Mi Casa de aRte

It's Almost Time!

.....almost time to return to my art and my trusty ol' blog! I have been missing you!

While I've been drowning in Nursing school, especially as of late...I've put my art to the side and my studies on the priority list. But it's KILLING ME! I have been craving my art outlet.

So tomorrow....is my last test of the Nursing School Career!!! If I pass...(yeah, I know..think positive!) then I will be entering my final internship at a local hospital and I graduate in May!

If I don't pass....(yeah, I know, think POSITIVE!) ..which is highly possible....then I will have the summer off and retake my exam in the fall. No biggie. At least I will take a little vacation and do some art! LOL!

So...those who visit my bloggie.....don't give up on me! When I'm back....(most likely this weekend)......I'll have TONS OF PROJECTS to post!

Boy....have I been put in MY place....

....by a one pounder. Yes. I said it. By a one-pound human. A human who is struggling to survive. A human who is connected to so many wires and tubes...just to give him life. A human who was born too soon, but is putting his life in the hands of grown-up humans. Born for a reason and fighting too soon. Unknowing what the next minute, hour or day brings. But all the while.....he's existing. And believing. And is none-the-wiser about life's problems...bills....war.....gangs....divorce....panic....sadness.....He is just a faithful little guy who is trusting that we will help him LIVE. Help him to EXIST for the long-haul. Help him take his next breath...and another...and another....

So...regarding my post last night. He has PUT ME IN MY PLACE. Whatever I was frustrated over....is pretty much forgotten. It's so unimportant.

I never will live a struggle like him. I will never be brought back to life several times a day. I will never be one-pound and faithful.

But I will always remember how he believes in living. And he continues to live despite the odds.

(photo by Anne Geddes)

"Hey little guy.....I believe in you."

Thanks for putting me in my place.

Ineffective Coping R/T the lack of Creative Tiime

Haha! Who gets it? I know the nurses out there do! This is my nursing diagnosis for today. As nurses you have to create care plans for your patients and select nursing diagnoses and what they are related to.

My own diagnosis today is: Ineffective Coping related to the lack of Creative Time. Heehee.

I can't believe how crucial art....creating....expression...is to my entire being. It is truly a part of my entire purpose here on earth! I can't function without some sort of creativity on a daily basis. And when something takes precedence in my life...such as nursing school....then my whole creative mojo goes out the window. (I mean really, lets prioritize here! LOL)

And I can't survive. That is where I lose it. I am unbalanced and unsettled. It's such a paradox:

If I take time to create, then I lose crucial study time. But if I don't create, then I can't function. I can't cope. I am a Loca Chica.

So, my weekend has officially begun! My clinicals are over and I don't go back to school until Tuesday. BREATHE WITH ME! I'm so excited to CREATE!!!! I'll be attending a cool workshop by Josie Cirincione to learn how to create a unique piece of jewelry. She's teaching etching and riveting! Just call me Rosie-the-Riveter! I'll be taking the class with a good friend at Frenzy Stamper in Scottsdale.

OK....will post again tonight....gotta upload pics from Halloween!

Living Fully

So it's been a crazy couple of weeks! Just getting the hang of a new routine with the kids. Between all of us, three different schools. Lots of conflicting times. I go to school early on Fridays and leave my kids in the care of someone else. I let my responsibility go and hand it over to someone else. It's a hard thing as a mother. To let go. But I did. And they didn't get picked up! Well, eventually they did. And they were late. And I was mad.

But not too mad. Cuz I was at school...listening to stories from people who are recovering addicts to various substances. I listened to stories from people who struggle because they still grieve over the loss of their husband. I listened to stories from a young girl who didn't want to drink anymore because she became a monster when she did.

And I put my life in check. I am lucky. I am fortunate. I am grateful and blessed and lucky and healthy and alive. And I am happy, content, satisfied and able. Able to do things. Little things. Able to pick up my kids from school. Able to drink a beer without needing another. Able to call my parents and know that they are still alive and with me.

I am very grateful. And to those of you who struggle or have struggled. With anything, big or small....I wish you serenity...and peace....and light. You are amazing.

Week In Review...

The week in Review:

Started back in nursing school. UGH. When will it ever be over? The good thing...and most exciting..is I sat for my NCLEX-PN exam! And yes, you can now call me Nurse RosiePosie!! I passed my first boards and am now an LPN! I didn't have to sit for those boards...I could'a waited and sat for my RN in May, but I thought I'd try and fit some actual work in this semester. Either way, I'm back in school to finish up my final blocks before becoming an RN. And excitedly enough, I get to do my clinical rotations at the Mayo Hospital!! I can't wait! (And let me tell you....the party planning for my big "shin'dig" is well under way! LOL! )

On the creative end. It's been a little busy, and haven't been able to create much. I did take tons of photos with my new Holga camera. Can't wait to see those developed. I am experimenting tons with it and have decided that I truly miss "film" cameras. You can be so creative with the outcome! I also have been creating some amazing canvases of the photos I've been taking. Totally altering them. I will post photos soon!

Spent lotsa time with family and friends this past week. Trying to make commitments, such as: Monday Scrapbooking with my mom and Saturday Family Night (should be a blast!). I really am longing to make closer contact with those that I've lost contact with, so I came up with Saturday Family Night for all of our friends. We are really excited about that!

Well, will post photos later. So much to do today. Taking a trip to IKEA to furnish my empty living room. I've done a total makeover and I feel like I just moved in. Lord, help me. LOL!

Hasta la vista baby!

wHy i hAveN't pOsTed LaTeLy...

I decided not to post an image of "wound care". I just couldn't find a rated "PG" one!

I have a "check off" in clinicals next week on injections. You must pass with flying colors before going to the hospital. The bummer part is that there is no actual "practice" on human skin. The first poke you do, is on an actual patient! YIKES!

The same with catheters! I'm sure you love hearing all of this!! The above catheter is a "Foley" or indwelling catheter opposed to a straight catheter. One is long term, the other is a quick fix.

Then there's Mr. Sims. He can say..."GET AWAY FROM ME!", "Leave me alone!", "OUCH THAT HURTS!!!". He's loads of fun. But it's really neat to hear all of his lung, heart and bowel sounds.

And last but not least.....Drug Calculations. This is a big deal for me because I hate MATH!

All of this is tested for on TUESDAY! And that my friends, is why I haven't posted lately!

So, I'm off now....to study and make notecards. Blah, blah, blah. But I'm 1/2 way through the semester. The end is near.

Tootles!