sorry its been a while

hey all!

I hope you are all doing well. It has truly been a while since i last blogged. Well, i have finished my classes and am "relaxing" now for the break. Then, school begins in December. In recent news, we have a new member to our family. My brother Davin (26) got married to a girl named Kayleigh (23). It was indeed a time to be happy. My brother Ben (22) and I also went to get a tree with my dad and dog (zito). I hope you guys are having a joyous season. With many ups and downs with me, it is good to look back to the true meaning of Christmas. i will share some pictures. i hope you all have a merry Christmas!!

blessings,

Anna

My awesome brother Ben and I :)

Me, Ben, Davin and Kayleigh

My sweet boyfriend, Nick :)

I made this bread it was great :) carrot bread XD

It's been a while!

Hi All!!

whew!! It has been a while! I hope you all are doing great and are enjoying these days counting down to thanksgiving. I never really have thought much about Thanksgiving. I just remember eating lots of food and then going into a food coma.. haha not really, but still that's what i think of when it comes to thanksgiving. My family and I don't do anything particular. we gather together and make some great food, (stuffin, pumpkin pie.. you know, the works) and we sit together and share with one another what we are most thankful of. This month of November, I challenge you to think of 30 things (30 days) that you are thankful of. Here's my list:

1. 2 loving parents and 2 loving brothers whom i adore
2. My special doggie that i have had ever since she was 3 months old
3. The military troops who have and are serving our country
4.being able to attend college
5.being able to come to America
6.freedom to believe what ever i want to believe and not be ridiculed by it
7.my loving boyfriend who means so much to me
8.my faith and the hope i have from it
9.the many opportunities i have had throughout my life
10. my extended family and all their quirks and love :)
11. my boy friend's family, (ok it might sound like im sucking up, but im serious) they have always been so warm and inviting and loving
12. my best friends: karuna and michelle. if you two read this, know that i have always valued our friendship and you are the best friends a girl could ask for :)
13. healthcare providers doctors, nurses, and assistants and all that jazz
14. law enforcement and anyone who is willing to give up their life for the good of the people
15. my professors here at school who challenge me to be a better student and a better person
16. the ability to see, hear, touch, smell and taste
17. the ability to move effortlessly and can talk and can think
18.knowing what it feels like to have someone love you
19. my oboe teacher.. haha he puts up with so much. i don't practice anything he assigns and im pretty sure he knows that, but still he works with me to help me become a better musician
20. to my parents back in china, who knew there was hope for me thanks for not giving up
21.any challenge or hardship that i have gone through. though it has been tough, i have grown so much stronger throughout them
22. for the basic necessities; food, clothes, shelter, warm bed....
23.for my dorm floor. these are some amazing girls who are so loving and caring
24.my room mate. haha i wonder if she would ever read this.. anyways she quirks and still accepts me :)
25.for the ability to look at things from a different way, to think outside the box
26.for  music and the peace i get from listening to a concerto or ready to bob my head to a pop song
27.for living in a free country
28.for all my friends i have made in college. they all have a special place in my heart
29.my grandparents. they are amazing people so giving and sacrificial and so loving :)
30.  adventures in odyssey. haha this sounds funny to type, but really i love this adio group. they do a great job and help me sleep XD.

anyways, how did that go for you? was it hard or did it make you think? well, i hope you all really think about what you are thankful this year. thanksgiving isn't about the turkey, pie or stuffing, though they all are so yummy, but rather it's about thinking about what you are thankful for and being with you family.

blessings!!

new nothings :)

Hey all!

I hope you are all doing well on this cold october day, well actually more like cold october night... anyways. we had our first nursing meeting and 35 people came :) that's great way to start the year off.

I recently was interviewed for a posstition at  a retirement home. I would be a bath aid and would get to practice all my NAC stuff :)

other news, i have had three exams  this week. two went great, one not so much, so if any of you out their believe in prayer, i really could use some, or just encouragement.

i'm literally exhausted... i could sleep right now and such... so i shall close 

toodles, and blessings,

anna

mid terms :/

Hi all!

