The 6 letter word and blessings from above

So it has been a very crazy and emotional week. Last Friday my mom heard the word no one ever wants to hear. She was diagnosed with cancer, a rare form of melanoma. Three days later she was having surgery to remove her thumb and remove lymph nodes to check and see if it has spread. It was all very sudden, she went to the doctor to have it looked at on Tuesday, it was biopsied on Wednesday, diagnosed on Friday, and removed on Monday. All is less than a week. It was a weekend of lots of emotion and LOTS of tears. They had no idea how bad it was because everything removed in the biopsy was cancer. Luckily I was able to go to Pocatello on Sunday and stay through Monday evening. It was amazing how much peace and comfort we were blessed with as Monday neared. We are so grateful for the prayers shared on my mom's behalf. Monday went amazingly well. They did have to remove over half of her thumb but the initial report on the lymph nodes looks very good. It will probably be another week or so before we have final results on the lymph nodes but we're praying they stay negative. My mom has truly been blessed and she's realizing how loved she is by those around her.
A side note, I just want to put a warning to everyone out there. My mom is a nurse and works with many other nurses. It is likely she had this cancer for about 6 months before having it looked at. She thought nothing of it nor did those she worked with when they saw it. Subungual Melanoma starts as black or dark lines under the nail. It is often seen in the thumb, great toe, and index finger. It may or may not eventually cause a sore at the tip of the finger. If you know anyone who has these strange dark streaks, get them checked out. Better safe then sorry.

Now it's my turn

I have a job interview next week at University Hospital in Salt Lake for a NICU nurse residency position. It would be a great job, exactly what I want to do. I'd be working half as many nights and have the training I need as a new graduate. The interview isn't until Tuesday so I have a week to wait for the interview and then probably at least another week before I know anything so I have a long wait but I'm very hopeful. Wish me luck!!

So Weird

Today at 2:10 I stepped off the Weber State bus for the last time. I turned in my last project, took my last final, and am officially done with school!!! It is an odd feeling to think that I'm done. It definitely hasn't sunk in yet. Apparently I now know everything I need to know to be a nurse and I am free for school...forever. I honestly never thought this day would come. Finishing school always was more of a dream than reality. But today REALITY!!! I still have to take and pass my state boards before I'm officially an RN but NO MORE SCHOOL. I think I'm going to need a hobby for all my spare time now!?!?!

DONE!! Well, almost

Yesterday I finished my precepting and I have to say it is a good feeling to know I'm not going to have to work 36 hours a week for free anymore. I am going to miss working with all the babies though. I have 1 class left, one test, and a final. Then I am done with school forever!!! I have to say, I never thought my life would take the path it did. No one at high school graduation ever says, 9 years from now I'm going to finally be done with school and have 2 associate degrees. However, I wouldn't change a thing. Life is great right now and honestly I couldn't be happier. I've learned so much over the past many years that has truly shaped me into the person I am and I am grateful for that.

Life is amazing

Working in a newborn intensive care unit brings a whole new appreciation for life. It is truly amazing to watch an infant grown and develop outside of the womb. The past three weeks I've been working with a baby born after only about 25 weeks. His eyes were even fused shut for the first 5 days he was alive. Watching these babies come to the world and seeing their strength has been a very inspiring thing for me. NICU where I want to stay. I'm hoping to get into a critical care nurse residency program after graduation that will help me prepare for working in an NICU and gain the experience that I need.

Not much else going on here. We have our construction meeting where we build our house on paper this coming week and then they will get the permits and start building. We just hope it doesn't take too long to get permits. The sooner we can move the better.