The longest day of my life...well one of them!

Yesterday was such a long day (hence, why this post is:). Spencer was scheduled to have surgery at 2pm, so we arrived just after 1pm. His dr. was running behind so they told us his surgery would be pushed back to 4:30pm...and we thought that was bad! It then got pushed to 6:30pm and 8:30pm (about this time we were so tired of watching tv). I was so frusterated at this point because nobody came and told us anything. Same day surgery was pretty much shut down and our nurse had left, so I had to roam the floor for someone to talk to and I was not happy (which usually isn't like me). After finding someone at 8:30pm, I found out that the person just before Spencer had just went in for surgery and his procedure was suppose to last 2 hours. Holy cow! Poor Spencer hadn't eaten anything until Wednesday night. I felt so bad for him. Well he went into surgery at 10:30pm. I kept myself busy reading my textbook on all the info I had planned to read that day. Spencer got out of surgery just after midnight. I didn't like what I saw when I walked into the recovery room. He was so pale and shivering like crazy. The nurses had his blankets around his waist so they could see his respirations. I was thinking...come on~he can have his blankets up around him, so I moved them. You can still count respirations just as easy. His heart rate was also really low. Normal heart rate is between 60-100 and I realize he was just sedated, but his heart rate was in the low 40's. It wasn't something I liked to see and when I mentioned it to the nurse, she agreed and called the anestiologist (shouldn't that have been a no brainer? Seriously, it's sad). His temperature was also pretty low so they kept him over night. It was a long frusterating process. I am so glad I am in nursing school. I can see why SlCC is such a good program. Now, maybe I won't complain about it as much. I felt like I really knew my stuff. It definitely made me see what some of them were doing wrong and I didn't like that, so I always said something. I am usually a doormat, but I guess when it comes to my husband, I don't take no crap! It's crazy how I can be with patients all day who are sick, but seeing Spencer like that was no fun to me! Anyway, I am going to pick him up this morning!

Surgery

Spencer's surgery is today at 2pm. I am so glad I have today off from school. Although, I will be reading my High Acuity book while he is being operated on and after! Wish us luck!

Our crazy life!

Our life has seemed so crazy lately. I feel like I am always on the move doing something. I am all ready so overwhelmed with school. I had my first test in High Acuity (ICU) today. Let's just say the majority of the class walked out trying to hold back the tears. It was awful!!! I am just sooo lucky I had a good score. What a relief, but I seriously don't know how much I can take. SLCC is the number one nursing school in Utah for a huge reason. It seems so unbearable. Also with the craziness...Spencer and I went to the Urologist today. Spencer's stone is actually in his right lower ureter (Spencer misunderstood what the physician had told him days before). The stone is a half of an inch (pretty darn big for a stone). It has started to develop scar tissue around it and is inflammed. The Urologist recommends surgery because he thinks the stone has been there awhile (maybe since last summer?) and it is only causing trouble and not passing. His ureter is inflammed and his kidney and ureter are retaining fluid...not good. Hence, our crazy life!!! Anway, that's the update for the family. Sorry I never have photos. We are so busy and always on the move without a camera!

Kidney stone...again!

History lesson:
When Spencer was just 3 years old, he got kidney stones.
When Spencer got off his mission, he got kidney stones.
June 2008, Spencer gets kidney stones off and on all summer!
January 2009, I make Spencer see a Dr!

Spencer saw a family physician this last Monday. It was kind of a shot in the dark because at that time he wasn't having symptoms of kidney stones like he had the week before. The physician ordered Spencer to have a ct scan. The ct scan showed that Spencer has a kidney stone in his right kidney blocking the outward flow of urine to the ureter. Spencer's labs were within normal limits which mean his left kidney is compensating for his right kidney. This next Monday he sees a Urologist. I am hoping we can figure out why he gets them. FYI he doesn't consume a lot of calcium and drinks tons of water! Spencer is such a trooper though! He has passed kidney stones without a grimace!

The best sisters a girl could ask for!!!

I seriously have the two best sisters in the whole world! I love them so much and I truly consider them my best friends. We all have so much fun together. When I am in school, I don't have a lot of time to spend with them and I hate that. I look up to them more than they will ever know. They are such good wives and mothers. They really make their house a home! I remember when I was considering starting nursing school a year earlier than expected and Jen said to me- It's not easy moving up in the world, or everyone would do it, but I know you can do it! Well, with that great advice from one of my successful sisters, I started, and now I am about to graduate! I sure can't wait to have them at my graduation. As all of you know I have been sick and it is only getting worse. My sweet sister, Patti, called today and wanted to bring us dinner! She didn't know I was still sick. She always offers to bring dinner. Well she came over with taco soup, bread sticks, chips & salsa, and chocolate chip cookies! That was so sweet of her. I love my two sisters so much and they are everything I want to become!!!

