Welcome FALL!

We are so blessed to live in Utah during the fall. Every single day I think about how nice the weather is! And all the colors are to. die. for. Keith and I took advantage of all this and took a trip to Fish Lake to enjoy time with each other as well as some fishing.

My man is an expert fisherman. He always catches way more than me even though he spends most of his time trying to help me figure out what I'm doing. He rocks.

I wish these pictures did the beauty of the scenery justice. It was warm enough outside that we weren't too cold but it was cold enough outside that there were NO bugs! It was awesome!

Since we've moved into our new place I've been taking on a lot of little projects to make it feel more homey. Here are a few: 

I recovered chairs for the kitchen. I'm all about finding something cheap and then making it your own. It breaks my heart to break the bank. All this took was a staple gun and some upholstery fabric.

 Painted the ugly white washer and dryer with Rustoleum protective enamel paint so they would match the bathroom. It worked so well! (Not quite done. Going to add some stenciled designs and still working on the control panel.)

My friend Katie (who I am also doing the Insanity workout with- 4 weeks down!!) and I made these mason jar soap dispensers! Super easy and so much cuter than the regular plastic bottles. By the way- B&B Works Creamy Pumpkin hand soap is amazing.

Our door came with this big hook on it so I decided that was a great excuse to make a wreath. I've never done it before but I think it turned out alright. I feel like it is missing something though. Red ribbon around the burlap has been suggested- I just haven't gotten around to it.

It's been a pretty busy month, but since I've graduated it's been busy with fun things instead of school! I do miss it though. I don't miss waking up at 4:30 to go to a 48 hour shift at the fire department which was followed by work and then an overnight shift in the ER to then go back to work. I like the sleep I'm catching up on. But I'm anxiously waiting for an employment opportunity in healthcare because I really miss patient care. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Keith is also working really hard trying to get a few more promotions. Hopefully they are right around the corner! 

It's about time

I am done with school and it feels GREAT! SO AWESOME!  I felt like my performance on my national final was very middle of the road. I couldn't imagine how I performed in any outstanding way either positive or negative. For the next two hours I was constantly checking the NREMT website to see if my status had changed. Finally, I gave up and threw myself dramatically on our bed declaring that I was sure I had failed. Keith asked if I would like him to go check again for me. I grunted out of despair and he took that as a yes. From the other room he called, "Amanda, come here." I asked if I passed and he said he couldn't tell. (They weren't very obvious about it.) We figured out where to look but it took me a few minutes to actually believe it. Once the reality set in, I was happy-dancing around our house for the rest of the day. It was awesome. Here is me (having a bad hair day) with my diploma!

We had a few more exciting times the past two months. First of all, we moved! Not too far away from where we were but the house is bigger, nicer, and the location is much better. We've had fun with it.

Also, we celebrated out first anniversary. Keith was so great- he planned such a fun day. In the morning we went to ihop for breakfast. After that we drove up to SLC and visited Hogle Zoo.

We decided to be nostalgic and have dinner where he took me on our first date. We enjoyed gourmet pizza at Settebello's where we exchanged gifts. He got me Juicy Couture perfume and I got him a watch. The best part of the trip was staying at the Anniversary Inn. They have these awesome rooms that are all so unique. We stayed in the "Enchanted Forest" and it was great.

Both of us would whole-heartedly recommend this bed and breakfast. Food was light but good, jacuzzi tub was so cool, and the overall atmosphere was perfect. It was a great way to spend our first anniversary together. 

More exciting happenings here in Utah- my brother left for his mission! He and my dad came up here and stayed with us for a couple of days before we dropped him off last Wednesday. He will be serving in the Salt Lake City West mission and we are so proud of him! I bawled my eyes out when we were dropping him off but it's okay because I wouldn't want him to be anywhere else. He will be such an awesome missionary!

We've been having so much fun living here and even though most of this summer I was studying we still managed to find ways to sneak some fun in there. Last weekend we got to enjoy a fun hike with some friends. Living in the mountains is really such a blessing. It is so beautiful.

Ups & Downs

This month has had a lot of ups and downs. Here are a few of the highlights:

 (Not in any particular order) Down #1- not done with school as quick as I had anticipated. Hopefully just a few more weeks. Done talking about that though.

