family.

If I had one word to describe Papa's memorial service weekend it would be 'family'. And if I had another word, it would definitely be 'friends'. And if I had just one last word it would either be 'food' or 'indigestion'... I haven't decided which yet. Not surprisingly, Papa had so many people who loved him and my grandma that the church was packed for his memorial. The pastor of the church my seester and I went to as kids did the service and it was truly wonderful. I cried a lot and I laughed a lot. Who can ask for more at the end of their life? I've been to a few funerals that were really rough and I thought that was just how those were. Then, a dear friend of mine lost her dad and I had the true privilege of attending his memorial and my whole perspective changed. I have never seen so much love in one room for one person. We cried, but everyone also laughed (so much)! He was truly loved and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who knew him and person after person got up to talk about how he impacted their lives. Ever since, I've always wanted this type of celebration for anyone I've ever loved and Papa's was very similar. I was so happy for my grandma, as the send off was fitting and I honestly believed he would've loved it. I believe he did love it.

Family came in from all over and we spent so much time talking about Papa and life and stories from the past. We played games and ate food (yikes....BAD food weekend) and had an all around good time. Also, so many friends who didn't even know my grandpa showed up to the memorial to support the family. I can't even describe to you how much just physically being there is supportive. I am so thankful for the people in my life and in the lives of my family members. We know some real winners (duh). Sorry. I had to do it.

SOOO....(whew) we made it up late last night and brought a stow-away along with us. Ethan and Christian happen to have the same spring break and we were lucky enough to snag him for a few days in Phoenix with us. Let me just say there is a lot of computer-game-playing and Pokemon-ing going on. Oh...and Viesa snuggling. What is there not to love about this girl?!

Before bed, one more cool announcement:

I got another job! No, I'm not quitting the ICU (yet!). Along with my ICU job at Maryvale I will be teaching childbirth education classes for Teen Outreach Pregnancy Services (TOPS) once a week.  They provide free healthy pregnancy and childbirth ed. classes to teens (and their partners) throughout the valley, as well as case management for resources and parenting assistance (classes and other community resources). TOPS is an amazing organization that is actually paying me to do all things I love. Fancy that. :) I am SO thrilled about putting at least one foot in the proverbial OB door. 

THANK you for support, as always. Hope to see you all soon. I need to go to bed now because I'm exhausted and I have to work tomorrow, but I definitely found a guilty pleasure on TV (coughTropicThundercough) and I can't tear myself away. This movie is so hilarious (don't worry...the boys ran up to Best Buy...I'm not showing Ethan Tropic Thunder...).

LOVE,

Ash + Sweet Baby Viessey Girl (I missed her today)

FRIDAY FRIDAY.

Stanky girl. And oh-so-lady-like.

 It's Friday [posted 1 AM on what is technically Saturday]. Tomorrow is my papa's memorial service in Tucson, we'll be leaving bright and early in the morning. Today Chris had another huge exam that he passed (as usual...guess all the studying is paying off). Afterwards, we decided that a certain stanky-butt dog we know needed another visit to the Wag 'n Wash. 

Did she remember from the first time? Heck yes, she did. Was she irritated. Heck yes, she was. But she smells like oatmeal-delicious-ness again and we're a much happier (and better smelling) household.


Afterward, we treated ourselves to a heavy but DELICIOUS dinner at the Fry Bread House. AMAZING. Again, if I haven't taken you there please remind me so we can take you. Yum.

We also made it out to see Paul tonight (it got too late last night and we're old geezers). We went to Tempe Marketplace for the 9:10 PM showing and it was sold out. :/ Dang it. So we walked around, listened to some live music, hit up Coldstone, and made our way back around for the 10 PM showing. It was funny! Definitely a hint of raunchiness, but for a couple of X-Files-loving sci-fi nerds like ourselves (part of the movie takes place at ComicCon, Sarah!!!), we thought it was great. We had a good laugh and were happy to come home to our delicious smelling dog.

Now, it's off to bed for an early start to a difficult day. We need to gather our clothes up and be ready to rock in the morning. ::GAH:: I hate picking out funeral clothes. :/ On a lighter note, enjoy a few photos of our feasting. Seriously, make me take you here. You will not regret it.

All our love,

Ash & Chris & yummy-smelling V

nose to the grindstone.

Christian over Christmas break. The fun never ends.

Have I mentioned lately that I love my husband and am SO incredibly proud of his hard work? Have I also mentioned how I hope his med school study habits (both of us were naughty undergrad-ers) rub off on me for grad school?

