Keeping Busy

This semester, especially March through May- has been one with many eventful weekends. It seems like we have something going on every weekend. I am DEF not complaining- I like to stay busy, but it is getting harder and harder to focus on school. And this is not a good time to slack since the semester is almost over! I cannot wait!! I am REALLY looking forward to my two week break which will consist of going to California for 5 days (and Disneyland with Reagan, yay!) and then coming back to spend a little vacation time with Forrest. We will be doing some camping (wish me luck), river floating, and all the outdoorsy type things that go along with. I am so excited!

Last weekend, I went to Elisha’s luncheon at Christopher’s which was very nice. While I was doing that, Forrest rode 57.5 MILES on his bike!!! Whoop! It took him about 3.5 hrs, isn’t that just crazy? I was quite impressed! I took a few pictures of him before going to the luncheon because I wanted to make a poster for his first triathlon coming up.

Later that evening we went to the Walter’s Crawifsh Boil which was fun. We got to see our friends Stacie and Kevin and their adorable kids who we haven’t seen in awhile.

Fun Run & Fiesta!

Friday night, Forrest and I had a low key evening. We watched The Blind Side for the first time; I loved it or course and cried periodically throughout the whole thing even at the smallest things. This movie really fits in well with my expectations and idea of a “GOOD” movie. After the movie, we headed to bed a little early to get plenty of rest for our run the next morning.

Saturday we ran in the SRPH Fun Run 5K (School of Rural Public Health). Forrest did AMAZING. His goal was to keep a pace under 8 minutes and he did above and beyond this, with a finishing time of 23:07.  AND, on top of that, he finished FIRST in his age group! So proud of him!! As for me, my goal was to beat my last time and do it under 30min. My time was 29:54 which beats my last time by about 17 seconds! We celebrated by getting brunch at Ozona’s, then headed off to Lowes to get some flowers to plant in the front yard.

 

Then  Saturday night, Forrest and I attended Jarrad and Elisha’s Mexican themed couple shower. The host’s home and the weather were both absolutely beautiful and made for such a nice evening outside. The party didn’t stop after the shower either! We joined the group by going out to the Corner afterwards for a couple of drinks. So much fun! And such fun people! It was overall a great night and we are super happy for the soon-to-be married, Elisha and Jarrad!  

Lastly, we enjoyed our Sunday out at the ranch with Forrest’s parents. Forrest and his dad had so planning to do for the barn they are about to have built.

So thankful to have such fun places to go and great people to share them with!

Ranch Bluebonnets

   

What will be in your biography?

Thursday, I had geriatrics clinical at an Alzheimer’s special care facility. We have been preparing for how to care for patients with Alzheimer's in class and I thought it would be really challenging, emotionally, for me to experience it in real life. I just thought how tragic it must be to grow old and slowly lose your memory. I would think it is the memories that probably make you the happiest when you get to the later stages of your life.

Once arriving to the facility (us students), the first thing they asked us to do was to help with feeding some of the clients. So we go in the kitchen and everyone is gathered at the tables waiting on breakfast to come out. Many are in wheelchairs, all have on bibs, and some are even falling asleep. I sit at a “feeding table” and prepare myself thinking I know feeding someone sounds easy, but what if I can’t do it right? I mean these particular patients do not communicate much, if at all and on top of that she doesn’t even know me.

Then something just kicked in when I sat down next to her. This often happens to me in clinicals at the hospital when I am assigned to a patient (s)- I cannot describe the feeling I get. It is like I become very protective and in control (two things I am not really in everyday life). I know every patient has different needs and that at this moment, my patient needed two things: physically- she needed nutrients and emotionally- she needed comfort. So I just held her hand assuring her that I was there to care for her for awhile. Then as I fed her, I smiled and she smiled back at me almost the entire time. She couldn’t speak to me and I never really knew if she could understand what I was saying to her but I still felt that in a way we communicated something very special, at least it was to me.

