Best week of the semester :)

This really has been the best week of the semester so far. Travis and I have spent an entire week together, and we still have 2 more days before he has to go back to t-town! I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Last Friday, he drove up to Baugay's from Tuscaloosa, and due to several problems on the interstate (wrecks and sinkholes), it ended up taking him 3 1/2 hours instead of 2 1/2. So, we ended up missing supper at the Hesters' house unfortunately. Instead, we ended up cooking a frozen pizza and going to Publix for groceries. Fun, fun!

Saturday, we did some cleaning around the apartment before eating supper with Travis's family (minus Emily, who is in Europe!) and Tyler's family that night. We had never met Tyler's parents or his little sister before, so it was great to meet them and spend the evening together!

Sunday, we went to church and ate lunch with Travis's family. After lunch, we went to two CVS's looking for deodorant deals. I finally found the kind I was looking for at the CVS on Hughes, so I got 6 for about 40 cents each! Sunday night, Andrew and Gary came over and we ate pizza and hung out.

Monday and Tuesday, Travis and I spent a good bit of both days painting the basement at his mom's house. We had fun with her, Alisha, and Tyler, and I think I got a lot better at painting by the end of it all. The basement really looks good! Monday night, I ate the best pizza I've ever had..seriously. It was from Papa Murphy's, which I'd never heard of before, but we're definitely going to have to go there again soon. They make the pizza in front of you, and then you take it home and cook it in the oven. It was awesome! Wow, didn't realize I'd eaten so much pizza over the break! Oops :)

We also got a new tag for my car...I'm now officially a 47er :)

Wednesday, we spent most of the afternoon working on taxes (not fun!). We figured out that we should be getting almost $400 back, so yay for that! Guess that will be going towards the new car and/or future house funds like the rest of our money :)

Yesterday and today, we went our separate ways. Travis went on a canoe trip with Alan and Gary up at Shoals Creek, and he came back looking like a lobster. One day, I'll convince him that sunscreen is a good thing. One day. They had fun though and didn't freeze or starve, so that was a bonus.

I headed down to Smith Lake to hang out with my parents since they were going to be there for a couple of days. I can't believe it had been over a month since I'd seen them last! We started painting the screened porch today, and it looks a lot better already. Hopefully next time we go to the lake we can stay longer. The weather was absolutely perfect today!

Apparently, the 2 P's of spring break this year were pizza and painting :)

Got some bad news tonight...Granny was taken to the hospital this morning in Birmingham and is in ICU right now. Her heart stopped a few times while she was in the ER, and she's getting a pacemaker put in on Monday. That's about all I know right now. Mom and Dad were heading there tonight to see her...they left the lake house early when they found out late this afternoon. Hopefully the pacemaker will get her heart working right again and she'll be able to go home!

Tomorrow night, Matt and Maggie are coming over for supper, so we're excited about that. I love having people over!

Thanks for listening to my ramblings!

Well, it's a learning process...

Starting IVs, I mean.

Yesterday, I got all the ones I tried on the first try. Today, I didn't get any. Super frustrating. I feel a lot more confident this week though than last week. I'm not afraid to get in there and do it without someone watching over my shoulder anymore. I guess I just need more practice. Practice makes perfect, after all.

I'm getting the hang of things at work though. Getting adults ready for surgery is definitely a lot more complicated than getting kids ready for surgery. You have to deal with the IV, lab work, ted hose, SCDs, a bunch of different meds to give, etc. etc. Half the time the order for the procedure doesn't match what's in the history and physical, and these days everything has to match up perfectly in the chart, or you're liable in a lawsuit. I never knew there was so much to worry about! I'm supposed to work the rest of this week, and then I have next week off for spring break. Yay! I can't wait to sleep in...and by sleeping in, I mean past 6 AM!

Travis has a bit of an easier week this week as far as school goes. He's got one test on Friday, and he has to turn in some more of that 12 page paper he's been working on for several weeks. He's also giving the invitation tomorrow night at church. Today, he went and reserved a pavilion at Sokol Park in Northport for the big graduation party with Tyler and Jeremy and everyone's families. At least we have a place booked now for sure. Now, I can start thinking about food and who will bring what. It should be fun though! :) Less than 2 months til graduation...60 days to be exact!

