Sightseeing in LA

While I lived in the Los Angeles area for my 3 years of Nursing School, there were a lot of places I wanted to go or things I wanted to do that I just didn't. Today I got to see one of those places. Kristi, Amy, and I met up with Sabrina to tour around the Getty. It was amazing! The artwork that hangs on the walls are examples of things that we as Americans simply don't do anymore. The style of the artwork and the images portrayed were all so beautiful. I look forward to going again...

Then for dinner that night I was lucky enough to meet up with Clara and Paige. These two girls are two of my favorite people from Mission Springs and they both go to APU! It was such a great dinner of catching up with each other. Paige is in the School of Nursing and Clara is applying so I really enjoyed hearing all about what they were up to. Such a great day!

Seeing Friends in SoCal

This was a day of travelling around to see some awesome people!

This morning I had the opportunity to visit with my friend Kristi's First Grade Class and thank them for the letters that they wrote me while I was deployed to Iraq. The look of surprise on their faces when I walked in the door was awesome! Together we looked at some pictures from Iraq and we all got to wear our new dog tags! I loved it!!!

Then I headed out to the Santa Clarita area to see one of my college roommates Kelly Boone. She was able to get the day off from work so we could see each other. We had a great lunch and some even better conversation.

From Kelly's house I headed up to Agua Dulce to see Dan, Sue, and Adrienne. I had to idea Adrienne had moved to SoCal so I was super excited to get to see her with Dan and Sue! It had been so long since I had seen all three and I loved every second of our conversation!

For dinner I drove out to Castaic where my cousins Ben and Anita live. After I got the grand tour of their home we chowed down on some good pasta and salad! I learned how to play cribbage (of course Ben won both rounds) and had some awesome cookie and ice cream for dessert! Anita and I stayed up to the wee hours of the morning talking and giggling. Loved it and needed it!

It was a long day but I absolutely loved every second of conversation with friends and family!

Visiting APU

Today was spent hanging out with people that have influenced my nursing career. I went to APU to drop off some pictures for Professor Chandler and ended up hanging out for a little bit and talking with her students talking about Nursing and the Army. I also got to talk with Professor Hefner for a few minutes and learned that she will soon be a Grandmother (Congratulations!) And finally my DDN was there to catch up with. I miss being challenged as an RN and not just as an Officer. Makes me think...

After spending my morning at the APU School of Nursing, I raced over to Holly's house to spend the afternoon. It was so great! She is truly the force that encourages and holds many hands through nursing school. We all love Holly!

San Francisco

One of the greatest benefits of living in the Bay Area is getting to go play in the City. My friend Kim is a huge SF Giants fan so she hooked us up with a behind-the-scenes tour of PacBell Park. While it was a little cold and rainy, it was a lot of fun to walk through the Visitors Locker Room, Batting Cages, Dugout. We then headed up to the PressBox (wow does the Giants treat them well). Then we got to go up to the "4th floor" to check out the Private Suites where the "other-side" sits to watch baseball games.

Then we went to the Orpheum Theatre and met up with my parents and the Martens to watch Wicked the Musical. I love going to the Theatre! Getting to go into the City and see the different Musicals and Shows coming through is something that I really missed while I was deployed. I can't wait to get back to DC and see what so coming through there... Maybe even a trip up to NYC for some Broadway shows...

Christmas in February

For the first time since Christmas 2006 the entire Hultgren Family (to include the Langdale and Singh families) were together under one roof. We had a Christmas in February dinner at my parent's house. We had an amazing potluck dinner with Korv, Ham, Potato casserole, green been casserole, salad, cardimom bread, and deviled eggs. Yummy!!! And then came the dessert with your choice of pumpkin, pecan, or key lime pie. Don' worry, we had plenty of coffee for the Swede's!

