Bumpers and bad days

Well, I have to say..the past two days have not been my best. Considering that I've worked 40 hours in the past three days, I'm pretty exhausted..emotionally and physically. The fact that my car is now past ghetto and reached its limits of FAR beyond embarrassing is...enough to laugh at now. Does that even make sense? Probably not.

I was rushing to work yesterday morning...annoyed with my mom, and already in a bad mood when I herd this weird sound. I turned down the radio and thought hmm, that sounds weird. must be the wind. Ten minutes later I pull up at a toll booth and the woman asks "did you get into an accident?" and I was like "no? why?" she says "uhh, your bumper is on the ground" womp womp womp. "You should probably pull over, do you need help?"..she continues. I look over the front of my car trying to see what the hell happened, well I really can't, I really need to get to work, I only work 5 minutes away. Off I went, only with my windows down this time. OMG was it loud. SO loud. SO embarrassing. I could smell the burning rubber smell of the bumper rubbing against my tires. Some how I made it work (with huge stares from every by passer, may I add) and whipped into the garage and parked. Got out, looked at my car..and couldn't help but laugh at myself. My bumper was pretty much underneath of my car. I must have looked like such an idiot, driving 80 mph down i97, weaving in and out of traffic..with my bumper half way hanging off, and me not even having the slightest clue. People must have thought I was insane.

Jake and Chance came up to work later and declared death on my lovely red, and beat up bumper. They pulled her off by her last dangling strands and dumped her in Jake's pick up truck. So now, as if my old cavalier wasn't ghetto enough..I now have to drive around without a bumper until after the holidays are over. Today was my first day driving it that way. Pretty humiliating I must say..but humerus as well.

So..after spending Monday dropping Abby off at daycare (hate doing that, only do when my Grandma or Mom can't, which is rarely) and then working 12 hours in the progressive care unit with extremely sick patients, then falling asleep when I got home while attempting to watch a movie I've been craving to watch for months..then enjoying my Tuesday with a broken bumper and a one to one with an old man who was confused, and then falling asleep AGAIN when I got home..literally as Jake was speaking to me, my eyes were shutting. THEN spending 14 hours today in a CRAZY recovery room with 24 patients that needed to go to the inpatient surgical floor, when the inpatient surgical floor had one bed available for us, and just now getting home to a baby still awake in bed with her Daddy...finally getting her back to sleep and then soaking in a hot bath and now here?

I still feel like I have 1000 things to catch up on. Even though I don't. My co-worker (Bola) and I discussed this in the elevator today. Us nurses and techs have a hard time resting and sleeping. We are at work so much, and so used to running and having a million things to do..that we don't ever just chill. We don't know how to chill. We don't know how to drive without rushing. We can't sit still without feeling like we have to get up and do something. We don't sleep well. & We can't finish a meal without jabbing it down our throats a million mph. It is NOT good. I always just thought I was this way, but then Bola said she was the same..and pointed out that most patient care health care providers are the same way.

*Sigh* I am going to bed. Sorry for the chopping and blank post. I know you all are probably all like, what was the point of this? Honestly? I really don't know.

Goodnight.

Rainy and busy Sunday

It is currently 1:09am. I have to get up for work in 4 hours, and I am still awake. Story of my life..

I just slipped into my jammies, fresh out of a warm bubble bath and felt the sudden urge to post before I crawled into bed.

So, here I am.

Tree is up and finished being decorated. I am so very proud of our not so little tree. Our very first. I absolutely love it. It looks MUCH better in person than it does in that picture, Christmas tree photos aren't the easiest thing to capture with a lame Kodak easy share :(

It was raining when we went to pick our tree up last night, and it continued through out the day today. I splashed through puddles in my heels and my perfectly straightened hair for Christmas portraits was destroyed by giant rain drops. I really do love the rain in the summer, but this time of year? Not so much.

