And the internship keeps on rolling

I never thought I would be so in love with something so quickly. I have been at my internship for about a month now and I am just madly in love. I have found what I truly think I could do for the rest of my life. I have been able to observe surgeries, eval patients, sit it on physician lectures and learn from one of the BEST ATC's I have ever met. I am a VERY lucky girl to have found such a great internship to learn at. I can't believe how fast it is flying by though, I just never want it to end.

I have had some great times at home as well. As busy as I am, I have tried my best to connect with the people I have truly missed the most. I have family dinners 3-4 times a week with my parents and siblings, I attend church every saturday with my aunt, uncle and my two cousins, I see Steph, Justin & Hudson as much as I can (although it has been tough lately). I am just trying to soak it all in.

I was lucky enough to travel to Spokane last weekend to witness Rachel & Dave get married. I saw Ashley, Bo & Sadie for the first time in a year and got to see Rae again. Ash and I had a girly day Friday with Sadie, then I watched Ash, Nate, Tony & my NEW friend Kat play in hoopfest before we went to the wedding. I had a GREAT date for Rae's wedding in Brett (a long time college friend) and definitely made some memories with some people I havent seen since I moved to Omaha. All in all, I'd say that the summer thus far is going great. I truly do love it here, but I do miss everyone back in Omaha as well. I can't wait to get back and start my last year in graduate school with some of the best ROOMMATES-Nate, Heidi & Katie, and also have more adventures with my amazing classmates.

It's funny because ALL of the stuff I have done this summer has kept my mind off the fact that I have to have my R ovary taken out and have to go through another surgery and now be on some heavy duty hormones for the rest of my life. It sucks, it truly does and there's not a day that goes by where I don't question why I had to get so sick but I am lucky in the fact that I have amazing support in my family and close friends....

here are some updated pics :)

 and truly the best friends I could ever ask for..

 some of my fav girls out in Spokane

 best reunion to date...

 Brett and I at the reception

 my adorable nephew and me

 awww Rae, I love you so much!!

 Kat & I out on the town...

 our tent at Sound to Narrows

 my desk at work :) full of "suggested" reading material from the docs

 us girls reunited at the wedding :)

 Steph & I at Spencer's grad

 Rae, Dave & Me after the ceremony

Bo, Ash & Sadie at hoopfest-cutest family ever

Home....

And I am FINALLY home for the SUMMER!! Yay!! Quick little update to start-I started my internship a week ago and am loving every single minute of it. The docs like to challenge me and question me but I find it fascinating to learn things from them that I would have never learned in the athletic training room. I am also working at the Boathouse which will probably be an interesting situation but that's okay it will be nice to have some money to do things with. My sis graduated CWU this past weekend and Spencer graduated from WHS!! SOOOOO proud of them both!! One quick other thing-I will have to have my right ovary taken out before I head back to UNO. Unfortunately, my doc thinks she found some more endometriosis and if it is endo, my ovary is causing it to flare up and increase my pain. So she did a biopsy and I will get the results early this week. However, even if it isnt more endo then she will still take out my ovary since it is causing me so much pain....Anyways, that's that!!!

53% done

According to my degree works I am 53% done with my master's degree. How crazy is that? I can't believe that this time next year I will seriously be graduating from UNO with my master's degree. Just amazing. We are on the last leg of our first year right now. Doing a 4 week course called Ortho & Med in which we also get to follow our team docs both in their offices and during surgery. I was fortunate enough to get to observe both our shoulder and our knee doc during surgery this week. And boy let me tell you it was simply amazing. I just absolutely LOVED being in the OR and for once it wasn't me having the knee surgery!! I just might consider getting a physician's extender license or maybe doing an athletic training fellowship with some ortho docs after I graduate. I absolutely just love that aspect of our job. It also made me really excited to start my internship for the summer since I will be working with my ortho docs back home in WA. 3 more weeks and I am home!!! Can't come soon enough. Speaking of, Katie & I are in the midst of moving all our stuff to storage for the summer since we are moving in with Heidi & Nate next year. We still havent for sure found a place, but we did put a deposit down to be on a waitlist for one place we really love and we are going to look at one more today!! We'll see. Finding a 3 bedroom apartment is kind of tough to come by to be honest. But we will see what we can do....other than that nothing much new here, just getting ready to come home for the summer and continue doing what I love near the people I love the most!!

Relay for Life

We participated in Relay for Life this past weekend and it was a VERY intense experience for me being that I am now a cancer survivor. Which is just crazy for me. I think overall it was a great experience for me but at the same time it was very hard and emotional. We had a GREAT time though (as you will see from the pics below) and overall, the entire Relay at UNO raised just over $40,000 which is AMAZING!!! Our team (team Hawaii) participated in the volleyball tournament they offered and actually won it ALL :) We had fun, none of us slept, I walked about 8 miles today--my roommate walked an entire half marathon (a little over 16 miles) and we enjoyed some tasty treats and GREAT company!!

