thankful

One thing I enjoy about blogging is that it documents significant events in my life. I now have a place to go back and remember what I was doing one year/two years ago. For instance, two years ago, I was thankful for the fact that we had just sold Jason's house in Holland. Last year, well, I don't know, I didn't document the month of November very well... :) But, I do know I tend to have pretty busy fall seasons as I have taken graduate classes for a few years now and that always leads to a busy fall and then leads up to the busy holiday season.

No surprise, but this year was a bit different. I continue with my graduate classes, but not while working my typical job. This year it has been while learning to be a mother! I cannot describe how this bundle of joy has changed my life...physically, mentally, emotionally...it is phenomenal! Thanksgiving was just another day in my life this fall as I have found that every day is my thanksgiving now. Of course for Leah, but also for all the things that she has brought into focus in my life and relationships every single day. Things are more meaningful and precious as I start to observe and reflect on how they impact my daughter. Being thankful just seems to be the tip of the iceberg!

But, enough of the ramblings...I want to document this fall too: for the first time in several years, I did not go hunting. I kind of missed it, but was thrilled that my husband did go hunting for the first time in several years! He didn't get anything, but had a lot of fun hanging out with his uncles & cousins. Also, I continue with my two graduate classes which will be wrapping up in the next week. My final degree is coming more & more in sight as I really only have about two classes left and then my final scholarly project...I still hope to be done at the age of 33. :) We also look forward to the Christmas season this year and celebrating with our family and church family. We love them all so much and can honestly say that they are who are most thankful for this year!

Leah is thankful for her hands...she has "discovered" them most recently... :)

summer dayz

So, I should be doing some pharmacology homework (yes, I'm still taking a graduate class!), but instead I thought it would be good to update on our summer. I know someday I will get my PhD in procrastination... :)

We took our U.P. camping trip and had a fabulous time! The weather was a little unsettled the day we arrived, but the other days it warmed up fairly nicely and we all came back with some sun/color on our faces. We took a day to visit the Taquamenon Falls, a day to visit Mackinac Island, but also a day to just hang around the campground and visit the beach. It was so fun to hang with good friends, play with the boys, and also have my parents camp with us--in which we discovered that Pat makes an excellent babysitter! Not to be misunderstood though as Pat probably had just as much fun playing (if not more so) with the boys. :) Lots of great pictures of our adventures are found on my facebook account if you're interested in taking a peek.


We came home to a phone message that my routine pregnancy glucose test had been high and would require a follow up 3 hour glucose test to determine whether I have gestational diabetes. (eek!) That news made me rather grumpy for the rest of the week...to add to it, I had my pharm class and also an on-line test and other work to complete before I left for our church group's trip to work at a camp in northern Michigan. Needless to say, I still haven't felt the relaxation of summer dayz yet!

Now, jump ahead to today. My test is completed, I got to spend two days at camp with my church family, including some much needed rest time on my most favorite beach in Michigan. And, I received a phone call yesterday from the doctor's office to let me know I had passed my follow up glucose test, so no gestational diabetes!

yeah!

Now my summer feels like it is beginning. Tomorrow & Friday I spend some time at the MASN board summer retreat, but from there my calender opens up and relaxation begins!! Well, at least til the next project on the list: preparing baby's bedroom...look for pictures to come!

rest for the weary...

The big conference was last week…this is the annual Michigan Association of School Nurses conference that I plan/organize/run every year. Of course, I would not be able to do it without my trusty helpers—but this year seemed particularly exhausting. The whole weekend felt like one big hangover…and I’m sure being 18 weeks pregnant had nothing to do with it! ;) The conference was wonderful though and now I can count down the days til the end of the school year (17 and counting!)

I was also welcomed back home to the beginning of my next grad class: pharmacology. Just the word sounds horribly intimidating and therefore I can say I’m not really looking that forward to it. I just pray that it can be as applicable to my daily work as my other classes have been to make it more tolerable!

No other major news to report…although we definitely are welcoming spring. We’ve even talked my currently layed-off father and uncle into completing an extreme-makeover on our backyard! Perfect timing too, as today marks 8 years I've lived on Prospect. Hopefully some pictures on that project to come!

smiling

I seem to have been a little discouraged sounding as of late, so I wanted to share on a bright day. The grades for my grad classes were posted today and I got an A- in the theory class (that I hated so much) and an A in my assessment class (thanks, hon!)

And, plans are falling together for the MASN conference next week. To be held at the beautiful Crystal Mountain resort, I'm most excited because my husband and my best friend's husband & boys will be joining us--making it kind of a mini "vacation" for all of us. I'm just praying for good weather now! :)

concept analysis of my life

Can one person do too much? I'm testing this theory...I may have to even do a concept analysis on it (an inside joke with myself...). Right now in my life I have the following to keep me out of trouble: work as a school nurse, plan an annual conference for Michigan Association of School Nurses for both this year and 2009, two graduate level nursing courses, sing in church choir and be in easter musical, and be a loving, encouraging, and supportive wife to my wonderful husband.

The highlights: being a wife is definitely right up there! But my work as a school nurse and all that that encompasses (MASN) is really exciting. I love being a part of something so big--not only touching the lives of my students and families, but also working within the state-wide organization of MASN as it works to improve the standards of school nursing practice.

