Our weekend in Orem...

we had a happy playful weekend. we hope we continue to have these for many years to come. I got to teach shay some fishing techniques, and she showed me how to drive a golf ball. she made me the most wonderful fish tacos. finally I don't have to put up with my own bad cooking. It looks like the future is bright for both of us. -Mike-

Well, I was not expecting him to come out until Friday morning. I got a text from him in the early evening that said he was off!!! I was SO happy! He was nice enough to drive all the way out here Thursday night. So, Thursday night we went to the hospital so he could meet my co-workers. I was actually more nervous about him meeting them (and by them I mean Dirty South). He taught some of them how to start IV's...and Leigh Ann questioned him about everything....like I knew he would, he passed with flying colors. They all were very impressed with him and liked him so much! (but what's not to like?) So, Friday morning we woke up and headed to Riverwoods Urgent Care to meet my other co-workers. Again, they were all impressed and loved him. They are all so happy for us. It is nice to have the opportunity to work with such amazing people who care so much about me. After RUC we went to the driving range. Mike got to use my pretty pink driver. He actually preferred my pink one over the black boy one that was given to him. After the driving range we went to the market and got stuff to make dinner. We came back home and had lunch, watched Transformers (I fell asleep) and then we went to Deer Creek Resevoir and went fishing. I had not been fishing in like 15 years. It was SO fun! Mike taught me so much. There were so many fish out there! We didn't catch anything...=( well, we did catch some weeds!!! Does that count? We also had a rock skipping contest. Guess who won? Well, let's just say it wasn't Mike. =) He thinks it's because he gave me "the perfect rock" (we will let him think that) We came home after fishing and cooked. I LOVE to cook for people. I was SO nervous...it was my first time cooking for him. Now, it is Saturday and I have to go to work in 5 hours...=( Our weekend is coming to an end, but it was SO FUN! WAIT....it's not over yet! We are going to have sushi with Paige and Mike. So that will be fun. OK...enjoy they pictures....

uS...

...there we were, talking, lying on the couch and just enjoying each others company....

Me: "You're the best"
Him: "Because I have the best"

...I can get use to this...

Life is great!

I don't even know where to begin...

I have not blogged in over 2 months!!! For my 2 readers, I apologize. =) Hmmm...well, I have just been working ridiculous hours. I have been on a couple dates in the passed 2 months though. I am very impressed with one guy in particular. His name is Mike. We have gone out 3 times, and they have all been so WONDERFUL! I have never been treated better. I am looking forward to seeing him again when I get back to Utah. Right now I am in Cali visiting my family. There is nothing better than being with family. We have so many plans while I am out here, I hope we are able to do all of them. The most important thing is that I get my Light and Healthy sushi fix while I am out here. HAHA jk. Ok maybe I'm not kidding.

MANDI!!!

20 tHiNgS i LoVe AbOuT mY bEsT fRiEnD!!!

1. She is the most obedient woman I know and has set an incredible example for me.

2. She is beautiful inside and out.

3. She is not only my best friend, but a part of my family.

4. I love how her husband is just as supportive as she is.

5. She is always there not just for me, but for ANYONE in my family. She and Derek drove from California to Utah as soon as she found out about Wes' passing.

6. I love her hair in the morning. It's just as bad as mine if not worse.

7. I love how her family is my family.

8. She is also a hard core LA fan...GO LAKERS AND DODGERS!!!

9. When we were younger she would always lie on the couch across from either Curtis or Wes and "gaze" at them. They would catch her doing it and say, "Mandi, STOP GAZING!" LOL

10. She is very compassionate and understanding.

11. She is EXTREMELY thoughtful!

12. She is an incredible stylist and she is very passionate about her career.

13. I love how we had the SAME routine for the 4th of July for like 20 years and it never got old.

14. When we were teenagers we use to talk about our lives and how I was going to marry Sam and she would marry Wes and that way we could be sisters forever.

15. My mom use to babysit Mandi and Sam and Dirty Dancing was our favorite movie to watch.

16. When she would come over when we were about 2 and 4 we would swim in the horse trough and then come inside and eat spagetti.

17. My favorite New Years was when we hung out with "the boys" and broke into the jr. high and played basketball until like 4 in the morning, but first Curtis did doughnuts in the dirt lot next to the school and he got pulled over. HAHA

18. Curtis was getting his hair cut and Mandi and I were in the Amigo listening to Savage Garden and eating ice cream from the Acton Market and Mandi dropped her ice cream on the carpet of Curtis' car.

19. When I told her I was getting a divorce, she showed me NOTHING but love and support and understanding.

20. Mandi, I have no doubt that we were best friends before we came to Earth and I know we will be friends even after this life. You are without a doubt the most amazing woman I know. I love you and am so blessed to have you as MY BEST FRIEND!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

SHAY'D

So, for some reason the girls at the hospital started calling me Shay'D. Actually, it was Leigh Ann that started it and it just kinda stuck.

Last weekend I went with Julie to St. George to go see a former patient of ours. When we were out there we went to the outlets and I found this shirt. I could not believe it! I really had no choice but to buy it.

Tony!

