New Rotation

Nate begins a two month rotation in Tampa today. Excited for him and nervous all at the same time. He is rooming with 3 other guys, Alexander, Kevin and another guy (he hasn't told me his name) in an apartment the school supplies for their students so they won't have to commute. For Nate, it would take at least an hour to get there and he would have to leave our condo by 4am. Thankful that Wolford does this for their students. 

He left for the apartment Sunday night because he wanted to get settled in and be close the first day to figure out parking and check out the hospital. Monday was orientation so it was pretty mellow. Today is his first day on the floor and he has 2 cases. Very excited for him because he said he is with a very nice CRNA. The area he's in today is the interventional radiology area. Something I'm familiar with since I am a radiology technologist. 

I am hoping to blog more about his journey through CRNA clinicals. So far he has completed 20/71 weeks and is 28% completed with his clinical experience. He has enjoyed learning when there are teachable moments and when the dr takes time to break things down and explains things. He also said that the drs and CRNAs he works with in Davenport treat them pretty good compared to many stories he has heard and read. 

Well that is all for now! Till next time!

2 weeks down 69 weeks to go

I can't believe how fast the last 2 weeks have flown by!  Nate is learning leaps and bounds and has even ran a few cases on his own and several with minimal help.  He has been averaging 13 hours at the hospital and then usually studies for 3-4 hours everyday.  During the time he studies, he has to write up short care plans, read through 9-10 chapters for a test each month, write long care plans and then read up on the cases he will be doing the next day.  I am so impressed with how diligent he has been with his time.  He always tries to eat supper with us which is his down time at the moment.  He tries to get everything done Monday through Saturday that way he can take Sunday off to spend quality time with us!  We all have adjusted pretty well to this change. 

I will try and take a picture of him in his scrubs when he comes home one of these days!

Last week the kids and I made a countdown garland and each week one of the kids gets to tear one off representing Nate completing another week!  This is something we all look forward to doing on Friday night or Saturday.  Both of us agree that this season of life will go by quickly.

Just wanted to give a quick update to let family and friends know how things are going.

That's all for now!  Till next time,
Emileigh

A letter to my hubby

Dear Nate,

I wanted to let you know how proud of you I am!  You have worked so hard this last year during the book work portion of CRNA school.  Your grades & persistence of studying day in and day out...has paid off!  The next 16 months are going to be another adventure that I am looking forward to going through by your side.  As you start your clinicals tomorrow, I have confidence that you will overcome many challenges that will come your way this first week.  I know there will be early mornings to get prepared for the cases that day but I am excited to see how you will excel and grow into your new role.  The hours will be different from what we have come to know as normal over the last year.  We will miss our lunches together but that makes us all the more excited to see you when you get home to have supper with us!  I'm not the only one who is proud of your accomplishments over the last year: you have the full support of your parents, my parents and all of our siblings.  The sacrifices we are making now will be worth it in the end.  I love you and again I'm so proud of you!  Good luck on your first day of clinicals tomorrow!

Your loving wife,
Emma

Our visit to Michigan

Yesterday we all packed up for a 5 day trip to visit family in Michigan.  Here are a few pictures from the flight and from our short visit with some family members.

Nate studying a little but before take off

 

Our happy boy

 

Momma with the kiddos

 

We were getting ready to take off but then had to go back to the gate because of a mechanical error with the auto pilot gear. It was a short delay 20-30 minutes for them to reset the gear and finish the paperwork. Then we were off in the air on our way to visit family.  It was a pretty good flight, although I believe our kids went to the bathroom 10 times during the flight.  Adam fell asleep about an hour before landing and Nataleigh was awake the entire plane ride. We arrived in Detroit around 11 pm. My mom picked us up and we were off to her house! 

Friday was a relaxing day for us. We got to meet a very special little man, our nephew Isaac.

 

Uncle Nate & Isaac

 

Aunt Em & Isaac

And of course Nataleigh & Adam couldn't wait to see their cousins Amelia & Colette

 

We had a quick visit with the cousins, Aunt Megan & Meemaw.