The lowlights: one of my grad classes is really getting to me. Nursing Theory is such an incredible stretch for my "live by the rules" personality; words like "phenomenon" and "empirical referent" and "concept analysis" are all completely abstract to me. I've never been good at arguing--much less arguing for concepts I barely understand! My only light in this tunnel is the topic of my research paper; I chose to investigate Reactive Attachment Disorder. Many of you may not know what this is--but if you really want to know, just shoot me an e-mail and I can have you proof read my paper once it's written. ;)

So, there you have it, Rachel's life in a nutshell right now. All I can say is, God must have big plans for me, cause I'm feeling very stretched!

snow day!

Have I mentioned how I love the fact I work for a school district? One of the perks is the occasional "gift" of a snow day! I know every day is truly a gift from God, but I'm pretty sure that snow days are gift wrapped with a beautiful bow... ;)

A cozy morning wrapped in my robe & a blanket, sipping coffee on the couch is the perfect way to begin. And now, after a good long workout on the treadmill, I can begin whatever project I decide to accomplish with my free day. And, honestly, I don't have too much option other than to work on grad class homework. I have plenty to read for both classes. And one class has quite a bit of on-line work to keep me busy as well.

Hmmmm...maybe I'll make another pot of coffee... :)

*sigh*

At about 8:00pm last night, I began to breathe again! This past week has been so incredibly busy, I wouldn’t even know where to begin relating everything that has been going on! Work has been busy, but I’ve also been at my second “job”—i.e. church—every night this week as well. Our Christmas program begins tonight and we’ve been diligently rehearsing (and memorizing!) the ten songs that are in the program. In addition, I took my final exam in statistics last night.

It is not something I would recommend to anyone trying to be effective in life. Cramming your head full of nursing skills, song lyrics & music, and graduate level statistics information leaves you with a messy house, a neglected dog, and with an overall grumpiness with your husband. ;-)

Therefore, after the exam last night—I seriously felt as though one huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. I slept well last night, am thrilled it’s almost the weekend, and am now feeling excited for Christmas. I’m excited to clean, walk the dog, relax, and have fun with my husband!

in just over two years...

Time to update on my graduate school status. This past summer (yes, in the midst of wedding planning) I took the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). This test is kind of like the A.C.T. of grad school. It is a huge review of verbal, math, and writing skills. All I can say is: OH MY GOODNESS. All those things you learn in high school and know you’ll never use again? Well, retain some of it, because if you ever have to take this test when you’re thirty—you’ll regret not bothering to remember any of it!

Anyway, after passing that with pretty decent scores, it was my final hurdle to cross before being officially accepted into the GVSU nursing graduate program. Up until now I’ve been taking classes that I could get out of the way before being officially accepted. So, yesterday, I met with the GVSU advisor who gave me my official pass to register for grad school classes. And, she mapped out a schedule of the classes I will be taking in the upcoming semesters to complete my masters in nursing. I will be 33 years old when I finish… :)

So, that gives me plenty of time to make a decision: family nurse practitioner or nursing education? Those are the two areas of interest I have narrowed my choices down to. I’ll have to do some soul-searching and praying in the next couple of years to see what God is leading me to. In the mean time? I’m just going to enjoy being a busy student and the opportunity to buy a new three-ring binder each semester. ;)

passion for statistics

In my slow, but deliberate quest to get my master's degree, I am taking a required statistics course this semester. Not my favorite topic at all. In fact, most of the time I feel like I'm taking lessons in Greek. However, the professor is actually a pretty great guy--but I have to laugh because he fits the personality of one who is proud to have his doctorate in statistics. I truely have never met someone so passionate about statistics! It really cracks me up! :) He gets so excited about the subject that he'll start talking his "Greek" and leave all of us in the dust. One night, I must have appeared confused (as most of us do) and he called on me...I told him my brain was pretty full and he was going to have to rephrase the question...everyone in class chuckled in agreement with that one!
All that being said, I really have to admire someone with such passion for the mundane details of all that statistics involves. It goes well with my strong belief in the wonder of God's diversity of giving everyone different passions in life. If people like a certain professor at GVSU didn't exist, who would ever be excited about statisitcs? :)
It does feel good to get one more class checked off my list of classes toward my masters degree. I finished both my pathophysiology classes and I took the GRE this summer...so, it may be a crawl, but I'll make it to the finish line someday!

school days

Advanced pathophysiology is going to get the best of me…my class met for the first time since January (our February class was cancelled due to the blizzard) and I seem to be excelling in my minor “degree” of procrastination. There are pros & cons with this:

Pros:
-When I took pathophys as an undergrad (almost 10 years ago!) I barely passed the class with a C. It was a tough course, so needless to say I was a little nervous about taking it this time around. Fortunately, the professor I have now is AWESOME and very laid back and good at making me feel comfortable with the material.
-there are no tests in this class—only papers & a couple of presentations.
-class is simply presentations and discussion—one thing I love about grad school is how everything I learn in class applies to what I know and do in my job.

Cons:
-Because the professor is so laid back, she doesn’t have set deadlines with our coursework—making it my job to set deadlines for myself and sticking to them…tough when you have an undergrad minor in procrastination.
-the material still goes above my head at times—waay to much biochemistry involved.

Overall:
I do enjoy learning—always have. This class is no exception and I’m excited to take a couple more classes this summer.

more new things...

more new things in my 30th year....I started my second graduate school course working towards my master's in nursing. This one is scary to me as I begin "Advanced Pathophysiology"---*sigh*---I struggled with "basic" pathophysiology as an undergrad! Must stay motivated...must stay motivated! This shall be my mantra for the next 4 months. good thing the professor seems really cool--and it's always fun to buy a new spiral notebook. ;)