I'm Baaaaaaack

So, I'm sitting here in my office and taking a break from writing my lecture. I thought, "Hey, I haven't blogged in forever!" There is so much to say! I got a new job and I love it. I'm an "Assistant Clinical Professor" at ASU. I get to take students to the hospital and teach them how to take care of moms and babies. How awesome. I won't bore you with the bulk of my summer, but I do have 2 storied for you...

A couple of nights ago, I got home early. At 4:30. I started a load of laundry and started cooking dinner. My dog went outside and was playing...like normal. I go outside about an hour later to turn on the sprinkler and Maci (my dog) is nowhere to be found. I call her, but she doesn't come. She's not in the house. I looked everywhere! Under the bed, in the bed, in the dirty clothes hamper...nowhere! I go back outside and can't seem to find anywhere that she has dug out. I called my parents and they came over and helped me look. I like to say that I sent out the search team. Amanda, the little girl from a block down, got on her scooter and was looking and yelling her name. My parents went inside to look because just because she didn't come when I called her doesn't mean she won't come when her precious grandmother calls her! I called the vet and no one had turned her in. I'm getting really worried at this point. My parents get back in their car and start to drive around the neighborhood. Amanda and I are in the front yard calling her. Amanda says, "There she is!" "Where?!" "At the front door!" Maci was inside the house looking out the front door like, "Hey, I can't get this door open!!"

I know she hadn't been in the house the whole time. She was hot and panting. Amanda and I found a hole in the chain link fence that someone had cut, to trim a tree. Don't they realize I have a little adventurous dog!?

The other story...

Last night, I was at my parents' house. They have 3 stray cats that they feed. Well, after dark it turns into a wildlife exhibit! Three baby opossums come and eat out of the bowls. They are so cute! Then when I am about to leave, my dad says "Oh wait, let me show you this email" Oh dad...I sat down and then my mom gets this awful look on her face. She says, "Is that a skunk!?" A skunk strolls up to the bowl of food and has himself a little snack. He doesn't leave when we tap in the glass or when my dad sticks his head out of the door and says, "Get outta here!" He just has his tail up in the air looking at us like, "Just try coming outside right now." I had to wait until the food was all gone to be able to leave. My dad carried my super excited dog to the car. My mom had to remind me on the way out, "Sarah, no screaming." I had to cover my mouth with my hand...I screamed when I got to the car!

Cake from the Elderly

I have so many blogs for you to read, but my computer is broken, so I will only grace you with the funniest. This weekend I went to Houston to see my sister. So fun. We went the rodeo 2 times. One to see Taylor Swift! Saturday, my sister had a wedding shower to go to, so I went with her. It was your normal shower. Food, presents, and really good cake. One of the hostesses came around with plates of cake for everyone. My sister and I were sitting on the couch, next to some older ladies. The hostess handed them some cake. The ladies smiled and took it. THEN, one lady was taking a small bite of her cake and suddenly realized she had been rude. (In her own mind, not mine.) She didn't think anyone saw that she took the bite and said, "Oh, here you go!" And passed the cake down to us. My sister handed it to me and I thought, "Surely not. It was just my imagination." I passed it to Amy, our friend and Amy says, "It's ok, I'll wait for my own piece." And started laughing. It was then I realized, it wasn't my imagination. She really took a bite and passed it on! The cake was delicious though.

Mean Teacher

I think I was named the mean teacher for a while because I didn't give my students an extension on their paper. I felt bad for them, but I just couldn't budge. They have known from the very first day of school that this paper was due and I let them know how important it was to get it done early. "You never know what is going to happen, especially in the medical field. You do what you need to do when you have the chance, because you never know what's going to walk through that door." By this I meant, as nurses, you're not going to get an extension to chart or to give your scheduled medications. If someone dies, you don't get a do-over. Harsh, I know, but someone has to teach them.

Students

Is it the weather or something because my students were crazy today?

Valentine's Day

I am going to make a point today to not be bitter. I am taking care of some kids for the day while their parents are in Vegas. I have already driven past my house once to see if there was a delivery truck outside my door, but there wasn't. But, that's ok. I'm fine with that. I am comfortable enough with my life right now, that I don't need flowers or anything. Who cares about beautiful roses or amazing gerber daisies? I don't. Not one bit. Ok, ok, ok! I'm lying. Totally lying. I want flowers really, really bad!

Quite Possibly the Funniest Blog Ever

Ok, get ready. Go to a place where you can laugh out loud, hysterically. Because, if you are reading this, then you know me. If you know me, you will LOVE this story. It all started with me, a nursing, student and a schizophrenic.

Today, one of my student's patients was a mentally ill patient. First thing in the morning, my student comes to me and says, "Um, I can't find my patient." Usually, this means that their patient was discharged or went for a test. I asked her this and she said, "No, I can't FIND my patient. I don't know where she is." Ok. So, we go to her room and the nurse comes out of the room and says, "Oh, she's standing in the bathroom." Not using the bathroom, standing in the bathroom. I go with my student, into the room. At Shannon, the doors open in to the room and the bathroom is on the side of the room by the door opening. (If that makes sense?) We open the door and I say, "Patient? Patient?" No answer. We look in the bathroom. Nothing. I turn half way around and there she is. Right behind me, in the corner of the room behind the door. I about jumped out the door and screamed. She goes, "Here I am!"

