More about Ruthie

This face just cracks me up. July 5th we went for a stroll at the capitol in Sacramento. Luke and Liliya looking so cute.

I got the honor of going to Ruthie's 2 week doctor's appointment. She looks so much like Luke in this photo. She gained 2 pounds in 2 weeks! That's alot of milk and diapers, let me tell ya! Liliya and I got to spend lots of time together and I will forever cherish that opportunity. I get tears in my eyes just writing this. Liliya is a precious and tender person. Plus, she let me hold Ruthie as much as I wanted....and that was ALOT. Thank you, Liliya! You are my sister!

This is our very first photo together. Taken about 5 minutes after I walked in their house. I am so blessed to have a job and an understanding husband that I can just take a week off from and go be with my brother during this special time. Liliya took this photo on the first try. Isn't it perfect? And I'm very particular about how pictures should look. Looks like we could be at a portrait studio. I thought I was going to miss my husband terribly while I was gone for 5 days but this little baby filled that void. It's great to be home but now I miss the baby terribly! Baby fills husband void but apparently, husband cannot fill baby void. :(

And, one for the grandparents....

I am so pleased with how these pictures turned out!

This is my dad, Pat, and his wife of 30 years, Nancy.

Awww, sweet grey-haired grandpa, kissing on his grandaughter. :)

Love how he is holding her so tenderly. She is VERY well loved.

They picked me up for breakfast during my week stay at my brother's house.

We had a short but great visit that day.

Happy and Sweet

Here I am....so happy!

Here is my brother....so sweet!

Here I am again....still happy!

I can't get enough of this kid!

New little love

My new niece, Ruth Kennedy. She is 2 1/2 weeks old in these pictures. She's PERFECT.

Baby faces are the best!

3 weeks makes a lifetime

I can't believe it's only been 3 weeks since I last posted.

It feels like a lifetime. Since then, I have: gotten a Droid (don't underestimate how much it rocks my world!), taken the nursing exam, thought I failed the exam, celebrated, found out I passed and was officially a RN, celebrated again, and became an aunt to my beloved brother's firstborn child!

Ruth Kennedy. I can't wait to hold her in just 11 days. Be prepared to see more of her on my blog! Move over, Delilah! Mommy's got a new baby!

I have lots of pics to share from the last few weeks but dont' have them loaded on my laptop right now. More to come. Life has been full and interesting and exciting and disturbing and complicated. I just keep trying to bake and cook and sort through this new season in my life right now. One thing I know for sure, my husband is the BEST.

28 months of marriage and we are still just totally crazy for each other.

More later....

Camping Trip #2 How it went....

We drove up north to Prescott, AZ. It was at about 5,000 feet.

This is the narrow, steep, dusty, bouncy road we took.

It was hold-your-breath-grip-the-door scary for me.

We had read something online about this road and potential for free dispersed campsites but we knew nothing else. SO GLAD we took the risk because it was the most amazing weekend. And the camping was FREE. We stayed two nights. Here's my view from the hammock. If you listen hard, you can hear the wind blow through the trees.

We took a walk and came upon some little ones who were more than delighted to play with Delilah for 10 minutes. Delilah was awesome with all these little girls! It was just adorable. She ran from one to the other, just as excited as they were.

She also got VERY, VERY dirty. It was a pretty dusty campsite and the wind didn't help things.

But she also got to run through the grass. We let her loose since we had so much space. She did great keeping near us on our walks and it was fun watching her figure out how to navigate water puddles and rocks as we hiked.



We had a HUGE and super private site. We had our first campfire too! It was truely perfect.

Another view looking out from our site. There is a little creek (thus the grass) but it's pretty low. We would love to go back here again but only at this site (#13). We scouted out the rest of the sites and think we got the BEST one. Some good things about this trip: no bugs! and the weather was great (not too cold at night. great breeze during the day. perfect.) And since we have found that most campsites cost around $20/night....FREE was pretty great.

Camping Trip #3 and Things learned

Two things we have been needing to tackle with the camper...figure out how to get some A/C and empty the tanks.