Travis is coming up here to Huntsville Friday afternoon, and we're supposed to go over to the Hesters' house for supper that night, so that should be a lot of fun. Next week, Travis is supposed to go canoeing with Alan, Andrew, and Gary on the Tennessee River, so they are looking forward to that. Mainly, I'm just ready to spend a whole week with Travis! I don't really care what we do, as long as we can do it together :)

I hope you are all having a great week so far!

I shouldn't get used to having 5 day weekends...

Well, I was supposed to have a 4 day weekend, but it turned into a 5 day weekend after they gave me Thursday off because we were "overstaffed." It was more than fine with me! I hurried back to Baugay's and packed my stuff, and I was able to drive to Tuscaloosa in time for church at 7 Wednesday night. It was the first Wednesday night I've been at Northwood all semester!

Thursday and Friday were pretty lazy days, at least for me. I changed the sheets on the bed, did some dishes, ran on the treadmill at the gym, went to the grocery store, and got the oil changed in my car. I also went through all the stuff in the stockpile in our pantry and fridge, checking expiration dates on everything. I feel like I've done a pretty good job so far judging how much of a certain thing we'll use before it goes bad, but I did end up throwing away some BBQ sauce, Worchestershire sauce, and a few other things. It's hard when you stockpile and buy groceries like we do to know exactly what you have at home! I'm going to try to do a better job in the future of using what we have and making sure I use the oldest stuff first!

Last night, I made Bacon, Ranch, and Chicken Macaroni and Cheese from my Cooking Light magazine. It turned out really good, but it almost turned into a disaster! I burned the flour the first time around (I guess I had the heat up too high), and it turned in a black, charred mess. I had to start that part over, so dinner was a little delayed, but it ended up being really yummy!

This morning, Travis and I went up to the Radiology Clinic for him to get an ultrasound of his liver done. Most of you probably know this already, but a few weeks ago, Travis thought he had mercury poisoning. Tuna has a lot of mercury in it, and he had been eaten about 3 times the recommended weekly amount for a couple of weeks. He had been having some funny symptoms, so he went up to the Student Health Center to get it checked out. Well, the doctor said that he didn't have mercury poisoning, but he does have hepatitis A! She could tell that from some of the blood work he'd had done that week. His liver enzymes were elevated, so she wanted him to come back in a week to get them rechecked. They were still elevated the second time, so she wanted him to get an ultrasound of his liver just to make sure everything is ok. You can get Hepatitis A from contaminated seafood, so we're assuming that's how he got it. Hopefully, next week we'll get the results from the ultrasound. In the meantime, please pray for him!

Today, I finally finished the journal I've been writing about our trip to Pasadena. It turned out to be 20 pages single spaced...it's basically a novel! Eventually, I'll let you all read it if you want to, but be prepared--it may take you a while!

Travis has been working like a madman on schoolwork this weekend. Let's see if I can keep this all straight: He has a test in Digital Control Systems on Monday, a group meeting for Senior Design Monday afternoon, a test in Quantum Physics on Tuesday, a group presentation for Senior Design on Wednesday, a 5 page paper for Quantum Physics due Thursday, and a 2 page paper (single spaced) due Friday in Communications. Makes me tired just typing it all out! I hope after this week that the worst will be behind him!!

Tonight, I'm trying another new recipe for Jamaican Chicken Burgers from Southern Living. Hope it turns out good too...I'll let you know! :)

I'll be in Tuscaloosa until Monday afternoon, and then I'm supposed to work from Tuesday to Friday next week. Then, I'll have a short weekend, and work the next week, after which I have spring break off!! Yay! I can't wait to spend a whole week with Travis :)

Only 70 days til he graduates!!!!

Long week...short weekend

This week seemed like it was busier than normal for some reason! I worked Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for 9-10 hours each day. Yesterday was especially crazy at the hospital. Usually we get to take a 15 min break in the morning to eat breakfast, but yesterday that did not happen. There was no time for breaks! I didn't get to hardly even sit down until about noon when I ate lunch, and I'd gotten there at 5:30 AM! Needless to say, I was exhausted yesterday afternoon. Travis had a busy week too, and the next few weeks are going to be even busier for him. I can't even keep up with all the papers, lab reports, tests, and homework he has to do anymore! Only 11 more weeks until graduation though!

Travis got into town about 5:45 PM last night, and we went out to eat at Logan's for dinner. It was nice to just relax and be able to talk without doing other things at the same time. We got the hot fudge brownie for dessert, and it was amazing! We had to take home half of it because it was so big!

