Just a Note

My week has been epic. A lot of sacrifice and late nights were put into it to make it epic, but it was very, very epic. 

Why was it epic?

I scrubbed in on multiple surgeries in the OR at EIRMC.

What did I get to do?

For a TAH-BSO (taking out of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes), I stood directly next to the surgeon, gown and all, held his suction and had my hand in the woman's gut to palpate her uterus and feel for fibroids. 

For a laparoscopic procedure (the kind with the metal tubes stuck into the inflated abdomen with a camera inside and the surgeon did not have an assistant, only a scrub tech to hand him instruments. 

What was he going to do?--I'll tell you what:

use the student. 

I got to use the instrument with the grasping end and wield it while grabbing organs and tissue out of the way so the surgeon could cut and cauterize. I GRASPED THE OVARIES, BLADDER, AND MULTIPLE TISSUES IN A WOMAN'S BODY. And yes, it was all by myself. It was kind of like playing a video game, except way more intense and way more worthwhile. 

Amongst other things, I also saw a woman's lymph node the size of a golf ball removed from her neck, multiple hernia repairs, D&C's, and a lap chole. 

It was a good week.

One for the ages. 

I felt like Izzie Stevens from Grey's Anatomy.

Except not blonde, or ex-Mormon. 

Happy Birthday To My Friend, Amber!

Today's Amber Bagley's Birthday! I'm a little late in the day, but you all still have time to call/stop by/text to wish her for the rest of the day a very happy birthday! I love this girl. She is beautiful, smart, athletic, charitable, Christ-like, compassionate, trustworthy, reliable, funny (like, really funny), self-less, a really chic dresser, preggo, and epitomizes best friend material for everyone she meets. Every time I see Amber I wish I was more like her. 
We Love You, Amber! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I Miss NY

I miss New York. It's my home. I miss $1 slices of real pizza, delicious old school bakeries, H&M's on every corner, and the hype you get walking from each street being different from the next.
I miss diversity of thought, action, and story. I miss Broadway shows, late night dance parties with Briana, and yes, even the bums in the subways begging for change. 
It's its own world. 
In a 1 mile radius you can meet someone from Iraq, Russia, Brazil, or Japan. Everyone has their own methods of fighting for survival and each is beautiful and unique in its own way. The amputee that shuffles down the subway cars by his arms and carrying his change bucket in between what is left of his legs, the small florists that sell single flowers for next to nothing, and the filthy-rich billionaire that went from rags to riches from sheer motivation each make this prestigious jungle inspiring. 
You don't have to be Mormon to be a good person and people appreciate kindness, not expect it. 
I know what you're saying: You're over exaggerating. New York is full of crime, greed, and violence.
Yes, but it's a different kind. People are what they are. They don't pretend to love or hate you. If you're mugged on the streets, chances are the theft was for survival, not entertainment. And violence? If you provoke an unemployed and drug dependent resident in Spanish Harlem, yes, he will probably hurt you. Why? Not because he wanted to show everyone how tough he was, but because he needed to protect what little dignity and self-respect for himself he had remaining.
So what's the provocation of my rant? 
I'm tired. It's been a long week, lots of early clinical hours and no pay (which is fully understandable, I'm just saying) and no jumbo slice to ease the pain. Somehow the nurses think I owe them something by assisting them with their patients. You'd think it would be, "You bathe my patient and I'll teach you how I like to put a Foley in." But instead, it's "You only bathed them? I needed you to take them down to x-ray, ambulate with them in the hall, and feed them their entire breakfast while I stand here talking to my frienemies at the nurses station." 
Sorry ladies. But if you're making demands then I'm demanding compensation--money or instruction would suffice.
Perhaps the reason for your enormous bottoms is due to your mobile, un-justified egos that are currently residing in that part of your anatomy. 
And please, do us all the favor and sit on it. 

Raid My Closet

Last night while Adam and I were tidying up our room and putting clothes away, a thought that's been getting shoved in the back of my mind finally pushed its way to my attention: I have way to many clothes, shoes, and accessories. How do I know this?--the closet bar is bending, my drawers and shelves are bursting, and my shoes have overtaken the entire "walk in" closet space. 

Am I proud? No. Clothes = money, and I couldn't believe how much of that much needed green stuff has gone to this. To give myself some credit, I didn't buy all of the clothing I have. I have fabulous cousins who on a relatively frequent basis send boxes of clothes and shoes and other wonderful stuff. 

What am I proposing?

A raid of my closet. 

What does that even mean?

Anytime you need a dress for an event, a t-shirt or blouse for a date, or just a new variety of clothes for school, give me a call, text, or email and you can come over and pick items from my closet. 

Why am I doing this?

I feel I have a special rapport with my clothing (I know, really?) and I can't possibly wear all of it. It's just not going to happen. But since Adam and I aren't exactly in a position to replace the clothes I get rid of, I can't part with anything yet. Not that my wardrobe is anything to brag about, but just so you know, it's there. I want my clothes to have a beautiful body to adorn, not just sit in my closet for months. 

Qualifications to participate:

I have to know you--no friends-of-a-friend's. 

Each item needs to be returned washed and dried (if washable and if doesn't require dry cleaning).

There will be a return date (I have to get them back somehow), and the items will be due back at my house by that date.

No sloppy eaters. 

Non-smoker. 

Um, yeah. I think that's it. I'm sure I'll come up with more later. 

Anyway, not an earth-shaking announcement, just an offer that stands for you. 

