Happy Christmas baby, sure hope Santa treated you right

I hate to say it as I know my mom dreads it but our visit here is almost complete. It's been a very busy, crazy, fantastic-ly awesome week and a bit with tons of family, tons of food (seriously this is what you work out all year for!), and tons of fun. Some highlights include:

Day one: finally coming into the airport after a four hour delay and seeing the house for the first time. So much work. It looks so great over here. From the renos upstairs to the bathroom and kitchen, a lot of hardworking was done by my parents and it definitely paid off! The place looks amazing.

Day two: utter vegging around and eating all the Christmas goodies. Not to mention decorating cookies as per tradition and watching movies (polar express, white christmas, and muppets family christmas).

Day three: shopping, visiting my nan (before the unfortunate fall), and just general hanging out. Inside jokes starting emerging with cox the electronic store and items found in value village.

Day four: walking with my dad through the woods. Kind of cracks me up that dad talks about the same things mark does. That includes the different types of trees to how to grow and space them. He he

Day five: picking up mark from the airport(he made it!) and visiting nan in the hospital. Plus going to the Christmas eve ceremony at the old Anglican cathedral in Fredericton. Met up with my aunts, uncle and cousins on dad's side. Plus going home and getting our Christmas eve pajamas. What the boys got were my favs.

Day six: Christmas. Presents, love, laughter, family, dinner, games. It was tons of fun. I think we had twenty two people in this house. Certainly the biggest Christmas I have been a part of with my family. I saw cousins that I haven't seen in atleast seven years. Great day. Plus being in the kitchen with my crazy mom and aunt, and cousin gave me constant giggles at their hilarity.

Day seven: the parties continue on as great aunts, second cousins decided to come for a little fun.

Day eight: their boxing day started as I gathered my ingredients to make sushi, mom got a case for her iPad and Mark and dad came along for the ride. We fit in a visit to see my nan who is as spunky as ever. He he. I think she is going to recover quite nicely with her fighting spirit.

Day nine: right now. A great vegging day until my dad's family comes by for dinner. Dad is downstairs making beef Wellington. Plus their is an additional surprise for an upcoming birthday coming up. He he.

One more day of I am sure many more memories that may seem insignificant to many but are so significant to one.
Happy holidays!
Love,

So what did Jimi learn today

1. When they say that no lotion over 100mL should go on the plane, they actually mean it.
2. vitamin water even the unopened kinds are not allowed past security.
3. Don't wear a coat with many pockets as you tend to lose things like boarding passes, id, or velvet cases.
4. Don't sit and watch the people board, actually board the plane or miss your plane.
5. Remember to pack your Advil as headaches are imminent.

More may come, I will keep you posted.
Love

clinical: a semester in review

So I thought before I start my Christmas celebrations I would do a little review of all the happenings this semester. Actually I got part of the idea from my last seminar instructor. She said to write a list of all that was accomplished this year and how good we should feel about it. He he. Obviously there are some things that I did not feel great about but I shall not dwell.

Community: I loved! This is something that I really hope to do in the future although I do realize the importance of experience. So many parts of it were fantastic from guest stints at schools or conferences to working home care or wound clinic. I found so many areas that I enjoyed.

Maternity: this challenged me on so many levels (not to mention my fear of labour). Well lets just say I won't have those images erased from my mind anytime soon, but I did enjoy the little ones post labour. Plus the teaching part was lots of fun! Who knew?

Surgery and other things: okay...now that it has been done for four days I can honestly say...it was HARD! He he But with all seriousness I learned so much and did so many skills. Even on the last day! It challenged me both physically and mentally but in the end I completed it and came out learning so much more. I know what it takes to b e a good nurse by watching those around me and definitely have something to aspire to. Really can you ask for more?

So that is it. Next up is fourth year. One more year to go... I am sure much more is to be learned....

Love

Do they know it's Christmas?

Another little something about glee. Really enjoyed this video! Happy Christmas! Love

weekend of christmas festivities

i am always sad to see a good weekend end. especially one that involves christmas festivities. this year i have been trying not to think too much about the holidays as i don't want to get to excited (and there is that need to concentrate on school). BUT with my last assignment handed in this week i gave myself a break and did something i haven't done in so long.....

...shopping! friday night, i took mark to the butterdome craft sale (i know what you are thinking and guess what...it was a bad idea). but after we got used to the crowds all was well. mark even found some things for his co-workers.

i went out again to pick up some last minute things at west ed on saturday. met up with anita. i started off similar to how mark did the previous night as the crowds were in full force...but in the end all was well as i got quite a few things, not to mention deals! AND later that night we all went to the keg....best way to end a day crowds and traffic!

AND of course you have to watch some christmas movies....even if you do talk through out the whole movie. went to jeaninne's and worked on a christmas present, while watching love actually and playing with little penny lane. PLUS ate lots of chocolate and popcorn....great girly day!

last week of clinical this week. i will be glad to be done. i think my body is finally shutting down as i am feeling another attempted cold taking over my body....

till next time,
love

Birthday love

Birthday week continues...let me count the ways. We left off on my actual birthday. The mini celebration consisted of skyping my parents, Indian food, presents and five pieces of cheesecake (individual size I must say since my parents tend to think I am capable of eating that much, he he he).