I'm not sure what all we'll do today yet. Travis will probably work on schoolwork for most of the day. I'm in the beginning stages of organizing a graduation party for Travis, Tyler, Jeremy, and possibly Alan. They all graduate in the morning ceremony (at 9 AM) on May 8th, so we are probably going to have one big party around lunch time to celebrate. I'm so excited!

Travis will go back to Tuscaloosa probably sometime tomorrow, and I have to work Monday through Thursday this week. Then, I think I have a 4 day weekend...yay!!! I also have the whole week of spring break off, May 6-14 off (for graduation and moving all our stuff out of our t-town apt), and the last week of May/first week of June off for the Fripp trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you all have a great weekend :)

Snow + Game Night + Valentine's Day = A Fun 4 Day Weekend

Well, I'm back in Tuscaloosa again :)

I worked Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week at the hospital. I put in some pretty long hours....10 hours Tuesday, 10 hours Wednesday, and 8 1/2 on Friday. I'd rather do that though and get more days off! Work is going pretty good so far. I'm getting the hang of the computer systems we use, and I'm getting more comfortable doing "nurse" things without somebody watching over my back all the time.

I drove down here Thursday afternoon and got here around 5:30 PM. Travis and I warmed up some meatloaf for dinner, and then we watched our Netflix movie, The Proposal, later that night. It was pretty funny for the most part!

Yesterday, we woke up to find NO snow...even though they'd been predicting 2-4 inches. However, I checked online, and Alabama had still cancelled classes for the day, anticipating that snow would fall later in the morning and afternoon. Yay for snow days :)

The snow started falling around 9 AM or so, and it fell pretty hard, but it just didn't stick very much...at least, not around our apartment. Around noon, we drove to Publix, Walgreen's, and CVS, and the roads were fine. Typical Alabamians overreacting about winter weather! Oh well! I just hope UA doesn't make them make the day up later in the semester...

Speaking of Walgreen's, I got a free 8x10 collage yesterday online by using the code VDAY at checkout. The code may still be working, so try it out if you want to make one too! I made mine with pictures from our trip to Pasadena, and it turned out really cute!!! You can upload pictures to Walgreen's website, and it shuffles them around for you into a collage. Can't beat a free picture...I didn't even have to pay tax when I picked it up :)

Last night was supposed to be the Valentine's Day scavenger hunt, but Alisha decided to postpone it because of the snow/cold weather. I think we're going to have a St. Patrick's Day scavenger hunt instead in a few weeks! Once we found out the scavenger hunt was cancelled, I decided to invite everyone over for a game night. Jess, Alisha, and I played Yahtzee, and Travis, Jason, Tyler, and Caleb played Settlers of Catan. We all had fun! We also made hot chocolate and coffee for everyone...yum :)

Tonight, I think Travis and I may cook something together for Valentine's Day (a day early). I'm not sure what we'll make yet though...any suggestions?

I'm in town until Monday afternoon, so I'm really excited. I wish I could have a 4 day weekend every weekend until May...but I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much! 12 weeks until Travis graduates!!!!! We can do this :)

I CAN be spontaneous...sometimes :)

Long time...no post. Sorry about that. I've been spending most of my free time when I'm not working either: a) working out at the gym, b) writing in that journal about the Pasadena trip, c) driving to or from Tuscaloosa, or d) hanging out with Travis. Doesn't leave much time for blogging, unfortunately.

Right now I'm here in Tuscaloosa, and I've been here since late Wednesday night. I was supposed to work all week (Monday through Friday), but Wednesday afternoon around 4:00 PM, my boss called and told me things were going to be slow on Thursday and Friday and asked if I wanted to have a long weekend in Tuscaloosa. I almost cried when she asked me that because I was so excited! I tried to call Travis and tell him, but he wasn't answering his phone. After two or three tries, I decided that I would just surprise him instead...

So, after dinner with Cheryl, Emily, and Melissa, and church that night, I called him on my way back to Baugay's. He thought I was going to bed around 8:30, so I let him continue to think that, so that I could have an excuse to get off the phone and finish packing and get on the road. I told him goodnight when we hung up and hurried to get all of my stuff together. I got on the road around 8:45 PM for the 2 1/2 hour drive to t-town. I had to stop and get gas AND caffeine (to keep me awake...after all, I'd woken up at 4:30 AM that morning!). But, I made it to Tuscaloosa a little before 11:30 PM. I figured Travis would still be awake since he's been staying up late a lot lately to work on homework and/or his senior design project.

