Farewell to My Beloved 3rd Floor

As mentioned in the last post, I got a new job! I had my first shift today and all I can say is wow. I'm exhausted! My little brain is tired. I learned more today than I have in the last month! I love this new learning curve and I'm excited to see what the future brings. More on that later. For now, a look back on 3rd floor. Currently known as the Progressive Care Unit, the 3rd floor serves as "step-down" unit for the ICU. AKA, it's a catch all floor. I learned so much during my time there and grew immensely as a nurse and a person. Some of my best friendships were started at that nurses station. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to work there! Here's a few pics:

The good old days. Ellen, Wendy, JoJo, and Whitney.

An old pic! Only one still works on 3rd.

Char and I at the summer party.

Summer Party

3rd floor girls at Meg's baby shower.

Ghazal. My favorite pharmacist in the WHOLE world.

Oh just Mandi and I modeling our sweet pens.

Halloween on the PCU.

Christmas Party 2012. JoJo, Kiarra, and Whitney.

One of my last days on the floor.

Some of my favorite girls! Celeste, Meg, and JoJo.

Last pic of my PCU name badge. I was slightly sunburned for that pic!

Saying goodbye to my locker. 

Charlotte. One of my best friends and my ex-educator :(

Goodbye PCU!

LIFE IS GOOD

As I've mentioned before on here, my life is completely different from a year ago. Like almost unrecognizable. Every change has been for the better! Don't get me wrong, I still have crap days. Down days. And depressed weeks. But, overall life is good. And I'm happy. So happy. The past two weeks have been particularly good! My dating life has had a much needed kick start...although I'm pretty sure it's going to be short lived. Oh well! My work life is what I wanted to share and what I'm most excited about. When I graduated from nursing school 4 years ago (I can hardly believe it's been that long!), I avoided even applying for jobs in Utah County. I hated Provo and had no interest in ever living here. Well, one day a residency job was posted for UVRMC and I guilt tripped my self into applying. I of course got the job and promised myself I would be here a year. It's been 3.5 and I have no immediate plans of leaving. So much for my plan! Long story short, I spent my first two weeks at UVRMC on the ICU as an intro to the hospital and I loved it. Maybe it was the super hot nurse that I was with. Or the amazing things I got to do and see. I had never seen patients like that during school in the tiny Logan hospital...these were real ICU patients. All I remember is loving it...and him in those green scrubs...ahhh the memories. After the two weeks there, I accepted a job on the 3rd floor/Progressive Care Unit (adult critical care). The 3rd floor raised me and raised me quick. I had to learn fast! It's been good to me, I've made amazing friends, and long gone are my baby nurse days. I have an amazing schedule and I'm high on the seniority list. Why would I want to leave this sweet gig? Because, ever since those two weeks all those years ago, I knew where I wanted to be. I've been "ready" for a couple of years but now is finally the right time! I applied, waited a stressful week, interviewed, waited another stressful week, and then I got the call from HR offering me the job! My pay drops because I won't be charging anymore, my schedule is going to suck doing a 12 week day/night rotating shift, and I'm at the bottom of the seniority list. Ick. But, this is my dream job so it will all be worth it! Sadly, male nurse who looks amazing in green scrubs left years ago :( I can't have it all! So, it's official. I'm now an employee on the Neuro Shock Trauma ICU at UVRMC...life is good. 

25th Birthday Party

2013 brings my 25th birthday. Eh. When did I get old? I'm going to read that sentence in 10 years and want to kick myself, but it just sounds bad. I usually take a trip to AZ for my birthday every year, but this year I took a trip and a party. I figured 25 is a big deal, so I needed to do something different. In the end, the party was fun but getting ready for it with a couple of good friends was the best part. Love these girls! We tied the theme in with St. Patty's since it was the next day, and decorated with lots of green. Good friends came along with some random acquaintances. We set up a photo booth and had tasty food. I consider it a success but it was way too much work to do again anytime soon!

Hailey, Chels, me, Steph, Jenni, and Renae

My favorite Kamas girl!

The planners/decorators.

Roommates

Steph and Renae's backsides. Bless them and their mesh panties.

We'll end on that lovely shot.

