Well... week one went really well.
haha.
Say that 10 times fast!
I lost 8 lbs. I know that is too much for the first week and that it is mostly water weight, but it gets me motivated to lose the rest. I am back in my comfort zone - the 60s (the 160s). Seeing those 170s is traumatizing. I know that sounds crazy for someone who spent most of her adult life over 200 lbs, and who cried tears of joy when she got down to 179 the first time, but having been below 170 for most of the last 3 years, it's become my "normal".
Last week I pretty much cut out the cokes and sweets and cut down on the other crap (fast food and pizza). The King is here now (Welcome Home Mr. King Dude) and you would think we would be knee deep in crap food (haha) but I've let them eat most of the crap and I eat only small portions of crap or go totally crap free. hahaha. Okay, enough of that crap! ;)
And today I joined the gym again. I hadn't been since July. Bad girl! So here I go on my way to being the healthiest I can be. Go me!
So Week 2 stats:
Weight: 167
Waist: 30
Hips: 40
Thighs: 23.75 (That is the left one, cause it's bigger than the right)
Upper Arms: 15 (Ditto)
(Sorry I know there are no Week 1 Stats to compare them too, except for the weight which was 175)
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
'Tis the Season
I took the hobbit back to school today, then went for a power-walk, then to the grocery store where I brought fresh fruits and veggies and whole grains...yup it's that time of year again. The time when we jump on the scales and start cursing all the fudge, cheese balls and pecan pies who forced themselves on us during the holidays.
It's not MY fault. I was just sitting there eating a carrot while doing sit ups when a plate of fudge just crammed itself into my face! After that attack, I was gasping for breath, trying to defend myself while doing one armed pushed ups when a cheese ball hurls itself at me! The pecan pie got me while I was running a 5K. I smelled pie crust and looked behind me and it was chasing me down the street. Those pecans run awful fast!
Because of those demonic foods I am up to 175! Yikes! So yup, it's back on track now. Gotta get off this holiday weight and get back in shape before those heart shaped boxes of evil start their siege!
It's not MY fault. I was just sitting there eating a carrot while doing sit ups when a plate of fudge just crammed itself into my face! After that attack, I was gasping for breath, trying to defend myself while doing one armed pushed ups when a cheese ball hurls itself at me! The pecan pie got me while I was running a 5K. I smelled pie crust and looked behind me and it was chasing me down the street. Those pecans run awful fast!
Because of those demonic foods I am up to 175! Yikes! So yup, it's back on track now. Gotta get off this holiday weight and get back in shape before those heart shaped boxes of evil start their siege!
Friday, January 2, 2009
...and a Happy New Year
So....The King will be here in less than a week. Woo! After a year and a half of being a "single mom", it's gonna feel much different to have three of us in the same house again. It seems like it's been years, but it also seems like the 19 months went by super quick. But not only has it been awhile since we've lived together, it's also been almost 9 years since we've lived in the U.S. together. Quite an adjustment all around.
The King is busy trying to get things on his end packed and my silly workaholic is working up until the day before he leaves. Here on my end I am trying desperately to find us a house, and to get this apartment packed up. The house hunt has had its ups and downs. We aren't buying, just renting, but I fell in love with the very first house I looked at. It was so perfect, but the owner's decided not to rent it out.
Since then, none of the places I've seen have really piqued my interest. One was cute, but I don't like the yard so much. But if nothing else comes along we will probably take that one. Meanwhile I have two more I have to look at. One is in the same neighborhood as my good friend Glenda, so that would be really cool to be near her. The other is right behind Frodo's school, so that would be nice as well. But I've told myself whatever we find, I won't have to stay in it forever! It will just be nice to have my own yard for once!
School starts back in two weeks so I have also been trying to get some studying done. This semester is supposed to be even more challenging than the last. Thankfully The King will be here to help out!
So the next week will be filled with looking at houses, cleaning and organizing this one (The King needs at least a sock drawer, poor fella), getting waxed, plucked, painted and dyed (if a man is moving across the world for me, it's the least I can do!), and practicing trying to sleep on one side of a Full mattress again. Don't want to accidentally kick The King off the bed the very first night!