After having the camper for over a month....I'm trying to not remember how long it's been because that's exactly how long it has been since we've emptied the black tank (think toilet). Last week we finally found a free and convenient place to empty the tanks! And we bought a generator. So we headed up the street about 10 miles to a county park called White Tank Mountain Park. We got there around 3pm and it was so hot, perfect for trying out the generator and testing the A/C. I reclined comfortably in the bed with a book and the puppy while Brian trouble shooted the generator issues. Good news is the A/C works awesome! Bad news is we need some sort of delay switch in the A/C so the generator doesn't shut off (the A/C cycles off for only 10 seconds...not long enough). Yes, I've learned alot about electricity but don't quiz me, okay?

The view was awesome and it was so quiet (besides our generator running, which couldn't be heard by me due to the roar of the A/C inside). There were only 4 other campers in the 40 campsites on Memorial Day weekend. We are now sure this has to do with the BUGS and the HEAT. Just guessing.

This picture does not do it justice. It was beautiful to overlook the city and you could see for about 30 miles. This would be a great place to camp in the winter but just too hot for me right now. There's alot of easy hiking to do in this park and tons of saguaro cactus.

Eventually the bugs went away and the sun went down so we got out of the camper and enjoyed the sights. We stayed up late waiting for the moon to rise. It came up around 9:40pm. I practiced taking night time pics (adjusting my shutter speed, ect). If you don't know, the desert cools off once the sun goes down and it is just awesome outside.

We woke up to .....guess.....BUGS and HEAT!

We packed it up and were home before 10am.

It wasn't a "fun" trip but we learned alot and since it was so close to home, it was easy. I think the highlight was the great hamburgers I cooked. Well, and we were together, that always makes things good. (except when emptying the poop tank for the first time....in 90 degree heat. There isn't alot of love to be had in moments like that! Don't ask. Maybe we will laugh about it one day.)

First thing I did this week was go buy bug spray for "flying insects". We have a spreadsheet going of lists of things we need to take or buy. There's alot of stuff to get started! We like things to be as comfortable as possible so that takes lots of stuff, apparently.

We are taking a couple weekends off since I have limited time to study for my nursing exam. That happens June 14. Once that is behind us, we will off looking for our next adventure.

I am DYING to go to the beach.

Talking pictures

Delilah talking



The wind talking

Camping Trip #2 How it ended...

We travelled to Prescott, Arizona last weekend. It's a short drive up north...less than 2 hours, even pulling a travel trailer at below posted speed limits due to strong winds. We decided we wanted to be home around 2pm, to avoid heavy traffic that is known to build up on the only direct northbound freeway out of Phoenix. Well, instead of missing it, we got right in the middle of it.

I think we went about a mile an hour. I don't know, I was busy snapping pictures.

We were so proud of ourselves that we had 1)full tank of gas 2)our own toilet 3)snacks 4) left as early as we did.....and I even relished the idea that we could pull over and I could whip us up a fresh pot of coffee if we needed! All, in all, not a bad way to be stuck in our first official traffic back-up. I'm sure there will be more to come since we plan on travelling alot.

That's how our trip ended....which is way better than how the trip ended for some others. Yikes! It was very windy but I am sure this would never happen to us because Brian is such a safe driver....especially after I told him "DO NOT scare me again like you did that last time!" I think he got the point and we are happily ever after....love on the road.

Delilah Goes Camping

Well, they took me camping last weekend. I lived to tell about it. Barely.
I don't even weigh 5 pounds yet. Isn't there a minimum weight restriction for this kind of event? There should be.
I mean, I know I'm cute and quiet and adorable, so why'd they have to drag me out of my comfortable home and take me CAMPING?
OMG! I even got sick and threw up before we got settle to our first campsite.

Mom thought it would be great to document my adventure.
Here goes.....


Tied up to my crate, stuck under a picnic table. Is THIS what they call camping?


What is she smiling about? Can you see my ears and tail are down? I'm NOT in the mood for pictures.

I said I didn't want to pose for a pic!

I think I hear something! Stop taking pictures. I may need to go attack. Or hide. Not sure.

I'm mmmeeelllllllting out here! And seem to blend right into the surroundings. I'm the color of dirt and pine needles. Oh, joy.

Here I am at the end of the 3 day/2 night trip. Sometimes I get thrown to the floor of the truck and told to take a nap. It's hard to sleep with all the noise. Plus, I like to check up on mom and dad pretty often. I'm REALLY tired here, my hair is a mess, and you can't imagine all the debris stuck in my paws.

They keep telling my "You'll get used to this, Delilah". Yeah, yeah...we'll see.