Rough week

This week has been rough for us. My cough and cold got worse so I finally went to the Dr. last night. It has been so miserable to be so sick during my first week of school. I hate the first days because it is so overwhelming when you hear about all the stuff you have to do especially this last semester. I hope I survive. Spencer has been in pain from what we think are kidney stones. He goes into the Dr. this next week. I know, I know, he gets them all the time! We definitely need to find out why. One good thing is that I put an ad up saying we are expecting Shorkie puppies. I've had so many calls, e-mails, and texts about them. I can't believe how popular they are! I have way more people interested than Paysley will have pups. That's a good thing cuz I am definitely picking where the pups go! Anyway, I just thought I would update the blog since I'm not totally medicated at this moment :)

Last week of freedom!!!

I can't believe this is my last week of freedom! On Monday I start my LAST semester of nursing school! I have mixed feelings about it. I am excited it's finally here so I can get it over with, but also dreading it because it is one of the hardest things I have been through. I never thought it would be tough, but it is-just ask Dr's who have also attended nursing school! Well my last week hasn't been too fun. I still have a cough. I just can't seem to get rid of it! I hate getting the cough cuz it has always taken me forever to get rid of it! Spencer has talked me out of working out a couple days this week because it's quite obvious that working out just makes it worse! Spencer has done so great at his New Year's Resolutions! As I am typing, he is working out to one of my HARD workouts and boy is he doing awesome!

We finally got Paysley back on Wednesday after being gone since Saturday! I am such a baby! I hated every minute she was gone! When she came home, she was so excited to see us and be home! We are pretty sure she is pregnant! She had successful ties with the male! I am excited for this litter of pups. It'll be fun to see what they look like! Chade is still my loyal little boy and he's glad that Paysley is back. If anyone is interested in a pup, just let me know! I already have three of them spoken for! So fun!

I thought this was funny and ohhh so true!
You know you are a nursing student when:
20) Your apartment looks like it vomited laundry, dishes, textbooks, labs, and old pieces of care plans.
19) You've read more Potter and Perry than Harry Potter.
18) You've practically stopped blogging, unless it is to talk about how nursing school is stressing you out.
17) You're contemplating hooking yourself up to an IV drip of caffeine. Best part you know how to start that IV too.
16) you carry spare careplans in your car, just in case. Jumper cables.. check, tire gauge... check, blanket... check, careplan, double check!
15) Your hands are so dry from "proper" hand-washing and alcohol-based rubs that they are beginning to crack. This means you can cut glass with your knuckles and cause a snow storm by rubbing the backs of your hands together.
14) while getting a GYNO exam you ask the doctor mid- bimanual palpation if you can feel your ovaries too.
13) you start an IV on a friend during a study break
12) you take bets on where N, V, and D will be ordered in the list of side effects for every drug your patient is on, even when their purpose is to treat those very symptoms!
11) you know what greafy leens are and you eat them frequently
10) the phrase "I intended" makes you cringe to your very core
9) care plans are the bane of your existance
8) a night out consists of getting together with other nursing students to eat dinner as a study break while you flash notecards over appetizers
7) you have the desire to create Barbies and Kens with the disease of the day
6) You forget how to spell "normal" words
5) while playing Pictionary you draw a picture and a friend calls out "dumping syndrome" and genuinely means it as a legitimate guess
4) it all comes down to poo and you discuss it openly
3) everything in nursing is "KEY"
2) you eat dinner while watching Mosby DVD's and think nothing of it
1) and YOU PRAY THE TESTS WILL PAR!!!

Happy Birthday Elle!

My sweet Elle

Today is my niece, Elle's, bday! I can't believe she is seven years old! It seems so crazy to think! I was so excited when she was born! She was the first one out of my nieces and nephews, so I was ready to have a baby in the family! She is so darn cute and I love her to death! I am so glad I have the privilege of being like a second mom to her! I went to her bday party tonight and forgot my darn camera. All my nieces and nephews on my side were there. I love them all so much! I am one lucky aunt! The song, "Don't you know you're Beautiful," by Kellie Pickler is my song to my sweet little nieces! I will always want the best for them! Happy Birthday, El! I love ya to death!

More Shorkie pups

Baxter's previous puppies

Baxter (daddy)

Paysley is in heat and because of her good health, we have decided to breed her this go around. After this litter, we will not breed her for 18 months and then that would be her last litter. She is being bred to a 4.5 lb Yorkie, named Baxter. He is a cute yorkie and throws darling pups. We are excited for our new litter of pups that will arrive in March! We already have people wanting them!

New Year's Resolutions!

Jess: Graduate, find a great job, work on food storage, and enjoy 2009!
Spencer: Read scriptures every night, read 2 church books, exercise atleast 3 times a week, buy atleast 3 things a month for food storage, and have 72 hour kits ready.

We had fun bringing in the New Year, but we forgot our camera! We went to my sister, Jen's house, ate dinner, and yes, played Guitar Hero! We hope everyone has a great New Year. Leave us a comment with your New Year's Resolution! We would love to hear it!