Curlin' Em up like 1997, whoop whoop, I heart middle school.

Blog-a-thon

I know I should update, I just keep putting it off...

Today....
Chris and I took a jaunt to my fav. little town of Winona with the intentions of eating, seeing the lake, and hopefully seeing Kellie! We first found her dorm room and knocked on the door, since she wasn't answering her cell phone. Just as we knocked, she came up behind us with a confused look on her face. Turns out she had just got done with class and was coming back to her room. We took her out to Jefferson's and it was delish and fun to catch up with Kellie. She's really liking Winona! Then Chris and I walked along the lake path and got bombarded by gnats after I just got done saying it seemed like there weren't any gnats in Winona this year, never minddddddd. They were all over our clothes, ick.

Last Saturday......
My cousin Jamey and his fiance Kate took Chris and I, and Megan too, out to lunch! He knew Chris would be in town for his class so he asked us if he could take us out for an almost 1 year anniversary. We went to a super beautiful restaurant called Zelo. Jamey said it's Italian, but it had a ton of different foods. It was quite amazing and so yummy. It was fun to hang out with them since we don't see them much. It's nice to hang out with Kate and get to know her better before she becomes a cousin!!! We also got to check out their place and chit-chat there for a bit too.

September 5th-7th......
Chris and I finally used our gift certificate to the Woodland Trials Bed & Breakfast from Jodi and Darin for our wedding present. We spent a bit of our own money to stay a second night as well. The place is in Hinckley, MN and was so beautiful! It was truly amazing. The dining room area was pretty, our room was gorgeous, the outside area was beautiful and the basement was a complete game room! We had lots of fun hanging out there, going on the paddle boat, playing games, and most importantly the golf cart trails in the woods. We got to go on a treasure hunt with the golf carts, a map, and a GPS, 15 mins. later we found a silver dollar and a note behind a tree, it was so fun. Our second day there we decided to go to Duluth! This was on Chris' b-day and he'd never been there and I remember liking it a lot, so we went! We walked along the lake and walked out on the pier and later across the bridge to the beach. We touched the water and threw some rocks, heehee. Then we ate at Grandma's and went in some shops. We discovered a tower called Enger's tower not too far away. We climbed up the 6 or 7 stories to a look-out of Duluth, it was so pretty. We discovered a garden there as well with some more look-out spots, it was so fun! We were really glad we went. The two days were such an adventure and it was fun to do something together that neither of us had done before. Thanks Jodi and Darin!

A few nights ago I got to have dinner with Kelsey and Heather (poor Bish was too busy with school to come :( but it was lots of fun hangin' with them. Kelsey is now with child for those who dont' know, so we like to ask her all about how that's going.

I decorated my house with all falls things, I love fall colors, they're so fun to decorate with. I got all orange and yellow-ish candles and such, fun fun. I am now making cookies too, but I should not eat them! Yikes.

Weight watchers is going okay, it's frustrating to not loose a ton each week, but it's working little by little. I have lost 16 lbs so far, in 15 weeks, kinda depressing, that's only like 1 lb/wk, but that's actually what they want you to loose each week, jeesh. I've been going to the new Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center, it's quite amazing and spacious. I can always get on a machine that I want and it has a pool to swim in too! My favorite feature is that every cardio machine has it's own personal TV, so I can watch whatever I want and change my own channels!

Work is ok, it's the same. I dont' love it, I don't hate it, but I know it's not what I want to do forever. It's frustrating and hurts my back. When people ask me how my job is, I usually say, it's good, it's ok, but really I dislike it, hahaha, sorry but true. I don't know what I'd rather do, but this floor I work on is insane, it's non-stop insanity.

Setting: St. Mary's Hospital, Joseph 7C Orthopedics
Time: Morning, 8:00am (or 0800 for you hospital folks)
Situation: Nurse Brianna meeting Mr. X for the first time

