Memorial Service

Here's a look quick look at the service for Tom Gilliam, IV at Trinity this afternoon (hopefully the video will embed properly). It was a full-house with folks in the over-flow area and standing room only in the worship area. We had about 950 in attendance. There were soooo many UVA students. It was a beautiful sight to see the outpouring of love and respect for this godly young man (19 years old). His parent's each took turns sharing remembrances (as did a number of other people). Very few dry eyes!



*if you have any interest in listening to the audio of the service, it will be posted shortly here. (probably over the weekend).

After spending 5-6 hours involved with the service this afternoon,  I am hurrying to finish up the huge write-up that is due tomorrow in clinical...I sure hope I get some sleep tonight. :-P  I will be soooo happy when it's done.

Clinical Countdown...

While working on my working care plan for my assigned patient tomorrow, I realized that after today, I will only have ONE more full care plan to do this semester! Next Wednesday is supposed to be our last clinical day, however the faculty have yet to notify us if there's need for us to make up a clinical day that was cancelled earlier this semester. Would be nice if they could tell us before next week. :)  But if we do have to make it up, it will be next Friday --and it won't require us doing another care plan...woot!  

Once clinicals are over, I will have three days/week of my life back! No more all day patient prep (care plans) on Tuesdays and no more waking at 0415 on Wed/Fri.  I will definitely need those 3 "extra" days a week to start preparing for final exams. Plus there will certainly be things I have to do to prepare for my trip to Haiti (doctor's appointments, running errands etc...).

I am involved with helping with the funeral for the young man in our church b/c the worship staff are in St Louis this week putting on a conference for Bifrost Arts. There was need for someone to step in and coordinate the A/V needs so I volunteered. Thankfully I spent many of the past dozen years assisting with funeral details and A/V stuff at my church, so while it requires time, it's not a big stressor. This is something I CAN do in the midst of this tragedy to support the family and my church family. Thankfully the service is on Thursday (my day off from classes/clinicals). I will lose a significant chunk of reading time though and I also have a HUGE clinical write up due on Friday (and it's probably 60% done at this point) and I've got LOTS of readings to do before Sunday/Monday deadlines. So I may not be getting much sleep this week. I'm very grateful that my hormones are back in line this week and the Haiti craziness of paperwork and tickets was completed last week!

Better get back to work...I want to get to bed at a decent hour tonight. It seems earlier than it is...thanks to Daylight Savings Time.

Later.

Sad Day

There is simply too much pain in this world.

I'm just in shock with the news of the tragic death of a young man (19) in my church. It's all over the local news. I know his parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and it just RIPS me up. Three years ago, this same young man's 2 yr old nephew tragically died from a drowning accident. And we all ask ourselves (and the Lord), hasn't this family been through enough already?

A few weeks ago, the 38 year old son of another family in our church died in a tragic car accident...there's the Japan nightmare, the unrest in Libya and Syria...the list goes on... Too much, I say. Too much.

I'm so very sad today.

This Heidelberg Catechism question/answer keeps rolling through my head today (emphasis mine)

Q. 1. What is your only comfort, in life and in death?

A. That I belong--body and soul, in life and in death--not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Wednesday Woots!

EPIC training only took 2 hours, kinda a waste for a clinical day. Wonder if we're gonna have to make up clinical hours later? Hmm?

But since EPIC training got out early, I decided to go ahead and take my Pharm exam this afternoon so that I can spend tomorrow studying for the test on Monday. Got a B+ and am very happy with that. Could have done much worse...and doubt I'd have done much better tomorrow if I had waited. So overall, a good decision to take it early. Plus, now I've got all tomorrow to study for my Med-Surg test on Monday.

I was a little discouraged when initial pricing for ticket to Haiti was over $1,000 with the missionary travel agency that my team is using. I checked Travelocity and price was about $175 less...then called RAPTIM, another missionary/humanitarian travel agency (which I used 2x for Liberia and LOVED them) and they priced me $678 with everything but travel insurance ($33). Which is $337 cheaper than original quotes! woohoo!  My organization is totally fine with me purchasing my ticket separately--which is awesome! I just had to have specific flights in/out of Haiti so that the team will all arrive/depart together. I have crazy departure (early) /arrival (late) times for my originating flights. AND I think I'll have an 9.5 hour layover in Miami on the way home (ack!).  But that's largely due to lack of flights between Miami and DC. At least I can fly in/out of DC (where my sister lives) and not out of Richmond or BWI. Too bad I don't know anyone in Miami!