The rest of the day, we helped with activities and just talked to the patients the best that we could. At one point we didn’t have much going on so I started walking around the facility. I had noticed earlier that in front of everyone’s room was a picture (old or new) of them and a biography. I wanted to find my patient from earlier to read her story and as I was looking, I just began reading everyone’s.

Every single one of these patient’s led the most intriguing lives and here they are unable to talk about it- but we have the opportunity to read about it. They were all VERY educated (many had masters and doctorate degrees) and even most of the women had college degrees, which surprised me for that generation. Many of them talked about their children and grandchildren and of course spouses of countless years (most were deceased).  Several talked about the trips they had taken to Europe and various countries within. Almost all of them were very active in their church and communities they lived in. Several of the women were homemakers and enjoyed sewing, baking, and things of that nature. One of the doctors I read about was a radiologist who traveled all over the world for the World’s Fair. I didn’t even know really what that was until I looked it up later. One of the women was a Registered Nurse for over 35 years including the time she served in the Army.

I also loved looking at the pictures. To see the youth and be able to subtract all of the wrinkles and gray hair. And just recognizing one by one who each one was- although there were many changes, I could still tell who was who.

I know this blog is getting really long but I could talk all day about these biographies. I was so impressed, I read almost every single biography in that facility.

And it made me wonder, what will mine sound like? I know so far I have been happy and felt successful in my life. But compared to these people, I don’t have anything on them. I felt humbled- I might never have a biography like some of these people. But I do know one thing, I will keep everything I read in mind for the next patient I come across, for everybody has a story.

Beauty Brands I Love

Clarins skincare products. Awhile back I tried a sample of this Clarins moisturizer and fell in love with it. It makes your skin feel so soft and the consistency of the cream is perfect- it rubs in so easily. You can even put make up on, on top of it and it doesn’t feel “cakey.” Anyways, I am married to it now and will never go back to any of my old moisturizers. It is a little pricey BUT a little goes a long way so it will probably last over a year and that is considering I use it twice a day!

Garnier Fructis hair styling products. Several months ago, I went with my mom to get her hair done and her stylist was using Fructis body boost. I was kind of surprised considering most hair stylists use the “professional” brands like Pureology, Biolage, etc. I asked him about it and he said it works better than anything he has ever tried! So, I tried it out myself and also picked up some hair spray- LOVE them both. I don’t buy anything else and they are CHEAP.

Aveeno HAIR CARE products. I have bought Aveeno skin care products in the past and enjoy them as well. But their new line of hair products really impressed me (I say that like I am such a hair care connoisseur, haha). I have been swapping back and forth between Biolage and Pantene for several years until now. What I really liked about Biolage was how good it lathered- it made my hair feel EXTRA clean. Aveeno does the same thing if not MORE and it is much cheaper. In fact, I still have some Biolage left over and I use  it for my “I don’t care days” and save my Aveeno for my “I DO care days!”

Just thought I would share some more commitments I have made!!

Life is Sweet

Forrest and I like to be productive on the weekends, but this weekend we especially wanted to take advantage of this beautiful weather! Saturday we woke up, did our work out- Forrest did 30 miles on his bike and I ran 4 miles. Then we came home, showered, picked up LG and headed off to Hempstead. We spent the day out on the ranch with his family, watching the boys be little cowboys on their tractor. I can’t tell you how many times I just thought, “God thank you for giving me this day.” Maybe spending so much time in the hospital makes me realize how grateful I am to be alive and well.

Anyways, later that day, we went to Bellville (about 15 min away) to Forrest’s grandparents place to let the boys ride the horses. Aiden is going to show one of the horses in the Houston rodeo this week so he had to practice. For dinner, Uncle Tony brought home BBQ from the restaurant and we all ate and just hung out. 

