Back to Civilization

So we haven't really blogged since being back in the states. This is mostly due to the fact that we've been so busy and didn't have internet for a minute there. The internet is still giving issues because I can't seem to get the wireless router to work, but with some patience and calling the help desk for my computer and our router should hopefully fix the problem soon. It's just really annoying and highly aggrevating for me. On a much more cheerful note I got some beautiful packages from Grandma Baader with these lovely clothes in them. One had a bunch of tops and matching earrings while the other had this sweet, pink patio dress and matching earrings. What's funny is that her travel group is going through the Amish country in Indiana where Michael's from and he's very familiar with it. He thought that was "so cool."

Anyway, since we've been back we've done all of our "post deployment" briefings, etc. We went on leave for two weeks, which was wonderful. The first week was spent in CA with Dad and Kris and all four kitties. It was a lovely visit and we got to see a lot of the California trails and foothills during spring time. The wild flowers are incredible that time of year and just paint the mountain sides. We then drove to AZ and visited with one of Mike's closest friends from his time in the Marines. Joe and Sylvia have a beautiful family with a new baby, a one year old, and a nine year old daughter. I took a lot of pictures and Mike had all the kids in the neighborhood playing in the park every afternoon after they all got back from school. I also got to visit with my Uncle Art and two cousins Wes and Jeff and we saw Mike's cousin Darlene (the one giving me the art lessons) and Mike's mom (very briefly) when his mom flew into Phoenix for her connecting flight back up to Alaska.

Before we went on leave we moved into our new house on post. It's a sweet little one story, three bedroom, two bathroom house that suits our needs well. We have pretty minimal furniture in it right now with the only complete room in the house being the kitchen. We have a simple dining room set and piles of books on the the floor. Our first load of household goods came in about a week ago and so we're sorting through it all. We've also got the beginnings of a home gym in our garage. Don't worry, pictures will be posted eventually as we start finishing up rooms on the house. Michael needs to get going on the bookshelves because these books are overtaking our living room. I'm also working on having my furniture in VA delivered over here. Our washer and dryer come in on Monday. So things are coming together.

I've been cooking up a storm. I didn't realize how much fun it is and how much I missed it until I got to really start doing it again. So far I haven't made a bad meal yet. Michael has loved all of them as well. It's always nice to cook for someone who likes what you make. Right now I've got a chicken stock simmering on the stove for some chicken soup tonight. One of Michael's favorite meals is soup and sandwiches. This round of soup will be done with barley and the next round will be done with those rice noodles found in Pho. The house smells really good. I think one of my favorite smells is garlic and onion sauteeing in olive oil. Whenever I get that going Michael always starts exclaiming, "THIS HOUSE SMELLS GOOD!" He'll come out of whatever he's doing just to make that statement. It makes me smile.

I've also started working at the ER now. I got the job all lined up and now I'm in training. The schedule has been pretty intense, but it's lightening up now that the training portion is calming down. It's 12 hour shifts and thankfully I have the day shift from 0700-1900. The schedule is you're on for two days then off two days then on three days then off two days then on two days then off three days, repeat. So you have a three day weekend every other week and work three days every other week. It's not that bad so far. I actually love the job and it's confirmed that I want to stay in the medical field. One of the interesting things about being back in a medical environment is that 1) you lose a lot of what you've learned when you don't do it that frequently and 2) what you've lost comes back very quickly when you're in that environment on a regular basis. It's like a foreign language.

So it was really humbling to realize how much of the knowledge I'd lost after being on a deployment where I didn't really use it on a regular basis, but at the same time all the knowledge is flowing back now that I'm in a hospital. Plus, I get to do all kinds of cool things now like IVs, draw blood, EKGs, irrigate wounds, watch on the fly surgeries and assist with them where I can, see all the different procedures nurses and doctors do, etc. It's amazing I have to say. AND nurses really do all the work. I've met some really hard working nurses that are so cool and they're very inspiring. They just have these calm attitudes and are confident in what they do and just bust their butts taking care of the patients. It's truly amazing to watch. So I'm much happier with my job now and feeling invigorrated to get going with school.

Speaking of school I've signed up for three classes: my 2nd pre-calculus class, nutrition, and an intro to chemistry that's required for the higher level chemistry I'll be needing (organic chemistry, oh my). I'm getting ready to get going on homework once I'm finished writing this. So all in all I'm pretty busy, but I was telling Michael last night that I'm just really and truly happy right now. I'm happy with our life and where it's heading and I'm happy to be accomplishing my goals and to be in a job that I believe in and look forward to everyday. So even though we've got a rather humble existence right now with practically no furniture and piles of stuff everywhere being sorted through and things are rather hectic with my schedule and I feel like there's not enough time in a day sometimes, I'm just plain happy.