I have......

so many GOOD things going for me that its not even funny! I am a blessed women and know that I have alot of things to be thanking God for. Not saying that I am perfect or bad things don't happen to me, but I certainly know I have much more beauty in my life than horror!! Its so easy to dwell on the negative. Lots of people live their lives everyday with the "why me?" and I refuse to be one of those people. Instead of WHY me, how about saying "WHY NOT ME?" I hope that if I can instill ONE thing in my children that they will carry with them all their lives(Other than GOD is number 1) its that beauty is much more important on the inside. Its the person you are under your skin that matters and having a pretty face doesn't get you where you need to go in life. Of course its wonderful to be physically pleasing, but if your heart is pure and beautiful that will carry you much further. With the society we live in, daily its thrown in our faces that you have to look a certain way to be quote on quote "normal" but that isn't true. I hate that our children will grow up seeing the altered pictures on billboards as what people are supposed to look like. Everyday people typically DON'T look like movie stars and its so silly that our generation has made being "perfect" the norm. We are all different but God made us perfect in his eyes, so be happy with what you were blessed with. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with "improving" but when you strive in life to be someone else, that is when things become a problem!

When I sit down and look at all the things I have going for me in life, I am overwhelmed with it all! I have an amazing husband that thinks I am gorgeous, smart, funny, and tells me I am an *Super*Mommy*- I have two adorable and mesmerizing little boys who enrich my life more than I could of ever dreamed. I am going to school to pursue my calling in life, I have a roof(a nice one) over my head, a car to drive, and a God who created me in his perfect image. What could I possible complain about?

And even though I said beauty is whats underneath. These two little boys sure are easy on the eyes and a pleasure to LOOK AT! :-)



And this guy isn't bad looking either


Yes God..I am so thankful for all I have good going for me. Its obvious how great your love is for me and the feeling is so mutual! :-)

Never have I ever

Never have I ever had pain like I have felt the last week. It started last Thursday in class when I started feeling these sharp, stabbing, radiating, pains in my back and side. I knew it was unlike anything I had ever felt before, but I wasn't going to rush to the hospital just yet. By Friday I was hurting even worse, almost as if I was having contraction and I knew that enough was enough. I headed to the Dr. only to be turned away basically by a P.A (who we will call "D") who didn't really take my pain seriously. she chalked it up to POSSIBLY being a kidney stone and dismissed me with a prescription for Tylenol. I was NOT a happy camper to say the least. By Saturday morning I was at my point of intolerance and I called back up to Urgent Care and was blessed to talk to a lady who actually took my pain seriously this time. Just for privacy sake, we will call her "C".She told me to come back in and she would take care of me. Let me just say, she was amazing. Two x-rays and a Iv of pain meds later, I was told I indeed had two kidney stones and hopefully would be able to pass them within a few days. "C" has even called me twice since to check in and see if I was feeling ok and if I'd passed any stones yet. Since I have never had kidney stones before, I wasn't 100% sure what they felt like, but after this experience, I can say they are ALOT like having a baby. Unfortunately, instead of there being a sweet little baby as the reward, this time you get NOTHING! Since I was still in lots of pain, and I hadn't passed the stones yet, "C" urged me to go get a CT scan done at the hospital, just to be sure they looked small enough for me to pass and to rule out any other possible problems. Not only was I still in pain, but having bad breakouts of sweat too. I was waking up in pools of sweat at night from the pain and Derek was even telling me I really needed to do something as well! As much as I didn't want to do it, I dragged myself into the ER yesterday and to my surprise they got me RIGHT back. I was once again hooked up to Iv's given fluids and pain meds and I experienced my first ever CT scan. It was interesting to say the least, but I was able to confirmed that my ureter was dilated(due to passing 1 stone...YAY!) and I still indeed have one to pass. The Dr. seemed very confident that I would be able to pass it within the next few days though, hopefully with no problems. So now I am just waiting and praying this things expels itself sooner rather than later. Derek has just been so amazing through all this though. He has totally taken over when I needed him too and let this mommy get the rest she needs to recover. I am so thankful to have him as a husband, I'd be so lost without him!

On top of all that, today I broke out in a very strange, itchy, raised rash all over my feet. I have never had this happen before and I am wondering if its maybe a reaction to some kind of medication I am on, or is it just these new socks? I bought some new socks and didn't wash them before I wore them today.... Hmmm....guess time will tell. I will tell y'all one things though..I NEED A BREAK FROM ALL THIS CRAZINESS!!! One positive thing about it is, that I can relate to my patients alot better since I have been through this stuff.

I cannot believe this quarter is almost over! It has flown by SO super fast, and we are down to the last few weeks. Clinicals start tomorrow and I am excited and nervous at the same time! I can't wait to get that hands on experience, but I sure hope I don't make a fool out of myself! I know I am still learning and new at all this, but I don't want to make any mistakes that can jeopardize my patients so I am just praying I can remember all the important stuff we have learned thus far when it comes down to dealing the real deal! Wish me luck!

