CNA To LPN

A few weeks ago I received an acceptance letter into the school of nursing at JALC. I have been working to get into the school for over a year and now that the time has finally come I am a bit nervous about going because: they have the most difficult program around, and I fear failure. However, they are trivial worries and really don't count for much at all. I know I can do the work successfully and there is nothing really to stress about. I am very excited to have my orientation this Friday.

The photos are from the CNA class I took last fall. Yeah, we had to learn how to give bed baths, which I passed with flying colors, I'll have you know... but making an occupied bed and offering the bedpan gave me some problems. After some practice I finally got the hang of rolling people over and making half the bed at a time. Then I learned which way the fracture pan should be facing.

The class had a great bunch of people in it. It was like we were a large family... seriously for as much time as we had to spend with each other. I did feel a little out of place my first day because I was the only guy in the class, but everyone made me feel welcome. Especially Michealann, who sat directly behind me and if you have not had the good fortune to sit close to her while learning how to give basic care... then you have not lived. I could tell you about the day we learned about oral care, showers or peri-care, but I won't. I will just say it was an adventure sitting in front of Michealann for a semester.

As you can see our instructor taught us well. This falls under the "how not to properly strap a gait belt on a person" category.
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Now playing: Dead Poetic - New Medicines
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Finding Your Roots

It's that time of the year where family's set aside a few hours a year to spend with each other. My family is no exception; we got together for the Ford family reunion on Sunday. Most years we find out about it only a day or so ahead of time. However, this year we were told weeks in advance.
I spent the day talking or listening to my family tell stories about the past and news about the present. I learned about how I am related to everyone on the "Ford" side of the family. Trust me it's a little confusing, but I think I have it straight. For example, I found out that my "great, great" uncle and aunt were present and that my aunt plays guitcha fiddle (guitar), fiddle and mandolin. I had a lot of fun getting to know everyone and seeing familiar faces.

One strange fact: I learned my cousin Tiffany is a vampire and her brother is a werewolf and they were arguing who would win in a fight. I don't know where I stand Tiffany and Trevor... I don't know who would win between a vampire and a werewolf.

A couple of my cousins.
Related?

You bet! Beards and caps are in the genes.

There has been an absence in posts... after the "inland hurricane", and router problems... but I hope there will be no more problems.
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Now playing: The Rocket Summer - TV Family
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CPR Instructor

This morning I fulfilled the requirements to become a CPR Instructor. Way back in march a coworker and I sat through the CPR Instructor Training course and as our final exam we were to teach a class while being observed by a mentor. I was very nervous about it, but the course is mostly video based now and all I have to do is: give a short introduction, play the DVD, encourage proper technique and answer questions.

If you are interested in taking a CPR class from me then all we have to do is get around 10 people together for a class.

The best thing about it is you get to learn how to potentially save a life for FREE!
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Now playing: The Fray - How to Save a Life
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Bear Grylls Season 2

I am a fan of Bear Grylls, he could be one of the toughest men alive. He has traversed the North Atlantic in an inflatable raft, served in the SAS, Para-glided over Everest, and survived in many inhospitable environments. He always fines himself in tight situations, but it's his attitude that impresses me most. Bear always stays confident in himself, and the crew. No matter the problem he remains optimistic and focuses on a solution. You should keep up with him on his blog.

Thanks mom for the Easter present!
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Now playing: The Mamas and the Papas - Dancing Bear
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Play Jenga

You think Jenga is a great game? Well, I found a new way to play and it is sure to make things more interesting. On every turn you have an infant help you take the blocks out. The infant is the only one allowed to touch the game pieces during your turn, but you can coach the infant. It is a more sporty way to play the classic game. Hope you enjoy.

Have a great "Good Friday"!
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Now playing: Alex Van Halen/Eddie Van Halen - Respect the Wind
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Good Ole Fishing Stories

Travel into the past with me today. Three years ago marked an adventure on the Big Muddy River that will not be soon forgot. A few friends set off in a very small john boat in search for large catfish. What they found still haunts them to this very day.

The day of fishing started off nicely in the sunshine around 6pm, but by 7 things turned into a nightmare. Brian, David and I stepped into the little 10 ft. boat with two paddles, a hammer and some fishing gear. Brian and I are seasoned veterans when it comes to river fishing, David however, was as green as a freshly cut maple sapling. Brian paddling in the front, David in the middle, and I was steering the boat with my paddle in the far end of the boat. Shortly we reach our fishing spot, drop anchor and begun fishing.

We soon find that our line has something unexpected on it. I bring the line up out of the water with some struggle to find a beast attached to the end of it. There was a great SLAP... SPLASH... FLOP! I manage to pull the spotted gar into the boat while David tried to find a way out. Standing up in a small boat is rarely a good thing and today was no exception. David was trying frantically to get away from the fish, Brian was doing his best to steady the boat while yelling to David "Sit down!". All I remember was trying to get the hook out of the mouth of this fish which resembled an alligator more than a fish. Being very careful in the chaos I encircled the snout of the beast with my left hand and with my right begin to extract the sharp hook out of the mouth of the gar that has hundreds of sharp teeth.

The next part in the story happened very fast. The gar slipped out of my left hand leaving my right hand holding the extracted hook defenseless. SNAP! I felt the monster's upper teeth in the palm of my hand and it's lower teeth sawing into my elbow.

Yelling in anger and pain I pulled out the 3lbs. hammer and smote the savage gar on the head nearly splitting it into halves. Brian and David had traded places in the boat and they sat there glancing between the gar and I. After letting the moment set in a bit Brian said "Holy cow, Dude!" and we paddled back to shore.

We carried the body of the great fish up to the house to be photographed and thus remembered in history forever as the day one the great monsters of the deep tried to over take three fisherman.

Fishing season has started and hopefully more great story's and adventures this year.
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Now playing: Brad Paisley & Frank Rogers - I'm Gonna Miss Her
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See Yourself In The Mirror

Today I had what alcoholics would call "a moment of clarity". Things in the past... past year especially have been blurry for me. No, not because of an inebriated state at any time, but because I have felt like I had no direction. Let me backup, I do have direction... I know where my life has purpose for all those really BIG ideas. For instance, I know my basic purpose in Christ, I know I want to have a family and I know what line of work I would like to be in. However, what about my experiences where are they leading me?

How can I best use the life I have been given? On my way home listening to some worship music (honestly it has been a long while since there has been a personal worship session in my car) things in my head started to make sense. Like I am being lead in a direction for a purpose. I don't feel so fixated as before.
For a moment I was allowed to think clearly and now I know a bit more about myself. I am grateful for another puzzle piece in understanding myself and my experience. It's like looking in a mirror and seeing who you are. Not that I have not been introspecting myself, but for a moment I had contacts in while looking in the mirror (so to speak).

Tomorrow are plans to start off on this new juncture. I have been thinking about it for two years and it comes with a lot of thought and prayer. When I start traveling down the path I will let everyone else in on my new adventure.

You can be praying that everything works out.
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Now playing: David Crowder Band - Obsession
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