kapachino

Category: around here

  • Friday Things: To Focus On

    Now that I’ve pretty much gotten settled into my new routine, I took stock of my life and decided that there are a few things that I need to focus on in the immediate future, and here they are.

    Study for (and pass!) the OCN exam.

    This is a priority. I take the oncology certification test on November 30, and I really need to pass. First of all, I’m taking the day off work for it, and I will be SO embarrassed if I come back the next day having failed. But mostly, it cost $265 to apply to take, and another $250 for a review course. If I pass, I get reimbursed. That’s a big incentive.

    Get Cleo back in shape.

    My favorite pup has become a fatty. Recently I saw this picture of her from a few years back:

    And this is her now (oh the shame):

    So I’ll be upping the amount of walks and trips to the dog park and switching to “healthy weight” food. Poor girl can’t help it that she has a terrible metabolism.

    Prepare for Christmas!

    I’d like to go into December with a good handle on all things Christmas. It’s my favorite holiday, and I don’t want it to be stressful. These are some things I want to get done sooner rather than later:

    • Finalize my wish list
    • Figure out what to give my family and search for deals
    • Have a complete list of names & addresses for people to send cards, and make significant progress on getting them out
    • Learn to make apple cider
    • Make an advent calendar (this will involve some very simple sewing but I am kind of petrified)
    • Put up a tree and decorate!

    What are you focusing on these days?

  • Friday Things: Making Me Happy

    In order to lighten the mood around here, and to make it seem a little less like a self-help website, here are some things that have been inspiring me, exciting me, and making me happy lately.

    Planning epic road trips

    David and I decided that even though we are on a fast track to pay off our debt and save money by making tons of sacrifices financially, for our mental health we want to have vacations to look forward to. We’ve been putting away a little each month and will continue to do so until next summer when we hope to be able to take our trip. Our plan is to drive from here all the way up the Pacific coast and then back a different way. And even though we won’t be able to go for awhile, planning it is half the fun!

    Christmas Coming

    I’m one of those people who will listen to holiday music all year long. Christmas is my favorite, and I’m especially looking forward to it this year since I know I won’t have to work. I’m ready to wear winter sweaters and send out cards. I’m ready to see the decorations go up and pick out gifts. And I certainly have some things on my wish list considering I haven’t bought myself anything significant in months and months. :)

    Old Favorites

    I pulled out my Gilmore Girls DVD’s and started the whole series from the beginning. This show is like comfort food to me. It soothes my soul.

    Also,

    David and I are closer than ever, our dogs have been on their best behavior lately, and the house is clean. I’m reading two good books, wearing a great pair of jeans, and am probably even going to cook some dinner tonight. So I’m doing fine, really.

    ***

    Images: ♥ ♥ ♥

  • A Long Weekend

    I bought a book today.

    It’s the first time I’ve bought myself anything for weeks. I didn’t even want to buy it, I’d prefer to get it from the library, but since our book club meeting is on Monday and I’m still 48th on the waiting list, I had no choice other than to not read it. And it’s been over four years of monthly book club meetings and not once have I missed a day or not finished the book. I can’t very well mess up a streak like that, can I?

    I’m concerned about finishing it, though. I have plans to visit a friend this evening, and tomorrow, Saturday, begins with training for church promptly at 8 a.m. (This is what happens when you get yourself involved with a church plant.) Later in the afternoon I committed to seeing a high school play that one of the youth group members is a part of, and David and I have a double date with my parents planned for Saturday evening. Sunday includes church and a family dinner, so at least I should have that afternoon to read, in theory.

    I think I can do it. Right now it’s Friday afternoon. I’m well-rested and my dogs are sleeping. I already cleaned the kitchen and paid the bills. The whole weekend stretches out ahead of me like a promise.

  • what i did on saturday

    0400 – My alarm goes off to wake me up for work. Press snooze and roll over.

    0405 – I get a phone call from work saying our census has dropped to 10 patients and would I like to stay home today? I think that I should probably go to work to save up my time for David’s surgery, but I am physically incapable of refusing at that hour. I agree to stay home.

    0408 – I suddenly realize my entire GI tract is churning. I can’t sleep. Spend the next two hours in the bathroom with fluid (and other things) coming out both ends.

