I survived the snow!! And some other stuff...

So I survived yet another snow here in Virginia!  This time it was a little nicer having the hubby here with me in case something happened.  Last time I had to dig us out all by myself!

I'm not sure what is worse, digging a vehicle out of the snow or digging a vehicle's garage so you can drive out.  Garages are big.  Either way we had to shovel on Thursday AND Friday morning since it decided to snow two days in a row.  How exciting.  Now there are just piles and piles of snow everywhere!

I'm sure you've seen plenty of snow pics, but I'm gonna show you mine anyway.  HA!

Before the madness began!

This is what we woke up to!

After a shovel!

This was WITH my back door...open! 

After the Wednesday night snow...before the second one

Our walk to the nearest RedBox

Why you ask we walked to the nearest RedBox?  Well we rented two movies the night before the snowfall.  I wanted to return them the next day to avoid an extra charge.  And I kinda wanted to get out of the house!!  It was a cold walk to the nearest one, which is only about 1/4 mile.  Starbucks was closed.  I was upset!

But you know who LOVED the snow???  My four legged baby Oscar!

Who me?

Today I had my pre-op appointment for my surgery in two weeks.  The doctor seems pretty confident I will get most of my mobility back in my finger.  I'm excited about getting it done.  I will be awake throughout the procedure and he even promised I could look!  He also wants me awake so I can make a fist for him to be sure that he didn't do any damage to my tendons.  I'm thinking I'm gonna ask him to take pics if he can after he opens me up.  How cool would that be?  To see in the inside of my joint capsule...I'm getting giddy just thinking about it.  Maybe I should be a OR nurse?  Hmmm.

I've started running again since the PF seems to be getting better.  I ran a whole 6 miles last week!  I ran 3 today in the snow covered sidewalks.  Running in snow is a beast.  I get nervous about slipping, but I made it just fine.  I'm still biking, and even added rowing back into the mix.  Rowing is proving to be difficult because of my lack of grip on the right hand.  I'm still gonna do it though, I need to row.

You know what's best about running inside when it's 10 degrees out?

SHORTS!!!!!!!

I had to resort to a treadmill run on Thursday!

I'm still juicing it up.  I actually had an in depth conversation with a fellow nursing student last week about being a vegetarian and juicing.  He disagrees with juicing, I don't.  He was quite passionate about it too.  I told him we will just agree to disagree.  People are entitled to their own opinions.  I heard him out, he heard me out, and we are still buddies.  He had an interesting story though, after changing to a vegan diet, he lost 100 lbs about a year ago.  He is still quite obsessed about calories though.  When we were discussing shakes, I told him I use coconut milk and he told me to "watch those calories".  I'm not concerned with calories, I've never been much of a calorie counter, but I do totally understand where he is coming from.  I think it's amazing when people lose that amount of weight.  Diet is way more important than exercise, although you need both to be successful.

So did you get snowed in?

And what do you do when you can't exercise outside AND you can't leave the house?

I'm pretty lucky to have a small gym in our basement, so I usually reluctantly go down there, but I'd much rather be outside!

Tuesday Tibits!

It is Tuesday...right?

My baby brother had a baby almost 2 weeks ago.  It is weird to think that my baby brother who is 8 years younger than me had a baby.  I knew he'd have a kid one day, but I didn't realize how much I would want to be there until it was all said and done.  I just figured I would just be happy with pics and texts and go on about my day.  It was like that for the other nieces and nephews, but this one was different, this one was MY baby brothers baby.  Kinda like my flesh and blood.  Although nursing school has me busy, I still think about him often, and love the pics they send me all the time.  I feel a little bit closer, even if I can't be there, he kinda makes me feel like I am.

Wanna meet the adorable little fella??  I thought so...

School is going good.  I am exhausted most of the time mentally and physically.  I go to bed around 8:30-9:00 most evenings, sneak in a nap or two, and I don't see my family much.  I know soon (86 days to be exact) it will be over.  Only to start my next degree in the summer.  I have a plan to be finished with my at least my masters by 40, will I make it?  I dunno.

Here is L, she's one of my nursing besties!

It is supposed to snow here like it did in 2009.  I was here in 2009, alone.  My hubby was deployed and I was here for the event of the century.  This morning they said on the news, "we haven't seen this type of snow storm in 5 years"  I thought to myself, dang 5 years?  Already?  I've lived here for 5 years?  I haven't lived anywhere that long since I was a child!  That's awesome!  Hahaha.  In the midst of a possible snow storm, I'm thinking about how long I've lived in Virginia.  Crazy.

Not too scary...right?

I ran yesterday for the first time in weeks!!  I have been battling PF for some time, and I couldn't take it any longer.  I forgot how running makes me do the #2 almost immediately.  I need to be more prepared next time!

My running partner Stephanie is afraid of the cold.  She doesn't like to be cold, so we haven't run together in almost a month.  I think it is because I have extra insulation on my body and she doesn't, so she may be colder than me.  She's an itty bitty thing!!  (Steph, I totally know you're reading this in hopes you'll decide to go with me!!)  I get it, it IS cold, even colder when we try to run, and dark.  But come on!!  I miss you!!!

