whew I survived.

It's Friday. And that means that I survived my first week back to the hospital. I won't lie and say it was easy because it definitely wasn't. I probably shed more tears on Monday alone than Everly did all week! The week flew by though and I have some great people to be working with that made the week easy on me too. I am able to go pump 3 times a day and some of the specialists are recent new moms (within the past 2 years at least) so they understand the importance of breastfeeding, pumping, and keeping up your supply so they are always reminding me to go take a break and pump. Then that gives me time to flip through my phone looking at pictures of Everly and time to just take a little rest. It is exhausting jumping back into things after being gone for so long! But thankfully I've had a lot of support from Jordan and my parents this week...I never would have survived without them and their encouragement, love, and support! My mom had to practically kick me out the door on Monday because I was stalling so much but now I'm ready to leave each day because the sooner I start my day, that means the sooner I can get home each night. Eight weeks flew by when I was home with Everly so I can't imagine how quickly these next three weeks are going to go and then I will officially be done! All that's left then is the certification exam...which I'm not even going to think about right now because that's not until the spring. I'm just thankful to have the opportunity for this internship and the chance to finish it after having Everly! Now onto the good part of the week....it's Friday! And my whole family is going to be in town this weekend for the Iowa game so I can't wait to see them, relax, enjoy some homecooking (I missed my dad's good cooking so much when they were living in Texas!), and love on Everly every chance I get! Happy weekend everybody! Hope you enjoy it by doing something that you love!

on the clock...

I'm officially on the clock and down to one week left of staying home with Everly... next Monday I will be going back to the hospital to finish my last four weeks of my internship. While I'm excited to get back into the swing of things and finish it up, I'm dreading the thought of leaving her! Ughh....too many hormones and too many emotions, and not enough time! I am pretty thankful to be part of a department that is so family oriented though and understand what it's like to have a baby and to come back to work after having a baby so that makes it better. And leaving Everly with my mom will make things a thousand times easier...I would be a real hot mess if I had to drop her off at a daycare or with someone else!! Now I'll be spending the next week snuggling and loving on her even more than I do as I count down my days until I head back to the real world... which reminds me, I guess that means no more days on end of lounging in my sweats and glasses. Time for wearing real pants and making myself look presentable everyday again!

new rotation = last rotation!

Today was a big day for my internship because I started my new rotation on the 3rd floor pediatrics unit and I am beyond excited for it! With the start of this rotation, it also means that I am almost done already with my internship. I can't believe how fast the past 7 weeks have literally flown by and how much I have already learned and accomplished. Anyway! Third floor at the hospital is the same unit that I used to volunteer on for Dance Marathon and where I spent a lot of time working when I was a Child Life Assistant. There are several patients and families that I already know and have a close relationship with so I'm really looking forward to working with them again and being able to spend time with them while developing my skills for my internship. These next five weeks are going to fly by...I have a lot to learn and do in the next 25 days so here goes nothing! 

a day in the life of an intern...

I left work on Friday as a Child Life Assistant and today I walked back into the hospital as a Child Life Intern! I don't think it really hit me until I got started for the day by going to a procedure in the clinic then attending rounds in the NICU. For being 26 weeks pregnant, being in the NICU kind of freaked me out. Ok, not kind of.... it definitely did. There were babies there that were born anywhere from 22-30 weeks gestation and it was very surreal seeing babies that were born and are smaller than the Peanut I am currently growing and hopefully keeping as safe as possible in my belly! I truly admire anyone who becomes a NICU parent and the strength of those babies because they are truly fighters against all odds and are little miracles! The first day was a whirlwind but a great whirlwind and the time really flew by... I'm so thankful for this opportunity and am looking forward to all that I will be seeing and learning in the next 12 weeks!

BIG offer day!

