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| Miriam and David: the soon-to-be-wed |
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| David and Me: Intensity |
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| A little volley action |
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
The Good Life
The beach is good for the soul!! It's beautiful here and I have enjoyed doing GRE flashcards, reading, sleeping, laying out, playing in the surf, biking, and walking. Not to mention tons of time with my absolutely fabulous family!! I am so grateful for all these wonderful blessing and this relaxing time when we all get to recharge our batteries! It has been a blast!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Empty Hallelujahs and Unconditional Joy
Honestly, this has been the crappiest summer of my life to date. The hour after my final exam, my boyfriend broke up with me. That was the high point. I've done a lot of thinking and questioning and wondering what-ifs. But today I stumbled upon something. I was listening to "Keep My Heart Alive" by Sanctus Real, and at one point in the song he sings, "Take these empty Hallelujahs. Fill my lungs again 'cause I wanna sing, And I wanna mean it. I wanna feel again." That describes this past month. As everything has gone wrong, as my summer and my future has crumbled around me, I have been singing Empty Hallelujahs. I know the Lord is good. I know He loves me beyond what I can imagine. I know I love Him. I know He is to be praised. But I want to FEEL it. I want to get back the passion. I take joy from the things around me way too much, the things that are happening to me. But y'all, the Lord has saved me, how can I not have unconditional joy?? My prayer is that the Lord grows my mustard seed joy!!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Revolutionary
Revolutionary things are happening in my life. One of them is a new diagnosis. First off, let me say: I have the WEIRDEST things happen to me!! (ahem, MRSA and Cysts)
BUT (drumroll please) I may have sleep apnea. For months/year(s) I have been sluggish, tired all. the. time., and known by my roommates as "The Napper." Throughout the past 2 years I have been tested for mono 3 times--all negative. I am the only person I know who can sleep 10 hours and take a 2 hour nap and be ready for bed by 10 the next night. I am literally sleeping my life away, because I cannot function without it. This past semester this tiredness culminated in a severe lack of attack in the school area, I would come home from class, take a nap, get up to study, and be nodding off as I sat there studying. It was frustrating and I have gotten to the point where I don't think I can get through PA school or be a functional person if something doesn't change.
Last Friday morning I got up for a 9:30 appointment, went to it, came home, and got back in bed because I was so tired. I slept an additional 3 hours and woke up around 1, adding that to my already robust 8.5 hours of sleep. When my mom came in, frustrated by the fact that my behind was back in bed and not helping her, and I said I just kept waking up every hour and going back to bed during the night, she realized it is possible that I have sleep apnea! When I woke from my slumber/coma she told me her hypothesis and I did what I always do--Googled it. First result, first sentence: "50-60% of children with repaired cleft palates will develop sleep apnea." My jaw dropped. Why had we never been told that sleep apnea is common in cleft palates and that we should watch for signs of it??? So, on Monday I went to my doctor. She said it could be possible but she'd like to test my thyroid first, due to my history of hypothyroidism. Got the tests back today: normal. Hmmm. So now I am scheduled for a sleep study and I am hoping and praying that that is the answer and that we can do something about it quickly so that I can get back to my life.
BUT (drumroll please) I may have sleep apnea. For months/year(s) I have been sluggish, tired all. the. time., and known by my roommates as "The Napper." Throughout the past 2 years I have been tested for mono 3 times--all negative. I am the only person I know who can sleep 10 hours and take a 2 hour nap and be ready for bed by 10 the next night. I am literally sleeping my life away, because I cannot function without it. This past semester this tiredness culminated in a severe lack of attack in the school area, I would come home from class, take a nap, get up to study, and be nodding off as I sat there studying. It was frustrating and I have gotten to the point where I don't think I can get through PA school or be a functional person if something doesn't change.
Last Friday morning I got up for a 9:30 appointment, went to it, came home, and got back in bed because I was so tired. I slept an additional 3 hours and woke up around 1, adding that to my already robust 8.5 hours of sleep. When my mom came in, frustrated by the fact that my behind was back in bed and not helping her, and I said I just kept waking up every hour and going back to bed during the night, she realized it is possible that I have sleep apnea! When I woke from my slumber/coma she told me her hypothesis and I did what I always do--Googled it. First result, first sentence: "50-60% of children with repaired cleft palates will develop sleep apnea." My jaw dropped. Why had we never been told that sleep apnea is common in cleft palates and that we should watch for signs of it??? So, on Monday I went to my doctor. She said it could be possible but she'd like to test my thyroid first, due to my history of hypothyroidism. Got the tests back today: normal. Hmmm. So now I am scheduled for a sleep study and I am hoping and praying that that is the answer and that we can do something about it quickly so that I can get back to my life.
News
Haven't posted in a while because. . .MY SISTER GOT ENGAGED!! I am so excited for her and her man! I love them both so much and can't wait to see them joined for life! Now I just have to start working on my MOH toast. . . yikes.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Weeki Wachee Days 1 and 2
I'll let the pictures do the talking on this one!
We met our lovely friends, Pam and David down in Hernando County Florida for a 4 day mini-vacation. We kayaked, conversed, and ate good food!
The first day we made the 7 hour trip and got there about 5 in time for dinner and getting settled in our VRBO house.
The second day we took on the Weeki Wachee River, we oohed and aahed over the clear blue water but didn't see a single manatee. It was fun despite the lack of sea friends and we even stopped and swam in the middle of the river.
No offense to any Hernando County, Florida residents BUT it is not the most progressive place in the world! I saw more double-wide trailers, more leathery old men with nipple rings, more tattoos, and more overweight, bikini-clad women than I have in. my. life. I wouldn't recommend it to those looking for a beautiful built environment and high-society socializing.
