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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

my girl.



Before flying home on Monday, I spent the day in Tampa with Kate and Rhonda. I couldn't believe how much she had grown up in just 6 months! We went to the aquarium and got lost in conversation all afternoon. It was so fabulous spending the day with them! =)

my platonic bestie.

It was ultra fabulous getting to see lots of old friends when I was home, you know the type that you know you will have fun with regardless of what you're doing just because you are together!? In particular, it was super exciting to spend time with Jordan. Last Christmas, we celebrated his new job and when he left Gainesville, I was incredibly sad about the 3 hour drive between us. This Christmas, we celebrated an engagement and I left Florida even more sad about the 4 hour direct flight between us now that I moved out to LA. Of all the changes that have happened in the past year, one thing that hasn't changed is the pictures we take when we drink wine together.... i heart my platonic bestie.


Saturday, December 27, 2008

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

dirty santa.

Every Christmas Eve, the Hallams host a fabulous gathering called "dirty santa". I have been so very lucky to be included in the tradition the past two years. This year, I went home with a book entitled "How to Traumatize Your Children", Taylor received a Richard Nixon plate and Tammy got post cards with adorable animals adorned with awesome messages like "I'm sleeping with your best friend". Some families bake cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve; I'm glad I've been adopted into the family that spends it laughing over absurdity.









Monday, December 15, 2008

wishful thinking.

There's no place like home!
There's no place like home!
There's no place like home!

Monday, December 08, 2008

cardinals.




tailgating with the girlfriends at the cardinals game in phoenix over the weekend...

Friday, December 05, 2008

i can do anything for two years.

It's a rarity to find your traditional "feeder/growers" in my neonatal unit. I was super excited the other night to get my hands on a baby stable enough to be held. Most nights I am titrating drips to maintain adequate blood pressures, increasing oxygenation to normalize blood gases or starting IVs to gain additional access to our tiny babies (I've successfully started three in the past 2 weeks!). I don't think a NICU exists quite like Children's Hospital's anywhere else. I've seen the rarest disease processes (babies without brains), cared for the sickest/smallest micropreemies (weighing less than a pound), and even made my first trip to the morgue the other night... At times, my job is incredibly challenging but the knowledge I'm gaining will be so valuable to the rest of my career. I can do anything for two years, right Megalina?

Monday, December 01, 2008

orphaned feast.


The day after Thanksgiving, one of my friends from Gainesville who works at UCLA as a nurse invited me over for an orphaned feast. Her mom was here visiting and cooked an incredible meal for all of us "orphans". She even DVR'ed the Macy's Parade and played it while we indulged in in dinner. =)