New Jobs and the Flu

I have recently accepted a new position as a home care nurse. I'm pretty excited about it! Gabbi is doing well though it seems she may have the flu today. We have really avoided most sickness until recently though so I won't complain. She is sitting here with me relaxing, however with body aches and a fever. I'm

thankful that I can be here taking care of her.

Gabbi is in kindergarten and doing well. It's amazing how much time has gone by since that horrible diagnosis but we have come out on the other side of it. I'm doing well, she is doing well. There is not a lot to add to that. We are both healthy. I am thankful for my blessings and plan on focusing on the positives in life!


                              
           

Gabbi Art!

I know its been awhile and I will update more soon. I changed jobs in the past few months so life has been pretty busy. Gabbi is doing well and actually I just wanted to post a link to help Gabbi earn money for her art class at school. She wins prizes as well for selling items with her very own artwork on it. It's too cute so I had to post.

I'm due for a checkup myself. I'm long overdue actually. I haven't had a chance to take care of myself since the new job. My hours always seem to interfere with doctor appointments. I need to go though and have an appointment with my Oncologist on November 8th I believe. I need to check my calendar! Here is the picture to purchase an item with Gabbi's art and a Halloween pic for your viewing pleasure. ;-)

Kindergarten and Zoos

I hope to take my girls to the zoo this weekend. The weather has been so nice. I really want to do something fun with all of my girls. To update you, my oldest is 16, then 13, 11 and of course Gabbi is 5. I have four daughters. I never think too much of it until someone asks how many children I have. Usually  then it hits me. In this day and age it really is a decent sized family. Now if you compare it to my grandmother who had 16 children it's not that big. It is nice having four girls though. I love it.

This fall Gabbi will start Kindergarten. My baby is growing up. I am not sure where the time has gone. She has grown up so fast. Just see how tiny she is here! She was 4 weeks early but healthy! She's still allergic to milk as she always has been, but other than that and a little acid reflux there were no major issues. I'm so thankful for it. I'm looking forward to summer break and spending some real time with my girls before they grow up and move right on out. I may not do so well with the whole empty nest thing. *sigh*

G2KUBZFFHEAQ

Blog Renovations and Worms

I have hated how cluttered my page has been for awhile now.  With the recent changes to Blogger I saw new options on limiting posts per page and more.  I had always limited my page to recent posts but it never worked. Load time should be greatly improved and signing up to receive updates should be easier as well!

This pic was taken recently of Gabbi after a night of hunting night crawlers. She absolutely loves it.  My dad would be proud.  He was an avid hunter and fisherman.  I learned from him and no I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty contrary to what some might think. My Gabbi girl is getting so big.  I have been a nurse on my unit now for well over a year. I enjoy it so much even if it is extremely stressful at times.  I am doing what I set out to do!  My oldest daughter is 16 now.  She'll be getting her license soon.  It's amazing how much has happened in a few years time.

Gabbi Is No Longer the Baby!

No I'm not talking about me, Gabbi is my baby by far. She's 5 now, but my baby sister Vanessa had a little girl Zoey who is now just over 1 year old I believe. They moved away. I miss them so much! They came up to visit a couple of months ago. Gabbi loves her little cousin. She loves being the big girl. She wants to take care of her. I am not sure how thrilled Zoey is, but just look at that smile on Gabbi! She's healthy and growing like a weed. She will start Kindergarten this coming fall. I can't believe how time flies! It seems like yesterday I got the shocking news that I had cancer while I was pregnant. I remind her daily that she saved my life and that we beat cancer together.

Mother's day serves as another reminder of all we went through. You can ask Gabbi now and she can tell you in her own little Gabbi way, how we beat cancer together.

Children's Hospital of Illinois, Girl 2 Years Old, Receives Artificial Windpipe

I don't often talk about the hospital I am affiliated with but I'm very proud to be a part of this hospital. Take the time to read this story about a little girl given a whole new life with the first artificial windpipe. The windpipe was grown from her own stem cells. This is amazing and again I'm very proud to work for this hospital!!!

http://www.today.com/health/girl-2-first-child-receive-artificial-windpipe-6C9682725

Nurses and Rough Nights

I have been working as a floor nurse now for over a year. Time flies when you're having fun. This picture shows my friend Jamie who is also a charge nurse on our floor. She sometimes works as charge,  others on the floor. On this particular night due to over staffing we were floated to another unit. The guy is a great friend and Patient Care Tech, Alex. He is an amazing tech and has helped in some extreme situations. He knows his stuff!

There are some stressful nights at work and this one was no exception. I'm blessed to work with such great people.

St. Patrick's Day

I have never really went out and done anything for St. Patrick's Day. I ddecided to this year. I had a great time and even met some new people. I love eye makeup and decided to play up the eyes with some pretty green color. Here is a close-up. What do you think? I could do some makeup tutorials I think.

Sickness

It's finally hit our home. It is surprising considering I work in a hospital, but really we've been fairly well this winter. Thia feels a lot like flu but can't be sure. We're riding it out. Coughing, sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, headache, body aches, chills and I had a fever this morning. It stinks! I missed a little work over it and some other health issues. Would appreciate some prayers!!
Hope everyone out there is staying healthy!!

Random Posts

My daughter Angelina will be 11 on January 19th. It's hard to believe how much time flies. In March my oldest Lexi will celebrate her 16th birthday on March 16th. Ironically my daughter Mikayla will turn 13 the same day. They have the same birthday 3 years apart. When I was in the hospital delivering Mikayla I felt so guilty to not be home with Lexi celebrating her birthday. She turned 3 and it seemed horrible to me that I wasn't there. So the nurses surprised us by bringing Lexi a birthday cake in my hospital room! It was so sweet and I'll never forget it. Time flies but my girls are my world. I love my Little Women. :) I'm one blessed momma!

Birthdays

Gabbi turned 5 November 17th.  I turned.....older ....on December 29th. This month is Angelina's birthday. We've been busy. I've been working a lot.
I have now been at my job about 9 months. I love my job but definitely understand how nurses get burnt out. It's overwhelming at times. Remember when your nurses are caring for you that we have many patients and that each one is not always doing so well. That's the hardest part....when a patient thinks they are your only patient. I love my patients but sometimes you get a very angry and demanding patient. It's physically draining.
Gabbi will start school this year! I am so excited about that. My baby is getting bigger and bigger. My oldest Lexi will be 16 in March and Mikayla will be 13. Time flies ...but I love my family more than anything! They are what gets me through each day. I've learned some things in 2012. True friends are rare.....even family doesn't always have your back. However my girls? I can always count on them :-) Here is to 2013!