On that note, we went to the only one of 2 restaurants within a few miles of the house we rented and it was the Bayport Inn Restaurant. We were the only people not smoking and my favorite character there was a lady with a mullet, cut off mustard-yellow belly shirt, gym shirts pulled above her belly button, and a phone clipped onto her hip, along with a huge bunch of happy meal key chains clipped onto her fanny pack purse. I WISH I had taken a picture! But this is us outside the inn.
We met our lovely friends, Pam and David down in Hernando County Florida for a 4 day mini-vacation. We kayaked, conversed, and ate good food!
The first day we made the 7 hour trip and got there about 5 in time for dinner and getting settled in our VRBO house.
The second day we took on the Weeki Wachee River, we oohed and aahed over the clear blue water but didn't see a single manatee. It was fun despite the lack of sea friends and we even stopped and swam in the middle of the river.
No offense to any Hernando County, Florida residents BUT it is not the most progressive place in the world! I saw more double-wide trailers, more leathery old men with nipple rings, more tattoos, and more overweight, bikini-clad women than I have in. my. life. I wouldn't recommend it to those looking for a beautiful built environment and high-society socializing.
On that note, we went to the only one of 2 restaurants within a few miles of the house we rented and it was the Bayport Inn Restaurant. We were the only people not smoking and my favorite character there was a lady with a mullet, cut off mustard-yellow belly shirt, gym shirts pulled above her belly button, and a phone clipped onto her hip, along with a huge bunch of happy meal key chains clipped onto her fanny pack purse. I WISH I had taken a picture! But this is us outside the inn.
More to come tomorrow!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
I saw one, I saw one!!!
I saw a manatee!!!!!! Actually 23! Pics and stories to come later. Trying to pull life back together for now.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
I. Need. A. Job.
I need a job. Desperately. Even the Free Clinic can't use me for another 2 weeks and then who knows how often they can use me after that. BAH!
With the ability to take any and all vitals, perform finger sticks, operate a Cholestech machine, perform CPR or use an AED, and provide First Aid to anyone, you'd think someone could use me. Nope.
With the ability to take any and all vitals, perform finger sticks, operate a Cholestech machine, perform CPR or use an AED, and provide First Aid to anyone, you'd think someone could use me. Nope.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Trials and Tribulations of Applying to PA School
So, I am successfully through my second-to-last exam week. WHEW!! What a relief. Not only am I through, but I also have the grades in hand and they aren't as bad as expected (The Lord was merciful)!
On to the next thing: PA School Application. (Insert scary music here)
First, I am paralyzed by the fear of failure (i.e. not getting in). This is not the right attitude, at all. Jesus has called me to this and I need to trust Him to do His will.
Second, if anyone out there says getting experience hours is easy, They LIE. It's not. When you are like me (pushing to get through college quickly and taking summer school each and every summer), you don't have time to accumulate a million and a half licenses so that you can work in a hospital and get the experience you need to apply for grad school. I have resorted to volunteering and I'm still not even sure if the Free Medical Clinic in my city will let me get the experience I need!! This will officially be my second summer working for no income and then I will have 2 1/2 years in PA school, during which I will also be gaining no income. SO, I will officially be as poor as a church mouse when I graduate.
Third, I have decided to get my phlebotomy license and I am super excited!!! I am sure there will be many stories on the blog about phlebotomy class in which I get lots of bad sticks from fellow students--it should be a blast. BUT REALLY, I am looking forward to it in a BIG way!
Fourth (and final), I'm studying for the GRE. I hope to have taken it before May 27th, but we will see if that happens. My real/realistic goal is to have taken it by Mid-June!
Countdown to the Application opening: 51 days
On to the next thing: PA School Application. (Insert scary music here)
First, I am paralyzed by the fear of failure (i.e. not getting in). This is not the right attitude, at all. Jesus has called me to this and I need to trust Him to do His will.
Second, if anyone out there says getting experience hours is easy, They LIE. It's not. When you are like me (pushing to get through college quickly and taking summer school each and every summer), you don't have time to accumulate a million and a half licenses so that you can work in a hospital and get the experience you need to apply for grad school. I have resorted to volunteering and I'm still not even sure if the Free Medical Clinic in my city will let me get the experience I need!! This will officially be my second summer working for no income and then I will have 2 1/2 years in PA school, during which I will also be gaining no income. SO, I will officially be as poor as a church mouse when I graduate.
Third, I have decided to get my phlebotomy license and I am super excited!!! I am sure there will be many stories on the blog about phlebotomy class in which I get lots of bad sticks from fellow students--it should be a blast. BUT REALLY, I am looking forward to it in a BIG way!
Fourth (and final), I'm studying for the GRE. I hope to have taken it before May 27th, but we will see if that happens. My real/realistic goal is to have taken it by Mid-June!
Countdown to the Application opening: 51 days
Monday, May 2, 2011
Exams
It's that time of year. . . lovely exam week.
Part of me loves it. People are clearing out, no classes, no useless assignments, less than a week until summer, gorgeous weather, etc.
Part of me hates it. Studying, stress about packing up and battening down the hatches on my apartment for the long summer, good-byes, etc.
But overall it's a great week!
Can't wait for summer though, despite the fact that I am jobless/because of the fact that I am jobless.
Part of me loves it. People are clearing out, no classes, no useless assignments, less than a week until summer, gorgeous weather, etc.
Part of me hates it. Studying, stress about packing up and battening down the hatches on my apartment for the long summer, good-byes, etc.
But overall it's a great week!
Can't wait for summer though, despite the fact that I am jobless/because of the fact that I am jobless.
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