Hope you are having a good day! I have now come to the half point of the half point part of the quarter. Midterms have begun. fun fun fun!! haha not really, actually it is somewhat scary. my first A&P test is on Monday so i am little freaked out. Other then that, everything is going great. Oh so i have been following post season baseball which is always fun :) love watching the under dogs win. this year, i am putting my sights on the A's :) they have been one of my favorite teams!

in other news, i just received a call recently letting me know that they want to hire me as a nurse tech!!!

anyways, off to study,

blessings!!!

taking a break

Hello all,

I'm taking a break from my studies right now to just blog i guess XD. anyways, wow my first week was just a wow thing for me. soo much work and learning from this quarter. my A&P class is pretty fun though. my prof. is great. she's good at explaining the concepts in a way that it is really easy to understand them. i also really enjoy my other classes, but not as much as Anatomy :)

I'm also getting this years stuff for nursing club organized. met with the other two leaders in the group to discuss final touches to things and got everything organized. hopefully this will be a great year for the nursing club :) i wish i had my camera to show you our bedroom on campus. we flipped one of the beds over and laid one mattress and one below, kind of like a cave actually! anyways everything seems to be going well.

currently i am going to try to find a job so i can get some nursing experience :)

on a positive note the services i have been going to have been so encouraging and uplifting :)
hope you guys are all having a nice week and that you will have peace in the midst of chaos!

blessings,

Anna  

first day of class!

Hello All!!

I have finished my first day of class and wow! so many new things to learn and read. my A&P class was really good. i enjoy my professor and really like my history class. boy do i have a lot of studying to do though :/ but its ok, nursing is totally worth the studying. anyways, i have decorated my room a tad more, but i hope to show you guys the final product soon. anyways, off to study more anatomy!!!

blessings :)

I can get a job!!!

Hello all!!!

Today at 8:00, I took my exam to become certified. i am happy to say that i have indeed passed and can now start to look for a job! i am getting closer to my goal of being a nurse!!!

blessings!

finally moved in!

At last! I am finally moved back into the dorms :)

Yesterday, my mom and I packed up all my stuff and lugged it back to my school for this year. I am returning early to be a leader for the incoming freshman class, granted, i probably look like a freshman, but that's not stopping me! I am excited to be back at my school, Seattle Pacific, but i am also nervous for my Anatomy and Physiology class. My teacher is extremely difficult, but i am ready for a challenge.

This school year, i hope to finally find a church home. I haven't been to too many churches, so i am going to try to "spread" my wings and try something new! prayers are greatly accepted. 

Another exciting note, my test for the nursing assistant certification is this Saturday! Oh my! how time has flown by. i can hardly believe it is that time of year again for school to be in session. my hope is to spread to other young nursing students out their the good and bad about nursing. I am the secretary of my school's nursing club and am trying to think of creative ideas to entice people to come. anyone have any good ideas? how would you try to entice young enthusiastic nursing students?

anyways, toodles for now :)

random nothings

Hello all,

Well there are only 5 days till i return to school and 11 days before i have my first day of school. This is all a new adventure for me. I am not sure what will be coming ahead of me, mostly studying... but who knows! I am returning early to be a U-pod leader for my school. Basically, i get to tell my group of freshman students the perks and fun things about Seattle Pacific and Seattle :) I am looking forward to spending some time with these new students and getting to know them. Hopefully new friendships will be built. after spending time with them, we will all start school. heres my list of classes:
every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday- (ew...) Anatomy and Physiology
every Tuesday, Thursday- Psychological and social stats
every m/w/f- Band
every Tuesday- A&P (Anatomy and physiology) lab
every Tuesday- oboe lessons :) 
possibly taking world history

After all is said and done, i will apply to nursing school :)

In other news, I finally received my date on when i get to take the nursing assistant exam!! I am thrilled to be taken it next week :) wish me luck as i go!