He's been doing a ton of study the past few weeks as he's gearing up for a big exam and I realized that we're almost done with our [his] first year of medical school! Holy crap. Was it not five minutes ago we were moving up here in the face-melting month of July (115 degrees the day we moved in) as fiancé and fiancée? Now we've been up here for eight months, we took care of that husband and wife situation, and Chris has successfully navigated his way though the first year of medical school (a few months to go). He has done so well and I am SO proud of him. We've had some fun and as the year has progressed, I've realized that our choice of Phoenix campus was the right one. [Don't worry Tucson, we still love you best.]

Vies lounging at the Allen's this past weekend.

In other news, Viesa is lazy and so am I. For Viesa this is not so much of a problem. I'm doing my best to get out of this funk (half family grieving, half feeling torn about grad school/not having a solid plan about it). I think I need to stay focused on what I'm doing right now, which is all this ICU business. ::sigh:: We'll figure it out.

Because Chris has been working so hard (and despite the fact that I feel so lazy) I think we're going to treat ourselves to a midnight showing of Paul tonight. He's studying like a maniac right now so we can squeeze it in.

Love you guys,
Ash + Chris + Viessey

PS: For those of you who are counting, tomorrow we have been married for a whopping 3 months. Can you even believe it? Much more exciting than that, however, is on April 11th (our 'original' anniversary) we will be at six years. Now that's nutty. :)

thank you.

I just wanted to say thank you for all of the kind words and thoughts and prayers for my family. This is my first time doing this and I'm finding it a little harder than I thought. My papa lived a full, long life and was very sick near the end, so knowing he is no longer hurting is a blessing. However, the aftermath of his death has brought up feelings and challenges that I didn't expect. I suppose we'll be working through this as a family for a while and I am SO grateful for such an amazing family that stands by one another. We'll be back in town on Friday night for the memorial service Saturday.

Viesa loves visitors too!!!

My sister and Kyle decided to take me up to Phoenix on Tuesday for a few days away from the craziness and I have appreciated not being alone while Chris is at school more than they know. I went to new grad class this morning and it was harder than I thought. We did a pneumonia patient simulation and I couldn't stop thinking about Papa's breathing in the hospital. Blah. But it was a short day (thank goodness) and I came home to sissy and Kyle ready for a good time. We had lunch at LGO (we've been dying to take them here) and went down to the 7th Avenue/Melrose District for some thrifting fun. We found some way fun places, so remind me to take you next time you're up here (whoever you are). We bought lots of tasty vintage treats (and by we I mean Megan, I managed to walk away with a top) and we're getting ready to pick Chris up from a LONG day of studying. We love having visitors. And we loved being distracted from crappy things happening in our lives.

Thanks Meggie and Kyle.

 Thank you all too. Again.

Love,
Ash + V

papa.

Danny Wilson

January 30, 1927 - March 14th, 2011

hard times.

Papa looking dapper at our wedding.

As I write this, Christian is at home in bed without me and Miss V. My trip to Tucson has been prolonged for unfortunate circumstances. My grandpa, Dan, has been sick for a while and had problems off and on for a few years. He was admitted to the hospital on Friday talking took a turn yesterday/today. St. Joseph's is waiting for a hospice bed to open up for him, hopefully any minute now. My grandma is doing as okay as one could be doing at a time like this. I'm finding it incredibly strange to be on the opposite side of the hospital system and I don't really know how to feel or react. I've been extremely fortunate to have been constantly surrounded by family and friends who have all stuck around. My papa will be the first person I've known all of my life that has passed away and I'm trying to figure it all out. Right now, it's about being here for my grandma and praying for no pain. Thanks to those that have been thinking of and praying for my grandma.

We have had a full and fun weekend in Tucson, besides the turn for the worse near the end of it. I've got some pictures of Miss V (who got to see other mom, Gina!) and some shenanigans at my mom's house I'll post later. I also got to see Megan, nurse buddy who is here visiting from DC, plus some friends from high school and sweet little Emily who turns one week old on Monday. I didn't get to catch up with Miss Sarah Orzel, who I've been dying to see. Sorry, love. :/

I love all of you so much and am thinking about how grateful we are to have you in our lives. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

Christian, if you're reading this, Viesa says goodnight (me too, I guess). :)

<3
Ash + V

[untitled]

It's been 13 hours at work, forgive me if I can't think of anything creative. :)

Today, I was late for the first time at my new job. And got [sort of] chewed out for the first time at my new job. And I was irritated and didn't care for the first [more like fourth] time at my new job. And then we moved on and the day got better. Anyway. 

I took care of a super sickie guy/gal today! In an effort to not get fired for HIPAA violations, all I can say is that he/she was pretty unstable all day, which meant lots of titrating of medication drips, managing of fluids and electrolytes, keeping on top of the ventilator, and monitoring the crap out of him/her. It was a great learning experience and the day ended up a success. I found out I have another six weeks or so before I have to switch to the dreaded night shift. :/ Eeek. I am SO not looking forward to that. 

