Preceptor down, 5 tests and 3 clinicals left

       Well this week has been exciting, I finally finished all my preceptor shifts up at Alta View hospital. I was surprised by the mixed feelings. I don't miss the drive but I do miss all the nurses. It was so much fun to be up there. At times it was hard and I just wanted to quit and be done, but now that it's over I miss it. I was told by 5 of the nurses up there to talk to the nurse manager to see about getting a job there when I finish with school. And honestly I would love it. because then I would actually be getting paid for my work and I'd be able to keep working with all the amazing nurses up there. My preceptor was awesome and all the nurses were willing to let me do anything I could to help and learn. It was so nice to see that the nurses there were all willing to teach. Some of the clinicals I've been on before this semester have been retarded. because the nurses were so frustrated for what ever reason that there were even students there that I hated going to them. I hope that if I ever get the chance to work with students that I will be like the nurses at Alta view and be willing to teach and  help anyway that I can.

       But now that that is all done all I have left is 5 tests (two of them finals) and 3 clinicals left at the state hospital. Personally I would be just fine skipping all of those and just moving forward and trying to get everything together to take the NCLEX-RN, but without those I'm not eligible so I'll just do it and get it over with. :)

      As far as Matt goes, he's doing great! He's teaching the other cadets how to do the homework and tutoring them in everything as well. Because of that he did really good on his pre-test yesterday and he got 97% on his test today. He said that he should've gotten 100% but he made two stupid mistakes and he's upset about it. But he's doing really good. Oh and his fever is finally gone!!! YAY!!!! (Can I just tell you how much I hate not being able to take care of my husband when he's sick?? Drives me freaking crazy!!) But he's doing great now so that's all that matters! His knees are finally doing better now, so depending on how his PT went this morning I might be getting a similar pair of orthodics, granted it wouldn't be for a while but hey as long as it works and it's cheaper then the alternatives I'm all for it.

       But it's back to the homework for me so I'll write again later (probably after finals...)

It's the weekend FINALLY!!!

      So this week has been the busiest week I've had since Matt left, and I'm so glad it's finally OVER!!!!!!!

     This week started for me on Thursday of last week and has been non-stop school/work... Thursday I did a 13 hour preceptor shift, Friday I spent the day at the State Hospital for a clinical, Saturday I worked, Sunday & Monday were both 13 hour shifts at my Preceptor, Tuesday I went to class, Wednesday & Thursday I was up for two more 13 hour shifts, today I've been at the state hospital and tomorrow I work again...  Pretty much I'm ready for Sunday and SLEEP!!!

      K well that's about enough about my week... Matt has been doing good. We had two scares with him early this week. Oddly neither were his fault, he just got to feel the consequences of them both. First we were told that he would have to stay another week at AIT so he wouldn't finish until September 7th because he got called to be part of the squad that honored the Colonel before he gets replaced and wasn't given classing assignments, even though the Sergent that took him out of line told the Sergent in charge of classing that he needs to be given an assignment. Fortunately when Matt found out what happened after spending the day drilling he went and talked to the Sergent that pulled him away who then went and  fixed everything with the Sergent doing the classing assignments, Whew! So he's still set to finish classes on Aug 31st. The next day he woke up with a fever and just feeling gross, but he pushed himself and kept going, so he went to go get his books and was doing decent, until two of the privates decided to leave his books unattended. (they are supposed to be guarded like weapons). So his books were taken away and it was a mess to get them back and he almost had to do 15 hours of fire guard duty. Thankfully again, he was able to go and talk to the Sergent that had taken the books and explained his part of the situation. He was reduced to 2 hours of fireguard and the entire platoon got yelled at for it (because no one would turn themselves in is my guess).  So he calls me that night and I let him know some things he can do to help keep his fever down. Thankfully they've been working and he been doing better. He was able to pass his first PT test and hasn't had to worry too much about his knees bothering him any more. Which I'm so grateful for. We were able to get him some really good insoles while I was out with him and he said they've been helping, but he hasn't used them when he does his running as far as I know. I think he was going to try and do it soon, but I don't know if he ever really did...

       Other then that we've both been loving that we get to talk every night. It's so nice being able to see his expressions and joke around with him more. I'm loving being able to use iChat and Skype when we talk. It kinda makes me feel like we're dating again, except that I don't get to cuddle with him as much as we did when we were dating. But I did get a cuddly buddy!!