Moab

Moab is one of my favorite places on earth. Going to AZ for a weekend was not quite enough warm to get me out of my winter slump, so I planned a Moab trip with some of my best Utah Valley friends. We left worried about cold temperatures and threats of bad roads. After a short delay of almost going to CO (whoops) and a pit stop in the ever classy Price, we finally made it. The front desk guy at the hotel may have been a little bit in love with us and gave us free treats and talked us into a room upgrade. I'm so glad he did because 5 girls need lots of space! After a heart-burn and gallbladder attack inducing dinner at the Blue Pig, we spent the evening with music, strobe lights (that would be my roommate for ya), and mini eyebrow makeovers by Steph. The next morning we slept in and then ventured out into the ominous skies to hike. I remember being completely mesmerized by the Delicate Arch from my last trip. It is so beautiful and a fun hike. With a little rain, flecks of snow, and many clothing layers, we made it to the top. Oh my. Beautiful. The sketch weather had scared away a lot of hikers and we practically had the arch to ourselves. Well, us and a friendly New Yorker who entertained us with yoga poses below the arch. I loved the cold air and I think it made the hike way easier. We stayed and took tons of pictures including a slew of jumping pics by yours truly until we were completely froze. The trip down was fast and easy. We drove around the park for awhile and only ventured out into the cold air for a couple of pics. 3 out of 5 girls in the car were nurses and a 4th is Renae....leading to lots and lots of inappropriate comments about rock formations. It was an entertaining tour for sure! The short hike had left us hungry and we chose Pasta Jay's for an early dinner. It was by far the best food the whole trip. We followed it up with an amazing late afternoon nap and walk around cute little Moab. The next morning we checked out and somehow made it to Dead Horse Point (the gas light was on...scary!) The skies had cleared making way for a beautiful day. We wandered about and of course, I took about 50 jumping pics. I just love them! A few of us ventured out onto a cliff to snap a few pics. I almost left my heart there because it was quite literally jumping out of my chest. A few gas stops later, and we were back to Happy Valley. Now enjoy a few...or a lot of pics.

Co-pilot who enjoys wearing shades on cloudy days. 

Back seat ladies. Chelsie, Renae, and Kasie. 

Moab is for spooners.

Ready to hike! 

Hiking partners. Love this girl!

Renae displaying one of our favorite rock formations.

My favorite picture from the whole trip! Look at those cute frog legs! hahaha

I do love jumping.

The group under the arch. Renae and Steph butt bonding.

Um. Renae?

Eyebrow-ing.

After severely stubbing my toe post jump. 

24.98 years of my life flashing through my mind.

The End.

Arizona 2013

Every year, I make my annual migration to visit my good friends who now call AZ home. After an insane amount of flight delays, I finally made it to the land of cacti and sun. It was such a fun weekend, but way too short. I always stay with Liz, one of my good friends from nursing school. Five years ago, we bonded over crazy teachers, foley catheter insertion skill induced stress, and long hours of studying. I only get to see her once a year, but we always pick up right where we left off. Thank you Devin and Liz for having me!

For something different this year, we went to the Olive Mill in Queen Creek. It was fun to see the small town version of AZ. We took a fun little tour, taste tested different kinds of olive oil, ate a yummy lunch, and met up with a good friend from the ship this summer. It was such a fun day and I'm now a semi-expert in all things olive oil.

Liz and I with our fancy olive oil purchase.

Cute phone case. Cute friend.

Liz and her hubby Devin have a sweet hook-up with a player on the Oakland A's and he got us free tickets for a spring training game. It was the most beautiful day that I can remember. I love love love baseball games. Hot dogs. People watching. My kind of a good day. 

Second best moment of the game was this guy. 

Best moment of the game. I'll let you decide what shape this pizza is. So funny!

I love this pic of Devin. He was dying!

Other blog worthy pics:

Dinner at Olive and Ivy.

Devin and Liz's child Louie. He grew on me a bit this trip and sure loved my lap! 

Love this girl!

On Monday, I spent the day with my old coworkers Ellen and Mariel. Ellen took me for a drive by of the new temple. It is beautiful! 

3rd floor friends + baby Sophie.

Until next year Arizona.