Glendale Glitters

It's that time of year again... Glendale Glitters, and Jayla was a star on stage!! This is something we'll be looking forward to for years to come. However, I have a feeling nothing will top this year (you'll see why).

Before I continue with this post I have to share Jayla recently moved up in dance class before her performance at Glendale Glitters. Immediately she was asked to move up again, so we waited until this recital was over and made the switch from the "Level One 4 & 5 year-olds" to the "Level Two 4 & 5 year-olds". Let's just say most of the kids are 5 years old (going on six) and there is even one 6 year old. Jearel and I both were a little nervous to see how she would do, but she's been AMAZING to watch. Her dance teacher re-assured us that this is where Jayla belongs. She told us she has amazing listening skills, she is extremely coordinated, and picks up on the dance steps faster than most. What's even more crazy about this dance class it's not just tap the toe and jump around, it's actual five-step moves "shuffle hop step... (and so on)" with out watching the teacher. We are so proud of her. She truly LOVES to dance and LOVES being on stage.

Now on to Glendale Glitters. Of course, Jayla's performance was the Saturday of the opening weekend. It's always extra busy that weekend and makes it that much more fun for us... NOT! Because of this we don't usually get the chance to enjoy Glendale Glitters, instead we just hang out in the huge grassy area behind the main stage and catch up with everyone who makes it out to see Jayla. I think this year she had the biggest cheering crowd yet. It really means so much to us, especially Jayla, that so many people take the time to fight the crowds, stay up late, and watch our little star shine. Friends from nursing school, neighbors, family and our besties were all there. THANK YOU!!!!!!

Jayla (aka Cindy Lou Who- the theme this year was "Whoville")

Jayla and Avery (silly Avery)

We are hoping to Avery will be shining on stage next year :-)

Jayla and Daddy on stage together. Now you know why it was so special!

Jayla's shirt and tutu were handmade with love by Mommy!!!
Hair by mommy too.

Jayla's first dance on stage. I missed the opportunity to grab video of this. Thankfully another mom had one to share. You'll find Jayla on the left side, second one in from the middle. At one point she got the tinsel stuck in her Cindy Lou hair do. There were tears, but then she snapped right back into character!



Here's Jayla and Daddy. You might want to grab some tissues...
Auntie Sarah grabbed a much better video that I'm waiting on. I'll post that one later, along with better pictures if I can get any of those from the family?! Thanks Auntie Camille for the ones of Avery and Jay (my fave).

Jayla's 3rd Dance Recital

I can't help but laugh at myself, because I attempted to put this post up on September 9th (it's only been sitting in my drafts since then). Man I can't wait to stop being so busy so I can document all these great memories of Jayla. Anyways, the reason I am forcing myself to finish this post now is that Jayla has another dance recital tonight!!! Yep her 4th one and to think her 3rd one was on July 9th. Geez, I'm terrible!!! So here it goes...

Jayla has been in dance for well over a year and a half. Crazy how time flies!! She takes both tap and ballet at the same place she's been in gymnastics, for almost 2 years now (that's all thanks to Grandma Riley). She is quite the performer and absolutely LOVES being on stage. She did amazing in this last recital. We cannot wait to see her two performances TONIGHT, at Glendale Glitters (one extra special dance with her daddy on stage--melts my heart).

Here's her summer dance class (more girls are always in class, but somehow they never do the show. It does get expensive, but wouldn't trade it for anything).
Reese, Jayla, and Lucy

Jayla loves the camera.

This was dress rehearsal night (the only night I was able to take pictures and video, since they sent in the professionals the night of the show).

Jayla was SPOILED rotten from her #1 fans (her friends and family) the night of the show.

Again, dress rehearsal night (she hates sharing the spotlight -haha).

My FAVORITE picture of my little star!

She never stops dancing...

