UPDATE...

I'm planning on updating with some cute little slideshows with wedding pics., new house pics., etc. someday! We moved in, and are almost settled into our home in Mt. Olive. yay! Zach's house is still for sale in Auburn. Keep us in your prayers!! We got married on March 28th. It was such a fun and special day. We went to Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA for our honeymoon! We really enjoyed it!! For now, here are a few pics of our wedding and home. Thanks everyone for all of your support and help with our wedding festivities!!! It's so wonderful to have such great friends and family!! Love you!

WORK WEDDING TEA IN AUBURN

My PACU/OR work friends gave me a wedding tea in Auburn. Zach and I got some really nice things. Thanks everyone! Leslie, thanks for opening your home to everyone! It was so much fun!

More wedding presents at home with family...

I opened my presents from Jarrett, Christal, mom and dad the night before my tea. Jarrett, Christal, Jacey, and Camryn got us our toasting flutes. Mom and Dad got us our luggage, some of our china, Anthropology dishes, etc, my wedding book and lots more. Thanks ya'll! We love everything.
Zach didn't get to come to Bham until Sunday. He got to come to my tea after it was over to help pack up. He wondered why any real guy needed to come in close distance to a tea. He learned real quick that women can't haul everything to the truck. Oh, what we both have to learn! =)

WEDDING TEA IN BIRMINGHAM

My tea was so much fun! I got some really great stuff. Zach and I really appreciate it so much. We can't wait to use everything. My best friend, Jill, took all of these pictures. She is the best matron of honor ever! Thanks Jill!

BIRMINGHAM HERE WE COME AND UPDATES!!!

I am going to update with some new pics. soon!!

First of all I had 2 awesome wedding showers, and am so thankful to everyone who helped. I had one in Bham, and another in Auburn with my wonderful co-workers!! I received some beautiful things, and am so thankful to have such awesome things to help Zach and I start out RIGHT!!
Zach and I have been praying for lots of things; the right jobs, place to move, and not just any place to work or move. I've been praying for a while, but know I'm on God's time not mine!! (which is very impatient time mind you)... We found out last Friday that Zach has a job with Merita. He will be a Quality Assurance Manager/Auditor. He will not be managing as many people, and has so many wonderful benefits with this job. The company is located in downtown Bham. I have been torn between different places to work. I have missed Children's so much. There really is no place like it! So with much wisdom from Jesus himself, I chose to come back to Children's Hospital!!! I have an interview the first of March for a position in the PACU. I want to work PRN in the ER also, so I can be with all of my buddies there again!! I just love PACU, and can't see myself doing anything else. Where to live? Mt. Olive is where we will settle down. My aunt called with some great ideas, so we will see. I'm very excited about this new chapter in our lives. Zach and I will be getting married March 28th also, so there will be LOTS going on. Please keep us in your prayers. We are so excited that we will be back closer to friends and family again!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!

NEW YEARS

Zach and I had a quiet New Year's Eve this year. I was on call New Year's Day, so we stayed in. I don't think anyone could pay me to get out in the crowds now. Wow, I thought I would never say that. Happy New Year's to everyone!!!

Saving Lives!!!

• And so is the world put back by the death of every one who has to sacrifice the development of his or her peculiar gifts (which were meant, not for selfish gratification, but for the improvement of that world) to conventionality. [1852] ~Florence Nightingale

Well, today I actually can say I saved someone's life on my own. There are so many times that nurses save lives at work, etc. We work together to save lives, and help others heal and feel better!! I have seen patients die, or come in D.O.A (dead on arrival). That horrible and just so, so sad. I have to say though, that I have never seen someone go from 90 to NOTHING in seriously ONE second. I had a patient today (I'm not saying any names, so I'm not violating HIPAA laws) that had neck surgery. The patient was doing great!! Recovering just wonderfully! Awake, alert and oriented x3. No history of respiratory problems, etc. She wanted something to drink, so I looked at her orders. On her orders, I saw that she could have clear liquids. So, I provided her with a sip of Sprite. No big deal right??? WRONG!!! Usually not a big deal! Usually a norm. in the PACU. She was loving the sprite until I look over after a sip, and she is gagging. Yep, she was talking to me, saying it just went down the wrong windpipe. All the sudden, she did the universal sign of choking (seriously, this is real, and it happens! It's not just on the silly videos) and turns blue. In one, I repeat one second, the patient was apneic and flopped back on the bed. I immediately jerk the side rail down, yell for everyone to come help, and give abdominal thrusts. I give 4 strong abdominal thrusts (only give abdominal thrust to unresponsive victims; just a side note), and she starts breathing again. Her color came back, and she is once again responsive. It felt so good to see her eyes open and look at me!!! Thank the LORD!! It all seems like a blur, but I'm so thankful that my patient is alive and well right now!! It just shows how fast things can happen, even to a healthy patient with no history. The way I felt today after this happened made me realize again why I became a nurse. I have so much passion for helping others, and making them better. I became so close to the patient, just talking to her for a hour. Even though I called 10 people to the bedside when the emergency happened, it felt like it was just my patient and me for about 10 secs. It seemed like eternity. The cool thing is that I just had a refresher CPR class yesterday. Even though I would know what to do, I know God was preparing me for what happened today. God was refreshing my mind to help my patient and make me stronger. Thank you Lord for preparing me for the unknown. God is good; ALL THE TIME!!

P.S. Zach has an interview in Bham tomorrow with Coca-Cola. Please pray for him to do well, and that God's will be done. We are ready to be closer to home...

A SIMPLE LOVE

This video has always been one of my favorites. It reminds me of our old home videos, my parent's love for each other, and their love for me. Mom and Dad have "always given and never asked back". Mom and Dad have saved for my wedding, and mom plans and works on it like it is her own. They are the most selfless people I have ever met. The older I get the more I understand, and appreciate their simple love for each other and myself. Thank you mom and dad for your "simple love". Thank you for yall's great example. I love you!!
(turn off my blog page music to hear the video)

Christmas in Bham/Auburn

Well, it's Zach's and my last Christmas before we are husband and wife! Weird, huh?!! It sounds so grown up. Wait!!?? I am grown up. Whoa, when did that happen! I guess I just thought I would never find someone so great, and I did. God has blessed me, and I'm so thankful!! I'm just hoping our next Christmas will be in our home in Bham. Zach has an interview in Bham Friday, so please pray, pray, pray for him!! I'm ready to come home!

Mom and Dad got me some great Christmas gifts as always. Above all though, just being with my family, and celebrating Jesus's birth (b/c after all that's what Christmas is all about) was wonderful! Mom and Dad bought Zach and me our wedding book for all my parties, showers, wedding, etc. I'm really pumped about it!! Mom made me a cookbook with her recipes and my grandmother's recipes. I asked her to give me some recipes, but she actually made me a book of them. She really put a lot of time into this book. So sweet! Thanks mom!! Also, she bought me a apron with my name monogrammed on it. So, I guess this means I definitely will be cooking up a storm pretty soon. woo hoo!! I'm sure I'll learn to love it, right!!??? Well, I hope you all had a great Christmas. I sure did miss "Chrima" at "Chiren's" Hospital with my buddies. It sure wasn't the same!! Love you all and Happy New Year!!








GOOFY JARRETT!

Christmas in Guntersville with the Iffland's

Zach was Santa again at his family Christmas party this yr. It was hilarious as usual. I just love the look on the children's faces in the last picture. Such innocence and sweetness. After Guntersville we headed up to Bham, and then back to Auburn. We sure did have a great time!