The King is busy trying to get things on his end packed and my silly workaholic is working up until the day before he leaves. Here on my end I am trying desperately to find us a house, and to get this apartment packed up. The house hunt has had its ups and downs. We aren't buying, just renting, but I fell in love with the very first house I looked at. It was so perfect, but the owner's decided not to rent it out.
Since then, none of the places I've seen have really piqued my interest. One was cute, but I don't like the yard so much. But if nothing else comes along we will probably take that one. Meanwhile I have two more I have to look at. One is in the same neighborhood as my good friend Glenda, so that would be really cool to be near her. The other is right behind Frodo's school, so that would be nice as well. But I've told myself whatever we find, I won't have to stay in it forever! It will just be nice to have my own yard for once!
School starts back in two weeks so I have also been trying to get some studying done. This semester is supposed to be even more challenging than the last. Thankfully The King will be here to help out!
So the next week will be filled with looking at houses, cleaning and organizing this one (The King needs at least a sock drawer, poor fella), getting waxed, plucked, painted and dyed (if a man is moving across the world for me, it's the least I can do!), and practicing trying to sleep on one side of a Full mattress again. Don't want to accidentally kick The King off the bed the very first night!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Now WHERE Did that Goose Run Off To?
A. She ran off with a one legged circus clown!
B. She accidentally killed a patient!
C. She failed out of nursing school!
D. She has been a lazy heifer and just not taken the time to update her loyal fans even though they ask her nicely and promise her candy!
I choose answer D.
Ding Ding Ding! You are correct! Now gimme some candy!
Okay, so I have been a very bad Goosey Lucy. I will admit. So sorry, see ya tamale!
So here ya go...here's le update!
I have completed my first semester of nursing school with a B. No A, this semester. *Pout* Something I woulda been very devastated by a few months ago, but I've come to the conclusion that Single Momdom is much overrated. Shhhh.... I know there are straight A single mom students out there, but don't tell my psyche that or she might pout and not write anymore! Oh, wait, can't threaten y'all with that, it already happened!
But since The King will be in residence (woo! woo! WOO!) this semester I expect nothing less than an A from me! Hear that you lousy B. I'm gonna kick your A! Muwhaha!
The B on my transcript does not reflect the A quality caregiver I became this semester. I may not have aced the tests, but I took darn good care of my patients. The last half of our semester was in a nursing home and I grew quite attached to several of the residents there. I've heard prattle that nurses who work in nursing homes are those that couldn't get a job anywhere else. And I will admit that I did run into some nurses and CNAs who I wouldn't let wipe my imaginary dog's butt, but for the most part I feel it takes a special kind of person to work in a nursing home.
I left there feeling very satisfied with my experience and grateful to have been able to share in the daily lives of a few special people.
And yes, my assessment skills did indeed improve. I never again forgot to put my stethoscope IN my ears. I even advanced to medication administration both orally and by injection (insulin shots). And managed not to poke anyone in the eye!
Here are some other things I learned during my first semester of nursing school:
I've learned that trying to bathe an overweight patient all by yourself, might make you feel like a real nurse and very independent, but unless you wanna walk around looking like a bendy straw the rest of your life, don't do it!
I've learned that you can have your nose 2 centimeters from a poo covered bottom and not even gag, but when a piece of corn falls out of an adult diaper 3 feet away you better run for the border!
I've learned some nursing homes value their statues and chandeliers more than their linen supply and that bathing a resident with nothing but a bed sheet can actually be done.
I've learned kindness goes a long way, and making friends with CNAs gets you into their secret stash of linens.
I've learned that what you learn in the book and in class isn't always the way they do it in the real world.
I've learned that the area 6 feet around my instructor and the doctor she is speaking with is off limits unless I want to be the doctor's midmorning snack!
But most of all I've learned that a letter on a transcript doesn't matter as long as I leave every day satisfied that I did what I was put on this earth to do, which is comfort those in need.
So that has been nursing school! I guess the rest of my life will have to come in a later update cause I have been working on this one for two days!
B. She accidentally killed a patient!
C. She failed out of nursing school!
D. She has been a lazy heifer and just not taken the time to update her loyal fans even though they ask her nicely and promise her candy!
I choose answer D.