Someone better pinch me quick because I think I must be dreaming today..... this has been a very special and incredible day! SO much good news, so much relief, and so much excitement! I don't really even know where to start...so I guess I just jump right in! A week or so ago, Jordan was in the office at school and happened to be in the right place at the right time because the principle walked in and started making conversation with another teacher who inquired about any teaching positions opening up. There just so happened to be a 5th/6th grade math/science class that she thought would be opening....so this kind teacher quickly introduced Jordan to the principle! And they got to chatting and exchanged contact information then a few days later, Jordan was approached to set up an interview! He had the initial phone interview and then they set up an in-person interview so we both had a pretty good feeling about things but didn't want to rely on it and get our hopes up just to be disappointed. So Jordan had the in-person interview today.....and 45 minutes later, they called him back and offered him the job!!! AHHH!!! Jordan is officially a real full-time employed teacher and I could not be happier!! He is truly so deserving of this and works so hard for everything...for our family and for himself to make things happen and to be a better person every day. He is amazing and he is going to be an incredible teacher! Those kids are so lucky to have him for their teacher and I can't wait to see him inspire all of his students and staff members as well. I'm so proud of him and admire his patience to stick out the job hunt while applying for several jobs without hearing back. I know it can get discouraging but he always stayed positive and that is one thing I really love about him!

The other big news is that I have received an internship offer from the University of Iowa Children's Hospital to complete a Child Life internship....starting in about 2ish weeks so that I can be done before Peanut is born!! My supervisor paged me before I left work and said, "we need to talk before you leave for the day." so I was of course freaking out and was immediately paranoid. When she offered me an internship position, it was really the LAST thing I was expecting! I had sort of written that idea off because I knew doing one in the fall wasn't going to happen and doing one in the spring seemed unrealistic with a new baby at home! And they are being so accommodating by letting me start now, mid-summer, and be done by mid-September. They told me, "kids in hospitals need people like you there by their side to support them and help them. We can see your potential and we don't want that to go to waste just because you didn't get certified." I feel so incredibly lucky and thankful for this opportunity!! I have always said how I work with some amazing kids and family...but I also work with some pretty amazing specialists and they are awesome for helping make this happen for me! 

Tonight we will be celebrating with some 312...oh wait. Well, Jordan will be celebrating with some 312 and I will enjoy a virgin strawberry margarita! I'm so happy that things are finally, FINALLY, starting to fall into place for us. Both of these things takes a huuuge weight off my shoulders and I'm thankful to have some of our prayers answered. Things are definitely looking up and looking great! 

time for plan B

Looks like it is time for me to figure out plan B for this summer and my career path....I guess an internship just wasn't in the plan for me at this time so now I need to regroup and figure out where to go from here. Disappointed? Yes. Life ruiner? No, not by any means. But to say last night was a pretty emotional and somber night around here would be quite the under statement... I actually spent 45 minutes curled up in bed in the fetal position with Paisley by my side as I cried myself into a long nap. But, the sun always rises and where there's a will there's a way so now I am going to cut myself some slack, rethink some things and start attacking plan B.... thank goodness this week is half over!

Friday Funnies - 2.8.13

By golly, we made it. I only worked a half day today but it seemed like a full work day and then some once I got home. I think it's the stress and paranoia of this whole internship thing that has really been getting me down all week (okay so the past month) and in a serious funk. I need to snap out of it already and stop letting it consume my every thought! In good news, it is Friday and the weekend is here at least! I have a new skein of yarn and a project in mind as well...you guessed it, another scarf. I am just a tad obsessed with scarves I would say. Sorry I'm not sorry about it! We also have no weekends plans, yipeeee! I love to see our families and friends but I love a good ol' fashioned weekend long loungefest and lounge we will! 

Anyway, my Friday Funnies this week is dedicated to some crazy cats and here's some back story: All week I have been having some seriously crazy dreams and all of them are about KITTENS and CATS!!! I think that is my mind's way of telling me we need a kitty.... Quick story: I am a huge animal lover. And especially love kitties (and Paisley, of course.) And Jordan knows this because I always talk about a cat I used to have named Puddles who I rescued when he was 3 days old and I bottle fed him every 3-4 hours. He was seriously my baby! Anyway, a few weeks ago, we saw a cat across the street from where we live and as we were pulling into the driveway, I pointed it out and said, "I'm gonna catch that kitty!" To which Jordan replied with, "Okay good luck...hey, if you catch it, you can keep it!" And that was a challenge that I gladly accepted. And two minutes later, WON! I proudly walked around the corner and caught the kitty...actually, it more or less let me walk up to it, pet it and then pick it right up. Jordan just laughed and shook his head because he of course didn't think I stood a chance to catch it. Ha, I love proving him wrong! So we brought in the cat and then Paisley flipped out! I'm talking sniffing the cat like crazy and was super curious....until the cat took one swat at Paisley and scratched her right across the nose. And that was the end of our time with Kitty. Jordan said I had to take it back outside because it clearly was a house cat and had just gotten out. Like I said, the cat let me walk right up to it and pick it up plus it had super soft fluffy fur and was well fed....not a stray by any means but it was fun while it lasted. And so continues, my quest to get a kitty and now that's why I believe I am dreaming about them! 

image via Pinterest
No seriously, you're kitten right?!

