Orientation is done, Nights are not

After talking to my co-workers about my orientation and having only one week of nights, the CNS on my floor thought it would be good to have one more week of orientation, which is working with another nurse.  That allowed me to have two weeks of night shifts.  I finished that on Friday morning and my sleep and living schedule has been wacky ever since. 

I feel as if I have not really done anything productive, because I wake up in a fog and am sleepy most of the time.  Dan told me I'll have to get out of my pajamas, get out into the sun (or open the curtains and turn on lights since we live in a basement apartment), and be more active.  This is easier said than done.

When I previously prepared for my night shifts, I would stay up the entire night and sleep during the day.  My mom suggested that I might not have to do that, just sleep when I'm tired.  Friday night, Dan and I stayed up till 2am, slept and then I was wide awake at 5am.  I got up and did some reading on titrating drips on patients and before long, it was 8am.  I "napped" for an hour with Dan and woke up with him at 9am. 

After eating breakfast, he said that I really needed to sleep, because otherwise I'd be exhausted for church.  I knew he was right,  I was wide awake.  I laid down at 11 and slept till 2.  I woke up in a funk, but took a shower and got ready for church. Church was great and I was wide awake for the service and fellowship.  We came home and started a movie and Dan had to wake me up to finish it.  We ended up going to bed at midnight and here I am, awake at 3am.  These 3 hour spurts of sleep aren't going to cut it, I don't think. 

I have 3 nights in a row and then we're off to see our wonderful, new niece and Dan's family.  We are so excited for this opportunity and I hope that I will be awake to enjoy my time with them.

Dr. Phil

I was preparing for night shifts again, so last night I stayed up till 4 am.  I woke up at 2:40 pm, made some coffee and ate cereal.  I noticed on facebook and cnn.com that the healthcare bill passed and people were going crazy on both sides.  I was to foggy to read about it, so I turned on the tv.  Dr. Phil was on and it was such a weird event.

I am a morning person by nature.  I wake up at 6 or 7 usually (at 5 if I have to work day shift) and accomplish a lot before 3 pm.  What have I done today?  I have eaten!  I'll hopefully get an EA Active Sports routine in and do my fitness test on Wii Fit.  That will feel as if I accomplished something before going to work tonight.

Isabella Policena Osland

Wow, I cannot express my excitement at the arrival of my new niece, Isabella!  She arrived on March 20th at 5pm.  There are some photos on facebook, but I cannot wait till I see her in person in a couple weeks!  We are also excited to see Dan's parents and of course the proud new parents!!

There isn't much news to tell.  I had 5 days off in a row because I worked Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday and didn't have to work again until Monday.  These shifts are throwing me a bit for a loop.  It is nice to only work 3 days per week, but the work takes a toll on my body and the night shifts really take a toll on my sleep.

I'll be on night shifts for the next couple of weeks, so tonight I'm trying to stay up as late as possible (hopefully 5 or 6ish).  It's almost 1 am, I think I can do it!  I'm such a morning person though.

Saturday was good as usual.  I am really becoming close with the people who attend and enjoy getting to know them more personally, though many are going through such difficult times.  I am happy to be a part of something that is encouraging and I know that they would be there for me when I needed them.  I am thankful for their prayers and support and am excited that we have this group.  I pray that God will continue to direct us.  I still am unsure of exactly what it's suppose to look like, but I can say that it is so enjoyable and I look forward to each end of the week.

The other news is my Grandpa's land.  I got a letter from my Dad about dividing up my Grandpa's land in northern Wisconsin.  I had a tearful conversation about how I did not want to have any part of it and that anything he was going to pass to me, I hoped that he would just give to Bob and Mike.  I have so many good memories and if I ever have children, I would love to take them up there, but in all practicality, I don't even get to see my parents very often...I'm not going to visit the lake hardly at all.  I know Bob and Mike use and enjoy the land, so I hope this is a smooth transaction.

Well, I'm off to watch a movie.  I broke down and got Netflix.  The ability to stream movies moved me into thinking this is a great deal and I have enjoyed watching shows.  Dan isn't interested in watching Lost, so I might have to do that.  I am catching up on chick flicks while he's out of town or when I have to stay up late.  Too funny!

Day After St. Patty's Day

I haven't been keeping up my blog as well as I thought I would with all this free time that I've acquired.  Work has actually kept me quite busy.  I worked my first night shifts this past week and did well, especially considering I had 3 in a row.  I have been in a funk with sleep and just keep taking naps.  I sort of need to stay on this schedule since I'll be working night shift for the next two weeks.  Other work news is that I asked for an additional week of orientation.  I will be on my own after next week and that is exciting and terrifying all at once.

On Easter we will see my in-laws in DC.  I cannot wait!  I am hoping little Isabella will be born by then (or during that time) so we can see her.  My sister-in-law's mother arrived from Brazil yesterday and I am so happy that they can be together.

As for my St. Patty's celebration, I went to my friend Jenna's for corned beef and cabbage.  YUM!  It was so good and tasty!  I had worked the previous night and was asked by friends to go to the Irish pub in the morning, but that was just not going to happen, so suffice to say, I didn't have any green beer...actually no beer at all that day.

The day ended with talking to my mom and dad (on separate occasions) about life and the Smith property outside of Antigo.  I was tearful throughout the conversation with my dad, but I just miss my parents quite a bit.  I hope to see them soon!

Well, I best be off.  I have to pick up Dan from the airport.  He was only gone a couple days, but I miss his since I was in such a fog with night shift.  I'm hoping for a romantic evening together and catching up on the past week's events.

New Hair

Last Thursday I got my hair chopped. I went to Great Clips, which isn't the smartest move for a big change, but I'm happy with it. Usually I get wanna-be stylists who do a lot with my hair, but this lady didn't have any products and I walked out with a fro. I'm now trying to work with my hair and found that I can thankfully do a lot with it.



One of my new hobbies that I've picked up from the past is crocheting. I have a new niece on the way, so I made an afghan, booties, sweater, and am finishing a toy giraffe. I love crocheting! I find that it is so relaxing to crochet while listening to my podcasts. The most likely reason for loving to crochet is the nostalgia I have remembering my Grandma Thomae teaching me how to do it when I was 7 while we were camping. I have photos of myself with my tongue hanging out because I was concentrating so hard. Too funny!