For The Love Of Everything

What An AMAZING Decade!!!!

Wow. I love a new year! I love thinking back over the year, seeing the highs and lows, planning for the future....but this year is special. A DECADE to look back over. Ahhhh.

I remember exactly 10 years ago getting my Y2K stuff all set out and ready. You KNOW I had a stock pile of can goods together. ;) Jer and I were newly married. Not even married a full year yet. Ahhh, young love. I was 23 years old, just a youngin'. We had a golden retriever puppy and in just a few months would be finding out that we were expecting our first little girl. 

I wish I could remember what I was thinking. I need to go pull my old journals out. I would have NEVER thought I would have two little girls 20 months apart. I can PROMISE you that I would have NEVER thought I would go through nursing school and better yet, BE a nurse! That's just so funny to me.

What else? Well. Opening Scrap Etc....Wow! It was just like the birth of another child in a way. So much fun, lots of work, big dreams, mess ups, life lessons, money made, money lost. Seeing my strengths and weaknesses in a whole new light....no regrets though, I am glad that chapter was there.

Beginning to attend Church of the Highlands. OH MY GOODNESS, and then Jer getting a job there....HELLO! Feeling like our relationship with the Lord has just deepened in so many ways. Truely understanding that it's NOT how much we pray or how much we read our Bible, that we can just go to Him whenever, wherever, with whatever. I have COMPLETE trust in Him, knowing that whatever happens He will not fail me. He is FOR me. He loves me for me. He loves me despite my failures, my weaknesses. He is full of grace and mercy. I just look at Him in a whole new light.

Homeschooling the girls. I can PROMISE you that was not on my list of things to do when I rang in the year 2000. Wow. About as funny as me being a nurse. But OH MY GOODNESS, how I know that it's right for us now.

I knew we would be HUGE Disney fans and love to travel. That's about the only thing that's not a complete shocker of this past decade.

On a low note for the past ten years. We lost our home and a car. Talk about a MAJOR pride killer. That'll do it every time. But I think it's one of the best things that happened to us in the last ten years, besides having our two girls....and I'm being serious!

So many things. This post could be quite lengthy, so I will stop here. I am happy with the last ten years. I can't think of anything I would change...not even the low points. Not one single thing.

I have lots of thoughts for the new year, the new decade. I shall share them tomorrow....and depending on if I get cancelled tomorrow, I am REALLY wanting to share a tour of our new home. But, I would REALLY love to work and get that time and a half. ;)

I hope you all (and i am probably just talking to my grandmother and maw maw), :) have the most fantastic start to your new year...your new decade!!!!

A Quick Post...

I'm trying to make sure I keep posting on this blog here, even if I think it's pretty boring with all the work talk. ANYWAY.....

Yesterday was a good day. It started off CRAZY...I mean like, everything that could go wrong with the first patient I saw, but I finally recovered from it by about 6pm...it then started to slow down a bit. I'm learning that I am only one person and that I can't do more than one person can do. AND I'm learning to prioritize which patients come before others, like a person with a ridiculously high blood pressure comes before the patient needing cream for dried cracked nipples, that could have been way too much info than you wanted to hear, but it's the truth. So anyway, it's a learning process.

I am 6 for 6 on drawing blood...I have no clue when I will stop keeping up with that number, I mean like 2 years from now I can't still be blogging, "I'm 245 for 245 on drawing blood, I mean you never know, I could, but I doubt it. I still pray EVERY time before I go in the room. Last night I was able to go by myself in the room to draw blood, (I am SO growing up and becoming a big girl), AND I have to say that I couldn't SEE the vein, but I could feel it, anyway, I didn't get a flashback of blood right away, and I was getting a little nervous, the patient then says, you are probably going to have to stick me again, don't worry, I'm use to it, they usually never get it the first time, to which I replied in my head...."Ummm, hey God, let's talk about this, I asked for your help to get this on the first stick, help a girl out", I moved the needle a little, and what do you know...there came the blood, THANK YOU LORD!!! WoooHoooo.

So that's about it. Not much else going on. I am becoming less and less of a morning person it seems the past few days. And I  have NO motivation to clean the house, seeing that we are about to move, I'm keeping it pretty messed up with boxes and such. I am SO ready to be closer to work.

Alright. I need to get ready for work. I hope you have the MOST AMAZING day EVER.

Monique

Another Example of How Time Flies....

If there is one thing about my new job that I am reminded of every day is that TIME FLIES. I am sure you all know, but my brother and I are 11 years apart. He was born at Brookwood, and I remember SO clearly looking at him through the glass windows in the nursery and him on the little warmer...he is now in college, and I promise you EVERY time I go in the nursery and look at those warmers I have a MAJOR flashback. It's so crazy.

Of course seeing little babies EVERY day makes me remember how small the girls use to be...and how fast they have grown up.

But Friday night I had another one of those, "OH MY GOODNESS TIME FLIES" moment. I was walking down the hall and I heard, "Monique McCormick"....I look up and recognize the face, and she says, hey, I'm, so and so, and I am so and so's daughter....(I went to church with her growing up). It's probably been a good13 or 14 years since I have seen her, and she said, my daughter just had a baby. I immediately knew who her daughter was, I remember how cute she was, the last time I saw her she was probably Alyssa's age...and then she said, Oh, here she comes...as they are rolling her down the hall it was SO crazy....I mean, it was her, that little girl, but, well, she wasn't little anymore, she was a mom, holding her baby...for some crazy reason I was having to fight back tears...it was just another moment that made me realize how quickly time passes, how my girls will be moms one day...quicker than I think.