Brianna: Hi Mr. X, how are you this morning, my name's Brianna, I'll be your nurse today
Mr X: Yeh, whatever, you don't care about me
Brianna: Oh, I'm sorry, why do you think that, I do care!
Mr X: Yeh yeh yeh, all you nurses and doctors are the same, you messed up everything during my stay here, I bet you don't even know what got messed up do you?
Brianna: Well I'm sorry something got messed up, but I'll do my best today!
Mr. X: Put my clothes on me!!!!
Brianna: Um....what.....er......now?
Mr. X: I'm leaving at 10:00am, put my clothes on me!
Brianna: Well Mr. X, why don't you order some breakfast, I'll help you get all cleaned up, and then we can get your clothes on.
Mr. X: No! I want my clothes on, I bet you don't even know where my clothes are!
Brianna: Well, I assume they're in the closet.....
Mr. X: (with much agitation and disgust) Of course they're in the closet, and I bet you don't even know what my clothes look like!!!!
Brianna: Well, you're right, I've never seen your clothes before so I'm not sure what they look like....
Mr X: (with much force) I KNEW IT!!!!!
Brianna: ok........why don't we get your clothes out and ready and I'll be right back...yehhhhhh.....
Brianna exits room and wonders why Mr. X hated her from the get-go. What a splendid way to spend the morning. Brianna is not sad to see Mr. X leave at 10:00am.......

Well, I think I'll leave you with that before this gets too long.
Off I go to make spaghetti.....
Love, Brianna.

Chris' Birthday!!!

Clockwise from top left.
1. Chris coming to visit me in Winona before we were dating, his 20th b-day
2. Chris turns 21! We're engaged and at Rick and Cindy's house.
3. Chris turns 22! Still engaged
4. Chris' 23rd b-day party blowin' out the candles, we're married now!

It's been wonderful to be a part of the last three years of Chris' life and I look forward to many more. Happy Birthday (on Thursday) Sweetheart! I love you and I think it's the best thing ever that you were born, heehee, love ya.

The Beauty of Camp

Here are several pictures from camp and at the way bottom is my actual blog about it!

Day One

Chris and I at the Dorset House

Jenny, Brice, and Chris playing in the phone booth

Chris and Jeff cleaning up after dinner

Camp and Such

MMMmmmm, I've been back from camp now for a week and I still wanna go back! It was just so much fun. There's just something about the atmosphere there that I just love. I love camp!

It was a ton of fun for me to have Chris there this year. About a mile away from camp I started to get very giddy and jumpin' in my seat. The second I saw the softball field (the first thing you can see at camp) I was SO excited! We saw the Pine Haven Christian Assembly sign and it was just as it always is and soon we smelled the camp air, I love that camp air. Then I grabbed Chris by the hand and started the tour! I loved showing him around a place where I've spent so many wonderful times and I was able to show him where I was baptised in Long Lake.

We set up our room about the dining hall and hung out, greeting people, like Kels' and Jeff, as they arrived. Jeff and Kels got the room next to ours, we all lucked out and didn't have to go sleep in the cabins (which we would have to if there was no room since we're at the bottom of the totem pole) Sunday evening the whole lot of us (I think 22 peeps) went to Dorset a nearby town to eat at the Dorset House, a pizza/buffet place. It was lovely! Jenny and Brice where there too and got to stay until Tuesday morning.

Sunday night we all hung out in the dining hall, as we always do, playing games and talking. We went to bed early cuz everyone had gotten up so early.

Monday morning Chris and I went running/walking. Later on we went along with Brice and Jenny to town, Park Rapids that is! It was fun for Brice and I to show the newbies around town, to all our favorite stores. We discovered a new t-shirt store that lets you design your own shirts. Chris and I made Park Rapids hooded sweat shirts for the low price of $20. Sweet. Then we all 4 ate at the Minnesoda Fountain! Of course we got candy at the candy store too. Six of us formed a little softball game later that afternoon. It was Dad, Me, and Travis vs Jenny, Brice, and Chris, we won!!! Mom played some too. That night it was my turn, along with Mom, Kelsey, and her mama Sharalyn to make dinner. We made salsbury steaks, real potatoes, corn, and pistachio dream cake, yum.

