why I am so stressed...

because school has begun! Only 11 more weeks to go. Ugh. Wish me luck!

In more important news...

I did my first solo pap smear and speculum exam! Oh the excitement! AND the patient said it didn't suck anymore than usual! YEAH!!

Tomorrow is my first day as a pediatric nurse practitioner. Wish me luck!

Five years and counting...

Dashel and I spent the weekend in Whistler, BC celebrating the big fiver. A few months ago I won two nights stay at Evolution Hotel (a fancy place we could never afford) and we took them up on the offer! I had a cold so we primarily laid low and took advantage of the two beds, three TV's, fully stocked kitchen, two bath tubs and two full bathrooms (boo-ya!). We also spent time in the sauna, steam room and pool trying to release all the mucous from my poor nose! It was such a treat!

Standing on our deck after a yummy fresh pasta dinner

Updates!!

So many updates! First off, I just got back from Haiti one week ago. I went to Haiti with an organization called "Midwives for Haiti". I spent some time in Port au Prince with a great woman, Beth, who started the organization "Haitian Creations" which helps women learn sewing skills. She also has started an orphanage that has a tilapia pond, a chicken coop, a roof top garden and a trampoline. She is currently developing a women's health program also. We spent some time doing prenatal visits at her new clinic.

After Port au Prince, we headed to Hinche, Haiti which is in the Central Plateau. We stayed at an orphanage "Maison Fortune" with two fabulous men, Brother Michael and Brother Harry. Michael took us on adventures around the village and introduced us to his friends and co-workers.

Me with some local kids

Sweet, sweet girl

We spent the majority of our days working. We worked in the clinic at the orphanage in addition to training midwives how to place Norplant, a long-acting birth control. We also spent part of our days at the Missionaries of Charity Azeal feeding center which is a home for kids who are sick, hungry and/or homeless. Many of the children were dying while others were visibly thriving. One perk of the visits was the sweet baby pictured below. She is 8 months old and weighed 4lbs when we arrived. She was tongue tied and we clipped her frenulum which now has allowed her to suck for the first time in her life. I sure hope her mom comes back for her so the sister's can tell her that it was not her fault her baby was sick.

Tiny baby and April

Us watching the midwives practice using their new vacuums for difficult labors

One of our last days after we were stuck in a rainstorm (aka Hurricane Erika)

Overall the trip was fantastic. Emotionally exhausting and absolutely worth every second.