So good news over all! :D  WOOT!

Well, storms are a comin' so I better finish this up before the power goes out! haha.

Cardiac Arrhythmias Simplified

I found this rather amusing video that provides a very simple, yet effective explanation of cardiac arrhythmias. There is no sound. Just hit play and fast forward to the 50 second mark to bypass the intro/credits.



We are learning cardiac meds at the moment...or rather being tested on them.

Haiti Trip | The Planning Begins

I've passed the first obstacle of going to Haiti! My nursing instructors have given me permission to take my final exams early! So it looks like I'm heading to Haiti in early May!

The remaining "obstacles" include:

• Staying focused/diligent during final three weeks of the semester (once clinicals are over) to start the work of reviewing for my final exams --even while continuing to learn new information! The week that I leave, I'll be taking a Unit Test and two final exams! Studying, packing, errand-running all the same week.
• Making time to properly prepare for this trip (spiritually, emotionally, professionally & culturally) amid school pressures.
• Financial aspect of trip (required $550 plus airfare--would be nice to keep under a $1,000 but not sure that's feasible)
• Moving up medical appt that I had already scheduled for May 5th.
• Locating equipment (free-standing mosquito "net" + lightweight air mattress) to take with me.

Yes, there will be lots of list-making going on! And I'm probably going to dig up some of my old lists from Liberia travels to trigger new lists. 

I realize that by going to Haiti, I will have to give up donating platelets for a year (at least).  Here's hoping I can get 3 more donations in before I go--they are already scheduled, so hopefully my iron levels will cooperate!

I'm excited, nervous and not even sure what to expect. My team leader is currently in the Phillipines until end of March, so I expect more information will be coming in next couple weeks.

Because of EPIC training tomorrow afternoon, we won't be doing patient care in clinical tomorrow and thus no need to do patient prep today. So today will be spent studying for Pharmacology test which I hope to take on Thursday.

Covers the Gamut

I've started this post like 4x. Rather than trying for a 5th, I think I shall bullet point what's in my head. Cuz nothing really ties together into logical paragraphs.

• SOSI therapy after church today to celebrate the arrival of spring (at 7:21 pm this evening). Got a few pics of Flat Stanley up at the new Monticello visitor's center--or I think that's what it is. Gift shop, a café, etc... Lovely place. Even ran into another Flat Stanley. Yep, got a picture of both Flat Stanley's with Thomas Jefferson.
• Came home and planted six 6-pks of pansies. Yellow, lavender, purple. Kind of a lot of plants for a 20x30 planter around the mailbox. Well, at least the deer will be well-fed.
• Totally unmotivated to sit down and do my readings for lecture tomorrow. Yes, Spring Break officially ends today. Boo Hoo. I hope the next six weeks fly by. 
• This Lent business is hard work. Not sure if it's my withdrawal from things I love, or if I'm under spiritual attack or if it's just annoying hormones. Feeling a bit depressed, frustrated, perplexed, fearful, annoyed, stubborn, insecure, fatigued, pessimistic, misunderstood. IRRITABLE!!!
• On the subject of hormones...I think my estrogen/progesterone are in cahoots to make me as miserable as possible. I've been dealing with standard PMS symptoms for the past 8 days and yet the calendar says it's not going to end for another 7-8 days. Wha???? 16 days of PMS symptoms? You've got to be kidding me. I'm a regular Rachel, a normal Naomi... what's going on????  Okay, I've had enough. Really. Dear body, I'm NOT pregnant--so let's just get this over with already! No wonder I am so tired, irritable and generally feel like crap! And it's days like this when I think...I'm 36, almost 37, if I were to get pregnant I'd be considered a "geriatric pregnancy"! How affirming. 
• You get a special bullet point for my apology for turning this into a hormonal post. I'm sorry. If you don't come back to read, I'll understand. 
• Okay, this has been BUGGING me for months, and it has been the topic of conversations with another blogger friend of mine. One of you, is a very faithful reader. Faithful in a stalkerish sort of way. I'm not sure if I should feel flattered or scared. Here's what I know about you: you visits multiple times a day, almost every day of the week (for months now!) at a variety of times a day with the same IP address. Either you work from home, or are unemployed/student, or work part-time. I can't figure out any other scenario where you'd be using same IP address all day long. I could put your IP address here, but I'll refrain. I know you browse with Safari 5.0 on a MacOSX, with a screen resolution of 1280x800. Oh, and you use Embarq or CenturyLink for your service. The city connected with the IP address is within Virginia, but the city name has changed a few times (so I think the geolocator data is flawed). I think it started out as Charlottesville. It is now listed as Stuart, VA or Ferrum, VA, but I have my doubts. I have avoided calling you out on this for a long time now, but seeing as I'm hormonal and not in my right mind, I figure now is the time. If you know me...would you drop me an email? If you don't know me, would you be so bold as to drop me an email, if I haven't royally offended or embarrassed you? Send to findingjoy482 via Gmail. I honestly am just curious what interests you about my blog that you frequent it so often.  Sorry if I ruined this visit for you. I promise that if you contact me...I will remove this bullet from my blog.
• ANYWHOO...lesson to everyone (and I mean EVERYONE, wink) your visits to ANY website leave semi-identifiable trails behind. Kinda freaky that I can find that much information about a visitor to my blog eh? I'm no genius, I just use StatCounter.com  It's awesome!

