I am alive...

Just wanted to put a note up to let those of you who are staying in touch with me that I am alive and well. I am staying busy with school, trying to eat right, and getting some exercise in. I have had more success with my eating plan and I am so excited. Last week I lost another pound as well as 3% body fat. I feel great and have a lot more confidence which is great because this is an area that I have always struggled with. Hopefully by graduation in December I will be where I want to be weight-wise.

The past few days have been hard family-wise. I have really been missing my mom and dad and brother. Having them spread out all over the place is not easy. Right now my brother is in NY and my mom and dad are in Senegal (soon to be moving to Ivory Coast). My parents 34th wedding anniversary was on June 1. I am so proud of them. They are the best parents in the world and they have an amazing relationship. When I think back to all of the things my family has been through I am truly thankful that they were the ones who helped me through everything. The next month is going to be hard as well because both my dad and my brother have birthdays in July. So, I guess what I am getting at, is please pray for me.

Clinicals are going great. At the nursing home I am enjoying getting to EB. She doesn't really remember that I am only there once a week but while I am there we have fun. She is so independent that I find myself going around and trying to find things to do. She loves to sit and quilt in her room. She has already made 2 pillows since I have been visiting her. Today was a lot of fun because we had the activity outside. We did exercises with the stretchy armbands. They actually had a lot of fun. Some of the residents who I thought were completely helpless came alive outside and those who I thought could not speak were talking. They are truly amazing. They choose who and when they do things and speak. Wish I could do that sometimes.

Last week I got the pleasure of having my Thursday clinical in the Johnson City Medical Center ER. For those of you who truly know me then you know that I was excited beyond belief. That is my dream...to be an ER nurse. Actually my dream is to become a flight nurse but that takes several years of ER experience and training. In time...! Needless to say I had a blast. I loved not knowing what was going to come in the door. We had several traumas come in and the helicopter (WINGS) came in twice. I started an IV on the 1st try on one of the trauma patients. I hated leaving but it was also a great confidence booster and just reconfirmed that I was in the right place and was on the right track.

Just wanted to let you all know that I am still here. Please know that just because you don't hear from me doesn't mean that you are not in my thoughts. It is my friends and family who have been helping me through this particular journey of my life. Thank you. I love you guys!