Glacier National Park

     Camping is honestly not my most favorite thing. To me, it's just inconvenient sleeping. We made an exception this weekend and went camping with a group of friends and strangers. Glacier National Park exceeded out expectations! It has got to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I'll let the pictures do the talking....

3 Days.

 I used to think, three shifts a week was nothing. That's 4 days to relax and do whatever I want!!! No No No! It's 2 days of mental, physical, and emotional recovery (and get my chores done), 1 day of feeling guilty so going into work to help the short staff ratios, and FINALLY, 1 day to relax and do whatever I want. The last day usually means I'm in the mountains without cell service. 

I'm learned how to say no to those extra shifts and set boundaries for myself. I need days of biking in the mountains with Cooper. That is where I finally get to recharge my batteries. Last week, I was dumb enough to accept an extra part time job. In my head, I was thinking, "Yeah Carly! Every other weekend of working Hospice doesn't sound too bad....You can do that!" The second I got my training schedule I panicked. They filled in every day that I wasn't working with training. 90% of the training was learneing how to chart for outpatient. Did you know, hospice nurses spend about 3 hours at each appointment and 3 hours charting afterword. HOLY HANNAH I DIDN'T! Not to mention that hundred of messages you get on a daily basis updating you on each Hospice patient's needs. 

Parker and Dr. Ellis gave me a few pep talks and I finally made the phone call to quit after one week of training. I felt so guilty but there's no way I could work more that 3 days a week. I'm learned how to set boundaries and prioritize my time. Those precious days with just me exploring with Cooper are my life savers. 

Nurses work hard. Be nice to us. We are doing our best. We might just work three days a week, but those three days are 13 hours of running around with our hair on fire making sure that each patient (I usually have 5 at a time) are safe, comfortable, and feel heard. That's a lot to put on our shoulders. 

Today is my recovery day. I've already gotten the text asking for more hands on deck at work. I'm leaving my phone and home and taking Cooper on an adventure. Learning how to breathe and recharge is so important.

My laundry pile is a mile high, dishes haven't been touched, my vacuum is waiting to be plugged in.....but I'll be in the mountains. 

 Ready. Set. Recharge! 

Lots to Celebrate

 My favorite way of celebrating just about anything is either, having people over for a game night or going on a quick adventure. I'm usually terrible at planning adventures. After two attempts of planning this weekend adventure and almost killing the group (I forgot the Uinta's still have snow and didn't realize Buckskin Gulch would have been 50 miles), Parker took over and planned a trip to Coyote Gulch. It's a super easy and very gorgeous backpacking spot in Southern Utah. Our group of 8 stuffed ourselves into my mom's car and hit the road. It was the perfect way to celebrate NCLEX studying being over, Parker's new job, and my birthday all at once. 

The night before our adventure, Parker and I had a huge talk about how grateful we are for everything we have. We are both healthy with good jobs, we are home owners, dog owners to the best pup, and completely in love with the life we are building together. I couldn't be happier. 

That Damn Test

 75-200 questions....not that big of jump right? This is what stands between me and being a real nurse. Being on my own and being trusted to take care of patients. It's intimidating but I finally feel ready to take this test. I feel ready to be a nurse. I've learned so much over the past 2 years of nursing school and working on my Endocrine Unit. 

Not passing the past two times has taught me a lot. It's taught me humility. Most importantly, it's taught me that it's ok to fall as long as you are strong enough to get back up and try again. I've learned I have an army behind me. My husband - holy smokes that guy has my back. Parents and in laws that are so good at showing up no matter what. Siblings that care so much about me. My cohort from nursing school - most of them passed the first time but are still so nonjudgemental and so kind in letting me know that they believe in me. Then my new work family. The team of nurses and CNA's on T8 is seriously incredible. Every single person on T8 has told me they know I can do it and they have already seen that I'm a good nurse. All of those people put together is quit the army. I am so lucky. 

Most of my challenges in life have reminded me the importance of leaning on others. I'm not so good at that. I'm ready for the day when I don't have to keep learned that over and over again.  I take my test at 2:30 today. I've been fasting and praying for that passing result. I've worked hard. Now it's time to get this thing done. Passing the NCLEX is a big deal. It's a weight that I can't wait to get off of my shoulders. I've got so many people believing in me. Time to believe in myself.

The happy ending to this story is TODAY'S THE DAY I BECAME A REAL FULL BLOWN LICENSED NURSE! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!?! 

 

Parker

My mom constantly tells me how she can't believe I married Parker. Neither of us saw it coming and neither of us could be happier about it. He's kind, hilarious, so hard working, and completely dedicated to being my person. Through the bad and the good, you are my person. I roll my eyes when Parker won't leave the house without his camera but I am so grateful he is always catching our memories. The dude cannot do laundry and rewears underwear until I do the laundry, but he always does the dishes and makes sure I don't sleep on the couch. He is the best partner I could ask for. Thanks for being the fun adventure buddy that I need. I love you. 

Up Up and Away

Parker and I love being active. It's handy to have a husband that loves photography because it means I get cool photos of some of our hobbies. We are looking for mountain biking buddies, pickle ball challengers, and people to join us on our hike and flies. Who's in?

I've tried to start the tradition that all BIG adventures end with a pedicure....Parker is slowly warming up to it. 

Grandpa J

 One of the biggest blessing of my job, thus far, has been getting to be part of my grandpa's hospital stay. He passed away on March 3, 2021. I've honestly never felt closer to my grandpa. He was sassy all the way to the end. Because of COVID-19, Grandpa had limited visitors. I feel so lucky to have been able to FaceTime each of my siblings as they said goodbye to Grandpa. Each one had a memory that was close to their hearts or a life lesson that he had taught them. I think the biggest lesson he has taught me, I learned after he died. I've learned how much one person can affect so many.