So with all that said, I have been trying to make sure that even if I am not scrapbooking as much as I would like to, I am trying to take pictures, do some videos, get back to updating the girls' blogs....I just don't want to miss a minute.

I hope you all  have the MOST AMAZING start to your week. In other work news, I am now 5 for 5 on drawing blood. I think that means I can now go in and do this on my own without my preceptor in there with me...I think. I also think I have about another 4 weeks left before I am REALLY on my own. I just have to go through admitting and discharging patients....and then I'm good to go. I spent some time on the phone this weekend with a lady I met through the store who is now in nursing school, and can I tell you....WOW, that was a CRAZY time in my life, and I'm SO glad it's over. I told her over and over, that NO ONE understands what you are going through unless they have been through nursing school....I do have to say that it is pretty much TORTURE. But anyway, I had a lot of thoughts from that conversation, just about confidence, and such...and I would love to get into all that now, but, well, it's 1:30am, and I have GOT to start going to bed earlier. I will be glad when my sleep schedule gets back to normal. FOR THE LOVE............

Okay, out of here, good night. :) Have a great Monday.

Monique

Encourage Someone Today....

I know, three posts in one day. But I just received an email from someone who's words encouraged me SO SO much. Remember my b'day post and the "power" of our words. I challenge you to "encourage" someone today. A friend, a family member, a random stranger....just encourage someone.

Okay, I must get ready for work...I'm slacking BIG time today.

See ya.

Monique

31...What A Year of Change.

I normally like doing a post of 30 things I learned while I was 30, or this year....31 things I learned while 31....but I decided to do something a little different. I just want to hit some KEY things I learned this year. So bare with me.....

This has been quite a year of change for me. I believe that I was starting to figure all this out about the time I turned 31. All this came about when I finally started just acknowledging the Lord in what I did day to day. I can honestly say that if you told me this time last year that I would have sold the store and be nursing in just a year's time...well I would have laughed at you....or I might have been relieved in a weird way. I just read through my post "30 Things I Learned While 30", and I think that was really the foundation that saw us through this past year. But it's funny, because I had NO CLUE how much things were going to change.

Change. Change is hard. Change brings out MAJOR insecurities...at least in me it does. Change is new, it's unknown. Change can be confusing and scary. Change works on your character. Change reveals things about yourself, that maybe you just never knew were there. Change...my year was filled with it. I am thankful for change. I'm still a little confused, but I am CONFIDENT in the fact that the Lord is NOT confused. Crazy huh?

Insecurities.....I think this year any insecurity that was hiding anywhere inside of me showed itself. I really never thought of myself as an insecure person. I felt like I was a "people" person, I loved "people". I was a dreamer. Some what of a risk taker (maybe not a good thing)...I felt as if I was pretty good at building a team that worked together and got along. I felt like I was a good "leader"...but boy oh boy, that change stuff I mentioned above, yep, brought the insecurity right to the surface.

"Words" are a powerful thing. Man, words truly bring "life" or "death". I had a situation happen this past year that I can honestly say blew me out of the water. Words spoken to me that still to this day when I think about it, makes a sick feeling rise in my stomach. Words that have made me HIGHLY insecure about forming any type of friendship. I mean, I even asked Jer if I just could just please never have friends, EVER again. I'm not joking. I have prayed about the situation. Tried learning from the situation...but what I finally had to realize is this....my approval, my security, who I am, can ONLY be found in the Lord. I will hurt people, I mean, heck, I hope I don't...but I'm not perfect, but I allowed the situation and the fear of me "hurting" someone again, keep me from forming ANY new friendships or "closer" friendships. I've tried posting this several times over the past year....and I just end up erasing it....but it is a key thing that has really played a huge role in my insecurities this year.

So, with all that said...this may seem like a "downer" post...but really, it's not. You see, we will always face change, we will always face the unknown, we will always face insecurities, we will always have to deal with people. I just learned this year, that if we put our hope, our trust in the Lord (I know that sounds SO the Christian thing to say) but FOR REAL, He will make it all okay. Our security needs to be found in Him...now this is a work in progress for me. I can't say I've mastered it...but I'm working towards it.

This was my prayer for 31:

My prayer for 31 is that I keep my focus on Him. That I would grow in my relationship with the Lord. That I will keep Him number one. That I would be quick to hear His voice. That I would have a passion for His word. That I would be a good example to my girls. That I would have a clear vision of all that He has called me to do. That I would dream bigger dreams, go to higher heights. That my relationship with Jeremiah would become even stronger. That I would have a heart for worship like I’ve never had before. That He would guard my mind. That He would give me creative ideas in my business and other endeavors. That I would never forget how blessed I am and to thank Him everyday for all He has done in my life.

My prayer for 32 is a repeat of 31 and adding this.....

That I will just live EVERY DAY for Him. That I won't worry about yesterday or tomorrow. I don't have to "know" my future. I just want to be the best example each day of His love. I want to love others the way He loves others. I want to be quick to see the ways each day I can show His love to others. I just don't want to miss ONE opportunity to be used by Him. I am putting aside every worry and concern. I'm not going to try figuring it all out. I'm just along for the ride.

And on that note, can I just tell you...that no matter WHAT you are going through, the Lord can bring a peace that ONLY He can bring to you. You can try to figure things out, you can try to fix things on your own, I promise you....it will wear you out....just let it all go and hand it over. It will be the biggest weight lifted off you...the Lord is cool like that.