We ran to the car in it early this afternoon, Abby bouncing on Jake's hip and me running with her blanket over my head. We were headed to Jake's nephews baptism, hunter and Cameron. Jake was blessed enough to be the godfather of the new little guy :D Abby and I sat together in a pew a few rows back, while Uncle Ryan and her cousin Connor kept her entertained and quite through the service, with a little ipod that played Dora the Explorer.

Jake and his sister Stacey, with Cameron - his godson/nephew

Afterwards we gathered at Jen's for lunch. We all stuffed our faces in the kitchen while laughing and catching up, and Jake wrestled his three older nephews in the next room. Same ole, same ole. Never gets old though.

After we were all full and ready for a nap - we sprinted to my car again, dodging rain drops and in hopes of making it home for a nap. Abby and Jake crawled in bed together and fell asleep, and I ran to Target to grab some dress pants for Jake.

Nap time was over and we headed to Sears to get our Christmas photos done. As stressful as it was, getting a sleepy baby in a Christmas gown, getting Jake to actually wear dress clothes, me trying to protect my hair from the rain, Abby's car seat straps that are getting too tight..we made it there, on time and got a really good picture out of it all. I'll post it as soon as we receive it!

A busy Sunday it was. I am not complaining, but I am sleepy. I have three days of work ahead of me, and can't believe its almost 2am and I am still awake. Someone shoot me. Goodnight!

...just had to come back and add. My new song? Your beautiful - James Blunt. SO amazing. Not only is it just a beautiful song in general, but it has so much meaning to me. It tells a story of something that I know all too well. I usually only listen to it once in a blue moon, because I never want to loose the effect it has on me. But, I gave in. I can't stop listening again...

Renovations

Doing some blog renovation. My header is currently HUGE but hopefully I'll be back to fix that later on. Its on its way to finally looking how I want it, just bear with me until then! :D

Christmas Coziness

Right now I am in brand spanking new yoga pants, James Blunt is quietly playing in the background, and the only light in the room is coming from our newly lit Christmas tree. Ahhmazing.

While we're on the track of amazing, Nicole and I managed to get up bright and early (and by bright and early I mean an hour and 30 minutes after we planned on leaving in sweats and no makeup, because thats just how we roll) and get to the mall, beating most of the crowds and got a pretty good amount of Christmas shopping done. Hallelujah! I thought it was going to be hell going out today, but it really wasn't. We did pretty damn good if I do say so myself. Despite the fact that I forgot Abby's stroller and I had to push her around in a little dinky rental cart, her fists were full of popeyes chicken and she was just as happy as could be. We had a good and accomplishing morning :)

Its great being able to take your kids Christmas shopping with you when their still little enough. See that toy she's so intrigued by? Its a bath turtle toy thing, she loved it. So, mama made sure to tell Santa that Abby really enjoyed playing with it at Toys R us today :p

Whats not so great? An old lady admiring Abby, and Abby reaching out and grabbing her boob and saying "What's that?". Talk about humiliating. I smiled politely, apologized quickly, and wanted to run away forever! Too bad I was stuck in an hour long line with her behind me. She laughed it off, but still..really Abby? Thanks.

We headed home late afternoon and let Abby take a little nap. I had some left over chinese food and impatiently waited for her nap to be over. It was Christmas tree pickin' time!

It was raining and freezing, but we couldn't wait any longer. I have been SO excited about this for SO long!

Our first family Christmas tree! An 8 foot taller from the little Christmas tree lot outside the liquor store right down the street from our apartment. It didn't take us long to choose, we loved this one right from the start. Its staring right back at me right now, it loves us too. We picked the perfect tree!

Getting the sucker up three flights of steps and through our tiny front door wasn't the easiest thing in the world, but..worth it. So, so, SO worth it.

We have some more trimming to do tomorrow. We need to get some more lights & finally hang the decorations. But for now?

Still feels pretty dang cozy to me!

Our apartment smells like pine and fresh baked cookies. I'm loving it.