       This is a shirt that Matt got me while I was out there. So I put it on the body pillow Matt got me before he left and the result... 

      A Brand new Cuddle Buddy!!! It's not nearly as nice as cuddling with Matt because it can't hold me back, but it works! Especially if I tell my self that it's Matt before falling asleep at night :).


     But I need to get back to homework so I can go to bed before 0200 and wake up for work in the morning.... ugh... But Sunday is coming soon and then I'll get to sleep!! WOOT!!

~~Melanie

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

       Matt got classing assignments!!! YAY!!! Which means his actual classes will start tomorrow and he will finish on Aug 31 assuming he doesn't get sick and kicked back a week.. Please pray that he doesn't!!

Matt's Big Day!

       Well guys today is the day. If Matt starts classes in the morning (Monday) he'll finish Aug 31 and hopefully fly home soon after that. I'm praying that they start tomorrow!

       In other news, Matt's doing great. He's finally able to get an army/marine cut instead of a basic training buzz. Which means he finally has hair on the top of his head and looks normal again! Except that it's super short on the sides. I'll post a picture when he sends me one so you can see. He has his computer now so you can email him instead of letters. Which is SO much nicer. And at nights after he finishes his duties he can get online and we get to talk on skype and iChat. We have to use both programs because the sound quality on iChat is terrible and the video on Skype is terrible (on my end). So we use iChat for the video and Skype/phones for sound. It's nice. I really prefer when we use the phones though... because then I don't have to hear all the cussing from the other guys in his bay. Matt's gotten to the point that he can just block it out and hopefully I'll get to that point too but for now it's just super annoying and drives me nuts... But right now I'll put up with anything because I can actually see him in stead of just guessing what he looks like and all the facial expressions he uses when he talks. (Just one more thing to add to the list of things I didn't know I missed until I saw them again). Umm what else can I tell you... so far he hasn't gotten sick and I'm praying that he won't get sick at all for this half. Because if he misses more then 4 hours of class (not sure if it's in a week or a day... I'm pretty sure it's in a day though...) he'll get recycled back a week. So pretty much he can't be going to sick hall at all during AIT or he'll be gone another week... But that's pretty much it for Matt right now.

       As for me I'm in my final month of nursing school and just started a new exercise movie that I'm hoping will help my knees and get me back to my pre-nursing school weight.... Seriously I think that the reason nurses wear scrubs is to hide their extra nursing school weight... at least that's what it's becoming for me. I'm just glad Matt didn't notice at all when I was out there. Granted after not seeing each other for two months I don't think we noticed much about appearances we were just out of control giddy/happy to finally be together again. But Matt and I are both working on encouraging each other to work out. Me so I can have more energy and (hopefully) better knee strength, him so he can pass his PT test and come home....

        But after a long day up at my preceptor (nursing internship) and another day to look forward too in the morning I'm off to bed so I can wake up and actually be functional. Hopefully I can make it though this next month and still be sane, If not just blame nursing school... and eventually I'll get my sanity back.. ;)

       Night!!

~Melanie

Bad news of the day...

      So basically I'm so over Ft Sill... They put out so many 13 Delta's this year that they have a waiting period for the AIT. So as of right now Matt has been delayed for a week before he'll start his AIT. Which means that the soonest he will be home is September 1st. Which means our week getaway gone and he'll just have to start school the day after he comes home. I'm so thrilled.... But hopefully he's only delayed one week... although at this point I doubt it because they are only doing 15 people per class and they are doing it by last name for the new people. Meaning unless they start two classes next week he'll be delayed again. Joy... But I'll let you know what happens...

Best Trip Ever!!!

       Well my weekend with Matt was unforgettable!! I wouldn't trade it for the world!! We spent most of the time just talking and enjoying being together. And I found out how much I really missed him.... But lets start from the top...