I hope you all have the most AMAZING Wednesday EVER. Seeing that it is now 4am, I think I will be sleeping in. Good night. :)

Oh, and I have to say that I've had a nice little time with the Lord in the wee hours of the morning here listening to some worship music. Thanks Jesus for such an AMAZING year!!!

Monique

For the Love of Facebook....

I said I would not add yet ANOTHER tech/computer thing to my life after twitter...but I allowed Jer to talk me into it. I'm still learning it, although Jer said there is not much to learn about it. ANYWAY...it has been fun seeing what people are up to who I haven't seen in years. It was a good break from those tests I'm having to take for work. I got 7 completed today. I think I have about 8 or 9 left. Yikes.

Alright. We recorded the debates, so we are about to start watching them. Alyssa just came in and said she wanted to watch it with us...her EXACT words were, "I want to watch the debates with you guys...I want to hear what McCain has to say". She has been watching FOOTBALL in her room. I don't think I have a normal 7 year old. What 7 year old girl watches football and presidential debates...bless her heart.

Okay, out of here.

Monique

So It's Almost 2am....

and I'm awake...could be because I slept until 10:00, could be that tonight was CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY. Wow. But again, I love busy, but I had my first little bit of "stress" at work. It's all good...all good. I learned a lot. Here's my funny story for the night.

Lots going on...new admits, vital signs needed each hour, several patients needing things ASAP, the nurse I work with was tied up in another room (not really tied up, you know...busy) and I had a call that a Doctor was on the phone needing some results read to him from one of my patients. HOLY CRUD, I've never talked to a doc on the phone, and all I've heard is you better have all your ducks in a row before talking to them, you don't need to search for ANYTHING....the line is flashing, I can see he is on hold, I grab the results from the fax. I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT IT SAYS. First, I can't read it, and second, what I can read I don't know what it means. I'm in pure panic mode. PANIC MODE. So I grab another nurse, she really can't make it out, so I just hit the button on the phone and take a deep breath.

ME: Hey, this is Monique, I've got those results.
DOC: Great
ME: Ummmmm, honestly, I'm having a VERY hard time reading this, and one of the other nurses said she is as well....are you somewhere I can fax this to you?
DOC: Yeah, just fax it to my office.
ME: Okay, I will do that right now.

(MAJOR sigh...thank you Jesus, that went well....I was able to tell him a couple of things I could read, but anyway)

Few seconds later a call comes in.....Monique...it's for you....it's Doc so and so.......

ME: Hey, this is Monique.
DOC: Monique, are you serious that  you couldn't read that? I mean come on, for REAL? You couldn't read ANY of it?
ME: (Heart racing...I may start crying, why am I emotional).....Ummmm, yeah, I'm sorry, I apologize, I really was just was having a hard time reading it.
DOC: (LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY) I couldn't read it either. I was just teasing.

(Emotions raging, wanting to laugh, wanting to cry...what is my deal)?????????? It's funny now, at the time...it wasn't...I was MAJOR INSECURE, lol.

Soooooooooo, tonight was just one of those nights....I dropped someone's meds on the floor, had to go waste them, then re-pull them, wasn't able to eat dinner, BUT, I had some really AMAZING patients, and it's so cool being able to be a part of this special time in their lives. I mean SO AMAZING.

Alright...I think it's time for sleep. Ahhhhhhh, sleep. Hope you have a great Tuesday...I have lots of tests I have to take that is due on Wednesday...so I will be spending my Tuesday on the computer. WoooHoooo.

See ya!!!

Monique

I Have A Confession....

I just slept until 10:00am. Oh my GOODNESS...I am wiped out. Tonight is night number five and then I have a couple of days off. Thank goodness. :) I am still staying SUPER busy, the last two days I have had patients all by myself...I had my first patient that I totally got attached to, lol...I was SOOOOO sad when I told her bye...I had her for three days I think. SUCH a cute baby, for the love.

Update on drawing blood....4 for 4, but man it was a close call. Had a room FULL of family while I took it and she wanted me to use something different than I am use to using, YIKES, but anyway long story short, I had to move the needle just a little for a second or two, and then I got it....I was holding my breath and thinking of my last blog post...and praying...but it was all good.

Anyway...I am really enjoying myself. Every night that I leave work I know that I am where I'm suppose to be. The Lord is totally showing me a lot of things.

I am completely exhausted. I am only working 8 hour shifts and I have only worked 4 straight days, but good grief, it's kicking my tail. Jer said I'm just a baby, that everyone works eight hour shifts, and everyone works 5 days in a row....but I've tried explaining to him, that for eight hours I am walking or doing something, never sitting down, NEVER...I mean, if I'm lucky I will get a minute or two to eat a sandwhich or something...again, I would want it NO different than this, but man oh man.

Alright, I need to get a going and clean this place up a bit, do some school work with the kiddos and get ready for another day. :) Have I mentioned my days are WAY messed up. Today is Monday, and I have no clue what day it even feels like, but it doesn't feel like a Monday.

Enjoy your day. I hope you have the MOST AMAZING day ever. :)

Monique

Tonight's The Night....

That I'm own my own...at work...you know...my own patients. I'm kind of giddy. I do have to say that I am now 3 for 3 on drawing blood. I wasn't even nervous this last time....I know...all you nurses out there think I'm crazy for making a big deal about this...but it's been the one thing I've been intimidated by...and this last time I even thought it was almost easy....but of course I have no desire to get cocky about my 3 for 3 score, because pride comes before a fall, and well, my next patient and myself have no desire to fail on number 4.

