We're going to Disney World!

Tomorrow we leave for Disney World!  John's family makes the trip about every two years.  This will be my third trip with them.  We always have a great time!  I'm looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the warm weather.  The forecast looks good so far...last time it rained a lot.  I'm also really looking forward to reading my book on the plane...haven't had much time to read this last week and a half!

Graduation

John graduated with his PhD on Sunday.  His parents, sisters (Annie and Natalie), and Annie's boyfriend Ben as well as my parents and my grandma came down to celebrate with us.  Unfortunately, John's family had to drive down and back in the same day...but my family was able to spend the night (though we just watched the Bulls game and went to bed early and they left at 6 AM).  It was a good day though.  I'm very, very proud of my husband.  He has worked hard and done a great job.  I can't wait to see all the amazing things he accomplishes in his career.

Emily (me) and John outside the Assembly Hall after the morning ceremony.

John being hooded by his advisor, Jozsef Balog.

Jozsef and John

John II (John's dad), Natalie, Emily, John III, Annie, and Kathy (John's mom)

Grandma Rohrer, Dad, Emily, John III, and Mom

Dad, Mom, Emily, John III, Kathy, and John II

Last night we went to a small party at John's advisor's house.  Jozsef and his wife Andrea are so sweet.  Hopefully we'll keep in touch with them!  Plus, they have the most adorable children.  :)  It was a fun night.

Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew.  They're what make the instrument stretch -- what make you go beyond the norm.

~Cicely Tyson, American actress

Job search

I had an interview for a nurse practitioner job in interventional neurology at Rush University Medical Center last Friday.  It went pretty well but I was a little discouraged after meeting with the practice coordinator because she thought it was a big disadvantage that I didn't have any ICU experience.  Over the weekend, I convinced myself that I wasn't qualified for the job.  Then, on Monday, the recruiter called and asked if I would come shadow the current nurse practitioner on Wednesday.  Of course, I accepted!

I had a great time shadowing.  The nurse practitioner was really nice and explained what she did.  She didn't think it would be a big deal that I didn't have ICU experience and I felt pretty confident doing what I saw her doing that day.  So, I left feeling as though I could do the job if they offered it...but I wouldn't be heartbroken if they didn't offer it to me.  Well, today they called and decided to offer it to someone with ICU experience.  Oh well.

I also had two phone interviews today...one with Target Clinic and one with Minute Clinic.  They're going to get back to me about actual openings, etc. but these seem like good opportunities to me.  I also applied for two more jobs today...one in gastroenterology and the other in pediatric urology.  Hopefully I'll keep getting calls!

We found an apartment!

After two long days of looking at apartments, we finally found one!  Starting next month, we will be living at North Harbor Tower in Chicago.  While I was doing my research, I immediately dismissed this place because they didn't have in-unit washers and dryers.  However, after visiting five other apartments that did have in-unit washers and dryers and still not finding anything that we really liked, I was willing to give that up.  The location of this place is great!  Plus, we just got upgraded from a medium one bedroom to a large one bedroom (which is what we really wanted but wasn't available at first).  We also moved from the 8th floor to the 45th floor (with a lake view!) with this upgrade.  How awesome is that?  Plus, there's always the option of moving up to a two bedroom (as long as we keep upgrading, there's no additional charge for moving besides the increased rent, of course) once I get a job.  Oh, and there are a ton of amenities...an indoor pool, an exercise room, free yoga and other exercise classes, a convenience store in the building plus a small grocery store next door (and a larger one opening up in September about a block away).  Our lease starts June 20th.  Woohoo!

P.S. I'll post pics once we actually move in. :)

Girls' weekend in Chicago

Two weekends ago I took the train up to Chicago to meet a few friends from high school.  Two of them had never been to the city before...and one didn't really remember being there.  We had a fun weekend once they finally arrived (their train was delayed by 3 hours...which gave me a chance to catch up with another friend who lives there).  We ate at California Pizza Kitchen...hung out at Howl at the Moon, a piano bar...had a delicious breakfast at Yolk...explored Millennium Park...enjoyed the Shedd Aquarium after a very long wait outside of the building...had a yummy dinner and fabulous cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory...spent a gorgeous late morning/early afternoon on Navy Pier...and just caught up with each other.  Can't wait for them to visit again after John and I move up there!

Angie and me with our "bucket" at Howl at the Moon.

Our breakfasts at Yolk. Yum!

There were tulips all over the city!

Jamine, Katie, and Angie on Navy Pier.

A few post-half-marathon thoughts

1.  I was extremely impressed and inspired by a young boy (probably about 12 years old) I saw running the half marathon with his dad.  They were keeping a very good pace and the boy was doing great!  Maybe someday my kids will run with me...what a great way to spend time together doing something that's good for you.

2.  I realized that while it was a race, it was really a race with myself.  There were so many people running that nobody was paying attention to me...it was just me racing myself.  Since it was my first half, I took it nice and easy...but I still came in under goal.  Now I wonder what my goal should be the next time...how fast can I go?  It will be a battle with myself...and no one else.  You don't have to be "good" at this to participate...anyone can do it.  This is my kind of sport!

