Life in the Rochell House

Week 4

2009-10-03T13:01:00.001-05:00

4 weeks have gone through Nursing School. I do love it. I look past Patho because let's face it, if I stress over one class then Nursing school is going to suck! Things are going great. Health Assessment Lab I have made all 100's on the tests. I made a 88 on my Patho test after she gave the entire class 30 points she had to throw out 15 questions! :)
We have met some new friends. Jason met a group of people he rides motorcyles with and on Labor Day we all had a cook out. There was a couple there that Jason and I clicked really well with. Since we have been here I have had one main friend.. Rachel... While that is not a bad thing, people need more than one friend. I have been in a sort of depression since I dont have friends and I dont go do things, which yes is sometimes my fault as I feel bad leaving Alexis home with Jason to do things without them. So, meeting this couple we clicked with I was so excited! Well, Alicia and I went to see The Fray together and we all go out to dinner and spend time together. It is great. They are wonderful with Alexis and I dont feel like we have to get a babysitter in order to go visit with them. So, I am beginning to like it around here now! :) We have decided to do a contract with Wellmont, where they will help pay for my schooling and I work for them for 3 years. While 3 years seems like a long time, it will get me the experience and stability in a job that I need. I love seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. I love knowing that soon I will be in my career choice and enjoying things. I love that Jason has really helped with Alexis more and is not complaining about it. I love we have wonderful friends. I am beginning to really love life! :)

Two in a Week...

2009-09-24T11:35:00.002-05:00

So, my first Patho test... Let's give you the numbers.... Highest Grade...78... Lowest Grade... 24... Class Average... 56.... There are 73 in our class.... This semester cant be good... No, wait.. This teacher cant be good!!!

Want an update?

2009-09-21T20:54:00.002-05:00

Ok.. Here is your update! Classes are going. Somewhat smoothly.. I absolutely LOVE my Intro to Professional Nursing teacher. She is THE BEST EVER! She is funny, she is caring, she has experience in what seems like EVERYTHING nursing. She answers questions, gives advice, and cares about us as students AND people! My Communication for Health Professionals class is good too. The teacher keeps the classes attention and keeps it fun! Health Assessment I was scared of at first. Seemed like a lot of information, but most of the information in Lecture is common sense. I LOVE the Lab.. so far in both Lab tests I have made 100's! Go me! :) Pathophysiology is HORRIBLE! Well, I knew the class was going to be a tough one, but, the teacher SUCKS! I have NEVER EVER EVER had a worse teacher! She is all over the place, then when we ask a question she says "Go read the book, I dont know!" HELLO! If you dont know and YOU ARE THE TEACHER how are WE supposed to know? She has come into class and told us she was on Prednisone for Poison Ivy and it was making her loopy. She went through 5 slides on Powerpoint and goes "Well, is anyone else confused, I am so confused, I was confused reading the chapter last night and it still makes no sense today!" So, I e mailed the Dean of Nursing, the Director of Nursing and my Advisor! I told them I am not some college student complaining about a teacher like most do. I knew Patho was a stressful class. But I have never driven home after a class crying because the teacher is not teaching me! The WHOLE class signed up for tutoring the FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES! It was so bad instead of the normal 1 Tutor for Patho they now have 4....I asked in my e mail for them to randomly without her knowing show up to listen to one of her lectures and they will see we are not crazy! They each e mailed back saying "Thanks for letting us know, here is another person to e mail.." This is insane! So, my first test is tomorrow at 8am... We will see how it goes! I asked her last Thursday during class how we can study and make it effective and she goes "This isnt rocket science people!" Well, today I was studying with people from my class and there were some people from the other Patho teacher's class around and we didnt get something, they taught us the WHOLE thing, diagram and all, WONDERFULLY. We all looked at one another and decided we werent learning anything from the lady! Hopefully I will pass the class! I need prayers for it! I have seriously talked to Jason about going to the doctor for anxiety meds because I am so stressed about this class! Well... There really isnt much more to say! That is my rant and update on Nursing school so far... I will promise to update at least once a week to keep those of you who care informed on my path to become a Nurse! Meanwhile, my legs are getting stronger and I hope walking from Egypt everyday to my classes will help me lose some weight! This sure isnt no flat land around campus! LOL...

