MAC-nificent happenings

Oh my, my, my.... what a cheesy title. But true.

This is my first post from my new(ish) Mac. I took some photos for a friend last month, went to download them on my PC and it crashed... and crashed... and crashed. 5 times. The next night at work I broke down and bought the Mac online. I must say, I am really loving it! It is taking a little getting used to in order to figure out all the ways things work...I'm learning all of the tricks slowly but surely.

I'm about half way through ER orientation. It is a lot to learn but I really like everyone down there and all the things I am getting to do! My preceptor--and my back-up preceptor-- are both amazing!

The wedding is coming along-- we have the caterer booked, a step closer. Invitations, the guys' suits and flowers are next. It's a little more comforting with every thing that is checked off of the list. I have only had a few of those crazy wedding dreams you hear about gals having-- the kind where my wedding is all of a sudden upon me, nothing is done, no decorations, no dress fittings, no flowers, nothing. And all I do is panic. It's terrible. So the least amount of these that I have, the better!

Back to the Mac.... my heart is very happy to have it for my photos! Easy to use, the colors are great, and I am getting used to the shortcuts for things!  I took some "engagement photos" of my brother and Emma last weekend... we started out at Weston State Park and then moved to Loose Park down by the Plaza. Both were great places to go and gorgeous. I have added some photos below, plus a couple from our quick trip to Red Barn Farm the next day with my handsome godson, Jett, and cute new cousin, Sophia! :)

Lots of MAC magnificent things happening around me! :)

New, New, New

Things are changing. 

A.
We have a new, beautiful nephew, Hudson Dennis Hill. He was born last thursday and is as perfect as they come. We are already in love with him!

B.
Shawn has a few things going on for his future, but nothing final yet, so we will wait to finish this part!


C.
 When I started out as a nurse I had a list of things in my head that I really wanted... they are as follows.

1. To work in PEDS, specifically at Children's Mercy. (FYI: I applied only to 2, yes 2, positions in the KC area as my schooling was coming to an end. This was at a time when people were having so much trouble finding jobs they were applying to literally dozens of different jobs and different hospitals/clinics/doc's offices/jails/county health depts, and so on. 2....)

2. To work in an ER. The fast pace, the numerous different things you get to see, the noise and movement and excitement. If you know me at all, you know this is what I L.O.V.E. You are also aware that I walk fast, talk fast and definitely talk LOUD! This poses a slight problem working on the floor in the middle of the night. People like to sleep. I am great about being quite in my actual patient's rooms (in fact, a pet peeve is when someone is loud in my kiddo's room when they are sleeping) but it's when I am talking to others-- I tend to get excited. And loud. The ER has the perfect remedy for that. Everyone is awake. Plus, who wouldn't want to start IVs all day and see cool, gross things come in- yes, that is the sick and twisted nursing mind at work. We love those things that most would find hard to stomach.

Well, that pretty much concludes my list. Fairly straight forward. Peds. ER.

I was more than blessed to get my job on 4ST at Children's Mercy. The kids with open heart surgery, liver transplants... exciting stuff for nurses. We like the kids that make us think hard. Plus, I work with such an awesome group of nurses! I have met some of my closest friends on this floor. And they are the ONLY group of nurses I will fully trust with my unborn children. Really! I sure hope I can make requests years down the road for my sick kid to be on this floor, 'cause it will happen.

That being said, I can still happily say that I accepted a position in the Children's Mercy ER! I start in less than 3 weeks and I am so excited! I am going to miss my 4ST girls a t-t-t-ton, so they better all keep hanging out with me ;)  But I know I will love the ED and I am ready to start a new chapter.

Big changes are coming.

And my heart is so very happy!

Who Says You Can't Go Home

A little over three months has gone by since I last posted.... well, I've been busy!
Getting back in the swing of things at work, starting planning on our wedding (much more work to be done that you could ever imagine!), and enjoying life have taken up much of my time!

So here are some updates:

The wedding planning is coming along, although slowly, things are getting done. We have our very amazing photographers lined up--which we cannot be any more grateful for! If you have not had the chance to check them out, here's their website: http://www.birdsofafeatherphotosblog.blogspot.com/
They do beautiful work and if you follow them often, the level of humor is up there in their posts! We are already in love with them!

I went to the last couple of bridal shows and ended up booking our DJ, videographer, and photobooth! It is all one company, which will save a lot of time for us, and the guy doing it seems like he fits us perfectly.

