Christmas...

We left a week before Christmas to go back to West Memphis and Mississippi to visit our families. It was very busy! Saturday night we went to the Dunn(my extended family)family Christmas party, Wednesday we spent the day with the Meister(dad's side of the family)family, Wednesday night we opened gifts with the Young(mom's side of the family)family, Thursday morning my mom cooked us a big breakfast, Thursday afternoon we ate lunch with William's family and Thursday evening we spent with the Mangrum family. They are our adopted family! We got up at 5am on Friday morning to go to Wal-Mart so I could get some new LED Christmas lights for our house. Well wal-mart opened at 5 instead of 6, when we got there we realized we could have slept in, there was no one hardly even there, much different from here. Two years ago when I got the lights that we had I got there at 3:30 and was already the 5th person in line and had to run to get my lights. CRAZY! Before we left for this trip we decided that we were going to be staying at our house next year for Christmas, I don't think anyone liked the idea, but we have been married 4 years and haven't spent a Christmas at our own house. We had a GREAT trip, and I am so glad to be back in my own house!

Us at Dunn Christmas Party

My mom, brother, and I at Dunn Christmas Party

My aunt Hope and Kali at Dunn Christmas Party

My daddy and me

My mom and me

My brother and me

My granny and papow on Christmas eve

My mom, brother and me on Christmas eve

The young cousins(2 are missing)

William, Jack and me on Christmas morning

Toddler Toes, Final Grade, HFG Christmas Party...

Lots of stuff to post about.

On Friday, I joined a group of ladies from my church and all of their kiddos to go to a local Nursing home and sing Christmas carols. Here's a picture of the group:

Notice I am the only one that doesn't have a kiddo!

I also took my ATI Assessment on Friday which finished up the semester. I made a 90 in the class. Which in any other grading system would be an A, but in Nursing School it is a B. I am happy with it but a little bit burned at the same time!

On Sunday night our new Home Fellowship Group had their Christmas Party, here is a picture of all of us:

School & A trip to Branson...

I had my 5th test this week and I made a B. So right now I have 2-A's, 2-B's and 1-C. We have out final on Thursday and then our Assessment for the class on Friday. After Friday I will be done for a month and then I start the Spring semester. I need to read my new book for the Spring. We will see how that goes, I am beyond burnt out on school right now.

Yesterday we went to Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO for the first time. We have been to Branson quiet a few times but never really had an interest in going to SDC. I am a Christmas fanatic and we had heard so many good things about the lights at SDC at Christmas so we decided we would go. I love the lights! I can't say I was thrilled with the rides. I thought there would be more rides, that's ok though. We will give it another try once it's warmer outside.


Us at SDC



The Entrance to the park


Before the lighting

After the lighting

SNOW!!!

Today we got our first snow of the season! I am so excited. It wasn't cold enough to stick but none the less it was pretty.

I have my last offical class day on Wednesday of this week for a review day for our final. We have test 5 on Friday and then our final exam on the following Thursday and Friday. I can't believe I am almost done with my first class. I do love school, it just really makes this time of year tough, with me not working. It just seems like every year it's something new to make it even harder. I am just a little bored, William sits in the office and watches football or plays on the computer and starting tomorrow I feel like I am not dedicated to my school work if I am not studying for my tests. There's not a whole lot to do, no money, house is clean, no family close. Just alot of things all coming together or falling apart all at once.


William in the snow.

The horses playing in the snow.

Icicles on the Christmas lights.

Not much snow, but enough!

Thanksgiving...

My mom, brother and his girlfriend arrived from West Memphis on Wednesday night for Thanksgiving. Thursday morning William started the Turkey and I cooked all the other dishes. Sometime during the morning while we were cooking lunch someone drove by ans threw a bottle of baby food through my moms passenger window on her car. Thursday afternoon we all headed out to Bella Vista to go for a hike at Tanyard Creek. After, the hike we went down to Fayetteville to see Lights of the Ozarks. Friday we went and got the window fixed on my moms car, got a really good deal on a Christmas present for William and colored my hair RED.