Here are her two dances the night of dress rehearsal. Again, they had a professional come in and take video and pictures the night of the show, which I would share if only I knew how to get those videos off the DVD and on to youtube?! They did a MUCH better job recording than I did. Plus, it shows the AWESOME backdrops and lights used during their "Movie Night"--not pictured here.




Since this dance recital Jayla was asked to move up to the 4-5 year old's class. She's been doing so great that her teacher has requested another change after tonight's recital. We are sooooo proud of her. I have to mention she's rocking in gymnastics too. She's with the 4-5 year old's as well, and is out shinning them (she can do a cart-wheel on her own, and rocks at the "bars"). We LOVE our little star!!

Jayla Starts Pre-School

September 7th marked Jayla's first day of school.
She was SUPER excited!!!!

Daddy took the morning off so he could take her on her very first day.

Mommy of course, had to miss out because of school!! I made Jayla get ready nice and early, for a photo opp. Thankfully I had a short day of clinicals so I was able to pick her up :-)

At school, before Daddy said his goodbyes.
We all thought Jayla was going to cry on her first day. She's never been in the care of anyone besides Grandma and Nana. Well, she didn't cry!! I got the call from daddy that she was such a big girl, she walked away from daddy, waving goodbye with nothing but smiles on her face. This made mommy cry (daddy cried too). We are so proud of our big girl!!

Jayla and one of her teachers, Miss Daye.

What school does to my child... I'm sure you all know she hates sleep!!

Jayla attends a small intimate pre-school with only 17 kids, ages 3-5. After months and months of searching for the perfect school, we found the COOLEST place. We put Jayla on a wait-list before she turned 3, because we knew it would take forever to get into this school. Thankfully she was accepted, but only because they opened up a second school! I couldn't imagine taking her any other place.

Some of the things I absolutely love about her school:

1. They still say the pledge of allegiance every morning :-)
2. The kids must have a packed lunch daily, so they get in the habit of being responsible for their own lunches (opening and all).
3. They follow dysart school district's curriculum.
4. They have PE, art, and music classes (all taught by teachers from the local elementary school)
5. They do a food drive over the holidays and take the kids down to a shelter to help feed the homeless (it was on the news last year :-)).
6. The drop-off/pick-ups are just like the real deal. You pull up in a single line, waiting your turn to drop off your kid and watch them walk away to school (how nice is it to NOT get out).
7. Jayla's teachers are the SWEETEST people you will ever meet.
8. They believe in a safe environment which includes, being SANITARY; constant washing of the hands/hand sanitizer. When we toured the school, kids were put on different duties of the week. If even one kid sneezed/picked their nose/etc, the teacher was getting "Germinator" to walk over with the hand-sanitizer to disperse to the kid. They also, have a red/yellow/green light behavioral program, which means 3 reds and you are kicked out of the school. They've only needed to kick one kid out for biting (this was before Jayla's time).
9. I was HIGHLY impressed with their educational program. They are VERY structured and organized! Nothing like I've seen before.
10. Jayla LOVES it!

Mommy ditched school one morning to drop her off, and this was the fun we had while waiting....

So far Jayla really LOVES school! She is excited to go, and excited to tell me all about it when her day ends. She has made several new friends, mostly boys (just like her mama). Mathew, Hudson, and Tyler are the ones she talks about the most. And then she occasionally talks about Kayla and Emily. She told us one day that a boy with "orange hair" stole her grapes during lunch. I laughed, and daddy was ready to have a little chat with a four year old. HAHA!
She LOVES PE, music, and art. I think she loves those days the best. She's participated in show and tell, and a bear hunt. She's already learned so much like, her alphabet in sign language, knowing what sounds go to which letters (she points to her books and sounds out the letters, as if she is about to start reading the words, it's so cute), how to write several letters, how to tell time (there's more but she already knew them)... Most important, she's come home with a green star everyday!!! Jayla on good behavior! WHAT?! I need to take notes from her teacher-HA!

