A Dream Has Come True!

When I was just a baby nursing student 4 years ago I had an inkling that the ICU would be the place for me. That inkling, through time and a multitude of experiences grew to be a determination to make it there; and folks, I am so pleased to announce that I at last have fulfilled my dreams and got a job in my hospital's Shock-Trauma ICU!!!

I just completed my second week of orientation and the pendulum of feelings swings from being completed nauseated and sick at the thought of eventually being on my own and responsible for these critically ill individuals to being totally pumped, excited and thrilled that I have this privilege.

I have such a long way to go, and have so much to learn and many skills to master before I reach the level I hope to be at. But I wanted to document this, the beginning of my journey, so that someday when I am a little more proficient at ICU nursing that I can look back and see how far that I've come!

This is something that I have wanted for so long, and although there have been moments of self doubt, I know this is my calling, and where I am supposed to be.

I just can't believe this is real.

A Day in Moab

Nathan and I made a somewhat spur of the moment decision to drive to Moab for the day this last Saturday, and I am so glad we did! The weather was a perfect 70 degrees, the sun was shining, and it just felt good to get the hell outta Dodge.

We took the puppies and so after a quick google search of "dog friendly hikes in Moab" we came up with Grandstaff Canyon, which turned out to be totally awesome. It had a stream the entire length of the trail, which was perfect for the dogs, and it ended at a large arch/natural bridge as pictured above.

Nate, Ripley and Melon. There was actually a ton of other dogs on the trail, so Ripley and Melon got to meet some new friends.

A dog's paradise.

After our hike we decided we had enough time to drive over to Dead Horse Point, and let me tell ya the view is absolutely breathtaking!!!

For some reason I find this picture totally hilarious... like I don't know why, I guess just taking a dog to see a national landmark is funny to me, haha. Anyway Melon seemed to have enjoyed it, just look at his face.

Ripley also had to jump up and take a look.

We drove home that night (it's a three hour drive each way), which was fine, because we just wanted to get away so bad but didn't really want to drop the money on a hotel. But I think for sure next time we will try to stay the night somewhere and not bring the dogs!

And here is a picture of the gnocchi I made tonight because I was pretty proud of it! I seriously CANNOT wait until our house is finished and I finally have a kitchen of my own. I find great joy in cooking/baking and I just feel like I haven't done nearly enough of it since we moved in with ma and pa. Like back at our old apartment I was watching the Great British Bake Off all the time and baking constantly to try to recreate some of the dishes off of it, and I miss doing that.

A Fond Memory

Hey, you.

Would you consider yourself a nostalgic person?

Nostalgia is what the dictionary would call "a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past."

I get that feeling a lot. It's not that I don't ever look forward, or that I am actually stuck in the past, but I just like to reminisce about the good times, you see.

I am going to share with you one of my favorite memories (Shelby, this one's for you).

This lovely green elephant to me, represents a magical, simpler time of life. It is the representation of a bucket full of good memories. Props to you if you actually know where it's from without me telling you!

For those of you who are not Disneyland aficionados, let me enlighten you.

This here, is the green elephant that once stood in the Gibson Girl ice cream shop on Main Street in Disneyland California. I love it because as a child and teenager, when my best friend Shelby and I were finishing a day at Disneyland (we went to Disneyland together a lot...) we would always stop at the ice cream parlor and sit at the bar next to this green elephant and eat our ice cream cones.

It reminds me of the end of a long day at Disney - our legs tired, our bellies sore from laughter, and our hearts filled to the brim with happiness. The lights would twinkle, and the gentle sound of music would play in the background as we would enjoy our treats and gaze up at this statue.

It's a simple thing, really, but it's burned into my memory with such fervor that I shall never forget it.

They took it out a couple of years ago when they remodeled the ice cream shop to make way for a bigger queue, but while wandering around Disneyland a couple months ago I saw that it had found a new home in Adventureland. Next time you're at Disney see if you can spot it!

