I told dad to get a picture because I probably will never get the chance to take a picture of my dad and Lucas together in scrubs before going into surgery together.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
April 7th, 2015 ~ Sigma Theta Tau Induction Ceremony
In order to be invited to joint the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing I had to meet certain criteria. Only those who have completed half of the nursing curriculum, achieve academic excellence and rank in the upper 35th percentile in my graduating class were invited. I have worked so very hard in nursing school and so it was an honor to be invited! There was an induction ceremony where they talked about the Nevada chapter, what it means to be apart of the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing and presented us with the award or certificate. Dad was able to end clinic early that day and we were able to go to the Clark County Library at 5:30pm for the induction ceremony. We celebrated by going to Olive Garden for dinner right after!
Ken, Kevin, HL, Jackie and I were all inducted into Sigma Theta Tau
All of the NSC nursing students that were inducted, from accelerated, regular and part time tracks.
Professor K (or Chicken as the code name for her goes), she is my community teacher currently. Right before taking this picture she had some interesting things to say to my parents and husband. She is known for her strictness and other things. Before taking this pictures she said how I am timid and that with being pushed I am a hard worker but that I need to be pushed and that after this semester she won't be there to push me and that Lucas needs to step in and push me in order for me to do well (which isn't true, she didn't push me at all, except maybe into insanity and I don't need pushing). Then she said to not slouch and have bad posture. Which i was slouching so I wouldn't tour over her. I am just happy the semester is almost over!
April 5th 2015 ~ Easter
Easter morning we watched general conference and made egg McMuffin's, they were delicious and we feasted upon the word.
President Utchdorf said something during conference that I really liked. He said It is by grace we are saved after all we can do. After does not equal because- we are not saved because all we do. He also said that we follow the commandments of God out of love for him.
After general conference we decorated our easter eggs and headed over to the Tielemans house for easter festivities. We did our traditional egg decorating contest, which Lucas won AGAIN, and we did the egg rolling contest. I was in the final round and my egg hadn't cracked yet but I lost to Berkley's egg.
March 30th & 31st 2015 ~ San Diego Spring Break
For spring break all of the Utley cousins went to aunt Catherine's condo in Del Mar. We also rented out the condo next to aunt Catherine's, which is her brother-in laws. Liz rode with us to California and it was a nice car ride catching up with her and hearing about being a new nurse. Lucas, Liz and I were only able to stay for 2 days but it was well worth it! It was fun going to the beach and hanging out with everyone! We went to the movie theater and saw Cinderella at night on the 30th, it was a really cute movie and all the boys wondered how we roped them into seeing a chick flick.
March 31st
Monday, November 30, 2015
March 23, 2015 ~ ER visit
Lucas and I had both had allergies very bad for more then a week. I wasn't sure if it was a cold or allergies because I usually don't get allergies and so I was taking a cold and allergy pill everyday. On Saturday and Sunday I was getting sicker so I laid low and tried to sleep at much as possible because I couldn't get sick and miss school because we were presenting a group project to the SNHD nurses on Friday March 27th.
Sunday night I took my cold/allergy pill and I also took an herbal pill before going to bed. I woke up at 2am in sweats and my heart racing. Not only did I have a presentation on March 27th but I had an exam the next day, March 28th. So since I was awake and laying in bed for an hour because I couldn't fall back asleep because of my racing heart I went downstairs to study because I thought minus well make this time productive since I can't sleep. As I was studying my heart kept racing and come to find out the herbal pill I took had caffeine in it, so I knew I was going to continue to be wide awake. As I was studying though I started to feel really sick. I was getting worse but continued to study. After a while I couldn't take it so I went to the bathroom to try and throw-up, and I couldn't so I thought I would try and make myself because I knew I would feel better. After throwing up I didn't feel any better. After studying for more then 3 hours I decided to go back to bed since Lucas would be waking up for work soon. After he woke up I told him what was going on and he said I was crazy for studying for the last 3 hours and that I should have looked on the bottle before taking any herbal thing. I told him it was a stupid mistake and I told him that I would try and sleep and he went to work.
I started to have more stomach flu-like symptoms after he left for work and I went to the bathroom probably 4 times in about 2 hours. At about 10am my heart was still racing and I was laying on the couch downstairs feeling like I was going to die. Out of curiosity I took my apical pulse and it was 135. With finding this I decided to call my heart doctor, no one answered so I decided to call my dad. After telling my dad all of my symptoms and the whole story he said to try and call Dr. Bower again and he would also call him. Dad got ahold of Dr. Bower who said he was at Siena doing procedures and that I should go to the Siena ER where he could meet me. After hearing this I called mom to tell her I needed to got to the ER and to come get me. I then tried to get ahold of Lucas, who didn't answer his phone since he was at work and so I called his work phone. I got ahold of Lucas who stepped away and called me because he knew I wasn't feeling well and told him what was going on. Lucas left work and picked me up to go to the ER. Mom and Bryant met us at the ER.