I got my first tasty batch taken care of this evening, my first that didn't end up in the trash can! Chocolate chip & Oatmeal cranberry and white chocolate. Chocolate chip was an already made dough, and oatmeal was from scratch. Both turned out yummy!

Well, my eye balls are burning and a blanket on the couch is screaming my name.

Happy baking-Christmas tree decorating-shopping-whatever it is that makes you feel cozy Saturday :)

Cheers to the weekend

I am currently... completely relaxed.

Just spent the past hour or two sipping sangria out of cute holiday glasses with Jackie. Jake joined us, we ordered chinese food and watched a mixture of Roseanne, Booty Call, and Fred Claus. Abby was sound asleep in the next room.

Completely and totally relaxing. Just what I needed to wind down with after two very long days at work.

Speaking of being at work, I was more bummed than usual about being there today. Mother nature decided to lay her first little dusting of snow on us this afternoon.

Not only do I love the snow, but I was so excited that to introduce it to Abby this year. Of course she got to witness our giant blizzard of last winter..but, all things considered - she was only 4 months old. She didn't get it. Now? She would be intrigued. We could play in it. Oh well, her great grandma got to show her the flurries this time. Mama will be there for the snow fall round two of 2010..or 2011, depending on when it decides to arrive next. Guess we better go get my little some snow boots soon!

In other random news, I have spent the last 10 hours bidding on a camera I want on ebay. I have been winning majority of the day - just to find out that during the last hour some jerk is going to come and outbid me for every dollar that I increase my bid too. Didn't plan on going higher than $300, and we're currently battling it out at $295 :(

Eyes are throbbing, muscles are sore, and I have a lovely boyfriend and baby girl sleeping down the hall..I am just about to ready to join them.

Nicole and I are headed out early with the babies in the morning to get some Christmas shopping done. Wish us luck!

Happy Friday.

Hump Day

Today, I am surprised that I have one single strand of hair still attached to my head.

Yes, it was one of those days.

I found out last night that my nursing license had expired without me knowing it. Which means, in order for me to work my scheduled shift on Wednesday, I had to go up to the board of nursing today and renew my license. No biggie, right?

Wrong! First of all, the Maryland board of nursing is the DMV of the nursing world. Their impossible to get in touch with, they will leave you on hold for hours, they do not want to help you, they steal money from you every two years for pointless causes, pretty much..the less I have to deal with them, the better.

Obviously I wasn't thrilled about my little trip I had to take, but didn't think it would be too horrible since I just needed to sign and paper and leave..so I thought.

Things went smoothly on the way there, I didn't get lost, and made it there in about 30 minutes, which is good time. I should of known it would be impossible for things to stay on a smooth track. Stress loves me. Adores me, actually. It follows me every where I go.

The front desk lady informs me when I'm called up (she made me pull a number, and sit down - when I was the only person in the room) through her little glass window - "This is all I can give you today" stamps a paper and slides it to me. "Your license is expired. I need proof that your still currently working as a health care provider. Have a nice day" I glance over the paper and read some mumbo jumbo about a list of things I need to get from my supervisor. Is there any way I can get my boss to fax these things over? I have to work tomorrow, this needs to be done today, I ask. "Nope. Have a nice day" FUCK YOU LADY!!! Just kidding, I didn't say that. But I wanted to.

I bundle Abby back up and struggle back to my car with her half way hanging off my hip and trying to tame my stack of papers flapping in the wind and get back on the road - hoping I could make it to my job and back by the time the board closed.

I was in an unfamiliar area, so I GPS'd how to get to work. When I put in my location as "Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center" a little message popped up that said "This route contains toll rates. Avoid toll lanes?" I meant to click no, but I must have hit yes by accident.

I spent the next hour fearing for my life. Like, legit..fearing for my life!! My GPS took me through the most ghetto parts of Baltimore EVER. I thought I had seen the ghetto before. Hell NO I hadn't. It was SO scary. Traffic was CRAZY and I had no idea where I was. People were staring in my car from all directions and I know they had to be thinking this white girl is lost!