Up #1- We got to see a ton of my family on a cruise to the Mexican riviera! We visited Puerto Vallarta and Cabo san Lucas. It was so awesome. I originally was worried that the timing of our trip was terrible but it was for the same reasons I was nervous that it ended up being just what I needed.

We got to see the less "tourist-y" parts of the cities, Keith got to use his Spanish a ton (which is so cool), we took a boat tour, went snorkeling, rode jet skis, ate at Senor Frogs, played mini golf, went down a water slide, listened to some comedians, and got called "honeymooners" about 47 times...a day. The last day it was kinda rainy on the boat so we slept in, had breakfast in bed, and watched movies. It was so nice to not have a single care in the world for once.

 

Up #2- We got to come home to a new niece! Keith's sister Katie had her first baby and her name is Claire. She is absolutely perfect in every way. So beautiful.

Down #2- There are currently 6 active fires blazing across Utah. It is raining ashes, smells like a campfire, and there's a ton of smoke in the air. Thank goodness we haven't been really affected by it, but we are keeping the firefighters and their families in our prayers.

Up #3- Ryan got his mission call! He will be serving in the Salt Lake City West mission. We are stoked for him.

Down #3- I'm having to learn how to come to terms with my brother being gone for 2 years :(

Up #4- Keith and I got to see both our fathers on Father's Day!

Down #4- We are in a limbo period waiting to figure out where we are going to live and where I'm going to start my career. It gets pretty frustrating.

Overall Up- We are still just loving life and having a blast!

I guess that's actually not too much of a roller coaster month. Nothing we can't handle. Things are good in the Larsen house :)

Almost done!!

That's right... only 3 weeks left of school and then I'm officially DONE! I've been working pretty dang hard and I'm ready to have a normal life back. I'm excited to not feel guilty for not studying every time I try to do something fun. It's gonna be great! I've been doing fire rides every weekend the past month and I've got 3 weekends left. In the meantime, I finished the rest of my clinicals! It's been a great experience and I've really enjoyed it. I've learned a ton (or at least I've been trying to learn a ton!) I'm excited to continue growing and learning.

I'm going to have to re-introduce myself to Keith next month because we haven't gotten to spend much time together. He's awesome though and is so supportive.

I've been pretty homesick lately. Just missing Texas and my family there. I'm not sure when we'll be able to go back and visit which makes it a little harder I think.

On a really happy note- I'm going to get another niece next month! Keith's sister is having a baby and we're so excited for them! So we have a lot to look forward to in the near future!

Growing Up

I don't think we ever stop growing up. I've done a lot of extra growing up the past couple of months. As I'm working through my clinical hours I'm being introduced to so many people's intimate personal problems. And they're coming to ME for help! Watching people go through painful experiences and even face their mortality sometimes makes you grow up really fast. It's an honor to be welcomed into these strangers' lives and trusted with their health. There's always an opportunity to make a difference.

Something I've learned through my experiences is that your sick patient isn't always your only patient in the room. On one of my shifts we were going to be doing a procedure to a patient that is not a very easy thing to watch a loved one go through. Thankfully we were able to do it sedated, however, we still explained to his wife what was going to happen and asked her if she would be more comfortable stepping out. She wanted to stay but once we were going the look on her face showed so much fear. I was able to go over to her and tell her that he was doing just fine and that this was going to help him. She still looked scared so I told her she could go over and actually feel his pulse. I showed her where she could find it on his wrist. As soon as she felt his pulse for herself she wasn't just trusting us anymore. She knew for herself he was okay. For those few minutes she was my patient. Not the man on the bed.

One of the things I was nervous about was my age. I was worried my patients wouldn't trust me or take me seriously because I am so young. I was worried that my OB patients wouldn't trust me because I've never been pregnant. I was worried the parents of my pediatric patients wouldn't trust me because I've never had my own children. I was worried my adult and geriatric patients wouldn't trust me because I haven't had as much life experience as they have. But I realized that it doesn't matter. This is what I do. This is what I know. I will always be growing up, but if I can demonstrate knowledge, confidence, and competence it doesn't matter at what stage of life I am in. I know what I can do and I know that I still have a lot to learn and experience. I'm just grateful to be part of these peoples' worst days and so honored that I get to be the one to help make it better.

Just some thoughts

Sometimes I get up on a soapbox and stay there for way too long. Mostly only if I'm talking to Keith or writing on here. So fair warning: this is one of those times.

