What a Decade!

Ive seen a few people doing this and thought it was neat- here is what I was up to this past decade!

2000-I was a freshman/sophmore in highschool. A big 14 years old- turned 15 in April. This is the year that I took drivers ed and had the best summer ever with my friends because none of us were old enough yet to have jobs. We rollerbladed everywhere and layed out at my pool every single day-I had the best tan EVER! Im pretty sure this is also the year that I started wearing make up everyday. A decade of mascara is under my belt now- im pretty proud- the days when I dont wear at LEAST mascara are few and far between- thats almost 4000 days of mascara now.

2001- I was a sophmore/junior in high school. I turned 16 and got my driver's lisence but I didnt have my own car. I drove my mom's Tracker around- oh how cool. I worked at the College this summer on the paint crew- mostly we took lots of naps. On christmas Day of this year Zach and I started dating "officially." I knew I would marry him before he was ever even my boyfriend- because he was my best friend and he made me laugh.

2002- I was a junior/senior in high school. I worked at the college again for the summer but worked catering/food service which was SO much better than painting because there was air conditioning (but no naps). This year I think is the year that Zach and I spent New Years in Florida with his family- what a blast! It is also the first year that we went to the Ozarks together!

2003- I was a senior in high school. I was a wrestling cheerleader so I could get into Zach's wrestling meets for free- what a smart plan! It is the only "sport" I ever participated in- im so athletic. I graduated in May and spent the summer working catering/food service at the college again. I was so excited to finally get my very own car! A beautiful ford mustang! At the end of the summer Zach and I decided to be just friends to so we could still actually be friends instead of going to college and breaking up as we had seen so many couples do. It was sad, and hard, but it didn't last long. In August I headed off to Cedar Rapids to attend Coe College- little did I know what was in store- It was AMAZING! I made lots of wonderful friends there who I still adore! Freshman year goes down as the craziest year of college for sure- I think because we didn't have to take anything too seriously. I lived on 4th floor Douglas and made so many great friends on that floor. Zach and I started hanging out again almost immediatly. Guess we are just supposed to be together.

2004- I was a freshman/sophmore in college. Still having the time of my life at Coe. In the spring I joined Delta Delta Delta sorority with some of my friends. Best decision I ever made- I LOVED it and made even more amazing friends. I took the CNA class that summer in preparation for the nursing program at Coe. I headed back to Coe at the end of the summer and live in Vorhees hall in a triple on the Tri Delt wing. I was sad because some of my best friends had decided to transfer to other schools for finances, ect but still had a lot of fun with those that were still at Coe.

2005- I was a sophmore/junior in college. At the end of the year I was elected Vice President of Membership in Delta Delta Delta putting me in charge of rush for the year. We had a hugely sucessful recruitment period that spring and fall and I like to give myself credit for it :) Zach and I decided that we would start dating again- "officially" even though we had been hanging out almost every day since we started college. I worked that summer as a CNA in long term care of the hospital in my hometown. At the time I liked it, but I know now I could NEVER go back and do that again- that was the hardest job EVER! I returned after the summer and had my own "single" but I had to live in the haunted room on the tri-delt wing- scary! I finally started my two years of nursing classes and internships. My first nursing internship was on an oncology/neuro surgery floor. It was ok- my how far I have come since then! That winter Zach suprised me with an adorable Boston Terrier Puppy for Christmas. We named him Cooper, after Cooper Tires. He was so sweet and mild and quickly grew to our boisterous BIG boy!

2006-I was a junior/senior in college. I started my second nursing internship on a cardiac/telemetry floor- I learned a LOT but knew tele wasnt for me forever. Sadly- our friend Chase was killed in a motorcycle accident- he died on good friday and easter has never been the same. I think this is why I ended up as an ER nurse- I still have a tender spot for motorcycle accidents and I have seen a few bad ones. Shortly after I turned 21 and celebrated with a group of girls in my sorority who all had birthdays that same week. That summer I worked as a nurse intern in OB, surgery, and ER. At this point I still thought I wanted to be an OB nurse. I actually did NOT want to work in the ER because Chase's accident seemed to "fresh". I ended up loving ER and knew that is what I was meant to do. On July 27, 2006- Zach and I got engaged. It was truly a magical day. I spent the year planning our wedding. That fall I returned to Coe for my last year and lived in an on campus apartment with three wonderful sorority sister roommates. I loved that! Three of us were nursing students so we walked to class together everyday and did homework together. I did my internship in OB and NICU. I LOVED labor and delivery but not post partum care, and I really loved NICU. Sometimes I still think I might like to do NICU nursing again. Those tiny babies are just so adorable. I was the maid of honor in my sister's wedding that fall. What fun!

2007- I did my last internship in the ER and knew it was what I wanted to do. I loved the excitement. I finished up my nursing classes and continued wedding planning. In May of 2007 I graduated from Coe College with my RN, BSN. I took boards and passed on my first try at the beggining of June and started working right after graduation at my "dream job" in the ER. July 28, 2007 I married my best friend. It was so much fun! Our wedding def. got crazy! We honeymooned for a week in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. THAT was a blast! I moved in to Zach's house on E. Third street. This was also the year that Zach bought Midtown Custom Bending- we were busy!

2008-At the very beginning of the year, we bought our new home. We moved in the middle of February and Brrr was that ever cold. We spent lots of time painting and decorating and in the spring we spent almost every day our in our new 2 acre yard! Cooper was one happy dog- he had so much more room to play! In the middle of May we were excited to find out that we were expecting. We told our families the good news as a Father's Day Suprise. My belly started to grow and in September we were absolutly thrilled to find out that we would be having a son. Zach admitted that he very much wanted it to be a boy and I really wanted a son too! We started preparing for our bundle of joy and my beloved mustang had to go. I still miss it on hot summer days- icy winter days, not so much. My belly was quite large by the end of the year- I was due almost any day!

2009- We welcomed our wonderful son at the very beggining of the year. One week late on January 25, 2009 Sawyer William Van Wyk joined our family. I enjoyed three months off work to be home with him and at the end of April I returned to the ER two days a week. This has worked very well for our family and I enjoy being home with my buddy most days. We spent the year watching in amazement as our little baby grew into quite a big boy who is talking, almost walking, and changing every day! He spent time in the Ozarks, and had his first trip to the beach at Lake Michigan. We look forward to watching him grow every day, and can't wait to see what the next decade has in store for our family!