School/ Family Update

I am on the down swing of my current & last semester finally!!! I am starting to see a spark of light at the end of the tunnel, and I could not be happier. This has truly been the most difficult thing I've done in my life; Tops bearing 3 very large boys and even a divorce. It has been quite the experience, and I cannot believe how much I have learned; medical knowledge, as well as things about myself, what is truly important in life, and how important it is to surround yourself with caring loving people in your life. I have worked hard to get where I am, but owe thanks to many, and I know you know who you are. Thanks for taking care of my baby and making sure he is loved beyond measure. You are a GEM among the rough stones in my life. And a special shout out to my mommy for always being there with kind supportive words. My kids are wonderful and have really been troppers through all of this. I have been mentally and physically absent through a lot of this, and thank you to them for understanding how important this is for me as well as for our family. I love you guys more than life itself. xoxo

I have my last OB test tomorrow, 3 days of OB clinical, where I get to observe a cesarean delivery Tueaday, and spend an entire day in the neonate nursery Wednesday. I will be in heaven. I LOVE babies. In between all this, I will be busting my butt studying for my Medical Surgical Nursing FINAL EXAM on Friday the 5th. I then have my OB FINAL EXAM on the 8th. Seems as though I'd be able to breath after the 8th, but NO....I start my last 2 classes; Pediatric Nursing, and some other one I can't remember at this point. Last year 5 students failed out of the program in Ped Nursing, two months before GRADUATION, so the screws are put to me again, and I WILL PERSEVERE!!!

Drew is excoted for summer camp to start. HE is taking swimming lessons again and that all starts June 23rd. He is currently taking tennis lessons with me Tues & Thurs, and taking golf lessons with Daddy & Family on Saturdays.

Tanner & Brady anxiously await summer vacation. Both boys have excelled in school all year again. They are quite impressive. I never have to remind them that HW is a priority and they are both very responsible and manage their time wisely as far as getting it done. They are excited to go to Paris for a week in July with their dad and his GF. Tanner will start football practice in AUgust and faithfully attends weight room 3x/week to bulk up for wrestling. Trying to go VARSITY for both so he can get his letter. I am nervous about all the girls who will be climbing his leg any day now. This kid is drop dead gorgeous, hilarious and quite the charmer. Brady is the brains of the family. He loves reaading and reads anything he can get his hands on. He keeps Barnes & Noble in business.

Think thats all for now. Hope everyone is happy, healthy, and well!

Love, Jen

A Beautiful Sunset

Preschool Fun

Here are a few photos from school. Miss Kari & Andrew @ his Luau, Andrew and his friend Annie, and Miss Sara.

Hoops

This was a fun time playing hoops with the boys. I'm pretty sure I won. LOL

"Wet Lab"

Wednesday and Thursday of this week, I participated in dissection lab for graded part of college credit courses AP 1&2 @ UMDNJ. Other than a frog in high school, this was my first real dissection. Wednesday we did fetal pigs and various sheep organs. The pig was cool, but the detail on the larger sheep organs was awesome. I completely dissected the heart, kidney, brain and lungs. It was so cool to actually put a picture to everything I've learned over the last 9 months.

Drew had to get his kindergarten physical along with vaccines yesterday. Poor little guy. It sucks to see your baby hurt like that. He did great thought. Right after he went to his first tennis lesson and he had a great time. It took him a few to warm up but once he did it went well. It was fun to watch him.

I have spent the week preparing for last unit test in OB on the 1st, and gathering all my past paperwork to prepare for my final in Medical Surgical Nursing II on June 5th. I split up the ginormous study guide with a classmate and we both finished up our parts today and sent it on to each other. I plan on studying all weekend for OB and the rest of the week for MS final.

A Fun Field Trip

Today Andrew and I went to the Crayola Factory in Easton, PA. He had a good time doing all the various activities they had set up. He says his favorite part was the gift shop, where he got some Hannah Montana (of course) crayola light up spin art set.

Long Over Due....

Here are a few pictures from our Polar Express Train ride with Santa in December. We drove to Phillipsburg, PA and rode the train and hour or so along the Delaware River. It was a good time. The scenery was great.

Can somebody call a doctor???

After another long 12 weeks, I finally have a week long break (Spring) from school; and it could not have come at a better time. I am exhausted. This pace is hard. Sometimes I feel like I'm barely standing. It is still so exciting and exhilarating though. It helps keep me motivated.

I completed my Psychiatric cLinical rotation. We did 3 weeks @ 3 days/week. I was lucky enough to be at my local hospital Somerset Medical which is a 10 minute car ride. I spent the first 4 days of my 9 in the EDU (eating disorder unit). I was quite surprised and amazed at the things I saw. I was able to sit in on therapy sessions and extensively read pt charts. I learned a whole lot, that I won't go into. Let's just leave it at....it was a real eye opener!

Last 4 days were spent upstairs in the locked psych unit. Didn't see anything terribly discomforting up there. Mostly some Bipolar fits, paranoia, and severe depression w suicide attempts. Also quite the eye opener. I learned a lot.

The last day we took our scheduled ATI proctored Psychology exams. I scored right where I should have. I was happy about that, as they moved the date up by 2 days with no notice. I should be getting my final grade for Mental Health Nursing in the next week or so via mail.

With the 3 days/week clinical rotations right now, we are only carrying 2 classes at a time. I am in Medical Surgical Nursing II and Nutrition Essentials for Nursing Practice. Two very complicated, rather difficult courses, especially with 1 day of lecture between exams. I just took my cardiovascular test for MS and did well. I take the 2nd part on my first day back after break. Working on Nutrition now. We took home a huge packet full of papers to fill out. It has been challenging thus far.

I start my Med Surge II clinical rotation Mar 17th. We do a 3 week run at nursing homes. I am located out a ways by where Rex lives. It's about 25 minute ride. Don't know what site I will switch to @ week 4. I keep the same instructor though.

My Pride & Joy...

Here are the latest school pictures of the boys. So handsome!

Drew Drew Helping Mommy

This is half of the bags of leaves we cleaned up from the front yard. Drew didn't help much while Brady and I were bagging. He kept jumping in out piles. But he had fun and that was all that mattered. He did however help bag some, and then drug all these bags to the trash can for me. I thought this was a cute picture.