       K so the first day I got there was lame. I got to Lawton, found out they were going to charge $500+ to rent a car fro 4 days. Talk about not happening!! Ended up finding out that the hotel I booked with has a free shuttle that will pick you up from the airport, called them, got to the hotel got all checked in, found out I had originally booked a smoking room (NASTY!!) got that changed and went up to my room. Then I just sat up in my room, talked to Matt until his bedtime, watched TV and went to bed. Woke up the next morning called the Taxi to take me on base to Matt's Family  Day. Ended up waiting at the base for two hours while they got all the Soldiers all in place and set everything up. After watching a bunch of random skits about basic training we were finally allowed to see our soldiers. We got outside in the rain where the soldiers were standing in formation by last name, getting their final instructions from the Drill Sergents. After I found Matt I just stood there and stared at him until his Sergent finished talking. Then I literally ran in high heals into his arms and squealed his name. (Yes it was high pitched and very annoying sounding...) I think I almost hit one of the guys standing next to him because someone said whoa... meh. At that point I didn't care. I was in the arms of the most amazing husband in the world. The world could've ended and I wouldn't have even noticed. I was just that blissfully happy to be back with him. I found out later that even in their class B's they aren't supposed to show affection. But since I'd jumped on him, and he stalled for a min before he wrapped his arms around me, he didn't get into trouble. (Thank you Sgt. Spencer!!). I gave him a quick kiss and we were off for a day of just the two of us. We left and just had a fun time together. We just went back to the hotel room and spent the entire time just talking and cuddling and catching up. For dinner we went to a Chinese place that had been there for 26 years, (which for Lawton, OK is actually pretty impressive, most die after 3-5 years). It was good, it was a buffet family owned restaurant. After that he had to get back to the base. So away we went. We got there a little bit early and he ran up and got all changed into his PT clothes (a gray T-Shirt with black short basketball shorts). It was odd seeing him change from a button up into those. Then we just talked until I was told it was time for me to go. I got to meet a few of the other privates in Matt's Platoon and even got a real kiss out of him because one decided to pressure him into it and I wouldn't leave without one. After that I went and waited for a Cab that I don't think ever came. I ended up getting a ride home from the Sr. Drill Sergent. She was awesome when she wasn't on duty, but wow get her around the other drill Sergents and you didn't mess with her. Especially if she'd given someone a command. After she dropped me off I went up to my room and got ready for bed and missed Matt like crazy, but was so happy about the day we'd had together I was still on cloud 9.

       The next day I got to watch Matt Graduate. It was fun watching him and seeing all the privates walk across the stage and get their rewards. Sadly Matt walked so fast I wasn't able to get any good pictures of him... :( but we did get the Graduation DVD!! So hopefully that turned out better then my pictures did!! After graduation he had me meet a few more people and then we took off for a few hours before he had to report back for his AIT. After that I just sat and waited for his call for me to come get him. Sadly it never came, and I ended up just going and getting him. (With the help of Pvt. Styler and his Dad, who had a car). Once we were finally together again (After 5 hours of waiting) we went with the Styler's to Olive Garden for dinner. It was sooooo good!! Matt and I both got fun drinks and just enjoyed the company and the food. Mostly Pvt. Styler and Matt just talked about basic. His dad and I just talked about farming, what things I do to stay entertained while Matt's gone, and all the things that I can do. At which point I was asked why I even keep Matt around, it made me laugh. Other then that we mostly just sat and listened to the boys talk about Basic. Until we finished dinner and went back to the hotel. And I enjoyed ever second of my sleep in Matt's arms. It was so nice to be able to hear his snoring at night and to feel him close to me.

