May 17, 2010

Many have been chastising me for not having a post since September. Well folks, life has been crazy since September. I completed Nursing II and Nursing III since I last wrote, and let me tell you it has not been an easy feat.

Nursing II seems like a hundred years ago now, but it was the toughest semester so far. By the end of October, I was so exhausted and worn down that I was unsure that I would be able to make it through the rest of the semester. Thankfully, Nursing III although quite a challenge, was much easier for me. It seems that things have clicked. Now after a 15 week summer break May-August, I will face Nursing IV, my last semester. I am scheduled to graduate in December of this year. I can hardly believe it!

Dad's health took a turn in December, and it life has not been easy for him. His Parkinson's has gotten worse, and many times during the day he has no control of the shaking, and finds himself basically frozen in place. Because of this he has barely been out of the house since Christmas. We have had to call the paramedics twice since January, and one time he was in Atrial Fibrillation, it was very scary for a few minutes while we waited for help to arrive. Once at the hospital, and on medication, his heart went back into Sinus Rhythm and thankfully he has not had a problem with that since. Each day we wait to see how he will manage, and some days go well, and others not so much. Please keep him in your prayers.

The highlight of my summer will be the relocation of Ethan and his family to St. Petersburg. They are heading down this way in a matter of a few weeks:) I am so looking forward to spending more time with Ethan, Sharon, and the four kids. I have wished to be in much closer proximity for a long time, and now those wishes are coming true!

In the mean time, I will be brushing up on my Pharmacology, over the summer and continuing to work at All Children's Hospital. Oh, I forgot to mention, that in January, the hospital moved to a brand new state of the art facility. We are pretty much settled now, and we are enjoying our new home. I am hoping to work at the hospital when I am finished with my schooling.

Hope you all are having a great 2010.

Holly

Back to school!

Hi All,

It was a crazy summer and now it is time to buckle down and get back to school. Unfortunately, my brain has not gotten the message. We have been back to class for two weeks now and I am not doing well on my tests! Please say a prayer for me if the Lord brings it to mind. I am working just as hard studying, but for whatever reason... I am struggling.

The summer was a great time to catch up on some socializing. As you read in my previous post I was able to go up to NC for Mike's Graduation/Mollie's Dedication in May. In June, I worked like a crazy woman. I was in the office on Monday's and Friday's and then working nights at All Children's Hospital on Tuesday's and Wednesday's. My poor body didn't know when to be awake and when to sleep. The blessing was that between the two jobs I was able to work full time for the summer.

In July, Pam and Mike came to town with Mollie, although it was due to a sad occasion (Pam lost a close friend from her Elementary School days) it was very good to see them. Also, Beckie and the boys were down from Nashville. We had a few girl's nights out, and really enjoyed each other just like old times:)

In August, I drove up to see Ethan and his family for three days. The trip up was eventful, because I was struck by a semi on the highway. I know that sounds terrible, but the damage was minimal and although I was a wreck when it first happened, the Lord was with me and not only gave peace, but protection as well. I was only in Murfreesboro for three days, but it was good to see Ethan, Sharon and the kids, it had been a year since we were together. I was able to be there for Luke's 2nd birthday (couldn't believe how he has grown) we celebrated by having a family day of fun. We started at the McDonald's with a play area, headed to the mall play area and then off to Chuck E Cheese. The kids had a blast and the three adults were plumb tuckered when we got home:)

Now it is time to hit the books and focus. Thanks for reading.

Love to all.

School is out for SUMMER:)

Hi All,

It has been an adventuresome month! I have completed my first semester of Nursing School and I got an A in my classes. Whoopee! About 1 week after I finished school, my Grandma and I flew up to Asheville to watch Mike (my brother in law) graduate from collage. Congrats Mike for a job well done! We were also able to be there for the Graduation/Baby Dedication party. It was great fun to spend time with the family.

