Unexpected

So yesterday I received a text from my boss. It read "There is only 1 patient on the floor, so PTO is an option if you want." Well- I always enjoy a day off- especially if my boss initiates it! So..without even hesitating I said yes! (Actually, I do believe that it was an "oh yeah!")

So my roommate and I headed out for a little adventure. While running one morning she saw this big rock pile/mountain and had it set in her mind that she would conquer it. So after a nice brunch we headed off the be the queens of the rock hill.

It really only took 5 minutes to climb but it was a nice view. Even though in the back of my mind I really worried that we were in rattlesnake country and that at any moment I would hear some hissing. Luckily- it stayed silent! This is the type of rock climbing that I like! :)

Here is the loverly view

It was really windy up there, but super peaceful. You can see the whole Phoneix valley!

It doesn't look like I am very high, - but I guess you just have to use your imagination! :)

It was funny because as we drove up there, we noticed that all along the side of the street there were signs that said "No parking. Fire lane". Well, we really wanted to hike it and we really were only going to be up there for 10 minutes. So we compromised and I parked here.. I parked on the inside! Hee Hee! I beat the system! :)

Happy Day off to me! :)

Most amazing day!

Today I walked into work and they said "Jill! Amy Adams is coming!" I of course asked "Who?!" Then I saw her picture and I gasped! "Gizzel!" Its my favorite actress from Enchanted! Her dad works at out hospital so since she was in town, she just stopped by to see the kids. All morning we were singing the songs in the halls, and we just couldnt stop giggling! :)

She went room to room with me and was SOOOO nice. During each room we just chatted. She was real, sincere and genuine. Also- she has got the most hilarious sense of humor. She was cracking me up. I wasn't just laughing because she was a celebrity- she was in all honesty- super funny.

The kids loved her. The all just brightened up when she went into the room. She chatted with them, made them smile and took a picture with each one. I of course wanted to break out singing and ask her a million questions, but luckily I held back!

Here is the proof!

I was very impressed with her! I still can't believe that I spent an hour with Amy Adams today! Crazy!

In the middle of the night...

So I have a pet. Okay not a real pet, but 7 little Christmas trees. See how cute?!

We wanted to get a gift for the volunteers in the hospital for Christmas. We thought these would be perfect,but we had to buy them now because they sell out quickly. Well, I offered to take them home and "take care of them" until the day after Thanksgiving! No big deal right?! Thats what I thought too!

The first few nights it got pretty chilly and I was a bit afraid that they would get too cold. I know- common sense should have told me that pine trees are used to being outside and since it doesn't get down to freezing here- they would have been fine! But still I was a tad worried. So what did I do? I brought them in at night and put them back out in the morning. - Yeah- That took a little work! After doing that a few times, my brain started working and I realized that I could just covered them at night with a sheet. If nothing else, It helped keep them from blowing over in the huge wind gusts that we were getting. It was great!

Well a few nights later I had a crazy dream. It was really windy and all the bristles on the trees blew off! I instantly woke up and could hear the wind whistling through my open door. After checking on them (all bristles accounted for!) I shut the door feel back asleep. But then I started dreaming about bugs. Bugs climbing over me. I again woke up and felt something on my shoulder. I flew out of bed- but nothing was there. I shook off the uneasy feeling I had, got back into bed and tried to fall asleep. As I was drifting off, again I felt something. Half asleep and very frustrated that my slumber was being disturbed by my "dreams", I started moving my pillows. Then there it was... an earwig! Running right at me! This time I jumped out of bed- making sure that I was awake and really seeing it. It was running so fast and I was afraid I would loose it. So I got a great idea. Or at least it was a great idea to my 3:00 AM brain... I flicked it! My thought was that I would watch it hit the ground, then have time to find something to kill it. Well, as I flicked it- I lost it. I didnt see its shiny black body ANYWHERE!!! I'm sure that if anyone had walked in at that point, they would have looked at me like I was crazy!!! I was sitting on the side of my bed STARING at the ground for about 5 minutes- hoping to see ANYTHING that was moving. But to no avail...I lost it! The slimy yucky bug is lost in my room somewhere!

or...

It never existed in the first place!

At any rate I learned that plant life probably shouldn't be moved from the outside to the inside like that- because you never know what kind of life forms will come in with it!

Eaten Alive!

