Autumn Drive

On Sunday, we took our annual drive through the Autumn leaves. We always go up and drive on the skyline road above Bountiful in the Jeep. This year we did the whole road all the way to Farmington because Laura said she never had before. Here's some pictures from the trip.



We stopped for a potty break and found a lot of rose hips that we snacked on along the way.



We ended at Farmington pond.

It was a fun and very pretty drive. I love the fall, it's definitely my favorite season.

Some old pictures

When we were down in St. George with Michael and Lindsay, our camera broke. We just got a new one yesterday. But up to that point we were just using our camera phones. (that's why the last couple of post's pictures are pretty bad)

Anyhoo, I finally downloaded the pictures from our old broken camera, and I wanted to post some of them since this blog is pretty much our photo album and family journal.

This is on the way to St. George at one of our potty stops I think in Beaver. The sunset was so neat!

Waiting for the shuttle in Zion National Park after hiking Angel's Landing.
Michael and Lindsay on the shuttle. What's he so disgustingly amazed at?

He's looking at this guys hair. His arm was like Sasquatch, and but his legs were practically hair free!


These pictures are from Ryan's Birthday dinner at my parent's house:

Our picnic in the back yard


Ryan's Butterfinger ice cream cake from Cold Stone. yum!

Ryan looking triumphant after the wind blew out most of his candles.
Dad playing Jenga after dinner. Ryan and Jordan were so mean at this game. They'd go for the same spot and make it tiny and weak and hard for the rest of us. As evidenced in this picture.

Body Worlds

Yesterday we went to Body Worlds at The Leonardo. It was really cool and amazing.

waiting in line to go in.
I think we all thought it was cool. Ryan didn't like it when you had to look at their guts. He avoided all exhibits or parts of exhibits that showed intestines or any of the innards. Jordan seemed to handle everything. I think he really liked the ones that showed abnormalities. Like the body parts with tumors, etc. Laura didn't eat anything before she came, and it was hot and crowded, so about halfway through, she stopped looking because she felt sick.

I think my favorite part was the artistic-ness of the bodies, and their positions. I thought it was amazing that they still had eyelashes and eyebrows. I liked the lady with all the replacement joints. She had a replaced knee, ankle, hip, and elbow. I also really liked the guy that was obese and sliced in half. I don't think people really realize that the fat is not just on the outside, but all on the inside organs too. I'm glad they had that so people could see. They also had smokers lungs. Although I was suprised at the amount of black in normal lungs. I don't really think about all the dirt and gunk we normally breathe in having so much of an effect. They also had a full nervous system all spread out. I thought that was cool to see. OH! and they had a display about Lance Armstrong and his enlarged heart and lungs. I never knew his resting heart rate was 36!! crazy! he's superman!

Overall, it was really neat. I was glad that my family could see the same kinds of things I saw and loved in anatomy lab.

You're not supposed to take pictures. It is original art after all. Jordan sent me this one he took on his phone though. You can see me behind it through the glass. Those are his guts he's holding.

Volleyball

Here are some pictures from the U of U volleyball game on Thursday.

They had temporary tattoos and wet sponges to put them on with. Here's Ry and I with our FAN-tastic (ha!) tattoos. They were a lot more fun to put on then to take off the next day.
I saved some more tattoos to wear on the big BYU/UofU game day.


Here's Sarah, the volleyball star. She totally played for like 3 minutes. Her brothers were screaming like crazy and videotaping with commentary like, "and now she's standing ready for the ball" and "she's watching the ball" "she's watching other people hit the ball over the net" but they also commented on the important stuff too. Like when she totally got an awesome kill, and when she sacrificed her body and dove for the ball. Sarah rocks the casbah.
She's holding cute little Owen who I got to hold for the whole game. He's so super cute. I think he should have to come to every game just so that I can be entertained.

His sister was not so happy or cooperative. Lindsay had her outside the whole time. She doesn't like lots of people. Especially not lots of people who randomly start screaming and cheering.


Yeah, I'm a sweater.

busy busy

This past week has been quite a busy one, and it's not over yet!