Later, we went to Cascades Park and had a lot of fun!

Mom riding between the kids!

 

Nataleigh loves these flowers!

Adam had a blast on this swing!

My little monkey

Both kids enjoy climbing up the wall.

 

Of course you can't go to the park without having a treat!

Saturday, we set-up for my parents annual fish fry.

Taking a short break with Uncle Awesome (aka Nick)

 

Once everything was set-up Dave started the assembly line of preparing and making the fish that he caught that week. 

 

Mommy & Adam (both kids were sleepy by the time the party was to start)

 

Being goofy to cheer him up

 

Nataleigh and Adam's little friend Aiden

 

On Sunday, we spent time with the Nate's side of the family. First we visited his grandparents. Here are a few pics from out visit.

Visiting great grandma and great grandpa Bishop, they really enjoyed playing with the binoculars.

 

Acting silly!

 

Great grandma & Nataleigh

 

Great grandma tickling Adam

Kids with great grandpa

We had a great visit and great grandma made us spaghetti with homemade bread and cupcakes!!! It was so yummy!! We headed back to my parents house and visited with them for a couple hours. Next, we spent a few hours with Megan, Pat, the kids, Oma & Bob and Meemaw & grandpa. We celebrated Nataleigh's 5th birthday early and had supper together. Here are some pictures of our visit with them.

 

Selfie with Isaac

Nataleigh with her birthday cake

Meemaw & Grandpa with most of the grandkids

Oma & Grandpa Bob with the kids

Nate & I (really like this picture of us)

 

The best family picture from my phone

Monday, Nate helped my stepdad return the tables and chairs to the rental place and then went to Vineyard Lake to fish. They caught 20 fish (Nate 4, Dave 16)

While the guys went fishing, my mom the kids & I visited my grandparents. My grandma treated us to pizza and coney dogs. Are you tired of all the pictures??? Only a few more!

 

GG & Adam

The next several pictures are very nostalgic for me because I use to walk the same flower beds when I was a kid!

GG, Great grandpa Good and the kids

The strawberries Nataleigh picked all by herself from GG's garden

 

Love my grandma!!!!!

Later Monday night, Anne & family came over to visit for a couple hours

The yummy blueberry pie she made! It was fabulous!!!

 

Nataleigh & papa

The perfect tree for them to climb! Each of them would climb up and jump down, over and over and over again.

 

The excitement of new sandals.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit home! Wish we could've spent more time together but each day was packed full with visiting family and having a lot of fun!!

Well that's all for now. Till next time, Emileigh

There is a first time for everything

Friday, Nate & I took the kids to Woodside Lanes. I signed up both kids for a free bowling program thru www.kidsbowlfree.com. Each child can bowl 2 games for free just pay for the shoe rental. This was their first time but you would have never known because they knew what to do! I was very impressed. They did well taking turns and they cheered each other on! Adam bowled a spare in the first game and a strike the second game! I'm not sure who was more excited (Adam or his momma) when he got the strike! I screamed like a little girl and jumped up and down. When he saw how I reacted he put both fists in the air and said, "YEAH!!!!!!" Then he gave us high-fives. It was pretty awesome!

Here are some pictures to enjoy

The bowling alley had leagues going on so they upgraded us to the VIP area 

Nataleigh getting ready to use the Dino to bowl for the first time!

Adam's first attempt

Looking good buddy!

Having a lot of fun

The screen when Adam bowled a spare

Selfie

Daddy showing Nataleigh how to bowl between her legs. She did it a few times. One time the ball just barely made it down, but got stuck so the maintenance man came to the rescue.

It's a silly picture but I want to remember how little they were! I love their precious little feet!

Adam's favorite seat

He wouldn't move even when she was ready to bowl.

I helped out a little bit

Our strong kiddos (6lb bowling balls)

The ball that knocked them all down!

Let the celebration begin!!!! So proud of him!!!

Fun night as a family!

That's all for now! Till next time, Emileigh