I couldn’t sleep last night. I was in bed at 9:30 p.m. but I just tossed and turned. I guess I finally drifted off eventually, but I was awoken at 3 a.m. by Teak and Riley, who I am pet-sitting, because they had to go outside. Then my alarm went off seemingly ages later at 5 a.m. I was restless, so I got out of bed right away. As I was getting ready I kept thinking, “I can’t believe I’m going to take this test today.” I was so nervous my stomach was doing flips. I can’t remember the last time I was that nervous about anything.
I got to the testing center half an hour early. My car was the only one in the parking lot.
So I went and sat on a bench outside of the building, and just tried to calm myself down mentally.
After a few minutes my friend Lauren walked up, and we talked until it was time to go in the building. We had to wait until exactly 7:30 a.m. before they would let us in the suite. We each took a number, and that was the order we were checked in. I took number 3. I showed them my ID, my authorization to test, signed a signature pad, had my picture taken, and was fingerprinted. I put all of my stuff in a locker, except a sweater that they let me take in. Then I was given a dry erase board and a set of earplugs and was led to a little cubicle. I ran through a tutorial of how the test would be given, and then my first question popped up.
I’m not allowed to talk about the exact questions I got, but I do know that I got 6 questions about pediatrics, 2 about OB, 9 regarding specific drugs, 1 calculation, and 14 “alternate item” questions that were “select all that apply” rather than multiple choice. The rest were mainly a mixture of med-surg, delegation, and teaching questions. I had 75 questions total, the minimum amount. It took me an hour and a half.
My impression? It was hard. REALLY hard. If it were a test in nursing school I would be extremely upset and just know I failed. BUT, the NCLEX is not scored on a percentage; you just have to get more right than wrong. It was very similar to the practice tests I had been taking, and I passed all of those. So, I honestly feel pretty good about it.
The results will be ready for me to view on Friday, but I will be at work. I could check them there, but if I happen to fail that would be extremely embarrassing because everyone in my orientation group will ask me about it. So I’ve decided that I’m going to wait until I get home that evening and I’m with my fiance David to check it. I want to be with him either way it turns out.
I feel exhausted for one, and a little numb to it all. I also feel apprehensive, because I can’t quite relax yet. But it’s nice to have the rest of the day off. After I finished the test I immediately went to get a manicure and pedicure. Then I met David for lunch, and now I’m going to take a short nap before going to meet David again for dinner and a movie.
If you prayed, thank you. I can’t tell you how much it comforted me to think about all the people that were praying for me. Now if you could just pray for two more days until I find out my results, that would be great!
I have successfully completed my first week of work, and I have determined that new nurse orientation is way worse than school. Except for the fact that I am getting paid good money for it, which makes it bearable.
Basically I have been sitting in lectures. They cover a variety of topics, from why Methodist is considered a magnet hospital, to wound care, to cultural competency (as if I haven’t had that drilled into my head a million times by now), to operating an AED. I have also been doing a thousand computer-based training modules. These are better than the lectures, but after the 999th one they get pretty old. (You may notice that I’m prone to hyperbole today.)
Next week doesn’t look much better. In fact, it looks worse because I finished all my computer modules and now I mainly have only lectures to look forward to. Except Wednesday, which is, if you remember, the day I am taking the most important test of my LIFE.
Speaking of that, I guess it’s another reason I feel so drained. I come home from work and I study, that’s what I do. I managed to hurt my back in the process somehow, maybe from all that strenuous sitting I’ve been doing. But seriously, if it doesn’t start feeling better soon I’m going to have to go to a doctor. David and I have barely seen each other this week, which is no fun for either of us. I’m not trying to be a complainer, I’m just trying to express how much I can’t WAIT to get that test over with and start a normal life!
So, I’m taking the evening off to hang out with my parents. David is going to see the Astros with my brothers, so my mom and I are going to go for a short shopping trip. Perhaps I can get some studying in later tonight, but if I can’t, eh. I have the whole weekend for that.
