I think I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but work has been busy. This past five to six weeks has been one thing after another. I've decided that nursing is largely about putting out fires ;-)...not literally! Tonight has been busy...have been hanging a lot of blood tonight and feel like I am pulled in all directions by a myriad of things. The night is flying by...the good thing about being busy. And...I get the next few days off! I think I will try to stay up late today since tomorrow, I have mandatory training during the day...hence the feeling of always being jet-lagged ;-)! Caffeine is my new best friend. I anticipate running errands today...mostly for things I have been putting off, but I feel like I need to get on top of things now since I leave in less than a month. I'm so excited for break! Not much to report beyond that. I begin school is just over a month and now that I think about it...I need to order books soon!
0 Comments
I went to NC this past weekend to catch up with my family...and it went way too fast! I love the drive to and from there since it is mostly country and so pretty. I find that driving is so relaxing in the country and I finally have time to catch up on my thoughts and process all that is happening in my life. The radio also makes the drive awesome...nothing quite like cruising down the highway in the middle of nowhere and listening to my favorite song in surround sound! ;-) The hardest part about the whole weekend was sleeping since I am again on nights. I couldn't sleep the night before going and then, I could only sleep till 3am while I was there...I kind of feel jet lagged all the time. We had fun at the beach at Camp Lejeune...very nice beach and LOTS of kids! Military families have lots of children! Beyond that, my brother grilled chicken and had some friends over on Saturday night...was a good time. I got to spend Saturday morning, comfortably ensconced on the couch with my nephew watching our respective shows...and eating goldfish...what could be better?! He was very nice about sharing the goldfish...even when I didn't want to eat anymore ;-). After church, he spent some time trying on my heels ;-)! I spent some time with my sister-in-law when we went shopping...though I didn't find anything I couldn't live without. I also got a chance to catch up with my brother...went on a walk and sat on the back porch for a while. Altogether...it went too fast and I look forward to when I get to go back again sometime soon! This week is rather full for work...am working nearly 70 hours...which is nothing by comparison to those who work on the ships, but a full week for me. Most of my weeks are not like that. Regardless, it's been a good week so far and I thoroughly enjoyed my day off today watching "Gone With the Wind" and painting nails with my coworker! Beyond that, I'll also be taking a class this week...called Intermediate Fetal Monitoring. I'm getting much better at reading fetal strips, but I've heard this class is good...so it should be kind of fun! What else...I am now enrolled for graduate school...and that has me all kinds of excited...that is, until I looked at how expensive books are. I'd apparently forgotten that part, but I think I will rent my textbooks this time around...so much cheaper! Beyond that, my newest, favorite thing is game nights with friends! We have had several and are planning our fourth round for next week...so much fun! Lastly, I am about as ready as I'm going to be for the Tough Mudder next week. Ten miles, lots of obstacles...bring it on ;-)! I am guessing that I will be very sore the next day... Had so much fun with my church group at the retreat this past weekend! Feel like I got to know some more people in a relaxed environment. I mean...it's the beach! Side note...I love the Outer Banks! It is so beautiful and the beach is gorgeous! I find the crabs particularly funny since they run sideways and don't appear to be very smart. They look hilarious running across the sand! ;-) I drove down with a few people from my church and we stayed in a cottage a few minutes’ walk from the beach. What a beautiful place...I think I could live there! It is nice because it is away from the craziness of the city and just feels like you can breathe! Throughout the weekend, we had a bonfire on the beach and talked about Jesus walking on water and "getting out of the boat." This was one of my favorite parts because we were the only ones on the beach, the sun set while we were there, the fire was nice and warm, you could hear the waves crashing behind you in spectacular fashion, and we were talking about what holds us back from walking with Jesus and trusting Him. After that, we went back to the cottage and played "Signs"...which I proved to be rather awful at since I was in the middle three times! What can I say...I tried ;-)! I was sufficiently tired after this...that I ended up being the first to go to bed. What happened to the times I could stay up to 2 or 3 and it didn't even phase me!?!? At least no one took this opportunity to draw on my face...which happened in high school! The next morning, we had a lovely breakfast, devotional time, and then went into town for a scavenger hunt. My team did not win, but we made up for that with creativity! I've posted some of the pictures below. After that, we had lunch and were dismissed, but I stayed behind with some of the others and we went to the beach. The waves were so strong that I kept getting knocked down...I literally couldn't stay up part of the time. I enjoy body surfing...and did a fair amount of that, but got plunged into the sand a few too many times...so much so that I think I got all the sunscreen scrapped off of me and my skin effectively exfoliated. You can imagine what happened next...yep...sunburn. It didn't show up much until about two hours later (at least that I was aware of). I'll have to rethink my approach...but nonetheless...I started the week looking a big rosy ;-)! So at my last horseback-riding lesson, I found out when I showed up that we were riding bareback...kind of terrifying at first since you really have to use your legs to stay on! I was rather proud of myself, however, since I was able to go at a gait and stay on my horse! I totally love riding...wish I could do it all the time! The picture of the boots...those really are mine! :-) Just wanted to let you all know that I have now been doing this blog for a year!