On Tuesday, I think, Chris and I decided to do the Itaska bike ride with Jim (nevermind, this was on Wednesday). We were reluctant, but eventually went and were very glad we did. It was a hour and 45 min ride and was EXTREMELY hilly, the most hilly bike ride of my life. But, it was very pretty with trees and lakes and such. We saw the great white and red pine along the way and got pictures with them of course. Then we made the very important stop at the Mississippi headwaters! I hadn't been there in many many years and Chris had never been there, so it was neat to see. Jim took pics for us! It got a little nicer later on and Jill and I went swimmin'

Wednesday was finally a nice day. A bunch of us went to World of Christmas to go-kart and mini-golf, it was fun! We swam and I skiied! Brad, my uncle has a boat and I used his single ski. It was a blast. Chris rode in a boat for the first time to see me ski! I think he thought it was alright. Oh, a few nights before we went canoeing as well. Chris actually liked it and we ended up doing it several times. Jill and I swam again and Kelsey and Jeff came out for a while too before they had to leave for home. I forgot to mention that on Tues. Kelsey, Sharalyn, Mom and I went shopping. There are a few places we go to every year that are outside of Park Rapids. I got a few things at World of Christmas and we all ate at the German restaurant in town!

Thusday, hmm, what did we do? I know Mom, Dad, Chris, and I went to town again. Later that night, Sharalyn, Mom, Dad, Brad, Jill, Chris, and I went to Rocky's Pizza, a place you must go in Park Rapids, it was lots of fun!

I'm sure I missed a bunch of things..... oh yeh, one night we had a fire in the lodge and made s'mores and we also played ping-pong a lot, Chris got really good at it!

Friday morning we all went on one last long boat ride all the way up and down Long Lake. Then we left our dear camp for home.

We st0pped at the Albertville Outlet mall on the way home and got some stuff.

On Saturday, Mom and I went to Faribault to see Chris and Dad play in the Church of Christ' tournement. Meadow Park ended up in 3rd place! Yip yip, it was very very fun! I think they played like 4 or 5 games total.

This week I worked Mon, Tues, Thurs, and now, Friday night. (Yes, I'm work blogging, trying to get the last hour to fly by!)

Chris and I have hung out a lot this week since he hasn't had to work much. We went to The Nanny Diaries and it was pretty good. Then Mom and I went to Stardust and it was really good! I got to see Brita and have lunch with her at Panera. I also had lunch today with Chris and Gav at Tinn's! Yum yum! Go there and get the honey-bbq chicken if you haven't been there yet, it's amazing.

On Wednesday I started and ended grad school. I went into it taking the 2 most easy classes, just to get a feel for it all. I felt extrememly uncommitted to the program, but just felt like I really wanted to try it out. I went into class Wed. morning expecting to start my semester, but after about a 1/2 hour, I realized it's just NOT for me, at least not for now, or anytime soon. I just realized it's something I DO NOT want to do right now. None of the programs really interest me right now and I don't want to do all the work for no reason. Oh well, at least now I know! I feel really good about not doing it, it just feels right not to, which is nice. I thought I'd feel bad about not doing it, but I don't, whoot.

Well, I should probably end and save this before it gets erased like long blogs tend to do!

I have the weekend off and Chris and I go to a bed and breakfast on Wed-Fri, I'm so excited! Chris' b-day is next Thurs too! Whoop!

Love ya all! Thanks for reading my loooooog blog!!!

Luv, Brie

PS: Camp pictures to come!

Getting So Tired

I'm sure you all love my overnight at work blogs.

I'll try not to whine, but lemme just say these last three hours are awful. It's like a constant fighting to stay awake and alert. I'm just so incredibly tired. My 3 patients are sleeping and I don't have any medications to give until 6:00, so assuming they all sleep until then, I have nothing to do for 2 hours.

I had to float to Methodist Hospital for the first time today. I was there, on their orthopedics floor from 7-11pm, then back to my floor for 8 more hours. Kelsey works at Methodist and is working the night tonight as well, so we had din din together at Jimmy Johns before work! It was fun! Then, on my way out of Methodist to come back to St. Mary's, I stopped on her floor and saw where she works. That was cool.

I didn't do much today. I slept from 8am to 2pm. I was gonna let myself sleep until 3, but I woke up at 2 pretty wide awake, so I got up. I watched Top Model for an hour and then went on a long walk. I also had breakfast/lunch or whatever ya call it. Then I got a call telling me to go to Methodist and I was kinda mad, but it was fine after all. Then I pretty much left for work. Now, I just wanna sleep. At about 3:00, another nurse and I went down to the cafeteria, it's open from 2-4am. I got rice because it just looked good and it was! I also got 100cal pack cheese nips, yum yum. And, a fountain pop. It's nice to get off the floor, but it's not really much of a break, I wish we could have a little break overnights. Some floors do that, but we don't really. When you think about it, you don't work as hard overnight, so people would think we don't need a break, but it's just to nice to leave the floor and see something different.

