This, that and what not

Life at our house has been crazy busy with school, work and more school and work. We just finished the semester a little over a week ago and Adam and I did amazing and got amazing grades in all of our classes. I have to give a shout out to my hubby who did amazing in all of his classes, even the hard ones. This summer he is even taking classes both blocks...O.Chem and O.chem lab, biochemistry, and a Stats class. These are all hard classes and he takes them in 7 week blocks. By doing this he will be able to apply to PA school a year earlier!!! YAY!!! So hopefully he will get that done and get some interviews in place later this year.

Now onto other news...a little over a month ago I was getting a little down that I hadn't gotten a RN job yet. I had interview and nothing came from them. Then I got more interviews and thought they went amazing, I had an interview in a Cardiac Progressive Care unit and got called back for a second peer interview and was super excited because I thought that it might lead somewhere. Then I had one on Mother/baby for the float pool, and the manger seemed really interested in me. Then I got another interview for regular progressive care. Then another interview on the Mom/Baby floor where I did my capstone hours. So in a mater of a week I had 4 interviews. On the day of my progressive care unit interview I came out from it and had a voicemail on my phone. I called HR and it was a job office for full time days on the cardiac progressive care unit. I asked if I could wait to give an answer until the following week as I wanted to see where the other interviews were leading. The day I had the interview on the mother/baby unit  where I did my capstone. I had to sit and wait a little while before the unit director came to get me, when she did come she had another person with her...meaning I was going to interview with 2 people and this freaked me out...then we get in to the conference room and she tells me that they are just waiting for 2 MORE people to come. (can I just say I screamed a little in my mind) So 4 people were interviewing me, and I was so nervous, but I answered their questions and finished my interview. After the interview I called Adam and talked to him about the interview. While I was on the phone I got a call from the hospital and it was the director. I quickly called back and answered additional questions that she had for me. She told me that I should hear back in 3 days from her....fast forward to the next morning.....I had an email from the HR recruiter saying they were offering a full time nights position!!! I couldn't believe it, and when I looked at the time stamp on the email it said 10 or 11pm...meaning that they offered me the job the same day I went and interviewed for it.
Now came the decision that I was dreading, deciding which position to take. Cardiac or mother/baby...I know it seems simple but there was pro and cons to either job. After praying for 2 days and thinking about it I finally got my answer...

If you can't guess by the pink badge...I choose the mother/baby position!!! I couldn't be more excited and let me tell you one day it just came to me that this was the position I was meant to take. I started orientation a week and a half ago and I am loving it!! I love everyone that I have gotten to work with and everything that I have gotten to do. I'm so excited for this next step in my career as a nurse. I'm still doing PRN at the doctors office for now so I've been working a lot of hours the last 2 weeks. Thank you to everyone who had me in their prayers and for your encouragement.

Here's to change

This is how I felt last weekend before taking my test and I was spending every waking hour it seemed studying....

This last week started the start of change for me. I took my RN boards last Tuesday. The entire way up to the testing center I was sick to my stomach and my hands were shacking. I finally got to the testing center and had to wait, and wait, and wait...okay really I only had to wait 20 minutes before I was in the testing room in my chair looking at the screen. After 50 questions I decided to go eat something and get a drink. I went back and started to take questions again. I was thinking that I would get to 90 questions (75 questions is the minimum amount you can get with a max of 265 questions). Then I get to question 75, I click NEXT...and my screen goes BLUE!!! BLUE!!! I wanted to cry. I had so much anxiety! I walked out of there thinking "man I don't know what to think".  After taking the test I went and got me a treat, did some shopping and then went to work. All day I kept thinking about that test, I really hate that test. Finally when it was time for bed I checked to see if my quick results were up...they weren't...so we went to bed...then at 1 AM I woke up from a terrible nightmare. I dreamed that I checked that my quick results and it said that I FAILED! I was terrified and just had to check to see if my results were up...so I went to DOPL and typed in my name...and this is what it showed....

See what is says under nurse...it says...REGISTERED NURSE!!! I was so excited!!!! I jumped onto the bed and quickly showed Adam....well more like woke him up and he could see because my phone was so bright...anyway I am excited that I am finally done with studying for NCLEX!!! I don't have to take it ever again!!! I get to put those two letter after my name now...Crystal RN...I love it!!!

Now here is to finding a JOB!!!! So if anyone knows if anyone is hiring let me know!!!
Big thanks to all my family and friends for all that they have done for me the past 2 years and for the prayers sent my way!!! Especially my husband Adam, thank you for putting up with me being in nursing school for the past 2 years. You're an amazing husband and I love you so very much!..oh and thank you for the nursing hat. I love it too!

Just a little of this, a little of that

Adam and I have been super busy since we got back from our England trip...A week after we got back Adam went to Germany for 3 weeks...he got back and 2 weeks later he had more army training and I headed to Washington for my cousin's wedding...he got back and then we were about to start school.

A couple months ago we found this little thing on KSL

 well...we  bought it...yes we bought an ambulance...because what medic doesn't want their down army ambulance. We are having fun fixing it up and hope to have it repainted and such next summer. It looks a little rough but the inside is amazing!!

Here are a couple of picture from Halloween

We were robbers...and we made our costumes!!! I actually made Adam's shirt by spray painted a white long sleeves shirt with black strips. Many people were surprised to find that I made it myself and didn't buy it...and believe me I tried to buy one for him but I couldn't find one.

Now the next couple weeks are going to be full of tests, finals and GRADUATION. That's right, I'm graduating in about a month. I also am going to be busy with NCLEX prepping and taking many and many questions....all in hopes that I will pass the test my first time when I take it in January.

England!!!...so prepare for picture OVERLOAD

I could have put a TON more picture on here...but here are just a few of them. We had a great time, and we really want to go back!

Adam's new friend he met in the forest

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Fish and chips...So YUMMY!

Caernarfon Castle

I can't remember the name of this castle but it was cool too

Richard and Adam what are you doing?

Caerphilly Castle

Super windy on the coast

Old church in Barry. This was Adam's favorite area of his mission

The headstones went on forever

Gloucester Cathedral

Harry Potter hallway

Stonehenge

Roman baths

There are no words for the beauty of this background

Gadfield Elm Chapel

Awesome ships

LONDON

Buckingham

White Cliffs of Dover

YEP...I got pooped on by a bird

Beautiful gardens

Big ben

Church in York...Adam is wearing his new suit we bought...so sexy

Hadrian's wall

Beautiful lighthouse in the sunset

Town with a long name

I had so much fun on our trip to England. It is such a beautiful place, and I got to see so much more than I did last time I was in England. Adam and I can't wait to go back again.