Too Funny

Check this link out..... My mom sent it to me and it is the funniest thing....

.http://www.elfyourself.com/?userid=65147a6c7ad82893ae3b565G06122716

Christmas Eve @ the Simpson's with Connor, Jacquie (John's sister) and Maura.

John and I after graduation .

This is me reciting the Nurse's Prayer.

Christmas

Wow, everything has finally come together at last.

1. Graduation was awesome and everything went off without a hitch. Thursday afternoon at the luncheon, I was extremely nervous, but as the night progressed, I calmed down a lot.
2. The days leading up to Christmas have been a very stressful time. I just felt that I needed to catch up on everything that I have missed this past year. I've cleaned the house, cooked, cooked, and cooked some more. Then with the holidays, my stress level has just escalated.

*Melis, I will be posting pictures of graduation and the holidays real soon.

Ahhh, and on a side note, my second cousin just delivered twin boys on 12/20/06. The pictures of them are adorable! They were 3.7 lbs and 3.9 lbs. Too cute...

The Final Count Down....

Wow, tomorrow is finally the big day! It has been an emotional rollercoaster for me throughout the whole year and the days leading up to graduation. Today at practice, I bawled over who knows what... People made me laugh and then I didn't quite know if I was laughing or crying. I'm very nervous for tomorrow because I feel that things will not run smoothly. We're disorganized and I just feel out of control. I have to speak the nurse's prayer at graduation and my stomach is just in a high knot over that alone! (After tomorrow, I will post pictures if I can remember how to do it)

Other than that, things are going quite well. John just got home from a short business trip to NYC and all went well up there for him. I'm super excited for Christmas and even more excited for our trip to the Dominican! Can't wait!

Bears

Tonight, DDMP is treating clients to a Hershey Bears game. The guys got a box and everything. This in turn means that I must entertain the wifes of the clients. I am a little sceptical about doing this being that they are probably much older than myself. All in all, I am excited to go and just get out of the house.

I did almost burn the kitchen down the other day. I was melting chocolate on the stove and ran upstairs to throw in a load of wash. There was an awful smell coming from the kitchen so I raced downstairs to find the kitchen filled with smoke. I quickly took the pan into the garage and opened all the doors and windows. Eventhough I lit tons of candles to take the smell away, it was still obvious what had happened. I felt like such an idiot. Although it wouldn't have been the first time the fire trucks came to my house ....

1 Week!

Wow, I can't believe that I graduate in 1 week! This year seemed to fly by....

I had a really rough day at clinical today, to the point where I said I didn't want to be a nurse anymore. I felt ashamed saying it, but just the way that places are run is very frustrating to me. I feel that in a long term care facility, no one truely cares for the patients. The healthcare workers do the bare minimum to get by and leave for the day. My favorite patient went to the hospital for sepsis and mersa. My heart just goes out to him. I can't even begin to image what it would be like to live in a long term care facility having only a few outfits, barely any family visits, little contact with the outside world, and having to depend on someone 24/7 to do anything, include using the restroom. In one way I am discussted and in another, I feel that I am making a difference; even if it is for 1 person.

Today after clinical, I went to John's new office. It is extremely nice and very roomy. This is only his second day there and he is loving it. I'm not sure how long it will take him to miss the other half of DDMP, but I'm sure those guys are chatting up a storm everyday on the phone.

You made my day....

"Also, I wanted to tell you know how happy we are for you that you're almost finished with your LPN degree. I really admire people like you who work and go to school at the same time, that's got to be rough! Hang in there for the last few weeks and good luck on your finals!"

This was part of an email from John's sister. After the day that I had today at clinical, it totally made my day!

Happy Thanksgiving...

Wow, what an awesome 2 days! Yesterday, I woke up really early and began to put the final touches on Thanksgiving dinner for my parents. Everything turned out great, except for these gross potatoes that my mom told me to make... (we ended up sending them to the cabin with my dad, uncle, and cousins) We ate tons of great food for brunch around 12ish, then headed to my aunts to play games. FUN FUN FUN!
Afterwards, we went to John's family for another meal around 6ish. It was also very good. Being that everyone was drinking and not paying attention to the food, the sweet potatoes caught fire in the oven. It was quite a sight to see... I wish I had my camera..... We stayed there a long time until I finally drug John out about 1130pm. I was not about to have him interupt my day of shopping.
I made a pot of coffee and Michelle and I headed out for 'Black Friday' about 1AM. We had a blast. We hit the outlets, the mall, Toys R Us, Old Navy; you name it and we were there. The best part was just watching people. It is seriously like a stamped! Route 30 was backed up for miles, bumper to bumper.
We had an awesome time and I will totally do it again next year. I am so proud of Michelle; she is becoming quite the pro. (thanks to some training.... haha)

TSO

So Sunday was DDMP's first ever Christmas party. It turned out to be a lot of fun. We started out going to dinner in Hershey to a place called What If.... It was really nice and they had excellent food! We then had tickets to see the Transiberian Orchestra's Christmas Show. It turned out to be about 3 hours long, but it was totally worth it. They put on an amazing show. John was happy because they had colored fire in which they timed perfectly to music. My favorite part was the 5 minute drum solo where the drummer just totally rocked it out! Everything was great and everyone had fun!