Ding Ding Ding! You are correct! Now gimme some candy!
Okay, so I have been a very bad Goosey Lucy. I will admit. So sorry, see ya tamale!
So here ya go...here's le update!
I have completed my first semester of nursing school with a B. No A, this semester. *Pout* Something I woulda been very devastated by a few months ago, but I've come to the conclusion that Single Momdom is much overrated. Shhhh.... I know there are straight A single mom students out there, but don't tell my psyche that or she might pout and not write anymore! Oh, wait, can't threaten y'all with that, it already happened!
But since The King will be in residence (woo! woo! WOO!) this semester I expect nothing less than an A from me! Hear that you lousy B. I'm gonna kick your A! Muwhaha!
The B on my transcript does not reflect the A quality caregiver I became this semester. I may not have aced the tests, but I took darn good care of my patients. The last half of our semester was in a nursing home and I grew quite attached to several of the residents there. I've heard prattle that nurses who work in nursing homes are those that couldn't get a job anywhere else. And I will admit that I did run into some nurses and CNAs who I wouldn't let wipe my imaginary dog's butt, but for the most part I feel it takes a special kind of person to work in a nursing home.
I left there feeling very satisfied with my experience and grateful to have been able to share in the daily lives of a few special people.
And yes, my assessment skills did indeed improve. I never again forgot to put my stethoscope IN my ears. I even advanced to medication administration both orally and by injection (insulin shots). And managed not to poke anyone in the eye!
Here are some other things I learned during my first semester of nursing school:
I've learned that trying to bathe an overweight patient all by yourself, might make you feel like a real nurse and very independent, but unless you wanna walk around looking like a bendy straw the rest of your life, don't do it!
I've learned that you can have your nose 2 centimeters from a poo covered bottom and not even gag, but when a piece of corn falls out of an adult diaper 3 feet away you better run for the border!
I've learned some nursing homes value their statues and chandeliers more than their linen supply and that bathing a resident with nothing but a bed sheet can actually be done.
I've learned kindness goes a long way, and making friends with CNAs gets you into their secret stash of linens.
I've learned that what you learn in the book and in class isn't always the way they do it in the real world.
I've learned that the area 6 feet around my instructor and the doctor she is speaking with is off limits unless I want to be the doctor's midmorning snack!
But most of all I've learned that a letter on a transcript doesn't matter as long as I leave every day satisfied that I did what I was put on this earth to do, which is comfort those in need.
So that has been nursing school! I guess the rest of my life will have to come in a later update cause I have been working on this one for two days!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Great Flaming Biscuits, Batman!
First and foremost, I failed my test today. I will get my grade tomorrow, but I know without a doubt that I did indeed bomb it. In fact, I am so sure I failed it, that I will do the Cupid Shuffle for you fine folks on video if I come back with a passing grade! But I'm ok with it. Really I am. I am unshakeable and will just vow to do better next time.
Now that's taken care of let's talk about my clinical day yesterday. It was our first day in the hospital setting. If you remember, previously we have been at a nursing home. We got to watch a short video in class on Monday about giving bed baths and were expected to learn it and be able to do it the next day. I felt so unprepared. They are really throwing us off the boat, expecting us to swim with this stuff, aren't they? My only hope was that I would be paired with someone who'd somehow memorized the video and could direct me.
I arrived to the hospital in plenty of time. Ran straight to the bathroom and pooed like there was no tomorrow and then waited with the rest of the class in the lobby. We were chatting about breakfast and I said, "I bought some frozen sausage patties yesterday to have for breakfast this morning but it took forever for my biscuit to get done so I...... OH CRAP I left my biscuit in the oven, and the oven ON!"
I live 5 minutes from the hospital, but our shift was starting in 5 minutes. They are very strict on attendance and if I returned more than 15 minutes after the shift began I would be sent home. And since we can miss only 2 shifts before we are kicked out of the program I decided to stay and hope the biscuit didn't burst into flames in my kitchen!
I couldn't concentrate because of the worry of losing all my worldy possessions and took only small comfort in the fact that at least all of my textbooks were in the trunk of my car. Plus I was still worried about forgetting the steps of the bed bath. When I found out who my assigned partner was I felt much more at ease. He's the oldest member of our clinical group, in his 50s, and I figured he was on the ball and could lead me through it. But it turned out he was as lost as I was but we managed!
