Blonde, Sweat & Wine

Today was the big day! I got my insulin pump! This has been a total nerve racking thing for me, for almost 31 years I have been a pretty much carefree person. Today I struggled a little when I was with the trainer learning about my new sidechick. I've been joking about it lately, calling the pump my second boyfriend and various other humorous outlets to relieve my anxiety. This honestly really tough for me, and I almost think I wished I was diagnosed at a younger age. Just the constant cycle of a diabetics mind Lately, I have felt very irritable towards diabetes and the recent changes I have implemented in my own life. Yes, it will be good in the long run and life will be easier but at the same time it is a massive change. After having it for a few hours, I felt like a little bit of a freak but it is slowly becoming a new norm. I do like that I have complete control over my illness and can modify it if I need to. What a pair these two!! The Dexcom G6 & t:slim X2 Th...

Evidently if you were born between 1981 & 1996, you're a millennial so I figured I would used the "AF" instead of swearing. Do you ever feel like you're just tired of just about everything? Well, that is me the past couple weeks! Just tired of being exhausted with the two consecutive low readings this week between 1 and 4am. Tired of stressing about finances, future & the other F word. Just wanting and needing a break before hitting the ceiling?? Well, welcome to my world this MONTH! Last week, I had one of those good cries. One of those turn the music up, run the bath, wine induced, good Lord save me cries. Where you feel sorry for yourself, want to change everything and move out of the country to your own island moments. This is something most women do on a random basis and, to be honest, it is extremely healthy. I mentioned the "Pancreas Pals" podcast last post and it has truly helped me so much mentally. https://pancreaspals.com/catego...

You've all read my story on my dream career and how my educational path didn't go quite the way I wanted it to 4 years ago. Well, as a very stubborn and strong headed woman, I am sick and tired of the almost. As of current, I work as a medical assistant, not a nurse, for a dermatology office. This isn't my dream job and definitely not what I pictured four years ago while I was starting the adult 2 section of nursing school. I had just gotten out of the hospital a few days prior and I was determined to continue on my way to my dream career. I guess what did not know at the time was that I am not in control of my life or the plans for my life. Well that was then and this is now, as I am taking the appropriate steps on this new educational path I am creating for myself. I was interested a local LPN program recently thinking the best way to get to my goal of becoming an RN would be through bridging to the university here. One mishap after another and a hurricane (thanks Ir...

I have posted before about my career and what happened that curbed my journey in nursing school. It has taken a long time, alot of research, and a good amount of courage and support to get my heart and mind ready to return as a student. Thankfully, I have the best motivation and I know I can definitely do it now. The first half of this year handed me my pride and visions of where I swore I thought I'd be at this point in life. Perhaps that is why it has taken me so long to feel prepared to return and accomplish what I set out to do 5 years ago. I am looking forward to continuing on but I am really going to have to swallow my pride and go back to square one. I have been in the medical field for nearly 10 years, I have done the CNA thing in the hospital, I have seen babies born, held the hand of a mom-to-be who lost her baby, I have talked to someone who was delivered news of a terminal illness, I have seen a lot. This is the pride I'll need to "suck" up as soon as I ...

I didn't come this far to just come this far Finally, it is Friday! The holy grail of week days! Although I am working some extra shifts at the restaurant this weekend, I am looking forward to relaxing! I have been precepting at a family practice the last few days, I'll be there until next Friday and then I'll receive my first float assignment! I cannot wait, there are a variety of offices I could be sent to and I am eager to learn! The sky is the limit, I'm looking forward to floating to different specialties and learning from talented providers! This is my favorite part of the medical field, amazing physicians teaching their passions. Today was the first day was back in the saddle! It was like riding a bike, except for when I introduced myself as a server instead of an MA! ha! It was a memorable moment, one that I'll bring up later when telling people how I got to where I am. This fall I will take an online class that is needed to apply to the nursing program...