Babies...I love them.

I know I love babies and everything about them. I can clean spit up off a baby all day long and not get grossed out. It doesn't bother me. To me, there is nothing gross about babies. Today, this was reiterated to me. I have been teaching a clinical on one of the adult units at Shannon. It's interesting to me, but my heart does not belong to these patients. I love the students and I love teaching, but I don't love adult care. I think that God is using this as a teaching experience for me as well. He is teaching me that even though it's not my "cup of tea," it's my job to teach the students to give exceptional care to all patients.

Today, I and another student tried to move a patient from his bed to his wheelchair. Easier said than done. Babies, you just pick them up and take them where they need to go. This man, he couldn't move or help. I have never been good at this, but usually, I get it done. Today, I failed. Somehow, the patient got his arms around me in a bear hug and I couldn't move. I was at the mercy of the other student and where the patient decided to go. The patient decided to not move. I yelled out the door to one of my students but he didn't hear. Then finally, another student came in. He must have heard my call for help. The student looked at me like, "How did you get there?" He moved the patient and I was freed, no one was hurt. I was slighly embarrassed, but what's new in my life? It was rather amusing.

Bad Dreams

I hate bad dreams. Alot. I had one the other night. I was dreaming that I was set up to look like a complete idiot by someone. I really hurt my feelings. I woke up and I was crying and thought, it's just a dream. I go back to sleep and the dream starts up again! That never happens with the good dreams. So all day I was depressed even though this dream was NOT REAL. So frustrating.

A+

I went to the doctor today and he said my foot is great. He gave me an A+. He told me I have done a great job with it. He released me to go back to work, but only 8 hour shifts, 3 days a week. My foot does start hurting after I walk much, so this will be better for me than 12 hour shifts. I know it's an inconvenience for the hospital, but it's better that I don't break my foot again and have another surgery. Hopefully, they will see my side of it. If not, oh well.

Last night, I replaced my toilet seat. I tried to do this once before at my condo and it didn't end well. I redeemed myself. I did it. I got off the old one and put a new one on. Amazing. I didn't need my dad or anyone to come save me. I am on my way to independence.

Swimming Ladies

I have started swimming at the Health Club and I have really enjoyed it. Okay, today was my 2nd time... Yesterday, I had the pool pretty much all to myself. Maybe 1 or 2 other people in there. No big deal. Today, I went in the morning after one of the aerobics classes ended. For about 5 minutes, I was by myself and able to swim laps and not worry about running into anyone. I got into my little area of the pool and started doing some leg exercises and this lady comes and gets about 10 feet in front of me and faces me. She starts to do leg exercises also. Mind you, I was alone until she got there. Awkward. Then, another lady gets into the pool and starts doing her laps where she walks across the pool moving her arms. She does them width-wise instead of length-wise. She is also in my area of the pool. I am in the corner of the pool with a lady staring at me and one lady nearly knocking me out every time she passes me. I starting thinking I was on some hidden camera show. I finally had to leave because I thought I was going to laugh too loud at the awkwardness.

House for Sale

Today, my friend Shawn is putting house up for sale. I'm not happy about it. I like having him live near me. I try to look on the bright side. Maybe the bright side will be that the person who buys his house will be amazing. Maybe it will be a young, single, man who wants to marry a blonde nurse who also teaches at the local University. Who knows?

New Office

Last week I got word that I was to move my stuff out of the office I had and into the "part time area." My first thought was, "Nooooo!" I didn't want to. I liked my office. I had already moved all my stuff. I had been sharing the office with another teacher, but we were never there at the same time, so it didn't matter. Like a good employee, I moved my things to my new office. In my new office, I have a window! A window! That's very sought after at ASU. The area is in the back of the main office, and has partitions for walls, but it's super nice. I have room for my books. I have 2 desks and a window. The best part is that it's all mine. I'm not having to share with anyone!

My Office

They are taking my office away. I'm sad.

Waiting

So, we are getting ready for church and the girls are ready. We are just waiting for the boys. This might be one for the record books!

Growing Up

Today I babysat some kids that I have babysat for since they were babies. Now, they are 12, 10, and 7. I remember best when they were 4, 3, and 1. It was crazy. My sister and I took care of the 2 youngest when they were 3 and 14months for 2 weeks, while their parents went to Africa. It was so fun.

I realized tonight how grown up they are. We went to Mr. Gattis for dinner, a favorite past time. They got their own pizza. No one needed a high chair. There was no whining at the table about playing games. It was easy. I remember having to strap each one of them in their carseats and then having to make sure each of them was right next to me so I didn't lose any of them. I usually had to have a 2nd person come with me. For games, they got their tokens, spent them, cashed in their tickets and we were on the way for ice cream. So easy, no tears.