Sunday, the weather was beautiful again. We tried to spend as much time outside as possible. We took LG to Petsmart and Home Depot, then came home, got some music playing outside, and did yard work. Forrest ran 8 miles earlier that day while I laid outside and got some sun. I have been in need of some color with this December tan I have!

After dinner that evening, we laid in the recliner together to watch Celebrity Apprentice- one of our favorite shows.  I know it makes more sense to lay on the couch together rather than squeeze in the recliner, but for some reason we like it. Well, we like it for a little while at least, until our arms have fallen sleep and we have to PEEL ourselves apart.

At the end of the weekend, I cannot help but think about how sweet life is and how happy Forrest and I are together. We have everything we need plus many more blessings.

Hope everyone else enjoyed their weekend as well. And have a great week! Yay for Spring Break!

O and here are a few recipes we enjoyed last week:

Sausage & Zucchini & Rice

Shrimp & Corn Quesadillas w/ Avocado Salad

Armadillo Dash- Half Marathon

This morning, Forrest ran his FIRST half marathon with Tony here in College Station. According to his Garmin he finished with a time of  2:02:24 – Whoop! I was so proud of him!! I ran the 5K so I finished over an hour before him and waited at the finish line, making friends with other wives. It was so exciting watching everyone sprint to the finish line and then seeing Forrest come around the corner- I was just overwhelmed with excitement. I started yelling and jumping up and down, probably embarrassing myself a little. I just couldn’t have been any prouder watching him finish! I can’t imagine how I will be in April when he does his first triathlon. I am going to have to make some posters or T-shirts or something!

Go Forrest! Or should I say- Run Forrest run!! :D

O and my time, if anyone is interested was- 30:10. My goal is to be running 4 miles by the end of this month.

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Day Off!

Friday I had the day off (from clinical) so I decided to go home and see my parents. My mom and I had planned to go to Northpark to do some shopping for a couple of girlfriends’ who are getting married, and guess who was bored enough to join us? My dad! We couldn’t believe it- usually when us girls have something “girlie” going on- he is OUT! Anyways, he went with us but went off to do his own thing then eventually met back up with us. Later towards the end of our shopping adventure, he went and sat in the car, falling asleep until we were done and ready for him to pick us up. That night we went out to dinner to OTB and then to get ice cream. Afterwards we headed home to relax around the house.

Saturday morning, my mom, Uncle Tony, and I went to breakfast at the Cracker Barrel. It was so good to spend time with him- it has been a really long time and I don’t get to see my mom’s family very often. The three of us could’ve just talked all day!

(Sorry Dad, I didn’t get a pic of us!)

Dusted off my heels!

I think its safe to say my black heels have been collecting dust, LITERALLY. We really hardly get together with friends, especially big groups, and go out on the town. I guess we kind of get used to just staying in or being busy with other things. I know, how boring are we in our twenties with no kids? I bet young parents out there are thinking we are crazy for not taking advantage of late night events!

Well Saturday (after dusting off my heels of course), we redeemed our homebody selves by accepting an invitation to join about 4 other couples in a night out in Houston. We took a limo to the restaurant, El Tiempo, for a friend’s birthday. Jarrad, the birthday boy, is the soon to be husband of my good friend, Elisha, whom I met in college. They are adorable and have introduced us to some of the most incredible and fun people to be around. Their wedding will be in May so they have some fun wedding events coming up that we will enjoy being a part of, as well as the wedding.

Anyways, it was really fun to not only get out of the house but to go “out” in the city. Not that I don’t enjoy living in College Station, it is just that the crowds can be a little “young” if you know what I mean. Plus, it is just nice to go somewhere else no matter where you live. And who would turn down an opportunity to ride in a limo?! Forrest made fun of me because of how excited I got about the limo. Maybe it is a girl thing to like getting dressed up and chauffeured around every once in awhile. I am not going to lie, I was feeling a little cocky!

I am so glad we went, the night was filled with laughs. I can’t wait to do it again! Who’s birthday can we celebrate next? :)

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