Wish List, Check.

It's hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit.

I think missing the past few Christmases have something to do with it.

I also strongly believe that when I was 16 working at a coffee shop during the Holidays and listening to Christmas music 24/7, it was ruined it too.

I strongly dislike Christmas music.  And Christmas shopping.  I like giving gifts, but I hate the holiday mall madness that goes on. 

Anyway, all negativity aside, I just wanted to say that on Christmas Eve and Christmas day I burst into tears of happiness quite a few times.  I don't know if it was estrogen, but I do know I was happy and am very happy.  Family is so important to me, and to be able to be surrounded by them, especially with a new little member of the family, was just amazing.  I mostly would start crying when Audrey was smiling and laughing and dancing in her bouncer.  My family thought I was crazy, I think.

I LOVE HER FACE!!!

I got everything I could have ever wanted and more this Christmas.  Really, presents meant absolutely nothing this year and I would have been happy to be present-less.

My Christmas Wish List was:

1.  To be able to spend the Holidays with my family (and Taz).  My Dad invited my Mom and her boyfriend over for the day and evening, so really, I got to spend the first Christmas with my entire family since my parents got divorced.  As my grandma said "Did you ever think you'd see the day?!"

Taz and I's sleepovers.

Oh and obviously to be with Audrey!!!  I have the most adorable niece ever.

1a) To be able to see my BFFs and second family (the Pattersons) for Christmas.  Mission accomplished.  We had a blast.

This is my Second Mom, Nichole of course, and me.  At a fam party.

So many laughs that night!!

These are 2 of my absolute best friends forever, Marissa and Stephanie.

2. To be happy and giddy again!  And to move past everything that last year's events brought me.  And guess what?!  I'm happy and giddy again!  And ready to get rid of a lot of stuff here at home that I had been keeping.  

This may be one of the reasons I'm smiley all the time.

3. To get a job.  Santa did so good on this one, you guys.  I got my dream job, hello!!!  Santa also left a few unnecessary goodies under the tree for me relating to this dream job: A little bitty stethoscope and some sweet little scrubs.  I cried when I opened those.

4.  Now I'm finally starting to call Utah my home.  I already have some sweet friends, roommates, a bestie, and now a super sweet guy.  I really, really miss my friends, guy, and bed.




And that, ladies and gentleman is the reason I'm blogging from New York right now as opposed to Utah.  My flight was cancelled and I'm snowed in!  Eek.

Dream Job.

Guess what?  I'm Nurse Amy again!

I don't know if I've ever written about it here, but I have always had a dream field that I've wanted to work in:  Pediatric oncology/working with kids with cancer.  Whenever someone asked me what I wanted to do with my nursing degree in the long run, that it what I would tell them.  I knew I'd have to be patient; I was expecting to be in the field in years and years to come.  

If there's one thing I've learned about trying to find a nursing job in Utah, it's that you always have to know somebody in order to simply just get an interview.  And 99% of the time, you don't have enough experience/specialty experience, so they just give you the interview because they were doing your 'referral' a favor.  I got in contact with a girl that I have yet to meet that is a friend of a friend and she knew that her position was my dream position.  She told me I could put her name down.  I crossed my fingers, and I got an interview.  I went in knowing that the job opening post stated in bold "pediatric experience strongly preferred" and I didn't have that.

BUT miracles happen and that interview was the best interview I have ever had to this date.  I seriously lucked out on that one because I'm terrible at interviews.  Stupid anxiety.  I knew since it went so well, the ball was in their court.  When I heard they were checking out my references, I was in crazy mode.  On Tuesday, I got the phone call offering me the job.

My job:  I will be working on an Immunocompromised Inpatient Unit -  Taking care of kids one-day old through mid-twenties with cancer, blood diseases, post- stem cell transplants, and renal/liver transplants.  I will get to know and love these patients and their families.

I am so very, very excited.  My dream job has come early :)

(I'll Be) Home for Christmas.

I'm home for Christmas!!

I'm sure I'll be blogging a lot until it gets closer to the date since my fam I'm sure will be busy until then.

