Hospital Potluck

I had my last day of work at CHOC on wednesday and it was very bitter-sweet. Everyone brought in great food and they bought me a cake to let me know that they were very excited for me. I learned so much in that place. Everyone has been so vital to my growth as a medical professional. The value of being in that unit for the last year has been priceless. I am very thankful for my time there and for the way everyone took me under their wing. I even got the Doc to bring me burritos, I was informed that he never brings anything to the potlucks. ;) Anyway, I start nursing school on the 5th of May and I am sooooo excited! Wish me luck and know that I am going to need some encouragement this summer. I don't get done with my semester till August 22nd, and I get married on the 23rd! CRAZY!

Yea For Babies!

Here is my new little cousin Karlie! She is adorable. Karlie was born on April 19th and she weighed 7lbs and 6oz. This is my cousin Stacy and Jeremy's 3rd baby. They are baby making machines! I love them very much, their oldest girl is going to be my flower girl! Heidi will be awesome on August 23rd! Congratulations Franzini's!

Tagged!

Tagged by Sarah
4 Jobs I have had in my life:

1. Island's Server
2. Diving Coach
3. Cutco Knives seller
4. Game Management Worker

4 Movies I’ve Watched More Than Once

1. 10 things I hate about you
2. The Patriot
3. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
4. The War

4 Places I’ve Lived:

1. Yorba Linda, Ca
2. Norwalk, Ca
3. Corona, Ca
4. Riverside, Ca

4 TV Shows I Watch/Watched

1. Saved by the Bell
2. I Love Lucy
3. So You Think You Can Dance
4. Full House

4 Places I have Been:

1. Chile
2. Tunisia
3. Turkey
4. Rwanda

4 People who email me regularly

1. theknot.com
2. My Mother in law to be
3. David Torna (for church stuff:)
4. Charlie

4 of my favorite foods

1. Chicken Enchiladas
2. Chipotle Burritos
3. Garlic stuffed olives
4. Hamburgers

4 Places I Would Like to Visit

1. Israel
2. Australia
3. Spain
4. China

Things I am Looking Forward to in the Coming Year

1. My WEDDING!!!
2. The birth of Baby Imai
3. Starting Nursing School
4. A new family beginning

Now I tag Jenny Patey and Robin if you happen to look at this! :)

Who Knew...

So I thought it was high time that everyone close to me was given the chance to see into the mind of a Unit Secretary for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I have seen more, learned more and gained more experience that I ever could have expected in only 9 months at this little unit. Here are just a few...
How do you tell a mother their child has a spongy brain and that they will have to live assisted their entire life.
How do you look a father in the eye and tell him it would be better for his life if you took him off life support.
How do you love a mother who is too young and has tried to kill her baby boy by using crack and then when she actually has him, she wants to keep him.
How does a mother let her baby know, when she is old enough, that she is the product of a rape?
How do you make the decision as to wether to keep feeding your baby or just let them pass because it would be easier just to let her go?
What do you say to the parents at the funeral for their 3 month old?
How do you keep yourself from strangling those parents who will have their child in our unit for no more than 10 days and put up such a fit, when others make our unit their home for months?
How do you keep yourself from getting completely emotionally involved?
Do I have the heart to be a nurse?
Can I look a mother in the eye and tell her that I'm sorry her child didn't make it?
Can I face the fact that just because my child is born well she may get in a car accident that could change her life completely?
Praise the Lord my heart can rest in knowing that this earthly home is NOT perfect. Babies don't make it, children fall in pools and lose most their brain, car accidents cause people to never function on their own again, surgeries go bad and take a life, mothers don't want their children, women get raped, Father's never show up to know their children, nurses show they care day in and day out no matter how hard it gets. I serve a God that will never fail and has promised me perfection for eternity. This place is not my home, I stand eternally grateful for the God of all creation that loves his sinful people and has saved us from the wretchedness that we are!! All praise be to Him as I begin my quest to be a nurse and serve those who are in need and let them know of a Savior that loves them.

Excitement!

So things are on their way!! Things are starting to happen and it makes me excited. Charlie and I registered the other day and we also took engagement pictures!! I am very excited about them. Matt Weybright took our pictures and I can't wait to see all the results. You can see some of our pictures at weybright photography.blogspot.com!! He is awesome you should check out more of his stuff!

8 Fun Things About Me!

Sarah decided to tag me knowing that I don't keep up on my blogging, so I decided not to be rude and ignore her request...

1. I work in a Neonatal Intensve Care Unit, not many people know what that is, but just know that technology is amazing and if your baby is born too early, don't fear we have amazing facilities in the United States to take care of that.

2. I played the violin growing up and I miss it now.

3. I am dating a former Mr. CBU who is quite amazing.

4. Traffic is the best way to put me in a bad mood...sorry Sarah and Charlie!

5. I have some sort of crazy drem at least once a night.

6. I make coffee for myself every morning for my drive to work or for my Microbiology class.

7. I share a bed with my roommate Sarah. She steals the covers.

8. I want to be a nurse in a foreign country. (I am all finished with my applicaiton to nursing school!!)

Thats me. Now I tag anyone who happens to read this post because it may not ever be read! haha!

Happy Birthday My Turkish Arkades

These are two of my great friends! One of them I live with and the other I don't get to see her often. She lives in Turkey. It is her birthday today and I want her to know that she is loved and that I really hope she has a wonderful day. I miss you Elif and I hope that your mom makes you some isli kofte for dinner and that you think of me as you eat it! I love you and Happy Birthday!!

This one's for you Chap!

I can't wait to have one of these in the morning...they're back!!!