The Secret Is Out: The Man Can Cook!!

Jack and I will celebrate our 1yr anniversary soon (May 18th)! In the past year we've had an amazing time falling in love, sharing lots of laughs, and learning new things about each other. One established fact in our relationship is that I'm "the cook". I love to cook and enjoy it thoroughly; I'm always trying out new recipes and making Jack sample them (he loves that!). Until this week though, I never knew he could cook (aside from making boxed mac & cheese). Friday night was a sweet surprise! I finished up my first week of clinicals on Friday and left the hospital around 10:30 absolutely starving for dinner! When I stopped by the condo to visit Jack for a while, he had a full dinner ready for us! How sweet is that?? He made some delicious chicken parmesan and homemade garlic/basil toast. It was very good too!

                             Proof he can cook a great meal!

Chicken Parmesean

Yummy garlic basil toast!

Clinicals!!

Today (well, technically yesterday since it's now after midnight) was officially my first day of clinicals (Respiratory Therapy)! If today was any indication of my future career, I couldn't be happier with my choice! I love it; I love the people I'm working with and the kind staff at the hospital where I'm at! :)

So far, I think that the evening shift gets a good bit of action too! Although we had a little down time tonight at certain points, we were on the go for the most part. Today (under the watchful eye of my sweet preceptors) I got to: preform 13 breathing treatments, observe a bronchoscopy on a post-op patient, assist one of my preceptors with an arteral blood gas draw, and learned how to check the charts & run the ABG machine. It was soo fun!! I am excited to see what happens during the rest of my clinical time and can't wait to learn more with each new shift! I'm also hoping that I learn my way around the hospital quickly; it's easy to get lost there!

My nephew's growing up!!

Today was my handsome nephew, Isaac's 14th birthday! We celebrated it at my sister Kimmy's house, complete with icecream cake. Here are a few pictures from todays festivities! :) I can't believe he's already turning 14! I still remember the day he was born! :) He's growing up into quite the handsome little guy!

                                                            
                               Happy 14th Birthday Issac!
             (he was modeling his new shirt from me & Jack)

Mac, the sexy Chinese Crested!

Isaac's Birthday Cake

Me & my sister Kimmy

Two of my beautiful nieces, Taylor & Leedora

My nephew Cooper and I

Isaac, Jack, and Me

Isaac & Me

My two goofy nieces, Barbie & Leedora

My mom sampling some of Isaac's birthday cake while everyone waited in line for a slice

Belated Valentine Pictures!

I'm a little late posting these as it's been a bit of a long week. Valentines this year was a little bittersweet. Bitter in the sense that we had my Nannie's viewing on Valentine's night and her funeral on Monday. Sweet in the sense that I know she is happy and at rest, and also that my amazing boyfriend Jack went out of his way to make sure I had a good Valentines. He is soo wonderful to me and always knows how to make me smile! Nannie always taught us how important love was. I think it's fitting her viewing was on Valentines to remind us all about how important love and family truely are! I defintiely cherished this week.

                Here are some pictures from Valentines this year!


                             Sweet Card From Jack

"The front says, "Love You" and the Inside says "Fur-ever! Happy Valentines Day"

Then Jack wrote," On their first Valentines Day, my grandfather gave my grandmother one red rose. He now gives her 54. You're going to need a big vase too! Love, Jack.
P.S. Bob has your new GSP. We can get him Wednesday."  - How sweet is he??? Ahh I love him! :)

My beautiful rose from Jack

Another view of my rose and some of my Valentine's goodies!

Rose & card from Jack, chocolate from Jack's sweet family, and candy hearts from my mom. :)

Jack's family gave me chocolate for Valentines. They're soo sweet!

"Fluffy" My handsome new Green Spotted Puffer (front). This was in the tank at Bob's Tropicals before I brought him home to his new tank!

Better is one day in your courts than 1000 elsewhere....

That is a line from a song that has been running through my head all evening. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drebw_nVzZ8

Today my beautiful grandmother, Nannie, passed away around 10:30pm. She had been ill for quite a while and God saw fit to call her home tonight. Never have I known a more radiant, strong, or inspirational woman like my grandmother. She was the true definition of strength and perseverance. In her life she knew struggles and joys. She was blessed with 2 children and more grandchildren and great grandchildren than she could keep track of! She considered all of her family members precious treasures and always had a big hug and a funny joke for all of us. She taught me what it means to have faith and to stay strong. I could confide in her things that I couldn't tell to anyone else. She always knew how to make me laugh and smile.

As saddened as I am that she has passed on, I take comfort knowing that she is no longer in pain or suffering. She is at peace. I want to celebrate her life and her new home in heaven. She now has a new heavenly body (and a new arm/hand!) and she gets to see her precious Savior, her mother that she never had a chance to know (my great grandmother passed away when Nannie was little), brothers and sisters, her husband, and countless other friends and family members that she has longed to see for a long time. It brings a smile to my face to know that she is reunited with them and looking down on all of us right now.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of my precious grandmother:

               Nannie, Mom, and I at Christmas 2009

My mom and Nannie at Christmas 2009

Nannie and her great grandson, Isaac, dancing away the night

Like Mother, Like Daughter (both had their eyes closed)

Nannie being silly and closing her eyes again

 

Mom, Kimmy, Nannie

Nannie and Me

Beautiful Nannie!

Wordless Wednesday!

Hagan!

Snowflakes, Snowfall!!

In Memphis snow is an occassional treat. Today we got see a beautiful snow! Here are a few pictures from today's lovely snowfall! :) (The pictures may be a little fuzzy since I resized them)
                                        

                                        Snow Covered Trees!

The snow looks soo lovely on the trees!

One of the snow covered bushes!

Our side of the duplex and my car coverd in snow!

Pull Up Your Pants People!!

I'm not typically the type to complaine about clothing. However, there is one "trend" that drives me crazy: saggy pants down past the butt! What the hell?? Is it really necessary to have your pants down to your knees people? I understand not wanting to wear tight pants or uncomfortable clothing, but if you have to reach down every five seconds to pull up your pants, there is a good chance that you may need to reconsider your clothing size. It's time to find proper fitting clothes if your butt is not covered when you're in public Are we really turning into a society full of individuals who enjoy going around showing off their thongs, muffin tops, tighty-whities, boxers, and cracks to everyone??? Why even bother putting pants on if they're not going to cover the parts they were intended for when you're away from home?


Take the other day for instance, I went to buy gas for my car. As I was standing in line, there was a man in the front of the line checking out. As far as I know, he could be the most kind person in the world so I'm not knocking him for his personality, however, I would just like it if he covered his bare a$$ in public!  His pants were already exceptionally baggy and low, and then he leaned over to pay for his purchases, and down the pants went! Did he pick them up??? NOPE! He continued his conversation with the clerk, unphased that his a$$ was exposed to EVERYONE  behind him. He was clearly not wearing anything under his pants eithor! I saw much more than I needed to that early in the morning! Oh yeah people, we're talking a full early morning peep show at the Shell station! You would think that the guy needed a belt right? Here is the kicker, he was wearing a belt! I would like to point out that belts do nothing for your pants if your pants and your belt do not fit right! I'm not advocating spending unholy amounts of money on clothing or dressing like Steve Urkel; I'm just saying, pull up your pants and dress appropriately when you go out in public! If you want to be a nudist in your own home, that's awesome. Go home and be the most happy naked person on the face of the earth, or dress however you would like. If you plan to go out in public though, please pull up your pants people! Plumbers crack is NEVER sexy!

~ Ok, I'm stepping off of my soapbox now! ~