Been a Long Time

I have to say I have really neglected this great thing I called a blog which was supposed to help me journal my travel assignments as I do them as well as keep up information for my family and friends.  I am currently working in North Dakota and I sure do not know what I was thinking because this girl is so NOT a cold weather lover.

Well since it is almost time for resolutions again I am going to write a few of the things I have accomplished in 2010 and some things I want to accomplish, begin and/or continue through 2011.

Things from 2010
1. Travel - after many thousands of miles driving cross country twice and 35,000 flying miles I can say that I got to see many things and experience new places.  I worked in Arizona, Texas, Virginia and North Dakota.

2. I lost 40 pounds since July and this is something I am going to continue to work on in 2011

3. I did a section hike of the AT and surpassed all my expectations

4. Made some new friends

5. Enrolled in Master's of Nursing Program

Things I want to do for 2011

1.  Find a good paying job within 150 miles of Columbia

2. Do at least three sections of the AT

3. Lose 30 pounds

4. Turn 40 ... I know something weird to wish for but those of you who really know me, know that this is a huge accomplishment in itself

5. Watch my second son walk across the stage at graduation! I am so proud of all he has accomplished the past year.

6. Save enough money to buy a home in 2012

7. See some amazing things and finally hit 2,000 smileys

8. See my family more. This is an area where I have never put on the back burner in the past.  I used to see my family every other month in TN and have not been there in nine months.

9. Make at least one court house visit this year - have many outstanding issues to resolve there and lawyer time is expensive but needs to be completed.

10.  Journal more often.

11. Be more active in my Outdoor Group

12. Smile more and cry less

13. Take the MCAT - and maybe the Organic Chemistry and Physics I am lacking for my Medical School admission

14. Get a passport and make one trip out of the US

15. Declutter my life

I think that is a good start to things...
See how is goes and enjoy the ride!

Flying Away!

Well 7:15am was upon us and Corinna and I ran so fast to the hostel to pack up and headed back to Flagstaff.

We then ate, packed up the condo and said our farewells for the week.  She is going to see her son and grand kids and then back to Texas to see her daughter and friends.

I headed to Phoenix so I could catch an afternoon plane to Columbia!

I was so exhausted but excited at the same time and I finally arrived in Columbia at 11:23pm. My friend Chad picked me up at the airport and I ended up staying out all night until Jeff came and picked me up at about 7:45am.

I then got home and enjoyed some sleep in my own bed for the first time in a whole month! It was glorious! I am already dreading having to get back next week for another seven in a row, but do know that the following week I will be already coming back home to see my kids :)

Kawasaki Disease

The last shift and I was so glad to see it arrive.

It seemed to be the longest week of my life.

I did however have an interesting case with a 22 month old whom I admitted this morning. She had a reoccurance of  Kawasaki disease.

At 7:15 I will be out the door here... back to the hostel ... and on my way to enjoying seven glorious days off!

A Sleepless Day

After four nights and especially the busy one of yesterday I get back to the hotel and am wired and so exhausted and so wanted to talk with my family.

So I decided to call and check in with the kids first before they headed off to school...

Then I spent 45 minutes on the phone with the IRS... not even going to tell that story right now.


After that I spent some time thinking about what I was going to do on my days off and decided to give up the condo and fly home.  So I bought a ticket and arranged for some alone time, which I really needed. Not alone with me time, just needing some time to regroup, rethink and resolve some issues in my current plan.

So I got a total of 1.5 hours of sleep and had a pretty steady night which was good as I sure did not need to fall asleep while trying to chart or something. 

Only one more to go and the first week will be done

A Night of No Relief

This was absolutely the longest and busiest night I have had in a very long time!

Started out with an admission that arrived right before I got here and another infant crashing and needing constant care until a flight crew could get lined up and the baby stable enough to get in the air.

Then another two more new patients and I barely had time to stop and eat...

Sorry these entries are so short and boring but I ran out of internet minutes and honestly have been super busy!

My First Hump Day

What a drastic difference one night can make... one shift can make. All I can say is that I am glad we got a free hour... time changes for most of the country although in Arizona the only area that observes DST is the reservation.

So for a decent and slow night and an hour shorter... I was glad to be halfway through my shifts and ready to have some time off.

Buzy as a Bee

Night three and the night started out just as busy as I left it.

Just wondering if I will make it through seven nights...

We will have to see