3.  I've come a long way.  Last year I ran the 5K in The Illinois Marathon events...and that was the longest distance I had run to that point.  This year I ran the half-marathon...and now that's the longest distance I have run.  I went from 3.1 miles to 13.1 miles in one year.  So, how long until I can do a full marathon?  I'm not sure.  My current plan is to do at least one more half before I try a full.  Wow.  I never thought I'd even think about doing a marathon.  Awesome!

Mother's Day

Mom, I've been trying to walk in your shoes since I was just a little girl...barely able to walk at all.  Thanks for being such a wonderful woman for me to look up to and strive to be like.  You're not just my mom, you're my friend.  I'm so thankful for our relationship and for everything that you do for me.  I hope that I can be as great of a mom to my future child(ren) as you are to me.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!  I love you!

Clinical = done!

Yesterday I met my students to do their final evaluations.  We decided to meet at a coffee shop on campus.  We had all sorts of problems due to the persnickety-ness of the evaluation application.  I assumed that if the students were able to complete the evaluation on their own computers then we should be able to complete the part we needed to do together on their computers as well...but that wasn't the case.  We got it done though!

Afterwards we (almost) all, along with the morning clinical group, went out to dinner at Olive Garden.  It was a great way to end a great semester.  I can't say that I'll miss the grading of SBARs and care plans...but I will miss the actual teaching part...and the students too!

Half marathon: I did it!

I ran my first ever half marathon on Saturday!  The Illinois Marathon organizers and volunteers put on a wonderful event.  The weather was a little chilly before 7 AM as we were lining up...but it turned out to be quite a nice day.  I've had problems selecting the proper clothing throughout my training, always dressing too warmly...but that day I decided on shorts and my Carle tech t-shirt.  (I had to support my employer since it was the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon.)  I was absolutely freezing prior to the start!  But, I was all warmed up by the first mile marker.

I actually felt great throughout the race.  I was so surprised!  Usually, even on my 3 mile runs, I'm huffing and puffing...I don't feel bad, I just breathe hard.  Not on Saturday...my breathing was controlled the entire time.  I never got a side ache either.  My only pains were in my feet starting around Mile 12.  Pretty darn good.  Even during the race I was thinking about the next one...I think that's a very good sign!

I especially enjoyed reading the signs the spectators had made.  The most popular one I saw was "Run like you stole something."  Another was "Gas is $4/gallon. Keep running."  This lady definitely made me smile...and maybe even giggle as I was running along:

The only bad thing about the day was that my hubby didn't get to see my finish.  He underestimated the difficulty he would have driving to campus and parking.  Plus, I finished a couple minutes before I expected to.  Oh well...I told him he'll just have to make sure he's there the next time!

I also need to give a special thanks to Lora Olenchek.  She gave me lots of great advice and answered many questions that I had.  Thanks so much, Lora!!!

 

Oh, and I finished in 2:07:58!  My goal was 2:10 so I met it!  Now, what should my goal be for next time?  Do you think 2:00 is doable?  We'll have to see!

Here are my stats: 3006/6440 overall, 1300/3708 females, and 277/698 in my division (F 25-29).

RIP Grandpa Rohrer

Grandpa's last Christmas, 2005

Six years ago last Friday (April 29th), my Grandpa Rohrer passed away.  It was not expected but not entirely unexpected either.  He had been on dialysis for awhile and had had two major heart surgeries.  What was really strange was that I knew what had happened as soon as I saw my home phone number pop up on the caller ID.  John and I had stayed in that Friday night and were watching one of the Star Wars movies.  I'm just glad he was there with me.

Creme wafer cookies always remind me of Grandpa.  Those pink, yellow, and brown stick cookies.  I can't remember ever seeing him eat them but I remember Grandma telling me how much he liked them shortly before he passed away.  I LOVE those cookies! 

Of course, I'm reminded of him whenever I talk to Grandma too.  She's so happy that I brought another John into the family.  I don't really think of Grandpa when I think of "my" John though...he was Grandpa Rohrer to me, not John.

I also think of him whenever I watch a Badger game...or a golf match.  He absolutely hated that the Big Ten teams didn't play every other team in the conference and played "cushy" non-conference teams instead.  That annoys me too.

I miss you, Grandpa...but I know you're in a better place and I'll see you again.

My 8th birthday

Crossroads of Twilight

Last night I started Crossroads of Twilight, Book Ten of The Wheel of Time.  This series has not disappointed me yet...and from what I've heard, I've made it through the parts that usually disappoint.  I can't wait to see what happens!

Syzygy

syz·y·gy

[siz-i-jee] 

–noun, plural -gies.

 

1.  Astronomy: an alignment of three celestial objects, as the sun, the earth, and either the moon or a planet: Syzygy in the sun-earth-moon system occurs at the time of full moon and new moon. 

 

2.  Classical Prosody: a group or combination of two feet, sometimes restricted to a combination of two feet of different kinds.

 

3.  any two related things, either alike or opposite.

