CNA Clinicals

I started my CNA clinicals yesterday, and I was so nervous. Practicing on other students is one thing....actually doing it on elderly people is another. My second day was today, and I was way more comfortable. I was comfortable enough to help some residents with things without having another CNA there. I am gaining more and more confidence every day. The residents I have been working with are super sweet. I am kind of sad that I will only be there for 3 more days, but I don't think I could ever work in a center for the elderly. I would grow too attached to the residents, and I know I would be so sad all the time. There has been a couple times in the last 2 days I had to tell myself not to cry. I have such a big heart, and I really care about people and their feelings. It's just so sad!! I am enjoying my clinical time though!!

Some new deployment pics!

This is what Max does in his spare time...other than going to the gym.

Max is the one in the shades.

Promotion ceremony.

Max being promoted to Corporal!

They are standing on the hood of a HMMWV

Kuwait.

Saddam built things on water because he believed anything that was on or below water, Allah could not see.

Army birthday run.

After doing the 4.5 mile run for the Army's birthday. And not a drop of sweat on Max!!

They stopped to have some Iraqi food and glass bottle coke.

Sand storm!

Those poor puppies in the nasty Iraqi trash!

Max.....just being Max. haha. He's so silly.

By the crossed swords.

Sweet like sugar

Allie has got to be one of the sweetest babies. I recently taught her to rub her chest to say "I love you". She wouldn't verbally say it, so I wanted to teach her that so she could tell me she loved me whenever she wanted. Sometimes she'll rub her chest to say it, and other times if someone is holding her, she'll rub their chest.
Well yesterday was a rough day for me. And I was sitting with Allie by her toys, and she could tell I wasn't very happy. So she walked over to me and gave me a kiss, and then rubbed my chest. She did all of this without my asking(normally I would have to ask her for a kiss, and I would have to say "love" to get her to rub her or my chest)Then she gave me a hug.
Also, this last weekend we went to see my little sister, Brandi, in her group home. She has a disease that makes her almost bedridden now, blind, and she can barely talk. Well I had set Allie on her lap, and Allie reached over and rubbed her chest. This was the FIRST time she had ever done that without me saying anything to her. Talk about a tear jerker! My mom and I both cried.
Allie just melts my heart!! I am so excited for Max to come home and get to know her again. I don't think we could have asked for a sweeter baby!

4th of July weekend

Allie and I had a pretty good 4th of July weekend. We went to Oregon to visit my family there. For the first couple days, we went to Richland, Oregon, to visit my grandparents and my aunt who was also visiting. She had her 2 kids with her and her boyfriend. I always love going to my grandparents house. It's so relaxing, and they always have the BEST food! It was really good to see my aunt. I haven't seen her in years!
Then for the next couple days, we went to Haines, Oregon, to visit my mom and step-dad. We had a BBQ, went to the parade, and then to the rodeo. It was so much fun! I'm so glad I went to my mom's this last weekend because I got to see the very first dog we ever got when I was a kid. She was getting older and had bad arthritis. She was ALWAYS a puppy at heart. She passed away not even 2 days after I came back home. It was a sad day, yesterday, after finding out what happened to Katie. She's in a better place now, though. She's not in pain anymore. I love & miss you Katie dog! You were the best.