The HEAT is KILLING me.....

Well, I have been in Corpus for 3 weeks (time is flying), and if it weren't for the heat I would be absolutely lovin' this place!!!  I can't wait for the next month to pass and for the weather to cool off a bit!!!  The humidity is a killer, and you would never know that a person took a shower before leaving their house because it's instant sweat when you step outside!!!  I know it's hot here, when my intelligent key to my car won't work because it is so cold in buildings and hot outside!!!  I have to hold my key in my hand while I'm walking to my car to warm it up in order for it to work!!!  Oh, the little things in life that we get used too!!!
Work....it's going great!!!  The people that I work with are so much fun!!!  There are moments I feel like I haven't done anything at work because we have techs that get our blood sugars, pass out the food trays, etc...  But, it's going great!!!  The unit has been busy, so it's nice to have lots of patients and not have to worry if I'll be working the next day!!  I'm lovin' the day shift, but about 3 pm everyday, I start dragging!!!  I am getting used to paper charting again, and it's not so bad!!!  This last week JACHO was in the hospital, and I was a little nervous as I hadn't worked but 3 days on the unit, but luckily they never came to our unit!!! 
I was craving Chipotle the other day, so I asked the girls at work where one was at...and I got this look, like what the heck is Chipotle!!!  Luckily one of the girls used to live in Houston and knew what I was talking about, and they don't have one here...their version of Chipotle is called Free Bird...needless to say, I wasn't very impressed!!!  I think I might try it one more time.....we'll see!!!!
I'm a little disappointed that I don't have any pictures to post this week, I even took one off my balcony before I came to Starbucks, but it is so hot out that the lens of my camera fogged over (an everyday thing with glasses too) and the picture is blurry, so I'll make sure I have pictures to post next week!
I dare not go running in this humidity, even though there is a really pretty place to run along Ocean Dr, it is right along the ocean, but I'm sure someone will be picking me up off the sidewalk if I try it, so instead I bought a couple Jillian Michaels workout videos!!!  OMG....she is kicking my butt!!!  But, I love her and can't wait to have her killer arms!!!!
I'm off this weekend and there is a craft show going on with 137 vendors that I'm going to attend!!!  Hoping is takes up most of my Saturday!!!!
Have a great weekend!!!

Road Trip to Corpus Christi!!!!

Yelp, the road trip is behind me....THANK GOODNESS!!!  It was the longest drive of my entire life...usually I'm the one in the back seat sleeping the entire time, but instead this time, I was the one driving....I was never so glad to see Corpus Christi!!!!  Here are a few pictures of our road trip!!!

OKLAHOMA!!!!

While driving through Oklahoma, we stopped to see a great sorority sister and her cute little baby girl Avery!!!  We had lunch with them, and then hung out at Kellie's house for a few hours and watched little Avery sleep while sucking her thumb!!!  It brought back the good ole days when I sucked my thumb, actually it should have brough back the good ole years...I sucked my thumb for years...in fact until I was in the 6th grade!!! :)  Of course, little Avery was dressed in my favorite prints ever...ZEBRA!!!!!

After our visit with Kellie and Avery...we hit the road again!!!  I was never so glad to see TX!!!  However, after we crossed the border we still had a LONG way to go!!! 

After we got to Corpus Christi, we had to unload everything from my car...I forgot to take pictures of how loaded my car was...but it was packed!!!  I couldn't see out of the rear window, and I couldn't see my blind side on the passenger side of the car!!!  As we opened to car door, we were immediately slapped in the face with the humidity!!!  OMG!!!  I don't think was have sweat so much in my life while unloading my car.  For those of you that helped load my car and trailer in KC, that was nothing compared to here!!!  After we got everything unloaded we cooled off a bit, then hit the beach!!!

The USS Lexington and downtown Corpus Christi from the beach!!!

My condo from the beach!!!

The rest of the weekend, we just went out and had a good time!!  We meet some fun people!!!  Karisa has all the pictures of the nights out on the town, so as soon as I get them, I'll blog about them!!!

I have started my job, just been doing orientation stuff for the last 2 days, but tomorrow I start on the floor!!!  It seems like forever since I have actually done patient care, and I can't wait!!!  I'll also blog later on it, as I haven't really done anything yet!!! 

When are you planning your trip to come to TX and see me????? ;)

I didn't escape without a few tears......

Jenna, Karisa, and I

My best friends from college had a little going away dinner for me Friday night!!!  We went to Los Cabos and had my favorite...MEXICAN AND MARGARITAS!!!  They are the best friends a girl could ask for!!!  Even baby Easton was in attendance, and I loved on her majority of the time she was there!!!  These girls have kept me sane in the most vulernable moments!!  They are the ones that I go out with, stay in and watch movies with, indulge in my retail therapy with, and share everything with!! I will miss them dearly while I'm gone, but I know they are just a phone call away!!!  With all of them being in the KC/Topeka area, they just might be that good excuse to hop on a plane and fly to eastern KS for a long weekend!!!!! 

Karisa and I!!  Love this girl!!!

The whole group!!!!

