Finals

Just a quick update...Jordan had a final today, a take-home test to turn in tomorrow as well as a final, and a final and 20-page paper due on Wednesday. Then he is done!! Yay! I have a final on Thursday, one this Friday, and one next Friday (the 7th). I also have a required national review of all things nursing that I'm attending the first week of May. I have my pinning ceremony for nursing students at St. Marks Cathedral on the 28th, and graduation for Jordan and I is the 29th at the E-Center. I then plan on taking the national test to become a nurse, the NCLEX, sometime in June, but I have to register for it first. Until then, I will be working as a Nursing Apprentice (essentially a glorified CNA). But I will be making $2 more per hour and get to pick up all the shifts I want. Yay! It doesn't bother me. I'm going to be studying like crazy for this NCLEX. I really really REALLY want to pass it the first time and I'm going to make sure that it happens! Otherwise I have to pay for it all over again...something I don't really want to do. It costs about $200 for each test. Anyways, thought I'd catch you all up on our crazy life. We are literally in a whirlwind, which is why I named the blog that :D

papers...boo!

I have so many papers to write and I don't want to! I only have a few weeks left until the end of school and then I'm done! Jordan has been taking a ton of tests lately for all his classes too. He is worried about this semester and what it is going to do to his GPA. We had better get in to VCU :) I have a really good feeling about moving there, and I think we will get accepted soon. I have been looking at houses and apartments, jobs, and everything that is fun to do in Richmond. We plan on selling my car before we leave, driving across the country with our few things, and getting an apartment for a few months while we go house hunting! It is so exciting. I am so so excited!! I will work here until the end of July hopefully and then we will move. I'll start work again at the end of August/beginning of September and work on the house. Jordan has been thinking recently about becoming a neurosurgeon - basically doing brain surgery. Wow, my husband is way way smart! He loves the brain, it is his favorite organ. My favorite organs are the kidneys :) haha, now everyone will think I'm weird. That's ok though, because I'm a nurse and I'm allowed to have a favorite organ. Oh, and I haven't have bad chest pain since the day after the ER visit, so I'm happy. Our insurance is covering part of the CT scan, so we hope they cover most of the ER visit. Ok, wow, I'm really procrastinating. We will keep you in the loop!

Good News and Bad News

Those were the words my doctor told me yesterday. They also relate to our life as of yesterday.

I was getting ready for the day yesterday, and during my shower, my chest started to hurt tremendously. I could hardly breathe, and bending over and leaning to the side just increased the pain. I finished in the shower and told Jordan. He asked if I wanted to go to the ER and I really didn't. Although I am a hypochondriac, I hate going to the doctor. It makes me feel weak and like I can't take care of myself. The pain just kept getting worse though, so we decided to go. I grabbed all my medications I take and my nursing textbook so I could study and we drove to the U of U ER. I refuse to go to St. Marks, even though it is closer to our house. I have been there for clinicals for school, and have seen the horrid care most of the nurses and techs give.

So we drove through traffic to the ER around 0850. It was empty, thankfully, so I got in quickly. They attached a 3 lead ECG to me, took my vital signs, and I met the nurse, tech, and resident. The resident interviewed me. They then did a 12-lead ECG which is a better diagnostic tool than a 3-lead. The nurse inserted an IV and then drew a rainbow of labs. They both assessed me and when I told them that I had fallen down the stairs about 2 weeks ago, they started wondering if I had a clot that traveled up from my leg to my lungs or heart. So instead of doing an X-Ray, they decided to to a CT scan of my heart and lungs. The reason for this was because of several factors that put me at risk for a blood clot. First, I had lower leg trauma recently. Secondly, I am on estrogen because of my birth control. Third, I have chest pain. This put me at moderate to high risk for a clot. Essentially, an injected dye shows the flow of blood in the chest and you are able to better see a clot (if there is one). I also had to get the nurse a urine sample to test for pregnancy (which was negative, by the way :)) Can I just say how difficult it is to do a clean catch urine sample in a hospital gown and with cords hanging off you? It was hard!