Anxiety

2009-08-19T11:00:00.002-05:00

WOW, it has been a while! Summer is officially over and back to school it is. Lex started on the 6th. I start on the 31st. A week before Lex started school she broke into tears at least once a day. She was worried she wouldnt do good in 2nd grade, worried her teacher would be mean, worried she would get lost, worried nobody would help her, worried she wouldnt spell good. Which by the way she never made less than a 100 on a spelling test in first grade, so, why that was an issue I have no clue. I just didnt get her anxiety, why would she worry about things like that? Well, now I am a week and a half away from starting the Nursing Program. I took my HESI test yesterday. The lady giving it talked for an hour about how hard it is, she hopes we will all graduate, we should get tutoring everyday, it is extremely hard and she thinks we need to start taking it seriously now and not later. I became a NERVOUS WRECK! I know Nursing School isnt going to be easy, I know I am going to have to study and work to keep my good grades. I KNOW THIS! But all her negativity during my test I was thinking "Well, what if I am not Nurse material, what if I dont make good grades, what if I fail, what if this isnt really where I am supposed to be and all this time I thought it was, what if what if what if..." I was so nervous during my test, I passed, but dont think I did as good as I would have if she hadnt had her hour long speech! So now I know where Lex is getting her anxiety from! Sucks! I have always been the worry wart of my family and apparently after 4 years of college I havent gotten rid of it! I am excited, dont get me wrong, but I am so freaking nervous! On a plus side, I have classes 5 days a week, and they arent full days, just like 3 hours a day, so, I can always take a couple hours and go to the tutors or take advantage of the Nursing Learning Center they have and do my work there and not come home stressing out. I will be ok.. People do this everyday, right?!
On another note, we are going to Florida for Christmas! I am so excited! I havent told Lex yet, so she is clueless. I think I will leave her clueless until we leave. My Dad is taking us to Disney! Lex has been once and loved it 3 years ago and since has begged to go back, so, she will be getting to go this year! She will LOVE it! I havent seen my Dad in 3 years and miss him so so much! We were never able to be close while I grew up, thats another story of its own, and since I live so far away we arent super close now, but we e mail and keep in touch and I feel closer to him now than I ever have, even though it is at a distance!
I hooked Lex's TV and VCR/DVD combo up last night, she fell asleep at 7:30 watching Christmas 2002 video we have! She loves watching videos of herself! I think she is conceited... Which she DIDNT get from me! :)

Oopps...

2009-04-15T21:48:00.002-05:00

So, last time I blogged I was sick... This time I am blogging... I am sick.. Not too much has been happening. I have 2 more weeks of classes, then finals. Then I am out for the summer. I am looking for a job right now. Wellmont is thinking about me for a Unit Secretary, Mountain States Health Alliance is thinking about my as a Switchboard Operator, and I have an interview at Kmart tomorrow! YAY! Although I would LOVE LOVE LOVE the job at Wellmont since it is in Kingsport in the baby section! But right now I am game for any job thrown at me.Well, I will update later.. I am sleepy.. Got a big day tomorrow, Hep B shots, Chicken Pox Titer, Interview, so on and so on....

BLAH!

2008-10-01T20:51:00.002-05:00

Being sick SUCKS (In case you didn't know!) For 3 days now I have had a sore throat, runny nose and my head feels like it is going to blow up! I think it is just a head cold though, so, that is a good thing that it isn't respiratory or anything of that nature.
Monday was AWESOME! We went to eat at Chili's with Abel, Will, Rachel, Adam, Dorothy and Hannah for the St. Jude's night. Chili's donated 100% of their profits that day to St. Jude's this was their 5th year doing this I believe and their goal is to raise I believe in a 10 year period they are trying to earn $50 million for St. Jude's, this being the largest donation from a single company EVER! It was so cool to see the place PACKED! Plus the line of waiting people outside! It was great. We missed it last year because I had class that night and we couldn't go, but this year we made it and I am so glad we did. It also just makes me want to go order stuff from St. Jude's web page. I have found a bunch of stuff I want, we will see. Maybe when my student loan check comes in I might have to use some and go shopping online, after all St. Jude's definitely puts money to great use! ;)
Speaking of school... I will know the second week in November if ETSU accepts me into their nursing program for January. There isn't a reason I know of that I cannot get in, so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pray for me! And heck, if you KNOW ANYONE in the nursing department, maybe drop me a good recommendation! It would be GREATLY appreciated! I have been accepted into ETSU, just waiting on the nursing department... I am thinking positive. I am super excited/scared/nervous/overstimulated/happy/worried about going to ETSU.. Have you SEEN their campus? It is HUGE! I know where the nursing part is. But it is SO big! Guess it is like a kid starting school for the first time, it looks SO big to such a small child!

