It's been a while

I know it has been forever since I've posted last! I don't even think I have pictures uploaded from my camera yet on the computer to even post them on here. November and December has come and gone!! Time flies by so quickly I can hardly keep up it feels like. Thanksgiving was great. I love spending time with all of my family. The last two weeks of school (up to the 16th of Dec.) I have been so incredibly busy studying my bootie off!! I think I spent a majority of my time at a Barnes and Noble with classmates studying. I would go in the morning for a few hours to meet with one group, then again in the afternoon when Kole got home to meet up with another group. I passed my final and thus passed block 3!!! I am so relieved and ever so happy!!! The final was very hard and I am proud that I made it! I am so happy that all of my friends who I love dearly will be joining me as well in the last block of my nursing education. ( I will con't on to get my Bachelor's ) By May I will be a RN and I am looking forward to that time. If all goes well that is.

Christmas is in 3 days. My tree is up, the lights are up on the house, music is played, goodies are baked, presents are bought (not wrapped) and fianlly today for the first time this season I actually feel the Christmas holiday spirit upon me. I don't know what my deal was, but it took some time this year. I don't know if it was because I was so busy with school that the holiday just sprung upon me or what. I am excited to spend Christmas with my family and friends! I love them all and I love the support I recieve from everyone! I love my sweet little girl! This is her 4th Christmas and I cannot believe how fast time has gone just for her! She is very excited and I am excited for her!! I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Enjoy every minute of life and love those around you to the fullest!!

October life

So I didn't realize it has been a month since I last posted! That's what happens when life gets busy! Well to catch up, I will first talk about what I have been up to these last 2 weeks. I have finished my clinical rotations for the semester. My group that I was in ended with OB. I must say, I absolutely LOVED it!! I was surprised to find myself really enjoying this specialty. My first day there I was in the Cottage- so basically I held and fed babies all day. LOVED it of course! they were so small and so cute and sweet. I did see a circumcision, and the baby did not make a peep! He was lying there very content, which was surprising considering the procedure. Second day I was on the Labor and Delivery floor. I was able to be with such an awesome couple! They were probably the best people to be with. They were friendly, did not complain too much, and they made me feel welcomed. It was a normal delivery, and the patient pushed 2.5 times and baby was out. They didn't know what they were having, so to find out together with them was really neat. It was a baby girl! she was beautiful!! Perfect little girl. It was a wonderful experience being able to share such an intimate moment with this couple. This was their 3rd baby. There really is nothing sweeter than the miracle of birth. I felt that way after having Kody, but being on the other side of the perspective was something special. The next week, I was in antepartum- where they keep women pregnant because they are too early to go into labor. I had 3-4 patients, 2 of them with twins (girls!). Well 2 of them had to be on continuous monitoring. It was a lot of work having to make sure babies were still doing well. I really enjoyed my day though. I even gave betamethasone to a gal. Betamethasone is a drug that increases the surfactant in the lungs of the babies so that in case they do come prematurely, their lungs will function properly. My last day in OB i was back in L&D and I was able to see a C-Section. Again, I was with a very cool couple. They were already waiting to go back into the OR and the fact that they let me be with them was awesome. The C-section was interesting. I stood against the wall. I didn't want to get too close to the sterile tables. That would have been bad if I accidently touched anything! on them. So I'm standing there, I got a little flushed when the doc made the first cut, but after a while (and some swaying back and forth to make sure my knees didn't lock) I was able to handle the surgery. The doc started at 7:12 and baby boy was out at 7:16! I swear it took longer than it did. It took about 20 min to sew her back up. After that I was able to stay with the patient and baby boy til they went up to the postpartum unit. I assessed baby every 30 min. He was darling. I love OB. I truly feel that I can be a L&D nurse. I'm not 100% sure if I found my calling in nursing life yet or not, but it is something I can see.

Okay, so with all of these pics. These are other events that have taken place this month. My high school's homecoming was so much fun!! I had fun with my sister, Kelli, and my friends Anjie and jessica and all the others. We laughed so much and didn't care how goofy we were acting.