Covet Corner

Hello ladies.
Cassandra has invited me every week to contribute to Hopscotch For Women. My assignment is "The Covet Corner." Basically, I pick up on common trends and classical pieces (basically something I want really bad) and write a blurb about it with some places to buy it.
Today my first piece is up!
Check it out:
http://hopscotchforwomen.com/?p=551

Video

Go here, if you can. Yes, this is my mother. And yes, that is me and my sister with the nagging voices in the background.
<3
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=63912990694&subj=1470630063

No School

leather jacket: Freedom 2be. white striped blouse: Gap. pink cardigan: hand-me-down. black skinny jeans: Paris Blues. black flats: Apt. 1. plaid scarf: some store in NYC. headband: Forever 21. black bag: H&M. 


We didn't have school today--which was so nice. I wish I could say we lounged around all day, but we decided that since every time our car moves into 1st and 2nd gear it clunks as though we're going to fall through the car floor, it might be smart to go car shopping/browsing. We found some pretty good deals and now have a lot of thinking to do within the next week. It was a great day though and we got to test drive a lot of fancy-shmancy (at least for us) automobiles--one of which was the 2009 Toyota Highlander, which is a DREAM car, of which we've decided to purchase once we're rich and famous. 
So anyway, I hope you all had a relaxing day off of school and if you were working, I'm sorry. Maybe another day. 
xoxo

Busy Busy

It's been a busy week--to say the least. I feel like I have no idea where I am anymore, as if I've lost all sense of reality and "the real world" that's out there. But the busy is a good busy, as we both feel like we're really delving into our majors and progressing towards our prospective careers. This weekend is a long one and I can't WAIT to enjoy some TV time with my eternal cuddler...even though I could be getting ahead with homework, but who would want to do THAT?

Here's some pics Adam snapped today, well, actually, this post was supposed to be for yesterday but the pictures wouldn't post. We took them after our religion class we have together. I found these boots at Forever21 with my mother and sisters-in-law. At first I was like...eh, why not? I'll try them. Once everyone saw me in them they thought I was kidding. Once I saw myself with them I totally wasn't. Although they look like elf or Peter Pan shoes, they keep my feet warm and dry, my reassurance of how cool I am at a reasonable level, have COLOR, and are my favorite things to put on my feet right now. I LOVE them. 
Shopping tip of the day:
If you like something at first glance and find yourself over-analyzing about it:
Get it. 
Chances are you'll go home with something similar to it but less awesome and wish you hadn't been so paranoid. 
Trust your inner-shopping instincts. 

Adam was making me laugh SO hard during this. 

BYU-Idaho. Right at the quad by the Taylor. 

Gray skinny jeans: Forever21. Black turtleneck: H&M. Undertank: Charlotte Russe. Scarf: Some NYC street vendor guy. Navy coat: H&M. Awesome green boots: Forever 21. School bag: Ralph Lauren.                   


Lesson of the day:

If you feel like you're not making the best use out of your day, make a weekly schedule for yourself. Especially for those in school, make a weekly calendar. Fill it in with your obligations (classes, work, oil change, etc.), things secondary in importance, and then study times. I'm taking an online test taking skills class and one thing I've learned from it is that studying for 1 hour sessions is most effective, as opposed to studying marathons. Chances are if you're a marathon studier (like me), you try to find "the perfect" time to set aside to really sit down and read. More often than not, this time never comes does it? I learned to study in short increments throughout the day so you (1) Don't burn out and waste time reading over everything and (2) you're studying from day 1, not the night before the test. 

Just a thought, take it or leave it. 

xoxo

I'm Published!

A couple months ago, my extremely talented cousin, Cassandra, invited me to contribute to an online magazine called Hopscotch. Hopscotch is an online magazine where women of all ages come together and submit their stories, fashion and beauty tips, or anything else they feel interesting to share. I think it's a fantastic idea and Cassandra, a former contributor of Vanity Fair, deserves all the credit as founder and editor in chief.

Soooo...this week she featured several articles--including mine!--on the site:hopscotchforwomen.com. Mine's called, "Married, with Homework." Totally understandable for many of you, but if you feel like seeing your life on the big screen (well...that would depend on how big your computer screen is) take a look! 

Also, this site is for all women. So read a little about it and if you decide you have something to share--post it up! It's definitely a daily read for me! I think it'll end up being the new (or created) Women's Digest!

Family Photo Shoot

Back in Vancouver, the Stevens' family friend Jennifer Bunnell took some family photos while the whole clan was together for Christmas. Some pretty crazy fog settled in later in the day, and although someone said they look like we're all going to a funeral, I think they're fantastic. Take a look! 

That's it ladies--work it.

Lesson of the Day:

I was tenderly reminded this weekend of promises I've made in my life--promises I whole-heartedly, non-forcefully in any way made. I believe that life and humanity have a reason behind their order. I find it hard to look up into the vast night sky, with all its wonder and mystery and tell myself there's nothing greater than me out there. Although it's far more meaningful to me than that, basically, there's too much order, too much joy, too much matter, and too much good for me to think it was organized perfectly on its own and that in the end it means nothing. I believe my life--full of emotions, relationships, heartache, and difficulties--has a purpose and I've felt too much, seen too much, and know too much to ever forsake that knowledge. We can all attest that the most beautiful and sacred things on this earth are attacked and distorted in their imitation the most. I have a testimony of the sacredness of life and how one goes about living it. We can choose joy or we can choose misery as the gift of free agency grants. What will you choose today, tomorrow, and in the future?