You are welcome for the Jayla update ;-)

On to Another Semester

August 11 marked my last day of my first semester. We all got a five day summer break and are now onto the next semester. I made a whole list of things that I wanted to accomplish in those 5 days, like cleaning my house, catching up on this blog (I have so much to post about Jayla) and blog comments, painting Jayla's room, etc., but instead, I spent some much needed play time, with Jayla and some of my closest friends. I was lucky enough to spend an entire weekend at Hotel Valley Ho, RELAXING by the pool, enjoying cocktails, and FINALLY getting a tan, with my best friend Sarah. I also FINALLY made it over to play with Camille and beautiful Avery. And wouldn't you know during my break we had six hours of school work and eight hours of Banner learning center modules to complete. Gotta LOVE nursing school!

And now I am onto my second semester. It's crazy to believe I have a little less than a year left...

In our first two days back I learned how to care for patients pre-op/post-op, already started clinicals at Banner Thunderbird Hospital (my very first day), and how to insert a catheter in patients of all ages, male and female. Next week in clinicals I will be using these skills as I get to take care of real patients pre-op/post-op, be present in the OR room to observe a 4-5 hour surgery (I CAN NOT wait for this)... The list goes on, but I wanted to share what's the most exciting for me!!

In the meantime I wanted to share some video's from friends I have met along the way.
The first video was made for an aesthetics project by a fellow classmate, Alicia. This video is my class/cohort of the 2012 accelerated nursing students. I love this video because it pieces together our entire first semester so well.




These next two videos are from the 2011 accelerated nursing students, who just graduated August 5th. They were the first accelerated class to graduate from the downtown campus, and the first to have a summer graduation ceremony. We were told when we started that the summer graduating classes needed to wait until December to walk with all ASU grads, but this class pushed for a summer ceremony and one that only honors the nursing students.

These videos were created by Bethany (who was the College Council of Nursing Students President), the first one was her aesthetics project, and the second is her speech from graduation. I had the opportunity through CCNS to help out with their graduation and truly loved Bethany's speech. It was such an inspiration to be a part of this special day. We all need reminders from time to time, to help get us through this intense program.





I also wanted to leave you with this...

"BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING (BSN) has been chosen as the TOUGHEST course among all the courses including MBBS, BCOM, Bca, IAS, IPS and ENGINEERING by the Guinness Book of World Records, on 18 MAY 2011. It has 64 university exams + 130 series exams + 174 assignments within 4 years (max 1000 working days)."

If I am missing forever again, you'll know why.
Thank you to all my friends and family for, believing, dealing, and being there for me. I love you all and can't do this with out you!

ASU College of Nursing and Health Innovation

~Drum roll please~

As of May 16th I officially became an ASU nursing student. It's hard for me to believe I only have two more weeks left of my first semester. It's been a crazy journey so far; intense, no life/no sleep, and believe it or not, FUN! I've already learned so much. I've met the most amazing people (I will explain some of them along with the pictures), they are my savior, and my strength. If it wasn't for the friends I have made, there is no way I would still be standing. This program is like no other and even though I knew it would be hard, I never fully grasped the reality of it (kinda like having a kid, you don't really know until you have one, so I wouldn't expect anyone to fully understand my intense schedule).

But in case you want to try...

Here is my weekly schedule... Monday I wake up around 4:30am, do school work for about an hour, get ready, head out the door by 6:30am, head to school, first class is 3 hours long, then a one hour lunch, and then off to another 3 hour class, then headed for home (typically there is a group project to do and we all stay), I head home, eat dinner, then do school work, usually until 12-2am... Tuesday we have labs ALL day (repeat of 4:30am wake up, and coming home to eat and then school work all night). Wednesday is our longest day of the week (pharmacology for 4 hours, and then Nursing Attributes for 4 hours), it's a KILLER (same wake up time, and same routine when I get home)! Thursdays are our clinical/community days. I'm usually in Mesa or Tempe on these days, but next semester I will be on this side of town (same wake up time, and same routine when I come home). And then finally, FRIDAY, we only go half the day, one class :-). However, we typically, (AGAIN) have group work to get done which requires us to stay. Friday I try not to touch any school stuff when I get home, but that is usually impossible, because I would fall FAR behind. Saturday and Sunday guess what I do?! SCHOOL WORK!!! I hope you get the idea now-HA!!

