Merry Christmas

Christmas is a few days away-I'm mostly ready. My family is spending our first Christmas up at the Cabin in Eden. I have to work a grave Christmas Eve and will head up Christmas morning when I get off-hopefully my nieces can wait for me. My bro Clarke is coming from California with my nephews and oldest niece Lilly-yay! My latest news, speaking of work, is that I passed my board exams so I am officially a registered respiratory therapist (RRT) instead of certified RT-yay, no more tests! I have nine more credits for my bachelors and I think I'm going to take some credits, if not all, next semester and then be done! At work I've finished my floors and Neonatal ICU areas and am orienting to the Pediatric ICU. Going from NICU to PICU is like going from middle school to high school. There's so much to know and the pace is a lot more intense than what I'm used to with the babies. Mostly I follow different co-workers while they try and teach me the ropes for a few weeks until they throw me into the fire. Working at Primary's has been a challenge-but I like a challenge. I work with awesome people and really enjoy what I do.
So, I went skiing yesterday for the first time in like 18 years. I didn't do too bad but the weather was pretty brutal-8 degrees and super windy!

Paris,La Rochelle, Geneva, Torino,& Monaco

Being that I have jet leg and cannot sleep I thought I'd at least be productive with my time and update my blog. I got back yesterday from a twelve day vacation in Europe with the fam. We spent a few days in Paris, La Rochelle (a city my brother, Taylor, served his mission in on the western coast), Geneva Switzerland, Torino Italy, and the french Riviera. In total we drove 2200 miles in about ten days; I think at least one mile was in reverse as we were prone to take a wrong turn here or there. Here's some pics. I spent my birthday in Paris-not a bad way to celebrate-let me tell ya.
Me and Mona La Rochelle Vinyard in Geneva'C' is for Caldwell-this was in Switzerland as wellI thought I'd do a little shopping while I was in ItalyMonaco-topless beaches!! Not cute!

Nauvoo/Wisconsin

My girl friend Alanna got married last week. I flew to Wisconsin and then we drove to Nauvoo and then back for the reception. It was a really great trip and a good excuse to go out and see some of the church sites. The Nauvoo temple has a special presence that is unlike any other I've been to. I love how the temple sits on a hill looking over the green lush of the Mississippi River. Here's some pics.I think the people in Wisconsin watched a little too much blossom-they say Whoa instead of stop...weird.

Holy Freak'n Primary Children's

Well, it's official, I'm starting at Primary Children's Medical Center on July 21st-CRAZY! Here's the story-this semester while doing a clinical in the Pediatric ICU, I was following the head honcho guy-Troy. He's a big jokester and we hit it off right away. During the day he took a 'potty break' and came back like twenty minutes later. When he returned I asked him if he responded to the code (usually that refers to a code blue-which means someone is arresting and needs CPR). He asked me, 'what code?' My reply was, 'I heard there was a code brown in the men's bathroom.' He laughed and then started talking to me about working at Primary's saying they needed people like me there...f.y.i-sixty percent of the time, dirty jokes work every time when trying to schmooze a potential employer. I really hadn't thought about it too much because it seemed out of reach due to my lack of critical care experience. Well, three days later I came back and Troy had talked to the head of the department and opened a resident position for me-how do I say no to that? Working with sick kids is going to be difficult-I'm not even going to lie. These kids are the sickest around and are technically and emotionally going to be challenging for me. The residency program gives me six months to get comfortable in the Neonatal, Pediatric Units and on the floors helping kids who are there for cystic fibrosis and other respiratory issues. After my six months, I can stay or transfer to another IHC hospital. I really wanted to take some time off in August to just play for a while after the last 15 months of intense school-but this is okay too I guess. At least I can probably get tuition reimbursement for fall (9 upper division credits left until I graduate with my BS) and they're letting me go to France for two weeks and to my friends wedding, so it's all just going to work out.

I really feel like my coarse is being steered for me. Sometimes when we are given callings or things happen in our lives, we are stretched further than our own capacities-this is one of those times when the lord has laid my path and wants me to proceed forward; there is no other way for me to explain how or why they offered me this position and it's truly humbling.

I usually don't like to make my posts too long, but I also need to recognize the closing of another chapter in my life. For over the past two years I have been in Provo working for my uncle Brad's company-SecurityMetrics. My last day was on Friday. What a great opportunity it was to work with my uncles, cousins and the great people who were really the only people I saw consistently while I was jumping from hospital to hospital. My uncle Brad is one of the most generous/humble men I've ever met. He was constantly looking out for his employees and making sure we were taken care of. We had our company party last Friday where he gave everyone who worked there $100 because he can. Anyway, I was really excited too because I had my Ipod stollen last week due me carting around my study materials everywhere I go-it was hidden in my book and someone took it while I was away-rude! Anyway, my uncle raffled prizes and I won an 8 gig Ipod-the universe took it away and gave it back but better-Karma my friends...Karma!

Jackson Hole, WY

My friend Jeff planned a trip river rafting the Snake River last week. I couldn't go the whole time, but was able to leave after class Friday and met the group for dutch oven peach cobbler and camp fire bonding. Saturday was awesome! There were two boats and 17 people who ran the river twice. The water was quite high and FREAKING COLD!! Luckily the sun was out with a little wind our second time down. I've only been river rafting one other time when I was little and hope to go many more times. The friends I was with were so funny! We told every joke we knew and shared lots of stories that had us rolling. This trip was so refreshing and much needed after how busy I've been. I missed a clinical so I could trade shifts at work so I didn't have to work Saturday-so I'm a little behind, but it was SOOO worth it! Here are some pics and videos of all the fun. Jared's turkeysMy tan linesI'm in heaven-that's why I'm so white!Dan in the 1990's wet suite and Jared showing off his assets;).