So now that I've virtually wiped my readership to zero, I will bid you all a happy spring! 

Haiti Trip | Obstacle 1

Well, I have just sent off an email to the head of my nursing program asking if they can work with me to take my final exams early so that I can participate with a medical mission team doing clinics in Haiti May 7-14. 

I have no idea what they will say. It may pan out or not. I'm okay either way. It never hurts to ask!

Would appreciate prayers for doors to open or close according to the Lord's will. He knows best.

Flat Stanley in Charlottesville!

Flat Stanley has arrived today for a visit to Charlottesville. He'll be staying with me through early April and then will return to Columbus, Ohio where my niece Reagan lives. I need to find some fun places to take him (and take his picture). Any of you C'ville people have any suggestions for where I should take Flat Stanley? UVA lawn/Rotunda are likely, Monticello is possibility (since I'll be walking the Monticello Trail on Sunday afternoon). Interestingly enough, Festival of the Book is going on (very appropo)..but I'm kinda out of the link on that.

Sure wish I knew some famous or important people...or still lived in Liberia (!).  Hmm?

Not Over Yet

Feeling miserable tonight after migraine (+aura) earlier today. Pain has pretty must gone (I'm fortunate that they don't hang around for days). Just generally feel icky and my neck and back are tight. What I'd give for a massage! (ack. I'm just remembering that I had planned to go to the VA School of Massage this week for a cheapy --oh shucks!)

The power keeps flickering off and upsetting my modem (not sure what the deal is with the power.) But I'm feeling kinda smart tonight (or dumb?). After frozen cable modem needed resetting twice today, I realized I should just try moving the cable modem downstairs and see if it would work if plugged into the Cable-cable (for cable TV which I don't have). And it works! I could bring the wireless box downstairs too, but I'd FAR prefer to be hardwired anyways. The only reason it was even upstairs was because the homeowners have a desktop up there and so all the internet stuff was there too. I had initially thought that I would run a hardwire from upstairs to downstairs to improve connectivity, but DUH! this is much simpler! Oh, but I guess if I want to access via my iPod, I better hook up the wireless too. Alrighty then.

Spring Break is blowing by. I'm so sad. I can't believe it's Thursday night. Only 3 more days of freedom. I've not gotten near the stuff done that I wanted. My mornings have basically been non-productive in the sense of marking things off my list. I have loved sleeping in and waking without my alarm clock, but then I lose a lot of my morning. I have enjoyed lunch with friends this week and have another lunch date tomorrow for Thai! Yum! Can't wait.

