Valentine's Day 2009

Kevin & I went to Columbia with Courtney, Tim, Jeff, & Stephanie for Valentine's Day. We took 2 cars, 1 for the boys and 1 for the girls. How romantic for V-Day?

Our first stop was the Candy Factory. We picked up a pound of the best, most wonderful, chocolatiest (I don't know if that is really a word), sweetest, juiciest, dripping down your hand so good, homemade CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES! If you have never had these before, you are missing out! They are only made on holidays and to die for! I have NEVER had better chocolate! And coming from a chocoholic, that is REALLY saying something!

Our next stop was Shakespeare's Pizza! Homemade, fresh dough, oh SO GOOD! The boys and Stephanie had a beer. And after having a baby, Steph was ready for her beer! Well ladies, please do NOT think you are OK to drive after being sober for a year and only having just 1 beer! We almost DIED! That girl really didn't know where the curb of the road was. I thought she was going to blow out a tire! Anyway, since we were running late by this point to get to the MU basketball game, we all piled into one car.

This last picutre is Jeff. He is in the very back of the trailblazer with the stroller! He was trying to find another beer out of the cooler, but poor guy, they were all gone! He got pretty beat up sitting way back there and his wife driving! We all felt a little sorry for him!

After the game, we went to Harpos! Afternoon snacks, and cold drinks does the body good!

For dinner we went to the local brewery. Flat Branch, I think, really can't remember now. The food was good, but the boys said the beers were a little different! After dinner we went to the Penguin bar (a piano bar). VERY FUN! Live music and drinks, how much better does it get! All in all it was a great weekend and a great way to avoid homework!

This is my new favorite picture of us! My friends say I look better and better the more I drink! What do you think?

YIKES!!!!

Well, the first week of school wasn't too bad, but the switch to day shift the next week....was a true KILLER! Getting up at O-dark thirty (4:30 to be exact) and leaving at 5:30 really sucks! Then when the roads were slick, I left my house at 5 and arrived at work by 6:30. And to top it all off....I get to park off site and ride the bus to the hospital! This really sucks! There are times when you have to wait 5-15 minutes for the bus, then ride in this short bus to or from the hospital. And if you need to go to human resources for anything....you have to ride a different bus to the Hallmark building! You can get there in no time, it is around the corner at crown center, but you have to wait 30 minutes or longer for a bus to come and take you back to the hospital! I would rather just drive and risk losing my car in the parking garage, than riding that bus!

School is going OK. Last week, I learned about Genetics, Post-term deliveries, birth injuries, the respiratory system, and cardiovascular system, Cord gas analysis, and Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension.

This week, I am going to learn about physical assessment of the newborn at deliveries (thank god I have been doing that for a while now), gestational age exams, apgar scores, AGA/SGA/LGA infants, thermoregulation, and fetal circulation (in-utero vs. once the cord is clamped)! Can you believe this is all for just one week!?!?!?!

As for the family, Kevin is checking into heating & air-condition units for the house. We are debating on whether or not to build new, or just keep sinking $$$ in this house. He is so sintemental (don't know if this is spelled correctly...sorry) it makes me sick! He remembers all the fun times he had as a kid here, that he doesn't want to rebuild. His mom is the one that says to go for it. I am a little shocked bacause this was her parents house. I think she sees how much it will cost to make it up to par with what we truly want. Kevin wants to do a little at a time, and only do what we can afford. I keep thinking that if we do that, we will never get ahead and by the time we finish what needs to be done RIGHT NOW, we will have to start over and replace what we have already replaced! Do you see the never ending saga?

On the other hand, I am so busy with school and stressed about how it could ever be possible to keep up with this crap, that I am not thinking about the house. I feel like a horrible wife for not thinking about it, but I feel like there are too many fires to put out myself. I wish Kevin would just make the decision for me and just DO IT, without consulting me. He wants my opinion about EVERYTHING, and I truly don't care right now. I have told him to just make the decision and figure out how to pay for it himself. I know he will make the right decision. Right now I really don't CARE!

Oh, I am taking NRP on Friday at St. Mary's, See you there!

My first post of 2009!

I realize it has been a while since I have posted. I have been super busy with Christmas, then working the New Years holiday. Last week I worked Wed., Thurs., Fri., and Sat. night. Then...school started Monday!!!! AAAAAAK! This is going to be the most intense, most stressful, most horrible semester so far! I am taking neonatal assessment and neonatal pathophysiology. I will have weekly quizes, a presentation for each, 2 comprehensive exams for each, and 40 hours of clinical time. I have NO idea how in the world I am going to possibly have time for all of this! Fortunately, the info starts at the beginning of the baby (embryology, then antepartum, the fetus, delivery, the baby head-to-toe, and all anomalies imaginable)!