After returning from the trip to North Carolina I started my new job at All Children's Hospital. For those of you who don't know All Children's services 17 counties in the central Florida area. There is only one other children's hospital in the state which is located in Miami. The reason I took this job was 1) Because I wanted to work extra hours in the summer (I am still working for Woman's Health Associates 16 hours a week) 2) Because I wanted to see what it was like working in health care for Children. Right now my position is Unit Secretary, but there are two Patient Care Technicians who are graduating from Nursing School in December, so some positions will probably be opening up on our floor next year. Since Hospital hours are 24-7 I have been working some night shifts and some day shifts. My poor body doesn't know when to stay up and when to go back to bed, so it is kinda crazy.

For an update on my cousin's husband (Kevin) his last Chemo treatment is Friday (6/12/09). He has done well through the Chemo and Radiation treatments. The big test comes in a few weeks when they test to see if the tumor has decreased in size. Your prayers are coveted for Kevin and his family.

Thanks!

Holly

May 2009

Hi All,

I got a call from my good friend Carolyn who reminded me to update my blog. Sorry it has been so long... but sometimes I think... nothing that exciting is going on. I am very excited though to be finishing up my 1st semester of Nursing School. It has been a rough ride, but we have made it through.

Finals are this upcoming week (Tuesday, May 5th 8AM-10:30 AM) for you prayer warriors out there. The jury is still out but if I make at least an 81% on the final I will get an A in all of the classes. It would be a nice boost for the GPA!

On the home front, Mom and Dad are in TN this week visiting Ethan, Sharon, and the kids (I'm jealous) and headed to NC to take care of sweet pea (aka Mollie) while Pam heads back to work full time. In two weeks Mike will graduate with his Associates Degree in Fish and Wildlife Management. Go Mike! At last check he had made straight A's all the way through the program. He is tough competition let me tell ya.

On a somber note our cousin Carolyn's husband (Kevin) has been diagnosed with Stage III Lung Cancer, which is a total shock since the man is not, and never has been, a smoker. They have two young daughters (Amanda and Katelyn). At this point it looks as though he is headed for Chemo/Radiation in an effort to shrink the tumor prior to surgery. Your prayers are greatly appreciated. Just another reminder that we are not in control... but we know the ONE who is. Please pray that Kevin, Carolyn, and the kids would feel the presence of God in a strong way as they face the road that lies ahead.

God Bless!

Holly

Mollie smiles

Ok, some may call me "silly aunt Holly," but I was standing there talking to Mollie and she was making faces at me. For those of you who have not been blessed with seeing our precious little Minnie Mollie, just picture Pam making faces, but on a much smaller scale. I swear she has her Momma's eyes. Anyway, I stood there with the camera taking shots and then all of the sudden she smiles. Now the poor kid can't see who she is smiling at, but she furrows her brow when you start talking to her. Isn't it the cutest little gummy smile? I am totally smitten. Thanks everyone so much for your prayers, Mollie is doing great. Check out Pam's blog for the latest updates.

http://sunflowerinnc.blogspot.com/

Holly

I got to hold her!

Hi All,

Mollie is doing wonderfully! Thanks so much for your prayers, God is answering and amazing us once again. I got to hold her at her 6pm feeding tonight and wanted to share the pics with everyone,

Happy New Year Everyone,

Holly

Mollie is here!

Hi All,

My niece (Mollie Elizabeth Anne) was born on Saturday, December 27. She was early, (31 weeks) but is doing great. She was due to be born Feb. 25th, but wanted to be here for the New Year's Parties:) My sister is doing great, and so is my brother-in-law. Today, our prayer requests include Mollie's bilirubin, which is elevated. The nurse explained that this is normal even for full term babies. Mollie is under two lights to help her levels come down.

I drove up to Asheville on Sunday and will be able to be here for the week. Thanks for your prayers!

Holly

It's Official-I got into Nursing School!