David: Yes I am, and it’s going to one giant poker game. But really if you win the game you go to hell, and I’ll try really hard to win but then I won’t because I stink, and then I’ll go to heaven!
Me: …
David: What? You don’t believe me? Why not?
Me: Because the Bible doesn’t say anything about that.
David: It doesn’t say anything about purgatory being a giant poker game?
Me: No.
David: Huh. I think we just interpret it differently.
Today was my last day at the part-time job that I have had throughout school. Although I am very excited to start my career as a nurse, I am sad to leave this office for many reasons. I have genuinely enjoyed getting to know the people there, and my bosses have been so accommodating to my weird schedule with school. Lately, this job has even paid my rent.
But the main reason I’m sad to leave is because David works there. It’s where we met (for all practical purposes), where we became friends, and even where he asked me out the first time. In the file room, actually. When our lives got busy over the course of our relationship, there were times we’d cling to the fact that at least we’d see each other at work. Soon we will be spending a lot more time together, but not seeing him here is still an adjustment.
For old times’ sake I tried to get David to re-enact and let me record the scene where he asked me out and I asked if I could think about it. He wasn’t up for that, and I have no idea why not. So instead, here is a picture of us in a place that holds many memories for us.
On Saturday David and I went to Austin to see my good friend and former roommate, Carmen, compete in the O. Henry World Championship Pun Competition. It’s always quite an experience, one which I have actually come to enjoy. I love visiting Austin, seeing Carmen and her family, and the pun competition can be pretty dang funny.
Although David wasn’t completely convinced he would like it, I did catch him making a pun at one point. There was some reverb from the microphones, and someone in the crowd sarcastically yelled, “Can we get some more feedback?” Then David whispers under his breath, “Feedbag.” I made him repeat it to me, and he admitted that he was trying to pun off the word “feedback.” Too bad the pun didn’t have to do with anything…but I thought it was really cute.
Anyway, I would like to proudly say that my friend Carmen won first place in the event “Punniest of Show.” This is where the contestants perform a prepared monologue under two minutes long. I’m so proud! For your enjoyment:
The pinning ceremony is a nursing tradition. Nurses wear pins (usually on their name badge at work) to identify what school they graduated from. These pins were presented to us at the ceremony last night and we were able to choose someone to pin us. I chose David, as my husband-to-be.
But before all of that happened, my parents, David, and I all arrived waaaay early because we didn’t know how the traffic would be. So we decided to get some picture-taking out of the way:
And for some reason I find this very amusing: my mom trying to take a picture of David and me without realizing that the camera was set to record. Obviously I don’t have much patience for this, but David just laughs.
Soon enough my brothers arrived. At this point we were also sharing the table with another family, a family much quieter than ours. As we were waiting for our food, we had the following conversation.
***
Dad: So Uncle David is getting another Ridgeback. They got a good deal on it because it doesn’t have the show-quality ridge. They’re naming it Rigby.
Dad (even more shocked): Kat! It’s a song by The Beatles!
Brothers (in unison): AHHHH LOOK AT ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE
Me: I have never heard of it. [This is true. I listened to it later.]
Dad: I can’t believe this.
Me: Listen, I am not a Beatles fan. I don’t dislike them, I will listen to them, but there are so many other things that I would rather hear.
***
My future mother-in-law will be devastated when she reads this, but there it is. My confession.
Continuing with the evening, we waited quite a long time for our food. In fact, David and I were finished with the whole pinning ordeal before we even took a bite. Ah, what the heck, here’s a little video of me being pinned.
So by the time we got to eat we were all ravenous. We promptly cleaned our plates, and my brother Barry asked for seconds, which I don’t think was part of the deal. After he got his request, though, we discovered that we could all just go help ourselves to seconds, even though no one else was doing so. One woman that we were sitting with offered Barry her roll, but he politely declined. A minute or two later, this happened.
***
Dad (to stranger woman): My wife would like your roll.
Mom: Chris! (She hides her face in her hands.) I am SO embarrassed. You were not supposed to say that!
