Another First!

You know- there comes a time in a girls life when she has to experience things for the first time. It just so happened that this week two major "first" events happened. One with the fish incident of course and then secondly- today... (drum roll please) I GAVE BLOOD!

I know what you're all thinking- aren't you a little too old to have this be your first time? Well...yes I would say to you, but there is a story behind it! (As I'm sure you were all anticipating.)

When I was younger I was HORRIFIED of needles. I remember once that I asked the dentist if there was any way that he could numb my gums without the shot. The answer was of course... No. Therefore I told him that he should do it with no numbing at all. Surly the actual dentistry work wouldn't be as painful as the shot! Right?! I was quite certain about that. However with the first touch of the drill to my tooth- I quickly realized that I was wrong. I opted for the shot.

A few years later while at Ricks I saw that there was blood drive on campus. I knew that it was something that I wanted to overcome simply because I knew that it would help people. I went back and forth for a few days. One day I found myself walking over to the sign up sheet! I was really going to do it! I felt so proud of myself! As I looked at the paper I noticed something. All the time slots were taken up. With a sigh (of what I am sure was relief) I walked away. As I got home, my roommates informed me that you don't HAVE to sign up. They take walk in's. Oh well. My brave moment was over and that was that.

However, as the years have gone by- a miraculous thing as happened... The fear has left! How you ask?! Well- I shall answer you. My job!

You see- As I have pursued my career in Child Life I have been amazed that I have actually "Child Lifed" myself. What does that mean? Well, in order to help familiarize kids to the hospital and needle pokes we facilitated medical play. We take actual needles and let the kids (under supervision) go at it on the hospital dolls. Over time with a few pokes to the doll- the kids are able to process their many blood draws etc. and the goal is to help them understand it more and make it a little easier. As for myself, I have given thousands of IV's to dolls and in the process somehow I've been cured!

Proof- within the last few months I have had multiple blood tests (Which came back that I don't have celiac's! Happy Day!) And have had NO problem with the needle as they do it.

Well, I figured now that that fear was over, it was time to give blood. I was so excited as we drove to the church a few months back. Since my roommate offered to drive, I just stuck my phone in my pocket and jumped in the car. We drove the 30 minutes and entered the church. I waited in line and it was then that I realized that you have to have ID (well yeah. NOW it makes sense.) That thought didn't even cross my mind then! So since I only had my phone and despite the fact that EVERY person in the room knew my name and could back me up, I was unable to give blood. I left with my head down and feet dragging. I was bummed!

And thats where we stood- until today. FINALLY I was able to enter the room fully confident- with my ID- and ready to roll. I answered all the questions, sat in my chair and didn't even flinch! :)

I left feeling great! Finally I conquered my fear and hopefully someone will get help as well! :) It was a good day!

I'm growing up!

I used to be a picky eater. When my family would go to Chinese restaurants, I would order a hamburger. I would usually be the last one at the dinner table when Stew was served because I just didn't want to eat it! And I would do anything to get out of eating stir fry.

As the years have gone by, I have learned to love each of those things. However- Fish was a NO GO! Tuna- okay. But that was IT!

When I went on my mission, I was forced to not only eat fish, but have it served full fish and all- with the head, eyes and tail! It was quite an experience. I never fully enjoyed it, but you do what you gotta do. I have had fish since then, but never by choice...until today.

I live with major fish eaters. Especially eaters of shrimp. Each time they make it, they offer it to me and I usually say no. A few weeks ago, I agreed and it wasn't too bad. Then yesterday we made a super yummy pasta dish and my roommate added shrimp and dare I say it... I kinda liked it! Then here's the clincher... today we took my roommate out for lunch for her birthday. Of course she chose a fish place! I ordered a cobb salad ( I know...) but get this... when the waiter asked if I wanted chicken or shrimp- I said SHRIMP! I almost shocked myself! When he brought it out, I kinda stared at my plate for a minute. I couldn't believe my plate and what I had order all on my own! I was so proud of myself! I am growing up and trying new things! (I still have a ways to go however... the first one was great but because they were jumbo shrimp it kinda got fishy-er as I continued eating. Maybe next time I will be able to finish them all! :) )

Then... to add on top of it, my roommate ordered Alligator and of course you have to try that! It wasn't too bad. Granted- it was fried, and what ISN'T good fried! :) I know you're all super impressed!

Yea for Christmas!

I have very fond memories sitting in my house in Utah with all the lights off except for the ones on the Christmas tree- listening to Christmas music. There is such a peace that Chrsitmas brings. Therefore, this year- I wanted to bring that feeling to my home here in Arizona. I really got in the mood to decorate. My roommate bought a little tree and one day when I just happened to be at Target, I saw so many beautiful things to decorate it! Right then and there I decided to take it upon myself to set the mood for Christmas! So I made the tree all perdy... (Why is it that the pictures never turn out as nice as the real thing?!)

Also- this was the first year that I put out my nativity from Nicaragua. When we went back to visit after my mission, we bought these. They are carved out of the stone in the mountains of Nicaragua. I think that it is beautiful, but never really knew where to put it until we got the piano.

I love coming home to this welcoming scene! Christmas really is the MOST wonderful time of the year! :)

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!