Here are some pics of the event :)

 Our team (minus Heidi since she left early)

 Stacy, Jill, Heidi & I with Masa (one of our athletic trainers)

us after we WON the vball tourney (VERY excited as you can see)

Heidi, Katie & I before the "Survivor Lap"

 Heidi, Stacy & Me :)

One of my biggest supporters, my roomie Katie

better pic of all of us :)

Spring Break 2011

Wow, Spring break was just simply amazing. We had so much fun in Kansas City I don't even know where to begin. Our first day we got to the hotel before check in time so we had time to kill so we decided to just go explore and actually stumbled on the City Market, which was amazing. It reminded me of Pike's place market back in Seattle so we strolled around there, ate food and hung out for about 2 hours. We got back to the hotel, took a dip in the pool and hot tub and then just relaxed the rest of the night. On Monday, we got dressed and headed to the Plaza for some shopping (150 stores & restaurants, most of which we couldn't afford lol), which was fun as well. LOTS of window shopping, however we did find a ring for Heidi at Tiffany's but I don't think Nate will be going there anytime soon :) Then we got back to the hotel and got ready for our BIG casino night. As part of our hotel stay we got 3 free buffet coupons to Harrah's casino, so we made a night of it and got all dressed up in pretty dresses and had some fun. I was the only winner that night, winning a total of $13 dollars on the Lord of the Rings Penny slot!!! The next day we enjoyed the college basketball experience which I think was my favorite part :) being a HUGE college bball fan I was in HEAVEN the entire time we were there. It was a VERY fun and exciting interactive museum!! Then we got all fancy again to go out to dinner to celebrate my birthday (early). Had dinner at a place called Gordon Biersch and then went up to Howl at the Moon for some birthday drinks and dueling piano fun :) We sang, drank and I got to dance on stage to "low" which was embarassing but we defintely had the time of our lives. Then Wednesday we found some amazing BBQ food on our way out of town and headed home!! Overall, it was a GREAT trip. I wouldn't change anything at all!!

 us girls at the City market

 Katie & I shopping at the Plaza

 right before we went into the college basketball experience

 us girls on "center court"

 Heidi & I having dinner at the casino

 the Lord of the Rings Slot Machine :)

 us at my birthday dinner

 Heidi & I having pre-dinner drinks

 my wing span :)

 Power & Light District (in the day time)

 Power & Light District

us girlsa at Howl at the Moon

The Checkpoint of the Semester

Thank GOD the semester is half way over. This week is what we ATS like to call "HELL WEEK" because we have so much to do and so little time. On top of the papers & tests, we also have the MAATA (Mid-American Athletic Training Association) district meetings this Friday & Saturday, here in Omaha!! It's pretty cool because its right here so we don't have to travel so I am excited about that. Also on Sunday, Heidi, Katie & I will be leaving to go on our 4 days Spring Break to Kansas City!! And boy, its can't come any sooner :) We all have VERY cute dresses to go out to the casino in, we have our "dancin' shoes" to have some fun in and we will squeeze in some MUCH needed college ball stuff as well!! Needless to say, we can't WAIT until Sunday morning!! I will post pics as soon as we get back...

It's crazy to believe that exactly one year ago (yesterday) I had my hysterectomy. I can't believe it's already been a year. I look back at that decision and admit it was the toughest decision I have EVER had to make but I don't regret it one bit. Yes, I can't have kids but I am also cancer and disease free. And yes, I had to have my L Ovary taken out shortly after my hysterectomy due to cancer cells & excruciating pain but I'm okay with that. Now, my R ovary is truly testing my patience....I had to go to my doc due to excessive pain and a few other things-he found some cysts and is hoping to decrease them in diameter with medicine so they are not as painful, however if that doesnt happen in the next 6 weeks we have to think of other options...that yet again is scary. We'll see :)

Hope everyone else is having a GREAT March so far and in less than 3 months I will officially be done with my 1st year in GRADUATE SCHOOL!!!

February Wrap Up

Wow this semester is just FLYING by. I can't believe I am half way through this semester and ALMOST done with my first year in graduate school. It's crazy how fast time flies when you are truly having fun with the people you care the most about. This month was just crazy busy and I wouldn't change it. I have FULLY immersed myself in the Creighton athletic training clinical and am absolutely loving it. I am with the volleyball team and both the mens & women's tennis teams and I couldn't be more thankful for that. I have formed bonds with these teams and they truly count on me. I have experienced one athlete from the start of her surgery all the way through her rehab process and I am proud to say that I have helped her get back to the volleyball court and also proud to say that she has shown me why I love athletic training both by being an athlete I've treated and by being my friend. We also celebrated Heidi's 23rd birthday this month and boy did we do it BIG!!! First, Cassie, Katie, Stacy and I decorated Heidi's apartment with streamers, balloons and signs. Then on Saturday we all went out to dinner (and by all I mean most of the classmates and their spouses) at Vincenzo's and then proceeded to go out to Whiskey Tango and have plenty of fun. We definetly celebrated all night long and were paying for it the next day but we had fun and thats all that counts :) Next month (technically now this month), we have our big spring break trip to KC planned which we all can't WAIT for!!! :) It is going to be so much fun and a MUCH needed break.

 Heidi & I enjoying her bday celebration

 Heidi's Sign at her house :)

 Bathroom full of 91 BALLOONS

 Pre-Game shot!!

 Nate & Heidi

 Heidi & I at dinner

 Katie, Heidi and I at Whiskey Tango

 JELLO SHOTS!!

Cassie, Katie, me & Heidi on our last dance