Sometimes

Sometimes I wonder if I chose the right profession.

I know what you are thinking. What?! Airin, you just got started as a nurse. How could you possibly be second-guessing the decision you made years ago? How could you possibly want to do something else already?

I know it seems terrible, but I have had some days the past 5 months that make me wonder what I was thinking. In theory I knew that not everyday working as a nurse would be wonderful. But I guess I was naive and thought that at least people would be appreciative of the work I do. I understand that being in the hospital with a child is extremely stressful. Because of that, I had hoped that I portray to every family that I am there to help them and their child. To make things better. And that I am doing the very best that I can to help. But that does not always seem to come across. I have had parents yell at me, I have made some mistakes, I have had medical equipment malfunction on me, I have had to work some 15 hour days sometimes because I cannot just leave without my work being completed, and I have put in countless hours studying and orienting to different units, only to feel like a complete idiot. Those days are hard. They make me want to quit and to become a secretary or do something that does not have such high standards--something where the lives of children are not at stake and where emotions are not running as high.

And then I had a very good week this last week. I worked three days in a row (which I do not recommend doing as a nurse if you can avoid it), and because of that I had the same patients and their families. The families of these patients were so appreciative and so kind. Their recognition and kind words helped me to remember why I chose to become a nurse. Because I want to help people in their time of need. Because I want to serve people as my job. Because I want to be the Lord's hands for these children and their families.

I will cherish those moments and kind words of last week to help me get through the rough days ahead. And there will be countless. But as long as I can remember that I am doing this to make a difference in the lives of others and to serve them, I think I can make it. And maybe even be a really good nurse one day.

6 Months

Yesterday Mark and I celebrated six months of marriage. I know that does not seem like much, and that we are still considered newly-weds, but we have never been at this point before. And it is exciting! We are excited to spend the rest of our lives, and of course, all of eternity together. With all of the ups and downs and everything in between.

Mark makes me so happy. He is always so thoughtful and I am grateful for all of the many things that he does for me. He makes breakfast/lunch/dinner, gets my snacks together for me to take to work, helps to keep our little apartment clean, writes me cute notes, and loves me for me. I love him.

Happy six-months-aversary Mark!

Below are some of my favorite pictures of the two of us. Some are from when we were engaged, some from our wedding day, and some are from the honeymoon. 

Home Sweet Home

I promised that I would post some pictures of our cute place once it was a little more put together. We still don't have a desk or a couch. We have some furniture now, but we're borrowing it from our neighbor upstairs (she was so nice to let us use some of her furniture that was just sitting in the garage.) Sure, you may say it is a little ghetto with the ceiling and green carpet. The place is not perfect, but we love it.

When Mark and I were looking for a place it seemed we would never find the right place. And we needed to find one soon because we had to move by the end of August. But as soon as we walked into this little apartment, we both immediately felt like the little apartment was home. It was a wonderful feeling. Considering that we never felt at home in our place in Provo.

So here's a little tour. I'm sorry that the pictures are out of order, but I seem to be having some issues with technology today. 

Bedroom:

My second favorite thing about this apartment. 

A closet large enough to fit both Mark's and my clothes in it.

My favorite thing about this apartment:

Our very own washer and dryer!

No more coin-operated laundromats. Yay!

View from the front door.

Our little kitchen.

My least favorite thing: no dishwasher. 

But I took great location and a washer and dryer over no dishwasher.

Yeah, we don't have a kitchen table. Just a little counter space and two stools.

That's alright though, it's all we need right now.

This is the house where we live in the basement. But it's cute.

And it's what you'll see first when you come to visit. ;)

And these are the stairs down to the basement and our little place. 

They're on the right side of the house (when you're looking at it face on).

Just in case you were wondering.

Hope you enjoyed the tour. Please come to visit. We need some friends! And, although we don't have a couch, at least we have two chairs and a rocking chair in which you can sit. That's better than the floor.

LeBaron Family Time

About a week and a half ago, Mark and I went on camping trip down to Moab with his brothers Lane and Robert. Robert brought his two boys as well. We had such a blast. It was nice to be out in warm weather again. Even if Mark and I slept terrible the night we camped because we forgot to bring extra blankets and pillows.

I took lots of pictures, but to save you from boredom, I just posted a few from the trip.

 Isn't the sky just gorgeous? So blue.

Robert and two of my new nephews under the arch

I love this picture. I call it "the favorite uncle" picture. 

Won't Mark be a cute Daddy some day?

Walking along the cliffside to get to the Delicate Arch.

Stairs that have been carved out to help the hikers out.

On the opposite side of the street of the entrance to Arches National Park is a huge sand dune. With two boys of course we had to stop and play in it. And of course, Mark, Lane, and Robert embraced their inner boy and had fun as well.

