The Tiny Whispering Sound

It's been a while again since I've been on here.  My life has been a little bit hectic these past weeks, mainly due to the fact that we're currently in the middle of six tests.  Five of which are in difficult subjects.  So naturally I've been studying.

Today, however, I came to the realization that I really am going to be a doctor.  I mean, I knew this coming in and such.  And let's be honest, I'm super excited to be able to call myself "Dr. Majchrzak."  (Sorry, Pops, you won't be the only one anymore...)

But today I was checking up on a nervous system powerpoint for my anatomy class, seeing as how I'm not so good at that nervous system stuff.  While getting to the anatomy website, I was looking at the classes for the quarters yet to come.  There are six more after this one, and I know that there is a lot of hard work to come and all, but really, in less than two years I will actually go out on rotations and be less of a pretend doctor and more of a real doctor.  We've been doing some "real" doctor things recently, like learning how to do abdominal and chest exams, etc.  But just on each other.  So, once we get to real patients then it'll be like a real doctor?  Or something...

And then I got to really thinking.  Being a doctor is more than just calling yourself a doctor.  I'm going to have the power to really help people.  I don't want to be the doctor who has her nose up in the air all of the time.  I really want to be at the same level as my patients.  In some ways, this will be easy.  I mean, I think I'm going to head into the field of Pediatrics.  Of course, I have the interests (and maturity) of about a five year old.  I think that this will be good.  Because what five year old doesn't love disney movies?  Then again, I also will want to give them the best care that I can while respecting their parents wishes.  This is going to be a struggle, because often times parents don't want to listen, but I think that it will be something I come to love.

However, I think for my strength to stay up, I need to work on my spiritual strength.  In the past few weeks I've really been focused on my studies and not been so worried about my faith.  I've been in this stage of life before, but under different circumstances.  And I know that it's not a good place.  So my new challange is going to be incorporating my faith life into my everyday life.  Often I look for God in big places.  I want Him to give me that good grade on a test or allow me to have a good day.  And then when I least expect it, for instance, if I'm having a bad day, then some person will say something to me to brighten my day.  Obviously that's God knowing that I need an extra push or smile or something.  I just don't always see it.  

I'm going to try and see this in my life.  Just like this Bible passage, which happens to be one of my favorites:

Then the LORD said, "Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by." A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD--but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake--but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake there was fire--but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.

1 Kings 19: 11-12

It's been a while...

My oh my.  It's been quite some time since I've been here!!

I think I have a favorite part of my life right now.  It's a guy.  Here's his picture:

 

I know he's not a person.  But my (now four month) kitten is pretty much awesome.  Sure, he may bite at my fingers, toes and face.  He also might like to attack me.  Either way, I love little Raphael.  He's super cute when he sleeps - which is right above my head.  Literally.  He sleep on the top half of my pillow.  It actually keeps my head nice and warm.

The practically only other thing going on in my life right now is medical school.  Seriously, it takes up all of my time.  Today is a Saturday.  In undergrad, that would have been spent "doing" homework.  Which meant going to Wal*Mart, Payless, Hastings and watching some television.  Now, I really do work.  I started studying at 11.  I just stopped at 11.  I took an hour and a half break to go to church and eat dinner.  And I had a 30 minute power nap in the middle.  So that comes to 10 hours of studying.  Add that up with the 3 I did yesterday, and that's 13.  For one subject.  Which is currently the bane of my existance:  ANATOMY.  

I don't mean to complain though.  I really am enjoying myself.  For instance, OMM class (Manipulations) is really interesting.  I like to see how everything is interconnected.  Recently I have been able to find transverse processes by myself.  This is a big deal.  They're extrememly difficult to find.  I also enjoy my class called The Complete DOctor.  Get it?  I'm going to be a D.O.  I know, they're so clever at KCOM.  We got to go into the Kirksville schools and do physicals on the students.  I actually felt like a doctor then.  

Here's from my white coat ceremony, to prove that I am (kind of) a doctor.  Or at least a 6-week doctor, as that's how many weeks of class we've had.

 

It was bright, so I'm all squinty looking.  The picture doesn't lie though.  You can also see some other new student doctors in the background.  That's what we introduce ourselves as - student doctors.  It seems a little ridiculous to me, but it's cool.  It's gets us a discount at the hospital cafeteria.

School is really pretty hectic though.  Our class schedule changes everyday, which is nice because it's like being surprised everyday.  If we have a test, it's at 8 in the morning.  I enjoy this, because then it's finished and out of the way.  Also, all of our tests (not practicals) are multiple choice, so we get our scores by the end of the day.  That's actually a little nerve-wracking, because they put the tests in our little school mailboxes, and then everyone rushes to get their scores.  Fortunately, I'm not failing out yet, so it's not too bad of a deal for me.  We'll see after this test tomorrow.  

