Anyone who has spent any considerable amount of time with me has always made the comment that once I'm out of nursing school I should write a book about all of my adventures and challenges along the way. While I highly doubt I will ever write a book, I am going to make a better effort to share those stories here.

Since buying my new vehicle this fall (new to me, not new in years)there have been a few incidents that have led to this being my first vehicle ever to have a name. Her name is "Christine." Yes, because of the movie. I may or may not share the earlier stories of Christine another day. Today, I am sharing my adventure from yesterday.

As I left my final review yesterday I thought to myself how the cold weather seemed to have made the parking lot unusually quiet. Like everyone was so cold that they were no longer interested in standing out by their cars talking; instead, preferring to rush into the warm building. Class had let out early and I was trying to think if there were any errands I wanted to run before picking my youngest up from the babysitter.

The day before, the battery had died on my wireless entry remote, and so I was having to use the key in the lock on the door to unlock my truck. I put the key in the lock and turned it. However, when I opened the door I received a not welcome surprise. Somehow the security system had been activated. I jumped as the horn started blaring, the lights started flashing, my windshield wipers were flapping across the windshield (front and back) and as if this all wasn't enough, my truck was spraying washer fluid everywhere. I tossed my bag into the truck and pressed the panic button on the remote. I've accidentally hit this button before, though never with such boisterous results. The panic button was doing nothing, which made sense considering the batteries were dead. I tried pulling the remote apart to get to the battery in hopes that pulling them out and putting them back in might give just enough charge to activate the panic button just once. No luck. By now I've thrown my gloves off and into the truck... maybe my gloved fingers just weren't pushing the buttons hard enough?

I closed the door, and used the key to lock it again. Horn still blasting away. I unlocked the door again and put the key in the ignition. the engine fired to life... and then shut itself off. The security guard slowly drives past me, looking as though curious about what is going on, but doesn't even roll down his window. I whip out my cell phone and try to call my husband. He's on campus, but in class and doesn't answer his phone in class. I hang up and call him again. Maybe if I call a couple times he will realize something is going on and will come to my rescue. Still no answer. I try the ignition again, tears are welling up in my eyes now. Again, the truck starts and then shuts itself off. Nothing has made the horn stop blaring. I take a step back and evaluate the situation. I seriously consider locking the doors and walking away like nothing is happening. But, who will get the kids? The security guard drives past my truck again, still not willing to step outside his warm vahicle to see what is going on. I don't know which class room my husband is in so I can't just go pull him out of class.

I put the key back in the ignition again, but stop myself from actually turning the key... I know that after a certain number of attempts the vehicle will lock itself up and require a tow to the dealership to get it back on the road. Defeated, I called my dad.

"Um, dad? I'm having a bit of a situation?" As if he didn't know something was up by the sounds of my horn coming through his cell phone. I quickly told him my story followed with, "And I don't know what else to do!" This is where the big perks of a father working at a major dealership which is also the manufacturer for your vehicle comes in. He hollered out into the shop for the master mechanic, told him his daughter was having trouble and gave him the cell phone (I'm betting partly just to get the sound of the horn out of his ear). I again explained the situation. The wonderful mechanic instructed me to unlock the passenger door with the key. I head around to the other side of the vehicle. Place my key in the lock. Turn it. And...

Silence!

Finally!

It was explained to me that some vehicles are having a tough time with the cold weather and the sensors in the doors are getting frozen. My truck thought I was trying to steal it. Apparently Christine is not impressed with the cold weather.

After a huge sigh of relief, I climbed into the truck, turned the engine and thanked Christine for not turning herself off again. In my rear view mirror I watched the security guard drive past my truck one more time. As I placed the truck into reverse i heard the familiar bing that means I have a message on the dash. "Low Washer Fluid". Of course. I glance at the clock and see that only 8 minutes have elapsed... I assure you it felt much longer.

Today I took all my valuable belongings in to the building with me and risked someone getting into my vehicle. I was not locking the doors again and inviting a repeat performance!

Less than a month until classes start! It all still feels very unreal. Well, except for the part where our babysitting just backed out. That feels very real, and sends me into a bit of a panic. I don't know what we are going to do. It isn't easy to find someone to take care of three children for the hours of this particular program. I guess we just keep looking and holding with the thought that everything will work out.

At this point I can't help but feel very sorry for my children. They didn't ask to be put in this situation, and their lives are about to change in ways they never could have anticipated. They have never had to get up for school extra early and then been dropped off at childcare. And, Thursday nights they will likely not see us at all for the next 18 months. This is going to be really tough.

It feels like we are living in some sort of alternate universe. I am both stressed about getting everything done on time and feeling like the start of the program is so very far away.

There are still many things left to do on the to-do list. Honestly, the timing couldn't be worse. It's nearly December and Christmas is staring us down and the money is stretched so tight that it causes me to lay awake at night trying to calm anxiety. Is there enough money to do both a small Christmas and get all our supplies we need for the start of the program? If I wait until January will they have scrubs in stock in my required colors and fit? What about a stethoscope? Can I buy one locally or do I need to order one? Don't forget a watch... I must have a watch, and I keep forgetting it on my to-buy list. If I could feel like I had anything under control maybe it all wouldn't feel so overwhelming. We don't know our schedule for our classes/lab/clinicals yet and likely wont until the day after classes start. This makes lining up people to care for our children difficult.

Inhale. Exhale.

It will all fall into place. It has to.

