Thankfulness

Only three weeks left to go in this semester! It has gone by unbelievably fast. We registered for next semester already and submitted our request for graduation from the LPN portion of the program! Wow! That means we are half done already!
Last week was our first clinical experience. My first rotation is at Crest Haven Nursing Home here in Creston. We had one day of orientation and then were assigned a resident to care for for the second day. I must admit that it felt a little bit like diving off the high diving board when you don't know if you know how to swim or not. But, my resident was patient with me and we made it through the day! I have a new respect for those who love this work. Will have four more days there before the end of the semester and then will be assigned to a new facility.
This week is a short week with Thanksgiving and I have been enjoying a visit from Zach who is here in Iowa for the week. There are so many things I'm thankful for this year and I thought I'd share some of them with you.
I'm thankful for my family and how they have supported me in my dream to go to nursing school and for all they have done to help make it happen. The kids especially! I could not have done this without their full support and encouragement. They were willing to accept massive changes in their lives (and stay postitive despite them!) to help me do this. I'm thankful that they miss me. My children are a treasure and it has been one of my great joys this past year,to watch them grow in maturity and in faith to become fine young adults.

"What greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth." 3 John 4

I'm thankful for all the friends, family and co-workers who stood beside me and encouraged me on the days I thought I'd never be able to do this and gave me courage to keep trying. For those friends who believed in me, even more than I did myself at times, that I was choosing the right path and that I would make a great nurse. For the endless cards of support and encouragement, flowers, gifts of time (and sweat) and meaningful (and useful!) gifts I received along the way. You have all been a great blessing in my life.
I'm thankful for the friends and family, whose e-mails brighten my mailbox on a nearly daily basis! You are life's blood to me!
I'm thankful for southwestern Iowa and it's great beauty and peace. This land has been a healing balm for me. I'm thankful for Creston and the people I've met here, for the church and the way they welcomed me in with open arms. For the college and the quality of education that they are providing us with. For my apartment and the peaceful views from my windows and for the kitties who keep me company.
This has been a great year, filled with many wonders, challenges, renewed faith and great blessings.
"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all." 2 Thessalonians 3:16

November Days

The weather here has gradually been changing and now the mornings are chill with an edge of frost to them. Last night, we had stinging cold rain and wind until about midnight. This morning, the only rememberances were puddles skimmed with thick ice crystals. The skies were brilliant blue and warm sunlight streaked across the pasture midst the purple shadows of barren trees on frosted green gold grass. Waking to such visions makes my heart sing!
The leaves have mostly fallen, but the oak trees are stingy and hang on to theirs in ragged clumps. Up close the leaves look like well worn tooled leather, but the sound of them in the wind is harsh and rattling. The milkweed pods have loosed their clouds of pure white down. It's ethereal in the rough brown and gray world of November.
School this week has been even more interesting than usual. We've been studying the process of grief and loss, a topic that has held interest for me for a long time. Birth is a beautiful experience and I've learned over the years that dying can be just as beautiful and that it has surprising similarities to birth. If you get a chance to see the PBS program, Moyers on Dying (2000), I highly recommend it. It is a four part series that is very well done and very thought provoking. There is a very good website associated with the program as well which has many resources.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/onourownterms/index.html
Among other interesting things we learned how to give injections this week. So far, we've just done them on manikens and practice pillows. Imagine that doing them on living breathing people will be quite different! We've also been studying heart and cholesterol medications, something that many members of the Plooster family need to take once they reach mid-life. Nice to increase my understanding of those things. Gives me incentive to work a little harder at preventative measures.
Tests this week have gone much better. Received an A on our unit test in Anatomy and a B on the latest Nursing Fundamentals test. Reassuring after last weeks disasters!
A parting thought: The more I learn about the intricacies of the human body, the more I believe in our creator God. The way our bodies are knit together is an awesome thing!
Peace and grace to you!

Ups and Downs

This has been a week of highs and lows. Recieved an A on Monday's Nursing Fundamentals test! Also did well on this week's chapter quiz in Anatomy, but totally bombed the quiz on hormones and endocrine glands and did poorly on a test in Pharmacology. But then got a 99%on our medical abreviations test!
I didn't have the balanced focus that was needed and it showed. Now to make up for it. Sigh.
Our clinical labs are finishing up. We've learned how to do things like do sterile dressing changes and clean wounds, do urinary catheters, enemas and care for colostomys the last couple weeks. Next week we learn how to administer medications. The week after next, our actual clinical experience begins! My first clinical rotation will be at the Crest Haven Nursing Home. I'm both excited about it and a little apprehensive. It's one thing practicing on plastic dummies in lab, and a whole other thing practicing on living breathing people!
In other news, Zach, Jessie and Paul have moved into their new home in Westminster! Sounds like they are getting settled in. Stephen is getting settled at 29 Palms, California and anticipates being there for over a year while he completes his aircraft radar technician training. He was pleased to have been made squad leader.
Peace be with you!