K this picture is funny because since Kelli broke her foot, she is not able to stand on her podium. She has to conduct from her wheelchair. Well if you look closely, she's behind the black speaker. YOu can see her wheel! I laughed pretty hard!!


There she is!!


She is a drum major, just like I was 7 years ago! She wanted to follow my footsteps


Anj and jessica! Anjie was a year ahead of me, and jess and I graduated together!


I love this girl!!


One weekend we went to kole's brother's house to celebrate halloween. They were not going to have the kids on the actual holiday, so we went over, had a bbq and decorated halloween cookies. Kody had so much fun with Reece. Thanks Erica and Seth for putting on a great party.


The girls enjoying their cookies decorating

Last Saturday, I went to ASU band day to watch Kelli and her band perform their half time show. They did such an awesome job! They earned a couple captions, and a trophy for something, and they even placed one of the top 5 bands in the state!! I went with Anjie. Seeing her twice in one month is awesome considering we don't see each other that often with our busy schedules and we don't live close to each other.

Band before the show started.


Kelli is able to be on her podium this time!! Good job


Anjie!!

Last sunday was Kole's birthday. He turned 36!! It's a little crazy! He's that much closer to 40. I try not to think about it too much. We had our families over here for a bbq dinner. Kole made hamburgers that were absolutely delish and my mom brought broccoli salad and made Kole a cake. You would think I would have made Kole something for his birthday dinner, but he insisted on making the burgers cause that's what he wanted, so there ya go darlin, bbq away! We have a little inside joke with birthday candles in our family. For my mom's birthday, she opened up a new box of candles for her cake. I asked why she just didn't use the ones that have already been opened. Well she said she could have used the others ones, and then Kole said something about wanting the little stubby candles for his birthday. Well what do you know, my mom put the stubby candles on his cake. See pic below.

We were dying laughing.


Kody excited to celebrate with her daddy!!


I love my family so much! Kole is such a wonderful father and husband!! He does so much for us and he sacrifices so much of his time for me to get my school work done. I couldn't ask for a greater husband. He is the BEST dad to kody!!


We picked these little piggy's at the neighborhood bbq a couple days prior and we had too much fun with them!! I love this pic for Kole's face in the back ground! He is too funny!!


Of course Kelli and I had to have our fun. Be glad I spared your eyes of the ugly pics. We took about 10! Gotta love digital cameras!! Kelli's face is priceless though!! I love my sis.



Kody in her new tumbing outfit!! She loves it so much! She wore it probably 3 days in a row when we first got it!! It's so darling on her.

the wed before halloween we had our neighborhood trunk or treat over in the church parking lot! Kody was sleeping beauty and I was a modernized hippie. Kody loved her costume. We borrowed it from my friend, Kathleen- thanks so much! It was flippin cold that night!! Oh man! We had our boring trunk ready for trick or treaters. I don't have decorations, so basically we're lame.

Here's Kody ready to go!! She loves getting her picture taken now and then wants to see it after I take it! I'm training he well ;)


Isn't she just gorgeous!! I love her so much. We put on makeup and she loved it! She said " do I look so beautiful mom?" she beautiful to me always!!


Kody took this picture! She did a good job


love her face!


In our lame car with no decorations. She is happy to help give out candy before we go get candy. And she had to wear a beanie to keep her warmer. She was also wearing stripe socks with her skater shoes. She turned into a skater sleeping beauty. too cute.


Boy Cody and lil maggie in his car! Just chillin


She was freezing yet willing to take a pic!!


Went to my mom's house the other night so she could help me frost sugar cookies that I made. I love my mom so much for taking time out of her night to help me!! thanks mom!! We laughed and had a great time. She made fun of some of my decorating ideas, but it was all in good fun. After that I had to try on some old halloween costumes! Kelli and I both did and it was a grand ol time!


Dont they look delish?!! I thought so. and they were!!



I have not worn this in 9 years!! so that fact that is has been this long and i have had a baby and I can still fit, makes me feel good! the huge split was caused by me 9 years ago. I took too big of a step and there ya have it.