Last night was BUSY BUSY BUSY. I love that. I was completely exhausted when I got home last night....but it still took me forever to fall asleep...I kept on thinking of anything I might have forgotten to chart, or did I sign off on this or that....craziness, I tell you, craziness.

This morning I think we are headed to have breakfast somewhere, but seeing that it's 10:00 right now it might end up being lunch. We are in much need of a grocery store visit....Jer may have to do that later today, I think he can handle it. Back to the work topic....I am going to try the whole 8 on 6 off in November and December. We will see how that goes.

Hmmm, what else. Homeschool stuff is still going okay. It's amazing how Alyssa has improved with her reading. Alayna is even starting to read some....it's so cute. Alyssa is still on her state kick, and the Presidents have returned...she carries her little president swatch book around and telling when each died, or their birthday, or when they were in office. She then figures out how old I was when different Presidents were in office....it's funny. Don't ask her her political views right now if you don't want to know....OH MY GOODNESS, she is funny. I ask her WHY she wants a particular person to win, and her reason is simply because she wants a girl in office. She then proceeds to tell how she will run Alabama one day and then will run for President. Normally I would think, awww, that's cute...my baby wants to be President, but for some reason, her love for history, her knowledge of the states, her knowing WAY more about presidents than I do....like she knows that she was 3 years old with Reagan died, and she can tell you which party different presidents are in, and seeing that she has come in here three times to tell me I need to get in the shower so we can leave...I mean, you never know. Oh, and have I mentioned here that when we went to see Andrew Jackson's house, she FREAKED out when they said that Andrew Jackson died in THAT BED RIGHT THERE. She retells that story over and over to complete strangers....like, hey mom...tell them about us seeing where Andrew Jackson died....Ummmm, Alyssa I'm sure the gas station attendant doesn't care about our trip to Nashville.

Okay, that was a lot of rambeling. I need to get a going. I'm also going to see if I can talk Jer into stopping for one more set of scrubs at the Scrub shop.

Have a great Saturday...New message series at Church tomorrow. Church is rockin' by the way....packed out...tons of people getting saved each week....if you are looking for something to do tomorrow, I suggest loading up the family and heading out to check it all out for yourself. :) Just warning you....it will quickly become a way of life.....so life changing...funny how the Lord can do that. :)

See ya.

Monique

Labor and Delivery....

That is where I got to go last night. For the love...does that bring back all kinds of emotions...and just being there in the presence of a new momma and daddy with their little bundle they are seeing for the first time...OH MY GOODNESS...EMOTIONAL. HELLO...Monique, hold it together. (That is what I had to keep saying to myself). I was having a hard time not wanting to grab the camera away from the dad and help the mom get some better shots...I was wanting to say, "get closer", or "here, let me take a picture with the two of you"...but, oh yeah, I was suppose to be paying attention to the other nurse while she measured the baby, bathed the baby, etc, etc....that was what I was there to do. :)

It was also funny when the other nurse and I got to talking about how long I had been nursing, which then led to ummm, I owned this store, which then turned into what store, ummmm, a scrapbook store, which then turned into, oh my goodness, the last time I was there about a year ago, a little girl was in there helping me and playing with my little girl...yep, probably Alyssa....so that was cool.

So that was my experience yesterday. Tonight is my last time of rounds with my preceptor, we up the patient load a little bit, then tomorrow I'm on my own. YaY! I really have a busy next few days. Lots to do and VERY little time to get it all done during the week, weekend...the days seem to be a blur here lately.

Oh, and it's official. I have less than a week left to come up with my list of 31 things I learned while 31. Yes, I have been thinking about what all will end up on that list, because it seems that the age of 31 I learned A LOT of life lessons...had a lot of "change" in my life in several areas....it's good. I love sitting back and reflecting over the year.

Well, I guess that's about it for me....I have to go get a new social security card, lost mine...and man has it created many problems for me getting into the computer system at work. Just FYI, a driver's lisence, passport, marriage certificate along with old social security card does not prove you are you for some reason at Brookwood, lol...sooooo if you ever think of working there, don't be a delinquent like me and lose your social security card...wowza.

Hope you have the most amazing day ever today. What day is it??? Friday??? It feels like a Tuesday. :)

See ya.

Monique

Crazy Crazy Dreams....

Okay, being around these babies at work is starting to mess with my mind. You know I've already posted that the first several days I worked, I came home begging Jer to think about having another baby....of course he thinks I'm insane. Anyway....last night I dreamed we had another little girl. Such a crazy real dream. I mean so real...the girls were totally in love with her....anyway...crazy crazy dreams.

Well back to packing today. I got a TON accomplished yesterday, now I think I'm going to work downstairs today. Fun stuff.

Alright...enjoy your Wednesday. Today is my last day off for a little stretch...so I need to make the most of it. :) Hope you have the MOST AMAZING day.

