Updates

I decided some updates are in order, the past month has been filled with a lot of fun, unfortunately I forget to take my camera so I just have a few pictures.

This night we got a bunch of people from the ward and had a bonfire

General Conference with Rachel. It was fun to see her, we even got Plaza tickets!

And last weekend I was able to help babysit my nieces and nephews. It was a lot of fun, It will be sad when they move even further away to Illinois.

They always want to take a "funny face" picture

Playing at the park

Well, that's about all the updates for now. I am so excited for this summer to finally get started. I get to go to Las Vegas this week and Washington D.C in June, along with a bunch of fun activities in-between :)

Lessons Learned

Last night was probably one of the best nights I have had at work. I had some amazing people I had the opportunity to care for and learn from. One sweet lady whom I will call Susan (since I can't use real names) left a lasting impression on me. She is a 46 year old female with ovarian cancer. A month ago she had a total abdominal hysterectomy. A week or so after surgery she started feeling some abdominal pain along with a lot of nausea and vomiting. She couldn't keep anything down, which led her to return to the doctors. One side-note, she didn't have this first surgery done at the Huntsman, but decided to go to the Huntsman when she started having these problems. Anyways, an x-ray was performed and they found that a sponge had been left in her abdomen from the previous surgery. In surgery they use these sponges to help soak up bleeding ect and before surgery they count them as well as after to make sure that nothing was left inside the patient. There must have been a miscount in her case. So she came to the Huntsman to have the sponge removed along with a washout to help with the abscess. Now, we live in a time where if that were to happen to a person they would be able to sue the hospital for all the money they could get and most people would do this. As I was talking to Susan I asked her what they were going to do. She told me, "We are not going to sue anyone. No one who was in on my surgery went into work that day saying "I'm going to leave a sponge in our patient so she can have more complications" Everyone makes mistakes and we just need to accept that and move on. Nobody needs to be sued over this." Wow! Talk about an amazing women! To top it off she has 11 children, 7 or which are adopted. They were the nicest family and her little girl drew/colored me a picture of their family. I love being able to go to work and learn from my patient's. I feel I have learned so much and I haven't even worked at the Huntsman for a year!

I also got to take care of the sweetest man who has Stage IV pancreatic cancer (not a good prognosis) and was in for a feeding tube placement for palliative care (end of life care). He was so grateful for everything and my heart just ached when I would go in the room. He and his wife were very emotional last night and I had to fight my hardest to not tear up when I entered the room.

Another patient of mine was the biggest joker I have ever met, he constantly had me laughing. The best part of the night with him was when I knocked on his room door to find him, his wife and his son kneeling around the bed saying family prayer with their daughter on the phone. What an amazing family.

So there you have it, that is just a glimpse of the type of people I get to work with on a daily basis, how lucky am I? I learn so much from them about life, hope and happiness. They make me want to be a happier person and after caring for them I feel so selfish, I am not even going through a glimpse of the trials they are and they are happier and more positive than I am at times. I need to be better and am making it a goal to be happier everyday because this life is truly a gift and time goes by all to quickly.

Remember, we live in a beautiful world and "Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

Presidents Day

For Presidents Day a bunch of us got together to go on a hike. It was a blast because it had just snowed and was gorgeous!

The whole group

So Beautiful!

There was a lot of snow on the trees, so we thought it would be fun to stand under the trees and get the snow shaken on us. It looks like I have a white hat on :)

It was such a fun day! I'm so glad I have fun friends who are always willing to go out and do something fun/random :)

Crazy beautiful life

So I've fallen a little behind in the blogging world so here is an update. First off, I absolutely love my job! Sometimes it is difficult waking up early in the morning to go to work....or heading to work at 6:30pm knowing I will be there the whole night; however, once I'm at work I love being able to care for others and hopefully I'm making a difference in their lives, because they are definitely making a difference in mine. Life is so precious and I've come to realize that one of the most important things in this world is friends and family. Many people when they hear I work at a cancer hospital just tell me how depressing and sad that would be all the time, that is not the case with my experience. The people I care for are some of the most positive and happy people. Sure, they have their hard days, but who doesn't? They realize what's important and they have their good and bad days, but they are the kindest most appreciative people I have ever cared for and I feel blessed everyday to be a part of their journey.

Second, a few of my friends from Tonga are here in the states visiting for a few months. I was able to go pick them up and show them around temple square as well as take them out to eat. The Ta'ai family really took care of my whole nursing group in Tonga and were with us every step of the way through the difficult times. Mele'ana calls me her American daughter, and they are my Tongan family. When we were walking around temple square all the missionaries would ask how we knew each other and Mele'ana would say right off "This is my American daughter" They are such a wonderful family with strong testimonies and I hope I can do more with them before they leave.

Yama, Hope, Me, Mele'ana, and Freddie

I love my roommates! We have so much fun together and get along so well. I have been really blessed to always have great roommates. The other week we went to the Cheapo theater to watch Megamind and can I just tell you that Megamind is my new cartoon crush. He may be blue...but I just think he is so cute in the movie! Call me crazy but that's how I feel :)

Pictures are always a must when we go anywhere, as well as jamming out to music in the car.

Third, I was able to go home to Star Valley to visit for a few days. How many people can get their full hours for the week and still be able to have 6 days off of work? That another one of the many good things about my job. I had a great time being with my Mom and Dad and just relaxing at home :)

Yes, I do live in one of the most gorgeous places

My beautiful mom

My parents have been married for 32 years and are such a great example to me. I love them both so much and I'm so grateful for all that they do for me.

Well that's about all the updating for now, peace out!

New Years in Vegas

The Holiday season was wonderful, My entire family was able to all be together which doesn't happen very often:)

Doing some night sledding behind the 4-wheeler

Bellagio in Vegas! I got to fly out to visit my brother and his family for a few days, it was a blast

My very favorite part of Vegas

M&M world! I was in heaven, chocolate in so many colors! Need I say more...

Ya, I had some people staring and laughing at me as I got this picture taken.

Sophia

Kian

Kaidence just turned 6 and I got to be there for her b-day

We went to the Hoover Dam one day, it was so cool, I had never been before.

This bridge is the biggest cement bridge in the world

Thank you Jon and Mindi for a wonderful time! Love you all :)

Recent Happenings

First U of U football game, the Utes lost big time, but it was still a blast

Blackout game! It was so crazy, packed, and loud, loved it!

What's better on Thanksgiving morning than some cupcakes with your cousins...and brother :)

My beautiful mom

Fun in the car with the cousins

Enjoying time with my sister when she flew into Salt Lake for Christmas

We also got to take Ethan out to eat in between his volleyball games

Love my Brother and Sister!

I have really been able to tell a difference in my days as I am working to serve others and find myself constantly asking, "What can I do to serve today?" I feel closer to my Savior as I'm working to serve others and I love this Christmas season and I'm so happy I will be able to go home for a couple days. I have to work Christmas Eve, but come Christmas morning I will be driving home to be with my family:) We will miss Jonathan and Mindi and their kids but luckily I will get to fly out to visit them in a few weeks :)