Hi All,

Just a quick update to let you know that I got into Nursing School starting 1/12/09! I am very excited, to say the least. God has blessed every step of the way. I left Michigan 4 years ago last month to begin this journey. I will be a student at St. Pete College for 1 1/2 to 2 years. When I graduate I will have my ASN. At this point, the plan is to work part time while in school. The first semester will be a test run to see how that goes. I appreciate all of your support and will keep you posted as to my progress.

Holly

Disney Cruise

Hi All,

Just click the link below and view the pics of my Disney Cruise.

Thanks for checkin' in,

Hol

http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=7195f877b9925da7537edc

Time flies!

Hi All,

So, the 5 weeks off from school sure flew by. As we all say, "where has the time gone?" I am very thankful for the brain break that I have had lately. I was able to house sit for a friend of mine who was out of town for a week and a half, and just spent this last weekend with my Sister-in-law (Sharon). She flew down on Thursday and we stayed at my employer's condo on St. Pete Beach through Sunday. Unfortunately, Fay could not figure out which direction she was headed so our lovely beach weekend was rainy and windy as the outer bands came through the area. I heard that Fay made landfall in Florida 4 times! That has to be some sort of record. Sharon and I did wake up to a beautiful morning on Sunday and took a nice walk on the beach before heading to the airport.

The kids in the area went back to school last week and now it is my turn. I am starting Chemistry tomorrow. I will be attending classes Tues-Thurs evening until December. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Well, that is all for now. Thanks for reading!

Hol

Statistics is Over!!!!

Hi All,

Just want to say thanks for your prayers and support. I have finished my Stats class early, because I had an A average in my tests I do not have the take the final exam! Can anyone say Hallelujah? I am so thankful!

Thanks to all of you for your patience. I know that I have not been the best at communication these last several months. With my work and school schedule, my time has been limited. I have one month off of school before I start Chemistry in late August.

I am headed north on vacation at the end of this week. I am flying up to Nashville to hang with Ethan and his family and then driving over to Asheville to spend time with Pam and Mike.

Thanks as always for your love and Support!

Holly

No, for now.

Hi All,

Just a brief update to let you know that I did not get into the Nursing Program at St. Pete College for Fall '08 semester. No worries though. The program would have given me an ASN, and my original plan was to go for a BSN. So I will keep pluggin away at my pre-reqs and be applying for a BSN program soon.

Thanks for your prayers,

Holly

What?? May is almost over?

Hi All,

Sorry, so long no post. Life has been crazy busy. I was just catching my breath from completing Microbiology and then I started Statistics. I should find out within the next week if I got into the nursing program at St. Petersburg College. If so, I will officially start Nursing School!! I know many of you are saying finally... and I could not have gotten this far without all of your support. I must sign off... much studying to do!

Hol

Happy New Year to All!

The holidays sure came and went very quickly. I had a wonderful time with friends and family. The highlight came when Pam and Ethan were in town with their families after Christmas. Pam and Mike drove down from Asheville, and Ethan and Sharon drove down from Nashville. The down side for both of their trips was the amount of traffic. I guess many northerners had the idea of heading south for the holidays.

We had 9 people in Mom and Dad's house for one week. Needless to say the place was bustling with energy most of the time. They left on Thursday (1/2) and it now seems so quiet. It was great fun spending time with Andy, Sammy, Elaina, and Luke. We were able to take the kids to the Great Exploration Children's Hands On Museum. Trish met us there with her three kids. It was great fun.

I wish all of you a very happy and healthy new year!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Hi All,

Thanks for checking in. I'm sorry I haven't updated lately, I guess I felt I didn't have too much to share. I am thankful to the Lord for His provision over the last few months. Before I was laid off from Lennar, my previous employer had contacted me asking if I was interested in returning to my old position. I called them the day I found out that I was no longer employed and the process began for my return.

On Monday, October 22, I started back at Women's Health Associates. I am working as an Insurance Administrator. I submit all of the claims for the office and then follow up when they are not paid. It was strange to return to the office that I had left over six years ago. The first two weeks left me feeling deja vu several times. Thankfully, the training notes that I left six years ago were still there to refresh my memory as to the job I need to do. Things are running smoothly now.