*Only about 13 days left till graduation!

Is that legal?

Yesterday, I stopped at Turkey Hill quickly to fill up on gas and to purchase 1 stamp. The store only sold a pack of 2 stamps, which was fine. The thing is, they were going to charge me $1.89 for both of them! I totally went spastic! How can they do that? That is a government run thing, right?!

My birthday went well. I campaigned for Mrs. Phillips at the poles and so John and I both got home pretty late. He brought me a beautiful arrangement of flowers and card he wrote by himself. It was very nice. Other than that, we just hung out here... nothing special.

Ahh, and tonight, I made chicken corn noodle for the first time ever. It was awesome! I am so proud of myself.

I did it!

I did it. YEAH!!! My next accomplishment will have to be to get a back drop behind it or to set it up as a scrapbook page. Melissa, I might need your help with that one....

This past Monday, friend's of ours had their second baby girl; Ava Grace. Friday night, I skipped John's game and made a scrapbook for Ava that walks through her first year. It was so cute. Every month had it's own page with stickers and decorations. I was so excited to give it to Kristen. We went over to their place Saturday and held Ava. They loved the book! I was thrilled!

After visiting, we went out to eat and then to the Hershey Bears Ice Hockey Game. Wow, there was tons of fighting, which I guess I should have expected, but still.... We had a lot of fun. It was nice to just go out with John for a change and not with all our friends. It kind of felt like we were dating all over again.... I liked it.

Our arts and crafts project of the evening.
These were made with paint and baby food jars.
Igor's Brew......
Abigail
Gabrielle

Pumpkin Carving

Zac

Here we go...

Alright, here are some of the pictures carving pumpkins. Hopefully this worked, but bare with me... it was my first time....

1 1/2 hours later...

Ok, so yesterday there was a huge accident on 283W. I left for work at 4, but was not scheduled until 445, so I figured I had plenty of time. Well, a 15 minute drive took me an hour and a half! It was horrible.

Anyway, I got to work and here, a sophomore from E-Town College jumped off a bridge onto 283 committing suicide. I have been trying to watch the news all I can, but nothing is being said about it. Apparently, a mack-truck hit her. I just can't image finally being at the point in my life where I decide to end it. I will keep you updated if I hear anything else.

Ok, so that previous blog didn't work out so hot.

This week as been great. Sunday, I carved pumpkins with the Hahn children. I took some really great pictures and I will post them if I learn how soon. Monday night we had our 1st life group meeting. It was awesome! John and I love everyone who comes. He hit it off right away with all of them. (It might have helped a little that the one boy is a senior football kicker for Millersville University) Anyway, we can't wait to go back next week. Classes have been going great and I can't wait to finish.

con`grat`u`la`tion`s

Wow, what a great day I had. My day started off bright and early at 5:30. On my way to school, I saw my first EVER shooting star and of course had to make a wish. I took a test on the cardiovascular system, and did fine. This was not the test I was worried about. I was worried about the one at 3:30.... The big one... The one that my entire future depended upon....
3:30 came and I had to take a 10 question math test. I had 1 hour to pass it and needed to obtain 100%. Well, by 3:45, I had done it.... I passed with flying colors and was offically accepted to the RN nursing program. I am extadic! My dreams can actually start to happen now. I am ready.
And to think, it all started because of a shooting star and my faith that God knew all my plans.

Tonight is also our first life group meeting at 7:30. I'm excited where as I think John is nervous. He is comfortable in the Manheim setting with people he knows. I want to branch out and meet new people. Can't wait.

