Midterms

My stress level has crept up and up on the scale of stressfulness. Between tests, papers, and care plans, I have way too much to do before fall break. Going to class seems like such a waste when I have all this work to do, but I have to do that too. 5 days and counting!!!

I also started my 12 hour clinicals in the transplant unit last week. Sweet patient and sweet nurse, but lots of down time, especially while my patient was in dialysis, and I get bored easily, so I wasn't a fan of that, BUT I'd rather be bored than doing other less desirable things ;-) This is where I'll celebrate my birthday next week. Yay for me, lol.


Here's some pre-mud, mud run photos from last week.



Hope everyone has a good week!
~BKL

Lull of Life

There's been a lack of blogging on my end for many reasons. Mostly, I've been writing so much for school, I haven't been able to muster up any more enthusiasm for writing elsewhere. And of course, life is in a lull, not a whole lot going on outside of the norm.

My grandmother recently had knee surgery, and is doing well. She's determined to drive asap so she's pushing it extra hard with the PT. Makes me proud, yet worried all at once. :-)

I finished my psych rotation. Bummed to see it go because the 12 hour shifts are up next... Transplant unit, hopefully, I'll hear some interesting stories while I'm there.

Justin's out of town this weekend, doing a Marine Corp hosted mud run in Columbia, SC with his buddies. He's excited. Hopefully, I'll be productive in studying for my trillion upcoming midterms while he's gone. I am also going to sweet J's bridal shower and to see sweet Emi cheer at her middle school football game tomorrow. It should be a good weekend!

~BKL

Little men with copper wires and hamburger spaceships

I had my first full day on the psych unit at Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital yesterday. It was VERY interesting. I encountered so many delusions and hallucinations.

"Glass is in my mouth so I can't swallow"
"There is a gas leak in my room"
"There is a vacuum in my bed trying to suck up my fat"
"There is a fire under my bed"
"Sleep is death"
"A space ship landed beside me and turned into a hamburger so I ate it. I need to eat objects made of metal to feed it so it can gas up and return to outer space"
"Little men with copper wires are in my toes trying to cut them off"

I was dreading my time on this unit, but it's actually quite fascinating. Looking forward to my next two weeks there!

~BKL

One Year!

This weekend we celebrated our one year anniversary! I can't believe it's been one year already. It's been such a great year, and I look forward to many more spent together.

For my gift to Justin, I wanted to stick to the traditional theme, so as most of you probably know, one year is paper. I tried and tried to come up with something unique. When I heard Jack Johnson was coming to Atlanta the weekend of our anniversary, I realized how perfect it was, tickets to the show could be my paper! Justin has told me so many times that he wanted to see JJ live so he was beyond excited. We had an awesome time! It's seriously the best concert I've ever been to. His openers played from 7-9 and he played 9-11. I've never seen anyone play that long and it was just so nice. He played all of our favorites! He also sang to his wife which made me tear up. I debtated lawn vs. covered and I am SO GLAD I went for the covered because it poured the ENTIRE time! Here's some photos:

"Paper"


Prior to the concert




At the concert:


Saturday morning we slept in and then we headed to Little Five Points and just looked around. We had lunch at a little cafe and window shopped a little more. For dinner, we went to Rosebud. It was amazing! They're known for cooking locally grown food. The fried eggplant chips (appetizer) is one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. I had fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese (which had cranberries in it- odd but good). Justin had shrimp and grits. We both loved everything.





Afterward we went to Cafe Intermezzo for dessert. OUT OF THIS WORLD! (http://www.cafeintermezzo.com/) Then we came back home and watched a movie on NetFlix. Matilda, specifically, one of my all time favorites. Justin complained at first, but he'd never saw it, and who doesn't like Matilda? ;-)

Sunday, we woke up around nine, and Justin made pancakes for breakfast. We fell asleep on the couch after eating and didn't wake up till 1:30. We grabbed a quick lunch at the DQ and went and had a fabulous couples massage! We had dinner at home. Justin grilled steaks and fixings. We ate our anniversary cake for dessert. We'd forgot what flavor we choose and were surprised with strawberry! The cake was surprisingly good. I couldn't eat the icing, it was too sweet and grainy but the cake was delicious.



Justin also surprised me with a gift from Shane. :-) It's a band identical to my wedding band to go on top of my engagement ring. I'll admit, I'd been dropping a few subtle hints but had no idea if he'd get it or if they'd even still have that same band!



It was an awesome weekend. Justin agreed to let me plan the weekend (to my delight- I love to plan!) so he was surprised throughout the weekend which made it extra fun for me. I hid little hints and gifts through out the house. I debated going somewhere, but when I heard Jack Johnson would be here in ATL, I knew we had to stay. It actually worked out great because we were able to afford to do more things than if we'd of had to pay money for a hotel. I never knew how important an anniversary could be until I got married. I hope we always take the time to celebrate. :-)

~BKL

Done, Done, Done, and DONE

Finished my first semester of the program and I could not be happier!!!!!!!!!

Off to a glorious week at the beach!

~BKL

Not What I Thought

I posted earlier about my community clinical, Hagar's House.

Hagar's House is a 30 day emergency shelter for single moms and their children. I have so enjoyed my time there. It has just been so humbling. The moms are so strong. I look at them and see the strength of my great-grandmother. Many of these women, like her, are widows, left to raise a family on their own. Unforeseen circumstances have left them homeless. Things that could easily happen to any of us. This experience has redefined my idea of homelessness. We tend to stereotype the homeless as lazy, unproductive citizens. These women are not lazy. One mom, has seven children. Just like my Ma. Seven lively, healthy, robust children. Children that need food, clothes, and a place to call home. My Ma easily could have become homeless when her husband was killed. She was 35, had never worked, and had seven children. With the help of family and neighbors, she got by. Barely, but she did. These women haven't been so lucky. They have no families.

For five weeks, I have spent time with their children. Amazing, resilient kids. These moms are not lazy, unproductive citizens. They are doing something so incredibly right. They are raising families and teaching them the importance of taking care of one another.


Playing with Nataria.


Destiny's artwork.

Pray with me that these moms find jobs and secure housing for their precious, precious families.

~BKL

Salt, Sand, and Ocean

Two more weeks of classes and one week of finals between me and the ocean.

That sounds so heavenly; however, thats: four hospital clinicals, two community clinicals, twelve classes, three care worksheets, two regular exams, two final exams, a nine page paper, two group presentations, a case study, and four care plans.

Salt, sand, and ocean, please get here soon before I go insane.

~BKL