Our patient was a rather large black man with mental disabilites who couldn't move himself very much, so we were going to be doing the full bath ourselves. My partner kept offering to take care of the "manly" parts for me but I assured him I wasn't the least bit nervous. We'd been told by a rather colorful and crazy (fun crazy, not insane crazy) instructor that when you go to wash the male pe.ni.s, "Don't be afraid of it, girls! Grab it like you own it!" We'd also been warned that when the manly parts "stand at attention" not to be alarmed. (yes I know the proper terminology but whenever I put those words in a blog entry, soon people are finding my site by googling dirty words. I don't want that kind 'round these parts!) "It's an automatic response. It doesn't mean they like you!" It was also said that if it was at attention it would be easier to clean.
So with all of this advice, I was prepared to grab it like I owned it, or was at least renting it for the day! But it never stood at attention. I just cleaned around it the best I could, the whole while my partner asking if I was ok. I assured him I was. And honestly I had no problems with the nudity of the bath. As I said, my biggest fear was forgetting a step. Which we did. We forgot to brush the poor guy's teeth! But boy did he end up clean everywhere else! But seriously I was more comfortable washing a male than I might have been a female. I mean, I have a husband (who I have showered with) and have raised a son. But the only female parts I've ever touched are my own!
The first time my instructor walked in to observe, I was doing everything right and my confidence soared! The second time, my partner and I were discussing which side to roll our patient to so that we could wash his back. So she stayed to help us and boy did we need her. It took all three of us to move this fellow on to his side. Poor guy was in so much pain.
But I survived my first bed bath. And as soon as we were dismissed I ran home fully expecting to find a flaming biscuit where my apartment once was. I called The King to tell him about my day and didn't tell him I left the oven on cause he would just say stuff like, "Woman! You have to be more careful!" or "Silly Cookie!" I was driving through the complex as I was on the phone with him, with very mixed emotions because he was building up to some very good news regarding his job, and then I saw an apartment door propped up against the dumpster outside of my building. My heart sank. I just knew they'd had to pry the door off to go in and extinguish the fire.
But as I came around the corner, parked and saw my door still attached and no smoke coming out of my roof, The King got to the highpoint of his good news! It was a double halleluja! Not even the smell of burnt biscuit could take the smile off my face the rest of the day!
So there ya go...I survived yet another clinical day! Oh and this time my patient spoke to me. Although I couldn't understand half of what he was saying except that I think he said his parents hated him and at one point he wanted to know why they hadn't come to see him, which broke my heart. But who knows if the poor fellow's parents were even still alive. :(
With each day I am finding I like this path more and more. I can't quite believe that I am really in nursing school. But I sure know this is where I belong!
Now that's taken care of let's talk about my clinical day yesterday. It was our first day in the hospital setting. If you remember, previously we have been at a nursing home. We got to watch a short video in class on Monday about giving bed baths and were expected to learn it and be able to do it the next day. I felt so unprepared. They are really throwing us off the boat, expecting us to swim with this stuff, aren't they? My only hope was that I would be paired with someone who'd somehow memorized the video and could direct me.
I arrived to the hospital in plenty of time. Ran straight to the bathroom and pooed like there was no tomorrow and then waited with the rest of the class in the lobby. We were chatting about breakfast and I said, "I bought some frozen sausage patties yesterday to have for breakfast this morning but it took forever for my biscuit to get done so I...... OH CRAP I left my biscuit in the oven, and the oven ON!"
I live 5 minutes from the hospital, but our shift was starting in 5 minutes. They are very strict on attendance and if I returned more than 15 minutes after the shift began I would be sent home. And since we can miss only 2 shifts before we are kicked out of the program I decided to stay and hope the biscuit didn't burst into flames in my kitchen!
I couldn't concentrate because of the worry of losing all my worldy possessions and took only small comfort in the fact that at least all of my textbooks were in the trunk of my car. Plus I was still worried about forgetting the steps of the bed bath. When I found out who my assigned partner was I felt much more at ease. He's the oldest member of our clinical group, in his 50s, and I figured he was on the ball and could lead me through it. But it turned out he was as lost as I was but we managed!
