Fortunate.

It is 10:50pm, I am up working on some pharmacology study guides and a patient write-up for psychology, my lovely wife has gone to bed (along with the furry kids); and I feel fortunate.  I am beyond lucky to be where I am, and to be succeeding.  I really dislike school work, I really dislike feeling so far away from my Erin, I really dislike staying up late and being nervous about school work; but again, I am so fortunate.

This whole journey so far in nursing school gives me a whole mix of emotions.  Nervous, stressed, overwhelmed, scared, excited, accomplished, empowered, smart, not so smart, tired, cranky, and happy.  I find that I am already thinking of when it is over (so much for living in the moment, right?).  The people I have met in this program I have bonded with so quickly and it will be strange to not have daily/weekly interactions with them.  Is the saying, "misery loves company" appropriate here?  Or, just the idea that relationships are built in stressful situations?  I never really made any friends during my community college experience.  Not to say that is comparable to the intensity I am experiencing now.  This is a journey unlike any I have ever been on.  I am so fortunate to have such a supportive wife, loving family and friends.  I could not do what I do without them.  I wouldn't be where I am without them! I have such an amazing support system that surrounds me with love and laughter.  I try to remember this at least once everyday.

This past weekend was pretty full...just not with much school work.  It seems, in talking with a few friends today, the weekend was more fun than school work filled.  We just had our first exam and a quiz, so it seems appropriate to have given myself a slight break this past weekend.  Now to play catch up!  Friday, I spent a couple hours with the adorable twins that have recently come into our lives.  Always a highlight to my week when I get in some baby snuggles. There is nothing else like it!  I actually had a second visit with the other twins in my life; I baby-sat 15 month old twins Friday evening.  Another high point to my week!   Saturday, Erin and I took Jackson for a long walk, participated in our street cleaning and tried a new local deli for a late breakfast, which was delicious!  Later that evening, just before we left for the evening, I dropped my iPhone in the toilet...oh yes.  I am usually so careful with my phone, but I was being careless, in a hurry and had my phone in my back pocket while in the bathroom.  I heard the phone hit and took a second to realize what happened.  Without thinking, I shoved my hand in the toilet water to rescue my sinking phone.  I ripped it out of the case, dried it with the hand towel and put the hair dryer on it for a few.  Somehow, it seems the swim my phone took has had no effect on it!!  SO SO FORTUNATE!! After my minor panic attack (again, so so sorry Erin) we met up with my school friend and her boyfriend for dinner and to see Jim Gaffigan.  It was hilarious!!  Sunday, Erin and I got up and went with her family to NYC to see her brother and his boyfriend and their new AMAZING apartment, in the Upper West Side.  WOW!  It is unbelievable!!  We also walked through Times Square and saw the 9/11 memorial and Freedom Tower.  It was a great day.  I then had to stay up a little late Sunday evening to finish up an assignment that was due first thing this morning.  Whew, I am tired!

Today, was a pretty uneventful day at the hospital, although I felt it was my most productive day so far.  I participated in a few group meetings and had some interesting conversations with some of the patients.  Later this evening, we met some friends at our local pizza place to have delicious pizza and their delicious beers.  And again, I sit up to finish up/catch up on school work.  This program is going by a lot faster than I realized it would.  I am trying my best to stay in the moment, to enjoy the exciting parts, to learn from the challenging times and to make it through, smiling.  How fortunate I am!!