Pictures...

Here are some pictures pictures taken by the photographer at graduation...

Blessed...

To have an amazing family...

A wonderful husband...

The best friends a girl could ask for...

To have graduated from college...

To be working as a NICU nurse as a new graduate...



This year has brought so many amazing things to our life and I could not be more thankful!

Life goes on...

Life has changed so much in the last 4 and 1/2 years. I was watching junior year’s cheer slideshow and cannot believe the flood of emotions that came back as I watched. When we were there nothing else mattered. We thought cheer was the most important part of our lives and that we might stay there forever…or die there…which ever came first:-). When I talk about it with people now I realize that I may have been terrified to tumble but I am not scared of life and I am so proud of the places I have gone since that time. I had my first NICU interview today and when the manager was speaking to me about why I wanted to work there I almost welled up with tears. I knew my junior year of high school that I wanted to be a nurse and that I would work in the NICU. Everyone told me that I would change my mind but I am knew what I wanted. I get to be apart of shaping an infant’s and their parent’s lives…I get be an advocate for not only their care but the quality of their care and I couldn’t think of anything better for me. When getting into college the pre-nursing adviser told me that I may want to think about a second major because the College of Nursing was highly competitive to get into…I told her no…that I would be graduating from U of A as an RN and there were no other options. Sitting in my interview today brought everything together. It is amazing what I now feel is important in life compared to in high school. The typical interview question was what do you feel your biggest accomplishment is? I do feel that being the first person in my immediate family to go to and graduate college is a major accomplishment but as I reflect, however, it’s not just an accomplishment…it changes your life. College has shaped who I am. I do not feel that I am better than someone who has not gone to college but it has made me a different person. I cannot wait to walk across that stage on Friday and know that I am finally done…for now ;-). I can honestly say that nursing school was not as hard or as scary as I thought it would be. Most people think I am crazy for saying that but I truly believe in life you make things as easy or as hard as you want them to be. I also think cheer prepared me more than I will ever know. When I was accepted to nursing school I thought to my self, “So you’re telling me I just need to attend class, go to clinicals, and study for tests...not practice Monday through Friday at 5am in the summer, Monday through Saturday for three hours during school, or throw my self backwards repeatedly for four straight years?!? Then I’ve got this:-).” People may think that is a ridiculous comparison but I got through nursing school without ever once thinking I was dying…so I guess it worked for me:-).

Lately...

So much has been going on the last month I have not had any time to blog! Here's what has been happening lately:

-Meg and I have been doing LOTS of photo shoots
-We have driven back and forth to Phoenix a million times
-Saw New Moon at midnight with Jess and Maria
-My baby brother turned 16 and got his drivers license
-I have applied for about 9 RN positions...waiting to hear about interviews
-We found out that we are going to have a *nephew*...so excited for Meg, Mark, & baby Mason
-We had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving
-I finished my thesis!!!!
-I've been getting everything ready for graduation
-I am almost done with classes...just doing final evaluations now
-I will defend my thesis on Friday the 4th
-Brant and I decided we are going to Seattle for our graduation trip in March!
-Best of all...I graduate in 17 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A new love...

Although I am done precepting and don't have much going on for school, I am still keeping very busy with photography! I LOVE it SO much! Why am I becoming a nurse again?? LOL JK! I love that too but being able to do something on the side that I am also passionate about and even better doing it with my BEST friend is AMAZING! I've had a great time this week shooting some wonderful friends in nursing and even more fun editing the pictures! I'll sit at the computer forever trying to get them just right and sometimes forget to eat but it's SO worth it, LOL! Meg and I have been talking back and forth so much just trying to learn everything we can and coming up with ideas. I can't wait to make it official and get our business license!! When we first started talking about this last year I think we were kind of joking at first :-) but as soon as we had our first DSLRs in our hands...we knew it was meant to be! There is still a long way to go (especially in the learning department) but we truly feel this is how it's supposed to be. I can't wait to see what the future holds!

Meg working hard...

NICU life...

Today I volunteered in the NICU again. Every time I go I love it more and more! I was able to hold a little guy whose hand was about this size...he was absolutely adorable and incredibly tiny! I am so excited that I will be working with little miracles every day!

Almost a nurse...

The last five weeks I spent most of my time at TMC on the Women's Care Unit completing my preceptorship (or free internship for those of you who are like what in the world is that). We had antepartum patients on bed rest and women having gynecological surgeries. I worked with an absolutely wonderful RN named Korene who I was very sad to leave after my twelve shifts were done. She was very calm and confident in her own abilities and made me feel like I could not only be a nurse but a good one! I really enjoyed my time there and am so glad that it turned out better than I could have imagined. There is nothing wrong with being a PCT (and I have a TON of respect for those who are) but my year as a tech made me feel as though I might not like being a nurse...luckily that is not the case! Even while precepting I was able to really make a difference for my patients. Now I am done and only have lecture on Monday's and Community Health on Tuesday's until the end of the semester! Graduation will be December 18th at 2pm and I couldn't be MORE excited! Most of the hospitals will be putting their new grad programs up in November so that is when I can begin applying for jobs. I plan to apply for NICU, L&D, PICU, and ER at all the major hospitals in town. I really would love to be in the NICU right away (especially since I would like to go to grad school in two years) but there are some other places I would also love to get experience in. I am not worried about getting hired...just where I will get hired. Until then I will be working as a nanny and finishing my Honor's Thesis...I really need to get on that, LOL! Well that is pretty much all that has been happening with my school life.Brant and I are just beginning to work on this transition from college life to the real world and are so excited to see what God has in store for us! It will be so fun to move on to another chapter in our lives...our careers, babies, a house :-)...and just continuing to enjoy marriage.