My mom made this costume a long time ago. My older brother wore it, I wore it a couple years in a row, and then my younger sister wore it. Pretty nice stuff if you ask me. I wish I had the old pics to post to compare, but I don't. maybe someday.


That is one sexy beast!! OOH gotta love those teeth


Kelli in a costume my mom made 17 years ago. Not even sure if Kelli was alive. My older sister wore it when she was 12. I never wore it cause i didn't like it.


Kelli and I together!!

I tried it on for kicks and giggles and I actually like the costume a lot! I think it's adorable now. Kinda itchy, but all in all very cute!!


My dad even put on his elvis face!! I love having fun with family


Kelli's turn to try on the cavegirl costume!

Friday night Lauren and i went to the Kate Voegle concert and had so much fun. We bought super cute hoodies to get a bracelet to meet Kate at the end of the show. We had a great time- it was at the mesa arts center, so it was low key concert. We were second row which was awesome!! you could talk to the band members and get good pics and sit there, since we had awesome chairs! There was this little old lady next to me with wine! we thought it was hilarious!

Our hoodies. infront of the stage before all the fun entertainment began. but we're pretty entertaining by ourselves, so it was a toss up on when we had the most fun!


this fella, Kevin Hammond or something like that was the opening act. He was pretty darn good and not too hard to look at! there was a stupid girl sitting behind us, probably 14 years old who kept talking to him and responding to everything he was saying to the audience! it was so annoying!!


We got to meet him after wards. He was pretty cool!


wasting time while waiting for the fabulous Kate


Doesn't she look darlin in her costume?! the whole band was dressed up since it was halloween!! I loved it! And she sang wonderfully. She is a talented gal! It makes me wish i knew how to play guitar and sing for that matter!

Birthdays, dates, injuries, Oh my

This past month we celebrated my mom's 54th birthday!! Whoo hoo! doesn't she look fabulous?? I think so. I love my mom so much. I love that she has always been patient with her kids, esp Danny. (not pictured in any of this). To celebrate, we went to dinner at Texas Road House. Kole was unable to attend due to the fact that he was somewhere else (at this time I do not remember where that is ). Last time we went to TRH my mom got on the saddle! It was hilarious. She didn't do it this year though she claimed that is what she wanted. Apparently the waiters/waitresses there have to do some lame-o line dance during a certain song. I should have taken a picture because these people looked like they could give a Rat's you know what. It was hilarious, and quite dumb. I wouldn't want to do that, that's for sure. Oh and I swear, if you don't want to wait 2 hours for a table at TRH, then you need to do the call ahead sitting or be there at 5 for dinner, cause when we left, oh my hell was it busy outside!! that place is always ridiculously busy!! It was nice having my older sister, Kristin there with us. She has been in Tennessee for the past few months and just recently came back home (oh but now she's moved to Utah...) but for the past 3 or 4 weeks, I have enjoyed spending time with her. Kody sure missed her too. Kody loves Kristin so much.

Here's my momma and younger sis, and I. As we're waiting for our dinner.

Kody so happy to take pictures with her aunt. She actually requested having her pics taken!! (kody, not kristin, though Kristin was happy too)

Kelli, and I. I know you all love the arm in these self photo's ;) (for you kathleen)

Sis, babe, and dad. I love kody's expression here. She is so super excited. I am so glad that she has family around her that love her so much and show that love for her. I feel bad for those little babies who don't get the love they deserve.

This is what kelli does... She hoards the bread!! It was so funny I had to take a picture of it. yes they have good bread and cinnamon butter, but c'mon! Too funny. I guess the food would have gone to waste regardless, so at least she's not wasting what was already ours.

