Nauvoo

We just love our Houston friends so much. The have come out and visited us twice within the last 4 months. We couldn't ask for better friends :). The first time around we did the typical St Louis tourists activities-- listed on my other blog. This time around we went to Nauvoo, Mark Twain's Boyhood Home, and Carthage Jail. It was an amazing weekend so nice to have a little break from nonstop nursing school. 

We started the weekend off with a little Ted Drewes. I had never been there before and thought we would give it a try. I love custard ice cream. In Utah, they also have a little custard shop that I used to go to all the time. This Custard place is a little unique in that they have all these unique flavors and mix-ins. So good! Lewis and Jesse got the best by far. PB cup, banana, and hot chocolate syrup. MMM! So tasty. Also, when they hand you the ice cream, they turn it upside down and give it to you. Since it is so thick the ice-cream does not fall out! Amazing..

We woke up early and set our trek to Nauvoo. We stopped in Hannibal where Mark Twain grew up. No they are not cannibals... 

Carthage jail was BY FAR my favorite. The spirit that was there was eminent and we all could feel the love for the prophet Joseph Smith. The women taking us on the tour also started getting teary-eyed at the end of the tour. I wonder how many times this happens to her. It is a very spiritual place but I felt that maybe we had a little different of experience. The spirit drew closer as good friends were coming to learn more about the life of Joseph Smith and where the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored. 

Of course I had to tell the missionary workers that we had a descendant of Hyrum Smith in our group. They said they had a great great grandson of John Taylor come in just that morning. It is crazy to see the descendants of our ancestors Lyman Wight (sold Adam-Ondi-Ahman  to the Mormons) , Anson Call (bodyguard to Brigham Young), and Hyrum Smith (brother to Joseph.)

We followed Carthage Jail with a visit to the Nauvoo Temple. We wanted to do a session in the temple but it was closed! Bad timing. We still walked around in the chill 40 degree air and took pictures. 

We walked the old streets and went to Josephs Store and learned that the upstairs room was where the revelation for Relief Society took place! 

We went home with some good Old fashioned fudge, a Nauvoo Red Brick, a metal diamond ring, horse shoe, and a very tired puppy. 

Had a great weekend with some great friends 

Relief Society Revelation taken place here. 

Replica of original key

Josephs Store

Top window was where Joseph Smith fell when he got shot by the mob

Great Great Great Grandpa Hyrum and Great Great Great Grandpa Joseph...Any resemblance?? 

Bullet shot at the door

First week of Clinicals!

5:20 wake up call! We carpooled to Christians Hospital 40 mins north. Most people say you need to be careful when driving up to this area because this is the area you hear on the news, last nights shooting…
We had our pre-round meeting for the nurses and went over all the medications and what our patient had etc. We worked on the oncology floor which was pretty hard. Everyone who was dying basically was on our floor. My patient was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and renal failure plus she got MRSA while in the hospital. Not a pretty sight. She was due for surgery when I learned she was NPO. I thought I was going to be so bored today! Not even administering meds? Boy was I wrong!
My professor/ nurse called the OR manager and asked if I could go down and watch the surgery. They said yes and I got in the get up and wore the surgical hair net and shoes plus the scrubs. I even managed to take a selfie in the locker rooms :) The OR was amazing! I loved the adrenaline rush. This was the first time I witnessed medicine physically working before my eyes. The anesthesiologist put her under and taped her eyes shut. They sliced her nose in half and got all the infectious MRSA out. I thought HOLY CRAP! While they suctioned out half liter of blood and sputum. I mentioned to the surgical team that she has an ulcer on her left leg. After this they started asking me all these questions, is she diabetic? Any allergies? They got me a stool so I could see the whole surgery. After they were done the surgeon said she looks like Muhammad Ali. Probably because of her nose…?
The next day of Clinicals was interesting to… I wasn't there when it happened but another nursing student went into the hospital room with a tech. He was looking straight at them but not blinking…A little creepy but it happens… So they bagged him up and told us students that we were able to go to the morgue. He was a tall fellow so as we were putting him in the morgue we tried to shut the door. "pop" close the door again "pop" close the door and hold it a few sec. "pop" The door would not shut!!! So Kyle our strong nurse had to push his legs so that they were bent. He was a little stiff because by this time he was dead several hours. The door shut and as I walked out I noticed the morgue was right next to the foods services. Why is this? I have no idea…Wasn't very hungry the rest of the day.

Had to post a picture of maggie 

Super Super excited

Selfie!!!

Surprise Visit from Texas!

This weekend we got a surprise visit from Jesse and Lewis Wight our friends from Texas! It was perfect weather this weekend so we were able to go outside and walk around the arch. It is about 2 miles from our apartment so not too complicated to get there. After walking around and playing catch for a bit we went to Pie Pizza (Obama sent the Chef to the white house for an event). It is chicago style pizza, so deep dish and super tasty. The words from Lewis, "This is the best pizza I have ever had!" 

We had plans to go to Forest Park and watch the fireworks and decided we would bring Maggie…bad idea. First of our complications, we knew it was going to be horrible traffic so we thought why not ride the Metro? Once we bought our tickets we hear an announcement geared toward us, "No dogs on the Metro!" That was a change in our plans, so Chris and Lewis were wise…and went to the stop before and put Maggie in her carrier and slipped right on the Metro. Sly…The metro was coming from East Saint Louis and I think that may be the last time I ride the metro. On our way back a man started yelling at another older gentleman who was minding his own business lets just say there were several A, B, C, and F's used… I couldn't wait to get out of there.

The next day we wanted to show Lewis and Jesse The City Museum. It is hard to describe but it is basically a huge adult jungle gym made out of random objects. The best part were the slides and the free falling slide. I was a little nervous to go down one particular slide because it went into a black hole. The other little kids behind me were encouraging me saying, "You can do it!" As I dropped down into the abyss, Chris said just before "Just give her a little time, her mom just died riding this slide." Supposedly a little girl started crying. 

That night we had tickets to the 311 show. This was a memorable concert, The Urge (a local St. Louis band) opened for 311. The whole time I was wondering PTMFUS was. Then I found out when they stopped playing. Waiting in line for the disgusting portapotties the particular one I was waiting for the one farthest away from all the lines trying to get a somewhat decent one. I saw the red lock turn green and then red again. Chris was with me and we were both like uh nope not ready I guess. So then it finally opened green. A man walks out like no big deal and what do you know a women is in there coming out. Oh that is just lovely, I never saw a portapotty like that… "That johnny on the spot is leaking!" a man yells out. The women from the other bathroom tip toes around the massive puddle as chris joins in the oohs…

The second singer in 311 reminded Chris and I of Lewis Litt from Suits. The man could not dance and his voice sounded like "baby voice" as Chris and I tried to impersonate him. He definitely made the show. 

Maggie is all groomed. When we went to pick her up the groomer decided to leave all her hair on top of her head and shave it in a dome. She came out of the room bobbing her fro forward and backward. Needless to say, we thought it would be better to take off the fro…