Then Monday comes along. What could possibly happen you ask? Well left over birthday food and cake! Something that continued on for Tuesday! He he! Love it! Then Wednesday I got a lovely present in the mail, furthering my week (Mark eat your heart out).

And now it's Thursday and I am sitting here eating some birthday chocolates from my mom. Ha ha!

Hope your week is going well!
Love

little fun

I have a new addiction. It's the iPad. Plus Mark's dad put up our Christmas lights so I thought I would share.

Love

birthday week

i heart birthdays...so much! he he he. and i drive mark crazy with my insistence on having a birthday week. for some reason he thinks you should only have one day (what a crazy thought??!!). lol

this is how it works. something always comes in the mail a little early (like right before my birthday) starting the week off. this year: an anthropologie birthday card came on the friday (YES, that is right my favourite store knows my day...he he, i thought mark was going to hit the floor!). then saturday came around: mark's parents gave me a gift a little early as they thought they may not see me (see, it just happens...its like it is kismet, omigosh...mark is going to freak at this post!!). they gave me a lovely...most fantastic who-ville tree! seriously love it. now today: my actual birthday there will be a mini-celebration to be had! BUT because i have one serious assignment due on tuesday, along with some research i can't see my friends till next weekend for a mini-hangout/not really my birthday/but really good excuse to see each other/so i will call it my birthday so we can see each other celebration! :) he he he hence the birthday week continues!

it's genius really! now back to work.

have a good week,
love

i'm a survivor

with another week winding down i thought this was fitting....he he he. only two more weeks...and i won't lie. i can't wait! :) he he he. mostly because i am resentful how i will be spending this weekend working on a paper vs having a little fun! lol. ugh, like i said, two more weeks!

grrrrr

yesterday was not a good day. it may be quite minor when i look back on it in the years ahead, but for me, yesterday, i was not happy. i am organized, it seemed that my organization just left. AND I HATE IT WHEN THINGS AREN'T ORGANIZED! he he he. ugh. then when i went to bed, all i thought about was the night and it kept circling in my dreams....leading to a not so pleasent sleep!

now, as i write this i hear my parent's voices in my head. "i can do this. we don't quit. it will get easier". others (like mark's) words of encouragement go a long way too as there are days, when i know that i am okay, but it helps when others believe in me too!

wow, this rotation is hard. now on to the next day, today! today is a new day! :)

love

today is a good day

why?

1. because its friday. that needs no explanation
2. because i saw miracle on 34th street yesterday on tv. the black and white natalie wood the best version. love christmas movies
3. because i have three weeks left till christmas break
4. because i have one more week till my birthday
5. because i am tired and exhausted, this rotation is HARD. but at least i am learning lots
6. because i have a date-day planned to the market tomorrow and it is suppose to have 63 vendors!
7. because i have a friend date tonight and those are always stupendous!
8. because i saw this trailer and it seemed romantic and cute and i really want to see it!

AND

i am just happy that its friday...said that already but it needs to be reiterated!

love

a girl and her flower

so although i won't be doing a christmas countdown, it doesn't mean i won't share some of my memories, thoughts, and more loves of the holiday season! :)

last year for christmas my parents gave both my brother and i digital frames loaded with pics from our childhood. i find it amusing, letting it run as you never know what picture will come up. well this was one (excuse the nightgown and i really don't know what jimi-jam was wearing) came up.

me and my amaryllis. my grammie gave it to me for my birthday to plant and see it grow over the christmas season. i don't know how eager i was of the gift but i look happy! i still remember it being up to my chest and had actually been thinking about that flower last year. so much so that i bought one! this time i know i was happy to see it inch every day and come to a beautiful bloom. it is especially nice when you rarely see things grow during our winter months!

if only i actually thought about it and kept the bulb to grow again this year....once again showing my lack of "plant knowledge!" he he he.

happy christmas memories!

love

its okay to cry

so this rotation has brought on a wide variety of emotions from me...and when i talk to my nursing friends (them, too). well maybe this will be interesting to them...its not totally our fault ladies! mark's mom was talking about this as there was a speaker on cbc. i don't know if i have the exact author but i found this interesting....

Kreamer contends that women naturally cry more:
Women, who produce higher levels of prolactin, the hormone that controls tear production, cry on average 5.3 times a month, compared with 1.4 times for men. Women’s tear ducts are also anatomically different from men’s--they are smaller, which means that when women cry tears tend to spill out and down their faces, whereas when men cry their tears merely well up.

So why fight it, asks Kreamer:
Tears are a biological phenomenon, and when they appear they should be regarded not as bad in and of themselves but as a message, like the check-engine light going off on the car dashboard. Tears at work signal that something’s not quite right. They aren’t necessarily a moral failing or a sign of weakness.