Here's a fun article to read relating to the life of nursing students, we often are looking for a good laugh...
http://studentnurse.tripod.com/youwanna.html

I also wanted to mention that I was chosen to be on the CCNS, College Council of Nursing Students, which is a great honor. We run fundraisers, join walks, help with events on campus, volunteer work, etc. We host parties. Most importantly we are a voice for our class.

If you are wondering what keeps me awake, these are a must DAILY!

My pictures are way out of order since I started this post over a month ago!

We have experienced soooo much, and there are so many things I would love to share (pictures and stories), but I can't because of HIPAA laws. Just know that my heart is forever changed. I'm so fortunate to be in this position, even though I may complain from time to time I couldn't be happier.

Lab days :-)
I couldn't miss the opportunity to capture our first injections...
Mia, my partner in crime, my boo, my BFF in school, was getting ready to stab me!

Team work!!

She's "blessing my butt"

This is actually our second stab of the day.

My turn :-)

I love Mia's face here!

Just not here. Don't worry I did not hurt her!

Oscar and I with part of our preschool project.

Fun times in the community, with a bunch of 3 to 5 year olds.

I promise I was excited to give the kids their certificates!

In my cohort there are 70 students total. All 70 of us meet for our theory class work, and then on lab days and clinical days we are divided up into learning communities of 10 students per community.

This is part of my community (just the girls), and our FOR (faculty of record), Linda. Our learning communities change every semester :-(. Just a few more weeks left with these ladies!!

These pictures were taken at the preschool we spent time at.

Here's a whole group shot!!

We also spent time at a retirement community.
Ivy (in pic below) and I got to know one very special volunteer in the 4 weeks we spent there.
We created a wellness plan for our well elder.
I would tell you more, but I can't.

We spent a lot of time at Oregano's in Mesa, between clinicals.

Zack and Janis (love them)

Shorty Mia and Anna Banana (my favorite girls)

Ivy and I (love her too, and I am happy she's in my learning community next semester as well)

And this is in the VERY BEGINNING of it all. After my very first day of classes, there was a pinning ceremony, known as "The Lighting of the Lamp". We were able to invite friends and family to honor the beginning of our success. The ceremony was powerful, emotional, and fun. We had a few good speakers (including the dean), an amazing video that brought tears to many, and a pinning, along with lighting the lamp in honor of Florence Nightingale.
I was so lucky to be surrounded by friends and family this evening.
Thank you so much!!

Here I am getting called on stage.

Jearel was told to get lots of pictures...

The lamp symbolizing Florence Nightingale.

Jeremy and I
(My (and Jearel's) dear friend, who is such a great support)

Sarah, Camille, and Vanessa
(these girls are my best friends, my everything)

The dean gave an amazing speech about how nursing school is going to be tough and we must handle it "one bite at a time". He posted this picture on the projector screen, symbolizing nursing school as the carrots and the bunny as the students (how overwhelmed we will feel). "Just one bite at a time"... We all got this to take home!

My Auntie Suzy and cousin Candy
(I have the best family)

My biggest support and my hardest struggle, they both see me at my worst and have to put up with me. I know there are times Jearel does not know what to say or do, but he is always there for me and I can't thank him enough for that! Jayla is my biggest motivator, even though she constantly says "mommy don't go to school anymore". It breaks my heart!!

The celebration continued with a yummy dinner and of course great company!

Love these boys!

Jearel's dad, step-mom, and sister.

Jayla and Avery playing

I like to say this is half of the crazy, fun mess I got myself into ;-)

Again, (out of order), lunches at Oregano's!!

Now you know about my insanity and where I've been...

The Garrett's have a lot to share too. I hope to get a few more posts up soon!