland...spring and fall. Fall is exciting because of the leaves changing colors, the pumpkins, the holidays approaching, and the cooler temperatures. I can't wait. I'm hoping we have a nice fall, and a mild winter. I don't want all that snow we got last year, Maryland just doesn't know how to handle it.

Andrew and I have been talking that after I graduate school, December 2011, we are going to move West. My parents want to move to Montana, we will most likely head out there for a little bit, get some RN experience under my belt and then head to California. We are not sure exactly but we both agree we are done on the east coast forever. I'm really glad my parents want to move west. I think it will be so good for them! I've never been to Montana but from what my parents say, and the pictures it looks amazing.

As far as school goes, I have three semesters left. This semester I'm taking 16 credits: skills 3 (my last one yay), OB (which im really looking forward to), Med surg 2 (yuck), Theory, and Ethics. Should be an interesting semester!

Nada

Wedding stuff is coming right along. We have the date, May 28, 2011, the location, the bridal party...My sister-in-law, Amanda, her parents are going to cater for us, my aunt is going to make our cake...Andrews brother Billy is our officiant...My cousin Kathleen is going to help me design the flowers...and we have the photographer picked out we just need to talk to her to pick a package and all that stuff. I figure during christmas break Andrew and I will go do our registry, Spring break will be the bridal shower...and I'm hoping to go buy the rings this summer before school starts..the wedding dress..well who knows..haha. Everything seems to be falling into place. :-)

On another note--My parents have decided it is time to downsize. Unfortunatly that means we will be putting the farm on the market..I'm really hoping a nice family comes along that rides and can enjoy the barn just as much as we have..and the pool too! Andrew and I are going to tag along to their new house until I finish school and we buy our own place. They are in no hurry to kick us out :-) We are not going to move far. My dad still wants to work in the county and has to be close to be available for his on call nights. They are thinking a small farm on 5-10 acres with a paddock for the donkeys and goats. I look forward to helping to decorate the house but I do not look forward to packing up this one and keeping the house clean for showings. That's the worst part of moving! Everything will work out great though and my parents will be happy!

Wedding

Now that it's summer I'm finding time to play with wedding stuff...the problem is..where do I even begin!!!

Clean eating

I have decided to look into this "clean eating" lifestyle and was quite impressed with the results I found. I bought the book The Eat-Clean Diet recharged by Tocsa Reno...I don't like referring to it as a diet because its a lifestyle. I'm going to give it a try, I hate the way I look and desperatly want to lose weight. Andrew and my mom are going to do with me. It pretty much involves eating 5-6 small meals a day, 2-3 liters of water a day and eating natural, clean food. No processed, artifical or yucky food. I think it will help with like 90% of my issues, haha. I'm really excited to embark on this new adventure. A friend of mine did it for Lent and lost 20lbs and feels amazing!! I'm inspired! I'm still in the process of reading the book, when I can manage time. I am going to the store tonight..I will keep you posted :-)

stress

I would just like to say that I would like to SCREAM and rip my hair out..thats how stressed I am....I'm trying to remember to take one day at a time..one assignment at a time.

My to-do list:
1. Pharm Exam 3--on friday 4/9
2. Clinical worksheet--due Sat 4/10 at 5pm
3. Psych presentation information
4. Psych ATI Exam- monday 4/12
5. Comprehensive care plan- due 4/16
6. Psych IPR- due 4/20??
7. Pharm ATI practice exam
8. Med surg exam- 4/19


I can NOT wait until this semester is OVER!!!!!!!!!!!

School

Nursing school...Nursing school is definitely the toughest thing I have ever experienced in my life. It is tough, fun, exciting, sad, enjoyable and crazy all wrapped in one. My life consists of "Study QID & PRN. Eat AM & HS. Sleep PRN." Med surg lecture is kicking my butt, as is pharmacotherapy. Med/surg clinical is not that bad, we get assigned one patient, get report about 645am, go in get vitals, assess the pt head to toe, do am care--bath, change sheets, etc. and do am medications if needed. We have a lovely care plan due two days after clinical and a huge comprehensive care plan due in april. Not looking forward to that at all!!!! Pharm...ohhh how I dislike pharm. In a sense it's interesting because we are learning the medications for different systems, how they work, side effects, nursing implications. It is just SO much in such a short time....

As intense and crazy school is I'm so lucky and fortunate to be taking part of it. I wouldn't change it for anything, I really feel I am destined to be a nurse. I don't know what speciality of nursing I want to persue but there is so many opportunities. I must say....I couldn't do this without my wonderful fiancee :-) He keeps my head up and encourages me to keep going when I just want to cry and have mental breakdowns. He shows me there is a light at the end of this tunnel and I am capable of doing it. I couldn't do it without him.

as promised...

In my first post of the year I hoped this year was going to be full of good things and be an amazing year. On Sunday February 21, 2010 Andrew and I got engaged. It was the absolute most perfect proposal I could ever dream of. I'm not sure anyone reads this blog..but I will tell you how it happened.

Saturday the 20th, Andrew texted me from work and asked if I wanted to go to a date night at the melting pot (a yummy fondue restaurant) tomorrow, of course I said sure. I was thinking it was a belated valentines day (we didn't do anything for v-day this year due to a med/surg exam and pharm exam that week). He wanted to make reservations for 630 so we could change at my cousin's and get ready at her house. We both worked on Sunday and then headed to my cousins. She did my hair and makeup, which is nothing out of the normal to make me think anything suspicious. When we arrived at the Melting Pot there was a dozen red roses on the table. I still didn't think anything of it. I asked Andrew if I could open the card, as I opened it I read "Will you marry me?" and I looked over and Andrew was on one knee next to me with a beautiful ring. I was shocked, cried and of course said YES!!

Here is the amazing ring:

The next question everyone asks is "did you pick a date". We want to wait until I graduate nursing school to get married, I will graduate December 2011 so a spring 2012 wedding is in the works :-) I am so lucky and can't wait for Andrew to officially be my Husband!!

New Year!

Happy New Year!!! 2010 is going to bring some wonderful things...it's going to be a good year! On Jan 2nd I bought a new car...my first car in my name...and my own car payments. I bought a 2008 Mazda 3. It has 15k miles on it..and its in really good condition, I love driving it!