Mission update...part 3

So, I have officially given my notice at work. May 9 is the last shift I will work. While I am really sad to leave a job that I LOVE, I am excited for this next step in my life. I am SOOOO grateful for all the support I've gotten at work. I am really surprised at how excited everyone is that I'm leaving (I don't know if that is a good thing.) I have luckily been told by several people that I should be able to come back after my mission (i.e. I haven't burned any major bridges yet.) So, I am in the process of finalizing everything at work...getting someone to cover prom crashes/presentations next season. I am REALLY grateful that I am going to be able to move back to my old station for my last month. I have been at different stations for the past 2 months. While I like the station I'm at now, I really feel at home at my old one. The fire crew there just feels like family and we've really "bonded" (that's a whole other blog...hehe). So I anticipate that it will be hard, but a smooth transition out of paramedic life. Give my notice to work...check!

Mission update...part 2

I hate having one post that takes up the whole screen, so I'm breaking it down...
I scheduled my dentist appt for last monday. Well, I got a call from work before that asking if I wanted to pick up some overtime for Sunday night. More money? Do you really have to ask? Well, thanks to a last minute 911 call, having to cover someone elses district after that, then ANOTHER 911 call, I missed my dentist appt...I was not happy, but what are you gonna do? I rescheduled and went in today. My mouth feels like it is going to explode from the throbbing! I had to have a crown put on. Well, in the process of drilling, apparently they exposed my nerve. Talk about pain! I want a permanent shot of novacaine until tomorrow when I get the pleasure of having a root canal. FUN!!!! My dentist won't sign off on my mission papers until after all that is finished, so that won't be until my follow-up appt on April 8. Dental papers...in the process.

Mission Update

Okay, so here is an update for all you that are interested. I had my physical two weeks ago and had my mission forms filled out by my doctor. Well, while I was there, my doctor and I discovered that I have never had my Hepatitis A shot...WHAT?!?!?! Well, this is one of the shots that you get one, then another in 6 months. My physical was on March 2. 6 months from then is Sept 2...right when my availability date for my mission is. THAT was close. Also, the doctor walked in and this was our conversation
Dr. Graham: "Do you normally wear contacts or glasses"
Me: "I have my contacts in right now."
Dr. Graham: "Really? When was your last eye exam?"
Me: "Five months ago."
Dr. Graham "Well, I can sign off on everything, but your vision tested at 20/30 with your contacts in...You need to get another eye exam before you leave."

SOOOO, thanks to my amazing friend, Stephanie, who works at an optometrist's office, I got my vision checked. It has changed 2 steps in 5 months...whatever that means. So, I have new contacts ordered for that. Medical clearance...check!

Job Security...

Oh goodness...some days you just wonder. Today I was working and got a call for a "choking infant." This makes anyone's stomach drop, but so far, in my 3 years on an ambulance, each time the baby has been screaming by the time we got there and it's been no big deal. Here is a tip for all of you parents out there. Don't feed your 7-month-old taquitos. That's right this mom had given her 7-month old little girl fried, crispy-shelled, shredded beef taquitos. Seriously...what do some people think? Just FYI, it didn't work too well. The little girl was fine and laughing at us all by the time we got there. So, at least it had a happy ending. Just thought I'd share that bit of wisdom with you. Generally, they should have teeth BEFORE they eat fried food with shredded meat.

I have to be able to do what?!?!?!?!?!?!

Okay...so kind of a funny story. While filling out my mission papers, one of the questions asks if I would be able to "work 12 to 15 hours per day, walk 6 to 8 miles per day, ride a bicycle 10 to 15 miles per day, and climb stairs daily". Well, "work 12-15 hours a day" piece of cake! Walk 6-8 miles per day...according to the pedometer I wear, that is nothing! Climb stairs daily...already do. Ride a bicycle 10-15 miles per day...well, that could be a problem. See, I, being a freak of nature apparently, never learned how to ride a bicycle...so guess what I am going to have to do before April? AND, I better get "experienced" at it too. If I get assigned to a mission with bikes, I'll not only have to figure out how to ride...but in a SKIRT!!! YIKES!!! SO, wish me luck...and hope/pray/fast that I live to submit my papers!

I am still alive...depite my blog temporarily dying

Okay, so seeing as how my last entry was LAST YEAR and my sister has had 3 blog entries in 3 days, I can't be out done. So here is an update on Caitlin's life. Work is still work...I no longer have a permanent station...I'm a "rotator" as they call it. Basically, each shift, I work at whatever station has an opening. While this is a royal pain in the behind...my new year's resolution (or so I tell myself) is to look at the brighter side of things. I get to work with a variety of people and hey, if I'm at a station I don't particularly like...just wait a shift and I'll probably be moved. ANYWAYS...I've been keeping busy with the mission prep. So much work. I sometimes want the good ol days when you said "I want to go on a mission" and they said "okay." But I know that the bar has been raised and I am going to meet it. I've been filling out all the medical forms. There are so many appointments!: dr's for a physical, dentist, passport photo, "mission photo" for the application (I realized that I don't have any recent pictures of me being "normal"), meet with the bishop, stake president...AAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! But each step gets me more and more excited. Well, that's about it for now...I'll try not to fall off the face of this planet for quite so long...P.S. 91 more days until I see my neices and I'm in Cali!!!!!!! (but who's counting?)

Tis the season/Out of the mouth of babes

Tis the Season
So, I was STILL packing and moving out of my apartment. I was going to pick something up from the grocery store to cook at the apartment while I was packing. Then I realized...I didn't have any utensils to cook with. So, I decided to go to Chic-Fil-A and pick something up. I sat in the drive thru for what seemed like FOREVER, then I finally got to the window. The employee gave me my food. Then she gave me change. But wait, I still had my money in my hand. I told her that I hadn't paid her. Then she responded..."Oh, I know. The car in front already paid for your food. Here's your change." So, I made a profit going out to lunch. I decided to pay it forward (which is an AMAZING movie, by the way) and did the same the next time I went out. I love this time of year. People get that special spirit of giving and for a brief time, people are actually nice to each other.

Out of the Mouth of Babes
So I babysat last night and had kind of a funny experience. First of all, when I told the kids it was bedtime, the little 3 year old, Audrey, sat down on the couch, folded her arms, pouted and started crying.
Audrey:"I don't want to go to bed. I'll have scary dreams."
So, we discussed the type of dream she wanted to have.
Audrey: "I want mommy to sing songs with me."
Me: "I can sing songs with you."
Audrey: "You don't know the right songs."
Me: "Yes I do, remember, we sang the daddy song together just a little while ago."
Audrey (with big wide eyes): Gasp "That's right, we did. Let's go sing then."
So, we proceeded to go upstairs, get the kids into jammies, sing the songs, then crawl in bed. On to the prayers:
Calee (eight years old): "Please help me be a good learner. Help me to be a good example." (made me think about what I was saying in my prayers.)
Clark (five years old): "Please help me be good and have fun tomorrow."
Audrey (three years old):"Please bless that I won't have scary monsters in my dreams."
Just goes to prove, you can pray about anything.