It's all just a little bit of history repeating

A little late into the New Year but 2026 is a year to focus on self-improvement.

In 2026 I will be graduating with my RN degree.

I remember the day I decided I was going to go back to school, thinking about every road block I was facing. I just held my son as he took his last breath and I was DEEP in grief. I was old... at a job that I actually like at a wonderful company, I didn't have any money saved up for tuition, I graduated with my Bachelor's degree 7 years beforehand. I had every reason to say "nah, forget it." But there was something deep inside my soul telling me that this is what I'm supposed to be doing. It felt right, like how could I have missed it before? Greyson wanted me to be a nurse.. to help other families when they are at their most vulnerable. To be there and hold their hand. I can't really explain how deeply I knew this was the right career for me.

2026, I look forward to being kinder to myself. Giving myself more grace. I want to spend time with my friends and family. While school has been great, it's been so time consuming. I want to read more (for fun, not just studying).

I also want to clean my house and get rid of things I don't need anymore. I'm definitely not a hoarder, but I hold on to things "just in case". For example.. I have a BOX of picture frames in our basement because they were used in our apartment and what-if they'll work in a new house (one day? Zero plans of moving any time soon) I think it's safe to let them go considering they've been in our basement for 6 years.

I've been trying to get out of the house more when I'm not studying or not at work. I was out in the hot tub the other night and saw how big the moon was and snapped these photos!

We also went to a local cultural center after New Years. They had an exhibit on space. It was free and it was so fun!

We went to another Packer game at the end of December

the BEST seats!

Some family photos from Christmas :)

I got my hair done!

Of course we went to the botanical gardens again this year. Our annual trip to see Santa and the beautiful light displays. It's one of my favorite Christmas traditions. They do such a fantastic job with the light displays and the same Santa who met Greyson in 2021 is still there and he makes my Christmas. He's fantastic and is such a wonderful human,

Millie girl is doing good- still spoiled as ever :)

This was my past semester clinical crew. We were at a local hospital and as previous semesters. trauma bonded :)

After our last day, we went to Anduzzi's to grab some drinks and food together! I made these sweatshirts for us to wear!

After I heat pressed the sweatshirts, I laid them flat on our bed to let them just set- but I had a feeling Millie would want to be near the heat so I laid one of my sweatshirts on top and look how I found her :) Laying on top of all the sweatshirts!

Using the heat press my Mama got for me!

I also bought a new Christmas tree this year! I've never bought a Christmas tree.. we had hand-me-down ones (one was my childhood tree from 1988 that was still in fantastic shape, but the last year it began dropping more needles than it was holding on to) and the other was from probably 20 years ago from my older sister.

Holidays always remind me of how much I miss having Greyson here. There are so much "what-if's" and "should have beens." He would have been 6 years old this year and he would have been so much fun this Christmas. It's hard not to live in that grief and the imaginary world of what our life should have looked like, before Tay-Sachs came and turned everything upside down.

It's been a lot of the same routine lately. My classes started yesterday and I'm taking my LAST classes before I become an RN. I am taking one online class and my final clinical starts next week. We will find out our placement Monday and I'm really excited to experience somewhere new.

Last week I shadowed an RN in labor and delivery and Monday I shadowed in the OR. It was such a cool experience and I'm glad I did both of them! I was really nervous for the OR. I get squeamish watching some medical shows but I didn't feel like that at all. I loved both sites and it made me feel more excited for the changes coming once I pass my NCLEX. I'll officially be done with school in March and will walk in May graduation. It's crazy to think it's here!

Speaking of.. I better go work on homework. I will try to keep the blog updated more this year too.

Here is to a kind 2026,

xoxo

Kim