I've been battling a cold since last Monday. It started with aches and a sore throat, and then became a cough to end all coughs. Last Saturday at work I had a "cough attack" as I call them--where you cough and cough forever and can't stop to even breathe? I coughed so hard I hurt my back. Yeah, not fun. I called in sick for work on Sunday and on Monday, because there was no way I can lift and roll people with a back like that. I spent almost all of Sunday in a Flexaril stupor and slept for like 6 hours during the day. (flexaril is a muscle relaxant for the back spasms). Luckily, it had healed well enough on Tuesday, I could go to work. I got there and found out that one of my coworkers from Saturday was telling everyone I had lung cancer. "You know Christopher Reeve's wife died of lung cancer and you know how they found it? she had a cough that just didn't go away. You should really get that checked out." --thanks Gene', but I've only had it for two days, so I don't think it's time to sound any alarms just yet.

I told all the nurses I had recently hurt my back, so I was trying to take it easy on the heavy lifting. Unfortunately, if you're not on the heavy lifting side of the patient, you're on the wiping side...

One good thing about having a bad back, is that I could go to "Eastern European Night". I don't know how it all started, but Lindsay and Michael, VoNique and Jared, and VeNicia were all getting together and eating Eastern European food. Pretty much food from Poland is what it was. Lindsay went on her mission to Poland, and Michael and her just got back from a trip this summer to europe--Poland included. The food was good and interesting.

We had Peer-oh-ghee (dunno how to spell that, so i'll just do it phoeneticly) (how to you spell phoeneticly?) Which are little pockets of dough, filled with beef, or potatoes, and that kind of stuff. and a salad that seemed kind of greek to me. (ha ha! it's all greek to me!... oh dear)
sorry, fuzzy picture. It's from my phone.

And Borscht. Beet soup.
That one's the wierdest.

After stuffing ourselves silly, we went to Michael and Lindsay's and played Rock Band. I like Rock Band better than Guitar Hero because I like to play the drums better than the guitar. But I think I like the music selections of Guitar Hero more.

On Tuesday, I went to work, and Ryan went to My Fair Lady with my parents and Giardia. I asked him if it was wierd to hang out with my family when I'm not there. He said no.

On Wednesday, it was Heroes night at my parent's house. (they have a DVR, so we watch it all together on Wednesdays.) Best show ever! After Heroes was over, we went to soccer. It was a way fun game against a team that is pretty darn good. But we won by two! I had some pretty killer assists, if I do say so myself. And I almost took out a 7 foot black guy by tripping him. I only got hit with the ball once, and it was to the back, so it's all good. :)

Now it's Thursday, and we're headed up to the U of U volleyball game cuz Kim gave us the rest of his season ticket. Ryan was really excited when he gave it to him. Now we get a $5 dollar date night having to only buy one ticket instead of two. Thanks, Kim!

Today, I had clinical at the Davis GI lab. I got to draw up real medication! neat! but I didn't administer it, cuz it's IV and only RN's can do that and I'm only a student and even then, an LPN student. It was also sedation medication, so there's no way I'm doing that! The nurse I followed was very nice, and helpful. The doctor performing all the colonoscopys and EGDs and stuff was really cool too. He grew up close to my parent's house. He asked me all these questions like what's the number one killer cancer? I guessed colon cancer cuz -hello! what are you looking for with that thing. But it's Lung Cancer. Number two is Colon Cancer. He asked me what we were looking at on the screen. I was like, "uh... a colon?" he said, yes, but what part. "uh....." It was apparently a Diverticulum, but it's been so long since I've studied anything GI, that I had no clue. It was a fun clinical, and interesting too. I don't know that I'd work in Endoscopy, at least not for very long. You have like 20 patients a day for about 20 minutes each and you just put them to sleep and then make sure they wake up , and then bam! they're gone. Kind of repetitive and lame. I could almost do it now, except for the whole IV meds thing. I was oriented to the routine after two patients.

Tomorrow I have NO SCHOOL OR CLINICAL!!! I know, crazy huh? And we're going to see Eagle Eye with Mary and Vince that evening.

Then Saturday we're going to Body Worlds! I'm so excited! Disected plastinated dead people, what more could you want for a saturday afternoon?

So we've had and are continuing to have a busy week. But it's been fun. It's just that the house never gets cleaned cuz we're not home for long enough to do anything but dump our stuff and sleep.