Well- Today I was again reminded that when you feel like you get something down, the Lord gives you a learning experience to show you that you are nothing without Him! My lessen today came from my cute primary class. It was my first day teaching them. I think that I probably learned more than they did.

I arrived to church feeling pretty confident for my lessen. The kids are super cute...hyper-but cute none the less. We have sharing time first so I still had a bit to mentally prepare. However, as I walked towards the primary room, my confidence began to wavier. My team teacher's husband approached me and informed me that she was sick and not at church! I would be flying solo! With a big deep breath and a smile on my face I walked into the room to see my cute class waiting for me. I thought- I'm with kids all day- every day- how hard can 40 min be?!

"It's all about confidence" --"Don't let them see the fear in your eyes" ---"You got this!" were phrases that I kept repeating in my mind. Sharing time was great. I don't know why but the kids really sit very quietly in that room. As I sat back and watched them participate, I realized how many little bodies were on my row. Every other class had about 4-5 kids...Mine- 9. Yep. 9 kids that are 5-6 year of age. And I was alone! But they're angels right?! Hmm... maybe not exactly the right word.

The primary president asked me, as we were going to class, if I was alone this week. "Yep" I said with a a wink and a smile. Then she said "Kinda like going back to Nicaragua huh!" I thought about that. It's like your mission Jill! You got this!!! Well, I HAD it when they were behaving so well, but something changed once I opened the door to room 107. The reverence bug flew away and the crazy bug started showing its silly face! I kinda think that they are being so reverent in front of their parents for 2 hrs- that once its class time they just let loose! And let loose they did! Granted- for the first 15 minutes things were great! (Besides one little girl who kept sliding off the back of her chair onto the floor and smacking her bum). They were listening great, participating and being semi reverent.

But then I think that someone let in the silly bug and they were nothing but giggles! One kid would say the most random thing and they would all be in stitches! Their shoes came off their feet, hair bows out of their hair and random smells started to fill the room.

Then one of them needed a drink! Well, I didn't really feel comfortable sending one out in the hall simply because I couldn't make sure that they would only go to the drinking fountain and didn't wander around- then what happens if I get all caught up in the lesson again, forget that they left and then realize when their parents came to get them- they were still gone! So I tried to just ignore it, but then they all needed one. So we took a little field trip to get a drink. In the hall they were great (luckily) but then when they came back it was like we were at the zoo! Kids Under the tables and chairs etc... I took a deep breath (One of many that was taken!) And With a lot of prayer in my heart I called them to order. Which kinda worked....for a minute...

I wouldn't say that I had lost control of the class but it was border line! I decided they had a good chunk of the lesson done, so we would go nexr to the activity. We did a lesson on service so we made get well cards for my team teacher. (I wanted to make one that said- don't ever leave me alone again! :) But I didn't!) Oddly enough they were quite quiet during it! And they each did a fabulous job! I tried to get a little more teaching done during that quiet time...about how good she was going to feel when she saw the cards and that usually they get to take something home from primary but today they get to give something away etc.. Who knows...Maybe somethings sunk in!

You know, I learned that teaching 9 kids is VERY different from my job at the hospital. The kids I am with are sick and don't have too much energy! Plus there is usually just one of them! I usually can find good ways to teach them without needing to bribe them... I am actually quite anti-bribes in my job--but now I am rethinking things...bribes don't sound too bad for next week! :)

I did try just focusing on the ones that were paying attention and being quiet. That did work for a bit, but somehow not as long as I had hoped. Especially when the hyper ones "don't care" that some are being quiet. Because they don't want to be quiet like their classmates!

Basically I know that there are many of you out there with experiences teaching groups of kids (How teachers do that all day long- I DON'T KNOW!!! You are AMAZING! Mom Joey, Tiff etc) so any helpful tidbits would be greatly appreciated! Granted I'm sure it will be easier next week with my other teacher there, but any good tactics to help the kids listen, stay in their seats and raise their hands- I'm all ears!!!

Once their parents came and got them I took a good look at the room. Markers, crayons and stickers everywhere. Chair in lots of odd positions. Well- it was a good learning experience to say the least. I now know what NOT to do! :)
It wasn't horrible- No one got injured, we got through most of the lesson, and I made it out alive (barely)!

Lets just say that I took a nice long nap today!

Oh sandy!