Somehow, I anticipated having time to kick back and relax from the time I found out I was accepted until I started the program in January. This is not to be the case. There is just so much to try to do, and it seems like more is being added all the time.

I am currently working on my 7 hour HIV training as well as my HIPPA training. Next Monday I will be having my doctor fill out a form stating that I am mentally and physically able to participate in nursing school. Also, papers talking about my vaccination status. I have to turn those in, along with a copy of my insurance card. Still to do, CPR for the health care professional, background check, and drug testing.

We are having a meet and greet this Friday, and I am so excited to get to see my classmates! I am really hoping that we will be a very close knit group and enjoy each others company.

Also, although I don't feel the need to stress over 4.0's for this last quarter before starting the program... I can't just forget about my classes I'm currently enrolled in. Sociology the second time around is no more fun....

We received our letters of acceptance in the mail this weekend, as well as a long check list of tasks to complete before the end of November. Which was a little surprising since I thought we had until the start of the program to complete them. That's ok, just gotta come up with the money to get all this done.

The next 4 weeks will be spent getting our criminal background checks done, a health assessment performed by our physician, verification of all vaccines, CPR for the health care professional, 7 hours of HIV training, HIPPA training, and proof of medical insurance. I think that's everything.

I was planning to take the CPR course after finishing my finals in early December, so I'll have to move that date up. No biggie I guess.

I'm also on the look out for some good reference books to have before classes start. I'll welcome any and all suggestions.

Short story: I'm in! So is my hubby!

Long Story: We were told at the interview that we would be receiving word on Friday letting us know if we were accepted into the program or not. I set mind to going into the office around noon and learning my fate. Thursday after my math class I stopped into the biology department to check in with my boss. Not something I do every day, or even most days. I was shocked when she told me that the program receptionist had told her that one of the program advisers was making calls to notify people of their acceptance. I'm not kidding, the air left my lungs, my knees went a bit weak and I thought I might vomit. I think I managed to squeak, "But it's Thursday! I was supposed to have until Friday!" I headed out to my truck and tried to call Mike to let him know. No answer. I sent him a text instead. Next I called the caregiver at home with my grandma. Sometimes caregivers answer the house phone, sometimes they didn't. I wanted to know if she had taken a call from the school. Her answer left me with no further answers... there had been no calls. Oh no, that's bad. They didn't call.. I'm not in. But wait, they should have at least called for Mike, I'm sure he got in. Maybe they haven't gotten to us yet....

Usually I just head straight to the kids school and read for a few minutes until they are let out for the day. I deliberated between stopping in at home for 10 minutes or just sticking my head in the sand and going to the kids school as normal. At the last moment I decided to stop in to the house. It couldn't hurt anything.

I was chatting with the caregiver telling her what little information I had when the phone rang. I'm sure from the outside it was a funny picture. I almost answered the phone and then backed away saying, maybe I'll just let voice mail get it and call back later... or go in tomorrow. The caregiver pushed past me and picked up the phone. It was someone from the nursing department for me. Of course it was.

It sounds totally cheesy, but it was one of those moments where I was painfully aware that my life was on the pivot point, and in a few seconds nothing would be the same. I took the phone. "Crystal?" "Yes, this is Crystal." "Oh good, I almost thought you weren't there. I wanted to congratulate you on making it into the nursing program!" There was lots more blah blah blah from her end, there will be a formal letter sent and some other paperwork to fill out. But, at that moment all I could hear was blood rushing past my eardrums. I thanked her and hung up the phone. I made it! I simultaneously wanted to burst out of my skin in excitement and was scared to death.

On a much shorter note... the tutoring center where Mike works does not receive good cell signal. On his way home he found a voice mail telling him to call the nursing department at his earliest convenience. They had, of course, gone home by the time he heard his messages and he was forced to wait until Friday to hear his news.

I can't believe we were both accepted to our first choice school the first time we applied! We are the first husband/wife team to go through this program.

My fellow applicant that I took under my wing at the interview was also accepted! Mike and I are planning to set up a study group that meets regularly... possibly at our house. Our living room is big enough that we could cram all 30 students in our class in here to study together.

For better or worse, the interview is over.

I completely shocked myself by only having one brief moment of nerves. Totally shocking, and somewhat out of character for me. I walked into the registration with confidence and then sat back and enjoyed chatting with fellow applicants that I hadn't seen in awhile.

The program is accepting 30 students this time, and 46 applicants were brought to the interview. It was slightly daunting to see the competition. And... there were students there that I am not entirely sure how they managed to make it this far. I know it is horribly rude to say, but there are a few in particular that I will be insulted if they are accepted into the program and I am not.

So, I walked in with the attitude that I am going to be accepted to a nursing program, it's a matter of if they saw my worth or not. I feel I presented myself in a very positive light, and yet I didn't come across as pushy. I smiled and made eye contact.

I gave it my best, I'll just have to wait until Friday to see if I'm what they are looking for.

We were broken into groups for the interviews, and I was the only student in my group who called that campus home. As a result, the current nursing student who had been our leader was allowed to leave and I became in charge of getting my group from place to place on time. As I led my fellow interview-ees through the halls, I was greeted by other students who I have come to call friends over the last year, as well as former instructors. All knew today was the interview, and they all stopped me to wish me well and let me know they were pulling for me. For once, I didn't feel invisible and I was glad for the positive thoughts being given.

It was a good day. I hope Friday brings good news.