(Ann Kreamer, It's Always Personal: Emotion in the Workplace)

very interesting....so it is okay to cry! but i still want to hold it in if i can, because it just ain't pretty! :)

love

what to do when one is anxious

• have a support person (or persons) to talk to. this means they will support you, let you cry, tell you that first days are hard, and quit trying to be so darn perfect (because even if you feel you are perfect, you aren't and frankly sometimes that needs to be said). he he he
• scrapbook. i know it diverts from the part you are anxious about but sometimes that is needed!
• with that in mind just take a break: long baths, read, bake, watch movies....try to de-stress
• download les miserables on itunes and sing at the top of your lungs (or any other of your favourite music...my choice always reverts to broadway!)....really it works
• talk to others that are in a similar situation. some may not [but most will] empathize and be there to vent with. 
• know that "this too shall pass" and that once you get used to things, it will get better.

now i just need to read this everyday...he he he! four more weeks!
love

another week bites the dust

it's officially the weekend in one minute. so happy you are here! it has been a freakishly busy two days in clinical. ahhhhhh. even my computer was busy as it decided to freeze and delete half the research i did. ugh. note to self, back up and save! :) but i have learned so much in just two days. talking to one other person in my clinical was funny because we both wished we could just skip over all this part and be "good" nurses. someday...;)

on top of the official week of clinical is the first official week of winter with snow, snow and more snow. it has come! i actually have to say this time of year i never mind the snow. i enjoy it. reminds me of holidays, xmas carols, lights, festivities...

speaking of holidays...already have some christmas shopping done with. hopefully going to wrap up the last little bit this weekend when there is little to do at the moment! eek! i love christmas. but on a sad note i don't know if i will even be decorating this year because we are off to my parents home for the holidays. i know i probably still could but i don't really like coming home to all sorts of decorations when in my mind xmas is over....this also means no christmas countdown for this blog.

i think i will leave now. mark stayed up and i think i will watch a bit of a movie with him. have a great weekend all!

love

birthday wishes

i have been kind of bad with regards to sending out birthday wishes on this blog this year. last year i was on top of it! he he he. but considering i do wish the lovely people in my life a very happy birthday in person, and usually through other mediums i figure it is okay...

however...since today i happen to think about writing on the blog i would like to wish my momsie a very happy happy birthday! love you lots and hope you have a wonderful day! check out my countdown...i will be seeing you soon! :)

love

the countdown is on

1 more day and it is my mom's birthday

19 more days and it is mine

21 more days till my last assignment is due in this term

30 more days till my last day of clinical

36 more days till i fly to new brunswick

39 more days and mark will be there

40 more days till christmas

AND

45 more days till mark's birthday (i thought i would add that one for points!)

this is the countdown that i keep playing in my head. i have extreme anxiety right now as i am officially starting my new rotation for clinical tomorrow. i am pretty scared and may have had a few bouts of tears already, such a dork! ;)  i know i can do it, but it will be challenging, with many new skills to practice! ugh! so i keep playing this countdown in my head!!!

p.s. the cold fx, the sleep, the baths, the relaxing worked. i feel somewhat free of a cold! :)

love

i feel it coming

that being a cold. its the first big snowfall and i feel it coming.

i hate that pre-stage with the slight chills and the tingle in your throat. when you try to fight off the cold before it takes over your body for good. this is done by taking as much cold fx as possible. hoping, wishing, willing the cold to be gone by the morning. pummeling down as much fluids as would be allowed, bundling in warm clothes till you "sweat". taking warm baths to relax and let your body fight the evil germs that are lurking in your body.

and colds always come in the most inopportune times. but really when it is it opportunistic. i remember having one right before i left for new york city. another came during final exams. then two hit me during two music festivals, folk fest, and lilith fair. not to mention during the summer months when you are not suppose to be sick. this time around, my first week of my last clinical rotation, seriously?? (!!)

all this said in done i will tell you the result of this one. let's see if i can just fight it off! wish me luck...now back to the water!

in the meantime, enjoy this little video.


love

in remembrance

on this day i will remember my grandfathers. i love you both so very much!

love

its beginning to look a lot like...

the christmas commercials have started. i called mark from work in a fit of glee. the hype has started and i am buying completely into it! eek! also have been scouring sites in my downtime looking for "cute" ideas. i found tons of diy gifts that i am pretty pumped to make (let's just hope i have the time).

in school news, my last maternity shift is wrapping up tomorrow. i have to say. i actually really like post partum. this is something that once again surprises me as i didn't think it would interest me at all. who would have thought. maybe my mom is right, i just love every rotation i am in....although maybe not one (refer to this post). it is going to be very tricky figuring out what to do in my preceptorship....

with this rotation winding down i will get a bit of a long weekend to unwind, scrapbook (something i have been doing heavily this last week) and maybe review some of the material that i am going to be needing to know for next rotation. this last one is the one i am the most nervous about. but who knows...it will probably be for me...he he he. jk!

till then!
love