i know it's late...but december recap

i told myself i'd update my blog at least once a semester so i can reflect on things

but here's a 6 month overview...lol

december 2009....
finished my last semester before taking nclex....

these were the 2 last projects we had to work on...a group change project and a patho chart for critical care....

this is some of the class getting ready for a group photo....
on the last day...after our critical care final....a group of us went to eat at boiling crab....mmmmmm!

december 20 10 a.m....pre-pinning gather at my house...

it was a time for all the believers to get together and recite the original nightingale oath...

it was awesome...we had a short praise and worship session....we heard words of encouragement from students and faculty....we recited our oath...and the people supporting us recited an oath of support...and kuya jon closed up in prayer....

PINNING CEREMONY



we were limited to only 8 guests...but i had exactly who i wanted to be there...my parents...my older brother (little brother had work...i forgive him)...my lovely cousins....and kimi and jim....these people have stood by my side...and encouraged me when i felt like giving up....thank you!

post-pinning after-party...the asians headed to downtown fullerton for some drinks and dancing :)

this is our 1st picture as an official couple :)

my bestest carpool

my backrow asians...(missing kat)

CHRISTMAS 2008

gathered with the penaflor family....this has been a tradition for 9 years....and this may be the last time i go there for christmas :(

i was surprised when i got the invitation...but i was hoping it would give me closure....it did give me some closure...but it also broke my heart because i love this family...and they've been a huge part of my life...

i pray that we can still continue to have a relationship..because they will always be a big part of my life....

CHRISTMAS day...was spent at my house...

it was awesome to be around the people i love...

no party is complete without rock band :)

NEW YEAR'S EVE 2009....

spent the day with chi...unfortunately we don't have pics :( boo!!!!! we bought annual passes...it was awesome...i've never been out on new year's eve...hopefully next year we'll do something bigger...like vegas ;)

JANUARY 2009....

studied for nclex...gag! it was not an excited winter break when i was going to kaplan everyday for 2 weeks...

JANUARY 23rd....my 27th birthday....BLAH! i'm old!

the ladies treated me to happy hour in downtown fullerton....

cousins surprised me and made my night complete

theresa treated us to dessert at cheesecake factory...that was my first time having cheesecake there...my cousins were a lil bothered that i was being a plain jane...and just getting strawberry cheesecake...lol...but i'm a plain person...haha!

shhhh!!!! i rather have cheesecake from costco...i guess i like my cheesecake a lil more frozen or solid...rather than soft and fluffy... :)

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS @ DISNEYLAND with joe, kleng, jim, pops, char, elok, maddie, and krystal...

it was seriously the best time at disneyland ever....the whole day was filled with laughs...

w/ joe, a fellow january birthday

the january babies by the castle (jim, kleng, me, & joe)

MARCH 2, 2009

took the nclex....stopped at 80 questions...felt like i failed...

waiting for 3 days was the worst!!!!! i couldn't sleep or focus...i get a text from raymo at 645 a.m....saying that results are up...

I PASSED!!!!!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!

Spring 2009

we officially begin the masters portion of our program...they told us before we entered the program that the first 14 months would be the toughest...and then once we get into the masters portion it would be easier...

THEY LIED!!!!!!!!

it was the worst semester of my life! i seriously felt like dropping every week! i've never cried so much in a semester....

the workload was ridiculous...so many people dropped or dropped to part-time...

i was only able to finish this semester because of the help from my friends...if it weren't for them...i would have failed...

sometimes we would get together to do homework...but take some time to vent and of course....eat! hehe!

rite-aid ice cream (cuz we're broke)

celebrating dielle's birthday :)

he makes me laugh :)

Coming to an end....

thanksgiving recap:
it was awesome being around family...only downfall was that not all my girl cousins were present...and to my surprise...i didn't eat much either...i wasn't in the mood to eat turkey...but it was a good day :)

with my cousin theresa

Last day of critical care recap:
WE SURVIVED!!!!!!!!! i never thought this day would come...it was a struggle but we all got through the good times and bad times together :)

my last patient was really cute...she was an older filipino lady...she totally reminded me my auntie luming....we talked a lot about random things...it was nice to end the semester on a good note...

after clinical we all ate dinner at claim jumper...MMMMmmmmm! i love ending a long day with a delicious meal :)

Critical Care Group Fall 2008 - West Med Santa Ana

the past week has been crazy!....finished 2 group projects in 4 days....i was so stressed out...but seeing the end product was awesome...

now...need to start cracking down on my change project....grrrrr!!! i really don't want to write it...and somewhere in the middle of writing that paper i have to make time to study for finals...haha!

fall semester 2008: a semester of change...struggle...and faithfulness

the fall semester has been such a blur....

for one thing...i lost my best friend...one of the people i trusted with all my heart...the person i called when i was happy...when i sad...when i needed someone to talk to...i knew he was always there for me....but things have changed....his heart changed...he's changed...9 years has come down to nothing...

but it's ok...i know things happen for a reason...

