summer 11

I know I know I've been pretty bad at keeping up the blog.

Lots of things have changed...I started a new job as a nurse practitioner with pediatric rheumatology. Let me tell ya what, I have ALOT to learn. There is not much instruction on rheumatologic disorders in NP school. It seems as though I have a great group to work with. They are teaching me a lot and don't want to overwhelm me.
We finally have a normalish schedule, I work monday-friday --office hours and michael is working 3 days per week. it's kinda nice to get home before 745 at night, although working 5 days a week is taking some getting used to.

Quinn is having a good summer. She pretty much goes somewhere every day: park, hike, bike race, aquarium, zoo. On wednesdays she has gymnastics. She loves it. When we get into the parking lot she starts freaking out because she wants to go "pay" (play). she is talking like crazy and we can understand about 60-70%.
Quinn is getting bigger she is getting so tall, but so skinny, in a year she has only gained about 2 lbs (unfortunately I think I have gained more than that). That is probably because Quinn is going full speed ALL day. She doesn't walk anywhere, she insists on running everywhere. She is opinionated and definitely knows what she wants and when she wants it. From day one We realized that everything had to be on her terms. Teenage years should be fun...

The last month or so

Since graduation in May we have done a few small trips and Michael's mom came to visit.

We went on an impromptu camping trip over fathers day weekend to City of Rocks in Idaho. It was a lot of fun until the weather turned to freezing cold rain and wind.

Pat, Michael's mom, flew in for the week. She brought my FAVORITE treat (cannollis)! I'm still working off the fat. She seemed to like Quinn just a little bit!



Just last week I met up w some of the women I grew up with. I have known these girls for about 30 years! makes me feel old to say that! I met Nani ( directly to my right) when I was riding my big wheel around the block! It was good to see everyone.

I also spent a bazillion hours in May/June studying for my NP boards...which I passed!!! Huge sigh of relief! I quit my job in the PICU/CICU last week (WEIRD feeling after being there for the last 11 years). It is tough to leave a place where you are comfortable and move on to the next challenge where you know next to nothing!. I will be starting in Pediatric Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology starting next Monday as a DNP (Nurse practitioner)... I'm pretty nervous about it! New chapter in all our lives. It is M-F 8-5. I have never had a M-F job. We will see if I like it or not. I will miss being able to do things during the week when it is less crowded.

I have also been trying to mtn bike, road bike, or hike everyday while I am unemployed for the week.

Quick Bear lake trip

This weekend Michael had his yearly road race at Bear lake. It was just a quick overnight trip. Was fun just to get out of town.

Someone asked me if I was bored yet since school was finished. The answer to that is a BIG NO! This last week I did a review course for my boards to be come a certified NP. I don't anticipate being bored any time soon.

Graduation Day May 5th 2011!!

Well it finally happened after 3 years! Graduation!
Thanks to all my family who came. It was crazy I know and I really didn't have much time to talk to anyone. After all the craziness we went to Bucca di Beppo for dinner with my friend Grace's family. We had a lot of fun but ordered enough food for a small village.

Here are a coupe pics.

Easter fun and playing with cousins

Quinn and I went down to my parents house for Easter today. She had a lot of fun, I could tell how much fun she had because she fell asleep in her car seat by the time we got to the end of the street.

Quinn's Great Grandma and Grandpa Sleight, Little Grandma (great grandma Tingey), grandma and grandpa sleight (my mom and dad) Uncle Ian, Aunt Cassi and Uncle Beau, Cousin McKenzie and Markus were all there. I think Quinn is always a little overwhelmed when she goes there because she is not used to so many people, but always has fun. I was relieved that the weather wasn't nasty, it would have been harder to have everyone inside the house all day. Quinn liked dying the eggs and also seemed to get the hang of finding the eggs and either giving them to me or putting them in her Easter basket. My mom bought a bubble blower thingy. Quinn thought that was great. I may have to invest in one of those. I did buy her a bottle of bubbles but the bubble juice seems to be defective (no bubbles).

10 more days... and I'm DONE with school forever...Then I just have to study for boards, find a job and get credentialed...hey no pressure!

24 days till graduation...but who's counting?

OK 24 days till graduation
I defended my capstone project today... Not sure if it was accepted or not...
Still need to submit my paper that goes along with the capstone project and also finish about 75 more clinic hours.

REALLY sick of this school crap. Don't think I'll EVER do it again...never ever.

Not much else has been going on, Mikey and I generally just try to keep Quinn entertained and stimulated. It is a lot easier when it is warm outside. I am getting pretty sick of the cold. I usually don't mind winter because it is made more fun by skiing etc. With all this school stuff I have only had about 1 day off with quinn.

Quinn is jabbering a lot. She has about 15--20 mostly understandable words and tons of non understandable words. She also has a repertoire of 20 animal sounds, knows about 8 body parts and the letter A. I'm a proud Mama.


My goals for this summer are to get back to a non pathetic shape for mountain biking, play with Quinn and Michael, and whip the dogs back into shape.

35 days

35 days and I'm FREE!....Sort of.