Monique

My Brain Is Mush...and some talk about "Paper Brains"

Wow. My brain is in "information overload" right now. I spent all weekend trying to "organize" myself for work. I created a cool little storage system for the inside of my clipboard....I have a few more finishing touches to add and I will take some pictures of it. I really like how it is turning out. I also made me a "paper brain" for each patient....what is that????? Well, right now I am only taking care of 3 moms and 3 babies AND I have another nurse helping me. I will be getting up to 6 each by myself, and throw in a new admit or discharge on top of all that and you need a "paper brain". These little paper brains have a place for me to write all important info about the mom and baby that I need to know, along with reminders of when to give meds, when I gave meds, when the baby fed last, when to take blood, requests they may have, etc, etc. I did a "test" run on my paper brain last night...there are a few things I need to tweek, but for the most part it was very handy.

I'm becoming a pro at this taking blood, well, if 2 for 2 is considered a pro....actually, I pray before each stick...the last patient even said that she hardly felt it, look a there. :) I think she was just being nice.

I really am enjoying it. I work in the nursery on Thursday....so that means I will be down in Labor and Delivery bathing those babies after they are born. How much fun is that???? I can't wait. Then Friday we increase our patient load, then Saturday I am on my own...well, I still have to check in with my preceptor and have her review all charting, etc...so kind of on my own.

Alright. We ended up not taking any pictures of things we were going to get rid of, because we can't figure out what we are actually going to get rid of, lol...except that fridge downstairs, but someone has already emailed me about that...once we get it all straight I will take pictures and post, or at least share what we are getting rid of. I begin packing up stuff today. Moving is not the most fun thing in the world, but man, you have no clue how excited I am to be closer to church and work. That makes all the pain of moving worth it. :)

I promise promise promise to take pictures downstairs of my scraproom before I pack it up, ahhhhh, at least I have it organized to where it won't be so hard to set up in the apartment, I think I'm actually going to set it up in a walk in closet in the hallway....my mom and Jer think I'm joking....I think I can make it work. We shall see.

Okay, off to get started. Jer just called and told me he is going to a leadership lunch with Pastor Chris and a few others....I'm so jealous.

Alright, enjoy your Tuesday. I hope you have the MOST AMAZING day EVER!!!!!

Monique

The Best Night EVER...

Ahhhh, work was sooooooooo good tonight. VERY VERY busy. I like busy. Lots of stuff happening, drawing blood, transfusions given....Yep, drawing blood....I got it first try...I wonder if the girl knew it had been a while since I had done that...man I was nervous....but it was simple as pie. (Now I hope I don't jinx myself). The one thing I've always been nervous about doing is giving/hanging blood, I have no clue why that totally freaks me out, but it does...but it went well...thank goodness. It was just a VERY VERY busy night, tons of meds given, tons of charting, and more charting, and more charting, oh, and more charting. I just felt official tonight. You know, like "Hey, I'm really a nurse", okay...I'm WAY wound up at 12:37 am, I need to go to sleep...I should be SO tired, but I think I've talked Jer's ear off and I'm just way wired.

Today was just a GREAT GREAT day.  I got the house cleaned up, girls school work done, I even packed my dinner to take with me, AND had an AMAZING night at work.

Hmmmm, do you think that me praying before I went into work that I would have a great day had anything to do with it???? I think probably so...note to self...make sure to acknowledge the Lord every day and also don't forget to pray before drawing blood....Oh, and I listened to worship music all morning/afternoon, so I think that has helped my day as well. Okay, Man, I'm hungry. But you know it's WAY after my time to eat...

Alright, I hope you all have a GREAT GREAT Friday. Jer's off tomorrow and I work later in the day...good times, good times.

See ya!!!!

Monique

Major Cleaning Out Moving Sale...

I just wanted to give a heads up....we will be moving Oct. 10th and we have some things we are going to get rid of in a yard sale....but I thought I would post some of the bigger items here before we have the yard sale. :)

I will do a more detailed post about this this weekend complete with pictures and prices...but as of right now we will have lawn equipment...mower, weed eater, etc...table saw, white refrigerator (no bells and whistles), we had in the back of the Trussville store....but it's in excellent condition because we weren't in the store long, (that was a joke, suppose to be funny). :)

Hmmmm, we are debating on our bedroom furniture...there are lots of pieces, well 4 pieces, but we think it might be too much for the apartment...we have a desk, and many many other things. We are going to work this weekend on getting all this ready to take pictures and then I will post it by Monday of next week if not before.

Alright, that's all for me today...I didn't get much accomplished yesterday, so I'm just trying to get the house all cleaned up...and I've been trying to make me cheat sheets to carry in my clipboard...I want to make them cute and all, but I don't want to go overboard and have everyone think I've gone insane at work, lol...I will have to take that slow. I am already wanting to decorate my clipboard a little. We shall see.

Okay, I hope you have the most amazing day ever. Be watching for my post this weekend. I will also have a TON of the girls' shoes....and of course I am sure a good bit of toys and such.

Alright...have a great day!

Monique

Happy Happy One Day Late Birthday to Vanessa...

Man, I'm such a loser...a day late here with my b'day wishes to such an AMAZING AMAZING friend. I haven't had a really "close" "close" friend since Jer and I were in ministry training school in Illinois. You know, the kind that knows EVERY detail about you, that can get on your nerves but you still like them, that you can get on their nerves but they still like you. The kind that tells you the things you NEED to hear. The kind that challenges you to be better. The kind that likes you despite your faults. Who understands you are human. The kind that you know will be praying for you at all times. The kind of friend who you can be yourself around. You don't have to pretend to be something you are not. I could keep going on and on...but I am VERY blessed to say that I have found that friendship in Vanessa. We don't have to talk on the phone every day, we can go a week without talking and then just pick back up where we were the last time we spoke. I love that. When I realized I was a day late with my b'day wishes....well, I kind of laughed, because I knew she would probably laugh that I was a day late rather than give me the cold shoulder for a week.