Baby Easton and I!!!  Even though it was my going away party, she was the most important person there!!! Everyone loved on her all night long!!!

My old roomie with Baby Easton!!!!

Jenny and I!!!  She has been there for me through everything!!!  She loves living vicariously through my drama!!!! 

Oh Jenna!!!  She is always up for a good time!!!  I will miss her dearly!!!!

Friday night ended pretty early has my mom and dad, little sister, a cousin, and friends were going to be at my apartment early Saturday morning to help my out my things!! 

Saturday morning came way to fast, but when we got started moving everything, it went way too fast!!!  Friends and family helped me move my things and we were done in 2.5 hours!!!  Record time!!  It was so hot, that at one point I thought that I was going to melt!!!  Sweat was running down my legs....GROSS. A shower never felt so good when we finally got to the motel with my mom and dad. 

Saturday night, my sister and I attended my cousins bachelorette party and then graced PNL with our presence, where me met up with some of my friends!! 

Karisa, Tori, and I taking a shot before heading to the bachelorette party!!

My cousin Jenny taking her Jell-o shots!!!!

Karisa and Lexie at PNL!!!

Tori and I at PNL!!!

I didn't want Sunday to come, as I knew that I was going to be saying good-bye to my mom and dad, and my little sister...the next time I will see them is probably going to be in October...so I was dreading the tears that would come when the cars doors shut, and I was on my own.  I told myself that crying was not an option...I didn't cry, even when my little sister looked me in the eye and said, it's not good-bye, it's see ya later. We both laughed to keep the tears away.  However, once my mom and dad got home, mom sent me and my sisters an email about our new adventures and praying for us, she said that she wished us hope, faith, love, health, and safety along our way and that is when the tears hit.  Thank goodness they didn't last long!!!  Ok, I have to be done now, the tears are in full force and won't shut off...:).

My last weekend in KC was eventful and a blast, thanks to my wonderful family and friends!!  I can't wait for everyone to come visit me in TX!!!  I'm leaving Wednesday, so my next blog will be about the roadtrip with my bestie Karisa!!  She was kind enough to take some vacation and roadtrip with me so that I won't have to drive 15 long hours by myself!!  Next time, I'll be in TX!!!!  WHOOP WHOOP!!!!

Last night at SMMC....

Last night was my last night at SMMC!!!  I have wonderful co-workers that celebrated with me two nights in a row!!!  Tuesday night, everyone brought something to make paninis....my FAVORITE!!!!  It was wonderful!!!  In between our pt. cares, meds, and charting, we ate and were merry!!! 
Last night, a CA Linda, who happens to make amazing cakes with homemade buttercream frosting decided to treat me again!!!  Anyone that knows me, knows that I LOVE buttercream frosting...and believe me, I had my fair share of cake!!!  Linda, as awesome as she is, even took some pictures throughout the night that I want to share!!!

 Barry was my preceptor when I first started at SMMC!!!  As time went on, I think he precepted EVERYONE!!!  Barry was a quiet, but sneaky guy!!!  He loves to play tricks on everyone.  One time Barry made me cry, not on purpose, he just said the wrong thing when I thought my life sucked....I look back now and laugh at the look on his face when I burst into tears.  It took him until midnight to talk to me again!!!!  He is a great guy and an awesome nurse!!!!

Pete was on of those guys that was always full of useless knowledge!!!  He knew something about everything and he would go into lengthy stories about each one!!!  The two years that I worked at SMMC, he would always talk about his beehives, making honey, his apple trees, and pressing apples to make apple cider....I ALWAYS asked him to bring me some...he never did, until my last night!!!  I got a jar of fresh honey, and several apples off his apple tree!!! 

Susan, oh Susan!!!  I could ALWAYS count on this girl to have a smile on her face no matter what!!!  She has a smile that lights up anyone's world, no matter how bad it is!!!  I could ALWAYS count on her to plan our fun nights out or having get togethers at her house!!!  I could ALWAYS count on her to join in on my shopping sprees when we should have been working!!!  I could ALWAYS count on her to have a great heart to heart!!!

This is greatest IA EVER!!!  Missy saved my rear end many times when I needed something ordered stat or needed a Scooter's run!!!  She was ALWAYS up for a good conversation, and we had many!!  She always went above and beyond to keep us nurses happy, even when she was on the recieving end of a nurse with a bad attitude because a patient was crashing or a doctor wasn't so nice!!! 

Not only did Linda make a wonderful cake, but she brought frosting so that everyone that I worked with could sign the cake!!! 

KimBerly, Kelci, and Susan signing my cake!!!

During my 2 years at SMMC, I have met some wonderful people!!!  I have made many friends as well!!  My career seemed to blossom, and I was taking care of some of the most sick patients, and I learned so much from my co-workers.  I learned about life as well, the people that I worked with looked out for me when my life seemed to fall apart, when I had some to exciting to share, when I needed advice, or when I just wanted to sit and chit-chat, which most of them will tell you that was something I was very good at!!!  I loved my time at SMMC and will always remember the people, patients, and families that crossed my path and touched my heart!  I'm headed to a new journey in life, but I will never forget you guys!!!  If I get lost out on this journey and loose my way, I know that I will always be able to find SMMC and be at home!!! 