I dunno what I shall do today. First, I shall sleep, then I might call up Kellie and Jill and see if they wanna hang out! Acutally they said to call them, cuz they don't wanna interrupt my day sleep, heehee. I gotta see Kellie ASAP, cuz she's about to leave for Winona State! I have Tuesday off, but work wed-fri day shifts. Then I have 9 days off to go to the greatest place ever: Pine Haven Christian Assembly, which is affectionately called just "Camp" by all those who know and love it too. I can't wait to see it, smell it, and walk around it and show it to Chris! I can't wait to sit on the dock and see the lake and swim and sit in the lodge and play teather ball and feed the fish and bum around the dining hall and everything else.

I just love camp, there's just so many memories there. I started going to camp when I was in my mom's tummy and I just haven't stopped since. I went as a camper for 8 years in a row and then once again later in each summer for Meadow Park week. Both of these weeks have a very different feel to them, but both are great! Going to camp as a kid with Megan was so much fun! I'm so glad we got to do that. I envision my own kids going to camp someday. It's just such a good feeling to be there, it's so calm and pretty. I also love Park Rapids, the closest town. It's one of those old fashioned feeling towns, with one main street with little shops. Every year it's the thing to do to go see your favorite shops. There are 2 candy shops and a bunch of little fun trinkety shops too. And then there's the restaurants you have to go to as well. There is also another town nearby callet Dorset. I love Dorset too. This little town reminds me of my friend Brita because her cabin, which I got to stay at a few times, is up north by camp too, and she always took me to Dorset to the Mexican restaurant and the icecream store! Okay, I'll stop, but you must understand my love of camp and I know some of you do, cuz ya been there!

Well, it's almost 5:00 now, sigh, what to do.......

Chris worked at the north and the south Culver's today. They are having him do both stores for now. He's liking the south store so far, so that's good. Neither of us could go to Sam and Jensen's b-day party today :( Sad day, I don't like missing it! Sam turned 9 and Jensen 5!!! I remember when I heard the news that each of them were born. I was acutally at camp when Sam was born and I got to see Jensen the day after she was born in the hospital! Now they're so big and still cuties.

Okay, I'm out of things to blab about.
I'm listening to Delilah on 105.3 right now. A guy just called in that lost his wife 2 years ago, so sad, he said, "I made the living and she made living worthwhile" how sweet. I can't imagine losing your spouse... or any family member for that matter. I have been so lucky and blessed!

Good night all, wish me luck on my last 2.5 hours. Actually by the time you read this I will most likely be home in my bed all warm and cozy, can't wait!!!!!!!

Love, Brianna Marie Lewis

Just Watching....all night long.

Hello all..

It's so hard for me to remember where I left off on my blog and what has happened since.

So, I'll just start with today and go backwards from there.

Currently I am sitting on a computer (one that can be wheeled around) at work. I am in a 1:1 room, meaning, one patient, one nurse, which means I watch this patient all night long. First I started out in the room with her, but she wouldn't sleep (I'm working an overnight) She just started at me, akward and strange. And she kept saying things like, "Maam, do you need more light?" And I'm like, "No, you can sleep now." Hahaha. So, I wheeled the chair and computer out to the doorway and I can see her just fine from here, but I dont' think she knows I'm watching her. She's finally sleeping at 1:30am. But it just figured, the second I moved out here, she started climbing out of bed! I rescued her in time, but I'm keeping a very close eye on her. I feel useless though. I sit here emailing and blogging while the other nurses have 5 patients each and are running around. But I have to watch her and nothing else. So, I have about 6 hours left of watching. Apparently at 3:30am , someone is coming to sit here while I get a half hour break, pretty cool. He's a guy not from out floor, he just goes around and watches people so we can have a break, sounds good to me. I'm gonna go sit in the cafeteria and have a pop and popcorn maybe.

Earlier today, my dad and I had lunch at Erb's and I hung out at my parent's house for a bit while Chris was at work. Later, Chris and I made hambergers on the grill and ate before I went to work at 7:00pm. Mom took Gavin into the ER tonight for a possible ear infection and they came up and saw me!!! I was so excited! It's cool to have them up here and Gavin had never seen where I work, so it's fun! But my lady was getting frisky so they had to leave so I could keep a very close eye on her. My poor baby brother, I hope he feels better soon!