So that is a brief update.  I'm kinda putting off studying for my OB exam scheduled for Thursday in hopes that is snows a ton and I cannot leave my house for days!

What do you buy at the grocery store before a big storm?

I'm going tomorrow to get spinach (for smoothies) and other fruits and veggies to make juices!!  Target has been out of milk for the past day, but we don't drink milk, so we are good.  And I bought bread a few days ago.  Why is it that people buy milk and bread?  I don't understand!

What I do on a Saturday morning...

Yup. I'm at the library. Studying. 

What do you do for fun on a Saturday morning because I'm sure it's better than this!!! 

Humble

Yesterday I had my pediatric rotation at the local hospital.  I love peds, it is my passion, I feel in my element when I'm on that floor tending to the sickly kids.  Kids are awesome.  You can be silly, and they love it!!!

Yesterday was a little different for me.  I've dealt mostly with kids that were in a clinic and I've nursed their wounds, gave them shots to keep them healthy, and did a lot of parent teaching.

I've been so excited about working on the peds floor, and even applied to the floor.  I still want to work there one day (I was totally turned down on my first application to the floor).

Yesterday, while my 18 yr old patient was sleeping, I cared for a four week old baby that had open heart surgery to repair a defect she was born with. The nurse asked me to check on her, and I gladly went in to discover she was whimpering under her blanket, so I did what any nurse would, I picked her up and held her.

I held that little baby in my arms until she fell asleep and went to the computer to find out what exactly was wrong with her.  She has Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect, and she is also addicted to methadone.  And her parents are no where to be found.

She's only four weeks old.

I went back in the room to find her whimpering again, so I fed her, changed her diaper, and rocked her to sleep again.

As I'm rocking this tiny bundle of joy, I'm reminded of the first time I held my son.  I remember him being so much bigger than her, and how he looked at me with the same look she gave me as she dozed off to sleep.  As I lay her down back in her crib, I have to wonder who would leave this baby alone in a hospital.  Not this momma, that's for sure.

I came home from a long 10 hour clinical day and gave my son a huge hug.  I told him how happy I am to have him, and that I will never leave him.  (Poor kid didn't know what to think).

I often take for granted that my kid is healthy, my husband is awesome, and my doggies are happy and healthy.

Even though yesterday was tough on me mentally, I know I'm meant to work with kids in some way for the rest of my life.  I know that all that baby needed was love yesterday.  That is all.  Love.

The Beatles said it best, "All you need is love, love.  Love is all you need"

Yup, I'm still here!!!

So.  Hmm.  Where to begin.  I've been super occupied with school for the past several months, but this semester seems to be a little less hard.  Well if you can consider nursing school any less hard than it already is.  Not really.  But I am studying two of my most favorite subject this semester, pediatrics and obstetrics.  I know a thing or two about those subjects, so I can take a little time off from school and give you an update of me over the past 4 months.  It hasn't been the best, but oh well.

Medical:

So on September 21st I ran in a race and broke my finger (I think I wrote about this...)

Well I had surgery on September 30th and had to have my joint relocated and external pins placed to help my finger heal.  Well things didn't go as planned.

I ended up getting an infection at one of the pin sites.  I had to have my cast removed and replaced with another one.  One round of antibiotics and I was on my way to recovery.

I got my cast off, then had to wear a cool (not really) splint until I got my pins out.  I did some therapy at this time too.

With my super cool pins...

Pins out!!!!

After my November check up, the doctor was highly disappointed in the lack of mobility I have in my pinky finger.  Since it is my right hand, and I use my hands to make a living, he suggested highly intensive therapy 3 times a week for 2 hours each day for one month.  I suffered through all of my therapy only to not see much improvement and now I'm scheduled to have another surgery over my spring break to remove all of the scar tissue that has accumulated in my joints.  I am not a happy camper to say the least.  So basically the first day of my break I will be going under the knife again and have a rather large incision on my hand.  I will begin therapy that week to improve my mobility, and he is highly hopeful I will regain all of my motion pre injury.  That's nice I suppose!

After my surgery in September, the government shut down, and well, lets just say that the hubby got to spend some time with me while I was recovering from surgery.  I'm kinda glad he was there, but highly stressed he wasn't working.  It was not a good time.  At all.

He went back to work after a short break though and things got better!

School:

School was highly stressful last semester.  I managed to pull all B's, so it wasn't all bad, but there were many late nights studying and early morning clinical.  I was so ready for a break.  I saw lots of cool stuff, and I was happy to be there most days.  I felt like I lived on coffee for an entire semester.  And I'm NOT a coffee drinker.  This semester is turning out to be a high coffee intake one as well.  Maybe I could see about getting an IV to just hook myself up.

This was on the cardiac floor I worked on!!  LOVE it!!!!

Super hero twinkie nurses!!!!!

My clinical group (with our instructor)!  These people are my rocks!

