beyond frazzled.

My to do list is making me frazzled. I am trying to stay calm and just focus on one thing at a time and celebrating with a "woop woop!" each time I get to cross something off.

TO DO (in the next two days):

• Study and take a quiz on the assessment of the abdomen and cardiovascular system
• Do an abdominal and cardiovascular assessment on someone
• Submit my groups diagnostic paper on a fake patient with abdominal pain and other such symptoms (we diagnosed her with acute cholecystitis) >cholecystitis<
• Write an evaluation of my peers in my group for said diagnostic paper
• Take a quiz for my research class on descriptive, exploratory and experimental study designs
• Buy: makeup remover, shampoo, things to decorate my hat for the derby party this weekend, ingredients for the food I am making for the derby party, booze for party (summer shandy!), a gift for my brother's graduation
• Decorate hat for derby party
• Alter my mom's dress for my cousin's wedding in two weeks
• Change my bed linens
• Clean my room
• Do my nails
• Get my TB test read at work. I can already tell ya... I don't have Tuberculosis.
• Make cards for my mom for mother's day and my brother for graduating college

The reason I must must get all of this done today and tomorrow... is because I am busy busy busy! Tomorrow night I am having dinner with Jay's family for mother's day. Early Saturday, Jay and I are having lunch with my family. Saturday afternoon into the night, we go to my friend's house for her annual Derby Party where we all dress in swanky clothes and pretend we fancy big hats and drinking mint juleps. Sunday morning, we wake up early and go to my brother's graduation from UIC. Sunday afternoon we board the Spirit of Chicago cruise ship at Navy Pier and have a dinner cruise along the Lake Michigan Chicago coast and eat, drink, and take fun pictures with the city skyline in celebration of my bro's big graduation and my mom for being mom.    

... just breathe. hee hee whoooooo. hee hee whoooo. Can ya blame me for Lamaze breathing? I am going to be a Women's Health NP after all!

"Can I go to the derby party?" says Dante.

My cat is a weirdo. 

He decides to sit on my hat and refused to move as I was playing with ideas on how to decorate it.

Trying not to get too excited

So, I haven't really talked about school much lately, mostly because it has been drab.  I learn a lot, yes, but the hands on experiences are what I really love and love to talk about. So, I am excited to report that my clinical rotation starts this summer! This summer's rotation will focus on basic health assessment. By the end, I should know how to fully assess people and know what the next steps are to take if I see a problem.  I found a place that is close to home that has two Certified Nurse Midwives in the practice. I am beyond excited to work with them because the thought of becoming a midwife has always sat in the back of my mind.  I am the type of person who is always planning and jumping ahead (those of you who know me are probably laughing at the solid truth in that statement). So, now that becoming a Women's Health  NP is coming up.. I am already thinking.. do I want to become a midwife??  I need to slllowwww down and make it through the program, then graduate, then get a job, then work for a little while, throw in a marriage and some kids in there... and THEN I can think about becoming a midwife. Either way I hope this works out. I haven't received a definite yes from them yet, I should know by next week.  Trying not to get too excited.  This experience with them could be so valuable to me.  So, for those of you who pray... pray for me that this works out. K thanks! 

Fabric Flowers in Bloom

Today was a glorious day. 

My friend Amanda came to town.

We ate crepes.

Spinach and cream crepes.
The one below is an apple crepe.

So incredible.

Apple Crepe from Chez Pierre Creperie.

Drank chai tea lattes to keep us warm.

It was quite chilly outside, especially for April. grrr.

Investigated a new recreation area being constructed in our home town.

walking in through the entrance

water playground for the children

I sometimes forget how colorful sand is.

My feets.

I used to love to swing. Not as much anymore.
Almost gives me motion sickness. Boo.

Visited Manda's mom at work and she gave us a bunch of free stuff that they use as incentives for the customers to sign up for accounts or credit cards! We like free stuff!

Manda with all her goodies... blanket.. backpack... books.

Joined our friend Ashley at her house.
Which looks lovely and fresh.
Hopefully she posts a before and after of her home (hint hint).
She and her husband redecorated drastically since last year.

Drank some tea.

such a funny mug.

Made headbands out of felt and old t-shirts.

Manda's headband.

My headband! I don't usually like pink, but this really pale pink I am liking!

This is the tutorial I used to learn how to make the roses... then I just cut off the bottom of the rose (you'll see the long end in the tutorial) and hot glued them to a strip of jersey t shirt.

Fun day.