And last but not least I will leave you with a few cute pictures of my little bear! I love these pictures because at first he was ok with me snapping a few and then he covered up his face and said "No Mo" ...meaning NO MORE lol!

Change can be a good thing!

A lot has changed over the last week and it was actually all positive things! I got a "new do" which I totally love! Its different than anything I have ever had and its so ME! I have had highlights before, but I tend to usually just stick with my natural, dark brown. This past week I posted about how I went a little crazy and switched things up a bit and I do LOVE LOVE LOVE the change. I went with red and blonde highlights and it turned out just how I wanted it. I hope I actually take the time to keep getting it done and keep it this way! Here are some pictures for those who haven't seen it yet! Before: and After:


Another BIG change is we are now a TWO car family! YAY! This past week Derek became the proud owner of a 2005 F250, and he is over the moon. It was really awesome how God put all the pieces together, and the opportunity unfolded so beautifully right before our eyes. The truck was actually Derek's dads, but he really no longer has the need or desire for something that big. It just so happened we needed another vehicle desperately and when Derek's dad offered to sell it to him for a great price, we jumped right on it!! Now we are BOTH able to take the boys to school if needed and/or pick them up! Its wonderful knowing that I am not the only one capable of doing that, and its already helped me out tremendously. I was starting to wonder what in the world we were going to do on those days where I have clinicals starting at 6:45 a.m., but now that is no longer an issue! I am just sooo thankful for yet another blessing God has given us!

Speaking of clinicals, we had our orientation this week. I have to admit, I was a little nervous about our first clinical rotation. I know its going to be at a nursing home, and every nursing home I have ever been inside has just be horrible. I have to say though, after orientation my mind has totally changed. The nursing home we will be working in is SUPER nice. I was so surprised at how well kept the place was and I am now feeling like this rotation will not be so bad after all! I surely hope that if I ever have to be placed into a nursing home it will be somewhere as nice as this place!

Camden is feeling MUCH better. After a little weekend of R&R he was right back to his silly little self! Although he was sick, I let him enjoy the glimpse of snow we got Friday. That was certainly an unexpected change(but an AMAZING one)from the weather we are used to seeing around here. Derek and I took the boys outside for just long enough to let them get the experience, and then we came in and enjoyed watching it fall from our warm living room! Here are some pictures I snapped (and YES that is Derek's new truck you see in the very last picture)



So this past week has definitely been filled with changes, but sometimes change can be a BEAUTIFUL thing! :-)

Its a beautiful life!

It really is, not saying there aren't those rainy nasty days, but for the most part we are truly blessed!

We filed our income taxes this week and its just amazing how God provides our needs. God never said he would provide all our wants, but without a doubt I know he is going to supply us with our needs when we turn to him. We really weren't sure what to expect for a tax return this year. Derek's hope was to get enough back to pay off our two credit cards, and I was really really really hoping to have enough to also get a laptop for school. Can you guess what we got back? Almost to the DOLLAR amount to do BOTH those things. We can successfully pay off the credit cards and there will be just enough left to get that laptop I am needing for school! Isn't God awesome!?!