Us at Tanyard Creek



Me at Lights of the Ozarks.

My new RED hair.

Clincials are over!

Yesterday was our last day in the hospital for clincials this semester. Today we finished up by each of us giving our clincials presentation. Nothing big, 10-15 min. in length about on of the patients we had this semester. I did mine on Small Bowel Obstruction. I am including a picture of my clincial group at the end of this. I have thoroughly enjoyed this semester, it has been a huge learning experience and alot of fun! At times, not so good but I can look back now and see how much fun it was!

On Wednesday I started getting what I thought was the flu, I was very achy. Thursday I woke up with a runny now and felt just as bad. Since it was the last day of lecture for this semester, I went ahead and went to class. I took my box of kleenex & the bottle of TheraFlu so I could survive. Well, on Thursday night when I was home I started getting chilled with a fever. I ended having a 99.9 temp. I took some medicine and headed to bed. I woke up Friday morning a little better but really getting worse overall. I woke up with a horrible sore throat, coughing & more snot than I cared to ever have!!! I have been through 2 full boxes of 60 kleenex per box and I am working on my next one! Saturday morning I woke up for clincials and had no voice! I took my medicine and headed off to clincials since it was the last day I really couldn't miss unless I had had a fever in the past 24 hours. Saturday afternoon, I took a nap and just seemed that no matter what it wasn't getting any better no matter what I did so I got William to take me to Well Quest at 6:30. Well, the Dr. told me I have a horrible sinus infection, he gave me a antibiotic-ZPac, a decongestant-Ala-Hist D, a steroid nose spray-Flonase, & a steroid shop IN MY REAR! Boy did that hurt! Well I slept wonderfully! I even came home today from our clincial presentation and cleaned my entire kitchen and living room. All I have left are the3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. I still have a little cough and a runny nose, but I can't complain too much. I'm gonna take some Nyquil before bed tonight to make sure I do sleep good so I can finish cleaning before my mom and brother gets here on Wednesday. Anyways, enough rambling about how sick I have been!

I found out today that I made a 94 or 97 on my Pharmacology Evaluation from Thursday, either way they are both A's. Our instructor also told us that everyone in our clincials groups passed clincials, YEAH!



Back row from Left to Right, Mrs. Verwey(our instructor), Sally Albright(my 2nd mother), Amy Warren(my bestest Christian friend in class), Sky Shabatura; Front row from Left to Right, Sherine Raines, Me, Audrey Shenkyl. They have become my little family away from home!

School!

I don't even know where to begin....This has been a very weird week for me. Lots of feelings or confusion and discouragement in my self about school, not really sure why or what even caused me to start thinking about it. Oh well, another valley worked through in the big journey of going through school! This past Thursday in class our teacher had us do this class activity on self-concept. She gave us a piece of yellow card stock and each person taped it to there back and was supposed to have atleast 10 of our classmates write something positive about us on this paper. I am attaching mine at the bottom. Somethings that is very hard to realize, one day I will have as much confidence in myself as others think I have in myself(if that makes any since)! We just finished our 5th week of clinicals, only 1 more week to go, our last day of class is on this Thursday and we are in the hospital on Saturday and that is our last day for this semester. Sunday we get to have breakfast at our teachers house and do a little teaching session to some of our clinical classmates about one of our patients. I am doing mine on small bowel obstruction, how exciting!:) On Friday I decided to put up our Christmas lights on the house, instead of studying for my Pharmacology Evaluation. This time I didn't have to climb on the roof or call the fire department, HOW EXCITING!:) After Christmas last year William bought me this poll extender to help with the lights on the front part of the house and it helped tremendously. I didn't even have to climb on the ladder to get them up. We took our family Christmas pictures yesterday, I haven't gotten them back yet but as soon as I do I will post some of them on here, I think they are going to be beautiful!

a door closes as another opens...

