3 weeks in Peru !

I was born and raised in Lima, Peru until the age of 7 and I get the amazing opportunity to visit my beautiful Peru as often as possible. This year, I went for 3 weeks and spent my birthday, Christmas and New years there. oh how amazing!!


Birthday: ew, i turned 22. For some reason I wasn't exactly welcoming of this new age but what the hey, im young and in Peru!! Right at midnight, my bff cousin Noelia surprised me with my birthday cake while my family all sang to me. So sweet!! Noelia smashed the cake to my face. ...grrreat :) haha it was actually so fun, i had an amazing birthday! That day was my uncles wedding through the Catholic church. So i partied on my bday for their wedding and it was a blast!! Salsa dancing all night? yes please!! it's in my blood...i felt like a legit Latina :)


Christmas: FIREWORKS EVERYWHERE!!! right at midnight, we uncover baby Jesus as symbol of his birth...and right at midnight...BAM BAM...fireworks!! EVERYONE lit them off...the sky illuminated in bright colors and the celebration of our Saviors birth went on for hours!! how beautiful that all the neighbors came outside to hug another, wish each other the best, and set off fireworks in celebration of our Redeemer...it was beautiful!! [[never have i hugged and kissed so many strangers in one night! haha ]]

New years: Same firework spectacle in the sky :) This year we spent new years at my parent's bff's house. Great food, great family friends and lots of dancing of course.


This trip was very family centered and a time for me to relax and hang out in my Lima. I went to the capital and loved the celebration of Christmas everywhere. I got to spend the day in Miraflores and played at the beach and dined in Lancomar. It's beautiful! PERU IS BEAUTIFUL!

We went to a fishing doc called Pacusana and it was beautiful!! i took a little boat to a near by island where the water was so warm.

We also went to a huge cultural show called LAS BRISAS DEL TITICACA...best show of my life!!! my culture is stunning...I am so PROUD of the beauty and richness of my culture. WOOT WOOT!!!


EARTHQUAKES... So on a sunday night, i was on the phone with my handsome boyfriend (who btw, he set his alarm early every morning just so he could call me and talk to me every single day!! What a stud!) ....anyways, we were on the phone when suddenly I heard a LOUD RUMBLE and i was confused. "MOM? what is that?!!"...i turned the corner to where my family was sitting to find my cousin Noelia holding her chest as she panicked in tears...i was so confused and Max kept saying into the phone "what's happening?"...I looked at my mom and she ran to grab me and Noelia and ran us into the bathroom. My dad yelled "oh nothing it's a...garbage truck" as he ran for the keys to unlock the front door. Still, i was very confused cause this LOUD RUMBLE began to get intense and before i knew it, my LEGS WERE SHAKING OFF THE GROUND...my knees went weak and i heard my cousin scream "EARTHQUAKE!!"....HOLY POOP ON A STICK MY BODY WENT NUMB!!! Max kept asking "what's happening?! answer me!" and i simply whispered "earthquake"....I never have felt my heart sink so much, i held on to the phone as i hugged my mom tight and had my arms around my crying cousin. My Dad got the door unlocked and told us we'd have to go out into the street in case it got worse. (the way the houses are built in peru is UP...so safest zones are either your bathroom or out in the middle of the street). Poor Max was freaking out on the phone while I stood in shock as i saw the paintings on the wall shake off the nails. FINALLY after what felt like an eternity, IT STOPPED. My heart began to beat again and i felt the blood returning to my face. My poor cousin has panic attacks because Peru gets BAD earthquakes and she freaked out. My mom hugged me and thanked the Lord it was over. My dad said he had to lie and say it was a garbage truck so that i wouldn't freak out but...uh...the vibrating floor and shaking, rumbling kinda gave it away. SO SCARY!!! Poor Max was so scared saying how he's grateful we never lost connection cause he wouldn't have known what to do not knowing if i was okay. He kinda loves me.

That day trip i took to Pucusana, ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE hit. My mom has a 5th sense for them and stood up from the lunch table the second she "felt it coming" and again grabbed me into safety. Mommy's sure do love their children for she immediately placed ME in safety first. I LOVE MY MOMMY!!

BUT I OFFICIALLY HATE EARTHQUAKES WITH ALL MY HEART!! (at school, we are on the 3rd floor and when the elevators shake it feels like the ground is rumbling...well when that happens, my heart dropped and i hold on tight thinking im gonna experience an earthquake...great, im traumatized)

anyways, uhm I LOVE PERU!! I LOVE THE FOOD!!! I LOVE MY FAMILYYYYY AND I LOVE MY CULTURE!!

MARCH 2013....me and my BFF TORI are going to travel the beauty of my peru in a little city ya'll might know as CUZCO...or..MACHU PICCHU!!! yeeeeah budddy!!!! can't wait!!! Also, BRASIL? oh yeahh....it's happening!!

This boy...

Makes me happy.


I don't know where life will take us but regardless of whatever comes our way, I have found a best friend in him. He's a convert and I love his testimony. He wants to serve a mission. I know,...my poor heart. I'm so proud of him though and will support him all the way. We have a while for that to happen, so until then i'm gonna enjoy every minute that he makes me laugh and tells me I'm beautiful. I never got the whole "I feel safe in his arms" statement until I met him. I could go on forever about him, but i'll save the mooshy stuff for my journal.wah, I Luff him!!

LABOR AND DELIVERY

I am so happy to be in my OB rotation in clinicals and I have had the privilege to be a Nurse in the Post partum unit. Babies are cuties!!

However, I finally had my turn in Labor and Delivery .