This week is about embroylogy and antepartum testing, electronic fetal monitoring, and blood flow while in utero and how it changes after delivery. YEAH! This is 3 units in one class...in one week! The info for the 2nd class has not been posted yet and the teacher says she will post it on Wednesday. Everything goes from Wednesday to Wednesday in the neonatal courses. Why can't we have a few more days the first week? God only knows!

Another BIG NEWS for me is..................I am switching to the DAY SHIFT! I think it will be easier with all of the school stuff I will have to do. My last night shifts are this Wed. & Thurs. the 14th & 15th. Then I will start working days on Monday the 19th. I am SCARED TO DEATH!!!! I didn't like working day shift during the week at St. Mary's, let alone the day shift in a unit that is 100 times busier! I have fretted and worried about this for weeks and I am to the point of puking. My stomach hurts daily and I can't even imagine getting up at 4:30 in the morning, to leave the house by 5:30 to get to work by 7AM! I really hope it turns out to be fine, and I am doing all this worrying for no good reason!

Hope all is well with you, and I will keep you posted on what I am learning and fretting about!
Ash

P.S. Kevin is doing great! He is so much happier working in Marshall than in the ghetto! I have a whole new husband! It's great!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

My Grandpa Ritter turned 85 last week Wednesday and we had a party for him on Sunday. Here are some pics of the party!

Grandpa Ritter

Dad, Me, Grandpa

Ethan, Sydney, Me, Dad

Aunt Marcia, Dad, Grandpa

Bring it on!!!

I had to work this Thanksgiving, and am SO glad it is over. Our family is celebrating this weekend. My Grandpa Ritter turned 85 this last Wednesday and we are partying with him Sunday for lunch. Then Sunday evening, we are going to the Sowers' House for a fabulous meal!

There are some times when I just have to "brag" about how spoiled I really am! I have been doing my research on digital cameras and picked out the one I really wanted. I have been giving suttle clues for about 4 months that I want it for Christmas. Then...on black Friday...the camera is on SALE at Office Depot. I continued to do some research and found out that the original price of the camera at office depot is $249.99, but walmart's original price is $234.99. So on Wednesday, I went to walmart and asked the girl to look up and see how many of that specific camera they have in stock. You know that small town local Higginsville Walmart is not the greatest place in the world....but....they will work to help you find EXACTLY what you want. They used their handy dandy computer to look up and see not only how many they had...but how many are in stock at Warrensburg, Oak Grove, Blue Springs, and Independence. This winner was Oak Grove!!! They had 5 in stock! (Anissa you should be so proud!) So this morning after working all night, I braved the crowds and went to Walmart with the office depot sale ad in hand. I found the camera (which was not on sale at walmart, so no worried about them running out), and I bought it for $189. What a deal!?!? Merry Christmas early to me!

Yes I could possibly be the most spoiled girl in the world! Hope you all had a happy thanksgiving!

Ash

GOOOOOOO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!

Just found out last night that we got tickets to the MU vs. KU game this coming Saturday! I can't wait! I still need to go shopping for some new tiger attire...of course! But I am SO EXCITED!!!! Can't wait! GOOOOOOO TIGERS!

Atlanta, GA

We went to Atlanta this last weekend to surprise Kevin's brother for his 30th birthday! We have been planning this trip since May and we were successful! We flew to Atlanta on Thursday morning, rented a car and drove to Buford, GA where he lives with his wife and cat. His wife took the afternoon off of work so she was there to let us into the house. When he came home from work, we were hiding in the dining room. She told him..."I have a surprise for you that is too big to wrap, so cover your eyes and come with me." She led him into the dining room and told him to open his eyes. He barely peeked through his fingers and said all he saw were legs! She told him 3 times to uncover his eyes before he would. Once he finally covered his eyes, he was so shocked that he was speechless!

We were there until Sunday! We toured the Coca-Cola Museum and tasted Coke from around the world! Some were good and others were SOOOOO disgusting! I really liked the fruity one from Africa and the pineapple one from Europe. We learned how they bottle the Coke and at the end, they give you your very own glass bottle of Coke! We had so much fun! We also went to this nature park and walked up a huge hill to see a waterfall. It was beautiful! You could walk up approx. 600 stairs to get to the top...Kevin, his brother and sister-in-law did it! I chose to go with Kevin's parents and sister and drive in the car to the top!

It was a great weekend and we all had a great time! You will have to wait for the visuals! Once again...no digital camera!

Santa...Please come to our house soon!

