Today was great.  As the day closes, I am able to reflect in my heart and mind about how the day went and seep in my feeling of absolute contentment.

I’m going to overshare the details of today…. Maybe with a little bit of pride, since it’s after 8PM AND IM STILL FEELING GREAT. Successful day functioning to the fullest! Oh yeah!

Woke up early so I could take my time this morning and not feel rushed.  Hubs made me a cup of coffee to wake up to, bless him. Picked out my outfit in attempts to avoid a fashion show (success), got my lunch packed for the day as well as my backpack.  It was going to be a long day and I needed to have appropriate food, fluid and supplies for the lactation training class. I think it helped I slept hard and long last night. I felt so rested and awake this morning. Turns out sleep does wonders to this little body of mine 😉 Made breakfast for hubs and myself – most important meal of the day!!! And then showered and dressed myself up. Meanwhile between all these things I also did a load of laundry. God is good! And caught an early bus just in case I couldn’t find the classroom right away.

Our lactation experts are so – EXPERT. I enjoyed their teachings and how they passionately showed their love for their work. I definitely learned quite a bit today and can’t wait for tomorrow’s learnings. Even more, I am so looking forward to incorporate everything into my practice as a neonatal nurse.  I signed up for this class wanting to more support our breastfeeding moms… Prior to today, I felt like this area of my practice and care (which is huge – feeding your baby heeeelllllllo) was so lacking and I had nothing riveting to offer; my confidence in helping these moms and babies was close to nonexistent.  So thankful for these ladies and all they have to offer us and teach us to help our patients be more successful.

After a lovely bus ride home I was excitedly greeted by my furry girls! It is incredibly beautiful out (AKA sunshine) and we went for a stroll around the neighborhood. I  was thinking about how beautiful the greenery and blossoms are, how well behaved my girls were during the walk, how blessed I am to be so happily married and loved, thankful that my mom breastfeed us, and I thought about how much I have grown into my career and how much I love doing what I do. The business of premature births and babies can lead to a long, hard journey.  But to be able to do the work I do and teach, educate, love on and support the family during this time in their life is such a true true blessing and privilege for me. To witness such strength, vulnerability, emotional, mental and physical hardship and to be able to advocate, intervene, empower these families is challenging and so fulfilling for my heart and soul!

Feeling so content, full hearted and happy.

Thanks for letting me overshare!

24 days to go! 

I feel like it’s been longer. I am still dreaming of candy, chippies, and ice cream and the hubs is dreaming of cheese, mini gourmet pizzas, and crackers + bread. 

That being said, I think we are feeling serious detox taking place in our bodies. Wow! This program might be working after all 👍🏻

Here are some pics of the dinners we have had the last couple of nights. Not too sad looking, I think ☺️ 

Chili, bison burger, and steak up top. Don’t worry, we have had chicken and turkey and pork too. I do have some fish in the fridge. We are mixing up our proteins! And eggs. Eggs for breakfast and snacks if we are still needing more protein. Eggs eggs eggs. 

I’m so stubborn about finishing this tough love program! GONNA DO IT 😊 off to meal prep since I will be a night owl/vampire the next few nights 🌙 
Thanks for reading my update! Happy Sunday and pray for my hubs that he doesn’t starve 😝  

Today marks the first day of our first Whole 30 I’m excited and nervous! Mostly looking forward to the positive impact on our health. I really want to break my sugar habit! With switching between day and night functioning, my sugar dragon can get really out of control. Here’s to 30 days of tough love!

Last night I did some meal prepping (and kitchen prepping) to make our first day easy peasy. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen but I think it was well worth it! And I think we will be spending a lot of time in the kitchen for these 30 days. That’s what happens when you eat a fresh ingredients! This morning I popped some chicken in the slow cooker (mmmmmmmmmmhhhhmmm moist meat and little effort on my part) and we will have that for dinner with leftovers for lunch tomorrow and maybe a few snacks later.

I love meal planning – I live for organization and to do lists…. So I’m thinking that this won’t be too much harder than what we have normally done.  I’ll try to update the blog on my experiences throughout the Whole 30.

I’m giggling to myself because I made this blog to highlight the sweets (I love baking) and now I’m entering a tough love program that will hopefully change my relationship with sugar and with many foods 😜 I’m not going to say goodbye to cupcakes for forever, but my overwhelming addiction to sugar needs to go! My body will thank me later ☺️

Lobaugh Ladies had a girls night out a few weeks ago! 

It was so much fun 🙂 such a great dinner and show and wonderful company. I think this was one of the first outings of the ladies since I officially joined the family and claimed the name 😉 

The actors were oh so talented, and every moment was full of entertainment. Quite a bit of laughter through the night. I would definitely recommend for a date night, if you have family or friends visiting from out of town or if you have a need for some sort of celebration! It was a very memorable night 💗💗 
Thanks ladies! Until next time 😎

Staying up on my night off before I go back to work for the weekend. Knocking out four shifts without back to back four shifts. Can’t complain since I get to enjoy good company, craft and relax with my mug of earl grey tea on my Friday night. 

Enough chit chat about work! It’s about six months of marriage for this happy wife! Being married has been fun. We have learned so much about each other and ourselves. I am so excited for the moments, weeks, months, years ahead! 