One thing I realized with all of this "make Kony famous" stuff going on is that I am so anti-slacktivism. Definition (courtesy of urbandictionary.com):

The act of participating in obviously pointless activities as an expedient alternative to actually expending effort to fix a problem.

I can't stand it! I feel like I sound so mean but really I think it's so dumb. "I'm a social activist because I don't just surf the internet all day- I surf the internet all day while wearing a 'Kony 2012' bracelet, an 'I love boobies' wrist band, and a pair of TOMS."

If you really want to make a difference in the world go join the military or become a police officer or go on a service mission. Those are the people who are actually getting up and doing something good. And a lot of them don't rub it in the world's face and spam everyone with it because it's trendy. (Some of them do...and that's annoying...but they're better than slacktivists.)

Anyway. Yeah. I could say a lot more but I need to learn when enough of my opinion is enough :)

just my luck.

The week my life gets crazy I get sick. I mentioned it in my Valentine's post but I wish that's all it was. I can deal with everything but nausea and unfortunately it has plagued me. I got up for class this morning and it was not pleasant. I napped all afternoon once I got home and still feel miserable. Go away yucky stomach. Please. I have better things to do than baby you. Speaking of better things to do- wish me luck on my first ER day on Monday!

Love is in the air!

Or at least in our house! We had a fantastic Valentines despite both of us having to work all day and me getting a sore throat. We were able to spend the whole evening together and it was nice. I made Keith a candy bouquet that was "planted" in a flower pot. It had a candy-gram with a poem too. I wish I could take credit for writing it, but I can't. I also got him some of his favorite candy that wasn't part of the poem and wrote out a candy heart message.

Back in January 2011, Keith gave me a beautiful rose necklace for my birthday. Unfortunately, when we took a trip in June, it fell out of my wallet while travelling and got lost. I was so upset with myself. Well Keith totally spoiled me and got me a new one for Valentine's. I couldn't believe it. I felt terrible! Grateful but so embarrassed that I lost the first one!! He also got me a box of hand-picked See's truffles. I love chocolates but really just the plain chocolate and dark chocolate truffles. i had never gotten a box of just my favorites before and he went out and got some for me! He is such a sweetie! I seriously don't know how I got to be so lucky. And it doesn't even stop there! Keith made me dinner tonight! He bought steaks and learned this fancy way to cook them and it was so yummy. Even with a sore throat. Later, he took me to the gasstation for anicee and throat lozenges. I am spoiled rotten. I admire his selflessness and try to be even half the spouse that he is to me. I love my man! Here are some pictures :)

Panic Mode

Yep. That's what I am officially in- panic mode. I just scheduled my clinical hours for school and There are several weeks where I'll be doing a 48-hour shift at the fire station followed by a work day, and overnight shift at the ER, another work day, and then a night lecture. I think I'm just not going to sleep. Ever. For the next two months it'll only be about 60 hours a week, but once April hits it'll be at least 80 hours a week. Which all calculated out doesn't sound too bad I guess but it's the fact that those hours are broken up with only 3-4 hours in between every place I have to be (which includes the hour commute.) So that means I get 3 hours MAX of sleep at a time!! Maybe I'll get lucky at the fire station and we'll have quiet nights and I'll get some shut-eye then. My ER overnights, however, will be 12 hours straight on my feet. This is all assuming I'm allowed to keep my job. I have to take off 7 days in the next couple months. If they're okay with that then hopefully I won't fall asleep on the job when I come straight from an overnight ER shift.

It's scary but I know this program is where Heavenly Father wants me. I don't know what other plans He has for me, but I know at least I'm doing this paramedic program the way He wants. For our livelihood's sake, I'm trying to do the extra job my way and that's what's pushing my schedule from busy to insane. We need it though. Keith works so hard for us and I love all he does. I can't wait until I can be done with school and pull my full weight.

Happy birthday to me!

BOY have I been BUSY! But lucky me- all with fun stuff! I turned 21 on the 29th and had a long weekend of stretched out birthday fun. On Thursday, my aunt Sharell took me out to lunch and a movie. We went to see Joyful Noise. It was good! Definitely a feel-good movie.