Today i was memorizing all the bones in the skull. let me tell you, there are plenty to be said about. i have so far 35 different parts of the skull down- squamous suture, mandible and maxilla, sound familiar. anyways, all this fun and memorizing takes the energy out of me, not really, but well.. i have had a long day. so i leave you all today with blessings and smiles!

Tomorrow i hope to post about my homemade soup :) till then! toodles! 

Camping and fun :)

Last week, My family and I loaded our gear together in our car and took a small camping trip. Being done with school (at least for the summer, thank goodness), this was cause to celebrate. My brother and I had completed summer school with "flying" colors. we went on a trip to leavenworth. My family has gone on this trip multiple times, but each time is such a great memory. My dog Zito came along on the trip, which is such a nice edition.

some things we did:
- ride ATV (my dad and brother :))
-hiking (my mom, my dog and me)
- roasting marshmallows
-playing cards
-inner tubing down the wenatchee river
-touring the town (leavenworth is a small cute Bavarian town that has all sorts of nick nacks- great place to go during the summer and winter)
-relaxing and eating good food
-Putt Putt golfing :) 

All the bags :)

My brother, Ben and my dog, Zito... with my dad in the background :)

My mom :)

Dad

Us getting ready to eat food

Our sleeping quarters :)

Hiking with the dog... not the easiest thing

view at the top of the mountain

beautiful flowers 

My parents and brother all went. Though, one of my brothers didn't get to come. our trip was shortened a little in an incident of a flipped ATV, but well, thats another story for another time :) All i can say through that is that miracles really do happen. so i end my post with yet more lovely pictures:) Enjoy and blessings.

celebration!

My friends and I have just finished summer quarter. we had a girls night out and went to the cheesecake factory! it was a blast. we all had something different and yummy. I have known these two girls since we were 5 years old. these two girls are pretty much the greatest friends i could ever have. we have been through pretty much our whole lives together. I couldn't ask or better friends. its interesting. though we go to different schools, we still manage to spend time together. I cherish our memories and look forward to more in the future!

L-R: Michelle, Karuna and me :)

bang bang chicken and shrimp

Cajun chicken and shrimp jambalaya pasta

Chicken Medisa (i think that's what its called)

Red velvet cheesecake! we celebrated Karuna's birthday

here's some pictures :)

Chicken Noodle Casserole :)

Well I have my first recipe for you all to try.

I love to cook, but being a college student, i don't have A, the time and B, the money. When i am at home though, i can cook what ever I want. Most of the time i make Chinese noodle soup and such, but i love trying new things. So lately i have been making random foods and using recipes i get everywhere. When i was working the front desk at the hospital, i would take some of the food magazines and take their recipes. From there, i have gathered my recipes and have made my own little cookbook. I have all types of foods that i love to make. I have each section labeled for side dishes and main courses. Anyways, last night i felt like i wanted to cook, so i made some cookies (for my nursing class) and than i made a chicken noodle casserole. I think it turned out really good and was yummy.

Chicken Noodle Casserole:

*preheat oven 375 degrees*

cooking things you will need:

• medium pot to cook noodles in
• stir sticks 
• small- medium casserole size dish 

Ingredients:

1. 1 can of cream of celery (6 oz )
2. 1 can (12 oz) of canned chicken, tuna or turkey meat- you can also use cooked chicken, doesn;t have to be canned 
3. 1/2 cup of frozen peas- i use frozen, you can also use raw peas as well as other veggies
4. 1/2 cup of rice milk- you can use milk or even soy, i use rice in most of my cooking though 
5. 10-12 crackers (i used ritz crackers, you can use bread crumbs as well if you want)
6. dash of salt
7. dash of peppers
8. 1/8 tsp. of paprika
9. 1/8 tsp. of cayenne pepper- or as much as desired  (if you don't like spicy food, DON'T use this pepper)
10. 1/2 lbs of Penne pasta-or any that you enjoy 
11. 1 Tsb. butter, margarine, or butter substitute- i use smart balance