I haven't gotten as much school stuff done as I'd like. I had planned to get some stuff done this afternoon/evening but with the migraine, my eyes hurt (after the aura) so hopefully tomorrow.  I've got reading due for lecture on Monday, so that is now a priority this weekend. Plus need to do some major review for Pharm test (#2) due next week. Also REALLY need to put some time in on my big H&PE write-up this weekend--before clinical starts back. Thankfully I've got two weeks to work on it, but still, would be nice to have bulk done before break is over. Not sure that's possible.

• I also wanted to get Pansies planted and to get some seeds planted (indoors), but this week has been largely a "no planting" week per the Farmer's Almanac Gardening Calendar (which my mom SWEARS by). So I'll wait until Sunday early evening to plant my pansies when the calendar says it is good to plant again. Not sure when I'll get to planting seeds--maybe first couple days of April--thankfully a weekend). According to Farmer's Almanac, C'ville's average last frost is April 7th, so I definitely can get moving on direct seed planting or transplanting soon thereafter. Nothing like buying seed packs and then looking at them unopened in June. bleh. I bought perennial seeds which probably won't bloom this year. Probably should just go back and get annual seeds so I can enjoy some color this summer (and enjoy perennials next year). But WHY bother anyways, the deer are just going to eat them. I like rural living except for the deer. Too bad the constantly-barking dog next door doesn't stay out all night. He'd be great for keeping the deer away!  Maybe I should just go and buy some artificial flowers and stick those in the ground! haha. just kidding! 
• I did get yard debris (from those very windy days) picked up and hauled to another part of my property. My parents loaned me their blower so I had a fun time cleaning off the patio of the endless pine needles and debris!  I still need to blow off the driveway, but there's no rush on that.
• I did go see Grace Card with my parents on Monday and shopped yesterday at the new Kohl's on the last day to use my 30% off coupon. Woo hoo! 
• VA taxes are proving to be a PAIN to file online. If I did file online (for free), I'd have to re-enter my Federal Tax info again on new site-ugh!).  I refuse to do that (after my frustration with federal the first time around) and will just file VA taxes via mail. Yes, I can be stubborn. No, I'm not an online idiot--although you'd think so. ANYWAYS, Virginia taxes aren't actually DUE until May 2, so I've got plenty of time. And since I'm expecting a refund, I'll probably wait until after school is out when I've got more time.
• Haven't done anything about washing/vacuuming my car. sigh. Weather is supposed to be DIVINE tomorrow, so maybe I'll take an hour to get vacuuming done and then run through car wash this weekend. 
• Did not get car to mechanic this week as I had hoped. When you live 25 min away, it's a big pain for a single person coordinate getting to/from mechanics without inconveniencing friends/coworkers! I do have local Earlysville mechanic I could go to, but I REALLY don't like him at all and pretty sure he would take 2-3 days to do what my mechanic would do in less than a day. So I'll wait until clinicals are over in mid-April--and then maybe take CTA bus to PVCC for the day.
• The ingredients for Chicken Tortilla soup are sitting on the counter-top waiting for me to be inspired. Never fear, the chicken is thawing in the refrigerator! It's actually the EASIEST recipe, but cooking up the chicken and then shredding it takes the most time.

I've been moderately "successful" with my Lent fasts. No problem with Facebook (although it is still a self-denial thing as I'd really like to be on it). I did start watching "Must Love Dogs" with Diane Lane and John Cusack, but then about 10 minutes in to it I realized my error and stopped it and went and found something else to do. Don't really miss my Pop Country all that much, but then I did do well to prepare appropriate playlist ahead of time. A couple of other things I've had a hard time letting go of (I think because unplugging from FB has been hard), but His mercies are new every morning. It's been interesting, my hope was that I'd think LESS about a certain fella, but reality is that I probably think about him more. And since I'm waking up naturally, I am waking up remembering my dreams and a couple times he's been in them. Mercy. I did get a "talking to" by some friends today telling me I just need to tell him and/or figure out how to move on since he's not asking to spend time with me :(  Yes, yes, I hear you: "He's just not that into you." This crush has gone on admittedly WAY to long, which is why it's kinda hard to give up hope after all this time.