So excited!

Heroes starts today! We are so freaking excited! yay heroes! We love it!

Especially this guy:

Can't wait to see all my favorite characters back in action again. Isn't TV fun? Do you have a favorite that's starting this week?

Title picture

I've noticed that people sometimes have pictures behind the title of their blog. How do you do that?

Nurse Ashley

I'm such a friendly nurse, don't you think? Look, I'm even using therapeutic touch on his arm. That means, "I really care about you as a person".

These things are neat. They have breath sounds, heart sounds, pulses, and blood pressures. They even moan and cough. One of them talks and makes vomiting noises. how nice.
Most of them are half and half male and female. They may have boobs and then you lift up the covers and surprise! Not what you thought it was! I think someone mixed up their tops and bottoms, I don't know why they don't put them back to matching though. Maybe it's for the shock factor.

What's really freaky

-What's that? My patient is low on Potassium? Why I'll give them some right now!

-What's that? I put it in too fast? oh darn, look at that, they're dead. Just like that.

Why I love my kidneys

Because with them I can eat ice cream, and potatoes, and oranges, and bananas, and melons, and milk.

Without them I can't eat any of that stuff. and I'd have to be on a dialysis machine for 3 hours a day 3 days a week at a dialysis clinic like Bonneville Dialysis (although they were very nice there, to both the patients and to us little nursing students who followed them around for 4 hours today). or a different kind of dialysis every day 3 times a day, or all night long.


I'm gonna go eat something high in potassium now. Just cuz I can.

The Case of the Mystery Car Washer

So yesterday, after I had gone to work, Ryan texted me and said "nice car! where did you go to get it washed?" (I had scooted to work, the car was still home)

But I hadn't washed my car. I didn't even notice it being clean. I figured Ry was just trying to sneakily get me to notice that he had washed my car for me. Then I forgot about it, because it was a busy day at work and I'm coming down with some sort of virus. (don't they know I don't have time to incubate them right now?)

This morning when I was getting into my car, I noticed that my wheels were bright and shiny. I never clean my tires. I've always been like- they're tires, they're supposed to be dirty. But someone had used that spiffy cleaner stuff on them and they were so pretty. Then I noticed the whole car was clean, and I remembered what Ry had texted me the night before.

Ryan still denies having cleaned my car. I have to believe him because the inside was not cleaned and he would have done that part, and he doesn't wash the tires either.

So it's a mystery! Someone has washed my car, but I don't know who.

So thank you mystery car washer. I really (really) appreciate it. It's really nice to know that someone is thinking of me--enough to wash my car for me. It truly brightened my day. I don't have time for things like that, and especially not for making my tires pretty. :)

Thank you. My cup runneth over.

HGTV has taken over my husband

On Friday, we went out to eat at Outback because Ry had a gift card from his birthday. Then we went home and watched HGTV makeover shows until 11pm.

On Saturday, after I studied for 3 hours, we went to the October Fest with my fam. We ate some tasty brautwurst, and weiswurst, and saurkraut, and strudel, and potato salad, and apple soaked red cabbage, and potato pancakes, and german chocolate cake. Yes, we had all of that, and lots of it. I was stuffed. The food was good, but my Oktobur fest was incomplete because we didn't ride the tram, or get to play the games or do the chicken dance. We had to leave to go to Ryan's cousins' baptisms.

The baptism was a stake baptism, and seven 8-year-olds were being baptised. VeNicia did a wonderful talk, and then we waited for everyone to have their turn at the font. Jackson and Bradley (the cousins being baptised) were last. So we could do the confirmation in the same room as the font. I thought it was a lovely, er-- ceremony? The spirit was there, and I enjoyed it.

Afterwards, we went to my parent's house to do my sister's hair for the homecoming dance. She wanted it to be curly, so I just started going at it with the curling iron. I think it turned out very 50's glam.I have no Idea what Laura was doing with her eyes. She looks possessed.



After that, we went home and Ryan watched HGTV before going to the U of U volleyball game while I studied.

Today, we spent the morning watching HGTV. Then we went to a wonderful stake/regional conference at the conference center. Elder Ballard and Pres. Monson spoke, as well as Richard M. Hinkley of the 70 (pres. Hinkley's son), and the general primary president. It was a very good meeting. I was so uplifted. We were very blessed to have Pres. Monson there.

