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.

Friday afternoon I sent my 5 year old down to the mailbox to see if there was any news from Pierce College. We had been told something was happening with the letters on the 18th, but it was unclear if the letters were being mailed on the 18th or if we should expect them in our mailboxes on the 18th. I held my breath as he ran down to the lower driveway and opened the mailbox, he peered in and then shut the door again. Drat! No mail. I put on a happy face and headed into the house to feed my hungry kindergartner. I was resigned to waiting until Saturday, maybe even Monday if the mail people were being slow. And, considering how much I wanted (And dreaded, if we're being honest) this letter I was sure mail would be slow.

After lunch I decided to check my e-mail and was surprised to see mail sitting on top of my laptop. My grandmothers caregiver must have gotten the mail while she was out. Flip, flip, flip. Something from the kids school, bills, and a letter from the Allied Health Department for my husband. I flipped through it all again. Nope, nothing for me. So I called my husband into the room and gave him the letter, figuring that if I didn't receive a letter and he did, I didn't make it to the next round.

As he turned the letter over to open from the back magic happened, one envelope became two! They must have been stuck together! We both tore into our envelopes and...

I couldn't figure out what my paper said. There was writing, and information, but at that moment with all the anticipation, my brain refused to decode the letters on the page.

My husband was smiling and asking if I made it. "I don't know, what does your letter look like?" He held his letter up... it looked to be in the same format as mine. So did I make it? Another agonizing 10 seconds and my brain decided to cooperate.

I've made it to the interviews!

At that moment I don't think I would have been more excited if it was my acceptance letter. To me, it was the acceptance letter. October 20th, 7:30 am I will be going to the most important interview of my life thus far. I will not vomit (at least I'm telling myself I wont) and I will dazzle the judges. I WILL get into this nursing program.

Please send positive thoughts!

No word yet on if I will be called for the second step in the application process for the nursing program. I think we should know by the end of the month. I hope so anyway, the interviews are in the middle of October. I've started having nightmares about the letter coming in the mail, always a letter of rejection for me and acceptance for my husband. And, though I know I will be happy for my husband, I will be sad for myself if I am not accepted with him.

I don't think I have appreciated a break from schooling so much as I am these few weeks in between summer and fall quarter. I have taken 2 road trips with my best girlfriend, cleaned the house, and read Twilight (all 4 books) again. Want to see a couple pics from the road trips?

Here is a beach pic from the first trip:



We enjoyed a full day at Ocean Shores, just the two of us. She is the only other person I know who is happy to sit quietly on the jetty and watch the waves break across the rocks.

Next we loaded up the car again, and brought along one of her 16 year old daughters and headed to Forks, Wa. The drive was breath taking! I have sadly, much fewer pictures from this trip, as I forgot to charge the camera batteries the night before.

Here is one from the road:



Although our destination was Forks, Wa, in reality it was just a road trip around the Hwy 101 loop. We spent just as much time in other stops as we did in Forks. Next time we are taking both the twins and will plan a Forks, La Push event.

This trip was good for my soul. We all laughed so hard our stomachs hurt, we forgot to breath and we still all break out in giggles at the mention of certain subjects. I so needed the time away from reality to de-stress. It was the best birthday present my husband could have given me.