Within the first hour of being on my floor, my patients water broke. It seemed more someone threw a bucket of water on the bed...SO MUCH LIQUID!!

spontaneous breakage of the membrane: baby is coming!

After frequent checks, the words finally came: " Yep, you are at 10cm +2 dilated, let's start pushing in a few minutes"

Long story made short, I walked into my patients room at 11:00 am, and literally did not step out of that room until 2:40pm .

I assisted with holding her leg, AKA i had a front row seat to the most beautiful experience a woman can go through. Needless to say, this was my face throughout it:

"ONE MORE PUSH THIS IS IT!!!"....here came the head followed by a splash of amniotic fluid and lots and lots of blood. "Mom, look down and see your baby"...."HOLY CRAP!!"...hahaha her reaction was awesome!! Seconds after suctioning, the body of the baby followed the delivery of the head along with the most beautiful sound in the world: Babie's first breath- its first cry. cut here, cut there, "here dad cut the cord", wipe wipe wipe,..

We immediately placed the baby on mom's chest and welcomed into the world a healthy baby. I was a hot mess crying and saying Happy birthday to the baby <--- haha I WOULD!

The Physician cleaned up the mess of the birth and fixed up what needed to be fixed down there. I stood watching in disgust at how GROSS the body can be...all the things coming out from down there were nasssty. BUT IT IS ALL BEAUTIFUL AT THE SAME TIME. WE WOMEN ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE THE GIFT OF CARRYING LIFE WITHIN US FOR 40 WEEKS.

AMAZING. I still can't believe i experienced this, im so grateful to be a part of such a special day for mom and dad.

Life...is beautiful.

Lately

Life has been a roller coaster ride and i dont know how the heck i'm holding on


Okay, that sounds like i mean it in a bad way, which i don't. I just mean it's been SO BUSY with so many responsibilities that I have no idea how I have the strength to do all of it.

Example of my life:

Monday: wake up at 0500, hit the road at 0545, clinical from 0630-1600. Home, dinner, clinical prep work for Tuesday, bed.

Tuesday: Wake up at 0430, hit the road by 0500, clinical from 0545-1900, home shower dinner BED!

Wednesday: sleep in FINALLY. homework, study study study, work, study study, BED!

Thursday: wake at 0600, school till 1400, work, home dinner bed.

Friday: Wake at 0600, school till 1400, work, home, PLAY TIME, BED.

Saturday: WORK WORK, study study study, Church calling, PLAY TIME. bed.

Sunday: THANK GOODNESS FOR MY BELOVED SABBATH!! i can breathe!!


okay, so laying it out it doesn't seem TOO bad. But when i barely have time for my family i know i have to prioritize better. School is ripping me apart but im grateful to be doing well.

Clinicals have been an adventure. I learned that i am a lot more emotional than i thought i was. You won't ever see me crying over a boy or something like that,..but you will see me bawl with some of these special patients i've had that have touched my life. Im grateful for my career choice and grateful for supporting parents that have dinner waiting for me when i get home from a 14 hour day. For my mom's kindness in doing my laundry cause she see's me asleep over my books after a long day of clinicals. I'm so lucky!

Life has been full but im learning so much and growing so much. I have a sweet fella that im dating and he has been so supportive with school and doesn't complain on how little time i make for him. Nothing serious with him, we're still getting to know each other but i'm just grateful for his understanding and patience with me and for the sweet friendship i have with him.

Also, I GET TO GO TO PERU IN 6 WEEKS!!!!!!! AHHH IM SO EXCITED I COULD PEE!!

i.am.grateful.

Alma The Younger,...??

So, many of you know the story of Alma the Younger. Wicked at one time but righteous after a sincere change of heart. Probably one of my favorite stories because it shows how it's never too late to come unto Christ and repent of our sins.

But here's my dilemma, what does a worthy Young Woman do when faced with the decision of dating a modern day Alma the Younger?

This modern day Alma the Younger is a recent convert with the sweetest testimony of our Savior. I love every bit of the conversion story and it's all a testimony builder to me on the truthfulness of the Church. I know Satan tempts us the most when we are trying our hardest to live righteously but I know our Savior knows the righteous desires of our heart.

So what if my modern day alma the younger recently fell into temptation and went against the word of wisdom? I believe in the righteous desires of the heart but when it comes to dating a modern day Alma, it's a lot harder to see the big picture.

So, should a dating relationship with a modern day Alma the Younger be put on hold and establish just a friendship until they strengthen themselves, or should a dating relationship continue and hope he doesn't fall into temptation again?


- Oh the beauty of life and choices!

why can't people read minds?

seriously.

dumb moment

Today was my first day of Junior year in the Nursing Program.

I was exhausted cause i'd studied all night for a medical math test we had to take today and with those tests, if you dont get 100% you dont pass medications in clinicals.

Anyways, keep in mind im tired.


LUNCH TIME: My friends and I run down stairs for some hot pizza. The pizza is in one of those rotating pizza racks.

" great, how am i supposed to get it?" i thought to myself.

I stood there calculating the correct timing of when to grab my piece of pizza as the rack rotates in circles. "1, 2...3!!" I went for it and BOOM BABY! i grab my pizza...SUCCESS!!


Then i hear a guy laugh and say "See that button that says STOP next to the door of the rack? That's to stop it from rotating so you can grab your pizza. I saw you start to calculate when to go for it and was going to tell you about the button but...I thought i'd get my laughter in for the day"....THANKS JERK!


PIZZA RACK 1:DARLENE 0

On a good note, I aced my medical math test with flying colors.