Then we went home and watched HGTV.

Then we went to my parent's house for dinner and games. And now... I'm blogging, and Ryan is... you guessed it! Watching HGTV. He even said to me, "I think I want to watch HGTV instead of watching a movie." like we had already planned.

Sigh, at least it's better than most things he could be watching. and it's something I like watching too. And now maybe he'll be more interested in the decorating/renovating of our future home whenever we get one. He's even zoned in on his own style preferences. He likes simple lines, contemporary style, with a little traditional twist. I know. Manly isn't it?

Future Shock

Ryan, here. I've been doing some thinking the last few weeks about the economy and how my (our) future could pan out during a tough time for the United States. It seems now more than ever there is a palpable worry in the media and politics about the state of affairs. Trends in the stock markets are following the troubles in real estate and rising oil and gas prices. It's a scary time to be breaking ground on a future, preparing and executing plans for survival, success, and hopefully, wealth.

My boss at work is a financial analyst as well as underwriter and general manager of the financial company our parent company founded eight years ago. In eight years she took the financial division I work for from a $500k per year finance-er to an average of $2 million per month. Not bad. When she talks, I listen. Eight months ago she forecast the gas rising to $4 a gallon. She saw the real estate crisis coming. Granted, anybody who sees the signs could see it coming, but she's proven herself to me as a person to listen to regarding finances and the economy. We had a meeting yesterday to go over the spending freeze our company and the parent company is putting in place to help us weather the troubles coming down the pipe. The company specific things she talked about aren't important for a blog, but some other things she said caught my ear. (Caught my ear? Is that a saying?)

The mortgage mess, as we know, was a joint effort caused builders building gigantic houses, mortgage lenders lending to people inexperienced and unable to afford said houses by creating programs like interest only payments, 80/20 loans at variable rates, extending loans to up to 50 years, etc, and the people who bought these houses at low variable rates, all in an environment of increasing home values (sometimes appraised for much more than they should have been). We've seen the low variable rates increase so fast and home values decrease so fast that foreclosures, short sales, and abandonment have skyrocketed. My boss said this was just the beginning. 7 Year arms on illadvised mortgages are coming due in the next two years which will cause even more foreclosures etc. People who have bought homes expecting to stay for five years or so and sell for profit are going to find they can't pay the balloon payment, can't sell their house because no one's buying, and can't refinance because the credit windows have tightened so much. Anyway, this combined with rising gas prices (anybody want to guess what'll happen in the aftermath of Ike? They said this morning natural gas and oil production will decrease by 96% in the Gulf), we're in for a tougher time than we're already seeing.

So I've been thinking about what we can do. I don't think it's time to panic. No need to cash in our retirements to pay for food. But it is time to prepare. The General Authorities have been after us for years and years to set food, money, etc aside for tough times. The tough times are almost here. I think we still have some time, but not much. The biggest thing, I think, is to really know where our money is going and try to reduce gut spending and increase saving and smart spending. Avoid new debt. Buying a house in the buyer's market? Have a large down payment and avoid gimmicky loans that will get you more house than you can afford. Get a fixed rate and refinance when the rates go down at another fixed rate. Financing a car? Run the numbers to see if your current car is saving you money already. Does a car payment, insurance, and gas cost less than just insurance and gas with a repair every few months? Can you prepare for a repair by setting aside money each month to a repair fund? From day to day, can we reduce our tv packages? Do we watch all the channels we pay for enough to justify the expense? Can we use fans rather than the AC? Even little things can add up to be a big savings. Use the internet to look for coupons and discounts for groceries.

Again, I don't think it's time to panic. Just prepare. Have an emergency fund with at least $500 in it but 6 months of covering your bills and food should be the goal. Another example, we have a relationship with Riverton Chevrolet at work because they house our van program. They advertised a $9/hour driver job last week and in 24 hours they had over 500 applications. If you're suddenly without work can you survive for a potentially long job search? Let's think ahead and get ready for the future. Remember nothing in life is certain. What you have today could be gone tomorrow. Especially for those on the Gulf Coast.