    0615 – I finally can lie down in bed again without having to jump right back up. Fall asleep.

    1030 – David comes in to check on me and I realize I should get up. I hug a blanket around me and walk out to the living room. My stomach is still off and my head hurts. I sit on the couch and talk to David while Oliver tries to sit in my lap and eat my hands.

    1100 – I make a bowl of oatmeal because I need to eat to take another dose of metformin (aka the evil cause of my gastrointestinal difficulties). I stare at it for awhile. I get two bites down, and swallow two Excedrin since I can’t tolerate coffee. The metformin is not happening yet.

    1130 – Screw this, I get back in bed.

    1200 – I remember I have prescription anti-nausea meds! Total score. I consider taking Phenergan which might put me to sleep for awhile, a not unappealing prospect, but settle on Zofran since it’s stronger. Get back in bed.

    1240 – I catch up on my Words With Friends games.

    1245 – I do some Bible reading.

    1300 – I get out of bed, eat my cold oatmeal, and return some emails.

    1345 – Begrudgingly take my metformin.

    1350 – Settle in to watch The Young Victoria and cross stitch.

    1540 – Movie ends, and praise God I feel like eating something! Applesauce, tortilla chips, and hummus.

    1550 – Put on Arrested Development season 1, disc 1. Didn’t know Michael Cera was in this. Huh. He bothers me.

    1830 – Visit from my mom. I realize I am still in my pajamas, haven’t showered, and don’t intend to. Oh, well.

    1845 – Disc 1 of Arrested Development ends. I relinquish control of the TV and David puts on the Texans game. I watch it with him even though it’s only the preseason because I am the ultimate in lazy.

    1945 – I can’t put off eating anymore. A bowl of cereal it is, and I go ahead and take my second metformin. Hoping the nausea stays away so I can make it to work tomorrow.

    2115 – Have an intense text conversation with a coworker about one of our patients and our chances of getting called off work again.

    2130 – I’ve had enough of football, so I brush my teeth, get in bed with Cleo, and read some of Gilead.

    2200 – My stomach has been churning for a little while, so I take another Zofran, turn out the lights, and try to sleep. I am successful.

  • staycation wrap-up

    My forced staycation is coming to an end. I go back to work on Monday for the 3-11 p.m. shift, and I have mixed feelings. Part of me is ready to become a productive member of society again, but the other part is reluctant to give up all the extra time I’ve found myself with.

    The first week I was off work wasn’t vacation at all; it was hospital and recovery. But David has made huge improvements since then and he doesn’t need much help from me at all anymore. This past week I can accurately call a staycation, and here are some things that I did:

    Slept late and lounged in bed

    Now when I wake up at 4 a.m. it’s because my dogs want attention, not because my alarm is going off. But most of the time I wake up happily around 8 a.m. and get ready for the day slowly.

    Hit the road running despite the heat

    Even though some days I can’t bear to set foot outside more than I have to because of the sweltering heat, I have managed to start the C25k program again and complete the first two weeks. I figure if I’m going to eat an entire 11 oz bag of Raisinettes in two days I’ve gotta do something to counteract those calories!

    Took up a new/old hobby

    One day this week I was suddenly seized with the desire to cross stitch. I used to do it when I was young, but it’s been fifteen years at least. I went and raided my mom’s craft room, came away with some supplies, and am slowly working through a completely cheesy design. It’s a great hobby, perfect to do while watching mindless TV shows like 30 Rock, which is another new show I’ve picked up on thanks to Netflix instant streaming. Now I just need to find some designs I actually like.

    Read and journaled

    Of course, what’s a vacation if not time to read? I finished two books and am working on my third. I’ve also been doing some journaling and reflecting. There has been a lot of down time and I’ve been doing some thinking, mostly about the kind of life I want to live and how to make that happen. A break like this has given me time to decide what is worth spending time and effort on, and I’m sure you’ll become aware of these thoughts in the coming weeks as I write them down.

    Overall, the past two weeks were exactly what David and I needed. This surgery has been a long time coming for him, and it will solve so many problems. We got to have a lot of togetherness, as you can imagine, and it’s brought us closer than ever. I feel rested, rejuvenated, and ready to go forward with work & life.