I will miss you guys, and you will always be in my thoughts and prayers!!!  Look forward to me calling you in the middle of the night to get the lastest on SMMC!!!!  Bye for now.....

packing...the most dreadful thing EVER!!!

Unfortunately, I had to work all weekend, so packing was no where in the plan!! Now, I'm rushing around packing and I hate every minute of it!!!  I have two more nights working at SMMC and then I'm done!!!  My mom and dad, and little sister are coming to KC Friday night and are moving me out of my apartment with the courtesy of my cousin and a friend on Saturday morning!!  I can't wait to be in TX, however I'm not looking forward to living out of my car for a week...:(!!!  Thank goodness, my great friend Karisa as offered up her spare bedroom!!!  Well, back to this dreadful packing!!!  At least, I'm almost done!!!

Sin City!!!!!! ;)

My sisters, Mom, and I headed to Las Vegas this last weekend for a mini Bachelorette Party for my older sister!!!  We met up with my cousin Kathyrn, and her mom from California and had a fabulous time in Sin City!!! 

Limo ride to the Venetian!!!!

Friday we spent the day walking around.  We had lunch at Margaritaville, and walked over to the Bellagio to purchase "O" tickets!!!  After we got back to the hotel, we passed out for a little nap!!!  Tori needed a massage because she fell at work previously that week and hurt her back.  The airplane ride and walking did her in!!!  We went to "O" Friday night, and it was AWESOME!!!! 

After "O", back at the Venetian:

On Saturday, we walked around the Venetian shops in the morning.  For lunch we walked next door (which is really like 2 blocks away), to the Mirage to pick up the "LOVE" tickets and we met Kathyrn and Virginia Mae for lunch at a deli that Virginia Mae likes!!!  After lunch we headed back to the Venetian to hit up the pool and Tao Beach (a pool club)!!!  We were hanging out at the pool since Tao Beach was SOOOO busy, and we saw all these girls with "TEAM VIENNA" shirts on.  My cousin finally asked one of the girls about it, and she said that Vienna was in Tao Beach having her Single and Fabulous Party...so we invited ourselves to the party and made an appearance!!!  Saturday night we went to the Mirage to see "LOVE"!!!  AMAZING!!!!

Shopping in the Venetian:

                                       

We all needed a new pair of sunglasses before we hit the pool:

                                         

Single and Fabulous pics/pool pics:

                                     

                                       

VIENNA!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      

                                       

                                        

                                       

Pics from before and after "LOVE":

                                         

                                        

                                                  

On Sunday, Kathyrn was leaving and VM was having a friend join her, so we said our goodbyes to them and went our own way!!!  Mom and Jera wanted to walk the strip and Tori and I did not, so they left earlier and started walking!!!  Tori and I walked to the Bellagio and had a few drinks there, where we eventaully met mom and Jera for a cab ride back to the Venetian!!!  It was so freakin' hot everyday that walking one way and cabbing it back was the best way to go!!!

Pics at the Bellagio:

                                                    

                                             

Sunday night, Mom took us out for a nice dinner, we hadn't had an actually dinner the whole time we were there because it was so hot and we were out doing whatever we wanted when it was time to eat that we always just got something small!!!  After dinner we went to the Blue Man Group!!!  These men were so funny!!!!  It was really audience interactive!!!  After the show, they came out and took pictures with everyone....man, the people in the crowd waiting to take pictures with them were so RUDE!!!  They were pushing up to the front, and you know me, I'm not one to keep my mouth shut...so I had a few things to say to the forgieners that were pushing my sisters and I!!! 

BLUE MAN GROUP:

                                            

We flew home on Monday, and that was it...our vacation was over!!!  It was a great time, and I love spending time with my sister's and mom!!!  All trip long we were saying, "It feels so weird not having Dad here."  It was our first "girls" trip, and I'm thinking we need to do one every year!!!! 

This week has been filled with paperwork and more paperwork as I'm preparing for my first travel assignment!!!  I'm getting so excited!!!  I only have 5 more days of work at SMMC...then I'm off to TX!!!  YAY!!!! 

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX

I finally have my first assignment as a travel nurse!!!  I'm headed down south to Corpus Christi, TX for a 13 week assignment in a neuro/surgical ICU!!!  The best part is...I'll finally be back on day shift!!!  :)  I'm super excited that I now know where I'm headed and I have something to look forward too!!!  My parents are coming on July 31st to help load up my apartment, and they will head back to western KS as I am headed south to the beach to live for 3 months!!!!  Hopefully longer!!!  If I like the hospital and the city, I will probably extend my contract to get me closer to Christmas!!!  I can't believe that I said that word...Christmas!!!  It's coming so fast!!! 
This weekend I'm headed to VEGAS with my sisters and mom to have a mini bachelorette party for my older sister that is getting married in Sept.!!!  We have been looking forward to this trip for a while now, and it's always nice to get away for a girl's trip!!!  Keep your eyes open for some crazy pictures!!!!