Source!

In other news, Christian got some solid confirmation that he will be able to join the fine researchers at the University of California San Francisco this summer for a month of medical research, contact-making, and vacationing learning. Christian has been interested in matching at UCSF for residency (a mere three years away!) and this will be a great opportunity for him to meet some of the people up there and to sell himself as a great candidate for their emergency medicine residency program. One of the things I love most about Christian is that when he has a goal, he never stops putting in the hard work. Many people will spend their summers going on vacations and hanging out, but Christian will spend his doing research (for FREE) for UCSF. And I have a sneaking suspicion that his efforts will pay off in the end. But this (most importantly) means, I'm going to San Francisco this summer (if only for a weekend or two)!!!! Yay for me. :) Something has to offset spending an entire month without my roomie/husband/buddy/doggy-dad. Who wants to come stay with me and Viessey in July??

Also: our taxes got accepted (yay for refunds), I'm getting closer to making a decision about grad school, we might take a mini-vacation again in a few weeks, and Christian is trying to woo me off the computer by blaring Paul McCartney/Wings love songs from across the room. Viesa's not into it, but I think I'll sign off and spend the last 20 minutes of my night (before I'm unconscious) with him. 

CRAZY THURSDAY! Hope everyone has a magnificent and super safe weekend. We will be down in Tucson, trying to do/see a million people/things. Hit us up. 

<3

Ash + Chris + Baby V

Viesa - exhuasted after helping me make some appointments and field some phone calls yesterday. 

SURPRISE!

Take a gander at this little beauty.

I got a phone call this morning, causing me to make a little surprise trip down to Tucson. It always reassures me to know that I can hop in my car and be with my family at a moment's notice. I got my call around 10 AM, I was in Tucson by 1 PM and I got to meet my new friend, Emily, around 7 PM.

Congratulations to one of my favorite friends and nurse compadres, Kristin, on her BEAUTIFUL new baby girl, Emily Cove Othon. She is stunning, as we all expected.

Childbirth is amazing and never gets old. I miss OB so much. This makes me feel even more determined to go back to school ASAP!!!!

Chris is at home with Miss V, living it up, I'm sure. I'm sending internet kisses to both of them. I'll be keeping baby fever at bay by spending a whole night with someone else's (the best form of birth control). I haven't done this since Sandie had sweet little Jaidan and I can't wait to baby snuggle all night long.

Love from Tucson. SOO MUCH LOVE. :)
Ash

holy guacamole.

That is probably the title to more than one of my posts as it is one of my favorite phrases and it also happens to perfectly describe the feeling of working two 12s in a row. When you're a new graduate nurse, there is always something complicated about your day. Whether it's complicated because you have six or seven patients (not me, thank GOD) or because your patients are ICU patients (gulp), it's just complicated. You feel like you're constantly playing catch up and you're a dummy surrounded by smart people. I know that I'm not a dummy and that I'll improve with experience, yada yada yada, but sometimes it's hard not to feel that way.

I worked Saturday and Sunday, which really bummed me out because the Melrose District Street Fair was on Saturday and I was DYING to go. A street fair in my favorite thrifting district PLUS a car show?! Can you say died and gone to heaven?? But apparently it wasn't meant to be. Instead, I was here all day. I learned a lot and took a patient on a ventilator on my own with a few drips. I'm starting to get my bearings and that feels good. Today was also a good day as I took another patient on my own and: inserted an IV, put in a foley catheter, gave him two shots, and a TB skin test. Poor guy, I was hitting him from all directions. But the more things I do, the more routine they become for me and that is a good feeling.

I'm off for a bit and I couldn't be happier.  Chris has some friends over and I'm thinking of sneaking off to bed because it sounds like an AWESOME idea. I hate text-only blog posts (what fun is that?) and usually at this point I'll grab a Photo Booth picture of some sort if I have nothing else to offer. However, I just attempted about 25 and I look high on crack in every single one of them, plus Viesa is loving hanging out with her dad so much she refuses to come in here and take photos with me, so I'll instead show you the almost finished product of our bedroom!!!

The bedroom was the VERY last thing I've even thought about since moving in because only he and I have to see it and we tend to dump things in there. We finally cleaned it out and I hung some things up and it's on its way (still looking for the perfect curtains and a few other things). Oh...and please excuse the massive pile of laundry next to the dresser. Oh...yellow photos, too. I was too lazy to pull out the flash. I think we sleep better now that there is less junk everywhere...

Goodnight and Happy Week to everyone. 

Love,

Just Ash (where's the love, roomies?)

my husband, internet sensation.

Or web video cameo-haver. Either way. Way to go, Chris. Also, at 0:44 you can see Viesa's favorite doggy-sitter, Collin. :)

you and i both.

Love.

D's