The Summer

We still haven't heard anything about internships for the fall, so continued prayers would be much appreciated. Josh and I have been pretty busy since arriving in Pittsburgh, and that's not ending anytime soon either.

We have many places to go, many people to see and many wonderful lifetime events to be a part of. In just a few short weeks my big brother will be tying the knot with his high school sweet-heart Brandy Hale in Williamsport, PA. Both Josh and I are in the bridal party which is super fun and exciting. Can't wait =]

Then, I suppose our "next big thing" is vacation with the Browns in Duck, NC. I LOVE the beach, and thoroughly enjoy going with them. It's a great time, and a much needed break from the real world. That will be the last week in July/first week in August. This time we're way up the coast away from all the hub-bub of Nags Head, which I like. It's refreshing to sit out on the porch in the mornings and read my bible with just the sound of waves in the background, and smell of salt in the air. Josh and I plan to go pier fishing, and get our tan on whilst beach-bumming. And of course, they're always ghost crabbing... It's great time to spend with family too. Usually the whole clan is together so it's a great time to catch up with everyone.

Then finally, August 7th is our 2 year anniversary! (How weird!) Josh is surprising me for our anniversary. I know we're going somewhere, and doing things, but where and what, I haven't the foggiest, I enjoy surprises so I'm really looking forward to it. It's so weird how time flies. God has really blessed me with a strong, hardworking and loving husband. I come home from work at the end of the day and he has watered my plants, taken our dog for a walk and made me dinner - all after he spent the day at work too. I'm really very blessed.

The fact that it's almost July already is weird to me. We've been here for 2 months almost already. And my end of orientation is quickly approaching. I'm ready for it though. I'm not looking forward to starting night shifts, but I'll do what I have to do. I don't think it will be near as bad as last time because I'm not working 5 nights a week and I won't be sitting in an office secluded from everyone fighting to stay awake. Hopefully the whole day-night switching will be temporary though. You can do anything for a time... perhaps a year or 2. God is in control, and he'll get me through the tough spots.

So! That's our summer! Among other spontaneous plans that will arise, I'm sure. =] The important thing to remember in this season of business is God and his plans for us. Our silly little plans don't out weigh God's great and magnificent plans, and we need to be focused on him daily.
Thanks for reading!

Sara

God will provide

Yesterday, Josh spoke with one of the attorney's at Pittsburgh's Public Defender's office, and they informed him that they would not be able to keep him on for the fall with an externship. This is originally what we were banking on... but of course there are other options. Josh submitted his resume and application with an immigration law firm in the city, and there are many other places he could apply as well. We know that God will provide. Your prayers for an externship would be much appreciated... If Josh doesn't get an externship he will have to go back to New Hampshire for a semester, and I'll have to stay here in Pittsburgh. I can't bear the thought of spending another period of time away from Josh, so I'm trusting and having faith that God will provide an externship, or if he doesn't... this will be something to strengthen our marriage, and God will be there to help us through.

Amen.
-Sara

classroom, drought and exercise

I had one week on the floor at work and am now back in the classroom for a progressive and critical care course that goes until Thursday. It's actually pretty interesting and we're going over a lot of interesting things. I was shocked when I received my paycheck last week at how many taxes PA takes out in contrast with New Hampshire. It really took a while to come to terms with it and how we're going to budget just to maintain our lifestyle let alone improve it. But after much reading of my bible and praying, I know that God will provide for our needs, and everything else? we don't need! My week on the floor got better and better with every shift. I'm pretty much doing my thing and using my preceptor as a resource at this point. Granted, I haven't had many critically ill patients yet, but I'll get there. =]

It's been a little more rainy outside this week, a little warmer... we've begun breaking in the air conditioning in the bedroom at night. I'm enjoying walking to class every day since it's at Shadyside UPMC - it's right down the street! It's also been fun this week since Josh is on the same schedule and we can get ready for work and leave the house at the same time in the morning and walk to the bus stop together.

In other news, We're combating an ant problem in our kitchen, and a drought problem in our backyard.. and front yard for that matter. My tomato plant is quickly perishing =[ and my posies in the front yard are pretty much dead. Haha. I give my mom and dad a lot more credit for raising a large abundantly producing garden every year. I'd like to grow tomato plants and possibly a cucumber plant... maybe next year will be my year. Perhaps potted plants are the way to go since you can move them around to where the sunlight is and into the shade when need be. Who knows. I'll do a little reading on gardening this year and figure it out by next year.