I just chilled in my room with Jordan and then the volunteer came to take me to the CT scan around 1000. The techs helped me to get settled and told me to put my arms over my head in order for the scan to read more clearly. They then injected the dye, which made me extremely boiling hot, feel nauseated, and feel like I had to pee really bad! It was weird. The machine told me to breathe in and out and then hold my breath. I then went back to my room and waited for the test results to come back. The clerk in the ER came in to have me sign some paperwork for my admission. A volunteer from the Pain Research Center came to have me do some paperwork for a study to determine how to assess pain better. Jordan then decided to go to school since he had already missed a lot of class and had a big paper to work on.

After he left, the resident told me that the labs, ECG, and CT scan came back normal and they were going to move me to an observation room. This would be a much quieter environment. They moved me over at 1200. The nurse and tech there got me set up on a 5-lead ECG and got my vital signs. The plan was to wait until 1500 to draw more labs, so about eight hours after my chest pain started to see if there was any heart damage present. I read a little bit for school and then fell asleep for about an hour and a half. At 1330 I asked for some ibuprofen for pain. That didn't do anything, so I got some morphine :) THAT did the trick! It burned a little in the IV, but my pain was completely gone in about 10 minutes. I decided I like morphine.

The phlebotomist and ECG tech came to get labs and the other ECG at 1515. Then I just waited for an hour to get the results. Jordan came back to see me. He got an email from Virginia Commonwealth University that... dun dun dun... he is on the waitlist!! It's official!! We just need to be patient a little longer and he will hopefully be accepted :)

Then the physicians assistant came in at 1615 and told me the labs and ECG were completely normal, so they were just going to send me home. He said, "This is a good news, bad news sort of situation. The good news is that you don't have a blood clot or heart attack. The bad news is that we don't know what is wrong. We are going to give you some pain medication to go home with, and if the pain doesn't get better by the time the weekend is over, call the doctor. We want you to have a follow-up appointment with a primary care provider (PCP) early next week. If the pain gets worse, come back to the ER." The only problem with this is that we don't have a PCP. I am just hoping that our insurance will cover the majority of the costs for this visit. He also said that the pain could be related to inflamed cartilage in my ribs, so I could take 600 mg of ibuprofen three times a day to help. The nurse went over my discharge education with me and had me sign some paperwork.

Jordan and I then got dinner at the hospital which was pretty good, and then I got dressed and my nurse showed us to the pharmacy so I could buy my percocet. By the way, percocet is amazing and it completely handles my pain. Jordan and I left and went and bought groceries and then came home. I attempted to read for school for today, but the percocet got to me and I decided to go take a nap at 1830. This nap turned into sleeping for the entire night! I slept for 12 hours that night, and had really weird dreams because of the medications. It also makes me pretty itchy.

Anyways, today I woke up with the same exact pain, and couldn't take any medications because I had to drive to school and last through my lecture. But now I'm happy and medicated, haha :)

Just One More

I promise I will start writing my paper soon. I just had to write about some things that have happened lately...

Last Saturday I came home from my ACN training and started to walk down the stairs with my arms full of purse, briefcase, sunglasses, etc. I was wearing high heels. My left heel caught the strap of my briefcase and I fell face first down our extremely steep, hard linoleum stairs. I was so shocked and then I started screaming. I landed on my face and hands, crumpled in a ball on the floor. I started hyperventilating and crying and limped to my bed. I could not catch my breath for the life of me so I thought, "I need a drink of water." I started to limp to the kitchenette and the pain in my legs really got the best of me, so I fainted there in the laundry room. When I woke up, I crawled back to my bed and fell asleep there for about 10 minutes. I called Jordan who came rushing home to save me. He is such a good husband. Anyway, I am still super bruised and couldn't even work a full day at Huntsman a few days later. The leg is healing though. I have (for my nursing buddies out there) some petechiae on my fingers, 2+ pitting edema in my shin, and bruising from the left knee to the bottom of my foot.