Our patient was a rather large black man with mental disabilites who couldn't move himself very much, so we were going to be doing the full bath ourselves. My partner kept offering to take care of the "manly" parts for me but I assured him I wasn't the least bit nervous. We'd been told by a rather colorful and crazy (fun crazy, not insane crazy) instructor that when you go to wash the male pe.ni.s, "Don't be afraid of it, girls! Grab it like you own it!" We'd also been warned that when the manly parts "stand at attention" not to be alarmed. (yes I know the proper terminology but whenever I put those words in a blog entry, soon people are finding my site by googling dirty words. I don't want that kind 'round these parts!) "It's an automatic response. It doesn't mean they like you!" It was also said that if it was at attention it would be easier to clean.
So with all of this advice, I was prepared to grab it like I owned it, or was at least renting it for the day! But it never stood at attention. I just cleaned around it the best I could, the whole while my partner asking if I was ok. I assured him I was. And honestly I had no problems with the nudity of the bath. As I said, my biggest fear was forgetting a step. Which we did. We forgot to brush the poor guy's teeth! But boy did he end up clean everywhere else! But seriously I was more comfortable washing a male than I might have been a female. I mean, I have a husband (who I have showered with) and have raised a son. But the only female parts I've ever touched are my own!
The first time my instructor walked in to observe, I was doing everything right and my confidence soared! The second time, my partner and I were discussing which side to roll our patient to so that we could wash his back. So she stayed to help us and boy did we need her. It took all three of us to move this fellow on to his side. Poor guy was in so much pain.
But I survived my first bed bath. And as soon as we were dismissed I ran home fully expecting to find a flaming biscuit where my apartment once was. I called The King to tell him about my day and didn't tell him I left the oven on cause he would just say stuff like, "Woman! You have to be more careful!" or "Silly Cookie!" I was driving through the complex as I was on the phone with him, with very mixed emotions because he was building up to some very good news regarding his job, and then I saw an apartment door propped up against the dumpster outside of my building. My heart sank. I just knew they'd had to pry the door off to go in and extinguish the fire.
But as I came around the corner, parked and saw my door still attached and no smoke coming out of my roof, The King got to the highpoint of his good news! It was a double halleluja! Not even the smell of burnt biscuit could take the smile off my face the rest of the day!
So there ya go...I survived yet another clinical day! Oh and this time my patient spoke to me. Although I couldn't understand half of what he was saying except that I think he said his parents hated him and at one point he wanted to know why they hadn't come to see him, which broke my heart. But who knows if the poor fellow's parents were even still alive. :(
With each day I am finding I like this path more and more. I can't quite believe that I am really in nursing school. But I sure know this is where I belong!
Surving Nursing School, One Day at a Time.
I bet y'all thought I decided to stay at the nursing home and live, didn't you? Well I survived that first real clinical day. It was a rough one, but I got through it. It was rough because my patient was unresponsive and my teacher was watching me do my assessment and instead of focusing on the patient all I could concentrate on was, "am I doing everything right?" And then when she had to remind me to put the earpieces of my stethoscope IN my ears, my confidence flew out the window. I fumbled through the rest of the assessment, but burst into tears the minute I drove away and did nothing but cry the rest of the day and the next.
The next time we had clinicals we were to do an assessment as well as an interview. I was so nervous after the way the first one turned out, and prayed I would get a patient who would open their eyes this time and that I wouldn't have performance anxiety. (I don't know why I get all discombobulated when being watched.) But I got another fairly unresponsive patient who was in a recliner attached to an oxygen tank in the day room near the nurses station. So this time I had to do my assessment with a full audience. I began to introduce myself to the patient while pulling a chair close to the recliner and was just about to sit down when the seat of the chair came off in my hands. I reattached it and was about to attempt to sit down a second time when I realized the leg of the chair was dangerously close to the tube leading into the oxygen tank. Sure Leslie, suffocate your first patient! See Monica! It's already started!