God said if we're prepared we shall not fear. I believe that. Let's see the signs and really get ready for what could be coming. I don't want to be preachy. The people I care about most in the world read this blog. I want them to be prepared. It's good advice for everybody.

Fancy a shot?

At school this week, we practiced giving sub cutaneous injections. (under the skin, not to the muscle.) We got to practice on fake "fat pads" that looked like rubber butt implants. you sprinkled power on them and it was so creepy cuz they felt like real skin. like real baby soft skin anyway. It was fun. We got way too excited when we noticed we could make little bubbles under the skin like when you get a TB test. I'm an expert and fake people shots. Don't know what I'll do when it's a real person. Probably shake a lot and freak the pt out.

We all wanted to take our syringes home to practice on oranges and chicken and things, but we had to leave them. They didn't want us doing it to real people and causing hospital visits and things.

And for anyone who wants to know, Ryan is a terrible (but very funny) patient.

A: (while practicing doing an assessment) Have you been experiencing a cough? whisipers: pretend you have
R: yes.
A: is it a productive cough? have you been coughing up sputum?
R: I don't know what that is
A: have you been coughing up mucus?
R: oh. yes.
A: What does the mucus look like?
R: I don't know. I swallow it.

I know it's not funny to you, but I almost peed my pants. Cuz most people I've practiced on just describe their mucus for me. Ryan also kept randomly yelling "98.6!!" because he was afraid I was going to be putting "that back up there" --as in a rectal temperature, like you do at the vet for your cat. I also hope that my patients don't ever grab my boob while I'm listening to their breath sounds. But I suppose that I'm prepared for the worst. Thanks Ry.

Mallory comes to visit

On Monday, my cousin Mallory was visiting from Illinois. She was here for her sister's baby shower that I missed while in St. George. So to make sure we saw her me, Ryan, Laura, Jordan, Chris, Jamie, Sara, Keith, and Mallory all went out to dinner at Robintinos. It was really fun. It's nice to have cousins that I can hang out with and be friends with. After dinner, we went to Chris and Jamie's to play Mario Kart on their Wii. It's so fun cuz you have an actual stearing wheel you use.
My family is so sarcastic. But luckily, when we're all giving each other a bad time, we all just think it's funny. Even the one being teased. I don't think you'd think it was funny if you weren't a Dearden, or married to one. I had fun, and I think we should do that a lot more often.

St. George and Les Mis

Last weekend, Ry and I went down to St. George with Ry's sister Lindsay and her husband Michael. We had a lot of fun. My camera broke while we were there though, so I have very limited pictures.

We went down to see Les Mis at Tuachan ampitheater. It was freaking amazing!! The cast was so talented, and the venue was really cool. During the battle scenes they came down from the hills behind the stage fighting. and they had live horses and carriages and sheep and goats and even a pig at one point! There were also fireworks, which you sure can't do at any other venue. I kind of had some issues with the guy that played Jean Val-Jean cuz he was a little too much power and not enough sweetness on some of the songs. Especially the big "bring him home" number. It wasn't tender enough for me. I also didn't really like the girl that played Eponine. When she would start singing, it was always harsh sounding. But over all, it was a super fantastic tear jerking show. Loved it!

Before seeing the show, we spent the morning relocating our camper. -we took my parent's pop-up trailer and when we got there we just randomly picked a site. When we were all set up, Ryan noticed there was a reserved sign for the next two days on the site number. so the next day, Ry walked around the whole campground and there were no other reserved sites--except the one we picked of course. So we moved the next day... after getting the car jump started. We had left the lights on while we set up camp so we could see better in the dark--bad idea.

Later, we packed our lunches and headed Zion Nat'l Park. We planned on hiking Angel's Landing, but by the time we got there, we didn't have enough time. We just hiked up a ways and then had lunch in the shade of a tree. We then went on a short walk up the canyon further that was nice and shady and followed the river. We should have just done that walk instead. Oh well. We hurried back after that and all took the fastest showers of our lives.

We planned to eat and Red Lobster, but the wait was too long. So we risked our lives running across a busy street to Outback Steakhouse. Which turned out to be good cuz they put us by the bar and the tv's so all the crazy sports fanatics I was with could enjoy the football game that was on. Don't worry, I've gotten used to it. Yeah sports. I'd even say I like to watch them now. Sometimes.