I just finished my 4th weekend of clinicals and I am really enjoying all of the people I am getting to meet and the experience that I am getting to have, it is alot of fun, alot of work too! We have several big assignments during this clinical rotation, and I am excited because I have completed 2 of the 4! I only have one thing left to do on one of the others and they last one I have to prepare a small seminar about one of my patients to present to my clinical group on the last day of clinicals. We have 4 days of class left, 4 days of clincials, 1 test review day, test 5, a final exam & our standardized test that covers the entire class. I know that seems like alot but it really isn't that much!

A week or so ago William & I were presented with a opportunity to step-up and lead a home fellowship group/connection group. We accepted and yesterday was a last week with our group that we have been with for 3 1/2 years. It is sad! I am excited about the new opportunity though! We are going to be a part of what was the Cole/Weddle HFG, now it will be the Lewallen/Weddle HFG. It will definitly be an adjustment, one of the ladies that is in this group taught at the high school I went to my senior year, so that tells ya how diverse this group it, this will also be the first time that I am not the baby of the group. Just keep us in yours prayers as we start our new journey beginning next Sunday. I am excited about growing my relationship with God as well as leading others & guiding them towards our heavenly father as well. Since last night was our last time at our old group the leaders got us this lovely cookie cake that said "We will miss you William & Casey". God has differnt plans for us! We will definitly miss being a part of the Knoble/Daspit HFG. Here's a picture of the cookie cake they got us, it was the first time I had had one and it was delicious!

What a week!

It's been a big week! We only had one day of class last week and it was an all day class, then after that I had to go to the Hammons Center in Rogers for the Arkanas Student Nurse Association Annual Convention. I was a alternate delegate for our school. I had a blast, I didn't get to vote on any by-law changes or any of the new officers but the experience will last a liftime. On Thursday & Friday we were at Convention all day again. Saturday & Sunday I was in my 2nd weekend of clinicals, only 4 more weekends for this semester. I really enjoyed this weekend. I felt like I did so much, my patients family was very appreciate of the care that I provided and it made me feel very successful. Now if I can just be successful in my test on Thursday I will feel just that much better! We are suppose to be getting our average for our previous test after this one, so I can see where I am at. On Saturday night we went to the Ole Miss vs. Arkansas game. What a blast! We walked 2 miles to the stadium and 2 miles back, and I have blister on both of my pinky toes, but none the less it was a BLAST! Here are a few pictures from the game. A guy William used to work with gave us his tickets and the were in the East Outdoor Club level, and it was AWESOME! There was an elevator, seats that had backs to them, it was covered and we got to go in the indoor club level and have some great bbq during the half time.





Here's a picture of a bunch of us from convention:

1st week of clinicals...

So I had my first 2 days of clincials. We have 12 days total this semester, a total of 6 weekends. Only 5 more left. I really do love it! Alot of what an RN does is assessing the patient, I can assess but I can't chart it on the form that we have. I am really struggling, if I can get that part down it would be GREAT! Maybe next weekend will be better with a different patient. I got to do serveal of my skills today but I can't talk about them, which kinda stinks becaus I am so EXCITED about them!

Gamma Beta Phi Induction...

Tonight I was inducted into Gamma Beta Phi at NWACC. I am excited to be able to be in the inside look of volunteering. You might see me on the side of 540 sometime picking up trash:) Here's a pic from tonight.

...

This week has been a very laid back and slow week, I am so loving it! I have taken 2 naps so far this week! On Tuesday I gave my first shot. I was terrified, my partner is so tiny and I was afraid of hurting her. She says I didn't but I feel as though I hit her bone, my instructor said I did a good job as well. Today, we learned how to walk with a walker, crutches & a cane. After that was over I prayed that I would never have to have one for myself, they are not so easy to use. I start my first clinicals on Saturday at 0700. Wohooo, I am so happy & excited. On the flip side, I keep having dreams that I walk into my first patients room and just stare at them and they bark at my and I leave crying. I am just so terrified, I have never done this before. All these new skills that I have learned and now I have to go do them all, WITH REAL PEOPLE! That's scary! Tomorrow night I am getting inducted into Gamma Beta Phi and my school. It is a service fraternity, and they base your acceptance based on your grades. I am sure I will have pics to post.

