swimming and sausage

I have fallen so behind on my blog. My goal over this time hanging out in Las Vegas was to get all caught up on my blog. But I could not bring my computer out due to space constraints, so I can not blog because all my photos are on my computer! So I'm starting now and will catch up on the last few months another time.

We are spending a week with my parents at their house before we head to Colorado for our family reunion. It has been such a relaxing week! Mimi and Papa are thrilled beyond thrilled to have their two little boys here with them and have been loving reading them stories, swimming with them, and cuddling.

Dan is done with his job (for the most part, besides some exciting new developments to be shared at a later date) and enjoying 2-4 swims a day and cable. I am enjoying seeing my family so happy and seeing my parents love on my babes and being able to run any errand at any time due to the plethora of babysitters. Jude is in a constant state of elation related to Tubby and the pool. And Abraham is as content as any baby ever in existence with his new surroundings and constant affection.

Back to Jude and the pool, he learned how to swim in about five minutes. The life jacket we used to have for him was the infant kind with the behind-the-head flap and it didn't allow him to swim very easily. He now has a puddle jumper thing and boy can he do just that. He literally swims from one side of the pool to the other, goes down the slide into the pool, and jumps in the pool OFF THE ROCKS!! He goes way down under too and when he pops back up he has a big smile on his face. He loves the little scrub brush that my parents used to scrub the tile and he will carry that around with him on his across the pool swim. When he first started swimming on his own, he would have a nervous laugh but before long was saying, "Let me go, Daddy!" He thinks his Daddy is probably the coolest Dad on the planet because he starts on the other side of the lawn, runs across, jumps on the boogie board, and surfs the entire distance of the pool. And Mommy's pretty cool too (jumping off the high rocks). Jude will be shivering and his teeth will be chattering but he has no intention or desire to get out. He is just like his daddy!

Abraham is just the love of all of our lives. He is honestly the most content baby I have ever known. I will literally forget he is over there (in the living room, or wherever) sometimes because he will just lay there quietly playing and examining his surroundings. But whenever someone does decide to come over and give him a little attention, he is absolutely elated and full of smiles and giggles and hugs and kisses to share. When Jude was Abraham's age, he always wanted to be turned away from whoever was holding him so he could see everything that was going on. But Abraham is more than content to nuzzle in and put both arms around your neck. Endearing... to say the least. He also loves to swim! We will dip him down in that, sometimes pretty chilly, water and he barely even seems to notice. He takes everything with ease and rarely looses his calm, cool, and collected attitude.

Uncle Garry was here for the first couple days we were down and it was so wonderful to spend time with him. He is such a loving guy and was so cute with the kids. We have missed swimming with him and hearing all his great stories. :)

Besides the fact that I'm having carb withdrawals, life couldn't be better. We are truly blessed!

june oh june.

Lots of fun was had in June. Between working, we visited Grandpa and Grandma Hickman, the Childs family stayed for the weekend, Jon and Gina and the sweet clan came to visit, and we celebrated the twenty-sixth birthday of my dear man!

Still loves to spend lots of time outside. He watches everything around him like a hawk!

Cuties.

Anddd... cuties.

We could only snag Sydney while en motion.

We had a Spanish night and went out for tacos then hit up Cardenas, the Mexican grocery store. It was so much fun! It was basically like a mini-vacation to Mexico/museum of funky meat. Best part was, we picked up some al pastor meat, freshly made tortillas, pineapples, and onions and there we have it....

the greatest tacos in the world. 

They were to die for. We ate them every night for days. We are bummed there is no Cardenas in Boiling Springs!

We celebrated Dan's birthday for several nights since I was working. The above dinner was part of his birthday, and the little celebration below!

The beautiful RR came to visit and we had the best talk. I love her and am so proud of her!

"smart, independent, and cute"

On my way to my last night of work! Pumping bag in hand. And hello, do you see that baby?!

I did it. 

I did it!

I am all done with my travel nursing assignment and I am so proud of myself! I definitely conquered a big one. I learned so much about myself and what I can do. I gained a lot of confidence just throwing myself into it after never having floated to another unit in my life and coming from a tiny hospital in Alabama. I worked at St. Rose DeLima ER holds and med surg, St Rose Siena ER holds (BIGGEST NIGHTMARE EVER), Sunrise RAU (Rapid Admission Unit), ER, the Med Surg Respiratory unit (worst night ever), Med surg renal unit, and rehab. 