Chris and I had Laura (Chris' little sister) and her friend Kodie (a girl) over at our place this week from Tues evening to Thurs evening. It was fun. They are some goofy 12 year olds, lemme tell ya. They are sweethearts and it was fun to hang out with them. Chris brought them to our place on Tues. when I was at work. They hung out and then we played a game when I got home from work. On Wed. I worked a day, so Chris entertained them. They did all sorts of things, but the funniest is that they all went to the mall. Chris realized this was a mistake. They drove him nuts, they wanted to look at all the clothes, shoes, and of course, Bath & Body Works, and Chris wasn't about to set foot in that store. The girls do a funny impression of Chris when he was trying to ignore they're girly squeels over cute clothes. So, later, Chris had to go to work, so I took them back to the mall. We spent a good chunk of time in B&B Works, hehehe. Althought I must admit, it's hard to have patience when they want to look at every single shoe store. They're obsessed with Heelies, those shoes with the wheels. WOW, obsessed.
On Thursday we took them to Chester Woods to go swimming. I swam with them for a while and we had a little picnic there too. We took them back home later that day. It was lots of fun to have them over :)

Oh what else.....last night Chris and I went to Rush Hour 3, it was acutally really really funny, I laughted a lot. I surprised myself by liking it so much. But man, for a 9:55pm movie, that place was packed! Wow. I guess we do need a new theatre!

I'm very excited, not tomorrow, but next Sunday, we're leaving for Pine Haven, camp!!! I'm so excited to show Chris around a place that means so much to me. Brice and Jenny might come up for a couple days, so that's cool. Not everyone will be there cuz Kellie is going to be moving into her dorm at Winona State and Julie's going with her, so just Brad and Jill are coming, but at least the two are them are! Gavin can't come because football starts :( But it shall be fun. I'm also looking forward to 9 days off from work, glorious!!!

Welp, my eyes are getting blurry, so I better end this! You may hear more from me tomorrow when I'm here again overnight! Ahhhh..

Love ya all!!!

Love, Brie

Congratulations!!!

My oldest cousin Jamey (cousin Megan's older brother and usher in my wedding) and his girlfriend Kate went to Japan and climbed Mt. Fuji. At the top, Jamey proposed to Kate and she said....YES! Yay! Congratulations big cousin and future cousin-in-law :)

The fiances on the summit (I stole the pic from aunt Cindy!)

3 wks later...

I noticed that last I updated was the dreaded overnights, and now, I just finished my weekend day shifts! It's such a good feeling to finish a weekend at work, cuz it's 24 hours total in 2 days!

I'm not even going to attempt to remember what I've done lately, but I think of something...

Chris started his Augsburg class in Minneapolis! It's a 5 week class, 2 wks left now, that meets 2X/wk. I went up with him twice now and was able to hang out with Megan, Brice, and Jenny, wait, have I already blogged this??? Hmm...well anyhoo, here it is again.

I have been working, trying to work out more, and hangin' out with friends and the fam.
Chris and I went to the movie Ratatouille and Kelsey, Casey, Sharalyn, Mom, and I went to No Reservations. Both movies were very good!!

I went boating once with the Hemmer's, hung out with Sam and Jensen on their weekend here, saw Cara and her new chickens, and succeeded in my mission to kill the ants the surround my house. It took several days of terro and the determination of a warrior!!! yes!!!!

Work was pretty decent this weekend. Today I floated from 11-3 to the "Vent Unit" short for ventilator, which means patients need assistance in BREATHING. I'm like, ok, how am I qualified to work on this floor??? Apparently I am, but they gave me 2 super easy patients who are almost ready to go home.

I had fun with one of my patients this weekend. I had her both days and her daughter was there too. We just joked around, made fun of each other, and got a lot done. It's very rare that I'm sad to say bye to someone, but I was sad to say bye to them. They both gave me a hug and that was that. I'll probably never see them again, since I have Mon-Wed off this week!