We have this rule in our friendship. On any given holiday including birthdays, you MAY or MAY NOT  get a gift. Just because you got a gift one year, does NOT mean you will get a gift the next year. Just because you got me something does NOT mean that I will get you something, lol....it's okay to forget someone's birthday, heck, even what month their birthday is in....hence the reason I know she's not secretly mad at me right now.....

Soooooooooo Happy Happy Birthday to such an AMAZING, WONDERFUL, HOT (inside joke from Disney), TALENTED, CREATIVE friend. Vanessa, I think the world of you and I am very thankful that the Lord has blessed me with your friendship.  You have no clue how much you mean to me, heck, can you go to nursing school so we can work together again???? PLEASE????? Love you so WAY much.

I'm leaving you with some of my favorite pictures from our trip to Disney back in Jan. They are unedited...so sorry for some red eye. ;)

Coming Full Circle....

Wow. I had an AMAZING second day on the floor. I really think this shift is the best shift for me. I was so worried I was going to be bored on this unit....ummm, yeah, I don't think that will be a problem. I have to say the baby fever has NOT gone away...maybe I'm just hormonal....that is what Jer is saying.

So anyway...you want to hear something really cool...well at least that I find cool....and totally think is a "God Thing". I remember the VERY first time that I ever had ANY desire at all to go into "nursing" was in my prenatal classes while I was pregnant with Alyssa. (over 7 years ago). I REALLY REALLY REALLY liked the instructor. I remember she said she was a labor and delivery nurse and that if we happened to have our baby on the weekend she would probably be our nurse. Well, I remember thinking and hoping that I went into labor on the weekend, because I SO wanted her as my nurse. I thought she was an AMAZING instructor. Well, fastforward 7 years and to Church of the HIghlands....one Wednesday night when we were having ice cream and cokes on the lawn, I was working one of the tables and I saw her....you know....my instructor....from the prenatal classes....I of course did NOT remember her name, but I would never forget her face. I didn't say anything to her, because, well, I was working the table and she was talking to someone....sooooo anyway, that was the FIRST time I saw her. I think I may have seen her one or two more times over the past couple of months....soooooooooooooooooooooooo..........

Now let's rewind to me being hired at Brookwood, but we are going to do a quick recap on that. Went in to be interviewed for one position....offered two different positions, I had to choose which I wanted. I decide on weekends, the one I didn't know about pre-interview....long story short, that ends up getting filled, so the only position open is the one originally offered. Okay, so I take that one and have to say I was a little sad, because I thought the other was just PERFECT...but I knew that things happen for a reason. I find out that my supervisor is a lady that attends Church of the Highlands and has gone there for quite some time. Hmmmm, the name sounds somewhat familiar, but I have no clue who she is. When Jer mentions it at work, everyone freaks out....OH MY GOODNESS, she is such an AMAZING lady....EVERYONE we told went on and on about her. Pastor Chris' parents told me how much they love her and that I am just so blessed to have her as a supervisor. Gina who hired Jer totally freaked out too when she found out. She told Jer that I HAD to be going down the right path, because this lady was just a gem, and that I must have really been praying, lol....so I just keep hearing great stuff everywhere I go, and I am just SO anxious to meet her..........sooooooooooooooooooo.....

Fastforward now to Sunday at church. I see her...you know the prenatal instructor....and she is talking with Pastor Chris's mother and I think, Hmmmmmmm, Miss Caroleen has told me how much they love this person (my future supervisor)....I know this lady ONCE worked at Brookwood, in Labor and Delivery...could it be???? Hmmmm, I almost went up and just asked her name, but they were in deep conversation, so I just sat and wondered. Soooooooooooooooo............

Fastforward to last night when I got to work. Kari, the nurse I'm working with was talking to me, and I saw her....you know....the prenatal class instructor, the lady from church.......OH MY GOODNESS, this MUST be her, I knew it (my brain is totally not processing anything Kari is saying at this point)....so she walks over to introduce herself and I kind of freak out (I think she thought I was crazy) I think I said something like I saw you at church last night and I thought that might be you and then she says I wasn't at church last night, and I'm like oh yeah, oh yeah, I meant yesterday, I've got this WAY TOO excited grin on my face, and I think I was talking like Jer would refer to "as my lungs just won the lottery" (it was on a commercial a while back and now Jer says it about me when I get really excited about something and talk 90 to nothing, he says, "Oh my goodness, my lungs just won the lottery", okay, never mind)...and then when she left, I got to thinking "She totally thinks I'm insane". I fret over this for the next few hours, now my supervisor thinks they have SO hired a crazy, insane girl. So I have to figure out how I can explain to her my excitement....(which probably confirmed her thoughts on my sanity). ;) Soooooooooooo..............

We were making some copies and she walks up and while we were waiting on the copies to print, I say...."So, did you use to be a labor and delivery nurse"....she says yes, then I say....you taught my prenatal classes....and then the rest was history....I told her the whole story about how I saw her, then saw her again on Sunday, then how everyone has been going on about her.......she then tells me a little about how she moved to this unit....how she cried for two weeks before moving to this unit, because she loved labor and delivery so much, but she now looks back and sees how it was a "God thing". Hmmmmm, I have never heard God's audible voice, but I really felt like God was just saying to me..."See Monique, I have your best interest at heart, you just keep acknowledging me, I will lead you down the right path. Take it day by day. I know the plans I have for you...just live your "today" for me and I will take care of the rest".