Great Weekend

I had an awesome weekend!
Church on Sunday was so moving. I felt myself at times wanting to cry with the songs we were singing and everything that was going on around us. The sermon was all about giving the 10% tides to the Lord and also about how we can bring others into our "life boats." At the very end of the service, we all recevied a ball in which we were instructed to write the name(s) of someone who we wanted to help see the Lord, come to church, etc... We brought our balls up on stage one at a time and dropped them into a lifeboat. It really impacted me to see how many people that we as a congregation could help. All my Power Hour boys brought balls up also. It was so cute to see.
Saturday, I got a call from a lady @ church inviting John and myself to join her life group on Monday evenings. John and I as as couple have been struggling to find a group that suites both of our needs both individually and as a a couple. I think that this group may be it. Christy is married and has two children. Everyone else in the group is dating/engaged with no children. Some are in school, have jobs, and are at different stages in their lives as are John and I. So anyway, next Monday we are going to their home for a life group study. I hope it all works out and they like us and we like them. I am just really excited that someone would take the time to reach out to us as we contiune to struggle to find a right fit.

911--What's your emergency?

How, what an awesome day! Today, I rode with the Lancaster Ambulance for the morning. Our day started off at 7:30 with the first call....
82 year old woman with difficulty breathing
4 heart surgeries, pace maker, etc...
5 leg surgeries, most recent in July
Great, we get there and she has all her meds written down, husband there with all insurance information, blah, blah, blah. We manage to get her into the ambulance and off we go to LGH. I'm in the back with Debbie, while Brandon is driving. We're trying to start an IV with fluids, but with the great smooth roadways, we fudge our way through.
We hit a bump
The IV's in
Blood is shooting like a fountain everywhere
Ok, we have our gloves
Did it get in our mouths?, our eyes?
Ok, we're good and things are stable
Ugh! We finally make it to LGH and all is well. Most likely, our patient had a pulmonary embolism from her recent leg surgery. (a PE is a blood clot that has traveled through your body and lodged itself in your lungs).

Next case. We picked up a lady from the nursing home to take her to Ephrata to get her chemotherapy treatment. We have to wait there until she is finished!? (this took about 2 hours... need I say more) Anyway, while we were there, numerous calls are coming in...
Shooting in Lancaster outside the Belvedere
Accident in Lancaster City
23 year old with upper abdomen pain, vomitting
Why couldn't we go to those case, huh? Oh well, over all I had a great day.
You would honestly be surprised though to find out how many people do not pull over when an ambulance is passing with lights and syrines. FRUSTRATION SETS IN.

Ok, tonight is yet another football game against Ephrata. Wish us luck!

Ok, it was me...

Help! I totally need a blogspert! I am so bad at this stuff. As you can see in the previous entry, I completely messed everything up. I just don't get it!
Ahhh, the Shipe's had their baby on Friday about 1:00ish. They had a little girl named Ellison. How cute. They tell us she is adorable, of course, but I can't wait to see pictures real soon. The Enck's are expecting here any day also. Babies are everywhere!
I am feeling a little nervous about my upcoming math test. I get so stressed out about these things. I just feel like my future depends upon if I get into school or not. I really want this, but at the same time, I want my life to continue on and move to the next step. I guess we'll have to see what happens. Wish me luck!
FARMSHOW WEEK! FUNNEL CAKES! MILKSHAKES! BABY PIGS! I'm lovin it all!

My Crazy Life

My Crazy Life

Crafty Jack

Ok, so after a long labor day at work, I finally got to do what I wanted today... SHOP! Well, not really I guess. We got John a new pair of running sneakers, that was totally needed, and I found a project to keep myself occupied the rest of the day...
Our friends are having a baby girl due in October. We decided to ship a little "home-town" gift to them being that they live in Jacksonville. I purchased a few onesies, some iron-on letters, and got down to business. On the back of the onesie, I ironed on 'Shipe,' 'Go Barons,' and Bryan's old Manheim football number. It turned out to be adorable. I also sewed a mini football to the front pocket. Cute as a button! I can't wait to see the little Shipe at her first Baron game real soon!

Long Day

Wow, yesterday was the first Manheim football game. I was all pumped about noon and ready to go decked out in my pink attire. Needless to say, by 5:00, I was changed and wanted to spend my night at the mall. I ended up going to the game with the girls and was ugh all the entire time. It poured down rain. (I would have rather had snow again) There was a point in my night in which I ran out to the car to grab my umbrella to use. Michelle and I had it up about 5 minutes when 2 ladies behind us rudely asked that it be put down so they could see the band at half time. Fine, not a problem with me. At the start of the 3td quarter, I kindly asked them if they would mind it going up again. They were just so rude to me, that just frustrated me the more they talked. I honestly thought in the beginning that they were joking, but obviously they were not. For goodness sakes, it was pouring down rain, I couldn't use my umbrella, and by the time I got to the car, I was soaked!
Afterwards, we went to the Cats. Had an ok time. I ran into a lot of people that I went to high school with. One of which was getting married today. Wow; it totally amazes me that we are at that stage in life where people I can relate to are getting married, having children, etc....