Thanksgiving was a nice day, strange because my parents were not home. Last year they left me at Christmas, but this year it was Thanksgiving. The reason was a very good one though. Mom had several days off and Dad had an appointment at Emory University. His neurologist had sent him there to be evaluated at their Movement Clinic. Dad had been struggling more and more to walk, and the answers to this just could not seem to be found. The specialist at the clinic confirmed the diagnosis of Parkinson's and also changed the frequency of his medication. This change had made a drastic difference in Dad's mobility. We are very thankful for the change.

Mom and Dad were also able to spend a few days with Ethan's family and then Thanksgiving with Aunt Loretta and her family in Atlanta. I spent the day with Dad's family enjoying the new toddler in the house my cousins little girl Katelyn. Kids really do make the holidays more fun don't they?

We are looking forward to Pam and Mike coming home for Christmas, and we are hoping that Ethan and Sharon will be able to come down too. For now we are preparing for the day and looking forward to the extra time spent with friends and family. God Bless you all.

Holly

Road Trip

Hi All,

I just returned from my road trip. I had been telling Ethan and Sharon that as soon as I was laid off from Lennar, I would pack up my car and head to Nashville. So, on Tuesday 10/2 I headed out, but what I did not take into account was how draining the last two weeks of work were. I drove for about three hours and had to stop and get a hotel since I was so tired.

I spent Wed-Sunday with Ethan, Sharon, Andy, Sam, Elaina, and Luke. I had so much fun with them. If you want to see how they are doing check out their website (beavas.com). I had a fun day out with Sam on Friday. I took him to the Discovery Center where we were able to explore all sorts of fun things, and then on Saturday I took Andy to Chuck E Cheese. I spent way to much money for someone who is unemployed, but couldn't say no to more tokens. We were having so much fun. I look forward to more fun days out with Elaina and Luke as well, after they are a little bit older.

On Sunday 10/8 I drove to Asheville and spent the rest of my road trip relaxing and enjoying the mountains. I did not pack so well though. A cold front came through and we had one night when it was 39 degrees. I was not prepared for that. So, I wore shorts and a t-shirt and one of Mike's long sleeved shirts and drove to Wal-mart to purchase cheap warm clothes:) I guess I will know better next time. Pam informed me that most of the weather info you get is for the Piedmont of Asheville and you have to take another 10 degrees off to get the temps for the mountains.

I am employed!! My previous employer (from 6 years ago) needed someone to fill my old position. So I moving back to St. Petersburg in the next two weeks and starting at Women's Health Associates. I am going to move in with Mom and Dad and finish the pre-reqs (only three to go) for nursing school. So, stay tuned I should have news of when I will start nursing school by next summer.

Thanks for keeping track of me.

Love you all!!

Laid Off

Happy Anniversary to Pam and Mike!

It has been 6 years since they were married. Man how time flies. Congrats you two:)

Well my brain has been on the Lennar move coming up this next weekend. There is still so much to be done. I have had trouble sleeping in the last week, because I am thinking of all of the things left to do. I was also given some news last Monday. My manager flew up from Tampa to tell me that I was being laid off. It is obvious that the housing market has made times difficult for our business. So, they cannot keep me. This news has made the stress of the move even harder to handle.

I appreciate your prayers. God is continually showing His hand in all of this, but my faith is not always steady. Thankfully, I am going to be given a severance package, so I am not left high and dry right away.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for your prayers.