So I think that is somewhat a Full Circle Moment. I am VERY excited to be where I'm at. The girls that work my shift are all wonderful. I can't believe I'm getting paid to take care of mothers and their babies...what a fun job. Oh those cute little babies....so tiny, so soft, have I mentioned that I have MAJOR BABY FEVER????

On that note, I think I need to go get the girls to doing their school work. Alyssa is still obsessed with states, we are now learning all the capials. I don't think I learned that until the 5th grade, but she wants to learn it, so hey, whatever floats your boat. ;)

I hope you have the MOST AMAZING day EVER today and maybe now that I'm on a schedule I will start back posting more....sorry for such a long post. ;)

Monique

The McLean Happenings....

Well, how was your weekend??? Mine was EXCELLENT. So much going on in the McLean household...I keep thinking I have posted about this, or that, and then realize that I have really not been the best at keeping this blog here updated.

Soooo, let me give you the quick run down.

The McLean's join a gym.

• Jer and I joined a gym. Yep, it's a benefit with Jer's work, not something we would normally just go out and do. With this gym membership we each received a session with a personal trainer. We actually got two sessions, but anyway....so here is the breakdown for me. I actually only have to lose two pounds, but ummmm wait, it's not that easy. I have to lose 12 pounds of fat and gain 10 pounds of muscle. So see, that two pounds doesn't seem so easy now does it??? Actually losing the 12 pounds really doesn't seem that far fetched, but it's that 10 pounds of muscle that has to be gained. OUCH. We began the resistance training...think that is what you call it, (I am SO NOT a gym person). Anyway....I have to also add to this that I am TOTALLY uncoordinated. And I had to make the guy promise not to make fun of me. Really, I mean why is it hard for me to step over this little step while lifting a ball above my head??? Oh, but it is....so anyway, I did these various exercises for MAYBE 30 minutes...and it feels like I worked out for 30 hours. OH MY GOODNESS, I hurt EVERYWHERE. I could barely walk yesterday at church. Well, I could tell you many stories of our gym trips to this point, so I will save those for other posts. I am trying to at least play life catch up here on this blog right now. Moving right along.....

I Finally Began Working with Patients.

• Yep, had my first day on Friday. I was able to work with Allison, a friend from nursing school, which was VERY nice. She is super super super sweet. We just had three moms and three babies. I will be working with another nurse for the next couple of months to learn the ropes. I wasn't as overwhelmed as I thought I would be. I actually had a great first day. I really enjoyed it. It has been FOREVER since I changed a little tiny diaper. I worked the day shift last week. I have to say that I like being done at 3:00, but man, I just don't know about that morning deal. This week I begin my normal schedule. I'm excited. The day went by SO fast. I was afraid that I would be bored, ummmm, no, don't think that is going to be the case. I think I sat down for maybe 30 minutes the whole day, and the majority of that time was for lunch. I like to be busy. Okay, again, I have so much I could talk about here, but remember...I'm playing life catch up.

I'm Attending A Small Group on Thursdays.

• Pastor Chris's wife Tammy is leading a small group for all the staff wives and I went to my first meeting this past Thursday. I am SO looking forward to Thursdays. I met several ladies and really look forward to making new friendships. I think this is going to be a very good thing for me right now...I need this.

We Move Into an Apartment on Oct. 10th.

• Yep, I wish I could close my eyes, snap my fingers, and have everything moved and set in place. I am actually VERY excited about being closer to work, and believe it or not being in a smaller place (I'm wierd)...I just don't look forward to the move. This is a MAJOR long blog post, which I will post soon to give you all my thoughts on this...cutting our gas in half will be nice too. ;)

Alright, I really need to get the girls doing their school work....I will try very hard at keeping this updated. There are also several messages from church that I would like to discuss on the blog here.
Okay, have an AMAZING, AMAZING day.

Headed To See the Grandmoms....

Not much time to post this morning...we are headed to see my grandmothers for the day. The girls are excited. My grandmother, the girls call her "Great", I think is missing the girls too. Ummmm, if you have sent me an email in the last week...be patient with me, and it seems there are many others out there that feel the same way I did with the whole burn out thing (see post below layouts)...bc I have got quite a few emails regarding that. I'm going to use this to answer just a few emails all at once, and will respond individually later this week....sorry.....

Andrea...WE TOTALLY want to do dinner or something....call my cell....do you have that number???

Amanda (nurse Amanda), not sure your last name....I have told everyone about you...you inspire me, you challenge me, dang, I need to link you over there on the sidebar, I know you would be an inspiration to everyone who visits this site. And I so saw you tagged me, I need to do that.

Janet...your words of encouragement make me smile.

Tonya...girl, I need to come to Atlanta...yes, that was Angelia, and I LOVED the lakehouse.

Darlene....oh, Darlene...I hope you see this post. I think of you often, and I am a TOTAL loser for never responding to your email. The pictures were oh so cute, and your words, well, I need to email you.

The Etsy stuff that was purchased by checks....will go out tomorrow. :)

Lee Ellen, you make me smile. :)

Okay, there are many more, and now I have gotten myself in trouble for starting to respond this way, bc I am thinking of 20 more that I need to address real quick and we are leaving in 7 minutes and I'm not dressed (I mean I'm dressed, that would be gross, just not what I'm wearing there)....