Friday Keith gave me my present two days early. It was a gift certificate for an hour massage and a 30-minute facial. HOLLA! He knows me so well. That was the perfect thing he could have gotten me. (I ask him to rub my back about 2 times a day at least...) The facial was a fun bonus for him to throw in because the other day he was rubbing my head and face and I melted "like a popsicle on the fourth of July." (Name that movie!!) Then that night we went out to dinner. To TUCANO'S! It was a rare treat. Neither of us had been before and we both loved it. No complaints other than I wish my stomach was bottomless and I could eat so much more of everything! It was fun to get dressed up and out to a nice dinner. Here are some pics:

Keith LOVED the Brazilian lemonade. It's sweetened condensed milk, lime juice, water, and ice. Sounds weird but it was really good.

On Saturday I redeemed the massage gift certificate. It was divine. A-MA-ZING. I have yet to get the facial but I am definitely looking forward to it. Sunday was my actual birthday. We went to church and played with our nursery kids and had a fun time. Keith even got them (to try) to sing "Happy Birthday" to me. We went to my aunt Sharell's for dinner and cake and got to relax for a little bit until unfortunately Keith had to go to work. It was kinda sad but I had been so spoiled all weekend it was just fine.

I was also super spoiled by my family! From my mom I got a new MAC eyeshadow (Beauty Marked), a leave-in conditioner I've been wanting for a while, a new OPI nail polish (Glitzerland which I am currently wearing and loving) and an Applebee's gift card that will fund our date night this week! Here are some online images I found of those things because I couldn't capture how awesome they are with my camera on my phone:

From Keith's mom I got a red KitchenAid stand mixer! It is sitting pretty on my kitchen counter :) Here is another online image:

Isn't it beautiful!? I used it the other day to make sugar cookies that Keith and I decorated.

**Wow and I just noticed my arm looks sickly thin in that picture. I think it's just the picture because yeah...that doesn't even look healthy. But OBVIOUSLY (because I have a whole plate of cookies in front of me) malnourishment is not a problem ;)

Maybe if you're lucky we'll come bring some of our cookies to you! I tried a new recipe and they are really yummy. I'm not usually a sugar cookie fan but these are super soft and delicious.

In summary, I had a great birthday weekend. I am so lucky. Not just for all the material things that I was so lucky to get as birthday presents but for the love I get from those around me. I don't know what I'd do without my family and husband. I am a very blessed girl. Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a special day!

Craft Night

My friend Lacey and I had a craft night a couple days ago! We had a fun time watching movies, eating pizza, staying inside warm from the snow, and being crafty. She painted a super cute board to hang in her house and I made an "I love you because..." sign. You write on the glass in dry-erase marker. Both turned out way cute! Take a look!

I kept getting paint on my hands, hence the gloves. I don't know why I was making that face though. No explanation for that one.

Our projects in progress!

All finished!!

Ceeellllebrate good times, C'MON!

We have cause to celebrate here in the Larsen house- Keith is OFFICIALLY graduated! He's waiting to walk until April but his diploma came in the mail yesterday! I am SO proud of him.

His degree is in geography with an emphasis in geographic information systems. I still don't really know what that means, but I know he's smart! To celebrate I made these super yummy bars (but please excuse the picture- I am in no way a good photographer):

That is a layer of brownies- from SCRATCH! and a peanut butter filling all topped with chocolate ganache. mmmm. I just ate one and cannot even stand to eat another because it was so rich. This recipe is definitely one for the records. It kind of tastes like a Reese's peanut butter cup but in a brownie bar. I'm not the only one who has been learning new recipes though. This past Monday Keith let me teach him how to make manicotti. It turned out great except that I bought Hunt's sauce and I didn't like it as much as others. That's weird though that I could even tell a difference because I'm usually not that picky. Anyway, more camera-phone pictures:

Other than dabbling with cooking, our life has been pretty quiet. Busy but quiet. I'll be starting my clinical hospital time any day now and that will be awesome but crazy. 12-hour shifts in the ER, OR, ICU, and labor & delivery until I reach 270 hours. Hopefully I will learn a lot and have fun doing it. My fire rides don't start until April. Then I'll be doing eight 48-hour shifts at the fire station. I guess I'm trying to say that I'm enjoying the quiet time now because it's not going to last long!! It's a common joke among recently graduated paramedics that upon graduating they had to reintroduce themselves to their spouse. I'm not looking forward to that, but I have a strong conviction that I'm where I'm supposed to be and doing what I'm supposed to do. But WOOHOO for surviving the first semester of my program!! Now that's another good cause to celebrate. I guess it's time to go eat another brownie :)