Homeowners!

We are officially homeowners! On Tuesday, July 16 we signed our life away and on Wednesday our loan was financing and were given possession of our home. Our cute home is located in Kearns, Utah. Fairly close to where both Ben and I grew up. One of my good friends from high school I found out after we moved lives just a few blocks away. I had done quite a bit of research or so I thought on purchasing a home but it was honestly one of the most stressful things I have ever done (possible the most stressful). I felt so relieved once everything was done. Now the unpacking and organizing begins! I will get more pictures once we become more settled but here are pictures of us in front of our home and some pictures of the inside (without any of our stuff so it looks really empty). I feel kind of overwhelmed by wanting to get everything organized set up an cozy and perfect but I have to remind myself to just be calm and it will happen. 

Front of our home :) Cute isn't it!?

The front room with an adorable fire place!

The Kitchen that I'm in love with!

One of the bathrooms.

Part of our Master Bedroom. 

Pediatric Tech

We have been uber busy lately. Ben is working on a certification for work and then his work is keeping him pretty busy. I'm doing school and kicking butt at it and work and trying to work out. We also had family in town for a few days. I really quickly wanted to just post about something that I'm extremely excited about. Yes its a new job well kind of its still within Intermountain Healthcare just a new position. It's literally a dream job for me and I'm ecstatic! It's at Riverton Hospital in their Primary Children's Outpatient Surgery as a Pediatric Tech. The schedule is Mon-Fri start time around 6am no holiday's no weekends and sometimes if they are slow they send us up to Primary Children's Hospital to help out. I'm going to be doing pre-op,post op and I will also be in the operating room assisting with surgeries!!!!!!!!!!! The surgeries performed are basic such as tonsils, ear tubes, etc. There is very limited complications and the majority of patients go home at the end of the day. If there are any complications they are transferred to Primary Children's Hospital. 

Here is a brief description of the job:

A dynamic and proactive Pediatric Technician (Ped. Tech) is a trained caregiver that assists under the direction of a Registered Nurse (R.N.). Ped Tech’s are given the opportunity to apply their clinical skills to patients by surveying medical equipment, monitors and sensors, by interacting with the pediatric patients while transporting them to their medical destination, and tending to their healthcare needs and overall healing process. 

A resourceful Ped Tech is a valued contributor to the medical staff when keeping thorough charts, preparing medical rooms and assisting with procedures. Able to communicate effectively in a crisis or disaster situation and maintain competent work levels.

This coming week is my last week at my current position. I've made a few really good friends and hope to stay in contact with them once I leave. 

Update on 2015

I wanted to do a little update on where we/I are on the “goals” for 2015.

Health

I’m about 10lbs behind on my weight loss. As of today I’m at 227. Something is better than nothing right? I have consistently tracked my foods on myfitnesspal for almost 2 months until I came down with this nasty cold. Also, the scale isn’t everything. I wish I had some before and after pics but I didn’t really plan that out. Many people at my work have told me how great I look and asked how much I’ve lost so something’s working right? I have also been going to the onsite gym during my lunch breaks at work and then trying to also do a workout when I get home.

I went to an ENT and got my sinuses taken care of. Basically, it’s a whole bunch of things. Some of my sinuses grew the wrong way and there is a lot of inflammation from that and from allergies. Treatment: nasal spray anti-inflammatory and allergy meds.

I also went to the podiatrist to have my feet checked out. The top of my right foot has been hurting for the past 6 months or so and the past 2 months it’s been really bad. I would feel like it was on fire after taking duke for a walk. After many tests and x-rays the doc is pretty confident it’s a stress fracture. They are hard to see and thus hard to diagnose. So as of yesterday I’m in a post-op boot for then next 2-3 weeks pretty much 24/7 until the pain is completely gone. So no running/zumba anything of that nature for the next few weeks. Swimming and cycling here I come!

I was actively working on my flexibility for a week or two so I need to get back into that. I’ve only done yoga like once so maybe that’s something else I can do on my time in the boot.

I did some lifting and now we have a gym membership at KOPFC and they have some pump classes that I’m excited to start going to.

Running is kind of not happening until these foot shenanigans get taken care of.