A couple weekends ago, Kole and I went out with a couple different friends of ours on a triple date. It was so much fun!! We went to Costa Vida for dinner. I usually don't care for Costa Vida. I didn't understand what the hype was all about. Last time I had it, it was only alright, but I got the shredded chicken salad this time and it was actually quite tasty! Too many people there for sure, and I still don't see the super hype about it, but it was good for the time being. After that we walked around the shopping complex there, got ocean blue frozen yogurt (well Kole didn't cause he's a weirdo like that) Who doesn't like frozen yogurt?? or ice cream?! Anyway, we even walked around in a toy shop for a while. After all that, we were trying to figure out something fun to do. It was only 730 for crying out loud!! We needed to do something fun. Well turns out, Craig knows an individual who happens to be the caretaker of a house that I have been dying to go into for 13-14 years!! This house is supposedly haunted. As we're walking around the house, the guys of course are going in room to room without any sense of fear and us girls were little squeak boxes! Every little noise or crunch of glass or anything freaked us out!! We made our way upstairs and as we were about to enter the master bedroom, the doors looked a little too perfectly set up! Craig and jason were in front by the door, i was behind them, Kathleen behind us, kole off to the side, and Jeannie somewhere in the back. I didn't see her, so I don't actually know where she was. Well as Craig and Jason opened the doors, out comes this man dressed up in a warewolf mask! Kathleen and I start screaming, she's holding on to me for dear life hiding behind me while pushing me toward the guy, and Jeannie is half way down the stairs. She was out of that area so quick! It was hilarious. Turns out, the warewolf guy is the man Craig knows. Oh they thought that was hilarious! And looking back on it, and really during it, it was dang funny!! After we were done looking in the rest of the house, we all went outside. Us girls decided to go walk around in the groves. We tried to scare the guys by sneaking up on them, but we failed miserably. They ended up scaring us again, because they saw us sneaking up on the, decided to hide (well Kole did while the others walked away "looking" for us). I had such a great time!! I love getting together with good friends/neighbors!

This is the fabulous Jeannie and Jason!

Kathleen and Craig! They are so dang awesome!

Well hello wind blowing in our faces making our hair fly around. I love this pic!

Birthday dinner for my mom. I love celebrating birthdays! I celebrate mine for about a week!! With going out to lunch or dinner with friends, family parties, and sunday dinner parties! Gotta love it

I made the cake with the candles. My mom made the peach pie dish with a fancy crust that i don't remember what was in it. I'm sure it was good. I don't eat the crust on any pie. It grosses me out (weird, I know)

Sweet little kody with her grandma!!

The gals of the family!!

I loved having my sister home. I missed her so much and I'm sad that she's already gone. At least St. George is much closer than Tennessee.

I guess I have a lot to update on. Not too long ago, I was out on one of my ladies night occasions with my BFF. I had to bring Kody along this time because Kole was again doing something that I can't remember (i'm on a roll). After we had a little drink (jamba juice for Lauren, coffee-free pumpkin spice drink for me from starbucks- LOVE), we went to the park over by my old elementary school. Kody had a great time and I had fun watching her and we all had fun going down the slides that are 10x too small for adults.

I love how much static those slides produce on her hair! She thought it was hilarious too. She says "take a picture momma!" I already have my little one trained to love pics

Here is my BFF. I love her so much!! We have so much fun together!! I love that we can laugh about so many things from the past and they are still so gosh darn funny!! Being at this park reminded me of when we used to rollerblade over there and go to the church that is behind the park. We would do that almost every single day after school back in Jr. High. Good times!!

Here is a random picture of my little Kody and I. We were at my mother-in-law's and Kody pulled out these masks and wanted pictures taken! We're extra match match cause of the purple attire! I love her sweet smile! she warms my heart every day and I am grateful everyday that she is my child!!

Last saturday, My sister broke her foot at the end of her marching band competition. She turned around on her podium and she lost her balance and made the decision to jump. Well she happened to land on one of the wheels and broke her right foot. I had to go pick her and my mom up at the urgent care in awatukee. She was pretty bummed... considering she twisted her left ankle last year around this same time doing something... and yes, Homecoming is coming up this saturday. She had a brace on last year and now she'll have a fancy boot for this year! what are the odds?? So with this being her right foot, she can't drive right now. total bummer. She has to be in a wheelchair at school. Doc said to keep off of it for 3 weeks, then maybe crutch walk for the next 3-4 weeks.

This is after urgent care. She looks so thrilled

The bruising that is now taking place. Taken 5 days after the injury. You can see how swollen her ankle still is. I think the bruising looks pretty cool.