I'm glad that Lent lasts as long as it does. One week would not be enough. Looking deeply in to the heart and repenting is hard work that can not be rushed. Plus selfishness, laziness, apathy and stubbornness must be fought daily. While I could say that Lent might be easier if I was hidden away in some monastery for 46 days, the reality is that life, for me, is not normally lived in seclusion and I'd just be smacked upside the head with the cares of the world on Day 48. So it's good to have to struggle through this season in the midst of the cares of my every day life. More challenging? Yes. More rewarding? Maybe. More meaning? Probably. The real challenge will be Days 13-46 as I'll be back to school and won't have the luxury of extra time to spend in prayer and meditation on the Word--it will be a FIGHT. But wonderfully there is grace, mercy, healing despite my failures to observe a "perfect" Holy Lent or failures to do anything perfectly.

Here are YouTube links to some of the songs on my Lent Playlist... some are ballad-like, some are rock'n.

Sing to Jesus | Fernando Ortega
You are God Alone | Phillips, Craig & Dean
Surrender & Sing Me a Love Song | BarlowGirl
By Thy Mercy | High Street Hymns
For Those Who Wait | Firelight
My Hope | David Crowder Band | Lyrics
Satisfy | Tenth Avenue North
Blessed Be Your Name | Tree63
O Sacred Head Now Wounded | Selah
No Matter What | Kerrie Roberts
Open Me | Shawn McDonald

I've got about 5.5 hours on this playlist, but I'll spare you! Lucky for you, not all are available on YouTube.

Update on my cousin and his family in Tokyo: They are staying put for the time being and not evacuating. I suppose that could change at any moment, as they are just taking it one day at a time. My cousin flew in to Tokyo this past Wednesday to reunite with his family. No problems with flight or transportation in Tokyo. He had been in Hungary on a trip with some of the Japanese students he works with when the quake/tsunami hit. I think their kids are continuing to go to school despite the concerns with radiation (this probably helps to keep kids calm and allows parents to go to work (to keep society functioning). Not sure what the current state of food/gas are- but they don't seem entirely worried. I think they'll have roving blackouts for a while yet. It's my understanding that Japan continue to have tremors/quakes (I think these are generally part of life for most Japanese) with resulting tsunami warnings. After you've been through a 9.0, I'd imagine every tremor brings back those awful memories!

Haiti Update: I've made a number of contacts and just need to get more information. My cousin and uncle (related to cousin in Japan) are headed to Haiti after Easter I think. They'll be a great resource for travel info.

Well, I need to head for bed. 'Tis late!

Joy

Trail Wanderings

Just spent the last two hours exploring/wandering around the trails here in my neighborhood. I had never ventured out to explore them before. Not sure why--because the entry point is literally at the end of my driveway!  A lot of the trail followed and crossed back and forth over the natural creek bed. I've known we've had a number of large ponds, but until today had only seen one (near the main road). Today I saw all three. Someone has put wooden park benches and log benches along the length of the trail at appropriate places. It's a really nice woodsy trail for a neighborhood. I'm not sure what the official off point is (unfortunately it's not a loop) so I still need to back and figure that out...

When I left my house I had planned to just walk on the main road-oh maybe be out 30-45 minutes, but then when I hit the end of my driveway (100 feet?), I made a spontaneous decision to try out the trail. I popped my mp3 player in my ears, turned on my Lent playlist and let the Lord lead me. I really spent the time trying to come to terms with the emotions that are going on inside of me. Frustration, anger, fear, insecurity, confusion, hope, peace, longing, desire, impatience etc... Many of the songs on my Lent playlist gave words to the mumblings and ramblings of my heart often inducing tears. But the songs also spoke God's truth into my hurt and reminded me that I am not alone. I don't have it figured out, I am still not completely yielded. Still angry, still hurt, still insecure, still longing, still impatient. But God met me and heard my cries. How sweet it is to just be heard. With God, I can rant and rave and He's never offended, befuddled, or confused by my anger or tears. He doesn't withdraw, back-off or leave. He knows, he understands, he loves and enters into my hurt and grieves with me. He's my refuge. That is my comfort.

I am tired and spent. I just want to crawl back in bed and sleep the day away (it's cold and gloomy outside). But I will resist. I'll bump up the thermostat, warm up some soup, take a 25 minute nap and then hit the books (Pharmacology exam #2 has to be taken next week).

