How we met

Patrick and I met in July of 2000, it was our friend's birthday. Patrick had just moved back to a town that he had moved away from as a child. A few years prior, I had moved to this town of Fayetteville and was attending the school that he attended as a child, College Lakes Christian Academy. While at this school, I was making friends with his childhood friends that he had left behind, and in July of 2000 our worlds would collide. Although we did not know it at the time, we would never be the same. This mutual friend went to a Japanese restaurant for her birthday and I remember introducing myself to him, but he was the quite type and did not say much. After dinner, they took a picture of the whole group. I love this picture, because not many couples have a picture from the day that they first saw each other. It would take us another year and a half to start dating. Of course, there was the occasional flirtatious glare or chat, but at the time we both were unavailable so we were strictly friends. Patrick graduated and left for basic training in the US Army, during this time we started writing letters to each other, as friends. When Patrick returned home, he then started college at North Carolina State University and I still had another year left at College Lakes to finish high school. Patrick and his girlfriend had already gone their separate ways but me and my boyfriend of three years were in the process of going our separte ways. So my senior year was a huge emotional roller coaster for me. My friends were mad at me for breaking up with what they thought was a great guy for a guy that they thought would just be a fling, that would eventually be flung! Haha Boy, were they wrong. Not only friends but family too. My mom and grandmother especially they hated the fact of me dumping what they thought would be the perfect son-in-law, because he was student government president, starter on the football team, writer for the local newspaper, and in college to become a lawyer. But all these things did not matter to me. I was starting to find more meaningful things in Patrick. One of the more important characteristics, Patrick is a Christian and believes the same things I believe. Over Christmas break (when Patrick came home from college), our friendship developed into something more. And from then on, we were planning ways to see each other more and more. Which leads me to our first kiss, it was after we had finished watching Autumn in New York, but I will leave all the juicy details to your imagination. Wink, wink! I often joke, because this same night I had made a home-made apple pie for home economics class. So I guess food is the way to a man's heart. And the rest is history. We now have been married 3 almost 4 years. We are truly happily married and still remain best friends and love spending every day together, and are looking forward to the building of our family in the future. Just a note the picture is from our honeymoon.

Back on...finally!

It has been a while since I have been able to watch my favorite show, Notes from the Underbelly. Two weeks ago, the state of the union address by the President was on, then last week some special was on. So, I am so happy to be watching... Right now! Tonight is the best episode so far. They (Lauren and Andrew) finally had their baby! If you have not been watching, the first episode is about a couple trying to get pregnant and to their surprise it happens on the first try. And the first season has been about big milestones during their pregnancy. Watching the show really excites me about being pregnant. But I know that time will come when it is time. Anyway, it is a very funny, sweet show. While watching Notes from the Underbelly, I saw an commercial for Here Come the Newly Weds which also looks pretty funny.

Another day in the Valley...

I say the Valley, because I work at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and today was a long day. My day usually starts around 4:50 am arrive at work 5:50 am then from 6:00-6:30 listen to report from the night shift then 6:30-7:00 I check my patient's chart looking at most recent orders and progress notes from night shift to see if anything happened over night that I didn't get in report and reading the patient's medical history and last vital signs. Then on days when I work on the floor, like today (some days I work as team nurse then my role is different), I go to each patient's room to check on them and get vital signs and then since I work in a spinal cord rehad unit I have to get all my patients washed, dressed, and fed before their therapy at 9:00 am. So between 7:00 and 9:00 I am running between rooms like crazy, all this and only one or two patients can actually stand. I am moving men and women who are two times my weight. After I get my patients to therapy, hopefully on time, then I can help with doctors orders such as starting IV lines, changing dressings, catherize if needed, because not all patients with a spinal cord injury can empty their bladder, and take out staples like today, because we get a lot of patients that have had back surgery, CABG surgery, and knee amputions. I usually may get 15-20 minutes lunch then I help feed patients that can't feed themselves and tiolet these patients before they head back to therapy again. If we get any admissions these patients usually come around 2:00 pm which is when evening shift comes in, but since I work 12 hour shifts I don't leave until 6:30 pm. Today I was the lucky nurse that had 2 admissions and 5 patients to care for, which is A LOT of paperwork (2 head to toe assessment that are completely written out and complete medical history as well as writing out the medications each patients are on for the doctor). First admission came at 2:00 pm and I finished that one around 3:00 so I then took care of my 5 patients putting the ones that were finished with therapy back into bed and getting them comfortable. Then my next admission of course comes at 5:40 pm just 20 minutes away from giving the nurse who comes in behind me, report. So I start this one too, working very quickly to pass the time, I pretty much finish right at 6:30 pm and quickly update the nurse and clock-out, only to continue to worry about all my patients and wonder if I charted everything and did I complete my patient's FIM scores ( functional improvement measurement used by rehab units to get paid by insurance companies)? Did I write my progress note (one has to be written every shift)? A nurse's day never ends, even at home you hope your patients are doing well and hope that you remember to tell the on-coming nurse everything that was important and what didn't get done. A long post but many ask what I do so this is a small portion.

First Time! From Dec07

Just a note. I found this old post it was my first post but I thought I had lost it, because the internet went down after typing it and I didn't realize it saved it until today. Still think it is worth posting. This is obviously my first time posting a blog and not sure what to post, so I will start with what is most important to me, God, church, and Patrick. Tonight at church we had a message about the prudent husband or wife and how you can go to places i.e. church, school, college, and even oline dating services but none can guarantee a prudent mate, that can only come from the Lord. So I just wanted to express my thankfulness to God that He blessed me with such a wonderful man. Everyday at work, I hear my peers talk bad about their spouse and I do not know the situation completely, but I know that I have never nor would I ever say such things of Patrick. I my heart breaks that these women do not have this bond with their husbands, someone that is their best friend and leader of the home. It is sad to me that many women treat their husbands as another child in the home