Steps:

1.  first pre-heat the oven
2. cook the pasta noodles and drain them after they have been cooked.
3. open the can chicken and drain the juice, then put the chicken into the casserole at the bottom
4. add the noodles and peas/ veggies and mix them all together
5. in a separate bowl, mix the cream of celery, rice milk, salt pepper, paprika, butter and cayenne pepper
6. add the celery mixture into the casserole dish and stir all together 
7. crumble the crackers together and pour all over the chicken noodle dish 
8. put into the oven and cook for roughly 30 min, the sauce should be bubbling and the top should be a little crunchy 
9. enjoy!

Great served as leftovers too :)

  

Done with Clinicals!!!

Oh My Goodness! I have finally finished clinicals :)

My certificate :)

last day of Clinical

Now all i have to do is take the exam and i will become a certified nursing assisting. I had a great time in the class, as well as being in the assisted living helping out people. This defiantly showed me that nursing is the way to go :)  If any one is looking for a good school and you live in Washington, i would recommend Lake Washington Institute of Technology! They do a great job in preparing us for everything that we will have to deal with.

After clinicals i baby sat my favorite twins :) 

the twins and raccoon friends :)

busy busy shenanigans!!!

Wow, these past few days have been hectic. First, lets start with my clinicals.

I have so much to say, but don't know how to say it all in this tiny space. Clinicals has been a great experience. I loved working with the residents there and are grateful to the amazing NAC's they have working there. I first would watch the NAC do a certain task, then when i felt confident enough, i would try the task on my own. It's amazing to see the things i have learned in the class room being put to use in real life. I got to meet many of the residents and have come to grow fond of several of them. Just talking to them is so amazing. The stories they have go way beyond this 19 year old's brain. One lady i met has 18 great grand children. She is so sweet, but if you don't speak up and tell her who you are, she will go tell your teacher and have a chat with you. I have learned to speak clearly and slowly to each resident and tell them what they are about to do. This has been a humbling time for me. Cleaning the residents and helping them eat their food reminds me of the time when my grandmother was in the hospital for swallowing issues. As you work with each of the people, you slowly see that they aren't just sick old people, but human beings that want to be treated just like you and me. They have the same wants and needs, it just is a little harder for them to achieve those needs.  I am so glad i have gotten to have this chance. i know now that my heart and passion is drawn to the sick people and i really want to care for them and provide them a positive environment. I want to be there for people, like the nurses who were there for my grandma and grandpa in times of need.

Next, well there isn't much else that i have done, except attend my nutrition class every Monday and Wednesday. That class is so fascinating. i have enjoyed learning how to have a more healthy life style. yesterday i got to spend time with some great friends. My boyfriend's cousin came over from New Jersey and i got to spend some time with them. we went to watch a movie, "The Odd Life Of Timothy Green."- a tear jerk-er mind you, but overall a good movie. Anyways, here's a picture of our shenanigans :)
Well, after waking up before 6 for the past week, this girl is tired. I am going to be signing off.

We got matching glasses :)

blessings to you all!

First day of Clinicals!!!!

z

Sleeping.... i was tired!

Well, today was my first day of clinicals. waking up at 5:15 in the morning to get to Emerald heights. we got there and signed in and got to see some patient contacts. it was so exciting and different. Though i know that i don't want to work in a retirement home, i am grateful for the experience. i don't have many stories, but i have enjoyed this time today. a good first day. here is a picture of the aftermath of clinicals...

Clincals!

Well, I have finally made it to the last part of my summer school. This Friday, I begin clinicals!I get to work in a long term care facility! We are shadowing other Nurse Assistants. I'm excited to get to start my journey of nursing. 

Before this, I was taking Nursing classes in preparation to this. I finished my my studies and just took my final exam! Hopefully i will pass :)

As of now I am excited to get to actually put everything I have learned thus far into real world scenarios!  

some more pictures of the girls :)