It has been a hectic start to 2011 to say the least...between classes, clinicals, running, friends, family, and the beginnings of the job search I have little time to breath. I have been working hard at balancing life but I always seem to hit bumps in my ambitious roads...
- CLASSES are not bad, still keeping my grades in check to maintain my place in Sigma Theta Tau International (the honor society I was inducted into last semester qualifying for this honor by being in the top 20% of my class) but this feet is definitely a little bit time consuming
- CLINICALS, I just completed my leadership rotation in a neuroscience ICU (weekend shift, leaving little time for a personal life) and loved every moment of it and just may have found my calling. During this experience I had several firsts...first patient death, first code, first emergent intubation, and so many more. My preceptor for this rotation was incredible and I now call her a friend! I have now moved into my Pediatric rotation which I hope I will enjoy but I don't think will be the best rotation I have ever had.
- RUNNING has still been an incredible stress reliever and a huge part of my life. As many of you know I ran my first 1/2marathon in NOLA Feb 13, 2011. I would like to tell you that every mile of the 13.1 was wonderful, joyful, and fulfilling but instead I will be completely honest and tell you it was instead 13.1 miles of HELL but I will conquer more 1/2marathons in my life and one day a full marathon but I need to forget the last 13.1 before I go at it again!!! During my training I hit a couple of road bumps...literally! I took a nasty fall on a long run which left we with scarred knuckles, an infected toenail, and then the loss of that toenail. Well I should have known that I would not just lose the one toenail that others would follow in sink...NO more infection but I have since had to remove 2more toenails for a total of 3 toenails lost (NO cute summer shoes for me...). This led to the buying of a t-shirt in NOLA that says "toenails are for sissies!"
- FRIENDS have been wonderful through all of my crazy schedules, working with me so that I can have at least some time for fun and relaxation. So Thank You!!!
- FAMILY, still living with the parents but am so incredibly grateful for all they have done for me during this season of my life! Kelly, my sister-n-law by my oldest brother Mark, helped make my 1st 1/2marathon possible by putting up most of the funding for an incredible weekend that I so desperately needed. But even more so this weekend allowed us to spend some incredible quality time together making me miss her more regularly and simultaneously making me so thankful my brother picked such an incredible woman to join our family! Also during this weekend I got to spend some time with Mark and my nephew, an always welcomed gift. JM and I continue to bond over kayaking and I continue to grow more jealous of his fun adventures!
- JOB SEARCH, during my leadership rotation I had the opportunity to meet with the director of the unit I was working in. This was an incredibly productive meeting and although No promises of a job a definite contact has been made opening doors for a future job!!!
LIFE is crazy and full of ups and downs but every day is a new day given as a gift from the Lord...so I work diligently to make each day valuable...
