oklaHOMEa

I woke up Monday afternoon after a long night shift on Sunday to an iPhone of CNN updates about a major twister striking Moore, Oklahoma.  My heart sunk.  My initial reaction was to think "Poor Moore."  It seems that every time a tornado hits Oklahoma, it hits Moore.  Can that poor suburb catch a break?
I turned on the TV and the images blew me away.  Growing up in Oklahoma tornado watches or warnings didn't really phase me.  It was a chance to clean the luggage out of the closet under the stairs and hide in there with my sister while Daddy stood on the porch watching the sky and Momma yelled at him to get back in the house.  My house was never hit, none of my friends or family were ever affected directly by one--I have always known tornadoes were devastating and I've seen plenty of damage they cause, but the footage I have seen this past week has been the worst I've ever seen.
Thankfully my parents live in eastern Oklahoma (also where my grandfather is now) and my sister lives about 10 miles south of Moore, so I was fairly confident everyone in my family was safe.  I have several friends in the area so I immediately started texting them and checking Facebook for status updates to tell me they were OK.  Thankfully, I have escaped another tornado without anyone close to me being affected.  However, I have several acquaintances who have lost their homes completely or had damage to their homes or businesses.
I also knew that Oklahomans would immediately come together and help our own.  Our great state has shown this time and time again--when faced with tragedy, we always come out on the other side stronger and better with the help of our family and friends.  Oklahomans are a resilient bunch.  I'm so proud to be one, and I hate being away from my great state during times like this.  After living so many places, it is and always will be my home.  And to quote Jason Boland and the Stragglers...."If I ever get back to Oklahoma, gonna nail my feet to the ground...."  Sorry, Alex.
Keep praying and sending positive juju to everyone in Oklahoma and across the country who are touched by the devastation of this storm.
And if you haven't been blessed enough to go to God's Country--add it to your places to go before you die list.

ONE YEAR

It is crazy to believe that one year ago today Alex and I were walking down the aisle.  It has been an amazing, adventurous, crazy first year of marriage.  I know very few people can say that they have put down their sweet doggy the day after their wedding, moved to a foreign country together five days later, gotten a puppy two weeks later, spent nine months living the ex pat life in Johannesburg, traveling to amazing places most people only dream about, moved home to a country they now appreciate more than ever, bought a house, had one start a new job, and readjust again to life as newlyweds in the country they call home.
We are so blessed with the amazing family and friends that celebrated with us one year ago as we started our life together, and we think of you all often!
Here are some photos to remember our day (taken by Holli B. Photography)

Here's to a billion more years together, Alex! 

Work, work, work!

One of the big draws of us moving back from South Africa was the chance for me to be able to continue my nursing career.  I missed it desperately--the patients, the adrenaline rush, my coworkers, and the amazing fulfillment I walked out of the hospital with every morning.
Thankfully, Alex's company was able to transfer him back to Chicago much quicker than we anticipated, so he is continuing his job in the world of management consulting (so vague, I know) and I am finally back in the workforce living my passion as a neonatal intensive care nurse.  The road to getting back in the hospital was a bit of an adventure...
In America, despite that fact that each state must recognize the laws of another, every state has their own process for nursing licensure.  So despite the fact that I had nursing licensure in DC and Oklahoma, I once again had to pursue registration in the state of Illinois.  A back ground check, finger prints, education and work verification, and copies of my college transcript and waiting for what seemed like ages, I was finally officially a registered nurse in my third state.
I had applied to several NICUs in Chicago before I left South Africa, and only one of them got back to me.  They said to let them know when I got back to the States.
So promptly upon my return I contacted them.  And contacted them.  And contacted them.  They finally got back to me and told me the correct person to be in touch with, and he called me the next day and I had an interview set up!

All dressed up for my big interview!  

After a two hour amazing interview with both human resources and the directer of the NICU, it was back to the waiting game.  And waiting.  And waiting.

THEN, two weeks later while Alex and I were chowing down at Franks and Dawgs, right when I was to the point of losing hope and pursuing other leads--my contact in HR called me with the job offer.  I had two more weeks off and started work at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

It has felt so great to be back in the hospital.  I had an amazing preceptor on day shift who was so sweet and warm and really helped me get reacclimated to nursing after my hiatus.  I'm on nights now, and slowly getting adjusted to being nocturnal and figuring out ways to still see my husband--it often feels like we are ships passing in the night.

All in all, it's such a blessing that I was able to find a career I love right away after finishing college.  I know that I am definitely in the minority in my peer group, and I am so grateful that I am working back in the field I love!