Sadly, I don't have much else to say right now.  My life is pretty boring.  I get up, go to school, maybe work-out, come home and study, only to do it all the next day.  I look forward to sleeping in on the weekends.  Which is now apparently like 9 o'clock - because I go to sleep so early!  I guess that makes me an adult?  Or maybe just a crazy kid...

I do wish I had more time to post up about my life.  I guess my life just isn't interesting right now.  I'm excited to get to the next few weeks when we learn how to give shots and take blood and do physicals.  That is the real doctor stuff.  So I hope to have some more updates in the coming weeks.  We also start doing some treatments in OMM.  That is the stuff my mom is most excited about.  She really wants me to align her spine.  Maybe I'll be able to do some Kirksville Crunching on her in a few months.  That'll really get those vertebrae in place.  (The "Kirksville Crunch" is a technique that we use to align thoracic vertebrae.  I had a DO do it to me, it is pretty amazing.)  So I guess if anyone out there wants to get aligned just give me a ring?  I won't charge you, just your insurance...haha  or not.  They keep teaching us about medical insurance.  Believe me, there are all kinds of restrictions.   It's crazy!!  

Well, I'm going to sign off here, because Raphael is sitting on my pillows and shoulder eating my hair.  That's definitely a problem...

Ready for School

Well, here we are.  One day to the start of Medical School.  I’ve been waiting my whole life (or most of it) for this day.  So it all is beginning to seem a little bit scarier. 

I know that I’m ready, but now I’m getting nervous!!  It’s an excited 

nervous…but still.  I don’t really like being anxious, and so I wish it was Friday already, because then all of those butterflies would be gone!

Either way, I have a few things to do still.  I would like to go to the library and check out a book to read in my (not so) free time, but I’m waiting for Mockingjay, the new Hunger Games book, to come out, which is next week!  It’s getting mailed to my house, but then my wonderful mother is going to mail it up here!! Yay!! I’m super excited!!

The other excitement in my life right now is my kitten.  He’s really, really cute.  And his name is Raphael.  Raphael the Archangel is the Patron Saint of Medicine, so I thought that was appropriate for the occasion.  Also, his nickname is now Raffy.  Which is also cute.  My brother initially wanted to name him Tiger Face Killer, or TFK, but I said no.  It was way to long and complicated.  But I’m sure that my goofy brother will still call him that.  Whatever.  It’s not his name. 

So I’ve got some new things in my life:  new school, new kitten and new roommate.  My roommate’s name is Ali and she seems really nice.  She just moved in Wednesday.  So her stuff is all over, like mine was a few days ago.  But either way, I’m glad to have a roommate.  I really don’t like living by myself.  In fact, I’ve never really enjoyed being by myself.  That was true even when I was finally okayed to do it by my parents.  I just like people, I always have.  Maybe eventually I’ll live by myself, but for now I’m happy to have a roommate. 

We finally got our class schedules and syllabi.  Everything is going to be so intense.  Most weeks I have two or more tests, and if not I at least have a quiz.  Everyday we have anatomy, biochemistry and histology, whether it is in class or lab form.  It appears that three times a week we have OTM lab, which of course my mother is the most excited about, because she wants her back aligned and such.  I told her it’s going to be a while before I can do that, but she’s ready and willing to wait.  But anyway, we have like 21 hours of class per semester.  KCOM has more credit hours than any medical school in the United States.  So I guess even though I’m going to be super busy I’ll learn extra? 

I’m enjoying tonight and tomorrow night though.  These are my last holdouts before I’ve got to go back to the real world.  Honestly, I’ve had nothing but time since I graduated, but it feels like the seven months went so quickly!  Since I’ve been up in Kirksville though, I’ve watched a couple of my favorite movies and just been relaxing and trying to get my room together, which is almost finished.  I just need to hang some pictures up and I’ll be finished!! 

It’s time to sign off though.  I’m currently watching Cinderella, the Disney one, and my favorite part is coming up.  (The part where Cinderella gets her old rags turned into a beautiful gown.)

“No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish, will come true.” 

Apparently it is August 11th.

Well well well.  Today I just realized that it's August 11th.  And that I move on 14th.  At the latest.  

Then I had this realization while I was driving that I'm going to really have to be an adult in a week and a half.  Eek!  I also haven't taken a test in a few weeks.  Or months.  I have done some random studying here and there, but all in all I'm out of the school mindset.  However, I do think this is going to be a good thing in the long run.  My mind is completely rested and I'm actually caught up on sleep so I think that I'm just going to jump gung-ho into med school.  Where I'm going to have to study.  A lot.

The other thing that I've been thinking about is how nervous I am!  I mean from reading on our facebook group a lot of my classmates have experience as EMT's, Medical Assistants, etc.  I have hospital experience, but I can't start an IV or anything like that.  I'm sure that there will be other people who have little or no experience, but I hate to start out behind everyone else.  But, I've decided that I'm going to just go in with an open and optimistic mind and that I'll get through no problem.  And I'm sure that the school is prepared for people who have no experience, I mean isn't that the point of our training and paying lots of money to go to school?