Yay for SOSI Therapy!!!

Today in central VA it has been so beautiful! My friend Katherine and I did the Monticello trail. There were a lot of folks out there today enjoying the warmth and sunshine! So I got my SOSI therapy in for the day! Now looking forward to having my parents come to town tomorrow for a quick visit.

Gotta hit the books for an hour to finish up one assignment due by 11pm tonight--then I can officially enjoy Spring Break!!!

Later,
Joy

Off-Topic | Little Red Haired Girl

I love being a "Little Red-Haired Girl."  Enjoy this short video.



Whenever I watch one of Charlie Brown's monologues about the Little Red Haired Girl, I get all marshmallowy inside and think "Aww...he has it bad, she has no idea how big CB's heart is for her. If she knew, I think she'd like him too... he just needs the courage to take that step towards her."

--Aww, hoping my "Charlie Brown" makes a move soon. :}

Spring Break | Spring Forward

Okay, why do they call it Spring Break when Spring doesn't actually start until NEXT Sunday?

It's really hard to believe that it is finally Spring Break. I haven't had a spring break in a very long time. Well, I've had them in the past couple years, but I've still had to go to work full-time so it never felt much like a break. My family has never been one to celebrate spring break with a trip or big activity simply because mom and dad worked and were putting kids through Christian school and colleges... AND generally we'd stay in town to celebrate Easter at our home church (usually spring break was scheduled on one side or the other of Easter).  

So I'm a little at a loss for how to spend my spring break. Yesterday was a clinical day, so afterwards around 3pm,  I stopped by Lowe's to look at flowers (thinking this would be a good week to plant some pansies and possibly plan ahead of summer flowers/herbs). I came home, had a small snack and then decided to take a nap. I never really woke up from the nap. I think it was probably 5:30 or 6:00pm when I fell asleep. I woke up about 2 am and turned off the lights that were on in the house and then went back to bed. I was a little afraid I might not be able to go back to sleep...but I was out again within 10 minutes! And I slept until 7:30 this morning. Must've needed sleep! Lately, I've wondered if I'm dealing with a bit of depression this semester. Wouldn't surprise me...SAD (seasonal affective disorder b/c of less sunlight exposure), living alone, not enough outdoor exercise, constancy of school obligations, minimal social interactions, etc. I don't actually feel any better for having slept that long last night, but I don't feel worse. And here it is Saturday afternoon and I want another nap! When I have my physical in May, I'll probably be asking to have my thyroid levels checked just in case. But since Daylight Savings Time starts this weekend, the increased daylight should help-- plus I'll be more apt to get out and walk/run with increased temps. Exercise and sunlight can do a lot to increase mood!  I guess I'd better get back to my SOSI plan (Sunshine, Oxygen, Social Interaction). There's already some SOSI in the works for tomorrow after church. Woot!

Here are a few of the things on my 'to do list' during Spring Break:

• Clean house (saved for rainy day)
• Yard work (flowers, debris pick up/blower)
• Go to see Grace Card with mom/dad (probably Monday)
• Shop at the new Kohl's Department store (so happy it's on my side of town!)
• Make soup to freeze--Chicken Tortilla probably (rainy day?)
• Virginia Taxes (while watching TV?)
• Oil Change & other misc. car maintenance
• Wash/Vacuum Car (just in time for pollen season???)
• Get exercise/sunshine every day (walk, run, hike)
• Solid focus on Lent activities: readings, soul-searching, repentance, etc...
• School work -- I have a HUGE write-up for clinical due in three weeks (but would love to get as much done now , + start study for Pharm exam, NUR 112 lecture exam, ATI modules)

I have a fair amount of school stuff to catch up on or get ahead on. I have a Pharm assignment due tomorrow night  (it's not officially Spring Break until I turn that in). Test 2 in Pharm is the week after spring break...then NUR 112 lecture test is not far behind (March 28). Plus during testing weeks, I tend to fall behind with current reading, while I focus on studying for exams...so it'd be nice to get some advanced readings done this coming week...but all of sudden it's going to feel like a normal school week. Ack! Not good! Not good at all!  But maybe I'd be more motivated without deadlines?? Nah, probably not.