The night before my advanced med surg final, I played poker...don't judge me.

Running:

There hasn't been much running lately due to my plantar fasciitis.  I'm not a happy camper.  I've been taking time off and switched to minimalist shoes only and things have gotten much better.  My running partner and I are still running, and I enjoy that the most!  She had surgery in December, and took four weeks off, so we are slowly getting back into it.  I think the time off helped my feet heal, and I'm in a lot less pain.  When someone says they have plantar fasciitis please know they are in a constant PAIN!!!  I could not believe just how painful it is!!

I ran a race in December with Stephanie.  It was mostly trail, but I didn't know that until we were already on the trail!!  As soon as we hit the trail I almost froze.  I told Stephanie to go ahead, but she refused.  She said that she would stick with me, regardless!  She's super awesome like that.  (She also stated that she wasn't going to leave me in case I fell again!!  haha)  We did it super fast though finishing in 25:20!  What?!?! That's like an 8:10 minute pace...ON A TRAIL!!!!

Before 

After, she is blocking the sun, not saluting our camera guy

The running buddy and I have occasionally been running trails, so my fear of trails is slowly going away.  Kinda.

Since I've cut most running out, I have been biking like crazy 5 days a week, putting it around 60 miles a week.

Health:

Well like most people, I've made the resolution to eat better.  But this year I've taken it more seriously than I ever had.  There is a possible awesome trip with some super awesome peeps after graduation, and well, lets just say, she has an awesome body, and I don't need my body to be crap on a beach next to her.... (Motivation!!!)

I've been meat free since January 1st!!  I feel much better!

I'm also sooooo proud of the hubby!  He's saying no to meat for most of the week!!!

We bought a juicer also.  Now we aren't crazy juicers, but I do replace 1-2 meals each day with juice though.

Our fist attempt at this!!!

From this...

To this!

I have done lots of research online and with real people who juice.  I didn't buy one for the fear I'd be hungry or wouldn't feel good.  But honestly, I feel amazing.  I sleep better, I feel better, and I can almost say I look better.

The hubby and I did a three day sugar detox starting on the first.  Umm.  That was difficult for me.  Lots of feeling like crap and lots of headaches.  I did manage to pull through and I've eliminated all processed sugar from my diet, AND I'm feeling pretty dang awesome.

So that's me in a nutshell for the past four months.  It hasn't been all awesome, but hey, it's my life and I'm living it the best way I know how.  And I'm sure I've missed some stuff, so maybe I'll do a follow up...

So what have y'all been up to?!?!

Nearly Wordless Wednesday...

Shiloh Thompson Benefit 5K and a surgery...

Saturday morning I raced in a full road 5K, and I honestly don't remember the last time I ran one!!  I always run the 4 the Wounded 5K, but it is part trail, so I'm not sure it justifies as a road 5K, let's say it doesn't.

Anyway, my typing still frustrates me since I'm still broken, so I'll be brief...

I ran with my running buddy that I've been running with for the past month or so.  We agreed to run together since we are the same pace.  She knew I wanted a PR, so she hung with me to push me when the hills got bigger and bigger.

The first mile was pretty good, we were going pretty strong, then the first hill came...then the second one at mile two...but we pushed through it all.  Not making much convo like we usually do in the morning, just hanging in there.

It was in a residential neighborhood, with some awesome views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  We were the second and third female for a while, then we ran past a woman at mile 2, but then we got passed by another woman right after, but we held on until the end and placed 2nd and 3rd overall female!!!  What?!?!  Yeah, I got 2nd place overall!!!!!!  (The elite runners decided to sleep in!!!!)  S (running partner) was right with me, they have her at 1 second behind me, but we crossed together, but that's cool, 'cause she really doesn't care!

I got a free 30 day gym membership, an awesome cold/heat pack, and water bottle for being 2nd (1st place got the same thing).  Because they only had 1st and 2nd, S ended up being 1st in our age group and got a hoodie from our local running shop and the same cold/heat pack!  SCHWWEEETTT!!!

These are our splits:
1 mile:  7:55
2 mile:  8:15
3 mile:  8:21
.10 mile:  6:37

25:00 total

Average 8:04 pace.

Yeah, we kicked some serious butt!!!  S said she has never ran that fast for a 5K, and I said me neither!!!  We are a pretty good team fo sho!!  We already have plans running our local 10K mid October and maybe a half in November, if I can talk her into it...

Want to hear something else funny?  S and I wore basically the same thing at the race, and we both didn't realize it until she texted me the pics, how funny is that?

With my race swag

S and I, unintentional twinkies!

Dexter and I, he's such a gentle giant!!

So I have surgery scheduled for tomorrow on my finger.  Tuesday at the ortho, they took more X-rays and discovered it is a clean break and dislocated.  In order for my finger to heal properly, it will require a pin to straighten it.  Who knew a pinky finger could cause so much trouble??

Send good vibes tomorrow about 1045 eastern time, that's when I go under the knife!

(This post seriously took me 45 min to type, you should be happy!!)