Josh and I are making it to the gym about once a week if we're lucky right now. Things are just busy and after a 12 hour shift the LAST thing I want to do is go for a jog. But, I do need to lose a few pounds that I acquired over the move from NH to here. And it would be nice to get back into shape before summer's over. I'm hoping to start running and making it to the gym a little more often. There's also a whole foods market down the street from us that I'd like to check out. I was just starting to fall in love with the co-op in Concord before we left. But eating healthy is becoming more and more important to me the older I get, especially going through all these classes on what awful things can happen to people and their health.

I look forward to getting through these classes, hanging out with my good friend on Thursday, heading back to Clearfield to visit my Mom and Brother on Saturday, and Church on Sunday here in Pittsburgh.

I'll be in touch. =]
-Sara

Stepdown 3B

The unit I'm working on is called 3B and is a stepdown cardiac unit. Yesterday was my first day of orientation on the floor (which, first days on the job usually don't go well...). We do 12 hour shifts rotating day and night. I started out on days, luckily. 7am to 7pm. Usually on dayshift you have 4 patients and on nightshift you can have 5-6 patients. Assessments and vital signs need to be charted and done every 4 hours, and cardiac rhythm strips have to be printed and interpreted every 8 hours. The floor seems pretty busy, and that can be a good and bad thing. Either the day/night just flies by, or it's SO busy that it's dragging.

Yesterday, we had 2 patients most of the day since I'm a newbie, and thank goodness because I felt lost most of the day. Figuring out their charting system is going to take some getting used to, and I think that's the major thing that got to me yesterday. That, and the subtle differences like which doctor to call, and how in blue blazes do I get ahold of him/her. I remember feeling these things when I started at CMC, and I remember (now, looking back) that at some point I figured out what I was doing and became more confident. So I trust that will happen again. I orient on the floor for 6 weeks before I'm on my own. It's only been one day.. and I need to remember that, and not get discouraged.

Today I have the day off to relax and recuperate, and tonight we have small group with people from Providence Church - which I'm excited for. Care group (or small group, whichever you like to call it) always used to help me put my situation into perspective. I have it pretty good here... I need to remember that, and thank God for all the blessings He's given us. And just pray for the strength, and energy to make it through this season of life, and honor Him along the way.

Amen.
Love, Sara

Rigby...

I feel like Rigby's gotten the bum end of this deal. Before in NH, either Josh or I was with her the whole time, now she's usually in her crate by herself from 7am to 4pm, and her walks are significantly shorter - if she gets to go for a walk at all (but we have a backyard now that she can run around and play in). So, she's been especially vocal and mopey lately. Whining and barking at every little thing, and I'm just stumped. I don't know what to do with her - other than take her on longer walks on my days off (which I intend to do today). Luckily she's only been destroying her bone and hasn't turned to any of the wood fixtures yet. This makes me nervous for when I do night shift though. Before, that's when we had all the problems. Unless I take her for a walk before I go to bed, but I really can't guarantee that I'll be able to do that after a crazy busy 12 hour night shift. But perhaps it'll be just the thing to cool off before sleep. We shall see.

I look forward to getting a lot of things done today. I'm still weirded out by my voluntarily getting up before 8am and starting my day like a normal person. It's rather strange for me. But I do enjoy it much better because this way I can get a lot more done and feel like a productive member of society even on my days off.

Happy Blogging!
Sara

Sweet Weekend

Josh and I are officially old - first of all, we went to bed at like 9:30pm last night. Then, we both woke up at 8am. We were up and awake and took Rigby for a walk before 10am which is crazy. So, we decided to go have a fun day at the zoo.

Needless to say we had a great time. We're really enjoying our time in Pittsburgh so far. The cool thing is that after we do something like visiting the zoo, we only have a 5-10 minute drive home instead of an hour and a half drive. We have many more things on our "to-do" list, but those will have to wait for other weekends.

Something that I've been thinking lately is how God has provided for us. Josh's internship wasn't going to be paid - but he was lucky enough to get a grant from the school, and I'm certainly very lucky to have started so soon and have gotten a job so soon. The next orientation wouldn't have started until the middle of June. We have money, we have incomes, we have a lovely cozy apartment that we're both becoming fonder and fonder of (except for the poison ivy that was hiding in the front yard) and we have each other. Living in New Hampshire for almost 2 years was a good thing. It taught us to rely on each other and work through our issues. I don't regret it for a moment. But it's so good to be back home. To have friends and family close by, and to see the rolling hills and green trees everywhere - Oh how I missed it. So, Thank you God - for your wonderful blessings. Amen!

Sara