(circa 2011)

Lately

Realized it had been a minute since I updated the old blog! Some biggish things to report.

Drum roll....

We're building a house!!! Here's our pile of dirt. I've been dreaming of this moment for a long, long time and I can't believe it's finally here. Originally we weren't even planning on looking for anything until the summertime but Nathan found the cutest little neighborhood and we met with the builder and liked them and felt good about it and two weeks later we'd signed a contract. So it all happened pretty fast, but everything just fell into place so nicely I can't help but feel it was where we were meant to be.

We haven't broke ground quite yet, but I'll take some photos and share as the building progresses.

Also back in January I flew out to New Orleans to hang out with my bestie, Shelby and meet my Godson (God-Son, God Son, however the crap you spell it....), Charlie!

Bought some stylin' Tulane gear.

We rode bikes along the Mississippi.

And enjoyed a beautiful sunset in Aubudon Park.

My cutest little godson, Charles. Isn't he adorable!? He is so perfectly round.

Honestly the best thing about New Orleans (besides visiting my friends of course) is the food!!!! So We ate out at several new restaurants. We tried out Emeril's this time, and it was quite delicious.

I got the chicken and waffles. When we made our reservation you had to pick and 'occasion' so Scott and I said it was someone's birthday in hopes we'd get free dessert or something. Well when they were checking us in they host said "Oh and it's someone's birthday", but Scott and I forgot to clue Shelby in so Shelby was all like....uhhhhh no? So I had to hurry and save us by saying - Yes, yes it is, remember?! My belated birthday celebration?!. Haha anyway the end of the story is that we didn't get anything free despite all that, so I guess lesson learned.

I've taken quite a significant less amount of photos over the last 6 months or so, so not too much picture wise to share. My life is filled with working three nights a week on the tele unit at the hospital and finishing up my last semester of my bachelor's program. One month to go until I have my like, fourth, college graduation haha. I seriously can't wait to be done though! I'm not going back to school for a while after this... maybe like 10 years. I need a break!

2018 In Review

JANUARY

Started my last semester of the RN program and started my preceptorship in the ICU.

Opened up my etsy shop - Petunia Felt Co, and had a lot of fun crafting and creating new things.

FEBRUARY

Nate quit his long haul trucking job!

Grandpa Greene's birthday party.

Baked a lot of treats.

MARCH

Went to my cousin's wedding at the Salt Lake Temple, and its was freeeezing.

Went on lots of adventures with little Mel.

APRIL

Went to Lagoon with the Hartshorn family and rode Cannibal three times.

Continued making donuts and other creations for Petunia Felt Co.

GRADUATED NURSING SCHOOL!

Went on walks with the Mel and Nate.

Chopped off my hair.

MAY

Baking obsession continues.

Ogden hikes.

Celebrated Cassady's birthday at City Creek.

Watched Boone play baseball.

JUNE

Went to New Orleans to visit the Shelbster.

Disneyland!!!!!

Said goodbye to our cute little Ogden apartment and moved south to my parent's house.

JULY

New job at the hospital.

Shelby's baby shower.

Idaho adventures.

Annual summertime rodeo with our pals.

AUGUST

Watched Boone's football games.

Saturday at Silver Lake Flats with the doggos.

Explored Thanksgiving Point Gardens in a golf cart.

Started the BSN program and closed up Petunia Felt Co for a while.

SEPTEMBER

Melon gets fixed and wouldn't wear his cone of shame so he had to wear onesies.

OCTOBER

Disneyland with the girls and got my first Disneyland Annual Pass.

NOVEMBER

State Championship Football game.

Disneyland again, this time Christmas style.

Thanksgiving in Idaho.

DECEMBER

6th anniversary at Ruth's Chris!

Christmas at home!!! 

St. George vacation with the Hartshorn's.

New Year's Eve at work!

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Overall 2018 was a pretty good year. It was jam packed with all sorts of changes and new things with some challenges mixed in as well. Here's to 2019 and hoping for lots of new, great memories to make!