*I'm a big kid now*

Wow it's been awhile since I've posted, but lots has happened. First, I graduated college.  Second, I went home to California for 2 weeks to visit family.  Third, I started a new job. And fourth, I got promoted.

So first things first, my parents flew out for my graduation which was awesome because I hadn't seen them in 5 months.  And of course, when I see them, the first thing my dad asks is, "Why are you crying?"  Ummm....because I love you guys and have missed you and this is the biggest day of my life and I am your most emotional child?? Ya...I am beating you Sarah and it sucks haha.  The whole graduation day felt surreal and sitting in my funny gown and cap made me think I was at Hogwarts...an added plus.  I sat next to my best friend Ashley who I met in nursing school and we have agreed numerous times that we wouldn't have gotten through nursing school without each other.  Somehow, we were placed in the same clinical group all 4 semesters of nursing school.  We shared 16 hour days of studying, hundreds of pages of notes, many laughs, some tears, and plenty of venting about the ridiculousness of nursing school.  All of my nursing school buddies, and her especially, feel a close bond because we share the same PTSD disorder.  I suppose it's a mild one, but I have definitely been traumatized by some of things I have seen and the stress I have had to go through, but I am grateful for them because on that graduation day, I have never been more proud of myself. 

My parents, boyfriend, and my best friend Jill went to dinner and my parents recounted the story of me coming to Utah.  My final decision to come here was sealed when the Taco Bell in SLC gave me the best steak taco I ever dreamed of, and it has kept delivering good stuff from then on!

LOVE the Exploratorium

The above are just some pictures from going home and visiting San Francisco.

As far as work goes, it has really taken off.  I got hired by LifeTree Research as a PRN Clinical Assistant and they kept telling us they didn't know how many hours we'd get, so I wasn't that pumped when I first got it.  But I have been working full time all of May and now June and it's not slowing down.  One of my main jobs is to explain different studies to potential 'subjects' and screen them by doing medical histories, ECGs, blood draws, drug tests, medication accountment, etc.  I've mainly been on a widom teeth extraction study where they are testing a new fast release aspirin, so it's pretty simple.  Then, I got promoted to Clinical Research Coordinator because they really needed someone with clinical license and background to be on more complicated study.  So recently I have been put as the secondary Lead Coordinator on a Spinal Implantation study.   We take subjects with chronic back pain and do surgery where they put leads (or 10-15inch electrode tubes) up the person spinal cord that is attached to a device that is programmed to a programmer that emits a certain amount of stimulation based on the person's body position to block pain and stimulate tingly feelings.  Was that a handful or what??  It's pretty complicated and the original Lead on this study is leaving for 2 months so I was informed that I will be in charge of the study, do all the screenings, be in all surgeries and post op assessments, and follow the subjects for four months.  It's very exciting but rather nerveracking.  I honestly can't believe I am being given this much responsibility.  And while the Lead is gone, I get her office and her desk. =)  I'm a big kid.

Other studies we are doing are several opioid induced constipation studies...exciting.  And one piece of advice that I don't think is said enough, if you are over 40 and are taking less than 3 medications a day, you are EXTREMELY healthy.  Or maybe I just see lots of unhealthy people. =)
One study that is coming up is a 3 day stay where they are testing Darvocet on healthy males.  They get $3600 for three days.  Needless to say, I have signed my boyfriend, Austin, up for that one.  Lucky him.

And tomorrow I turn 23.  I'm torn between thinking that I'm pretty old or really young.  It's hard because my roommates and a lot of my friends are still doing the same 'let's go out all the time and do nothing cause we don't have anything in the morning' thing, and now I'm working a full time job where I am constantly needing to be on my game and prove myself, and all I really want to do on the weekends is workout, sleep, read, and watch some good TV and movies.  So I guess I'm half little kid, half big kid, and that's good enough for me!