But I *do* have some school work I must do. So tomorrow evening I will probably sit down and make out a schedule for that. Not sure if I'd prefer to just spend 1-2 days on schoolwork or if I'd do better to set aside 2-3 hours every day. Hmm?

Basic School Stats for post-Spring Break:

• 3 weeks of clinical left (approx 5-6 days, one of which will be training on UVA's new software-EPIC)
• 6 weeks of classes left
• 2 Pharm Exams, plus final exam
• 2 Nursing Lecture Exams, plus final exam
• Everything is completed by May 11th! :)

I may be crazy, but I am looking at a trip to Haiti that will leave before final exams are finished!  I'd have to get special permission from my nursing faculty to take my final exams early. It's probably insane of me to even contemplate, but it's the only MTW trip to Haiti scheduled for this summer. There is always possibility another team might form, but can't count on it. I'd really prefer to go with a known organization and not try my luck with a group I've never heard of before. There's a another local church with connections in Haiti who I'm planning to contact this week in hopes they may have a team or two going this summer. And I've also emailed the organization that I went to Liberia with to see if they are aware of any groups doing medical work there. Hopefully something will materialize.  I'd be open to another country--who am I to dictate what would be best for me. Aside from wanting to go to Haiti, I also have to consider the cost. I think Central or South America would be okay destinations cost-wise. However, African or Asian countries are just not a viable option because the airfare would be cost prohibitive. I think I'll save Asia for the future as I have two cousins that reside on that side of the world. There's no guarantee of a job/income this summer, so I'm really stretching it to even consider traveling this year since I have to make my savings last me through summer of 2012. Fundraising is an option, but after doing that for 12 months of expenses for Liberia, I really don't want to think about doing that again.

Well, tonight we set our clocks ahead one hour...plus I'm also making an effort to attend the early worship service during Lent...double whammy tomorrow morning! oof! So I better go start setting those clocks ahead and head out for a short walk while there's still light! I am a little nervous, that after having slept 13-14 hours last night (!), I may have trouble falling asleep tonight (+considering I'll go to bed an hour earlier).

Until Later,

Joy

 

Earthquake in Japan

Up early for clinical hearing reports of the 8.9 earthquake off shore of Japan. My cousin and his family live in Tokyo and I know other who have loved ones on other Japanese islands. Praying. Nothing much I can do from here other than that. Lord, please have mercy.

This is when I wish I worked for Red Cross or a humanitarian branch of the U.S. military. I'd drop anything to go when natural disasters strike. Nursing school is my first step--the rest of the story has not been written.

Update: I'm in conversations with my denomination's mission agency about possibility of traveling to Haiti this summer for a couple weeks.

Off to clinical...

UPDATE: Good news. My cousin and his family are fine. He apparently was not in Tokyo at the time, but his family was... his wife was with youngest daughter at school when it hit...went home to find son under kitchen table (scared). Then more tremors so the 3 of them stayed under table...but then they had to rush out to get oldest daughter who was still at school waiting to be picked up. Their neighborhood is fine, but they have friends in Sendai (where buildings collapsed).  So grateful they are okay. I'm sad to be missing the FB chatter and updates from them.

Side Benefits

I am giving up Facebook for Lent. I have other more personal reasons for choosing to give up Facebook, but the obvious is that Facebook is simply a huge consumer of time for those of us who are on it daily.

Of course, as a nursing student who doesn't have much of a social life (I do try), Facebook is my way to connect with the outside world--to know what is going on. It provides me with a good laugh now and then (Baby who laughs at tearing paper), keeps me in touch with pop culture news (Charlie Sheen crazyness), updates me with local news/weather (I get posts from local NBC affiliate), clues me into unique money saving offers (Chipotle's B1G1), informs me about the ups/downs of my friend's lives (engagements, marriages, new babies, travel, deaths, sick parents/kids, job changes/losses), and ultimately reminds me that there is more to life than nursing school. Sure I post about nursing school stuff, but reading my friend's statuses, posting my own news and essentially interacting on FB is like getting out of the house. Sad, I admit, but true.