After passing streets and streets of the block cameras (thats always how I know when I'm in a bad area in Baltimore - they have the blue flashing cop cameras on every block!) I finally started to recognize my surroundings. Literally on the verge of tears, I finally made it onto campus.

I hustle and bustle into my managers office, all out of breath and stressed looking. Brittany! Whats wrong?! You look exhausted! Is this your daughter? OMG! Hi sweetie! Do you want to stay here with us!?...one of my supervisors started saying to Abby and I. Christmas music was playing, food and decorations were every where..oh yeah, today is the Christmas party. so much for that. I explained to her my situation and she agreed with me that the board of nursing is full of assholes but gave me what I needed and I headed back out the door.

Poor Abby was probably so bored and so sick of being in the car all day..but she did so good. God love her.

By the time I got back to my car, got Abby strapped in, it was 4:15. I had 45 minutes to make it back to the board before they closed. I took a deep breath, a huge and giant gulp of my coffee..and punched "The Maryland Board of Nursing" back into my GPS. Here we go again.

I wanted to cry when it started taking me back through the ghetto. I knew there was a quicker and safer way to get there - I just didn't know how, and neither did my tom,tom apparently. After sitting through two 10 minute red lights, and getting the shakes all over again..I turned around. This isn't worth it. Literally, driving through the city with one of the highest murder rates in the US, at dusk, by myself, with a baby, no idea where I'm going, and in the worst parts of the city? No thank you. Its really, really not worth it.

Your pretty Baltimore. But you're scary.

But..in my house, whats a bad day without a little this?

Nothing like belly laughs in the morning from a baby girl you simply adore.

Nothing quite like a silly girl trying to play hide & go seek behind her crib with her Mama.

Absolutely nothing like a morning steamy bath with my little girl.

Nothing in the whole entire world like a mini me ;)

My point? Even the worst and most stressful days are the best days with her ♥

We stopped by my Aunt's to visit on the way home from our fiasco just because it was on the way. She was coaching her boys through homework, I cleaned up dog pee, dinner was burning in the oven..but, that is life :p

Tomorrow morning I am waking up two hours before scheduled to drop Abby off with my Grandma, drive back to the board of nursing, and then drive to work. All before 9 in the morning.

And its all a-okay. Theres always a smile and bright colors underlying a frown, anyways ;)

Happy Hump day!

Happy to be Home

Little reminders that Christmas is right around the corner keep popping up around our apartment.

We got everything to decorate our tree with today, and plan on getting the actual tree this weekend. So exciting!

Today was another day spent around the house for the most part. Due to the blistering, freezing cold wind that just doesn't seem to want to let up on us. We literally hear it whistle all day/night long. Its crazy!

This morning Abby and I spent loads of time listening to music and dancing. However, trying to catch her do it on video was quite challenging. For now, this was the best I could get!

Original Video - More videos at TinyPic

Isn't she sooooo cute! I don't ever want her to get any bigger than this! She is so much fun. And cute. And funny. And perfect!

Jake came home from work a couple hours early today to get his windshield replaced. We loved having him home for the afternoon!

We took a quick trip to Big Lots to stock up on some more Christmas decor, but other than that.. We haven't been up to much today. I cleaned Abby's room and the bathroom, which both really needed it. We listened to Christmas music and ate Subway. It was one of those "happy to be at home" days.

For dinner, I made Abby these cheddar mashed potatoes tortillas that some how made their way into my freezer (I'm guessing my Grandma left them the over day while she was here) and she loved them. But, for some reason was being a total turd about eating. Finally, I gave in and handed her the fork. My baby stuck her OWN food and put it in her mouth. Not only once, but the whole rest of the meal! With a grown up fork and all. She was SO proud of herself. Check her out!