I think I have definitely cut down on caffeine and soda. Some days are better than others. I know for a fact I drink more tea and water and I LOVE IT! I wish I could dedicate my paychecks to Teavana. Ha! Oh the life.

I always look up nutrition facts before we eat out now its just a habit.

We are getting a lot better at cooking more often at home. Some nights we have what we call them Harmon’s Dinners because we go to Harmon’s grocery store and pick out something’s to make and/or eat. We love it! We do that 1-2 times a week.

School

 Is going  flipping fantastic! I’m kicking serious butt and taking names ya know what I mean?! I study practically every day, I’ve got 82% or higher on my tests. I’m way ahead on my Biology assignments. AND…. It looks like I will be starting an 18 month BSN program January 2016!!!! YAHOOO!!!!

Personal/Spiritual

I’m so crazy organized it’s ridiculous.

We are trying to figure out travel plans. We did go stay at the Homestead over Valentines weekend and swam in the Crater so that was adventurous.

I haven’t really learned or improved a new skill or found my spiritual side or finished projects…yet.

I’ve probably only written in my journal once and haven’t done so well at the pictures either. (obviously from the lack of pics in this post hahaha)

Finance

Our credit cards are paid off!!! Thank you tax return!

Now we can focus on saving and paying off other debts to put ourselves in a good position to buy a house.

About 2 months in and I definitely think we/I are making some great progress I’m excited for what the year has to offer!

Reflecting on 2014...Ready for 2015

2014 was a whirlwind but I feel like we are in a good place and are getting ready to start new chapters of our life. 

In 2014:

We moved back to Utah from North Dakota. 

We lived with my cousin and his wife in Ogden for a bit and then moved to Salt Lake and moved back in with my parents. It is very helpful because instead of paying stupid apartment rent (sorry I hate that) we are able to save our money. 

I started working at Intermountain again and I am doing cash posting and I really enjoy it and the people I work with. Ben is working at Kleinfelder and they've actually kept him working through the winter which we have never had happen before he also really enjoys his job and is hoping to get some new certifications this year to help him move up in the company.

We consolidated and bought and new Jeep and traded in our truck, car, and motorcycle. 

We both did our first triathlon.

I figured out school and started working on my pre-reqs for nursing school again. 

On December 26th my last living grandparent my grandma Parry (my dads mom) passed away. She will be greatly missed. I feel at such peace with her passing though because she was in a lot of pain before she passed, she hadn't eaten for 3 weeks, and she wasn't very coherent. My grandpa passed away in 2008 sort of unexpectedly and she has missed him terribly. You will be missed grandma!

She tricked me and told me we were sticking out our tongues!

Grandpa and Grandma in 2002 at Jason and Karlie's wedding.

Love and miss you grandma! 

Here's a few other pics from the year.

Halloween at my work. Josslyn came trick or treating.

Ugly sweater contest at work.

2015

Here's a little thing a wrote up about some of my goals/plans for 2015.

And a little side note we are expecting the arrival of the first nephew on the parry side this month!

Health

By January 31^st: down 10 lbs (around 226)

By July 31^st: meet goal weight of 165

Go to dentist every 6 months. Physical in July. Get feet and sinuses taken care of .

Practice yoga 2x a week.

Work on flexibility.

LIFT!!! 3x a week!

You have to run 100 days until the end of 2015. 
4 SIMPLE RULES FOR THIS CHALLENGE:
#1 NEVER GO 3 DAYS WITHOUT RUNNING
#2 RUN AT LEAST 3 DAYS A WEEK
#3 NEVER MISS A MONDAY
#4 NEVER GIVE UP!

Cut down on caffeine and soda.

Drink more tea and water.
Plan before eating out. Research healthy options.

                                

Cook more often at home. 

School

Don’t procrastinate stay on top of assignments.

Actually study EVERY DAY!

Apply for Nursing School (Get GPA up above 3.0)

Personal/Spiritual

Get and stay organized.

Travel

Learn/improve a new skill.

Find my spiritual side; Find a religion or practice that works for me.

Finish projects.

Write in Journal at least once a week.

Take more pictures.

Finance

Pay of Credit cards

Be in good position to buy a house.

$SAVE$

Think before buying.

Keep track of spending.