I called him while I was getting out of the car in the parking lot. He answered after a ring or two, and in my sleepiest voice possible, I said, "I can't sleep."

"Why not?" he replied.

"I just miss you too much," I answered.

"Oh, well, that's not a good reason to not get to sleep. You need your sleep since you have to be up so early.

"I just really wish I could see you right now." (At this point, I was walking toward the front door of our apartment).

"Well, I wish I could see you too..."

"Well, then could you come to the front door?"

"What?"

"Could you come to the front door please?"

"What are you talking about? You better not be pulling my leg!"

"I'm not, I promise."

A few seconds later, the door opened, and a very shocked Travis was staring at me.

"What in the world are you doing here?" he demanded.

After I told him that I had the rest of the week off from work, he started going into what I call "excited guy mode." You know how when a group of guys get really excited about something, they start high-fiving each other and shoving each other? Well, that's exactly what Travis started doing. He started shoving me across the room and giving me high five after high five, whooping and hollaring. (I promise I wasn't injured in the process.) It was hysterical though...the perfect reaction that I was hoping for.

He said that when I asked him to come to the door the first time, he thought I must have been talking in my sleep or something. After the second time though, he believed me! He said that it was something he'll remember for the rest of his life :)

So, we're having a great long weekend together so far! Last night, Ashley and Seth came over, and I made chicken tortilla soup and cheddar bay biscuits for dinner, and chocolate chocolate chip cake for dessert. We played cards after dinner and had a great time.

Today, we're going to go pick up my ring from Kay Jeweler's. I took it in about 3 weeks ago to get it inspected, and they told me the center stone was a little loose. So they sent it off to get tightened, and I can't wait to get it back! We're also supposed to go eat dinner with two other couples from Northwood tonight, so that should be fun.

I was originally planning to drive back to Huntsville tomorrow afternoon, but my boss AGAIN yesterday afternoon, telling me I could have Monday off too, so I'm sticking around town here until Monday evening. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She also told me that the days I do work, she's probably going to have me stay longer (like 10 hours instead of 8). Staying longer on the days I am there = less days I have to work hopefully = very happy Erin and Travis.

Things are working out, as always! :)

On the road again!

I think I have lived in my suitcase for the past month and a half. Correction: I KNOW I have lived in my suitcase for the past month and a half! That's one reason why I haven't updated in several weeks...it's just been too crazy!

Our Christmas break was lots of fun for the most part. We enjoyed spending time with my family in Trussville and Travis's family in Huntsville. We also drove to Russellville one weekend, and I got to meet one of Travis's closest childhood friends, Jonathan, and his wife and son.

The tough part of the break was my cousin Robbie passing away after having an aneurysm out of the blue at his apartment in Florida. It was such a shock to all of us when we found out a few days before Christmas. What makes it even harder is that it hasn't even been a year since Lindsey, his sister, passed away. I just can't even imagine how hard it is for Uncle Bill and Aunt Gale. We drove up there for the memorial service with my family, and I'm really glad Travis got to come this time. The service was especially touching, and Uncle Bill and Aunt Gale were such an encouragement with their positive attitudes and their faith in God.

Our trip to California for the Alabama/Texas game was an adventure to say the least. I'm in the middle of writing a detailed journal entry about it, so I may post it in this blog when I'm finished. Just a warning though...it's already 5 typed pages, and I'm only about halfway done!

I also accepted a job in pre-op at Huntsville Hospital where I worked the past two summers. I started orientation last week, and this week I actually got to spend a day in the recovery room and a day in the OR. I watched two surgeries today, so that was pretty cool! It's definitely been tough being away from Travis for several days at a time, but I can definitely attest to the truth of the saying that "absence makes the heart grow fonder." I really look forward every week to making to the drive to Tuscaloosa to see him, and it makes the time that we spend together even more special. The countdown to graduation for Travis is on though! Less than 4 months to go! I think we can do it :)

I just got into Tuscalooosa a few hours ago, and I'm staying until Tuesday night! Hooray! I'm going to be doing a good bit of cramming for the NCLEX since I take it a week from today. It'll be nice to be in one place for a few days though! I even unpacked my suitcase!