It was so pretty the other day…I love summer! I could get used to this. In fact, I’m thinking that I really want my next duty station to be in the tropics! Anyway, there is this cute place in Chesapeake where you can go pick strawberries and pay by the pound. They are delicious…and it was kind of fun getting out there and gathering my own—a much cheaper alternative to buying them from the grocery store. After that, I went to my favorite beach hangout. I love this beach since it is very quiet (it’s on a base). I enjoyed listening to my Audible book and watching the waves…and even watching the little crabs hurrying toward the water. I think I’ll go back this week if it is nice out. Mud Run...pretty self-explanatory! I did this run with some ladies from my church and it was so much fun! How many times in your adult life are you encouraged to roll around in the mud?! The obstacles were fun too and my group must have been the muddiest by the end! My next muddy race will be a Tough Mudder...ten miles...and there is something involving being electrocuted. Guess we'll see how that goes! I'll let you know. I love hiking!!! While Eastern Virginia does not have the mountains or hills I am used to, I found the most charming trail to hike! It is a 5.3-mile loop in Newport News near the Mariner's Museum. It is so beautiful and I loved it! I have hiked it two times and just love how it feels like home. I fully intend to go back as it has become one of my most favorite spots! The whole hike is around this beautiful lake! I think I may run it next time...quite a few runners on the trail when I went. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves! As for work, it's been busy lately. Today was especially insane on the unit. The kind of day when you look at all you have to do and just don't want to even face it...and also the kind of day when things inevitably go wrong...IVs going bad right when I walk on the floor, the call lights lighting up like a Christmas tree, and dealing with certain IV drips that you have never dealt with before that day. I could go on and on...but one good thing came out of a day I can't wait to be done with...I was able to keep up! In fact, I did much better than I thought I would. I actually was able to handle all the little things that came at me...and I think it must be thanks to God that I made it at all and with a decent attitude. I also have discovered that I am becoming a great multi-tasker...it's amazing how many things I can do at one time! I imagine this is somewhat how my mom felt growing up with the four of us kids always needing something...at the same time! Beyond that, I attended a Nursing Leadership course recently and found that helpful...lots of things to think about. I was definitely the youngest by rank. There was one other Ensign who was promoted about a week later...so I was about 1.5 years younger in rank than anyone else. Oh well...suppose you can never learn leadership too early in the Navy! Other than that, my most recent schedule has been quite odd...work one day and off one day, work one day and off one day...and on and on. The bonus to that is that on days like today...I don't have to come back tomorrow. Tomorrow...I have plans to go strawberry picking with some of my coworkers...it's going to be a good time! |
Prayer Requests...
That I grow in my role as a nurse and always do my best. That I would follow the Lord wholeheartedly. Friendships AuthorI'm Carolyn...am so excited to be starting my nursing career in the Navy. Who knows where this all will take me?! Archives
July 2015
|