Paws up!!

patience is a....

PAIN! Not a virtue. It's a pain. Today I had my last and final interview for the internships and now it is less than a week until the official offer day. And cue every anxious and paranoid nerve in my body to be going off from now until then....and well, I am an even bigger hot emotional mess than usual! There is nothing that stresses me out more than situations that are out of my control. And waiting. Waiting and not knowing....such a terrible combo! I just have to trust it all to faith and know that things will work out. They always do. Somehow and someway.....just hoping to get a call on the 12th! Fingers crossed for good news!

Friday Funnies - 1.18.13

Yes, I survived another full work week and made it to Friday! It was a rough week none the less that's for sure, but I survived it at least! And it you're reading this, then that means you did too and that's something worth celebrating! Of course, today didn't go without it's let downs BUT there was one great thing that happened...aside from receiving two more rejections for internships (these people seriously have no clue what they will be missing out on by not having me around!) I did receive one interview offer! Whoo whoo!!!! It is for Comer Children's Hospital in Chicago and after talking to my close friend, she informed me that it is a very prestigious hospital and a HUGE deal that I am even getting an interview offer. So, I will take this opportunity and run with it....better start getting prepared and my interview outfit ready now because I have to rock that interview! I feel excited and honored to interview with them and am crossing my fingers that it all works out! So Jordan and I will be celebrating my one success for the week because it totally overshadows the other let downs and we are celebrating Jordan completing school and officially being done as a STUDENT! He rocks and is going to be a phenomenal teacher! Here's to one heck of a three day weekend and as always, I hope your's is full of love and laughter! This weeks Friday Funnies is dedicated to some comical football events...since the Superbowl is around the corner, I am embracing all of the football that I can before it's gone until the fall!

image via Google

Invisible and imaginary girlfriends are the best girlfriends. Right, Manti?!

Tebow, better step up your game otherwise Tebowing will be long forgotten.

NFL Bad Lip Reading...So THAT's what they were saying!

You got an orange peanut for me? Wow! I found Fido! I found Fido!

some serious hump day blues....

The rejections continue and my list of internship opportunities are quickly diminishing. Combine that with non-stop stress, worry and anxiety about it along with not sleeping and eating well and that all adds up to one run-down sick me. Ugh. This has got to be the most frustrating, upsetting, difficult process to navigate and work through. I would gladly take wedding planning any day over all of this in case I haven't already mentioned that! I know it "will all work out how it's supposed to" but I am sick of hearing that. Patience is a virtue and my patience is running thin at this point....something has got to give! I may have some hospitals crossed off my list but I still have options left so I will stay positive for those and hopeful until it's the end of it all! As for me, I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon posted up on the couch napping and cuddling with Paisley! That's the best cure to get rid of any sort of blues!

and may the odds be ever in my favor....

Well, here they are. All of my hard work and countless hours poured into my internship applications all sealed up and ready to go. The top picture is what my life has looked like for the past two weeks trying to get everything completely finalized and organized. I had a very systematic way of doing each application packet and I triple checked each envelope to make sure I had included everything. It was a great sigh of relief today as I mailed them off but now a whole other set of panic and anxiety has set in....there is SO much riding on the line for these internship applications. I have applied to 12 and all it takes is 1 offer. Just ONE! That is all I need and want! As of right now, this trumps any wedding stress and worries I ever went through because I knew the wedding was still going to happen no matter what. This is a whole other playing field! Well all I can do now is wait until I hear from each hospital and hope for the best and an interview to start with! I will be sleeping with all my fingers and toes crossed for the next four weeks and trying to keep my attitude positive about the next step of the internship process! Now it is definitely time for a drink and to relax for awhile...poor Jordan and Paisley have been getting the brunt of my stress and completely ignored for the past 48 hours as I was on edge and trying to finalize everything. Thankfully Jordan knew it wasn't anything personal and just the stress and nerves talking....I'm lucky he is so patient! Time to get a cold one and enjoy some snuggling to a movie as we enjoy this lazy weekend together!