Easter 2013

Dying eggs takes a lot of concentration.

Taya dancing to her own beat!



The girls got nice Easter baskets this year!

Easter was supposed to be my holiday off this year. But life gets complicated with our packed schedule. It was my weekend to work and if I didn't work Easter (a Sunday), I would get scheduled on another Sunday on a different weekend. Well, we had dance competitions the weekend before and the two weekends after Easter so I couldn't work any other weekend and had to request to work Easter to keep my weekend in tack. Corey and the girls met me for lunch at the hospital, Saturday night after work we dyed Easter eggs and Corey and Chloe went to an Easter egg hunt at the Middle School on Saturday. My poor family is used to working around my crazy schedule and used to me having to work holidays. They probably don't feel as bad about it as I do! Sigh! We made the best of it!

I kind of miss the days when I could dress my little girls up in an Easter dress and a big hat. I guess those days are gone. They do still enjoy getting treats from the Easter bunny though.

Taya's District Bandfest

 

Taya is in her 2nd year of band in the middle school. She plays the clarinet. My favorite concert is the district bandfest which was on March 14th this year. The concert includes everyone in band from 6th through 12th grade. They all sit together in the gym and each grade's band plays two songs individually before all the band members play the finale together. It is so fun to see how each grade gets better as they get older and have more years of experience. Grandpa and Karin came to hear Taya play too. Nice job honey!!

A day of get-togethers!

In February, I had an appointment at the transplant clinic for my 6-month follow-up. Meridith is a wonderful co-worker who had gotten another job and finished working at SCH while I was on leave follow surgery. We had been trying to plan a get-together to "do" lunch, so when I had to go to the Cities anyway for my appointment, it seemed like a perfect time to get together. The weather was fairly horrible, but I made it to my appointment and we were able to have lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. The food and the cheese cake were delicious. It was so nice to have a chance to talk and catch up on each others' lives! We'll have to do this again Mer!

Meridith & I having lunch at The Cheesecake Factory

It tasted as good as it looks!!

 

 

Although it doesn't usually happen this way, it just so happened I had plans for dinner with some friends the same day. So we met DeNae, Troy, Heidi & Kibi at Old Capital Tavern for dinner. They had some interesting things on the menu (i.e. frog legs) which we didn't try, but the food & drinks were good. But, more importantly, the company was pretty awesome! What a fun, fun day!

Having dinner with DeNae, Troy, Heidi & Kibi at Old Capital Tavern

Look at these cute little glasses they used so I could sample some of their drinks!

Hi Ho Hi Ho It's Off to Work I Go

 

I spend a lot of time at work. I have to work and I have to work full-time to pay my bills, have a house to live in & have health insurance. I probably spend as much time with my co-workers as I do with my family. Luckily, I love what I do. I don't talk about work too often nor do I blog about it too often because there is not much that I can say. I can't give any details about any particular patients that I take care of. Sometimes work is scary--we are intubating, placing chest tubes, starting IVs and insulin drips. Sometimes work is laid back--changing diapers, holding fussy babies and bottling them. Sometimes work is heartbreaking--pulling a baby's breathing tube in their mom's arms so they can die. Sometimes work is rewarding--helping a mom hold her baby for the first time in over a month. I couldn't do what I do every day without my awesome co-workers. And, as the card says, sometimes they are so friggin awesome it is difficult to get any work done. Not many people get to say they love what they do and they love who they do it with! Life is good!!

One guess what I'm doing here?

 

 

 

 I also love to pass along my passion for my chosen profession. I take every opportunity I can to have a student with me. I have served as a primary preceptor for about four capstone students and nursing interns and each experience has been rewarding. It always forces me to take a step back and really think about what I'm doing so I can explain it to someone else. Seeing it through their eyes also gives me a fresh perspective on many things that I may have started to take for granted. This is my most recent student, Nikki, who was within me in February-April. Good luck Nikki! You will rock the NCLEX!

My view at about 4:00am.

I don't always have time to take a picture of myself at work, but when I do, I'm on break! Wink! Wink!

United We Dance

Chloe got to do the opening cartwheels for her new routine. She was so proud!

Amazing Chloe!

Taya you are so beautiful & look so grown up in this costume!

Enjoying the pool when we stayed in Rochester for their last competition of the year!

The girls and their ABSOLUTELY AWESOME coach Sandy!!

 

 

The girls have been taking dance lessons for a long time. Chloe started when she was 3, so she has been in dance for 6 years. Taya started dance lessons as a 1st grader, so she is in her 7th year of dance. They still love it and I never have to force them to go to class. I enjoy watching them so much!They are so talented!!

 

Chloe's team has been together for several years. She is in a special placement kick/jazz class and takes a ballet class to work on flexibility and technique. This year Chloe's team competed at 5 competitions--twice at St. Cloud State Univeristy, Blomington, Brainerd and Rochester. Every single time they competed, they work 1st place. An undefeated competition seaon!! I loved just sitting in the crowd and hearing the people next to me say, "Oh, there is St. Cloud. They are the team to beat!" As I've said many times, any type of competition is not all about winning. But, honestly, who doesn't want their child to do well? What parent isn't proud when their child is a part of the winning team? And Chloe's team has been undefeated for three years. That is truely a remarkable accomplishment! I am proud of them and all of their hard work.

 

Taya is also on an advanced placement kick/jazz team as well as taking a ballet class. Taya's team competed at St. Cloud State University twice, Whapeton & Rochester. She has grown so much this year as a dancer. She is learning to be much more expressive and to have fun while dancing. Taya's team was undefeated as well! It truely is amazing!

 

Congratulations to both of my lovely ladies! Mom & dad are so proud of you!! 

Taya's JO Voleyball Season

I'm not sure what they're doing here, but it was part of the team ritual before a game.

Taya getting ready to serve!

#17

I love that Taya loves to try new things. I really do! Her enthusiam about life and willingness to try new things is one of the traits I am the most proud of! But, sometimes, it is almost too busy! EEK! Taya had tried volleyball in the fall at school and loved it. She really wanted to continue playing volleyball when the season ended and asked to join JO Volleyball through community ed. So, we fit in into her schedule. She practiced twice a week and traveled to tournaments at the College of St. Bens and in Spring Lake Park, Cold Spring, Sartell, St. Cloud & Sauk Rapids from January through April. Somehow, we made it work in between her other committments and dance. And boy did she have fun! They were not the winningest team. In fact, I don't think they won more than a game or two, but I really saw everyone on her team improve over the course of the season. I would go from cringing when it was Taya's turn to serve into knowing that when it was her turn, she would at least score a few points. They played hard and had some really close matches. They learned how to work as a team and how to have fun doing it. Taya and her team mates had sleep-over parties and ended the seaon with a bonfire at her coach's house.