       When we woke up we were lazy and basically stayed in bed until the last second we could before we had to get down for breakfast. We  had waffles, bacon, eggs, and sausage, it was really good. After that we spent the day just being together, going to see Airbender (I really liked it and yes I have seen the TV series), got him a swimsuit that actually fits him, went to look at some shorts for him (mostly just to see his face when he put them on, I know I'm terrible, but it was HILARIOUS!!!), then we went and got some lunch, went to walmart, got all three of the original TMNT movies, chicken run, insoles for him, make up for me (So I wouldn't rip my eyes out while I was there), then went back to the hotel to look at pictures and just talk. I ended up falling asleep  for a few min while he tried to figure out what was going on with his computer. It was interesting. Somehow the battery was broken on it, the mouse was broken, and all his settings were changed. So we ended up going to the big PX, getting him a mouse that works, looked for a camel back for him, didn't find one that he liked, a new shaver for him, and a Garment back for his Class A's and Class B's. There were a few things that we were thinking about getting to bring home but I was running out of room in suitcase so we decided that Matt would either just mail it home or else just get it when he comes home. Because he'll have room for it once he gets rid of all his gear. So we'll see what happens. After that we went and just chilled and went swimming at the hotel. It was fun, there were two little girls swimming in the indoor pool so Matt and I played with them. It was so cute to watch him interacting with them!! He would basically do anything that they asked him to do and just played like a little kid. It made me kid hungry, but mostly it just made me fall even more in love with him. Seriously how did I luck out with such an amazing guy?! But after the pool we took hot showers and gave each other messages. Mostly it ended up being me giving Matt one (because I have a very low pain tolerance when he gives me messages, which is actually kinda weird to me because if any one else gives me a message I tell them to go as hard as they want, but not Matt).  I really don't know how he made it though basic with all the knots that he had. Seriously just lightly touching his body you could feel all the knots he had. It was insane. Especially since when he was home he'd have me work on the knots that he was getting before they even got close to that. After that Matt worked on my lower back for a while until I couldn't handle how deep he had to go to get the knots out, so then we just cuddled up in bed and watched a few episodes of Merlin. So hopefully we'll be able to watch them "together" while he's gone. Although I doubt it because I'll probably spend all the time that he has on the computer just talking to him. Unless he watches one while I can't talk and then I watch it later that night or something. But most likely we'll just wait until he gets home to finish watching all the ones on Hulu.

       Sunday we were even lazier and got up for breakfast then crawled back into bed to cuddle and talk. Until we got a call from Pvt Styler and his dad about going to church. So we went with them to a family ward. Mostly I just enjoyed being with Matt in church again. I never realized how much I missed having him there with me until he was sitting next to me again holding my hands and letting me scratch his back. Even if he did mostly just sleep though all of Sacrament and Sunday school. (I found out later that day that sleeping together kept waking him up because he couldn't figure out who was next to him:{ ). After Sunday School Matt took me by the hand to escort me to RS (or so I thought), but we ended up skipping priesthood and RS because he didn't want to be apart from me :). We ended up just walking around outside of the church just talking and being together, until it started raining. Then we just went inside and sat in the foyer and just talked. Styler ended up coming out later and talked to us. I guess he thought that we were uncomfortable being there because we didn't stay for classes.  But Matt explained that he just didn't want to have spend an hour away from me when this weekend was all we were going to get for two months. Which he understood and so we all just sat there talking. When his dad came out we all went and got ice cream, doughnuts, hot chocolate and fries. Matt got a brownie sundae, and I just got a peanut butter cup ice cream. It was good, Matt and I scared ours and just joked around a lot. After that we all went back to our separate hotels and just enjoyed the night.

      The next morning was hard. I knew that our time was coming to an end and it felt like I couldn't look at him without wanting to cry. So mostly we just sat in the room, him holding me while I cried and got all packed up. Matt kept teasing me that I wouldn't be able to fit everything in my suitcase. But I did get everything to fit with a little bit of room to spare. It was awesome. After that we checked out of the hotel and went to the airport. I was so happy that Matt was able to stay with me for most of the time that I waited for plane. He ended up leaving at 1330 to get back to his bay by 1400.  And I just waited for about 20 more min until my plane got there for us to board it. It didn't really hit me that I wouldn't be seeing him again until I landed in Dallas airport. And right when I was starting to feel all the loneliness creeping back into my life I got a call from my lover boy telling me that he missed me and that he was so glad we got to have such an amazing weekend together. I don't think he really knew at the time how much I needed him to do that. He did it again when I landed in Salt Lake and made sure that I knew he was thinking about me and would be calling me more often and sending me emails. I didn't think that he would send on that night because I'd been with him and on the phone, but to my happy surprise when I got home I had an email waiting for me from him. Now every chance that I get I read his emails and send him off emails. I can't even begin to tell you all how much I love the fact that we'll get to email now. It'll save money on postage, be quicker, and actually feel like he's really here with me. When it was just the letters I would look forward to getting them and struggle though the days that none came, but now it'll be just like when we were dating. Just better in some ways and worse in others ways. And every night since I left him he's called just to tell me goodnight and that he loves me. It's been so nice to have that again!!

      But I need to get started on all the homework I let go while I spent the weekend in heaven. So I'll write again later.

~Melanie