I found another thing that I love about Arizona winters...that is the drive in! I don't have too much expereince with such places (unless you count the bazillion times that I watched the movie Grease. -Hence the name of this post). I was having a hard time actually remembering the last time I had been to one. After crunching a few numbers and of course using my fingers, I figured out that it was at Ricks- which would have been 8 yrs ago! (I know, I really need to get out more!)

So a bunch of us piled into a few trucks and we headed out for what I was positive would be an adventure. Luckily, the only adventure included finding the silly place. You'd think a HUGE movie screen out in the middle of no where would kinda stick out. Well turns out- it doesn't. Maybe its one of the laws of physics...you can't see whats right in front of your face.

I have to say that when Arizonians make a drive in- the MAKE a drive in. There were about 10 screens playing different movies. (Again, why we couldn't find A huge movie screen in the middle of nowhere is one thing, but the fact that we didn't see 10 of them- is just a whole different thing entirely!) I loved how if you strategically placed yourself you could see 3 movies at the same time! - Granted you could only hear the one right in front of you, but thats besides the point!

It was again reaffirmed to me that I have become a Wimp! My friend asked me why I was shivering since I grew up in Utah. I explained to him that apparently 60 degrees is now considered freezing to my body! I decided that it was time for me to invent a nose heater to defrost the icicles that I was sure were forming.

We watched the movie Eagle eye which was quite intriguing. The suspense of it really helped take my mind off the chill. The only downside was that it kinda stuck with me and I dreamed all night that I was being chased and had to have people plan my get-a-ways! :)

I learned that it is wise to take camping chairs to the drive in. Yeah, the back of the truck is comfortable for about 10 minutes and then you really begin to envy those with the chairs! Also lots of blankets and of course treats are always a must! If you haven't been to a drive in lately- I think you should go! And if you have kids... I bet they would love it! :)

That easy?!

I went to a Bereavement conference last month. It was a great way to help increase my knowledge of how to help families when infant death occurs in their families. It was very eye opening and I enjoyed every minute of it. The best part came however when I received my certificate in the mail. Check out the initials after my name...

Instead of CCLS (Certified Child Life Specialist), I am now an RN (Registered Nurse)! Isn't that fabulous?! No nursing school required! Who knew it was that easy! So now with my new credentials- I guess I can now start an IV! Any takers?!

Halloween time

Lets just say Halloween isn't really up there on my top 5 list of favorite holidays. However, I figured out a way to make it that way! If you involve the chillins (children) you are sure to have a grand ole time!

Therefore I decided to go trick or treating with my nephews and spend some time with them. Arizona does this fabulous thing where everyone just sits on their driveways, eats dinner and gives out candy to the trick or treaters as they pass- brilliant! Whoever thought up this idea wins the gold!

Here we are in our glory! C-Dog was a football player (in this picture could also be posing as a football playing model!) P-Dog was some scary man- which needed to have his face covered for the picture because maybe the flash would take his soul! And cute little J-Dog was some star wars character which I can't seem to remember. They all looked great! (The freaky guy in the back ground is my brother's brother-in-law Brad. And yes- he scared each little kid as they passed!)

I dont really know what I was, but it worked for me! Biker, Gangsta, girl with bandanna- whatever!

Jeff and Allie looked great as well! Allie had these cute bobby pins with horns on them. Too bad you cant see them in the picture! I am so glad that they live close so that we could spend time together!

My roommate and I went out after the trick or treating fun. We were pretty scary looking I think! I wouldnt want to meet us in a dark alley! She sure had those gang signs down well though! (We figured that we should take a smiling one too just so people didnt really think we were crazy!)

This was also the first Halloween that I participated in making a real pumpkin carving. Usually I just stick with the 2 eyes, nose and jagged smile, but not this year! It was serious business! You see, apparently I know someone who is pretty professional in the pumpkin world. Who knew. Seeing as though it was our first time with such a project, we were allowed to assist him with his three pumpkin creation. He started us out small, but I think we impressedd him! Maybe he'll let us do more next year!

Its hard to see but these are three pumpkins...can you guess which part I did? If you said that head. Well, then I love you forever for thinking so highly of me! :) Nope- that was his. And it was incredible!

Mine was the hand on the right side! It was surprising fun! I cant wait to try for something new next time!

My roommate's was a little less scary. She chose Cinderella and it was really cute! I think I found a new hobby! Too bad Halloween is over!!!

Halloween didn't turn out as bad as I anticipated. Thanks to family, good friends and pumpkins!!!