Welcome to...

TEXAS...
Well I made it to Houston!

I have been here a little over a week and everything has been going really well. I already really like the hospital that I am working in. And I am very impressed with how nice and personable everyone has been (except the drivers, that is a different story!)

I think the driving is going to be what I have to adjust to the most. Birmingham you think 280 is bad, it has nothing on the interstates here!!!

I start night shift this weekend. I admit I am a little anxious about that. I have not worked nights in 3+ years and am worried about how my body is going to handle it. Please pray :) I always enjoyed night shift, so in a way I am glad to be going back, but I want to be able to do things with friends during the day and also be able to get involved in a church and not be a zombie! I am determined to work really hard at this!!

Also, I will already be by myself. I had three days of orientation last week and now I get turned loose. In a way I like this idea, but in another way it scares me. This unit is huge (30+ beds and 90 + docs). The good thing is they do one on one nursing and many of their policies are much like what I did for 7 years, so it does feel a little normal. AND I already know one of their computer systems---yea!!! Because that would be a HUGE learning curve if I didn't.

Here is how I left things in Bama...

--and that is not all of it. My dad is still bringing some things from the house to load to get out of their way (glad he is the one going to have to figure out where it is going to go!). I am so grateful for the help I received from my dad, mom, brother and sister.
It is great to have family!!!

I will post again next week and let y'all know how I handle my first few nights!

Adventures...

As I mentioned a few post back...I am headed back to night shift.
I know some of you are thinking "wait how is that possible, while working at an office."

Well, I am actually trying out the field of travel nursing. I am so very excited about this opportunity and it has been very neat to see God's hand and direction in it all.

I have looked into travel nursing before but it was never the right time because I was always in classes with rotations. Not that it would not have been impossible to do both, but it definitely would have been a challenge. I started looking into it again probably about five months ago. Started talking to two travel companies and looking for positions.

I am not so brave that I wanted to adventure somewhere too far on my own.
So, I am going to Houston Texas. I have a close cousin and several good friends that live there, so I knew I would have connections in this big city!

Things have fallen into place over the past few weeks and have worked out so well (God's timing is perfect :).

Now I am in the phase of trying to figure out what to take with me.
I feel like I am packing for college again--only taking what will fit in my car!

I finish my week here at the office in Fairhope and then I am moving ALL of my things to a storage unit then leaving Saturday.

I am going to find it supper hard to say goodbye to these guys.

I have loved seeing them everyday and getting to hang out and play all the time.
It has also been awesome to be close to my parents and sister this past year.

I am going to miss the office too. I have loved getting to know everyone there and learning from two excellent physicians and fellow NP. I have learned a TON this past year and hope to be able to use all I have learned again one day.

Besides all of these "sad" things I am excited to be doing something that I have never done.
I have a feeling new adventures are in store!

Family...

I believe family is very important and I love spending time with mine.
This past week has been wonderful. As I mentioned before my brother, his wife, and new daughter have been in town visiting. I had a little photo shoot with her..here are some of my favorites...

Isn't she precious?

We also did something we have not been able to do in a while. My mom's whole side of the family got together at the beach this week. It has been ten years since we have all been in the same place together. I forgot a flash card for my camera so I was unable to take pictures, but no worries there were plenty of cameras!

Then on the forth my family got together to hang out. We ate, swam, and played our new favorite game Banana Grams. If you've never played-check it out! (Thanks Fegan~for teaching me how to play!) Then we toped off the evening with fireworks.

I think these three had the best view!

Happy Birthday America!!!