0451 am

It's late or early-however you want to look at it. I'm working a night shift and am in between assessments and am board. Tonight I am what we call the Floor Whore because I'm out taking care of needy nurses and or patients instead of in the Intensive Care Units. Being that's it's late/early in the morning, I feel the need to say that I am a respiratory therapist-not a doctor, nurse or a rad tech...sometimes people forget that. Earlier tonight I had someone call me to get an after hour xray-that's like asking jiffylube to do auto body work on your car. I know how it is to be new but still expect some level of understanding of who does what. Anyway, i'll climb off my soap box.
Anyway, so I'm taking the idea of working hard and playing hard to a new level. I'm working nights for the next five or so weeks and then on my days off I'm getting out of dodge. I'm heading up to Calgary on friday to see my new niece (expect pictures) and family with my mom then I'll come home, work for four days and fly out to Sacramento to see my brother Clarke for a five days. Following my return, I work four days and fly Ecuador for 10 days to do some service and volunteer my skills, THEN...i'll be in town for about a week and a half and go on my Mexican Cruise with my friends. I think when it's all done, i'll be so happy to stay in one place for a bit...and broke;).
A couple of notes of interest that I haven't wrote about. Back in September I joined my work indoor co-ed soccer team. If you've known me since high school or before, you know that I never played soccer. I got hit in the face when forced to play in elementry school and from that point on, made the decision that soccer wasn't my thing. Well, at 24 years old I changed my mind and really really have fun with it. I totally suck at handling the ball, so I try to play as little offense as possible. But defense, even in basketball and waterpolo, has always been where I contrubuted. I'm not afraid to get rough and get into peoples way. I find satisfaction in stripping the ball and make that my goal everytime soemone brings the ball down. Sometimes I get burned and have to floor it to get back in position...but other times-oh ya! My teammates ranges from 19-51 in age-we just go out to have fun but are also pretty competative. I mostly just listen to what they yell at me to do:). We play neer my brother Taylor's home on Wednesday nights, so I usually try and hang out with them before my game. Secondly, if any of you know me currently, you should know how much I enjoy turbo kickboxing. Moving from Provo to Sandy left me at a disadvantage because they don't have turbo at the Golds gyms in Sandy. Thus, I have tried to go down south once a week to get my fix. Last weekend I certified to be an instructor to try and illiminate the drive and bring something I'm quite passionate about up north. So ya, once I'm back from my trips I hope to get hired and start up a class.
Lastly, if any of this doesn't make sence, has grammerical errors or is otherwise useless-please be aware that it's now 5:41 am.
I tried spell check and didn't have one mistake-that's never happened before...so i'm kind of worried.

I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go. Things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right. You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together. Marilyn Monroe

My Valentines

Friday the 13th put my sister-in-law Katie, into labor to deliver my 7 lb 3 oz niece-Elizabeth (I haven't heard if they decided on Reese or Rochelle) Caldwell. She's so beautiful and sweet just like babies are. Lizzie is the first of three nieces and or nephew to come into the Caldwell clan this year. Shona and Jason in Canada are expecting a girl next month and Mike and Leah are due at the end of August. I have a feeling my kids will have no cousins their age by the time I get around to having some but at least I'll have babysitters:). I never posted a picture of my nephew Wyatt, who was born in August-so here's the two newest victims of my love and affection.


I'd say I had a great Valentines day since I got to meet my niece and then have a lovely night with Jake. After the hospital, we went and saw New In Town with Rene Zelwigger-It's way cute! Then Jake and I went hot tubing at his ritzy gym and he made me a candle lite dinner. He also got me roses, a box of chocolates and a shirt and sweater from American Eagle. I got him a miniature replica toy of his Motorcycle (2006 Honda CRF 450), a DC shirt and cologne.
I have to admit that I don't think my life can get too much better-maybe if I was in my own house but then again I probably wouldn't be able to afford to play so much...Not only am I going on my Mexican cruise, but I'm planning on going back to Ecuador late April and up to Canada in the end of March. This is the first time in my life I've have the resources and time to go places and since I get 5 weeks of PTO a year-I'm using it! Charity Anywhere asked me to come back to teach respiratory procedures like resuscitation, nebulizers etc. There's also a four day expedition to the city of Otavalo to provide medical and dental work. I'm heading up to Calgary when my niece is born to see her and my family with my mom.
Anyway, it's an exciting time of life for me right now. I feel like one of my greatest blessings is my Job at Primary's. I work three 12 hour shifts a week and enjoy having the rest of my time to pursue other interests and hobbies. I like that everyday I work provides a new challenge. My field is constantly changing and there is so much to learn that I don't think I'll ever get bored with it. It's nice to be out of school and to focus on work and then have the rest of my time to enjoy life instead of doing homework. Anyway, that's that-thanks for reading.

Hair Cut, YoGa, and Mexico

So My 2009 has been fantastic thus far, but just like Obama, I felt time for a change. I chopped my hair off a few weeks ago. It's hard to have a style with thin-fine hair cuz there's just not much to work with. My hair dresser and I agreed on an A-line and it's super easy to do and just like I wanted-a change.

Last week I signed up for a month of Bikram yoga-it's so amazing. Some people refere to it as 'hot yoga' because they heat the room to over a 100 degrees and I seriously sweat my brains out for 90 minutes. It's very cleansing and I feel great following.

Heidi and I booked a Cruise to the Mexican Riviera-totally stoked! We got a few other friends going so it will be a fiesta in Me-he-co! I'm so excited. It's a seven day cruise and was only $414.53 per person leaving out of LA; which also means a road trip:)
. Anyway, gotta jet-peace out.

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.