Matthew dropped me off at the airport this morning - It was sad saying goodbye to everyone last night, especially my BFF Cassie whom I love to the moon and back.  12 days is going to be so long without her....(Yep, we can't go 24 hours without seeing each other).  The other Matt (aka my brother) picked me up from the airport along with Taz.  He was so excited to see me.  He led me up the stairs and went straight to my room, right for my bed...But that was before he kissed and jumped on me for what seemed like forever.  YAY.  Serious cuddle time tonight.  

But before that cuddling happens... I'm going to go see my little niece Audrey right now.  Obviously, expect a ton of pictures.  

K bye guys :)

To Love.

WHEN YOU LOVE PEOPLE & HAVE THE DESIRE TO MAKE A PROFOUND, POSITIVE IMPACT UPON THE WORLD, THEN WILL YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THE MEANING TO LIVE.

--Sasha Azevedo 

"I’ll miss you Mr. P.  You have been my favorite patient .  I’ve learned so much from you, my friend.  Please come visit like you told me. "

I found this while browsing the history of my more private blogs. This was from January 2011.  

I had just taken care of a 59-year old man in New York City who passed away.  I'll always remember him.  He is still one of my favorite patients that I have ever taken care of.  I wrote about him in my journal so I'd never forget him and the bond I felt with him.  

I think it was a pivotal point at the beginning of my career -  To know that I can care about a human being so much that I barely know.  To know that I made a difference in his life just by taking the time to hold his hand in the days before he took his last breath.

I know I was put here on earth for this reason - to care deeply for human beings.  To love them and nurture them.

These human beings range from being my friends, family, future spouse and children, to people I don't know who just need to be loved.  Told hold their hand when they need it, take care of them when they are sick, to listen.  

I'm so glad that this is my purpose..There is nothing more rewarding than knowing that.

Vague Post.

I've been happy lately, guys.

Except yesterday when my iPhone decided to not turn on.  It gave me a heart attack.  Thank you, kind gentleman at the Apple Store for resuscitating it (and me, metaphorically speaking).  No thank you for deleting everything off my phone.  Thank you Murray, Utah for having an Apple Store.

I was happy last night when I had a dream I completed a world record while skydiving from the highest point anyone has ever been - It was like an obstacle course in the sky.  Did you know in my dream world, there are caverns and craters high up in the sky that you can jump from? And when you finally land to win the world record, it is during in inopportune time (like during a Chicago Cubs baseball game in midfield)? 

Well, now you know.

I'm headed home in 6 days.

I hate having to be on a budget for Christmas shopping.

I actually really, really dislike shopping during the Holidays.  Hello, online shopping (thank you Etsy for helping me out with this).  

By the way, my super stylish Aunt Joann has an awesome Etsy shop -  She sells amazing, amazing vintage clothing.  She probably has no idea I'm putting her shop on my blog, but you're lucky enough to get the link HERE.  Go shop! 

Happy Holidays.

I'm smiling!

Officially Holiday Season.

Hello.

I wish I had major updates, but this will do.

Well, I am going home December 17th-29th if I haven't mentioned that already.  I am planning to be cuddling with Taz/my niece Audrey for the majority of the time.  I can't wait.  Audrey is getting so big! Here is proof:

Almost 2 months old!  And a smiley baby!  And she laughs!  Can't wait to see her in person again.

So last week my roommates and I decorated our apartment all Christmas-like.  It looks so cute!

Panoramic view:  We're just that good.  

We also broke our Christmas wishbone.  I got the bigger end!  I just can't tell you what I wished for....

These are my roommates, Liz and Brittney.  I promise we decorated the tree.

On Saturday, I went to the Festival of Trees with my old roommate Cassie and Co.  It's a huge expo of Christmas trees that people decorate and theme.  The trees get auctioned off and all of the proceeds/gifts and trees go to Primary Children's Hospital.  It's for a good cause, and some of the trees were awesome.  One even got auctioned off for $16,000.  Crazy.

 I found this tree to be the most fitting.  Cat Lady lifestyle, here I come.

I can't believe it's December already.  Where does the time go?