Oh, I forgot to mention the kicker....when we got home, mom gave me a BATH!

First Camping Trip Part 1

We've started something that we definately don't want to......

From my.....

It's a beautiful thing....

But for him, it's alot of.....

My Martha Stewart Moment

We had family over for a little get-together. I decided to make it a pretty little event.
This is a pretty rose from my MIL's plant.

I used my grandma's dishes that she's had since the 1960's .

I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of all of us together! Well, just imagine chocolate cake, fresh strawberries, coffee, and 6 people sitting at this table. I was wearing purple, if that helps.

I know, I know, the table cloth isn't ironed. But, it wasn't clean either, so.....

Randomness on the Home Front

Sometimes we need cheese. Yum. I am very proud of my newly organized shoe closet. I'm glad I didn't think to take a before photo, or I would have been obliged to post it and feel the shame. Instead, I just have this wonderful photo of shoe-organization perfection. All is well with my soul.

This is what I call a "close call". This is HOT cream of celery soup and a not quite tight enough blender lid. Could have been ugly. Whew!

The point to this post is just to present evidence that I'm back to my old self!!!

No more school projects, papers, tests. I'm back to enjoying my life and picking up my camera several times a day. Blogging. And a not so rare trip to a store or two. ;)

Egocentric much?

I want to attend the Minnesota State Fair one day.

I am constantly concerned when the last time was that my dog pooped and if she is about to go again....constantly.

I want to take voice and guitar lessons, just for fun.

I know I have too many shoes and purses but...I don't think I'll ever feel like I have enough purses and shoes.

I lost 7 pounds last year.

I love sweet potatoes and cottage cheese.

I laugh out loud very easily.

I am moved to tears by something almost every day, usually while I'm in my car.

I want to see Hawaii, not just a short visit, but live there for awhile.

I get motion sick super easy. I can feel it by just thinking about it. It's a total bummer.

I love the hospital and being around blood. It excites me!

I wanted to be a social worker or a children's book writer when I was a kid.

I've dyed my hair many colors but never blonde. Maybe someday.

I love mac and cheese.

I like gangsta and mob movies like The Godfather and The Departed.

Ok, enough about me....for now.
Well, it is my life and I'll blog if I want to!


FYI: my dog pooped while I was writing this post.

BABIES! BABIES! BABIES!

This is where I was last weekend. Well, this isn't EXACTLY where I was but it looks pretty much the same. I found the following photos online since I don't think it's allowed for me to take pictures in the hospital.

Saying I went to the NICU is one thing but actually SHOWING you what the NICU is like, is what I really want to relay.

So when I tell you how completely amazing it is....you can kinda get an idea of what I mean by....AMAZING.

I am finally doing my LONG awaited 90 hour preceptorship at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Joseph's Hospital. I was there last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (for a total of 36 hours). Getting up at 5am was a bit rough but the thought of being with these babies kept me going.

I got to do and see so much. I started feeling like a real RN.

What did you get to do, Olivia?

I'm glad you asked!

These little guys get a full assessment every 4 or 6 hours. That means writing down 4 different temps, listening to lung and bowel sounds, suctioning their mouths and down their tube if they are on a ventilator, measuring their head, belly and whatever extremity their IV line is on. They get turned to prevent the pancake head that premies are known for, and a diaper change (don't forget to weigh it!). I did lots of medication calculations and gave lots of IV meds and fluids. I put down a feeding tube (orally) and hooked up the breast milk or formula they get via a pump system. Some babies can only tolerate 1/2 cc over an hour! Tiny. Everything is tiny. I did computer charting (very, very detailed assessment of everything a baby does and looks like). I monitored their heart and breathing monitors (especially the babies on ventilators) and reviewed their labs to find out how well their lungs were functioning.

These babies are so sick that there is not alot of holding and feeding going on. I did get the sweet opportunity to feed and hold 2 different babies so that was a treat!

Did I mention staring at tiny fingers and toes and sweet baby expressions all day long?

I know, best job in the world, right!?

I only thought I was obsessed with the NICU before I started, now I know I am.

Unfortunately, there are not many job openings in this area since the economy has really affected all areas of healthcare. Fortunately, I already have a job that I love so I'm in a good place to just keep working and waiting for that perfect opportunity to show itself....in due time...or, as in the premie world...maybe sooner than expected!

:)