You may take my flash,but ya can't take my sass! As y'all know, I just started with Florida Hospital Medical Group as a float medical assistant in their Orlando area offices! As excited as I am to don scrubs, I'm not so thrilled about toning down my nails! I do love a good at-home mani!! Instead of pouting and pitching a fit, I decided to dedicate this to "clinical-approved" neutral mani choices so you can still be pretty and lady-like among the medical muck! As much as I can get down and dirty, I believe every Southern girl should keep her nails clean and polished! Granted, the medical field is a tough area where you're constantly washing and sanitizing your hands. But still, be the classy lady and keep those nails done! The two polishes that I chose to feature are both Essie brand, used with Sally's Hard As Nails for the base and Essie's Good To Go as a top coat. This is my routine and has been for quite some time! Gotta love doing mani's at...

Every love story is beautiful, but this one is my favorite This will be final post about how B and me got to where we are. You may be thinking, who cares? So what they met when they were 16? Who cares if she made a huge decision and moved to be with him? Well, my answer is simple. I care, this is my blog, and I'll post what I want to! Lol, but in all seriousness, I believe in celebrating each part of your relationship and reflecting on how far you've come. Whether it be three, six, nine months, a year, 10 years or 25. So, where I left off..Brad comes home telling me about this job on the road. He explains that he's going to leave for "about ten days", come home for "about five". I could tell he was super excited and really wanted it. Who was I to stand in his way? Honestly, I did not think this process was going to go as fast as it did. At the beginning of the week, he put in for the position and by Friday he was on the phone telling everyone about ...

On Monday I officially started my job with Florida Hospital and I couldn't be happier!! I have been applying with this mega giant since BEFORE we moved here! Needless to say, it was definitely worth the wait! However, the thought of attending an orientation is usually welcomed with a groan, this job was no different. A business casual dress code, early morning alarm clock, the scramble around the house to get ready, and of course, the lovely Orlando morning traffic made this night owl a stressed out early bird! Walking into the complex where this was all held, I had a mixture of emotions. Is this the company I hope to spend the rest of my medical career with? Was the start time actually 7:30 and I'm late? Am I dressed appropriately? You know me, most of my wardrobe consists of work out garb and working flannel. This all came to a screeching halt when I met my facilitators. After being welcomed and congratulated, I entered the room of 30 or so people and offered a catered brea...

Celebrate what you've accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed! After two long weeks on studying, I officially passed my certification exam to become a registered medical assistant. This is the what I had to do before I could be hired on with the hospital system here. I cannot wait to get start with them! It is only up from here!! It was nice and refreshing to study for this exam. As odd as that seems, I love the medical field and I missed learning about new information that I haven't dealt with such as the financial aspect of medical offices, coding, and administrative policies. I couldn't help but wonder why they didn't have us study any of this in nursing school. Granted, most nurses are training for the hospital environment, I think it would help and give a little insight into insurance, medicare and other things that would help us answer patient questions. I am ready to get back to work in the medical field, not looking forward to th...

Before coffee, I'm a hot mess. After coffee, I'm a wide awake hot mess. So that's that! It's Saturday, which means a variety of things. For most working persons, it's' the beginning of the weekend, a day to tan and day drink. For some, it's a day to unwind with family. For others, a day for work. For me, it's another day to study and prepare for this test I have on Monday. I am a bit gun shy since the last medical exam I took; I failed by one question and watched all I had worked hard for in 16 months, just 3 months shy of graduation, fall out from beneath me. If you have ever taken any type of medical certification exam, you know about those annoying, pain in the rump questions with two answers that could be correct. There's the one that is right but another that is MORE right. Shoot me now, I am the percent of individuals who always pick the yea-it-could-be-right-but-it's-not. Being really nervous about all this forced me to face my fears a...

"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time."- Leo Tolstoy Today I received news that made my head spin and spit fire! It was the opposite of what I was expecting and frustrating as all get out! I wanted things my way, done as soon as possible, and I did not want to wait. As I steamed, I realized that things could always be worse. It may not be in the way I wanted, but at least things are still progressing the way the good Lord intended. I interviewed with a medical mega-giant at the beginning of last month. I was told I had to take a certification in order to obtain the position but once I get the go ahead from the testing agency I was done and hired! Well, this was exciting but nerve racking news. In an instant, that day I failed the last nursing exam I ever took and all the emotions associated came flooding back. Could I actually pass? I haven't taken a test since, not one that actually mattered anyway. With a lot of angst and support from Brad, I started...