This week I decided to go a little crazy and get something different done to my hair. I know brown looks good on me, but I wanted to shake things up a little and get some highlights. You see, its very RARE for me to go and get my hair done. I get it trimmed every 4 months of so, but other than that, I just let it do its thing. Yesterday however, I was feeling slightly spunky and decided to make a change. My hair dresser was I think shocked I was actually willing to let her do something new and we were all excited to see the NEW LOOK. Not 10 mins after she gets my color rinsed though, I get a call from Camden's school saying he is having difficulty breathing and they think he needs to go the ER. As a mother, do you know how scary it is to get a call like that? So wet (freshly colored) hair gets thrown up on top of my head and OUT THE DOOR I FLY! I put my flashers on and zoom to his school. Right before I get there, I get another call from the director there saying she thinks I need to hurry because now not only is his little tummy contracting when he breathes, but he is having to use his neck muscles too. I get there, get him in the car and fly to the Ped center. And as if I am not having a stressful enough afternoon, they bring me back, only to place me with a Dr. who I really do not care for. Pushing my biased aside, I try and just keep focused on Camden and hope this Dr. will just do the best she can in treating my baby and also somewhat hoping my mind will be changed about her. I do however ask why I cannot just see my normal Ped. Dr and am quickly told he has a full load of patients and I can only see the Dr. they put me with since she is the emergency on call Dr. that day. Camden is still at this point breathing very heavily and I am not happy with what I see, the Dr. seems unconcerned(and I am starting to like her even less) but I just keep telling her this is certainly not normal for him. The Dr. tells me she will do a breathing treatment on him and go from there, but she thinks he just has a bad cold. When she steps out of the room I tell my mother in law(who is there with me) that I really wish I could just see Cam's normal Dr. Not a minute later the Dr. they put me with FLIES in the room and proceeds to tell me if I don't want her to treat my child that I just need to LEAVE and go to the ER. She very rudely explains that SHE is the Dr. on call and I am not a Dr. so I need to let her do her job, or go somewhere else with someone I am more comfortable with! CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE MY JAW dropping to the floor at this point? I explain to her that I am not trying to be rude, but I am just more comfortable with my own Dr. and that its not anything against her(which probably was a lie, but I am not trying to start a fight with this women, keep in mind my child is still gasping for air at this point) She then proceeds to explain to me that she keeps hearing me ask to see my own Dr. and that she doesn't want to treat Camden if I cant trust her, or If I don't feel comfortable with her. She keeps urging me to just go the the Er if I think they will take better care of my son. At this point my BLOOD is boiling and I look at her and say, " LISTEN do you want the truth, well the truth is NO I don't like you, I don't trust you, You gave me older son ear drops for pink eye when he was 6 months old and could of severely damaged his eye, so YES I have reasons why I would feel more comfortable with my own Ped. Dr.!" After another 2 to 3 mins of her being blatantly UGLY to me, I say , "Listen my son is over there struggling to breath, DO SOMETHING, stop arguing with me and PLEASE help my baby!" She says ,"Ok" and tells the nurse to hook up a breathing machine. As soon as she leaves the room I burst into tears and my mother in law says, "Hallie that women just TOTALLY crossed the line, you have every right to be upset right now!" and I was, let me tell yall, I was more than upset, I wanted to scream words at that women that don't typically come out of my mouth, but Camden is much more important that that. I had to push aside all those emotions I was feeling and focus on getting him breathing normally. About half way through the breathing treatment the Dr. comes back in and says, " Well I have good news for you, I have been called away to an emergency so you will be getting to see your regular Dr!"....all I could think was THANK YOU JESUS, you always have my back! :-) My regular Dr. Tim JONES came in and was just as sweet as he could be, he took care of my little bear as if it were his own child and my anxiety melted right away. THANK GOD FOR HIM, he is the only reason I even bother with that Dr.'s office at all. Camden has bronciolitis, so our weekend will be filled with breathing treatments every four hours, just LOVELY, but hey I will do anything to NOT see my baby breathing like that again, its was really scary and not a good experience at all!

Those are NOT the plans I had for my weekend by the way, I had planned to do something sweet and romantic for Derek for Valentine's day. Not sure that we will be doing much of anything romantic, but spending time with my 3 adorable Godwin boys will be good enough for me! Some women only get one valentine, but I am blessed with 3 guys fighting for my affection, Yep, its a BEAUTIFUL life! :-)

I could sleep for days!

Seriously, I could. I have no clue why, but this week I have been soo stinkin tired. Last night, I was asleep by 8:45 p.m. and the night before I was out like a light by 9:30. I think everything is finally catching up with me, and my body is craving some good solid sleep! These have been some very LONG days since school started, and I think I will defiantly be investing in some vitamin B6 this week to boost my energy levels! Like I said before I was in bed by 8:30 last night, I got up this morning at 6:45 to get the boys dressed so Derek could take them to school, I went back to sleep until 9 when I was promptly woken up by the astro man ringing our doorbell, and now(11:11 am) I am still feeling like I could go back to sleep for a few more hours! WHATS UP WITH THAT?!

On a different note, Tuesday was my Goal speech. It went very well. The judges seemed to really enjoy what I had to say, and had lots of good questions for me. I think I answered them all very gracefully, but I was unfortunately not one of the four finalist picked from our school. There were a total of 16 nominees, made up from students of all different majors at SWGTC, and only 4 were allowed to move on to the next level. As much as I thought I would be, I can honestly say I am not disappointed. I feel I did a good job, and I am just trusting that this wasn't in God's plan for me. I am honored I was just nominated in the first place.

School is moving along SO FAST! We are learning to insert NG tubes this week and let me just tell yall, I HOPE I never have to have one. I might end up being an exceptionally awesome nurse, but I can promise you I will be one of the worst patients. If I see someone heading my way, ready to shove a tube through my nose and into my stomach, I will kick, slap and maybe even BITE my way out of the room! JUST KIDDING(well maybe not). It looks terribly uncomfortable to say the least, and I will really be pitying any patients who are unlucky enough to have me inserting one.