I didn't take a picture of the dune to post, but the following two pictures of my nephews after rolling around in the sand a bit. Priceless.

Last weekend Mark and I met up with his entire family to spend time at Gardner Village. We also had a lot of fun there looking for the witches, walking around, and spending time together. I didn't take many pictures, but here are a few.

My newest cute little niece. She's a thumb sucker just like I was!

My new nieces and nephews, minus two. They are new babies, no explanation needed.

So adorable!

Proof that sometimes we get in pictures together.

My favorite witch of the evening. 

She's chatting on her "eye" phone. Cute huh?

I got a good laugh out of it.

My Long Lost Friend

I did it. Finally. I met up with my long lost friend: swimming.

And, boy, does it feel good.

I've known for a long time that I needed to start exercising. In high school, I was on the swim team (see above picture) and swam for at least 10 hours a week (2 hours M-F). And then I went to college. And I thought my studies were more important than taking care of my body.

After graduation, I knew things really needed to change. I just have not felt as good as I used to. Now that I'm married and finances are oh so important, I thought maybe I should try and take up running because all I would need is a $50 pair of shoes. But I tried that once, and it didn't last long. I found myself easily frustrated and I would rationalize that I didn't need to run.

So after 4+ years of not swimming, I bought a pass to a local aquatic center so I would start exercising. I went for the first time last week and then again today. It felt simply amazing. At first when I get in the water, I think 'What am I doing? I'm so out of shape. This hurts. I don't really want to be here.' But I just push through it (it usually takes about 30 minutes) and then I get into a rhythm. And it's beautiful. I love the burn in my lungs and the water rushing over my skin. I can't believe that I have abandoned my friend for so long.

Now I know that I won't want to go everyday (and I won't be able to on the days that I work), and that it'll never be like it was in high school. And that I will often be sore. But I have reached the point where I know I need to take care of my body. And this is how I know how and how I like to do it. I have to do something I like to do, otherwise exercise will never happen. I'm going to do my best. Wish me luck!

Hello

Hi friends who read my blog. Maybe? If anyone still reads it?
I revamped the blog to make it less girlie, I guess. Plus it just needed a change. It has been the same for too long.
Here at the LeBaron residence, Mark sits next to me doing homework while I'm surfing the web and reading my friends' blogs. I constantly find myself laughing out loud at situations or the things people say, and then I have to explain it to Mark or show him what is so funny. One day Mark asked me if I was going to start posting again on my blog. He's asked me that several times now and I kept saying I wanted to make it look better, or I wanted to wait until I took pictures of our new place, etc. etc. Basically I was just making excuses because I was lazy, and I finally decided to get this thing up and running again.
So...ta da! Hope you like it. And I hope we can come up with some interesting things to say.

First thing, we moved! We moved from Provo to Salt Lake basically so that I could be closer to work. The drive to and from Primary Children's was too hard for me. I know, there are many people who do it any way. But all I have to say to them is they're crazy! I don't know, maybe they could handle it. But for me, I had come to the end of my rope. I was always just too tired. I would be head-bobbing the whole way home (regardless of whether it was after a day shift or a night shift), had to have the music blasted so loud, freeze myself out, try to sing at the top of my lungs, and I constantly had to be chewing something otherwise I was scared that I would fall asleep and cause a major car pileup on the freeway.
So we moved. And things have been MUCH better with traveling to and from work. It only takes me about 15 minutes. Which is beautiful. I get more sleep and I'm happier.
Because we moved, Mark quit his job and transferred to the U of U. He mostly likes the U, but it has a different environment from UVU that he's trying to get used to. I'm not so sure he loves taking the bus to and from school, but he's a trooper about it. He is enjoying not having to work, however. And I like that I get to see him more.

Unfortunately, I haven't taken pictures of our new place for two reasons. I'll work on it.
1) All of our pictures/frames still need to be hung up so the walls aren't so bare. Who wants to look at pictures of a naked wall?
2) The place is not completely put together. We still need to sell the couches we have that will not fit in our new place, get new ones, and get a desk/filing cabinet thing so we can get rid of a bunch of boxes stashed in a corner of our bedroom.

Mark and I are loving married life. It's so much better than being single and dating. Sure, there are some ups and downs. And a whole new level of things to cause stress (aka finances). But we work through them together and we really are truly happy.

One of my favorite pictures from the honeymoon. Eating yummy

French sandwiches right by the Eiffel.

Life has NEVER been better!

Look at this boy:

Isn't he cute?

In 3 days he will be my husband.
I will be legally and lawfully married to the love of my life and my very best friend.
I absolutely CAN'T wait!

This is us together. Don't we just fit?
In other exciting news I graduated from college.
And I got a job as a nurse
(once I take the NCLEX and get my license of course)
at Primary Children's in the Float Pool!

Life is amazing. It simply couldn't be better.