Packing up to fly south....

I'm ready to go back to some FLORIDA FUN!

It's been 2 months since I left Florida and Aaron and it's been too long. It's a much needed visit and break from school! When I get back I have one more week of class, a bridal shower and then I start my LAST class! Woo! Woo!

(FMB Ice Cream Man...yes he has his own bell.. and the kids chase after him!)

The Journey

August 2004, almost 4 years ago I moved back to Michigan from spending a year in Florida working as a pharmacy tech, in hopes of beginning a career in nursing. I knew I'd have at least a year of prerequisite classes to take to even be considered for nursing school. But my naive self had no idea how long it'd really take me.

I started classes fall 2004 at LCC and began my trek of Anatomy, Physiology, Healthy Lifestyles, Pharmacology, Microbiology and math class of course. Spring 2005 I found out that I did not have enough points to get into the nursing program at LCC for the fall. I started looking into BSN programs (Bachelor of Nursing programs) - but every university had it's own unique set of prereqs - I'd be taking classes forever. I was set on getting my BSN and ditching the ASN (Associate in Nursing) program at LCC.

By the end of December 2005, Aaron had decided to take a job with his brother-in-law in Saint Cloud Minnesota at a golf course. St Cloud State University has a Bachelor of Science Nursing program and I thought this would work perfectly. All the while I have a Bachelor's degree - so once again naive me thought of course they'll take me. Ha! Not so fast my little friend. I took a chemistry class at SCSU to even be looked at for their program and I took a Pathophysiology course that I had to beg the professor to let me in to because it's reserved only for nursing students already in the program. I applied for their Accelerated program - they were going to take 16 students - I got an interview - YAY! - but I didn't get into the program - either what I wrote about my dreams of being a nurse at the interview killed my spot or I just wasn't up to par. I did find out that they only took 8 students - ouch! So I continue on and apply for their normal 2.5 year program that freshman & sophomore students apply too. I made it past the first stage - I get to take the entrance test - Yay! - but of course before we take the exam the proctor tells us that most of us sitting in that room will not be admitted to the program due to a lack of teachers and clinical sites. That was great motivation right before the test. I scored OK on the test, but obviously not GOOD enough. I also was told that freshman & sophomores got first pick because it was their first try at a bachelors degree and that all of us applying with a previous bachelors degree were chosen last if there were spots left open. OUCH! Yes, the whole time I thought my degree was working for me, I shouldn't of even had a degree - better odds!

May 2006 - my friend Lindsey gets into the LCC Part-time program - couldn't be more happy for her - we had taken many classes together at LCC prior to me leaving and both were waiting to get into nursing school. At the same time I felt my life was going no where - should I reconsider this dream of mine, or keep on trucking? Lindsey, thankfully told me about LCC starting an Accelerated nursing program and that some of the full time nursing students with bachelors degrees were going to be moved into this new class that would start March 2007. It was a 14 month program and would end May 2008. I rechecked the prereqs for LCC - check I had them all - I figured even though I'm in Minnesota I'll apply and see if I get in - it wouldn't hurt - I've been rejected many times before this - why not - we'll consider the complications later. So I had to fly back to Michigan to attend a nursing meeting that is required and meet with an advisor also required - at the meeting an instructor says - oh yeah the Accelerated program is full - no point in applying. How completely frustrated was I, I flew all this way for you to tell me this??? So I still go to the advisor appointment on Monday - completely different story - no there are 12-15 spots still open - you're a great candidate still apply. I turn everything in by hand and just wait. The deadline was Dec 1st I believe and they said they would tell us in February - which at the time made NO sense to me since the program started in March.

In the beginning of January right after I made an appointment for an interview for a position near the cities I get a call from the LCC nursing department - asking me if I'm still interested in the program because I live in Minnesota. I say yes of course and that's all she had to say. I call back to see if she can tell me more and she said it'd be sent out that week. So I anxiously await a letter in the mail - of course it took waaaay longer at least it felt that way. I finally get it and I'm shaking and I got in!!!!! I immediately start crying out of happiness and then start crying out of fear. How am I going to pull this off? I have to move home by February. Is Aaron going to move with me? Will I go alone? Will we be long distance for a year or so? I put that behind me until Aaron comes home. He walks through the door thinking I've made dinner for him - since I was workin a few nights at Target I had more time on my hands. He gives me this look like where is dinner and I say... no we are going out to dinner... and he says we are? And I said yes ... because I got into nursing school!!!! He stands there in shock - we hug and both start crying. I had waited sooo long to get into nursing school my tears were filled with joy & frustration. I was in shock.

Things moved quickly from there - I flew home to attend a pharmacology math course that was a couple days long. February 7th Aaron proposed to me, February 12th we drove back to MI and Feb 14th Aaron flew back to MN.