Lindsay's Wedding

We went to my friend Lindsay's Wedding on November 1st. Once again, I don't onw a digital camera yet, so I have to wait for everyone else to send the pics to me! Hopefully Christmas will come sooner than later! Anyway..this is the LOVE of my life. The most wonderful husband in the whole world!

My mom! Doesn't she look stunning! She is a teacher at the middle school and I went into her classroom the other day to visit. One of her student's had the nerve to ask if I was her SISTER! I felt so OLD! She was laughing so hard she almost fell out of her chair! She loved the compliment to her, but I felt like I was 50!

This is Miss Amanda. She was the Maid of Honor at Lindsay's Wedding. She is Courtney's little sister and was a bridesmaid in my wedding. We love each other like sisters!

Love Ya Miss!

This is a group picture of my mom's friends. They all looked so great! My mom is in the back on the right. Courtney's mom is in the 2nd row with the black lace dress.

This is Lindsay! She was the most beautiful bride! And has the sweetest, most sincere husband ever! All of our husbands need to take lessons from this guy! His momma taught him well!!!!

My Courtney

This is my best friend Courtney! She is Blair's mom. I know you all have heard me talk about her, so now you can put a face to a name! She is the FACS (aka Home Ec) teacher at Higginsville. We have been best friends since we were 4! Isn't that amazing? 24 years of friendship....and still going strong. I think it is better than some marriages these days!

If you look really close, You will be able to tell that I am wearing makeup! I don't wear it very often, so we took a picture....it lasts longer!

Love, Ash

Tag! Thanks Jamie!

Yes, I was tagged last week and didn't have time to post! Here are the rules:
1) Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog ( Jamie.... www.parsonx4.blogspot.com )
2) Share 7 facts about yourself, some random, some weird
3.) Tag 7 more people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs
4) Let them know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. So here we go, this should be enlightening for everyone involved.


1. I am a nurse....obviously! Not just a nurse, but a neonatal critical care nurse. I take care of the sickest of the sick in the Kansas City region (which spans from St. Louis, to Des Moines, to Denver, to Little Rock. Babies come from all around to be taken care of at Children's Mercy. It is a wonderful place to work, and they take care of their staff very well! But it is sort of a sad place, because we have the SICKEST, most critical babies around. Once the other hospitals get to the point where they don't know what to do next, they call us.

2. I am is school...to be a neonatal nurse practitioner. Yes, you already knew that too! I miss going to deliveries and getting that adrenaline rush! I mmiss my friends at St. Mary's and hope that one day I will get to come back and be a part of the FAMILY again.

3. I used to be very quiet and not speak my mind....not since I became a nurse! I have learned to voice my opinion on every subject!

4. A wierd one...I drive 50 miles one way to get to work. Yes, I could work at any one of the 3 other hospitals that I go past on my way to work. Instead, I drive 50 miles. I leave my house 1 1/2 hours before my shift starts.

5. I HATE snow! Because I hate to drive in it!

6. I have an addiction! To chocolate & coke. If I had to choose between the 2, it would be chocolate. I absolutely love it, in every form.

7. My dream vacation would be to go to Hershey, Pennsylvania! I want to go to the spa and have a chocolate massage. I want to go through the factory and see how candy bars are made. I want to enjoy smelling chocolate ALL DAY!

I tag Shannon and Amanda! Have a Happy Halloween! I will be working! I do get to dress up my girl though!!!! I will be eating chocolate all night, and letting her smell it!

Miss Blair

Here is Miss Blair! This was taken when she was 1 month old. She is now 6 months! I am a bad aunt and don't have any current pictures of her. She is so much fun and so playful! Once I get my digital camera for Christmas, you will be seeing lots more of her! I can't wait!

I've been tagged!

Oh, yes! I have only had a blog for not even 1 day and wouldn't you know, I have already been tagged!!! Thanks a lot Jamie Parson! Well, I am at work right now and don't have time to answer questions, so the tagging will have to wait until until Sunday when I am not busy! I am working tomorrow night, then Saturday is going to be a busy day. I have a bachelorette party at the winery from 2-5 for my friend Lindsay, the Sara R.'s wedding that night. I would love to stay at the bachelorette party, but they are going to Season's for dinner, then to Whiskey Tango. I can't handle that much drinking. So I better calm it down and go to the wedding , then eat, then drink & dance the night away in....Concordia!!! Yes, Amy Hemme, I get to go to your hometown! Can you believe it?

Of course I don't have a digital camera yet, so you won't be able to see drunk pics of me, but I will upload pics of my Courtney's baby...Blair! I love her sooooooooo much! I can't wait 'till you all get to meet her! She is AWESOME! She has the BIGGEST blue eyes that you have ever seen! You will have to wait until Sunday to meet her though! Have a good weekend!