I have also been really stressed lately and have been getting migraines more frequently. Fortunately, they have been happening on the weekends when I don't have school or work, but they still cancel all my plans for the day. Cross your fingers for me that I don't get any more. When I was a senior in high school, about two months before graduation I started getting migraines pretty much every other day due to all the stress of Miss Springville, my AP classes, graduation, and applying to colleges. I just pray that doesn't happen to me this time I graduate!

Countdown

We only have 31 days til this semester is over!! I am so excited. Jordan is very excited to be done with Physical Chemistry. :) Unfortunately, he thinks that P-Chem has destroyed his love for Chemistry, but I don't think so. Every time we have a conversation about anything - ANYTHING - he brings chemistry into it and tells me how certain things work. He really does love chemistry...just not p-chem.

I am excited to take my test to become a nurse - after that test, I will be free. No more papers, no more late nights studying. Ahh. I will be able to read a book for pleasure, play the piano again, and join a yoga class. And do them regularly :)

Ok, really I'm writing this because I'm procrastinating. I will get back to my paper - and finish it so that Jordan and I can finish watching a hilarious movie called Gentleman Broncos, filmed by Jared Hess, the same guy who did Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre. Oh how I love this man's movies! They are hilarious :)

On an awesome note, our nephews and sister/sister-in-law are in town and we are so happy to see them! We haven't seen them for 3 months and had a great time playing with the little boys last night. We love our nephews :)

Ok, ok. Back to writing.

Joy!

Oh my...don't we LOVE waiting? I suppose that is why VCU has decided to torture us a little longer, and not sent Jordan any news about his status. We are in limbo for another week. That is when they will let people know whether they are on the wait list or whether they are rejected. In the meantime, I will try to remember that patience is a virtue!!

The. End.

I am finally done with Nursing Leadership and Capstone!!!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!! Now I just have to wait for my final grade to come back. I already know that I have almost 100% with the assignments, I just need to know what the grade for the final was. I really want to have as high a grade as possible. I'm barely hanging on to my 3.501 GPA and want to keep it above water! We got information about graduating and the pinning ceremonies we are going to have in May today. I can't believe how fast time is flying...I can remember my anatomy and introduction to chemistry classes in freshman year, and how HARD I thought they were!

For anyone who is ever considering going into nursing - just be sure that it is what you really want. It is extremely tough work. I'm not one to minimize pain, and trust me, nursing school is painful. Especially in the senior year. Things never get easier in school, hence the reason the classes go from level 100 to 200 to 300 to 400. You have to really love nursing to go through this. It is all for our patients we care for and the work that we do. As a nurse, you have people's lives in your hands. It is intense and scary at times, but is always rewarding.

This spring break I'm going to have some major major major reorganization. I love organizing :) it is one of my favorite things. I recently read a book called Getting Things Done and it was inspirational! Read it - it will give great tips on how to organize your entire life and how to keep it that way. I love it when things are not in disarray.

I'm also going to be hanging out with friends during this week-long break. I have not hung out with ALL my friend for fun since sophomore year, so I think it's high time. Girls nights are awesome! My hubby is probably going to be going on a road trip with his best friend so I will be able to sleep over at my friends house for girls night :) we are going to watch movies and talk and go get breakfast at IHOP. Mmm.

I'm also going to be making some major headway in my business. We just announced that we are going to be able to save people money on their gas and electricity bills at the end of this year! As well as offer digital phone service to small businesses! I'm so excited about these improvements. Imagine getting paid when people flip on the lights...or take a shower...or text their friends. I LOVE my company!! Visit www.melynacuthbert.acnrep.com for details.

I also can't believe that it is the end of February. This year is 1/6 of the way over!! Crazy. Kind of sad too. But I have been able to continue to work on my goals that I set up at the beginning of the year, and that is not something everyone can say. So this year has been fulfilling thus far. Let's all make 2010 the best year ever for us! Anything is possible!! Here are some great scriptures that I read this morning that relate :)

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." - Ether 12:4

"Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." - Ether 12:6

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." - Ether 12:27

"Wherefore man must hope, or he cannot receive inheritance in the place which though has prepared." - Ether 12:32