Dad: What? You wanted it!
Stranger woman: I did offer.
***
I like how my family is the noisy one that eats all the food along with other people’s. I think we have more fun.
Scored a free Sirius satellite radio. David’s brother’s girlfriend wasn’t using hers and the subscription is paid for lifetime!
Decided it’s probably best if I get a new car once I start working. My ignition nearly broke, and it’s at the point where it’s not really smart to put a lot of money into it. Things like this keep happening, so I guess I’ll just bite the bullet and get a new little fuel efficient car.
Returned home and was reunited with Cleo. I celebrated by taking her to see her friends Eddy and Sydney at David’s house. She also got a cow hoof to take home, which my roommate isn’t too pleased about because it smells pretty bad.
Didn’t study at all for my final exam in community health, which is Wednesday. Am I worried? Nah.
There was a roach in the bathroom last night, at least I’m pretty sure it was a roach. I wasn’t sure at first because its wings were sticking out from its body AS IF IT HAD JUST FINISHED FLYING. The fact that roaches can fly is something that I have tried desperately to suppress deep inside my brain. Recalling it brings to mind nothing but visions of hideous things flying directly toward my face. I shudder just thinking about it. Actually just the word roach grosses me out. Ew. I will not be using it again.
So when I saw it, the first thing I did was run to the kitchen to search for some Raid. Raid is pretty much one of my favorite inventions of all time. But I am house-sitting, and alas, there was none. I knew that I had to kill it or I wouldn’t be able to sleep, so I was faced with the prospect of getting close enough to squish it. It took me a couple of tries and a good ten minutes to face it, but squish it I did. Then it took me another ten minutes to get up the nerve to move it into the trash can, but move it I did. I think this particular bug was on its last legs anyway, because it mercifully didn’t put up much of a fight. Another reason I love David: he promises that when I live with him I won’t ever have to worry about bugs again.
This episode doesn’t sound like much, but it is the first time I have ever seen a roach in this house, a place that I have stayed many, many nights, and now I will always be worried about it. Any slight movement on the ground will make me jump. I think I’ve become more afraid of crawly things the older I’ve gotten. It’s pretty ridiculous because they can’t hurt me, but there it is: I’m afraid.
Thanks a bunch for your comments on our pictures. They make me happy. Sorry about the lack of posting last week, but it was a stressful one, as the next few probably will be as well. I passed a test last week that I was nervous about, but I have another, more important one today. It’s our exit exam and we have to get an 85 to pass. It could go either way for me, so I’m just going to do my best and see how it turns out. If you think about it, say a prayer.
I let Friday go by without publishing a very special happy birthday to my brother David, so I want to say it now. He is halfway to 50! As a present I got him two cases of Red Bull, and if you read his blog you will understand why. He is addicted - and I will go ahead and say obsessed - with energy drinks. And now he’s got my fiance on the same path. Oh, well, it’s better than being addicted to many other things!
I am house/pet-sitting this week, but I had to leave Cleo at home because last time I brought her there were some casualties in the form of wooden chess pieces and a rug. I’m looking forward to getting paid tomorrow, and then I can focus on how in the world I’m going to come up with rent for May. I graduate in less than three weeks, I start my job in less than two months, and I get married in less than six. I’m trying to keep looking forward. My life is wonderfully full but it is so easy to get caught up in the stress of the moment.
The stress of this moment is that I need to pass this exit exam. And so I must leave. God, be with me!
Before I share with you all my favorite engagement pictures, I wanted to let you know that the photo of the day feature is back up and running! So make sure to click on the title of it in the sidebar daily to read my exciting commentary of each picture.
So anyway, David and I took our engagement pictures a couple weeks ago in Hermann Park. Even though our photographer was awesome, it was still an awkward experience! We just…didn’t know what to do with ourselves. We brought our dogs, and I don’t know what exactly I was expecting out of them because they sure didn’t know how to pose! Anyway, here are my favorite pictures, and I’d love to know which ones you like best!