After dinner we all gathered in the front room by the Christmas tree for presents. Every family brought gifts for the 21st Combat Support Hospital which replaced the 47th CSH when we left in January. The gifts were all decorations for some fun parties to be had (St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Luau, Cinco de Mayo). I am excited to get these all these gifts into some boxes and in the mail to the 21st CSH in Tikrit.

Seriously, my Family rocks!!!

Mosier Surprise

Ben and Anita drove up from LA today to surprise me and spend the weekend with my family. It was an awesome surprise!!! My dad, brother and I had just gotten back from Tahoe and were getting ready to wind down for the night when my Mom asked me to come back down stairs. Hiding under the stairs were Ben and Anita. What a great surprise!!!

My Welcome Home

When I landed at SFO today I was met not only by my family but also the Warrior's Watch Riders who escorted us to my parent's home. When we arrived in Walnut Creek we were met by the Walnut Creek Police Department to continue the trip home. It was an awesome sight!!!

Upon arrival to my parent's home I was welcomed by the City of Walnut Creek, members of Hillside Covenant Church, Blue Star Moms, my High School Principal (GO KNIGHTS!!!), multiple Veterans groups, local Girl Scouts and Brownies, Mt. Diablo HS JROTC Color Guard, neighbors and most importantly more family. Even one of the local news channels was there. Click here for their story that was aired on the 2300 news

It was awesome and overwhelming. I can't put into words how it felt knowing that this Welcome Home was a gift from those who did not receive the Welcome Home that they deserved. Thank you. I will carry this forward and will continue to support those I care for.

Welcome Home Escort

Snow in DC

We got hit with a ton of snow these past two days. I have not yet looked to see what the official report states but I guessing 18 -20 inches. DC has almost completely shut down. No one is really going anywhere unless they are essential personnel (which is a lot of people around here). My car is almost completely covered, a beautiful site!
How much do I love my car? I brushed off the snow and then put her into 4x4 and simply drove to lunch with friends. Everyone else was digging their cars out (yes, I did help others after lunch) while my baby could just plow right through the powder.
I am not working on the MICIU/PICU quite yet so I am not considered essential personnel which allowed me to stay in my apartment and off the roads. Now if only I had cable or internet...

On our way back from lunch I might have played a little in the snow...I love my car!!!

Hitting the Slopes

Oh, how I have missed the snow!!!! And oh, how I have missed snowboarding!!! While I am not any good, I really like playing in the snow. It is such a calm way to spend the day. I am excited for many more trips to the slopes with friends to race down the hill with!!!

Just So You Know

My trip back home to CA is in the works!!! Stay tuned...

Army Snipers

A glimpse of an Army Sniper who is helping change the way we fight while it changes him.

Click here.

My First Day Back

I woke this morning snuggled with my cousin Allison in her awesome apartment.

After she went off to work I hungout and caught up on some Facebook pictures and some back-dated blog posts. Early afternoon I met SGT Jen Hale at the Metro and she drove us into WRAMC to check into Charlie Company. It was just a formality of making sure that we got back to DC safe. I finally got a hold of Delta Airlines to find out where my duffel bag ended up and got a working phone number so I can get my car out of storage tomorrow.

In the evening I got to hangout with Allison as she got "commissioned" for her mission trip to Mozambique. It was fun to get to be there and represent all the family's support of her trip. Then we drove back to DCA to get my duffel. While we were there we also picked up SGT Hale's bags too. We had a total of three duffels, two of which were almost 50 pounds. Hence the picture of Allison carrying the lighter of the three with her Coach purse...ready for deployment right...?

While it was pretty overwhelming to be around so many people at times it was a relatively relaxing first day back. I am eager to get my apartment squared away this week so I can go snowboarding with SGT Hale later this week!!!

Welcome to the World!

Welcome to the world Eva Christine Lowery!!!

A healthy 5lbs 7oz and 19.5" long.

Her dad Brian was able to fly home from Iraq for her birth!!!

Thanks for the lift Air Force!!!