Then, tonight at bedtime, they just got ready for bed and that was it. Amazing. Things are so wonderful when they are little. They giggle and think you are so great all of the time, but I am really liking these ages, too.

Freeing

I have been cleaning out my house lately and it is amazing. I am getting rid of junk that I have kept from Jr. high and high school. I did keep some stuff, but most of it, gone. I found a plastic baggie that I kept because a guy gave me his tokens in it at Shakey's. I felt it was time to throw that away. What a nerd I am!

Karma

I went to Starbucks the other day on my way out of New Braunfels. This guy and his daughter get out of the car. This guy is really strange. His 14ish year old daughter gets out of the car carrying 3 American Girl dolls. Her dad tells her to leave them in the car, but she demands she wants to take them in. He said, "Fine." He lets her know they are only going to spend about 15 minutes there because he HAS to get out of the so he can go get on his bike later, because it's a nice day and he should be outside. He asks her what she wants and she tells him a green tea frappucino. He says, "A green tea frap...?" He can't pronounce it at all and won't listen to his daughter when she tries to correct him. He's behind me in line and he's really close to me. He's totally trying to cut in front of me. He keeps mumbling that he's only got 15 minutes, bike ride, nice day, blah blah blah. I wanted to turn around and tell him, "I understand your predicament about your 15 minute limit in Starbucks, but I just don't care about it and you're not getting in front of me." I didn't, of course. He just kept getting on my nerves! I paid for my drink with cash, so when I was putting the change in my wallet, he orders. It was amazing. He ordered his coffee. Just plain coffee because he had to go get on a bike later... But for his daughter he ordered, "A green tea slapperchina" Priceless.

New Life

This is a blog for accountability. I need your help and encouragement.

Starting Monday, my life will be different. I am going to lose weight. No trying or hoping. I'm going to do it. It's time. I can do this.

I am going to do the weight watchers program so, Mondays will be my day to weight myself. Pray for me to keep it up and know that I can do it and it will be worth it in the end.

I'm Home!

I had so much fun in Houston with my sister. I miss her already. I wish we were closer and could see each other more. I took a side trip to see my other "sister," Laura. She was my pastor first, employer second, friend, then sister. She's amazing and I miss her too. She and my sister both moved away in the same year. Yuck.

I got home and my parents came over to help me put together my IKEA furniture. My dad put the furniture together...I must say, I just watched and handed things to him occasionally.

It looks so good.

Driving in Houston

My sister had to work on New Year's Eve so I ventured out into Houston alone. I have only driven into and out of Houston, never "in" Houston. I wanted to go to the Galleria. All I had to do was go out of my sisters apt complex and get on one highway then the interstate and get off almost as quickly as I got on. Did I accomplish this...no. I made one wrong turn and was completely lost. I needed to be going North and was going East and could not for the life of me figure out how to get back on the road, that I could see, but couldn't find. I saw a shuttle van pull into a gas station so I turned as fast as I could, possibly on 2 wheels, into the same gas station. I asked him "How do you get to the Galleria from here?" He told me just to get on the feeder road and I would hit Westheimer. I was like "Oh, oh, I know that street!" He probably thought I was a lunatic. I got to the Galleria, but that was just the beginning. There is no clear place to park. At least not to me. I drove up some weird ramp and into a garage. I parked in the first place I saw. I wrote it down in my phone too, so I wouldn't get confused. I went into the mall and realized there were no stores. How did I get here? I went into the management area of the mall! I just wanted to yell, "I just wanted to go to Macy's and look at the sale rack!"

I found Macy's. I found a dress! I went to a few more stores then tried to find the food court. Goodness gracious. Finally, I saw it. Chik-fil-a. Safe choice. Then to find a table. I found a table but no chairs. Everyone was going to use the extra chairs at their tables. I for one couldn't leave my table in fear of losing it. Finally, a chair. Now, no ketchup. Forget it. I will eat my fries dry. I texted my dad and said, "There is no one here to hold my bags, to get me ketchup, get a table, go get the car and bring it 5 miles down the road, nothing." He told me to hire someone to help me for the day.

On my way driving back to the apt, I had to merge in traffic and this guy honked at me and spead around me. I wanted to freak out on him. I didn't cut him off or anything. THEN, he's in front of me and trying to get into the other lane and so I got to honk at him and speed around him. I know Jesus wasn't happy with me, but that was last year. I'm a new person now.

Jessica's roommate asked if I felt like I had been beaten up and dragged around. That was the exact feeling I had. She said she feels like that everytime she goes. Thankfully, I am not alone in that feeling.

What a long, pathetic, whiney blog.

IKEA

IKEA is my favorite store. It is a discount home furnishing store, but their stuff doesn't look super cheap. While in Houston, my sister and I went. I bought LOTS of things. I wasn't planning on buying so much, but everything was perfect and what I have been looking for. I got a dresser for my room and a storage bench for the end of my bed. I also got some accessories for the rest of my house. I think, with all the stuff I bought, I will have my bedroom and dining room complete!