Lucas dropped me off at the ER doors and went to park. At the check-in desk there was one person in front of me and the nurse was talking to her. Before letting the other lady into the ER I asked the nurse if i could sit down somewhere and she said she would be right back. After telling the nurse that I had moderate-severe mitral valve regurgitation and prolapse and that my apical pulse was 135 and my heart doctor told me to come to the ER the nurse was surprised and rushed me right in to get an EKG. I admit I was nervous at this point because things began to become real and I got a little emotional when telling the nurse what was going on. I got an EKG and the tech admitted that he couldn't tell me what it looked like but he let me look at the EKG strip. At first glance I could tell that my heart rate was really fast but that it didn't look like anything was noticeably abnormal. Since the EKG didn't show a heart attack they sat me down and then began the waiting. Mom, Bryant and Lucas were with me at that point and it was nice to have company with me while waiting to make things lighter and happier. Diana was working that day and even came down for a little to say hello and see how things are going.
I feel like recently I have told many people about my valve issue because in casual conversation working out has come up and I have stated that I need to work out. Since I am so skinny they have responded in no you don't need to work out and so then I respond that I need to work out for my heart and proceed to say i have a valve issue. Anyway, I thought my close friends and family had known about my heart but I guess not everyone in my family knew because in the ER Bryant mentioned that he didn't know I had a heart issue until they got the phone call that I needed to go to the ER.
Anyway, after getting asked questions, then blood work and then more questions I finally moved from the waiting room back into a room in the ER. Dad was at the hospital performing surgery since it was a Monday and therefore came to the ER once I was in a room to see how things were going. Dad called Dr. Bower to let him know that I was finally back in an ER room and seeing the ER doctor and Dr. Bower said that he checked in the ER for me and I wasn't back yet and had to leave for procedures at Sunrise hospital. It was really nice that dad was able to be there! After getting the blood work, chest X-ray and EKG results the ER doctor said that everything came back normal. Considering everything was normal I got 2 liters of fluid (which I thought would happen), nausea medicine and went home. If my heart doctor didn't tell me to go to the ER I wouldn't have because I knew exactly what they would do (2 liters of fluid and send me home) and then I would get stuck with a big bill...and that is exactly what happened.
After going home I took a long nap, and finally tried to eat something. I ate some soup and we started to watch a movie but watching the TV screen made me more nauseous and sick. I took an anti-nausea pill they gave me in the ER thinking that would help but the cherry flavoring of the pill made me throw everything I ate up. I just kept feeling worse and worse so I asked for a priesthood blessing. I was so dizzy, weak and nauseous that Lucas performed the blessing while I was laying down. I distinctly remember him blessing me that I would be healed and be successful in the things I needed to complete for nursing school that week. I have never had a blessing take effect right away, it was a miracle. Once he lifted his hands from my head I no longer was dizzy or nauseous and I stopped sweating.
I was very tired and very weak for the next couple of days and couldn't even stand very long but luckily I had recuperated enough to be able to stand for my 45 minute presentation on Friday the 27th. When talking to Lucas about it he said your heart ran a 13 hour marathon, I am not surprised you are so weak and tired.
After going on Spring break I went to get an Echo of my heart and then saw Dr. Bower the next week in his office. Lucas went with me because I wanted him to and 2 ears are better then one. At the appointment Dr. Bower said that nothing had changed with my echo, few! He also told me a list of things to NOT DO, such as take cold medicine, eat black licorice, drink caffeine and try to stay away from chocolate. He also told me to eat healthy and exercise, which I know I should do but need to do it. I mentioned how after flying to Hawaii in January my ankles were swollen for 2 days and he told me to make sure I get up and move around next time and that wearing compression stockings wouldn't hurt. So all in all he told me the things I knew I should do (except for avoid cold medicine and chocolate) and now I really should do them. I am going to start wearing compression stockings during my 12 hour clinic days, eat healthy, exercise and of course NO caffeine or cold medicine. Lesson Learned.
March 19, 2015 ~ We're Packing Heat
But not really...they are borrowed! Due to Lucas' work (as usual) we were able to go shoot machine guns for free! They served us Italian food then we were able to go have target practice. The gun had some kick (more kick then I am used to but I didn't fall over) and was really loud even though we had headphone on. Afterwards we talked to Richard and Kate, until the store closed and we then started to talk outside the store until the store owner gave us a dirty look when he was locking up the store. We then decided to get smoothies because Richard and Kate are too fun to talk to and we didn't want the night to end yet.
March 14, 2015 ~ Liz's Wedding!
On Saturday I went to my morning class with Professor K (ya...professor K) and then left a little early to make it to the sealing. I was a little late but luckily everyone was still waiting in the temple chapel. It was a beautiful ceremony and it is always fun to have a family gathering in the temple.
Ara also got married! Since Ara is a co-worker of Lucas' and a good friend of Diana's we went to Ara's reception and ate delicious authentic tacos then went to Liz's reception just a little late and stayed the rest of the night at Liz's reception. Luckily Ara's reception started at 6pm and Liz's started at 7pm.
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