After eating we headed on over to Tuachan and enjoyed the spectacular spectacles that awaited us there.

The next day we played a little jarts and then packed up and left. We stopped in Cedar City for some Taco Bell and that's about it. We played Rockband at Michael and Lindsay's for a while and then went back home.

The end! It was a fun trip and a nice break. I didn't do any studying all of Saturday!

I'm just gonna say it:

I'm Tired.

I really am.
I need a nap.
I need a rest.
I need... to stop reading blogs.

But thanks everyone for entertaining me during my break time!

30 minute break done...NOW. Time to take my tired booty back to the books.
Picture of said tired booty:

good night booty.

Some more booty:


no, what will I sit on?

a little weekend break

So I did get to take a break for a little bit this weekend to do something fun.

On Friday Ry and I went to the U of U volleyball game. Ryan's sister Lindsay is married to Michael and his sister is Sarah. (follow?) Sarah plays on the team. Although they have a new outside hitter that is a junior, so freshman Sarah didn't ever get to play. At least that's my understanding of why. While we were there, we got a free t-shirt! Ryan caught it, and it was in my size, so whee! new clothes.
This is us at the game, I'm wearing the new shirt. You can kind of see the score board and it shows us kicking UVU's trash! cuz we totally did.
Lindsay and Michael were so funny. They cheered (kind of) when the team was doing well but would not join in any sort of "go Utes" or relative cheers. They cheer more when Sarah gets to play.

Saturday, I went to my friend Elisabeth's daughter Reagan's birthday party. It was nice to see people I hadn't in a while. Cute prego Kristen was there and I found out that if you wear heels all the time it hurts to not wear them. Imagine that. (the subject was brought up because very pregnant Kristen was wearing heels.) I brought Laura cuz Ryan wanted to stay home to watch the U football game against Michigan. After the party, we went to the University mall in Orem. We went to Allyse's bridal/prom store. They were having a sale and Laura was pretty sure she'd be getting asked to homecoming, (which she has) so she tried on a bunch of dresses. She especially liked a pretty black one with rhinestone detailing and a large gathered style skirt. It took some persuading and calling both my parents while they were in California, but Laura ended up getting it. I think I've cursed her prom dress future by having a very cheap wedding dress. So my parent's can't imagine buying a dress for a dance that costs almost as much as my wedding dress. I should have gotten the $1000 one. :) kidding. (my dress was $350, and the dress Laura got was $150)

After I got home, I studied for a bit and then Ry and I went to see Kung Foo Panda at the dollar theater. We'd seen it before, but it was just as good the second time.

Sunday, we went to my parent's house, but only Laura and Jordan were there. We had chicken tacos and watched Sound of Music. It's been forever since I've seen that show. And even longer since I've watched the second half.

On Monday, which was Labor day, it was pounding rain and hail all morning. It thwarted our plans to go to the October Fest up at Snowbird. But no one we invited could go either, so we bagged that idea. The Fest continues for the next month, so we'll probably find some other time to go. We went to Five Guys Burgers and Fries instead. The line was out the door when we got there, but went quickly. We'd never eaten there before, but had heard good things. My critique is that the burgers were about as good as burgers you get from any really good burger place. Like JCW's or Training Table, or Crown Burger. But the fries were fantastic! they were sliced up potatoes with the skin still on. They actually tasted like potatoes instead of grease. So yummy! I'd go back just for the fries.

Train and updated post

Hi there! I added some pictures to my Birthday weekend post. You can see some from Brian Regen and our pinewood derby cars.

Also for my birthday my brother in law got me an electric train.


Michael had got one for his birthday or something and i was jealous. Jordan's such a good boy. :) I set it up the day after I got it home but haven't had time to get anything up about it. It's a Chatanooga style one! It's cute. It even had steam coming out but I couldn't get that to work. See?



Here's a video! Afro didn't know what to do with it. I'm sure he was thinking "stop so I can get on! That looks like fun!"




It'll be neat to have for Christmas and have it go around the tree. Then when I get old and need a hobby I can use one of the kids rooms (they can share a different room) to make a great big huge train world! If you don't comment that I'm some kind of freak or something maybe, MAYBE I'll invite you over for lemonade and trains.