My Godwin boys are all doing good! Derek is working like crazy (God love him for it) and the little Godwin boys are wild as ever! Carson's beloved Mater fell apart this week, and we are all morning the loss. Look at all we have been through with him:



I mean my goodness, we have been through Halloween's, beach trips, double riders, naked booty's, and tons more. We had some amazing times with Mater, and some great memories. When I think back to Carson's baby/toddler years, I will always remember his MATER! We bought him from Target before Camden was born( Carson was around 15 months old) and I can honestly say there didn't go a day that Carson didn't play with him. As you can see in the last picture, he had gotten to the point he was relying on tape to keep him going. His steering wheel has begun to crack and was at the point of falling off, and I am sad to say Wednesday night he finally bit the bullet! :-(
FORTUNATELY, my mom couldn't bear the news and went right out and ordered a NEW MATER. Carson is going to be overjoyed when he gets that package, and we will be happy to have him back in the family. I wish I could of videotaped Carson's reaction when Mater fell apart. He said, "OH NO MOMMY, we have to go to WALMART right now and get new Maters!" I wasn't sure we'd even be able to find another one or if they still made them, but I am thankful to say they do!

On a final note, lots of people warned me that I may put on some pounds going to school. They said the stress factor, and my butt plopped in a desk most of the day might just do it. I am THANKFUL to report that SO isn't my case, in fact I have lost about 8 lbs and am now only about 8lbs away from my PRE-CARSON weight! It has been a long road getting here, but I am super proud and feeling like a HOTT MAMA again! I'd like to loose a total of about 15 more all together, but I can honestly say I am starting to like my body again! I think the STRESS and lack of time to eat has actually helped me during school and not hindered me one bit. I also try to snack healthy and keep water at hand instead of hitting the vending machines up for Soda's and snacks. Those of you trying to loose CAN DO IT! I am the proof!

Alright, time to get to this cleaning I have been avoiding all week! Have a blessed Weekend!

GOAL speech

So, this is the speech I have put together to read this morning to the panel of judges. I was asked to write about myself and my family, my program, how the education I recieve has/or will change me, why I choose SWGTC, and my future plans/goals. I figured its safe to post it this morning, since hopefully no one else will be readying my blog to steal my ideas! :-)
HERE IT IS:

Goal Presentation
Hello! My name is Hallie Godwin. I am a 23 year old, mother, wife, and student from Thomasville, Ga. I share this life with my best friend Derek whom I married in June of 2006, and together we have two amazing and adorable little boys named Carson and Camden. I am proud to be an A.D.N student here at South West Georgia Technical College, and am looking forward to all the opportunities this career will offer me. With the nursing demand growing, I like the flexibility of knowing that no matter where I choose to live, my skills will always be needed. I also love the diversity nursing offers. I can work a fast paced, life saving job in the emergency room, or a slower paced, one on one job in a Doctor’s office. The possibilities are numerous. It’s very assuring knowing there are so many different options my education will enable me to have. I know that my education is the first building blocks I will need though in order to become a successful nurse.

Although I just started my actual program, I have already witnessed how committed the faculty is to teaching their students everything they will need to know in order to step out of the classroom and directly into a job. Not only will we be equipped with all the theories and fundamental of nursing, but we will also be taught the hands on skills to be successful in the nursing field too. That played a big factor in why I choose Southwest Georgia Technical College for my education. I wanted to earn a degree in which I’d immediately be able to apply what I learned to my profession. Technical colleges do just that, and I really commend the fact that they stand behind their student’s education. I can already see the benefits of the training I am receiving, and cannot wait to see how much this whole experience is going to change not only my life, but the life of my family as well. I am looking forward to giving my children a brighter future, and enhancing my own by entering a career in which the main focus is helping others. Even if I wasn’t lead to become a nurse, I still see myself choosing a Technical College for my education. I have many friends whom are currently enrolled in other programs here, and I have yet to hear them have negative remarks regarding the learning and training experiences they are receiving. I have even had prior graduates brag on the staffs willingness and efforts to help them be placed into a job upon graduation. I have no doubts that when I complete my program in June of 2011, I will be shown the same help and encouragement.

When I enrolled here at SWGTC, I already had a very clear vision of my career goals and plans for the future. I felt God urging me to pursue the desires of my heart, and now ( A year later) I still feel that way. Honestly, as a child, I never really knew what I wanted to be. That is why I sometimes jokingly call nursing, “The career that choose me!” It wasn’t until after I gave birth to my two sons, that I knew nursing was my calling. My entire motivation for becoming a nurse is based on the exceptional care I received during the hospital stays of childbirth. As I embark on this journey and transformation of becoming an R.N, I do it with the goal of one day being the caregiver alongside expectant mothers, helping them cope with the trails of labor. I know that as long as I never lose sight of why I started the career in the first place, that I will do an excellent job. I hope to leave work each day with the satisfaction of knowing that I positively impacted someone’s life. I want to make this profession more than just a job. I want to make it my passion.

I would like to close by saying I am honored to be nominated for the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership, and I truly feel I would do an excellent job of representing our school!