Tomorrow, Cara and I are going shopping somewhere in the cities or those whereabouts until 5:45, at which time we will visit cuzzin Megan! We'll get to see her place! Yip yip I'm excited. Tuesday, not sure what I'm doing. Wednesday morning I have an appointment with Casey at 8:30am to be the "certified nurse" that assesses her Tuberculosis test, hahah, so yeh, I decide if she has Tuberculosis or not, hehehe. She gets a little injection and then 2 days later it has to be looked at to see that it looks normal, or not. So, instead of driving an hour to get it looked at for 2 seconds, she can come see me. I'm charging her $50, but she doesn't know this yet, playin'

Today was my Grandpa's b-day party and I had to miss it, sad day.....
Also, tomorrow is Nate Dietzman's big surgery, he's my dear friend Cara's little brother, so he's my friend too and if anyone would like to shout out a prayer for a successful surgery, that would be fabulous!

I'm sitting on my bed right now with my comp, it's kinda fun to take it out of the "office" and type on it elsewhere. Might as well utilize the wireless. I moved in here cuz Chris is talkin' away to Mr. Jeff Chesney about various Culver's issues and I cannot listen and type at the same time. My brain doesn't work like that. Same way how I can't listen to music and read at the same time. Hehehe. Chris just said, "Definetely, there's plenty of other places that'll give him a more flexible schedule." Who is HE I wonder, hahaha.

Welp, I guess I'll end this up here. I hope you all have a good week, feels like my weekened is starting now!
Peace to all, bye bye.

Yay! I can enter a title now!

Last you knew, I was workin' overnights, so I better update you all before you freak out!

Well, as luck would have it, I'm at work again while I write a blog, but this time I'm working a day shift and I'm on break. Today is just fab-u-lous. I only have 2 patients! This is almost unheard of. And, so far, it doesn't seem as if I'll be getting a post-op, so two it is! They are two very dear ladies in 70/80s. They have wonderful families and all is well. One of the ladies has two daughters here with her. They are super funny and have been making me laugh all day. They think all the doctors are "hot" (these women are married and much older than the doctors, ahahha). I told them that I am married and don't care about how the doctors look, (because they're like, "don't you think they're so hot?!" Actually what I notice about these docs is how nice they are. One actually patted me on the shoulder and the other wanted me to show him how to get a dirty sheet under a patient, ahaha! Funny. Some doctors are more serious and some are more talkative, either way, I think they all do a pretty good job around here.

I have another 1/2 hour before I go back so I thought I'd just do a lil' blog while watching What Not to Wear in the break room.

The real excitement starts tonight.... Here the low down.......
*After work, I'm going to work out (well not exciting, but a great accomplishment)
*Having din din with Cara Marie!!!! And hanign out until.........
*9:30 = going to HARRY POTTER V!!! Ahhh, I'm so excited. I get goosebumps thinking about it! hahahah, yayayayay! I can't wait. My brothers already saw it! The 5th book was intense/depressing, so I'm sure the movie will be too, but it'll be awesome and we get to see quidditch again! Whoop!
*Then I'll come home and see my husband who I will not see all day long!

Yesterday I worked too then I made a yummy supper and went on a walk with Chris. He did homework and I went to hang out with Dad and I saw Mom for a lil' bit too.

Backtracking even more.....this past Monday, I went up to Augsburg College in Minneapolis with Chris. He has a 4 wk. class up there Mon & Wed. We eventually got there and found his class, then Megan came and picked me up and took me to a Mexican restaurant in St. Paul! Brice and Jenny met us there too! It was very fun to see them where they live, I'm used to just seeing them when they come to Roch. So, they took me a yummy icecream place and we ate them outside. Before long, Chris called and Megan took me back to Augsburg to meet Chris. We followed her to Brice's place where Brice and Jenny awaited us. Brice toured Chris, who had not seen his place and we just chit-chatted for a while. Our drive home was easy and Chris drove himself up there very well on Wed.

Hmm...what else did I do lately??? I went to Chris' softball game and saw him do very well. He even slid to a base and got bloody, yikes! I also played volleyball, we are still undefeated!!!

This Saturday I will see my cousins Sam and Jensen. They always come to our house (my parent's house) every summer for a few days! It's fun to have them all to ourselves to play with. We're planning on taking them to my friend Cara's house because she has a pool! We took them there last year and we all had a lot of fun and Jensen really likes Cara's little puppies as well as Cara's brother! (Nate's her "boyfriend") So, that'll be fun. Cara's mom also got some baby chickens, so they're be all sorts of fun things to do up there.