 

 

I came across this word that I had never heard before while reading my Sports Illustrated this week.  I love that my favorite magazine can expand my vocabulary.

RIP Uncle Randy

Two years ago today, my Uncle Randy succumbed to complications of MS.  Randy was a great person, a very loving guy.

I still think of him quite often, especially when I see a certain patient who also has MS.  It's weird but this patient even sounds like Randy.  I'm not sure if it's because MS affects the voice or if it's just a coincidence...but the patient is a great reminder of a great guy.

This fall, my mom and I are walking the MS Challenge Walk in Door County, Wisconsin in memory of Randy (and in memory of John's Aunt Joan too).  Additionally, we're walking in honor of my Aunt Kim.  MS is a horrible disease and I hope that by walking, I can spread awareness and help raise money for MS research.

Parenthood

No, I'm not becoming a parent...not yet anyway...but I do love the show Parenthood.  Tuesday night was the season finale but I just watched it last night.  It was such an emotional episode.  I admit that this show usually makes me cry at least once during its hour time slot...but I'm sure I cried at least five times last night.  I absolutely adore ALL of the (main) characters...I can't even choose a favorite.  I really, really hope NBC renews it for a third season...and more!

Here's a link to an interesting recap of the last episode.  Love.

A "real" nurse practitioner

I worked the inpatient rehab unit last weekend...and felt like a "real" nurse practitioner for the first time!  On Saturday, a patient fell, which is awful, but I had all the right critical thinking going on and made the right decisions (after a call to my collaborating physician).  I was proud of myself!  It probably helped that the patient was fine too. :)

Then, on Sunday, a patient developed a nasty infection in his incision.  I went back down to the unit just to discuss the plan with him...which could have been done by the nurse...but I had gotten to know this patient pretty well so I wanted to do it myself.  When I got to his room, he told me he felt like he had the flu and thought it was due to the pain medicines that we had changed...but I knew he just didn't look right.  Well, he had a pretty high temperature then so we transferred him back to the acute service for IV antibiotics.  (My first experience with the physician access line too.)  He ended up having surgery.  I was able to see him again because he was on the unit where I teach clinical with the undergraduate students...and he was doing fairly well...waiting to have yet another surgery the next day.  Hopefully he'll get to go back to the rehab unit soon!

While those acute episodes always make for interesting work days, I was glad that I was able to make the right decisions for the patients involved.

Illinois Marathon Half Marathon

I realized last night that I haven't blogged about my half marathon training at all...I guess my Facebook updates have sated my urge to do so.  Until now! :)

The Illinois Marathon is now in its third year, I believe.  The first year it was held on Easter weekend so I didn't participate.  Last year, I ran the 5K with my then-preceptor and now-colleague Amy.  After the run last year I decided that this year I would do the half marathon.

I started my training in February, using a program recommended by my favorite childhood baby-sitter.  She's had lots of great tips for me throughout my training.  Things are going great...and I'm only twelve days away from the big day!  So far my longest run has been 9 miles...and I did that all on the treadmill last Friday because it was not nice outside.  I have also run 8 miles outside and am due for a 10 mile run this Friday that I am bound and determined to complete outside.  I've never been a runner...but I've come to enjoy it.  This morning, I ran 5 miles in just over 46 minutes and it felt great!  I've been kicking myself for not giving in to Mr. Brone's requests that I join the cross country team in high school.

I'm a little nervous about running with so many other people (the half closed at 7700 people)!  Wish me luck!

J. Crew ad

I think I first heard about this ad from someone on Facebook...and then I read this blog post.  I thought her post was interesting...and then was rather shocked by some of the comments (and I read through ALL of them).  James summed up my thoughts perfectly.  I didn't think this lady deserved to be attacked so much for putting her views out there...yikes!

Then, I saw this video posted on Facebook.  And, wow, John Stewart just completely cracks me up.

Check it out.

Book nine already!

I read New Spring so fast I'm already a couple hundred pages into the next book, Winter's Heart.  Of course, it helped that it was only about 300 pages long!  I absolutely loved New Spring.  I read on Wikipedia that Robert Jordan intended New Spring to be the first book of a prequel trilogy of books...but that originally New Spring's reception was not that great so the trilogy was put on hold.  Apparently it's now up to Robert Jordan's wife, Harriet, to decide whether or not it continues...but that may or may not be true. 

So, why did I love it?  I thought it was very interesting to learn about some of the characters before they became who I know them as now...it's like hearing your grandparents tell stories about your parents.  Also, there was some foreshadowing in New Spring...I know things about characters that haven't yet been revealed in the other books. 

Overall, I just love these books!  I'm so glad John convinced me to read them.  I'm getting a little sad already that I only have five books left after this one.

Random fact: According to Wikipedia, the audio of the entire The Wheel of Time series is 17 days, 11 hours, and 30 minutes long...woofda!

Babies, babies, babies!

Ahh, it seems like everyone is having babies these days...and I want one too!!!  But, we're just not quite ready yet.  One of my friends sent me an email with photos like these today...

Ahh...so not helping, Jamine!