God has really shaken things up in my life...but i know it's for the best...

this semester has been the toughest for me...i was expecting this semester to be easier...but it's been the most challenging..

God has totally been my strength...

here's a quick summary of how my classes are going...
1) epidemiology - waste of time
2) leadership - waste of time
3) critical - takes too much time

and that's it!

picture time!!!!! they made me smile and laugh when i didn't want to :)

FINALLY....THE END OF SUMMER SCHOOL :)

the first 6 weeks of summer school flew by so quickly....but then the 2nd session (pediatrics), which was only 5 weeks felt like the longest rotation EVER!...

it was seriously the most challenging 5 weeks of nursing school i went through...the lecture wasn't bad...i learned a lot...the exams kicked my butt...and each clinical day i felt like sticking my multi-color pen in my eye :)

so here's my rant...i think i would have enjoyed my peds rotation more ...IF...my instructor put a little more energy and enthusiasm into the group....she was kind of a "debby downer"...haha!...but i was sooo blessed to be surrounded by positive people...and God was truly my strength...

usually i have pictures from my rotation...but after this one...NO PICTURES were taken...NONE!...ZERO!...ZIP!...sad :( ...all i have are memories in my head...which i'm sure will be swept away when the critical care rotation comes along :)

so....after a long rotation..."my posse" of friends...or as some people would call us "the asians"....decided to throw an END OF THE SUMMER BBQ BASH!

BIG THANKS TO DIELLE for opening her house to us....

here are some pictures :)


so now...i have 2 WEEKS of FREEDOM!!!!!!!!

and you know what's crazy?....i've actually been studying for the nclex everday!!! i know i'm crazy...but i seriously doubt i will study in the fall semester...and that will only leave the few weeks in december to prepare....but i don't mind studying during this short summer break...because....I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SLEEP AS MUCH AS I WANT!....AND...i've been watching the SUMMER OLYMPICS!!!!...

it seriously has been an awesome break...to just be able to wake up to my natural body clock...not worry about what drama is going on in the nursing program....and to just be HOME :)

GOD IS GOOD!

Graveyard shift, Deep Fried Food, Awesome Music, & Reuniting with Friends

7/11/08

Friday night - The UCI group had to do a graveyard shift. 5:45 p.m.-7 a.m.

challenge for the shift ----STAY AWAKE

i was in the NICU taking care of triplets. this is basically what i had to do: give meds, feed every 3 hours, change diapers every 4 hours, make sure they kept breathing.

by the end of the shift i was a walking zombie. i felt like throwing up...right when i got home i plopped into bed and slept til i had to get up for the OC fair

7/12/08

Dielle was kind enough to invite melanie and me to watch ONE REPUBLIC with her and her boyfriend. Before we entered the arena, we bought FOOD!....we ordered chicken fingers, garlic fries, the FRIED vegetable platter, and FRIED AVOCADO!...man...it was DELICIOUS!...


First on stage was Phantom Planet (they sang the theme song from the show, the o.c...."california"). they were really good. then one republic performed...MAN!!!!! they were soooooo good!!!!!!!!! i recommend getting their album...their music is sooo chill


after the show....we bought FUNNEL CAKE!...you can't leave the OC fair without getting funnel cake...MMMmmmmm!

it was a great night to relax...yummy food, good music, and awesome friends...can't beat that!


7/14/08

the mission team FINALLY reunited...it's been a whole year since our mission trip to the philippines...it's awesome how we can always come back together and reminise about what GOD did in the summer of 2007...

we celebrated Ate Deb & Ate Knatz's birthday and our 1 year anniversary of going to the philippines...

i'm looking forward to 2009...i am TOTALLY going on another mission trip...

GOD IS AMAZING!!!!!!!

in 2007 before boarding the plane

reunited in 2008


the whole team!