Holly

Labor Day

Hi All,

Just checking in. I went home last weekend for Labor Day and had a great time. Mom and I went furniture shopping. I was able to spend time with the Davis/Clifford/Beaver families so I was happy as a clam:)

Work is nuts we are down to three weeks before the big move. The company Lennar acquired here in Jacksonville have been in the current building for several years. Needless to say we not only acquired a business, but a lot of stuff! Everywhere I turn I am finding old and currently unused printers, copiers, and just plain junk. The movers came last week to evaluate all that is coming with us. They said, "You have a lot of work to do." That is the understatement of the year. I am trying to stay relaxed and break it all down to one day at a time, but the stress is mounting as the time runs short. Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Holly

Office Move

Hi All,

Not too much going on here in Jacksonville. Just wanted to write and touch base. Work is crazy. We are moving to a new office (YAY). It is brand new and being fitted just for us. Problem is our Office Manager just resigned and yours truly has been given the task of taking over the move.

So for the new few weeks my head will be in square footage and file cabinet placement. I am pretty stressed about the task, but keep trying to remind myself that when it is over it is over, no matter what happens.

I am headed down to St. Pete for Labor Day weekend. I am looking foward to some R&R. I was hoping to drive up to Nashville to meet my new nephew, and spend some quality time with the family, but the drive is too long for just a few days.

I hope you all are well! Much love.

Vacation

My father reminded me today to update my blog. Some of these things are out of date, but here goes. My vacation started on Saturday July 21st. Trish, Shane and the kids came to town. Unfortunately, it was not for happy reasons since Trish's Grandmother had just passed away. None the less it was good to see them all. We had a fun weekend and when they left I was exhausted. I forgot about all of the energy required to keep up with a 7, 4, and 2 1/2 year old.

On Monday 7/23 I did laundry and ran errands to prepare for my road trip. Tuesday morning I woke up with plans of packing up the car and hitting the road (I was headed to Asheville to visit Pam and Mike). The only errand I needed to run was to get some blood drawn. I was very frustrated when the whole thing took much longer than usual, but has my good friend Renee reminded me, the timing was perfect. As it turns out, my late departure for North Carolina put me in Colubmia, SC just in time to catch Kenny getting off of work. We were able to meet and have dinner together. It was a good break from the 7 hours that I would end up in the car driving that day.

I got to Asheville around 9pm. Pam and I stayed up talking until way too late since she had to be into work the next day. Pam worked all day on Wednesday, so I just lounged around the house and rested. I did take a drive into Asheville where I got lost and drove way north out of the way in an effort to get back to Pam and Mike's place. Oh well, that was my adventure for the day.
On Thursday and Friday Pam had 1/2 days at work.

On Thursday, we drove into Asheville and had lunch at a Bagel shop chain which happened to be a place that I frequented while living in Chicago. We also stopped at the Biltmore to see what the prices were. Pam and Mike are thinking about getting season passes so that they can go with any future guests.

Friday Pam and I went to see a movie, "No Reservations." We really liked it. On Friday night Pam and I met Mike out in Hendersonville which is the town were Mike's school is. After dinner at a local pizza shop Mike drove us up into the mountains for some fly fishing. It was fun driving through the mountains with Mike, he goes much faster than Pam does on the winding roads:). Of course, Pam and I did not fish but sat on a blanket and watched Mike. By the end of the evening we were throwing rocks into the river to see how far out we could throw them. Mike was not to thrilled about this since we were scaring his fish away, and he proved his strength to us when he stopped fishing and threw a rock to the other shore of the river, which was much further than Pam and I could throw.

On Saturday morning I packed up and with tears said good-bye to Pam. I was headed down to Columbia to spend the rest of the weekend with Kenny. Kenny gave me a tour of downtown Columbia and showed me the hospital where he is working. We spent the rest of the afternoon checking out the competition and visiting model homes centers of KB Home and D.R. Horton. At one point we were in a community that Kenny had visited with his Mom. He pointed out a model home he had seen and I headed in that direction. I walked right up to the front door and tried to turn the knob, but it was locked. A few seconds later a man appeared at the door looking not too happy about the disruption. What I had done was tried to open the door of what was now a private residence. I apologized to the man and Kenny and I walked away laughing our heads off.

As I recall we did not accomplish too much on Sunday and then I had to leave to head back home from my vacation. I wished that I had been able to spend more time with everyone, but I was glad to have a chance to go in the first place.