God is good!

Today William and I went for a walk with Jack and we stopped by the mailbox on the way back from our walk. I didn't expect anything to be in there, but there was a letter from my school. I knew by the coding on it it was from the Nursing Department, I thought GREAT something else we have to spend money on to meet our requirements. Boy was I wrong! I opened it and I got a scholarship! PRAISE GOD! I never thought I would get one but I applied anyways, I am excited because I have never gotten a scholarship before because they always say we make too much money. God is definitly over the top sometimes!

On Thursday after my test I got to go get my Student Nurse badge for clinicals. It's not a great picture but that's ok, the State Board of Nursing says we have to have it so I guess it will be ok, atleast I get to take a new picture next year!
Here's what it looks like.

Test # 3 & a new haircut

This week went by very fast for me. I don't know if that is good or bad? I passed my validation on Bowel Elimination on Tuesday, so now I can administer a enema or suppository, not that I necessarily want to! On Thursday I had my 3rd exam and I made a 94 on it. I am so happy because that is a A, even on our crazy grading scale so that's a big plus. I went today and got a haircut since I start clinicals next weekend and we have to wear out hair back or up and I really don't want to wear a ponytail so I got it short enough that I can just pull the front back. After my hait cut at Penney's I was looking around and found a rolling backpack that I love for $22, the original price was $90. I am way too excited about that deal. If you saw how big my books are you would understand why. This week I also got elected to be an Alternate Delegate for our state Arkansas Student Nursing Association Convention. Still not real sure what I will be doing but I don't have to pay and I get to be with a bunch of people I know, so I am sure it can't be bad!

The front of my new haircut.

The back.

My new backpack.

I had to add this because the cat is peaking around the side.

My sweet baby boy!

Saturday fun!

This morning William decided that he was going to take me and Jack out for a morning of FUN! We went to Tanyard Creek in Bella Vista. It was absouletely BEAUTIFUL! We didn't walk the whole thing, but we plan to go back later on this year. Jack seemed to really enjoy all the new things, and he loved chasing after the squirrels he saw.
Here's some pictures from this morning.

Family visit & School is starting...

So we went home for a long weekend visit with the family and I can't say that it was the greatest trip that we had. I won't go into any detail about it, but just keep us in your prayers if you think about it.

We did get quiet a few pictures of our niece, Lilly, for around the house. She will be 5 months old on the 27th. Wow, how time has flown by.

School starts on Monday and I am already ready to quit. All the events of life happening all at one time plus the overwhelming amount of reading that I have to do. I have 4 chapters to read just for the first day of class. 26 chapters just for the first week of school. I guess if I understood what I was reading I might not be as overwhelmed but it's hard when you take in so much new stuff at one time. It is encouraging to know that we will have some clinicals the first week of school, I like that kind of hands on stuff. I could go my whole life without reading anything but my bible. I have never been a big reader. I can't remember the last time I had read a book besides a school book or my bible until this year, I have actually read 2 books through completely and I have another that I wanted to start on before school started but I never got around too it, I may just end of returning it because I am not sure that I will ever want to read again after I finish school. William didn't read a book besides his bible for a good 3 years after he graduated, and he didn't read nearly as much as I am having too. The library and I are going to become really good friends because our dog thinks he needs to be petted if he isn't asleep. It's not gonna happen though!

Just keep me in your prayers and I will try to update as I have time, the first day of class is on Monday.

Here are some pictures of our niece.

Tulsa Zoo on our Anniversary...

The day started out as if it weren't going to be a very good day....I burnt my face with my curling iron, accidently made my ear bleed and then got stung on my tongue by a bug just after we got to the zoo. But after that it turned out to be a really good day. After our trip to the zoo we went shopping at the Woodland Hills Mall and then to Copeland's for dinner. YUMMY!!!

I never knew that flamingo's slept on one leg?!?

Pictures below are from the Zoo, Enjoy!