Kisses and Hugs

So I am going to assume that my avid readers are anxiously sitting and waiting for my grandious blog entry about my life. Well here it is, but I warn you, its really not THAT spectacular.
Hmm, where to begin? Well I am currently taking a mental break from thinking about this stupid assignment. Its a really difficult assignment, but its also very simple. I think I am overthinking it so I am letting all the information I have read sink in so I can sit down and write it in my own words, although it will sound like its for the layman, it will show understanding right? Its actually not that bad of an assignment and really interesting, but the lecturer and tutor basically told us that more than half of last semester students failed, so there is that added amount of stress and pressure. Although I now think they were just trying to scare us, or speaking to the "not so bright" population. Its been a really full on semester compared to last semester. I barely remember last semester!! Its like a haze.
But on to the fun stuff!! I finished prac more than a week ago. BY FAR the best prac I have ever had. My facilitator was one of those people that loved to teach and very motivated to give us every oppurtunity to learn during the four weeks. She had a great rapport with the nurses and it made such a difference to their reception towards us. The other girls I was with were very bright and enthusiastic which just hyped up the morale and confidence to get stuck into it. I was on an ICU ward, which is very different from a general ward. The patients were way more complex and interesting. Its funny, the last couple semesters they talk about how to do certain cares, then you get on placement and its nothing like that. But this ward really put all the theory and information into practice so it all started to click. The culture within the ward was very fun, relaxed yet focused and extrememly knowledgable. The nurses were brilliant!! They were so willing ot challenge our critical thinking and to share their knowledge and give us oppurtunities to do what we had talked about. It has really made me think about going straight into ICU because I had such a great experience there. I asked the nurses on the ward and it was sorta 50/50 whether to start out in ward to get experience or go straight into ICU. Its different kind of nursing i think. I really like the one on one with the patient and sorta a more controlled environment. I of course developed my favorite patient and followed him up until last day. I only had him one day, but he was lovely so I would stop by and check on his progress. The last day I got a hug from his wife with tears and a genuine thank you...so fantastic!! There were also some trajedies and sad stories and deaths. Fortunately I dealt with all that very well, so I am confident I would be a great ICU nurse. Who knows though...I still have a couple more pracs to go. SO far I have liked them all for different reason, and thats a good sign!!
Its already more than halfway through this semester, then I will be off till February next year. I really dont like these long breaks, I fear I will forget everything I learned. I would really like to get a job though. I want to have some experience under my belt, even if its working for a nursing home or something. I think that will help me develop my skills further and be more prepared in the future, and PASS THE TIME!! I worked last summer and it really helped to have a little income and something to do.
I had a great girls night last night with Fliss, Sarah, Cort, Carol and Becks. They are a great group of girls that I would like to get to know better, but just havent really had the oppurtunities. I have hung out with them 3-4 times. I think if I start going to church at Metro then I will see them more often, its just doing it, ya know? Other than them, I have made some other good friendships with girls from uni. Its nice to be connected, I think it makes a major difference in my life.
Marriage is fine, no big dramas. We have been unsuccessful in our pursuits to get pregnant, but now thats on hiatus because of Carols wedding. I am not going to promise not to be with child, but I also dont really want to be 8 months pregnant on my last weeks of uni. I guess we will wait a little longer. I am not so sure I am ready yet anyway, but I dont think I ever will be...so if it happens it happens. Nat has been busy at work and taking some trips to do training. I think its good for him to get away and have a little change of scenery and job responsibilities. He really likes his job and his bosses which I think makes a big difference. He has been given some challenging projects that he really enjoys. So as long as he is happy and the company is happy with him, we will be here in Australia (or wherever else they might send him).
We got our house in east peoria rented out. Vanessa, Hope, Steve and Arron worked really hard to get it ready for new tenants. I dont know what I would have done if I didnt have them. The new renters arent moving in till mid septemeber but we have deposit and signed lease and Hope seems to think they will be a good fit and take good care of it. I am just glad I have someone else paying the mortgage. I think we would have preferred to sell it and get out from under it, but I am happy to still have it to fall back on =)
I think thats about it. I really need to upload my sydney pics. I am trying to put together a video slide show but just havent had time yet. I might attempt that tonight, but highly doubt it.
love you all
c.ALIce

THANK YOU NANA!!!

Two words

I rock....


chrissi alice

The neverending list

Cravings are weird when you cant just run to store and pick it up...the current list.
Gardettos
Hersheys syrup
Double stuffed Oreos
Lucky charms
Candy corn
Cracker jacks
Fruit roll ups
Ranch dip
Cheddar and sour cream chips
Banana peppers
Velveeta cheese
Larosas wing sauce
Sturkey spice
Sturkey dressing
Gold bond powder
Cream of wheat
Easy cheese
Honeycomb
Chocolate jello cook and serve
Chex mix
Caramel topping
Bisquick
Aunt jemima syrup
... It's the curse of wanting what you can't have.

Best thing about Australia? Great exotic fruit. Good produce. There just isn't the same variety as there is in the states. Weird the things you miss. What are your favorite foods that you eat all the time?



chrissi alice

Better late than never

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! love you all and will miss you this holiday season. ;)


chrissi alice

I doubt you can read it. It's called HAIR ARTZ. a MOBILE HAIR SALON. seriously!!! I tried to get pic. But obviously unsuccessful but it's sorta proof it exists if you take my word for it ;)!!


chrissi alice

How cute

I love my baby. Nat loves that she is on the bushes.


chrissi alice

Aussie word of the day

Todays word: JUMPER

ANSWER to yesterdays phrase: flat out means "busy" sometimes it ends with other funniness like "flat out like a dog on lino" picture a dog trying to run on linolieum..dog on lino. Or "flat out like a drinking lizard". Now imagine a drunk lizard. Most people just say "flat out"

chrissi alice

Aussie phrase of day

It really isn't any fun If you guys, other than Carol..thanks btw, don't try to guess!