HOWEVER...going on Facebook for just 10 minutes is unlikely--especially when you've got as many FB friends as I have. I have many friends from my 14 years in Michigan, 8 years in SC, & 14 years in Virginia. Add to that several dozen connections from my time in Liberia, a handful of FB friends gained through blind dates and then the unique and interesting category of friends of friends. I have absolutely loved being reacquainted with friends from my childhood, many of whom I have not seen in 20 years. Yes, I'll admit there are people I have blocked from my news feeds, but I totally expect that there are people who have blocked me (I do post a lot!). 

I know that the temptation to sneak on Facebook is going to be great, so I'll be taking the FB app off my iPod Touch and removing quick links from my computer, opting out of Facebook email alerts, etc...  And unlike most people who "fast" during Lent, I will not be breaking the fast on Sundays. It's going to be really challenging to unplug from FB for 46 days, so it's gotta be all or nothing. I am going to have to actually pursue my friends and be intentional about making plans--outside of the convenience of Facebook. Human contact is still okay--as is phone and email.

So what am I going to do with my extra time? Well my hope is that I'll spend that time thinking about and studying what the Bible says about Hope, Trust, Waiting, Patience, and Resting. Lent is a season of repentance and soul-searching...and my stubborn, impatient, untrusting heart has some repenting to do--especially in the area of dating/relationships/marriage. I'm also giving up listening to my favorite pop country music --as it feeds that desire/impatience (sorry Keith, Dierks, Lady A, RF). I'm even working on a new playlist that will be compatible with my hopes for this Lent season. Also no watching movies or reading books with romance themes, no journaling about He-Who-Has-My-Heart-But-Doesn't-Know-It*.  And I'm switching which worship service I attend during Lent...all intentional attempts to set aside the distractions that will make it hard for me to be earnest in this season of Lent. I will certainly need the Lord's help!

As a side benefit, I will hopefully be less distracted from my school work during these next 6.5 weeks! (It's just too easy to hop on FB for a "quick break" but still be on there 30 minutes later when I should be back to studying!) By the time Lent ends with the celebration of Resurrection Sunday, this semester will be almost over! At that point there will be less than three weeks left. No new material but only Tests & Final Exams to take. :)

Spring Break starts up next weekend (what am I going to do during Spring Break without Facebook?? haha!)  Spring Break basically marks the half-way point of the semester... ah! nice thought! :D

I'm not giving up blogging for Lent, so until next time,

Joy

*Name withheld for reasons that should be obvious. :D

Feedback

Today, the nurse who had my assigned patient last night was giving report to my co-assigned day nurse (for my assigned patient today). The night nurse remembered me from last week (the same nurse who gave me verbal pat-on-the-back mentioned in my "Poopy Post") and she introduced me to the day nurse as "This is Joy, your nursing student" and then something like "she's really on the ball" or "she's got it together." Something like that.  Wow, how awesome is that?! This is a nurse that some of the other nursing students (and even PCA's) think it kinda "snippy"...but somehow I've earned her respect (as a nursing student) and she's passing that info on to other nurses.

THEN, this afternoon, my co-assigned nurse said to me..."really great job today."  Some nursing students complain that their co-assigned nurses aren't really nice or compassionate to nursing students or helpful. But that has NOT been my experience. I have had some really great interactions with a number of the RN's and PCA's on my floor. Sure some are much more oriented to explaining things than others. Stopping to explain something to a nursing student takes time out of their patient care time. Understandable! But I totally appreciate it when they do take the time to talk something through with me. My goal is to do my job as quietly and efficiently as possible and to consult my co-assigned nurse only when there's a problem or to update them on the status of my patient. I've only got one patient to care for...they've got six--including mine, that they are legally responsible for. 

I definitely feel like my biggest challenge is being organized in my care. I've learned so much in clinicals this semester and last, but still feel like a bumbling idiot sometimes in planning care. Some days I do well...other days when there are interruptions or other issues pop up...it can be challenging to feel organized, efficient and thorough. It's a learning process. But it will come.

Nursing is a field where positive feedback is almost non-existent (at least from higher-ups, peers etc..) ...so it's nice to get this feedback (as a "lowly" nursing student) that someone thinks that I'm doing a good job. It totally inspires me to do better.  So the lesson here is... you inspire others by giving good feedback!