Grandpa has been closer to me than ever. He's helped me complete over 200 names of his genealogy since he passed away. I've never been so lucky so find even half those names. When he died, I started having dreams of names and people that I needed to locate. It's be really interesting to be part of my Grandpa's genealogy. I hope he knows how much he is loved and missed. 

COOPER BOY

 It's no secret that Cooper is the favorite member of our trio. He keeps me company during my days off and makes sure Parker doesn't get too bored during my night shifts. He's the best adventure buddy and seriously such a sweet heart. We love you Cooper boy. Heaven help this dog when we start having babies. 

Honey, We are HOME!

We did it! The house is ours! The keys are in hand and Cooper has already found his favorite spot to lounge. Buying a house in Utah is insane right now. Our house went on the market the same day that Parker went out of town. This means I was forced to go see the house, but an offer on it, and sign a whole bunch of papers in Parker's name before Parker could even see the house! SCARY! My mom agreed it was a good idea and we had to make an offer before the open house. I didn't think we had a chance of getting it but here we are! HOME OWNERS!

This home came with more than a price tag....The day we got the keys we were informed that we had been exposed to COVID-19. This means nobody could help us move in. It get's worse....when we got inside we also realized that the house was FILTHY. Not just in need of some vacuum and dusting. There was hair all over the walls, the drains were clogged, the carpet was disgusting, and the showers were very very yellow. On top of all that, the house reeked of Indian Curry.....we soon found out that this smell is harder to get rid of than cigarette smoke. -___-  

WE TRIED EVERYTHING! We got the carpets professionally cleaned (this just made the curry smell stronger). Since we were self-quarantining, I had to pick up an order at Walmart for 5 gallons of vinegar, 10 pounds of baking soda, and so many more deodorizers. Eventually we just had to soak the walls in vinegar, powder the floors with baking soda and let everything sit with the windows open in November for a day. It was so stressful. 

Our covid tests finally came back negative which means people could help us move in. Our parents and some friends got all our furniture to our place is no time. We had been stuffing our tiny cars every chance we got. It was so nice to finally have big cars and some help getting the big stuff home. 

Moving in was so stressful. I cried at least 9 times that week. We are so lucky to have this home and looking back, the story made for a good memory. I love our new draper home and can't wait to build so many memories here. 

CROSS ROADS

There is so much love and so much happiness in my life. I sometimes forget to look around and count my blessings. We are on the search for a house and trying to get through my last semester of school. It's so hard to be motivated at this point. Whenever I try to study, I find myself searching for homes or searching for jobs. Both seem so far away and so terrifying yet way too close to be real. It seems like everyone around me has their life figured out while mine is so up in the air. We don't know where I'm going to work, where we are going to live, or if I'm even going to make it past the NCLEX. There are a lot of big life moves in the next couple months that I don't feel ready for. I'm jumping in head first but don't know how to swim. Can someone throw me a life jacket?

LOVE STORY

Who doesn't love a good love story?

Our story starts out in high school. Throughout high school, I dated one of Parker's friends and was friends with a lot of his friends so we ran into each other now and again. At our high school graduation party, Parker challenged me to a skating race. My 8 years of figure skating made this race pretty unfair. I won. Both times. We talked a little bit at the party and Parker, at some point that night, got my number. A week or two later, I invited Parker to go to the drive-in-movies with me and some friends (mostly because he had a truck). We cuddled during the movie and spent the whole rest of the summer hiking and spending lots of time together.

Parker went to Canada on his LDS mission at the end of the summer. I left for USU thinking that was the last of Parker and Carly's adventures. I was surprised when Parker wrote me letters and talked about seeing each other when he got back. I started dating someone when I was up at Utah State and went on a mission after my second semester. When I got back, Parker was home and had every intention on going up to USU together.  He had no idea that my plan was now to go to BYU. We went our separate ways and both started dating other people soon after going back to school. Over the next 5 years, Parker and I would end up seeing each other about every 6 months (Parker claims it's because I would text him every 6 months but I think it was equal texting).

Fast forward to January 2020. Parker noticed I was on a dating app. and sent me a quick message on instagram. I blurted out the whole story of my recent heart break and how upset I was. Parker messaged me a few times a week after that. He would ask if I was ok and always let me know he was there for me. We went out and got sushi once.  A few weeks later, I went to his friends game night. After the game night, Parker dropped the ultimatum. He was done being a friend and ready to date. I said no...oops...and walked away thinking we would never talk again.

The next day, I woke up to a tree swing on my porch. Parker had made it for me two years earlier but had never had the chance to give it to me. I told my friends all about how I walked away from Parker forever. They told me I was an idiot and spent the next week convincing me to give Parker a chance.

Finally, I ate the humble pie and met up with Parker to talk again. I told him I was worried if we dating, it would work out TOO well. (face palm). After that, we spent every day together. Basically every second that I wasn't at school or work, I was with him. This wasn't that hard since it's the exact same time that COVID-19 shut everything down and we were in quarantine. It took a month before we started talking about getting married. I had a ring on my finger before I knew it and am now in full fledge planning mode. I couldn't be happier with the man that gets to be mine forever.

Our love story took 7 years but it was absolutely perfect.

The Burn Out

I have a bad habit of putting too much on my to do list. Between planning a wedding, school, and having fun this summer, I'm at the stage where I just want to lay in bed and play fetch with my dog. The burn out has hit and I have no clue how I'm going to get through the next 24 days of school. 24 days. That's not that much, right? Crossing my fingers that I can motivate myself through the busy work and finals week. I JUST WANT TO BE A NURSE.