Well, I think I'm outta things to say. I hope to have a fun weekend that goes by slow, cuz I have to work Mon-Thurs days, BARF!!! I signed up for a day off on at least one of those days cuz I think I will die if I have to work 4 in a row, I NEVER do that. Yuck. I usually schedule myself 3 on, 2 off, and so on. But oh well.

Have a wonderful day! Oh, and also, I'm getting very little comments from people and I'm very sad about that..........so one LOVES ME!!!! Wahhhh. JK, but c'mon peeps. Bring on da comments yo.

Love, Brianna M. Lewis

Why won't it let me enter a title....so strange....well, this is entitled:

"Awake When I Should be Sleeping Part II"

I'm here on my second overnight. Thank goodness it's the 2nd night, makes it a little easier knowing I don't have to do it for 6 wks! I just have to get through the next 7 hours. It's only 12:30am, all 4 of my glorious patients are sleeping comfortably. I have 4 totally different patients than last night. Usually we get the same ones, but it didn't work that way today, but that' s okay, I like my new ones too. I have an 18 year old, a 60 year old, a 78 year old, and a 94 year old, quite the range there. They're all very pleasant and I think are good sleepers, so far.

Tonight I brought more food in hopes to prevent the nausea I had last night from 2-6am, ick. I have soup and beef jerky, hahaha, it looked good.

I got home a little before 8am yesterday and slept until 3pm (Sunday). Then Chris and I went to Target and Erb's and Gerb's. Yum yum. It's fun to go out and get some food with Chris and just sit and chit-chat before I have to go back to work. Before I knew it, it was 6:15-ish and I had to go!

Now here I am. Yesterday I didn't get the chance to go get food in the cafeteria at 2am, so hopefully today I will. I want popcorn and pop, yummmmm. It's nice to just get off the floor for a while too. You don't get breaks on night shifts, but in a way you do because you're not as busy, but you never leave and leave your patients in someone else's hands, so you never really get a break.

Tomorrow, after I sleep for a while, I'm excited, I'm going up to Minneapolis with Chris. He's starting a summer class at Augsburg. This fall he'll take Augsburg classes in Roch, but the summer class is in Mnpls. If all goes as planned I will get to see cousin Megan and brother Brice while Chris is in class. Then hopefully, Chris can come see Brice's place after his class is done!

Chris is called an Auggie (Aww-Gee) cuz he goes to Augsburg now, hehehe. Today I called him that, I think it can be his new nick-name...Auggie, heehee.

I've had 2 pops so far and I need another one. I bet my breath smells really bad from this beef jerky. I keep thinkin' someone will come around the corner and I'll be tugging on beef jerky with my teeth and have a big chunk in my teeth. hahah, like a dawwwwg. The way my patient's room are postitioned on the floor tonight, I'm kinda stuck at a desk by myself for the night. I just get up every so often and go visit the girls down the hall, otherwise I'll die of boredom and seclusion.

Jeff and Kelsey taught the 2-year old at church for us today, well yesterday now, I wonder how that went......

Hmm.....well, I guess I'll go. Maybe I'll write another blog later....

Adios and God Bless.
Love, Brie

Ok, for some reason, I can't enter a title. But if I could I would title this blog: Awake When I Should Be Asleep.

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I wanna curl up in a ball under my covers at home, with my husband next to me. I don't wanna be here!

I will never like this overnight deal. I think maybe someday I'll ask and see if it's an option to never work overnights. It's every 6th weekend, but it comes way too soon.

It's just crazy. It's only 1:00 and I'm about to fall over and sleep. I'm hungry, sleepy, bored, and I have 6.5 hours left and I've been working for about 6 so far, almost to the half way point.

It's weird, I don't wanna be bored, but I really don't wanna do anything either.

Well anyhoo...yesterday was fun, why? cuz I wasn't here and because I went to Valleyfair!

Kellie, Jill, Dora, and I went to Valleyfair from 10:30am to 8:30pm yesterday! We went on many many rides and spent a great deal of the day in the water park. A new ride that is like a giant swing is my new fav. ride by far, how fun. I am not a fan of the new rollercoaster. I do think it's cool that it goes extremely fast, but it hurt my ears and head, too fast and whippy. It's like I got off of it and was like...."ouch." hahaah, but it was fast, whoooo.

Today I tried to sleep in and made it until 10.....

(now it's 3:25am, I got busy for a few hours!)

