Chasing the Sun: Jax

Spring Break in Chatt

12:17:00 PM

Week 9 Update: school, concerts, and Jax

7:56:00 PM

How time keeps flying by absolutely amazes me! We're already nine weeks into this semester. I honestly can't believe it. Clearly keeping up with these updates is not my strong suit, so let's see if I can remember more than what happened yesterday. I think I'm going to have to start changing these into monthly updates, because I'm clearly failing at keeping up each week. Last time I updated was after week 5, and since then I've had clinicals all over the city while drowning in books in any of my "spare" time. The last few weeks I've constantly felt behind. And honestly it's more than a feeling, it's a fact. I've been behind numerous chapters each week, but some of the best advice I was given was from my mom. She simply reminded me, "You'll get it done. Even if it's the night before the exam and you're pulling an all-nighter, I know you'll get it done." This. This right here is what I needed to hear. As simple as this was, it couldn't be more true. I now remind myself this each day.

Last weekend I gave myself a break and headed up to Nashville! Let me just say... what a trip! The trip up was easy as can be (except for the rain), we had dinner at The Pharmacy, and then headed over to 3rd and Lindsley to see my girl Jessie James Decker perform. Yall... I've been dreaming of this day for years. The best part is, I had a VIP pass and was able to meet her. This show was so. much. fun. I've seen a bunch of shows in this type of venue, and let me just tell ya, this one was up there at the top! Now the interesting part... we get back in the car at about 1240 Chattanooga time. I had to be on the floor in Hixson at 630 for clinicals and normally get up around 515, so needless to say I was going to be running off of next to no sleep for the night. About an hour into the trip home, we come to a stop. A complete stop. Turns out the interstate was shut down due to an overturned 18 wheeler. Cars were off, people were walking around, it was 130 at home, and I was freaking out. Long story short, after about an hour we started moving again. Aside from the absolutely awful fog that we hit on the mountain, the rest of the trip was a breeze. After about an hour and fifteen minutes of sleep, time for clinicals. Clinicals passed and then it was time to do it all over again. Yep, you heard that right. This time mom joined me and we headed back to Nashville to go see Blake Shelton, her absolute favorite. Blake was incredible! I can't believe I forgot to get a picture of us. We'll blame it on my sleepy brain. I absolutely love these trips with my mom. Nashville is our place, and we never fail to have a good time.

This is what dreams are made of!!! Jessie James Decker!

Eric and Jessie Decker

Now we are one week away from Spring Break and I'm pretty sure my motivation is at an all time low. Once we're back from Spring Break, five weeks plus finals and this semester is in the books!

And now for puppy pictures... 4 months old and wild as can be. Obsessed with sticks, walks, tennis balls, and his teddy bear.

Bella

Week 5 Update: an eye twitch, check- offs, Super Bowl, and more!

11:01:00 AM

5 weeks down, 84793274982301 to go! (jk just 11...)

Wow! It's been a busy few weeks... and it doesn't look to be letting up any time soon. I planned on updating after week three and then each week after and well... I clearly forgot. So... this will be a Week 5 Update.

On week two we had our check off on NG tube insertion/removal and all IV medication. It's always such a relief to get these over with and gives us the go ahead into Med-Surg clinicals. Week three brought more class and the first week of clinicals. Surgery is great. I really enjoyed it.. a great first impression! On week four I was at two off-site clinicals: cardiac rehab and student health. This was such a nice change of pace. Granted, they were both slow days simply due to scheduling, but I liked seeing something different than the hospital. I'm keeping my eyes open!

This week (week 5) I was in simulation and had my virtual day. I'll just be quite honest, I'm not a fan of Sim. There's something about being videoed and then having to go back and watch yourself that is insanely nerve wracking. I'm never that nervous in the hospital! I don't know.. only three more semesters of those things!

In the mix of all of those clinicals... we had our first Pysch and Med-Surg exams. To say I was nervous about both of those is an understatement. Especially when my Med-Surg exam was the morning after the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl that The Broncos and more importantly Peyton Manning won. So yes, late night, no studying during the game, and praying for a miracle.

Thankfully, hard work pays off and I received an A on both my Psych and Med-Surg exams. I can't even tell you how excited I was to see these!!

Alright now about the stress... yes, I'm stressed. That's just a given. BUT I don't feel nearly as stressed as I was last semester. It might be the fact that I am just getting really good at "out of sight, out of mind" and if I don't think about the ten things I need done by tomorrow, I won't have to worry about them. But with all of that said, I've had an eye twitch. Not just any eye twitch.. like an eye twitch that never stops kinda eye twitch. Yall... we're talking twenty days. Two. Zero. Almost three weeks. 20. I'm pretty sure I was losing my mind.. actually I'm positive I was. At the end of the three weeks, I decided to go to Student Health and find out what's going on... all blood work came back fine and a few days later is slowly went away. Yall, weirdest thing ever.

Meanwhile life lately..

And a beautiful sunset :)

Puppy's first snow!

Revelry Room

Friday nights spent studying at Panera

Broncos win!

sleeping beauty

So, that's a Week 5 update! I'm going to try to stay a bit more on top of things. Things just get a little crazy sometimes..

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9