The biggest part, for me at least, is that I bought my gown! It is gorgeous and exactly what I was looking for. Getting that was a huge step. To top it off, it was supposed to not be here until December and it came in less than 3 weeks! So I could technically try it on any time I want. Too bad I cannot wear it out on a daily basis!

Work is going well, I am happy to be back on my floor! I missed my heart and liver kiddos more than I thought. Plus, I really did miss my co-workers! It's good to get back in the swing of things with the floor and get back to hanging out with this gals! I really am lucky to work where I do and with the people there! That being said, I also miss my TCH gals! I wish I could move them up here; I know they would get along great with our crew.

I have had a few days of just being sad to not be with the roomies from Houston! It is a bit unsettling to not have them here to share all my good news with! :/

Life in general has been busy! There are too many things to explain really, but.... we ran the 5k Color Run- a must do for everyone, it is a ton of fun, visited the new aquarium in KC, I took my first flight with Shawn flying the plane- not too bad but verrry windy, had my godson's 1st bday party, have been catching up with friends and fam since I am back in town now, and we had a great 4th of July and weekend after with family and friends all gathered in one place!

Along with everything that has already gone on, the next few months are going to be pretty eventful!
August brings the birth of our nephew, Hudson, whenever he decides to appear! I cannot wait to meet this little fella and welcome him to the world. We were honored to get the opportunity to attend his 3D sonogram and it literally brought tears to my eyes. He is going to be so perfect!
Mid-month we are bridesmaid dress shopping! I'm so happy every gal will be there for it!
Next month we are going to Washington DC to take engagement photos with Maggie and Betty (our BOAF photographers) and I cannot wait! (That reminds me, I really need to go shopping for that! And yes, that is NEED, not want)
October brings the wedding of two of our favorite people, Holly and Cory!
We have a few more things in the works in the upcoming months, not gunna jinx either of us by saying what, but say a little prayer for us that things work in our favor! :) I will update you more as they (hopefully) fall into place.

Until then, here a just a handful of my favorite pics from the last few months... Well, they are mostly just my iPhone pics, but still some good ones! :)

My godson Jett taking a ride

Addi putting lip gloss on Shawn....

Color Run!

Purple mouths!

Our amazing first basegirl

Sporting KC game w Meg and my co-worker

4th of July

With Kim at All Star Celebrity game

First flight!

The butterfly that kept landing on me at the pool!

Caught the bouquet!

Bad dog! Ate an entire cob of corn!

 At the aquarium in KC

The final lap

One week. 

One week until my contract is fulfilled and I am back in KC.

This past week has been actually pretty eventful! I went to see my Great-Aunt Diane who lives in Willis, TX- about 45mins north of my house down here. What a great day! We hung out, chatted, went shopping and grabbed lunch down in The Woodlands, and had a lovely day! It was great to get to know her and I really felt sad when I left that she does not live closer.

I went to the benefit show/art show for Not For Sale to raise money for the fight against human trafficking, which my beautiful cousin is on the team for.

I went to Hobby Lobby (yes, again... we are now on a nickname kinda basis, from this point on it shall by referred to as simply the Hob) to get more craft supplies. This time I somehow made a decent fabric flower when I got home... the stem could use a little rehab, but in my defense it was pretty late and I really wanted to just get it over with at that point. Nevertheless it came out quite well. I have a ton of fabric that I might be experimenting with in between packing.

 BUT.... How sad is it to leave all of these great people in Houston?!?

      And boy, have there been some great ones!

                

         Here are a few of my faves (in no particular order):

                                                     

                                                           

    Oliver, Elliot, and Lochlan

    The cute little boys I helped babysit! Seriously cute! (Oh and they are currently learning the art of eating with utensils... hence the mac&cheese/yogurt faces!)

Roomies! Holy cow. These three ladies will stay in my heart forever! Thank you guys for everything- being there for me, sharing your space, and most importantly your lives with me! It has been more fun than I could have imagined and I will miss you so much!

 

 TCH gals! I have been so very blessed to get to know such a wonderful group of women! Having you guys made this transition so much easier! Thank you for including this short-term gal in your plans and in your lives!

   We may have been a little loopy at this point!

  

Tomorrow is my last day off before I leave! How crazy!  I will definitely be glad to be *home* and see all of my loved ones, but I did not expect to meet SO MANY great people here!

Can't I just wrap everyone up in a pretty ribbon and send them home as a gift?!? Please?