Happenings of 2011

Nursing-related monumental happenings of 2011:

--Started my career as a nurse in the field of my dreams (family birth) at an amazing hospital. Couldn't be happier with my job right now. Not. One. Bit.))))

--"Flew solo" at work for the first time in August. It's been intimidating, but I've grown so much. Very excited to continue my growth as a nurse.))

--Fell 100% in love with my new 'work family.' Seriously, I work with some of the most intelligent, hard-working, hilarious, loving women I've ever met. I feel blessed every time I step foot on my unit.

Among the thousands of new birthing experiences, for the first time, I :

------- helped a woman have a successful water birth. It was a beautiful experience.

------- delivered a known fetal demise (dead baby). It was so hard to see a family hurting.. to be there in the moments when the unthinkable and seemingly unbearable has happened... At the same time, I feel privileged to care for families in their brokenness. 

------ helped successfully deliver twins, vaginally. Baby 1 was vertex (head first), Baby 2 was breech (butt first). Wow. Women are amazing.

------ had a patient who had a cord prolapse (the umbilical cord came before the baby's head) and rushed back to the OR (operating room) for a c-section. This was my first emergency c-section and it gave me diarrhea afterwards. Haha. Scared the crap out of me ;) but everything turned out beautifully. 

Other (non-nursing) monumental happenings:

--Moved out of my parents house for the first time... EVER. I've got my own cute little apartment that's super close to my hospital. I LOVE it.

--Paid off my beast of a private loan (with 12% interest!!) in 9 months. Heck yes. Feeling like a rockstar! ^_^ Now to pay off my federal and nursing loans. 2012? Maybe :D

--Had my 25th birthday. Eesh. No longer can I consider myself to be in my 'early 20s.' So old. ;)

--Paid my first round of 'adult' bills: rent, auto and home insurance, electricity, internet, etc.

--Saw a movie by myself for the first time. Twilight. Yea, I enjoyed it! ... bad acting and all. Sitting by myself was wonderful. I got to completely absorb myself into the movie. You should totally try it!

--Got my first smart phone with Internet, the iPhone 4S -- "4 Steve." :D I've been told that I've now been pulled from 1995 to 2011. Haha. Feels good to be up to date. ^_~

--Experienced live dubstep music for the first time at a Skrillex concert. Sonny Moore came to Portland and it was probably the best show I've been to, ever.

--Pumped my own gas for the first time! I'm pretty sure Oregon is one of the only states that employs people to pump your gas. Moving to the state of Washington this last summer, I gained a skill that most other Americans acquire while learning how to drive in high school. ^_^

That's a pretty awesome year, if you ask me.)) 

2012 is gonna be ever better, I can feel it!