I hope you all have the MOST AMAZING day ever. I have a physical for work tomorrow. :) I start Sept. 8th....did I ever address that situation here????? Ahhhh, all things work together for the good...right???

See ya

Monique

The Lord TOTALLY AMAZES Me....

(sigh)....Can I just say that my family is VERY VERY Blessed. VERY BLESSED!

Church was PACKED last night. I mean, we are hardly EVER not there like 30 minutes before service...and last night we were getting there right when it started....and we had to park SO far away from where we normally do. THEN, finding a seat. Guys...this is WEDNESDAY night church....did you hear what I just said??? W E D N E S D A Y night. The Lord is doing some CRAZY AMAZING things at Church of the Highlands. The Lord is doing some CRAZY AMAZING things in mine and Jer's life. The Lord just FLAT OUT AMAZES ME!!!!

He TOTALLY rescued us this morning...I mean you guys have NO CLUE how He rescued us this morning.  Jer and I were driving down the road in tears and feeling so overwhelmed with His grace and mercy and goodness in our lives. We had to TELL EVERYONE. Jer first called his mother, then I called my dad, then I called my Aunt, then I called Vanessa, then Jer told the bank teller, and just random people at each stop we made...the LORD IS GOOD AND FAITHFUL AND JUST AMAZING.

Even when things look dim, even when I am TOTALLY confused at what to do...even when I have a MILLION questions, I KNOW that the Lord is there to lead and guide me, He has my best interest at heart. This whole job deal, I have NO clue what is going on, but you know what...the Lord does, so I'm okay.

Alright, I need to get a going. I just realized that I didn't post the winner of the Sassafras give-away...I will get to that later today. ;)

I hope you have the MOST AMAZING DAY EVER!!!!!!

I *LOVE* Fridays!!!!

I have ALWAYS loved Fridays...but I love them even MORE now. Jer is off, or works half a day on Fridays...he does have to work one full Friday a month (I think), lol....but anyway, Fridays are going to be our Saturdays once I start work....anyway, we have a full day planned once he gets off at 12:00...really just a bunch of errands, but I can't wait just to be with him the whole day. I really like him A LOT. It's good to like your hubby...isn't it??? We will be married TEN years this coming March...that is so crazy, it seems just like yesterday we got married. I mean, don't get me wrong,  he gets on my nerves from time to time...I even got mad at him last night, but I still like him. ;)

Okay, that was just random thoughts...moving right along.....

We are going to look at some apartments closer to where the church is and where I will be working. This drive is starting to grate on my nerves and is getting somewhat pricey. We were looking at the particular one that we would be getting last night and as we were leaving there was a couple out walking their dog...they looked REALLY young, which got me and Jer on the subject of the apartments we lived in in Franklin, TN when we first got married...and I thought, we probably looked that young...like little kids married, I mean, we were 22 years old...that's YOUNG...then we got to talking about how old we felt ten years later, and thought, DEAR LORD IN HEAVEN, we will be needing life support in the next ten years if we keep going at this rate...

There I go getting off the subject again, back to the apartments....in a REALLY weird, strange, sick way....I like the thoughts of living in an apartment right now. One, they are new and VERY nice, we would be getting one that no one has lived in yet. Two, the pool is SUPER nice, and NO ONE IS EVER there...Three, they have a gym, HELLO, it's Jer and My goal to look like we did when we got married ten years ago by our anniversary...does anyone know a good surgeon????  Just kidding...well that is probably what it would take, but I'm not going to those drastic measures. Four....call me crazy, but I love small living conditions. I know, that sounds crazy, but I promise I'm not just trying to sike myself up here...I mean it. I don't want a studio apartment or anything, but you know if you've been to IKEA and they have those rooms set up like how to live in a 50 square foot house, I think it's so cool, and I secretly wish that was my house. It has to be easier to keep clean. Five...there is NO grass to cut or weeds to pull, at least that WE have to do. Six...it is like 10 minutes from where we work. Seven...it's MUCH cheaper and we can knock off some debt REALLY quickly...I mean I was sitting her thinking of making the phone call and saying, ummm, what is my pay off???? Okay, here's a check...ahhhh, that will feel so good.

So, that means the house need to be purchased...like VERY VERY quickly. We still haven't listed it...I mean it can't be purchased if we don't list it....that will be next week...but we are going to let it go for like WAY WAY below appraisal value. So, if you are needing a home in Alabaster, we can hook you up. ;)

We also will be getting rid of some "stuff". Two refrigerators, possibly bedroom furniture, so I feel a moving sale coming pretty soon.

Okay, I know...totally random post, about really nothing....but it's just things on my mind. I've got my next parenting post in my mind that will go up next week, also a post about the homeschooling process for the McLean's, the Etsy shop needs to make it's debut sometimes soon...I'm kind of scared to go down to my scraproom, I will have to take a picture before I clean it up...OH MY GOODNESS, I just stood there last night looking at it shaking my head...it's BAD. I have a grocery shopping post I want to make, you would laugh if you knew what I was about to do today while grocery shopping. (I'll save it for the grocery post). I have a life changing post about the Library. Oh, lots to talk about, and here I wasted a good post on just random ramblings.

I hope you have the MOST AMAZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZING weekend EVER....and if you haven't taken the time to read that LONG story below...you need to do so, it's so uplifting.

Oh, did you see where I twittered about the scorpion in the dryer....FOR THE LOVE. This is a problem.

Have a great day!

Monique