WOW!

2008-09-25T15:43:00.002-05:00

It has been a while since I last updated this... (thank you Rachel for reminding me, last week!) I have been busy with school work and trying to get organized to the best of my ability downstairs. On the plus side of it, I have all of our necessities unpacked, but dont have room for them. We are used to having a whole closet a piece and now we are trying to fit everything into a dresser a piece and it just doesnt work well! But, that is just minor things. School is going well. I am having to study extra hard this semester being that I am retaking Microbiology to bring my C up as well as taking Spanish 2 since I only took Spanish 1. I dont speak proper English and these people want me to speak Spanish! HA! I am also taking Intro to Theatre and Probability and Statistics.
I was so excited to move here because I would be around my nephews and I would be able to see them often and spend time with them and be a part of their lives. Well, it hasnt worked out that way for me. With gas being so high we dont really go anywhere except school and grocery stores when needed. We definately need to go over and visit the boys more.
Alexis has started PT. It is going well, and actually since it is a normal routine in the last couple weeks she has gained 2 lines. (I call it lines because I dont know what they measure in, I just see lines!) We are still up to talking with doctors about surgery to help her stretch more and walk on her own, but for now, I am ok with the small steps and progress with stretching!
Alexis got her Report Card today and got S's in everything except writing, which she got a N in, since she writes in all capital letters and has issues with her word spacing... We are working on it, and by next report card it should be an S as well!
I dont think there is much more to say right now besides I could REALLY use a nap. It is funny how sleepy I can be all day and then when it is time for bed I cant fall asleep. So, I dont think I will take a nap, and maybe I will be able to sleep at a decent time tonight.
So, for those of you that actually read my blog, that is the most recent update.. More later!

Surgery

2008-08-05T13:16:00.002-05:00

Jason is out of surgery and home on the couch! He had his sinuses opened up to fix his diviated septum (SP?!). He has a horrible headache and isnt snoring as loud as normal, so, maybe it is a good sign! Other then the headache, I think he is doing pretty good. Thanks to all who prayed for him. Please continue praying for a speedy recovery for him.

Where does the time go?

2008-08-01T19:28:00.002-05:00

July has been such a hectic month with packing and saying good bye to friends and family. I truely dont think there has been a day I could just think about me and relax. We are moving, supposed to be today, BUT, life is always making our minds up for us! Jason has a deviated septum and has to have them opened up. Basically nose surgery to open up his Sinuses. He gets that Tuesday, then a week later has to be back for a check up. Meanwhile he is also starting Allergy Shots and has to be here for the first 3 shots before they will transfer the prescription for him. So, I will be here until Wednesday of next week and then go enroll Alexis in school in Bristol, as well as figure out my school stuff. Jason will be staying here until his Allergy shots are good to transfer!

One good thing is Jason's Mom has kept Alexis this past week for us. She will continue to keep her until I get up to Bristol for good next week. It has been amazingly helpful, but I miss her! ;)

Alexis starts 1st grade August 11th. I start school August 27th. I need to find an ear doctor, leg doctor, Dentist, and a Pediatrician all before September for Alexis.... August is looking more and more like July! Guess the saying days run together, then months run together.. I think I am going to take a day or so to just relax and enjoy life... Maybe next weekend when I am in Bristol and have Lex and I both set up for school...

Meanwhile, next Friday Alexis will be turning 7. Where has the time gone? Seems like just yesterday she was a little baby and now she is 7 and starting 1st Grade. My Baby is getting old!

Well, I just wanted to give a quick update to those of you who read this.

Mom is a Loser!

2008-07-26T15:57:00.003-05:00

So, today Jason, our friend Johnny and myself were in the living room playing Guitar Hero Aerosmith. Jason got up for something and Alexis called him into her room to see what she was writing on her computer. He starts laughing and called Johnny in there. So, ended up them telling me to go see what she did. I go into her room and look at her computer screen and there is a sentence with a bunch of letters, then one right below it that said:

Momis aloozr

I couldnt say anything but laugh. I think she just may be a good writer one day! She definately sounds things out pretty good!

We are going to take yet another load to Bristol tonight, so, pray for no rain and no traffic!

Hey

2008-07-25T00:36:00.001-05:00

So, I have been reading blogs for quite some time now. I have many I check daily to read updates, some I have followed for several years. I have opened a couple blogs over the last several years, but this time I will try to follow through in my attempt... Wish me luck! ;)