Thank you!!

Thank you so much to those who donated today. A donation was made by a NICU family that I know, and the mom wrote such a sweet message on the comments section. I cannot mention names, due to HIPPA, but know that the donation and kind words were very much appreciated, and I am thankful I had the chance to get to know your family. Another donation came in today that really meant a lot, and she will probably kill me for bringing it up, but those who are close to me know that my brother-in -law was laid off just weeks ago, and my sister chose to donate anyways because it was so important to her! (And a PS congrats to Markus on the job offer he recieved today!) Thanks to everyone who has helped us get to $255 dollars so far!! YEA! Because I have yet to reach my goal I will not be posting any horribly embarassing photos, but here are a few that might at least make you laugh! 

Apparently when I was little I liked to sleep with my dog, Angel, or more specifically with her bum! Awesome moment captured, mom! I love the foam rollers!

And then remember "theme" days in elementary school? Western day 1985... me and Heather!

Yes, these were handmade coordinating outfits, as many of ours were growing up! How very cool and popular were we?!

Thank you!!!

Thank you so much to my hubs, Chris, my wonderful friend and co-worker, Jen Ross, and Chris's parents, Ed and Pat Jenkins for their donations for the MOD walk! Unfortunately I waited to the last minute to begin my fundraising, but in all honesty, I am in the midst of finals, and was not sure that I could commit to be there, but since I am one final down (with one to go) I will be there!! While this adds pressure to my committment to raise $300, I decided today to match your donation by 100%, until I reach my goal off $300.00. I chose this amount because this is what I have already donated to others that will be walking with me on Saturday! I wish I was as creative as my friend, Jen, who has offered incrimiting/funny photos of her husband when he was young for donations, but in all honesty I have more incriminating/embarrassing photos of myself, but no time to find them! Ok, so I may know where a few of them are (like the ones with the thick huge glasses and gopher teeth that gave me my nickname and 3 rounds of braces!), but I would have to surpass my goal to post such photos! :) Happy donating!!! :) See posting below for donation link!!!
PS I am also willing to post incriminating photos of my sisters to anyone who is interested!!!! Thanks for the idea, Jen!!!

March of Dimes

So in the midst of finals, I am participating in the March of Dimes walk. I have donated a total of $300 to other walkers, so I set this as my goal to raise (in less than 1 weeks time)! My friend and coworker, Jen, has done weekly Monday postings about the MOD... here's a link to her posting on surfactant, greatly benefitted Emilia during her NICU stay...
http://jamesonstories.blogspot.com/2010/02/march-of-dimes-monday.html

Baby Girl Jenkins at 2 days old... she did not have a name yet because how do you name a baby you haven't got to hold? I couldn't.

She was 5 days old the first time I held her... Chris picked out her name that morning. We held her for almost 6 hours straight, and I remember it being one of the most amazing days, like it only happened yesterday. She still sleeps with this blanket, which she has fondly named "greeny." My high school English teacher, Mrs. Creason bought it for her.

And today she is my choc-a-holic, sassy yet sweet little 3 year old...

Many babies are born much sicker than Emilia was, and are in the NICU a much longer time. While 5 days seemed like an eternity to hold her, I know moms that have had to wait a much longer time to hold their sweet babies. Being a NICU nurse is such an awesome job because we do get to care for these babies, watch them grow, and send them home. There are sad days, stressful days, and AMAZING days, and I am blessed to come home to this little chocolate face girl, that reminds me why I am a NICU nurse.

If you would like to donate to our team... here is the link!

Patho final...

Does anybody besides me have a strange routine, that you have done since highschool, and still do it at almost 30 years old? Well I do. Test days are all the same. Up at 0430 am, cup of coffee with a granola bar, a quick review of all materials, Starbucks (chai tea latte), then to where ever my test is at least an hour before the test. When I was getting my bachelors in nursing, I had a study buddy (and partner in crime), Randy Lopez. Every test day he would meet me at 6am, at the school, for a quick rundown system by system what we were being tested over. If I was lucky, he would even bring some of his dad's tamales for us to eat while studying, and yes tamales are yummy at 6am with Starbucks... especially the ones his dad made with potatoes and spicy pork! Anyways, I digress...  Earlier this semester I had my first real test in graduate school...every previous semester has just included paper after paper, but finally my 1st real test in patho. My morning went unremarkably the same as every other test day, although it was missing my friend, Randy, but I adapted. The test couldn't have gone better. SOoo.. this is what I was hoping for the patho final today. Up at 0430...yup, coffee, granola bar... yup, yup. After getting Emilia ready for school, Chris and her left and I was off to Starbucks. I ordered my Chai tea, and went to pay, but my bank card was missing. I figured it fell out of my wallet and ran out to the car to look in my purse, which I had left in the car. After looking through my purse, and realizing it had been in my wallet all along, I slammed the door... with the keys in there. Crap! Luckily Chris works nearby, and came and unlocked the car for me, but then I dumped my tea on my white capri pants... awesome. So I arrived flustered, later than the norm, and with tea on my pants.  As I began my test, I was hoping this mornings events were not a sign of how the final would turn out. Drumm roll.... final grade for the semester in Patho...A. YEA! One down and one more to go!

Wish me luck!

I am amidst (is that a real word?) some fun finals now, and could use some prayers, positive vibes, warm thoughts, or maybe even voo-doo at this point, so maybe just wish me luck! Next posting will be May 5th, and should include the latest kite festival, picnic, 1st hair cut, gardening, and disney on ice... I figured procrastination was best left to blogging rather than pathophysiology or assessment of the neonate! :)