I was at Mountainview on my last night and I got sent to be a tasker in the PCU. I got there and when the extremely flamboyant and vial charge nurse found out it was my first night there he said "You're useless then. Go home." I told him I was not useless, I could do it, and I was staying. An hour later when I finished my admission he realized he was wrong about me and told me I was "smart, independent, and cute." I felt good about that. :) I had some of the hardest nights I have ever had in my life but it was so worth it. I wanted to quit before I even started because it was such a nightmare getting compliant for about fifteen hospitals across Las Vegas. I wanted to quit so bad and really didn't think I could do it once I got started, but I did it! It was so worth it and I am thankful I could save up some money while we were down here. My parents were right, I can do anything I put my mind to.

You're looking at the face of the newest stay-at-home mama. GO GIRL.

the forf of julyyy

We had a lovely fourth of July! We spent it with friends and family doing the usual... swimming, eating, scripture lessons with Dad, feeding and playing with Jude, barbecuing, and we watched a few firework shows. Ryan and his family were with us, the Mayorgas, the Landini's, and the sweet Gavins. Lots of fun. :)

travel nursing

Travel nursing. Not for sissies. It's intense. I am on a four-week assignment here in Vegas, working at any of the St. Rose hospitals or the HCA hospitals (Sunrise, Mountain View, or Desert Hills). So far I have worked at St. Rose Siena, St. Rose DeLima, and Sunrise. At St. Rose, I got no orientation. I showed up, they told me where I would be, I find my where there, get my assignment and I start working! I have no idea where anything is, what the hospital policies are, or anything else. Everything I have to do takes ten times as long as it should because I have to ask a hundred questions. It is absolutely insane.

I was the L2K nurse my first night. L2K's are "Legal 2000's." They are under the possession of the state (or something) for like, 2 days, until a social worker or psychiatrist comes and evaluates them. They are usually under the influence of drugs or alcohol, homeless and dangerous, suiciddal, or something people are dumped and are unable to care for themselves. That was a night to remember. The other nights I have been in ER holds, patients waiting to get an inpatient bed so they are shoved in any corner of the ER they can find, usually the halls. It is so crazy. I work twelve hours shifts that turn into thirteen and fourteen hour shifts with no break, no food, and one bathroom break. It is one of the hardest things I have ever done but it has taught me a lot and it is good for me to put myself in difficult situations and prove to myself that I can do it. I miss my babies so much but I am doing it for them. I am still breastfeeding so I have to find time to pump, which has not happened some nights, but it is worth to feed my baby the best! I have had a few nights at Sunrise that have been a lot better. The problem with Sunrise is I have gotten sent home early both nights due to overstaffing! I am supposed to be at work right now but I got cancelled because there is a low census because of the holidays. Hopefully I will be able to work Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to get my hours in!

When all is said and done, it is a blessing that I can work while I am down here in Las Vegas for only a month and put some money away. I am thankful for that!

great grandma &grandpa!

Jude loves his great grandma and grandpa Hickman! He was all smiles when they came to visit. He seems to make them smile a little bit, too. :) He's their first great-grandchild!

summer lovin'

Ryan comes to visit every Tuesday through Thursday with his job. We love having him. We have a Golden Spoon tradition and love to sit outside and just talk.

Dan and I got all fancied up and went on a date downtown. We went to the outlet malls so I could buy Jude some sweet Gap outfits. Then we decided we didn't want to spend any money so we left. Then we went down to the City Center and it basically turned into a quest to find me some water because I was the most dehydrated thirsty human in existence almost. We decided the Strip is a little scary and not our favorite place.

I absolutely love this picture of Dan. 

Jude loves swinging on the swing with Nana. She rocks him to sleep all the time on the swing.

Miriam and Brandon stayed the night with us! We swam and enjoyed it. It was nice to meet Brandon since we missed their wedding. Miriam is absolutely adorable, as always.

They got splashed hardcore.

He loves the grass.

Jon and Gina and their sweet wee ones, minus Sloane, came to visit on their way down to California. We swam and barbequed and kept the kids up late and spotted ghosts and read stories and remembered memories and just loved every minute together. We absolutely loved having them!