Classes started after spring break - March 12 or so? And we are almost here a year later. The summer seemed to drag on... but once we came around the bend and got through August everything since has flown by - we are about to end this class and move on to our last class! It's amazing how crazy this past year has been and how much I have learned. Nursing has opened my eyes to so many things and I never realized it was what it is...

For some reason it was supposed to take me 4 years to get to this place in my life. Now I am ready for school to come to a close, but at the same time I'm anxious and nervous about getting a job, moving to Florida, leaving my friendships here in Michigan and beginning a career I've been waiting for.

The Countdown Begins....

11 weeks left until Graduation!

3.5 months until I move to Florida!

7 months and 9 days until the Wedding!

Adorable Jude London

In this post I want to talk about my adorable soon-to-be nephew Jude London. He was born August 16, 2007. He has the same birthday month as Aaron and the same birthday day of the month as me! Instant connection! :) He's a big boy and such a cutipie - I call him judiepie. I know it's a little much but he's so darn cute. I wish I lived closer to see him more often!

Last week Jude London broke his little femur bone. At first they tried a leg cast, but sometimes in babies it's hard to get the cast to stay in the right place.

The cast wasn't staying on correctly so they had to put a hip spica cast on him. In order to put it on he had to be put under anesthesia. I can imagine this was very scary and worrisome for Amber & Scott as new parents. But all went well and he is home with his new cast on. He still looks adorable in it! :)

Below are some pictures of him over the past months. I know he has wonderful parents who are going to help him learn and grow on his path of life and love him unconditionally. I think I will see him next in June - can't wait! I'm thinking he'd make a handsome ring bearer! :)

I love this poem!

i carry your heart with me - e.e. cummings

i carry your heart with me

(i carry it in my heart)

i am never without it

(anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

I fear no fate

(for you are my fate, my sweet)

i want no world

(for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart

(i carry it in my heart)

BLAH BLAH BLAH basically...

Ok, so the last 2 weeks I studied my butt off for school and put wedding planning on the side - wow it was great - yes I had moments of - I should be calling this place, oooh that's a great idea - but I surprisingly stayed focus. So I took yesterday to think about wedding stuff - man that was a really bad decision - maybe I should go back to focusing on school - I felt more stressed out about wedding decisions, planning etc... than trying to get a 4.0 on my last test.

This is what I don't get, why does it end up being stressful at points? I mean it sounds like it should be so easy. It's hard too when you have to ask people for help... and then they don't really want to help - never expected that.. but I guess I shouldn't of had expectations for this. In the grand scheme of things stupid decisons are not what this is all about - and it's hard not to fall into it forgetting why you are planning this grand event. Aaron and I are getting married after 6 years in April of being together and that couldn't make me more happy right now. For people who have never planned a wedding - there are SO many more things to decide than you'd EVER imagine. You'd think just picking a photographer, DJ, florist, baker etc... and thats it...ooooh no that's not it - there are so many little decisions within ONE big decision - I don't think I really understood that before. (Deep breath) Now I do. It looks fun and glamorous on the outside... but it can't be that way all the time. You are putting your trust in complete strangers to make your day special and beautiful. COMPLETE STRANGERS. I guess everyone does it and it works out - so there's no turning back.

Then there's a point where you want info and ideas, but then there are the people who TELL you what you should do cause thats what THEY would want, but how come it can't just be - ok here are ideas do with that what you wish. There's always that... oooh that's nice... but inside it's really not you.... AHHHHHHHHHHH!

Thankfully I have friends who have made me feel sane during this process by supporting me and having my back - making me feel as though I'm not as crazy as I feel - Thank you! In the end we are going to have a fun day and I'm marrying someone who cares so deeply for me and is so genuine and caring I couldn't ask for a better person to marry. We've been on a long road to this day and I'm happy it's finally getting closer - We've been honest with each other throughout and compromised to achieve each others dreams in life - I can't wait to see what life will be like once we start our own family.

The vent is over. Ciao.

Arbonne

I met with my Arbonne lady today - Sally, who happens to be my best friend Andrea's mom! The company offers great options to enhance your skin the right way - naturally! I'm even using Arbonne to help fill gifts for the wedding. I am currently using their body scrub in the shower and their foot lotion afterwards and I am loving both! I just got body butter from Sally today and I am looking forward to using it! I also have their Figure 8 Chews - Berry Burst that are tasty - if you need something to tide you over. I highly recommend their products - they offer travel size products which work well for shower gifts, attendant gifts or even in welcome bags!

Website: http://www.arbonne.com/ - If you'd like to contact Sally let me know and I can give you her info. :)