December 19th, 2008

Well I thought I would write and explain what's happened in the past few months. I just finished up my 3rd semester in the nursing program by taking my last final on the 2nd of December. I managed to get all A's in the Obstretics, Nursing ethics, and Pediatrics courses this semester. I haven't got a B yet in the nursing program and hope to keep it that way for my final semester! I've got cardiovascular nursing and neurological nursing courses next semester which will be challenging but very interesting. I've been trying to get ready for Christmas but have procastinated like usual. Rachael is still working hard at the Law Firm here downtown. She works so hard and I'm so appreciative of her work to keep us afloat while I finish up nursing school. I'm looking at possibly going to work at UCLA medical center, the University of Utah, or perhaps a hospital in Arizona (if I can find one that fits what I'm looking for)! I want to get into a RN ICU Residency program so that I can get into the ICU as quick as possible so that I can get a year of experience and be able to apply to Nurse Anesthesia schools. The weather here in Idaho Falls, ID has definitely changed to the winter conditions you would expect the last few days dumping a lot of snow. I'm hoping that here in the near future I'll be out snowmobiling with a nursing friend, Cody, as well as Rachael (she actually said she wants to go with me)!! I've been trying to work out more consistently the past few weeks and have lost a bit of weight and gained back some of the muscle I gained from working out for the fisrt few months earlier this year. All in all, everything is great and looking forward to the new changes that are in sight upon graduating from nursing school!

August 28, 2008

Well it's been awhile since my last blog but I'm going to do my best to write what has happened since my last post. I finished summer semester in the nursing program on the 18th of July! I ended up getting an A- in my GI/Cancer class, an A in Psych nursing, and an A in Metabolics. I really think I should have got an A in GI/Cancer but my professor wasn't the easiest to work with. I'm finished now with the Freshman year of nursing school and will start my 1st semester as a Sophmore this Fall on September 9th. My brother, Dave, got married on the 25th of July to Laura Wright in the Newport Beach Temple in southern California. Dave and Laura have moved to the Mckinney/Plano area north of Dallas, TX and are getting situated there. At the end of July through the first couple of days of August I went with some leaders and the youth to their high adventure trip to the Wind Rivers north of Alpine,WY. We hiked four days which included summiting Freemont Peak (13,745 ft)! The picture shown above depicts some of the guys that went on the trip, along with myself, drinking some water at the Summit of Freemont Peak. The trip was outstanding and strenuous but definitely worth the views I was able to see and enjoy those four days. Roger, Rachael, Rick Telford, and I are planning on summiting the Grand Teton in two days if the weather calms down--especially the wind. In my spare time other than working out at World Gym or walking around the river, I've been playing Disc Golf at Freeman Park here in Idaho Falls. I've enjoyed playing and being able to relax before hitting it hard again when school starts this Fall. Garrett this past Sunday was ordained and Elder by my dad as he obtained the Melchizadek Priesthood! I was really proud of him for his desire and choice to receive the Melchizadek Priesthood. Well that's about all I can think of at the moment of what's happened--until next time.

May 29th

Just wanted to write and explain what's happened the past week or so. Memorial day weekend was pretty chill considering the fact that the weather has consisted of cloudy skies and scattered showers. Most mornings the past week have started out with sunshine and gradually throughout the day have ended up being overcast and rainy. Rachael and I went to see the new Indiana Jones flick this past Friday as well as hitting the Olive Garden beforehand. The movie was good except for a couple moments including UFO's and such.....didn't understand the need for all of that but that's Hollywood! I'm still keeping busy with school. I finally got an A in my GI/Cancer class with Sis. Dalling-----98%!! Hopefully I can get an A in the class but at least an A-. The nursing program has been interesting to say the least partly because of the curriculum they have planned and the teachers I've had so far. I haven't been blown away by any of the professors so far. Bro. Atwood, my psych nursing professor, is really good and I enjoy his teaching style a lot more. Rachael is doing great and is still hard at work with her two jobs and various things that need to be done here at the house. We're plugging along and doing our best. Till next time!!

May 5, 2008

Just wanted to write and explain my experience I had this morning at Rosemark Women's Clinic. Cathy McMurtrey talked to her coworkers and they allowed me to go there and start some IV's on three of them--including Cathy! I was able to get a few of the IV starts done successfully and that helped with some needed confidence. I think that the more I practice the better I'll get especially with the routine and dexterity/feel of hitting the vein and then being able to thread the catheter in. All in all, a very good experience for me. Today I've got to study for Nursing 103 (Psych Nursing) for my upcoming test that closes Thursday this week. Rachael came home for lunch today and mentioned that she is way busy at work b/c of the other secretary being gone as well as her boss working over the weekend and adding a lot of work for her to do today.

April 25th, 2008

Well I've decided to do a blog in hopes of keeping some sort of journal per se of what's been happening in the lives of Rachael and I. Currently Rachael is working at a family law firm--Simpson & Gouchay, which she's enjoying more and more I gather. Rachael just recently received a raise from her boss a week or so ago and I believe that gave her a little boost. Rachael is extremely busy given that she works at the Law Firm 5 days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 5;00 p.m. as well as working at a real-estate office every other Saturday between 4-6 hours too! Rachael also keeps busy with her calling as the new beehives advisor in the WestHill Ward where she teaches on the 2-4 Sundays. Rachael also attends mutual on Tuesday nights. She fits right in with the beehives and they already love her enthusiasm and positive attitude.

I'm currently going to school at BYU-I in the nursing program now which I started in January of this year. Winter semester was good where I learned a lot of the basics of nursing. I gained some clinical experience by going to EIRMC, the main hospital in Idaho Falls, as I worked the Medical/Surgical 5th floor each Saturday for about 6 hours. Summer semester just started this week on Tuesday, which I missed because of the stomach flu but was able to attend class on Thursday. Out of the 42 students in my group I was able to finish out the semester as #1 in my class which was a great self-esteem booster for me as well as being a motivational factor to do my best throughout the rest of the program and future career in the health field. This summer semester I'll be doing clinicals at Madison Memorial Hospital (MMH) every Saturday on 12 hour shifts. I'll also be able to do OR, Endoscopy, as well as Dialysis rotations throughout the semester! The professors have mentioned that this semester is by far the most demanding so I hope that I can do my best and succeed. I was called to be a Ward Missionary about a month ago and have been out with the missionaries once. They called me to work specifically with the hispanics because of my ability to speak spanish but I haven't used that ability yet. All in all, things are going well and we're looking forward to the day I finish school....that's a little ways off though. I'm looking at becoming a Nurse Anesthetist which requires work experience in the ICU as well as finishing a 2 1/2 year masters program in anesthesia.