Most of you know I work at Utah Valley Regional Hospital in the Neuro Trauma Rehabilitaion Unit. I absolutely love it. I love the people I work with, the patients and their families. About a month after I started we got a new admit. I was so scared! He came in with a trach, feeding tube, he was on a vent to help him breathe and he was not able to move his body...not even facial expressions. I was afraid of taking care of him because I had never seen someone in that condition before. Well, 4 1/2 months later he is able to go home! He is off the vent, he can eat, talk and move. He can even stand up. This man amazes me beyond belief. His wife is absolutely incredible. I love both of them so much. Here are a few pictures we took his last week on our unit. His wife has been blogging since he was hospitalized. On his site, it tells his story. There are also videos of his progress. After looking at his blog and watching the videos you will know why I love my job. There are also pictures of him and his family before his stroke. I saw those for the first time tonight and it broke my heart. Please just take a few minutes to read his story, look at his pitctures and watch his videos. They really are truly inspiring. His website is TLMackey5.spaces.live.com

Next...HALLOWEEN

I miss the days when my family would go to my Grandma Sue's house and she would have dinner for us and then we would go trick or treating and then come home and trade our candy with one another. My favorite part of Halloween is dressing up. This year at the urgent care I decided to dress up like Steve, he is one of the P.A's. When he first saw me, he thought I was dressed up as a nerd...I told him I was suppose to be him and he laughed. I am glad he has a good sense of humor. We had a great day. My office manager, who is the best office manager EVER!!! dressed up as me!!! It was so cute...This was not actually on Halloween, it was the day before. Steve only works on Thursdays so I had to dress up a day early.

On Friday, I worked at the urgent care again and I didn't dress up. I wore my AWESOME Laker scrubs. Dr. Hooker (one of the owners) came in to say hello. He surprised all of us with his sweet hair do. He was not a fan of my scrubs though.

I have a lot of catching up to do...

So, I have not blogged about my "Girls night out" or Halloween yet. I also have a video that needs posting. I will start with my GNO. A few of the girls from the hospital go out about once a month just to chill. The first time they went out I was not able to make it, but this last time I was...it was SO much fun! Here are some pics...

What's the point?

SO...I am at work right now and it is 4:46 am. My shift will be over in about 2 hours. I am beyond tired. Usually 12 hour shifts don't bother me, but today (or last night) I had to work at the urgent care from 9:30-5:15 and then come straight to the hospital. Oh well...it really is not that bad so I don't know why I am complaining. Anyways, I wanted to post a picture, but since I am at the hospital I don't have any of my own pics so I got this one of Kobe. There really is no point to this blog, I am just trying to waste time so I can go home and sleep. I have the entire weekend off!!! How sweet is that?? Any ideas on what I should do? Well, I guess I will go check on my patients again. I love all of you that take the time out of your day to read my blog. Tracey and I made a video, so I will post it as soon as I get internet.

Peace out!!!

SLEEP DEPRIVED!

I am spent! 35 hours of no sleep...going on 22 hours of work straight. I am somewhat delirious, but it kinda feels good. I took this picture last night when I was at the hospital. =)

Rachel's Tag

8 Favorite TV Shows

Friends

American Idol

Take Home Chef

Laker games

That's about it. =)

8 Things I Did Yesterday

Went to the driving range

Ate

Slept

Talked to my mom

Shower

Watched Friends

Put more songs on my Ipod

Hooked up my internet.

8 Things I Look Forward To

Seeing my family

Going camping

Starting a new ward

Meeting new people

Being completely unpacked

Going back to school

Work

8 Favorite Restaurants

Light and Healthy

Claim Jumpers

Cheesecake Factory

Cafe Rio

Thai Cafe

In-N-Out

Rattlers

Tucanos...(most of these are in Cali) =(

8 Things on my Wishlist

Not having financial stress

Meeting a nice guy that will respect me

My family living close together

Being a mom...after marriage of course. =)

Go back to school

Own my own home

Learning how to box

Getting in shape

RUC

I am at the RUC today and I had a sec so I thought I would take a picture and post it just for fun.

It's been a while

I have not posted in a while, so I thought I would. I don't have any pictures to post at the moment, but give me a couple days and they will be up. I am officially moved out of my little "compartment". My mom calls it that because it's so small. I have lived on my own long enough. It was nice being alone for a while, but then I started to become very lonely and sad at times. I am really excited to have Jessica for a roommate. She is a wonderful girl, and I think we will do very well living together. When everything is moved in I will take pics and post them. Until then....be happy and remember who you are and who you stand for.

My sister, My roomie and me!

It was a little after 10 pm and we decided to make a dance video after all the patients went home. The 3 of us are always laughing and having a good time. I am SO excited for JEss to me my roommate. I have never had one before! =)

Mandi

First of all I would like to say, thank you! I can't remember a time in my life that you were not there for me. From my our big brothers making us cry when were 2 and 3 to putting your life on hold the day you found out Wes passed away, and everything in between that. Not very many people are as lucky as me to have such an incredible and eternal friendship like the one I have with you. Not only are you supportive of me, you are supportive of every single person in my family. I am so incredibley happy for you that you married Derek. There is no greater blessing than to be sealed to your best friend. I love the fact that he is so supportive of you and that he stands by your side. When I called you about Wes, I was not sure you were going to be able to come to Utah...when you came and Derek was with you I was so happy, but not surprised. Like I said before, I cannot remember a time that you were not there for me. I love you Mandi and I am so blessed to have you in my life. You are not only my best friend, you are my family. I know our friendship did not start here on Earth and it won't end here. And Derek, thank you for being such an amazing husband to my best friend.

Remembering 9/11/2001

I just want to start out by saying that I am so thankful to be living in America and that I love this country! I have a lot of pride when it comes to the U.S. September 11, 2001 was a moment in history that changed my life. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing the morning it happened. I cannot believe it has been 7 years.

I guess I am writing this to thank the troops for fighting for our country. It is amazing to me how so many men and women willingly risk their lives to protect me! I have an incredible amount of respect for all of you and again I thank you! May God bless all of you and your families.

Here are the ones of Paige and I hugging Wes. Bella came with us too!