I think those two things, being typical Leslie goof's that gave me a giggle, helped to break the tension. I felt much more at ease and everything went well up until the point when my patient's eyes and mouth flew open and her face turned red and she began staring off into space. My eyes darted to her tubing, just knowing I was suffocating her, but it was clear and she began breathing again and fell asleep once more. Anyone watching from afar saw my reaction mirror the patient's. I tell you I am not good in an emergency! Remember the time the man caught on fire and I just sat frozen on the couch and watched while everyone else sprang into action? I'm hoping experience will increase my reaction time eventually! Otherwise they only ever need to let me give flu shots or something!
I also did well on our unit II test we had the Monday before last. Still not an A, but it was a higher B! I have another test today, but I don't know if that one will be an A either. I am just hoping for a B this time. Not as prepared for this one as I should be.
We had another clinical day yesterday...giving baths. But that will have to wait for another post because now I have to get to the college and take my test! Wish me luck!
The next time we had clinicals we were to do an assessment as well as an interview. I was so nervous after the way the first one turned out, and prayed I would get a patient who would open their eyes this time and that I wouldn't have performance anxiety. (I don't know why I get all discombobulated when being watched.) But I got another fairly unresponsive patient who was in a recliner attached to an oxygen tank in the day room near the nurses station. So this time I had to do my assessment with a full audience. I began to introduce myself to the patient while pulling a chair close to the recliner and was just about to sit down when the seat of the chair came off in my hands. I reattached it and was about to attempt to sit down a second time when I realized the leg of the chair was dangerously close to the tube leading into the oxygen tank. Sure Leslie, suffocate your first patient! See Monica! It's already started!
I think those two things, being typical Leslie goof's that gave me a giggle, helped to break the tension. I felt much more at ease and everything went well up until the point when my patient's eyes and mouth flew open and her face turned red and she began staring off into space. My eyes darted to her tubing, just knowing I was suffocating her, but it was clear and she began breathing again and fell asleep once more. Anyone watching from afar saw my reaction mirror the patient's. I tell you I am not good in an emergency! Remember the time the man caught on fire and I just sat frozen on the couch and watched while everyone else sprang into action? I'm hoping experience will increase my reaction time eventually! Otherwise they only ever need to let me give flu shots or something!
I also did well on our unit II test we had the Monday before last. Still not an A, but it was a higher B! I have another test today, but I don't know if that one will be an A either. I am just hoping for a B this time. Not as prepared for this one as I should be.
We had another clinical day yesterday...giving baths. But that will have to wait for another post because now I have to get to the college and take my test! Wish me luck!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Mid week howdy!
I meant to write Monday but I have been so busy! It's early morning right now and I am trying to get us ready for the day. So this will be a short one, but I didn't want y'all to think I'd left ya! :D
We survived Ike this weekend. After all the tornado watches and flash flood warnings, all we got was some wind and a bit of rain. The electricity was out for awhile, and is still out in some areas but life is pretty much back to normal. Some porch roofs at the apartments here blew off and my aunt lost two trees in her yard, but that was the worst of it for my family and friends.
School is going well. We have our first REAL clinical tomorrow. The kind where we wear our uniforms and actually TOUCH people. LOL! But don't worry Monica, I don't think anyone has ever been killed by having their blood pressure taken, or their chest listened to. ;)
My final average for Unit I ended up being an 88 since I did well on the quizzes and the jurisprudence paper. The Unit II test is on Monday so I will be holed up here this weekend studying and reading all about assessments and vital signs.
Well on that note off I go to get on with my day! More later!
We survived Ike this weekend. After all the tornado watches and flash flood warnings, all we got was some wind and a bit of rain. The electricity was out for awhile, and is still out in some areas but life is pretty much back to normal. Some porch roofs at the apartments here blew off and my aunt lost two trees in her yard, but that was the worst of it for my family and friends.
School is going well. We have our first REAL clinical tomorrow. The kind where we wear our uniforms and actually TOUCH people. LOL! But don't worry Monica, I don't think anyone has ever been killed by having their blood pressure taken, or their chest listened to. ;)
My final average for Unit I ended up being an 88 since I did well on the quizzes and the jurisprudence paper. The Unit II test is on Monday so I will be holed up here this weekend studying and reading all about assessments and vital signs.
Well on that note off I go to get on with my day! More later!
