A Year at OSF

Throughout my year-long dietetic internship, I've done a poor job of blogging. You may have noticed that what I have blogged about the internship has been positive, but any posts written have not nearly touched the surface of my time spent at OSF. It was simply one of the best years of my life..

 Filled with the best people..

Left top and bottom: SLU Internship Forum, October 2012 graduation
Right top and bottom: Farm to Table dinner at Farmer Keith's, procedure presentations

Many fun memories..

Left top to bottom: making frozen banana "ice cream" at Kate's, car trip to SLU
Right top to bottom: fall 2012 Luthy cooking demo, National Food Day at Christ Lutheran

Hike nights and Sweet Cece's trips..

Junction City Sweet Cece's and scenic Grandview Drive views

The best food..

Left top to bottom: OSF tilapia, kale salad, Bar Toma Chicago Pizzeria menu
Right top to bottom: Innkeeper's truffles, Aya Sofia gyro, homemade sushi with Golda

And one very bittersweet graduation..

It's been a little over a month since we've been done and although it was time to move on, I am so appreciative of the people I met and the things I learned. I miss everyone so much and know I have made life-long friends through that experience. Here's to the Super Cinco and Karl, Janny, Kare-Bear, Katy-Cake and me, Brownie. We did it.

First day in lab coats

Highlights of Graduation:

1. Baseball themed message to Donna before retirement

2. Message to Golda on importance of keeping "tusks up"

3. ABCs of precepting and preceptor of the year (Liz and Jenna)

4. Highlight video of our year together, viewed here

The Wait Is Over!

Today was the day that I've been waiting for for the past four years - Match Day, people! I'm honestly surprised at how calm I was up until today. Like I've said before, I was in total denial. Even today Andy and I went to the mall and for a long walk around campus, all the while my nerves were at bay. I wasn't even thinking about 6pm most of the time.  If you know me at all, you will know how foreign a lack of anxiety is for me.

Anywho, I called my friend around 4:45 to talk about school stuff, and got completely wigged out. Andy and I were on our way to dinner (Monical's Pizza, of course) and it was like I got hit in the face with a nervous stick. I got all shaky and couldn't sit still while we ate. I couldn't get home soon enough.

We got home with time to spare, I logged on to the site and waited it out. 6pm came, I hit refresh, and... nothing. The site went totally berzerk due to the heavy traffic, and I was certain this was just a bad omen. Andy and I were compulsively clicking our computers trying to get it to load. It took fifteen minutes, but I finally got in.

I got matched to OSF St. Francis! It was my top choice all along and I was pretty much certain that I wouldn't get it. It's highly competitive due to its stipend and I thought I wouldn't make the cut. One girl doesn't get everything she's ever wished for right? I am so very blessed. I can't believe the process is over, and I just couldn't be more thrilled.

If I get placed in my preferred class, I will be starting the internship on June 11. Have I mentioned that I will be finishing the program the day before my wedding next year? It's insane but I'm trying not to think about that - it's what vacation days are for right?

What a busy year it is going to be! I am the luckiest girl ever.

Coming Together

I know I am an awful blogger. I like to think that it's because I'm not at the house every day to see the actual process. And I haven't taken a single picture of it because I currently do not have a camera (I probably need one of those, right?). Anyways, all of my info comes through Andy, and I know some things probably get lost in transit, so all I have to go by are his pictures.

Most of the major things are complete. Now the structures for both the house and garage are done and they are starting on the smaller things. They are working on the soffit panels, we got our showers/tubs in yesterday and we even got our first window! From what I understand, upcoming projects include installing all the windows and maybe shingles for the roof. The concrete for the porch still needs to be poured and we have been selecting posts. Here are a few measly pictures..

Front of the house (which is a little outdated but it's the best I can do)

Updated front of garage:

 Close-up of the gables above the porch:

Our first window! It's one from the old house that we are reusing in the garage.

The shower placed in our master bath:

I am kind of confused as to the order of things, but I am getting extremely anxious about starting my part (selecting finishes, paint colors, furnishings, landscaping, and such). We have done a few things, like picking out our showers, but the real fun stuff hasn't started yet! Andy came to visit me this weekend and we have gone to Menard's, Lowe's, and Home Depot in the past 24 hours basically just for fun. We act like old people.

I am hoping to start doing inspiration posts soon. My brain has been going wild this week since my schoolwork has been pretty slow, and I need to find a way to focus my thoughts.  I think blogging more will help me chill out a bit and also just give me something to do. I'm going crazy having such a large to-do list that I can't even start yet!

And on another note, Match Day is TOMORROW. I have been surprising calm about it for the past few weeks. I can't tell if that's a good thing or not, but if things don't go well atleast I've had a few weeks of peace? I have waited for this for four years and I'm in denial that it's actually here. Fingers crossed that I have a big smile on my face at 6pm. I will be sure to post afterward.

Internship Update

I just finished my first dietetic internship interview.

I was in a cold sweat, super nervous, and majorly anxious. It was via Skype, so all of the stress worrying about having technological difficulties was the problem. I think it went pretty well, though. I got some insight on what the others will be like.  Speaking of the others, I got my fourth interview! So far, I have gotten interviews with my 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th programs - still waiting on that #1, but I'm not expecting to hear for another week or so. Oy. My other three are this week (tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday). I am so ready for them to be over. All of this waiting is the pits...

As far as house news, they are trucking away. The basement should be finished by the end of the week. I haven't been back to see it in person since the last post, but will be sure to get some pictures this weekend.

The Dreaded DICAS

I am happy to announce that I have updates! However, I'm just going to stick with one story per post because otherwise this one would be a big mama.

Throughout college, I've been anxious about dietetic internship applications. Most people do not understand the process. Dietetics a highly competitive major and only 50% (yes that's right, 50%) of people who graduate in dietetics actually get an internship.  You can't be a dietitian unless you get an internship, so it's definitely a must. Our teachers and advisors instill fear in us about this process pretty much from day one.  The application is fairly extensive and detailed.  I started mine in December and have been making myself sick with worry on and off ever since - most of my friends will attest to this and were in the same boat. The deadline for submission is February 15th, luckily I finished Thursday!

Honestly, I probably could have finished before then but it's such a scary process that I will admit to being a bit in denial and avoided working on it whenever possible.  But, after convincing myself that "NO, you did NOT forget anything" and "YES, this application is PERFECT," I was finally done. My friend Sara even called me at almost midnight to countdown with me while I clicked the submit button. I was super jittery after that and pretty much didn't sleep. In the past two days since submitting, I still worry that I missed something crucial and my application won't count. That's just the way I am.

Four of the seven internships that I've applied to have interviews in March.  If I don't get called to interview, I know that I won't be accepted to those ones (scary). Match Day is April 1.  It feels so far away, but I'm sure it will creep up so fast. I'm a super anxious person as it is so this whole waiting game isn't really fun for me. I'm just hoping I get one.... I can't be super picky, right?

We'll see how the next 7 weeks go... AH!