Todays phrase:
Flat out

Answer to arvo: used as a shortened word for "afternoon". It's too much effort to say afternoon!! Cause Aussies lingo is basically cutting word in half and adding a "y" or "o" at end.


chrissi alice

Aussie Word of the day

Arvo.
Do u know what it means? Take a gander...

Answer to "chuckin' a sickie" is what Americans coin as "playing hookey" callin in sick even though u r not.


chrissi alice

Guess that Aussie phrase

Chuckin' a sickie


chrissi alice

Eventful week

Carol was saying that I don't post enough pictures so here goes. Aunt Faith (Mother in law's sister) came into Brisbane this week. It was actually perfect timing because I was on semester break so I could entertain her. It was such a treat to have her here. She reminds me A LOT of Hope, so it was like having Hope here. It was also nice to have family here. She arrived on Tuesday but I had to stay home Wednesday to wait for routine inspection of property. Thursday I went to pick her up at her hotel and we went shopping at outlet malls by the airport. After some detours (gps and construction don't mix!) we FINALLY got to the DFO (Direct Factory Outlets). It was the first time I have really gone shopping and found anything i liked. Faith (being just like Hope) wouldn't let me pay for anything, although I was prepared to buy. I feel in love with this dress but it unfortunately didnt have my size. I am debating going to buy smaller size and figure out a way to fix into it. =) Its awesome dress.
So all day Thursday we were shopping, but never got much farther than DFO. We then went to pick up Nat and work and went back to our house and then out to dinner at Nandos!! We love Nandos--(www.nandos.com.au). When we dropped her off at the hotel, she gave us a care package...chocolate is not good to send cause it melts, but when you come on plane, its perfectly fine!! I got Cracker Jacks (was craving caramel popcorn); milkduds; reese cups; peanut m&ms; candy corn (yummy!! and FUNNY when you give to dogs hahhaha); some sloppy joe mix and other seasoning; Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix (cause ranch here tastes like mayonnaise); and TUPPERWARE!! I am so excited to have Tupperware (or rather Rubbermaid) that closes...awesomeness.
Friday Faith and I got together for lunch and went to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (www.koala.net). It was the first time I have seen Koalas upclose and actually got to hold one...for like 2 minutes, enough time for them to take a picture. They are like babies. They grab on to you like your the momma and are really soft, but dont smell so good. They are so LAZY!! They were all either sleeping or eating...but they all had a different look to them, mainly reminded me of bunch of old men.






We also got up close and personal with a few other animals.






That was an eventful day! We also drove around a bit to where Faith used to live so she could reminisce. Again, went to pick Nat up at work and went out to dinner at Lone Star, yum. I wanted to go to a nice place that we had found, but we don't get out much so it was Lone Star. We came back home and skyped with Hope, Faith, Nat and me. It was nice to see mom. I wish she could have been here!!

Saturday Nat slept in a bit (i try but I don't get past 6:30am)--he wasn't feeling well so I figured he needed to sleep it off. I think he has allergies or something, or the remnants of the dust storm last week. Faith treated us to the Story Bridge Climb. (www.storybridgeadventureclimb.com.au) We met up for lunch at SouthBank -- basically a Brisbane beach in the city with markets, street performers and food court. It was pretty muggy though. We caught the ferry (water bus) to the climb. I took a couple pics of the city so you get an idea of what it looks like. The river is like a snake so it winds around. It really is a pretty city. Hard to believe that there are 14 million people in Brisbane alone, when Faith lived here 15 years ago, there was only 14 million in entire COUNTRY of Australia. Its rumoured that 10,000 migrate to Bribane A WEEK...growing pains coming soon?? Sorta sad, give it a couple years and it will be more like New York than Cincinnati (future blog, I am making a list of similarities between Cincinnati and Brisbane). Nat and I agreed that we really felt like TOURISTS this weekend.

THIS IS THE STORY BRIDGE THAT WE CLIMBED:










And finally, here is a pic of my "aussie-wanna-be" husband. These hats are surprizingly popular and I must admit, it is pretty cool. But I am convinced that i am much cuter in it than he is.


I think that is it for now. i am going to try to take some pictures at school this week so you can see where I go everyday. Basically I am trying to prove Carol wrong and flooding you with images! =)

Love you all!!
c.ALIce

Koalas

Aren't they cute?


chrissi alice

Dust to dust

It's like a thunderstorm without the rain and in place of rain is dust. Cover your mouth and eyes cause it sucks to have dust there. It's my first ever, kinda cool.
It's like a thick fog where you can't see much of anything but it's not fog. It's dust.

chrissi alice

Video of Girls and Nat

Check out video at http://alycepaige.blogspot.com/

Girls arrived safely. Read all about it on other blog!

Home sweet home

Long time coming but the girls are finally here safe an sound!!!


chrissi alice

Down to the hours

On way to airport to pick up girls. Whoo Hoo!!


chrissi alice

Almost

The girls are almost here. We will pick them up from the airport on Monday afternoon. We went out today and got food, bowls, toys and treats. There was this adorable puppy at puppy store that was hard to resist bringing home. Can't wait for girls to get here cause hopefully the puppy-wanting phase will go away!!

chrissi alice

Countdown

FOUR MORE DAYS!!!



chrissi alice

Bioscience midterm

Missed more than I thought I did so little disappointed but better than most...82.5. 33 out of 40.


chrissi alice