Okay, this morning I woke up at 10, watched part of a movie with Chris, then we went to Carlos with Dad. Next we went to Susan's house because she found a good picnic blanket for us. We'd been saying we looked all over Rochester for a picnic blanket and couldn't find one, so she found one for us at Khol's. She's so sweet, always thinking of us. Then Chris had to go to work and I hung out for a while and watched TV, tried to take a nap and failed, and then went to see my parents and Gavin. My poor mama hurt her back today, so she was resting and I chit-chatted with her. Eventually I left and got Subway, watched TV for a bit, and then came to work, fun huh?

Now I'm here with 4 hours left. I'm SOOOO tired. This always reminds me of staying up through the night to study when I was in school. It's this sick dreadful feeling where your body is telling you non-stop to go to bed. I feel like I'm forcing my body to stay awake, ick.

BRB, nurse's light is on.....

Bedpan, fun fun.

Well, I guess I'll wrap this up.

Hope you're all sleeping.

Bye bye, yawn.

An Evening at Work

Bored...and 2 hours to go.....

Sigh, that last part of a shift can be so dull. Everyone's asleep, except for one patient who's up and at 'em yet.

Let's see, what's new. I can't think....

This week is not a fav, I worked yesterday, today, tomorrow (the 4th) and then the dreaded weekend overnight. Ick.

But one fun thing is coming up. I'm going to Valleyfair on Friday with Kellie, Jill and Dora, three wonderful friends, so that will be very very fun.

I'm sad to miss the festivities tomorrow. The 4th is a huge holiday at my Grandma Erickson's. Yeh, I'll get to eat, eat and run that is. We usually hang out there all day and everyone's there, then we go to the fireworks at Silver Lake. I don't think I've ever missed the fireworks in my whole exsistence. Wah wah wah. Holidays at work are for the birds, poo.
I signed up to get it off, but I would be shocked into an irregular heart rhythm if that actually happened.

Ok, well what else.....um...... yeh, nothin' else much is new.

Hope you're all having a good week. Sorry this is borderline depressing!!!

Sincerely, Brianna

I suppose I better...

I feel overwhelmed about writing a blog when I haven't in a while. I don't want to leave anyone out or anything out...

Here's some things I've done recently...

*Swimming at Chester Woods with my Hemmer girls, Dora, and Katie (not MJ, sad day)*Watching my husband play with the MPCC II team, he's awesome

*Playing on my work volleyball team, it's a blast, I love it.

*Teaching the 2 year olds at church with Chris, well just once so far, but we loved it

*Going to weight watchers....

Yep, I'm having another go of it..... It's going good so far and a HUGE bonus is that I'm doing it with three friends!!! Makes it so much better! I'm so proud of us!!!

*Hangin' out at Mom and Dad's. Hangin' with Gav too.

*Trying to make new foods and learn to cook some things

*Going to movies like Ocean's 13 with Chris and The Waitress with Cara (a very good movie)

*Trying to get my flowers to grow

*Trying to finish my honeymoon scrapbook

*Joined the Ortho Practice Committee at work, which I can only be in for 3 mo, then I start school.

*Trying to motivate myself to get ready for school

*Watched the hot air balloons go off at J.A. with Kellie and Jill

*Went on a picnic with Chris

*Hung out with Jensen, Jodi, Gran, and Mom

*Well....that's it!

Going back a few more weeks, Chris got his wisdom teeth out! He did very very well and had soreness for a good 2 weeks, but seems to be pain free these days.

Here are some important things I am feeling very blessed about today:

*My amazing husband

*My loving parents

*My fabulous brothers

*My sweet and dear friends

*2 arms, 2 legs, and no cancer

*My townhome (and I hate to say it, but yes, the job that got me the townhome)

*And of course my unfailing creator

And, if you're reading this blog, I am thankful for you.

Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure...

Me, exactly one year ago, June 2th, 2006, on my first day of work.

I've been at Mayo a whole year now!

Chris and his narcotics!!! Yeh, he layed down for like 2 minutes and then he was recovered.

Our picnic!!!

On a lovely picnic

Playin' with Jensen, she did make it across alone!

Me and Nin

The hot air balloon adventure!!!

Akward Silence

Just wanted to let everyone know I'm still here. I havent' updated in like one whole week! However, I don't have much to say so I'll just say hi and update later when I'm up to it.

Bye!