Motorcycle Momma

Okay, as far as life goes-it's still really crazy. I'm just trying to hold on for dear life until July is over. I usually am working or at clinical 60 to 70 hours a week and that doesn't count school work and class. Here are some pics from the last little while for anyone who's sick of my looking at my last post Party in Provo-this guy cleared the house but landed himself in the hospital-ha ha, I could have told him that.

Me amigos watching our friend Ben race his dirt bike at the Rocky Mountain Race Way.

Time flies when you're busier than heck

My girlfriend Alanna flew one of her other bridesmaids out from Wisconsin to take her engagements and asked if she had any friends she could use for portfolio pictures. I think she's amazing and was totally down-here's the link if you care to see more www.kaylarichards.zenfolio.com.
Now for an update: I'm pretty sure I should join some sort of circus because I've become quite the juggler of sorts. Really, I'm juggling two jobs, school, and a social life while trying to maintain some sanity. Last week I worked 70 hours-56 at Health South doing respiratory and 14 at SecurityMetrics. Luckily, it was my week off of school so I didn't have to worry about that. I had plans to go camping with some friends Friday night after work but found out they needed me to work a 12 hour shift Saturday. Not one to be deterred from having fun, I went anyway until 4:00 am and then drove home and slept for 45 minutes and then was at work by 6:00. The good thing was Saturday was all over time so I got paid double time.

My final semester in my program got underway this week. I will be up at Primary Children's and in the Provo Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with all the high risk and/or premature babies. I'm excited and apprehensive at the same time because it's very rewarding when things are going well, but it will not be easy if the opposite is true.

Quoteable Quotes

I heard this quote at my conference last week and found it online this morning at work and thought I'd post it for all ya'll on this lovely Monday morning. The second one was on the same site and I liked it too-enjoy!

“A person who doubts himself is like a man who would enlist in the ranks of his enemies and bear arms against himself. He makes his failure certain by himself being the first person to be convinced of it.”

“There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state to another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness. We must have felt what it is to die, that we may appreciate the enjoyments of life.”
Alexandre Dumas quotes

Snap, Crackel, Pop

Okay, well...I'm still alive surprising myself enough. Life is honestly kind of crazy right now for me with all that I have going on. Today was supposed to be my first day off after two weeks of running around like a chicken with it's head cut off...only, I got into a car accident-so that put a little damper on my day-ugg. I'm fine and they're fine, but it is frustrating; but, that's life. Anyway, I did want to write an update.
Sports-Okay, so I'm totally into the playoffs since the Jazz are so unstable at times, it totally excites me. If you don't keep up-the series is 2-1 for the Jazz against the Rockets and they play in Utah tonight. My families NHL team, the Calgary Flames, lost game 7 to the Sharks earlier in the week so, it's all on the Jazz to bring home the title.
Taxes-This is the last year my dad will be claiming me on his taxes. Since I don't get as much back because of that, nor the $600 government incentive, my dad told me he would pay my ticket to France in September. Thus, all these months I've gone without going anywhere because of school seem worth the pay off of spending my birthday in France-SSSaweeeeeeeT! I'm also going to be going to Nauvoo in the beginning of August for my girl friend Alanna's wedding.

Park City RT Conference-Thursday and Friday were spent up in PC listening to a bunch of talks on respiratory therapy and having great fun with my classmates. There was an evening activity called 'The Sputum Bowl.' Now, I realize the things I find interesting are pretty dorky and or sick to most of you, but even I had to keep some dignity and draw the line-it reminded me of the math geeks on Mean Girls. We went to the outlets instead and then spent the night in our sweet suite;) watching the Jazz and doing the hula (seriously).

They were really enjoying the lectures-lol Brady, Hesse, Me, Scott, Jen I was saying something very important when Beth took this.

Girls night-following the conference, I went and spent the night getting in touch with my inner child doing side walk chalk with my girl friends. We also did our nails while eating chinease food and watching August Rush (I fell asleep even though I love that movie:( ).
Well, life is hectic-but honestly really good; a scratched bumper here or there, but I'm really enjoying where I'm at. I spread myself pretty thin, but I really enjoy everything I am doing with school and work as well as all the people in my life (if you're reading this, it probably includes you); they're my fresh air!

Pimped out profile

Oh my heck, I finally figured out how to get a background-yay. I have lots to update but haven't had the time. I will post this weekend-it's on my to do list:).
Instructions and backgrounds can be found on, cutestblogontheblock.blogspot.com, if you want to get a new template for your blog. Peace out-it's FRIDAY!!!

The Zoo and Eden

My dear brother Clarkes presence in Utah made for a fun filled family weekend. Friday we went to the zoo with all the cousins-which was cold but fun. I had to run up to Ogden for class and then back to SLC for Rodizio Grill. Everyone makes such a big deal about their food, but not being a big meat or buffet person myself, I didn't think it was worth the $25 for the full of meat feeling after-but that's just me. The rest of the time was spent up at our cabin in Eden hang'n out. It was the typical Caldwell family affair. We played games that had us laughing until we cried, my brother plugged the toilet (as usual) and was the brunt of many a joke, we road motor bikes, played basketball, and ate M&M's. Also, we have a family tradition that if you fall asleep while everyone is awake-you become the object of entertainment in that you get your nails painted. My Dad fell pray to such an event after a VERY long day of work and cleaning out the garage-he was a good sport.


Lilly and Abby
My boy Owen!
Skunk monkey behind us-the name is fitting.Hattie and Auntie BabeeWhite alligator-the girls loved it!
Silly Silly (said with a lisp)


This is the funniest video of my nieces; I may be a mean auntie, but I laugh every time I watch it.
Listen for the crack of their skulls-poor things!