We are midway through our six week journey at the City Church! It’s been a great experience so far. I have sent the messages to my mom every Monday so she can hear some true hearted sermons from Judah and participate in some conversation with Jesus. I’ve really enjoyed sharing that with her. 

My baby girl Mariah is turning 9 years old this month! 🐶 I can’t believe it!! She still acts as if she’s 3 years old, playful as ever. And I think her personality and emotions are becoming more and more complex. She is a crack up at our house. We love her! 

Bella is doing well too. Crazy, hyper, playful, very fond of snuggles. She’s a happy baby girl! 

I think that’s all for now. I will try to post more on my lovely pink blog 🙃 

It’s getting to be that time of year! I hope everyone’s Halloween was fun and safe – and trick or treaters brought home full bags of candy!  I enjoyed haunting my social media sites to see all the cool costumes. Have to say there were so many cute baby costumes this year! That is, cute little babes rocking the cutest costumes. So much fun! 

Now that today is November 1st, the end of the year really kicks off. Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years! So far I have some holiday plans… And as of this morning I have Nutcracker tickets! I’m very excited about it 🙂 

Also very excited about a holiday card crafting class that I’m signed up for with a friend. I guess now that I’m married it’s the thing to do 😉 so with an accountability partner at hand, I am looking forward to hand make our Christmas cards this season! I am also hopeful about getting a family pic with the furbabies. That would be nice, yeah? 

Hopefully I’ll be able to do some baking. Lately my oven hates me and burns everything. It’s not operator error, I promise! (Maybe too much hoping – but that’s what the season is all about ……. Hehe)

XOXO 

It’s embarrassing. Starting my third year in the PNW and I just now experienced SRW.

But – this time I had the best company. My husband.

We went to Il Bistro which is a fancy shmancy Italian restaurant. I don’t consider myself a foodie, but I can appreciate quality ingredients and the artwork of cooking which results in a glorious meal. And I like the fancy ambience of a refined institution. It was fun 🙂 We dressed up (duh I forgot to take pictures) and headed downtown! Ready to eat and enjoy the good deal that is restaurant week.

We were able to enjoy three courses: appetizer, main entrée, and dessert. All for a bargain of $30.  I am a bargain shopper so this was incredibly appealing. Our server informed us that these courses were smaller than their courses on the main menu. Even so, I thought it was size appropriate.  Was able to spritely walk to the bus in heels without a full, jostling tummy afterwards 😉

I had a cheese plate with two cheeses. One was especially mentioned because it was alllllll the way from northern Italy. My husband chose bruschetta and sort of ate around the tomatoes… He had me giggling. For our main entrées I had a yummy butternut squash tortellini dish with pine nuts and pancetta. The sauce was so delicious, I was sad I didn’t have a spoon to slurp it up. He had steak with couscous which was promptly devoured. For dessert he had tiramisu and I had a hazelnut chocolate torte. It was very strong and a teeny taste of my husband’s dessert calmed my palate 🙂 all very tasty!

Romantic package: rose petals and champagne 💟

It was fun! And served as a nice Monday night date night, too!  

Can I believe that Halloween is literally right around the corner, and 2016 just down the road a couple (short) months?

No.

Can I believe that in this year so much has happened?

This life has been a whirlwind!  It has also been full of blessings. He has big plans for me and I’m starting to feel that a) I’m not listening when he is sharing them with me or b) he likes to surprise me on the daily. I believe a is correct, but if it is b then I continue to practice my flexibility in life and my faith in my God.

This year has brought a ton of growth in many aspects of my personal life, my relationships and professionally.  I have so much to be thankful for everyday, and especially this during this Thanksgiving season.

Good luck to all those prepping for trick or treating and the holidays following!

I’m quite ready to celebrate the end of this year and the beginning of the next as a Lobaugh 😉

XOXO

This short stretch at work was lovely.  It eased me back to NOC life, and I was reminded how much I love the babies!

One of the highlights: a family member told me that I was one of the cleanest RNs she had met.

Big fat smile on my face 🙂  HUGE compliment!

I think CLEAN creates a better healing environment…in terms of lower infection risk as well as the atmosphere of the room.  And with our patient population, we appreciate all the positive healing vibes we can get!  If that means wiping down surfaces once or twice a shift, steam sterilizing bottles, changing out suction tubing, etc. then piece of cake 🙂 Who doesn’t feel good when they clean?  Oh…. just me? 😉 I think its very therapeutic!

I’ve also been thinking about what has happened lately on The View.  As a nurse, I was offended at first.  But I was more impressed and impacted by the #nursesunite response.  We are a strong group of people.  As nurses we have immense compassion, we want to make a positive difference.  When our image is misinterpreted, I guess you can confidently say that we are quick to educate.  Nurses on social media are on fire!

I haven’t responded – because those women on the television can’t take away what I chose to do for a career.  As I care for the miracle babies and tend to their families fears and needs, my heart is full.  I am making a positive difference and helping individuals that are in what may be the most vulnerable phase of their life.  As nurses, we know that our role is imperative to health care.  To people’s lives.  And how much difference we can make in one twelve hour shift.

XOXO