On the mend...

End of week three of classes and I am starting to frazzle a little. I thank the heavens above for me starting an ADN program last fall! It makes about 70% of all the stuff I am 'learning' now sort of like a review. I can't imagine the stress of it being ALL new... it's a lot. In the life side of things, my house is a wreck and there are piles of laundry to be done. I have LONG days on campus and by the time I get home I just want to relax. Relaxing is short lived due to the ever lasting need to study or review something. Just today I left my house at 8am and got home at 7pm, all for the love of nursing. They don't lie when they say nursing is not for the weak! Tests start next week and I feel pretty confident about some and less on others. Guess I should break down and really focus. I am aiming for A's so I can hold a high enough GPA throughout my nursing school to graduate with honor's, but we will see how far I get with that. No better way to 'beef' up that resume than to have 'Honors' for your BSN....as many employer's base new hires on GPA status : /

This past week and a half has been extremely trying. I am just now getting over what seemed to be the MOST painful otitis externa I have had in a really really long time. For those of you who do not know what that is, it is an outer ear infection, or 'swimmer's ear'. If you have never had one, feel lucky. Your whole ear canal swells and hurts like the Fire of Hades is residing somewhere down in there with the little devil in there stabbing his tiny pitchfork repeatedly into your tympanic membrane. It got so bad I couldn't even chew, or bite down for that matter, without a tremendous amount of pain. The swelling had traveled down my neck and all around my jaw. Apparently when it started I chocked it up to jaw pain related to my TMJ and it just continued to get worse and worse. Thankfully Student Wellness at UTMB fixed me up. Took a couple times, as the first prescription I had a reaction to and caused even MORE pain....go figure. I am finally recovering and all is well except for a slight muffle I still have. I have been told it will go away eventually, but I am starting to worry.

Oh and as for the diet thing...I am still 'easing' into it... 5 pounds down and still 30 to go. Only 91 days left to do it in too....

What a 'Crap'py Weekend...

This past Friday night was a crazy one. It all started with a quick beer after my hubby got off work. I met him at a local bar for a beer, which soon turned into 2, 3, then 4. We decided to go home so at least he could change from his work clothes. When we got home we started calling around to different people we knew to see what was going on around town.... Soon to find out that no one was really up to anything exciting we headed off to a cook-off that was hosted by some of his coworkers. Since it was a whopping 40 degrees out, we only stayed a short while, but did manage to scarf down about a half dozen ribs each and a few more cervezas. They were the most delicious, almost frozen, ribs I ever had, I might add! We got in the car and headed home. Somehow the idea of gambling came up. Next thing you know we are piling ourselves, our pillows and an overnight bag into the car and headed to Lake Charles, LA. 

We ended up at Isle of Capri where we each took our spots at a Craps table. I ended up playing about 18 hours straight.... It really didn't seem that long, as the beers flowed and the dice rolled.  I managed to double my $250 into $500 in that time frame and got my meal 'comp'ed at the end of my run... Sureley I consumed about 24 beers so that would have been a hefty tab had it not been free. Nick on the other hand, lost quite a bit, but did manage to finagle a free junior suite out of the mess. It was quite nice having a big room to go shower and crash in knowing I didn't pay the $200 a night going rate.  Apparently he just stumbled to the check in counter and drunkenly spat out, " I. Need. Sleep." and according to him, his head, that was propped up by his hand then slipped out and his face smacked the desk. He looked pretty pathetic and I am sure that we got the room out of either sheer pity, or for fear he was a lawsuit waiting to happen if he left. Either way that room was awesome and it was ALL free.

The weekend was a blur of alcohol, chips and dice. A total blast if you ask me!  I must say that Craps really is the 'King of the Casino' ! It is so much fun and tremendously addicting, especially when your winning. If you ever have the chance to learn it, I HIGHLY recommend it. Fun for all to be had. Back to the real world we go. 

On the nursing school side of things, my first week went great! Im making friends and all is well so far. Its a little intimidating, but I think I can manage. Labs start this week and we picked our clinical sites as well. I managed to get my top choice of Saturdays at UTMB. Its going to really suck not having my Saturdays  practically all semester (8 of them to be exact), but at least I won't be completely unproductive with school matters on the weekends now. My schedule is so obnoxious to explain that I won't even bother to try to explain...maybe some other time. Long story short I have 2 days off during the week every other week because I chose the Saturday clinicals. 

Guess I should get some sleep...going to be a long day tomorrow back in the real world. 

The Big day...

Tomorrow begins day 1 of my 15 month sentence in nursing school. It truly is hard to imagine that it will only be 15 months and I will be out and about in my career. Its been a LONG road to this point, and I have heard that was the easy part...YIKES! Ready or not here it comes!

I spent my weekend relaxing and ignored the 'reading assignments'. Not a great way to start this adventure I know, but figure I have Tuesday and Wednesday to catch up and I wanted to have some calm before the storm so to speak. Schedule is Monday and Thursday 9-4 ( Pathophysiology & Intro to Nursing on Monday and Health Assessment & Adult 1 on Thursday) with a 1 hour lunch. And that's JUST for lecturing!  Lab will be every other Tuesday and Wednesday for 4 hours, either 8-12 or 12-4 depending on which group I am in. Clinicals will either be the opposing Tues/Wed of Labs for 8 hours a day OR every Saturday for 10 hours a day for 8 weeks. I haven't fully decided on which I am going to 'try' to get...but I a leaning towards the Saturday one. My husband proves to be quite the distraction, so if I do my clinical on Saturday, I can spend more free time during the week studying, while he is at work. Its all done on a chance, but we can put in our top 3 picks... So here's hoping.

Orientation was last week (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday).....a bit informative, but overall was lengthy and boring.... The best part of all 3 days were getting my badge and parking situation figured out. It was nice to have some time to meet my classmates. We already have quite the group going. Its going to be interesting to say the least.

Other than the nursing school going on, my diet is in full swing. I had a couple 'cheat' moments...but I chalk it up to "easing" into the diet... Its hard to go from fast food and restaurants all the time to grilled chicken and lettuce all of a sudden, but I am down about 3 pounds, so it is a good start. I plan on getting on the workout train this week so  it should start to disappear faster.

That is all for now. Off to get my books, notes and lunch together for tomorrow. Its going to be the longest Monday I have had in a LONG time.

The Plan...

High protein/Low calorie intake, combined with Hydroxycut, to help curb my appetite, and a cardio intense exercise with some strength training... 4 months...40 pounds to go.  Hubby and I cleaned out the pantry and fridge last night and are on the road to skinny!I am taking my now pictures and measurements tonight. I won't be posting those until April though. My self esteem just doesn't allow it. 

Also, I just got wind of a volleyball league at UTMB that I might possibly be able to join in on if my schedule allows. Speaking of my schedule. I still don't have it! I'm registered for my classes... and know the section numbers, but still no days and or times.... Kind of frustrating if you ask me. Makes it really hard to make plans. Especially workout plans. Its just a matter of time now.

A new year, a new me...

I need a plan...2 days into the new year 2012 and I am not feeling so new. I am bound and determined to get this year going strong. The day after tomorrow marks day 1 of nursing orientation and then 1 week from today marks day 1 of nursing school at UTMB.  

I need a plan...

A goal without a plan is just a wish!