Despite my jitters and nerves though, I know that I have support coming from all over.  I really have a great family and great friends, so I'll definitely be watched over.  And I am truly thankful for that.  I'm sure that these feelings are normal and I am also sure that I will be ready when school starts.  

Which is August 20th!

You gotta have heart!

Recently, I've been a little down in the dumps.  My family being here was a little overwhelming and I'm just trying to get through work.  (I only have a few weeks left!) 

I'm thinking that going away again will help some of this out.  I love my parents, but after having to mostly rely on them for the first few months of the year and then still being home since then, I'm ready to move back to school.  

I also had to cut back on my exercise regiment a little bit.  After gradually starting to increase my lap numbers/strength training in the pool, I noticed that my ankle was giving me some grief.  After some intense motrin regimentation we've come to the conclusion that I probably tweaked some ligament or tendon in the ankle, and since I do not (physically) remember how my foot should feel anymore, this is not surprising.  Apparently my exercise really does help me.  It not only was/is keeping me healthy, but it does that little thing known as giving endorphins.  They really do help!  I promise!

Here's my plan for the next few days:

1)  Re-start swimming and get ankle to feeling better.

2)  Get together a final "here's what I need for school" list.

3)  Get room clean again.

I think that these things can definitely be managed.  I think that I just forgot that I "gotta have heart."  And I'm positive that they will help me!  I just need to smile.

Smile, though your heart is aching,

Smile, even though it's breaking.

When there are clouds in the sky-

You'll get by.

If you smile through your fear and sorrow,

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through

For you.

Light up your face with gladness,

Hide every trace of sadness.

Although a tear may be ever so near,

That's the time you must keep on trying,

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile,

If you just smile

~Charlie Chaplin

Waiting for life.

It's been a while since I've updated this dealio.  So here we go.

The family came and went.  That was a crazy week and a half.  You know that saying "It's great to see the cousins go, but it's better to see the family leave?"  Well, I'm not sure that it's entirely true, but I think there's a point to that.  For ten days we had a variety of people in and out of our house.  Which was fun.  Of course we ate horribly for the whole week, which was not so fun.  But, I did get to see my youngest cousin (he's 8) who I haven't seen in a few years, and it's neat to see him now, because he's like a real little person.  And he's as sharp as a knife, which made him very whitty and entertaining.

Beyond actually seeing them, we did get to do some fun things.  We had the actual reunion, which was crazy.  It also taught me how important my dental hygiene is, as many of my family are missing teeth.  We also went shopping, to see that new Twilight movie and bowling.  It was a lot of craziness.  Oh and we had Ted Drewes' pretty much every night.  That's not healthy.

After the family left I've just kind of been relaxing around St. Louis.  I'm working, but I kind of have been giving away shifts left and right, because I hate my job right now.  Actually, I think I've mentionned this before...but it's most of the people, not the job.  I enjoy most of the patients and most of the work.  The idiots who don't know what they're doing and complain about little things like lunch time or why they have to work in a certain location are the ones that I hate.  There will be people that I miss.  And I'm going to visit them.  The others, not so much.

I'm very much ready for school right now.  I've been hitting up my Netter's Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards hard recently, and I'm getting more and more excited about starting school.  I was with one of my friends last night who is going to school with me in the fall and we both had the same conclusion:  that school needs to start soon.  I like being home and doing nothing/slaving away at my workplace, but I'm ready to start up again, and I guess it'll be a little bit like being an adult.  We were talking about how busy we are going to be and how we aren't going to get any sleep.  However, I've decided that I'm ready.  I often do well on little sleep.  So medical school, Bring It.

That's pretty much it right now.   I'm just biding my time.  I've got a little bit of shopping to do here and there, but other than that, I'm just waiting.  Waiting for school, waiting to move out and waiting for life to begin.

Schlueters

Well.  I've got family coming in starting tomorrow.  

We're having the big old family reunion on Saturday.  I mean there's going to be 80+ people there, most of whom I do not know.  This should be interesting.  And the heat's not going to help.

My mom's one of six and is the 27th of 28 cousins.  Wow.  Her oldest cousin is 71 and has great-grandchildren.  So one can see that the numbers are big.  And what's scary is that we all look alike.  So I guess if one was to come by Pavilion 2 in Forest Park on Saturday, you'd be able to see my scary cult-like family.  But I would definitely advise against it.

The other fun to add to the situation is that there will be at one point or another, an extra 9 people in my house.  That's a lot of extra people.  My mom recently bought a new bed, for my room when I'm gone, and she's just going to set it up in the front room.  No big.  I'd be scared to sleep up there anyways.  

So, I hope that I don't get overstimulated or anything.  Here's to family.